Post by Spider-Man Beyond on Aug 21, 2007 19:13:27 GMT -5
Unlimited Marvels #7
Another day in the Corps Part Two
Another day in the Corps Part Two
Written by G. Brown (Nygfan)
Edited by Daniel Dyer (Spider-Man Beyond)
Featuring...
Richard Rider floated inches above the ground, wearing his newfound yellow and blue costume. He watched, frozen momentarily by his levitation and by the sight of the marble skinned alien calmly floating toward the Midville High School bus.
“Ginger! Who is that guy and what does he want with the school bus?” Richard said to himself, not really expecting an answer and then getting the shock of his life when he actually did get one.
:Nova Centurion Recruit Rider, his name is Greyven. He is a Correllian War Commander by birth. He has made an illegal aggressive trespass onto Earth surface.:
“Ahhhhhhhh!!!!” Richard screamed out loud like a school girl, grabbing his helmet with both hands and trying to duck at the same time. “Who is that? Who said that? That’s the second time I’ve heard that voice.”
:I am the pre-programed Artificial Intelligence Nova Instructor. AINI for short. I will be taking you step by step through your Centurion familiarization. Be advised, Commander Greyven is in violation of fourteen Nova Corps directives. Immediate action normally would be required.:
Richard slowly stood back to his full height and began to compose himself. “OK, Annie... and just how do you expect me to ‘take action’ against a guy like that?”
:As a Nova Centurion, you are empowered with many standard abilities and powers. As Nova Centurion of Sector 11249-44396, you have the authority to enforce all Nova Corps regulations and violations thereof. You are obligated by your station to apprehend the rogue Correllian Commander.:
“So, I’m some sort of a cop now and the grey guy is a perp. Ok, I got that, but what can I do against... that?”
Richard began to unconsciously scratch his head only to feel the hard metal of his bucket shaped helmet. He stopped with a surprised look on his face only to snap back to attention at the sight of Ginger’s bus stopping hard and then squealing its tires as she accelerated to escape the oncoming Greyven. The alien continued to float effortlessly in pursuit of the vehicle. As the bus pulled away, Greyven raised his arm and straightened it toward the yellow bus. A bolt of dark energy fired from his hand, hitting the back of the bus and causing it to spin to a halt.
“Blue Blazes! I have to help Ginger and the kids!”
Richard ran after the bus and Greyven, but was still too far to intercept the alien before he reached the vehicle.
:Recruit Rider, flight at hyper veloctic speed up to and including faster than light is a power at your disposal.:
“What? FTL... Hyper velociraptor who? Whatever that means, if you can get me to the bus before marble face does, then just do it.”
In response to Rich’s command, AINI activates Nova’s flight and in the blink of an eye Richard launches into the air! For a split second he could have sworn his lower torso exploded into a bright yellow energy blast, but before he could make sense of it all, he was moving faster then he had ever thought possible. The football field, the school beyond even the highway to his right all moved by as if on fast forward. It was faster than any car or roller coaster Richard had ever been on. He felt as if he was strapped to a rocket that was just shot into space.
:Achieving hyper veloctic speeds, FTL should never, I repeat never be utilized while in a planet’s atmosphere. While flying at HV speed, it is imperative that you carefully focus your eyes and mind on your direction and whereabouts. A Centurion’s speed is his greatest weapon. While in flight mode, your body will respond to your eyes’ vision and mind’s direction. In order for you to decelerate...:
“Too late!!!!” Richard yelled as he rocketed right past Greyven. He wanted to ram into him like a running back, smashing across the goal line, but was too far out of control. He was lucky to have clipped the Correllian in the shoulder as he whisked past him.
Richard’s eyes tried to follow Greyven as he flew by and it caused him to lose all control. He hit the ground hard and began to roll and flip across the grass field. As he tumbled, Rich was reminded about all the spills he had taken over the years trying to ski. He never did get the hang of it and this looked no different.
He skidded and bounced to a stop, surprised that he could even stand. His newfound powers certainly included stamina and endurance. Richard returned to his feet, adjusting his golden helmet just in time to see Greyven striding toward him, his face a mask of rage and anger.
At least he’s away from Ginger and the kids.
“You don’t lay hands on me, Earth monkey. A Correllian Commander born! An Earther in Nova clothing? Pathetic, you will die easier than your predecessor but not nearly as painlessly.”
“My predecessor? What is he talking about?”
:The former Nova Centurion of this sector. Moments before your recruitment, he was murdered by Commander Greyven. That is what activated my programming.:
“Sweet. Ok, Fine. I guess he just wasn’t that good at the job, maybe a rookie caught out of his league. Not ready for Prime time.”
:Rhomann Dey served the Corps for over 135 Earth years. He was decorated with a Starcluster for bravery during wartime, 3 Nova Bursts for wounds sustained in combat, Decorated at the highest level of...:
“I get it! He was a badass and I am in serious trouble. Any good news?”
