jwbullfrog

Intelligence is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad.

By order of the Emperor, this club has been closed for encouraging seditious thoughts. Anyone caught dancing will be subject to memory modification, personality alteration, and loss of their feet.

Have a nice day.

Um, not to be a dark cloud over this ray of sunshine but how can we have a comeback for something that never was?

I'm not saying we don't need and never will need something like this. But considering that this was an idea that was abandoned years ago as 'not fun', I can't quite understand the recent resurgence of interest.

It's a bit like wishing for the good old days of the Dewey presidency.

... By someone who knew her when.






Aloha.

For those of you who don't know me, my name is Cassadega Delgado. Street performer, magician, juggler, and all around nice gal. You might have seen me in Atlas Park, performing my act. No? Oh well, I suppose it's inevitable that some people miss me since I'm usually not too far from that most glamorous of Atlas Park attractions, Ms. Liberty.

Or, Libby, as I know her.

I guess being the Daughter and Grand-Daughter of some of the city's most notable heroes would make her a person of interest; particularly for the newest members of the the Superhuman community. But I find it hard to take her seriously because I went to high school with her.

That's right. She did go to high school. She was, once, a normal person. Well, as normal as she ever was. Back then she was just Megan Duncan. I guess that's an understatement because she was never JUST anybody. She was, in effect, the Princess and heir apparent of Paragon City. She knew it, and she made sure that every one else knew it too.

It was hard to take her seriously since the words Megan Duncan and serious rarely ever came into close proximity of each other. She was Head cheerleader, Prom Queen, Homecoming Queen, Miss Junior Paragon for 3 of her 4 years of High School (I hear it's still being disputed in court) while I, and most of the school were... completely disinterested.

Oh, don't get me wrong, she had friends. Well, I suppose they were friends, it always looked to me more like a wake of well dressed Vultures waiting to feed on her latest kill, but she was always surrounded by the beautiful people of the school. Not anyone more beautiful than herself, you understand, but a group hand picked to accentuate her own beauty. Kind of like shoes and a matching handbag...

I guess she had to surround herself with friends. I mean, she couldn't have had much of a social life otherwise. For most of us, dating was, at best, awkward at worst, embarrassing. I can imagine that dating for her was no picnic. Actually, I can imagine how it was like for any guy brave enough to ask her out.

Imagine, for a moment, the typical high school dating scenario. You've gone to the girl's house to pick her up and, as usual, she's not quite ready so, according to tradition, you find yourself spending a few minutes talking to her family, most likely, her father.

Now, remember who we're talking about and who her family is.

That's right, while other fathers might be casually cleaning a shotgun or three, her grandfather just has to be trimming his fingernails. I can guess that she was never brought back late from a date. In fact, she was probably home a half an hour early.

And lets not forget the OTHER side of the family. Although Uncle Stefan never attended any of the family days that I was aware of, would you really want to take the chance that he might get upset. Or, worse yet, that he might approve?

Yup, home an hour early with sworn statements from a dozen witnesses that NOTHING happened.

To be fair, she wasn't a total snob. She was unfailingly polite to all of the little people around her and she always went out of her way let us know how lucky we were to have spoken with her. Or, at least to have had her speak to us. I'm not sure that she even understands the concept of a two way conversation to this day. A conversation with her is a bit like having a conversation with a parrot. Sure, you can do it, but you're really not going to get anywhere and it'll probably just give you a headache.

She was a perfect student. She never talked back to the teachers (actually, she never said anything at all in class.) She never had disciplinary problems. There were a lot of incidents that 'never happened' but I can't tell you much about those since they ... well you get the point.

I can't tell you much about her grades, but she always had high marks in her classes. Four of her flock: Mark Anderson, Mark Harrison, Mark Cooper...you'd think there was something in the water about sixteen years earlier. All day long I'd hear her in the halls 'Hi Mark, Hi Mark, Hi Mark..." Skwak! Libby want a cracker? Pitiful.

That kind of thing continued for four years finally culminating in her Coronation. Or, as the rest of us liked to call it, Graduation Day. Honestly, I'd never seen so much media coverage since the Olympics. Fortunately, thanks to the miracle of alphabetization, I had gotten my diploma before she had her chance to flounce upon the stage. Trust me folks, nobody flounced quite like Libby. I felt kind of sorry for the people who had to follow her. It was only supposed to have been a two hour ceremony.

It wasn't.

The only students that were supposed to have made speeches were the usual folks; the Valedictorian, the Class President, ect. So, when she started into her completely impromptu and unplanned speech (that I heard she paid a pretty penny to have written for her), the subsonic groan could be heard across the room. Who was going to tell her she couldn't speak? It was why the TV cameras were there in the first place.

It was a wonderful speech full of ringing phrases and praise for her classmates, of hopes and dreams for the future, of glowing promise for those of us that were going to have successful, ordinary lives while she was off saving the world...

I dozed off halfway through. I hope she paid her ghost writer well since I'm certain that they could not have been happy about the way she mutilated their work. I got to hear the very end since somebody was nice enough to nudge me awake, but, looking back on things, I think I would have liked the extra few minutes sleep.

Well, you pretty much know how things went from there. She became Ms. Liberty, icon of young heroes and darling of the Internet, savior of Paragon city (according to her online Bio), and example to citizens everywhere...

Me, I know better. To me she's always going to be Libby, the princess on her own self made pedestal. And, as long as she stands there, I'll be nearby, keeping her honest.

Aloha, Libby. Try stopping by and visiting us in reality once in a while.

OK, incredibly minor point here but, if someone has the time, could you find out if this works on the burning building in Steel?

And, name suggestions brought to mind by this.

Fire Hose

Hydrant (and hydrant-man/woman)

Extinguisher

ect. ect. ect.

Although its a little late, hope your day was really great.

And because we couldn't send on time, you get a greeting card rhyme.


Happy birthday.

Hiya Paragonners.



Wow, who knew, huh? And I thought heroes like him just came fully formed from a mail order service somewhere.




Very nice work Falcon.

JWB

You're going to make me go there aren't you?

(Gah, here's my age showing again)


an issue (no idea which one) of Sgt. Rock ca. 1978

Yup, been doing this for a while.

Not a bad article but I'm not sure I agree with it.

GR introduced quite a few things to the game that we now take for granted.

-New graphics: Anyone remember the days of no shadows and no reflections? I do. The game looked good before but now? Much better. also, GR has shown that a form of open world can exist in this game. Anyone see war walls there? Nope? Good.

-Morality System/ Side Switching: Once upon a time, the only places blue and red could mix were Pocket D, RWZ and Cimmeroa. (and even before that, only Pocket D) Now? Run amok people! Go wherever the heck you want. Just a mission or ten and you can be doing content everywhere in the game universe.

-New story lines: The tired old 'statesman with a beard-alternate universe' idea got some depth to it and has become a big part of the current storyline.

