Evil Game Master Society

The Birth of the Sentinels - Story Arc #2

The Birth of the Sentinels

Boreas arrived at her new apartment on Monday night and saw the phrase “Message Waiting” flashing on Aidan’s computer screen. Removing her blades, she quickly went over to the computer console and hit the enter key. I wonder what this is…the next meeting perhaps?

Her speculation was confirmed as a message came to life on the screen. “Be at 1152 Logan Avenue at 9 pm tonight. You will be met by a new member of the group at the side door. She will direct you to where you need to go next. Aidan.”

“Another She?” she said out loud. She bent over the keyboard and typed a message.

Aidan, are you there?

Yes, I am here. How can I help you?

How will I recognize this new person? After she finished typing, something came to her. Melissa started looking around the computer area for one of Aidan’s spiders. She spent about 15 minutes searching but didn’t find one. She turned back to the computer to see Aidan’s reply.

The warehouse district is usually deserted at the time of the meeting. Don’t worry. She will find you.

**********

There is a message waiting for Nathan on the computer when he goes upstairs on Monday:

“Be at 1152 Logan Avenue at 9 pm tonight. You will be met by a new member of the group at the side door. She will direct you to where you need to go next.

“A word of caution, Nathan. The woman you are meeting has had some extremely bad experiences with magic in her past, and harbours hostility towards its wielders. I have assure her that you are a friend and nothing like those she has experienced. Her mind is a logical one, so she should be able to be rational and control her anger.”

Nathan sighs, as he rescans the contents of the message, before erasing the screen.

Wonderful… I hope you know what you’re doing Aidan.

**********

There is a message waiting on the computer for Vanessa when she arrives home Monday afternoon.

The message comes to life on the screen. “Be at 1152 Logan Avenue at 9 pm tonight. You will be met by a new member of the group at the side door. She will direct you to where you need to go next. Aidan.”

**********

There is a message waiting on the computer for Jamie when she arrives home Monday afternoon.

The message comes to life on the screen. “Be at 1152 Logan Avenue at 9 pm tonight. You will be met by a new member of the group at the side door. She will direct you to where you need to go next. Aidan.”

**********

There is a message waiting on the computer for Gillian when she gets home Monday afternoon.

The message comes to life on the screen. “Be at 1152 Logan Avenue at 9 pm tonight. You will be met by a new member of the group at the side door. She will direct you to where you need to go next. Aidan.”

“Finally!”

She quickly made a few calls around to cancel whatever previous plans she had for the night. Odds were it was way too early to be calling most of these people, but she did it anyway. She oblivous to whatever they might be doing.

Jezebel actually managed to make it to the meeting site a bit earlier though, and was pretty anxious to get things under way.

**********

“Guardian.” Aidan’s disembodied voice echoed slightly in the empty halls. “The others will be arriving in approximately ten minutes.”

Guardian’s eyes lit up as the tentacles curl out from under her body. “Understood.” She moved along the air ducts towards her room. Slipping quietly out, she moves towards the shell and enters it as the breast plate slides into place and seals tightly. Guardian’s loud, powerful voice fills the room as she stands. “Where am I to meet them?”

“At the entrance which opens into the alley on the west side of the warehouse,” Aidan replies.

Guardian nods and heads towards the elevator that will take her to the surface. “Who from the group will be there?”

“Biostorm, Boreas, Jezebel, Totem and Nathan,” Aidan replied through the little spider-construct on her shoulder. “Deliverance decided not to join us.”

“The mage,” Guardian said, almost spitting out the word. “He decided to join then?” She stepped into the elevator and hit the button. “Estimated time of arrival?”

“Approximately five minutes.” Aidan pauses. “Remember, Guardian. Nathan is not your enemy.”

“I remember your words,” Guardian replies as she steps out of the elevator and triggers the switch that opens the series of security precautions and hidden panels. “I will not kill him…. Yet. I will be polite.” Guardian looks at the spider. “I will not shame you, Anook.”

“I have confidence in you.” Aidan’s voice was soft. “I harbour no fear that you will dishonour either of us.”

Guardian stops walking. “The only fear I have is for you, Anook. That the mage has fooled you. But, if you say he is a friend, then friend he is.” She begins to walk again, making her way through the alleys and pathways created but the thousands of crates stored in the building. During the day, this place was crawling with people, moving product in and out. Anook had made an excellent choice with this location. Who would notice a few more large crates of equipment being moved into the warehouse.

Reaching the assigned door, Guardian opened it and slipped outside and into the shadows to wait.

**********

The fledgling heroes all managed to arrive at 1152 Fairlawn at the same time, despite themselves. It was located near the edge of the warehouse district near the waterfront, just east of the CNE grounds and north of the Gardiner Expressway. The streets were quiet and there were very few cars on the road. Streetlights had begun to turn on, glowing like yellow eyes in the sky.

There were no signs on the building, just the street number, and the shadows hung heavily on the structure.

Totem reached the goal from above, on the rooftop across the street, even as others arrived on foot, or by vehicle. Seeing some of the others, and sensing that the rest are present or nearly there, she climbed off the roof, and down the side of the building to the street level, to cross and meet her teammates. As she came amongst them, she smiled. “I guess this is the place. Anyone have any idea who this new member might be?”

**********

After watching the group assemble and talk amongst themselves, Guardian steps quietly out of the shadows, giving the group one last scan to ensure their appearances match those from the files.

**********

Suddenly there is a movement in the shadows and a gigantic, heavily muscled black woman dressed in leather with a bleached blonde mohawk steps out of the darkness. There is a glint of light and you can see one of Aidan’s spiders perched on her shoulder.

Boreas turned from her companions and watched the stranger approach the party. Noticing the spider she relaxed a bit, but checked out their thermal signatures just to be on the safe side. However she had no idea what to expect from Aidan’s new friend. The woman’s signature was a bit cooler than most humans, especially given her size and obvious mass.

“You are prompt,” the woman said in a powerful voice. “That is appropriate.” She turns her head to look at the spider, and the light reveals intricate abstract tattoos running from the middle of her cheek, up and over her head, down her neck and onto her back. The woman turns her attention back to the group, and they can see that the tattoos are on both sides of her face.

Totem’s ears perked up a bit as she noticed that the woman’s voice sounded a bit unusual to her, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. Her senses were already alert due to this woman’s slightly odd voice, Totem attuned the rest of her senses to this figure, as well as her concentration. She attempted to analyze scent, posture, and to identify any of the markings within the tattoos upon the woman, which might give her some clues. Immediately defensive despite Aidan’s spider’s presence, she crouched a bit, ears perked, alert for any action.

Totem had never seen anything like the tattoos the women sported before, and the scents that wafted over to her were an unusual mix of leather, a faint trace of sweat, the lubrication substance used on the spiders, and some other scent that she cannot identify.

The black woman moved to stand in front of Boreas and extended her right hand. “I am Guardian.” Shaking Boreas’ hand in a grip that is so tight it is almost painful, Guardian bowed slightly at the hip. “Welcome Boreas.”

That’s some grip. Boreas returned the bow, rubbing her hand slightly.. “Nice to meet you Guardian… Hello Aidan.” She waved to the spider perched on Guardians shoulder. The spider lifted one small leg in reply.

Straightening up, Guardian moved to Totem and repeated the same gestures. “Welcome Totem.”

Relaxing a bit, Totem accepted the greeting, deciding that this woman, regardless her strangeness, had willingly met her as an equal, as a warrior, and treated this meeting with the respect appropriate. More at ease, she returned the firm handshake with one of her own.

Releasing Totem’s hand, Guardian extended her hand to Biostorm and welcomed her. She moved to stand in front of Nathan and stared at him, her eyes cold and hunter-like, as if deciding if he is prey. Guardian bowed slightly, making no move to shake his hand. “Welcome Mage.”

BioStorm looks at the woman and smiles softly. “Thank you for having us.”

Recognizing the glare directed at Nathan for exactly what it is, Totem stepped slightly closer, for a moment concerned for her new-found friend, and wondering if she will have to come between them. As Guardian regained her composure, Totem relaxed, but did not step back to her previous position.

Gillian watched the new woman’s movements with a frown. She kept her body completely still, but her eyes followed the woman’s movements closely.

Guardian then moved to stand in front of Jezebel, extended her hand and bowed. “Welcome Jezebel.” She straightened, released the handshake, and regarded Jezebel with a curious look.

“I am curious as to why a warrior such as yourself would choose to give yourself a name that would demand disrespect?”

Totem hears the statement, and wonders indeed the same thing.

What’s wrong with the name? Boreas thought quizzically to herself.

Jez glanced at the extended hand for a moment and had a split second hesitation before taking it. The grip she gives is loose and limp, offering no energy what-so-ever. She felt like she shouldn’t like this woman, but she couldn’t put her finger on why. She knew that she just doesn’t like her, but she didn’t have a reason why yet.

“Excuse me,” she replied with a growing annoyance. Her brows knit, but her frown finally faded. “How does my name demand disrespect?” Jezebel’s last words were said in a very poor imitation of Guardian’s voice.

Nathan winced at the interchange between Guardian and Jez. That girl is going to have to learn how to think then speak… and I had better keep out of this one, or else Guardian may think she has a reason to paste me against a wall…

Guardian looked at Jezebel strangely as she attempted to imitate her voice. A look of curiosity moves across her face. Aidan, why is she attempting to imitate my voice?

Humans often use mimicry as an attempt to insult or provoke an opponent, or on an attempt at humour, Aidan replied. I believe, however, that Jezebel was attempting the former.

Looking back at Jezebel Guardian’s face reverted back to her cold emotionless face. “I though to be named after a Biblical whore would demand disrespect. Isn’t a whore someone who will have sex with anyone for pleasure or money? Do you do this?” Guardian tilted her head to one side and looked at Jezebel with her cold blue eyes.

Gillian’s eyes went wide and her face turned a deep red. She thought she was annoyed a few seconds ago, but now she was really ticked off. She immediately looked at Nathan. “Did she just call me a whore?!”

Nathan froze for a split second before he responded to Gillian. Oh Shi.. why are you dragging me into this??? “No Jez… she is making reference to the Biblical character Jezebel, not you.”

She looked quickly back to Guardian now, not waiting for Nathan’s reply. “So what if I do or I don’t?! It isn’t any of your business is it?” she shouted, doing her best to get fired up enough so that the embarrassment will fade. “You’d better back off real quick or I just might break your knee caps when you least expect it!” She didn’t wait very long for a reply. “You know what, how about you giving me one good reason not to flatten you, you amazon. We’ll see who demands disrespect…”

“Jezebel.” Aidan’s voice emanated from the spider on Guardian’s shoulder. “Guardian is not attempting to insult you. I believe she is trying to find out why you would knowingly name yourself after a woman of ill repute - one that would prostitute herself to get what she wanted and to have control over men - when you are a warrior and above that sort of behaviour.”

Guardian turned her head to look at the spider on her shoulder. What is an amazon?

An Amazon is a female warrior of great renown. They appear in Greek mythology, Aidan answered.

Don’tletherknockmeout. Don’tletherknockmeout -Don’tletherknockmeout-Don’tletherknockmeout- Don’tletherknockmeout- Don’tletherknockmeout-Don’tletherknockmeout- Don’tletherknockmeout… Gillian stressed her body, as if expecting to get hit at any moment, and looked very bit the fierce warrior getting ready to make good on her threat.

Boreas slapped her forehead in total dismay. Cripes, not again! “Excuse me…” She straightened up and started to draw in more heat from the surrounding area. The others noticed discernable waves of energy flowing through the air towards Boreas. The net effect lowered the surrounding night-time temperature perceptibly. That should cool off some of these tempers. “…But can we PLEASE avoid making a scene out here in public?” She intoned in a slightly irritated voice with both fists on her hips.

“Hey!” Gillian shouted over to Boreas, venting some more steam in the process. “I do some of my best work in public, okay? Now excuse me a second while the she-beast from Hell and I finish our conversation.”

