It all started when Doc called me into his lab. At least what could be called a lab. It was in a run down section of King's Row (as if there was any other) but it had a certain, absentmindedness feel to it. Besides, I've known Doc since the start of my career, and after my memory return, I realized that I had known him a lot longer. Doc was the one that took me in after my accident and gave me my original cyberarm and my new eye. I never spoke about him since he was one of the few people that I considered family. And after what happened at WPRP, I didn't want anything more to happen to my friends. So I stayed out of the spotlight. As much as any costumed vigilante can in a city of heroes anyway.
My latest upgrade and tweaks had improved my ability to stand on my own two feet so to speak. At first the nanites in my body enhanced those I was working with, kind of a hold over from my military/5th Column days. Then they allowed me to blend into my surroundings. Now, after stopping the Sky Rangers at Terra Volta, the Boys changed again. Doc said that due to the radiation levels inside the reactor, the nanites went into overdrive to make sure I wouldn't succumb to radiation poisoning. I lost my stealth abilities, but I don't mind.
So after the fire at WPRP I stayed out of the public spotlight, despite fan support from station listeners. I hated to disappoint them but the loss of almost my entire crew was a bit much. I would like to get back into broadcasting, since it's something I love, but I don't know. Too much emotional baggage I guess. I did my part in helping out in Croatoa and Striga. Did some portal jumping and took down some VERY familiar faces.
I even took the fight to Archanos on occasion. I remember that day well when I went back to city hall and talked to Ms. Liberty about my level 50 security clearance. Doc called me up almost as soon as I had my new ID card in hand. I headed over to the Row and met him at his place.
"Ah, you're here. Good," he said in that solemn voice of his as he answered his door. "Come with me."
I followed him down to his examination room and sat on the table. Doc with through the same routine he did every time he checked my powers. "What's up doc? Time for another upgrade?" I had used the 'Time for an upgrade' as a rallying cry since almost the beginning of my career. I laughed at my little joke.
Doc actually cracked a smile at that, "Something like that. See that holding tube over there?" He gestured over to the corner of the room.
"Let me guess, you want me to capture a Warwulf or Vampyri so that you have something to study?"
"No," he shook his head. "I already have a boarder." Doc walked over to the tube and tapped on the glass. A glowing shape rose from the bottom of the tube and hovered in the air.
"Hey Doc. What's with the second stage Guild Navigator?"
"Say hello to your new partner Simon, Sol'nar."
I was shocked at this. "Partner? Doc you know I usually work alone. And what's with that...that...THING?"
"I'm sure you're well aware of the Kheldians that came here."
I shook my head at the flood of memories. That whole time was kind of a blur to me. As soon as I saw the open fighting in the street between groups of Council and Column, all my previous memories came rushing back. Then when the sudden influx of both Peacebringers and Warshades, seemed like you couldn't swing a Cog without hitting one. "Yeah, I remember. What does that have to do with me?"
"Do you know the Kheldians pick someone to form a symbiosis with? They watch and choose those that have shown specific traits such as honor, loyalty and compassion. Traits you have exhibited in your illustrious career.
"Trust me Simon, I had my doubts as well, but Sol'nar here seems to be very taken with you."
I don't know how, but somehow I knew the thing was smiling and winking at me. Winking. That thing doesn't even have any eyes! "Thanks for the vote of confidence Doc. But, Sol'nar was it? I don't want a partnership. I work better alone."
'You weren't alone when you rescued Statesman.'
Seeing as how that wasn't Doc's voice and my conscience doesn't sound like that, I figured it had to have been the Kheld.
"Yeah, but didn't plan on facing the Praetorian Phalanx either. I needed help. Luckily the Allegory was there to help."
'Then you know that power that comes from teamwork. Why do you deny yourself this.'
Damn aliens and their logic. I didn't want to say what I really felt.
'The process is painless. You will still be you, and I will still me. We will be as one.'
That didn't put me at ease.
