[center][h2][color=7ea7d8]The Alice[/color][/h2][sub][b]Interacting with: [@Polyphemus] & [@GreenGoat][/b][/sub][/center] The sound of frantic scribbling was the only thing that could be heard in her room, the silence only amplifying what would have been an otherwise inaudible sound. Papers were strewn around haphazardly, organized in a way only the writer could understand by instinct. Charlotte poured over lists of contacts, recently printed documents detailing Japan's foreign policies as well as local ones. Every so often, she would print a new document and add it to the ever growing pile. Aida, for her part, helped her silently and with the efficiency of someone who'd done this job repetitively. [color=bc8dbf]"Mistress, [i]please[/i], you must rest."[/color] Aida pleaded once more, though she made no effort to stop her. Charlotte did little more than grunt in response. Her eyes were intense but unfocused, and evidence of drowsiness was shown unconcealed on her face. Cold sweat dripped down her forehead, and were wiped away before they fell any further. [color=7ea7d8]"I will rest later."[/color] If Aida had lips, she would have been biting on them hard enough to bleed. Instead, a bubble of frustration welled up inside her. Charlotte hadn't been able to go back to sleep, not while she was anxious for Red and the other's safety. Out of habit, she turned on the television sets again, much to Aida's regret; she would have been better off not having seen the news of the airports sudden bombing, the wild accusations coming from this new group "Phalanx" and the mass of public outcry. Now her mistress was stemming the tide that was shoring up against the Champions. She could do nothing for the fact that it occurred, but she could lessen the impact, and spread rumors confusing people of who was truly to blame. To that end, she was working on a plan to shift the blame from the Champions to Phalanx. It was rather impeccable timing after all. The Phalanx rapid response to the bombing of Nagoya airport was as suspect as it gets - they reacted almost immediately after the incident, and had enough to time to arrange a small presentation out of it. It made Charlotte suspect that something like this was planned for ahead of time. She had no concrete evidence, and there was a chance that she could be wrong, but even if she was, the concept was sound enough that it would make for an infectious rumor - exactly the kind she needed to remove the blame placed on the Champions [i]and[/i] active heroes. If opportunity arose, she would try to shift the blame of the Nagoya incident to them as well. So she began writing several articles under assumed names. Some of them would be posted online using an anonymous network to prevent tracing, while she would have others published as news articles in Japan itself. For that, she needed to take advantage of some old contacts. Finally, in order to spread the rumors more effectively . . . [color=gray]"We're ready to leave, Purr-incess~!"[/color] Dinah, along with Hatter on her head, and twenty rats assembled across her floor. Dinah, as usual, kept had a cavalier air about her, even while making puns. For his part, Hatter was as jittery as ever; she couldn't see an expression on him, him being a hat and all, but she could feel out how he generally felt. She liked to say it was "a mother thing", when asked by the others. As for the mice, same as usual. "Gogogogogo" "Wheeeeheeheeheeee~!" [b]"WHYCAN'TISTOPCRAWLING?!"[/b] "Oh my god you look like a cat!" Dinah shot a flat look at the mouse. [color=gray]"I [i]am [/i]a cat."[/color] "Really? I'm sorry, I kinda though you were a pig and all. You're so big . . ." Somehow, the completely innocent and frank manner this line was delivered in made it all the more insulting. Snatching the poor mice up by the tail, Dinah glared at it with piercing, green eyes. [color=gray]"What was that you little-?"[/color] She stooped as she caught Aida staring at her over Charlotte's shoulder. It was a stare that told her she was wasting her time, and more importantly, wasting [i]Charlotte's[/i] time. It was a stare that promised nothing good would come if she continued. It was a stare that promised nothing good even [i]if[/i] she stopped. It was also a stare that made her drop the rat, and slink back into line. [color=gray]"Mrr . . ."