Gold Corporation Second Class Recruiting Members
((The following takes place shortly after the events of last Thursday))...
Katherine Meadows sat alone at the back of the submarine on the trip back to Sharkhead Island. Lost in thought over the events on Peregrine Island, she never heard the man approach.
“Hey kid, you headin’ home from a job in Paragon?” the portly man in the grimy blue and green motley costume asked, plopping his bulk down in the seat next to the teen. Without waiting for a reply, he continued, “Me too, and lemme tell ya, it was a real gas!”
The man laughed at his own joke in a high-pitched, rheumy laugh that grated on Kat’s nerves and made her feel slightly sick to her stomach. She knew the man to see him, and had heard that he was an utter psychopath, but she didn’t care, she just wanted to be left alone.
When she didn’t respond, the wheezy villain prodded, “Ya wanna here about it?”
Kat silently shook her head “no” as she stared at the floor of the sub, fuming at the disturbance.
“What’samatter, kid? Yer job go bad on ya?” the man inquired. Not waiting for a response he continued, “Pfff, don’t let it getcha down, we all got our off days. Leastways ya got outta there with yer cute little buns intact,” he said creepily, his laughter devolving into a mild coughing fit that caused Kat to lean away from him.
The man prattled on inanely for the next half hour, as Kat largely ignored him or tried to will him away. Finally, when she could take his nasally voice and wheezy breathing no longer, Kat decided to change seats. As she began to rise, the man placed a meaty hand on her thigh pressing her back into her seat. “Where ya goin’, sweetcheeks?” He asked, a crooked smile crossing his deeply lined and scarred face as his hand caressed her thigh.
On any other occasion, Katherine might have been paralyzed with fear at the familiarity the creepy maniac was exhibiting, but tonight her mood was as black as the sea they were gliding through and fear had no chance to surface through the anger boiling up inside her. “Remove your hand, please,” she asked curtly.
“What’samatter, baby, you nervous? I can tell ya need a friend, and I can be reeaaal friendly,” he smarmed through yellowed teeth and fetid breath, as his hand crawled up her thigh.
Grabbing his wrist to prevent further encroachment, Kat gritted through clenched teeth, “I said… Remove. Your. Hand.”
The man’s grin only got wider and his grip tighter. He enjoyed it so much more when they resisted. “Or what, b****?”
Locking her eyes on his for the first time, Kat growled, “Or I will remove it for you.” Tiny white sparks flashed behind Kat’s pupils, but the man didn’t flinch. The air around them became statically charged as Kat’s fury grew, causing the hair on the man’s corpulent arm to stand on end and his grin to waiver slightly, but his grip didn't falter.
“Alright, you asked for this,” Katherine hissed as her grip on the man's wrist tightened. St. Elmo’s fire danced up and down her arm, collecting around her hand. The air became warm as the tendrils of electricity gathered, but his grip got defiantly stronger. Soon miniature lightning bolts were arcing furiously across Kat’s body and a veritable ball of plasma surrounded her fist.
The man’s hand began to shake as the heat grew, and he finally released his grip on Katherine’s leg as he smelled the hair on his wrist burning. But still the heat intensified as Kat maintained her white-hot iron grip on his wrist. “Let go,” he demanded, his brow furrowed with concern. Kat held on. The skin on his hand and forearm began to blister. “Let go!” he pleaded, his voice cracking with pain and fear, “Let go, let go, let go! Pllllleeeaasssseeee, let gooOOOOO!!!” he wailed as the pain overwhelmed him. He fell to his knees, tears streaming from his eyes.
A deep, calm voice resonated in Kat’s ears, “Enough. Release him,” and immediately her fury abated along with the electricity surrounding her body. She was suddenly overcome with embarrassment at the reproach and released the sobbing man’s arm. A layer of his burned skin peeled away as it stuck to her glove. “I’m sorry,” she muttered contritely to the source of the voice only she had heard.
