[center][img]http://i362.photobucket.com/albums/oo63/NMShape/coollogo_com-14706267_zps64516cfe.png[/img][img]http://s22.postimg.org/jtr04y1ht/War_Pulse_Word_Art.png[/img][/center]
[center][b]Aubrey Adkins[/b] | [b]Trenton Hurst[/b][/center]
	[color=0072bc]“Whoa, whoa, whoa, calm down there, missy.  There is no need to shout, I’m right friggin’ here..”[/color]  Trent said, raising his hands up in a non-aggressive posture.  [color=0072bc]“And to answer your question, how about you let me in to talk about it?”[/color]  He glanced back and forth down the hall. [color=0072bc]“What I came here for is serious world-changing shit...you’re going to want to hear what I have to say before you boot me outta here.”[/color]

	[color=b22222]“Sure, I’m going to just allow someone who I have only met once into my apartment and explain how the heck he found me.  Nothing could ever go wrong with inviting someone in who discovered their secret identity and their whereabouts.”[/color]  Aubrey rolled her eyes as she placed her arm on the doorframe so that she would block the way into the apartment, even though in her current depowered form she probably could do little to stop War-Pulse from entering.  [color=b22222]“Why don’t you just tell me right now how you found me and I [i]might[/i] consider letting you in so that you can explain yourself.”[/color]

	[color=0072bc]“I mean, sure.  I can tell you out here...in the hallway.”[/color]  The mercenary said, offering a smirk. [color=0072bc]“But I’m in a hallway, which is very public, and I have a really loud voice, and I mean ‘dude at the movies who won’t shut up’ loud, enough where you can hear me over the movie.  People could probably hear me down the hall if I start sharing secrets, and I don’t think you want your neighbors hearing these sorts of things.”[/color]

	From the scowl on Aubrey’s face, War-Pulse could tell that she knew that he was right, even if she did not like it.  War-Pulse would make a spectacle out of this situation, if he had not done so already.  She removed her hand from the doorframe and turned so that War-Pulse had an open way into the apartment.  [color=b22222]“Fine,”[/color]  The blonde metahuman finally responded, [color=b22222]“But no funny business.  If you are who you claim to be, then you would know what I did to that demon snake.”[/color]

	[color=0072bc]“Pffft, you and I both know I loosened it up for ya.”[/color]  Trent said, a cheeky grin spreading across his face as he slipped into her house. [color=0072bc]“But sure, we’ll call it your victory.”[/color]

	WIth that remark, his gaze momentarily left her to drift about the apartment, a brow raising as he casually strode into her home.  He chuckled slightly, turning on his heel to really explore the kind of living quarters a person like Audrey were living in.

	[color=0072bc]“Really?  A low rent apartment with a kitchen and living room in the same area?  You [i]are[/i] living large.”[/color]  He joked.  [color=0072bc]“Does this place come with heating in the rent?  Or do you just wave your assets at your landlord to cover it?  Or her, I dunno, world’s changing, people are more open minded.”[/color]

	He turned his attention back to her, his grin seeming to drop a little as he glanced at her once more.  It was clear he was giving her another once over, his hands dropped to his hips as his eyes explored her once more. He shook his head, his face scrunching into a mixture of amazement and bewilderment.  [color=0072bc]“Seriously... what the hell happened to you?  You look like a 13-year old boy’s fantasy girlfriend.  I can’t tell if you had work done or you got blessed by a fairy godmother...and I’d honestly believe either these days.”[/color] 

	[color=b22222]“Well, this '13-year old boy’s fantasy girlfriend' wants you to know that it is none of your business.  And do you really think I have the money to get [b]that much[/b] work done?  Well, on that note, I need to, um, change, so make yourself comfortable, but not [i]too[/i] comfortable.”[/color]  After she rolled her eyes at War-Pulse’s comments, Aubrey immediately darted into her bedroom and slammed the door shut.  That was probably the only thing she could do to prevent herself from smacking him in the face.  Therefore, Felecia was the only person left in the room with War-Pulse.  She sheepishly sat on the couch, watching the television while she awaited for her friend to return, although she had no idea why Aubrey needed to change.  She was going to work soon!

