Diamond_

Wow I can't believe this nonsense got to such a huge thread.

January 23rd, 2007 - Peregrine Island

"Purity"

There was something so very childlike and sweetly innocent about the way the silent man craned his head back so the gentle white flakes fell over his face, which broke out in a peaceful smile. After a few moments of silent sensation as the snow melted against his face, he chuckled to himself, releasing a cloud of steam from his parted lips with the faint noise of contentment. His dark eyes opened and watched the gentle downfall, his gaze cast across the city he found himself standing in.

Peregrine was deceptively quiet and free from disturbance on this winter evening. The skies dark, but thick with heavy clouds that had insisted on releasing the soft snow that now fell about him. It was already coating much of what lay around the dark man, his smooth bald head becoming damp and dotted with white, but with a vigorous and almost mischievous shake of his head, small droplets of water from what had melted were sent scattering to the ground around him.

His feet ensured that there would be two patches of spared ground beneath him, the grass all around starting to turn from dense green to grey and then the telltale color of snowflakes as they packed together and settled.

It felt wonderful.

The Specialist lifted his arms, pulling his bare hands from his pockets, and held them out at his sides, letting it fall all around him. Just feeling it settle against his face, neck and palms as he lifted them skyward, suddenly a child again. Something about the snow made him feel so much younger… free. Free from weight on his shoulders, and memories of missions and regretted actions in his own past. Sacrifices so that moments such as these could be shared by all.

A sigh fell out of him with a calm ease, and he looked without a care, his tall, athletic frame relaxed in stance and posture for once, instead of tense and prepared. Certainly, his guns still hung at his waist, but it was more force of habit than concern for his own well-being in the city he resided in at that exact moment in time.

It was starting to cling to his duster now, speckling it with moist dots of white against the solid black leather, and looking down at it, he grinned, not caring in the least that he would be freezing and extremely damp when he got back inside the bunker.

The rest of his 'team' had stayed below preparing for this long scheduled briefing on the restart of their operations. He sighed, so impatient they are, so consumed in their endeavors they miss such moments.

I wonder Dancer, he thought. Do you hide from the snow? Do you enjoy such freedom or dismiss it for your own endeavors?

The thoughts of his team bothered him very little at that moment, bringing one of his chilled palms in front of his eyes to see all the miraculously fine and individual flakes collected on his skin, slowly melting atop one another to create a little puddle in his hand.
Crouching as the snow fell heavier, he watched it cover the grass completely from view, its density hiding it away until the next day, should the sun penetrate the clouds and reduce all of this to slush… or nothing at all.

It was almost a shame, he realised. Snow had a way of making everything so simple, and so innocent. So pure, somehow. He supposed it was the color, always used to represent virtue in one form or another, whether it be a bride’s wedding dress, or a flower in a jacket at a formal dance or even the Dancer's chosen color of her costume.

Hmm , He mused. What does this say for us that we have chosen black?

One hand lowered to the carpet of snow around him, and after a moment, he marked out his initials in it. He grinned softly as he knew no one alive would recognize the significance of the two letters before him that had long ago lost any meaning. He watched as the snow began to fill in the letters as if softly erasing them from the city landscape. He stood after a fashion, standing again with balance and something like grace without the elegance that came with feminism. Looking down on his simple mark in the ground, he knew it wouldn’t last, but there was something almost fun in the simple gesture, even if no one would see it nor understand it.

There was no one else near to him, and with the thickness of the flurry now, it would cover over shortly, before it could be seen.

But it didn’t matter… he’d done it, and that was what mattered.

Smiling languidly, he heard the soft crunch of snow behind him announce the end of his moment, and looked almost disappointed. Though lacking in the sadness that usually accompanied such a state of mind and being.

"Sir?" Blue's crisp yet buissness like southern drawl wafted gently through the snow to him. "The briefing is assembled and we are waitin on y'all"

"Ofcourse" He said without turning. Enjoy such moments my Dancer, he thought. Soon there will be little time for them.

He turned to look at the Malta Gunslinger standing beside of him now and knew he should be heading back… but he felt refreshed; more so than he had felt in a long time.

And he liked that. The Specialist asked in a soft even voice then..

"Shall we begin then, good sir?"

Here! I get mine in a few days now

January 18th, 2007 - Steel Canyon

He watched her prance up the sidewalk and the front porch steps from his hidden roost high above the street. Her beautiful Red hair swayed as she moved. He took out his camera and snapped a couple of shots.

She turned, as if sensing him, and looked, but he knew his spot was concealed from her eyes. He took a picture of her ever-so-pretty face, formed in a striking expression of curiosity and suspicion.

Skilla can /feel/ me!

She went inside her building and closed the door behind her. He could see her shadowy figure in her apartment-bedroom, pulling her tank-top over her head and letting her hair bounce freely around her head. He took a picture of that as well.

He wasn’t stalking her.

This was more important than Alpha's mission now...

He was loving her from afar.....

That was then, now nearly 6 months later, he looked at that very picture, the one of her body facing her house, her upper-body turned toward his car, her face looking directly at him and not seeing him.

She was beautiful in this picture, in his eyes. He only wished that this was the way he could remember her for always. His eyes strayed to the very few that showed her with /him/. The large man who stayed with her in his place...

He had avoided the purge of the renegades, he had proved his devotion to his Angel. He had fooled those who had sought him out.

He had stayed hidden.

He remained prepared, dedicated and ready as he waited...

...For his Angel to come home to him.


==================

Heroic Rescue in Eden
19 January 2007
Associated Press

Paragon City, RI - A daring rescue took place early yesterday evening during a raid that shook the very foundations of Hamidon Hive like nest. Hero Corps Representatives said they are still assessing the results of yesterday's task force following the rescue of 3 noted Heroes from the clutches of the Devouring Earth.

The on going battle between the well known Hero Huntsman and the Hamidon for control of the embattled city zone known as 'Eden' escalated after Devouring Earth elements seized a team of heroes working for Huntsman. The heroes seized by the devouring earth were performing a simple patrol for their mentor when they were taken hostage by the forces of Hamidon. Each of them and their powers were reportedly directly tied to nature and thus drew the attention of Hamidon.

Huntsman, fearing for his team's lives put out a call to the CAPES Heroine Glitterbeam to rally an experienced and powerful rescue team to head down deep into the underground lair of the devouring earth to free them. Reaching out to those of her coalition she assembled a team consisting of herself and fellow CAPES members Stranglehold, Ultimo-Girl,Warbow, Take One and CAPES Leaders Battletide and Psycharisma. With Diamond of the Templars of the Abbey joining them, the team assembled in Eden where Warbow was able to calm the concerned Huntsman and a plan of attack was soon formed.

"Huntsman was understandably concerned." Glitterbeam said following the rescue. "Warbow was able to reach out and let him focus and help organize the team so we could help them"

The first battle of the rescue took place across the plains of Eden as the self named 'Task Force Awesome' engaged Devouring Earth creatures in a desperate attempt to draw away enough forces from the massive hive to allow the team to slip inside to rescue their fallen comrades. The half hour long fight left more than 200 devouring earth creatures dead and a large enough gap in the hive's defenses.

The attack on the Devouring Earth's lair, included the destruction of one of Hamidon's most lethal creations, Hero Corps Representatives reported. Dubbed the Crystal Titan, the massive giant and it's hordes stood in the way of the rescue team deep in the bowels of the warren. After a several hour run and gun battle with the denizens of the warren the heroes engaged the Titan and were able to bring it down.

"In it's own way it so was really quite lovely," Diamond said afterwards, adding that the team had very little difficulty in bringing it down.

She went on to say about her fellow rescuers, "These folks are like the best. They are so always willing to lay it on the line for others when necessary. I was very proud of the job they did and to be a part of their team. The Titan was simply no match for their drive and courage."

The Devouring Earth is considered to be an ongoing and deadly militant threat to the city, despite having been contained to Eden and the Hive. The Huntsman however cautioned that they only remained contained due to the heroic efforts of heroes he likened to 'Task Force Awesome'.

"This affront to nature has been contained once more and this city owes these heroes and those like them, an ever growing debt of gratitude" He said.

Rhode Island National Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Barry Bacarro said the Devouring Earth group is now "suffering from a leadership vacuum" in its warren and is in disarray following the assault.

"We cannot give you a time frame, but the Defense Department and the Hero Corps are expecting a reaction from the Hive," he added. "This rescue caused enough collateral damage that the creature will have to respond."

The Creature known as Hamidon last tried to escape it's confinement only last month. A Force of 116 Heroes were needed with back up from the RI National guard and elements of Longbow in order to contain it. The attack resulted in 4 Heroes being killed and several dozen injured.

"Should he like try again.." Diamond went on to say. "We will so be there to stop him. His Creatures were preparing to eat Huntsman's heroes, he so didn't leave us any choice but hit them like this. He rarely does"

The rescued heroes were taken to an undisclosed area hospital and are reportedly doing fine. They are expected to make a full recovery.

Yes comes up with Keybonds when trying to use Global channels

Any fix inbound for this?

April 19th, 2009 - a Walmart Store, Skyway City

"I have a problem," Bill Chamberlin murmured into his cell phone.

"Bill, it SO wouldn’t be a day unless you had a problem," Kara responded on her her end with a slight roll of her eyes. He would pick right before a briefing to call her.

"How, exactly, does one go about buying toothpaste?"

Kara pulled her phone away from her ear and frowned down at the receiver. She had to have heard wrong. No way Bill had made it through life thus far without ever having to buy toothpaste. "Uh, you go to the toothpaste aisle and pick up whatever box strikes your fancy, sweetie." She shrugged and then had to give a grin to the pair of Longbow agents that had looked up at her as she spoke into the phone. She shrugged away their confused stares. She covered her end of the phone and said simply "Guardian Star and Patti issues..."

"Ahh" they both answered, nodding their complete understanding now.

Bill heaved a sigh into the phone. "I know that."

Kara uncovered her cell and returned to Bill. "Then I totally think I misunderstood the question."

"Patti asked me to pick up some toothpaste for her."

"She like ran out?" Kara asked as she returned to the laptop she and the agents were going over back at the precinct.

"She like so ran out," Bill confirmed using Karaspeak.

Kara let out a soft sigh of frustration, still not understanding what the big deal was. "And the problem is …?" Bill didn’t respond, and the answer instantly dawned on her, she could not help but smile a gentle wicked smile of her own. "The problem is you SO don’t know what kind of toothpaste she uses...Do you?"

"I don’t know what kind she uses." The off duty hero known as Guardian Star had to admit.

Bill ran his hand over his head as he stared helplessly at the multitude of boxes on the shelves. Toothpaste, in every flavor and formulation imaginable. Gel, paste, whitening, tartar control, classic mint, cinnamon, baking soda, sensitive teeth … and he was drawing a complete blank. What the hell kind of toothpaste did Patti use? He should know, and he knew beyond a doubt that this was the point of the entire exercise. "I am going to fail this test," he muttered.

"Test?" asked the semi-distracted voice in his ear.

Bill jumped, somewhat startled. He’d almost forgotten he’d called Kara in a minor panic. "Yeah, test. This is some kind of relationship test." he nodded to no one in particular "I just know it is"

"Do you really think Patti would give you a relationship test?" As soon as the question slipped past her lips, Kara paused to think about whom they were discussing. This was Patti Goldman, after all. She of the six-month dating plan would most definitely not be above giving Bill a little relationship test, although she probably would make it more about what kind of flowers she liked rather than her favored brand of toothpaste. Kara sighed, she was beginning to believe both of her friends were nuts.

"This is Patti," Bill answered, echoing Kara’s thoughts. "Of course she’s giving me a test."

"Or...," Kara argued, deciding to play devil’s advocate, "maybe she’s just out of toothpaste. Were you heading out anyway?"

Bill cringed and wondered if he hadn’t jumped the gun a little. He had been on his way out anyway, to pick up the snacks for their lazy movie afternoon. Patti could have just asked him to pick up the toothpaste to save her a trip to the supermarket. Oh, the hell with it, he thought, grabbing a box of Aquafresh of the shelf.

"Okay Ive got it now" He said determined as he headed for the counter. "Thanks Kar, I'll let you get back to work"

Kara half grinned "Good Luck Bill" She shook her head as she hung up and returned to the Agents and the info they had for her.



-----

Skyway City

Patti Goldman’s gaze settled on the clock on her cable box and she frowned. What on earth was keeping Bill? She’d sent him to the grocery almost an hour ago for some snacks and a box of toothpaste. Nobody besides Bill could make a simple trip to buy a bag of chips and some toothpaste into an hour-long affair. She gave a quiet sigh as she set two bottles of water--one for her and one for Bill--down on the end table. The plan for the lazy Sunday afternoon ahead of them was to spend it on the couch, watching movies they’d seen before.

It was Patti’s hope that their attention wouldn’t be on the movies. She was gonna kill him if he had ended up going to patrol with her. Patti chastised herself, reminding herself Kara was a friend and there was still a missing child out there. That had to be what was taking him so long...wasn't it?

She was trying incredibly hard not to screw this up. Where Bill was concerned, she’d already screwed up plenty. The dating plan had been a complete disaster, one of her dumb little ideas that sounded good at the time but didn’t really stand up to experience or even careful thought. Her fight with Kara last year after his dumb comment about his friend and partner out there during the second Rikti invasion. Patti sighed to herself, luckily after the initial disappointment and heartache was over, Bill had been willing to give her a second chance and then she him.

The pair had been an official couple for just about two years now, but they had been the happiest two years of Patti’s life. She never really realized just how much she loved him--and had always loved him--until their first official date. That was when she realized that she was head over heels for him. She was trying not to listen for the sound of the other shoe dropping, though. That was the way her life worked; once she got to a certain level of happiness, everything usually came crashing down around her.

When the phone rang, she snatched the handset off its base on her end table. "Bill?"

"No," said a female voice on the other end of the line. Patti smiled; it was Nancy Taylor, the little defender named Sapphire Rose that worked with Bill and Kara at the precinct. She was also one of Patti's closest friends. "Why would … oh, it’s date night! I’m sorry! I’ll hang up now!!"

"No, Nancy, it’s okay," Patti laughed. "It is date night, but Bill’s out getting snacks."

"You sent Bill out for snacks?" Nancy asked, incredulous. "I hope you’re prepared for him to come home with like, salt and vinegar chips or barbecue pretzels or some other ridiculous guy thing that no one else would eat but him."

"I...I.. gave him a list," Patti protested.

"Was your list specific?" Nancy chuckled.

"Yes."

"What’d it say?"

"Chips, salsa--"

Nancy clucked her tongue in disapproval. "He’s bringing back red hot corn chips and mango/barbecue/cheddar cheese salsa. You weren’t specific."

Patti rolled her eyes, plopping down on the sofa. "He’s a big boy, Nancy. I think I can trust him to pick up the correct chips and salsa."

"You say that now," Nancy said, her voice almost a singsong. "Did you ask him to pick up anything else?"

"Toothpaste."

Nancy actually gasped out loud. "You asked him to pick up toothpaste?"

"Yeah," Patti answered, drawing the word out with an extra unsure syllable. "Should I not have?"

"No, you shouldn’t have. I thought we decided you weren’t going to give Bill stupid little relationship tests."

"I didn’t give him a test," Patti argued. "I just asked him to pick up toothpaste."

"No. You gave him a relationship test."

"I don’t understand."

Nancy gave a quiet groan, as if she couldn’t believe that Patti could be so clueless. "He’s going to be standing there, looking at box after box of toothpaste and wondering which brand you use."

Oh, crap! Patti thought, bringing her hand to her forehead. But wait a second. Bill and she lived together for the past year now. He surely knew what kind of toothpaste she used.

Didn’t he?

But even if he didn’t, it didn’t really matter. Unless whatever he brought back tasted horrible, she’d use it. "It’s just toothpaste," she said to Nancy, although even she could hear the uncertainty in her tone.

"It’s not, Patti. It’s a test. However inadvertently, you gave him a test."

"Do you think he thinks it’s a test?" Patti groaned

"It’s Bill and it’s you. Of course he thinks it’s a test." Nancy responded trying to hush Kevin in the background who had groaned picking up on the conversation now.

Patti ran her fingers through her hair and whimpered softly. "I have to call him. Tell him that it’s not a test and whatever toothpaste he chooses is--"

"No!" Nancy cried. "You cannot call him."

"But I don’t want him to think that..."

"But what if that thought hasn’t occurred to him yet?"

As Patti frowned, she idly wished Nancy were there in person and not just on the phone so she could /strangle/ her. "You’re the one who said he would think it was a test."

"Well, he would. But there is the off chance that he hasn’t yet."

Patti sighed heavily. "Nancy, you certainly have a way of making things needlessly complicated."

-----

Bill took a silent moment to settle his nerves and readjust the grocery bag in his arms before letting himself into their apartment. He could hardly believe he’d spent over an hour in the store buying all of six things. In the time he’d been gone, Patti had set the living room up for movie night. Well, movie afternoon, and hopefully they’d be paying little attention to the movies. A bottle of water sat on each end table and she’d taken the afghan off the back of the sofa and gathered it into a ball on the middle cushion, the better for snuggling.

"Hey, Patti," he called, dropping his keys on the small credenza to the side of the door.

"In here," she called back from the kitchen.

