The Militia

Email from Meriam to Saffron:

Hi Saff,

I did hear about Sabrina. She called me from the airport just as she was being taken away. I was going to tell you all at the next Militia meeting. I am completely devastated about it. I just have no idea what to do! I want to help but she is so proud and headstrong! Perhaps we can persuade the Ministry to pull some strings. I really miss her already and worry so much about her.

As regards D, I think you should give yourself more credit. He would be a complete donkey not to like you, and the part about the alcohol - I wouldn't worry too much about it. Not that I have much experience with it myself, but I've heard often enough that it sometimes helps with just a little drink to help people overcome their shyness, and my guess is that's why he finally mustered the courage to open a up a bit to you - I did see him holding your hand didn't I? Just give it some time is my advice - I'm sure it will turn out for the best - in my eyes you two would make a lovely couple!

On the subject of boys, Ex has helped me design some new boots that will hopefully allow me to travel faster. They are still not without faults though, and I need to practice more before I can use them properly.

Our two new "alien" members certainly look powerful and accomplished - and have nice fur too! It's nice to have these new reinforcements.

I have been wondering about the food too. I had left some chocolate and biscuits for tea, and now they are all gone - weird!

Oh, did you get the notice about a special mission tonight too? It sounded very exciting and also a bit scary. I can't wait to find out what it is, but also have to wonder if we are really skilled enough for something big like that - or rather to be honest, whether I am.

See you tonight,

Love Meriam

Mer'de was enjoying a relaxing night on the beach of Circe Island in Talos. He had been so proud of himself at succeding a human clay and was quickly becoming good at it.

"B.A Barracas hey?" he laughed. "At least Profesor John Endoson looks nothing like B.A Barracas"

Suddenly, a noise from across the beach. A television crew alighted a van labeled PCTV. A short man in black pants and blue t-shirt ran to him.

"A lovely evening Monsieur Mer'de, a lovely evening"

"Yachinok-ete" he replied

"I'm sorry what?" asked the man.

"Sho! Heckitano heroniatt" Mer'de mumbled before melting into the sand.

"What they hell just happened there? Did you.. did you get that on camera?!"

Two men came bobbing along, one carrying a large camera.

"Yup, I got it. Freaking.. freaks"

"I beg your pardon?" came a british accent. A caucasian appeared out from the soil, dressed in a white toxedo that matched his long silver hair perfectly.

"And who might you be?"

"I am Mer'de, but my name is Igor Noren-ko. The human you see before you is an image of Profesor John Endoson. Now, who might you be?"

The man's face turned an excited red "Fry, did you catch that? Did you get that"

"I got it, I got it"

"Monsier Mer'de, that was a brilliant performance"

"I've been practising"

"yes, my name is Steven Owens, Director of the reality show Maid in Paragon City, yeah I know.. we were a hit weren't we? Anyway, thats not why I'm here, listen how would you like to star in a brand new reality television show, we're talking C.O.P's here, S.W.A.T.. but bigger, better. We're talking super-powered action. Batman and Robin, Superman and Loius Lane, but live!"

"Er, Steve"

"What!"

"You can't compare Loius Lane to Robin, I mean technically she aint Superman's sidekick"

"Fry! Shut up.. okay?"

"Mister Owens, have you spoken to the Ministry about this proposal?"

"Thats not the question Monsiuer, I'm here to find out how you feel about it.. now come on, we're gonna make you a star Monsiuer Mer'de, all over the city, children talk about you and your adventures with the Militia, I am here to take that action and bring it straight to there living room. Every thursday at 7.."

"Fame is a great temptation Mister Owens, but the Militia use physical force, sometimes extreme when in pursuit of criminals, let alone supervillains. A live broadcast would certainly not be suitable for children"

"Yeah, yeah thats excellent, good point, good point, but, you haven't answered my question."

"No, Mister Owens, I dont mind being filmed"

"Brilliant" said Mister Owens, shaking the profesor's hand. "By the way, you sound alot like Sean Connery, anyone ever told you that?"

"No, you're the first"

The grey walls of the Police Correctional Department loomed over Saffron as she stood in their shadow. She breathed heavily, petrified at what lay ahead of her. She thought for a second about what Anathema would say if she knew what she was about to do. She thought for a second and then put it out of her head. Taking a final breath of clean air, she stepped inside. The receptionist noted the mask and was quick to realise that she was dealing with another of those hero types.

“Good morning,” she said, “How can I help you miss…?”

“Banshee,” said Saffron. “The Amber Banshee. I have an interview booked for today.”

“Oh yes,” said the receptionist, “you’re here to see…”

“Yes, I am here to see him.”

The ‘him’ almost had capital letters to it. She was led through a series of rooms until she came to a plain, unadorned room divided by a Plexiglas screen. She took her seat in the plastic chair and waited as the simple, nondescript man was led in on the other side of the room. He glared at her with bright eyes.

“You know I don’t normally do interviews,” he stated. He seemed amused, almost intrigued by her presence.

“I know,” said Amber. A lump stuck in her throat. “Thank you.”

The man smiled. “It’s rare to get gratitude from your kind,” he said. “Normally it’s just more death threats.”

Saffron pressed on. His glare was intense, she couldn’t meet his gaze, it was like staring into the sun.

“I have just one question,” she said. “I know that you take people from the streets. I need to know if this man was one of them.”

She pressed a photograph of her father against the glass. She tried not to look at it for fear of bursting into tears. The man studied it briefly before allowing himself a wry smile.

“He looks like a relative of yours,” said the man. “Your father perhaps? It’s always tragic when heroes lose someone they love. It lends a poignancy to what you do don’t you think?”

Saffron couldn’t look at him. She could already tell that her eyes had betrayed her.

“Please answer the question…” she said. She didn’t look up but she knew he was smiling.

The man sat back in his seat. “So you call yourself the Amber Banshee yes? I can see why. You even have a slight Gaelic lilt to your voice. You may be a legitimate descendent of the Sidhe without knowing it.”

