What is a dream? Is it nothing more than overnight mental housekeeping? A message from the subconscious? A story concocted by the waking brain from the chaotic images drifting through the unconscious mind? A warning from the fates?
Neely
In a different Paragon City
Neely moaned and rolled over in her sleep. She slept in a warm and comfortable bed in a world she hadnt been born to. Her dreams always brought her back to her home, though not always happily. This dream was murky and dark. She saw everything through a deep purple fog swirling with agitated frenzy. She could just make out a man fighting against a formless evil. She knew him. She loved him like a brother, and hadnt seen him for months. He was dead in her adopted home, and she missed him fiercely.
Her sleepy agitation grew as she watched UPS 2.2 fight in her dream. He always seemed undefeatable. He had protected her so many times, placed himself between her and danger. He kept her, and countless others, safe. She wanted to reach him, to help him, because she knew this time it would be different. He was in grave danger that he didnt see or know. This time, someone needed to keep him safe.
She pushed her way through the purple fog, step by slow step, like trying to fight through a marshmallow. She made her last push through, the fog lifted and vanished, and she could finally see him clearly as an ugly, evil beam of green and white light lanced through the darkness. It struck UPS and flared around his body in a fiery corona. His face twisted with pain and his body arched back. The green light seemed to eat away his strength. In her dream, it withered him away, stole his life. He turned to her, his brown eyes filled with agony. His mouth opened but before he could speak, an ugly spiked weapon marked with a red Arachnos spider struck him. Rather than skid off his defenses as it should, it sliced into him, laid open his chest. Her dear friend collapsed, his body vanishing under a rising pool of blood.
She sat bolt upright in bed, biting off a scream, and stared into the darkness. Even her Kheldian half was upset and worried. UPS was dead in this world. Why was she dreaming a warning about him?
Keely
The Shades of Vengeance base
In Keelys dream, she slept in a huge, soft bed, not a tiny, hard cot. She was snuggled under a thick feather comforter and soft flannel blankets, rather than a single thin sheet. She wore comfy pajamas - a cotton tank top and shorts rather than a plain grey prison shirt and pants. In her dream her belly was full, her room was warm, and the house was filled with friends, relatives, and people who loved her. Her sister was in the next room, but she was never alone because of the Kheldian who had bonded her. The Kheldian who was sane, stable, and kept Keely from making stupid decisions. In her dream, she was safe and happy. Her dream was nothing at all like her reality, but shed learned to go to that place when she slept.
Something disturbed her sleep and her eyes cracked open. She saw the ugly red light filling the tiny metal room. She let out a single whimper and determinedly closed her eyes. She pulled her thin blanket up to her chin and sank back into her dream, where a delicious breakfast would be waiting for her.
She could almost smell the pancakes when a tiny sound penetrated into her sleep. She sat up, eyes wide, pulling the blanket around her like a shield. She was a prisoner of evil people who meant her harm. The fact that shed had a respite from the abuse, starvation, and terror that had been her life for months did not mean it couldnt resume at a whim from her captors. Her Kheldian half was broken, and at the awakening, it began to scream and gibber in her head, but the red light - based on void slayer technology - kept it and her powerless.
Go away... she whispered, please go away.
Razor 6
Shades of Vengeance base
Razor 6's dreams were as fragmented as his memories and life. He remembered being four men. He remembered dying twice, and having another mans DNA forced painfully onto his own twice. He remembered being a small time thug, a powerful hero, a twisted villain, and now...he was Razor 6. Awake, he was rarely sure of what memories were real, which were truly his and which were impressed upon him, or one of his other lives. Was he really street thug Paul Smylie? Hero Ice9? Villain Shattered Ice9? Or was he truly Razor 6, and all that came before just the bedrock for his new world?
In his dreams, he always saw a woman. Sometimes she was a beautiful woman with a soft heart and a deadly blade, sometimes she wore a scarred face with dead eyes, and a cold, twisted heart driving that blade. He remembered loving her, both of her, but nothing more of her. He dreamed of flying above the Rogue Isles when he was struck down, he dreamed of falling and breaking on the rocks. He remembered another death, one that made little sense - he was beaten, brutally beaten to death... by himself. He dreamed of screaming in agony as injected DNA remade him from the inside. It was like being burned alive while being electrocuted. It was like being crushed, it was like every bone was broken at the same time and reset. And that had happened to him twice - even through all his fragmented memories, he remembered that clearly... not once, but twice hed been put through that agony.
For Razor, his dreams were never restful. He woke often, and took the opportunity to review his plans. He would remake this world as he had been remade. It would be his. And everyone who had stood in the way of any of his lives would suffer and die. It was a long list, and he truly didnt care if some of the fragmented memories meant that not everyone on that list deserved to be there.
On this night, he startled awake, and after taking the usual few minutes to sort through his confused memories to remember which version of himself he truly was, he began to refine his plan. The Ghosts Reborn... they had placed themselves in the way of his plans, and they would all pay. Each of them would suffer at his hands before they died. His mind held personal memories of many of them, though he now knew that those memories had never truly been his. Nonetheless, the events of those memories were real, even if they had happened to another man.
To take out the Ghosts, first they had to be weakened from within. Their leaders, of course, had to be broken. But UPS 2.2 was their strength. They one and all depended on him, and he had achieved iconic status among the Ghosts. If UPS could be killed, it would leave a hole in the ranks of the Ghosts Reborn. And now, with information coming to him from within the Ghosts, he knew a way. It would be the first step to eliminating the barriers to his plans. UPS, then the Ghosts, then Paragon City, then Arachnos and the Rogue Isles. And from there... the world would be his.
Ebony Rose
The Shades of Vengeance Base
Ebony Rose slept fitfully as well. Since she had accepted her place in the Rogue Isles, she had also accepted the perks and benefits of being one of the most powerful women in the Isles. Her bedroom in the Shades base was luxuriously appointed and her bed was comfortable and warm. Unfortunately, she found sleep difficult lately. When she first arrived in the Rogue Isles, she was plagued with nightmares. She came to understand that many of those nightmares came from her own conflict with herself as to her place in the world. Shed been given the opportunity to return to Paragon City, to be pardoned and resume her place in academia. Shed been given the opportunity shed dreamed of, but turned away from it, in no small part because that opportunity required her to betray people she cared deeply for: Shattered Ice9, Cowboy Nightmare, and Death Shrowd. Now Shattered was dead, Cowboy Nightmare had vanished, and Death Shrowd was a rare visitor to the base. That left only her to hold the reins of leadership. Razor had stepped in to resume the place that Shattered had held, but it became clearer by the day that Razor would never be Shattered. Shed tried so hard to bring him back, but instead shed simply brought a stranger into her base.
Conall still wanted to step into Shattereds place. Their relationship had changed in ways she didnt understand since the day he rescued her from an insane hero, but she knew he was still a definite threat to her power. If there would be no return of Shattered, perhaps she should let the demon have the place he wanted? She felt in her heart that if she allowed Conall to assume power, she would have a strong ally at her side. No.. No... if Razor ever did finally become Shattered - a hope she never gave up completely - his place would be waiting for him.
She lay staring into the dark, idly rubbing her flesh hand over the cybernetic arm that had replaced the gleaming prosthesis that Six-Four had ruined. That artificial limb had become a symbol of her own life: it was not what she would have chosen, but she had made the best out of what she had. And she would hold onto what she had with all the strength of both her hands.
Cherished
Paragon City
Cherished had had the same dream at least once a month for as long as she could remember. Shed been forced to buy special fire retardant sheets, pillows, and mattresses because of her alarming tendency to burst into flame when it was especially bad. Awake, as an adult, she could hardly remember the Rogue Isles at all. But at night, in her recurring dream, she could see it clearly.
In her dream, she was wakened by her father. He was already carrying her younger sister, Sable, and Sable was whimpering and crying into his shoulder. Candis! he called urgently, Wake up, baby girl! Wake up! She saw mommy appear in the door with duffle bags thrown over her shoulders.
The dream skipped ahead to her family fleeing from the house as the front door began to boom and shake from the pounding. Sable was crying even harder, and Candis clung to mommys hand, too confused and frightened to even ask what was wrong.
Mommy pulled her faster than she could run, and she stumbled after. Daddy came behind carrying Sable - who was too small to run, looking back over his shoulder. Thats how she always remembered him. Her dream self had inflated their pursuers to monstrous proportions, and monstrous shapes. She remembered their pursuers as giant spiders chittering and skittering after her family, even though she knew they must have been just regular arachnos troops.
They made it to the docks, to the boats, where a nervous man paced the dock in front of a small ship loaded with people fleeing the Rogue Isles. When he saw that his last passengers were bringing Arachnos down on him, he immediately began trying to cast off. Mommy ran faster, dragging Candis behind, but Daddy, burdened with a sobbing child, was tiring and fell behind. Every time Mommy slowed, he urged her to hurry.
Mommy made it to the boat, but the man tried to stop her from getting on. Mommy actually tossed Candis aboard and turned back to her husband. She reached back to him and her youngest daughter as the Arachnos began to fire. Candis screamed when she saw a bolt of blood red light strike her father. He fell, rolling his body around Sables to keep her from getting hit. Mommy was torn between her daughter on the boat, and the rest of her family, and then Daddy screamed at her to Go with Candis! Go! My cherished ones! Go! Mommy was crying and she turned and leapt onto the boat too, even as the man cursed at them and threatened to throw them both overboard. Cherished still thought he mightve, too, if hed had the time. Instead, he put all his energy into getting away from the docks. And fortunately for everyone on the boat, the Arachnos paused to take custody of at least one of the Murphy children, even as the other vanished into the darkness. Cherished never knew if her memory of her father being executed there on the dock was real, or her own horrifying imagination.
She popped awake then, as she often did, with her body bursting into flames. She managed to quench the flames before she burned up another mattress, but the memory was enough to keep her awake. For years, she and her mother had hunted for news of Sable. It was just recently that Cherished learned that her younger sister had joined the ranks of Arachnos. It was a cruel blow for someone who had become a registered hero of Paragon City. How could she possibly be expected to fight her own family?
Her unease was not relieved when she and Sable finally reconnected. The risk her sister took to communicate with her was terrifying. She had resigned herself to the loss of a sister she barely remembered, she could not reconcile herself to potentially losing her now that they had finally found each other again.
Sable Murphy
The Shades of Vengeance base
If Sable and Razor would have discussed their dreams, they would have been strikingly similar. Sable had believed a certain truth her whole life, and when she found out it was entirely a lie, she found herself unsure of who and what she was.
Her dreams featured earthquakes, collapsing houses, swaying rope bridges and other obvious references to her uncertain past. Shed believed she was an orphan, abandoned by parents who hadnt cared for her, and rescued from the streets by Westin Phipps. Shed been raised as a ward of the state until she was taken in by Arachnos and started being trained intensely.
Now she was an elite soldier, one of very few women to wear the crabs backpack. And she learned that rather than an orphan with no family at all, she had a mother and a sister in Paragon City. Careful planning, investigation, bribes,and research all lead her to a story very different than the one shed been raised to believe.
More careful work found her a contact of a contact that could put her in touch with her sister, and theyd begun exchanging letters. And that was when Sable made a mistake that could have cost her life: one late night spent drinking with her fellow soldiers, Sable found herself and Razor 6 the last two awake. They had talked until nearly dawn. He had confided in her his plans for a new world, and suggested that she might have a place in it if she were with him. And Sable had confided that she had a sister, a hero, a member of the Ghosts Reborn.
Sable Murphy
Pocket D
Sable was dressed casually in jeans and a fitted tee, but she would never fit into a crowd with the enormous crab backpack looming over her shoulders. She had made a point, however, of spending so many of her off hours in the metahuman club that she at least was a normal part of the scenery. She sipped her drink as she leaned one elbow on the bar.
The bartender, a skinny young brunette with a girl-next-door pretty face, spiky hair and a tapestry of tattoos crawling up her arms, wiped down the bar as she made her way closer to Sable.You came in with company, Jonnie commented.
Ya, Sable answered. Some of the squad wanted a drink as well.
Jonnie nodded at Black 6, You got a thing goin with that one? I see you in here a lot with him.
Sable barked out a laugh, Please! No, thats the last thing I need, complications like that one! Black 6 waved at her and tapped his watch just then. She nodded at him. Well... early call tomorrow. She casually tucked a folded $100 inside a $5 and slipped it to Jonnie. Thanks for remembering my usual!
Neely
In another Paragon City
Neely stared at the ceiling, not wanting to get up and wake Keely, but unable to go back to sleep. Dawn was starting to gild the windows in the apartment she shared with her sister when she heard faint noises coming from Keelys room. She got up and padded barefoot down the hall. She could hear Keely crying out in her sleep, and so she opened the door and stepped in.
Keely? Keely, youre having a dream...
Keely sat up and looked around, confused. Then she slumped back down into her pillows, I keep seeing him die... she muttered.
Who, Keely? she asked.
UPS. I keep watching him die. But... its not what happened. Its not how he was killed.
Neely frowned. Was there a purple fog?
Keely nodded and sat up again. Yes. Purple. And swirly.
I dreamed it too, Neely said. Keely... tell me again how your UPS died?
Keely sighed, her golden brown hair falling around her face.
We thought you -she was dead. We really thought so. We wouldnt have left you... her there if wed known... I promise. I would have done anything if I couldve have gotten... her out of there.
Neely nodded. I know... but what happened. What happened to UPS?
Theyd driven her mad. Shed always been difficult, she was so angry all the time, and she didnt like anyone who got too close to me, Neely smiled sadly and nodded again. Shed always had a problem with UPS, though.
I dont know how, but she finally escaped from them. Ahren thinks they knew what she would do and they let her out. Well never know the truth. But, she got away from them and she called the base. UPS talked to her, and he came to me. He said my sister was alive, but in grave danger and that we had to go right away to get her.
We rushed to save her. We sent out the call for help, but nobody else could get back in time, so it was just the two of us. That was ok, it had been just the two of us many times before. Neely smiled again, remembering the many times she and UPS had fought together. Theyd been a good team. Even better when Strif and Celestial Nav was with them.
We found her hiding in an abandoned building in damned Sirens Call. She was so frightened.. Or she acted that way. She cowered from UPS, and wouldnt let either of us near her until we finally dropped our shields. He didnt think he had anything to worry about from a fellow ghost, and I didnt think I needed to be afraid of my own sister, my own twin. We got her standing, she was so thin, covered with bruises and scars... there didnt seem to be any danger in her. Then UPS turned away, to check our escape, and I saw her eyes cut to the left. I glanced over to see what she was looking at and I saw.... something in the shadows. It was shiny and metallic.
Keely paused, and her struggle was obvious. Neely reached out to take her sisters hand and squeeze it. Finally Keely spoke again, If Id reacted faster, maybe hed... maybe things wouldve been different. I wasted the time trying to figure out what I was looking at. We... didnt have that much time. UPS said it was time to go, then he turned back. I guess he saw where I was looking, and he didnt worry about what it was... it wasnt supposed to be there, and he acted. Even then, it was almost too late for me. I saw movement back in the shadows, then she attacked me. UPS grabbed me and threw me out of a broken window, out of the building. She... she meant to kill me. I could see it on her face.
Keely stopped, and Neely could see tears in those wide blue eyes. She jumped up and ran for a glass of cold water. Keely sipped, nodded gratefully, and spoke again. At first I just saw the purple flair of the attack... then it was like a war zone. Explosions, gunfire, laser fire. I heard the sound of fists and I saw snow and ice flying out like a winter storm.
Keely sipped her water again. Neely squeezed her sisters hand and said, more a statement than a question, The Shades were there with her.
Keely nodded. I was hurt, myself. It took me too long to get up, to get my defenses back up. But even then, even knowing it was at least five of them against him, I thought they couldnt hurt him. He was UPS... we all thought nothing could kill him. But hed never managed to get his shields back up. Even then, that man could take the punishment, but they never let him get his feet back under him. He came flying backwards out of the window, before I could even try to help him. He was covered with blood and bruises, cuts and burns. He plowed into the gravel, didnt even try to break his fall... he was hurt so badly and she... she came after him. She... changed to dwarf and she... crushed him. He was there, I think his back was broken, and he still looked at me and told me to run, to get away. He wanted, even then, protect the Ghosts. She landed on him again and he... I never...I cant.... she stopped, she looked up at Neely and took a heavy breath. She stood on his body, and she drained the last of the life out of him. Like a nictus wouldve. But then the Ghosts arrived. It was far too late to save UPS, and she changed... she changed back to human form and... Keely stopped, breathing hard and fast, and swallowed hard. His body lifted into the air, and I watched her take the very last energy from him and form it into an essence. It was the very last insult, to take the energy from the man shed killed, our friend, and turn it against us. Ahren... I think Ahren lost a piece of his soul just then - hes never been the same. Then they all came out of the building, Death Shrowd, Shattered Ice9, Ebony Rose... and Cowboy Nightmare mustve been there, though none of us ever saw her. They fought us, but I think they knew how badly theyd hurt us already, and before too long they fled. Oh, Neely... we all depended on him so much... We havent been the same without him. She took one deep wavering breath. They were both dead, too far gone to help. UPS and my sister, both just laying there. I dont know who killed her. I never asked, I never wanted to know which of my friends killed my sister. But, then... I knew even then that whatever hand finished her, the Shades killed her. They broke her, they caused her death, even if...
Neely suddenly looked away as a horrible thought occurred to her. One she couldnt believe she hadnt thought of before. You knew she was dead?
Keely frowned, Yes. We were certain of it. We were wrong... but we were very confident of it.
How did you know?
I was told by someone I shouldnt have trusted. I made a foolish, reckless attempt to go to the Rogue Isles and bring her back, but I was told that she had already died.
Told... by whom?
That assassin, youve heard of him... Bounty-Killer?
Oh [censored]! Neely jumped up. No! Nonono! That [censored]!
Keely jumped up as well. You too? At Neelys nod, Keely began throwing on clothes.
They spoke together, their voices so similar that if not for the one word difference, it would have sounded like one voice. Keely said, Youve got to go back! as Neely said, Ive got to go back!
Bounty-Killer
Pocket D
Bounty-Killer stepped out of the elevator into the red neon glow of Pocket D. The club was busy that night, bustling with energy and good cheer. He made his way up a flight of stairs to a bar in the back, where the slender, tattooed Jonnie was serving drinks with a friendly smile. He approached and settled onto a vacant stool, catching her eyes and smiling when she nodded at him. He watched her work, reflecting that she tried very hard to make herself unattractive, with the abundant tattoos, the short spiky hair, the ill-fitting clothes, but she was such an innately pretty girl that despite her best efforts, it showed.
Whatll it be, hot stuff? she said.
You know what I like, he drawled back.
She laughed; a pretty, crystal sound that sparkled through the noisy air.
He liked Jonnie, but he worried that she wouldnt be acting as messenger for very much longer. She had become the worst kept secret in the Rogue Isles, and rumor was that the information that passed through her hands was not secure any longer. Some said she had started a side business, selling information as well as passing it from hand to hand. If that rumor reached the wrong ears, Jonnie would not have a long life ahead of her.
Jonnie returned with a frothy beer and a cocktail napkin. Four bucks, she requested, and held the drink until he laid the bills on the counter. They were carefully and neatly stacked, but hidden within the four one dollar bills was a one hundred dollar bill.
Keep the change, he said, as he used two fingers to push the bills across the bar. She nodded and set the beer on the napkin before making the bills disappear into her apron.
Killer lifted the beer in his right hand and sipped as the nimble fingers of his left hand slipped between the folds of the napkin and withdrew a folded scrap of paper. He palmed it and made it disappear into an inside pocket of his flowing trenchcoat.
He sat, enjoying his beer, until he became aware of eyes on him. He turned and arched a brow at the redhead sitting around the corner of the bar. She was obviously a metahuman, in her skin-baring outfit of orange, yellow, and red. And some innocence in her expression made it clear she was a hero... the Rogue Isles tended to beat the innocence out of even the most idealistic in very short time. He suspected she recognized his face, so he lifted his beer to her, smiled his most charming smile, and sipped again. She blushed and looked away. Killers arched brow rose even higher when he noted Jonnie approach the hero with a beer and a napkin and wait patiently for payment before handing over the drink. The hero wasnt as smooth as Killer had been, it was not hard to notice the awkward way she handled the transaction. She glanced from side to side, and then withdrew her own message from the napkin. Killer set his drink down as he noticed her start to open it. He moved fast, for her sake, for Jonnies sake, for everyone who found Jonnie to perform a useful service. He smacked his hand down on top of hers, covering the message. He leaned in close, adopting an attitude of seduction for any who might be watching. Her wide-eyed expression quirked the corner of his mouth.. He pressed his lips against her ear and whispered, Not here, not now,
He gently plucked the message from her hand and trailed his fingers along the neckline of her shirt. With a single pat, he tucked the message into her neckline, then turned away, retrieved his beer from the counter, and vanished into a dark corner. A glance back towards the bar revealed the shaken hero waiting for the elevator that would take her back to Paragon City. He smiled, sipped his beer, and leaned back to disappear into the shadows.
