Nexus News - Issue 4 

PhoenixCorp Facing Hostile Takeover 

Lewiscorp has been buying large quantities of the stock, since it hit an all-time low this month. Edward Lewis, president, was quoted as saying "I've always wanted to own a baseball team; Why not one from Toronto?"

Phoenix Industries issued a statement saying they were as solvent as ever and that they would be getting their house in order as soon as possible. Cost overruns on the Red Arrow project and large donations last year to the CSF to restore the Canadian Shield Base have left stockholders unsure of the company's future and so stock prices have plummeted, leaving it vulnerable to a buy-out.

Company owner and CEO John Phoenix could not be reached for comment and has been missing from the spotlight for weeks now. "Why won't that coward show his face? I'll give him a fair fight, but he has to come out of hiding first," said Lewiscorp's lawyer Vivian Ward earlier today. When asked what Lewiscorp's plans were for Phoenix Industries, Ward replied "The trend in the 80s was buy big companies and break them up, now in the 21st century, we merge and purge. Sure thousands will lose their jobs, and many of those in the high-tech industry, but Canada survived the AV-ROW Arrow dismantling, they can survive this."

Ms. Ward's history is not too far off, after the cessation of the Arrow project the "brain-drain" was a devastating blow to Canada's aerospace industry. Many of the technicians moved south to work for NASA among others...

School Safety Raised Metahuman Rights Debate 

Metahuman citizens will no longer be required to be licensed by the federal government as of today. The group known as X-MEN (or Xenophobia Must End Now) claims that it's the fear of discovery that makes the physically unchallenged (the new politically correct term has become popular) so dangerous. So long as they can have anonymity, there is no need to lash out. The X-MEN are pushing for a further ban on compilations of databases on the activities, identities and abilities of metahumans and will file suits against those who maintain them, citing these lists as unconstitutional. It's been just one year since it was revealed that the federal government was holding files on its citizens, sparking protests...

Supermodel Slugfest 

Supermodel and former superhero Siren may be up on assault charges after she punched out an aggressive paparazzo that hounded her at a Toronto Thai restaurant last night. The reporter, from Celebrity Snoop magazine, a tabloid notorious for unscrupulous tactics was apparently hiding under the table and attempting to snap a photograph of the supermodel's underwear, and when discovered, tried to get pictures of an as yet unidentified young man who was her escort for the evening. Siren reportedly refused to answer the reporter's persistent questions and after a brief struggle, broke the reporter's camera and nose. The reporter also claims that Siren followed this up by getting members of her entourage to slash his car's tires and "key" his driver's side door. Siren admitted to having pushed the photographer away "perhaps a little hard" but denies any involvement in the vandalism.

Giant Dogs Kill 7 

Seven people have been killed and five more seriously injured by what eyewitnesses can only seem to describe as "giant dogs". Centring mostly in Toronto's West End, these savage beasts seem to come from out of nowhere, slash and bite their victims and then disappear into the night. The wounds are usually so severe that unless they receive immediate medical attention, death is certain. A list of the victims and the survivors so far, their addresses, descriptions, next of kin and ethnicities – along with today’s Sunshine Girl, can be found on Page 3.

Manson Family Behind Bars 

All the known members of the Mega Cult, the drug-cartel and organized crime ring lead by Jesus Manson, are now in custody. Recently, gang members began surrendering to authorities of their own accord, prompted, it seems, by a statement made by Manson himself, that "All my people should turn themselves in immediately – seek help. This is a terrible addiction and the only way to beat it is with help from others, safely." Whether this is an indication of a reformed Jesus Manson or not, police are skeptical. Mega-related crime has been on a downswing since its leader was captured by federal forces a few weeks ago. While the human addicts are showing up at police stations and rehabilitation centres, the metahuman part of the gang are being sent to the Stronghold Superhuman Security Facility in Sudbury, ON, to join Manson and the other super-felons. Stronghold Warden, Ken Dallas commented that the facilities will have to expand if the rate of incoming convicts continues, since they are already near capacity.

Chinese in Taiwan Strait, Threaten Invasion 

Canada, the United States and Great Britain are sending troops into the area to prevent the largest producer of microprocessors from falling into communist hands. The Chinese troops haven't yet invaded, but the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk reports that the Chinese Air Force are ignoring repeated warnings. After the Bikini Atol incident, China broke off economic negotiations with the United States. Declaring that US presence in the Strait is a clear indication that America recognizes The Republic of China on Taiwan as an independent country, worthy of protection. The party maintains "It is most certainly not. It is a province of The People's Republic and we are taking it back!" All Canadian armed forces personnel are on stand-by, including Reserves and Special Forces.

Baby Glows In The Dark 

A paternity suit has been filed against former CSF Superhero "Blue Fire", the mother, Sandra Cassandra, claiming her child, the result of a one-night-stand, glows in the dark and can "fly right out of her crib". When the toddler shorted out the electrical grid of a city block by sticking a fork in an electrical outlet, Sandra said she knew for sure who her child's father might be. Finding out his secret identity will be difficult since he apparently used a pseudonym the night they were together, calling himself Gill O'Watt, and with the change in mutant rights, his records would have been destroyed. Miss Cassandra said she has hired a private detective to find the sloppy super stud.

Who Are You? 

A costumed vigilante, claiming to be the Night Watchman has been making waves in downtown areas in the past few days. At least a dozen petty criminals have checked into hospitals or arrived bloody and limping at precincts begging police to arrest them No word yet on whether this is the original Night Watchman or an impostor or imitator. The Night Watchman was reported killed years ago. His ward, Bucky Bruce left Chicago - and presumably his life as a crime-fighting sidekick and hasn't been heard from since.

Storm Killed in Lab Accident 

The remains of James Storm, the once-superhero Nova were found early this morning by cleaning staff in his Toronto research facility. Details are sketchy at this time since security cameras malfunctioned last night and didn't become operational until maintenance crews arrived later in the day. The investigating officer on the scene Detective Don Schanke said that although the department hasn't offered an official explanation as of yet, in his opinion there was foul play involved. There are, he said, some curious facts about the case. Although Phoenix is a possible suspect no formal charges have been laid. Police are still investigating.

Saved by a Stranger’s Warning 

Data Systems executive Geri Menudo was saved from a horrible death yesterday, when she overheard a stranger raving about a disaster to a VIA employee. "I was in the lineup, buying a ticket for the 11:13 train to Montreal for a business meeting, when a strange man started screaming at the VIA guy next to me that the 11:11 Go Train was going to crash into the very same train I was buying a ticket for!" Needless to say, it caught her attention and she listened further. Apparently the stranger described, mere minutes before the derailment of GO Train 11:11 exact details of the event, even down to the number of people killed. "They didn’t listen, of course, but I did. I got so freaked I hailed a cab to the airport from the front of Union Station, and then seconds later – POW!" Which was when the earthquake hit, derailing the 11:11, sending it hurtling into the 11:13 and killing 700 people. 700 less one Geri Menudo, of course. "I just wish I knew who he was, so I could thank him, you know?" Police are investigating the identity of the mysterious prophet of doom, whose image was captured on security cameras as he pleaded his case with the ticket-taker.