“Answer the damn question!” she cried, finally looking up at him. It didn’t matter now whether she cried, it was too late. He smirked.

“No, Miss Banshee,” he said, satisfied, “I have not seen him. However, I may now keep an eye out for him when I’m released.”

Saffron tried to hide the surprise in her eyes.

“Oh my, you really are quite naïve aren’t you?” he said, almost giggling. “Honestly my dear Banshee, I am funded by some of the wealthiest people in this city. I have lawyers that could get Judas Iscariot acquitted. I will be walking the streets again long before you find your father.” He leaned forward in his chair, his face inches from hers. “Pray that I do not find him first.”

He stood up, and struck the door to indicate that he wanted to leave. The metal door swung open and guards came in to escort him out.

Saffron sat there in the silence of the room and cursed herself. What had made her think that she could match wits with this man? Not only had she failed to get any information on where her father was, she had just drawn him to the attention of Dr Vahzilok. If he was still in the city, she had just put his life in even more danger. She looked down at his photo and let despair consume her.

July 29th.
Saffron Mackenzies house.


Saffron is sitting by her desk reading when she is jolted by her phone ringing.

"I wonder if it's Derek... I thought he'd never call..." She thinks to herself.

She hesitates for a second then picks up the phone.

"Hello? This is Saffron."

"Hi Saff... it's Derek... " Silence.

"Oh hi D. I'm glad you called."

"About that coffee..." Derek sounds hesitant.

"You can't make it, right?" Saffron sounds disappointed. She knew she'd been too pushy after that fight...

"No, no... I'd... love to have some coffee with you. Are you free now or... soon, later this evening?"

"Well, I'm sort of tied up at home. I forgot my Mom wanted me to do some things... but let me just go get my diary. I'm sure I'm free sometime in the next few days..."

Saffron runs off to get her diary, trying not to giggle to much as she went...


((Written with Dante))

“Explain to me why you did it,” said the machine.

The boy stared down into the cold, unemotional visor that was looking at him. He was painfully aware of the steel hand that was currently holding him by the front of his shirt, preventing him from running away.

“Errr, money really,” replied the boy, unused to being interrogated by heroes.

“Money,” said the machine, “You do not have enough of it? You require more? Why?”

“Well… to get stuff,” said the boy, “Smokes and beers and all that.”

“So it’s just money,” stated the machine, “Money to fund your addiction to chemical stimuli. Nothing else? No other motive?”

“Well, it’s kind of fun as well,” admitted the boy.

“You take pleasure in terrorising other humans?” The machine posed the question without emotion, without anger.

“Well err…!” said the boy, conscious that he was losing the argument.

“That is not a desirable trait in today’s society,” continued the machine. “Have you considered attending therapy for your sociopathic behaviour?”

Unit 29 peered at the terrified boy in front of him. He’d only stopped out for a short while to pick up groceries but he couldn’t run past a mugging when he saw one on his doorstep. Curious as to why this was still occurring in his neighbourhood, he had decided to take the opportunity to interview the young assailant after he had knocked out the other youths that were assisting him.

“Eeerm, I guess not,” admitted the boy, regretting his honesty. “Sorry…”

Unit 29 thought for a second. “So would you like me to arrest you then?” he asked.

The boy looked down and considered the alternative. Unit 29 was standing on the edge of the skyscraper. His young captive definitely wasn’t, 29’s strong arm suspending him over the 90 foot drop to the sidewalk.

“Yes please,” he managed to stammer.

“An excellent answer,” said 29, “thank you for your co-operation. This has been a most enlightening experience.”

“You’re welcome,” sighed the young man before passing out.

Militia Headquarters

Sabrina San stands at the corner of the lounge, staring at a blank wall. Professor John Endoson enters.

“Evening”

Sabrina remains perfectly still and silent, her back to the professor who simply stood there, in the doorway, puzzled. Eventually, he shrugs and takes a seat in the library. The professor flips open a book titled 'Paragon Police' and reads quietly. Several minutes later, Sabrina joins him, taking a seat directly opposite only to watch the man.

In the absolute silence, only the sound of turning pages could be heard. Suddenly, the professor’s god-like voice, deep and resonant with a polished British accent –

“You’re staring”

Silence. Apparently, Sabrina was taken aback.

“No I’m not”

“Yes. You are”

“I was merely observing”

“By staring”

The professor hadn’t so much as looked at Sabrina, but remained fixed to his book. Sabrina showed no sign of embarrassment having been caught staring.

“So many new faces on the force since I’ve been away. It’s as if the group has been recast”

“Your Personnel Data Device Miss San, it should have updated you”

Sabrina only ever used the tiny PDD machine when scanning for mission locations and briefing. She ignored him.

"Paragon Police hey? They're useless if you ask me."

“Mademoiselle, with all due respect.. I'm trying to read?”

The professor raises his head and makes eye contact for the first time. Sabrina glared through his half-moon spectacles stubbornly.

"Want some gum?" she asked, unrapping a packet of bubblegum.

"No. No thank you" he sighed, before returning to his book.

Sabrina however, chose to annoy by blowing great pink bubbles only to explode in a loud 'pop'. The professor was quicly loosing patience.

"Should'nt you be out fighting crime, or something?"

At this, Sabrina's body language changed from laxed to vexed. She rose slowly to her feet and cat-walked menacingly across to the professor. Suddenly, she withdrew her blade.

"Where did that come from?" asked the professor, clearly not intimidated.

"Thin air" she whispered, playing the sword dangerously close to the professor.

"Magic?"

"Yah"

"You're a witch? Your profile implied you were a natural swordswoman"

"The sword is enchanted"

"Oh I see"

Suddenly, Sabrina whirls the blade about in a dance somewhat seductive.

"Impressive"

"Hmm" she smirked. Without a word, Sabrina left the room.

