City of Heroes: Live Forum Archive

A Stitch-Up in Time (Unionverse Fiction)

FloatingFatMan

By FloatingFatMan,
Posted on: 2010-06-13 09:41 in Roleplaying

 

Posted

((Having finally completed the larger piece of follow up fiction, I'm reposting the earlier piece (with a few alterations to help the story). Feel free to critique it, but I'm not going to enter in to ANY conversation that criticises my using specific NPC's or NPC organisations.

I have provided it in its own thread, so people can critique if they wish without disrupting the IC Story thread.

Disclaimer: Certain people are unlikely to enjoy the larger story or this modified prelude. If you're the type that takes exception to people making use of canon NPC organisations or specific NPC characters, I suggest you don't read it for the sake of your blood pressure. I will not enter in to any arguments on this topic, but I'm happy to discuss them as long as said discussion remains objective. ))

************************************************** ****

Prelude

Ouroboros - Sunday, 6th June 2010

As Ellie stepped through the portal, the golden white tower of Ouroboros loomed above her, sending the usual shiver down her spine and making the hairs on her tail stand up. A low wind moaned across the temple plaza and, here and there, people could be seen speaking to the various Menders.

The one Ellie needed to see though, lay further inside.

Steeling herself, Ellie started to walked around the central water feature, up the steps and through the entrance. Inside, the gigantic crystal, the Pillar of Ice and Fire which had the power to send people to the
past, dominated the chamber, and to one side the glowing form of Twilight's Son beckoned to Ellie.

Hesitating to glance upwards towards where Silos usually stood, she walked over towards the last of the Kheldians.

"Welcome sister, in your time of need. We knew you would come to us this day."

Ellie blinked, surprised. "You... you knew? How? who told you?"

The kheldian chuckled softly. "Come sister, All that has been, is known to us in this place. Your worries have been known to us for a long time, as have the answers to your current problem."

Ellie looked at him, a worried frown on her face, and a hint of hope crept in to her voice. "You'll... help me then? You'll let me go back to put things right?"

"Normally, we would not. Our concerns cannot be with the minutae of history but with the key events which shape history. However, he who is chief among us has prepared the way for you."

"S... Silos? Really?" She glanced upwards again, gratitude in her eyes. "I... I don't know how to thank you.. him..."

"This too, has already been prepared, sister. We will grant you a single chance to go back and mend that which is broken, but afterwards, when your mind is again focused and free of this great weight, there will be a price afforded."

Ellie swallowed, then nodded, accepting the terms. "I'll do it... Whatever it is you...he wants in exchange... I'll pay the price."

Twilight Son's energy field crackled softly around his glowing form. "Then prepare yourself, sister, and place your hand upon the Aspect of the Pillar of Ice and Flame."

Ellie nodded and stepped towards the Aspect. Looking up at it , there was a flash of energy around her body as she issued the mental command to activate her armour. Then, clad in the familiar white and gold, she
touched it.

************************************************** *******

The staccato rattle of a Tommygun reached her eyes, as the world faded in to view around her. Colours, dulled to grey by the transit, slowly faded back in to view as she slid completely in to her earlier self. A moment later, 2 mobsters ran around the corner further down the corridor and Ellie snapped herself out of her reverie and in to action.

The fight was brief, exactly as she remembered, and only a few short seconds later, both goons lay out cold on the floor. A moment later, she turned on her heel and vanished back where she'd come from.

Lifting herself lightly from the floor, Ellie drifted forwards, heading for the spot where she knew the discovery that caused last nights dreadful events lay. Once there, she unzipped the bag and verified its contents before moving in to the darkness to wait for the other two to arrive.

She didn't have long to wait. Two figures entered the multi-level hall and went to the left in pursuit of a group of Family mobsters. Sounds of combat reached Ellie's ears, and she knew the moment had come.

Stepping from the shadows, she raised her shields and, running in to the room occupied by Chichester and Fanservice, entered the battle.

************************************************** *******

An eternity away, in the place known as Ouroboros, a tall figure with dark spikey hair, watched Ellie's progress within the Pillar, and nodded in satisfaction as the time stream reordered itself. Twilight's Son, away from his usual spot for once, hovered behind him.

"Are you sure she is the right one, Silos?"

Silos half smiled, and his deep voice resonated within the quiet chamber. "Quite sure. Her gratitude and inate selfishness will ensure that she completes the task I have for her; where others would surely refuse once they realised."

"But still... The consequences once she realises. For her they will be far worse than those we have allowed her to alter."

Silos completed his smile, a somewhat unnerving sight. "It will be a valuable lesson for her, one that will help forge what she is becoming. But come, we should return to our places." He passed his hand in front of the
Pillar, and the images from the past faded from view. "She will be returning soon. I will give her a few days respite, allow her time to let these events settle down."

Twilight's Son started to float slowly back to his accostomed place, but paused just before doing so. "What about the individual we allowed her to save?"

Silos smiled again. "That's the interesting part. History shows that he died two weeks after these events, in a gun battle with the Paragon City harbour patrol. His earlier death at Ellie's hands was an abberation in the
timeline anyway, one which we would have had to repair eventually."

The Kheldian quietly returned to his spot. "Then all is as it should be."

@FloatingFatMan

Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

 

Posted

I do believe FFM was well aware of that interpretation CB.

But hey, you were warned.

Interesting story, pretty fair enough explanation of events, and I had a sneaking suspicion it could go that way from the start anyway.

Did like the way Mikoshi returned, and the difference between the two in the internal... duo-monologue.

Forse: lvl 22 FF/NRG Defender
Tam Krannock: lvl 37 Shield/Mace Tanker
Toppa Grace: lvl 25 Fire/Ice Blaster
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