[Center][img]https://i.imgur.com/CaCcRyv.png[/img][/center] [center] Featuring [/center] [center][img] https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/290977655627448341/292171024986800128/coollogo_com-163531103.png[/img][/center] Christmas Eve, by all rights David should be home with his family, instead he was at the hospital, overseeing a captured supervillain under special care. Apparently he started to suffer some sort of brain aneurism and had to be rushed for urgent treatment, while the authorities had called upon Terra to safeguard the staff. "Thanks a lot, Terra Firma, for coming to help with this so close to Christmas." A man in a white coat next to him said. David nodded. [color=ed1c24]"It's fine Dr. Stainnick. It's an emergency, it can't be helped."[/color] He said that as Terra Firma, the hero, but he truly felt sour about it himself. The holiday spirit hadn't quite shined as brightly as it used to, could be age, could be recent events, maybe it was the fact that none of the Guardians could answer this call, whatever it was he just wanted to be home. "Nonetheless, I'm sure you have a family too. If it's any consolation, I'm glad it was you. I'm confident you're the right hero to help watch over his treatment." The doctor put a reaffirming hand on his arm. The hallways were mostly empty, except for the handful of guards standing outside a certain room. They were armed with what David assumed was one of the normal police rifles, but they wore special helmets, and as soon as David and the doctor arrived they offered a pair to the both of them. "Ah, that's right, I nearly forgot." Dr. Stainnick smiled and accepted, while David declined. When the villain was first brought in Terra Firma had been one of the few people who couldn't be affected, whether that was because he wasn't exposed long enough, or due to his unique patron, he didn't know, but had confidence. "Are you sure? There's no telling what could happen if he worms himself into one of the world's strongest heroes." One of the guards insisted, but gave up a few moments later. "We'll be out here then." The room itself had been altered to accommodate the powered, windows and walls reinforced, along with a specialized vent to deter the extra-dextrous or those with a gaseous state. As for the furniture, there was a single bed attached to some wall-mounted equipment, along with a small stand next to it that signaled doctors and guards if something were to happen. As for the man, he smiled upon seeing the two walk in, to which, the doctor greeted. "Hello, Mr. Varuy, I'm Dr. Stainnick, I'll be here to do a few last minute scans." The doctor gestured to a computer on the wall, and then to David. "And this is-" "Oh I know, Terra Firma, or can I call you Terra?" His brows furrowed and his face seemed to cringe for a moment, before he continued. "Ah, but you two should call me Mindcrawler." "Okay, well Mr. Varuy, I'll just be in the corner here." The doctor continued towards the computer, while stroking his beard. The equipment around Mindcrawler started to spin and glow, the computer was probably spitting out stuff only a doctor could read. David was a doctor, but not the right kind. "Thank you for coming." Varuy said, staring intently at David, to which he nodded slightly. "Tell me, do you have any family? It seems quite a few heroes have dead parents, it seems to spur them on, sometimes it's even their reason for being. Is it the same for you?" David remained silent, only for the doctor to speak up. "This is the season for cheer, perhaps it wouldn't hurt to talk about family?" He said, still continuing to stare at the data, whatever it was. "Please, just a small story, anything to pass the time? The helmets and the walls, they keep me shut out, there is nothing, not even TV." Mindcrawler seemed to be desperate for some talk, it seemed the guards outside weren't quite as social with the supervillain. [color=ed1c24]"Alright, then here's your share of my Christmas spirit.... "[/color] [color=0076a3] "Whoa, what is this?" An enthusiastic, 8-year old David Jones rushed to his father, holding what looked like a jetpack in his hands. It had a flashy design with red stripes going down the sides, like a race car. He span himself around wildly and in response the toy made an explosive noise, and lights shined brightly at the back. Attracted by the noise, a small brown German shepherd quickly rounded the corner and danced around him, barking excitedly with him. "When I was younger I wanted to be a pilot, and I noticed you liked to look at those space comics. If any of us are going to find aliens and dance around the galaxy, I know it'll be you!" A little later, young David would try strapping the jetpack to his dog, Rex, to play around with. Of course, it didn't do anything like rocket him off, but it always felt like it made him faster, cooler even whenever they played frisbee, or even just running around the yard.[/color] Retelling the story brought back a powerful nostalgic feeling, he missed his own parents, and Rex. It felt like he even forgot them for a little while. Varuy chuckled softly. "That was nice. Prophetic even, considering what has happened." [color=ed1c24]"How much longer will this take, doctor?"[/color] "Just a little longer, please be patient." Dr. Stainnick replied, and seemingly in response to that, Varuy started to laugh. "Oh ho ho, you won't be leaving. You weren't affected by me last time for some reason, but now I've got a hand in your mind, you showed me some of your strongest feelings, and now I'll eat you whole!" Mindcrawler shot him a devilish grin. "And once I've consumed your consciousness, I'll take your body for my own!" True to his name, it now felt like there was something crawling around in his skull, like a spider had moved in, except it started pulling at him, bringing out things he had long forgotten, and things he might have wanted to. [color=ed1c24]"Fine, take it, take my strongest feelings, all of my love and my passion!"[/color] David's body shimmered gold, and memories started to flow outwards like a powerful river. [color=0076a3] "Happy Birthday David!" The voice of his dad presenting a puppy they had rescued. "Whoa, careful, Santa might run you over!" Road safety from his father after he had almost walked into oncoming traffic. "Goodbye, Rex.." "Goodnight David!" A random memory of his parents tucking him in. The memories started to come faster, and faster, toward more modern times. "You're a louse, David Jones.." "I love you too!" "I do!" "It's a girl! Let's name her Maddison, after.."[/color] The tables had turned, though it wasn't obvious on the outside, a burning sensation now ran through Mindcrawlers mind, then he screamed and began writhing in pain, veins began to pulse wildly on the surface. The doctor rushed over and applied a topical sedative, then backed off as Varuy started to breathe softer, then passed out peacefully. "Are you alright?" The doctor asked. David 'breathed' in deeply, and then nodded. [color=ed1c24]"Never better."[/color] The guards ran in a moment later, then stopped at the door, looking questioningly at both David and the doctor. "Thank you, Terra Firma, I tracked down the source of his aneurism. I'll be able to treat it within the hour." The doctor said, while beckoning the guards over with his hands. "I believe you've handled his worse, we can handle the rest of the night ourselves." [color=ed1c24]"Are you sure, Dr. Stainnick?"[/color] "Absolutely!" He smiled. [color=ed1c24]"Then, Merry Christmas, and a happy New Years to you guys!"[/color] David waved to them as he jogged out the door, then quickly accelerated to a sprint. There was somewhere he really wanted to be, and something he had to do. [color=ed1c24] "Merry Christmas, Mom, Dad, and you too Rex."[/color]