-New zones: To date, counting the latest content, GR has given us 5 new places to hack/slash/blast our way through (with another, night ward, on the way)

-New characters: And new ways of looking at old favorites. Tunnel Rat has become a favorite as well as the newer, more vicious versons of the Phalanx.

Now I know folks will say 'so what, there's nothing to do there.' Ok, I will admit it could use a bit more mission content but what is there is good for quite a decent number of hours of game play. I, like most everybody else, would like to see the content go up into higher levels But I believe it's getting there with the addition of First Ward (content up to 30), and Night Ward should build on top of that.

GR may not have been the 'runaway blockbuster hit' that everyone expected and hoped for, but to claim it nearly killed the CoH franchise? That might be stretching things a bit too far.

you mean thtar warth day...


gah, I'm going to be lisping for hours after typing that...

There is very little love lost between myself and Longbow. Now I did start on CoV back when it was it's own game, and that explains a large part of it, but even when I got to heroside I found that Longbow was the same group of Pompous, egotistical, self important, busybodies that they were in the Rogue Isles. The only new thing was that I could not shoot them when they got in my way.

I see them as little more then a private mercenary army that has quasi-legitimate status thanks to powerful patrons. I don't see them as any more 'good' than Wyvern, or Legacy Chain, or any of those other similar organizations.

They are, at best, bumblers who would be best put to use directing traffic in Skyway city, and, at worst, little better than Malta or Crey.

But, from a story point of view, we kind of need them. After all, if they were a competant and efficient, the city wouldn't need us.

If Z hadn't already beaten me to it, I was going to suggest Protector. Come give us a try. we promise not to laugh at rookie questions (at least, not in your face

And that should wrap things up for now.

It's taken a while to get here so thanks for staying with me. Continued thanks to the players on Protector that have allowed me to use their characters as part of the story. Hopefully, I've done them justice.

I'll be back with another story... um... eventually.

Keep watching.

Thanks everyone.

---JWB

Hiya Paragonners. Alexis Alexander here (fortunately) with what should be my last report for a while.


My memories of the last week or so are a bit hazy, readers. Being in and out of consciousness will do that to a person. Although I wish I didn't, I have very clear memories of being nearly killed by a Council Vampyre. I can still feel the hammer strike of the blow to my chest and the helpless feeling of blacking out.

I have even clearer memories of hearing Carpenter's neck snap.

After that point it all gets fuzzy. There was the sound of gunfire, the sickening sensation of a matter transport, quick snapshot images of a white room, machinery, urgent sounding voices, and, somewhere nearby, somebody shouting. After that came more blackness and not much else until I woke up in bed.

Now in fiction, the protagonist usually goes through a few panicked minutes of wondering what happened to their bedroom before getting their wits about them. I am proud to say that I skipped most of that. I knew instantly that I was not in my own bed (since I usually crash on the sofa anyway) and, given the elegant appearance of my surroundings and the slight rocking sensation, I had a fair idea of where I was.

"Would you like to know the date or do I need to remind you who you are first," said Madam's voice from a chair to my left. As usual, I couldn't be sure of what she was thinking, but I thought I detected notes of concern and relief behind her dry sarcasm.

I turned my head to look at her before replying. I'll admit that I was all prepared with something snappy and snarky, but whatever it was died as I noticed the two eighteen inch fighting knives in her lap. They were the fangs she kept hidden until she decided that someone was a threat to herself or one of her people. I would have felt sorry for whoever it was if my ribs hadn't chosen that moment to flare up with pain.

Madam had followed my glance and slowly put the book she had been reading. "I just don't know what to do with you," she said gently. "I go through all that trouble to get you into Galaxy City and you have to go and cause so much trouble." She sighed dramatically before meeting my eyes.

"The Paragon City government has been made to look like fools because of you and they're not happy about that. Still, they have quietly lifted some of the restrictions on relief groups getting into Galaxy City so the people there will be getting more help over the next few weeks. I've asked Jake and Sandy to stay and set up a field office. They suggested an old furniture store for some reason. I don't suppose you know anything about that?"

I smiled. If nothing else good came from all of this, the remaining people of Galaxy City weren't cut off any more and could begin to rebuild.

"Longbow still officially considers you a wanted felon," Madam continued. "but at least they have enough common sense not to press the issue. Thanks to you, they know they have bigger problems of their own."

"Shouldn't they be asking me..." I started to ask. Madam raised her hand and waived it gently.

"That's not for you to worry about, Alexis. You've done quite enough in that matter. Besides," she paused for a moment, "if Longbow can't clean up their own house... it'll be taken care of." I wondered about the way she phrased that last sentence but I decided that I probably didn't want to know. I suspected a certain bird themed hero was involved.

"Carpenter?" It was the question I didn't really want to ask. I was certain I already knew the answer but my reporter's habits would not let it go.

"It's a good thing that Etherfalcon can afford the best toys for that orbiting tin can of his. Neither one of you were in good shape when you arrived. You, for example, had four broken ribs, a punctured lung and your heart was bruised..."

"You're dodging the question," I hissed and tried to sit upright. "I'm an adult. You don't need to..."

"She's alive. She'll be alright," said Madam soothingly. "She had three vertebrae broken but, fortunately, her spinal column was undamaged. She'll be in recovery for a few more weeks and therapy for some time after that. Doctor Vendetti tells me that she should be just fine in a few months."

I tried to lever myself upward. I wanted to get out of bed but the throbbing in my chest reminded me that I probably was not doing myself any favors by moving. I couldn't just stay there, there were still too many things that needed to be done...

Madam's expression grew more serious, and a bit feral. "Enough of that.," she growled. "You are going to stay right where you are." She pushed me back down into the softness of the pillows. "Foolish little girl, you've made the Council angry enough to put two million dollars on your head. If you want to live long enough for your wounds to heal, you'll do exactly what I tell you."

I'm not sure I've ever seen her angry before readers. I decided that being very quiet would be the wisest course of action.

"You're going to disappear for a while," she said. "I'll lend you the Katana and her crew. Take her...anywhere. I don't care where. Sail around the world once or twice. I'll have an anonymous account set up for you to take care of shopping and expenses and I'll send Caridad with you as a bodyguard. Don't come back until you hear from me. And for God's sake, don't tell anyone where you are." She leaned closer. "Idiot child, you act before you think, and this time it almost got you killed. You have friends. For once, let them sort this out."

She had spoken. Even if I wanted to (and I didn't. I'm not critically stupid, readers) I was in no position to defy her orders. Besides, behind her anger with me was a deeper fury that someone would threaten one of her people. I figured that it would be a good idea to be as far away as possible. Still, I had one thought that kept running through my head.

"Two million dollars?"

"I wouldn't worry too much about that, " said Madam.

"Why not?"

Madam paused, then smiled. "I hear there is a ten million dollar bounty on the head of anyone who tries to collect."