"Well.. that was odd"

“So, first things first, is he cute?” she asked, her dark eyes glittering.

The room pulsated with light and sound, as was usual on a Friday night at Pocket D. Fortunately though, there was always a quiet corner to have a chat in and it was one of these that Saffron found herself sitting in with her best friend Tara.

“Well, he’s rather sweet actually,” answered Saffron. “He comes across a bit rough but I think he’s got a heart of gold underneath.”

“You make him sound like a boiled sweet,” said Tara. Funny though, it’s not like you to go for the rough kind. You normally prefer your men to be all soft and fluffy.”

“I’d prefer my men to be any kind at all at the moment,” replied Saffron, staring into her drink. “You know what my run of luck has been like.”

“What? All two of them?” smirked Tara.

Saffron narrowed her eyes. “What, unlike you?” she replied. “You’re probably into double figures by now. At least I have the decency to give them a fair go.”

Tara shrugged her thin shoulders, unconcerned. “What can I say? I bore easily. You going to give him a try?”

Saffron smiled. “Maybe,” she said, “I haven’t decided yet. I mean, should I mix business with pleasure? What if things go wrong? Will we still be able to work together?”

Tara rolled her eyes. “Girl, would you get out of your head and back into your body for a second? You think way too much. You should live a little.” She sat back and picked some lint off of her horns. Saffron watched her.

“You managed to find any work yet?” asked Saffron, “I know you were getting kind of desperate a few weeks ago.”

Tara glanced sideways, caught a little off guard. “Oh, I’ve got stuff on, this and that,” she bluffed. “Now, tell me more about this guy. You never know, if you don’t want him, I might like him.”

Saffron let Tara’s sarcasm slip for the fourteenth time that night and carried on letting her potential love life be dissected. She was petrified by her meeting with Derek tomorrow but Tara was not the sort of person to discuss these things with. She wouldn’t understand that it was scaring her more than her encounter with Dr Vahzilok or the Clockwork King. She put it to the back of her mind and tried to forget about it for now…

Professor John Endoson sat in the Militia Library area reading a book titled "Chemical BW"

The daughter of Dr. Stephan Stevens was born with a mental illness closely related with dementia. Her father practicesd several illegal medicine to cure his only daughter until one day he discovered chemical BW.

He tested the chemical on an unknown patient of the Maden Mental Asylum and instantly cured him, rendering him sane as ever. The doctor did not hesitate to feed this new found chemical to his daughter expecting similar results.

Alas, it turned her into a monster. At first, she was cured of her insanity and developed memory and logical thinking. It wasn't long till the side effects kicked in. Her muscles stiffened and collapsed, withering down to nothing but grey tissue and bone. Miraculously, this transformation did not kill her, instead, it tuned her into a super human.

Over the following years, her father built her a new body in which Altair would live in; a shell of skin and muscle. However, it was difficult to explain her super human speed and jumps.

At the age of ten, the doctor appointed Commander John Harley to train young Altair in military combat with the intention of encouraging her to become a soldier.

At the age of twelve, when Altair questioned about her super human abilities, her father lied and told her it was a mutation in her genetic structure. This was easy to believe, as she had mutant friends from the army with similar abilities.

At the age of sixteen, Altair aquired a hero license and became known as 'Barbwire, under the impression that she was on assignments set by the US Marshal.

At the age of eighteen, her father confessed everything from the chemical BW to the genetical fabricated skin that was hers. It took two years for Altair to come to terms with the truth. She had not been working for the US Marshals at all, but had been doing deeds for her father, like a puppet.

"Interesting" said the professor. "That'd explain why the lady keeps much to herself."

August 10th
The Hollows. 510 Cherry Hill Road. Apartment 5b.
Dereks Home.

Derek took of his T-shirt as soon as he got through the door and threw it in a corner where a healthy pile of dirty laundry was building up. He went straight to the kitchen and took out a beer. He opened it and took a few big gulps.

"Ah hell, I gotta clean this sh*t up before Amber gets here." He thought to himself while he chugged the remainder of the brew. He was standing in the middle of his rather messy apartment looking out over the chaos that surrounded him in all directions.

“How the hell am I supposed to get this dump in shape?” He walked around the small apartment aimlessly looking at all the junk everywhere. “How the fu*k could I be so stupid as to invite her to this hell-hole…” His habit of talking to himself when alone in his apartment had been stronger the last few weeks although Derek hardly noticed the amount of time himself. “But… ah sh*t how could I not have invited her…” He went into the kitchen to fetch a new beer after another lap around the apartment without actually touching, throwing or moving anything. He looked around the wrecked apartment and sighed. “This is never gonna work…” He opened the beer and downed it in a single go. He threw the bottle in a corner. “Ah damn I’m not supposed to do that… what the fu*k is wrong with me?” He picked up the bottle that he threw away and put it in a bag that he found in the kitchen. “I’d better get going with this…” He started picking up old pasta boxes realising that he had no trash bags left after throwing a hand full of boxes. “I need help, and fast…. I hate to do it but I have to…”

He dropped the bag on the floor and left the apartment. He took a walk down to Atlas Park to the nearest payphone and dialled one of the two numbers he knew by heart.

“Hi Yess. It’s me Derek. I need your help… It looks like sh*t at my crib and I kinda have a date Saturday…”

((lol. times running Derek. who u gonna call? dirt-busters!))

August 17th
Militia Headquaters

Sabrina made a beeline for the lounge and collapsed into a sofa. Derek followed, taking a seat opposite. Then, a long silence.

"I'll tell you one thing, I'm relieved" said Dragonfly, smiling."

"Yeah, its a good thing you told us. We're on your side, well, atleast I am. I'd have probably done the same thing"

"Derek, you dont mean that"

"Hell yeah I mean it. I've killed before" he said, with a casual tone. "It aint that big'a deal. After all, its you or them"

Dragonfly was taken aback. Derek struck her as a young roughian but not one to kill.

