Adventures In Parodyverse: Crossroads, Part 1

Adventures In Parodyverse - Crossworlds Part 1

    You might be wondering who I am and where I came from. And that's only natural.

    I have this tendency to just appear in places completely alien to me without warning and try to make friends, and get along with the people I find. Sometimes I fall in love, or in lust. Sometimes I end up having to depart with just as little warning...but I never really leave anyone behind. They're always in my heart and mind.

    I am Lara Night, and yes, that's my real name. I've had special, even extraordinary abilities that surprise me, frighten me, and leave me in awe for as long as I can remember. I never chose for myself an alias, a secondary identity, to protect myself because I've always been proud of what I am and what I can do, and don't really see the need to hide. That, and I couldn't seem to settle on a name when I did try to think of one.

    Where did I come from? Los Angeles, California, of an Earth in a universe seemingly like any other. It's an odd place because it seems so normal on the surface, as if it wants to be so badly. But I know better. I have highly tuned senses that attune me to the battles between good and evil within, while the average people of my world live fairly oblivious to what goes on around them.

    See, there is a goddess named Shema in my universe, who is a classic creator type. Whether or not she is 'the creator' of everything that is, that's never been defined, at least to me. But she is a creator, someone who nurtures and cares for every living creature, even those who are destructive and evil, which is why even very powerful evil still exists.

    And that brings me to the Guardians. Because Shema is, honestly, quite squeamish about taking a life or causing suffering, she periodically chooses a few people to essentially take care of things for her. It's like she enjoys planting in her garden, working the soil, planting, watering, and nurturing. But if weeds grow in and begin destroying, she can't bear to look and asks someone else to take care of it for her.

    Don't get me wrong. If Shema is pushed, if something powerful and murderous enough comes along she will protect her garden, her children, with every ounce of power a creator/goddess has at her disposal. She will kill to protect her children. But if you know her...if you've seen her, and spoken to her...you just know her heart would break to have to destroy even something so malevolent.

    And the Guardians she carefully selects reflect that as well. I'm reluctant to play hero, to go on the attack and push myself to the limits of my power. I feel most content enjoying the same things this world offers to all of us, because I believe shared experiences are always sweetest. That's why I was selected, because of my reluctance. Because the decision to use my power or not to, it goes through my heart first. And most importantly, because I was already qualified.

    I was born an Elemental. I'm not exactly sure how, but it seemed to be a side effect of being saved from near death a few years ago. I only vaguely remember shattered pieces of my childhood, but I distinctly have the sense that I wasn't happy, so I chose to leave it behind and start anew.

    And now you're caught up. That's me, in a nutshell. Of course, I'm really much more complicated than that, but I hope I've covered the basics.

---

    "Jolly good," Sir Mumphrey congratulated the nervous and shaking Lara Night after she finished introducing herself at length. He nodded at her from the head of the huge dinner table in the Lair Legion dining room.

    Sitting around him was just about the entire Lair Legion, including some of the associate members and all of the juniors, as well as a few guests such as Visionary's girlfriend Pricilla, Liu Xi Xian and Ebony, and Zdenka Zarazoza. It was Sir Mumphrey's idea, or more of a directive really, to host a Lair Legion dinner to introduce Lara to everyone else.

    'Tell us who are you and where you come from' was Mumphrey's blanket question that led to the long story which left Lara nearly sweating, sitting with her legs and arms folded to shrink her as small as possible, her hands in her lap clenched together until her fingers turned pale.

    But now she felt relieved. She told her story and there were no questions yet, no suspicious looks, and no one was even frowning.

    "So how did you meet Liu Xi?" Hatman asked, just when Lara thought no one had any questions.

    "We...uh...just kind of ran into each other," Lara replied. "Not physically. I mean, there are all kinds of entities in-between...we noticed each other because we're both human, and that's rare. I went ahead to my destination and she followed me to ask about me."

    "I get that too," Visionary spoke up, referring to Liu Xi's tendency to visit his quarters unannounced.

