Sooner

Part XVI is up

Part XVI

Portal Corp
The bright spinning rings in the Portal Corp courtyard glinted in the golden dawn light. Somehow, Vir wasn't surprised to find Tina MacIntyre awake and busy at work. He was surprised at the vaguely guilty expression that skittered over her face when she saw him.

Whatever his father was planning, subtlety wasn't part of it. A cavalcade of two limo's and an ambulance attracts attention. It had been no trouble at all to track them to Skyway, then to Talos Island, and then the ferry to Peregrine Island. They'd been moving fast, and Vir couldn't quite catch up. By the time they got to Peregrine Island, Vir wasn't really surprised to learn they'd made a bee line to Portal Corp. And that brought him to this meeting with Tina MacIntyre.

"Vir... I can't tell you where they went."

"Tina, you and I have worked together for a long time. How many messes have I cleaned up for you? I need to know."

"I can't. I really can't. And please, don't go questioning the staff. The whole thing was very hush hush. Security badges, confidentiality agreements, proper clearances..... I just can't. There's just a couple people beside myself who even know about it... and no, I won't tell you who they were."

His agitation had him ready to start trying to tear down Portal Corp brick by brick if need be, but he still had other options. On another day, perhaps he could understand Tina's reluctance to help, but for now... he just needed to get away from her. He lifted into the air, headed back to base without another word, but she called to him again.

"Vir! Listen, Vir!" he turned back, hovering, hoping for an answer, anything that would help. "I'm so sorry, I can't. But... you really should find out, and when you do.... you'll go to the front of the line and I'll send you ANYWHERE you tell me to send you."

Crowne Memorial Hospital
Cydney dozed, sitting beside her mother's bed, hunched over with her head resting on the covers. Her right hand clutched the ring. She was too full of fury to truly sleep, but the last few days events pulled her into a state where her body rested even as her mind raced. Conall Cian - one of the Ghosts worst enemies - had laid his hands on her mother. It made her quiver with sick rage. But... "Her life is my gift to you" What did that MEAN?

"The enemy of my enemy..." she heard Ahren murmur.

"Hmmm?" she mumbled, lifting her head from the covers. Ahren stood there by the door, he hadn't moved all night. He such a good friend to all three sisters. She would be grateful for a long time to come for the way he stood guard and let Cyd and her sisters just be Colleen's daughters rather than her guardians, for now at least.

"Your demon, Ciara Banenighe. What if she is Conall Cian's enemy? He's offering assistance against a common enemy by telling you about the ring?"

"By first beating my mother nearly to death? If he thought that would work, he ****** guessed wrong!"

Ahren nodded sadly. "There's more going on here than we know. You should - " Ahren stopped talking abruptly, held up a hand to Cyd, and peeked into hallway. "Something's going on. Stay here. I'll be right back."

Cyd carefully and gently wrapped her fingers around her mother's hand and waited. Ahren's idea rang true. A common enemy... but it still didn't make sense to hurt Colleen. Why not just send a note?

Ahren reappeared in the doorway with a woman in nurses' scrubs. He beckoned Cyd out so that Caryn and Cerise could continue to rest. "Miss Nation, I'm sorry, but there's a man in the lobby who insists on speaking with you. He just barged in and came straight to the Campbell wing." the nurse's irritation was obvious in both demeanor and tone. "He says it's urgent. He says his name is Rory Flynn."

Cyd glanced into the room, reluctant to step away, but surprised and VERY curious what Rory was doing at the hospital.

"I'll be with her, Sooner," Ahren said.

"I know you will," she turned a grateful smile on him, then went on, "Rory is someone I know, he's a sweet old guy. Not sure why he's HERE, but I'll go see what he needs."

The Campbell family wing was luxuriously decorated with thick carpet and beautiful wall paper. The whole thing looked more like a high end hotel than a hospital, and that continued to the well appointed lobby. The furnishings were big overstuffed chairs and love seats arranged into conversation areas. A refrigerator was stocked with soft drinks and bowls of single serve packs of snacks scattered about the room.

Standing in the middle of the thick soft carpeting was Cydney's friend Rory Flynn. His expression was full of pain and concern and as she approached, she saw him jerk and flinch as if something had just hit him.

"Rory, are you ok?" she asked.

"I'm not well, Ms. Nation," he said, "but I need to speak with you, it's very important"

She asked. "I'm sorry, Rory, but this isn't really a good time. We're here with our mother, she's been hu-"

He cut her off with a brusque gesture. "She was attacked. By a..." he glanced around the lobby and lowered his voice. "By a demon. I know. That's .... Cyd. I need you to trust me. Please fetch your sisters. I need to speak to all three of you."