Sometimes, my friends scare me.

So that's the situation, readers. You won't be hearing from me for a while. Perhaps its for the best. Until then, this is Alexis Alexander. Good night readers.

*****************************

POSTSCRIPT:

On the island of Sardinia, a few miles West of the Italian mainland, Archon Claudio DiDraghi sat on a chair in the center of a circle of light in an otherwise darkened room. He'd been there for several hours, but not by choice.

Eight days earlier he'd been falling from the back of a helicopter and had been facing almost certain death when someone had grabbed him in midair, stuffed him into a body bag, and carried him...somewhere. He had been thrown into a box of some kind, probably the simple pine shipping crate that he could see at the edge of the circle of light, and had been shipped across the Atlantic. It had been several more hours of bumps and rough treatment before he had been taken out of the box, removed from the bag and tied to the chair.

The Archon knew that his enhanced strength could easily burst the simple ropes holding him, if only he could concentrate enough to break free. He could not focus. Whoever had captured him had drugged him.

"Ah, good. You're awake. I had to guess at the dosage. Not an easy thing to do in midair." The voice was quiet and had a hint of Eastern European inflection.

Archon Didraghi grinned, it would be simplicity itself to overpower this fool's mind and escape. He closed his eyes and tried to focus past the drug haze. Before he could clear his head, a dark figure stepped into the light and snapped his head sideways with a backhanded slap.

"No. Let's not do that. It won't do you any good but I just don't feel like dealing with it."

"Who do you think you are?" the Archon hissed. "I have powerful friends that will destroy you for this. Don't you know who I am?"

The dark figure turned his back and stepped back out of the circle of light. The Archon could hear a dull scraping before a padded armchair appeared at the edge of the light. The dark figure was still mostly in shadow as he sat down and calmly crossed his legs.

"I know who you are, " said the quiet voice. "You're the idiot who was going to set off a nuclear bomb inside a major city. You're the fool who thought the world would love you for mass murder. And you're the fool who tried to make himself the paragon of Humanity by turning himself into a monster. I've met quite a few men like you.

Right now Claudio Didraghi...yes I know your name... I wouldn't count on your 'powerful friends'. Even if they knew where you were, they wouldn't lift a finger to help you right now. You're an embarrassment to them. A joke. You've made them look bad so they've decided you're nothing but a liability. The only person who cares at all about you is me. And I only care about what you have to tell me about the Council.

We're going to have a conversation. You're going to tell me everything you know about the Council and their agents in Longbow. You're going to give me names and places and schedules. Once you've done that, I'll ask you again, and again, and again, until I'm certain you've told me what I want to know. Then, I'll decide if you're still useful enough to me to be allowed to live.

"What makes you think I'll tell you anything? I am an Archon of the Council, I've been trained in methods of interrogation. I can resist every form of torture known to man."

"Well, thats good to know," said the quiet voice of the shadowed figure as he leaned forward bringing his jet black skin and glowing red eyes into the light. "I'm certain that there's a few techniques from my homeworld that you've never heard of and, if I run out of ideas, I'm sure I can use my imagination." Akim Zedarkov smiled.

"Shall we begin?"

*******************************

POSTSCRIPT 2:

The Katana sailed away from the docks of Independence Port headed for who knew where. Madam Masada didn't care where the yacht went as long as it and her passenger were far, far away from Paragon City. She continued to watch as the yacht as it sailed for the horizon.

"You've reviewed Caridad's notes?" she said to the figure standing watchfully behind her.

"Yes, Ma'am."

"And you feel comfortable taking on her duties while she's gone?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"I really am sorry for your loss."

"Not your fault, Ma'am."

Madam sighed. "You know Rebecca, you can call me Madam."

Rebecca Woodley tugged at the hem of her new bronze tone blazer and brushed the tail of her purple and grey scarf out of her face before replying. "I'll keep that in mind, Ma'am."

Madam knew that there was a lot of pain that her new bodyguard was keeping inside. It would heal in time. Until then, keeping her busy would be for the best. Still...

"You know, I heard just the other day about someone you used to work with." Madam said.

"Ma'am?"

"Did you know that Oswald Montcalm has a thing for..." The rest of the sentence was lost to the general noises of the pier. It couldn't be heard more than a few feet from the two women.

A few moments later, Becky Woodley's whooping laughter could be heard all along the docks.


***********************

POSTSCRIPT 3:

The fog rolled in as usual over Ocean Beach. Late spring was usually chilly so Lily Abel sat wrapped in a favorite gray cable knit sweater. Down the beach, a group of surfers had started a bonfire to warm up before riding the waves but she didn't try to join them. The locals were a bit possessive about this beach and, although she'd spent more than a few days of her life on this stretch of sand, she didn't really feel like being around other people.

Weeks ago she'd been working on the East Coast when an Atomic bomb exploded offshore and changed her life. When the bomb went off it caused her to lose her job, her closest friend, and (in all but one very important way) her life. Since she had no reason to stay, she came back to San Francisco to get her head straight and try to make some sense out of life.

Things had gotten better over the last few days. She'd found a nice apartment and she'd been offered a new job with very good pay. She hadn't accepted yet but it felt right and it fit nicely with her abilities. She'd relaxed long enough, but it was time to get back to work.

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a slim cell phone with a Navy Blue outer casing and a small bird of prey outlined in silver. She let the phone autodial the one saved number it had. After two rings a male voice answered.

"Have you decided?"

"I accept."

Lily couldn't be sure, but it sounded like the person on the other end was smiling when he replied.

"Good. The situation in Longbow is not improving. I suspect somebody is deliberately dragging their feet. Now, how do you feel about going to Mercy Island?"

"I guess there is a Hell after you die..."

"They're in," said Susan Kane from her hiding place. "Ready for part two, Becky?"

"Yes, Ma'am"

"Let's go."

*******************

The Helicopter's rotors started to turn. As they slowly came up to speed, Captain Susan Kane and her First Sergeant made the small adjustments that would bring the engines up to full power as quickly as possible.

Outside the aircraft, Archon Didraghi hadn't quite accepted the fact that his grand plan was coming apart at the seams. Although his Galaxy had taken the commander and two members of the Longbow squad out of the fight at the beginning, the remaining troopers had his people in an inescapable crossfire. Two of his soldiers were down and, although Galaxys were powerful, they were not invincible.

His only other remaining soldier was down on one knee, breathing heavily. Didraghi recognized the signs of a Warwolf transformation and smiled slightly. In a moment the soldier would become an 800 pound killing machine and then these Longbow annoyances would see the true power of the Council. He started to reach out to the minds of the people around him, looking for weak willed minds to destroy when the sound of the Helicopter's engines finally registered. He spun quickly, enraged. That was not part of the plan. He was supposed to be the one flying the aircraft. He was supposed to be the first Prophet of the new age. Things weren't supposed to go wrong, It was a perfect plan.

