Northern Might/So Close, Yet So Far Away: A Vacation on Andromeda
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
This story is the result of inspiration after Marsius Denthar, known as Crimsonstar and more recently Pulsar Denthar, ICly offered Alex passage through the KEA portal to visit his home world of Andromeda 3. Alex accepted and has begun her trip after receiving time off from reaching maximum security clearance.
This is a collaboration story between myself and ShieldWolf. His entries are posted with his permission and will be tagged with ** to indicate his authorship. Alumette also made an entry, and her authorship is tagged with ++ and posted with her permission. The original threads can be found on both the Dawn Patrol and the Shield of Paragon forums.
Please note that this story is currently in progress.
Contents |
So Close, Yet So Far Away: A Vacation on Andromeda
Chapter 1
“Okay, Robby, let’s get the portal powered up,” Marsius Denthar, the hero known as Crimsonstar and the recently promoted Pulsar of the Andromedan Star Brigade, said to his assistant with a nod of his head.
“You got it, boss,” the young man replied. Robby Janson was probably the most knowledgeable person on the planet when it came to the portal that connected Earth and Andromeda. The original scientist, Dr. Jessica Sheppard, mysteriously disappeared months ago. Marsius had spotted her once since that time, and she was... different. That was also the last time he saw her.
“You’re sure the Star Brigade and the Council of Elders aren’t opposed to my visiting Andromeda? I don’t want to cause any trouble,” Alexandra Sommers asked, her long hair tied back into its usual low ponytail and a large rucksack was propped against her shins.
“Alex, it’s fine. The answer hasn’t changed from the other three times you’ve asked me,” Marsius replies, automatically pitching his voice to carry over the rumble of the portal as it comes to life. Neither hero had flinched when the portal became fully powered -- and loud. “I spoke with Nova Strangham a few hours ago. While he would like to greet you personally, he isn’t sure if his admin will let him escape from his desk.”
Alex chuckled at the image that formed in her mind. “I hope he doesn’t feel as though he’s obligated to meet me,” she comments. “Although it would be nice to put a face to the name and the personality I have formed in my head.”
The portal shimmered and solidified, offering glimpses of the sister KEA office on Andromeda 3, thirty million light years away.
“You have everything you need, Alex?” Marsius asks, nodding at the backpack. “Between the map prism and the PDA I gave you, you shouldn’t have any trouble getting around Andromeda 3. I suspect the Star Brigade will also provide you with a guide for the first few days.”
“Yes, dear, I packed both of your gadgets, a tent, a few changes of clothes, my light armour uniform, various forms of ID, and even a first aid kit -- for all the good it would do me,” the woman replies with an exasperated sigh and a wrinkling of her nose. “Does that complete your checklist, ‘Dad’?”
The Andromedan muttered something under his breath about being the same age and a form of revenge, à la Wentworth’s fountain. “All right, all right, I’ll stop pestering. I know you’ve told me that you have wilderness survival training and I know Andromeda 3 and Earth have similar climates, but can you really blame me for being concerned when you’re going to another planet?”
Alex chuckles as she shrugs into her backpack and pats Marsius on the shoulder as she passes him. “No, Mars,” she replies. “I can appreciate that you’re concerned for a friend. Or are you worried that I’m going to scare some of the male Andromedans while I’m in the Kairin Empire?”
Once glance back at Crimsonstar shows a pained expression on his face, and Alex simply laughs. “Relax, I won’t break their minds -- much.” She’s still grinning as she passes through the portal.
The two men stare at the portal before Robby coughs lightly. “I hope your Star Brigade has members like her, sir. Or that whoever is meeting with Miz Sommers has an open mind or a sense of humour. But from the readings, she’s arrived on Andromeda without any problem.”
“Go ahead and shut the portal down, Robby,” Marsius sighs with a shake of his head. “I’ll contact Nova Strangham in a few hours to make sure I don’t have to smooth any ruffled feathers. I wonder if he still has that sweet tooth...”
Chapter 2
As far as Alex could tell, passing through the KEA portal felt no stranger than using through the Portal Corp version. Shrugging her shoulders to make the backpack sit a little more comfortably, she turned to offer a final wave to Marsius and Robby back on Earth.