"Oh, okay." she said, giving Derek a second look. "I lied."

"About what?"

"The Devils of Kimone.."

"Ha! I knew it, you didn't really kill over sixty did you?"

"No.. no.. I did."

"Oh"

"Erm, they were never a threat to the innocent. The war has always been the two families, nobody else ever got hurt."

"Then.. why?"

"It all started with my great grandmother and her ex-husband Li Mu Kimone. He tried to kill her with a blade forged and enchanted from their marriage. She survived and the sword was divorced: Soaring Dragon and the Golden Dragonfly, which I now carry. Li Mu Kimone stole the other sword and sparked off a family fued. The San were mighty warriors but they had a weakness that Li Mu Kimone and his sons did not: Kindness. This weakness was exploited much to the Kimone's favour. When I was of age, I swore to protect my family and the San Clan. So when the Golden Dragonfly was finally entrusted onto me, I took it upon myself to end it all at once before the innocents do get hurt." She paused. "Derek, do you understand? Crime prevention, that is what it was.. right?"

Derek just stared.

"Say something" said Dragonfly, a tear rolling down her cheek. Handing her some tissue, Derek moved closer to embrace. Dragonfly responded.

"Seems to me your family were the innocents."

Dragonfly sighed in relief.

"Sounds like those Kimono-people were the bad guys and as far as I'm concerned, you did what had to be done.. Family goes first." Derek got a pained look in his eyes as he mentioned family but quickly regained his posture.

"Thank you. You have no idea how much that means to me." she admitted, looking straight into his eyes.

"Having said that, you really shouldn't have lied to the others.."

((written with Derek))

The steel door to Dr Alexander’s workshop closed with a bang as Unit 29 returned. The rain outside had cooled on 29’s plasma engines and was slowly enveloping him in a cold mist.

“I’m sorry I had to do that,” said Dr Alexander from where he sat by the monitoring desk. Above him on the screen he could see himself through 29’s eyes. He used the desk to monitor 29’s activities while he was on duty, providing instruction and support where he could.

“Miss San was suffering,” stated 29 coldly.

“I know, I know,” said the doctor, powering his chair over to where 29 stood. “But both you and I could hear the Skulls escaping out of the back. We had to stop them.”

“I fear for her sanity,” said 29, “Her biorhythms were dangerously out of sync.”

“I am sure that the others will take good care of her,” assured the doctor, “They’re not a heartless bunch. But sometimes duty has to come first.”

“You said that emotions were important,” said 29.

Dr Alexander looked up at 29. Something had changed in him since his time in the Militia. Maybe he was picking up too much raw emotion from the others. Perhaps he would run some diagnostics tomorrow. He reached out to pat 29’s giant hand.

“They are 29, they are,” he affirmed. “But sometimes you have to put them aside and do what’s right.”

The doctor spun around and powered his chair towards the living room, leaving 29 to stand alone in the workshop. Unit 29 looked over at the racks on the walls where a dozen other Units stood immobile. He knew that out of all of them, he was the only one whose brain had evolved into a living, thinking being. No, he thought, not the only one… He slowly paced along them, reaching out his hand to touch their breastplates, reading their names as he did. Thirty seven, thirty eight, thirty nine, forty, forty one… He reached the empty gap where Unit 42 had once stood. His hand paused, reaching into nothing.

“At that is the problem isn’t it doctor?” he said to no-one in particular. “Although you accept me, and accept my feelings, you still think of me as a robot. You expect me to be logical in all things but you have never thought for one moment that I may be unable to turn those feelings off…”

Unit 29 thought for a moment about poor Sabrina and wished that he had tears that he could cry for her.

August 12th
The Hollows. 510 Cherry Hill Road. Apartment 5b.
Derek's Home.

Saffron looked at her watch. Two hours had passed since she had turned up at Derek’s place on Saturday. At first she had been surprised. Despite the shabby exterior that was typical to all places in Eastgate, the inside seemed reasonably tidy for a bachelor’s pad. But despite his attentiveness and hospitality, she couldn’t help feeling incredibly anxious. She hadn’t meant to invite herself round to his place last week but she couldn’t think of anything else to do. Meriam had deliberately left them on their own on that hill to sort things out and coffee seemed to be the easiest option. But there was this tension in the air where they seemed to be both waiting for something to be said. If he didn’t make a move soon, she was either going to do it herself or run. Despite Tara’s attempts to motivate her the night before, she couldn’t help feeling petrified.

Still, the afternoon had passed pleasantly. Derek was charming, funny and had made her feel relaxed despite her nerves. It was nice to talk without worrying about the next villain waiting around the corner. They’d discussed music, films, childhood, family, even to tastes in food. But it was all skirting around the one thing they weren’t talking about…

“So,” she said, “what do you want to talk about now?”

Derek shrugged, “Don’t mind”, he said.

There was an uneasy pause.

“Well, ok, I should be getting back I guess,” said Saffron. She looked over at him, waiting to see what he’d say next.

Derek scratched his neck. “Oh… well, ok. That’s ok. Lots of things to do eh?”

“Something like that.” Amber replied. She went and put on her shoes and her jacket while Derek was leaning against the door-post just looking at her.

“Ok, bye then.” Said Saffron and headed for the door. As she turned away she was glad that he couldn’t see the disappointed look on her face.

“Bye” Derek replied as the door closed.

Saffron was relieved to get outside again but at the same time sad. Had she been too open? Too closed? She fiddled with her bracelet as she walked down the street, keeping an eye out for Eastgate’s less pleasant denizens. She was just about to pass a gang of Trolls who were trying to determine who had the biggest muscles when she heard a window open behind her.

“Hey MacKenzie! I just realised I have a bottle of wine just lying around here that won’t drink itself, Are you sure that thing you where doing can’t wait a little while longer? I’ll even throw in dinner as a bonus if that will persuade you.”

