Jees, these guys deserve to be hit. He muttered under his breath as he pulled his 76 Pinto wagon up the driveway to the lone manor on the hill. The car had seen many better days and looked out of place in the well off neighborhood of Paragon Citys suburbs.

Hes my little brother, Eddie. She said from the back, her voice strained with pain. If he gets hit from you leading someone here, Ill personally use your testicles a bolas the next time I fight a Marcone.

Im just noticin, Kate. He replied as he swallowed noticeably.

And Im just saying, Eddie. Hes family, no touch or I will get very upset. She said with a violent cough.

Damn, this shit hurts. The morphin's wearing thin. She groaned as she clutched her wounded midsection. Just get me there, he'll help.

 

=O=

 

Thunder Childe, the hero, leaped high into the sky as he followed the flying mechanical robot. The clockwork oscillator suddenly hovered and turned to attack him. Halting in midair, his wings spread from his back and seized the air as Thunder Childe drew back his fist and struck the robot. The oscillator spiraled to the ground, nothing now, but a shattered tangle of twisted metal and wires.

Suddenly, he wheeled around, as his giant white wings attacked the air. As he flew his circuit high over the city, he noticed that there was a flock of birds flying towards him. More clocks. He thought as he turned towards the dark mass in the distance.

Somewhere a loud explosion sounded in the distance. Again and again it sounded. He turned away from the flight of robots that approached and flew toward the sound, knowing that he would face another villain there. Flying as fast as he could toward the sound he began to realize it grew no closer, the sound stayed in the distance.

Damnation. He said out loud as he woke from the dream.

Lifting his head from the pillow, he looked at his alarm clock. Shit, its three in the morning! Who the hell he groaned.

Taking a deep breath and closing his eyes for a moment to gather his thoughts, he remembered his flying dream and smiled. His smile quickly turned into a frown as the howitzer went off again. The door downstairs shook as a fist hammered it again and again.

Throwing on a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt, Thomas Donner went down the main stairs to the front door. At the door, he looked at the security monitor, he noticed the figure at the door was alone and the security system revealed there was another person in the car on the driveway. Taking a deep breath he reached for the door knob as the pounding began again.

All right, damn it! Im here, now stop the racket! he said as he threw open the door.

The door was tall in itself, nine feet in height. And yet the top of the door jam only cleared Thomas head by less than a foot. Specially made, he knew it would take nearly an actually army to knock it down, but still the racket was damn loud. Standing in the door, Thomas made quite an intimidating figure, glaring down at the little man who dared to pound on his door at such an hour in the morning.

The person that had been hammering on the door was not truly a small or weak person. He was just over six feet tall, but still the visitor stood there in shock as Thomas glared down at him. The visitor was dressed in a sleeveless biker jacket and blue jeans. From the looks of his arms, he worked out quite a often. Tattoos covered nearly every bit of skin that was exposed. His face, chest and arms were covered in a blood red pattern. The chest had a single large skull tattooed there, with his face and arms bearing a tribal design. Along with the tattoos, Thomas noted the visitor could use a long bath and re-acquaintance with a bar of soap.

Well, demanded Thomas in a stern tone as the man in front of him just stood there, his mouth agape.

Im, ah he began. Im lookin for Thunder Childe.

Well, you got him out of bed and now he wants to know what the hell you want. So, speak.

Its about your sister. The stranger began. Hearing these words, Thomas gut twisted inside. He suddenly tensed and set himself on guard, possible more on guard than if he were about to fight a pack Hellions.

Thomas leaned forward and intensified his gaze. Shes not here, he said slowly as he tried to pierce the mans thoughts with his eyes. What do you want with her, anyway?

No, thats not it, shes hurt. I mean the mystery man started as he took a step back.

Where is she?! Thomas said with a steel ring in his voice as he advanced on the figure in front of him. The man backed up and took up a fighting stance with his right hand drawn back as if to strike at the angry giant. The strangers hand began to smolder with black tendrils. Thomas realized this stranger at his door may well be the only person who might be able to tell him more about his sister. Stopping his advancement, Thomas visibly calmed himself.