Bill followed the sound of her voice and set the grocery bag down on the counter. "I know you only asked for tortilla chips and salsa, but I got French onion dip and ruffled chips, too."

Patti raised a single eyebrow at him. "We’ll both have to eat the French onion dip. Like garlic bread, you know?"

"I didn’t even think of that," Bill said with a sheepish frown.

Patti smiled, gently running a finger down his cheek. "It’s fine. What else did you get?"

She stepped forward in an attempt to peek into the bag, but Bill stuck his hands inside before she could get much of a view. "Chips, salsa, and the six-pack you asked for," he said, pulling each item from the grocery sack. He took a deep breath and grasped the final item. "And your toothpaste."

As he held the box of Aquafresh out to her, he watched her face carefully for her reaction. Had he passed the test? He thought he saw a flicker of a smile curl onto her lips as she snatched the box from his hand. "Thank you," she said, her voice noncommittal.

She disappeared into the bathroom to put away the toothpaste. Without another word about it, she came back into the kitchen and began pulling out bowls for the snacks. That was it? She wasn’t going to tell him if he guessed right? God, the suspense was going to kill him!

"So, um," he said uncertainly, "did I get it right?"

"Get what right?" she asked without looking up from what she was doing.

"The toothpaste."

She shrugged, again noncommittal. "Sure."

"Sure?"

"What do you want me to say, Bill?" she asked, frowning. "You picked up toothpaste."

Uh oh. Maybe he had the situation wrong. Maybe she had just wanted to save herself a trip to the store. But now that he’d brought it up, he had to continue the line of questioning. "It was a test, right?" he said uncertainly.

Patti just shook her head, arranging the bowls of chips and dip on a serving tray before brushing past him to bring the snacks to the living room. "It was toothpaste."

Oh, crap, he’d just screwed up. The fact that he thought she would give him a covert relationship test had offended her, and he didn’t blame her. He’d be offended, too, if the situation were reversed.

He followed her into the living room, preparing to grovel. "Patti, I’m sorry."

"It’s fine," she said, giving him a small smile. "Given my history, I can see how you’d think I was giving you a test."

"But you weren’t."

"I wasn’t. I just didn’t want to have to go out later." She set the tray on the coffee table, sighed heavily, and sank down on the sofa, moving the blanket to the end cushion. "I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’ve been trying very hard not to do stupid little things like that. We deserve a real chance, Bill, and I don’t want to screw it up like that."

Damn it, he should have thought of that before automatically assuming the worst. "I have noticed," he assured her. "I’m sorry I didn’t give you enough credit."

"Like I said, it’s fine." She smiled as she held her hand out to him. He smiled back and grasped her hand, and she pulled him down on the sofa next to her. As soon as he was settled, he wrapped his arm around Patti’s shoulders and she snuggled into him. After sitting in that position for a long moment, Patti snatched the remote control from the coffee table and turned on the DVD player. Then she made herself comfortable again as the film began, snuggling against Bill and resting her head on his shoulder.

"Just curious," Bill quietly spoke up a moment later. Patti smiled; she could feel him playing with a lock of her hair. "If it had been a test …"

She looked up at him, stared into his eyes, and grinned. "You would have passed with flying colors."

He found himself chuckling "Thank Christ"

With that they settled in to watch the movie, as the city carried on around them.

January 8th 2007 - New Overbrook


She bolted awake, shivering despite the cold into...

Darkness...

She hated darkness.

It wasn't that she feared it, as such - it wasn't as if it could hurt her. It was the horrors that always lay hidden within the dreaded blackness that still terrified her.

Yet somehow, she'd always had this irrational fear of being blinded ..being restrained. Maybe it was some sort of strange twist on the fact that she always felt so free when she danced, so much more than others could and the dark robbed her of this. The dream had startled her, she had been unprepared for it.

It had been different tonight. She could feel the eyes of someone new. Someone who did not belong there, yet she felt was seeking her out. The fact she could not see him terrified her. It was just a dream, she reminded herself as she sat up. Her eyes struggled to focus in the darkened room.

Kara hated darkness, the dread of confinement that seemed to engulf her. It always brought her back to that horrible night, stuck in it, swimming in the black with the fear and the pain, surrounded by there mocking laughter. No way out until her... captors ... chose to free her, such power over her to decide when they were done. The pain, the fear, the shame and revulsion gone in an instant with the hum and the light of white. A hospital and safety...no not safety, just an end to the darkness.

Being so panicked that night, her blindness was total - not even her powers would work for her. It took every ounce of strength she had not to dissolve into a screaming, mindless fit of hysteria right then and there, as she was assured over and over she was finally safe. Their touch supposed to be of comfort only made her ill, each grip making her want to crawl into a deep hole to hide. It remained so and would for some time to come. She had come to accept it to live to merely avoid it was much as possible. This was her world now and had been for so long afterwards.

Then, out of no where, she felt a hand brush her arm long ago. It was soft, almost furtive, or maybe just very, very casual. It had shocked her at first. She felt no threat. No revulsion...

A moment later, everything resolved into place. The impression was feminine and strong, but there was also warmth, compassion, and concern, laced with a certain knowing amusement accompanying a somewhat-more-than-friendly interest. The playful nervousness and the dance that had followed had restored for her hope and the ability to dream once more.

It comforted her, and intrigued her, even as her strong response to it scared her. She'd never reacted to any touch like that before - much less from a stranger and another woman.

... and it was high on the list of reasons she could've chosen to flee, to hide once more. Yet as always she remained and held her ground....

(When you fall little one, to dance again you need only get up off of the floor)

She smiled at her mother's soft words that floated to her through the darkness as she slipped out of bed to walk in the darkness to her room's window. She cast her eyes out to the sleeping city far below.

Strangely, though, through out all of what followed the memory of that moment of her first touch had become one of the many reasons she had to stay...

"..you need only to get up off of the floor" She whispered.

At that moment the darkness seemed to be a bit brighter.



================================================== ============


January 8th 2007 - Undiclosed Location

this is the garden: colours come and go,
frail azures fluttering from night's outer wing
strong silent greens serenely lingering,
absolute lights like baths of golden snow.
This is the gardenursed lips do blow
upon cool flutes within wide glooms,and sing
(of harps celestial to the quivering string)
invisible faces hauntingly and slow.

This is the garden. Time shall surely reap
and on Death's blade lie many a flower curled,
in other lands where other songs be sung;
yet stand They here enraptured;as among
the slow deep trees perpetual of sleep
some silver-fingered fountain steals the world.

His mother's words followed him as he walked through the garden he had requested installed here at the center. The hush of the night filled the air, The once beautiful and serene scene was too silent, almost ominous. He had looked into the soul of the dancer tonight and was horrified by what he had witnessed. So much pain, so much cruelty. He understood now the depth of what he was to face.

He understood now why they had failed before. Yet despite what he saw, he knew what he had to do.

He paused at a flower bed, the blossoms pale violet in the moonlight. They seemed to sparkle in the breeze of the New England Winter. His mother had once told him how rare these blooms were. A single gloved finger reached out and outlined the delicate petals, not quite touching. Not wanting to corrupt something so rare and beautiful held so dear in his charge.

He followed the narrow dirt path to a grove of trees. The gentle branches swayed in a murmur, the leaves capturing the moon.

He wrapped his coat around him tightly. It was cold, so cold. He could never just adjust to the winter of the Americas. He smiled thinly as he reflected on the most recent events. More plans were crumbling. The powers that be were swiftly undermining each other with vast deceptions. So much was dying, yet it was not even the beginning. Something worse was going to happen. He knew this from the moment the Grey Suited Project director of the 'other' project revealed the truth to the man's Malta masters.

Order was coming. But he wondered was the truth truly told to them?

Was it told to him ?

He was a believer, the order the Malta were to bring, the order he was to help usher in with a fanatical devotion. His world, his garden....ordered and beautiful.

It must be protected. His thoughts turned to the dancer, his assigned target and to the other.

He closed his eyes, and the garden turned black. Blood filled the fields of endless grass. Flowers were trampled in a fight for survival. Death, everywhere. The center's walls were cracked, blast marks staining the once-proud marble. Screams filled the air with pain, reverberating as the defenses faltered. The image was torn apart, so much anger, so much agony, so much of the chaos..... it was smothering everything.

He opened his eyes. The garden was as it was, lush, alive and safe. No battle cries, only the sweeping of the leaves and the faint roar of the small waterfalls.

One of the pale, delicate blossoms broke off in a sudden breeze, tumbling farther along the path.

He shivered. It was a cold night.

It must be protected.....

....No....

.....It must be saved.

He walked to the end of the path and turned to glance back as he reached the doorway. He wished for just one more look at the peace the garden offered before he returned to the path that was being laid out for him. He sighed only once before stepping through the door.

December 29th 2006 - King's Row

Originally posted by Templar Paul Angel


Ever had one of those days...

Paul Angel sat atop an abandoned building in Kings Row, looking about the area scanning for Clockwork. He had been there for about half an hour now looking for as many as his contact had wanted parts from.

"Still amazes me..", he laughed to himself, "you can always find Clockwork when you don't need them, but if you do..not a one."

He laughed again, smiled and just shruged his luck off because he knew that maybe somehow with those parts that the Clockwork could be figured out. About to stand up, Paul's attention was drawn to a noise in the alleyway below him. Several figures marching along in order in the shadows of the alley.

Paul kneeled to try to get a better look, saying to himself, "Now who are these guys.."

In the alley below, the Unit Commander of a small Malta detachment stopped to check the surroundings before using his comm.

"Unit Commander 416 to Commander, no sighting of the target in Kings Row, she does not appear to be in the area. Requesting further instruction.", he said as he stared down at the comm.

A voice replied back on the comm, "Unit Commander, continue your search. Also be aware it is known that Paul Angel is in the area as well, his lack of memory might be useful towards finding her.."

Upon hearing this, Paul quirks a brow and says, "How do they know me?". Quickly he starts to stand up, but his knee catches a loose brick on the edge of the building knocking it off. He tries to grab it, but he misses and can only watch as it smashes into peices upon the ground in the alley next to the men below.

Paul winces, then sighs, "You ever had one of those days.."

The unit commander looks to the noise of the smashing brick, then up to the roof of the building spying Paul, who just laughs a little foolishly back in return.

Quickly into the comm the Unit Commander barks, "Target, Paul Angel aquired, further instruction after capture."

Putting away the comm, he then hefts a large launcher up upon his shoulder and takes aim at Paul with it. With a quick pull of the trigger, fire reigns out the back of the launcher and a missle barrels its way upwards.

"That can't be good..", Paul thinks to himself as he uses his wings to thrust himself backwards across the roof just as the missle hits taking out part of the top of the building. Shaken, but not planning on sticking around after that, he stands up and leaps off the building taking to the air as his best way of getting away.

In the air, Paul takes a quick glance behind him, only to see a second missle get fired. Knowing there are too many people below him, he takes the only course he knows and flys at the War Wall. Stopping for a moment as the missle approaches, he waits then quickly uses his wings to move sideways out of the way. The missle explodes against the War Wall and while not hitting Paul, the force of the explosion takes the wind out from under his wings sending him crashing down upon a nearby rooftop.

Paul slowly pushes himself up, not knowing if he was out for seconds or minutes, only to be greeted at eye level by the barrel of a gun.

The Unit Commander stares down at Paul and says, "That was the most fun I've had in quite a time, I would say we should do it again some time but I am afraid that will not be the case."

Taking up the comm again, the Unit Commander gives his report, "Commander, subject Paul Angel captured. The woman is still nowhere in sight."

Paul gets himself to one knee and balances himself with one hand, "Who are you and who is this woman you're talking about?", he says.

"We, Paul Angel, are Malta and the woman is..", but the Unit Commander doesn't have time to finish before a Lowbow Detachment flies past the building and he carefully watches them.

Seeing this as a chance, Paul uses the distraction to send an energy wave across the roof, knocking the man off his feet, before quickly sliding off the roof and flying into the Yellow Line Tram building. Still reeling from the encounter, Paul steps on the tram and looks behind him thinking, "What was that all about..". The doors of the tram close and Paul is on his way to Atlas Park with more questions than he had when he started.

Elsewhere on a rooftop in Kings Row, the Unit Commander embarrsingly gets back to his feet and takes up the comm.

"Command, subject Paul Angel, has...escaped..current location unknown at present and...still no sign of her..", his report given in a quiet tone.

Over the comm again comes the voice, "I see. So Paul Angel escaped. Unit Command, you will report back for further training. If you can not capture a low security level hero, your chances of capturing a much higher security level hero is next to none. No further instruction is needed."

With a shameful sigh, the Unit Commander turns to head back, knowing he won't live this one down for quite a time to come. He shakes his head thinking, "Ever had one of those days..."

Empty.

That was what the city was...

Empty.

A biting cold wind blew, tossing papers and other rubbish around him. Dr. William Reynolds looked about him, taking in the eerily silent buildings and vacant streets. Paragon, he thought as he closed his jacket tighter. I'm in Paragon..

The hairs on his arms stood up on end as he moved about, he could've sworn he had taken his wife and son away for the holidays. How did he come back here, why was it always to /here/ ?

‘What on Earth, happened here?’ He thought peeking into an abandoned grocery store. The area was untouched, no items spilled or carts left unattended. Everything was neat and organized. Pulling away from the store, He continued through the city streets, looking about as his thoughts rattled on. It was as if the people had just been removed, as if...as if the city ..no the world awaited something new.

The thought nagged, an itch buried deeply in his thoughts that he could not reach..

‘Where is everyone?’ He thought, a chill running down his spine. ‘ The people, all of them, they are all gone…everyone.’ The silence around him save for the wind was devastating.

Turning a corner, Dr. Reynolds found himself now in a totally different section of the city, a residential section, a well to do one at that. Apartments surrounded him, boats floated in isolation still tied to their docks as if waiting with extraordinary patience for their owners who would never return. Flipping his collar up to fight off the chilling wind Dr. Reynolds continued his walk, trying to find someone…anyone…

“No, no…he’s coming, he’s coming…”

Doctor Reynolds turned, peering through the darkness of one of the alleys. He could just barely make out the shape of a young man curled up beside a dumpster half covered in the drifting snow, mumbling softly. Making his way into the darkness, Dr. Reynolds knelt down beside the shivering form.

“It’s ok…it will be ok.” He soothed in his best bedside manner as he tried to assess the boy's condition.

“He’s gonna get me…gonna get me…” the near frozen young man kept muttered not looking at him.

“No one is…” He tried to reassure the frightened figure "There is no one here but me...your safe now, here let me help"

“He’ll come…take you too!” The man looked up with panic-filled eyes. “They took everyone…everyone…don’t let them take you.”

“Who took them?” The Doctor asked as the wind ripped around and through them. “Tell me what happened.”

The man looked around, shaking hard. He continued to mutter to himself, saying nothing but gibberish. Dr. Reynolds sighed, standing up and moving to go, he had to go get help...at least try to get the boy some shelter. Before he could take a step, the man’s hand latched onto his ankle.

“A gun…do you have a gun?” William frowned, feeling the bulge inside of his jacket long before his numb finger found it. A shoulder holster for a handgun....a pistol. He couldn't remember ever wearing such thing. He was even startled more to find the holster empty. The thought of losing a pistol he never knew he had send chills through him. His eyes grow wild as he sees the black pistol in the hands of the frost bitten youth.

“Don’t let them get you.” he gasped and with that, he placed the revolver in his mouth.

“WAIT!”

The small clap of thunder echoed through the alley.

Dr. Reynolds could only stand in mute shock as, the boy's body slipped down with a sickening thump. He took a few steps back in surprise and bumped into another person. So silent had been his approach the doctor had not even heard the crunch of the snow, he seemed to just appear. His form unmoving at the contact, firm and solid in place, like a coiled spring simply waiting to explode.

“Looks like someone had a problem with anxiety.” The newcomer said in an even tone, his voice soft as he turned his almost gentle looking brown eyes to the body laying slumped against the wall. "If you listen to your fears, you will die never knowing what a great person you might have been."

“You…” Dr. Reynolds, turning to face the man he knew only as the 'Specialist'. The Agent of the Malta was dressed in dark tactical clothing, and topped off with a black leather duster. The man turned his gaze back up to meet the doctor's.

“Hello Doctor Reynolds.” The man said. “You can not save them all you know, some just lose their way, every Sheppard must be prepared to lose a part of their treasured flock"

Dr. Reynolds, slowly inching back towards the dead man, towards his pistol. “what did you do?...What have you done here?”

The man merely closed his eyes and waved out one of his hands “Oh, this city? It had to be taken, it had to be pacified in order to maintain control over the order of things” He paused. “You must see this of course?”

“Why?” William asked, shaking his head.

The Specialist regarded him with pity. “Because we could, my good doctor. Why else? Why do you do what you do? The thrill of power.” He leaned in, lips curled up in crude smile. “Do you have any idea what it is like…to say a single word and bring millions trembling in fear, at your feet in sheer terror? Ooooooh, nothing like it.” His eyes twinkled. “Of course, once we got bored with that, we let our partners in crime take care of the leftovers.”

“Partners?” William shivered.

“Of course…you see without order, without control they can do anything they like, chaos, murder destruction. Yet you see order needs to be maintained." The Specialist shook his head, " See one of them behind you removing the gun you are trying reach.” The man nodded slowly. “Turn around my good doctor.”

