156 Seconds

• Genocide.
  • An imminent catastrophe threatens to destroy the entire earth.

Slightly over five minutes ago, a portion of the Earth’s surface began to be bombarded by extremely high energy gamma rays. Caught in the centre of these rays, a small group of people have been bestowed with superhuman powers. While coming to grips with their newfound abilities, one of our new heroes saw a vision of the future. The source of these gamma rays was some sort of alien artefact travelling through space at 99% of the speed of light. In a little over two and a half minutes, it would slam into the Earth, annihilating the entire planet.

With only 156 seconds to figure out how to work together and use their powers to save humanity, our heroes failed. But at the last millisecond, they were saved. A sixth hero emerged, one who could manipulate time itself. Summoning all of their strength, they reset the clock on armageddon. Now these six heroes have another chance to save the world!

The setting is a fictional variant of near-future Earth. The immediate impact zone of the artefact is in the outskirts of a large city.

• Chronologist: Playable. Capable of manipulating time. Can speed up , slow down, or reverse the flow of time around an object.

• Mega: Playable. Capable of super strength, super speed, and flight. May carry up to one other hero with them at a time.

• Forcemaster: Playable. Can generate powerful (though not impervious) forcefields.

• Core: Playable. Can manipulate earth, rocks, and metal.

• Remix: Playable. Can copy one hero’s powers and temporarily grant those powers to another hero (in addition to their usual powers). Up to two copied powers may be active at a time. They cannot copy their own power.

• Overcharger: Playable. Can manipulate energy, transferring it from one place to another. If used on a fellow superhero, that hero’s powers can be amplified (or diminished) for as long as they remain targeted.

• Emissary: Playable Mega’s sibling, transformed into a monstrous being with superhuman strength and the ability to manipulate tendrils of shadowy energy. Bound to an alien will emanating from the artefact.

This Vignette consists of a single scene which lasts a subjective time of only 156 seconds. The characters have a number of problems to overcome, the completion of which will determine the final outcome. The current version proceeds as follows:

• Core is having trouble controlling their new powers. They start the Vignette in the centre of a ring of destruction, magma beginning to bubble up at their feet. With so little time to spare, Mega flies them into space to meet the Artefact, relying on their out-of-control powers to destroy it. Core dies in the process.
• When Mega’s sibling was struck by the gamma radiation, they were also possessed by the alien will of the artefact. They try to prevent the other heroes from taking action, and succeed in destroying swathes of the city. Ultimately, they die when their connection to the Artefact is severed.
• Chronologist is required to use their powers at an extreme level in order to warp Mega and Core to the Artefact in time. Although successful, their powers backlash onto themself, causing them to age rapidly. They spend a subjective lifetime doing nothing but helping to avert this catastrophe.
• Forcemaster works with Remix and Overcharger to support the other heroes and try to defend the city. Although they try sincerely, they cannot save everyone. Many civilians die, though ultimately the Earth as a whole is saved.