From the Private, Personal Diary of Noelle Frost

Dear Diary -

Back again. Got a call last week from Mom. Some kinda of accident up at Base Camp, and everything seemed ok, but she was going with Popsicle to the hospital in Reykjavik, and she just wanted me to know. Like she really thought I could hear that and just go about my business? As if.

I threw a couple of things in a bag and ran to the airport. Thank God I was able to take advantage of the Registered Hero discount airfare. I didn't even know there was such a thing. But I was able to get a flight to Iceland, and a few hours later, after what I must admit was a very comfortable flight in First Class, I touched down and took a car to the hospital, and ran to Dad's room.

God -- when I saw him, I didn't even stop to think that he might be hurt, or anything, just grabbed him and hugged and hugged him. Which, ok, may have been a bit of a surprise, seeing as how Mom and Dad both thought I was several thousand miles away in Paragon City, but they have doctors there to deal with shock, and everything was in fact ok.

More than ok. Which, on further thought, is a little weird, I guess. But then, I've seen weirder things.

Over food, Mom and Pops told me what happened. There had been an accident up at Base Camp a few days ago -- at one of the outlying stations where Dad was pulling up some ice cores and examining them. Some kind of reaction with the chemicals and the sample, and Popsicle had to high-tail it out of the building, which blew up behind him. I mean, kerplooie.

Luckily, no one else was in there with him. Which isn't any kind of protocol that I remember from up there, but whatever. I'm sure Dad had his reasons. And he was fine -- just a few cuts, scrapes, and bruises, nothing major. Mom only insisted on the trip south to a fully-staffed hospital because he'd been complaining about these headaches ever since, and she wanted to get him checked out.

And well, seems the doctors didn't find anything wrong, though they kept Pops overnight for further observation, just to be sure. Which I can only be grateful for -- I'd have hated to think I might have flown all the way over to Iceland only to miss them.

But everything seemed fine, and the doctors released Pops later that day. Since I was there, and Mom said everything was covered back up at Base Camp for a few days, we took a hotel in Reykjavik and spent a couple of days together.

And it was wonderful. I mean, so much has changed since I left the Circle, and I had so much to tell them! About my powers, and the Storm Knights, and my friends, and all. Especially Silver-Streak (though I saved the telling of that for Mom alone). We spent hours talking, and I showed them some of what I could do... I think I may have scared them a little, especially at first, when I showed them Jack and his sword, but by the time they had to get back up to Base Camp, they were so happy for me.

There's almost no signs in Iceland of the Rikti invasion, and at times, it all seemed so far away. Like my life in Paragon City was some kind of dream, or nightmare, or something, and all I wanted to do was jump back on the puddlejumper and return to Base Camp with my parents.

But I didn't, of course. I may be many things -- young, impulsive, crazily optimistic, a complusive shopper, maybe in love -- but I'm not a quitter. And I'm not done here. I don't know if I'll ever really be done. And that's fine. Who goes through life with a finish line in sight?

So, I flew back to the States and got home to PC late last night, slept in, and went out this afternoon and evening in the city to check in with some contacts. Got in a bit of trouble with some Thornies, but Mavra came down to Oranbega to help me out, and I returned the favor with some Freakshow she'd cornered in Dark Astoria.

And then -- I can't help grinning -- we hooked up with the Baron, Dark Neutron, Celt, Professor McLaren, and Silver-Streak. The Baron had word of some Devouring Earth dudes plotting, so we took to the sewers and put the kibosh on their plans. Heh -- plant plans.

Anyway, it was sort of the perfect welcome back. I only wish I'd had more time to spend with Streak. We just had time for a quick hello before things got hairy, and a quick goodbye when I had to run. Hopefully I'll have more time soon to spend with him, and the rest of the Knights.

And everyone else, too. I love my parents, but I'm looking forward to spending some quality time with my friends too. In fact, I just told Kinetica I'd help her with a patrol, so I guess I should sign off.

Until the next time,
Noelle