Progeny

One of the things that not having a voice does is to allow one the ability to be introspective without drawing attention.

During tonight's patrol, I found myself alone, sharing roof space with one of the many gargoyles that line the buildings downtown. I used to wonder why there were so many gargoyles in that area but the answer was revealed many years ago. Perhaps, one day, I will share it.

As I was saying... or rather, typing, I found myself surveying the city and instead of feeling alone, I felt comforted. There is something about my statue friends that calms me and I joined them in their silence. I thought about Orion, running around at street level chasing a pickpocket and wooing the women as he always does. I thought about Eclipse, patrolling the West end of the island.

And then... without warning, I thought about... a child.

I could suddenly see, in my mind's eye, this little "being". A tiny, blond, child, nestled against my chest, reaching up to grab at my mask... It felt so real I could almost smell his skin and feel the warmth of it.

And then I wondered. Is there a child lurking in Minute-Man's future? Yes, I know I've met Nano once before... but this child was not him. Is there more? Have I begun to feel the need to leave a legacy?

At just that moment the head snapped off the gargoyle I was leaning against and I found myself plummeting towards the sidewalk. Another typical end to an a-typical day...