Aftermath [Company Members][NR]

Another voice in the room. Who was it this time?... He slightly opened one eye. He saw nothing but lights and blurs... The blur cleared after blinking slightly, and he saw white hair, a glowing ring... Alec. The Bossman... he was coming to check up on him. He couldn't really hear what was being said...

Downstairs, Stretch and Jasmine arrived by taxi and started knocking on the big gate outside of Darkman Tower. "HELLOOOO!" Stretch yelled. "You super people have a friend of mine in there! I have a right to know if he's still alive! I know you see me down here!"

Recovery Post Count: 6

Cala had eaten several more crackers and drank nearly all of her water when Alec walked into the room that she and Vigilante were in. She looked up while in the process of digging another cracker out of the open pack. "Yeah, he was really amazing. I saw it on the monitors while... well, yeah. I saw it." She didn't want to go into detail about her ordeal, she wanted to forget about it as much as possible.

Cala popped the cracker in her mouth while he talked and finished chewing and swallowed before answering Alec's question. "No. I have no intentions of becoming a Vampire again, and especially not a Malkavian. I was forced to become a Vampire in the first place, never wanted it to begin with, and I have no intentions of repeating that exceptionally painful process. Not a lot of good has seemed to come from me having those powers, anyway. I was born Human and now I'm Human again, no point in changing that."

When she finished speaking she looked back to Matt, noticing his eyes were opened. A smile spread across her face and she shifted into her chair so she was sitting upright more than she had been.

BZZZZZZZT

"Excuse me sir, but there appears to be two visitors downstairs. I think they are a couple of the friends of The Vigilante. Shall I let them in?" came the voice of the Loyal Butler. Alec pushed a button on the nearby intercom to answer him.

"No, leave it to me. I'll go get them."

Alec stepped over to the nearby sliding window, pushing it open and jumping out. He fell 1,000 stories and engaged his wings near the ground to slow down. He landed nearby Stretch and Jasmine.

"You're Matt's friends, right? I'm Alec Kane, I used to run this city. Don't worry, you're not in trouble. He's been out of it since yesterday, he's resting. I'll take both of you to see him."

Assuming that they let him get close to them both, Alec put an arm around each of their waists and began to shoot upwards. He flew through clouds as he ascended back to the 1,000th floor and stepped back inside the room. Releasing the 2 kids, Alec pushed the window back closed.

It still took so much just to open his eyes slightly, so he closed them again, feeling the amplifying exhaustion sensations in his chest begin to subside once more. Yeah, he would really have to find himself a countermeasure to the nasty tiring effects that Super Mode had on him. He could next feel a gust of wind when Alec opened the window...

On the ground, Stretch kept banging on the gate around Darkman Tower until Jasmine grabbed Stretch and pointed upward saying "Look, Look!" Stretch looked up to see someone coming down toward them. When he landed Stretch jumped back looking scared and angry at the same time. Jasmine jumped back behind Stretch, just looking terrified. But the man said he was Alec Kane and not to worry, so both of them chilled out. He said that he'd take them to Matt, and both of them looked scared when he came close. Jasmine gave a yelp when Alec started to fly, and Stretch grabbed on tight. He looked down to see the ground and buildings get really tiny. He'd never been up this high before, and was scared of falling.

Alec took them into a room that looked like a lounge of sorts. Matt was in a bed, and a girl was sitting next to him with purple hair. Stretch and Jasmine both went over to the bed, looking at their friend worried. Stretch grabbed one of his hands. "Matt, i'm here, bro... i'm-i'm sorry about yesterday. I shouldn't have said that stuff to you man..." he said, his eyes filling with tears. He sniffed several times.

Stretch then looked in Cala's direction with angry eyes, his cheeks wet with tears. "I hope your happy, he's this way because of YOU, you know! The whole 5 years you were off doing whatever, all he talked about was YOU! Just for you to come back and diss him! I don't know why you gorgeous broads like playing with loner's feelings, is that fun for you or what!? He nearly killed himself over you!!"

