Tag: Miss Amazing

They Say Time Heals All Wounds

They Say Time Heals All Wounds

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April 10th, 2024 – Wednesday: 6 AM

Darting away from Century Plaza about ten minutes before 6AM Garrick could still hear the hum of the city as he flew in black sweats. Trying very hard to shake Ameera’s playfully, pouting, face as he disentangled himself this morning to leave for sword practice. Aircar traffic was low at this time of day so he ducked lower between buildings excited to get back to Master Tyrone Nitobe’s class.

Landing about a minute before class started the students and the teacher looked a bit surprised as to his arrival. He was now very glad about the strict no phone policy of his sensei. While he had made a number of friendly acquaintances in the class he knew most of the guys were getting tired of and use to the ladies trying to flirt with the superhero in the ‘proverbial room’. Having his identity public as Garrick only seem to embolden some of them. Master Nitobe always squashed it if it got out of hand. Today was no exception, however, he let it linger a few extra minutes as personal way of acknowledging his actions in saving everyone. When Garrick explained to the group that he was 30 to 40 feet away from two heroes getting blown apart by a few of the active clones of the Ultramarine everyone paused. Garrick looked at his sensei and said he needed today to help meditate and process those images and that’s why he showed up to class. He wanted something more normal than the last 24 hours.

A number of students whom either had been in or had family that had served in: military, law enforcement, or medical professions. Instantly understood what he had seen and what he needed, they quietly spoke to anyone trying to get close to Garrick. Master Nitobe carefully went through the group lessons and hand picked whom would spar with Garrick that day. At the end of class Garrick was surprised when Master Nitobe called him up and nodded at the class. All of them and his sensei bowed and they thanked him for his service. They could see his stunned expression and class was dismissed. Nothing else was said and Garrick was allowed to leave without anyone trying to accost him.

April 14th, 2024 – Sunday: 11:33 AM

Garrick had just looked at the last issue of the Everyman paper targeting his team

“S” IS NOT FOR SOBER – Targeting the Rubberband Man
“A” IS NOT FOR ALLY – Targeting the Black Phantom
“V” IS NOT FOR VIRTUE – Targeting Hank of all people.
“I” IS NOT FOR INNOCENT – Targeting Caedechron.
“O” IS NOT FOR OBEDIENT – Targeting the Beast and his special consciousness.
“R” IS NOT FOR REPENTANT – Targeting Garrick “The Gryphon” Faulkner

Katherine had been looking at his reaction as he read the paper. The Garrick article contained interviews from some of the other folks who were in prison with Garrick, telling stories about the “infamous” Professor Gack and the deaths he caused. The article included information about his younger days too, described in a way that obviously reflects Adeline’s viewpoint, though from an interview with her husband. He wonders if the man is even capable of remorse, noting that Garrick’s sister has been in an institution for years and he’s never once tried to make contact – for all the good it would do.

Garrick made numerous frantic calls and used A.R.C.H.I.E. to help find out what he feared. The year he was released early was the same year she was institutionalized in Collingwood Psychiatric Hospital, in central Georgia. Garrick immediately flew over to try and see her, but he wasn’t allowed to see her because there was a restraining order against him, from the husband. It was filed the day after Garrick revealed his identity as The Gryphon.

That evening Katherine had Janosh set the record straight regarding those portions of the late Dr. Cuthbert Faulkner’s journal. The Monday papers ran stories about a sobbing Gryphon pounding on the door, screaming his sister’s name and “I had no idea. Your letter said you wished I was dead. So I stayed away.” Richard Gray showing up to drive him home and offer to pay for the dented door.

The narrative never belittled the husband or Adeline and their children however the facts regarding Adeline and her torture of Garrick were not sugar coated. Next to that headline was everything Garrick was willing to take to the grave regarding his sister including the letter she wrote. It portrayed Adeline as being a child having a hard time at handling grief that grew into an adult whom came to act on her brother in the manner he enabled to continue. Cuthbert Faulkner was tarnished slightly in the eyes of history for not taking a better role in raising his children.

Social media and everyone had an opinion with Garrick being seen as far more tolerant and compassionate. Katherine asked Janosh to over time make in roads and politely wear the husband down in hopes the brother and sister could both heal. Time will tell how successful that will be.

April 16th, 2024 – Tuesday: 6:02 PM

Outside the Giving Tree

Eliza Gunn was surprised when Garrick “The Gryphon” Faulkner walked up to introduce himself wearing black work boots, press tan pants with cargo pockets, and a black, denim, button down shirt embroidered with the orange and white logo for Mallic-Faulkner Technologies. He wore a rather robust golden bracelet sculpted to look like a gryphon biting its tail. It looked very secure and did not move around his left wrist. She mentioned that she’d expected a different outfit and Garrick shook her hand saying that might be a great opener for the interview and he cocked his head while smiling. Eliza finally understood what Kelly Thompson had been yammering on about.

One of the recent things that had made it onto the superhero forums was pictures of Garrick with four different women: A) A blonde, white woman; B) a blonde, middle-eastern woman with color streaked hair, C) A blue hair white woman which many took to understand as Miss Amazing out of costume, D) A black woman whom was nearly as tall as Gryphon. The term playboy and man-whore had been tossed around depending upon whom was posting and their favor of the Gryphon. Only a few people thought about polyamory as a reason for being seen with the women on a consistent basis.

“Hello Century Station, this is Eliza Gunn, reporting live in the Norwood sub-district. We’re at the charity organization the Gryphon has been a long standing patron of, The Giving Tree. With me,” as the camera shot changes from a close up to a wide angle, “is the S.A.V.I.O.R. team captain, Garrick “The Gryphon” Faulkner, all around renaissance hero.”

“Thank you, Ms. Gunn, but I’m just a man whom works for a robotics company and is a volunteer member of the C.S.P.D.”

Flipping over a small pad off camera “As president of the Faulkner Division of Mallic-Faulkner Technologies by day and the Gryphon of Norwood at night how do you find time to even sleep?”

Garrick looked around, “I can think of three people that put you up to asking me that question.” Garrick gave a hearty laugh before continuing, “The fact is one of my powers is not needing to sleep. It’s interesting because when I choose to sleep it’s to enjoy using my dreams as the avenue of processing countless thoughts at the same time. I believe some people call the process active dreaming.”

“You brought up a point I know countless users of the superhero forums want to know. There are a plethora of pictures showcasing you being seen out and about with four different women. I am also curious which one of them, if any, is related to your son, Sherman Faulkner?”

Garrick made a face suggesting he was impressed how quickly and deep she dug in on him, “Okay, can bring you bring up the photos on your phone and I can answer those questions? As to the information regarding my son. None of the women are his mother. Sherman lost his family and chose to stay with me when he had nothing and I stepped up to make sure he had a place to stay. In many ways I feel more like an older brother than a father figure. Sherman to me is family now and I hope that addresses the issue for you.”

Eliza’s tech person takes her phone and taps a few things on it then hands it back. The viewers see the pictures as follows:

  • Garrick having dinner Constance.
  • Garrick performing a morning jog with Ameera.
  • Garrick having coffee with Mavis.
  • Garrick hanging out with Katherine doing bummer cars. It’s from last Saturday since she has blue hair.

As he tapped each one in succession, “Girlfriend, Girlfriend, just friends, and Girlfriend that also lives with me.” The viewers saw a blue highlighted frame on their screens as he touched each picture.

“Some of our viewers I’m sure are surprised that you would admit to dating multiple women on air.”

“I don’t know why,” he seemed perplexed as though this might be normal, “There are plenty of single parents that date, and I just happen to be in a polyamorous relationship with three of the four women. All four of them are at least aware of each other and the last two have met in person. Not only have all three of my girlfriends met but they have their own private chat server where they talk all the time. I hide nothing from the three that have graced me with being my friends and partners. You might say my life is one giant exercise in time management, but I am a very happy man.”

“It sounds like you have it all, why are you donating your time here?”

Eliza regretted her wording when she saw his brow furrow, “Ms. Gunn, it is vitally important to remember the people that gave you a hand “up” from earlier situations where you find yourself near bottom. When I was released from Gramercy years ago on parole, I vowed to be better. Were it not for the Giving Tree those first few months I would’ve starved to death. So when I got employed and even later when I got my powers I made sure to give back to the place that helped to keep me alive and whole. I learned to cook in prison and have been getting pretty good at it I might add.”

He motioned for Malik, whom was leading a group of kids with food set up a spread and began serving the T.V. crew, “I taught them how to make chicken marsala because this week’s meal was Italian. Please try some.” Eliza had some on air and you can’t fake the reaction of happy surprise. She took an extra bite before handing it back to Malik and thanking him.

