A year and a half have gone by since the Light found me, cowering in the darkness, and though many sacrifices have been made much has been achieved in that time. Sunstorm and I, with scores of our Kheldian brothers, have hunted down our enemies, rooted out their conspirators and earned the trust of Earth's greatest protectors. Our success has allowed us to aid in fighting back threats other than the Nictus; we've turned the tide of battle in Firebase Zulu, helped in rebuilding the new Faultline and some of our number now even serve the City in the Paragon Police Department's Quantum Division. Tonight we will face a new threat and we dare not lose this fight. A few days ago Statesman issued a Call to Arms to all the bravest and strongest Heroes of Paragon City, the mission: Bring down Lord Recluse and Arachnos.
For most heroes maintaining a cover or secret identity is very important to them, their friends and families. If the forces of evil and chaos were to learn of a hero's family, there would be no way to protect them well enough or often enough. I do not have such concerns, my mother and only sister were killed in the war and Kheldians do not have any relationships like what we call "family". I do not hide who or what I am, everyone living in my apartment building knows I am a Peacebringer and more than one petty crime has been foiled by the simple fact I live in this quiet corner of Atlas Park. Tonight however, I'll leave these streets to the PPD patrolmen; we Ghosts have much bigger issues at hand. Stepping off my balcony I take flight up into the darkening sky, the cool air makes my skin tighten and the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I turn north heading for the train station, soon I'll be in Founders' Falls and then within the halls of our base, the home of the Ghosts Reborn.
"Good evening Ahren" Cowboy Dream greets me as I arrive in our headquarters, one of the most senior and experienced Ghosts, she has an air of grace and gentleness you would not expect if you witnessed her in battle. Her amazing ability to recover from even the most severe wounds paired with her expert skill with a katana make a formidable force for good. Then there is her husband, Ice9, the leader of the Ghosts Reborn. Putting them together makes a combination countless villains have fallen before. It is little wonder they have been able to recruit some of the very best heroes of Paragon City. Cowboy Dream and I walked through one of the two massive workshops housed within our base; no tinkering was going on tonight however, at the moment it served merely as a path to the hanger. I was briefed about our most recent "acquisition" but seeing the hulking Arachnos Flyer in our own hanger bay still surprised me, Cowboy Dream smiled with great satisfaction saying, "Crey conned someone within Arachnos into selling this to Crey Corp. but Ice thought it would be best if we kept it instead. It will work perfectly for what we're doing tonight." Her voice trailed off as the lights in the base dimmed slightly, the signal for everyone present to make their way to the hanger immediately.
As Ice9 entered the room you could taste the tension in the air everyone, from the newest rookies to the most experienced veterans, was eager to get moving. Ice9, his white hair and pale skin making him appear far older than his age, stopped in the center of the hanger. He spoke in a low, serious tone, "I tried to prepare a rousing speech for you all tonight, I tried to compose at least one fittingly inspirational cheer but everything I thought of fell flat. We all know the danger we face this night and as I look into your eyes I see no fear, no hesitation but only determination. You all have your assignments, stay with your team leaders, watch out for one another and always remember... Leave no one behind. Ghosts, let's roll!" The hanger doors began to open and the floor vibrated as the flyer began to power up, some would stay behind to man the base and tend to the wounded when they arrived while the rest of us were heading into enemy territory.
Ice9 and his team boarded the flyer first; Cowboy Dream, Sooner Spirit, Strif, Zemuron, Princess Ginsu, Lilac Pendragon and UPS 2.2 they are call sign Alpha. My team, Bravo, is Broken Shadow, Ruby Sapphire, Midnightangel, Atarax, Neely, Afterburn and Hathor. No one spoke as UPS piloted the massive craft out of the hanger and we began to climb high into the moonless night sky. I watched Founders' Falls disappear beneath the clouds as we banked eastward out over Dark Astoria we passed south of Peregrine Island but I could see its lights on the horizon. The flyer descended rapidly to what Ice had briefed us would be "wave top" level to avoid as much radar as possible and as we accelerated toward the Rogue Isles I looked around at the faces of my friends. Strif, ever the laid back guardian, was dozing off while Cowboy Dream sat next to him carefully inspecting her blade. Zemuron and Ruby Sapphire were huddled so closely together I could not make out what they were talking about but knowing the deep care and concern they had for each and every one of us, however they choose to prepare for battle is fine by me. Neely sat in the copilot's seat keeping herself busy by helping UPS with navigation and monitoring radio traffic. That's when I notice Ice9 watching me, he nods as if to say "We'll be alright my friend, we'll be alright." At that moment a terrible feeling crashed over me like a giant wave from some unseen ocean, one of these heroes isn't going to make it home tonight.
I sat there, alone in my thoughts, for several minutes trying to reason out the sudden and profound sense of dread which had come over me moments ago. Had we missed something in our planning, something I am only just now realizing in my subconscious? I am not attuned to the arcane like Sooner Spirit, if some mystical force were announcing a warning she would sense it well before I should take notice. I have had bad feelings about missions before and we pulled through, we are after all some of the best damn protectors in Paragon City. Our intel from Longbow was good, detailed and we had just received our latest update less than an hour before UPS 2.2 powered the flyer clear of our hanger. Tonight was not going to be easy but we had an opportunity which simply could not be passed up.
"Black Scorpion" Ice9 said the night before, "is overseeing the transport of a load of cargo into St. Martial. Longbow has learned Arachnos is stockpiling material in an abandoned industrial complex in the Black Mariah district on the west end of St. Martial. Scorpion won't be there himself but it is believed this cargo is related to the new construction in Grandville and we're going to destroy it while we can." Zemuron interrupted, "What about Ice Mistral? We're supposed to bag her and bring her in, are we scrubbing that for a load of spare parts?" Several people shifted in their seats, it was obvious no one was impressed with the idea of switching targets particularly so close to the assault. But Ice9 just grinned at his assembled warriors and calmly explained, "We're taking out both objectives, our plan will change accordingly, here is what I have come up with so far."
Ice9 again went over our approach on St. Martial, coming in from the northwest but now the flyer would make a rapid decent over a large warehouse to the southeast of our new objective. Alpha Team would be dropped off there and make their way to the complex where they would locate and destroy the cargo. Meanwhile Bravo Team would continue on to the Golden Giza, a massive casino and entertainment center on the south end of St. Martial. Ice Mistral was known to frequent one of the restaurants inside, such a high profile location with numerous civilians would complicate matters for us but with a little luck we could grab her and be back aboard the flyer in a matter of minutes. With Ice Mistral secured Bravo Team would bring the flyer in low and fast to retrieve Alpha Team. Their objective was simply 'turn and burn', meaning they would scour the buildings for any valuable cargo, set explosive charges and get out of there. We would detonate the charges once the flyer was safely clear of the area.
