<strong>November 30th, 2012- The Day of Flame 7:30 PM</strong><br/><br/>It had began almost an hour ago... two Titans of the business had engaged in combat, and for a while, it appeared as though the woman in black would win. However, as the time began to wear, and the sun dipped below the sky, it started to become clear that Statesman, the powerhouse of the Freedom Phalanx, and he who all heroes aspired to emulate, was winning. With a mighty uppercut, Statesman sent the villainous Sailor Apocalypse ten feet into the air, then thirty feet onto her back, her body crashing into the ground with a sickly crack. She didn't get back up, heaving on the ground as blood poured from her head. She was wounded.<br/><br/>"Give up, Sailor Apocalypse! You're no match for my might." Statesman called as he watched her lie on the asphalt. He took a few steps forward, cape snapping in the dying Paragon City wind. Feet from her, she began to sieze... no... raising above the dull silence came a laugh, low at first, then almost deafening. Rolling onto her stomach, Sailor Apocalypse pushed herself up and faced Statesman on her knee, blood blinding her in one eye.<br/><br/>"So heroic..." She coughed, wiping blood from her mouth as she laughed. "You're nothing but a putz, you know that, Statesman. A tool Paragon uses to clean up problems that's too big for it's teeming masses... Thousands of heroes in this shit hole of a city, and it's<em>you</em>who has to clean up the mess... pathetic." Statesman answered by kicking her in the gut, knocking her to all fours.<br/><br/>"Shut up. At least I don't kill innocents. Look at you, Sera. How much have you sacrificed for Paragon when you were a hero? You would have given your life to protect these people! What happened?" Sailor Apocalypse laughed again, spitting a clod of blood onto the ground. Despite the fact she had drunk from the Well of the Furies, been granted near-godlike powers... she was still no match for Statesman.<br/><br/>"Spare me your self-righteous banter... Markus." She looked up to him. "You think you've won? Ooooh, congratulations!" Sarcasm filled her voice as she gave a weak clap. "You've defeated and brought the mighty Sailor Apocalypse to justice! The city is in your debt..." She got shakingly to her feet, then fell back down. "You've still lost..." The look on Statesman's face said it all.<br/><br/>"Sera!" Came a younger voice, a girl pushing through the crowd. "Sera..." She dropped to Sailor Apocalypse's side. "You're in bad shape..."<br/><br/>"I hadn't noticed. Get out of here... Recluse'll need new hands once I'm done here..." Sailor Apocalypse tried to push the girl away, but was too weak.<br/><br/>"He'll kill you." She whined, her black hair hanging about her face. Sailor Apocalypse laughed, then finally got to her feet.<br/><br/>"So be it. I give my life for Arachnos and Recluse..."<br/><br/>"You're a fool, Sera." Statesman advanced on Sailor Apocalypse, ready to deliver the final blow.<br/><br/>"I don't think so, Markus." Statesman stopped at the new voice, the crowd parting like a group of terrified fans at a stadium, the imposing figure of Recluse appearing amongst them.<br/><br/>"Stefan... What are you doing here?"<br/><br/>"Protecting my investments. I'm afraid you're victory over the good Sera Fields here will have to wait. I need her more then you." Statesman's fists clenched.<br/><br/>"I can't-" He took a step forward as the girl from before stood, and put herself between Statesman and Sailor Apocalypse, arms outstretched.<br/><br/>"Stop!" She shouted. "You'll kill her, you monster!"<br/><br/>"Melody... get out of the way..."<br/><br/>"No! I won't let you!" She reached into her jacket and took out a detonator. "One more god damn step and I blow this city, you, me, everyone to kingdom come!" A gasp fell across everyone, Spider, Longbow, Hero and Villain alike. Statesman stood down.<br/><br/>"Melody... Help Sera up. We have places to be." Recluse mused as a helicopter began to land in the crowd. Melody nodded and helped Sailor Apocalypse up. The black-suited villain smiled to Statesman.<br/><br/>"Hey Markus... does it make you feel like a man... hitting a woman?" As Statesman seethed at the poke, Sailor Apocalypse laughed as she clambered into the Helicopter, followed by Melody and Recluse. As the black helicopter took off back towards the Rogue Islands, a brilliant crimson light lit up the skyline, a huge explosion erupting into the air. The first was quickly followed by four others across various parts of Paragon City. Statesman could do nothing but stand in shocked disbelief. Those explosions had most likely killed thousands...<br/><br/><hr/><br/>The helicopter landed in Grandville shortly later, and Sera Fields was rushed to a nearby medical facility. She recovered days later, and was summoned to Recluse's Tower.<br/><br/><strong>December 2nd, 2012</strong><br/><br/>Sailor Apocalypse walked into the conference room to a disturbing sight. Of the five chairs that were around the large table emblazoned with the Arachnos Logo, only three were filled. One, she recognized as Ghost Widow, the only surviving Arachnos Patron. Recluse was at the head of the table, and the other chair was filled by the lithe, young form of Melody Rae. "Sailor Apocalypse. So good of you to join us. Please, have a seat." With a nod, she did as instructed. "I have reports that Sirocco attempted to utilize the Well of the Furies to usurp me..."<br/><br/>"Yes, sir."<br/><br/>"He died... tell me... how did that come about?"<br/><br/>"I killed him, sir. He was planning on stealing the organization from under you. It was in your best interest if he met an untimely end early."<br/><br/>"And it is for that reason alone, Sera, that I have seen fit for you to take Sirocco's place on the council." Sera blinked.<br/><br/>"I'm honored, sir." He shook his head.<br/><br/>"I need a presence in Paragon City. A pair of eyes I can trust. You are loyal enough to be of use to me, but independent enough where I can trust you. How would you feel about a promotion?"<br/><br/>"Thank you, sir."<br/><br/>"You, along with Hardrock Hallelujah here, will ship out to our newest part of the Rogue Islands... Spider's Web formally Atlas Park, and maintain control." Sera smiled.<br/><br/>"At once, sir."<br/><br/><hr/><br/><strong>August 15th, 2014</strong><br/><br/>As one of Arachnos' Agents inside of Eastern Paragon City, it will be your job to attempt to reclaim all of the city, and crush any who oppose you. Several of the Freedom Phalanx's members have leaked into your zone to stop you... put them down.