Thinking Thomas was focusing on some unknown power to attack with, the visitor held up his left hand as if to halt the possible attack as he moved back a step. No, shes hurt! I didnt do it; she wanted me to bring her to you for help! I didnt hurt her! He said in a rapid voice as he backed away from the door.

Where is she? Thomas said again in a firm, but much less threatening tone of voice.

Shes Shes in my car, over here, he said as he started toward his car in the circular drive. Damn, she said little I thought he said muttering to himself, not realizing he had said it out loud.

Yeah, my sisters four years older than me. Thomas volunteered; overhearing the mans fading comment.

Oh Was the strangers only reply as he glanced back at the dark figure following him.

Following the strange visitor, Thomas looked the over the old car carefully as they approached. Not being able to see inside the tinted windows, Thomas searched for any sign of his sister. He stopped his visual search as the fellow turned to the rear of the vehicle and opened the rear hatch of the vehicle. Thomas realized that with his sisters height, much like his, she would not be able to travel in this car unless it was in the back.

There in the back of the vehicle Thomas immediately recognized the short bleached blonde hair of his sister. She was curled up in a fetal position that allowed her to fit in the back of the little car.

Feeling the hatch open behind her, Kate had turned her head and looked up at her brother. Hey bro, I think I broke somethin. She said with a weak smile as she passed out, again.

Immediately, Thomas knelt near her and checked her pulse. It was weak, but steady. Knowing that she needed attention right now, he gently pulled her from the back of the car and carried her back to the manor.

Thomas realized he would need more information from the mystery man, he called over his shoulder, in a stern and commanding voice, You, what ever your name is, come with me. I am going to need your help here.

Feeling his feet almost move by themselves, in reaction to the commanding tone, he shut the hatch to the little station wagon and followed the looming figure back into the house.

Here, here! Thomas scolded, in a hurry to get his sister to the infirmary. Close the door behind you and follow me to the elevator. She needs medical attention, now.

Yes, sir. He muttered as he closed the door.

 

=O=

 

Going deep beneath the manor, the elevator stopped at the lowest level, Thomas waited as the doors opened before he stepped into the short corridor. Walking rapidly, he turned into the left-most door. Inside the door was a small room with an oversized examination table in its center. The small emergency room was filled with all manners of medical equipment and cabinets.

Thomas laid his sister on the examination table in the small infirmary. Again he checked her pulse and said another prayer under his breath as he noted her pulse had not weakened further. Good thing I ordered that oversized exam table, in case I wound up on it. he noted quickly.

Grabbing a blanket and sheet off the nearby shelf, Thomas covered his sister as he began to peel away the ruined t-shirt she had worn. It was a tangled mess as it had also been the bandage that covered the gaping wound in her abdomen. The wound itself was a deep and nasty cut across her stomach.

With the t-shirt cut away, he began to clean the wound that covered nearly all of her midsection, just above her navel; he let the tattered t-shirt fall to the floor. Her chest was covered by the blanket as he also cleaned the blood from her stomach area.

The Circle of Thorns are the only ones who would wield a blade that would make a cut this ragged, where you fighting them tonight? Thomas asked the silent figure that haunted the corner of the small room.

Yes, we, um he began.

Yes, will do. I just need to know that it was the Thorns. Lord, they just do not know when to quit. Thomas said as he took out a filled intravenous solution bag out of a nearby cabinet.

Thomas hung the IV on a post near the table and began to clean his sisters arm to insert the needle for the IV. He noted to himself that she probably had lost a lot of blood in the ride from where ever they had fought the Circle of Thorns and wondered if there was any whole blood in the infirmary cooler.

He muttered a loud, Shit! as the needle bent into a knot, trying to pierce her skin. Stepping over to another cabinet he opened a drawer and pulled out a needle marked, Thunder Childe. Moving back over to his sisters arm, he was happy to see that the needle slip easily into her arm, allowing the IV solution to flow.

Were you followed? He asked, looking over his shoulder to see the young man standing by the door. I need to know if we will be having visitors this morning.

