She frowned at him, confusion still plain on her face. She sat back on her legs and stared at him.
"No...no you're not expendable. My life is not worth yo..." she stopped as he handed her the gumball.
She raised her eyebrow at him as she stared up at him. Sadness in her eyes, she smiled shyly as she took it from him.
She opened her mouth to speak but found no voice. She tried again as a low whisper came out.
"I...I don't understand you right now...you're such an enigma...you would die for me, thinking I'm deserving of such scarifice, agrue with me about it and then give me this?" She held the gumball aloft.
Staring at him briefly she looked around at the others.
"Is this what it is like to have firneds?" she breathed quietly staring down at the ground, amazement in her voice.
"Yeah, this is what it's like to have friends, well, without the zombies. Speaking of which, what the hell was that thing. Oh! That reminds me," Buck took out his medical device and zapped Radon with it, repairing his wounds. "Anyone else need a fixer-upper? You know, this is the second time today I've healed you, Radon. You might wanna watch yourself, but what do I know?" he was still his goofy, cheerful self, despite the carnage and deep thoughts that have come as a result of the fight. "Wanna celebrate with coffee and wierd foreign pastries? I know this great coffee house in Skyway City."
"Sounds good," said Tommy.
(OOC: Nothing affects these two, they're determined to be happy-go-lucky and cheerful, no matter what.)
[B]The Once and Future Official Minister of Awesome[/B]
[I]And don't you forget it.[/I]
[URL="http://paragonunleashed.proboards.com/index.cgi"][IMG]http://gamefacelive.com/bre/joker.png[/IMG][/URL]
Alan wasn't much for the happy-go-luckly life style, even if he couldn't convince people that he didn't with his perment smile. But it was only a small point against them. "He called himself Reaper Man, I think he was Eidolon, but he wasn't a normal one. He wasn't a bunch of Psuedoscience, he acctual had some mastery over Death. I don't think if you shot him full of hole he would have died. I can't explain how I know this, it just intuition, I guess." He shrugged. "It was after me though, I don't get that. I've done alot to the gangs of Paragon, but I have never taken on the Vahzilok. UNless they were in my way." He thought about it, it was getting late and he couldn't do much good now, he would be burned by Death again if he touch his power for more than ten seconds. "I'm going to find out why, even if it means making the Vahzilok my enemy." He looked around the group, "Anyone interestewd in helping." He had done alot to the group, Eastgate and now someone hunting him, he didn't know if they would want to help him. He was starting to wonder if he was bad luck. He had what could pass for a hopeful smile.
(OOC Note: I've just realised how much this is centering on Alan, feel free to do your own stories and turn down Alan. Also I had some great ideas for Gilth, but it does seem like a very good idea now, so just pretend that Gilth has slipped into the background and that he wasn't just in Raymonds room.)
Lord Raymond got up from the ground tired and sore. He checked on his dogs. They were okay. Its pretty tough to keep a 230 pound dog down let alone two of them.
"Good chaps, you two are," said Lord Raymond to the dogs.Then, turning to the new comer who had only swung his hammer once and then became too tired to carry on the fight much longer, he said "Well who are you then?"
"I am the Guardian Rook" the man bellowed once more. "But you Lord Raymond may recognize me better like this..."
The man tossed a chess rook at Lord Raymond which Raymond caught and looked at.
"This is just an ordinary chess piece..." said Raymond tailing off at the end. He had looked up and in the place where the man was a teenage boy stood.
"Greetings me Lord!" shouted the young irish lad.
"Well I'll be Mary Queen of Scots, its my Butler's child Franklin. What the devil are you doing here?"
"I ran away to find you after the explosion because I didn't believe in the stories the family told everyone. I knew you had to be alive. I didn't think I would find ye so soon me Lord."
"Well thats all good and well but how did you become a surly man with supernatural powers."
