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Annals #1 : Volume #1
Cover Art: The design shows a Television screen with the image of an asteroid hurtling through space, a trail of fire behind it as it breaks through the earth's atmosphere. The destination: East Coast United States. The image is partially obscured by a hand holding a remote control. A caption just to the side reads: There's never anything good on TV.
Inside:
"There's never anything good on TV." An unseen voice says.
*Click Click Click*
The Television flips through a number of channels worth of static, each of
which is followed by a series of swears and then finally a yell:
"Honey! The Cable is out AGAIN!"
"Then you'll just have to settle for Network til we get it fixed."
"It's all sensationalism and CRAP!"
No reply comes and the channel is switched once again. This time the Logo
for 'Dateline MSBC' comes up and a news reporter's voice is overlaid.
"The date was March 12th, 1997. Where were you?"
The figure of a tall, boyishly handsome journalist steps onto the sound
stage, talking directly to the camera.
"Like the Assassination of J.F.K. for the Baby Boomer generation and the
Challenger Disaster for Generation X, the impact of the Kama Asteroid will live
in the hearts and minds of the Meta Generation forever."
The scene turns to a computer simulation of an asteroid heading towards
earth.
"Astronomers discovered the rock, not even 100 feet long, composed of
incredibly dense metal less than 24 hours before it's impact. Projecting
the point of impact to be somewhere in the North Eastern United States,
people fled en-masse from their homes. Some others stayed."
Archival news footage comes up, obviously filled with static. Old
broadcasts showing people as they stubbornly boarded up their windows and
other footage of people fleeing in cars and airplanes.
The film cuts back to the asteroid simulation with the flaming rock
hurtling down to earth.
"The point of impact was the city of Longmeadow. Right on the boarder of
Massachusetts and Connecticutt. Though the blast of impact was only enough
to level buildings in a 5 mile radius around the point of impact, the shock
hit a long dormant fault line that runs through New England."
Images of buildings tumbling in an earthquake flash on the screen.
"The shockwaves were powerful enough to do damage to cities as far north as
Burlington, VT, and south into Groton, CT. The majority of the damage was to
the cities of Hartford and Springfield."
The hand goes up and there is a *click* as the channel is changed once
again. Settling on the Fox News at 10. An anchorwoman sits behind a desk
looking very professional as she speaks to the camera.
"Headlining the news for Jan. 21, 2000. Stocks of the Foxwoods Corporation
seem to have finally platued after it's meteoric rise following the 1997
disaster. When President Clinton declared Western New England a disaster
state, Foxwoods was the first to step in and offer funding from the private
sector. It was the Casino Giant that pushed for the merging of Hartford and
Springfield into one city and transformed it into a center for world
commerce.. Affectionately refered to as Metro City."
"Capitalizing on the poor economics of the local governments as well as the
scientific community's curiosity over the highly unusual asteroid, Foxwoods
quickly enticed other companies to join it. Using the latest technologies
from Japan, a high speed subway system was installed. Bradley International
Airport was quickly rebuilt and expanded, opening the door to international
businesses as well. It wasn't long before the major players were setting up
offices in the Corporate Sector with factories in growing 'Industrial
Mountains' as they came to be called."
"Amidst rumors of corruption at all levels of the corporate ladder,
Foxwood's stock has levelled off, the bad publicity making many worry that
the stock will soon begin to plummet."
*click* The channel changes again.. America's Most Wanted comes back from a
commercial.
"... and Remember: with your help we can bring Blade to justice."
"Welcome back to the special Meta-Human edition of America's Most Wanted.
Since their discovery this past New Years, we have seen a number of the New
Humans rise to prominence on the right side of the law. But what happens
when the temptation to use these powers becomes too much? Not everyone has
the moral duty of Valkyree nor can everyone capture the attention of
their fans the way FireBug and Stormrunner have.
"Tonight we focus on the man known to friend and foe alike as Dreadknight.
