Blockade 1

[Dead Woman]

This is a small self contained story that focuses on eight heroes.  The first is The Gunslinger 1 and the second is The Templar 1. 

You only have your thoughts and dreams ahead of you.  You are someone.  You mean something.  Batman
When you decide not to be afraid, you can find friends in super unexpected places. Ms. Marvel


   Well, I stand up next to a mountain ...

   "Everyone quiet down!" The announcer called out with everyone feeling him thinking 'ugh, do I really have to do this crap?' Some semblance of quiet came over the crowd.  The announcer spoke up his voice competing with Hendrix's voodoo child that was playing over the loud speaker.

   ... and I chop it down with the edge of my hand.

   "Because you know whose coming out next," everyone did as the music gave it away.  That was her theme song.  But the announcer just saying it got everyone to stand up from their seats and cheer.  The men and women of Vanguard were a family that you wouldn't hesitate to die for and you certainly would want to live for, but she was different, she was their treasure. 

   Well, I pick up all the pieces and make an island...

   "And here she is!  I give to you our Blockade!"  The crowd erupted when they saw her step out of the back and the spotlight focused on her.  Her name was Maria Viktorovna, but everyone called her The Blockade because she was built like a tank.  Men loved her because she didn't have that manly man look female body builders had.  Looking at her made guys wonder if they were in love or just in heat.  Whether it was one or the other didn't matter.  She was family.  She was their treasure. 

   ... might even raise just a little sand.

   Those who knew her knew that she was Russian but most were surprised to know that she was French as well.  Her parents had immigrated to Paris after they saw their new leader was going to bring in the same old fascist tendencies the last few leaders brought in.  Maria spoke Russian, French, as well as English but her French accent was more prominent. 

   Cause I'm a voodoo child

   Tragedy didn't always define a hero.  Sometimes it just boiled down to heritage.  Maria grew up with stories of her ancestors that stood against monsters like Napoleon, Hitler, and yes even Stalin.  In that moment she knew that she wanted to join her family and fight for what was right.  She trained.  She practiced.  She learned.  Then came the day when she realized that she was ready and on that day she enlisted with the Vanguard. 

   Lord knows I'm a voodoo child.

   She made a name for herself when her unit took down a group of Rikti that were on a demolition mission.  All but one of the Rikti were defeated and that lone creature would not surrender.  Maria had dropped her weapon and began to move towards the enemy.  Her CO had shouted for her to return but she ignored him.  She knew what the thing wanted – confrontation – and she gave it to him.   It wished it had surrendered as she had ripped out whatever sense of combative honor it had and squashed it.  The sight delighted the crowd. 

   I'm a voodoo child.

   The Lady Grey heard about the event an hour later.  Maria's CO wanted her punished and even though she was the reprimand was a slap on the wrist.  The Lady Grey knew that her troops needed this kind of morale that they could rip away Rikti superiority, so, every once in a while she allowed the crowd to see Rikti prisoners go one on one against The Blockade. 

   The Vanguard called her their treasure ...

   ... Paragon City would call her a hero.