StrongGirl

My Shield/SS tank does the same. The new animations work when my shield powers are not active.

Elizabeth Moss was sitting in the Family Room of their elegantly large 3 story house. She had made a successful and rewarding career for herself as a Family Doctor. But that career now was the only thing that kept her mind off the one thing in her life that has been missing for nine months now. Elizabeth was looking through a photo album of their lost daughter. Tears welled up in her eyes as she saw the picture of Samantha’s first Halloween as a princess at the age of 3 years old. She was so beautiful in that costume.

It was only 3 months ago, the day after the 6 month mark, that a representative from both the Winnipeg Police Department and RCMP came to pay her and her husband a visit. They told them that it was time to start expecting the worst. Six months without a single lead in the case of their missing daughter and her friend Tiffany. With this much time passed there were 3 scenarios most likely. They both run away and didn’t want to be found. They were kidnapped by someone who didn’t want them to be found. And the last, and worst, killed. Elizabeth and her husband could never believe that Samantha would ever have run away. She was always a trooper that would meet her problems head on. Nothing ever brought her down. And they were good parents. Sure their jobs sometimes took them away too often, but they always made sure that she knew they loved her. And they were sure she loved them. So they had lived the last 3 months waiting for any news, just so they can at the very least, be granted closure.

Then the phone rang. “David! Can you get that? I’m in no condition to answer the phone right now!” Elizabeth beckoned to her husband who was in the office behind her.

“Yes dear!” David replied back and answered on Speaker. “Hello…Hello. Is anyone there?” No immediate reply. Then a deep breath, then came a voice from the grave that caused the blood from Elizabeth’s face to drain. “Hi dad.”

For a long moment there was silence as neither of them could utter another word. Elizabeth sat there stiff as a board. Hoping that this wasn’t her mind playing tricks on her. Then finally she heard her husband ask, “Samantha? Is that really you? Where are you! Tell me and I’ll come get you! Or we’ll call the police to come get you!”

“No dad. It isn’t necessary. I’m fine.”

Elizabeth finally gained enough composure to get up and head into the office. She sat down on one of the 3 armchairs in front of David’s desk. She looked David in the eyes with confusion and excitement at the same time. They were talking to their lost princess.

“What happened to you? You disappeared nine months ago. Three months ago the police told us to brace ourselves for the worst.” David said using every bit of his strength to hold up a strong composure for his wife.

“It’s kind of a long story. The police here told me I should contact you guys as soon as possible since they said the police would have told you that. I finally got my phone setup here in my apartment.”

“Your apartment!? Aren’t going to be coming home?” Elizabeth got out.

“I’m sorry mom. But there is something I got to take care of first. You remember in the fifth grade how I stood up to that bully? How I told you I had to do it on my own or he would just bully me even more if you got involved?”

“Well yes. But what does this have to do with you staying where you are? They should be bringing the criminal back here to be tried”, David said being the lawyer that he is.

“They haven’t caught the kidnapper yet. And the ordeal really isn’t over yet. That’s why I have to stay. I think I’m the only one that will be able to ever find him. And I need him to do something for me.”

“To do what? What did he do to you?” Elizabeth gasped out in horror bracing for the worst explanation.

“I don’t know how to tell you this. I don’t know if you would believe me.”

“Why wouldn’t we believe our own daughter? You’ve always been honest and true with us”, asked David.

“It’s something that can be hard to believe if you don’t actually live here in Paragon City. But I guess you should have heard something about them after the invasion. Do you guys remember seeing on the news those alien invaders, the Rikti?”

“Of course. It was all over the news. They really didn’t hit Canada on the scale of the other countries as the reports showed around the world. Are you saying the rumours are true? The Rikti are still around? Oh no. There are also rumours of horrific experimentations” gasped David.

“Unfortunately…the rumours are true. I was experimented on. That's why I have to stay. I have to find him and get him to undo the changes he's made.”

“What kind of changes?” Elizabeth braced again for an explanation of horrors done to their daughter.

“I guess that best way to explain it is to just show you.” Then the phone clicked.

“Samantha? Samantha?!” both her parents cried.

Don’t worry. I’m still here.

“What’s going on? That sounded like it was in my head.” David said.

“Mine too.” Elizabeth replied. They both looked at each other puzzled and scared.

Yes, you did hear me in your heads. One of the changes is, mental abilities.

“Mental abilities!?” Elizabeth said out of shock.

It’s one of the changes he’s done to me. And he says that the changes are not complete. He wants to turn me into one of them. Into a Rikti.