    Lara smiled at that. "No, it was very sweet, really. She thought I was in trouble or being taken advantage of or something. She didn't think anyone else could slip through there at will like she does."

    "Do all Guardians give as good sex as you?" CrazySugarFreakBoy! piped up loudly.

    Lara turned a nice shade of scarlet as Mumph took a moment to scold the Wired Wonder about his table manners. She felt a little grateful that everyone stared at CSFB! because of his comment rather than her because of the content. With the exception of De Brown Streak, who hadn't taken his eyes off her since she arrived.

    "While we're introducing people," Hatman suddenly spoke up, saving Lara from further embarrassment, "I guess I have a couple of people to introduce."

    "They're both girls, aren't they?" De Brown Streak teased.

    "As a matter of fact, yes." Hatman didn't seem the slightest bit fazed by the interruption. He looked at Zdenka sitting to his right. "Zdenka Zarazoza...most of you know who she is and where she's from. But thanks to Liu Xi I also managed to locate someone else I've gotten to know, and a few of you have met. Keiko Takashi."

    A small Asian woman seated to Hatman's left bowed slightly at her introduction but said nothing.

    "Ms. Takashi? Would you like to say a few words?" Sir Mumphrey urged.

    Keiko looked from one end of the table to the other slowly, silently, her dark eyes looking over the expectant faces of everyone present. "I'm sorry," she said in a soft voice, "I can't think of much to say about myself that wouldn't horrify most." She smiled slightly.

    "Hmph." Sir Mumphrey raised an eyebrow. He had been told her history and could understand her reluctance at simply telling everyone about it. "Perhaps you could summarize where you are from and what you do...in the present."

    She sighed and sat up straight. "I'm a police detective in Garden City," she spoke softly. "Most of you won't know where that is. I suppose some of you know what I used to be and perhaps you're even a little frightened of me. But if you are you really don't know me." She looked from one end of the table to the other and leaned back again, indicating she had no more to say.

    "She's really very sweet when you get to know her," Hatman defended her before anyone spoke up. He looked across the table at Chiaki Bushido and smiled. "Oh! I have one more person to introduce."

    Chiaki rose slowly and bowed once, and then brushed back the hair that fell across her face. "I am called the Psychic Samurai," she said in a quiet yet strong voice. "I do not know why. Akiko chose that name for me because of my tendency to stay one step ahead of my opponents."

    "You worked for Akiko Masamune?" De Brown Streak asked. "Isn't she a criminal?"

    Her eyes narrowed. "A criminal, Josh, takes from people who are not willing. A criminal brings harm or suffering to those who have done nothing offensive. Akiko may not obey all of the written laws but her business is honorable."

    "You're defending her?" CSFB! asked.

    "Give her a break, guys," Hatman urged them both.

    Chiaki frowned and glanced at Hatman for a moment. "I cannot speak for Akiko," she said quietly. "I can only speak for myself. But keep in mind that Akiko specifically chose me to assist her because of my personal code of honor. Others like me who don't place such limits on themselves are like vicious animals. Akiko did not want her name associated with such people."

    "She wanted someone cool-headed and willing to just talk sometimes," Hatman added.

    "Yes." Chiaki nodded. "And that was me."

    "Where were you chosen from?" Sir Mumphrey asked. "What made you choose the life of a samurai?"

    She smiled slightly at that question. "There have always been samurai in my family," she said. "Only by male descendants. I was supposed to be the death of that line because I was an only child, and female. But I decided to accept the training anyway." She shrugged. "I did okay. I was working as a bodyguard when Akiko found me while she vacationed in Tokyo. She offered me more than I was being paid. A lot more. And she said in my new job I would need brains as well as power. That intrigued me."

    "So are you like...rich now?" CSFB! asked.

    "Not rich," she replied. "But I have enough to live modestly."

    CSFB! nudged Hatman. "Cute and loaded. You should have kept her, Hatty."

    Hatman seemed embarrassed sitting between Keiko and Zdenka all of a sudden.

