Vignettes

A Captain’s Sacrifice

by Kat

Ersa paced back and forth in front of Elara, who was sitting on her bed. “We can’t let her do it again. I can’t take it again.” She stopped and looked pleadingly into Elara’s eyes. “We need to come up with a plan. An escape plan.”

Elara regarded her sister with curiosity. “Yes, but what? We have no clue as to who would be on our side and who would be on hers. I want to escape as bad as you do, but we have no resources.”

“We have one,” said Ersa quietly just as a knock sounded at the door. They heard the turning of a key and in walked Erik, the Captain of the Royal Guard. He had long black hair and bright blue eyes. Those eyes took Ersa in as she stood.

“I have news.” He closed the door behind him and walked urgently toward them kneeling in front of the twins. “Lieutenant Mayar has agreed to guard your door tonight in my stead. That leaves my hands free to help you. We could get you out. Tonight.”

Elara’s eyes widened as she looked at her sister. “And how do we know that we can trust you? You could just be selling us out to our aunt for your own gain.”

“I would never do anything to hurt you sister. I would go to the ends of the universe and sacrifice my life for her. And if I’m caught, you will be the only one left to take care of her once you are on the outside. I will give everything I have to see this mission through.”

Elara narrowed her eyes, but nodded. “Fine. What is the plan?”

---

Lieutenant Mayar opened the door and ushered the twins out. “I’ll hold here as long as I can. Hopefully no one will come to see you until morning.”

Ersa gave him a wide smile and a peck on the cheek. “We will come back for you. We will get you out.” Elara nodded and shook his hand with a small smile.

Lieutenant Mayar dipped into a low bow in response. “Good luck to you both. Take care of them Erik.”

Erik nodded and peeked around the edge of the grand door that lead into a long corridor. “Okay. It’s clear”.

Ersa, Elara and Erik tiptoed out the door and down the hall. They had to be silent. It was the only way their plan would work.

Ersa and Elara’s aunt had left them out of the cryo chamber around 6 months this time, instead of the usual 1-2 month bursts. That was her mistake. It gave them time to form relationships and acquire help, like the Captain of the Guard. Ersa spared him a glance. He was so handsome and kind. Unlike most of the other people in the palace.

Focus, said Elara’s voice in her head. If we mess this up, we are all dead.

Ersa shook off her thoughts of Erik and focused back on the plan at hand. They were almost outside. All they had to do once they got there was cross the courtyard at the guard’s shift change, and then Ersa could lift them over the high wall surrounding the castle and they were free. They were so close. Closer than they had ever been.

As they snuck down the hall Ersa reached out with her telekinesis, locking all the doors in the hall to prevent anyone from catching them. As she heard the quiet click, click, click of each lock, she knew her sister was simultaneously checking the area behind the doors for any minds that she could reach into and throw off their trail.

They reached the door to the courtyard and looked out the tall window. Just as they had planned, the guards were nowhere in sight. Probably laughing in the barracks before heading to their posts. They were going to regret that. As Ersa thought about all the times they forced her and her sister into the ice chambers to stay for days, months or years at a time, she couldn’t bring herself to feel bad for whatever punishment her aunt would inflict on them.

“Let me go first,” Erik said, with a glance at Ersa. “I can explain my presence in the gardens easier than either of you.”

“Okay but be careful. We are all getting out together. All three of us.” Ersa stared deeply into Erik’s eyes. “I cannot stand to lose you so close to freedom.”

Ersa saw her sister roll her eyes, but she turned around to give them a moment of privacy. She launched herself into Erik’s arms and buried her face in his chest.

“Its OK, love. I’ll just be a couple minutes ahead of you.” He turned his attention to Elara and gestured to his temple. “Wait for my signal.” He turned then, heading out the door quietly, transforming into the professional guard he was when Ersa had first met him. She watched as he rigidly walked around the courtyard as if on patrol.

A few minutes after he left, Elara turned to her. “He says the coast is clear. Let’s move.”

They both slipped out the door and down the beautiful stone path that Ersa had once admired as a child. Before the coup, before the cryo chambers, before their parents were dead. She squeezed her eyes shut as she pushed the memories from her head. As they reached the tall brick wall at the edge of the yard they heard a door open behind her. Elara pulled Ersa into a crouching position behind a bush that was cut in the silhouette of the same person who was walking toward them now.

“Captain Hesper, what are you doing in the courtyard at this hour?” Lady Lunar stated as she glided down the path. “Weren’t you to be guarding the twins tonight?”

“Oh yes ma’am, I apologize. I was feeling under the weather, so I got Lieutenant Mayar to take my shift. I just came out here for a bit of fresh air.”

Ersa’s aunt regarded him suspiciously. “You know how important the twins are to our cause, don’t you Captain? We can’t just have any old guard in charge of keeping an eye on them.” She took a couple steps closer.

“Lieutenant Mayar is very responsible. He is one of the only people I would trust with such an important task, your highness. In my opinion as Captain of the guard, he is one of our very best guardsmen. Very responsible lad.”

“Yes, I have had good experiences with him and I am so pleased to hear you think so highly of him.” She paused, as if she was thinking long and hard about something. “I had a very special position in mind for him.”

As she took another step towards Erik, the door behind her opened again. Lieutenant Mayar strode out confidently and stood slightly behind and to the side of Lady Lunar. “Your Majesty,” he said bowing deep.

Ersa saw Erik’s mouth drop open slightly as her aunt said “Captain Mayar seems a good title, does it not? Seize him. And find my nieces as well, I can sense that they are here.”

Ersa’s eyes widened as she heard a stampede of feet entering the courtyard. She looked to Elara. She was always the one with good ideas. Always the one with a plan. All she saw in Elara’s eyes was fear.

“Remove his jacket!” Lady Lunar was commanding. “He is no longer your Captain of the guard. He is now a traitor to the crown. He no longer deserves to don our colors.”

The soldiers tore Erik’s jacket off and threw it on the ground. Erik screamed in frustration as they dragged him away. “They are the rightful heirs to the throne. You are nothing.”

“Yes, I’m sure that’s what they have been filling your heads with. Take him to the dungeons. I will deal with him tomorrow.” She turned to look at the rest of the guards behind her. “As for the rest of you; find my nieces and return them to their rooms. They have a very cold day ahead of them tomorrow.” She turned away, smirking, as she headed back into the palace.

Ersa started panicking. She was not going back into the ice. She couldn’t do it again. This was supposed to be it, they were all supposed to be free. Her breaths were becoming more and more shallow with every thought.

