You can call me Glacius9 and you can tell all the Ghosts, Ice9 has returned as I spoke those words I watched tears well up in Celestial Navs deep blue eyes, weary suspicion burning in Sooner Spirits face and stunned silence gripped my old friend Ahren. Sooner was the first to speak, Glacius9, I think you better explain just what the hell thats supposed to mean before I knock your [censored] off this roof! I do not know what I had expected from my old friends upon seeing me for the first time but her anger and hostility surprised me. I know I have been gone a long time Sooner and I have changed, become more than I was before, but I am the man you knew as Ice9. Let me show you, the biometric scanner on our mainframe will recognize me that should prove to you I am who I say I am. Raising her hand in a Halt gesture she immediately stepped between the open rooftop access hatch and me, No way stranger, youre not going anywhere near our base until I get some answers. Without taking her eyes off me, she asked Nav to retrieve UPS 2.2 and Broken Shadow so they might help establish my identity.
The morning breeze brushed past me and I felt my hair dancing in the warming air, You have taken on leadership of the troops I see I could not help but smile at the thought of the once quiet and reserved Sooner taking on the role of mentor, coach and captain. She, like so many heroes, preferred to play her part without fanfare or notoriety but leaders have to make the hard decisions and her face now showed the burden of responsibility. I imagine a great deal has changed while I have been away, I can only hope these last months were less difficult for my dear friends than they were for me. Ahren seemed shaken from a daydream and a dark fury erupted across his scarred face, he nearly spat as he spoke Difficult? You cant imagine what its been like here!* He cut himself off as Nav returned to the rooftop with UPS and Broken Shadow; all three looking like children wondering if the present under the tree is for them. Again, I felt a warm, wide smile stretching across my face It is good to see you again my friends.
Now I see why you asked me to bring the biometric encoder UPS said with a slight grin, I should warn you stranger, if youre lying to us this little gizmo will know. Moreover, if thats the case, Im going to make you very, very sorry. Fair warning, now give me your right hand and dont move. Relax big guy I replied, though I am surprised by the depth of your suspicion, I do understand it. UPS held a small device about the size of a dinner plate with a large blue screen at the center, ringed in keys for various functions. As he approached me he pressed a series of keys lighting up the central screen, taking my wrist in his massive hand he placed my right hand on the screen. Brilliant blue and white lights swept over my palm and warmed the tips of my fingers, the small device chirped and chimed signaling it had completed scanning my hand and an emotionless electronic voice declared Identification confirmed: Greetings Ice9. Leaping into the air Nav squealed with joy Ice youre home! Ice youre home!
Two months later...
What were you thinking? Sooner demanded, how could you, of all people, be so stupid? I had no answer for her, nor for Neely who now lay in her room sobbing, I had screwed up on a galactic scale and now Keely was most likely dead. Why, why didnt you listen to me? Why didnt you simply stay here like you were supposed to do? Sooners fury over the failed mission and the loss of one our own thundered down on me. I think the old man has heard enough about how dumb he is for now Sooner Strif said from the doorway, we can remind him tomorrow in case he forgets between now and then. His humor fell on deaf ears but she relented and stormed out of the medical bay, clearing his throat Strif continued, You should get some rest, youll need it tomorrow cause you know this aint over yet. Shes going to rip you a new one again. Probably several new ones. Focusing on my wounds a dazzling green and white light washes over my body, I know bud, I know. There was no point dwelling on how it had happened, I had screwed up and the price was going to be very high. No amount of Im sorry was going to bring Keely back nor would it change the fact that I was partly responsible for the creation of a murderer. There was only one thing I could do; I must kill Shattered Ice9.
The next morning Sooner called all the Ghosts into the briefing room to discuss the events of the previous evening. Through the four hour meeting it became apparent Ebony Rose had double-crossed us, UPS said I know we are all angry with and disappointed in a couple of our members, particularly Glacius9, but it occurs to me what might have happened if they had not stumbled upon Rose when they did? She and the other Shades were obviously planning to ambush us and given the information Rose had in her possession, they were in a good position to really hurt us. Who knows how many more might have fallen if they had been able to execute their attack as planned. Sooners anger bubbled to the surface again, Are you saying he should be thanked for disobeying orders, for foolishly risking the lives of fellow Ghosts? The room felt like a tomb and I could not, would not, remain silent any longer.