Ebony Rose
Shades of Vengeance Base
Rose puttered around the large conference room in the Shades base, attempting to look busy with papers and small robotic parts, but really she was waiting impatiently for Razor 6 to return. She had kept Shattereds Kheldian prisoner confined, safe, and waiting for him. She had maintained the machine she had so carefully created and modified for him in working order. She had waited for him to pick up his Kheldian project where he had left it, but Razor showed no interest in the project whatsoever.
Roses own history as a prisoner of Nemesis made it challenging for her to remain impartial where the treatment of this prisoner was concerned. She was determined that tonight the project either moved forward, or the final disposal of the prisoner would be decided and carried out. She would not be party to any further abuse of that particular prisoner that did not serve to advance the cause of the Shades.
Razor 6 strode into the base at his usual time that evening, with Black 6 at his shoulder like an omnipresent shadow. He raised one hand in a casual greeting to Rose as he started by, but she called out to him, Razor! I need to discuss something with you.
Razor turned back to her and walked over to lean against the table. What is it, Rose?
She paused, collecting her thoughts, but also taking that moment she required every time she found herself face to face with Razor. She had worked so hard to bring Shattered back. But instead, shed gotten Razor. She wasnt ready to let go of Shattered just yet. This man was so like her friend, yet so different.
Rose? Razor tapped the table. You wanted something?
She nodded and stood. The Kheldian. Your prisoner. When will you be ready to resume your project?
He blinked at her, as if he wasnt even sure what she was talking about. Oh
the warshade. Right. He paused. Get rid of her. The project is through. He turned away then, making it obvious the conversation was over.
Unfortunately, at that moment Conall rounded the corner. The warshade? A smile came over the roughly handsome face of his human seeming. I have a project in mind for that one.
No! Rose interjected, smacking her palm on the table. No!
Conalls attitude toward Rose had improved remarkably over the last several months, but the issue of this particular prisoner had a been a source of conflict between them for a very long time. What would you suggest, Rose? Outfitting her with a warm jacket and releasing her back to her home? His tone dripped with sarcasm as he leaned into a wall.
Rose set her jaw firmly. There will be no more projects with that one.
Conall straightened abruptly and advanced toward her, using his favorite tactic of attempting to loom over her. She is not you, Rose. You cannot undo what was done to you by saving her. Rose was stunned into silence as Conall pressed his advantage by turning to Razor. She is beyond broken, Razor. It would be childs play to twist what is left of her mind. Turn her into a weapon that can be turned onto our enemies. She can be used to lure them into a trap. Give me just a few weeks with her, and she will do and say whatever we want her to.
Roses heart fell as she realized Razor 6 was considering Conalls words. She would not stand for it. Her mind raced. Razor was utterly without mercy. No sense trying to appeal to that. Simply asking him to intercede on her side would be a sign of weakness that would doubtless come back to haunt her. But
Conall had struck at Roses weak point. She would return the favor. Taking what is left of her free will not make you any more human, Conall. Breaking her soul will not grant you one. Let this one go, Conall.
Conall scowled and his human mask slipped. He leaned in so close that she over balanced trying to look up to meet his fiery eyes. Her ankle turned in her spike heeled boot and she stumbled and dropped into her chair. That left Conall hovering over her in a pose that appeared very threatening.
Before Rose could react, Razor stepped in. He pushed the huge demon back. Enough! His voice was heavy with command. Conall, I already have a plan in action that will cut the very heart out of the Ghosts. Do not make my repeat myself again: Rose, get rid of the warshade. We are done with her.
Rose remained in her seat while both men stalked from the room, with Black 6 at Razors heels. She carefully put aside her reaction to the argument, and considered how best to carry out the prisoners termination.
Neely
In another Paragon City
Neely sat in a large conference room within Portal Corp. She was slowly winning them over, but Tina Macintyre was staying quiet as the arguments for and against sending Neely home swirled around the room.
Ladies, gentlemen, Neely said when the conversation paused. She took her feet. It was my choice to stay here, and that choice had nothing to do with my own safety. It is now my choice to return home- she raised one hand commandingly when a technician started to interrupt. Yes, I do need your help, but the only person Im endangering is myself. I will return home, if I have to go back to the Rogue Isles and force Naylor to send me back, I will. Id rather do it this way.
Tina stood then. This Neely doesnt belong in this world. If there is any danger, it is to our own timestream by allowing her to remain. She is a Hero of the City. If she understands the dangers of dimensional travel when were not completely sure where and when to send her, who are we to tell her no? We will plan for it tomorrow, Neely.
Neely nodded, putting aside her urge to argue for it to be earlier, and left the enormous Portal Corp building, looking around her adopted world for the last time.
Cherished
Ghosts Reborn Base
Cherished slipped into the Ghosts enormous conference room and made her way rather timidly to the front table. Give her a room full of Circle of Thorns, and she was fearless. Ask her to speak in front of a room full of people... and she was terrified. Nonetheless, she took pride in being a source of much needed information from within the Shades. Sables regular reports had yielded enough information about the inner workings of the Shades that Glacius9 and Sooner Spirit had asked her to present it to the entire group.
She made her way to the table at the head of the room, nervously tugging at her costume and suddenly wondering why shed designed an outfit that showed so much skin. As her hands fluttered over her outfit, she was suddenly reminded of the way that Rogue isles assassin had touched her, and her heart fluttered.
Cherished scowled as she realized that Jagged Fortune was at the head table as well. Jagged was fairly new to the Ghosts and had advanced quickly. He was remarkably skilled with bladed weapons, but was too aloof and cocky for her to ever really like him. She wondered what he was there for, and ignored him as politely as possible as she took her place beside him.
RastafariGirl was there and smiled encouragingly at her friend, but any confidence she might have gained fled when the Ghosts Reborns Heroes of the City entered the room. The sheer power and legend walking into that room stopped all conversation. UPS 2.2 led the way, followed by Sooner Spirit and her sisters Sooner Magic and Sooner Red. Glacius9, Ahren, Celestial Nav and Ici Cold were on their heels, and the room remained respectfully silent while the most powerful heroes among the Ghosts found their seats. Most made their way into the conference room and found seats scattered among the younger heroes already present, a few, like Sooner Spirit and Glacius9 took seats at the head table. The last few Heroes of the City filtered in, and the doors closed. Glacius9 waited while Six-Four found a seat near the back, then he stood and started the meeting.
Cherished was so nervous, she could barely hear Glacius, and then Sooner Spirit talking over the roaring in her ears. They discussed training, patrolling, and mentoring. Zemuron gave injury reports, while Sooner, Six-Four, Celestial Nav, Ms. Roentgen, and UPS 2.2 gave reports from MAGI, GIFT, ELITE, SERAPH, and DATA, and Glacius spoke for Sunstorm and Shadowstar. Then the roaring in Cherished ears grew louder as Sooner Spirit announced, And now we have some important information from within the Rogue Isles. Cherished? If you will start us off?
Cherished stood and looked out into the crowd of faces. She almost sat back down when her knees started shaking, but she ducked her head and concentrated on her notes, telling herself she was back in her room, practicing in front of a mirror.
Thank you, she stammered. I am here today to tell you about a new player in the leadership of the Shades of Vengeance, an Arachnos Bane Spider who goes by the call sign Razor 6, also known as Sandman. But the Shades believe him to be Shattered Ice9. A murmur went through the crowd at that. Ebony Rose supports him in that role. She would not allow a stranger to act as leader, therefor, she must believe Razor 6 truly is Shattered Ice9.
Razor 6 has brought over a dozen members of his unit into the Shades, which does strengthen their ranks, but it should be noted that it appears their loyalty is to Razor first, before the Shades. This could be significant if the power plays within the Shades continue, though, at the moment, Ebony Rose and Razor appear to be firmly in control, and Conall Cian does not appear to be ready to make a move.
Cherished looked around the room one last time, smiled, and uttered an awkward, Thank you, before dropping back into her seat.
An excellent analysis, Cherished, Sooner Spirt said. And, to add to it, Jagged Fortune.
Jagged was short, for a hero, and covered with wiry muscle. He was handsome in a bad-boy way with dark hair falling over his dark eyes, and a crooked grin. He took his feet smoothly, and moved his chair aside to give himself room to move. He laid his notes down and walked away from them. As he spoke, he paced slowly along the wall, appearing casual and comfortable. It made Cherished feel even more awkward about her presentation.
The Shades of Vengeance hate the Ghosts, he said. We all know this, and know that by our mere membership our lives are constantly at risk from them. They do have some favored targets among the Ghosts, Sooner Spirit, for instance, or Ahren. Shattered Ice9 had a special interest in Kheldians, and researched them thoroughly. We still dont truly know what his interest was, but he did gain tremendous knowledge of both Peacebringers and Warshades during that time. My sources tell me that Razor has taken that knowledge, applied it to void slayer technology and created a super weapon. It is a quantum style rifle that does not take two or more shots to incapacitate the energy beings and their hosts, it is a weapon that will destroy the energy being in a single shot, and, of course, kill the host at the same time. There were a few Kheldians among the membership of the Ghosts and they exchanged nervous glances. The only good news is that it is extremely short range. The weapon must be within 10 feet of the target to have its intended effect.
Jagged Fortune paused, making eye contact with each of the Kheldians in the room. My sources within the Shades tell me that their intended target is Glacius9. They intend to lure him into an ambush and destroy him. I dont have the form of the ambush, but I do know that it is imperative that we do not allow the Shades to get close to Glacius. He stood for a moment, then returned to his seat.
UPS 2.2 stood then. He did not sit at the head table for this meeting, but no one dismissed his importance to the Ghosts. Nearly everyone in that room had owed their safety, if not their lives to him at some point or another. He focused the whole of his attention on Glacius9, and as he spoke, Ahren rose to stand at his shoulder. Old man, where you go, we go. Glacius opened his mouth once, as if to speak, then snapped it shut after one glance at the expressions on the two mens faces. He leaned back in his chair and nodded once.
Cherished barely heard the rest of the meeting as her thoughts raced through her head. What did mean that Sable hadnt gotten that information to her? Did it mean that Sable wasnt as trusted as she thought? Or... what if Sable had known but not passed it on? Was it possible that Sable was just using her? Or was it more likely that the link between them had been discovered and Sable was in grave danger? She didnt even notice that the meeting had been adjourned until she realized Sooner Spirit was calling her. She made her way to a tight huddle of Sooner Spirit, UPS, Glacius9 and Jagged Fortune. UPS turned toward her, Cherished, what does your analysis of the Shades leadership tell you about this super void weapon? he asked.
At first, Cherished could only stare back at UPS as for that moment she was filled with doubt that ANYTHING she had learned from Sable was trustworthy. Facing a hero like UPS was intimidating enough without suddenly wondering if you actually knew what you were talking about.
The silence stretched until UPS raised a brow at her, This is where you answer my question, Ghost. he said firmly.
Well.... ah.... I.... she stammered briefly, then drew herself up. From what we know of the Shades leadership, Razor 6 in particular, it certainly makes sense. Shattered Ice9 hated Glacius9, considered Glacius to be the imposter, and his in-depth research into Kheldians means that it is very plausible he could have created such a weapon. And.. If he did have a super-void weapon, there is no one hed be more likely to target than Glacius. She glanced at Jagged, grit her teeth, and spoke again, But I think its important to note that... my sources said nothing to me about such a weapon.
Jagged stepped forward then, Which makes it fortunate that my sources had the access to get the information to me.
A brief silence fell over the group until Glacius said, Thank you, Jagged. As Jagged turned away, Glacius reached out to put one hand on Cherished shoulder, Razor 6... claims to be Shattered Ice9?
Cherished nodded, He claims it, and.... more importantly... Ebony Rose has accepted him. We know from her relationship with Conall Cian that she will not allow others to take power in the Shades, so she believes its true, at least. And Conall Cian would likely NOT accept his leadership without challenge if he didnt believe it as well.
Glacius crossed his arms over his chest. But, I know for a fact that Shattered Ice9 is dead.
Cherished nodded. Glacius had reported that death some time ago, and the Ghosts had accepted it as fact. Yes. But the Shades believe him.
Conall Cian
Kings Row
Conall crouched among the ruins of the tiny apartment. Jonnie the bartender must have been bringing in more than $1000 a night, but she was living well beneath her means. Perhaps shed had an early retirement planned.
He glanced at the skinny body nearby, with her bruises and blood and broken limbs, and shook his own head sadly. He spread his clawed hands wide and flexed his fingers to see the dim light glint off the fresh blood still shiny on his skin. He raised one hand to his face and inhaled deeply. His nose wrinkled and he flinched back from the odor. This was not innocent blood. His primal urge to taste the blood vanished and with a wince of disgust he hastily cleaned every drop of blood off his hands. There was a code for information brokers, and this human had violated it. People paid her well to see that their information was passed safely and discretely, and she was taking it and selling it to other parties.
He finished his thorough search, and while hed found stacks of cash stashed throughout, he had found no files of stolen information. Either she kept it elsewhere, or she carried it all in that delicate head. Unfortunately, the human had been more fragile than hed anticipated and had died before she gave up the information he wanted from her. He resumed his human form, tucked the cash into the pockets of his trenchcoat and called a glowing portal to leave the apartment and the body behind.
He made one stop on his way back to the base: Haven House. He placed the cash in the hands of Westin Phipps, with the instructions: Continue your good works.
Then he changed into his demon form and flew back to the base on leathery wings, considering his place within the Shades and how best to go about advancing to the power he deserved. Just before reaching the glowing portal, he turned, and made his way to Pocket D instead. It might be interesting to see who missed Jonnie the bartender.
Sable Murphy
Shades of Vengeance
Shattered Ice9 had lived well, but Razor 6 lived a more spartan life. He had made the spacious quarters his own by blocking off a small space for his bed and personal belongings and modified the rest into a private lounge for his fellow soldiers. They typically gathered there nightly. On this evening, Sable sat next to Razor at the table while Black 6 hunkered down against the wall nearby and Anhedonia lounged on the couch. Last Lullaby and Operative Rogue sat on the floor in front of the cough, while a dozen others sat watching TV, playing cards, or, in at least one case, napping.
Razor 6 leaned back and finished off his beer. He sat the bottle down and turned to Sable with a grin playing around the corners of his mouth. Sable had never known Shattered Ice9, or Ice9 before that, but shed been told the resemblance was remarkable. His pale blue eyes fastened on hers as he announced, as if starting a funny joke, My tailor tells me we have a traitor in the Shades.
Anhedonia sat up suddenly, and Black 6 rose to his feet, but Sable froze, feeling very much like a small animal caught in the headlights of an approaching car.
Before Sable could even begin to formulate an answer, Anhedonia leaned onto the table, Your tailor? What are you talking about?
Black 6 took two steps forward, Who? Who is the traitor?
Razor chuckled as he got to his feet and claimed another beer. He took his time opening it and settling back into his seat. My eyes and ears inside the Ghosts Reborn. He goes by the code name Tailor. And he doesnt know who, only that the Ghosts have information he didnt give them. Of course, he doesnt know everything I know, either. He actually winked at Sable as he took a long sip from the bottle.
Anhedonia sank thoughtfully into one of the empty chairs at the table. So, Razor... is there a spy or not, then?
By mutual agreement, Sables relationship to Cherished was known only to her and Razor. She carefully cultivated for Razors benefit the story that she despised her sister and hated her for leaving the rest of her family behind. Razor was a frightfully cunning man, but his own hatred for the heroes of Paragon City and the Ghosts Reborn in particular did make for a few blind spots. He had no difficultly believing that she would turn against her own family. Or so shed thought. Now... she wondered if he were about to turn on her. If he ever became suspicious of her, she knew shed wish for death long before she ever died. So, she waited in silence for his answer to Anhedonias question.
There is a source of information, he answered. A source cultivated and controlled by me. A pair actually. One within the Ghosts, one in contact with the Ghosts, and both feeding them information I wish them to have.
Black 6 smiled and dropped back to lean against the wall, but Anhedonia leaned forward onto her elbows. Her chestnut hair was held back in a tail and narrow tendrils framed a delicate face. Her pale brown eyes held Razors as she asked, What sort of information are you feeding them, Razor? About the Shades? About Arachnos?
Are you questioning the way I lead the Shades, Phantom? Razor asked, using the nickname given her by their unit.
Sable admired Anhedonias calm, casual smile in response to Razors challenge. She hoped by the time she finished navigating her way through the complicated politics of Arachnos and the Shades she could play it as well as the slender Widow did. Im interested in your game. I like the way you play it.
Flattery was always a good strategy with Razor. He drank again and sat his beer down with a thump. The Shades have been trying and failing to take out UPS for years now. Whenever we target him, however, we cant get to him. But... when someone else is the target, who is the first man to put himself in the way?
Anhedonia merely arched a brow, but Sable found her voice and leaned forward, UPS 2.2. He is the Ghostss protector and shield.
Indeed, Razor said with a deep chuckle. He is forever putting himself in harms way for others. This time, he knows we have a deadly weapon pointed at Glacius9, a sneer crossed his face at the heros name, and Sable knew that he was feeling Shattereds memories at that moment. He knows it, and he will take that hit for Glacius. And when he is hit by that weapon, only then will he learn that there is no super quantum rifle. It is a weapon designed to turn his own nanites against him. He will be helpless, being destroyed from the inside, and after just a few moments of that, my crushing his head with my mace will be a mercy.
Anhedonia and Black 6 laughed, and Sable managed to laugh as well.
Razor took another long drink, and then his jovial attitude changed. Tomorrow night I want a meeting with every single Shade. It is time our people understood who is in charge. He stood, and just like that changed from friend and companion to commander. Make sure that everyone is present and accounted for. There will be no excuses. Everyone will be in that hall tomorrow night.
The Soldiers of Arachnos, loyal to each other before anyone else, nodded. Only Sable had a new loyalty, and it conflicted painfully within her. The Soldiers had been her only family, and then the Shades had become part of that family. Then... she found her sister. And now she wasnt sure where her loyalty fell. Black 6, Anhedonia, and Sable filed out of Razors room. Black turned to the left towards his room, and Anhedonia toward the right. But the widow paused when she saw Sable wasnt following.
Im... not sleepy, Sable said.
We have an early day tomorrow, Anhedonia cautioned, and, like Razor, she had made the sudden switch from friend to superior. But, Sable noted, there was no order there, just a caution.
Yes, Sable nodded. I wont be long. Ill just go out for a little while to clear my head.
Anhedonia nodded once. Alright then. Ill make sure theres an extra cup of coffee for you in the morning.
Sable left the base and made a beeline for Pocket D. She had to pass the word on to Cherished as soon as possible, but she couldnt think of a better way than Jonnie. It was late, and the club was noisy and busy. Sable made her way through the crowd, but paused when saw a strange man working behind Jonnies usual bar. She turned in place, but didnt see Jonnie at any of the other counters. She snagged a passing server by the sleeve, Hey... wheres Jonnie?
The harried young man shook his head. She was a no-call, no-show. And Ive got no clue why. But were short handed as it is, and it wasnt a good night for her to pull this kinda crap.
Dammit! Sable cursed, but let the young man move on. She made her way to Jonnies usual bar and leaned on the counter.
Help ya? the bartender asked after just a few moments.
Sable looked up at him, and carefully hid her swirling emotions behind a bland face, Just give me whatever youve got on tap, please.
Sure thing, he said, and moved away to fill her order.
A low drawling voice spoke from behind her left shoulder, Come here often? The voice dripped with a derisive sneer, and she turned to see Conall Cian sliding onto the barstool next to hers. How a man that enormous could move so quietly shed never understood.
She didnt know if there was an actual accusation in his greeting, or if she was becoming so paranoid she heard accusations in the most innocent of questions. She took him literally and answered truthfully, More nights than not, ya. I like the D.
And the bartender that normally works here? Do you like her?
Sable frowned back into the dark eyes, quite certain there was suspicion in that question. So she answered him with more honesty, even if it wasnt full and complete. Jonnie? Sure. Shes funny. I do like her. I wonder where she is tonight?
Conall stared at her long enough to make her uncomfortable, but she refused to squirm. She looked back calmly, until the bartender arrived with her beer, then used that excuse to turn away.
The big man laughed once, then picked up his own drink and rose from the barstool. Perhaps she outlived her usefulness, he said. He laughed once more and sauntered away.
Sable resisted the urge to shiver with the sudden chill that shot up her back, and enjoyed her single beer before returning to the base and spending the night staring at the ceiling, trying to think of some way to get her message to Cherished.
Cherished
Ghosts of Vengeance Base
Cherished was lost in her own thoughts as she walked into the common room of the base. Still no world from Sable, and Cherished was becoming ever more worried about her sister. She was startled out of her thoughts by the high pitched teasing voice of Celestial Nav. The blue-haired woman was leaning over UPS and laughing as she said, But you dont even OWN the suit any more!
True, UPS agreed patiently, But I wore it when I registered with Hero Corp.
