((((OOC notes here! Jennifer Delong and Gun Bunni aren't mine. But I got permission to use them in my story. Wilde and Shelly are. Insert random COH copyrights here, I'm sure you know who owns it by now! Finally, my subscription expires in a few hours, so I'll post additional parts of this story here when I get back to the game, and at sccw.8m.com in the meantime! I haven't had a chance to let either handler of Jenn or Bunni check it over due to time constraints, so it's subject to change. I wrote the whole thing by myself, of course.
((((That's it, enjoy and comment! If you're interested in being a part of my story, check out one of the links at my site if you wanna contact me!
((((Joshua))))
We're holding hands.
We're content, and happy, and our powers aren't ruining it.
Terri's not dead. My hands aren't throbbing in pain from trying to keep them still, and that surgery- I don't think it ever really happened. Hell, let's just say Cid's still around, here to see you all grown up.
Your mind isn't overwhelmed by the emotion of it, so you don't start crying or begging for it to stop. Everyone's happy and we're still in Chicago..
We're not in Chicago. Shelly.. suddenly my mind shifts and I see us battling mysterious shadows .. I see Nemesis.. I see the strange Ritki soldiers.. I see shadows of things I don't even recognize as human, leaning over us..
Not us, me. You're left behind in Chicago. I left you behind with Ivan. I don't even know if Terri's alive for sure or not.. I doubt she is.. I felt her.. die.. in my heart a few days ago..
My perfect word vanished just now into a nightmare. See? Then, even that nightmare fades. (Although not really since it's pretty close to reality now..) into a bus post..
I feel asleep on the long ride to this city, knocked out by another headache.. The last leg of my journey. A bus ride in a drab, grey rainy day to a whole new life and hopefully a cure..
Falling asleep and daydreaming about a life I'll never have is silly. Paragon City, you better have a cure for me. I'll wring one of of you, if I have to!
Wilde's comin' for ya, and he's pissed.
(I say, trying my best to ignore what looks like a homeless man pissing in the next seat.. Sigh. I miss Chicago.)
=-=-=-=-
[Scene: Paragon City. From the outside. There's nothing in the city like it. The traffic, while more sparse than it had been before the war, still heavier than the almost non existent flow inside the warwalls of Paragon City. Mostly, it's for going in and out of the big city, usually as quickly and efficiently as possible. Although there's no war words, the neighborhoods have always managed to divide themselves quite effectively. A variety of fences, trees and rocks, and the construction of the roads to allow limited passage from one sector of the neighborhood to another.
[It's a rainless but overcast day just outside of Paragon City as another bus rolls in, full of returning business men, tourists, travelers, the odd visiting relative, and - most relevant to our story- a couple of super heroes. Our young hero, Wilde Tanke, is stirred from a pleasant dream memory by the rumbling of the but itself. Wilde glances around the bus, as if coming out of a dream.
[Some of the people look normal. Some don't. On the other side of a bus, Wilde found himself trying not to stare at a redhead with very little clothing on, and visible heat coming from her six foot plus body. Wilde found himself trying not to stare at a few other things as well. So, he distracted himself with an old half of a newspaper someone left behind. Probably just wanted the ads, or a story about themselves. Wilde wondered to himself if he was actually bored enough to read a newspaper and quickly decided he was.]
Wilde: [muttering to himself] Heroes Halt Havok? Gee, how original.. Interview with Back Alley Brawler..
Sarcastic Female Voice: THAT should be a masterpiece. That seat taken?
[Wilde only glanced up briefly to see a small but intimidating female figure. She looked a bit younger than Wilde even. Fair skin, blond hair. She quickly sat down next to Wilde. He didn't seem to thrilled over the idea.]
Female: Thanks. It's about impossible to find a seat on an inbound bus these days. Name's Gun Bunni. Most people call me Bunni. My friends, anyway. So do you always mutter when you read newspapers on busses?
[Wilde glanced up at her, almost smiled for a second, then went back into that dark frown he'd been wearing the whole trip.]
Bunni: What? You can relax, I was just kidding. So why are you coming to town, anyway?
[Wilde just snorted in response, looking at the newspaper but not really seeing the words.]
Bunni: Fine, ignore me. I know where you live.
[Wilde looked up from the paper, giving her a curious, rather annoyed look.]
Bunni: Gotchya. Just seeing if you were paying attention, hero. Come on, you gonna say something, or do I have to get on your lap and spank it out of you?
[Wilde furrowed his brows. It was weird, in a way, she reminded him of himself before the big accident. A jab of the pain pushed that thought out of his head.]
Wilde: [Dead panning] Sure you wanna sit next to one of us 'filthy mutants?'
Bunni: Why wouldn't I? I'm friends with mutants already, you know? Not like you're the first mutant super hero to hit town.
Wilde: Some of yer best friends are mutants, huh? Besides, how do you know Ah got any intention of bein' a hero?
Bunni: Ha, that's a good one. And I can just tell, is how.
[Wilde didn't look convinced. He also didn't look very happy to be drug into a conversation, but that's neither here nor there.]
Bunni: I mean, one, what mutant comes to Paragon City if they're not gonna be a super hero? I mean, it's not exactly like we're brimming with job opportunities, you know? Unless, of course, you wanna be a super hero, you probably ain't gonna get to use your powers much. Sides, you're well built, kinda cute, and you're sulking. What doesn't scream young hero about that?
Wilde: [in a huff] Whatever.
[Wilde folded his arms across his chest, almost defiantly. Bunni turns, teasingly imitating the pose.]
