They reappeared midair, high above Weston.  He'd spread his wings as he 'ported, so he held them aloft, the heat of his body keeping her warm, a solid heat against her back, butt and thighs, and a thick, solid bar around her waist.  The sunset, as he hovered there, was glorious, a blaze of scarlet and orange, gold, mint and violet fading into deeper and deeper purple and midnight blue, darkening into the inky black of night, and with the stars beginning to appear like a million pinpricks of silvery jewels laid on velvet.  His deep voice whispered into her head {{The sunset above Weston.}}

"Incredible," Victoria said as they flew in the skies. "Now I know that I shouldn't teleport so much...I miss sights like this.."

  {{I usually fly.  It's soothing, peaceful, and it doesn't hurt anyone to do it as much as I like.}}  He hovered until the sky had completely turned black, stars spangling the velvet of night like jewels, and then simply soared, still holding her against him, letting her feel the wind kiss her body as it kissed his own.  {{There is nothing judgmental about a sunset, or the wind, or the clouds.  I love that.}}

"And up here you must feel free of the burdens that you might have...not worrying about anything except the random airplane.."

  {{I don't even worry about airplanes unless I go above the clouds.  They rarely fly low enough to be a hazard.  Birds, clouds, and winds don't care if I look like a hellspawned monster.  Which, really, I am.  Even if I do have a human heart, I can't change what I am.  And I'm apparently too stubborn to give up and just let something else up and eat me.  Dad told me I had a true warrior's soul, but I had a warrior's curse too, in that a true warrior often walks alone, because they fight horrible odds, no matter the personal cost, because it is needed.}}  He kited them across the sky, occasionally brushing her cheek to get her to look this way and that.  From high above, Weston was beautiful and idyllic.  There was no crime from up here, no hatred, no petty spitefulness.  Only the shimmer of lights and velvet blackness making beautiful patterns.

"I know a little something or too about walking alone...my path as the Protector of the Realm requires me to stand alone against monstrous creatures...abominations who would just as soon tear this dimension apart than do anything..."

  She got several almost disorienting flashes of memory.  {{Things.  I've seen them.  Lived among them.  Dodged them and watched them eat. They don't belong here.  Technically, *I* don't belong here anymore.}}  She felt his chest move for the first time since he'd 'ported them in a deep sigh, and he added {{Sorry.  I keep forgetting to breathe anymore, since I don't have to.}}

Victoria looked back at him for a moment.

"You don't...breathe? As for what you are..that doesn't matter. You've chosen a path that hardly anyone like that would have chosen. And with the way you escaped from the Lower Planes...perhaps others will escape as well..."

  He shook his head, and said {{Unless they have really loyal friends, I doubt it.  They'd have to get Sealed away INTO Hell before Mortal Death, then be rescued after being . . . awakened . . . to what they were.}}

Victoria nodded.

"We had...and still do...hope for a way out of hell for those souls that don't deserve to be there."

{{Oh, I could take them out of Hell now, if I wanted.  Might get into some seriously nasty fights, but I could do it.  Now that I'm here, well, I could go back if I wanted, and get back here.  I just have no desire to go back to Hell.}}  He settled them atop a skyscraper, letting her stand on her own feet as he set her down, then morphed to his humanform.

Victoria looked out over the skyline of Weston.

"I appreciate you letting me in to see the different facets of your life, Andy. The truth is....Adri is a good teacher...but I....um...well, it's hard to share things with her without getting some kind of 300 year ago speech.."

  Andy chuckled, and said "I'm only 28 now.  So you only can have up to twenty years ago with me, and very unlikely to get that much."  He sat on the edge of the building with blithe disregard for the fact that a good stiff breeze could blow him off.

Victoria chuckled at Andy's comment, and then briefly observed him as he sat on the perch of the building.

"So....what's next for you. Andy? Any long term plans?"

  He chuckled, and said "Try to get used to this world again.  Retrain the new reflexes I acquired while in Hell.  To grab and rip out the throat if something or someone sneaks up behind me is probably NOT the best reaction to do without even thinking anymore."  He tilted his head at her, and said "Hardest part will be getting my friends not to freak the next time I get blown to bloody mist."

"That will take some getting used to," Victoria said, still looking at the skyline.

"I've hardly had any friends ever since I first began this leg of my life. Would it be imposing too much if I were to ask you...to maybe be my friend? I know my people skills aren't the greatest.."

