The fire crackled as Michael Summers read Dickens. He enjoyed this time of year. The snow, the lit fireplace, the sounds of his wife and daughter doing their things racing through the back of his mind, while he read by the big window looking out over the park.
The apartment wasnt huge, but it was still roomy and comfortable. He had lived their now going on ten years, since he started teaching at Paragon City University, or as he liked to tell his daughter, at P.U. It always seemed to get a giggle out of her, leaving out the "c".
His eyes moved to the window, as the snow began to fall again. Evening was just setting in, and the flakes barely shown in the darkening sunlight. He layed his book down and stretched his legs. He relaxed many nights like this, in his soft bed pants, large fluffy house shoes that his daughter bought him...why she thought he wanted fluffy pink bunny house shoes he had no idea...but she did buy them for him, so it was enough to make him love them.
"Honey, would you like some tea?" Glay Summers called from the kitchen.
"I am fine dear. Do you need any help?" he called back, knowing what her answer would be.
"No, you relax dear," she said, letting it trail off, bringing a smile to his face. She may have enjoyed his company in their more than being alone, but his oversized frame simply took up too much room, making it impossible for her to move about.
She knew well who her husband was, as did others, though not the general population. He was a hero in a city of heroes. Not that he asked to be.
She also knew he liked being just a professor, a husband, and a father. It was this that made her sigh when she heard the tv announce the fire in Skyway. Though the volume was low enough for her to have to strain to hear, and Michael was reading a novel in his study, she knew he heard.
Michael Summer's may have been content with his life, but Paragon Vanguard was always listening for trouble.
"I must go," he said to her back, as she layed a wet freshly cleaned plate into the drain.
She forced a smile as she turned, her flowered house dress and apron spinning outward. She fully understood why.
"Be careful," she said, hugging him and kissing him gently.
A smile and wisk of wind later, Michael Summers was gone.
"Get those men from over their, that side doesnt look to sturdy," Captain Sparks hollared. Thirty years on the fire department gave him a pretty good sense of when things were getting bad, and out of hand. So far they hadnt even been able to get into the building in hopes of saving it, and right now it appeared the best they could do was contain it to the single building.
"Do you even know what building this is?" asked officer Barkley, who looked like he hurried into his uniform at the last minute to get there.
"Not sure, but I would think it is Crey Industries, or related. Saw something looked like their signature on it."
Barkley nodded, and peered around at the crowd. If it had Crey on it, then the assumption should never be accident. He didnt share the faith in those people that some did, but his years in investigation taught him that.
"I know that look old friend, and my advice is to let us deal with it first." Sparks grinned a bit, but was serious. Barkley knew it and nodded. He had already lost rank and was no longer a detective due to investigating Crey Industries, and his friend was simply trying to protect him.
Sparks' eyes flowed to the gathering crowd behind the police barriers. They always seemed to pour out to watch a building go up, not minding the snow if they could see a good crash. Right now, however, they werent looking at the burning building, but above it. Sparks' eyes followed their's, and saw in the dusky sky a caped figure flying around the building.
"Its a Supe," Sparks' told Barkley, pointing the figure out. Barkley looked up and nodded.
"Statesman?" he asked, but even as he asked he knew the colors were wrong.
"Think its the one they call Paragon Vanguard," Sparks' replied. "He aint no Statesman but kind of happy to see him on this one."
Barkley just nodded and watched the figure enter the upper floors of the burning building.
The fire lapped at him, and threatened to even burn his fire retardent outfit. Vanguard wasnt too worried, except the thought of being seen stark naked didnt appeal to him. Other than that, the fire would not harm him. He barely even felt the heat from it.
He would soon take a firehose inside, but he must first find where the fire was strongest. Once that was out it would be easier. A bit of powerful breath here and there helped to knock out some of the flames, but it wouldnt keep the building from buring down, only slow it. He would have to exit soon. Though his outside was near invulnerable, inside he was more human. Smoke inhalation would soon overtake even his oversized lungs.
He was finished checking it out anyway. He would gather the hose as he gathered fresh oxygen. Strangely, however, there was what looked like burning foot prints leading down the hall he was in. Vanguard wanted to follow them, but his burning lungs made the decision for him, and Vanguard quickly exited the building for a few gulps of cool fresh air.
"I can take a hose inside," the caped man called to Captain Sparks. The captain nodded with a slight smile, his eyes flowing to the policeman by him, who also couldnt help but smile. Soot covered the heroes face, and there were patches of burnt material on his clothing. He was a large man, standing about 6'5. Huge muscles covered him, almost cartoonish in proportion. Red white and blue was his color choices, again almost cartoonish.
Captain Sparks couldnt help but think this man was a walking cliche' of a child's idea of a super hero. However, he had no intent of telling the huge man this.