“A Rikti?!” Both David and Elizabeth said in unison.

Yeah. It seems to be their new game. Change us into Rikti. I guess to weaken us from the inside and bolster their numbers since they’re cut off from their home dimension. He’s tried to do the same thing with me. But luckily I was some what resistant. But he did have me for 8 months, experimenting away to see if he could get around my resistance. He says I will eventually change.

“This is why you think you need to stay? Couldn’t you leave it up to the authorities down there? Or those super heroes?” Elizabeth asked.

“We’re talking about Samantha here. She doesn’t sit around letting other people do what she believes she can do herself. She's a telepath now. That's how you say it right? It seems she should be able to do it herself. You just make sure you are extra careful. We don’t want to getting hurt” David said.

I should be ok. They actually have a lot of advances in medical science. Plus they have these teleporters here that can whisk me off to the hospital if I’m in really bad shape. I will, of course, do my best to not utilize them. I’m really sorry I can’t come back. But I have to take care of this. I’ll be back as soon as I can. And thanks for everything. You guys are the greatest parents.

“And you let us know if you need anything. And you had better call often. You can’t use the excuse of not picking up the phone now that you can communicate with your mind. And let us know if you need any money to get you started. You got an apartment and bills of your own to pay now.” David said.

Alright Dad. I will keep in touch. I’m ok with monies. The apartments are cheap. My account should have enough until I get a job done here.

“Well, we’ll just put a little extra in there. Just in case sweetie” Said Elizabeth.

“Dear… She just said she had enough.” David said.

“Oh quit being a cheap stake. We just got our daughter back. I think it’s time to spoil her and catch up on 8 months of allowance. Oh before you go. Is Tiffany with you? She went missing the same day you did.”

Tiffany!? Oh no. I remember going to Silver City to see a movie with her. Then it's all hazy after that. Oh no. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Damn it! They must have got her too. I can’t really remember much after that. And I don’t remember anything about her. They must have separated us once they found out I was resisting their changes. She might not have been so lucky. I guess I’ll have to ask him where she is. I’m sorry I don’t have anything for you to tell her parents. It’s really going to tear them up when they find out I’m ok and she’s not. I’m really sorry.

“It’s not your fault Samantha. You had nothing to do with it. You just do what you can and find her. We should be sorry. We just gave you more of a burden. But then you would want to know so you can do something about it. But we are really glad to know your ok.” Elizabeth said.

Thanks mom. I’ll do what I can. Thank you for everything.

“You’re more then welcome. We’re glad to have out daughter back. Now you take care and call often.”

I will mother. I’ll call or contact you later today ok.

“Ok sweetie. Take care.”

In her apartment, Samantha turns her attention to the Rikti Scientist. Where is she?!

Your parents are quite delightful. I have to pay them a visit some time. Bring them into the family.

You ever lay your hands on them and you will regret the day I show up on your doorstep. Now answer my question, where…is…she?

Tiffany…Tiffany? I really can’t say. We have so many experiments going on in so many locations. I don’t deal with them all you know. You were shipped over to me due to your interesting traits. Tiffany is probably in one of our secret bases in Canada, probably almost already fully changed and bringing in new candidates. I’ll have to get back to you.

You do that.

[OOC] Just as a little side note. I changed the hero's name. Though I guess it's really only mentioned in the title up til now. The new name in PSI Girl. I'll use that one from now on. [/OOC]

