[Outer Space, Location Classified]

Another day, another portal. Slipstream slumped back, wondering how much longer the trend would continue. It seemed like every day the number of portals the Hardradians attempted to open grew in number. That was the 4th one and it was barely past breakfast. The past few weeks had been harder on him than any super fight he'd ever been in. Dark circles had formed under his eyes. He was tired all the time. Caffeine didn't even have the minor effect it used to. Myth had sent a formula for a hyper-caffeine, but Tommy felt it was perhaps better to leave it be for now. He'd never known Myth to be wrong when it came to science, but the good Doctor's overwhelming desire to see the Hardradians defeated (and probably annihilated) sometimes had an overriding effect on his sense.

A sudden flashing on the control board caught Tommy's attention, scouring his inner musings away like dust in the wind.

[Outer Space, Location Classified]

Slipstream groaned as he moved to look at the panel. "Maaaaan. I hope the check engine light didn't just come on."

[Outer Space, Location Classified]

Luckily for Tommy, the engines seemed fine. The light indicated an incoming transmission. A nearby screen flashed into life, hovering just above the indicator. A keyboard appeared just below it. Even now, Myth's tech was at the same time amazing and unnerving. Many of the systems aboard were automated, activating through proximity, movement, time or sometimes even seeming to read his mind.

A series of numbers and letters scrolled across the screen, verifying the incoming message. Seemed it originated from... Earth. Probably some new update from Myth or yet another new procedure for some other possible emergency he'd thought up while reading in the bathroom or something. To date, Tommy had had to learn more than 300 "emergency response plans."

A new message flashed up on the screen:

PLEASE ENTER PASSCODE:

[Outer Space, Location Classified]

Tommy reached into his pocket to remove the passcode. "Crap" in a blink of an eye the speedster had searched the ship, recovering the passcode from a dirty pair of jeans.  Zipping back he quickly entered the code.

[Outer Space, Location Classified]

The screen flashed twice.

PASSCODE ACCEPTED. INITIATING VIDEO FILE EXECUTION.

The screen changed, showing the back of a young woman. She was rather shapely and blond. It occurred to Tommy that, even though he couldn't see her face, the view was still nice. The time stamp at the bottom edge of the screen put the video as being taken a week ago. She was walking in some sort of field, the camera moving along behind her. Apparently, the camera had no microphone, though, as there was no sound. She stopped as she approached a set of trees and bent down at the base of one at the edge of the copse. She tilted her head as if listening to something or someone out of the camera's view and nodded. She bent down and grabbed the tree on either side and stood, bringing the tree, roots and all. Tommy was relatively unimpressed, seeing that he knew a lot of really strong people.

As she turned towards the camera and the image froze, a cold hard lump formed in Tommy's stomach. It couldn't be. No way, no how. He'd seen it. Not only pictures and recordings, but seen it. He'd watched her as she charged at that bastard Diamondback. He'd watched her fight to her last breath. He'd watched her die. The face that was staring at him... it wasn't possible...

Tommy just stared at the screen in disbelief.

[Outer Space, Location Classified]

"My, my. She's beautiful. Or rather, she was beautiful. I can see why you developed feelings for her," a deep voice said from behind Tommy.

Tommy's hand was a blur as he threw it up, his middle finger extended. He spoke as he pushed off with his foot allowing his chair to slowly swivel around. His finger remained extended and the rude gesture remained towards the voice as he turned "What do you want jack ass?"

Tommy looked at the person, then back to his hand, pushing down first his middle finger followed by the rest of his hand. "Sorry about that.  It just goes off some times."

[Outer Space, Location Classified]

The man smiled, a white toothy grin, as Tommy lowered his hand. He was dark-skinned, wearing an impeccably tailored suit and stood with has hands clasped behind his back. There was something... familiar about him. Something in the way he stood, his demeanor... like he knew something Tommy didn't and found it greatly amusing.

"No apology is necessary. I can see this is a shock. And, admittedly, our last meeting was less than pleasant for either of us. Still, it seems you have been marked for a destiny no other to date has been given," the man said, "You are to be given a second chance. A second chance for her."

[Outer Space, Location Classified]Tommy's tone had an edge of anger to it. "Dude!" He paused, his shoulders slumped and his tone took on one of reluctant admission. "Thats a really nice suit."

Tommy nodded. "I mean it really is.  Is that like Armani or something?"

[Outer Space, Location Classified]

The man smiled again and quietly chuckled.

"Let's just say, it was custom made. Your reputation of misdirection and irreverence is well deserved. I recall during our last meeting you had difficulty concentrating on the situation at hand and indulged your immaturity," he said, his tone becoming harder as he spoke, "But, now is not the time for such childish behavior. I am here to offer you a choice... one with consequences farther reaching than your own petty view could realize. Now, will you listen or do you wish to continue your inane ramblings?"

He sat down, a large wooden chair materializing from thin air as he did. He steepled his fingers and watched Tommy intently, awaiting his response.

[Outer Space, Location Classified]

Tommy smiled and nodded as the man spoke about his gift for irreverence and misdirection, but the smile turned to an insulted frown as the man spoke about his self indulgent immaturity.  Slipstream had started to raise a finger and retort but the man had continued to speak.  By the time he had finished Tommy had forgotten he had just been insulted.

He looked at the man for a moment and then the smile crept back to his face, as he pointed at the man. "I know who you are.  Your that wannabe devil right?"  Tommy was more concerned than he would allow his expression to show.  After his first encounter with Crucible Tommy had a long conversation with Doctor Arcane.  Crucible, was immensely powerful, but bound to the same laws as all mystical beings.  The one Tommy hoped was in play right now was their proximity to earth.  The further and longer away from what Arcane had called the universes "Cosmological Lynch Pin" the weaker mystical beings became.  Tommy leaned back in his chair.  "Alright Princess of Darkness, lay it on me.  Whats the offer?  Power? Money? OH! What about green beans that taste like chocolate chip cookies?" Tommy nodded slowly. "Now that would be tempting."
He nodded. "Cause you know it's healthy.  But it taste like chocolate chip cookies."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:51, Tue 06 Apr 2010.

[Outer Space, Location Classified]

Crucible tilted his head regarding the young man.

"How droll. In any case, the offers of my... previous incarnation are irrelevant. I am not here to offer you a simplistic supplication to your base materialistic wants. I am here to offer you a chance," he said, pointing at the image frozen on the screen behind Tommy, "For her. What would you do if it meant she could walk the earth again, healthy and unharmed?"