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Manticore'sManticore'sManticore'sManticore'sManticore'sManticore'sManticore'sManticore'sManticore's CallCallCallCallCallCallCallCallCall

Across the street from Sin Stalker's loft

Five seconds ago, the man who saved my life...

steel canyon district

paragon city, ri

december 26th, 2006

day after christmas

my friend...

my mentor...

...enteredthat building.

written by Joseph Cohen Screenshots from City of Heroes Cover by Orion Petitclerc Photo Editing by David 2, Night Hornet, techspider/kk, and Mad Mummy

sin!sin!sin!sin!sin!sin!sin!sin!sin!

He can't be dead. He's too good.

Not like this.

He can't be dead.

no. He can't be.

He can't be...

he...

Can't be...

Sin... ?

ssssssssshhhhhhhhh rrrrrrrrr rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr sssssssss ssssssssssssssssss

I.I.I.I.

Am.Am.Am.Am.

Manticore...

Synapse?!

Oh, no...

?

Obedience.Obedience.Obedience.Obedience.

wwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!

I am really

starting to dislike electricity as much

as magic.

aarg!awwouch!

My shields had barelyany effect.

Something--uhh!--about statesman makes my

aura almost completely fall...

obey.obey.obey.obey.

nah!nah!nah!nah!

how the...

I'm not-urg-

that strong.

unless... unless his

shields, his invulnerability are failing all

of a sudden like mine are.

I think I have a shot.Now we got ourselves a match!

busy? busy?

y-y-yes sir. um, uh sir? I have an update about the

uh, her-

-i mean, the gnats, sir. the gnats.

Really? well let's here what the General has to share.

hopefully it's more useful than his men using high explosives

in. my. office!

well... I-i-i, uh... >gulp<sir,

a-apparently Obedience does appear to have regained most of his powers.

We know this because it

appears obedience has taken full

control over not just manticore, but synapse and statesman.

the general is observing a fight between them and the

other hero... na-gnats. The other gnats. Sir.

No, sir. Finally it does appear as though Sin

Stalker has been killed, sir.

is that all ?

heh...

Maybe there really is a god.

SIR ?

HEROES...gNATS!

tHINKING THEY ALWAYS KNOW WHAT'S

BEST...sIR. i HAVE AN UPDATE, UNLESS... UNLESS YOU'RE BUSY, SIR?

Looking at the remains of what used to be my office, after these

heroes decided to bust in with their-their convictions and

superiority complexes...

gNats...all of them.

*********

*********

wwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaakkkkkkkkk

Editor - The Psychic Disruptor taken from cycorp that will stop a psychic when placed on their head.

Ugh!

Stalkling, are you alright?

No, both Statesman's

powers and mine are acting

strange together.

Becoming weaker one moment and stronger the

next.

Well, we have another problem. Synaspe got the

disruptor from me.

what?!how could you let him take it!

I didn't let...If you haven't noticed, he's

extremely fast.

What do you think

I'm--

get it back now!

uhh!

I.I.I.I.

Am.Am.Am.Am.

Obedience.Obedience.Obedience.Obedience.oh gawd...

kkkkkkkkkkrkrkrkrkrkrkrkrkrruunruunruunruunruunruunruunruunruunnchnchnchnchnchnchnchnchnchhkhkhkhkhkhkhkhkhkkkkkkkkkk

ahh!ahh!ahh!ahh!ahh!ahh!ahh!ahh!ahh!aaaaaaaaa !!!!!!!!!ObeyObeyObeyObey

no!

The disruptor...

CaptiveCaptiveCaptiveCaptive

No No No No more.more.more.more.

Obey.Obey.Obey.Obey.

Wha...

ObeyObeyObeyObey

ObeyObeyObeyObey

obey

obeyobeyobeyobey

obeyobeyobeyobey

obeyobeyobeyobey

obeyobeyobeyobey

ah! in my head!!

i,,, wON'T...

OH... BAY...

oBEYoBEYoBEYoBEY

oBEYoBEYoBEYoBEY

oBEYoBEYoBEYoBEY

uGH... wHERE... OHGAWD.

WHAT HAVE i...

UH! WON'T LET IT...

OBEY

OBEY

wwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmm

Won't...

won't. won't. won't. won't. . . . . ....

Obey.Obey.Obey.Obey.

Biosphere ? Statesman ?

Fight it! It doesn't seem

strong enough to control all four of you !

