Origins

3 days later

Nikki's straight blonde hair covered one side of her face, much like the way her guest’s red hair rested.  Her face was stern, showing both anger and disappointment.  “I thought you would be better than that.”  She looked away from the Scarlet Scorpion and tapped on her desk with an index finger.

Scarlet just kept looking out the window.  She was being chastised by the cops again.  It had been a few years since she was in this position last, but this time it seemed truly personal.  “She is better than me.  How can I apologize for that?”  It really wasn’t a question.

“I’m not talking about Nyxen.”  Nikki had lifted a pen and used it to point at Scarlet’s belt.  The hero took notice and looked down herself.  The pistol handle was reflecting the rooms pale light as the holster cradled her leg.

“Ah, yes.  As I said, Nyxen is good.  This is insurance.”

Nikki rolled her eyes. “Look, Scarlet, I can’t have a gun-toting superhero working for bounty and getting it from my precinct.”

Several moments passed.

Scarlet bowed her head to let her red hair fall forward.  She reached to remove her tactical visor, and then covered her scarred eye with the eye patch.

“Nikki- “

“Lieutenant.”

“Nikki, let me assure you that this is loaded for one purpose: to kill Nyxen.  I’m simply following orders.”

The Lieutenant smiled softly.  “Belay those orders, soldier.  I was lost in a moment.  I apologize if I lead you astray.”

Scarlet softened her own gaze and sighed heavily.  “Admittedly, I’m still pissed Nyxen got to me like she has.”

“Can you beat her?”

The black leather of Scarlet’s jacket creaked as she shrugged her shoulders.  “Maybe, I don’t know.  Pushing around the Hellions gang or members of the Family has its challenges.  But Nyxen is … like me.”

“But with weapons and a murderous streak.”

Scarlet smiled and paused.  “Right.”

There and Back Again

Déjà vu.

Quicker.  Faster.  Harder.  Desperate.  She had to do this right.  Maybe … just maybe … she can save him …

Wayne Evans.

Maybe this was it, the event that forked her fate away from the True path.  The turn of events which created a reality that was never supposed to exist.  Maybe …  just maybe … the world needs him …

Captain Indomitable.

Scarlet needed to try.  If the Pillar of Ice and Flame sent her to this time stream, then something must be done.  At least to do it again.  At most to correct the future.

The Sky Raiders were not the issue: they existed before she came to Paragon.  Nor could she stop the Vigilance weapons getting to them.  But maybe … just maybe … she would be fast enough.

Scarlet exited the elevator and heard a nearby voice, “Get rid of it and we can be out of here.”

“No”.  Her whisper drained her of hope … but not all of it.

She bolted down the hallway, pushing her already throbbing legs to run faster.  Leaping to the opposite wall and spinning to put her feet forward, she planted both feet against the vertical surface.  Using the wall a springboard, Scarlet rocketed toward Lt. Marshall.  Her fists a blur as her bullet-like speed contacted with his helmet.  The visor exploded as his neck whipped to the side.  The rifle fired reflexively against the ceiling and his body was thrown into an unconscious pile to the corner.

Surprised, the engineer fumbled with his equipment and Scarlet pounced on him like a hawk to a rabbit.  Her sonic abilities pried open his helmet and his eyes rolled back, becoming unconscious from syncope.

A laser bolt warmed her chin as the coherent beam missed her head by centimeters.  Launching from her last victim, Scarlet’s fist found the Assault Raider’s stomach.  He crumpled to the floor, his machete falling from his grip.  Scarlet was gone by the time the weapon came to rest.
---

She sat on the couch in silence, staring at the objects on the coffee table.  Scarlet could not stop thinking of Mender Taros’ words before she came home:

Everyone’s destiny is sealed at birth.  What has happened was expected to happen.  What is happening will happen again.  The future is made by our actions today, but the end is already set in motion.  His death cannot be changed, could not be changed.  Take comfort that what is was meant to be.  Keep them … Like you have already done so.

Captain Indomitable's Uni-Bands rested silently on the coffee table.  Their gold luster lost in the darkness.

A cat’s tail crossed her vision to the bracers.

A tear flowed down her cheek to splash upon her chest.

There and Back Again

“Doc Delilah is … DEAD!  Dead, do you hear me?!  She died because of YOU!  You failed her!  All your powers, and you couldn't save one person!  She is DEAD and it's all YOUR fault!  She trusted you, and you let her DIE!  You left her!  YOU!  YOU KILLED HER!"

Scarlet raised an arm to shield her eyes from the black fire that swarmed toward her.  The terror across her face muted her plea.

“It wasn't me!”

“LIAR!  She called your name and you turned your back to save yourself!  YOU KILLED HER!”

The voice was everywhere, coming from nowhere.  The black fire danced with each word and consumed everything it touched, slowly creeping toward Scarlet.  She felt the hard, rough surface of a wall stop her retreat and she looked around her.  The bright red brick wall seemed infinitely tall and stretched to the horizon on both sides.  She was trapped and the voice continued to punish her ears.  She cupped her hands to muffle the voice and closed her eye as the black flame inched closer.  Scarlet sunk into the corner and shook in fear.

“No.  NO!  NOOOO …"


...



Scarlet kicked the sheets off her bed as she woke with violence from the nightmare.  Strands of hair stuck to her face and her whole body glistened with beads of sweat.  She blinked, sat up straight and looked around the room at first not recognizing it.  Once reality started to sooth her, Scarlet became washed with exhaustion as the adrenalin left her blood.  She flopped back onto her pillow and felt her sweat dry and cool on the drier parts of the bed or from the overhead fan above her bed.  She rubbed both eyes, even if only one could be used.

Looking at the clock beside her bed she realized she was breathing heavily as the time was only an hour past midnight.

From beside the bed she heard a faint “merow” from Hector and Scarlet smiled with some relief.  Then her memories of the dream came back and Scarlet was filled with insecurity and dread.  Her eye darted to several objects around the room as she tried to remember, not the dream, but what really happened.  Yet remembering the accuser’s voice made Scarlet doubt herself.

She remembered saving Doc Delilah from the Vazilok and how Scarlet had to convince Doc to stop fighting them at every turn of the abandoned lab.  Scarlet had to save Doc on a few occasions, even when a crossbow shaft almost pinned Scarlet to a wall.  There was the last room: large and dusty with half embalmed cadavers coming from the darkness and shadows to stop their escape.  Doc was a hard fighter.  Scarlet lost a lot of blood that night.  She could see herself closing the front door and calling the PPD to her location …

But she couldn't remember if Doc Delilah with her as she called.  Scarlet traced back her steps in memory as she sat up straight in bed and put her feet to the wooden floor as dread started to swell within her.  Scenes from her memory started flashing back and forth from the rescue, to the last room, to the call.

Fighting.  Anger.  Frustration.  Pain.  Remorse?  Decision.  Action.  Regret?

She shook her head and stood, trembling in fear: fear for the truth.  Was the dream … not a dream?  Scarlet numbly walked through her apartment toward her costume.  The images kept rushing through and she timidly searched for her Dawn Patrol communicator.  Terror seized her as she felt the cold metal of the device.

Then, from some source inside her, Scarlet pushed aside doubt and replaced it with resolve.  Resolve turned to confidence and she stood taller, stronger and filled with pride.  In her mind's eye she could see the last fight and the two of them exiting the building, even if it was Doc holding her up as Scarlet clutched the crossbow bolt in her thigh.

She twisted her head to brush the hair out of her face.  She looked and saw herself, naked, in the mirror next to the front door.  Her leg showed no signs of puncture.  Looking away, she activated the communicator and accessed DOGMA.   A chime acknowledged and Scarlet cleared her parched throat.

“DOGMA.”

She coughed as the word was scratched and coarse.  The strength in her legs started to wane.

“Search Doctor Delilah Stein.  Single parameter: alive or deceased?”

The paused lasted for hours when the reality was less than a second.

“Alive,” was the female-like response.

Scarlet fainted onto the hardwood floor of the living room.  Hector “merowed” in her ear and licked the tip of her nose.

There and Back Again

"Who are you ... so the Outcasts will know ... who to hold a grudge against?"

The Outcast "Brick" was panting savagely.  The rocks he formed from his elemental ability were crumbling away as his body started to revolt against his will to stay conscious.

"Is that the best threat you can use ..."

The hero stepped on the fading elemental stones and crushed them into powder with each determined step.  She leaned down to the Outcast.

"... against the Scarlet Scorpion?!"

Bedrock's eyelids started to flutter and Scarlet kicked his head with the side of her black leather boot.  The crack echoed down the hallway and the body rolled several times before coming to rest.

Scarlet listened as the echo died and everything was quiet save her own heavy breathing.  She composed herself before approaching the display case.  It was made of sturdy brown wood and supported a glass case.  Dust covered the top of the transparent vault. She looked back at Bedrock.

"Don't really care for your treasures do you?"

Returning her gaze at the item inside she whispered, "Or maybe you didn't expect me to come and take it from you."

She tried to pry the glass open one way or another and then looked for a way to open it.  In her frustration, Scarlet opted for a more direct approach.  Brushing aside the broken glass, she reached for the coral bracelet but quickly withdrew as it unexpectedly pricked her finger.  Even through the heavy gloves she wore, the pain was very acute.  Using a piece of glass, Scarlet lifted the artifact and placed it in a pouch found nearby.