Thinking the soft, simple apology was directed at him, the man on the floor looked at her in horror. Convinced he’d finally met someone more psychotic than him, he hurried away from Katherine cradling the hand he’d very nearly lost.
Katherine Meadows sighed and closed her eyes. In less than a minute she was fast asleep. She napped, blissfully undisturbed the remainer of the trip back to Sharkhead.
(Sometimes, I wish there could be a Dev thumbs up button for quality posts, because you pretty much nailed it.) -- Ghost Falcon
Sorry, guys.
I can't make it tonight. My mom is in the hospital.
"God, please protect us from your followers. Amen." -Serge Storms
Quote:
Sorry to hear that, BD. I hope it's nothing serious. Take care.
|
Originally Posted by Battledog
Sorry, guys.
I can't make it tonight. My mom is in the hospital. |
(Sometimes, I wish there could be a Dev thumbs up button for quality posts, because you pretty much nailed it.) -- Ghost Falcon
Hey Battledog, hope all is well with your mom. I'll send positive waves in your direction.
Whoa, sorry to hear that BD. Hope she gets well soon
Roll call for this week team. Shakeup will be there.
Hito-Kori Ryo will be there.
Moxie will be there, though if Canada makes the gold medal game that evening, my tanking ability may be reduced to that of a drunken toddler.
They ALL float down here. When you're down here with us, you'll float too!
@Starflier
Mistress Mercury is all charged up and ready to go.
(Sometimes, I wish there could be a Dev thumbs up button for quality posts, because you pretty much nailed it.) -- Ghost Falcon
So angry!
They ALL float down here. When you're down here with us, you'll float too!
@Starflier
The sign over the door read “Crabby Joe’s Tidal Pool,” and included a chipped and faded painting of a red crab holding a pool cue. Despite the name and somewhat clever pun, everyone jokingly referred to the place as The Shabby Crab. One only had to enter to see why. The cramped Port Oakes bar smelled of stale beer and Crabby Joe’s cheap cologne; an ever-present pall of cigarette and cigar smoke hovered just above the grimy light fixtures; the bar was scarred with the initials of countless patrons; the felt on the pool tables was stained and faded; and the jukebox lent the songs a tinny, grating quality ever since the speakers were damaged in a bar fight. The Shabby Crab was no place for a 16 year old girl, but that’s what Katherine Meadows loved about it.
After her eyes adjusted to the dim light of the beer signs and staticky, old 20” color TV, Kat made her way across the creaky floor to the bar. “Heya, Joe, how’s it hangin’?” she asked in an unusually chipper mood.
“Hnn,” the scraggly bartender nodded in response.
Crabby Joe was an unusual breed of bartender – he wasn’t a conversationalist and he sure as hell didn’t care about any of your whiney-*** sob stories. Even so, he seemed to have a certain fondness for Kat. She had a tendency to chew his ear about anything that popped into her strawberry blonde head, but she also had a tendency to outspend all his other customers combined.
Kat laughed, “Cutthechatter, Joe andsetmeup.” As she waited for her drink she looked around the room, sizing up the other occupants. There were a couple of regulars -- Morrie and his besotted friend, Job -- at the far end of the bar, near the entrance to the restrooms. Kat liked the regulars – most of them were older like Morrie and Job and they rarely caused trouble or gave her grief. She smiled at the pair and Morrie smiled back, raising his glass of beer to her in a greeting salute; Job didn’t seem to be aware of her presence, as usual.
There were four pool tables in the Crab, and all of them, like Joe, were long since past their prime. The tables were inexpensive and covered in red felt, but they played true. As Joe sat a shot glass and bottle of medium grade bourbon on the bar near Kat, she noted that only one of the tables was currently occupied.
Lenny the Squid and Blinky Pete were also regulars at the Crab, and they were both pool sharks like Kat. Pouring herself a shot of the strong brown liquid, she sighed, “Kinda dead in here, in’nit, Joe?”
“Hnn,” the bartender grunted, wiping down the bar with a rag that was probably dirtier than the bar itself.