Bunni: Ya know, if you're going for the whole 'brooding young lone wolf' thing, you might wanna consider losing the "I just had my bottle taken away" pout. [Bunni leaned in a bit] It kind of ruins the tough guy illusion.
[Wilde sneered. Bunni mock imitated that as well. Faced with the absurd mirror of his pose, Wilde actually cracked a smile for a second.]
Wilde: Not here to do illusions. Or imitations. Or stay.
Bunni: Just passing through, huh?
Wilde: Hopefully if Ah can find a cure. Ah figure, Ah do him some favors, he'll do me some. [Noticing the confused look in her face] Antonio Nash.
Bunni: Yeah, I kinda figured that. He IS the primary contact for mutant heroes. Which you just confessed to being earlier.
[Wilde shrugs.]
Wilde: Yeah..
[Uncomfortable silence followed. Wilde rubbed a hand on his forehead, in a bit of pain. Bunni looked both concerned and indifferent at once.]
Bunni: What now? Lose your place in the funnies?
[Wilde kind of starred at her for a second, a confused distant look in his eyes. Which Bunni couldn't help but notice suddenly looked a little bloodshot.]
Wilde: What? Urgh, Ah'm no good with long rides.
Bunni: Yeah, what'd you pop to cope with that?
[Wilde looked up annoyed.]
Wilde: Ain't popped nothin, it's just these stupid power.. energy makes me kinda loopy. So do you know where Ah find Antonio Nash or not?!
[She made a look like she was considering the 'request' deeply, then looked into Wilde's eyes.]
Bunni: I should just let you find it yourself. Don't you big city boys know the meaning of the word please?
[Wilde frowned, the bit his lip.]
Wilde: Please can you tell me.. uhh.. whatever it was Ah was asking?
Bunni: Tell me you didn't forget already.
Wilde: Huh? Oh! Ah remember. Da guy. Him, um, Nash. Told you - the powers sorta messed up my ability to concentrate sometimes. More so than before.
Bunni: Yeah, kind of hard not to notice.
Wilde: [Sneering] Shut up!
Bunni: Fine, find it yourself. Goodluck finding it in this city, pal.
[Wilde flashed her a weak smile. One that was somehow hurt and a little embarrassed. Maybe it was the thousand unspoken things they had in common that neither knew they had in common, or maybe it was the thousand stark contrasts between the two, For some reason, even though his vision was blurring a bit, and she was trying to hide it, Wilde saw a hint of a smile on her face. Enough to tip him off. Wilde's eyes smiled, even if he didn't. Wilde loved to figure things out on his own, even if he wasn't nessicerily the best at it.]
Wilde: Let me guess, it'll be right in front of da bus station or something?
Bunni: Actually. the giant globe's the first thing you'll see. But yeah, just past that, you'll find the building you're looking for. Don't bother with the idiots at the front desk, just look for a set of stairs going down, then look for the GIFT logo, and you're about set. Do yourself a favor and try to learn a few basic manners before then, though.
[Wilde seemed distracted, muttering, "globe, building, stairs, sign," to himself a few times.]
Bunni: By Statesman, I think he's got it!
[Wilde looked up, that distant look back in his eyes.]
Wilde: Uh,.. right. Thanks for the help and everything, but if you don't mind, Ah'd rather we just stopped talking now, thanks..
[Wilde turned to stare out the window at the passing Atlas Park. Bunni mumbled a "Whatever" and turned to find some better company.. .. .. Wilde noticed a small group of gang members and didn't even realize how important that particular gang would be to his immediate future..
[Things were looking up, but things were lying.]
=-=-=-=-=-
[Wilde found the area he arrived at both awe inspiring and clean. Much cleaner than the city's reputation lead Wilde to believe was possible. Atlas felt safe. It obviously wasn't- Wilde had seen a hero battling a toy clock and something out of his nightmares already just on the way over. But it felt safe, at least.
[Then there were the heroes and normal citizens zooming around, making for a surreal sight. A couple of them seemed to have horns and tails. A small pale ninja looking girl was buzzing around an eight foot tall pile of muscle with an ebony battle axe and dark red skin.
[The tip of the proverbial iceberg, Wilde guessed. Something caught his attention in the distance. Some kind of commotion.. It wasn't long ago Wilde has senses as sharp as a tack. His hearing, sense of smell, vision, and his most basic intuition were above average, if not downright stellar. His mutant powers only extended this. Soonafter he developed the ability to switch the temperature in the substance he produced from his hands, either adding pyrotechnical or cryogenic properties, allowing him to alter the temperature of the foam like substance he could create and emit from his hands and wrists..
[The experiment cleared all of those attributes away, for the most part, dulling his senses a bit, mutant or otherwise. His body now produced a stronger, non substantive form of energy which Wilde had yet to understand.. it changed him, in many ways. He was stronger than ever- and suffering from it. Still, a hint of his old power surfaced every now and then.. something drew his attention to a dark ally that everyone else seemed to conviniently not notice.. ]
Wilde: [with a sigh] Guess I'll be late for dat meeting.
[Wilde felt the energy responding in his body, sending painful waves through his arms and chest. The pain slowly subsided as Wilde crotched down, walking towards the ally. Strange, but it almost seemed darker than should be possible for a sunny Paragon City noon.. Wilde's throat was dry, and not just from releasing the energy through his body... the smell of sulphur caught Wilde's nose as he closed in on the corner. Wilde had smelled it many times before in Chicago, along the nastier parts of the "Great Mutant Divide" that cut through the heart of Chicago.