“That was incredible! They could start a cooking program here!”

“Well, if you know any chef’s wanting to help people find careers. Then by all means send them over to talk with the center director.”

“How did everyone here take your revealing your identity?”

“To be fair I sprung that on everyone, while everyone here at the center took it very well. Not everyone in my life was happy to be unprepared at such a revelation. We all worked through it though and I feel have become stronger and closer.”

“Would you mind changing tracks here in light of recent events?”

“No, ask away.”

“The reports, testimonies, and video footage suggest you deliberately set off a nuclear explosion off the coast. Over a hundred clones of the Ultramarine were found alongside Synistry’s near-complete roster, with the Scream Queen currently in Gramercy. I’m sure everyone has seen the footage streamed live regarding the rogue A.I. Thanatos and Synistry. How did you even know you could do it and why?”

Garrick sighed slightly, “I knew it because my father and I had built the facility in secret before we revealed our first “public” prototype of the Bio-Dome the day I gave my T.E.D. Talk about it on YouTube. As the E.P.A. has pointed out the design is similar to the one Iron Mike used in that it left no lasting radiation. I’ve often wondered how Iron Mike got a design that from historical records emulates my father’s design. However, we were not the only people trying to replicate the Daedalus power source. So it may likely never get answered,” Eliza looked shocked expecting she would have to draw some of this out. In seconds a link appears on the screen for people watching with touch displays allowing them to bring up the T.E.D. Talk in another tab or a mini window. “As to the why, it was to save everyone but they had also personally pissed me off.”

“How so?”

“I surprised my father when I single-handedly built my first A.I. using my late mother as the baseline, Cynthia Faulkner. My goal was to be able to talk with a version of her and I wouldn’t be so lonely. I was a teenager when I did this, but I didn’t truly understand how special what I had done would be. When I realized that Thanatos had stolen a part of the code I’d lovingly refer to as the last shred I had of my mother. Followed by Synistry perverting the experiment to provide not just power but sustainable living to the planet in every corner of the globe. I finished writing the code string that would auto-execute their destruction as I cut them off from the outside world.”

“You sacrificed your past to save the future?”

“Yes, I believe in the promise of Century Station,” Garrick nodded and looked sad yet somehow impressive.

“I did some checking and you’ve been to see Caedechron a few times. What are your thoughts regarding your continued support.

“Cai was his name when he was alive, thugs of Urien Daniels were sent to kill him. They succeeded when Urien Daniels tipped them off Cai had learned about their illegal activities. Let me be clear, Cai’s mortal body died and he was effectively murdered. Just before his death he was able to upload his consciousness into a robot he’d been working on. He murdered the responsible person after he’d been physically killed. His quality of existence was irrevocably altered and he sought revenge quietly. I don’t condone murder unless it is in defense of a person or parties unable to defend themselves. However, I feel he had extenuating circumstances that need to be taken into account when the justice department decides his fate. Regardless I will stick by him and help him stand should he fall because I have no interest in being a fair-weather friend. Cavalry knows that, Miss Amazing knows that.”

“Whom were you defending in your words when you murdered Synistry?”

“You, your crew, my teammates, my girlfriends, a woman I saved on a roof top in January. My sister, and all of Century Station. Perhaps even planet Earth if every single clone had been unleashed.”

“Your sister that was reported to be in an institution you’ve never visited until very recently?”

“Yes, however, per her husband’s restraining order I am not allowed to visit and once I knew that had happen to Adeline, I tried. Given the documents that have been made public in the papers its not hard to see how I might have missed reaching out to her. Next question,” his tone impressed moving on or finishing the interview there.

Eliza weighs the risks of poking the bear and decides to move on, “Polls are indicating that Mayor Zardona will win a re-election and that the federal government is inclined to ease impending sanctions. What do you say to that given rumors about the Mayor not being your biggest fan?”

“The Mayor has a rough job and I don’t envy him. That said I want him to win because I believe he’s the right man to help restore law and order to every part of Century Station.

“Thank you to Garrick “The Gryphon” Faulkner for giving us the time to get to know you a little better?”

“Absolutely, make sure to get some more food before you go the kids worked hard to make sure there was enough,” Garrick gestured to the spread on the two tables set up. He turned to the camera to give a farewell smile and wave. The feed went down and Ameera and Ramona were waiting inside with everyone to congratulate him. Even the woman he saved with the mangled leg was there sporting her leg still in a power assisted splint until her ankle completely healed and therapy was over.

April 18th, 2024 – Thursday

‘The Magic of Books’ was Garrick’s destination during his lunch break. It was fun to drive his truck for him because people often looked for him in the sky and not driving around. When he got there the place was locked, empty and a for sale sign was up. It looked like Charlie took Garrick’s advice and got out of town. There was no forwarding address when he poked around online regarding the property.

As far as S.A.V.I.O.R. was going today had one other item of note. A psychiatric doctor named Johanna Fullard was hired to be the team’s psychic psychiatrist. This woman is the hero who was once known as Joan of Arc – one of the founding members of the Centurions. In a statement at the small press conference where the Mayor welcomed her on board the team once again. She says her “hero” days are behind her, as she’s decided she can be more helpful in this role than she ever was as an active Centurion.

April 22nd, 2024 – Monday

HyperiaA few days after discovering Charlie closed his store and moved out of town, Patsy shows up to join what’s left of S.A.V.I.O.R. She transforms into Hyperia and stays transformed, never turning back. She devotes herself full-time into being a hero and lets the work fully consume her. She maintains a good relationship with the rest of the team, but she never talks about anything personal. Whenever Garrick is accidentally charming or seductive around her she suddenly finds an excuse to leave and go on patrol or do research or be anywhere but there. She deliberately avoids doing anything that might make it seem like she’s vying for Garrick’s affections or interfering with any of Garrick’s relationships.

Dr. Fullard is concerned about Hyperia/Patsy, and they have sessions often, but nothing seems to change. When Garrick was asked by Dr. Fullard about Hyperia/Patsy he said she reminds him of how he felt a few years after getting out of prison. “Everything is very raw, and she talked about feeling unworthy of her power, that the gifts were like an intoxicating drug. Right now I suspect she’s feeling as though she has to prove she can beat the power and do good before she can forgive herself. It’s going to be a long road. In my opinion she still has some survivor’s guilt from the alternate dimension she hails from. We may all be broken in some ways but its how we deal with it that is what defines us. Time will tell how she handles it but I’ll always be there to help.” Dr. Fullard nodded silently while making notes.

May 1st, 2024 – Wednesday

Garrick was informed that the widow Imelda Zarovsky passed away that morning. Janosh informs him she left her estate and wealth to Garrick. It is noted in the autopsy that she had an odd physical abnormality – her teeth were sharper and more pointed than a normal human’s, but otherwise she seemed to have died of old age. No foul play is suspected. In dealing with her estate and personal effects Garrick discovers that she destroyed much of her personal history, though enough of it was left behind to suggest her and her late husband Emil weren’t human, but were instead aliens known as Erishik Dopplegangers who were trying to hide on Earth and live peaceful lives, defying all preconceived notions of their race. This evidence is inconclusive, and raises more questions than it answers, but that’s where that story seems to end.

Garrick makes this the house where he comes to think and wants to be alone. Over time it becomes equipped with robotic assistants he designs with A.R.C.H.I.E.’s manufacturing capabilities. The S.A.V.I.O.R. A.I. begins calling him “The Idea Man” for a nickname. Time will tell how such a friendship will affect the world.

May 10th, 2024 – Friday, after 10 PM

Public opinion of S.A.V.I.O.R. had been on a serious upswing. The “take no survivor” methods of S.A.V.I.O.R. seemed to really resonate with many folks. The Everyman was STILL experiencing a media backlash from the general public. Crime was starting to curtail given S.A.V.I.O.R.’s confirmed win and destruction of Synistry. Scream Queen being the only surviving member and stuck in Gramercy Island for the foreseeable future. Papa Zombie had eluded capture and was at large but keeping a low profile for the time being.

Garrick and Katherine had just left Constance’s place in Xenophan. Both Ameera and her had moved back to their homes last week since the security measures were finished that Amanda had ordered. All of them had a family dinner while Shorty #5, Sherman Faulkner, was off on a Worlds Online – Gizergleam Peaks raid with Horace. Before his departure that night Constance reminded him that his new Gel-Matrix brain had worked in the robot A.I. they had been testing on with flying colors. Should things go well production use could start as soon as Spring of 2025. When she asked him about the project name he smiled and told her he’d picked up on the word Nexus from all the talks of magic and ley lines. He liked the confluence of ideas it had suggested to him when he thought about it. Ashmadiel made a great project name because no one would guess it or the true friend and partner it obfuscated. He mentioned to Constance about talking with Amanda regarding making a miniature version for human subjects, especially those using cybernetics. Amanda thought it had merit and would run focus groups to check on market viability. Constance mentioned she’d help in any way she could.