Samantha needed to see Sister Psyche. Samantha was released from the hospital after 2 weeks of intensive testing. They weren’t able to determine how she was resisting the mutagen so they released her. But Samantha continually insisted she wasn’t resisting anything. She was going to change. They had to be seeing something that indicated that. But time and time again they said they noticed no activity with the mutagen. They suggested regular check ups, but that was all they could really do until they saw these changes she was so sure was going to happen. It was time she took matters into her own hands.
Samantha approached Sister Psyche. Sister Psyche just finished mentoring another hero and turned to Samantha. “Oh my? This isn’t going to be about training, is it?” Sister Psyche led Samantha to a bench behind the hospital where they could have a more private conversation. They both sat down, Samantha leaving quite a bit of space between them. The leaves rustling in the light breeze that was caressing their faces.
“I really want to thank you for everything you’ve done for me. I really am very grateful. I just wanted to ask you something”, Samantha said looking down at the ground to avoid eye contact.
“You want to become a hero too, don’t you?”, Sister Psyche chuckled.
And you already have your costume and named picked out. Might I add, the costume looks really cute? I can’t wait for the day when you come to me dressed up in it ready to take your place as a Rikti.
“Want isn’t really the word for it. I would rather I did resist the mutagen entirely and I didn’t get these powers.” Samantha locks her eyes on Sister Psyche’s. “But I need to find him and make him stop these changes. To give me my life back.”
“I understand how you must feel. But are you really ready to start looking?”
“I guess that’s partly why I came here. Do you think I can? Do you think my powers are ready to try the super hero gig?”
“You’ve made some great progress. But you haven’t manifested any offensive abilities since your escape. Or even defensive. You can’t go out there with only good intensions. Especially personal ones. You should leave it up to the heroes that can. I have a lot contacts. I’m sure I can find this Rikti Scientist you’re looking for.”
An evil chuckle rings in Samantha’s head. But she doesn’t know what you’ve been up the last few hours. Why don’t you show her?
A dog approached them and sat down looking for some affection. Samantha reached out her hand and allowed him to lick her hand. She then pulled her hand back and hit the dog with a mental blast. He yelped and buried his head in his paws. Samantha then extended her hand toward the dog and absorbed his pain. The dog immediately forgot about the pain and resumed licking Samantha’s hand. Samantha gave the dog a few pats on the head and sent him away.
Impressive. You would even hurt something that has shown you affection just to prove a point. How very Rikti of you. I would have found some of those thugs you practiced on before.
“I shouldn’t be surprised really. I don’t know how many times a Rikti hit me with that. But can you do that to people?”, asked Sister Psyche hoping this question would dissuade Samantha.
“I disrupted a couple of robberies on the way here.” Samantha sees the look of disapproval on Sister Psyche’s face and retorts, “I didn’t let anyone see me. I hid around the corner. They fled when the pain started and they couldn’t find a cape.”
“Well I guess you’re determined to go through with this. But why even bother asking me about it? You’re as ready as anyone else that’s come to me and asked me about being a hero.”
“I guess it’s the fear of what will happen when I face him. Will that only help drive the change? Pursuing him everyday? Do you think I’m strong enough to face him without losing my mind?”
“I wish I could answer that for you. Only you can. But you were in that Lab for 8 months. You got yourself out, with a little help from some heroes. And from what you've told me about over the past few weeks, with him constantly bombarding you, tormenting you. You’re still sane after all that. I don’t think anyone who’s strong enough to face that everyday wouldn’t be strong enough to face him. I would put my money on you over him any day”, Sister Psyche says to console Samantha. “But I would suggest you keep in contact with me. Come to me if you need help. If you feel like you’re falling from the path so to speak. Or find some friends to keep you in check. Watch out for you. To act as your conscience. You don’t have to fight him alone. And I highly suggest you don’t.”
“Yeah. I guess that will work. So you really think I have a chance?” Samantha looks into Sister Psyche’s eyes with all her hopes resting on her answer.
“Yes. I think you can find the answers you seek. But take my advice. Don’t do it alone”, Sister Psyche says sternly.
“I will. Thanks again for everything.” Samantha gets up and walks away feeling a weight lifted off her chest.
I wouldn’t get too close to any friends my dear. They won’t be able to help you keep your humanity. And you don’t want to let them down when they see you’ve changed. When you backstab them after joining me. There is only one path for you. And that’s down the path of transformation. I’m just trying to save you from all this unneeded effort.
There is one thing you forget. Even if I change, I can still destroy you like I promised. Then we’ll see what will happen to your plans.
The Rikti Scientist gets a good chuckle off. I don’t think you’ll want to do anything of the sort. He finishes his chuckle. Once the change is complete you will see things my way. How much more superior you will become. Then you’ll gladly help me in my plans.
All I can do is try, can’t I? I’m sure you have no objections to that. And if I actually help some people trying, then maybe I can change what you’ve given me into less of a curse.
Touché, touché. You can believe that all you want if it will help you feel better about yourself.
Why am I even explaining myself to you? I’ll just carry on with the hopes of meeting you before you’re ready for me.
Samantha enters Icons and heads for the front desk. “Welcome to Icons. How can I help you today Madame?” asks the clerk.
“I’d like to order a costume. I’ve got my design right here.” Samantha pulls out a printout that she got from the costume design terminals when she visited Icons earlier.
“Excellent.” The clerk looks at the design for a few seconds. “Very nice. It’ll take about 2 to 5 business days to have this completed. Please fill out this form and I’ll get things rolling on this design right away.”

