Pursuit of Justice (1x1 Mitheral and Industrial Lace)

[Mitheral]

Lori frowned behind her mask. “Not really. But I can check with my informant. He’s a bit of a conspiracy nut. His information is … spotty. It’s hard to explain. I’ve never met him. And yes, that makes me as nervous as you can imagine. I don’t even know how he found me. But I’ve gotten some good information from him. And when it comes to getting ahold of blueprints and old lost information, he’s as good as they get. I don’t even know how he digs his information up. I am guessing he goes old school and finds old pre-computer hardcopies.”


She looked up. “He once sent me some random numbers. I had no idea what they meant until today. One set of numbers was the coordinates to this base. All I tracked them down to was the bookstore upstairs.”


“Bookstore?!” John asked. “Uh … “


Lori looked at John. “Yes, that bookstore. William Bell was married to a French woman back in WW II. She died in military service and he inherited her vineyard. That vineyard passed on to the boy who now owns the bookstore. The family that manages the vineyards came to the US to attend Bell’s funeral. Apparently most of the profits from the vineyards have been siphoned away since the war to some classified project. I believe that project was Legion. I think Bell operated that submarine - and that that submarine was part of Legion.”


“Yeah, I have been wanting to get a closer look at that sub. I can’t see through its hull.” John admitted.


“Off subject, folks.” Kevin saw Antonella’s question being avoided.


Lori nodded. “All I can do is look into it. We need to set up a fiber optic line to the surface, set up a secured LAN, remote transmitters, so this place isn’t so cut off.”


Diana piped up. “It sounds and looks like Keiko is speaking. Ultrasonics? maybe some of you techs could engineer a voder unit that translated the frequencies of her speech and save on chalk?”


Matthew pulled three thick stacks of $100 bills from the bag he had used to get to the base and tossed them to Antonella. “Feel free to use that to buy information - or base supplies. I have plenty more.”


John nodded. “And I’ll go ahead and have your car ready tomorrow morning. It’ll be better than new.”


“Hopefully I’ll have information by tomorrow night. In fact, if you guys don’t mind I am going to fly out of here and send a request. The sooner I get him working on information, the better.” Lori suggested.


Kevin nodded. “Unless anyone objects, sure. You coming back? Tonight I mean.”


Lori nodded. “Yeah, I was just going to get things started.”


++++++++++


Lori showed back up several minutes later. “You won’t believe this but I got a message that said to check my messages. My voicemail is full. He filled it up with messages that just asked if I was there. He doesn’t do that unless there is something he thinks is important. And that usually means a lot of data waiting for me. And he has a habit of anticipating my requests. He may already know who Muerte is after.


“You know, I know a great asian restaurant - great sushi, thai, korean, japanese, and chinese. I mean that have a great menu - and for me that fix anything I ask for.” She looked at Keiko. “They would probably look the other way for you too. Though it would help to wear some sort of disguise. However, the restaurant is NOT secured. So we’ll want to stick to non shop talk.”


Kevin looked sharply at Antonella. There was a look of guilt in his eyes. “Uhm … yeah. Non shop talk sounds good. Wait.” He gestured up and down at Random Stranger. “Won’t that stand out?”


Lori nodded. “I’ll have to use a disguise. I normally only get delivery.”

 

[Industrial Lace]

"A random stranger for the Random Stranger; the tables turn." Feng said lightly to which Antonella laughed quietly and Charlotte lightly hit the asian girl.


"Because the P.I. will know exactly what the base needs." Antonella drawled sarcastically waving a wad of cash around. "Thanks John."


"I can help with that too. Wavelengths and all; if I focus enough I can possibly see Keiko speak." Charlotte offered ready to pull her weight around; per say. "If we can establish range, accent, dialects it'll be easy to know what the equipment needs."


"If John's ok with help might as well." Feng shrugged.


While everyone else talked over one another Antonella had a semblance of a pout beginning to form. Sure she she suggests a place and its all awol. Even then Random Stranger suggests food and its all cool? It did rake against her a bit She said something under her breath and Feng looked at Kevin.


"She says its living with her brothers all over. They're all alpha dominants; I served with the third brother, I have experience too." Feng said to which Antonella dtuck the tip of her tongue out. "Come on Tony he was going to find out."


"It's fine; we should focus on getting Keiko out there. Tail and stuff." Antonella cut in quickly keeping herself by Kevin's side.

 

[Mitheral]

Trial by Fire


Keiko ended up looking a little like Electro in Amazing Spiderman 2 by the time they were done. Her disguise was really only a robe with a hood. The hardest part was keeping her tail from giving her away. It seemed to have a mind of its own. But once they were all topside they had to figure out how to transport 9 people across town with a car that barely fitted 2 people and a second car seated 5. In the end Matthew and Lori made it easy by volunteering to fly. Keiko was willing to do so, but Matthew played the gentleman.


They couldn’t even make it across town several miles without trouble rearing its ugly head.


John Hughes noticed an unusual flash of light in the distance. As he dedicated a drone to zoom in on the suspicious flash he saw it was an old brick high hotel - the sort slumlords used to rent to the elderly and poor. Fires had begun to burn on several levels at once. There wasn't time to think. His mind turned to thoughts of arson - and all those people. Even if he didn’t know these new friends of his, he would have had to tried to do something. Dinner was going to have to wait.


Of course, noone really expected Antonella or her friends to really be involved in this. They were the “normal” people in the group. Even John was relatively normal. Talon balked as they approached the fire. She wanted nothing to do with this. There were no fire trucks or ambulances yet. Their sirens were still well off in the distance. People who had already managed to evacuate the building were starting to crowd into the streets. Onlookers were joining them. Some tried to help the victims who had made it out, but most just watched.


They say the worst thing to do in a fire is to run into a burning building to try to help. It only increases the chance of giving the fire another victim to claim. But then heroes take that risk.


A very different set of facts hit Kevin. “Guys, gather. Quick huddle time. Look, once we do this, things are going to change. Muerte is going to know we exist - as a group. I know it sounds corny, but we need disguises - all of us. John - uhm Feng? - can you to generate some sort of disguises - maybe reshape the scuba suit materials. I mean fast. I suggest we not stick around for the Press afterwards. Guys, Hydra’s people all have codenames. Any of you have any?”


Diana smiled, “Huntress.”


Matthew shrugged. “Shadowhawk, though that’s my real name just translated.”


Lori and Kevin already had codenames - Random Stranger and Dark Knight. Noone really considered Keiko, Feng, Charlotte or Antonella.


John seemed to think on the subject for a moment,then gave a grim smile. He touched his car and it transformed into a black muscle car with a golden bolt of lightning emblazoned on the hood. “My kid brother designed a logo for me to use, but I never adopted it. Maybe its time I did. Black Lightning.”


When they arrived, Dark Knight stopped in his tracks and surveyed the scene. Nearly 20 floors, 50 people per floor. Hell there could be a thousand people in the building. Even if 75% made it out they would never be able to evacuate them in time. He could see where people were bunched up and almost pushing one another out the fire exits. He glanced at the fallen fire escapes. THAT was the answer! The metal had to weigh tons. Even Keiko wasn't that strong. But ... a grim smile flashed across his face.


"John, I have an idea. You have a winch? Get ... your car ... in .. position. Let out slack. We'll figure out how to anchor it up there so you can pull the fire escapes up. Then ... we have to figure out a way ... to secure them … weld the fire escapes back so the people can evacuate. Huntress, Keiko, we are going to need cable - as heavy as you can get.”


"If you can get them in position Feng and I can weld them in place." He said gesturing at the metal of the fire escape. He didn't elaborate further.


Lori spoke up. “There will still be people cut off from the fire escapes. I’ll do a search and see if I can guide people to windows.”


Matthew nodded. “Dark Knight and I can take them from there.”

 

[Industrial Lace]

"Lottie..." Antonella whispered, adrenaline hunmed through her veins as Feng worked on one of the scuba suits.


