Timing is Everything....(Sherry)

[Steel]

JJ had not heard from his uncle in a while and he was, sad to say, becoming a little concerned. He opted that evening to pay him a visit after completing the necessary paperwork, which really meant after he died for the thousandth time on Jungle Run on his laptop. He sighed and began the process of shutting off his laptop after purposely watching the little lion "stumble" to "death" over several boulders. Then he got up, stretched, and walked out the shop turned office.

"Steelforce" was the office and "Steelworks" remained the workshop and headquarters of he and his uncle. His mom occasionally popped in too, if she was needed, but when she came it eventually turned into a nagging session about her and Uncle John's glory days working with the JLA... before the "Big Shift" or whatever kids were calling it. She was always on him about joining a super league, yet he felt it just wasn't in the cards for him. He was too busy...Playing Jungle Run or Halo X or waiting for a dignitary like Prince T'chui or something to show up...., he thought.

So entranced in thought he looked up and found himself in middle of the Suicide Slums... The crime rate here was nearly off the charts. This was the side of town mothers warned their children of or older siblings used as the scene of nightmares for their younger ones. His uncle, John Henry Irons the Armored Man of Steel.... was still looking out for everyone but himself, even at his age. He didn't live too far, so JJ pressed on, until something caught his attention... his cell was going off. He answered it and listened as surprise of surprises his Uncle spoke from the other end of the line.

"JJ, I got a lead for you."
"Where have you been Unk? I've not heard from you in a while, mom and I were starting to get worried."
"I'm fine just a little... tied up at the moment."
"Well, I'll look into it, what's your lead? Don't think mom won't try to come looking for you either..."
"I know JJ. It's an old hot spot for crime, few young guns set up near there to try and show off.... get "established" in the Peking order here to move on to bigger hits. Sometimes more trained assassins or terrorists use it to test new weapons. All that happens right here in the Suicide Slums. Got wind it's a new weapon test tonight that scrambles communications and disorients its targets... Be careful. I programmed the coordinates into the K-Hammer. It should be on the way to you now."

JJ hung up the phone.... This was something he HAD to see. This new weapon sounded like something that had been made before, but even his uncle didn't seem to have a lot of information on it. Best bet was to actually check it out for himself.

[sherry]

Scheherazade walked, for a long time and then finally she had found the perfect place for "practice" it had been a long time since she had practiced aiming, or setting off bombs... and just in general reeking havoc. She had her explosives backpack attached to her back and had on complete black. Hopefully she wouldn't get caught or anything. Her chakrams were glowing but she didn't pay any mind. If any idiot tried to attack her, it would be the end of them. The only thing Scheherazade was mainly worried about was completely transforming and using her power to it's fullest ability. The last thing she needed was another superhero popping up out of nowhere and trying to ruin her plans. It's not like she was breaking the law... right? Scheherazade thought to herself, Who cares about the law anyways? It's suicide slums, so it's not like anyone will try to stop me anyway... Scheherazade removed the idea of some pathetic moron trying to attack her and walked with a smile on her face. She came to a dark place with barely any light and took off her backpack. She wanted to test out her rocket launcher as usual and put new missiles into her launcher as well.

Her dad had given her some new missiles and she was pray that her father hadn't tampered with anything. "GOD knows may dad would o something stupid and get himself killed trying to work with explosives anyway... he needs to stick to business, that's his best suit." She picked up her rocket launcher, aimed and shot into the air. The missile blew a hole in what appeared to be an abandoned apartment place or something. Scheherazade didn't really care that there may still be people living inside the place. She continued to experiment. She took a couple of mines and placed it by a warehouse she had passed while making her way to Suicide Slums. "Ugh, more walking..." She muttered under her breath. She quickly ran back to her explosives and continued to experiment.

Scheherazade came across some C-4 more mines and a couple motion detecting bombs. She tested those as well. Everything was going pretty well. She was almost done as well. Until she came across some nitroglycerin. She hadn't used any at all in a long time. The last time she had used it, she had "accidentally" blown up a building. Scheherazade quickly turned her head and thought she had heard footsteps. Apparently, she was coming paranoid... again. She continued on, unaware that what she heard were indeed footsteps.

