Halloween Contest Entry: It's not what you think...

 Author's note- story continued from https://heroes-rising-forum.2349640.n4.nabble.com/Purging-Purgatory-Penitentiary-tp428.html

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The elevator doors slid open and Director Nova stepped out into BADGE HQ. He hated that two mile ride down, but this was the most secure location on Earth. The headquarters of the most advanced base on the planet were surprisingly vacant, but this was normal. Most of the work conducted here was done by robots along with the most sophisticated AI system in the world.

After a short walk down the corridor, Nova came into a large room filled with computer consoles and a massive set of screens. Two robots worked at the consoles as the only crew today.

“Let’s check in on the teams.” He stated. “Call up the world maps, I want to see where these leagues are?”

“Understood Director.” The computer answered and the screens filled with maps of the world. Each map had the location of the various teams of superheroes that worked for BADGE. They organized themselves into leagues so they could fight crime locally as well as more easily respond to a call for international emergencies.

“Unit 10915, contact the leagues around the Detroit area. I want to know why the crime rate there has doubled this week.” The robot at the computer stopped moving and nothing happened, “10915 respond.” Nova approached the rigid robot.

Before he could find out what was wrong both robots stood up and started dancing around, their bodies acting like puppets on strings.

“What the hell is going on?” Nova struck a fighting stance.

Just then the computer monitors buzzed and the lights flickered. The screens began to run through map after map, and then it all became fuzz. The two dancing robots flung themselves at Nova. He was pummeled to the ground, pinned down. He shoved on them, unhurt but furious. “GET OFF OF ME!”


One turned it’s head all the way around and then cackled at him. In a high, cracking voice it screeched, “Having fun yet?” and then laughed.

Nova finally shoved them off of him and backed away, “Okay, that’s creepy.”

A green energy streamed out of the robots and formed a sinister looking Jack-o-lantern in the air. It laughed in that same horrible voice and then flew around the room, passing in and out of the computers like they weren’t there. When it went through something, the already crazy machine went even more haywire. Computers exploded, the lights shut down, and the fuzz on the main screens became the only light in the room.

Nova pulled out a communicator and pressed a switch, “Nova to...” suddenly that Jack-o-lantern flew right into his body and he felt it filling him. He lost control of his left arm, his head twitched erratically, and his mind was slowly fading as if he were falling asleep. It didn’t take much to realize this creature was taking over his body. He managed to hold that communicator up, "To...any...heroes who can hear...me. BADGE has been compromised….help...”

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Krystal had received the distress call, and headed for the HQ complex, arriving there in about 20 minutes.

Upon arriving, she learned that several teams of Agents were about to enter the complex by various entry points branching off from the elevator.

She quickly tapped into the surveillance feed, and provided team leaders with the situation.

The battle began as robots engaged Agents throughout the complex, apparently under the control of Director Nova.  The teams were under constant pressure as one of the greatest strategic minds of this generation directed his robotic warriors in the battle.

It was quite fierce, with many injuries to the Agents involved, and much damage to both the robots crewing the facility and to the facility itself.  

More than once, the Agents positions were overrun, only to have the Agents recover as fresh troops joined the battle as they arrived.
A stalemate of a sort was achieved, as neither side could gain a clear advantage.

Suddenly, for no apparent reason, all of the robots went dark, then began to function normally, and simultaneously Director Nova slumped unconscious at the control console.

Krystal shouted into the communicator as she hurried into the control room.
 "Med team to the control room STAT!"

She knelt by the Director, checking his pulse.

In the hallway outside, she could hear the med team...

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What no one present knew was that not everyone affected by the Morphon release had conscious control of their new abilities or even were aware of those abilities...

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Miles away, at a local university campus, a young history professor awakens and raises his head from the desk where he had fallen asleep while grading essays.

He read again the title of the paper he had been reading when he had dozed off and was both astonished and slightly amused.

"Samhain, the History of All Hallows Eve"

Professor Sam Haines chuckled and began to re-read the essay.

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Every Agent with a scientific background and a small army of technicians began analysing every sensor and recording device available within the HQ complex to determine what had happened and how to prevent it from re-occurring.

 When and if Director Nova recovered, he would need that information...

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2 weeks later-

Krystal looked down at the figure in the hospital bed.

"How did it happen?", she asked.

"It occurred during the 'incident'. His position was overrun by a dozen robots..." the deputy Director answered.

"Will he recover?"

"They tell me that while he will physically recover, there was significant mental trauma... it just depends on whether or not his regenerational ability extends to his psyche, in most metas, it doesn't... While he is out of action, the team can be stood down, or a new leader appointed... if you'd care to take over..."

"I'm not a leader... I'd rather be re-assigned...", Krystal stated in a low monotone.

"Understood.", stated the Deputy Director, and walked away.

"Get well soon, Jac.", Krystal whispered as she brushed some disarranged hair away from his eyes, then sadly turned away.

Nobody saw Jaconis' eyes spring open for a moment, glowing an eerie green.