'Then let me offer a proposal. One side effects of the Symbiosis is that you must learn how to use your body again to its fullest effect. Since I will be increasing those limits, we must train ourselves anew. However my proposal is this: I will allow you time to yourself as it were. The Symbiosis will not be permanent in our case. This will allow you, allow us, some time apart if you feel it is necessary.'
Ok, that helps. "That's something I can live with Sol'nar."
"Huh? What? Oh, you're talking to my guest," said Doc. "So then, you agree? Good. Now lie down. Come here Sol'nar."
I looked over at the tube and saw the Kheld float through the glass and towards me. I had to wonder why he stayed in there anyway.
'Presentation. I know you love a good show Simon.'
"Simon, what do you remember from physics?" asked Doc.
"Mostly just E=mc^2, why?"
"Then you know that at its basest form, Matter is Energy."
"Ok......" The Kheld was still hovering about 6 inches from my face. Somehow I was remaining calm.
'No you're not.'
Ok, I was scared. "What's the point Doc?"
"Kheldians are made of energy."
At that moment Sol'nar entered my body. It's an unusual feeling. The best way to describe it would be if you were lowered into a calm warm lake, face first, yet gravity was still on your back. After that moment passed, my whole body tingled. Then it felt like my right arm was 'waking up' like I had slept on it wrong, then my eye was really itchy.
"No trace of nanomachines, no trace of titanium, no fiber optics, no electronics of any kind. Amazing."
"What is that Doctor?"
"It seems that Sol'nar has, for lack of a better term, healed you Simon. No more bionics or cybernetic replacements. You are 100% human again."
"You're still wrong Doctor. We are no more human then Sol'nar is Khledian now. As long as we are together, this body will be at it is. For all your science and technology can replace the human body, nothing can surpass it. If Simon wish to resume his role as NanKnight then we will revert back to his old self."
"So I take it the merge was a success."
"We are happy at this result. Now we need a name. As our two parts make a whole, we are a new person in this world. A name, blended from our past lives.
"We are now Sol'Knight."
((Feedback is always appreciated. Prefferably constructive and/or positive.))
It all started when Doc called me into his lab. At least what could be called a lab. It was in a run down section of King's Row (as if there was any other) but it had a certain, absentmindedness feel to it. Besides, I've known Doc since the start of my career, and after my memory return, I realized that I had known him a lot longer. Doc was the one that took me in after my accident and gave me my original cyberarm and my new eye. I never spoke about him since he was one of the few people that I considered family. And after what happened at WPRP, I didn't want anything more to happen to my friends. So I stayed out of the spotlight. As much as any costumed vigilante can in a city of heroes anyway.
My latest upgrade and tweaks had improved my ability to stand on my own two feet so to speak. At first the nanites in my body enhanced those I was working with, kind of a hold over from my military/5th Column days. Then they allowed me to blend into my surroundings. Now, after stopping the Sky Rangers at Terra Volta, the Boys changed again. Doc said that due to the radiation levels inside the reactor, the nanites went into overdrive to make sure I wouldn't succumb to radiation poisoning. I lost my stealth abilities, but I don't mind.
So after the fire at WPRP I stayed out of the public spotlight, despite fan support from station listeners. I hated to disappoint them but the loss of almost my entire crew was a bit much. I would like to get back into broadcasting, since it's something I love, but I don't know. Too much emotional baggage I guess. I did my part in helping out in Croatoa and Striga. Did some portal jumping and took down some VERY familiar faces.
I even took the fight to Archanos on occasion. I remember that day well when I went back to city hall and talked to Ms. Liberty about my level 50 security clearance. Doc called me up almost as soon as I had my new ID card in hand. I headed over to the Row and met him at his place.
"Ah, you're here. Good," he said in that solemn voice of his as he answered his door. "Come with me."
I followed him down to his examination room and sat on the table. Doc with through the same routine he did every time he checked my powers. "What's up doc? Time for another upgrade?" I had used the 'Time for an upgrade' as a rallying cry since almost the beginning of my career. I laughed at my little joke.
Doc actually cracked a smile at that, "Something like that. See that holding tube over there?" He gestured over to the corner of the room.