UPS 2.2 brought the flyer's nose up and banked hard to the right, the sudden shifting brought my mind back to the moment at hand. Looking out the windshield I saw St. Martial quickly growing larger in front of us, I looked around again at the faces of my friends and Ice9 had been correct earlier. Only one thing looked back at me from deep inside each of them, determination. My feeling of dread was losing its grip, fading into the warm rush of adrenaline-edged courage. "We're feet dry and she's all yours Neely" UPS announced as the surging black sea below us gave way to the dirty, crumbling streets of the Black Mariah district and Neely took over piloting the flyer. A moment later Neely said, "I see the drop point ahead Ice, its show time." She guided the hulking craft gently over a long squat warehouse whose windows had long since been knocked out by rock tossing kids or aimless vandals. We never actually touched down as the left side hatch opened with an ear popping shwoosh! Alpha Team moved quickly and silently to the edge of the roof, none of them looked back as one by one they dropped to the street below. "Alright Neely" I said, "let's go to work."
As Neely swung the flyer around the south side of the massive Golden Giza I opened the port side hatch. We couldn't risk losing the flyer so the plan had Neely and Hathor keeping the flyer safely out of reach of any ground forces which may respond to our attack. Those two ladies would be more than a match for any flying Mu foolish enough to attempt to board the flyer. Atarax is first out followed immediately by Midnightangel, myself and the rest of Bravo Team. Standing at the base of the Giza I am awe-struck by the sheer scale and ridiculous expense the building represents. It's taller than the Talos monument on Talos Island and covers more ground than all of Atlas Plaza, flanked by shimmering water fountains and lush green landscaping the Giza appears to be an oasis beckoning to visitors. Two miles northwest of here abandoned warehouses and mills rot and drain unknown wastes into the soil, but here all is brilliant, gleaming, dazzling and a lie. One day we will tear this building and others like it, apart brick by brick but today I'll settle for a little remodeling.
Shifting into my terrifying "other self" I take on the form of a White Dwarf, a long dead race of warriors whose tough hide and staggering strength developed over generations as their sun slowly grew into a super nova ultimately destroying their homeword. In Dwarf form I'm much too big to pass through the doors of the Giza, that's part of the plan too. We want the civilians out of the way, making them run like scared cats is as good a means to clear the area as any. With one thunderous stomp every door before me explodes in a shower of shattered glass, the stunned faces of patrons, dealers, cocktail girls and security stare out at me from within the Giza. "Guess they didn't get the hint" Ruby Sapphire giggled. "They will now" I replied focusing on a craps table far to the back of the room, in a blistering flash of light I disappeared from the sun drenched sidewalk outside only to reappear atop the craps table. Surprisingly the table held my weight, which in my current form is considerable, not so surprisingly the bystanders finally got the message "Run!"
The rest of the team were already moving through the gaming room heading for the hallway on the right, it would lead us to the Riptide Bar and Grill where we would find and capture Ice Mistral. Deep, lush carpeting and rich wood accents gave the hall as well as the entire complex a "no expense spared" feel. A dozen or more doors flanked us on each side of the hall as we made our way right then left then left again, "Ah... problem!" Midnightangel announced as she reflexively opens fire on the wall of men standing shoulder to shoulder in front of us. Without hesitation Atarax lunges into the center of the mass of men which immediately open fire on him. Every door in the hallway seems to open in unison and more security spill out from them. "We can't let them cut off our exit! Midnight, Afterburn mow those bastards down!" I ordered "Ruby, you and Shadow help them while Atarax and I handle these punks." Atarax is burning, literally, his mastery of fire was one of the main reasons Ice9 has selected him to square off against Ice Mistral but even he has limits and the two dozen security officers surrounding him were more than he could handle alone. "You're cuter in Dwarf form" Atarax joked as I moved into position above him now again in my natural, human, form. "Shut up and close your eyes" I retorted as I summon up all the anger and rage I had welling within me. THOOOM!!!
People call it "Nuking" or "Going nova"; I call it exhausting but effective. My head is pounding and can barely breathe but by tapping into the purest part of my Kheldian self I knocked out every last one of the guards who had surrounded Atarax. "I take it back, you're a sexy [censored] just the way you are Light bulb" he chuckled, helping me to by feet. "The way out is clear, we should move on again" it was Broken Shadow, ever focused on the task at hand especially when it put his friends in harm's way. Radio chatter came from the hips of almost every security guard on the floor, "Oh good, they're sending more this way. I didn't even break a sweat with that last bunch" Midnightangel's sense of "fun" was something I never fully understood.
"EVAC! We need EVAC NOW!"
Looking at my team, "Who the hell was that?" Atarax pointed to his earpiece and before I could say anything UPS' voice came over the radio again, "Alpha Team requesting immediate extraction, Bravo do you copy?" The team didn't wait for me to tell them, they didn't need direction, they simply moved! "Alpha we copy; backup is on the way my friend! Neely, we're coming out empty handed. Be ready for us." I hadn't needed to tell her, Neely already had the flyer hovering at the doors we had come in through a few minutes earlier. Once we were all onboard again, Neely maxed out the flyer's thrust and powered us northwest. Nervous glances danced on the faces of my team, we all have the same question on our mind. What the hell is going on in that warehouse?
From over half a mile away we see what the radar is already screaming about, two Arachnos flyers orbiting the area we dropped Alpha Team. They are pounding the area with cannon and rocket fire, they seem unconcerned for the safety of their brothers-in-arms on the ground, blindly laying waste to anything that moves. As bad as it seems, these flyers could not be what made UPS call for a retreat, we need to run them off even if only for a little while so we can get to Alpha and find out what's happening. "Afterburn, take the controls. Neely, you and I are going after those flyers" I said trying to stifle the wave of dread welling up inside me. Before Neely could even climb out of the copilot's seat Atarax grasped my elbow with the forceful determination of a man who did not like what he was hearing, "Light bulb, what exactly do you and Sister Light bulb plan on doing against those flyers? One on one against those is stupid, if not suicide." A broad grin, which I could not restrain, spread out across my face. "These Arachnos scum don't know much about us yet, that's a big edge in our favor. Particularly since all we need to do is make them break contact, run off and regroup. I know Neely and I cannot knock both of them out of the sky, but we can give the rest of you time to find Alpha Team and find out what the Hell's going on in there."
"Bravo, what's your status?" It was Sooner Spirit this time, she sounded tired... and very angry. Broken Shadow quickly responded to his old friend, "We are near enough to see the warehouse but two flyers overhead need to be taken care of before we can get to you. Hold on Alpha, help is on the way." He felt every hurt, every wound, and every loss differently than most of us and right now he pulsed with the need to do something, anything, to help our friends. He is not alone. "Burn, take them in as soon as Neely and I engage the flyers. Atarax, take the rest of the team inside and link up with Alpha Team. We'll provide support from outside while you all retreat to the flyer, once we're ALL aboard we punch it out of here and head for home. Any questions?" Thumbs up all around. Neely already had the port side hatch open, "Let's go old man" her fire and confidence are inspirational even if they do occasionally get her into trouble. As we drop away from the flyer and the hatch swings shut I hear Atarax saying "Don't pull your punches, hi..." the rest of his words are washed out by the wind rushing past my ears as we accelerate toward our targets. Without a word Neely fully prepares herself for battle, layering on her defenses just as I do my own. An experienced, well trained Peacebringer is an awesome and terrible sight to witness in battle, today these Arachnos thugs will get to watch the two of us bring justice to them!
