Sooner

Book III - Part I is up now.

Part XX

....I can't believe how long this thing is.

Part XX

Crowne Memorial Hospital
Sooner Red stood with her sisters around the design Rory Flynn had painted on the carpet, while the rest of the team hovered nearby. Cherished, the Ghost who had volunteered to stand guard over Colleen, watched from just outside the hospital room.

"He said we needed the ring and a drop of blood from each of us," the youngest sister said.

Caryn shook her head. "But what do we DO with it? Drop it on the design? Put it on the ring? Smear it on our faces and dance naked?" Come ON!"

Cyd held the ring in the fingers of her right hand. "He didn't tell us enough, but we have to do something. I think we put the blood ON the ring"

"But how does that activate the portal?" Cerise argued. "It has to be the portal, I'm sure of it."

Caryn's anxiety was obvious. "Can't we just try both and if one doesn't work, the other will?"

Witch-Frost offered up, "Magic can be complex. If you do it the wrong way, it may have rather unpleasant consequences."

"Witch is right," Cydney agreed. "But we have to try something. Ok.... we'll each put a drop of blood on the ring. I think that has to be it. He said 'with the ring and a drop of blood...' The two things are together... That has to be what he meant."

Cerise shook her head. She was certain it was supposed to be a drop of blood from each into the portal, but she didn't want to waste the time arguing. If Cyd's plan didn't work, they could try it the other way next. Instead, she summoned her red blades of magic. "Just a drop now," she suggested.

Cyd and Caryn each poked a fingertip on the glowing blades and Cerise followed. In her anxiety, Cerise jabbed more firmly than necessary, and blood welled up freely from her fingertip.

"Here we go," Cyd said. "Everyone be ready to move fast, I don't know how long this will stay open."

"We're ready to go, Sooner," Glacius9 said.

Cerise bit at her lower lip as Cyd dabbed a drop of blood onto the first of the red stones. Caryn followed Cyd's lead and tapped her finger onto the middle stone. A mass of butterflies swirled in Cerise's belly. Later, she would wish she'd listened to her gut. For now, she just followed her sisters' lead and dabbed her blood on the third stone. For a moment, nothing happened at all. Then a sluggish spark of magic formed around the ring. It reached out and touched each of the three sisters, then seemed to fall quiet again.

"Nothing happened!" Caryn protested.

Then, though no one was aware of it, the blood welling from Cerise's finger dropped. It sparkled in the light of the lobby as the dormant magic in the design reached out for it, hungry for any taste of ó Floinn blood. The drop of blood splashed into the design and the magic flared to life, reaching for the ring smeared with blood as well. The quiescent magic still waiting in the ring and the magic partially awakened in the portal reached for each other. When they met, it formed a glowing, sparking sphere of magic hovering it mid air. It began to swirl, twisting and reaching for the sisters ó Floinn. It grabbed Cerise first and dragged her inside the design, then Caryn and finally Cydney. The abrupt motion startled Cyd so much that she lost her grip on the ring and it tumbled down. Ahren was closest and he made a quick lunging grab for it. His fist closed on the ring just as the magic flared.

When the light faded, Sooner Spirit, Sooner Magic, Sooner Red and Ahren were gone.

Glacius9 blinked, his eyes still seeing stars from the magical light show, but then he realized what had happened. His friends were gone into danger and with only half the force they'd had planned. He turned to Witch-Frost. The self-described sorceress wore a stunned expression on her pale face. "Re-open that portal, Witch! Now!" Kheldian energy was leaking from his eyes and fists, displaying his agitation.

Witch-Frost turned to him, her face somber. "I can't Glacius." She held up a hand when he started to protest. "I don't have the ring. I don't have blood of the 'sisters ó Floinn.' I don't have the knowledge, and I don't have the design," she gestured to the place on the carpet, as pristine and clean as if nothing had ever been there. "I can't do it."

"Dammit!" Glacius stalked away murmured some of the worst profanities he knew. He knew he was hoping for the impossible, but he couldn't stand the idea of leaving his friends in danger without even trying.

Rastafari Man plopped down on one of the cushioned chairs. "This sucks. I guess we'll wait? They'll be back."

Witch-Frost shook her head sorrowfully at Glacius as she pulled a battered notebook from her pack. "Perhaps.... I can figure something out." She settled into a chair and began intently studying her own meticulously kept notes in her tiny, precise handwriting.

"They'll be back," Zemuron agreed, and sat as well, "but either way, we're stuck waiting."

Glacius perched on the arm of an overstuffed chair, fidgeting and agitated. "So... we wait." He glanced down the hall to where Cherished still stood. "At least we can keep their mother safe while they're gone.

Ben's Cell
"Benjamin! Wake up!

Ben reluctantly opened his eyes to the dank dark stone of his prison. The glowing form of Grandfather crouched before him. "What is it?" Ben asked. He sat up, stiff, sore, hungry. As usual.

"It is nearly time, young man."

Ben frowned, confused and groggy. "Time for what?

"They are coming. You are as ready as I can make you. But you have one thing left to learn."

Ben struggled to his feet. "Ok. What is it?"

"What happened to you. Ben, you need to know what happened to you."

Ben arched both brows high, surprised and, for some reason, suddenly very nervous. "How I ended up here? How I pissed a demon off this bad? Why I can't remember?"

"All of those. Come here, youngster and look." Grandfather gestured at a standing pool of brackish water a few feet across. Grandfather cast a sympathetic look at him. "Some of this will be difficult, Benjamin."

"Alright. Show me. I'd rather know."

With a gesture, the water cleared and an image formed. Ben couldn't stop a smile. It was Caryn. Her green eyes were warm as she cocked her head at him, and her lips spread in a smile as if she'd just started to appreciate a joke. He reached out his fingers, filled with longing to touch her face, even it if was just an image, but Grandfather swatted at him. "Don't ripple the water, youngster!" he snapped.

Ben nodded, and the image pulled back. Ben could see himself sitting there in Caryn's apartment. They were studying, or rather, they were flirting, with textbooks and notes scattered around. It made him smile, but it also filled him with a longing painful in its intensity. "Do you remember this night, Ben?" Grandfather asked.

"I do." Ben answered. "We were just starting out."

"What happened next?"

He watched Caryn's image glance at the door. "Those sorority chicks showed up and..." His smile faded when he saw the beautiful, expensive blonde push into the apartment. "Caryn threw them out." The sight of the blonde made his insides twist up in a nauseous knot.

"The demon and the pretty mind witches both meddled with you Ben." The image shifted to a dark night and a trio of Ciara's imps - creatures he was now very familiar with - pushing a trash dumpster out of place so that when Ben jumped into his truck and pulled out, he slammed into it. And he saw himself in the student union food court when that blonde approached him, and then lead him out.

"Hey!" Ben protested. "What was that?! I don't remember that!"