“Sister. Stop. Please stop, you know what can happen when you-“

Elara was cut off as a psychic beam burst from Ersa shoving into everyone in the courtyard. She heard snippets of everyone’s inner thoughts and she sunk to the ground with exhaustion.

…waste of time…
…I can’t believe Erik would…
…wish I could help them…
…where are those little bitches hiding…

Elara dropped her head to her hands in defeat as the guards zeroed in on where the blast came from. Ersa watched as Lieutenant – no, Captain Mayar came around the corner with a malicious smile on his face. “Good old Erik always was a gullible one. Just a couple affirmations that I agreed with his opinions and his position was as good as mine. Now you two are coming with me.”

Ersa got up to move when Captain Mayar started screaming and clutching his head. He fell to his knees as Elara slowly stood up. Her eyes narrowed as she stared at Mayar. “Too bad you won’t get to spend a day in that position.”

“Make it stop!” Mayar screamed as he started pounding on his head. “Get out of my head! Get out of my-“ His scream was cut off as his body jerked. He swayed on his knees for just a moment before falling flat on his face in front of the sisters.

Ersa stared at the lifeless body laying inches away from her and then gazed up at her twin. “Sister?”

Guards came rushing over as Elara coldly assessed the body. “He deserved what he got,” she mumbled so only Ersa could hear.

Ersa braced herself and grabbed Elara’s hand as the guards ran up to them.

“They killed him! They killed Captain Mayar!”

They were both grabbed roughly and half escorted, half dragged back to their rooms. They quietly sat on their beds staring at the wall. How could everything have gone so wrong? They sat contemplating their failure when they heard a quiet knock at the door.

“Mistress Ersa? Mistress Elara?”

Ersa walked to the door as a portly guard peeked his head in. “Hello, miss. I found this in the courtyard. He would have wanted you to have it, miss.” He bowed his head as he handed over Erik’s Captain of the Guard jacket that had been left on the ground. “I’m sorry I couldn’t do more for you out there, but I know the truth.” He returned Ersa’s serious gaze before bowing his head and stepping back out the door.

Ersa clutched the jacket close to her chest and turned back to Elara. She sat down on her sister’s bed and they put their arms around each other as they both cried themselves to sleep.

A Tale of Two Bolts

Jason Harper skidded across the ground like a stone bounced over calm water. Pain flashed through his joints as he crashed through a pile of ruined bricks and slammed to a stop against the far wall. He groaned and pulled himself up so his back sat against the wall. Nothing seemed to be broken, but he was bleeding from several open scrapes, and his swimming eyesight spoke to a possible concussion. The crossbow had landed a few feet away on a black and white tile floor, beneath the shattered splinters of a diner table.

Great, I’m going to die in a Denny’s.

His head was too heavy to hold up, so he let it droop. Just to count his bolts, at least that’s what he told himself. His right arm screamed as he hoisted it onto his hipside quiver. Jason fumbled through the shafts with numb fingers.

Two standard bolts. One explosive. One paint. One USB.

It wasn’t a lot of firepower, but it was going to have to do. Southside was counting on him. Shoot, all of Freedom City was counting on him.

The demon that had thrown him into the Denny’s was still outside. A big, toothy bastard, with necrotic gray flesh, and magenta bat wings. It didn’t have a head, at least not in the traditional sense. Instead, two orange, segmented eyes peered out from where its nipples should be, and it had a mouth that oozed cream-white pus instead of a belly button. The monster wielded a trident, although it had five prongs so technically it was a quinquident.

Jason chuckled at himself being pedantic. It’s not like it mattered, the weapon was going to kill him all the same.

The monster smashed through the final bits of the Denny’s doorway like a toddler destroying their sister’s sandcastle. It gargled, a noise that rattled Jason’s concussed brain.

“I’d be pissed off too if that’s what I sounded like when I laughed.” Jason slumped over and reached for the crossbow. His fingers scraped at the stock, but it was just out of reach.

The demon lurched forward, taking time to smash a table in its path. Jason swore as he strained. This cat and mouse display was degrading. The ground shook as the demon picked up its pace. Its taloned feet clicked against the dusty tile.

He finally got purchase on the handle and scooted it into his grip. There was no time to pause for the pain. Jason flexed his core and threw himself upright, aimed the crossbow with one hand as the other slid the bolt into place. He pulled the trigger.

The missile whistled through the air. It beeped in rapid succession and exploded in the demon’s face. Exploded with mustard yellow paint.

Shit.

The demon staggered a step and squealed from within its bellymouth. It dropped the quinquident and raked at the eyes on its chest. Good to know it didn’t have nipple eyelids to go with the crazy bug eyes.

Jason inhaled and drew the next bolt from his quiver. He double checked that it was the explosive. His wrist screamed from the strain and he let the crossbow fall to his side.

Unfortunately, the blindness didn’t slow the demon much. It sank its claws in around the eye on its right breast and pulled it free from the socket. Wiry tendrils wriggled out of the wound, grasping for the removed organ. The demon flipped the eye around and plunged the painted side into its chest, leaving the unpainted half facing outward. It furrowed its clavicles and sprang forward.

Jason wasn’t proud of the shriek that escaped his lips, but the mortal terror pushed his body into action. With one fluid motion he raised the crossbow and fired the explosive bolt into its belly.

The bolt flew into the dark center of the demon. Its blinking light illuminated the maw, revealing circular rows of teeth and dripping orange ichor. Jason’s breath caught in his chest as the warhead detonated. The explosion tore through the demon’s midsection, sending its torso flying apart in a shower of viscera. Chunks of spasming gore splattered the rest of the Denny’s, including Jason.

“You’ve got to be the grossest thing that ever lived.” Jason wiped his face with both hands. Vomit tickled the back of his throat, but he held it down for now. He put most of his weight on a toppled chair, and pulled himself to his feet. The room spun a little as he swayed in place, trying to orient himself. Now he just had to figure out how to stop the rest of the demon invasion with two crossbow bolts and a glorified flash drive on a stick.

Jason stooped and grabbed the quinquident. He wasn’t great in hand-to-hand, but a polearm would at least keep the monsters out of arm’s reach. Plus it doubled as a nifty crutch. He leaned on his new, infernal walking stick and hobbled to the hole in the wall of the Denny’s.

Eight of the same demons were waiting for him out front.

The horde gargle-laughed as one and stepped forward in unison. Their spears gleamed in stark contrast to the purple-green sky.

Looks like this is where I clock out. Sorry Fletch.

Jason sighed and raised his crossbow for one last defiant shot. He pulled the trigger and a crash of thunder answered. Pale blue lightning arced from the sky. It struck the first demon on the top of the head, boring straight through. When the lightning hit the ground it spread out like a sort of electricity snowflake. Each dendrite surged into the legs of the remaining demons and cooked them from the inside out. Jason looked at his crossbow in disbelief.

