((Uh....what?!?))
(...Bah! No dying!)
((Er...does this explain why Roy hasn't been in human form lately? *Wonders* ))
Bah! Who'd build a humanform robot and put their AI in the exposed sensor area? Sensors, sure. Primary cooling? Sure. But keep the processing in the torso.
Plus, it freaks people out when they keep coming.
PERC Supporter
La Pucelle (BS/SR)
Miseria Bella (Sonic/Dark)
Wrangler Annie (SS/Elec)
Coldsmoke (Ice/Dark)
Saber Maid (BS/Regen)
and others...
((HEROID is that rarest of origins... Tech/Magic.
A while back Maggie, Shae, and Purple Nebula helped him gain the ability to assume human form. It was the human form that took the bullet.
In the robot form, the circuit that contains his soul is well-protected in the torso. That's the only way to design a big, sentient robot tanker. 
))
[ QUOTE ]
HEROID is that rarest of origins... Tech/Magic.
[/ QUOTE ]
((Ha! I knew Kelp wasn't the only one with that origin around... now we just need to start a petition to get it added to the game... or... something... >_>
)
Animation major and old-school CoHer.
Art, Animation, and Stuff:
DA Tumblr Vimeo Youtube
The city impound lot was full of old cars, confiscated crates, defunct battle armor, and rats. A place where items that no one knew what to do with were dumped and forgotten. Other than for the cars, claims were few and far between. The good guys tended to keep up with their equipment, but the bad guys were a bit hesitant when it came to claiming a battle-suit that had been used in a robbery.
Roy came back online under shed, behind a stack of crates. To the citys credit, they had not placed him in the mud with the impounded cars, and his name was written on his chest in chalk. It would later be explained to him that, as soon as they realized what and who he was, they had started arranging for the Other Guys to come pick up their teammate.
It would also be explained to him that, since he wasnt dead the investigation into his shooting would have to take a low priority. The police just had their hands full right now. Seems that there was some sort of major battle involving members of the KGB Special Section 8, members of Freedom Factor, and several other big-name superheroes.
Maggie
Sasha
Hed let them down. For some gal whose name he never knew.
Well, thatll be a place t start he thought. Ill see if I can find out who she wuz after I find out if Sasha an Maggie re all right
He concentrated for a moment, waited for the change back to human form.
It didnt happen.
He tried again. Nothing.
Then he remembered the dream
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
HEROID is that rarest of origins... Tech/Magic.
[/ QUOTE ]
((Ha! I knew Kelp wasn't the only one with that origin around... now we just need to start a petition to get it added to the game... or... something... >_>)
[/ QUOTE ]
((Modron X is also Tech/Magic. That makes three on the list.))
Issue 23: All your base are belong to us?
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
HEROID is that rarest of origins... Tech/Magic.
[/ QUOTE ]
((Ha! I knew Kelp wasn't the only one with that origin around... now we just need to start a petition to get it added to the game... or... something... >_>)
[/ QUOTE ]
((Modron X is also Tech/Magic. That makes three on the list.))
[/ QUOTE ]
((I think we need to have the Tech/Magic origin made official.
And I think nested quotes should be a new pool power.))
((Hey, I'd sign the Tech/Magic petiton if you'll sign the Mutant/Tech one ))
Steel Butterfly threaded her way carefully through the various cars, robots and less identifiable...large stuff in the city's impound yard looking for Heroid. The clerk had said he was here, somewhere. She hoped she could get him operational though. She didn't have the equipment to move a 900 pound robot, so he was either walking out on his own power...or...well, she didn't know how she'd do it but she'd find a way to move him somehow. She bit her lip thoughtfully and peered around looking for a glimpse of red and silver...ah, maybe there. How did they get him that far in and why had they moved the crates in front of him? Urrg. She shifted a couple crates out of the way.
"Dang wooden crates! Ouch." she clenched her hand in pain from the splinter. She made her way carefully to the back of the shed.
"Heroid?... Roy?" The huge silver and red robot didn't move, and she grimaced. She pried the splinter out of her finger, and then pulled a small flashlight from the toolbox she had with her to get a better look at him. She held the tiny flashlight in her teeth and ran her hands over the outside of Heroid looking for any damage to the tiatanium. Nothing. Not even any new nicks in the paint since the last time she had seen him. Just smooth red and silver surface. "Hm..."She moved the flashlight back into one of her hands and tried calling him again, "Roy?"
Shae Firewarder
What was it like? Can you describe the experience for me?
HEROID sat on a brown leather sofa in an office of a man hed never met before, and thought about the day he died again.
There had been pain, and a sudden realization.
