It was winter in Paris and raining incredibly hard. The sort of rain that obscured vision for the most part. If it wasn't for the area being so well lit by the military force present. They were watching, knowing there was absolutely nothing they could do. The Iron General had proved long ago that traditional means of combat could do nothing against him. There was only one person who could fight the Mad Genius.<em>Starman</em>. The military wasn't alone in watching as the two iconic titans traded blows. Everyone was out. How could they not be? It was a unique occurrence to watch such a thing in person. Even more unique was how it was going. Starman was<em>losing</em>. It world famous costume, the white body suit and cape with a golden star on the chest were torn and burned. It was harder to tell from a distance, nevermind the rain, but his face was already visibly bruised. He could barely see through his left eye it due to swelling and his nose and lip were bleeding. The Iron General on the other hand, normally a man of quite humble weight and narrow in size, was like a giant in his power armour. Ten feet tall it made him and armed with more weaponry then you could put on a tank and fifty years ahead of what the top Government's weren't telling people they had.<br/><br/>The boom was like thunder as their fists collided with one another, beams and lights exploded as the armour's defense systems did their work to get in cheap shots and resist as much as they could. It wasn't like a fight from a movie or a comicbook, it was two people roughly trying to get the advantage, tumbling and wrestling. Their different trainings and experience was competing as they both drew into reserves of willpower they didn't even know they had. But it was easier for the General. He had machinated events to lead up to this. Starman had been worn down by the deathray cannon that floated in space, pushed further by the General's deadly robots and then the proverbial line of defense was shattered when The Iron General unveiled his latest suit of whole sail destruction.<br/><br/>As they continued their exhausted dance of hate, The General revealed another hidden weapon. One large fist glowed for a moment before swinging up and striking Starman in the ribs, an underhanded strike. But when it landed there was an explosion, shocked citizens were about to flee from his mushroom cloud before they started to notice it was so localized. When it settled many eyes fell on the sight of Starman having fallen to his knees. As strong and mighty as he was, even he had his limits. It was a testament of his fortitude and will to protect that he had lasted so long. His body had tolerated such forces.....more pain then any man had endured! Even though he was out there, fighting one on one. He wasn't alone. Because in the crowd was a woman he had promised to protect always, and to love always. She wouldn't let him die alone.<br/><br/>Grabbing her camera boy she pulled away from the crowd, rang the nearest Television station and asked to be broadcast as far and wide as they could. They didn't argue. Her camera boy set up the web broadcast and she gave the message that would be remember as something that defined a moment in history.<br/><br/><div align="center"><em>"Help him!"</em></div><br/>Some would claim that she herself was a being of super power, and her desire to save her love empowered those who listened. Others would claim that an entire planet wanting something in unison caused a psychic phenomena that it changed something. Some would claim the<em>planet<em> itself responded to her plea. Either way, something happened. Everyone wanted to help. But suddenly......eight could. <br/><br/>The Iron General stood above Starman and raised a fist, taking his time to charge his next attack to full power. If that fist struck it was all over. But it wouldn't.</em></em>