Difference between revisions of "Paladin Decen (Samuel Mason)"

Revision as of 01:47, 24 April 2020

"My entire life I've always yearned for something great. But I lived in a world that already had enough greatness." - Mason

Samuel "Sam" Mason is a 23 year old former college student, capable of the soul link and suffers from an ancestral curse of bad fortune. He is the second holder of Sentry and is currently training to be the successor to The Black Jason.

Due to his unique way of wielding Sentry's power, John gives Sam the codename Blackflame and is currently a member of Team Darkstar.

Unlike his mentor, Sam does not wield any weapons to battle, relying on Sentry's martial arts and empty handed combat. Sam is the only member of Darkstar capable of fighting in short, medium, and long range combat.

Background and Origin

"The year is 2021, and mankind faces a trial straight out of a movie. Everyone is advised to evacuate and seek shelter IMMEDIATELY. Do NOT approach the sky beasts. Do NOT look back!"

- Anonymous Reporter

Pre-Apocalypse

Samuel Mason was a college student studying engineering along with his roommate Toby Rufus. Although an average student, Sam is unable to secure a job position due to his curse, and must rely on Rufus to pay the rent to their basement suite. Aspiring to join the army, Sam decides to start training his body, though slow progress demotivates him.

Jason's Arrival

On his way to the gym, Sam notices the sky opening up to multiple portals, and thousands of strange creatures flood the streets. Sam hides behind the forest and witnesses the creatures killing and injuring civilians left and right. Grabbing a tree trunk, Mason attempts to fend off the creatures from a trapped family, but is swatted away by an infernal, where he lands in a bush. Barely conscious, Sam sees a mysterious man fall an impossible distance from the sky and lands several feet away. Heavily injured and somehow alive, the man seeks refuge, and Sam takes him to his basement suite, which is in ruins. Toby freaks out believing Sam brought a homeless man to their shelter.

The next morning, Toby informs Sam that the creatures have caused damage on a global scale, and that the college has been entirely decimated. News reports reveal only 15% of the population has survived, and military forces were wiped out, outmatched in firepower against the beasts. Sam wishes to see his family to check up on them, but John advises against it, as charging into the now infernal run wasteland would be suicide. Toby is now unemployed as he states his manager was devoured by a creature with horns and weird green flames. The man tells him that the creature is an infernal, and only he is able to defeat them. The man introduces himself as John Crypt and reveals to be a mage tasked to battle the infernals from another dimension. John demonstrates Sentry's power to the boys but nearly collapses. It is revealed that Crypt is terminally ill from an infection known as the Corruption; a mysterious entity that had infected all of his friends and family in the Champions Universe. Due to the protective nature of being a Paladin remnant, the two conflicting forces caused discord in his body, and the aftereffects are slowly killing him.

The following night, John regains consciousness, and tells Sam and Tob about his adventures in Croft, along with Trinity, Wheeler, and his time in the Mage Academy, as well as its downfall. After hearing John's story, Sam is greatly engrossed and pleads John to bring him along in his final fight against Calliope. Sam tells John that he wanted a purpose in life, and that he was willing to do anything to prepare for the battle. In the condition John was, he would be in no shape to save Croft. John, reminded of how he lost his friends and allies, angrily dismisses the idea, telling him to be realistic and that a normal human without a soul link creature would not stand a chance against the New Militia. This was something he had to deal with alone. A frustrated Sam leaves the dining room and heads to his room while John leaves the hideout to patch up the city as much as he can.

Inheriting Sentry and Formation of Team Darkstar

Sam rescues John after a cleanup mission goes awry. After being asked again why he was so adamant to helping John fight the New Militia, Sam reveals his ancestral curse. Claiming he would go to any lengths to achieve greatness in his life, he fought through all the barricades his curse threw at him. Eventually convincing John to let him help, Sam inherits Sentry, and soul links with the familiar. John, despite losing his soul link, is still able to access residual dark energy from Sentry, though severely underpowered, only able to access a fraction of the power he had before.

