The Spirit of De Soth, Part 1


    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Vinnie?  Is that you?”  Kerry Shepherdson asked as she saw his distinctive messy hair peek around the doorway of the Lair Mansion library.  She stood quickly and backed away.  “Stay back, Vinnie.  You know what happens when you get close.”

    It was dark outside, and Kerry had been here before.  Ran into Vinnie this late in the evening, and ended up spending the night with him, beyond the control of her own will.

    There was no response from him.  Vinnie De Soth was unmistakably standing in the doorway, silently.  There was something strange about him.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Seriously, Vin, this...this is getting out of hand.  We--”  She stood and moved closer to him, and squinted as she watched his eyes and expression.  “What’s the matter with you?  You’re all...weird.”

    There was a bright flash of light, and a loud noise.  The whole room shook, and continued to shake even after the noise and flash stopped.  Books fell off the shelves.

    ...and they both fell unconscious.

    Kerry awoke first.  She silently and slowly looked around the room, like it was unfamiliar.  And then she stepped over Vinnie, and left.


---


    Liu Xi Xian normally didn’t bother to make an excessively theatrical entrance when she stepped out of Void - she simply would step out of thin air, or if she didn’t want to upset anyone nearby, through a nearby door so it would look somewhat normal.

    This time, however, she was expecting a fight.  She appeared in the Lair Mansion library surrounded by a pillar of flame, prepared to turn it on anyone who might attack her upon her arrival.  Especially a Vinnie possessed by the spirit of Marv.

    Instead, she found Vinnie lying unconscious on the floor.  The flame around her vanished when she realized, whatever happened was over already.

    She looked around slowly, trying to piece together what happened.  It looked like someone had been on the couch - there was a book lying upside own on one of the cushions.  There was also a diet soft drink on a nearby table.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“That must have been Kerry’s.”  she whispered to herself.  Could Kerry have beaten the possessed Vinnie?

    Liu Xi nudged Vinnie gently with her foot.  He groaned, but didn’t get up.  He wasn’t hurt or sick, his body temperature felt normal.  It was like he was stuck in a bad dream and couldn’t wake.  She noted that sounded like Marv’s work.

    It was then she started to worry.  What if Marv had taken possession of Kerry?  She could do something truly awful to her body and leave it that way.  Hurt her badly and leave her to live the rest of her life in pain.  Throw her off a building and abandon the body to watch Kerry’s expression when she dies.  Get her pregnant by someone truly vile like Flapjack.

    As she stepped out of the library, she paused.  How would she make sure Vinnie gets help?  The time she spent doing that could leave the possessed Kerry enough time to leave the mansion, and get somewhere far away.  For a moment she wished she hadn’t turned down nomination for Lair Legion membership - she really could have used a comm card about now.

    Just by chance, she caught Anna walking around the corner toward her.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Anna!  I need help!”  Liu Xi called to her.

    The android quickly covered the distance between them, and looked through the doorway into the library.  She quickly and almost effortlessly lifted Vinnie.  “I’ll take him to the infirmary.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I need to find Kerry, too.  It’s urgent.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Give me a sec.”  Anna said with a nod.  She closed her eyes.

    During the pause, Liu Xi was momentarily amused that Anna had started talking more like the people around her than a computer.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Hallie spotted her.”  Anna said suddenly as her eyes popped open.  “She’s in Hatman’s quarters, but Hatman isn’t there.  Should I intercept her?”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“No, I can get there faster.”  Liu Xi replied.  Before she vanished, she quickly added, “Thanks, Anna.”


---


    Chiaki Bushido playfully and gently ruffled the back of Jay Boaz’ hair and smiled as she watched him doze off a little bit toward the end of the movie.  He had a long day, and she meant to try and help him relax.  Just not quite that much.  She watched him as his eyes drift closed.

    It worked to her advantage anyhow.  She stood, and walked to the window to look out from her penthouse apartment, through the vertical blinds, to the lit nighttime city below.  She knew she needed to keep him there, because of an impression she got earlier.

    She knew he was in mortal danger if he went home.  She knew that from early in the day, and planned well to make sure he would be clear of it.  Her earlier question for him was very specific - either he would be out with Yuki, or drifting off to a movie with Chiaki.

    As the closing credits started to roll, Chiaki worried about how she would delay him further.  There was no need, however - nature would follow that course for her.  She gently leaned him over, placing a pillow beneath his head, and then tossed a spare blanket over him.  Then she turned off the lights and television.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Sleep well.”  she whispered to him, even though he didn’t hear.  She kissed him on the forehead, happy that he was safe as he possibly could be on her couch.  Then she wandered into the dark hallway to her own bedroom.


---


    Liu Xi Xian appeared in Hatman’s quarters, trying her best to stay on alert.  It was getting difficult, folding all that void when it was getting to be kind of late at night, and her anxiety level so high.

    But all of that anxiety faded once again when she found Kerry in the same sleep state as she found Vinnie earlier.  She heard the door open and she turned around quickly - it was just Anna.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I guess I should take her to the infirmary too.”  Anna noted softly.  She looked at Liu Xi then, and added, “You look tired.  You should get some sleep.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I am.”  Liu Xi said with a sigh.  “But I can’t until I make sure the spirit of Marv isn’t here anymore.”