Recovery Post Count: 7

Cala watched as Alec left the room through the window to go and get Stretch and Jasmine. He returned with them and she watched as Stretch came over to Vigilante, in tears. When Stretch turned his gaze onto her she saw the anger in his eyes and knew she was likely in for it. She let him tell her off till he was finished and simply shook her head. Shouting back at him wasn't going to fix anything, and she really for Matt's sake didn't want to fight with his best friend.

"I didn't disappear on purpose for those five years. I was trapped somewhere; screaming my head off for five years straight until Alec's son heard me and pulled me out. I wasn't off on some vacation or having fun! When I came back he wasn't here, he was already in that zombie infested place and I couldn't explain myself. Then I learned how long I'd actually been gone and jumped to the conclusion that he had moved on after all that time. When he came back I didn't want to make him uncomfortable by staring at him, and I realized later what it looked like. I went after him to try and apologize and explain things but couldn't stop him. Then I got kidnapped and tortured! I know he nearly died saving me, and I will owe him for the rest of my life!" She took a deep breath, feeling her face redden from her anger. "So don't, for one second, think that I don't care about him. I love him, and nothing can change that!" Tears had started to roll down her cheeks and she brought her legs back up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them.

She felt utterly horrible, and she knew Stretch had ever right to be angry at her with how Matt must have suffered during the time she disappeared: this was exactly why she was giving up these powers and abilities, this was exactly why she didn't want turned back into a Vampire.

Alec kept silent. He stood at the end of the bed after letting his wings vanish, propping both of his hands atop his polished walking stick like a cane. He had a grim look on his face as he listened to what was going on. Cala being gone for 5 years; Alec knew how that must have looked. Cala turning away from him when the got back from Pacific City, Alec knew how that must have looked too.

It probably wouldn't do any good trying to explain anything to Stretch and his woman. They were humans who lived an everyday human lifestyle - besides some of the amazing things that Matt could do - and probably wouldn't understand things like dimensional travel and the traps that people sometimes got caught in. Maybe this whole thing would sort itself out sooner or later, but with that look that was on Stretch's face, Alec didn't figure he was going to get friendly with Cala anytime soon.

Alec blinked his eyes slowly. Vigilante and Cala were alright, and that was all that mattered to him. He wasn't going to get mixed up in this lover's quarrel.

"I'm off, Cala... if there's anything you need me for, tell someone, they'll come find me..."

Alec said this while walking out of the lounge, giving a wave behind him with his gloved hand. he walked back into the office, jumped out of the window, and blasted off in a random direction...

/Exit/

It sounded like some tension in the room. People were arguing. A voice that sounded alot like Stretch's sounded angry and like he was crying. A female that sounded like Cala on the verge of crying was there too.

"Such a convenient excuse," Stretch said, sniffing and wiping his chubby face with his sleeve. "Who knows WHAT you were doing while you were off doing whatever, who can really tell for sure with you super people! You claim to care about him but you just blew him off after he got back here!? You didn't want him to be uncomfortable? What kinda shit is that??"

"Stretch, don't you think that's enough?... I think she really cares about him..." said Jasmine.

"Whatever," Stretch continued. "She just wants to play with him, that's all! That's what some of these super people do, just because they can! As if it isn't bad enough that this guy lost both of his parents, because super people wanted their brains! It's too bad you got kidnapped and tortured, but I had to watch this guy be tortured HIS WHOLE LIFE! All of those 5 years you took off doing whatever! He can do better than you is what I say! All he needs is a regular girl, not some super chick who's just gonna get him killed one day!!"

The tension in the room was only getting worse, making him frown. He made out clearly who had to be Stretch and Jasmine. Stretch was going off on Cala. Alot of the things he was saying, he'd once said himself when he was sure Cala had run off on him. That wasn't really the case anymore. Stretch constantly running his mouth was just making him more angry.

"...Stretch," he managed to say. "Shut up!"

That was all he could get out for now. Stretch and Jasmine both looked surprised hearing his voice, and Stretch fell silent. Jasmine pulled over two chairs on the opposite side of the bed from Cala for them to sit in. Jasmine sat down, and had to pull Stretch into his seat.