Gryphon and Miss Amazing had just arrived in the air above Norwood and tapped their comm units. Gryphon informed A.R.C.H.I.E. & S.T.E.V.E. that they were on shift and would start working the southern half of Brisby that night, barring any emergency calls. Their optimistic replies made Gryphon chuckle, as he thanked them and began his patrol with Miss Amazing. Calling into each precinct as the A.I.s informed them when they crossed jurisdictional boundaries. A group of sirens could be heard in the distance alongside the crack of gunfire. “Duty Calls! Onward!” rang out Ashmadiel’s voice his head as he grinned at his partner and flew off!

Art by: AZ_Artisan
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C.F.M. – Computer F’ing Magic

C.F.M. – Computer F’ing Magic

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April 9th, 2024 – Tuesday: 10 PM

Gryphon stood on top corner of the U.S. “Alien Staging Warehouse” for off-world removal of all non Covenant approved items. Located in Silver City Sub-District, where the future was reset to ambiguity once again. Over nine hours of clean-up, C.S. Police, Fire, Emergency Medical Services, the Coast Guard, and every single news outlet in Century Station.

He had come up on the roof when his call to the Giving Tree had been overheard and broadcast live over news stations, Facebook, and Twitter. He had the Giving Tree’s director put him on speaker for everyone and he had been apologizing to all the kids that he couldn’t show up tonight because he had helped his team stop the city from being overrun by clones of a dead superhero. He had spent several minutes calling out to individual kids to make sure they knew how sorry he was for missing Tuesday dinner. When he realized his conversation wasn’t private he put his phone on video and the center director did the same. He put the kids on T.V. and everyone could see how much the Knight of Norwood still cared about his roots.

Miss Amazing had broken away from the throng of reporters and made sure she rebroadcast the final minutes of Gryphon working on the computer as the clones and the tanks were being destroyed around him. It captured his destruction of the rogue A.I. called Thanatos, she was also able to record the explosion sound from just off shore. She spoke with Ameera and Constance about how Gryphon’s computer skills may have saved everyone. Constance mentioned that Amanda would be please to know Gryphon saved the city by science and his know how, as opposed to hitting it with a magic sword. Constance also informed everyone she put in a request with Amanda to give Garrick the day off tomorrow. Ameera squealed with joy that she’d have him for the full day.

While all of this was happening several of the news crews flying offshore are reporting the explosion may have been part of Synistry’s headquarters! Live reports by helicopters braving the area with the Coast Guard shows countless bodies floating, the most notable was the body of Obelisk. Within minutes the airwaves and the Internet are beginning to report that S.A.V.I.O.R. may have killed Synistry! The clip of Gryphon engaging in what seems like boring, but very fast code writing, quickly gets replayed. When news crews and spotlights began to shine and people clamoring for a comment Gryphon took off his helm and replied, “If it wasn’t for my team doing what they did I could not have done what I did. They’re the heroes! I just did some computer ‘effing magic at the right time.” He paused briefly, “Oh, and to miss Eliza Gunn of Channel 9, I’d like to give you an exclusive interview in the next few days. Good night everyone.”

With that he looks off back towards the sky as some news crews with good directional microphones pick up, “I hope I’ve made you proud dad, say hi to mom for me.”

Ashmadiel chimed in with a warm feeling of pride, “I was right to trust in you Garrick Faulkner. What’s more is you did this act of defeating Synistry without me, you get to own that moment of heroics yourself. Do not seek my separation further, I wish to be your partner as long as you wish it.”

With a flash everyone on ground saw the golden light surround Gryphon and make the translucent shape of the mythological creature he bears as his moniker. as he bid farewell and headed back to the Century Plaza Tower.

Art by: AZ_Artisan
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Problematic Proliferations Preceded by a Pretty Patsy Palmer

Problematic Proliferations Preceded by a Pretty Patsy Palmer

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April 9th, 2024 – Tuesday: 9 AM

Garrick’s Pearphone X began to buzz as he was waiting at the Vault Coffee Shop to get Katherine’s 6x Espresso Americano. Kitty Kat had been distant since the day before and Garrick couldn’t read her mind. He figured hitting her up with her favorite drink might help smooth over a conversation. Maybe he had done something wrong and he could at least find out what to he could make amends if needed.

Coming in just as he sent off updates to Amanda regarding his testing progress on the new gel-matrix brains for replacement of core CPU’s in various models of robotic / A.I. and T.I. processing modules. After the third buzz he checked the notifications and was surprised to see whom had sent him a text message. He almost chided himself over how his face lit up. He was not sure he should even respond since she had wanted to be left alone. He remembered the pained look he had seen on Patsy’s face at the Church of Reflections. There was something about her situation he had not understood. He knew he’d seen that look before on a number of people going through a stressful choice. He knew if he didn’t go he’d regret it forever.

Heading back after his single word reply he found Miss Amazing and handed her the drink she loved and asked her to let him know what’s up because mind reading only goes one way. He smiles at her and she smiles back commenting how he got her favorite drink. She remarked to him that he had to much on his plate to worry about her. When he took her hand he told her he would always worry about her. Miss Amazing nodded mentioning he worries about all them. Garrick chuckled at the idea that maybe that was his true super power. She told him it was just one of many as her phone buzzed.

He stopped her from answering it briefly and tried to explain that Patsy had reached out to him. Miss Amazing stunned Garrick when she told him to go see her and walked away to answer the call she was receiving. It almost seemed like that might have been the most unexpected answer he would get that day as storm clouds began to form and rain heavily over the city. Soon he would realize it wasn’t a strange answer but a herald of weird events beginning to unfold.

April 9th, 2024 – Tuesday: Around 11 AM

The continuing growth of the clouds and rain into a torrential downpour from the morning have managed to keep much of the citizenry complacent. Seems not all criminals seek bad weather to perform their nefarious deeds. Gryphon was contacted by the Centurions’ A.I.: S.T.E.V.E. about an individual waiting in the elevator on the 20th floor trying to meet S.A.V.I.O.R. Gryphon waited for his team to meet him on the lobby of the 20th floor to greet a strange guest with an even stranger tale.

Sasha, Black Phantom, Gryphon, Quazi the Serpent, Hank, and Rubber Band Man all arrived on the lobby at roughly the same time to greet their unexpected guest. At Gryphon’s command the doors to elevator “A” opened and a man walked out wearing strange fashion. Gryphon noticed the male-looking individual had wrist blasters nearly identical to Miss Amazing’s. When he queried their bearer he was informed he was from the future!

Having been to the future in an alternate dimension he decided that he needed to find out what was going to hit them so hard a time traveler had shown up. He put Ashmadiel away in a flash of golden light. As Black Phantom seemed to be eye-balling their guest in a manner that suggested a mental scan while Hank was asking his name. Frac-Tal Hrix was wearing a similar belt to what B.P. and M.A. used to create force fields around each of them. It was Sasha that noticed he had Jake’s Injection Gun. Hrix explained that he didn’t know the complete history of how he came to be in possession of the items that had belonged to the aforementioned heroes and heroines. Just that each item had belonged to one of the heroes of S.A.V.I.O.R. It turns out he had come back with a partner that had been given Jake’s Portal Gun. However, something had gone wrong in transit and they did not arrive together.

During all this timey-wimey stuff, the storm outside raged on as Hank was trying to get help from Black Phantom and S.T.E.V.E. in locating the leader of the mages from the Antarctica mission: Arcana. Hank said he had been tasked with keeping her alive so he wanted to find the fountain of youth and have her drink from it. Gryphon mentioned he’d last seen her in Antarctica. He wondered if this out of left field idea was the “favor” the dealer would propose to him. That short Chinese man scarred him in a away he could not easily put into words.

Hrix began to lay out why he had come back. Modulus and Synistry were getting ready to launch an army to take over Century Station and then later the world. They did so by cloning the body of the hero known as the Ultramarine! The world’s first publicly recognized hero from World War II! Apparently that was the body taken from Inbur Enterprises, and likely the blood samples from Dr. Wendell Moore. It was mentioned that they were hiding right under C.H.I.M.E.R.A.’s noses and that he came back using a piece of technology once owned by Korashi Technics. The group realized that the armored car heist earlier that year was thwarted and Korashi got to keep their equipment. Had they not done that likely they would not be getting this warning! Talk about full circle. Hrix began working with some members of the team and S.T.E.V.E. to pinpoint the location of Synistry in the city while Sasha, now transformed into the Beast, was going to take Rubberband Man to look for Arcana. Gryphon left to try and also look for Arcana by meeting Patsy and hopefully find Arcana through another mage in the city he had seen from earlier.