The hero calmly walked through the office building-turned-hideout with plans to turn in the artifacts and get some sleep.
-----

Scarlet woke up by landing on the wood floor of her apartment.  She complained trying to get up but even the simple task was made difficult because of her moist hands, arms and legs.  She steadied herself before slowly standing, slightly embarrassed.  She was a "hero" and well-respected in the meta-community, yet just fell out of bed from her dreams.

"Merrrow?"

Hector had woken with Scarlet and stood patiently at the edge of the bed, looking up at her innocently.

"Thanks for helping me sleep."  She had her fists on her hips.  Hector started to lick his paws nonchalantly and Scarlet simply smirked.

She turned to walk toward the bathroom to wash her face and relished  her cooling skin from the air conditioning.  Her eye squinted from the bright light turning on and she winced at the sight of her disheveled hair, slightly damp from the nightmares.  She leaned onto to the sink and eventually shed a tear.

"That wasn't enough."
-----

Scarlet opened her eye and she found herself standing in a very pleasant part of Paragon City: Overbrook, popularly known as "Faultline".  She immediately got to business.  Pulling out a piece of paper from a pocket, she reread the name scribbled by Taffy only a few minutes before.  Now he was almost a year into the future.

A short flight above the better part of Overbrook and Scarlet gently landed near Yin's Market.  She was warned about the Clockwork having a strange affection toward a young girl in the area and was rewarded with nothing but a robotic stare from the few automatons as Scarlet walked past them to the store.  Outside the door stood a young girl in a red sweater-vest, jeans and was reading from a book.  One foot rested on the wall and supported her weight.

Scarlet took a few more steps more cautiously toward the girl than she had near the Clockwork, who were still watching Scarlet approach the teenager.

"Penelope Yin?"

The young girl looked from her book and instantly recognized Scarlet, probably from the few articles Scarlet knew was written about her in Amazing Hero Magazine.  Scarlet blushed at the thought as the girl spoke.

"You're Scarlet Scorpion, right?  Oh, man, did Jimmy Temblor send you?  He and Ann, err, 'Fusionette' have been treating me like a little sister since before... Everything...  Um, actually, I kinda could use some help.  Well, not me, I mean. It's just that my Dad, he's been kidnapped!"

There and Back Again

Scarlet screamed herself awake and sat upright in her bed.  The silk sheets clung to her moist skin at the legs and she reached back with one arm to feel the pillow while the other pulled the hair back from her face. Both pillow and hair were damp with sweat.  She was breathing heavily and her eye darted around the room looking for something familiar.  The window betrayed the details in her room and her awoken terror was diminished.

"It was just a dream.  It was just a dream," she whispered heavily to herself.

A small cat’s meow was at the edge of the bed. Scarlet looked suddenly and the little animal almost fled from her gaze.  "Aw, Hector. No need to fear. I was just having a nightmare."  With that, Hector licked his chops and cautiously approached Scarlet.  As the feline walked between her legs, Scarlet stretched and pulled at her long t-shirt to remove the clothing.  She threw it on the floor and scooped up Hector to bring him closer.  He meowed in protest but did not fight her and Scarlet snuggled the little cat to her chin and neck.  Hector purred and pushed against her with his head, a sign of affection.

"I need to figure out why these dreams are affecting me like this."

Hector continued to purr against her drying skin.
----

"Are you serious?  There has to be another way."  Scarlet's arms were crossed in front and she stared down at Capt. Cymru defiantly.

Cymru just stared up at her from his desk in Dawn Patrol Headquarters.  "No ma'am.  This is it.  It's not that bad.  Domgeorm and I have done it dozens of times.  It does get a little used to, I'll admit.  But from what I know, your symptoms are not rare.  Odd, but not rare.  I can set up the way to get there.  After that you're on your own."  Cymru looked out the window and cleared his throat.  "Well that's not true.  A team can do it at once.  But no one can leave until the time stream is fixed.  So to speak."

Scarlet considered his answer for a moment and turned on her heels to leave.  Halfway in the spin she stopped and looked back at Taffy.  "And you don’t know why the dreams have started?"

Taffy shook his head solemnly.  "No ma'am.  Ouroboros is your only solution."
----

Scarlet faced the Pillar of Ice and Flame.  Tucked away in the corner, its paradoxical existence did not fit well in the Dawn Patrol base and always made Scarlet uneasy.  It was placed by Xaddak months before and Scarlet avoided it and anything to do with it … until now.  The ease to let another Patroller 'handle it' was all Scarlet needed.  She had read the reports from Cymru and Domgeorm concerning its use.  It's not natural, she thought to herself, hen smirked at the observation as the flame flickered inside the ice crystal, challenging reality.

Surrounding the large crystal were the security columns.  Before that were the Olympium-infused, temporal-resistant walls guarding the room itself.  These measures were untested, but Xaddak is a thorough scientist and expressed confidence that the dual aegis systems were enough to protect the headquarters in the event of a temporal accident.  It was the stuff of science-fiction to Scarlet, but then again, she had been to the Shadow Shard and Cimerora.  Science-fiction and time travel be damned.

Still, staring at the Pillar of Ice and Flame caused a little nausea within Scarlet.  She remembered her dreams that have haunted her the past month; each more terrifying the last.  First, Mark Vargis' death, then the twisted smoldering pile of children.  Patrollers gruesomely killed one by one, including her own death.  Scarlet shook her head as if to shake the memories of the dreams out of her mind.  Mender Silos of Ouroboros told her that a mistake was made in her past.  Something or someone she overlooked or forgot.  Maybe she missed that one pivotal moment that led her to her current path.  She would have to travel back in time in an attempt to find that moment, person or thing to change her future ... or her present.

She gulped loud enough to embarrass herself.  It was a daunting task.  And what of the Fates?  Didn't They have a hand in all of her life all along?  Wasn't it They who gave her the memories of the First Age?  Where were They now?  How is it that the Truth is somehow different because of Ouroboros?

Mender Silos instructed she could not bring the Zenith Fangs for they are a part of her present.  As they did not exist in the time stream she needs to start at, they would cease to exist once she passed though the crystal.  It made sense and not at all at the same time.

She activated the aegis systems to allow one person and, feigning fearlessness, she passed the inner perimeter and stood close enough to feel the crystal's cold and heat.  Scarlet closed her eye to the light that surrounded her ...
----

Opening her eye, she was greeted with a familiar sight.  Quickly breathing in the musty, dank yet familiar odors, Scarlet welcomed the sight of Eastgate.  She smiled and looked around.  The only person in sight was in the uniform of the Paragon Police Department.  Then other sounds: gunfire.  The PPD were defending this part of the city, Cherry Hills, from the Trolls and Outcasts gangs.

Looking at herself she was dressed in her off-duty costume and was a little surprised.  She expected to still be wearing her uniform.  No, Scarlet thought.  I joined the Patrol after my time here.  Suddenly, she was overcome with a feeling like some mental or physical burden was upon her.  Something she could not put her finger on.  Something was different about her.  She did not remember feeling this way when she first entered Eastgate.  Scarlet touched her throat.  It felt different.  She was not as strong as she was ... or is.  Panic started to creep in and she willed herself to fly ... but couldn't!  She could almost remember how she learned to fly but it would not happen.

The Scarlet Scorpion suddenly felt very alone and vulnerable ... and she knew it.  Checking her Dawn Patrol communicator provided relief as it was still open, active and traffic was registering.  She could communicate with her present in real time.

She closed her eye and focused.  What was it that Mender Silos told her ...

Once you have achieved whatever goal was needed in the past, you will immediately return to your present.  You may be trapped to relive your past.  There is a way to return to your present, but you will continue to be haunted by your dreams until you straighten the twisted threads of your fate.

She reached into her belt and found the miniature crystal, one similar to the Pillar.  This was her ticket home.  Yet, she must not fail.  She can't live with her dreams any longer, not like the ones from the First Age.  Composing herself, the Scarlet Scorpion casually waked up to the officer, and greeted him.

"Hello, I'm Officer Wincott.  So you're Scarlet Scorpion, huh?  I hope you're as good as your reputation.  These Trolls are vicious, but, with your help, I hope to take them out."

Sky Raider Secret

She stood over the body and breathed heavily. He was having a hard time breathing as well and she could tell he knew it would be over soon. She almost pitied the man but that emotion was a vestige of her former life.  Even as a “hero” she learned a new kind of compassion, yet she still had some limits.

She put a high-heeled boot on his hand and heard the broken bones grind.  He winced and so did she.

“You are the last one I’m going to try to talk to about this.  What happened to the shipments meant for Vigilance?”

Vigilance was the name of a special operations unit designed to combat super-powered actions and threats.  The group consisted of very well trained mercenaries and some metas willing to work for a para-military outfit.  Yet, it was the hardware that gave Vigilance their strength.  Having their “toys” go to the wrong hands would be disastrous.

Gazing up at the Scarlet Scorpion through his broken visor, he started to remove it with a free hand.

Scarlet allowed the movements but was wary.  His rifle lay too far for him to reach and Sky Raiders were not known to have any superpowers: the high-tech weaponry they were infamous for aiding their viciousness.  Still, she had come to learn that villains came in various sizes, shapes and abilities.

