Someone -- Shayne, I think -- was working on assembling character pics into a big team shot some months ago. I was wondering what ever happened to that.
-- Bob
---------
...The President is on the line
As ninety-nine crab rangoons go by...

A few weeks ago, I was reminded about KG by tjalorak's interest in it, and went back to this story that I started awhile back. I'd appreciate any comments on this little prolouge, and I hope this might spurn me to continue on where I left off in the first chapter...
* * * * *
Gazing at the Cosmos
Prologue Beginning of the End
Chronicled by Dro'gan, called NiteFlier
She rested in the command chair, gazing unseeing at the screens in front of her, and the vast stretches of hyperspace they showed. Her thoughts wandered like a hummingbird, never resting for too long on one subject. Everything from Sana, the new receptionist, to the Deucalion, and how it had finally burned up in Sol's outer atmosphere.
She shivered at the thought of Sol, and its third planet. She hadn't thought she would ever go back to that system, not after joining the GOTT. True, she had visited shortly before that time, to check the accounts, but as always, they were being taken care of.
Nouvlesse. Earthlings. Those born of that repressive society. Oh, to be sure, there were those few who belied their reputation of uncaring. Matt, for instance, and... and... Chevalier...
Dear Chevalier, who stole the Deucalion in an attempt to force the Nouvlesse to accept those they considered 'Common'. Ah, why did Alv choose to take over the Deucalion? What terrible grievance did she hold against not only the Nouvlesse, but all Mankind? Did Dvergr ever truly know her daughter? Did she know what Alv was planning?
She sighed again, such things were beyond her. She was... weary. Yes, that was the word. She remembered the last time she had been this weary. She had chosen to forget. All of her life, everything from the rolling mountains of her birthplace, to her partner, her mirror.
She shifted in her seat, turning just enough to see the childlike countenance of her partner. Her soft teal hair modeled by nanomachines, her eyes almost closed, hands splayed on the console in front of her. She was obviously engaged with Wirbelwind, doing only they knew what.
She was just a bit jealous of her partner. After all, while she could understand Donnersclag, it was entirely different to hold a conversation with him. But her partner, her amazing partner with her 'Particle', could do so much more than she with her 'Power'.
* * * * *
~Another thirty minutes, fifteen seconds to Gate Out. Local time will be 2216.~
~Thank you Wirbelwind. Have you picked up any other anomalies?~
~Negative, all scans since that point have shown nothing.~
~Ah, well. Thank you.~
She closed the link between them, and opened her eyes. It was rather nice, being in hyperspace. She could easily ignore the data she received from outside of the La-Muse, and Wirbelwind would report any problems from within the ship. She looked over at her partner's seat, to see the taller woman watching her.
She smiled, Are you all right, clair?
She frowned when she received no response, then noted the somewhat blank look in her partner's eyes. clair. clair! She sighed and moved closer. clair! Frowning deeper, she drew in a breath. PHDRE!
Her partner started, and nearly fell out of her chair. She stifled a giggle at clair's position, laying halfway over Donner's head, with her rear high in the air. That's not a very elegant position, clair, she said, suppressing her laughter.
Why, O dearest partner mine, did you find it necessary to call me by that name? came the contralto voice from beneath her.
She rolled her eyes, secure in the knowledge that clair couldn't see her. I called out 'clair' three times. And I was not going to try to shake you, not after what happened last time.
Her partner levered herself up, looking her in the eye. That was three decades ago, Lumire. Things change, you know.
Not us.
clair looked at her oddly and she felt her face flush at her outburst.
No, clair agreed. Not us. She sat herself back in her chair, and glanced at the empty bench at the rear of the cabin.
She followed her partner's gaze, and frowned slightly again. Their appointed keeper, the Auditor Armblast, declined to join them on this excursion, and Chief Eclipse allowed it, rather than insisting that he join them as in times previous. Both of them wondered what it might mean.
What were you thinking of? she asked softly. You were so intent, so collected upon one thing...
clair drew in a long, slow breath, then closed her eyes and let it out in a drawn out sigh. How long have we been with the GOTT?
She blinked in confusion. Almost sixty years. Why?
clair sat back in her seat, and brushed her bright red hair out of her eyes. Sixty years... Sixty years doing the same thing. Another slow sigh. I'm tired, Lumi. So tired. As tired as when I chose to forget... But I know now that if I did that again, it wouldn't help. I'd still end up being tired. Tired of the GOTT. Tired of doing what everyone else wants. Tired of not living for myself. She turned her head and smiled. Tired of not living for those I care about.
clair suddenly turned her chair, stood, and began pacing in the small cabin. I remember so much! Designing La-Muse, crafting Donner from bits and pieces. Helping those famine victims in the Orion cluster, and smuggling foodstuffs and other necessities from beneath that damn overlord's nose! She stopped and turned, looking at her partner. Remember when we used to go roof hopping? Just the two of us, exploring a city at night. I... I want to go back to those days. Back to when we didn't know Eclipse. Didn't have our debt to her. She slumped, tirade over.
The younger woman nodded slowly. Why don't we? We can always quit the GOTT. We can go anywhere, from the Core to the Rim. Do anything we want. You know that... She trailed off as she noticed the look on her partner's face.
Its not that simple. You know.
The pair looked at each other. They both nodded in time.
Time to plan.Without a word...