  That actually got a boyish grin that was surprisingly sweet.  "I'm more than willing for that, Victoria.  I don't exactly have a ton of friends myself.  And as you saw, the ones I DO have are all just as strange, in different ways, as I am."  He reached over, and caught her arm lightly, tugging her (although not forcing) over to sit on his thigh.  He radiated heat, which explained why he could sit there in jeans and a t-shirt in the middle of a December night and not even seem to notice it.

Victoria smiled as she sat down with Andy, looking out over the skyline of Weston.

"You know...I think I'm going to be for a long time.." she said, but no regret was found in her voice.

  "I don't really notice hot and cold anymore much either, so you have to remind me if you feel hot or cold.  Ten years in Hell really changes a person.  Mostly in physical ways.  Mostly."  He leaned her against him, so that she was warm enough.

"I feel fine, Andy. In fact, very comfortable at this moment," Victoria said, leaning against him.

  He smiled, and wrapped his arms around her waist, then said quietly "You feel good in my arms.  The kind of good I always wished for.  Not that I really figured I'd ever have to worry about it again.  Most women hear 'Demon' and they're running for the hills, and even the ones that don't run, would generally say 'ain't touching THAT'.  My 'true' form, the Demonshape, isn't precisely a sexy hunk of male."

"Not to bolster my ego, Andy, but I'm not most women," Victoria said with a slight smile.

  He rumbled a laugh, and said "I know.  You haven't run screaming in the opposite direction yet, talking about armageddon coming."  He dipped his head, and she heard him inhale, scenting her hair.

Victoria began to breath easier, seeming more relaxed. "I've seen Armageddon...or at least the onset of it. And I have to be ever vigilant against it every single day. You, my good friend, are not the cause, and I feel safe with you."

  He said softly "I don't want to see Armageddon.  I know I'm likely to live that long, but I don't have to like Armageddon.  Now, are you ready for a rush?"

Victoria turned to Andy and arced an eyebrow. "What do you mean by...rush?"

  He grinned, and made sure he had his arm around her waist good and firmly, then tipped backwards.  Off the edge.  Tipping them into a tumbling freefall down the side of the building.

Victoria smiled as they began to freefall. Something told her that she should be panicking.....but she wasn't. She somehow felt safe with him.

  He morphed as he held her, and she could feel FAR more of his heat without the insulation of leathers and denim, and forty feet above the ground, his wings SNAPPED open and they SHOT down the street at lightning speed.  Safe, definitely, but still one hell of a rush.  His wings kept stroking too, speeding them and letting him maneuver like a giant, insane bat through the wires and such.  Until he shot the two of them skyward, and told her playfully "Yeah, I play freefall a lot.  Nothing else quite like the rush of freefalling nine thousand six hundred of ten thousand feet."

Victoria turned around to Andy and nodded.

"Yeah..there is nothing else like it."

  He grinned, and even with a mouth full of razored, sharklike fangs, it was boyish and handsome.  "Now YOU know what it feels like too.  Did you like that?"  He settled them once more to a rooftop, adding "One of the few things I learned to very much enjoy in Hell was the ability to outfly even older, wiser, and more experienced Demons.  The wing-spurs helped a lot in combat too."

"But you had to fight so much in there...especially for survival...in that awful place..."

Victoria's demeanor seemed to soften considerably as she contemplated what he must have gone through to survive.

  He shrugged, and said softly, his voice a deep rumble "I had choices, even in Hell, Victoria.  I could lay down, give up, and let hem kill me or do to me whatever they wanted.  Or I could fight it, tooth, nails, and everything else, and hold to my own self.  I chose to fight.  I've been skinned, drawn and quartered, disemboweled,  flogged until my bones shone through the blood, and had my limbs ripped from my body.  I wouldn't give myself up to them for that, wouldn't give up.  And then I learned how to kill them, permanently.  And I learned how to be nastier than they were, when I had no other choice.  But generally, Victoria, I like to be a nice guy.  I like to fly, sketch, and believe it or not, I enjoy working on cars and motorcycles, and ending up covered in engine grease."  He'd been leaning against a concrete wall on the roof, shrouded in shadow, only his eyes visible as he spoke.

Victoria looked away, again towards the skyline.