"I see them; they're standing and having to inhale smoke than being low and breathe better. The fire originated on the.....eighteenth floor, fireplace. There are a couple of kids in there and elderly too." Charlotte reported her eyes busy at work. "The temp is also increasing and questioning integrity of some support beams it might trap people further in and force the building to collapse."


"Ok; all you supers listen up. Right now the most important thing is speed. But we can't be sloppy either. We have to open ventilation so they can breathe something other than smoke and die before we get there; that buys us time while John and Feng weld the escape ladder. Charlotte says that we are starting to have integrity problems so we should evacuate those floors first.


"When we go up there if we evacuate people from a room you close the door. It helps buying us time and keeping the fire concentrated into the room as we go on. Keep people as close to the floor as you can since that's where the air is. Also when you're leaving a room touch the door with the back of your hand. If its balls hot might be a fire on the other side and we don't want that to spread. Charlotte what floors do we have to worry on?" Antonella asjed Charlotte as feng passed a lodified scuba suit and Antonella stripped and got dressed a bit ontop of Kevin as he did so.


"The: 4th, 7th, 13th, 18th, and 20th floor." Charlotte answered having revealed she was wearing a costume, and took out a pair of shades to put on.


"Ok the fliers can concentrate on the higher levels; Keiko and Kevin can go to the mid levels. And I can concentrate on the lower levels at that. Does everyone understand the plan?" Antonella asked momentarily looving down at her 'costume' and smiling. It was a Navy blue with a division on the sides that had a scale pattern with lighter blues and taking over most part of her footie-pants. "Love it." She told Feng.


"As codenames go Charlotte is C0d3; I'm Tech and Tony for now can be Pisces. You know the fish." Feng told Antonella who shrugged.


"I don't care what they call me. So long as we get there in time." Antonella said honestly.

 

[Mitheral]

Kevin shook his head. “No! Keep the people headed for the fire escapes. They are headed that way already - probably bunching up there. Talon, Huntress, BL, stick to what I told you. Feng, with them like Antonella said. Keiko, you may need to give feng a lift to the top to secure the fire escape up there. It is basically just a big welding job. RS, scout duty. How fast can you scout a floor do you think? ”


“Little more than a minute to scout the whole building and start reporting the locations of any people trapped. At that speed though, I might miss small things.” Lori’s answer was almost immediate. “It’s only a mile and a half of distance to fly. Not my first fire.”


“Go now.” He turned to Keiko, John, Feng and Diana. “You four get started. We can evacuate a lot more people faster if we get those fire escapes up. There are probably over a thousand people in there. It won’t be spots of fire by the time we can get to them all otherwise. Go now.”


Both Antonella and Kevin had forgotten Matthew. “Uhm ...me? My shadow powers are useless here. And I don’t do well around fire. I do not have to use my demon form to fly though.”


Kevin hardly missed a beat. “Go help the fire escape crew. Once RS is done with her scouting run, help pull people off the roof and from windows. Go.”


He turned to Charlotte and Antonella. “Non flyers - so far we I know. Ground floor. Cod3. Command Post. Be ready to withdraw and report RS’ scout reports and our progress to the fire truck when they arrive.” He pulled his cloak off and draped it around Antonella. “Treated this for fire resistance. Better than that suit you are wearing. My body armor will handle some of the heat I’ll be going in with you. I don’t actually fly either. Priority will to clear the stairwells and elevator. I’ll handle the elevator if people are trapped. Let’s go”


By the time the ground floor crew got to the entry Lori was already calling off her reports.


Keiko flew back and forth, circling the inferno, unable or unwilling to get any closer than she had to. She remained nothing more than a black shadow. She had just finished dropping the second winch cable as Black Lightning, Huntress and Tech got set up to rebuild the second fire escape. Gratefully she put a little distance between her and the fire. It was taking all her mental reserves to keep her primal fear of flames in check. Shadowhawk moved in and lifted Tech to the top of the building and kept in contact, ready to evacuate her as soon as she was done.


Huntress had been taking the cable and lacing them through the top of the fire escape. The heat was stifling, but she seemed unaffected, even standing on the hot roof barefoot. The other end of the cables, of course, went down to Black Lightning, who attached them to his winch cables.


Black Knight got back into his car and began to pull in the slack. As the slack was fully drawn in the cables began to creak and groan, complaining about the stress being placed on them. Black Lightning had to be careful not to let his tires lose traction. Talon moved in and grabbed the lines to pull. This time Black Lightning’s car began to inch forward as what was probably over 40 tons of tempered steel moved back in position, the cables tightening like laces of a shoe. As soon as the rails made contact Tech was able to begin the repair process.


Elsewhere Lori, as Random Stranger simply phased through walls in search for anyone trapped in the fire. Anyone near the windows she airlifted down.


On the ground floor Dark Knight, Cod3 and Pieces soon discovered why most of the people couldn’t get out. The stairwell access at the bottom floor had been welded shut. The elevator cables were melted through the elevator had plummeted into the basement.

 

[Industrial Lace]

'This bitch!' Antonella thought with a gasp as she went against her primal instinct; beat the shit out of Kevin. Who did he think he was? She didn't spend years as a coast guard dealing with fire to be overlooked completely.


Feng shugged off to Antonella who had a poker face. She accepted help from Matthew on going to the roof. When dropped she measured how things looked and they were doable.


Charlotte nodded once but looked over to Antonella to see if she had anything else to say. A quick nod from Antonella and Charlotte was already already writing reports that could be sent within moments.


"Keep an eye on integrity; last thing we want is a collapse." Antonella told Charlotte who nodded appearing absent but actually deep in work.


Biding time with her anger Antonella focused more on the task at hand. Mainly on getting people out and helping some get out of shock.


"Beautiful." Feng said the moment the rails were up going straight to work. It was a bit difficult with her robotic arm; yet she didn't allow that to stop her. The second she finished welding she gave the allclear.


"Guy's Tech has just finished welding. The firefighters are also on their way; we have around eight to five minutes before they get here. There was an accident so they had to find a new route." Cod3 informed everyone using the burner phone as a speaker. Not directly tampering with it (for there was no need) just using it for her own benefit.


Reaching the stairwell Pisces tried to open it to feel that it didn't budge. Panic and adrenaline coursed through her as she tried to get it to move.


"Anyone there?" She asked pounding the door. It wasn't extremely hot so the fire hasn't really took hold inside.


"Help." A muffled voice said through the other side.


"That's what I'm here for, now how many are there?" Pisces asked keeping calm through a spider thread of patience.


"How many of what?" The voice asked.


"Of you gus behind the door?"


"Like...ten...fifteen....a lot." The voice returned and Pisces breathed deeply.


"Get as far away from the door as you can, it's welded shut. We can't open it normally." Pisces explained barking the order and hearing some shuffling.


Bracing herself she began to push to the door. It was stupid, and she was desperate but she had to try. She could hear very well....she hoped she was strong too. It wasn't working and it only pissed her off more. She didn't want to be the helpless human everyone looked over. She was better than that, more than that. Without even noticing what was around her, she slammed into the wall with both hands angrily water hitting the door with full force bending it a bit. Too focused to really notice she did it again, and again water ramming against the steel door and bending more with each push. In aggravation she hit it once more the door slamming open with no other choice. (used Enhanced Strength )


"Everyone ok?" Pices asked to which she did a quick sweep, there were a lot of people in there, twenty at most. "The building has structural problems, we can talk about it when we get out of here." She ordered; helping them get outside as fast as possible.


"Gus the feds will be here in mere minutes most. We have to pull away now." Cod3 told everyone seriously.

 

[Mitheral]

(Had one more part typed up. Shame not to use it… even though it conflicts a little with the timeline of the arrival of the police and emergency services. Yep, you guys will be rescuing dozens, hundreds … and below Keiko is about to rescue 2 and steal the show. At least she’s be drawing the attention off the rest of you while you pull out.)