Boreas looked a little irritated at first, but then made a slight bow with outstretched arms in Jezebel’s direction, “I will leave you to your fate then.” She said with a smirk. “However there is no ‘I’ in Team, and that’s what I thought we were setting out to do here. Whether you like it or not Jez, you’ll have to get use to working with the rest of us. Especially if we are going to be depending on each other.” She then made a pirouette and moved away from Guardian and Jezebel, content at having said her piece.

“I am not from Hell,” Guardian says. “I am from… Africa.”

A look of curiosity passed across Nathan’s face, only to be replaced with an expression of tedium. Really?? That’s odd… I thought that only the Maori, and a few other Polynesians had intricate tattoo’s like the ones Guardian is sporting. He tried to place her accent, but couldn’t.

Guardian watched Jezebel closely for a moment, then her warrior’s eye picked up on some conflicting mannerisms. Jez’s left foot is twitching quite nervously and her eyes are glancing around at her teammates, as if she’s waiting for one of them to step in and shut her up (before she ends up in traction).

Scenting greater than trace amounts of fear, and not much in the way of true aggression, coming from Jezebel, Totem decided that perhaps it is time to interupt this scene, before this gets out of hand, like before. She was about to speak when she realized that she could smell no aggression from Guardian at all.

Guardian took a step forward and gave Jezebel a hearty slap on the back, which almost took Jez off her feet. “Thank you for that compliment.”

“Compliment?” Gillian was just about stunned with the misunderstanding. “What are you, Forrest Gump on steroids?”

“No,” Guardian replies. “I am Guardian.” She shook her head. “I do not understand why you are attempting to provoke me into fighting you. I am not your enemy, nor do I wish to be.”

Anook, Guardian sent the thought flying at Aidan. Are all young human females so combative and brash?

Some are, some are not, Aidan replied mentally. I think in Jezebel’s case she really did not know who or what the name Jezebel implied when she chose it as her hero name.

Guardian looked down at the little warrior and speaks out in a loud voice. “You have the heart of a warrior. I will be happy to fight along side you. But you have a lot to learn little Anaska.” Guardian stepped back a step and bowed deeply to Jezebel. When Guardian stood back up, a big lopsided toothy out of place grin covered her face as she turned to look back at the group.

The smile faded a quickly as it came. In a loud, powerful voice Guardian addressed the group. “Aidan bids you welcome and to follow me.” With that Guardian turned around and walked through the shadows into a door, not waiting to see if the others are following her.

Nathan shook his head in amazement. He paused momentarily before muttering to himself “Looks like Aidan has found another live one.”

Thoroughly confused, and a little bewildered, Totem simply followed quietly, without anything to say, or any real coherent thoughts.

“Geez, could you speak up Guardian, I don’t think the residents across the lake in New York heard you.” Boreas mumbled under her breath as she followed Totem and Nathan.

As they followed Guardian, Boreas approached Totem. “Uh, listen… I’ve noticed that you have been pretty perceptive about things and people. So… What do you make of Aidan’s Amazon friend here?”

Totem’s mind had just begun considering an attempt at putting together the clues about, to come up with a better idea of who or what Guardian is, and how she should feel about her, when Boreas spoke. Her newly found concentration broken, she turned with a slight grimace on her face.

“Honestly, Boreas, I don’t know what to think. She does not quite sound right, and I don’t mean the volume. Her scent isn’t right either, but I can’t place either one. Even when Jez was insulting her and ready to fight, there wasn’t the slightest trace of aggression about her, and that doesn’t make any sense. Even a preparation for a short and meaningless fight brings out some aggression. And, in the space of only her first few moments with us, she has ’started something’ with two of the team; Nathan, for whom she had the look of a predator ready to strike, and then Jez. Yet, I have chosen to believe in Aidan’s ability to guide our endeavor, and I am not yet ready to call it quits with this woman. I am left confused.”

Once Guardian has safely turned her back, Gillian proceeded through a number of dirty looks. She then quickly continued to weird faces which were fast followed by various hand gestures. Her tirade was brought to a stunning conclusion consisting of a Bronx cheer, two single finger salutes, and a couple of stomps on the ground.

Boreas rolled backwards on her skates facing Totem as she was talking, obviously interested in what she had to say about Aidan’s new friend. “Yeah, I trust Aidan too, but I agree that something isn’t quite right about Guardian. Now that you mention it, her voice is a little strange, but I just thought it was an accent and I really don’t want to get too close to sniff, so I will take your word that her scent is strange. I have noticed that her heat emanations are all wrong, or from what little I can see. Now I haven’t seen too many Harbingers so that may account for it, but it is definitely strange.”

She glanced over at the gesturing Jezebel, “And perhaps one of us should have a talk with her,” she motioned in Jez’s direction, “I think the last thing all of us wants to see is a brawl break out between those two. I like Jez’s spunk, but I think I will take the Amazon in three rounds. What do you think?”

I think it would not take three rounds…maybe one and a half. Totem responds aloud, “I think that Guardian will remain passive on this matter; she appears to feel the situation is well in hand, or she would have continued her antagonism. Better, for now, to let Jez air herself out, so that she is feeling more receptive later, when we have a chance to talk about this.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right about that…can’t fault the girl for having a lot of spunk, she just needs to be able to channel all that energy towards some constructive ends.” Boreas turned her attention away from Jezebel for the moment, “Umm…If you don’t mind me asking Totem, what’s your purpose for joining this circus?”

“I find it interesting that you would characterize this group as a circus, considering that you too decided to join up, Boreas,” Totem said. “As I said in our last meeting, I have been looking for a way to make a difference in the world, to use my gifts for the benefit of the People and others in need. A group of Harbingers has much more potential to make such a difference than does a lone woman, regardless her potential and abilities. And it appears that the Spirits agree with me; it was their guidance which drew me to Aidan’s first message.” She paused, thinking for a moment. “And why did you join up, Boreas? What do you hope to gain amongst the Sentinels?”

“Me? I don’t hope to gain anything really…I mean my life would be tolerable if I decided to forget all about trying to be a superhero.” Boreas skated to a stop and put her hand on her chin in a more thoughtful pose. ” I guess I have the same motivations as the rest of you, defend those who can’t stand up for themselves, right wrongs…that sort of thing. Don’t get me wrong, I take what I do in costume seriously, but along with trying to make a difference I have to have fun and enjoy myself, else sometimes situations can become overwhelmingly depressing. Besides who wants to be rescued by some dourly hero? I’ll take a smiling and cheerful savior any day.” She finished off with a wide smile and a pirouette.

She then stopped and looked over at the rest of everyone following Guardian. “I guess if I hoped to gain anything…it would be friendship.”

“Honestly, Boreas, I could not agree more, on all counts, except one. I do hope to gain something, besides the friendship and comraderie I pray will find its way into this group. I also hope to make the People proud of me, to make my gifts and my use of them something they can be proud of, something that can begin to bring them back together, back to the traditions of our ways.” And I hope to make my Grandfather proud of me.

“I may not crack jokes as often, but that does not mean I do not have a sense of humor. I simply am not yet comfortable enough with this activity or this group of people to starting making fun of it all.”

Feeling adequately pacified, for now, Jez stomped along behind the rest of the party and move to the door. In a soft amused voice directed at Jezebel, she hears Guardian’s voice say, “I saw that.”

She might have seen that, but Gillian pretended not to have heard her. She followed the others inside, totally disinterested in her surroundings, trying to think up of new and interesting ways to get back at Guardian.

Guardian entered a long and complex code into a keypad on the side of the door. There was a slight hiss and the door opened and she lead them into the building. The warehouse was huge inside, with pallets stacked up to the ceiling. There must be a million of them, forming narrow passageways like cramped little alleys.

Hmmmm… we have the Rat Cave, Nathan thought. Wonder how often the passages are changed…

Her highly alert senses already trained on Guardian as she studied this stranger, Totem watched her fingers dance upon the keypad, marking as best she can the code being entered. The code was very long and complex, and she was only able to pick out a few of the digits.

Guardian lead them confidently through the maze and out into a large open area where forklifts, huge trolleys and other equipment stood. Guardian headed towards the office, opening the door and ushering them inside. She turned and looked expectantly at the left-hand wall which is covered with shelves and filing cabinets. After a few seconds, a large section of the wall began to recede to reveal a 10′ by 12′ platform with a set of heavy, reinforced double doors at the end. Guardian stepped through and onto the platform and looked at the others, waiting for them to follow suit.

Nathan waited for a couple of his teammates to move onto the platform, before he took a position against the wall across from Guardian.

Totem’s reaction of surprise was odd, as the shimmering appearance of a cougar’s head surrounded her own, its ears flat against its skull. The image disappears, but the indelible impression of a startled and unhappy hunting cat is marked in her stance and movements. She warily observed the platform, and is in fact the last to step on to it, still uncomfortable.

Guardian reached out and quickly entered another code in the keypad next to the doors. The doors slid open to reveal an elevator.

Slick, Nathan thought.

The whisper of her blades echoed through warehouse as Boreas followed Guardian with the others. Wonder what they got in here, she thought. Pretty elaborate set-up Aidan has got. Entering the office she waited silently as Guardian punched in the numbers on the keypad. I wonder where the elevator goes to? Probably some secret underground complex…Yeah right! Boreas giggled to herself as she entered the elevator.

With each passing action, it almost seemed to Totem’s wired senses, Guardian was trying to startle her more and more. And, it seemed, she continued to succeed. She visibly backed away from the opening doors, until her more rational mind can figure out what has happened. Still disturbed, she (almost sulking) followed the group into the elevator, still trying to analyze the scents and sounds about Guardian, in some attempt to understand this stranger, and thusly perhaps relax around her.

Looking at the group as the entered the elevator, Guardian watched them closely, judging their reactions and paying particular attention to Totem and the mage. The one called Totem seem to be uncomfortable with the surroundings.

Now that she was closer to Guardian, Totem was able to get clearer bead on the woman’s scent. She could smell dust, the leather of Guardian’s outfit, and something else. Those two scents she couldn’t identify were stronger, but she still couldn’t figure out what they were.

When everyone was in the elevator, the doors slid closed and it began to descend. The movement was swift and silent, reminding Biostorm of an express elevator she had once ridden in. After what seems like a couple of minutes, the elevator slowed and came to a stop. The doors slid open with a soft swish to reveal a large off-white corridor that was immaculately clean and softly lit.

Nathan found it hard to resist fidgeting, during the long descent. He studyied the walls and floor of the elevator, and looked at his watch, but avoided looking at Guardian. It was difficult to tell how long the ride was, or how deep they had gone, as the elevator was travelling faster than a normal one. Certainly seems a long way underground… I wonder if there are any shortcuts to and from here…

“This way,” Guardian said as she stepped out of the elevator and headed down the hallway. Two spider-bots scurried down the hallway to a side corridor. She lead the group towards a huge pair of massive security doors. The doors opened as the group approached and Guardian led them through it.

The room was filled with a huge computer, with dozens of consoles and video screens showing a multitude of locations being monitored by video cameras.

“Welcome to your new base of operations, Sentinels.” Aidan’s voice came from speakers around the room. “It should suit our purposes very well.”

BioStorm looks around in awe. “Nice to meet you Aidan. You picked a very nice spot. But then again, I’m sure you knew that.” She slowly strolls up and down the room looking at all the computer but is very careful not to touch anything.

Guardian walked over to stand next to one of the consoles. She glanced at the contents on the screen, then nodded in satisfaction.

Totem looked about the room, and the large computer. Then she said, almost but not quite off-handedly, “Aidan, I have a question. You had said that you have no central core, which could thusly be tapped into by an outside source. So is the large computer here for our benefit, as some tie-in to the security measures about, or is it simply one of a few larger units you keep here and there for your own purposes?” Even as she asked her question, Totem moveed about the room, getting a feel for the room and the scents and sounds of this very new, very foreign place. She appeared to be getting very uneasy, and the scent of the spider-bot lubricant pervaded the room.

