Sooner Nation - FICTION

Outstanding read, Sooner. I like that you've expanded out into other members of Ghosts Reborn.

Conall's getting cozy with Sooner Spirit herself...

Six-four is angling to dig deeper into what's going on with the Hellions in King's Row...

And now, just when he begins hunting the traitor within the Ghosts, Vir is called away on a family emergency...

The board is in flux, the players are dashing to and fro...

Take your seats ladies and gentlemen, I suspect we're in for a bumpy ride!

Sooner, I hafta say, I enjoyed this all.... but the exchanged between Conall and Sooner Spirit made me go "ooooooooooo" 8O

Part IV

Six-Four's apartment
"Standard Hellions," Six-Four announced, tossing a handful of pictures and hand drawn sketches on the table in front of his new friends. They were the first guests he'd ever had inside his apartment, but his strictly utilitarian space was ideal for this briefing. He had a large whiteboard mounted on the wall, a spacious table for laying out papers and maps, and enough space for everyone to move around. What he didn't have was chairs. When a man didn't expect guests, he had no reason to have more than one chair. Moon Dancer was curled in his recliner, Pipe Hitter balanced on a barstool, and Rosemarie perched on one of his file cabinets. With a little rearranging, everyone could see the information Six-Four laid out. The remains of a quick dinner from Up-n-Away had been cleared away, and the odor of fries and burgers lingered in the air.

Denied his Ghosts Reborn uniform, Six had reverted to what amounted to a new uniform of tee shirt, BDU pants, and boots. He looked fierce and focused as he paced behind the table, a pair of knives tucked in his belt and a folder of papers tucked under his arm. He leaned forward and tapped a careful hand drawn rendering of the Hellions symbol. "Most of them will be wearing this as a tattoo somewhere clearly visible on their body - a red circle with a horned goat head and some arcane symbols, and they mostly use fire as a form of attack. They're always trying to expand out of Atlas, Galaxy, and Perez Park, but usually get smacked back by the other gangs. Now, however, I've been tracking THESE guys in Kings Row." He tossed a few dozen photos and drawings. Pipe Hitter didn't flinch at all as he started rifling through the pages. Rosemarie took a deep breath and leaned forward to study over Pipe Hitter's shoulder, but he saw Moon Dancer's pretty face wince at one particular close-up showing the harsh after-effects of a lost fight and her big blue eyes turned away. He instantly felt like an ***. He should've known better than to show some of these photos to that soft hearted girl.

"Near as I can tell, the leaders of this group of Hellions - who I'm calling the Black Hand Hellions - have actually had that symbol branded over their tattoos. Their followers usually have tattoos instead of the brand. They've moved into Kings Row and so far, no one's been able to stop them. They've done a nice job flying under the radar as far as hero intervention goes, but I suspect they have powerful backing."

He leaned forward onto the table and took a moment to make eye contact with each of the three, letting his blue eyes go icy and hard. "I've been studying the Black Hand Hellions for months now. I want to know who's behind them, and I want to know what they're doing in Kings Row. I'm ready to start taking some action. You guys with me?"

The Spirit World
Ben turned his face to the sun burning high overhead and smiled. He didn't really care if it wasn't real. It felt real and it felt good. Grandfather had brought him back to the open plains of the land that would become Oklahoma. It was beautiful and wide open and he felt free.

"Open your eyes, Benjamin. You are here to learn." Grandfather scolded.

"Yes, Grandfather," Ben answered. He smiled and turned towards the tall glowing shape of his ancestor. "What's the lesson today?"

"First, I have more of your ancestors to meet." Ben's eyes widened as more and more glowing shapes appeared. One by one they approached, and stood nearby. "They are all your ancestors, but to avoid confusion you may call them your aunts and uncles. Except that one, of course..." Grandfather gestured to a eerily floating form hovering nearby. It emitted a high pitched wail that set his teeth on edge.

"Who is that?" Ben said with his eyes wide.