He coughed up blood and wheezed, “They were diverted.  The paperwork was forged.  It was Katcher’s plan ever since the beginning but he didn’t know where the shipments were really going.”

That fit what she found out already.  Scarlet started putting the pieces together.  Her contact will not like what she will tell him. B ut still, one part vexed her more than the others: Captain Indomitable . She grew up hearing tales about the man and even had a crush on him as a child.  She had to know for certain.  It was hard enough to discover his body yesterday.  The police department was gracious enough to let her keep his bracers as a souvenir for her service, but it was a bitter gift.

She snapped out of her reverie and returned to her stern look.  “Who is Katcher?  You have nothing else to lose now and you know it.”  She applied more pressure and more bones cracked.

He smiled weakly and whispered, “He was tracking the shipments and got a little sloppy cleaning up after himself.”  He smirked and blood trickled from his quivering lips.  “He discovered the truth but it was too late. We used all of it already.”

Scarlet leaned in, putting her weight on his hand.  He flinched but the pain didn’t bother him much.  That meant time was running out.
---

Scarlet sat down hard into her chair at Dawn Patrol HQ.  As she closed her eye and tried to collect her thoughts she was washed with a feeling of exhaustion.  She put her head down and nuzzled into her arms on the desk.

Three men: the former General of Vigilance, former Deputy Secretary of Defense and Captain Indomitable had a meeting in an abandoned office in King’s Row.  They were almost killed by the Sky Raiders but she was tipped off and rescued them in time.  They were extremely resistant to discuss their affairs and Scarlet knew it was not her place. Still, she decided to track the Raiders movements and learned they were going after the three men again but separately.

The General was saved when Scarlet and a short-lived team-up with Xiana stopped the Raiders from reaching him.  Scarlet found the deputy secretary and put him in a safe house.  He said Captain Indomitable went to a warehouse to check on some shipment irregularities meant for Vigilance that came from Europe.  Chasing after Captain Indomitable, she found his body and paperwork that pointed everywhere but to Vigilance headquarters.  All the shipments came in to the Talos Port Authority managed by Irving Katcher, whom she rescued from a Sky Raiders assassination attempt.  The last Raider on that mission spilled the beans.

At this recollection she forced her tired body to sit up and look at the file she created for this puzzle.  The pieces were there and now it’s time to make a picture.

Irving Katcher was the mastermind that diverted the shipments.  But he thought it was for the black market and planned to make a lot of serious money.  As nefarious as that plan was he was also just a dock manager and didn’t seem to be the kind of man to pull off a grand scheme.

So, what was happening?  Scarlet laid out the papers on her desk and stood up to look at them from a different view.  Her eye darted from one sheet to another: columns, rows, scrambled …

Something caught her attention and she leaned in.

Hand written on each of the documents was a small letter ‘D’ scrawled in different locations.  Always by itself and not connected to invoice numbers, item codes, contacts ... nothing.

She took a few steps back and looked to the ceiling deep in thought.  Ok, that’s it.  That’s all you have: a dead hero, lots of documents, the letter ‘D’, and the Sky Raiders.

Sky Raiders.

Like a thunderbolt Scarlet darted from her office and ran to the mainframe.  She hurriedly sat in the chair and entered passwords in a flurry.

“C’mon, DOGMA.  Show me the truth,” she whispered. Dogma was the name Scarlet gave the Dawn Patrol mainframe.  Since she joined the Dawn Patrol nothing impressed her more than what this computer could tell her about anything.  From the mundane to the complex, whomever inputted the information seemed to leave nothing out.

Window upon window opened on the main screen: Sky Raiders documented history, recent attacks, DP patrol entries, dossiers …

That’s it!  Colonel Duvay, commander of the Sky Raiders.  ‘D’ for Duvay.

At least Katcher did something right.  His simple bookkeeping note was enough to remind him about these shipments, but not enough to save him anywhere else.   Scarlet sat looking at Duvay’s name for long seconds. She closed the files and patted the top of the user screen.  “Thank you, DOGMA.”

She stood and walked back to the locker room while putting the pieces together in her mind’s eye.

Colonel Duvay tricked Katcher into sending the Vigilance weapons and supplies to Duvay’s contacts.  Katcher discovered this and wanted out, revenge, or a piece of the pie.  Whatever he wanted, Duvay didn’t agree and wanted him dead.  Meanwhile, the three men that started the game became a thorn in Duvay’s side somehow with Captain Indomitable being the most troublesome.

She closed her locker door with the thought: the Sky Raiders have been using the equipment meant for Vigilance!  Or rather, that the Sky Raiders exist because they have been using the material meant for Vigilance.

Their secret would no longer be secret soon.  It was the least she could do for Captain Indomitable.

Moment of Weakness

Scarlet’s left knee was starting to ache and she slightly shifted her weight. The faux-gravel of the rooftop crunched with her movement. She winched as a joint quietly popped. She returned her attention to the streets below her. So far Steel Canyon had been quiet but she knew that would change.

“It always does”, she whispered.

Trust to your instincts
If it's safely restrained
Lightning reactions
Must be carefully trained

Then she heard it: gunfire. Scarlet smirked as she scanned left then right. The sound waves were bouncing off the monuments of concrete and steel around her. Scarlet’s training and “expertise” in sound helped her find the trouble-spot. Two blocks away and around the other side of the DynaCorp building.

Scarlet leapt off the roof in a swan’s-dive and free-fell for a moment before she willed herself to fly horizontally. She brought her arms to her side and heard the firefight again. Fast-floating down and around the corner, Scarlet swooped under the claws of a granite gargoyle overlooking the street. She released her Will to fly and she streaked straight to the ground. Thirty meters is a long way to fall and as she looked toward the thug with the assault rifle, Scarlet activated her personal sonic shield.

Heat of the moment
Curse of the young
Spit out your anger
Don't swallow your tongue

She landed hard behind the thug, but the shield absorbed the impact. Scarlet channeled the sound waves of her flight and projected them away from her in one burst. As the thug flew into the air away from her she looked at the situation.

PPD versus Council. Grim. The Council rarely backed down. She could see the blood splatters and lifeless bodies of several PPD officers around the entrance of the building and around vehicles. Of the Council only a few were in the same condition.

She will tip the balance in favor of justice. She will succeed where the law has failed. She will exact vengeance. She will cause pain.

Natural reflex
Pendulum swing
You might be too dizzy
To do the right thing

Scarlet spun on her heals and back-fisted another Council soldier to the ground. His goggles shattered and the pieces reflected tiny sunbursts as they fell. She focused her attention to a group of Council soldiers who were training their rifles toward her. Scarlet took a deep breath and yelled at them. Although she screamed “YAH”, her powers channeled the sound from her vocal chords into a tight ball of condensed sound.

It fell upon the Council like a bomb. Glass shattered, clothing ripped, and metal buckled under the pressure. All the soldiers collapsed to the ground and writhed in pain. The screams of agony caused a satisfied grin to appear. She looked around for more.

The doors to the Council APC burst open and a high-ranking soldier appeared. He ripped his shirt off and raised his hands to the air. Instantly he was transformed into a hulking Nightwolf and baled in anger. Then he charged Scarlet.

She dug in her heels and braced for impact. Scarlet intensified her personal field and the sound waves became visible. She heard a PPD officer shout behind her but couldn’t hear his words. Bullets flew over her shoulder and around her waist. They impacted upon the Nightwolf and bounced off his skin. Scarlet grimaced with the realization she may be outclassed this time.

Trial under fire
Ultimate proof
Moment of crisis
Don’t swallow the truth

“No”, Scarlet whispered through clinched teeth and she raised her hands as if to wrestle.

Then she got hit. A bright flash replaced the world and Scarlet could feel a shock of pain across her whole body. She crashed into the PPD police cruiser and caved in the driver’s door, lifting the machine off two wheels. Scarlet found herself half in the car and saw the Nightwolf flying in the air with its knees heading for her head.

She rolled out of the wreckage in time to hear the animal destroy the rest of the vehicle upon impact; pavement cracked and spider-webbed away from the small crater. Scarlet picked up a lose chunk and over-hand launched the debris into the recovering Council fiend.

The concrete block disintegrated against the tough hide but Scarlet did not stop her counter-assault. She leapt into the air and focused her power. “HAEEE”, she screamed as she arced over her target. Waves of sound spiraled down and bored into the creature’s back. Bone cracked and skin blistered with each wave as the Nightwolf howled. The last wave finished it’s turn and the car was crushed deeper into the ground sending a plume of concrete sand into the air.

Scarlet landed on both feet, splintering the ground. She took deep breaths and waited for the Nightwolf to make its move. But it was motionless and bleeding. Steam from the engine hissed and the dust started to settle.

Scarlet looked around her and the cops were coming from cover in awe of what they witnessed. They slowly approached the vehicle with weapons drawn on the Nightwolf. Scarlet remained tense: too many times have one of these animals feigned death.

Each time we bathe our reactions
In artificial light
Each time we alter the focus
To make the wrong moves seem right

Did she just kill? A long time ago she would not have thought twice of the action. Or the reaction.  She relaxed and crumpled to the ground with the realization that she took a life.

“Not again,” was all she could muster. Scarlet slowly stood and wiped her Dawn Patrol uniform off of dust. An officer checked for a pulse on the Nightwolf and Scarlet held her breath.

