Midnight_Dawn

Doctor Stevens returned to her office. As head of magical medicine she had a busy schedule, but this was important. Her office was simple, on the walls hung her diplomas. On her bookshelf were various ancient and modern texts on medicine. Above and behind her on prominent display was her war bow. To anyone with the slightest bit of extra sensory perception, the bow radiated a fine magic aura.

Doctor Stevens plopped down on her chair, sighing deeply. Her finger hovered over the comm button for a brief second. She took a small breath and pressed the button. The crackle of static was heard then a voice was heard, "Yes, Doctor Stevens?"

She paused for a moment before beginning, "Yes Nurse Monroe, can you please have someone from the psych ward come to my office? I have two patients in room 6-E that will need a full physical and psych evaluation as soon as they awaken. Thank you."

"Yes, Doctor," came the reply. Doctor Stevens reclined in her chair, waiting patiently.

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Shiro dreamed peacefully. His arms were wrapped around Tessa's. His thoughts and hers converged helping restore a bit more of his memories. Many of his memories were still just dark spots, but his life with her had been restored. His life apart from her still remained blank.

In her memories, he was this calm protector who would fight till his last breath. He saw himself fighting against countless odds in the name of resistance. He was defiant and stubborn. Talking any challenge placed before him for the thrill of risk. For the adrenaline surge that risking it all gave him. He was a risk taker, dyed in the wool gambler. It was this risk, this apparent favor of chance and fate that gave him his title. The Ace of Coins.

Shiro felt a surge of pride upon remembering the day he had forgone his real name, to become Shiro the Ace of Coins. He also remembered his fights against Tyrant's goons. She helped him remember why he fought as hard as he did. Even in her dream, he marveled how he could have gotten so lucky during many of those missions.

Shiro eyes fluttered open. He had awaken, his mind had healed some of the damage Mother Mayhem had done.

Doctor Stevens was a stern woman. Her auburn hair was kept in a tight bun. Her brown eyes had a steely glint to them. She was once a heroine, before she retired from that life, she was known as the Viridian Rose. She had garnered a reputation of being able to keep even the most head strong melee combatants on their feet no matter the circumstances. A reputation, that even as Doctor Stevens, she has kept adding to.

She eyed the nurse standing out side the patients room and sighed. She stepped into the room, the orderlies moving out of her way so she could get a clear look at this patient. Shiro gave her a cool, charming smile as she entered. His eyes were staring directly into hers, and now understood why the nurse had been flustered by him. She stood her ground, staring back into his eyes, "Why are you out of bed?"

Shiro replied, "I must find her."

"Find who?" Doctor Stevens asked, never breaking eye contact. Shiro stood watching, gazing intently at Doctor Stevens. He readjusted the bed sheet as he began to speak, "A woman. She's been calling my name. In my head. I can feel her. She knows who I am. I need to find the answers."

The sound of feet pounding against the linoleum outside his door and a woman's voice screaming his name brought everyone's attention to the door. Shiro sprang to life, as if drawn by instinct to the collapsed woman's side. He knelt beside her, gripping the bedsheet firmly in his hand. No one had seen him move. He had just seemed to appear beside her. Even he did not know how or why he was kneeling there. His mind raced with concern for the young woman and he did not even know why. His cool green eyes stared at her as he brushed an errant strand of hair from her face.

Doctor Stevens sighed as she glided towards the pair. <This always seems to happen on my shifts.> she sighed inwardly. She felt the confusion, the exhaustion, the pain in the woman's chest. She held out a hand, a small orb of green light drifted slowly towards the pair. The orb gave off a soothing light as it bathed the two in it's radiance. The orderlies stood dumbstruck at the past few seconds precedings. Doctor Stevens spoke briskly, "Perhaps we should get into the room and we can discuss what is going on here."

Shiro stood his ground, he wished they would just let him leave. He understood that it was probably unorthodox and a little immoral for him to be running around in a sheet, but he did not know if he had any clothes here. No one seemed like they would answer him, just trying to get him back into bed. He did not understand why they wanted him in bed. He felt, more or less, fine. A little run ragged, a little sore, but still fine enough. His eyes glanced over the crowd in his way.

