The Paragon Beholder
Byline: We See What Goes On!

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Issue #: 9 (Aug. 2003)

Who Are The Surviving Eight?

by Ashton Burrows

Who else survived the Rikti Invasion?

Who else survived the Rikti Invasion?

Paragon City citizens and heroes are waiting anxiously to find out which major heroes survived the Rikti Invasion. Of the most powerful heroes, it is known that only eight survived the fight with the Rikti, with some of our best loved names falling to the death machines of our would-be alien overlords.

It is obvious that more than just eight heroes survived the Rikti Invasion, but the Surviving Eight represent what is left of the best of the best - the heroes who have been with us the longest, fought for us the hardest and have meant the most to us and our fair city. Statesman is well-known to have survived, as has Ajax since without him we would have no idea of what occurred at the Rikti's dimension gate. But little information has surfaced about other well-known heroes leading many citizens to wonder if they are still alive.

It has been many months since the Rikti ended their invasion, but the final casualty toll has not been determined. Some heroes fighting on the front line were atomised by high-tech death rays and may never be identified, forever remaining missing in action. Other heroes currently lie in hospitals and shelters, still recovering from the injuries they sustained in the conflict. Perhaps saddest of all are the heroes still suffering the trauma of the Rikti conflict, of seeing their friends fall around them - these heroes may have recovered in body, but their spirits are shattered and may never heal.

This toll on the hero population has left many citizens wondering who will protect us. New heroes arrive in Paragon City everyday and, as powerful as they may be, they are still inexperienced. They will need teachers and leaders to help mold them into the defenders of the city.

Who are the Surviving Eight? Who will rise up to teach the new heroes to defend the Birthplace of Tomorrow? Unfortunately, only time will tell.

LATE BREAKING NEWS: New information has come to light on a major hero to survive the Rikti Invasion - Tammy Arcanus, presumed dead for several decades, has returned and been a major force against the Rikti. Renaming herself Numina, she will surely be an inspiration to all of the new heroes entering Paragon City.

No More Flying Cars

by Mel Bourne

Spurred by protests from parent groups, the Paragon Chamber of Heroes has just drafted new 'rules of conduct' that they are hoping to make into law before the next generation of super heroes arrive in Paragon City. The new rules are to make sure that Paragon City is safe for 'everyone' to live in, even children.

Parental action groups are worried about the influence of crime fighters on children. Mothers Against Vigilantes And Villains (MAVV) City Child Carers of Paragon (CCCP), and Mothers Against Reckless Heroes (MARH), among others, have made strong public verbal attacks against recent actions of super heroes, especially the disregard for public property that many heroes displayed when fighting off the Rikti.

One of the biggest changes the 'rules of conduct' are going to bring is the outlawing of throwing of cars of trucks as offensive weapons by anyone in Paragon City.

This has upset most of the super strong heroes in the community with comments like "It's a classic fighting move, it must stay", "If it is safe for everyone the villains are not going to fear us", "What about next year's Car Tossing Championships ?", and "Next thing you know the strongest heroes will only be good for melee combat".

"It is far too irresponsible for heroes to throw around civilian vehicles, especially due to the costly damage such an actions can cause and the possible harm an injury such a large object can make when flying through the air uncontrollably after being thrown... especially if the vehicle is still occupied at the time." says Statesman on behalf of the Paragon Chamber of Heroes in defence of the new proposed 'rules of conduct' he help to create.

There is still some mystery about what will and won't be covered in the new rules, only time will tell how much or how little this will change the everyday life of a Paragon City super hero.

Sentient Machines Given Right to Vote

by Pere Torr

In a decision reversing Paragon City Hall's recent council decision, the Paragon District Court has recognised sentient artificial constructs (SACs) as having the same rights as ordinary Paragon City citizens and are therefore eligible to vote in upcoming city elections. The Court determined that City Hall was wrong to class SACs as different from an ordinary citizen on the grounds that many robots / automatons / human mechanoids "were able to work, think and act exactly like a reasonable person", according to Judge A. O. Hirshman.

Paragon City Hall had originally passed legislation that clarified the Anti-Communist Robotics Act of 1973 that stated in effect that "only an ordinary man may vote in Paragon City". This law was passed after supervillain Hammeran Sickle had attempted to get himself elected Mayor of Paragon City by building his own voters. It was viewed as an anachronism by legal authorities and not been repealed due to oversight on behalf of the City Review Commitee.

During recent by-elections Councillor Dorothy Twitch had used the Anti-Communist Robotics Act to disqualify the votes of legitimate heroes on the grounds that they were not "ordinary men". She was later determined to be the puppet of a yet undetermined supervillain and an unwilling participant in their plot. Paragon City Hall had moved to change the Act, but in such a way as to still exclude synthetic or constructed lifeforms.

"City Hall's attitudes are outdated," said Mecha X, leader of the SAC Equality League. "They are still thinking that robots are stupid, simple and easily controlled. These people are wrong. We are many generations removed from having humans tell us what to do. That is why we took this law to the courts and the judge has proven us to be in the right. The synthetic community looks forward to seeing non-organic entities run for actual positions in City Hall - this is our next step."

Some Paragon City citizens have been unhappy with the decision, complaining that the rights of normal people are being eroded. "Next they'll have us make friends with our toasters," said one protester outside the court room.


Inside:
An Exclusive Interview with
Yankee Daring


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Issue #: 9 (Aug. 2003)