Log:Greatest Fears

Hope Must Die 2015/03/01 Despair Paragon Porter 1

Hall of Heroes

It was Porter's idea. Para was struggling with feeling not as heroic as of late. Having to compromise and let criminals run rampant due to old agreements, not having time to patrol the city as much, failing to capture Event Horizon or find any leads. She's been a little lost as her ideals have been questioned. A trip to the old Protector's base, since converted into a monument of heroes from way back, was planned to help inspire Paragon and maybe find out how the heroes of old dealt with such issues.

As Para wanders around the displays with Porter at her side, she goes about listening to the various stories of the heroic feats of the past. "Now these...these were real heroes. People who made a lasting difference," she says in reverent tones.

"Hey, so are you..." Porter assures her. Yeah, it was his idea. Sometimes he has good ones. "And you've made a difference. Still are making one."

You can both hear the sound of skittering and perhaps the giggling of a small child...

Third takes Porter's hand and gives it a soft squeeze. "I know, Partner. But with Event Horizon still at large, and all the other things happening in the city...it's hard to feel like I'm doing enough to make a difference." Her head perks slightly at the giggling. She smiles softly. "Sounds like someone's enjoying their visit," she says as she stops at Valkerie's display to listen to the history on her.

Porter returns the squeeze. "Hey, you can't be everywhere at once. And that's good. I like you right where you are." The skittering and giggling gets his attention, too and he chuckles. "Yeah..." He glances that way. "Think Kyssie'd like to come here some day?"

As the hologram depicts the history of Valkerie, the recording suddenly cuts out, leaving the place in silence, except for the increased sound of giggling.

Third smiles softly to Porter. "When I'm not patrolling, there's no where I'd rather be than with you and Kysmette. I think she'd really like to come here when she's older. At least, I hope she would." She blinks as the recording cuts off and looks back at the plaque. "Hmm. Seems to be malfunctioning." She presses the play button again to restart the history recording.

Dead air..

A portion of the museum behind you goes dark...

Third looks over her shoulder. "Huh...that's strange..." she murmurs in mild concern. She holds onto Porter's hand. "Maybe we should head back to the main hall and tell someone the power seems to be shorting out," she suggests.

Porter holds up his hands. "Hey, I didn't touch anything..." Then he nods. "Yeah, you're probably right. Especially if there's kids around..." He looks around.

A giggling child runs up to Third and tugs on her jacket, "Missus..missus!?"

Third smiles down at the small child. "Uh, it's Miss. Are you lost? Do you need help?"

Matthew shakes her head, "No..no." her voice seems high..."Why did you come here?" she asks, looking at the both of you.

"Oh, just to pay respects to the heroes of the past, and maybe learn from their careers as heroes," Third explains in friendly tones.

Little Girl nods enthusiastically, "How about you Mister?"

Porter blinks. Well, theres the girl he was looking for. "Hi." He nods with Third. "Even heroes have heroes. " He crouches down to more the girl's level. "What about you? Your parents here?"?

Little Girl doesn't answer and says in childish excitement, "YOU TWO are HEROES??" she says giggling...

Third nods softly, still smiling. "Well, yes. We're just on vacation, you could say. It's our night off."

Little Girl's eyes go wide, "Do you think you will be here someday?"

Porter shrugs. "Dunno about me," he thumbs at Third, "but I know she will. So, you like the heroes here? Any favorites?"

Third looks to Porter, surprised by his vote of confidence. Well, maybe she shouldn't. He always believed in her. She gives his hand a gently squeeze. "I know you'll be here, too. Right alongside me. Together, Partner," she smiles at him warmly. She looks to the little girl to listen to her answer.

Little Girl grins..and somehow..its not reassuring. "I like you two best. I think they will put you here for sure. Permanently."

Porter blinks. "Well, thanks. I think? Takes a while to earn a spot here, I'm guessing. Otherwise there'd be a lot more here..." He chuckles at the girl. "But, hey, we should get you back to your folks." Because he now understands the worried part angle.

Paragon hears Porter's voice inside her head: << Aww, that's cute. I bet Kyssie'll want to see you up here, too. >>

Little Girl nods, "I think my daddy might like you too. He likes coming here...he's here right now."

Third nods along with Porter. "Yes. It will be a long time before we'd have a chance of being here. But thank you for the vote?"

