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JLA New Golden Age of Heroes: Human Factor Part 3

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OK, here’s part 3. Enjoy

Human Factor Part 3

(New York City, New York. March 25th, 14:34)

Victor sighed as he walked through a street, sighing a bit as he punched a wall near-by wall, making an imprint go into it. He panted a bit as he says, "UGH! How can I let the team down like that? I mean...they counted on me, and then that Robot-freak and his Chop-Shop Rejects take my friends! UGH!" He punched another wall, panting a bit as he groaned a bit.

"Excuse me?" asked a voice as he saw a little girl looking at him curiously, tilting her head to the side. “You OK, mister?”

"Yeah? What's up, kid?" asked Cyborg, looking at the kid with a sigh as he noticed her prosthetic legs, making him go wide eyed because he didn’t notice them at first.

"Oh, Suzy. Sorry about her." said a female voice as he saw a blonde haired woman came out. She had dark green eyes, a tanned complexion and wearing a black tank top under a red jacket and a pair of jeans. She then stopped when she saw his face. "Wait a minute...Vic? Victor Stone, is that you?"

'...Hey Sarah. Look, sorry if this isn't a good time...I'm just visiting the neighborhood...I take it this is your kid?" Asked Cyborg, looking at the kid curiously.

"Oh no, she's my student. I work with the disabled kids at the West Side School. Remember? I told you I wanted to work with kids who have trouble." said Sarah as Victor nods.

"Yeah...i remember...though this little girl looks familiar...wait...Now I remember..." said Victor as he snapped his fingers. "The 34th Street Fire."

"Yeah, you saved me then, remember?" the little girl asked, looking at him with concern.

"Yeah...I remember..." Said Victor as he looked in that direction, looking at an Apartment complex across the way.

(Flashback...)

(3 years ago.)

Sirens wailed as firemen arrived at the scene of a large fire, a group of people clammoring with fear as people ran out of the building, many of them coughing as they got out. A man was being dragged back, shouting out towards the building, begging to be let through.

Walking down the streets, his eyes downcast, was a younger Victor stone, with a hoodie and a pair of sweatpants to cover up his prosthetics except for his face, which revealed his metallic face as he walked down the streets. He then heard the commotion and looked at the fire, sighing a bit.

"Please, you have to let me through! My daughter is in there! Please!" The man cried out, tears going down his cheeks. "please! I have to help her!"

"Sir, this fire is to strong! We can't get through!" said a fireman. "We're trying to quell the fire, but it'll take time." said one of the firemen, as Victor stopped mid-step when he heard this and frowned as he looked at the fire, his red eye gleaming a bit as he looked at it. He clenched his fists under his jacket.

'...Everyone deserves a chance...no matter the costs, son...we risked a lot to save you, kiddo...and no matter what...there is always a chance.' a female voice rang in his head, as Victor's eyes narrowed as he ran forward, going by the crowd, making people yell out at him as he came to the group.

"What floor is she on?" He asked the man, as he looked at him with shock. "Don’t make me ask again, where's your kid?"

"Uh...We live on the second floor, room 215, I was downstairs when the fire started." said the man. "I was forced out before I could get her." Victor nods as he went forward, but the fireman stopped him

"Hold it son. You can’t get through." said the man as Victor glared at him, making him yell out in shock as Victor scoffed, as he ran forward, passed the firemen as they looked at him with shock

"Kid, wait! Don't be stupid kid! That fire will kill you!" A fireman said as Victor ran past them.

"Trust me, I brushed with death once, this is a cake walk." he said as he busted the door down, knocking it off of it's hinges. The people watched with shock as they saw him run into the flames. Victor looked around, going up the stairs and being careful. He yelled out as he saw a beam nearly hit him, causing him to catch it with his metallic hands, throwing it aside. The fire began to get onto his hoodie, making him yell out as he removed it, revealing a metallic upper body and removed the sweat pants in a hurry as they burned as well, revealing his entire prosthetic, which had hard sides on his abs area and boot-like feet. He looked up and ran ahead, as he looks at the rooms.

"papa! Papa! Where are you!?" a voice cried out as Victor turned to that voice as he heard coughing, making his eyes narrow as he ran towards that room and saw 215. He then charged through the door, knocking it down.