William slowly turned, taking in a short gasp of air as he came face to face with the figure in a black duster much like that of the specialist.

“What?...but who?”

The figure’s head lifted up. “Don't you even know me anymore /Daddy/.”

“Kara?” he breathed shocked at the sight of her.

Kara smirked, pointing the gun right at her father. “What, no Kitten?”

"Kara…how…how could you…”

“Kill people?” Kara asked, circling her father and moving towards the Specialist. The older man wrapped his arms around her waist, chin resting on her shoulder as she continued to point the gun at her father. “He and the Crey opened my eyes Daddy.” She grinned. “Order must be maintain only then can the laws work...can justice be maintained?” she smiled a smile of the deeply devoted half glancing at the Specialist as she said "Isn't that right?"

“Absolutely, one must always keep faith with one's true goals dancer.” The Specialist said softly.

Doctor Reynolds’s eyes narrowed. “You did this…you forced her…”

“He showed me to truth!” Kara shouted. “He accepts me…he accepts what I can do! You wanted me to hide, to be normal! I’m not normal dad!, and I will never be normal. This is who I am, and you can’t stop me from being me. -They- showed me that.” She sneered wickedly at him with a great deal of hurt and pain in her eyes "You know what was done to me..what you tried to do....they almost murdered /her/ on your order!"

"Kitten No! " William sputtered. "I never tried to have her.."

"Don't you dare call me your Kitten!...ever" she snarled viciously cocking the hammer of the pistol. Her hand stayed by the gentle touch of the Specialist.

“No my dancer...not like that.” The Specialist said to her removing the pistol from her hands. “Your gift of energy is pleasing to her and of so much more use to us. " He turned to look at William with a great deal of sympathy " But now dancer, I do very much think this reunion has come to its close.”

He shrugged, stepping away from Kara as she leveled her hand at her father's chest, her arm glowing brightly. “Just think Doctor, you will be remembered as the man that raised the first Mistress of the Earth. Quite an honor.”

The Specialist shook his head slowly "A new World order is rising...such a gift from a man who has done such good works"

"Mistress of ? " William blinked stunned such a familiar phrase, where had he heard that, he threw a panicked glance at Kara who now stood trembling before him. A hiss seemed to surround the air of the city carried forth by the wind, as if a million trees were wafting in an unseen breeze.

”Kara…don’t…”

Kara looked at her father, tears in her eyes, so vulnerable, so frightened as she had been that night in his den so long ago. “Why didn’t you stop him Daddy?” She whispered looking down, she shivered as the noise around them grew louder. The sidewalks shuddered as if something titanic was trying to push through from the ground beneath the pavement.

Kara looked back up, her face transformed into a more wicked form. “This is all your fault!” She laughed a hollow laugh, as her blast left her arm searing deeply into his chest...

Searing white hot pain .....

.....and then...

“KARA!”

December 27th, 2006 - Bermuda

He sat straight up panting, his side of the bed covered in sweat. His eyes darted about as he tried to get his bearings. Beside of him her heard his wife's annoyed murring at his disturbance before she once more returned to her gentle snoring. He stood, still shaking as he left the bed, and walked out of the room. Opening the glass doors he stumbled out onto the terrace of his hotel room. The warm Bermuda wind gently caressed him as he turned to look out over the sea

.…so peaceful…

William leaned forward to clench at the rail of his balcony, his knuckles going white. William closed his eyes..

“I won’t let him hurt you.” He whispered. “You will not become a monster for them"

"I promise kitten....I won’t let that happen.”

November 3rd, 2006 - Undisclosed Crey Lab - Brickstown

He wasn’t supposed to love her anymore. She was different, a mutant, hidden and brewing inside of her like a virus until that horrible day. The day he lost her like he lost her mother.

His world ended. She came to him, alone and frightened .... and he had turned her away.

He could see the fear in his son's eyes and the scorn in his wife's tones. He had rejected her in a moment of weakness...and she had been horribly hurt.

She was supposed to be happy and perfect, the way she had always been. His pillar of strength when her mother had died. A smile for her father whenever he had needed one. His kitten...now a freak..

He is not a good man. Not any longer, he has done questionable things, and knows that he will do more of them in the future.

He had lept into bed with the Crey when, playing on his fears and weakness they offered to fund his research for a cure for his kitten. Hidden agendas, other projects almost an army against an army...

She is sick they had told him, delusional. So he did things...things for them...things for her.

There is blood on his hands, and much of it is innocent. He still believes that what he does is vital—necessary—but no longer does he delude himself into thinking that it is moral or just.

If there is a hell, he expects to burn.

He did not, however, expect his own reaction to the other girl's disgust in his actions. He did not expect his heart to skip a beat when she asked him how he could not be proud of his daughter....to accept Kara.

As she is....for what she is...

His daughter.

Not a test subject. Not a freak.

His child.

When did that happen? He wonders.

When did she become nothing more to him than an experiment? Was it those reports that poured in from the Crey of out of control mutants? Was it his wife's concern over their social standing at the club and with their friends? Did the fear in his son's eyes cause him to be so deaf he forgot who she really was?

He closes his eyes and sees who she once was ...her smiles..her laughter... those late nights, after her mother had been taken from them, when it seemed like the only thing that would soothe her was if he held her in his arms?

He sees and hears her very first noises she made to him as he held her tiny form in hands so long long ago. He hears her first words. Sees her as he holds his arms out to her while she tottered on chubby toddler legs as she took her first steps to him...

How many times did he say “I love you, Kara” to her ....only to fail her when she most needed those arms.

He can almost still feel her hand in his as she told him what had almost happened to her. He can still feel her need for her daddy to comfort her, protect her … and he can still feel his own desperate desire to keep her safe.

He cringes as he remembers how he snapped his hand away from her...the freak that stood before him. His heart freezes as he remembers her pleas and tears as he turned his back on her...ordering her out of his house..

"My child is dead..."

He chokes as the awful words he spoke that day rise up in his memory. He still hears the sound of his den door closing quietly behind him as she left.

He had paid for her schooling...at PCU and that mutant school ...if only to keep her away...

It’s too late for him, he knows. He will never be clean again. Never be free of the shame. Someday, when his kitten learns how involved his was with her project, when she sees finally what he truly is, she won’t be his little girl any longer …

But he has never been prone to self-delusion and he won’t start now. A chance to free her and those close to her will come...
I failed her on so many levels. a failure that hurt her friends and those that she loves..

Those that she loves...

He will find away to keep them safe...to keep her safe...

He can not undo...he can not fix things or make them go away. He is trapped and he has learned one thing after all of this...

He loves her, and he knows he always will.

The lone figure stands in shadows beside the now sleeping figure of Dr. Reynolds, as he lay slumped across his desk in the semi darkness of his lab. The man beside the sleeping father had been standing silently behind the exhausted man and had remained quiet as he listened to his thoughts.

Since he had reported to the Project's facilities after dispatching their renegade problems, the man known only as the Specialist had used the delay of the current invasion. During this time he had spent it observing and questioning it's key members.

The Specialist had been observing this doctor for some time. Often his casual thoughts too were guarded, protective almost paranoid. The Specialist had caught the man's deepest and most protected thoughts only as exhaustion had overwhelmed him this evening.

Carefully the Specialist walked around to the other chair to retrieve a discarded lab coat and draped it across the sleeping man's shoulders with a gentle respect.

"You may sleep peacefully Doctor" he whispered. "There isn't a man amongst us who can say they've never had a crisis of faith or love"

With a look of admiration the man shook his head "Such loyalty through love is a strong bond...regrettably you and I will be at odds..." with that he reached out and patted the doctor's shoulder.

"Sleep now good doctor and dream of a daughter's love....while you still can"

Walking softly out of the lab, the Specialist paused only to turn off the lights to the lab. He would not report the good doctor, this was to have been expected. He could not fault the man.

He understood him.

October 19th, 2006 - Talos Island


Death.

I wait for it. Finally my time has come.

I have failed...

I have fought with my soul ablaze in this damned city unlike any who have fought before. Doing the duty to my men, my cause...

My hunt....

At first all I sought was the work the Malta set before us...and yet I failed. Her eyes...that damn smile..I gave in...I yielded to pride.

All about me stand the men I betrayed when I betrayed myself. I see them looking down at me as I lay there.

Almost as if asking for their absolution.

Peace finally found on the ground before them, Like it should have been in life, had I not turned from our purpose.I feel the light around me fading; the sun long chased from the sky by the magic of this bizarre invasion. This eclipse surrounds the docks where my men stand around me, its darkness taking with light, the warmth of my body. Though my sight is blurred and every fiber of my body cries out so desperately in pain, I manage to move my line of sight to the night sky, to the very heavens themselves. It’s beautiful, beyond words to me dying eyes. I remember seeing the skies of many places, in many different countries.

Yet none have looked as peaceful as the one that hangs above me.

So strange, this place, this sky is all so unfamiliar to me and yet I feel at home. Calm and serene as though I had lived all my long life in this place. Though part of me knows that in some sense it is. She took...no I gave to her a piece of myself and became blinded to our true work...in then end it was not her defeat of me.

I defeated myself...

I smile, somehow through the agony, happy in the fact that I will meet my fate here and find myself not lacking. My part here is complete for it is nothing but His will that has felled me. I lost my way and it was not the weapons of my enemy but the will of my Lord. I have tread the path laid down at my feet to its end and as I have done so in the end with my duty...

I do not fear what is to lie ahead for me. I have and will never fear my own demise.

Grey. The colors are lost to me now.

All about me is dull. No longer will my eyes see the beauty of my home, no longer will I look upon the wonder of the places I was charged to protect and defend. No longer will I gaze upon my brothers, my men, the people I have fought along side for as long as I can remember.

They are lost to me now, as I am to them. Gone forever, never to be returned.

It is cold now, bitterly so. To know despite failing I stood for my mistake... The warmth totally and irrevocably leached away with the blood that flows so freely and unbidden from my body. I shiver despite myself and I cannot fathom the reason why. My world, my universe is so changed. Narrowing to a thin line of vision. And in it I see nothing.

I strain my ears to try and pick up any sounds, but they are gone too. The world is empty to me now. In it is only myself. My mind begins to wonder. Am I truly alone here?

Have all fallen in this battle. Is this world lost to all as well as myself?

No. My unspoken questions are answered. A face swims into my sight. A face that I now and clearly recognize. A vision of mercy in my eyes, a vision in pure white. He speaks, though it sounds like from a great distance away, though I still understand his words.

"You fought bravely" his soothing tone reaches my ears from far away. "Though in error, you showed yourself to be a man and stood your ground"

His eyes hold great sympathy and understanding, such an odd face for my executioner.

"Do not despair, this is a good death" He adds as he squeezes my hand tightly in his . "It is fitting for you are a man who has done great works and thus deserve such a death"

I smile perhaps my failure is not yet complete.

‘Your wounds are too grave brother’ he speaks softly to me. ‘Do you desire a peaceful release?’

A click, quiet as a whisper, but as loud as thunder rolls around me.
I open my lips to speak, to ask. But my words are lost in my chest.

My Angel nods in complete understanding.

"The others? They are whole, brother" He smiles sadly "You saved them. They will be returned to duty as certain as your name is to be entered in some book of honor"

I nod. My strength all but spent. Content in the knowledge that my brothers still live. I have given my all for them and all the people I serve. My name will be remembered and through my brothers I shall not be forgotten.

I will live on through them even though my soul is released.

I close me eyes and feel no more as the roar erupts before me.


===========================================

Undisclosed Location - Brickstown

Blue replaced the phone's receiver back onto its cradle and settled back into his chair within the walls of the security center. With one finger he idly lifted his folded and worn cowboy hat up a bit and shook his head.

From the shadows behind him a voice spoke "What was that?"

Softly Blue marveled "This new operative the Malta are sending us..."

Athena stepped out of the shadows, and frowned "Yes go on..."

"He already got Alpha...." Blue's voice though as even toned as usual held a degree of surprise as he turned to face her.

"Already? but...this man hasn't...." she started.

"Yup...hasn't even checked in yet. Got Alpha after only being in the city five hours. Tracked him and his men down in the middle of all of that [censored] going on out there"

Athena stood silent as Blue continued softly.

"He got Alpha..."

"And?" Athena asked.

Blue turned to face the Sister of Artemis and said in a cool voice...

"All he said to me was..."Your Man Alpha has had a good death".." Blue cleared his throat and turned back to the bank of monitors before them

"And then he said he was coming to see us"

February 14th, 2009 - Talos Island


It was a memory that brought her here tonight, a memory that drove her away from her mission of pure retribution. Her current crusade to increase the pressure on those who walked within the very same world that the woman who had taken her student did. She lands in the clearing, her heels crunching the icy snow as she finds purchase. The wintry breeze blows through her hair as she stands in the moonlit clearing. The sounds of the far off city seemed muted by the deafening sound of the quiet night. Only the sound of the cold New England wind blowing through the treeline and the occasional far off wandering of a Devouring Earth minion stumbling in the woods danced back to her ears.

Tonight she carries a special memory with her.

She remembers the first time she kissed her. How soft her lips were, the quiet little ‘mmm’ she made when she pulled away tugging her bottom lip slightly, the look in her eyes as it ended, and that shy smile she gave her afterward. She knows it probably wasn’t, but she remembers how perfect it was then and how perfect it still seems now. It was not their first kiss, that had been the night before. A startling event, more of a surprise for Kara when it happened. No, the memory she has was of the time she was the one who had kissed her.

Upon reflection, the kiss kind of came out of the blue. She still not sure exactly why she did it. They had just been sitting in her dorm room together, not the most romantic of places, but for them it had become the norm. Kara had listened as she had been trying to explain about the kiss in Skyway, why she did it and how she had wanted to try to date her. Kara isn't exactly sure what exactly was being said to her, she does remember though, Rhu mentioned this funny little thing that had happened to her once and then she got the cutest smile on her face.

Kara smiled a little standing there was she looked up at the waterfall in the center of the clearing, the way the moon's light cascaded off of the water, turning it to almost a flowing crystal silver. Kara did remember she had been trying to decide at that moment if she could actually bring herself to try and date this other girl, she had been asking herself was this what she wanted, what were these new feelings she had whenever she was near her. How soon it had all happened and how right it had felt. She had no idea what to say nor how to respond. She was in a near panic herself, unsure even how to let someone get this close to her.

Until that smile.

It made her really want to kiss her, which was something new, but for some reason it didn’t seem strange, it just felt right. Kara smiled a soft little smile as she walked over to the rock wall at the edge of the waterfall's sparkling basin of churning water. Maybe it was something in her own eyes at that moment that made Rhu stop too and look at her weird, she was equally nervous that night, afraid that first kiss had damaged their friendship.

Kara sighed softly and closed her eyes as she stood there, the skin on her face kissed by the gentle chill of the spray of the falls. She must've lost friends before, Kara could see real fear in her eyes that night.

She just leaned in and I kissed her. Reflecting back Kara guessed Rhu had been surprised by it, she had been expecting a verbal answer. Kara smirked remembering being surprised she didn’t slap her or push her away or even tense up, fearing she was being teased by the girl who could not stand to be touched. Yet in a way it was almost like she expected it. She just kind of moved closer and then she kissed her back, much softer than Kara thought she would.

Kara remembered being much bolder than she normally was that night, especially after how soon it was after the horrible attack that had scarred her so. Left her unable to stand even the slightest touch without becoming ill, sick inside with fear and revulsion. Yet she felt none of that, not at all when their lips met that first night. It was that and not the fact that she had been kissed by another girl that had shocked her as they had hovered in the skies above Skyway that first time. Even now Kara had found that it seemed so natural for her to deepen the kiss, to flick her lips softly with her tongue. She remembered the sensation of her lips slowly parting against her own, the warmth inside her mouth, the feel of their tongues delicate dance together, and the faint sweet flavor from the cinnamon gum she must've had earlier.

Sometimes when a kiss gets to that point, you can feel the other person’s desire almost like a demand. There’s a kind of push or drive. It wasn’t like that with her though. The best way Kara could explain it was kissing for the sake of kissing alone. Maybe that’s what made it so wonderful, maybe not… She didn’t know. It was just surprisingly gentle, considering the passion there. She finally understand then what people meant when they talk about losing yourself in a kiss. It wasn’t like they had become the only two people in the world or anything like that. It was more like she just didn’t think about them… about anything at all really. She just felt and acted on those feelings.

She can still recall the slight chill of her cheek, when she touched it. She couldn’t even remember how long they actually kissed for, only that it was awhile. Then as she started to pull back, her bottom lip slipped slightly into her mouth and Kara had tugged it softly with her teeth and this soft purr of a moan came out. She remembered wanting to hear it again as soon as possible. When her eyes finally did open, they looked dazed. They just stared at each for awhile after, but it wasn’t awkward.

Kara mused warmly as she knelt on the flat rocky outcropping beside the churning pool, her knees sinking into the snow with a soft crunch. She remembered that it wasn’t until the kiss ended that she truly knew she had feelings for her, strong ones. Another thing that was new, but it never really concerned her, it just felt right somehow.

“K, you kissed me.” It wasn’t really a question, but it wasn’t a statement either. Kara's hand was still on her cheek. She remembered sliding her thumb across her lips before letting the hand hang drop to her own lap again.

She hears her own voice echo from the past “Yes I did.”