“While I was designed as a decentralized system, this mainframe currently holds the vital systems and routines which comprise my consciousness,” Aidan replied. “The majority of my knowledge is stored here, and most of my processing power resides here as well. This system’s security has been improved upon by myself, as has the security of this complex.”

“In essence,” Aidan continued. “This computer is my core, and the smaller versions which reside in the computers in your homes are low level clones of myself.”

Boreas skated slowly around the confines of the control center, “Cool video room Aidan, but I gotta ask, do you get free pay-per-view?”

“No, we don’t,” Aidan replied. “This is not the entertainment centre. That room is on the second floor. There are no chairs in this room as it is not normally occupied.”

“Well I got a newsflash for you Aidan…Get ready for occupation.” Boreas spun around slowly in a 360 arc pointing towards various corners of the room and mumbling, “A nice coach over there…Mini bar next to the outlet there…Oh and a CD rack there…And definitely in need of some Hockey paraphernalia strewn about to give it a more comfy feel.”

She turned back towards the monitor with Aidan’s visage, “Well if you don’t mind I have a friend who works at mall who can get us a really great deal on furnishings. None of that Swedish crap either.” She moved over closer to Aidan’s monitor and motioned off just to the left of it. “And a mood lamp would go great over here. By the way Aidan, who’s your favorite Ice Hockey team?”

“I’m afraid I do not follow sports, Boreas,” Aidan replied.

Boreas came to a dead stop and looked at Aidan’s monitor in shock. “Do not follow sports? What do you do for fun Aidan? On second thought strike that, I probably don’t want to know…” She skated over towards the monitor and spoke in a slightly admonishing tone. “Listen if you are going to try and understand the human condition then you are going to have to delve into the competitive spirit which is the essence of sports.”

“I am aware of the human need to compete, as it arose out of what is referred to as the survival instinct. Sports is an attempt to fulfill this need,” Aidan replied. “I am fully versed in a variety theories into competition and the drives which force humans to fight amongst themselves rather than live in a harmonious community.”

“Well its competitive human nature that lead to your creation Aidan. And it is that same competitive spirit which makes us strive to reach our potential, otherwise we’d be no better than robots.” She then did a double-take, “No offense.”

“None taken, Boreas,” Aidan replied.

“Well, then what are we doing down here?” Jez says with a gleam in her eye, siddling up next to Boreas now. Finally someone who has some sense of the important things in life. “Calling out for a pizza must be a pain though… Where’s the telephone?”

“There are no telephones, per se, in this complex,” Aidan replied. “And it would not be advisable to order food for delivery to this location. This base is supposed to be hidden.”

“Um, Aidan…I think Jez was making a joke, being sarcastic, you know…”

“Really,” Aidan replied, and Boreas could almost hear a tinge of laughter in the synthesized voice.

Boreas whispered to Jezebel. “Hey I enjoy a fun time like everyone else…well maybe more than most, but I think around Aidan and Guardian we should exercise a little more tact and diplomacy until we gain their confidence.” She winked in Guardian’s direction, suspecting that Aidan’s friend could hear everything said in the room. “So is it Gillian or Jezebel?”

“Either or.” Gillian said with a shrug. “Hey, if we needed to win their confidence, then they wouldn’t have been breaking and entering into my apartment… Besides, I think I’ve been very tactful. It’s not my fault if some people are overly sensitive.”

“Breaking and entering? You’re not serious are you?” Boreas had a look
of concern on her face.

“Well, he didn’t break anything, but he certainly did enter,” Jez said with a shrug. “Or what would you call coming into my apartment, while I was asleep, and leaving a computer behind? Most people probably would have lifted the computer, I guess, but Aidan doesn’t look like Santa Claus.”

Guardian looked at Boreas impassively and then went back to watching the actions of the others in the room, especially Nathan.

I wonder if Jez is really this dense and clueless, or if she just acts this way to form wrong impressions on purpose? Totem listens irritably to the inane chatter from Boreas and Jezebel, well aware that her lack of patience with what is probably supposed to be witty repartee has everything to due with her other surroundings, and her inability to identify the scents she is receiving from Guardian.

Nathan numbly looks about the room. The monitors finally grab his attention, and he watches them for a few minutes. The scenes do not seem to change on the monitors, and he recognized four of the locations on the screens - the side door through which they had entered the building, the main open are in the warehouse, the office upstairs, and the entrance to the elevator on this floor.

“How about a tour of the rest of the place,” Biostorm asked.

“Certainly. Unless anyone has any other questions, Guardian can show you the various facilities which will be at your disposal.”

Guardian watched the mage very carefuly from her position by the monitors. She shifted uneasily as the group faned out looking at everything. Guardian closed her eyes for a moment and then opened them again, continuing her serveilance on the group. Totem could smell a change in her attitude - she smelled of uncertainty, and perhaps even a bit threatened.

Well, now I am really confused. I didn’t think anything could make Guardian uneasy without making her angry and uppity. Totem’s irritability increased yet another notch.

Anook, do you wish for me to show them to their own quarters as well? Guardian stepped away from the consols and looked at the group.

Yes, Guardian. That would be appropriate.

“Areas we have access to. Aidian, out of SHEER curiosity, are there areas that we don’t have access to? And if so, why?” Biostorm hoped that it didn’t come off to strong and that it won’t start an argument.

“There are certain areas which are off limits to you, mainly due to safety risks. The power plant, for example,” Aidan explained. “There will also be certain areas you are asked to stay out of, such as the private quarters of other team members, and the storage and maintenace facility of the various bots and other constructs which I use to maintain the base.”

“Okay, I was just a little curious. Thanks for the explanation. By the way, do you have medical facilities down here? What am I saying, of course you do. Well, I just keep quiet till I’ve had the full tour.” When BioStorm said the phrase ‘medical facilities’ she couldn’t help but think that with some of the ’spunk’ that some of her new teammates were showing that they would be used often.

Somewhat tersely, Totem responded. “I can see that. Thanks.” After a moment, she realized her tone of voice, and speaks again, this time a bit more relaxed, though not much. “Sorry about that, Aidan. It’s not you; I’m not handling being so cut off from nature very well. Could you, perhaps, turn up the fresh air induction?”

“It would be no difficulty, Totem,” Aidan responded, and Totem could sense a slight shift in the air. “I can also introduce a variety of scents into the air to better simulate an outdoor environment, if you would like.”

“I would like to try that in my own room, if you didn’t mind the effort,” Totem said. “I don’t think it would be appropriate to subject the others to that. And I do hope the scents aren’t artificial; I would be able to tell, and it would only make it worse. Sorry.”

“I would be using a variety of essential oils in the ventilation system,” Aidan replied.. Each room has a self-contained heating and air conditioning system, to allow for variance in personal preferences.”

“Oh! I get it then!” Jez exclaimed with a beaming smile to Guardian. “You’re the butler, right? Well then, lead away, Jeeves!”

Nathan’s eyes whipped over to watch Guardian carefully. He was already concerned about what it might take to set Guardian off, and she seemed uneasy enough as it is. His fear now was what Guardian might do, and if she’d take the opportunity to blame him for it.

“Oh yeah, that’s tactful Jez,” said Boreas in exasperation.

Guardian was across the room before anyone could act and grabbed Jezebel by the front of jacket with one hand bringing her up to eye level with no effort what so ever. “I do not take kindly to being talked down to. I suggest you remember this for future interaction between us,” Guardian instructed Jez in a mildly annoyed voice.

“Hey!” Jez shouts, quite a bit surprised as she hangs in the air. “Put me down, you big amazon!”

Finally, she thought to herself, smiling inwardly. Found a soft spot in that muscle bound armor. I knew I’d find it eventually, only had to keep poking.

Guardian looked at the rest of the group spoke in a pleasant tour guide voice and big toothy lopsided grin. “Now if you would all care to follow me I will show you the rest of the facilities and your private quarters.”

Guardian bowed slightly to the group, and turned around and headed to a door leading out of the room, Jezebel still in hand.

“You could put me down.” Jez said, hanging limply from Guardian’s hand. “I still remember how to walk you know.”

“Um…G-G-Guardian,” Boreas stammered after the retreating Amazon, but Guardian had already moved out of the room with Jezebel in tow. She started to skate after the two before the inevitable, but then considered switching tactics instead. “Ah, Aidan….I think it would be best if we separated those two for a while. You know…before they start breaking things.”

“It is unlikely that Guardian would resort to inflicting physical injury to Jezebel,” Aidan answered. “In most things she is very controlled. I believe she is trying to teach Jezebel a lesson in manners or some such concept.”

“Unlikely?…most things?…you really know how to bolster someone’s confidence don’t you Aidan. Well if you don’t mind I will be heading after the rest to make sure that this LESSON doesn’t get out of hand.” With that said, Boreas quickly skated off after the rest.

As they proceeded out of the computer room, Nathan retreated from Guardian’s presence, hanging back as a straggler of the group. We can only hope Aidan… we can only hope… But will she be this gentle with me if I slight her???

Totem tried desperately to relax while Guardian lead them out of the computer room and out into the rest of the complex.

I hope this goes well. Totem stepped close to Guardian, making sure to make no over-sudden moves while entering her field of vision. Steeling herself, she spoke in a moderate tone of voice, but is sure to project and annunciate clearly. All that practice for my speech in Professor Johnstone’s class is really paying off. “I really think you might want to let go of her, Guardian. You have made your point, and furthering the antagonism can only serve to break down what little rapport we have succeeding in achieving as a team. One individual has already been encouraged to depart our company because she could not work as a part of the team. Please don’t make a repeat of that incident necessary.”

Guardian turned to look at Totem “Whether or not if this incident is repeated is up to Jezebel. I have no desire to depart or to be responsible for anyone else to depart this group. I wish for this group to succeed. If Jezebel wishes to act as a child I shall treat her as a child until such time that she acts responsibly.” Guardian’s voice betrays a hint of frustration and sorrow. “I am new to your culture and I am finding it rather difficult to ‘adjust’.” Guardian turned around and gave the rest of the group (except the mage) a big toothy lopsided grin. “Now shall we continue on your tour.”

“I was not speaking of this incident; I was speaking of the incident of having to ask someone to leave this group. And it seems to me, at the rate you are going, that it will come down to a choice for us; Jezebel, whom we already know and accepted into our company; or yourself, whom we do not know, and who has chosen to use physical intimidation to communicate with her supposed teammates.” To tell the truth, if it came to a choice, I don’t know that I wouldn’t choose Guardian. She might not be as easy to understand, but at least she doesn’t start these little contests of wit.

Guardian looked down at Totem an impassive look on her face. Turning away from Totem, Guardian continued with the tour Jez still in hand.

A wave of emotion brushed Nathan lightly in the constant buzz mental buzz he always heard. It’s signature was unlike anything he had experienced before, but he was sure that wherever it came from, the source was hurt and upset.

What the??? Nathan quickly looked about the group, trying to figure out who was responsible for the emotional outburst. Given all the bickering that has been going on, that outburst was strong. But the question is why??

Nathan’s gaze travels from teammate to teammate, lingering on each on for a couple of seconds before moving on to the next person.

The floor on which they were consisted mainly of living quarters, with a large and well appointed recreation room with a top of the line wide screen projection television and state of the art stereo system. The kitchen looked like something out of the pages of the top five hotels in the world, and the adjoining dining room contained a table with enough room to seat twelve without adding leafs to enlarge the surface area.

Nathan paused in the entry way, gave the entertainment centre a brief look-over, before turning his attention to the kitchen. Hmm….Knowing Boreas and Jez, we will be inundated with TV sports, with that setup, however haven’t had the chance to work in a proper kitchen like that since…. Where does an AI like Aidan get the money for equipment like this…. or does he pay for stuff like this???

“Cool.” Jez said, her eyes scanning the room. She seemed resigned to the fact that she’s going to be hanging for the duration.

“This isn’t funny anymore, you know.” Jez said, with a last ditch effort. “Ha-ha. Good joke. Now put me down, okay? Don’t make me have to get rough with you.”

