The VS Times

[Monika]

Ace Reporter and totally-not-a-spy Johnny Velazquez here. Thanks for picking up the latest issue of The VS Times or Valeshroud Magazine, your one stop source for all things in the city! In this month's issue, we're talking about all these crazy hero guys who have been roaming around the city. We've got the dirt on any guy who can run faster than a Kenyan or lift more than Arnold Schwarzenegger! I found out a bunch of stuff, like their

Name:

What they look like:

How old they are:

Their background info:

Their powers:

And how they got 'em:

...but I totally didn't spy on them, I swear. Look, dude, if you're still doubting my credibility and you want a more 'legit' source, check out the city HRC. I dunno what it stands for, but it totally isn't as good as this magazine.

[Monika]

Dude, I guess I'd better start out with a bio of the mayor. He's, like, not a super or anything, but he'd probably kill me if I didn't cover him! Anyway, here's the details on our lovely leader.

Name: Alexander "Alex" Zen

Age: 33

Appearance: Alex is about 6'2" in height and of a fairly average build, neither too muscular nor extraordinarily gaunt. He has amber colored eyes, cream colored skin, short brown hair, and a facial expression that indicates how he's always thinking about something. No matter where he goes, he's probably wearing one of his many suits with a matching tie.

History: Born 33 years ago to Michael and Alexandria Zen, Alex has spent all of his life in Valeshroud City surrounded by superheroes. He was born into absurd affluence; his father started Zencorp some 40 years ago as a small family bank, and by the time Alex was born the family had already become millionaires. Of course, this did not go without notice. Their wealth made them a prime target for criminals, and one night when Alex was about 7 years old, a burglar broke into the Zen Mansion. This guy wasn't an ordinary burglar, though. He was a super powered burglar with strength, speed, and viciousness far above the level of an average human. Alex, his mother and his father awoke to the sounds of the burglary and the parents tried to stop the thief, but his strength easily overtook them. Alex silently escaped the mansion, ran down the street and tried to find a superhero to help his family, but the ones he found weren't willing to help "the rich snobs in the big house down the street." By the time Alex got back, most of the family possessions were gone and his father was weeping over a body. Alexandria had died during the struggle with the burglar.

Years later, Alex graduated from high school and college, all the while holding a bitter grudge against any person with superpowers. Deciding to do something about it, he ran for mayor around the age of 24, his campaign centering around "finding and terminating any non-human who would dare ruin the city". Around this same time, Alex's father decided to run for the U.S. Senate. It'd be cool to say "like father like son" here, but Michael Zen ended up losing miserably in his election, while Alex won the mayoral election by a landslide. The combination stress from losing his wife so many years prior and an election at the time caused Michael to commit suicide, although no one ever found the body. This left control of Zencorp to Alex, who has been the chairman for 9 years.

Personality: Cunning, smart, always thinking, filled with hatred. Sums it up to a "T". Good public speaker when he wants to be, but he usually comes off more as intimidating than revered.

[Mizagium]

Birth Name: Aaron Stillman

Alter Ego: Shade

Appearance: Short blond hair. Bright green eyes. About 6'1''. Depending on the day, he has a light stubble on his face or is clean shaven.

Costume: Greatcoat and 'Phantom of the Opera' mask

Age: 17

Brief History: Aaron Stillman has lived in Valeshroud all his life, growing up as close friends with the girl who would become know as Toast Girl. She is the only person to whom he has disclosed his powers, which began to manifest in the 6th grade. His abilities as an empath emerged out of an uncanny sense of when people were upset to the point where he can feel every emotion within a given area unless he consciously blocks them out. It was the same with telepathy, but he now has near total control over their psychic abilities, able to get along without accidentally reading someone's mind. Telekinesis has only began to emerge in the last year or so, and he is still struggling to get a firm grasp on it.

Despite his control and apparent normality, since accompanying Toast Girl into the superhero world, he has developed something akin to schizophrenia, where part of him wants to keep his identity a secret and play hero (reluctantly) while the other part desires selfish use of his powers and shedding of his disguise. So far it hasn't been a major problem, so he has kept it a secret from Toast Girl, but he wonders if his "evil half" could take control of him one day.

Aaron's mother, Clarice, divorced his father Henry Stillman when Aaron was only 9, and remarried when he was 14, to Thomas Yaeger. Aaron has a decent relationship with Thomas, though outright refuses to call him dad or take his last name, which both adults accept. Henry stays in regular contact with Aaron.