Just then Greyven fired his dark energy blasts at Nova. Richard dodged the first one with a spin move, but the second one hit him square in the chest! The force of the hit knocked both the wind out of Richard’s lungs and took him off his feet. He crashed through a brick wall and slid to a stop in the middle of a basketball court. Coughing and struggling to breath, dust and dirt floating silently throughout the gym, Richard slowly stood up on one knee.
“What the heck was that?”
:You encountered a mid level blast of Dark Matter. It is a destructive energy all Correllian’s of royal heritage are born with. This natural mutation determines the Royal caste system on Correllia and the Commander status as well.:
“Excuse me, did you say mid level?”
:Yes, Dark Matter can be utilized as a concussive force or as a corrosive energy. I advise the use of HV speed to avoid any more contact with Dark Matter.:
“Avoid dark matter... you think?! Gee, Annie, I’m sure glad I have you on my side for the great advise. What would I do without you?”
:No need to be glad, I am programmed to familiarize you with all...:
“I was kidding. Look, do we Nova type cops have any dark matter ourselves? Why not familiarize me with stuff like that?”
:All Nova Centurions are capable of discharging stored solar energy in both concussive and high intensity laser beam forms.:
“Lasers! Now we’re talking. Lets fry this rock faced sonofa...”
:Beginning tutorial for energy discharge. In order to utilize stored solar energy in an offensive manner, a Centurion must first reach the energy source. This is achieved by...:
In a wave of black energy the rest of the gym wall disintegrates or implodes! Greyven gently lands atop the dirt covered hard wood floor.
“You dirt digging Earther, scum. The Centurions on Xandar have certainly hit an all time low granting a creature like you entry into its ranks. I will ensure their mistake is short lived. Now Earth monkey, you will be the first of your kind to die as I prepare the way for the mighty Galactus.”
Richard stood upright, stretching his muscular frame, his back popping as he took a confident pose. “I have no idea what a Glactoss is or what Buffy’s best friend has to do with all this, but I do know when I’m being insulted.”
:Actually, Xandar is the home world of the Nova Corps and Central Academy for all basic Centurion training. Galactus is the Devourer of Worlds.:
“Quiet, Annie. Not now.” Richard shakes his head. “What? Devourer of what? Never mind, No one insults the Rider.” Nova took to the air, activating HV speed, he flew right into Greyven, hitting him with a powerful haymaker across the chin.
:Careful, Rider. Remember, no FTL while in an atmosphere. That was fast and pushing the limits.:
“I know. I remembered that much and slowed just enough. I’m a fast learner, no matter what Ginger thinks. She should try memorizing Coach Thomas’ play book.”
The Correllian Commander spun from the force of the blow, stumbling to his knees. “You’ll pay for that, Earth Nova. You may have a Nova’s powers, but a Centurion you are not.”
Greyven fired off twin blasts of Dark Matter, but Nova was ready. Spinning and twirling in the air, Richard avoided both bolts easily.
:Excellent maneuver, Rider! That was a level three counter spin.:
“Thanks, Annie, I’m a natural on the field... or the air, I guess. By the way, anytime you’d like to finish that tutorial on lasers and stuff. That would be great.”
:Of course. Before you can discharge solar energy you first need to reach the stored energy inside you. This takes severe concentration and constant practice for all new recruits. Once you feel the stored energy, the Centurion focuses on the power slowly and steadily, summoning it to one point of the Centurion’s body at one time. Usually the tip of the Centurion’s appendage.:
“No time for ‘severe’ concentration or practice, Annie. It’s not like we’re in the library, nice and quiet here.”
Nova continued to dip and spin through the air, avoiding Greyven’s energy attacks. With each bolt that missed, Richard noticed that the Midville gym and sections of Buscema Park were being destroyed. The last energy bolt tore up a chunk of dirt and grass just missing Ginger and the bus load of kids.
“I can’t keep dodging forever. Someone will get killed, like Ginger and the team.” Richard grimaced beneath the golden helmet, then a smile began to spread across his face. “Hold on, Annie, I have an idea.”
:Recruit Rider! What are you doing? Why are you slowing down? The Correllian Commander Born will surely be able to hit you at your current speed.:
“Chill-ax, Annie, I’ve got this.”
“Rookie mistake, Monkey Boy. A true Centurion would never have slowed down so much.” With a vise like grip, Greyven snatched Nova by the blue tunic and pulled him closer to himself. With his other hand Greyven reached out and gripped Richard around the throat. “All too easy.” A sadistic smile spreads across the Commander’s face.
Richard struggled to take a breath, his arms hanging useless at his side.
:Rider! Summon your solar energy, fight back! Your enhanced strength and endurance levels are still adequate for hand to hand combat.:
Richard mentally formed the word Shush! as loud as he could in his mind.
