[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/houzIW1.png[/img][/center] [hr] [h3][b]Then...[/b][/h3] “Is that it?” Adam Avenir asked, pointing to the green marble-size sphere. [color=MediumSpringGreen]“Uh huh,”[/color] Ashley confirmed as she continued to pack several sets of cloths and her most important belongings into a small collection of suitcases and travel bags. The G.E.M.I.N.I. people would be stopping by to pick her up the following day, and she wanted to make sure everything was ready by the time she went to bed. “Wow…” the thirteen-year-old boy marveled as he picked the item up to get a closer look at its shimmering interior. “And you have no idea who gave it to you?” [color=MediumSpringGreen]“Nope,”[/color] his big sister replied. [color=MediumSpringGreen]“It was in an unmarked box, sitting on the table along with the rest of my graduation presents.”[/color] Although nearly everyone’s recollections on what, exactly, had transpired during the graduation party were rather hazy, Ashley’s brother, by virtue of being the closest to her, had seen and remembered everything. Ashley had sworn him to secrecy, of course, and Adam had been only too happy to keep the knowledge to himself as a special secret between siblings, something which only served to further strengthen the pair’s already inseparable bond. “That’s awesome!” Adam declared. “Like, whoever made this thing must have been searching for just the right person to have it, and after seeing how much you love to help people, they chose [i]you![/i] This is, like, your very own origin story!” [color=MediumSpringGreen]“Maybe…”[/color] Ashley conceded with a slight blush. “Come on, show me how it works again!” Adam begged his sister with an eager grin as he held the tiny orb out to her. “[i]Pleeease?[/i]” [color=MediumSpringGreen]“All right, all right,”[/color] Ashley told him with a giggle. [color=MediumSpringGreen]“Just give me a moment,”[/color] she added, taking the offered sphere and stepping back into the empty center of her room. Closing her eyes for a moment, there was a bright green flash, and then… “So cool!” Adam cheered as he took in his sister’s transformed appearance. “You look like you just stepped out of a video game, or maybe a sci-fi movie! And with all those cool powers you have, you could totally be a superhero!” By this point, Ashley’s cheeks had turned a bright crimson from all the hero worship, but she was still smiling nonetheless. [color=MediumSpringGreen]“Well, now that I’m joining G.E.M.I.N.I., I’ll be able to learn how to use my powers to help people, so I suppose that’s [i]sort[/i] of like being a superhero,”[/color] she reflected. [color=MediumSpringGreen]“Although I doubt it’ll be anywhere near as glamorous as what you see in the movies,”[/color] she added. “Still, if you’re gonna be a superhero, you gotta have a super awesome codename!” Adam insisted. “How about Future Girl?!” [color=MediumSpringGreen]“I’m not really a fan of that…”[/color] Ashley replied with a frown. “Then what about Captain Future?!” [color=MediumSpringGreen]“I think that’s already been taken.”[/color] “Tomorrow Lady?” [color=MediumSpringGreen]“Hmmm…”[/color] Ashley mused as she found her attention drawn to her brother’s t-shirt, which depicted the cast of his favorite comic series in vibrant colors, with the name “Knights of the Cosmos” boldly emblazoned above them. [color=MediumSpringGreen]“How about… The Knight of Tomorrow?”[/color] “Oh wow!” Adam exclaimed, his face lighting up with excitement. “That sounds great! You’re really good at this codename thing, sis!” he added with a grin. “But, then, you’re pretty amazing at everything!” [color=MediumSpringGreen]“And here I thought little brothers were supposed to annoy their big sisters,”[/color] Ashley teased as she wrapped Adam up in an affectionate hug. [color=MediumSpringGreen]“Thanks Adam,”[/color] she whispered before placing a soft kiss on his forehead. [color=MediumSpringGreen]“I’m really going to miss you.”[/color] “Me too,” her brother replied as he returned the hug with interest. “You gotta promise you’ll tell me about all your cool adventures when you come home for Thanksgiving.” [color=MediumSpringGreen]“Okay,”[/color] she agreed, smiling down at him from an even greater height than usual, thanks to her taller esper form and its rather impractical footwear. [color=MediumSpringGreen]“It’s a promise.”[/color] [hr] [h3][b]Now...[/b][/h3] Ashley couldn’t help but think of her brother as she made her way along the rainy streets to Precinct #11, her hood up and an umbrella in one hand. Although he was safe in Tomasville, the bond she shared with him naturally brought to mind the familial bonds shared by all the inhabitants of Pax Septimus, bonds that would be irrevocably shattered, should she and her teammates fail today. Dr. Moller had sent out one of her typical, unnaturally nonchalant, messages, informing the agents where to meet, and as Ashley replayed that message, a part of her wondered just how much of the doctor’s almost carefree overconfidence was actually genuine… [color=MediumSpringGreen][i]She always puts on such a brave facade, but…[/i][/color] Ashley shook her head. There was no sense questioning such things now, not when her team, her [i]city[/i], was depending on her to be at her absolute best. Entering the building in question, the young esper made her way to the roof, where she found two of her fellow agents had already arrived. [color=MediumSpringGreen]“Timekeeper, Silhouette,”[/color] she greeted with the best smile she could muster, given the circumstances.[color=MediumSpringGreen]“It’s good to see you. So, um, have either of you given any thought as to how we might actually go about fighting this thing?”[/color] [hr] [center]18 | Female | GEMINI | Vision of Tomorrow Implements of Tomorrow | Wand, Shield | Arcane | Tune of Tomorrow Raiment of Tomorrow | Stride of Tomorrow Light of Tomorrow | Light | Power of Tomorrow PRO-TEK 4000 Defensive Surgery Implement | Kevlar Coat, Kevlar Padding, Clip Light [Reveal (2), Purity (4)], Damage (2), Damage X (6), Shield (4), Reflect (4), Heal (6), Major Heal (18), AoE (2), Powerful (0), Piercing (2) DAMAGE: B | SPEED: E | SENTINEL: C | 750 PHYSICAL: E | ARCANE: C | CHAOS: B | 750[/center]