[About eight thugs filled the middle of the thin alleyway, from a quick count. Most of them had their backs to Wilde, but one was apperantly acting as a lookout. Wilde blasted him before he got half a word out. The others turned, surprised to be under attack. Wilde could feel a damning heat rising from them.
[They weren't anything impressive looking. Bandanas, leather jackets, and jeans. Whoopie doo. But a couple of them had guns. Another one had a knife. The bigger looking one actually had a sledgehammer.]
"Another Skull!"
"What the hell? That ain't no Skull!"
"Who cares?! Blast*" That's all the third thug got out. Wilde blasted him as soon as he took aim with the gun, sending him slamming into the brick wall. They landed near what Wilde assumed were their two victims. They looked a bit snazzier with the silver, and whoa, she was cute! Not counting that way too realistic skull mask she had on.
Wilde avoided a wild swing from the sledehammer maniac. His momentum sent him into the path of the other guy with the knife. As soon as he turned around, Wilde connected with a sideways kick to his midsection. Things were happening so fast. Wilde just threw himself into the moment in response, letting his uncanny instinct guide him. A couple of them were in front of Wilde. One caught the right side of his jaw with a hard fist. It hurt. It burnt. But it didn't slow Wilde down from dropping the thug with an energy boosted right of Wilde's own. The others scattered. Wilde turned his attention to the other gang members.
[Maybe they were gang members. With the outfits, they might have been heroes for all Wilde knew. Somehow, he doubted it. The other guy was trying to pin Wilde against the wall so his friend could get an open shot with that knife now. That was enough to focus Wilde's attention back where it needed to be. Fortunately for Wilde, the knife wielding thug spent previous few seconds posing, rather than taking his opportunity. Wilde rammed a knee into the midsection of the thug holding him, enough to get a hand free. He summoned the strange energy that now ran through his body and blasted the second thug with it, catching him square in the jaw. The thug with the knife fell again, this time for the duration of the fight.]
"Come on, guys, are you gonna let some punk nobody pick on the Hellions?!"
Wilde: Like you gotta choice?
[It only took a couple more blasts to render the next to unconscious. The other guy with the guy had apperantly turned tail and vanished. An energy punch left two thugs standing, and one hardly able to stand. Wilde went for the injured, slamming him head first into the wall. The display was enough to send the two un-engaged thugs running for their lives.]
Wilde: Losers.
"Yeah.. losers!"
[A young, angry female voice. A voice Wilde could immediately relate to. A voice that betrayed a very hard life. Wilde turned to see her about to collapse. The mask was discarded, giving Wilde an even clearer view of her bloodshot eyes. He also noticed a pair of sharp claws protruding from somewhere on her hands, and felt a strange energy emitting around her.]
"Stupid holier than thou attitudes, stupid relics.. And what the hell are you starrin at?!"
[Wilde's voice almost got stuck in his throat. It wasn't later until he realized how nervous he felt.]
Wilde: I'm Wilde Tanke. Who da hell're you?
[Her eyes narrowed as she looked Wilde over, obviously trying to judge weather he was a threat, an annoyance, or something else. She decided it didn't matter what he was. She made a decision to do something that didn't seem possible to do anymore- trust him.
Jennifer: Call me Jennifer.
Wilde: How 'bout Jenn?
Jennifer: Now bout 'no?'
[She flicked her wrists, showing off those claws for effect. Whatever Wilde was about to say was immediately forgotten when his side exploded in pain. Wilde's body immediately went numb as he realized he'd just been stabbed in the side. Wilde staggered back, his other hand exploding in a fury of energy at the attacker. The Hellion had apparently returned for another round, and decided to go for Wilde instead. Wilde watched, half in shock, as the girl launched himself forward, slicing clean through the side of the Hellion's leg with those claws. Any scream Wilde might or might not have let out from his own pain was quickly put to shame by the Hellion's terrified cry.]
Wilde: Whoa.
[It took everything Wilde had not to double over in agony on the spot. His insides were burning, and the stupid wound didn't even look that big. Good thing the thug didn't have time to aim. The knife almost missed Wilde altogether. Just hardly caught him, but even then, his golden tshirt was swelling up with blood. Half his body felt numb. The right side of his body, where he'd gotten stabbed, felt like it was on fire already.
[Wilde forced himself to fight over the dizzying sense of pain and nausea long enough to pull the power to his good hand. He quickly grabbed at the girl's hand as she threatened to deliver the killing blow to the thug. Jenn paused several seconds, as Wilde's hand laid on her, the energy seeping through her claws. Slowly, the psychotic look of anger vanished, her emotions apperantly calming down. Wilde found the effects both fortunate and surprising.
[Certainly better than what he was expecting- for her to turn and gut him for trying to interfere. Instead, she seemed confused. Puzzled.]
Jennifer: What's that sensation.. It feels sooo.. nice..
[Then, Wilde's grasp went limp, as he slumped forward. Wilde glanced down at the wound to see more blood than he expected. A good deal more. No wonder he felt so light headed. Or maybe the room really *was* spinning?]
Wilde: Hos.. hospital?
[Wilde wanted to whisper something a bit more eloquent, but that was all he could muster. In a horse voice, at that.]
Jennifer: You're kidding, right? If I go near those things, I'll get zapped by some hero wanna be, no way! [Jennifer paused, looking the situation over] But you do need some help. Him we can leave for dead.
Wilde: N.. no.. can't..
Jennifer: Why not? Trust me, no one will miss them. It's better to put them out of OUR misery!
