Return to the Fray
Project Overview
I am writing a serial drama called "Return to the Fray" taking place in a world where the golden age of superheroes has ended, and the world's greatest heroes have largely ether retired, or resolved to fighting muggers and theives rather than terrorists and supervillains. The story is mainly written in prose and represented using a series of stylised images called "Microheroes" (see link below.) However, I am looking to compliment the action as key points using audio drama. The idea is that each update will include an image, some prose, and a scene of fully editted audio drama.
SYNOPSIS
The Inventor is destroyed, but at a cost. Norman Richards can no longer bare to fight, and so the Patriot is no more, and Omega is disbanded. As the heroes return to their lives as civilians, can they really learn to live a normal life? And is the balance truly restored. What happens when evil reers it's ugly head, and they must all "Return to the Fray."
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AGE: Any
A sentient computer created for the hub of Omega. S.M.I.T.H appears on screens throughout the building, and also has a physical presence around the world as a hologram. He takes care of medical needs, tactical planning, and the coms systems. Since the disappearance of the Patriot, S.M.I.T.H has lay dormant, unused. His great intellect now spends most days playing computer chess with a Windows XP from across the city.
(Peppy) Good Morning Sir? Usual question sir, will you be coming into the office today sir?
(Bored) Queen side rook to F5
(Intelligent) My medical expertise, though extensive, is not actually required in this context. Mr Richards has the ability to heal himself. His scars, as it were, are there by choice, not necessity.
AGE: 33 (21-24 in flashbacks)
In 1966, Alex Tyler was a young secretary, she liked dancing, Doctor Who, and going to the pictures. She even had romantic interest from a young banker called Trevor. It was September, and Alex was working late, when her manager came in drunk and started making advances at her, as he loomed over her, she screwed her eyes up, and heard music... Strange music. When she opened her eyes she was surrounded by lights, cheering men, and naked women dancing round poles. She had travelled 40 years into the future. Surrounded by strange people and confronted by a world she doesn't know, she turned to the police, who, after making sure she wasn't insane, referred her to Omega. Here she met Norman Richards, and slowly became used to her new world, and her powers. Once she could control them, she joined Omega, and the romance between her and Norman blossomed.
Will somebody please tell me what her fuck is going on? Why are you all dressed like whores? And where the fuck is my office?
I suppose technically I'm 65 years old. That makes you one hell of a toy boy Spandex! Are you sure it doesn't, you know... make you feel a bit wierd?
Norman please, you don't have to do this. People need us Norm! We can't just abandon them! I know it's shit okay, but I'm here, I'm not going anywhere. Please don't walk out on me, please. Norman please!
AGE: 41 (28-31 in flashbacks)
Norman is one of three siblings all born with strange abilities, the next stage in human evolution. Stronger, faster, and more agile than most of mankind, and with an impenetrable healing factor, Norman's abilities were the strongest of the three.
He formed a team with his sister Nina, and his brother Roland, helping to found Omega, an institute of heroes charged with protecting Britain and the rest of the world. He was happily engaged to marry Alex Tyler, also known as Fast Forward, and the team of heroes was a perfect defence against evil.
After years of fighting, the three siblings finally cornered The Inventor, a supervillain and Terrorist hellbent on controlling the western world. In the ensuing battle, Nina was incapacitated, Roland was killed. Although he managed to kill the Inventor, Norman was left with a badly damaged leg, heavy facial scars, and a broken heart from the loss of his brother. Refusing to use his healing factor, he disappeared to live a life of solitude, enforcing his painful injuries upon himself as penance for the life of Roland. His sister recovered, and helped to ease to transition into a world without heroes, and his fiance Alex resigned herself to his loss, and tried to move on.
Though they have tried to tempt him back, nothing could make him once again don the Patriot mantle... till now.
(Desparate) If you come with me and turn youself in then no one else has to die! You can pay for your crimes Inventor, there is a price for everything we do, and once it is paid we can move on. Nothing is too big to forget! Work with me, please!
(Bitter) Look at me, What good am I? I can't walk, I can't feel, but the worst part of it all is, I just dont give a shit. You stand there, all rightous and glowing, and you talk about innocent lives, people in need. I just don't care any more. They're all just faceless nobodies screaming "Help me Patriot!" The patriot is dead. Dead, buried, and eaten by worms. Let me get back to being Norman Richards.
