Generation Legacy Issue #9 "Innocence Lost" - Part 3

[Samnell]

Mark listens to the latest installment of the Ryan wars and considers whether waking up was really the kind of career move he wanted to pursue. He massages the bridge of his nose.

"If we're friends here, could we try acting it? I mean just once?"

 

[Agamon]

"Yeah, sure, whatever Anika," Ryan mutters as he grabs the gold ball and tosses it into the sink, allowing it to reform into water. "But I'm sure you could just ask Cassie that a punch to the nose isn't that effective against a determined opponent, compared to a hit in the solar plexus or throat."

"A hunk of gold isn't going to impress me, Ryan. I'd have thought you'd known that by now," she replies with another sigh.

"So yeah, you complain when we actually have to do our job, and then you complain when we aren't doing it. You're filled with nothing but contempt for the terrorists of our world: Bishop, Cardinal, Phase, the rest of the gang, but apparently filled with sympathy over some nerve-gassing, mind-controlling freak?"

"Hey, don't change the subject. If you feel good being judge, jury and executioner, be my guest," she says, starting to raise her voice in anger.

"And quite frankly, if Paragon and pals didn't trust the Teen Titans to cover their backs, what makes you think they'll trust a group of total strangers? You think because we're professionals and get paid for our jobs? Because we have T-Shirts and action figures?" Ryan says, his voice rising.

"I never said we'd ask them what they think. If my idea on why we might be here is so dumb, maybe we ought to do something other than just sit and wait. If Aegis is fighting Overseer, than so can we."

"You better watch your mouth Ryan, Paragon has total faith in our abilities and we are needed to keep the city safe while they are away," Nightchild replies coldly.

"Right, you guys can watch the city, we'll get on with what we're supposed to do. And, hey, no one dies on your watch, we're all happy."

"Why the hell are you complaining to me? Is it because your conduct in the last two missions wasn't up to your own standards? Was it because you weren't able to beat Strength and I was? Because he seemed resistant to your spells?"

Anika's annoyed look is replaced momentarily by a look of shock, followed by something falling between disappointment and anger. Tears begin to well up in her eyes. "Oh, I see, so to you I'm little miss useless, am I? It's good to know how you really feel," she sobs.

"Why are you being so mean Ryan? We're all your friends, you shouldn't treat us like this just cause your in a bad mood about what happened, about what is happening." Kelly says, shaking her head. The blond girl goes over to anika and gives the older girl a hug. "You shouldn't treat us like this, you shouldn't treat Anika like this." she repeats herself.

Anika is comforted somewhat by Kelly's defense. "It's okay, I only tried to defend him after he killed that guy, maybe I deserve it," she says sarcastically with a sniffle. "After all, my boyfriends tend to treat me like garbage, I'm getting used to it."

Cantrip finally speaks, in his raspy whisper, "Your anger is sickening. I felt sympathy for your plight, but you seem intent on pushing away everyone that even tries to care for you... perhaps if you were more attentive you would see that Anika's faith has been shaken. But perhaps you only care about yourself..."

He rises and walks out.

Anika speaks as Cantrip leaves, the anger gone from her voice, but the sadness is still there. "Don't worry, Ryan, when we get back, I'll be out of your way once I've quit the team." She gets up from the table and follows Cantrip out, adding, "Assuming I even go back."

She moves quickly to catch up with Cantrip.

 

[Tokiwong]

Anika speaks as Cantrip leaves, the anger gone from her voice, but the sadness is still there. "Don't worry, Ryan, when we get back, I'll be out of your way once I've quit the team." She gets up from the table and follows Cantrip out, adding, "Assuming I even go back."

She moves quickly to catch up with Cantrip.

Cantrip pauses as Anika follows, he speaks in his raspy whisper, “I am sorry for my outburst. It was not my place to say anything, there is much negative energy in the air; it is disturbing.”

He speaks, “You want to fight Overseer; I commend you. If you chose to do so, then I will help you.”

Back in the Kitchen

Nightchild speaks, “That could have gone better… well no it couldn’t have. This is a disaster, and I blame myself.”

 

[Agamon]

Cantrip pauses as Anika follows, he speaks in his raspy whisper, “I am sorry for my outburst. It was not my place to say anything, there is much negative energy in the air; it is disturbing.”

"No, I appreciate it, it's me who should be sorry. I guess I should have talked to him in private instead of exchanging barbs in front of you all like that. Boy, this hasn't been a very good day so far," she says, chuckling despite herself as she wipes more tears from her face.

He speaks, “You want to fight Overseer; I commend you. If you chose to do so, then I will help you.”

"Well, that's why I'm here, I think," she says, not really sounding so sure. "But, your team needs to protect Olympic City, I won't ask you to abandon them, Can...do you have another name, besides Cantrip, I mean?"

 

[Tokiwong]

"No, I appreciate it, it's me who should be sorry. I guess I should have talked to him in private instead of exchanging barbs in front of you all like that. Boy, this hasn't been a very good day so far," she says, chuckling despite herself as she wipes more tears from her face.

"this day has been trying for veryone, and it is even ten in the morning. I am sorry that things are not going well for you Anika," Cantrip replies comforting her shoulder.