He started to run.

*********************

On the other side of the Longbow safe zone a red and black clad Fortunata addressed her unit. "That's enough. Cease fire and withdraw to rally Gamma." On her word ten Arachnos soldiers stopped firing and faded back into the shadows just as return fire started from the Longbow positions. Unheard by everyone, one of her Crab Spiders whispered, "Good Luck, Jake."

*********************

The helicopter's engines had reached full speed and Susan Kane launched the aircraft directly upward. She needed to get clear of the war walls before going anywhere. Fortunately, going straight up quickly was something that a helicopter did well. Once she got high enough, she planned on heading East and getting as far out to sea as possible. What exactly she was going to do at that point was still up for debate. She had a few minutes to figure that part out.

As the helicopter lifted away, a Council Galaxy and Warwolf found themselves the sole focus of a dozen Longbow soldiers. Their commander had disappeared and the grand plan was over. There was only one thing left to do.

They charged.

Handshake stepped out from his hiding place and pointed at the charging Warwolf. Arcs of electricity shot from his gloves burning a line across the furred chest. The wolf turned away from Sergeant Reyes' position and accelerated across the landing field toward his new target.

Handshake had time for two more blasts before he dropped to the ground to avoid taking another hit from the massive paws of the monster. Getting hit like that once in a lifetime was more than enough. As he hit the ground he rolled to his right to keep out from under the wolf's feet. Caught up in a killing rage, the wolf turned to follow the movement only to meet the gaze of a slender blonde with faintly glowing eyes. It was the last thing he ever saw.

The Galaxy couldn't think straight. His mind was being torn apart by the high pitched screaming of a half dozen Longbow sonic grenades. They were the least lethal weapon in the Longbow arsenal and by far the most effective. Just one was enough to bring most criminals to their knees. An average super powered adversary could withstand three or maybe four before being completely unable to act in their own defense. Six of them were turning the Galaxy's mind to impure jelly.

Sergeant Reyes walked slowly out of his position, his hearing protected by the sound dampeners in his cowl. His left arm hung limply at his side so he used his right arm to hold his rifle up against the Galaxy's head. "You're under arrest. I advise you not to resist."

The Galaxy could not focus on anything other than the underslung grenade launcher that was level with his right eye and the finger on the trigger behind it. He still believed in the glory of the Council, and he believed that one day, the world would truly understand. But he wasn't willing to die for it right at that moment.

He surrendered without a fight.

**********************

In low Earth orbit two pairs of eyes were watching low light video images being relayed from drone cameras to a large monitor screen. Two of those eyes belonged to Etherfalcon, the nominal owner of the satellite. The other pair were luminous red coals shining from a night black face some two feet higher up. Those belonged to Akim Zedarkov, a humanoid alien that Etherfalcon had brought in as a consultant.

Officially Etherfalcon, the hero, had nothing to do with a person like Akim Zedarkov. Zedarkov was an expert in skills that most law enforcement agencies normally considered criminal or even terrorist. If he were to be judged by purely human legal standards, Akim Zedarkov would be considered a monster. By his own standards, he was a slayer of monsters; dealing a very unforgiving justice to those who truly deserved it.

Unofficially, Etherfalcon couldn't care less about Zedarkov's reputation. His success was based on working with the best talent he could find and the best information he could get. There wasn't anyone on the planet Earth that could match Akim's knowledge of both nuclear weapons and the exotic physics of atomic/magical interactions.Considering what could happen if it all went wrong, Etherfalcon had decided that this wasn't the time to be chained to the rule book.

"How soon can we speak to them?" asked Zedarkov in his faint, almost Slavic sounding, accent.

"Now that they're in the air, just a few more minutes. They have to get clear of the signal scatter."

"What's your plan for dealing with this.?"

"I'm not sure yet," answered Etherfalcon. " I have two or three options on standby. It all depends on what they can tell us."

***********************


Now that we were in the air readers, I hadn't a clue what was going to happen next. Captain Kane had given us a very effective demonstration of the CH-47's performance. Less than three minutes after leaving the ground we were almost three thousand feet in the air and heading Eastward across Paragon city at just a little under 200 miles per hour.

It beat the daylights out of any rollercoaster I'd ever been on. If it weren't for the fact that there was still an unresolved issue between myself and Arthur, I would have been having the time of my life. As it was I could feel a maniac's grin starting to spread across my face. I took a few steps closer to the open cargo ramp. We'd been in such a hurry to take off that the Captain hadn't gotten around to closing it. I wanted a closer look at the pre-dawn lights of the city rushing by below me.

"Alexis, you might want to strap yourself down." shouted Carpenter as she put her hands on my shoulders.

She had a point readers. I would have felt like a fool if I'd travelled to a war zone, escaped Council captivity, helped liberate an Atomic weapon, and gotten it safely away from Galaxy City only to fall out of the back of a helicopter and set the bomb off anyhow.

If you're feeling a bit confused, readers. Let me take a moment to bring you up to speed. The Longbow Captain that Carpenter and the others had joined up with had taken the information that I was able to give her and put together an ambush. Thanks to the assistance of an ally at the airfield, she was able to hide her people around the landing area and hide herself and her First Sergeant on the actual flight deck of the helicopter. Once the bomb and I were aboard, Captain Kane would 'steal' the helicopter away from the Council and get both of us as far from Paragon City as possible.

Now you understand readers that I wasn't told anything about this. All I was told about the plan was 'act like you know nothing and follow Carpenter's lead.' There was a very good reason for my ignorance which can be summed up with two words:

Mind Reader.

What I didn't know couldn't be used against us by the Archon. So far it appeared that the plan was working. There was still the lingering problem of what to do with an Atomic bomb but I was hoping somebody had already thought of that.

The interior of the helicopter was empty except for the bomb cart which (very fortunately) had been strapped down. Carpenter and I had moved away from the cargo ramp and closer to the flight deck when a woman in Longbow battle armor stepped off of the flight deck, leaned a rifle against the door frame, and handed me a set of earphones with a microphone attached.

"Ms. Alexander," she shouted over the engine noise, "You have a phone call."

I settled the headset and adjusted the microphone. There was already a conversation going on so I listened for a moment before trying to make myself heard.

"... I only have enough fuel for about thirty more minutes of flight time," said a female voice that I assumed was Captain Kane.

"Why so little?" That voice I knew. Etherfalcon.

"I guess the Council wasn't expecting to be in the air that long," replied Captain Kane. " Like or not, we either land or crash then. I hope you have something in mind."

I felt the need to chime in at that point. "Of course he has something in mind. The problem is, will it be something simple?"

It’s not that I wasn’t glad to hear his voice readers, it’s just that I had to taunt him. He expected it.

"Ms. Alexander. Nice to hear from you again. I don’t suppose you could turn your Blackberry back on?”

