Diamond_

January 5th 2007 - Skyway

"It's been raining three days. Three consecutive days." Bill Chamberlin held up three fingers for emphasis as he passed Kara on the way into the office they were to use here in the Longbow Base. He had a hell of time on patrol tonight. Waiting out in the rain during a long stakeout, getting soaked just after the warehouse raid as the police vans pulled in, and then, just when he thought he was home free, he stepped in a puddle, just inches away from the main door of the base.

He'd swallowed the four-letter word hovering on the tip of his tongue and headed into the warm lobby, making a beeline for the elevator, where he ran into SureFire. She'd smiled at him, seductively -- as if there were any other way that girl could smile -- so he wedged himself in the corner of the elevator, answering her questions monosyllabically.

Finally, the elevator doors opened. SureFire went right, and he went left, meeting Kara -- who was armed with a clipboard and her laptop -- on the way. "That's 72 hours, my friend." he added to her as she used a towel to dry her long damp mane of hair.

"I know, Bill. I can do the math," She said, following him into the office.

"When was the last time it rained for three whole days?" Bill turned to face her.

"I can't tell you for sure," she clicked her tongue once as she dried her hair looking at him, " but I can say that this is not the first time it's rained three days in a row and it's certainly not the last." Kara shrugged setting the towel across a chair as she hopped up to sit on the edge of one of the desks. Leaning over, she turned on her computer.

"This is Paragon City Kara, not Seattle."

She smirked humoring this still as she leafed through her arrest reports and those from their most recent raid "I know it's Paragon City. Seattle is on the other side of the country."

"In Washington." Bill settled himself on the sofa, stretching his legs out and leaning his head back against the armrest.

"And is it raining in the great state of Washington?" Kara said not looking up.

"It always rains in Seattle," Bill said. He shifted his position slightly so he was on his side and looking directly towards Kara.

"The Supersonics played in Seattle today," He continued. Kara tapped a few keys on the keyboard frowning.

"They did eh?" She racked her brain. "hockey?"

Bill made a face in her direction. "Yes,...wait no Basketball...god woman you are terrible when it comes to sports"

Kara smiled but sighed pressing her keys a bit more firmly saying in a sing song like voice "We have a police report to /file/"

Bill stared gloomily out the window. "I can't write when it's raining."
"That's ridiculous." Kara looked up finally.

"Somewhere in America, it's not raining. I should be there." Silently, He amended, anywhere but here. Of course he'd never voice that thought to Kara. She could get funny about things like that, probably would take it personally. As if his own bad mood had something to do with her, when in reality it had nothing to do with her and everything to do with a woman they had both known for fifteen years now years.

"I'm sure you're right," She answered non-committally. Kara sat up a bit and crossed her legs as she fiddled and made some nots on her notepad.
Bill swung his legs over the edge of the couch and sat up to face her. "I bet it's not raining in Houston."

"It's not. It's 70 degrees, clear skies, a light wind out of the east." She mummered as she jotted down some of the arresting officer's notes.

"How do you know this?"

"The Internet." Kara pointed to her computer. "You may have heard of it."

"I have, but I don't make a habit of checking on the weather in Houston."

"You're an investigating superhero, William. We do things like this."

"Like checking the weather in Houston?" He asked.

"Yes."

"There are no major crimes in Houston today." Bill got to his feet and proceeded to stalk across the room to the window. He leaned against the window, palm against cool glass, and stared down. The amount of fog made it difficult to even see the lights in the building directly opposite theirs, let alone the traffic on the street below.

"A good hero knows what's going on, even if there isn't any crime." She smirked.

"How does this help me want to write?" Bill turned away from the window.

Kara arched an eyebrow. "You think you'd do better in Houston? Like you know, where it's not raining?"

"Clearly, you're not taking me seriously."

"I'm like taking you very seriously, but I'd take you more so if you'd sit down and write your part of our report."

"I've been trying, Kar." Bill started to pace in front of the sofa, before stopping short in front of her. "I can't remember what the starting line-up for the Sonics is."

"That is serious." An appropriately mock concerned expression crossed Kara's face. "Just work through it. You’re a professional. I have had trouble focusing, on remembering things...you remember after that Sky Raider bust in September"

"RJ threw water in your face." Bill despondently made his way back to the sofa.

"I SO don't talk about a failure to focus around RJ anymore."

"Good move, my friend, good move." Bill slumped in the sofa, covered his face in his hands. "What are the chances it'll stop raining?"

Kara sighed and quirked a grin. "It's not going to. The weather forecast calls for heavy downpours through tomrrow...maybe Sunday."

"Sunday?" Bill tried to keep the desperation out of his voice. He remembered that this past morning, while overcast, had been nice, and he'd spent the day with with his buddy from school, Charlie, shopping for some new games for their playstation 3. Then they'd gone to McDonalds -- fine dining for them! -- before dropping his friend back with Lisa, his friend's suddenly annoyed girlfriend. Bill sighed they had only been three hours late. Today had been a good day until the skies over Paragon had opened up.

Kara nodded. "Yes." He returned to the laptop sticking her pen sideways between her teeth as she resumed typing.

"That's a lot of rain, Kara."

Kara looked up from his keyboard and said, "The state of Rhode Island gets thirty-two to fifty-eight inches of precipitation a year."

"This looks like it's going to be a fifty-eight inch year." Bill droned gloomily, looking out of the window. "Which still doesn't help me."

"Like the rain isn't your problem, William. The rain is so your excuse."

"My socks are wet, Kar. The rain is most certainly my problem."

Kara frowned. "How long have you been walking around in wet socks?"

"Since I got in." It had occurred to Bill to get another pair of socks from the locker he kept here at the base, but the brief non-encounter with SureFire in the elevator had frazzled his brain to the point his only coherent thought was to get to the relative safety of this office.

"You got in before I did."

"Yes."

Kara looked at the small clock on her laptop. "And like that was forty minutes ago now."

"Yes."

"That's a long time to be walking around in wet socks." Kara shook her head.

"I know." Bill sighed dramatically. He flexed his fingers, unclenching and clenching them into a fist and then he did a little hop-skip action.

"I so don't know what you're doing over there, William. I'm writing our reports."

"I'm getting into the zone, I'm getting into the game. I'm a team player, Kar."

Kara looked up from her screen. "So sit down and write the /report/."

Bill shook his head. "Can't do it, Kar." He stared gloomily out of the window.

Kara sighed "You need to solve this thing with Patti"

"What?" Bill turned, startled.

"Like this thing with Patti. You need to do something about it."

"There is no 'thing' with Patti. Only a 'plan'." Bill didn't mean to sound defensive. The whole thing had begun shortly after his father's stroke. Patti had come with his sister and had stayed all through it with him as Kara had. He and she had been discussing this ever since, about what they were, what they weren't, and everyone he knew in the Corps and his family were all trying to help in their own pushy ways.

Patti had wanted a six month time between now and their next date in which Bill was to see others and be sure she was who he wanted after the Patterson fiasco. She had even taken a job with the city as a meteorologist for the corps. He needed to figure out a way to carve out some space for himself. Maybe not dating Patti would be the place to start, He thought, but hell, he wanted to date Patti, had wanted to data Patti for a while now, and maybe it'd be better if everyone in his life started to mind their own business. Like hell that would happen, he groaned.

Kara smirked from her perch on the edge of her desk. "Patti doesn't know what she wants or what she's doing. Hence, the 'plan'. If you care about this 'hero' thingie and our reports for the raids we have been on this month at all, you'll go talk to her her. Now." Kara leaned forward. "Bill, it's so time to take some action. You're going to have to try plan A."

"Which is talking to Patti?" Bill swallowed hard.

"You catch on quick, my friend." She nodded.

"And plan B is?" Bill said, stalling for time.

"Patti talking to you."

Bill considered this. "That's not going to happen," he said finally. "She's already got a plan."

"Exactly. So you have to do plan A since obviously plans B through Y aren't going to work."

"I have that many plans?"

"You have that many plans." Kara pointed to the door. "Now go. Talk to Patti."

"That's twenty-five plans." Bill reluctantly stood up. How the hell was he supposed to get Patti to stand still for the time it'd take to go through twenty-five plans? "That's a lot of plans, Kara."

"It so is."

"I don't know what any of them are." he asked slightly bewildered.

"It's okay. Plan A is like your best bet." she said. "Totally"

"Right. Plan A." Bill looked at her. "You stopped at Y."

"Yes. Yes, I did." Kara slipped off of the desk and gently put her hand on the small of Bill's back, nudging him towards the door.

"So why isn't there a plan Z?" Bill asked while being nudged.

"Like there is a plan Z. But it has an even less chance of working than the other twenty-five." she shook her head " Best not to mention it."

"Since you know what plan Z is, you should tell me. Especially if it's my plan. I have a whole alphabet of plans and I only know what plans A and B are. It's only fair you tell me about the others." he said as he reached the door.

Kara pushed Bill out the door. "Go talk to Patti. Now. We have a report to write."

"Will you tell me about plan Z later?" He asked asked, stopping just outside of the office. He didn't bother lowering his voice; the squad bay was loud anyway, and most of the agents, hero and police were staring at him and her anyway.

"Yes."

"I'm going to go talk to Patti." Bill backed away slowly. "I'm going. I'm really going." Kara closed the door and Bill stood for a moment, before resolutely walking towards another office. It was only the knowledge that Kara was watching him through the glass beside the door kept Bill from turning on his heel and heading in the opposite direction.

"You're going to go talk to Patti?" Nancy appeared at Bill's shoulder. The little hero had to double her stride to keep up with him.

Bill nodded. "Patti is a Weather Girl, with all of this rain she has to be up still."

Nancy eventually fell into step with him. "I agree."

"And in her office"

"I agree"

"Why are you using that tone of voice?" Bill narrowed his eyes as he looked at her. She was carrying a clipboard and several disks, obviously heading to the evidence room. The little Defender had fought bravely tonight.

"What tone of voice?" she quipped innocently.

"The tone of voice that says there is something odd about me going to talk to Patti."

"I'm not using any tone of voice." Nancy sounded indignant at the mere accusation.Bill sighed the age old quote of 'Shocked, Im shocked to discover gambling here' ran through his head.

"There! There it is again." The words came out louder than Bill intended. "You're doing it again."

"I'm not doing anything, Mr. Guardian Star. I'm just walking with you to Patti's office."

"Yes, but why are you walking with me?" He didn't mean to sound suspicious but what Nancy knew, Patti knew, and vice-versa.The two had gotten close since Patti had moved out here. Bill wouldn't put it past Patti to send Nancy to pump him for information. Hell she probably had recruited Kara as well. Great, Bill thought, just great. This 'thing' with Patti was making him even more crazy and paranoid than he already was. Why couldnt they just go /out/?

"Because I was going this way and so are you, so it makes sense that we go together." Nancy sounded forcefully peppy, the bounce in her step unmistakable.

"So you don't think it's odd I'm going to go talk to Patti?" Bill asked as a soft roll of thunder sounded through the building..

"No, not at all." Nancy flashed a smile at him. "In fact, I think it would be a good thing, because you guys can, you know, /talk/." Nancy flashed him a wide smile. Bill refrained from sighing; whatever he said to Patti, Nancy would know in a nanosecond. If Nancy knew, then the whole squadroom would know and which meant this day, which he hadn't thought could get much worse, would and could. Just then, Nancy punched his shoulder as they stopped in front of Patti's office. The door was closed. "Good luck!"

Bill stared at her. "Why did you say that?" It was a struggle to keep the paranoia out of his voice. What had Patti told her? What did Nancy think he would say to Patti? Had Kara and Nancy been talking during the stakeout? Whose side was anyone on anyway?

"Say what?" She smirked.

"Good luck. Why did you say that?"

Nancy shrugged. "Because it's the appropriate thing to say."

"Good luck?" Bill furrowed his brow. Yes, he did indeed know two other languages fluently, but at times like this, the semantic intricacies of Spanish seemed more understandable than English.

"Because you're going to talk to Patti," Nancy said patiently, as if talking to a small child. Come to think of it, she had recently used that tone of voice with Charlie, when his doofus of a friend hit on the young heroine.

"Which isn't odd at all," Bill said, putting heavy emphasis on the word 'odd'. "But you seem to think I need luck."

"Because you have something to say to her that she doesn't necessarily want to hear, but really, it was just something that slipped out." Nancy leaned over and punched him again in the arm. Bill rubbed the spot painfully; Nancy didn't hold back. He suspected he might have residual muscle soreness for a few hours, if not for the next day, thanks to her fist. She eyed him suspiciously. "Are you scared of Patti? Because you look it."

"No," he answered firmly.

"Good. Because you shouldn't be."

"Do you know how many times you say 'because'?"

"Approximately eight times in every one hundred words or eight percent of my conversational output." Nancy flashed him a bright smile.

Bill just /stared/ at her. "You calculated your conversational output?"

"No, Kevin did."

"That's scary." Bill wondered how he'd react if someone he was intimately involved with came up with a 'conversational output' measure. That was Nancy and Kevin's thing and Kevin was smart and Nancy found things like that cute. That was /their/ thing. Not his.

"It's really scary. Now, go!"

"I can't believe we're still standing here talking about this." He glanced over his shoulder at Patti's closed door. He wondered if Patti was actually inside, ear to the door, listening to this entire conversation. And then he realized he was being paranoid again.

"That makes two of us." Nancy looked down the hall and then back at Bill. "I'm to show these tapes to the Lead Agent and then file them as evidence. You, on the other hand, are going to go in there to talk to Patti about........... whatever the hell you need to talk about. I don't know if you need luck or not, it was just something I said." Nancy took a deep breath. "So I'm going, okay?" She fluttered her fingers at him and then left him standing in front of Patti's closed door.

Inhaling sharply, Bill knocked.

"Come in!"

[censored]. He opened the door slowly and stuck his head in.

Patti was lying on her sofa, legs up on the armrest. She was wearing a skirt. A black skirt. When she saw him, she sat up, but didn't fix her skirt, despite her left thigh being clearly exposed. Bill stared. He was pretty sure gawking at one's co worker constituted sexual harassment of some kind, but she made no move to cover up and so he didn't look away.

"Patti." He stood awkwardly in front of her.

"Bill."

"It's raining." He noticed Patti had done something different with hair, highlights maybe, or even a trim. She looked good. And he liked the blue blouse with the thin white stripes on it, the fact that it was open at the collar and when she leaned forward like that, he could see the swell of cleavage. He took a step backwards with a barely noticable gulp.

"I know. Im a meteorologist. It has been raining. For three days. It's going to rain until Sunday."

"This is what I hear," Bill said nodding.

"It is not, however, raining in Seattle." Patti shifted position on the sofa, adjusting her skirt in the process.

"It's not?" Bill frowned. "It always rains in Seattle." His mind raced as he wondered if Kara had told Patti he was coming.

"Not today."

"It wouldn't have mattered anyway. You know, if it was raining or not. The Supersonics play indoors."

"This is true." Patti eyed him pensively. "Something on your mind, Bill?"

"No."

"Did you need something?" Patti's expression was nothing short of inquisitive.

"No." He wanted to mentally kick his brain into gear. What was it about Patti that he completely lost all coherent thought and reason when he was in her presence? In any language, he failed to find the words he wanted to use on her. He wanted to say, "That was some kiss, Patti, some kiss, and I'm pretty sure you stopped my heart as you made it your own with but that one simple kiss." But of course, his mouth felt dry, his throat scratchy, and he stood in the middle of Linda 'Patti' Goldman's office feeling like a complete idiot.

"Ah." Patti got up. "So you just wanted to tell me it was raining?"

"Yes."

She was standing very close to him now. "When clearly I can see that that is the case by looking out of my window." she clicked her tongue "Or if I doubted this computer with sattelite feeds and my links to various weather centers"

"Right, but did you know it was going to rain until Sunday?" Bill took another step backwards.

"I did." Patti sat on the edge of her desk and folded her arms against her chest. "Because that's the beauty of five-day forecasts, Bill. I get to tell you what's going to happen with the weather during the next five days."

"I knew that."

"I know you knew that."

He turned around and then he looked back at Patti. "Kara sent me."

"You need Kara to send you to me?" She sounded more amused than hurt.

"She sent me because my plans B through Y aren't going to work."

"What are your plans B through Y?" Patti looked bewildered and Bill understood her confusion well.

"Plan B is you coming to talk to me. The rest, I don't know about. but its all right Kara explained it all to me"

"Why would I come talk to you?" Patti rounded her desk and pulled the chair out. In the background, rain pelted the window in constant rhythm.

"Because," Bill said, once again at a conversational loss. He hated, absolutely hated, that Patti could take all of the words out of him.

"You say 'because' a lot." She quipped.

The words now slipped out easily. "So does Nancy. It's eight percent of her conversational output."

"I did not know that. Intriguing." Patti tipped her head to the side. Soft blond hair skimmed the angular planes of her cheekbones. He wondered if she did that on purpose, that she knew he liked to look at her in specific detail, and she knew exactly how to draw attention to herself.

Bill wanted to answer that Patti ought to listen to Nancy more often, or at the very least, run her crazy ideas by her first, but instead he settled for the safe response. "Trust me. It's eight percent." He offered a smile. This was easy, he thought, talk about everyone and everything except for us.

