Day #2 - Breaking Good

[Jack Darby]

After his meeting with Twilight,  Matthew knew he had a lot of work to do. The problems of the Lower Tiers were not going to fix themselves, over night. Upon arriving in the downtrodden slums that were Tier Five, Matthew sighed. Muggings, and other crimes could be seen in progress by Matthew, but he couldn't deal with them, at least not right now, anyway. This tier needed more law enforcement, and Matthew had to admit that it needed more heroes on it, to try and clean up the insanity that was this tier. There were so many crimes going on, that he didn't know where he was going to begin. First, he should probably take inventory of the equipment he had at his disposal. Such was a wise idea, anyway. Noticing that an individual nearby was getting shot by a criminal, and held a great sword in his hands, Matthew ran over and tried to stop the individual doing the shooting, but he was too late. Growling, he'd take out his bo-staff and use it to disarm the individual and then smash him into unconsciousness, before he tied him up with some rope that he made out of Omnilium.

[Jack Darby]

After hauling the unconscious, and heavy individual who was responsible for a murder Matthew had witnessed, Matthew looked over at the sword that had been possessed by the now dead secondary. While corpse robbing was not normally right, leaving a weapon out in the open for anyone who had half a mind to use it was "wrong" in the eyes of Matthew. This was why he concentrated some of the Omnilium he possessed into the blade, changing it on a molecular level so it could shrink down into a more compact form when it was not in use by him. While it was not his ideal style of blade, perhaps it could come in handy against the criminal element down here. After all, he had a lot of work to do and could ill afford to turn away any weapons that could help him down. Any advantages he could get were ones he was going to need down here. The streets were unsafe. Well unsafe was putting it mildly. 

Lowering one's guard down here could only result in that individual getting killed. It was why Matthew had tried to warn that strange secondary away from this part of Coruscant. For some individuals it was too dangerous. For Matthew Mcginnis however, the place reminded him of Gotham. It needed something, it needed someone who could be a symbol to the people that they didn't need to be scared. In order to win against the criminals on this tier, Matthew was going to have to become something else... become someone else. 

But who? 

Who could he become that could possibly hold their own against this level of insanity? Matthew had no idea, and that was one of the reasons he had not acted more than he had yet. Sure he had not taken down anyone with lethal force, but that was because he was not sure what was going to happen if he did.

[Jack Darby]

As he sat down in the comfortable chair in front of the computer system that was located inside of the cave beneath the Old Manor he had taken over, Matthew began to make some entries about his time so far in the Omniverse. The initial log showed that he had met a number of species, including an Orc, and a mythological creature. The individual who had wielded the blade had been a lizard like creature, before he had been murdered. It was time he did some practice with the various tools he possessed, to make sure that he could use them properly. It was good to do equipment checks like that, anyway. 

The blade was obviously what he should put to the test first. After all, it was one he had no experience with, and needed to learn how to use. While he was loath to pick up a sword and rely on it, in the streets of this tier the crime rate was too heavy for him. Matthew groaned as he materialized a cup of tea out of Omnilium. Normally he was the type to do things by hand,  but Matthew had felt off today for some reason. Oh yes, he knew the reason why. He'd failed to save the life of that secondary who had been shot by that other individual that Matthew had knocked unconscious. Still he needed to get to the point where he could protect himself out there in the mean streets of Tier Five. Defending Tier Six was not something that could be done, at least not now. There were many reasons he had told that so called "Princess" to avoid the lower tier below this one.  Among them was the level of crime that was on Tier Six. The Empire also didn't even bother with patrols of that area of Coruscant which burned Matthew's biscuits, and made him irritated about the whole mess he was dealing with. 

Part of the mess was the fact the law enforcement didn't care really about the shape of this, or Tier Six all that much. Forcing himself to stand up from the comfortable cushions that were made out of a velvet like material in the computer chair,  Matthew decided now was the best time for him to begin his practice so he could be prepared. Chances are he was going to have go out tonight, and boy did he dread doing that. Going over to the area where the armory was, Matthew picked out the item that he had found earlier for his own personal use. 

The item in question was something that he had inherited by right of salvage, salvaging it off someone who had died in the streets, to prevent anyone else from using it against others on the streets. The sword was black, and silver, with a sapphire in the hilt. It was a great sword. It had a draconic type feel to the blade in terms of aesthetics. Picking it up, he'd heft it experimentally. The blade was a bit on the heavier side, but it was still one he could learn to use with time. Practicing with it,  Matthew did a spinning slash with the sword upon a dummy he had materialized. Unfortunately it was a bit on the heavier side, and did slow him down somewhat. Fortunately, the blade was useful enough as it was. 

However, he'd still need to practice with his other equipment, and further expand his arsenal.