(Determined) 10 years I've lived with these injuries, looked at these scars in the mirror as a reminder of what I lost to help those people. That's why I left. Because every life I could've saved, would just remind me of the one I failed to save. Now it's different though, now... It's time to let the scars fade.
AGE: 36 (23-26 in
Norman's younger sister, wife to Steven Mowzer (Helix) and best friend to Alex. The only person who managed to keep contact with her brother during his time away. She took responsibility for Omega, giving main hero duties to her husband, and happily retiring into an administrative role, allowing her to sink into obscurity and live a normal life.
(Frustrated) You want a distraction, fine, here's a bloody distraction! "Hey, you big stupid Cyborg head, over here!"
(Firm) Steve, listen, I know things haven't been exactly perfect recently. God knows I've been an absolute bloody nightmare to live with but... well, we need to talk. I'm pregnant Steve, and I love you. I need you to come home and be with me through this.
(Sassy) You took your time didn't you? Nice suit... kinda miss the cape though.
AGE: 46 (33-36 in flashbacks)
Norman's best friend, and once second in command. Has the power to create duplicates of himself with a limited lifespan. The duplicates are not autonimous and are controlled by his mind the same as his own body. The psycological strain of each duplicate's death has left him emotionally damaged. He took over the ground work for Omega when Norman left. As an American his reach is far more international than Norman's, and he is known throughout the world, particularly as he was recently played in a movie by Chris Pratt. He married Nina and though they had a happy marriage, his freuqnt travel put a strain on their relationship. He managed to get Norman's location out of Nina when he needed it, and went to try and bring him back.
(pleading) Norman listen, we need you man. They've taken her, they've taken Nina, and the Felix. He's 6 weeks old Norman. Will you just get your god damn head out of your ass and listen to me?!
(Certain) He's dead. I know he's dead, I helped recover the body. We burned it. After you pissed off, some of us stayed to clean up you god damned mess!
(Relieved) I am never, ever going to leave you again Nina. I promise. I will keep kicking myself for being such a stupid fool the rest of my days, and I will love you for even longer.
AGE: 33 (20-23 in flashbacks)
Katerina was investiagating the remains of an old Egyptian structure, to support her thesis. She believed, correctly, that the Eygyptian cat gods were interdimensional beings. In the process of excavation she was trapped below the surface. Presumed dead for 3 years, she reappeared with fractured memories of a strange ritual and a gift in the form of a curse. Whenever her heart rate increased too far, or she was faced with fear or stress, she transformed into her Feline form. In time, she learned to control her transformations, and can now move between forms at will.Born in Russia, she moved to Britain to join Omega, but failed to make the team when she stole from her local store. She became a vigilante, and became infatuated with the Patriot. When Norman went into hiding, she found him, and eventually became his girlfriend. Their relationship is a tempestuous one, built on his emotional fragility, and her obsession. She believes secretly, however, that he will never truly love her. She will never know just how much she means to him.
(Flirty) Norman, what are you doing? Why don't you hurry up and come to bed, I'm wearing that nightee you like!
(Angry) 7 years I put up with your whining, your moaning, your "oh poor me my brother got shot with a laser"! 7 years I make your food, and clean, and share your bed, and not once do you tell me you love me? No Norman, I am not working with him. I love you, an I'll put up with what little I get from you."
(Dying) I love you, More than words can say.
AGE: 64
Eton, Cambridge, NASA. Ivan Driffield may have been born in a modest english village, but there is nothing modest about him. Arguably the most intelligent man alive, he uses his intelligence to create weapons and robotics to conquer and destroy. He's flamboiant, Posh, and deadly.
Mr Patriot my dear, your pleas fall on deafened ears I'm afraid. Were I in a position of defeat I may hear you pleas, but since there is not suggestion that I am to fail, it would be rather counterproductive of me to, as you say, turn myself in, at this time. Don't you think old boy?!
Goodmorning Diddums! How are you Norman? Yes that's right, I know your identity. Now, I know what you're thinking, how terribly rude of me not being dead and all! And after all the trouble you went to crush me beneath that gurder. WHOOPSIE!I really must be caned musn't I?!
Terribly sorry to bother you, but would you mind terribly if I removed your intestines through your abnormally large arse?
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