Then there had been the light. The light was what he wanted, what he had wanted for so long, but had been unable to attain. Peace. There were people in the light, calling to him, cheering him on. He reached for them and the light pulled him to it. He could feel himself bathed in it, becoming part of it.
Then the light began receding. He stretched to touch it, but it was going away. Those who had called to him turned their backs and disappeared into the brightness.
Roy looked down and saw dark green tendrils wrapped around his ankles, shackling him to his body his robot body.
Well, yknow, doc, HEROID said with his blank face betraying nothing, it wuz just like goin t sleep an wakin up. Nothin in btween.
Dr. Manlo leaned back in his chair, formed a steeple with his fingertips and held them up level with his nose.
If youre not going to open up to me then how am I going to help you, Mr. Kirby.
HEROID looked away.
Dr. Wisteria warned me you could be a tough nut to crack so to speak. Dr. Manlo said, laying aside his pencil and pad after scribbling a note or two. I have some talent as a psychic, would you mind if I tried a psychic connection?
Knock yerself out, Doc.
Dr. Manlo closed his eyes. He lifted his hands towards HEROID, and began a low, melodic hum.
Claire De Lune?
Dr. Manlo opened his eyes, It helps me focus. Now, I need quiet. He closed his eyes again.
Sure thing, Doc.
Thankyou. Now, quiet.
Sure thing.
When Dr. Manlo opened his eyes again, HEROID could tell the man was getting aggravated.
This is going nowhere, Mr. Kirby. Perhaps youd like to see another parapsychiatrist.
HEROID sighed. Look, Doc, I dont let just anybody poke around in my mind. Im sorry. I
I gotta talk t somebody. I mean its been days an I aint been able t tell nobody what all I... I mean they aint got time t lissen t my hard-luck stories
Which means that you dont want to tell them because you think it will change the way they perceive you.
HEROID looked away.
You said something about a dream you had a couple of weeks before the
shooting.
Ya know anything about magical big-wig mucky-mucks?
That would be Dr. Wisterias field of expertise. I am more of a clinical parapsychiatrist. I restrict my opinions and treatments to scientifically proven methods.
Oh. HEROID stood and walked to the door. Yer right, Doc. I guess I oughta talk t somebody else.
Dr. Manlo stood, and started to speak, but HEROID was already closing the door behind him.
An send th bill t th Other Guys.
Spend alot o' time here...
HEROID looked from the southwestern corner guard tower down to the sidewalk across the street from the Zig. His optic sensors zoomed in on the blood-stains and the crack from out of which he had dug the bullet.
The trajectory would be about right.
They ain't got enough guards t' man all th' towers like they oughta. I like ta help em out when I can.
Shae Firewarder listened as she felt around the guard tower. She nodded at HEROIDs words and began to murmer a few words in djinni.
Gotta good friend who works as a guard here...
Shae Firewarder regarded him for a second, then began to murmer again as she visited each corner of the tower.
Name o' Joe Reed.
The djinni stopped and was silent for a moment. She looked at HEROID, then said, Ah?
The look she was giving him made him feel uneasy.
What does Joe Reed do here?
Uh
HEROID wondered why she became so interested in Joe. He's over th' tower guards.
Supervisor?
Yeah, like th foreman o th crew. He felt really bad about what happened tme.
Shae continued to look at him.
He said nobody wuz assigned t this tower the night I
got
killed.
He wondered if the look she was giving him was trying to tell him he was
Stupid.
That was the word Vesperi used earlier that night in Gemini Park. It hadnt been Vesperis opinion of him, but rather it was the opinion of the jewel that was imbedded in HEROIDs chest. The jewel, it seemed, had begun to develop its own opinions.
There's something else vying for control... Shae had said after an assessment of HEROIDs personal auras.
She called Vesperi in for a consultation.
Ves did a probe of his own. Its the jewel, he concluded.
Nah, HEROID protested, its just a power source.
Nope, explained Vesperi, it thinks. And it thinks youre
Stupid.
He should have told Shae all about the dream instead of just part of it. He told her the part where the being he knew as the Bringer of Dreams sat in a void, holding the emerald jewel from HEROIDs chest in his hands. The Bringer of Dreams spoke to the gem in a strange language. What he said to it, HEROID didnt understand, and had a feeling that he wasnt supposed to.
In the dream he was powerless, immobile, so all he could do is watch for hours as the godlike entity conversed with his power source.
At length, the Bringer of Dreams noticed his presence and turned to him saying, We need to get you out of the way
That was as far as he had told Shae. He left out the next thing the Bringer of Dreams said.
We need to get you out of the way. You are far too weak to be the Destroyer.
Now, in the guard tower, Shae was finishing her investigation.
Dont worry, Roy, she said. We will find the gunman.
Thanks, Shae.