"That one.... took your mind and made it hers. She could call you at will and control you." The images that flashed across the pool then could have been from a porno - one of the darker and twisted ones that would have been wrapped in plain paper in the back of the adult store. Ben couldn't imagine doing some of the things he saw himself doing there - with the blonde.

"What did.... why? Why did she do that?"

"To hurt your woman. You were used because Caryn Nation made an enemy of that one. Watch now, Benjamin. You will not like it."

He watched, somber and heartsick as he watched Caryn throw him out of her apartment. He remembered a bit of that. He'd been so confused, but angry that she wouldn't listen to him. But the next day, on the street... he didn't remember that at all. And the look on Caryn's face when he walked away from her to get into the blonde's car put a wound on his heart.

"I don't understand, Grandfather," Ben started.

"Shh! Watch. You need to understand this."

"I don't understand ANYTHING!"

"Shhh!"

Ben's emotions were in a roil as he turned back to the pool. He didn't recognize himself. It was his face, his body, but moving like a zombie and closing on Caryn. "NO!" he shouted when he saw himself punch her. "NO!" he screamed again, helpless and horrified, as he watched himself beat her into the mud. He turned to glare at grandfather. "Why are you showing me this?! Did I kill her? Is she ok?"

"Watch, young man. Watch."

He wanted to scream and yell again, but instead he watched his own body kicking at Caryn. He watched his booted foot crush her hand, reaching as if for help, into the cold mud. Furious and helpless tears welled in his eyes, and he thought at first that was what was blurring and swirling the image. But.. no... something was happening. Light and magic was pouring into Caryn. And then she got to her feet and began to fight back. And when it was over, it was Ben laying on the ground and Caryn walking away. "I don't understand," he said. The story continued playing out until the imps dragged him away and he met Ciara for the first time, confused and convinced he was trapped in a nightmare.

"THAT is what happened to you, Ben. Your mind was not yours, you were not in control of your own actions. You were used by two beings who wanted to hurt Caryn Nation. They succeeded. She was hurt, hurt to her soul. But she lived. She thrived, in fact. And she is on her way here."

"No! NO no no! She can't come here!"

"She must. It's what she was born for. What she and her sisters were born for. You have to be ready. They will need you."

"There has to be another way. I can't stand the idea of her being here." He was still reeling from the image of himself hurting Caryn. It made him want to vomit.

"This is what must happen. She is coming here, and you must be ready to help." And then Grandfather looked upwards and for first time since Ben met his glowing ancestor, the spirit looked worried. "They are coming. But something is wrong."

Nukes acquired.

Also... this is TODAY!!!

Part XX is now up, wrapping up Six-Four's storyline.

Part XX

Conall's Lair
Six-Four and his team plowed through the Hellions trying to bar their way. Quinlan took the lead as if she'd always been part of the team. Her fists glowed with a vivid white shining like a beacon in the dim light of the cave-like tunnels. She powered her way through the masses of Hellions, chattering away at them as if engaging in witty banter at a party. When they'd turn to face her, they bared their backs to Rosemarie's and Pipe Hitter's swords and Six-Four's knives, not to mention Ici Colds blasts of pure ice. Six recognized Quin's fighting style immediately and smiled. Assuming everyone lived through the day, he'd be sure to let Vir know he'd trained young Quinlan well.

He'd been concerned that Pipe Hitter would just get more erratic as they entered Conall's lair, but instead he'd settled down and become more focused. He was solid and steady and Six was confident that he could count on the younger man. At least until they found Moon Dancer.

"What IS that?!" Rosemarie suddenly yelled.

Quinlan turned, and her eyes got wide. "Zombies!" she yelled. "And a... ah... itty bitty demon!"

Six fought his way to the corner and peered around. A half dozen zombies, complete with foul odor and rotten bits dropping off were shambling up the tunnel. Behind them was a tiny red-skinned demon, peering into the tunnel and flinging fire at the heroes.

"Y'all hang back a bit, if ya please," Quin asked quietly.

"That's the demon that was with Dancer when she was taken!" Pipe Hitter called out. "Not the big one, the other one."

Six nodded. "Just stay together and keep advancing, and keep an eye out for Conall Cian!" he said.

There was no end to the zombies. As soon as one fell under his blades, another shambled up the tunnel. Six didn't allow himself to consider the foulness he was hacking through, he just kept moving forward.

He lost count of the number of dead things he fought before he found himself facing a larger one, more intact, less rotten. It wore rusted armor, shards of chain mail dangling from it, and a dented helmet sitting atop its fractured skull. With teeth grit, Six began hacking away at it. Fighting zombies wasn't like fighting anything living. They didn't' flinch, they didn't scare, they didn't feel pain. They didn't stop coming until they were no longer physically able. For that reason, Six shifted his focus to the joints of the arms and legs - deprive them of their joints, and they were no longer a real threat.

Claws and rusty swords, as well as fire from the demon below, pounded at him, but he was used to ignoring injuries and letting his mutant healing abilities take care of it. He hacked at the zombie's knees, at it's elbows and shoulders, and finally a blow to the knee paid off. The zombie collapsed, but his right hand blade was stuck in the armor. He tugged and pulled, but it wouldn't come loose. He had to let it go to dodge a fireball directed at his head. He snarled and grasped the hilt of his remaining knife with both hands, severing the zombie's head. With a curse and a slight pang of regret for the fine steel, he tossed the remaining blade aside and drew his Vanguard blades. The weapons made of shimmering light wouldn't get caught!

---

Trix glared sullenly at Arano where he stood safely out of sight. His zombies shuffled off down the hall, but their master was safe. Not like Trix, forced to expose herself to danger. She crept up the tunnel, keeping to the shadows, trying to stay hidden while still joining in the fight.

The human called Six-Four was there, Conall hated that one. She watched him fighting and thought he fought well. Perhaps if she were lucky, he'd kill Arano for her. She was watching when the falling Grave Knight took Six-Four's knife from him, and when he tossed the other away. She slunk forward, now keeping entirely to the shadows. She wrapped her clawed hand around the blade stuck in the zombie's armor, and yanked, but it would not come free, no matter how she tugged at it. Finally, she scampered forward and grabbed the other, the one Six-Four had tossed aside. Then, with her prize in hand, she scampered back down the hall and was therefor the first of Conall's allies to see that her former plaything, the human prisoner, was free. Trix raised a brow at the four dark energy beings trailing after the human.

And that's when things got very exciting. The human saw Spinedancer and bellowed "You! Did you enjoy hurting me when I was helpless? Did you like that?" The human blasted dark energy and Spinedancer was suddenly surrounded by black, greasy tentacles.

Spinedancer whirled and Trix could see that she recognized instantly what had happened. "NOOOOooooO!" Spiny screeched. "It's mine! It's mine and you can't have it! IT'S M-I-N-E!!!" Still battling the tentacles, Spiny called her own dark servant and launched a vicious assault on the human, completely disregarding the attacking team behind her. "It's not FAIR! You can't have my power and be b-e-u-t-i-f-u-l too!!!" Spiny stopped dead for just a moment, shock clear on her face.