Ici Cold was seated with her legs folded underneath nearby. It doesnt make any sense! People wonder if youre a delivery guy!
UPS just fixed the young hero with a dark look as Nav jumped in again, Youre named after a suit you dont wear anymore!
Cherished frowned in confusion as she looked around the room of more experienced heroes. I dont understand.
Ici stood and stretched. Before UPS got all nanity, he wore an armor suit. Urban something Suit, version 2.2... or something.
Urban Pacification System, UPS murmured.
So.... Celestial Nav jumped in. When he registered as a hero, he thought that just registering the name of the suit was the way to go UPS 2.2"
UPS pushed to his feet. Yes, its my registered name. No, it doesnt make sense. What would you suggest I do?
In near unison Nav and Ici sang out, CHANGE it!
He raised his hands in question, To what?
The two women fell silent, and then Ahren, sitting in a soft chair in a corner, rose to his feet. He tucked his finger inside his copy of Dio Cassius, and spoke quietly. Old friend, your name is Vir.
UPS looked puzzled as he asked, What does Vir mean?
Ahren smiled and answered, Its who you are.
UPS was silent for a long moment, then he nodded. Alright. He turned to Celestial Nav, Im headed to City Hall. But youre coming along, since youre paying for the name change!
Nav laughed and the two heroes left the base together.
While I was writing this story, in which UPS 2.2 plays a major role, my old, dear friend Ice9 announced his intention to change UPSs name. It seemed like a good idea at the time to introduce that name change in this story. Turns out... it was not such a good idea. I already have a huge cast, and suddenly changing a characters name just complicates things. Making it even more complex is the fact that several of the characters dont KNOW about the name change, not to mention an entire other dimension where he died before that name change happened.... it became complex and cumbersome rather quickly. Im proceeding with it as originally written, but I will plan to break in with editorial comments like this one occasionally just to remind people who is who and what is what. - Sooner
Ebony Rose
Shades of Vengeance Base
Razor 6 finished outlining his plan for the meeting that evening, the Shades, and the future world he would remake as Rose listened and nodded. She really had no interest in ruling the world or in forcefully taking it over, but for now, their plans overlapped. When and if their plans diverged... well... then she would be forced to make a painful decision.
And I will accept no excuses for a Shade missing this meeting, he finished.
Rose nodded. We have already spread the word. Every Shade knows.
Razor stood, but paused on his way to the door. Rose, would you prefer if I eliminated the warshade? Would it be easier for you?
Rose couldnt hide her surprise. It wouldnt have occurred to Shattered that killing the prisoner would bother her, and she suddenly wondered whose life had been stolen to bring Razor into existence. She smiled at him. Thank you, but no. I captured her, I sent her here. She didnt say that she wanted to be sure that the prisoners death was easier than her captivity had been. Ill take responsibility for eliminating her. She stood. After the meeting tonight. Ill take care of it.
Conall Cian
Shade of Vengeance base
Conall settled his eight foot tall frame into a chair near the front of the Shades great meeting hall. He had arrived early, and, behind his carefully casual demeanor, was observing everything. He noted that Rose had set up four chairs on the dias, but Razor took one of them away. He noted that the Soldiers of Arachnos who were members of the Shades filed in wearing civilian clothes rather than their Arachnos uniforms and that they sat together up front and to the right. He wondered what message Arachnos would take from their attire. He pursed his lips when Razor and Rose stepped up to the dias and settled into the waiting chairs, and then Death Shrowd sat as well, to Roses right. Conall nodded. That meant that Razor had taken away the chair that Rose had set out for the absent Cowboy Nightmare. What that meant... he didnt know.
The last few people crept in, and Conall saw that Black 6 was watching them, making note of who arrived late. The room fell silent as the leaders of the Shades of Vengeance sat motionless on the dias.
The silence grew heavy, broken not even by the creak of a chair. The entire group waited, frozen, to learn what had summoned them all.
Rose stood and strode gracefully to the lectern. She was as always sleek and slender, dressed in simple black. Her cybernetic prosthesis rested on the lectern with the fingers curled around the edge while she gestured with her flesh right arm.
We are all here for different reasons. We are here in the Rogue Isles because we were forced here, or because we saw opportunity, or because this is where we were born and raised. We joined the Shades because we thought our strengths complemented each other, or because we shared similar goals, or because it was where we landed when fate was through with us. She stepped away from the lectern then, calm and confident. She stood tall and proud in front of the crowd of powerful villains, secure in her power over them. As she spoke, Conall looked to the dias behind her. Death Shrowds eyes were fastened on Roses slim figure, but Razor looked out into the crowd. His pale eyes moved from person to person, marking them, and then they found Conall. A spark of energy passed invisibly between them, and then Razors moved on. Conall shifted, filled with a sudden unease.
Rose moved back to the lectern, and gestured to Razor, Razor 6 has called you all here to hear his words, to learn the course we will be following. Razor? Rose waited until Razor took the lectern, then faded back to take her seat.
Where Rose had commanded the attention of the room with quiet strength and confidence, Razor dominated the attention of everyone there with the sheer force of his personality. He grabbed the lectern in both hands and put it aside as if he would tolerate no obstacles, no barriers. He paced the edge of the dias like a caged lion, powerful and impatient.
Politics is a game for those who seek to gain power, he declared. It is played by those who do not have the strength or the will to grab that power and make it theirs. Politics is a necessary evil in Grandville, in the stronghold of Recluse. We have no choice, as yet, but to play their game.
He stopped pacing and stared out, the challenge plain on his face, But I will not tolerate it within the ranks of the Shades!
Sable Murphy
Shades of Vengeance base
Sable was in a near panic as she arrived in the entrance to the Shades base. She was late to Razors meeting. The meeting he had declared everyone would attend. She was late, and her late arrival would weaken his message the way her presence with her fellow soldiers would have strengthened it.
Fortunately, she truly had gotten off duty late. Unfortunately, it was because she was so distracted trying to decide what to do. She knew how important her information would be to her sister, but she had no idea how to get it out in time. No idea at all.
Sable sprinted down the long hallway. Razor had specified they would be dressed as civilians for this meeting, in order to reinforce his point, and that meant she would be even more late having to change. The hallways were utterly deserted... a condition shed never seen before and was quite certain shed never see again. Every member of the Shades was in that meeting.
And at that moment, she ran past the archway that lead down to the basement. The idea that occurred to her so startled her she nearly tripped and fell. She turned back to the basement, a knot of fear pulling tight in her belly. She knew about the prisoners down there, and knew that one of them was a Ghost. She had not even considered the possibility of trying to get her out, it would have been impossible. But this... this moment when there was no one around... this moment could get her killed horribly. This moment could earn her a spot in one of those cells. But this moment could also solve more than one of her problems.
Sable drifted quietly down the steps. She knew where all the surveillance cameras were in the base, and a plan was quickly coming together. She stepped down into the place that had been the sanctum of a man even his friends had called an evil madman. The items that lined the wall were enough to terrify the most courageous, and that was just the ones she could guess at how they worked. A voice in her head began to tell her over and over again that she was being a fool.
She made her way along the wall to an elaborate electrical box. Several heavy cables fed in and out of it. One of her crab arms stretched over her shoulder and opened the box. Another arm carefully scratched the insulation away from several of the wires. She checked her handiwork carefully, and thought it could pass for natural damage. Then, gingerly, she pushed two of the bare wires together. An enormous blue spark flew, and the lights went out in the basement. Sable smiled.
Keely
Shades of Vengeance base
Keely tossed on the narrow cot. It was definitely nicer not to live in constant terror, not to be starving and thirsty and to spend every moment just trying to heal from one beating before the next occurred. Yes... it was better, but now she endured a new torture: boredom. Sometimes she could lose herself in fantasy, sometimes she could dream away her hours. She lay on her cot, her blanket pulled up over her head, trying to will herself back to sleep, but sleep would not come.
She closed her eyes tight and focused on the last dream she remembered. It had been nice, and she would like to go back to it.
Her eyes flew open suddenly as something changed. The light. There was something wrong with the light. And then she leapt to her feet as she realized that horrible red light was gone. The light that kept her from being Kheldian. It was gone. She reached for her Kheldian half in her mind, but the being that had bonded with her, had been her closest companion, was broken. It was insane, and it didnt trust the change. Keely needed it to come forward, they both needed so badly for the energy being to be there, but it hid in the back of her head.
And then the door opened.
Sable Murphy
Shades of Vengeance base
Sable was shocked out of her near panic by the sight of the prisoner. The tall brunette with wide blue eyes - that was just as her file said. But her body wasnt slender, it was emaciated. The pretty face from the pictures was marked not just with scars, not just the delicate nose now crooked, but with a dark haunted look about the eyes. In her photos, she seem brash and courageous, but this woman was backed into the wall, and her wide eyes darted fearfully about the tiny room. She kept glancing at Sables crab arms waving over her shoulders, and Sable wished - not for the first time - her weapons system was less obtrusive.
Im here to help you, Sable said urgently. Come with me, quickly.
The prisoners eyes widened and Sable could see an indigo swirling deep within them. She swung her head back and forth in tiny arcs of denial.
To her core, and despite training to the contrary, Sable was convinced she could never be as broken as this hero. She felt a disgusted sneer cross her face, and wiped it away. She took three long strides into the tiny cell and grabbed the prisoner by a bony wrist. When the woman cried out fearfully, Sable let out an angry oath. She shifted her grip, clutching the narrow shoulders and shaking the hero. I dont have time for this, you stupid little [censored]! If I wanted to hurt you, Id BE hurting you. If I wanted to kill you, youd BE dead. Im trying to help you, but I need you to MOVE! She yanked the terrified woman off the wall. Blast this control panel! Sable ordered, pointing to the keypad on the inside of the cell. The prisoner shuddered and shook her head, making no effort to comply. Dammit! Sable cursed silently to herself. It had to appear that the prisoner could have gotten out on her own. With the red light off, a Kheld should have had the power to blast her way out. This one... seemed completely helpless.
Sable glanced around the room and finally jumped onto the thin cot. She landed on it hard, three times, stomping down with her uniform boots before the cot broke apart under her. The prisoner wailed and darted back to cower in a corner of the cell, but Sable ignored her as she picked up a leg from the cot and used it to bash open the control panel. She ripped the wires out and demolished everything she could.
When the scene was staged as well as she could manage, Sable grabbed the prisoner by the narrow wrist and dragged her out of the cell. She dug through the neatly folded clothes recovered from prisoners over the years until she found a shirt, pants and shoes that should fit. These would blend in much better than the plain grey pajamas the prisoner wore. Put these on, quickly! she urged, but when Keely just stood there staring, she snapped, I am NOT going to dress you! If you cant help yourself that much, youre going right back in that cell to rot!
Keely shook her head at that, took the clothing and began to shakily dress herself. Sable finally began to hope that it might actually work. Sable turned back to the shelves and searched quickly through a stack of confiscated ID cards before she found one that might work. She tucked the card inside her uniform.
When Keely was dressed, Sable planted a wide brimmed hat over her brunette hair and instructed, Keep your head down. And MOVE.
Sable led the prisoner on a round-about course of the Shades of Vengeance base. The short circuit shed engineered had taken out some, but not all, of the security cameras, and she fervently hoped she remembered accurately which ones.
Sable breathed a sigh of relief when they made it safely to the teleport room. She took the warshade by the shoulders again. Look at me, she instructed. Those haunted blue eyes lifted and met hers. You must get this message to the Ghosts. Tell them that UPS 2.2 is the target, NOT Glacius9. She repeated herself, staring intently into those eyes, UPS is the target. Tell them there is a spy in the Ghosts who goes by the name Tailor. Tell them that but do not tell anyone but Cherished that I helped you. Tell Cherished this, we were his cherished ones. Do you have it?
Keely was silent for a long moment, then she spoke, UPS is the target, not Glacius. There is a spy named Tailor among the Ghosts. Tell Cherished, we were his cherished ones. Tell no one but her that you helped me.
Sable punched in the code that set the teleporter for Sharkhead. Keep your head down, act like you belong here. Go straight to the helo. WALK to the helo, do not show yourself to be a warshade in the Rogue Isles! Sable pulled out the ID card that shed taken from the shelf in the basement. It would pass for a cursory inspection, but not anything more. Flash this at the pilot. The helo will take you to Sirens Call. Then fly high and fast to the hero base there and call the Ghosts. Move fast. You have to get this message delivered. Keely nodded, clutching her skinny arms across her body. Sable was still in shock at what she was doing. She cleared her throat. Good luck to you.
Keely looked up again, her blue eyes shining. Thank you, she whispered.
Sable shook her head. Just go! She activated the pad and Keely vanished.
Sable gave herself one moment to shudder with reaction at the risk shed just taken, and then ran to her room. She shed her arachnos uniform quickly, and grabbed her comfortably worn camo pants. She was still pulling on her clothing as she ran from her room. She raced to the meeting hall and paused to try to get her breathing under control before pulling the door open and slipping in. She tried to blend into the shadows as Razor paced the stage.
There is no divide in your allegiance! he declared. We are not Arachnos and Shades. You are Shades first. You will follow where we lead. The world is either us or them. If you are not one of us, you are an obstacle in our way!
Sable pressed herself back into the wall, hoping desperately that no one noticed her tardiness. She scanned the crowd, but all eyes were locked on Razor. All eyes but one pair. She lifted her head toward the front of the crowd and saw that Black 6 was looking directly at her. From across the room their eyes met, and he gave her just the slightest nod to let her know that he had indeed marked her arrival. Her heart sank.
Tomorrow, we make our move. Tomorrow we will cut the heart out of the Ghosts!
Keely
Sharkhead Isle
The sterile Shades base surrounding Keely vanished. There was a split second of nothingness, and then she dropped a couple of inches to stumble back onto her heels. Her senses were overwhelmed. The air stank of refuse and chemicals. There was something wrong with her eyes, as if her eternity confined in a tiny cell had robbed her of her ability to clearly see more than a few yards. She faced a dirty, noisy factory. The night sky loomed low overhead with a thick cover of clouds.
She didnt remember the world being so very big, and began to tremble. She turned, and let out a short scream as she realized she was standing in front of a pair of mausoleums. She darted into the narrow space between them and cowered there on the bare, dirty gravel, staring out into the big, scary night. She knew she couldnt remain there, she knew she had to move, but she was frozen, held paralyzed by her own fear and uncertainty. She tried again to call the Kheldian forward - she needed its help - but it was even more frightened than she was.
She had no idea how much time had passed, only that the blurry glow of the moon behind the clouds had moved well across the sky, before she finally managed to push herself to her feet and emerge again. She blinked, trying to get her eyes to adjust, but she could still only clearly see a short distance. She hoped it was just that she wasnt used to being able to see distance, and not a lingering affect of the abuse shed suffered. She made herself remember Keely, the young brash woman shed been, a young woman who hadnt been afraid of anything. She pretended to be that person, pulled that attitude over herself like a coat, and started walking, trying to behave like she knew where was going and she belonged there.
She was forced by the terrain to veer north along the broken down wall of a decrepit graveyard, but she wasnt afraid of a few spirits. She knew very well that there were much worse things to be frightened of. As she left the graveyard and picked her way across the uneven dirt to the wall surrounding the industrial complex, she saw a man in a security guards uniform. She briefly considered running to him and asking him to help her, but then he turned to her, and something in the way he ran his eyes over her told her he would be no help to her at all.
She made her way between the high walls topped with razor wire and under towering metal spires supporting electrical cables. She came to a horrified stop when she realized her path was taking her through a canal of truly disgusting water. She glanced back the way she came, but decided it was better to keep moving to the east than risking getting lost in Sharkhead. She clenched her teeth and swung over the wall, wading through the foul water. She heard more than saw something very large ahead and to her right, and veered far from it. Her vision was still blurry, but the things looked like nothing so much as huge piles of animate garbage.
She gratefully climbed out of the water and tried to convince herself that her skin wasnt burning as she continued east. She finally found a road, and hurried along it. It was so late that there were very few people around, and that was just fine with her. She started to cut through another standing pool of water, but there were more of those trash monsters, and she didnt dare get too close. She stared to the east and wished both that she was able to assume nova form, and that she could risk doing so. She shook her head and followed the road instead.
The road curved into a residential area, with numerous dirty brick buildings likely crammed full of tiny cramped apartments. The walls were decorated with graffiti and the streets lined with trash. There were very few people around, most of them dressed in cheap clothing and wrapped in a palpable aura of hopelessness. Men in brightly colored suits lounged at street corners, oozing danger, and even the workers in their dirty overalls and hard hats seemed ready to commit violence at the slightest provocation. She decided that Sharkhead was an ugly place, in every sense of the word.
She continued following the road east until she rounded a corner and saw, ahead, the blurry form of an Arachnos spiderbot of some kind. She gasped and darted back around the corner. She plastered herself against the cold bricks behind her and fought to get her fear under control. Her Kheldian was shrieking gibberish and Keely closed her eyes, struggling not to give in to her urge to curl up on the ground and start screaming.
Finally, a semblance of composure returned. She reminded herself that the denizens of the Isles did not run away every time they saw Arachnos troops. Act like you belong here, she reminded herself. She pushed herself away from the wall and opened her eyes to see three young men approaching her. Their clothing and attitudes marked them as typical street toughs, and shed spent enough time among that type to know her display of fear had already lost her round one with them.
Hey there, chica, said the first, his teeth baring grin promising no good for her.
A fourth man, following behind spoke then with a strong lower class English accent, Leave the skinny bint alone. We got work to do.
Ya, leave me alone, Keely said. She turned away from them, forcing herself to behave as if she wasnt terrified that they would hurt her. The largest of them, a tall, hulking man reached for her, planting one hand on her shoulder, Hey, where ya think youre goin? he asked.
She turned, and in that moment her fear made her see him as even taller and broader, with red skin, horns, and leathery wings. She shrieked and flailed her arms wildly, striking the first speaker in the nose. She stumbled back, pulling herself free of the big man and running as fast as she could away.
The Arachnos bot turned towards her as she raced out of the alley, but then redirected its attention to the four men following her. She was running too hard and too fast to see what happened, but she heard the bot moving and the running footsteps behind her stopped abruptly. The irony of being saved by Arachnos as she tried to escape the Rogue Isles was heavy.
She raced up a rocky hill and skidded to a stop as she found herself facing a pair of arbiter drones guarding a silvery structure of ramps and towers decorated with Arachnos banners. Behind them was the waspish shape of an Arachnos helicopter.
With her goal in sight, she got her breathing under control, straightened her clothing, and walked up to the helicopter like she knew what she was doing. She passed a wolfspider huntsman who eyed her and ignored her, and then took the last few steps to the helicopter. All of her fine muscles were trembling, and she was filled with a fierce combination of elation at being so close to freedom and terror that she would be denied at the last moment. She pulled the ID card that Sable had given her from her back pocket and, with fingers trembling, waved it at the Arachnos soldier standing in front of the helo. He glanced at it, boredom written large on his course face, then nodded once.
She hesitated, unsure what she should do next, and the moment dragged on unbearably long. She nearly turned and fled, when the pilot stuck his head out of the cockpit, scowled at her, and growled, Are you getting on, or what? This bird doesnt carry you by wrapping you in her arms and cradling you, ya know!
Keely clambered into the belly of the helo, clutched her knees to her chest and tried to believe that she was actually going home.
Ebony Rose
The Shades of Vengeance base
Rose normally maintained an attitude of calm. It was gone. She was furious. One of the two men following her into the small meeting room had betrayed her trust and she would not stand for it.
She whirled to face them, as Razor 6 stalked in behind her, and then Conall Cian brought up the rear in his guise of a human detective, but his own emotions showed in the flames flickering out of his eyes.
Before Rose could speak, however, Conall slammed shut the door behind him, and pointed an accusing finger at Rose. You just couldnt bear to kill her, could you, Rose? Your soft heart is going to be the end of you someday, and I just hope it doesnt take the rest of us with it when it happens, he sneered. He then turned to Razor, You should have let me have her, Razor-
Before Conall could speak further, Roses anger burst out, Oh no, you will NOT get out of this by accusing me! You defied BOTH of us by taking her! What have you done with her?! Where is she?
I? I have done nothing with her, Conall spat. But when I find her and recapture her, Ill see to it that Razor bars YOU from interacting with her. You have shown yourself to be unable to effectively manage prisoners.
Rose slammed her hands down on the table in front of her. How DARE you! You monstrous thing! How dare you try to hide your own craven actions by accus-
Craven?! The demon roared, and slipped into his red-skinned formed, dark energy seeping off his body. You are a soft-hearted weak human- He advanced menacingly on Rose, and she responded by lifting her prosthetic arm and popping open the control panel. The demon wouldnt live long enough to set a finger on her. She reached for the buttons that summoned her robots and would give control of the base defenses to her hand.
Razor stepped forward between them, raising both his hands and bellowing, ENOUGH! The force of his personality was enough to bring the feuding rivals to a stop before either could do something they would regret. Stand down! Both of you! he ordered. There was a long pause when both Rose and Conall stood motionless, then Conall took a step back and crossed his arms over his chest. Rose! Razor spoke firmly, and Rose swivelled her eyes to him. He held her gaze until she lowered her arms and stood glaring angrily.