John begins training Sam in combat, strength and conditioning. Despite excelling in combat due to his dilligence, Sam struggles in strength and conditioning due to asthma and poor genetics. Despite able to soul link, Sam is unable to draw out any of Sentry's dark energy. However, the soul link provides Sam with the iconic silver eyes, and heightened physical parameters.

During a training session, Sam struggles with marksmanship and swordplay. Tob walks in on the two and demonstrates an aptitude in the two weapons. John decides to train Tob in wielding handguns and swordplay. Jealous of Tob's progress, Sam and Tob get in an argument which escalates into a fight. Despite Tob wielding two weapons, Sam's reflexes awaken, allowing him to tap into Sentry's memories in empty-handed combat and martial arts.

During the next few months, John trains Sam in Sentry's martial arts using his Paladin's memories, and Tob in marksmanship and swordplay using his own memories.

Four months later, Sam has demonstrated an aptitude in martial arts and has begun to manifest Sentry's superhuman physical abilities equivalent to a x20 Kaiju Boost. Tob's weapon mastery improves to the point where John decides to let Sam and Tob participate in his missions to clear up the street of infernals.

Sam suggests the name "Darkstar", due to the nature of his and John's powers. Upon being asked by Toby the "Star" part of the team name, Sam replies that it sounded cool. John calls the boys dorks for suggesting such a ridiculous name, but the majority overrules his opinion.

Street Cleanup

Team Darkstar head out to the streets to defeat the infernals and soul beasts. Although manifesting Sentry's superhuman abilities and combat technique, Sam is still unable to summon Sentry's dark energy necessary to destroy the monsters. Sam is tasked to destroy the weaker monster spawn while John eliminates the monsters. John imbues a firearm from a deceased officer and hands it to Tob to lay out suppressing fire.

While cleaning up the streets, Sam separates from the group upon hearing whimpers from a building. Confident of his new abilities to escape if needed, Sam goes to investigate alone. The whimpers turn out to be from a manipulator type infernal, who attacks Sam. While able to evade the Manipulator Infernal with Sentry's reflexes, Sam is unable to deal meaningful damage. Sam is saved by Tob while John exterminates the infernal.

The First Tear

With the streets cleaned of monsters, Darkstar head to the location of a Dimensional Tear located near Sam and Tob's college campus. During the drive, Sam contemplates his usefulness in the team. Despite receiving Sentry, Sam was still dependent on his teammates. Disgusted and angry at himself, Sam considers talking to Jason to return Sentry and give up on his dream to become a hero. Sam suddenly experiences a vision of Sentry's Paladin. The Paladin went by the name of Decen, the Paladin of War. Sam watches as Decen and an unknown female accomplice battle a towering opponent. As they fight, they are overwhelmed by the opponent's strength when Decen summons Sentry to fight on his behalf. Sentry unsheathes two katanas, igniting it with a black flame, and engages the opponent. The fight is short but enough for Sam to witness Sentry displaying his incredible technique. With the opponent retreating, Sentry turns to Sam and looks him in the eye. Its white orbs for eyes grow brighter until Sam wakes up from the vision. Sam decides to keep the vision to himself as he is unaware of what it could mean.

As Darkstar approaches the tear, infernals and soul beasts swarm the campus. John commands the boys to assist him as he clears the area. Due to his condition, John is unable to seal the tear himself. John channels all of his energy into Tob's firearm, and with one powerful blast, Tob destroys the perimeter of the tear, sealing it. John collapses and Darkstar is forced to stop and recover.

Bothered by what he saw during the ride, Sam is unable to resist any longer and tells John about his vision. John is deeply troubled by Sam's development as he had never experienced visions from Decen's past, especially that particular memory. John tells Sam to record what he sees should a vision happen again.

The Twin Tears

Darkstar approaches their next two tears, a conjoined tear leading to a large influx of soul beasts. John and Tob attempt to fight off the beasts but due to John's illness, Tob is forced to single handedly hold off the monsters. Sam attempts to intervene but is unsure what to do. Tob is bit by an infection type soul beast, but is rescued by John.