As always, HEROID was somewhat in awe of her. She was unearthly beautiful, and her eyes always seemed to see more than just the world around her. It was like she could see through windows that no one else would even know were there.
He looked into those eyes and saw that she did not think him stupid, but he could see that she was keeping something from him.
She yawned and stretched and for a moment he forgot about every woman he had ever seen before. Then that moment passed and she was his friend Shae again.
Well, I think Ill call it a night, she said as he adjusted his optic sensors.
Thanks, Shae. I mean it.
Oh, no worries. Youre a friend.
With that she was gone.
HEROID stood in the guard tower for a moment, listening to the sounds of the Brickstown night. It was nearly one in the morning. He turned to leave.
Suddenly the sun was glaring off of his titanium head and his internal clock was registering seven-fifty-five a.m.
Oh geez, he thought, its happened again
I shoulda told er about that too.
Stupid.
Shae left with more information than she arrived with, but she still wasn't happy. She had a sinking feeling that this sniper was out of her reach. It wasn't that she didn't know who it was. She knew. She had been to the tower at the Ziggurat that the shots had been fired from. It wasn't a crowded place nor an active one. It had not been difficult to sort through the images of recent occurances to find the one image of a figure firing a rifle out at the street. Even without the image, she might have been able to figure out who it was from what Heroid said while he was showing her the tower that the shots had been fired from.
Heroid had said, "I man these towers sometimes. Spend alot o' time here...They ain't got enough guards t' man all th' towers. Crazy. Gotta good friend who works as a guard here...Name o' Joe Reed. He said nobody wuz assigned here that night. Felt real bad about it."
Noone had been assigned, but someone had been in the tower anyway. Someone in a guard uniform, with seargent stripes, and a sniper rifle. Someone who knew about Roy's human form, from drinking coffee with him on breaks. Someone Roy trusted.
Shae's problem was that she could not deal with the sniper the way she was used to. She didn't have sufficient proof for the courts, and even if she did, that wouldn't get her what she needed. She needed the next link in the chain she was following. She wanted to know why someone that Roy trusted would shoot him.
Soon she was going to have to tell Roy about Joe Reed as well. She wasn't looking forward to that. She hated to see someone's trust shattered. She hated that someone that would betray that trust like Joe Reed had could be outside her reach for retribution as well.
Well, outside her reach for now. She could be patient. She had time.
But first to find the next link in the chain...
Shae Firewarder
Tommy No-gun had just caught his big break. That morning a tower guard had contacted him and told him the route that would get him out of the Zig, and this afternoon he had followed up on the information.
Seems that the Family took care of its own.
Tommy stepped out into the street. He would have to find an unwary pedestrian and steal some clothes, or his freedom would be shortlived.
He stayed close to the fence, and kept an eye on the towers. According to the guard that had helped him, the guard towers on this side of the prison would be unmanned today, but still he looked for any sign of movement up there.
Across the street, an empty warehouse beckoned.
Tommy ran for it.
He threw open the door and slammed it behind him as he jumped inside.
He wished he hadn't.
Just inside the warehouse door, an entire squad of Crey security agents were sprawled on the floor. Someone or something had relieved them of various limbs, and at least in one case, a head.
Tommy opened the door and ran back across the street screaming.
From an unmanned guard tower, a seven-foot tall green giant glared down.
((bump))
((What? We're screwing with ya in the park))
PERC Supporter
La Pucelle (BS/SR)
Miseria Bella (Sonic/Dark)
Wrangler Annie (SS/Elec)
Coldsmoke (Ice/Dark)
Saber Maid (BS/Regen)
and others...
Roy was desperate.
The battle within him had raged for days, his own personality being sublimated by the intelligence within his power jewel. It was a battle he had lost.
He was no longer in control of his body the robot body. The jewel had pushed his spirit so far down into the darkness that he was afraid he would never find his way out. The jewel was powerful too powerful for him to fight it.
In the darkness, drifting further from his senses and sensors, he searched for an anchor to cling to.
Months ago, in a similar moment, when he knew he was about to die, he had reached out with the last of his strength of will. His fading mind had gone beyond the physical boundaries of the HEROID body. All over the city, friends and strangers heard his psychic cry for help, and they responded.
Now, Roy reached out again. His spirit anchored onto something within him. Something powerful. Something dark. Something linked to his very soul.
The world would be crushed under his feet. Mortal women would weep at the mention of his name. The heroes of Paragon City would be mere toys
Roy pushed against the darkness. If he succumbed now, he might not ever be in control again. The darkness covered his spirit like murky waters, and he struggled not to drown in it.
He could hear his voice. He could hear anothers voice. His voice was threatening, hateful. The other voice was...