Neely banks left picking up speed as I angle upward and arc around to approach my target from above and behind it. Whether by ignorance or arrogance neither flyer even reacts to our approach, in a moment they will surely regret it. Landing atop the broad flat topside of the flyer I nearly trip on one of the dozen or more antennas, with a wicked grin spreading out across my face a thought occurs to me. We are experiencing technical difficulties. Stomping every antenna in sight ought to get their attention. The flyer rolls wildly to the left and I nearly lose my footing, if the pilot inside likes rough rides I'll help him out. The engine pods are remarkable feats of engineering, somewhat delicate however particularly when someone starts dropping small highly focused masses of pure energy into them. Oh let's face it, if I tossed one of these little bundles into any engine it would blow itself apart. Out the corner of my eye I see flashes and silhouetted bodies through the dingy windows of the warehouse below, the momentary distraction breaks my focus on the task at hand. The flyer is still pitching wildly, left and right, swooping dangerously close to the rooftop. The pilot changes tactic pointing the flyer's nose skyward adding power until the engine pods shriek so violently I fear I may go deaf, then everything goes silent the only sound I hear is my heart thundering in my ears as the world goes dark and I feel like I'm falling.
I feel like I've been hit by a train, can't quite catch my breath and I hurt all over, at least I'm still alive. Looking around trying to make sense of what is happening; half of the warehouse roof is gone smoke and flame billow high up into the night sky. Dizzy... can't... where is ev... "Ahren! Get down!" Atarax screams at me trying to warn me of something I do not see, I feel his coffee can-sized hand slam into my back knocking me flat on the pavement and hear him grunt as he takes yet another hit for a teammate. "Nav, he's pretty messed up, see what you can do for him. Alpha, what's your status?" There was no answer, only silence. "Alpha, do you copy?" Still only silence answering back. "Hathor, stay here with Ahren and watch our backs I suspect we'll have company again soon" Atarax uncharacteristically taking charge and giving orders. I can breathe well enough to croak out, "We'll keep the door open for ya, good luck."
"You gonna be okay there?" Hathor inquired. Wheezing but smiling I nod my head, "Felt like I was going to die for a moment." Her face loses all humor, "Ahren, for a moment there, you did." Only now are my senses able to put the larger picture together, the blast which had ripped open the warehouse had also severely damaged the flyer I had been attacking, I had fallen off the flyer after being stunned by the shockwave. "I don't see any wreckage from the flyer, or the one Neely went after" I asked Hathor, "Where did they go?" Her eyes continued to scan the area for any sign of danger, "The one you fell from crashed inside the warehouse, it looks like the impact knocked out part of the wall on the far side from us here. The other one took off to the west after Neely disabled the guns in the nose and damaged one of the engines, no sign of it since." My fingers still tingle like my hands have been in ice water but at least I can breathe freely again. The rusty double doors behind us, the ones Atarax and the rest of Bravo had gone through just moments ago, burst open as ten of my best friends rush out of the warehouse.
UPS 2.2 has Lilac Pendragon draped over his left shoulder, while Strif helps Zemuron across the debris filled parking lot. Princess Ginsu along with the rest of Bravo Team are bringing up the rear, protecting the wounded. "Why the hell are they still here? Why didn't the EMET (Emergency Medical Evacuation Transport) send them back to base?" Something was very wrong and I could not imagine why the devices would fail, let alone fail on two people! Strif grunted a reply, "Cowboy Dream said they have some jamming field up, screwed up all kinds of gear including the radios." Like a nagging thought of something you've forgotten to do before leaving town on vacation, I realize we're short on people. "Where are the others?" Gritting his teeth UPS said, "We got sand bagged, the intel was [censored]! Black Scorpion and Ice Mistral were in there, we beat that mechanical freak to a pulp and he teleported away before we could secure him. Ice Mistral escaped when some of the charges we had planted detonated; Ice9, Cowboy Dream and Sooner Spirit went after her while the rest of us got the wounded out to safety. Now we need to get everyone aboard the flyer and regroup with those three." "Bring her in 'Burn, we've got wounded down here" relieved 'Burn had kept the craft in one piece and thus far no counterattack had found us.
Again our technology guru, UPS 2.2, took over piloting the massive flyer powering us upward once again into the night sky. As the nose pitches up I see movement on the floor between my feet, my eyes take a moment to focus and identify what I'm looking at, blood. Tiny rivulets of blood wander across the floor, an all too reminder that real pain and real loss has been endured tonight. Nav and Zemuron are dripping with sweat as they tend to the wounded, and one another. "Guys, whe... ...k... ...u? W... ...ow..." it was Sooner Spirit's voice, broken and garbled coming over the radio. "Can we get a bearing on that transmission?" I asked hoping I was wrong. UPS 2.2 shook his head, "Our frequency is scrambled for security so this tin-can can't track it." More static filled our ears followed by Ice9's voice, "We've lost our target but appear to be clear of the jamming field now. We're roughly 800 yards north, northwest of the drop site. Bravo, what is your AHHGHHH!!!" "Ice! Ice come in!" I realize I'm nearly yelling into my radio, but only silence answers back.
Sooner Spirit and I share another warm spring sunset from atop the Ghosts Reborn headquarters on the south side of Founders Falls. Whats on your mind old friend? she asks politely. Looking up into the darkening sky I tell her, It has been almost eight months since that terrible day and my hands still shake when I think of how it all went so terribly wrong
By the time we arrived over the area of Ice9s last transmission, Arachnos troops were swarming in from every direction. Despite overwhelming odds we still charged headlong into battle, joining with Cowboy Dream and Sooner Spirit as crackling energy blasts fell upon us like rain. At first no one knew where Ice9 was or whether he had fallen, but since we received no radio traffic about him arriving at our base we assumed he was somewhere nearby struggling to reach us. I have listened to a mother cry at her childs graveside I have heard a faithful puppy whimper as he lay beside his dying master, but no sound on Earth was as pitiful as Cowboy Dream crying out Ice!!!
I spun around to see where she was looking and there, through the surging waves of Arachnos, saw my friend lying broken and bleeding. No! I cried out. We pushed toward him as one being, fourteen bodies moving with one purpose with one goal. Thunder ripped the sky wide open as lightning burned through scores of Arachnos, Midnightangel pushed herself past exhaustion trying to clear a path to our fallen captain. Shadow and brilliant lights of green and blue surrounded us, cloaking us and giving us the strength to keep pressing forward. UPS 2.2, Neely and I protected the flanks of our group; Neely and I using every trick our Kheldian-selves had ever learned to keep the enemy a bay yet still they came constantly threatening to overwhelm us.