:Shush? I do not comprehend the concept.:
“Now, Earth slug Nova, lets use you as an example to any other would be Earth defenders. Let all see the fate of anyone that stands in the way of my destiny as a Herald for the Devourer.”
Greyven effortlessly carried Nova out of the half destroyed gymnasium and into the open field. Nova struggled and slowly lifted his arm above his head. Richard found the storage point within himself and focused the energy into his fist.
“I see. It seems you have some fight left. You have spirit for a subspecies. Too bad you won’t live long enough for the trainers on Xandar to see your potential. Good effort, but the energy you’ve generated won’t scratch my hardened skin.”
Indeed, the yellow energy crackling around Nova’s clenched fist was far from impressive and it was all Richard could summon.
“That’s cool, because I just thought since this was your first time in New York you should see the Statue of Liberty. The Statue of Liberty PLAY, that is.”
As Greyven’s attention was locked on Nova’s glowing fist, Richard lifted up his knees, bracing his feet against the Commander’s chest. In a flash of yellow energy, Nova activated his FTL flight speed! Nova fired off into space as the backblast of energy hit Greyven square in the chest! The Commander slammed into the ground with enough force to create a forty foot wide by forty foot deep crater in the middle of the playing field.
“Whooooo! They never see the Statue of Liberty play coming. Look one way, go the other!” Richard said aloud as he slowed to HV speed just as he reached the outer atmosphere. The force of the FTL speed felt like it had turned him inside out but it also felt amazing at the same time. He slowed to a complete stop and free floated in space for a full two seconds.
“Blue Blazes. It’s beautiful.” He stared at the sight of Earth from space. He had seen this view in movies and TV all his life but this was breathtaking. “Human Rocket.” With those last words, Nova started to fly back down into the atmosphere, his helmet feeding him the proper coordinates and directing him back to the park.
:Rider! I told you never to activate FTL in a planet’s atmosphere! Never!:
“Yeah, but I thought you meant never in a Ghostbusters sort of way. You know, like never cross the streams.”
:Ghostbusters? I don’t comprehend. I don’t see any correlation...:
“Never mind, Annie. Never mind. Point is, we took down the bad guy.” Richard lands next to the crater, seeing that his FTL blastoff had shattered all glass as far as he could see. Car alarms were blaring for miles in all directions. “Wow. This is why you told me not to do it. I caused a lot of damage. People could have been hurt.”
:You must be careful, Rider. I’m picking up no fatalities due to your launch. You were lucky this time.:
“Yeah, lucky. I have a lot to learn.” Richard again attempted to scratch his head, only to hit the cold metal helmet surface.
“Yes, you do. A lot to learn.”
Nova spun around to see three humanoid figures in uniforms similar to his. Yellow, blue and helmets all of them. Each unique but enough of the same to mark them as a unit. One was human looking but with a blue tint to his skin, one was female with antennae protruding from her helmet and red skin and the third was a huge hulking creature with dark brown spots all over his face and exposed arms.
“Still the Earth boy did well.” It was the red female.
“For an Earther,” the Hulk in a helmet said.
“For anyone! Laying at the bottom of that pit is a Correllian Born,” the female argued.
“Enough! From this moment on, he is to be referred to as a Centurion. R’ghira, Botset, go and retrieve the Commander. Greyven’s people need assurances that he is alive before we take him to trial.”
The two alien Nova’s flew into the pit as the blue tinged human Nova landed before Richard.
“Earthman Richard Rider, you are now the newly appointed Nova Centurion of Sector 11249-44396. Commander Greyven has violated multiple Galactic laws and will be taken into custody. You have done exceptionally well in apprehending him. I will be keeping a close eye on you during your time at the Academy on Xandar. Come along, your life in the Corps is just beginning.”
“With all due respect... Sir,” Richard never was good with authority figures outside of his team coaches, “but I can’t go anywhere right now. I have tests coming up and then College, maybe the NFL. You just have no idea.”
The Nova Commander watched as the two Centurions flew Greyven to a cloaked space vessel shimmering on the grass. He turned to Richard with a smile. “Well, Rookie, maybe you deserve a break. A leave of absence. A Correllian Commander Born is no small task for a new recruit. You’ve earned some time off. Make arraignments, practice constantly with your AINI and after a time I will return. When I do, you report to Xandar for more... formal training. Rhomann Dey was a great Centurion and a greater friend. Do him proud.”
The trio enter the ship and leave the atmosphere like a shooting star.
“Incredible! I’m like a superhero. Watch out Spider-Man! Maybe the FF are looking for a new member. Hey, what am I waiting for? With these speed powers I can still make the concert. Time to celebrate!”
Richard smiles as he is about to blast off for the Mall, but he stops as he hears Ginger step from the bus. She begins to gather the kids on the grass.
“Annie, did she or the kids see the space ship and stuff?”
:No. Only your helmet allowed you to see past the cloak. They did, however, witness the battle with Greyven.:
“I’ve got that covered.”
—