Telepathic message to Porter from Paragon: << You...you think so? Maybe she'll get to see both of us here someday. >>

Paragon hears Porter's voice inside her head: << I'm happy with her seeing both of us today, and tomorrow, and the next day. But, yeah, maybe we can get our own little corner here somewhere, someday. >>

"Did you get lost? Are you trying to find your daddy?" Third asks.

Little Girl shakes her head, "No..I'm not lost. Daddy says he comes here because he likes the Heroes, he likes that they are all dead. Is that mean?" she asks innocently

Telepathic message to Porter from Paragon: << "She'll get to see us every day. Promise, Sweetie. I don't want to miss a day with Kyssie and you if I can help it." In fact, since Porter and her became exclusive and she was deemed Kysmette's mommy, after her patrols Para is always eager to come home and see them. "--wait...did that girl just say what I think she said...?" >>

Third's brow furrows at the little girl's comment. It takes a moment for her to process it. "Er...it is...unusual. Why does he like that they're dead?" she asks in a soft, disturbed voice. She glances around curiously for the father.

Porter blinks. "That's ...maybe not very nice? Why's he like that they're dead?"

Little Girl giggles, "Because every time a hero dies, hope dies. You know what my mommy's name is?"

Third looks even more disturbed. "No...what's her name?" she asks hesitantly.

Telepathic message to Porter from Paragon: << Her father doesn't sound like a good man...and if he's here... >>

Paragon hears Porter's voice inside her head: << No, he doesn't. Maybe we don't want to take her back to dad... >>

Little Girl says, "Hope." she giggles, "Know daddy's name?""

Porter frowns. "A guy who doesn't like your mommy very much?" Since now it sounds like a play on words. And he gets a sinking feeling.

Third shakes her head slowly. "No...what?"

Little Girl says, "Despair..." she giggles again, "Want to know my name?""

None of this does anything to remove Porter's frown. "What is your name?"

Telepathic message to Porter from Paragon: << You...may want to stand up and step back... >>

Third looks around alertly again, stepping closer to Porter's side as a protective measure.

Porter also straightens up to stand next to Third. Because the last time he crouched next to a kid, he got stabbed in the chest. With a red marker.

Little Girl smiles, "Kysmette. Love me?"

The blood's already drained from Para's face, so any reaction of that sort doesn't read on her. "Ky...kysmette...?" she repeats faintly. It's not exactly a common name...is it? She suddenly feels colder than she usually does. Except...the names of her parents don't make sense. It can't be their Kysmette...

Little Girl nods, "Yes Mommy. I've missed you." she says again innocently.

Porter's jaw drops open at the name. For a second until he closes it again. "That's not-" And then she speaks again, which removes all his ability to for the moment.

"What...what happened?" Third says as she steps towards the little girl and takes a knee. Finally, she answers her earlier question. "Of...of course we love you...but...you said your mom was Hope and your father was Despair. I don't understand...this can't be right..."

Little Girl nods, and looks at Porter, "Daddy.." then looks at Third, "Killed you."

Telepathic message to Porter from Paragon: << It...it can't be her...can it? After how Matt Regent was conceived, I just don't....what...? >>

"What...?" Third asks, then shakes her head. "No...he would never do that, Kysmette."

Paragon hears Porter's voice inside her head: << No, how could it be her? She's with Mrs. Growalski. And... no. I would never. >>

Little Girl seems hurt, "You don't believe me?"..tears start to well up in her eyes.

Telepathic message to Porter from Paragon: << I know you'd never, Sweetie. I wouldn't believe it for an instant. >>

Third's expression softens as the little girl cries. "There's no reason he would kill me. We love each other very much. And we love Kysmette very much..." she murmurs. She's just having trouble believing this is their Kysmette. It doesn't seem possible.

"No. I wouldn't." Porter frowns and crouches again, looking over the little girl in a new light. He's just not sure whether it's a suspicious one or a paranoid one. Maybe both? "We just... what do you mean? How? What happened?" Whether it's real or some sort of delusion, that's a good question. Then he nods with Third on both parts.

Little Girl looks between the two. "Don't worry Mommy..I forgive you."

Third glances to Porter before looking back at the girl. "Forgive me for what?"

Little Girl frowns, "For killing me of course?..Why do you think daddy becomes despair? and he kills you?"

Paragon hears Porter's voice inside her head: << "No. This is in our heads. A dream, nightmare, somebody's hacked our brains. It's not real. >>

Even though she's not really certain about all this, the shock of that statement causes Third to stumble back and fall on her rear, her hands planting on the cold stone floor to catch herself as she just stares. "I....n-no. I would never hurt you..." she says fearfully. Porter tries to get through to her head and she looks up at him, swallowing with difficulty as he tries to reassure her.