"I also wish to warn you that this isnt necessarily a natural fire. I wont get into any specifics yet, I need to look more, but mayhaps keep your men at a safe distance for now."
The two nodded, and watched the hero fly back towards the building, trailing the hose behind him.
As he neared the burning building he looked back and nodded to the firemen manning the hose on the ground, and as the water rushed from the hydrant to the truck, and inflated the hose, the caped figured disappeared back into the flaming building.
It wasnt long before the fire was under control enough for the firemen to do their jobs. With coordination with the police officers, the super hero that helped, and the hard work of the fire department, the building was no longer in flames.
Sparks was covered with soot as he drank some water from the cooler. Water always seemed best after fighting such a fire. He saw his friend directing traffic and decided not to bother him, instead he searched about for the caped man that helped. If he was around, he wouldnt be hard to spot in that giddup, and true to that thought he soon saw him. Vanguard was pointing at something, talking to some of the firemen as he did so. He shook some of their hands as well, appearing to all be saying job well done to one another.
Vanguard turned his attention to Sparks, and began walking his way.
"So if you look closely on the top floors you will see the burnt marks that I saw," the big man explained, as Spark's nodded, his eyes looking up to the top of the building.
"This place wasnt much of an office, I cant imagine what would have been so important for someone to trash it."
Vanguard shrugged a bit, having no ideas to offer.
Spark's tipped his helmet back a bit, letting the fresh cool air dry his sweat beaded forehead.
"I think I will snoop about some myself if you have no objections," the big man said, looking over to the captain.
"Well, our investigative team will be wanting to see things as pure as you can keep them, but, considering the job you did, I dont object as long as you dont remove anything."
Vanguard nodded, and knew he still had a few moments where he could look about the top floors in privacy. With a smile, his large form blurred at high speeds to the top of the building.
Barkley watched the blurred figure race to the top of the building, but couldnt get away from his duties keeping the traffic moving, and the pedestrians back. By the way the fire captain and the supe looked in conversation, it was more of a talk than just thank you and good night. Barkley had deep interest in just what that talk was about.
Burned file cabinets, scorched walls, melted carpetting. That was what he saw everywhere. Vanguard tried to retrace where he was when he saw what looked like burning footprints, but it appeared the fire did too much damage to accurately retrace those steps. He hoped the fire captain would have better luck.
Instead Vanguard began to look about to see exactly why someone would wish the place burned down. If it was Crey, then chances are they didnt do it to their own building, although, that was not out of the picture. For now though Vanguard chose to think of why someone else may wish the building destroyed.
Unfortunately, that answer was easy enough, considering there were many many reasons. Crey wasnt exactly a friendly to its competitors around the globe. They werent considered a friendly to some of the super groups. They werent on friendly terms with some of the most wanted villains either.
"This will drive you nuts," Vanguard told himself. The fire was out, and no one was harmed that he knew of. It may well be best to let the firemen....
Before the thought could finish he noticed a figure stood in a doorway to one of the offices, wrapped tight in a trenchcoat and looking at some paperwork. He didnt seem to notice the big guy at first, and Vanguard moved toward him.
"Stay where you are," he said, though he didnt turn or even acknowledge Vanguard in the slightest.
Vanguard stopped in his tracks. It simply seemed like the right thing to do.
"I went through alot of work to insure this part of the building was quiet for a bit of time. Cant say I was too pleased that you put that fire out, but I forgive you none the less."
The man turned, and offered Vanguard a friendly smile. The big man smiled a bit back, feeling as if he was caught in a childish prank. The man in the trenchcoat was surely no threat.
"I got what i came for so no hard feelings. I dont suppose you know how to decode...oh never mind that" again the friendly smile.
"Boss, want i should start..." Vanguard turned to a new comer, who stopped in his tracks upon seeing the big hero. Vanguard suddenly didnt feel at ease, in fact, he had a feeling this guy was no friendly at all.
"Slapflame, its good of you to join us," the friendly voice said again. Vanguard began to settle down once more, though this whole ordeal was seeming a bit stranger and stranger. He couldnt understand why the two seemed so familier to him, even the newcomer, Slapflame he called him, began to seem like someone he knew.
"Our friend here has helped with the flames, and we have what we came for," the friendly tone rang out. "Let us leave peacefully now."
Vanguard smiled a bit, and nodded as the two walked toward the window. They were both suddenly lifted into the air, and disappeared from view.
It was always nice to run into friends, Vanguard was left feeling. A smile curved at his lips as he began to think of the times he had with the two....with....the smile faded and anger suddenly took its place.
They were no friends of his, in fact, one was surely an empath to make him feel like they were. Those two were the cause of the blaze, and he just let them slip out.