"Where are you!?" Victor asked as he coughed a bit, the smoke getting into his lungs as his human eye squinted a bit, but his robotic eye focused more as he saw a bedroom. He then ran forward and opened the door and went wide-eyed.

"Help!" The little girl cried out in pain as her legs were caught under some burning timber. she was sobbing as Cyborg ran forward, picking up the burning wood as he threw it aside and saw the burns on her legs. She then saw him and screamed as Victor looked concerned at that, shushing her.

"No, none of that now, kiddo." said Victor. "my name is Vic, what's your's?"

'Su-suzy..." the little girl said with fear, coughing a bit from the smoke, as cyborg gave her a calm smile as he picked her up carefully.

"Alright Suzy, just hang on tight. I'll get you back to your daddy, OK?" Cyborg said with a soft tone as she just nods, groaning a bit from the smoke. Cyborg looked around and looked to a window before frowning and then running with the girl down the hall towards the stairs, as more timber came down. He covered his head at this, growling a bit in annoyance as his eyes narrowed. With one hand supporting Suzy on his arm, he used his other hand to move aside the timbers and run through as the building began to collapse.

The people look in horror as they saw the fire send explosions throughout the second floor. "SUZY!" her father cried out in horror before everyone looked with shock as people began to point as he saw someone coming out of the flames: It was Victor, running out of the door he knocked out earlier but everyone looked with shock as they saw him fully exposed, but carrying a coughing Suzy.

"Someone get a doctor here, now!" Victor commanded as a gurney came over, putting a mouth cover on her as she looked at him with a tired smile.

"Thank you MR. Cyborg..." she said with a raspy tone as Victor looked surprised at that...before he gave a small smile back as he nods to the kid, as a fireman came over, Suzy being taken to an ambulance quickly.

"That was the most bone-headed thing I have ever seen, kid! You could've killed yourself." said the fireman as victor just nods.

"I know...but I think that little girl at least deserves to live a life, don't you?" Cyborg asked as the fireman didn't say anything on that as he just coughed a bit, as he mutters "Good thing my lungs were fixed up too..."

"sir! Sir, why did you go into that inferno alone?" asked a repoter, as another asks, "What drove you to do such a crazy act of heroics?"

"My cybernetics are very advanced. i would be hurt only a little bit...I'm 90% machine." said Cyborg, looking at his body. "I'm...just a freak." she looked down at this as the father looked at him.

"Trust me, kid...you're not a freak in my book..you're a hero." said the father as the other people cheered.

"So, here we have it folks." said the reporter to the camera. "We just saw the rise of a new hero in our mitts. I think it's best we call him...the Invincible Cyborg!" The people cheered at this as Cyborg looked shocked at this reception...as a soft smile came onto his face as he looks towards the Ambulance. He then walked over with the father.

"Come on, i'll be there with ya until your daughter gets better." said Cyborg as the man nods as he went onto the car with him.

(Present Day)

"...I never forgot what you did that day, Vic...I saw it on the news. That was the first day you became a super hero." Said Sarah with a smile as Cyborg sighs.

"Heh...yeah, some hero though. I let my team down." Cyborg said with a sigh as he noticed some other kids show up, all of them having some sort of physical handicap, looking surprised at them.

"Well...you may not think so, but these kids look up to you the most. Especially Suzy here." said Sarah as Suzy nods.

"Yeah. You saved my life, Mr. Cyborg." said Suzy with a smile as Cyborg just nods.

"Yeah, I guess I did...I don't need praise for it, though. I would do it for anyone..." Cyborg said as he looks at his wrist. "But...how am I gonna get to my team though?"

"That's NOT the Victor Stone I know. Look, I know you're down and I can tell that...but the 'Victory Stone' I went to high school with wouldn't give up, no matter what! Even when you first got your prosthetics, after that fire, you came out of that a new man." Sarah said as she touched the robotic half of his face. "Look...being a hero is tough, I can tell from the news footage...but you can't give up. You didn't give up back then, you didn't give up on this little kid, so don't give up on yourself, OK?"

