Log:Reconciling with Nicky

Ruined Memories 2014/12/09 Nicky Paragon

5

Starguard Security Area

When everyone else has left, Nicky presses the button in her cell and when a gaurd comes, she asks to have the cell door unlocked. Emerging from the cell she goes to Paragon's cell. "Paragoon, do you have a moment?" she asks.

Paragon is still seated on her cot after everyone's left, her head panning over to Nicky. "Of course. I have plenty of time," she says in a friendly, polite tone, even if she accidentally pointed out the obvious.

Nicky smiles, "That's almost exactly what I said to Dorian when he asked me the same question. Paragon, I'm sorry. I let frustration get the better of me and said something I shouldn't have done. I'm very sorry and I hope you can find it within yourself to forgive me."

Paragon raises a hand as if to indicate it was no bother. "I should be the one apologizing, not you. In my attempts to be of assistance, I pointed out the obvious without thinking what I was implying by doing so. I didn't think carefully enough. The fault is with me." She rises up and walks to the transparent cell door. "It is -you- that I hope can forgive me for my thoughtlessness." Her voice becomes softer, sounding pained at the distress she's caused. "I trust you, Nicky. That has never changed. I hope you can forgive me for unintentionally making you think otherwise." Nicky pulls off the latex glove on her right hand and presses it flat against the outside of the cell door. "You're a friend, Paragon. I'm not going to let something this minor come between us. You were right anyway. That's what frustrated me. Not you saying it because that was a reasonable comment to make. But that after nine years serving my sentence, of trying to show I've changed, so many people would still assume I had compromised your friend if I healed him."

"I'm relieved you would still consider me a friend," Paragon says warmly. And then she sighs softly. "And I wish this mistrust of you weren't there. I try my best to speak well of you, but I can't change what everyone thinks. I would if I could. I wish they could all see the good in you that I do." She retracts her armor and puts her hand up against the cell door to match Nicky's. "It's unfair how bias still follows you. After all you've done to help to make up for past mistakes," she says kindly, and sounding truly sorry. Her voice no longer echoes with that metallic ring now that she's out of the armor. "Someday, they'll see what I see. I truly believe that," she smiles softly.

Nicky smiles, "I may have to wait until everyone who recalls what I did has passed on. I can if I have to but I'd rather not have to. I just don't know what else I can do, Paragon. But... enough about my woes. Why are you in here. It's nonsensical. I don't understand it."

"It surely won't be -that- long," Paragon says encouragingly. "I think aside from Starguard agents and a few old guard heroes, many do not know much about your past actions, save that hurting Harrisburg means crossing you." Her expression turns to worry as Nicky asks about her situation. "Your woes are very valid. If you feel the frustration is too much, I can try to visit more often. I tried before, but I was informed you were attending school, so I thought for a while that you were no longer incarcerated here. I suppose I misunderstood what they were saying."

She leans towards the cell door and tries to peak down the hallway. "Is my, er, lawyer here? He warned me not to speak of it, but I'm sure he meant to agents here." She sighs and smiles weakly. "He is an old friend who has known me since I first gained self awareness and free will. He calls me an optimistic, naive fool at best. At worst...something of a thoughtless machine. He's stern, but fair. I just don't want him catching me."

Nicky nods, "Then you should follow his advice, Paragon. I don't know why you're in here and I'm sure there's no rational reason for it. But the law is a web that is easy to get entangled in. You can tell me when all this has been sorted out and you are freed."

Paragon nods softly, looking like she wants to say something. "All I can say is...I don't know anything about the life this body...the life -I- had...before Mechaneer acquired this body and reanimated it." Her eyes shift to the metas sleeping in the other cells. "And if they are not outright fabricating what they are saying to plea bargain, then they may be from my past. Before Mechaneer had me raised."

Nicky looks at the four and then back to Paragon. "I think I see. That wasn't you, Paragon. Whatever you might or might not have been before you died and were raised that person isn't you. It's different with me. I committed crimes after becoming what I am now. But you haven't. Didn't."

Paragon tilts her head slightly. "I'm not sure of the legality involved. But I voluntarily surrendered so the law enforcement officers in charge could determine my innocence or culpability. And there's still no telling if they are even being truthful about knowing me. All I do know, is that the name they called me does not sound familiar. And I have no recollection of who they are."

Nicky asks, "Did they give you any names for themselves? Paragon? And what was the name they called you?"

Paragon hesitates, then nods to the cell closest to her across the way. "That one calling himself Barricade. He introduced himself as Garrett. I don't know the others. But he called me Madison. And another name. A moniker, I think. Ruin."