“Good day to you, miss,” said the Andromedan woman in the office. She wore a uniform remarkably similar to Marsius’ original costume. “My name is Crimsonstar Marshi Brax and I am the Star Brigade’s liaison to the Kairin-Earth Alliance.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Crimsonstar Brax,” Alex replies with a smile and only the faintest doubletake. “My name is Alexandra Sommers, but I also go by Northern Might in Paragon City. I suspect hearing ‘Crimsonstar’ is going to cause me some confusion for the first few days.” The last is said with a rueful grin. “On one hand, I completely understand it is one of the ranks in the Star Brigade. On the other hand, it’s also the first name I knew Marsius by.” After examining the Star Brigade’s rank structure in her information packet, Alex worked out that a Crimsonstar was roughly equivalent to a major in the Canadian army.
“I’m afraid you’ll have get used to it rather quickly,” the red-haired woman chuckles. “But you may call me Marshi if you’d like. We have provided one of the KEA suites for your use while you are here in Arisa, as well as one of our junior officers as a guide while you are in our capital city.” Brax nods towards the office door and made a polite ‘after you’ gesture. “If you come this way, I will take you to the suite so you may unpack your bag.”
“That would be great, Marshi, thank you,” Alex says as she follows the other Crimsonstar. “I do need to pick up a few things to round out my pack once I head out to the forests. Other than my travel plans, did the Council of Elders or the Star Brigade require me to do anything? Oh, and would it be taboo for me to travel by, ah, flight? It’s one of the abilities I have.”
“Neither the Council nor the Brigade have any requirements of you as a result of your visit. You are here, after all, as a guest,” Marshi replies. “Although Quasar Marsden has heard rumours of your abilities, so may ‘happen’ to meet with you shortly. As to your concerns of flying--” she pauses to effortlessly glide a few feet down the hall, her feet at least three inches off the ground “ -- all Star Brigade officers of rank Crimsonstar and above have gained the inherent ability of flight. It appears to be the one consistent skill the protostar matter implants grant us. While some of the citizens may notice you for flying, it is not completely unheard of in Arisa. It may or may not cause you some difficulties in the more rural areas.”
“Hmm, understood,” Alex says with a nod as the pair come to a halt in front of a decorated door. “I’ll keep my feet on the ground when I’m in a populated area, then.”
“If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Previous to Crimsonstar Denthar’s assignment to Sol 3, I was a Cluster under his command. If the PDA he provided you with in any way unclear, I should be able to decipher his intended meaning,” Marshi comments. “But for now, I will have to excuse myself and return to my duties.”
“Oh, of course. It really was a pleasure to meet you, Marshi. Perhaps we could go out for lunch one day, if you have the time, and you could tell me more about your career as a Star Brigade officer,” the brown-haired woman replies.
“I should be able to make some time for you, provided that in return you allow me to practice my English and tell me what it is like to be a hero,” the female Crimsonstar answers with a smile as she turns to return to her office. “But please, make yourself comfortable and enjoy your stay on Andromeda 3.”
Entering the KEA suite, Alex manages to close the door without issue. She glances around the sitting room, with its sofas and entertainment centre, before making her way across the polished wooden floor. The bathroom received a cursory peek and a grin at its sumptuous amenities before Alex forced herself to focus and enter the bedroom to begin unpacking. She managed to place the map prism and Marsius’ PDA on the bed beside her lightly armoured red costume before her self-control crumbled under the teasing glimpses of the city the large glass doors provided.
“If it wasn’t for the thirty million light years away part, I’d so make this a regular vacation spot,” the Canadian murmurs to herself after taking a deep breath of Andromedan air. She leans against the patio’s stone balustrade to get a good view of the city sprawled below her perch. Alex could have happily stayed out in the tropical weather for hours on end. As it was, her thoughts were broken by the sound of knocking on the suite’s door.
Chapter 3 **
Marsius could see the interior of the KEA offices on Andromeda. Marshi Brax, recently promoted to Crimsonstar rank and head of operations there, waved to him from the other side. He watched as Alex ascended the ramp to the portal and stepped through it. There were several brief minutes in which she disappeared from sight totally as the portal shunted her across the universe and she re-emerged on the Andromedan side of the gateway. He watched as Marshi introduced herself, the two woman shaking hands. Alex turned to look back at him through the portal, smiled and waved before left the room with Marshi.