"You may call her Mother-in-Law." Grandfather answered with just a hint of emotion coloring his voice. "Do not worry. She's still your ancestor. She's on your side and will manage to annoy your enemies more than she does you." Grandfather turned to look wistfully out over the plains. "Ben, you are magic. Your family is magic. If things had been different, you would have been taught to use your magic at a young age, but among the harm Akando's family did to our tribe, they encouraged us all to turn away from our magic, to try to become more like the white men. And so our family forgot their magic. But you, Ben... you must relearn it all if you would help fight the demon."

"How do I do that?" Ben asked.

Grandfather's head whipped back toward Ben and his eyes glowed red. "Run..." he growled. The glowing man-shape suddenly exploded into the form of a bear - taller and more powerful than a man. "RUN!!!" it roared.

Ben fled across the plain, once again terrified and confused. The bear lumbered behind him, but Ben could hear that it closing fast. He tried darting left and right to evade, but the bear kept coming. A giant paw tripped him, and then the bear was on him. Powerful paws tumbled him helplessly over the ground. Ben let out a yell of protest as the bear's teeth closed over his head, and then Grandfather stood there again, helping him up.

"What-" Ben started, but then one of the Aunts stepped forward.

"Run!" she demanded. Before he could react, she and a half-dozen others became leggy yellow eyed wolves, snarling and howling, their yellow eyes fixed hungrily on him.

Ben stumbled away from them. He could see a rocky hill in the distance. Perhaps if he could get to it, he could evade them. But no man had a chance of outrunning a pack of wolves. They toyed with him, circling him, darting in to nip at him when he slowed. His lungs burned, his heart was pounding its way out of his chest. He tripped over something in the tall grass, flailing his arms to try to keep his balance, and then they were on him. Their teeth sank into his arms and legs as he fell, and they began to play with him like a pack of pups with a rope toy.

"Enough!" bellowed Grandfather, and the wolves released him, fading into the grass.

Ben pushed himself to his feet, heaving for breath. His wrists were marked by the wolves' teeth, but they hadn't broken the skin.

"Grandfather... what is..."

"Hush. I'm teaching, youngster." Grandfather answered.

Another glowing form stepped forward. A powerfully built young man. His teeth bared in a smile. "RUN!" he demanded.

"You're not going to hurt me," Ben answered, still panting. "Why should I wear myself out?"

The glowing shape turned into an eagle with a wingspan wider than Ben's outstretched arms. It swooped down on Ben and its talons raked Ben's face. It let out a shrill eagles cry and Ben could clearly understand, "RUN!"

Once again, Ben ran for the rocks, but the eagle swooped and dived, herding him away from it. Every time Ben tried to turn back to the rocks, the eagle stooped on him, powerful wings beating the air around his face, those deadly talons reaching straight for his eyes. When Ben was quite certain he couldn't run another step, the eagle swooped down and sank it's talon's into his shoulder. Its wings beat powerfully, and nearly managed to lift him. Ben cried out in pain as the talon's began to tear his flesh, then the eagle released its grip and he tumbled roughly to the ground.

He lay there, panting. Grandfather stood over him, shaking his head. "Why are you doing this, Grandfather?" Ben asked.

Once again Grandfather offered a hand and helped Ben up. He glanced at the rocks. "You want to go there. You imagine you'd have a chance to defend yourself there."

Ben tried to still his breathing. "Yes..." he agreed when he could draw enough air to speak. "I've been trying to make it to the rocks."

"Then go there." Grandfather said.

"No... Grandfather... no. I can't run any more."

"I didn't say 'run," Benjamin. I said 'go there.'"

Ben leaned forward, resting his hands on his knees. "I don't understand."

"See the rocks. See their shape. Feel the hard edges under your feet. Smell the moss growing in the shade. Hear the quiet sound of the pebbles shifting underneath you. Ben... you are human. You cannot outrun a bear, a wolf, or an eagle. You certainly cannot outrun a demon. You can simply chose to be somewhere else. Now. Go. There."