“Um, what?” Sometimes readers, I have no clue what is going through his mind.

“I have somebody I’d like to send to defuse that bomb. And, considering that I am trying to teleport somebody from Low Earth orbit into the small, fast moving vehicle that you are currently occupying, having a solid GPS fix from your mobile device would make it easier.”

Oh. Right. Sometimes he can do simple.

I had reached into the pocket of my jumpsuit and found the power switch for my Blackberry when my body... froze. It’s an odd feeling readers to know that your mind is trying to make things happen but your muscles aren’t getting the message. It’s more than a bit disturbing when nothing, including your eyes, will do what you want them to.

It was only because I was facing the cargo ramp that I saw what happened next.

Archon DiDraghi pulled himself up from below the ramp and took a short step to steady himself. Before Carpenter could react, he charged through that cabin at inhuman speed and swung his arm in a violent arc. I could see the surprise on her face as his blow landed.

I heard her neck snap.

Before her body fell, he turned on me. It was the first time I had ever seen his face clearly, and I really wish I hadn’t. What I thought before was just a trick of the light or some slight malformation was something far more ... inhuman. I had never really believed in the rumors of the Council having made a kind of vampire. I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised since I’d already seen one of their Werewolves, but there had been a lot going on recently. I hadn't really had time to think about it.

He was snarling when his arm shot forward into my rib cage. The force of his blow drove me backward into the side of the cabin. Since I was still paralyzed, I couldn’t even try to catch myself so I bounced pretty hard off of the aluminum and steel frame of the helicopter. It was getting very hard to breathe and I could see blackness creeping into my vision. I thought I heard a roaring in my ears but I couldn’t really be sure. It actually was getting very hard to breathe...

*************************

Sergeant Rebecca Woodley didn’t even have time to think when the Council Vampire attacked . The reporter’s companion was taken out of the fight within a few moments and, when the Vampire turned on the reporter, Sergeant Woodley had her chance to act. She grabbed the rifle next to her and swung it upward in a one armed golf swing.

The butt of the rifle smashed into the side of the Vampyre's jaw sending him backward a step. Taking the second of grace she had, she swung the rifle around so that it was in a better firing position. Cradling the weapon against her side, her finger found and pulled the trigger.

Archon Didraghi was already staggering backward when the first of the 'beanbags' hit him in the chest. He took another step back as a second of the lead shot filled bags followed closely behind the first. A third bag hit him in the chest forcing another step back. He would not fail now, there was still time to regain control of the situation and show the world the Glory of the Council's wisdom. All he had to do was crush this ... female...

Rebecca Woodley knew that her rifle had been loaded with six beanbag rounds instead of grenades. The original plan had been to arrest the Council not blow them into small pieces. She could feel the selector switch cutting into her thumb as she pulled the trigger for a fourth time staggering the Vampire back another step. She took a step forward. She had only two more shots with the beanbags and she needed to make get the Vampyre as far away from the bomb and the flight deck as possible.

A fifth shot slammed into Archon Didraghi's face, snapping his head back and sending him stumbling toward the open cargo ramp. There was no way a woman could defeat him, particularly one who followed the weak minded fools in Longbow. If he could just get his feet under him, if he could just focus, it would all be over in a single leap...

Sergeant Woodley pulled the trigger on the last of her beanbag rounds sending it into the Vampyre's midsection. Her thumb slid the selector over to full auto for the 30, NATO 5.56 mm rounds in the underslung magazine. She raised the rifle to her shoulder, took another step forward, and, sighting down the barrel, pulled the trigger.

There was no muzzle flash like people were used to in the movies. No inch long tongue of fire. Only a small cloud of smoke as bullets consisting of 4 grams of lead left the barrel of the rifle at slightly less than 3 times the speed of sound.

Every two tenths of a second.

Archon Didraghi never had the chance to get his feet under him. He could only stagger backward as the cursed Longbow officer kept stepping forward, hammering him with bullets. His body was superhumanly tough thanks to the Council's science, but even he couldn't resist the laws of physics. His own strength was working against him as, instead of passing right through him like they would a normal person, each bullet hit him with a half ton of force.

The Archon never realized how close he was to the open cargo ramp until his foot stepped down on open air and his body tumbled after it. By the time he realized what had happened he was 3000 feet over Independence Port and falling fast. He could see the sun rising.

He had failed.

********************

Rebecca Woodley dropped her rifle to the deck and quickly stepped back to the two injured women near the flight deck. She kneeled down next to the reporter, took the headset and placed it on her own head.

"...what's happening down there, Do you need my help?" Etherfalcon's voice wasn't exactly frantic but his normal calm had cracked a bit.

"They're both down," Sergeant Woodley said quietly. "Carpenter has a broken neck and... Captain... we have a bigger problem. Ms. Alexander has several broken ribs and her pulse is very irregular."

"I'm coming down there, " said Etherfalcon over the radio.

"No!," said Captain Kane from the flight deck. "Etherfalcon get them out of here and into a hospital."

"Captain, that will arm the..."

"I'm sure that I can disarm..."

"No," repeated Susan Kane calmly. "Becky, this is an order, get those two out of here."

"But..."

Susan Kane's voice was almost inaudible. "That's an order."

Sergeant Woodley never had a chance to reply as Etherfalcon's voice rang through her headset, "MedBay, port three, critical."

Captain Susan Kane of Longbow checked her instruments and calmly made a few minor course corrections before Etherfalcon's voice came back over her headset.

"They're here. Your Sergeant is not happy."

"Take care of her will you. I have a feeling she'll need a new job."

"I can teleport you out too you know."

"Not a good idea. Nobody has come up with a good autopilot for helicopters yet. We need to get this bomb as far from land as possible."
She could hear the silence over the radio. Etherfalcon had reached the same conclusion she had.

"I've already alerted air traffic control to clear your path."

"Good. Thank you."

*********************

Four minutes later, and approximately fifteen miles offshore, a one Kiloton Atomic Bomb detonated three thousand feet over the ocean. Thanks to the warnings from a superhuman crimefighter, there were no reports of casualties from civilian sea or air craft.

The only reported death came from a Longbow press release a few days later. Captain Susan Kane was reported killed in the line of duty while stopping a terrorist attack on Paragon city. Due to the nature of her death, her body could not be recovered.

What? It's after midnight so technically its Saturday... Besides, I don't know when I'm getting home from work tomorrow so I don't want this going up too late.

Enjoy.

JWB




"They're on the move ma'am."

"Are we all set Benny?"

"Yes ma'am. Just waiting for your signal."


************************************************


Hiya Paragonners. Alexis Alexander here, but you already know that.


It seems that Longbow has a security problem.

I'm sure by now that comes as no surprise to you since I was walking through a supposedly secure Longbow base in the company of a group of disguised Council soldiers and an almost assuredly illegal Atomic weapon that nobody seemed to notice. Thats the most obvious part readers. What I'm actually talking about about how this was possible at all.

