Chance Meeting

Niko had a lot of trouble making friends. He felt like a real life Tin Man and it sucked. He really did try to make friends and be a normal kid.

His obvious mutation made him a leper in his school. No one wanted to talk to the freak! It wasn't his fault he had become this -- this mutant abomination.

He'd often wondered what life would be like if he was human. Would he be hanging out with kids in his neighborhood, playing on the football or wrestling team or involved in clubs? At 15 years old, being an outcast could lead to a serious bout of depression.

One day, he saw a group of kids talking about a birthday party for a fellow student at the LazerTag gameroom. Niko longed to go, but he wasn't invited. He was never invited. That night, Niko finally snapped.

Niko made his way to Andrews Park, where he knew only homeless people and crackheads went. He knew he wasn't going to be bothered. After many failed attempts in the past, Niko decided to use a pneumatic nail gun against his temple to end it all.

Niko arrived at a bare spot of the park, and unzipped his backpack. He withdrew the nail gun, and was about to place it against his head, when he heard a voice call out to him.

Last edited by Niko Ericksson on Mon Nov 04, 2013 2:17 am; edited 1 time in total

"Hey lil' man, don't do that!"


It was all Allayne could say at the moment. He had just arrived at the bus station on Peters Ave and Tonhawa St, and started walking to find a hotel to sleep in. He had made it to the park and decided to walk through it, thinking to clear his head as he usually did during his stops. Last year, he found out he was a mutant. Now, he was making his way east to find a certain mutant that Remy had told him of.


The kid was scared, if not a little angry. "Leave me alone!" he yelled at Allayne, wanting to go through with his decision.


Allayne took a step closer to the kid. He saw a shine that wasn't normal on flesh. It looked like a metallic sheen. This was a mutant, like him. He saw a sorrow in this kid's eyes that reminded him of his own little brother. Allayne felt a tug at his heart that he'd interpreted in the past as a need to help.


"Lil' man, you'd be helping me out a lot if you could help me out." he tried to convince the kid. Thinking his mutation was his cause for this sorrow, Allayne decided to open up. It was new to Allayne to use his powers in the open, but this was a special case. He turned on his external speaker to play music with the volume low, and allowed the notes to form around himself. He looked over at the kid and said "I am looking for a spot to crash, and I think you'd know a good place!"

Niko was amazed by the lights and sounds around the man. He's a mutant too!, he thought stunned.

Niko was actually talking to someone, and it was an amazing feeling. No longer did he feel depressed, and he wanted to keep this moment going. "You want a nice hotel, or cheap?", he asked. He wanted to have time to talk to this man and ask him about his powers, but he didn't want to intrude on the man's privacy.

Allayne sensed this feeling and decided to keep the kid around, just in case he got depressed again. "Tell ya what, lil' man,", he said to Niko with a smile. "You know any hotels with a late night diner close by?" He wagered that the kid knew places close to where he lived best, and would suggest someplace near his home.

Niko beamed at this question. "I know a great hotel near a Jerry's Diner in Weatherford!" he told Allayne. "It's like a half hour away though." he finished, sadly.

Niko awoke as the taxi pulled into the diner, and he realized he was asleep on Allayne. He bolted upright, looking sheepish.

"It's ok, lil' man" Allayne said with a smile that made Niko feel secure. As they got out and paid the driver, Allayne noticed the music playing on the diner's outside PA system. Allayne told Niko it was Sting's 'Fragile', and it talked about flesh of steel. Niko smiled at that, and noticed Allayne was manifesting a few small lavalamp-esque lights in beat to the tempo.

Niko was curious about the nature of the light, and if it had form. He traced a construct to the source, and his hand touched Allayne's. At once, Niko felt a weird feeling that made him feel a bit dizzy. His skin took on a multicolored sheen and took on a swiss cheese appearance. The holes all over his body echoed the music and amplified the sound. His body started to glow brighter and quiver, which freightened Niko.

"What's happening?", he asked in a scared an echoed voice. He was attracting attention and Allayne pulled him into an alley. Allayne told Niko to relax, and if this had ever happened before. Niko rested his hands against the dumpster, and his usual copper/silver skin turned a dull metallic color. Freaked out yet again, Niko began to panic.

Allayne was trying to comfort the youngster, when 5 guys came into the alleyway. They were yelling about the freak.

Allayne got into a fighting stance, telling the men to back off. He'd had experience in MMA, but 5 guys could present a big problem.

"You're gonna protect that mutie scum?!" they said in different ways. Allayne let loose a strobe burst that made them look away. "I AM mutie scum, assholes!", he growled in retaliation. In a low voice, he told Niko to hide behind the dumpster no matter what happened.


Allayne had learned some things from Remy LeBeau in terms of using the powers offensively. He tried to build a light construct to use against the group, but a fist connected with his temple. All concentration went out the window, and all Allayne could do was get into a defensive stance while they wailed on him. This was going to end quick if something didn't change.