Cyd paused, suddenly filled with suspicion. Had she been too trusting of the old man? She carefully considered their conversations with a new critical eye and studied his face. There was worry there, and pain. Finally, she nodded. It would be worth hearing him out, and Ahren would still be there with Mom. "Alright, Rory. I'll be right back with my sisters."

Campbell Building, Steel Canyon
Vir had stopped back in the Ghosts base to don his blue on white Ghosts Reborn uniform and speak with a few friends before heading out to Steel Canyon. The Campbell building stood tall and proud in north Steel Canyon. Viewed from above, it was vaguely shaped like a star, but from the street level it just seemed to have some odd angles. Vir hadn't set foot in this building for years. He opened the door into the main lobby and stood there, letting a mild cool breeze blow into the lavishly decorated lobby, as if he was reluctant to cross that threshold. Finally he squared his shoulders and stepped in.

The lobby was a five story high open space with plenty of windows to let in the light. All the metal surfaces were shiny copper. A waterfall trickled 50' down the west wall. A busy, high-end sandwich shop, where one could order truffles or caviar as condiments for a sandwich, dominated the south end, and a shimmering counter lined the north wall, staffed by a dozen friendly informative receptionists, and watched over by a half dozen serious security guards in dark suits. Vir strode across the lobby, ignoring the banks of elevators in favor of the long escalator that traveled almost close enough to the waterfall for the travelers to get splashed. Just before he set foot on the first step a seriously tough looking older man moved to intercept him.

"Mr. Campbell? I'm Mr. Wagner, I'm Chief of Security here at Campbell towers."

"Mr. Wagner, call me Vir. I'm in a bit of a hurry. What do you need?"

"I just don't want any trouble. We were warned you might show up here, and that there might be a problem if you did."

Vir glanced over the older man, letting his face show his doubt that Wagner would be able to do anything at all to stop any trouble Vir decided to cause. But his voice was cordial and controlled as he responded, "I'm just here to speak with my father's assistant. I am not looking for any trouble at all."

"Fair enough. We don't want any trouble either. But if you do look for it, you may just find it."

Vir raised one brow, nodded, and stepped onto the escalator. It moved slowly to allow the passengers plenty of time to enjoy the beautiful lobby. Vir, however, began to stride up the steps two at a time. He wasn't there for the view.

The CEO's office was at the very top of the tower and could only be reached by a private elevator. The primary way to enter that private elevator was behind an unobtrusive door, down a long, boring hallway. Nobody found their way there by accident. Vir, of course, went there with great deliberation.

As he had hoped, Lauren was waiting for him. He was prepared to argue his way onto that elevator, but it was easier this way. He held the door open and stood in the hall, taking a long moment to just hold Lauren's eyes. The moment stretched on as his father's assistant stood with her customary calm, just behind her richly finished mahogany desk.

The silence stretched, Vir standing and holding open the door, Lauren waiting. Vir won the first round when Lauren finally spoke. "Micheal, please come in. Sit down. We'll talk."

Vir let the door close behind him. He leaned onto Lauren's desk, startling her as she started to sit. "I'm not going to be here long enough to make it worth my while to sit. I want to know what's going on."

She regained her composure quickly and settled into her chair, as if a large, angry, super powered man weren't leaning over her. She folded her hands on her desk and looked up at him. "You know I can't discuss your father's business with you, Micheal."

"I don't give a damn about his business. Tell me where my brother is."

"Your father asked me to reassure you that he has taken Seamus somewhere where he can get better. Somewhere where medical research has not been held back by the same restrictions. He wants you to know that Seamus will be ok. He'll be better than ok. He'll be healthy and well. He wants you to know-"

Vir slapped a palm down on the hardwood desk. His mind was filled with images he'd seen on his various trips through Portal Corps. Few of them were good, and even fewer were places he'd want his baby brother to set foot. "Anything my father didn't have the balls to tell me himself, I'm not interested in hearing from you. Except.... Where. Is. Seamus?"

She blanched, and just barely allowed herself to flinch. "Micheal, please. You know I can't. Please don't ask me to betray your father."

"Tell me, NOW!"

"No," she shook her head. Her voice went flat and professional. "I'm so very sorry, but no."

Vir, still leaning on the desk, bellowed, "I want to know what's going on!!!" He drew back his right hand and slammed his fist into the dark hardwood. The desktop shattered under his knuckles and Lauren shrieked and jumped back out of her chair.