Saffron stopped and smiled. She tried to suppress the huge grin as she turned to see Derek hanging out of his window. She failed. Trying not to giggle too she almost ran back to number 510.

((Aww, this is all so cool man. We're like a comicbook series. You got Derek and Saff's sweet sweet romance, Unit 29's robot turn scentient, The Commander's alcoholism, Sabrina's crimes, The Portent's crimes, Meriam and Sabrina's romance, Mer'de the Collossus, Leygran the alien, loads and loads of really cool stories. Cool stuff guys! Hey, you know what.. If we all agree to the Militia Accused plot, it can only get better. Oooo exciting!))

Saffron kicked her legs as they dangled off of the edge of the building. Next to her sat her cousin, staring off into space.

“So you convinced now?” he said, breaking the silence.

Saffron met his gaze. “I guess,” she said. “I just didn’t think it was possible. Those things are the stuff of fairytales, not real life.”

Tenebrae gave a grim smile. “Like superheroes?”

Saffron didn’t say anything for a while. They were sat on the ledge of the bell tower of an old church, a decrepit old building where Tenebrae had been holed up since his break up. She looked up at the ancient bell, remembering the villain that she’d fought with her cousin in this tower, how she’d used the bell to amplify her singing. It seemed so long ago now, but it was probably the only reason why he was still talking to her. He at least took her hero career seriously now.

“And you…. you’re like them?” she asked.

“Sort of,” he said. “But I’m not about to try and drink your blood, if that’s what you’re thinking. But my consumption of red meat has gone up quite considerably.”

Saffron nodded slowly.

“And what about you?” he said, “I hear you now have a boyfriend.”

Saffron’s pale skin immediately went bright red.

“How do you know that!?” she demanded, “I haven’t even told Tara yet!”

Tenebrae winked at her. “Let’s just say I keep my eye on you occasionally. I don’t like him.”

Saffron poked her tongue out at him. “You don’t like any man I date,” she retorted. Tenebrae just shrugged. He looked suddenly serious. He spoke slowly.

“Saff, when you fight them, don’t look into their eyes,” he said. “And don’t be afraid to run. I did. These things are real. All those stories of monsters and spirits? They’re real. They exist and they live here. Vampires, werewolves, ghosts, demons….”

“Banshees?” she asked.

The serious look faded. Then they both laughed, their laughter echoing around the dark bell tower.

"Sorry about the other day"

"Don't mention it kid. Pride is an important thing for a young man, but ya gotta be careful it dont swallow ya up"

Dragonfly stood on the rooftop of her mother's old apartment in Kings Row, where she now trains. The kid, Justin, had been saved from a Hellion fireball two days past by our young heroine and the boy had responded rudely.

"Why do you people do it? I dont understand"

"You people?"

"Yah, you know... Superheroes"

"Hmm, good question. To be honest with you, I dont quite understand either but let me ask you one question Justin. If a person is in trouble, would you help him?"

"Depends.. what kinda trouble?"

Dragonfly glared at the boy, annoyed by his bluntness but also, slightly amused.

"Okay.. lets say this person is your schoolmate, and you see him being beaten, what would you do?"

"I don't school"

Dragonfly sighs.

"Okay, you see some random little boy being beaten, what would you do?"

"Depends who's beating him, if its his parents, so be it"

"Justin, you're a pain in the ars you know that"

The kid smiles.

"Weeell, I don't know about you, but my ars feels fine"

Dragonfly laughs loudly.

"I should've let that fireball hitya you little squirt. Come here, I'll walk you home"

Justin had been watching Dragonfly's evening practice, from high up in the air for about half an hour before she spotted him.

"Who's there?!"

"Relax lady, its me"

"Justin? Oh my god! You fly?"

"Since I was born Dragonfly"

"Well congratulations, you have superhuman abilities. Are you a mutant?"

"Unfortunately, yeah"

Dragonfly chuckles.

"What, you think its funny?"

"Yup. I used to be scared of you mutants, it all seems to have originated from here in the West and a girl over in the East, would assume it was some contageous virus."

"Well, I'm officially contaminated. My mum and dad died from mutated genes, you know."

"Sorry to hear." Dragonfly sword withers away into the air. "So you're like an orphan?"

"Yup, nobody wants to adopt a mutant"

"Hey come on, thats not true. What other cool stuff can you do?"

Justin turns to look Dragonfly directly in the eyes. Her waterbottle suddenly erupts like a fountain.

"That.. and.."

The flowing water suddenly freezes, forming a crystaline glass sculpture.

"Thats beautiful"

"Thanks"

Minutes passed by as Justin entertains Dragonfly with his sculptures and wild dances of flowing water.

"Justin, this is amazing. You've got quite a talent there."

"Well, I must admit it really is fun"

"Careful you dont ware yourself out though, looks like you're struggling to keep these sculptures from melting."

"Nah, thats easy; they're tiny sculptures. I could make bigger ones if you had more water. And maybe someday, with more practice, I could make a whole lake dance or even freeze up the Atlantic Ocean"

Dragonfly laughed.

"Only for a like a split second or something, wouldn't want to hurt the fishes or what have you."

Dragonfly smiled.

"Wow, I am impressed Justin, and I have no doubt you will one day master your gift. You know, the hellion from last week.. I didn't ask why he attacked you."

"Urk, I was practicing heroism and boy did I suck. This lady was being harrassed and you know, I was there and I figured I could help her but there was no water for me to use so all I could do was distract them from up in the air. The lady managed to get away but then this guy pulls out a gun and takes a shot at me. I was so scared that I fell, and thats when you showed up. I would have been toasted you know. One of them had a "talent" for fire as you yourself saw."

"You did a brave thing Justin. God knows what those hellion boys would've done to the lady had you not acted."

Justin was silent.

"So are you an artist or a superhero kid?" She smiled.

Justin simply stared at her.

"I.. I dont even know your name."

Dragonfly's face dropped.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to.."

