Henburg Six. Four of Six.

ANNIKA SVARENSON

Annika was an exchange student to NYU... In need of money, so agreed to be a part of medical experiments... Experiments that turned her into a carrier for the SVAR virus, named for her.

Symptoms:
High Fever.
Disorientation/Hallucinations.
Vomiting.
Dehydration.
Loss of motor co-ordination/function.
Nerve Damage.

What makes the virus so dangerous is the fact that Annika can control who succumbs to the virus. If she is unconcious or leaves, the virus becomes non-contagious. She is the control factor. the focus.

She has displayed little moral fibre, she admits this was the same before she was transformed:

"I came here for the "Pursuit of education and higher power". I was a medical student. I thought it would be a placebo trial."

"What exactly happened?"

"I went to the place on the flyer. I was met by a doctor. He told me the risks and such. That's all. I got my money and left."

"When did you develop your illness?"

"I didn't develop an illness... I AM the illness. My power is over life and death. I choose who lives and dies..."

"Hence why you're in the plastice containment suit..."

"Yes..."

Annika has developed... Both Nhilistic tendences and a God complex... Power corrupts.

"Who picked you up?"

"Frankly, I was delerious. All I remember are strip lights, a cold table and pain. That, and the voice."

"Voice?"

"He just said... 'You'll be fine... We all will be... All I need is your co-operation... And you'll be free to do what you like...'. That's all I know."

"You've been more helpful that your cohorts."

"Don't associate me with them... Mindless... Barbaric... I help you out of respect for what you're doing... And the fact that what the voice said was a lie... I'll never be free..."

She told us all she could...

"We'll all be free..." What did the mastermind seek from these people? What was his purpose?

What am I getting myself into?

Am I too deep?

Henburg Six. Three of Six.

FREDDY IGNACKS.

Freddy can't be more than 18 years old. He barely made an impression upon the room. Blonde hair, blue eyes - What the Nazis called the perfect man. But he sits awkwardly in the plastic chair, defying the confidence of perfection.

I found out later that he was a highschool swimmer. Popular, happy in mind, body and soul according to the counsellor. He was a smart kid too. But again, his manner of speech defies that background.

"Good morning, Freddy."

"H-hi, Doctor."

"How are you today?"

"Think I'm getting a cold... And I didn't sleep last night."

"Why?"

"I could hear the warden outside. I think he's spying on me..."

Freddy now displays paranoid tendencies due to his new found powers. Through sensory deprivation, he becomes the ultimate killer. Fast, agile, strong and without conscience and inhibition. Ubermensch. He was brought in wearing a special helmet, now in storage.

"How did you get these powers, Freddy?"

"They did something to my head... Brainwashing. I don't want to be here, Doc, please..."

"I'm sorry, Freddy. But for now at least, it's for your own good."

We still haven't been able to break the programming. The helmet is a trigger tool for his mind to work on a form of precognitive reflex, taking in pressure changes from the air around him. Hence how he can operate at such a staggering level of brutality despite deprivation of all other senses.

"Why did you go along with them?"

"I didn't! I swear! They drugged me! Took me off of the street..."

"Calm down."

"I'm sorry, Doc... I'm worried about my parents... My girlfriend..."

"They're fine..."

"...What."

"I'm sorry?"

"What about... My helmet?"

"Freddy?"

"I just want to know my helmet is okay..."

"It's fine... Why? It's a helmet..."

"It's MY helmet. It's... Important to me..."

"It's safe. In lockdown. Nothing will happen to it."

"Okay..."

"Freddy?"

"Mhm?"

"Who was the big boss?"

"Big... Boss?"

"You don't know?"

"No... I'm sorry..."

He wasn't lying. He went on to talk about how Skymaster looked after him (Possible deviant behaviour: Documented) in a secure location.

His attachment to the helmet is... Worrying. As if he wants to be free through restriction... Be the killer.

I suggest therapy, deprogramming and sedatives.

Henburg Six. Two of Six.

JACK MORRY.

Morry was very open about his origins:

"They dipped me in this... stuff. Pink stuff. It was hot... Then I didn't feel it. Don't feel much of anything now."

He was not, however, open about who it was that "Dipped" him into a highly unstable mutagen, FR-9E, recently "Liberated" from a Jacksonville lab facility operated by the government.

I ask myself, who'd go to this much trouble for an hour of chaos?

I ask Jack Morry, The Takoma Titan, the same question:

"I, uh... Never actually saw the guy... We just used to meet in a warehouse and talk through a video screen."

A lie, but We went on.

"You must have gotten a name, Jack..."

"I just used to call him 'sir'. Only right, he was the one calling the shots."

"Okay... So where did they say they got the mutagen?"