Security men in dark suits burst through the door within moments. Mr. Wagner cast a disappointed look at Vir as he stalked forward. "You. Leave now. You told me there wasn't going to be any trouble, Mr. Campbell."

"I'm not going anywhere. And there's still not going to be any trouble." Vir straightened. "You MIGHT just be able to drag me out of here with enough men. But with my friends here...." Around the room, cloaks and shields dropped and seven heroes, each in the blue on white of the Ghosts Reborn, appeared, very well positioned to handle the security. "With my friends here, if you try to make us leave, we'll level the building before you drag us out." Vir smiled. "I might not be all that sneaky, but some of my friends... are like Ghosts."

Wagner's hand moved towards his hip, and Vir's old friend Midnightangel raised a hand. Lightning began to play over her fingers and sparks jumped into the air. "Uh uh uh...." she scolded playfully.

Lauren sighed. "It's ok Wagner. It's ok. It's just a desk. Go on, Vir is a Hero. He won't hurt me."

Wagner's reluctance was clear, but he took his hand from his weapon. He cast one glare at Vir and then gestured his men out of the room. The door shut and the room fell silent.

Lauren cast a mournful glance at the broken desk. "You know it will mean my job if I talk to you?"

"It's my brother, Lauren. You have no idea what could be happening to him right now. Some of the places those Portals lead are not nice at all."

"Worse things than dying?"

Vir nodded sadly. "Some of them, yes indeed."

She sighed. "Mr. Campbell has been in negotiation with medical and technological sources in.... Praetoria."

A few of the assembled Ghosts lost their composure enough to gasp, and Micheal's eyes widened. His father couldn't have been foolish enough to negotiate for ANYTHING in Praetoria!

Lauren continued, her voice somber. "Upon learning of your brother's injuries he made a deal with a facility called Rose Medical. They assured him that they had the ability to help Seamus. He's on his way to Praetoria."

Vir swayed on his feet for a moment. Praetoria.... he shook his head. Then he shook it off, like recovering from a hard blow to the head. "Ghosts, let's go. We have things to do to get ready,"

Ici will be there with nukes on!

Part XV is up.

Part XV

Ghosts Reborn Base
Vir slept soundly in his warm bed, in his quiet room. His apartment in the Ghosts base had been just a convenience, just a place to stay if it was late or there was an operation underway. But his sudden upsurge in visibility now that it was out who he really was meant that he was probably going to have to make it his permanent home, just to keep the social reporters at bay.

He hadn't wanted to leave the hospital, but his father had encouraged it. "You look exhausted, Mike. Get some rest. I'll sit with Seamus. He won't be alone."

He was exhausted. So tired it was becoming physically uncomfortable. And maybe that was why something felt so wrong to him. Maybe it was just the fatigue, but something had his guts in a knot at the thought of leaving. Still, he would be no good to his brother if he collapsed in a corner, so he took the opportunity his father gave him to get some rest. Vir laid a hand on Seamus head, "I'll be back, brother," he promised. "Don't go without saying goodbye, now."

"I'll stay with him," Micheal Campbell, Sr. said. "I'll take care of him."

Vir nodded and made his way back to the base, more than a little wobbly by the time he plopped down into his bed. He really was in dire need of sleep.

It felt like it had just been moments when his cell phone's shrill ring pulled him out of sleep. He blinked it at it, confused as he shook off the clinging fingers of deep sleep. Then he remembered that it could be the hospital, or dad, and grabbed the phone.

"Vir! It's Sooner Red!"

"Red? Ah... How's your mother?" he asked, still trying to figure out why the youngest Nation sister had woke him.

"She's resting, thanks, but... Something's going on.."

"What do you mean?"

"They're taking Seamus out of here. It's all very hush hush, but.... I figured you'd be here if you knew."

"Who's taking Seamus?" Vir asked, fully awake and rising to his feet.

"Your father! He says they're taking Seamus somewhere where they can fix him."

Vir didn't hear any more, he was already running.

Crowne Memorial Hospital
It couldn't have been more than a few minutes after Red's call, but Seamus's room was as empty and clean as if he'd never been there.

Sooner Red peeked around the door frame when she saw him there. "They were so fast. I called as soon as I realized, but... they moved like they'd practiced it."

Vir looked up at her, and something in his eyes made her flinch. If even half the emotions roiling around inside him showed, it was no wonder. "Thank you for calling me. Tell me everything you saw and heard."