"It's no good fighting here while he's still like this, alright? He's still alive. Isn't that all that should matter?..."

Stretch kept his mouth shut, but he didn't ever see himself getting along with Cala. He hated her for taking his best friend off and hypnotizing him, playing with him, hurting him. He felt like his best friend was gone, and all he would think about was her, who would probably just end up hurting him again, or worse case scenario, actually getting him killed...

Recovery Post Count: 8

Cala looked over to Alec when he spoke and nodded her head. "Alright.", she said softly before looking back towards Matt. Stretch yelling at her was only making her feel more horrible about the whole situation, but she couldn't blame him for it because she knew that if it was the other way around she'd be yelling too.

"I'm not super anything anymore...", Cala said softly as she looked up to Stretch. When Matt spoke and told Stretch to shut up her gaze snapped back to him.

She then looked to Jasmine as she spoke and couldn't help but know that she was right: Matt was alive and that really was all that mattered right now. So, figuring that no good would come out of arguing more outside of making the situation worse she shut her mouth and put her forehead on her knees. Her long purple hair spilled over her arms, and kept her face hidden. She didn't speak, and she didn't move minus the gently rise and fall of her back as she breathed. She could still feel the tears running down her cheeks but she didn't bother wiping them off.

Jr came walking into the room eating a bag of chips. Two people he'd never seen before were in there. To them, Jr would look like a young kid, and almost a twin to his father. He wore a grey wind breaker and a darker grey turtleneck beneath. He had on grey loose fitting slacks and black sneakers. Jr had a mop of white hair atop his head. he had pale looking skin and red eyes. A glowing halo hovered just above his head, and two large feathered wings were upon his back.

A bored, or sleepy look was on his face as he munched potato chips, and the scent of barbecue hovered about. Jr walked in and stood where his father was standing before. Cala was crying, and the chubby dude looked like he'd just got done crying. It seemed like he was pissed off about something. Jr didn't like to intrude, but he gave a look inside of this guy's mind. This guy was Stretch, the guy Vigilante often talked to while he had his suit on. There, he found feelings of extreme resentment for Cala. The guy hated her. He felt like Cala stole away his best friend, changed him, corrupted him. Even with the fact that he himself had a female sitting next to him that was pretty much out of his league, Stretch felt like Vigilante was better off without Cala. Stretch had feelings of resentment and jealousy of all supernatural people in general.

Telepathy:

Jr just blinked his eyes. This guy doesn't like people that have powers and can do things by just thinking about them, does he? asked Hi No Seishin from within his sub conscious.

I guess not, but I can't say I blame him, was Jr's response to her. It's a form of racism, but it's to be expected.

"You must be Stretch," Jr said out loud. "Matt speaks highly of you, says you're really smart. She must be... Jasmine, your girlfriend. I'm Alec Kane Jr, i'm the Boss of Edge City. Just call me Jr."

She said she wasn't a super anything anymore. She was still here, in this building, so she had to be something special if she were still allowed inside this place. Stretch put a bag that has a change of clothes for Matt next to his bed.

Stretch and Jasmine looked up when a kid with wings came into the room. Jasmine looked upon the kid with wide eyes, and a blush filling her face with red, whereas Stretch just looked even more angry and jealous. The kid looked like one of those pretty boys in romance novels, and probably had loads of girls throwing themselves at him is what Stretch thought. Especially since Jasmine was looking at him like she'd take her panties off right then and there.

"Jr..." Stretch said with a tone of disgust. "You here to rub more of the super in our faces too, Mr Boss of Edge City?"

"Leonard!" said Jasmine, looking at him with a frown. "Why do you have to be like that right now? He just got here! He's the Boss too, he could turn off all of your lights and stuff! Show a little more respect, he has to watch over everybody in this city!"

Matt opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling. He tried to sit up but still couldn't quite get himself together yet. He was feeling much better all of a sudden, and was getting better by the second.