A figure rocketted out of a window from the top floor, at speeds fast enough to break the sound barrier, and cause public servants and citizen gawkers to cover their ears and duck down. It circled up high, still causing the snow below to unsettled and buffet about, then shot out toward Atlas Park. Officer Barkley watched the whole scene play out, his interest causinig him to not duck or cover, in fact, he seemed to be one of the only ones still standing up and looking when the figure of Paragon Vanguard raced away.
He wore the glasses, not really in need of them since the accident that granted him the super powers, but more as a means of comfort. Something that reminded him of a time more simple, when all he did was teach.
Those times however slipped away in the distant past, as the blue and white clad hero looked through names and faces.
"So dude, whatcha looking for," the voice sounded behind him, and he knew exactly who it was.
"I am looking through what files we have of Crey, looking to see if I see anyone I know," he offered without looking away.
Fyre Cat pushed against him as she too looked at the screen. This was Justice Inc base, and she had as much right to look at the screen as did the square professor. Her munching on an apple in his ear didnt seem to matter much to her either, though the professor looked over his glasses at her, she paid him no mind.
Michael Summers was somewhat use to dealing with the young, as he did teach a college course. However, right now, he was more wanting to persue this particular matter as Paragon Vanguard should, with dilegent mature focus. Something he felt Fyre Cat could not exactly help in.
He paid her little mind, and continued to flip through the files.
"So who you looking for pops?"
Michael blinked a bit at that, but let it slide off his broad shoulders.
"I encountered some men at a fire, it was a Crey building in fact. I am looking to see if I recognize anyone here, though I only really saw one face. The other was masked, and still, I suspect, one other was waiting outside."
Fyre Cat nodded a bit, rapidly, almost too rapidly. She seemed to be getting into this mystery now, something Paragon Vanguard had no intent of doing. He simply did not wish the aid of a young "Valley Girl" with dreams of adventure and want of fun. This was neither, and while he liked the fur covered young lady, he did not wish to involve her.
"Dont you have something to do right now, homework maybe?"
"Duuude, being a prof head you should know there aint no school right now. Holidaaaaays, heeeello."
Michael just nodded a bit.
"'Sides, I dont have nothing on my agenda. How lame is that? Tuesday night and boooooored. Should be a party somewhere. Always something at Pocket D, but I dont feel like dealing, you know man?"
Pocket D. Yeah, he knew what she meant, or at least he nodded as if he did. But he was nodding to more than that. Pocket D was a hotspot right now. It was an outside chance, but he may just run into the man in the trench coat.
"Sure you dont want to hit Pocket D? I have a want to get a drink there. Do you wish to come Cat?"
Fyre Cat looked at Paragon Vanguard, nose twisted a bit, blinking hard.
"Duuude, dont think its a date if i do go, you are like ancient, and aint you married?"
Before Paragon could clear it up, she was gone. Paragon dropped his head a bit, and sighed.
It wasnt a date he wanted, not at all. It was back-up, and while he didnt care for using the young girl, she was a member of the group, trained and all at a special school. No, he didnt like it, but she was available, and willing to help.
He just hoped that didnt mean getting her hurt, or worse.
In moments Vanguard was in suit and tie, glasses adorning his face as the ego of Michael Summers overtook the heroic Paragon Vanguard. Many knew they were one in the same, however, Michael got less attention, and people would really have to look to know it was the hero.
Then his "date" came up, causing the professor to blink a bit.
Clashing with his brown on brown conservative suit was a colorful, bright outfit adorned by a teenager. A smile covered her face, pleased that she would be accompanying the man on this adventure no doubt.
"Duuuude, is that how you plan to go, well, cant say we have time to catch you up to today but anyway lets get out of here, cause like, this place is stuffy, and you know it is a big Tuesday night...i think its ladies night somewhere but you know I dont have my ID that my friend made for me so if we are like drinking you will have to buy..........." and so she went on as the two left the building.
Michael Summers didnt get home till well passed midnight, waking his wife up as he entered the apartment.
"That you dear?" she asked, but was almost certainly him, since no alarms sounded that would bring in the rest of Justice Inc down on anyone foolish enough to enter unwelcomed.
"It is, go back to sleep baby," he called back, but entered the room soon. "I have a little more work to do tonight."
"How was your night," she asked sleepily.
"Had a date with a teenage valley girl, but other than that, I didnt accomplish what I wanted."
"You have a meeting in the morning at PCU," she said, then kissed his cheek, "and you will have to wait till tomorrow to tell me of this date."
Michael smiled and covered her up to her neck, offering his own kiss to her forehead.
"I wont be long, just need to write some things down so I dont forget them," but by the silence he knew she was already back to sleep.
Michael poked his head in and checked on his daughter, who was also fast asleep, then headed to his study.
Fact was he accomplished nothing at Pocket D, except to get to know his young teammate a little better. Fyre Cat was more interesting than he would have guessed, and more knowledgeable of things than he anticipated.