The room was silent, and the silence stretched on. Rose took the opportunity to drag her raging emotions back under control. Finally Razor turned to Conall. Did you take the Kheldian prisoner, Conall? he asked.
I did not, Conall answered deliberately, his anger still roughening his voice.
And are you lying to me? Razor stared challengingly at the demon as he asked.
The demon tossed his horned head back and stared a challenge at Razor. You told me to leave her to Rose. For now, there is no reason for me to defy your command. I will not lie to you, it serves me no purpose.
Razor turned to Rose then, who had managed to assume her normal calm again. Rose, did you help the prisoner escape?
Rose tossed her head in an unconscious mimicry of the demon. I. Did. Not. she answered firmly.
Now, Conall broke in. Ask HER if shes lying.
Razor looked back at the demon, and answered him, She would not.
Rose felt a smile crook the corner of her mouth at his words. She threw up her hands then. Sit, sit. Everyone sit. She followed her words by settling herself in a chair and crossing her hands on the table. Razor followed her actions, and Conall, after a long pause, took two steps forward and sat as well.
Rose turned her blue eyed gaze to Razor. Did you kill her? Did you do it to save me from it?
Razor smiled every so slightly. I did not, he answered.
Silence fell over the room again, before Rose cleared her throat. There was a short in the electrical system that shut off the quantum array in her cell. The cot was in pieces and the panel was broken. Everyone was at the meeting. With her powers back, she had the opportunity to escape on her own.
She would not have. Conall answered. She didnt have the will to take that kind of action to help herself.
Rose looked up at the demon and forced her next words out. I did. she said, in a near whisper. Both men just looked at her as she met the demons gaze and held it. I was a prisoner far longer than she was. I suffered worse injury than she did. She tapped her prosthetic arm with a slim finger. And I had the will to engineer my escape when the opportunity arose.
No, Conall shook his head. Not this one.
Razor raised his hands again. It doesnt matter at this moment. How can this hurt us?
Silence filled the room, until Rose answered, She knew nothing. The only harm to us is the embarrassment of allowing an escape.
Thin Line
The Shades of Vengeance base
[Thin Line is a very interesting character, but I am not telling his story here. For now, I will just explain that he has studied his own life extensively through Ouroboros, and that he has an obsession with Bounty-Killer.]
He had looked forward to this day. A new chapter began for him here. It must be handled carefully, but today, the game changed.
He approached the two enormously muscled men lounging outside the entrance. They eyed him cautiously, and both came off the wall as he stepped closer. He showed his teeth in a smile. If theyd been dogs, their hackles would have been up. Of course, if they were dogs, he was a wolf, and they knew it.
Ebony Rose. he said.
The two exchanged a glance, and then the moderately larger of the two said, What about her?
We have an appointment. SHE didnt know about the appointment, but these cretins hardly needed to know that. Thin Line sighed as the two just exchanged glances again. Obviously, they were chosen for this role more for their physiques than for their intellects. Its about a job. Take me to see her.
The pair exchanged glances again, then the larger opened the door and gestured for Thin Line to precede him. Given that it was their base and all, he shrugged and allowed it. He made a show of glancing around the impressively fortified base, as if he didnt already know it by heart.
Wheres the boss lady? his guide asked as they entered a large common room.
Thin Line relished the thrill of excitement as they came closer and closer to the closed door. He reminded himself again how delicate the next few moments were. In other timelines, in other realities, he arrived just as the Shades entire base exploded. In others, the base remained intact, but the leaders of the Shades were still dead. And in still others, only one of the people in that room walked out and which one it was impacted the future of the Rogue Isle and Paragon City indelibly. This was his reality though, and it was all that mattered. He smiled as the door swung open and an irritated soprano voice called out, No, this is NOT a good time!
Thin Line chuckled as he pushed past his escort and stepped into the room. No, but its the time we have, so lets make the best of it. He chuckled again at the expressions on the three faces. The red-skinned demon glared like a pit bull when a stranger walks onto his turf, the pale haired man watched him expectantly, his expression said as clearly as words, This had better be DAMN good, The dark haired woman, the one he was there to see, looked at him as if he were a particularly interesting and possibly dangerous species of insect. Gentlemen, and Lady, I am here to offer my services, to make myself available in whatever way I can. Ms. Rose, I understand you recently had occasion to hire a colleague of mine to acquire a certain item for you. She crossed her arms and stared at him. He broadened his smile. Bounty-Killer would have tried charming her at this point, but Thin Line had no interest in wasting his time that way.
The large... no, enormous demon rose to his feet, took two ground shaking steps on his hoofed feet and growled, She said, this is not a good time.
Thin Line laughed. I get ya. Youre a badass. All yall are badasses. He advanced into the room and settled one hip on the table. Im here to make you an offer you cant refuse. Ms. Rose, you have a job for me. Ill do it, Ill do it well. Ill do it for you at no charge at all. And in return, whenever you have a job that youd consider calling Bounty-Killer for, consider calling me.
I do not have a job for you. Rose leaned back in her chair, and Thin Line knew that the casual way she rested her right hand on her prosthetic left wrist was not casual at all. It meant the same as a gunslinger with his hand on the butt of his pistol. He nodded to show he noticed.
This is not a good time, you said. This is the only time. You don't realize it yet, but you have a job for me. A very important job. So, put that big brain of yours to the problem, and see if maybe you cant figure out how I can be the solution.
Rose and Razor exchanged a significant glance, and Conall nodded at both of them. Perhaps.... Rose started, then stood. Perhaps you could help us clean up a mess.
Thin Line exited the Shades base an hour later with a photo of a certain doomed young warshade, a job, and the knowledge that his next chapter was well underway.
Keely
Sirens Call
She was disappointed. Shed expected more from an Arachnos base in a war zone. The place was dirty and crowded and disorganized. Not to mention that an escaped Hero - if she could still call herself that in her current helpless state - was standing in the middle of it with no one taking any notice. Her instructions were to fly high and fast to safety. Now she just needed to remember how to fly.
Still striving to appear casual and look like she belonged there, Keely glanced around. There were piles of cargo crates butted right up to the hospital, a metal ramp in dire need of a paintjob, and stacks of wooden crates. Not to mention the Arachnos agents and drones everywhere.
She started moving, and made her way around the cargo crates. It took everything she had left in her to stroll casually by the Arachnos standing guard, but she gained nothing by it, there was no place to hide in the crates. She kept moving, and rounded a corner. She grimaced, there was nothing around this corner but a Fortunata and a door into the hospital. Seeing no choice, she opened the door and stepped in.
The hospital, at least, seemed clean and neat, if not overly concerned with aesthetics. She rounded a corner, and finally found herself alone and unobserved. She leaned back into a wall and tried to talk with her Warshade half.
Remember when we joined? She thought at it, remember how you told me you needed my help, as I needed yours? I really need you now. Please, please... help me. She could feel it moving, hear it thinking, but it was full of fear and distrust. Please. We may die without your help. And weve got to deliver the message. Its ok. Were out. But you have to help me.
She waited, and finally she felt the Warshade rising up through her consciousness. Free? it asked. Free? She remembered that everything she had suffered, the Warshade had suffered with her, but that it had endured that while under the constant torment of the quantum array. No wonder it was broken.
Were free for now. But I need you. I need your help so badly.
She felt the Warshade start to rejoin her. It rose up, and Keelys eyes opened. For a moment, she thought everything would be ok. They could change to nova form and fly high and free. They would be safe. She would be reunited with Neely and their friends. Then their eyes found an Arachnos symbol prominently displayed. Keely had to clench her jaw shut from uttering the Warshades dismayed wail as it fled again. Keelys head fell back against the wall as she fought against overwhelming hopelessness. Without her Kheldians help, she was just a human. Just an ordinary human surrounded by evil.
Hey! You there! a deep voice bellowed at her. She flinched and straightened to find an enormous Arachnos crab standing at the corner. His face was hidden by his helmet, but his body language clearly stated challenge. What do you think youre doing there? he demanded.
For an unending moment she was frozen in terror. She couldnt even scream and cower she was so frightened. And then from somewhere deep inside, the girl she used to be rose up. She straightened and glared her own challenge back. I needed a [censored] bandaid. This is a hospital, right? She strode back toward the exit door. Were not having picnics with the heroes out there, ya know! They fight back!
She made it to the door before he responded, Get your [censored] back out there, then. You dont need to be loitering around in here.
Ya... looks like you got that part covered! She slammed the door behind her and made herself keep walking before she could start shaking with reaction. But she smiled a crooked smile as she walked. The Shades hadnt managed to destroy her completely, she thought. She was still Keely, no matter what. Folded, spindled, and a little mutilated, maybe, but still herself. She pulled the illusion of her old brash confidence over herself like a cloak and strode back out.
The hero base was to the north. She didnt know exactly where, but she wasnt going to get there by hiding here. Act like you belong, she reminded herself, act like you know what youre doing.
She marched up the metal ramp and studied the terrain to the north. She was filled with hope when she realized she could see the glowing war walls from where she stood, even with her blurry vision. It had to be less than half a mile. She could go half a mile, surely. And the closer she got to the hero base, the more likely it was she would encounter someone who could help her. She put on a touch more attitude and headed north. She passed a Fortunata with binoculars who advised her, There are heroes in the distance. Nothing much to worry about.
Thanks, Keely answered with a nod.
The terrain away from the Arachnos base was broken and rough. Buildings jutted up into the air like splintered bones. She couldnt see a way to leave the area with getting into the water, so she just waded out and started swimming. No use worrying about how quickly she could have flown in nova form, that just wasnt an option for her.
After a short swim, she climbed out of the water alongside a huge pipe, its diameter large enough she could have crouched under its curving bulk. She put her left shoulder to the pipe and kept moving north. Eventually, she had to climb onto the pipe and use it to scale a wall of broken earth and pavement. At the top, she crouched and grimaced at the group of Tsoo loitering nearby. A line from a movie floated through her head, So, hows grandma? Well.. Shes on the roof. There was no chance she could walk across the open ground without them seeing her, and no amount of swagger was going to convince a half-dozen bad guys to ignore her.
Her confidence was leaving her again, and she nearly sobbed at the idea of climbing back down and trying to find another way. Then Arachnos troops boiled over the edge from the north and plowed into the Tsoo. Just like that, the entire group was facing away her. Explosions and shouts ripped through the night. And Keely sprang up and sprinted across the open ground, her heart pounding like a bird trying to escape her chest.
She tumbled down the other side, acquiring a new set of cuts, scrapes and bruises. She curled up in a ball under some rubble, but knew she didnt dare stay there. The body of a Tsoo sorcerer fell with a liquid splat just in front of her, his blood misting over her.. He was obviously dead, but Arachnos would certainly be coming down to check, and soon. And so she moved, finding cover behind the wall that was all that remained of a fallen building, and continued north.
The place was a maze of twisted metal and broken buildings. There was plenty of cover to be had, but so many different villains populated the area, she was constantly in fear of discovery. Tsoo, sky raiders, Warriors, and Arachnos were everywhere. And she knew the Shades had to be looking for her. They wouldnt be willing to let her go, and that was the one thing she refused to allow to happen. She would not be retaken by the Shades.
Dawn was gilding the blue war walls ahead of her, and she was starting to feel the exhaustion. Months spent in a tiny cell with barely adequate nutrition did not put one in condition for running and climbing. Her muscles trembled, her whole body ached, and she wanted nothing more than to curl up and in a dark spot and sleep. But the urgency of the message she carried was burning. She felt in her core that she was running out of time.
Neely
In another Paragon City
Neely waited nervously before the spinning, glowing portal. The Keely from her adopted world stood with her, one arm around her waist, the other clutching her hand. Neely smiled sadly. This Keely was the sister she always wanted, but now that she had reason to hope that her real sister was still alive, she knew that this idealized version was just a substitute. Still, she squeezed back and smiled.
Neely? a portal tech called. Were ready when you are.
Neely had said her goodbyes to the Ghosts already, and only Keely came with her. They exchanged a fervent hug. She turned back to the portal and remembered the panicked flight across Nerva. Shed been fleeing for her life, and found her way to Technician Naylor deep in the forest. And his portal had sent her to this world. Finally, shed be going back.
Keely? she asked. When you went to the Rogue Isles, how did you escape Nerva?
Keely smiled. That lunatic Shattered Ice9 was chasing me, and I fled straight to the longbow base at Agincourt. He had to stop and let me go. Longbow got me home.
Neely laughed quietly to herself. Longbow base... She thought of the maps of Nerva shed seen and wondered just how close to that safety shed passed without ever thinking of it. Well, if Id done that, Id never have met you. She hugged her adopted sister again. I love you.
I love you, too, Neely.
Neely turned her back on the world shed lived in for months, tossed a thumbs up to the tech and flew through the portal.
Bounty-Killer
Grandville
Bounty-Killer watched the sun rise over Grandville as he said his goodbyes to Wiggy. The cash went in a pocket while the blank envelope the broker had handed him got a careful examination. He tore open the seal and pulled out a note-sized piece of paper on which was scrawled: I hope you don't mind sharing one of your playthings, Hero.
Killer frowned at the message and read it again. Hero? Ah... Killer tucked the note inside his tunic and made his way to his base. What the hell is Thin Line up to now?
---In his previous dealings with Bounty-Killer, in stories written by MI_Abrahms and Major T, Thin Line likes to facetiously refer to Killer as hero because Killer does exist by a code, does still have some morals. Thin Line considers this a weakness. And even though Killer doesnt yet know the significance of his relationship with Neely, Thin Line does.
Keely
Sirens Call
She was past exhaustion. It was just determination and fear continuing to drive her north. She wanted to see her home so badly it was a palpable need. If she could just get home things would be different. Shed be the kind of sister Neely deserved, and she would start by delivering a message that would help the Ghosts, help one of Neelys dearest friends.
Keely had always resented UPS, both for the amount of time Neely had spent with him, and the clear affection she had for him. Keely and her sister had spent so much time apart, it was as if Keely wanted all of Neelys attention, and therefore she resented anyone that took Neely away.
She had a memory of UPS, it was how she always saw him when she thought of him. They had been in a council base, and she had spent the entire day yelling at him, insulting him, arguing with him. And, before that day was over, hed stepped between her and a void rifle. He was injured, his armor damaged, and she knew that the quantum energy hurt humans, it just hurt Khelds a lot worse. Still hed taken that hit for her, and she never forgot his brown eyes meeting hers after hed stopped the attack that could have killed her. She owed him a deep and sincere apology, and she just hoped she lived long enough to deliver it.
First, she had to get out of Sirens Call. She had to find her way to the hero base and get home. Then she could deliver her message, make her apology, and sleep. In that order.
She would have to climb again. She could see ahead of her smooth and unbroken ground, but she would have to climb to get there. It was so tiring to just walk, she nearly sobbed at the thought of trying to climb. You can cry later, she thought to herself, and starting pulling herself up. She found a narrow ledge, and paused, then stepped up on a rock and kept moving up. She pulled herself until she could see over the ledge and gasped. There was a phone! A PHONE! And the little blue light was blinking on top. It must work!
Hope gave her an extra surge of strength and she pulled herself up onto the flat surface. She crouched, watching extra carefully for danger. How ironic to be captured or killed with salvation finally in sight. The phone was in the open, and she hadnt risked being that exposed since leaving the Arachnos base. The conflict was paralyzing. Hope and fear.
Finally, she grit her teeth and sprinted to the phone. She lifted the receiver and jabbed the 0."
Longbow Operations. Do you have an emergency? A flat female voice answered her.
Keely let out a sob. For a moment, she was so overwhelmed she couldnt speak. Then, finally, she managed, Yes! Yes... Ive escaped... Im a hero and I escaped the Rogue Isles. I need the Ghosts. Please, can you connect me to the Ghosts?
What is your registered Hero name, please? the woman asked.
Its Keely. I need to talk to The Ghosts Reborn!
There was a long pause, then the woman spoke again, Would you like me to dispatch troops to your location?
Dammit! Keely yelled into the phone and slammed it down. She lifted the receiver again and punched in the phone number for the Ghosts base. The emergency number always accepted collect calls, and in just a few moments she heard an unfamiliar voice answer, The Ghosts Reborn.
Neely! she screamed into the phone. I have to talk to Neely! Hurry!
Aaaah.... Neelys... ah... not here?
It had never even occurred to Keely that her sister wouldnt be available, and she was struck dumb for a long moment.... UPS***, then. Hurry. Tell him its Keely. Tell him to HURRY!
***Keely is unaware that UPS 2.2 changed his name to Vir, since that happened while she was still held captive.
She dropped into a crouch there by the phone, her fear growing stronger by the moment. Shed been without hope for so long that she just couldnt believe something wouldnt go very wrong, and soon. It seemed like forever, then she could hear running footsteps. A smile crossed her face as she imagined the big man - probably just in socks this early - running for the phone.
Vir... ah.. UPS here, he said. His deep voice promised safety and warmth to her, and once again she could barely bring herself to speak.
Help me, she said finally. Its Keely. Im in Sirens call. Oh, please, help me! Come get me out of here!
Another man might have wasted time marveling that he was talking to someone he thought was dead, but not UPS. Contact Longbow immediately.
I did, I did,
Good. Are you hurt? He asked.
She opened her mouth to answer, when she heard marching footsteps. Oh, my god. Theyre coming for me.. she whispered.
Keely? Whats happening there?
Arachnos, theyre here. Theyre going to take me back... She turned toward the noise. There was no time to get under cover. Theyd be there too soon. Help me! Hurry! she screamed into the phone. Please, hurry!
She couldnt even hear him over the roaring in her ears, but shed never heard him sound so frantic. She dropped the phone and pressed back into the call box. They were coming, they were coming for her! She started to run away, then they rounded the corner. At first the bright white and red uniforms didnt even make sense, and then when she realized she actually was safe, the world went black.
Thin Line
Sirens Call
So many abandoned buildings, so much destruction. The chaos of the place called to him, but he didnt want to be late. Late for a very important date! He slipped inside a building, one of the ones still standing, and found the shadows. He leaned into the wall and waited. It was just dawn. He had time. But he wanted everything to be perfect when his playmates arrived. First the brunette... then the blonde.
He smiled.
Neely
Peregrine Island
Neely stepped out of the portal and knew she was home. It just felt right to be here. Several portal techs stared at her with surprised faces and she gave them her best smile. Its ok guys, Ive just been gone awhile.
She took one step forward when she was hit with a solid wall of dread and fear. Keely was alive... she could feel it. But she could feel her sisters terror, and she knew Keely was in grave danger. She stumbled and fell down under the ramp with the spinning portal humming.
She heard one of the techs running to her and a concerned face stared down. Are you ok?!
She climbed to her feet and shook her head. No, Im late. she answered. She lifted into flight, carried up on the brilliant blue and white of her kheldian energy, and turned on all her shields as she flew as fast as she could to try to get to her sister in time.
Ebony Rose
Shades of Vengeance Base
Rose knelt in the rich earth of her garden. She carefully pruned the Black Beauty that had been a gift from Shattered. She often found her way to the garden when she was troubled. And she was troubled. So troubled that she found herself in her rose garden at dawn.
She cradled one large deep red bloom on the Black Beauty and wished fervently for Shattered Ice9. Insane, murderous, evil, hate-filled he had been. But hed been her friend. Razor 6 was too like him and too different. With a sigh, she cut the rose and stood gracefully, surveying her garden.
Her quiet morning was demolished when the door to her lab flung open and Razor strode in, flanked by Black 6 and Anhedonia, all looking grim. Rose could see more of his soldiers milling in the hall behind him and thought, not for the first time, that if he ever decided to take over completely, she would be fighting an army just to maintain her grip on what was hers.
The warshade. Shes in Sirens Call, Razor announced. She contacted the Ghosts, and theyll be on their way to help her. We have to move! Now!
She didnt question his information. They all had secrets. Youll want the weapon. She pulled her robed around her shoulders. Give me five minutes to dress and Ill have the weapon ready for transport.
Get Conall Cian, as well. Well need his strength. Rose nodded, sighed, and trotted to her quarters to change into battle gear. Today would be a very big day. She slipped the stem of the Black Beauty into a vase and trailed the fingers of her flesh hand over the velvety petals. So beautiful....
Then she turned to business, and trotted from the room to prepare for battle.
Vir
The Ghosts Reborn Base
The news spread through the Ghosts base like wildfire in a dry pasture. Vir had hit the alarm claxon even while Keely was still screaming into the phone, but he was quite certain that the information was traveling faster than the speed of sound. Sooner Spirit found him within seconds of the alarm sound, but Glacius and Ahren werent far behind.
Those who lived in the base has endured too many drills to waste any time responding to that alarm, but those who lived off base would take a little longer. He wasnt waiting for them.