Recovery Post Count: 9

Cala moved her right arm while keeping the left wrapped around her legs. She reached up beneath her hair and wiped her tears away with the back of her hand. When she was done she sniffled once and then wrapped her right arm back around her legs. She picked up on the smell of barbeque before Junior spoke but she didn't bother lifting her head: she didn't want to deal with anymore looks of hatred from Stretch at the moment.

She heard Junior introduce himself and then heard Stretch comment and winced while wondering exactly how Junior was going to handle such a remark. Would he be angry? Or would he just brush it off? She then listened to Jasmine as she told Stretch, whom she called Leonard, to show Junior a little more respect.

Cala shifted slightly in her spot, tilting her head sideways so that she could look at Matt despite the hair in her face. She wondered when he was going to be up and around again, and hoped it would be soon as she didn't like seeing him stuck like this especially not for this long.

Jr's expression didn't change with what Stretch said. It was within his right. He was a jealous powerless human with just smarts as an ability. Jr only blinked his tired looking eyes and stuffed more chips into his mouth; the sounds of the crunches coming from within.

"No, not actually," was Jr's answer to Stretch. "Like I said, Matt said you were quite a genius, and really handy with a computer, so what I actually came in here for was to offer you a job, aside come and check on Matt. From the vibe i'm picking up on here, and the bits and pieces of the conversation I managed to hear before I came in, it seems that you have a problem with some of the people here, so you could work from home. There's a serious matter in the works, and I could use another brain with the research. Because despite all of these... super powers that we have, we still need help."

Jr turned his gaze to Matt to see that his eyes were open. It seemed like he was going to be alright, but he'd have to keep an eye on him. Since he had something on him that was cancelling out any sort of supernatural abilities that someone tried on him, he had to keep doing it the old fashioned way.

"Of course, you'll be well compensated for whatever assistance you can offer up on our situation," Jr continued. "That sound like something you'd be interested in, Leonard? Or is me rubbing my super in your face your final answer?"

"Don't be stupid," Matt said, finally finding the energy to sit up. He looked tired and worn out. "Take the job, dude..."

"MATT!" said Jasmine, nearly tackling him back to the bed in a hug.

"Ugghh! Relax, girl! You're hurting me!..." Jasmine looked completely embarrassed, and her face turned as red as an apple.

"I'm sorry, i'm sorry..." she said, helping Matt back to his sitting up position.

"...They're not all bad, man. Sure, some of them have some crazy amazing powers, but these guys aren't all high and mighty with em. Don't take your anger out on Cala man, she's just the same as you now, pure human."

"...So?... She still stole you from us. She still played you like a fool, and she still dissed you. And you almost died to go save her," Stretch answered.

"You probably see it like that, but I don't. She went chasing after Alec and them when they went to that other world, but she got trapped. Her being gone all that time wasn't her fault. She apologized that, and for what happened the other day furthermore."

Stretch still looked disgusted. "Yeah, she's got you hypnotized real good. So good you're not gonna hear what you're oldest friend is saying when it comes to some girl who gets off on toying with your emotions. Whatever, do what you do..." It seemed that he'd never come to terms when it came to Cala.

"Will you give it a rest already, Leonard??" said Jasmine, frowning at him.

"Yeah, whatever. We'll leave it at that. Are you gonna take the job Jr is offering you or what? Like he said, if you have such a problem with her or anyone else, you don't even have to come in here, you could just work from your house, at your computer."

Stretch looked lost in thought. "...A job, huh?... Working for the Company, research... What would I be researching? What kind of situation is rising?"

"I was gonna speak up on that too, whenever I got my shit back together," Matt said, rubbing the top of his head. "That guy yesterday, he said 'someone will just replace me.' I kept seeing this cross thing too... I think whatever those guys are, it's just bigger than the ones in that building."

Stretch then began to look sorry for some of the things he'd said and did in that room. This was a big opportunity to get involved in something that would affect the whole city, something he'd always longed for. He scratched his head as the look of sorrow and embarrassment just got worse, his big round cheeks both red. "Wh...well... I-I don't know what-what kinda help i'd be, but i'll... i'll do what I can..." Stretch handed Matt the bag of clothes. "Here, I brought you something fresh to change into."