You get so used to deception
You make yourself a nervous wreck
You get so used to surrender
Running back to cover your neck

The PPD officer looked at her with surprise washing over his face. Scarlet dreaded his next words.

“He … it … is alive. Barely.”

Scarlet’s adrenaline evacuated her muscles and she took a few steps to keep from falling. She regained her composure and faked a grin.

“Of course,” she said matter-of-factly. “Gentlemen, I’ve done all I can do. I think the rest is up to you. Be careful with the Nightwolf. It’s no longer a man.”

She turned and walked away, shrugging off every jolt of pain as she moved and forced herself to appear to be unharmed. Scarlet turned a corner and found an empty and dark alley and cried the pain away.

 

(Italicized segments are lyrics from Rush - Counterparts, ""Stick It Out")

A Day In Victory

The sky alternated between light and dark as the clouds themselves alternated between white and grey. The wind smelled clean or dirty. The asphalt was new or old. Buildings changed from pristine to worn. But it was the banners on the buildings that announced the most obvious, allegiance to hero or villain that made the entire milieu recognizable to the participants in the never-ending war. A temporal war for control of the Earth.

Such was each day in "Recluse's Victory".

Scarlet was used to it by now; her powers had matured, along with her sense of place in the world, to the point where she ventured into this chaos with little fear. But the glory of defeating a super-powered villain no longer entranced her to this place. Curiosity was the little itch she needed to scratch. Curiosity lead her to the thing that stood immobile before her.

As the battle unfolded in pockets around her, Scarlet ignored it all. Glancing over her shoulder, she look past the trees, with bright green leaves quickly wilting suddenly rejuvenating, that she saw the Pillbox. Magnificent in construction, it was a deadly machine of war. Even with her sound-controlling defenses and regenerating abilities, the firepower behind the machines was lethal. She had witnessed more than one Pillbox, controlled by hero and villain alike, destroy man and machine with ease.

Now it was her turn to feel the power for herself. But first she needed to overcome its automated weapon drones, and the means to do so was only a few seconds away.

Scarlet turned to the Longbow Heavy. It's bright red and white armor glistened and dulled. She looked at the control panel and smirked as her fingers danced over command codes and overrode data streams. Her Longbow contact will be recognized for his assistance. Even though he was stationed in Bloody Bay, his knowledge of this action post was now paying off.

Energy was routed to the Heavy. Sparks and steam erupted from cracks and vents as the machine came to life. It's "eye" glowed yellow and the Heavy stood erect, quickly stretching it's arms before taking a ponderous step forward. A second step confirmed the Scarlet Scorpion as its Master. A third step activated its weapons and the console revealed it was fully operational.

Scarlet rerouted control to her wrist-comp and pressed the touch-screen. The Heavy responded to her command and turned on its heel toward the Pillbox. The Heavy's weapon arms were raised as it charged. For her part, she focused the conflict around her, natural and man-made, and created a sonic barrier around her. She was ready ...

She was ready to feel the power of war.

 

Passing Fab

Two hours ago

“You can’t be serious.”

“I’m completely serious. You’ve been tapped for the job. You’re one of the best.”

Scarlet blushed slightly at Lady Jane’s compliment while also looking at her incredulously.

“What about the operative that lost it in the first place?”

“Reassigned. Other duties.” Jane smirked.

Scarlet shook her head. “Any prep time by chance?”

Jane shook her head. “Not a chance.”

---

15 minutes ago

Scarlet tried to play the part. She was a little surprised her off-duty costume would get her past the riff-raff in Grandville. But she reached her limit five minutes ago. The search party was small and she didn’t think they raised any big alarms: what’s one hero going to do in the Rogue Isles anyway?

She pressed against the very large pipe and looked both ways searching for the Arachnos soldiers hunting her. Seeing nothing she sprinted a few steps then flew toward the crates. She couldn’t help kicking up dirt and debris from her flight wash, but she was running out of time. Scarlet entered the small maze of storage crates and ducked hoping to be concealed.

From behind her she heard raised voices: she was caught. Scarlet fumbled at her belt to find a device she used in Warburg. She saved it for moments like these and regretted having to use it now. The small disc fit into a slot on her tactical visor. Heavy-booted footsteps got louder.

Now or never.

She pressed the activation rune and lunged toward an exit way. Her skin and clothing became translucent and her running speed quickened as she hyper-phased toward the ramp that led into The Fab. Scarlet ran so fast that she leapt into the air as she reached the lip of the ramp. Landing hard, her boots slipped on the slope but she recovered quickly and kept running.

Soldiers in front and behind her recognized something strange was happening and tried to react but she was too fast. Red-tinted blaster shots flew past or struck the ground around her. Someone threw a grenade but Scarlet was past its blast radius in less than a second. Following the rail tracks into The Fab’s delivery gates, she had to sidestep onto adjacent tracks to avoid closed doors. Arachnos soldiers were shouting to get others in front of her alerted in an attempt to stop her.

The tactical readout in her visor told her the item should be on the floor near the final gateway. She turned a corner and the gateway was a dark maw willing to swallow her. Scarlet literally skidded to a stop, stunning several soldiers nearby as others behind her were raising their weapons.

Glancing frantically, the item somehow reflected just enough light to reveal its location. She reached for it and a blaster shot whizzed past her head. She could feel the heat of the laser beam on her neck and she flinched. Clutching the item, she turned on her heels and started running back the way she came.

Scarlet could feel her speed slow and she noticed the hyper-phase timer expired. More shouts came as almost everyone she ran past fully realized what was happening: a hero from the Dawn Patrol had infiltrated Grandville. She willed herself to fly and concentrated on her flight path. Scarlet flew exiting almost as fast as she ran entering. She egressed The Fab completely and flew toward Paragon as more blaster shots tried to catch her.

---

Now

“Great work Commander.”

Scarlet was still breathing hard from the experience. “Yes ma’am.” She saluted and looked at the small device she was sent recover on Lady Jane’s desk. Anger continued to simmer and she almost lost control of her composure. “Permission to speak freely, ma’am?”

“Denied, Scarlet. You have performed your duty admirably and with gratitude from Indigo and Crimson. I look forward to your report.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Scarlet replied through clenched teeth. She turned on her heels and exited the office.

Closer to the Heart

They had been walking away from the café for several minutes in silence.

Scarlet looked to Jason and his face was stern. He was really upset. “Kathryn, what you did was wrong.” He didn’t look at her as he spoke.

She looked forward as they walked. “I disagree. The man had it coming. Everyone knows it, except the people of Grandville.”

“Maybe they chose to look the other way because, through the subterfuge, he was actually helping more than hurting.” It was not a question.

“That’s wishful thinking and you know it. I got a tip on his exact location and I revealed him for who he was: a traitor to the people he allegedly serves.” She wasn’t trying to bait Jason but she had to look at him.

Jason’s skin was more pink than usual and Scarlet noticed it. She grabbed his arm to stop him and to add gravitas to the discussion. “Jason, I couldn’t wait for Longbow to settle this. You know he has exploited the people of Grandville to root out anyone who could actually do some real good over there. Westin Phipps works for Arachnos!”

Jason twisted his arm away, “That doesn’t give you the right to be judge and jury! You came very close to being executioner. You are in the Dawn Patrol dammit.” He raised his fist as if to threaten Scarlet with it, but she knew it was only for effect.

She paused then sighed. “You’re right. I can’t say I lost control.” Scarlet looked away, ashamed for being honest.

Turning away, Jason took a step then spun on his heel to face her. “What were you thinking?!”

Scarlet hugged herself, suddenly feeling cold in the Summer sunlight. “I … the fight never ends. There is no respite. Even as I sat with Nathan today, I’m always on guard. I feel like I‘m standing on the edge of an abyss that I can’t walk away from. When I got the video feed of Phipps being tortured by Arachnos, I felt no pity … I felt anger. What was happening to him was a farce meant to raise his standing in the Rogue Isles. It was diabolical. I started to hate the man more than you could know. When I found him, I was looking at evil incarnate.”

She turned to Major Britain, the warmth of renewed vigor and righteousness enveloping her. “Jason, I intentionally beat him within an inch of his life. I knew what I was doing and that was Justice served.”

Jason looked down and nodded.

Before he could respond, Scarlet took a step closer and placed a hand on his shoulder. “I’m not going to pretend there’s any fairness in this world. But I do believe it exists. I couldn’t kill him.” She leaned in to get his full attention, “you know I wouldn’t.”

“Then why didn’t you apprehend him?”

She lowered her arm. “Because the ends justify the means. He will suffer as he recovers, and now he knows we’ll be watching him which helps our cause more than it will for Arachnos.”

Closer to the Heart

The sun was bright but not overpowering and the shade from the awning provided relief. The Blue Moon Bistro was their favorite in Founder’s Falls, only two blocks from her condo, and the baristas knew them by their first names. Scarlet scooped some scrambled cheese eggs onto her fork and brushed her hair back with the other hand as she placed the morsel in her mouth.

“Have I told how much I love it when you do that?” Nathan had leaned forward a bit to keep the comment private. Scarlet didn’t move her head but looked up with her eye while smiling and chewing. A few strands of her red hair floated in front of her.