"No one should have to go through what you just told me about, Andy. There is so much injustice in the world. And yet...there is a greater evil beyond the boundaries of this world. An enemy that Adri and I have been fighting against for years. An enemy....that if left unchecked...would end our existence."

She looked at him intently for a moment, her brown eyes full of understanding.

"You were brought back for a purpose, Andy. Whether it be God, your friends, or whomever, the fact of the matter is...you are back now. I've come to realize..now more than ever, Andy...that you are needed...I need you...both as a Protector...and as my friend and comrade..."

  He stepped closer, and said gently as he looked down, into her eyes "I'll take all the friends I can get, Victoria.  Demons aren't exactly popular people."

Victoria looked down and chuckled for a moment.

"I'll take whatever friends I can get too, Andy. After all, you've seen my wonderful people skills."

  He rumbled again, with a laugh, and lightly picked her up, his hands sliding around her waist to do it.  He felt HOT compared to the air!

Victoria let Andy take a hold of her as they went upward.

  He held her close, so that she could lay her head against his chest, and answered her.    He'd soared up, and out, over the city, his wings powering them effortlessly across the sky, loops and whirls of movement as they went nowhere in particular.

Victoria sighed as she laid her head against Andy's chest as they went up.

<

  He hovered above the center of the city, those wings blurring as they held them up, and brushed his cheek against her head.

Victoria looked around in the air.

  He brushed his cheek over her hair again, and rumbled.

Victoria turned and smiled.

    He just rumbled, and answered

Victoria smiled and looked once again at the skyline. For a city in turmoil, it sure looked beautiful from up here.

  Settling them onto a nice high spot, he leaned against the building, and just held her to him.  His wings wrapping around her so that she was wrapped up, kept warm, and cradled in his embrace.  Held in a Demon's arms, and yet safe as a baby in it's mother's arms.

Victoria eventually found herself very relaxed, and at peace for the first time in a long time. So much so, she found herself blissfully asleep.

 At the first little snore, Andy had to chuckle.  Apparently he made a good blanket.  Wrapping his tail firmly around a good grip, he laid his cheek on the top of her head, and settled to sleep.  Keeping her wrapped up right there.

Victoria continued to slumber, seeming like this was one of the first peaceful sleeping times she had in a long time.

  Just before dawn, Victoria's cellphone rang.

  He cracked one eye open as the phone rang, and Vic answered it.  Trying not to laugh as he heard the question.

Victoria suddenly noticed someone listening. Her resting place, and she began to blush.

  A deep rumble of laughter welled up at that blush, and he said "You have a really cute blush."

Victoria couldn't help but chuckle at Andy's comment.

  "So, I make a comfortable mattress and blanket combination, right?"  He was definitely teasing her now.

Victoria nodded at Andy, but still didn't say anything, for the moment.

  He smiled, but for some reason he was blushing a deep ashy gray.

"Why Andy.." she said teasingly. "Are you ok?"

  His cheeks darkened more, and he said "One could say that was the problem.  I turn gray when I blush."  He did NOT point out WHY he was blushing.  She was no dummy!

Victoria smiled at Andy's blush. It was very becoming on him, and rather cute.

  He smiled, and said "Ready to get a bite of breakfast for you?"

"Sure...I'm good with getting some breakfast..."

  He wrapped his arm around her, holding her against his side, then let go with his tail, and leaped outward, his wings snapping out and leaving a maintenance man standing, terrified, on the roof behind them.  He soared up, and then sighed and added "Gonna have to subject you to my own cooking, since it's Christmas Eve.  Borrowing a friend's house, once we land."  And then dove, spinning as he did.

Victoria took it in stride as they landed.

"So..whose house is it that you're borrowing?"

  He landed on HotWire's porch, then blinked them just inside the door as he said "Hotwire's place.  He doesn't really stay here much, after all.  Come on in.  Good thing I'm a law abiding soul, Demons are very hard to keep out of a place if they want in."  He headed to the kitchen, and dig around, then began making her french toast.

"Who is Hotwire?" Victoria asked as they shimmered inside of the house.

  Andy said "He's one of the Legacy.  He offered to let me use his place, since he really doesn't stay here much, and he was with the rest of the New Age Defenders when they picked me up, fresh from being evicted.  At gunpoint, from my grandparents' home."  He didn't add that he'd also been shot.  She didn't need to know that part.  He slid her first piece of french toast onto a plate, and put it, a fork, a butter knife, butter, and syrup on the table for her.  Then he moved to cook another piece.