Superpowers: Empathic, Telepathic, Telekinetic

Origin of Powers: Birth

[Myrdraxxis]

((I'll totally get in on this once I decide on a super power. This shit keeps me up at night...))

[Mizagium]

Thinking up a good superpower? Yeah...

I like my schizo guy

[TEAM_DERRICK]

Hello freaks, friends, and fellow gonzo enthusiasts. Daniel H. Stantler here with some recently “disclosed” information regarding one of the most interesting cases I’ve ever stumbled upon. As we all know, our beloved mayor cannot stand the idea of opposition. Whether it be from competing companies, politicians, or in this particular case, supers.
Being the superstar I am: I was recently invited to attend the bi-annual VSU ball hosted by none other than the mayor himself. I arrived at the scene hoping to find some interesting news, but instead found the story of the century! As I greeted guests with the usual questions, I stumbled upon a rather disgruntled professor. The renowned Dr. Franz Leets himself was offering me the chance to interview him. I jumped at the opportunity like a dog on a rotten steak.
He seemed rather perturbed, his hair somewhat more frenzied than usual. I couldn’t help but smell the alcohol in his breath (although in retrospect, perhaps I smelled the pat’ish in my pocket). He began to tell me a tale of tragedy and awe. As we all know, our mayor put into law a bill that made supers breeding illegal within our fine city. Theories abound as to why. Most state that it’s to keep the numbers of supers down to a manageable level. Others (me) suggest that it’s due to his inferiority complex regarding those with extraordinary powers. But the story the good doctor gave to me has shattered my previous assumptions and has shown me the true horrors of the Tyrant we let into office.
We all remember the Super-couple Excelsior and Twister: truly, a Romeo and Juliet tale for the modern age. We all remember their heroic sacrifice against the Villain Kommodore Khaos. However, an important part of their history as remained buried until now! According to the doc, they had a son! An incredibly gifted one at that! He was unable to give me a name but I believe that he referred to him as Malignant #134. Numbuh 134 here was seized by the government shortly after his parents’ sacrifice.
Now, perhaps we’d prefer to not remember this particular super, Captain Vale. An ardent supporter of Segregation and Anti-Semitism, and perhaps one of the most powerful supers the world has ever seen, he was noted as having gone missing over 30 years ago. According to Dr. Leets, he was disposed of by none other than number 134 himself.
Dr. Leets has since gone missing since this interview, but one thing remains, this article! With it, we can finally push for having our dictator of a mayor thrown out of office! He’s keeping what may be the world’s most powerful superhero restrained underneath our very homes! This potential messiah has been shackled by the oppression of public office!
Get out there and spread the news!
Gonzo Journalist, Daniel H. Stantler signing off!
…
Oh yeah, here’s the info on said super.

Name: Unknown. Malignant #134 is our only known name.

What they look like: Also unknown. Probably has brown hair like his parents. Probably Caucasian as well.

How old they are: Probably pretty old by this point. At least in his forties.

Their background info: Son of Excelsior and Twister.

Their powers: The Doc alluded to powerful psyionic power. Perhaps to the point of being able to manipulate matter!

And how they got 'em: Parents are supers.

[Monika]

Your man JV back here with the next article! This one's about this cool cat named Cassandra, and she's totally hot! That, and she's like, the Silver Matador's manager or something. She even created his card game all by herself!

Name: Cassandra Williams

Age: 22

Appearance: Cassandra's a total babe who stands at about 5'10". She's got long brown hair, adorable brown eyes, creamy skin and totally huge...assets. (Stupid chief editor says I have to watch what I say...) She wears glasses, although rumor has it that her eyesight is near perfect and that the glasses are just for show. Either way, she looks totally hot. She usually wears some hot dress with some pocket I'd totally like to put my hands into...Anyway, the pocket has her trademark notepad, and with the pen she always has behind her left ear, she writes down any and every idea she has about making money from the Silver Matador.

History: 22 years ago this total beauty was born to General Jack Williams and Jessie Williams, a soldier and beauty salon owner, respectively. Apparently, she wasn't all that hot as a child and didn't have many friends, so she would spend all her time writing down stories about the total jerks in her school. Apparently this stupid Carlos Knight kid became her friend back when they were in middle school or something, not too long after he moved from California, even though they were three grades apart. When she got 18, a little help from puberty and her mother turned her into a total babe. Naturally, she got all the attention from all the guys, although for whatever reason her sights were set on that dumb Carlos kid. The total idiot actually kept pushing her away because his girlfriend had died recently or something stupid.