Behind us, at the tip of our formation, we could hear Strif gasping for breath. UPS urged him on, Ignore the pain partner, push forward, we must reach Ice9! And the mountain of a man gathered himself up once again, only to have his knees buckle again as a dozen volleys of enemy fire struck him. Ruby Sapphire and Zemuron had pushed themselves too far for too long, they did not notice the Arachnos scouts sneaking between our teammates, in an instant two devastating attacks shifted the tide irreparably. Cowboy Dream, Atarax and Sooner Spirit were enraptured in the rush of battle, unaware of what had happened and Broken Shadow for all his great ability to guard and protect his friends could not help them and tend to our fallen teammates.
I heard Hathor scream in pain but I did not see who or what struck her, Neely was panting as she wiped sweat from her brow I knew how she felt; my arms felt as if they were made of lead and my vision began to blur as exhaustion set in. We were still fifty feet away from Ice9s body but for every one Arachnos we felled, two or three took their place. Lilac Pendragon collapsed from exhaustion and multiple severe injuries, UPS took a defiant defensive stance over her and keyed his radio, Afterburn, get us out of here, we have to evacuate now! Not a single word of protest was uttered but everyone hated him for saying it even though we all knew UPS was making the right decision. Leaving now meant leaving one our own behind, it went against our motto and against everything Ice9 had instilled in us all.
Strif struggled to catch his breath, pointing ahead of us into the swarming Arachnos he gasped, Cowboy, no! She was awash in glowing auras; green, red and blue. Her katana flashed in the moonlight as she fought toward her fallen love, blinded by grief and rage she was a nearly perfect killing machine. Nevertheless, the sheer number of foes surrounding her would be her doom if we did not stop her, so UPS and Strif our stall ward protectors ran after her shoulder to shoulder. Afterburn brought the flyer in so low it actually struck several troops surrounding us. Midnightangel and Broken Shadow held their ground against the enemy as Neely and I helped the wounded and carried the unconscious into the flyer.
In the distance, I watched as UPS and Strif caught up to Cowboy Dream, words were exchanged and Cowboy Dream slapped UPS in the mouth turning her back on him. They were not taking No for an answer, each man took her by an arm and the dragged her back toward the flyer. I could hear her now, screaming, No damn it, no!!! I ordered Burn to intercept the trio, Cowboy Dream was still kicking and swearing at UPS as the hatch swung shut and our flyer rocketed into the night sky headed for home. Neely tried to soften her friends rage, Hes gone CD, there was nothing we could have done for him. Cowboy Dream spat back her reply through clenched teeth, Go to Hell, all of you.
Did we do the right thing Sooner? Or did we only make things worse? that old feeling of helplessness is tugging at me again. Sooner Spirit pauses for a moment then responds, We dont have the luxury of self-doubt, for several reasons. The others look to you and me for leadership now, we cannot show them doubt or a lack of confidence. And, the more troubling issue, the Shades of Vengeance. The sun has fallen below the horizon now and the night wind stirs the evening creatures, If this new contact pans out, hopefully well have more good intel about these Shades after tonight, I had already briefed Sooner Spirit and a few other senior Ghosts on my developing a new contact within the Rogue Isles. Some were concerned about the risks of acting on such information but he is an old colleague from my teaching days, and Westin is known for his philanthropic efforts helping the poor and providing hope to those under the heel of Lord Recluse. I check my watch, I better get going, dont wait up. Ill be back before breakfast. I said lifting up into the night sky for one last time.
I could have taken the train up to Croatoa but the long flight and chilled night air help clear my mind. I need to focus and carefully consider everything that plays into tonight. Six weeks ago, we learned of the existence of a new group of villains, learned about them the hardest way imaginable, they murdered one of our youngest recruits. Swifthand and a group of fellow rookies had responded to police reports of a bank robbery in progress in Kings Row. They were terribly outmatched, six lost their lives in the fighting, the lone survivor was left frozen to a wall inside the bank lobby. She had been ordered to deliver a message to UPS 2.2, she quoted the icy murderer Tell him the Shades of Vengeance are coming, tell him we are going to kill every last Ghost, tell him he betrayed the wrong man and Shattered Ice9 is coming for him!
The parallels are deep and obvious, but they also do not make sense. We all saw Ice9 fall, his lifeless body surrounded by Arachnos troops. Nevertheless, someone out there is claiming to be a Shattered Ice9 and he is a vicious, brutal lunatic who must be stopped. Therefore, we had contacted our closest friends within Longbow to put the word out that we were looking for information about the Shades. It did not take long before back alley drunks and snitches crawled from their holes tipping Longbow agents off about suspected Shades activity. None of the tips had panned out for us however, every time we moved they were either a step ahead or worse, had not ever been there at all.
Then I received a short note from an old friend, Gordon Bower, we knew each other from before the war. We had worked on a couple charity projects at the university up in Croatoa that is also, where I met Westin Phipps. Westin is a big-hearted man, if a bit aloof, who struggles tirelessly at a shelter in the Rogue Isles. He had contacted Gordon, at great risk to himself, about information he had concerning the Shades of Vengeance. Through his network of street contacts, Westin had discovered the Shades were responsible for a recent series of attacks that had destroyed or poisoned food supplies for the shelter. The plan was for Westin to leak the location of yet another stock of food and supplies, a tempting target for our enemies, and when they took the bait, I would be in position to observe them. Gathering information about them and surveillance video would be invaluable in planning how to go after them, defeat them, and put them all behind bars forever.
Checking my watch, it is almost 10:00 PM Westin should be here any minute now. The deli is a real throwback kind of place, from the chrome-trimmed barstools to the 50s swing music playing on the Wurlitzer, like all of Croatoa this little place makes you feel like you have traveled back in time. The bell over the front door chimes as Westin slips inside escaping the thickening fog on the streets outside. He looks like he just walked off the set of a classic Hitchcock whodunit, the collar of his overcoat is turned up and his old English derby is pulled down low shading his face. Nervously he glances around the deli, Im sure he suspects Arachnos has an agent in the room but it seems unlikely since only he, Gordon and I even knew Westin was coming here tonight. He quickly crosses the room taking a stool two seats to my left, sitting down he orders a cup of coffee.
Chilly night out there I offer in polite conversation. He takes off his hat and uses his napkin to clean his thick, wire-rimmed glasses, Yes, it seems that autumn never ends here in Croatoa. I cannot help but smile at the cloak and dagger code phrases he had insisted we use for security, but I suppose living in the heart of spider territory you learn to be careful or you do not last very long. I lower my voice so only Westin and the ketchup bottle can hear me, You have a location for me? Finishing his coffee and leaving three dollars on the counter, Westin stands up without saying a word. He turns and walks toward the door, putting his hat back on he slips back out into the night. I leave my glass still half-full and drop a $5 on the counter, heading for the door I pick up the dark brown envelope Westin had left sitting atop his barstool, a few moments later cloaked in shadow standing at the edge of the Misty Woods I open the envelope and read the two line note inside. Shattered Ice9 is coming this time. 1643 Racine Avenue, Nerva.