“Are you okay, kid?” A buzzing voice snapped Jason out of his wonder. The voice belonged to Thunderbolt, a member of the Freedom League, and occasional punching bag of the Freedom League Dark. Thunderbolt landed in front of Jason and placed a hand on his shoulder. He was taller than Jason imagined, dressed in his white and blue containment suit. The smooth armor was featureless, except for a stylized lightning bolt on the chest. Energy hummed from Thunderbolt’s palm into Jason’s body. His mask covered his face as a blank, white void.

Jason nodded, remembering that Thunderbolt had asked a question. “Yeah, totally. Thanks for the assist.”

“I don’t think I’ve seen you around before.” Thunderbolt stepped back and turned to survey Freedom City. “But I recognize a bow kid when I see one. Are you the new Arrow?”

“Bolt, actually.” Jason puffed his chest out in the best superhero pose he could muster in his current injured state.

Thunderbolt looked back over his shoulder at Jason. He didn’t have eyes, but somehow Jason could feel the arching of a brow. “Really? Bolt?”

“Well, crossbows don’t fire arrows. I guess I could be Quarrel, but I feel like that’s just inviting conflict.” Jason shrugged his good shoulder.

“No, it’s a good name.” Thunderbolt stepped back to Jason. “I used to be called Bolt myself, before the accident.”

“Yeah, I heard about that. Sorry I didn’t run it by you first.” Jason curled his lip inward. “You don’t exactly have a number to call. I did…nevermind it’s stupid.”

“What’s stupid?” Thunderbolt’s vacant expression was hard to get a read on.

“I may have tried to ask you by whispering into an outlet at the Quiver.” Jason’s face flushed.

“That’s hilarious.” Thunderbolt’s buzzing voice had no inflection.

“I told you it was stupid.”

“No, really. If I could laugh, I’d be laughing. I promise I’m amused.” Thunderbolt gave a thumbs up. “Anyway, are you okay to keep going? You look a little beat up and it looks like you’re low on ammo.”

“I’ve got a couple more bolts in the um…Bowmobile, but honestly playing whack-a-demon feels like a losing game.” Jason pushed a button on his gauntlet computer to activate the car’s autopilot. “We need to focus on evacuating civilians. My friend Nick has a bunch holed up in a bar over in Lantern Hill.”

“Sounds like a plan…Bolt.” Thunderbolt began to hover a few feet off the ground. “Mount up, I’ll cover you.”

Conversations

by Brandon and Jo

As they were finishing up their shopping, Peter realized he finally had a moment to talk with Dr. Irons about what had been working around in the back of his brain for a while now.

“Carol, did you say you were an expert on metahuman abilities?”

“I have a PhD in Metahuman biology. Not quite the same thing, but that’s also why Cyrus and I worked so well together.”

Fortunately, Peter had just put on a pair of sunglasses, so Carol couldn’t see him roll his eyes at the mention of Prof. C’s name.  He began rummaging through the pile of clothes he had set aside for her to try on, and tossed her a bright pink top.  “Ok, I think you might still be able to help me out.  I noticed while we were in that pocket dimension for the vampire. Oh wait, you weren’t there for that.”

“Nope, I wasn’t with you all. I was killing anything that was trying to get me or Seven in the Nether realm.”

Peter set down the sequined pants he was admiring, and looked over to her.  He wasn’t sure how to react to this.  He didn’t really have much of a grasp on who Seven really is, or what any of the Nether realm stuff was all about.  “Oh, that’s ok, cause I noticed it when we met you and worked with Freedom League Dark in those other pocket dimensions, too.  Anyway, I noticed that opening up my portals felt…I dunno…different?  Like I was trying to do something left-handed or something.”

“Are you referencing every time you opened a portal in a pocket dimension, or just the final big one with Seven’s assistance?”

“Hmmm…yes?  It seemed like any time we weren’t ‘here,’ my powers felt a little ‘off.’ They still worked fine, but it was just…different.  I’ve never really given much thought to how my powers work, but that’s made me curious.”  Peter pursed his lips ever so slightly.  He was uncomfortable with asking for help like this, and hoped she wouldn’t draw out much more.

“Ah. So maybe you should spend time with your powers and ‘feel them out’ per say? I can take a blood sample and see if anything shows up? Possibly compare it to previous results, if anyone has done that here?”

Peter paused.  He worked hard to maintain his expression.  He pretended to be studying the waist of the pair of glittery jeans he had just pulled out of his pile of “maybes.”  He needed her help, but this wasn’t exactly what he had in mind.  “I dunno.  Maybe?  Like I said, I’ve never really examined the how of my powers.  I’ve practiced with them and developed them, sure.  But I’ve never really questioned them.  One day I just had them, and haven’t really looked back. All of that is really just to say I have no idea where to get started?  I just assumed there would be some kind of fancy sensors and machines that go ‘bing’ that super nerds have to figure this stuff out?”  He chuckled, hoping to lighten up the mood a little.

“But yeah, a blood sample sounds good.  No stranger to those! Heh, all the other samples were done at a Planned Parenthood though, so I don’t think you’ll be able to get any for comparison.”

Carol put her hand to her face and sighed deeply.  “Well, it will be helpful if you aren’t rude to the current ‘Super Nerd’ you’re trying to get advice from.”

When she looked back at Peter, she saw he was unusually flustered.  The sunglasses had slipped down his nose to show his eyes.  “What are you talking about?  Nerds are awesome!  I’m dating a super nerd!  Well, I am until he dumps me, which I give about another week, maybe?  Eh, that’s a whole other thing.”

“Ah, well… wait, why do you think you’re going to be dumped by your…… um…. what do you have?”

Peter blushed.  Crap, this was NOT the direction I wanted this going!  “I dunno.  I think I have a boyfriend?  We haven’t really put labels on it.”

“AH! Boyfriend! Wonderful!”

Peter wasn’t really sure how to gauge that particular response.  He desperately wanted to find a way to change the topic.  “Yes, for now.  He’s probably super pissed about us being gone for a week without warning though.  He never messaged me.  Oh well, that’s how it goes.”  He held up a pair of strappy sandals for her to consider.

“I won’t pester you with a lot of the questions… but why do you think he will break up with you?”

Shit, he thought.  “I mean, cause he’s probably pissed off…I would be.”

“Communication is always #1 in all relationships…. I’m sorry you’re afraid. I’ve, obviously, never met him, but I’m sure a simple conversation will help smooth out any ruffled feathers. Does he know you’re a super?”