Ben took a moment to fully visualize the spot in the rocks where he wanted to go. He glanced doubtfully at Grandfather, then thought himself there. For a moment, nothing happened at all. Then his stomach flip flopped and he found himself standing among the rocks. He was so surprised his feet fell out from under him and he landed hard on his butt, laughing and yelling as the sharp edges of the rocks cut through his tattered clothing.

Once again, Grandfather appeared and helped Ben to his feet. "Well done, Benjamin. Well done." He bared his teeth in a smile. "Now... RUN!" Grandfather turned into the bear again and roared. Ben glanced higher into the hills, aware Grandfather was giving him the moment he needed to remember how to teleport himself... then he was there. He laughed again just as the wolves surrounded him. "Run!" the pack leader growled, and Ben teleported away just as the pack leapt for him. The eagle stooped on him, screaming a war cry, and Ben vanished as the talons closed on empty air.

Ben stood on top of the rocky hill, smiling triumphantly as the animal shapes all transformed back into their glowing human forms. One by one they nodded and faded away.

"Rest now, Ben." Grandfather said. "You still have much to learn."

Crowne Memorial Hospital, ICU
Less than five minutes after arriving at the hospital Vir was submersed in the dim lights and quiet of the Intensive Care Unit with a woman who looked far far too young to be his brother's doctor. She seemed confident and competent as she stood before him wearing rumpled green scrubs and a surgical cap struggling to contain unruly brunette curls.

“His condition is very serious,” she offered. “He's still battling shock, he's in more pain than we can effectively control without risking complications, he is still at grave risk of infection, and the long term consequences to his heart and lungs are.... well... we'll have to see how does overnight before we'll be able to address that.”

Vir nodded. “I suppose our father is with him, now?”

The young doctor cocked her head at him thoughtfully, and he suspected he had just become another case for her to ponder. “You were the only next of kin on record.” she answered.

Vir paused to let a complex reaction comprised of anger, frustration, and relief wash over him before speaking again, “Can I see him?”

“For a few minutes, yes. I think he'd like that. Don't tire him, of course.”

Vir entered the dimly lit room. His brother looked terribly young lying there, the sheet pulled up to his chin, surrounded by tubes, wires, and buzzing, whirring, and beeping machines. Seamus's face was a younger mirror of Vir's own, same eyes and nose, same chin and jaw. Seamus's hair was a shade lighter and a touch longer, his face a little more round and soft due to his peaceful life with all the amenities their father's wealth provided. Lying there, dozing, he was terribly pale, but the relationship between them would be plain to anyone who saw them together.

Vir moved quietly across the room, pulled over a chair and sat close to the bed. “Seamus,” he called out quietly.

The younger man's face was marred by bruising, and his left eye was swollen nearly shut, but his eyes flickered open. He blinked a few times to clear his vision, then his head pivoted a few degrees toward Vir and his eyes, the rich brown they'd both inherited from their father, focused.

“Hey.... Mikey.” he whispered. "I think something's wrong.... with my arms...."

Vir let one shaky breath escape before he asked, “Seamus, where's Dad?”

Seamus struggled to sit up and became instantly more alert. “I don't want him to know.” he took a deep breath. “Don't call him, Mike.”

“Why not? He really should be here. You're his son.”

“He can't know," Seamus's eyes glazed over and then closed again. Vir could see the drugs taking over his brother's mind again, so he didn't let it hurt when his brother added, "I'm the only son he has left...”

Seamus drooped, and the blankets fell away from him to reveal the thick bandages over the stumps of his arms. Vir grimaced, both angry and helpless, and tucked the blankets back up over his brother's shoulders.

Read my stories!

Six's briefing, well done.

Ben's training, outstanding!

Vir at his brother's side... crushing.

Top notch stuff here Sooner.

"You may call her Mother-in-Law."