"You calculated that?"

"No. Kevin did."

"Scary." Patti frowned.

"That's what I said." Bill resisted the temptation to add "Great minds think alike." He pondered using this as evidence, their thoughts were on the same wavelength, she should let him take her to dinner tonight, not in six months, tonight. But he knew she'd demure. He didn't like the way her doubt made him feel. Now that stung, harsh, bitter, cold -- any number of adjectives, but in the end it came down to the same thing; she made him crazy, in ways both good and bad, but she could wound him just as deeply as Kathrine, his last so called love had.

"So you want to tell me about these plans of yours?" Patti leaned forward on her desk, resting her weight forward on her palms.

"Not especially." He sighed. "Kara has told me they are very complicated"

"She did eh? " Patti grinned. "But you're here."

He nodded. "I concede the point." He tried to concentrate on a spot above her head, didn't want to look directly at her because her blouse was open and he could see the edge of white lace.

"Do you have a problem, Bill?" Patti straightened and crossed her arms against her chest once again. The tone of her voice took him off-guard. She sounded distant, almost hurt. He felt a guilty pleasure over that. After all, wasn't Patti the one who had started the whole mess in the first place? or was it him?

"I have no problems." An out and out lie and Bill knew Patti knew him well enough to hear the subterfuge underlying his voice. Another thing they had in common: the inability to tell a convincing falsehood.

"Kara must have sent you to me for a reason." Patti picked up a pen and begin making notes on a notepad in quick, almost illegible scrawls. The ink smeared across her hand and she dropped the pen and looked at Billy. He was tempted to ask her what she'd written, but decided against it. "Bill?"

Deciding to change the subject, He said, "I can't write. Our report. Can't write it."

Patti frowned. "So you came here. What did you expect to find? A cure for writer's block? Gotta tell you, Bill, I haven't found it yet." she clenched her fingers into a fist "...and I think, God, if only I could fix that, but I can't. So you've come to the wrong place, Bill. Writing is a part of your job, so just do it."

"What is this, 'Tough Love with Patti Goldman'?" He asked. He held up a hand. "I didn’t come here because I wanted you to fix me, Patti." He put his hands down on the desk and stared intently at her. "You're one of the closest people to me here in the city, we grew up together practically, so you should know what's going on with me. But you're not just that Patti you are a weather girl, Patti...."

"Meteorologist..." she added.

"..., you're a good meteorologist. Best damn meteorologust I've ever worked with." He stared at her intently. "We do good work together, Patti."

"You and Kara do good work together." Her voice was threaded with uncertainty. "I predict the weather Bill...um...that is all"

"We're pretty damn good too." He lifted his chin defiantly to look her straight in the eye. Patti backed up so she was leaning against the far wall, arms still crossed against her chest. He wondered if the body language was an intentional hint to him.

"Are you talking about crime fighting or something else?" she asked softly.

"I think I've moved on to something else." Bill swallowed hard. Now or never, buddy, he thought. Now or never. he took a deep breath. "Kara thinks I have a 'thing' for you. No, let me amend that. Kara Reynolds-Dengo is right. But don't tell her that or it'll go to her head and you know Kara can be insufferable when she's on to something."

"What's the matter with you, Bill?" Patti asked, her brow furrowing in concern.

"This 'plan'. Your grand plan for us" Ha! Said it!

"It's brilliant, isn't it?" Her eyes lit up. Bill couldn't understand the enthusiasm she had embraced this idea. It was wacko, even for her, who had had some wacko ideas in the past. Of course, these were not things to say to a woman whom one was trying to take out to dinner. He took another deep breath.

"No, no, it's not. You've had good ideas in the past, Patti, brilliant ones even. This isn't one of them."

"Now, Bill--" Patti held up a hand, but he ignored her.

"Six months is a long time, Patti."

"Good things are really worth waiting for Bill."

"I've known you for fifteen years." He didn't mean to sound frustrated. Patti lowered her head, seemingly doing her best not to look at him at all. "And maybe Kara got a little bit of it wrong. I don't have a 'thing' for you, Patti, this is more than a 'thing'. Give me a chance to prove it to you."

"But are you absolutely sure?"

"Yes, yes, I am." Bill didn't smile, just looked directly at her, daring her to look back. She focused her attention the notepad in front of her. "One hundred percent."

"See, I don't think you are."

"I think I am." He lifted his chin defiantly. "I think this so called 'plan' is for you, not for me."

"Excuse me?" Now he had her attention.

"You say it's all about me and making sure that I know what I want. But maybe it's the other way around. Maybe you don't know what you want and you're pushing me away, making me think it's all about me when it's really all about you." he smiled now on a roll, he was on to something here! " Because you don't want me to know that I know it's really all about you and has nothing to do with me at all. So it's all an elaborate plan of yours to not date me because you have some kind of issues about dating me that you don't want me to know about so you're making this six months so you can figure it out."

"I have no idea what you just said." She blinked.

"I said that this plan is for you, not for me." He pointed in her direction. "Maybe you're not over Steven."

"I'm over Steven."

"Stevie boy has a post-graduate degree." Bill didn't know quite what he meant by that statement; it just came out. Another mental kick in the [censored].
"You always had a thing about post-graduate degrees." Patti sounded smug and for a moment, he hated her.

"I don't have a thing about post-graduate degrees, but I do have a thing about you making this about me when it's really about you," Bill said finally.

Patti sighed heavily and shifted her position. Outside, the rain continued to fall, but with less intensity than when he had first arrived in her office. "It's not about me, it's about you. This is what's best for you."

"See, you keep saying that. But here's the thing, the real thing," He said earnestly. "What's best for me right now is you letting me take you to dinner tonight. Some place we both really like and where we can talk and not be crazy."

"Are you calling me crazy?" She actually sounded hurt.

"Yes." He held up his hands in an expression of surrender. "I'm calling you crazy. Your plan is nothing short of insane.Im here you are here and there are many fine dining establishments I would love to take you too!"

"I think my dating plan is brilliant." Patti cocked her head defiantly.
"Everyone else thinks it's crazy."

"How do we know, Bill?" She looked at him pensively. "I mean, how do we really know?"

He took a step in her direction. "Not waiting six months to figure it out is a good start."

"I don't want to be your rebound," she said so very quietly he had to strain to hear the words. Bill's expression softened.

"And I don't want to be yours," he said, equally sotto voce.

"So you see? Six months makes sense." She sounded desperate now. He wanted to push that doubt just a little more, make her think it through. Patti looked pensive now and he wondered whether he was finally getting through to her.

"We've known each other fifteen years. It's not a rebound," he said with confidence.

"And you're sure?" she asked apprehensively.

"Yes."

"How can you be sure?"

"I just am." He took another step closer to her. "You've got to trust me, Patti."

"I do trust you."

"I hear a 'but' in there."

"This thing, it isn't good for the job right now." Patti took a deep breath, looking almost relieved. "There, I said it."

"I know it isn't good for the job right now, we are both real new. That's why I'm saying, let's scrap this dating plan and let me take you out to dinner tonight. You, me, a bottle of wine, and we'll talk. We'll be normal people, not crazy people."

"There you go again, calling me crazy. That's not the way to get me to change my mind. And consider that a freebie, Chamberlin. When you start going on your six months worth of dates, don't ever call the woman 'crazy', okay? It doesn't count if you drive the date off. It's gotta be the real thing, genuine, heartfelt and you--" she jabbed a finger in the direction of his chest "-- have to be your charming and seductive self."

"You are crazy, Patti." He smiled. "Maybe that's what I love about you. Maybe I need that in my life."

Patti pressed her hand against her face. "Is it still raining?" She sounded suddenly tired.

"Until Sunday. So the five-day forecast says. We already had this conversation," Bill said flatly.

"Because it's not good for the job, Bill. You and me."

"You already said that." He didn't mean to sound impatient, but Patti had a way of wearing down a person, of putting up barriers and excuses until the other person wilted out of frustration. He knew her tricks and games and wanted her to know that he was here to play, that he was going to win.

"We're both so new."

"And you think we're going to keep being the newbies arond here? That the police and other heroes are going to say that meteorologist is dating that hero Guardian Star so lets stop calling in crimes?" He stared at her in disbelief.

"No, I'm saying that I need to concentrate on our jobs." Dana ran her hand through her hair. After a moment, she turned to look out the window.

"And that's why you came up with the dating plan?" Bill asked quietly.

"Maybe."

"Be straight with me, Patti."

"It's about the job." Patti turned back to face him. "It's not the same thing."

"You are the show, Patti, you and everyone here in the base."

"No, you and Kara and those like you are the job."

"For the record, I don't think this 'thing' with you and me has anything to do with us being co workers" he said.

"Maybe not, but I can't take that chance." Patti sounded confident now, sure. More like her old self. Maybe another time, he'd ask Patti, try to find out if maybe this wasn't about him or the show but rather rediscovery: finding the Patti Goldman, Steven had lost.

"If you let me take you out to dinner, the crime will drop."

She didn't perk up quite the way he'd hoped. "How do you figure?" She asked.

"I just know. I know it the same way you know dating me would make the job situation worse."

"We're damn good at we do." She began to pace the length of her office. Despite her precariously high-heeled shoes, she still managed to move with amazing speed and fluidity. Bill moved out of her way.

"I know that."

"Then you've got to leave me alone, let me do this. Without distractions." She stopped in front of him.

"Hey you moved out here on your own" He said.

"Yes to help you and your sister, with your father." she said looking up at him.

"So I am a distraction?" The realization was oddly comforting he thought as he spoke.

"You've been a distraction for fifteen years, Bill." She took a deep breath. "And right now, I have to do something about this job."

"I can help you with that."

"No, no, you can't. Your job is so much different than mine." She looked at him sadly. "I need you in the game, Bill. I dont need to be visiting you in the hospital."

"I am and I am in the game. You say the word, Patti, and I'll come out swinging. Hell, I come out ready to play every single day. Every. Single. Day."

"And you need to keep doing that. If I can't get my life together I don't have you on my team."

"I've always been on your team, Patti."

"And you need to keep focus. You need to think of this as spring training."
"Spring training?"

"Yes." Patti eyed him speculatively. "Go out there and write your reports, Bill. Don't stand here and whine to me about how you can't write a report you write every single day of the week and then tell me the us thing isnt effecting our jobs. Go." She pointed to the door. "Go do your job and let me focus on mine."

He held up a hand. "Fine, fine. About the job, I get that. And six months. I got it all now."

"Bill?" Her voice was very soft, and he couldn't help but be seduced by the way the syllables of his name rolled off her tongue: smooth and rounded.

"What?"

"I think the plan's a good one."

"I'm not even going to answer that, Patti. You know how I feel," Bill said. "At least I know now it's all about you. You're using me as the excuse to hide behind." He put his hand on the door knob. "I don't know how that makes me feel." With that, he went out the door.

"You talked to Patti?" Kevin fell into step beside him.

"Where the hell did you come from?" Bill looked over his shoulder nervously beyond the friendly controller to scan the squad room. He was sure Nancy had to be hovering somewhere nearby and hell, maybe even Kara too. Unless Kevin had them all linked up telepathically. He coud do that. Whoa paranoid again.

"The men's room, but if you're looking for a more scientific explanation, the birds and the bees for instance, I'm going to have to refer you to your mother."

"The men's room will do just fine, thank you." Bill smirked as he slowed down. Sometimes this squadroom was a place out of a carnival, a spooky funhouse with people just appearing or knowing things. It was, Bill thought, nothing short of supernatural the way things just happened. "It's just there are always people. Coming from everywhere. I can't keep up."

"This is a squad room. There are people here."

"I'm aware of that, but it's the 'appearing suddenly' thing that makes me nervous."

"As it should, as it should." Kevin clapped Bill on the shoulder as they made their way into the squadbay proper.

"So it's nothing magical, just a crossing of paths." Bill dropped back slightly, allowing Kevin to step in front of him in order to navigate through the maze of desks.

"That's exactly what it is. Serendipitous, one might say."

"One might say."

"So the dating plan is still in effect?" Kevin asked in a low voice, slowing down a little to allow Bill to catch up with him.

"Yes." Bill couldn't keep the frustration out of his voice. He really, really, really didn't want to talk about this anymore. He'd go on his six months of dates, and then when it was all over, he'd take Patti out to dinner and she'd admit that he'd been right in the third place, that her plan was stupid in the second place and she should have said yes in the first place. Ha!

"You told her it's insane?"

"I told her it's insane. Nancy told her it's insane. But she's got her reasons."

"She doesn't want to be your rebound." At Bill's shocked experience, Kevin added, "Nancy told me Patti told her that."

Bill groaned. Of course. How could he forget? Kevin and Nancy were practically the same person these days. "No, she wants us to focus on our jobs."

"That's a more admirable motivation than being your rebound."

"She should have just said that from the beginning. I can understand not wanting to have any distractions. I speak two other languages and I attend a good college, I can understand something like that," Bill said. "She should have said, 'William, I want the two of us to be more focused and stable before we can begin any type of dating' But Patti didn't say that. She said, 'Bill, I think you should date other women for six months.' That's what she said. She should have said the first thing, but she didn't. So now, it's six months I've got to wait and in the meantime, we are to focus on our jobs.....and I date..others."

"But you have to admit, it's a more admirable motivation."

Bill stared at Kevin in exasperation. For such a smart guy, sometimes the boy could be awfully dense. And annoying, Bill silently added. Kevin could also be damn annoying. "It doesn't change how I feel," he said finally.

"Six months go by pretty quick."

"That sounds like a long time, Kevin."

"It goes by fast. Trust me. You'd be amazed at how fast 184 days go by."

"One hundred and eighty-four? I counted one-eighty-three." Bill stopped short in dismay. An extra twenty-four hours in addition to the 4,392 he'd already calculated seemed interminable.

"On the 184th day, you can take Patti out to dinner. So it's really 184 days. You can ask her out on the 183rd day though."

"Thanks, Kevin." Bill stopped in front of the office where this insane journey had begun. "I'm going in there now."

"Right."

"I'm going to write the a report that'll bring Statesman to his knees, crying at its beauty. That is how focused I will be!"

"That's the spirit!" Kevin made a fist-punching action. Bill raised an eyebrow. The smaller man shrugged casually.

"Because Patti and I, we don't have a 'thing'. We have a dating plan." Funny, the more Bill used the phrase 'dating plan', the more he got used to it. In fact, the words were almost rolling off his tongue naturally, as if he were now completely and totally comfortable with the idea. That's right, Chamberlin, he thought, you're now nothing short of delusional. Paranoid and Dellusional, how do they do this to us?

"A completely harebrained and insane dating plan," Kevin added, breaking into his thoughts.

"And I sort of understand it. I don't like it, but I understand it."

"Because we don't want to be unfocused anymore."

"Exactly." Bill nodded. "I don't necessarily agree one thing has to do with the other, but that's Patti's call, not mine. I'm going to go in there now."

Bill walked into the office. Kara was still sitting at her laptop, typing away. Her paperwork surrounding her still as she sat on the desk.

"It's still raining," She said, without looking up.

"So everyone keeps telling me." Bill slumped on the old patch covered sofa, swinging his legs up and staring gloomily up at the ceiling.

"Did you talk to Patti?" Kara stopped typing and looked across at Bill with concern.

"I talked to Patti."

"And?"

"It's about her, not about me." Bill stood up and paced restlessly. Back and forth in time with the rhythm of the rain beating against the window. He looked at Kara.

"Selfish," Kara said, his voice imbued with the warmth of solidarity.

"Very." Bill sat down in the chair opposite the desk. He stretched his arms out and flexed his fingers. "I'm ready to write this report now."

"Good."

"But first--" Bill looked up, a serious expression crossing his face "-- you tell me what plan Z is."

"There is no plan Z." Kara fiddled with the pencil in her hands.

"You said there was."

"I lied." Kara lifted her chin and looked defiantly at Bill. He didn't flinch.

"You lied to me?" Bill asked.

"Believe it or not, sometimes I like say things just to get you to shut up and so do something."

"So that was what? you giving me false hope?"

"We have a report to write. You can't write when you're obsessing about Patti." Kara's tone was matter-of-fact, but Bill knew that Kara had to be sick of this business. Hell, he was sick of it too. Move on, he thought, stop talking about it and just get on with it. Maybe Kevin was right; maybe six months would go faster than he thought they would. Maybe he would have a good time meeting these other women. Maybe he would learn how to dance so when he took the floor with Patti, he'd get it right and not step on her toes. Because, God knows, Bill wanted to get this right.

"In fact, William, you're practically impossible to be around where Patti is concerned."

"So Patti is right?" Bill knit his fingers together, refusing to make eye contact with her.

"Right about what?"

"That she and I, that we, the thing well its bad for focusing on our jobs?" He had to force the words out.

"Relationships so suck sometimes, when it comes to focusing, William. You have no idea. Simply no idea."

"I thought being with Patti would be a good thing for us. If it's a good thing for us, it'd be a good thing for focusing." Bill hunched over, putting all of his weight on his forearms as he looked glumly at Kara.