"Damn.." Victoria uttered as Andy told her his story. She then began to partake in the french toast that he provided.

"This is pretty good, Andy.."

  He smiled, and slid another piece onto her plate, then put a third one in the skillet.  "I'm at least passable in the kitchen.  It's been a while since I did any cooking, so I'm glad I haven't lost all my skill with it.  Grandma taught me enough to do cooking and then I ended up the cook for breakfast, and any day I wasn't in school, I did lunch too.  Mom was usually working to pay Grandpa the rent he charged."  When this one was done, he just picked it up and wolfed down a couple bites as he tossed a fourth piece in the skillet, ignoring the heat of it as he did.

"You cook a mean meal, Andy Black...this is very good..." Victoria said, finishing up her first portion.

  He smiled at her, and said "I make a mean grilled cheese too.  Want any bacon or sausages with those?"  He pushed the fridge open, checking, and nodded when he spotted both.

"Bacon sounds good," Victoria said as she finished up the portion that Andy served her.

  He grinned, and pulled the bacon out, zipping one long black fingernail along the edge and slicing the heavy plastic open, then peeling the strips apart and putting them in the skillet.  He said in amusement "One thing I never have to worry about again is not having a sharp enough knife to cut something.  These things are positively razor edged."  He held up his hand, with the onyx-black nails that merely looked long and goth-style, then extended his talons the full six inches, and retracted them again.  "I come with built in cutlery!"

"That sounds very handy, and I certainly don't want to be on the business end of those talons..."

  He shrugged, and said "You wouldn't be, Victoria.  I don't claw friendlies.  They cut through anything, so they're not something to joke with.  Like guns, I don't use em unless I know I'm willing to live with what it will do.  Inanimate objects?  No problem.  Hostile Demons?  Shred em.  People?  Not unless they give me no other choice."  The talons had become nails again, and the bacon was done.  A slew of crispy strips landed on her plate, and he ran his last piece of french toast through the grease, soaking it up and then making it all gone.

"Then I'm glad those talons are on my side," Victoria said, beginning to partake some of the bacon.

  Andy smiled, and said "I really don't have good hobbies, considering I'm supposedly a hellspawned fiend.  I mean, how many demons do you know that are more likely to ask you to sit for a still life than rip your soul out and devour it?"

Victoria smiled.

"Well...we can work on some hobbies for you. It would be cool if you met Adri..mind you, she's not the most personable person in the world, but she is a damn good teacher. And she is determined to keep this dimension safe from outward threats."

  He laughed, and said "I sketch, Victoria.  I work on engines.  I get covered in grease and oil and things like that.  Or I used to, anyway.  I really do make a lousy Demon.  I'm seriously more likely to ask a person to sit for a still life picture or work on rebuilding an engine than I am anything 'demony'.  I'll admit to liking to peoplewatch, but that's partially because I like high places."  He held up a finger, and vanished, then reappeared about four minutes later.  He had a different 'shirt' on, and held four spiral-bound books in his hand.  The top one had a hole in the cover that was still slightly smoldering.

"I would like to see some of your work someday," Victoria said as she observed him with the notebooks.

  He held them out to her in offering, and said "Here you go.  Thankfully someone hadn't found them and tossed them in the woodstove yet."  She saw they were well used sketch notebooks, rather battered at the edges.  And the one's damage had finally stopped smoking, although the cover was still very lightly smoldering.  There was a shotgun pellet in it.

Victoria saw the one with the shotgun pelt in it.

"I would ask you to explain this...but I'm not going to press it. I'm sure you'll tell me when it's the right time. Right now, I just want to go inside the mind of Andy Black...and the sketchbook is the perfect way to do so."

  He scratched his chin, and pulled open the leather vest he had on now, instead of the sweatshirt.  His midsection was a mess of healing shotgun wound.  "Grandpa doesn't like me any more.  Well, he never did, but now he REALLY doesn't like me."  The black of his jeans had hidden the blood soaking into them from the wounds, even if they were healing.

Victoria looked at his wound.

"Dios mio..."

  "It will be gone soon enough.  Just a shotgun, Victoria.  Same twelve gauge as last time."  He let the vest fall closed, and took her plate to the sink to wash while she looked at his sketchbooks.

Victoria looked through some of Andy's sketchbooks, seeing what he might have worked on.