Cyborg looked down at this...before his eyes got determined. He nods as he says, "You're right, Sarah...and I got some friends to save." He then pressed some buttons on his left hand as he smirks. "You kids may want to step back...this is something I made after I went on a mission with the League to Europe. a little something special so I an keep up with my more high-flying teammates" suddenly his back opened up more, revealing jets behind it as he suddenly took to the air. "See ya, Sarah!" Sarah and the Kids watched as Cyborg flew off, his eyes narrowed as he says, "Alright Atlas...time for you to become scrap. Because Victor Stone DOES NOT give up!" He then took to the air, following the signal to Atlas' location.

(At Atlas’s HQ. 15:23)

Atlas was with his companions, all of them at a card game as Atlas smirked, slamming the cards down. “Atlas always wins.” The others all groaned aloud, annoyed that they lost.

“Again? I swear, you are cheating, you gotta be.” Impetus said, annoyed as his eyes narrowed a bit.

“I kept an eye on him, he didn’t cheat once.” Krios said as Atlas took the chips for himself, chuckling a bit.

Watching from afar, Spike was working on the shields as he asks, “So…you guys think CADMUS would be OK with hiring me?”

“Of course. They can use your skills. If not, we can always use someone to keep the Hall in good shape. Plus actual pay.” Hal said with a grin as Spike looked unsure about this.

“It’s us or the robots that treat you like dirt.” Flash pointed out as Spike thought it over, unaware of Robin watching from the vents, a walky-talky in hand as he listened in.

“OK, I got a visual…they’re talking to the mechanic.” Robin whispered into the communicator.

“Alright, just give the signal and we’ll come in.” Amanda answered as he nods, looking inside.

‘Mechanic, oil!” Atlas said from in the room as Spike rolled his eyes as he got out five large cups of oil and came into the room and put it on the table for them as they each took their drinks…then Atlas spat it right onto him.

“This is warm, mechanic. Get us cold oil, you meat sack.” Impaetus said as Spike scowled at this, Batman shaking his head ‘no’ as Spike narrowed his eyes.

“Get it yourself.” Spike said, as Atlas scowled, grabbing him by the front of his jacket.

“What did you just say to us, you pathetic waste of space?” Krios growled at this as Impaetus got his spikes out, glaring.

“Lets teach him some respect again. Give you worse than a scar, you pathetic meat sack.” Impetus said in annoyance as Spike glared at this.

“No human gives me orders, you understand?” Atlas sneered as the sound of rumbling is heard as the celing came down as everyone looked shocked, including the heroes trapped and Robin in the vents.

“What the devil was that noise?” Aquaman asked through the communicator as Robin got a good look through the smoke as the figure got up, glaring ahead.

“Yeah? Well, I’m human, and I’m saying for you to back off, bucket head.” Cyborg said as the Leaguers smirked, relieved that he was okay.

“It’s Cyborg!’ Robin said with a smirk as he says, “I think NOW would be a good time to come in!” He said as he kicked the vent down, landing with a smirk.

“what in the world!?” Atlas said, shocked as Kronus ran forward, glaring, but heard the sound of a bubbling as he turned to see a part of the wall glowing as it explodes, sending him back a bit.

“Ding-ding! 4th floor: Motor oil, power tools, maniac robots.” Alchimia said in a joking tone as Samurai flew forward, slashing through the trophies with a fast speed to free the captured Leaguers.

“I’ll take care of that.” Flash said, taking off Canary’s callor as Geo-Force flew in, slamming his fist down as a sudden barrage of stones flew forward, sending the robots out of the room as Aquaman tossed Hal his lantern.

“Thanks.” Hal said as he chanted silently. “By brightest day…in blackest night…no evil shall escape my sight…beware my power, green Lantern’s light!” He then regained his glow, a smirk on his face. “Nice, I was nearly on empty.”

Atlas groaned as the group of machines got up, glaring. “Round two, Chrome dome.” Cyborg said as he walked out, glaring at this as Batman helped spike up.

“Thanks.” Spike said as he looked at a deactivated Tornado Tyrant as he says, ‘I’ll get him back up. You guys take out these punks.” Batman nods as he ran out, his belt back on as Robin followed soon after, Katana following after samurai and Aqualad after Aquaman.

“I apologize for not being strong enough, sensei…” Katana said, eyes downcast as Samurai gave her a small nod.

“You have nothing to apologize for, my student. You were caught off guard, nothing more.” Katana nods at this, a faint smile on her face as she got ready, the League glaring down the machines.

“Quite an unfair match…” Atlas said with a glare. “You sure you are honorable, warrior?”