"Things don't always work out that way," Kara said gently. She pushed a writing pad and a pen in Bill's direction. "Come on, William."

He looked at the pad, was reminded of Patti, and then looked back at Kara. "Just so you know, on the 183rd day, I'm going to ask Patti out to dinner."

"Even though it's like bad for foscusing?"

Bill leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "You don't honestly believe that, do you?"

Kara shrugged. "In six months, we'll so know for sure."

Bill leaned back in his chair. "Aye, there's the rub."

"In the meantime, are you going to help me write this stupid report or are you going to sit there and totally obsess about Patti?"

"I'm going to help you write the report."

"Okay."

"Because we're good together, me and Patti really good," Bill said. He knew Kara wouldn't be fooled by the false enthusiasm in his voice.

"Right."

"And we deserve a better and more stable chance." They stared at each other in silence and then Bill said, "So there really was no plan Z."

"No." Kara smirked warmly and slowly shook her head

"Plan A didn't work."

"I know."

"You said it would."

"I So said it had a better chance of working than any of the other options." Kara looked serious. "You can't blame it on the weather, William. That's the easy way out."

"Like a dating plan?"

"Yes," Kara said, her tone softened by measured sympathy, "exactly like that."

"I get it now." Bill sighed. "So, are we going to do this or not?"

"Finally" Kara smirked and began to write her report with him.

Novemeber 29th 2006


I’m sitting here, and all I can think of is, how I’ll never get to see you grow up. How I’ll never stand at your wedding. How I’ll never get to watch you bring my grand-children home. How I’ll never see you save your adopted home, this new city of yours again and again. There are so many things I wish I could do. But never is such a long time.

I’d fly across the hills and the valleys,
just to be by your side.
I’d fight a thousand wars in an instant,
if only to dry your eyes.
if maybe we had one more moment.
another second to say goodbye.
you know, it ain’t never gonna happen,
but never’s such a long time.

I remember the very first moment when we met, my little one. That split second when you opened your little green eyes and stared right into mine. I’ve always loved you, ever since you were a spark of life growing within me, safe and warm, but you captured my heart that day. I counted all your fingers and toes, just to make sure. Then I counted them all over again. I’ll never forget how warm you felt in my arms. But I’ll never hold you again.

when you feel the wind blowing,
by your house one afternoon,
that’s only me saying,
I miss you.

I’ll always have the memories. Not just the birthdays, the holidays, and those special events, but the little things. When you and your brother used to crawl into our bed and we’d read the newspaper together. Those days when you’d help me make dinner, and we’d end up making a huge mess. And even those rare occasions when we’d produce something edible. Poor thing, you never could learn to cook, but my how you learned to glide when you danced. My heart swelled to see you dance.

I’ve seen you mature into something beautiful. You followed the path less followed, took the harder route, made the risky decisions. You waltzed into armies of bullies, and I've watched you sweep them away. I’m in awe of your strength, your ability, and your compassion. I’ll always wonder whether you would turn out differently if I was still alive. But you’ve done so well dispite your father. He will always love you little one, he just fears what he can not understand. He always has. But you baby, you made your mistakes and learned from them. If there was one thing I could say, I’ve always wished I could tell you how proud you make me.

when you feel the wind blowing,
by your house one afternoon,
that’s only me saying,
I miss you.

I’ll see you in heaven, my littlest angel. For now, I want you to be happy with your life. I want a lot of things. I saw so many of them for you in my dreams, Most of all, I want my beautiful, intelligent, kind, gentle daughter to stand tall and follow her heart. Don’t be afraid, you always held your head high as you rose to position. No matter the pain if you fall, my little one, You will build your wings on the way down, and one day, you’ll soar.

I’ve got a thousand questions,
and another thousand replies
but you’ll never hear a single one,
cause never’s a long time.

Our time together on earth was short. Oh, my sweet Kara, I’ll always be a part of you. One day, I’ll see you again, and together we will dance side by side as we did once, but for now, I’ll remain with you in spirit. When those times come when you need someone to guide you across the uneven land, I’ll be there for you. You have always had those closest around you to guide you, to help you find your path....These people in your life now are no different baby...

when the rain comes pouring down,
that’s me, crying tears.
I’ll never get to see your blue eyes,
but never’s a long time.

I have felt your pain sweetheart, your lonliness after your horror, my heart broke because I could not be there to take away your pain. Each trial you have faced since then, each failure, and every success I have been beside you at your weakest moment baby. Each moment you dance, I am there sweetheart. A part of me is forever within you, as you have been told. I know I shouldn’t be here, watching you. But once a year, I give myself this chance to give you strength in your weakest hour. We share our memories here. We don’t need words, our thoughts are enough.

if maybe we had one more moment.
another second to say goodbye.
you know, it ain’t never gonna happen,
but never’s such a long time.

Somehow, you will be all right little one. You always had that ability, to dance, to smile. I’ve always wanted what’s best for you, even if I couldn’t offer it to you. It’s never easy to let go of your children. But one must. And I shall. But I’ll always watch over you. I will always be there to dance beside of you my little one.

but never’s such a long time.

*******
The lone figure knelt in front of the grave, her reflection shimmering back at her from the smooth wet surface of the cement marker. Her soft tears mixing with the cold rain. She reached out to the cool slick surface just one more time, her reflection's hand reaching back for her own. Fingers never quite touching as the gray stone stood as a cold reminder. A soft warmth filled her as she gently whispered, her reflection responding mutely.

"...Mahal Kita Mommy"
*******

Mahal Kita My Little One...

September 15th 2006 - Steel Canyon


“Well here you are....”

He didn’t have to turn, because he knew -that- voice, and he didn’t want to see the disapproving face that went along with it. She had this way, she always did. He was a decent hero here in Paragon. The city knew him as "The Guardian Star", smart, dependable and he as he kept telling himself darn attractive in the eyes of all the ladies. Confident, secure and in control. Yeah, right...She knew somehow, ever since High School, she always could tell.

“Yeah,” he replied dully, taking a long gulp of his drink. “I left. You expected me to, what? Stick around and do nothing for a few more hours?”

“Well…I like thought you’d…” she trailed off, and Bill found that a part of him wanted to turn around and smack the self-righteous tone right out of that voice, she was doing it again, he just gripped his glass a little tighter.

“You thought I’d what, exactly? -Jesus-, Kara, the guy had a stroke!...."

"He is your father Bill” She slipped in softly as he continued.

"..... It’s not like there was anything I could do to fix it. What the hell good would sitting in a waiting room all night do anyways?..." he paused refusing to look over to her a moment. Damn it! Again! He pressed on staring into his swirling drink ".... It’s not like they’d let us in to see him or anything.” he added trying to stay rigid and strong.

Kara pulled up the bar stool next to him and sat down, setting her purse on the bar, but he still didn’t turn to face her. “So you like what? Figured getting drunk would help things,” she said mildly.

“Yeah, Kara, that’s exactly what I thought. I thought that me getting drunk would solve all of my problems, and all of my Dad's, and hell, all of yours while I’m at it, if you ever truly -have- a problem.” He shook his head completely missing a small flinch across her concerned features. “A guy can’t just get a drink these days without having some kind of ulterior motive?” He paused as Kara ordered a Sprite, then continued. “Anyway, you left.”

“I left to find you.”

“Oh.” He didn’t really have a better answer for that, so he just let it hang there for a few minutes while they drank in silence. Finally, a part of him made him ask, “How was he when you left?”

Kara sighed, Causing Bill to finally turned to look at her. There was now a gentle hint of dark circles under her eyes that hadn’t been there when she had left her patrol to come to the hospital at his call. She looked aged somehow, as if years had passed instead of hours. “The same,” she replied, and there was an unfamiliar defeat in her voice.

She was worried, he knew what had happened to her family when she was 'outed' as a mutant. Still growing up together their father's had been close friends and golfing buddies. Thin as it was, his father was a tie to life she had long ago lost. No, he thought its more than that, she sees him as family too,...and I left...she stayed there and I -left-....god.

The silence returned, and lasted longer this time. Eventually, Bill felt like he had to say something, so he peered intently into his glass as he remarked, “You know, Patti Goldman’s not crazy.”

“I know,” Kara blinked and then shook her head at this almost ancient routine from their high school days. She smiled as she replied. “You were the only one who ever thought she was.”

“No, I mean…” he finished contemplating his glass and emptied it instead, then signaled for a refill. “I mean about Rutgers. She wasn’t…she was -right-.” the last word still held some amazement. Not only had the woman come out to the hospital with his sister to see their Dad tonight, but with her came the anxiety of her bold claims of a night he was certain -never- took place. He was convinced she was mentally deranged and a stalker maybe. Only he could -never- convince anyone else, they never believed him...

“You slept with her and like didn’t call her back.” Kara chuckled remembering how this began only a few weeks after she and he broke up. "SO a cardinal rule William.."

“Yeah..... Well, no, not her exactly. And it wasn’t in Rutgers. At least I didn’t think it was.” Kara cast an amused sidelong glance at him, and sighing Bill realized he’d probably have to explain. “Well, first see, she um.. wasn’t Patti then. She was Linda....

Kara nodded sipping her Sprite as she listened. "Yep Patricia is her middle name.."

Bill sighed, never sure how that never dawned him ......"Well she has changed, dyed her hair...lost all that weight...."

Kara shook her head "Of course she is the Channel Nine Weather..."

"....And the hotel, it was…I thought it was in Patterson.”

Kara raised her eyebrows. “Ugly Patterson Linda? That was Patti Goldman?”

“It was,” he agreed dismally, then frowned. “I told you that story?”

“You like tell me all your stories, Bill.”

He thought a moment, then allowed a tiny smile to creep onto his face. “Yeah. I guess I do.” He paused, contemplating his drink some more, and then decided that it really wasn’t all that interesting. “You know, you haven’t told me all your stories, Kar." She grinned a bit at his old nickname for her. " Why is that?”

She clicked her tongue once and sighed “Welp, like it’s ‘cause I so don’t have stories. Not like - you- do.” There was a rueful quality to Kara’s half smile as she waved her empty glass at the bartender.

“Sure you do. Everybody’s got stories" he shook his head "You have been in this city for more than two years now..You have to have them. The commercials, the honors and awards....that school you used to belong too...come on Kar" He chided gently. " Tell me a story” It was then that he realized the drinks were starting to get to him, but that had been the whole point of coming here, hadn’t it? So he gestured towards his empty bottle as the bartender set another glass of sprite down in front of her, he then looked at Kara expectantly.

Her smile got a little wider, a little less sad. “You’re like seriously sitting there, what, waiting for story time?" she giggled a bit "I’m telling you, I’ve got nothing to tell...." she shook her head "What you know about me already, that’s all there is to know.”

“You’re seriously telling me that what I know about you right now, right this instant... the stuff you’ve told me over the years, that’s -all- there is? That’s it?”

“That’s it, Bill that’s me.”

"Your work as a Heroine of the city, Mother to this Phil person.."

"I am her guardian.." She tried to interrupt him. Undaunted on his soapbox he continued on mowing through her.

"Mother to this Phil person.." he repeated "School teacher...Kindergarten no less...never committed a crime....always there for people..and oh yes lover of -math-" he shuddered playfully "and little to no social life....well except for going to the movie premieres of your beautiful rich roommate/movie starlet/ supermodel who dates men and women who you share a glamorous penthouse with...." he shook his head and as a guy had to marvel once more at the last part of his rant before beginning once more "....These are Kara stories?"

She nodded looking over at him.

He contemplated her for a few minutes, then shook his head. “You are a sad woman, Kara Reynolds....."

"Dengo....Kara Reynolds-Dengo" she added as he continued

"... A sad, sad woman.”

“Riiight Because I’m the one sitting in a bar in the middle of the night waiting for some girl to like tell me stories.” she said with an impish glint in her eyes.

Bill shook his head “Yes. Wait…no. No, I mean…I forget what I mean. What did I mean, Kar?”

Kara laughed, and Bill hadn’t realized how much he’d been waiting to hear it. “I’ll tell you, Bill, I haven’t the faintest idea.” Her smile slowly dissolved, and Bill found himself missing it.

“You should go home, get some sleep,” She told him.

“Not tired,” He mumbled, but even as he said it he could feel his eyelids drooping. “Whoa!…how do you do that?” he asked her.

Kara glanced at him as she set some money on the counter for their tabs. “Do what?”

“That…thing,” he said, waving his hands for emphasis. “I wasn’t tired, and then you…” he shrugged.

“Ok, -home-. now.,” Kara decided, standing. “Come on.” She offered her arm and they made their way out to the street and stood there for a few moments in the cool air. Kara sighed a little, summer was indeed over. She turned to look up at him.

“Like...you are ok getting home by yourself?” She asked, and Bill smiled a little.

“Yes Mom.”

“I’m so just saying…”

“I’m fine. I’m a surprisingly big boy, Kar. I can even hail a cab all by myself. Wanna see?”

“See, like now, I know you’re mocking me.” She smirked as her eyes traveled along the street looking for a cab.

“I always knew you were a smart chick,” Bill said, but then his smile faded a little and he changed tracks abruptly. “I don’t think I’m going home anyways.”

Kara turned to look at him. “Where’re you going?” She asked, worry creeping back into her voice.

“I think…I think I’m gonna go back.”

“Back…to the hospital?” She shook her head. “I don’t really think that’s the best idea right now, Bill. It’s late. You have classes tomorrow and you have work, not to mention if you patrol..... You should go home and sleep.”

He snorted, she is playing her game again. Playing devil's advocate. She was pushing him gently to go back. “Sleep. Right.”

“Well like -rest- anyways,” She gently amended.

“Look, Kar, I left, ok?” He turned away, feeling a sudden sting in his eyes. “I just…I couldn’t handle it and I left. I can’t just…I can’t leave it like that. I mean, how do I look him in the eyes when…if he comes back?" His voice seemed so much younger to her now "He was so strong to me growing up....always a -giant-... I was standing there, in that waiting room…that horrible clean pink waiting room, and I just couldn’t…” he shuddered, even just thinking of it.

“I have to go back, Kara..I…I can’t just go home and pretend that I…” he paused as a tear rolled down his cheek, and he wiped it furiously away. “Look, I just have to go back.”

“You want me to come with you?” her tone was gentle...as always.

He blinked. It wasn’t the response he had expected...and yet he did. “Yeah I…no.” He shook his head abruptly. “No, you should go home. Sleep. I mean, at least one of us should be rested for school and hero [censored] and all....right?” he then added "and you have little Phil.."

“I didn’t ask what I should do, William. I asked if you wanted me to come.” She shrugged "I can get Katherine to watch Phil...she owes me from last Tuesday"

“I…” he paused, then nodded slowly. “Yes. Yeah. I…do. Is that…?” but Kara had already stepped away from him and was already raising her arm to call a cab....

She had this way, she always did...

He woke the next morning curled uncomfortably in a green plastic chair, his head slumped against Kara's shoulder. The sun was streaming into his eyes through blinds that clacked noisily in the morning breeze. His back felt like an army of small devils were assaulting it with pitchforks, but he knew that he had spent the night in the right place. His sister and Crazy Patti were still there, as was his little brother asleep in an adjacent chair. They were happy he came back, as if their older brother had some kind of ability to restore hope, just by coming back.

And when they heard the doctor say those words that were going to be with him for sometime…“He will be fine..It is just going to take sometime,” he didn’t feel the need to hide his tears, because this time they were streaming down Kara's face and the faces of his family too.

Eventually their tears dried, and their cell phones started to ring, first Kara's, then the others, and as the day moved inexorably on, they found themselves returning to their own lives, in the knowledge that Jonathan Chamberlin was alive and happy to see his sons and daughter. A Family was wounded but would overcome and survive.

That night, Bill found himself high above the city, his white gloved hand resting on the cool stone head of a gargoyle. The pair of them staring out at the blinking lights of the city far below and the view of the hospital his new found perch offered.

He stood there alone on that roof in the dark, because though it had been a surprisingly good day he was still shaken. It had been very hard to see his father laid up by this. He had begun to ponder his own mortality when he heard her behind him, not because she made any noise, but because she was Kara, and he always knew when she was there.

“Well here you are....”

“Yeah,” Bill closed his eyes and replied. “I was…” he gestured out from himself “You know me, I mean I have to have a really great view.”

A tiny smirk appeared on Kara's face. “I’ve noticed.” She slid down to sit on the roof's ledge next to him, her white costume seemingly brightly lit by the moon's light. She smiled a bit as she admired the view with him for a while. “You know,” she said after a few minutes, “I lied last night.”

“About which part?” He looked down at her.

“The stories. I have them. You’re right…everyone does. I just…I didn’t think they were interesting enough.”

Bill smiled. “Well of course, they’re not going to be as brilliant and witty as mine. But…” he grew serious. “They’re you, Kara.”

“Yeah.....” She trailed off a bit..

“So…” Bill prompted, settling down next to her on the roof's edge. “Come on, then. Tell me a story.”

And, in the solitary darkness of their rooftop refuge, she did.