A Longbow agent, and good friend, had arranged for a boat to take me into the Rogue Isles; with no questions asked. As planned, the boat was idling quietly about two miles east of Croatoa, small and reeking of fish it was not a luxury yacht but it would serve my purposes nicely. One of the few downsides to being a Peacebringer is that subtly is not one of our strengths. We emit brilliant blue-white light when using our abilities, whether to protect ourselves or dispatch enemies we are a constant lightshow. I needed to maintain a low profile for this mission so my plan was to simply hide in plain sight, Look like you belong there. Ice9 had once said to me while we discussed covert operations and surveillance specifically. It is painfully ironic I am using those same tips against a man who claims to be my fallen friend.
The fishing boat slowly pulls alongside a dimly lit pier near the ferry launch in Nerva Archipelago, a series of islands that seem to belong in a storybook rather than the waters off the eastern seaboard. Fitting in here requires a shabby, grizzled look so my Ghosts Reborn uniform as well as most of my preferred clothing were all neat and dry back at the base or in my apartment. Instead I selected some well-worn articles from a thrift store in Kings Row, Neely had helped me rub in some dirt and grease stains so the overall affect was the appearance of a dockhand not overly concerned about hygiene. Grabbing the bowline, I hop over to the pier and secure the rope to a thick rust-covered bollard then walk toward the stern of the boat as the Captain tosses another rope over; this one will keep the aft end from drifting away from the pier. Tend to yer business, Ill be waiting hre for ya when its done. said the Captain as he lit his pipe disappearing from view into his cabin below.
Thrusting my hands deep into my jacket pockets, I turn and walk toward the assorted shops and empty buildings along the waterfront. The dim lights and heavy fog give this area a supernatural aura, almost like walking the streets of Dark Astoria. Racine Avenue is six blocks off the waterfront with even fewer working lights; a few people are visible here and there moving from their cars to various buildings along the street. I can see three Rogue Island Policemen walking their beat up ahead of me, more thugs than officers of the law I really do not need any of their attention tonight so I slow my pace down a bit letting them stay well ahead of me. As I reach the next intersection, a flickering street lamp reveals the number on the brick building on the opposite corner, 1643. The building is two stories tall with red brick exterior around large windows all of which have curtains drawn, from the street the building appears to be uninhabited and completely unremarkable. A good place to store supplies for a rainy day or for a trap.
I cross the street quickly and slip into a dark side alley leading around to the backside of the building, it takes a few minutes but I find what I am looking for; an unlocked door. The street outside was gloomy and poorly lit but inside the warehouse is even more dark. The entryway leads to stairs that lead to a hallway with half a dozen offices attached to it, the floor is covered in filthy carpeting and the paint on the walls is peeling badly. I cannot imagine being forced to hide food in a place like this; my respect for Westin and his work grow with every minute I spend in this stinking old building. The hallway opens onto a large two-story room with slightly better lighting and row after row of neatly stacked crates no doubt filled with much needed food and supplies.
It is a shame we have to sacrifice this food but the Shades need to believe they accomplished their mission or all this planning and Westin risking his life will be for nothing. Quickly and quietly, I move around to an ideal position from which I can watch the entire room at once. It only takes me a few moments to set up the digital camera I brought along, the digital recording will be very important for planning how to take these people down. Now I just have to be patient, stay awake and hope they take the bait.
An hour goes by, then two and I begin to wonder if something happened causing the Shades to change their plans. Doubt, suspicion and the feeling I am being watched dance through my mind until a door below me slowly opens and the temperature in the room begins to fall. I have witnessed the power of those who master ice and cold but Ive never seen or felt anything like this before. As Shattered Ice9, he matches the bank robbery survivors description exactly, enters the warehouse a fine layer of frost forms on everything he passes. My skin tightens and a cold chill runs down my spine as he passes below me and I feel the full effects of the cold around him. He slowly walks out into the middle of the warehouse as if he has all the time in the world and absolutely nothing can stop him, I clench my teeth holding back the urge to spring from my hiding spot and lay waste to this madman.
I watch him walk over between two large crates, it looks like hes picking up something, hes picking up two
folding chairs? Uh oh, something is very wrong here and my mind is scrambling to make sense of what I am seeing. With a voice from beyond the grave he says Do come down Ahren, have a seat, we have much to discuss. My heart stops for a moment, it has lost all joy and happiness but the voice is definitely Ice9, how can it be? He continues talking as he sets up both chairs so they are facing one another taking a seat in the one facing my hiding spot, Come on now, I know full well youre up there Ahren, it is after all the best position from which to see the whole room. I swear I will not attempt to harm you in any way tonight, I simply wish to talk with you. Face to face. Theres no sense in pretending Im not here nor that Ive obviously been lead into a trap. Standing up and walking out from behind the row of boxes which had been concealing me I ask, Whats this all about then stranger?
Stranger? he retorts, my old friend we are not strangers though I suppose I look far more fit than when last you saw me, bleeding to death in St. Martial. Please, come and sit with me, we have much to discuss. Leaping over the railing to the floor below I walk over to the empty chair in front of my chilly host, Youre a murder and a lunatic regardless of whom you claim to be and I will not sit here and idly trade words with you. Youre even more deluded than I thought if you seriously believe Im going to let you walk out of here in one piece. Even through his mask I can tell a big, wide smile is spreading across his face as he replies, I promised I would not hurt you. CN my dear, say hello to our guest. There is a sound, faint but distinct, the sound of a sword being drawn from its sheath and then silence. I stand perfectly still trying to locate where the sound came from, who and where is CN?
The pain is excruciating, my chest and right shoulder erupt in searing pain as a katana blade pierces me. The blade entered my back about half way up my rip cage and far over to my right side, I can see where the blade has come out of my body where the right side of my chest meets my right shoulder angling upward toward the ceiling. Shattered Ice9 is almost laughing as he says, Allow me to introduce Cowboy Nightmare, though you might remember her better as Cowboy Dream. And this, he gestures toward a woman dressed in black leather with a cybernetic left arm walking into view this is Ebony Rose you might remember abandoning her. She has something special for you. Ebony Rose approaches my left side, grasping my wrist with her mechanical hand saying Now you get to see what it is like to be a prisoner. She slips a lightweight, black bracelet around my wrist and looks back over her shoulder at Shattered Ice9. He asks, Did you get his camera while you were upstairs with him CN? She nods Yes as she draws her blade out of my body. Chuckling he continues, Hurts more than youve ever hurt before yes? It is good to see you can withstand it, because what I am going to do to you will make this seem like a pleasant memory. Send him Rose then lets go get something to eat. Ebony Rose presses a small white button on the device she attached to my arm, as it charges up I realize only too late what the device is meant to do.
Teleportation is an odd experience, no matter how many times youve done it; an uneasy rush comes over you the moment before you are pulled through the temporal gateway taking you to where ever your destination might be. Ebony Roses teleport cuff sent me into a tiny room with a cold concrete floor, featureless steel walls and a low ceiling which also appears to be made of steel. An odd looking light fixture in the center of the ceiling bathes the room in a deep red light; a metal conduit runs from the light to the wall by the door and down to what seems to be a control box with a keypad in it.