Rikti or Human? The Dilemma of Samantha Rachel Moss a.k.a. Canadian Marvel.

In a Rikti lab in Steel Canyon, in a near unconscious state, Samantha is able to eavesdrop on a conversation between a Rikti scientist and the base commander.
Why hasn’t this filth begun the transformation?! Haven’t you given it any of the mutagen!?
I’ve given it plenty. It seems to be reacting differently. Or it has a slightly different genetic makeup that makes a galaxies difference in the way the mutagen works.
How so?
Her body seems to be moulding the mutagen to cause whatever changes it wants. It’s taking all our mental changes, our increased abilities and rejecting most of the physical changes. Almost as if its body believes they are not beneficial to the process. This looks like the creation of a Rikti/Human Hybrid. A very interesting specimen indeed.
This specimen is a treat. If it can do that, it should be destroyed. We want Rikit. Not abominations!
And give up an opportunity to find out what is causing this and adapt our mutagen for the variant. If this is left unchecked we could be creating an army that can become a greater treat then the super powered filth. We have no idea how many are out there like this one. The scientist injects more sedatives into Samantha.
Your logic is sound. I want guards at all times…

Samantha awakens hearing klaxons and a battle raging in the distance. Within her mind an order is barked, Get in there and check on the filth! Destroy it!
Samantha slides off the bed and cowers under it blocking line of sight with her and the door. Two Rikti infantry enter and see the empty bed. One heads left to check behind the computers the other right to circle around the bed. Just as it is about to check under the bed, it stops and turns towards its comrade. The Rikti advances towards the other, readies its sword, and in one swift move, removes the others head. The Rikti then rushes out the door only to be overtaken by fiery monkeys.
Samantha clumsily gets up and pears over the bed through ridiculously long bangs. She tucks them behind her ears. Hearing foot steps leading away she slowly heads for the door. Looking left she sees flashes of a battle. Right, empty corridor.
Samantha heads right moving slowly towards an intersection. With every step, a shiver, as each foot touches the floor. Why am I so cold?, Samantha wonders as she looks down and realizes that she is naked. Terrified at her predicament, she looks around for clothes. But what she sees terrifies her even more then the thought of being naked. Dead Rikti litter the corridors. Samantha barrels down the hallway and takes the elevator down, only to see a similar scene of carnage.
Samantha runs down the hallways. Tripping over bodies and bruising and scarping her knees, elbows, ankles and other body parts with every fall. Her determination to get out as quickly as possible overriding any sense of reason. She rounds the corner to the exit and collides into a male hero, knocking them both over and the wind out of the hero. Samantha gets right back up and continues running toward the exit. The thought that the hero she ran into could help never crossed her mind. Her sights, locked on the exit alone. The hero coughing tries to call out to Samantha, “Hey! Wait!”, coughs twice. Reaches up to his comm., “Guys I need help.” Another cough. “I ran into someone down here!”
A second hero ports to the first’s location too late to see Samantha as she’s already through the exit. She looks down at the male hero gasping for air, “What happened to you?”
Still trying to catch his breathe, he tries to explain. “There was a woman. Running around naked. She barrelled into me and kept going. She’s outside by now. You have to go out there and find her.”
“Right. A naked woman. Sure it wasn’t a straggler?”
“Oh come on! You think I can’t tell the difference between a woman and a Rikti. Besides, would a straggler have left me out of breathe and alive!? I’m telling you it was a woman.”
“Your serious about this aren’t you? I’m going out to check it out.” The female hero heads for the exit.
“Wait up”, calls out the male hero as he gets up slowly and follows the female hero.
Outside, Samantha is feeling a bit of relief. Finally, warmth. But that relief disappears as she looks up at the largest buildings she has ever seen in her life. Where am I? This can’t be Winnipeg!, are her thoughts of panic.
Samantha then notices other thoughts flooding through her mind. She looks around at the faces of the people around her. She remembers she’s naked and tries to cover herself to no avail.
Oh my. How indecent of her!
I wonder if she needs help.
Wow! That’s a real hottie!
Samantha, in a panic, runs to her left and into an alley. She runs past a group of outcasts conducting a drug deal. They immediately begin blaming each other for holding out on each other. Samantha finds a dumpster and cowers beside it to hide.
The female hero emerges from the lab to see quite a few citizens with bewildered faces. One cries out, “Hero! That woman needs your help! She was terrified. And naked. She ran down this alley.”
The female hero heads down the alley and sees all but two outcasts unconscious. The two, still trying to knock each others lights out. The male hero catches up and looks at the outcasts, then the female hero with the same look of confusion. They quickly dispatch of the two outcasts and begin looking for Samantha.
The male hero finds Samantha curled up behind the dumpster and calls out to the female hero. “Over here! I think you should handle this. I don’t want her thinking I’m some kind of pervert.”
The female hero moves slowly towards Samantha and kneels down out of arms reach. Samantha pears at the female hero through her long bangs with tears and fear in her eyes. “Hi. My name is Pyronica of Xyu. This is Clockwise. We’re here to help.” Pyronica extends her hand for Samantha to accept it, but Samantha lifts her right leg and arms to cover her face. “Ok. I’ll give you some space. There’s no need to afraid.” Pyronica looks over at Clockwise. “Give me your cape. I’m sure she wants some thing to cover herself with.”
Samantha lowers her leg and arms to uncover her eyes. Pyronica slowly advances with the cape and gently covers Samantha, then backs up a few steps. “There that’s better isn’t it.”
Samantha sniffles and nods in agreement.
“I really think we should get you to a hospital. We don’t know what those Rikti were doing to you. You really need to be checked out. Besides you have some pretty nasty scarps and bruises”, says Clockwise.
Samantha nods again. Some of the fear begins to dissipate and she relaxes a little.
“If you don’t mind I’m going to teleport us to the nearest hospital”, Pyronica calmly explains. “It’s really quite safe and instantaneous.” Pyronica smiles to help relive the tension. It works and Samantha smiles back ever so slightly.
Pyronica kneels down near Samantha, places her hand on Samantha’s knee and reaches for Clockwise’s hand. Clockwise takes Pyronica’s hand and Pyronica teleports them to the hospital.