September 1st, 2006 - Steel Canyon



tinkle tinkle

Kara's uneasy sleep had caused her to toss and turn tonight. Images and laughter followed her deeper and deeper as she tried in vain to seek solace in her dreams.

tinkle tinkle

Her eyes fluttered then opened softly, her breathing rapid as she sensed the movement in the room before she saw anything. Her heart raced slightly, this room had always been a haven only recently intruded upon by the intense dream of that /animal/.

tinkle tinkle

Kara sat up quickly, drawing her covers up to her chest. Her knuckles whitened a bit as she glowed, her fields coming up instinctively. The room around her was soon bathed in her soft light, as a small movement at the foot of her bed caught her attention. Her eyes darted to lock on the location as a small painted face appeared, before vanishing once more beyond the foot of her bed. Kara shook her head as if unsure that she had seen anything at all. Slowly the face crept up along the foot of the bed only to disappear once more.

tinkle tinkle

Kara blinked once then once more as she stared at the white face of a painted smile, the small face of /her/ clown. Tiny fingers were clamped tightly to Kara's bed frame as the tiny clown peeked over the edge of the bed to stare at her. The smile painted across the young girls face was one of immense joy almost playful.

She breathed out a quiet "Phil?"

The soft bells jingled once more as the little jester nodded still peeking up at her guardian. The nod was slow, almost unsure her little fingers now digging into the footboard. Kara swallowed a bit, biting on her bottom lip.
It had been awhile since she had seen the clown, Kara thought. Gawd Phil, what...she began to think.

Kara looked into her little Harlequin’s eyes and saw the truth. Though the playful look of joy and happiness was clearly displayed for any to see, the little eyes were wide and unsure. Without another word Kara extended her arms out to her clown. In an instant the clown was across the mattress and in her guardian's arms, only the sound of the box springs and soft bells filled the room as Kara closed her arms around her.

"Nightmare little one?" Kara said softly as she reached up to stroke her cheek. She could feel the small body tremble gently in her arms beneath the young girl's protective illusion. The clown looked up and nodded mutely as she clung tightly to her guardian's offered embrace.

"Shhh...Little one I am here" Kara sighed guessing what the nightmare was. It had only been a few weeks since Rachel had left, and both of them were concerned. She had been expecting this. She looked down to Phil and asked in a gentle voice "Do you want to stay here tonight?"

A series of eager little nods followed as she clung tighter to Kara. "Okay then" She shifted a bit and moved her covers back to allow her clown to slip under them. With a roll to her side she faced her cuddling and still trembling ward. She reached over and brushed aside a lock of green hair across the child's white forehead.

"It will be okay" She smiled warmly to her "I promise, I’m so not going anywhere" Phil turned her painted smile upwards as a small butterfly appeared on Kara's nose. The older woman chuckled and shooed away the butterfly smiling as it hovered over them. She looked down at her ward and scolded softly. "Now Now no illusions, we both have school tomorrow..." she drew a breath "Time to sleep"

A panicked Harlequin shook her head in refusal as Kara reached for her chin. "Sssh all right...I think I can help you here kiddo"

"Trust me, I promise when you wake up i will be right here, and you will be safe" She reached out with a finger to touch Phil's red nose. A soft 'honk' filled the room as the child's nose depressed, bringing a smile to Kara's lips. Kara decided to try something that had worked long ago for her mother, on the night her mother had to chase away the terrors that kept Kara awake. She snuggled the child against her and began to hum a soft melody. The smile under the smile grew a bit as Kara began to sing in a gentle voice the 'Tagalog' lyrics...

"Sana'y di magmaliw ang dati kong araw
Nang munti pang bata sa piling ni Nanay
Nais kong maulit ang awit ni Inang mahal
Awit ng pag-ibig habang ako'y nasa duyan"

Phil curled up closely to her guardian and sighed as she looked up frowning as she tried to understand the words, yet captivated by the soft melody of her guardian's voice. Kara smiled down at her, hoping to capture the smile that once was shown to her by her own mother. A smile to show her little frightened jester that no horrors, no fears could touch her as long as she was here. She would take all things first tonight, that her ward was not alone and was safe and home. Her voice continued softly through her smile.

"Sana'y di magmaliw ang dati kong araw
Nang munti pang bata sa piling ni Nanay
Nais kong maulit ang awit ni Inang mahal
Awit ng pag-ibig ako'y nasa duyan"

Phil's lids grew heavy as she gave up trying to understand the words and merely gave into the music. The look was one of wonder and yet one now more concerned with the music than the demons that had chased her from her restful sleep. Kara's hushed voice rose a bit as she accented the next part of the song as she had remembered her mother had. Her fingertips gently stroking the child's hair which flickered lightly between's its natural color and green as the illusion slipped from the little girl's form as she sang. Slowly the trembling ceased as the child relaxed in her arms, a small yawn escaped from the painted smile.

"Sa aking pagtulog na labis ang himbing
Ang bantay ko'y tala
Ang tanod ko'y bituin
Sa piling ni Nanay
Langit ang buhay
Puso kong may dusa
Sabik sa ugoy ng duyan mo Inay
Sana narito ka Inay"

Kara watched as the illusion flickered just once more before it vanished, leaving only Philomena in her arms. She continued to sing gently as above them the butterfly danced to the gentle lyrics of the Filipino lullaby. Little Phil sighed and snuggled as her guardian's voice floated away her fears. A series of little yawns followed as the butterfly began to flicker in and out of existence. Slowly Kara began to dim the warm glow of her fields, as she brought darkness back around them both ever so slowly.

"Sana'y di magmaliw ang dati kong araw
Nang munti pang bata sa piling ni Nanay"

Kara shifted to lie back down as she felt Phil slip into a restful sleep beside of her. Still facing the half sleeping child Kara sang sweetly the last of the song, while resting her chin atop the child's head.

"Nais kong maulit ang awit ni Inang mahal
Awit ng pag-ibig hang ako'y nasa duyan"

Holding her for a bit more after she finished, Kara leaned back for just a moment to make sure Phil was asleep. A look of peace had fallen over Phil's tiny features.

"Idlip panatag" She whispered to the sleeping child. "Mahal Kita little one"

Kara watched her sleep for awhile, watchful of any signs of nightmare that might disturb her sleep. Resolved and determined to chase them away for the girl.

She was still on guard when sleep itself over took her as well.


<<**SA UGOY NG DUYAN was the name of the lullaby. It’s a very pretty piece of music. Here is the rough translation >>


LULLING CRADLE

Those good old days, I pray won't fade
When I was young and in Mother's care
Oh, to hear dear Mother's lullaby again
The song of love as she rocked my cradle.

In my deep and peaceful slumber
The stars watch over me in vigil
Life was like heaven in the arms of Mother
Now my heart longs for the lulling cradle.

Those good old days, I pray won't fade
When I was young and in Mother's care
Oh, to hear dear Mother's lullaby again
The song of love as she rocked my cradle.

Lull me, Mother, in my dear old cradle
Oh, Mother.

March 14th - Rikti War Zone


Bill Chamberlin, The hero known as Guardian Star was tired.

The bone deep weariness that often accompanied war had finally caught up with him and huddling freezing in his 'foxhole' while waiting for the next attack to begin, did nothing to help remind him of why he was fighting this war.

He settled deeper in the foxhole, securely wrapping his almost paper-thin blanket borrowed from the nearby Vanguard bunker around his shoulders. His fields absorbing much of the chilling New England March wind, he found the blanket was more for security than warmth. He drifted between cold awareness and warm oblivion until the crunch of boots in the crisp snow put him firmly into the former. Blinking the sleep out of his eyes, he looked up to see his long time friend the veteran heroine Diamond lowering herself into his foxhole. He couldn't bring his partially frozen and exhausted body to move and gladly suffered through Kara shifting him over until they were both as comfortable as they could be on the wooden frame that served as a bench in the dugout.

Bill's white gloved hand absentmindedly stroked the top of the empty metal flask he often carried with him. What he wouldn't give for a swig of his beloved Jameson's to warm him up right now! But he was fairly certain that what had been in his flask was the last of it until the Vanguard Unit they had been accompanying moved to a standby alert status, relieved by a fresher unit…or at least until he could con Kara into letting him lift the rest of his stash from the Abbey.

Around them all of Bravo 'Sword' was silent under the obsidian night sky and the howling of the wind.

"I like thought you might want some of this." Kara smirked playfully as she handed over a small bottle of the Irish brew "From the way you're fingering that flask, I'd so say you've been without for at least two hours."

Bill scowled, not so much annoyed that it'd taken Kara so long to give his precious drink to him as amused at the faint laugh he heard in his friend's voice. Kara had so little to smile about these days that Bill would gladly be the object of her amusement if it would keep something besides coldness from permeating her green pale eyes. She had bore so much of the fighting recently, he worried she would become jaded.

Hell he was worried /he/ himself would be come jaded.

"So? What's the occasion? Usually you let me get it myself." Even as he says this, his fingers are closing over the neck of the bottle off, raising the three-quarters full bottle to his lips. Kara watched her companion a few moments, listening to the muffled sound of the winter winds rushing through sleeping trees and fallen buildings, enjoying the flush of color the alcohol brought to Bill's cheeks and his mild coughing fit as he adjust to the warm biting taste of the strong whiskey, before replying.

"You've sooo been in top form lately, especially with the way things have been going so I thought I'd bring the bottle to you for once." She wrapped her arms around her knees pulling them tightly to her chest. "Plus this way you so don't mess up the bar on Jada , while you hunt for the right bottle"

Bill chuckled slowly around the mouth of the bottle before lowering it and mockingly offering it to Kara. As expected, she wrinkled her nose and pushed the bottle back to him rather firmly.

"Ewww" She protested.

Bill chuckled at her response and leaned back letting his weary form fall back against the back of the hole. The cold ground rattled and shook as just beyond their team's perimeter a convoy of armored vehicles raced to some other location to respond to a renewed threat. Over his comm he could hear the recent Longbow and Vanguard battle updates.

It had been like this before, last summer and now he thought closing his eyes, all week..all week.

Diamond stared hard at her friend with a degree of concern. She smiled a bit, her friendship with Bill was an odd one. Already they had been through too much together to feel like 'just friends'; their bond was deeper, much deeper, than mere friendship. They had grown up together, even dated once. Kara smirked remembering the disaster that had become. Yet they had remained friends even as High School had quickly become a faded memory.

He had come to her for help after he had been 'outed' as a mutant. Despite denying her initially when she had returned home as such a 'monster' to her family and friends after her abilities had first appeared. How could she reject him, she could only forgive, she knew the pain and suffering that followed abandonment. What else could she do? It was one more thing they had in common once more. Something as he once told her, that friends always 'gear up for'.

Friends...

Yet, she noticed however that the sparkle that had entered Bill's eyes at seeing his present had already faded to the dullness so visible in his eyes since the Rikti had returned. A hard fought victory so recently overturned.

Bill rested his head against the sides of the foxhole and sighed wearily.

Kara shared his sentiments exactly. The two of them sat for a long while in the cold dark, the soft hiss and occasional battle update from distant shores their only companion.

"Why are we here, Kar?" His voice finally cutting through the dark.

Kara started, surprised that she had failed to realize Bill was awake; he sounded so tired, she'd thought for sure that his sigh signaled his intent to sleep. Apparently not. His pale eyes narrowed as he processed the question.

"What do you mean, Bill? You know orders are orders are to assist and aid this Vanguard...…" She trailed off when Bill began to firmly shake his head.

"No! Why are we here? What made us –you, me, everyone else- volunteer? Just what the hell are we fighting for everyday?" The winter cold muted Bill's words preventing them from slinking through Bravo Sword and further destroying what morale was left to them. Kara sighed wearily. She knew she had no real answer that would satisfy her friend's question and bring him from the brink of the exhausted abyss he was leaning over, but she knew she had to say something, anything, to keep Bill from letting go.

She smiled a tad impish then in what could only be described as a extremely bad imitation of Jack Nicholson she turn to to look at him "You want the truth son?"

Bill blinked a tad confused at her tone of voice as his tired mind tired to figure out why she was talking like this, or if he was just hearing wrong "Wh...what?"

She tried to scrunch her face up in a dark scowl and continued her butchering of Nicholson "You can't handle the truth. Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns." she nodded assertively as his eyes grew wide ..staring at her "Who's gonna do it? You? You, Guardian Star?"

He blinked, then blinked again finally chuckled "Oh ..My ..Lord..." he shook his head at her utterly amazed "You really need to stop that ..I mean right now...that is so awful it is practically a weapon of mass destruction"

She smiled a little and then shifted her tone immediately now that she had his attention "Seriously...you like need a reason? How about this then?" Her tone softening almost maternal as she locked her gaze with his, her voice calm, confident "If you can't think of any better reason to keep going, William, then please…fight for Paragon City. Fight for those who can not fight for themselves. Fight for me, Fight for /Patty/ " he flinched looking down, knowing she got him by mentioning his girlfriend, a field reporter now for the local news. His worry for her was something more for him to latch on to...her and the innocents caught in the cross fire.

He looked back up as she continued " and for God's sake Bill like remember that as a Templar, we fight for each other…/always. /"

She sat back at bit as well against the cold dirt wall of the dugout, her fields sparking a bit as the cold ground emitted a bit of steam as she came to rest against it. Bill nodded slowly as he he too sat back and resumed his former position. The tired look didn't quite disappear, but some of her words seemed to have reached him on some level.

"That will have to be enough then, I guess." They both sighed, proof of their lives billowing out in soft white vaporous clouds.

Kara gazed up into the unforgiving dark of the night sky. All around them were soft flashes of distant battles throughout the besieged city. She closed her eyes and thought of those she herself fights for every night, her white gloved fingers softly running over the locket she always wore. "It so always is William"

"It'll have to be enough." he said in a tired voice.

The prayer rose up to Heaven as Bill took another swig of his whiskey the soft warmth briefly spreading a small degree of comfort through him staving off the cold bite of the winter night.

August 5th, 2006 - Steel Canyon


The sun beat hotly down across the stone patio of the penthouse, reflecting brilliantly across the soft blue water of the sparkling pool water. Kara lay across her towel laying back across her lounge enjoying the sun and her music playing across the deck, losing herself in the moment of peace. For hours now She and her ward Phil had been playing and swimming int he pool to escape the summer's blistering heat. After admitting defeat to Phil's endurance Kara had made a lunch of hotdogs and Pringles and decided to rest while Phil refueled.

So much...so much had hit her over the past few months, but nothing like what hit her a few nights ago. She looked over the brim of her sunglasses as little Phil tore into her hotdog while doodled Phil scribblings on a sketch pad with intensity. She smiled, these last few days had been sorely needed. She could tell Phil knew something was bothering her. She could rarely hide things from her ward...Kara sighed. She was always afraid Phil was always prepared for Kara to up and leave her.

She chuckled as she wrestled with other thoughts as from the radio one of her the tune of one her favorite songs burst forth. She had lovedTop Secret She turned to face Phil and couldnt help but croon out the song's lyrics along with the voice of the faux star Nick Rivers....

"Skeet Surfin'... "

She rose up to her elbows singing to Phil...

"Skeet Surfin'... "

Phil raised her head at her mentor and blinked once more , as she often did at her guardian's moments of sillyness. It surprised her this time, because it had been so long..Kara then began to sing in the tune of the old beach boys as she sang along to the music

If everybody had a 12 gauge
With a sufboard too.

Phil Blinked not sure she had heard the lyrics correctly

You see em shootin and surfin'
From here to Malibu.

Kara flipped her still wet hair like a beach bunny from the sixties as she smiled and sang..

Because it's totally bitchin'
Ridin waves and blastin' pigeons.
And its a' neat shootin' skeet when youre ridin' on the heavies all day.

Phil smiled , certian this had to be a joke as Kara leaned forward and pointed animately at her ward..

First Wave (shoot shoot)
Don't get tired.
Second Wave (shoot shoot)
Aim higher.
Third Wave (shoot shoot)
Pull it and fire.

Skeet Surfin' (it's all right)

Kara got up and ran around to hug her from behind swaying to the lyrics as she sang. Phil giggled and fought to follow the lyrics so she could sing along.

Waxin' down our surfboards
And loadin' up our traps.
Tell the teacher we're shootin'
And never comin' back.

Phil laughed at Kara's apparent blasphemy of lying or defiance to a teacher and gasped smiling as she was hauled to her feet, watching as her guardian began to dance strangely. Kara smiled still singing as she began to gracefully dance as if a part of the cast of 'Beach Party Bingo'. Phil giggled and began to mimic gracefully the dance getting into the rythmn with a natural grace of her own.

I've got a gun rack in my Chevy
For when the surf and the flak get heavy.
And we'll have fun with our guns until the lifeguard takes our ammo away.

Phil booed at the lifeguard as the pair danced. Kara giggled as she sang, listening proudly at how easy Phil picked up the chorus, singing back up with her little 'shoot shoot' s and her crooning of 'it's all right'

First wave (shoot shoot)
Don't get tired.
Second Wave (shoot shoot)
Aim higher.
Third Wave (shoot shoot)
Pull it and fire.

Skeet Surfin' (it's all right)

Giggling Kara hopped up on the deck lounge and hauled Phil up in front of her, both slipped into a pandemine as if riding a surfboard, only with little Phil blasting everything in sight with her imaginary shotgun..