Shiro's eyes came to a stop on the nurse. He gazed intently at her, watching her. The nurse shivered under his gaze. <Why is he staring at me?> she thought. She stared directly back into his eyes. <Is he trying to read my mind> With great effort she pulled her gaze from his. She breathed in deeply and stepped out of the room.

The nurse leaned against the wall, trying to regain her breath. His eyes seemed to pierce through her, like he was staring at her soul. She shook her head, trying to get his piercing green eyes out of her mind. She took slow, measured breaths telling herself she was being silly. There was nothing on file about this patient having access to higher brain functions like telepathy or even empathy. Why was she getting so worked up, over him. Sure, he was standing in the room naked except for a bed sheet, but that shouldn't have phased her.

She took one last deep breath and steadied herself to face the mystery patient once more when a doctor arrived.

The nurse was persistent. This patient would not be swayed. She had called a group of orderlies to assist her. He wasn't at all unpleasant, quite the contrary, he was very polite just single-minded. She heard the orderlies behind whispering, her own thoughts. "Why should we be surprised if he's up," one orderly stated.

"I know, this is a hero hospital," another commented. The orderlies buzzed around and tried to insist that Shiro should return to bed.

Those thoughts went through her head as well, but there was something else. According to the reports and files on this patient, he had no signs typical of powers of regeneration. Nor any signs of toughened skin or even hyper enhanced senses and reflexes. He should, for all intents and purposes, still be in the coma. He seemed normal if not really stubborn. She watched the man stare at them, his cool green eyes watching them. She shivered under his gaze, it wasn't unpleasant, just unnerving. He was balking at being ushered back into bed. < He's a very stubborn one.> she thought to herself.

Shiro watched with a calm, collected smile at the orderlies. They wanted him to remain in bed, to rest, but he knew he could not. He heard her voice again. Calling to him from farther off then before. He needed to leave. To find her. To have his questions answered. He tried being polite to the orderlies and to the nurse, but they balked. Neither would budge on this. He watched as the nurse called in for a doctor.

Shiro slid out of the bed slowly. His mind swam and throbbed. His body ached with each movement, yet he could not find any signs of injury. He looked down at himself, his body was covered in the green hospital gown which he tore off. The dark red markings covered his entire body. His body was lean and muscular under the tattooes. He wrapped the sheet of the bed around his waist, luckily, in time as a nurse came into his room. She jumped at the sight of him and his naked chest.

The nurse hadn't expected to find this man awake. The prognosis had not been good for this patient. Last she had checked he was still in a deep coma and according to his file, was not purported to be coming out of the coma for awhile. It just seemed so unlikely, so improbable that he even could manage to stand. Now she was standing there staring at him. It didn't help that his cool green eyes seemed to stare through her. She finally found her voice, "What are you doing out of your bed?"

Shiro took a sidelong glance at her, as he began to step past her, "I need to find someone." The voice that called to him. He was drawn to the voice, but could not understand why. Maybe if he found her, she would have the answers for him. The nurse moved to stand in his way. She stood her ground and spoke curtly, "You have had a terrible ordeal. You were brought here in a coma only a few short days ago. You need to rest, you shouldn't be out of your bed yet."

"Sorry, I can't," Shiro stated, "I need to find her. Find answers."

( Thought I would also join in *jumps into the pool as well* ))

A dark figure stumbled through the trees. His long brown hair hung loosely around his tattooed face. The markings dark red against his slightly tanned skin descended down his neck and chest. He looked at his hands, the markings were there too. He braced himself against a tree for a brief respite. He was exhausted, his breathing heavy and labored. He couldn't remember why he was there. It was like a shadow dancing at the edge of his vision that he could not grasp. He remembered little; his name and his title. Shiro, Ace of Coins. Only he could not remember the significance of the title. He also remembered Paragon City, only not this one. This one was like some sort of dream.

