The following fictional story is based on the intellectual property of City of Heroes and City of Villains. That property was used as a backdrop for this story with the permission of both Ncsoft and Cryptic Studios. While this story uses that world as a backdrop, it is not meant to reflect either gameplay or storylines with the massively multiplayer online world. Some of the images used with Spirals of Fate have been taken from the game and modified to suit the illustrative purposes of this story. This story is intended for entertainment purposes only.

Spirals of Fate: Chapter One - Part Three
By Michael Lafferty and Matthew Eberle

Vincent’s movements unnerved Mosaic. The young man gently eased the woman back to the floor, then whirled, looking like a feral beast protecting its young. Mosaic knew a wrong word would mean, at the least, much pain.

He held his hands up, palms presented, showing he meant no harm and carried no weapons.

“I can help her,” he stated again. “I really can.” His voice was calm, smooth, soothing.

Vincent looked at him, then quickly glanced back over his shoulder at Mara.

“I will carry her, tend to her, you clear the path,” the stranger said. “I can’t do both and she needs my help. There is a place, not too far from this place, where there are items that can heal her, but we need to get there.”

The young man considered carefully for several long seconds. “Where?” he demanded.

“There’s a storage area a few hundred feet down this corridor where they keep some of our possessions. I should have some medical supplies there that can help your friend?” Mosaic said calmly. When Vincent suddenly shot to his feet, glaring at him the villain could almost taste the pulse in his throat.

“How do I know I can trust you?” he asked coldly.

“How do I know I can trust you?” Mosaic shot back. “After all, I did just see you incapacitate the guard out in the hallway and,” he paused to look at the storage cabinet along the wall with a sizeable dent at shoulder’s height above the floor – and the unconscious guard sprawled on the floor next to it. “Lets just say you’ve got a talent for combat, shall we?”

Vincent stepped close to the other man. His hands remained low as he locked eyes with Mosaic. “Just so we understand each other,” he hissed from between clenched teeth, “if anything happens to her I will be very … unhappy with you.” Mosaic tried not to shiver as he watched Vincent’s sparkling green eyes fade into solid black orbs, shining like polished obsidian.

“I understand. We should probably hurry.”

Without another word Vincent began prowling forward, looking into the doors on either side of the corridor warily. Mosaic smiled to himself. With a little prodding that one would make a fine tool. All he had to do was ensure his loyalty. He bent down and carefully picked up the gir – no, the young woman. Her body ran to slender lines, but no one could mistake her for a woman. He froze when the woman – Mara – whimpered slightly. Vincent’s head snapped around with preternatural speed. Mosaic winced slightly as he gently lifted her off the floor.

_ _ _

The two men stared at the massive door with varying degrees of frustration. Vincent was irritated while Mosaic was practically enraged. The huge door and its magnetic locks had engaged when the prison’s main power supply was cut off. Now it was completely sealed. The vault door could have withstood a small explosion, judging by the construction.

“Now what?” Vincent demanded crossly.

“Now we get through that door!” Mosaic shot back.

“Assuming we could, that would take hours. It would be easier to find one of the first-aid stations.”

“What makes you think you can find one that hasn’t been looted in the riot?” Mosaic asked acidly. In the distance a small explosion rang out. Vincent shrugged to concede the point. After a few seconds Mosaic sighed. “What are you waiting for?” he asked in a patient tone.

“High explosives,” Vincent replied sarcastically.

“Please power up, or whatever it is you do, and smash down that door,” Mosaic responded.

Vincent glared at the other man briefly. Then he turned to face the door. “You might want to step back,” he cautioned. After assuring himself that Mosaic had gotten himself and Mara out of the way Vincent stepped up to the door. He turned inwards, seeking the still center of his being. A dark place, empty and cold. When he opened his eyes everything around him was colored in shades of gray. Vincent pulled back his fist and slammed it into the door. He immediately regretted it. The door was scorched from the energies he released, but his fist was already throbbing. Vincent growled in frustration. He could almost feel the residual power coursing through the door, blocking his way. It was time to try something different.