  He washed the dishes while she looked.

  The sketches ranged widely.  Horses in motion, dogs, cats.  Fantastic creatures, a Dragon, a barbarian warrior on horseback, a biker on a custom motorcycle that, honestly, looked pretty damn awesome.  A werewolf in their halfway shape.  A few 'Demons' of the 'sexy man with wings and horns' type, a few of the 'sexy female' types.  He was very good.  She saw lots of studies.  Clearly, at different points, he'd stared into a mirror, studying his own body as a model, but that had been before he'd filled out.  The sketches with anatomy studies were thinner, less well muscled, and definitely not done growing, now that she could see the finished product.

"This stuff is really good...and if you need a model for another sketch, I can volunteer my services."

  He grinned, a boyish, truly handsome expression, and said "I'd love to have you model, but are you sure you're up for nudes?  Clothing makes it very difficult to properly study anatomy."

Victoria blushed slightly at the thought of that.

"Well...um...that one, I'll have to think about it."

  Andy said "Modeling is modeling, Victoria.  Models are there to be looked at, not handled, touched, or harassed.  Yes, I would be looking at you, sometimes very closely, but it's because I want to SEE.  I want to be able to sketch what I see, and make it look RIGHT.  And I wouldn't be asking you to do anything I haven't done to myself.  Actually, less, because, well, nevermind."  She noticed there was another, small, sketchbook on the chair, down out of sight, normally.  More a sketch diary, actually, but it, too, had the battered look of one well used.

Victoria looked at the sketchbook that was there, and began to thumb through it.

  He spotted her holding it, and managed to slip out of the room before he turned black as coal.  That one was the one with all the male anatomy studies that were NUDE.  Both aroused, and not.

Victoria looked down at the notepad, and blushed furiously, quickly closing it and then looking around for Andy.

  Big as he was, he made nary a sound until he turned the water on in the bathroom sink, splashing his face with icy water to try and make the blush fade.  Then he swiped a rag and wiped his belly off, getting most of the blood while he was there anyway.  He called "Done flipping through my old sketchbooks?"

Victoria had caught herself peeking in the sketchbook when Andy called. She abruptly closed it as she blushed some more.

"Um...yeah...I'm done..."

  He came padding back in, still eerie uncanny silent for his size, and said "Those are just the ones I've kept for the anatomy studies in them.  Animals, it's easier to study, but human, or once-human, anatomy is harder to get studied.  I mean, some things are easy.  Hands, feet, arms, but some parts are not.  I've done a lot of work studying anatomy to try and make myself a better artist."  Which was a fact, he HAD done a lot of work.  For a hobby, he'd spent a lot of time on it.

Victoria considered something for a moment.

"Well...you're good with clothing, right? I think that my Black Jaguar outfit could use some improvement. I mean, I was just looking for something practical to hide my identity while I did my thing. You think that..um...you might be able to design a costume? I can basically conjure it into being with a spell...and you're a good artist.."

  He nodded, and said "I think I can.  Mind you, I'll have to have you handy if you want the dimensions to look right, but that's okay.  Just please tell me you have some form fitting clothing, so that I can make sure the lines look right.  Game for it?"

Victoria nodded and replied, "Um sure..I could probably get something form fitted to make things easier."

  He smiled, and said "The next question is, do you want me to actually sketch it, or paint the picture in my mind and drop a copy of it into your head?  I can do that now, and it would spare you waiting the couple hours I'd spend working on a pencil sketch."

"That sounds like a good plan," Victoria replied.

  He grinned, and said "Need anything to get yourself ready to model so I can design an outfit?  I'm fortunate, in some ways, I never have to shop for clothing again."

Victoria shrugged. "I dunno...I guess all I would have to do is pose..."

  He shrugged, and said "Remember, form fitting so I can properly tailor things.  Unlike a masculine form, I'm not as intimately familiar with all the lines and curves.  You'll want something that will bend, flex, and fit you well while still offering protection."

Victoria gestured to the outfit she was wearing.

"So this leather set won't work?" she said with a slight smirk.

  Andy tipped his head in a 'point' gesture, then took his glasses off.  He said "Sorry to stare, but I have to fix the image here."  Indeed, he was staring, very intently.  It probably felt a little like being mentally undressed too, although he didn't say anything.  When he'd given her a good front-study, he stepped around her, getting the proper view from behind her too. Then  He moved to lean on the doorframe, eyes closed.    Clearly 'thinking' hard.