LOL

<wipes away tears>


And I echo Ice9's comments.

Damn my pessimism, though. I'm now extremely suspicious of Grandfather.

I think the spirit world training was the bestest part of whole wonderful thing (chapter)!

Although, I am anxious to find how how Seamus got his very particular injuries.

Part V

Crowne Memorial Hospital
Vir was grim as he exited the quiet room. He was going to find whoever was responsible for crippling his brother. And if it turned out to be anything more than tragically bad luck to blame... someone was going to pay. If it was a deliberate attempt to get his attention... oh... they would have it.

He considered transferring Seamus to the Ghosts' infirmary, but as good as Zemuron and Celestial Nav were, they were more like combat docs. They were better suited for patching a hero up and sending him back out to fight. Seamus needed good, long term, intensive care. This was better for him, though Vir expected that soon the Campbell family name would get Seamus his own plush, private room.

“Michael? Is that you?”

Vir turned towards the voice that used to be familiar, and a fleeting thought – oh, she's gotten old – flickered through his mind. Then he smiled. “Lauren. It's good to see you.”

His father's assistant stood in the quiet shadows of the ICU waiting rom, more grey in her dark hair than he remembered, a few more lines on her face, a few extra pounds on her figure, but still the neat, well groomed, efficient woman he remembered. “It's been far too long, Michael.”

“What happened to my brother, Lauren?” Vir asked, before the subject could linger on his estrangement from his father.

She shook her head. “It appears he drove into a super powered fight, and became a casualty. I don't yet know what happened, but his passenger suffered far fewer injuries. I was going to ask her, but... then you arrived and I thought, perhaps, you'd prefer to discuss it with her yourself.”

Vir nodded. “I would, Lauren. I'm sure we'll be able to catch up soon, and I'll want to know why our father isn't here with his 'only son left,' but right now, I want to talk to this passenger. I need to know what happened.”


The Ghosts Reborn Base
Jagged Fortune lay in wait for his prey, though to any observer, it would appear he was absorbed in a magazine, lounging casually in the Ghosts base. He knew that Sooner Red and her sister Sooner Magic went out for coffee a few nights a week. They would be gone about an hour, and then return to the base. Then they would settle into the lounge and chat. They would stay for at least long enough to finish their drinks, but sometimes they would be there for hours. Sometimes their oldest sister would join them, sometimes other friends. They always sat at the same spot, and he'd settled nearby. He also knew from his observations that all three sisters responded strongly to someone in need, someone hurting. He had already caught Sooner Red's attention. She was already concerned for him. He had his little fishy on the hook... now he just had to carefully reel her in.

They arrived right on schedule, and Jagged Fortune had already gone into his sad, distracted slump. He was curled up casually on a couch, but his head was down, his arms crossed protectively across his body, his knees drawn up. His eyes were carefully distant and he would occasionally rub at them as if trying to hold off the tingle of tears. It was a good performance, but it was quickly apparent the two young women were at odds. They were wrapped up in their own conversation and neither even glanced at him as they plopped down nearby.

"I'm NOT 'in love' with him!" Red protested rather too loudly for the space. "I just asked when you thought he'd be back!"

"Ok, then. I don't know, I don't care, and I'm glad he's gone." Her sister answered, only a little more quietly.

"Oh, that's nice, Caryn! I thought he was part of the team here or something."

"You hardly know him! Why do you care?"

There was a silence... a long thoughtful silence. "I just thought he was interesting. And a little bit sad." Sooner Red fell silent again. Then the youngest sister spoke, "Besides, you're not really the best person to be offering advice on romance, you know."

The air itself sharpened, as if every molecule had suddenly ionized and if anyone dared to touch anything it would spark. Even Jagged, completely absorbed in his role, was shaken by the sudden change and glanced up. Sooner Magic's face had gone even more pale than usual and her eyes widened in surprise and anger. Jagged looked away again, but listened closely.