First Wave (shoot shoot)
Man what a 'natch.
Second Wave (shoot shoot)
Pullin' that trap.
Third Wave (shoot shoot)
How was that?
Skeet Surfin' (it's all right)

Kara hugged her from behind and sang goofily..

Sharing sunsets with my favorite girl,
When we shoot the curl we really shoot the curl.

Phil then giggled manically and with a playfully wickedly face began to act out letting the 'curl' really have it! Before slipping back into a chorus once more with Kara..

First wave (shoot shoot)
Don't get tired.
Second Wave (shoot shoot)
Aim higher.
Third Wave (shoot shoot)
Pull it and fire.

They both looked at each other singing..

Skeet Surfin' (it's all right)

First Wave (shoot shoot)
Man what a 'natch.
Second Wave (shoot shoot)
Pullin' that trap.
Third Wave Wave (shoot shoot)
How was that?

Kara smiled as she bopped side to side with Phil on the surfboard, before getting all serious crooning out with Nick..

I wish they all could be double-barrel,
Wish they all could be double barrel guns.

Both girls collapsed onto the chair, Phil enclosed in kara arms as the song droned on...

Skeet surfin' can't you see?
Do you wanna come along with me?

Phil smiled happily "Where do -you- find these things??"

Skeet surfin' can't you see?
Do you wanna come along with me?

Kara laughed and hugged her as she bopped side to side as the song faded out. "Sorry, the moment so called for a bit of sillyness"

"I'm glad" Phil kissed her cheek as she was shooed back to her food.

"Finish your lunch and remember...." Kara began

"....no swimming for like a half an hour" Phil finished with her as Kara's jaw dropped.

Phil froze realizing what she just had done and her eyes rose to meet Kara's..."Whooops"

"Yeah Whoops" Kara giggled and then launched herself at Phil who tried only at the last second to flee. Kara scooped her up and walked over to the side of the pool.

Phil shrieked through her giggl fit "No! No! No! its gonna be /cold/!"

"So should've -thought- about that before we so finished Kara's sentences....Muhahaha!" Kara tried an evil giggle that only made Phil giggle.

Kara smirked and dropped her ward into the pool with a cackling splash. Phil surfaced gasping and giggling splashing her guardian with the cold water. Kara gaped...

"why you little!" Kara sputtered, Phil smiled smugly......then froze ...

"Cannonball!" Kara giggled as she leapt up and wrapping her amrs around her knees plopped straight down into the water. Phil gaspsed and gurgled trying to escape the wash of the spalsh.

Kara smiled as the ensueing splash fight began.

She needed this afternoon..apparently so had Phil.

Kara giggled as she began to find herself ont he losing end of the splash fight....

Originally posted by the Templar Ebon Circuit

March 6th 2008 - Hospital Galaxy City

Drake watched the screen in mild shock. Longbow had been kind enough to allow him a TV while he recovered in their medical wing. Several broken ribs, a fractured eye socket, and the complete loss of one of his cybernetic arms had Drake sit and watch helplessly as the broadcast droned on. He grunted softly and rubbed his aching sides, the news of another invasion force doing little to ease his discomfort.

Damn...they couldn't have picked a worse time. A huge wave of Rikti is on it's way and here I am in a hospital bed....not to mention my 'probation.'

Drake sighed and looked at the replacement cybernetic Longbow had grafted on. It was old, at least a ZR-35 series, which you still had to charge up every night. It was slow, clunky, and had nowhere near the amount of mobility his arm had. After wearing it for so long, it almost felt as if he'd lost his arm all over again.

He could build another one, but it would take some time. What with his probation, getting into the War Zone for more Rikti tech wasn't going to be easy. He then chuckled softly and smiled as the proverbial 'light bulb' clicked on in his mind.

Maybe I should go pay "UberTank" a visit. I've busted him with tech on at least three separate occasions. Guess it's time to call in a 'favor.'

He grins and chuckles once more as the thought of roughing up that big, dumb, Freak gives him a very small 'something' to look forward to. Still, glancing back up at the screen, his thoughts return to the coming invasion.

They're going to need every Hero in the city to fend off the tide...let's just hope I can help.

Drake sighs, leans back into his pillows, and begins to create a list of equipment needed for the coming battle in his mind.

March 6th, 2008 - New Overbrook, Faultline

She couldnt believe what she had heard...

All they had fought for last summer...

..what it had cost them. What it had cost her...

Kara's weary eyes looked out through the frost covered glass of the living room window. She pulled her knees up to her chest hugging them tightly to her body as she let her eyes wander over the snow covered grounds and gray skies.

New Overbrook seemed so peaceful as it's citizens went about their normal routines.

".....as we have said before the calculations have been verified as of Friday...."

She hadn't believed it as she sat with dozens of other heroes in the beseiged bunker in the Warzone.

"...the numerous fluxuations in the dimensional eddies we are now able to detect are allowing these gaps to begin to open, thus indicating as many as six different ....."

She hadn't believed it even when she had to tell the girls. Little Kat and her own Philomela. They had taken it in stride and she was proud of them...this time was different. The two girls had been prepared /not/ like last time...the scramble to get Phil to Tokyo, the effort to find Katrina after her building had been bombed....

"...the time frame for the enemy's renewed offensive will take place from March until November at the very least...we have begun to calculate the arrival times and the time of course when the portals may be shunted away from..."

Kara shivered as she hugged her legs tighter to herself. She thought of her family, of... She closed her eyes and drew a deep breath...

".....the primary battles will of course take place in all major Earth cities that have access to the Portal Corps systems....."

She opened them and swallowed, she could feel each tick of the clock now. Soon it would be time for her to once take a stand for her city, her country and her planet for those she loved. She knew that tonight the president would be addressing the rest of the country...this was to be the last rest she would get for some time now.

She could hear the girls elsewhere in the house, finishing their homework, preparing in their own way for the nightmare that was to come...she felt a surge of pride in them, as she did for all of her family.

She and Luci would need to coordinate with Jada once more, She had turned the Abbey into a bunker like refuge last time. Might be a very good place for the girls to stay til this first wave relented once more..

"As of now the world is once more at war......Good Luck"

July 4th 2006 - Steel Canyon

Kara sat comfortably atop the old weathered blanket stretched out along the cool green grass of the park in Steel Canyon. She drew her arms around the excited young girl who sat in her lap as the sky lit up above them in multi colored explosions. Each brilliant burst of colors illicted a gasp and 'ooo' from Phil and the others around them and flinches and 'booms!' from each playful explosion that accented the artwork in the night sky over Paragon.

Kara turned to her left and smiled to her friend Katherine, who along with her husband and children had asked the pair to join them in celebrating the 4th of July with a picnic and a day at the park near Platinum Lake. It had been a day of softball and of hotdogs and soda, chasing and running every where with Phil. The children all of the same age had been getting along for some time. Phil even had a degree of a following here at the lake after a day of magic and illusion performances she put on going from table to table and blanket to blanket.

Kara smiled and hugged her ward as a mammoth blossum filled the sky. So a little show off, she thought.

Kara then turned and nudged Rachel who was sitting on her other side equally entraced if not softly detached from the wonderous display. Her hand firmly held by little Phil's. Kara winked to her and recieved a warm albiet slight smile.

A loud explosion drew all of their eyes skyward in time for yet another artful and gracious display of light and color. They all laughed as a rounding series of explosions timed perfectly with each smaller skyburst drew them to surprise and delight. The audience of the park exploded into applause until yet another rocket went up.

Kara sighed, losing herself in the moment.

Soon she would have to take Phil home and put the soon to be exhausted child to bed. She was happy Rachel had decided to spend the weekend with them, the two of them had a wonderful time together...any chance Kara could she was resolved to make sure Phil and Rachel spend moments like this together.

If only for them to share the moments they could together...that would enough. She sighed.

It is these moments...she began to think only to be interupted once more as the finale began in earnest.

These moments...

Originally posted by Templar Ebon Drake

October 29th 2007 - Vanguard Headquarters, Founders Falls


"What the -hell- do you mean 'I can't help you," Drake nearly screamed in frustration, staring at the Vanguard representative in front of him. Since Drake's return to Paragon, he had been trying desperately to get into the crash site, but had been told on countless occasions to speak to the Vanguard first. Now, standing in the Vangaurd HQ in Founders, his arms shaking uncontrollably, he stares down the representative sitting at the desk through his helmet's visor.

"I'm sorry, Ebon. Lady Grey has said that no Hero under security level 35 can enter the Warzone. It's simply too dangerous and we need the most experienced Heroes to keep the Rikti confined to the crash site."

"But I'm security level 34! You're telling me that one level is going to make that much of a differance?!"

"I'm sorry, sir, but my hands are tied. You're going to have to wait until you've reached the proper clearance level. But until then, I'm sure we can find you some other assign-"

Drake cut the man off abruptly by slamming his fist down on the desk. "I don't give a damn! There's people out there who need my help and I can't do that with you giving me [censored] about security levels! So screw your damn protocols and let me FIGHT!"

Drake fumed, and removed his fist from the representative's desk, not even noticing the hole he had placed in it. The young man glanced at the hole but wasn't impressed. He'd obviously been dealing with Metas for some time. "I'm sorry, Ebon, but there's nothing I can do. Now I'm going to have to ask you to leave before I'm forced to throw you into confinement for interfering with UNSC operations."

From out of nowhere, two Vangaurd power armors stepped forward to flank Drake on either side, their stun batons humming to life. Drake looked at them, then back at the representative, then back to the power armors. Beneath his helmet, Drake's features twisted into an angry snear. He scoffed and without another word, turned on his heel and walked out of the building, slamming the door behind him. The door shattered immediately, it's hinges snapped, and sent shards of glass skittering out onto the sidewalk. Several nearby citizens stared at Drake, a somewhat frightened look on their faces. Drake didn't even notice and with a thought, he telekinetically pushed himself off the ground, rocketing up and over the buildings across the street, leaving the screaming representative and staring citizens on the sidewalk far behind him.

Several blocks away, Drake touched down on a rooftop next to a large, brick chimney. With a scream of pain and frustration, he drove his fist deep into the brick. Frustration quickly gave way to rage as he found himself repeatedly driving his fists into the chimney. Bricks, dust, and debris flew in every direction, sent careening into the air by Drake's augmented punches. Anger clouded his vision and he continued punching, the action becoming more of a necessity than he may have realized, taking all of his frustration out on an inamimate object, rather than the nearest person. He simply kept punching...because it was the only thing he -could- do.

After some time, Drake finally managed to compose himself, panting heavily at his exhertion. He stared at the pile of bricks that used to be a chimney and took a deep breath. Anger again gave way...this time to helplessness. His knees buckled and Drake sank to his knees. He struggled with his helmet but finally managed to tear it off, tossing it aside just as he wretched onto the black tar of the roof. On his hands and knees, he continued wretching and his anger slowly subsided. He coughed, spittle and vomit trailing from his lips before he wiped it away. He grunted and stood, walking across the roof to retireve his helmet, and slipped it on over his head, the suit re-pressurizing with a 'hiss.'

He felt powerless. All his friends and fellow Heroes were out defending this City against it's old foe...and he could do nothing but watch.

"[censored] protocol," he breathed. It had taken him a long time to come to terms with his parent's death...but he could never forgive the Rikti for stripping them from him. They had taken the only family he ever had, and he was -not- going to stand by as more people lost their loved ones because of the Rikti. Drake clenched his fist tightly, the metal of his cybernetic hand groaning in protest.

"Fine...they want me to get another security level? They'll have it."

With renewed resolve, Drake once again launched into the air. He had several hours of daylight left and a lot of his contacts to call. He'd be in the War Zone tonight...even if it killed him.

((Gonna try /really/ hard to get to 35 tonight. Wish me luck! :P))

Originally posted by former Templar Skilla, best friend to Diamond (i.e. Kara or "bubbles")

June 25, 2006 - Steel Canyon


Lissa pulled the last of the tape off the wall and stepped bad. Not bad, she thought to herself, surveying the new dark chocolate colored paint. Not a color I would have chosen, but it really is rather striking - and it at least covers the scorch marks. Softly, she started to giggle as she glanced at the brand new microwave sitting on the little tray table in front of the newly painted kitchen wall.

It had been a Friday night almost three weeks ago. Both Bubbles and she had been having rotten weeks and their nerves were frayed to the edge.

"What we need is popcorn and Johnny Depp movies," Lissa had declared over the phone to her friend.

"Def! I'll so bring "Pirates" and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," and the soda..."

"I've got "Edward Scissorhands," "Benny and Joon," and tons of microwave popcorn."

"Like, the good kind with the extra gooey fake movie butter?"

"You know it!" Lissa grinned.

"Awes! I'm so there!"

Lissa had gone about setting up the movie screen, a moment of bittersweet nostalgia creeping in as she brought out Doug's pride and joy, his elaborate, state-of-the-art projector and surround sound system. She touched the black case almost lovingly as tears filled her eyes. She was about to break down and indulge in a good cry, when the buzzer sounded.

Wiping her eyes quickly, she hurried to the door where Bubbles stood, balancing 3 2-liters and an armful of movies. "You were so crying!" Kara accused, frowning.

"Yeah," Lissa admitted, sniffing a bit. "It's the first time I've set up Doug's equipment."

"Aww, Bloss," Kara said, setting her bundles down instantly and embracing her friend. Lissa hugged her back tightly.

"I'm Ok," she said after a moment.

"I know." Kara smiled gently, as she bent down to pick up her discarded items. "Whew!" she exclaimed, her nose wrinkling as she entered the small apartment. "Still can't find out what's making that smell?"

"No," Lissa said ruefully, going quickly to light the fragrant cnadles and incense scattered around the room. "We've done everything! I've had the carpet steamed, checked in ever closet, had the plumbing looked at, even had Ernie up in the crawl space seeing if some poor animal had gotten stuck in there and died!"

"Gross," Kara said sympathetically. "At least it isn't as overwhelming as it was before."

"Not with all the air fresheners i've got around. I swear I should buy stock in Glade Plug-ins."

"Poor Lissa," Kara said with a kind little laugh. "You pick the first movie then."

""Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." I need a laugh." Lissa smiled as her friend slipped in the DVD.

"Okay, but I so need popcorn," Kara grinned.

"Deal. You make the drinks, and I'll make the popcorn," Lissa grinned back, already humming one of the Oompa-Loompa songs cheerfully. She bopped into the kitchen doing the first Oompa Loompa dance, Kara giggling as she danced along behind her.

"Augustus Gloop will not be harmed," she sang, grabbing a pack of popcorn and shimming to the microwave. " Augustus Gloop will not be ha...AHHHHH!"

Kara whirled as Lissa shrieked, pointing at the microwave. The source of the odd odor was suddenly apparant as the door swung open to reveal a slimy brown puddle of what might have at one time been a plate of chicken, covered in wriggly, white maggots. Kara's eyes went wide as out of one of the vent holes, a particularly fat specimen emerged , falling to the floor to wiggle and squirm.

"AHH!" screamed Kara.

"AHH!" screamed Lissa. "Blastitblastitblastit!"

Kara opened up, slamming her energy bolts into the little appliance, exploding it and sending bits of scorched plastic and cooked maggot into the air. A nice little fire was started on the wall, and as Lissa moved to grab the fire extinguisher, the fire alarm went off, and the sprinklers came on, dousing the entire kitchen in freezing water.

The girls stood there for a moment, drenched to the skin, looking at the smoldering wreck of Lissa's microwave, still filling the apartment with smoke, and the delightful smell of rotten chicken and flambed larvae. Slowly, Lissa turned, about to speak when a small wet glob of shrived brown worm slid off her head and onto the floor. "Oh...my...GOD!" she screamed. "I have dead maggot IN MY HAIR!!! AHHH!"

Kara screamed, looking at her own hair, and the two girls made a mad dash for the bathroom, where the shower was started instantly. Without regard for taking turns, or removing clothes, the girls piled into the shower, dumping shampoo on each others' heads, lathering, rinsing, and repeating. Clothes were tossed out, soaked and soapy as bits of charred insect were identified, as the two superheroes decontaminated themselves with the same intensity as if they had been exposed to a deadly Crey plague virus.

"Are there any more?" Lissa asked , nervously, running her hands through her hair.

"You look good? Me?" Kara asked, with the same shivering cringe.

"I don't see any..." Lissa looked up meeting Kara's eyes and started to giggle. "I think I'm gonna need a new microwave..."

Kara burst out laughing. "Oh Gosh, Ernie is SO gonna kill us!"

"Oh god," Lissa moaned, wincing. "There goes my security deposit..."

"We can always paint..." Kara offered, stepping out and grabbing a towel.

"True," Lissa responded, taking the towel she was offered. "Hey Kara," she said suddenly, giggling mischieviously. "We just took our first shower together," she wiggled her eyebrows suggestively, grinning.

"Yeah, we so did..." Kara said, trying to sound sexy, but only managing a series of giggles.

"And you know what?"

"What?"

"Maz missed it..."

They had just laughed.