Kevin watched as in a fit of anger and frustration - anger at both him and the fact that someone had so coldly welded a fire escape door shut and frustration at feeling helpless to do anything about it.


“Come on, you’re never going to break in a fire door. That’s hardened steel set with 6 inch long ¼ inch bolts. Even I couldn’t do it. All you’re going to do is hurt your --” He stopped as bolts of water began to spew from cracks, under doors, everywhere toward them. Antonella’s body was changing, becoming something … not human. She was become the very elemental form of water itself. And when enough water had gather she slammed into the door with so much force the hinges and new weld began to crack. With a sickening shriek the fire door gave way.


“Or that works,” Kevin said hoarsely. “Crap. Like I said. Turn into a water elemental and break the door down. Double crap. Remind me never to get you mad.” He ducked his head a little, half expecting a wave to slam into him next.


+++++++++++++


Keiko started hearing screams of a pair of young children, a boy and a girl. They had made it to a window and were screaming and pounding on it. The boy looked a little older - perhaps 7 - and the girl maybe 5. They were clearly terrified. Down below a woman in the crowd was panicking and looking up screaming and trying to get the attention of the firemen and pointing. The woman looked like her head had caught on fire. It was filled with curlers and covered in a blanket. She wore a robe and slippers. She had been downstairs complaining to the manager at the time about a plumbing problem.


Keiko was in a quandary.


Random Stranger was further up the building and on the back side. She thought furiously trying to keep the primal fears from overtaking her. Maternal instincts, however, proved stronger than fears. And the scientist in her triumphed for a moment. She circled about and aimed her body toward a neighboring apartment window and burst through it.


Keiko felt panic well up inside her as she was suddenly overwhelmed by fire and smoke assaulting her senses. The only thing that focused her thoughts was the shrill screaming of the children. She focused on that and slammed right through drywall and into the room with the children. The children looked around to be confronted by a monster. They started to back away, but were far too slow as Talon scooped them up and wrapped her wings about them, backing through the holes she had made.


Pain wracked her body as burning debris fell on her. Animal instincts began to take over. Suddenly she was in the air and falling with the children. She barely had time to unfurl her wings to slow her fall, and then close them again to protect herself and the children from raining debris.


For the first time the crowd spotted the monster that had been flying about. A few of the sightseers recording the scene on their cell phones turned them on the creature. Talon unfurled her wings from about the children and began flailing about in pain, the skimpy one piece bathing suit she used for a costume on fire and burning away from her. Gone was all reason.


Police saw a monster and began to draw weapons. The crowd saw a monster and


started to draw back in fear - save for the children's mother who moved forward to gather her children. The children ran away from the monster toward their mother's waiting arms. The firefighters just saw Talon as someone on fire and turned their hoses on her. One started to move in with a fire blanket to cover her, and then balked when he got a better look.


Talon was initially knocked flat by the blast of water, but the comfort it brought reversed her descent into animal instincts. She stood up. Her back was in agony from the burns. Her bathing suit was falling off and she clutched at it protectively. As the firefighters turned the hose away she looked all about her, trying not to panic at the presence of the crowd. Then the mother steeled herself and took the fire blanket away from the fireman.


Timidly at first the mother stepped forward, leaving her children with the fireman. She held up the blanket, then took another couple steps. Finally, she spoke. Her voice was hoarse, but the people caught her words. "Thank you, wha-who..whoever you are."


Talon just stared. She had expected a panic, not thanks. In truth she had almost had her expectation fulfilled. Her scientist mind surged forth, encouraged by those simple words - Thank You - and she smiled. Slowly, haltingly, she tried to sign. She had only just started learning and found it frustrating. So she pointed at herself then at one claw, repeating the gesture.


The woman made a few guesses. "Claw? Nail ... Talon?" The third guess got a positive reaction and she repeated herself. "Talon? That's your name?" The woman slowing smiled. She offered the blanket for Keiko's modesty, and then took a chance and hugged the heroine.


Fire was starting to erupt from the top of the building. Keiko shot a glance up and spotted Huntress running along the edge of the building back toward the other end. Keiko pushed herself back and bowed slightly in Japanese fashion. Then she leapt into the air, shooting upwards toward Huntress.


Huntress read Talon's intent and suddenly leapt outward from the building as far as she could. Talon arched about and matched trajectory, snatching Huntress out of the sky. She then turned and descended on Black Lightning's position, dropping Huntress nearby. Huntress body was spotted with small burns and her whole body glistened with sweat.


Dark Knight glanced at Huntress asking if she was okay. She looked like she might be suffering from heat stroke and smoke inhalation. Keiko looked like she was in pain as well, clutching the fire blanket to her body. Then he looked at the curious crowd - and more importantly the police.


"We need to make ourselves scarce. We’ve already overstayed our welcome. That okay? Keiko?" He waited for her nod which she gave. She was in a surprisingly good mood despite the crowd and pain. Her face was perpetually fighting a tiny, shy grin. It had been her first public appearance and people hadn’t panicked. Well, the police had, but that had been kept under control. It could have gone so much worse. Kevin turned back to the rest. "Black Lightning, if you would, please drive Huntress out of here. Feng, could you make sure Talon gets a change of clothes please."


He looked at the fire. "They way that fire spread so fast - it had to have been set in many areas. I'll see what I can find in the way of security footage. Maybe we can figure out how and why. And we should look into any real estate concerns. You don't just torch a place like this for no reason."


Black Lightning frowned. “I might have something. Just a moment.” He went back to his car and sat in the driver seat for a few moments. Then he stepped back out carrying a flash drive. “I may have a recording of what happened here.” He reached out and offered it to Dark Knight. “I always have drones going -” he looked at Antonella, “ - which is why it is so easy for me to spot a tail.”

 

[Industrial Lace]

"Ok this is weird." Antonella whispered feeling nausea and trying to keep herself from emptying the contents of her stomach; or passing out. She kept herself appearing fine even though she was pale and looked about as worse as she felt.


"Come on girl; let's get you an outfit before we keep on." Feng told Keiko with a slight smile. "Then Tony can work on getting something for those burns."


"Drones sound fun." Antonella said with a shrug massaging her temples lightly. "Now let's go before I pass out and you have to drag me out." She requested.

 

[Mitheral]

The Visitor: Sequel to Trial By Fire


The man stood there staring at the short columns of buttons with illegible script beside them. The smell of delicious Chinese food filled his nostrils and his stomach rumbled. He reached up and for the 127th time rang the buzzer. Like the previous 126 times ... there was no response.


He was dressed on multiple layers of clothes, all a little too large. Atop his head was a bicycle crash helmet layered amply with aluminum foil as if he was expecting the possibility of an alien abduction. Over the helmet an oversized hood helped hold it on - and atop that a four foot long toboggan. He reeked of not having bathed in a week or more, plus the stench of what smelled like he had shared a stall with pigs or cows - literally.


A small group of young men saw him standing there as he had been standing there all night. One of them grinned and started to lead the rest over to have a little fun. When they got there he picked up a small rock and bounced it off his helmet. "Hey there, you lost?"


The man never looked at the man. Instead he rocked a little agitated and stared off into infinity. "No."


"Well, you gots a name?" the loud man asked.


The man became a little more agitated. But he did respond. "Have a name. So do you." He reached up and pressed the buzzer again. Again no response. "Have to go now." He started to walk down the steps but found his progress impeded.


"You too good to look me in the eyes?" The thug raised his voice.


"Have to go now," the raggedy man repeated himself. But the only acknowledgment he received was being shoved. When he bounced against another of the thugs they shoved him back to thug number one. And that got him shoved back again like a pinball stuck between a few bumpers.


(OOC: Yep, just a small group of bullies.)


“That’s our stop,” Lori announced. The bullies had picked the front of the very Asian / sushi restaurant Lori had been bringing them to. Of course, the reason she had chosen the location was because she leased the floor above - where her wheelchair awaited. It was the only way she could really join them to eat.