“Wow, that’s just as sexy,” he said aloud. He quickly leaned back as if to feign nonchalance. Nathan blushing revealed he was embarrassed by the outburst.

Scarlet finished chewing and sat upright with a bright smile. “My, my Mr. Maddox, you are cheery today.”

“I’m sorry. I can’t control myself around you sometimes.”

“As long as you don’t start jumping on chairs, then consider the comment appreciated.”

Nathan’s smile waned as something caught his attention from behind her. Not perceiving immediate danger, she still dropped her fork onto the plate. The sharp sounds were captured by Scarlet as she lowered her hand under the table. Writhing between clenched fingers swirled a ball of sonic energy.

The man stopped at their table and blocked the sun. His cleanly cropped beard was graying with experience but his face showed no signs of aging. Scarlet noticed his left hand was tightened into a fist while his right hand held a crumpled file folder where his grip clutched it. She looked onto Jason St. Martin’s face; he was brimming with anger.

Scarlet closed her hand and dissipated the sonic grenade then cleaned her mouth with a napkin. “Hello, Jason. Nathan, I’d like you to meet Jason St. Martin, we work together.”

The newcomer lifted a hand to block Nathan’s attempt to stand. Jason placed the folder he was holding onto the table then stabbed a finger onto its surface. Scarlet noticed a few eyes were watching the drama begin. He looked at Scarlet and spoke through clenched teeth, “We need to talk. Now.”

She had rarely seen Jason so angry. Looking from Jason, to the folder, to Nathan and back to Jason, Scarlet decided to attempt diplomacy in order to understand her friend’s agitation. “Would you care to join us for a comfort drink?” Nathan shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

Jason leaned forward at the waist a few inches and stabbed the folder again. “Now.”

Closer to the Heart

The moon beams crawled along the floor of the living room having long vanished from the coffee table’s surface. Bathing in the grey light was Hector, his chest slowly rising and falling with the fur unkempt from previous activities. She mused over what Hector was doing while she was in her room. Hector sighed, and then twitched as he slept.

She caught herself breathing and could not escape regulating her own intake of air. The nightmares were getting better but it seemed as if they would never go away. Her sleep was interrupted because of their violence or disturbance. Either way, she was glad not to have woken Nathan. He seemed unconscious after tonight’s lovemaking. It had been sometime since she was involved in a sexual relationship. When she went to Vegas last year to see Tracy, the two of them had an evening reminiscent of the times when they were both "executive companions". But before Nathan, it had been several years since she was with a man, the last being that scum Vargis. So it has been many more years since she was involved in a “relationship”. Scarlet smirked recalling the evening – her skills had not diminished with time. If anything, her endurance may have improved as a side-effect of her transformation or hero-work. Lucky for Nathan, she thought with a grin.

But what about her? She admitted Nathan was keeping her attention and she admired his courage to seek her out in the first place. His honesty in all things seemed rivaled by Crimsonstar’s purity in truthfulness. Scarlet raised an eyebrow: comparing Nathan to Marsius felt unfair, but that’s how impressive Nathan seems: he even looks ”heroic” … if such a thing is real. He would look good in costume, she was sure of it, so he was somehow more attractive because he was not a hero. Scarlet’s brows twisted in thought: why were heroes attractive and villains unattractive? Why do evil women tend to look like sluts? The stereotypes were almost comical – yet Scarlet played the part, sort of.

She reached up to touch her eye-patch. It was always worn while having sex, as a rule of hers, to protect her self-esteem even at Nathan’s insistence she didn’t need it around him. That was sweet, but until they were married, then it’s her way or the highway …

Scarlet’s face revealed surprise. She looked out the window hoping no one was watching an embarrassing moment.

Marriage?!

Did she actually even think that? She immediately became uncomfortable as if realizing someone witnessed her making a mistake. Craning her neck to look into the bedroom, Nathan had shifted position but otherwise was still asleep. Thank God he doesn’t snore.

Scarlet looked back to Hector who was awake, sitting straight up and looking at her. He yawned wide then stood to stretch his back. She gently smiled while watching Hector turn in place and curl into a ball onto the floor.

Shaking her previous thoughts out of her consciousness, she stood and quietly walked toward her purse. Finding her Dawn Patrol communicator, Scarlet activated the PPD band. A hologram lighted above the badge and lit the room with a bluish hue. Her fully naked body was revealed in the azure light as she placed an ear bud close to her ear. Listening to various reports, she found one that appealed to her: one involving the Council. Scarlet activated her hero ID and then shut down the police band.

Within minutes she was in her original hero  suit with jacket and locking the door to her condo. A note rested on the kitchen counter.

Closer to the Heart

Her arm was wrapped around his and she pulled herself closer as they walked down the clean sidewalk. The gloaming of the day invited a romantic evening and a slight breeze swirled around them. Her brown double-breasted jacket easily protected her from the cold, but the Scarlet Scorpion could just as easily deflect blasts of ice from super-powered villains. Yet she still seemed effected from the weather as if she were not a heroine. Nathan relished the affection. Kathryn was a beautiful woman and he felt more handsome just being near her. The fact she was a superhero was receding further from his mind.

A switch blade silently locked into place from down the alley they passed and Kathryn tensed up which caught Nathan’s attention. They slowed their pace until she did not hear any footsteps, then she resumed walking, slightly dragging Nathan.

Caught off guard by Kathryn’s movements Nathan said, “did you hear something?”

Kathryn nodded, “yes, just ignore it.” Nathan had learned when Kathryn was being serious and this moment was one of them.

“Hey. You two. Gimme yer wallets or ya get cut.” The thug’s voice from behind them pierced through the air with its raspy quality and low tone.

The red head stopped and slowly turned. Facing the criminal she said, “we don’t want trouble.” Nathan stepped forward, “Look, just take my wallet but leave her out of it.” Kathryn looked to Nathan wide-eyed at his bravado.

The criminal seemed unprepared for the counter-offer and quickly recovered. “What the f … shut up and hand ‘em over!” He took a step forward.

Nathan leaned forward at took a combat-ready stance. “In a city of heroes, do you want to take the chance we are not metas?”

The thug stopped and looked into Nathan’s eyes. His resolve broke, and he turned to run back down the alley.

Only when the footsteps receded to silence did Nathan relax. He turned to Kathryn whose mouth was gapping open in shock. He smiled and she said, “did you just fake being a hero on a gamble he would buy that?”

Nathan grabbed the lapels of his jacket, rocked on his feet, gave a boyish grin and said, “Yep!”

“Don’t ever do that again”, she rebuked. He stopped and the smile started to fade. Kathryn grabbed his coat and pulled him to her. The force of her kiss surprised Nathan for a second until he could not control his passion for her.

They kissed for several minutes.

Closer to the Heart

Even in the sunlight the coffee whispered vapor from the surface. A slight breeze pushed the light cloud from the cup’s rim. Scarlet was watching the stillness of the liquid surface until she saw Daikar’s reflection looking back at her.

She looked up to see the man, the Grand Battler, standing near her table. “Good to see you,” she said and extended her arm. Daikar took it and leaned at the waist to kiss the back of her hand. “The pleasure is mine, dear friend.”

He filled the seat across her and straightened his jacket. Waving the server away indicated he did not need attention. Daikar watched Scarlet sip her cup then looked toward sky and other places, as if to fill the silence between them with motion.

“I appreciate your coming Daikar. You look well.”

“As do you, but have you invited me here for small talk?”

Scarlet placed the cup onto the saucer gently. “Not really, but it’s been a while since we talked at all.”

The dark blonde hero smoothed his mustache. “True. I’ve noticed the Dawn Patrol has been a little quiet lately. I am prying because I detest small talk.”

She smiled. “You’re blunt. Your observations are also accurate. With the second Rikti invasion, our members thinned out from casualties. Nothing like the first time of course, but it happens unfortunately.”

Daikar nodded. Scarlet sipped.

“How is your love life?”

She kept her surprise from showing and placed the cup down then sighed. “I should not be surprised you could tell.” She smiled and blushed lightly. “I have an admirer.”

He leaned onto an arm, “I’m surprised it hasn’t happened sooner. What do you think?”

“Honestly, even after everything I’ve been through, I’m a little scared.”

Daikar sat back, “Then end it now.”

Stunned, Scarlet straightened in her seat. “What? Why would you say that?”

“Because fear is your greatest enemy, it will kill you or him … or both.”

She sighed. “I remember the lessons, Daikar, no need to be a teacher today. Just be a friend.”

He raised both hands, “Forgive me.”

Scarlet smirked, “It’s ok. Look, he’s not a meta and I’m trying to get it straight. I’ve spent so much effort being a good “hero” for everyone else that I have put everything else on a shelf. Honestly, being in a relationship is the last thing I have even considered in many years. I had more business … partners … than friends. Regardless, I’m thinking I’m due for someone to celebrate “me”. No training, no leading, no fighting. But with my powers, my status, should I get involved?”

“Kathy, you don’t need me for any relationship advice. But I will say this: every action has a reaction – good or bad. So do what you want to do and do not regret what could or should have done.”

She nodded and the breeze sliced through the silence between them. Daikar looked away. “Are you happy?”

Scarlet shrugged lightly. “Yes. Maybe. I don’t know. No?”

“You look happy, but you hide yourself very well.”