"Oh right, I was kidnapped while trying to find you by a Circle of Thorns Mage. He said that if I beat him in a best of three series of chess he would let me go. I noticed he was cheating after the first game because he was using magic pieces, so I subtly switched colors with him after the first game. However because I was not magical meself as soon as I grabbed one of the magic pieces the soul of a previously defeated person became infused with me. The peson in the rook happened to be a superhero named The Guardian Rook. After being infused with this hero I defeated the Mage and freed the other souls of the pieces. And so then I came to the City of Heroes, Paragon City. While watching the news I heard your name mentioned and came to find you and well me Lord, here I am."
"Come back with me to the Academy I am sure there is much to talk about."
OOC: Rook's flaw is his neivity because he is a teen. Just so you know.
"Anyone else need a fixer-upper? You know, this is the second time today I've healed you, Radon. You might wanna watch yourself, but what do I know?" Radon heard Buck Shott say as what was left of his aches and pains left him.
"Ah cram it up your ejection port Buck." he smirked, not sure if he heard him.
Even though his wounds were healed he was still exhausted from overexerting himself. He knew he had pushed too hard and he wouldn't even be able to make his finger glow for at least a few hours. Out of nowhere he heard Buck invite everyone out for coffee and pastries.
"What's with this guy? We just had ice cream and now he wants pastries and coffee? Wierd." he thought turning his attention back to Celes.
Looking down at her she still seemed to have a sad and confused expression on her face. He couldn't imagine what she must've been through without anyone to be there for her. He knew he had to do something to cheer her up.
"Here, let me help you up." Radon said as he offered her his hand, his mind racing to come up with ideas.
Celes looked up at Radon as he offered her his hand. She smiled softly and took it.
"Thank you...again," she replied quietly.
Her body still ached as the coldness still clung to her soul. She looked at Buck and then to Alan as they spoke.
"I think I will pass on the food," she replied looking at Tommy and Buck," I'm still full. I do not believe I can fit anymore food into my stomach." She smiled slightly.
Sighing softly, she turned her blue eyes to Alan.
"I also am unable to use my powers for at least an hour. I would very much like to aid you in your quest but I need rest. I think I'll head back to the academy."
She streched her back, groaning with soreness, as she recalled her wings back into her body. She glanced at all of them and shrugged lightly.
"It's been an...interesting night," she replied," If any of you do go, please becareful. I would like to see you all tomorrow."
"I too tired to fight anything." Alan weakly lied. "I'm fine with waiting for tomarrow." That was the truth, Alan did often lie, but talking about his soul burning was something he rather avoid. He looked around, "well, I have one thing I got to do. I got to go cheack in with the Night Watch, I they got a base in Steel." In truth thier base was in Skyway, but they hadn't reopened it yet. "Uh, if you want to come your more than welcome, but they aren't...well they're hard to get along with." He said to the group in general.
In Grimy Ridge he (and anyone who followed him) came to a small building next to the Image inc. The building was being rented by the group until they could convince city hall that the city didn't need a another City of Gyroes. On the wall was a cheap sign that said
Night Watch
So all may sleep safely
He opened the door, it was a large open room with nothing much in it. Heat Storm sat at a desk reading a book. His short, but dangerous friend, the red headed Jarl, was playing darts with Ghost Sentry, whose costume cover every part of his body. The red haired border hero smiled as he walked in. "Good to see you Skull Boy." Heat Storm not so affectionate nickname fo Alan.
Jarl was nicer, "hey," he scored a 36 point, exactly what he need to win "what brings you here, thought you were at the academy?"
"Alright what do I owe you?" Ghost said in his no way normal voice, the psychicly aware could see it was in two parts, half psychic, half audio.
"I got time off Jarl. Uh do we know anything about a guy called Reaper Man?" Alan asked ignoring Heat Storm.
"50 bucks, plus the 30 from last time. Yeah, we have a file on him, Heat, it's in the assassian part." Jarl had had a memory like a filing cabinate, he could rember anything put in and held on to it.