Why does ezBoard log me out at what appears to be completely random intervals --like in between posting a new message and seeing the forum list afterwards?
-- Bob
---------
...The President is on the line
As ninety-nine crab rangoons go by...

HTML Comments are not allowed
-- Acyl

1. I am no longer allowed to name SG Task Forces.
2. My secret identity is not "Valentinez Alkalinella Xifax Sicidabohertz Gombigobilla Blue Stradivari Talentrent Pierre Andri Charton-Haymoss Ivanovici Baldeus George Doitzel Kaiser the Third".
2a. I should not tell reporters that it is.
3. I am not allowed to hack the hospital teleport network for my personal convenience.
3a. Even if Manticore does it.
4. Not allowed to hack the base portal so my teammates arrive naked.
5. Arachnos soldiers are not "neighbourhood friendly Spider-Men".
6. I cannot increase someone's security level in exchange for US dollars.
6a. I should stop telling new heroes that I can.
6b. Especially in earshot of Ms. Liberty.
7. I should stop vanishing in the middle of Task Forces.
7a. I am not allowed to blame my disappearance on Portal Corp.
8. The SG base computer is not for porn.
8a. Neither are the hologram projectors.
9. I should not cover the base with nude pictures of my teammates.
9a. Even if the people in them gave me permission.
10. I am not a Praetorian.
10b. I am not Tyrant's court jester.
11. Hamidon is not my Patron. I do not have access to his powers.
12. I should not try to talk to catgirls "in their own language".
12a. Nobody wants to hear me meow.
12b. Or sing Broadway tunes from "Cats".
13. Rikti are not that kind of alien, and I shouldn't try to sell them green cards.
14. I do not have a theme song.
14a. Even if I do, I am not allowed to burp it.
15. I am not the love child of Statesman and Recluse.
16. Paragon City is not a computer simulation. I should not attempt to convince people otherwise.
17. My power is not "breaking the 4th wall".
18. I am not allowed to vomit on Dr. Vahzilok.
18a. It aint "poetic revenge". 's just gross.
19. I shouldn't send my SGmates on blind dates with Vahzilok zombies.
19a. Even if they're really into that sort of thing.
19b. Even if they asked me to.
20. They're the Circle of Thorns, not the Circus of Thorns.
20a. I shouldn't suggest that they merge with the Carnival.
21. Circle mages wear robes for mystic ceremonial reasons. They are not bathrobes.
21a. They aren't in robes because they "keep getting lost in Oranbega" and "haven't seen their closets in years".
21b. The Oranbegan civilisation did not collapse because "they could never find the bathroom".
22. The last hostage is not in the bathroom.
22a. The hostage is not a Stalker. He is not hiding from us.
23. My supergroup is named "The Legendary", not the "Freakdom Phalanx".
24. It's the blood of Mu, not the blood of Moo.
24a. Humans cannot breed with cattle, and I should stop suggesting they can.
24b. That is not the reason Arachnos mages are so stupid.
25. Offices in Paragon City were not designed by the architectural firm of M.C. Escher and Sons.
26. I am not the President of the Ghost Widow fanclub.
27. The Skulls and Hellions are not pursuing a tragically doomed love affair.
28. The Warriors will not come out and play.
28a. Even if I ask their mothers.
29. Shivans aren't edible.
30. TP stands for teleport, not toilet paper.
30a. I shouldn't offer a roll to people who ask.
31. My contacts are not trying to kill me.
31a. I am not allowed to threaten them until they give me better missions.
32. Positron is not trying to kill me.
32a. If I don't want to join his Task Force, just say so.
32b. I shouldn't attack him with a can opener.
32c. I must respect Positron's restraining order.
33. I am not licensed to sell medical insurance.
33a. I should stop trying to sell plans to my teammates while they run back from the hospital.
34. Although I can fly, I am not allowed to paint "kill silhouettes" on the side of my costume.
35. My travel power is not "waiting for the bus".
35a. Or hailing a taxi.
35b. Waiting for the porter to get there is not a travel power.
36. Fire Controllers do not "set Rikti monkeys on fire".
37. My telepathic teammates are not trying to read my mind, and I should stop thinking the digits of pi.
38. I am not a magical girl. I do not have a transformation sequence.
38a. I shouldn't try to prove otherwise. I look terrible in a skirt.
38b. My attacks aren't more powerful when I shout their names.
38c. My singing voice is not a mez attack.
39. I am not allowed to team up with a Gravity Controller and sell all that stuff on eBay.
40. Sleep is not for the weak. I should not tell my teammates that it is.
40a. Nor is sleep for the week, ie. every seven days.
41. If someone asks if I'm a healer, I should not pretend to be a televangelist.
42. Croatoa is not a theme park.
42a. The Cabal witches are not interested in dates.
42b. The Red Caps are not "after me Lucky Charms".
42c. I am not allowed to make pie from the heads of Fir Bolg.
42d. I cannot turn the Tuatha de Dannon human again.
42e. Just shaving them doesn't work.
43. Sergei at Icon really does want to give me a makeover. He does not want to get in my pants.
44. Frostfire does not want a Monopoly set for Christmas.
44a. He does not collect "Get out of Jail Free" cards, no matter how much I think otherwise.
45. My role on the team is not "loose cannon".
46. Even if my tights chafe, my teammates do not need to know this.
46a. They don't need reminders every five minutes.
47. I am not allowed to yell "BIO BREAK" in the middle of battle...and unzip my fly.
47a. I do not have a toxic ranged attack.
48. If I recover a nuclear weapon from Warburg, I am not allowed to sell it on eBay.
49. The Clockwork robots are not cute, and I shouldn't try to "collect 'em all".
50. I am not a Kheldian in "idiot form".