According to Archon DiDraghi (or Archon Exposition as I've started to think about him, ) It seems that the Council has had deep cover agents in place in Longbow for some time. Those agents created cover identities for the Archon and his cell and arranged to have Arthur smuggled in (inside a box labeled 'relief supplies.' of all things.) They also changed flight schedules just to arrange for a helicopter to be waiting at the landing field tonight. Now, officially, Longbow thinks that this particular aircraft is just waiting for the the sun to rise before setting out on a cargo and resupply run. Unofficially,the Council plans on using the sunrise as the final dramatic flourish for their 'New Dawn for Humanity'.

The airfield was dimly lit as we approached. I could only see a few low powered lights around the edges of the landing field. The helicopter (one of those big two rotor military styles) was lit up only by a dim red lighting shining out from the open cargo ramp at the back.

The Archon stopped as two of his men continued to wheel the bomb across the field and up into the helicopter. Four others, including the Galaxy from earlier, spread out into a loose arc. They seemed calm and relaxed. I don't think they suspected that anything could go wrong at this point. It was still too dark for me to see the Archon's face but he just radiated satisfaction. He was about to become a legend, a messiah of humanity, a martyr for the Council...

"You have no vision of the future, Ms. Alexander," he looked down at me and said somewhat petulantly. "We're doing this to save mankind from itself. It's people like you who refuse to see the truth. I'm sure that, given time, you would see the wisdom of our position."

Oops, I guess I let my complete disbelief slip into my thoughts. I wasn't able to keep up my internal action movie for very long so, after a few minutes of walking from the warehouse, I switched to replaying the entire Beatles catalogue inside my head. In chronological order. Not an easy task when the local fanatic insists on telling you every detail of his grand plan.

Honestly readers, I think villains just wait for moments like this.

Oddly enough my Beatles marathon had just reached 1965 when we reached the airfield and the following lyrics popped into my head:


"Help, I need somebody.

Help, not just anybody.

Help, you know I need someone.

HELP!..."


That's when the shooting started.

The airfield remained dark but sirens were going off all across the Longbow compound. Somebody was making a lot of noise on the far side of the Longbow base and it had the same effect as kicking an anthill. All around the safe zone lights were snapping on and orders were being shouted. The Archon and his soldiers seemed to freeze in confusion. This was not part of their plans.

************************************************** *

"What the...? Benny?"

"No Idea Ma'am. It's not us."

************************************************** *

I'll admit readers that I froze too. Granted, I had been working on information overload for the last few days but it wasn't until I heard an very unfamiliar, very feminine mental voice say "What are you waiting for? Get aboard the helicopter. Move, woman!" that everything snapped back into focus.

************************************************** *

Captain Kane watched the chaos unfolding from her hiding place. Inside her own head a vaguely familiar female voice echoed clearly, "It is not in Lord Recluse's interest that Galaxy City be destroyed at this time. My people and I will continue this distraction for as long as we can. We're giving you a chance Captain Kane. Don't make me regret this."

Susan Kane had only a moment of hesitation before ordering her squad into action. For whatever reason, Arachnos had taken her side in the fight and she was not about to throw away the opportunity. From their positions around the landing field, her squad stood up, weapons ready, and advanced toward the Council soldiers. As stupid as it seemed at that moment, they were still a law enforcement agency and they had to try to make an arrest.

"Carlo DiDraghi, " Benito Reyes said loudly and clearly, "As a deputized officer of the United Nations, I order you to submit yourself and your men to arrest on charges including conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction, kidnapping, and attempted mass murder. You will be taken into custody..."

He never got the chance to finish his sentence as a blackish/purple energy beam hammered into his shoulder. It would have struck his head if he hadn't already been dodging to the right. Captain Kane hadn't really expected him to get that many words out. Fanatics weren't known for coming quietly when asked.

Her squad opened fire as soon as they saw their Sergeant spin to the ground. The situation had become a case of 'violently resisting an officer of the law in the pursuit of his lawful duties' and the Longbow manual was very clear on what to do in situations like that.

************************************************** ***

Have I mentioned that I hate gunfire readers? If I haven't please let me do that for the record. I particularly hate gunfire that is all converging on the spot I happen to be standing in. Honestly, if it weren't for Carpenter being my own personal guardian angel, I might have been accidentally shot dead. And, as I've mentioned before, that would not have been a good thing.

I saw Archon DiDraghi bend backward at the knees as Carpenter faded into view and followed her kick with a solid palm strike that drove him backward into the ground. Without waiting to see if he was going to get back up again, she grabbed me by the arm and dragged me forward out of the line of fire. We ran past the Council soldiers toward the helicopter.
Ironically, the safest place on the landing field was inside the helicopter with the Atomic bomb. Since it was built as a military aircraft, it offered some protection against small arms fire. It wouldn't last long if somebody from the Council made a serious effort to destroy it, but it was better than being outside.

The two Council soldiers that had wheeled the bomb in earlier seemed to have the same thought. As we sprinted up the cargo ramp, Carpenter and I came face to face with them. They had handguns drawn but seemed very uncertain of what to do next.

I helped one of them make up his mind by letting out a yell that would have done any Hong Kong action star proud and driving my fist as far as I could into his belly. That doubled him over enough that his head was heading down at the same time my knee was heading up. His head snapped back the other way and he fell unconscious to the floor. I made a mental note to add a nice bonus to my martial arts teacher's Christmas card.

At the same time I was working off some frustration, Carpenter had taken out her opponent. I gathered by the odd bend in his right arm that she had not been as nice about it as I had. We quickly dragged the two soldiers to the cargo ramp and dropped them over the side. We were now in possession of a nuclear armed helicopter in the middle of a firefight. All things considered, everything was going quite well.



Now all we needed was someone who could do something useful with it.

I would really like to see more to do in some of those empty zones.

For example, how often does anyone go to:

Boomtown. Other than one TF (?) and some 'kill x' missions. there really isn't much going on here.

OR:

Crey's Folly. Same thing. one or two door missions, some street sweeping for 'kill x'.

OR, since the change:

2/3 of Mercy Island.

You get the idea there. This is not the same as the zones I think of as forgotten zones. Those zones have plenty to do it's just that people tend to overlook them.

Places like:

The Hollows
Perez Park
Skyway City (BIG zone that most people just use to get to...)
Faultline (one of the best blueside mission chains in the game)
Founders Falls (it seems like every contact I have that is actually in zone, sends me to missions outside of it)

I think I'd be happier seeing more done with those zones before we start adding more real estate.

Hiya Paragonners. Alexis Alexander still here and still reporting from Galaxy City.