[Steel]

JJ willed his metagene to kick in solidifying his skin to the pristine sheen of his codename... Steel. He rounded a corner just as the sound of a missile went off nearby. He watched its errant trail as it took out an already run down apartment building. Then behind him he heard several small explosions. He couldn't tell if they were timed or if they were detonated, but all of these sounds were certainly new to this area.

It had quieted down some, Steel quickly made his move to the low hanging entrance of the apartment building that was taken out by the missile fired earlier. He peered out at the adjacent buildings scanning for open windows first, then the tops of the buildings. He wasn't seeing much of notice. He DID see a small glint in the sky quickly approaching though and sighed a little in relief as his K-Hammer had arrived. He still wasn't all that coordinated at catching it when it came back to him hot, or on a rapid approach. You'd think that with all the tinkering that he does Uncle John would have softened the calibration for me. JJ thought, He has to get some sick pleasure out of watching me get pounded by my own weapon...

It hit the ground sending a hefty billow of dust and grit into the air. The crater around it suggested that it obviously had some power behind its toss. The old man's still got it, was the next thought to JJ's mind, "Back to the battlefield," he softly scolded to himself... His tactic was to let it land out in the open first, figured maybe it would draw the attention of whomever was out or nearby.

[sherry]

"What in the hell?" Scheherazade heard a loud sound and stopped everything she was doing. She sighed, "You damn heroes..." She looked around and began walking slowly. She came to find a huge crater when she looked down through a hole from where she was standing. She didn't know who or what she was up against. So Scheherazade began to walk as lightly as possible. She accidentally stepped on an uneven surface and fell. Her fall created a sound that echoed. She knew now that whoever was looking for her, knew exactly where she was. She quickly slid under a piece of metal and fell through a hole but landed a lot softer than her previous fall and did not make as loud a sound. Scheherazade was now standing on a piece of metal that jutted out of the wall, but was high up making it harder for people below to see her. Thank god I wore black... I wear black all the time don't I? She snapped back into reality and noticed a man who was metallic? Why do I always run into the weird looking people? Scheherazade pulled out her shotgun carelessly and fired a warning shot. Then she thought to herself Do I really want to scare the poor lost soul away? Hm.... She continued to think What the hell am I thinking? Of course I want to scare the nuisance away! He or she.. or it, was totally messing up her testing process.

"Who's there?" Scheherazade asked in a rather rude manner. Scheherazade was quickly growing impatient of the hero, or whoever they were. Scheherazade's anger was getting the best of her as she shot another warning shot. She tried to calm herself down, and then she thought, this testing process would be a lot more entertaining if there was a test subject... right? Scheherazade shrugged and actually considered the idea. Testing was pretty boring without someone else there. Scheherazade pulled out her rocket launcher and fired a missile at the crater hoping the person was nearby the crater,"Run," Scheherazade laughed.

[Steel]

JJ listened as a pair of feet hit the pavement. He moved a little further from the edge of the awning, and tried his best to not appear so obvious, but that was easier said than done with his gear and skin picking up the slightest refraction of light.... JJ listened as the unseen foe spoke, Well, now I KNOW I'll be fighting a woman, he thought. He paused for half a second thinking to return to normal, but then he heard the *CLA-CLICK!!* of someone loading a rocket launcher.

He called the K-Hammer forth and leaped into the open space as he heard his foe yell for him to run. "The name is Steel." Then he threw his hammer at the on coming missile.

[sherry]

Scheherazade laughed and said “Nice to meet you Steel, so kind of you to accompany me darling.” Scheherazade picked up her rocket launcher and then jumped from the metal that was jutting out and landed very close to the crater where she could be seen. She was standing with her shotgun in hand and her tattoo was glowing brightly so anyone could spot her. She shot at Steel again so he would be able to spot her. Why in the world would she make herself known to her enemy or test subject? She knew he could easily attack her as well. He must be some super hero, he had some armour stuff on him. Her shotgun shells simply bounced off of what appeared to be his skin? Why the hell do I always run into the weird people? First the clown, then the spider, dragon and then ten foot walking beetle? And now a guy with metal skin?[/i] Scheherazade was so irritated and she didn’t even know why. She shot her rocket launcher at the Steel guy. Damn I need guided missiles… I’ll be sure to get those… Scheherazade nodded and laughed a little, “Now I get your name, it’s kinda goofy, but it’ll do for now.”