Heat Storm reached into the desk and pulled out a folder. "It's got nothing in it. Theres two picture, and one realy fuzzy, that could be a coat rack. The only thing we got in here is he carries away his victims. Why?" Heat Storm looked at a picture, "like the Grim Reaper."
"He just died. He tried to kill me."
"Oh, good then." Heat Storm throw the folder in the trash and pointed his finger at it, there was some wavyness and then the trash can burst into flame. When every Heat was having a bad day the trash can would be filled with ash.
"Tough luck, hey your short again!"
"I'm living off what the goverment will give me, you want to take all a vetren has."
"If he gambles like you then yes."
"Rather light patrol for tonight." Alan ignoring the side conversation.
"The others might be along later, you won't of course, and Storm Wright think he's found that doctor." Heat Storm shrugged
"What about Lance Corporal?"
"He had a full day already, something about some energy creature, I don't care much." Heat Storm answered non chalantly.
"Oh." Alan examined a wall, on it was a plaque filled with the names of the Night Watchmen who had died during the Ritki War, every single Watchmen had died, with the exception of Lance Corporal. He had to retire after he lost his powers, some people think the Night Watch would have survied the war if he could have lead them, of course that was non sense, they had fought at every turn, they would have been wiped out one way or another. Still it was nice to dream.
(OOC Note: Meet the Night Watch, thier minor players in Alans story, but they are available to anyone who wants to use them. They have a rather good idea of what the villian are doing in Paragon. Feel free to make a Night Watchmen or join, they take anyone.
Ghost Sentry always talks in bold print, it's to represent his odd way of speaking. And Manofmanychars will reconize the lovly heroes here 
)
(OOC: Yeah, Ghost Sentry seemed REAL lovely when he tried to pump The Breakdance Kid full of lead, lol.)
"We'll be glad to join you tomorrow, Alan. After training, that is. Nice to meet you, Franklin, my name's Buck Shott, and this is my best friend, roommate, and unnofficial sidekick, Tommy Gunn," Buck Shott was still smiling broadly.
"So, Raymond, are those dogs yours? Buck and I could have our friend equip them with weapons later, if you'd like," Tommy had an identical smile to Buck's.
(later, after any responses from Raymond)
They arrived at the coffee house a few minutes after leaving the ice cream parlor. The ordered cocoa and biscotti (although they pronounced it "bistochi").
"So, Tommy, what do you think of them? Could they possibly be related to... 'them?'" asked Buck.
"I doubt it, the traitors would've already tried to kill us."
"Makes sense, but then why are they so strange?"
"Look, I'm telling you, beatniks are in no way related to hippies. And either way, what makes you think hippies would want to kill us."
"They're just a distilled form of drug-powered communists."
"That's it, Buck, no more sugar for you. You don't even dislike hippies, and you're paranoid of them tonight. You stopped making sense twenty minutes ago."
"You're right, Tommy, let's go home, I'm tired."
So they went home.
(OOC: Bet you thought they were talking about you guys at first.)
[B]The Once and Future Official Minister of Awesome[/B]
[I]And don't you forget it.[/I]
[URL="http://paragonunleashed.proboards.com/index.cgi"][IMG]http://gamefacelive.com/bre/joker.png[/IMG][/URL]
"I'm with Celes on this one, I don't have enough strength to swat a misquito. Tomorrow when I get my energy back I'll be more than glad to lend you a hand Ribs, but for now all I want to do is take a nice hot bath and get some sleep before exercises in the morning." Radon said as he turned to leave.
This had been one of the strangest days he'd ever had since he came to Paragon, and that was saying something. An army of Trolls and a fake Grim Reaper not to mention meeting a half angel, half demon on her first visit to Earth.
"Wait a second, didn't Celes say that she was being hunted by both sides? If they found her now she wouldn't be able to defend herself." he thought to himself.
