::in a quiet corner of the Champions of Veive Supergroup base, Hericane sits quietly, timid and pensive as other group members go about their business.  Herracane is looking at a computer readout as Lady Hericane informs her of her findings. Both women are animated as the discuss the matter at hand.  Nearby, Herricane and Heracane are lounging on a couch, laughing and giggling as they relax. Both women take subtle glances in Hericane's direction, concerned that their leader, little Heri is more reserved than usual. After a moment she speaks:: Hey everybody. Ummm.... th-thank you for bearing with me. For responding to the city while I've had to stay here.  I'm scared. I'm really scared now. "

         ::Hera responds first:: Aww, its ok to be afraid Jordi honey. You know we got yer back.

          ::Herra pipes up, her voice a bit more chipper that usual:: Yeah Jordi! It's ok to be afraid. You taught me that all heroes are afraid sometimes. But we have to be brave for the all the nice people and our wonderful country!"

          ::Heri smiles warmly for a moment, but fear creeps back over her face:: You're right Herra, we have to be strong. Be strong for the city, Be strong for each other, Be strong for the citizens. But when we faced our ourselves over there ::Heri tries to gesture with her hands but they're shaking too uncontrollably to be much help:: I was really afraid. I'm afraid of who am there.... of her... ::sheer terror shows clearly on Heri's face as she barely maintains composure::  of Wherlwynd.  I want her to go away. That's not me.. that's not who I am.

        ::Herri darts up from her couch and walks over to Heri and sits down next to her. Reaching an arm behind Heri's back, Herri cradles Heri's shoulder and brings her close, giving her a friendly hug and allowing Heri to rest on her shoulder or chest.:: No Jordi, that woman isn't you. She's bad. She's bad, just like the rest of them. She's just like that mean Anti-Matter guy. He's cruel, not like Positron.

         ::Heri looks up at Herri, tears starting to roll down her cheeks, her eyes starting straight at Herri's, pleading for her to remove the pain somehow::  But she's still me... a mean me, but me. She knew about my father, and my mother... she has one or both just like me. I'm scared of her, Em.  I want her to go away.

          ::Hera sits close to Heri as well, and places a hand on Heri's thigh:: She will, Jordi sweetie. All of our mirror selves from there will. We'll find where they've holed themselves at and send them back to Praetorian Earth with so many bruises they won't dare to come back."

          ::Heri smiles at Hera, feeling reassured, then a look of fright falls across her face::   No... no I can't face her.. I can't face that... ::Heri shuts her eyes tightly and shakes her head repeatedly::  I don't wanna... she's so mean..

         ::the computer monitor still flashing various bits of relevant information, Lady stands there boldly as she speaks to her colleague:: The change caused by the event of the arrival of our Praetorian counterparts does not change the circumstances, Jordana. Your course, as well as mine, and each of us who share the moniker of Hericane, still must be followed. The increased amount of danger and likelihood of crises caused by our "doubles" only furthers our reason to be vigilant and prevent this new threat from bringing harm to the city.

          ::Herra uneasily speaks, she too seems unsure of what needs to be done::  Jordi's right though. They were really mean.  And really really scary. And they hurt us a lot. I wanna fight, but they're scary

          ::For a moment Hera looks pained as she rubs her forearm, a very visible wound below the skin of her costume::  Yeah, whatever the are they fight pretty nasty, and not very fair. ::Hera's usual steeled aura returns:: Which is why I'll fight, because if they fight unfairly, how will they treat the people here?

          ::Herra's eyes shoot wide open, realizing and catching onto Hera's implies::  The citizens!  They'll treat them bad Jordi!  We can't let them do that. We have to try and fight... ::Herra quiets a tad bit:: even if they're mean... we have to try...

         ::Heri looks at Herra for a moment, as she also realizes something must be done. But Heri remains silent, the lingering image of Wherlwynd and the fear clouds her will to do what's needed. Ashamed, she looks down, ashamed of her selfishness and fear and putting herself before others. Taking a deep breath, she looks up, and looks eye to eye at each of the other Heris. Her once faded confidence and strength slowly begins to ebb as she sees the same inner turmoil in Heracane, Herracane, Lady Hericane, and even Herricane. After another deep breath, she speaks::  Ok, I'm ready now. Let's get ready and show them what real heroes are made of!

         ::the other Heris shout out back at her:: We're with you Jordi!!!!

         ::Heri turns inquisitively towards Lady:: Ok, Lady, can you locate where they are and draw up some battle tactics for us?

         ::Looking concerned, Lady answers in a straightforward manner::  Like most people of the criminal nature, they have taken up residence upon the Rogue Islands. Curiously, they appear to have the same tendencies to remain in a compact grouping similar to ours. Before we were forced to retreat on our initial contact with them on the expedition to Praetorian Earth to discover the source of the malfunction of the temporal scanners, I was able to successfully launch a tracking device upon each of the "Wherlwynds."  As with more of the Praetorians version of our own heroes, they seem to possess a greater amount of raw bloodlust for combat and violence, thus producing a great amount of damage inflicted. Based on the conversations on that initial meeting, they appeared to have the advantage as they seemed to be well informed concerning us, but we did not have the same knowledge about them.  Added, they have not been the source of any physical battles since that meeting ,and they do not appear to be in preparations for such an event.  I suggest we continue to maintain surveillance, gain as much information as can gain about them, while they do not seem preoccupied in a confrontation again.  Once they have made the first move, it is out duty and our justice to do what is necessary to not allow them even the slightest opportunity to attack the city.

          ::Heri nods her head in agreement, seeing the others doing the same as they slowly come to agreement.:: Agreed. We'll keep doing what we normally do here, and keep an eye on them as well.  When they decide to attack the city, we'll be ready for them.

          ::The image of Wherlwynd's sneer towards her creeps back into Heri's thoughts and for a moment she is doubtful again. Still lookin at the ensemble of Heris, still smiling, still happy, she forces a fake smile, trying hard to mask her fears. Unknown to her, each of the other Heris smile back forcefully as well, each of them preoccupied with their own evil double::

          Also, I've tried to make this introduction obvious that the Heris have met the Wherls face to face and each of them, mostly Heri, have been emotionally affected so the actual story isn't necessary, but if you would like to read it I am in the process of writing it. You can check to see the progress of it here. There's a bit of a side story involving Herri and the Carnival involved that I wrote there partly to explain why she wasn't with the others as they went to Praetorian Earth.  Kinda was necessary since Herri's COV counterpart isn't a Praetorian but her younger sister. More info on that can be found on both Herri's and Wherrlwynd's page.

B: As always any feedback is welcome: themagdalenafan@gmail.com