Moon Dancer shook her head. "it's my power now. But here, I'll give some of it back to you!" She tossed another blast of darkness at Spiny, "And besides, you crazy sadistic *****, I am b-e-A-u-t-i-f-u-l."

Spinedancer screamed as fury from some long remembered slight washed over her. Trix's eyes widened. The already unstable human seemed to have become completely unhinged.

From the other end of the tunnel, one of the humans bellowed "DANCER!! DANCER! She's there! I see her! She's alive!"

"Steady, Hitter," Six-Four cautioned, but all the humans pressed the attack.

And Arano.... Arano could not keep up with the slaughter of his zombies. Trix watched and waited. She could clearly foresee how this fight would go. It would be different if Conall were here. If Conall led them, they might have won. But the Heroes were eight strong - nine if she included the prisoner - and they would overwhelm the Hellions in short order. Spinedancer would defeat the pretty human - Trix's human plaything might be full of power now, but her long torment would take its toll. She couldn't sustain a fight for long. But even then, it would be eight heroes against Trix, Spiny, and Arano. The end of that was inevitable. The heroes would win. Conall's allies would attempt to flee, but would most likely be overrun, captured, and unable to go to his aid. It was not acceptable. She would alter the equation.

She could have helped Arano, but she chose not to. It would not suit her plan. He began to show the strain, and finally he bellowed, "Excruciatrix! Where are you, you worthless imp!"

She slunk out of the shadows. "I'm here, Arano," she answered.

"I need your help! I can't keep them at bay any more!"

"Of course, Arano," she agreed. She darted closer to him, then behind him and crouched. She began to feed him her energy, let him call more zombies and send them up the hall. It would delay the humans. She watched everything. Spinedancer and Moon Dancer were completely focused on each other, the dark servants swirling around them both. The Hellions were mostly down or had run away. The invaders were distracted by the zombies and the few remaining Hellions.

She grasped Six-Four's blade in both her tiny hands and focused her burning eyes on a spot just to the inside of Arano's right kidney. Her hobbies had given her a thorough knowledge of anatomy and she knew just where she wanted the knife to go. She powered herself up from the floor, thrusting both her hands forward as she rose. The knife plunged into Arano's back with every dram of power she could wring from her tiny body. Arano arched back, too surprised to even cry out, and once the blade sliced into his diaphragm, he was unable to draw enough air to do more than gasp. Trix twisted the knife and pivoted the tip back and forth. Six-Four cared well for his blades. It was like a razor, and it cut through Arano's vitals as if they were butter.

Arano collapsed back onto her, still unable to cry out as his blood began to pour out of him. She scrambled free and met his dark, shocked eyes with her own. She smiled as she licked his blood from her claws, savoring it. "I wish I had more time for you, foul ghoul. I would pay you back for every slight and every blow ten fold. Alas, I do not." She grasped the blade again, and sliced into his throat, indulging herself only so far as to make the cut as slowly as possible. The pain in his eyes did not last nearly long enough to satisfy her. Not nearly long enough at all.

Once that was done, she waited just until Moon Dancer staggered and dropped to one knee. Spiny pressed the attack and, as Trix had foreseen, the blonde human collapsed to the floor, too exhausted to continue the fight. Spiny dashed forward, prepared to finish with fists and feet, but Trix darted to her then. She tugged at Spiny's sleeve. "Spiny! It is too late! We must flee!" she cried. She pointed up the tunnel, and it was clear that the heroes were just moments away. "The back entrance! Quick Spiny!"

Fury and denial washed over Spiny's face, then she turned to see how close the heroes were. She flinched with fear, but it was dark bitter resentment that settled into her eyes. "NOOOO!" she screamed, and kicked the blonde one last time before she ran. As she fled, Trix heard her say over and over, "B-e-A-u-t-i-f-u-l! B-e-A-u-t-i-f-u-l! B-e-A-u-t-i-f-u-l!"

And now it was just Trix and the heroes. She knew if she and Spiny both fled, the heroes would pursue, and Trix might still not get away. No, let Spiny run. Trix had another plan. She moved quickly to crouch over the fallen human's body. "You stop, now, Heroes," she said, her doll's voice carrying clearly over the fading sounds of battle. She held Six-Four's knife tight in one tiny hand, and she saw his eyes go dark when he recognized it. She watched the way that ones wounds healed. She could play with him.... for a very long time. She smiled, but she had other things to worry about just then. She touched the tip of the blade to the human's belly. "Stop now, or I kill this one. You like this one, no? She is pretty." Her tail flicked back and it's barbed point trailed over the human's face and lifted a lock of her hair. "She is sweet."

"Six?" Quinlan asked. "What do you want me to do?"

"Hold there," Six-Four said. "Where is Conall Cian? Why isn't he here?" he demanded of Trix.

"He is elsewhere. And you are fortunate that he is, or it might be you to be my next plaything...." She cocked her head at him. "I think I would like that."

Six was both relieved and disappointed that he wouldn't face the big demon again, and more than a little disturbed by the frank speculation in the little demon's face. "Ok. What do you want?" he said to Trix.

"You take this one, leave this place. And leave me in peace," she said.

"She's one of the ones who TOOK Dancer in the first place," a young man holding a long sword spat out.

"I did," Trix answered. "I tricked her so that Conall could take her. And now I will be the one to kill her. Unless you let me go free. Unless you leave here now. I will give you this one's life in return. Just let me go."

The humans were silent. The knife-wielder, Six-Four glanced back at his companions. The younger man was dark and angry, but it was a darker hair woman who resembled Trix's plaything who stepped forward. "Yes. Yes yes. Let her go. You can go, just... get away from Moon Dancer."

Trix looked at the humans, studied them carefully. All was for nothing if they would not keep their bargain. "We have a bargain, humans? You will take her and go, you will leave me in peace?"

Six-Four lifted his chin and she could see he didn't like it. And that made her believe him when he said, "We have a bargain. Get away from her. And you had better hope we never meet again."

Trix smiled and sidled away from the fallen human. "Take her. And you should hope the same."

She backed away, always keeping her eyes on the humans. She had walked away from her bargaining chip. If they wanted to break their bargain, this would be the moment. But they did not. The large human woman came forward first, standing between Moon Dancer and Trix. She glared at Trix with icy blue eyes while Six-Four helped the younger man lift the fallen woman. Trix watched them leave, entertaining herself with what she could do with a human who could regenerate damage as fast as she could cause it.