So, His Lovely Wife and Foxboy grabbed me today. They asked if I'd consider starting a new toon on Justice.
"Why?" I asked.
Well, they explained, you know how Wide Receiver and Minuet Mac Hine are getting married? So eventually, they're gonna have kids, right?
Right.
So, flick the clock forward on the Alt-U of Justice. And there's Iluvia (Maureen Heisman), and her twin brother, whose name I forget. Then there's George Heisman (who wears a baseball costume). And Marie, named after Aunt Jackie. In RP, we also established Troy as the youngest (he's six).
Then there's Mackenzie "Mac" Heisman. 12-year-old girl. And mad scientist.

Think about it. It makes sense. I mean, Minuet and her siblings were all genetically engineered. Some things must run in the family...
Her shoulder-kitty is Igor, by the way.
And now...
50 Things Mackenzie Heisman is no longer allowed to do:
1. Troy is my little brother, not my "personal lab rat".
2. I am not allowed to experiment on any of my siblings.
2b. Even George.
3. I can't experiment on George because he's my brother...not because "PETA complained".
4. I am not allowed to create new life.
4a. Especially not in the school chemistry lab.
4b. Or in Mom's kitchen.
5. I should not encourage Troy to become the next Superball.
5a. Even if Uncle Superball likes the idea.
5b. Especially if Uncle Superball likes the idea.
6. Those fools in elementary school did not mock my genius, and I will not show them all.
7. I am not God.
7a. I do not play him on television.
8. I am not Washu.
9. Marie's old Barbie dolls are her property, not my minions.
10. I am not allowed to have minions.
11. My curfew does not count as oppression by the Man.
12. Dr. Vahzilok is not my mentor.
12a. Neither is Dr. Hamidon Pasalima.
13. I am not the Clockwork Princess.
13a. Or the Nemesister.
12b. Definitely not Lady Recluse.
14. Statesman is not the "Great Satan", and I should stop insisting that he is.
15. My hero license is for fighting crime, not personal profit.
15a. My allowance is not seed money.
15b. I do not qualify for government grants.
15c. Not allowed to secure independent funding.
16. Igor is my cat. He is not my lab assistant.
16a. Or my second-in-command.
16b. He cannot deputize for me in emergency situations.
17. I should not tell people that Igor is smarter than them.
17a. Even if it's true.
18. I am not a Servitor of Vapula, Demon Prince of Technology.
18a. I do not go to Church. I am not a Calvinist. I am not a Calvin-and-Hobbesianist.
18b. Not allowed to convert people to my "religion".
19. I do not work for Malta.
20. Dissections are only allowed with parental supervision.
21. Fight now, autopsy later.
22. Yes, it is my fault.
22a. If Mom asks, I do not have the right to remain silent.
23. As a costumed hero, I do not rob from the rich and give to the poor.
23a. I am not poor.
23b. I am supposed to fight crime, not "conduct field tests".
24. Being protective of my siblings is a good thing, but I am not "the only one allowed to hurt them".
25. I am not a real doctor.
25a. I am not a professional, and should not tell people to trust me.
26. My homeroom teacher is not a Rikti in disguise, and I must stop reporting him to Vanguard.
27. My bedroom is not an independent nation.
27a. I do not have diplomatic immunity.
28. I am not allowed to take over the world.
28a. Even if I promise to be a benevolent dictator.
29. I cannot wear my nuclear thinking cap to school.
29a. I am not allowed to blow up the school building.
29b. It was not an accident the last time.
30. Citadel is a respected member of the Freedom Phalanx. I should not try to pirate his brain.
31. The MAGI vault does not have an "open door policy".
31a. No, really.
31b. I am not allowed to take souvenirs.
31c. "It followed me home" is not an excuse.
31d. Even if it really did.
32. Drugs are to be bagged as evidence, not "free samples".
33. Devouring Earth spores are not "nice flowers for Mom's garden".
34. Dad is not the "Big Boss".
35. Or "Mein Fuhrer".
35. "I have modified my body to photosynthesize" is not an excuse for missing meals.
36. Dad wants peace and quiet when the big game is on. He does not want me to tell him I've dismantled the TV.
36a. Again.
37. My lab is in the basement. I am not allowed to conduct experiments in the bathroom.
37a. Especially when someone's taking a shower.
37b. Even George.
38. Having a towel round my neck is not proof I'm "Level 20".
39. Ms. Liberty will not increase my security level in exchange for money.
39a. Or chocolate.
40. I am not a Kheldian in "child form".
41. I am not an Incarnate.
41. Even if I am "chaos incarnate".
42. The Freakshow does not have a junior division, and I should stop trying to start one.
43. Uncle Mace is not a good role model.
43a. Neither is Auntie Nogitsune.
43b. My role models should not include former villains.
43c. Even if I'm their favourite niece and they give me the best presents ever.
44. I can't use Auntie Nogitsune's presents until I'm 18.
44a. I shouldn't build a time machine to solve this problem.
45. I am not allowed to accept any scholarships from Aeon University.
45. Nor can I intern at Crey Industries.
45. Not allowed to launch a hostile takeover of Crey Industries.
46. Superadine is not a cure for cancer, and I did not "discover it"
47. I am not allowed to use Grandfather's cloning machine.
47a. Even if he offers to help.
47b. Mom and Dad don't need more kids.
47c. "We don't have a full football team yet" is not a good argument.
47d. Even if Dad agrees.
48. I am too young to drink.
48a. The fact that Pocket D is in another dimension and exempt from US laws is not a valid argument.
49. I cannot have a pony.
49a. Not in the name of science.
49b. There is no such thing as a cyborg unicorn.
50. I am Mackenzie Heisman, not Mac Mac Hine, Mad Mac Hine, or the Dark Lord Mackenzie of the Sith.
50a. Even if everyone agrees.

