Heh, Alex spoke to the other two, Hes right you know, though Id keep a lookout for Hellions and Vahz. They seem to like to hang out around this neighborhood.
"True, Hellion are never good news but the Vahz are much worse in my personal opinion" he said he two men and two women wearing vanguard uniforms walk though the doors toward the group of people "Ramon Efferus." said one of the two women. "Yes. how can I help you." he said while still hiding his face. "Your one of the where looking for are you serious." said one of the guy with a giggle. "Well i guess so now tell me what can i do for you so i can look at the case im working on." Ramon said. "Sorry sir where going to have to ask you to come with us. One of our "commanders" need to talk to you in person" the female agent said "Oh he sent for me well i guess i have to go now dont I." Ramon said as he stared to walk to his room. "Sir that wont be nessary your new uniform complete with it special "modifcations" is waiting for you at HQ." said the female vanguard member. "Well sorry everyone I really hate to run out like this but looks like vanguard need me for something i guess." he said as he quickly tipped his hat toward the two ladies in the group "Hope to see you ladies soon." then he looked at the two men "Gentlemen." he said. Ramon even though he looked like an animal always remembered to honor the old ways and took them seriously. To him this was the only thing that kept him form becoming a true animal. Ramon paused for a second while he appoarched the group to leave .....
Nyte nodded to Alex with a slightly furrowed brow,her empathic abilities tended to elict strong protective instincts from time to time - and though she hardly knew Alex they none the less came to the surface when possible danger was spoken of.
"Well"
She mused half to herself.
"..perhaps the neighborhood needs some cleaning up then"
it was something to think about - and she'd take a look around later before passing the information up the chain, Nyte herself was more of a healer then a fighter - she could hold her own if she absolutely had to...but it could be difficult at times,no need to air that particular piece of dirty laundry however.
And Alex herself provided a nice change of subject, glanceing at the building Nyte cast her senses out for a few moments before zeroing in on one particular window and giving it a little wave before turning back to the others.
"Mabel wouldn't happen to be an intensly curious elderly women with a canine companion would she?"
Nyte question before jerking her head towards one of the buildings windows where such a figure was clearly visable. Any further thoughts were inturrupted by the apperence of the Vanguard - Nyte nodded to them politely but otherwise remained silent, she'd worked for Vanguard before...but for the most part she let Grifter do the dealing with them, just going along for the missions they threw his way...she agreed with thier cause..but the military type format of thier organization grated on her to some degree.
Erik, living in room 216, woke up to the noise of his phone ringing. He grogily got out of bed, yawning and running his hands through his white hair, his red eyes mere slits. He was an albino, and usually slept during the days and worked at night. He got up and picked up the phone.
"This is Erik." He said sleepily. He did not disclose his last name. He did not have one.
"Hey! Erik darling, its Vanessa! Did I disturb your sleep?" A rather annoyingly chipper voice blasted him entirely awake through the phone.
"Not at all. I can always catch up on my rest later. When I'm dead, probably." Erik said in a tired fashion. "What is it?" As he spoke, he moved over the mini-fridge he had and took out a pre-made ham sandwich, biting into its cold and hard yet oddly refreshing surface as he waited for Vanessa to reply.
"Ah, well...it's about that thing last night. You know. That big meeting and...Well...I don't know how to say this..." Vanessa's voice was excited, even through her present hesitation and anxiety. Erik swallowed his mouth's contents and broke her off.
"They always tell everyone not to talk about it. You can. It's just a bit of drilling. What is it? Did you find something?"
"Er." Vanessa paused. "Yes. I was told to keep an eye out for local animal activity. Birds, cats, dogs...That sort of stuff. And yes, I did find something." Her voice dropped down to a whisper. "Just last night while we were meeting, a pack - get this - a PACK of wild dogs attacked a couple in Gemini park. It has to be what we're looking for."
Erik finished off his sandwich in two quick bites as Vanessa spoke, closing his fridge and shambling over to his closet to get dressed, pausing on the way to open the blinds slightly to see how bright it was out today. His closet contained lots of white clothing, and a black umbrella made of a very light-weight metal, and much more durable than standard models.
"Is the scene secure?" He asked.
"There wasn't a need. There were no...The dogs...They...The remains..." Erik could almost imagine the sight of Vanessa biting her lip over the phone.
