The Fates have a weird sense of prospective

Tell me, Do you believe in Destiny? Do you believe their is a predestine future and we each have a role to play? Do you believe in fate? Do you believe that Universe has some ... plan? I suppose you are wondering why I am asking. Well.... it is simple really. I have thought a lot about the subject. Ever since my beloved Isabel died, well was murdered actually. I guess .. no I did blame the Universe and came to believe that the Universe was without a purpose or plan. This is not a normal viewpoint among Technomages, neither is not believing in fate, destiny and the future. I was bitter for some time but no actually I am still a bit bitter, I guess. I must admit though that becoming involved with the crew of the Excalibur and our mission to save Earth from the Drahk plague, I find myself pondering these questions over and over again. Oh, and now, as Fate would have it, I have a Familiar. Who is in love with a Devil boy that has an adopted sister with a very important Destiny. See, there is that word again... Destiny... If the Universe does have a plan perhaps it is trying to tell me something... The girl's name is Justice and she is but 16, surprisingly she seems to have a crush on me. I have tried everything to dis sway her affections. I am not saying that I am not flattered, I am but ... I was going to say she is too young for me but Justice seems to growing rapidly. The fates are in a hurry for her to fulfill her destiny. This business with these aliens called the Corru, it is a lot to put on one girls shoulders. Now I hear from Shiara that Justice is being escorted by HS to meet with the rebels and give a speech. From the things Justice has told me about the Corru, I know they are dangerous. I do not know why but at that moment a memory I have buried deep down, the memory of my beloved dying, emerged. "Galen, HS says she isn't going to fight, just to address the rebels. Galen?" Shiara brought my attention back to the present. "Yes Shiara. Even so, I think we should go along." I replied. I can not say why I feel I need to go. Just that I do... I will have to postpone my meeting with Fury. There isn't much I can do there now. I told SHIELD what they need to know. If they can't keep Sky out of trouble I do not know what else I can do. "Shiara, go and tell Mr Briefs that Justice will travel in style. " I nodded and Shiara left. It isn't that I doubt the abilities of HS but that I won't be able to sleep unless I know she arrives and leaves safely.