At first thought to be a hoax sent to the press, a threat was sent out
demanding $100,000 else there would be some serious damage to the newly
rebuilt Memorial Bridge in North Metro City. The threat was ignored and
this is what was caught on VidCam that day."
The screen shows a rather fuzzy picture of a bridge. Suddenly a shadow
swoops down from the right. It grabs hold of a car and lifts
it into the air. The muffled screams of people on the street can be heard.
The creature seems to stop in mid air, as if enjoying the moment before
tossing the car down to the ground. A loud smash echoes over the bridge and
is followed by the tinkling sound of glass.
"Though no sound appeared on tape, Those at the scene swear they heard a
voice proclaiming the birth of Dreadknight and a threat of world dominance.
Though no one knows where this Meta-Human came from, he has already amassed
a small following of enforcers and thugs working under him. If you have any
information please call...."
*click* The channel changes once again to a sky shot of the Connecticutt
River, the setting sun shining brightly over the water and the glass
buildings that line either end of it.
"Welcome back to Life Styles of the Rich and Famous! Today we travel to
Fabulous Metro City! Here we find the new Mecca of Style and Culture. Bored
of the tired scene in L.A. and New York, more and more celebrities, both
Normal Humans and Deities have made this modern city their home. "
The scene changes to a neon lighted strip of road.
"And no place attracts them more than the legendary Neon Strip. The first
that Foxwoods renovated upon moving in. This 10 mile long stretch of road
houses the finest in Casino's, Bars, Restaurants and Clubs."
The focus zooms in to the front doors of one pure black glassed club
highlighted in Neon.
"The hottest of the Hot, the Pink Satin wouldn't even let us past its
doors. All who enter are said to be entranced by the club's owner and it's
vast array of beautiful dancers."
*click* As static goes across the television a voice to the side says.
"They never show any of the good stuff."
*click* As the PBS logo slides across the screen with the image of a
bright star a voice over continues.
"On the next Episode of Nova, we will be talking with Dr. Sidney Egho as we
explore the Phenomena that has created Meta-Humans. Can it be traced back
to a single origin? We will look at the nature of these powers, is it
magic? Or are there natural forces at work here?"
*click* A nun sits behind a desk in an extremely dull brown looking room.
"And I saw before me the 7th seal was opened. "
She closes the bible she is reading from and looks directly into the
camera.
"The end times are upon us. Pray for your souls. Even now, Angels walk
among us, saving the innocent and punishing the wicked. Two weeks ago, a
young innocent autistic boy was saved by an angel who just smiled to the
police officers and then vanished. The lord be prais..."
*click* Fuzzy lines blur what is more than likely a porn channel.
"Damn it! The kids moved out a year ago! Haven't we gotten the V-chip taken
out of the TV yet?"
*click* The screen changes to that of an exaggeratedly teen-girl's bedroom.
Sitting around are a whole bunch of 'teens', obviously in their
mid-twenties, lounging in big-tails and fuzzy, footy pajamas.
"*giggle* And rounding out our list of the top ten dreamiest 'Metties' is
at #2. Risk! Why you ask?"
One of the other girls chimes in. "Because while his power is kinda lame,
he has NO FEAR. Who wouldn't want a guy who would risk everything to save
her?"
Back to the first. "Yeah, and besides he looks oh so dreamy in tight
jeans."
A third girl starts waving her hands excitedly. "Which brings us to our
number 1 dreamiest Metty! Stormrunner!"
They all scream and one of them falls over, faint.
The one who appears to be the leader of the show holds up a picture. On it
there is an extremely handsome man, swinging on a rope with an electricity
covered rapier in one hand. He is wearing a mask and looks extremely
Zorro-like.
"He's like Antonio Banderas except for real!"
The room swoons again..
*click* The television turns off. "Like I said, there's never anything good
on TV. Someone ought to kill those girls."
FIN