- JAD
Standard typical 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.
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What impressed Shelly most about Atlas Plaza was how it managed to be both heroic and businesslike at once. The concrete jungle divided itself with vast expansions of perfectly manicured lawns, and random yet artistically placed pools of glistening water.
The statue was marked on Shelly's map, with a view of it to boot. The small map image paled next to the true majesty of the full sized statue. The heroes congregating around Atlas Statue complimented it better than the finest assortment of priceless gems could have hope to.
The whole city flowed with a big city's patterns of chaos. Shelly allocated herself a quarter hour to explore Atlas Plaza. No business or crimefighting yet- after all, she'd doubtlessly get her share of that soon. Dozens her new heroes obsessively patrolled the nearby streets, anyway. Shelly took it upon herself to disarm a mugging when no other heroes were around, but restrained herself to shooting threatening looks towards gang members who weren't yet engaged in illegal activities..
Then it was on to Paragon's City Hall. Although the city itself wasn't as active as in years past, normal citizens and heroes both managed to find their way in for various business with the city. Newcomers asking for instructions and heroes asking for work in the city alike found it an invaluable resource, although Shelly was a bit offput by the amount of time the desk clerk took to give her the simple instructions of, "Down the hall, and straight to the office in the back."
A pair of trainers stood along the way, each perched in a corner, eager to answer new heroes questions and offer techniques to anyone interested in hearing. Shelly made a mental note to take time to seek their advice in the future. A lush, deep blue carpet ran the length of the large underground lobby, branching off into five branch offices. Each one obviously dealt with a specific type of hero, each sporting an appropriate environment. Although ELITE - Enhanced Logistics for Insight and Tactical Excellence seemed about a bare room- save for a large oak desk and computer, the room directly opposite of it caught Shelly's eye. A passing glance revealed a set of books and a large crystal near the back of the room that seemed to perpetually glow a greenish glow. Appropriate to the name, Shelly supposed, and to a Modern Arcane Guild of Investigation. MAGI.
Shelly made her way past two similar rooms, only to find the one she'd been looking for- Genetic Investigation and Facilitation Team- GIFT for short- had it's doors closed, with a hastily scribbled note. "Out seeing a couple of pain in the arse new recruits. And for lunch. Back in half an hour." With a sigh, Shelly turned, avoiding the occasional hero dodging from one hall to another, coming and going from their various missions.
That one room caught Shelly's attention again. MAGI. In addition to being able to detect people like herself- other mutants- Shelly's telepathy left her with a distinct feel for magic oriented heroes. Unlike the other rooms, MAGI's headquarters - the room itself- seemed to emanate a sense of mysticism that Shelly could feel. She figured even those without a sensitivity to it could feel it. It was quite powerful, if subtle.
The woman standing in the middle of the room looked maybe a dozen and two years Shelly's elder, although Shelly instantly suspected from that glint if wisdom in her eyes she was yet a few years older than that, at least. She had a warm, knowing smile that immediately put Shelly at ease despite the fact the woman was obviously eyeing Shelly before Shelly'd even walked into view. Shelly, accustomed to such things, especially from magic welders, shrugged it off. Shelly recognized her right away. Azuria, she was known as. She seemed pleased- and unexpected- to see Shelly, and quickly waved her over. Shelly went over and extended her hand. Azuria shook it.
Shelly: Shelly Hollins. You must be Azuria.. It's an honor to meet you. I have to say, I enjoyed your thesis on the Great Pan-Dorian Era of sixteen hundred AD, and it's been a thrill reading several of your yearly predictions in Gadori Crystal Monthly.
Azuria: Really? I'm surprised anyone remembers that article. It was some time ago. At the risk of being presumptuous since I don't usually deal with non magic heroes.. I could use your assistance, Miss Hollins.
Shelly clicked her head to the left a bit, disengaging the handshake.
Shelly: Of course, it would be an honor. Might I ask, though - why me?
Azuria: And you'd also like to know how I knew your name, right?
Shelly: The thought had occurred to me.
Azuria smiled an insightful, knowing smile. One that, to Shelly, spoke volumes of the knowledge behind those relatively young eyes.
Azuria: It's a tight community in City Hall. We tend to keep track of each other's new recruits. Makes it easier for us to find the right people to ask for specific tasks, and if a new recruit is unsatisfied with their assignments from their regular contact, maybe one of the rest of us can help out.
Shelly: Unsatisfied, how?
Azuria: While we don't directly work with heroes out of our origins, most of the time, we do often refer heroes to other heroes who might have need of their particular ability or specialized knowledge. And, of course, heroes have ways of tracking each other down, be it as simple as a bulletin board, as fancy as advanced telepathic communications and relay, or as technologically savvy as specialized PDA's carried by the richer or more technically rich heroes.
Azuria paused, both to give Shelly time to consider her words, and to evaluate her memory.
Azuria: Your own powers are derived from telepathy, correct?
Shelly: Affirmative.
Azuria: And you've quite the range of powers, right?
Shelly: with a slight nod of her head Although my telepathic projection is my strongest ability, I've also displayed abilities to empathic ally heal, passive and active scan the thoughts of an individual, sometimes multiple individuals in a close proximity, transmit thoughts from one individual to another, and move objects with my mind. I'm also mildly gifted in pyrokinesis, although I would emphasize the term, "mildly."
Azuria: As well as precog?
Shelly: Precognition? I suppose that would be a fair, if grandiose term for it. Although it's mostly based on my dreams, and as such, open to both interpretation and interference from ordinary dreams. After all, I still have ordinary dreams, of course. They just tend to mean more, and be more relevant to the future than most people's. I suppose that's also manifested in my ability to 'pick out' elements from other people's dreams. Analyze them, if you prefer the term. I'm not sure if that's relevant to your question, though. Is there any reason you ask?
Azuria nodded her head in that already familiar knowing manner.
Azuria: There might be, indeed. It's far to soon to say. Regardless, it's unimportant for the moment, at any rate. Since your contact will be out for quite sometime, I'd like you to consider an offer of mine. There's someone I'd like to introduce you to.
Shelly: A new contact?
Azuria laughed, as one might do with a child who'd asked a question seemingly logical in his eyes, but nieve to the point of being affection-able.
Azuria: Not quite. We've policies of only networking heroes after they've sufficiently proved themselves. Another hero, in fact. His name is Even, and his current partner could probably benefit from your guidance as much as Even himself.
Shelly: eyes narrowing a bit Sounds intriguing.
Azuria: They're a bit more powerful than you are at this point, of course, but a little seasoning should fix that. Interested?
Shelly: Quite.
Azuria: Good, quite good. I thought you would be.
Shelly: I am, indeed.
Azuria: Then allow my assistant to get you information on how to track them down. Leo?
A strikingly handsome young European walked into view from the library to her side. Blond, muscular, and cliche looking. Shelly immediately coo'ed.
Shelly: Hellllo!
End scene. We've got more important matters to tend to. Remember that fight scene that was about to break out earlier?
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My characters: Shelly Hollins, Even.
City of Heroes IP: Atlas Plaza, Atlas Statue, Paragon City, Azuria,
City of Heroes also owns rights to the following groups: ELITE (Enhanced Logistics for Insight and Tactical Excellence), MAGI (Modern Arcane Guild of Investigation).
My contributions to COH lore: The Great Pandorian Era of sixteen hundred AD, and Gadori Crystal Monthly.