Sam, panicking, scared, and angry at his powerlessness experiences another vision. Unlike his previous vision, Sam appears in a dark world, covered in black flames. Towering over him is the spirit of Sentry, who looms over the boy. Sentry asks Sam if he wants the power to stop the beasts from hurting his friends, which Sam agrees. Sentry responds that the secret to unleashing his power for the first time is dependent on the person. How to unleash the power depends on the user, in John's case, it was through calamity and a focused mind. This was because the sudden change in emotion led to a huge psychological shift, allowing his body to subconsciously call upon the power a a defense mechanism. Sam must find his own way, and by doing so, his fighting style and use of Sentry's power would diverge from the way John used the power.

Sam awakens in a medical bed in a shelter, with Tob looking below with a concerned look. Tob fills Sam in on the details. Apparently Sam had a blackout, and collapsed. Just as John was about to give one last stand against the monsters, they were rescued by a young woman named Amana Cross. John and Amana went to another room to talk while Sam and Tob were placed in a room to recover. Sam overhears Amana scolding John for putting two kids in danger's path, while John shoots back that she is not one to talk due to the nature of her powers. Sam loses consciousness.

Amana Cross joins Darkstar

Upon regaining consciousness, Sam is tended by Amana. Tob is taken aback by Amana's attractiveness but allows her to provide treatment to his bite wound. Amana introduces herself as a survivor of the apocalypse, who wields the power of an infernal after it tried to take her life. Amana tells Sam and Tob that John is in no condition to lead a cleanup party, and that she would take command. John suddenly appears in the room and argues with Amana, telling her she just met the boys and is in no position to make demands. The two argue and eventually agree to be co-partners. Amana's familiarity with the city and versatile infernal powers prove useful to the team, and Amana seeks revenge on the creatures that had slain her family over the months of apocalypse. Amana gives herself the codename "Fox" and assists Darkstar out of the city to deal with the Twin Tears properly.

The team return to the site of the tears, now overrun with even more monsters. Amana orders Tob to provide suppressing fire, and Sam to distract the melee types. John and Amana work together to seal the portal. John infuses Kronus with Sentry's energy residue, and hands it to Amana, who grabs it with a flaming red fox tail. Amana swipes at the tears, sealing it with incredible force. The duo return to the battle site and clear the remaining monsters. Amana compliments John for his combat prowess despite being a "cripple". John grunts at the remark.

Amana checks on Tob's wound, causing him to blush. Darkstar return to their Sam's hideout, with Amana now part of their ranks.

Supply Run

Two months pass, and Darkstar is low on food supplies. Amana and Sam volunteer to go on a supply run to restock. Tob and John remain in the hideout for patrol. While on their way to a potential supply bandit hideout, Amana asks Sam if he and John are related. Sam responds that he isn't, but sees John as an older brother and mentor figure. Amused, Amana offers to be his older sister figure and mentor figure, causing Sam's ears to go red.

Sam distracts the bandits while Amana carries the supplies to the van. Amana is impressed by Sam's reflexes and combat technique, remarking that his chops bear similarity to a samurai. Upon hearing the word, Sam experiences another vision. Sentry appears before him, with two katanas unsheathed, and Sam gets a good look of Sentry's body. Spikes line Sentry's arms, demonic in appearance, but what appears to be samurai plating along his shoulders, hips, and knees. Just as Sentry is about to turn to Sam to show his face, Sam exits the vision to a very concerned looking Amana. Sam confesses to Amana that he is soul linked to some samurai monster, and that his abilities belong to Sentry. Amana reassures Sam not to worry about anything, as she herself is also connected to a monster.

The duo return to the hideout with a van full of supplies. John plans to raid an infernal base to seal the last tear. Amana assists him.