Telepathic message to Porter from Paragon: << Y-you're right. This can't be real. We'd never do those things. Never... >>

Porter shakes his head, his face going through a range of expressions before settling on an irate frown. "No. No way. This is a nightmare or delusion or somebody's hacked our brains." Because any or all of those make way more sense than what was just said.

Kysmette begins to really cry. "Mommy killed me, daddy avenged me, and now nobody believes me.."

Third shakes her head vehemently. "I would never kill Kysmette," she tells herself.

"And I'd never hurt either of you" Porter says with no probablies, maybes, or doubts of any kind.

Kysmette cries..

From the darkened area of the museum, the sound of skittering continues and grows.

Over the crying, Para can hear the skittering sounds. She rises to her feet carefully, looking over into the darkness before suddenly being enveloped by her armor. Her eyes shift from white to red, then green as she scans the darkness for heat signatures and activates her night vision mode.

Porter winces at the crying, whether it's real, delusion, nightmare, or other. But then he hears the skittering and Para armos up. He looks around, then to her.

Paragon hears Porter's voice inside her head: << What is it? See anything? >>

The modified vision of Paragon cannot see anything in the darkness...Nothing.

Telepathic message to Porter from Paragon: << I...I don't see anything... >>

Paragon frowns behind her faceplate. She looks back to Porter and shakes her head in the negative. Nothing found.

Porter is back to frowning again. If Para can't see anything, he's pretty sure he won't. She has way better peepers. So, when in doubt, ask? He looks to 'Kysmette.' "What is that noise?"

"Perhaps it is the 'father' she spoke of," Paragon finds herself whispering for some reason as she steps closer to Porter. "But...not you," she adds for clarification. It's not needed. It's just that almost obsessive compulsive robotic need to self-correct even when most people would realize it was obvious of unnecessary.

Porter doesn't know, and isn't really sure he wants to know. But he gives Para slight shrug, followed by a nervous grin. He knew what she meant, of course. But it's still nice to hear her clarify it.

The skittering sound approaches closer from the darkness, until something seems to grow from the darkness taking form. Its human, not overly large or powerfully built, normal build, but in the darkness, all you can see is a dark silhouette on a darker background. From that silhouette a voice, very familiar, is hard..

The voice is Porter's. The form..is Porter's, but the tones..the tones are not. They are tones that have been heard before from him, but only rarely so. An angry Porter, a vengeful Porter, the voice Porter has used when Third has been gravely endangered or hurt in front of him.

Despair says in an angry tone. "Hope has returned?...I do not believe it was possible."

Porter, the vengeless, dorkier, rather than vengeful and darkier one is... at a loss for words. Sure, the sound is familiar, but... yeah, not something he hears often. And, in a way, something he fears. Things can get bad enough when he's trying to -help- people...

Paragon's eyes shrink in diameter for a moment as her head turns and she scans the person stepping from the darkness. "I'm not Hope," she offers in a mechanically friendly, correcting tone that she manages to muster from somewhere. That need to correct again. Machines, eh? In a softer, sadder tone, she answers with the name only he uses for her, "I am Para."

Despair steps from the darkness into the light, which he promptly blasts with a gun? "Oh..no, everyone always called you Hope. The positive one, the Hopeful one, The one who brings light into the darkness. Who would have thought you would be the one who would extinguish the light from my life." It is Porter, a bit older, with a permanent frown on his face. "You always said you would protect us." he pauses for dramatic effect before spitting out a venomous "LIAR!"

Porter always tries (tried?) to be the optimist. Even when he has every reason to not be. He rises from the aged Kysmette and stands, stepping between Para and Despair. It's probably not the first time, but it was usually metaphoric, not literal. "She never lies. She may not know the answer, but she never lies to anyone."

Despair cocks his head to the side, "Oh she lies, everyone lies, hers are just more believable because of her act of innocence. I remember you. Always the believer. The fall is so much greater because of it."

"Sweetie, be careful," Paragon says protectively as he interposes himself to...keep her self from himself? She doesn't want to hide behind him, but she also has faith that he knows what he's doing. Still, she can't help but worry. Her helm turns to the other Porter. The despairing one. "I didn't...I mean I haven't...I -wouldn't-," she struggles with the correct tense to use concerning Kysmette's future fate. "I will always protect Porter and Kysmette," she finally settles one a phrase she can correctly and accurately state. She steps a little closer, but is still behind Porter. "If you're really from the future...I'm sorry for your loss. -Our- loss." It wouldn't be the first time Porter's probability powers have bent time and space. She looks back towards the older Kysmette for a moment, is at a loss for words as well.

