He handed it over immediately.

"It may be worth it, but from where I'm standing, I can't see what the goal is. Or much of anything about what's going on. Richard said that everyone I'm delivering these suits to agreed to participate, that you signed a contract. I never had that chance to know what I'm getting into."

His mind was still slowly clearing, with the proper mana type powering certain systems that had previously been running on what was available instead. The psychological and physiological side effects of that improper fuel were starting to be cleared from his system, and Rodger was beginning to realize just how lousy he'd been feeling ever since his return. And hadn't even known that he was feeling terrible. It would take a little time, and a continued supply of the different mana types as fuel, before he was back to his normal health.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:43, Sat 14 Nov 2009.

"All things to those who wait, Rodger. Be assured that there will be a payoff. It's only a matter of where and when..."

DR OWENS PLEASE REPORT TO ER CENTRAL...DR OWENS, PLEASE REPORT TO ER CENTRAL...

"I must be off...thank you again Rodger...and you are starting to look a lot better now...definitely a lot better since the death warmed over look on your face left....Take care now..."

And with that the Dr. rushed off with his package to the ER...

Rodger took no offense at the doctor rushing off like that. This was a hospital, and he had his duties. ER? Hmm, he hadn't known that Dr. Owens was with that ward... perhaps it was a existing patient of his, or a drug overdose situation.

And what had he meant by 'death warmed over'? Rodger puzzled over that as he made his way back out to his car. He hadn't been feeling well, true, but that sounded pretty bad. And why hadn't he realized that he wasn't well? What had those demons and their device done to him?

And why couldn't he get the memory of Richard inflating out of his mind? That kept bouncing around, shading his reactions to the others and their suits.


Oh well, two more deliveries and everyone would have them.

Stopping off at home again, Rodger packed the last pair and set out once more.


(Exit to The Streets)

PM

PM

PM

  Meg settled to the earth before the front doors of the hospital.  She then walked into the lobby, and asked the receptionist (or greeter) at the front desk "Hello.  I'd like to visit Captain Jordan, if possible?"

>>>>>>>>>>>>From Legacy HQ>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Lucas went into the hospital, and found out from the receptionist where Detective Martinez was recuperating. This was incredibly tough because he hadn't seen his brother in some time. But considering where he was...and what happened...he had to go see him.

He arrived at the room where Esteban was recuperating from the rib injury he sustained. With a slow knock at the door, he said softly, "Hey bro...sorry I've been out of touch..."

"L-Lucas? Is that you? Ow..."

"Yeah bro...it's me. I...uh...I heard about what had happened. I'm just sorry that I wasn't here sooner..."

"Well I'm glad you're here now...but I've got some questions. Like...where in the hell have you been? Ever since you were...well, you know..you just disappeared. I was this close to filing a missing persons report on you..."

Lucas looked at his brother square in the eye.

"I've been to a lot of places, bro...some I'd like to tell you about...but others...well, let's just say through hell and back."

You're bein' pretty cryptic, man...

It's the truth. I'd like to tell you more, but at the moment...I was concerned about you. What happened? Who did this?

Hunter...Hunter did this. He shot Captain Jordan...took me off guard. You'd think with all the shit I've seen in the SCU I would've been better prepared.

Bro...listen, you can't blame yourself. Just like you can't blame yourself for what happened to me...and why I got thrown out. You've done well for yourself...even without me. I'm proud of you...

Then a middleaged Hispanic man and woman walked into the room. The man gave Lucas a stern look. Gerardo and Ines Martinez...Lucas and Esteban's parents.

Gerardo then said,"Hello...son."

Lucas returned the stern look with one of his own. "Hello...Dad."
This message was last edited by a game moderator at 01:34, Wed 10 Feb 2010.

Lucas was about to get up and leave as his parents walked in.

Ines looked sternly at both men, and said, "All right...you two need to mend this fence between you. RIGHT NOW. Otherwise I'm going to throw BOTH of you out. Gerardo..I think you have something to say to your son. Lucas...listen up..."

"Lucas...I am sorry for throwing you out..."

Lucas stayed silent for a moment, then said. "It's OK Dad...all is forgiven."

Esteban looked up from his bed. "About damn time you pig-headed people stuff the egos..."

Lucas then said, "I really do have to go...got stuff goin' on...but it was good to see you guys again. Stevie...Mom...Dad...take care...there's so much I have to tell you..but now isn't the time."

Lucas then excused himself from the room. It looked like Esteban was in good hands. Now he could turn his full attention to what needed to be addressed: Tracking down Hunter. Lucas was trying not to harbor any malice for Hunter hurting his brother, but the issue with Hunter needed to be addressed...

But that could wait for a moment. The Martinez family was at peace at last. Inwardly, Lucas hoped that he wouldn't get killed before he could get together with his family again...