"I was with Mom, and so I knew I heard something, but I wasn't really paying attention, you know. At first they were really quiet, but they began talking more and I finally heard someone say something like 'The patient is on his way. Five minutes.' They were talking on the phone to someone named Elle."

Vir shook his head. "Not 'Elle," 'L' for Lauren."

She shrugged. "And your dad was going on, talking to Seamus, about how 'they' would be able to save him, and 'she' would make him as good as new. When I looked around the corner, they all -everyone of them - glanced at me, and then one of them came right over to me. He wasn't unfriendly, in fact, he was all about asking about Mom and how she was doing, but.... he was trying to stop me watching. He kept trying to turn me away from Seamus's room. It was obvious he was trying to distract me, and that's when I realized you didn't know. So I just came back into Mom's room, and he stood there watching for a minute. Cyd got up and shut the door, and that's when I called you."

He couldn't make sense of it. Where could they be taking Seamus? "Thanks, Red. I appreciate it."

"I'm sorry I didn't call earlier..."

"You had other things on your mind. Take care of your mom. I'm going to go take care of my brother," He had no information at all. Time to get some.

----
Cydney Nation rested at her mother's bedside. It was the darkest part of the night, when the moon has set but dawn hasn't yet started coloring the sky. Her mother was sleeping quietly. Back at the base, Ghosts were going over and over the recorded voice that reported the attack... reported from Colleen's own home. It was a frightening mystery, but Cyd was very grateful that her mom was safe now.

Colleen began to mutter in her sleep. Cyd sat up and watched her mother's face, her concern growing by the moment. Colleen began to make small frightened noises and tried to raise her arms as if fending off a blow. The pain of that attempted movement woke her. Her green eyes popped wide open. She gasped turned to Cyd. "Oh... oh! I remember. Cyd! I remember. I have to tell you something!"

"Take it easy, mom. Please."

“It’s important, Cyd,” Colleen insisted.

“Mom!” Cydney protested. She didn’t like the way the color had leeched out of her mother’s face.

“I remember, though. I remember what happened. I'm supposed to give you a message.”

Caryn bolted out of her chair at the sound of her mother's voice, shaking Cerise awake with a nudge from her foot. Cerise had fallen asleep just a few minutes earlier with her head on Jagged Fortune's shoulder. Jagged helped Cerise stand and then stood back.

Caryn looked up at her older sister. “You know she’s not going to rest until she gets this out. Just let her tell it.”

Cydney glanced at Cerise, who nodded, then back at her mother. “Go ahead, Mom.” The sisters took their habitual positions, Cyd and Caryn each holding one of Colleens hands, and then closing the circle by taking Cerise's hands.

“He… he wanted me to tell you something.”

“Who was it?”

“He wasn’t human. He said he name was…. Conall. Conall Cian.” Cydney’s eyes snapped to Ahren, who had jerked upright, his green eyes locked onto Colleen. Ahren face went hard as as the sister's faces all went pale and shocked. Cydney‘s heart broke at the idea of the giant demon in the same room as her mother. “He was a monster…”

Collen told the story well, given that she was obviously still profoundly shaken. Her audience listened raptly, their expressions hiding the horror at close they had come to losing her.

“Your life is a sign of good faith??” Caryn exclaimed. “What does that MEAN?”

“He could have killed her,” Ahren murmured. “But he didn’t. Her life is a gift. He wants something. What does he want?”

The story had obviously drained Colleen, but she wasn’t done. She raised her bandaged right hand, still clutched in Cydney’s left and ran her thumb over the base of her middle finger. “Where is my ring?” she asked, suddenly alarmed. “Where is it?”

“Hold on, Mom,” Cerise said, “all your stuff is in a bag…”

“I’ll get it,” Ahren announced, and opened the closet door. Inside was a plastic draw-string bag with the belongings that had been on Colleen when she’d arrived at the hospital. Ahren pawed aside the bloodstained clothes, careful to keep them out of sight of all the Nation women, then carried a smaller bag over to the bed. “Is it in here?”

Colleen gently withdrew her hand from Cydney’s and stiffly opened the bag. She withdrew the chain on which she still wore her wedding rings, tossed a trio of pretty bangle bracelets onto the covers, and then finally found the ring she was seeking. She held it up. It had that air of a family heirloom, as if it’s very age gave it extra weight. In the dim light of the hospital room, it seemed to give off its own faint light. Three tiny red orbs were held tightly in an intricately carved gold metal. “He said it was the key. That with this, you could defeat her.”

