Chapter Eight

Susan had left the medical bay, in order to clear her thoughts, or so she said. I let her go, and gave Sam a glance. He nodded to me, and turned to face Sarriss.

"If you don't mind, I've got some tracking to do…"

I don't think Sarriss heard him. From the faraway look in her eyes, I would have been willing to bet that the only thing she heard was that voice of Mike Anson…or, if she was to be believed, Anthony Mitchell. However, she still nodded, and Sam, looking at me sadly, blipped off the screen.

Unsure of what to do, I waited calmly. Sooner or later, I supposed, she'd snap out of her trance. She had to.

So, I waited. It was all I could do.

I hate waiting. I suppose that's part of a journalist's life, though. Always on the look out for a big story. Currently, there was none bigger than the one I found myself in.

The mayor was a wanted criminal?

The same wanted criminal who was also the head of a Foundation which had helped thousands…hundreds of thousands…in the three years or so since the war had ended?

The man who had started the Foundation and whom, supposedly, was dead, was actually in a room just down the hall from me?

This was almost too much to take in.

The strange man who kept appearing on computer monitors in the base faded into view on the large monitor.

"S'up, baby?"

I stared. " baby ?"

"Yeah, you know." He grinned unapologetically. "Baby. As in, 'hey, baby, I got a huge hard drive, and I know how to use it."

"Uhm…"

"Oh, right!" He hit himself in the head. "Where are my manners? I'm Sam. At least, I am now."

"You are….now?"

"Sure. Beats my old name any day, let me tell you that."

Today's getting weirder and weirder.

"And what was your old name?" I asked, gamely.

The man took a deep breath. "The Synchronous Artificial Mind Index."

"The…" I stared. "No way."

"Yes way." The man…if that's what he was…blinked. "Uh….what, way?"

"You're a SAMI unit?"

"Well, technically, I'm just the Avatar."

"Yes…but…wow!"

The SAMI unit grinned. "I take it you've never seen a SAMI before?"

"No, we use one at work, but not advanced as you."

"That's right, baby, I'm one of a kind!"

The SAMI I was used to, as I explained to Guardian's Avatar (explaining something to a SAMI Avatar, you have no idea how weird that is; they generally know…well…. everything ) was mostly a disembodied voice, answering questions on the state of the city, and the world, in precise, clipped tones and a warm baritone. However, if it had a face, nobody could remember seeing it, and it certainly didn't act like an individual.

"SAMI's are most often used as tools, nothing more." I finished.

"Oh." Sam's face held disappointment. "So, you don't treat your SAMI like he's real?"

"He's…. it's …not."

Sam blinked. "How can you say that?"

I tried to backtrack, to take back what I'd said. "No, you don't understand. The SAMI we use has no personality. It's just….SAMI. Something we use to find out facts. It's less of a drain on the computers' resources that way."

"Well…Jay needs me. He's been alone, living here without any sort of contact with people, other than Doc Wilks."

"He's been the Fire Guardian, too. He's gone out and stopped crimes."

"Yeah, but…" Sam paused, and shook his head. "He seems a little more…angry than he used to."

I pondered this. "How so?"

"You've heard those myths about that mysterious 'thing' that hunts in the night?"

"Yeah?"

"That's him."

"Hang on, that legend's been around for decades."

"Has it? Or is it just that having someone on the streets, in the night, has caused a lot of people to get paranoid?"

"I…well…"

"Exactly. Anyway, Jay's always had a dark side to him. I've seen it for years…well, Sammy saw it for years," Sam amended. "But this time, it's like he's becoming intentionally cruel. He's not doing it out of a sense of justice, or helping people." He sighed. "He's doing it because he wants to. He really does 'hunt'. Sometimes I think that everything human in him got burnt out in the warehouse fire when he supposedly died."

I started turning over some things in my head. "Sam…you don't think…"

"No."

"You don't even know what I'm going to ask!"

"He's not a Warshade. I scanned for Kheldian energy signatures, and he's clean. He isn't an Alien host."

I eyed Sam speculatively. "You know…you're no average SAMI unit. I think there's something to be said for a Personality Matrix, after all."

Sam grinned, and managed a little half bow.

"Even if you are just a hyped up version of Max Headroom."