May 17th, 2006 - Steel Canyon


The stars burned brightly across the darkened velvet sky that hung gracefully over the skyline of Steel Canyon. Its image at once sharp and crystal clear and yet also peaceful in contrast the obsidian twinkling monoliths that stretched up as if to caress the lofty stars of light. A pair of soft green eyes peered through the glass of one such monolith's penthouse windows to take in the peaceful view.

Kara smiled a little as she stepped up to the bay window, her reflected image mirrored her attempt at a smile as she took in the skyline of the soon to be sleeping city zone. Behind her reflected image she could see her mirror also had a little charge laying across the thick rug of the almost ethereal alternate penthouse that lay beyond the glass in the image. The other child much like Phil behind her had spread herself out on the rug with a sketch pad and colored pencils and crayons.

She smiled as she watched her ward's reflection as the music from the girl's little radio played out the MP3's the girl had chosen softly around them. Kara found herself musing lightly if the silent mirror pair had sound around the reflected pair as well. She closed her eyes as a new song began, its soft twinkling bell like melody stirring up thoughts and images for her as she opened her eyes to look into the reflection before her...

..and beyond it.

Before her eyes her reflected image took on a much younger appearance of herself at an age almost long forgotten. Of a young girl with pigtails, coloring at a plastic desk in a half remembered room so long ago.

Dancing bears
Painted wings
Things I almost remember,
And a song someone sings
once upon a December

She smiled wistfully as her mind's eye carried her as if through a faded dream of a time long ago. A dream filled with pictures of bears dancing ballet along her walls and an image of a faerie mobile blowing in the wind by her open window, dancing gracefully as a spring breeze wafted along through the screen. Behind the child a silhouette moves about visible only from the hips down. As Kara looked deeper into the image of her past she could almost hear the lovely tunes of a long forgotten Filipino lullaby echo in her ears softly.

Someone holds me safe and warm,
horses prance through a silver storm,
Figures dancing gracefully,
across my memory,

Kara watched as the image swirled gently and the little girl is swept into the silhouettes arms in a loving maternal hug. She raised her own arms up around herself as the memory of such hugs flowed through her. She remembered being taught to dance , the patience, the love and the pride in the silhouettes face as they glided together. Her youthful reflected image gazed up with such longing and pride for the love she felt from the silhouette as they danced side by side and together as only a mother and daughter could.

A haunting melody and the singer's beautiful voice in the song's stirring chorus, caused a swirl of images to cascade before her. In the ghostly reflection that danced through her memories she could only watch as they played out before her.

Her visage changed to show her now only a bit older than Phil. Standing in a green tiled hallway as she watched a policeman and doctor speak with her father. She stood with her hands wrung together as whatever these men told her father, caused the strength and pillar of her young world to slump against the wall, the sound of weeping shattered the image as if a rock through a lovely stained glass window. The fragments danced before her eyes each holding a memory as she saw her image laughing and smiling with friends, cheering at football games, dancing her ballet. A whirlpool of memories danced fighting to stay together following her loss.

These fragmented moments of happiness faded quickly with a blur to her running in fear and explosions with Rikti destroying everything in sight. A white-silver flash of her energy washed away the Rikti only to seem to push away the fragments of smiling friends and family as well.

Her image danced in the blackness of empty lonliness and pain to be replaced with laughter once more and the faces from NPI. Images of freaks, Crey and Malta appeared around her new friends and family, only to be pushed away with her white silver flash.

She sighed a bit as her reflected image shifted before her once more, older now in her costume of white, a Diamond upon her chest.

Someone holds me safe and warm,
horses prance through a silver storm,
Figures dancing gracefully,
across my memory,

She watched as a new softer silhouette slightly taller than her, descended gently from behind her wrapping her arms around her. She watched as her image closed her eyes, safe and content resting her head upon the soft offered shoulder. She watched as the silhouette swept her up into a graceful air ballet high above the city. She reached up to almost touch the vision before her, as she remembered.

Far away, long ago
glowing dim as an ember
things my heart used to know
things it yearns to remember

The image swirled gently once more as memories danced before her upon the reflected surface. The soft touch of a rose across her cheek, dances across open floors of light and sound, friends surrounding the pair, happy laughter and warm smiles as she watched her image danced in the arms of this new silhouette, the crystal image of a waterfall cascading softly behind them. Before her eyes, a soft encroaching shadow grew around them as their dance separated and the silhouette grew more distant from her. They parted until her reflection had swirled to her knees before the distant shadow of her silhouette.

And a song someone sings
Once upon a December

Kara sighed as she watched her reflection listen to a far off lovely song. She reached out longingly to touch the memory. Before her, her reflection returned to show her as she is now. The pair of fingers pressed against the cool surface of the glass as each hand reached out for the other. Reaching yet not touching, she watched as a single tear fell from her image's eyes.

She closed her eyes as she felt her tear slip down across her cheek.

August 7th, 2007 - Rikti War Zone - Invasion day 11


She held up a bleeding hand to release a blast of her energy, it's lethal blue white force strikes the Rikti Conscript flush in the chest, knocking her opponent out in one deft movement.

Her head turned to her left as a drone materialized next to her, another to her front along with three more Rikti warriors around her. She closed her eyes and glowed brightly as they stood momentarily entranced as a conflagration emblazoned in response to their arrival.

There was an eerie beauty in the total release of the energy she generated, her eyes glowed hotly as she she detonated in their midst. There was a horrible noise followed by an equally terrible silence, she shuddered and dropped to her knees fighting to catch her breath as the Vanguard troopers finally caught up to her. Flanking on either side of her they laid down a field of suppressing fire around her to protect the heroine until she could recharge. Panting she lifted her head to survey the masses of bodies around her. A year ago, no a month ago she would have wept.

She would have mourned.

Today, the charred flesh that flapped listlessly from the bones just seemed to simply delineate a piece of the picture. Coarse fabric seemed to blend into skin, and the hands of the fallen were curled adamantly inward. Across from her she watched as a form rose from the bodies. She winced she hadn't hit all of them hard enough.

The charred metal armored hand reached out to shake a crumbled and crushed Rikti form, its fate obvious to any now. The metal helm snapped up to fixate on her, its electronic eyes seemed to burn into her. Its unspoken rage and demeanor sang volumes. The warrior stood as volleys of Vanguard fire raged around it, scoring hit after hit across it's fellow warriors.

"This is your fate." she heard it's song again in her mind.

All around them raged the dance of war, as she stood up and breathed deeply. A siren screamed out across the battlefield, yet it was almost as if the rest of the fight's cacophony of sounds had dimmed as she met the gaze of the wounded and worn Chief Mentalist. The setting sun shone its soft amber hue onto the twisted metal ruins of the fire base as fading star began to set, and the moon had begun her haughty ascent to the throne.

Who was that to you? she thought as she felt her energy grow and swell within her tired and exhausted body. Was it a brother? or a lover? Do you mourn for a life left behind by this war /your/ people began?

A part of her mind tried to recall what her life had been before all of this had began, Her daily battles were often with her family, but there were never any repercussions after a loss in such a verbal match. Teasing, taunting, tickle fights: only her pride suffered a daily carnage.

She thought of her children and of the simple life of her classroom, of her dear friend's weddings, hearing her musical laughter of the happiness she finally deserved. Memories of happier moments of verbal sparring with the sweet goof inside of her mind, of listening to her brother and her wacky tech of a friend banter and of a photo shoot for her best friend, listening to all of her hopes and dreams.
She can almost taste an ice cold glass of sprite while talking with her friend the 'old lady', to listen to Jada's wit and playful sarcasm over the comm. To the youthful naitivity of the little one and her beloved cat to the friend who also had another cat run her life.

In her mind's eye she can still see a simple smile from someone dear to her heart beside a waterfall, still softly feel her touch, and most of all the small touch of eye lashes whispering across her cheek from a 'butterfly' kiss from little Phil.

Sometimes, when driven to tears and exhaustion, she would be reminded that it was all pretend. None of the danger was really there. The adrenaline rushes were just primal mechanisms to protect a fragile heart, an innocence that wished to ensconce itself into the abyss of time. An unfamiliar feeling surfaced in the pit of her stomach, it stirred in her something she was truly afraid of, and she fought in vain to quell its hunger. Gnawing incessantly at the walls of her heart, the feeling began to tear and rip into her soul.

She breathed in the horror and heroics that filled the acrid air around her as her arm rose up, her energy flowing down along her skin. She let the surrealism-turned-reality into her heart no longer for just this moment caring for sides anymore. Who was this enemy to take away all of that from her? Who were they to bring more horror here? Everything had already been too much!

It had to stop!

The two lone warriors isolated by anger and exhaustion, fueled but a mutual desire for revenge fired and began their final dance...

It was over in moments, too weakened by her explosion the mentalist found her thoughts to primal and too focused to disturb, its attempts to disrupt...to break her resolve were as futile as they were in vain. She moved with an elegant grace as she dodged in coming fire and positioned herself perfectly each time to strike his body fiercely with a powerful salvo.

Soon his world threaten to sink into blackness as he fell, his armor cracked and broken, his weapon dropping to his side as he fell, his strength ebbing from him.

She stopped for just a moment to confirm he was down before an explosion to her left swept her away once more into the maddening tide of battle. Dark smoke danced and wafted eerily across the blood soaked battlefield as the fighting shifted away from the body of the dying mentalist, who reached out with his last ounce of strength to close his armored fist around that of the Rikti he had mourned.

She continued her performance across the stage of battle, dancing through the lines of Rikti, swirling deadly pirouettes of fire and energy until a shadow appeared next to her, and she turned to face its owner panting her eyes wild with her determination.

A smirk was plastered ominously on the face of the Vanguard Commander "We're clear Ma'am" , she felt an inevitable lust for more action, yet a desperate need to stop.

She nodded as he walked off, her eyes surveying the scorched field of battle. Flashes of light and explosions lit up the horizon of the war zone as the moon shone sensuously in the distance, casting a mischievous gleam across the field of ruins.

As if tempting her for more...

She fought it down fiercely, it was not the fighting she yearned for, she reminded herself, but for its end! She took to the night sky, heading off to the next fight, even as she continued her struggle within.

All around her sirens blared as explosions thumped and pounded away at the peace of the night.

May 7th, 2006 - Steel Canyon

Kara walked to the center of Katherine's darkened studio a bit shaken, the soft hiss from her comm grew silent as she removed it to set it aside atop her gymn bag. The last of her team had long since gone to bed. She knew she wouldn't sleep tonight. Her 'problem' still tore at her, and she hated going home with this.

Tonight had been difficult as well, she sighed as she remembered the awarding of her 45th clearance level for her inversed fields, and the three badges she had earned. Swan had been there, the younger woman estatic for Kara. Kara smiled, she enjoyed an odd friendship with her younger 'mentor'. Pulling off the towel wrapped around her neck she shimmered her fields to replace her costume with a shoulderlesss, dark leotard and ballet slippers. The chalk made a dull thud as it hit the wooden dance floor and was quickly crushed by a snap of her right foot. Bit by bit she toed the dust as she tied back her long mane. With a sharp frustrated pull she secured it up and back off of her shoulders. She padded softly over to the stereo and slipped in her disk.

She moved silently to the dark center of the floor, lit only by the dim moonlight that streamed in from the bay windows of the studio and the twin soft lamps that framed the large mirrored wall opposite her on the floor. Softly she rose to position en pointe as the song began. A gentle melody swirled around her as Kara begin to flow into an adagio style of ballet. Soft precise turns, her hands moving with elegant control around her movements, gliding through the air around and across her body as she danced. She closed her eyes as she allowed herself to feel the gentle music as the lyrics began from one of her mother's favorite songs, Irene Cara's 'The Dream' . Kara drew a breath it was the one song that had helped her overcome the pain of her attack before she had come to N.P.I. , whenever she danced to it...

I’ve been chasing dreams for so long
Just one step behind and then they’re gone
Illusions of love would come and go
I guess you have to hurt before you grow
And everybody knows
Never let go of the, never let go of the dream

With a graceful chaine, Kara revolved around the dance floor flowing into a sweeping run as she occasionally spun into a graceful series of pirouettes.

I always seem to lose what I thought was mine
And many times I tried to leave it behind
Deep inside, hope was still alive
Deep inside, dreams will never die
That is why we’re movin’ closer to the truth

She paused en pointe once more, sillouetted in the moon light by the bay windows Arching her back elegantly back her arms arched high above her head as she bowed around to spin back out into her dance.

It’s really great for me to be here
I’ve won over the pain and the fear
It’s been so very hard through the years
Been looking through a rainbow of tears
And still I never really let go of the dream

Her moves rapid and fluid to match the beat perfectly as she pumped her legs twirling to the music she could feel flowing through her.

Sometimes I saw my life just falling apart
And all the rejection tearing at my heart
Deep inside, hope was still alive
Deep inside, dreams will never die
If you try there’ll be so much more for you

Spinning to her knees she clutched her hands over her chest and threw her head back before twirling up into a soft series of spins. Kara once more flew across the studio floor, rising to a perfect fouette, she spun quickly pumping fast pirouettes to the lyrics, pushing herself to a strenous yet effortlessly elegant dozen to the music.

It’s really great for me to be here
I’ve won over the pain and the fear
It’s been so very hard through the years
Been looking through a rainbow of tears
And still I never really let go of the dream

Her eyes closed as she began to lose herself to the music.

We can all be free, we hold the key
If we can see what we wanna be
Life’s never easy, you get no guarantees
Why not give your all and see what you can find?

Dropping to her knees she began to weave delicate patterns across herself with her hands as she leaned way back her hair pony tail sweeping across the floor as she bowed back around herself. Reaching up high with her hand, Kara snapped back up into an energetic dance across the studio floor. Her style now simply a fluid graceful blend of her movements and the emotions the music touched within her.

It’s really great for me to be here
I’ve won over the pain and the fear
It’s been so very hard through the years
Been looking through a rainbow of tears
And still I never really let go of the dream

Rising back into a sharp en pointe she once more executed an elegant fouette and turned a near perfect rond de jambe in time to the music as she turned swiftly.She danced widely around the room grand movements. The song's climax pushing her spirits as she soared into a difficult tour en l'air, arcing through the air to land en pointe and swirling madly into another dozen pirouettes

It’s really great for me to be here
I’ve won over the pain and the fear
It’s been so very hard through the years
Been looking through a rainbow of tears
And still I never really let go of the dream

Her graceful pumping dance now carried her around the studio floor as she spun and swirled with her now more expressive allegro style taking over. Improvising her styles and movements Kara let the music guide her movements as she became one with it.

It’s really great for me to be here
I’ve won over the pain and the fear
It’s been so very hard through the years
Been looking through a rainbow of tears
And still I never really let go of the dream

Kara turned out her dance as the beat slowed her final series of pirouettes spun softly down into a perfect almost lovingly graceful reverance to a non exsistant audience. Softly her head sunk down to rest fully atop her knee. Breathing heavily she stayed in position as she allowed herself to enjoy the moment she had just experienced. Her eyes closed tightly she allowed herself to smile. She could feel exhaustion begin to slip in, she had for the briefest moments allowed herself to forget and to become her dance.

Slowly she rose and walked over to shut off the radio as it played the next song, her slippers barely making a sound as she crossed the distance. Collecting her things she toweled herself off and sank to the floor near the radio and her bag. She brought her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. She sighed to herself, she would have to go home soon, back to reality.

"....But not yet" She smiled faintly as she mused aloud looking at her world of dance just a little while longer. Kara closed her eyes and breathed softly a whisper in filipino "Salamat Mommy" she sighed and opened them again "Mahal Kita"

Removing her Sprite bottle from her bag , Kara took a long sip and sighed, enjoying her moment....if only for a little longer.

July 28th, 2007 - Galaxy City - Invasion day 4


Heaven bent to take my hand
And lead me through the fire
Be the long awaited answer
To a long and painful fight

Guardian Star lay sprawled on the cracked bloodstained pavement, motionless, and breathing in and out slowly. It had been too long since he had smelled air that was not rank with blood, choked with the dust of bombs. Even if he were to smell it, he mused it would be unfamiliar to him. He couldn’t bear to open his eyes. His whole body was filled with an unexplainable pain that rendered him motionless, the searing burn across his chest smoked. He had never saw the Rikti blaster bolt that tore through his force fields that struck him down. He had been so intent on protecting others, he must've gotten careless. He failed, he knew that now. He could hear faint footsteps and far off shouting all around him as the sounds of the battle grew distant, but could not lift his head from the street to glimpse their faces. Eventually all was still around him, and that was the part that scared him the most.

For a young man from the suburbs of New Jersey, Bill had done great things recently. He had managed what others could not; he learned how to begin to use his powers to aid others, and had since he arrived in Paragon. He had become more than he had once dreamed of being, a rookie superhero who had now fought beside heroes whose names would scatter through and fill tales of selfless sacrifice and bravery for years to come. But now, as he lay broken in the street between consciousness and sleep, he felt smaller than he ever had before. He was supposed to do the saving, and now he couldn’t save himself.