Gryphon was convinced it was all connected, and began to call both Director Balisong and Richard regarding his plan for trying to stop it. This included a chance trip to Antarctica for two of the team members. He was hoping they could inform those necessary and get the clearances before Beast arrived. Everyone was in a race against the clock to stop a clone army of supermen from wrecking the world! He promised to keep the information loop open and they would work on whatever needed to be done to prevent political snafus as the team went about trying to stop the city from being destroyed.

April 9th, 2024 – Tuesday: Around 1:30 PM

Speeding through the rain and wind to make sure he did not miss a chance to see her perhaps for the last time. He landed upon the roof of the building as a woman with an umbrella was bent over reading the inscription on the utility box he left.

Hey “P”,
All of my secrets are out in the open.
Big changes are coming and
I realize we both need to grow.
You may never see or read this,
but I am letting go for now.
I’m trusting in my faith that if
we are meant to be together.
The universe will find a way,
as it did with the church next
to my home.
Be happy wherever you are.
Goodbye “P”
Love,
“G”

Gryphon looks upon Patsy Palmer, “I want to believe the universe is being kind to me bringing us back together. However, today’s event don’t suggest that to be true.”

Patsy turns and her face lights up as they make eye contact, then she controls her emotions visibly, “Oh Garrick, I’m glad you came.”

“I want to hug you but I am afraid you’re going to disappear.”

Her brow furrows, “No I… I’m not going to disappear, I never disappeared. Oh, uh, you’re so kind I… got your voicemail and read your messages, and I know should have my powers back. I just don’t know if I deserve it? I really saw into myself when that sword took me over and I was at my low. I, I just need to be out of all of this and get my head straight. And you have moved on, you have all of those women around you and they all love you very much.”

“They absolutely do.”

She continues, “I thought I could try and still do a little bit when I was at the church there. Even that is just ehmmm. I need to step, I need to stay out of this.”

“I have to ask you a question?”

She continues, “It’s like an addiction and I need to quit cold turkey.”

“If you want to stay out of this then you need to leave Century Station. A situation very similar to your Murder Master is about to happen by the end of the month. I need to know you’re safe. Hopefully we can stop it, but if we fail you’re going to want to find Wyatt and flee to another dimension because its going to get that bad. I was hoping you might have been coming to me with information about some of this stuff, or even about some lady named Arcana. I’m a giant mix of emotions right now, but if you want out then you need to run.”

A quizzical look comes over her, “Uh, Arcana?”

“Last time I saw you there was a mage from Antarctica not horribly far from you.”

She nods, “Yeah Charlie has talked about her, she came into the shop a few days ago trying to get him to join her. I stayed out of it.”

“Okay, since you’re from another world I am going to lay some stuff at your feet. We have run into a person from this dimension’s future. Arcana needs to be found and kept alive, she is vitally important to that. I would be grateful if you could help with that, otherwise flee the city now. I’m sure you’ve been here long enough to know about the Ultramarine?”

“I’ve heard of him,” she replied.

“Well, they have his body and are cloning him so they can release an army of Ultramarines on the city. So leave or woman up and know you are worthy and this is that redemptive moment you’ve been waiting for. Because I don’t have time for anything else and it breaks my heart to say that to you.” Gryphon was soaked in the rain having this conversation and yet she saw the kind paragon that had saved her that fateful day.

She looked down for a second, “Wow I knew this would be tough. Redemption, I dunno, but I can take you to Charlie if you want?”

He smiled, “That would help certainly.”

She walked up to him and asked if he knew of a book store in Midtown called the ‘Magic of Books’ located there. He knew of it but asked her to direct him as they went. He scooped her up, umbrella and all, and the flew to the bookstore. Gryphon lamented he had no opportunity to enjoy being this close to her again inside his head. She was always the woman he was hoping would be one of the women in his life. He was just happy in a small way right now she was.

Art by: AZ_Artisan
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Et Tu Brute?

Et Tu Brute?

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April 8th, 2024 – Monday: 9 PM

Constance Mallic was happy to have dinner with Garrick after the eclipse had passed. She had seen his brief on A.I. cyber-security from the shared drive the administrative team kept at Mallic-Faulkner Technologies. Amanda mentioned he was brilliant but did not know how to run a company. He was however, smart or wise enough to know when to listen to others. She made sure the processes were implemented from his brief and made sure any of their pieces that used a co-processor function similar to high end graphics or physics chips couldn’t be exploited in similar fashions. About an hour ago, Katherine stopped by just to let everyone know she was home. When Garrick asks about where she was or what she did she just replies “I’m not sure if what happened is good or not yet. We’ll see.” She then leaves him to be with Constance.

After dinner he started talking about how and why people think the way they do. He began mentioning a process to recycle used up neural pathways in an A.I. brains based on gel-matrix designs. If those pathways that got used up over time could be re-tasked with lesser functions before they would give out, could the brain be re-optimized and extended for specific functions / duties? As they were lounging on the couch and she looking out over the city from her suite in Century Plaza. It really did feel like being in another world at times when the clouds would hang low in the sky and it felt like living among them. Garrick was an inventor at heart, and he loved tackling thought processes. He was talking about a teammate with multiple personalities and perhaps they could leverage that into an android or robot brain to make themselves custom configured for various assignments. With synth skins and some modular options he might be able to build a spy bot that could change skin tones, size, and shape within reason. Then it could switch full identities and appearance to take on various assignments.

Then he laughed, “If the government doesn’t like it imagine the one person acting show it could put on! T.V. dramas could save a bunch on actors and reuse the different identities as roles in the show! I need to revisit the emotion programs I built.” Constance loved watching him laugh while something on the TV caught her eye. It was a breaking news story regarding S.A.V.I.O.R.‘s Miss Amazing. She started tapping Garrick’s arm hard as she grabbed the remote to turn it up.

There was Lori Landry painting a damning picture about Miss Amazing and Black Phantom secretly using the team as patsies to replace the Centurions with a government controlled group protecting the city. Alluding that, from a certain point of view, Mayor Zardona could already be on the way out. Garrick realized “he” set some of these events in motion when he shared how to find Thanatos and root it out of the systems it had infected! It was the disguised voice that made him apologize to Constance but he sent texts to Katherine:

[Are you seeing the news, what the hell is going on? Please don’t run again we’ll get this sorted out.]

[Garrick, I’m fine, but today is Constance’s day – focus on Constance, not me.]

Constance turned to see Garrick turning red, veins popping on his temples. Then he breathed, he pulled his phone to his ear and asked his lawyer to reach out and help Katherine anyway she needed. He explained how surprised he was by this and he would text her that Janosh would reach out shortly. He hung up and did just that, before any reply come he called Richard and explained he is emotionally compromised, however, he will lead whatever team is left after all this ‘media – Sharknado’ is over.

Richard tried to calm Garrick down and get him to look at things logically. He told Garrick that he noticed Lori Landry was wearing a Church of the Reflections pendant – an organization whose remaining members may not look so kindly upon S.A.V.I.O.R.. This whole “breaking news” segment seemed to have less substance to it than the Everyman’s story that morning did. We can have S.T.E.V.E. and A.R.C.H.I.E. work together to try and reverse engineer who their “inside source” was, and deal with that once we know. Richard ended by gently reminding Garrick that it’s impossible for everyone to like S.A.V.I.O.R. or its members. Instead of getting upset by these stories, he suggested Garrick treat them as the nonsense they are and focus instead on what S.A.V.I.O.R. is here to do.

Garrick was quiet and then nodded. His reply about working with people in jail whom had a hand in raping him was chilling. He then said he would stay in tonight to avoid something that could be done as bait for more ammunition to be twisted against them.

When he hung up the red was draining from his face but Constance saw a cold and dispassionate look on his face. Amanda was right, he was indeed smart enough to listen to people he believed knew more than he did. He was removing himself from his anger and trying to do what might help the team rather than his raging and hurt ego. She could see he had thought processes he was burying to prevent it from ruining time with her.

Constance looked worried, “Honey, is there something I can do to help?”

“Yes, can you hand me the remote, please,” as she does so he clicks off the T.V., “Can you help me forget what I just saw? I want our time to not be spoiled by things I can’t change right now and will address on the morrow.”

She took him in her arms held him against the glittering backdrop of the starry, Florida sky.