He struggled harder and suddenly, he was seeing through his own optic sensors. He was standing in the Kings Row exit to Galaxy. Sasha -- Soviet Shadow -- was standing before him, her expression a mixture of fear and concern.
Run! he shouted to her. Run!
She ran.
Friends would tell him later the things he said to her.
The jewel-entity had to be stopped. If it regained control
He couldnt live with the thought. He needed help.
Shae Firewarder had already done so much for him. Now he would have to ask her for more.
The minutes that passed as he traveled from the Row to Founders Falls seemed like an eternity. The jewel-entity kept trying to come back up like a bad meal. He hoped Shae would be home.
The rooftops of Founders Falls sped by beneath him. He took care of where he landed on his leaps. Some of these buildings would be able to stand his weight crashing down on them. He could wind up going through a roof and then several floors before he stopped.
Shaes apartment building was within sight. He breathed a sigh of relief.
Then he went crashing through a rooftop. The sound of wood splintering and people screaming filled his audio receptors. One floor. Two floors. Three. He stopped counting before he stopped falling, and when he stopped, he was lying in the center of a HEROID-shaped pothole in the concrete floor in the buildings basement.
Slowly, he stood. His legs were working again, though he knew for sure that they had ceased doing so only moments before.
And he knew why.
The jewel-entity might be pushed down, not in control, but in its desperation, it had made very clear to him one thing. It wouldnt let him seek help from anyone he/it knew
Gemini Park is the place ta go if ya wanna meet a stranger. On this particlar day there wuznt anybody in th park strangern Spectral Weaver. Oh, an say hello ta his little friend, Mishka. Its a puppet that lives on his hand.
I struck up a conversation with th guy, not knowin he wuz like a mind-whatever. He seemed ta know what he wuz about r maybe it wuz th puppet
Anyways, we talked a bit an hed heard about my recent troubles an thought he could help me out. Like an exercism r somethin. I figgered, What th hell? Yknow?
So I let im like
take a look at th jewel. Next thing ya know he wuz all quiet an starin funny an makin hand gestures an stuff.
Me? I just stood still an let im do his thing.
So after a while, my robot knees went limp an felt like I had ta sit down fer a while. About that time he fell down too. We sat there fer a while not makin no sounds until I felt a rush o energy.
When I stood up, I felt diffrent. I knew he took somethin outta me. It wuz like my soul wuz lighter r somethin. Whatever he done, I figgered it mustve worked.
Him, on th other hand
Spectral Weaver wuzn't hardly breathin' an' when he did start breathin' again, he started pukin'. Then all of a sudden he went runnin off like a madman. Shamrock II an Wild Shrike took off after im an I wuznt far behind. When Wild Shrike grabbed hold o him on a nearby rooftop, he went ta talkin crazy an that puppet kept tellin us ta wonk im a good one on th head.
Well, when ya give Sham a chance ta punch somebodys lights out, well
Shell take ya up on it in a heartbeat. So she did. She punched his lights out.
That seemed ta do th trick. It wuz like he slept things off fer a few minutes, then he wuz calmed back down.
We went back ta th park fer a while so I could make sure he wuz all right an he seemed t be
r at least he wuz as alright as he usuly gets. Anyways, Sham an Shrike took off an' Spectral Weaver with Mishka left pretty soon after.
Man. I hadnt felt that good in a long time. Since before I
my
human self took that bullet.
So I just struck up a conversation with Vince Baron Vladimire an Nick Kinsolvin like I would on any normal day in Gemini Park. A nice normal conversation. Talkin about all sorts o stuff. Like they talked about their kids superpowers an they talked about daisies growin on Vinces bald head. Normal stuff.
Then I noticed they wuz lookin at me funny.
Th jewel-ennity had come out again. It wuz talkin weird an usin twenty-dollar words I dont even pretend ta know.
It wuz still in me.
Which begs th question
If Spectral Weaver didnt exercise th jewel-ennity outta me
what did he get?
Kings Row. Later.
Spectral Weaver snuck through the shadows, content that his mark hadn't noticed him yet. The Skull ganger didn't know it, but the Weaver had followed him for over 30 minutes, cloaked in a spell of invisibility. Spectral was hoping to find wherever the Skulls were currently storing that last Dyne shipment that his contact had assured him had come in. If those drugs hit the street, Kings Row and Skyway would not be fun places to be anymore, especially not for civillians. So Spectral had decided to step in and stop the Skulls selling off their new stash.
Mishka sat on Spectral's shoulder, uncharacteristically quiet. She knew how much was riding on this, though, and was actually the one who had suggested following one of the gangers back to their hideout. Spectral smiled underneath his mask. Mishka had been a great help ever since they started doing this hero-thing together. And before that, she'd been a good friend to have around. They argued sometimes, of course, but never about anything really serious. Besides, it was kinda fun to watch peoples reaction. Some of them really thought she was a puppet.