"Let me guess, you want me to capture a Warwulf or Vampyri so that you have something to study?"
"No," he shook his head. "I already have a boarder." Doc walked over to the tube and tapped on the glass. A glowing shape rose from the bottom of the tube and hovered in the air.
"Hey Doc. What's with the second stage Guild Navigator?"
"Say hello to your new partner Simon, Sol'nar."
I was shocked at this. "Partner? Doc you know I usually work alone. And what's with that...that...THING?"
"I'm sure you're well aware of the Kheldians that came here."
I shook my head at the flood of memories. That whole time was kind of a blur to me. As soon as I saw the open fighting in the street between groups of Council and Column, all my previous memories came rushing back. Then when the sudden influx of both Peacebringers and Warshades, seemed like you couldn't swing a Cog without hitting one. "Yeah, I remember. What does that have to do with me?"
"Do you know the Kheldians pick someone to form a symbiosis with? They watch and choose those that have shown specific traits such as honor, loyalty and compassion. Traits you have exhibited in your illustrious career.
"Trust me Simon, I had my doubts as well, but Sol'nar here seems to be very taken with you."
I don't know how, but somehow I knew the thing was smiling and winking at me. Winking. That thing doesn't even have any eyes! "Thanks for the vote of confidence Doc. But, Sol'nar was it? I don't want a partnership. I work better alone."
'You weren't alone when you rescued Statesman.'
Seeing as how that wasn't Doc's voice and my conscience doesn't sound like that, I figured it had to have been the Kheld.
"Yeah, but didn't plan on facing the Praetorian Phalanx either. I needed help. Luckily the Allegory was there to help."
'Then you know that power that comes from teamwork. Why do you deny yourself this.'
Damn aliens and their logic. I didn't want to say what I really felt.
'The process is painless. You will still be you, and I will still me. We will be as one.'
That didn't put me at ease.
'Then let me offer a proposal. One side effects of the Symbiosis is that you must learn how to use your body again to its fullest effect. Since I will be increasing those limits, we must train ourselves anew. However my proposal is this: I will allow you time to yourself as it were. The Symbiosis will not be permanent in our case. This will allow you, allow us, some time apart if you feel it is necessary.'
Ok, that helps. "That's something I can live with Sol'nar."
"Huh? What? Oh, you're talking to my guest," said Doc. "So then, you agree? Good. Now lie down. Come here Sol'nar."
I looked over at the tube and saw the Kheld float through the glass and towards me. I had to wonder why he stayed in there anyway.
'Presentation. I know you love a good show Simon.'
"Simon, what do you remember from physics?" asked Doc.
"Mostly just E=mc^2, why?"
"Then you know that at its basest form, Matter is Energy."
"Ok......" The Kheld was still hovering about 6 inches from my face. Somehow I was remaining calm.
'No you're not.'
Ok, I was scared. "What's the point Doc?"
"Kheldians are made of energy."
At that moment Sol'nar entered my body. It's an unusual feeling. The best way to describe it would be if you were lowered into a calm warm lake, face first, yet gravity was still on your back. After that moment passed, my whole body tingled. Then it felt like my right arm was 'waking up' like I had slept on it wrong, then my eye was really itchy.
"No trace of nanomachines, no trace of titanium, no fiber optics, no electronics of any kind. Amazing."
"What is that Doctor?"
"It seems that Sol'nar has, for lack of a better term, healed you Simon. No more bionics or cybernetic replacements. You are 100% human again."
"You're still wrong Doctor. We are no more human then Sol'nar is Khledian now. As long as we are together, this body will be at it is. For all your science and technology can replace the human body, nothing can surpass it. If Simon wish to resume his role as NanKnight then we will revert back to his old self."
"So I take it the merge was a success."
"We are happy at this result. Now we need a name. As our two parts make a whole, we are a new person in this world. A name, blended from our past lives.
"We are now Sol'Knight."
((Feedback is always appreciated. Prefferably constructive and/or positive.))