The Strange gif art by: AZ_Artisan
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Kelly Thompson Reporting Live

Kelly Thompson Reporting Live

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April 8th, 2024 – Monday: Just after Noon

BATTENBURG HEIGHTS SUB-DISTRICT

The day had been chillier than most thanks to a cold front moving in off the Gulf of Mexico. Kelly had just got done trying to get a hold Sasha again but he wasn’t picking up. It was at that point the call came over her scanner about a second group from S.A.V.I.O.R. in the Battenburg Heights sub-district of Society Hill. Her colleague, Miranda, had gone after the first group but they were over in Brisby Flats and the wrong side of Midtown.

The fact that since they appeared on the scene earlier in the year, and climbed to the heights of becoming the replacements for the Centurions was nothing short of meteoric in scope. Since Gryphon or Garrick Faulkner wasn’t among the team in the bad side of town on this day of the eclipse. Then this could be her chance to make up for getting lost in Sasha’s charms and try getting Gryphon to give her an interview! As she was headed over to the location She refreshed her memory on when he came out with his identity, being challenged by Cyan and Indigo after he helped them stop a bank robbery. Indigo was defeated in a K.O. by Gryphon in one hit! When Cyan tried to smear his name by hiding as a corporate sellout he revealed his identity!

Kelly yanked her driver and cameraman out of their chairs so hard they nearly fell over as she passed them! Listening to the reports coming in that Gryphon and S.A.V.I.O.R. were on scene in the ‘Heights’ at a B&E. She was also scanning social media and found tweets of Gryphon’s showing Hank the Horseman riding a Chinese-looking serpentine dragon!

Other tweets found showing the Gryphon mentoring a younger female hero: Hanging with Gryphon, super caz. All my @QuaziNauts know what’s up!
#HeroLife #Blessed
&
A retweet by @NorwoodKnights adding: See, helping heroes and the populace! #HangingWithTheGryphon

Was she about to break a new team member joining S.A.V.I.O.R.? They were in fact the first news crew on site! When they arrived, the C.S.P.D. confirmed no one matching Sasha’s description had been seen. The cameraman had the driver take his phone and try and zoom in on the open doors and windows with a clip on telescopic lens for smart phones. Meanwhile they did catch that their were at least two body bags and several injured. Using the boom mic as Kelly got ready fixing her jacket they overheard Gryphon telling an officer, “Well, the ninjas really wrecked the whole house. But they were super stupid stabbing a dragon that ended up falling over on them! Quazi is over 15 feet long and weighs at least the weight of a truck. Physics are unforgiving if you catch my drift.”

The driver came back over and showed them the shots he could get. The house had clearly been tossed in classic breaking and entering fashion. It was the jade statue of a serpentine-like creature that was the real prize shot! The driver had put it on burst so their were plenty of images with a few being very crisp and clear. It seems S.A.V.I.O.R. actually stopped this robbery and captured the bad guys. It would appear the only deaths were from two ninjas attacking a – dragon!?! Kelly was beside herself on how cool the story was!

She went past the police line and was 10 feet from Gryphon when a couple of officers caught up with her, “Gryphon, Garrick, Mr. Faulkner! Can I get a quote? Kelly Thompson with Channel 5 News.”

Kelly could see she struck a chord saying his actual name caused him to stiffen and turn, “Ms. Thompson was it?” Kelly nodded and he continued, “I remember you from the bank, you’re dating Sasha now if I understand how that ended?”

She was immediately caught off guard, “D-Dating? Who said we’re dating? Has he been saying that? I mean, I wouldn’t mind seeing him again, of course. We could be dating if he wanted to. Wait, that wasn’t what I wanted to talk to you about!”

Gryphon chuckled at her fluster. He cocked his slightly and smiled as he watched her gulp ever so slightly, and he knew he nailed the way his father had spoken with people to get them on his side. “Ms. Thompson, I will be sure to pass on your well wishes to Sasha when I see him next. Now, if you’d be so kind to take your crew and yourself back behind the police-line, I promise you an interview before I leave. To sweeten your co-operation I will also not speak with any other media crew that shows up to this crime scene today.”

Kelly nodded and did as requested. About 30-40 minutes later Gryphon walked over as the CSPD crime scene unit and coroner were finishing up some of their work due to deaths on scene. In his blue with gold decoration and accents, 17th to 18th century, nobleman’s long coat. White pants, black leather riding boots. With a single forearm guard of golden plate etched with an angelic looking gryphon crest. Garrick “The Gryphon” Faulkner walked over to Kelly and her crew, “Ms. Thompson, as promised I am here to answer your questions.”

Kelly told her crew to get ready for a live broadcast, and when her camera person and their technician signaled she turned to face the camera, “Hello, this is Kelly Thompson, reporting live in Battenburg Heights. We’re at the scene of a breaking and entering by a band of thieves who appear to have chosen to costume themselves as ninjas made famous in movies! But they clearly did not anticipate being stopped by S.A.V.I.O.R. today! With me,” as the camera shot changes from a close up to a wide angle, “is the S.A.V.I.O.R. team captain, Gryphon! Whom we all know went public with their identity of Garrick Faulkner. Which name would you prefer we use?”

“Thank you, Ms. Thompson, but either is fine since my chosen moniker was simply an alternate spelling of my middle name.”

“Fascinating, so what can you tell us about this break in? From the call on the scanner to our arrival, your team had shown up and resolved everything in minutes!”

“Upon our arrival we found four individuals on the roof of the manor and I was able to use an ability to see more inside on the third floor. Our team began to move in to apprehend the individuals and were met with powered individuals capable of super human speed. Each wielding weapons with the intent to provide armed resistance to their apprehension. I stayed in contact with CSPD trying to provide as much real time updates as possible and ascertain the abilities of our team’s newest member, Quazi the Serpent, and I am impressed.”

“So you have a serpent dragon according to the social media pictures from earlier?”

“Yes, and I think she is going to do well.”

“Do you know what was the item or items the thieves were after?”

“Yes, however, this is an active investigation and I would rather let the detectives that will be assigned to the case release their statement when all the facts have been gathered so they can avoid any confusion by knee jerk statements. The thieves did a thorough job of ransacking the whole house looking for their assigned objectives.”

“I see that some of the intruders died. Was that due to fighting with your team?”

“Yes, when multiple assailants stabbed the serpentine dragon, Quazi, causing her to briefly loose her footing. She fell and the physics of force, mass, and gravity led to quick backlash of karma. Many more have been taken into custody and will have their wounds treated. Those that faced me are alive but chose to attack a member of the C.S.P.D. when took up arms against my team and I.”

“What else can you tell us about the incident?”

“Hank and Miss Amazing did wonderful jobs in engaging multiple targets and controlling the flow of action allowing for so many to be taken into custody. It was Hank’s actions that led to the recovery of the stolen item or items as you mentioned earlier. Black Phantom helped to flush anyone on the roof back inside so the rest of us could deal with them. Quazi did very well despite injury in trying to find and quell the situation without violence as a first resort. The intruders chose a different path leading them into conflict with our team.”

“Would you mind answering a few other questions?”

“Sure Ms. Thompson I have a small amount of time before the CSI wrap up. If another call comes in I would have to leave sooner.”

“Gryphon, now that SAVIOR has moved into Century Plaza, does this mean Norwood has lost its hero?”

“Absolutely not, they gave me a home when I had been released from Gramercy. I finished my probation there and got my career back on track in Norwood. I still donate my time to charitable efforts there as well.”

“Can you provide a statement regarding one of S.A.V.I.O.R.’s own members, Caedechron, being arrested by C.S.P.D. yesterday?”

“This is an active investigation and I can only say that no one is above the law. Caedechron is still my friend and I will help him in anyway possible that doesn’t violate the law.”

“Where is Sasha, your other new member?”

“Day off, every job has them and I am sure you can appreciate that.”

“Will the city have to face any more of Sinistry’s wrecking ball robots?”

“I can’t say for certain, every time they’ve been used Sinistry has deployed them as diversions for another target in the city. If all the supers are trying to battle the robot wrecking balls then ideally no one would be around to oppose their real target.”

“What were their real targets the last two times?”

“This is an active investigation and I can only say that it is still ongoing.”

“Despite the general opinion polls openly in favor of S.A.V.I.O.R.’s hard-lined approach to crime-fighting, there are some pretty vocal opponents to your tactics, such as Xavier Financial, Triton Industries, and Korashi Technics. Are you concerned that their opposition will gain traction and sway the Mayor to replace your team?”