I stood up and walked to the front of the room, standing opposite Sooner I looked out at the assemble heroes. I am Glacius9 and I am responsible for Keelys death, nothing I say or do now can change that fact. I am sorry for how things turned out last night, I wish I could change it but I cannot. However, I also will not tolerate my Ghosts sitting around pitying themselves over a fallen comrade that will not do. Several people nervously shifted in their seats as Sooner retorted, And just what do you think we should do now? I took a moment to consider my words, unsure whether my audience was ready to hear them yet, Trying to ambush and capture all of the Shades at one time will be impossible now; instead we will hunt them down and isolate them so we can defeat them individually. At the moment, I am uncertain what should be done with Cowboy Nightmare, Death Shrowd and Ebony Rose but as for the shattered lunatic, I am personally going to end that threat forever. I will break him and then I will destroy him. Neely was seated in the front row, as our eyes met Sooner spoke up Today we mourn for Keely, tomorrow we start doing something about it.
At sunrise the following day our base buzzed with activity, Lilac Pendragon led a dozen Ghosts sifting through every available scrap of intel about our enemies while Ahren conducted training on camouflage and espionage tactics. I found Sooner on the rooftop again and though it was obvious she had not, could not, yet let go of her anger we agreed on one thing; we needed to take the fight to the Shades. It was a strange feeling, being amongst my old friends and so many new faces but still feeling like something was not quite right. That something had a name, a false name, Shattered Ice9. The Ghosts had discovered his existence when he murdered a team of young, inexperienced heroes just so he could send them a message. He does not know the truth about his own creation; he lives a lie
[i]Nerva Archipelago, a year and a half ago.
I am strapped to a large metal table in what appears to be an operating room. Bright lights overhead nearly blinding me as the smell of disinfectant hangs in the air. Every time I move my head the room spins and shutters violently, whomever brought me here must have drugged me also. I can hear a steady beeping in the distance like a heart monitor but it is too far away to be for me, is someone else held here too? Footsteps and voices hurry past the open doorway, men and women, all seemingly unaware or unconcerned that I am awake. Time seems to expand and contract as I drift in and out of consciousness, the drugs make it extremely difficult to focus, what are the voices talking about?
Finally, one has survived one excited voice declares. Yes, I feared none of the subject would survive the process. I thought Doctor Mueller had lost his senses when he suggested using criminals, but this ones time behind bars obviously helped make him strong enough to survive. The second voice continues talking but the drugs seize me again and I drift down into the darkness.
Screams of pain and terror shake me from my gloomy haze, from the adjacent room I hear the sounds of a struggle, breaking glass and tearing fabric. A panicked voice shouts, No, no, stop! You dont understand! The voice is silenced by the sound of metal striking bone and then there is nothing, only silence. My room grows cold, very cold. I can hear a faint sound coming from the hall like the sound of the winter wind blowing through the trees in the forest. The drugs must be playing tricks on my eyes as I see snowflakes dancing on the air drifting in through the doorway. The sound I heard in the hall begins to move toward my room, if whoever it is can free me maybe, we can escape together. Slowly a tall dark silhouette walks past the doorway, he never stops, never even looks into my room but long after he is gone a fine layer of frost covers everything around me. Again, the drugs claw at my mind, dragging me down, and deep into the darkness of sleep.
Again, voices stir me from my drug-induced slumber; they are angry and confused voices of several men and one woman. No, we dont know where he is at the moment. No new alarms have sounded and no new bodies have been discovered, it is possible hes left the facility, explains one voice before another interrupts him. You mean he could be out, outside? Oh thats not good, thats not good at all! A panicked under tone strangled his last few words. Shut up Doctor Mueller, you have caused enough problems already the lone female voice cut into the conversation. Agent Dekker, take your men to the lobby do not allow anyone in and no one gets out without proper identification. Doctor, gather your people and instruct them to leave the facility immediately, in ten minutes my men will seal the exit by destroying it. The Doctor stammered his objection, But, but my work! The research and the resource cannot be moved that quickly! The mysterious woman replied coldly, This building will be his tomb and you will join him if you do not move quickly Doctor.
Hurried footsteps and frightened voices rushed back and forth up and down the hall outside my room. I have fought Crey security forces countless times and I have fought their most powerful troops, the Paragon Protectors, but I have never seen this kind of chaos and fear in Crey Corp personnel. Slowly the sounds of the living fade into the distance until I am alone, bound to my bed with needles dripping drugs into my veins. A thunderous roar above tells me Crey is finished with this facility, whatever research they were performing here, and they are finished with me as well. I am not going to die here on this bed in this damned laboratory, the drugs in the bags over my head are nearly gone, hopefully their effect on me will fade soon enough so I can do something about the restraints. No sense in wasting energy I will need later, so I let the drugs sweep over me again, pulling me down into the darkness.