"The pink stuff? Some lab down south."

I, as a psychiatrist, took some initiative, not reading from the preprinted test cards they give us.

"Why would you volunteer for something highly dangerous and potentially fatal?"

"You ever been to Takoma?"

"No."

"Nothing to do. No desire to leave. I was gonna become a mechanic like my dad."

"Then why did you throw it all away?"

"I... Power. He said I could become one of the big shots. All I had to do was the job, and a few smaller ones."

"Smaller ones?"

"Just smash and grab."

Jack used to be around 6'1'' tall - he's now 8'6'', and has doubled in weight. A massive pink exoskeleton would do that to a person. Made him indestructible and supremely strong.

He tried to reach for a glass of water, but it smashed in his hands like a paper cup. He laughed.

"Still not used to this body yet..."

He had lost any sense of restrictive musculature control, and any nerves he had were gone completely.

I didn't get much more out him. His story was the same as Skymaster's. 

Although I got one small piece out of him towards the end.

"Tunney... He was close to the big man. Said he'd met the man, and they hit it off. Not, like, in a gay way, but they were close."

He was talking about Thomas Tunney, last on my list. Perhaps with him, I'll get the right answers.

Henburg Six. One of Six.

LOUIS FENERBINK.

Whenever a green labeled file ends up on my desk, it's high priority.

Yesterday, I got 6 of 'em.

As the head psychiatrist of "The Barrel" - A cute name for the worst place to work in the world. The most secure prison on the eastern seaboard. Set aside for superhumans, or villains in this case... As well as mutates and metabeings in the lower reaches.

And it's my job to make sure none of them get an inferiority complex, or develop a fetish for orange jumpsuits. That WASN'T pleasant.

Usually it's a monthy meeting, or an assisted course with one of the junior doctors. Except for green and black labels. Black labels are the highest priority, those who are never to be released - we just make it so they get the right amount of meds so they don't try ANYTHING.

Green labels are borderliners. Too docile or not as powerful to be blacklisted, but not safe enough to be in general circulation. The big hitters - they guys you see walk through strings of C and D-listers when the pangalactic beings crash into Manhattan or Oklahoma.

The first of the Henburg Six, a group of virtual unknowns who managed to not only break into The Barrel, but as soon as they'd broken in, surrendered. Chaos with no explanation. They pleaded guilty, but even with that, the lawyers got them a lessened sentence due to breaking into a prison with no intent to spirit away any of the inmates not actually being a crime.

My arm aches in the cast holding it together. During the break-in, my arm was crushed. It aches at the sight of Louis Fenerbink, Aka: Skymaster.

A genius level intellect with delusions of grandeur. Thinks he's a part of a sky-born race with superior technology, the Cotyl. Aztec inspired.

He sits on the other side of the desk, grinning like a cheshire cat. He knows he's famous, despite only a week ago being a registered accountant.

"Hi, Doc."

"Louis. How are we today?"

"Not so bad, Doc. Could do with some fresh air though, the recirculated stuff just isn't the same"

"It comes from the outside, just pumped in-"

"No. It doesn't take an idiot to taste it in the air. It's laced with drugs, tastes like an operation I once had - had a tooth pulled. I don't like needles."

"I know, it's in your records."

"Have you seen Ignacks yet?"

"Freddy? No... He's third on the list."

"Oh... I wondered how he was."

"We'll be sure to let you know. I have a few questions."

"Thought so. Knew so. Shoot."

"Where did you get the technology? It's beyond anything I've ever seen, not even some of the blacklist have stuff like this."

"Why it was the Cotyl! My memories of a past life in the starry sky reborn! I went off to my cloud, left for me by my father, the King, years ago when I was sent to Terra!"

"..."

"Yeah, it's horse shit. You know it, I know it, I hurt my throat yelling about the vengence of the gods all the time. It's a character, y'know."

"I get it."

"It was amalgamated tech from long gone villains and threats. I managed to scrounge it up and piece it together. The rest of the tech we used too. I liked the "Matter-changing Gun", The one we used on the wall - Again, sorry. It turned back from sap to concrete just at the wrong time."

"It's alright. Who lead you?"

"...Morry. He lead us through the city. He admitted it in court."

"No. Who arranged you all? Found you, cultivated your talents and made the plan."

"Morry."

"No, he's a redneck, pardon my vernacular. Hasn't got the qualities of a leader. That falls to you, but I don't think you lead them."

"Very astute."

"So who was it?"

"You'll never find him. He's dead."

That's all I got out of him. The rest was small talk... Deadlock took him back, and he was smiling again.

"He's dead"... The others must have something else to say... But I'll make a check of obituaries of villains, or even heroes in the past 6 months... Before I move on to Jack Morry, the Titan of Takoma.