Not that I know of, we defeated the group of, um them that we fought. She took a hit from last of the Thorn Wielders as I took him out from behind.

Well, thats all I need to know for now. Go wait in the next room, there is a couch in there, you can lie down. Ill be out after I finish stabilizing her.

As the stranger left the room, Thomas realized he was a lot younger than he had first thought.

Damn, was he maybe 19 or 20? he thought. Kate has got to stop robbing the cradle like that.

 

=O=

 

With a start, he woke up. He began to look around him in a panic until he realized how he had gotten here. He had fallen asleep on the couch in the office next to the infirmary.

So kid, Came a voice from behind the desk. Whats your name? Or will I have to just keep calling you kid?

Its he began, as he sat up from the couch. Its Eduardo, I mean Eddie. Course out on the Isle, they call me Primo Colpo.

Well, to keep things less confused than they are already, how about I call you Eddie? Or should I keep calling you kid.

Eddies okay, I guess, Eddie replied. How long did I sleep?

About three hours. Its around 6:30 in the morning now. Have you had anything to eat lately? Thomas asked.

Not since yesterday morning. I was helping your sister yesterday and things got a little out of hand. We didnt get the chance to stop and eat all day.

Well, follow me; we will get you set up. Thomas rose from his seat behind the desk and left the room with the young Eddie in tow.

First off, you are going to take a shower and change. Thomas said as he passed through the corridor to the elevator.

But Eddie began.

But nothing You look about the size I was when I was 13. I think I have a pair of shorts and a shirt from back then. I guess you are the reason I held on to them.

So, whats wrong with my clothes?

Nothing, I am sure theyre fine back on the Isle, but, to be honest, you stink and need to clean up before we eat. Thomas said as they exited the elevator, several floors later.

Eddie followed Thomas out of the room with a glare on his face.

Here, Thomas said as he showed Eddie to a spare bedroom. Go take a shower and I will get you a change of clothing. As Thomas noticed Eddies hesitation, he added. You have nothing to fear. I am not going to report you, nor am I going to take your fancy attire. They will be right where you left them change out of them. Now if you want to actually wash them, Ill show you where the washer and dryer are kept. Alfred has the day off.

 

=O=

 

As they finished breakfast, two more of the Paragon Heroes Incorporated arrive from a mission. Seeing their confused expression, Thomas introduces them to their new visitor.

Eddie, this is Merlote and Varnor. They are two of my teammates that share my little mansion here. Merlote? Varnor? This is Eddie. He brought in an old friend of mine who tangled with the wrong end of a Thorn Wielders sword. Hearing the way Thomas spoke of his sister, Eddie started to correct him, but quickly closed his mouth figuring Thomas had some other reason not to tell his friends that she was his sister.

As Merlote started to ask the young man a question, an alarm sounded, startling Eddie into spilling his coffee on the table. As he jumped up from the table, Thomas ran out of the room, shouting over his shoulder. Varnor! I need your help. My patient just went critical!

Merlote cleaned up the spilled coffee, as Varnor and Thomas left the kitchen in a rush. Sitting down at the table, she offered Eddie some more.

Aint you worried about them? I mean, they might need out help said Eddie as he stood next to the table with a confused look on his face.

No dear, they are two of the best in the business. Much as it pains me, we would only be in the way down there.

So, who is this patient in the emergency room? Merlote asked.

 

=O=

 

Entering the infirmary, Varnor ran next to Thomas sister on the examination table and put his right hand on her forehead as his left hovered over her abdomen, just over the wound. Closing his eyes he began to concentrate. The room began to glow a brilliant emerald green as his healing powers start flooded the woman on the table. Within seconds the room is bathed in the green healing energies.

Thanks, Varnor. That was too close.

If your instruments are correct, my friend, she is not healing as fast as she should be and my efforts will only be momentary, at best. She is not a rapid regeneration mutant, but she does bear the signs of a fast healer, much as you are.

Also, I have noticed there is an odd pulse to her wound. Have you checked for additional arcane elements?