Hours go by before I begin to stir again, but it is immediately apparent the drugs have left my system. My vision is clear for this first time in days
or was it weeks? I cannot even remember how long I have been captive here but sorting that out can wait, wait until I am free of my makeshift tomb. I make quick work of my binds, freezing them until they shatter like glass, finally I can move again. Like most large enterprises, Crey Corp requires structure and organization to enable it to run efficiently and successfully as evidence of this, posted in the hallway is a map of the entire facility. The map is roughly two feet tall and a foot and a half wide, it indicates where all the major departments are located as well as the first aid station, the security office, supply lockers and of course the one exit. Unfortunately for me, searching these rooms was a complete waste of time, Crey had hastily packed and taken the majority of their supplies and equipment and destroy anything they could not take with them. Apparently they did not want anyone who might one day discover this place to positively link it to Crey Corp.
After inspecting the damage at the exit, it was destroyed, I returned to the security station trying to find a more detailed map of the complex. A detailed set of blueprints lay neatly rolled up and stashed in the bottom drawer of the security chiefs desk, using them I found the ventilation system. Massive fans draw fresh air down into the facility though one part of the ventilation system while CO2 and force other harmful gases out through another portion of the system, without this process everyone working down here would become ill and eventually die. Locating the intake and exhaust ducts did not help my situation however; the Crey agent with the sultry voice did not take any chances, each possible escape route had been cut off and destroyed. Now I really was in trouble, I was running out of oxygen and I had no food to eat. I could freeze the moisture in the air to generate drinking water but now the clock was ticking and with every breath, I took the clock picked up speed.
The collapse at the main entrance was focused and very effective, but I could still hear the sounds of sunrise on the far side of the rubble. There was a chance, however slim; I could punch through the cave-in if I only had enough strength unfortunately brute force is not my forte. I worked for hours trying to clear my path without success and as the sounds beyond the rubble signaled the coming sunset I knew, unless I thought of something, I would not live to see the dawn. I cannot say when I fell asleep or how long I wandered in my dreams but suddenly I sensed a presence with me and as I opened my eyes I was nearly blinded by a brilliant, radiant white light which filled every crack and corner of the hallway that was meant to be my tomb. A shapeless mass of light beamed before me, pulsing and slowly drifting back and forth as if pondering what to do next when I rasped, I know what you are Peacebringer but Im afraid you are nothing more than my mind attempting to comfort me here in my tomb.
Your face, it is familiar, it replied but I do not recall your name hero. Confused and cautious I asked, How do you know me Peacebringer? Where do you think you have seen me before? Again, it drifted to the left, then the right and then left again almost like someone shifting their balance back and forth from one foot to the other. I was different then, I was one but now I am two again
its voice trailed off as if trying to remember the next part of a story when it erupted in dazzling blue and white light shouting I was one with the teacher until they murdered him and scattered me in the wind! I held up my hand urging it to calm down, Someone removed you from a host? That is not possible. What was your name when you were with the teacher? How do you know me Peacebringer? All of the warm, radiant white light drained out of my guest leaving a bizarre, twisted looking pulsing blue mass in its place, I was Ahren and you, Ice9, murdered me.
Hold the [censored] phone there! You are Ahren? How in the hell did you get here? What happened to you? And, why the [censored] do you think, I killed you? I have been in here for days, maybe a week, and I havent left. This doesnt make any sense. I was confused and a little angry but I could not quite indentify why I felt that way. The Peacebringer regained some of its usual luster as it explained, We saw you die almost two years ago, we wept with the Ghosts and our friends over your passing, and then we discovered you were not dead but your heart turned cruel and evil, murder and suffering became your hallmark. A dead cold chill gripped my bones as his voice trailed off until it was little more than a whisper, I am weak, the cannon
it nearly destroyed me. I have searched for too long for a new host
you cannot be the one who killed me but you wear the same face. One chance, one chance to live and maybe to understand all of this
A rush a vibrant blue and white light erupted from the Peacebringer as if it had tapped into a deep but nearly empty last reserve of strength. Join me. I cannot survive like this for much longer and as you said this place will soon become your tomb. Apart our fate is sealed, but together we may find the answers we seek and the strength to escape this cage. Join me Ice9. I never considered what I would say if ever presented with the chance to be a host for a Kheldian but given the situation there really wasnt any decision to make, join and maybe live or pass and almost certainly perish. Im ready Peacebringer, whatever it takes to get us the hell out of this pit. A pure, lush white light rained down over me, into me, and through me; I saw images in my mind as our thoughts mixed into one another, filling in gaps, dreams and nightmares.