“It’s a part of the craft from my past. Some things are hard to forget.” She smiled.

Daikar looked down, remembering something he didn’t want to remember. “I know.” He looked up. “Kathryn, never regret anything you do in life … or love.” Standing, he never looked away from Scarlet. “He is a lucky man.” The Grand Battler turned to leave when Scarlet grabbed his hand.

“Can I call on you?”

“Always.” He slipped from her grasp and walked away.

Closer to the Heart

The flowers were unlike any she had ever seen before: long, white petals with a green-purple hue radiating in helix curls from the floral axis to the tip of each petal. Their delicate fragrance did not overpower the senses and her office was filled with the wonderful fumes. Scarlet was in a blind reverie from it.

“Smells like someone is in love.”

The Scarlet Scorpion jumped in her seat. “Northern Might, you startled me!” She was a little embarrassed having been caught off guard, especially in her own office.

“I should note this day in my calendar as that is a first. I must admit, I’m not used to seeing you in your office, much less looking so …”

“What? In love? Psht. Not me. But getting flowers from an admirer is almost never bad. It’s been a while, you know?” Scarlet looked to her comrade with a hope of understanding.

Northern Might got the message but was in a playful mood. “Not really. Marsius is a romantic at the molecular level.”

Rebuffed, “Lucky you. So what can I do for you?”

“Nothing. What can I do for you?” Northern Might's emphasis accompanied her looking toward the flowers.

Scarlet followed her friend’s glace and understood the subtle signal then waved her hand toward a chair. Northern Might accepted the offer and slid stealthily into the hard plastic chair.

“For starters,” Scarlet sat back in her chair as if to dictate to her secretary, “I’m no stranger to being with men, far from it. But it’s been a long time since any relationship was not … solicited or advertised.” She raised an eyebrow at the last words.

Northern Might nodded, “so you’re wondering why would a non-meta try to get involved with a meta … knowing that the risks almost outweigh the rewards?”

Sitting forward with enthusiasm, Scarlet replied, “That’s the rub: ARE the risks worth it? Isn’t fulfillment subjective?”

Northern Might shrugged. "It’s not so scientific, but even that statement has its own perspective. It’s a minefield of ethics, sorrow and happiness. Have you asked him: why you? Let’s face it, of all the heroes in Paragon, show me an ugly one.”

Scarlet snorted and sat back. “
If I asked, then I'd be disappointed. I've heard it all before. But ... there is sincerity out of desperation and sincerity from truth.”

“What do you mean?”

A smile crawled on Scarlet’s lips. “Desperation for sex. A man will say anything for sex, especially if he anticipates it to be good. But Nathan …” Scarlet looked away as if she entered a trance. “He is genuinely interested and this time it seems different to me.”

It was Northern Might’s turn to smile but was silent, choosing to let the red-head talk. Scarlet raised a hand to her eye patch and paused, then continued to run the hand through her hair. She sighed.

“So, if anyone is in love it is definitely him.” Scarlet smirked with a wink. The room was still for a few more seconds as the two women looked at each other.

Then Northern Might raised an eyebrow.

Scarlet received the question. “Nope, not yet. If this is the real deal, then he will have to wait. If not, then …” Scarlet shrugged with a wry smile.

“So how do you know he is not desperate?”

“Women’s intuition,” Scarlet said with a smile.

Closer to the Heart

The restaurant was what Nathan Maddox expected from his beautiful guest. He gave her the choice and she chose well; Alpines was an up-scale steakhouse. In the center of the dining room was a booming fireplace surrounded by a clear heat shield. Radiating from the European stone-work fireplace were the dining tables, mostly for two to four people with the larger party seating near or against the wall. The menu did not have a single digit priced item (aside from the drinks) and everything was in whole dollar amounts. Nathan was lucky to overhear a conversation where the unfortunate customer inquired about a selection of steak sauces, only to be embarrassed in front of his date by the server: Alpines’ steaks were so good that no sauces were available to ruin the quality of the meat. Nathan silently thanked the guy to take the bullet for him.

He glanced around and caught a few other men eying his date. Again, it was what he expected and Nathan felt a sense of pride. How could he be jealous of other men, he would have done the same! Of all the men in the world she could be with tonight, the Scarlet Scorpion allowed him at least one night. But that is making her more than she is.

Drinks were ordered and Scarlet kept it on the light side. Even if she were not in uniform she was still “on” as a hero. It was an unfortunate side effect of taking on the hero mantle and she had been doing it long enough to make it a part of her life now. After the order she settled into the moment, the small talk was basically over and she was waiting for Nathan to dig deeper, if he dared.

“So, Scarlet Scorpion, let’s cut to the chase …” Nathan swirled his dark liquor and looked inside the cup to pull a question from the thick liquid, then finding one. “What’s your real name?”

Oh, he’s blunt. Score one point.

“Tsk tsk Mr. Maddox, that’s for me to keep for myself.”

Nathan smiled. “I expected you to say that. I hope you don’t mind me trying?”

Scarlet smiled back, “Not at all. I’m a little impressed you made the attempt so early this evening.”

“So, why keep it a secret? As you know, some heroes have chosen to make their real identity open. As all heroes are registered, why keep it hidden from the public? You don’t wear a mask, haven’t you been recognized somewhere at some time?” He used his fingers to deftly mimic the scars on his face.

Scarlet broke a piece of bread as he spoke. By the time he finished she had swallowed the piece and quietly thought about the answer, ignoring the motion he made with his hand. “For protection: my own and people around me … like you. You’d be amazed how a simple hair style change makes a difference.” She chuckled to herself then almost pulled the hair in front of her scar back and decided against it. “I wore a mask for a couple of years. But when I moved to Paragon decided against it.”

It was Nathan’s turn with the bread and he gulped to get his next word out. “Why?”

Scarlet leaned forward and rested her chin on the back of her hand as her elbow gently rested on the table. “Nathan, I am not sitting here because I was cautious. I don’t believe in luck. When I came here I wanted my name to be synonymous with Justice. As silly as it sounds, I also believe Justice has a face.”

He leaned in, enjoying her candor. “It’s not silly one bit. It’s admirable and I hope not sound misogynistic.” He leaned back, “What about credit cards? Do you use your real name on them?”

She leaned back and sighed, a little disappointed, “Yes … You have a lot of questions about how I live. Although I understand the game of making me feel like the center of attention, this is starting to feel like an interview.”

Raising his glass as she spoke, his eyes popped open at the last remark. “I apologize. That was not my intent. I admit my curiosity get ahead of me.”

Scarlet sipped her drink to clear the acid from her previous comment. “I understand. Don’t get me wrong, the attention is nice.” She smiled slightly trying to give him slack. “How about you ask me something less … newsworthy?”

Nathan smiled broadly, leaned back in his chair and cupped his hands together. “Ok, how did you get the scar?”

Her eye widened and she looked over her shoulder quickly. Scarlet was caught off guard and she got hot at the realization.

His arms spread out. “Is that too personal?”

Recovering just as quick, “No … no, I asked for it.” Scarlet paused.

“It’s alright, I don’t really want to know anymore. It adds to your beauty.”

Scarlet didn’t blush but almost rolled her eye at the line. “Answer me this, aren’t you concerned at all that you are having dinner with a superhero? Being with Dawn Patrol, I’ve made a lot of enemies. Some may know who I am out of uniform.”

“A little, but I’m willing to take a risk – if there are any?”

“It depends if you make me mad.”

They smiled to one another and the server brought a tray with two plates of food to the table.

Closer to the Heart

She pinched at a fleck of dust on the right shoulder of her purple vest. Scarlet huffed outwardly in frustration as she abandoned the pinch and resorted to flicking it off with success. Gemini Park was a beautiful place in Paragon City. One of the more famous parks within city limits and a very popular site for social gatherings. It was also popular for the Hellions and Skulls gangs to prey upon non-Heroes. Sometimes they were foolish enough to challenge a Hero, and on very rare occasions the gangs were victorious, but only by weight of numbers. Today, the Scarlet Scorpion strolled through the park. She's is considered a powerful Meta-human, and when dressed in her civilian clothes, none of the gangers would suspect anything more than a cry for help, much to their dreaded surprise.

But Scarlet was not at Gemini Park to clean up the place of Meta-thugs or punks: newly registered heroes roamed around Galaxy City in plenty of numbers to handle most crime. The Skulls she just encountered happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, for the Scarlet Scorpion was going on a date, and nothing was going to stop this first meeting. It's not that she was excited, nor was she afraid, but more curious. As a registered Hero, anyone has access to limited information about her. As a Captain within the Dawn Patrol she was well known by name and it was uncommon for people to recognize her in stores or restaurants. The Dawn Patrol is known more for their achievements than by the people who achieve them. Still, no one in her three years of service sent her roses with romantic intentions directly to the base.

Looking around the park, the adrenaline from the earlier fight had dissipated completely and she calmed down. Scarlet looked over her white pencil skirt and hoped not to spot any loose fibers, dirt or ganger blood. Not seeing any, she opened her purse and grabbed a compact to re-inspect herself for the thousandth time. Not finding any flaws (other than the scars on her face hidden behind her long hair), and marveling her hair was not disheveled, she smiled and dabbed a line of fire red lipstick. Putting the makeup away, Scarlet looked up and around hoping to eye her suitor before he had a chance to get too close. She resisted using her powers to hear him walking up to her, not that she needed to: the park was pretty empty as the gangers kept most people away today. News would flash around of its "freedom" and citizens would start arriving soon. Even so, a tall, red-haired, smartly-dressed woman standing in the middle of the park is out-of-place, even if gangers never existed.