[Wilde shook his head meekly. Trying to stop her was out after that knife wound, so talking was his only option. Not much of an option either.]
Wilde: Don't matter. Cause it's not up to us to take out the people dat don't deserve it. Sides, anyone can change, ya know? [Wilde swallowed air, feeling fainter by teh second] Just gotta.. stop makin' da wrong decisions.. Ya know..
Jennifer: I guess.. but who cares? Who says death's a bad thing? We believe that killing someone is the ultimate gift of freedom. Besides.. (she flicks out a claw) Killing Hellions is kind of fun. Who says it's the wrong thing to do, after what he did to me?
Wilde: Coz it's not right.. Ah won't let you..
Jennifer: Oh, please. If you can't take a little knife would, do you really think you'd be able to stand up to these babies?
[Jennifer flicked her wrist, then let out a moan.]
Jennifer: Hey! It's wearing off!
Wilde: What is?
[She looked little worried, wincing in slight pain.]
Jennifer: Whatever you did a second ago, isn't working now. Do it again!
Wilde: What?
Jennifer: Please! Whatever you did with your hands.. That made my claws not ache. Do it again!
Wilde: [thinking to himself] Did with my hands? Does she mean the energy? Is it possible it might have actually felt good to her?
Jennifer: Or else, I'll.. ..
[Wilde reaches for her hands, then pulls back.]
Wilde: Fine, Ah'll do it, but first, no threats. Second, you help me get myself, and him to a hospital. Third.. nevermind, Ah only got two.
[Jennifer growled. Wilde shrugged, trying to sound, non challant or at least trying not to sound terrified for his life.]
Wilde: Kill me, help me, wha devva you want. Might wanna do it quick, though, Ah think Ah'm about to pass out from da blood loss. . .
[For a second, he thought she was listening. Then, for a second, he thought she was going to kill him. Then- nothing but blackness.
[Wilde's last conscious thought was to wonder if he'd see Terri soon. . . .]
=-=-=-==-
Epilogue.
[No.
[He saw a cold, sterile Paragon City version of the hospital, and immediately began to hate this city that much more. He'd actually gotten chewed out the second he stepped out of the damned hospital. His contact had showed up, in person, but it wasn't for plesantries and afternoon teas.]
"Yeah, can it. I ain't here for plesantries and afternoon tea, kid. Where the hell were you? I expect my new heroes to show up in person, not wonder off to get themselves shot."
[Wilde immediately didn't like the guy. It didn't help that Wilde was in one of his infamous moods.]
Wilde: Yeah, well, Ah thought it'd be a nice day to take a walk and get you some flowers. Or stop a mugging. Or whatever.
"Lose the tone with me, rookie. This town's got plenty of heroes for that. That ain't YOUR job, kid. Least, not til I say it is. You either show up when I say, where I say, or you lose your funding. Got it?"
[Wilde folded his arms, looking half way into the man's eyes, like a scared teen with the notion of being a rebel still stuck up in his head.]
Wilde: Dis'd be a nice part t' tell me who you are, and to tell you who da hell Ah am. Ah'm..
[The man cut Wilde off with an impatient grace.]
"Wilde Tanke, Spelled with two extra e's. Pronounced Wil-Dee, and you get testy when people pronounce it as 'wild.' You're a punk from Chicago, and for some reason, we don't know or care much about you, other than we got jobs for you. Looking at this little attitude of yours, I don't see why we even care to know that much. The name's Antonio Nash. Mr. Nash to you."
Wilde: Just as long as Ah get the help Ah need when you're all nice and done, whatever. Whatcya got for me? Raid on a secret Ritki weapons factory? Save an innocent Crey office from the Freakshow? Or maybe collect Clockwork parts to save some kid dat needs a medical miracle?
Nash: Yeah, we'll look into getting you something like that. For now, I'd like you to run this tape to the names on the packages. Shouldn't have you running too far into King's Row. By the way, do yourself a favor, don't get in any fights there. You ain't ready for it, kid. One more thing, I even so much as hear you let anything about the Ritki War slip out of your lips in a tone I consider disrespectful, I'm kickin your [censored] on the spot, kid. Lots of good people died in that war for ingrates like you. Got it?
[Wilde sneered as he took the package.]
Wilde: Delivery boy. Dat works too. If you're done browbeating me, now, I'll get right on this, *sir.*
[Wilde took the bag impatiently, and set off down the hall.]
Nash: Look, rookie, get this done, and lose the attitude, we'll see about getting you more interesting cases.
[Wilde didn't pause or glance back, much to Anonio Nash's annoyance.]
=-=-=-=-=-
Epilogue 2
[Wilde forced himself to keep moving until he was out of Nash's sight before he let his body betray any sign of pain. Then, Wilde found a quiet little ally, pressed his back against flat against the side of a building, and winced his eyes close in pain. His whole body ached from the movement, despite the medical wonders the Paragon hospital had performed. Even got him a new gold tshirt. Wrong shade though. The energy inside him was messing with his body, begging for a release. It took several deep breaths to get the dizziness to subside.
[Wilde's eyes suddenly popped open. Someone was watching him.]
Delong: I hear you're going to King's Row. You're gonna need some backup. Fortunatly, you've got some. . .
[Wilde's eyes met hers. She had that skull mask on again. . . . and she had company . . for the first time in weeks, Wilde cracked a genuine smile.]
To be continued...
Still hate the visit Winscott mission- make it dropable, have it give actual exp or remove it altogether. PS- Down knows who you are.