    The android thought for a moment.  “Does he require a body to leave the mansion?”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I’m not sure.”  Liu Xi replied worriedly.  “Usually Vinnie would know, but--”  she shrugged at the memory of Vinnie still unconscious.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“If I remember correctly, Liu Xi, Marv can effect your dreams.  The more tired you become, the easier he can mess with you.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Yeah, probably.”  Liu Xi agreed.  Her eyes widened as she looked at Anna.  “Am I asleep now?”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Yes.”  Anna replied.  “Since your first encounter with Vinnie.  I’ve been trying to wake you.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“What?”  she asked, with a little fear and anger in her voice.  “How...how are you telling me this?  How do I wake up?”

    Anna smiled.  “I’m only saying what you know I would say.”  she said.  “I’m the image of your subconscious, trying to help you.  And perhaps bits of my voice you’re hearing while you sleep.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Oh.”  Liu Xi whispered.  “So I just need to wake up?”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Yes.”  Anna said more loudly.  “Wake up!”

    Liu Xi sat up suddenly, her head swimming still from grogginess.  Anna’s bright blue eyes were looking down at her.

    The Chinese girl looked around the room she was in.  It looked like one of the rooms at the Lair Mansion, but not one she’d seen before.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I brought you to my room.”  Anna explained, noting Liu Xi’s confused look.  “I thought you might be safer here.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Safer?”  Liu Xi asked.  “How did I get here?”

    The android began, “You tried to follow the possessed Vinnie here, but Marv made you sleep first.  You arrived here, but unconscious.  I tried to defend you, and Vin...I mean Marv vanished again.  I brought you here to keep you safe.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“What about Kerry?  Is she safe?”  Liu Xi asked.

    Anna nodded.  “Marv fled, with Vinnie’s body of course.  He still fears me because he can’t mess with my mind.  You’re safe with me.”

    Now that Liu Xi was temporarily out of questions, she looked around the room.  Anna had been collecting a few pieces of hand-drawn art and old movie posters, and the walls held them, framed and behind glass.  There were stuffed animals on top of the chest of drawers in the room.  Anna seemed to have a passion for collecting things.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“You told me in my dream that I should get some sleep.”  Liu Xi whispered.  “Because Marv can affect me more if I’m tired.  But I’m worried about sleeping while Vinnie’s body is in danger.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Someone is watching him.”  Anna told her.  “Lara is, and Hallie is.  Both of them seem to know what they’re doing.  I suppose I was right in your dream...you need to take care of yourself right now, get some sleep.”

    The elementalist nodded.  She leaned back again.  But then an occurring thought disturbed her - if she was in a dream before, what if she’s in another one now, and Marv is just toying with her some more?

    However, Marv could never get into Anna’s head.  He wouldn’t have known that Anna had a passion for collecting things.  The room she was in was pretty solid evidence that she wasn’t dreaming anymore.  She lay back again and settled in quietly, and closed her eyes.

    Anna stepped into the hallway outside her quarters, and closed the door behind her.  Hallie was waiting.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Did you tell her?”  Hallie asked.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“No.”  Anna lowered her head and shook it sadly.  “I...I couldn’t.”

    Hallie frowned, and lowered her voice to an angry whisper.  “You nearly killed Vinnie and you didn’t say anything?  She deserves to know!”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I...I knew I had to hurt him to get Marv out.”  Anna whispered.  “I’m used to working with, you know, tougher guys.  First soldiers, and now heroes.  I didn’t think backhanding him like that would hurt him so much.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I’ve never heard an artificial lie so much.”  Hallie sounded disappointed.

    And that was enough that Anna hid her face and sniffed.  A closer look by Hallie revealed that the android was...crying?  It was real, too, not some simulation - she was even shaking.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Aww, Anna--”  Hallie tried reassuring her.  Which she wasn’t really good at even with natural humans.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I...I don’t want to be kicked out.”  she sobbed.  “I’m always afraid, that someday I’ll hurt someone bad, because I’m so strong.  And Hatman will give me that grim look, biting his lip, and tell me I have to go.”  She sniffed some more.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Lara took care of him.”  Hallie pointed out.  “He’s healing up as we speak.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“And I let Marv escape, too.”  Anna added, shaking her head sadly.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“You couldn’t have known when you hurt Vinnie, Marv’s spirit would just flee toward Paradopolis.  None of us have the tools to deal with that.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“And Anna,”  Hallie continued, “I’d never let Hatman kick you out.  You know that.”

    Anna looked up sadly, and after a short pause, she nodded slowly.  “I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to go all to pieces like that.”  She wiped her eyes quickly.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“You have salt water tears?”  Hallie smirked.  She couldn’t help it - whoever designed Anna thought of everything, and she found that amusing.  “Anyway, you have friends, Anna.  Wherever you slip up, we’ll be there to help.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Yeah.”  Lara Night contributed.  She seemed to fade in from the darkness, from nowhere.  “Vinnie will be okay.  In a few hours, Liu Xi will be well-rested.  We’ll have plenty of time to find Marv.  Though we might not have to look far.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Oh, really?”  Hallie asked.

    Lara nodded.  “Everyone else is so well guarded...so I think he’s going after Beth Zemo first.”


TO BE CONTINUED


-- Story written and copyrighted (C) 2009 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

As others have said, nice head-games with Liu Xi... it really shows the fun of a story with an adversary like Marv.  In light of this, I'm not sure if Hatty is really all that protected being left asleep while Marv's spirit is on the rampage...  Hopefully Chiaki's intuition is right on that account.

I'll be curious to see how the undead Mayor does against the Baroness...  She has her own familiarity with the afterlife, or at least the unalive.