"Thanks... I could use a shower..."

Recovery Post Count: 10

Cala sniffled again and remained quiet as she listened to Junior speak, talking about how he had heard that Stretch was quite a genius and really handy with a computer so he wanted to offer him a job. He then said that Stretch could work from home if he wanted to since it seemed that he had a problem with some of the people here. He wanted Stretch to help with research, and despite everything Stretch had said to her she couldn't help but agree that it was a good idea.

She then listened as Matt and Stretch talked. She lifted up her head and pushed her purple hair out of her face. She listend as Stretch seemed not to care that Cala was human same as him now, and how he felt that she had stolen Matt from them, played him like a fool, and dissed him, and then how he had almost died saving her. She had a strong feeling that Stretch would hate her likely for the rest of his life. She then listened as Matt tried explaining things and how Stretch simply didn't buy it, and just said that she had him hypnotized good.

Her mismatched gaze shifted between the two as they continued to speak before it rested on Matt as he explained about what the Leader had said before he died, and about the equal armed cross they all wore. She didn't doubt for a second that this whole mess was bigger then just that building, especially with the stuff she had seen while she was locked up. "It's definitely bigger than just those guys. They had some crazy shit in that place. Not including all of those drugs they had made."

She then listened as Stretch agreed to the job and watched as he handed Matt a bag of clothes who said he needed a shower. She couldn't help but wonder how much bigger this whole situation went, and who would be targeted next? The idea made her scared to even leave the tower: she never wanted put in that situation again.

As Cala continued to sit there she remained silent, her mind wandering to other things too: like what good she would be for the Company now. She was no super genius like her sister, Matt, or Stretch, and no longer had her abilities and all of that other stuff to make up for it. So what would she do?

Matt finally seemed like he was getting himself together again, besides being tackled halfway by Jasmine. He and Stretch went back and fourth over Cala, about how she was playing with him, and how apparently she enjoyed it. Stretch's feeling for her just continued to drop into pure hatred, especially when he said "do what you do." He was going to hate the girl forever.

Jr only blinked again slowly while continuing to eat his chips. It seemed like Stretch just wanted it to be like it used to be, but Cala had stolen him away from that. Matt spoke of the leader, a cross, and how he'd said someone was going to replace him. Jr had a fleeting feeling that whoever these guys were, they were going to strike again in the near future.

In the end though, Stretch agreed to "do what he could." "That sounds fine. I'll have a new computer and parts sent your house. I don't know much on these guys, but i'll send you what I can. I'll be contacting you soon."

To Matt he'd say, "Glad you're back among the living. Take your time, don't rush yourself. Nothing is going on right now, so you can relax. You've done more than enough. Why don't you take a trip over to my niece's island and do it the right way? Amaranth won't mind you lounging on the beach for a few days..." But in reality, it was he who wanted to go lay on the beach, just like he used to...

Matt grabbed the bag that Stretch gave him and opened it, seeing the change of clothes. Stretch looked kind of surprised when Jr said he'd be sending things out to his house, but frowned some when he spoke of laying on a beach. It was surely going to be next to her, so that they could get all loby-doby and sweaty.

"Ooohh, a beach! Maybe we should go too! I bought a new bikini," said Jasmine, looking hopeful.

"Pffft. Me, at a beach? Are you serious?" asked Stretch.

Matt slid his legs over the side of the bed and stood up, feeling sort of dizzy but overall fine. This thing between Stretch and Cala wasn't going to end anytime soon, and Matt didn't need powers to figure that out. Matt thought Stretch hated Cala. He was right when he said that all he talked about during those 5 years was her, as well as being right somewhat about being stolen away. He was spending considerably more time around here and around Cala that he was with his childhood friends back home. So of course there was going to be jealousy...

"...I appreciate the offer Jr, but if it's all the same to you... after a shower I think i'm just gonna go home, nothing against anybody. My Grands haven't seen me in a while, and with all this tension, I think I just need to get away for a minute. Let the air clear out. If something happens in the meantime i'll come back to help in a flash though..."

