After Lucas had awakened, he was able to get ready in time for the arrival of the Tai Chi class. Grace arrived at the dojo shortly after 10, and began to soft, subtle instruction of Tai Chi, which Lucas participated in. The Goju-Ryu class was not in session today, so that gave Lucas more than enough time to learn the subtleties of both Tai Chi and The Northern Shaolin Kung Fu style.

In this, he was just as focused as he was when he was doing the training for the mastery of the Elements. For those same elements seemed to flow with every subtle movement, every vital motion that embodied both the grace of Tai Chi and the truly cerebral knowledge of the Northern Shaolin style.

After the workout, he conversed with Grace for a short while, then set out on to the streets of Weston.

>>>>>>>>>>>>To The Streets of Weston>>>>>>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>>>From The Streets of Weston>>>>>>>>>>>

Lucas returned to the dojo, a little spring in his step. He had heard the announcement that Rebound and Penny had come to terms with their feelings for each other.

He then put the supplies away, and then prepared himself for the Goju class that was set to start.

"Again!" Lucas said after one of his pupils tried to come at him with an overly aggressive kick.

The pupil, a young man in his early 20's, short blond hair and clean-shaven, promptly came after Lucas with an aggressive pump kick. Lucas calmly stepped to the side, parrying the kick and simulated a reverse punch which would have cleanly hit the student in his abdomen.

The student, acknowledging that he could have been felled by the punch, nodded at Lucas and gave him a short bow before returning to where the class sat. Lucas returned the bow and then began to address the class.

"The name of the art is....Goju-Ryu. The words mean both 'hard' and soft. It has all the subtleties of Aikido, in where you can use the strength of your attacker against them....and at the same time, it can employ more aggressive manuevers. Remember one thing...Anger is your worst enemy, especially when you are in a fight. Anger will cause you to make misakes. Never lose your temper....it will make you vulnerable....and off-balance."

Letting the lesson sink in, he then announced "Class is dismissed for today."

The class soon began to file out, and Grace had been sitting in the back observing. A smile came to her lips as she told him "Believe it or not...even though we practice different arts, we both ultimately want the same thing. I've seen you observing and even embracing some of the Shaolin principles."

Lucas nodded at that. "A wise man told me to never limit myself to one style. The Northern Shaolin style does have a lot to offer. And I'm grateful that you've decided to come to Weston, Ms. Wei. Out of all the areas that you could have picked to come to, you chose Weston City."

The middle-aged Asian woman chuckled for a moment. "Weston offers unique challenges not found anywhere else. But...being a long time citizen of this city, I'm sure you already knew that. Good day Lucas..."

She then left the dojo, leaving Lucas alone as he finished picking up several things in the dojo. He always took great care not to remove the upper portion of his gi in the presence of the students or even Grace, because of the scar he still wore (and because Kimeran would no doubt tell him that he was feeling a draft).

>>> The Streets

Mirage stepped into the empty Dojo, wearing a bright sundress.

"Hello?" She called out.  "I'm looking for someone to teach me the fine art of self defence."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:09, Thu 26 Apr 2012.

In reply to Mirage (msg #683):

PM

In reply to Mirage (msg #683):

Lucas smiled before he turned around to face Helena.

"And you have found someone who can teach you. The question is, are you willing to learn? And more importantly....can you put up with the teacher?"

I as a gm have decided that Jordan has provided the legacy with beepers as your never at your base to answer your phone

Mirage and DFs go off.

As Lucas' smile began to become more playful, the beeper issued by Captain Jordan went off.

"Damnit....I knew these beepers were a bad idea. This thing is worse than the Bat-Phone.."

the beeper reads "Hostage situation at the Museum assistance requested.

"Guess the excitement you were seeking just popped up in the form of a hostage situation at the Museum.." Lucas said, slightly frowning.

He then armored up.

"Let's see what's going on at the Museum.."

Mirage frowned at her own beeper.  It felt absurd to carry one, like she was at someone else beck and call.  There was some logic in having it, and that was partly why she had agreed to carry it.  The other part was the thought that every time it went off, Mirage would have the opportunity to beat someone up.

She slipped the pager back into her purse and gave Lucas a seductive little grin.  "Not the sort of excitement that I was looking for, but it will do."  She held her hand out.  "Shall we?"

"Let's shall..." Dragon Fist replied, accepting the offered hand.

Mirage smiled as Lucas took her hand.  In a moment, they were enveloped in a cloud of crimson somke.

>>> To Museum.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>From The Timeskip>>>>>>>>

The business with The Builder seemed to be resolved. But Lucas couldn't help but wonder if there were still some ramifications that arose from it. One, being the mysterious gunman who took The Builder's life, and the fact that he was still out there.

But that would have to wait, at least for the moment. Don had called a meeting of The Legacy, something that hadn't happened in a while. Lucas knew that he would need to travel incognito for this meeting, so he took the standard Weston City transit authority route to get to his destination.

>>>>>>>>To Van Diemen House>>>>>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>>>From The Timeskip>>>>>>>>>>>

The last 24-hour period had been a nice and refreshing time for Lucas. Besides spending time with the New Age Defenders and the rest of his friends (including some odd new ones), it was a time for him to reflect and enjoy a brief moment of respite.