"I see." He said simply. "I'll go over and have a look. I want you to deviate a little from your path, focus exclusively on Canine behavior here in Galaxy City over the past six months. Anything else?"
"No. Be careful." She said. "If reports are correct..."
"Not in broad daylight." Erik responded, having finished getting dressed in a loose white shirt and pants, just now tugging on two ivory gloves while holding the phone between his neck and shoulder. "Goodbye." He hung the phone up, picked up his umbrella, and opened the door into the hallway. His room, which had been pitch black, was suddenly flooded with light, making him wince slightly.
It was going to be one of those days...
***
"Hey Alex." Erik said as he emerged from the building, raising his umbrella to block out the sun. An odd sight, even in Paragon City. "Would you all be moving in?" He inquired to Hunter and Nyte. He seemed to be ignoring Blake.
Nyte may have noticed the slight nod she received from Erik as he met her gaze, and almost innately she understood that he was a fellow empath.
Hunter was rather overwhelmed by the seeming flood of people. He took a few minutes to observe and listen, nodding where appropriate to show interest he was sure he was supposed to feel. The only part of the conversation that truly interested him were the references to the Ritki, the Hellions, and the Vahz. He had a feeling that's why he was in Paragon city. When the Vanguard arrived, Hunter tensed and almost took a step back.
Easy, he told himself. We're all on the same side now.
"Yes," he replied to Eric. "Just moved in today."
"Ah" Blake said, now smiling towards the two "Welcome to the building, then" His smiled slowly faded as the talk turned to Hellions and Vahz and Rikti. He kept quiet and listened, nodding at some places to show he wasn't spacing out entirely. He came out of being a temporary mute when the winged-lady got the old hag's identity exactly right. Blake smiled and let out a small laugh, saying with a little disbelief "That was pretty cool. How'd you do that?"
Blake caught a sight of Ramon out of the corner of his eye and almost waved before he realized he was talking to Vanguard. Blake's skin color lowered a notch, the kid watching the Vanguard like they were the plague. As they left and took Ramon, Blake inaudibly sighed and turned back to the rest of the group, which had been joined by Eric.
Blake wasn't surprised that Eric didn't talk to him. He was always kind of scared by the albino anyways and usually tried to keep his distance.
"I'm Hunter Black," Hunter introduced himself to Erik and Blake. He turned his head to Nyte.
"Yes..." then he scowled slightly and muttered under his breath.
"Oh lord, here she comes. I think our little gathering has attracted her attention." Sure enough, coming down the stairs behind them all was Mable and her ferociously barking little dog.
Hey Erik, Alex smiled at the resident of 216, she always thought the fact that he was an albino was cool
if not that she was shamefully, sort of, a little bit, but not in a creepy sort of way, kind of attracted to him. And not in the love interest way, but the Hey, hes kinda cute way. She slightly blushed as these thoughts ran through her head, and then became redder at the thought that he might get that impression.
Alex immediately tensed up when she heard Mabel was approaching the group; her first thought was an escape plan. The group could probably disperse like the four winds, but the last one to leave would likely be caught in the clutches of Mabel. Too bad the most direct path to room 107 would lead her directly in the path of the busybody; she shifted from foot to foot.
1, 2, 3, not it
Alex muttered among the group, then raised her voice to a normal pitch to announce her escape, Well, it certainly was a pleasure meeting both of you, Hunter and Nyte. Again, welcome to the apartment. Hey Blake! You know I just realized I forgot to get your sister a birthday present
last year, mind helping me pick out something for her? She turned away from the group and began to briskly walk down the sidewalk to no shop in particular.
It wasn't hard to notice Hunters reaction to the Vanguard and while he didn't step backwards he cleary wanted to - one didn't need to be an empath to see the general tensing of his stance, at least not if you knew what to look for. Intresting..normal everyday citizens might be uneasy around thier rigid military bearing but most didn't respond that nervously.
While she placed this thought into the back of her mind she mostly shrugged it off - there could be lots of reasons for such a reaction and until she knew him better - if she ever did - she wasn't going to place to much emphasis on it. She did however give him a reassuring smile - just to let him know she had indeed noticed.