"Well now! Your problem isn't so terrible after all!" Soun declared, turning Ranma by the shoulder so that they were looking at the three sisters. "Look! My eldest daughter, Kasumi! She's nineteen." She also looked shell-shocked, particularly compared to the impassive look on the next sister's face. "My second daughter, Nabiki. She's seventeen. And my third daughter, Akane. She's sixteen." Akane, if anything, looked terrified by Ranma. "Pick anyone you want," Soun instructed. "She'll be your fiancee."
"It's settled then," Kasumi said instantly, holding her youngest sister's shoulders. "It's Akane."
"Yes, they're made for each other," Nabiki agreed.
"This isn't funny!" Akane protested, glaring at Nabiki. "Why does it have to be me?"
"You hate boys, right?" Nabiki asked her.
"That's right!" Kasumi continued. "How fortunate that Ranma is half-girl!"
"No way!" Akane exclaimed. "Don't expect me to marry that hentai!"
Ranma gave her a perplexed look, then examined the faces of everyone in the room quickly. It was Soun that the young martial artist turned to for answers. "What in the world are you all talking about?" she asked. "What is a fiancee? What is this marry thing that your daughters want Akane to do? And who and what is this hentai she is talking about?"
"You're the hentai!" Akane shouted, then paused and joined her sisters in giving Ranma an astonished look.
"Eh?" Ranma said and blinked. "I am a hentai?" She frowned. "But what does that mean?"
Soun gave Genma a confused look and then patted Ranma on the shoulder. "Er, your fiancee is the person that you will marry," he explained carefully.
"Then why is Akane supposed to marry?" Ranma enquired. "If I am to have a fiancee then would I not be the person who marries?"
Kasumi opened and closed her mouth helplessly but Nabiki gave Ranma an accusing stare. "You expect us to believe that you don't know what marriage is? Weren't your parents married?"
"Of course we are!" Genma shouted indignantly.
"Parents?" Three guesses who asked that.
"Your mother and father!" Nabiki snapped. "You can't possibly be that stupid."
Ranma spread her hands helplessly. "I know what a father is," she said hesitantly. "Him over there. But what is a mother?"
"The woman he's married to..." Nabiki said and then tailed off at the blank look in Ranma's eyes. "Oh don't try to tell me that you don't know what I'm talking about."
"But I don't!" Ranma shouted, a flare of anger in her blue eyes. "What is a parent that my father is one and some woman is my mother - whatever you mean by that!? You know nothing about martial arts compared to me, why should I know all this stuff just because you do!"
Soun gupled and backed off from Ranma, who was practically glowing with anger. "Er, ah, Saotome, I think that this really is a father's responsibility..."
"WHAT ARE YOU HIDING FROM ME, OLD MAN!" Ranma shrieked, her voice reaching a distinctly unpleasant pitch.
"Marriage," Nabiki said, her voice laced with sarcasm, "is 'the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law'."
There was a long pause and then Ranma shook her head. "Okay, that raises more questions than I had. First, 'marriage' is something to do with 'marry'?"
"To marry is to enter into a marriage," Kasumi said softly. "How can you possibly not know this?"
"And how would you expect me to learn this?" Ranma asked. "I don't go out of my way to learn esoteric information, you know?"
"There's nothing esoteric about it," Kasumi protested. "Your parents were married, your father said so."
"Yes, yes. So there was some 'consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law' between Pops and some woman - this mother person I apparently have or had. So what? I only know what half those words mean, how can it have anything to do with me?"
"How can you not even know who your mother is?" Nabiki asked. "How can you not even care?" She could see tears trickling down her father's face as he remembered her mother. "She was the most important person in the world to you. She carried you for nine months and you say she has nothing to do with you!?"
"Pops carried me around until I could walk - and he's a useless fat lump!"
"Not like that," Akane corrected him. "Nabiki means your mother carried you inside her, before you were born." She shook her head at Ranma's blank look. "Kami! Where do you think babies come from?"
Ranma blinked. "Er... I dunno. Never thought about it."
"What did you think about?" Nabiki asked, a bitter edge in her voice. "Assuming that you ever have."
"That ain't such a nice thing to say," Ranma noted. "I think plenty. You think I could get so good at the Art if I didn't?"
"WhatEVER," Nabiki snorted. "Any more questions?"
"Consensual? Contractual? Hentai?" Ranma suggested, pronouncing each carefully.
"Consensual means that everyone agrees to something. Contractual means legally binding. Hentai," Kasumi explained, with a slight blush, "means abnormal or improper. It can also mean transformed," she added quickly, knowing full well that Akane had not meant it in that way. "But it's probably best not to describe yourself that way, Ranma. It, er, often means... when I say improper I mean, oh dear..."
"Sexually improper," Nabiki smirked.
"Sexually?" Ranma asked innocently.
Akane gawped. "You... don't know that either?" she asked weakly.
Ranma's gaze was withering. "Nope. And if consensual means what your sister said then we can't get married. 'Cause we'd both have to agree to it and you don't. I don't see what the big deal is but since it's not happening, I guess I don't care."
You must marry Akane! Genma declared. This is a matter of family honour!
How? Ranma asked. What does family honour have to do with marriage?
There was a stunned silence.
Because of oath that Saotome and I took to join the schools, Soun explained carefully. This is an agreement between our families and for either of you to refuse would stain the honour of both families.
Ranma frowned. Thats not my fault, he said reasonably. Akane has two sisters. Although if theyre trying to make her marry me and she doesnt want to, then its them who are rejecting the agreement. I dont have anything to do with that. Since its a matter of family honour and its members of your family that are objecting, that makes getting one of them to agree your problem.
And youll marry whoever agrees? Nabiki said sarcastically. No further objections?
It doesnt seem like such a big deal, Ranma said frankly. We do this marriage thing, then I can get back to my life and you can get on with yours. Honour is satisfied and we dont have to look at each other anymore. Frankly, I dont want to have any more to do with any of you than I absolutely have to.
Akane tried to break the table over Ranmas head and then dropped it as Ranma casually vanished, only to reappear on top of it, his added weight making it too heavy for her to continue holding. Nabikis face was pale with anger and the slightest expression of dismay had crossed Kasumis face. He turned to look at the two fathers and recoiled as he saw Souns head, vastly inflated and breathing smoke and flames.
HOW DARE YOU INSULT MY FAMILY! the Tendo patriarch bellowed.
"Whaddaya mean, 'insult'?" Ranma exclaimed. "I ain't said anything bad about you, just that I don't wanna be around ya? And you actin' like this is why! You're all nuts!"