In the hospital, Samantha is resting in bed, watching what appears to be the worst daytime talk show of all time. She’s just grateful to be safe. She was in the lab for 8 months without a single hair cut. All too grateful to have her bangs at their normal length again and out of her eyes. Just the way she likes them. She is also grateful for the heroes that saved her a week ago and the hero that’s been coming daily to teach her to control her new mental abilities. She can now sit and rest quietly without the thoughts of the other patients bombarding her mind. But one familiar mind begins a conversation.
Hello there my precious specimen. I’m pleased to see your resting well. I’m glad the ordeal of your escape hasn’t left you, damaged. Though I am disappointed that you cut your hair. I rather enjoyed how it looked. But I’m really impressed with your abilities. Quite remarkable how you used them without even realizing what you were doing. You are going to have a real natural fair once you start using them to their full potential.
GET OUT OF MY HEAD!
Oh hush now. We are practically family. Or we will be. Eventually the mutagen will turn you into one of us. But you will also be the first of your kind. The next evolution of Rikti. A rikti/human hybrid. This is really quite exciting.
NEVER!
You may wish whatever you want, but it won't make a difference. I learned quite a bit about you humans trying to figure out how you were resisting my mutagen. You humans have so much untapped potential, you can suppress our own, once the modified mutagen is done transforming you. Quite ironic really. We came here to change you into us. But we really should have been trying to merge our two species. I guess we’ve become complacent. Running into so many inferior beings, we thought there was no one out there to even come close to us. In your species current state you don’t compare. But you humans can be moulded into perfection. Ah, but I’m getting a little off topic here. I should really be explaining what will happen to you. Soon your thought patterns will change and you will truly become Rikti. You might even notice, if you look deep enough within your mind, that you can hear us. When we meet again, we’ll see about conducting the transformation on myself. Then we can usher in a new era for the Rikti. Maybe even as king and queen to lead the Rikti into this new era?
When we meet again, you will undo what you did! Then I’ll destroy you for what you’ve done to me!
You say that now. But time is not on your side. I’m very patient. I can wait for the transformation to complete. Then we’ll see what will happen. Now hush. Rest. You need it. I do agree with you though. That has got to be the worst talk show you humans have ever made.
Samantha turns off the TV, curls up into a ball and begins to cry silently. Agetha, the sweetest old lady, who shares the hospital room with Samantha, notices Samantha crying and comes over with concern. “Are you alright? Do you need a nurse?” Agetha sits down beside Samantha.
“No. I just need to cry.” Samantha gets out.
“Oh, dear. Come here.” Agetha extends her arms in offer an of embrace. Samantha accepts the embrace and her tears begin to flow more freely. Agetha kisses Samantha on the top of her head and begins to rock her gently.