Yes, there was a gang of youths toying with a man who appeared to be... wearing a bicycle helmet? Wrapped in aluminum foil? She had no idea why they were accosting the guy, nor did she recognize the mystery man. But she did know that the youths might get a lot more violent at any moment, without warning.


In the aftermath of the fire Black Lightning had made certain to distance himself from the cameras and cellphones that had caught the female creature that had saved those kids. It wasn't that he feared being known. Far from it but he wanted to keep a low profile at least from a particular audience, such as local authorities. Not that he didn't trust them. Well he didn't really. But he would have worked with them - had his after hours activities been entirely above board. There were things he had done in the interest of finding certain individuals that he wasn't all that proud of. At least law enforcement didn't know who he was. If they did, things could get complicated.


He had debated whether or not to give his drone's video evidence to the other 'heroes'. But in the end it seemed smarter to utilize their skills rather than keep the information to himself. It wasn't as though he was an expert on forensics. Sure he would have tried his best but he would have come up with less than the others could.

 

[Industrial Lace]

Antonella was leaning a bit on Kevin and was fine until she saw the bullies. With a light groan she moved over to then with Feng trailing behind, just in case. "Hello, 'scuse me boys. You don't know me, I don't care about you...and on any other day I would just let you guys continue on. But today's a bad day and I'm not in a good move; me and my friends want to eat and you're blocking us with your false show of male bravado and a game of 'i have the bigger penis so I can bully people off'. Or if this is to compensate I don't care. Scram before I remove you from here personally; and leave the guy alone." Antonella said with no notion on playing around and cutting straight for business.


"Mr. Brady sir; I'd try to stop her before she hurts someone. It seems that she's still developing and pretty unstable. Also when she is mad she believes in no one. I'm mostly saying this for sake of our cover; we wouldn't want her going all aquatic again." Charlotte said knowing better than to go against Antonella when she is potentially dangerous.

 

[Mitheral]

Lori's approach had been to drift over her apartment building then straight through it and out the front side right through her living room window - a mere one floor up - then down and through to the ground floor where she reached through the front door - without opening it and pulled Clarence away from the gangbangers a step or two.


Kevin looked over at Charlotte. He had stepped out of the car, but Antonella’s anger had been enough that he was a little afraid to get in her way at the moment. He really didn’t want to have a fight with her - normal or metahuman made no difference. “You think so?” He didn’t wait for an answer. He moved on in. For a change he used his head and pulled out his CSI badge on its strap and made it visible. He could only hope the gang wouldn’t want the trouble that went with messing with a cop - even though he wasn’t actually a cop.


Matthew had looked over at Keiko and deepened his voice. “Well, I guess I should be all macho and go help Kevin get into more trouble.”


John and Diana were having trouble getting parked. Diana stepped out to go make sure things weren’t about to get out of hand.


Thug 1 made a simple mistake of looking Antonella up and down while Kevin was still approaching, then started to reach down to pat her on the rear. “Chill mama. We’re just having a little fun.” Thug 2 the next closest stepped forward seeing Kevin’s approach.


“We have a problem he--re?” Kevin asked, trying to sound official, his voice breaking on the last word. “Yep,” he winced inwardly.


Thug 3 collapsed twitching as a purple costumed hand holding a hand taser vanished through the wall. Thug 4 looked at the guy in disbelief as the hand reached through again and gave him the same treatment and vanished.


Thug 2 looked back to where his friends had just collapsed and patted Thug 1 on the shoulder. Thug 1 looked back at the raggedy man who just smiled innocently. “I have to go.”


Kevin’s voice was cold as he eyed the men. "Take the trash with you." He looked at the offending hand. “Move that or lose it.”


The gang grabbed their fallen friends and helped them to their feet and started leading / carrying them away. Once the heroes were satisfied the rancid autistic man was safe, they turned their attention back to him.


"I have to go now," Clarence repeated himself.


Diana grimaced. Her sense of smell was heightened enough that she could smell emotional states. But even normal senses would have blanched. The man positively reeked, but she politely responded. "You're safe now. Are you lost?"


"No, I have to go now." This time the man actually looked directly at Diana. Then he smiled uncomfortably. "Really bad."


Diana did a double take. "Oh crap! You mean you have to GO!"


The door at the top of the steps was the exterior door to her apartment building. But as Random Stranger, she couldn't very well just open the door. She looked at the other heroes.


The man moved to hit the buzzer again. Lori didn't try to stop him. Rather she let him go, stuck her head through the wall and nodded at the others. She had been afraid of this. Now she was torn between revealing her identity and leaving the man stranded on the front porch. In the end the fears of the scene drawing attention forced her to make her choice. She took to the sky and vanished over the building. A few moments later her voice came from the speaker. "Hello?"


"Hi Lori!" the man smiled angelically. "I'm here!"


Lori hit the security code to let the man in. "Come on in. All of you. It’s … me." She held up the hand taser. While she wasn't thrilled with this - and had no idea who the guy was, she didn't want to leave him on the streets. By the time everyone made it up, she had transformed back into Lori Stevens - bound again to her wheelchair. She met the group at the door to her apartment.


Lori’s apartment was a cluttered mess. There were stacks of magazines, newspapers, books, CD's. There were over a dozen widescreen LCD computer screens daisy chained around the room. It was like a miniature NASA Control center. Her tastes in reading material ranged from fact to classic literature. There was also a weight set and exercise machines. It looked as though she hardly ever left her apartment.


At least Clarence didn't mess his britches. He must have been holding it quite a while though. While he was busy Lori asked him if he would like some Chinese food. That elicited an audible rumble from his stomach she could hear through the door. She took that as a yes and asked him what he liked to eat. The funny thing was that he ordered by item number. He already knew the menu. Oddly that didn't seem so surprising. Then he asked for a soda - Dr Pepper. The look on his face was priceless when he started to gulp it down.


Lori asked the rest what they would like to eat - if anything - her treat. She clearly wasn't used to having company. Dark Knight and Talon had eaten earlier, but Lori convinced them with an offer of sushi. Next item on Lori's agenda was to get the man a change of clothes. The problem was she didn't know how to approach the subject discretely.


"Uhm ... is there anyone we should call to let them know you are alright?" Lori asked the man.


The man froze at the question. His eyes immediately strained to avoid everyone else's.


Again she took that as a yes. "Who's your best friend?"


This time the man grinned foolishly. "I don't know." Lori was about to try again, but he continued. "Jake always has my six. Sybil's nice - 'cept when she's mad at me for borrowing things. Simon is okay. Janice tries to make me take too much medicine. I don't like medicine."


Lori nodded. She was getting somewhere at least. "Did they give you a number to call in case you got lost or ran into trouble?"


"Oh, I never get lost." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a rolled up wad of toilet paper. "See?" Everyone saw that it was covered with scribbled mathematical symbols. It says I am right here."


Lori held it up. She had never seen math like this. It looked like something taught at levels far beyond anything she had ever studied. For that matter, no one really quite knew the math, except to say it looked like it could be genuine - some sort of advanced physics. “Simon can understand it - kinda. Sybill is the only one who really understands it."


"So ... who would you call?" Lori had almost forgot to ask again.


"Jake. He's cool. He has a pickup. He lets me drive sometimes. But I'm not supposed to tell anyone - especially Janice."


"And his phone number is?" Lori hinted strongly, half doubting that would be enough.


But the man reached into another pocket and pulled out a laminated business card. It read: "My name is ########## #####. If I am lost or in trouble please call and ask for Jake Iverson. Thank you." The part that had the man's name was blacked out. Below it was written John Smith. And of course there was a phone number.


Kevin broke into the conversation. "Excuse me... John? Did you come here specifically to talk to Lori? And if so, what about?"


The man looked at Kevin confused. Then he looked behind him and then back at Kevin. Almost comically he reached out and grabbed the hero gently. "You should see a doctor. I don't see anyone behind me. Who's John?"