Marsius remained watching the now empty room as Robby put the portal into a standby status to await a signal from its twin when it was activated to return Alex. Even when it had powered down and nothing could be seen beyond the portal besides their own surroundings, Marsius still just started at the gate. Robby studied the computer control readouts from this last transport, occasionally stealing a glance at Marsius.
“You okay, big guy?” he asked him. Marsius let out a little sigh, turned away from the portal and slowly strode over to Robby. “Yes. I’ve never really watched anyone else use the portal to go to Andromeda, so I was curious to see what it actually looks like,” Marsius said.
“Mmhmm, right,” Robby said, picking up a clipboard that hung on a hook on the side of the computer control terminal. “You should have gone with her,” he added. Marsius moved across the room and made himself busy with mundane chores that really didn’t need doing right at that minute.
“Oh it’s her vacation, I don’t want to intrude,” Marsius replied.
“I’m sure Alex wouldn’t have had any problem with you going. She probably would have liked the company. I mean, I heard her at least three different times ask if you were sure you didn’t want to come along.” Robby paused and picked up a single sheet of paper that was lying on top of the terminal “And she left an almost minute by minute detail of her itinerary.”
Marsius grinned and tried to nonchalantly dismiss it with a wave of his hand. “She was just excited about telling us what she planned on doing,” he answered.
“Or... she was making sure someone would know where to find her later.” Robby made some final marks on the clipboard, hung it back up and picked up his soda as he came around the front of the terminal and headed to the doorway. “Look, Marsius. Far be it from me to interfere, but it’s obvious the two of you dig one another and enjoy each other’s company. Besides, with all the chaos going on in the city lately, you could use some down time yourself. If I were you, I’d have gone with her, but luckily...” and he handed Marsius the copy of Alex’s itinerary; “...you know where you can catch up to her should you decide to join her.”
Robby left him alone in the room as Marsius took another look at the portal, then down at her travel plans.
Chapter 3.1 ++
Grace stepped up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder. Marsius started a bit, whirling around to meet Grace's gentle gaze.
"He's right, you know," she said, her eyes glittering mischievously. Since the ordeal with Moros, and the strain of the Rikti invasion, Grace had been taking some time for herself; staying away from HQ, avoiding social engagements, and generally busying herself with Foundation affairs when she wasn't keeping to her quarters at MAGI. It was quite a surprise to see her standing there outside the portal.
"Marsius, come on," she said. "You could use a vacation yourself." She gave him a sly smile and nodded towards the portal. "And I imagine the falls are beautiful this time of year." She gave his hand a gentle squeeze and then continued to hold his hand. She raised her eyes to meet his, "Marsius, people regret more in life the things they didn't do than the things they did," she said. A pause developed. "More than anything," Grace finally added, "I want you to be happy." Another pause. "And as your Binary, I'm not about to let you pass up something good." She glanced once more at the portal, and then looked back at him meaningfully.
Chapter 4
"I wonder who that could be," Alex muses to herself as she heads for the suite’s entrance. She opens the door to see an older man a few inches shorter than her own height, but gets the impression that he is someone of importance.
"Good afternoon, miss," the Brigade officer – for what else could he be, with a pristine white dress uniform and a brilliant orange-red braid adorning one shoulder – says in greeting. Alex gauges his age to be in his mid-fifties if his greying hair and the wrinkles around his eyes are any indication.
"Ah, good afternoon," she replies politely after a short pause. "I’m sorry, was I to meet with someone? Crimsonstar Brax indicated she would send a guide to help me, but you appear to be a veteran, sir."
The man chuckles as he waves a hand and replies, "No, no, miss. I might actually be imposing upon you." His aquamarine eyes twinkle as he continues. "My name is Quasar Marsden. I was one of Pulsar Denthar’s instructors a number of years ago."
"Ah yes, Crimsonstar Brax mentioned that you might track me down," Alex answers with a chuckle. "Although I didn’t realize she meant quite so quickly! Please, come inside. Could I offer you something to drink? I haven’t had a chance to explore the refreshments available, but I’m sure the bar is fully stocked." She takes a step back to allow the Quasar space to enter the suite.
"Actually, I was hoping to persuade you to join me at the Academy for the afternoon. There is a history session for the new Stars that you may find interesting," Marsden says with a nod. "The lesson is about the various worlds of our system, and what each planet offers. Following that, there is a practical tactics class for one of our sets of Clusters. From the briefing that Denthar transmitted to Nova Strangham, you are a skilled warrior from Terra 3."