J/ Wilde/ / AIL - Celebrating five years!
((((OOC notes here! Jennifer Delong and Gun Bunni aren't mine. But I got permission to use them in my story. Wilde and Shelly are. Insert random COH copyrights here, I'm sure you know who owns it by now! Finally, my subscription expires in a few hours, so I'll post additional parts of this story here when I get back to the game, and at sccw.8m.com in the meantime! I haven't had a chance to let either handler of Jenn or Bunni check it over due to time constraints, so it's subject to change. I wrote the whole thing by myself, of course.
((((That's it, enjoy and comment! If you're interested in being a part of my story, check out one of the links at my site if you wanna contact me!
((((Joshua))))
We're holding hands.
We're content, and happy, and our powers aren't ruining it.
Terri's not dead. My hands aren't throbbing in pain from trying to keep them still, and that surgery- I don't think it ever really happened. Hell, let's just say Cid's still around, here to see you all grown up.
Your mind isn't overwhelmed by the emotion of it, so you don't start crying or begging for it to stop. Everyone's happy and we're still in Chicago..
We're not in Chicago. Shelly.. suddenly my mind shifts and I see us battling mysterious shadows .. I see Nemesis.. I see the strange Ritki soldiers.. I see shadows of things I don't even recognize as human, leaning over us..
Not us, me. You're left behind in Chicago. I left you behind with Ivan. I don't even know if Terri's alive for sure or not.. I doubt she is.. I felt her.. die.. in my heart a few days ago..
My perfect word vanished just now into a nightmare. See? Then, even that nightmare fades. (Although not really since it's pretty close to reality now..) into a bus post..
I feel asleep on the long ride to this city, knocked out by another headache.. The last leg of my journey. A bus ride in a drab, grey rainy day to a whole new life and hopefully a cure..
Falling asleep and daydreaming about a life I'll never have is silly. Paragon City, you better have a cure for me. I'll wring one of of you, if I have to!
Wilde's comin' for ya, and he's pissed.
(I say, trying my best to ignore what looks like a homeless man pissing in the next seat.. Sigh. I miss Chicago.)
=-=-=-=-
[Scene: Paragon City. From the outside. There's nothing in the city like it. The traffic, while more sparse than it had been before the war, still heavier than the almost non existent flow inside the warwalls of Paragon City. Mostly, it's for going in and out of the big city, usually as quickly and efficiently as possible. Although there's no war words, the neighborhoods have always managed to divide themselves quite effectively. A variety of fences, trees and rocks, and the construction of the roads to allow limited passage from one sector of the neighborhood to another.
[It's a rainless but overcast day just outside of Paragon City as another bus rolls in, full of returning business men, tourists, travelers, the odd visiting relative, and - most relevant to our story- a couple of super heroes. Our young hero, Wilde Tanke, is stirred from a pleasant dream memory by the rumbling of the but itself. Wilde glances around the bus, as if coming out of a dream.
[Some of the people look normal. Some don't. On the other side of a bus, Wilde found himself trying not to stare at a redhead with very little clothing on, and visible heat coming from her six foot plus body. Wilde found himself trying not to stare at a few other things as well. So, he distracted himself with an old half of a newspaper someone left behind. Probably just wanted the ads, or a story about themselves. Wilde wondered to himself if he was actually bored enough to read a newspaper and quickly decided he was.]
Wilde: [muttering to himself] Heroes Halt Havok? Gee, how original.. Interview with Back Alley Brawler..
Sarcastic Female Voice: THAT should be a masterpiece. That seat taken?
[Wilde only glanced up briefly to see a small but intimidating female figure. She looked a bit younger than Wilde even. Fair skin, blond hair. She quickly sat down next to Wilde. He didn't seem to thrilled over the idea.]
Female: Thanks. It's about impossible to find a seat on an inbound bus these days. Name's Gun Bunni. Most people call me Bunni. My friends, anyway. So do you always mutter when you read newspapers on busses?
[Wilde glanced up at her, almost smiled for a second, then went back into that dark frown he'd been wearing the whole trip.]
Bunni: What? You can relax, I was just kidding. So why are you coming to town, anyway?
[Wilde just snorted in response, looking at the newspaper but not really seeing the words.]
Bunni: Fine, ignore me. I know where you live.
[Wilde looked up from the paper, giving her a curious, rather annoyed look.]
Bunni: Gotchya. Just seeing if you were paying attention, hero. Come on, you gonna say something, or do I have to get on your lap and spank it out of you?
[Wilde furrowed his brows. It was weird, in a way, she reminded him of himself before the big accident. A jab of the pain pushed that thought out of his head.]
Wilde: [Dead panning] Sure you wanna sit next to one of us 'filthy mutants?'
Bunni:
Wilde: Some of yer best friends are mutants, huh? Besides, how do you know Ah got any intention of bein' a hero?
Bunni: Ha, that's a good one. And I can just tell, is how.
[Wilde didn't look convinced. He also didn't look very happy to be drug into a conversation, but that's neither here nor there.]
Bunni: I mean, one, what mutant comes to Paragon City if they're not gonna be a super hero? I mean, it's not exactly like we're brimming with job opportunities, you know? Unless, of course, you wanna be a super hero, you probably ain't gonna get to use your powers much. Sides, you're well built, kinda cute, and you're sulking. What doesn't scream young hero about that?
Wilde: [in a huff] Whatever.
[Wilde folded his arms across his chest, almost defiantly. Bunni turns, teasingly imitating the pose.]