Lori turned aside and picked up her Secured Sat phone and started to call the number on the card. After a few rings there was a bleary response.


"Hello?" It was a man's voice. Jake looked at his alarm clock and groaned. _Damn! Do they realize what time it is?_


As if Lori could read the man's mind she said, "I'm sorry about the time,but I thought this call couldn't wait. Is this Jake? I got this number off of a business card of a John Smith."


THAT woke him up! "Where is he? What's he done now?" Jake's voice was urgent and concerned, but also slightly annoyed.


Lori was shaking her head. "Oh he's fine. Uhm, this is Brooklyn ... New York."


There was silence on the other end of the line, then a low delirious laughter. _I'm gonna kill him._ Finally Jake sighed. "I see. Has he been any trouble.?"


"Oh not at all. Just a very big surprise. Uhm, is John his real name?"


"Nnnoo. And he terrified of any connection to the internet, mirrors, crowds, being alone, alien abductions, hospitals, needles, police, military, open spaces. No serious allergies, but he should not be allowed caffeine. He's manic-depressive and a conspiracy nut. He'd also freak if you say his name anywhere near a microphone. Ask him to write it down for you. He'll eat the paper after he does. He's been off meds for three days. Personally I don't think he needs them as much as his doctor thinks, but it does make him more manageable. "Now not to be indelicate, but does he reek?"


Lori chuckled at the last question. "Well, we aren't crying for no reason?"


"Why are you sad?" Clarence asked.


Jake and Lori exchanged laughs. Jake continued. "I'm sorry about that. Can you put me on a speaker phone?" He waited while Lori made his voice audible throughout the room.


"Hey Buddy!" Jake used a friendly tone. "You gave us a bit of a scare taking off like that."


"Hey Jake!" Clarence beamed innocently.


"Put the Dr Pepper down NOW or I am telling Sybill!" Jake's voice was suddenly stern. Clarence's eyes widened and he put the soda pop down instantly a guilty look on his face. "You know you made Sybill cry?"


"I-I'm sorry." Clarence responded.


"Bud, you can't just say sorry every time and everything is just okay. She's also mad. You ... borrowed something from her lab again. And, what the hell did you do with 6 rolls of aluminum foil?"


"I didn't want to be alone. So I protected my friends." Clarence said this so matter of fact.


Jake suddenly busted up laughing. "Oh god. The bag of feed. Cows?" He laughed again. "Well, that was very generous of you. I bet the aliens will never even find them. Caps for all of them?" Jake didn't have the heart to break it to his friend that the cattle were probably on their way to the slaughterhouse.


"Okay Buddy, time to go strip and go get a shower. Pronto. And you will wear whatever they give you to wear - no complaints. Behave ... and you can have half a cup of that Dr Pepper. And I won't tell Sybill. Move it!"


Clarence did not look happy. He refused to remove the helmet at first to wash his long shaggy hair. Kevin came up with a quick answer for that. He asked Lori if she had any aluminum foil and tacks. Then he went in and lined the shower stall with the foil making an "alien proof" shower. Clarence grinned and walked right in. Kevin told him to tie the helmet off through its strap with a towel.


As soon as the man got busy with the shower. Kevin started emptying the man's clothes into discrete bundles of knick knacks so he could take them and wash them.


Jake asked how he could reach them, explaining that he would make the drive to come pick the man up. Lori wasn't too thrilled at putting out her address and phone number for a stranger to use. She decided it would be best for her to call him each day, and make arrangements when he got closer. (He has to drive from Flaming Gorge, AZ - about 2000 miles.)

 

[Industrial Lace]

Antonella walked into Lori's flat and decided to get upside down trying to relax. She was against a wall using that to support herself. Quiet and seemingly uninterested as to what everyone did. Breathing deeply she attempted to relax counting backwards in spanish.


"Would you all like me to go out and buy some clothes? It'll be fast." Charlotte offered to the group. "A couple days worth in outfits."

 

[Mitheral]

Charlotte got a bunch of head shaking. Kevin had plenty of clothes - even if they weren’t especially imaginative. Matthew was pretty much the same. Lori was sitting in her own apartment. John was a little picky about his style as was Diana. Only Keiko would have liked the idea - except there wasn’t much she could actually wear.


Kevin left Clarence to wash himself and walked back into the room with a load of smelly clothes. “I’d burn these, but he might freak at the sudden change to his routine. I’m going to start these washing.” He glanced over at Antonella - who seemed to be a little on the antisocial side - which struck him as a red flag.


He considered asking her what was wrong, but decided against it. If she had a problem, she’d let him know. So he headed in and started the clothes washing. When he returned he walked over to her. “You did good today. I am guessing you are mad. If so, save the yelling until we are away from the guy in the shower. If it can’t wait, we can step outside.”

 

[Industrial Lace]

"It's no use to yell or give an opinion if you continue to coddle and step over me. From them I expect it; you? No I didn't expect that at all. I'm not a pathetic bimbo who couldn't find her way out of a problem. So you've been a super longer big whoop. I'm not a kid Kevin. Don't treat me like a girl." Antonella said already used to have been side stepped by her brothers before.


She just didn't really expect it from Kevin which frustrated her immensely. In her eyes she viewed herself on equal level with Kevin. Both were adults who were starting to get into a relarionship; but it started to feel like if she was sleeping with one of her brothers. That didn't sit well with her. And today wasn't the first time he side stepped her....not just Kevin but all of them. She was close to flipping everyone off and going to the closest gym with a pool until she destressed enough.

 

[Mitheral]

“You also tried to step over me today. I had already begun to lay out a plan. You tried to change it - sticking Keiko in a place where she was never going to cope and leaving her more visible to a crowd below. And searching 20 floors with four rows of 50 apartments on foot in a blazing inferno? I considered Random Stranger’s abilities. I thought of all of that in a tenth of a second. I think faster. I guess that’s an ability I take for granted. The other day - when the Feds were under fire, I scanned the situation and planned all that out in advance.


“And picking your friends place to have a meal, then telling them we needed a secure place to talk - without discussing it first was practically a slap in the face. You should have A: discussed it with your friends first - minus details; B: Discussed it with me second - minus details about friends. I’d have asked - because of the others here with us. But you pushed without regard to our safety or privacy.


“Now it isn’t that I think you are a bimbo. I know you can think. That’s why I ended the contract for your PI services. Yeah, I was trying to protect you then too. It isn’t as though I haven’t taken a few bullets in the back for you, is it? I didn’t tell you about --” he stopped and clamped his mouth shut. “I care Antonella. That’s why I …” He stopped and shook his head. “You ARE a girl. And I do not mean sissy. I mean every gut instinct is to protect you. That’s going to take time to unlearn.


“I am glad you’ve begun to discover powers. But until we have a better idea what they are and how dependable they are, I have got to treat you as a normal human. You may have noticed I wasn’t so worried a few minutes ago - except that you might hurt that gang a little more than needed. We ought to start working on that tomorrow - try to figure out what you can do. I’ll handle it a lot better once we do.


“I really am sorry. I hope you can have a little patience with me.”

 

[Industrial Lace]

"Tony don't mope since you aren't leader like back with the old squad." Charlotte spoke up going over to Antonella and bending her legs forcing her into a different position.


"I'm not mopey." Antonella said as she bent more and more.


"You are, Tony you manage and bark orders, and instigate and dive first into things. You think sadly with human capabilities right now. You went tackling as if the building was a cruise or a yacht, not a building." Charlotte told Antonella and noticed that Antonella was bending at very steep angles. "You fine doll?"


"No....I don't like it when your right. Sorry." Antonella said with a sigh.


"I mean your back." Charlotte corrected.


"That's fine." Antonella said absently. "Sorry Kevin, if my ass wasn't by my chin I would've kisses you. But seriously, don't be like one of my brothers r it'll get weirdreal fast."


"OK you have the spine of a snake now. You always did yoga but this is stupid." Charlotte shook her head


"New meaning to kiss my ass then." Antonella said with a small shrug which looked off.