Swallowing her drink, Kat savored the warm feeling of the alcohol as it coursed down her gullet. It was the only pleasure she received from alcohol, her body metabolizing the substance long before it could reach her bloodstream. Kat licked her lips and poured another.
Just then the front door opened and light flooded into the bar, silhouetting a large figure who paused in the doorway. Kat tensed, squinting against the light and ready for trouble, remembering the threat Shakeup had made earlier. As the fine hairs on the back of her neck prickled with a static charge, she felt a callused hand on her arm. She looked back over her shoulder at Joe who shook his head and then nodded in the direction of the door. When she turned back, Kat realized her mistake – the figure had entered the bar, revealing herself to be Marjorie.
Marjorie was a 300 lb, middle-aged barfly who alternately had designs on Joe, Morrie, Blinky Pete and just about any other guy who’d give her the time of day. Marjorie didn’t care for Kat – she erroneously saw the young girl as her “competition,” but she was hardly a threat to someone with Kat’s powers. Grasping one of the metal legs of the barstool on which she was sitting, Kat discharged the pent up electricity discretely, and harmlessly into the floor.
Downing her second drink and looking at the greasy clock behind the bar, Kat contemplated what to do. It was still early, and there was potential for some business later on, but Kat was weary from her earlier exertion. She rubbed her right shoulder, which was sore from the glancing blow she had taken from that Longbow Warden they’d faced earlier. She knew if her shoulder stiffened up on her again, she’d lose her advantage over any schlubs who wandered into the bar expecting to win some easy money off a “dumb, drunk” teenage girl.
Kat poured herself a third drink and sipped the oaky whiskey while sliding the bottle back to Joe. She stood, cracked her neck and stretched, cursing to herself as she felt the telltale signs of stiffness entering her sore shoulder. Fishing some money out of her pocket, she laid a twenty on the bar and sat the shot glass on top of it. It was more than three times what she owed Joe for the shots, but she didn’t care – this place was a gold mine on the right night, so it paid to keep Joe happy.
“So long, handsome, always a pleasure chewing the fat with you,” Kat joked, winking at Joe and blowing him a kiss, just to piss Marjie off.
“Hnn,” Joe nodded, his craggy face as expressionless as ever as he gathered up the shot glass and sawbuck she’d left him.
“Morrie, Job, you guys have a good one. Don’t be starting any bar fights, you hear?” Kat teased the two old men at the end of the bar. Morrie chuckled and waved goodbye. Job, hard of hearing, didn’t acknowledge her.
On her way out, Kat passed Lenny the Squid and Blinky Pete. “Good luck, guys. Hope business picks up for ya.”
“You t-t-takin’ off, Kat?” Blinky Pete asked, his eyes keeping time with his trademark stutter.
“Yeah, Pete, I think there’s a hot bath at home with my name on it,” Kat replied to the barrel-chested Pete.
“You want I should stop by with some bubble bath, later, Kitty Kat?” Lenny smarmed, waggling his eyebrows and smiling a gap-toothed smile.
“Despite your oh-so-typically-charming offer, Leonard, I’m going to pass. I don’t care to wait for you to figure out where they sell bath products,” Kat said to the tall, scrawny man they called Squid.
“Haw! Ya got me there, Kat,” Lenny laughed good-naturedly, “Take it easy.”
“I always do, Len. I always do,” Kat replied, waving over her shoulder to the men as she exited the bar.
The sky was gray and overcast, as it always was in the Isles, and a winter storm was moving in from the west. Kat wondered if the coming storm had anything to do with the aching stiffness in her shoulder. She remembered her grandma once claiming her arthritic hip could predict the weather. “I’m too young for that ****,” Kat thought to herself as she pulled her jacket tighter around her.