"Ranma," Nabiki said with a serpentine smile. "I'd like to introduce you to someone that you haven't meet in a long while." She nodded towards the woman sitting at the table whose face was lightening up as the girl spoke. "This is Nodoka Saotome. Your mother."
Ranma looked at his mother and frowned. "Oh. Hello." He hesitated and then added, with patently false sincerity, "Pleased to meet you." Then he continued on his way across the room.
Nodoka's face frozen and she stared at Ranma with horrified fascination. "Ranma?"
He paused and hummed enquiringly. When she said nothing, he turned his head to look at her again. "Was there something?"
"I'm your mother!" she exclaimed. "Is that really all the greeting that you have for me?"
The boy considered that for a moment and then shrugged. "Eh. What would you suggest?"
"How about a hug?" Nabiki suggested quietly.
"I think that that would be rather unseemly," Ranma said in a disapproving voice. "We've hardly met and there's no reason to presume that sort of closeness."
Nodoka fainted.
"how could you?" Nabiki whispered, staring down at the fallen woman, then looking at Ranma, who was directing a somewhat perplexed expression at Nodoka. "How can you treat your own mother like that! You're a monster!"
Ranma froze... and then with a careful precision that was light years from his usual easy grace, stalked out of the room.
Kasumi chose that minute to walk through from the kitchen, just too late to see Ranma. "Oh my," she exclaimed, looking at Nodoka and at Nabiki, who was trembling with anger. "Whatever happened?"D for Drakensis
"An ugly macho guy can never beat an intelligent, slender, popular, and handsome hero."
D for Drakensis

You're only young once, but immaturity is forever.

For those of us who have been waiting for years, Shehulk has *finally* finished her "Bubblegum Blues" series. Part 7, Resurrection, is now on her website (jesrob.100webspace.net/bgc.htm). Go for the Word DOC (almost 1.5MB) download version, as she says the HTML edition is messed up.
If you haven't read any of this before, all previous parts are also there. (but not the original, much lighter, version of part 5)

Jeanne Hedge
www.jhedge.com

"Believe me, if I have to go the rest of my life without companionship, knowing myself won't be a problem."
-- Gabrielle of Potadeia

"Man overboard on the port side!" The cry rang out loud along the deck of the ship. Sailors immediately began rushing to the sides and peering into the waters of the sea, a wooden crate of fresh fruit bobbed along in the water carried along by the current.
The captain of the ship checked the compass in his hand one last time before snapping it shut and surrendering the wheel of the ship to a waiting crewmember, he then strode in a calm and collected but foppish manner to the port side to take a look himself. Bobbing by in the water after the crate of fruits, came a bottle of rum with two mugs balanced precariously on the side of an box as if it was a table. Somehow the box never tilted far enough to tip over its cargo into the ocean.
The captain of the sailing ship leaned ever so precariously over the side of his ship in an attempt to see further up to follow the trail of foodstuffs floating along in the ocean. He absently noted that the black paintjob that gave his ship that distinctive look was peeling slightly and should be touched up a little. He pulled out and extended a spyglass from somewhere then trained it on the figure of a person slumped in what looked to be the remains of a crows nest which retained just enough of its structure to remain afloat.
"Mr. Gibbs" The captain leant back and stage whispered to a portly gentleman, "Bring my ship around a little more. I want to take a good look at this chappie." He leant back over the side of the ship and retrained his spyglass on the person in the crows nest, even though the range between them didn't exactly call for it anymore.
It was through the spyglass that the captain had his first good look at the man inside the crows nest. He had medium length blond hair tied back with a black bow, a simple white buccaneers shirt with puffy sleeves and a pair of brown pants made up the rest of his attire. His shoes were placed carefully to his side. It appeared as if the man in the crows nest was busy writing in some kind of journal with a quill pen. He was also talking writing out loud to himself for some reason.
"Oh dearest Elaine, all seems to be lost.I don't know if i'll ever be able to get back to you this time. My ship was sunk of the coast of Plunder Island and with no help in sight for miles around. I cant help but wonder if this is the last time I will have to destroy the dread zombie pirate LeChuck. Although he did blow up nicely this time around. He paused to refill the quill from a rapidly diminishing supply of ink inside a bottle.