[Jack Darby]

Explosives were a weapon that at some point he planned to add to his arsenal, but he didn't at present possess. A mental note was made by Matthew that some had to be acquired as soon as possible. Of course there were multiple different kinds of explosives that he could choose to use, should he go down that path. Granted against some opponents, explosives might be the better choice. There were a lot of complex chemicals, and a lot of steps that went into the production of C4 so it probably was not the best choice as far as explosives could go, were he to use them. Thermite was also an option, but he didn't remember or even know the chemical make up of the explosive, so making it was out of the question. Shaking his head ruefully,  Matthew made another mental note that when he was next at the library he had to research explosives, and how to make things go boom. 

Guns were one thing Matthew simply had in his arsenal. Well, he had one anyway. One that was a wrist mounted set of guns. They were a special piece of equipment. Sure they were just replicas of the guns that had been wielded by Dead Shot. Summoning a couple of targets out of Omnilium,  Matthew started blasting at the targets with bullets. However his shots went too far to the right. 

"DAMN IT!"


Apparently he had a lot of training to go before he could get back out there.

[Jack Darby]

His sword was a fine piece of equipment. Likely the blade was going to serve him well when he needed it on the streets out there. His knife had already been put  and tested through all it's paces. The knife was a finely made tool, but that was all it was. The knife couldn't be used in direct combat, for more than stabbing, or slashing but it did have it's utility uses, such as cutting ropes, stabbing into a leg, or a variety of other uses that he could use it for. The Bo-Staff was like that of "Nightwing" before the hero had disappeared from his world. Of course that had happened before Matthew had been born, but he had looked it up. Even with the guns he had, the bo-staff was not enough on it's own. Detaching the Wrist Guns, he'd dismiss them and go over to where the Anime Sword, Fearless Fang was. 

Picking it up, he'd heft it over one shoulder. Jumping into the air, he'd perform a spinning slash and take out a couple of the dummies.  "Yes. My skills are growing. I could be ready soon, for the crime wave that plagues this Tier." 

He'd then come to a stop, and put the sword down. "What else do I need to practice with?" 

Matthew thought about it. He hadn't practiced with the Energy-Blast Attachment, or the Bo-Staff all that much. More practice was also needed with his batarang because he needed to master the equipment.

[Jack Darby]

The bo-staff was just one of the tools in the arsenal of Matthew, as was the knife. His sword was something that he had picked up from a corpse. Sure it was not an ideal weapon, but it was something that Matthew knew he could probably use. His wrist guns had an energy blast attachment, of course. Following that up he possessed a knife, and had the batarang.  A sigh escaped his lips, as he had realized that he had finished his check up. All of his equipment for the mission tonight except for one piece was in order for him. Every superhero had a disguise that allowed them to keep their loved ones safe. 

What costume was the right one for him? Matthew thought about that, and pulled out the orb of Omnilium that he had been given. Platforms appeared, which held various costumes he remembered, though none of them were functional. 

One of the costumes was black and gray, and had a white mask, with a Red X on it.   "Hmm. This guy was a criminal, Red X if the history records were correct but I guess I could use the identity here....no. I don't have the power source for the suit." 

Matthew then smiled a bit.  "Well, Omnilium can make anything. So that will do for tonight. I'll wear a different costume every night,"  

He'd then start to change out of his clothing, into the Red X suit.   "I'm no hero. But, maybe that's what the city needs. Someone who for the law bends." 


Once he was suited up, he'd summon up a motorcycle and depart from his Mansion via a hidden passage to another area of Tier Five. There was work to be done and tonight, Red X was going to patrol the streets.

[Jack Darby]

Back home in Gotham, Red X was likely to have been arrested on sight because of the criminal background he had, if anyone even remembered that he had been a criminal for the "Teen Titans" in Jump City. Yet here in the Omniverse? Matthew was disguised as Red X because Red X was a virtual unknown. Sure his suit lacked any form of Zenothium reactor, but he could live with that. Omnilium could replicate anything that the suit could do. Driving his motorcycle he noticed a mugging taking place, and pulled out one of his batarangs. Throwing it with a sharp aim, he'd manage to hit the mugger upside the head. The mugger turned and noticed Red X.  "Who are you supposed to be?" asked the thug. 

They were on a street that had every building in severe need of repair. 

"You can call me Red X." 

"What??" asked the thug,  charging with the heavy club that he was carrying at "Red X."    Red X flipped out of the way and landed behind the individual. 

"I'll just Xtract you from this situation,"  said Matthew,  delivering a whack with the bo-staff upside the back of the head.  "AAAGH!" screamed the thug as he crumpled to the ground in pain, knocked unconscious by the brutal strike that Matthew had done as Red X. 

"One down. Several to go,"  sighed Matthew as he watched the streets from the rooftop he'd climbed up to. 

Matthew knew he was going to need more X themed gadgets, before he could go out as Red X though. Any were actually good, as he had none.