"I'm Dragonfly, Justin.. and I wear a mask for a reason." Her voice was shaky, sad.

"I understand."

Silence.

"How old are you? You look like a kid but in your eyes... you're as smart as a man."

Justin smiled.

"Well then you better quit calling me a kid, I'm sixteen but you know what, I'm taller than you."

They laughed.

"Come on, I have someone I think you should meet"

((Written with Pious))

"So what is it? A mutation right Commander?" Justin asked.

"It took a couple of days Icicles, double checking and triple checking your subcellular architecture. Had to call in a few favours from some... err... old chums of mind. Specialised equipment. I have some... ummm... enlightening news." Force Commander has an uncharacteristically uncomfortable face on, despite his wan smile.

"Okay. Tell me. I can handle it" he lied.

"You have paternally derived hydrocellularis longaris, Justin."

Justin looked as though he'd just heard Martian. "Sorry, what?"

"Yes... er... let me put it in... ummm... American, if you will... You have inherited waterworms from your father."

"Waterworms?"

"Yes. It's an extremely rare subcellualr parasite that lives in the bloodstream and survives on bacteria, sugar and H2O. Lethal to many, but there are records of some mutant humans acheiving a symbiosis with it. According to my analysis, it's been altering your genetic structure from birth in order to allow your body to produce H2O... thats water, by the way. Your body duplicates nitrogen atoms, controlling it as it reacts with the oxygen you breath in."

"Yuk, that is bad news. I've got things living off my body? Man!" Justin struggled to comprehend. "So what, thanks to my dad's parasites, my body produces water."

"Correct."

"Okay.. well, that explains why I seem to sweat like a pig.. I can then control the water molecules" Justin smiled proudly.

"Controlling the water molecules in the air around you enables you to fly and exhaling nitrogen will react with the water outside your body to produce --"

"Liquid nitrogen."

"Precisely"

Justin fell silent.

"Thanks Commander" he muttered solemnly before heading towards the exit door of the laboratory.

"Justin" the Commander called. He could tell Justin was worried about having the same fate as his parents; their parasites had died, as did the hosts. "You'll be fine."

As Justin walked out the room, the commander's face turned somewhat. As soon as he sensed Justin had left, he sighed and turned once again to the sheaf of papers and computer printouts in front of him, scratching his head.

((written with Cognito))

((Ahh, I missed this thread. Here we are again, home sweet home.))

((Lotus, regarding the events on Circe Island, what dyu make of that sub-plot?))

((It may be more fun to RP it out in-game. At GG (yes, Militia went to GG to hang out earlier tonight, and surprisingly, I enjoyed it. The buzz of other RP'ers about you) or at the new base or on mission-map, whatever. Got anything in mind or you'd rather flow?))

((Now that the public persecution of the Militia has died down, Angel should hopefully be back in action, just as soon as she gets her arm out of that sling - expectedly in good time for next Thursday as - luckily - the bullet only grazed (sp?) her))

((So, could be fun to see where that plots takes us, and I agree it could be fun to RP it out in game - so basically I say go with the flow ))

((Okay. Man, check out my new avatar!! its sooo insanely cute! way cool))

The sun was slowly setting, pouring rose coloured light into Derek’s apartment. It had taken almost two whole days to clean up the mess that the PPD had left after raiding the place a few weeks earlier.

Derek was sat in front of the TV, Saffron curled into ball on the sofa next to him. He idly played with a strand of her dark hair that was slowly returning to it’s natural ginger. The TV was showing amateur footage of the battle in Siren’s Call for the third time that night. Saffron let out a long sigh.

“What’s up?” said Derek.

Saffron was quiet for a second before she spoke. “A lot’s changed,” she said. “I don’t think I’ve ever done anything like I did tonight.”

“Well, they were pretty tough,” said Derek, “I’m just glad we had backup.”

Saffron pulled herself upright. “No, not that,” she said. “During the fight, I just got so scared. I ended up hiding in one of those big pipes. I didn’t think I could be so afraid.”

Derek reached for her. “I didn’t know…” he began. Saffron stopped him.

“They weren’t like the others we’ve faced,” she continued. “The things we face everyday want to hurt us, sure. But that lot wanted us dead. I could feel it. And the last few weeks, everything has gone so weird. We’ve been on the run, hunted, accused, damned by the press. You had to kill someone. I got myself lost in the Rogue Isles, saved by my best friend who turns out to be one of the people we’re meant to be fighting against. I’m just confused. When did it get so complicated?”

“I don’t know,” said Derek, “It’s just the way it is.”

“I’m just worried that one day someone’s going to find out the truth,” she said quietly, “That I’m a little girl playing a big girls’ game.”

Derek pulled Saffron into him and hugged her. “No-one thinks that,” he said. Saffron laid her head against his chest and listened to his heartbeat.

“And worst of all, I almost lost you,” she whispered before sleep stole over her.


((Written with Derek))

[Thursday 29. A late night with Force Commander]

"As something of an expert in the field, I can assure you that you are not mutating." Force Commander said, containing his urge to laugh out loud. He could not resist a smirk, however. "Although my three doctorates are not technically in medicine I can determine, that you have managed to acquire a fractured spine in T8 to L2 and several microfractures to your left femur" he continued, poking a short rod at what could only have been Sabrina's x-ray scans. "I do suggest you beam straight to the hospital. You should not have followed us to Bloody Bay."

Dragonfly had been sat in Force Commander's examination ward, dead silent from the sheer embarassment that often followed her irrational tantrums, and the frustration of not knowing how it is, she could fly.

"I am truly, truly sorry Commander.. You're not even a mutant are you?" Dragonfly apologized.

"Thats a long story, I'm afraid Ms. Fly. Once I was, and now.. something more. Irrespective, I might remind you that young Derek Holden and his partner the Amber Banshee most certainly are, and yet you go about fine around them."

Dragonfly slid off the bed, shifting all her weight onto her one good leg. She looked painfully up at the commander.