Mosaic watched in confusion as Vincent placed both hands against the door and inhaled deeply. The young man was again wrapped in some kind of energy shield. Inky black mist swirled around his muscular frame. As he leaned against the door the blackness spread outwards along the portal. For several seconds nothing happened. The young man even stopped breathing.

With a faint click the magnetic locks released. The magnets themselves had been completely drained of power. Vincent sighed in relief as he turned the massive wheel set into the door. A series of clanks could be heard as the locks disengaged completely. One strong tug was all it took before the vault door swung open.

Mosaic took a step backward in his mind. There was more here than simple brawn. He covered the surprise with an off-handed comment, “interesting way you have of opening doors.”

The older man brushed past Vincent, carrying Mara into the room and placing her limp form carefully on a table. He moved to a cabinet, using his elbow to break the glass, then reached inside for various chemicals. What was really needed was smelling salts, but Vincent didn’t know that, and Mosaic wanted to continue the illusion. Mara was merely stunned, but Mosaic had to make a play here to foster dependence. Vincent could play into his future plans. What Mara brought to the table remained to be seen. A little legerdemain was all that was necessary to hide that the components he seemed to be using were not being used at all.

He held a potion up to Mara’s slack lips, forcing a little liquid into her throat, while concealing a smelly-salt compound that he held under her nose. She convulsed a little, then swallowed the small amount of liquid placed in her mouth – really nothing more than a foul-tasting but otherwise harmless concoction – and coughed. Vincent moved between Mosaic and Mara, leaning over to her, placing a large hand under her shoulders and easing her to a sitting position.

Mosaic went back to the cabinet, collected a few more compounds, then looked out through the barred window to the yard beyond. A flyer was inbound, followed by at least one other. He recognized the logo of Arachnos on the side.

“Looks like our ride is here,” he said, turning back to the man and woman. “We should get moving before they decide to leave without us.”

“What are you talking about?” Vincent asked as he walked over to the window quickly.  He glanced at the approaching flyers briefly. “Those are Arachnos flyers.”

“Obviously they are the ones who orchestrated this jail break,” Mosaic replied patiently.

“And you want to go with them?” Vincent asked.

“The alternative is to stay here until the heroes start turning up. How do you think they would treat you? Breaking out of your cell, incapacitating those two guards, and breaking into a storage depot qualifies as an attempted escape and assault, legally.”  Mosaic noticed the young woman struggling get off the table and walked over to assist her. “Two more crimes committed with super powers. Wouldn’t that qualify you for the three-strikes law?” he asked quietly.

Mara drew a shuddering gasp. “He’s right, Vincent. They won’t believe anything we say if they catch us in here. We’ll just be criminals.” Her head dropped sadly. “Anything we say will be false. Just like last time.”

Vincent looked out the window in time to see the two flyers landing in the exercise yard just outside the building. His face clearly showed the conflicting emotions. Mosaic watched with a sense of detached interest as the young man’s eyes flickered from normal white orbs with green irises to solid obsidian spheres.

Mara took a few unsteady steps towards her friend. As soon as she was close enough she close enough her left hand settled on his right shoulder for support. Vincent absently wrapped his arm around her as she sagged against him. His eyes were still staring out the window until Mara whispered, “Please?”

Wordlessly he nodded once. His eyes were cold as he stared at Mosaic. The latter knew a loose gesture, a misplaced word, may well unleash the kind of hell he did not wish to visit.

“Lead the way,” Vincent said.

Mosaic inwardly winced. He would rather have had the younger man in the forefront, but now was not a time to argue. Through the barred window he saw Arachnos soldiers securing the landing zone. They could likely skirt any pockets of hostility and gain the yard quickly, and this was a turning moment in his relationship with Vincent. He needed to gain some measure of respect.

“Follow me,” he said and the trio left the room.

… this is the end of Chapter One. Coming next Friday, Chapter Two - Where Heroes Walk!

del.icio.us | Digg This | Glink It

---