Standing in the middle of the park meant she was not cornered and could catch a surprise attack easily. Also, once in combat she would have more freedom to maneuver. Scarlet realized she was behaving tactically. Deciding to give the suitor a break, she sauntered to a bench at the edge of the park, inside the fence line, and sat down. After several minutes, Scarlet realized she was tapping her foot. After another minute she closed her eye and threw away any sense of fairness by focusing on the sounds around her ...

Slight breeze ... Bird chirp ...
Rustling leaves with the wind ... Blades of grass fluttering ...
Gravel crunching under tires ... Engine piston pumping ...
Leather seat squeaking ... door gently closing ...
Calm footsteps ... Rapid heartbeat ...
Short breath ...

Each sound was like a wave lapping against a beach. Some sounds were softer than others, all of them familiar to her, nothing threatening. But then, that sound ...

"Scarlet Scorpion?"

She spun her head to the right and shifted her weight on the bench, ready to leap or fly away from the source. Her long, deep red hair flowed across her face to hide her limited view of the man. His arm was extended forward with palm up, fingers closed. Bending slightly at the waist, his light-colored jacket opened to show a well-fit shirt with dark colored slacks. His golden, thick, almost straight hair seemed to billow from the front to a shorter cut toward the back. The smile showed no teeth, as his lips tightened into a erudite smirk: he knew he surprised her.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you!" He straightened quickly with both hands in front as if to shield him from a verbal reprisal.

Scarlet relaxed at his disarming voice and posture. She stood and corrected her hair from her face, making sure she kept her scars hidden to the left of her nose. He was her height. Looking level into his eyes, she asked, "Who are you?"

"Nathan Maddox, and the pleasure is entirely mine."

Closer to the Heart

Hello Urbanknight. What can I do for you? Sure, I’ll have those requisition forms for the tech bay to you by the end of the day. Oh, by the way, nice work on the meeting room!”

Huh. Did I just WINK at him?! Silly Scarlet. If he files harassment charges for that, I’ll punch the color out of his hair.

And what about that? Being a hero has its risks, right? But in this city, you’d think would get that any woman they talk to might just have a secret hero identity. For that reason, their girlfriend may just disappear.

Scarlet looks away from her computer screen and stares at a collection of photos, from an earlier time, resting on a shelf to her right and across the door to her office.

Is that fair to him? Is that fair to her? What about me? I chose to do this though, to be a hero. There’s an inherent danger to this ‘job’, so it’s not really a matter of fairness? Cops and firefighters have similar risks, and yet they have relationships. Damn, look at Shan and Jason! Maybe it’s easier for them because they are both heroes? The danger is the same, fairness is the same. They should write a book. Logically, if they can do it – then anyone can do it. Even me!

Scarlet twists her lips, showing disagreement.

But do I want a relationship? Last one, at least monogamous was … high school? Am I ready for love?

Scarlet smirked to herself.

I love Hector! The way he rolls to the side when I talk cute to him. Then again, he needs to stop using furniture as a scratching post. The little shit.

An alarm rings from Scarlet’s communicator. Dogma’s ‘voice’ was gentle yet serious, “Fire in Steel Canyon. Outcast group involved.” Another beep, “This is Crimsonstar, I’m on it.” A second beep, a different voice, “V’ril, on the way.” Scarlet caught herself half-way out of her chair and relaxed back into it.

There’s another one – Crimsonstar and Northern Might. Very cute couple there and devotion is obvious, even though his time with Alumette … wow, talk about racy. It was cute to see them try to hide it though.

Scarlet sighs. She looks down to her chest and traces the gold lines of her Captain rank with her eye.

Maybe I love the Dawn Patrol too much? Is this group my lover? Weird to think of it that way. Actually, too weird.

Scarlet’s office phone beeped.

Scarlet.

Miss Scarlet, you have … something waiting for you at the front desk.

Scarlet rolled her eye.

Chip, I’m too busy to guess. And unless it’s a dozen roses then it’ll have to wait.

Umm, ma’am. Then it can’t wait.

Origins

1 week later

“Deal with me again and you’ll be looking down the barrel of a gun.”

The Scarlet Scorpion let go of the young punk. He landed feet first and fell onto his back. The wet spot at his groin made her grin dominantly. The boy immediately backed away on all fours until he thought she would not pursue. Then he scrambled to his feet and ran down the alley like a track star on fire.

Kathryn pulled the collar of her jacket closer to her neck. With the other hand she touched the small leather pouch at her waist. Ever since her last meeting with Nyxen she started to carry a little backup weapon. Kathryn knew her powers were enough to deal with most anyone, but a super-villain? More was needed. She chided herself to think a gun would give her the edge. But it was all she could think of. Besides, her “twin” carried a sword. Two swords actually.

She walked deeper into the alley and toward the nexus of the three buildings. She focused her Will into the thought of flying. Slowly she lifted off the ground and floated toward the top. This was a new ability of hers and it gave her headaches. Kathryn tried to push the idea of pain away and stayed on the image of flight. Kathryn reached the top of the apartment building and drifted over to the roof and gently landed. Her whole body was hot and she was mentally exhausted. Her heavy breathing was calmed by the meditative exercises Daikar taught her.

When she opened her eye the full view of Las Vegas at night greeted her. She smiled and felt the damp edges of her visor caress her cheeks. Kathryn pulled the hair-tie and let her strawberry locks fall around her neck. Whipping the damp hair side to side, she ran one hand through to give it a chance to “breath” … and let out a long sigh.

Has it come to this? Pushing around kids, letting a gun speak for me … for them.

She looked to one side and was greeted with a slight breeze that gave her goose bumps.

What am I supposed to do? 

Kathryn was calm and it seemed like it had been forever since she felt that way.

She looked the other direction and was startled by a little boy looking up at her in amazement. They just stood looking at each other for several seconds. Kathryn’s calm was broken by the realization of the moment.

“What?!” She said it a bit more impatiently than she meant.

The youth quickly gulped. “You … you can fly?”

Kathryn smirked but kept a gentle face. “It’s not easy and it hurts my head.”

“Can I fly?” The boy took a step forward and smiled excitedly.

“I don’t know.” She knelt down to him and held her hand up to stop him from getting closer. “But if you can, then I recommend you start trying to go up first. Like I just did.”

He nodded as if receiving wisdom from a prophet.

Kathryn nodded toward the rooftop door. “Go along home. It’s dark and you shouldn’t be on the roof anyway.”

“Yes ma’am.” He turned around and repeated Kathryn’s advice as if trying to memorize it. Once he walked through the doorway leading into the building Kathryn looked back to the city-scape.

Daikar, damn you. I could use a little help here.

Origins

2 hours later

When Nikki Johanson arrived on the scene at the warehouse all the other officers stopped their duties to see her reaction. Kathryn watched as Johanson stared at the pile of child-corpses. She knelt down and touched some cloth with a pen. Everyone saw the sneer on her face. She stood and surveyed the area until her eyes found the Scarlet Scorpion. She walked up to Kathryn and whispered the order:

”Kill her. That’s all you have to do.”

---
2 days later

The assassin stood in the darkness of a cleanly kept house. The porch light revealed the dismal scene before her. Filling the backyard were rows upon rows of roadside crosses stabbing into the soft earth of the abandoned backyard. Some were simple constructs; others looked as if they were made professionally. All of them were made to memorialize a loved one. The Scarlet Scorpion’s fury rose to a new level. The scene was an abomination to her.

“Do the gods have no mercy?” Kathryn caught herself acknowledging the deities she has been associated with for the first time.

“No.”

The Scarlet Scorpion instantly spun to face the source of the voice and released a burst of sound waves. In the darkness a form shifted just as quick. As the sound bubble hit, the target became visible for a brief second. Nyxen anticipated the attack and had a katana blade ready. The sonic effect was cut and deflected away, blowing two chunks of wall inward. Sheetrock and wood splintered in every direction showering the near invisible form with debris.

It was all the Scarlet Scorpion needed. She cartwheeled into the dust shower and came up within reach of Nyxen. Knocking the sword out of the way her other hand came up to plant a fist into Nyxen’s face. The anti-hero dodged the blow by releasing the sword and spinning away from the fist. Sharp metal clattered to the ground and Nyxen ducked Scarlet’s high kick.

Leaping away from Nyxen’s return sweep kick, Scarlet landed on the coffee table. She concentrated her will to prepare for another sonic attack but her enemy raised a hand and Scarlet was compelled to pause.

“What do you plan to do here?”

Scarlet sneered at the form silhouetted by the white crosses in the yard outside. “Kill.”

“Do you really think you can do such a thing? Is it in your nature?”

“You killed those children. If you can do it, then so can I.”

“Kathy, c’mon. I am your polar opposite.  As you are the zenith, I am the nadir. I can kill because it is my nature to do so. It is why the gods chose me.”

“Did the gods choose for those kids to die?!” Her anger was rising; her will to hold the sonic bomb around her was fading.