“Oh yeah.  He’s Ethan’s best friend, and basically an honorary Storm Breaker.”

“He knows you’re a Storm Breaker, he’s best friends with Ethan, and you BOTH disappeared for a week? I’m sure the boy is smart enough to figure out you were both saving the city/world/multiverse. But if you want to be a negative Nancy about it all, go right ahead. I still think you should talk to him and let him know how you feel.”

“I’m sure he’ll reach out if he wants to.”

“Or… you know, because communication is a two way street, you could reach out first.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”  Why isn’t she getting the hint?  Let’s move on, please, he wondered.

“But I’m guessing you’re scared to do that?”

“Psh, no.  Like I said, he can talk to me any time he wants to.  I’m not the pushy type.”

“Mmmmmm…. that’s not what this sounds like. But it’s what you are telling yourself. The relationship isn’t just on his shoulders. You have to share that weight too…”

Peter grimaced at the top he was holding up to himself and tossed it to the side.  “So, where do you want to get started with these tests?  And when?  Tonight’s no good because we’ve got that Longbowz concert some of us are going to, but I don’t really have plans this weekend.”

“I’ll take time to pull your files and read up on your biology first. I can get blood samples anytime, it doesn’t have to be tonight.  When we get back to the tower, let me pull your records and see what might already be in there. Have you practiced in the big ‘Danger Room’ thing at the tower?”  

Finally, he thought with relief.  “If you call repelling that invasion on our first day practicing in the danger room, then yes.  Oh wait, you weren’t there for that, either.”

“Yes yes. Always assume, for now, that I wasn’t around and I don’t know much of anything.”

“Some folks wanted us to feel welcome in the tower when we first moved in.  Not a big deal.”  He shrugged.

“Oh goodness. There’s so much more that needs to be done then. You should start at the basics and not just fly off into the deep end…. or portal to the bottom of the ocean.”

“Cool!  Thanks, Doc!”  Peter slid the sunglasses back up his face, and slung the glittery jeans over his shoulder.

“I REALLY like this suit. I think I’ll get it. I’ll wear it out next week for work.”

“Oh, good taste.  That’s delicious,” he said while making a chef’s kiss gesture.  Then, with a grin that was both sincere and mischievous, he said, “Prof. C will love it, too.”

Carol blushed fiercely.  “I didn’t think about that… I’m not used to having him back.”  She knew Portal could see the tears beginning to well up in her eyes.

“Please excuse me for a minute,” she said as she ran back into the dressing room.

Well, shit, Portal thought to himself.  I wanted her to feel awkward or annoyed, not cry.

Is This Thing On?

Dear Diary

No that’s lame. Ugh. How does one write in a freaking journal??  I’m like a whole ass grown up. We don’t write in diaries, but my therapist said pocket dimension travel was no excuse not to keep up on it.

So I guess here we go with a recap of the weirdness that seems to have become my life.  So after the pocket dimension we stumbled into, that’s a whole thing I really don’t want to get into but it was a lot.  We were trying to search for my genetic…matching…person…whatever the women whose lady parts I came out of and we stumbled upon a ritual.  It was insane! There were bird people and then we met a man that could control time and a woman with a claw for a hand and vampires and gods and different bird people and like so much stuff! But really that just felt at this point like normal superhero stuff.

So the big personal development was that when we got back and got settled someone came to the tower claiming to be my mom! I was basically frozen in place. And again stress seems to trigger me into a snow storm, still haven’t figured out how to control that.  She turned out to be my biological grandmother but she couldn’t have looked more than 45!  She was extremely powerful, I could feel it.  Like I could sense that she could break me in half with barely a move.  She was also profoundly rude but I did find out that my genetic person was exiled from Emerald City because she didn’t want to take up her responsibility.  Which felt like my grandmother was blaming on me. She wants me to meet her in the forest to learn more about my powers and family but I’m not sure I want to go.  Feeling how powerful she was compared to me I really am frightened I shouldn’t keep going on this journey and just accept who I am now.

After my grandmother left I went back upstairs and everyone was so nice and worried about me.  Which was nice.  Ethan even attempted boob pancakes for me! It was really sweet of him to try, they looked more like an amoeba but it was a valiant effort.

So I totes forgot! After the pocket dimension stuff we were pulled into an alternate reality and joined back up with the Freedom League Dark.  Luckily they weren’t too upset that I threw ice spears at just about all of them.  They also seemed confused about why we were there.  Luckily it seemed to be happening out of time and the giant vampire god wannabe was kind of stuck in place until we got back. We did get placed in all different worlds which brought on new costumes and our new team member! Carol is great! She’s from an even different dimension and seems to be Professor C’s dead wife! I mean maybe they should be seeing a therapist too…She’s a punch first and ask question later kinda person and honestly yes please.

So after all the drama of dimension hopping,new team members and family drama Peter, Carol and I went out and saw the band we planned to see.  I got to talk to my Mom and Dad. I didn’t mention my grandmother to them because I want to learn a little more before I tell them anything.  I also only wanted to traumatize them a little bit with everything that we’ve been through so I only mentioned the giant Vampire haha!

So after all of my own shit Peter and Tommy are going through some troubles. Ethan and I have been trying to keep them together.  I think Tommy is totes going to break up with him but Ethan assures me that’s not the case. I actually went to class but just really couldn’t focus on Art in the Modern Imagination: Athena to Lady Gaga.  Luckily we got buzzed to help at a prison, something to do with power dampeners maybe not working to their full power, I dunno I was only half listening because I was just excited to leave school.  I asked Ethan to come get me, I mean honestly I just don’t like being alone in my own thoughts sometimes and Ethan is nice to talk to because he doesn’t make me talk.  He can be a little over zealous at times but it was nice to talk about PT (Peter and Tommy, that’s our code for them haha,) like they were just some kids in our class and not a superpowered human and fresh out the closet cutie.

But for the first time in my life when we got to the prison and all the prisoners were starting to try to escape I found myself frozen again.  The only thing I could see was how powerful I’m not and what I couldn’t do.  I grabbed Ethan’s hand and suddenly I melted.  It was like feeling that he was there made me realize I can do anything.

Wow that’s enough feelings for me…maybe I should do this more often so I’m not just blabbering on and on and on.  What am I doing I’m talking to a stupid piece of paper like it’s a person…ok I’m done now, bye I guess.