“Hmm, one of our group’s earliest missions when the Hero of Century Station was still around. Had us save an armored car transporting hardware for Korashi Technics. Perhaps they were unaware it was our team that helped? Triton Industries has other concerns than just us. Xavier Financial used to be led by a ruthless, blood-thirsty, maggot. His daughter, Cassandra, is none of these things. She’ll likely find all the evidence of her father’s misdeeds and crush them. I suspect Xander Financial will in the future, with Cassandra at the helm, actually begin a better legacy in helping the city and its citizens.”

“Are you on a first name basis with Cassandra Blodgett?”

“Perhaps not now, but she’s bumped into me at a charity event where I attend regularly and left me a note about her interest in our team. When one of her friends we had in common was ill she came over to my house and helped take care of him. She also helped a former team member with selling their photography while she was still dating that friend in common we had. I think it would be fair to say I am familiar with her. It’s also why I know her to be the good person she is.” Gryphon looks over to his team and Black Phantom taps his wrist, “Sorry Kelly I have time for one more question.”

“How do you respond in regards to the story and pictures printed in this morning’s Everyman about Rubber-Band-Man’s alcoholism?”

“Alcoholism is a serious issue and contributes to at least 5 of the top 10 reason for death in the United States. Well over 10 million still suffer from this in the United States as well. I have expressed my concerns about this to Rubber-Band-Man and he is addressing this. All I can do is be supportive and hope others see that it’s not the poor or the less fortunate that suffer with problems or addictions because of stress factors in their lives. Those with abilities are often put in extreme situations and humans sometimes choose less than optimal ways to cope with them. Rather than vilifying that we can provide avenues for rehabilitation, support, and a guiding hand. Addiction is not something solved over night but it is something that can be overcome. Kelly, when my father died I lost myself in depression and trying to regain what loosing Daedalus did to us both. People cope in different ways, and my sister doesn’t speak to me anymore because of it. But just like the Rubber-Band-Man is responsible for his actions I had to realize I had to be responsible for mine. He is my teammate and I for one will be their to help and support him through this and see a better tomorrow.”

“So you are deciding to help him get through this?”

“My time donating to charitable organizations has taught me Hero-Work may start with C.S.P.D., C.S.F.D., S.A.V.I.O.R., other hero groups or individuals, however, it doesn’t end there. Social Workers, therapists, school teachers, and parents or siblings/friends all play a part in helping someone overcome trauma of any kind. People need time to cope with stress and the world we live in doesn’t always grant such reprieve. Its our friends and families that help ground and stabilize us. Our own communities should help us become soulfully enriched and grow. It’s why I do what I do, to give back to Norwood, Century Station and the people that gave me a second chance. I intend to do that not just for Rubber-Band-Man but for everyone I can. They,” Gryphon gestures with the arm bearing the golden armor upon it to everyone on the scene, “are my heroes and give me hope. I’m just doing my part to try and give that hope back.”

Gryphon looks back to his team and nods, “Sorry, we have to go on to our next assignment, please have a wonderful day.”

The teams leaves into the air as Kelly Thompson turns to the camera as other media crews are arriving, “Well, you heard it here first on Channel Five, everyone. Garrick “The Gryphon” Faulkner’s first interview. Proving the adage that every saint has a past and every sinner has a future. Now back to the studio.”

Art by: AZ_Artisan
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Thank You

Thank You

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April 5th, 2024 – Friday: Lunchtime

The hell that is the MOTOR VEHICLE DEPARTMENT

“Sherman Faulkner? Man, Shorty, this I.D. looks good! Does Garrick know your his adoptive son now?”

“Umm, not really, but he did offer to adopt me if Richard didn’t. He didn’t say anything did he?” The young teen with the number “5” tattooed on his shoulder was driving the car that was about to be made his. Katherine Davis had made it the one demand of Shorty when she spoke to him. She had begun scanning Garrick’s mind because he was convinced she did it anyway. Peering into Shorty #5’s mind reminded her of how she felt after finding out Michael had cheated on her.

Fear.
Paranoia.
Trust Issues.

“No, Garrick just wants you to have a home, but he thinks of you as a little brother more than a son. It’s why he’s been trying to stay ‘hands-off’ in dealing with anything you need. He wants you to have all the room to grow and become whomever you wish to be.”

“Really? I thought he didn’t like me.”

“He has a sister whom he does not get along with.”

“Adeline.” Katherine looked perplexed when Shorty said he knew how to use the City-Net as well as the next person. They pulled into the parking lot of the M.V.D. location, “Yeah, he’s worried trying to be to involved with you might have the same result. He’s trying Shorty, he left you a spending card with a $1,000 a month on it. He doesn’t have to do anything!” Katherine looked up to the sky as she continued, “Yet, he keeps trying to be available to take care of all of the Shorties. Okay, you do a good job driving so let’s get this sorted, shall we?”

They both got out and went inside. Two hours later both of them walk out looking as though a little bit of their life had been sucked away. Shorty looked at the deed to the car he now owned. Katherine saved him twice from saying the wrong thing acting as his older cousin. She knew Garrick would have wanted her to help make this happen. She was worried about Garrick taking on to much, and this was helping him keep his promise to Shorty as much as showing the teenager that some people keep their word. As they got back in the car Shorty #5 looked at Katherine and gulped.

“Thank you Katherine, this means a lot.”

“No problem just don’t wreck it, or the house.”

They drove away.

Art by: AZ_Artisan
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In The Shadow Of Giants

In The Shadow Of Giants

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April 6th, 2024 – Saturday: 7 PM

Century Park Skyscraper

“So, you’ve an adopted son now going by Sherman Faulkner, is that what I’m looking at on this requisition about driver’s education,” asked a confused Director Balisong?

Garrick looked embarrassed by how that happened, “I had planned on trying to figure out doing that legally when or if he had picked me. However, since he’s a clone and we don’t want that getting out. Can you do the kid a solid and help him out?”

Director Balisong crossed her hands and sighed tiredly, “It’s fine. Him and the others you told me about just have to pick names for separate identities and they ALL have to go to school. Whom they’re staying with will have to be sorted out as well. Tutors can be arranged and/or transportation as part of your consultant fee from the city. Ahh, Richard, thank you for joining us.” Garrick, turned to see Richard returning from the yacht tour in his tuxedo.

“Director Balisong, always a pleasure. Well, is it time for that meeting?”

“Yes, I suppose we need to sit down and decide how this is going to work long term. Salaries, coverage, and the like since nothing has effectively changed or appears to be on the horizon of changing down south. Greg will be joining us soon I was informed his car entered the garage.”

With the Centurions stuck in Antarctica, Operation Overlord’s recruitment initiative to find new, sanctioned heroes had to be put on hold for the near future. The three of them discussed the use of the name Centurions versus S.A.V.I.O.R. and decided they would continue to go by S.A.V.I.O.R. for the time being.

Garrick provided his guide to improved A.I. security and made it clear any fee working for C.H.I.M.E.R.A. when it comes to this topic should not be paid to him but to Mallic-Faulkner Technologies. Mentioning she should contact, Amanda Surges, their C.O.O. to discuss his rate and haggle if she feels so inclined. This would allow him to be essentially on loan to C.H.I.M.E.R.A. and not interfere with his work schedule. Anything not cyber-crime should have a portion go to the corporations sponsoring S.A.V.I.O.R. and the rest be donated to the Giving Tree organization.

“Hmm,” the director pondered, “So you would be contracted as a civilian expert. Allowing you to assist us when hero work was not required. Forward her details through Richard and you should be able to get added to the list of contractors the city can choose from in that regard. I’ll let you know what gets worked out. Meanwhile, I’ll have Cyber-Crime take a look at your recommendation.”

“That sounds fine, now I’m dreading this but how did our four man skeleton crew do with the situation presented at First Century Bank’s Silver City Branch?” Gryphon looked a little nervous. There was a resolve to look at this objectively in him, since their last encounter of pursuing the bad guys left so many dead.

Director Balisong pursed her lips. “I honestly don’t even know where to begin. You recklessly placed lives in jeopardy. There were civilian casualties. All but one of the perpetrators got away, and the one you captured has yielded no information that can lead to the others. The Mayor is furious – I’ve taken a lot of heat from him over my decision to give your team this responsibility. There are those among him and the city who agree with him.”

The Director continued. “I, however, do not. Based on the statements I’ve reviewed from the hostages and the officers on the scene, I do not believe the hostages would have survived at all. I believe your break from established protocol saved their lives. I’m saddened by the deaths that occurred but I believe it could have been far, far worse. And there are many others among myself and the city who agree with me. S.A.V.I.O.R. has proven to be a different breed of hero, and one I think this city sorely needs. Your tactics are sloppy, dangerous, lack teamwork, and are unconventional enough to throw this city’s enemies off guard. They knew what to expect with the Centurions and how to exploit it – not so with you.”