Up ahead, the ganger suddenly stopped and glanced around furtively. Apparently satisfied that he was alone, he darted into a narrow alley. Spectral smiled in anticipation. This looked promising.
Following hot on the gangers heels, Spectral was disappointed when he exited the alley, only to find that the Skull he'd been following was now part of a group, standing under an overpass. Apparently, they were supposed to meet here for... something. He could see four other regular gang members, and one other with a shotgun slung across his back. One of the gangs lieutenants.
Spectral sighed with disappointment. It looked like he'd have to do it the old fashioned way: Knock them out with his illusions, and then try to interrogate them. He was actually kind of good at that. It was amazing what someone would tell you when they thought they were covered in poisenous insects or vermin.
Spectral readied his spells and
(Something moved, deep in his mind, testing the limits of it's imprisonment)
Spectral stumbled forward breaking the invisibility spell. The gangers noticed him immediately.
"Hey! Isn't that the damn' hero that got Defiler?"
"I fink so."
"Let's get'im! He cost us a lotta money!"
"Yeah! Kick 'is head in!"
The gangers charged.
(Uneasy, it pushed against the barriers holding it in place. They were strong... but maybe there was a weakness...)
Spectral staggered back, desperately trying to fend off the Skulls. He was getting a serious headache. Something was wrong. He couldn't concentrate. One of the Skulls hefted a sledgehammer, ready for the swing, while the lieutenant was bringing his shotgun up.
"Mishka, help! Something's - AARGH!"
Spectral took the sledgehammer square in the chest. He could hear a faint noise in his ears, and the world seemed to go dark.
(Ah, there it was. The weakness. Sweet, delectable pain. It struck.)
The Skull with the sledgehammer was readying for a second swing, when the lights suddenly dimmed. He shrugged it off. He wasn't about to let the damn hero out of his sights. He pulled back, and swung... and could only gape in horror as the hero casually snapped the sledge's handle in two. A sickly, greenish glow danced on the ground. Then darkness fell.
Later...
Spectral Weaver opened his eyes, and looked up into the rosy dawn sky. His head hurt like hell. Mishka was next to him, trying to shake him awake. He felt awful. Rolling over on his side, he pulled away his mask, and vomited. He'd been sleeping on a pile of garbage, just on the other side of the overpass.
"You ok?" Mishka looked at him, jittery with worry.
"Yeah.... yeah, I'm fine." Spectral winced. He probably had a few cracked ribs. Oh well... He could heal himself. "What happened? Where'd the Skulls go?" There was no sign of them anywhere.
"I... don't know." Mishka sounded very worried now. "I think... I think it might have gotten loose for a second or two there. I locked it down again, but I didn't see what happened."
"Oh." Spectral sat up carefully, and looked around more carefully this time. Still, nothing. He shrugged. "Well... whatever it did, it scared off those gangers. Lucky us, eh?" He gave a wan smile as Miskhka climbed back onto his shoulder.
"Yeah," she said in a quiet voice. "Lucky us."
"Let's go and find some aspirin. And then we can try to find the Skulls hideout again."
"Ok. You need to get those ribs looked at too."
"Yeah, yeah..."
As Spectral made his way towards the hospital, Mishka glanced back. She didn't like to lie to SW, but he really didn't need to see the shapes in the alley walls.
Or the expressions they had...
((Edited for spelling. ))
"Immorality: The morality of those having a better time."
-H.L. Mencken
"My center is giving way, my right is in retreat; situation excellent. I shall attack."
-Ferdinand Foch
Roy became aware of the people around him.
"Hiya," he said.
Parz and Nick looked at him strangely.
"Uh... Did I do it again?"
Nick Kinsolving nodded his head.
"What I done ta Spectral Weaver wuz wrong wuzn't it?"
Nick nodded again.
"I gotta find 'im an' get it back outta him don't I?"
Nick looked at Roy. There was hurt and frustration showing there. Roy didn't know exactly why, but he knew he had been the source of the problem.
"Yes. You've got to help him. You can't just leave him with this."
Roy nodded.
Suddenly, somehow Roy knew it was a different day. Nick was there, and Parz, but so were Maggie, Shae, Spectral Weaver, and several others.
Spectral Weaver was sitting on the ground, his body shaking, fighting the heaving in his gut.
This too, Roy knew was his fault. Everybody was looking at him.
Other than that, Roy had no idea what the hell was going on.
((Anybody who wants to post any unusual encounter they've had with Roy recently, feel free. Even Kricky ... but at her own risk. Horned Viper was invisible. ))
((This post was written with the invaluable help of Shae Firewarder. Thanks Shae! 