"Okay, so I have a problem. A phobia of a sort but.. I dont see Saff and Derek as freaks, they're my friends, its.. its different." Hearing her own voice, she added "I.. I really am truly sorry for saying what I said, I didn't mean any of it."

"No more apologise necessary Ms. Fly, you are forgiven. I too cannot deduce how it is you can fly, not scientifically, hence, I am rather worried, and can understand your overeaction."

"Portent.. Portent.. suspects my blade" Dragonfly reported and Force Commander instinctively strokes his chin in a characteristically curious manner.

"Is that so?" A few heartbeats later. "Where is your sword Ms. Fly?"

"Can you not see it?"

"No."

"Oh.. Portent can.. Okay, well the sheath is concealed from the naked eye by some magic so the blade disappears from sight."

"Magic you say? Hmm, well that is one of the few things I cannot perceive.. thank heavens for small mercies heh? Well, if it is magic, I'd suggest you ask Keening to take a look at it."

"Will do Sir" she said plainly. "Although, I will be visiting home, I have a feeling I'll find some answers there.. Hopefully Meriam will come with me."

Force Commander looked disapproving. "Sabrina, I dont mean to pry--"

"--We, erm.. we should hold a meeting sir. You're unofficially commander of the team, it should be made official dont you think?" she interrupted.

However, Force Commander deflected the question. "Speaking of the team, perhaps you could comment on the.. umm.. situation between you and Nightsparrow?" Force Commander waited to no response. He continued. "She is far older and more experienced than you in combat and her efforts with the Militia are largely welcomed by all but you."

Dragonfly remained silent, suddenly interested in all the flashing technical equipments surrounding her.

"Answer me" Force Commander pleaded. "Is it jealousy? Are you jealous?"

"What? No way.. Jealous of what?"

"Despite my field of expertise not encompassing the infinite and wonderful complexity of the human psyche, I have observed that you too often, become defensive when Lady Cobra addresses you and can be rather aggressive to Nightsparrow in conversation." Again, he paused to no response. "You may be a little over protective of young Meriam Kesser.. the two of you are but young women and as such, should act like it --"

"--Whats that supposed to mean? Young women must.. like young men? What are you--"

"--I said no such thing"

"Yeah, well you sure implied it" Dragonfly spat.

"Ms. Fly, please" said Force Commander, trying to calm her down. "That is precisely the attitude I speak of."

"That is precisely the attitude I speak of" she mimiced, with a monotone mocking of the Commander. "I.. HAVE.. AN.. ATTITUDE PROBLEM, so what!? We all have problems, you're an ex-TERRORIST or something right?"

"I beg your pardon!" the Commander replied, in uncharacteristic anger.

"Whatever. My leg's hurting. I'm out of here"

"If you'll only allow me to reduce your inertia.." Force Commander called out, but Dragonfly was gone, beamed up by the city's medical teleportation grid.

The Commander stroked his chin briefly, lost in contemplation. With a half chuckle, half sigh, he eventually concluded his thoughts with one word.

"Kids!"

((written with Cognito))

September 30th
The Hollows. 510 Cherry Hill Road. Apartment 5b.
Dereks Home.


Derek was walking back and forth in his apartment. He had a headache out of this world, a remnant of the party he was at last night. He had been drinking more than anyone else but he kept thinking about Amber the whole evening and hadn’t really been able to enjoy the party.

He sat down in the couch, too fast, too hard and his headache sent a harsh reminder that it was still there. “Gah! Damnit. And no f**king painkillers neither.” He lay down on the couch and put a pillow over his head. The pain eased up a bit. “I really should call her…” He thought to himself. “But she seemed so pi**ed when I left the mission the other day. But she promised to call me, but… I don’t know, maybe I could ask Angel or… No. I can’t do that. I’m calling her…” He sat up in the sofa again, leaned over to his side and produced a beer from his small fridge by the sofa. He opened it and reached for his phone. He dialled Saffron’s number and took a few gulps of the beer as the call was connecting.

“Hello.”

“Hi babe… It’s D.”

“Oh. Hi… D…”

“Listen I just… I don’t know… Are you mad at me?”

“Mad, no. Why?”

“You sounded so… edgy or something over the com-link. After I offered to follow Ms. Sunshine to HQ. I only left ‘cause I really was hurt and ‘cause I figured that girl really needed help. Someone to talk to, whatever. She should go to therapy, some kind of magic, ninja therapist that’ll be all like ‘Ninja Vanish!’ and then her problems will be solved...”

Saffron was listening as Derek rambling on with some kind of excuse or explanation or whatever for his behaviour Thursday evening. She hadn’t meant to speak to him about this yet. She was hoping the whole thing would go away by itself.

“It’s not you hun,” she said, “It’s just her. She has to be the centre of attention all the time, throwing temper tantrums over the slightest thing. Plus the way she talks about mutation it’s as if we both have a disease or something.”

“Oh,” said Derek

“It just…grates after a while,” she said. “She loves people running around fussing after her and you’re just fuelling it.”

“Well, look, I didn’t mean to babe,” continued Derek, trying to apologise for something that made no sense to him.

Saffron listened to him for a while, the two of them agreeing to meet later on in the week. Eventually Saffron made excuses of having to get to a lecture and the call ended, neither of them really sure what was happening. She tried to think of something else, to concentrate on her music but the doubts continued to nag at her. Sabrina was a pretty woman. She couldn’t help feeling threatened by her. She tried to put the thoughts out of her head and went back to her guitar….

Wednesday October 4th
The Hollows. 510 Cherry Hill Road. Apartment 5b.
Derek's Home.