Once they were gone, she concentrated on spinning magical energies as she'd seen Conall do. She forced it to form the shapes she wanted. It took more time and far more energy than she'd expected, but finally a small portal opened. She peered through it and experimentally poked a claw at it. She glanced again around Conall Cian's ruined lair, smiled triumphantly at Arano's still and lifeless body, and then stepped through into the heart of Ciara Banenighe's prison, tossing Six-Four's bloody knife behind her as she left.

I always hoped you'd finish this story!

+1 rep,***** (5 gold stars), 2 thumbs up, and all that stuff.

Villain side? Ok.

I'll be there.

And.... part XIX is up.

Book II - Part XIX

Ghosts Reborn Base
Glacius9 surveyed the quiet and somber conference room. Like the calm in the eye of a hurricane, energy and violence waited. Twenty-four heroes assembled in three groups on one side, those staying behind curved in an arc around them. Six-Four stood with his group. The suspended Ghost was still trying to put up a confident front for his two young friends, but Conall Cian was one of the most dangerous foes of the Ghosts and he was taking his group right into Conall's lair. Vir was grim-faced and focused with his group. They were going into the very heart of Praetoria - a dimension which had spawned some of the worst enemies of their entire world. And Sooner Spirit, with her sisters and friends gathered round, was going after a demon who had plagued her family for centuries. Something in her expression suggested she didn't think they would be returning. Perhaps it was the grief already in her eyes as her gaze passed over each of her friends.

Young Sooner Red was saying a rather impassioned goodbye to Jagged Fortune. That young man was expressing great regret that he hadn't been picked to go with them, but Glacius noted that Jagged hadn't even put himself forward. He noted it, but put it aside as a young man's bluster - Jagged had been pursuing the youngest Sooner for some time, he was likely just trying to score a few more points with her.

He glanced over the those who would stay behind and smiled. If they all fell, if no one returned, the Ghosts would go on just fine. Grieving, yes, but they'd go on just fine.

"We're ready," Sooner Spirit said with a glance at her watch. "We should go."

Glacius stood and all eyes turned to him. He pointed one hand at the group staying behind. "Ghosts! You have better things to do than stand around here with your hands in your pockets! We have our jobs to do, you have yours. See to the City, she still has need of her heroes."

A chorus of cheers and acknowledgements rose from the group. If it seemed a little forced, at least they recognized the need. Sooner Spirit ducked her head, hiding her sad smile in her hood. She understood what Glacius had just done. Six-Four nodded, and Vir called out a deep "Ghosts Reborn!" as he hefted a duffel loaded with supplies.

"Let's go, Ghosts." Sooner Spirit called out. She paused for just a moment, watching as Vir started his journey to Portal Corp and then Praetoria, and Six-Four lead his group towards Kings Row and Conall Cian's lair. She sighed, wondering how many of her friends and family were coming back from their journeys. Then she nodded and started her way back to Crowne Memorial and then into the presence of the Beast.

Portal Corp
Tina MacIntyre looked both surprised and pleased when Vir arrived at the head of a full team of Ghosts Reborn in their blue on white costumes. The mid-morning sun flashed off the bright white of their capes. She smiled when the big man stopped in front of her, despite the grim look on his face.

"You know where you're going, then?" she asked.

"Praetoria," he answered shortly. He knew none of this was really her fault, but how much time could have been saved if she'd just told him what he needed to know the first time he'd asked. He handed her a scrap of paper with the coordinates he wanted.

"Meet me inside," she said, glancing at the paper. "You're the next ones through."

Minutes later, Vir and his team stood in front of a bright, whirling portal. Tina Mac was carefully checking and rechecking her numbers. Vir turned to his team. "My friends, I do not know exactly what awaits us or what my father is involved with in Praetoria, but..." He paused, drawing in a long, slow breath, and meeting each of their eyes before he continued. "As always we are Ghosts. We go in together, we come home together. No one is left behind." For a moment a pained expression washed over his face, "Thank you, each of you, for your help." He inhaled deeply and drew himself up like a general before his men, "Let's roll, Ghosts."

"Good luck, Vir!" Tina called. "And Ghosts! Come back to us safe!"

Vir nodded and stepped through. The light flared around him. He tried not to think about the physics involved in traveling to another dimension and instead focused on prepping for the battle that could be waiting on the other side.

It always felt like you stumbled just a bit when arriving through a portal. Like there was one more unexpected half-step at the bottom of a short flight of stairs. Vir got his feet set under him and looked up, ready for whatever might come at him. And blinked.

Bright and pretty and clean were the first words that came to mind. Also, calm and peaceful. A few people quietly and serenely walked the streets. One glanced at Vir and his team and then hurriedly looked away, as if he didn't want to even notice them. This was not at all what he'd expected. This place was prosperous. It was ... pristine.

Lilac Pendragon gasped suddenly. He turned towards his old friend. Her expression would have been at home on a mouse right after a hawk's shadow passed over it. Her psychic abilities made her a formidable combatant, and her sensitivity to the environment had been of benefit to his teams for years. But he didn't remember when he'd seen her look so frightened. Neely put a hand on her shoulder, but it was Celestial Nav who spoke. "What's wrong, Lilac?"

"Something just... touched my mind." Lilac said. She sidled closer to Vir and looked up at him. "Vir.... this place.... this place is just.... wrong."

***and here the story of Vir's search for his brother Seamus will pause. We will return to it in a few months, I promise. But until we get a better look at Praetoria, just know that Vir and friends are hard at work trying to find Seamus before something horrible befalls him. ---my apologies... but consider it a summer hiatus. I'd rather get it right than guess and get it all wrong.

Conall's Lair
Spinedancer poured more energy (e-n-e-r-g-y) into the stupid hero. She would prove herself, she would! But this oh-so-pretty girl stood in her way. She wouldn't win! Spiny couldn't let her win. She KNEW if she kept at it, she could make the hero answer Conall's questions (q-u-e-s-t-i-o-n-s). Everything came so easy to the pretty ones. They always won. They always got what they wanted. Never had to work at it like Spiny did. Never had to stand aside to watch those who had nothing (n-o-t-h-i-n-g ) else going for them but lucky genes get what they wanted again and again. Pretty blue eyes, pretty blonde hair. Not so pretty now with the eyes all red from crying and the hair all stringy and matted! She wouldn't get so far if people saw her now! They might just laugh at HER if they saw her now. Go ahead! Cry more! Spiny thought.

But still the hero didn't answer. And Spiny wouldn't allow herself to consider (c-o-n-s-i-d-e-r) that she might lose. No, she would win! Stupid pretty blonde girl! She wasn't better than Spiny! She wasn't! If she wasn't all helpless (h-e-l-p-l-e-s-s) and scared, if they were on the street, she would probably laugh at Spiny. Spiny could see it so clearly in her head. She'd be walking along with her pretty friends, and they'd look at Spiny. Then their eyes would slide off her like she wasn't even there. Then... then... they'd whisper (w-h-i-s-p-e-r) to each other and laugh, and then walk by, pretending they never even saw her. Well, the stupid ***** saw Spiny now!