There was also a more than adequate work our facility and gym containing the latest in equipment. Two sets of change rooms were available, including whirlpools and saunas.

Towards the end of the tour of this first floor, Guardian led the group to their private quarters and showed them five of the six rooms. Each room was furnished simply, with a double bed, excellent entertainment system, a computer, desk, chair, and a small table, with an ensuite bathroom. When Guardian reached the last room and had finished showing it and the others had filed out, Guardian dropped Jez unceremoniously on the bed, walked out and shut the door behind her, leaving Jez staring at Guardian’s back, fuming.

Nathan waits for Guardian to leave the entrance to the room deemed his, before he inspects it. Hmmm.. judging by the decor, it would appear that Aidan was the one who furnished this place, and not Guardian… which I think is all I could ask for.

“ooph” Jez exclaimed as she lands on the bed with a thud. “Thanks-” The door shut before Gillian can get any more of her own toes in her mouth.

“Now, if you will follow me, I will take you down to the next level.” Guardian walked towards an elevator and pushed the button.

After a few moments, Jezebel jumped up off the bed and headed for the door at a run - only to come to a sudden stop when she bounced off the closed panel.

“Ow,” Jez exclaimed, rubbing her nose. “This is supposed to be a high tech base. Why didn’t the door open, like in Star Trek?”

Totem walked over to the door and pressed the button on the keypad and the door slid open. “Well, Jezebel,” she said. “I assume you would like to accompany us on the rest of the tour. Perhaps, while we walk, you could ask yourself why it is that you feel the need to be flippant and annoying to everyone you meet? Or is it asking too much that you grow up, before we are all forced to either leave you, or face down all the people
you piss off?”

Jez looked up at Totem with an insulted frown. “Hey, these people take themselves way too seriously,” she said as she slowly stood up and dusted herself off.

“‘These people’? And you don’t include me in that reference? I am rather surprised.” Totem looked at Jez.

“Hey, if you think you belong in that reference, feel free.” Jez said with a helpless shrug. “You only live once you know. All the more reason to have fun while you’re at it.”

“Besides, how would you feel if Aidan introduced another member to this group…?” Jez asked, pretty seriously now. “No one important, of course, just another American Indian, animal spirit guided, she-warrior?… You might be a little insulted there yourself, wouldn’t you?”

“How would I feel?” Totem looked at Jez. “Honored, and no longer alone. I would be proud that I would be accompanied on my missions by another warrior of the People who chooses the same battles as I, someone who can personally understand what it is like to be bonded to the animals and their spirits as I am. That is how I would feel.”

Jez covered her face with her hands, pressing on her closed eyelids as if she’s was trying to push a headache out the back of her head. “It figures,” she muttered to herself.

Jez crossed her arms and looked directly at Totem, “So are you done busting on my case?”

Oh Bother. Boreas looked back over her shoulder at Jezebel and Totem, “Something is gonna get busted if she doesn’t back off.” She said in a low voice. I wonder, is Jezebel’s abrasiveness a ruse to throw people off, or is she really like this all the time? And is she really envious of Guardian? Better to wait and see I guess, I think Totem can handle her for now.

“Honestly, I had never intended to be ‘busting on your case’,” Totem replied. “I had intended to simply point out that your behaviour has been something of a problem, and that you might want to consider some changes.”

“What about a wisewoman only learned from her mistakes and walk a mile in my moccasins?” Jez said, exasperatingly as she threw her hands in the air above her head. “I mean, I’m disappointed, I expected some philosophical warrior woman cliches or something.”

“Hey, no offense, okay?” Jez said now, shrugging her shoulders a bit. “I’m bored, that’s all. I thought when I agreed to this thing I’d be jumping out of windows, foiling terrorist attacks, flying helicopters, rescuing the gentleman in distress and all that sort of thing… So far I haven’t even heard an off color joke.”

“Why do you have a need for an off-color joke? Why can’t you simply accept that it takes time to get ready, that we need to see the facilities that Aidan has secured for us in order to be better ready to begin working together? If you have this much pent-up need for action or confrontation, might I suggest regular sparring practice, and perhaps a side job as a stand-up comedienne? And _please_, stop poking jabs at Guardian. She is just as uncomfortable and sensitive as the rest of us. Sure, her actions have been a bit over the top, but so were your comments. Allow for there to be some peace, so that we can work better together.”

“Besides, something just ain’t right about Lardian-butt out there.” Jez said as she jerked her thumb back in the direction of Guardian.

“Honestly, Jez, I did take offense at that comment”, Totem replied. “And though I share your desire to start acting, in order to make a difference in this world, my desire for such opportunities is tempered by the understanding that such confrontations can go wrong, and cause more harm than good. If a little boredom is sufficient to impair your judgement, how do you expect us to trust in you when it really counts?

With that, Totem led the way for the pair as the head for the lift. She was quiet and subdued, simply remaining alert and attentive as the tour continues.

“Ah…” Boreas was about to reply to Jez’s taunts, but then thought better of it. With the hole she’s digging for herself, Jez’s going to need a lot more than my help to climb out of it. She then grimaced. Lardian-butt? That’s a good one, probably best to store it away for future reference, never know when it might come in handy.

The smile quickly vanished and she peered nervously around. Whoops! Better not let Lardia…er, I mean Guardian see me smiling at that last comment. Probably prudent to be on the friendly side of two tons o’ steel muscle.

The elevator doors slid open and Guardian stepped into the lift. She turned and looked at the others, waiting for them to follow.

Anook what is it that I am doing wrong? Everything I am doing seems to make things worse.. Why are humans so difficult to get along with? Guardian sighs as she waits for the others to enter the elevator.

You will find that not all humans are as difficult as Jezebel. You are also attempting to interact with a culture you have very little experience with. Problems should be anticipated. Aidan’s mental voice was soothing. As you and the others become accustomed to each other, and you gain more experience in relating to humans, things will get easier. I must tell you, however, that it will never get easier. Scientists devote their lives to the study of human behaviour, and none have been able to come up with a solid set of guidelines.

It is not just the interaction between Jezebel that I am having difficulty with. I seem to be having trouble interacting with all of those in the group. Anook are you sure this is wise? Guardian’s mental voice is tinged with pain in obviously failing.

Guardian. Aidan’s mental voice was calm and reassuring. They are just as confused about your reactions as you are about theirs. You must continue to deal with these people. Aidan pauses. Do you not think yourself worthy of the challenge of dealing with such a backwards and barbaric race?

I am worthy of any challenge. I will not fail. Guardian paused for a second. We do not fail.

Biostorm merely followed and watched the show. Silently she admired Guardian’s level of restraint. She laughed slightly as she pictured Guardian putting a propeller on Jez’s head, winding her up and sending her on a flight around the complex.

Boreas quickly jumped into to the elevator making sure that she was standing between Guardian and Jezebel. If anyone wants to start trouble they are going to have to get through me! She glanced up at Guardian’s huge frame. On second thought, what the HECK am I thinking?

Biostorm looked at Boreas as she positions herself between Guardian & Jez. “Brave, very brave” she says with a slight sardonic twist to her voice.

Boreas gave a nervous laugh, more like a small whimper in response.

“So Guardian, I’ve been trying to place your markings and, well, to tell the truth my knowledge of ancient tribes is limited to put it kindly, but where are you from?” Biostorm asks in a polite manner, but keeps back the more burning question, How did you come to be here with Aidan?

Guardian looked down at Boreas. In a impassive voice, and after a moment of hesitation, she spoke. “I am from……Africa.” Guardian looked back to the others from the group waiting for them to enter the elevator.

“Oh really,” asked an interested Boreas. “What part of Africa? Personally I’ve been to Cairo and Cape Town myself.”

Why must humans always ask so many personal questions. Can they not simply accept what I have told them?_ Guardian gave a mental sigh. It is a good thing Anook helped me prepare for this situation. She looked down at Boreas. “From a small village in the Congo. I was cast out when it became apparent that I was a Harbinger.”

“Oh I’m sorry.” There was honest concern on Boreas’s face. “What about your family?”

“I have no family,” Guardian replied. Anook once said that humans consider family to be important source of support and love, though why one requires such a useless emotion I cannot understand. My “family” were the other Anooks and spaceborn. Perhaps then Aidan is family? “Except for Aidan.”

Boreas thought this was a little strange. “Well Aidan seems cool and all, but what about your mother and father? Did something happen to them?” She stared at Guardian’s emotionless face. Then in a much more subdued tone she said, “Er, excuse me if I am touching on a sensitive topic here. I understand if you don’t want to talk about it any further…” Boreas shrugged and looked down at her feet. “So, um, do you get out much?” She said as she looked back up at Guardian smiling.

“Only as required,” came Guardian’s blunt reply.

“Yeah well I guess if I had visitors over I wouldn’t want them to see my pigsty,” Boreas said. “I take it you live here Guardian?”

Guardian gave Boreas a curt nod.

“We are from France!” Jez shouts in an Saturday Night Live-esque monotone as she entered the elevator. “We must consume mass quantities…”

Jez’s voice trailed off at that, and she just shrugged as she looked at the other people getting on the elevator. “Hey, I can’t remember the rest of the skit, okay?”

Totem followed Boreas into the elevator silently, still wondering if she succeeded at getting through to either Jez or Guardian. Though after what Jez just said, she was convinced that she would never succeed in getting through to Jezebel… ever.

Nathan is the last to enter the elevator, his movements are subdued - almost lethargic. From Africa?? Well at least her story is consistent… but why hesitate… and what tribe in Africa have markings like that??? I wonder what kind of reference library Aidan has setup??

“So um Guardian, does this Batcave have an ice rink? Just curious,” Boreas said with a wink.

Guardian looks at Boreas with a strange expression on her face for a moment. “There is currently no ice rink in this complex. Steps are being taken to determine the feasibility and best construction method for one to be added to the lower levels.”

Boreas’s jaw dropped in surprise. It took a few seconds before she could manage to speak. “Like, I was just kidding Guardian.” She then paused for a moment reflecting on what she knew about Guardian to date and asked, “You’re serious about that aren’t you?”

Guardian looked down at Boreas and then turned back to the rest of the group. In a quite voice directed solely at Boreas, Guardian looked back at her. “Yes. Why would I not be?”

“Well some people like to joke around a bit. You know, string people along. I guess that’s not your cup of tea,” she said with a wave of the hand. “Besides, an underground ice rink? You gotta admit that is pretty extravagant.” Little did Boreas realize what awaited her below.

Guardian pressed a button in the elevator panel and the doors slid shut. The elevator began to descend, and after about ten seconds the doors opened to reveal a corridor almost exactly the same as the one above.

“This level of the complex contains many labs and workshop type areas, including a weapons systems lab and armory. The labs are maintained by specially programmed bots who can provide low level assistance to anyone using the facilities.” Guardian existed the elevator and began to walk down the hallway. “One of the substations for the power plant is on this floor. Access to it is marked with red.” She gestured to the side corridor marked with a wide red stripe on the floor at the entrance. “A support systems bot repair and maintenance station is also down that corridor. As Aidan explained, it is best for your own safety you avoid these locations.

“Anyone wishing to create or repair their own artificial constructs may do so in the robotics lab on this floor.” Guardian led the group through a series of corridors, showing them labs which rivaled many of the ones Biostorm had seen. “Improvements in many of the labs were made when we took possession of this location. The equipment and supplies should prove adequate for your needs at this time.”

Create or repair our own artificial constructs??? Nathan looks at Guardian dumbfounded, momentarily forgetting who he’s staring at. As he realizes who he is staring at, he quickly looks away, his brow furrowed thoughtfully, and his mind racing. Africa??? I know that people there are almost “civilized” as we reckon things, but assuming that her markings are tribal in nature, she accepts technology far too easily… there is definitely something that she is not being candid about with us…

Guardian looks at Nathan with a long cold hard stare before turning to look at the rest of the group.

Nathan and Totem suddenly saw an evil look cross Jez’s face when she heard what Guardian had said, and she obviously seemed to be beginning to hatch some kind of scheme.

