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[This story is set in Paragon City, taken from the former MMO game City of Heroes. All place names, hero names and registered trademarks belong to their rightful legal owners and are not intended as copyright infringement in any way. This work is purely meant as a piece of entertainment, and not for commercial purposes in any way, shape or form.]
[The precursor to this series is entitled “Mom the Superheroine”.]
[Thanks to my girlfriend Ashley for being my muse as always something good. Like, say, taking in people who need protection from supernatural reprisal.” Barbara winked.
Debbie laughed. “Yeah, I suppose they do! I’m always going to be grateful to Genevieve for opening the door with them. It’s really been a mixed bag. I’ve learned so much, overall, and I’m really pleased with that. It’s much safer than being a dabbler like I used to be. Now at least I know what I’m doing when I summon demons.”
“Oh… so… you’re still… doing that?” Barbara tried her best not to sound the least bit judgmental. But for a woman with her sensibilities, it was still a difficult notion to wrap her head around.
“Mmhmm. I’m far from the only demon summoner within our ranks. In fact, I’m just a novice. Right now, I can just about handle two minions at once, in addition to one… sort of… you might call it a ‘lieutenant’, I guess. A more powerful one.”
“I see… and um… what does… demon summoning entail? How does it work?” It was only polite, surely, to get someone talking about their passions, or course of study, or line of work.
“Well, I’m not sure I’m the right one to explain about the principles of it… I’m still very much a student! But it seems that when it comes to demonology, the summoner’s emotions figure prominently in the process,” Debbie explained earnestly, warming to the topic. “This is what I’ve been able to learn, anyway — our emotional energy is a sort of fuel. More advanced rituals bind specific demons who have names, but the sort of summoning I do right now is really more akin to just conjuration. I’m working with some basic forces in the universe, and giving them shape according to some prescribed constraints. So the demons I summon aren’t really sentient entities, with minds of their own, you know what I mean? taksim escort Not like that first succubus I summoned, the one that… um…”
The one that Cindy faced down and defeated, Barbara filled in mentally. Well, as good as defeated.
“Emotional energy,” she said, to try and change the topic, as Debbie blushed in chagrin. “How do you mean? How does that work to make, uh, demons form?”
“Well… typically, demonologists aren’t the most personable types of people. We tend to be… troubled. And that’s putting it mildly. Myself most emphatically not excepted,” Debbie said, rolling her eyes slightly. “So, typically, demonologists channel their… their negative emotions, you know, things like… hatred, resentment, anger, pain and all of that… and after the rituals and spells and all of that, it takes physical form. That’s usually why demons look the way they do, I guess.
“But in my case… I decided after a while that I didn’t want to do it that way. I didn’t want to be… feeling those things all the time anymore. You and Cindy really are an inspiration to me, you know. I, um…” She glanced at the floor shyly. “I really look up to the both of you, not only for what you did for me, but… what you showed me. About life. And how to face it. Just… your spirit, you know? The both of you.
“So basically I just… went to Sigil — that’s one of the senior Midnighters — and told her how I felt, and asked her if there was some other way. If there wasn’t, I was prepared to basically give up demonology altogether, and maybe just be a researcher or archivist of some sort.
“But she told me there definitely was an alternative. I didn’t have to become all happy-sunshine-flowers, unicorns and rainbows, all of that… but I could deal with my negative emotions, and use some other emotions to fuel my demonology, not quite so negative or harmful but just as powerful in their own ways.
“So, long story short, I did. I’m just… feeling better, these days, than I ever used to. And I’ve found other emotions to channel into my demon summoning, though it’s sort of changed the form my demons take. Um…” Debbie flushed suddenly, and fidgeted. “Um, yes. That’s about it, really. Sorry, I really ramble on sometimes.”
“No, escort bayan no… it’s fascinating,” Barbara said sincerely. “And I’m so glad you’re finding ways to manage your emotions and strike a healthier balance for yourself. It’s never easy for anyone, and I’m so proud of you for doing so well.”