With her burst of anger, Spinedancer poured even more darkness (d-a-r-k-n-e-s-s) into the hero. And that's when something changed. The stupid hero went limp. She stopped crying and moaning and sobbing. She stopped pulling and writhing and twitching. For a moment, Spiny was afraid she'd killed the hero. But then the pretty blonde drew a deep breath. Her eyes opened and she looked at Spiny.

---

Moon Dancer was lost in a tumultuous sea of the darkest of human emotions. Despair, hate, panic, shame, guilt, grief washed over her mind and tumbled her helplessly and hopelessly ever deeper. Her body was awash with weakness and nausea, thirst and hunger. There was no pain, not like before with the little demon. No... this was like trying to breath in a room where all the oxygen had been sucked out or clinging to the edge of a cliff where the soil was crumbling away. Like being stuck at the bottom of a well very slowly sinking into the cold mud. No, there was no pain, but the pain had almost been better. At least she could understand it. This was... pure misery and she just wanted it to end.

Moon Dancer and her sister Rosemarie were born of a family that had the ability to access magic. There were no spells or rituals involved, simply an ability to sense the ebb and flow of magical energies and manipulate those energies at will. Before being taken by Conall Cian, Moon Dancer had been as near a pure and innocent soul as a human can be, and her magic reflected that. There was no harm in her. But now, at a level she was not yet aware of, the dark magic being poured into her was changing her. She had never even touched dark energy before, but now it was filling her, opening pathways to new magic she'd never used before.

Moon Dancer was lost. But suddenly something changed inside and all the dark energy flowing into her stopped hurting her and started energizing her. Somehow, the horrifying demon had blocked her from using the magic she normally used. But this energy was hers to take. Her wide blue eyes popped open.

---

Trix noted that the emotions washing off the human were starting to fade. She was sure she could make them strong. Just one claw and she could make the human sing again. But Arano was watching her. Vile thing that he was, he wouldn't allow her near the human. She hunched in on herself, wishing he would go away, but he did not. Trix slunk further into the shadows and looked back up at the human. Something had changed. The emotions were different. Was she dying? No.... not dying. And the magical energies were different as well. Trix realized what had happened - the dark magic wasn't hurting her any more, it was powering her - just a moment before Moon Dancer's eyes popped open. She stood to cry a warning, and that's when the noise erupted from the lair's entrance. For a moment, Trix thought that somehow the human had caused the door to fly open, but.. no... one of Conall's pet human Hellions raced down the hallway crying warning, "HEROES! Heroes are here!"

The room erupted into motion. Arano kicked at Trix with his foot. "Get up there, fool imp, and help defend Conall's home!" he ordered, as if she wouldn't have done exactly that.

Arano began calling the dead, and Trix wrinkled her nose. She noticed Spinedancer was staring in surprise at the human, and wondered if Spiny realized that the human had just become a danger. "Spiny! Come! Come! We have to fight off the heroes!"

Spinedancer turned to Trix and nodded sullenly. "You're going to answer me," she growled at the human, "if I have to w-r-i-n-g the answers from you with my bare hands!" and darted up the hallway with Trix.

---

Moon Dancer watched her tormentors leave the room with great relief, but she was still bound, still unable to free herself. And she was filled with power, it roared through her, but she didn't know what do with it.

Movement caught her eye and she saw one of the Hellions was still in the room with her. He slunk out of the shadows, studying her. She froze, watching the way his eyes traveled over her body. He reached out with one hand. With a smile that had no friendliness in it at all, he said "I really hope you make it through all this, I hope they let you live." His fingers draped over her ankle. He stepped closer, his fingers trailing up her leg. "It would be a shame to waste a fine piece of *** like yours, baby."

"No." she said, shaking her head.

He laughed, and leaned forward over her. "Relax, babe. You ain't goin nowhere."

"NO!" The dark energy burst out of her and her bonds shattered. The darkness pulsed out of her in a dark wave. The Hellion was tossed from his feet and slammed into the wall. Behind her, the power began to coalesce into dark beings that vaguely resembled human forms. Their red glowing eyes fixed on Moon Dancer.

The Hellion started to stand, shaking his head. Moon Dancer screamed at him "NOOOO!!" and unleashed a blast of dark energy at him. He hit the wall again, this time with an audible crack! of a skull smashing into rock. His body jittered for a moment, then he collapsed. The dark forms, four of them - beings made of dark energy, circled her protectively, so it took her a moment to see the blood pooling around the Hellion's head. She screamed again when she realized she'd killed the Hellion, but couldn't bring herself to feel genuine regret for anything but her own loss of innocence.

Happy birthday to one of my best friends.

<3!!!

...commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in military service.

My family has always had a military tradition - both my parents were Air Force officers.

This is picture of my grandfather and his siblings (my grandfather is the man on the right):


So... for everyone who has served and lost their lives, I say thanks.

And to all the veterans out there, friends, family, acquaintances, and everyone else.

Thank you very much for your service.

Welcome.

Part XVIII is up.

Part XVIII

Ghosts Reborn base
"EVERYONE SETTLE DOWN!!!" Glacius9 yelled into chaos of the Ghosts Reborn conference room. Energy and nerves were running high and hot. Sooner Spirit and Sooner Red, both full of dark resolve, had arrived back at the base with Ahren just moments before Vir stomped in full of anger. The urgent need of both groups galvanized the Ghosts and spurred them into furious action. They quickly realized that they needed to send their best out, but with two separate teams. While some more junior members were scrambling to help both teams assemble, a loud and vigorous argument was forming over who was joining whom. Not that Vir and the Nation sisters were arguing, no... the membership of the Ghosts were falling all over themselves in their eagerness to help out. When a few squabbles refused to die down, Glacius released three puffs of bright white Kheldian energy. The balls floated upward, their brightness casting stark shadows in the room, then the three burst against the ceiling in a trio of loud POOFs! All eyes turned to Glacius.

"Ghosts! We can't all go, and this arguing is just delaying both teams."

"Schoolyard draft?" Ici Cold offered as a suggestion.

"This isn't a schoolyard, and we're not playing tetherball. No. I suggest we put the people most used to working together back together. No shakedown time that way."

"That puts me and Nav with Vir," Neely called out.

"And me as well," Lilac Pendragon said, suiting action to words by moving to stand with Vir.

"Ahren naturally enough goes with the Sooners," Glacius said, "And Sooner Magic and I certainly saw plenty of trouble together. I'll go with the sisters as well."

"I'm going with Sooner!" called a voice from the back of the room. A tall hero in green pushed his way through the crowd. Before the protests could even begin to rise, Rastafari Man argued, "No, I'm NOT a Ghost. I'm still going."

"I called him," Sooner Spirit said.

"Fair enough," Glacius answered.

Red-skinned Zemuron pushed his way through. "I'm going with Sooner."