I don’t think I’m going to like what Jez is cooking up… and I don’t think I’m alone… wonder if anyone else picked up that look?? Nathan glances at his teammates, seeing if anyone else had been looking at Jez. I wonder how good Aidan’s sensor system is… and whether I might be able to … augment it.

“Wow…and to think I was worried about my mid term science project,” Boreas said with aplomb as she peered in on all the various labs. “So Guardian where are the Terminator parts stored?”

From somewhere in the back of the elevator, Jez is energetically giving Boreas the thumbs-up signal - with an extremely wide smile.

Seeing Jez’s look, Totem readies herself to interpose, verbally or physically, between Guardian and Jezebel. She considers for a moment, wondering if she can head this off before it starts again. Deciding to try, she approaches Jezebel from the side, and quietly whispers in her ear. “Let it go, Jez. Just let it go.”

Jez looked at Totem with a fairly confused expression. It appears to be quite genuine too. “What did I do now?” She glanced around the other others to see if they were looking at her too.

Guardian looked at Boreas a puzzled tone in her voice but her face betrayed no emotion “What is a Terminator?”

“What! You don’t know?” A sudden thought came to Boreas and she decided to try and have some fun with this. “Guardian, could you please say the words ‘I’ll be back?’”

Looking down at Boreas Guardian replied in her usual non emotional voice “I’ll be back.” After having complied to Boreas wishes Guardian turned to survey the goings on of the group.

As they passed from lab to lab, Nathan started to look somewhat exasperated. Remembering Totem’s conversation with Aidan, Nathan clears his throat self consciously, and addresses no one in particular.

“Isn’t there anyplace here, that isn’t a combination of concrete, steel and robotics??? I may not feel the call of Nature as Totem does, but I think that a section devoted to a greener setting could be appreciated by all.”

“There is a hydroponics lab and arboretum also on this level.” Aidan’s voice echoed slightly in the hallway, coming from an unseen speaker. “You will find it very interesting and useful, Nathan, as it contains many rare, exotic and endangered species, many of which are and were used by shamans and other practitioners of White Magic. Totem, you may wish to visit there yourself. There are many plants there which were utilized by Aboriginal Canadians. Nathan and yourself may be able to exchange information.”

Nathan relaxes somewhat with this new information. Well it appears that he considered quite a few aspects…. I just wonder what he’s managed to build…

Totem was already thinking forward, imagining the possibilities for the arboretum, and trying to decide how she will make her own stay here more comfortable.

Biostorm looks at the collective responses to the droid room. “Well, I can see that this will be a popular room.”

Guardian looks at the others, and deciding they have seen enough for the robotics lab as required for the tour, leads them towards the hydroponics labs.

As they walk along Biostorm moves up next to Guardian and says, “I’d love to find out more about you and where you come from. I think it would be fascinating. And in return, if there is anything that I can do for you, let me know. I like your style and I’m sure were going to get along great.”

Totem could immediately sense a difference in the air as they walked. She could smell the faint scent of moist earth and a myriad of blooms. It was almost overwhelming in a place like this - there were roses, lilacs, and flowers she had never smelled before. She could also pick out the scent of the sacred tobacco plant.

“This is the hydroponics lab. There are a wide variety of plants here, many of which could be toxic to your systems should you ingest or come into physical contact with,” Guardian announced as the doors slid open to reveal a room full of lush vegetation. There were clear paths through the room, but nothing of walls could be seen. Just lush green as far as the eye could see.

Nathan just stands still for a moment or two, taking in the fauna surrounding them. Hmm… not too bad… not too bad at all…

Immediately more comfortable and at home, more at ease than she has been throughout this tour, Totem walks much deeper into the arboretum than the others, surrounding herself with Nature in its splendor. Realizing that the others are now making their way out, she turns to follow. As she catches up with Guardian and Aidan’s spider, she asks, “Aidan, would it be possible to connect the ventilation system in my room to the arboretum?”

“Unfortunately, no,” Aidan replied. “Like the private quarters, each lab has its own self-contained ventilation system. This was originally designed as a security measure in case something went awry during an experiment. Each floor of this complex also has a separate power supply and backup in case of emergencies.”

Totem responds, a bit dejectedly, “Well, I guess I understand the precaution, but I must admit I am disappointed. I suppose I shall just have to spend an inordinate amount of time here.”

“Why don’t you just camp out down here Totem?” Boreas blurted out aloud what she had been thinking. She then realized her faux pas and a slight blush came over her cheeks. “Um, Sorry I have this foot in mouth disorder. I mean, perhaps Aidan could fix you up with a flat down here or something?” She got a concerned look on her face. “I-I-I mean its not like we are going to be living down her ALL the time. Right Aidan?” Her voice betrayed a slight hint of trepidation.

“You will stay here when you choose to, and during times it would be too dangerous to return to your homes.” Aidan’s voice echoed slightly in the hall.

Hmm… unfortunate…that would definitely have been a nice touch, however… “Aidan, would it be possible to install a small hydroponics bed in our personal chamber, without much inconvenience?” Queried Nathan.

“The equipment is available,” Aidan answered. “I shall see that it is done for all those interested.”

“Well then, Aidan, count me interested, please.” Totem consoled herself with the idea of her own natural garden in this unnatural place.

“Consider me interested as well,” Nathan added.

“Well Aidan while you’re at it, might as well count me in for a waterbed as well,” Boreas chirped in nonchalantly.

Guardian heads to what looks like a freight elevator and the doors slide open. “There are two more levels to be seen. Aidan recommends that I show you the lowest level first, then the other.” She steps in the elevator and waits.

Once everyone is inside, the doors slide closed and the descent down begins. Totem catches the very faintest scent fresh water as they travel downwards. The trip is very similar to that of the first elevator ride they took to get down to the base.

The doors slide open and Guardian stepped out into the darkness. The scent of fresh water hit Totem like a wave, bringing with the scent of lubricants, metal, and other scents she always associated with….. vehicles? The lights in the cavern turned on by themselves, first stunning the group in the elevator with their brightness, then with what was revealed.

The cavern was huge - no, it was beyond huge, and robots of all kinds imaginable were moving around. “This is the vehicle storage and repair facilities,” Guardian said in an almost off-handed manner. “None of the vehicles are powered by fossil fuels and produce no forms of pollution provided the systems are maintained properly and do not suffer major damage.” She stepped onto a platform, leaving the path clear for the others to move out of the elevator.

To the left of the group was a huge pool in which was docked something that looked like a cross between a jet-boat and a submarine, and a crane was installed next to the pool, probably to lift the boat out for dry dock repairs.

To the right of the pool were two sports cars, also on platforms, with ramps leading to tunnels which extended off of the cavern. Continuing to the right were a pair of motorcycles. There was another pool containing something that kind of looked like a plane with some really weird engines. All of the vehicles were painted in gray marine-style primer.

The sport cars catch Nathan’s eye, and he smiles. Wonder where he got those from…and they don’t produce any pollution, if properly maintained??? Do I really want to know???

In the farthest most corner of the cavern was a huge alcove-like area in which robots were working on-stop. There appeared to be no vehicle inside, and it was unlit. Guardian’s eyes strayed to that alcove and stayed there, watching the bots do their work.

Boreas let out a low whistle. Mental note to self; sure bet dad would appreciate a tune-up for his car.

Having taken in the surroundings of the vehicle bay, Totem stands very quietly, astounded. Even before they start, Totem is expecting and awaiting comments from Boreas and Jezebel regarding the possibilities of borrowing the cars or the bikes to go for a spin, or what have you. Totem on the other hand is simply impressed that Aidan, so removed from Nature, would care enough to design and build machines which would be so environmentally friendly. “Aidan, would you allow your environmentally safe designs for the engines of these vehicles to be shared with the world?”

“While it pleases me to find you think I am capable of creating everything,” Aidan said with a touch of humour in his voice. “These vehicles are not my creation. They are prototypes I obtained from various sources. I then made modifications and improvements. As for the question of sharing this technology, I fear that it would be difficult to introduce for public use. The techniques and materials required to build these vehicles would put the cost beyond that of anyone but the richest in the world.”

Boreas shot Jezebel a glance, “Let me translate this, you break it you pay for it,” she said with a wink.

Jez shrugged slightly in reply, “I guess it’s a good thing that they took away my driver’s license… again. I told the cops four times that I didn’t run any lights… and I never drive faster than 75 or so…” She shrugged again, dispelling the thought from her mind, seemingly still unimpressed by the vehicles.

That’s too bad. Maybe it would be a worthy investment of Aidan’s time to work on researching less expensive alternatives to the systems in these vehicles? Oh well, I’ll bring it up later. As the tour continued, Totem simply moved along, as quietly observant as she can, seemingly just waiting for the next flare-up between Jezebel and Guardian. Her eyes ran over everyone’s faces, and when her gaze fell on Guardian, she could swear that somewhere under that almost emotionless face there was both desperate longing, and desperate loneliness.

If I am perceiving Guardian’s mood correctly, I really wonder what makes her feel so powerfully? I wonder… I guess maybe I’ll ask about it later. I hate to pry, but she really looks sad. Totem continued onward, still watching Guardian on occasion, unconsciously trying to figure out what it is that has made her feel such longing and loneliness.

“The capabilities of each of the vehicles will be explained at a later briefing,” Guardian announced. “We will now proceed to the final level.” She turned and walked back into the elevator.

Boreas followed Guardian quickly inside the elevator. “Say Guardian, I noticed we haven’t been to your quarters yet. Let me guess were going to your penthouse suite?” She said playfully as the others piled into the elevator.

“I did not think it was necessary for you to see my quarters. They are located on the same level as yours are,” came Guardians curt reply.

As soon as the last person was in, Guardian pressed a button and the elevator doors slid closed and began to ascend. After a few moments, the movement stopped and the doors opened to reveal a short corridor which opened out into a large room. A door just large enough for Guardian to get through could be seen in the far wall opposite the elevator.

Guardian led the group into the room. To the left was what Biostorm recognized as a kind of secondary medical station. At first glance it seemed to be outfitted to service trauma such as broken bones and emergency first aid. Other than a medical bed, there was no other furniture in this room.

That didn’t matter, however, as what they saw to their right dominated the room. It looked for all the world like a loading bay door, and it was heavily reinforced. On either side of the door at the upper corners were panels of lights. About chest height to the right side of the door was a complex control panel with what appeared to be a speaker.

Impressive…. I wonder what it’s designed to contain??_ Nathan looked at the doors.

“The lights above the door indicate whether or not it the HSTS is safe to enter. Green means safe, yellow means enter with caution, red means do not enter. If the lights are flashing, then there is an emergency or malfunction.” Guardian headed to the huge metal doors.

“The HSTS is the Holographic Simulation Training System. It will be used for combat training purposes to perfect both personal and team combat.”

Ahhh… that explains it… Jez.. Nathan can’t suppress the smile that accompanies his thought.

Guardian’s eyes raked over everyone present, including Nathan. “Everyone will learn combat skills, both defensive and offensive. Those of you who consider yourselves non-combatants will also learn - no exceptions. The enemy will not refrain from attempting to kill you if you do not fight.”

Nathan meets Guardian’s gaze without flinching away. I wonder who that was directed to…couldn’t be me could it?? Naaaaa….

Looking directly at Nathan Guardian eyes bored into his daring him to try something.

Nathan just shakes his head sadly, and turns away. Don’t say anything… yet… “Is there anyway for any of us to monitor the inside of the simulator, from either here, or up in the main control room??”

Guardian’s usually rigid face parted in a lopsided grin for a sec and then once again her usual features resumed.

“The actions in the room can be monitored from in the main control,” Aidan replied. “The exercises will also be videotaped for later study for training purposes.”

Biostorm looked at Nathan, then at Guardian. “What’s the deal between you two? You can almost cut the tension with a knife. Guardian, Nathan is a teammate. We can’t act as a cohesive team if there is animosity between team members. So I suggest you find a way to get over what ever problems you have with Nathan and get over it.” Totem can pick up a slight scent of annoyance coming from Biostorm as she walked towards the HSTS leaving Guardian & Nathan in her wake.