She remember Shakeup's question about leaving the Isles and mixed emotions ran through her mind - a vague longing for "home" as well as memories about what had happened on Peregrine Island and in... Galaxy City. Clenching her jaw against the first twinges of anger, and lowering her head against the cold, damp wind, Kat started her walk home. She didn't want to draw attention to herself in her civilian clothes by using her powers. Little did she realize she already had someone's attention as a shadowy figure watched her intently from a nearby alleyway, jotting notes in a small pad.
(Sometimes, I wish there could be a Dev thumbs up button for quality posts, because you pretty much nailed it.) -- Ghost Falcon
Roll call team. Shakeup will be there.
Here. Er, there. Will be, that is.
(Sometimes, I wish there could be a Dev thumbs up button for quality posts, because you pretty much nailed it.) -- Ghost Falcon
Moxie will be there.
They ALL float down here. When you're down here with us, you'll float too!
@Starflier
Hey, I just remembered, I have an appointment after work today for an eye exam. It shouldn't take too long, but in the event it does, MM might be "running" a little late this evening.
(Sometimes, I wish there could be a Dev thumbs up button for quality posts, because you pretty much nailed it.) -- Ghost Falcon
Hito will be there. Kori, probably not so much.
Quote:
Still waiting to see the doctor, so it looks like I'll be at least a little late tonight. Feel free to start without me, and I'll send a tell when I log in.
|
Originally Posted by mousedroid
Hey, I just remembered, I have an appointment after work today for an eye exam. It shouldn't take too long, but in the event it does, MM might be "running" a little late this evening.
|
(Sometimes, I wish there could be a Dev thumbs up button for quality posts, because you pretty much nailed it.) -- Ghost Falcon
Hey guys, got a personal matter to attend to tonight. Might be there late, or I might not be there at all, not quite sure yet.
Felt like doing a little writing, so it's a little long, but here you go.
* * * * * * * * * *
Sitting in the padded chair, Jenny went over what she wanted to say again and again. Her appointment with Mr. Gold was in ten minutes and she was more nervous than she had anticipated. Alien space nazis? No problem, but this was not her cup of tea. She'd arrived far too early and had been sitting here for almost twenty minutes already.
She barely noticed the woman who sat down beside, simply glancing over quickly to acknowledge her arrival before returning to her thoughts. Ever so slowly what she had seen in that glance began to register in her frustrated brain. Jenny turned toward the other woman to confirm her own suspicions.
Pink and black spandex, and a head of bright red hair marked her as Girl Crush. Jenny had heard of her before, and knew she was connected with Gold, but now she was sitting in the hall beside her and Jenny was a little awestruck. Not to mention a little surprised at how short the girl was.
They made eye contact and the costumed heroine smiled, while extending her hand, Hi, I'm Girl Crush.
Too slowly to not be awkward, Jenny reached out and shook the girl's hand. Jenny. She turned away, seeming to go back into her thoughts, leaving the young heroine with a bemused look on her face. A moment later she turned back, Dr. Jennifer Miller.
Pleasure to meet you. If you don't mind me saying, you seem kind of young to be a doctor.
Jenny's smile slipped a little as she fought down the usual bitter response to those who questioned her ability, You seem a little young to be a galaxy-travelling, world-saving superhero, and yet here we both are.
Touché.
Sarcastic bitchiness aside, I was wanting to ask you something?
Sure thing, lay it on me.
Jenny swivelled even more in her chair so she could talk to the woman, girl, face-to face. I'm actually a pediatric surgeon, and in my spare time I work with some of the kids who are stuck in the hospital. The really sick kids. She looks down at her hands, the hands that save some, and sit helplessly as others die. She clears her throat, I was wondering, if you're not too busy, if you might come by and meet the kids. They would love to meet a superhero, and someone like you, someone everybody knows, would just make their day.
Absolutely. When? No hesitation. The directness surprises Jenny a little.
Uh, I'm going over there this afternoon actually. I was going to finish off Treasure Island with them, but I'm sure that can wait. Three o'clock?
The girl thinks on it a moment. Yeah, I can do three. And Jenny?
Yes?
My friends call me Dee.