Her gaze however was drawn to the albino almost as soon as he opened the door to exit the building and while she took in his looks and the umbrella it was hardly that which drew her attention - and the raised hair feeling was confirmed as she caught his nod, returning it with a flashed smile, another empath then...she'd had occasin to run across one or two in her journeys - they were either an asset or a pain to have around depending on thier agenda.
"Nyte Shaide"
She introduced herself before getting side-tracked by Blake's question, smiling at his comments.
"I'm empathic"
she explained.
"means I can sense the emotions and presence of most people nearby, also allows me to zero in on how and where someone is hurting - physically and sometimes mentally and help them out some. Mabel...is fairly easy to read she's so focused on everyone around her that she dosen't bother trying to keep her thoughts to herself, she's a strong presence on my mental radar...and her dog helps, thier social creatures and social animals are easier to pick up and animals don't really give a damn if you know what thier feeling"
She explained more in depth though it was hard to put words to her empathic abilities - indeed her explaination could hardly do it justice and she didn't reveal her abilities to sometimes alter the emotions of others either - that tidbit of information tended to make people uneasy and wary...and Nyte would never do such a thing to an innocent, giving him a smile she continued in a quieter aside to the boy as Hunter revealed that she was indeed heading thier way with her yappy companion.
"...thankfully that also means I can take measures to avoid her in the future, windows and fire escapes are great things"
"Take care Alex"
she called with a chuckle as the girl practically ran away, she couldn't really blame her.
Hunter was a bit caught off-guard by Nyte's explanation of her abilities. He consciously buried whatever he was feeling in the back of his mind. He had a feeling she might take to some of his problems like a moth to a flame and the last thing he needed was to put her danger.
"Come on, Precious. Oh! Another hero! Two in one day! We are the most blessed building on the block!" Mabel beamed as she and her dreadful little dog puttered down the stairs toward them. "Oh, Hunter. I almost forgot. You're father asked me to give you this."
Panic and terror shot through his mind before he could hold them back.
"My father?"
"Yes, he was here with the movers," Mabel continued, walking toward them and handing him a cell phone. "He said you forgot it." Hunter was visibly relieved as he took the phone from her.
"How careless of me," he smiled. "Thank you, ma'am. That was most kind of you."
At Vanguard....
"Sorry for going to your apartment. I know how much you have being bothered at home." said a man cloaked in shadows. "Its ok sir, if it was anyone else I probally cook them." ramon replied. "Well then lets get to work." ....... "Do you understand your mission?" "yes sir but I must askwhy the wait why not attack now?" "You'll need a team for this mission a team you can trust and right now is not the right time. If we attack too soon then our informant might be discovered." "Understood sir, I'll wait for your signal and thank you again for the new uniform." "Dont worry about now go home and get some rest."
Nyte was well aware that an empaths abilities were highly personal...everyone she'd met had described how they expirienced thier gfts in differant ways, Nyte personally felt this was simply a psychological expression - at its core most of the abilities were probably quite the same but the individual minds expressed them in terms easily understood by the weilder.
She had met for instence an empath who described someone hiding thier feelings as cloaking themselves in shadow, another who spoke of the flavor of emotion and a third the colours.
When Hunter conciously decided to hide his emotions from her Nyte got the distinct impression of a fleeing creature, and while she didn't know him well enough to have gotten a clear reading from his reserved mind in any case...she knew when he pulled away. It wasn't an alien feeling - indeed it was a common response still it saddened her somewhat when people reacted so...she tried very hard not to pry into the unwilling mind unless it was absolutely necessary, of course he could hardly know that she reminded herself and though a flicker of sorrow flitted through her gaze she resolved not to hold the reaction against him, flashing him a reassuring smile.
Mabel by this time was practically on top of them and Nyte turned her smile to the old women, fixing her gaze on the nasty little dog until catching her eye it stopped it's infernal yacking. Quite frankly it would have given her a headache and Nyte felt no qualms about emotionally suggesting to the little dog that it was quite sleepy and content at the moment - no need to bark.
"Yes well, I hope you weren't expecting press coferences or new's article Ma'am I'm afraid I'm not quite so well known as some of the others"
She remarked to the older women gently, but the women hardly noticed as she was already focused on Hunter...nyte barely caught wind of what she was saying to him before she was assailed by the mans fear - not even a closed and hidden mind could withhold a reaction of that strength.