"What is THAT supposed to mean, Cerise?" The sharp edge in Sooner Magic's voice could have cut glass.

"Nothing, Caryn, nothing, I'm sorry," Red soothed. "I didn't mean it. Really. I just... wish you were seeing someone, is all."

Once again the silence grew and deepened, and then Sooner Magic spoke again. "I know you didn't mean it," she sighed. "I'm going to my room. I'm sorry I brought it up. I shouldn't have."

"Caryn..."

"I'm fine." Magic stood. "Really, I'm fine. It's ok. Thanks for going out with me."

The tension in the room uncoiled when Sooner Magic walked out, and Jagged wondered if he was wasting his time continuing his ploy. Red would be distracted by what had happened with her sister and might not notice him. He'd have to come up with a different strategy next time. He risked glancing up, and saw Red curled up and brooding as she nursed her coffee. He allowed himself a sigh and stood up. On the off chance he could catch her interest, he slumped away toward the door. He was nearly out of the room when she called out to him, "Hey... Jagged. I didn't see you there. Are you doin ok?"

He turned back like a man waking up from sleep-walking. "Oh, Sooner Red. Hi. I'm fine." He cocked his head and let himself become more alert. "Are you ok?"

She smiled, and he had to admit it was a pretty smile. He was here to bring these people down, though, not find romance. He slapped another layer of ice over his emotions and kept right on playing his game.

"I said something I shouldn't have." She shrugged, then shook her head.

He settled himself on the couch beside her, debating his next move. Should he ask her about what had just happened? It would make him seem sensitive and caring, especially in light of his obvious distress. And who knew what interesting information he could pull out of her - emotional weaknesses could be every bit as valuable as physical ones. But his grasp of her personality told him that he needed to be the one in pain, to bring out her need to help him if he wanted to continue to pull her in. By the time he sat down and turned to face her, he had his strategy in mind.

"I'm sorry. I've been so wrapped up in my own problems... What happened? Can I help?"

The struggle - whether to talk or not - was clear on her face, and then the floodgates opened. "She's always on me about how I've got this thing for Six-Four but I was just asking if he was coming back or not, she didn't have to start accusing me of stuff and she always talks so bad about him like SHE'S never made any mistakes. And then I got so tired of it and I said that she shouldn't be talking to people about romance and I really shouldn't have said that. Well... not like that anyway. I mean... the guy tried to beat her up. Well.. he DID beat her up. I guess he almost killed her, then she got her powers and was ok... and at first she was all mad at him, but now she's just determined that something was wrong and it's somehow her fault that this ******* hit her and I guess I just never thought that one of my sisters would be THAT woman..."

Hidden inside, Jagged was smiling triumphantly. On the outside, he listened attentively, nodding, while his own carefully assumed pain was still plain in his eyes. He waited until she glanced back up and met his eyes, and put on a bravely-smiling-through-the-pain expression. "She must've loved him very much before he hurt her," he offered, letting his voice crack just a tiny fraction at the end.

He could see her attention focusing back on him. "Ya, she did, I think," she answered. "But... what's wrong. Why are you so sad?"

He glanced away, as if struggling with whether to speak or not. He didn't look at her, instead he stared at his feet as he spoke. "That girl.. the one that broke up with me, she sent me a box. In it was anything of mine she had - a CD, a souvenir cup, a couple of movies.... a pair of socks. But she also sent a couple pictures of us together, and... I bought her this. She liked butterflies. I thought it was pretty and... I got it for her." He opened his hand and a lovely sun-catcher in the shape of a butterfly fell out, dangling from his fingers. "What the hell am I supposed to do with this? I got it for her!"

She looked from the colorful glass butterfly - that he'd picked up just the night before - to his face, and held his eyes. "Did you love her?" she asked quietly.

"No... I don't know. No, I didn't. I think I just... I was more into the idea of her than I was into her, ya know? And maybe that's why she dumped me. Maybe she knew that. But I liked having someone, ya know? And I feel like she sent THIS back just to take a jab at me."