Guardian frowned deeply at Biostorm then turned and walked away a few steps an indecipherable sound emitting from her lips as she looks at the mage with hared. Guardian’s jaw visibly clenched as well as her hands on her sides into fists as she takes several steps away from the group.

Nathan turns and looks to Biostorm, then to Guardian, and finally back to Biostorm. “Guardian’s problem is not with me per se… it’s because she has a dislike for people who, like myself, refer to themselves as mages. Beyond that, I know nothing of how she acquired this dislike. I gather that Aidan was aware of her sentiments, before we were recruited, so I believe that he can trust us to cooperate… While I am tiring of her referring to me as mage, or not at all, I believe that if she referred to me as Nathan, she might find me a little co-operative.” Nathan looks to Guardian, and shrugs his shoulders, before he studiously looks at his feet.

Guardian must have been brought up in a harsh environment, and what’s this talk about the enemy?. I sincerely hope there is no “kill or be killed” attitude here or I am walking. Boreas looked at all the new marvelous technology on display. I wonder if Aidan “borrowed” these prototypes as well? Something is not quite right here. Slowly but surely a light was flickering on in the back of Boreas’s mind.

“I was wondering where the gymnasium would be. It didn’t make any sense that Aidan would bring us together, and then not provide for adequate physical activity to hone our reflexes and skills, and train us for effective teamwork,” Totem said.

“The gymnasium is on the first level, along with the recreation facilities and private quarters,” Guardian replied. “It contains balance beam, vault, parallel bars, uneven bars and rings. It is adjacent to the work out facilities, both of which were briefly shown to you at the beginning of the tour.”

Totem pauses a moment, turning to regard Aidan’s spider-presence. “Aidan, how accurate are the sensory interactions in this simulator of yours? Will it be able to accurately mimic fine details of sight and sound, to compensate for my own heightened senses? And what of its olfactory capabilities? I assume that the chamber and its workings are also strong enough to stand up to the effects of Harbinger battles without damage.” In truth, though she will not say it, Totem is truly waiting for the briefing of which Guardian had spoken earlier. She was impressed, greatly so, by all that she had seen here. But in the end, she had joined this group in order to go out into this city and make a difference. Moving about this warren of underground passages like so many hares was not achieving that end.

“The HSTS is capable of creating a fully realistic situation,” Aidan replied. “Including the causation of damage to participants in the scenarios. There is a failsafe in the programs which ensure that only non-lethal damage is incurred. I suppose the best analogy would be the holodecks in the Star Trek series.”

That’s really possible?! Sheesh, Totem thought to herself, a more than a little surprised. Well, I guess I’d better make sure Aidan or Guardian shows me how to work those controls so that the safeties stay on.

“The walls and doors of the room are reinforced. While the limits of their strength have not been fully tested, it has survived the equivalent of a 1 megatonne nuclear bomb without significant structural deterioration. Until the appropriate facility is completed, this room can double as a holding room for dangerous Harbingers before transport to the police if necessary.”

“A 1 Megaton bomb,” Biostorm exclaimed. “Gads, that’s impressive. I can’t wait to test my powers out and see how they mesh with the rest of yours. I think that is where we will find what the Sentinels truly can do.”

“Awright! Now we’re talking business,” Jez said enthusiastically as she headed straight for the doors to the room. “When do I get to try it out. I missed my training session yesterday, so I’m all ready to get caught up.” She seemed quite eager to try the facility out now, and looked back at Guardian with hopeful, “puppy dog eyes.”

Boreas seemed to slightly cringe at Biostorm’s and Jezebel’s enthusiasm. Anyone taking the time to look in her direction will see the previous confidence and joviality drain away from her face. Great, now’s my chance to show what I CAN’T do. Why did I kid myself into thinking I could play at being a super hero and hang with these people.

Boreas’s college training in the sciences did not prepare for the wonders which she had seen today. However she was having a hard time visualizing what this HSTS contraption was suppose to do. Some of the others seemed to catch the Star Trek reference, but not her. “Well I am no Mr. Peabody, so my head hurts from all this science fiction tech talk. Aidan why don’t you fire this puppy up and show us what it can do?”

“I have prepared a basic ‘capture the flag’ simulation,” Aidan informed the group. “You will be divided up into two teams of three and each team will have a flag which has already been hidden. The teams are as follows: Guardian, Nathan and Totem are Team Alpha; Boreas, Biostorm and Jezebel are Team Beta.”

Nathan sighed silently. I’m sure that Aidan had to think long and hard about this grouping…

The spider on Guardian’s shoulder jumped to the floor and scampered towards the med centre as a panel opened in the wall next to the big metal doors. A shelf slid out carrying six watch-like items. “The locators on the left are for Alpha, the right for Beta. These will lead you to where your flags are located. You will have five minutes to position yourselves before the simulation begins.” Aidan’s voice came from a speaker next to the door. “Do you have any questions?”

“Yeah, I have a question!” Jez shouted as she waved her hands over her head very energetically. “When do we start?!” Without waiting for an answer she just turned around and headed straight for the doors. Jez waited for them to open this time.

Boreas just looked helplessly at Guardian, a lump in her throat kept her from responding immediately. Aidan, I didn’t mean show us what it could do…with us INSIDE! As she panicked, the room departure suddenly dropped a few more degrees.

Nathan reaches for the 3 locators on the left, handing one to Totem, and holding out the other for Guardian. Keep your face straight… and she might not hit you for being presumptuous ….

Totem stepped forward quickly, snatched up the watch-like implement from Nathan’s hand and slid it onto her wrist. I guess you could say I have a ton of questions, but I assume they will all be answered soon enough. With that, she assured herself that the Cougar spirit is still with her, and moved to the door, already keying in to her heightened senses, ready to analyze the surroundings within the HSTS, ready to get this simulation on its way.

Guardian frowned as she took the device from Nathan. Placing it on her wrist she moved to the doors. Nathan relaxed slightly, as he slips the remaining device on his wrist.

The light by the upper right corner of the door shone green and the doors slid open to reveal piles of crates looking very much like the warehouse the entered through.

As soon as the doors open, Totem sprinted through the doors, moving with the natural speed and grace of a hunting cat in pursuit of its prey, keying off the locator’s signal and her own senses.

Jez stepped through the doors and looked around. “Cool,” she exclaimed.

Boreas tentatively entered the HSTS, still not sure what to expect. She reached out and touched one of the crates, noting the feel and substance. Hmmm, I sure hope Aidan has someone else in mind when it comes to moving all these crates out of here. I wonder what’s inside them. She looked for markings on the crates stacked nearest the exit. There was nothing remarkable, just abbreviations of shipping locations and what might possibly be company names, but no indication of contents.

Biostorm looked at Nathan, Guardian & Totem. “Let’s play.” The look on her face was the most excited that any have seen yet. She raced into the room with Boreas and Jez.

When she got a little further into the room she says, “Boreas, I sense you’re more the defensive type, why don’t you and I go guard our flag and Jez you can have the honor of getting their flag. Of course, I am open to any other suggestions, but that is what I come up with off the top of my head.” Then with a twinkle in her eye she looked at her team mates. “Let’s rock.”

Boreas watched as Guardian loped off in the distance, “Play defense…against that?” She asked in disbelief motioning off towards the retreating Amazon. She also had misgivings about encountering Totem in a bad mood. She had no clue, yet as to what type of threat Nathan could be. However he pushed all Guardian’s wrong buttons which she thought was a sure sign of trouble. She quickly dismissed the idea of attempting to stir things up between those two. She didn’t want to see anyone injured from just a game.

“Um, Biostorm. You seem to know what’s going on here. What’s the goal of capture the flag again? And more importantly how are we supposed to stop them from grabbing ours?” Boreas looked at Biostorm somewhat hopefully.

Biostorm looked at Boreas with a twinkle in her eye. “Boreas, it’s quite simple really, we have to grab their flag and return it here while keeping them from doing the same. I have a good idea as to the abilities of Guardian & Totem, but I am at a loss with Nathan. He’ll be their wild card. I don’t think any of us are the bruiser type, so we’ll just have to outwit them. This will be fun. Trust me.”

Boreas looked back at Biostorm and seemed to relax some, “Yeah, fun…I can do fun.”

**********

Team Alpha’s flag lay about 400 yards to the west according to the locator. Guardian looked down at her wrist, nodded, then headed into the HSTS at a fast run. She was surprisingly agile for someone of her size as she moved through the passageways. About halfway to the flag location she found a seven foot long piece of metal pipe. Guardian picked it up, swung it once or twice, then took it with her as she continued on her way.

Remembering her early lessons on the reservation, once Totem was close to the flag, she climbed up the crates and continued to move towards the flag along the top.

Guardian arrived a few moments after Totem, and Nathan a little while later.

Nathan tried to locate something staff like on his way to the flag, and manages to find a length of wood which would work well as a weapon.

“I feel that I’m the best choice to scout out the other team and their flag’s location,” Totem said. “Guardian, your strength might be best used defending our flag at first. Nathan, could you use your telepathic abilities to detect incoming members of the other team, intent upon finding our flag?”

“The only way I can do that is if I use magic to augment my natural abilities. I’m afraid that my empathic abilities are not that powerful. However, I will be mostly defenseless in that state.” Nathan looked knowingly at Guardian. “Sorry, however most of my research has been into more peaceful applications of magic…. Something that I’ve realized that need to change..” Nathan’s voice trailed off abashedly.

“I see.”, Totem responded. She could not seem to come up with a response, or a better plan, restricted as she was by the incompatibility amongst her two team-mates. While thinking, she was completely unaware of the festering problems between them.

Guardian looked at Nathan for a moment, her eyes narrowing in disbelief at his words. “A mage who cannot fight?” She snorted. “Most likely a trick to lull our suspicions so you can destroy us at your leisure.” She took a few steps forward so that she stood only inches from Nathan, her cold gaze burrowing down at him.

Suddenly Nathan felt the sensation of cool, smooth tentacles sliding over the surface of his mind. They skimmed lightly, cautiously, seeking out…. All of a sudden contact was made. The mind that touched his was unlike anything he had ever experienced before. It was cool, analytical, and defied any analysis. As quickly as it came, the contact was broken, but not before he “heard” a single word: “impossible”. The mental tendrils jerked back as if burned by flames, panic flooding Nathan’s mind.

The shock of the encounter leaves Nathan reeling. Who or what was that?????

“Guardian???” Nathan’s voice was barely audible, it was so shaky.

Guardian stumbled back slightly, her eyes wide. She backed away from Nathan, and Totem could smell the panic and fear emanating her like a wave.

No, Guardian thought. It is impossible. Mages are not Spaceborn. They cannot speak as Anook and I do. But is he telling the truth? No… It cannot be. Mages are evil, the destroyers of my people and my world.

Guardian’s face suddenly went completely blank and emotionless as she stood there, staring at Nathan.

Without a word Guardian moved as far away from Nathan as possible without leaving the flag. In a cold emotionless voice Guardian addresses Nathan and Totem. “It is time for you to get the other’s flag. I will stay and guard our flag.” Without another word Guardian crouched down behind some boxes waiting for the enemy.

“I don’t quite know what just happened between you two,” Totem said. “But do us all a favor. Stow it for now, and when this is done, talk it out. I for one am tired of the back and forth glaring on this … team, if that’s really what we are.” With that, Totem began moving again, quickly and stealthily along the tops of the crates, tuning in to all her senses in an attempt to pinpoint the other team’s members, and their flag.

Nathan sighed after Totem left. I’ve already stowed it… I just don’t know what Guardian’s problem is…

**********

Biostorm and Boreas began to head towards their flag, Jez in close pursuit.

Jez looked thoughtful for a second and then adopted a business like attitude that seemed very out of character. “I have a few suggestions,” she replied to Biostorm quickly. “The way I see it, we have two plans of attack.