He had to run a little to catch up to her as she had already started to walk back towards the academy. In the back of his mind he knew that even though he was physically drained he should've covered the distance in the blink of an eye, but it just wasn't registering with him.
"Hey Celes, sorry if I'm coming off as obsessive or anything, but I think it might be a good idea if we walked back together. Neither of us is in pristine condition right now and the two of us could fend off an attack far better than either of us could alone. So what do you say? I mean you don't have to or anything it's just something I thought of, actually you might be better off going with Raymond and Rook." Radon said starting to ramble on.
Franklin bowed low, much like Raymond often does, and said "Pleased to meet you to Mr. Shott."
Lord Raymond cheerfully replied "Yes those are my dogs, but I don't think they should be outfitted with weaponry. They are dangerous enough as it is," he said patting the dogs on their heads,"But thank you for the offer just the same. It is nice to finally have some friends from home."
After Buck and Tommy had left Raymond turned to Franklin and said "Here Franklin," tossing the rook back, "if any of my villains saw me walking with a kid they might try to abduct you so you may want to be in your stronger form."
"Right me Lord" said Franklin as his voice suddenly changed from the young sounding teenage voice to the deep voice of Guardian Rook.
"All right Rook, lets be on our way. Come along now, Tank, Bull" said Lord Raymond as he scooped up the two large dogs and flew them home."
As he landed at the Academy Raymond realized that Rook was not behind him. It then dawned on Raymond that Franklin could not fly, so Raymond quickly locked onto the Rook life signature and Teleported him to the Academy.
"Sorry...forgot you can't fly."
After saying good-bye to the others as they still talked to Lord Raymond and some kid, she walked slowly back to the academy, head hanging as she thought to herself. She was tired and it sometimes made her cranky. She really wasn't in the mood to reintroduce herself to another hero. She'd talk to him in the morning once she was refreshed.
She was still wary of associating with the other cadets. Because of her...ah...unique backround as Corp.Punishment had put it, she is a walking bull's eye. She did not want to involve innocent people in the battle she has been facing since her exile to Earth. No where left to go, to hide, the Terra dimenson of Earth had become her only hope.
She knew the risk of going to the battle ground for souls, but she was hoping to disappear into the backround of human life. Sadly, she was a hearld and a beacon to both sides. Those who found her, either tried to turn her to their side and/or out right kill her.
Well, I must be doing something right. I'm still here and they are banished back to the realms. she thought to herself.
Having no where to go, she heard about the Academy. Hoping it to be a place of peace and rest, surrounded by heros, she still felt out of place, once again outcasted because she was still different. After today's events, she was still confused as to why a stranger...why Radon was willing to help her...save her at the risk of his life. He had said he was expendable, but to her no mortal life was. Her's was. As she pondered her new 'friends', a voice called out to her.
Celes raised her head as she stopped walking. Her blue eyes swirled with torment and confusion as she blinked at Radon.
A slow, shy smile crawled to her lips as he more or less offered to escort her home. She was once again surprised by his actions.
"Actually, Radon, I concur. I believe it would be best to travel together," she replied, staring at him.
"Also, I would prefer your company," she whispered softly as she looked sheepishly down at the sidewalk.
(OOC Note:Ah good times 
.)
Alan left with more questions than answers, he made a rather uneventful trip back to the Academy. When he arrived all hell broke loose, for him atleast. Corporal Punishment had been waiting for him and had been saving up his anger. "Going out unescorted again Alan, you know thats against the agreement." It was a strict harsh tone that could have convinced rocks to dance.
"I meet up with a group of heroes sir." Alan looked around, the area around him and the Corporol was clear of any cadet.
"You left UNescorted and returned UNescorted. Thats not how it works, we made that clear." The space between the two had closed abit.
"Yes sir, but I did meet up with Cad..."
"I had to send a Cadet out to find you, you didn't log the fact that you were leaving." You could almost taste the malice in his voice.
"She found m..."