She started to hand it to Cydney, but her eldest daughter didn’t reach out for it. “How can we possibly trust Conall Cian?” Cydney asked, seeking and finding Ahren’s eyes.

“Her life is a sign of good faith.” Ahren said. “Good faith from a demon.” He barked a bitter laugh.

Cerise cleared her throat, and spoke, “C’mon, Cyd! Gran gave her this ring, not Conall Cian. The ring isn’t going to hurt you or anyone else" With reluctance clear in every fiber of her body, Cydney slowly reached out for the ring. She still held Cerise’s hand, and she clutched it even more tightly. She looked away from Ahren to meet Caryn’s gaze. Caryn nodded once, and Cydney wrapped her fingers around the ring.

As soon as it contacted her palm, power flared through her. She felt it impact Cerise, and a heartbeat later, she saw red light flare around Caryn. Cydney gasped, energized, powerful, and full of confidence. Both her sister’s glowed with power, and it flowed back and forth between the three of them.

Startled, Cyd dropped the ring onto the blankets. The power stopped flowing between them, but all three women were still glowing with that red light.

Ciara's Prison
Ciara was resting when she felt it. She felt something magical skate along the barriers of her prison, like fingers tapping over a taut surface searching for a weakness. Her eyes opened wide and she watched each of the cabochon spheres flare and subside one by one. She growled, a low, furious rumble that started deep in her gut then roiled out of her like an angry lioness's war cry. "They HAVE it!" she roared,. The ******* had the artifact. How had they gotten their hands on it?

Ciara bolted to her feet and placed her hands on her crystal ball. It fought against her instructions to find the daughters ó Floinn. Something was blocking her, something was shielding them. She poured more power into the sphere then it suddenly snapped into focus. They were in a small room. The three of them stood around a narrow bed and held hands in a four-person circle, but Ciara could not see the fourth. She could, however, see the shiny gold ring lying on the blankets. She tossed her head back and roared with pure fury. HOW!?! How had this happened?

Ciara pushed more power into the sphere, and more, but she still couldn't see the person in the bed. She glanced up to see a trio of imps cowering in a corner. "YOU!" she bellowed, pointing at the nearest. "Come to me!"

The imp whimpered and tried to run away, but she yanked hard on the compulsions ruling it. It came to her, slowly, battling ineffectively every step. She grabbed it up and glanced at it's companions. "If this one will not give me enough power, I will use the human. Be ready to bring him."

She began stripping the skin from the imp's flesh, gathering in the power she released by tormenting it slowly to death. She tasted her accumulated power. If it wasn't enough, a human tortured slowly and thoroughly could release immense power. She wanted the human to agree to serve her, but if need be, she would use him to break through that shield.

With her hands back on the sphere, she poured her stolen power into the spell hiding someone from her sight. She pushed harder and harder, her store of power running out of her too fast. "Bring me the hum-" she started, then the shield tore open.

"Conall....." she growled. "Oh, my pet... what have you done?" she murmured as she finally saw the woman she'd sent Conall Cian to kill, sitting in a bed, holding hands with her daughters, while the ring she'd sent Conall to steal lay on the bed between then.

She threw back her head. "CONALL!!!" she bellowed. "You come to me, NOW!"

Conall's Lair
Conall was beginning to doubt that the human actually did know anything. The strength of will to resist his questioning under Excruciatrix's attentions was impressive, but he didn't believe that any amount of strength, courage, or willpower was holding her tongue now. She'd welcome death if it were offered her, and still she didn't answer him.

He brooded while he watched Spinedancer work. She was determined not to fail him and was definitely giving her best effort. She needn't worry. He was quite thoroughly impressed.

He felt it first as a mildly unpleasant tingled, like accidentally brushing against a low powered electrified fence. At first he wasn't sure what it was, then he realized that he was feeling just a hint of the reaction to the Nation girls getting their hands on their mother's ring.

"Arano...." he warned. "be ready." Even with the protections and wards Arano had been layering upon him, Ciara's call hit him like a freight train. He tumbled from his chair and grit his teeth. She was so much more powerful than he'd anticipated. He glanced up to see Arano was surprised as well. "How long?" he asked.

Arano shook his head. "A few hours at most, my old friend. Then you'll have to answer her."

Conall stood, forcing himself to straighten even under the furious onslaught of Ciara's compulsions on him. "Spinedancer. You've done well. Continue until she answers you or dies."

Reminder bump! !!!