“I am…so you and me? We go one on one…” Said Cyborg, glaring, as he got ready. “Your goons? They can try their hand against my friends.”

“Robin, you are with me against Koios. Aquaman, you and Aqualad take on Oceanus. Flash, you and Lantern go against Hyperion. Samurai and Katana, you’re taking on Kronus. Geo-Force, you and Alchimia take out Impetus. Wildcat, you help Spike. Marvel, you and Canary take out Krios.”

“Right!” the Leaguers said as they went for their intended targets. Oceanus glared at this, firing out super-jets at the two Atlanteans, who grunt at the blunt force as they glared.

Hyperion glared as he roars out, “BURN!” He then ran forward, sending out jets of flames as Kronus ran forward to the two samurais, their swords out as he got his blades out.

Geo-Force flew forward as Alchimia slammed his hand down, creating a shockwave towards the spiky robot, who jumped out of the way as he fired out spikes out them. The spike got onto Alchimia’s armor, which he just brushed off with a grunt.

Batman and Robin jumped forward, both kicking Koios, making the logic-based robot glare at them as he sent a kick their way, making Robin grunt a bit as he glared.

Atlas roared out as he sent a punch towards Cyborg, who blocked as he got pushed back, glaring ahead as the two began to trade blows as the whole arena began to be filled with various attacks from the various heroes.

Krios glared as he saw Marvel fly around him, sending out discs that got hit by Canary’s canary cry to keep them out as Marvel smirked, as he flew forward and sent a punch towards Krios, making him get sent back from the punch.

Spike kept a down low as he worked on Red Tornado, making his eyes reactivate as he unhooked him. “Look, it’s a long story, but I’m getting ya out of here.”

Why are you doing this? I thought you were working for those mechanical fiends.” Tornado said in confusion as Spike released him, getting him movement.

“Trust me, I am more gonna go for the winning team. AND not the ones that use me for a punching bag.’ Spike said as Tornado nods, looking outside as he saw Oceanus firing as Kaldur got his water bearers into it.

“OK, I got something for you.” Alchimia said as he handed something to the machine, which nods as the alchemist ran ahead, his hands sparking a bit with energy.

“Sorry, but this is a fight you cannot win!” Kaldur said as his eel-tattoos glowed, making the machine spark up as he roared out in pain as Aquaman jumped up, yelling out as he stabbed into it’s head with his trident.

‘Oceanus!” said Hyperion as he saw Kronus glared as he sped forward, but got caught in a burst of wind as Katana jumped forward and slashed through him in the middle, making him yell out as he fell forward, his upper body and lower arm falling off from his legs, making him groan a bit.

Samurai glared down as he says, “Oyasumi, robot.” He then slashed through theh ead, making Kronus go down with a hiss.

“Kronus!” Said Atlas as he glared at Cyborg. “You are murdering them!”

“You punks are robots. You can be rebuilt…unless we scrap you.” Cyborg said as he headbutted him, kicking him away as he glared.

Batman blocked blows from Koios, grunting from the barrage of blows the machine was giving him as he glared. “You are a good opponent, but you canot beat me, Batman. I can read your move before you can do it.”

Robin suddenly jumped onto his back as he jabbed a device into his head. “Oh yeah? Lets see how much memory you can store, bucket head. Oracle, now!”

On it!” oracle said as the device on Koios’s head began to beep, making him yell out as he gripped his head in pain while Wildcat came over and smirked.

“Lets give him the old ‘1, 2, 3.’” Said Wildcat as the other two hand-to-hand combatants nod as they ran forward as Wildcat sent an uppercut Koios’ way, making him grunt as his eyes began to flash from the sudden increase in data that was clogging him. “1!”

“2!” Robin said as he used his bo-staff as a lift to kcik Koios as Batman came down with a nod, throwing a batarang at his head, which beeped.

“…3.” Batman said calmly as the Batarang exploded, making Koios fall forward without his head, his neck sparking up.

Hal covered himself and Flash with a shield as Hyperion roared out, anger in his eyes as he fired blasts of flames at them. “MURDERERS! KILLERS!”

“You’re one to talk, hot-head.” Flash said as he ran forward and gave Hyperion a few punches to the head, making him yell out as he glared as he got ready but suddenly got caught in a vacuum, making him look confused. “I didn’t do it.” Flash said, putting his hands up to show he wasn’t doing it.