Victoria looked at Andy out of the corner of her eye. Andy didn't seem to be overly dirty-minded, but she couldn't help but feel like her ass was getting extra attention!

  When he finally opened his eyes, he gently 'knocked' on her mental door as he said "This should work."  He'd designed an outfit that was made of some sort of dark charcoal leathers, very form fitting, but supple and protective, clinging to her curves and not hanging out to catch on things.  A facemask with visored-eyes so that materials could not spatter into her eyes and obscure her vision, with a definite feline theme, elbow-length gauntlets, mid-thigh length boots.  A belt with pouches and pockets, a whip coiled on the side, as well as daggers.

"I like it," Victoria said. "Very....Catwoman. I wonder why I didn't think of that..."

  He shrugged, and said "You're not used to designing clothing?  I have a couple ideas for it, but they're not immediately feasible.  Some of the materials could be difficult to obtain."

"Not really.." Victoria replied. "I just conjured what I needed for the sake of practicality, just a mask and some rainment. I'd never actually tried to design the actual look for when I became the Black Jaguar."

She then gestured with her hands, and her clothing changed to what Andy had imprinted in her mind.

"Well...what do you think?"

  He looked her up and down, moved out of arm's reach, then said "Damn does that look good on you.  The real question is, do you like it?"

Victoria looked at a mirror and nodded.

"It's a good, striking visual. I used to think that all these Paras were silly for running around in costumes. Now I see that it is absolutely essential."

  He rumbled with amusement, and said softly "Technically, I run around 'in costume' when I'm not in wings, fangs and talons.  My 'True Form' is my Demonshape.  Which is what I do my heroing in."

"And I bet you can use the tales of strange, winged creatures to add to the mystique, right?" She said in a good natured teasing tone.

  Andy shrugged, and said "I use the code name Gargoyle.  Not that there's REALLY a lot of point in it.  My face itself doesn't change.  Just add horns.  But so far, most people just don't connect the two."

"From what Adri has told me, the tradition of the Black Jaguar goes back several centuries. They have been protectors of this dimension from threats....um...from the outside.."

"From what Adri has told me, the tradition of the Black Jaguar goes back several centuries. They have been protectors of this dimension from threats....um...from the outside.."

  "Probably from internal idiots trying to summon external trouble too."  He tilted his head, and lightly touched the material of her sleeve.  "Mmmm.  I wonder."  He sounded very thoughtful.  Then shook his head.  He'd pursue that thought later.

Victoria nodded. "Yes...unfortunately these otherworldly beings have human collaborators....idiots.....um, what were you thinking of, Andy?"

  He nodded, and answered "Leather.  Some kinds are sturdier than others.  I was just wondering about how hard actual leatherworking is."

Victoria nodded, and replied, "You don't have to go through that trouble. But if you have it, then I'm grateful for what you can do."

  He rumbled a laugh, and said "Considering I have every intention of keeping any OTHER Demons out of Weston, by permanent means, I think I can get hold of DemonSkins fairly easy."

Victoria arced an eyebrow and asked, "Demon skin armor? While I am grateful for the sentiment, I'm not sure about the source."

  He shrugged, and said "If I catch them terrorizing people here, I'm going to kill them anyway, Victoria.  May as well get some use out of their skins, no?"

Victoria nodded.

"I suppose so..hopefully they will take a holiday themselves."

  He shrugged, and said "No promises that they will though.  Now, did you want to go anywhere specific so you can get your own shower and clean clothing in?"

"Back to my place," Victoria said. "I have a lodging at the Sutra Apartments...in the not so nice section of town."

  He nodded, and said "I'll give you a lift and growl at anyone who looks like they want to mug you.  Sound fair?"

"That sounds far," Victoria said as she made ready to leave with him.

  He grinned, and wrapped his arm around her waist, then closed his eyes, and finding the image in her mind, he blinked them to the hallway just outside her apartment!!

>>>>>>>>>To Sutra Apartments>>>>>>>>>

<=====From Shooting Star's place

The winds coursed through her hair and over her costumed form as she shot through the skies above Weston.  Somewhere below, residents of the city were treated to the blast of a sonic "boom", as she accelerated past the speed of sound.  She didn't hear it herself, up here; the boom was already behind her when it occurred.