The Terminatrix Affair

So I have been busy with helping HS but it was time for me to to get on with my own work. Before I returned to my time and the Excalibur, I would stop by SHIELD and see Colonel Fury. I was sitting at his desk Shiara sitting in my lap purring as I stroked her fur. The SHIELD director walked in to his office... "Awww Nicholas, I was wonder when you would arrive," I looked at his beaten battered face, "Does that hurt?" He glared down at me, "Get out of my chair!" So with a wave of my hand I vanished. He growled, "I didn't say leave! I need to speak with you about the bitch!" I reappeared behind him, "What bitch would that be. You know I don't think ladies like being refer to as a female dog in heat." He grumbled as he walked over to his chair, "This tin can is no Lady." "Aww I see. The reason I visited before and the reason I visit now. Miss Sky." I stated carefully. He pulls out a crude disk from his desk and throws it at me... I catch it and look at this thin round thing, "I will be much happier when you guys begin using Data crystals." "We confiscated all the files Cyberdyne had during our last bout with Sky. It is all there, but the information goes two ways." He stated. I sigh, "What is it, you wish to know Nicholas." I watched as Shiara jumped on his desk and stared him down, Fury looked at her strangely. "Strange I am usually allergic to cats," He says grabbing a cigar "This is Shiara, my familiar. Now what is it you want to know?" I placed the disk in my cloak. "Easy, HOW! DO! I! KILL! HER!" He pounded his fist in his hand with every word. "That I do not know ...... yet. There are dome things that concern me," I removed the disk from my cloak and motioned to Shiara, "take this to the ship and download the information so I can have immediate access," She changed from a cat to her normal self causing Fury to jump up. Shiara left through one of my portals and I continued, "I have read your reports on Sky, the ones opened for review, and some that are .... shall we say not suppose to exist and YOU have underestimated the death machine. None of you realizes her potential or how dangerous she can be." I paused as I begin to received the data, "Yes, from what I can see verifies my worse fear. What you have seen isn't a splinter of what she can do. You are all lucky. She was damage and her time with this Magneto has retard her, but its temporary. Which is why I am even more concerned about this incident I have heard about." "You mean Starks little attempt to bring her in?" Fury's attention was captured... I nodded, "Anthony Stark used his ability to control her mechanical mechanisms, " I stepped into his desk light and used my facial expressions to emphasis what I would say next, "that was a foolish and stupid thing to do." "Why?" Fury asked intrigued and following my words.... "Because she has the biological ability to evolve and adapt. Because she is stronger than he realizes, because she can control machines too." I shook my head as I paced back and forth, "She is learning, every time she is exposed to any threat, she learns, she evolves, she adapts and she gets stronger!" "Like those Damned Sayians." Fury spat. I turned and faced Fury, "She has it within her the ability to control Starks armor as well as this techno virus." "Extremis?" Fury sat up straight I nodded, "She will cocoon and come out more powerful. She will become resistant to it and she will learn how to use it to better her abilities. The next time in fact, It will not help Anthony. You have on record what happened when Cyberdyne nearly killed her. She adsorbed Dr Basil. Anthony is setting himself up to be absorbed as well. So many on your world are worried about small time criminals or even surprisingly I have heard one theory that Stark is the biggest threat of the world, " I leaned in again speaking softly, "He may have a great deal of potential but if you were to ask the magic mirror, it" "Would say sky, You are preaching to the choir Mr Wizard." Fury stated, "I know this bitch is powerful and that she won't be easy to bring down but she needs to be brought down." Fury poured himself a drink and I continued, "On top of it all, I hear she has made an ally out of the Stark boy." "He is convinced she is alive, partly human and that there is good in her." Fury stated, "I think we know better." I shook my head, "Don't make a mistake Nicholas, give credit where credit is due. The boy is right she is alive and she is partly a mutant human. Which is why I don't envy your task, but I suggest you consider this. If Stark is such a potential threat what is Tony Stark with Sky at his side?" "What do you mean my task? Don't you mean our?" Fury looked at me over his whiskey glass "My order has a strict, non-interference policy, I can advise you, if you will listen. I will also help when and where I can but in the end, it will be you who will have to choose to kill an innocent to stop a monster." I sighed. He slammed his glass down, "What!?! WHAT DO YOU MEAN!" "I have studies most the files you gave me, the incidents that took place recently and ....... " my voice softened, "and part of Dr Basil lives... In my time, Nicholas, about 10 years ago there was a immortal race. They were one of what is called the first ones and because they're name is to hard to pronounce had come to be known as ....... " I let our a ragged breath, "The Shadows. They were highly advanced especially in bio-mechanics, living technology." I turned to Fury my eyes a blazing my teeth grinding, "They used life to create it, to fuel it and to.... They used people, living things, living tissue to construct it which killed the person and then they plug people or creatures into the machines to fuel it. In their great machine that had hundreds of people from various races...... Even 10 years later, 10 years after the war, 10 years since they have been gone, the people used to fuel their ships are still in stasis, waiting for us to find a way to undo what was done. There may never be a way. I am telling you this because in a sense this is what has happened to Dr Basil. She is a slave to a machine, she fuels it and ... I know there is no way to separate her form it, neither Sky or Dr Basil can live without the other. The Dr can from time to time reassert herself, but only for moments. I do not know how or why but the Stark boy is drawing this part out more and more. If you kill Sky, you will kill what is left of Dr Basil, if you don't well...It is a no win situation." "The boy tried to convince us that Sky has changed, that she was being good now." Fury scratched his chin "Oh really." I stated my eyes widened... Fury sat back and puffed his cigar, "You don't believe it." "Nicholas, During a nice day a scorpion looked around, he was hungry and there was no food left. So he went in search for food. He happened upon a river that was wide and swift, and the scorpion stopped to reconsider the situation. He couldn't see any way across. So he ran upriver and then checked downriver, all the while thinking that he might have to turn back with an empty belly. Suddenly, he saw a frog and the frog looked hungry too. Over across the river was a grand surplus of food. 'Hellooo Mr. Frog!' called the scorpion, "Would you be so kind as to give me a ride on your back across the river?'" I paused and then continued, " 'Well now, Mr. Scorpion! How do I know that if I try to help you, you wont try to kill me?' asked the frog hesitantly.'Because,' the scorpion replied, 'If I try to kill you, then I would die too, for you see I cannot swim!' Now this seemed to make sense to the frog.' So the frog agreed to take the scorpion across the river. He swam over to the bank and settled himself near the mud to pick up his passenger. The scorpion crawled onto the frog's back, his sharp claws prickling into the frog's soft hide, and the frog slid into the river. The muddy water swirled around them, but the frog stayed near the surface so the scorpion would not drown. He kicked strongly through the first half of the stream, his flippers paddling wildly against the current. Halfway across the river, the frog suddenly felt a sharp sting in his back and, out of the corner of his eye, saw the scorpion remove his stinger from the frog's back. A deadening numbness began to creep into his limbs. 'You fool!' croaked the frog, 'Now we shall both die! Why on earth did you do that?' The scorpion shrugged, 'I could not help myself, " I sunk back into the shadows disappearing with the last words, "Its my Nature......"