"And then thiers the fact that you dragged a group of cadets off with you. You have to learn Alan, it's not all about the gangs."
"Then what is it about sir."
And Alan crossed the line again, he had asked the Corporal to explian something. Anyone who survies thier first day learns quickly not to. "I see. Alan do you now how long long the war walls are around Galaxy City?"
"No sir."
"Go find out and tell me, I've always wondered." Corporal Punisment walked away as Alan set out to run the war walls.
As Buck and Tommy returned to the dorms, an explosion came from the room next to theirs. "He's at it again," said Buck.
"Indeed he is," replied Tommy.
"Eureka! I've done it!" cried the occupant of the room.
Buck and Tommy entered the room from where the voice came to find exactly what they expected. It looked much like the laboratory of a mad scientist, except scorched from the explosion. In an office chair, wearing his usual long, flowing lab coat, was Lazier Beeme, working on another project that, if history was any indication, was doomed to failure.
"What'cha working on today? An atomic hibachi? A nuclear microwave?" Buck's inquiry wasn't accepted with kindness.
"Try again, [censored]. It's a weapon for myself, so I'm not just YOUR tech support. It fires high-concentration lasers, usually knocking foes flat on their rumps. It also has a force field generator, for protection," Lazier was smiling smugly.
"Well, we made some new friends today," said Tommy, believing Lazier to be one-upped.
"Meh," was Lazier's indifferent reply.
"Since you're equipped for battle now, you can come on patrols with us, it'll be fun, and those lasers could come in handy when we decide to unleash our screaming metal death upon enemies," said Buck.
"But you're not allowed to kill humans unless there's no chance of saving them, like vampyrs, or devoureds," added Tommy.
"Okay, just don't treat me with the utter disrespect you usually show me."
"Us, disrespect you? Oh, no, your holiness, Tommy and I would never think of doing that."
"I hate you both."
(OOC: Lazier is like a force field/ energy blast defender, except his blasts are more like a blaster's, and his bubbles are like a controller's. Buck and Tommy drive him nuts, and he's a genius. If you need technology, he's your man. I was trying to segue him in when I asked Raymond about equipping his dogs.)
[B]The Once and Future Official Minister of Awesome[/B]
[I]And don't you forget it.[/I]
[URL="http://paragonunleashed.proboards.com/index.cgi"][IMG]http://gamefacelive.com/bre/joker.png[/IMG][/URL]
A purple gaint was pounding a Hellions head in with a mace while some one in green armor with cat ears froze another, all in all a normal night in Paragon City. Alan had finished his jog around Galaxy and was on the verge if collapse when he made it back. Inbetween gasp for air he got out "20834 fe...feet...sir."
Corparol Punishment look at Alan, "Your off by 113 feet." He picked a package up and tossed it to him. "Gift from the Night Watch." and with that he walked away to cheak up on some poor unsepecting cadet.
Alan got to his room and opened the door and found...
(OOC Note: Anyone who wants in can get in as Alan roommate. )
Radon was glad that his mask concealed his features, because his face had just went crimson. A few moments passed as he tried to think of something to say. He was afraid to ask about her past for fear of upsetting her, so he tried focusing on the present.
"So...uh..um...what do you think of Paragon so far?" he asked nervously.
Before she could reply he thought he heard something from an alley they had just passed. He quickly stopped and listened intently.
"Take the purse, just please don't hurt me." a woman's voice said.
"Oh we'll take the purse, but you've got something else we want." he heard a man reply.
"I may not be able to use my powers, but to hell if I'm gonna pass by and hope somebody else gets there in time." he thought to himself as he turned around.
"Celes, I'll be right back I've gotta go take care of a small matter." Radon said as he ran towards the alley.
Hopping over the fence that separated the alley from the street he was face to face with a pair of Skulls. Even without his superpowers his movements were quick and precise. It only took a few punches and kicks before both gang members were out cold. After taking a moment to make sure the victim was okay, he quickly made his way back to the street.