Telepathic message to Porter from Paragon: << "This is cruel if this is someone messing with our heads. If this is real...I want to help you. Comfort you..." Even if it's an illusion, Para still can't help but feel compassion and sadness for Despair. >>

Paragon hears Porter's voice inside her head: << "That isn't me. Can't be me. Even if... " Ok, admittedly, thoughts of the loss of Kysmette, just thoughts, leave a big empty hole. And then if what Ksymette said Despair, -he- did after, out of anger... His thoughts mute. >>

Telepathic message to Porter from Paragon: << A few moments after the muting of thoughts, Para's response is simple. It may not be comforting, but it is said with understanding and forgiveness, which may explain why she feels sorry for Despair. "I wouldn't blame you." >>

"No, I don't buy it." When in doubt, abject denial is a great go-to. Porter crosses his arms. "If you really are me, -were- me. then you know Para isn't a threat to Kyssie. You know who the real threat is. To everybody."

Despair nods "I am. But this time, it wasn't me. It was her."

Paragon hears Porter's voice inside her head: << His thoughts unmute, uncertain, but warming. "I know you wouldn't, Sweetie, But I would." >>

Paragon's head pans to her Porter and tilts quizzically. She doesn't know who the real threat is.

Despair shouts "For Hope to die! one must erase all Memory of it!" and a bracelet that hangs around his wrist with a 5 yen piece begins to glow then finally explode...

The blast from the 5 yen piece takes sends Paragon flying, and destroys all of the exhibits of the heroes. Debris flies outward away from Porter, caught in the blast is Kysmette, and she literally, disintegrates into nothingness...her atoms seemingly dispersed to the winds.

Paragon tumbles back along the tile floor of the converted museum, bumping against one of the destroyed pedestals as an image of an angelic looking hero flickers out. Fortunately, her hardware is more insulated and hardy than the displays.

Porter throws up his arms in front of himself by reflex, but the blast seems to pass through or around him without any effect. Which leaves him blinking. Then he realizes that Para is knocked back, the displays are gone, and even the odd Kysmette is ...gone?! "No! Stop this!"

Despair shakes his head, "I only wish I could, I only wish I could..would you like to see how it happened Porter?"

Telepathic message to Porter from Paragon: << Systems optimal. I'm okay, Sweetie. >>

Paragon hears Porter's voice inside her head: << And you're going to stay that way. Not going to let him, me, hurt you. Or anybody else. >>

Paragon ends up half-sprawled on her side. Her helm tilts over to her Porter, relieved to see he is unharmed. Then her head pans to look for the older Kysmette, but doesn't find her.

"You can alway stop, do something else, something better," Porter points out. "And, sure, show us. You're wrong, then we'll see it, and you can, too."

Despair throws a capsule on the ground and a smoke explosion rises from it, and like an old style projection holo, a films starts and you see modern day Third and Porter with Kyssie out on a date night in Low town, things seem to be a normal night when a stylized armored figure shows, it is of a configuration you do not know, perhaps its 10th? 11th? who knows The new mecha begins to gesture and speak, and Porter quickly confer before Paragon takes kysmette into her arms and begins to jump away, Leaving Porter behind, The new mecha does not take Porter as the bait, instead he aims what looks like some kind of force beam at Paragon, The beam wraps around Paragon, and throws her into the ground face first, before she is thrown into the ground Paragon can be seen throwing the little bundle at the ocean..with her prodigious strength it reaches it...

Paragon halts from getting up as she just watches, frozen, at the holovid replay. Her eyes expand in diameter as she watches herself throwing the bundle in the ocean in some desperate attempt to find a soft landing for Kysmette. Poorly calculated. She struggles to analyze the video and understand. Her eyes flicker and look to the other armored figure. "I...I can't believe it," she murmurs, but she's not certain if she can't believe what she did (or will do), or if she doesn't believe the entire scenario.

The video continues as a hero of unknown name or origin seems to streak after the baby, it is a being of energy and light who attempts to catch the baby, it seems the hero wasn't in the camera's view originally, so perhaps this was a planned item, but the being of energy fumbles the catch, and the baby lands hard in the water..skipping along its surface for a long way before being swallowed by waves.