 

[Mitheral]

Kevin could sense that he had said enough to calm things down a little - and had the good sense not to push his luck lest his mouth get him into more trouble. Charlotte had hit on one point that he had avoided - that it had been a building. when it came to building fires he DID have a great deal more experience. He had investigated crime scenes where bodies had been found in fires. He understood human behavior in a fire - more than he cared to. The closest thing to a building on the seas was a cruise ship. And fires on those that got out of control were pretty rare.


Kevin did his own handstand - one handed - showing off just a little. But his other hand reached out to touch Antonella’s cheek. Then he leaned in and kissed her other cheek - not the one on her face. “Did I get that backwards?” he teased.


In the other room the water from the shower cut off. It seemed a little soon. Kevin looked at Antonella with a mild amusement. He raised his voice so that it would carry to Clarence’s ears. “Did you wash behind your ears? No more of that Dr Pepper until you do.” The water started up again. He smiled. “I may have a knack for this.”


With having had to reveal her address to the rest of the group, Lori decided to just order delivery. It came as no surprise when she ordered in fluent Mandarin. Her native accent didn’t sound quite American either - also no surprise - more like South African. She had nearly lost her accent, but it showed up on rare occasions.


Once everyone was finally eating and enjoying their food, Lori asked for the flash drive from John’s drone. Charlotte could tell Lori was scanning the drive first for malware. she could have told her that it was safe, but Lori seemed paranoid. She could also have read the drive for everyone without risking a computer. But there was really no need.


The enhanced digital video provided by Black Lightning resulted in the start of a new line of investigation. The first thing they spotted was the exodus of Hellburner. He had burst into flames about the 10th floor. Then he had flown through the building spreading the fire and shot out the side at the 18th floor. So they backed the tape up a bit to see if they could spot his arrival.


Unfortunately he and the others must have entered on street level. What they did find was the exodus of Iron Man and Scorpia less than a minute before Hellburner burst into flames. Iron Man had carried Scorpia at his side. But over his opposite shoulder he carried the body of a small human shaped form. The body appeared to be dressed in a biohazard suit. It was the same apartment Hellburner had burst into flames in. Perhaps it was a trap for someone who knew the victim they were carrying. Perhaps the victim was incubating some deadly virus. At the very least the fire had served as a distraction and to destroy a lot of evidence.


“Save the girl; save the world,” Clarence spoke up. There was a haunted look in his eyes. He started to rock back and forth a little, clearly agitated. His eyes started to dart around and his face paled a little.


“Who?” Lori asked. “Who is she?”


“Who?” Clarence didn’t seem to understand the question. Then he started to babble some numbers over and over again.


To most of the group the numbers made no sense. To Kevin the numbers were obvious. It took Antonella only slightly longer to recognize them. The first part of the numbers she recognized was a badge number. After that she recognized another set of numbers as a police report number. The number sounded a few years old.


Lori apparently recognized the numbers as well, for she started a quick search and came up with the report. The file had been listed under domestic abuse. It was about a teenager, Janice Mueller, who had been fleeing a man with a gun - her father - when a black and white had been out on patrol. The man had flashed his gun at the police - with predictable consequences.


Janice’s first stroke of luck had been when her angry father had chased her down the street right in front of a squad car and flashed his gun at them right in their headlights. She had returned home later to her brother, Jake. Her mother had been so stoned she couldn't even understand what had happened. When her father had made his one phone call, Janice had answered, but didn't speak. She just hung up. At that time she was 15 and terrified of losing her brother. She managed to dress up like her mother - who her father said she reminded him so much of - and tried to make bail. But he had shot at a cop. He hadn't even hit the cop. But it was enough for the judge to deny bail in light of past offenses.


She never even showed up at her father's trial. It wouldn't be the last time Janice used her mother's name. It was how she handled the landlords. She had turned tricks with the man to buy a little time. So long as the place remained under her mother's name, she had a place for her brother to live. She couldn't file for emancipation, because as herself she couldn't handle her brother's medical bills legally. Neither could she get her real mother into a courtroom.


++++++++++++


“Who is she? I’m a little confused.” Kevin asked.


Clarence had a response as soon as Kevin even looked at him, his head snapping around in his direction. "Yearbook." Then a haunted look came over his face as he rocked a little agitated again. His eyes darted about as if he was seeing things no one else could. "Save the boy; save the world." Then he turned and walked over to the fortune cookies that came with the Chinese food. He reached down and picked one up, cracked it open.


"Muerte wants him." Clarence held up the tiny strip of paper that read: *You will make a new friend.* "You have to stop her."


Clarence had said that Muerte wanted 'him' and that they had to stop 'her'. Was 'him' the boy, now about 13 years old? And who was 'her'? The daughter? The mother? Someone else?


Lori had the same burning questions as did the others. Who were her and him? It was as if Clarence’s mind was on fire and he couldn’t express himself adequately. “Clarence,” she started. By now they had at least gotten him to write his name for them. And this half confirmed that he was the mysterious informant, CJ. “Who is her? The girl Janice Mueller or her mother?”


“Yes,” Clarence nodded.


Lori winced. But patiently tried again. She pulled over a copy of the mother’s State ID. She had no driver’s license thanks to DUI’s. “Look carefully. Is this her we have to stop?”


Clarence studied the picture, nodded and grinned. “Yep.”


Lori held up the other picture, the one of Janice, the daughter. “Again, look carefully. Is *this* the her you mean?”


Clarence looked again and smiled. “Yep. That’s her.”


Lori’s shoulders sagged.


Dark Knight spoke up. “Clarence, are those two the same person?”


Clarence nodded. “Of course they are. Her mother would never have passed the drug testing to keep her children. And her handwriting is the same. But different from the marriage certificate.”


Lori slowly smiled in disbelief. “You mean, the teenager has been masquerading as her mother … for at least 3 years?” She thought about it. “That actually makes a little sense. Okay … now is her brother the him you meant?”


Clarence shook his head. “Nope. He wants *him*. Clarence held the tiny strip of paper from the fortune cookie.


Kevin actually gave a short laugh. He was usually very serious. But this time it was different. “He was looking at the *him*, not showing us. The numbers on the other side. Are those him?”


Clarence nodded. “Of course.”


“Does the man the numbers refer to have a name?” Kevin asked.


Clarence nodded and walked back over to the computer. This time he logged onto the University mainframe and began accessing old articles from two decades ago. The man had been a professor at the University – Dr Darwin Jackson. “Him.”

 

[Industrial Lace]

"No you got that right." Antonella replied with a chuckle as she got up.


With all on the video and the babble Clarence did it was hard for her to keep up. In layman's terms she was lost with all the back and forth. A couple things she got and she was thankful for that. She understood where the girl was comming from too. If she could've done what the girl did; she would have with no regrets. But they weren't judging the girls choices; it went far beyond that.


"Ok for the on3 that's lost and has no clue what half of this is. Someone might dumb it down?" Antonella asked really a bit lost.

 

[Mitheral]

Kevin chuckled. “You having trouble getting this too?” His hand went to his forehead as he tried to rub away the headache he was getting.


Lori scoffed. “And THIS was why I was going to ‘check with my informant and get back to you.’ It is always like this. I thought I mentioned he could be a little incoherent at times.”


“Little?” Kevin laughed helplessly. “Well, I managed to get a little of it.”


Clarence spoke up. “Jake speaks Clarence. Janice and Simon say so.”


John spoke up finally. “I’ve seen the girl before. She used to work at DeSimone’s as a dancer.”


Lori sighed. “Guys, give me a few minutes to organize.”