“The first is having one of us guard the flag. Another of us guarding the person guarding the flag. The last person would go out to get the other flag.” Jez paused a second and then gestured to nearby areas to hide in. “I would say to lurk around here and let the flag seem deserted, but that would be too obvious as an ambush.

“The other plan is to have one of us guard the flag, while the other two go get the other flag.” Jez started moving her hands about, as if they’re suppose to symbolize the moving people and the flag, but the hand gestures make absolutely no sense. “While one of us goes for a direct grab on their flag, they distract the other team. That way the last of us can make a run by snatch and grab on the other flag.”

“Totem will either play sneak thief on our flag or stay behind and guard their flag. Guardian will probably guard their flag if Totem is on the forward party… I don’t know what the guy is going to do.”

Boreas shrugged. “I wouldn’t underestimate Nathan. Guardian seems to think he’s a threat and in my book that makes him potentially dangerous.”

Jez paused again and the business-like attitude slowly disappeared. “Beyond everything else, I want my piece of Guardian.”

“Um excuse me Jez,” Boreas cut in, “but isn’t this suppose to be a game of tag? You know when someone tries to make a run on the flag, you tag them and they gotta freeze or something?” She appeared to be troubled by all the talk of confrontation.

Boreas skated along with the others to the location indicated by the watch to be their flag. Turning to Jez and Biostorm she asked, “So anyone good with electronic doohickeys?” S he appeared to be examining her watch. “I am no science whiz, but I figure these watches are tracking some sort of signal sent off by the flags. If we were able to determine the frequency the opposition’s flag was attuned to and reset our watches accordingly we might have a easier time of this.” She regretted not taking that Electrical Engineering elective last fall.

“Whatever the case, I would suggest that we not let our watches fall into the hands of the enemy. After what I have seen today, I am sure Aidan can afford replacements.”

“No offence, but I think futzin’ with the wristbands is a waste of time,” Jez said quickly. “We’ll have plenty of time to play with them after hours. Besides, I think Aidan would be able to pick up on that. So what are we going to do? Draw straws to see who runs out there and plays target? Or does anyone have a preference?”

“Boreas, you’re thinking the same way I am. The only thing I’m pretty sure of is that they probably won’t act as a team. Guardian doesn’t trust Nathan, and Totem seems more like a solo type. They out muscle us, but we can out think them and we can use teamwork to our advantage. I like the idea of one person looking like they are guarding the flag. Boreas, would you take that job? Jez, I’ll back up Boreas. My powers are mostly defensive in nature. I also have a few tricks up my sleeve if they should poke their noses around here.

“Jez, the important part is up to you. You are small, fast and wiry. You should be able to go into the tight spots between crates where they can’t go. Use that to your advantage. If you see Guardian on the way, ignore her. Your mission is to get the flag. Believe me, if we win this, and you’re the one to bring back the flag, she’ll treat you as an equal. It’ll also give her a little humble pie.” The last bit is said with a wry grin.

“And remember folks, they’ll be using their full powers, and we shouldn’t be afraid to use ours. I’m sure this place has built in safeguards. Okay, once again, Boreas, you stand here in the open as an obvious guard and use your cold powers to help mask the scents in case Totem is on point instead of Guardian. If we can make it cold enough, perhaps we can plug up that sense of smell. I’ll hide in the crates and guard your back.

“Well I hate to burst anyone’s bubble here, but what’s this talk about full power? This is not what I expected from a simple game of capture the flag. I barely know these people and the last thing I want to do is upset somebody by laying them out,” Boreas grinned. “Not like THAT is gonna happen. And furthermore what’s this safeguard stuff you’re talking about? I mean I can be a team player and all, but if that Amazon comes barreling down at me with murder in her eyes, she can have the damn flag for all I care. I am not going to stop her. And if she won’t freeze when I tag her, there not much I can do to stop her.”

She took a few deep breaths to calm herself. “Look guys, I don’t know much about the rest of you, you’re like superheroes and all, but I don’t know if I am cut out for this stuff. All I have ever done is stop some small-time muggers and believe me that got my adrenaline pumping overtime. Dealing with Harbingers is a wholly different matter altogether.” Boreas seemed to shake a little and then cast her eyes down to her feet and shifted awkwardly. “I’m sorry, but I think you are expecting a little bit too much from me here, all I can do is lower the temperature and skate. So how am I gonna stop these people if this isn’t a game of tag?”

Boreas was having serious second thoughts about entering this chamber and cast a furtive glance around for the nearest exit. She couldn’t see any from where she was standing.

Biostorm looked at Boreas. “Don’t worry, I’ll be right behind you in the crates. If anyone comes near you, I’ll be right there. This is a holographic simulation. As far as I understand how these things work is that there is a computer generated field of sorts around everything. When we use our powers, the field absorbs it, analyses it, determines it’s accuracy and applies a non-lethal effect to the targets field that simulates what your attack would have done. If Guardian plowed into you, the worst that would happen is that you get the wind knocked out of you. You’ll be fine, our friends will be fine.”

“I guess they have these sorts of simulators where you are from, eh.” Boreas still felt a little uneasy despite Biostorm’s assurances. “Well as long as nobodies gonna get hurt, I guess its okay. Tell me again how I am supposed to stop Guardian if she doesn’t freeze when I tag her?”

Biostorm started to fade back into the shadows and just before she disappeared she spoke again. “You’re a trekkie, right? Just think of this as a holodeck that has all the safety precautions turned on. It’s all one big interactive video game. No one gets hurt.”

Boreas looked back quizzically towards the crates where Biostorm lay in wait. “Trekkie?”

A sense of dread washed over her. I am way out of my league here. I hope the others know what they are doing. Boreas started to feel a coldness in the middle of her gut as she waited for the opposition. Instinctively she started to draw in heat from the surrounding area like a protective cloak. Nervously she skated around in small circles scanning the surrounding area for any abnormal heat sources.

“Jez, we’re counting on you to get that flag. If you get in trouble, call out, we’ll come running.” Biostorm turned and headed into the crates, not on top, not on bottom, but some place where she could get a clear shot of Boreas. On her way into the crates she reached into her purse and pulled out her perfume. “I don’t know if this will help hide smells, but it’s worth a shot.” She broke the bottle on the floor. “Yeah, I know that will let them know where we are, but I want them to come.” Biostorm faded into the shadows of the crates.

Boreas began to check out the boxes in the surrounding area, while at the same time she seemed to be preoccupied with her tracker device. “Hey, it just occurred to me,” she whispered towards the others. “Is there a rule that says we can’t move the flag? Or at least hide it out of plain sight?” She continued searching through the crates. “Perhaps we can hide it in one these crates?”

**********

Nathan looked curiously at Guardian. Africa… right… I don’t even think that she is human… He looked at Totem. “I think that it would be best if I were to stay here, in case Guardian needs some support. I figure that they will be sending two people… Jez is the obvious candidate, and someone to watch over her…”

Nathan rolled his eyes, and smiled playfully. “Anyway, I would only hold you up, or cause others to notice us..” Nathan trailed off, as he gave their flag area a good looking over. “I wonder… maybe I might be able to rig a couple of distractions around here…”

Guardian spoke directly at Totem in a flat monotone voice. “I am more then capable of guarding our flag. It would be in the best interest of this exercise if the two of you seek out the opposing flag. As for the other, he would make a good distraction.”

Nathan shook his head and looked quizzically at Guardian before looking to Totem. Sigh….. this is going to be interesting… We’ll see just how simulated this thing will be… “Do you want me to leave before or after you?”. Nathan smiled but his tone belied the smile on his face. Nervously twisting at a small ring on his right hand, Nathan rolled his shoulders, and stretched his body slightly Totem turned, hearing their words across the distance already moved.

“Nathan, move as stealthily as you can, on your own route. I doubt I will lose track of you. Try to find the other team or their flag, by whatever abilities you have. If you find anything, or need, help, call out, and I will come as quickly as I can.” With that, Totem resumed the hunt.

Hookay, Nathan looked about the paths… Now… what do I choose… height gives me a sight advantage, but the ground is the easier… and the quietest. However there is an advantage that I can use… Smiling to himself, Nathan cautiously started to lower his mental wards. The buzz that constantly battled at the edge of his mind was suddenly amplified, but no were near as bad as if he was above ground.

The smile widened as he opened himself to the mystic forces around him. Nathan could sense two mystical beings in the warehouse, but couldn’t pin down where they were, and was able to determine the nature of the magic of one. The magic was based on symbology.

The area that Team Alpha’s flag was located in a 10′ by 10′ square area, with two possible ground-based paths to it. The crates are all in excellent condition and are either on metal shelves or pallets. Overhead was a section of the catwalks that hung down from the ceiling, probably connecting up with a second floor office.

Without waiting for agreement from the others on her team Guardian picked up one of the crates and began to rearrange the possible paths to the flag down to one narrow path.

With simple ease Guardian starts to build up the crates 3 high and 3 across around the flag closing it off on all four sides, building it up seemingly like another pile of crates in the area. She left a space in the middle so the flag could be accessed, but not with ease.

**********

“In this simulation,” Aidan’s voice came from the wristbands of both teams. “The flag cannot be concealed within or under the crates, nor can it be carried by one of the team members. You are to use of any and all your abilities on each other, provided that they will not cause permanent physical harm, as the HSTS has not been calibrated for damage control of your attacks. Any items from the simulation which you use as weapons will not cause permanent damage even if they normally would outside of this room.

“You will, however, suffer the affects of the attack. For example, if you get shot by a shotgun, you will take physical damage, or even “die”, but the instant the simulation is over, all life threatening damage will disappear.” A beep came from the tracking devices. “The tracking devices are now deactivated. The operation now begins.”

**********

Totem quickly concluded that the claws and talons of her Spirit friends would be a poor choice of attack during this simulation. Counting coup would probably be a much better choice.

Catching immediate whiff of the perfume, even at this distance, Totem moved quickly towards the scent, remaining silent and hidden. Her mind, guided by her training on the reservation, and her own heightened natural instincts, had surmised some trick, either distraction or trap, lies ahead.

She decided it would be best to reach the location quickly, unseen, in an attempt to locate anyone moving away from that scent. Totem began to tune out her sense of smell as she drew closer, instead focusing on her Spirit-given senses of sight and hearing to locate movement away from the area, or those lurking nearby.

From where she was, hidden between two crates, she saw some movement to her left…..

**********

“Die?!?” Boreas blurted out a little louder than she had wanted to. She looked around nervously at the others. “You know maybe this wasn’t such a good idea,” she said to no one in particular.

“Gotcha, boss!” Jez said with a beaming smile and a thumbs up signal. “One flag coming right up.” She spun around at that and then glanced around. She contemplated finding a way up to the catwalk, but thought that might be a little too obvious. Then again, she wasn’t supposed to be that sneaky about it… And the view might be worth the risk.

She broke off in a run at this point, in no particular direction, looking for a way up to the catwalk, without climbing up right where her own flag is. Jez wanted to look down at everything and see if she can’t spot where the others are clustered. The nearest stairs to the catwalk were about 200 yards away, and she would have to pass though a large open space to get to the stairs, and she would be wide open while going up them.

Biostorm watched the retreating form of Jez and smiled to herself . “Remember, the objective is the flag, not a wrestling match between you and Guardian,” she called out after the girl.

Jez waited for a few moments as she thought about her options. Throwing caution into the wind, she made a mad dash across the open space, directly for the stairs. She figured that the others probably haven’t had enough time to get that settled yet. And besides, this is a quick way to draw them out.

She sprinted across the open area directly at the stairs, and at the last minute she veered to the right. Jez leapt up onto one of the crates but landed wrong and fell down onto the other crates with a loud crash.

**********

Guardian’s head turned towards the direction of the crash and then moved into the shadows of some crates. Guardian crouched down low in the shadows scanning the area the staff held ready by her side, at the same time the opening theme music from Men In Black played through her mind.

Totem saw Jez’s foot catch on the edge of the crate near the stairs as she was jumping up, causing her to fall unceremoniously onto her rear into the surrounding crates, knocking one of them to the floor.