"Sorry about that, I couldn't just walk by and do nothing." he apologized.
She glanced back up at Radon as he asked her a question. She opened her mouth to reply but was cut off as he ducked into the alley. Puzzled by his actions, she peered around the entrance way and watched him leap over the fence. She smiled as he fought the Skulls and helped the woman.
The positive energy of his compassion flared around him as he returned to her side. She smiled warmly as the energy flowed off him and caressed her body. She drew a shallow breath as her aura opened to welcome the life-sustaining energy of his selfless deed.
She stood straighter as his compassion fused with her aura, recharging her.
"No need to apologize, Radon. That was a very...generous thing you did. Too many heros look for fame and lose sight of the ability to help one single person...and you did that without your powers. There needs to be more people like you," she replied, a very warm smile on her face.
She glanced away as a light blush crawled to her cheeks. She started to head back down the street, hopefully with Radon in tow.
"Paragon is an interesting place. So much good yet so much evil. I guess it's the perfect place for me," she laughed lightly, glancing back at him.
"There is also alot to do and see here, when I'm not fighting villians that is, " she replied shrugging.
She dropped her head and sighed at the street beneath her feet. Looking back at Radon, she smiled shyly.
" You do not have to be evasive. I'm sure you have alot of questions about me, as do the others. It's not every day..or..err...not ever I guess that you meet a cross-breed. I am here to live, to find a life of my own. I can not hide what I am but I can let people understand. Since we are going to be spending a lot of time together...through the Academy, I mean, you should be aware of what I am...who I am..." she trailed off, putting her hands into her pockets.
She glanced around quietly, watching humans move about their daily lives, slightly envious of their simple lives.
((OOC: Celes can eat food and enjoy it but food is not nessisary for her survival. Her sustances comes from emotions and psychic energies. She must 'feed' from good and evil to fuel her powers and stay alive. This 'ability' will start to show more as everyone spends more time together. Just thought to mention it since she did it in this post.))
(OOC: Celes should hang with my guys, Buck and Tommy are wellsprings of positive energy, usually stemming from Lazier's negative energy )
After Tommy and Buck had gone into their dorm rooms to sleep, Lazier Beeme decided to test out his new weapon. As he patrolled the streets, pasting gang members, he started tweaking the gun's functions. At the end of his midnight patrol, his laser could, on top of its original abilities, project protective fields around allies, trap foes inside impenetrable bubbles, fire a painful and powerful bolt of force, knocking enemies away, and fire large bombs that work the same as a multi-target version of his bolt ability. "Not bad. Combined with my energy beams, I'm almost as good as Buck. Now all I need is a mega attack, like Buck's full auto. I've got it!" and so, Lazier Beeme went into his room to work on his new attack. By morning, he was done. "Introducing... the particle overload channeler!"
"How about... the Nova Blaster?" commented Buck.
"It rolls off of the tongue easier," added Tommy.
"Fine, whatever. I swear, you two are just the pushiest sons of ...," he trailed off, grumbling to himself.
(OOC: There we are, now Lazier has an explanation for all of his attacks.)
[B]The Once and Future Official Minister of Awesome[/B]
[I]And don't you forget it.[/I]
[URL="http://paragonunleashed.proboards.com/index.cgi"][IMG]http://gamefacelive.com/bre/joker.png[/IMG][/URL]
As Radon listened to Celes' words, something struck him as a little odd. Taking a moment to carefully choose his words he spoke.
"I don't mean any disrespect and I may be misinterpreting what you say, but the way that you refer to yourself sounds like you don't think of yourself as a person. Again if I misunderstood I apologize, but how do you expect to find a life here on Earth if you don't see yourself as one of us?" he said as politely as he could.
Even as the words left his mouth, Radon couldn't believe what he had just said. He didn't understand why he had said anything about it at all, he just felt it was wrong for her to feel that way about herself.