My personal list of candidates for Sainthood has grown a bit recently. Not only did my companions survive our fight with the Council, but they also managed to find me and recruit some help from a Longbow Captain and her squad. Actually, I'm not sure I understand that last part since it also seems that the four of us are actually her prisoners but I'm certain we can sort all that out later. Assuming that there is a later.

Carpenter has become my reality anchor and my only contact with the outside world. She's been relaying messages and, through her efforts, we've managed to put together a rough plan.

We know for certain that the Council means to drop Albert (that's my name for the bomb, readers. We've spent so much time together I figured we should at least be on a first name basis) directly into the downtown crater via a helicopter. That means that they're going to have to move Albert and I from my basement to the airfield.

Captain Kane and her team have been watching the warehouse and are in position to sweep in and arrest my captors as soon as the reach the airfield. Sandy and Handshake will be working with the arrest team just in case their special abilities are needed. Carpenter will be sticking with me the whole way and, because of my rather 'special' relationship to Albert (remember: ten meters and he has my heart, readers) she'll be helping me with my part of the plan which can be summed up by: get behind cover, stay down, and try not to die.

I approve of any plan that involves me not dying. I hope this one works.


********************************************


"Captain, I have some information and a line to someone you need to speak to." Handshake had proved not only honest but valuable in the few hours since Susan Kane had returned to the Longbow safe zone. Sergeant Woodley had set him up in the out of the way and completely inadequate office that Captain Kane had been assigned. Her rank should have given her something better but the smear campaign against her meant that she was only barely tolerable to the commanders of the safe zone. That actually worked to her benefit since it let her avoid uncomfortable questions such as "who is that strange man using our computers?"

Susan Kane leaned over Handshake's shoulder as he expanded one of the windows he was working in. On the screen was a man wearing an elaborate silver and blue mask and bodysuit. " I thought all outside communications were cut. How are we getting this? she said.

"Skype. I expected to have to do a work around to get Longbow's network to allow it but it looks like somebody already did. In fact I've been able to track one hundred and sixty seven individual Skype accounts regularly accessed via the Longbow servers." answered Handshake. "I'd tell you how many Twitter and Facebook accounts I found, but I don't want to upset you."

The man on the screen almost seemed to smile at that but took on a more neutral expression before he spoke "Captain Kane," he said, "My name is Etherfalcon and I am associate of Ms. Alexander."

Susan Kane was impressed. She knew the name and reputation of the person on the screen in front of her. "She has friends everywhere it seems."

"Perhaps a few more than she knows, Captain. I've been reviewing the information that has been sent over to me and I have to urge you to get Ms. Alexander and that bomb as far from Galaxy City as possible."

"Why? We should be able to disarm it safely here once we have control of it."

"You simply cannot take that chance. If that bomb explodes it could trigger a chain of events which could cause serious damage to the entire East Coast if not the entire world."

"That's a bit dramatic isn't it? Nuclear weapons just aren't that powerful."

"Ones sitting next to the MAGI vault are. There is a strong possibility that the explosion will destroy the objects still in the vault and that could cause Unpredictable Synergistic Effects."

Unpredictable Synergistic Effects. Whenever science types starting throwing phrases like that around Captain Kane mentally translated them to 'We don't know exactly what but really bad things could happen.' Susan Kane didn't believe in magic, even though she was in a line of work that required her to accept it's existence. Magic just seemed like cheating somehow. But, if a hero with Etherfalcon's experience believed in it, then she'd have to take the possibility seriously.

"Ok, I'll figure something out. Can you help?"

"Not until you get clear of the signal jamming around Galaxy City. After that, we'll have to see what opportunities chance gives us."

"Anything else you need to tell us?"

"I'm forwarding some data but other than that, there's nothing more I can do other than wish you luck. I do hope we'll have a chance to speak again."

The image on the screen went black and Handshake closed the window. A second window started scrolling text and what looked like technical details.

"What's that?" Captain Kane asked.

"Detailed instructions on how to disarm a nuclear device using improvised tools, a run down of the likeliest triggering systems, some theories on blocking biological trigger devices... and a coupon for a free Latte."

"Latte?"

Handshake shrugged, "Maybe Etherfalcon's taken one too many hits to the head. I dunno."


************************************************** **


Other than his most obvious faults, Archon DiDraghi proved to be a civil executioner. He provided me with some basic toiletries and a change of clothes. It wasn't anything fancy readers, just a foil wrapped towelettes and some kind of jumpsuit, but at least I'll look presentable (and smell vaguely of lemons) when I die.

In all honesty it'll be good to get out of this basement. Things are getting a bit whiffy down here. The chemical toilet he provided me with doesn't seem to be working as well as it should. Of course, I did have to set it up in the dark so that might have something to do with it. I take a bit of grim pleasure in knowing that they'll have to work near it while moving Albert.

I heard the trapdoor open above me and the Archon's voice say, "Ms. Alexander, I would like you come upstairs. Slowly please. I know you're thinking of escape but attacking me and running will not so you any good. Please remember the bomb before you do anything foolish."

Since he was a mind reader, I needed to keep him making the wrong assumptions. I imagined the most outlandish escape scenario possible. I don't recall the complete details but I know it involved subduing him and all of his men in an awesome action sequence, finding a lead bucket and ripping the core out of a nuclear device with my bare hands, then walking away slowly while the warehouse burst into flames behind me. There was some kind of hard rock theme music that went along with it but I can't remember what it was. The important thing was to keep thinking Rambo and not reality. If he caught on that I had help waiting, he might just decide to detonate the bomb here and take the fast road to martyrdom.

It was dark when we exited the building which, considering that I had been in near total darkness for a long time, made things a bit easier. DiDraghi and I were alone at first. There were three other men with us but they were involved in getting Albert up on a wheeled cart. It was the first time that I was able to get a look at DiDragi and, although there wasn't much moonlight, I could see a few things that were out of place.

He wore a Longbow field uniform but it didn't fit quite right. Then again, his body didn't seem to fit right either. He seemed too thin and his head was a bit oversized. He was wearing some form of darkened goggles which should have been impossible to see through in the low light. It didn't seem to bother him. All the while, I had to keep blinking since my eyes were also trying to tell me that he looked perfectly normal. It was making my head hurt, readers.

I must have subconsciously added a bit of Phantom of the Opera to my inner action movie because he turned and looked at me. "I suppose you could try and tear the mask from my face, " he said in that odd accent of his, "but it wouldn't do you any good and I advise you not to try. My reflex response would most likely be to kill you and I need you alive. For now."

For now.

I was really starting to hate this man. Fortunately, I wouldn't have to deal with him much longer.

A block outside of the safe zone, and out of the line of sight of the sentries, Captain Kane stopped for a moment for a final check with her advance team.

"Strike one, strike three. Any news Benny?"

"Nothing certain Ma'am. There haven't been many people entering or leaving the building but it feels like something is about to happen."

"How so?"

"There's a lot of activity around the building. Carts being parked outside, things being moved aside to make room for something, that kind of thing."