))
Experts say you dont dream smells, but as Shae Firewarder entered the dreamscape the odors of hotdogs, popcorn, roasted peanuts, and warm beer met her. She stood in the center of a diamond of soft green grass. Men in white, pinstriped uniforms stood around the field, shifting from foot to foot as if anticipation of the need to move quickly.
Heads up.
The voice came from behind her, and her first instinct was to turn toward it. Combat experience guided her movements though, so she ducked and pivoted to the left. A small white sphere whizzed past, just above her her head. She could feel the wind off of it tickle at her hair.
The sphere sailed its fifty-something feet and hit its mark with a loud pop. Its target was a thick glove worn by a young man in a mask who squatted behind another man who held a long club. Behind them stood a portly man dressed in black, holding a padded shield.
Steeeriiike! shouted the portly man in the back.
Shae, youre interfering with the game.
This time Shae turned toward the voice. The Bringer of Dreams stood just to the right of second base, inside the basepath, wearing a uniform that matched that of the portly man behind the catcher. She couldnt help herself, she had to ask
Whose?
The Bringer of Dreams smiled slightly and gestured to the batter.
Hes hit four homeruns already. I think thats enough.
Shae took a few steps toward third base.
The pitcher went into his stretch and launched the ball toward the plate. The catcher moved his mitt slightly in, toward the batter. The batter came around, swinging with all his might.
The ball met the bat far below the sweet spot and shattered it into two wickedly pointed pieces. One piece remained in the batters hand while he looked at it incredulously. The other piece tumbled wildly through the air, flying between third and short.
Shae leapt straight up as the splintered projectile grazed her thigh and stuck into the ground behind her.
Steeeriiike two!
She turned and glared at the Bringer of Dreams, then remembered who he was, who she was, and why she was here.
Sorry, said the Dream Lord, that was completely unintentional. Now, Im going to call a time out before someone gets injured.
Suddenly, the only two figures in the ballpark still moving were the Bringer of Dreams and the djinni. Shae approached him, bowing as she came close.
You wish to speak to me? Or do you merely wish to visit this mans dream? He used to be quite a player, you see. He dreamed of the Hall of Fame. Bad habits and bad attitudes though. Now he writes books just dreams of playing again. These mortals place so much importance on their entertainments.
I would speak to you concerning a friend
a mortal friend.
Ah. Well, we shall finish up here and then go somewhere more appropriate for our conversation.
Play ball!
The batter looked incredulously at the stake he held in his hand until a young man ran up and gave him a new bat. The new bat was not black wood like the previous one. It was pinkish and made of foam rubber.
Now lets see him hit another homerun.
The pitcher threw the ball hard. The batter swung his soft bat. Contact.
The power with which the ball was hit surprised Shae. She watched the ball bounce off of the foam-rubber bat and climb high into the air sailing way above her head and heading for the outfield fence. Then, its momentum died and it fell into the waiting glove of an outfielder, just a few feet short of a homerun.
That will give him something to ponder upon awakening. Now, our talk.
Shae blinked and found herself standing in a Japanese garden. The Bringer of Dreams had changed out of his black umpires uniform and was now wearing a robe of silver and black silk.
Ah. This is much more fitting, he said, taking a spot on a stone bench motioning for Shae to sit down beside him.
She did.
Now, ask me what you will, and I will answer as best as I may.
Shae took a deep breath, settled her nerves and began
"Heroid....You are involved in his trials once more. What is he supposed to be that the Bringer of Dreams should concern yourself so closely with him?"
Benroy? Who knows what he is supposed to be. I really wish he would make up his mind. Is he a man? Is he a machine? My dealings with him would be easier if would stay one or the other. And that gem of his
So hard to convince it to co-operate. I had to tell it everything.
Shae stifled a sigh. He did not answer her question. Not directly anyway.
"The Gem entity seems to think Roy is not smart enough to be responsible for the safety of his self, or of itself. However, I see the Gem making errors as well out of ignorance or arrogance. Roy has allies but the Gem does not seem to understand that they can be help or threat to itself. It is putting itself and possibly others in danger, but it does not seem to realize it. If there is a valuable goal here, it seems that they might have better odds working together rather than with the gem taking over Roy and bottling him up, or keeping him in the dark...?"
Allies and friends are two different things. It may come to the point where Benroy will need allies against his friends. Which one will you be, Shae Firewarder?
He did not give her time to answer, but continued, He is not the brightest of mortals. Yet he has a good heart and a strong will. The Gem is processing information at an amazing pace, dont you think? Consider, weeks ago it did not even know how to communicate with other sentient beings. Do you not see an advantage to combining the intellect of the Gem with the character of the human? Patience, patience.
