Bluedarky looked around the landscape, blank was the only word he could use to describe it, there was no movement, no shapes, no colours, not even shades of grey, just eternal nothing.
Yup, it gets you like that the first time, stated a gruff voice from below him, Bluedarky twisted around to get a look at the speaker, he was dressed in a loud shirt and jeans and sported greying hair.
Where is this? asked Bluedarky a little concerned, he'd seen many things around Paragon City but this was brand new to him.
Your dead sonny, replied the man with a toothless grin, Just like everyone else here.
Pardon me for saying this, replied Bluedarky solemnly, But I thought the afterlife would be a bit more, well, more?
Oh, don't worry, replied the old man, This is just one part of death, you probably won't be here for long, they're probably working to get you back to life now, this is Limbo, where all lost souls go, as well as the banished and those who the afterlife isn't ready for yet.
Aye, but seeing them is a matter of skill, and allowing them to see you even more so. So, how'd you end up here anyway?
It's a long story, replied Bluedarky, We may not have time if I'm due to be brought back to life.
Time here is pretty relative kid, replied the man, In fact, you may have just enough time for your story before they take you back, if you want to go that is.
Well then, replied Bluedarky, Here it is.
-------------------
The Student ran down the corridor followed by the Circle of Thorn mages, Temperature Sprite was down but the network had picked her up and she was probably on her way back now, all as was left though was her and Bluedarky. She ran around the corner and span on her heel, focusing her mind she felt her way into the mind of one of the front mages and implanted the suggestion that the other mages were heroes in disguise, convinced the mage span and started to cast spells at the other mages. The confusion would only buy her a few extra moments though, she ran down the corridor to where Bluedarky was waiting.
When she arrived in the entrance hall Bluedarky pushed a large statue in front of the door to prevent the mages from getting through then looked at The Student.
Only seven or eight, said Bluedarky sarcastically, Easy in and out job.
The Student looked down at her feet, it was her fourth mission and having been assigned to Bluedarky for street training by Sister Psych she was still extremely nervous, not least because she couldn't read his mind to tell whether he was annoyed or exhilarated from the chase. 18 years growing up and being able to read minds didn't exactly help your people skills, still at least she didn't have to wear the ugly excuse for an inhibitor that G.I.F.T. had forced her to wear during school any more, she had hated that thing from the moment she saw it.
Bluedarky tapped his sunglasses causing them to beep. Well, no serious injuries here, he said after checking the readout, You?
She shook her head still embarrassed that she had misread the number of minds in the room. Bluedarky came over and examined her new inhibitor to make sure it was still working, she wasn't sure why she had to wear it as she was using her powers regularly now, but Sister Psych and Antonio Nash had insisted she wore it at all times. Bluedarky regularly took a look at it although he was always careful to never take it off.
Temperature Sprite should be here in a minute, responded Bluedarky to the unasked question of how to advance, I'll get in touch with L.O.C.A. for some specialist equipment to deal with these idiots. What are they doing now?
The Student went to cast her mind through the statue and the door before she fell down screaming, Bluedarky ran over to her quickly as the news report came in through his earpiece.
Reports from heroes all over the city suggest that all our cities heroes have been rendered powerless, other reports confirm not only this but the teleport network is disabled, all available heroes who have retained their powers are to report to Hero Corps in Galaxy City immediately.
Amanda, said Bluedarky urgently, Are you alright?
Better than ever, replied The Student before shooting a hand out for Bluedarky's throat.
A Time of Need
Bluedarky looked around the landscape, blank was the only word he could use to describe it, there was no movement, no shapes, no colours, not even shades of grey, just eternal nothing.
Yup, it gets you like that the first time, stated a gruff voice from below him, Bluedarky twisted around to get a look at the speaker, he was dressed in a loud shirt and jeans and sported greying hair.
Where is this? asked Bluedarky a little concerned, he'd seen many things around Paragon City but this was brand new to him.
Your dead sonny, replied the man with a toothless grin, Just like everyone else here.
Pardon me for saying this, replied Bluedarky solemnly, But I thought the afterlife would be a bit more, well, more?
Oh, don't worry, replied the old man, This is just one part of death, you probably won't be here for long, they're probably working to get you back to life now, this is Limbo, where all lost souls go, as well as the banished and those who the afterlife isn't ready for yet.
You mentioned others, commented Bluedarky looking around.
Aye, but seeing them is a matter of skill, and allowing them to see you even more so. So, how'd you end up here anyway?
It's a long story, replied Bluedarky, We may not have time if I'm due to be brought back to life.
Time here is pretty relative kid, replied the man, In fact, you may have just enough time for your story before they take you back, if you want to go that is.
Well then, replied Bluedarky, Here it is.
-------------------
The Student ran down the corridor followed by the Circle of Thorn mages, Temperature Sprite was down but the network had picked her up and she was probably on her way back now, all as was left though was her and Bluedarky. She ran around the corner and span on her heel, focusing her mind she felt her way into the mind of one of the front mages and implanted the suggestion that the other mages were heroes in disguise, convinced the mage span and started to cast spells at the other mages. The confusion would only buy her a few extra moments though, she ran down the corridor to where Bluedarky was waiting.
When she arrived in the entrance hall Bluedarky pushed a large statue in front of the door to prevent the mages from getting through then looked at The Student.
Only seven or eight, said Bluedarky sarcastically, Easy in and out job.
The Student looked down at her feet, it was her fourth mission and having been assigned to Bluedarky for street training by Sister Psych she was still extremely nervous, not least because she couldn't read his mind to tell whether he was annoyed or exhilarated from the chase. 18 years growing up and being able to read minds didn't exactly help your people skills, still at least she didn't have to wear the ugly excuse for an inhibitor that G.I.F.T. had forced her to wear during school any more, she had hated that thing from the moment she saw it.
Bluedarky tapped his sunglasses causing them to beep. Well, no serious injuries here, he said after checking the readout, You?
She shook her head still embarrassed that she had misread the number of minds in the room. Bluedarky came over and examined her new inhibitor to make sure it was still working, she wasn't sure why she had to wear it as she was using her powers regularly now, but Sister Psych and Antonio Nash had insisted she wore it at all times. Bluedarky regularly took a look at it although he was always careful to never take it off.
Temperature Sprite should be here in a minute, responded Bluedarky to the unasked question of how to advance, I'll get in touch with L.O.C.A. for some specialist equipment to deal with these idiots. What are they doing now?
The Student went to cast her mind through the statue and the door before she fell down screaming, Bluedarky ran over to her quickly as the news report came in through his earpiece.
Reports from heroes all over the city suggest that all our cities heroes have been rendered powerless, other reports confirm not only this but the teleport network is disabled, all available heroes who have retained their powers are to report to Hero Corps in Galaxy City immediately.
Amanda, said Bluedarky urgently, Are you alright?
Better than ever, replied The Student before shooting a hand out for Bluedarky's throat.