"Ok Benny, keep me advised."

"First to know Ma'am."

She turned back to her team, "Ok, just like we discussed."

They would never win an academy award but within a few steps her team gave every impression of being footsore and worn down. Rifle barrels drooped ever so slightly and eyes were downcast.They had obviously failed in their mission but they could salvage some small amount of pride because, in the center of their ragged formation, were two stumbling, staggering, shell-shocked survivors of the worst disaster Galaxy City had ever seen.

They were challenged at the gates but were passed through quickly. The sentries never thought to question their cover story and, ironically, this was all possible because of Oswald Montcalm's incompetence. It seemed that he had contacted the commanders in the safe zone solely for the purpose of mentioning, in great detail, how much of a failure he believed Susan Kane to be. But, what he hadn't done, was forward any pictures of the suspects Captain Kane had been sent to find.

For once in the entire time she had known him, Susan Kane actually had something to thank him for and she was going to use his pettiness to her advantage.

Once inside the gates, Captain Kane made a show out of insisting that her troops get out of her sight and all but ordering her Sergeant be the one who took their refugees to get medical treatment. After her various subordinates slunk away (as planned) she stormed away on a line straight for the airfield.

Comparing notes with the reporter's associates had cemented the idea in her mind that her missing person would be found in warehouse 25A. She would have to get into that building but first, she needed a bit of information. Considering the fact that she'd only been in Galaxy City for less than two days, she was hoping that the last person she had heard associated with that place would still be around.

Luck was with her as Sergeant Wakefield was not only on duty, but was the first person she saw at the airfield.

"Jimmy," she shouted and waved her arms to get his attention. After a moment, he raised his head and waved back. Handing off his tools to another mechanic, he strode across the asphalt to greet her.

"Captain," he said with a cheerful tone in his voice. "You're not the worst military commander since George Custer now, are you?"

Susan Kane had to laugh at that one. "No. And is that what he's been saying?"

"You know, I think Ozzy has gone and gotten himself a military history encyclopedia. Or at least a script writer. He really doesn't like you."

"The feeling is mutual, Jimmy. In all seriousness now, tell me what you can about warehouse 25A."

Sergeant Wakefield looked nervous. "I'm not sure I can. I'm under orders..."

"Jimmy, something is about to go very wrong and that warehouse has something to do with it. If I can't find out what and put a stop to it, none of us will get out of here alive."

"You're serious?"

"Absolutely."

James Wakefield slumped for a moment. His mouth opened and closed a few times before he replied. "I don't know the people behind what's going on there. About ten of them had come in a day or two before you did with some kind of confidential orders and a couple of big crates of stuff."

"You didn't ask?"

"You know better than that, Captain. The higher ups seemed to be happy to see them so all I could say when they asked for me was 'yes, sir.' They wanted me to rig a drop system for some cargo. Nobody would tell me what the cargo would be but I was told that it would help end all this sooner."

"What about the drop system?"

"It was meant to hold about 1000 pounds and be dropped from the back of a helicopter at medium altitude. They wanted a parachute system so that it dropped smoothly."

"Same rough idea as what the Army tried in Vietnam, " said Captain Kane almost to herself.

"What, " asked Wakefield.

"Jimmy," Kane replied, "were we issued any bombs when Longbow came here?"

"No. Vanguard was supposed to be taking care of all air operations. You're not saying..."

"Maybe, Jimmy. It's starting to sound like somebody is going to try something desperate."

"What do you need from me?"

"You've given me everything I need to know for now, Jimmy. Suppose you'd know anyone from the warehouse if you saw them again?"

"I didn't see many people just one Officer who called himself Draghee, or something like that. And even then I didn't get a good look at him. He never really let me see his face."

"Thanks Jimmy. I think you've given me the clues I needed. Now just keep your head down and hope I can get this all sorted out."

Captain Kane walked away from the airfield and rounded a corner to get away from the noise. When she was certain nobody was looking, she keyed the microphone at the throat of her battlesuit.

"Strike One, Strike two and three, did you get all of that?"

"Enough of it," came the voice of her Master Sergeant. One of our associates is looking through the base computers now to see what he can find."

"You gave him codes?"

"I didn't have to. It's like he never needed them." Faintly, through the connection another, deeper voice replied "I promise to be good, Captain. I just want to get out of here in one piece."

"Keep an eye on him Becky. Three?"

"The person you told me about has just checked in with me Captain. She's going to try and get inside the warehouse."

"Ok, keep an eye on her but don't get in her way."

"That might be easier said than done captain. She's got an interesting way of not being there."



****************

Hiya Paragonners.


If it sounds like I'm happy, well, I had my cry and felt pretty good. Optimistic even. I was pretty certain that a miracle was about to occur...

Oh, who am I kidding? I'd just spent the last several hours sitting near (not close to) an Atomic Bomb that I happened to be the dead man's switch for and, at some point in the near future, I was probably going to be dropped into a pit with both a giant alien monster AND that same bomb.

I admit it readers, I was stressed by this. But shock is a wonderful adaptation of the human mind. Even though I knew I was going to die, somehow it just didn't seem quite real. I'm proud of the fact that, although I was seriously freaked out, I managed to keep my objective journalistic detachment...


Right up to the moment someone whispered "boo" in my ear.


I am proud of myself that I squeaked more than screamed. Screaming might have brought quite a bit of unwanted attention from any nearby Council. Still, I must admit that the squeak was followed by a few seconds of incoherent babbling and hyperventilating. Behind it all, I could hear Carpenter's gentle laughter.

"Hiya, Alexis. We were wondering where you had gotten to."

"But...but," not my cleverest comeback but remember readers, I was still in shock and had just had the daylights scared out of me. I was still working on getting the brain functioning, "How did you get in here?"

"I am the Cat who walks through walls, " whispered Carpenter dramatically.

"Wha?" I know now that it was a Heinlein reference but at that moment, shock still reigned and science fiction recognition had been given a very low priority.

"I can make myself intangible for a few seconds and pass through solid objects, Alexis. It comes in useful from time to time."

"I can see that. How did you find me?"

Carpenter spent a few minutes getting me caught up on current events outside. In turn I gave her the grand tour of my prison and pointed out the Atomic weapon and explained why I had to stay close to it.

"Ok," said Carpenter when I finished speaking. "I need to get back outside and get everybody up to speed. Stay calm, Alexis. You have friends nearby. We'll find a way out of this."


I'd gotten my miracle. Now it was time to make sure it wasn't my last.

Heh. I have to remind myself strongly NOT to roll up an Empathy character.

Hm, lets see....

Origin... right...

AT... right

Primary... Emp... NO, no, no!

OK I admit running this backward and forward and pausing a lot just to try and catch some details....


This trailer just proves the BBC has hired some evil, evil, people to torment me.


MOAR!! NAO!!!