Again, his answers only added more questions. Her third question addressed her most pressing concern.
"The other entity, the third one...Tell me why I should not work to have that dark one destroyed?"
The Bringer of Dreams turned toward her. His eyes were dark and empty.
Work as you think you must. But know this. The Lords of Order and the Lords of Chaos have ordained that this dark one will be born of the soul of this human. He leaned in so that their eyes were only inches apart. Align yourself against them, and you risk your own destruction.
The Dream Lord leaned back, smiled slightly, and then stood. He turned and began walking away.
You can see yourself out, Shae Firewarder. Have a nice day.
Joe Reed stood in the alley below the Wharf Rat, a cigarette burning down to its last quarter inch of existence glowed red, slightly illuminating his face with each draw. In the freight company offices in the downstairs part of the building, Michael Cacchione and Big John Bracci were conducting Family business. Joe knew them well. He had arranged for both of their escapes from the Zig.
Joe tossed the filter to the ground and stepped on it. Then he pulled the half-empty pack from the pocket of his uniform shirt and lit another one. Sally would be getting off work in another half-hour. He would use the time to think.
Who was she? Tall, dark, and ungodly beautiful, the young woman had stopped him as he walking home after falling asleep on the city bus. She knew his name, although that was prominently displayed on his ID tag. Still, he had never fallen asleep on the bus before. Maybe she was one of those mind-controllers.
Or maybe he had fallen asleep after pulling two shifts in the guard towers at the Zig.
Either way, after tonight, he wouldnt have to worry about the mysterious woman or the guard job.
He was going to skip town. The woman, whoever she was, had spooked him.
She had stopped him just as he was entering the tunnel to Kings Row in Galaxy.
You are Joe Reed? (Howd she know his name? Psychic, or just sharp-eyed?) I think we have an acquaintance in common, perhaps. Her voice was as smooth and soft as silk on satin.
Oh, really? You dont look like the kinda girl that would hang out with prison guards. But he had found himself hoping she was.
I think you know Roy?
Roy? Roy who?
Roy Kirby Heroid.
Oh. That Roy. Yeah, nice fella, that one. I know him. But he quit coming around.
He had hoped shed drop the subject, but when she spoke, he couldnt help but wish she would keep speaking.
Did he? she had persisted, Any reason?
He used to pull duty at the Zig. Hed volunteer to man a guard tower. Maybe he got tired of working for free. Joe grinned, Of course, not much money in it when you do it for a living either.
The beautiful woman didnt grin back. I doubt that he would stop coming by simply because of money. That does not sound like him.
Joe shrugged. I dont know why then. But he's a big boy. He can come and go where he wants. I'm not his keeper.
If his last remark had ruffled the womans feathers, she didnt show it.
I had heard that there was something that occured near the Zig...would you know anything about that?
Alot of things happen near the Zig, he said as he wondered if the slight nod the woman gave was in agreement or condescension. It's a hotbed of activity. It's all we can do to keep the prisoners inside the walls.
Nothing that Heroid was involved in in any way though?
Joe put his finger against his nose and tried to look like he was really having to think about an answer. No. Not that I can remember.
He would have to find out who this babe was. She was asking all the wrong questions.
I had heard about a sniper shooting....I thought that you might have recalled it.
Joe had already figured she knew. How much she knew, he didnt know. But he knew she knew. What he would do about it, he didnt know.
He had gotten way from her as quickly as he could, but failing to hail a taxi, he had to hoof it into the tunnel. He was surprised as hell when some Hellions mugged him before he reached the other end.
He came to in an ambulance, and when it arrived at the emergency room, he had refused treatment. He had a lot to do and couldnt get it done while laid up in the hospital. So he signed a waiver and hurried out the door. He didnt live so far from here.
He was surprised as hell again when the beautiful young woman had greeted him when he went out the emergency room exit.
He looked closely at her. She had to be a cape.
Need an escort home? she had asked.
Er, yeah, was his reply. But he had no intention of letting her know where he lived. Really, if you could just get me to the train and maybe loan me enough to pay the fare
?
The young woman had walked with him across Freedom Plaza to the Yellow Line, sometimes chatting and sometimes silent. He was certain she was going to ask him outright, Did you kill Roy? He worried that if she did, he might tell her anything she wanted to know.
At the Yellow Line she had opened her wallet Joes eyes bugged at the wealth of the contents gave him train fair and a little more, and told him goodbye.
He turned to thank her, but Shae Firewarder was gone.
Yep. Cape.
Joe had immediately hit the stations payphone.
Hello? Its Joe Reed. Look
I gotta know something. Some dame was following me home from work. I think she was a cape. Tall... fashion model type... no... more like... bikini model type. Yeah.
So? Whats that got to do with me?