Banter.

You ready, Joe?

No... God no...

You have to be...

I know, but it's a big deal.

Of course it is, you have to be ready - Banterweight title doesn't come along everyday... Have you done your vocal warm up?

Yeah...

Show me.

Mi-mi-mi-mi-ma-ma-mo-mo-mu.

You sound good, kid. Real good. Tonguetwister.

Red lorry, yellow lorry, red lorry, yellow lorry, red lorry, yellow lorry, red-

Stop. Good. You can't afford to get stuck. Middlemass started up on puns, right on the street, worked up to limericks. He's a real tough bastard. But so are you.

I know. I'm lyrical.

But don't wax it up. Fancy words are superheavyweight country. Only use it if it fits.

Right. Would rhyming work for me?

No, he's been rhyming for years... Though it would even up the field.

Right, start if he starts, don't be waxy, and stick and move.

...I'm proud of you kid...

Louie?

You're like... A son to me... This is it. Big time.

Lou...

...Go get 'em, kid.

Long way home, long the dead, dead river.

Katie? Are you listening to me?

Yeah, Mom... I'm listening.

Doesn't seem like it... Or are you enjoying the scenery?

Scenery.

Good! See... This trip WAS a good idea.

We could have afforded a cruise and you go for the riverboat two states over...

What?

I didn't even want to come on this ride...

The doctors thought it would be good for the both of us, not just you.

Whatever.

...Fine. I'm going back to our cabin to catch a nap before lunch. Come and wake me, okay?

...

Too many people...

I'm sorry?

Far to many people on here, right?

Ah... I guess so.

I'm talking from a structural standpoint. This thing was made for around 100 people. How many are on here? Double that and more.

Right...

Sorry. I've spent a lot of my time on one or another of these... You get to know something about it.

I guess so...

So... Figured out why you're really here?

Yep.

Really? That was quick. We've barely set off...

My Mom thinks I'm crazy.

...Ah.

Don't worry. I know I am, but I'm in control.

You don't look crazy to me...

Really?

Yeah. Momma was crazy. Beat me and my brothers with the end of a rifle until we managed to get away.

Post-natal depression?!

Yeah... Nate was the youngest, he really tipped her over, never knew who his Pappy was.

No... Forget it. I'm sorry to hear that.

No worries, Miss. It was a long time ago. 

I am crazy...

No... How?

I had a freak-out at school. Tried jumping off of the roof.

Oh my. Terrible.

Hence the doctors and all the therapy, jus-

You're not crazy. We all have a "Freak-out" once in a while... All it takes is one bad day...

Did you ever have something like that?

Sure.

What happened?

I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours...

No way. I don't even know you!

Charlie. Charlie Parker.

...Katie.

Now we know each other. C'mon, miss. Let me hear it.

It's silly...

Nah... I promise not to tell a soul.

...It was everything around that time... But one thing sent me over the edge...

Boys?

...Kinda predictable, huh.

Sure, but what isn't in life, especially high school. ...Watch out!

*SWOOP! WOOSH!*

Aah! Crows!

Hettie! Mimi! Stop that! ...Sorry, they're my girls, they get jealous.

...

See? They're down on the rails. No harm, no foul.

Alright. It's odd... I've always liked crows. Just so ...neat, and smart. Jet black geniuses.

Don't let them know that, they're attention seekers at heart...

Heh.

So... Who was he?

Darrell... He was smart, funny, smoking hot... But he never noticed me...

Hm. And try as you might he never did?

That's the one... I was in love... Or obsessed... I never figured it out... I was failing all of my classes because I couldn't sleep... or think straight... Sometimes, I couldn't eat...

And all of that boiled over...

Yeah... It was silly... We were the only two in the hall... And he asked me who I was... I just... I couldn't take it...

...You ever stop and think maybe he just managed to see you, and wanted to know you better?

Yeah... But who'd want to know me?

I would. You're a smart kid. 

Thanks, Charlie... So... What was your bad day?

Heh... I work on this boat...

Sorry! Am I stopping you from working?!

Nah. I have a good crew alongside me... Not like the old days... Bunch of deadbeats... One day, I just decided I didn't want to do it any more... Left the river...

And?

I couldn't make it... I ended up coming back here another way... I felt everything... Heartbreak, loneliness, shame... the whole fucking spectrum... My boss was good enough to let me back...

It's hard on the outside...

Sure is... But now I enjoy being the captain...

I'm glad... I'm not happy.

You gotta be! You're free from that world, at least for a while... No leaving anything behind.

Heh. A holiday purist.

Certainly. A working man too. Always have to get them to where they need to be.

I wish I had that simple life... But then I'd miss technology. I couldn't be Amish.

