Cryptic Studios owns the rights to City of Heroes, a massive multiplayer online game. Information can be found at I'm using my characters, with the exceptions being listed here.
Other player's characters, used with permission: Foxlet, CPU Model V-101, Amy Frost and Ric Lot In game NPC's: Statesman, Clockwork King
Joshua
They say prisons have revolving doors for criminals. I guess Paragon City has the same thing for super heroes. And a few months ago, I got to take my turn and get the hell out of what'd become a very unpleasant experience.
But you know the old line about "Just as soon as I thought I was out?" That's why I'm standing here, waiting for the next bus to Paragon City. I got pulled back in, although I was hardly kicking and screaming about it.
For all the aches, and bruises, the drama and the double talking flim flam in this town, there's still a part of it I love. Maybe it's the action. Maybe it's having a purpose in my life that doesn't involve meekly going back to the tribe that I grew up in.
The bus doors open. I half expect to see Foxlet, or maybe CPU Model V-101. Unfortunately, I don't see her. Fortunately, I don't see him- it?- either. I see a car half full of strangers.
Conversation on the ride would have been nice. Being grilled on what it's like to be a hero might not be so nice. People seem to refuse to believe me when I say I've never met Statesman.. I'm not helped much by the fact that being a hero in this city is hardly "super."
I'd been visiting the place I grew up, since I really didn't have anywhere else to go. I did manage to go exploring Northern New York, at least. Oh, and I managed to find a job at home making money. Sort of combination guard duty and farm work. Not that they were in any kind of desperate need of my help, but the people their do look after you, if you're one of them.
Which I was most of my life.
Which still feels kind of strange considering how long it feels since I was a part of that life. Paragon City, meeting up with Foxlet, and meeting people like Amy Frost and Ric Lot changed everything for me. I guess that kind of sounds cliche. Forgive me. I'm too nervous about this trip to be more creative.
Rumors have been flying around about the Clockwork King being spotted in the city. I don't see how a mechanical junk heap can be so resilient. I was there when my team smashed him into so much lug nuts. I'd heard about- and personally talked to- several heroes who thought they'd finished him off for good.
That's Paragon City for you..
We're passing by the ruins just outside of Baumton, and I'm reminiscing about the first time I saw the wasteland. Hard to believe so many died there. Friends of mine with the gift for telepathy or the spirit world swear they can feel the death and destruction that went down during the Ritki War, and to a lesser degree, ever since.
I don't doubt it. Just seeing the road posts for the place, before I'd even realized what it was, sent a shiver up my spine.
I wonder if any of the other heroes are still around.. Wasn't too long ago I ran my own group. It fluttered out not long before I left the city after a nasty run in with the Family. I really wonder if losing my Grand Adventurers wasn't maybe when I lost my heart for being a selfless hero.
That and Foxlet took off..
Right now, I'm thinking if I was thinking all of this while I was still waiting for the bus to get here, I mighta backed out and headed to LA or Chicago or somewhere..
No. I've come too far to turn back, and besides, it's not like I really got a choice in the matter. Not with what's going down with my friends.. They need me. They don't know it, and they're not expecting me, but they will need me.
I'm not letting anyone else down. That's in the past.
This's the future. Welcome me back, Paragon City. I'm coming home!