Scheherazade burst into flames and her black fire dress appeared. It’s flames and smoke moved upwards from her feet where the dress ended and her chakrams now were covered in black fire as well. She threw the both of them at Steel. Although the dress was black it illuminated the area she was in and now she could be clearly seen. A few golems appeared from her tattoo and they ran to attack Steel. Then she remembered that she had some mines lying out still. Unfortunately Scheherazade was consumed by her anger that she only had one goal… to kill Steel. She had no reason for being angry but she was angry. Hopefully her ‘test subject’ wouldn’t make things worse and feed her anger. Scheherazade slowly walked towards Steel while shooting her rocket launcher at him. Steel… is dead…

[Steel]

Steel chuckled lightly at the impact of the shotgun shells hitting him in the chest. The light impact armor he wore on top of his already enforced skin felt more like a jacket or windbreaker due to all the training he'd had with his uncle. Mockingly he quipped, "Hoohoo! That tickles!! Again! Again!"

JJ had not encountered a villain like this before. Seriously, he pondered, is THIS who Unk sent me after?? I know momma raised me never to hit a girl and pops has had his fair amount of bouts with women, but dang.... I don't wanna hurt 'er. However, his jaw came close to literally dropping as he witnessed this woman burst into flames, and not just any flames; noooo they were black ones. The next few thoughts from Steel's head were as follows: What is that glowi--- Awww SHIII'!!!! He was suddenly trounced upon by a few of the stone golems that had literally just "walked" from out of her arm.... "Now, that shi' jus' ain't right rii thur," he called out to her, "What'd you say your name was again?"

He fought his way through the golems one by one. The first had caught him by surprise, as he had still been mesmerized by the woman. He nearly doubled over as the second one swung a fist into his gut... JJ grabbed his arm and spun it into the oncoming missile bursting that golem to rubble. "Yaahhhhhh!!!!" he roared, smashing his arm through the first. The third was still charging towards him; JJ dropped down into a defensive back's three point stance from his football days at Metropolis High. He flipped the golem over his back, called the K-Hammer to his hand and brought it down on the golem's "head", then did the same to its chest leaving it in a pile of shattered stones. Finally, he turned to the burning woman again just to be caught full on by the rocket.... He created a man sized indent in the already gaping crater and a moment later an explosion erupted from the hole sending flames and smoke spewing from it. THAT'S IT! NOW IMMA ROCK HER REPUBLIC!!!

[sherry]

Scheherazade looked at the shiny fool who was destroying her golems. She then sent out two ghosts that Steel could not see and a large golem to go after him. She disappeared into the dark and begin setting mines again. She accidentally detonated one because she was in a big hurry. It blew up over by Steel, she couldn't see him through all of the fire. She shot another missile through the fire to see if it would hit anything. Scheherazade was pissed she threw her fiery chakrams at Steel as she ran and pulled herself up on another metal piece that was jutting out from the side of the wall. She shot at Steel again with her rocket launcher and threw a couple of smoke bombs.

She said rather softly but was able to be heard by Steel, "The name is Sherry."

Scheherazade began to feel dizzy, she could feel herself getting weak. She sent out a couple more giant golems to go after Steel. Scheherazade laughed "That should keep you a bit busy darling." She quickly cooled off and was no longer blazing black fire.

Scheherazade cooled off again and went to go sit in a corner and gather herself but she knew she couldn't because that man was still outside. Why was she feeling so weak now? She threw another chakram at Steel's head.

Scheherazade was thinking of how to get that stupid k-hammer thing out of his hands. She felt Steel being cocky and she burst back into black flames. Ugh, I feel so dizzy... Why was she so dizzy and weak? She attempted to jump from the piece of metal and land on Steel's back and tried to claw out his eyes. She fell off of his back but then her flames got out of control and grew. She was setting things on fire all around her. If only... If only I was hot enough to melt his stupid metal body... She shot another missile at him. She went to hide but she couldn't hide because she was practically a huge fireball. But on the inside she felt weak and she was running out of time. She had to get away from this guy or she was only going to get dizzier and feel worse.