"I'm with Sooner as well," Witch-Frost offered.

"Thanks, Zem, Frosty," Sooner answered.

The two teams were quickly filled out, much to the chagrin of the those members not selected. Sooner Spirit was in her red leather and cape, Sooner Red in her leather and skirt, and they had packed a bag with Sooner Magic's red leather costume as well. Vir had his own team ready, each with a heavy bag of supplies, when another Ghost stuck her head in the conference room wearing a concerned expression on her pretty face. "Ahren? Ahren! Ah.... Six-Four is at the door. He wants to talk to you. He says it's life or death urgent."

Ahren cast a glance at Sooner Spirit. "Five minutes, Sooner. Then we're on our way."

---
It hurt more than Six-Four was willing to admit to ask for admittance to the Ghosts Base rather than just walk on in. It hurt a bit more when he realized how long it was taking to answer his request. But finally the door buzzed open and Six entered with Pipe Hitter and Rosemarie. Quinlan stood there, tall and athletic, pretty like the girl next door - if the girl next door could have been a college linebacker. She looked profoundly uncomfortable to be in the presence of the Ghosts’ prodigal son.

“I… ah…. Ahren is waiting for you in the library. I’ll take you there.”

“I know the way,” Six answered and took two steps before the young woman, suddenly looking every bit a Ghost Reborn protecting her home, stepped in his way.

“I’ll take you there, Six.”

Six couldn’t quite keep the bitterness from his face. “Ok, suit yourself,” he answered.

He felt as if every eye was on him as they walked the halls that had once welcomed him, but kept his head up and his shoulders back. He glanced at his young companions and smiled a bit at the expressions on their faces. Their first time in a base housing a large, well funded super group. Even in the face of their worry for Dancer, they were both impressed as they walked along the halls, and both stopped dead in their tracks when they entered the library.

Ahren was dressed in full battle gear and a very grim expression. “Six, it’s good to see you again,” he said, “but this is an extremely bad time. I was one my way out with Sooner and her sisters to-”

“It’s Conall Cian, Ahren,” Six interrupted.

One eyebrow lifted, and Ahren’s expression changed to cautious interest. “Ok, you have my attention. What about him?”

“He’s got my-” Pipe Hitter burst out, then stopped. “He took Moon Dancer!”

Before Ahren could ask, Six answered the question, “Moon Dancer is their partner. A sweet, innocent girl and the ******* took her because… well… because of me.”

Once again Ahren’s face changed, and his green eyes flicked to Rosemarie and then to Pipe Hitter. “I’ve very sorry to hear that. You have to know that she’s probably-”

Six interrupted again, ignoring Ahren's spark of irritation. “Ahren, bud… I KNOW where he is. He’s got a hole right in the middle of ****** Kings Row! Kings Row! We could take him! He’s away from the safety of the Shade’s base. We could take him out, Ahren!”

“Kings Row….” Ahren marveled softly, then shook his head. “I would REALLY like to help you, Six… but I can’t. There’s too much going down right now. We've got trouble coming at us from all sides - Sooner and her sisters, Vir, it’s just not possible.”

“Ahren, she’ll die,” Six leaned forward, speaking softly and urgently. “you don’t know this girl. We can’t let him have her. It’s not right.” He sighed, “He took her because of me, Ahren. He took her ... to get to me.”

“I really wish I could-” Ahren started.

“You know what? **** you!” Pipe Hitter yelled suddenly. “Some hero you are, not able to spare the time to help a girl in trouble! Who needs you!” Pipe Hitter turned to stalk away.

Rosemarie stepped forward then, her expression earnest and sincere. “Please help us. My friend’ll go after her, and if this demon is as bad as Six says he is, I’ll lose both of them. Please help us.”

“Don’t waste your time, Rosemarie,” Pipe hitter spat. “He’s probably got a publicity event scheduled for later. He’s got no time for our little problems.”

“Woah-woah-woah!” Six burst in. “That’s enough of that. If Ahren can’t help us, it’s because he has something worse going on. “ Six paused for a moment, trying to imagine what could be worst than Conall Cian. “We’ll find another way.”

“Wait a minute, Six.” Ahren sighed. “I can’t go… but we’ve got a lot of Ghosts here. I bet I can find you some help.”

“The strength of the wolf is the pack?” Six said with a little smile.

“Exactly right,” Ahren agreed. He glanced at his watch and winced. "Six, I've got a room full of heroes mad cause they're not going with Sooner or Vir. I'll get you a team no problem." Ahren cast a evaluating eye on Pipe Hitter and Rosemarie. "I think young Quinlan will be a good start for your team. And you can tell me what you know about Conall Cian and his lair while we find you a few more."

Conall's Lair
Excruciatrix was filled with longing as she watched Spinedancer work. It was like an artist standing before a lovely view with no paint or canvas while another paints. It wasn't that Spinedancer wasn't talented - no, the things she did were inspiring, it was just that Trix was denied doing it herself. That, and there was no blood. She so wanted to see the human's blood again, thought the struggling and whimpering were very good, too.

She couldn't help herself. She crept forward. Like a table full of food denied to someone starving. Like a pool of cool, crisp water to someone who was parched. Or like an addict who can see her drug of choice, but not reach it. She needed to touch the human, she needed to feel blood on her claws, feel the flesh twitching while she worked. All eyes were on the human, so she dared to creep forward more. It was obvious the human had nothing more of use to say, why should Trix be denied her fun?

A black-clad leg stepped into her view. "Get back, you intractable creature!" Arano demanded.

Trix raised her head, eyes narrowed, to meet Arano's eyes, "You can't hurt me!" she pouted, but then she dropped her head again and slunk back to the corner. The unfairness was painful. She should be Conall's second, not the ghoul, Arano.

She stared at the floor, refusing to even watch Spinedancer anymore while her frustration and anxiety grew. Then she suddenly realized that some of what she was feeling came from outside herself. Her gaze whipped to Arano. "Your shield on Conall! It's gone."

He cast a look of pure disdain on her. "For some time now, yes." She stood straight. She'd seen Conall open a portal so many times. She should be able to figure it out. She held out her hands, fumbling with the magical energies, trying to shape them as she'd seen Conall do. She thought she had it, then Arano struck her, his open palm flat to her face. She stumbled back, her nose stinging, her eyes seeing stars. "Sit down, imp. We'll wait here for him."

"I will not be bound to Ciara Banenighe!" she protested. "I can help him."

"It's his fight, foolish imp. You presume too much. Now sit down. And wait. When he wants your help, he'll call for you."

Ciara's Prison
Conall slammed into the stone floor and bellowed with pain. The bones in his left wing were shattered and it hung as limp as wet leather. The delicate membrane of the right was shredded by Ciara's claws. His right eye was swollen shut and he wasn't sure if the eye itself was still intact. He couldn't close his jaw and his mouth was filling with blood. His body was marred by dozens of bruises, deep cuts, and bite wounds. He turned himself, slowly, painfully, and pushed himself to hands and knees.