Keely is alive, and she's being hunted in Siren's Call." Quoting the Ghosts' long time motto he continued, "Leave no one behind! We're going in there and getting her the hell out, now! For Team One, Ahren and I will provide cover for Sooner, Glacius, Midnightangel, Six-four, and Celestial Nav. His eyes scanned the crowd until he found who he was looking for. Cherished, you hold here. Youll form up Team Two when more reinforcements arrive, then head for Siren's as well. We'll figure out where we need you once we get there. This may be a trap, the attack Cherished warned us about." Vir's eyes locked on Glacius, "Keep your eyes open and your [censored] down old man.
He looked around once more, then found one of the newest Ghosts, a brash and determined young man - the very image of Vir, only with a few less years under his belt. Seamus, little brother, there are several Ghosts like you, who cannot access Siren's yet. Organize a triage unit down in the med bay, and let's hope we don't need it.
Sooner Spirit exchanged a significant glance with Glacius9, who turned and nodded at Vir. Vir nodded back. Ghosts, let's roll.
Keely
Chiron Medical Center, Sirens Call
Keely hated waking up and returning from whatever sanctuary her dreams had provided. This time shed dreamed of escape. And while it hadnt been comforting, at least it had been exciting. She fought to sink down into sleep again, but something was different. Something she should pay attention to.
Her eyes opened, and she blinked at the plain white wall just a few feet from her eyes. The room was dim and quiet. Where AM I? She wondered. She rolled over and winced. There was an IV catheter in her arm attached to a busily working fluid pump. Was it real? Was she safe? Or was this some new torture dreamed up by her captors?
She sank back into her pillow, too afraid to call out and destroy the fantasy that she was finally safe. The room looked like a typical hospital room, with the shades drawn, and the door cracked open. The room was tiny, but efficiently designed.
She nearly dozed off again until she heard footsteps approaching. The noise of the heavy soled shoes made her think of a cops uniform shoes. And that made her think of the demon that liked to pretend to be a cop. She shrank in on herself, her eyes darting around the room. There was no escape. She was trapped in this tiny room.
The door creaked open. A mans deep voice called out softly, Keely? Are you awake? The door opened the rest of the way and a mans shape was silhouetted in the doorway. A big man, wearing a badge and a trenchcoat. He blocked the doorway. She scrambled off the bed, ripping the IV catheter out of her vein and not even noticing the blood trickling down her arm.
Wait! Wait! the man called and stepped into the room, hurrying towards her with his hands outstretched.
NO! she screamed at him.
And then, from deep inside her, her kheldian half erupted out. It screamed again, NO! NO! She exploded into her dwarf form in a burst of purple and blue energy. With a furious roar she knocked the man into the wall and teleported into the open hall even as his body crumpled to the floor.
In a state of mutual panic, the two minds finally reunited. She raced in a thudding rumble down the hall, ignoring completely the surprised yells of the nurses she charged past. She ignored the elevator as just tiny box that could become another prison, bounded down the nearby stairs. She teleported to the hospital door as soon as the were visible. A middle aged woman in scrubs sat at the information desk and stared at the giant dark dwarf that suddenly appeared before her.
She changed quickly to nova form, tentacles lashing in agitation and opened the doors to fly high and free. She turned left, towards the gate to Steel Canyon, but the cramped confines of the gate frightened her, and she turned right instead, climbing higher into the sky and heading east.
In a matter of moments, she was flying fast over the same terrain that her human form had labored for hours to climb over. In her panic, she just wanted to find cover. She needed a safe spot. She needed a minute to think.
She found her way to a building that still looked intact. She circled it, once, twice, and saw no signs of life. She zoomed down over the wrought iron and brick fence and ducked inside the building. She found herself a dark hiding place inside and went to ground.
Thin Line
Sirens Call
She had arrived. From his hidden vantage he watched the warshade as she frantically dashed into the building. Once inside, she took just a moment to find a spot to conceal herself. He admired her selection. An antique china cabinet had fallen onto a tapestry sofa near a window. It created a deep, shadowy cave where she could be hidden from sight, but from which she could easily see the surroundings by just moving forward a few feet. Once there she indulged herself in a fit of hysterical sobbing before settling in to silence broken only by an occasional muttered phrase.
He remained hidden. There was so much more to this game than just killing this one. His hands itched to take hold of his weapons, but it was not time for the kick off just yet. The fun would end far too soon if he took her now. There were many more guests yet to arrive. He had plenty of time to savor the anticipation. And anticipate he did. Hed prefer it if she stayed human. He loved the feeling of the black blade sliding smoothly through flesh and the sudden coppery smell of fresh blood. The white blade, that one would go neck or belly, depending on his mood. Neck was so much faster, and so much bloodier. A belly wound gave him time to soliloquize for his victim, if he so chose. Her body was so slight that his blades would pass right through her. He closed his eyes, savoring the smell of her blood, feeling its slippery warmth on his hands. She was so close. It would be so easy.... He was hovering over her like the angel of death. She was his to kill when he chose...
But it was not time. And she wouldnt stay human. She would change to the tentacled energy form. The solid energy form was lighter. It would feel like stabbing a bird, more empty space than solid. It would look like skewering a shrimp, and the fluid energy that passed for blood would drip down his blades before dissipating into the air. Then she would drop, nearly dead, back to human and finally spill her blood out onto the ground.
He remained motionless, except for the crook of a smile. All things come to those who wait. They come, but often come too late.
Sooner Spirit
Sirens Call
I dont know what happened, the detective said to the assembled Ghosts Reborn. Normal humans typically end up much the worse for wear when they come up against a meta-human, and from the story this one was telling, he probably got off lucky. I just wanted to ask her some questions. We didnt know anything about her, in fact, our records indicate the Hero known as Keely is dead. He winced as the doctor wrapping his arm in a quick-setting fiberglass cast jostled his fingers. He held an ice pack against the purple and swollen right side of his face. The bruising slurred his words. I called her name and opened the door. She seemed ok, then she suddenly started screaming at me. The next thing I know she blew up into one of those giant lobster things, knocked me into the wall, and ran off.
The receptionist downstairs said she fled to the east, Vir clarified.
The detective reached out to Sooner. I dont begrudge what happened, he said earnestly. She was so frightened. I dont know when Ive seen anyone, much less a Hero, so scared. You have to find her.
Ok, detective, just try to take it easy for a few days, the doctor said.
The detective nodded and stood up. And up. Sooner hadnt realized just how big the man was. Ahren, standing just behind her, shifted suddenly. He leaned forward and nudged Sooners elbow. He's very tall, with the badge and his size, it's little wonder Keely mistook him to be the demon coming to recapture her.
Sooner nodded her understanding. We will, detective. And she meant it. The Ghosts looked after one another. But Keely... Keely had been captured on a mission that Sooner lead. A failed mission. It would mean a lot to her to get the warshade back to safety. And she knew Glacius still carried a burden of guilt over that same mission. It would do both of them a lot of good to get her back.
Sooner turned to the team. Spread out and search to the east? she suggested.
Vir nodded. Well take it section by section. And shes already tried once to contact the base. Once she gets over her fright, hopefully shell try it again. The team exited the hospital and Vir keyed his radio to the Ghosts channel. Were heading east from the hospital, he announced. Shes just a few minutes ahead of us. We should have our lost warshade home soon.
Ebony Rose
Sirens Call
The last of her robots unfolded itself from its transport crate and straightened. Rose took a moment to examine all six and then turned her attention to Sirens Call. She had never liked the contentious zone, and was not happy to be setting foot in it again. Nearby, Razor 6 was slipping into the carry strap for the weapon shed designed for him. It was heavy and ugly, and only had power for a couple of shots. Fortunately, it would only take one solid hit to have the desired effect. She moved closer to check the power readouts and nodded at him. She sincerely hoped they succeeded. She still had a sample of the pilfered nanites in her lab, so she supposed the weapon could be recreated if needed, but UPS - now calling himself Vir - had never been her obsession. She was ready for Razor to move on, and she suspected that wouldnt happen till Vir was dead.
He was flanked by his trio of Arachnos elite soldiers, Black 6, Sable Murphy, and Anhedonia. Conall Cian loomed nearby in his demon form, his leathery wings spreading wide before settling over his shoulders. His fiery eyes lingered on Razors companions before he swivelled his gaze to Rose. While it was never easy to guess what the demon was thinking, in this case Rose suspected that he was even more unhappy with Razors personal army than she was. Unfortunately, her patience with politics within the group she helped to lead was fast running out. She ran her hands over her belt-pouches, ready to create some destruction. A few noisy explosions would do wonders for her mood.
They are still searching for the missing Kheld, Razor announced suddenly. They are traveling east from the medical center. If we move due north, well close on them rapidly. A predatory smile spread over his face. UPS is with them. I hope he enjoyed todays sunrise. Razor patted the weapon as he spoke. He wont see another.
Neely
Sirens Call
Keelys fear was both a beacon and a intolerable goad. It drove her to fly faster. She zipped over Steel Canyon and swooped through the security gate into Sirens Call. Once there, she could feel the pull even more strongly. She flew at her top speed into the brilliant pink and orange of the sunrise. On any other day, she would have enjoyed the lovely sight. Today, she was only resentful of the rising sun glaring into her eyes and making it harder to see.
Every moment she felt her sisters fear, her own guilt and anger grew. While a part of her had always known she couldnt have rescued her sister, her emotions would never accept that. She should have at least tried. Instead, shed believed a lie and left her sister, her only real family, to the worst nightmare any Ghost could face. And that lie... why had he done it? Why had the infamous assassin Bounty-Killer interfered? What purpose had it served for him to throw her off track like that? It made no sense, but the truth remained. She had left her sister to that fate because of his lie. And once this was over, once Keely was home safe, she would find Bounty-Killer and make him pay for every day Keely had spent in that cell.
So intent was she on her own thoughts and the beacon of Keelys distress that she almost didnt notice the movement below her. When she realized what she was seeing, she nearly fell out of the sky in surprise. She let out a happy whoop and dived straight down. For her own safety, she waited until UPSs face registered shocked recognition and then flung herself on him in a joyous hug.
Neely?! he pushed her back to look at her. What are you doing here?
Oh my god... youre alive! Youre alive! She smiled and hugged him again.
Why wouldnt I be? he asked, still obviously stunned to find her there.
Keely... she said suddenly. The emotions were so strong. She pulled away from UPS and looked up at the tall building behind her. Was there movement in that window? We have to find her, she announced urgently.
Were trying, Neely, were trying, he answered. Shes here somewhere.
There, Neely pointed at the building. Shes there.
He nodded and spoke into his radio, Team one, gather on my location. I... he glanced at Neely. I found a Kheld, but not the one we were looking for. Team two, whats your status?
Cherished voice answered him. Were five minutes from entering Sirens, Vir.
He gave her his coordinates and waited for team one to arrive.
Jagged Fortune
The Ghosts Reborn Base
Those Ghosts too junior to enter Sirens Call had prepared for the worst and now had nothing to do but wait. They huddled around banks of monitors, listening to the chatter over the radio. Most were excited, whispering to one another and fidgeting, but a few had been around long enough to know just how badly any confrontation between the most powerful of the Ghosts and the Shades could go.
There was so much history of pain, and hatred, and betrayal between them; such a depth of anger and grief, such a burning need for vengeance, or justice. Every time they had clashed, there had been loss and pain. Every time they met, it just threw another dry log onto the bonfire of their enmity.
Sitting off to himself, Jagged Fortune hid his smile behind a worried expression as Virs calm voice rattled off a string of coordinates. Skillfully hiding his movements as simple fidgeting, he typed those numbers into a tiny communications device, relaying the movements of the Ghosts directly to Razor 6.
Thin Line
Sirens Call
His little warshade had quieted. No sobs, no mutters, just the quiet sound of her breathing. It would be easy to assume exhaustion had taken her, but he knew better. She was huddled there, thinking, planning, perhaps debating with the two halves of herself what to do next. If he was actually going to take her where she hid, it would have been a tragic end to her tragic tale, but this game was not as close to over for her as it might seem. She had a few plays left in her. She would go out gloriously.
He smiled as the brilliant white flare of a Peacebringer flashed by the window. It was time for the game to begin.
He carefully and deliberately let out an audible sigh.
Keely
Sirens Call
Her two halves had calmed. For the first time in months she had peace inside her own skull. She knew both her halves were still fragile, but together they seemed able to form a more stable whole. She needed a strategy for getting home. On the surface, it seemed so simple: fly to the Steel Canyon gate, cross through, go the entrance to the base, and go home. But in reality, it was so much more frightening. She knew Sirens Call was not a safe place, and the thought of encountering any of the myriad of villains who would do her harm was unbearable. The Shades were surely looking for her, Arachnos as well. And any number of rank and file villains were out there who would be delighted to take out a warshade.
She brought herself back to the illusion of calm that was the best she could mange. She would change back to nova. She would crash straight through that window and fly fast and high back towards the Steel Canyon gate. Before anyone even saw her, she would be safe. Yes. That was her plan. She visualized it again and again. But she wasnt ready yet. She would stay where she was, enjoying her illusion of safety until she could bring herself to move.
Then, from so close it had to be in the same room, she heard a single exhaled breath. She wasnt alone. They had come for her. Her panic spiraled and she pushed herself even further back into her hiding place.
Neely
Sirens Call
Wait, Neely, Vir urged again. In other circumstances, she would have laughed. She hadnt been back five minutes and he was trying to tuck her under his protective wing again.
Shes IN there, she repeated.
Neely, I know youre worried, but weve been warned of traps and a super quantum weapon that the Shades have built. For your sisters safety as well as ours, we should wait until the team is all here.
But- she started, then cut herself off. His arguments of danger just made her more anxious, but she also remembered very well the story of how his other-world counterpart had died. The image of just the two of them going into an abandoned building after her sister was just too close for her own comfort.
The rest of the team will be here soon, Neely, he offered, and then we can go in strong.
And at that moment, Neely felt her sisters fear spike. Her head whipped around to the building. Not soon enough, big guy! she snapped and started running.
Neely! he ran after. Youre still crazy, dammit!
NO! she turned back to him. YOU wait. You stay here.
No way youre goin in there alone, he answered her with a set to his jaw that made it clear there was no dissuading him.
Her heart squeezed. Keely needed her, but she couldnt stand the thought of losing her friend either. NO! she yelled. You have to stay out here. I cant lose you both again! She turned back to the door and had her hand on the handle when he planted his hand on the door.
Stop right there and start behaving like a Ghost! he snapped. Dammit Neely! After all the missions, all the blood, the loses, the near-misses, haven't you learned anything?! We're a team! Let the TEAM help you, but you have to help them too! He leaned closer, I know youre worried about Keely. We all are. But I am not going to let you drag anymore Ghosts into danger because youre letting your emotions rule your brain! You dont know the situation, you may be walking into a trap, and youre making a foolish choice that may get you or others killed!
Behave like a... I helped START the Ghosts! Im a leader-
His hand moved suddenly, from a flat palm on the door to a fist smacking into the door frame. You dont lead anyone anymore. You LEFT. You nearly provoked a super-powered war in the Rogue Isles, and then you disappeared. Im not even sure if youre welcome as a member of the Ghosts after your actions.
That stunned her into silence. She just stared at him, her kheldian energy leaking from hands and eyes, frozen in shock. UPS, I...
My name is Vir, he answered. And if you want to go in there on your own, be my guest. He dropped his hand and turned his back to her, tossing one last comment over his shoulder, Time to decide youre a member of this team or not.
It was too much. She was held motionless by her worry for Keely, her worry for her friend, his words... Her energy flared around her, and her temper started to flare with it. But at that moment she saw the bright red and white cape of Sooner Spirit flash down towards them. The brilliant glow of another Peacebringer, Glacius9, followed her, and Ahren, strong, healthy, his scars gone and his face at peace arrived right after. MidnightAngel swooped in - with her spark of electrical energy in tow- along with a handsome young man that she barely remembered as Six-Four. Her old friend Celestial Nav rounded out the group. Hugs, greetings, and questions were all cut short as Neely finally found her voice again.
Keelys in there. Shes in trouble. Please, lets get her out.
Vir stepped up. Ghosts, we dont know whats waiting for us in there and I dont want us trapped unaware inside. Ahren, you and Six watch the front and alert us if you see anything. The rest of us will go in - he cast one look at Neely before continuing, together - after our lost warshade.
The Ghosts headed for the front door while Ahren and Six-Four found themselves vantage points from which to watch over their team.
Keely
Sirens Call
Keely began to creep out of her hiding place. Youre a Hero, dammit! she chastised herself. Heroes dont sit in the dark and cry! A sullen childs voice from deep inside muttered, I never wanted to be a stupid Hero, but she ignored it. For her Kheld half, it was as if freedom had restored sanity. Keely was a little slower to catch up and she was still terrified of being recaptured. Nonetheless, she wouldnt find her way home hiding here.
She crept forward and peered out the window. She saw movement below. Her vision was improving slowly, but still all she could make out was a dark-haired man-shaped figure darting out of sight. She gasped and ducked under the window. She wanted to hide again but she didnt allow herself. Her wide blue eyes darted around the room. She wasnt sure what that noise was shed heard earlier, but she didnt see anything now.
She turned to look out the window one last time, and then smiled. An intrepid climbing vine had scaled the brick building and just outside the window a beautiful purple bloom was just spreading its petals to the rising sun. For a young woman who had seen no beauty in her life for far too long it was a long overdue reminder that life can hold great beauty. She put her palm to the pane of glass separating her from the blossom and smiled.
The sound of a door slamming open reverberated through the building and she whirled back to face the door. She reminded herself again that she was a hero and that she should stand and face whomever or whatever came through that door. But then she could hear more and more people enter the building. They were running through the building, opening doors. Every now and then a muffled voice would carry to her, Clear! or Nothing here! They were looking for her. And as one particularly deep mans voice approached closer and closer the fear won out over her thin veneer of courage. She crouched and began to slink once again for her hiding place.
The door to her room flung open and she couldnt help herself from crying out when a very large man stepped through. She blinked, trying to bring her eyes into focus, but all she could be sure of was that it was a large man. He called out, I found her! Here!
She was frozen, like a rabbit held in approaching headlights. A woman came in behind him, and when the bright spark of electricity behind her arced with a flare into the doorway, the last of her nerve broke and she scrambled back to her illusion of safety.
More and more people crowded the room. They blocked her only way out. Once again, she was trapped. The air was too heavy, she couldnt breath, she couldnt think. The people in the room were all chattering at her, calling her name, using up her air. Finally she erupted out, No no no nononononoooo! and they fell silent.
Then she heard her sister, Keely? Whats wrong? She peeked out and saw, behind the line of bodies, the brilliant white glow of a slender woman wrapped in Peacebringer energies. She looked like an angel, but Keely couldnt go to her, the air was too thick. She shrank back again and wrapped her arms around her knees. Her sisters voice cried out, Whats wrong with her? and Keely would liked to have answered, but there was no air.
Neely
Celestial Nav stepped forward. Neely, shes terrified.
Neely was finding it hard to think. Hers sisters terror had grabbed her by the heart. She could barely breath, her pulse was pounding, and her blood was roaring in her ears. And over it all she kept hearing her sister in that other world say, It was just the two of us... and She wouldnt let us near her.
Neely turned to her friends. Please, can I have a few minutes with her? Maybe if its just me shell come out.
Sooner nodded and faded back into the hall. Glacius, Nav, and Angel went with her. Vir stood by the door, and Neely felt her heart turn over. She turned to him, You too, big guy.
Neely... he started, but this time she broke over him
Theres no one here, UP Vir. Theres no one but one terrified girl. You can see this is not a trap.
His brown eyes held hers for a long moment, then he nodded. If anything happens, Im coming back in.
She wanted to argue, but her sisters distress was pulling at her. Fine! she answered. Just get out of here.
Sable Murphy
She was filled with excitement and dread. This would be her first time to go up against the Ghosts since regaining contact with Cherished. How could she fight them? What if she came face to face with Cherished? She had come to the conclusion that taking a fall would be her best approach when Razor called a halt with a single upraised fist.
The broken terrain provided perfect cover. Up ahead, they could see a single man in a Ghosts Reborn blue on white uniform. He stood tall and alert, his gaze constantly moving. Sable felt a chill come over her at the expression on Conall Cians face as his lips pulled back in a teeth baring smile. Its past time I finished that one, he growled. Razor pointed to the left, and they could just make out another Ghost. Conall smiled even more broadly. And that one, as well.
Razor turned to Conall, You and Forbidden Blade take care of Ahren and Six-Four. The rest of us will go in to finish the rest.
Conall huffed a singled laugh. Take the boy with you, he said, indicating Forbidden Blade with a toss of his head. I need no help finishing off the ruined Peacebringer and Ive already beaten the other to a pulp twice.
Nonetheless, Razor answered, You and Forbidden Blade will work together to take out the watchers., then join us inside.
Conall inhaled once through gritted teeth and nodded. You take that one, he said, pointing at Ahren. Hes been broken and spit out already, you wont find him much challenge. Forbidden Blade nodded once, then faded from view. Conall followed, moving with surprising silence for his size.
Razor 6 waited for them to move away, then led his team in a wide, quiet arc behind the building.
