It is a rather quiet Saturday evening and you find yourself on the express train from Queenspointe to Empire City. You have decided to accept an old friend's invitation at the "beatnik hang-out", the Crown Jewel Lounge. You've been looking forward to this all week, as you've been having to decline your friend's invitations repeatedly for one reason or another with "work" that turns up at the last minute. Leaning back in the seat, you watch as the last lights of Queenspointe whiz by and the train enters the subway tunnel that ran the length of the Chesapeake Bay to Empire City. Despite the growing number of subway accidents between the Sister Cities and the rampant media speculation that either a haunted demon or a satanic cult was responsible for the grisly murders accompanying these accidents, you still find this the perfect way to travel.

>I listen to my Spin Doctors CD's, while tapping my toes of the bottom of my seat.<

The car you're in sleepily sways from side to side as you feel the "click-clack" of the rails through your body, even as POCKETFUL OF KRYPTONITE begins to play on your headphones. The lights strobe past the window on your right as the train picks up speed and you finally feel that you really are going to see your old friend out of his costume, for a change. Your body relaxes at the thought of having a weekend for yourself away from the hustle and bustle your private life often creates in your life.

Your eyes move around the car to see just how many people were headed over the Queenspointe's "Sister City" for the nightlife. It wasn't as if Queenspointe lacked any nightlife, it was just that both cities had their reasons for attracting citizens from across the Bay.

>I cross my legs...several times, to get comfortable as we cross the Bay.<

There were all sorts of people. Given the time, it was nearly 8:00 PM, it was obvious that it was the nightlife that was attracting your fellow passengers. There was no doubt, given the fact that no one was professionally dressed or very much over the age of 30.

It never ceases to amaze you just how ethnic the Sister Cities were. A casual count made you realize that you had most Latin and Middle Eastern countries represented along with a fair representation of Middle Caucasian America.

>I've always been fond of having a wide variety of skin tones around.<

However, as you've settled on the fact that you were headed for a sleepy weekend among old friends and new acquaintances, the train suddenly lurches forward as the operator was applying the brakes. Passengers fly from their seats as the lights flicker and plunge the train into complete darkness. A few panicked moments pass before the red emergency lights activate -- an event that is overshadowed by the sound of screams in the cars ahead...and of metal being shredded to bits.

>After I check my ears for bleeding, I stretch my head forward to see what's going on.<

(Are you sure you want to stretch your neck in front of everyone in the car?)

>I guess I'll suffice with my super sight for the moment.<

You catch a glimpse of a very muscular humanoid shredding the train car, three ahead of you, with passengers spilling helplessly from the wreckage. You also notice a panicked crowd from the cars ahead who are fleeing to the rear cars in an attempt to seek refuge.

>I slip ahead and try to direct people toward the back of the train until I reach a bathroom and change into my costume.<

(You do so, and after you are in costume few others take your lead in directing people to the emergency exit located in the last train car.)

>I slip out of a nearby and up to the train's roof.<

As you reach the roof of the car, you notice a hulking figure take hold of it and lift it off the ground, shredding it open as it appears to be searching frantically for something.

>Say, aren't we in a tunnel?<

(Yes.)

> How high is the ceiling in here?<

(It's large enough for you to stand hunched over – there's not much clearance up top.)

> I use my clinging power to stay where I'm at on the car of the train.<

(You don't fall forward and are shot with terror as you notice the humanoid creature causing the destruction matched the description of an old, legendary monster said to haunt the subway tunnel...a creature long-nicknamed "Faceless Jack".)

Faceless Jack has been said to haunt the subway tunnel connecting the Sister Cities since it was first built...and said to be a creature from Hell released by the subway workers in the 1800s. Although none of the times he has been sighted has something of this magnitude been recorded happening. Mainly train wrecks with no probable cause has happened...with no survivors, as those in the train had their flesh gnawed off their bones. Only those who have claimed to have witnessed Faceless Jack firsthand believe the creature exists, as the most accepted cause is believed to be the work of a twisted cult who commit unspeakable rituals of cannibalism somewhere in the maze of subway access tunnels underneath the Bay.

>I stretch out my right arm to create a sling, and then I slip a pair of steel balls from my accessory bag into it.<

(You're armed and you aim your ammunition at the truly faceless horror)

> I sling (I really hadn't thought, until right now, how this would sound) my steel balls at the creature.<

(As you prepare to launch your attack, you notice a circular ring where its face should be was actually a muscular maw that made it look like something out of a nightmare. For a brief moment, you feel as though you have just witnessed the stuff of true nightmares.)