Gryphon looked surprised as she went on to commend him in doing a satisfactory job directing the efforts of those on scene to help safeguard the public while managing the pursuit. “I see potential and hope this was a good deal for the city.”

She looked up and saw Greg Nugent coming into the room also in a tuxedo. Gryphon stood and shook Greg’s hand offering him his chair since they were going to discuss a number of business level decisions that did not necessarily demand his attention. Director Balisong thanked Gryphon as Greg mentioned reading something on Twitter about trying to get the Gryphon to give an interview. He asked him if he would mind working on that with Victor? Gryphon replied that he’d be happy to help and do that. Mentioning to just let him know when and where. He shook everyone’s hands once more thanking them for the briefing and left the three to discuss their business.

Getting off the elevator for his floor and what could be called his family, although he’s heard the term harem tossed around. He was thinking to himself that he dodged that redhead at the bank. As he was walking to his room, Miss Amazing’s door slid open. She was standing there in her white dress and silver toned metal filigree mask, “Don’t worry Garr-bear, if ‘red’ gets to close and you don’t want to pursue it. I’ll remind her nicely about ‘making sure one has consent first.’ Now come here because I’ve missed you since this morning and you’re mine today.” Garrick smiled and changed back to his normal form as he entered her room and shut the door behind him.

Art by: AZ_Artisan
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You Shouldn’t Have

You Shouldn’t Have

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April 5th, 2024 – Friday: 2:00 AM

Miss Amazing had heard Gryphon mention they should head back after checking his phone. They had just finished up busting a gang looking to move up to color punk status in Drummond. Earlier that night they had stopped some car jackers in Norwood. Whom confused them both when they told the cops they did it to say they got busted by the Gryphon! Garrick/Gryphon was finding his emerging fame very weird.

As they were flying high in the clouds back to Jenga Tower Miss Amazing got the notification on her comm-unit from ARCHIE that they had arrived and could just drop straight down to the roof. They began to descend and Miss Amazing heard her partner tell ARCHIE they were going off shift for the remainder of the evening. Miss Amazing used hand signals to get his attention as they got close. There was a sporty looking aircar on the roof and Gryphon signaled back to land. They landed and he asked if it looked cool to her as much as it did to him? She said yes but wondered why Richard was here. Gryphon said he’d explain when they got inside. He called Optimus to open the roof glass door and they went inside.

Upon an oval table in front of the base of the stairs from the roof was two keys and an envelope addressed to Katherine. Garrick points to it as he dismisses his heroic form and sits on the couch next to the table. As she reads Richard’s letter of how Garrick asked for help getting her an aircar. He wrote that he was hoping she enjoyed the aircar as much as he did her eyes began to go wide. There were several head flips to the segment of the roof that was glass and her jaw dropped, “You did not.. you did not… Oh my fucking god! OMG OMG OMG!!! Garr-bear!”

Garrick just smiled as she began to jump up and down in her outfit. Chuckling he said, “Just promise me to change before you go and check it out. You’ll need to get classes now if you want to drive it on anything other than auto-pilot. Carl may even be able to teach you?”

Katherine and him changed into much more comfortable clothes and they went back up to have her try the key. She began crying when it worked and the inside car had played a voice clip in pre-recorded greeting of HELLO KITTY KAT. Garrick was tackled against the side of the aircar as she got back out of the car from gawking at the luxurious insides. She began kissing him and after a few moments she blinked, having just read his mind. She let go of him gasping, “A $150,000! Why the hell did you spend a $150,000 on me?” He got her to lock up the aircar and he would explain inside. Katherine is completely taken aback by this surprise of his! His answers surprised her even more.

“Kitty Kat, I love you and want you to have the world. While I do love all three of you, each of you need different things. You need a safety net should something happen to me. I got you this car from Richard because it can also drive on the road. It will still look cool as hell and the rims and axles help to deliver the thrust to the vector jets in flight mode. Should I die, and that is a real risk given what we have accepted doing. I want to make sure you have as much of a safety net to fall on as you can have. This house is paid for! That air car is $2500 a month I have already worked into the budget. When I get rent next year for the lease, I’ll pay the remainder and the aircar will be yours free and clear. If I die I sent word to Janosh about making sure to cover it from my estate. Regardless, I think you know now how invested I am in your well being, long term care, and my love and adoration for you.”

Struggling to find the words she watched him continue, “Now I have a small request. Would you please sign your small car over to the Shorty that lives with us. I promised him either yours or a starter car.”

She found the words, “That pervert! Ugh, why?”

“Look, he’s a clone that effectively has nothing, and while I am sure one of them perved on you if not multiples with this he will begin to find independence and be home less often. When he decides to move out or prove to Geist he deserves another shot as Cardinal then having a car will be useful. Besides it would make me happy.”

She sneered playfully at the happy comment, “Dirty pool mister. Okay, fine, I’ll do it at lunch before we meet up with the team in the evening.”

After a passionate showing of her appreciation she laid next to Garrick as he began his short sleep period. He seemed very worried about this new role with C.H.I.M.E.R.A. and she could not say she blamed him given their last battle with Synistry. She knew there was a lot to think about but one thing was for certain, no one would hurt him if she could stop it.

Art by: AZ_Artisan
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Texts And Chit Chat

Texts And Chit Chat

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April 1st, 2024 – Monday: 2:31 PM

Gryphon was sitting next to Miss Amazing in a diner with Hank the Horse-Man and one intoxicated Rubberband Man. They had left the funeral of Jake Thompson where Victor had brought a case of beer to. Being in front of City Hall many of the super heroes that had shown up had done so in costume. Gryphon was slightly envious of her suit he had created with Granny2Good’s help. She was wearing her mask and had used the technology in it to make it black for mourning.

Gryphon was perturbed Victor had gotten drunk at the public event. Still, he tried looking at it from his angle. Perhaps he had lost his jockey career and now this spokesperson job with Tecate© was the reason he got up in the morning. Maybe he nearly lost that job and now has become hyper vigilant in representation to avoid that circumstance. Now, imagine finding out you’re to replace a hero some 15,000 people showed up to honor them at their funeral. Gryphon acknowledged he could sympathize with the last thought sitting in the diner after finding out S.A.V.I.O.R. was to replace the Centurions! Director Balisong seemed to be having a hard time with the words and Gryphon thought of understudies in Shakespearian plays, the show must go on. He wasn’t happy with his choice of wording but it seem to get them through the meeting.

However, perhaps this was the chance people dream of and few ever get. S.A.V.I.O.R. had to seize this opportunity and then when the Centurions returned they could move up to National level threats while S.A.V.I.O.R. handled Century Station. Ugh, his head was everywhere and he got a reprieve to hold off on the official press release until tomorrow morning. He had a call scheduled, and had been given her direct contact information.

The primary reason for waiting was to see if things could be smoothed over with Black Phantom. Geist appeared to have a handle on it. Today though, an item was clarified for Gryphon when Geist deferred to him as the team leader. Gryphon realized at that moment it wasn’t merely a field promotion but he would lead the team in all aspects. This was something he was going to have to work on finding the balance with Amanda. So much was changing as he received a text from Constance.

[Garrick, I wanted to check on you, honey. A few Google searches and Obelisk is no joke. I spoke with Katherine earlier and made sure she’s doing okay as well. Please let me know you’re doing okay.]

[Honey, I’m doing fine right now, I have been voted as the Team Leader and today was my first trial by fire with the CHIMERA director. It went well and Miss Amazing is with me.]

[Okay, I just miss you. I know Ameera didn’t get to see you last week and with the funeral I suppose this might be my week to not get to see you. I’ll try to visit on Tuesday after helping get Cai through their new-hire process.]

[Yeah I deserve none of you wonderful women, you’re so good to me. I’m helping one of my teammates with an errand before going over to comfort Jake’s sister.]

[Then I will leave you to helping her go through this terrible event. Be safe honey and I love you.]

[Love you back <3.]

When finally put the phone away Hank leaned over a bit and reminded him of a moment between his father and he. “Oh, someone’s finally decided to join us.” Cynthia Faulkner had always disliked distractions at the dinner table, and Garrick had said a very similar statement to his father after her passing. He felt a little embarrassed and just nodded at Hank. After stopping Rubberband Man from rolling away as a ball, and then returning him to Hank and his custom-sized fanny pack. The group headed off to Tecate’s corporate offices in the city. Rubberband Man did indeed sober up by the time they reached there and collected the outfits for a photo shoot.