Heh... Where are you headed?

No idea... Mom says she thinks as far as the river goes...

No! You can't go that far...

I know! It's the ocean out there! She's so fucking dense...

You're pretty close to your stop now... earlier than schedule.

...Sometimes...

What?

Right now... I just want to jump in the river...

You can't.

I'll show you! ...Here! Stood on the rails looking down, it's a clear river... 

It's only clear 'cause you can't see it for what it is yet...

What?

You wonder how it was so convenient, how your Momma got these tickets?

...No? I assumed Doctor Gatz got them for us...

Us? You're the crazy one, so you say...

Well someone had to come with me...

True. But not quite... Do you even remember coming down from the roof?

...No, that day was such a blur...

You got down the hard way. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Below us is the Lethe river... The river of concealment and forgetfulness.

...Charlie?

You're bound for the next town over, and it's river, Acheron, the river of pain... Reserved for suicides. The middle town of the seventh stop.

Your face...

Sorry... I'm really sorry... I was there till the boss came back for me... Too many people on these boats now... So much death...

No...

Your Momma... She's gone, fourth stop, while we were talking. Bound for the Colosseum... She couldn't take living without you, but loved the money more... Heart attack, too sudden...

...Is this?

Oh... Too soon. Your stop is here, Katie... There's your party... Ol' Bully Bicks... He'll treat you right as you can be... Being a tree...

Charlie?

I'm sorry... Too many people to deliver... I can't stop to say goodbye... Maybe I'll come back for you, one day... as the boss did for me... He did it for Demi, why couldn't I do it for...

...

Oh... Gone... into the bushes...

...

Too many people now... Just another face... Who was she again? I can never remember them all...

...

No matter... C'mon, girls... Off we go to the end of the river...

On to Pandemonium...

You've got to Laugh.

...Betsy?

Hungh?

...Time to get up, Betsy-dear.

...W-who?

It's me...

Jason?

...Old name, dear... I'm something more now...

Jason... People were worried about you... You're sick...

Oh yes. Completely. I was. WAS. I got better.

You fell...

Mhm. Fell off that old band-wagon... Right into her arms. I don't need the witch doctoooor! I'll gladly take her charms!

Off of the bridge...

Yep! It was cold... Very cold. And dark. But I went with the flooooooooow... and I found my way home...

Why didn't you stay then?!

I couldn't. I was broken, baby. I needed a fix...

Drugs? I thought you were-

Were? Am. But not like I was... I was a real fucknut back then... I don't need the chemicals now... I get my fix from other places...

Where?

I couldn't stay... I would have hurt them... A lot. Over. Over. More. More...

...What?

I'm stone cold... A real stunner. Butcher. Baker. Soldier. Spyyy... What's his name?

Who?

The guy who took my place... Name.

I don't know what you're talking about!

The MAN! The one at your apartment... You cry to him and wait for him to come... around... WHO IS HE?!

...Jules? He's just the guy across the hall... He's been so kind-

Shut it! Filthy whore! She tells me what you do!

She?

Mistress... Do not say her name... she'll hear you... Shh!

Who is The Mistress?

No! You'll wake her up! She found me... Took care of me when I was broke! She told me things no-one knew but her! And now me!

What things?

No... No-one but us... No-one is ready for it. She says so...

Try me.

No...

Please... Help me understand...

...Mistress?

...

Yes... She can know? Just a little trinket, just to help her get the puzzle?

...

Thank you! Thank you, Mistress!

It's okay?

It's fine! Ha!

So, tell me.

Just a little secret... the world is dead.

What?!

It's upside-down. The opposite to how we see it! The opposite of life is death...

So the world is dead...

Mhm!

So I'm dead?

No! We're all alive! Just a dead world!

And the Mistress?

She transcended life and death! Silly! She's immortal! Living in the rocks and rivers themselves!

But if they're dead... She is.

...No.

Yes. You said it yourself...

No!

...

No! I can't kill her!

What does she fear?! Why does she need you?!

...

No... No! I can't kill her! She's...

...

Aaagh! Noo!

Jason?!

Don't hurt me! Please! I'll be good!

Fight her! Let me fight her!

NO! You'd di-yai-YAI!

Jason!

Hah!

*THUD*

...Jason?

Be...

Oh my god... Wake up!

Bet...

GET UP!

Bets...hee...

...Jaso-

HEEHEEHEEHEEHEEHEEHEE!

Ack! My thr-

She said you'd try to fool me... Yes... HAHA!

No! I want-

Shut up!

*Crack*

...

...Betsy?

...

...Oh dear. Betsy fell. Oh well... She'll be up and around soon... Dead, dead world. Deaad, deaad Girl... REBORN!