I suppose while Im hoping to see the last of LeChuck I might as well be wishing for that platter of calamari drenched in lemon sauce that you make so well Elaine. A moment of incredulity passed over the crewmembers as a silver platter of calamari drenched in lemon sauce came around the bow of the ship and passed inches away from the man in the crows nest.
I can remember it so well I could swear I can smell it right now. He said wistfully and paused to gaze off into the distance. He began writing again. Ah well, I know I should probably be making up one of my cunning plans to escape certain death right about now, but I cant seem to escape the feeling that it is all futile in some way. Its getting darker with the sun still out. A sure sign its going to start raining heavily next.
In reality the darkness was caused by the ship looming within an arms reach or the man in the crows nest. The man looked up to see if it was a thundercloud blocking the sun, instead he saw a large black ship with black sails and its crewmembers all hushed and eagerly watching to see what he did next. Whatever he was about to do he was preempted by the someone on the ship calling down to him. Ahoy there mate, You look like you could use a lift eh? The captain who still had a spyglass extended and stuck to his eye turned to the portly man from earlier. Mr. Gibbs, lets give the man a hand aboard after all we are good god fearing people willing to help our fellow man right? A chuckle passed through the ships crew.
In short order a ladder was lowered and the-man-who-wasnt-in-the-crows-nest-anymore was aboard with the crew clustered around him in a ragged circle, their duties forgotten for now. Upon closer inspection they looked to be a mean bunch with nary a scruple between them. The captain came striding down from the raised platform where the ships wheel was located with his spyglass still extended and held to his eye.

He strode straight up still peering through the telescope and spent an awkward moment looking at the-man-who-was-decidedly-grateful-that-he-had-been-saved before realizing that he still had the spyglass out. The captain straightened up and made the spyglass collapse into a compact form before making it vanish into a compartment somewhere about his person.
And who do we have the honor of saving from the clutches of the sea today? The captain inquired as his hands animatedly gestured as he talked.
I am Guybrush Threepwood, Mighty Pirate. A Scourge of the seven seas, and four time destroyer of the Dread Zombie Pirate LeChuck! replied the man-who-no-longer-had-long-descriptive-hyphenated-words-as-a-name replied while assuming what he thought to be a Heroic pose.
The captain broke out in a large grin before sweeping off his Tri-corner leather hat and bowing deeply revealing a faded red bandanna tied around his head and hair done up in dreadlocks. And I am Captain Jack Sparrow. He replaced the hat on his head before continuing. Welcome aboard the Black Pearl, Mr. Threepwood. He moved up and put an arm around Guybrushs shoulders and started walking to his cabin Come let us away to my cabin we have much to talk about, including the treasure known as Big Whoop Savvy?
Fin.
_______________________________
We are the swords in the darkness, the watchers on the walls. The fire that burns against the cold, the light that brings the dawn. The horn that wakes the sleepers. The shield that guards the realms of men. -The Brothers Black
_________________________________
Take Your Candle, Go Light Your World.

A couple of stories featuring my characters. The first is Reyshal (Grav/FF controller on Virtue) and was written about a year ago. The second is a little shot of how Brahela (Fire/Ice blaster on Infinity) found a bit more of her Purpose and joined the Legendary. Bob, I've never met Evangelia in game so I've no clue how off my characterazation is from her actual personalty...