    "It seems that's all the introductions," Sir Mumphrey announced. He looked directly at Liu Xi, who was poking at what was left of her dessert quietly. As he adjourned dinner he remembered that she met with him before the dinner and made him promise something.

---

    Liu Xi entered Sir Mumphrey's office and quietly shut the door. When he looked up from his desk he could see a mild look of panic in her eyes. "About tonight's dinner," she began.

    "It's good food and a little discussion, what?" he replied cheerfully.

    She seemed very intense as she stood over the desk, scooped back her hair, and abruptly snapped, "It's not the kind of discussion I want to participate in."

    He seemed concerned at that, even putting down the paperwork he was looking through as he spoke to her. "I'm not sure I understand."

    "My history," she whispered in a quieter voice. "It's not something I...want to tell everyone yet. It's still too horrible to me."

    Sir Mumphrey frowned, but didn't press the matter. As promised, everyone she had actually told remained silent about it, keeping her secret secure. Sir Mumphrey was in the dark, and didn't like to be, but in this case it was the young girl's private matter, not meant for him to know. "I will respect that," he promised. "If you don't wish to speak at dinner I won't ask you to. But I will ask you to be there. Keeping up appearances and all that."

    "Okay." Liu Xi nodded once and turned to leave the room.

    "But if you are ready to tell someday--" Sir Mumphrey began the offer, but never finished it, leaving it to her imagination.

    She nodded again and silently slipped out the door.

---

    "I don't wish to say anything about my history," Liu Xi suddenly piped up at the dinner table, "But I can say something about the present. I discovered something about myself...secretly." She looked up almost ominously at the group sitting around her. "I can do some very amazing and dangerous things. If you all truly knew what I was capable of...you would be afraid."

    "Liu Xi, what are--" Visionary started to ask.

    She glanced at him for a moment, and then continued. "I've been practicing," she said, "because with all the dangers you all seem to be facing lately--" She looked at Visionary again. "I feel that perhaps you can use a little more help."

    "But you're not--" Visionary started to point out, but didn't get to finish that thought either.

    "It's for my own peace," Liu Xi whispered. "If someone was hurt because I didn't even try--" She shook her head sadly.

    Sir Mumphrey smiled. That last sentence seemed to be his cue to reveal the secret behind the dinner meeting. "Visionary, this supper was partly Liu Xi's idea. Gathering friends from outside our world, getting to know them."

    Visionary looked shocked at first, as he looked at the once again shy-looking Chinese teen. But then a smile came to him as he began to feel proud of his little-known helpful friend. "Really?" was all he could think of to say in spite of all his complex thoughts.

    Liu Xi nodded. "When you were sick," she explained, "You would have died without the help of so many who aren't regulars." She looked at Chiaki and then at Lara. "Those people were satisfied just with making me happy and helping you. I think they deserve a little more than that."

    Lara leaned back, folded her arms, and smiled. Chiaki didn't seem to react outwardly at all.

    "I always knew she was smart," Yuki commented to Al B. "And a little devious."

    That's when Chiaki chose to speak up again. "She is doing this because none of you are mysterious anymore."

    "What's that supposed to mean?" CSFB! asked.

    "You are a prime example," Chiaki pointed out. "Someone who wished to learn enough to defeat you only would have to read the newspaper. The same is true for Visionary, it's now well know that he is powerless, vulnerable, and weak."

    "Hey!" Visionary protested.

    She continued on. "A local magazine has printed an inventory of Hatman's hats. De Brown Streak has a police record. You don't have the luxury to choose to believe this information will never be used against you."

    "Are you saying we're outdated losers?" De Brown Streak asked. "Or just Visionary?"

    "Hey!" Visionary protested again.

    "Visionary is not a loser!" Liu Xi shot back.

    DBS smiled. He liked arguing with people for fun. "Pfft! You only think so cause he's giving you the ol' sausage."

    "What?" Liu Xi looked at Visionary. She didn't seem to understand the reference.

    Visionary seemed embarrassed as he whispered to Liu Xi to tell her what it meant.

    Liu Xi was horrified and angry at first, but then she calmed herself. "You should treat me with more respect," she said.