Alex blinks at the terms the Brigade officer uses to describe her security clearance in Paragon. "Ah... thank you, sir. But I’m only one of the many heroes in that city, and Marsius is another," she responds. "Although I’d be delighted to join you at the Academy. I’m rather curious about the tactics lessons. If you’ll pardon me for a moment, I’ll get changed into something that’s a little more appropriate for a practical lesson."
"Of course, young lady. I will help myself to some of the refreshments you kindly offered me. The history lesson begins in approximately thirty minutes and I can take you by the cafeteria so that you can have some lunch," the senior officer answers as he heads for the bar to get a glass of juice.
Alex vanishes back into her bedroom to change into the one costume she brought along. The Quasar is not kept waiting as Alex reappears in five minutes, snapping closed the spiked accessory around her neck.
"Please let me know if you’d prefer the red version more for visibility," the woman says as she taps a button under her belt’s clasp. Her bright red uniform shimmers momentarily to purple before shifting into its usual silver and blue colouration. The white maple leaf emblem also fades into the Silver Guard’s stylized shield design.
"Most impressive," Marsden comments, having turned when Alex spoke to him.
"I could only discover that the Icon tailors weave nanothreads into each costume they manufacture," Alex replies as she checks her bracers. "Which colours these threads shift to are determined by the colour scheme chosen by the registered group. For example, my costumes were programmed for blue and silver, the colours of The Silver Guard. In contrast, Marsius’ costumes would have been programmed for The Dawn Patrol’s colours of dark blue and white – except he has that handy matter transmuter of his. The nanothreads are a neat bit of technology... and expensive! I don’t think I’ve ever seen an Icon closed since moving to Paragon. Talk about a brisk – and profitable – business."
The Quasar chuckles as he sets his glass down. "Let us head for the Academy grounds, then, if you are ready."
"Oh, definitely," Alex says as she follows the Andromedan out of the suite. "Would we be able to stop off at a store so I could get a pad of paper? My memory isn’t perfect, and I’d like to get this all down as accurately as possible..."
***
Alex stands against one of the wall supports of the exercise chamber as the descending afternoon sun caused shadows to slowly creep their way across the floor. The room reminded the Canadian of a traditional gymnasium back in high school, with a padded floor and partially padded walls in one section and suspended ropes in another area. The obvious differences were the open archways leading to a courtyard and a variety of equipment she couldn't easily identify.
She idly bounces a small prism on the palm of her hand as she observes a class of Cluster-ranked students. They were practicing their hand-to-hand combat with each other, although her attention was on three pairs of male students closest to her. "Apparently some things are the same here on Andromeda," Alex muses to herself. Five of the students were taunting the sixth and, while their Pulsar instructor was busy speaking with Quasar Marsden, 'happen' to have a few minor accidents.
Alex, having had enough of the baiting, pushes off the wall and saunters towards the small group after tossing the translucent oval out into the courtyard. "Clusters, are you sure you have your single combatant hand-to-hand perfected?" she asks in a polite tone. She is a guest, after all. "Your group here seems to be moving into group tactics ahead of the rest of the class." The young woman uses a rough mixture of English and Andromedan, hoping that she doesn't mispronounce something crucial.
"We are making sure that Darron knows his proper position," answers one of the students. He was slightly taller than the others, with pale hair and pale blue eyes in stark contrast to his tanned complexion. "After all, we would not want another Black Hole in his family. So we are helping him stay on track. Right, Jace?"
The dark haired young man nods an assent though his flexing jaw muscles betray his true feelings.
"Really?" Alex asks as she cocks her head to one side. "I was not aware that physical training in the form of five against one could assist in such situations."
"Physical punishment is a great teacher," Jazdan, the apparent ringleader, replies. "Perhaps you heard the rumours back on your home planet, miss. Janus Darron was named a Black Hole eight years ago. But instead of disappearing into history, he reappeared six months ago and stole a new starship. Does that not indicate to you that the Darron family has bad seeds in this generation?"
"I would have to disagree with that statement," the Canadian says as she steps onto the padded area and crooks her finger at Jace in a 'come over here' gesture. The younger Darron flinches faintly at being singled out by yet another person.