>I just want to ping some shots off this thing's hide. (Truthfully, I don't really expect my shots to do much aside from get its attention).<

(Do you take aim for anything in particular?)

>The thing's center mass…the easy shot.<

(You launch your balls and hear them make a dull impact with the creature's chest. As near as you can tell, they sickeningly stick into the creature's hide, but leaves no gaping wound. It howls in anger and hurls the car into the tunnel wall.)

> I jump toward the opposite wall of the tunnel.<

(You do so with ease, just as Faceless Jack lunges to crush the car you were on top of.)

>I launch another two steel balls at the thing while it's back is turned (no honor-bound hero am I!).<

(It screams in anger yet again as these balls you launch at it again stick into its torso area with sickening dull thuds. To your horror, however, the sounds of another subway train [this one coming from Empire City, headed towards Queenspointe, on the side of the tunnel where you and the wreckage of the subway car you had been traveling in mere minutes ago were on. The approaching train sounds its horn as its headlight comes slowly into view.)

>I'm going to try to keep Faceless Jack's attention as I launch two more balls at it, shape my own face to be as faceless as its own and roar at it while I stretch myself to the other wall of the subway tunnel.<

(You assume Faceless Jack's hellish visage as you pelt it's hide with two steel balls [just how many are you carrying, anyway?] and it turns towards you as you notice that the approaching subway train will collide with the subway car that Faceless Jack had just hurled to his right.)

>A pouch full, roughly twenty or so.<

(Well, now you only have about 14 or so. Faceless Jack turns towards you as the subway begins sounding its horn and hits its emergency brakes in alarm.)

>I stretch an arm down the tunnel, trying to warn off the approaching train while I turn and roar at it -- again faceless.<

(Despite your warnings, the approaching subway train collides with the wrecked subway car. The wreckage smashes into the operator's booth with a sickening crash as the other train derails with a combination of twisted metal and screaming passengers.)

>I head toward the train operator's booth to check on him (not that I know the first damn thing about 1st aid).<

(As you move towards the derailed, wrecked train, Faceless Jack's attention now moves to the terrified passengers – its maw crunching hungrily.)

>I'm going to make a phone call on my cell phone to my friend, Ed (AKA Speedstar).<

(You dial the number to your old friend's cell phone. However, as you hear the ringing, you feel a rush of wind and notice passengers disappearing suddenly and robbing Faceless Jack of its meal.)

>Oh, well…I hang up the cell phone, recognizing Speedstar's handiwork anywhere.<

(Within the time it takes for Faceless Jack to reach where you are by the stopped subway train, there is an emergency medical crew already there, obviously brought there by the cause behind the silver blur accompanied by a whoosh of wind, working on him & your old friend that you have gone to visit is suddenly standing on your right...again in his "work uniform" of silver and gold, with a big gold starburst on his chest. You groan inwardly as you really try to avoid running into him in your superhero identity a habit.)

SPEEDSTAR (to you, with his hands on his hips and his legs apart as he stood in a very stereotypical superhero stance): "I heard about the wreck of the Queenspointe-Empire City wreck on the news a little bit ago and figured you might need some help with whatever was responsible. Did I miss all the fun, or can anyone join the party at this point?"

LABYRNTHE (dryly): "Oh, please do."

SPEEDSTAR (with a frown as he notices Faceless Jack continuing its advance towards you): "I don't suppose you've had any luck with this guy, huh...?"

LABRYNTHE (shaking my head and shrugging): "My balls don't seem to have any effect on it."

SPEEDSTAR (chuckling to himself): "Is that how you handle protecting the public these days…?"

LABRYNTHE (acidly): "Train-mugging demons in tunnels aren't really my forte." (with a raised eyebrow) "Want to give him a try? Cause here he comes."

SPEEDSTAR (his frown becoming more pronounced): "Well...you never know until you try, right...?"

LABRYNTHE (crossing my arms across my chest): "Oh, this I've got to see."

(You watch as Speedstar becomes a silver blur for a moment, but are surprised as Faceless Jack grabs your old friend by the torso in its huge hand and brings him close to his maw. However, Speedstar frantically sends a barrage of fists at the creature's head, which seems to have some effect as Faceless jack actually drops him to the ground and stumbles backward.