Stepping off the elevator, Jenny made her way directly to the play room where the kids usually spent their afternoons when they weren't receiving treatment. Turning into the hallway she was surprised to see Girl Crush already waiting, pacing in the hallway. Seeing Jenny she smiled and met her at the door. Now that they were both standing, the height difference was quite noticeable, even with platforms, the girl still barely reached Jenny's chin.
As if sensing this, Girl Crush silently lifted off the ground until she was eye-to-eye with the doctor. A quiet chuckle escaped Jenny's lips before she caught herself. I'll go in first, and introduce you. Thanks so much for doing this, they're going to lose their little minds.
Dee smiled warmly, Glad to help.
Jenny slipped into the room quickly, making sure not to spoil the surprise. With the door closed behind her she spoke up, How are you all doing today?
The kids in the room perked up, gaining some energy. It was this moment that kept her coming back, the moment when the sickest of kids smiled for the first time all day. Jenny! The kids who could rushed to meet her, while the rest moved carefully to the good seats for listening to her stories.
She smiled down at the kids and nodded to the chairs. They took off in a scramble, leaving as fast as they'd come, seeking the best of the seats still left. Jenny moved towards her own chair, but didn't sit. Okay guys, settle down. The voices quieted immediately, leaving the room in silence. Jenny couldn't help but wish adults could follow instructions as well. Now, I know we were going to finish the book today, but I've got a special treat for you, so we'll have to finish next time. Okay?
There were a few disappointed looks, but most of the kids were looking at her, wondering what the surprise was. Now, you guys get to meet a lot of great people here. Doctors like me, she took a little bow, much to the delight of the kids, and nurses, and lots of other people who help to make you get better. But I thought to myself, 'You know who the kids don't get to meet at the hospital?'
One of the little kids was nearly falling out of his chair with anticipation, Who? Who?
Jenny smiled, Superheroes. The kids were deathly silent for a moment before bursting into an excited uproar, everyone talking, and yelling at once. Holding up her hand for them to quiet down, she waited patiently until they were all quiet once more, though she could tell they were excited near to bursting with no outlet. Now, I want you to all be really nice and polite to my new friend, Girl Crush.
The door opened and the young heroine floated in, on cue, to a group of kids who looked like they were statues, sitting as still as they were. Dee glanced to Jenny, and the two shared a smile before she looked back to the kids, Hello.
The dam burst, and the excited cries from the kids almost startled the two older women as the kids surged to get close to the hero in the room. She made sure to talk to each of them, their excitement not abated in the least. Swarming around her, Dee had to do her best to listen to them, so many voices all at once.
Jenny chuckled, completely forgotten where she stood. Even the sickest kids were next to the superhero. Okay kids, settle down. Jenny made her way to the costumed heroine and started directing the kids back to their seats. With great effort, she finally managed to get the last of the kids back to their seats. When they finally settled down a little bit, she spoke up, So, who has a question for Girl Crush? Every single hand shot into the air, some even raised both hands. Jenny pointed to Matthew, one of the older kids.
Can you really fly? He blurted it out, seeming to relieve some of the excitement that threatened to make all the kids burst.
Of course. Dee rose a little higher off the ground, and drifted around the room in a short display of aerial acrobatics.
Cool!! More than one kid chimed in at once.
Beth, you have a question?
The little girl seemed almost too shy to ask, now that all eyes were on her, but she finally found her voice. What kind of powers do you have? She looked to the floor, embarrassed that she didn't already know like so many of the other kids.
Dee smiled, I can control gravity. Do you know what that is? There were a few nods from the older kids, although most of them looked confused. Gravity is what keeps you from floating off into space. When you let go of something you're holding, and it falls to the ground, gravity is what makes it fall. I can control how, and what, gravity affects. That's how I fly. She pointed to another little girl in the back row, taking over from Jenny as she became more comfortable in front of the kids.
What else can you do?