"Listen, you were born into a war without ever being given a choice and then exiled here to Earth. Now you're being hunted by both angels and demons and even though it'd probably be safer to lay low and not use your abilities you're still out there using your powers to protect people. Most people put in the same position would never do what you've done and if that doesn't make you human I don't know what does. You may not have the DNA of a human, but you do have the heart of one and that's all that matters." Radon said with conviction.
Once again he found himself questioning why he was telling her all of this, but what was said was said and he couldn't take it back. He was just hoping that she didn't take his words the wrong way and get upset.
"By the way, I know some people stare at your wings and horns, but I think they may you look beautiful." he said timidly as he stared down at the pavement.
[ QUOTE ]
Alan got to his room and opened the door and found...
(OOC Note: Anyone who wants in can get in as Alan roommate. )
[/ QUOTE ]
A huge fellow bouncing on the bed. Alan's eyes took in the multitude of colors making up this strange hero. Light blue skin, a metal plate similarly colored showing through the bald head and covering one eye, a darker blue upper body almost looking as if it were made of armour plating molded to the chest. Green chitin made up the lower half with red showing through and his legs ended in what resembled orangish stone feet. A bright yellow robotic arm waved at Alan as the fellow grinning like a maniac said, "Hi Dere!"
(ooc: Brief bio can be found here )
A bright blush lit Celes' cheeks as she continued to walk. She bit her lip nervously as she thought about her response. She took a soft yet sad breath before speaking.
"Thank you...for the...um compliment," she said, glancing shyly at him.
Clearing her throat softly, she began again, hoping to answer his question and maybe explain a few things about herself.
"I came to Earth because I had no where else to go. I was too good for Hell and too evil for Heaven. So I came here to the world of vice and virtue, the battle ground for souls. I...hhmmm...I still do not know what to consider myself. I am humanoid and my mother was a human from Earth before she became an angel. That's what makes my situation so unique. She is the only human to ever receive the gift of a heavenly host, to become an angel," Celes glances down in thought as she shoves her hands into her pockets.
"So I came to her home world. I do not hide because they would find me, regardless of where I go. There are battles every where aside from what we see. The Guardian Angels and the Harvester Demons take fairly active parts in the salvation or temptation of human souls. They even fight each other when paths cross. I, being of both sides, feel that when the scales of good and evil shift, someone who is neutral needs to balance them. That is the roll I have decided to take when dealing with the beings of greater forces. I help because I can not just stand idly by. I've tried to just be as normal as I could, but it ate at me to watch people suffer as the threat of evil and bad guys grew. So I became a hero, hoping it would grant me some kind of human status. I am who I am Radon, human or not, I can still be a hero," she breathed softly, staring down the street.
"Wow...that's...that's incredible." Radon said quietly.
"I wish could say something similar about why I became a hero, but I can't. The truth is the only reason I started fighting crime was for my own ego. Growing up all I ever wanted to do was earn my father's respect, but no matter what I did he'd always put me down. If I made the honor roll, I should've made straight As, if I scored 10 points in a basketball game, it should have been 20. No matter what I did it was never good enough for him, and after a while no matter what I did I was never good enough for myself. By the time he walked out on us I had all but lost any self confidence I had. When I got the job working for the Paragon Health Department, I thought it was a chance to finally prove I was worth something. When those crooks broke in I didn't try to stop them because it was the right thing to do, I did it to stop them from ruining my chance to prove myself. After I got my powers from the accident I started fighting crime for the same reason. The only time I can be myself, the only time I feel like I'm worth anything, is when I put on this costume. Everything I've done, becoming a hero, coming to the Hero Academy, I did it all for myself and no one else. I don't even deserve to be called a hero." he said hanging his head in shame.
Looking up Radon noticed that they had reached the doors of the Academy. He walked ahead and held the door open for Celes. After his confession he couldn't even bear to look her in the eye.
"I...I guess we should...get back to our rooms...before the corporal...sees us." he whispered secretly wishing he had the power to disappear again.
