He mutely thanked his personal computer interface for the automated greeting and had it run a check for his contacts, starting with his personal friends. As expected, one particular personal friend was conspicuous by her absence: The Healer.
GC had met her in Wentworths of all places, and had instigated a chat, complementing her on her costume which was a sort of metallic-organic skin-tight alien look which had put him in mind of certain fictional heroines from his youth. It had seemed to him that they made some connection immediately; she effervesced and was a joy to speak with, and she appreciated his style of self depreciating humour.
It wasn't very long before he became accustomed to checking for her presence in Paragon before conducting his own business. She had eagerly accepted his invitation to join his Corps of Superheroes and rapidly progressed through their ranks to the point where she was the highest ranking defender, and second-in-command in the entire Corps.
Crime fighting in tandem with her was an absolute delight; it seemed that together they were able to defeat any foe, to achieve any objective; but better than anything was the relationship they developed.
Initially he had made regular contact with her via his personal communicator; this progressed to regular invitations to team up against the city's foes, and then to the point where they had become virtually inseparable.
He had to concede that her skills outclassed his own, however, as she quickly surpassed his security clearance level, and became the more experienced and capable Superhero. This wasn't a problem, however, as he was still able to work with her regularly; he was no slouch when it came to utilising his own unique capabilities; capabilities which complemented hers. Though he led the Corps, he regularly and willingly adopted the role of sidekick to his beautiful friend, and together their exploits were the stuff of legend.
Naturally they became very close. The first time he had brought her back to their base she had enthusiastically praised his hard work and accomplishments, and her genuine manner had struck a chord with him. As they dispatched hordes of invading aliens, malevolent demons and criminal masterminds from their fair city, their adventures were punctuated with light-hearted banter, which rippled with overtones of the high regard they held for each other.
Mild flirtatious verbal jousting became commonplace, and the couple of heroes grew to anticipate each other's every move and tactic. This made them almost invincible.
So long as he had her, he couldn't lose.
Only now she had disappeared.
His Healer had been so successful that she was nearing that pinnacle of a hero's career: security level 50. He had worked with her as she steadily approached that goal, but somehow he had missed his partner's ascendance to that lofty position. He cursed his secret identity, his 'other life' for keeping him from her when he needed to be with her, and contented himself with sending a message of congratulations to his Healer; his friend; his partner.
And suddenly that was that. She had gone. Disappeared without a trace. Bereft of his partner, he now functioned in the manner of a single remaining limb; an orphan; a widow.
And then... depression set in. The Corps roster confirmed that the Healer was still on the books as an active member. She was simply no longer present. Their partnership had ended.
He became accustomed to behaving in the manner of jilted lovers everywhere; sulking, making inappropriately caustic sarcastic comments to anyone who would listen, and ultimately trying unsuccessfully to busy himself in his work, namely the running of the Corps.
A recent recruit to the Corps had surfaced; a young, fresh-faced beauty who commanded the attentions and 'interest' of her peers - the males in particular. Amy came to GC's attention when it became evident she was rising through the ranks as confidently and inexorably as had his Healer. He arranged to meet with her, initially to congratulate her for her efforts but their conversation revealed more than a passing connection to the Healer.
Their incursions into the supernatural realm of Croatoa had earned the Healer the appellation The Pumpkin Queen, and him The Pumpkin King. Was it some coincidence that this new hotshot recruit had the power to transform herself into a pumpkin?
Heroine Addict
"Welcome to Paragon City, Green Carnation!"
He mutely thanked his personal computer interface for the automated greeting and had it run a check for his contacts, starting with his personal friends. As expected, one particular personal friend was conspicuous by her absence: The Healer.
GC had met her in Wentworths of all places, and had instigated a chat, complementing her on her costume which was a sort of metallic-organic skin-tight alien look which had put him in mind of certain fictional heroines from his youth. It had seemed to him that they made some connection immediately; she effervesced and was a joy to speak with, and she appreciated his style of self depreciating humour.
It wasn't very long before he became accustomed to checking for her presence in Paragon before conducting his own business. She had eagerly accepted his invitation to join his Corps of Superheroes and rapidly progressed through their ranks to the point where she was the highest ranking defender, and second-in-command in the entire Corps.
Crime fighting in tandem with her was an absolute delight; it seemed that together they were able to defeat any foe, to achieve any objective; but better than anything was the relationship they developed.
Initially he had made regular contact with her via his personal communicator; this progressed to regular invitations to team up against the city's foes, and then to the point where they had become virtually inseparable.
He had to concede that her skills outclassed his own, however, as she quickly surpassed his security clearance level, and became the more experienced and capable Superhero. This wasn't a problem, however, as he was still able to work with her regularly; he was no slouch when it came to utilising his own unique capabilities; capabilities which complemented hers. Though he led the Corps, he regularly and willingly adopted the role of sidekick to his beautiful friend, and together their exploits were the stuff of legend.
Naturally they became very close. The first time he had brought her back to their base she had enthusiastically praised his hard work and accomplishments, and her genuine manner had struck a chord with him. As they dispatched hordes of invading aliens, malevolent demons and criminal masterminds from their fair city, their adventures were punctuated with light-hearted banter, which rippled with overtones of the high regard they held for each other.
Mild flirtatious verbal jousting became commonplace, and the couple of heroes grew to anticipate each other's every move and tactic. This made them almost invincible.
So long as he had her, he couldn't lose.
Only now she had disappeared.
His Healer had been so successful that she was nearing that pinnacle of a hero's career: security level 50. He had worked with her as she steadily approached that goal, but somehow he had missed his partner's ascendance to that lofty position. He cursed his secret identity, his 'other life' for keeping him from her when he needed to be with her, and contented himself with sending a message of congratulations to his Healer; his friend; his partner.
And suddenly that was that. She had gone. Disappeared without a trace. Bereft of his partner, he now functioned in the manner of a single remaining limb; an orphan; a widow.
And then... depression set in. The Corps roster confirmed that the Healer was still on the books as an active member. She was simply no longer present. Their partnership had ended.
He became accustomed to behaving in the manner of jilted lovers everywhere; sulking, making inappropriately caustic sarcastic comments to anyone who would listen, and ultimately trying unsuccessfully to busy himself in his work, namely the running of the Corps.
A recent recruit to the Corps had surfaced; a young, fresh-faced beauty who commanded the attentions and 'interest' of her peers - the males in particular. Amy came to GC's attention when it became evident she was rising through the ranks as confidently and inexorably as had his Healer. He arranged to meet with her, initially to congratulate her for her efforts but their conversation revealed more than a passing connection to the Healer.
Their incursions into the supernatural realm of Croatoa had earned the Healer the appellation The Pumpkin Queen, and him The Pumpkin King. Was it some coincidence that this new hotshot recruit had the power to transform herself into a pumpkin?