Bunni: Ya know, if you're going for the whole 'brooding young lone wolf' thing, you might wanna consider losing the "I just had my bottle taken away" pout. [Bunni leaned in a bit] It kind of ruins the tough guy illusion.
[Wilde sneered. Bunni mock imitated that as well. Faced with the absurd mirror of his pose, Wilde actually cracked a smile for a second.]
Wilde: Not here to do illusions. Or imitations. Or stay.
Bunni: Just passing through, huh?
Wilde: Hopefully if Ah can find a cure. Ah figure, Ah do him some favors, he'll do me some. [Noticing the confused look in her face] Antonio Nash.
Bunni: Yeah, I kinda figured that. He IS the primary contact for mutant heroes. Which you just confessed to being earlier.
[Wilde shrugs.]
Wilde: Yeah..
[Uncomfortable silence followed. Wilde rubbed a hand on his forehead, in a bit of pain. Bunni looked both concerned and indifferent at once.]
Bunni: What now? Lose your place in the funnies?
[Wilde kind of starred at her for a second, a confused distant look in his eyes. Which Bunni couldn't help but notice suddenly looked a little bloodshot.]
Wilde: What? Urgh, Ah'm no good with long rides.
Bunni: Yeah, what'd you pop to cope with that?
[Wilde looked up annoyed.]
Wilde: Ain't popped nothin, it's just these stupid power.. energy makes me kinda loopy. So do you know where Ah find Antonio Nash or not?!
[She made a look like she was considering the 'request' deeply, then looked into Wilde's eyes.]
Bunni: I should just let you find it yourself. Don't you big city boys know the meaning of the word please?
[Wilde frowned, the bit his lip.]
Wilde: Please can you tell me.. uhh.. whatever it was Ah was asking?
Bunni: Tell me you didn't forget already.
Wilde: Huh? Oh! Ah remember. Da guy. Him, um, Nash. Told you - the powers sorta messed up my ability to concentrate sometimes. More so than before.
Bunni: Yeah, kind of hard not to notice.
Wilde: [Sneering] Shut up!
Bunni: Fine, find it yourself. Goodluck finding it in this city, pal.
[Wilde flashed her a weak smile. One that was somehow hurt and a little embarrassed. Maybe it was the thousand unspoken things they had in common that neither knew they had in common, or maybe it was the thousand stark contrasts between the two, For some reason, even though his vision was blurring a bit, and she was trying to hide it, Wilde saw a hint of a smile on her face. Enough to tip him off. Wilde's eyes smiled, even if he didn't. Wilde loved to figure things out on his own, even if he wasn't nessicerily the best at it.]
Wilde: Let me guess, it'll be right in front of da bus station or something?
Bunni: Actually. the giant globe's the first thing you'll see. But yeah, just past that, you'll find the building you're looking for. Don't bother with the idiots at the front desk, just look for a set of stairs going down, then look for the GIFT logo, and you're about set. Do yourself a favor and try to learn a few basic manners before then, though.
[Wilde seemed distracted, muttering, "globe, building, stairs, sign," to himself a few times.]
Bunni: By Statesman, I think he's got it!
[Wilde looked up, that distant look back in his eyes.]
Wilde: Uh,.. right. Thanks for the help and everything, but if you don't mind, Ah'd rather we just stopped talking now, thanks..
[Wilde turned to stare out the window at the passing Atlas Park. Bunni mumbled a "Whatever" and turned to find some better company.. .. .. Wilde noticed a small group of gang members and didn't even realize how important that particular gang would be to his immediate future..
[Things were looking up, but things were lying.]
=-=-=-=-=-
[Wilde found the area he arrived at both awe inspiring and clean. Much cleaner than the city's reputation lead Wilde to believe was possible. Atlas felt safe. It obviously wasn't- Wilde had seen a hero battling a toy clock and something out of his nightmares already just on the way over. But it felt safe, at least.
[Then there were the heroes and normal citizens zooming around, making for a surreal sight. A couple of them seemed to have horns and tails. A small pale ninja looking girl was buzzing around an eight foot tall pile of muscle with an ebony battle axe and dark red skin.
[The tip of the proverbial iceberg, Wilde guessed. Something caught his attention in the distance. Some kind of commotion.. It wasn't long ago Wilde has senses as sharp as a tack. His hearing, sense of smell, vision, and his most basic intuition were above average, if not downright stellar. His mutant powers only extended this. Soonafter he developed the ability to switch the temperature in the substance he produced from his hands, either adding pyrotechnical or cryogenic properties, allowing him to alter the temperature of the foam like substance he could create and emit from his hands and wrists..
[The experiment cleared all of those attributes away, for the most part, dulling his senses a bit, mutant or otherwise. His body now produced a stronger, non substantive form of energy which Wilde had yet to understand.. it changed him, in many ways. He was stronger than ever- and suffering from it. Still, a hint of his old power surfaced every now and then.. something drew his attention to a dark ally that everyone else seemed to conviniently not notice.. ]
Wilde: [with a sigh] Guess I'll be late for dat meeting.
[Wilde felt the energy responding in his body, sending painful waves through his arms and chest. The pain slowly subsided as Wilde crotched down, walking towards the ally. Strange, but it almost seemed darker than should be possible for a sunny Paragon City noon.. Wilde's throat was dry, and not just from releasing the energy through his body... the smell of sulphur caught Wilde's nose as he closed in on the corner. Wilde had smelled it many times before in Chicago, along the nastier parts of the "Great Mutant Divide" that cut through the heart of Chicago.