I watched as a man wearing my own face murdered Ahren, but his eyes were cold and empty his soul was dead, if he ever had one at all. I saw UPS brought to his knees when he learned about the deaths of so many young heroes, each one murdered just to get his attention. I looked on as my friends mourned my death at an empty grave and I felt a cold chill again creeping across my body, as I lay bound to a table in the lowest levels of this laboratory. Shattered Ice9 was here, made here, and he escaped from here as well. Only now did all the pieces of the jumbled maze fall into place so I could find my way out and finally make sense of it all. After I fell in battle, Arachnos sold me to Crey and they used me, more accurately they used my DNA, in gene therapy experiments they performed on convicts and criminal volunteers. Their work succeeded in creating a murderous lunatic with powers like my own but a twisted and flawed version of reality in his head, he believes he really is Ice9 and wants revenge on the people who left him to die. He tortured Ahren for months in an effort to free his Kheldian half so he could join with it himself; becoming Deathbringer
he failed but nearly killed both the Kheldian and the teacher in the process.
I watched him escape, he was right here with me, I was powerless to stop him, so many deaths, and so much pain could have been prevented. If only there had been enough time
time, that is a funny way to put it. Time expands and contracts based upon what we are doing and whether we are happy, sad, scared or in love. The pain-filled months of torture and suffering at the hands of the Shades seemed like years while the drug-induced haze I spent here in this lab appeared to pass in hours or maybe days but now I see I have been here for months, too many months. Pulling myself up and dusting off my uniform I could feel every fiber in my body resonating like the taught strings on a guitar, what was two is now one
"Glacius? You alright bud? UPS asked bringing me back to the moment, Yes old friend, Im fine. I was just reminding myself of why I am here and what still needs to be done.
Pocket D, also referred to as the DMZ, is a noisy and often crowded hideaway where heroes and villains alike can burn off some energy and relax without the worry and struggle we face on the streets every day. It is also, for anyone with enough cash, a good place to buy information and favors. I feel like a ****** in this dress, you had better not be wasting my time Hero. Leaning toward my guest I explain, In a dress you appear to be having a drink with one of Paragon Citys finest, in your usual attire we could not stand out more if I set the table on fire. As for whether this is worth your time, Im paying you a kings ransom and giving you the location of two Malta bases where they are hiding goods they stole from you and your sisters. Now, can you do what I need of you? My question seemed simple but politics in the Rogue Isles can be a very messy thing and my guest would have to walk a razors edge to fulfill our agreement. We can meet your request, but let me be clear Hero. We will carry your message to Scirocco and if he agrees we will bring you his reply, but after that you are on your own with him and with Shattered Ice9. She paused a long moment before continuing, A word of caution Peacebringer, do not think this arrangement buys you anything else from the Knives of Artemis, if we cross paths again it will be as adversaries. Without another word, she gracefully stood up and walked across the room toward the exit marked Rogue Isle Access: No Heroes Permitted.
Four days later...
I am seated at a massive conference table in the Command Center for our base of operations with over a hundred pieces of paper before me. Surveillance photos, intelligence reports, lists of known associates, arrest reports, medical, personal and conviction reports spread out around me. One of the younger and very eager, Ghosts found the link my hopes were tied to now. Scirocco, one of highest-level pawns of Arachnos, mentored Shattered Ice9 while he established himself as a force to be feared and respected in the Rogue Isles. It is common for up and coming villains to suck up to the Big Name foursome under Recluse himself, but Shattered Ice9 betrayed Scirocco for personal gain and my bet was Scirocco would jump at the chance to hurt his former protégé. A few hours ago, an agent of the Knives of Artemis handed me a note she carried directly from Grandville, the center of power for Arachnos, it contained just one word
Agreed.
I reviewed every piece of paper, inspected each photograph, and double-checked all of my notes. A thin smile stretched across my face as a thought came into focus in my mind this just might work. I havent seen you smile like that in a long time Old Man it was Sooner Spirit, walking over and taking the seat to my left. Have you heard back about your gamble?