It was like getting hit with a mack truck and Nyte nearly on instinct sent her senses flying outwards and reached towards Hunter, almost as quickly as she reacted Nyte registered that thier were no wounds to heal...and no imediate danger present...at least she couldn't detect any malice or agression in the surrounding people.
She stopped her hand before it actually came close to touching Hunter, akwardly dropping it to her side - people like him she knew didn't take well to either sudden motions or being touched by people they hardly knew.
"Sorry..old habit"
she murmurred trying to recal just what Mabel had said to send the man into such a frenzy, something about his family and she chewed on her lip alightly as she looked at him clearly trying to decipher his puzzle. She couldn't help it really..it was just the way she was, she was genetically programmed to help the wounded, even if they didn't particularly want that help.
"Nice to meet you, Hunter" Blake said in a friendly enough way, raising his hand to give him a handshake when Mabel started towards them. "Uh, well I gotta go, uh..." Blake started, stumbling over his words before Alex saved him with an excuse. "Right! You didn't get Candice one last year. I'll, ah, make sure you get something that she likes, or in her size, or something" He raised a hand shortly and turned around towards Alex, jogging after her until he caught up.
"Good call" Blake said smiling as they walked off, towards who knew where.
Erik stared after the retreating Alex, his mouth a very thin and narrow line, his eyes perpetually relaxed. Being an empath unfortunately came with a price for him. He had to be careful not to express any emotions of his own, or he would cause mental feedback. He turned back to Nyte and Hunter presently.
"Well. It was nice to meet you two." His voice was exceedingly soft, more like the wind fluttering by coolly than actual sound. "Welcome. As long as I'm here, I'd like to warn you two to be careful. Galaxy City is getting more and more dangerous every day. Especially for people such as us." He nodded to both Nyte and Hunter respectively. "Goodbye." He then started to leisurely stroll down the sidewalk, heading for Gemini Park with umbrella in tow, like some monstrous creature hanging over his head.
Alex slowed down before they reached a crosswalk and glanced back at the group to see who got tagged. Erik made his own escape unscathed, but poor Hunter seemed to have been caught by Mabel again and Nyte was sticking with him. She took a moment to let her breathing return to normal and her heart to calm.
Well that was close, she half-laughed at Blake, Granted both Hunter and Nyte would be people more interesting to Mabel at the moment, I didnt want her to start acting like my mother. Who knows what she would say to embarrass me.
I can still get something for Candice, Blake, Alex offered with a smile, I havent seen her for a bit, or would a pizza be better?
Blake stopped with Alex and stretched his arms out, sighing with relief. "Seriously," Blake said, returning the smile "It's like she knows when the worst possible time to turn up is. The new guys will be moving out soon enough if she doesn't give 'em a little space"
Blake laughed a little at her question, saying with a smile "Like she needs more stuff. Let's get some pizza, I'll bring some home for her"
He reached into his pockets and pulled out a worn wallet. Blake opened it up and looked inside, pulling out a twenty and a five. "I'll buy" he said, putting the wallet back in his pocket and holding on to the bills.
Hunter gave Nyte an apologetic smile.
"I'm sorry to dash, by I have an appointment to keep," he said to Mable. "Nyte, I was wondering...could you show me to the DSPA offices in this part of the city? I've only just arrived today, and I'm afraid I don't know my way around yet. If it's not too much trouble."
"Of course, it's no trouble at all"
Nyte stated to Hunter though inwardly cringing...the times she'd been to those offices she'd mostly been apologizing for damages caused by Grifter because someones car...or other worldly possesion had come between him and a thug or two. Oh well..maybe they'd forgotten her by now.
Glancing up to get her barings because lets face it when you have wing's most ofhte landmarks you recognize are higher then street level and she too had just moved in nd while she knew the city quite well the individual streets were still somewhat new..because well...she generally flew over them.
She recognized one of the buildings near-by however and nodded to herself slightly.
"They're a bit to the east, should be pretty easy to walk on over ther, bye Mabel"
she smiled at the older women and once more reminded herself to use back entrences in the future in order to avoid her as much as possible. maybe leaving a window unlocked would be a wise decision - she could just fly in and out.
"shall we?"
she asked Huner motioning in the right direction.
Ramon is teleported right to the front of the apartment building my the Vanguard teleporter. In his hands he was holding two bags one with his new Vanguard uniform the other had some gear in it. As he walked up the toward his room he quickly entered it and shut the door. "ok time to check my gear".....
