Log:Recommissioned

Recommissioned 2020/07/19 Paragon|Para Kysmette 1

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day for neighbors... or families to be shopping. Clear and sunny, but not oppressive, with a cool breeze coming off the ocean. Ok, most of a family. No FLASHTHWUMPING today, so... a nice walk? Maybe leaping a tall building or two? Kyssie can be both spoiled and demanding in her transportation desires, sometimes.

Para gets talked into a short ride on the Paragon Express on the way to the shops. How can she say no to Kyssie? And it seems harmless enough. She lands with Kyssie tucked in with a hug to keep her safe. "Okay, no more jumps, Kyssie," she says as she sets the pink princess down and takes her hand. "We have to walk the rest of the way while shopping."

Porter can't blame Kyssie. He enjoys them, too. The wind in your hair. The great view. The brief moment of weightlessness. The spark of sheer terror. But most of all, the hugs.

Still, Para has a very good point. Jumping -into- a store might be entirely possible... but it can be a little hard on the roof. Not that Kyssie complains too much. Walks with mommy are great, too! Hand in hand! Passersby in the parking lot even smile at the sight, though only give their 'd'aww' comments with expressions, not words.

Well, all but one, as a distorted, warbling voice comments from behind them. "Aww... if it isn't mommy dearest..." Even with the layered, reverberating effect, the sarcasm and spite can practically be heard hitting the pavement after dripping off.

Para hears that voice and quickly moves Kyssie in front of her before turning around rapidly. She's interposed between the voice and Kyssie, body tensing and preparing for fight or flight as she looks to the voice.

The voice is, of course, familiar. As Para turns, the sight is likewise so. A cloaked figured with a dark bodysuit beneath, though most of what would be revealed by the cloak is ...distorted, unfocused. A visual effect not unlike the audio oddities of the voice. The space within the hood is little more than a black void.

One black (gloved?) hand extends towards Para. "Your little act may fool some, but -I- know what you really are. Nothing more than bits of metal, and scraps of meat. Leftovers scraped up and cobbled together. Do you think they've forgotten? Let's remind them..."

And then... well, nothing happens.

Para gasps as she's touched, expecting something horrible to happen based on how this being sees her. She recognizes the meta from when Porter was transformed. She immediately shares with Porter what she's seeing and hearing, if he's even in this time to receive it. He probably wouldn't be happy hearing Para called leftovers and scraps of meat.

When nothing happens, Para doesn't waste her shot. She draws back her fist and launches a right hook at the entity.

No, Porter is most certainly not happy! He also assures her that she is anything BUT all that! Also, that he'll be right there. And there's a FLASHTHWUMP on his end. Though he doesn't appear. This is followed by an apology. Then some sudden screaming. And more assurances that he'll be right there. As soon as he figures out where he is... and why the room has teeth on the floor and ceiling.

Maybe that unsettling image is why her fist swings wide? As Para recovers her stance, she realizes that the sun is suddenly not quite so bright, or warm. The breeze not nearly as pleasant on her skin. The startled noises of Kyssie behind her still quite clear and in perfect focus, yet they seem somewhat ... muted.

All this despite systems reporting 100% operational status, and atmospheric readings appearing perfectly normal.

The figure tsks, clucking tongue as a finger is waggled at Para. "You don't -really- want to do that..." No face, much less a smile, is visible, but it can almost be heard in the tone.

That is definitely why Para's fist goes wide. Para looks behind her to see why Kyssie is startled, ready to try and scoop her up and leap away to safety.

Kyssie was certainly startled by the creepy fuzzy weird person who was saying mean things about her mom! Though she does look worriedly at mommy as Para turns. She even whispers, if a little loud, "Mommy... are you Ok? Did they make you sick again?"

Para blinks at Kyssie's warning, then looks down at herself to see why Kyssie thinks she's sick. "I'm okay, Kyssie. Go run into a store to hide. Daddy will come pick you up soon!"

Kyssie's reaction is probably due to Para's pallor. That tan she'd been working on all summer is gone. Her skin is pale. Deathly pale. Not that Kyssie hasn't seen that, before, but it's been a little while. She nods and starts to back up a step, but hesitates, looking between Para and ... the creepy fuzzy weird floating person.

"How sweet..." comments the aforementioned creepy fuzzy weird floating person. "Are we playing save the citizen again, number three?"

"Kyssie, sweetie, get to safety now. Mommy will be fine," Para insists to Kyssie, then quickly turns to face the fuzzy floating person. "Who are you? What do you want with my family?" she insists sternly. She's pale, so she starts seeing if she can access her old-fashioned systems check and diagnostics.

Systems diagnostics are available, yes. Everything is rather familiar, or mostly so. Her OS version might be different: newer, if she recalls correctly... which isn't as easy without the fast-access data stores. She now has them, of course, but that may not help retroactively?

Kyssie, finally listens, though she still looks worried as starts to dart off.

"-Your- family?!" Distorted laugther follows. "That isn't a family. It's a farce. Just like -you-. Just like -him-. Now everyone will see that..."

"Yes. My family. I love them and would do anything for them. Who are you? You talk like you personally know us and that we've somehow harmed you, but I've never met you before. And I'm certain Porter hasn't, either." Para tenses and tries activating her armor.

Of course her armor works. She wouldn't be Paragon without them, right! After bracing with a heavy step on the pavement, plates begin to articulate out from internal compartments and extend and telescope from there to interlock with one another to form into .. a majestic mantle of maternal might!

"Oh, I know you, and I know -him.- I searched for you, without even realizing it, for so long..." The words trail off and pause, to continue after a moment with a fresh distorted laugh. "... but I'm not the only one searching..."

A priority message is then received by Paragon's comm system:

PRIORITY: ALPHA ONE

NEW DIRECTIVE RECEIVED: REPORT TO COORDINATE PACKAGE ZERO-ZERO-PHI-SIGMA FOR RECLAMATION. ALL OTHER PRIORITIES RESCINDED.

You change your Identity... give me a moment while I switch your @name and @alias....

Identity Changed. Name: Paragon.Alias: Para.

Your @desc and short_desc have been altered appropriately.

Paragon flexes her hands once she's fully armored up. With Kyssie safe, Paragon doesn't have to start throwing punches just yet. "What? Why were you searching for us?" she asks. Just then, the command lines come in and Paragon freezes at the directives.

<< Porter! Porter, you need to get to Kyssie right now!>> Paragon tries to transmit to Porter before it's too late.

<< I'll get her! I'm coming! What's wrong??!?!>> Porter is always worried about things, even when he tries not to be. When Para gets worried, though, he really starts freaking out.

The figure seems to take Paragon's sudden freeze as a validation of the prior statement. Another laugh is added, along with a finger-waggling wave of one hand. "Take a break. Go visit some old friends. Mothers deserve some downtime, too. Don't worry. I'll take care of 'your family.'"

Within the helm, Para's expression of dread and alarm flatten to a neutral expression. Porter doesn't get an answer in response to his question. But he does receive the broadcast answer to something else. <>

Paragon's footing readjusts to turn her to the direction of the coordinates. Then, her legs coil before she springs into the air in a massive leap, leaving behind the villain, and her daugther.