Dee looked around the room, and spotted a bin for recycling cans. Well, I can do this. There were a few confused looks before the children spotted the cans floating towards Dee. They stopped in front of her and hovered for a moment, before being crushed down into a ball of aluminum little bigger than a full pop can. Dee smiled at the amazed expressions on the kids' faces. I do that to make the badguys' guns stop working.
She looked to Jenny, and winked mischievously, And, I can do this. Jenny wasn't sure what was going on for a moment until she heard the exuberant cries from one of the kids, floating out of his seat. Soon everyone was floating, Jenny included, as though they were in space.
The kids were having a blast as they pushed off each other, floating around the room like tiny bumper cars. Laughter filled the room, and Jenny spotted a few of the nurses watching from the door, smiles on their faces as they saw the children having fun. Jenny caught one of the kids headed for the door and pushed her back to the group, sending herself towards the far wall. Kicking off a bookshelf she drifted back towards Dee, simply floating and watching the kids have fun, and making sure they didn't get hurt smashing into a wall.
As Jenny reached her side, Dee turned and smiled at her. Jenny was fighting back tears as she spoke, Thank you.
Sitting in the padded chair, Jenny went over what she wanted to say again and again. Her appointment with Mr. Gold was in ten minutes and she was more nervous than she had anticipated. Alien space nazis? No problem, but this was not her cup of tea. She'd arrived far too early and had been sitting here for almost twenty minutes already.
She barely noticed the woman who sat down beside, simply glancing over quickly to acknowledge her arrival before returning to her thoughts. Ever so slowly what she had seen in that glance began to register in her frustrated brain. Jenny turned toward the other woman to confirm her own suspicions.
Pink and black spandex, and a head of bright red hair marked her as Girl Crush. Jenny had heard of her before, and knew she was connected with Gold, but now she was sitting in the hall beside her and Jenny was a little awestruck. Not to mention a little surprised at how short the girl was.
They made eye contact and the costumed heroine smiled, while extending her hand, Hi, I'm Girl Crush.
Too slowly to not be awkward, Jenny reached out and shook the girl's hand. Jenny. She turned away, seeming to go back into her thoughts, leaving the young heroine with a bemused look on her face. A moment later she turned back, Dr. Jennifer Miller.
Pleasure to meet you. If you don't mind me saying, you seem kind of young to be a doctor.
Jenny's smile slipped a little as she fought down the usual bitter response to those who questioned her ability, You seem a little young to be a galaxy-travelling, world-saving superhero, and yet here we both are.
Touché.
Sarcastic bitchiness aside, I was wanting to ask you something?
Sure thing, lay it on me.
Jenny swivelled even more in her chair so she could talk to the woman, girl, face-to face. I'm actually a pediatric surgeon, and in my spare time I work with some of the kids who are stuck in the hospital. The really sick kids. She looks down at her hands, the hands that save some, and sit helplessly as others die. She clears her throat, I was wondering, if you're not too busy, if you might come by and meet the kids. They would love to meet a superhero, and someone like you, someone everybody knows, would just make their day.
Absolutely. When? No hesitation. The directness surprises Jenny a little.
Uh, I'm going over there this afternoon actually. I was going to finish off Treasure Island with them, but I'm sure that can wait. Three o'clock?
The girl thinks on it a moment. Yeah, I can do three. And Jenny?
Yes?
My friends call me Dee.
* * * * * * * * * *
Stepping off the elevator, Jenny made her way directly to the play room where the kids usually spent their afternoons when they weren't receiving treatment. Turning into the hallway she was surprised to see Girl Crush already waiting, pacing in the hallway. Seeing Jenny she smiled and met her at the door. Now that they were both standing, the height difference was quite noticeable, even with platforms, the girl still barely reached Jenny's chin.
As if sensing this, Girl Crush silently lifted off the ground until she was eye-to-eye with the doctor. A quiet chuckle escaped Jenny's lips before she caught herself. I'll go in first, and introduce you. Thanks so much for doing this, they're going to lose their little minds.