Sentient Infernal

During a cleanup mission, Darkstar find themselves rescuing survivors from a group of infernals. Sam and Toby escort the survivors to a getaway van, while John and Amana eliminate the group. However, one of the infernals appears different from the rest, and outmatches both fighters. The infernal mocks John for being a disgrace to the mages, and reveals that John's long time friend, Calliope Ariandal, had become converted into an Avatar, a half mage half infernal hybrid. Enraged, John ignores his Corruption poisoning and tries to charge the infernal, but is restrained by Amana. The Sentient Infernal tells John that the war with the mage survivors will end soon, and that the Age of Ash is inevitable. Upon seeing Amana, the infernal offers her a position among his ranks, which she turns down. The infernal engages Amana in combat.

Sam and Toby attempt to intervene, but Amana keeps them back with a wall of red flames. Amana declares that she will never join the monsters who slaughtered her family, and charges the infernal head on. The infernal outmatches Amana in combat. Just as the infernal is about to deal its finishing blow, John jumps in and rescues her. John tells the infernal that to get to her he would need to get through him first. John goes beyond his limits and charges a Kaiju Boost x1000, and eliminates the infernal with a single Citybreaker Slash with Kronus.

The force of the Citybreaker slash causes the entire environment to collapse, and Darkstar must evacuate the area. John picks up Amana and orders the boys to the van. Amana asks John why he is so protective of someone he barely knows. John responds that everybody deserves a second chance. John failed Calliope that day because he let his bitterness take over and didn't even try to understand her heartbreak before engaging in battle. If it hadn't been for his closed mind, he could have prevented all of this. Amana tells John that the only way to recover is to move forward and not give up just because of his past, and that she is willing to move forward with him if he would like. John and Amana's relationship become strengthened.

Sam looks at the remains of the Sentient Infernal as Darkstar drives off to seal the final tear.

The Last Tear

Darkstar prepares to take on the final tear. During preparations, Sam thinks about what Sentry told him, that to activate his power for the first time, he would have to find his own way. Unable to think about how, the tear becomes brighter. Suddenly, a bright light appears from the tear, and a monstrous being, with magma like features and wings lands on the ground. The monster brandishes its great sword and yells for The Black Jason to come out. John grimly tells the team to take care of the soul beasts and infernals, while he engages the monster. Amana pleads John to accompany him, as John is no match for something that powerful the way he is right now. Sam and Tob also argue that they need to take on the monster together. Amana gives John the pleading look, and John's expression softens, allowing the rest of Darkstar to support him in the fight.

Sam and Tob clears the tear of enemies, while John and Amana distract the monster. John and Amana imbue Tob's firearm with energy, the combined Sentry and Infernal energy allow Tob to seal the final tear. Upon regrouping, Darkstar faces the monster, ready for a head on fight.

The monster measures up the members of Darkstar, and laughs at John, mocking him for losing his soul-link. The monster declares himself to be superior, and reveals that he is an Avatar.

Darkstar vs The Avatar

Tob fires off several blasts of energy at The Avatar, which glances off its skin. John and Amana engage the monster head on, but are unable to deal any damage. Sam tries to distract and tire the monster out, but the monster retaliates with overwhelming speed, too fast for Sam to react, and sends the boy flying with a devastating punch to the gut.

John attempts to surpass his limits again, and unleashes a x1000 Citybreaker Slash on The Avatar's head, only to have it glance off with no effect. The Avatar swings its broadsword in John's direction, but is deflected by Amana's Fox Tail, shattering it and sending the two tumbling down the remains of the surrounding buildings.

Tob is the remaining member of Darkstar, and The Avatar approaches the boy slowly, ready to kill. Sam tries to get up but is unable to. More visions start to appear and disappear in seconds as Sam struggles to reach Tob. Sam pleads with Sentry to give him power. Even if it means forgetting his desire to become great, be a hero, he just wants his friend to be safe. Suddenly, the visions stop and Sam is sprawled on the ground. Next to him is Tob. Sam looks around and realizes he is on the other side of the building complex, opposite of The Avatar. Sam looks at himself and realizes his clothes are smoking, embers of his shirt glow a dark blue with black flames. The Avatar leaps a huge bound and appears next to the boys. Sam attempts to use the same power that allowed the two to escape but is unable to resummon it. The Avatar smashes Sam's face into the pavement, and begins stomping his head in. As Sam starts losing consciousness he begins seeing another vision.