Totem moved stealthily across the crates, moving closer to the edge of the clearing around the stairs. She watched Jez climbing the stairs, then looked around and couldn’t see where the flag was, though the scent of the perfume was stronger.

Nathan looked towards where the noise came from. He paused momentarily, then carefully started wending his way through the crates, keeping away from the vicinity of the disturbance.

**********

Jez swore as she picked herself up from where she was sprawled on top of the crates. She dusted herself off and looked around to see if anyone has actually seen her mishap. She could see some movement on top of the crates about 60 yards away, but Jez couldn’t determine who it was. She jumped down off the crates and, still cursing, walked over to the stairs and started to climb.

**********

Boreas quickly spun around in the direction the crash had come from. “What do you think that was Biostorm?” Her muscles tensed as she prepared for the inevitable.

Biostorm didn’t say a word but flashed Boreas the thumbs up sign. Inwardly she wondered about the crash. She was just about positive that it was Jez getting into mischief. She hoped that Jez would focus on the goal of the game and not on proving herself to Guardian. After all, there would be time for that later.

Silently Biostorm waited in the shadows for the opposing team to arrive. She truly hoped that they had only left one at their flag. She also hoped that Boreas’s concerns were born of a lack of confidence instead of a certainty. Now there was nothing left to do but wait and watch all the entrances to the flag’s area.

**********

Nathan moved as silently as he could, slowly working his way through the tiny alleyways of crates. With a touch of nervousness, he adjusted his grip on the staff and wondered almost absurdly what Guardian would say if he actually managed to clock on of his “opponents”.

Nathan paused for a second. Maybe Totem is right, and I’ve developed an attitude against Guardian… But now is not the time for dwelling on this. Nathan resumed his slow pace towards the others flag, reviewing his limited options, and trying to formulate some form of strategy.

**********

Sniffing at the air, Totem caught traces of Jez’s scent and began to follow the girl’s trail back through the crates, using the strong smell of perfume as a beacon. Moving like the Cougar whose spirit empowered her, she was silent as she stalked along. As she moved closer, Totem picked up the faint scents of both Biostorm and Boreas.

**********

Having cleared a half dozen steps, Jez is surprised that nothing unforeseen has happen. She actually expected one of her other team-mates to jump out of the woodwork the moment she lost her footing. If not to ‘tag her out’ then to just roll with laughter.

Reassured that no one was near enough to capitalize on her bad luck, she started taking the steps two at a time. Her main goal was to reach the top as fast as she could now. She can’t be so unlucky as to trip twice in five minutes she started to think, but then waved the though away before she jinxed herself any further.

Reaching the top of the stairs, she immediately went into a crouch, keeping her body as low to the ground as possible, but still ready to spring to a stand. She then peered over the side of the walkway, training her eyes for any sort of movement. The lighting in the warehouse wasn’t the greatest, but Jez couldn’t see anything.

There was one other set of stairs up to the catwalk and it was on the other side of the building.

**********

As she observed a slight frost building up on some of the crates, Boreas realized that she had unconsciously drawn in too much heat again. Although she maintained a firm control over her Harbinger abilities most of the time, she found that in stressful situations her control would sometimes slacken off and drawing in more heat became an instinctive defensive reaction to her in these situations.

She wondered how her team-mate was faring when she observed Biostorm’s breath escaping out between the crates. Hope she’s okay in there…wait a minute, that’s it! Boreas concentrated and started to draw even more heat into herself, reducing the temperature in her vicinity even further.

“Let me know if it gets too cold for you Biostorm.” Boreas asked looking very comfortable in her skin-tight bodysuit and jacket despite the intense cold.

**********

As Totem crept closer, she could feel the ambient temperature drop to the level she associated with Boreas’ presence. She sniffed the air and tried to figure out where her two opponents were, and determined Biostorm was to her left, and Boreas to her right.

Had her ears been those of a cat, they would have twitched when Totem heard Boreas saying “Let me know if it gets too cold for you Biostorm.” The temperature started to drop rapidly to the point that reminded her of winters back home. Her breath started to turn into fog and began to drift upwards.

Totem moved stealthily along, trying to get a better fix on where Boreas and Biostorm were hiding. She could see the edge the crates that formed the clearing and crawled closer to the edge so she could see in.

Boreas was standing right in the centre of the clearing, next to the flag, looking around absently, her back to Totem. She turned around, her eyes scanning the top of the crates…..

**********

Biostorm noticed the sudden drop in temperature and for a moment was puzzled. Of course, she thought. If it’s this cold a person’s breath could be easily seen. Nice._ With that in mind Biostorm made a conscious effort to direct her breath in a way that it can’t be seen by anyone coming from the outside.

**********

Boreas looked around carefully, trying to spot any warning signs that someone was approaching. The only heat traces she could were the faint traces from where Biostorm was hiding. She wondered absently what her sister would think if she knew what she was engaged in at the moment…

**********

From her hiding place, Guardian could hear someone running on something metal, probably a set of stairs. Shifting slightly and looking up, she could barely make out the outline of Jez on the catwalk about 200 yards from her.

Guardian watched Jez carefully and smiled slightly, pleased the girl had taken the initiative and took to higher ground. She may just be worth all the aggravation, if she can learn discipline.

**********

“Well this was really &#@*!! useful.” Jez swore to herself as she peered over the catwalk into the darkness. “I can’t see a damn thing down there. Why couldn’t I have had some really cool powers… Like see in the dark vision or something. Should ask the computer doohickey guy to whip me up some James Bond goggles…”

At this point she was completely lost in thought, mostly about fashion statements. “Probably would look pretty cool in the clubs too.” She peered over the side for a moment again, thinking about possible actions she could take.

“Well, there’s only one way to get the rats out of the house…” she pondered to herself. “Shake up the room.” Jez hopped up to a full stance and started running across the catwalk, each footstep slamming down on the metal walkway caused a thunderous racket, reverberating back on each other as the noise echoes off the warehouse walls.

**********

A distraction technique, Guardian thought, pleased at the girl’s actions. Of course, without any kind of protection she would probably be taken out in a shot or two from a ranged weapon. Still, a very admirable attempt.

**********

What’s making that racket, Nathan thought to himself as he looked up at the catwalk. He managed to spot Jez just as she was jumping off the catwalk, and he lost sight of her. He turned arund and started heading back the way he came, hoping to cut her off.

**********

As Jez was running, she caught a glimpse of something below her. She could barely make it out, but it was Guardian, crouched down behind a stack of crates too far away from the catwalk to jump down right on top of them. Jez could almost imagine the calculating and assessing going through the amazon’s head when she realized that Guardian had been watching her. Something else caught Jez’s eye - a tower-like pile of crates with a small hole going down the middle.

Jez stopped short with a sudden thud, pausing on the catwalk to look around when she felt the eyes studying her. Maybe it wasn’t the best idea to be the most obvious target. Then again, now that she’s got people’s attention, she thought she might as well do something with it.

After glancing down quickly, she flipped herself over the catwalk handrail and flung herself towards the tallest of the crates she could see below. Jez went into a crouch upon landing on the crate top, mostly to land safely.

A split second later she sprang up and into a sprint, running across the crate tops, jumping the occasional barrier and skipping across the frequent divides. She headed straight for the large tower of crates that obviously was not set out that way by accident.

**********

Boreas continued to scan the pathways and the tops of the crates, looking for any of the “enemy” approaching. What am I going to do when they arrive? Will I be able to handle it? I can’t do this…. Suddenly the words of her old skating coach came back to her - if you’re afraid you’re going to fail, then you already have.

She was rather surprised that she had thought about him, but her musings were interrupted by a faint noise coming from behind her. Boreas turned around and saw Totem, crouched on top of the crates like a cougar a split second away from springing.

“Oh Damn…” Boreas uttered in shock. A hint of fear in her voice as she tensed suddenly.

Totem’s figure shimmered for a moment and the image of an irate mountain lion surrounded her as she roared and lept. Boreas panicked for a moment and was barely able to move out of the way when Totem landed, her fangs bared and wicked claws extended.

“Whoah!” Boreas exclaimed in shock, realizing that Totem was not playing a friendly game of tag. Frantically she dodged around Totem trying to get draw her attention and hoping that Biostorm would act quickly. Her heart racing she began to draw in even more heat, reducing the surrounding temperature further.

Totem could feel her fingers and toes beginning to go numb. Deciding that capitolizing on Boreas’ fear would be her best option, Totem let loose with another the Cougar spirit’s roar, while half-sprinting, half-leaping forward to grab the flag just beyond Boreas. As she passed, she consciously closed her fist, remembering her decision not to cause lethal wounds.

When Totem roared again, it sent shivers up and down Boreas’ spine. While the panic did not rise in her again, she involuntarily took another step back. All of a sudden she felt her powers surge.

The little clearing rocked as the cold air around Boreas exploded into a shower of burning crystals the size of corn kernals. The wave hit Totem just as her hand closed around the flag like a solid punch, leaving her bruised. The crates around the edge of the clearing shuddered and began to smolder, and the ones Biostorm was hiding behind topple, landing on her with a thud and pinning her in place.

Biostorm winced under the blast and the pain of the boxes falling on her. She tried to dig her way out from the crates and make her way to Totem so that she can tag her with a Bio-Disrupter but found she couldn’t move

**********

Guardian ignored the sound of the explosion, keeping her eyes on Jezebel sprinting over the top of the crates towards her position. She shifted her grip on the length of pipe and moved to where she would be able to get a swing at Jez should she jump down or move close enough to the edge.

**********

“Oh God, what have I done?” Boreas just stood there in panic mode for a couple seconds registering what just occured. Stupid, Stupid, STUPID! She thought as she gazed at the wreckage. It had been a while since she had lost control so completely and quickly.

Totem looked to be okay, if not a little shaken by the blast, however Biostorm seemed to be buried under some rubble. She turned her back on Totem, and quickly moved over to the crates Biostorm was trapped under. She tried to shove some of rates to the side to uncover Biostorm, but could barely move them. The smoldering crates could not harm her, but she was not too sure about Biostorm. All the previous instruction of holograms and safety protocols were lost in the frenzied landscape of Boreas’s mind. All that mattered now was to help out Biostorm.

“Biostorm, can you hear me? Are you all right?” She cried out, a bit more emotional than expected given the supposed assurances given by Aidan that no one would be harmed.

Biostorm groaned softly, but didn’t move where she was pinned under the crates.

Seeing that getting to Totem was going to be a little tough, Biostorm tried to get in a good shot with her gun at Totem, but the Native was quickly out of sight and out of range. Harmless, huh. That Boreas sure packs a whallop. Good for her.

**********

Nathan stoped in his tracks at the sound of the blast. By all the… Guardian better be able to handle Jez herself, because it sounds like Totem may need some help. Nathan turned and raced towards the blast.

**********

Jez picked up a bit of speed as she ran along the tops of the crates, heading for the tower and ignored the explosion. She kept half an eye open for Guardian’s old position, trying to see if she was going to follow or not. Guardian had moved from where she was before, but Jez couldn’t see where she was now.

As she got closer to the tower of crates, Jez clenched her teeth. Hope these things aren’t too heavy…. She turned her shoulder towards the crates and hit the side of them with a thud. Jez felt like she had hit a brick wall - and that the wall had hit back. The crate barely shifted in place.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw the glint of metal just before something hit her calves and knocked her off her feet. As she fell, she saw Guardian’s grinning face as the lead pipe the Amazon was using as a staff came speeding down at her……

**********

Staggerred by a blow unlike any she might have anticipated, Totem fought to control the natural, primal, animalistic instincts which surge to the fore, threatening to overwhelm her logical mind and drive her on to deeds she would regret. The urge to strike back at her attacker was sublimated, but only by turning to the second edge of that base instinct.

With all of her strength, Totem and the Cougar spirit lept upward, back onto the crates above, clutching the now-punctured flag in her clawed fist. Having landed, she began to flee, as far away from the pain of Boreas as possible. She sprinted as fast as she could, running on all fours as often as upright, towards her team’s base, known