	The mercenary, of course, took no time in making himself at home, before Felicia even began to talk to him, he had already begun raiding their fridge.  The sounds of moving food and cans echoed from the metallic door before the scoundrel found himself a soda.  He sighed to himself, picking the can up with a furrowed brow.
 
	[color=0072bc]“Buncha college kids don’t even have beer in the fridge?  Where the hell are the party animals these days…”[/color]  He murmured to himself, before popping the can open and slurping down the sugary foam surging from the top.  He then proceeded to meander over to a chair close to the couch, his body coming down hard onto the chair, causing it to shudder slightly at his weight.  He kicked his feet up, placing his ‘borrowed’ shoes up on the coffee table, taking a quick glance at the television before acknowledging the other lady in the room.  He gave her a friendly, albeit roguish smile, reaching over to offer her a hand to shake. [color=0072bc] “Hi there, Trent Hurst.  Douchey name, I know, but I get better.”[/color]
	
	“Um...I’m Felecia.”  The girl said as she peered towards Aubrey’s bedroom, hoping she would come out any time now.  There was a short awkward silence between the two, or there would have been if the television had not been on.  After a few moments of silence, Felecia spoke up again.  “So...do you watch Pretty Little Liars?”  She gestured towards the television screen, pointing out that that was the show that playing on the television screen..

	Trent’s brow furrowed, pulling his hand back as it seemed clear the woman was a little shaken by his entrance and had not wanted to shake hands.  Taking another sip from ‘his’ soda, he turned his attention toward the screen.  He gave her a sheepish chuckle, offering a shrug in response.

[color=0072bc]“Honestly, Felicia?  I don’t get to watch a lot of television.”[/color]  Trent said. [color=0072bc]“My work’s got me travelling pretty often...that being said, I’m always looking to add something to my Netflix queue.”[/color]  He gestured toward the show, pointing at one of the girl’s on screen. [color=0072bc]“What’s it about? Does everyone lie or is it just the prettier girls on the show?”[/color]

	“You poor soul.  No wonder you act a little eccentric.  You haven’t been ‘cultured’ by the American broadcast system.  It is actually based on some books, so if you’re more into reading, you could go that route.  And yes, it is supposed to be a mystery series.  There's definitely lying involved.  Is that something you’re good at?”

	[color=0072bc]“Nah, I’m the blunt, straightforward type.  If you couldn’t tell.”[/color]  He responded, slurping down another bit of his soda. [color=0072bc]“Why keep all the secrets?  It just builds up over time, get all that shit out in the open, that’s what I say.”[/color]

	“Actually, that kind of makes sense now.  You really don’t have a poker face, or else you would not have looked like a teenager who had for the first time seen an attractive girl while you were around my roommate.”

	[color=0072bc]“To be fair, she didn't look like that last time we crossed paths.  I know people change, but that's...well that change was drastic.”[/color]

	Felecia just shrugged her shoulders at his last comment, not quite sure what else she could say.  She took another look at her roommate’s door, hoping it would swing up again so that she wouldn’t have to continue this conversation.

	[color=b22222]“Alright, now spill the beans.  How in the world did you find me?”[/color]  Aubrey announced as she exited her bedroom door.  Although she was still wearing the same white blouse from before, she now had what seemed like a bed sheet draped over her lower body.  However, instead of two normal human legs, there were now eight spidery legs poking out from beneath the sheet and it was obvious that there was some sort of arachnid abdomen concealed under the bedspread.  The sheets almost acted as a make-ship caparison that horses and other animals would have worn during parades and such.

	At her appearance, the mercenary actually straightened up in the seat, his eye popping wide with a boyish grin pulling at his face.

