Disclaimer: Cryptic Studios owns the rights to City of Heroes, a massive multiplayer online game. Used here without permission. Information on who owns each individual character can be found at the bottom of the document. . .
Note: Although based on the same world and characters, these stories take place in a totally different timeline than my "Collection of introductions" stories... This story is set in the past, where as those contain more current information. I'll stop including this notation in a few chapters..
Editorial assistance by Superbabe founder Testarossa
Scene: Paragon City. From the outside. There's nothing in the city like it. The traffic, while more sparse than it had been before the war, still heavier than the almost non existent flow inside the warwalls of Paragon City. Mostly, it's for going in and out of the big city, usually as quickly and efficiently as possible. Although there's no warwalls, the neighborhoods have always managed to divide themselves quite effectively. A variety of fences, trees and rocks, and the construction of the roads to allow limited passage from one sector of the neighborhood to another.
It's a rainless but overcast day just outside of Paragon City as another bus rolls in, full of returning business men, tourists, travelers, the odd visiting relative, and - most relevant to our story- a couple of super heroes. Our young hero, Wilde Tanke, is stirred from a pleasant dream memory by the rumbling of the bus itself. Wilde glances around the bus, as if coming out of a dream.
Some of the people look normal. Some don't. On the other side of a bus, Wilde found himself trying not to stare at a redhead with very little clothing on, and visible heat coming from her six foot plus body. Wilde found himself trying not to stare at a few other things as well. So, he distracted himself with an old half of a newspaper someone left behind. Probably just wanted the ads, or a story about themselves. Wilde wondered to himself if he was actually bored enough to read a newspaper and quickly decided he was.
Wilde: muttering to himself Heroes Halt Havok? Gee, how original.. Interview with Back Alley Brawler..
Sarcastic Female Voice: THAT should be a masterpiece. That seat taken?
Wilde only glanced up briefly to see a small but intimidating female figure. She looked a bit younger than Wilde even. Fair skin, blond hair. She quickly sat down next to Wilde. He didn't seem to thrilled over the idea.
Female: Thanks. It's about impossible to find a seat on an inbound bus these days. Name's Gun Bunni. Most people call me Bunni. My friends, anyway. So do you always mutter when you read newspapers on busses, sugah?
Wilde glanced up at her, almost smiled for a second, then went back into that dark frown he'd been wearing the whole trip.
Bunni: What? You can relax sugah, I was just kidding. So why are you coming to town, anyway?
Wilde just snorted in response, looking at the newspaper but not really seeing the words.
Bunni: Fine, ignore me. I know where you live.
Wilde looked up from the paper, giving her a curious, rather annoyed look.
Bunni: Gotchya. Just seeing if you were paying attention, hero. Come on, you gonna say something, or do I have to get on your lap and spank it out of you?
Wilde furrowed his brows. It was weird, in a way, she reminded him of himself before the big accident. A jab of the pain pushed that thought out of his head.
Wilde: Dead panning Sure you wanna sit next to one of us 'filthy mutants?'
Bunni: Confused Why wouldn't I? I have lots of mutant friends already, sugah. Not like you're the first mutant super hero to hit town.
Wilde: Some of yer best friends are mutants, huh? Besides, how do you know Ah got any intention of bein' a hero?
Bunni: Ha, that's a good one. With biceps like those its kinda obvious.
Wilde didn't look convinced. He also didn't look very happy to be drug into a conversation, but that was neither here nor there.
Bunni: I mean, one, what mutant comes to Paragon City if they're not gonna be a super hero? I mean, it's not exactly like we're brimming with job opportunities, you know? Unless, of course, you wanna be a super hero, you probably ain't gonna get to use your powers much. Sides, you're well built, kinda cute, and you're sulking. What doesn't scream young hero about that?
Wilde: in a huff Whatever.
Wilde folded his arms across his chest, almost defiantly. Bunni turned, teasingly imitating the pose.
Bunni: Ya know, if you're going for the whole 'brooding young lone wolf' thing, you might wanna consider losing the "I just had my bottle taken away" pout. Bunni leaned in a bit It kind of ruins the tough guy illusion.
Wilde sneered. Bunni mock imitated that as well. Faced with the absurd mirror of his pose, Wilde actually cracked a smile for a second.
Wilde: Not here to do illusions. Or imitations. Or stay.
Bunni: Just passing through, huh?
Wilde: Hopefully if Ah can find a cure. Ah figure, Ah do him some favors, he'll do me some. Noticing the confused look in her face Antonio Nash.
Bunni: Yeah, I kinda figured that. He IS the primary contact for mutant heroes. Which you just confessed to being earlier.
Wilde shrugs.
Wilde: Yeah..
Uncomfortable silence followed. Wilde rubbed a hand on his forehead, in a bit of pain. Bunni looked both concerned and indifferent at once.
Bunni: What now? Lose your place in the funnies?
Wilde kind of starred at her for a second, a confused distant look in his eyes. Which Bunni couldn't help but notice suddenly looked a little bloodshot.
Wilde: What? Urgh, Ah'm no good with long rides.
Bunni: Yeah, What'd you pop to cope with that?
Wilde looked up annoyed.
Wilde: Ain't popped nothin, it's just these stupid power.. energy makes me kinda loopy. So do you know where Ah find Antonio Nash or not!
She made a look like she was considering the 'request' deeply, then looked into Wilde's eyes.
Bunni: I should just let you find it yourself. Don't you big city boys know the meaning of the word please?
Wilde frowned, the bit his lip.
Wilde: Please can you tell me.. uhh.. whatever it was Ah was asking?
Bunni: Tell me you didn't forget already.
Wilde: Huh? Oh! Ah remember. Da guy. Him, um, Nash. Told you - the powers sorta messed up my ability to concentrate sometimes. More so than before.
Bunni: Yeah, kind of hard not to notice.
Wilde: Sneering Shut up!
Bunni: Fine, find it yourself. Goodluck finding it in this city, pal.
Wilde flashed her a weak smile. One that was somehow hurt and a little embarrassed. Maybe it was the thousand unspoken things they had in common that neither knew they had in common, or maybe it was the thousand stark contrasts between the two, For some reason, even though his vision was blurring a bit, and she was trying to hide it, Wilde saw a hint of a smile on her face. Enough to tip him off. Wilde's eyes smiled, even if he didn't. Wilde loved to figure things out on his own, even if he wasn't necessarily the best at it.
Wilde: Let me guess, it'll be right in front of da bus station or something?
Bunni: Actually. the giant globe's the first thing you'll see. But yeah, just past that, you'll find the building you're looking for. Don't bother with the idiots at the front desk, just look for a set of stairs going down, then look for the GIFT logo, and you're about set. Do yourself a favor and try to learn a few basic manners before then, though.
Wilde seemed distracted, muttering, "globe, building, stairs, sign," to himself a few times.
Bunni: By Statesman, I think he's got it!
Wilde looked up, that distant look back in his eyes.
Wilde: Uh,.. right. Thanks for the help and everything, but if you don't mind, Ah'd rather we just stopped talking now, thanks..
Wilde turned to stare out the window at the passing Atlas Park. Bunni mumbled a "Whatever" and turned to find some better company.. .. .. Wilde noticed a small group of gang members and didn't even realize how important that particular gang would be to his immediate future..
Things were looking up, but things were lying.
My characters: Wilde Tanke (plus the ideas for the Chicago gangs are mine)
Other players' characters: Gun Bunni,
City of Heroes NPCs: Antonio Nash, Back Alley Brawler, Statesman, GIFT, and the phrase, "Heroes Halt Havok."