Truth be told I've tried my best
But somewhere along the way
I got caught up in all there was to offer
And the cost was so much more than I could bear

He thought he could hear someone calling his name, a voice all too familiar to him. But he pushed it out of his mind as he lay on the cold, stiff ground. He feared death, but had let that fact escape him as he stood amongst his fellow heroes, preparing to do as he had all week, make a stand against the invader. To stand beside the woman who at one time he had turned his back on. Afraid to admit he was like her, a mutant something to be feared and despised. She was incredible, so helpful when he came to this city, he sought her forgiveness and she gave it willingly. She stood by him and supported him, patrolled with him even teaching him without knowing how to be a true hero. He would have given his life for her, and now, as the burning in his extremities, spread to other parts of his body, he feared that he had now done just that. When he was younger, he had always seen in war movies about the moment right before you die, and this felt like that, very gray, but also very clear moment in which everything was supposed to be revealed. God, he thought, I'm going to die...


Though I've tried, I've fallen...
I have sunk so low
I messed up
Better I should know
So don't come round here
And tell me I told you so...

Bill had so many things he wanted to do before he died. He thought that maybe he’d get married to Patti, someone who wouldn’t always want to control him or make demands of him he could not meet. Pattie was a lot like Kara in so many ways. His face softened involuntarily as his thoughts turned to his friend, it seemed he had known Kara his entire life, and they had been the most unlikely friends growing up together, he the jock, never taking anything seriously, sort of the wild man of the field and she was the proverbial cheerleader, so good all of the time. He could not help but to smile a little as his mind wandered back to the time he 'stole' his dad's pick up truck just so she could learn to parallel park.

All through elementary school right on up through High School, they had known each other. It was only natural that they eventually had dated, though it didn't take. It was as if they both knew they were better as friends, meant for someone else. Though he had been grateful that they had remained friends after that. Kara had always been there to keep him out of trouble, and now, for all he knew even she was gone. She could be lying somewhere like he was now, dead or dying in the street. Out of his reach, where he could not protect the friend who had still believed in him, even after he wasn't there for her when she needed her old friends the most all of those years ago. Like a Judas, he denied his friend to cover his own shame for being like she was. A mutant.

We all begin with good intent
Love was raw and young
We believed that we could change ourselves
The past could be undone
But we carry on our backs the burden
Time always reveals
And the lonely light of morning
The wound that would not heal
It's the bitter taste of losing everything
I held so dear.

Another jolt of shearing pain jolted through his body as he wondered if she was dead. She most likely was, right? I mean he thought, how many more fights can we win? How often can her luck hold out, she always found herself knee deep in the most dangerous situations every time she was given the opportunity. Always there for the city, his fogged mind was filled with questions, she is dead isn't she? It's so quiet now, are they all dead?, As Bill lay still on the battlefield, his entire body chilled at the thought of losing his closest friend. He took a sharp breath, and tried to push these thoughts and memories as far away as he could because it was likely that he would never see her alive again, if he were to live another day. That too, now seemed highly unlikely.

I've fallen...
I have sunk so low
I messed up
Better I should know
So don't come round here
And tell me I told you so...

The soldiers of Vanguard had been right to laugh at him when he approached them; He did not belong on a battlefield. He was barely even close to his twentieth clearance level, no where near some of the heroes he had stood beside here in Skyway. He wasn't as great as they were, he just wanted to stand between the invaders and the innocents of the city. He didn't belong here, he was no warrior, this was nothing like football nor lacrosse, it wasn't a game. He belonged at home, in Finnesville, with Pattie, Johnny, Carl, Mark his old buddies and of course Kara. Back to the safety and happiness the innocence of childhood provides. Neither He nor she chose this path; it was handed to them by way of their gifts, gifts that made them different, a gift that had dumped this awesome responsibility on them both. A gift Bill now longed to kill. He felt himself become enraged, and yet was relieved to find that he was still breathing.

Heaven bent to take my hand
Nowhere left to turn
I'm lost to those I thought were friends
To everyone I know
Oh they turned their heads embarrassed
Pretend that they don't see
But it's one missed step
You'll slip before you know it
And there doesn't seem a way to be redeemed

But whether or not he belonged in the midst of this battle; he couldn’t change his fate. All at once, Bill felt a surging warmth take over his body as a brightness surrounded him. He was sure this was his moment of death, the supposed end of it all. As the brightness began to envelope him, he heard a far off voice calling his name again. And this time, he strained to hear it, to take in its rich quality, and to reach out to it, because he didn’t want to die. A warm, though rough leather gloved hand stroked Bill's face. It's touch so tender and soft. He felt his own body respond to that warmth. It was like something out there, someone out there, was saving his life. A rope had been tossed around his spirit and was pulling him back.

Though I've tried, I've fallen...
I have sunk so low
I have messed up
Better I should know
So don't ya come round here
And tell me I told you so...

Bill was finally capable of opening his eyes. They immediately fixated on the hand stroking his face tenderly, and with all the care in the world. His eyes traced a line up the arm until his eyes finally met those of Kara's. He felt like all the pain had evaporated from his body and that nothing else could possibly matter. He felt like if she was here, then everything could be alright, and even if he were to die, it wouldn’t matter because he had felt something that nothing in this Terrible war could erase. He had felt love. Love for his closest friend, the friend that had made it through and found him, he closed his eyes and could hear her voice screaming out to a nearby empath.

A pale woman, the Police Detective/Templar was suddenly kneeling beside him beside him as Kara cradled his head in her lap. Izzy, Kara had called her. He could hear her tell him in a very weary voice as she looked at him with almost ancient eyes that he was going to be all right. He looked up to Kara's face and saw the concern in her eyes, yet her resolve as well. The determination to keep him alive, her love for her friend...for her family.

Though...
I have messed up
Better I should know
So don't come round here
And tell me I told you so...

All around behind her he could see the shapes of the other heroes. We won, he thought, again. He felt his friend take his hand and squeeze it tightly, he could hear her far off voice telling him to hold on ...to fight! His pain began to numb and heal as Izzy placed her hand across his burned chest. He smiled, he would see Patti again, he would live. He knew this as he squeezed Kara's hand, he was out of the fight for now, but he would be back.

His friend had found him...again.

[Bits and Drabbles of daily life and what not from my Character and a few Templars. Was always worried that my writing wasnt good enough for here but the other thread seems to be doing well enough so i thought I would share Hope you like these too. These are the momentary snapshots to explain why we do the things we do ]

April 17th 2006 - Steel Canyon

The silence in the apartment had been deafening for about an hour and half now, save for the music streaming out of Kara's laptop on the table before her. Phil had dragged her feet over her chores and then her homework. Kara had been stern and short with her to get the girl to get her responsibilites done. Kara had a lot of work to do and it had not been a good week at all.

So much...so much had hit her, but nothing like what was tearing at her right now. Her heart had been struck and shattered. Betrayed and hurt she had thrown herself into her work to forget the problems at the Abbey and had even recieved a honorary commission at the Firebase. She had decided it would be easier to have them both do their homework together. Kara had sighed though, Phil only acted like this when she knew something was wrong with her guardian and Kara wasnt sharing.

Kara sighed, she was going to have to find some way of blocking this or hiding it. She had to deal with this on her own, but make sure it didnt hurt anyone else...

Ma-ia-hii
Ma-ia-huu
Ma-ia-hoo
Ma-ia-haa

Kara smiled as the silly song ripped through her thoughts as she stared at her homework on the little screen of the laptop. She had been working on her final thesis at the dinning room table as Phil struggled with her homework on the far end.

Ma-ia-hii
Ma-ia-huu
Ma-ia-hoo
Ma-ia-haa

She began to sing, causing the child to look up surprised at the first sounds Kara had made all afternoon.

Grinning at the girl Kara sang goofily

Ma-ia-hii
Ma-ia-huu
Ma-ia-hoo
Ma-ia-haa

Phil blinked slowly lowering her pen to the table as she watched her guardian begin to weave her hands in the air above her head to the goofy beat and begin to sway in her chair

Ma-ia-hii
Ma-ia-huu
Ma-ia-hoo
Ma-ia-haa

She stopped waving her hands as the beat became happily jumbled her hands happily tumbling to it gracefully, turning to her ward she got a fake macho sauve look on her face and sung to her

Alo, salut, sunt eu un haiduc
Si te rog iubirea mea primeste fericirea.
Alo alo with a wave to her shegrinned as she got a soft silent giggle from Phil sunt eu picasso
Ti-am dat beep si sunt voinic *with a sly wink Kara got another, a real one this time as Phil began to sway to the happy tune in her chair as well
Dar sa stii nu-ti cer nimic.

Rising out of her chair to spin into a playful allegro style of dance Kara turned gracefully on the rug her arms pumping over her head. Phil clapped happily in her chair as she watched listening to her guardian sing

Vrei sa pleci dar nu ma nu ma iei
Nu ma nu ma iei nu ma nu ma nu ma iei.
Chipul tau si dragostea din tei
Mi-amintesc de ochii tai.
Vrei sa pleci dar nu ma nu ma iei
Nu ma nu ma iei nu ma nu ma nu ma iei.

The bopping little Phil hopped up and began a graceful dance beside Kara with her own lovely grace as Kara turned around her in a circle...both smiling now as she and Kara sang along with the romanian lyrics. Kara knowing them and Phil faking it!

Chipul tau si dragostea din tei
Mi-amintesc de ochii tai.

Slowing their graceful dance they turned to each other as Kara dropped to her knee and and sauvely belted out to her giggling ward..

Te sun sa-ti spun ce simt acum
Alo , Phil waved to her making Kara smile brightly as she tried to stay absurdly smooth. iubirea mea sunt eu fericirea.

Alo , giggling as they both waved to each other alo again as she sang and Phil smiled.. sunt iarasi eu picasso
Ti-am dat beep si sunt voinic
Dar sa stii nu-ti cer nimic.

Both launch back into a smooth yet stylish allegro dance of swirls and turns as the beat resumed. Around the pair Phil cast her arms up and dozens of illusionary butterflies danced around the now happy pair to the song..

Te sun sa-ti spun ce simt acum
Alo iubirea mea sunt eu fericirea.
Alo alo sunt iarasi eu picasso
Ti-am dat beep si sunt voinic
Dar sa stii nu-ti cer nimic.

Vrei sa pleci dar nu ma nu ma iei

Standing together they swirled and pumped their arms high in the air to the music as the butterflies cooed and swarmed around them as their singing voice became laced with giggles...

Nu ma nu ma iei nu ma nu ma nu ma iei.
Chipul tau si dragostea din tei
Mi-amintesc de ochii tai.
Vrei sa pleci dar nu ma nu ma iei
Nu ma nu ma iei nu ma nu ma nu ma iei.
Chipul tau si dragostea din tei
Mi-amintesc de ochii tai.

Ma-ia-hii
Ma-ia-huu
Ma-ia-hoo
Ma-ia-haa

Ma-ia-hii
Ma-ia-huu
Ma-ia-hoo
Ma-ia-haa

Ma-ia-hii
Ma-ia-huu
Ma-ia-hoo
Ma-ia-haa

Ma-ia-hii
Ma-ia-huu
Ma-ia-hoo
Ma-ia-haa

Swirling and twirling like a pair of goofy dervishes they danced as Kara sung out loud in a happy voice, joined by the bouncing girl beside of her.............

Vrei sa pleci dar nu ma nu ma iei
Nu ma nu ma iei nu ma nu ma nu ma iei.
Chipul tau si dragostea din tei
Mi-amintesc de ochii tai.

Both girls fell to the carpet and collapsed into a fit of giggles, the butterflies fluttered and vanished as Kara helped Phil up. Sweeping the girl into her arms she hugged her tightly and sighed. It is for these moments, she thought. I'm so gonna get through this....

Unseen by her now energetic little ward Kara sighed softly as she watched her hop up and slip back into her chair to dive back into her homework humming to her self in that happy little voice only little girls seem to possess..

"Nummy ma yay nummy nummy Yay!"

Kara smiled a little as she sat back on her calves, brushing her hair back out of her face...

..atleast for these moments.

[Originally posted by Templar Lucianna Addo]

July 24, 2007 - Founder's Falls



A voice crackled over Vanguard's secure channel. "Pin-Up, come in." Lucianna pulled her gloves tighter and glanced over to where Kara and Phil where sleeping on the couch. "This is Pin-Up." "It's time. Report to the RWZ immediately."


"Lucky Dog, come in." Freeman sighed to himself and climbed out of his favorite armchair. "Yeah, what?" The voice of the Vanguard communications officer paused only a second. "Report to the RWZ immediately. We're hitting the ground now." "On my way."

He looked around the living for the cordless phone and found it laying on the couch beside the remote control. He dialed the third number on speed dial. "Hello?" said a woman's sleepy voice. "Danshea," Freeman said softly. "Marry me."


"Scarlet Star, come in." Lexus gave her comm an incredulous look. "I'd prefer my civilian name." "That would be against protocol solider. Report to the RWZ immediately." "Very well." Lexus closed the channel. "I suppose I'll have to talk to Lady Grey in person, will I?"

She walked upstairs to the bathroom and examined her reflection in the mirror. It had been fifteen years since she'd worn the scarlet and gold bodysuit and thank god she had stayed in shape. 'I really have to getting around to telling Lucianna about this,' she told herself as she adjusted her mask.

In the bedroom, her husband, who had woke when she climbed out of bed, was cradling their thirteenth month old daughter in his arms. "It's time," he said, not really asking. She nodded and sat down on the edge of his bed. D'Angelo took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "I still get the feeling I should said no," she said. "I don't remember this being optional," he replied. "At least," he added, "they let me off to look after Ashley." Lexus leaned over to her sleeping baby on the forehead then stood back up, wiping a gloved hand across her eyes. "I'll be home soon." "I know you will."

((Aww "Templars of the Abbey" Not really -the- Templars nor affliated with them. The Templars here are just your friendly neighborhood Super Group based out of a very stylish club caled the Abbey in King's Row. But once I've caught this thread up to Present day I was going to Open the thread to any and all who wish to post their Rikti Experiences during the upcoming invasion offensives

That way we all can have a litle fun and express ourselves ))

[Like the first post, this one was originally posted by me and is about Kara/Diamond my character with the Templars So unless posted otherwise it will be one of my posts Thanks I hope you are enjoying these ]

July 24th, 2007 - New Overbrook, "Faultline"


Screaming...

Fire....smoke....panic...sirens....

Chaos...shooting...blasting...explosions...

...always screaming...

She remembered the fear as she fled through her dream, through the rubble of the burning student center. She remembered the bodies darting by in colorful flashes of clothing as they darted to and fro around her as she fled.

They had come...her sanctuary, the place she called home for the semester, the place she had watched the news of the invasion with dread had now become invaded!

She hated the sight of them, she hated the fear they raised within her. They came and they killed, murdered without thought it seemed...

They appeared and people died...

...it was just that simple.

She remembers being cornered, her fear dancing through her dream to recreate the vision of that moment she become frighteningly real once more...

Cornered by a Rikti warrior, her friends scrouching around her begging, pleding to what was to her at the time a killing machine...

and she became angry, frightfully angry! She felt it at first, welling up within her...it grew painful..it /had / to be released!

Release it she did! She lashed out with an energy she never knew she had, blindingly white and blue, striking the invader with the force of a tidal wave washing over some distant shoreline.

She had saved herself and her friends..

It was seen...the news had her, her life was over...

...as surely as if she had been killed that night in the ruins of the student center...All around her...

Screaming...

Fire....smoke....panic...sirens....

Chaos...shooting...blasting...explosions...

...always screaming...

...She awoke laying curled up next to the couch, safe in her livingroom. The television was still on with the inane voices of an infomercial hocking their wares to the darkened room.

Kara shivered a little as she pulled her senses back from the horrible world of her dream. Her eyes moved lower to see the soft small shape curled up and snuggled safely in her arms.

She ran a single gentle finger through the soft hair of the sleeping little girl and sighed. "If they come back little one...i wont let them get you"

She leaned down to kiss Phil gently on the forehead and pulled her deeper into her arms. Her whispered commitment filled with the desire of a mother protected her threatened child. Eager to deny that child the horrors that she herself had once wittnessed.

"I wont let them get you"...

In time her eyes fluttered closed, her breathing becoming calmer as it merges with that of the little girl in her arms.

Her little girl...

...her daughter.

With that thought, she passed easily into sleep, ready now to face any horror the world might have to offer.

[Originally posted by Mindwork for her Villian Concordat]

July 22, 2007 - Rogue Islands

What we've got here: Failure to: Communicate
(Communication: Cornerstone: Civilization)
Remember!

Dreams of the world turned upside down...

See: The Hate: We Are: Breeding
See: The Lies: We Are: Feeding

...fire in the sky.

There Is: Fear
There Is: Anger
There Is: Need
(...Lead Us Not: Into Temptation)

(Did you wear a black armband,
when they shot the man who said:
"Peace: could last: forever...")

Deliver us from evil!

Somewhere, the clocks are ticking.
-----
She wakes up, in the cool darkness. Outside, crickets are singing. Inside, she closes her eyes and listens...and knows their names. On far distant shores, they stare at the stars and know of hope.