    Sir Mumphrey smiled at her for a moment, seeming proud that she was learning to control her temper. He frowned at DBS next. "That'll be quite enough of that." He sat up and took a deep breath. "I suppose we can adjourn then, what?"

---

    "I'm not sure introducing me to the others at dinner was such a good idea," Keiko told Jay after following him to his quarters. Zdenka had followed along as well - she had no suspicions about Keiko after seeing her behavior around Jay.

    "Why not?" Jay asked.

    Zdenka finally decided to chip in. "Keiko is a secret weapon," she explained. "If even one of the Lair Legion are compromised now she won't be secret anymore."

    "I trust everyone here not to be compromised," Jay said dutifully.

    "That's not the problem anyway," Keiko interrupted. "You know what I am, Jay, and it took you quite a while to come to terms with it. You're only friendly with me because of what I am now, and because you're very forgiving. What if another Lair Legion member is not so forgiving?" She shook her head. "I don't want to make an enemy for life here."

    "I see." Jay sounded embarrassed at having introduced her at all. "I haven't done too much damage, have I?"

    Keiko smiled at him. "No, you haven't." She shrugged. "I suppose a few of them might think I'm odd for my lack of participation though."

    Zdenka gently tapped Jay's nose as she circled around him. "Women always smile at you," she teased as she put one arm around him.

    "That's because he's sweet and gentle," Keiko pointed out. "You were very fortunate to find him." She noted that Jay seemed somewhat embarrassed by the compliment. "I'm glad you invited me to this dinner though," she said. "It was nice meeting Zdenka and seeing you again."

    "It was nice to meet you too," Zdenka replied. "Jay told me about you and where you are from but I did not know if I would see you." She smiled and gave Jay a mild teasing look. "He did not tell me you were so pretty."

    Keiko looked directly at Jay and noticed that comment seemed to make him mildly uncomfortable. She laughed at that. "Jay, she's just trying to shake you up a little because you're cute when you're nervous."

    Jay looked at Zdenka, who nodded and tried not to laugh. "I see." He nudged Zdenka gently.

    "I suppose I should go and get settled in." Keiko tried her best not to get in the way as she noticed Jay and Zdenka becoming more and more playful with time. She picked up the duffel bag she left in his quarters earlier and turned to leave.

    "Wait, wait," Jay urged her. "I was going to tell you about this new law here first."

    Keiko dropped the bag again. "I'm listening," she said.

---

    "So what have you been practicing?" Sir Mumphrey asked as Liu Xi hovered in his office.

    "Elemental magic," she replied quickly. "Visionary told me about this new law. I wish to avoid contact with it but if I'm forced into a corner I want to know what I can do."

    "You can always simply escape," Sir Mumphrey told her. "It's something you do fairly easily."

    "I can escape," she said. "But what if you or Visionary need my help?"

    "Go on with practice, then," Mumph suggested. "But as you do, and no matter what you learn about yourself, always remember that the most successful battle is one where no life or freedom is lost."

    "You're afraid I'll lose my grounding and forget who I am," Liu Xi guessed. "I won't. I promised Visionary I wouldn't."

    "Hmph." Sir Mumphrey leaned back at his desk and straightened his jacket. "Just keep your head on straight, what?"

    "I will." She nodded. "Excuse me please, I have something to talk to Visionary about."

    She exited Sir Mumphrey's office and made her way to Visionary's quarters, slipping in silently - through the wall rather than using the door - because she wasn't sure if he had a 'guest' or not. His quarters were dark and empty except for him, lounging on the bed with his eyes closed. He wasn't really asleep - it was more like he was daydreaming.

    Liu Xi lay next to him and placed her hands behind her head, watching him patiently until he decided to give her his attention. She was never one to wake him abruptly from a serene dreamland - she knew that tended to make him cranky, even more so than her unannounced visits.

    "You came back." Visionary whispered absent-mindedly when he sensed someone lay down next to him. He wrapped his arms gently around his companion and began showering her with kisses.