Sam finds himself in a room with three people. A boy, aged 20, a girl with green flowing hair, slightly taller, also in her 20's and a tall towering figure, built like a tank but with samurai plating, and a mask similar to John's but with glowing white orbs for eyes, which Sam recognizes as Sentry. The boy is the first to approach Sam. Scrawny in appearance, the boy had long hair which covered an eye, streaked with pink. He looked like an average delinquent but emits a dangerous aura. Without saying anything, Sam recognizes him as Decen, the Paladin. Decen looks him up and down, then remarks on Sam's innocent and harmless appearance. The girl then approaches, and Sam is engrossed by her blue eyes. Though he never met her, Sam somehow knows her name: Merrow. She observes quietly, before returning to her original spot. Then the Sentry approaches Sam. Sam asks the Sentry if the last burst was his power, which the Sentry affirms. Sam asks Sentry how to resummon the power, and Sentry tells Sam he already knows how. By changing his mindset to a more selfless perspective, rather than being someone great for the virtue of being great, Sam chose to abandon it to save those in need. By changing his mindset, his body subconsciously called his power. Sam becomes doubtful of his strength, believing he will never live up to John's strength and legacy, but Sentry reassures him that it doesn't matter what the outcome is.

Fight to the end, no matter what. That is the samurai way. Putting a hand on Sam's shoulder, Sentry tells him that he is the first being that he has ever encountered that had the most humanity. Unlike John, Sam was sensitive and vulnerable. He didn't have the strength right away, and was humbled because of his background. He was born cursed, but in a way by being cursed, that would be his ultimate blessing. This was why Sentry decided to approach Sam through these visions, and not with John. Sentry tells Sam to give it his all, and to give the bastard Avatar hell, his own way.

The Avatar is about to finish Sam off with his great sword when suddenly a burst of black fire is emitted from Sam's body. Sam is propelled forward and away from the monster, his eyes glowing and flashing with blue and black flame. The Avatar laughs and acknowledges Sam for finally unlocking Sentry's power. Fire slithers around Sam's arms and legs as he powers up even further.

The Avatar approaches Sam with a huge slash of his blade, only to have it caught by Sam's hands, melting it to a pool of black lava. Sam opens his left hand firing a massive torrent of flame, sending the Avatar reeling back with severe burns. The Avatar flies into the air, and Sam, opening his palms, releasing a jet of black and blue fire from his hands and feet, propelling himself upward. John and Amana, incapacitated by John's Citybreaker Slash watch as an evolved Samuel Mason flies to face The Avatar in a titanic battle.

Samuel Mason vs The Avatar

Sam and The Avatar clash, flame against sword, their battle spanning across the buildings, to landmasses, to mountains, and forests. Using the propulsion of Sentry's energy in the form of black fire, Sam is able to evade The Avatar's incredible speed by moving like a jet engine. Combined with Sentry's reflexes and combat sense, the motions become fluid and second nature. However, The Avatar still has the upper hand, and slams Sam back onto the ground. The Avatar lands and asks if that's the extent of Sam's soul link. Sam manages to get up and tells The Avatar that as long as he is breathing, he will not lay a hand on the people of this world. Sam reaches deep within his memories, deep within Sentry's memories, and sees a vision of Sentry. His monstrous claw outstretched. Sam takes it and undergoes a transformation.