Very interesting indeed...

While Shiara was out with her friend finding more about Sky. I was thinking about what happened and about our Dark Past. Something back Sky off, and I think I know what. Our technology is handed down to the ancients, a race called the Taratimude from the shadows. This has been our leaders dark secret skeleton for centuries... The truth is now out among my order but no further. As I was ponder this Shiara returned. "that was a short visit?" "She had school. Galen, are you married?" my familiar moves over and sits across from me "Married?" I was shocked... "what preempted that question.?" "Justice asked. I told her I can say unless you tell me I can but, well it got me thinking. I don't see anything which suggests you are. However Durena..." She just continued to speak with out a pause or break "Durena, " I paused a moment, "is a friend nothing more. No I am not married we do not have relationships like ," I hesitated, "that. It is difficult to explain. I did however have a lover, my true love, my only true love. She .. is ... gone." I hadn't realize that my voice had trailed off "oh, I will not ask anymore." She looked at me with concerned eyes. I sighed, "There is no reason to be concerned. You can tell Justice she should find someone her age. The last thing I need is a 16 year old girl with a crush." "She won't be 16 for long and anyone she date won't mature as fast as her. She hasn't had any growth spurts, so it seems the closer she gets to an adult the slower this maturing process but .." again speaking like a head on collision "Shiara," I paused, "you are my familiar not a dating service. I am fine. End of discussion." She nodded,"What was her name?" I sighed, "Isabel." Later Shiara left again, soon she contacted me through the amulet. The amulet interfaced with nano fibers which run in her eyes and ears allowing me to literally see and hear what she does.. So she has gotten help from Justice to access Mirai's computer into SHIELD HQ. She has the files on Sky. I begin immediately copying all known info. I just finish when I hear Agent Briefs... I use my connection with Shiara to coach her and tell her what to say to the young Sayian. Shiara stays for dinner and later returns.. "Galen I am sorry I have failed you." she hung her head I was in the cockpit listening to some soothing techno bells and crystals... "Fail me? Shiara what is this nonsense you are saying..." I smiled and then reclined... After a few days of studying the data on Sky, I realized why I must learn more. Perhaps through this Cyberdyne. I decided it was time for me to meet Agent Briefs. He was not in his office but our dealing with family matters and the SHIELD director was looking for a spider. he had been yelling at some Agents that looked like they still had acne. I conjured wind and mist and with the help of a few well placed illusion spells magically appeared in a dark corner have my reasons, "Hello." "Who the hell are you?" He growled. "A friend." I said "A friend?" he scoffed "Yes a friend... " I paused for effect, "A friend in need of a favor" He slammed his fist down on his desk, "I don't have time for some magician, Black Widow is missing." "I am not to found of bug or especially arachnids so I am afraid I can not help you, but I do hope you find the Latrodectus mactans or was it one of the other Latrodectus ." I walked into the light, "Your help will benefit us both I think." "You must be Galen." He sneered "Guilty as charged. I need more info on Cyberdyne specifically on the TX model that calls herself Sky." I say He laughs, "Are you a glutton for punishment? I can give you what we have but.." "I already know what you know, I need what you don't know." I walked around and folded my arms "If we could get more info don't you think we would have it?" He folded his arms and we stood face to face in almost a challenging posture "I have faith in you and your team." I smiled "Why?" he asked placing a cigar in his mouth and searching for a match. I used a quick spell to produce a flame from my hand, "Why do I have faith in you and your team?" "No," He took a puff, "Why are you so interested in the mega-mutant-bitch-bot from hell?" "I have my reasons though I can not share them at this time. I will be back when you have something for me." before he could respond I disappeared