[Jack Darby]

Panting as he drove his motorcycle back to the cave that he called his base, as Composite Man, Matthew was exhausted. It had been a productive night as Red X. A dozen robberies had been stopped by him, and he had beat down a couple of muggers. His skills had been useful, but he couldn't rely on just his skills. More equipment was what he most definitely needed. His everything ached right now because of how much activity he had done. Finally arriving back at the cave after about an hour he'd strip off the Red X suit, and sigh. Going out as Red X hadn't felt right to him. Perhaps he could wear a different costume in the future, because he needed to discover who he was meant to be. Of course equipment for each of the identities was going to be needed by him, should he decide to so. Sitting down in a hot tub, he let the warm water wash over his muscles. As it soothed his tired and worn out muscles, Matthew sighed in pleasure. This was certainly soothing, and now had his body relaxed. Yet, he couldn't rest on his laurels. Having climbed out of the hot tub, he had walked over to the computer of the lair and looked it over. There were several criminal activities in progress. Did evil ever sleep? It seemed he had an even longer night ahead of him. 

"I had hoped to have some time to rest, after all that work I did,"  said Matthew. Groaning as he put on the Red X suit once more, he looked it over. For now the suit was a memory of home, one that he could wear for his own use. Sure it lacked the abilities of the original Red X suit, but he could probably learn some way to make those abilities work in the future. Matthew sighed once more, as he put on the utility belt. This suit felt unfamiliar against his flesh, and uncomfortable. It was not as good as the gear he had possessed in the past as Composite Man. Yet, nearly all of that gear was missing. 

Strapping on Deadshot's wrist guns, he'd sigh again. 

This place was worse than Gotham City, and that meant Matthew had a lot of work to do to establish his various identities as heroes.

[Jack Darby]

The streets continued to seem worse, and worse every time Matthew went out. Earlier in the day he had faced down a lot of muggers, and thieves. Sure he had gotten the job done then, but he was beginning to wear out. Matthew groaned once more as he drove his motorcycle through the streets of Tier Five which were in need of repair. As he stared at the graffiti stained walls of one of the buildings that had been lit on fire, he could have sworn he heard a…. “HELP ME”  The scream of a little girl was heard from the interior of the building. Matthew scowled and promised himself that he was going to track down her parents. Who left a kid in a burning building? And why was the building on fire, anyway? It wasn’t like this was supposed to be something that happened. This was most definitely not going to be a fun activity, to say the least. Firing his grapple gun he'd scale to the window. 

"Get back,"  He'd say to the girl. Wisely, she complied. Using his bo-staff, he'd shatter the window that held the girl inside the building. The heat was suffocating and miserable. When some of the smoke hit him in the face, Matthew was thankful that his mask as "Red X" concealed all visual response. Leaping into the building, he'd grab onto the girl, and grapple down with her to the base of the building. 

Fifteen minutes later, an ambulance arrived. Matthew talked with them. 

"So someone's going around doing arson, right?" 

"Yes, he calls himself.. Inferno. "

"And Inferno is?"  asked Matthew. 

"A supervillain." 

Oh hell no. A super villain was not going to get his jollies by targeting the innocents, if Matthew had any say in the matter. But first, he was going to need a lot more equipment before he could hope to deal with something on that scale.

[Jack Darby]

Coruscant now had a supervillain which didn’t set well, with the newest hero of the city. Heroes were needed to combat supervillains, but even they dreaded them. Of course, Matthew dreaded such for an entirely different reason.The truth of the matter was that he was not a hero of any kind, to be honest. All he was, was the rejected bit of DNA at the other side of the gene pool no one had wanted, except Amanda Waller. Even though she had wanted him, most of the practice and training he had done under her was something he had no memory of, right now.  In all honesty he needed those memories, before he’d be ready to take on the likes of any major players. Hopefully Inferno was more of a minor class villain, than an actual supervillain. If it were possible that he was a minor class, Matthew might be able to take him down.  Order needed to be reinstated, but as he was right now, Matthew couldn’t hope to do so. It wasn’t just a shortage of equipment, though that played a major role in why he couldn’t go up against an individual like “Inferno” just yet. To be a hero, one needed a reputation that was not an easy thing to acquire. Acquiring the reputation was going to take time, but did he dare wait? Inferno could strike again at any time, and cause more problems. 

In addition, though he didn’t remember enough of his universe at present to recreate the equipment of most of the heroes of the villains. Such a situation was a problem with potentially lethal consequences, if he encountered Inferno, and had nothing that could stop him. Judging from his name, Matthew’s assumption was the individual possessed capabilities over fire, which was going to make things difficult for him. Upon once more getting back to the yet to be named lair that he used as his home, Matthew groaned, as he stripped off the Red X Costume, and put it in a washing machine he made out of Omnilium. The costume stank, because of how busy he had been, out there. Truly there were other heroes out there, perhaps he could get some of them willing to work with him. In any case, he knew he was done for now, with playing the hero. 

"Looks like I've got a lot of work to do,"  groaned Matthew, as he stretched his tired, and irritated muscles. What he had said was not even the half of the truth. It was an impossible amount of work that he'd have to accomplish.