I totally got hugged.

...I have not abandoned you....

......the timing is getting very tricky and I'm taking a little extra care to make sure I get it all right...

The sisters, Conall and Trix, Ciara, Ben, Micheal and Seamus, Six-Four and his trio of friends... they'll all be back very very soon.

So the question was/is "What is the value of getting access to DP and DS early?"

If it was worth more than $12 to you ($15 for a month - 3 dollars from your number breakdown), then the prepurchase is the way to go.

At this point... if you haven't already bought it.... might as well wait. For me... my first account is paid up for almost another year, my second is paid up until nearly Christmas.... a free month is rather immaterial to me in value.

*does best Kathleen Turner voice and sings*

Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday, dear Hulkers! Happy birthday to you!

Anyone have any ideas for me? Please?

Thank you!

I've been futzing around with this for quite awhile.... I hope someone more savvy than I can help me figure it out.

I'm not sure if the macro guide really applies to g15/13 macros... but I'll give it a try

EDIT: ok, I modifiied key g14 to this:
beginchat send "channel name" -[$name, $level]-

It closed my chat window, closed my targeting window, turned on fly, changed my camera to 1st person view, and opened an emote choice option. .... and did NOT start a chat string.

And part XIV is up.

I wonder if I should be putting warnings on some of these chapters?

Part XIV

Crowne Memorial Hospital
Michael Campbell rather reluctantly and nervously waited in an empty patient’s room. The man who could stand firm against the fiercest villains to be found in all of Paragon City or the Rogue Isles paced and kept casting longing glances at the door. He wanted to run away. He felt like he was 8 years old again and waiting to find out how much trouble he’d gotten himself into.

The fit older man who strode through the door was dressed in a finely tailored custom suit with shiny shoes with a luxurious striped shirt and silk tie and accented with an aura of power, confidence, and ego. His hair was the same rich brown as Micheal's but prominently silvered at the temples. A trio of assistants scurried in his wake, a harried middle aged woman, a young man, and a big, harsh, tough man who, Michael knew, served as his security chief.

“Michael,” the man in the suit said. His face seemed impassive, but even though Micheal hadn't seen it for 15 years or so, he could recognize the signs of strain and worry in his eyes and the determined set of his jaw.

Micheal squared his shoulders, "Hello, father," he responded, staring eye to eye.

"You should have called me before Seamus was nearly dead."

"Seamus didn't want-"

Michael Campbell, Sr, founder and CEO of Campbell Enterprises, raised a commanding hand. "Lauren told about Seamus's request. I understand. I also understand that he was hardly in a position to stop you if you picked up the phone anyway."

Micheal stood silent for a long moment. "I chose to respect his wishes. It's what I would have expected from him had our positions been reversed."

The head of Campbell Enterprises pursed his lips thoughtfully. "It must have been a very close friend to induce you to ask for my help," he said, taking a different tactic.

“Three very close friends,” he said.

The father turned to his assistants. “Find me some coffee. And a sandwich. And something for Micheal as well. And someone find my son's doctor.” The woman and the young man hurried out. “You too, Paul. We’ll be fine.”

“Sir…” the security man protested. Micheal eyed him. His father preferred to hire super-powered security, but his appearance gave no clue what sort of powers Paul might possess.

“Go, Paul. I hardly expect I'll be in any danger with a Hero of Paragon City in the room.”

The security man sniffed once and announced, “I’ll be right outside.”

“Of course you will.”

A silence fell, a silence that Michael awkwardly breached. “Thank you, Father. This has been a difficult few days.”

“So I gathered. And while I deeply regret the circumstances, I am glad that something finally brought you to get in touch with me.”

“It was overdue.” Michael agreed.

“But you couldn’t make the call until something forced your hand?” Michael nodded and his father continued. “That fight was a long, long time ago, Michael. A lot of water has passed under the bridge.” The older man sighed. "You've made something of yourself, though. Not what I would wanted for you, but you've done well."

Micheal was surprisingly touched. "Thank you, dad. I-"

Before Micheal could continue his thought, his father's assistants were back in the room, the younger man with a tray loaded with sandwiches, chips, coffee, soda, and cookies, the woman escorting a tall man in scrubs and a white coat. In Micheal's estimation, the doctor was doing an admirable job of hiding how impressed he was to be in the same room with Micheal Campbell, Sr.

"So, doctor," the elder Campbell said, reaching for a sandwich and casually pouring a cup of coffee. "My son is dying."