I used to think Ice9 was being overly cautious when he demanded that all Ghosts be trained in evasion and escape tactics, now I see why. The room is sturdy and apparently designed as a holding cell, but no tin can is going to hold me not once Ive recovered some of my strength. Focusing on my wound I tap into the deepest parts of my Kheldian half, trying to stop the bleeding and at least dull the pain for now. Something is wrong, I cant do it, I cant heal myself! The light, I should have noticed it earlier but looking at it more closely now the deep red glow coming from it is very similar to that of a Void Hunters rifle. Son of a [censored], that lunatic has been planning this for quite some time; this whole mission was a setup from the beginning.
Just then I hear footsteps in the distance, one set, they sound like theyre coming down some stairs but they are definitely coming this way. As the footsteps come closer and closer its obvious whatever is coming to see me is huge and very heavy; I hear it using a keypad on the outside of the door, probably just like the one on the inside. No sound of a latch or bolt moving, maybe the door is magnetically sealed, I need to remember that but for now I need to prepare what whatever is coming through the door. The room is so small I can only take one step back before I am pressed against the far wall of my cell, sliding into the right corner to protect my wounded side I ball my fists. Come on you [censored], come get me.
The door abruptly swings open letting light from the outer room wash into my tiny cell and standing there in the doorway is a Paragon Police Department detective. Dressed in typical detective style with casual slacks, shirt and tie and a heavy leather overcoat capped off with his PPD badge pinned to the left side of his chest, I drop to my knees Officer, you have no idea how glad I am to see you. Where the hell am I? The detective steps into my cell closing the door behind him, he punches a series of keys securing the door again and replies Im sorry Ahren; youve mistaken me for someone else though I do understand your confusion. I use this form to keep my fellow Shades on their toes you never know when some nosey cop just might find their way into our little hideaway.
Allow me to show you the real me he says chuckling as he slowly turns around to face me again. I feel like Im watching a Steven King film as the detectives coat morphs into long leathery wings, his shoes become massive clawed feet and his face twists into a horned head with a wicked glow coming from deep empty eye sockets. He is huge, his shoulders are nearly as wide as the cell, theres barely enough for both of us but that doesnt seem to impede him at all. Now his voice is inhuman, cruel and thunderous Shattered doesnt want you dead but he doesnt want you resting well either. Ill bet youve already figured out your Kheldian powers are useless in here, its just you against me now Teacher. Lets see how many of your bones I can break before you pass out. His right hand clenches tightly and he begins beating me, with my powers nullified Im as helpless before him as any ordinary citizen. Why are they doing this? What do they want from me?
The cold floor feels good against my face and helps soothe my pounding headache. How long have I been asleep? Not asleep, I was unconscious from the beating that vile creature so thoroughly enjoyed administering. What the hell was that thing? Bracing myself in an effort to sit up, I can feel water on the floor splashed here and there. I am dizzy and my vision is slow to focus so it takes a moment or two for me to realize the water on the floor is my own blood, any other revelations will have to wait because I hear footsteps coming for me again. The footsteps are different this time and there are more than one set heading this way, it sounds like two people and neither one is the beast who visited me last.
They slowly come closer and closer again I can hear them using the keypad outside the door and then silently the door is unlocked and I am momentarily blinded by the light pouring into my tiny hell. Good morning! Its Ice9s voice again but I know its not him, it cant be him. I trust you had a pleasant nap his tone is as lifeless and cold as an empty grave. His next words are directed at the woman beside him Strip it then search it again. Leave it with nothing. A moment passes before Im aware he is calling me It and Im overwhelmed with rage, struggling to my feet and stepping toward the doorway I scream at him I am a man! Shattered Ice9s face is blank and expressionless as he balls his fist and smashes my nose with a brutal right-cross which sends me reeling back into my cell. He steps forward blocking the doorway, as he speaks the narrow walls of the room begin to freeze You are not a man! You are not a man; you are a thing, one I will use to our benefit until you are no longer of use to me. No one knows where you are, no one can rescue you from my control and when I am through with you; you will die here, in this tiny stinking room. He slowly backs away from me and out of the cell, he gestures to the woman beside him saying If you find anything new let me know immediately, otherwise burn his clothes and make sure he wont run off on us.
As the woman approaches me long wicked, blade-like claws slowly extend from where her fingers meet her hands, raising her right hand so the claws are less than an inch from my eyes she orders Do not move. If you move you will bleed, remain still and I will not harm you. With stunning precision she swipes at me again and again, until my carefully prepare dockworkers disguise is a shredded heap on the cold floor. She spends several long moments looking me over and after apparently deciding I was not concealing anything on my body she gathers up my clothes and tosses them into the outer room beyond the doorway. Oh, I almost forgot she says turning back to face me again. Cant have you running off on us now can we? With a sickening grin on her face she plunges both sets of claws into my thighs driving them through so the tips tear open the flesh on the backs of my legs; reflexively I lash out and catch her on the chin with a solid uppercut. The look in her eye tells me we both know I cant really hurt her, at the moment Im all but helpless. She leaves me alone again in my own private hell, bleeding out onto this cold floor.
Hours or maybe days passed by, my existence quickly became a repeating series of beatings, feedings and sleep. The last element, sleep, was my only solace and my only escape. Shattered Ice9 was quite direct and upfront with me; they would feed me enough to prevent my death but not enough to support proper recovery from the unending cycle of beatings, With your alien half nullified, you make an ideal sparring partner for some of our younger recruits. Can you imagine the rush they must get kicking the [censored] out of a Hero of the City? His laugh is cruel and without real joy but its the familiarity of the voice which pains me most deeply, as the days turn into weeks it becomes increasingly difficult to deny he is indeed Ice9. My friend, a man I looked up to as one of the finest heroes Ive ever known, is a murderer and I am powerless to stop him. I had become too dependent upon the powers and abilities granted by joining with my Kheldian half, now I am worse than helpless because I lack the resourcefulness of someone without powers. I wish I never had powers I tell the walls of my hell as I drift off to sleep.
Footsteps again, I can hear two or three people coming for me this time, how many more times will they come for me? My visitors are making noise in the outer room, sounds of something moving this way. I can hear them talking but I do not understand their muffled voices through the door of my hell. Shattered Ice9 is there again and two women but I cannot be sure who they are; the metallic rattling grows louder and louder, as the sound approaches the door then suddenly falls silent. More muffled words are exchanged and the now familiar sound of someone using the keypad signals the beginning of yet another beating. The door swings open revealing the identity of my visitors; Shattered Ice9, Cowboy Nightmare and Ebony Rose. Cowboy is standing just to the left of the doorway, tense as though she expects me to flee. Ice9 and Ebony Rose are standing on opposite sides of a bizarre looking machine, Ive never seen anything like it but if its here and hes using it Im certain the machine is only going to cause me more pain.