Blackflame vs The Avatar

The flames around Sam grow more intense, and soon his body is encompassed by the incredible heat. Sam's eyes glow and is the only source of light, his body shrouded in dark flames. On his left arm, samurai plating is manifested. Suddenly Sam assumes a fighting stance. A stance similar to a samurai. There is no katana in sight, but this isn't the first time Sam has run into a barricade. Sam lifts his hand, and performs an Iai Chop. The flames and heated air pressure send The Avatar flying through several buildings. The Avatar charges the evolved Sam in a fight, but Sam holds his own, using his chops in places of katana slashes, Sam overwhelms The Avatar with fluid and superior technique. As Sam pummels the Avatar with chop after chop, fluidly dodging The Avatar's swipes, Sam is reminded of his vision of Decen summoning Sentry to fight the towering opponent. Realizing that was what Sentry meant by showing him the vision, Sam manifests Sentry's martial arts to its max potential, and unleashes all of his power into a powerful open handed strike, causing a massive black explosion.

The Avatar falls onto the ground, defeated and depleted of its power, revealing the fallen mage.

The Avatar Unmasked, and The Return to Croft

Sam is reunited with John, Amana, and Tob. John recognizes the mage as a former classmate in the academy, turned Avatar: Trill Cohen of Team Overcast. Over the years, Trill was tortured by the Infernals for refusing to join the New Militia. Upon being captured by Calliope Ariandal, Trill was given the worst punishment: forceful merging with an Infernal. Calliope forced Trill to slaughter his teammates in Team Overcast, and the trauma drove him to insanity, finalizing his merge with the infernal into a fully fledged Avatar. Trill tells John that he doesn't expect forgiveness for the things he has caused to his life, but Calliope's tyrannical rule over Croft must be stopped. To Trill and Amana's surprise, John forgives Trill. Trill, still suffering from guilt, offers to repay John by offering his services to Darkstar. As an Avatar, Trill offers to bring Darkstar to The Champions Universe through a dimensional portal. John and Trill shake hands.

Sam approaches Trill in private and asks about his past with John. Trill tells Sam that this should be something he should ask John, as he is in no position to say. Trill also remarks that Sam's soul link powers are unlike anything he ever saw with John, however they are insufficient to defeating Calliope. He will need to continue training and getting stronger to stand a chance.

That evening while Darkstar is recovering, Sam and John look over the sunset of a recovering world. John once again asks Sam if he is sure he wants to join him in his battle against Ariandal. Sam tells John that he doesn't have much a choice considering he gave his powers over to him. John laughs, and tells Sam he is right. The fight against his old friend will be the toughest fight they will ever face, and warns Sam that the training he will undergo to further develop his powers will literally be hell. Sam tells John that he is ready. John agrees, and to prove that, gives Sam his codename: Blackflame. John himself, after getting over his fear of losing his friends and allies with the help of Amana, dons his iconic combat mask, and names himself back to The Black Jason.

The following morning, Darkstar departs. Trill creates a portal to Croft, and Team Darkstar, now containing The Black Jason, Blackflame, Fox, Tob, and Coldarrow (Trill) enters the portal. Sam is the last to enter the portal and looks back at his world. Ready to take part in something great, Sam smiles at the sunset, before stepping into the portal, to begin his battle against Calliope Ariandal and the New Militia.

Story

Acquiring a Base

Sam awakens in an alleyway alongside the rest of Darkstar. Sam is taken aback by the new environment; magic and technology intermingling, but a hint of poverty and lack of social order. Making his way to the rest of the group, Jason recognizes Wheeler's gym. The building is raided and vandalized by corrupted enforcement officers, which Jason recognizes as members of the New Militia. Enraged, Jason engages the officers, with Team Darkstar in tow. Jason defeats four of the five officers, but the remaining officer, being a high rank mage with soul link abilities outmatches him. Amana saves Jason and devises a strategy to defeat the officer by using his bone magic on himself, which succeeds. Amana knocks the remaining officers unconscious and induce their minds with infernal energy, causing partial amnesia.

Jason rescues the occupant in the building who reveals himself as Ferris Wheeler, Jason's first trainer. In gratitude, Ferris allows the members of Darkstar to stay at his gym in his secret basement hideout. Ferris explains that since the New Militia began its influence on Croft, many citizens and mages who were deemed combat worthy were forced to join the ranks. People who did not make the cut were deemed failures and cast out, leading to nation-wide poverty. Although possessing the physical capability to join the Militia, Wheeler lacked the magical offensive power, and was deemed unworthy. Wheeler tells Darkstar that the slums have become a home for those unfit for battle.