Yes, a little while ago, and I have just been rechecking all of my notes and the data we have here I replied. Sooners distrust and caution blazed like a wildfire across her face, I still dont like the idea of you doing this solo. I held up my hand cutting her off, We have been over this a dozen times, no one among us knows the area as well as I do, I spent weeks there without being detected before and I can do this. More importantly, I must do this. Her lips opened in protest but she did not speak, instead she reached out taking my hand in both of hers, Come back to us then Glacius, finish this and come home safe.
I need to get moving, I have a fishing boat to catch by two so I can ride with them when they return to port. If all goes according to plan, I will be back for breakfast the day after tomorrow without another word, I walked down the hall to the stairwell leading to the rooftop and eventually out over the open water northeast of Peregrine Island. Far behind me, in our Command Center, more Ghosts joined Sooner Spirit still seated at the table. Lilac Pendragon, Ici Cold, Lady Saint, Broken Shadow, Witch-Frost and Celestial Nav took their seats at our round table, Sooner leaned forward Alright, now lets go over this again
Awesome, thanks, "Old Man," for posting this. I'm gonna go edit in a link in the conclusion of Sisters.
Nerva Archipelago
Youve picked a strange place to go wanderin about lad, the tired old Skipper mumbled as the boat abruptly thumped against the pier.
No wandering involved Capn, I know exactly where Im headed I extended my hand and he grabbed it with his weathered, calloused hand, I smiled saying, Dont look so sad old friend, we shall see one another again soon. I hopped up onto the wet, oil-stained pier and thrust my hands deep into my coat pockets, part of me chuckled as a wave of déjà vu ran up my spine.
Behind me, the Captain and his dirty old boat faded into the thickening fog, Good luck lad may the spiHRRKKK!!!
A long legged shadow stood over the fallen Captain and keyed her radio, Shattered love, the crew have already left the boat and the Captain is going down with his ship. Our guest of honor is on his way to you now.
Northeast of the docks, near a sprawling Crey Corp research complex, Shattered Ice9 listened to Cowboy Nightmares report. Smiling with sadistic confidence and enthusiasm he replied, Follow him here as we planned, I will await you both down on Level 5.
Are you certain he will find his way back down there?
He will, he selected this place for a reason hes looking for answers, those answers are on Level 5 where it all began without another word Shattered Ice9 strolled through the newly reopened entrance to Crey Corp Research and Development Lab 1138. Come Glacius9, come meet your maker.
The Rogue Isles are not, as many might think, a nation of crooks and thugs there are thousands of citizens here simply trying to survive under the rule of an evil dictator. Briskly making my way up away from the fishermens wharfs, through peddlers and beggars, and carefully avoiding both Rogue Isle Police and Arachnos troop patrols I reached the western edge of Crey Corps massive research complex on the eastern side of Nerva. I still remember where I dug myself out of that tomb Crey sealed me up in, I can still taste that first breath of fresh air when I finally broke through to freedom. Now the entrance is clear, Scirocco has been true to his word, for now. I took a moment to scan the edge of the woods behind me; no one appeared to be following me. Ducking under some exposed wiring, I stepped back into a tomb but this time I will not be the one left behind.
Level 5
The laboratory has not changed much since I escaped from here, it stinks of rot now and leaking water forms miniature lakes throughout the lower levels. The long corridor in front of me is where it all began, four doorways on either side of the hall but the lights are out in all but two doors. Shattered Ice9 was born in the last room on the right while I nearly died in the room next to it. An inch of water covers the floor down here; eventually the flooding may consume the entire facility. An eerie stillness settles over the rippling water, the silence is broken by the sound of a cold winter wind and the temperature in the corridor begins to fall.
Welcome home Glacius9 a wicked, disembodied voice taunts me from within the last room on the right. Shattered Ice9 steps into the hall, seething with hate he continues, What did you expect to find here hero? Did you hope to surprise me and capture me? Did you really believe Scirocco would betray me? Fool, there is nothing left here for you.
You deluded half-wit, I didnt have Scirocco send you here just to ambush you. I could do that anywhere, I wanted you here to show you the truth, to show you where you were hatched.
With dismissive confidence, he begins walking toward me, We could stand here all day trading insults and explaining reality to one another, I prefer getting to the point more directly.