Sarriss….Cara…still wasn't talking.

I started to become a little concerned. As time ticked by, she barely moved, apart from her eyes, which darted back and forth as rapidly as I'm sure her heart was beating.

"Cara?"

I kneeled down next to her, and took her hand. "Cara, it's okay."

Her eyes snapped onto mine with a feral glare that frightened me, and she pushed my hand away.

"It's not okay!" She snarled.

"Yes, yes it is." I sighed to myself, and turned off my Power Belt. As my features turned back into my own, Cara never took her eyes off mine, but her expression softened into one of fear.

"You don't understand." She whimpered.

"Try me."

She took a breath, and looked around. "All this…it's nothing. You, Sam, Susan…it means nothing to Mitchell." She shook her head. "All he cares about is his power, and he'll kill anyone that gets in his way."

I could help smiling slightly at that. "He hasn't done a very good job, though, has he? He tried to kill you, and failed. He's ordered my death at least twice, and tried to kill me himself, and I'm still here. So're you. And you're better for it. Stronger, faster…"

"I didn't want to be!" She howled.

I waited. Somehow, I knew Cara was building up to something, and she had to get it out of her system.

"I had a life. I had a job I worked damned hard at. People respected me, because of the job I did. I protected people, and I liked my job. My life. Then Mitchell trapped me, and took that away."

"Yes, but not like he tried to." I took her hand again, and squeezed it gently. "You can still go after him. Now, you're better equipped to do it."

"Why? Because I'm beautiful, now? Because now I have abs, and I can take on an army?"

I shook my head. "Because you're stronger inside. Because you've dealt with an abusive man, and no matter how much it hurt you, you made it through. Okay, so yes, you're physically more attractive than you were. But the person inside your body isn't Sarriss, it's Cara. A strong, smart, capable woman who can deal with her problems with her friends, who'll stand by her, no matter what she looks like. You're prepared for what life has to throw at you, and yes, I wish for your sake that you'd never gone through all this, because I can see it's brought you nothing but pain. But that pain's given you a gift. A second chance at nailing not just one creep, but all of them. What better way to protect people than by doing what you did before, but better, faster, and getting more recognition? And what better way than taking down Anson…Mitchell…than by using the gifts he gave you?"

She almost smiled. Almost. "Did anyone ever tell you, that you make a very convincing argument? I can't tell how much of that is bullshit or not."

I chuckled. "That's nothing, you should see me play poker."

She let go of my hand, and stood. I rose with her, and smiled. "You okay?"

"I will be." She shrugged. "But…just now…did you really mean all of that?"

I took hold of her shoulders, and squeezed gently. "Cara…you've got friends here. No matter what happens, that isn't going to change. Ever. You can always count on me…" I stared into her eyes a moment too long, and Sarriss…Cara…blinked.

I moved away, and gestured to the exit. "And Susan, and Sam. We're your friends, and we care about you." I shrugged gently. "Hell, Wilks took care of me when I was hurt. He made sure I was safe, and protected. That makes him family…which makes you family, too."

She smiled then, warmly. "Well, since we're all a nice, big dysfunctional family, what do you say we plan a big reunion?"

"What did you have in mind?"

I watched Jay and Sarriss talk. It isn't entirely my fault, though. I mean, c'mon, I'm everywhere. It isn't like I have a say in the matter. It's my primary function to ensure the well-being of Jason Tucker, his life-signs, state of mind, etc. This falls under that heading. I just don't have to tell him about it.

Besides, it isn't like I was focused on what they were talking about. My attention, these days, is somewhat divided; I was monitoring Jason primary function talk with Sarriss Threat Level: Minimal , as well as talking with that hot journalist, Daniels Threat Level: Laughable , as well as checking the temperature of the base, and scanning police frequencies, ambulance chatter, and every radio signal, television broadcast, phone call and Internet Site update in the world – oops, hang on.

Kiddie porn site.

Virus sent

Right, where was I? Ah, yes. I had a lot of jobs to do, and I did them well, without complaining, and still pulling off the enviable task of being the hottest damn SAMI unit the world has ever seen. It isn't easy being me. Okay, yes, so Jay has a body, and he gets the women…some of the time. But most of the time, those women turn out to be utter nutjobs who shoot his legs off, boff his brains out, then try to kill him some more before breaking his heart. Besides, can he calculate Pi to twenty trillion decimal places in the time it takes to blink?