I am.” A robotic voice said as Tornado flew down calmly, as the air began to go into Hyperion’s body, making him yell out as the fire went more into it.

“Wha-what are you doing!?” Hyperion demanded as Torando’s eye narrowed.

“I am reversing the air flow into your mechanical parts…this is sending your fire to wherever your fuel source is…so I may want to remove you from here.” Tornado said as he sent him into the air, Hyperion yelling out as he was sent in the air. Flash created a funnel to give him more lift.

“AND for good measure.” Hal said as he fired out a green missile from his ring, making the fiery robot explode from the

Impetus yelled out as he fired more spikes towards them, Alchimia slamming his hands down as spiked rocks came up and through him, making him yell out. Geo-Force then says, “Say goodnight, robot!” HE then fired a blast of heat energy down at them, making Impetus yell out as the rocks then sparked up.

“Oh, by the way? Those rocks…I changed them to have some oxygen in it. AND Oxygen is highly combustible in heat, SO…” Alchimia stopped as he saw the rocks explode from the heat, creating an explosion of the robotic spike bot.

Krios yelled out as he tried to fire more discs, but was out when he noticed Canary smirking at him. Marvel then flew down, smirking as he spun in a circle, making Krios yell out as he was hit, making him go back as the hero smashed him.

Krios groaned a bit as he shut down from the force of the blow, as Marvel pats his hands together as the others saw Cyborg against Atlas, was pushing him down. Cyborg growled as he narrowed his eyes at this.

“You may have bested my comrades…but I will still best you! Once I destroy you pathetic meat sacks, I will have them rebuilt! You cannot defeat me!” Atlas said as he was pushed back as he groaned. ‘Mechanic, equip me! Now!”

“Do it yourself, ya bum.” Spike said with a scowl as Atlas growled in anger as he got back and looked at his arm with buttons, an unsure expression on his face as he wasn’t sure which to use.

“Don’t know how to use your arsenal, tough guy? Well then…lets see how you take me on now!” said Cyborg as he jumped over as he got grabbed and slammed down.

“I do not need weapons to crush your fleshy form, boy…any last words?” Atlas sneered as Cyborg got his legs against him.

“Yeah; time to give you the boot!” Suddenly an explosive force came out of the soles of his feet, sending Atlas away as Cyborg panted, his arm beeping as he was near his limit. Atlas growled as he got up, his torso slightly broken.

“You are only human…you are full of limitations.” Atlas said as he saw Cyborg’s body beginning to spark up, Cyborg glaring at this as he got into a stance.

“But that’s the thing about humans, Bucket head…we can defy our limits.” Cyborg said as he ran forward, yelling out as he sent out a few punches, ignoring the sparks that were coming off of him as Atlas grunts at the blows as Atlas caught his arms and pushed against him.

“Who told you that nonsense?” atlas glared as he saw the red line hit “100%” as he smirked. “You have reached your limit. Yield.”

“…NO. WAY.” Cyborg said as he pushed back, the limiter going over 100 before cracking, making Atlas go wide eyed as Cyborg picked him up and yells out as he threw him toward a wall, sending the crumbling wall on top of him.

The smoke cleared as Cyborg groaned a bit, his body sparking a bit as he gave a weak thumbs up to the others ,as they all smirked. “Way to go, Vic!” Flash said, running over as Marvel flew over.

“The winner! The Titanic Bioid! The unstopped fighter! The one, the only, CYBORG!” Marvel said, raising Cyborg’s arm into the air as the others smirked.

“Good hustle, son. Got back on your feet even after a bad knock out. That’s the main thing, boy.” Wildcat smirked, as Robin looked at the remains of the robots.

“So, what now?” Asked Robin as Batman scowled at them.

“Let CADMUS deal with them.” Batman said as he looked to where Atlas was, his body broken from the rubble hitting him.

“…it eems…I was wrong about you…you are the better robot…” Atlas groaned as Cyborg scowled.

“No. Better Person.” Cyborg said as Tornado nods, watching this.

“Indeed you are…and it seems…that I have much to learn.” Tornado said, looking at all of the destruction. “These machines…they were given advanced AI. They cuased much destruction…is that all I am good for? Destruction?”