	[color=0072bc]“Holy crap!  That’s amazing!”[/color]  He stated, gesturing with the can of soda at her spider legs. [color=0072bc]“That one lady wasn’t kidding, you really did become a Drider!  Do you actually shoot real webs now?  Please tell me you now weave all your clothes and bedding out of spider silk...probably save you a mint!”[/color] 

	Aubrey scratched her head at Trent’s response to her spideresque appearance, a little confused about whom he kept referencing as his source of information.  [color=b22222]“Well, first off, who told you that you could just grab a pop from the fridge?  It would be one thing if we had offered you a drink, but just taking one for yourself?  Rude!  Secondly, ever since I acquired my powers, I could produce real silk.”[/color]  The blonde metahuman pinched her arm right below her wrist and began to pull a string of silk from the spinnerets that were located there.  [color=b22222]“And thirdly, stop changing the subject!  Tell me how you found me!””[/color]

[color=0072bc]“Alright, alright, geez, your roommate’s way better at small talk than you are.”[/color]  Trent said, placing the soda down on the coffee table, his other hand running through his hair as he composed himself to be slightly more diplomatic.  [color=0072bc]“And don’t speak to me about manners miss ‘runs off to the room and doesn’t even offer me anything to drink.’  You ain’t winning any prizes for hosting.  Secondly, from what he told me, the two of you met and are not on the greatest terms, buuuut I’m sure you know the tin-plated asshole by the name of Iron Knight, right?”[/color]  

	[color=b22222]“You’re complaining about my manners?  I’m not the one who showed up out of the blue and basically invited yourself in by threatening to reveal my identity in the hallway.  And what did you want me to do?  Change right in front of you?”[/color]  However, when Aubrey heard Trent mention Iron Knight, her face began to turn red.  And it was not happening because she was blushing.  [color=b22222]“Wait?  Are you telling me that [i]that man[/i] sent you?”[/color]

	[color=0072bc]“Technically I volunteered and did it without his permission.”[/color]  Trent corrected her. [color=0072bc]“But more importantly, this is bigger than him.  I read the stuff STRIKE had on you, and lemme tell ya, I wouldn’t have come here asking for your help and possibly working with the guy if I didn’t think you’d be kicking yourself if you didn’t help.”[/color]

	[color=b22222]“Why should I help that chauvinistic pig?  You do know that he basically held me and a few others captive after some other weirdos had kidnapped us, right?  I mean, who would do that?  And don’t get me started on that woman who was working with him.  The one who also wears suit of armor.”[/color]

	[color=0072bc]“I know, but that’s not the point right now.”[/color] He shot back, his voice dropping the inflections to carry the weight more appropriately. [color=0072bc]“Right now, there is a crisis that is going to affect all of Lost Haven, and possibly the world.  Like him or not, he’s the one who recommended you to help out the group, and from what I saw of you in that sewer...they could really use your help.”[/color]

	[color=b22222]“And did he say [b]why[/b] he recommended me for the ‘Superfriends’?  I doubt it was only because I was on their little database, as it turns out.”[/color]

	[color=0072bc]“To be honest, I tuned in and out when he was talking.  Dude’s a Grade-A dickbag to be sure, you can only hear so much ‘you’re a heartless mercenary whore for money’ from him before it just starts sounding like the adults in a Charlie Brown cartoon.”[/color] Trent replied. [color=0072bc]“But I’m not here for him.  Sure, he probably has ulterior motives, seeing as how he works for STRIKE, and I don’t doubt there is an advantage to bringing you back to Lost Haven.  But you know what?  He can stick said motives right up his shiny metal ass for all I care, because it ain’t about him right now. It’s about what you’re going to do when the world’s at stake.”[/color]  He took another sip of the soda, finishing off the drink before crumpling the aluminum can in his hand and tossing it into a nearby wastebasket.  He then proceeded to rise from his chair, walking towards Aubrey in long, casual strides. [color=0072bc]“I’d like to think I’m a good reader of people, it comes with the job of being a mercenary, you have to see who will pay you when the job is done and who will try to stab you in the back when the job is over.  You’re a good person, Aubrey.  I can see you got friends you care for here, and you’re going to college so you’re clearly trying to improve yourself for the better of society, am I right with that?  You’ve seen the news, do you really think you can just ignore this whole ‘Pax Metahumana’ thing?  What are you going to do when the whole world is metahuman?  If your friends, your family, everyone you know in danger because you were at odds with -one- guy on the team.  One.  Is that something you can go with for the rest of your life?”[/color]
	