This was indeed a momentous occassion. The only thing that would have made this day perfect...were if Friday were here...but she wasn't. But Lucas knew that she would always be with him...if not physically, then spiritually...
This message was last edited by a game moderator at 04:03, Wed 10 Feb 2010.

Lucas had really hoped for an answer to his question from Ethan. After all, the original Defenders had worked with The Golden Dragon back in the day. And while he could ascertain that he had to be of Japanese descent based off of what Machinesmith had told him, that was all he had to go on. That...and that his help was greatly beneficial to the Defenders. Then again..so was everyone's.

Answers will have to wait for another day...what's going on now...well, it can't. I never wanted to be viewed as the leader of the Legacy. Friday was the one who could lead...who could make all of our personalities come together and get us all together...no matter how stubborn any of us were. Friday...I hope everything is going well with you, baby...

Taking out his cell phone, Lucas sends a text.
This message was last edited by a game moderator at 15:40, Sun 14 Feb 2010.

Lucas looked down at his phone and frowned. It seemed that like Friday...Mirage was also a million miles away...though more of in the figurative sense than in the literal sense. He couldn't help but wonder what her thought process was at the moment. She was a complicated person...but also one of his greatest allies...and friends.

But a good thing happened today. His family was together again...even if it was only in principle. Lucas' Mom certainly had a way with words. But he had more important things to worry about....this Builder...the Bertellis..and Hunter...

Once again, discreetly entering the alleyway beside the hospital, he then summoned the Dragon Fist armor.

I've gotta find Hunter...

>>>>>>>To Weston City Streets>>>>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>>>>>From The Builders Safehouse>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Lucas came into the hospital as quickly as he could. Making his way to the front desk.

"Excuse me....there was an Esteban Martinez of the SCU hospitalized here....I'm his brother, Lucas..."

He holds out his driver's license.

"I heard he signed himself out and went with another man. Do you know where they might have gone to?"

--== The Next Day ==--

The nondescript black car pulled in front of the hospital.  The driver, wearing a black suit with a crisp white shirt opened the rear passenger door.  Mirage, wearing a womens knee length skirt suit, slid awkwardly out of the car, her driver helping her.

"Thank you, Thomas." Mirage said.  She started to make her way to the front door of the hospital.

"Do you need me to get the door for you, ma'am?" Thomas asked.  He made to walk ahead of her, but Mirage stopped him with a wave of her hand.

"That's not really necessary.  I can open a door by myself now, Thomas, but thank you."  Mirage entered the hospital while Thomas took the car to the parking lot and waited.

Her first stop was the fourth floor, room 104.  She informed the floor nurse that she was visiting and made her way to the room where her sister lay.  Mirage paused at the door to the room.  Her sister looked so peaceful resting there that Mirage was hesitant to wake her.

The womans eyes slowly opened as Mirage turned to leave.  "...helena..." she said weakly.

Mirage turned and moved to beside her sisters bed, taking the other womans hand.  "Morning Toria.  How are you feeling today?"

Victoria smiled a tired smile.  "I'm doing well.  The doctors say that I'll be well enough to go home in a few more days.  I just need...to rest is all."

Mirage patted Torias hand and smiled at her sister.  It had only been a few days earlier that Toria had nearly overdosed on sleeping medication.  It was an accidental if not desperate attempt to find some peace from the nightmares that had been coming back to plague her.  Mirage knew well what the nightmares were about.  "I'm glad to hear that.  Don't you ever scare me like that again."

Toria laughed softly.  "I won't.  I worry that you might go over the edge with worry about me."

The two women talked for a while.  It was nothing too heavy, just some small talk.  Mirage had indeed been worried since her sister lapsed again.  She made a mental note to speak with Torias therapist about the nightmares.  They were supposed to have gone away but were now coming back.

A soft chime sounded, Mirages phone giving off an alarm.  Mirage bade her sister a farewell and went down to the first floor.  She entered a womens change room and changed out of her work clothes and into a pair of sweats.  A muscular man greeted her when she emerged.

"Morning, Helena." he said with a pleasant smile.  "You're early for your physio again.  Ready to begin?"

"That's it, Helena." The physiotherapist, named Tony, was cheering from one side.  He was standing close enough that he could provide aide should something go wrong but offered no other support.  "Keep it up.  You're doing good."

Helena grunted and gripped the parallel bars tightly.  A thin sheen of sweat dampened her forehead from the exertion of slowly making her way from one end of the bars to the other.  The effort was too much for her and her arms gave way, causing her to tip over to one side.  She managed to avoid crumpling to the floor by hanging on to the one bar.  Tony, the physiotherapist was at her side instantly.  He helped her to a sitting position on the floor, even though she was struggling to pull herself back up.

"Take it easy, Helena." Tony said soothingly.  Frustration marred her attractive face and Helena looked like she was either going to cry or scream.  "This is a long process and you're lucky that you can do this much.  Most injuries like yours never heal.  You're making good progress."