Years later, Cassandra used her pro writing skills to rapidly advance through Valeshroud State University, graduating at the age of 21 or something with a dual degree in Journalism and Management. Not too long after that, she worked for this very magazine. Then, for whatever reason, she suddenly quit and totally left me without her...to move in with that Carlos jerk! Now the two are rich, not tied down by marriage or anything, and are out in public together all the time! Why can't my life be like that? It's so not fair, dude.

Personality: Smart. Totally smart. And really flirtatious, too. She probably does it to make fun of all the boys who hated her when she was totally not hot. It's uncool, but totally hot. She dislikes bugs, her favorite color is red, she loves seafood, she loves telling stories, great speaker, has a birthmark on the left side of her stomach shaped like...Oh, dude! Like, I'm gonna get fired if I write anymore, so I'll see you on the next article in the VS Times.

[Razgat]

Name: Natalie Simmons (Toast Girl)

What they look like:

About 5", very short and lanky. Extremely thin as well. Long brown hair and brown eyes. Often wears sweaters. Her costume resembles a milk maid's with two toasters on her hips. Her Butter Boots release the melty goodness from their heels and allow her to slide anywhere she pleases.

How old they are: 17

Their background info: Natalie's parents are both lawyers and want nothing but the best for their daughter. Unknowingly to them, she was born with very strange super powers. She has the powers of a hearty breakfast. Though her Toast Girl side might be lively and hauty, her Natalie side is much different. Natalie has always been on the small side in every way and is often picked on by her classmates. The result of this is a very shy and insecure girl who hides behind her turtle necks and books. Though most students like to call her "Flatalie" or "Gnatalie", one friend has stuck with her. She's a lifelong friend of Aaron Stillman, the only one who knows about her powers. Though she may be insecure about herself, she's quick to stick up for others.

Being a highschool girl, Natalie has a bit of a crush on a boy in her school named James Fillman. He's a swimmer and somewhat popular, though Natalia thinks he doesn't notice her much. It's common for her to tell Aaron about all her encounters with him, even if they are few.

Their powers: She throws Toast Stars (similar to ninja stars). She also shoot jelly out of her finger tips to create a sticky trap and can use her butter boots for transportation.

And how they got 'em: She was born with them, but she didn't discover she had them until she was 10. She's kept it a secret, except from Aaron, ever since then.

[Myrdraxxis]

Name: Nathan Greystone (Railgun)

What they look like: around 5"11, athletic build. short bacl hair and blue eyes. His "costume" is cargo pants and a bullet-proof vest under a black leather long-coat. Wears a skull-pattern balaclava, a black fedora and shades to cover his face.

how old they are: 18

How old they are:

Their background info: Nathan's mother died in childbirth, leaving Nathan alone in the world with a drunken and abusive father. At the age of ten, Nathan feld from his home, living by himself in the city. It was around this time that he discovered his abilities, using them to stop crimes and protect others. Nathan was forced to attend school by the local government (under promise that, as a ward of the state, his father would not find him) and attends the local school with Aaron and Natalia (though they are acquaintances at best).

Their powers: Nathan is an electromaster, with the ability to manipulate electricity (and all that pertains). His signature move, which earned him his superhero name, is the ability to charge energy into his arms as he flicks a coin at someone, effectively turning it into a high-powered railgun. His weapon of choice is a pocket of loose change.

And how they got 'em: Nathan discovered his latent abilities on the streets, apparently having been born with them. Having not known his mother and strained relations with his father, the origin of his abilities remains a mystery to the boy.

[Mizagium]

SUBPLOT: DISCOVER THE ORIGINS OF RAILGUN

[Mizagium]

Also, does Railgun/Nathan know that Aaron and Natalie are Shade and Toast Girl?

[Myrdraxxis]

...sure, why not

[Mizagium]

That would kind of force them to talk, even if he doesn't like to.

[Myrdraxxis]

true. Let's go with that.

[Mizagium]

I get the feeling Aaron and Nathan wouldn't get along very well.

[Myrdraxxis]

indeed

[Mizagium]

Well, maybe not. Shade and Railgun would just be standing there while Toast Girl runs off and nearly kills herself.

[TEAM_DERRICK]

Cyril and Railgun need to fight. Like, now.

[Myrdraxxis]

hooray Railgun!

now start the story already!

[Monika]

It will start sooooon. Like tomorrow soon. WE MUST NOT RUSH THESE THINGS.