Hunter didn't speak until they were a bit away from the building and Mable.
"My apologies for back there," he said in a very quiet voice. "I'm not familiar with how an empath's power functions, but that must have been jarring for you."
[u]Gemini Park[u]
Erik was one of the privileged few who could actually enjoy a stroll in Gemini Park. It was considered the most dangerous sector of Galaxy City, thanks mainly to the Vahzilok who had moved in and made the place their unofficial turf. It was fairly safe during the day, but by nightfall Mortificators and Reapers ambushed pedestrians on streets adjacent to the place before dragging them to an unpleasant fate within the park. Their presence was so strong there that they even posed a challenge to most heroes who were just starting out.
Erik walked through the park towards his destination, thinking. A pack of wild dogs. A very rare thing indeed, even in Paragon City. I suppose there might be a few in Perez, but here in Gemini Park? It is mostly wide, open space here, surrounded by warehouses flats and with its Eastern side to the war-wall. Animals do not like it here. It would be much more likely to find such a thing in the Nebula district. One thing is for sure though. Erik came to a halt at the coordinates he had received half-way there. There were no obvious signs of disturbance anywhere. This was not a natural occurrence. Wild dogs in the middle of a densely populated city with heroes around every corner. And Galaxy city is heavily patrolled by Longbow and the PPD. It doesnt make sense.
The albino gazed around the immediate area from under his umbrella, feeling the mood and tone of the area. Erik could read a lot more than just people. He could also read objects and locales. Everything usually had one form or another of emotion ground into its very essence. All of Galaxy City felt of remorse, being a city zone that took pride in its memorials of fallen heroes. But it also felt of the urge to scratch an itch of discovery. An itch to venture into the unknown, unafraid. Each district and every building also had its own feel. Gemini Park emanated a sense of anxiety. Of hidden danger, the feeling that one was being watched. But here, on this spot
.
Erik narrowed his eyes. He delved into the foreground, searching. He could just see it. It had happened a while ago, but it was still there, if only barely. It came in very brief flashes. At first there was fear, and an unquenchable thirst for power and knowledge mingled with the stench of rot and death. Presumably the couple was dragged into the park by the Vahzilok. Erik thought as the sensations flowed around his mind, seeping into it slowly as he sifted through the complex tangle of emotion within the park.
Everything suddenly changed. Fear, ambition, abomination-It instantly changed to confusion. Something had surprised them. Confusion very quickly turned to nothingness, and suddenly all traces of feeling started fading in certain spots, one at a time but sometimes altogether. Erik recognized this well-It was the signal of life, meaning and presence of matter being lost. Death. By this point, Erik had his eyes entirely closed and was almost in a trance beneath his umbrella. He could smell the blood, hear the growling of dogs, hear the moans of the wounded, the screams of those about to die. Screams faded, moans vanished, and all that was left was the shuffling and huffing of animals. Then something else arose amidst the vision: Hunger. The sensation spread amongst the entire area, and suddenly a frenzy of activity began anew.
Eating the remains. Even the bones and the blood. That seems activity more suited to Hyenas than dogs. Erik thought musingly to himself, but then focused back on the scene before him. Something was coming. Something
It was hard to describe. Vast? Overbearing? Intimidating? Erik concentrated and focused on the new arrival, trying to ascertain what it was
Hello there my good sir! Eriks eyes snapped open. When he went into trances like that, he lost perception of time and the world around him. He was suddenly face to face with a Reaper, with two absent-minded cadavers behind him. There was a nasty looking cleaver against his throat. How would you like to make a donation for the betterment of humanity? The Reaper asked him in a cheerful, sing-song voice. The abominable excuse for a doctor was reaching into his pocket for a syringe, but Erik never let him get that far.
I must decline your offer. Erik said calmly, meeting the Reapers gaze evenly. Here is a counter proposal: Go to the nearest police station and turn yourself in. Bring your friends with you and make sure they dont attack anybody. Live out the rest of your days redeeming yourself for your crimes.