+++++++++++


It didn’t take Lori long before she called everyone over. “Okay, I’ll start with Janice and Jake Muhler. The story goes back a bit more than 3 years. More like 5-6 years. At that time Janice was entering early puberty. Her mother was a secretary and prostitute, with a drug addiction. Her father was a pimp, hustler and part time armed robber. Janice developed an immune deficiency disorder - similar to AIDS. Only it wasn’t HIV. She recovered a few years later, but not before her parents built up a tremendous set of medical expenses. To cover those expenses they had to go to loan sharks. Skip forward to 3 years ago. Her father gets shot and arrested for assaulting police officers. The status of her mother is confusing because of Janice assuming her mother’s identity to keep from being separated from her brother.


“Unless I miss my guess, both parents are now absent. About 2 years ago her brother developed the same sort of AIDS. It appears to be genetic. Janice has had to borrow larger and larger sums to keep up. She even pulled him out of the hospital and had a clean room built in their apartment. He’s been getting home schooled and has been doing very well. Incidentally Janice had top grades before she dropped out.


“Somehow she has been paying off loan sharks. Her mother apparently kept going to work as a secretary until recently. I suspect that that was really Janice. As herself Janice reported income as a hostess at DeSimones. I think that was to keep her brother from being taken away.


“I think I like this girl,” Lori observed. “She’s had it tough - way too tough.”


“Okay … as John said, she recently terminated her employment at DeSimones. How she is paying off the loan sharks is the real question. In fact, what she did to make enough money before is questionable. Now she IS of Australian birth. Her parents immigrated. Janice is naturalized. We know that Muerte recently acquired an Australian thief. Considering that Janice managed to disguise herself as her mother for years, it seems reasonable to assume she could disguise herself as a male. Muerte certainly has the funds to pay off some loan sharks. He may have bought her loan out.


“What we do not know is what would make an 18 year old thief interest a metahuman archvillain? We do know that Muerte may be planning to break out an insane mad scientist. That brings us to Dr Darwin Jackson.


“Dr Jackson was a prodigy who worked for DARPA during the 1960’s. His specialties in science were archaeology, paleoarchaeology, microbiology, neurophysiology, biophysics, physics, and fringe sciences. He spent time at Granite Peak - what we know as Area 51 - probably involved in bioweaponry.


“Fast forward to twenty years ago. Dr Jackson went mad and killed a lab assistant. Then he killed a Dr Gordon and his wife at a research installation. The reports are pretty sketchy. But DARPA had their fingers in the investigation. Dr Jackson was placed in the max security prison. The number on that fortune cookie slip of paper is his prisoner ID.


“So why would Muerte want Dr Jackson? Well, we know that Muerte is highly interested in biowarfare. But I have a working theory. And I think this is tied into why Clarence said Save the Girl and save the boy. If we save Janice, we can prevent her from springing Dr Jackson from prison. But why save Jake Muhler - except to help Janice? As I said, I have a working theory.


“Jake is extremely susceptible to infection. He would make an ideal host for a disease. His DNA might also be used as a catalyst to make an infectious agent that could spread an otherwise low contagion infection. In short, Muerte may be planning to use Jake as a bioweapon. And he may be planning to use Dr Jackson to get that job done.”


“Questions?” Lori asked.

 

[Industrial Lace]

"That makes a heck of a lot more sense....no offense." Antonella said nodding her head as she listened to everything. "So to save the girl we have to save the kid. Said kid is a sponge who is zero defenses away and can be knocked over by the sniffles. But since he's like that he's a blank canvas for the crazy scientist who can work on the kid and turn him into a bio-ticking-time-bomb. The Ausie girl has no choice but to follow Professor bogus unless her brother gets hurt."


"That's a walk in a park." She groaned with mild sarcasm. Humans....normal humans were a lot easier to deal with. They wanted something and had a crappy way of getting it. But it wasn't the type of Saruman evil she was learning about the supers had to deal with. 'Talk about thankless job', she thought to herself.

 

[Mitheral]

Kevin frowned. He seemed to stare off into nothing for several long moments as he concentrated on a solution to the problem before him - them. “To save the girl, we have to save the kid. But … to save the kid, we need to find the girl.”


“You basic Catch 22 scenario,” John commented.


Lori shook her head. “No … not really. Maybe. She wasn’t in the fire - unless they decided they didn’t need her. I really don’t see why they would. But let me see if I can find her. If she wasn’t in the fire, odds are she knows about it by now. That means Muerte will be contacting her soon if he hasn’t already. We need to find her before she does help him.”


“What then?” Diana asked. “She is still stuck between a rock and a hard place.”


“Lori frowned and shrugged. “There I am stumped.”


Matthew spoke up. “Trade for the kid. They want Dr Jackson? WE get Dr Jackson. Then we set up a trade.”


Kevin huffed up a little. THAT was … ugh. He did NOT like that idea. “Uhm … if we do that we take a huge risk. First things first. Let’s find the girl. By the time we do, maybe we’ll have better ideas. But everyone needs to decide. It has to be unanimous. We’d be helping a prisoner to escape. There is one other option I see, but it is unlikely we’d convince anyone. We could ASK to break him out. I just don’t see the authorities agreeing to it.”

 

[Industrial Lace]

"Yeah Matthew that would work wonders. Let's bust out the crazy doc who was going to do the disease and trade him off for the sweet kid who is a loving Petrie dish. That would work wonders because its not like once they have the crazy doc they can just continue off with their plan on a huge bioweapon and they just find another vessel." Antonella said sarcastically to Matthew the idea was ludicrous.


"Ask to break them out?" Feng repeated to then snap her fingers at Antonella. "Tony! You can ask!"


"Me? Ask to bust out a lunatic? What do I shake my ass to the guards and they'll say: sure go ahead." Antonella said with dry humor.


"No you dumbass; your sweet brother Yoandy; the ex green barrette sniper; who is in the government." Feng said appauld that Antonella hadn't thought of that.


"You bat your eyes at him and you can convince him to a relocation and they would listen to your brother." Charlotte added.


"What do I tell him: hey bro, I need to bust out this guy to stop him from making a bioweapon." Antonella said perky to rest her hands on her hips.


"You are a PI for a reason. Just say that you saw strange activity around here and it has led you to believe that that prisom isn't as secure anymore." Feng said with a shrug. "He always believes you."


"You can also take Mr. Brady with you. To smooth things along and since he works in CSI. More proof to back up. If you guys are up for it." Charlotte concluded.


"Its not like we can infiltrate Professor Muerte's crew we'd be dead and fast if we do one misstep." Feng added.

 

[Mitheral]

John had been mulling over an idea. “Guys, I might have an idea. I don’t like my idea, but … well..” He seemed to fidget.


Lori heaved a sigh. They weren’t listening. “Kevin is right. Priority one is the girl. I need to do that now … like right now. I need you people to watch my body while I am searching. I’ll be in a coma … I think. I’m not entirely sure what is actually happening to my body when I am away.”


“What?” Kevin asked. “What do you - “


“Later! Searches are a matter of time - growing geometrically. Her brother was at a fire. Where would she go first? Home. What happens next? Muerte calls. Then …? In other words we need to get to before THEN. And the answer to you question is one I can give later.”


Lori sat back in her wheelchair and went limp. In moments her features paled. Charlotte could just barely sense Lori’s ectoplasmic presence for an instant. Then she was gone.


Matthew walked over and smiled, checking her pulse. “Very slow. Not really a coma. She’s out of body. Neat.”


Kevin was silent for a moment. He didn’t like being snapped at, but she was right. “Out of body… So THAT’s how she gets all that info that isn’t on computers. She once told me she had her fingers on the pulse of the city. This is what she meant. John? What were you saying?”


John frowned. “Well, I might know someone who might know someone that would have the authority to do what we need. You know, I couldn’t see under the skin of that submarine at the base. I have never encountered a material like that. And the security of the hatch? I tried and it was shielded. I have an ability like Charlotte’s but a lot weaker. I use it with my car all the time. There is a way to completely shield a computer from her. That would be Tempest shielding. This one stopped me butt cold. Anyways, my point is that that base used to belong to Legion, right? That’s what it sounds like anyways.”


Kevin nodded. “It looks a lot like the one in the old comic books.”