Dee smiled warmly, Glad to help.
Jenny slipped into the room quickly, making sure not to spoil the surprise. With the door closed behind her she spoke up, How are you all doing today?
The kids in the room perked up, gaining some energy. It was this moment that kept her coming back, the moment when the sickest of kids smiled for the first time all day. Jenny! The kids who could rushed to meet her, while the rest moved carefully to the good seats for listening to her stories.
She smiled down at the kids and nodded to the chairs. They took off in a scramble, leaving as fast as they'd come, seeking the best of the seats still left. Jenny moved towards her own chair, but didn't sit. Okay guys, settle down. The voices quieted immediately, leaving the room in silence. Jenny couldn't help but wish adults could follow instructions as well. Now, I know we were going to finish the book today, but I've got a special treat for you, so we'll have to finish next time. Okay?
There were a few disappointed looks, but most of the kids were looking at her, wondering what the surprise was. Now, you guys get to meet a lot of great people here. Doctors like me, she took a little bow, much to the delight of the kids, and nurses, and lots of other people who help to make you get better. But I thought to myself, 'You know who the kids don't get to meet at the hospital?'
One of the little kids was nearly falling out of his chair with anticipation, Who? Who?
Jenny smiled, Superheroes. The kids were deathly silent for a moment before bursting into an excited uproar, everyone talking, and yelling at once. Holding up her hand for them to quiet down, she waited patiently until they were all quiet once more, though she could tell they were excited near to bursting with no outlet. Now, I want you to all be really nice and polite to my new friend, Girl Crush.
The door opened and the young heroine floated in, on cue, to a group of kids who looked like they were statues, sitting as still as they were. Dee glanced to Jenny, and the two shared a smile before she looked back to the kids, Hello.
The dam burst, and the excited cries from the kids almost startled the two older women as the kids surged to get close to the hero in the room. She made sure to talk to each of them, their excitement not abated in the least. Swarming around her, Dee had to do her best to listen to them, so many voices all at once.
Jenny chuckled, completely forgotten where she stood. Even the sickest kids were next to the superhero. Okay kids, settle down. Jenny made her way to the costumed heroine and started directing the kids back to their seats. With great effort, she finally managed to get the last of the kids back to their seats. When they finally settled down a little bit, she spoke up, So, who has a question for Girl Crush? Every single hand shot into the air, some even raised both hands. Jenny pointed to Matthew, one of the older kids.
Can you really fly? He blurted it out, seeming to relieve some of the excitement that threatened to make all the kids burst.
Of course. Dee rose a little higher off the ground, and drifted around the room in a short display of aerial acrobatics.
Cool!! More than one kid chimed in at once.
Beth, you have a question?
The little girl seemed almost too shy to ask, now that all eyes were on her, but she finally found her voice. What kind of powers do you have? She looked to the floor, embarrassed that she didn't already know like so many of the other kids.
Dee smiled, I can control gravity. Do you know what that is? There were a few nods from the older kids, although most of them looked confused. Gravity is what keeps you from floating off into space. When you let go of something you're holding, and it falls to the ground, gravity is what makes it fall. I can control how, and what, gravity affects. That's how I fly. She pointed to another little girl in the back row, taking over from Jenny as she became more comfortable in front of the kids.
What else can you do?
Dee looked around the room, and spotted a bin for recycling cans. Well, I can do this. There were a few confused looks before the children spotted the cans floating towards Dee. They stopped in front of her and hovered for a moment, before being crushed down into a ball of aluminum little bigger than a full pop can. Dee smiled at the amazed expressions on the kids' faces. I do that to make the badguys' guns stop working.
She looked to Jenny, and winked mischievously, And, I can do this. Jenny wasn't sure what was going on for a moment until she heard the exuberant cries from one of the kids, floating out of his seat. Soon everyone was floating, Jenny included, as though they were in space.