The doctor took a moment to regroup. Most likely he'd had a planned statement and was now knocked off his stride. It was a strategy Micheal had seen his father use many times before. "I.... ah..." the doctor blinked, took a breath, and started over. "I'm Doctor Gerhart," he said, finally. "And, yes. Seamus is dying. We can support him a little while longer. Extraordinary measures, such as a ventilator, will keep him alive even longer, but his infection is multi-drug resistant, and his organ systems are shutting down. We were forced to amputate what remained of his arms, but there's no more tissue for us to safely remove if the infection continues. I'm sorry, Mr. Campbell, but your son is going to die."

Micheal hung his head. He'd known, but it was still harsh to hear it so plainly stated. There was no possibility of recovery even considered. Seamus... I wish I'd found more time for you, Micheal thought. But then his father spoke again, and Micheal looked up with a frown.

"You've done everything you can for him, then?"

"We have," Dr. Gerhart nodded.

"There's nothing more that can be done for him here?"

"I'm sorry, no. I suggest you say your good-byes and-"

"Use the ventilator then," Mr. Campbell said. "If you need to use any other techniques - like a heart bypass I believe it's called - use them. I authorize whatever procedures will keep even a spark of life in him for as long as possible.

"Dad!" Micheal protested. "Seamus wouldn't want this. Don't prolong it!"

"I know what I'm doing, Micheal, and it's my decision to make. I'm not giving up on my son while there's still a chance."

"The doctor said there was nothing else to do!"

"That's not exactly true," the older man said. "We'll talk later, Micheal. I want to visit my son right now."

Pipe Hitters Apartment
“Kings Row?!?!” Six-Four yelled furiously. “All this time, he's been hiding his lair in Kings Row!” The big man paced furiously around Pipe Hitters apartment.

“Why does it matter?” Pipe Hitter demanded. “Who gives a **** where it is? We have to get her out of there!”

Six-Four set his face in an expressionless mask. Conall Cian had nearly killed Six each time they’d met. Luck, friends, determination, and a potent mutant healing ability were all that had kept Six alive so far. It would be next to murder to take these two young heroes in after that monster in his own lair. He glanced at Rosemarie who sat quietly, watching Six. He recognized that expression on her face. Trust. She trusted him. She believed that he would be able to rescue her sister. A knot in his belly told Six that he was going to disappoint her.

“If we just charge in there, we’re just giving him more lives to….” He glanced at Pipe Hitters face. “We won’t be doing Dancer any good.

“He can’t have her!” Pipe Hitter yelled. “You better do SOMETHING, or I’m going in there myself.”

“Pipe Hitter…” Rosemarie spoke at last. “Look at his face. Look.” She stood and walked to Pipe Hitter, taking his shoulder in her hand. “He’s scared for us. He’s afraid we’ll get killed going in there. I know you're willing to die for her, hell.. so am I... but I'd like it to count! It's not going to help Dancer at all if we get killed walking in the front door! Now quit yelling at Six and let him come up with a plan.”

Six tried to get past the image of his two young friends throwing their lives away trying to fight the demon. They were young, strong, full of potential, and even the battle hardened Pipe Hitter had an innocence about him that Six was reluctant to see extinguished. They had so much to offer paragon city. But they still had so much to learn. And going up against not just Conall Cian but whatever minions the monster might have in his lair…. Six might as well kill them himself. He shook his head slowly, sadly, reluctantly.

“We need help.”

Crowne Memorial Hospital
It was nearly 3 am. Cydney Nation sprawled in chair, dozing, while Caryn curled up in another nearby. Cerise had snagged some blankets and pillows and stretched out on the floor. Ahren leaned back against the wall by the door, much more aware of his surroundings than he appeared. While he was standing guard, no one was going to disrupt the peace of this room. He was bothered deeply to see his friends, these three women he’d worked with closely for years now, devastated by the attack on their mother, He might know them better than anyone, and he’d never seen any of them this distraught. Whoever had hurt Colleen had found a frightfully effective way to impact her daughters. No one doubted she’d been attacked because of her relationship to the three heroes. No one doubted it. Including her daughters.

Colleen stirred, and her green eyes opened. Careful application of both medicine and healing powers had reduced the swelling, but her eyes were still ringed darkly with bruising. Her gaze flicked to Ahren with no recognition whatsoever, then she struggled to sit up. “What…” she started. “Where am I?”

“You’re in Paragon City, Ms. Nation,” Ahren answered her quietly. He called out to her daughters with more volume than she could manage. “Cyd! Caryn! Cerise!”