[/color] she purred, mollified. [color=7ea7d8]"There's been an incident in Japan,"[/color] began Charlotte as everyone settled down. She passed on notes to her children wheeled back to her desk. [color=7ea7d8]"A recent bombing of an airport followed by a sudden anti-hero propaganda has occurred, and public opinion is sure to shift into even more unfavorable light. We're going to keep that from happening. To that end, you will serve as my Intelligence and Counter-Intelligence in Japan. The duration of your operation will be four months, or until I recall you, understood."[/color] Nodding - or in Hatters case, spinning in place - in agreement, the group accepted the papers handed to them and browsed through it. Or, at least Dinah and Hatter did; the rats began chewing on them experimentally. Aida sighed in the background. [color=0054a6]"A'ight, I get the game now. We'll be back with results Lil' Mistress,"[/color] said Hatter after a moments pause. They left at dawn on a boat transporting goods to a toy shops in Japan, secured only an hour earlier. Once again, Charlotte was alone with Aida, and once again, too worried to sleep. She wheeled over to the T.V. and attempted to turn it on, before a hand stopped her. [color=7ea7d8]"Aida?"[/color] The normally expressionless mannequin seemed oddly . . . annoyed, with her, a feeling that was rarely on display. There was, however, another emotion she was feeling, and that was worry, and anxiety. [color=bc8dbf]"Please, Mistress, it's honestly time for you to [i]rest[/i],"[/color] she stressed the word, clapsing Charlotte's hands in between her own. Aida knelt down imploringly, and Charlotte realized how tired she felt all of a sudden. It was five in the morning already; she hadn't slept the whole day . . . [color=7ea7d8]"Very well, if you insist . . ."[/color] she said, feeling the full, sudden weight of her drowsiness come over her. She was asleep only a second later. Rather than wheel her back to her bed, Aida opted to carry her there instead, leaving the wheelchair behind. The mannequin tucked the waif of a girl back in, and lingered on, as if making sure that her dreams were pleasant. After arranging the scattered papers on her desk, Aida flicked off the lights, and closed the door gently, leaving without a sound. She mentally contacted all the members of her family that were away. Her message was short, simple, and by themselves held no malice, but the undercurrent of absolute rage in her voice was something that would given even the most hardened criminals a pause. In fact, the ones to receive her message did; it was a tone they very much disliked hearing. It was a tone filled with absolute loathing at the world, of someone who was content to watch it burn were it not for the one thing holding her back . . . [center][i][b][color=bc8dbf]"The mistress is finally asleep. Succeed at all costs. For her sake."[/color][/b][/i][hr] [color=ed1c24][u][center][b]Red the Teddy Knight[/b][/center][/u][/color][sub][b]Interacting with:[/b] ([@Sterling][@Iktomi][@RumikoOhara][@arca9][@DFTBA][@MrDidact][@dragonmancer][@EkkoRhodes] & [@GreenGoat] again)[/sub][/center] [color=8882be]"Wew, that lady is something else. You know, she terrifies me [i]tons[/i] more than Jabberwocky. Really."[/color] Red nodded in agreement. Unlike Vorpal and the others, he was used to Aida's rage, no matter how well hidden it was, and though she never displayed it in full around Charlotte, it was impossible that she wasn't aware of it as well, even if she never brought it up. Aida was the first among them, as well as the most devoted. He was sure, that when push came to shove, she wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice the entire human race if it meant Charlotte would be happy. In the end, that was all they really wanted, her happiness, but it was ironic that the most major blockade to that from happening was Charlotte herself. The girl was too stubborn, and her sense of justice too strong, to simply leave heroism to die and attempt to find happiness in a normal life. It was a paradox that caused them no end of suffering - for Charlotte to find happiness, she must abandon heroism, but if she were to abandon heroes, she would never be happy. It was in this way that both he and Aida had developed a deep rage inside of them, however, whereas he was content to direct that rage towards heroes, Aida had more then enough to [i]consume the whole world[/i]. So yes, she was frightening. He had no idea how she could hold that much hatred and still remain as silent as she was. Right now, he and Vorpal were alone in a rented apartment. It had been difficult to get past them while hiding his face, but they had managed. Her mistress informed them of the Champion's most likely destination, and immediately after touching down on a private runway, they booked a ride to Andamooka, hours ahead of their marks. [color=ed1c24]"In any case, Cheshire, what's your status?"