Tyrant was a hero named Statesman. His underlings were the Freedom Phalanx and not out to kill or prove themselves against those less than them. Was he going insane. His memories. His life seems to be an illusion. He was questioning his own sanity when a passing shadow caught his attention. The tidal wave emblem on the shadow's shirt brought a light to Shiro's eyes. He recognized that symbol. It was the symbol of an Outcast. Normal guys with powers trying to stand against the combined might of Tyrant and the others.

The light quickly left Shiro's eyes as he heard the sadistic laugh of the Outcast, "What have we got here? A mask by the look of it. Guys come here" Shiro watched, slumped against the tree as three more Outcasts came into his view. His instincts kicked in. He knew he couldn't fight them all. He just didn't have the energy for it. He had little fight in him, but who knew, he might get lucky. He faced the four Outcasts and smiled grimly.

Shiro felt strangely at peace at that moment, a moment of perfect clarity. He lived for such a risk. It was a thought that flew into his mind. Risk, the laughable gamble of believing he could take on these four thugs all by himself, but at that moment it seemed like he would come out the victor. How, he could not guess, but the thought eased his mind. He felt an unknown energy well up with in him, and with nearly blinding speed he struck the first Outcaste that saw him. After that it was blur of activity that ended in darkness.

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In the darkness, Shiro fell. At least he thought he was falling. The darkness stretched on for eternity it seemed. He was alone in the darkness for what seemed like decades and then a flash of gold caught his attention. He began to fall towards it. The flash of gold grew larger, ever larger, until he could tell it was a spinning gold coin. It had a pentacle on one side and a sword on the other. It spun closer, revealing that it was about the same hieght as Shiro. As he reached out for it, it stopped spinning. The pentacle side facing him. He seemed to recognize this coin. Then the light of dawning realization hit him, it was his lucky coin.

The coin flashed brightly into his eyes, and he awoke with a start. He was laying a bed in what appeared to be a hospital. Atleast he thought it might be a hospital, he never remembered being inside one, but then he couldn't remember much.

Then he heard it. A voice in his mind.

::SHIRO!!! WHERE ARE YOU?!::

The voice was strangely familiar but he couldn't place it. He rose slowly from the bed, and looked for the voice.

1123: If my character's diety is the diety of Music. It can be a safe bet that if that character has an unreasonabe hatred for music and musicians, I will roll again.

Shiro waved at the puffball as he was being taken away. He looked up at Essex and gave her an awkward smile, all the world trying to look charming. "Wasn't doin' anythin', just lookin'," he told her as she shuffled him into the room. He went back to his bed and covered up, taking small sips from his cup.

"Gah," Shiro shouted as he tried to swat the flower from behind his ear. He shut his mouth as he realized his cloak had dropped. He spun it again and kept very silent.

Shiro grinned as the rosebush disappeared and his view became undisrupted. He watched the goings on inside the room from his vantage point of the cracked door. He sat there sipping from his sippy cup.

Shiro snickered absently as he removed an empty plastic bottle from his jacket. He sat up in his bed and took a few drinks before slidding out of bed. He cloaked himself with an energy spin and made his way out of the boys room. Smiling and chuckling to himself, he proceeded to the girls' room. He cracked the door ever so silently to peek into the room.

Shannon nodded towards the anthropomorphic bear and the cow, before moving towards the buffet. He carefully picked his food, and moved to sit next to Sasha. His eyes scanned the place, unblinkingly.

"Yesss," Shannon hissed, as he continued to stare at the gathering. His eyes unblinking took them all in, his gaze finally fell on the well dressed man again. His eyes bore into the man.

Shannon eyed the gathering and sighed. He shifted his wieght slightly as he hissed, "Asss it ssseems that one of my resssidents isss going with you. Ssso sssshall I." He waved towards the opposite alley. From the shadows appeared a woman who had strikingly familar look. She appeared to have lizard like traits; lizard tail, slightly wider spaced eyes, and her scales seemed to change color, back to a lightish green the further from the wall she walked.

Shannon spoke to her quickly, "Camille, make sssure the othersss keep thisss building ssstanding." Camille nodded and entered the building.