Speedstar is gasping for breath as you see Faceless Jack already recovering and moving towards the silver speedster again.)

>Uh-oh, I better step in here.<

(You can tell that, even with his super-speed, Speedstar might not be able to react in time, given the reaction of Faceless Jack the first time your friend went for him.)

>I stretch my arms down toward ol' Faceless Jack and wrap my hands around his head (as quickly as I can of course).<

You stretch your arms, but something happens. You misjudge and instead of wrapping Faceless Jack's head, your arms explode at him like streamers at a New Year's Eve party.

(Faceless Jack surprisingly takes a step back from you and again grabs Speedstar and prepares to feed upon him.)

You see the emergency medical team that Speedstar carried to the scene carefully moving the subway driver out of the smashed driving booth and strapping him down on a gurney and hear the sirens of an ambulance racing down the emergency roadway between the subway rail in the tunnel.

You turn to see how Speedstar was doing to see his body begin to vibrate. He suddenly slips safely from Faceless Jack's grasp. Faceless tries to grab him again, but again its clawed hands move through your old friend. Faceless is hit with yet another barrage of punches that forces it to stagger backward a second time.

>Are there any people left to rescue?<

(Only the wounded driver of the subway train & the EMTs, but the ambulance that will carry them to safety will approach in just a few more minutes to take them to Queenspointe Medical Center.)

>Do they need help getting him out?<

(A little.)

>I go to help them in any way I can.<

(You help them cut him out of the twisted metal frame, just in time for the ambulance and the EMTs on board to help transport their patient to emergency.

You turn back to see if Speedstar needed any help, only to catch him flying backwards into the subway car right behind you. Faceless Jack howls and, to your amazement, melts into the ground.

(Speedstar picks himself up painfully from the ground and looks around.)

SPEEDSTAR (groggy, looking down both sides of the tunnel): "Where'd Mister Congeniality go? He couldn't have just disappeared!!!"

LABRYNTHE (stunned): "Holy Batballs, Speedstar!"

SPEEDSTAR (scratching his head, still staggering): "What is that supposed to mean???"

LABRYNTHE (looking around for the creature): "It melted into the ground right by where you're standing." (I put an ear to the ground and listen for it.)

SPEEDSTAR: "A creature like that -- if he melted -- would've left goo or something...wouldn't he?"

(You hear nothing. You do, however, find the six steel balls you launched at Faceless Jack. You pocket them absently as you frantically search for a logical answer to what you've just seen, you wonder if the legends of Faceless Jack being a wraith from Hell were true...just for a fleeting moment, of course.)

SPEEDSTAR (favoring his right shoulder): "Maybe even some ectoplasm? If that thing was what I thought it was...but that's impossible - Faceless Jack is just a myth...like Bigfoot and UFOs! It could've been a ghost. After all - some of my enemies that keep coming back for more are undead creatures, you know..."

LABRYNTHE (getting to his feet; incredulously): "A creature like that? How often have you seen creatures like that?" (pausing a moment) "Come to think of it, you think ectoplasm picks up trains and tosses them around like basketballs?"

SPEEDSTAR (shrugging helplessly): "I haven't the slightest idea. I was just suggesting, I guess..."

LABRYNTHE (uncomfortably; with a chill going up my spine): "I know, I know. Well, let's get out of here before it comes back." (changing the subject) "Are we too late for that band?"

SPEEDSTAR (suddenly grinning): "Want a lift?"

LABRYNTHE (grimacing): "Sure…I guess. Just don't burn the clothes, this time. People will talk!"

SPEEDSTAR: "We might have missed the first song, but hang on...and don't worry. I know full well the media hounds us like the dogs we are."

LABRYNTHE (as he was obviously uncomfortable at his friend lifting him off the ground): Hey, let's keep my old girlfriends out of this!"

Speedstar bursts into a blur. You feel your body burn slightly from the wind resistance, but you know you're alright. With a shudder, you check your clothes to gladly find them intact as you come to a halt in an alley beside the Crown Jewel Lounge. You change your clothes quickly, not surprised to find your old friend Ed Johnson standing in front of you in a tee-shirt, jeans and hiking boots.

ROB (slightly in awe): "You have to teach me that trick someday. I bet it's highly useful when you're in a crunch."

ED (grinning as he led you through the alley and out to the street and the main entrance to the Crown Jewel Lounge): "Someday. I'll tell you, though…it sure beats having to go around looking for a phone booth!