Vir
He watched Neely advance into the room, and then turned his gaze back to the hall behind his team. He didnt know why she was so determined to keep him out of that room, but he had lost enough friends to the Shades already. With two Peacebringers and a Warshade and with a deadly quantum weapon in the hands of their mortal enemies, he was not going to stand by and let any of them get anywhere near that weapon. Keeping both Neely and Glacius from getting into trouble would be tough enough, but with Keely so flighty... they just needed to get her out and get her home. Once she was safe, then they could worry about her peace of mind. Three possible targets for one deadly weapon, and each of them too damn stubborn to stay down and out of the line of fire.
He watched Neely drop her glowing shields and ground his teeth in frustration. Hed been keeping that woman alive despite herself for years. One day he suspected he wouldnt be fast enough. He hoped it wasnt today.
Thin Line
And finally... all the players were in place. He waited; so close he could almost reach out and touch them. Just a few moments more. The Peacebringer glided into the room - step by slow step - calling her sisters name. His scared little warshade peeked out at her.
Neely... is it really you? You left... I felt it when you left.
I did leave, but I came back, the blonde answered. Someone lied to me, and I believed him, and I left you behind. But Im back now, and Im so sorry, and youre going home with me, and everything will be ok now.
He waited, holding his breath. He would let them nearly touch. He would let them get so close... the game would be so much more exciting for them all if they were denied at the absolute... last... moment.
The brunette inched forward. She crouched in front of her hiding place. Neely? she said, with sobs starting to choke off her voice. I want to go home. The blonde took two more steps forward and held her arms out to her sister.
He allowed himself a low chuckle. An audible chuckle.
And the game began.
Neely
Time came to a stop. The story of how UPS had died in another world replayed itself again and again in her head. It took an eternity to swivel her head to the right. She saw a man - bald head, wearing a neat black suit - smile at her, and then vanish. She opened her mouth to yell as she concentrated on getting her shields back up. Too slow... too slow by far.
Sooner Spirit
A low, confident chuckle rolled out the room Neely had entered. It was a sound too masculine -and too soulless - to have come from Neely or her sister. As she crouched in preparation for battle, her eye caught movement from behind them. She whirled back. It was a trap. She bared her teeth and yelled, INCOMING! Shades! Behind us!
At almost the same moment, Ahrens voice broke over the radio, Theyre here! The Shades are here!
Ahren
He hated waiting. Once battle began, there was no time for luxuries like anxiety or fear. But when there was nothing to do but wait and think... too much time to remember things best forgotten. Too much time to worry about friends and think about what could happen to them.
He was a teacher. In his heart, he was a teacher. And if a Peacebringer hadnt found him, he might be devoting all his time to one of Paragon Cities universities. Instead, hed become a hero, but then hed walked into a trap laid by the Shades and they had ripped that from him. Then hed taught himself to fight and become a hero again. And when that wasnt enough, hed turned to technology and remade himself a third time. He wouldnt have given it up if he could, but sometimes he did wonder what his life would have been like if that Peacebringer had passed him by that day so many years ago.
His eyes never stopped moving, always watching for the danger he knew was coming for them, but he did smile, just a little, at the image of himself in a tweed jacket, sitting at a desk, perhaps just a bit of a gut from a more sedentary life, grading papers and grateful for the Heroes that kept Paragon City safe.
Nanites, modified from the ones that gave Vir his powers, flowed through Ahrens veins, crept through his tissues, and even sped up the electrical activity of his nervous system. And that alerted him. He didnt know if it was a movement or a noise, or just a change in air pressure, but something made him whirl and twist back just as a deadly blade thrust toward him. Instead of skewering him, it made a long, thin cut across his belly and chest, a cut that was almost instantly knitted closed by his nanites.
He keyed his mike and alerted his teammates, Theyre here! The Shades are here!
Vir
He allowed himself the luxury of one single, emphatic curse. He glanced into the hall and saw Razor 6 -with an enormous weapon slung across his back- start down that long hall. Ebony Rose was behind him, and several elite Arachnos soldiers. He grabbed Glacius9 - whose shields were all up - by the shoulder, Move it, old man! he insisted, and dragged Glacius into the room. Neelys shields were not up yet and he took two long strides to her, picked her up like a kitten and tossed her out the window. He reached for Keely, but she darted back under cover. At least she was out of line of sight, and he had the rest of his team to worry about. Outside! he yelled, and waved them through.
Neely had hit the ground with smooth roll and was back up, shields on, trying to get back into the room. Ill get her! he growled at her. You keep your [censored] OUTSIDE! And, for a wonder, she stopped. MidnightAngel had paused in the doorway to fire at their approaching enemies. Move it, Angel! he insisted. She ignored him and fired another blast of electricity down the hall, but before he could reach forward and handle her like he had Neely, a pulse rifle blast knocked her back into the room. She bounced, rolled, bounded to her feet and then finally ducked out the window.
He started to reach for Keely - her emotional state be damned - when the Shades reached the door. He turned to face their enemies and felt his hatred for them twist his face. You cant have them, he growled at Razor. You cant have Glacius - and you cant have any of the others - without going through me first.
Razor 6 smiled triumphantly at him. Razor could have been Ice9's twin, and that face, smiling at him like that, was an offense that struck to Virs soul. Were not here for Glacius, Razor said. He brought that weapon around and braced it with a wide stance, pointing it directly at Virs chest.
Ahren
SIX! he yelled, Weve got company! He turned to square off against his oppenent.
I see the ugly [censored]! Six yelled back, and Ahren knew that Six was facing down his own opponent.
Then, carried by the wind, a voice Ahren hadnt heard in a very long time. I told you, little man, next time we met... wed finish it. Ahren snarled as that voice cut straight through him. Oh yes.. He remembered that voice far too well, and the beast to whom it belonged. He owed the big demon in pain and he intended to settle that debt in full.
Come on and try then! Six-Four yelled back defiantly.
Ahren turned back to his own battle. The Shade standing ready before him had the light muscular build of a gymnast and the speed to match. He held his sword lightly in both hands and danced around like a welter-weight boxer. But despite the obvious proficiency of his abilities, something about his overly eager attitude spoke volumes. This young man had yet to truly be tried in battle. And now he had met a teacher.
You picked the wrong man for that move, Shade, he said and his fist rocketed forward to sink into the lighter mans belly. The swordsman doubled over, gasped for breath, and still managed to nimbly dance away, flicking his sword alarmingly near Ahrens eyes as he did. Light sparked from the tip of the sword and Ahren flinched back, blinking reflexively. When he looked back, the swordsman had vanished.
Ahren knew what would happen next, and so he began rapidly backpedaling towards Sixs position. He didnt move quickly enough, however, and this time, the sword found its mark. Ahren let out a guttural sound of pain as the sword completed its movement, penetrating from just under his kidney and exiting just left of his navel. His attacker leaned in close to whisper, That move seems to work just fine on you, Hero.
Inside his body, nanites were working feverishly, sealing off blood vessels, rushing to repair damaged organs, cleaning up contaminants, and, not incidentally, numbing his pain. Ahren grit his teeth and grabbed the sword where it protruded from his belly. He wrapped his left hand around it closest to his body and his right just above. While offering a mental apology to the extra work he was about to create for the little machines that were keeping him alive, he snapped the last third of the blade off and tossed it away. Light flared and then ran out of the broken blade like water.
His elbow smashed back into the unprotected face of the man behind him with a wet noise like a melon smashing onto pavement. He turned as the man fell and reached behind his own back to pull the blade free. He smacked the fallen man with the flat of the bloody blade. Never stand there like that after you stab someone, he offered helpfully. It leaves you vulnerable if they decide to get angry. He tossed the broken sword to his opponent. Now... get up.
The man stood up, slowly and painfully, with a mournful expression that might have been comical under other circumstances. This time when he flicked his weapon at Ahrens face, there was no flare of light and the larger man just knocked the flat away with his forearm. Fooled me once... he said with a slow shake of his head, and then his fist began a powerful wind-up from the hip, straight across his chest to smash into the swordsmans jaw. Bone crunched, teeth shattered as they clicked together, neatly severing the last quarter inch of tongue. Fragments of teeth were driven through the palette and aspirated on a painfully indrawn breath. Before his target could even start to fall, Ahrens fist slammed twice more into the face. Forbidden Blade crumpled to the ground and Ahren stepped over his body to join his teammate and confront his own personal demon.
Keely
He doesnt know.... she thought. She watched the man she still knew as UPS stand between her, between the Ghosts, and a weapon designed to kill him, and realized that he didnt know the very personal danger he was in. And why doesnt he know? That taunting voice kept asking her. He doesnt know because you didnt tell them. The one price you were asked to pay for your freedom, and you failed.
Youll target Glacius with that thing after youve gone through me, monster UPS challenged. He stood there, tall and strong and confident, placing himself in the way of a deadly danger he perceived to his friends.
Razor 6 shrugged. Glacius... yes, Ill kill him eventually. But I live now because of him. You, however... I still remember the betrayal. I know it wasnt really me, but I remember it as if it were. You left me to die. You might as well have killed my wife yourself. Monster I may be, but Im a monster who exists because... You. Left. Me. Behind. Razor lifted the weapon slightly to lock UPS in his sights. Just think, my old friend, of all the harm Ive done, and remember, in your last moments, that none of it would have happened if not for your actions.
Keely felt regret twist her gut. This was a good man. And her sister adored him. And why hadnt he left the room? Why did he still stand there? Because she was still there - he wouldnt leave that room while she was still in danger. Not only had she failed to deliver her message, but she was the reason he would stand there and die. She couldnt stand it. She could not sit there and watch this man die because she had failed in the one thing shed been asked to do in return for her freedom. She was so afraid. The people who had imprisoned her and tortured her were in the very room with her. She wanted nothing more than to crawl as far into the darkness as she could and hide until they all went away. But she couldnt. She was a Hero.
Time slowed to a near standstill. From her vantage, she could see Razors finger start to tighten on the trigger. Her body exploded with a noisy burst of kheldian energy into her tentacled nova form. With a flick of her tail and shrill alien war cry, she darted out of hiding. UPS turned to her with alarm, NO! Keely! Stay back! he yelled. He reached for her, his body twisting as the weapon fired. A beam of light - not the blue, purple, and red of a quantum rifle, but a deadly green and white - shot from the barrel of that weapon. Keely made one last burst of speed and managed to place herself squarely in the way. It hit her like a runaway freight train. She was knocked in a flying somersault past UPS just as he let out a yell more of surprise than pain, and she realized that despite her best efforts, he had been struck a glancing blow. She smashed through the broken window before she could regain control of herself, and whirled back to see him staggering, his left hand clutching his right shoulder. His shields were flickering, his skin was pale, and then she saw blood begin to show clearly on the shining white of his Ghosts Reborn uniform. And Razor 6 was lining up for another shot.
UPS staggered back and hit the windows ledge. The blood was running down his uniform in scarlet streams, and Neely let out a horrified scream. He started to sink down, and every one of the watchers knew that if he fell there, alone in that room with their enemies, he would be dead. At that moment, Sooner Spirit darted forward, and Glacius9 with her. They reached up in unison and grabbed the gravely wounded man, tumbling his body out the window just as a second beam of that green light blasted past the spot where hed stood.
Butcher! Glacius9 shouted, pointing at Razor 6, nearly incoherent with rage. Murderer! Youre dead! YOURE dead!
None of them noticed the shadow that hopped out of the broken window still on the hunt.
Ahren
With every step, Ahren felt himself becoming a flesh and blood instrument of long overdue retribution. Anger was an entirely inadequate word, fury or rage were still not descriptive enough. The demon was a brutal monster, and Ahren intended to see him bleed.
Memory is a funny thing, a small emotionally detached part of his mind mused. He understood better than anyone else the fear and desperation that was driving Keelys erratic behavior, and shed been a prisoner of the Shades far longer than he had. He could remember every beating, every torment inflicted on him when hed been a prisoner, but that time was behind him. What does not destroy me, makes me stronger, he thought. He was stronger now, and if that demon thought he was facing the same man hed had in that little steel cage, he was in for a nasty surprise.
He rounded a crumbling brick wall to see the demon pressing his advantage on Six-Four. Six was not a small man by any description, but the demon was a towering giant, with leathery wings spread wide, clawed feet dancing with surprising speed and agility, and dark shadows wrapping around his monstrous fists. It would be terribly easy to let the sight of the beast that had tormented him make him weak, make him fearful, but Ahren would not allow that to happen. Instead, he channeled the surge of adrenaline released at the sight of the demon straight into his anger and determination.
Six was struggling, being driven back again and again. He bled from a dozen wounds, and for each one that his amazing ability to heal closed up, the demon opened another two. Sixs teeth were bared in frustrated determination, his blades flashed and whirled, but he couldnt find an opening. And as Ahren strode closer, the demon landed a brutal backhand that sent Six flying back. His blades clattered from his hands as he crumpled to the ground. The demon let out a triumphant roar and strode towards Six. Ahren had heard the excruciating details of Sixs previous battles with Conall Cian, and this one wasnt going any better. Six was struggling to get up, but failing, and Ahren knew his teammate was in serious trouble.
Hey! Tinkerbell! Ahren called. He reached down and grabbed a chunk of broken pavement. Lifting it high overhead, he hurled it at the demon. It smashed into him, spinning him away from his fallen target to face Ahren.
The demon smiled, a broad, crooked grin baring his fangs. His dismissive gaze raked Ahren from toes to face. You? He laughed, the sound full of dismissal. Youre going to save this one? Last time I saw you, human, you were sobbing in a puddle of your own blood and sweat.
Ahren laughed, and if the sound was just a touch bitter, who could have blamed him. "Yes indeed, you're an impressive fighter, when your opponent has already been made helpless." He raised his chin and beckoned with his left hand, "Come on over here, fairy, and let's see just how tough you are when I can fight back!"
Brave words, little man, the demon crooned as he stalked towards Ahren, and away from Six. Brave words from a broken hero.
Ahren dodged a vigorous swing and struck back, with a powerful fist to the gut, Oh, I think youll find Im all better, now.
The battle raged, not just in fists, but in words. And with every blow, every taunt, Ahren kept the demon turned away from Six-Four, who slowly and painfully dragged himself to his feet. Ahren met Sixs eyes, and they exchanged a very brief nod.
Conall raked at Ahren over and over with his massive claws, but those blows went wide, or failed to penetrate Ahrens nanite-toughened skin. Ahren manage to connect more often than the demon did, but he had only a little more success in doing damage. The broken street was filled with the heavy sounds of fists striking flesh over and over, and the guttural noises of exertion or the sudden exhalations when a blow landed.
Ahren watched as Six-Four finally regained his feet. His blue on white uniform was still cut and stained with blood, but the skin underneath was whole. Six nodded once and let a smile spread across his face. Ahren smiled broadly in response.
Why do you smile, human? the demon demanded. You will not win this fight.
Conall was becoming more and more furious as the fight wore on, and if his blows were more powerful, they were still not landing often enough to do any real harm. In fact, Ahren was quite certain that the two of them would fight to a draw - if that fight remained just the two of them. But a point hed tried to make to Six-Four months ago was about to be proven.
Why do I smile, you evil murderous thing? Ahren responded. For the strength of the pack is the wolf.... he quoted.
Six-Four erupted into motion. The demon was just realizing his danger as Six plunged both his blades deep into the demons belly. With a triumphant roar, he slashed outward and down, opening that wound wide in a fountain of crimson blood. He then leapt into the air in a graceful spinning twirl, raking his blades across the demons chest, neck, and face. Those blades exposed lung tissue to the air, narrowly missed the pulsing carotid artery, and laid open the demons cheek from jaw to ear, revealing that all of his teeth were the sharp meat-cutting weapons of a carnivore. As Sixs feet hit the ground and his knees bent under him, he finished for Ahren, ...and the strength of the wolf is the pack.'
Conall stumbled back, gasping for air, one hand clasped to his throat as blood poured out of the wound there, the other to his belly. He tried to speak, but the only thing that came from his mouth was bloody bubbles. Six moved to finish him off - and Ahren made no effort to stop him - but the demon managed to activate an emergency teleport at the last moment, leaving the street to the heroes.
Both men had reason to want that demon dead, but they commemorated their victory with an enthusiastic high-five. Their celebration was cut short when Glacius9's furious cry cut through the morning chill in Sirens Call, followed by Neelys frantic scream.
Vir
As the battle began in Sirens Call, a war raged inside Virs body. He had researched and crafted microscopic machines which worked diligently to protect him, forming protective shields, repairing damage, building muscles and strengthening bones. Millions of them coursed through his body, but hundreds of thousands of them had been corrupted by the Shades weapon. Those nanites no longer recognized the tissue surrounding them. Instead of protecting and healing, they attacked savagely. Millions of cells died under the assault of the tiny machines. They ripped open blood vessels, savagely assaulted nerves, and chewed through muscle.
Those nanites that still functioned properly raced to heal the damage, but their AI failed to recognize that their fellow nanites had gone rogue. The damage continued, while some of the corrupted nanites turned and attacked the healthy ones, preventing them from acting.
The pain was nearly unbearable, and Vir collapsed once he was out of the building. He watched in helpless dismay as the Ghosts around him reacted in confused chaos. Keely still hovered over him, screeching furiously and frantically in her shrill alien voice. Neely stood between Vir and her sister, apparently frozen in shock. MidnightAngel fired bolts of lightning into the room they had all just left, while Sooner Spirit and Glacius9 faced off against each other as Sooner tried to prevent him from charging in to attack. Celestial Nav dove towards Vir, and her blessedly warm healing energies flowed through him. It didnt stop the pain, but it soothed it enough that he could think.
He understood quite well what had happened, if not exactly how it had happened. He also knew he was profoundly fortunate to still be alive - if that beam had found its target instead of glancing off his shoulder, hed be dead or dying. No... not fortunate. Grateful.
His right arm was completely immobile, but he reached toward the hovering nova. Keely... he whispered. Nav leaned over him and shushed him as she continued her efforts to help him, but he cleared his throat and tried again, Keely.... thank you...
Ahren and Six-Four rounded the brick wall at a dead run. Ahren didnt know what had happened, and he would be as vulnerable to that weapon as Vir himself. He pushed himself up onto one elbow, Ahren! he coughed, winced, and gasped out, No... nanites.... Youll die... Nav scowled and pushed him back down.
Thin Line
The chaos was magnificent. The shouts, the screaming, the blood, and the anticipation. He watched the blonde as he crept after his target. His little warshade had had her glorious moment as a hero, and now... it was time for her to die. She hovered as if guarding her fallen teammate, just out of his reach; but that would change. The blonde - the one who would be joining him in many games to come - stood nearby, torn between the two. He positioned himself carefully, so close to the fallen man that he was nearly standing in the stream of blood.... waiting.... just.... one... more... moment....
The blonde called the Warshades name. The dark nova turned and flitted down.
Thin Line crouched, his swords drawn back.
Neely
She hadnt been able to complete a thought since watching her sister and her friend both struck by that deadly beam. Now Keely was darting around screeching like a war-crazed hummingbird and Vir was down, his blood seeping in a slow stream into the dirt.
When he called out his warning to Ahren, and she realized another of the people she loved was in danger, she finally was freed of her paralysis. Keely! she cried. Thank God! Keely!
She lifted her arms to embrace her sister. Keely turned, her tentacles waving with excitement, and started closer.
Something changed. Neely blinked as her sister suddenly stopped moving. Her body jerked, her tail spasmed backwards. She uttered a thin wail. Neely blinked again at the two metal points - one black, one white - that had suddenly appeared on her sisters alien body.
Thin Line
It was like stabbing a living sculpture of spun sugar, nothing but a thin brittle resistance. Dark light flared around his blades and ran out and down. The body jerked on his blades with surprising strength.
The blonde stared, then threw back her head and screamed, NOOOOOOOOOO!
The fallen Ghost echoed her with a furious wordless cry. He struck clumsily with his left arm, but Thin Line easily evaded him.
The weight on his swords suddenly increased. The nova vanished and a frail brunette appeared skewered on his twin blades. She gasped, her chest tremoring, and her hands fluttered over the tips of his blades. He shoved the blades forward until his thumbs caressed her back and her blood poured out over his fingers. She gasped once more, uttered a faint cry, and then collapsed back against him. He leaned forward and spilled her body onto the man lying on the ground, savagely twisting the blades as she slipped off them.
While her blood still dripped from the blades and his fingers, he lifted one hand in a duelists salute to the blonde. Your move, he crooned.
Ebony Rose
As Razor had predicted, with UPS down, the Ghosts were in disarray. When the assassin killed the Warshade, it appeared he also took Neely out of the fight, and Celestial Nav was putting all her attention on UPS. Even with Conall and Forbidden Blade removed, the odds for a decisive victory for the Shades was rapidly going up.