“Uh huh, well the kid who owns the bookstore right above it says the previous owner had a very special Arlington Cemetery funeral - 21 guns, horse drawn, riderless horse, presidential presence, foreign representatives, Secret Service, and all. He was apparently a decorated Commander - even though he called himself a Chief Petty Officer. Is it just me, or does that sound like a spy? Now I have seen a guy show up there that looks a bit like one of the old comic book characters known as the Golden Avenger (the RP’s answer to Captain America) but in civilian ID.


“There’s more, but … I’m not sure I am comfortable talking about it. Really I can’t. But if you like I could call him and ask if we could speak. I know he’s just a kid…”


Kevin looked over at Lori’s body. “She might not like that. We should wait on her first --”


Lori’s eyes snapped open. “Found her! She’s on her way. And guess what, she is very definitely a metahuman. She IS Ricochet. She bounces and stretches. I offered her a chance for an alternative solution. Charlotte, she has two phones. One is a secured SAT phone. I will give you one guess as to who gave it to her - and it wasn’t me. She is freaked out. But she is desperate.” She looked at everyone, sensing discomfort. “What?”


Kevin laughed. “John wants to invite a friend over. Here. Now.”


Lori was easy to read. Anyone with even a modest ability to read people could read her like a book. “Who?”


“James Stevens,” John started. “He owns --.”


“The bookstore across from Momentum. Yes, I know.” She looked around obviously not happy with the idea.


“He knows Legion,” Clarence piped up. “And the scientist Demonicus killed was Pete Donnelly's brother, Dr Gordon. And the other scientist was a former girlfriend and and Dr Gordon’s wife. Dr Gordon was a superhero that was infected by Dark Matter. His wife was also the superhero - Psiren.”


Lori translated a little. “Demonicus was Dr Jackson.”


Clarence nodded. “Yup. Demonicus was an alien parasite that was imprisoned on Earth. Dr Jackson opened the vessel.”


Lori stared at Clarence. “Where did you get that?”


“Legion had a file on him a long time ago. One of the things they discovered when they searched Demonicus lair was the vessel. It is locked away in Area 51. I saw it. The writing was definitely alien. And it wasn’t the only one buried. There were hundreds. The one he opened was number 87.”


Kevin laughed with borderline hysteria, rubbing his forehead. “Guys! All great info. But Lori, decision. Can John call?”


Lori sighed, “Go ahead.” She was seriously starting to wonder about the future security of her apartment.


John punched in the number:


John: “Hello?


Jennifer: “Hello! Stevens residence.”


John: Who’s this?


Jennifer: “Me. Jennifer.”


John: “Oh! I didn’t recognize your voice on the phone. And you voice wasn’t slurred by sleep. James there? Hmm? Well, I wanted to … invite him to a seance. We could really use his help. We have a problem with a spirit.”


Jennifer: (Delighted laughter) “Oh … really? He might actually be interested. James? (brief pause, then James laughing in background.)


James: “Mr Hughes? James. Ghost problem huh? Sure. We’ll bring lots of salt.”


John: “Salt?”


James: “Yeah! You don’t watch Supernatural?”


John: “Uhm ….”


James: “I’ll be right over.”


John: Wait! Just a second”


John turned to Lori. “He’s going to need an address.” Lori nodded.


++++++++++++


James and Jennifer arrived within 1 minute of hanging up, buzzing to be let in. When they entered the room the pair looked around. Jennifer was wearing sunglasses - at night.


James looked at John. “So … who is this ghost we are exorcising?”

 

[Industrial Lace]

"That is fascinating." Charkotte spoke as she felt something from Lori before she left.


"OOB...like the mind separated from brain OOB thing?" Antonella asked curious.


"This is the part that seems like a comic book? Not like everything?" Antonella asked Kevin with a raised brow.


"I can start a search for the girl." Charlotte said as she sat down and zoned out her eyes looking around but not towards anyone in particular.


"The bookstore? Isn't that the boy with the burn." Antonella asked recalling the bookstore.


When James and Jennifer enter Antonella went over to greet them. "Hey there; you can ask John for that and Lottie is in her zone thing but she's not dead." She said perky extending her hand out.


"Miss Lori.....would you mind helping me a bit with the locating? I'm getting jumbled with signals; its jumping fast. Can I do a visual search? One that would allow you to see as well?" Charlotte asked Lori getting up from her spot and rubbing her eyes a bit.

 

[Mitheral]

James and Jennifer (They are only 18, so these pics are a little older, but it gives an idea what they are growing into.) FYI, the scalding has already nearly healed.


John hesitated. “Ghost … spirit. It’s a little tough to explain. Maybe I better start with an introduction.” He gestured across the room toward Keiko. “I don’t know if the videos have gone viral yet, but…”


James stared. “Oh … they have.” He nodded his head respectfully. “It is an honor to meet you Talon.” Oddly neither James, nor Jennifer reacted with any sort of alarm. He turned back to John, “So I take it this is that sort of ghost problem?”


“We could use the Ghostbusters.”


James laughed a little. “Yeah …” He caught sight of Clarence dressed in a robe supplied by Lori wearing the bike helmet lined with aluminum foil. “Riiight. Okaayy. John, I can tell you and half these people are a little hesitant to talk. But I can’t help you if I don’t know what the problem is.”


Diana started to speak up. As soon as she stepped forward, James’ view dropped, his eyes widened, and he instantly looked away, clearly sweating any reaction from Jennifer. Jennifer’s eyes narrowed, but she smiled a little. Clearly she wasn’t especially worried. She made a wrapping motion around her finger.


“Definitely,” he acknowledged Jennifer.


Diana was used to things like this by now and took it in stride. “We have a video for you to watch. Then we have a … client … coming.” She walked over to Lori. “The drone footage. Show it to him. It will explain part of our problem.”


James watched along with Jennifer. As they did they spoke quietly. “Iron Man and Scorpia. Hellburner. What a bastard.” He turned back to the rest. “Guys I am really sorry we didn’t get back here in time. We were in Boston. So you need our help with Muerte? I assume he’s back in town. Not his first visit. And he nearly killed us the other day. He shot our helicopter out of the sky with a couple drones.”


Jennifer frowned. “Nothing like being told to jump with a couple passengers - with no time for parachutes - half a mile in the air - and ‘work it out’ on the way down.”


James tried not to look guilty. “You worked it out. You even took out the drones and missile.”


Jennifer mouth scrunched up. “You know I don’t like heights as it is. I know, I know. I’m getting used to it.”


Kevin stared. “You just told your fiance to jump out of a helicopter under attack and to just work it out?”


James looked serious. “I trust her. I was too busy saving the rest. Sometimes you just have to have faith in others.”


Kevin looked at Antonella, then looked away. “I have a long ways to go.”


James smiled. “Four years ago, the best Jennifer could manage was to girl slap. And me? I was pretty good at being picked up and tossed in dumpsters by bullies. We didn’t learn overnight.”


+++++++++++++

Janice (Again an older image.)


The buzzer rang to announce the arrival of Janice Mueller. The first thing Lori did was wheel over and take her phones and place them in heavy foil bags. Janice’s mouth started to open with an objection, but she immediately nodded understanding.


Janice didn’t even know what Muerte wanted yet. She was supposed to just wait until he contacted her with instructions. She only knew there was something he wanted her to retrieve. He had further explained that he was going to cure Jake, not kill him. On the other hand his response to being questioned about the fire was simply that Hellburner was overzealous and would have to be chastised.


James listened and caught the gist of events, the plot as best the group knew it. Then they dropped the punchline about the thing Muerte wanting being the mad scientist Dr Darwin Jackson.


James smiled. “Well, I might have a solution. I know a few people who … uhm … know the President. And what is more, I know some people who might be able to help. But thing is, they don’t really like unknowns. They aren’t quite the government, but they are sponsored by them - I think. Actually they may be privately funded. I think I may even be funding them.


“They call themselves Legion.”