"Now I have worked with Pulsar Denthar quite a number of times during the course of this year," Alex begins to explain in a combination of English and Andromedan. " I was also fortunate enough to team with both himself and his Binary. Perhaps it is different here in this system than it is back on Earth, but there is a certain amount of trust given to your team mates -- trust in their abilities, trust in their skills, and trust in themselves. Do you trust me?" The last is directed at Jace and he nods after a momentary hesitation.
Alex clasps the shoulder of the dark haired young man as she moves to pass him. Instead, she sweeps her foot back to knock the Cluster's feet out from under him, and uses the hand on his shoulder to propel him towards the mat back-first.
Jace blinks in shock as he first finds himself falling and then fails to hit the ground. He quickly discovers that he has gripped the woman's wrist with both of his hands and that she's effortlessly holding him an inch above the mat.
"For a man who is getting constantly tested by his own classmates, you have a remarkably trusting personality," Alex remarks to the startled Cluster as she returns him to his feet. "That can be both a blessing and a curse. A blessing, for those that do not know you may sense that you are inherently trustworthy and therefore rely on both you and the Star Brigade. It can also be a curse if there are those that will abuse your trust, and in turn, undermine your self-confidence in knowing what to do or who to trust." A couple of Jace's hassling classmates shuffle their feet at the last sentence.
"So, gentlemen, I would suggest that you keep in mind the delicate nature of trust," the Terran woman finishes as faces Jazdan and his quartet. "Now if you would like to practice your team tactics, you may do so on me. With no offence to Cluster Darron, I have more experience in fighting multiple foes at once." Alex moves away from the group, cracking her knuckles as she tests the spring of the floor with a few heavy steps.
Some of the other Clusters in the class pause their exercises to gather around their classmates and the Quasar's guest. Murmurs pass between the classmates: What is the woman going to do? Who knows, it will be interesting either way. Can she really take on five opponents at a time? They're only Clusters like we are; she's a trained warrior, of course she can. Has Jazdan and his group finally met their match? They definitely know how to toe the line and not get punished.
The two senior officers silently watch the small confrontation from afar. "It displeases me to involve Denthar's guest in such a trivial matter as this," Pulsar Kirdak says to his superior with a frown. "My impression is that she is here to see what Andromeda offers, not play peacekeeper on a training field." Quasar Marsden clasps his hands behind his back, watching as Alex tests her surroundings. "That may be so, Dorvit, but Miss Sommers' intervention allows for those Clusters to avoid a formal reprimand. They have not progressed quite that far -- yet. With any luck, it will become a non-issue in the future."
Alex patiently waits for the five to make their plan and put it into play. She lightly clenches her left hand, a counter-plan already forming in her mind, as her gaze rests to the sun-drenched grounds outside of the gymnasium.
A shout draws the woman's attention back to the task at hand as four of the five Clusters charge her in unison. With a shake of her head and a faint smile, Alex takes a single heavy step towards the quartet to send a shockwave through the floor as something strikes her temple. Jazdan's four co-conspirators fall to the floor as their known ground suddenly becomes unstable and nearby observers grasp each other's shoulders to keep their own balance. Throwing her left hand out in front of her, Alex clenches her fist to hear a gasp from a number of throats.
"I believe you dropped something," the Canadian remarks as she bends down to pluck a cape pin off of the floor. She steps over the sprawled young men to stop near Jazdan and offers the pin back to him. "Although I suppose you are preoccupied at the moment. I will try to pin this correctly, but you will have to forgive me if it is not completely accurate." The tanned young man blinks slowly as the words get through. He hasn't quite figured out how he became trapped, but he did know that he was cold.
"Miss Sommers?" Pulsar Kirdak asks politely as he and Marsden join the rest of the class by the archways. "If you are amenable, might I invite you to dinner to discuss your skills with myself and my fellow instructors? I believe there is an opportunity here for all of us."
"Of course, sir," Alex responds with a smile. "I will release Cluster Jazdan out of the block of ice as well. He might need some time to change into a dry uniform -- and perhaps have a warm drink -- once the residual water becomes a liquid again. I do apologize for making the training room a bit of a mess though."
"Do not concern yourself with that, my dear," Quasar Marsden states as he bows to the Andromedan visitor. "The four Clusters can tidy up the area as their rebuke." Jazdan's quartet quickly nods their agreement as they realize how lightly they're getting off, and direct their attention to helping their pale-haired classmate out of the melting ice. "Shall we continue your tour of the Academy grounds?"