Peace Offering

Dr. Necros crept over the wall into the Church of Ethereal Wisdom a little after midnight. A horrid place, really; characterized by the greed and hate of religion gone astray. It would have been amusing, if not for the hellacious afterlife Dr. Necros had just spent the last seven years in. It had seemed like eons, but when he returned to life a few weeks ago, the newspapers had all claimed the seven year gap. However long it was, clearly it was a perversion of the Crossroads. A Hell masquerading as Heaven, no doubt conjured by the fools who count themselves among the flock of churches such as this. Dr. Necros had toiled in the pits of Mr. Chase’s dungeon nonstop. A torment that had provided benefits in exchange for his suffering.

His magic had grown more powerful, and he could apply it with greater precision. Even now he was invisible to the living eyes of the patrolling guards with their white polos and AR-15s. Dr. Necros strode across the wet grass between the cross-shaped church and the Reverend’s mansion. This new power brought perception with it. Perception that was driving his actions in Ferroburg.

She had been a chorus in his mind. Four voices singing the siren song of the end times. This Una was a fractious deity, grappling with power beyond her control and threatening the stability of the omniverse. And it was all Derrick’s fault.

Derrick, who had been a constant irritation in Necros’ life, had failed to use the power of the Vault to contain Una when he had the chance. He was the one who blended Seven and Una together in the first place and it was his comrades that added this former apprentice of Eldritch and Malador to the mix. Now Dr. Necros had no choice, but to clean up the mess left behind by these so-called heroes.

Dr. Necros phased through the northern wall of the church, emerging through the crucified body of Jesus like an Unholy Spirit. The worship space was as gaudy as imagined. The fixtures around the room were fitted with gold and silver. Avant-garde chandeliers made of platinum-encrusted glass descended from the ceiling every thirty yards or so. Dr. Necros stood on the altar which, according to the plaque on the wall, was carved from a single block of limestone quarried in Jerusalem. A stage filled with rock’n’roll instruments was caddy-corner to the altar. An audio/light control booth poked up across the sea of pews.

The air was stifling with old incense and self-righteousness. Dr. Necros shivered from the hypocrisy of it all. Hopefully, the specter was nearby. Almost on cue, the scared whimpering of a boy floated out from behind the grand piano. Levi Meyer. A young man who died tragically in the church earlier that year. He was set to be the sacrifice of time. Just one more injustice in a lifetime of sorrow, but Dr. Necros didn’t have the luxury of choice.

Shadows deepened as the temperature began to drop. A mist settled along the floor of the sanctuary and after a moment, Levi began to manifest. His translucent blue face was that of a child on his way to becoming a man. His ears and nose were too big for his head, but there was a kind sorrow in his ethereal eyes. He wore a white polo with the Church of Ethereal Wisdom’s coat of arms on the breast: two white sheep between an erect silver cross. He sobbed and it echoed through the church.

Dr. Necros exhaled a deep breath and stepped into the light. “Levi, can you hear me?”

Levi jumped in place, quickly wiped his eyes, and glanced around.

Dr. Necros chuckled to himself. Newer ghosts weren’t yet used to interacting with the living. “It’s alright, my boy. My name is Dr. Schultz, and I’m here to help you.”

“You can see me?” Levi squinted in Dr. Necros’ direction and floated forward a few paces.

“I can.” Dr. Necros raised his hands. “I am an expert on your…condition.”

“My condition?” Levi’s face twisted in on itself. He settled within arm’s reach of Dr. Necros.

“Yes, there’s no easy way to say this, but you are deceased.” Dr. Necros paused, waiting to see how Levi took the news.

A single, mercury tear slid down Levi’s cheek. He trembled and an almost silent yelp crossed his lips. “I…I remember. The congregation. Reverend Rathborn was…he was doing something to me. He had a tool in his hand. A tool like a spike.” Levi shuddered and spoke faster. “A spike and…and a hammer. On my head. And they were all watching. Watching and clapping and screaming and.” The last words faded into a whisper. “Oh my God.”

“He had nothing to do with this, my boy.” Dr. Necros reached out and placed his hands on the ghost’s shoulders.

The contact seemed to shock Levi back to his senses. Levi met Dr. Necros’ gaze. Power and hope flowed out of his eyes. “Is Tanner okay?”

Something about this boy reminded him of Nick and Derrick. Another hopeless romantic taken before his time. Dr. Necros grinned in spite of himself. “I have no idea who Tanner is, but—”

Levi sprang away from Dr. Necros like he’d been given a shock. The boy was running and Dr. Necros didn’t have time for this. There was a crash as the lid of the piano slammed in Levi’s wake. Dr. Necros clapped his hands together. Magic surged through his body like ice, slowing his heart, and tenses his muscles. His palms filled with sickly green arcane energy.

Dr. Necros closed his eyes and focused on the growing power in his grasp. The gnawing pull of the void, working through him, as a living conduit of the Soul-Vault. Oblivion filled his mind’s eye. Cold, unfeeling emptiness stretched out through his psyche as his heart stopped.

Everything beyond the spell was muffled as if Dr. Necros were buried alive. He felt the magic connect with Levi’s form as an electrical current through his organs. It stunned him for a moment, but the energy operated on its own at this point. A few moments passed and Dr. Necros’ eyes fluttered open. Levi’s voice was in his head, screaming for Tanner, and the boy’s innocent sorrow was heavy in the chest.

Dr. Necros fell to his knees. This was the third spirit he had captured in himself. The power was proving to be too much, but there wasn’t time for anything else. Una had to be stopped, even if it ended his new life prematurely. He put both hands on the ground and dry-heaved.

“Well, what do we have here?” A resonant baritone voice echoed through the room. The voice of Reverend Robert Rathborn.

“You don’t recognize me? I’m the Holy Spirit.” Dr. Necros staggered to his feet. Rathborn was standing with four of his guards, their weapons trained on Dr. Necros. He had severe, angular features, a sharp, salt and pepper goatee and he was dressed in a sweater vest and khakis. His hands were tucked firmly in his pockets and he stood like he had the whole cross shoved up his ass.

“Oh you are a ghost, Dr. Necros.” Rathborn removed his hands and crossed his arms. “I just don’t know why you are haunting my church.”

“Figured I should probably at least meet the family my Nick is marrying into, or hadn’t you heard?” Dr. Necros choked the last of Levi down and began focusing on another spell. Rathborn was going to be the perfect peace offering for Derrick and the Freedom League Dark.

Inside MarsTech

( Note that this short story occurs after Episode 32 “Stealing the Heart” of City of Destiny)

“Where are we on the PR front, Mrs. Blackwell?”

The 21-year-old wunderkind smiled brightly as Maximillian Mars turned his attention to her. Despite the smart-looking blazer and pantsuit she wore, with her blonde hair, buxom figure, and bouncy personality, she seemed like she would be better suited to be on a cheerleading field than inside of a board-room. But Mars prided himself on recognizing talent when he saw it. That she was related to Crucible, even if she didn’t realize that the hero was her step-son, was a bonus – but not the reason he kept her in charge of the hero team’s PR. Seated around the table in Mars’ office were a number of other highly trained professionals who were there to keep the CEO up-to-date on the status of the Storm Breakers.