Porter just watches, and stares. Para tossing Kyssie to safety? Sure, he could believe that easily. Throwing her at England? Not so much. Illusion, history, or something else, the image of Kysmette falling, skipping across the water, and sinking makes Porter's heart fall, skip, and then sink. He wants to deny the crazy sight, but his words are hard to form. "Not. Possible."

Despair nods, "I had a hard time believing it too..even as I watched it happen..I couldn't really see what happened..I thought Lightray had caught Kyssie.." his voice hard, "But he hadn't...he missed her."

Paragon goes through a similar sensation as she watches. Her mouth opens to refute it. To say something. But sound refuses to come out. She just stares. Eventually, she murmurs in shock and disbelief, "I...can't believe I would take such a risk...not...not with our Kysmette. Not with anyone's child..."

Despair shakes his head, "I believed in hope. It was Paragon, it was...my love, we had dodged so many bullets, but not this time...not this one. This risk was too great, we took for granted all the times we had done things like this before

"She wouldn't." Porter agrees, though a bit hoarsely. "It wasn't her fault." It couldn't be. "And it wasn't Lightray's, either." Of course, that doesn't leave a lot of people to blame.

Despair shouts, in the same hoarse voice, "She said she could do it! She said Lightray would not miss, that we could trust him. She Lied! Who throws a baby?? Who does that??"

Paragon manages to proper herself up into at least a half-sitting position, her eyes dimming as she watches Despair. As if the holovid wasn't painful enough, seeing someone that looks like Porter, -her- Porter, in so much pain is agony for her. "I'm...sorry. I still can't believe even I would take such a risk with our child. If I truly did that...somehow thought everything would be okay...I'm so, so sorry." That pain can be heard in her metallic ringing voice. "I made a horrible mistake. One I don't think I could've lived with," she says as her throat constricts. Illusion or not, it's still painful to watch. To think about. "But you shouldn't blame all heroes for my mistake."

Telepathic message to Porter from Paragon: << My...my heart aches... >>

Paragon hears Porter's voice inside her head: << You didn't do it on purpose. Hell, you didn't do it at all. I don't know what this is, but you haven't done it. We haven't done it. And we wouldn't. >>

Paragon hears Porter's voice inside her head: << His thoughts are pained at the thought of everything that's been brought up, of course. But that doesn't mean he thinks they would do that. >>

Telepathic message to Porter from Paragon: << Para tries to believe him. Denial maybe? She doesn't want to believe she would ever risk Kysmette. That Porter would lose hope. "I want this to be a trick. Someone playing with our fears. But can we be sure? You've traveled through time before, remember? What...what is that's really you? We have to help you..." >>

Despair nods, "I have heard it before Paragon." He levels the gun at her..

Porter lifts his hands out to the sides as he stays, or moves, between Despair and Para. "I don't care what you showed us, what you think. SHE-" He nods to Para, " didn't do that. And I don't think I'd do this."

Paragon drags herself up to her feet as Porter acts as a shield for her. "Sweetie, be careful. I don't want you getting hurt," she warns as she holds out a hand towards him.

There is no more talk, there is only the sound of a strange report as the gun is fired. There is no look of remorse or sadness on the face of Despair, just one of concentration and determination.

Despair fires...

Telepathic message to Porter from Paragon: << PORTER! >>

Despair blows the end of his pistol, "I made a magic bullet..."

Paragon's mind screams at the same time she shouts out, "PORTER!" She sprints forward in one giant leap faster than she realizes she's capable of. Love can make you do amazing feats. She lands and skids along the ground on her feet, the metal plates kicking up sparks. She throws one leg out to turn her as her momentum carries her just past Porter. Paragon turns about and stops in front of her Porter, facing him just as the bullet hits her in the back instead of him. "AAA-AAGGuhhh...!!" The bullet rips into her. It rips through her armor as it knocks her away from both Porters. Something about it burns out part of her systems. Something else about it rips away some of the magical energy holding her animate. As she collapses face down, electricity angrily sparks from the hole in her armor. A pool starts to form under her, dark and sticky. Old blood. Her eyes flicker and dim as her power systems start to fail and backup systems try to make up for lost power.

Paragon hears Porter's voice inside her head: << I got thi-NO!!!! >>

Despair nods, "Hope dies again. It will not take long to erase the memorie of her.."