As Buck and Tommy slept, they dreamed. Much to the contrary of their thoughts while awake, their dreams have been very troubled ever since Tommy's brother was killed. Also, their dreams were always the same for both of them, no matter what the dream was about, even if it involved facts only one of them knew. It was surmised that the pair had a subconscious telepathic link while asleep. Their dream tonight was very troubling, indeed. Sartain was in it, she was executing Tommy's brother, and then aiming her gun at them. They awoke in a cold sweat to talk about it. "What do you think it means?" asked Buck.
"It's obvious what it means. We know that Sartain was in the Middle East around the time of my brother. We must subconsciously resent her, because my brother died and she didn't," replied Tommy.
Neither of them realized that the dream meant more than they thought. They were able to get back to sleep, but they still hadn't gotten over their dream by morning.
Meanwhile, in a secret laboratory...
"Good, you're awake. I've finally revived you, although I needed to... improvise a little. You probably don't remember what happened, or even who you are. You are Masheen Gunn, and your brother and his insolent little friend did this to you. You work for me, Dr. Malifarious. You used to just use a gun and a variety of gadgets, now they're integrated into your body to replace parts that couldn't be restored. I also added some melee abilities. That should catch you up, right?"
"Uh... yeah, I guess. But why would I be working for an obvious villain, and my brother be opposing me?"
"Your parents liked him more, so you resented him."
"Ok, I'll buy that. He'll be dead in a week or less."
"Boy, what a grade-A sucker," the doctor thought to himself, "Well, get going. Have fun, don't stay out to late."
(OOC: Masheen is a mega-archvillain. He has all the moves of the following powersets: Assault Rifle, devices, medicine, munitions mastery, claws, super reflexes, regeneration, weapon mastery, body mastery, invulnerability (tanker version), super strength, fighting, fitness, and energy mastery. His damage is scrapper-level, with tanker HP, he can score criticals with ranged attacks, his healing for medicine is as good as a defender, he's immune to all status effects, and always has all of the toggle powers of his powersets on, and they drain no endurance. He's an uber-god, so engaging him is a VERY bad idea. But he can be stopped.)
[B]The Once and Future Official Minister of Awesome[/B]
[I]And don't you forget it.[/I]
[URL="http://paragonunleashed.proboards.com/index.cgi"][IMG]http://gamefacelive.com/bre/joker.png[/IMG][/URL]
Alan looked at his roommate and wondered where Ole Shotter, his former roommate, had gone. The simple fact was, most people didn't want to sleep in the same room as a man who smiles in his sleep. "Hey," he paused, and decided how to proceed. "I'm Mended Ribs or Alan, have you been at here long." Alan took off his rib pattern jacket and looked at the gap left by Reaper Man's scythe and sighed, I don't have the money to get this fixed.
"No, I not be heer dat long. Dey giv me dis bed! It nice and bounsee. Dey call me Patchworks, or yoo can call me Patchy if yoo want dat okay too." It was a good thing the beds at Hero academy were built to take this kind of abuse, as Patchworks continued to wildly jump up and down on the bed.
"Dis is fun! Wat yoo do heer? Yoo won of de peeples dat teech us to fite de badees?"
Radon's head was swimming and he could barely stay upright after making it to his knees again. Although the pain he had been feeling was pretty much gone and he was starting to feel the strength in his limbs again, something just didn't feel right.
"Why, Radon? Why take my blow? I do not deserve your...grace. We have only just met." came Celes' voice ringing in his ears.
"It's...what..I do. Besides...I'm expendable....you're not." Radon said turning to face her.
Staggering to his feet he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small plastic bubble. Checking the gumball inside he handed it to her.
"Meant to give...this to you earlier,....but we got kinda....sidetracked. Don't eat it....just chew it....until the flavor's gone." Radon said as he tried to compose himself.
"I'm really not looking forward....to training tomorrow." he thought as he rubbed his aching muscles.