[About eight thugs filled the middle of the thin alleyway, from a quick count. Most of them had their backs to Wilde, but one was apperantly acting as a lookout. Wilde blasted him before he got half a word out. The others turned, surprised to be under attack. Wilde could feel a damning heat rising from them.
[They weren't anything impressive looking. Bandanas, leather jackets, and jeans. Whoopie doo. But a couple of them had guns. Another one had a knife. The bigger looking one actually had a sledgehammer.]
"Another Skull!"
"What the hell? That ain't no Skull!"
"Who cares?! Blast*" That's all the third thug got out. Wilde blasted him as soon as he took aim with the gun, sending him slamming into the brick wall. They landed near what Wilde assumed were their two victims. They looked a bit snazzier with the silver, and whoa, she was cute! Not counting that way too realistic skull mask she had on.
Wilde avoided a wild swing from the sledehammer maniac. His momentum sent him into the path of the other guy with the knife. As soon as he turned around, Wilde connected with a sideways kick to his midsection. Things were happening so fast. Wilde just threw himself into the moment in response, letting his uncanny instinct guide him. A couple of them were in front of Wilde. One caught the right side of his jaw with a hard fist. It hurt. It burnt. But it didn't slow Wilde down from dropping the thug with an energy boosted right of Wilde's own. The others scattered. Wilde turned his attention to the other gang members.
[Maybe they were gang members. With the outfits, they might have been heroes for all Wilde knew. Somehow, he doubted it. The other guy was trying to pin Wilde against the wall so his friend could get an open shot with that knife now. That was enough to focus Wilde's attention back where it needed to be. Fortunately for Wilde, the knife wielding thug spent previous few seconds posing, rather than taking his opportunity. Wilde rammed a knee into the midsection of the thug holding him, enough to get a hand free. He summoned the strange energy that now ran through his body and blasted the second thug with it, catching him square in the jaw. The thug with the knife fell again, this time for the duration of the fight.]
"Come on, guys, are you gonna let some punk nobody pick on the Hellions?!"
Wilde: Like you gotta choice?
[It only took a couple more blasts to render the next to unconscious. The other guy with the guy had apperantly turned tail and vanished. An energy punch left two thugs standing, and one hardly able to stand. Wilde went for the injured, slamming him head first into the wall. The display was enough to send the two un-engaged thugs running for their lives.]
Wilde: Losers.
"Yeah.. losers!"
[A young, angry female voice. A voice Wilde could immediately relate to. A voice that betrayed a very hard life. Wilde turned to see her about to collapse. The mask was discarded, giving Wilde an even clearer view of her bloodshot eyes. He also noticed a pair of sharp claws protruding from somewhere on her hands, and felt a strange energy emitting around her.]
"Stupid holier than thou attitudes, stupid relics.. And what the hell are you starrin at?!"
[Wilde's voice almost got stuck in his throat. It wasn't later until he realized how nervous he felt.]
Wilde: I'm Wilde Tanke. Who da hell're you?
[Her eyes narrowed as she looked Wilde over, obviously trying to judge weather he was a threat, an annoyance, or something else. She decided it didn't matter what he was. She made a decision to do something that didn't seem possible to do anymore- trust him.
Jennifer: Call me Jennifer.
Wilde: How 'bout Jenn?
Jennifer: Now bout 'no?'
[She flicked her wrists, showing off those claws for effect. Whatever Wilde was about to say was immediately forgotten when his side exploded in pain. Wilde's body immediately went numb as he realized he'd just been stabbed in the side. Wilde staggered back, his other hand exploding in a fury of energy at the attacker. The Hellion had apparently returned for another round, and decided to go for Wilde instead. Wilde watched, half in shock, as the girl launched himself forward, slicing clean through the side of the Hellion's leg with those claws. Any scream Wilde might or might not have let out from his own pain was quickly put to shame by the Hellion's terrified cry.]
Wilde: Whoa.
[It took everything Wilde had not to double over in agony on the spot. His insides were burning, and the stupid wound didn't even look that big. Good thing the thug didn't have time to aim. The knife almost missed Wilde altogether. Just hardly caught him, but even then, his golden tshirt was swelling up with blood. Half his body felt numb. The right side of his body, where he'd gotten stabbed, felt like it was on fire already.
[Wilde forced himself to fight over the dizzying sense of pain and nausea long enough to pull the power to his good hand. He quickly grabbed at the girl's hand as she threatened to deliver the killing blow to the thug. Jenn paused several seconds, as Wilde's hand laid on her, the energy seeping through her claws. Slowly, the psychotic look of anger vanished, her emotions apperantly calming down. Wilde found the effects both fortunate and surprising.
[Certainly better than what he was expecting- for her to turn and gut him for trying to interfere. Instead, she seemed confused. Puzzled.]
Jennifer: What's that sensation.. It feels sooo.. nice..
[Then, Wilde's grasp went limp, as he slumped forward. Wilde glanced down at the wound to see more blood than he expected. A good deal more. No wonder he felt so light headed. Or maybe the room really *was* spinning?]
Wilde: Hos.. hospital?
[Wilde wanted to whisper something a bit more eloquent, but that was all he could muster. In a horse voice, at that.]
Jennifer: You're kidding, right? If I go near those things, I'll get zapped by some hero wanna be, no way! [Jennifer paused, looking the situation over] But you do need some help. Him we can leave for dead.
Wilde: N.. no.. can't..
Jennifer: Why not? Trust me, no one will miss them. It's better to put them out of OUR misery!