“You need to reach your full potential. The only way to do that is through conflict. There is no one else who can help you but me, which is why I am here.”

“SHUT UP!” Kathryn released the sound energy around her. The power swelling invisibly moved forward and landed at Nyxen’s feet. The blast shredded the carpet and exploded the ceiling through the floor above. Windows shattered, furniture collapsed, and the walls of the room buckled outward. Scarlet raised her hands to shield her head from the violence of the vibrations emanating from the center of the room.

Floating in the middle of the sonic vortex was Nyxen with arms outstretched as if she were bathing in the destruction. Smiling. “Kathryn Selena Beringer, you will have to do better than that,” she taunted.  The fallen katana was back in Nyxen’s hand with its companion blade, the wakizashi, in the other.

Scarlet literally flew into a rage as she collided into the floating form. They ruined the remains of the porch glass door and landed among the memorial crosses sharing fists and kicks against each other. Scarlet used a cross to parry sword slashes. Nyxen cut into sonic attacks. They paused, gulping air as sirens could be heard in the background.

“You are … a very … skilled fighter … Kathryn.” Each pause filled with gasps for air. “Athena chose well.” 

Scarlet stood. “Will you shut up with that nonsense?!” She was still breathing heavy and the sirens got closer. 

“Will you shut up with your denials,” Nyxen retorted.  She pointed the short blade to Scarlet. “You need to accept who you are: a servant of the gods, a harbinger of a new era! One of a legion ever since the beginning! You’ve gotten this far on your own; you need a mentor to carry you to the next level of your powers.”

“I already had a mentor! I have been given a gift. I choose to protect the innocent and punish the wicked. Much. Like. NOW!” The Scarlet Scorpion attacked. She rushed forward, knocked the sword aside and raised both hands into a cupped fist. Striking from under the chin, Kathryn’s doubled fists slammed hard into Nyxen’s jaw and she followed through with a high kick into the torso that threw Nyxen into the wrecked house. Debris exploded from the impact and Kathryn leaped into the cloud feet first.

Crashing a knee where she expected Nyxen’s head to be, the floor surrendered and splintered further. Kathryn was caught by surprise as an armored boot found the back of her head and threw her to the floor.

“You fight with a passion that crosses over into anger.  I wonder if you are indeed the zenith.”

Kathryn could taste the iron-rich blood forming around her teeth. “You don’t know me. I chose this path. You just follow.”

A boot pressed into Kathryn’s back and kept her flat against the floor. “My sister, with your abilities no one could stop you. Think about the power you can acquire with just a whisper! You are a goddess among men; transformed into an incarna of the gods. Their will, your voice … your fist.” The words seethed through clenched teeth.

The Scarlet Scorpion surrendered struggling against the leverage on her back. She heard the screech of tires and car doors opening outside the building. “Kill me now – sister – or you will have to deal with me and the police. I’m already a match for you by myself.”

“I’m not here to kill you, just show you what your abilities can do for you. Humanity is slaves to the gods and you must show them their place upon Creation. Find out for yourself the truth of my words, if you dare.”

Kathryn could feel the pressure on her back lighten and she spun around. Nyxen was already vanishing like in the warehouse. With a “pop” and a small vacuum, Nyxen was gone.

Origins

1 week later

The field was holding but the Scarlet Scorpion was getting tired. Daikar had not prepared her for this. She was used to street punks and petty thugs. She could handle twenty of them with a little difficulty. But this one person was more than twenty of the Warriors of Las Vegas. And she was laughing from the darkness, taunting Kathryn.

“Stand still and we’ll see whose laughing bitch,” Kathryn yelled from behind the crates. She checked the blood flow from her arm: not serious. The wound was healing before her eyes as she focused on it.

“Catch me if you can!” The retort was childish but factual.

Kathryn mumbled to herself, “Go hwong tong”. She stood in the darkness, peered into the Warehouse and held her breath. The crates were unevenly stacked and created a maze of treachery. Several were destroyed with their contents spilling out. To the side some of the wood shavings of one eviscerated container floated in the increasing pool of blood. They reminded Kathryn of paper boats that floated down a river. The current fleet was slowly drifting away from the stacked corpses of children Kathryn tried to save ... but failed. They no longer had faces thanks to Nyxen.

A flash of reflection from metal!

Kathryn instinctively released her breath and a bolt of sound pierced the space between. In the darkness came the sound of something snapping and metal clattering.

“That was my favorite dagger,” Nyxen howled and Kathryn smiled. Quickly she darted to another crate and scanned the darkness. “Too bad,” was Kathryn’s reply and it felt good to say. Again she moved to another crate to prevent her response from giving away her position. She controlled her breathing and listened for the footsteps. None came. What was heard was the flutter of clothing. Nyxen was on the move.

Kathryn bolted for the crate ahead of her. When she stopped and focused into the darkness she caught the shadow off the wall and tried to find the source. From above, Nyxen crashed into the crate Kathryn just evacuated.  Nyxen’s sword slashed and cut into the space Kathryn once filled.

“Gotcha!” Kathryn screamed into the disintegrating pile of wood. As she spoke the sound was transformed into a spiraling screw-shaped bullet. It bored into Nyxen’s armor in waves and threw the assassin to the ground with a scream. Wood shavings were still floating as Kathryn waited for the counter-attack, but none came.

Kathryn slowly stood and stepped over the shallow river of blood that came from the victims as she cautiously walked to the still form of her enemy. Along the way Kathryn picked up a plank of wood with several nails at one end and closed the distance with it, hefting over her head as if she were to chop wood.

It would be easy now. No witnesses. It would be self defense. You have permission to do it. Everyone would be better off. Now. Do it now! Now or never!!

Kathryn breathed heavily. The adrenalin powered her muscles to bring the plank down upon the head. It almost hurt to keep the wood frozen in place. Her muscles tightened to release. Kathryn forced her hands to release the board and it landed behind her with a thud. She jumped on Nyxen and turned her over.

Grabbing her by the collar of her body suit Kathryn futilely screamed into the masked face, “Why?! Why did you kill all those kids?!” She threw the limp form to the ground and punched the burgundy mask with all the force her arms contained from holding the wood plank. The fleshy smack was not satisfying enough. Kathryn hit Nyxen’s face with her other fist. Not enough. She punched again. Still not enough! The next punch produced blood from Nyxen’s mouth.

She stopped, but a need to punish was throbbing within her. This was almost unfair. Kathryn wanted to kill Nyxen, but some innate barrier prevented Kathryn from going over the edge. She picked up the body and hurled it over her shoulder into another crate. The force of the throw was enough to explode the crate upon impact. 

“WHY!”

The sound of her scream cracked the concrete beneath her and pushed crates and debris in a perfect radius away from her. The glass of the warehouse building shattered outward and the dust from the ceiling beams slowly floated down. Kathryn lost control and decided that justice demanded Nyxen to die.  She ran to the still lying villain and unburied the body. Hoisting Nyxen above her with one hand she used her other to tear the mask off to see the face of the butcher before Kathryn killed her. 

As the dust began to settle Kathryn only stared into the bruised face in shock and disbelief. The mask dropped from her fingers and the adrenalin evacuated her body. Dropping Nyxen, Kathryn collapsed to the floor onto her knees.

“How … what … “ Kathryn could only stare at the Nyxen’s face, the same as her own. She trembled as she crawled closer to Nyxen, shaking fingers touched the cheek as if testing to see if it was real. Kathryn slowly aligned herself so she could look directly at her own self.  Nyxen did not wear an eye patch, but everything else was the same.

Nyxen groaned and her unswollen eye slowly opened. She smiled with bloodied teeth and said, “Because it is what the gods demanded.”

More shock filled Kathryn’s face and she immediately jumped back and crawled away from Nyxen. Slowly and painfully Nyxen lifted herself to be supported by an elbow and looked amused at Kathryn. “What? Don’t you know about the gods?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Tsk tsk.” Nyxen spit a glob of blood to the floor. “Athena would be pissed to find one of her champions doesn’t even believe in her.”

“Who are you?” Kathryn was slowly regaining herself with each word Nyxen spoke, yet the meaning was still surreal.

“I am you. It’s that simple.”

“That’s not possible …”

“Oh, just shut up.  Anything is possible … I’m a Praetorian.” She slowly started to stand though it took great effort. Kathryn was locked in shock.

Nyxen feebly stood and pointed to Kathryn. “I’ll give this to you sister, you are more powerful than you realize. You need to tap that strength or you will die. I am a servant of the Titans and they are still chomping at the bit about their exile from Creation.” She lowered her arm and took a step to keep from falling. “Life is a game the gods are playing and we are just pawns. But some are sacrificed to draw out the other pieces.” Nyxen nodded to the pile of death behind the Scarlet Scorpion.

Kathryn was brought back to the present by the oblique reference to the dead children and the fire was rekindled. “All of that means NOTHING to me!” From the ground Kathryn launched herself at her mirror image that was caught off-guard by the surprise attack. Kathryn grabbed Nyxen’s collar and lifted her into the air. Kathryn amazed herself by discovering she was flying!

Nyxen recovered from the assault and punched Kathryn in the gut and both women started to fall. There was a bright flash and a small vacuum in the space Nyxen used to occupy. Kathryn was stunned at Nyxen’s sudden disappearance.

Then she crashed into a crate head-first and the world went black.