Stop toying with me damn you I protest, enough games! Youve proven Im helpless without my Kheldian powers, I dont even want them anymore you [censored]! Im trembling, barely able to stay on my feet as tears stream down my face. I dont want to show him my fear, my pain, my anguish but it all comes out of me like a thunderstorm rolling across the plains. His voice is low and almost gentle as he tells me, Then you are finally ready my old friend, the end is almost here. He slowly nods to Rose and she flips three switches on the side of the device standing just outside my door. A deep rhythmic hum begins building within the machine, for the first time I realize how much it resembles some of the examination equipment we have in the medical bay back at the Ghosts base. The humming grows louder and louder, so loud you would have to yell to be heard but then again theyre not here to chat with me. Shattered Ice9 leans forward shouting at me, What would you do to be human again, thing? reminding me in here Im not a man. Grinding my teeth together I tell him, Get it over with you sick [censored] and kill me. Without a word he turns and flips one red switch on the front of the humming machine and in that instant clarity strikes me like a lightning bolt.
As the device releases the energy it had so noisily built up within itself I recognize the type of weapon it actually is, a quantum weapon. Void Hunters, hateful creatures neither Kheldian nor human any longer, carry rifles specially designed and manufactured to kill Kheldians. If he only wanted to kill me; why all the games, the torture and suffering? My moment of clarity is shattered when the blast of energy hits my chest, pain becomes my entire world. Ripping, searing, burning pain courses through every fiber of my being; it feels like my soul is being torn away from me. My skin feels like its cracking, peeling and falling off of me. My eyes and tongue burn like white-hot flame as my back arches convulsively threatening to snap my spine. I cant see or hear anything; only the pain, the immeasurable pain filling me. Moments ago I was broken, at the bottom of an emotional pit deeper than I knew existed but now I am lifted atop the highest, grandest peak of physical pain and suffering imaginable.
Im dizzy and Im not sure how much more of this I can take, if any at all. My muscles cry out for relief, my nerves begin to fail from overload and again I feel tears streaming down my face. Its time to end this; its time I let go. I feel a broad smile spread out across my face as I surrender to the pain and stop fighting it and a deep warmth builds in my chest that does not hurt but fills me with peace. I feel like Im drifting off to sleep after a long, hard day at work; sleep would be nice. The sound of thunder fills my ears, growing louder and louder until I can feel it pounding through me drowning out the pain; its beautiful almost like the sound of a heartbeat. And then its gone. Im standing here in my cell dripping with sweat too weak to stay on my feet I collapse to my knees and look up at my visitors again.
The fury on Ice9s face makes me want to smile but I dont even have the strength for that at the moment. No!!! Son of a [censored], no! Rrrraaagh!!! he lashes out at something out of view to my right and I hear chunks of ice smash into metal and break glass. All this work, all this time for nothing! whatever grip he had on sanity slips as he storms off and out of view screaming back at the two women, Lock him up, Ill decide what to do with him later. They shut the door and again I can hear them using the keypad to lock me inside, but this time something is different. This time that damn light isnt making me weak anymore.
Im awake again, how long was I asleep this time? Judging by how good I feel, I must have been out for a long while. My cell is still cold and that ugly light still glares down at me so Im still a prisoner, but now Im just an ordinary man. I can feel it, deep inside me, my Kheldian half is gone; most likely dead. How the hell did he do it? What did he do to me? What the hell was that machine he used on me? Good questions to find answers to but my situation doesnt look promising at the moment. Not long ago I was ready for the end, resigned to my demise, but now I find a new and surprising emotion filling in that emptiness, rage. That lunatic son of a [censored] put me through all of this so he could get my Kheldian! He didnt care how long it took, how many beatings, how much torture so long as he succeeded it ripping me apart. Obviously he wont have any use for me now that my alien half is gone, that means the next time that door opens will be the last time for me.
I sit silently waiting for footsteps to come for me again, but they dont come hours go by and still nothing. Im hungry again, how long have they left me alone now? A terrible thought occurs to me, what if theyve simply abandoned me? I had assumed I was deep within their home base but could this facility be an outpost, some research site they were only using while a live subject was available? Death at the hands of that winged beast they call Conall Cian would be preferable to death by starvation or dehydration, now Im really getting pissed off. Footsteps on the stairs again, my heart leaps with joy at not suffering a withering death but that joy immediately turns to anxiety; theyve come to finish me this time! No, not this time you miserable [censored], Im not going down with a fight. The footsteps tromp across the outer room and approach the door, I have just one chance and I have to make it count. Pressing myself against the far wall of my cell I wait for the telltale sound
click, tick, tick, click and click.
Every muscle in my body roars to life as I launch myself against the door and it swings open wildly slamming into a young man on the other side. The blow knocked him off balance and a solid kick to the groin brought him to his knees, I have no time to waste if he activates any super power Im done, with all the anger, fear and rage I can muster I strike with one punch, a perfect hit, connecting on his throat and windpipe seal his fate. In all the time I patrolled the streets of Paragon City I had never taken a life, until now. The young man sprawls out before me gasping for air, his white t-shirt speckled with drops of blood spraying from his lips with his last exhale, I can see the fear and confusion in his eyes and I almost pity him. It was you or me Bub and Im not ready to give up yet the sneer on my face isnt intentional but somehow it feels right. Grasping his lifeless body by the ankles I drag him into the cell and shut the door, no sense alerting a passerby that something has gone wrong.
The lab, if you can call it that, is cold and wreaking of blood; a smell I became familiar with while in my cell. I see the cell I was in is just one of several along the wall to my right, opposite the cells is an array of devices with labels identifying them as property of Crey and The Council and other known criminal organizations. What the hell does that sick [censored] do in here? At the far end of the room, neatly folded on metal shelves, I see the clothing left behind by other victims. Scanning the items available a memory flashes through my mind, I use this form to keep
that freak demon/cop just might be my ticket out of here. Boots, jeans, black t-shirt and the finishing touch, a black leather trench coat complete my new disguise. Old words of wisdom echo in my ears, Act like you belong there. Great advice but Im inside an enemy base with no idea what the layout might be or who I may run into around every corner. How the hell do I get out of this place? Odds are good the front door is being watched if not locked, what about teleporters? If they have a teleport room or chamber
no, damn that would only dump me out somewhere in the Rogue Isles. Then it hits me. Thank you Vanguard, you arrogant bastards! The Rikti War Zone can be accessed from both the Rogue Isles and Paragon City, now I just have to hope I can find their teleport pads without getting caught.
There is only one exit from this laboratory, the stairway. I take a deep breath to help settle myself down a bit, the worst thing that could happen would be getting caught and thrown back into that cell for a few months again. Been there, done that so Im not afraid of the worst case scenario; that will make this easier. I take my first step toward freedom and begin ascending the stairs, my boots thump on the cold metal and my legs feel as though they might give out on me at any moment. Reaching the top of the stairway I pause for a moment listening for signs of life, but there are none it seems as if I am alone. The hallway extends straight off to my left and to my right, turning to the right I set out while trying to maintain a casual stride and pace. Act like you belong there Ice9s words come back to me yet again. This hallway leads to another flanked by half a dozen small rooms, some appear to be storage spaces while others are completely empty, still not a soul in sight.
