A Scripta

This takes place during the Moonfire task force, just before Masonry tears the door off the mission after its completion.

Lodestar: Nate.

Masonry: Yeah.

Your anger is palatable.

So.

Nate. Stop.

Stop what. I'm doing what they told me.

Stop being angry.

I should be happy?

Look at what you're doing.

I'm in the rear.

You're hurting them. You're not attracting their attention.

But I'm not very good -

You are. Look, one shot, that man went down.

I'm not happy.

What Frosty does is not your job anymore. ** gone **


Takes place after the task force and a series of missions.

Masonry: Is it too much to ask E to tell me what to do?

Lodestar: No. But he assumes you know what you're doing. Otherwise he wouldn't summon you.

He summons me to beat me up.

He summons you because you know what you're doing. He has faith in you.

He's just like the kids who beat me. Both of them.

Calm. Breathe. ** sends calming waves **

I hate them.

Because.

They...they're better.

They're good at what they do, yes. But you are good at what you do as well.

Oh, sure. Getting people killed. And murder, don't forget murder.

It's done. They're gone. Let them go.

But they keep coming back!

Because you let them.

People like them keep coming back.

Because you let them.

So what do I do?

You become better at what you can do.

Wha..?

You are no longer Masonry.

...

You are a Peacebringer. Your abilities are different.

But nobody's teaching me.

You relied on War Mollusk to teach you how to get the enemies' attention and hold it.

E won't teach me, you just heard him!

Then we will have to work together to understand the range of your powers.

Don't you know?

No. Every host manifests different abilities.

Oh Christ.

Nate. ** holds him ** We will get through this. I have faith in you, too, Nate.

** sighs in contentment **

We can't stay like this forever.

Why not...it's quiet. Comfortable. Better than having a woman lay next to you.

Hmmm, I don't know about that. ** chuckles softly and sends a memory of Artemis snuggled up in Masonry's arms **

** Mase grows slightly distressed ** She's gone.

** removes the memory immediately ** I know. Ask Pinkerton if he will allow you to spend some time in the exercise yard picking off tin cans at a hundred yards in between times that they find assignments for you.

What good will that do?

You get used to being on air.


The next afternoon...

Did they have to have quantum guns here?

It's for their own safety, Nate, in case you wanted to try and escape.

As if I could.

Let me tell you how you could, Nate, if they had no guns. First you would be able to take out the four guards at the door. You would be able to tear the inner door out and blast the outer one. You would be in the hall. Your natural sense of direction would point you north, where, even though it's on the opposite side of the Zig, you have plenty of room to hide. You could easily fight your way through, with your strength and my agility, and get to the bottom floor, where eventually you could find your way to a large sewer grate and blast your way out.

Why are you telling me this?

Because you have the ability. But I won't let you. You really don't want to, anyway.

No, I don't. I've screwed up enough.

Take aim at that barrel, concentrate...release. Good. Again. Now both barrels...