	[color=B22222]“It’s not like I don’t understand that this situation is very dire.  It’s just that, unlike some of you apparently, I cannot just drop everything that I’m doing to play superhero.  Sure, schools have been shut down temporarily, so I can’t use that as an argument.  But I do still have to work for a living.  Running around in spandex isn’t going to pay the bills for me.  In fact, if I don’t show up at work in the next 10 to 15 minutes, I probably won’t have a job.  Should they have not decided to open tonight?  Probably, but that’s out of my hands.  So, either way, it appears that I am screwed.  I’m damned if I don’t help and I’m damned if I do.”[/color]

	[color=0072bc]“Huh...well, I guess I can’t blame you for that.  You have to make money any way you can in this world if you’re going to keep pushing forward with your life as a normal everyday average Joe.”[/color] Trent said, shrugging.[color=0072bc] “But look at it this way...you got a job, a life here, school...yeah, you got some balls in the air.  But here’s the thing, if you skip of day of school, you’re going to maybe get a write-up and a mean look from the professor.  You lose your job, there’s plenty of other jobs you can pursue...but what are you going to do if you miss the crisis that changes the world as we know it?  Every time a new threat arises, is it worth ignoring because of your life?  Nobody asked you to put on the tights, but now that you have, what do they really stand for if you pick and choose what world problems arise?“[/color]

	Trent walked to the nearby kitchen, crossing his arms as he leaned against the counter. [color=0072bc]“Look, I have to get back soon, I have to deliver some much needed ass-whuppin to a group of metahumans who may be coming after the others.  This is a crap-ton to ask, but if you want, you can take your work-shift to think about it.  I’ll stay in town, try and keep myself out of trouble.”[/color]  He gave her a wry smirk with his last comment.[color=0072bc] “But whenever you got an answer, let me know, alright?”[/color]

	Before Aubrey could respond and before Trent could leave, the television immediately switched from the current program to a special news report.  At first, it seemed like it was just a PSA about a tip about the location of [i]more[/i] devices that would turn people into metahumans and that cities across the United States were making cautionary searches for more devices.  However, after a minute or two, the situation seemed more grave.  Apparently, this mass search for the devices must have spooked the perpetrators into prematurely detonating them, causing permeable domes to form over several major cities in the US.

	Then, the three people in the apartment could hear a phone buzzing in Aubrey’s bedroom.  Even without checking who was calling, Aubrey already guessed what it was about.

	[color=B22222]“Well, it looks like it’s your lucky day.  I’m guessing that my work just texted me not to come in because of this nationwide state of emergency.  Unfortunate for me, it looks like my excuses, besides that tinman being a giant douchebag, aren’t very valid any more.  So, let me change into something a little bit more casual, or maybe a little bit less.”[/color]  The blonde-haired girl pulled on her make-shift caparison when she mentioned her last comment.  [color=b22222]“Anyways, if you don’t mind me asking, how are we going to get to Lost Haven?”[/color]

	[color=0072bc]“Hmmm...well, we’ll just have to take the War-Pulse Express.”[/color]  He joked, pointing a thumb to himself. [color=0072bc]“...And by that I mean fly.”[/color]

	[color=b22222]“Great!  Now I can add this to my list of worst experiences since the beginning of my short careers as a superhero.”[/color]