Well, youre the expert there. I noticed some odd patterns in the diagnostics, but she had stabilized, so I did not get a chance to check further. answered Thomas.

Do we know the particular Circle of Thorns synod from which these wounds have come?

Thought you might have recognized the Thorns handy work. Not as of yet. The young man who brought her here just said they had tangled with them yesterday and they came to us right after fighting them.

Allow me to search further in this matter. There are pulses of arcane energies, but something else that I can not identify.

I can say the same thing about the science end of it. Thomas added. It would seem that there is a combination of science and arcane here. Defiantly like something the Thorns would be up to.

Yes, there are some traces of the Thothic synod in the energies. I will know more directly. Varnor answered as he bent over the table and focused his mystical energies on their patient.

 

=O=

 

After an hour of study, Varnor steped away from Thomas sister.

It is in fact the Thoth synod that is partly responsible for this. Have you discovered anything on the technical aspect of the disease that is ravaging her system?

Yes, I think I have. Thomas said as he looked up from his computer terminal. The virus seems to have a lot in common with some biological agents the Longbow encountered with the Crey and the Paragon Protectors earlier this year.

How did you obtain this information? I did not think you had access to the Longbows protected files?

I dont, but I helped a Longbow Commander a couple of weeks ago and he owed me a favor. Of course, this is big enough, now I owe him a favor. He managed to track down the files and get me a copy of them while you were meditating.

I see. Well, from what I can gather, now that we know it is Crey engineering, it seems that the Crey have engineered a bio-agent that begins to attack the meta-biology of both heroes and villains alike. To mask it and prevent healing powers and medicines from repairing the damage, the Circle of Thorns were brought in to cast a preservation spell on the virus; thus allowing the virus to remain unaffected by mundane methods, while the technological aspects of the virus prevent any mystical healing methods from affecting the virus.

Azuria and Dr. St. John Smythe in Atlas Park will want to study this further.

This is all well and good, my friend, but what about our patient?

I believe we can cure her, but I will need additional assistance, both in the arcane and mundane sciences. I will need the assistance of Hedge Witch. Has he returned from his mission in Crotoa?

Let me check. Also, Ill call Doc Barton and ask him to help.

How long do you think we have to find a cure?

Sadly, I fear she will pass from us unless we find a cure within the next 6 hours. With this information, Thomas bowed his head and leaned against the desk.

She means a lot to me, Varnor, quite a lot.

I know, Thomas, she is your sister. Do not loose hope, we shall prevail.

Just when I think I have lost the capability to be astonished by your ability to see the unseen, you completely turn that around.

 

=O=

 

After four hours, Thomas had assembled a team of healers, both science and arcane. Running to the wire, they had been able to scourge the virus from Kates system.

For the following two days, Thomas waited by her bedside for her to wake up. The day after cleaning the virus out of her system was fraught with adrenalin and worry. He felt as if he wanted to run out and take on these villains who made this, first hand, but more than anything, he wanted to be here, by her bedside, when she woke up.

Just as he began to relax a little and drift off to sleep in his chair, he noticed her hand twitching slightly and he was suddenly wide awake again.

Leaning over her bed, he saw her eyes begin to open as he put his hand on her forehead. Hey there, kiddo, you gave us quite a fright. He said, as he reached to gently move a lock of her hair away from her eyes.

Hey yourself, junior. She said with a weak smile and a quiet voice. She struggled to move closer to him. Seeing her movements, he leaned closer and wrapped his arms around her in a brotherly hug.

I knew you were too mean to let me go, Tom. I can never thank you enough for this. she said, looking away from his face, wiping away stray tear.

Shush, Kate. You dont have to. Just rest. Youve been through hell.

How long have I been asleep? she asked.

Its been two days now. We almost had the entire team working on you. You really know how to pick some winning combinations, sis.

Tom, you say the sweetest things. She said. So, how is Eddie doing? Has he run back to the Rogue Isles, yet?