It's... so strong...

bay.bay.bay.bay.

oh...

I won't let you hurt

anyone else!

we ask that everyone please stay in your

homes and avoid this area of the city if possible.

>zzt< --On an open fire...

The Justice-Knight's base ship. Earth's Orbit above paragon City. ...Jack frost

nipping at your nose--

--We interupt the regular schedualed programming for a special emergancy report.

A super-powered brawl involving Members of the freedom phalanx has been

playing out in steel canyon.

The ones fighting the freedom phalanx appear to be Sin

stalker and biosphere.

Both formerheroes exposed by manticore

earlier today as criminals.

police andemergancypersonel

are en route.

stay tuned as we will be bringing you updates as soon as more develops.

thank you and happy holidays...

--and though its been said, many times, many ways...

...merry christmas

to...youuuu....

Now if I put this

wire here...

oh my...

rrrrrrrrr awawawawawawawawawrrrrrrrrr kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk kkkkkkkkk

obey.

obey.

I don't think so. aaahh!!!

Obey...

Synapse, manticore. You have to

fight it.

I don't want to

hurt you. I--

No! Not again...I won't let--

Obey

Obey

Obey

obeyobeyobeyobey

uhg!

ObeyObeyObeyObey

uuh...

Obey. . .

Obey. . .

Obey.

Obey

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Justice-Knights base ship. Medical Bay

Sin ?Sin, is

that you ? Obey

meEven in

death

Even

in hell

rraaaahhhh!!!

>huhf< >huhf< >huhf<

So then you are familiar with rikti

technology?

Before my powers, I was

known as one ofthe worlds

leading experts.

You didn't stay up to date ?

No, my funding had been cut off and

besides, my attention is now more on my own

biology.

Well, a few of the Knights would really love to see whatever data you've compiled.

Anything you could give us would help us greatly with the ship.

Sure. I have to say this place is amazing. where did

you find it ?

He found this crashed rikti ship left over from the first

invasion.

An old group member, an

aquatic hero who tends to stay out to

sea.

Most of the ship was

flooded or collasped

in on itself.

We've spent about a year rebuilding what we have, bringing in new equipment

and repairing the structure. A few months ago we were able to get it into orbit.

--How the hell did I get up here ?

Impressive, just amazing.

At least not for

us.

Unfortunately Rikti tech and earth tech don't seem to mix

very well.

Really ?I could

take a look and find--

You're awake already. How do you feel ?

Answer the question.

Dr. Frostbrug heard about the fight over the airwaves and

rescued us.

I was able to get the emergancy teleporter up and went down and brought you back.

me??

Yes. What the hell is

wrong with you ?

What is he still doing here, then ?

What ?

Oh, stalkling, It wasn't me. That obedience thing got inside my head. he--

No! Why the hell did you let them take

the disruptor?

After what sin went through to get it, you handed it to

them!

I'm sorry Stalkling. I really am.

You need

to go.

...yeah. Maybe I should...

No, Stalkling. We need him. We're all in the same

boat and if we face statesman we'll need him.

His strength and invulnerability are--

--I'm out of here then. Stalkling

wait......damn it.

Stalkling, hold on a moment.

Leave me alone,

frostburg.

What's the matter

with you ?

You reallyHave to ask me that? think it's

a bitobvious.

You mean... sin ?

I've been too afraid to ask Biosphere

what happened to him.

You want to know what happened ?

He died. that'sWhat happened.

how...?

Blown up! Smashed!

Statesman flew into him. took him two

seconds to do it too.

a hero like Sin stalker taken out in two seconds...

I can't believe it.

Yeah, well. That

passes.

Where are you going ?

To get help.

I already called in all

Justice-Knights. Everyone will be here as soon as

they can.

You really think any of us can stand against statesman, let

alone synapse and manticore all at the same time ?!

Notalone, buttogether we--

Save it, old man. I'm going for real

help.

Stalkling...

I said I'm going.So leave me alone!

No...

Is it true ?About Sin Stalker ?

I was hoping you wouldn't ask me.

Is it true, Biosphere ?

He is dead...

I'm sorry.

Maybe I should go.

Please.We really do need

your help.

None of us have your level of invulnerability

and super strength.

We'll need that, especially if we

facestatesman.

But stalkling--

--isn'tour leader.

Without Sin, It's Dark Synaspe,

Lady Inferus and My own call.

Please Biosphere. We need you.