"On your feet, Conall!" Ciara demanded. "Or are you ready to give up yet?"

He lifted his head, struggling to focus his one working eye on her. A frisson of white-hot hate danced over his skin, painful in its purity. He shuddered and pushed himself back to his feet. He grabbed the point of his chin with one palm and wrenched his jaw back into place, allowing himself a roar of pain as it popped. "I will not give up while you breathe, hag," he spat, and the way his words slurred told him that a dislocated jaw was not his only serious facial injury.

"Ungrateful dog! I MADE you! Everything you are, I created!" she bellowed as she circled above him.

"You numb ****, why do you think I hate you?" He responded. He couldn't fly with his wings ruined, but he could still leap at her. She was so fast and he was so hurt, she just flung him down again. It did not matter. It had to have been an hour. They would be coming soon. They had to be coming soon.

I have nukes and I'm ready to roll.

Happy Birthday!

Part XVII is up

Part XVII

Campbell Building
Lauren stood behind the wreckage of her desk, head down, hands folded. She had loved that desk. She settled into her chair and rummaged carefully until she found her phone. She sighed, then dialed a number. It took her a moment to dial; her hands were shaky. It was a very long wait for a connection to another dimension. "Mr. Campbell? Micheal just left here. He is on his way." She paused listening. "Yes, that was quite a bit more quickly than we anticipated. He'll be there soon."

Crowne Memorial Hospital
Conall waited, feigning calm, standing in the comfortable lobby all the while Ciara battered at the shields Arano had placed on him. It was a painful distraction that he knew would only get worse. Once those shields failed him and he was forced to respond, well... his fate would rest in the hands of the women he'd sought out.

Sooner Spirit had looked worn when he'd seen her, with her red hair loose and mussed, her tee and jeans wrinkled, but her sisters didn't look any better. Sooner Magic had dark rings under her eyes and her normally pale skin had taken on a grey undertone. Sooner Red - his little friend Cerise - still had creases pressed into her cheek from whatever she'd been leaning on while she slept and her eyes were puffy and red. But Cerise paused in surprise when she saw him then shrieked happily. "RORY!" she cried. "What are you DOING here?!" She sprinted across the lobby and flung herself on him in a tight hug.

Cydney's face was already suspicious, but at that she turned to meet his eyes fully. She held them while asking, "Cerise, how do you know Rory?"

"Rory is the one who saved me from the Carnies, Cyd! I'd probably be a Ring Mistress right now if not for him!"

"So, Rory," Cydney said, low and slow. Dark tendrils of magic were beginning to swirl around her and he could see Caryn taking her cue from her older sister and settling in a ready position. Cerise stepped back as well, her body as unsettled as her eyes. Her face was a study in confusion, her wide green eyes on his. Those eyes begged him not to break her heart with a lie. "You were there in Oklahoma when my baby sister needed saving," Cydney went on. "And now you're in Paragon City and just happened be at the shelter where I volunteer to meet me. And you just happen to be related to my mother's side of the family. And you just happened to serve with my father and be there when he died. Did I forget any coincidences, there?"

Conall held his hands out to the sides in a gesture of peace. The one thing he couldn't do was reveal who Rory really was. They would never trust Conall Cian. But he thought Rory could still spin a tale. "No, I'm not what I presented myself to be. But, in this, I am on your side. I was there specifically to help Cerise, and then I sought you out, Cydney, to guide you to this day. The day that you MUST go after Ciara Banenighe."

Caryn laughed, a bitter bark of a sound. "I knew you weren't what you seemed to be when I met you."

He nodded. "You did. You sensed that I was more than I appeared. But I tell you truth when I say this: on this day, I mean none of you harm, I only want to help you in your task in any way I can. You must destroy The Beast. You are the only ones who can. And when you do, you will save yourselves, your mother, your extended family, possibly the rest of the world, and, not incidentally to me - you will also save me."

"From what?" Caryn asked, the challenge plain in her tone. Of the three, she was clearly the most suspicious of him, but then she was also the only one who'd never really gotten to know Rory.

He winced from a particular vicious onslaught from Ciara. Ah... that ***** would be furious once she got her hands on him. And so, he answered Caryn's question with the raw truth. "From the wrath of The Beast. When she learns how I have opposed her, she will.... punish me, horribly. She will not kill me, no... I will likely wish for it before she is done with me, though. Unless you stop her. You three are the only ones who can."

Cerise's face was full of hurt and betrayal, but her sisters were wary. Cydney beckoned Cerise away and the three huddled. He'd drag their ***** to Ciara himself if he had to, but it would be better if they decided to go on their own. Finally Cerise turned back to him. "Rory... we don't know HOW to get to her. Where is she?"

"That is a problem I can remedy," he began, but then Ciara lashed at him, an electric slash that cut through the shields and put a fiery wound at his core. The pain was unbearable. He cried out and stumbled, dropping to one knee before he felt Arano painting another layer of shielding over him and buffering the pain.

"Rory!" of course it was little Cerise crying out to him, but her sisters held her back.

He held up a hand. His form was wavering under Ciara's attack. He couldn't let them see him yet. He dragged himself back under control. "It is her," he choked out. "The beast. She's trying to stop me from helping you. We have to hurry." He struggled to his feet. "I can open a portal for you. Are you ready?"

"Wait, what are you talking about?!" Caryn protested. "Right NOW? With our mom in the hospital, you expect us to just head off through some portal YOU open for us and go after a demon?

He nodded, gritting his teeth against the pain, but he could see in their faces he'd lost them. They would refuse to go, and if they didn't go now, Conall was finished. He'd have to go to Ciara and submit to whatever punishment she wanted to inflict on him. Eventually Ciara would have the girls killed or find a way to bring them to her so she could steal their power. And whichever happened, Conall would never be free.

Caryn shook her head and turned away. "C'mon. Mom'll be waking up soon. I don't want her to be alone when she does."

Cydney shook her head. "I'm sorry, Rory. She's right. We can't walk away from our mom right now." She turned to walk with Caryn. Cerise took several steps backward before turning, her face a study in betrayal. Conall stood watching the three women who controlled his fate walk away from him. He wasn't ready to give up yet. He had one more card to play.

"Benjamin Tenkiller," he said. His voice was pitched low enough to carry down the hall. Caryn stopped so suddenly that Cerise ran into her back and Cyd had to dance around her.

Caryn turned slowly, her eyes narrowed. "What did you say?" she growled.

"Benjamin Tenkiller. I know where he is."

She darted into motion. Hells FIRE she's fast! he thought, but then she was on him. She grabbed the shoulders of his old man's sweater, but he allowed it. At least he had her attention. "Who the **** are you?" she demanded. "What the HELL is going on? What did you do to Ben?"