The girl had looked at her, more serious than before. “Why?” Her eyes had met Kara's searching for more of an answer than the question that had been asked.

Kara didn’t have an answer for that, except “I wanted to.”

She looked at her kind of skeptical her tone soft still yet nervously insistent. “Why?”

“I don’t know exactly.” All Kara could remember was that she was still wrapped up in the kiss and it hadn't even occurred to her to be anything other than completely honest, even at the risk of embarrassment “But I do know that was the best kiss of my entire life.” This had gotten a very shy little smile, that Kara had never seen before on her. It was beautiful… she was beautiful. She still can remember, as She studied her face, feeling so silly for never having noticed before.

“What?”

“You’re beautiful.” Kara remembered feeling that she should know it and could recall how surprised she looked and the slight blush that came when she had said that. The same blush that came every time she had said it after.

“K… I” There was something she wanted to ask Kara. “Did it…” A slightly agitated sigh escaped her lips, and Kara just waited quietly for her to continue. “Did it mean anything?” The shiver that ran through her then, shuddered through her even now as she knelt before the waterfall.

She remember that the whispered question had thrown her for a loop, because she thought that was obvious. Yet she knew she was being as confusing as she had confused the other girl. The one who was waiting to know what their kiss had truly meant. Was there a future? "Does this mean you want to try and..."

“It meant a lot Rhu… it meant everything.” Kara spoke the words as she gazed up to the falling water and the stars above them. She wasn't sure exactly where that came from, but it was true nonetheless. For the first time that night she had felt comfortable and deeply nervous, suddenly plagued by doubt. “Did it…”

“More than I could tell you Kara.” A soft tear fell across Kara's cheek as she remembered her words, she had never heard words spoken more honestly and after all they both had been through until this moment, Kara had never felt quite so happy. She knew now they weren’t actually talking about the kiss anymore, just the implications of it.

Kara closed her eyes again as she could see in her mind's eye, the pair of them sitting silently, the level of emotion between them was intense.

She remembered that it was kind of a release when she broke out with her familiar mischievous smirk. Kara had to smile, wondering what she was up to until she felt herself grabbed around her waist and pulled close. “Wanna do it again?”

“Oh Def!” They had laughed into the following kiss.

Kara stood and reflected quietly, maybe they didn’t say exactly the right things, or handle it as smoothly as they could have. She didn’t know, but she didn't care either. For her it had been meaningful and perfect. Just like now, as she stood there before a very special place, she could still feel lying in her bed with her head on her shoulder. The way her hair felt around her fingers, the feel of her gentle breath on her neck. She can still see the almost angelic look of peace on her face while she slept, and the slight pressure on her side when she exhaled. Those were the memories she still had, just those feelings.

Softly she reaches down and laid two perfect clipped long stemmed roses across the rock on the water's edge. Tonight she doesn't think about lost time or the pain of what followed. Mistakes made, conversations not held. The time apart and the silence that eventually followed.

Just that one moment and a memory of a perfect night that had eventually led to another Valentine's day that seemed to be from a different life.

She glanced back to the falling water and whispered "Happy Valentine's day My Rose"

She sighs softly and adds "Wherever you may be"

A sharp hiss from her comm, breaks through the moment and drags her back from the past.

"All Units, All Units, Malta Forces at East-side docks Peregrine, Freedom Corps Units Respond, SWAT Respond.....Repeat.."

Kara keyed her comm as her fields snapped to life, illuminating the clearing around her, bathing it in a soft blue light. "This is Diamond responding to the East Docks, Hero support en route!"

She lifted up and sailed off into the velvet dark of the night, leaving the clearing empty save for the soft rush of the falls and the caress of the night's wind.

Name: THE TEMPLARS OF THE ABBEY

Currently Recruiting: We are accepting new members who enjoy some good RP and SL that are run in game and on our boards.

RP Level: RP-intensive

PvP Level: Casual, up to the indivual

Theme/Concept: The Templars are the remenants of the Students and Facualty who remained in Paragon to fight the good fight after the Closure of the NEW PORTER INSTITUTE. Banded together through the years by common goals and mutual friendship and loyalty to each other these heroes banded together to form their own Supergroup.

Centered around a popular King's Row Nightspot, a Metahumans only Posh Private club called the Abbey, owned and operated by the former NPI Headmaster Galen Mentalis, The group called dubbed themselves 'The Templars' . Both Protectors of the city and the club they now rallied around as a meeting place!

Where once N.P.I. stood to gain equal ground and secure a future for just Mutants, the Templars now seek to maintain that same goal for all Metahumans everywhere , while maintining law and order protecting the City and society that has become their home!

Activity: We are a small but dedicated group of rpers who have been around since Beta and have several on going RP sl's in progress at any given time. We are not activity intensive but have been known to run SG and Coalition TF's and are always around if a fellow Templar needs a hand. Mostly independant we always manage to find time to rp and help out when truly needed. We have a mix of timezones running from early evening EST to the wee hours of the morning when outr 'night owls' members arrive

Requirements for Membership: Must read and agree to adhere to our charter, which is mostly good common sense concerning the respect of others play and that of your own! and fill out a appication with a solid background

Leadership: A roundtable of Officers dating back to beta and after

In-Game Contact(s): @Lucianna and

@Diamond - TEMPLARS OF THE ABBEY WEBPAGE!

A Nice slice of pure awesome!

October 13th, 2006 - Undisclosed Location, Italy

The warm breeze wafted across the blue Mediterranean as the music reached out to caress his soul. The crystal melody of Andre Rieu's performance of Schubert's Ava Marie danced across his senses and tempted his soul with beauty. Beauty that he could see and appreciate but yet in his heart he felt removed from.

Forever to admire yet never to partake. He closed his eyes and simply enjoyed the moment as he stood amongst the lovely green of the gardens that surrounded him. The leaves and the brightly colored flowers danced. He sighed, his mind soon found itself tugged and pulled in two different directions. One longing for this moment of peace the other knowing it could not last. He knew of the situation that would soon require his presence, he had heard of the failures and knew it was a matter of time.

A matter of time struggling eternally with a longing for true peace. He felt his sigh deeply within his soul as the lovely chords of Rieu's violins blended in harmony with the wind around him. His mind's eye began to slip past the years to another time, another day, much like this one, another time so long ago atop this roof. The image came so clearly, as the words of Nietzsche arose to herald its arrival...

"One must have a good memory to be able to keep the promises one makes."

...He was a little boy once more; his Grandfather had taken him up to the roof of their house almost to this very spot. This wasn't unusual as Grandfather and he often spoke and often he found himself strange places while they did. They took walks in the park, journeyed to the sea's shore. He'd always looked forward to the journeys and their conversations because the older man never treated him like he was stupid and never as a child then.

Grandfather spoke to him never down to him. With patience and with wisdom he taught the boy to think while the boy soaked it all in, thriving under the older man's tutelage.

Up on the rooftop, gray clouds scuddled along the northern sky and the wind carried its moisture as well as the scent of apple blossoms back. The city normally glowed. Now in the aftermath of a summer storm, it more than glowed. It was radiant.

“This is our home. Everything you see before you is everything that generations of our family have died to create and protect. People will tell you that our traditions, our beliefs, are chains. Maybe when you get older, you may begin to think that as well...”

He'd opened his mouth to protest. No, Grandpa. I'd never make that mistake. But, just in time he caught himself. Grandfather was talking. It was for him to listen. But he still couldn't help himself from shaking his head in the negative.

Just a fraction.

Grandfather frowned at him. “Maybe,” he repeated, “when you get older you may think that as well. But I want you to consider our gardens. Look.”

A hand gently touched the boy's shoulder and directed him to the north end of the building's roof. The perfect lines of roses, orchids, lilies and trees stretched before them. Color. Life.

“They are beautiful, aren't they?”

“Yes, Grandfather,” he said as soberly as his piping little voice could.

The hand at his shoulder shifted him again, “Now. Look at those gardens. The ones your brother was given charge of. Tell me of those.”

The boy knew better than to speak without thinking his answer through. He studied the patch of earth and growth that his mother had given Daniel as a gift. Daniel had been polite enough but it was clear that a garden was not what he'd been hoping for as his sixteenth birthday gift. The boy didn't think that the small garden had been touched since that day, four years ago. Strangely enough, none of the servants had touched it either. It had just been left. Waiting for Daniel's hand or for no one's.

“It is all weeds.” the boy said slowly. “There's still color but its bleeding out of the rows and the weeds are grown up in it. It’s not solid and it’s...sloppy. Parts of it are dead.”

“Very good. Why do you think it is that way, then?”

“Because... Danny hasn't taken care of it?”

The silence from grandfather was an indication that more was required.

“Because... weeds grow faster than flowers. And... Flowers only grow where they are tended. Weeds... grow anywhere if not controlled? They grow where they aren't supposed to be. And... Things that aren't cared for. They die?”

For a moment, he was afraid. His Grandfather's eyes were so distant. What had he said wrong? It was never a good sign when Grandfather was silent for so long.

“The world is not a perfect place, child. Not in its natural state. Weeds will always kill the flowers if allowed their way. Men, without law, will despoil the beauty around them. Look well." The older man gestured to the dying garden.

"See what happens to a garden without a strong hand to guide it and show the flowers where to grow." his voice to on a wispy wistful tone. "To prune when needed. To pull the weeds that threaten to choke out all color and life. Even more, to unify the efforts of color. Of life. To a common purpose and goal.”

The boy shivered. He could see it. He could see how something beautiful was no more because nothing had brought it together. A flash of inspiration brought the analogy.

“Grandfather?” It was a request to be allowed to speak. The old man nodded.

“Might it be said that it is like a chorus of singers with no one setting the tune. The noise would be horrible.”

Grandfather smiled and the boy straightened in pride at the tacit approval.

“It is the same. Now see that. See those images in the city in front of you. Look to what we've done here. I want you to see these gardens and believe, always in what order can accomplish.”

The boy turned his dark eyes to the glittering buildings before him. To the people just starting to go about their lives after the cleansing rush of the rain.

“I see it Grandfather,” he said gravely.

“And?”

“... and I believe.”

The perfect harmony of wind and music came to an abrupt end as the mere sound of a soft scuffing of a boot across roof tile. The Man quirked a brow the noise had been for him as loud as the falling of might crystal chandelier.

"Excuse me sir?" a sharp, even toned voice said from behind.

"Yes?" the man said allowing a part of him to slip back to reality from his momentary reverie.

"You have a call" The voice belonged to his only servant, the man who was to care for his memories in his absence. "It is direct from Malta"

"Direct from Malta" the Man's warm yet even tone repeated as his eyes reluctantly opened. "They have need of me once again, in point of fact Jerome"

"Yes sir, I would imagine so" Jerome replied and turned to head back down the stairs into the building.

The man allowed himself only a moment more of peace, his thoughts already turning to the long expected call. His mind began to prepare him for a trip to Paragon. Such a call could only be for one reason. They could not control a situation. They could deal with the renegades and maybe their target...

But not both...

So they required him to do what he has always done before. Restore order from chaos; weed the garden to allow the flowers to grow. He did not relish this trip however, if it was what he expected.

He drew a breath and allowed his gaze once more to cover the beautifully maintain rows of flowers and plants. Their colors, their scents, their natural beauty...

He sighed and then smiled.

“... and I believe.”

February 1st, 2009 - New Overbrook

A nightmare...

It had been only a nightmare, She shivered in the chill of the cold winter night as her eyes opened. It had been different than the others she had once had, though. It had been colder, sharper, metal, leather, hot, cold... each distinct and painfully accurate.

The sudden, shocking pain. More realistic in her mind than it had ever been in reality. When it happened, she had able to detach herself.
Block it out.

Now, her in the darkness of the living room she couldn't escape it. The wind howled in protest against the big bay window as outside the snow fell.

Kara murred gently as she tried to move, but couldn't. Not without waking the small form curled up beside of her on the couch. The wind howled in protest against the big bay window as outside the snow fell.

She had once woken her daughter with one of her nightmare and despite the young girl soothing her, and trying to calm her, Kara knew it had scared her a little. She had always tried so hard not bring home her private horrors and fears with her. She had always in the past been able to vent out later, on another patrol, for there had always been another patrol.

However these last few weeks, she had been unable to do so. She had taken a leave of absence, no more hero work, no more patrols.

Her emerald eyes fell across the peaceful almost angelic features of the sleeping child, she resolved that she would not awaken her this time. Recently she'd learned to internalize her reaction to dreams like this. Only her eyes would betray what had awoken her so suddenly. She felt grateful this time that little Phil hadn't stirred. It was her eyes that had always betrayed her to Phil.

She stirred slightly, turning away from her mother, allowing Kara her chance to slip off of the big couch. She took the opportunity, tip-toeing to the bathroom. She felt hot and sick to her stomach, as if she had just been through the nightmare for real. She shuddered as she splashed a handful of water across her face, taking slow, deep breaths. The sick, panicky feeling she had was slowly replaced with exhaustion once more. With a soft shudder she turned off the water and looked at herself in the large mirror.

Her eyes showed only a tired resignation.

They showed something else, too. She was sharper, leaner than he had been the previous years. She had more scars. None physically, her powers would never allow such a mark on her, yet they did little to hide any emotional ones. She was older, too, if not wiser. She smirked as she observed that her age too may not show in her face, but it was definitely present in her eyes. She felt ancient now.

It had all been worth it, though somehow. She had made a difference hadn't she?

She stared at her reflection as if to ask, seeking out an answer or even a hint of one. She had chosen to resign after poor V had been killed, after all of those people had died. She was sure many thought this was merely a vacation, or that she had just left because of blaming herself for ....well for whatever she was to be blamed for with the incident with poor V.

She shook her head and splashed a bit more water onto her skin. She knew why she had done this, and it had become too long to explain to anyone.

She had tried once to Donnie and to V but really didn't do a very good job at it. She sighed to be fair she had even given a full answer, she had no idea how to put it into words. However she couldn't help but wonder if she was doing this to find her peace, or was she in fact just hiding.

Hiding from foundations as Mae had called them.

Softly she turned away from her reflections knowing gaze and switched off the bathroom light heading back to the couch. She settled next to her daughter and paused allowing herself to watch the girl sleep. She found herself doing this often. Watching her breath in, and then out. Occasionally her eyes flickered behind their lids as she dreamt.

Kara wondered idly about what world her daughter had dreamed up for herself this time to play in as she slept.

Kara stifled a soft yawn as it broke the moment. Climbing under the afghan that Phil had pulled around them, she snuggled back to where she had been, taking care not to disturb her child.

She was warmly amused when the small form snuggled into her. "Another nightmare Mom?" she asked softly, her chin resting on Kara's hand. Kara smirked gently , the little sneak been awake for some time.

"No," She reassured, "Just reflecting."

Phil sighed sleeppily "Yeah..right" she curled up tighter and hugged her mother's arm.

Kara lay down beside her daughter and slipped her arm over her "Shhhh, I'm fine sweetie"

In time the pair feel back into sleep as the storm carried on just outside of the house, blanketing the city in a blanket of soft white.

September 25th, 2006 - King's Row



Undisclosed Airstrip
15 miles South-West of Paragon City
0037hrs Local
(Mission: Black Light + 0 days)

It took all but 30 minutes to reassemble and prep the three MH-6 ‘Little Bird’ helicopters and within 4 minutes they were airborne screaming like angry locusts into the dark Rhode Island sky. The three black machines banked swiftly and headed off for their target in Paragon. The three were flying blacked out except for the green tritium laced instrument panel, glowed with the aid of night vision goggles. Chief Flight Officer "Baker-1" piloted the lead helicopter Rook 3-7, followed by Rooks 3-5 and 3-6 carrying the brunt of the Malta assault force, Knight -3 and 4 on their external benches.

Gulf Foxtrot Adder- the team leader of Knight 3 and mission commander, fidgeted with his assault vest in an ill-fated attempt to ease the pain of the pinched flesh caught between its straps. Seated on the forward outboard spot on Rook 3-5 the Gunslinger mentally rehearsed the mission ahead of him, contemplated contingencies as well as the planned escape and evasion options hatched by Blue's planning and operation staff.

From this position he was exposed to the elements and could feel the cold air scrape across the uncovered portions of his face and creep through the neck line of his modified obsidian black coveralls, similar to the ones used by pilots, and cool the heat accumulating from underneath all of his gear. Looking to the south he could see the distant lights of the city. Paragon City, Rhode Island, the city of heroes, Christ he thought. It's bad enough his team had been training to recover one of the city's most well known heroines but one mistake down there brings a world of super powered hurt down upon his team.

He frowned as the machines banked once more and centered on the region of the city known as "King's Row", they would only have minutes before the local air traffic controllers would realize they had broached the war walls. Though for two years most of his men had been involved with or had participated in the hunt for the Hero known as Diamond, tonight regrettably their target was much different. Much different yet no less deadly nor elusive as the Heroine herself had proven to be.
Tonight each member of his team knew that their objective tonight was quite capable of wiping them out as well.

For the duration of the trip Adder had tuned the world out of his head; drifting off into that zone of semi-consciousness controlled by instinct and intuition. Lost in his surroundings, a burst of static followed by the flight leaders voice rushed through the FM frequency and into the left padded ear-cup of Adder’s headset, “Command be advised, we're 11 minutes from the target and the objective is still well illuminated if, we push on we’ll be compromised,” informed the flight leader. Adder methodically replied, “Roger that Chief, have some faith. Press on.”