"She probably did," Red said. She reached out to the hand holding the butterfly and closed his fingers around it again. "C'mon. Let's go get some coffee." She stood and pulled him to his feet, still with her long fingers wrapped around his hand.

He glanced at the paper cup. "You just had coffee," he pointed out.

She shrugged. "A girl can never have too much mocha." She turned to him, smiling that bright smile again. He smiled back, almost disappointed it was so damn easy to lure her in.

Read my stories!

Hahahahahahahahahhaahhaa!

Jagged... you sneaky $%&#@ $@*#$ you.

Sneaky, indeed.

And you thought it "wasn't exciting" LOL

Very nice drama, well done ::hugs::

Just to respond to a comment you made in game Sooner, yes. Yes, you are evil.



EDIT: There we go.

*eyes narrowed* I REALLY REALLY hope to see Jagged get his.

And they thought Six was a ****. *frowns*

Part VI

Ghosts Reborn Base
Once back in her room, Caryn indulged herself in a brief fit of sulking. Cydney had run off and left no word, and Caryn had forgiven and accepted that. Cerise had come to Paragon City all traumatized about how close she'd come to becoming a Carnie, and Caryn had been there and supported her through that. But when Caryn needed understanding, there was none coming for her. They hadn't known Ben. They didn't understand that the idea of him trying to hurt her was absurd.

She shook off the urge to wallow in her frustration before it could continue, however. She worked herself to exhaustion in the gym and was in bed falling into sleep before Cerise had made it back from her second trip to the coffee shop.

She dreamed of Ben, as she often did. There was the happy dream in which she relived some of their happiest times, and the scary dream, where she fought against him again and again. But her favorite was the peaceful dream. She lay next to him, feeling the warmth from his body, with his strong arm encircling her shoulders and her head resting on his chest. She traced the phoenix tattoo on his chest and felt content and safe. As she started to wake, she murmured, as she often did, "Ben, where ARE you?"

Rather abruptly, the warm bed and strong arm were gone. She was cold and frightened and hungry in a dark place. Against the wall, a man sat with his legs crossed and his hands on his knees. He lifted his head and she recognized him when he spoke, "I'm here, Caryn. I'm right here."

"BEN!" she called out, but then she was awake and alone in her room.

Kings Row
Pipe Hitter cast a frustrated and irritated face to Six-Four. "Why don't we just grab a couple of these ******* off the streets and kick their ***** till they tell you what you want to know?" The two men waited outside the tall building where Moondancer and Rosemarie lived. Day was giving way to evening, but the sun had yet to find a way through the low clouds. Pipe Hitter was visibly impatient with the slow pace of their investigation in the Black Hand Hellions.

Since that was exactly how Six would have preferred to handle it, he didn't have a good answer right away. Finally, he reached for what he imagined Ahren would say faced with the same question. "Do you want to be a Hero? Or a thug? There's a whole bunch of islands to the east where thugs are welcome."

Hitter shook his head. "That's ********. I've already learned enough about these guys to know if they're wearing that brand, they've earned whatever happens to them."

Six cocked his head and raised a brow at the younger man. "Maybe they have, but how about this? You're trying to be a hero, so are those two ladies inside. You might think you can handle walking that darker path, and maybe you can. But are you sure they can follow if you lead them there? Are you sure you want to see what that will do not just to Rosemarie, but to Moondancer?"

Pipe Hitter looked away, and Six could tell he'd scored a point, even if he hadn't completely convinced him yet. "So I guess we keep doin it the slow way."

Six nodded, "There's more to be a hero and a teammate than just getting the job done-"

Hitter turned back and raised his hand, "I got it, Six. I got it."

Six nodded and they were saved from further discussion by the arrival of Moondancer and Rosemarie. The lovely blonde smiled warmly at them both and, as always, that smile reached straight through to Six's soul. Rosemarie, however, cocked a brow, glancing back and forth between the two men. "Everything ok?" she asked.