I need to know who she is. She was asking about that guy you had me take out...
I dont know what youre talkin about, an I dont care.
Joe was desperate. You know the one... You've had me take out two. This was the second one...
Look. You better pray ta Jesus an his momma that that line youre on aint tapped. I never ordered no second
job.
What are you talking about? You sent that guy and he gave me the order...
What guy?
He was on Superdyne or something. Big guy..."
"Superdyne? Why would you think one of my guys was on Superdyne?"
"How do I know he was on Superdyne? He was green!
Dont know who youre talkin about an like I said I didnt order no second job.
What do you mean you don't know about the second hit?
Would you quit usin that word? I aint never ordered no hit on nobody.
Oh... oh god. You're still going to back me up on this, right?
Click!
"Hello? Hello!?!"
A quick trip to the apartment to retrieve his unregistered gun, a credit card, and a few other items, and Joe bee lined to the Wharf Rat. Sally worked as a waitress here.
Sally. Met in Vegas two years ago. Married in Vegas two years ago. She was still showgirl good-looking.
Joe snuffed out the second cigarette and looked at his watch. Time for a third one before Sally came out. He lit it and puffed a long smokey breath.
When he closed his eyes, he could still see the bullet penetrating Roys skull. The shot was clean, as promised, in through the back and out through the eye socket. Then the big man fell. It had unnerved him to see Roys dead body suddenly change into a robot. He had watched the next day as the city came out with a crane to hoist it up and carry it away.
All of which made him a little sad. He had kinda liked Roy. Unfortunately, so did Sally. The seven-foot tall muscle bound man who had to be a superhero because he was just so
Roy had frequented the bar often. The much younger wife was infatuated with him.
When the big green guy showed up and told Joe to kill Roy Kirby, Joe didnt ask any questions. Opportunity was opportunity. You dont look it in the mouth.
Sally would be down soon. She would either leave the city with him, or she would stay in Paragon. Simple choice.
Joe pulled his gun from the back of his belt. If Sally stayed in Paragon City, it would be because she was buried there.
Days ago
Roy knew he really should be doing something.
Maggie and Sasha were on the lam with Comrade Smersh and who knew how many others. He worried for his friends. And Smersh too. He worried for the city. So much had happened in the past several days that was so mind-boggling. Would Paragon City still trust its heroes after all that had happened with the KGB Special Section 8? And Septa, what would be done with him?
Roy knew he really should be doing something besides standing on a street corner in Brickstown, waiting to meet a woman he barely knew.
The gal worked at Icon. She was new, but persuasive.
I know what you need, she had said.
Whaddaya mean? He returned the friendly smile she had flashed at him.
With all this spy-stuff going on, a man your size needs a way to sneak in under the radar.
A few months ago, before he gained the ability to switch forms, his only clothing option was a fresh paintjob on his robot body. Now, he needed street clothes, battle suits, and special boots unless he wanted to stay in his robot form all the time. He was strong in his human form, but only the robot body had invulnerability.
She took a measuring tape and spread it across his chest, moving her hands apart slowly and smiling up at him as her fingertips swept over the hard curves of his muscles.
Oh my, she said. Then she measured his inseam.
He watched her hips sway as she walked across the store and disappeared into the back. She returned in seconds with a dark outfit folded in her arms.
This will serve you better right now. Its made to hide you. You can blend into shadows. And, she said as she unfolded the black uniform, and held it up against his body, it emits a dark cloud to help hide you and make you harder to hit.
For some reason it sounded right when this gal said it.
Ill take it.
Shall I box it up for you?
Nah, Ill hit th dressin room an wear it outta here. Ill leave my molecular bondage suit here. I needs dry-cleanin.
Sure thing, big man, she said, then, Umm
What?
I know youve been seeing that Irish superhero
Roy frowned a little then explained, That wuz all rumer. We wuznt never a couple. Just friends.
The young woman brightened.
Then why dont we meet somewhere for a drink?
Roy was taken aback. She was a good bit younger than him. And she was a civilian. For a superhero, dating a civilian brought its own set of complications.
Still, what harm could a drink or two do? If they had nothing in common, they would simply have their drink and say goodnight. If they hit it off
Roy knew he really should be doing something.
The gal he never even thought to ask her name was twenty minutes late.
Why she wanted to meet at a bar in Brickstown, within view of the Zig
He thought about Maggie. He thought about Sasha. He hoped they were all right. He
I oughtta be out there with em
Witnesses would say they heard the gunshot. Some would say they saw a flash from the guard tower of the Zig. Still others would talk about how the bullet exited through his left eye
All would talk about how the big man went down hard, then changed into a robot.
The city had to get a crane to move the 900 pound machine off of the sidewalk.