“Seventy-eight, seventy-nine, eighty” Derek counted from underneath a bench-press. “Eighty-one, eighty-two” Suddenly, a knock at his door. At the flex of a muscle, he was hidden. The ordeal he had recently been through with New Mafia’s conspiracy had taught him to be extra careful. He looked through the eye hole expecting to see his girlfriend, Saffron McKenzie known to the world as the Amber Banshee, but he saw nothing. He leant over the door and listened. Nothing. “Somebody’s messing with me” he muttered, his fists pierced slowly by emerging bones, sharp as razor blades.

He flung the door open in a violent swing of his left arm and lunged out of the door with his right set of claws hoping to strike anything unseen. And he did.

“Ow!” came a cry.

“Sunshine? Is that you?” Derek asked, puzzled.

A beautiful young lady de-cloaked before him. Her long dark hair resting graciously across her shoulder. She wore very little; just a mini denim skirt and a white belly top, bright red blood disturbed the gentle caramel of her skin, along the right forearm.

“Derek… why would you?--” never in her life had Dragonfly been so shocked. She’d known Derek over four months and had been through the wars of hell with him by her side. “--I thought we were friends, why would you--“

Derek was speechless. He had just attacked a team-mate, however unknowingly, and Dragonfly of all people. “I… Sunshine, I… I’m sorry, I--“

A sudden flash of light and Derek stumbled backwards. Dragonfly had executed a one-inch punch. “You’re sorry Derek?” she exclaimed. “Oh, I can’t believe this! After all this time, I finally make the effort to visit you at this dump and you strike me? What because I don’t like mutants?”

“No. Sabrina…” Derek stuttered. “I swear to god, I didn’t see you out there”

Again, Dragonfly struck out, but this time, Derek blocked her attack. She followed through with a back-fist strike and caught Derek by the chin. She advanced onto him and pinned him onto a far wall, bringing her face into his in a threatening manner.

“Sabrina, you’re making a terrible mistake. I (censored) swear it girl, I did not see you there” Derek emphasised, through trapped teeth. Dragonfly wasn’t impressed.

“Do I look stupid to you? You think I’d fall for a lie that old?” she whispered.

“I swear to you woman, now let me go!” he ordered, dismissively.

For a split second, the word “woman” sparked a loose cable in Dragonfly’s head. She thought of drawing her blade.

“Sabrina… you’re bleeding. Let. Me. Go”

A sudden silence enveloped the room. Dragonfly recalled the moments at headquarters she had enjoyed with Derek. Sometimes, she could confess that Derek spent more free time with her than his girlfriend, Amber. She gazed into his eyes and saw a reflection of herself.

“Sabrina, this is the last time I’m asking you. Will you kindly let go of my shirt? Please.”

Slowly, she released her grip and Derek retracted his claws. The two were so close they could feel each other’s breathing.

Derek sighed. “Look, I don’t know why or how you were invisible, and I’m guessing neither do you--“

“Shut up!” Sabrina barked, feeling defeated. She violently pushed away from Derek, slamming him hard against the wall before turning towards the kitchen sink. “Jerk!”

Without really meaning to, Derek swore in retaliation, using a word for canine gender. Strangely, Dragonfly pretended not to have heard it. She washed her forearm off dry blood under the running tap, yanked up a clean cleaning cloth from its packaging and wrapped it about the wound.

“You know, I do have a wash basin right inside the bathroom” Derek complained, breaking open a can of beer and taking a gulp.

“Eat my blood, pig head” Dragonfly cursed, snatching Derek’s beer away as she barged past him.

“Hey!” Derek hollered. “Hey! Woman, that’s my last can” He made to yank it back but was faced with the deadly point of the Golden Dragonfly katana.

“I’m gonna drink this here beer, and then I’m outta this dump. Got a problem with that?”

Derek swore again, avoiding further arguments, he headed over to a window to curse some more.

“And the next time you call me a (censored) I swear to god I’ll rip your (censored) (censored) off, you (censored) big headed, skinny (censored) pile of trash, you’ll end up looking a wasted transsexual with a sex-change gone bad” Dragonfly warned, gulping down Derek’s beer. He had never heard a woman attack with such verbal ferocity, stood in the middle of his own apartment with a four-foot long blade slung dangerously in one hand and a can of beer in the other. It was a beautiful sight.

“Err… wow… okay” he replied, sarcastically. He actually, now wanted to see her angry. Through the window, he saw an old friend from the Outcast gangs being mobbed by over a dozen Trolls. “(censored)!” he exclaimed, his fists exploding out in six bladed claws. “(censored)! (censored)!” he swore repeatedly.

“What? What is it?” Dragonfly asked, moving over to the window to see. She turned back around to address Derek but he was already out the door. “Once an Outcast, always an Outcast” she moaned. “I’m staying right here to watch the show”

Seconds later, the Trolls were sliced, diced and shredded beyond recognition. Alive, but unconscious. Derek’s pal didn’t thank him, matter of fact, he failed to register Derek was ever there. Clearly Derek was no longer favoured by the gang, he too simply turned his back and headed back up the apartment.

“Derek, you hit like (censored)”

“Shut your mouth. You get to use the word, but I don’t?”

“Precisely. Now, you need a little work on your fighting boy. No wonder Hyper Cat kicked your behind”

“I said shut up” Derek was loosing his temper, but Dragonfly was enjoying the taunt.

“Ah, I’m only kidding, god, you look really cute when you’re mad” she giggled. “Say, I feel like fighting all of a sudden. Wanna hit the NRVS?”

“What, because I need training?” Derek asked, but Dragonfly just laughed more. “I’m being serious; maybe I could use a different workout. These weights are getting lighter and lighter”

“Okay.” Dragonfly replied, emptying Derek’s beer in one large swoop. “I’ll teleport and then recall you”

“How is it that you can do that anyway?”

“To be honest with you, I don’t know.” Dragonfly ran up to Derek, kissed him on the cheek and disappeared with a final “See ya”

“Right” he replied. When she had gone, he decided to change shirts. “This chick is flirting with me” he cautioned himself. But as he made to redress, he suddenly vanished through the air, topless.

((Written with Derek and Dante))