"Well, that's why I'm here, I think," she says, not really sounding so sure. "But, your team needs to protect Olympic City, I won't ask you to abandon them, Can...do you have another name, besides Cantrip, I mean?"

Cantrip smiles, "Olympic City is in good hands; but something tells me our fate is elsewhere..." he pauses somewhat shocked at the question, he rasps, "my name? My name is Gilden... Gilden Highoak."

 

[Hammerhead]

Damn it. I must have really hurt her, if she didn't start yelling at me, Ryan thinks as he walks away. All that, and I didn't even find out what was wrong. Apparently she's still mad...or maybe just confused...about me killing Chimera. Another member of Legacy is going to do it before long, too. Hell, does everyone think they're using boxing gloves or what? Mark's punches will kill someone sooner or later...Anika's cold will as well. What a bunch of self-righteous... Ryan curses again as he leaves the Teen Titan tower, flying high into the air. God I hate Cantrip, and I don't even know why.

This whole place seems...unreal. It's like a video game or something, being so far removed from reality. I want to go home.

Ryan remembered the television broadcast and attempted to recall the location of the police station. Nothing I did was illegal, maybe visiting the cops will put some closure on the whole thing. I don't know why she said I was judge, jury, executioner...what does that even mean?

Ryan tried to force Anika out of his mind as he flew high above Olympic City, but it didn't work. No one even believes me about Aris and Red Witch either. I said there was a spy, but no...I was being paranoid there too. Oh well. I was never much one for hiding or running away from my problems anyway, Ryan says as he stops concentrating on his flight and falls down towards the police station, stopping himself at the last minute.

 

[Agamon]

"this day has been trying for veryone, and it is even ten in the morning. I am sorry that things are not going well for you Anika," Cantrip replies comforting her shoulder.

"Well, it hasn't been all bad, I've made a new friend," she says, smiling and putting her hand over the one he's placed on her shoulder.

Cantrip smiles, "Olympic City is in good hands; but something tells me our fate is elsewhere..." he pauses somewhat shocked at the question, he rasps, "my name? My name is Gilden... Gilden Highoak."

"Gilden," she says, her face brightening. "That's a beautiful name." She steps closer to him and raises a hand to trace his angular cheek. "Why do you cover yourself with that cloak? You're really quite handsome, you know."

 

[Tokiwong]

Ryan tried to force Anika out of his mind as he flew high above Olympic City, but it didn't work. No one even believes me about Aris and Red Witch either. I said there was a spy, but no...I was being paranoid there too. Oh well. I was never much one for hiding or running away from my problems anyway, Ryan says as he stops concentrating on his flight and falls down towards the police station, stopping himself at the last minute.

The police officers look at Ryan curiously, some of them murmur, “Captain Cosmo” under their breaths. They look perplexed, and one of them approaches Ryan, “Uhh excuse me, Captain Cosmo, and is that you? I mean, are you him? I mean… uhh…” he looks at Ryan in awe.

Cassie & Karen

Yoshi hops off the balcony, “So what do you guys want to do, see Olympic City and chill out and stuff? I mean there isn’t much we can do here till we get home and I want a piece of Overseer but I guess the big boys are handling that. Or we can kill some time with an elite threesome?”

Anika

Gilden smiles awkwardly, he blushes at her touch, “I have never thought of myself as h-handsome,” he rasps, “I thank you; I would comment on your beauty but I am sure that you must know that already… I am… I apologize, this is… I mean. Thank you.”

 

[Agamon]

Gilden smiles awkwardly, he blushes at her touch, “I have never thought of myself as h-handsome,” he rasps, “I thank you; I would comment on your beauty but I am sure that you must know that already… I am… I apologize, this is… I mean. Thank you.”

"It never hurts to hear it, though," she replies with a smile. She withdraws her hand, but doesn't step back. "Sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. It's just that you've been very kind, thoughtful and supportive towards me. You understand me like few people do. I just wanted to show you my appreciation," she adds, leaning in closer to elfin hero.

 

[Tokiwong]

"It never hurts to hear it, though," she replies with a smile. She withdraws her hand, but doesn't step back. "Sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. It's just that you've been very kind, thoughtful and supportive towards me. You understand me like few people do. I just wanted to show you my appreciation," she adds, leaning in closer to elfin hero.

Gilden gulps, “No, not at all, just I am not; no one ever really talks to me… so I am just surprised actually, I know they are my friends, I just, never really fit in with them. You are welcome Anika… I am pleased to have met you; I feel less alone.”

He pauses for a moment and then tilts his head and slowly plants his lips on hers; he is obviously nervous but relaxes after a moment. He pulls back surprised, “Wow…”

“Wow indeed,” Aris says with a hint of disgust, “I can’t believe that Ryan turned me down for you; and Cantrip of all people? I am not sure if I should be inwardly pleased or wretch…” the alien princess hisses.

Cantrip pulls up his hood to cover his fine elfin features, “Aris, I would appreciate it if you did not say that,” he rasps, “your anger only serves to fuel a foul morning marred with useless arguments.”

Aris brushes past, “Whatever,” she glances over her shoulder looking at Anika, with a scornful smirk.