Shannon put a reassuring hand on Sasha's shoulder. He stared at the others, his tongue flicked out irritably. His eyes bore deep into the rich man. "Trussst isssn't sssomething that isss found or earned easssily in the Edge," he hissed.

"Ssssoundsss supicioussss," Shannon hissed, having remained in silent watch mode this whole time. His forked tongue flicked from his mouth. He remained watching the man, his snake eyes staring into the man.

"Assss ssssafe asss it get'sss 'round here," Shannon hissed, as he returned his daggers to their wrist sheathes. He looked around at all the others standing in front of the Serpent's apartments, "Sssseems my ssstoop isss quite popular today."

"Ssssure thing, Two Ton," Shannon hissed. From his sleeves he produced two eight inch daggers. They gleamed in the light as did his fangs. He began sliding the daggers against each other making, what most in the Edge know as Fang's 'Rattle', a "ssshink" sound.

Non of the needles could pierce Shannon's scales. Many just bounced harmless off. He looked at the approaching pair, his tongue flicking out. He barely acknowledged them, keeping his vision on the gang in the street.

Shannon's whispered back, his forked tongue flicking from his mouth, "I ain't gonna move from this position. Over the Edge isn't gonna do anythin' truly stupid. And I am not gonna get dusted. To smart for that. Just making sure my presence is felt on this night."

Shannon's eyes drifted to the pull on his pant leg. He shook his head at Sasha, and returned to watch Needles. He also knew Needles and the rest of the Over the Edge gang. He wasn't about to move from his turf or to hide in it either. He took a step in front of the door, more or less shielding it, and Sasha from anything.

Shannon's forked tongue flicked from his mouth, tasting the air. His eyes briefly fell to Sasha. He tried to reassure her with his eyes. He still waited poised for movement. His hand pushed open the door slightly for Sasha to enter the building. The corner of his lip curled inot a half smile, his white fang showing in the light.

Shannon walked down the hallway towards the stairwell. A couple peeked their heads out of the door, frightened. He gave them a reassuring glance. They were a kind couple, ever since he could remember, they had been nice. His family had owned the apartment complex, and since they left it to him. He now used as a makeshift homebase for his "gang". There weren't that many members, it was mostly his childhood friends. Most of the tenants had moved out but there was still some that stayed.

Shannon descended the stairs to the entrance of the apartment building. He opened the door slowly, listening for the gunshots. He flipped his greenish-brown hair out of his eyes before exiting the building. He stood in the entranceway, staring out onto the street. His infrared-receptors picked out the many heat signatures on the street. He waited, like a coiled snake he waited.

Shannon Rain, or Fang Strike as he was better known around "The Edge", lifted the leather jacket from the chair. He gave the tiny apartment one long look before throwing the jacket on. His hands slipped out of the sleeves, his snake tattoos were peeking out. He looked directly at the mirror, his reflection smiled back at him. Ever since he was thirteen, and the first time he had shed his skin, the green scales were always there.

Shannon never cursed his condition like so many others. He knew his body had mutated, gaining several attributes and aspects of snakekind. His parents had pleaded with him to use his new abilities for the good of others, he had promised them that one day he would find a way too. He smiled big at the memory, showing his fangs.

Shannon splashed some water on his face, the scales gleaming in the faint light. He turned around to head out, the gunshots ringing out from the streets below. The crimson serpent emblazeoned on the back of his jacket was the last thing that left the apartment.

(( Shannon Rain, leader of a small gang called "The Edge Serpents" ))

Xander stepped out of one of the faculty hotsprings. As the water flowed off his body, no one would guess he was well over thirty years of age. He didn't look to be any older than twenty. He toweled himself off, as he sighed in relaxation. He redresssed in his loose fitting pants and trenchcoat. Shouldering his staff again, he made his way towards his quarters. His eyes shifted towards the students about to have some fun. He cracked a small smile as he entered his quarters.

Xander's quarters were small and simplistic. He slipped on the Tempest robes and went out to watch the new batch of students.