The kids were having a blast as they pushed off each other, floating around the room like tiny bumper cars. Laughter filled the room, and Jenny spotted a few of the nurses watching from the door, smiles on their faces as they saw the children having fun. Jenny caught one of the kids headed for the door and pushed her back to the group, sending herself towards the far wall. Kicking off a bookshelf she drifted back towards Dee, simply floating and watching the kids have fun, and making sure they didn't get hurt smashing into a wall.
As Jenny reached her side, Dee turned and smiled at her. Jenny was fighting back tears as she spoke, Thank you.
They ALL float down here. When you're down here with us, you'll float too!
@Starflier
Kori stepped forward into the ethereal abyss, his wings folded down against his back as the mixed flecks of ice and fire lazily drifted past him. "All right, Hito, come out of your little hiding place! I know you are here somewhere, and the time has come for us to have a talk."
Nothing happened for a few seconds, but then a pillar of fire erupted a few yards away from Kori, and his other half materialized in, appearing in the midst of the roaring flame.
"What makes you think I'd wanna talk to you, you soft-hearted *******?" Hito growled, his trademark smirk present on his face as he stepped out of the already-dying flames. "Why the hell did you stop me tonight?"
"You fool. What would we have gained by fighting against Shakeup, except the rest of the team as enemies?" Kori answered coolly. "Did you honestly think they would follow you if you killed him?"
"Shut up!" Hito shot back, the weak flares in the air bursting to life suddenly, causing the flecks of ice to disintegrate instantly. "At least I was gonna do something! You're happy enough letting Shakeup tell us what to do and how to do it every time we're out with him!"
"No. That is not true. I simply do not object to any of the missions he sends us on." Kori replied coldly, glaring back at his other half with venom is his eyes, despite the firestorm that was quickly engulfing the space around him. "But that is not what I wanted to speak to you about. This ridiculous rivalry has torn us apart for too long. It is quickly becoming dangerous."
"'Least we agree on something." Hito answered, the fires dying down a bit. "So we also agree that I should be the one to take over, then?"
Kori's gaze hardened. "No. I believe we should come to an understanding, and share the body equally - "
Hito erupted in a fit of laughter before Kori could even finish. "Share? I don't think so." The encroaching fire quickly began to heat up and close in on Kori as he spoke. "I've had enough of you, and I just decided that I'm not dealing with it anymore!"
Trails of ice began ebbing out of Kori's eyes a second later, and he spoke back:
"NO!"
Hito recoiled slightly, and a howling blizzard suddenly appeared from the ether, ripping the firestorm apart and leaving nothing of it left. "I have had enough of you. And I'm through trying to reason with you. Now, be GONE!"
"Aaaagh!" Hito roared, the ice beginning to chip away at his presence. "It's gonna take more than that to kill ME!"
At his word, the firestorm returned, beating against the blizzard with renewed vigor.
"HITO!"
"KORI!"
"DIE!" They both roared in unison, their two elemental onslaughts colliding with each other at full force, causing a massive ethereal shockwave that knocked both of them out almost at once.
OOC: This happens just after the events of tonight's meeting, inside Hito-Kori's mind. The repercussions of this fight I will leave to your imaginations until next week.
New group time is 7 ET on...
Wednesday!
Wednesday... what a funny looking word.
Wednesday!
Wednesday... what a funny looking word.
They ALL float down here. When you're down here with us, you'll float too!
@Starflier
Wednesday... is.. my off day.... well, every other week anyway.
=)
Anyone Who wants to argue about my usual foolishness can find me here.
https://twitter.com/Premmytwit
I'll miss you all.
Then roll up a mutant villian, vigilante or rogue and join us. I think we're gonna try to do the Mortimer Kal SF this week.
(Sometimes, I wish there could be a Dev thumbs up button for quality posts, because you pretty much nailed it.) -- Ghost Falcon
woah woah woah,wait, Villain?
Anyone Who wants to argue about my usual foolishness can find me here.
https://twitter.com/Premmytwit
I'll miss you all.
Wednesday's cool with me, too.