Jasmine looked defeated. "Awww, but I wanted to go to the beach..." she said sadly.

Cala listened as Junior suggested Matt going and taking a little vacation over on Amaranth's island, but he seemed to shoot that idea down. He wanted to go home and spend some time with his family and rest. Cala wondered how exactly this whole situation was going to work out: Stretch hated her, or so it seemed, and she doubted that they'd ever truly get along. She hoped it didn't put too much strain on Matt: she had no intentions of coming between him and his friends despite what Stretch seemed to think.

Cala stood up slowly, looking towards the lounge door and half expecting to see Devon hanging around it, but she wasn't. "I should go check on Devon.", she said softly. She then looked over to Matt and smiled gently. "If you need me for anything I'll be here.", she added. She had no intention of leaving the Tower anytime soon and planned on taking a bit of time away from everyone so that she could do some serious thinking.

She still hesitated to leave the room: she was worried about Matt even though he was up and on his feet once again.

"That's fair. I don't want you to think we're stealing you away from your family and friends, that was never my intention. You're free to come and go as you choose. Please do go home and check up on your people."

Jr gave a lazy wave before turning and walking out of the lounge. That Stretch guy harbored serious feelings of hatred towards those deemed "better" than him, and felt that they all were stealing Matt away from him and his homelife. Jr figured that he would have to deal with something like this, were he to hires humans, and people that had families and friends back home. He'd deal with it as it came, and try to make things easier, rather than rage out and get labeled a crazy psycho super freak.

He walked back into the office finishing off his chips. He sat down behind the desk and threw the empty bag in the trash. As he began typing, making an order to send a state-of-the-art mainframe out to Stretch's house, Jr tried not to think about some of the things Stretch was saying and thinking, but some of it kept echoing in his mind. Perhaps this computer he was sending him would be the first steps in making friends with this guy who harbored bad feelings towards people with supernatural powers...

\Exit\

Matt nodded his head to Cala, and walked out of the lounge. Stretch and Jasmine followed with him. "You guys go ahead home without me, i'll be right behind you," Matt said in the hallway while pressing the elevator button.

"No dude, we'll wait on you," Stretch said.

"I don't need a babysitter! I'm alright now, so go ahead without me. I'll be behind you, like I said."

Stretch smacked his lips. "You just wanna go---"

"Stop," Matt interrupted while putting up a hand. "Honestly man, stop. You're starting to sound too possessive. Yeah, I know i've been spending a lot more time here than I have been with you, and we don't pal around like we used to much anymore, but i've been trying to change that. But you getting jealous and raging over Cala while trying to brag about and flaunt Jasmine in front of me doesn't help much. So think about that while you're on the way home, ok?"

"He makes a point, Leonard," matter-of-factly added Jasmine. Stretch sighed and decided not to say anything else. Jasmine looked at Matt. "We'll see you back on Maple street. Take your time, Matt."

They all got in the elevator. Matt got out a floor below, and they kept on towards the ground floor. Matt went to his old suite. It was just the way he left it, with parts and clutter everywhere. Matt went to the shower and spent an hour under the hot water. When he was finished he got out, dried off and dressed in the clothes Stretch brought, putting on his hooded jacket last, his Company Pendant hanging from the chain around his neck.

Lastly, Matt got back in the elevator and went down to the first floor. Instead of rushing to put back on his suit, Matt thought he'd walk for a change.

Cala watched Matt and his friends leave and stayed behind to clean up her mess of crackers and pick up her nearly empty bottle of water. She tossed the barely eaten pack of crackers into the garbage along with the rest of her water. Deciding to take the steps downstairs that's exactly what she did: down a single floor where she exited. She headed to the R&D department, figuring that's where she'd start her search for her little sister.

She knew Devon was messed up about all of this worse than she was letting on, and hoped to help her somehow. Plus, she was curious to see what it was her sister was up to. She stopped outside of the doors and opened them slowly, not knowing if her sister was in there testing something or not. She then disappeared inside...

[Exit Unless Prevented]