* * * * *
A Pirate's life

Weightless, floating in darkness...
No sight, no sound, no feeling...
Is this what it is like to die?
Perhaps... Perhaps that is just, then, for I failed them...
Where are you, my crew? Dantos, Yiin, Corluha? Are you here? Will you greet me, as you did before? Or will you scorn me, now that I have led you to your deaths?
Wait...
What is that? Light? Is it growing closer? Or am I falling towards it?
Voices... but the tongue is not Salderan. Neither is it Erridos.
And that smell... antiseptic?
What is going on? Am I truly dead? Or did the Omnisentient trap me somehow?
I will not be held so easily!
* * * * *
Doctor!
Dr. Ray Miller looked over, distracted from the stat sheet by both the nurses call and the suddenly insistent beeping of the machines monitoring the patient. A patient, he noted, that was no longer still, like she had been since arrival here. He rushed to the nurses side, and began aiding her to hold down the patients wildly flailing arms.
He had just been able to catch her flailing hand, when his hold was suddenly reversed. Shocked, he looked up at her face, and saw her eye glaring at him.
She suddenly surged up from the bed, throwing both him and the nurse off balance. He was able to catch himself before falling, but she was out the door before he steadied himself. He reached down to his wrist, and hit the red button on his watch.
Immediately, sirens started to blare, signaling a possibly violent patient on the loose.
* * * * *
A maze of white corridors, people startled by my passing. I move them from my path with either a slight pull away, or else my shield deflects them from my approach.
I see now men clothed in blue, with bludgeons in their hands they approach, but they do not reach me, either pulled from my way, or shoved aside.
* * * * *
It was not the first time she had come here, but this time was different. She felt almost compelled to come, a sure sign that the Elohim needed her here. She also had the feeling that this wasnt going to be a simple thing, like comforting the sick. She came here often enough on her own to do that.
She was startled when a loud, blaring alarm went off, and turned in place looking for its source. Down the long hall, she saw someone running, but the details were difficult to ascertain, due to both the people in the way and a strange, glowing shield that surrounded her.
Stop her! Stop her! she heard shouted.
The fleeing woman broke through a pair of guards, and headed straight for her. She looked into the womans face, and saw fear, panic, but most of all, determination. She felt as though something were plucking her shirt, pulling her away, but she concentrated and shouted directly into the womans mind.
:STOP!:
As she did this, she felt the pull increase, and was suddenly falling backwards, away from the woman, whos face had suddenly blanked out. The woman stumbled, and fell, the shield around her fading.
Psi Angel sighed, the unconscious woman lying on her lap. Her grey skin highlighted her short blue hair, her left eye slowly closing as her face smoothed out.
This, Angel said, might be some trouble.
* * * * *
So... Who is she?
Dr. Miller sighed. We dont know. The mystics at M.A.G.I. said that there had been a great disturbance in the mana flows of the city, and they pinpointed it to Circle Island, in Talos Zone. When they sent a few heroes to investigate, they found her, badly burned and unconscious with those damn Thorns trying to apprehend her. The Thorns were scared away, and the heroes brought her here. Shes been lying comatose for nearly a week now. The first time she woke up was this morning, and you know the result of that. M.A.G.I. cant tell us anything about her besides the fact that she probably comes from a different universe. D.A.T.A. says shes not human, but close enough both physically and genetically that shes pretty much indistinguishable. Her right eye... well, its been gone for a long time: two years at a minimum. Scars indicate that shes no stranger to battle, but she was probably a slave at one point, again, a long time ago. If she were human, Id say she would be around twenty-five. But... with all the immortals that are running around these days, who can say for sure? He sighed, and looked into the new room that they had placed her in. She was still unconscious, but they had taken extra precautions that she not get away the next time she woke up.
Psi Angel shook her head. You think I can talk with her when she wakes up?
Miller looked over at him. Truthfully, were pretty certain she doesnt speak English. But if you want... he waved towards the woman.
Angel sighed, and reached out to touch the glass between her and the unknown woman. The language of the mind speaks all, doctor.
* * * * *
I hear a strange whiiring sound, and occasional beeps when next I wake. I can feel the restraints that have been placed on me and I know I will not be able to break them. There is someone in the room. I can feel the heat from their skin on my arm. I take a shallow breath, and open my eye, looking to my left, where I see a woman sitting in a chair. The room is filled with strange artifacts, so I ignore it for now. The woman is important. She has this strange half smile on her face, as if she know much more than she would ever reveal.
Dantos said I had that smile sometimes...
:Its alright. Cry if you want.:
I gasp, she can read my mind?!
The woman gives a full smile now, :You dont need to worry about anything. Youre safe now, but from what weve found, you are probably very, very far from home.:
I close my eye, and sigh. I was far from home before I came here. Who are you?
:So you dont speak English, do you? That didnt sound like any language Ive ever heard. As for who I am... you can call me Psi Angel. Now, what are you called?:
I look at her again. Impossible.
* * * * *
Psi Angel blinked. She had heard both the aural sound, but also the meaning behind that sound. Reisaoll, she tried to say.
The other woman snorted. Reyshal, she stated again.
Angel shook her head. Reyshaol.
Reyshals eye closed halfway. Angel got the feeling that while it wasnt close enough, she would tolerate it for now.
* * * * *
Angel...
Psi Angel looked over at her companion. Yes, Rey?
Reyshal frowned at the nickname, but sighed and said slowly, I have been reading about this world, and its troubles. You help those troubles, yes?
Angel nodded. I do. So do many other heroes in this city and around the world.
They have power, yes? Reyshal asked.
Yes, but there are those who dont, who work to help those in need as well. She smiled, remembering the soup line in Father Macs parish. Why do you ask?
The grey skinned woman looked over at her. Back where I am from, there was a very bad group called the Senshikki. They held control of a great deal of land and people. I was an outlaw to them, but a... hero... to the people. I want to keep doing what I was doing. For myself, and... for memory. She looked down for a moment, but when her eyes met Psi Angels, the Elohim saw a deeply seated fire burning. I will return to my world someday. I will avenge those who died for me.
Psi Angel nodded, looking warily at the visible waves of gravity surrounding Reyshals fists. Im sure that one day youll find your way back. But for now, Youll probably need to train. That... Synseikky... doesnt sound like an easy opponent.
Reyshal nodded. Yes. I need to learn much.
Angel thought for a moment, then smiled. I think I should introduce you to someone. His name is Morales. I think he can help you a lot...