A close Shave

Home sweet home... I had returned with Shiara to the Excalibur. since she has remained in the form of a cat when others are around, no on knows she is a shape shifting alien girl. Durena has mention how Shiara follows me everywhere. My little thief friend has always been quite observant. Of course Matthew took cue and began asking me if it was a spell or a piece of tuna tucked in my cloak. Our search for a cure of the Drakh Plague still continues. After checking on the progress on board I took my ship and went to see how Vir is doing with his little rebellion on Centuri Prime. Ever since we made him aware of the secret Drakh occupation on his planet, he has been organizing ways to save Centuri. He doesn't wish to include outsiders for fear the Alliance might finish Centuri off to get to the Drakh. With the dark past we Technomages have, I can't say i blame him. If those I called friends on board the Excalibur ever got word that the tech we use is handed down from the shadows and that our Ancestors, the technomages before us when my order was first founded were destined to be the Shadows elite army, I am not sure how they would react. It doesn't matter that my order didn't become followers of the Shadows or that we who are a part of that order now were deceived. What would matter is the current hate and distrust of the Shadows. So I remain silent but of course Silence is one of the seven principles of our order. After checking in with Vir I decided to return to the time frame of this Death Machine. Besides I think Shiara wants to see Justice again although she has made mention of a boy. *sigh* Young Love. We found the Terminatrix quite quickly. I was observing her when she just laid down in the middle of an alley and went to sleep. "What ever she is doing it isn't technical." Shiara whispered I had Shiara in my arms, "Your technopathy can interface with her? Can it access her programs?" I had purged some of her memories and programs to have a look but it was nearly impossible because of the TX's sophistication. She whispered up at me, "Just a vague sense. It's going to take me a long time to interface with her. She is nothing like I have seen,"She paused, "What ever she is doing, it seems biological... Mental." "You mean Telepathic?" I asked and then She hissed "What is it Shiara?" I asked and she jumped down transforming into a white tiger "Shiara?" I asked again She never took her eyes off well nothing, Shiara was staring at nothing, Shiara finally spoke as she turned into herself, "Galen cloak yourself. There is something here. My skin can sense it, I can sense it." Her tattoos moved under her skin surfacing like small dragons... Twisting and swirling around her skin on her clothing changing the appearance of her clothing to armor. Two of the dragons shot out from her hand and formed two black short swords with the glyphs in emerald green and a dragon head forming the hilt. It was an effect I admired to watch. Pity she wasn't a technomage, she would make a fine one. She pointed her weapons at ........ Nothing. I spoke to the nothing, after all we knew that Shadows could be there and never be seen. Though they had gone in my time, in this time they may still be present. " Whomever you are show yourself." I was mentally preparing a spell for a fireball, just in case. This thing appeared, and spoke, "You should be terminated" Shiara stepped inbetween us and it spoke to her and she fell a sleep. It stepped forward I began to realize that this was the Death Machine which I had been watching. She spoke directly at me, "I am too powerful, as Dreamweaver I can control your mind through your dreams and turn them into nightmares. As the terminatrix I can control your technology. I am called Sky. You will now identify yourself and where you are from." I was not about to allow this thing, woman, machine or whatever get the best of me I conjured Shadow skin. It stepped forward and I was preparing my most powerful spell but as it did the Tech screamed.. I was shocked it was almost like a shadow scream but lower fainter It hesitated. It had to retreat. As Sky screamed, "wake" I used the opportunity to grab Shiara and leave. On My ship I woke Shiara, "That was close. A little too close." Though my spell of destruction who have ended Sky I am sure, I couldn't be sure she wouldn't put me to sleep before I could conjure it. "You beat her?" Shiara asked me "No, something about me scared her. " I said "Galen? You looked worried," She asked "Of course, Only a fool wouldn't be. I mean what could have scared a nightmarish thing like her." I knew the answer. It is a part of me. All Technomages, we have to accept that... but still it is a troublesome thought. I sent Shiara to spend some time with her friend and do some spying for me. We need more info on this Sky.