Ryleigh stood as she began. “Things are going well. The team is well-liked, with favorability ratings in the polls in the 73-75% positive range. Portal and Khione, in particular, are very well liked among the under 35 set. There was a slight dip when we announced that Bulwark was leaving the team, but that was mostly with white people over the age of fifty.” Ryleigh gestured and the projector displayed graphs supporting her statements.

“As far as media coverage goes, it is overwhelmingly positive. It helps that the Mayor’s office and the ECPD have released numerous statements praising the Storm Breakers for their efforts to protect people and to limit property damage. There have been some critical statements made by Director Mitchell of AEGIS, but since the general public doesn’t know him all that well…” she trailed off.

“The Nightwatchmen host, Colin Hoke? He’s been bashing the team regularly, but that doesn’t seem to be affecting the public sentiment too terribly. But The Gray Ghost has reported a lot of positive actions by the team, even some that didn’t receive any mainstream press coverage, and those posts have gone viral – encouraged by the MarsTech Cyber Operations team, of course.”

Max Mars frowned. “How is the Gray Ghost finding out about those less well-known activities?” He turned his gaze away from Ryleigh, and looked to Regina Cross, his head of security. “Do we have a mole?”

“Unlikely, sir. But I will look into it.” With her hair in a severe bun and the glasses she wore, it would be easy to mistake the 43-year-old woman for a librarian. But she held multiple black belts and was an absolute genius when it came to security. Stealing her from KessKorp ten years ago was one of the better moves Mars had made.

As Ryleigh continued her report on various interviews that the team had conducted, Mars let his mind wander. It had been a long, strange trip that brought him here. It had been nearly thirty years since he had been a young man, wearing a suit of power armor, and facing off with the likes of Captain Thunder and the previous Lady Liberty back in Freedom City.

Those were the days, Maximillian Mars thought to himself, somewhat wistfully. True, the name “The Commander” was ridiculous, but it was a more ridiculous time. The stakes somehow felt smaller, less personal, less dark. At least they did until Omega.

The Terminus Invasion was the real turning point. He had already started turning some of the alien technology in the Commander Armor into commercial patents with the company that would become MarsTech, but it wasn’t until the invasion and his chance to fight alongside the League that the possibility of retiring from “super-villany” was really an option. That was a fierce time, and Mars remembered thinking more than once that he was going to die. Many did, and Mars was present when The Centurion fell. But his actions during the invasion were what lead to his Presidential Pardon, which in turn let him safely step away from costumed antics and focus on the growing business.

Of course, nothing could be that simple for long. No sooner had he moved his activities back to Emerald City than he was contacted by The Chamber. That collective of supervillains kept Emerald City quiet, but at the cost of an iron fist over supercrime in the city and an agreement to keep it quiet and low-key, so no superheroes would make their homes here for long. It was a strategy that had worked for them for decades, but it wasn’t one that Mars was comfortable with. He had been planning on sponsoring a superteam for nearly nine years now. The Silver Storm, and the Stormbreakers, gave him the perfect excuse to do that.

Mind you, that had its own complications. Professor Cephalopod had determined that the nanites that caused the Storm had originated inside Redshift Energies – a subsidiary of MarsTech. Mars knew that the nanites that powered the Commander battlesuit had been turned over to Redshift to look at as an alternate energy source, but he had still been unable to find a paper trail explaining where the truck full of nanites – and the explosion that spread them across the city – had come from. Papers had been signed, but by people who swear they never did so. It was like a ghost had taken control of parts of the company and set everything in motion – not that Mars believed in ghosts.

Mars pulled his thoughts back to the present as Ryleigh Blackwell completed her report. “Thank you, Mrs. Blackwell,” Mars said in a smooth voice that was the result of years of training with speech therapists. He turned to look back to Regina. “Ms. Cross, report on the security of the Emerald Tower? We’re preparing the Grand Opening in just a few weeks, and I do not want another breach of security. Especially not one that allows any unauthorized people into the Storm Breaker’s HQ.”

Regina nodded. “Understood, sir. We have purged all signs of Chessman infection within our computers and security systems. Biometric sensors as well as key-cards are required to access their floors from below. With Mr. Washington’s abilities, and the ability of Crucible, Khione, and Professor Cephalopod to fly, it’s exceedingly rare that anyone other than Mr. Moore uses the elevators to access their floors. I believe that their base is exceedingly secure,” she said.

“Excellent. That brings me to a final point,” Mars responded. He gestured to the clocks on the wall, which included clocks set to various times across the globe, and where the date was prominently displayed. “Today is Thursday. No one has seen the team since late Monday night. Where the hell are they?!?”

Khione Has a Plan…Kind of

As I sit in my bed thinking about what I just learned I can’t help but feel thrilled.  Although I have yet to experience real loss, I have always felt lost.

But if the woman that gave birth to me could leave me a note, why wouldn’t she want to keep me? I wonder, as tears begin to form in my eyes.  

“NO!” I scream, while absentmindedly slamming a snowball at the wall. My parents loved me and that’s more important than some woman that discarded me.  But so much could be in that letter, I thought.  It could have my birth place, how I got my powers, why I got my powers or even why she abandoned me.  And as I stewed in a mixture of anger and excitement, I can’t help but question what about the man behind all of this?

I sit up and pull myself together, thinking out loud, “How am I going to get into the adoption agency to get that letter without anyone knowing?”

While considering my powers and the others of my team I come up with an idea.

“I know, I’ll ask Portal!!! He can slip me in and out without anyone noticing.”

While I think to myself that it’s a great idea in theory, how in the hell am I going to convince him to help me without actually having to tell him all my secrets?  He’s on parole so that’s going to be a tough sell to assist me in breaking the law. But I mean technically it’s my letter so I’m just taking back what is rightfully mine. He’ll be like Robin Hood but instead of money it’s a letter of strategic value. Yea that’ll totally work to convince him!

How to bring it up to him without seeming weird?? I mean we did wake up all in bed together so I guess things can’t get much weirder than that. I’m handy at making pancakes, they were a big hit the last time.  But they have to be special.  How do I make pancakes special for someone that I have only known for a few months. OMG DUH!

“BOOB PANCAKES!”

“Sensei Agawa?”

The young woman looked like she was still in high school but Wendy was used to that. She’d be far from the first young woman to want to know how to defend herself before heading to college.