* * * * *
* * * * *
Moving on

She sighed, taking off her glasses and rubbing her eyes, pausing for a momentary break from the computer screen in front of her.
"Yeesh, I wouldn'ta thought English Lit would mean studying seven books online," she shook her head ruefuly. "Whatever happened to wood pulp and oil inks?" Laughing softly at her joke, she put her glasses down on the coffee table and stood from the couch she had been reclining on.
She streched out, reaching her arms above and behind her head and standing on the balls of her feet. She held the pose for a ten count, then slowly relaxed, luxuriating in the soft burn from her muscules protesting movement after so long stationary. She padded over to the window looking out over the rising highways of Skyway City.
She had been extremely lucky to find this apartment, so close to the Talos tunnel, especaily when the limited liquid cash she possesed was mainly going to her schooling at Paragon U.
"Who'da thought a mere five months of heroing would bag me enough to set me up for college." She glanced over at the laptop lying on the table, and resisted the urge to check her money. While she had played fast and loose with the little cash she had possesed before coming to Paragon, most of it was now tied up in CDs, long term/high gain loans, and slow-growth stocks, much like the ones she had set up for Mrs. Willow.
She grinned slightly at the thought of the formidible old woman who had nigh bullied her into accepting her powers and coming to Paragon. They still kept up a passing correspondence, writing letters back and forth every few weeks. It was interesting reading about Mrs. Willow's reactions to the changes she herself had gone through.
Although, looking back on it... she sometimes suprised herself.
Going from an introverted, closeted teen afraid to show her face, to blossoming into a prototype hero under Mrs. Willow, to fighting in Paragon City and gaining twenty five security levels in five months, then moving herself to the inactive register and taking college classes for a year and a half, to...
Glancing through the door to her bedroom and seeing the reflective glint of her holographic security clearance ID, she sighed, remembering how she, in a fit of annoyance and desperation, took out a heavily armed Malta Titan in defence of the innocent studens of the university. One simple act to have her recognised by the city, the media, and...
Her mother, who she had thought dead for over a decade.
She swallowed the lump in her throat at the memory, and leaned back against the windowsill. The woman had come up to her after all the hulabaloo had died down that day, stopping ten paces off, but still seemingly drawn to her. She had looked at the woman, and even though they both were so physicaly different from what they had been when they parted so long ago, it had taken only two words from the woman to confirm that yes, this was her mother.
"'My 'Lise...'" she murmured, her voice catching even as her mother's had on that day.
* * * * *
"My 'Lise..." The woman murmured, shaking her head slightly, her platinum hair swaying. "My darling daughter... What heights have you attained? How could you have come here? Please tell me that Mark... that your father... didn't find it...."
The younger dipped her head, shining blue hair shifting forward in its ponytail. "He didn't. I did. I found the Well of Innocence... Four years after you... died?"
"Not dead... the lab accident, the new Portal system collapsed, and I was thrown into another dimention. That place... Darkness covers it." She guestured at her skin, deepest black but sprinkled with pinpricks of white, like stars at midnight. "I was recovered about two and a half years ago. I registered to be a hero under a nickname of mine..." The woman looked into her daughter's eyes. "Do you think... that its possible that...?"
She swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded. "Yes... Oh, Mother..."
* * * * *
"The end of a fairy tale? Hardly, I think." She snorted. "More like the begining of a new chapter." Glancing over at her ID again, she scowled at the paperwork lying beneath it. The letters of complaint from the Department of Super-Powered Affairs had been silenced by Statesman's declaring her 'A Hero above and beyond the norm'. Unfortunatly, that only extended her fifteen minutes of fame, and the offers for TV appearances, newspaper interveiws, and supergroup applications came flooding in.
* * * * *
She had unceremoniusly dropped the entire day's mail in the trash, de-listed her phone, and stopped answering the door.
It had been three days after the furor had died down when another knock came to her door. She had answered the door with the intention of telling off whoever dared invite her to *one* *more* *supergroup*.
What she had found was a girl who looked about two years older than her own apparent age, dressed casualy in a blouse and slacks. The girl had tilted her head to the side slightly, then asked, "Elizabeth Glorien?"
She still wasn't sure how, but the girl had gotten herself invited in, presented tea, and was sitting on her couch before she was quite sure of her name. "Raye Langley. You've had a rough few days, haven't you?"
"Yah. Heroes just can't take 'no' for an answer. I'm on the inactive line. Can't do anything while I'm on it." She rolled her eyes and glared out the window.
Langely smiled and sipped her tea carefuly. "I was under the impression that you were re-upped after your stunt at the university. That's what had everyone after you, you know. All of them were expecting another great show."
"A 'show'? I shoulda given 'em a show and set their rears on fire to move along." She rolled her eyes and looked over to her guest. "Sorry, but was there something ya came by for?"
"Acctualy, I'm here for probably the same reasons as those you want to set fire to." The girl set her cup down and folded her arms. "I told you my name is Raye Langley. I also go by Evangelia. I came here... 'of the clock' you might say, to show you that SG's aren't all 'duty and honor'." She smiled slightly. "Though I am partial to the whole 'Love and Justice' theme." Drawing a thin packet of paper out of her pocket and laid it on the tabel, she said, "I'm not begging. I'm not demanding. I'm just offering a place to rest, be among friends, and maybe cut loose every once in a while." She stood, nodded, and let herself out.
* * * * *
"And here I am, staring at a peice of paper, wondering at a choice," she sighed.
She had brought her ID and the paperwork out to the couch, and was staring at the bottom line, ready for her to sign her name.
"Its not like its really gonna change anything, right?" she growled, grabbing her pen and marking the line with a flourish. She sighed, "Well, that's that. Congratualtions, Brahela. Welcome to the Legendary."Without a word...