And with no notice or clamor the ground ahead of them went black, as though consumed by a massive black hole as the lights of the warehouse block went dark. “Oh [censored], I think somebody kinda [censored] up down there,” yapped Tac-Operative Peters over the team’s communication network- Team Net. Instead of the preplanned one blacked out city block, covert assets managed to disable garment district’s electrical grid. The incident was so unexpected that it dissolved most of the pre-mission anxiety,
“You know I’m gonna wanna hear that story when we get back,” replied Adder over team-net.

“No kidding,” mocked Peters over his microphone’s boom.

The flight to their target had been gauged at 40 minutes and the aerial convoy had been flying for 36 of them. After receiving the 2-minute warning from the lead pilot and confirming with his own GPS unit, Adder adjusted his MICH helmet- tactical replacement to the bulkier combat helmet, flipped down and engaged his night vision monocle as the rest of the assault force made last minute equipment checks. The Chief Flight Officer, carrying a sniper/Sapper, broke away from the formation and slipped into an over-watch position which circled the target building as Rooks 3-5 and 3-6 continued the one-minute flight to the target building’s roof. Adder checked the FM frequency his MBITR was set to and applied pressure to his radios press-to-talk button,

“Knight-3-Lead to all Knight Elements, stand-by for insertion,” the Gunslinger ordered.

The sleek and agile MH-6 decelerated and hovered at 2 feet over the target building’s roof for a few seconds, giving the operators of Knight-3 enough time to unhook their safety-lines and slip off of the helicopters benches. Adder’s team fanned out taking up security on the rooftop’s four corners as Rook 3-6 came in fast, flared and deposited Knight-4 who then proceeded to the roof’s access door.

The Chief Flight Officer then transmitted a brief message back to the team’s Malta tactical operations center located deep within the Crey Lab, “Rook-Lead to Queen-6, Guard Dog. I say again Guard Dog,” confirming the successful deployment of the assault force.

Knight-4’s team leader quietly articulated through the Team Net, “In position, demo up.” Upon hearing this, Knight 3 collapsed its perimeter from the four corners and moved towards the access door behind Knight-4, Tac-Op Peters from team-3 prepared a full-frame breaching charge- three shaped C4 charges were placed vertically to destroy the door hinges while a fourth was placed to cover the locking mechanism. While Peters placed the demolitions, Ops Officer Smyth- Knight-3’s communication specialist, removed the two-foot long satellite antennae from its black carry-bag and unfurled its brackets back. Smyth placed the antennae on top of the access door and pointed it in the appropriate azimuth of the nearest orbiting satellite constellation. He would then trail a fiber optic cable behind the assault force and connect it into a wireless signal repeater which would be received by the multi-band satellite radio he carried.

The bare MH-6’s took up a flight plan that would circle them around the target at a distance of 5 minutes. Constantly observing the city skyline for police and Hero air assets. The Knight elements stacked up in anticipation of a dynamic entry; Knight-4 was located to the right of the door while Knight-3 was on its left side. The demolitions sergeant was positioned at the head of his team and would use a lightweight battering ram to push back the metal door after the explosive charge went off on the order to breach, so that Knight-4 could smoothly lead them through the door and down the flight of stairs to their objective.

“Knight-3-Lead to all Knight Elements, I have control- stand by,” commanded Adder as he gripped the electrical firing device linked to the breaching charges. “Five…Four…Three…Two…Breach…Go! Go! Go!”
On the Go command Tac-Op Peters stepped forward and swung the ram forward with all of his strength to push the disabled door out of the way.

Gunslinger Silent Tango Viper and his assault team, Knight-4, led the offensive into the building and first through the door was the gunslinger that immediately came into contact with two Malta tactical operatives, who still had their hands protecting their bloodied ears. The engagement was brief as Viper dispatched the first guard with two rounds to the chest and as the second guard turned to run, Viper’s second two round burst entered under the guard’s armpit and exited through his abdomen, he quickly crumpled to the ground.

The four-story warehouse had once upon a time been a local carpet and garment storehouse, but now it housed a full strike team of Malta commandos. Renegades who had been acquired and trained by Adder's own one time commander, The Gunslinger know commonly know as Alpha. His failure to capture Diamond for the Crey and dismissal from the Crey's Project had led to some kind of breakdown. A breakdown that now not only jeopardized the Crey's Project but all Malta operations in the city.
Most of the agents working with him had no clue they were renegades.

His tactics had been mostly low tech after the heroine had somehow shut down and compromised the Crey computer network under his watch. The Malta were clear on their ordered objectives as were the Crey. Alpha seeks to kill the target of the Crey Project; his actions are bringing unwanted attention to other Malta and Crey operations. The renegades were to be eliminated....with extreme prejudice. Tonight was merely the first of many cells Alpha had operating in the city scattered and with little in the way of tracking them.

Team 4’s first shooting pair, split off on the 4th floor as their teams Engineers set up their auto turrets to secure all access the floor. They entered and secured the minute office space as a second pair of Tac operatives, moved down to the second floor thus isolating the primary assault team, Knight-3, who was responsible for conducting the 'kill' on the third floor. The guards were taking by surprise by their fellow Malta intruders as they tried to make sense of the commotion on the roof, unfortunately for them by the time they realized what was going on, Knight-3 began their assault of the target floor.

With clipped precision the elements of Knight-3 moved through the makeshift renegade barracks on the main target floor like vengeful silent wraiths. The soft coughing popping of their weapons muffled by the suppressors only added to the ballet of death as in turn each of the renegades caught unprepared arced through the air twisting in final throes of life. Two by two the invaders moved through the room in step and with lethal accuracy they pulled the triggers of their weapons at anything not of their team. Within moments they had swept across the massive room and turned beginning a sweep back, adding the necessary round or two were necessary to the fallen bodies of their one time comrades.

Adder chirped into his radios’ boom, “This is Knight-3, floor secured. Knight-4 gimme a sitrep,” requesting the two shooting pairs to report their current situation. Knight-4’s team leader was the first to respond with his situation report,

“This is 4-Lead, my location is secure, encountered light contact on my level, but something’s not feeling right,” followed by Operations Officer Aston, team 4’s assisting team leader (ATL) down on the second floor,

“4-2 here, my location is secure, I think they’ve figured out what’s going on and might attempt to counter-attack but I think we’re cool for now.”

Satisfied with the team’s status he ended the transmission, “Roger that, hold status Knight-4.”

While the Gunslinger assumed his command responsibilities, the other members of Knight-3 assumed their own mission responsibilities; Peters and the teams medic once more ensured that the dead were not faking their deaths by checking their pulse’s and then collected any weapons they possessed and dumped them at the other side of the room. Tac Op Smyth roughly scuffled through any paper work he encountered looking for any viable intelligence on Alpha's operations. However his slightly erratic behavior caught the senior Malta’s eye prompting him to approach the 24 year-old communication specialist,

“You okay kid,” asked Adder placing his right hand on the younger Malta’s shoulder.

“Locked and cocked Boss,” he responded shrugging off the instant flashback of his first face to face kill of a fellow Malta Operative.

The team leader nodded understanding the new members’ plight, and then squeezed and shook Smyth’s shoulder, “We’ll deal with it later. Get your game face on, we’re still in the [censored],” Adder firmly assured.

“Boss we got a situation over here!” Without hesitation Adder turned 90 degrees to face one of his operators crouched over by a dirty and broken window "CFO reports police and MH units inbound. Rooftop cannons struck two wandering MH's and scragged em, but mediport got em before we could" the young engineer reported.

"[censored] ...guess our secret is out" Adder sighed, thinking to himself, well no OP is without its problems.He looked up as Peters approached with a renegade in tow. "He surrendered sir..." Peters went on "Found him shutting' hisself in the backroom...he tossed up his hands instantly"

Adder winced at the mistake but perhaps this could salvaged, if the renegade knew anything useful he would be spared, if not it wouldn’t matter whether the man was shot here or in the hanger back at the lab.
"Be smart “he hissed at their prisoner "Say not a [censored] word til you get back with us...clear" he grinned thinly as the former Malta operative nodded

“It’s getting pretty hot down here 3-Lead, third MHI in as many minutes” announced Aston over the Team Net from his position on the second floor. “Roger that. We’re nearly done, just keep it cool. If you need another body let me know,” replied Adder. Viper then joined Adder on the third floor, “What’s up skip?”

In silence he pointed to the prisoner in response, “Yea, he’s ready to go upstairs.” Nodding in acknowledgment he glimpsed over to the new souvenir, “Who the [censored] is that?”

Adder grimaced “Apparently he’s a European Operative, Alpha used the boys from the Italian Operation he was heading too, they didn’t seem to think they were renegades...he might be able to help us finish off the rest of Alpha's operation.”

“Well we shall see,” answered Viper as the sounds from below indicated the arrival of more minor league MHI's. Adder, the leader of team-3 turned to Smyth and Peters and frustratingly looked at his timepiece; they were three minutes behind schedule “What the [censored] is taking so long?”

“Nada, he’s ready to go, flex-cuffed and blindfolded like you like ‘em Boss,” witted Peters.

“Ok [censored], move him up to the 4th floor, Smyth give Rook the go ahead.”

Smith unhooked the handset from his vest, checked the VHF frequency located on the remote display hooked to his left shoulder strap and applied pressure to the handset’s press to talk button with his thumb, “Rook elements, extract is a go, I repeat green light for extract, over,” after receiving confirmation Smith outstretched a thumbs up to his team leader and replaced the handset.

Adder ran his eyes over the dead and stripped former Malta operatives that lay around the warehouse floor where they had fallen. In silence he vowed that not only would Alpha pay for this...but so would Doc Reynolds little princess.

"We will get her boys and laugh as the Crey doc's tear her insides out for this"

With a snarl he turned and bolted to rejoin his team. Within moments they were clear of the building and flying with great stealth out of the city. Each of the operatives had undertaken a painful operation...Payback was coming. Each of them would see to it...

September 19th, 2006 - Undisclosed Location , Brickstown


The silence surrounding him was almost deafening as he sat before his computer. The light from the monitor the room's only illumination. He dared not risk a light. The lights had been dimmed all over the base at this ungodly hour to ensure those whole worked within the lab would share the same hours of night and day as those who lived high above in the city.

One should move in total darkness when one is using one's computer to betray those he works for, Dr. Reynolds reminded himself as his program began its probing search of the Crey's main database. His eyes scanned endless files, networks and any conceivable location he could find for any information about his new found ally. The one his daughter had once chosen to give her heart too.

Dr. Reynolds sighed. He could not understand so much of what Kara had become since she 'mutated'. He had believed it to be a sickness, her mind altered by the rush...the onset of powers. He had even rationalized her relationship with the other girl as a part of her confusion. He had even been happy when he had received word they were no longer together. Yet in time, even he could see the deep sadness that had gripped Kara since their separation. His thoughts wandered over to this other girl....who still wished to aid him and his daughter..what a fool I have become, he thought as the other girl's words still hung heavy with him. She had shamed him that night in Founder's..

"...why can't you be proud of her?"

He closed his eyes and lifted his wire glasses to rub the bridge of his nose as a piercing pain coursed through his skull. So much had escaped his attention...the loyalty his daughter seemed to command without so much as asking, her popularity as a heroine of the city. Good lord, she has even been to the White House. The city and its heroes seemed to respect her and stood by her each time...

How can she be sick?

Then of course there had been that message on his pizza, it obviously could not have come from Melissa...could it have? What would she think of him...He sighed again as the computer chirped before him. He frowned and opened his eyes. Before him on the screen were a series of files all of them arrayed in order under the Mayhann girl's name. Each one dated going back almost two years, yet each one updated as early as last week.

His heart froze one of the files was titled "Reynolds/Dengo"

He winced seeing /that/ name, the name that indicated his daughter had forsaken his name for the name of her Japanese friend. The other one the Crey had hurt so badly. Her new family...Do they honor and love you kitten, he thought, better than your fool of a father? His failures were becoming more and more apparent with the passing of each night...

He had to help...but how? And what had Kara to do with this girl's project? He turned to his laptop and went over his ciphers and code breaking software and sighed. None of what he possessed could crack the codes of these black files, not without alerting his presence to Crey Security...

God Kitten...what is this...

His fingers trembled as he began to copy down what he saw and remembered how to find this section again. If he could not get through it, perhaps he could find someone...or something he amended remembering that his daughter had somehow found an ally who shut down the project's computer networks last winter.

He shook slightly and drew a tight breath, the Crey had even classified the Project's name but clearly it was active. And tied to his own work...

"What have I done?"

==========================

"......two more of that jack [censored]'s teams...are off the grid" Blue shook his head as he circled the polished wood conference table. Across it and on the monitors of the plush carpeted conference room showed photos and images of the two failed ambushes in Founders Falls. They showed PCPD officers, EMT's and of course Diamond and IV. Seated around the table, The Crey Project Advisor and her security chief. Blue turned a cool gaze to the well dressed yet nameless suit who had decided to join them this evening, When Blue demanded this new meeting...

"His insane attacks are becomin' very expensive failures for us" The Project Advisor droned.

"Once more in my men's lives Advisor" Snapped Blue. "Most of those operatives do NOT know they are renegades!" he leaned across the table looking directly at her "her allies amongst the Templars... and when we last met here you yourself told me directly she had no ties to the creatures of that /thing/ out there in the Hive...

"She doesn’t have any connection to them" The security chief interrupted "nor has she any connection to any one who might..."

"[censored]!" Thena interrupted as the representative from the Knives unit entered and threw a manila folder at the desk. Several photos slipped out of it as it skidded to a halt across its polished face. The photos clearly showed their target and a red and black armored blond.

"Then you bastards tell us why this girl....the one pictured with the target has no solid identity before her arrival at NPI. The holes in her background for the months prior to her admittance to NPI are so big you can [censored] drive a tractor trailer through them..." she smirked at Blue as she took her seat at the table.

Blue smiled his good ole boy smile and said warmly yet with a hint of danger looking right at the new suit "Our people have found 'footprints' of this girl's records in your databases guys..." he thinned his smile "like the data has been shifted and hidden but not erased....so much for a canceled project..." he shook his head "So are we gonna finally cut through the horseshit and get down to business now?"

The Crey Project Advisor turned a frightened eye to the dark suit who canted his head slightly "Yes ..... and No my dear Gunslinger"

Blue narrowed his eyes "Hard to dance pal if I don't hear the fiddle or know what song is a playin’'"

The man briefly glanced at the photos then back to Blue. "Very well I can tell you what you /will/ need...I will give you your priorities. Fair enough?...you need not know the song list just yet...just the name of the next song to dance as you are paid to?"

Blue paused before slowly nodding "Fair 'nuff"

"The Reynolds Girl is still a very high priority, how ever she is to be taken -alive-" he said coolly "Is this clear"

"Wha...” Began Thena who was cut short by Blue waving a cautionary hand towards her

"Go on...” Blue said his blue eyes as cold as icicles

"Your renegade problem is to be eliminated immediately...not just for your Malta's reasons but to safeguard the integrity of this project and the two...yes two Projects this is involved with...you see my dear Blue..." he paused as he stood indicating he was about to end his presence in their hastily called meeting.

"Operation Karma is a sub project of this one for Doctor Reynolds..."

Blue nodded, Thena fumed and the Crey Project advisor lowered her head as if terrified of interrupting this man

"Doctor Reynolds' work you see is invaluable to us because the Reynolds girl is a godsend...the Project Revenant story is just a cover my dear gunslinger" He buttoned his perfect suit jacket and straightened his sleeves, each move one of confident perfection. "Why this girl is the missing element to the only Project at this time that matters. It is the very reason we have been after her for the last two years now."

Blue frowned "and that project is?"

The Man finally looked up into Blue's eyes "Classified....of course" He added with a quiet but strong authority "Eliminate your renegades.../quickly/”

Blue nodded "We've already begun ...Tilly...” he stopped as the man leaned forward across the table towards Blue to add...

"Capture the girl, bring her to us alive, and deal with any and all assets with extreme prejudice who assist the target should she resist capture." He waved a hand lazily "I care not how you get it done just do it ...one more thing" he voice turned ice cold for emphasize " This one..." he tapped the photos over the blond girl's features "is not to be killed....defend yourself. Pain is never a problem. Do what it takes to discourage her from assisting your target...but never finish this one off...am I clear?"

"Check....no matter what these two alive..." Blue said coolly. If anything he was a professional "So bring her in as well”

The suited man stood and shook his head "Of course not...we want her left out in the field...for now" he smirked thinly at Blue "Are your instructions clear?"

"As mud...” Blue intoned dryly "But they will be obeyed. But I have to warn you...Malta is getting impatient with the losses in manpower and material"

"They will as always be compensated...this is a very important project..."

With that the man in the suit turned and left the room, vanishing into the shadows of the hallway.

Terrific, Blue thought as he met Thena's gaze. The two trained killers nodded and stood to walkout.

The Project Leader stood leaning forward to collect the photos and restore them to the folder "You will keep me informed then?"

Blue paused at the door and glanced over his shoulder "Yes Ma'am...at least we now know where we all stand" he added indicating he realized her position now as the head of a sub project.

He left her to seethe as he too stepped out into the shadows...