“Thank you, Barbara! It means so much to me, to hear you say that.” Debbie smiled broadly.
“If you’d ever like to take to the streets and become a registered Heroine some day, I’d be proud to be your referee, Debbie. I’m sure Cindy would be just as happy as I would be to go on patrol with you!”
“Um… uh… why… yes, thank you, I mean, but no, I…” Debbie stammered, completely flustered. “I mean, I would love to… maybe… some day.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable. It’s nothing you must feel obliged to do. Just a silly suggestion from me. Please forget I said anything.”
“No, it’s not silly at all… I would love to! But… it’s just that, um…”
Barbara mentally chastened herself. Well, now, I’ve really gone and messed this up! I’ve made the poor girl feel ill at ease, now. I really need to remember, not everyone feels the same moral imperatives or has the same set of values.
“Why don’t we have a tour of the facilities?” she suggested brightly. “I can show you the training room, where Cindy and I do our training, and our medical bay has some extremely interesting diagnostic equipment.”
“Oh, I’d love that, please!”
But just as they stood up, an alert chimed. “Medi-porter beacon activated. Designation: Battleborn. Current location: medical bay. Current status: stable, non-critical.”
Barbara’s heart jumped into her mouth. My baby… my darling Cindy…
Debbie was gaping at her in shock, but quickly recovered. “Is Cindy hurt?” she cried. “We should go to her!”
“Yes. Come with me.” Barbara swiftly led the way to the medical bay.
The doors slid open, and Barbara rushed in. “Cin…” Her cry died on her lips. Debbie followed close behind, but stopped short at the sight that greeted them.
The unconscious form lying on the medi-porter platform was not Cindy.
**
“That seriously sounded too good to be true,” Cindy finally topkapı escort commented, after they’d both made their way to the location given.
The cargo ship was visible, anchored and tethered where Odysseus had said it would be. There were squads of Warriors patrolling on and about it, which seemed to lend credence to his information, but still… it could be a trap, Cindy thought.
“Well, be that as it may, I don’t see any reason to look a gift horse in the mouth,” Mercedes said with a dismissive wave of her hand.
“Even if this particular horse happens to be… Greek?” Cindy remembered that much from her studies.
Mercedes made a moue. “Most risible. Amusing quips aside, our objective is simple and it so happens that our aims align well with his. So even if David Hill — Odysseus — does intend to move in on us with a view to gaining the Crown for himself, we’ll be prepared for that. Or at least, I will be, but that should suffice. Just follow my direction, and all will be well.”
“Sure,” Cindy muttered. Saying a sarcastic “yes, Mistress” would’ve been too on the nose.
“All right,” Mercedes announced authoritatively. “Let’s not muck about here. Come along, let’s give these berks a right good bollocking. They’ve got my bloody Crown, and I want it back!”
Cindy cracked her knuckles, and smiled. She didn’t like violence for its own sake… but punching these cleft-jawed stubble-sporting faces with their perpetual scowls was so immensely satisfying!
Ten minutes later, the last of the sentries on deck went down to a well-placed punch from Cindy.
They did work well as a team, she reflected. Mercedes’s magic was mostly used outside of combat — she could read magical auras or something, she’d said — but also allowed her to perform telekinesis in various ways. Some of her spells froze enemies in their tracks, leaving them wide upon for Cindy’s smashing haymakers and knockout blows.
She had to admit that the fight would’ve gone on for considerably longer without this magical assistance. These Warriors were extremely tough and resilient, far stronger opponents than street criminals like the Hellions or Skulls, or even the Outcasts with their elemental powers. They were comparable to Trolls, even, except that they fought with actual skill and tactics, making them much more dangerous than the Superadine-crazed ravers.
“Down this way. Stop lollygagging, will you? I can sense the Crown — its aura is strong enough even through these layers of metal. Come along, no more dawdling!”