> click <> click <> click <> click <> click <> click <> click <> click <> click <

...it's enough. We need

to abort.

Cyril's bringing in too many outsidecontracts andit's all getting too much press. There's just too

much heat.

heat?

quiet, simple.

You have your assignment. Finish it.

But what about our

policies?

Waved for Cyril. Do

your job. We won't tell you again.

Damn. I don't like this.>sigh<

Not at all...

My toes are so dirty...

Sin...

I don't know what else to do.

I'm sorry...

This is Jason Smith for

paragon news network, near the

Blyde Square Neighborhood.

Only a few hours ago, a super powered

brawl tore through this

area.

We have now confirmed through eyewitness accounts that the

super individuals were Sin Stalker and

Biosphere.

The same heroes exposed earlier as

being criminals funded by Mr. Cyril

of CyCorp.

-And that our realheroes of this city are acting out of character. Namely

Manticore.

To dismiss all those rumors, we have here now this cities first and greatest. Our own

beloved hero, Statesman.

Like earlier today, manticore

attempted to apprehend these former heroes, only this time he was assisted by

his fellow freedom phalanx

members, Statesman and

Synapse.

Sin stalker and biosphere were

arrested, butanotherteleported in and just as quickly teleported out. Taking the two

criminals with him.

Hello and thank you both for giving us this interview.

It's no problem. there are many conspiracy theorists who have

already begun littering the internet with sites about today's events.

"theories"such as those

originally told by Sin Stalker.

Exactly.A completely ridiculous statesment. That's why I am here; To put a rest to

all of this.

What about your

change in attitude ?

If the public thinks I am

acting different.

I am.

I am trying togive the publican image they

can trustduring this

difficult time.

What about sisterpsyche ? Rumorswere that her

recent coma is thereason for yourbehavior change.

When Sin Stalker called you out publicly as

being a "fake" manticore. ...

. . . . . . . . .yes..yes..yes..yes.

Yes Yes Yes Yes it it it it is. is. is. is. . . . . ....

Now, there are rumors out there talking about how "maybe"

the justice-knights have been framed, that

there is a lack of physical evidence-

This new evidence brings to light that the entire group, the Justice-Knights are in fact criminals and in league with

cycorp.

We identified the teleporting super as

Dr. Frostburg. A member of the same

group that Sin Stalker is leader of.

Sister Psyche is a cared-for teamate

to me and her recent attack is just another

reason I've begun to change my ways.

But what about the rumors of

continued accessive force being used by you ?

We all care about sister psyche andwe just found newevidence showing

the Justice-Knightsmay be behind herhospitalization.

Speaking of evidence. There are those out there saying there is

no real evidence-heheh, against the

Justice-Knights.

We do have fullEvidence

against the Justice-Knights.

But due to the nature of the situation, it

won't be released until after the Justice-Knights are in custody.

Butwhat

about--

--I'm sorry but that is all the

time for questions.

Right, but before we go

we have a message for everyone.

Go ahead.

To all citizens of Paragon City and

beyond. we ask you to join us in boycotting

and protesting CyCorp for their

behind-the-scenes criminal

activities and evils.

And as for the realHeroes out there,rest. Tomorrow,like statesman'scall almost threeyears ago... MyCall goes out.

This evilOrganization will be taken

down.

Cyril must learn

obedience...

... totototo

the the the the law.law.law.law.

You see that ?

the reference.

I can't figure out if its this obedience

creature rubbing it in or their way of

fighting its control...

...sending us a

message.is this all so far ?

Soul Harverst is on his way but besides him,

you're the only ones to respond, so far.

I'm really getting tired of this open invite policy.

A group of two dozen members and only fourrespond to a full emergancy

call.

Three responded actually. Biosphere

here isn't a member...

Regardless, let's get

started. We can fill in soul later.

ssssssssshhhhhhhhhhzhzhzhzhzhzhzhzhzzzzzzzzzzzrzrzrzrzrzrzrzrzrrrrrrrrrr

Soul Harverst's illusions.

Hey guys. So what's all the mess

about, thistime ?

How am I even supose to get there unnoticed ?

The place is surrounded by police, heroes and

news.

That's what we

need you to tell us.

Are you

sure ?

...

Soul, you're

with me.Where're

we going ?

To save a life...

That offer we had

earlier...

I accept.

To be concluded.

But we can make anotherdeal.

I'm Sorry.I told youthat was a

limitedtime offer...