Yes. The Reaper said suddenly, his eyes now blank and unfocused. That sounds like a good deal. I will do that. Have a nice day. He removed the cleaver and started walking, almost in a stupor, out of the park with cadavers in toe. Erik watched him go, his face having not even flickered from when he had opened his eyes. Though his expression was still blank, there was a sense of sternness to it as he watched the man go. After a few moments, he turned slightly to take in the entire scene once more and carefully began feeling about
But he didnt even need to bother doing so for more than a moment to tell that he had missed his chance to fully determine what had happened here. Some places only ever divulged their secrets once.
He sighed and looked up into the sky, tilting his umbrella slightly so as to gaze upon the open blue if only for a moment. He stood there for a moment, thinking, until he lowered his umbrella and left the park, and started heading for Freedom Court.
Alex smiled at Blakes offer, The Pizza Port is just a couple of blocks down the road. We could play some pool; maybe try out the arcade as well. The Pizza Port was a popular hang-out for kids in Galaxy. Apparently, it used to be a bar, called the Tite Rod, filled with gang activity and shadowy deals; when hero activity picked up and through the efforts of one of Galaxys very own, the Rod was shut down and considered condemned.
However, in an effort to revitalize the Citys image, a lovely young couple and avid entrepreneurs had the place renovated and set the theme for young adults under 21. Even though the place still has the general appearance of a bar, it doesnt serve alcohol and smoking isnt permitted on the premises; an extensive arcade was installed as well as several table games, like billiards and air hockey. Unfortunately, the gang activity wasnt completely banished, and sometimes young Hellion wanna-bes hung out in the Port and caused trouble.
Despite that, the Pizza Port was still the hottest spot to hang out in Galaxy. You take care of the food; Ill take care of the games. Alex slid the edge of a twenty-dollar bill from her pocket, and then pushed it back in.
Nyte remained silent along with Hunter as they put some distence between them and the aparatments. She let her gaze sweep the streets before them before casting a sideways look to Hunter as she answered his quietly spoken statement.
"Don't ever apologize for your emotions Hunter, how you feel about a situation can be hidden - from most, but should never be apologized for. People lie with thier words and thier actions but strong emotions can't be faked and one should never feel sorry for the truth, sometimes emotion is the only truth people have to offer."
Realizing that she was quickly decending into a philisophical discussion on emotion - something she found intresting due to her gifts but others tended to find rather dull she smiled and returned her gaze to the streets.
"In any case it was my fault, my guard was down as I become familiar with the building and all of you living in it I'll becom accustomed in whatt to expect and be able to filter most of the emotional background noise out"
Hunter smiled very slightly and glanced at Nyte. She was starting to remind him of someone from a long time ago, someone he deeply missed.
"I have never met anyone like you before," he stated truthfully. "You're rather...disarming."
Nyte laughed lightly, she was pleased to see him smiling - even if it was only barely there, she had the feeling Hunter was not prone to such things - he had a rather reserved air about him.
"I try very hard to be unique"
She told him with a solem gaze - although she only managed the serious look for a few moments before smiling again.
"Now the question is..is disarming a good thing? or a bad thing? I admit it's probably a step-up from irritating but maybe a step down from angelic"
She joked lightly, many questions floated through her head about Hunter...but it was best not to push for such things such details would perhaps be revealed in time - or maybe not who could really tell?
((Hehe, I dont mind at all doodaa))
[ QUOTE ]
"welcome to the city and watch out for the rikti" he said with a laugh as he walked closer to the Alex and Hunter
[/ QUOTE ]
Alex smiled at Ramons half-joke, though it was sound advice: The Rikti were still among us. She was always welcoming of Ramons presence, even though he seemed like he was afraid to show himself.
Heh, Alex spoke to the other two, Hes right you know, though Id keep a lookout for Hellions and Vahz. They seem to like to hang out around this neighborhood.
[ QUOTE ]
Blake nodded his head as he came within earshot, saying "Hey Alex, how's it going?"
[/ QUOTE ]
Heya Blake, She greeted him warmly, Im cool. Just greeting a couple of new residents to our friendly abode; Hunter and Nyte. She motioned to each of them in kind, Im glad I was able to greet Nyte before Mabel; it would be terrible if she scared her off. Though the old hag already got to Hunter. She ended that note as if that was a horrid fate for anyone.
Alex warmed a bit as Blake came closer. He was a cool kid er, guy; even though he was a couple of years older than her she didnt feel the awkwardness some kids felt around each other if they werent the same age.