They popped awake quickly, and rushed to her side. Cyd and Caryn each gently took a bruised and broken hand and reached out their hands to Cerise.

“I was supposed to tell you something,” Colleen murmured, “But… I don’t remember.”

Conall's Lair
The lush beauty wasn’t so lovely now. Trix crouched over her body, her wings flared high, her tail flicking about with excitement. With needle-sharp claws, the imp scratched an intricate design into the delicate skin of the blonde’s belly, pausing occasionally to lap the blood from her claws. The blonde’s voice was ruined, but she continued to try to scream with harsh exhalations. But she still didn’t answer Conall’s questions.

“Enough,” he called out finally. Trix hunched over and pretended she didn’t hear, continuing her artwork on the blonde’s pale skin. “Excruciatrix. Stop.” The imp turned to look at him with her lip stuck out like a pouty child. “Fix her. It’s time to let Spinedancer have a try.”

“But I-” Trix started, and then dropped her head. Her wings and tail drooped, but she placed her hands on the hero’s chest and red energy flowed out of Trix’s body into the torn and bloodied body of the hero. Hours of damage were undone in a moment, and the blonde found her voice again as her raw throat was healed.

“Please.. Please let me go,” she begged. “I just want to go home. I don’t know anything...”

Conall ignored her. “Spinedancer. You have your chance. Show me what you can do.”

The human woman sitting in the shadows rose slowly. She moved forward reluctantly, as if she didn’t want to be noticed. Her dark hair hung forward, hiding her face, but the eyes that peeked out through that hair were utterly insane. Her dark, form-fitting costume was decorated with bits of bone, and her face was marked with dark swirling designs. Excruciatrix moved to keep Conall between them, never taking her fiery eyes from the human.

“Moon Dancer,” Conall said as he moved toward the helpless hero. Her terrified blue eyes swivelled towards him. “This is Spinedancer. For years she was bullied and mocked by people like yourself, people who thought they were better than she, prettier than she. Mocked for trying to better herself through intellectual competition and mocked more when that effort failed. Now, she excels in avenging herself-”

Behind Conall, a low, muttered voice began ticking off letters, “a-v-e-n-g-i-n-g”

“Through the anguish-”

“A-n-g-u-i-s-h”

“And torment-”

“T-o-r-m-e-n-t”

“Of others.” he held out a commanding hand to stop Spinedancer before she spoke again. “I think you will find her attentions rather different than my imp’s. And, hopefully, more effective.”

“Please...” the hero begged again, “please let me go.”

“Answer my questions, and there will be no need to continue this.”

She just shook her head and started crying again.

“Why is Six-Four working with you?” Conall asked, again.

“I don’t know! I don’t know! He’s just helping us!”

Spinedancer advanced forward and extended her hands.

“Why is Six-Four gathering troops?”

“Please, let me go home... I don’t know!”

Dark tendrils of evil black magic oozed from Spinedancer’s palms. They slithered forward through the air like sluggish snakes, seeking the warmth of the hero’s body.

“What are the Ghosts planning?”

“I don’t know who the Ghosts are!!!"

Conall stepped back, shaking his head in angry frustration and gestured to Spinedancer. The snaking tendrils of oily black magic found the hero’s body. They trailed over her skin and she wailed as if her very essence were being drained away. Then the tendrils sank into her. Her eyes widened and her mouth opened, but no sound escaped. Excruciatrix let out a whimper and plastered herself to the back of Conall’s legs.

“S-o-u-l s-u-c-k-i-n-g m-i-s-e-r-y” Spinedancer said.

I have a g13 currently, and have used the g15 for several years.

My "chat" macros used to work fine, but several issues ago something changed and they no longer work exactly right.

Here is an example of one of the macros in question:

/send "channel name" -[$name, $level]-

Now, to be honest, since the problem started, I have fiddled with the macros a lot, so I can't really say if this is exactly what USED to work, or not... but this does not work right.

I used to be able to hit the macro and it would open chat and set me up to begin chatting in the appropriate channel.

Now, it is not opening chat. I have to hit enter, THEN hit the macro in order for it to work.

I tried to create several macros for my role as targeter during hami raids, but they failed as well, and I ended up "cheating" by creating an obscure keybind, then macroing that keybind in order to get it to do what I wanted it to so.

So... help please.

I need three types of macros: One for global channel chatting, the other two for hami raids. A couple send a specific message to my team, the other to send a message to request.

I appreciate it.

you know I'll be there.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday!

Part XIII is up.