The Cliffs over the Sea

[Teri Napliotis]

"It's God testing us and the prize for our gifts."

[Gideon Rede]

"If there is a god and he tests our strength of will in that way then he is no god of mine," Gideon said.

[Teri Napliotis]

"Don't look at it as a test, maybe. It's not that He sets us up to fail, but His plans are ineffable."

[Gideon Rede]

"Then he's a callous and uncaring god," Gideon said, "Whose plan called for me to end thousands of lives."

[Teri Napliotis]

"That's not..." she sighs. "Sorry, we didn't mean to make it sound like that. It's hard to explain..."

[Gideon Rede]

"If..." Gideon stopped and rubbed the back of his neck before starting his statement over. "I can imagine it is."

[Teri Napliotis]

"Maybe we should talk about something else..."

[Gideon Rede]

"Probably for the best," Gideon said, "It'd be a shame to end a friendship so soon after it was made, eh?"

[Teri Napliotis]

"Yeah, we don't want to get preachy..."

[Gideon Rede]

"And I'll to keep my grouchiness to a minimum," Gideon said, "Seems only fair, eh?"

[Teri Napliotis]

"Deal!" she smiles.

[Gideon Rede]

"So have you been thinking about joining the teams?" Gideon asked trying to change the subject.

[Teri Napliotis]

"Oh goodness, no. We'd be no help at all."

[Gideon Rede]

"I think you underestimate yourself," Gideon said, "I certainly wouldn't want to be attacked by a swarm of locusts."

[Teri Napliotis]

"How's that going to stop anybody though?"

[Gideon Rede]

"Historically it's stopped quite a few things," Gideon said.

[Teri Napliotis]

"Well if you come across a villain who relies on crops or something we'd be happy to help."

[Gideon Rede]

"I'm not sure there are many villains who like being swarmed by stinging, and biting insects," Gideon said, "You could do some good."

[Teri Napliotis]

"Well if we can help we certainly will but most of the time we'd probably just get in the way and put ourselves in danger. We're kind of squishy."

[Gideon Rede]

"I certainly wasn't the most...durable X-Man during my time as one," Gideon said, "I managed be fairly effective despite that. Sometimes it's just about finding the niche you can fill on a team."

[Teri Napliotis]

"Maybe we'll bring it up with Professor McManus. Guess we don't know much about what fighting villains is like."

[Gideon Rede]

"It's not something you can really describe," Gideon said, "Each person experiences something entirely different when they fight super villains."

[Teri Napliotis]

"Well we want to help. We just don't want to get squashed."

[Gideon Rede]

"That's a real fear for anybody on the teams," Gideon said, "I certainly have ended up in the infirmary more than a few times. I don't think there was a mission where I didn't leave without a new scar or two, but that had more to do with me being reckless. I'm sure if any of the younger people saw the patchwork body I have they'd have serious second thoughts about joining up, eh."

[Teri Napliotis]

"A determined clap can't hurt you though." she says, slapping her hands together hard.

[Gideon Rede]

"Depends on who is doing the clapping, but I see your point," Gideon said.

[Teri Napliotis]

"Not that we can't spare a couple of us but... we're scared that if we lose too many of us we won't be able to put ourselves back together."

[Gideon Rede]

"The swarm doesn't regenerate over time, eh?" Gideon asked.

[Teri Napliotis]

"It does but... If you lost half of your soul, of 'you', then does that heal too?"

[Gideon Rede]

"I had not thought of it that way," Gideon said "Was thinking of it as losing a limb."

[Teri Napliotis]

"We'll try to help some other way instead." she smiles.

[Gideon Rede]

"The support team is rather under appreciated," Gideon said, "But necessary."