I don't think so, baby, and, let's face it, that's what separates the men from the boys. Well…okay, the super-intelligent Artificial Intelligences' from the boys. My point still stands, dammit.

I watched with interest (Look, I'm still trying to figure out love, okay?) as Sarriss and Jason hugged, and then Sarriss kissed Jay lightly on the lips.

Go on , myson!

"Uhh…" Jay stumbled. "Look it's not as if….uhm…"

Oh, yeah, man. Real fuckin' smooth, there. Just nail that fine, hot ass and get back to work, willya?

"I'm sorry." Sarriss flushed slightly. "It's just…it's rare for me to find someone who thinks that it's what inside that counts."

"Uhh…" Oh, yeah. Boy got some mad skills. No wonder Emily tried to kill him. "Cara, you're a wonderful person, and…if I weren't with Emily, I'd kiss you right back, really."

"You're just saying that." Sarriss' head hung low.

"No! But…I love her."

That word again. I tell you what; it gets bandied about a hell of a lot. He loves Emily. Emily, supposedly, loves him. Sarriss loves Jay? I dunno. From my research, possibly, although he's always been clueless around women. Ask him to take down the Mayor of Paragon City, and he'll be up for it in a heartbeat. Ask him to strike up a conversation with a pretty girl, and forget about it, he'll go into brain freeze.

"What if she doesn't come back?" Sarriss asked him.

"She will."

"How do you know?"

Jason cocked his head to one side, as if Sarriss had just asked him to calculate Pi to twenty trillion decimal places. This is why he's a boy. I'd have done it, and done it so smoothly, she'd be out of her spandex and into my main server room before you could say "Who da man?"

"I know." He replied, as if that were all the answer he needed to provide. Sarriss just nodded. Jason sighed, and touched Sarriss' cheek. "I'd better check on Susan, before Sammy tries his 'huge hard drive' line."

Hey! I resent that.

Sarriss, however, laughed and nodded.

Jason left the medical bay, and Sarriss, wincing as she moved her broken hand, reached into her pockets and pulled out a small phone. She pressed a button…speed dial. Gotta love it…and waited for the person on the other end to pick up. I jacked into her conversation.

"Hey, it's me." The person on the other end of the line….hello. Now, isn't that interesting? Anyway, the other person greeted Sarriss, and asked a question.

"He's okay. I think he's ready. Everything's set up. If you want to enter the base, just use the chip I gave you. Yeah, now's the time." She hung up, and stared at the phone for a few seconds, before dropping it.

"Oh, Christ. What've I just done?"

Good question, lady. Maybe I should raise your threat level.

Jason and Susan sat at the main table, talking quietly to each other, when Sarriss came back from the medical bay. Susan looked up, and smiled. "Hey, Sarr. How's the hand?"

"I'll live." Sarriss smiled weakly, and dropped into a chair.

"So…" Jason paused. "Sarriss and I were talking about a plan of action, as it were. Now we've identified a single threat…"

"Double." Susan interjected. "Don't forget Regetti."

"Oh, I never will." Sarriss grinned evilly. "I intend to see him again very, very soon."

"Anyway." Jason re-entered the conversation. "What we need is information. Sam, you up for the task?"

SAMI came into view on the main monitor, and nodded. "Always. Jay…can I have a word with you?"

"In a minute, man. We need to work out how we're going to take Anson out of the picture."

"It's kinda important…"

"I said later, Sam. Now drop it."

SAMI scowled, and folded his arms over his chest, but said nothing.

"Now, Susan. I can't ask you to be a part of anything dangerous."

"I'm in."

"But, could you…wha?"

"I'll do it. Do you know how long I've been acting like the Mayor's lapdog? Only now to find out he's a megalomaniac? I want to bring him down."

Jason chuckled. "Hell hath no fury…"

"…Like a reporter who's found a good story." Susan finished. "What do you need?"

Jay interlaced his fingers, and leaned back in his chair. "Everyone in Paragon knows you write all the stories for the Mayor. What I'd like you to do is keep doing your job, but start putting in very subtle hints and slants that maybe Mayor Anson doesn't have the best interests of the people at heart."