Our hands are tied...
~~~~~
My hands are tied!
The billions shift from side-to-side,
And the wars go on with brainwashed pride,
For the Love of God and our human rights...
And all these things are swept aside,
By bloody hands time can't deny,
And are washed away by your genocide.
And history hides the lies of our civil war...
~Guns and Roses, Civil War

[Originally posted by Templar Lucianna Addo]

July 22, 2007 - Founder's Falls

“D'Angelo Addo!” Lexus screamed.

“What's wrong?” he called from the living room.

“Come here! Now!” D'Angelo wheeled himself into the kitchen and was immediately confronted by a furious looking Lexus. “Do you know who was on the phone just now?” she asked only slightly calmer.

“How would I know, woman?”

“It was Vanguard,” she said slowly. “You've been excepted into a program to work on neurological solutions to your paralysis. To help get you,” she sneered, “combat ready.”

“What's that look for? I thought you'd be happy? Isn't this what you want? For me to try and get out of this chair.”

“Yes! But not like this.”

“Not like what?”

“Lucianna and I having been trying for three years to get you go see doctors, scientists, anyone who could help. Between you, her, and your father, there's enough connections that you could get in most anywhere. But over and over again you said 'no'! And now...now that you have the chance to fight space aliens, you're all about getting help! Good to see what really matters to you!”

“Lex, it's not like that...”

“Then what's it like??”

“I didn't want you and Lucianna to be disappointed if it didn't wo...”

“Rubbish! That's [censored] and you know it.”

“You don't know what it's like to be in this chair,” D'Angelo said darkly.

“Don't. You. Dare. Say that to me. I have a very good idea what it's like to be in that chair. I am the one who helped take care of you after you were hurt. Don't you dare act like this doesn't effect all of us. Do you have any idea how hurt Lucianna was when you were injured? She gotten better about it, but I can see sometimes she still blames herself. And then you don't want help. It's like you gave up. And that hurt her more. She tried so hard to find people to help you. And it was like you didn't care. And now you're talking about how you didn't want us to be disappointed?”

D'Angelo frowned and rolled back from his wife. “I didn't want to be disappointed either...”

“At least you admit that,” she said quietly. “But I hate to see the fight go out of you D'Angelo. And your eldest daughter does too. If you found something to fight for again..that's good. But it should have been us.”

“Lexus...”

“What?” she said sniffing.

“I...damn baby I don't know what to say. I didn't think o...”

“Damn right you didn't.”

“Okay, fine...I deserve that. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. You're right. It's the wrong reason to get help. I tried to tell my self it was for Hector...”

Lexus nearly choked. “Revenge against Ritki for Hector? That's not going to bring him back.”

“I know baby. I know.” They sat in silence a moment; Lexus grabbed a napkin from the counter and dabbed her eyes. “Do you want me to drop out of the program?” D'Angelo asked.

“No. Of course not. But I want...promise me...while you're there and you're trying to get back on your feet...think of your family and not some bony space alien...”

“You got it.”

Lexus stared at him a moment. “Thank you. I think I'm going to bed.” She turned and went up the stairs. D'Angelo sat in the quiet kitchen alone, staring at the counter top. He turned and went back to the living room where he pulled himself onto the couch and laid down to go sleep.

[Originally posted by Templar Mazin Wystan]

July 11th, 2007



"War?" Fingers that were just recently claws move over the too black skin of the thing resting its head against his shoulder, questioning silently what it reminds him of. A moment later it comes to him, of a time long ago when he had visited Sea World and petted a dolphin... soft and slick, almost like oil transmuted into flesh. "You're not telling me anything I don't know. I fight wars every day. And if you've forgotten, I fought one to save you."

It's true. He can still smell the blood all around them and taste it on his lips. Burning flesh from those he threw into the fire pit mingles in the scent carried on the wind, combined with the food from the meal he interrupted. The combination is a particularly interesting smell, though one he can't begin to decide is good or bad. Something he has trouble with a lot in this dimension.

The thing lifts its head, turning at least three eyes toward him, perhaps more. Black eyes set into black skin beneath a black sun make it difficult to determine anything, but after the previous hour's experimentation, he knows it is at least humanoid with similar body parts, as well as female. "No. War at home." Yes, the voice is particularly feminine, but then again, that may simply be for his benefit.

"Oh?" Mazin chuckles, raising a blood slick hand to his face. "War at home. Soon, I suppose?" When he receives no answer, he lowers his face to where he remembers a mouth being and attempts to kiss the thing, but it takes a moment to find it. The last hour was full of that -- touching an area only to find something missing, but when exploring again in search of it, a second touch in the original position would find it once more.

"Yes." The voice comes again even while he has its mouth occupied, something that amuses him every time. Either it has more than one, or it creates a new one whenever it needs to. He assumes the latter, as he tried several times to occupy as many as he could during the experiment.

Moving out from under the creature, he lays its head back onto the altar that was to be the place of its sacrifice and moves over it. "Will I enjoy it?" The creature stays silent for a moment, but before he can encourage it, it finally nods. "More than here?" Another nod, more quickly than before.

A grin forms on the demon's face as he regards the creature below him. "Good. Now, my pet, close the door to the future and focus on the present. We have three hours before your black sun sets and I see you for what you really are. Until then, let's have fun."

Two of the three eyes close, the last still focused onto him, and in the language that eyes speak, he can see sadness. For a moment, he wonders just what future it sees for him, or perhaps for itself. For a moment, he wonders if saving it was the right thing to do, if giving it hope makes life harder for it in the end, and if leaving it now will end badly. But he knows that if this creature has seen it, it is what will happen, as part of his unavoidable fate.

With nothing to say, no way of reassuring it when he knows nothing of what is making it sad, he turns to actions. After all, he knows more about how to make things better with actions than words, at least in the short term. And if it is the long term that is the problem... well, that is something for the future and not the present.

[Origninally posted by Templar Lucianna Addo]

July 10th, 2007 - Founder's Falls


Lexus opened the door, Ashley carefully tucked in the crook of her arm. Standing on the front porch were a trio of men in black suits with a stylized 'v' pin in their lapels.

“Lexus Alexis,” said the one in a front, a man with close cropped blond hair. It wasn't a question. “This is for you.” He pulled a white envelope from his jacket and handed it to her. “And this is for your husband.” A second envelope.

“What the hell is this?”

“It's classified information, ma'am. Everything you need to know is in that envelope.”

“You're just going to hand me a bloody envelope and walk away?”

“Yes, ma'am, that's exactly what we're doing. Have a good day.” The three men turned on their heels and walked back to a black SUV parked on the street.

Lexus shut the door and put Ashley into her playpen. “You may accuse your mum of many things, but I doubt you'll ever say life with me was boring.”

D'Angelo wheeled his chair into the living room. “Who was that babe?”

“Some unidentified government men. They brought these for us.” She handed him his envelope, then tore open her own.

This is a priority message from Vanguard, operating under the authority of the United Nations. You are being recalled immediately to active service as a Freedom Corps registered hero and are to report to Vanguard base Kappa for briefing and assignment to combat duty within the next seven days. This message is classified. Further details, including your new cover will be discussed in detail at your briefing. -Lady Grey

“Combat duty!” shouted Lexus.

“Non-combat duty!” shouted D'Angelo.

“I have an infant. They expect me to report for combat duty.” Lexus turned to look at her husband. “You can take my combat duty, but I don't know how you expect to fight in a wheelchair.”

“It's Vanguard, they have those exo-skeletons. I'm sure we could work out something. What kinda non-combat duty would they want me for?”

“You're a security expert. I think that's pretty straight forward. My question is what do want with me?”

D'Angelo shook his head. “You have the right security clearance.”

“Only because I live with you.”

“But you earned it. Just because you were never very active doesn't change that. But if they're calling you up, that means things must be pretty serious. And Vanguard only deals with one thing-”

“Bloody space aliens,” Lexus said, cutting him off.

D'Angelo's phone rang. “Hello. Hey Pop. Vanguard just sent you an envelope. Yeah, that's going around. I thought of telling them where they could stick it,” he looked up at his wife and over at his daughter, “but I wanta see how serious this is.”

In this collection from our boards we had some neat RP responses to the Rikti's second and on going Invasions. I thought I would share some of them and any curious to our board rp and the like can follow our link to our boards in my siggy I am going to post one every day or so, so as to not spam these boards. Please I hope you enjoy them! D )

July 9th 2007 - The Shadow Shard

Kara sat quietly on the stack of ammo boxes just inside the air conditioned metal supply bunker. Outside she could hear the distant constant buzzing of the wing of Blackhawk helicopters preparing to embark on an afternoon of patrol. Like humming hornets they bounced softly on the metal tarmac of the airfield, as if eager to tear off into the orange sky of this world. Her eyes were glued to the wide screen television in the corner of the room, her attention was held, much like a few of the soldiers with her in the bunker, to the words of a US Senator.

"Who are the Vanguard today?" Senator Gilmore of Rhode Island asked, no Kara thought a beginning of a rallying cry for his platform of personal agendas "No one knows anymore. Their old standard bearers are long gone, like Hero 1, or have moved on to more current, real threats – like Statesman’s focus on the Arachnos terrorist group.” Gilmore also went on to say to the reporter from CNN. Kara watched him smoothly go through this speech and prepared answer with practiced ease as he continued. Her mind going back to a all to related briefing just an hour ago.

She had been preparing to go out with her 'boys' on routine patrols this morning, when an officer from S-2 stopped her. He told her that she had a meeting with some special UN envoy and could not go out on the operation this morning.

Her Rangers were out there, alone and unprotected. She grinned softly though. They would do fine without her, she thought they had a good and decent hero protecting them today. ConStar was a good blaster, he had a really good aim. She just...well she felt maternal when it came to her boys. Kara couldnt help but worry about them however. She hated not being there.

She had been summoned to the General's tent for a 'Special Briefing' with a UN contingent. A cool shiver runs down her spine as she remembers the nature of her special meeting. What the officials were asking of her, and what just such a offer might entail. Select words from the officials danced in her memory now as she listened to the Senator speak...

"Just a precaution"

"Your name has been submitted to us...."

"....a consummate professional...someone to be counted on"

"You must understand that the nature of what we are about to tell you is highly classified...."

"Of the utmost in National....Global Security...."

"Rikti...Portals...."

...possibilities, probabilities...../Gawd/. She closed her eyes as she listened to the Senator's words. As she remembered this new offer to work with Vanguard as she had been with the Expeditionary Force. What are they preparing for? What has them so scared?

What if they are wrong?

She thought then, what if /he/ is wrong...


She felt a presence next to her before he spoke. She opened her eyes as the First Sergeant cleared his throat with a soft disgust noise. "He loves to [censored] make speeches don't he?"

Kara grinned and gave her boy's usual response to Top's observation "OoAh"

Top grinned a bit as he chewed his ever present wad of bubblegum. He shook his head as they listened...

“The glory days of Vanguard are long past. The two-score and nine heroes of Omega Team were laid to rest with full honors years ago. "

Kara shivered, how quickly they forget. Her far off thoughts suddenly danced with frightful images of that day in the student center. The lights the explosions...the screams...

"They succeeded in taking the fight to the Rikti home-world, as witnessed by their only surviving member, Ajax. They broke the back of the Rikti then – so why are we still paying for an outdated dinosaur like Vanguard today?” Gilmore waved his hand in a well orchestrated gesture of mild disgust.

"Dinosaur eh?" The grizzled old soldier looked to the young heroine sitting next to him. "[censored] girl..I am an out dated dinosaur ain't I"

"OoAh" Kara smiled a bit more and nodded.

"And I [censored] do all right, don't I?" He quirked a brow at her "OoAh?"

Kara almost giggled as she nodded once more "Like SO OoAh!"

Top turned his steel like gaze back to the Senator on the screen as he blew a small pink bubble that he popped quickly in annoyance. He then turned to walk out, he called to her over his shoulder "Briefing at 1900hrs Arty, if you are tagging along for tonight's ops"

She smiled after him and nodded "Thank You First Sergeant, I'll so be there"

With another nod he was gone.

"Today’s Vanguard is led by a woman known as Lady Grey." The reporter at the desk at CNN explained to her viewers "Little is known about her background before being appointed by the UNSC to her role as director of the anti-alien task force, but she was championed by permanent members Britain and France with support from elected members, Germany and South Korea."

Kara quirked a small smile, she had only seen Lady Grey from a distance a few times, and had respected her for her commitment.

"Lady Grey has been criticized for fear-mongering with their propaganda campaign utilizing slogans such as: “Earth Is For Humans,” and “They Are Still Among Us.” Lady Grey, although she rarely speaks in public, has always maintained that the threat is still out there. "

Kara found herself shivering once more. All of this, what her life had become, had begun during their first invasion. NPI, her father, all of her friends, the old lost, the new ones found, life, death, love and ...loss..all of it since that day more than 3 years..almost four years ago now.

She watched as the screen showed footage of Incandescent, the hero who had sent the UN officials to meet with Kara this morning, was addressing reporters on the steps of the UN building in New York...

New York...she sighed softly.

Incandescent told the reporters, “We stand watch to deter hostile alien forces who would disrupt our peace and livelihoods. We know what to look for, even if you don’t. Keep your faith in us, and pray you never come closer to a Rikti than on the evening news.”

"Ain't that the truth" a soldier mentioned as he leaned across some boxes "as if floating eyeballs weren't enough"

Kara stood and stepped outside into the warmer breeze of the base. She had goosebumps running across her skin and a knot forming in her stomach.

"Keep your faith in us, and pray you never come closer to a Rikti than on the evening news.”

Gawd...

"Hey Arty?" The spell of her dark thoughts was broken by the cheery call of Sergeant Michele Peterson's voice yelling across the compound. Kara looked up to see the young MP waving to her

"Hey Petey!!" Kara waved "like what's up?"

"Mail you nut! " Petey waved a brown half opened box "Cheesecake from mom! want some?" her friend grinned knowing the response.

"Omigawd are you kidding me?" Kara laughed. "Give me like five and I'll meet you in your room!"

"You bet sugah! see you then...and you better hurry, word gets around fast around the firebase!"

Kara laughed and yelled back "Oh I so think I can take any one who so gets between me and cheesecake!"

She watched her friend hurry off as the Blackhawks took to the sky behind her. She sighed a moment more as a strong breeze blew up around her and through her hair. She turned to look at the four helicopters as they tore through the sky. She frowned as she could see a mountain of dark orange and red clouds swirling off in the distance.

The clouds were coming closer, she thought. A storm is coming for sure, a bad one...

...for now at least, there was always cheesecake.

Name: THE TEMPLARS OF THE ABBEY

"Working Together To Build A Better Life For All Metahumans!"


Currently Recruiting: We are currently activily recruiting rper's interested in good RP in a relaxed enviroment


RP Level: RP-intensive, we are IC in SG and all chat modes for the most part, though obiously ooc conversation is allowed in (( )) and we have an OOC channel for you to meet and get to know us OOC as well. Plus to find us when we are scattered to the 'alt' winds


PvP Level: Casual to light. PvP is hardly frowned on its just not our main focus..


Theme/Concept: <IC> The Templars are the remenants of the Students and Facualty who remained in Paragon to fight the good fight after the Closure of the NEW PORTER INSTITUTE. Banded together through the years by common goals and mutual friendship and loyalty to each other these heroes banded together to form their own Supergroup.

Centered around a popular King's Row Nightspot, a Metahumans only Posh Private club called the Abbey, owned and operated by the former NPI Headmaster Galen Mentalis, The group called dubbed themselves 'The Templars' . Both Protectors of the city and the club they now rallied around as a meeting place!

Where once N.P.I. stood to gain equal ground and secure a future for just Mutants, the Templars now seek to maintain that same goal for all Metahumans everywhere , while maintining law and order protecting the City and society that has become their home!



<ooc> Hi! The Templars are a long established SG, with a richly established RP History. Most of our core group members have been on the server and with the group since Beta . Having played out our School theme (from 2004 to late 2005) to its fullest the Group has evolved into something more as our history and storylines continue to grow and evolve(2005 to present!), and now we're looking for heroes of any AT and origin to join us and add to that!

Much like NPI before it was created with the goal of creating a brighter future for Paragon. As well as heroism and world saving (we can't help it :P ), the Templars seem to range from the Dark Broody types to the full on Golden/Silver Age type Heroes that uphold the law and every type in between!

The Abbey is up and running...and functions as a meeting place and perfect for generic rp!. [/i]




Activity: Although we have have a small regular member base, Our numbers actually can vary over the years. We'd like you to be apart of it if you are looking for good consistant RP and to add to our SG's ever changing Storylines and rich established history!


Requirements for Membership: Our only requirement is that you read our charter and the character must be level 10 at least. Our Recruitment policy and official application procedure,are stickied on our application section of our boards! so it's a good idea for prospective members to take a look at that thread. It may appear daunting but it really isnt..what is key for us is mutual respect for each other and to have fun!

Bascially fill out an application and set up an interview!!


Leadership: Diamond and Lucianna are the informal IC leaders of the Super Group though there are other officers



In-Game Contact(s): @Lucianna and

@Diamond



URL: THE TEMPLARS OF THE ABBEY



Coalition(s): our Coalition to the fantastic and fun rper's of CAPES, The League of Justice,The Galacto Guard, and the newest addition The Paragon Youth Corps the rp fun potentional has grown!