I'm opening this thread for those who wish to post about stories and thoughts about their characters in Paragon during the Holiday season!...it is open to all. Have fun and share some spirit


December 18,2008 - Steel Canyon


"Merry Christmas Bill!" Kara smiled as he opened the door to his apartment.

"We've had this conversation before Kar." He smirked "You're Jewish," His tone informed her as if she were a particularly stupid child, but he still stepped aside to allow her in.

She groaned at his old joke as she stepped in from the hall. "You so know I am not!"

"So...What's in the bags?"

Kara quirked an eyebrow in challenge. "You tell me."

"Food?" Bill would have denied it but it was obvious, to Kara at least, that he'd perked up at the possibility. She knew he always got grouchy and became an organized mess whenever Patti was away on assignment.

"With the way you stock your kitchen, when Patti is away? That's SO a given," Kara giggled as she started unpacking various pans and sticking them in the oven.

"There's more? I'm intrigued," He crossed his arms and decided to continue their usual game of jab, taunt and dodge when he was in this mood.

"Are those cookies? And eggnog? Have you been converted recently? Or have you always harbored a secret love of Christmas in your little, Jewish heart?" Despite his jibe, Bill's hand had to be "discouraged" from swiping a sugared Christmas tree. He winced at the slap. "Hey!"

Kara scoffed. "These are for you, but after your dinner. I'm like fulfilling all the clichés aren't I? Sorry, I like couldn't find mistletoe on such short notice."

Bill smirked. He might deny it but he was loving this.

"That's okay, Kar. You can smooch me after I get smashed on eggnog."

"It's non-alcoholic." Kara smirked and quipped "and besides Patti would kill me"

"Won't be after I add in some vodka." Bill nodded

"And like miss the turkey?"

"You made turkey?"

"Well...Chicken. Same thing. Almost." Kara moved to the living room and popped in a CD. Jazzy Christmas music filled the apartment.

"You are becoming very domesticated, aren't you?" Bill sighed and frowned as his favorite type of holiday music began playing. "Definitely need that vodka if I'm going to get through this."

Kara giggled "With this attitude you will so be visited by three ghosts in a few more nights"

Bill chuckled finally but kept his scowl "Good I still need that silly badge anyways" He eyed her ""You realize that I got you nothing for Christmas, 'cause you're Jewish,"

Kara rolled her eyes "I'll survive somehow," She muttered as she started hunting down plates, glasses and cutlery.

Bill watched her go back and forth as she set up the coffee table near the TV. "Please oh please tell me you do not have the Charlie Brown Christmas Special with you?" he sighed dramatically.

"Like of course and something for you to identify with" She smirked playfully at her friend.

"Let me guess" He looked skyward to the ceiling "The Grinch"

Kara laughed "You bet, besides this is just to hold you over til Patti gets home on Sunday"

"Kar?"

She paused coming back from his kitchen with their plates. "Hmmm?"

"Merry Christmas." He smiled finally.

"You realize this means you're spending Hanukkah at my house next year?" Kara she quipped back with a smile.

"Kar, Kar, Kar." he shook his head sadly as he walked over and sat down.

She scooped up the first DVD and looked back "What?"

"You aren't Jewish Kara." He sighed "What a sad life you lead, you should know this"

She giggled as she sat down next to him "No but I always make sure Izzy has someone to celebrate with!"

Bill smiled "So I am not the only one you bother every year?"

Kara smiled as she curled up next to her friend "Nope, I'm so like a holiday virus"

He laughed as she fumbled with his remote to start the movie, he picked up his plate and inhaled its warm aroma. She is getting better at cooking, he smirked to himself.

"Oh and Bill?" she said "Happy Holidays"

"Happy Holidays Kar" he chuckled as they settled back and watched Charlie Brown begin his hunt for the perfect tree.


December 19,2008 - New Overbrook, Faultline
Originally Posted by The Templar Lucianna Addo


The katana cut through the tightly packed snow of the Frostling with little effort, severing an arm that fell and blended into the snow on the sidewalk. Miyako's backswing removed the head; it tumbled down the street, coming to rest in a snow clogged guttered. A stab with her wakizashi finished off the last of the strange creatures. Christmas time in Paragon City was not what she had expected. After the horror of Halloween, it shouldn't have been a surprise. She would take snowmen over zombies any day.

What she disliked was Lucianna being out of town. Her new movie, Barbarella, was out on Friday, which meant the young super heroine was on the talk show circuit. Tonight she was in Burbank for an appearance on the Tonight Show. Miyako had decided not to go with her; she didn't enjoy seeing the business behind 'show business'. So tonight she was on her own.

Of course, Kara was here, but she had two children to look after and shopping to do. Lucianna's parents, always perpetually busy, had even more to do during the holidays. Lexus was obsessing over every detail with the arrival of grandparents. Miyako had tried to help but soon decided it was best to stay out of the way.

Lucianna will be back in a few days, she told herself. Between now and then I should try to enjoy myself. The sky began to turn crimson and somewhere nearby a man screamed. Enjoy myself in a city constantly under siege. She teleported to the screaming and quickly dispatched a trio of zombies clawing at an elderly man. At least I know I'm needed here.


A few hours later, Miyako was home. Warm, fed, and curled up on the couch watching one of Luci's favorite movies-Kill Bill. Someone had started a fire early and despite it's size, the gargantuan living room was very warm. She shook her head as the Bride suffered more abuse from her sensei. The phone rang. With a sigh Miyako rolled over and answered it.

"Hello?"

"Hey baby, it's me," Luci's voice said cheerfully.

Miyako grabbed the remote and paused the movie. "Hi! How are you? How was the interview?"

Luci chuckled. "It was good. I think it was good. The audience laughed a lot. Not at me I hope."

"I am sure you were wonderful. The camera loves you and you like to talk. I think you were made to be on talk shows."

Luci laughed. "So what, should I be the next Tyra Banks?"

"Not unless you want to be. I miss you."

"It's only been two day, Miyako."

"And four more before you come home."

"I know, but I'll see you soon."

"How is the rest of your trip? Are they taking good care of you?"

"Of course! I've got, like, this awesome suite. It's decorated for Christmas, got my own tree. It's pretty huge in here. There's even a piano in the front room."

"It sounds very comfortable."

"It is. The only thing it's missing is someone to help keep me warm."

Miyako snickered. "You don't get cold."

"You know what I mean. I miss you."

Miyako laughed. "It's only been two days!"

"I know! I just hate sleeping alone. Could you teleport here for the night?"

"That would a frivolous waste of magic."

"I don't care!" Luci chuckled.

They both sat in silence for a moment before Miyako spoke again. "Can you do something for me?"

"What?"

"Go to the piano and play something for me."

"What??"

"Play me a song. I'll put it on speaker phone and it will feel like your here with me. Like when you sang to me before."

"That was one time...You know..."

Miyako smiled to herself and turned on the speaker phone. "I know that you don't think you're very good, but you are. Beside I am not asking to hear a concert pianist. I just want to hear my wife."

Luci's laugh was timid sounding, "Okay, baby. No one else is there?"

"It's just me and you."

"Just a minute." There were sounds of movement, followed a few cords on a piano. "Okay, this is a really beautiful song. Ma'am loves it and learned to play it for her. It's by Stevie Wonder, so I hope I totally don't ruin it." She started to play and sing, her voice very soft.

Someday at Christmas men won't be boys
Playing with bombs like kids play with toys

Miyako laughed, "I like this song already."

"Miyako! Don't interrupt. It's hard enough for me to get myself started." Lucianna started again, her voice even quieter this time.

Someday at Christmas men won't be boys
Playing with bombs like kids play with toys
One warm December all hearts will see
A world where men are free

Someday at Christmas there'll be no wars
When we have learned what Christmas is for
When we have found what life's really worth
There'll be peace on earth

Miyako laid back on the couch, watching the fireplace. Luci's voice grew stronger.

Someday all our dreams will come to be
Someday in a world where men are free
Maybe not in time for you and me
But someday at Christmastime

Someday at Christmas we'll see a land
With no hungry children, no empty hand
One happy morning people will share
A world where people care

The front door opened and Kara ushered in Phil and Katrina. Miyako quickly turned and motioned for them to be quiet.

Someday at Christmas there'll be no tears
All men are equal and no men have fears
One shinning moment, one prayer away
From our world today

Kara and the two girls quietly gathered around the phone as Lucianna's voice rose. Miyako smiled to each of them.

Someday all our dreams will come to be
Someday in a world where men are free
Maybe not in time for you and me
But someday at Christmastime

Someday at Christmas man will not fail
Hate will be gone and love will prevail
Someday a new world that we can start
With hope in every heart

Someday all our dreams will come to be
Someday in a world where men are free
Maybe not in time for you and me
But someday at Christmastime
Someday at Christmastime

Kara motioned to the girls and silently counted to three. Shouts of "Merry Christmas!" followed by laughter filled the rooms in Paragon and Los Angeles.

"Miyako!" said Luci in a startled voice. "I thought you were alone!"

"They just wandered in," she said cheerfully.

"That was very pretty Luci," Kara added happily.

"It was beautiful. Merry Christmas, love," Miyako said. "I will call you tomorrow."

"Okay, but I'm not singing for you."

Miyako smiled as she replied. "We will see. I love you."

"I love you. Good night."

Miyako hung up the phone and looked up at Kara. "You have excellent timing."

"Sometimes," Kara said. "Squirtle, Kat, and I are going to wrap presents. Do you want to help?"

Miyako stood up from the couch. "I would love to."

December 21,2007 - New Overbrook, Faultline

Kara smiled a little, her day now a little brighter as she watched little Katrina and Phil 'adjust' the decorations on the twinkling tree for what had to be the nineteenth time this week alone. She had made each of the girls a hot chocolate as the weather outside was finally letting up. The noreastern storm that had swept through last weekend had been enough to keep the girls housebound for a few days.

She set down the tray on the coffee table and called her little elves over, trying to tempt them from the poor tree as ornaments were moved and placed just right and lights were moved to their new proper branch.
"Come you two" Kara chided softly "Before it gets cold.."

Finally pried away from the brightly lit tree the pair darted over to their offered mugs siting and kneeling around the coffee table as Kara sat on the couch.

"Thanks Mom" cried Phil as she sipped trying to avoid the healthy dollop of whipped cream Kara had doled out to each. There were plenty of snickers when Kat ended up with some on her nose...which of course she then scooped off to share with Columbus.

"Well " Kara said sitting up a bit clapping her hands together a little to get thier attention back. "Since you two have trees on the brains recently, who wants to hear a cute little tale about the last Christmas tree?"

"The Last?" Kat asked.

"The very last?" Phil inquired skeptically.

"Mhm" Kara nodded "It's cute I think you two will love it. My mother found it and told it to me when I was just about Katrina's age. Wanna hear" She leaned forward asking eagerly.

The children both nodded and Kara sat back a bit and began. Her voice filled with the same soft awe and wonder that her mother had managed so long ago...


I saw a truck of Christmas trees
And each one had a tale,
The driver stood them in a row
And put them up for sale.


He strung some twinkly lights
And hung a sign up with a nail;
"FRESH CHRISTMAS TREES"
It said in red
"FRESH CHRISTMAS TREES FOR SALE."


He poured himself hot cocoa
In a steaming thermos cup,
And snowflakes started falling
As a family car pulled up.


A mom, a dad, and one small boy
Who looked no more than three
Jumped out and started searching
For the perfect Christmas tree.


The boy marched up and down the rows,
His nose high in the air;
"It smells like Christmas, mom!
"It smells like Christmas everywhere!"


"Let's get the biggest tree we can!
"A tree that's ten miles high!
"A tree to go right through our roof!
"A tree to touch the sky!"


"A tree SO big
"That Santa Claus
"Will stop and stare and say,
"'Now, THAT'S the finest Christmas tree
"'I've seen this Christmas Day!'"

Katrina giggled "It wouldn't fit into his house"

Phil shook her head "Boys"

Kara smiled warmly at them and continued...


It seemed they looked at every tree
At least three million times;
Dad shook them, pinched them, turned them 'round
To find the perfect pine.


"I've found it, mom!
"The Christmas tree I like the best of all!
"It's got a little bare spot,
"But we'll turn that to the wall!"


"We'll put great-grandma's angel
"On top the highest bough!
"Oh, can we buy it?
"Please, mom, PLEASE?!
"Oh, can we buy it NOW?"


"How 'bout some nice hot cocoa?"
Asked the man who owned the lot.
He twisted off the thermos top,
"Now, THIS will hit the spot!"


He poured the steaming chocolate
In three tiny paper cups.
They toasted,
"Here's to Christmas!"
And they drank the cocoa up.


"Is this your choice?"
The tree man asked,
"This pine's the best one here!"
The boy seemed sad---
"My daddy says
"The price is just too dear."


"Then, Merry Christmas!"
Said the man, who wrapped the tree in twine,
"It's yours for just one promise
"You must keep at Christmas time!"


"On Christmas Eve at bedtime
"As you fold your hands to pray,
"Promise in your heart
"To keep the joy of Christmas Day!"


"Now hurry home!
This freezy wind
"Is turning your cheeks pink!
"And ask your dad
"To trim that trunk and give that tree a drink!"


And so it went on
All that blustery eve
As the tree man gave
Tree upon tree upon tree


To every last person
Who came to the lot---
Who toasted with cocoa
In small paper cups,


Who promised the promise
Of joy in their hearts---
And singing out carols,
Drove off in the dark.


And when it was over
One tree stood alone;
But no one was left there
To give it a home.


The tree man put on his
Red parka and hood
And dragged the last Christmas tree
Out to the woods.


He left the pine right by a stream
In the cold,
So the wood's homeless creatures
Could make it their home.

"Awww" sighed Little Katrina as Phil smiled.

Kara charmed continued...


He smiled as he brushed off
Some snow from his beard,
When out of the thicket
A reindeer appeared.


He scratched that huge reindeer
On top his huge head---
"It looks like we've
"Started up Christmas again!"


"There are miles more to travel,
"And much more to do!
"Let's go home, my friend,
"And get started anew!"


He looked to the sky
And heard jingle bells sound---
And then,
In a twinkling,
That tree man was gone!

"I know who the tree man was!" Phil said
"He was Mr. San...." Kat began and stopped.

"Ssssh " Kara placed a finger over her lips "Dont say who it was...just remember the promise..and keep the truth in your hearts"

The girls smiled and nodded as both turned back to look at their tree and then back at Kara.

The older woman smiled and nodded "Go on...its so like clear it needs to be readjusted again"

She giggled as the pair cheered and headed back to their tree....

....to make it just right this year.

December 10, 2007 - New Overbrook
Originally posted by the Templar Pin-Up



As Luci flew over her house with shopping bags tucked under her arms, she realized something wasn't right. First there was a large delivery truck parked in the driveway. And second, there was a huge thing on her lawn. And third was the fact the lawn was entirely white. Someone was in big trouble and it was probably...

"Poppa!" Luci shouted as he waved at her from beside a gigantic fiberglass Santa and reindeer. "What are you doing to my yard?"

He patted the side of the Santa and wheeled himself over to Luci. "I'm decorating; can't you tell?"

"But it's not your yard, it's mine. You've covered it in fake snow. And set up this thing and...is something playing music?"

He grinned, "That's the light-up snowman. It's plays 'Frosty the Snowman."

"Poppa! You should, like, ask me before you do stuff like this." Luci glanced over at the house where a group of men where stringing lights along her roof. "You hired all these people to do this?"

"No," he said. "I hired them to decorate my house. I figured we didn't make a big deal about Christmas last year, but this year I could give Ashley a Christmas to remember."

"She's one and half. She wouldn't remember. And last year you wanted to try celebrating Kwanzaa."

"And just like then, your mother said it was a dumb idea. But," he gestured to the decorating crew, "I already paid these guys and bought the decorations. I ain't gonna waste it. Besides the girls with love it."

Luci looked over her yard. Lights everywhere. White frost on the grass. A giant Santa. Huge glass snowflakes. A giant musical Frosty. She sighed. "Maybe it will scary the paparazzi away."

"So, it stays."

"Yeah, sure, fine. It's only for a few weeks."

He beamed. "That's great. You're going to have the best Christmas display in Paragon." Two men carried a plastic igloo into the yard.

"An igloo?"

"Where else would we put the penguins?"

"Penguins?!"

"I'm kidding. Listen, go inside. Put away the stuff you bought and I'll come in in a minute and show you how to work everything. The lights light up in sync with the music and it's completely programmable. And the Santa is technically a robot. It can do a whole little show."

Luci scooped up her shopping bags and turned toward the house. "Maybe you should wait until Kara gets here. She'll understand it better." She walked up the path to the house where her assistant met her at the door and shrugged apologetically.

After Luci went inside her father grabbed one of the crew by the wrist. "Hey. I think we're gonna need to cancel the penguins. The lion might not of liked them anyway."




==========================================



December 18, 2007 - Skyway City


Guardian Star stood in the hallway near the his desk and considered the possibilities.

“Bill, Like what are you doing?” asked his long time friend Kara as she arranged a small desktop Christmas tree near her computer screen in the office they usually shared in the police station.

“I’m trying to find the best place to put this.” He showed her a small ball of green and white.

The young blaster quirked a brow. “What is that?”

“Mistletoe.”