[/color] [color=662d91]"Green and clean, O Great Red One, the information the Missee relayed to us was on point, as always,"[/color] replied the cat. Right now, he was invisible and right across him was a good old Mexican standoff: The Champions on one side, a gang of motor riding hoodlums and Tinhead Ned on the others. For all that he could easily get caught in the crossfire, the cat was entirely nonchalant, and even seemed amused by the turn of affairs. [color=662d91]"What kind of a name is Tinhead anyway,"[/color] he muttered under his breath. [color=662d91]"Utterly classless, truly and utterly classless. Why, if I didn't know any better I'd say-"[/color] [color=ed1c24]"Chesire, focus."[/color] [color=662d91]"Yes yes. Anyway, from what I can see . . . we have the venerable Gant d'Argent, the absolutely succulent Eve, and the ever smooth-skinned Friction representing the Champions in this sordid affair. Not a bad turn out I'd say - among the Champion's they're fairly level-headed. Friction is in charge of their PR as well, so she should be more than open to discussion."[/color] Red nodded in agreement. [color=ed1c24]"And their opponents?"[/color] [color=662d91]"A gang of thugs and Tinhead Ned. They aren't allied though, and there's even a rather high degree of animosity between them open for display, I reckon that we have ourselves a good old three-way punch out- Wait, incoming!"[/color] Cheshire's connection with Red cut at that moment as the Cat avoided a hail of bullets. Battle had begun, and soon it devovled into a chaotic royal rumble. Soon after, a fourth party entered the fray and began targeting the Champions clear as day. Cheshire narrowed his eyes. He see extra gunfire, but not the source. Which meant whoever they were, they were nowhere close by. [color=662d91]"Sorry about that Red,"[/color] said Cheshire, reestablishing contact immediately. [color=662d91]"Fight's broke out, and a new player's just slotted a coin and issued the Champions a challenge. I don't know who this one is, but they've got to be using some long ranged balistics here, since I can't see them. I'm looking at the trajectory of the bullets though, and their coming from the town!"[/color] Back in his apartment, Red nodded silently. They were here to observe, and as much as possible, they should avoid contact until they were deemed worthy, but as things stood, the Champions were outgunned. As capable as the Silver Glove and his companions were, Red was also acutely aware of their weaknesses. Their time in public had been damaging in more ways than one: Several notes were compiled on them by fans and detractors alike, enough that their opponents could feasibly get creative with them and cook up something truly nasty against them. Avoiding direct contact was important, but secondary. Their main goal was to assess the Champions and see if they were still worthy of the name; and they couldn't do that if they were overwhelmed and dead. They would be speaking with them either way, so while it was bit early . . . [color=ed1c24]"I'm setting out. Cheshire, retreat to a safe distance and keep observing. Let's go Vorpal."[/color] The sword flew to his side at once. Donning his heavy red armor, Red opened the window and jumped out, rising into the air into the direction of the battle. He rose higher and higher until he got a full vantage point. Still, Vorpal found their target first. [color=8882be]"Seven o'clock, on the roof!"[/color] It was just as he said. On the roof of a tall building, a sniper lay prone, and in their hands was an absolutely humongous rifle. Their face was obscured by a helmet, but apparently that did nothing to limit their accuracy. In an attempt to disable them right away, Red and Vorpal dropped down at subsonic speeds, aiming to slam their feet into the shooters legs. The weight of his armor plus the velocity from his fall would have been more than enough to cripple a normal human.