He was nearly within arms reach as he finished his sentence that is when I heard it; I heard a foot splashing in the water
behind me! Stalker! Anger, rage, and revenge erupted from deep within me as I stomped down with all my strength. The shockwave caught both of my attackers by surprise, without hesitating, I wheeled around on the now visible Cowboy Nightmare and slammed my fist into her stomach. Dazed and disoriented she attempted to retreat from me; I hit her again with a bone jarring left cross that caught her right on the chin dropping her to her knees for the moment.
Die hero Shattered Ice9 screamed as he hurled ice at my back, the larger chunks pounding into me like baseball bats while the smaller pieces stabbed and tore at my flesh.
Here, catch [censored] and I returned the favor hammering him in the chest with a cluster of white-hot orbs nicknamed, Kheldian hand grenades. In the corner of my eye, I saw Cowboy Nightmare struggling to her feet, No no, [censored], youre staying down this time. Rushing to her, I leap into the air, crashing down fists first, the force of the blow drives her to the floor and I follow it up by stomping into the steel floor again. However, before I can finish her off, a ray of ice rockets past my head slamming into the wall and freezing a large section of hallway.
Shattered Ice9, radiating hate and murderous rage, lunges for me and I catch him with a painful uppercut. My fist sinks into his stomach, at the base of his ribcage, a direct hit on his liver. Gasping for air, he staggers away from me but I will not allow him to escape me. Pure white vengeance blasts at him from both of my hands, fueled by anger and hate streaming from deep inside my soul. Snow and ice fill the air around the three of us, Not done yet, huh? Good, then you can still feel this. My Kheldian half is beyond reason, beyond mercy, beyond justice; it wants blood, it wants to smash his skull in and watch the life drain out of him. I hit him over and over again, a left cross connects breaking a couple teeth and then a hard, quick elbow lands across his nose tearing cartilage and splintering bone. Grabbing his blood stained hair and his belt I drive my knee up into his ribs and find myself grinning as I feel bones cracking on one impact and then breaking when hit again.
Cowboy Nightmare stumbles behind me trying to stand, so I turn to face her. Coughing up blood, my broken adversary can barely speak but he rasps out, Go, go see him, he will know what to do.
I glance back to him, confused, when I look back at Cowboy Nightmare she disappears into an Ouroboros portal. What the hell does Ouroboros have to do with all of this?
"Go to hell Hero. I will tell you nothing. It would do you no good even if I did talk, youre a dead man.
Grabbing him by the throat to shut him up, I drag him to his feet. Crey tried to kill me here before idiot; do you remember when you escaped from here? Do you remember how you got your powers convict? You were a street punk and Crey graphed a heros DNA on to you! You sick, twisted [censored]! You are NOT Ice9!
I hit him again.
And again.
Again.
Harder.
Again.
Bones splinter and flesh tears open, he is dying, very slowly. Standing over his nearly lifeless body, I lift his head off the floor his white hair is now completely soaked and blood red. You were a common criminal, nothing more. That is how you will be remembered.
He smiles at me, You won this time, but I will win the war. No matter how many times it takes to win.
Wrong [censored], for you, this war ends right here, right now. Raising my fist into the air, I see the faces of all the people this lunatic has made suffer, all the lives he has taken, and I know what I must do. This ends here and I let all the pain, anger, rage, suffering, and hate come crashing down on him with one final strike.
Epilogue
The sun is setting, bathing Founders Falls in warm hues of red, orange, and purple, I love this time of the day, the city glows like a beautiful gem and I can forget about the ugliness and violence, if only for a moment. Sooner Spirit stands beside me looking out over the city, I know she wants me to tell her what happened in Nerva, but I cannot. I will not.
Ahren told me you finished packing your things. I dont like this leave of absence Ghosts seem to find a lot of trouble when they go off on their own. Without saying it, she suspects I hid something from her and the other Ghosts when I decided to leave the team for a while. I am not the first in our family to take some time off, to gather my thoughts, or just get away from the daily grind of thwarting crime. However, if I were hiding something, I would not be the first to do that either.
Relax Sooner I do not have any new secret agenda or covert action planned, I just need to get out of town for now.
"Where are you headed? So we can reach you if we need you.
Nice try Sooner I thought to myself, but even if I told you where I am headed, you wouldnt know when to look for me. Turning away from the darkening skyline, I nudge her toward the doorway leading down into our base, Lilac will be upset if we are late for dinner, again. And as for where I am going, I guess Ill have to let you know when I get there.
The End
This is the follow up to my first story and I am posting it here to make Sooner's future storytelling a bit more simple.