Telepathic message to Porter from Paragon: << "S...sorry...Sweetie...c...couldn't let you...couldn't risk you..." her thoughts are weak and hazy through the pain. >>

Porter thought he had this. And then Para jumped in front. Is he really that surprised? No, he guesses he shouldn't be. And when she's shot through and falls, he can feel her pain. Even worse, Despair gloats. And Porter feels despair, and rage. His initial reaction is the expected usual: he wants to punch Despair in the face for hurting her. But in this case, his anger is suddenly overshadowed by an epiphany: that reflex is what started this in a way. Despair wants Hope dead. Well, !@#$ him. Porter will keep Hope alive. "I'm here, Sweetie, and it'll be Ok." Because he can still hope like hell everything's fine. And that her backups are good.

Paragon hears Porter's voice inside her head: << I'm going to prove him wrong. >>

Porter turns back to stare Despair in the face. "No, she's alive. And she's staying that way..."

Telepathic message to Porter from Paragon: << What...what're you planning? >>

Paragon hears Porter's voice inside her head: << If he's what happens when I get ticked off and really want to hurt someone... I'm not going to. >>

Paragon is still pained, but some of it seems to ease. Maybe most of the pain was really from the initial disruption to her systems and the damage wasn't as bad as it initially seemed. The damage is considerable still, but it's not enough to make her unoperational. Not yet. She plants her hands on the ground and pushes herself back up to her feet with a sway. "I don't want to hurt you. I never wanted to hurt you," she says as she moves with a grinding of metal plates and a few sparks. She leaps towards Despair and makes a grab for his wrist.

Despair is much more agile than Paragon expected. As she tries to clap a hand on his gun arm, he deftly jerks his hand out of the way.

Despair watches the clumsy attack completely miss him but he knows this Hero has serious power, he touches his belt and teleports across the room, he drops the gun, and begins to draw figure in the air, then points a finger at Paragon. A double Hex forms around his finger, until electricity begins to arc within the hex and suddenly it fires off...

Porter said he'd keep Hope alive, and since that's Para, it's not really hard to motivate himself. This time, when it looks like Despair is going to do something, Porter tries to do the opposite. One wants to the harm, the other to stop it.

The beam hits the invisible wall just short of Paragon and the wave, though it be energy, seems to have an almost physical visible quality as it hits the wall.

Paragon flinches as the blast is about to hit her. But just before it does, it seems to just splash harmlessly, leaving her miraculously unscathed.

Porter is the least surprised when the zot ...doesn't really zot. "Oops?" He smirks at Despair. "You know, we can do this all day, but there's always going to be Hope."

Paragon hears Porter's voice inside her head: << I've had lots of practice trying not let me hurt people. I think I can do this. >>

Telepathic message to Porter from Paragon: << You're amazing, Sweetie. Thank you for the save! >>

Despair nods "We probably can..because you are me, and she is the murderer of our child, you just don't know it yet. But when you do. Then I won't have do do anything. Hope will die, and everything you want to do to save it..we will both regret one day."

Telepathic message to Porter from Paragon: << I don't want to hurt him. But he's so fast. I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to stop him for his own good. Then we need to get him help >>

"I'm so sorry you've gone through so much. We want to help you. Please stop. I don't want to hurt you," Paragon pleads with Despair.

Paragon hears Porter's voice inside her head: << Whoever he is now, if he wants to kill, we need to stop him. >>

Telepathic message to Porter from Paragon: << I...I don't want this to ever happen to you, Sweetie. I...I just can't imagine having to fight you... >>

Despair raises an eyebrow, "You don't want to hurt me? That's what all heroes have said. Until they do..over and over again, only to say, "sorry..I didn't mean to!" and then begin to justify their actions. Sound familiar?" he says shaking his head, "I'm out.." he touches his belt and disappears..

"N-no, wait!" Paragon leaps towards the disappearing Despair, and reaches for...air. So she just stands there in shock for a moment, her fingers curling slowly, almost numbly, into a closed fist one by one before finally dropping to her side.

Porter isn't sure what to say, though it does sound familiar. Well, at least the apologies. But Porter never really tried to justify his mistakes; he tried to atone for them. He steps up to Paragon and puts a hand on her shoulder, though he doesn't say anything.

Paragon turns to Porter and wraps her arms around him, burying her faceplate against his neck. "If...that was really you...I'm so sorry, my love. I never want that for you..." she says weakly. Her injuries are still severe, and now that she doesn't have to power through the pain, she starts to wobble a little.

Porter kept her alive, now he holds her to keep her upright. "I know. C'mon, let's go home." Sure, they can talk more about it, but they don't need to do that here.