"I can do that." Susan nodded firmly. "What about you two? What'll you do?"

Jason looked to Sarriss, and steeled himself. "Ca…Sarriss. You said you're a member of this SNAFU organisation?"

"Absolutely."

"I want to meet with their leadership. We're going to need the Underground's help on this one. We'll need people, weapons, safe-houses, contacts."

"So, basically," Sarriss said smoothly. "You're going to declare war on the Mayor. In effect, on Paragon itself. You'll have every Superhero wanting to make a name for themselves after you, you know that, right?"

Jason shrugged. "Superheroes are basically good people." Sarriss snorted, and Jason ignored it. "If they weren't, they'd be in the Zig, or in the Rogue Isles by now, doing scutwork for some crime lord. None of the Superheroes I've met would side with the government, if that government is corrupt. But, in case they do come after us, a Blaster could always use a good Scrapper by his side. What do you say?"

Sarriss stared at Jason for a long moment. "I'm in."

"Good. And what do you want me to do?"

Jason spun in his chair to face the voice, and was out of his seat in an instant, frozen in place, staring at the figure in the doorway. After what seemed like an eternity, he turned to SAMI on the monitor.

"We really need to work on your intruder alert, you know."

Sam snorted. "I tried to warn you. You said we'd talk about it later."

"Oh, we will, Sam. We will."

He slowly turned back to the person in the doorway, and tried keep his face straight. "I never expected to see you here."

"Well, you know me. I keep turning up everywhere, like a bad penny." Emily grinned. "Aren't you going to invite me inside?"

(Now)

The rain was getting steadily worse, but neither figure on top of the skyscraper noticed. For each man, the entire world was filled with the other, with the hatred that can only be brought with the total destruction of lives.

"You didn't have to kill her, you know." The masked man said, his back still to his assassin.

"Didn't I?" The man in the hat and overcoat smirked. "You have no idea, do you?"

"Have any idea about what?"

The man with the gun laughed.

"Sarriss Groundwalker. You don't know who she really is. What she told you about her past, her troubles, her fears…all of it. It was total fabrication. Lies."

"That isn't true!" The masked figure snarled, and wheeled around to face his enemy.

"Oh, it is. I was there when it was made up. Hell," The gunman chuckled. "I made it up. I know your weaknesses, and how you think. That little history she span for you was designed just for you, so that you'd take her in, accept her…maybe even fall in love with her, a little."

The masked man said nothing, the rain beating down against his helmet, causing a slight electrical fizz when the water collided with the electrical energy of his forcefield.

"What was it Santayana said? 'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it'? Looks like you failed, old friend, and you certainly are condemned. A mole infiltrating a life, destroying it, just like it happened two years ago. Again, it was a beautiful woman. I thought it would be fitting."

The man grinned. "You know, if I'm going to kill you…and I will, believe it…we should do it face to face. Make it honourable. I took off my mask, my second identity. Shouldn't you take off yours?"

They stared at each other then. Jason Tucker…The Fire Guardian…and Michael Anson…Anthony Mitchell. Two men, each with another identity, designed to protect them; however, that protection had failed against the one person they needed protection from the most: Each other. As their time draws to a close, they each reflect on the balance their lives have given each other. A secret identity to hate, a real man to loathe. The masked man slowly reached to his front, and pressed a red disk on his belt. Slowly, his armour and mask faded into nothingness.

With nothing more between them than the air and the rain, two sets of eyes locked with each other. In one, fear; in the other, hatred.

"Thank you. You know, it's said the hardest thing in the world to do is to kill a man whilst looking into his eyes. Let's test that, shall we?" The man in the hat grinned, and, his eyes never leaving the others', started to squeeze the trigger on the pistol.

Just before the gun fired, the masked man saw the doorway slam open, and a figure jump out.

"Can it be? Did she double cross him? Am I saved?" He started to smile.

Then, for a millisecond, the man saw fire erupt from the gun, and felt a sharp pain between his eyes; barely quick enough to register both sensations, before the bullet exited his brain, and the man fell, plummeting off the roof of the building, into the wet darkness below.

The end has begun.