She had to get at the stupid K-Hammer. Her flames from being in full form were setting everything on fire.

Scheherazade said out loud on accident, "I am so dizzy right now..."

[Steel]

The first thought that came to JJ's mind was, Oh, shi--! The second was, Why am I still fighting this woman? JJ had to admit that he was DEFINITELY going to have to talk with his Uncle, and maybe a few other heroes if he ever made it out alive. This...What did she say her name was?.... Sharon?... No, Sherry. He pressed on the small receiver in his ear: "Unk? Ay Unk, do you copy?".... He cursed under his breath, this was going to make things very interesting now, because now he was all alone. HE was the one calling the shots, and honestly for all his cockiness, he was scared. He had never encountered anyone like this before.

Stepping forth from the hole he was rocketed into the air by the explosion of mines and landed not more than a few feet from where he launched. "Ow... Ow, ow, ow!" He was sore all over... he used the K-Hammer to lift himself up and noticed the increase of smoke surrounding him. Then he saw the sets of orbs... there were six of them. He was hit in the back by another explosion, sending him face first into a giant golem. "FML..." he mumbled as it lifted its leg. JJ was not going to be bested by a pile of stones. He rolled out the way and flung his hammer into the air, using it's kinetic force to feign flight. Maybe he just needed a new perspective.... and some rest. He started to make a retreat, but he paused when he heard her mention that she was dizzy. It puzzled him, why is she dizzy? why would she tell me this? I hate being the "good guy" sometimes. "Call off the rocky bouncers and MAYBE I'll come help you."

[sherry]

Scheherazade shook her head, What the hell was I thinking? Why in the world would she blurt something like that out loud? She shot at Steel again, she was pissed. Why the hell would he help me? She was getting dizzier. All she wanted to do was test her bombs and rocket launcher and leave... but no, some Steel guy had to come and ruin everything.

Scheherazade was so pissed that she smacked Steel. She knew he was made of steel but she didn't care, she was so mad that he decided to go ruin everything she was going to do. She was almost finished until he decided to barge in and try to be a hero. He tried to be a hero... and he failed. She faded back into the darkness so he could not find her. She had cooled down and was no longer a black fireball. Her shirt was starting to burn off because she kept going from flames to not flames, and then back to flames again and then cooling off again. She threw a rock at Steel's face and then shot at him with her rocket launcher again. Scheherazade's feet were starting to kill her so she took off her shoes. She didn't really care about the fact that her feet would be destroyed from all of the debris and flames. She climbed up a ladder and was now standing on a broken piece of metal. She was only cooperating with Steel so she could lead him to believe that she was going to listen to him. She was getting dizzier. Damn... Her head was killing her.

Suddenly everything around her began to spin, the dim lights suddenly became blinding and she felt as if she was being engulfed by the what appeared to be bright lights. She closed her eyes and then opened them again. Oh shi- Scheherazade didn't finish her sentence, she passed out. She fell down and hit the ground creating a large thud and a crack. She quickly regained consciousness and grabbed her wrist in pain. What the fu- did I really just break my wrist? She tried to pick up her rocket launcher but then dropped it. Yup, she broke her wrist... she walked behind a wall but burst back into black flames. Dammit... She did not want to be seen, she was actually trying to hide and escape but now she couldn't. She picked up her rocket launcher and put it on her back even though her wrist was in excruciating pain. She then thought of an idea... but would it really work? Could she actually get this guy to come and help her? It's not like she would be lying, she really did need help. She had broken her wrist for goodness sake! Then if he came with that stupid K-Hammer, she could take it from him and send out more large golems and run off. That would work... right? He had taken a bad enough beating so she could stop her golems anyway. She got rid of the huge golems that were trying to kill Steel. The golems fell to pieces the rocks fell to the ground and were now merely rocks.

Scheherazade's two ghosts came back to her and said in Hebrew, "He has the K-Hammer right now, if you lure him to you, you may have a chance to take it from him and make him a bit more vulnerable. But his skin is Steel and we are not sure how you get rid of the steel skin." Her ghosts were being loud enough that Steel could have heard them speaking, hopefully he didn't know Hebrew...

"Okay, you took a beating and I got rid of the golems, now can you come help me?" Scheherazade asked in an almost innocent voice.