[Wilde shook his head meekly. Trying to stop her was out after that knife wound, so talking was his only option. Not much of an option either.]
Wilde: Don't matter. Cause it's not up to us to take out the people dat don't deserve it. Sides, anyone can change, ya know? [Wilde swallowed air, feeling fainter by teh second] Just gotta.. stop makin' da wrong decisions.. Ya know..
Jennifer: I guess.. but who cares? Who says death's a bad thing? We believe that killing someone is the ultimate gift of freedom. Besides.. (she flicks out a claw) Killing Hellions is kind of fun. Who says it's the wrong thing to do, after what he did to me?
Wilde: Coz it's not right.. Ah won't let you..
Jennifer: Oh, please. If you can't take a little knife would, do you really think you'd be able to stand up to these babies?
[Jennifer flicked her wrist, then let out a moan.]
Jennifer: Hey! It's wearing off!
Wilde: What is?
[She looked little worried, wincing in slight pain.]
Jennifer: Whatever you did a second ago, isn't working now. Do it again!
Wilde: What?
Jennifer: Please! Whatever you did with your hands.. That made my claws not ache. Do it again!
Wilde: [thinking to himself] Did with my hands? Does she mean the energy? Is it possible it might have actually felt good to her?
Jennifer: Or else, I'll.. ..
[Wilde reaches for her hands, then pulls back.]
Wilde: Fine, Ah'll do it, but first, no threats. Second, you help me get myself, and him to a hospital. Third.. nevermind, Ah only got two.
[Jennifer growled. Wilde shrugged, trying to sound, non challant or at least trying not to sound terrified for his life.]
Wilde: Kill me, help me, wha devva you want. Might wanna do it quick, though, Ah think Ah'm about to pass out from da blood loss. . .
[For a second, he thought she was listening. Then, for a second, he thought she was going to kill him. Then- nothing but blackness.
[Wilde's last conscious thought was to wonder if he'd see Terri soon. . . .]
=-=-=-==-
Epilogue.
[No.
[He saw a cold, sterile Paragon City version of the hospital, and immediately began to hate this city that much more. He'd actually gotten chewed out the second he stepped out of the damned hospital. His contact had showed up, in person, but it wasn't for plesantries and afternoon teas.]
"Yeah, can it. I ain't here for plesantries and afternoon tea, kid. Where the hell were you? I expect my new heroes to show up in person, not wonder off to get themselves shot."
[Wilde immediately didn't like the guy. It didn't help that Wilde was in one of his infamous moods.]
Wilde: Yeah, well, Ah thought it'd be a nice day to take a walk and get you some flowers. Or stop a mugging. Or whatever.
"Lose the tone with me, rookie. This town's got plenty of heroes for that. That ain't YOUR job, kid. Least, not til I say it is. You either show up when I say, where I say, or you lose your funding. Got it?"
[Wilde folded his arms, looking half way into the man's eyes, like a scared teen with the notion of being a rebel still stuck up in his head.]
Wilde: Dis'd be a nice part t' tell me who you are, and to tell you who da hell Ah am. Ah'm..
[The man cut Wilde off with an impatient grace.]
"Wilde Tanke, Spelled with two extra e's. Pronounced Wil-Dee, and you get testy when people pronounce it as 'wild.' You're a punk from Chicago, and for some reason, we don't know or care much about you, other than we got jobs for you. Looking at this little attitude of yours, I don't see why we even care to know that much. The name's Antonio Nash. Mr. Nash to you."
Wilde: Just as long as Ah get the help Ah need when you're all nice and done, whatever. Whatcya got for me? Raid on a secret Ritki weapons factory? Save an innocent Crey office from the Freakshow? Or maybe collect Clockwork parts to save some kid dat needs a medical miracle?
Nash: Yeah, we'll look into getting you something like that. For now, I'd like you to run this tape to the names on the packages. Shouldn't have you running too far into King's Row. By the way, do yourself a favor, don't get in any fights there. You ain't ready for it, kid. One more thing, I even so much as hear you let anything about the Ritki War slip out of your lips in a tone I consider disrespectful, I'm kickin your [censored] on the spot, kid. Lots of good people died in that war for ingrates like you. Got it?
[Wilde sneered as he took the package.]
Wilde: Delivery boy. Dat works too. If you're done browbeating me, now, I'll get right on this, *sir.*
[Wilde took the bag impatiently, and set off down the hall.]
Nash: Look, rookie, get this done, and lose the attitude, we'll see about getting you more interesting cases.
[Wilde didn't pause or glance back, much to Anonio Nash's annoyance.]
=-=-=-=-=-
Epilogue 2
[Wilde forced himself to keep moving until he was out of Nash's sight before he let his body betray any sign of pain. Then, Wilde found a quiet little ally, pressed his back against flat against the side of a building, and winced his eyes close in pain. His whole body ached from the movement, despite the medical wonders the Paragon hospital had performed. Even got him a new gold tshirt. Wrong shade though. The energy inside him was messing with his body, begging for a release. It took several deep breaths to get the dizziness to subside.
[Wilde's eyes suddenly popped open. Someone was watching him.]
Delong: I hear you're going to King's Row. You're gonna need some backup. Fortunatly, you've got some. . .
[Wilde's eyes met hers. She had that skull mask on again. . . . and she had company . . for the first time in weeks, Wilde cracked a genuine smile.]
To be continued...
Still hate the visit Winscott mission- make it dropable, have it give actual exp or remove it altogether. PS- Down knows who you are.
J/ Wilde/ / AIL - Celebrating five years!