Pipe Hitter nodded and straightened. "Just fine."

"C'mon, kids. Let's go," Six said, and led the way into Kings Row.

Crowne Memorial Hospital
With his guts still twisted by helpless anger and the lingering concern that Seamus was injured because of him, Vir stalked into the emergency department at Crowne Memorial. The slender blonde sitting there on the narrow hospital was likely pretty when she wasn't indulging in hysterics. The clothing, jewelry, and shoes made if obvious she had access to at least as much money as Seamus. She had a few bruises, a couple scrapes,a split lip, and one laceration on her arm neatly stitched closed. She was sobbing as if she had just minutes left to live.

“Brianna? You were with Seamus when he was hurt?”he asked.

She choked back her sobs to ask. “Is he OK? Oh, please tell me he's OK?”

Vir would have much preferred facing a room full of Malta than standing here with this crying young woman, a woman perhaps a bit too young to be dating Seamus, but he persevered. “What happened to you?” he asked, trying to project calm.

She cried and shook her head.. “I can't, I can't!”

“Brianna!” he snapped, as if talking to a young recruit. “I'm Seamus's brother. He's hurt and I don't know why. I need you to calm down and tell me what happened. Right now.”

He wondered if anyone had ever spoken so firmly to the young woman. Her eyes went wide and she fell silent. She was utterly still for the space of three breaths, then she nodded. “OK,” she answered, and if there was a tremor in her voice, at least it was no longer shrill. “We went to a movie,” she started. “I didn't want him to take me back to the dorm yet, so we were out driving around... oh.... I didn't want him to take me back! Oh! It's my fault! It's all my fault he's hurt!”

“Brianna!” Vir snapped when the hysterics threatened to return.

She hung her head, her pretty blonde hair falling in her face before she looked back up at him through pale eyelashes. After a moment, she realized her mannerisms were getting her nowhere, and she flipped her hair back and sat up again. “We were just driving around and talking, and then we came into Kings Row. We were talking, and laughing, and neither of us noticed the noise until we drove right into it.” She paused, took a shaky breath, and continued. “There was a hero, and he was fighting this big ugly thing, and they were throwing things around and smashing everything. Seamus tried to turn the car around and get away from there, but the big guy threw a car and it smashed down in front of us. Seamus tried so hard to get away.... there was just so much noise, and yelling, and.... I was scared. Seamus reached across me and... and... he fastened my seat belt. I was so frightened and I grabbed his hand. He... didn't put on his own seat belt because he... held my hand....” she lifted her left hand up and held it out to him. “And then the big guy, he was just THERE... he was right there...and he... picked up OUR car. and then he ... threw us. The car flipped over, Seamus.... hit the steering wheel, and then he was gone. I guess... he.... flew out of the car, and it rolled onto him and... hurt him.” She shuddered, and Vir smiled sadly to see her resist the urge to start crying again. “The hero managed to arrest the big guy, then he got us help. And I haven't seen Seamus since then. Is... he... OK?”

“Brianna? Do you know who the hero was?”

She blinked a few times, almost visibly clearing her mind. “I don't... I think he told us his name, but I don't remember.”

“Thank you Brianna. Is someone coming to be with you?” She nodded, and started tearing up again. “OK You did great. Thank you.”

Vir made his way back to ICU and found Lauren still dutifully waiting, working diligently on a portable computer, with her day planner open next to her. “How is he?” Vir asked.

She smiled that small smile as she glanced up at him. “He's sleeping. He hasn't moved since you left.”

Vir sat across from her. “Lauren, who brought Seamus and Brianna in?”

She blinked once, then answered, “They arrived by ambulance.... but that's not what you're asking, of course.” She consulted her day planner, flipped back a couple of pages. “Ah, here it is. The hero's name was Major T. I wrote it down so I could send him a thank you.”