Kara walked to stand beside him and stared up at the high ceiling. “I so don’t think it’ll work. You’d need to hover up there to hang it up. And then it would be too high up for anyone to see it.”

Bill frowned starting to see her logical. “So if I did kiss anyone…”

“…they’d so slap you,” She added. "And while good for me...."

"Very bad for me...." he mused “That won’t work.” Bill bit his lower lip, still deep in thought.

“What about the elevator?" Kara tried still amused "It’s like low enough that you can easily hang it up and it can be seen if you bring their attention to it.”

Bill snapped his fingers “Good idea, Kar!” he reached back to his desk for a strip of tape, then jogged over to the elevator doors, reaching up to tape the ball of mistletoe into place. As his arms were stretched over his head, the silver doors of the elevator opened and he found himself engulfed in a tight hug. He glanced down with a grin. “Hey, Nancy.”

“Hey, yourself, Bill...what are... Ohhh, mistletoe!” The spirited little defender stood on her tiptoes and smacked her lips against his.

"Hey!" Came the playful protest of Psiwarp, Nancy's current boyfriend.
Bill stepped back and checked that the tiny ball was square in the middle of the elevator door frame. “Perfect.” He then looked over to the protesting controller "Sorry Kev its a holiday rule"

“Isn’t he cute? So protective and jealous" She turned to Kevin and nodded as they both now left the elevator "Kevin and I found this for you at this little shop in Steel...this is for you.” Nancy handed him a brightly wrapped present in red paper that Kevin had been holding.

He slowly unwrapped the package as Kara moved over to see, then a smile spread across his face. “Nancy this is terrific!” He pulled out the HD DVD and began reading the back. “Wow, look at all the special features.”

“What is it, William?” Kara nudged him playfully, trying to peer over her friend’s shoulder.

Nancy beamed "An early christmas present"

Kevin nodded and added "We saw it and knew he had to have it!"

“The special edition version of The Maltese Falcon. I was planning to get it next week. Thank you, Guys!” Bill said, sweeping up first Kev who flailed and then Nancy into his arms in an enthusiastic hug, tight enough to make her squeak.

“Chamberlin, let Nancy breathe,” Lead Agent Benson said as he stepped out of the elevator.

“Merry Christmas, boss!” Kara chirped happily.

"Its Not Christmas Yet" He grumbled as he tried to keep reading his report and walk through them at the same time.

“Oh, oh, oh, mistletoe!” Nancy squealed as she threw herself at her long suffering boss.

At first startled by the assault, Benon’s brown eyes began to gleam as Nancy laid her warm lips on the older man’s own. “Merry Christmas to you, too, Guardian Star. And to you, Diamond.” He smiled at the female bundle in his arms. “And most definitely to you, Sapphire Rose.”

The elevator doors swished open again, this time depositing Patti Goldman, the police consultant who was currently seeing Bill. Once again, He stepped forward, but this time was frustrated by the appearance of Kevin in his path who having had his girlfriend kiss the burly defender decided to take advantage of the situation.

Patti jumped back, her instinctual reaction one of protection. “Okay what? WHY?” she eyed Kevin as Benson rolled his eyes and Kara and several police officers and Longbow Agents chuckled.

Kevin frantically pointed up. “Mistletoe, honest it's not an attack. A Gentile custom that I heartedly approve of.” he nodded to his fellow hebrew.

“I have never understood how this parasitic plant became such an invitation to kissing,” Patti said then eyed Bill "You had something to do with this I'm sure"

“I actually /can/ answer that,” Kevin offered, not noting the smirks on the faces of the others. “Let’s go to their office and I’ll explain.”

The group moved to spread out in the small office

“Oh Kara those little lights outlining your computer monitor are quite beautiful, the way they twinkle.” Nancy said as they settled in.

Kara nodded “Yeah, I so thought they added a nice festive touch.”

Kevin settled himself in the chair next to Nancy and gazed about the area. “Now, where was I?”

“You were going to tell the story of mistletoe sweetie,” Nancy reminded him.

“Ah, of course. Patti is correct in that mistletoe is a parasitic plant. It is usually found in amongst the branches of hardwood trees, such as oaks and apple trees. The waxy berries can be white or red and are popular with birds. The name is actually an old Anglo-Saxon word which can be translated as dung twig. There are many different legends and myths associated with this particular plant, but the one that you would be interested in deals with the thought that it was a sexual symbol, due to the consistency and color of the berry juice. The habit of kissing under the mistletoe is believed to be from the Vikings.”

“Isn’t there more to how it was supposed to be done, Kevin?” Kara asked softly.

“Quite right, Every time a man kisses a woman under the mistletoe, he is supposed to remove a berry. Then when the berries are gone, so are the kisses.”

“I remember reading that any single woman who is kissed under the mistletoe will be married within a year,” Kara added, smirking at a suddenly aghast Bill.

“But this plant is poisonous, isn't?” Patti asked.

“Yes, actually, it is. It is simply used for decoration during the holidays, but one must be careful if there are children or animals about.”

Two uniformed police officers came into the office area, one carrying a plate of holiday cookies in the shapes of reindeer and covered with green Saran Wrap tied in a bow on top.

“Here, we wanted to bring you a little something to munch on when you’re working tomorrow.” Officer Carlos Esteban pulled a large bottle of non-alcoholic apple cider and a small bag from his coat pockets. “My wife recommended heating this up in a cooker with a few cloves and a stick of cinnamon. I think there’s a crock pot in the break room. I brought the cloves and a small stick for you to use.”

“And I brought some sugar cookies to eat with the cider.” The other officer said as she handed them to Bill, but Kara quickly swooped in and took the plate away, placing it on her desk. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that you and your team volunteered to work for us for the next two weeks, especially being on call on Christmas Day. I know my kids are happy that I’ll be home to watch them unwrap their presents.”

“Don’t mention it. We’re all single with no local family members." Benson said then gestures at Kara. "Well with the exception of that one, so it just made sense to let those of you with families and plans to enjoy their holidays.”

“I noticed your tree, Kara and thought you might like to put these baubles on it.” Carlos said, handing still another bag to the heroine.

“Wow why thank you Officer Esteban!.” She held the bag up to show Nancy the tiny ornaments inside.

"Ooo " Cooed Nancy.

“You’re welcome. And please call me Carlos.”

“Okies, you bet…Carlos.”

Once the officers left to continue to spread their holiday cheer, Bill reached for the plate, untying the wrap and shoving a tiny reindeer cookie into his mouth whole. Once he had swallowed it, he held a finger up to Patti. “I’ve got something for you, Patti!”

“Oh, joy,” she muttered, watching him suspiciously as Bill reached into his bottom desk drawer. Her frown turned to a sweet smile when he pulled out a menorah.

“For you. I know Hanukkah started last night and, well we can light the candles each evening.”

“Bill, that was…thank you,” she leaned forward and kissed him softly.

Kara smiled and winked knowingly to Nancy, who then returned the wink.

Kevin eyed them suspiciously, maybe just a little afraid of inquiring what the wink was about. So much so he jumped as benson's comm went off.

The Lead Agent answered it and then stood. “Benson. Where? We’ll be there in twenty minutes.” He turned to the suddenly alert team of Heroes. “We have a warehouse full of dyne and a deal going down with possible Council involvement. PPD are there now, with more responding"

He walked out into the now busy squadroom barking orders to his agents.

"Well" Kara slid off of her desk and stood "Like let’s load up and get back to work.”

One by one the Heroes headed off into the nightsky as snow fell across the great city. Sirens souded off in the distant as Order prepared to meet chaos once more in this holiday season.

December 20, 2006 - Atlas Park
Originally posted by my alt the Templar Dark Chylde

Tess was just eight years old but she knew when she heard her Mom and Dad were talking about her little brother, Andrew. All she knew was that he was very sick and Daddy kept saying they were completely out of money. Tess sighed as she sat aginst her door, knees pulled tightly to her little chest. They were moving to an 'partment complekx' next month because Daddy didn't have the money for the doctor bills and their house. Mommy kept saying only a very costly surgery could save Adndrew now and it was looking like there was no one to loan them the money. They had to have money for Andrew.

She snuck down the stairs cautiously in time to hear her Daddy say to her tearful Mother, his tone was filled with whispered desperation, "Only a miracle can save him now." That was it! Tess thought, Her teacher had called this the season of miracles. She could -do- this! She could help!

Tess went to her bedroom and pulled a small box from its hiding place in the closet. She poured all the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three times, even. The total had to be exactly perfect. No chance here for mistakes. This was for her brother! Carefully placing the coins back in the box, she slipped out the back door and made her way six blocks in the cold to the drug store in Atlas Park.

She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention but he was busy talking to this very strange woman and couldn't be bothered by an eight year old at this moment. Tess was more than a little frightened of the way the other woman looked and sounded. Though her Sunday school teacher said people who looked like that were bad, Her Mommy told her never judge a books cover. Well woman or no woman Andrew needed help, she couldnt wait any longer.

She twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise. Nothing ... she cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster. No good ...all that happened there was the strange lady looked...not her! Tess sighed and finally she took a quarter from her box and banged it on the glass counter.

That did it!

"And what do you want?" the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice as he looked over and down to her. "I'm talking to another important costumer right now " he said, without waiting for a reply to his question.

"Well, I want to talk to you about my brother!" Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone. "He's really, really very sick ... and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now." The Pharmacist blinked as she asked..

"So how much does a miracle cost?" she demanded "My family needs one real bad"

"We.... don't sell miracles here, little girl" Her face fell. "I'm sorry but I can't help you." the pharmacist said, softening a little.

"Listen, " she pleaded holding out her box "I have the money to pay for it. Please, If it isn't enough, I will get the rest. I /promise/! Just tell me how much it costs."

The strange woman walked over to her, her crimson scales fluttering a bit as she knelt down before the trembling child. Tess was frightened but held her ground for Andrew. The womans eyes glowed just like hot coals, yet they seemed softer to Tess now somehow. The woman tilted her horned head to the side as she regarded the little girl and then asked, "What kind of a miracle does yer brother need?" her voice was like music to Tess who turned to meet the woman's gaze.

"I...I.. don't know." Tess replied with eyes now filled with tears. "I just know he's really, really sick and Mommy says he needs a operation. But my Daddy can't pay for it, so I want to use my money."

"How much do ye have?" asked the woman.

"One dollar and eleven cents." Tess answered. "And it's all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to......I Promise"

"Well, what a coincidence." The woman smiled softly. "A dollar and eleven cents - the exact price of a miracle for little brothers of such a brave young thing as ye." She reached out and took the small box Tess offered her and then the woman stood taking Tess's little hand within her own and said , "Let's go see yer Ma an Da. I wish ta see yer brother"

" ....'kay" Tess said nodding

"Let's see if I have the kind of miracle you need." Something about the woman's smile gave hope to the little one, she wasnt even surprised to see that her helper had wings and flew them both down the city's streets until they came to her house.

After all don't angels have wings?

Overcoming their apprehension at the strange appearance of Tess' winged escort back home, Tess' parents seemed to relax as Tess' soon to be miracle worker showed them this little plastic card. That card seemed to make things all better and then she watched as they introduced Andrew to "Molly".

That was what the red lady said they could call her.

Molly, Tess thought, I will remember that name.

She watched carefully as Molly reached out and touched her brother's tiny head. Tess clung to the doorframe of the living room as her little eyes opened like morning glories as her baby brother turned bright green in the light of Molly's gentle touch. Daddy and Mommy went with 'Molly' to the hospital after Molly used their telephone. Tess

was so eager and excited, she never even noticed the strange woman place Tess's box with all of her money under the family' small sparsely decorated tree.

Well Molly's Miracle was perfect Tess thought happily the next morning, when her Mommy and Daddy brought Andrew home and he was /all/ better!

Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place over breakfast.

"That woman", her Mom whispered, " what she did for Andrew was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost? I mean if we had to have gone ahead with the surgery?" Tess watched her Daddy shake his head.

"I dont know sweetheart" he said. "I just dont know"

Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost ... one dollar and eleven cents, and you get one as Mommy said by not judging a books cover named 'Molly' .... a red angel for real.

Now it will be a good Christmas, she thought to herself. She smiled a little shocked as her eyes fell upon her small box of money.

Her miracle has been for free...

<Merry Christmas!>




December 25, 2006 - Undisclosed Location
Originally posted by the Templar Mazin Wystan


It had taken quite a bit of effort, and time, but he had finally done it. He had decided to do it out in the forests, since bringing home a bunch of half-naked women tied up or knocked unconscious would probably be taken badly by the neighbors. So, he had set up the Christmas tree, put up tinsel and ornaments, since without a generator of some kind there is no way it can have lights. A large back sits off to the side, near Ren, who gazes at the assorted breasts with a look that says clearly: "My instincts tell me to leap for them, but... they're scaaary."

"Now then, I'm glad all of you managed to make it here for Christmas," Mazin says to the assembled, bound audience. "It's not exactly one of my favorite holidays, but I'm sure with the family gathered together, it'll be better. Now, traditions. I'll be passing out presents... well, coal. You've been trying to kill me so I think you've earned it. And we'll leave the biggest chunk under the tree, since Mother couldn't be here."

He moves around the circle of women, setting a piece of coal on each of their laps. "There you are. Now, I'll untie you. You can either give me your presents... or we can move on to Christmas dinner..." He trails off, flashing them a particular vicious grin.

<Hello! Once more I thought we could add Holiday stories about in and around Paragon! Feel free to add anything your character does or sees the thread is an open one! Happy Holidays! >

December 17, 2006 - Paragon City, Rhode Island

Driving The Holiday Spirit 'Home'
A Paragon City charity event that has aimed to provide meals and toys to those in need for 12 years running.
Claudia Zequeira | Times Staff Writer
December 17, 2006

PARAGON CITY -- For sick and unemployed Laura Pruett, being able to secure holiday presents for her young daughter was a dream come true.

"I've been crying all day because this means my daughter will have a Christmas," said Pruett, 46, who has been living in a King's Row motel since October. "Frankly, without these people it wouldn't have happened. Now, my daughter will have at least two presents under the tree."

Pruett picked up the gifts -- a Barbie makeup kit and a Bratz blow-dryer wrapped in cheerful holiday paper -- in Atlas Park during an annual charity drive Saturday.

"Home for the Holidays", as the event is called, was organized by the cities of Paragon and Warwick, a list of nonprofits and close to 700 volunteers, which included several noted Heroes and Heroines from Paragon, who pitched in to provide thousands of underprivileged citizens with meals and toys they could not have afforded otherwise.

"It's sad to know that there are this many people in need in our community, but it's really gratifying to know we're able to meet that need," said Warwick County Commissioner Paul Owen, who spent several hours helping attendees.

Now in its 12th year, Home for the Holidays has expanded tremendously, a sign of the county's fast-growing population. Last year, volunteers served 6,000 meals and distributed 4,000 gifts. On Saturday, 10,000 meals provided by the Paragon City Public School District were served and close to 16,000 donated toys were handed out.

Other amenities, such as musical performances and puppet shows, cheered the crowd. Reggae and hip-hop blared from speakers at a section set aside for teens. Inflatable castles entertained children while adults picked toys of their choosing with vouchers provided.

Even Santa found the time to make an appearance to the delight of the children present.

Many were referred to the event by community organizations while others learned of it through word of mouth, with the Rhode Island Council on Aging registering all participants who met income guidelines. Of those attending, 7,500 were children -- 70 percent of them minorities.

"What we see here is totally reflective of our communities, people banding 'togeth' to help people." said Kara Reynolds-Dengo, also known as 'The Valiant Dazzling Diamond" a noted Heroine of Paragon as well as one of that city's public school teachers.The young heroine has worked with Community Vision, a nonprofit organization and the event's main organizer, for almost 2 years now. "We try to reach out and help any and all of the families that we can find."

"The smiles today alone are so worth the effort!" she went on to add as she continued to wrap toys.

Among guests were some homeless individuals, an estimated 2,000 of whom live in Paragon City, but most were working families just trying to make ends meet.

Sonia Bonet, 39, said raising two young daughters by herself in the newly restored Faultline was "next to impossible" with the money she earned cleaning office buildings.

"Things are really tight right now," said Bonet of her financial situation while she ate. "The season has just been slow and they've reduced our hours at work . . . but I still want my children to have a nice Christmas."

Daughter Keishla, 10, seemed to understand her mother's predicament.

"I like the toys,and meeting all the heroes is fun!" she said, smiling as she played with a stuffed dog her 5-year -old sister Eileen handed to her. "But I like to spend time with my family more."

Claudia Zequeira can be reached at czequeira@ParagonTimes.com




December 19, 2006 - Steel Canyon


Kara smiled softly as she stared out of the glass patio door. Her reflection smiling back over the glistening and blinking lights of the city stretched out beyond the long balcony. A gentle fluttering of soft snow kissed the image as a brisk wind caused the flakes to dance before her. She sighed, her throat still tight and her cheeks still moist as she closed her eyes again to remember. She wanted always to remember tonight..

She had just volunteered this week to reopen a church in a rebuild section of King's Row as part of the Community Vision project she had been helping. The whole community had pitched in but weather and well the usual things that go on in Paragon City had slowed their efforts. When She had first looked upon the church, it was very run down and needed a lot of work. They, her group of volunteers and she set a goal to have everything done in time for the community to have their first service on Christmas Eve. They worked hard, repairing pews, plastering walls, painting, etc. and were ahead of schedule and just about finished.