    Liu Xi stiffened a bit, realizing that Visionary was expecting - or hoping- Pricilla to return and now he was halfway in dreamland, confused. She wanted to frighten him now, to wake him abruptly, as a wave of fear overtook her at being kissed like that.

    But it was a mixture of feelings for her. Her heart sped up and she felt afraid, felt her hands grow cold and begin to shiver. But she had never been kissed that way before - her last 'encounter' with a man consisted of an animal-like consummation of his lust, more of an assault than a gentle coaxing such as this. She liked this gentle coaxing. She liked it a lot.

    Even so, a sudden wave of panic overcame her and she ended up sounding more angry and threatening than she ever intended. "Visionary!" she growled at him.

    Visionary immediately snapped back to reality, and would have screamed if he could have found the voice to do so. He looked at her, stunned. "What are you doing here?" he asked, sounding a bit like an accusation.

    Liu Xi could tell he wasn't completely coherent yet. Though his eyes were fixed on her and plainly conscious of her presence, it was as if the rest of him hadn't caught up to reality yet. He held her around the waist still, very close. That frightened and panicked her a little - but she started to control her breathing to remain calm.

    "I wanted to tell you something," she said, propping herself up so she separated herself as much as possible from Visionary. He still unconsciously held her around the waist, though, so she added, "but I feel uncomfortable, so I need you to let me go first." She sounded pitiful when she said that last bit.

    "I'm really sorry," he said quickly, "I thought you were...and when you weren't, I was already so...I got carried away and--"

    "No, no, I know it was a mistake," Liu Xi said. "I'll forgive you," she said with a nervous smile, "Because the kisses were nice. I've never been kissed like that."

    "That's kind of a shame," Visionary noted. "I just...I didn't mean to frighten you like that."

    "No." Liu Xi sighed and spoke a little sadly. "I frightened myself. If I would be a normal girl I wouldn't have freaked out like that."

    "Yeah, but then we would have--" Visionary paused. He nearly shuddered, but then he had Liu Xi directly in front of him and partly believed that it wouldn't have been so bad. He literally slapped himself after thinking that.

    Liu Xi giggled at that, but didn't ask why he did it. "I'm sure it wouldn't have been nearly as bad as my last experience. But it would have been very awkward later on." She smiled at him then and pointed something else out. "You've changed, Visionary," she said. "Pricilla has had a good effect on you."

    "Changed? How?" he asked.

    Liu Xi leaned against the headboard and settled in. "You never even tried to touch a woman before you met her. Now you're so...daring."

    "Really? You think so?" Visionary smiled at that. A girl thinking he was daring...that was new to him.

    "If I hadn't said anything to stop you," Liu Xi asked, letting some of the earlier feeling of panic bleed through, "Would you have...?"

    Visionary thought about it for a moment, trying to re-enact the events on his mind. There was no denying how close he was. "I don't know," he admitted reluctantly. "You're not mad are you? I mean...I did think you were Pricilla, and I'd nail her in a second without checking with her first because she likes that."

    She giggled at that too. "No, I'm not mad," she said. "I almost feel a little bad that I told you the truth now," she joked.

    "Does that mean you would have let me...?" Visionary looked shocked at what he just nearly asked, and almost actually slapped himself again.

    "No," she replied calmly, and a little sadly. "I panicked," she said. "That means I'm not ready yet."

    "Oh." He replied plainly. "So what did you want to tell me before...all of this happened?"

    "It's about Pricilla," Liu Xi told him. "I met her after the dinner. I don't think she likes me much."

TO BE CONTINUED

-- Story written and copyrighted (C) 2005 by Jason Froikin, and may not be
-- reprinted without permission.
-- Yuki Shiro designed by Jason Froikin, based on designs by Masamune Shirow
-- Liu Xi Xian and the Psychic Samurai are original design by Jason Froikin
-- Lara Night is an original creation by Jason Froikin
-- Keiko Takashi is an original creation by Jason Froikin

Post By Anime Jason Sat Nov 19, 2005 at 06:22:18 pm EST	Subject Adventures In Parodyverse: Crossroads, Part 1

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