She ordered her robots to charge ahead of Razor and his soldiers. They boiled out of the broken window and started lighting up the field with lasers and rockets. Razor was single-mindedly questing for UPS, but even as he found his target and started to lift the weapon, Glacius9 was on him. The two fought viciously, blazing peacebringer energy against Razors devastatingly deadly mace, before Glacius managed to rip the weapon away from Razor and smash it against the brick wall behind them. Razor roared furiously and turned his full attention to Glacius, who demanded, What is it going to take for you to STAY dead?!?
Razor replied, Coming from a dead man, thats an interesting question. He swung the mace in a wide arc and it crashed into Glaciuss shields with a flare of light. When I kill you, I promise youll stay dead.
Six-Four and Ahren waded into the fight, along with Sooner Spirit. Rose stayed safely back inside the building where she could direct her robots to where they would do the most good. Sable collapsed to the ground early, which was just as well, as her attacks were all shooting wide. Black 6 had jumped in to aid Razor, and Anhedonia had vanished from sight, apparently stalking after Six-Four.
The Ghosts were in trouble, and it brought a bitter smile to Roses face. They were slowly backing into a compact group around the injured UPS. The Shades pressed their advantage and the intensity of the battle increased with each blow and curse.
She heard Sooners voice call out, Vir! Why the hell are you still HERE? Go to the base! Get safe!
Rose couldnt hear UPSs whispered answer, but Ahren answered him, Go, my friend. Ive got this.
Razors furious roar could only mean that his target had escaped, but Rose cheered as she saw Anhedonia skewer Six-Four on her claws, and Black 6 send Sooner Spirit to her knees with a savage blow of his mace. She wouldnt object at all to bringing either of those two back to Shades base to spend some time as a guest and let Conall work off some frustrations. She thought she could let go of her normal aversion to mistreat of prisoners for that pair.
A bright flash in the sky caught her eye and her elation turned to frustration. Four, no... at least five people flew at top speed toward their location from the west. They had to be Ghost reinforcements. And, in fact, as they flew closer, she could make out the blue on white uniform some of them wore.
Incoming! she called out in warning to her team. Ghosts inbound!
She leaned out the window to get a better look at the fight. It was unfortunately timing, as one of the Peacebringers exploded into a blinding detonation of light and energy. The blast threw her back to slam into the wall behind her. Most of her robots had been incapacitated by that attack, and she was stunned, her head aching, unable to stand.
Neely
Her mind was a seething inferno of white hot rage. She couldnt even look down at the spot where her sister lay bleeding out her life across the body of one of her dearest friends. Vir was trying to push himself up, but Nav was holding him down. The fact that she could spoke volumes about how badly he was hurt.
Neely flung herself at the assassin, energy blazing at him from eyes, palms, and -when she was close enough - her fists. No one alive was fast enough to escape her rage, and she pounded him again and again, driving him back, relishing it when she felt bone give way under her fists and saw skin flayed by her flying beams of energy. She pressed her advantage, but he flung something down and thick black smoke surrounded them. Her vision blurred, and then he was gone.
She looked around, whirled, trying to find him, but he was nowhere to be seen. She heard Glacius expel all his energy in a devastating attack and watched one of Ebony Roses broken robots fly past her, but she couldnt find the assassin.
WHERE ARE YOU!?!?! she screamed.
She heard his voice from behind her, Right here, right now, he crooned, and then... Pain. Horrible, ripping, tearing pain shot straight through her. She had just a moment to wonder why there was only one sword protruding from her chest. His volume increased and he sang out, There is no other place I want to be! She saw a bright white blade moving toward her throat. She screamed in pure rage, and her body vanished. There was just a ball of furious white energy enveloping his blade. She had no hands to strike him, no voice to scream at him, she was just energy and fury. And energy didnt bleed. And fury could not feel pain.
She flung everything she had at him. She had no fists, but she could strike at him with blow after blow of pure white power. She knocked the wind from him with her first blow, and knocked him back reeling and dizzy with her second. Balls of white-hot light coalesced above her and exploded on him in unison, flinging him back to smash into a brick wall. He staggered back up, trying and failing to lift his swords as she continued to hammer at him. Bleeding, bruised, limping, he was trying to get back in the fight, but she never gave him the chance. Solid energy smashed into his face, shattering a cheekbone. Another blow split his lower jaw as she drove him back again and again.
She had never taken a life. She had hoped never to take a life. Before this one. This one life was hers to take, and she intended to collect it. He dropped to one knee. Blood dripped from his mouth, his nose, and ear. His neat suit was torn and stained. His left eye was swollen shut and yet the mass of scar tissue where his right eye had been still seemed to be tracking her. Incredibly, a smile crooked his mouth. Oh... youre going to be.... so much fun. he breathed, Farewell, until the next game.... She lifted herself into the air, intending to smash herself down on to him, when golden light flared. And then he was gone.
Cherished
She was nervous and excited as she lead her team into Sirens Call. From the chatter on the Ghosts channel, she knew something horrible had happened toVir, and the fight was not going well for her friends. Her arrival with five seasoned heroes should turn the tide nicely.
She surveyed the battle as she blazed her way closer, and it was indeed not going well. The heroes were clustered together fighting desperately, except for the bright flare of a Peacebringer separated from the others. The sounds and the smells spoke of the fearsome battle being waged. As she got closer, she could see several bodies on the ground, a few heroes, and one... an arachnos crab spider backpack on a female body. Sable? She flew even faster to get there as soon as possible.
Glacius exploded in a tremendous explosion of light that flung robots flying and stunned several of the Shades. Cherished took that opportunity to plow right into Razor 6 with her fists ablaze. He turned away from Glacius just long enough to glare at her, and she was struck by how much he looked like her teammate. Her surprise held her still just long enough to give a large, muscular man with a crabs backpack the opportunity to target her, and she cried out angrily as bullets pelted her skin. A moments concentration healed the injuries and in the meantime, the newly arrived heroes began flinging ice or fire at the villains, capturing their feet in thorn vines and rock that grew from the ground to clutch at them.
Razor let out a furious cry and whirled towards her, swinging his mace in a wide arc across his body to smash into the side of her head. The force rocked her back, disrupted her concentration, and flung her backwards. She tumbled to a stop just inches from Sable. She started to push herself back up, buy then she realized that Sable was looking right at her, with a crooked smile. Stay down, Sable whispered.
Sable! Please, tell me youre alright? Cherished asked quietly.
Im fine. I took a dive. Youre ok?
A little rattled. Ill be fine. Cherished followed Sables lead and flattened herself to the ground as if unconscious.
Sables hand moved and she carefully pushed a small object to Cherished. Take this. Its the last sample of UPSs nanites. Rose wont be able to remake the weapon without them.
Cherished pushed the vial up into her sleeve. Thank you. she breathed.
Candis, Sable said, calling her sister by her given name. Theres a spy. I dont know who it is, but Razor calls him his Tailor. This whole time, we knew exactly where your team was. You have to find him, for me, and for your Ghosts. If this Tailor learns about me, Ill be killed. Killed ugly.
A chilled ran up Cherisheds back, Well find him.
Pull out! Razor called abruptly. Shades, pull out! He was silent for a moment, then he bellowed, ROSE!
Sable carefully squeezed Cherisheds hand. I have to go, she whispered, I wish.... I wish things were different. And then she followed action to words, vanishing back to the Rogue Isles.
Razor 6
He fought off the insane fury that came from Shattereds personality. It wouldnt help him. The day was lost. There would be another. But he would not leave any member of his team behind.
He called for his team to retreat home, but... where was Rose? Her robots were gone, undoubtedly transported back to the base, but hed received no word that shed returned herself. He would not allow any of his Soldiers to be held by them, particularly Rose. ROSE! he called again.
Ebony Rose
She knew it was terribly important that she get up. She wasnt sure exactly why, she was dizzy and sick and wasnt sure where she was, but it was very important that she get up. The loud noises -, explosions, gunfire, shouts - all reinforced how very important it was. She could hear Razor bellowing her name, but she couldnt find the will to answer him. She pushed herself up so she was supporting herself on her hands. She started to roll herself to the side so she could stand, but she was so dizzy and her eyes refused to focus. Something was very wrong. With regret, she reached for her emergency teleporter, but it wasnt on her. She looked frantically for it, and finally spotted it in the corner. She would have to drag herself to it.
She started her painful progress when a noise drew her attention back to the window. She blinked, but couldnt focus, and could only make out the blue-on-white of a Ghosts uniform on a red-haired man pulling himself up and through the window. He straightened and then froze when his head turned towards her. Her heart pounded as he took several easy steps to the corner and picked up her emergency teleporter.
She was quite determined that she would never spend another moment in a cell - one lifetime as a prisoner was enough. She was ready to die to prevent that from happening. She reached for her rifle, but it was too far away as well. She felt her heart beat faster, her respiration speed up, and she fought to keep her fear from her face. She wasnt quite out of surprises yet, and this hero wouldnt find her to be an easy capture.
She cocked the wrist of her prosthetic arm as he approached, arming a self destruct device. It would take her out quite thoroughly, and might just take him as well. A simple flick of that wrist, and it would go off.
He crouched beside her, and now she could make out his face: Ahren, looking much healthier than the bruised and scarred man shed allowed to escape from the Shades base so long ago. A tiny spark of hope flared in her. He held out his palm, where her teleporter rested in deceptively easy reach. I think its time you went home, he said quietly. He took her flesh hand in his, pulled her to her feet. He steadied her when she stumbled and smiled sadly at her expression. He placed the teleporter onto her jacket. You did me a kindness. Now were even.
Were even, she said with a nod.
Next time you and I meet... he trailed off.
I understand, she agreed.
They shared one moment of perfect clarity and understanding, and then she teleported herself home.
Keely
There was just too much pain. She couldnt do it anymore. Her body was so cold, and it hurt so much, it was sick and dying, and she chose to step away from it. She could hear and feel her kheldian half trying to pull her back, but she stepped away from it too.
Once free of the body the pain vanished, and she was warm and floating, like waking up slowly on a rainy Saturday morning snuggled up under the covers. It was nice. It was good to be free of the pain and the fear.
As she floated free, she could see Celestial Nav working frantically to save both Keelys body and UPS. She wished she could tell her to stop. UPS would be just fine, and Keely... well, Keely was done. She hoped Nav wouldnt do herself any harm trying to save the body, but she would have to return to it to tell her so. She hoped Neely would be ok too. She thought about returning long enough to tell Neely that she loved her, but decided Neely knew it already.
She floated away from the noise and the pain and towards warmth and comfort and peace.
Neely
She screamed out her rage as her prey escaped her. She flew up high, questing for him, but he was gone, and then the energy that sustained her ran out, and she plummeted back down to drop to her knees in the dirt. Gasping for breath, she could barely raise her head to look up at the place where her friends stood in a quiet circle. She pushed herself to her feet on sheer determination, and staggered back to her sister.
Shed left her sisters body, and the body of her friend, in the care of Celestial Nav. She had been patched up numerous times herself by Navs skill and expected to find both Vir and Keely alive and well. But, when she pushed into the circle, she found Vir gone and Keely motionless. Nav was sweating and her skin was white. She looked like a woman who hadnt slept in a week, a woman not far from falling over herself, and yet she was still trying to pour her energies into Keelys body. Sooner Spirit pulled her back, saying, Shes done, Nav. You cant do any more, but Nav jerked away and put her hands back onto Keelys body, trying again to bring her back.
Neely flung herself to her knees beside her sisters body. She shook the frail, limp form and screamed, Come back! Come back! She rolled Keely over onto her back, out of the puddle of blood starting to thicken underneath her and shook her again. No! she screamed, and grabbed Keelys body up in a desperate hug.
She was abruptly surrounded by a purple fog and realized that the Kheldian was leaving the body. NO! she screamed at it. Dont you leave her! You stay! You save her! Dont go!
The fog coalesced over Keelys body into a dark ball. An eerie voice echoed, Neely, our sister. I am sorry, the body has sustained too much damage. It is too weak, too hurt. Keely cannot continue, and I must find a new host quickly if I am to survive.
Glacius9 put a hand on Neelys shoulder, Neely, let her go, he suggested gently, but she shook her head and resisted his effort to pull her back.
She reached out for the floating form, but there was nothing solid for her to grab. You cant leave her! Please, you can bring her back. I know you can!
Neelys Kheldian half recognized from the way the warshades form was wavering that it was not strong. But Neely could not give up hope. She couldnt bear the thought of losing her sister, not like this, not after everything that had happened.
The ball of dark energy wavered back and forth. Then it spoke again, I wish it were so, our sister. But I am too weak. I must go, and soon, or I will die with her.
For the first time in years, Neely and her Kheldian did not think with one mind. Her Kheldian half recoiled at what Neely wanted to suggest, but it didnt stop her. You were a nictus, right? You used to feed off my kind. Behind her she felt Glacius startle back as he realized what she intended. Take energy from me. Take it and save Keely.
No! the Warshade answered without hesitation. She would not want this. You could die. She would not thank me for killing you to save her. Neely started to speak and the Warshade spoke over her. No. I will not do this thing. I will not.
Neely would not give up on her sister. She could never give up. She knelt in her sisters blood, one hand outstretched to the Kheldian leaving her sister behind. And then she reached behind her and grabbed Glacius9 by the hand. Please, Glacius. It can take a little energy from us both, and then use it to save Keely. Please. Dont let her die.
Neely.... Glacius started. His eyes were horrified, and shock was clear on his face.
Then abruptly, Neely and Glacius both went blank as the three Kheldians began to communicate on a level above the humans. It was as if they had lifted to a plane just slightly outside the ones the humans occupied. When Neely looked at the energy being that had bonded with Glacius she recognized something she had never seen before. Oh, Ahren.... she breathed as she recognized the kheldian as the same one that had once made Ahren a Peacebringer.
She was dimly aware of Ahren turning towards her physical form but then the energy form of Glacius spoke up quickly, He can never know. He has suffered enough in his life already. This host was dying. I was dying after being ripped from Ahren. We would have both perished if we had not found each other, I can not return to Ahren, and he is stronger now. He is content. This knowledge would only bring him pain.
In the physical world, Neely closed her eyes, let her head drop back, and concentrated on convincing the Warshade and the other Peacebringer to save her sister.
You can take enough energy from each of us without hurting us, right? she asked. And then you can use it to heal the body and Keely will be fine!
The dark form bobbed back and forth with agitation. I can take the energy from you both without killing you, but it will hurt - very badly. I can heal the body. I can try to bring Keely back.
Glaciuss reluctance was clear, Do you understand what you are asking, of both of us, Neely? You are in effect asking a recovered addict to give in to addiction one last time, and you are asking me to let...., he turned to the warshade briefly, I mean no offense -a nictus to feed off me?
I am asking the same of myself. Of course I understand. I would not ask it of you if there were any other way. Her eyes begged him to say yes.
And the warshade cannot even promise that it will work, he reminded her.
Glacius! Please! she cried out in the physical world.Please! she continued, Vir would be dead if not for her. She deserves this chance.
Just do it, then, Glacius finally answered. Do it. The longer you wait, the less likely it is you can bring her back.
The Ghosts Reborn milled around the two entranced Peacebringers, aware that something was happening, aware that Neely urgently wanted something from Glacius, but not knowing how to help. Then, abruptly, the purple ball of energy darted towards the two Peacebringers. They were surrounded by the darkly glowing energy of the warshade and they both threw back their heads and let out anguished screams. Glacius dropped to his knees beside Neely, but before the assembled Ghosts could react, the warshade pulled away and sank back into Keelys still and quiet body.
Ahren was crouched, ready for battle - as soon as he could find something to fight. Sooner Spirit hovered over Glacius and Celestial Nav ran to Neely. The rest of the Ghosts stood ready to fight whatever came, even if they didnt understand what had attacked Glacius and Neely, or why.
Beside her, Glacius fell forward, supporting himself on hands and knees. He lifted one hand and gasped out, Were ok... its ok... he managed before he sank down onto his elbows and dropped his head.
She understood completely. She felt like she suffering from a horrible case of the flu. She felt weak and each individual muscle was trembling. Her nerves still sang from the pain. Her head ached and throbbed and she alternated between bone-wracking chills and burning heat. Still, she crawled to Keely. She took her sisters limp hand and held it in both of hers while she whispered, Come back, Keely. Come back to us.
One endless moment stretched on. Keelys body - bruised, starved, and frail - lay still and quiet. In the distance, Neely could hear one of the interminable battles of Sirens Call. Around her, the silence was broken only by the hesitant call of a bird.
Then, abruptly, Keelys body shuddered to life. Every muscle spasmed briefly, then she gasped a deep breath, and a second. Neely laughed joyously. Thank you! she cried out, Oh! Thank you! But then the eyes opened, and Neely stopped. Those wide blue eyes, so like her own, turned to meet her gaze. The purple energy of a Warshade leaked out, but Neely couldnt see her sister in them. Tears began to fall from both pairs of eyes. Oh... no no no no.... Neely whispered.
She is gone, the warshade said. The body lives, but... I cannot find Keely. She lifted one slim hand, surrounded by dark energy, to rest on Neelys shoulder. I am sorry. I grieve for her as well. Sadly, the warshade looked up at the Ghosts surrounding them. Keely is no more. You may call me Anjali.
What is a dream? And what is a nightmare? For some, dreams are solace, for some they are an escape. For others they are a torture, and for some, they dont come at all.
---
Neely
The Ghosts Reborn base
She finally escaped into sleep, but before she slept, there were no tears. Shed cried for Keelys death already. Instead, shed stared at the ceiling of a guest room in the Ghosts base and made her plans. Two men would pay for the loss of her sister. She wasted no time wondering why they had interfered in her sisters life. That didnt matter any more.
She didnt yet know that the man who had murdered her sister was named Thin Line, that would come later. She knew Bounty Killers name, though, and she knew that he had lied to her to stop her from saving Keely from the Shades. She also knew that he spent many evenings at Pocket D. So... She would find him. She would confront him. And she would kill him.
Then shed find the other one.
Anjali
The Ghosts Reborn infirmary
She lay dozing, but only because of the drugs keeping her quiet. She kept questing for the missing half of herself, but finding nothing. Shed cried until her eyes were swollen shut, but nothing helped. She was alone in her hosts body, and now she finally drifted into an uneasy sleep in which she relived again and again the exquisite taste of draining the life from a fellow Kheldian. Like an addict reliving another taste of its drug, she relished the memory, and yet tormented herself with guilt for the enjoyment. It was a taste shed turned away from so long ago, but for which no Warshade ever really stopped craving.
Vir
Ghosts Reborn workshop
He tested the new simple challenge-response hed added to his nanites AI, and found it to be working. Hed never predicted a day when his nanites would have to protect him from themselves, but should the need arise again, hed be ready. He remained shaken to his core by his sudden vulnerability and how close hed come to death. And how easily hed been lead to it. Saved from his own overconfidence by a frightened girl - a girl hed been unable to save in return. His face twisted with emotion that he quickly put aside and hid behind an iron determination that it would never happen again.
Cherished
Paragon City
Cherished couldnt sleep as she remembered watching Neelys grief. Neely had loved her sister so much, but even as Neely suffered, Cherished found she envied her. At least shed known her sister. Cherished and Sable had been denied that by the interference of Arachnos in their lives. Sable was a stranger to her, and they were held apart by their situation. Maybe someday things would be different.
She pulled the covers up to her ears and finally managed to drift away.
Jagged Fortune
The Ghosts Reborn Base
He slept easily in his soft bed under warm blankets. He was too smart for these heroes, he knew he had nothing to fear from them. Razor 6 had instructed him to lay low for a few weeks, and so he would. He had time. He knew that when Razor brought down the Ghosts that it would be with Jagged Fortunes help, and that he would earn himself a coveted spot in Razors new world.
Ebony Rose
Shades of Vengeance base
She had given up on sleep and made her way out into her garden. A fine mist thickened the air and caught the light of the full moon overhead. The moisture would be good for the roses, but she wondered if night-blooming jasmine could share the garden with her roses.
She stretched her arms out to the side and lifted her face to the fine mist, relishing the coolness and striving for peace. She turned in place, trying to banish the memories of the day until a noise broke into her reverie. Her eyes popped open and she saw, high on the roof above her, a tall cloaked figure looking down at her. He was silhouetted by the moon and the mist made the silver light glow around him in a shimmering aura.
Before she could do more than gasp in surprise, he spoke, Evening, Rose.
Razor! You startled me.
He stepped off the edge of the roof and flew down to land lightly beside her. Where is Conall Cian? he asked.
He was humbled today by the heroes. She shrugged. Hes likely gone off to lick his wounds and shore up his wounded pride.
We need his strength, Rose. Razor cautioned. We must eliminate the Ghosts. Before we move forward, they must be destroyed. And for that, the Shades must be strong and united.
Rose nodded. He will make a move on us, Razor, you know that.
When it suits him, yes. Razor said, But I dont think that will be soon. And not while were strong enough that he isnt sure hell win. Rose nodded in reluctant agreement. You know weve been infiltrated.
Rose lifted a brow, Youre sure?
The warshade could not have escaped without help. And how did she know to shield UPS from the weapon? He shook his head sadly, If we dont have a spy, someone is being profoundly careless.