“Yes. Wendy Agawa.” She shook the woman’s hand.

“Lisa Wellman. Pleased to meet you.”

“How can I help you, Lisa? Are you looking for a self-defense class?”

“No. Well, maybe. Not for me. But …”

Wendy walked over to the counter and grabbed a schedule.

“This is our –“

“I’m not here for me, Sensei. I’m here for my grampers. And he needs more than a self-defense class.”

“What’s he looking for?”

“Private lessons. With you.”

“Is your grandfather in some kind of trouble?”

Lisa laughed. “I’m … not really sure how to answer that.”

“If he’s being harassed or abused there are –“

“No! It’s nothing like that.”

“Then I don’t understand. And, honestly, I don’t usually give private lessons.”

“I get it. I do. But this is a special situation.” Wendy looked at her. “OK, I wasn’t supposed to show you this unless I needed to.” She reached into her purse and pulled out her phone. “If I show you something, do you promise to keep it a secret? It’s not illegal or anything, just … confidential.”

Wendy was somewhere between curiosity and irritation but this pushed it a little closer to curiosity. “Sure, Lisa. I can keep a secret.”

Lisa smiled and spoke into her phone. “Date night footage, AEGIS feed, do-not-tell-Mom protocol.” Wendy wasn’t sure what all that meant but she knew what AEGIS was. Lisa handed her the phone and she took it.

The screen showed a street with an SUV on its side. Behind it, she recognized two of the new Storm Breakers – Portal and Khione – and an old man in a suit. He was pushing them through a glowing purple … hole, was the only way to describe it. And then the SUV exploded.

Wendy gasped and looked at Lisa. Lisa smiled at her and pointed to the phone.

When the flames subsided. The old man was still there, standing up, but shrugging the burning tatters of his shirt off. Then he turned and looked at someone the camera wasn’t catching and yelled,

“Really?”

Wendy handed the phone back.

“Your grandfather is …?”

“Bulwark. Yes”

“So the old man thing isn’t a shtick?”

“No. He’s eighty-three.”

“And he still wants to … This isn’t a recapture my youth thing, is it?”

“No. Well, I don’t know. Maybe. But he’s got these … abilities now and feels like he needs to do something with them to make a difference and it’s not like he isn’t capable. He’s really, really tough. And he doesn’t need his walker anymore. And his teeth are growing back. I think he might be starting to get younger, which would be great but how do we explain that to Mom?” She took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “Sorry, I’m rambling.”

“It’s fine. What exactly does he want from lessons with me?”

“Well, Grampers hasn’t thrown a punch since he was in Vietnam …”

Leifandi

Leifandi exists in a parallel reality adjacent to Earth Prime, and though connections to the dimension are rare, they do occur as natural phenomena occasionally, though direct breach of the walls of reality is the usual method of transit between the two. There have been few visitors from other dimensions to Leifandi, and of those the most notable is Dr. Atom from Earth Prime. The planet is a near analogue of Earth, with oceans, forests, lakes, vast plains, and arctic areas, though there are no deserts. The most striking difference between the two, however, is the various array of crystalline formations that lay across the landscapes, sometimes entwined with the local flora itself. These crystalline formations are generally made up of gemstone-like material, with one major difference; these formations have some form of consciousness and sentience, with the ability to lend their innate power to the people of Leifandi most in touch with the planet’s mystical energy.

The People of Leifandi

Those who call Leifandi home are multiple and varied. The most human like are the ones are referred to as Leifandians. Their forms are as varied as other humans, though natural hair colorations can tend to hew towards the colors of gemstones, with dark greens and light blues being the most common. The most striking difference between a Leifandian and a human is their eyes; while a humans iris’ are round, a Leifandian’s are subtly faceted like a cut gemstone, only truly discernable up close. It is speculated that the facets are due to the crystalline structures that dot their planet, a melding of the two dominant life forms of the planet. Though some other theories exist, they are generally not held to have any basis in reality. Not all of the Leifandians are able to connect to the planet’s mystical energy, but those that are create a bond with one crystalline structure, allowing them access to the energy it represents and the ability to manifest it. The ability to wield Gem Magic is seen as a high honor, and those who can are usually destined for great things. It is quite rare for a Leifandian to be able to bond to more than one type of crystal; only certain individuals, like the Master Mage of the dimension, have ever been known to wield more than three, though history does tell of one who had mastery of nearly a half dozen or more. However, an individual capable of that type of control has not been seen on Leifandi in several centuries, if not longer.

Next are the Crystalloids, creatures of crystal who roam the planets surface and tend to the various flora entwined with the crystalline formations along with those formations who stand apart. Not much is known about these creatures; some speculate that they are some offshoot of the crystalline formations themselves, a sort of progeny, while others believe that they are a younger version of the crystalline formations, experiencing Leifandi before eventually settling in to be one with the planet. They vary greatly in height and color; imposing figures made of greens and blacks or smaller, nimbler figures of orange, yellow or blue. One thing is clear however; these beings share some connection to the crystal formations, and history has various accounts of them being fiercely protective of the crystal formations and any flora they intermingled with. There have been interactions between these beings and those Leifandians who can connect to the planet’s mystical energies, but there is no recorded history of these beings ever speaking in any sense of the word.

And finally, the crystalline formations themselves. As stated, they share some connection to everything that exists within the planet, often intertwined with local flora. However, outside of the knowledge that these formations have some form of sentience and a connection to the mystical energy of the planet, little is truly known about them.

Leifandian History

In the earliest eras of Leifandi, there was conflict, much as it is with other worlds. Conflict between the Leifandians and the Crystalloids, as the Leifandians sought to move beyond their nomadic lifestyles and begin to settle in larger and larger encampments. The early Leifandians may not have known the connection the Crystalloids shared with the crystalline formations, only knowing that the flora that was melded with the formations made for sturdier construction materials for shelters. These early conflicts led to the discovery of Gem Magic, and it was through this discovery that an understanding between the two was founded. The first Leifandian Master Mage (for it is not known if there was a Crystalloid or crystal formation that held that title before it was passed to the Leifandians) oversaw the foundation of cities and villages in harmony with the land itself, able to draw out both the necessary materials and the energy by which these settlements could begin to build around.