Unfortunately, the thing that changed was the target. Niko had composed himself and had returned to normal. Back in his coppery skin, Niko stepped out from behind the dumpster, attracting the gang.

No! Dear Gods, no!

Niko wanted to help, now that his body had returned to it's normal configuration. He knew he was durable, but to what extent?

"Hey, idiots! What y'all got?" was his brilliant plan. And it worked. They threw Allayne to the side and went after Niko. The first few realized too late that simple fists weren't going to do much to this mutant. One picked up a metal rod from the alley and swung. Niko felt the pain as his body dented. Copper was not as sturdy as other metals, and that rod was brutal. Taking up the cue, the rest grabbed rods and swung at the kid.

In defense, Niko put his hands out. In reaction to his body touching the metal, his body took on the physical attributes of the rod. The vibrations from the rods disoriented him, but they no longer hurt. He was trying to get his bearings, when one guy missile-dropkicked Niko from the top of the dumpster. He lost balance and fell onto the concrete. He shook with the force of the fall, and almost lost conscious.

The last thing Niko saw before passing out was Allayne rising to his feet; two colored whips floating around either side of him. Allayne's eyes were glowing a brilliant green, and the whites had changed to black. I'll have to ask him about that sometime., was the last thought he had before slipping under.

They hurt the kid! They actually hurt a kid!

With all the sounds going on, Allayne took some into himself. He had enough to stand again, and put his headphones on. The resulting effect was an aura of energy surrounding his body. They caught me without my barrier up once!, Allayne thought pissed. It was not going to happen again. 


He say Niko fall unconscious, and Allayne's rage hit the roof! His whips started whipping everywhere, while he concentrated beams of concentrated light at the guys' heads. They started dropping. One was left standing. Allayne built a bubble around his head, thinking of suffocating him. After excruciating seconds, Allayne let him breathe. He didn't want to take a life.


"Get out!", he said with a darkness to his voice. The man ran out muttering about the MRD and how they'll return.


He went back to Niko, who was getting his bearings. "I'm sorry" was all he could muster. He hoped this experience hadn't destroyed Niko's psyche.

Allayne had stood up to these mutant-bashers, knowing he was outnumbered. Niko had tried to stand up to them, but was knocked out quickly. He owed Allayne a debt.

Niko got up and dusted himself off. "I should be asking you for forgiveness" he told Allayne as he returned to his normal form. He was amazed Allayne didn't leave him behind.

Niko and Allayne made their way to the hotel, where Allayne paid for a week. In the room, Niko asked why he paid for a whole week. "Because I'm staying to help you hone your skill." was his reply.
He was willing to help Niko. He didn't know why Allayne would do such a thing. In typical self-destructive Niko fashion, he said "I'm not THAT way, man. Just in case you're thinking that." As soon as the words left his lips, Niko instantly regretted it. Why was he messing up this opportunity?

He waited for Allayne to yell at him, or tell him to leave. Something that would end the friendship. But that moment never came.

Well, that statement made Allayne realize that he needed to state the issue. "Well, I am. But that doesn't have any bearing on this situation." Allayne said with a smile. 


"No doubt you're going to grow into an incredibly good-looking guy, Niko. But I just want to help you learn basic moves to ward off attackers, and maybe help you with that other ability you have." Allayne knew he had to tread carefully with Niko on this subject, seeing as Niko had no real sense of trust. How was Allayne going to proceed?


Not wanting to impose on the kid, Allayne said "I'd like to help you, but not if you don't trust me ok?" With that, he left a set of throwing knives given to him by Remy on the bed for Niko. At least he'd have something to protect himself in an emergency.

Niko started panicking, not wanting Allayne to go. His family cared for him, but never really showed affection. He was afraid, but it wasn't for the issue he presented. He didn't want to be alone.

He ran up and hugged Allayne, thanking him for everything thus far. It was all he could do. He told Allayne that he'd be willing to learn everything he'd teach. He was Allayne's little brother now.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Allayne stayed in Weatherford for almost a year, teaching Niko about everything from MMA and combat skills to basic social skills. With Allayne's tutelage, Niko became proficient in throwing the knives, as well as utilizing both powers. Niko learned he had the ability to utilize metals he came in contact with, which would become vital to the street training. Even more amazing, Niko discovered his ability was a form of synergy. He combined other powers into his ability to adapt metals to create new powers. With Allayne's ability, Niko was able to create small shockwaves when he stomped the ground and amplify Allayne's own soundwaves.

Niko broke out of his shell, making a few friends and gaining confidence in himself. He gained muscle mass and found himself able to speak to the girls he showed interest in. He was comfortable with Allayne's sexuality, to the point where he thought about being bisexual himself. It was just being open, as Allayne said.

The day came when Allayne told him he had to keep travelling on. They parted ways, promising to meet again. Allayne told him to go East if things got too hairy. With that, he was gone.

Then, the day came when the MRD came in full force. Niko could not fight them all, so he headed to NYC. He hoped to find Allayne. When he took that shot to his shoulder, everything changed. He hated flatscans. He decided it was time to stamp them out. For good.