She winced as she remembered the terrible sleet storm that had hit last night and this morning she had gone over to the church. Kara's heart sunk when she saw that the roof had leaked, causing a large area of plaster about 6 feet by 8 feet to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary just behind the pulpit, beginning about head high. She cleaned up the mess on the floor, and not knowing what else to do she called around but no one in her group or the local business could fix the damage in time for the church to be ready for services. It looked like they would have to postpone the Christmas Eve service. A little dejected Kara headed for home.

On the way she noticed that a local business was having a flea market type sale for charity so she stopped in. One of the items caught her eye, Kara blinked as she turned to see a beautiful, hand-made, ivory colored, crocheted table cloth with exquisite work, fine colors and a cross embroidered right in the center. It was just the right size to cover up the hole in the front wall. She bought it and headed back to the church excited to think the service could then be held!

By this time, it had started to snow again, a good sign she thought. As she headed back inside of the run down church she noticed an older woman running from the opposite direction was trying to catch a bus. She missed it as the driver not paying much attention drove off. Kara smiled as she remembered inviting the poor woman to wait in the warm church for the next bus which would be some forty five minutes later. Annoyed but grateful she accepted and sat in a pew and paid little attention to the younger woman while she got a ladder, to put up the tablecloth as a wall tapestry. Kara could hardly believe how beautiful it looked as it covered up the entire problem area. It was only as she got off of the ladder did she notice the woman walking down the center aisle.

Her face was like a sheet. "Young lady," she asked, her voice laced with an old eastern European accent, "Where did you get that tablecloth?" Kara slightly stunned had explain how she came about it and why. The woman could hardly believe it as Kara told how she had just gotten the tablecloth. The woman asked her to check the lower right corner to see if the initials, EBG were crocheted into it there. Kara stepped over and checked. There were indeed initials lovingly stitched there. It turned out these were the initials of the woman, and she had made this tablecloth 45 years before, in Serbia.

The woman explained that before the Russians had come, she and her husband were well-to-do people, when the communists began to sweep across Serbia, she was forced to leave. Her husband was going to follow her the next week. She was captured, sent to a prison camp and never saw her husband or her home again. Kara was so moved she had reached to take down the tablecloth and return it to her; but the woman refused telling the younger girl to keep it for the church. Kara insisted on seeing her home, it was the least she could do. She lived on the other side of Galaxy and was only in King's Row the day for a housecleaning job.

Kara had dropped her off and was now in a hurry having agreed to take Phil to see Santa tonight. She winced as she remembered she in her haste to see the older woman home had left her purse in the church. Now she was late! She rushed up the snow covered steps of the church and darted inside to retrieve her purse. Phil was going to kill her! She paused as she found her purse in the back pew where she had left it. She saw some of the volunteers from the project and community were back cleaning up. Her solution seemed to have been acceptable, the service was to go on.

It was then Kara saw him an older man, whom she recognized from the neighborhood, he wasn't one of the volunteers, he was seated in one of the pews and he just seemed lost in a stare. She slowly walked up to him, his look so chillingly familiar as she approached him.

The man smiled at Kara and asked her where she got the tablecloth on the front wall. She had softly responded asking why. Well, he said wistfully because it was identical to one that his wife had made years ago when they lived in Serbia before the war and how could there be two tablecloths so much alike? He told the stunned girl how the Russians had come, how he forced his wife to flee for her safety, and he was supposed to follow her, but he was arrested and put in a forced labor camp. He never saw his wife or his home again for all the 45 years in between. He had gone on to explain that normally he was not one to enter a church but tonight he had heard about the work going on and someone had mentioned that there might not be a service without more help. So he just came to see what he could do.

Kara smiled softly as she listened to him and then asked him if he would allow her to take him for a little flight. He looked up a little confused until she shifted into her familiar costume and offered him her hand. He looked at the young hero and agreed knowing now who this was. Through the soft flurry of snow Kara flew him over the brightly lit city below, her fields protecting them from the cold and the snow. After a fashion they landed before the same house where she had taken the woman just a few hours earlier.

She helped the man climb the three flights of stairs to the woman's apartment, and then gently knocked on the door.

Even now as warm tears fall across her cheeks, Kara remembered every moment of the greatest Christmas reunion she could ever imagine.....

December 22, 2005 - Atlas Park
Originally Posted as my alt the Templar Dark Chylde

((I stumbled on this last night while looking for Holiday paradoies and it really fit Molly so please enjoy ;p PoK ))

Molly bounced around her apartment happily. Soon it would be her first christmas. The packages and dinner friends family and the like. The color and lights were such a wonder to her.

Her memories choppy as they were blended and whirled. The 'Old one' 's memories held no such holiday, but 'Molly Parks' 's did! She knew that sometime after dinner 'the poem' must be recited. She moved out into her living room and began to practice with care. Drawing the words from memory for this holiday tradition had to be perfect!

In a solemn voice touched with a degree of awe she began to recite, her face lit byt he soft twinkling lights of her tree...

" 'Twas the Night Before Christmas ....."

'Twas the night before Christmas, and in the FleetCenter Not a player was skating, the fans could not enter.

The skates had been placed in the lockers with care In the hopes they'd air out while the players weren't there.

Ranford and Bailey were relaxing off-ice Asking Santa for shut-outs that would be oh-so-nice.

The forwards and defense were all telling stories And tales of the days of their previous glories.

When out on the Commons there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

I ran to the living room, I had to see this-- I knew it was a sight Channel 5 wouldn't miss.

The lights of the city shone down on the snow It glittered, and sparkled, and gave off a glow.

But lo, what was that, could it be a mirage? The new Fox Puck Truck, with its whole entourage!

With a bespectacled coach, so pensive and dapper I knew in a moment it must be Steve Kaspar.

More rapid than slapshots his curses they came And he whistled and shouted and called players by name:

"Now Odgers! Now Bourque! Now Oates and McCleary! On Tallas! On Heinze! On Rohloff and Sweeney!

To the top of the circle! To the front of the net! Now put it away! You can score a goal yet!"

And as with the pigeons that you'd swear couldn't fly, Just before you step on them, take off for the sky.

So all of a sudden, the truck just took flight! I couldn't believe it, it soared like a kite!

And then, oh my god, that was _my_ house on TV And Dale Arnold and Gord Kluzak were laughing with glee.

As I clicked off the tube, and was turning around, Down the chimney Steve Kaspar came with a bound.

He was dressed in his suit, that tan one you know, And his clothes were all covered with ashes and snow.

There were lots of pucks in his over-the-shoulder sack, And it looked like the weight just might break his back.

Not a smile in sight, he was wearing a frown, It looked to me like he wanted to leave old Beantown.

He was grim and severe, like a typical coach. (Which only gets worse as the play-offs approach.) He spoke not a word, but went straight to the tree, Putting new pucks and sticks around haphazardly.

And turning to me, he broke a small grin, And with a grimace he left the way he came in.

He sprang to the truck, gave the driver a hail, And away they all flew like the Fox comet tail.
But I heard him exclaim, ere they drove out of sight,

"HAPPY SKATING TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD FIGHT."

Molly giggled a soft hiss and hugged a couch pillow to her chest as her scales fluttered softly and her tail flopped happily against the back of the couch. Her glowing eyes fixed gleefully on the overly decorated tree in her living room. The Ice Bear clan of the city realm of Boston and Christmas, she thought excitedly...all together at one time!

"Perfect!"





December 24, 2005 -Steel Canyon


The wind blew the chilling wind across the high window pane as Kara sat up in her bed. The soft tree lights casting a gentle reddish glow down the hall visible just through the crack in the door of her room to blend from the glow of the 'latern' beside her bed. She sighed happily at the night's events and for what awaited her tomorrow. Turning to look to her night stand she picked up the framed picture propped up beside the softly flickering lantern.

Gingerly she ran a finger across the image staring back up at her, along the edges of the long black hair she shared and almost losing herself in the gentle green eyes staring up at her as if across the oceans of christmas' past.

An older, gentler voice seems to fill her ears, reciting Kara's favorite Filipino christmas poem....'The Star of the Kings'

I do not think the three wise men
Were Persian kings at all.
I think it much more likely
That they set sail from off Manila Bay
In answer to the call.

And though the great historians
May stare at me and frown,
I still maintain the three wise men
Were kings from my hometown.

And if you ask why I affirm
That Melchor was king of Tondo,
When Gaspar ruled Sampaloc,
And Baltazar Binondo—

We will not argue. We will walk
The streets on Christmas Eve,
And I'll show you the poor man's rafter
Where hangs the Star the Kings sought after,
High above Christian prayer and laughter—
You will see it, and believe!

For when they crossed the sea again
From Bethlehem afar,
They lost their camels in the sea
And they forgot the Christmas tree
But they brought back to you and me
The secret of the Star.

Biting her lip she brought the image to her lips to bestow a kiss before setting beside her bed in its rightful place once more beside the Latern her mother had taught her how to light long ago. Laying back down she turned once more to look to those eyes reflecting the light of her own Christmas star before whispering softly in Tagalog...

"Maligayang Pasko Mommy"

Merry Christmas Child, the very wind seemed to whisper to her as she feel into a gentle sleep.

December 21st, 2005 - Steel Canyon
Originally posted by the Templar Doc Neutrino

It had been a pretty lousy week. Countess Crey had gotten one of her “pet” judges to issue a warrant for his arrest, Lucy had been hospitalized and in all the press he’d completely forgotten it was Christmas. It’s hard to think about the holidays when you’re busy watching your back.

But now, at last, things were getting better. He had found out that a warrant had been issued for Knockout Girl’s arrest on the same trumped up charges as his. It was sheer coincidence that they’d turned up in the Abby at the same time. As it turned out, she was following the same leads he had and now they were both in hot water. With three days of hard work, they had finally gotten all of the evidence they needed. Both knew it would be foolhardy to try to take it to the police and in a moment of glorious simultaneous inspiration, they’d looked at each other and said the same name. Justine! Justine could post their findings on the internet. When the world saw what the Countess had been up to, there would be no denying her crimes. And surprisingly, it worked. The code they had located had telltale fingerprints from the huge corporation all over it. The charges against them were dropped and at last he could return home.

Weary and not too pleasant smelling he arrived at his apartment. It wasn’t what most people would call big, but for someone five inches tall it was lavish. On his way to his bath “room” he noticed a package in the mail nook. Hovering over to the gold and red wrapped cylinder he couldn’t help but wonder who would have sent him a gift. After careful examination he determined that if it was a trap, it was a pretty lame one and decided the only way to be certain was to open it.

“If this is one of the Gamester’s pranks, I’m going to be really pissed off.” He mused.

When the wrapping at last fell away, Dr. Neutrino hovered in the air with a single tear rolling down his cheek. Inside was a poster of Luci from a ¼ profile (showing mostly her back), she was wearing a skimpy gold suspender swimsuit. The back was a single thin string and what was visible of the front was equally tiny. It was signed “To my smallest fan Dr. Neutrino, Pin-up”

After more than ten minutes hovering there in awe of the thought behind the gift he began rearranging one wall so that he could add the new wallpaper. In the hall outside, a passerby heard the strains of Jingle Bells ringing out from within, picked up the tune and smiling, hummed it all the way to the end of the hall and into her own apartment where a smaller, younger voice joined the chorus.




December 21st, 2005 - Steel Canyon
Originally posted by the Templar Skilla


The smell of cookies surrounded Lissa like a warm, cinnamon fog. She grinned as she pulled another tray from the oven just as the timer dinged, and carefully lifted the little gingerbread men, and ladies off to her cooling rack. She glanced up at the time, and started as she realized how late it was. She couldn't be late! She grabbed up the tote bag that stood already filled with little red and green cellophane packages of assorted homemade cookies, each decorated with care. She balanced the bag on her knee as she slipped into her light green pea coat, and tucked her hair up under her little knit hat. With a kiss and a nod to Doug, who reclined on the couch, rewatching the recording of the last hockey game they'd seen, she shouldered her bag and dashed down the hall.

The VA hospital was cheerful and bright, with little trees and garlands mixed in with the occassional Menorah and Kwanzaa candles. Every door was decorated and the walls glowed with little twinkle lights. Lissa grinned at Denise sitting at the nurse's station, as she hurried past and into the Nurse's changing area. Denise grinned back, and stood, walking into the common room across the way.

"Hey gang!" she called to the occupants of the room. "We've got a real treat today. It seems Santa has sent one of his elves to visit us! She's got some little packages for everyone, and some home made cookies."

On cue, Lissa appeared in the doorway with her bag of treats. "Happy Holidays!" she sang out. She grinned as she watched card games and tv shows forgotten in favor of the cute red head in the santa hat and skin tight leotard, carrying the huge sack. Laughter and applause rang through the room, punctuated by a few appreciative whistles and playfully ribald comments. With a smile, she went to each veteran and presented him with a bag of cookies, and a small present from the hospital. It was a loud, raucous, merry time, and the echoes of good cheer rang down the hall.

In room 619, Justin looked up from his Maxim with interest, as the noise filtered into the room. In the next bed over, Kevin tilted his head, cocking an ear toward the door. "What's up?" he asked his roommate and friend.

"Dunno," Justin said. "I'll go see." Carefully he laid the magazine down on the bed, and expertly manuvered his chair back and away.

"Thanks man. I'd do it but..." Kevin quipped waving a hand at the eyes hidden behind dark glasses.

"Yeah, yeah," Justin laughed. "Everyone knows you're a gimp."

"I can still take you in air hockey... I mean god that must suck...beaten by a blind man in air hockey," Kevin tsked sympathetically.

"It was a lucky shot...all seven times," Justin shot back over his shoulder with a smile, as he wheeled into the door way, and peered down the hall.

"Hot damn! There is a Santa Claus after all!" he exclaimed.

"What? What is it?"

"Well, it's short, and dressed in red...and carrying a bag of cookies...looks like an elf to me," Justin said, his expression of laviscious delight clear in his voice.

"Cute?" Kevin asked with interest, his hand sliding across the night table for the the strap of his cane.

"About five foot even...stilletto heels, skimpy outfit, nice bod...oh wait!" Justin answered with a laugh. "Gets better! She's taking off the Santa hat...and yes...yes...she's a redhead!"

Kevin's face broke into a smile. "A sexy little red head in stillettos...and I thought I wasn't getting anything for Christmas."

"Still might not," Justin teased. "Looks like she's got taste."

"[censored]," Kevin grinned, "accidentally" bumping Justin in the head. "Blind guys always get the girls...sit back and watch me work, my friend. It's the whole using the hands to see concept."

"Well, here she comes now. Betcha a fiver she's taken."

"You're on."

"Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, boys!" Lissa chorused with a brilliant smile. "Have you been good boys this year?"

Kevin gave her a winning smile. "We'd be happy for you to check, Miss Elf."

Lissa laughed at the line, as she had a dozen before it. "I trust you boys. After all, Santa always knows."

"You can trust me," Justin grinned, "but don't trust him. He bet on you."

"Oh really?" Lissa said with an impish smile, putting her hands on her hips. "And what exactly did you bet?"

"Well," Kevin interjected quickly. "My roommate said you were so-so, but I told him I thought you must be gorgeous with a voice like that!"

Lissa shot Justin a playfully disbelieving look over her shoulder. The young man looked innocent and crossed his heart. Did not he mouthed, grinning.

Lissa stifled a laugh with her gloved hand. "And how can I help you boys settle this bet?"

"Well," Kevin said slowly, as if considering the situation. "He DOES have the advantage...being sighted and all...but I think I could get a good enough...feel..." he waved his fingers. "Would you let me see your face?"

"Sure," Lissa smiled, putting her bag and her hat on the bed nearest the door. She approached him, with a smile, and took the hand he offered her, leading it to her face.

Gently, he ran the tips of his fingers across her forehead, eyes and cheeks, and down across her lips, taking in the soft curves and satin skin. Lissa waited patiently, smiling at the charming but rather obvious come on, while Justin watched in disbelief. "Nope...he's wrong...definitely beautiful...and...what's this..." he asked, with a mock frown as he ran his fingers along her small gloved hands. "Is this a ring, I feel?"

"Yup," Lissa said with a grin.

"A diamond ring?"

"Yup," Lissa answered cheerfully, watching his shoulders droop theatrically.

"Told ya!" Justin said smugly. "Taken."

Kevin put a hand across his heart in feigned sorrow. "Christmas will never be the same..."

"Aww," Lissa giggled, "Cheer up. Here are some presents for you both, and some cookies to help you get over the heartbreak."

"Ginger bread?" Kevin asked mournfully.

"Yuppers."

"Well...they might help," he sighed, taking the bag.

"I'm sure they will," Lissa laughed. "Oh, and Sgt. Willowby is it?It was still a good come-on," she whispered sexily in his ear, and planted a gentle kiss on his cheek. "Have a good holiday boys, and thanks for your service!" she smiled, picking up her bag and bounding out of the room.

"Told ya," Justin said again, grinning. "Where's my fiver?"

"Here," Kevin laughed, reaching into his wallet and pulling out an intricately folded bill. He tossed it toward his friend's voice with a grin. " You may have won the bet, but I STILL got the kiss. "

"Damn it," Justin grumbled. "Some guys have all the luck."

"Merry Christmas, ol' buddy!"