“Tornado?” Canary asked, confused by this. “What are you talking about?”

“…I need…to think.” Tornado said as his body began to pick up wind as he floated in the air. “Do not follow.”

“Tornado, wait!” Aqualad said as he took off but Aquaman stopped him.

“Let him go, Kaldur. I believe he needs time. Nad for now, we need to get Cyborg fixed up.” Aquaman said as Spike flew over and looked over his body before opening his lower body area of his armor.

“Hmm…yeah, there’s the problem. Your energy outlook isn’t aligned right. The way its set up now…this wouldn’t be energy sufficient. If ya want, I can help patch you up.” Spike said as Cyborg smirked.

“Heh…welcome to the crew, Spike.” Hal smirked as Spike just grinned.

“The name’s ‘Mac’, actually. ‘Spike’ is just a nickname.” Spike said as the group nods, heading out, unaware of Atlas watching them leave before his eyes shut off.

(A couple days later…)

(West Side School for the Handicapped. New York City, New York. March 28th, 8:23)

In the Western side of New York, at a medium sized school, Sarah was writing on white board as she says, “Alright class, settle down.”

The kids, many of them either in wheel chairs, crutches, with casts of some kind or even having prosthetics of some kind sat down, all looking up curiously as Sarah smiled. Next to her was a young man with short black hair and wearing a white t-shirt and a pair of jeans. “Hey kids, we got a special surprise for you all.”

“what’s that, Mr. Wright?” Suzy asked, looking confused as the man, Mark Wright, chuckled a bit.

“We got a new Physical education instructor. As you know, Miss Monroe was transferred and we had to figure out who could put it in…and then the perfect teacher signed up.”

“Who’s that?” asked a boy wearing a New York Yankee shirt, looking up curiously as the kids were motioned to the gym, where someone was shooting hoops wearing a work out hoodie and sweat pants, big boots clanking on the ground.

“A’right kids, time for you kids to work a sweat.” The tall man said, before removing his hoodie to reveal it was Cyborg, who smirked as the kids looked in awe at the super hero in their gymnasium. “You know me as ‘Cyborg’, but in class it’s ‘Coach Stone’, kay?”

“COOL!” The kids all cheered, looking at the tall hero with awe in their eyes as Cyborg smirked.

“But how can we play sports? I mean…” A girl in a wheelchair said as Cyborg walked over and got her level, giving a soft smile.

“Listen kiddo, limits aren’t an end all, be all. Here’s a thing about people like us: if we try, we can defy our limits.” Said Cyborg with a smirk. “nothing is impossible, even with something holding you back. Now, come on kids, lets play some games.” He motions to the gym’s surroundings, showing it was a collection of games.

“Cool!” said the kids as Sarah smiled as she motioned them along.

“Go on, have fun.” Sarah said as the kids cheered, heading towards the mats and started to play the various activities that were set up. Sarah smiled at the sight as she gave Victor a smile. “It was nice of you to fill in, Vic.”

“No prob, Sarah. What can I say?” Victor asked as he smiled at the kids who were playing, particularly Suzy, who grunt as she threw a beanbag into a hole, making her smile as she got the point. “I gotta show these kids that the impossible can be achieved, even WITH These things.”

“That’s good.” Mark said, as he watched the kids have fun with cyborg, who smirked.

Unaware in the distance that someone was watching through a pair of binoculars as Nightwing put them away, a smirk on his face. “You’re doing good, Vic. You’re doing good.” Nightwing said as he ran off, heading out for a patrol in the city.

End of this Arc 

Well, happy to be out of my temporary writing hiatus after that dang virus. Hope this was worth the wait. Please let me know what you all think. Please Read, Review and Suggest away!
OK, here's the final part of this arc. Hope everyone likes it!

Synopsis: After reactivating the Tornado Champion, a group of robotic fighters take interest in the newely awakened machine, particurally a former Construction Robot by the name of 'Atlas'. He and his cohorts take it upon themselves to take Champion and several members of the LEague away as prisoners, leaving a doubting Cyborg to try and help stop them. Can he stop these mechanized menacies, or will his limitations be his downfall?
© 2015 - 2024 Shadow-DJ
Comments7
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Scholarly-Cimmerian's avatar
Nice work. I like what you did here with Cyborg.