Rose sighed. And the nanite sample is missing as well. I would not have misplaced it.
We have a spy, Razor said. Well find him. And eliminate him.
Sable Murphy
The Shades of Vengeance base
It was dark and quiet, but still there was no sleep for Sable. She knew Black 6 was watching her. She was afraid Conall Cian was as well. For now, Razor trusted her, but how long until one of her watchers shared his suspicions with Razor? How long before Razors paranoia turned on her? And how long would she be safe once Razor began to suspect she couldnt be trusted?
She was trapped. She was walking on paper thin ice that was doomed to give out under her and the only question was the one to which she kept circling back: how long?
Conall Cian
Nerva Archipelago
Deep in a the cave networks underneath Nerva Archipelago, Conall Cian crouched holding a beaten copper bowl. From the ceiling above him hung the body of a young hero, one of the Ghosts Reborn. Hed taken her from the streets of Kings Row, targeting a young recruit of the Ghosts specifically as vengeance for the damage theyd done to him. And this one had been an excellent choice. She had generated more power than hed dared hope. He waited until several seconds passed between each drop of her blood, then lowered her body to the floor. He scratched his sigil into the skin of her back and then used a scrap of his hoarded power to send the corpse back to Kings Row.
Using her blood, he painted an intricate symbol onto the floor of the cave, taking care to make every line and angle perfect. His body was humming with power, and he used it to rip his way through into another dimension - his home.
He breathed deep of the familiar scent of the air and spread his wings wide. He bared his fangs in a smile and glanced over as pained whimpers caught his attention. Nearby a tiny red-skinned imp tormented a victim she had chained to a rock, and he smiled in admiration at her skill.
Arano! he bellowed.
I am here, the sepulchral voice of his long-time ally answered. Conall turned to see the hooded and cloaked figure approaching, surrounded as always by the magically bound corpses of long-dead kings. He glided towards Conall and stopped a few feet away, irritably waving back the corpses.
It is time, my old friend, Conall announced. Time for you to join me.
You can bring me across? Arano asked.
I can. You can work your will directly on the humans, you can do as you will, as long as you come when I call, and stand at my right hand. Arano considered it briefly, but the bargain had been in the making for hundreds of years. It was merely a formality when he nodded. You will be the first, the first of many. I need allies to achieve my goals, Arano. And you will stand high above them.
Arano nodded again, and the deal was punctuated by the sudden high-pitched despairing screams from the imps victim nearby. Conall turned to see her reaching her dainty hand deep inside her victim and removing chunks of tissue that she then used to paint a pretty design on the skin. Conall smiled broadly and carefully assessed his hoarded power. He reached out with a tendril of dark energy and grasped the imp. She squirmed and cursed, but he held her fast, drawing her to him. Remembering the struggle so long ago when he had been bound by another, he was determined to win this one. And you will be the second, he announced.
She cursed him thoroughly, in several languages, before announcing, I want to stay HERE! He wrapped her more tightly in dark power and pushed her to her knees. Her barbed tail lashed like a cats, her delicate wings flailed uselessly, she cursed, she twisted and fought, but she was no match for his stolen power and finally she bowed her head, admitting defeat. What do you want from me? she asked sullenly.
He trailed one claw down her cheek, Your name?
She hesitated - names were power in that world, and he took her jaw in the palm of his hand while he wrapped his dark power even more tightly around her. Excruciatrix! she spat finally.
Excruciatrix.... he said. I want you to come to the other side, serve me, and do to the humans world what you just did to that, he said, pointing at her victim still writhing and moaning on the rock.
She smiled, revealing needle-sharp fangs of her own. A tiny thing, she was, less than half his height and a fraction of his bulk, but when she looked up at him her eyes were red and gleamed with fire as she nodded. Yes! she agreed.
Conall tore open the way back, and carried the first two of his allies back to the world of humans. Let Razor have his own army. Let Rose keep living in the past. They both served their roles in his plans for now. For now.
To be concluded....
There are a pair of epilogues coming, but one of them is lengthy enough that it shouldn't be tacked onto this right away. The epilogues will be posted in a day or so.
This epilogue was written by Major T, who is the player behind Bounty-Killer
Epilogue by Major T
Pocket D
8:30pm, days later.
The crowd is lively. Most celebrating. Some commiserating. A few doing both. In a dark corner on the ground floor of the Monkey Fight Club, a lone figure sits in the shadows sipping his usual drink. He thinks of Ici Cold - one of Paragon Citys most powerful and most beautiful heroes - and the life they can never have together. He thinks of the clandestine rendezvous they share, and the look on her face when he leaves. He remembers the way her lip quivers when he says he has to go, the way she curls her knees to her chest as he shrugs into his trenchcoat, the speck of a tear she tries to hide as he walks out the door. And he wishes to his core that things were different because what they have will only end badly.
"BOUNTY-KILLER!"
His melancholy environment is immediately polluted by the loud and venomous use of his name.
A slender blonde woman in a dark, form fitting outfit marches towards his table oozing attitude. She slams both of her fists into the table, looks directly into his eyes, and yells, "YOU LIED TO ME!"
He breaks eye contact. The last time he'd looked into those wide blue eyes they had been filling with grieving tears. Today, they were flashing with fury. He takes another sip from his drink.
As he withdraws the drink from his mouth, she slaps it from his hand, the glass shatters on the ground.
"YOU TOLD ME SHE WAS DEAD!"
A bouncer look in their direction, and starts moving towards them. Bounty-Killer waves him off, looks at the wasted alcohol and rolls his eyes. He stands up and ignores her. He puts on his sunglasses, straightens his tie and smooths his trench coat, intent on leaving the club.
Neely, infuriated that he hasn't responded to her, walks around the table and shoves him in the chest. He takes a step backward to re-balance himself and his back is pressed firmly against the wall. The bouncer again looks in his direction, Killer slightly shakes his head, letting him know not to intervene... yet. He takes a deep breath and responds in the most sincere and tranquil tone he could muster, "I didn't lie to you, I told you what you needed to hear."
Neely's fury would not be denied and could not be calmed. She reaches back and lashes out in an attempt to slap him. Bounty-Killer catches her hand inches from his face.
She snarls, "Lying [censored]!" and spits in his face.
Bounty-Killer removes his glasses with his free hand, takes a half step forward and looks down at her and growls, "Do you want to start a scene?"
The kheldian power flares inside of her, her eyes glow a brilliant white. "I want to kill you!" she sneers.
He squints at her. His looks into her face and studies it for a moment. Damn. She meant it. He exhales heavily and replies, "That can be arranged, meet me upstairs in 20 minutes. I'll have the safety protocols turned off," he looks her up and down and smirks, "and then you can have your chance."
Neely yanks her hand from his grasp and stares at him. Bounty-Killer, pauses for a moment, then walks around her and heads towards the base portal.
Pocket D
8:55 pm
He enters the Monkey Fight Club, wearing all black and carrying a large duffel bag. His steps are deliberate. His demeanor is anything but pleasant. He proceeds up the steps, the other patrons of Pocket D move out of his way, avoiding physical and eye contact.
She watches him, her anger boiling. The adrenaline races through her veins... she was going to avenge her sister. She is going to kill this man.
He heads to an arena terminal; she joins him.
He presses a few keys before walking away without speaking a word. She watches as he speaks to a gaming associate. He watches the other man's eyes open wide and then look directly at her with shock and horror. The pair speak in urgent and hushed tones, and then suddenly stop talking. Bounty-Killer staring at the man, the man returning his gaze. The man nods his head, and proceeds to the master control station while Bounty-Killer moves towards Neely.
Killer looks at her, "He wants to talk to you," and tilts his head in the man's direction.
She walks over, and he asks her a single, simple question: "Are you sure?"
"Yes." Her reply is firm.
The man takes a deep breath, looks down at the computer, and keys in a series of commands on the control panel. He then looks up into her beautiful blue eyes, fearing that he may be the last person to see her alive in Pocket D. At that moment, he doesn't see a powerful hero, he sees a precious young woman going up against a known murderer, a skilled assassin, a vicious killer. He shakily tells her, "Good luck."
She spins on her heels and walks purposefully over to the terminal where Bounty-Killer is standing. He presses a button on the terminal and the countdown begins.
10 ... 9 ...
He pulls up the facemask that is around his neck to cover his nose and mouth. He pulls the hood that was dangling against his back to cover his head. The only parts of his body left uncovered are his eyes, barely discernable under the shadow of the hood.
... 6 ... 5 ...
He reaches down to pick up the duffel bag at his feet. He tilts his head from side to side, cracking his neck. Neely watches him. Each move he makes irritates her fractionally more. She clenches her fists and tenses her muscles. Her eyes are no longer blue, the brilliant white glow of Kheldian energy is flowing from them in preparation for battle, a battle to the death. She is determined to win. She is determined to avenge her sister.
... 2 ... 1.
In flash, Neely was transported from the loud and lively environment of Pocket D to a silent and somber abandoned office building. Neely quickly takes in her surroundings. She is standing beside a staircase to a catwalk that overlooks the lowest level. A small office space is suspended from the ceiling allowing for a bird's eye view of the cavernous room. In the middle is a waiting area and reception desk, unmaintained office equipment and chairs covered in thin layer of dust.
Neely hovers a few inches from the ground, looking for her target. She floats upward and over the catwalk, and eyes her intended victim. Bounty-Killer stands in the middle of the catwalk like a defiant statue.
"YOU!" she snarls.
Neely fires three blasts of luminous energy towards her foe. He side steps the first blast, leaps over the second, and draws his sword to block the third. Who is she kidding?
Her power intensifies, fueled by revenge and focused upon the figure in front of her.
She chases him, firing blast after blast, and watches as he back-flips and twirls to avoid the projectile energy.
"My sister sat in a cell for MONTHS, because of you!" Her fury flares from her hands as she fires at him relentlessly.
He leaps down from the catwalk to the ground below. She follows him.
"She suffered torture, she lived in terror because of you!" She tries to close with him, she wants her fists on him. She leaps into the air and brings her fists down, but he is no longer there. She lands heavily and spins until her blazing eyes find him again.
She fires her blasts toward the ground in front of Bounty-Killer, the explosive force of the impact causes the ground to shatter and chairs to fly in his direction. He leaps backward.
"She was at the mercy of people who HATE us, and she did not get rescued because you LIED to me!"
She accelerates directly at him, he jumps towards her. She swings her fist and lands a blow to the side of his face, ending his graceful leap and sends him tumbling away from her. His landing is awkward, he rolls on the ground and then flips himself upright, staring at her.
She lands on the ground and feels a burning sensation in her left shoulder. She landed the first blow, but Bounty-Killer drew first blood. Welcome to the big leagues, little girl. As she hit him, he managed to swipe at her with his blade. Neely's fine dark blue uniform is now marred with a slice and stained by her own blood.
She looks at her shoulder, then at Bounty-Killer. The initial shock of seeing her own blood passes, the memories flood back into her mind, and the rage returns. Her thoughts go back to Keely.
"I left her there, I left her to that. She's gone because of YOU!"
She screams, but the sound emanating from the woman is no longer human. The glow of Kheldian energy flares from within Neely and the delicate blonde woman vanishes with a thunderous crash and the hulking form of a white dwarf takes her place.
This has gone on long enough, time to end this. Bounty-Killer grips his weapon, crouches slightly, then leaps at his foe. He swings at the dwarf only to have his attack deflected by an armored claw. A retaliatory bone jarring back hand delivered to his sternum sends his body sailing backward. His flight is abruptly halted when he slams into a wall. He slides down and lands unsteadily on his feet. He stumbles, the floor is spinning and he is having difficulty finding his balance. Drywall particles from the impact crater cover his back and litter the floor. The dwarf hits a lot harder... this could be a problem.
Neely teleports in front of him, grabs his shoulder and flings him across the room. He lands in a cluster of room chairs, sending them tumbling. He slowly rises, trying to support his battered body on bruised legs. With every exertion, his muscles scream out in pain. His mind aches, his vision is cloudy, he tries to focus, to use all of his senses. The ringing in his ears is replaced by the drum-like sound of the dwarf stampeding towards him. His raises his head as the dwarfs massive limb smashes into his chest. The impact compresses his ribcage, his internal organs shift to compensate. The air flees from his lungs, and the acute pain is so intense that his brain refuses to acknowledge it. He is once again flying across the room, tumbling to a halt in the middle of the dust filled carpet.
He hears a throaty growl, but it seems so far away. He clutches his sword as he raises himself up to his hands and knees. His face and chest are badly bruised and his mouth is full of fluid. He pulls the face mask down and bright red blood spills from his mouth. This isn't going well. He reaches towards his chest to feel a tender sport on his torso. He flinches when his fingers make contact. Broken ribs. He takes a deep painful breath that ignites another intense flame of pain in his chest. He squeezes his eyes shut for a moment in a futile attempt to block out the excruciating sensations. He feels hot blood flow down his sinus passage and trickle from his nose. He opens his eyes to watch as it splatters in the pool of crimson that is slowly soaking into the dingy carpet.
He struggles to get one foot on the ground and balances himself on the other knee. His foot spreads his vital bodily fluids across the floor. Each breath he takes is a painful battle for oxygen. He can only assume that he has a punctured lung. He feels light headed and looses his balance, falling sideways into a reclining position, propped up by his elbows. His arms feel weak, his world is spinning, and he lays back to allow himself a moments respite.
"DIE!" The dwarf bellows and teleports beside him. Visions of Keely flash through her mind: the beautiful woman she was and the emaciated shell of her former self she had become. She will avenge her sister. This man will pay for the suffering that her sister endured. She will take his life away from him, just as he had taken Keely from her. The dwarf looms over his head, raises a powerful leg and slams it down, intent on crushing his skull.
Bounty-Killer rolls away. Time for plan 'B'. He pushes himself to his feet and his right hand reaches into his tunic and throws blinding powder at the dwarf. As she flinches back, she roars her fury to the room. She blinks her eyes to clear her sight, but he is nowhere to be seen.
The dwarf howls. Her frustration of the missed opportunity adds fuel to the re-ignited rage. She was so close to getting her revenge. She was so close to getting revenge for her sister. She hears a sound over by the stair case. She teleports to it and swings at the cement wall. An enormous chunk is smashed away from the structure, leaving a large hole and a cloud of dust in it's place. She stops moving and listens.
Click
She hears the familiar build-up of energy. The dwarf is instantly enveloped in a blinding flash of blue and white light as the crackle of electricity clouds her vision. Neely feels the kheldian power drain from her. "A sapper rifle?" she thinks. She looks down at her hands only to realize that she has returned to human form.
Click
She spins on her heels as she hears a different yet familiar build-up of energy. She and her kheldian half gasp at the sound. She finishes turning in time to see the ominous purple and blue swirl of a quantum blast streaking toward her. Her eyes open wide, hundreds of thoughts race through her mind: dodge, run, fly. But her body in it's weakened form can do nothing. She raises her hands in a futile attempt to ward it off. The pulse of energy invades and surges through her. She feels like she's on fire and freezing at the same time. She feels dizzy, nauseous, and helpless. she falls, writhing from the excruciating pain, struggling to maintain conciousness. She curls up into the fetal position, trying to comfort herself. Her brain aches, her muscles spasm. Her skin feels like it's being prodded by millions of needles. The kheldian within her is silently suffering. She squeezes her eyes shut to hold back the tears. She can feel it's agony, but neither one can do anything to comfort the other.
She opens her eyes to see Bounty-Killer carrying a large, double barrel weapon. He has removed his hood and face mask. Through her blurry eyes she can see his bruised and bloodied face. She watches as he walks with a notable limp towards her, but is helpless to do anything more.
"Seems I underestimated you." He coughs, a noticeable amount of blood seeps from his mouth. He wipes it away with his free hand. "Glad I brought insurance with me," he says as he pats the weapon.
Neely can only stare at him. The debilitating pain is still there, preventing her from taking any action. She lays helpless on her side, shivering. Watching him through tear filled eyes, her arms wrapped around her body and her knees pulled up to her chest.
Bounty-Killer puts the weapon down and unsheathes his sword. He grimaces as he does so. The dark art of Kuji-In Sha could not repair all of his wounds. He is now positive that he has a punctured lung, and that injury is only partially healed. He pauses to watch as the fallen hero tries to move. She is determined, but her determination isn't enough for her now.
He kneels down and straddles the defenseless hero. He places the blade across the side of her throat with one hand, and leans over to support his weight on the other. She can feel the cold, sharp edge pressed firmly against her neck.
He speaks directly into her ear, "I had Miss Rose build that weapon for me a few months ago... a special request. The Shades have many larger and more elaborate weapons in that base. Probably more than I could see."
She listens to his voice. He's so close to her. She was so close to her goal. She struggles to get control of her mind and her body, to finish the fight... to finish him. But the strength will not come.
"If you would have tried saving your sister, you would have been killed." He pauses, and speaks his next words in a slow, deep, sinister tone, "or worse."
He removes the blade from her neck. He stands up and grimaces. He retrieves the weapon and the empty duffel bag and thinks Thin Line would have killed her, twice already. This is why he calls me hero, With his back to her, he turns his head and looks at her over his shoulder from the corner of his eyes, "This will be the second time I've protected your life. Don't expect any more kindness from me." He turns his head and limps his battered body out of her view.
Her lips quiver. The pain subsides slightly, and she summons the strength to whisper, "I could have saved her."
This epilogue was written by M_I_Abrahms, the player behind Thin Line.
Homecoming - Addendum part 2
By M_I_Abrahms
A black envelope lay nearly hidden in the shadows of a door stoop. There is no name, or address written on it, and it is not sealed. And yet, as careless as this 'delivery' may be, it is still the very person for whom it is intended that picks it up...
I see 'Killer' is as tenderhearted as ever. Even with his talent for taking lives, he is still driven to save anyone that doesn't have a price on thier head.
I had a vision. A world that ran red. My masterpiece, painted one body at a time, and it was so...boring.
But then, I found you. You and your dear sister, and I saw how much you cared, how far you would go for her. I had to see what you would do to protect her, and you didn't disappoint.
But such anger, such emotion. You have to learn to set these aside or when I come for you, and I will come for you, you will falter. And I don't want that. No, I don't want to kill you...too quickly. After all, what would I do without you? The music is playing, the night is young, and there will be many dances between us two.
At least I hope so. You have a rare fire I've only seen in one other. But if you let your Rage blind you, if your Grief causes you to stumble...well, I guess I'll just have to find another playmate. Perhaps the lady in the red, or that angry young man who fights as I do. Or, I could go back to your sister. I have to admit, killing someone I've already killed would be a first. Even for me.
You don't want that. In truth, neither do I. None of the others would have your fire, your spirit. They would all be fighting for a teammate, but you...you fight for something deeper. And that's a fight I'm looking forward to.
Be seeing you.
PS. Next time you run into the 'Hero' tell him this: "I know what you are doing on your nights off. Even for a guy like me, that's cold."
This is the last of my already completed stories that Im reposting here. I hope you enjoy it.
As always, comments are welcome.
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There is a prodigious amount of back story both from my previous stories and from the writing of Ice9.
As Inigo Montoya might say, Let me 'splain... No, there is too much. Let me sum up.
Shattered Ice9 and Razor6: Ice9 was a founding member of the Ghosts Reborn who was defeated during Statesmans attack on the Rogue Isles. He was believed dead. However, his body was recovered by Crey who used his DNA to create Shattered Ice9. Shattered believed with all his heart and soul that he truly was Ice9. Meanwhile, the actual Ice9 was left to die in an abandoned Crey facility when he was found by a wounded Kheldian. They bonded to save each other, and became Glacius9. Glacius eventually decided to put a stop to the evil being done in the name of Ice9, and laid a trap for Shattered. During that confrontation, Shattered was killed. Ebony Rose found Shattereds body and took it to the same doctor who created Shattered. The procedure did not work quite as well and the newly created Razor lacked the ice powers of his predecessors, though he retains scattered memories of both Ice9 and Shattered Ice9.
Neely and Keely: Twin Neely and Keely were both bonded by Kheldians, Neely with a Peacebringer and Keely with a Warshade. Keely was captured by Ebony Rose for an experiment Shattered Ice9 was conducting on Kheldians. She has remained a prisoner of the Shades since then. Initially her treatment was brutal, as Shattered was attempting to break down her will to make it easier to extract the Kheldians. With the disappearance of Shattered, Rose declared the abuse would stop. In the meantime, Neely made an attempt to rescue her sister. During that attempt, the assassin Bounty-Killer led Neely to believe that Keely was dead. He did this to protect her, as he knew there was no way she could hope to get in and out of there safely. Even with his interference, Neely barely escaped being captured by the Shades herself. She fled and found her way to Technician Naylors portal. She used it to go to Steel Canyon without realizing she had traveled to a different dimension. There she found a different world in which Keely had bonded a Peacebringer, and Neelys dearest friend, UPS 2.2 had been killed by Neelys alternate self.
That should get you started. If you missed the previous stories and want the full background, you can find links to them here: SpiritVerse Compilation Thread.