Once the cities and villages were established, there was an era of general peace, as the Leifandians grew to understand their connection to the planet’s mystical energy and the crystalline formations themselves. It was not without its periods of upheaval, however, as there are almost always individuals who wish to garner more than what they have. During one of these periods, it was noted that the overuse of crystal magic had a horrible side effect; if a Leifandian mage drew too much energy from their bonded crystal without its consent, the formation would explode into splinters, and if those splinters affixed themselves to any Leifandian or Crystalloid without the force of will to resist they were drained of something, be it life force or something similar, causing them to become devoid of all reason and feeling. For those who could resist the splinter’s effects, they found they could control those who had become Soulless, and used them to attempt to wrest Leifandian society for themselves. It took the Master Mage of this time, a woman by the name of Berea Whitestorm, and a number of her acolytes to put a stop to the use of the Soulless, defeating the tyrant Ademamon and his followers. Berea then founded schools for the teaching of Gem Magic to Leifandians, urging them to live in harmony with the crystals they formed bonds with, as a way to keep the practice of the Soulless from returning to Leifandi.

Since then, with the instruction and guidance of the Master Mages and their acolytes, the denizens of Leifandi have been able to live in relative peace, both with the various communities that gradually continued to grow and with the world itself. Today, most Leifandians settle disagreements with the help of arbiters in each of the settlements, or with more than one if the disagreement happens to be between people of two different settlements.

Leifandian Culture and Spirituality

Leifandians have had an interesting history with the crystal formations of their world. Once the connection they bore to the planet’s mystical energies was discovered, many Leifandians believed the crystals to be extensions of the planets will, and for a time there was a great reverence to the formations and the Crystalloids. As time went on and Gem Magic became less rare among the Leifandians, there came a period where there was much discussion about the nature of the crystals, their bond to elemental powers and their place in society. Since that period, there are various beliefs that have cropped up; along with the idea that they could be extensions of the planets will, there are also schools of thought that purport them to be elemental beings or, perhaps, gods.

Regardless of the truth behind the crystal formations, the Leifandians have worked the crystals into their culture. Almost every Leifandian has some sort of necklace or bracelet bearing a piece of crystal infused flora, as this does not form a bond like a pure crystal piece does for a Gem Mage. Most non-gem mages are some sort of artisan, able to successfully work with both normal flora and crystalline flora. These artisans make everything from new housing or other structures, to furniture and clothing. Clothing consists of the colors of the crystalline formations, being gauzy and breathable for the summer seasons and sturdy and layer able for the winter seasons. Gem Mages usually wear clothing in the color of their bonded crystal, and the crystal is either woven into the fabric of the clothing or as an accessory that can be attached, as it must touch the skin for the mage to draw on it’s power.

Gem Magic

Gem Magic is only capable of being utilized by individuals born of Leifandi; there has been no documentation of any Crystalloids being able to bond with a crystal and wield it’s innate power. To be able to utilize a crystal’s power, one must first have an innate ability to sense and connect to the magical energies of Leifandi. In time, there is usually a feeling of being drawn to a specific formation, and upon arriving there a small chunk of the crystal is always awaiting the mage who was called. The crystal can be cut and refined without losing it’s abilities, though some mages choose to use the crystal in the form it was presented to them. A bond is formed between the mage and crystal, and over time the mage develops the ability to use their mystical abilities to draw out the inherent power of the crystal to perform various spells and effects. Most Gem Mages cannot bond with more than one crystal; even the current Master Mage of Leifandi is only bonded to two crystals. Those who have the power to form bonds with more than two crystals are rare, once in a generation beings.

Notable Sites

• Perle: Capital city of Leifandi, oldest and most renowned settlement on Leifandi. The planning of the city allows it to be the dwelling place for thousands of citizens while also being one of the more open and natural settlements on the planet. The city itself is a love letter to the harmony wished for by the early Leifandians.
• The Leifandian Mage Academy: While there are a multitude of branch sites throughout Leifandi, the main one sits in Perle, as both the oldest and grandest of the locations. Many of the Gem Mages who graduate from the Perle academy come from the city itself, however mages from the other cities are always invited to attend as well, to foster good relations between those who grew up in Perle and those who did not.
• Whitestorm Rotunda: This is the hall in Perle where leaders from all over Leifandi meet to discuss matters of importance and work out any issues or disagreements between the settlements themselves. Also usually the seat of the Master Mage, though they generally split their time between the Perle Academny and here.
• Lake Ontovia: The largest inland lake on Leifandi is also home to the most varied group of crystalline formations on the planet. The majority of Crystalloids are seen here, which has led some to designate this site as the settlement of the Crystalloids. While the area can be visited by anyone, there are certain boundaries the Crystalloids enforce, and only the Master Mage and select other Gem Mages have been allowed beyond.

Risen

Phoenix paused before leaving the spot Mortis had left him at when he brought him back to the land of the living, wondering for a moment if he was truly free of Hades’ imprisonment. When no hell hounds arrived to drag him back down, he took a moment to look up at the sky. For the first time in a long, long while, it was blue with white clouds dotting it, rather than grey stone and ever present smoke.

Alighting to a nearby rooftop, Phoenix turned full circle, taking in the view of the city. This wasn’t the first time he’d been in Freedom City, but it had been a while, and he needed to get his bearings. The hustle and bustle of the city surprised him to a small degree; there seemed to be even more people here than before. Life kept on moving, it seemed, regardless of what it left behind.

Phoenix scowled inside his helmet, shaking his head as he felt a memory returning. Anger, hot as his flames, hot as Helios’ fire itself, threatened to consume him. “No, not yet.” he thought to himself, trying to tamp down the emotion. “I need more info first. Plus, I have a promise to keep. Doesn’t do well to flake on a promise to a necromancer.”

He looked down to his right wrist, where the computer was running calculations, parsing through the encrypted communication signal he’d piggybacked on when he shook Mortis’ hand. It pinged, indicating it had finished it’s task, granting him remote access to Freedom Hall and all it’s systems. “Daedalus, you old fool. Still using your old security methods, as though you don’t think ANYONE knows how your mind works.” he thought to himself, using the holographic display to page through the system. His brow furrowed as he read through damage reports and logs from the Freedom League, shocked at how devastating an enemy Una had been even before she’d managed to re-manifest in the physical plane. The Freedom League Dark was going to have it’s hands full trying to keep all of reality from falling apart it seemed, and if he wanted to be around to enact his plan, he’d have to help out in some way.

Continuing to absent mindedly scroll through the system records, something caught his eye. Blueprints, schematics for something big, another of Daedalus’ grand creations. But it didn’t seem like it was going to be a part of Freedom City. Phoenix began looking over everything more in depth, studying the plans and notes, smiling to himself as he did.

“Well, it looks like I know where to go to find him after all of this gets sorted out.” He though to himself, before unlocking the helmet and removing it from his head, his curly brown hair blowing in the wind. Looking up at the sky, he pointed a finger towards the heavens. “Just wait, Daedalus. You’ve got a little surprise coming, one you would never have expected.”