Continuing down the hall I take another right then a left and I can hear voices coming this way. Neither of the voices is familiar so theres a chance they wont know who I really am, and thats the best I can hope for right now. Rounding the corner I actually run into one of them, hes short with very dark skin and clawed feet with a look of fear in his eyes. Jumping back and stepping aside for me he stammers, Please excuse me Conall, I did not hear you coming. Im very sorry for running into you. His companion, a stunningly beautiful young woman with long red hair and glistening green eyes, slightly bows her head and stands aside saying nothing. That demon/cop thing must be as cruel to his friends as he was to me, giving them a dismissive wave I grunt as deeply as I can and continue past them. For several moments Im certain theyll see through my bluff and pounce on me but no attack comes and no alarm is raised, I need to get out of here and quickly. Winding my way though short corridors and assorted small rooms I finally find a large room humming with activity, the generator room. Passing through this room I find an even larger, open room with a high ceiling; lined up on the far side are four massive teleportation pads.
The technology is not identical to what Ive seen in a few hero bases spread out over Paragon City, but its pretty close and the flickering monitors showing possible destinations confirm my assessment; these are what Ive been trying to find. My heart catches in my throat when I see movement off to my right, its Ebony Rose. Shes standing at the far end of the room with her back to me, apparently working on an access panel of some type. As a normal man Im no match for her and all her little gadgets, not to mention if she summoned even one of her little mechanical fiends. The pad I need is the last one on the right, the one closest to Rose, but if Im careful theres a chance I could sneak across the room, reach the pad and activate it before she noticed me and stopped me. I slip off my boots and let the coat slide off my shoulders falling to the floor. Slowly and as silently as possible I creep toward the opposite side of the room, before Im half way there my thighs scream out in pain where the claw wounds never quite healed completely. Sweat runs down my face and back, more from the tension and my desperation than the pain.
I reach the far side of the room without alerting the technological witch little more than fifty feet away. Slipping around, between and through the first three pads and their consoles takes time and focus to do it quietly; so far so good. Rose is still working away as I reach the final teleport pad, my ticket out of this hell, swinging out from behind the control console I feel my shirt catch but I cant stop moving in time. The sound of tearing fabric fills the near silent room and Rose freezes in place. Slowly she turns and faces me, a dark and terrible look on her face. I feel like a deer trapped in the glow of oncoming headlights, standing there motionless with my fingers just inches away from the buttons that will send to safety. Like a jungle cat stalking her prey, Rose confidently walks toward me, her stride and posture announcing her complete control over her surroundings. Enraptured I watch her hop up and onto the platform stopping within arms reach of me, with a devilish almost playful smile dancing across her face. Shattereds plan has been undone for now and I think youve suffered enough for one lifetime with a sparkle in her eye Rose slips her cybernetic hand into one of the pouches on her belt. It takes a moment for me to realize what she has in her hand, staring into my eyes she says I believe this is yours and she drops my emergency medical beacon into my pocket and then presses the activation button sending me home.
Epilogue:
One month later
The rising sun is breaking through the last remaining clouds of an overnight storm while Sooner Spirit, Celestial Nav and I greet yet another morning from atop our headquarters in Founders Falls. Sooner Spirit stretches her body lifting her hands high over her head, You were excellent last night Ahren. Grinning at the joke running through my mind I reply, Everyone fought hard and we all came home in one piece, Crimson told me tonight he might have another lead for us on these Malta thugs. Celestial Nav interjected, We still havent found any link between Malta and Nictus research though, I think we should go back to those Council leads weve uncovered. You may be right Nav Sooner Spirit replied. Well just have to
she trailed off as something approaching from the north caught her eye. Following her gaze I see it too; a Peacebringer is heading straight toward us. He drifts to a stop at the edge of the rooftop setting down on the low wall which surrounds the roof. Wearing our standard colors, blue on white, with his face hidden by a mask resembling a skull he seems familiar; I can sense my two comrades feel it too. Sooner Spirit asks Who are you and how can we help you? Pulling off his mask he replies in a hauntingly familiar voice, You can call me Glacius9 and you can tell all the Ghosts; Ice9 has returned.
The End.
By request...
The sun is setting, casting long shadows everywhere each one outlined by a warm amber glow. From four stories up I can faintly hear children playing in the courtyard below my window, while Mrs. Miller's dog barks at some random scent on the breeze; more out of curiosity than aggression I am sure. This fair summer day seems an ideal setting for a Rockwell drawing; a long way from what this neighborhood looked and felt like less than two years ago. Two years ago smoke nearly blocked out the sun, children cried as they stood on empty sidewalks looking and waiting for parents who would never make it home, and I stood by helplessly watching my hometown being brought to its knees.
I was a teacher, a history teacher, and a good one too if the smiles and successes of my students were any fair measure of my career. I worked out down at O'Malley's Gym, the dusty old sort of place immortalized by movies like Rocky and The Cinderella Man, and I could hold my own boxing against anyone in the building. But no one who knew me then would have described me as a warrior. They would be quick to point to my "fighting spirit", but I lacked the true warrior's courage.
So much changed the day the Rikti came. The enormities of it surpass our ability to measure, let alone understand. It seemed we would never recover from the losses. The sights I witnessed during the War were horrible, and more than enough to supply me with new and original nightmares for all the days I walk the Earth. What happened to Paragon City after the War was even more deplorable; neighbors stealing from one another, roving gangs of youths staking claim to "turf" and doing whatever they deemed necessary to maintain control And possibly worst of all; the people like me who did nothing to help fight back the darkness engulfing the city. Whether out of fear, apathy or greed countless citizens stood by and watched their city fall ever deeper into despair. By January fear gripped me like a vice and rolled over me like the waves of an unseen and unending ocean, pinning me to my bed. I lay there quivering in the dark; certain if I did anything, said anything or even thought of fighting back "they" would get me. They would come into my room and beat me, kick me and ultimately kill me for even hoping to resist.
Then, one night as I lay shivering in my bed, a brilliant searing white light filled every crack and corner of my dingy little apartment. I could no longer tell if it was day or night. Shapeless and featureless, a mass of energy hovered in front of me beaming with power, life and hope. With a voice so strong and deep I feared it might bring the roof down upon us, the light spoke to me. "You possess the knowledge I need. I can help your city, your people, your world but I need your help to do so." I sat in stunned silence but not out of fear, the light seemed to banish the paralyzing fear from my mind. I was not afraid of my guest, only curious. "You need me?" I stammered. His reply thundered in my chest, "I have fought to free numerous worlds like yours from my mortal enemy and though I do not believe your world is yet aware of them, you are in peril. Even now my enemy moves among your people plotting to destroy all you hold precious, I am here to stop them. They are Nictus. I need you and your knowledge of this world to fight the Nictus, without your help the battle is already lost and your world doomed. Will you help me? Will you fight with me?"
For the first time in many long months a sliver of hope pierced the darkness of fear and suffering I had come to accept as the only life I would ever know. I was needed. I could do something. I could make a difference to Paragon City. There was only one thing to say, "Yes, I'm ready to fight."