The officers that had harassed him were members of the New Militia who occasionally come to the slums to bully the inhabitants, and take their belongings. Wheeler got away with minimized losses due to storing most of his belongings in his secret bunker.

Trill collapses from opening the portal to Croft, and the team recovers at Wheeler's gym. While waiting, Wheeler suggests the team take some time to explore Croft. During this time is when most of the Militia are off partying or in the Royal Capita, meaning inhabitants of the slums are free to enjoy the rest of the night. Wheeler promises to take care of Trill while the others are out. Jason wishes to visit the District, an old fashioned strip containing several bars and entertainment. Amana joins Jason while Sam and Tob decide to explore other places of Croft. Wheeler warns the boys to stay away from the borders, as it is home to a dangerous mage vigilante known as "Hood".

Sam and Toby decide to visit the borders against Wheeler's advice. On the way, they notice several militia officers dragging a girl to the border. Tob instantly rushes to save her, and Sam decides to join in. The two pursue the party until they reach the border, where the girl is ordered to stand back against the wall while a officer charges their weapon with magic. The boys realize that the party is an execution squad. Before Sam can formulate a plan, Tob recklessly engages the officers, leading to a gunfight. Sam rushes to grab the girl and escape but is stopped by an officer. The officer launches several attacks Sam's way, which he dodges and blocks. Sam slips past the officer's attacks and strikes the officer with a powerful open handed attack, unleashing a giant black explosion sending the officer flying. The officers focus fire on Sam and the girl. Sam launches a massive burst of flame to disintegrate the magic projectiles, but one catches the girl in the leg. Sam attempts to shield the girl but Tob jumps in and attempts to shield her first. The two argue with Sam asking Tob if it was a good time to get hormonal, until the officers are pinned down by several glowing green blades. The blades lift the officers in the air, and launches them into the ocean. The blades disintegrate in green ethereal flame, and the owner confronts the boys. Sam matches the man's description to the one Wheeler described to him, and recognizes the man to be "Hood".

Sam and Tob vs. The Hood

Sam thanks Hood for saving them, but Hood summons a large flaming green lance and levels it to his head. Hood asks Sam why he is soul linked to Sentry, and asks what he did to Jason. Sam tries to reason that Jason passed his soul-link creature to him, but stumbles on his words. Sam grumbles and complains about his curse, and Hood interprets Sam's explanation to be a trick. Sam and Hood engage in a fight.

Hood launches several projectiles that Sam dodges. Sam launches a powerful Iai chop which sends Hood flying into a nearby building. Hood wreaths himself in green flames and flies upwards, but Sam reaches there faster, and sends Hood into another building with a flaming axe kick. Landing on the ground, Sam launches several blasts of black flame in Hood's direction. Hood, now weakened from the flames is sent airborne by Tob, who fires a shot of dark energy at his chest. Hood, enraged by the fact that Tob also possessed Sentry's power, powers up, gaining a flaming green and yellow aura. Summoning hundreds of swords, Hood attempts to kill the trio before the girl screams. The sonic wave knocks Hood unconscious, and the three retreat to Wheeler's gym.

Sam looks back and sees Hood's wounds glowing with the same green ethereal flame, closing fast. Tob insists to carry the girl, and introduces themselves to her. The girl introduces herself as Reya, 20 years of age. She was arrested for resisting the Militia officers and refusing to hand over her younger brother to the Militia. Upon realizing her brother didn't have the soul link, the officers killed him in cold blood for wasting their time. An enraged Reya attempted to attack the officers, but was subdued and sentenced to death for attempted assault on New Militia personnel.