Nicky asks Paragon, "Does your lawyer know? Have you told him?"

Nicky goes to get a better look at the one called Barricade. Coming back she shakes her head, "He isn't the Barricade I knew."

"There was another meta you knew named Barricade? Who were they?" Paragon asks curiously.

Nicky says, "The Barricade I knew was a member of Starguard Gamma. They were second in command of the SSG team under Random Factor. This was quite a time back, before I turned myself in."

"Oh. I did not know that Barricade. Or this one. But I'm considerably relieved that a hero did not turn to a life of crime," Paragon nods, then looks to Nicky. "I heard talk of Stronghold. Is there really still a situation going on there after all this time? I've heard only rumors."

Nicky nods, "I've been here in Starguard custody for some time but as far as I'm aware the Stronghold situation continues. And if, as I heard, organisations are still sending villains to Stronghold... well that's insane in my view. All that is doing is providing additional mind controlled metas to the Gui.. to the people in charge there." Paragon frowns at the news. "I've never heard of the Gui. How can this be allowed to go on at Stronghold? Why has nothing been done?"

Nicky shakes her head. "I meant the Guild. But that's an unpopular opinion so I changed it to 'people in charge.' As to doing something about it, do you realize what a major task that is going to be. This isn't a gang of metas in a hideout. You know how difficult that can be. This is hundreds of villain metas under mind control. I wouldn't know where to even start. Dorian is eager to do something. But what? If you gathered every hero in Colonial Bay together they would still be out numbered. And the villains who get sent to Stronghold had been the bad ones. The dangerous ones. People like I was."

Paragon nods and frowns thoughtfully. "And the longer the delay, the stronger the forces become. That is a serious undertaking. It sounds like a covert approach would be best, and to find a way to break them free of their mind control. But they'd still be a problem." She thinks of the implications. "What are they doing to do with such a large army...?"

Nicky says bleakly, "Pretty much anything they want. My guess is that they're waiting on something to act. But I don't know what. I stayed there as long as I could trying to find out what their plans were. Maybe too long. I was badly injured when I sought protection here with a killer right on my tail. A killer who had UEMS credentials."

"UEMS creditials?" Paragon asks without any look of recognition from the initials.

Nicky amplifies, "United Earth Marshalls Service. UEMS. The organization that was given two-thirds of Starguard's duties and two-thirds of their budget too. Starguard had enough dealings with the Guild to start suspecting the truth. So the United Earth Council, who I believe is under the influence of the Guild, cut Starguard to ribbons."

Paragon's eyes widen at the news. "I had no idea." She rubs the back of her head and looks lost in thought. It just all seems so...big. And beyond her grasp to help fix. "If there's anything I can do to help deal with the Guild, I'll be sure to assist Starguard in any matters I can."

Nicky says, "You should tell Dorian. I'm sure he'll be pleased to hear that from you. Although I'm also sure he knows already you would be willing to help. I will help however I can too. Rather belated in my case. I was unaware of all this happening until it impacted me directly. The Guild and such wasn't something I was interested in. In retrospect that was a mistake on my part."

Paragon nods softly. "I don't think many people do think about the Guild. We tend to think about our own backyards rather than the big picture. Even I'm guilty of that. I like to think no task is too small, but then it leaves no times for the bigger things." That seems to make her think for a few moments. "Hmm. Perhaps I should re-evaluate my focus as a hero..."

Nicky sighs, "If every hero was looking at the big picture who's going to help the little guy? A personal tragedy is no less a tragedy."

Paragon smiles sadly. "Everyone's important. I just wish I had time enough to help everyone," she sighs. It's an unrealistic thing to wish for, but she regrets not being able to help more nonetheless.

Nicky "You do what you can, Paragon. You cannot do any more than that. And even then, you must make time for yourself too. That's not being selfish. That's just part of a sensible maintenance routine. If your armor was flawed you'd spend the time to fix it, right? Well you need personal time to stop your mind from becoming flawed."

Paragon smiles a bit at the thought. "Sometimes I worry the personal time -is- what's making my mind flawed. But...I'm trying. I used to never take personal time. But for the past handful of months, I'm finally trying it."

Nicky nods, "Good."

Before Nicky can continue a guard enters the cell block. "Lockdown." he tells Nicky, "We're on night rules now."

Paragon looks over to the guard and nods in acknowledgement, then looks to Nicky. "Thank you for talking with me, my friend."

Nicky nods, "I'll see you in the morning. And don't worry. I'm sure everything will work out just fine."

Nicky goes back to her cell and the guard checks all the doors before leaving.

Paragon nods and smiles. "I'm sure it will." She armors up again and goes back to her cot to bed down for the night.