Nope, he has been poking his nose into just about anything he can while he has been here, though. He even made the mistake of trying to get into Hedge Witches room to see what he could see. Hedge knocked him for a loop. Eddie woke up back in he room and has kept his mouth shut about the whole thing.

I was afraid of that. Tom, you need to watch him carefully, he will try to get word back to Recluse she said as she started to sit up.

Shhhhh Thomas replied as he pushed her back down in the bed. Dont worry about that. I thought it might come to that so young Eddie has been kept occupied, and quietly watched for any wrong movements. Merlote has been able to make sure he has not gotten into anything sensitive.

Does anyone know you and I are related?

Varnor does, in fact he told me the truth before I could make anything up. You know Tygger and Hedge, so they do, too. Other than that, no.

Although Eddie does. Is that safe, Kate? I mean, are you two lovers or anything?

Well he is cute, but, no I picked him up as a lackey from The Glint. She says he can be trusted, but only so far.

At the time, though, I did not have much of a chance to think things to far in advance. We were fighting the Circle in Bloody Bay and I knew we were closer to here than my resources back on the Rogue Isles. I managed to get to Indi Port before I passed out the first time. I had to trust Eddie to get me here.

But what if he starts blackmailing you with this information? You know you cant go back there. Its too dangerous. Thomas said with concern in his eyes.

You know I have to, Tom. He is still out there and I have to find him for what he did to me.

I know, but you are making quite the name for yourself out there. It gets harder and harder every day for you to come back and clear you name in Paragon. The authorities already have your name posted in the files for your breakout of prison.

Well thats the price I will have to pay, Tom. What that Marcone did to me signed his death warrant. She said with a cold voice. I will make him pay and pay dearly.

Well, Thomas started, changing the subject. Doc says you will be healed by this afternoon. It seems with that techno/arcane virus out for your system, our family genes had set you healing back to normal. You will be weak for a day or two, but you cant even see the scar anymore.

Thank you, bro. Ill come home, just not now. Im not finished with my work, yet. She said in a sad tone.

I know. He said, lowering his head and matching her tone.

Oh, Doc and Hedge kept some good notes while they were isolating you illness. They put all their notes on a CD here. I put a copy of it on the dresser, maybe that information will get you back into good graces and if Primo Colpo decides to use our relationship against you, you will have an ace to play against him.

Thank you, Tom.

Eh, its nothing, sis. Now get some sleep. I will see you later on. Im going to hit the bed, myself. Its been a long day. He said, heading for the door to her room.

Tell Mom and Dad I said, Hi. She said as he left the room.

He did not act like he heard her, but she knew he did. It was their parting ritual.

 

=O=

 

As Thomas stood on the veranda looking over the garden in back of the manor, a lone figure approached form inside the house. Doc Bartons height was nothing next to Thomas, but he was a tall 6 feet. Hearing his friends approach, Thomas glanced over at him and thought he looked odd out of his Tiger Armor. Together with Varnor and Hedge Witch, Doc had managed to keep the super group healthy while still fighting crime.

So shes gone off again, huh? asked Doc Barton as he exited onto the veranda.

Yep. Thomas replied.

Why didnt you let us set the alarms so we would know when she left? We could have helped you keep her from skipping out.

Would you really have wanted to be in my way, if I decided I didnt want to be somewhere? Thomas asked.

Oh hell, no! Ive seen you punch your way through six feet of reinforced concrete.

Well, Don, put yourself in my position, I wouldnt want to try and stop her anymore than you guys would want to try and stop me. Besides Thomas trailed off his answer.

Yeah, I know, Varnor told me, shes your sister.

You know her DNA scan also hit on a match for a villain out of the Rogue Isles by the name of Mistress Thunder, right?

Did you turn her in?

No. was Docs only answer.

I did, however, turn in my report and managed to manipulate the report enough to leave her out of it entirely. Doc continued. I talked to Varnor and Hedge, too, they will support you in this. Of course you get to answer the questions from the Longbow Special Investigations.

Worse than that, Don, I have to figure out how to tell Mom and Dad that their daughter is back out there, running the edge. Thomas finished as he looked back over the garden, to the setting sun.