Jason is captured

Sam and Tob return to Wheeler's Gym with Reya. Tob explains to the rest of Darkstar that Reya was sentenced to death and decided to bring her here. She did not have a family and needed a place to stay. Jason is against this, but Amana welcomes Reya in and tends to her wounds. Jason confronts Sam and Tob for their behaviour but Tob retaliates that it would have been better than letting a girl die. Jason asks more about Hood and suspects that he may be Lazarus in disguise. Jason decides to go to the border and seek out Hood. Amana, understanding Jason's predicament offers to watch over the team while he is away.

Sam trains in Wheeler's gym and catches the eye of the old mentor. Ferris critiques Sam's form and asks if Jason trained him, which Sam confirms. Ferris decides to train Sam himself. After the workout, Ferris talks to Sam about Jason back when he was around the same physical build. Sam is surprised at Jason's old, simple and lighthearted personality. Upon asking about Ferris' powers, Ferris explains that he is capable of Earth magic, the security around the gym is reinforced by stone golems and seekers. Sam asks Ferris if he ever though about joining the resistance, but Ferris is distracted by a client.

Returning to the hideout, Sam catches Tob attempting to make awkward conversation with Reya.

As the sun goes down, Amana begins to worry about Jason. She decides to go to the border to look for him, and commands Trill to look over the team. Sam volunteers to look for Jason alongside Amana, and the two head out to the border.

Sam and Amana reach the border but Jason is nowhere to be found. A few militia guards populate the region, and Amana attempts to disguise herself as a member of the militia using her infernal abilities. Amana convinces the guards that she is a militia soldier and manages to extract information on Jason's whereabouts. Sam and Amana learn that Jason and Hood had a fight, which was detected by several militia officers on patrol. The two were taken into custody in the Royal Capita.

On the way back to the hideout, Amana devises a plan to rescue Jason from the Capita.

Meeting Lilith

Sam joins Tob, Trill, and Ferris in a game of Blackjack as Amana tends Reya's wound. Ferris tells Sam and Tob that Reya had gone silent since her rescue, and Amana is the only one she is comfortable talking to. Tob is disappointed, but Sam is too focused on Jason. Ferris reassures Sam that Jason is fine, telling him that the kid was the toughest mage he knew.

Later that night, Amana tells the rest of Darkstar that she will be devising a plan to rescue Jason, and needs some space. However, Reya enters the room where Amana is working and accompanies her. Sam, bored and tired of being unable to do anything, decides to visit the District, while Trill and Tob go out to target practice. Ferris goes to bed.

While traversing the District, Sam is called over by an elderly couple, who's cat, Jimmy, was trapped under a building that was destroyed by Militia officers. Sam crawls through the crevices and manages to rescue the cat, however, a sharp piece of wire catches his shirt, tearing it open. Sam returns Jimmy to the elderly couple, who grimace at Sam's muscular build, believing he is one of the Militia, tell the boy to never come their way again. Sam returns to the main path when he is called over by a girl from what appeared to be a church. The girl comments on Sam's curse, and explains that she has a knack for finding curses, revealing that she is cursed herself. The girl introduces her name as Lilith. Her magic affinity is through plant life, and that the flowers she creates cause misfortune to those who touch or handle it. This curse caused her to be segregated from others, who believed her to be a demon. Sam remarks that since he was already cursed with misfortune, there was really no penalty if he touched the flowers. Lilith asks Sam if he is new in town, due to seeing his face for the first time. Lilith tells Sam that due to her curse, she was unable to make friends. Her powers manifested when she was eight, and she was kept in the church for the following eleven years in hopes that the "holy environment" would disintegrate her. After finally meeting someone who was seemingly "immune", Lilith wanted to spend some time with her "new friend". Lilith decides to give Sam a tour of the District.

Lilith buys Sam a shirt to replace the one that was torn. She also buys him a cap. Reluctant at first, Sam decides to wear the cap after Lilith insists, claiming it would go well with the rest of the outfit. As the night comes to an end, Lilith thanks Sam for spending time with her, and asks if he wishes to go on another "date". Sam becomes surprised and stumbles with his words. Lilith tells Sam that she is always in the church if he wants to visit her again. Sam returns to the hideout and puts the cap on his nightstand.