Helena tried to calm herself but she punched a fist into the padded floor mat.  She knew that Tony was speaking the truth.  The prognosis from the doctors was dire and she had pretty much resolved herself to the fact that there were going to be things that she would never be able to do again.

Not as Helena.  Mirage was a different story.  Mirage was freedom where Helena was a prison.  Mirage could laugh at danger while Helena was fragile.  Mirage could leap and swing about the rooftops where Helena could barely...

She slammed her fist into the mat again.  She hated this feeling of utter helplessness.

"Let's get you back up and see if you can finish todays exercises.  Okay?   Let's not give up just yet." Tony said.  Helena nodded weakly and had to accept Tony's help to get back on the bars.

Mirage finished changing out of her workout clothes and back into her skirt suit.  She sighed as she put her clothes into the small gym pack.  Her performance today was less than satisfactory and she slammed the small locker door in frustration.

She hadn't been able to make it to the other end of the parallel bars.  Her longest distance so far had been almost half way before she faltered.  Tony had been encouraging as much as he could but it didn't help matters.

She sighed again.  Did she really have a cause to be so upset at her lack of progress when multiple doctors had told her that her condition would never change and that she was just damaged goods.  They hadn't called her damaged goods of course but that was how Mirage interpreted their results.

Only that was slowly changing.  The fact that she could make it part of the way along the parallel bars was almost being called a miracle and a medical curiousity.  The doctors had no explanation for the miraculous recovery and healing, but Mirage knew.  She couldn't tell them though.

If Mirage took a moment to consider things, her life was starting to look up.  Her sister was on the mend and her permanent injuries were slowly becoming less permanent.  She might almost be able to live a normal life in a short while.  This called into question her nighttime activities as Mirage.

Mirage had been born out of her anger over what had been done to her sister and her.  It fueled her, gave her the motivation and drive to leap along the rooftops and punish those breaking the law.  Mirage was there to make sure that no one else would suffer as she did.

So what would happen when that anger was gone?  When her life recovered, what would happen to Mirage?

Thomas was there to meet Helena at the front door to the Hospital.  He held the car door open for her and helped her into the back seat.  "Did everything go well, Miss Helena?" he asked.  Helena liked that about Thomas.  He seemed genuinely interested in what was going with her, treating her more like a friend than his boss.

"About as well as can be expected." she replied.

"I'm sure things will get better.  You're making great progress I hear."

"Oh?  And who were you hearing this from?" She said in an amused accusatory tone.  "Chatting up the receptionist again?"

"Tony.  I was talking with him while you were changing.  Home or the office?"

"Home please.  I'm not feeling up to going in to the office right now."

The car pulled out of the hospital and merged into traffic.  In the back seat, Mirage stared out the window, her thoughts on other things beside the traffic.

--> To the Rooftops
This message was last edited by the player at 04:16, Thu 03 June 2010.

---> from Derring Condominiums


Arriving about 10 minutes early, Rodger parked, and headed inside to report in to Dr. Owens for his check-up. He fidgeted nervously as he walked, feeling apprehensive about this.

The receptionist greeted Rodger, took care of any co-payment needed, and then had Rodger sit down in the waiting area.

A few moments later, a slim blonde nurse came out. "Rodger Eskins?"

Well, that was fast, Rodger thought as he got back up from the chair he'd only just taken a seat in. Not even time to look through whatever health pamphlets were out.

He walked to the nurse, prepared to follow her.

The nurse led him back to the Doctor's office, weighed him, took his temperature, and then took him back to the exam room.

There, she took his blood pressure.

"Dr. Owens will be here shortly, Mr. Eskins..."

A few moments later, Dr. Owens then made his entrace.

"Hello Rodger....and how are we feeling today?"

"Physically, fairly well, I'd say. A far cry from how I was feeling the last time I was here," he said, referring to the day he'd delivered the suits. "Still having trouble getting enough sleep."

Dr. Owens smiled at Rodger.

"Well...you are making some excellent progress in adapting. As are we all. Tell me...how're Brenda ahd the children?"

"Oh, the boys are both doing wonderfully. Harold's grades have been excellent, he's in fine spirits. John's actually learned to pronounce 'no' well enough that most people can understand him. And Brenda seems to have something up her sleeve... either that, or she's found something aphrodisiac."

"It hasn't been easy, trying to keep this a secret from her, Doctor. I keep worrying that I'll see my marriage fall apart in divorce court."

"Oh yes....I know this must have been difficult for you Rodger. Having to skulk around, keeping secrets and such. If you think about it, you sound a lot like the so-called heroes that abound in our fair city. Speaking of them, what have you found out about our young intrepid heroes, hmmmm?"

"Quite a bit, considering that I'm their official 'chaperone' so to speak," he said, getting thoughtful as he considered things. "You did hear that one of them, Erinyes, can spot us, didn't you?"