"I haven't touched the young man."

"Would you have even TOLD us about Ben if we had agreed to do what you wanted the first time?"

"I would have made sure you knew-"

Caryn released him with a shove. "How am I supposed to believe that! You didn't say a word about Ben before we were walking away!"

"Because the Beast has him. I would have told you because he's there."

Caryn went even more pale and shook her head. "How is this even possible?" she marveled.

"She took him because of you, Caryn. Because he dared to stand in the way of what she wanted."

She shook her head like a boxer shaking off a punch and turned to her sisters. "Do you believe this ****?" she spat.

Cerise nodded. "I do, Caryn. He saved me from the Carnies. I owe him more than life. I trust him."

Cydney was slower to nod. "I think I do believe him. I probably shouldn't, but I do."

Caryn sighed, and her green eyes glared at him. "Ok. 'Rory,' If this is some sort of trap, I will FIND a way to get out of it and make you regret you ever saw any of us. But, I'm going after Ben. Let's go. Let's go."

Cydney stepped up and put a hand on Caryn's shoulder. "We'll go, Caryn, we'll go. But we need to get ready. We need our costumes, we need backup, supplies... We need to let the Ghosts know whats going on."

Caryn glared back and forth between Cyd and Rory. "I'll stay here with Mom. You guys go back to the base and get whatever we need."

"How long?" Conall asked with great concern. "It must be soon. Very soon."

She paused thoughtfully "An hour. We need an hour, I think."

Conall carefully considered Ciara's frenzied attacks. He didn't think he had an hour. "I can not wait that long." He held up a hand at Caryn's protest. "I know a way. I will make a portal you can open when you are ready." He sighed. "I need blood. One of you... I need ó Floinn blood."

He held out his hand, waiting. The three exchanged glances, then Cerise came forward and offered her hand. He smiled. Little Cerise. Still so trusting. If she survived this, her trust would get her in trouble someday.

He took her hand and escorted her to an open space away from the elevator. He turned so that her back was to her sisters, blocking their view. He rotated her hand palm up. "Look at me, Cerise. Look at me. This will hurt. Don't look down." Holding her green eyes with his, he allowed just his thumb to return to its true form for just a moment and pierce the skin of her wrist with a needle sharp claw. "Look at me, Cerise" He held her hand until his palm filled with blood, then released her. She backed away holding her wrist while he quickly and efficiently painted an arcane design in fresh blood on the expensive carpet.

When he was done, he called to Cydney. "You have the ring? The ring with the three red stones?" Cydney started to raise her hand, and he protested, "No, do not let me see it! Hide it from me!" Cyd put her hand back into her pocket and he nodded. "That ring is the key. With it and a drop of blood from each of you, this portal will open. It will take you to The Beast. Once there, use the key to defeat her."

Cerise spoke, softly. "We don't know how. What do we do, Rory?"

"Child," he answered, speaking slowly, gritting his teeth against the growing pain. "In her presence, you wear the ring, you hold each others hands, you will the pact to be broken." Ciara hit him again, powering through his shields. No.. he didn't have an hour left. Not even that long. "All the power that belongs to Clan ó Floinn, the portion of it that powers the spell that keeps her imprisoned as well as the part that powers your family's magic will come to you. She will be vulnerable and you will be more powerful than you have ever been before. She will also be free, but she won't try to escape while you three live. She'll stay and fight, and you will have the strength and the power to end her miserable malignant existence." He hunched over, hiding his face as his control began to slip under Ciara's onslaught. "Hurry," he said to them. "Please, for all our sakes, hurry." He turned and stumbled away, slapping the elevator button with one shaky hand.

Once the door closed behind him, he let his true form burst out. "Alright you lecherous cow, you want me? I'll give you more than you bargained for this time!" he growled. He let the pain feed into his anger. He couldn't beat her, he knew that. But he could stop her from asking questions until it was too late for her. The elevator began to drop down but Conall opened his portal into her prison and stepped through. His burning eyes found Ciara and she screamed with rage when she saw him. "C'mon then, you insipid harpy!" he bellowed, "I will be your pet no more! One way or the other, I am free of you this day!" He roared a challenge and flew at her, fangs bared and claws flexed.

An hour... he thought. One hour.

Oh... and it's worth mentioning that Going Rogue is just around the corner. It's not out of the question that there may be some setup for some characters making a move toward the grey part of the spectrum in this story.

...NOT saying that Vir is one of them.. I'm just saying... going rogue. soon.

I debated responding, or just letting the writing stand.

I so very much liked the surprise of having the Ghosts just appear in the room, and I liked the line about "Some of my friends are like Ghosts," that I didn't take the time to explain what Vir was thinking when he recruited a team before going into the Campbell building.

That, of course, leaves the reader to guess what was going on in his mind. So, if I failed in demonstrating his motivations in order to achieve a nice moment in the story... well, that's certainly my failing.

Vir is a tank... and, to me... he is exactly what a tank should be. He embraces and lives the role a tank should play on a team (in my opinion of what a tank should be... I don't want to derail this into debates on what a tank's role should be.)

He will stand there and die if that's what it takes for his team to be safe. He's the first one in and the last one out. He watches over the team, and stands between the team and danger as much as possible. And when he fails... both as written and as played by Ice, he gets up and tries even harder next time. And.. it pisses him off.

If he would do that for a teammate, what do you think he'd do for his little brother?

Lauren, a woman he's known since he was young, is his last option. He is scared for his brother and, currently, unable to protect him. The fact that Dad took Seamus out in the dark of night and without Vir's knowledge, just spears him on... there must be something he's not going to like when he finally learns the truth.

He knew that if he walked in there alone, they would just throw him out. He's aware of his own power, and knew that if he fought back, people would get hurt. He didn't want that - he's dedicated to protecting others from harm. If he went in alone, his options were to walk out peacefully without the information he so desperately needs, or to be dragged out, leaving a trail of injured people behind him, still without the information he needs.

So, instead, he takes along a team of stealthy Ghosts. He knows he can get them into the building undetected and in position. His hope is that he won't have to use them, but when Lauren made it clear she was not going to answer, he pushed the situation. What damage did he do? He broke an expensive desk.

When security arrived, he revealed that he had friends. Now.. the equation was different. If they refused to leave and security tried to force them they could fight back, and with eight super powered heroes, the heroes would win. IF a fight took place.

Because the odds had switched so heavily in the heroes favor, no violence would occur at all. The end result of that fight was not at all in question. Human security forces against 8 Heroes of the City? Not a fight you're even going to start.

So, by bringing in friends, Vir REDUCED or even ELIMINATED the chance of anyone getting hurt.

This was NOT "Do what I want or we'll hurt you." this was "We're not leaving until I get the information I came for, and I've arranged it so you're not even going to try to make me."

Something bad is happening to someone Vir cares about. He took a path that got him the information he needed with no casualties other than a desk.