Seeing the new shirt on Hank, Garrick was thrilled for Horse-Man’s fanny pack because like his centaur pal he was only required to wear a shirt based on precedent. However, his genitals were just out in the open, and on a centaur body it is not as noticeable. However, Hank stood upright and, well, god bless that fanny pack. It was a true hero to be certain. Miss Amazing snapped a few shots of Gryphon flying with Hank hanging on by one of his ankles. Heavens knows you don’t see that everyday. Thank goodness most aircar’s could be programmed with a destination and flew themselves.

Granny’s, or Ethel’s house had some positive issues going on from Garrick’s perspective. Geist had made some headway talking with Black Phantom. Deathwish and he were headed back to the base and would be awaiting the rest of the group there. He shared some information before he left and Garrick/Gryphon heard it but was trying to process how to talk with Victor/Rubberband Man to express his concerns about him being the spokesperson and preventing any embarrassment to the group or the city “if” they decide to take Balisong up and step to the role previously held by the Centurions. It was how Granny left her wake for Jake that had everyone at a loss. There was a phone call in her bedroom on her land line phone. She she went to pick it up there was a green flash and she was gone! Garrick chuckled understanding much better why Shorty asked “again” about Jake’s death.

While he was at Granny’s house he reached out to A.R.C.H.I.E. the base’s A.I. entity. He heard some static and wondered about a connection issue. When he and everyone made it to the base later he made a mental note to check in with Shorty in the next 24 hours in case Shorty #1 now needed a place to stay. He suspected if Jake was indeed not dead and had taken Granny. Then he would also take the Shorties because of his famous phrase – What’s a Jake without his Shorty! He made another mental note to have Geist check in discreetly with any families that had a Shorty placed with them. Revisiting the connection issue made him remind A.R.C.H.I.E. over comms so the whole team heard the conversation, specifically Geist. That he needed to list Hank as a guest so the base defenses would not target him.

April 1st, 2024 – Monday: 5 PM’ish

After being at the base for a few minutes having conversed with Hank throughout the day. Realizing Hank’s development as a human level intellect is around 8 to 12 years of human age, based on his limited observations. Sighing about wanting to help him progress quicker, and knowing nothing there was a quick fix. He asked A.R.C.H.I.E. where everyone was currently. Now he knew based on the response the static was not an effect of location, but of an unknown issue with the computer’s neural gel make-up. Geist mentioned wanting to talk with him about this. Having installed and two copies of Optimus in the last few months (one for Mallic, and one for Richard in his corporate office on a lone server), Garrick felt he could look at the logs to get a better idea. He informed everyone about this also over comms, then he asked Miss Amazing to assist him. Her ability to mimic skills she could see used would allow him to divide the work in half and make it about 10 minutes rather than 20 or 30 by himself.

Miss Amazing lived up to her name as she tore through the diagnostic logs using the knowledge she had for about an hour! When she started asking questions and pointing out things she was finding out a great deal regarding how Garrick thought about things, problems, solutions, and general processing of data. She was very smart herself and realized that he had a genius level IQ. Not Super-Genius like Jake and his father, but he also didn’t require sleep transformed and only three hours when he wasn’t! She began to think of all the things she could accomplish and wondered what did Garrick want. Why was he doing hero work, with his sword’s powers he could solve world hunger or something like that! Between Gryphon, Black Phantom and Beast they were able to determine the hacker was indeed Thanatos.

While Gryphon looked worried Miss Amazing saw him just sigh, make sure everyone knew what he’d be doing and then get to work after asking for a cup of coffee. Miss Amazing was thrilled to go and get that for him. She left Black Phantom in the room with Gryphon and found Geist getting a cup of coffee as well at the machine just outside the kitchen on a small counter area. Instead of returning right away, she took some time to have a small conversation with the Geist.

Art by: AZ_Artisan
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Reflections Of A Sponsored Hero

Reflections Of A Sponsored Hero

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April 1st, 2024 – Monday: 12:01 AM

Gryphon had just left the 72nd precinct in Norwood. The officers and Sgt. Matanzas helped him get out on the roof to avoid the group of reporters out front. After Sgt. Matanzas and he had the remaining Skybike impounded following, Cyan, leaving with her partner, Indigo. He asked the sergeant to pull his record. He was expecting the warm reception of him to wear off, but was not expecting the happy surprise of the sergeant’s reaction. Seeing a reformed felon devoting himself to serving the community.

Even the captain of the precinct said he would email the Brisby Commandant and Director Balisong about his actions and non-lethal win over the cybergoons. Plus the show boating Mavericks that were trying to stop other powered criminals. The last 20 minutes was him posing for photos with the precinct officers. He decided that he needed to leave when he noticed four, perhaps five female officers starting to flirt with him. When he was up in the air he checked his phone. Seeing pictures from Katherine showing the simply amazing job she did with the furniture in their new home. They exchanged several emojis of hearts and smiley faces.

He saw a meeting request sent to him for 6 AM on Tuesday with Cai from Amanda. Constance would be there to help with HR on the super issue. However, he would be meeting with her about the projects he’d requested. He clicked on the “Accept” button and then made sure Cai had the information for the meeting. Her pushing the day back from Monday to Tuesday was not bad. Things come up all the time and she has a personal life as well.

He wanted to give him a few days to get settled in before he asked him to help with anything specific. Amanda would likely have him tasked with a project and then he could either help with the project that would pay for the humanitarian counterpart project. Or help on the humanitarian one, all the while having the resources to pursue the universal language translator idea. Really a win all around.

He flew to a specific building in Norwood, one he had last stood upon on January 1st. It was the building he met Patsy Palmer after catching her from a fall. He walked over and leaned against the A/C unit he had last time. Ashmadiel could sense this wasn’t depression but a reflection of the last four months.

“You have done well and come far Garrick Faulkner. This spot has significance to you, to us. Storytellers might say it was the true beginning of your journey accepting my gifts as a hero of the light.”

Gryphon smiled, “I concur, can you change into a metal spike for me?”

Kneeling he began carving into the roof mounted utility box she sat on with the now golden spike in his hand. “You know, I think I can actually be a renaissance man but it means being willing to let people pursue their destinies as well. Constance is going to try adding ‘Cynthia’ into her checks on the reactor in the ocean. I hope it will finally talk to her. Baby steps but I forgot after a time to treat the Cynthia A.I. as a person because it hurt to much. Those two could become rockstars of the future. Science as Jake wanted will be the true hero. We just have to make sure they have a future to get to.”

“And if you succeed in freeing me, how will you be the Gryphon then?”

“I’ve decided I am going to ask Constance and Amanda to build me a power armor suit as a back up. If I go that route then I feel that the hero: Veritas or Ferrum Veritas may be a good name for the project. Either way I won’t hide that I am the pilot and gave up my powers to free a friend. Then to continue the fight I just re-invented myself. Brandon will get a kick out of it.”

“How do you feel knowing the enemy knows whom you are?”

“Cops have to deal with that fact everyday. We live in an age of hacking and information brokering. I will talk with Amanda about her plans for the security system I asked her about. Between the two of us I think we can develop something good to protect Ameera and Constance. I actually suspect Synistry will try to attack my house at some point given I live in Brisby after all. However, if I was them I would wait until I could control the encounter better than attacking a known hero at their home. Likely fortified and if they figure out Miss Amazing lives with me then all the more reason to not attack. What they may not count on is that I have a plan on dealing with them as general in a war. Obelisk was willing to commit mass murder, so as far as I am concerned he gets a ticket straight to the afterlife. There was fear in his eyes when he thought he might drown. Whomever is pulling that groups strings will know I am willing to kill their men.”

“They would fit my definition of evil.”

“I’ve come to the conclusion that even if we eliminate Synistry there will always be someone willing to fill that void. Ever vigilant we’ll need to be without sacrificing people’s freedoms. It will be a hard road because what seems like safety to one person is prison to another. If we’re to be an inclusive and welcoming society then it means looking at issues from different angles and trying to find the most optimal approach. Humanity teaches us we may fail but we will look, learn, and log the mistakes to prevent them in the future. An old proverb states you will fall a thousand times before rising a champion.”

“Garrick Faulkner, you are not the same person I met four months ago, you have grown.”

“By the will of the light watching over us all, I hope to continue to do so Ashmadiel.” Gryphon stood up the sword turned back from a spike to a bracer on his left forearm. After watching the night pass for an hour he flew off to other horizons.

Scrawled into the side of the utility box:

Hey “P”,
All of my secrets are out in the open.
Big changes are coming and
I realize we both need to grow.
You may never see or read this,
but I am letting go for now.
I’m trusting in my faith that if
we are meant to be together.
The universe will find a way,
as it did with the church next
to my home.
Be happy wherever you are.
Goodbye “P”
Love,
“G”

Art by: AZ_Artisan
Come watch the next game for our super friends on HippoTV!

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