Pocket D, a place set outside of reality it seemed, but Michael wasnt sure if it was a demension elsewhere, or a grand illusion.
The two entered the club, only after Fyre was told what Vanguard was looking for. She assured him she understood, the first time he told her.
"Dude, chill, I got it. Man you ole fogeys and your thinking that us young, pretty, bright sexy girls dont get it, geesh."
The two mingled a bit, but neither came up with any names that helped, although Fyre Cat did come up with a few names, and phone numbers, that she lazily tossed into her pocket, rolling her eyes as if she would never look at them again.
Nothing of the Crey, and no sign of the mysterious man in the trench coat.
"Man, I am telling you, this aint the place to find no uppity Crey employees, I mean, i doubt that countess chick would even let them off long enough to come here."
Fyre Cat may have been right at that, but it was worth a shot anyway. No leads equals taking chances. This wasnt exactly a big chance. No harm no foul, so to speak.
He watched the young lady dance around the club, and suddenly felt more like her chaperone than her teammate, and she didnt hesitate to use him as her chaperone when needed.
"Cant dude, pops over there has a close eye on me, and you know, like he wouldnt like me slipping out of here for nothing, but thanks no how, you know, any other time it would be a bogus night," she said, though Paragon was sure bogus meant she would never have gone anywhere with the young man, who was dressed like a Skull or one of those gangs in Atlas, even if he wasnt there. The young man was totally confused, and smiled it seemed in thanks, still unsure if she would be leaving with him.
As the night drew late, late for Paragon that is, he told the teen it was time to go.
"I am way past you on that one, like rocket distance. This place is kinna lame tonight."
Michael nodded a bit, the disappointment he couldnt hide.
"Dude, tell you what. I like know this guy, he is a member of the Freedom Phalanx, and like, last I heard, he wanted to check in on that Countess Crey chick, so like, if you think you want to maybe you can talk to him."
.
"You need a lift back to the base?" Paragon asked as they arrived back in Steel Canyon. He was prepared to fly her there if she wished.
"Like i told you before dude, aint no date so you dont have to bring me back to my doorstep, besides, momma and daddy aint waiting with the light on at home so you aint getting no kiss no how," she giggled a bit, then in a blur of fur, she was on the move.
"His name is Manticore," the wind said as it blew gently against him, "and you can find him in Bricks duuuuuude."
Just like that, she was gone.
Paragon nodded to himself, straightened his jacket a bit, and was gone as well.
Michael woke up early, thinking that he would be able to sneak out without waking his wife, allowing her to get some extra sleep.
No dice.
She was up before him, as always, no matter what time he planned to get up. She had coffee on and was finishing his breakfast. Two eggs over easy, a peice of toast and a glass of milk.
And they call him the super hero.
She looked like she had only been up a little bit before him, and offered him a still sleepy smile.
"Good morning dear," she said softly, so as not to wake their daughter.
"Morning," Michael called back, sitting down in the kitchen to his morning meal. The sun was just coming up, but it did not shine in the apartment yet, as the windows faced westward. Still he could see the sky dimly lit by the promise of clear sunny skies.
"Now about that date,"Glay smiled slyly, knowing well it wasnt something he would have considered fun.
"You should be worried," he teased anyway," young lady, pretty, wonderful fur coat."
Glay chuckled a bit. "A fur coat you say, she must have money."
"Grows her own furs, actually." He then told her the story of why he went, and what he was looking for.
"Well Paragon Vanguard, you need to be careful in places like that," and she was done.
"Ready for your meeting today?"
"Ready or not," he smiled, then look over his coffee cup to her. "What's on your agenda?"
"I need to bring Susan to get her shots, so it should be fun," she rolled her blue eyes as she said it, pushing a bothersome peice of hair from her eyes. She was in her late 30s but was still the prettiest girl he ever saw.
"I wish I could be there, maybe if the meeting cut short," he said, looking hopeful.
Glay smiled and nodded to him. She knew he would try, and probably cause himself more problems by trying to cut the meeting short, but there was no denying him. No one could change his mind, his own blue eyes were stern when he had his mind made up. She reached over and ran her hand through his short cropped blonde hair.
"Ok," she said simply, hoping for his sake he would be able to make it. Since he recieved his powers he has become the father of Paragon City it seemed, which is saying alot for a city of heroes.
"I also have to meet Manticore, ever heard of him?" he looked to Glay.
She nodded and motioned to the television, as if to say she had seen him on the news. Michael nodded.
"Well, if things go right with Manticore, I may be busy for a while."
"This has to do with that fire," she said, not so much asking.
Michael nodded.
Note: I try to include people in my storylines, but of course will ask before I do. I have Vanguard on Virtue, and if you wish to be a part of rp, or make me a part of your rp, then feel free to contact me. Otherwise, please do not post ooc on this thread. You may send me a comment on PM if you wish. Thank you.