In the bright day's light, the charged energetic trail she left behind her was hardly visible, and she was moving faster than the eye could easily follow.  This trip was a very quick one for her, and she didn't want attention.

So Jamie's boyfriend, Markos Alvarez, had attended a para-party.  And ended up being one of the few who did trigger his latent powers.  And, what had happened to him...Ariane could easily understand why he'd be freaked.  She would be too.  So the question was, where had he gone?  Markos was pretty typical gang trash, to be perfectly blunt about it.  Ariane had met him only once, and couldn't stand him.  It was depressing to think of Jamie wasting herself on him.  But that's where Jamie was, these days.

The question was, what was he going to do next?  Would he put his new "gifts" at the disposal of his gang?  Somebody had to find him and talk to him. So Ariane was that somebody.  Outside of her aunt, Jamie was the only person who knew of her secret identity.  That had happened through an accident.  Ariane lived with the concern that Jamie might one day sell her out, if she really needed or wanted the money.  But she yet held faith that her once-friend was a better person, than that.

In virtually no time, she was over Carlos' neighborhood.

If anyone could help her locate the missing Markos quick...it was Carlos Hernandez.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:47, Sun 24 July 2011.

  Andy soared high overhead, senses wide, feeling for the 'flavor' of Penny and Jack's emotions.  Wanting to find them as fast as he could.

A blur of red and gold flew towards Andy stopping right in front of him. "Where we searching first?"

  Andy answered "I'm up where I can move in any direction as soon as my empathic senses pick them up."  He shrugged, and then added "Guess it's an advantage of being what I am.  Highly sensitive to emotions, as they're my meat and drink."

Bill nodded scanning the horizon with his superior vision. "I'm gonna keep moving then let me know if you find anything." And in another blur he was gone.

>>>>>>>>>>From the rooftops>>>>>>>>>>>

Dragon Fist's winged visage soon could be seen by Andy.

"Good to see you, Andy. Though I wish it were under better circumstances. Have you had any luck?"

  Andy had his mind set to the feel of Jack and Penny, and when he felt the spike of suddenly readable psy-energies, he said "I've had better situations, but I just caught a spike.  Keep up or catch up."  And those large, strong wings of his angled, sending him soaring through the air, tracking the psychic energies he felt, recognized, and the flavor of them made him snarl.  Self hatred, remorse, anger, pain . . . nothing good.

Dragon Fist said nothing, but propelled himself using his draconic wings to keep up with Andy.

  Andy had been looking, aside from his wings, mostly human, but as he soared, a deep bass rumbe became audible and his body changed, tail and horns and talons and his shirt vanishing as he shifted into his true form, the Demon under the human skin emerging as he felt the beating the young man was taking.

----------------->>  Bertelli Compound

Dragon Fist followed with Andy, his draconic wings continuing to keep him close.

>>>to Bertelli Compound

Being dragged out of the portal into the sky over the outskirts of Weston, he figures his makeshift disguise should protect his identity from most observers.  Especially since his time outside the Osprey should be limited.  Quickly he climbs into the vehicle as it continues on its path towards the city, closing the small porthole behind him.  Once in the Osprey, he begins slipping on the Daystar suit, starting with the mask to activate the voice modulation.

"Alfred, place a call to Captain Hanson."

As he waits for the call to go through, he quickly continues to put on his work clothes.

Piloting the Osprey through the Portal, he begins his own search.  Looking for heat signatures or anything that pops up to show that there was someone recently in the vicinity of where he is looking.

"Alfred, try to tap in to Social Media, News Broadcasts, Emergency Calls.  Anything that speaks or shows pictures of a creature someone isn't able to identify or missing person reports.  See if there is anyone using HAM Radios.  Maybe we will get lucky and there are some Cryptid enthusiasts around here.  We need to use as many eyes as we can."

Night meant hunting and that's exactly what Seraph was doing. As usual she was on the prowl for the men who had shattered her life but she was also out here for another reason: her new friends had inspired her with their acceptance and the degree of caring they had shown - Antoinette in particular. She had helped selflessly helped Serena in more ways than she could possibly know. She had given her a second chance because, had she not show up when she did, Serena would not be alive today. It was time she put these powers to use for more than just looking for the people that had altered the course of her life in a fashion she would never have believed possible. It was time to help people like she had been helped.

And so it was she found herself flying over the city looking for people who needed helping and people who needed hurting.