He had also talked to Ozzy briefly (whenever he could get away from Clarissa), and had directly or indirectly heard about Ozzy's father was being less than favorable with Ozzy's choices in life. It reminded him a lot of when Lucas' own father had thrown him out due to the "incident with the football player in high school." He let Ozzy know that he understood because he had been through the same things, and hoped that the two Gysbournes would be able to eventually mend their relationship.

Weston, thankfully, had been quiet so the Champion of Light was able to enjoy nearly a full night's sleep before opening the dojo in the morning and going through the daily routine of teaching the various young people who found his way through the doors of the Dragon And The Tiger.

At 7, Lucas had just closed down the dojo, making sure Grace got out to her car okay, before heading back into the training area to center himself and meditate. The recent events were disturbing, and were pointing to open warfare between humanity and Paras. And Lucas at this moment wasn't sure what, if any, sides would be the right sides.

As Lucas meditated, his awareness was able to give him a very brief forewarning as a bullet pierced through the window of the dojo, impacting the floor mere inches away from the mystic martial artist.

"Son of a--" Lucas exclaimed, seeing the bullet impact not far from him, immediately alert. His once calm demeanor turned to one of indignation. Someone had taken a shot at him from afar, and they were going to pay for it.

Running to the backdoor, he opened the door quickly, seeing if he could get a glimpse of the shooter.

Lucas came out to see a brief glimpse of a shadowy figure, which was gone just as suddenly. He did, however, see what appeared to be a note on the ground, which had a capitol L on the ground. When he would open the note it read:

"Your weaknesses have been exposed, your Achilles' heel revealed. The end game is set. To find me, you must return...TO WHERE IT ALL BEGAN.."

Lucas picked up the note and put it into his pocket, his expression troubled. Whoever this person was who had been toying long enough, and they were prepared to end this game.

But what did it mean..Where Did It All Begin?

Lucas started to think to himself, getting back inside the dojo and preferably away from any windows.

Where it all began kept playing through his head over and over again. He looked at the letter, which had a capitol L. Could this letter have meant....where the LEGACY began?

He then went back through his memories, remembering their first meeting, and their first take down, which was the villainous Flamethrower.

Which was outside of the Above And Beyond Agency.

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN. The Legacy forming, Brain's plan to take over the world. Everything.

Lucas frowned. He thought he had made his peace and saw the last of that structure when he had his vigil for Friday. Whoever this was...if they had defiled the building in some way, they were going to pay a heavy price.

Keeping a wary eye, he once again summoned his armor, and took to the air, sending another message to the Legacy, and going to a place that he never thought he'd see again.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>To Above And Beyond Investigations>>>>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>>>From Above And Beyond>>>>>>>>>

Dragon Fist descended and retracted his armor once safely out of sight. Entering into the dojo, the tears streamed freely from his face. He had lost not one but TWO women he loved. Perhaps being the Champion Of Light was both a blessing and a curse. Perhaps he was cursed even before he became the Champion Of Light.

None of that mattered.

Lucas was confused. Confused about his role in Weston, or in the universe. If he was doing so much good, why did those closest to him have to suffer and die?

He went and packed several changes of clothes into a large backpack, and zipped it up. He left a moderate amount of cash in the office with a note for Grace. He then looked back at the dojo which had been such a large part of his life, and smiled briefly. He shook his head and then turned out the lights.

None of the others would understand. They didn't experience the amount of loss that he did. Maybe Don, but who knew if the others did understand.

Hoisting the backpack over his shoulder, he then walked out of the dojo, and into the city streets, not knowing where he was going.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>??????????????????>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>>>>>>From ??????????????>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Lucas soon appeared back at the dojo, running his fingers through his hair, the loss of his friend, teammate, and lover so close to him and his heart. A loss that although he was starting to cope with, still left a large void within him.

And what was to come? The funeral was going to be tomorrow, and he had to write something. The dojo was empty, especially with so little time passing in the "real" world and the other place he was in.

He then sat down at his desk in the back office and began to write on a piece of paper.

>>>>>>>>>From The Streets Of Weston (Funeral)>>>>>>>>>>

Dragon Fist took his usual way into the dojo. Retracting his armor, he then sat down Indian-style in the training room and attempted to focus himself.

Today was difficult though, and Lucas couldn't seem to narrow down that focus. He opened his eyes, and buried his face in his hand, the grief too strong for him to hold back anymore.

Vaan felt naked. She wasn't wearing her typical trenchcoat, with it's umpteen-million different functions, most of them stealth oriented. No knife belt, no guns hidden in places where no one would think to look, and certainly no grenades. As much as Vaan had fought for a peaceful world such as this....well, she felt out of her element. At least she had her nano-tool formed into a bracelet on her wrist, which complimented the new clothes her mother had gotten her nicely.

She took a deep breath at the door of Dragon and Tiger. From what her mother had said, Lucas knew she was in this timeline, and her name, but didn't know what she looked like. Well, point in her favor, and she could work with it. Mina Yang did sound like an appealing name, too.

Vaan knocked on the door several times, waiting for an answer.

Lucas turned and looked towards the door, his eyes reddened by the large amounts of tears he had shed. Whoever was interrupting his mourning might be in for a verbal lashing.

He opened the door, and seeing the young girl, looked wary.

"Can...can I help you?"