Vir felt his face go slack with shock. He shook his head, took himself back under control, and stood. “Don't bother. I'll pass on the family's regards myself.”

He strode out of the hospital, his anger growing with each step. The glass doors slid open and a light flashed in his face, temporarily blinding him. Before he could strike out at his attacker, a woman's voice called out, “Vir! Vir! Is it true you're really Micheal Campbell, Jr?”

Without even pausing to answer, Vir lifted into the air and flew rapidly away to the nearest base portal.


Ben's cell
Ben closed his eyes, and sought the peace of mediation. His reality was a stone prison where he given never quite enough food or water, never quite enough light, and it was never quite warm enough. He was given just enough to keep him alive, but not comfortable. And every now and then, one of those ugly little mutant cats the demon called her imps would come to him and tell him once again that if he would just agree to serve Ciara, he could go free.

No, he preferred his meditation. And if Grandfather came along to give him some company, that was even better. He settled into his meditation, seeking with his mind for peace and warmth. Ah.. he'd give anything - well, almost anything - to just be warm again. Which always brought his mind to Caryn. Lying in bed with her, arms and legs a tangle, the blankets wrapped around them like a nest, was his last memory of being warm... and happy. The melancholy thoughts threatened his peace, and he sought a less emotionally-laden warmth.

But then he heard her voice, "Ben, where ARE you?" she asked, so plaintive. And for a moment, he saw her. She looked like home to him, so pretty, so worried for him. She turned her head, and, for just a second, he was sure she saw him.

"I'm here, Caryn. I'm right here," he answered, but then she vanished. "CARYN!" he bellowed. He stood up in his cell, calling her name again, but she was gone.

There was a moment right then, when he knew he'd actually seen her, not a memory, not a dream... that was her, that moment, despair welled up and tried to knock him from his feet. He swayed with the strength of it, like a deep ocean current pushing at him. He took a deep breath, and another, and a third... then settled back down on the cold stone floor, leaning back against the cold stone wall, and returned to his meditation.

He struggled with attaining the level of calm he needed, but he managed it. And after just a moment, he opened his eyes to the plains. He smiled, relieved, and turned to find Grandfather watching him. "Benjamin, you're troubled."

"I thought I saw Caryn," he answered.

"The girl." Grandfather nodded. He looked back over the plains. "She will need your help." The glowing figure looked back at Ben and relented enough to say, "She's safe enough right now."

Ben waited to see if Grandfather would say more, but he didn't. Ben nodded, "Thank you for that."

"I have more to teach you. Our family has a special affinity for an ancient power deep within the earth. You must learn to find it." Grandfather turned and extended his hand. A chunk of metallic rock rested there, but Ben frowned. There was something both appealing and repulsive about that chunk of metal.

"What is it?" Ben asked. "Kryptonite?"

"We do not have time for jokes, young Benjamin. Find your magic and reach out to the metal."

Ben sought within himself for the magic senses Grandfather had taught him. He hesitantly reached out and explored the rock. To his magical sight, it began to glow with a sickly green light. He found it invigorating, but also dangerous. He frowned, then glanced up at Grandfather. "'Ancient power deep within the earth?' You're talking about uranium? Radiation?"

Grandfather shrugged. "You say radiation, I say ancient power deep within the earth." Ben cocked his head at that... was the spirit making a joke? But he was still speaking. "It doesn't matter what you call it. Find it, draw on it, and you can use it to make yourself stronger and your enemies weaker. Find it, Ben."

Ben glanced up at the bright sun high overhead, then closed his eyes and began learning how to find and use the power of radiation held in the rocks deep beneath the earth.

Read my stories!

Crud! Crud! Crud! Crud!

Batten up and Bunker down
Sooner's 'bout to ROCK this town.
Ghost and Shade and Demon Horde,
are all lined up across the board.
When scenes jump from friend to friend
You KNOW the peace is soon to end.
So as we watch this rising tide,
Best strap in for a bumpy ride!