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[Color=Yellow][Sub]The Time to Act Has Always Been Now // Part 02[/Sub][/Color][/Center]

[B]Hamilton-Meringue Theatre
Appleton City[/B]

The reflection of the moon's pale blue light spread over the floorboards, covering all but the spectral silhouette of a stranger. Otherwise, the theatre felt empty. Rick Tyler, the Hourman of Appleton City, felt like an intruder (which he technically was) on the serene space. The air had a special, lung shivering taste, as though it was forbidden itself.

Defying the whim to flee, he swept over to the wooden door, a chipped and aging door. It was locked. Fortunately, he had his means of getting around that. He withdrew a set of lock-picking tools and surgically persuaded it to yield.

With a pocket flashlight in hand, he brushed over the interior shelving while taking note of the variety of guns, bags, and masks. Innocent of wrongdoing or not, Mike had been truthful. Every detail lined up thus far, in the paperwork he'd delivered on. And after a second peak, he even spotted the picture of the actor he'd targeted: Matt Dallas.

Dallas had recently been featured in the tabloids as a mutant rights activist after being thrown into the spotlight on account of a biological anomaly. The media found out about his belly button, or more accurately his lack of one.

The closet was peppered with other hints, like a newspaper with Senator Kelley's face stamped on the cover.

"Perfect. He's amnesiac, prejudiced, and guilty." The time-keeping crime fighter walked over to the shelving before lifting the dusty articles and packing a backpack full of evidence. "This is fantastic. Next he's going to have multiple personalities and a knack for genetic engineering."

"I'd be less offended if you had a single discernible personality trait besides [I]bossy[/I]."

Rick's spine filled with lightning and his fists snapped into battle formation. "Wait a sec.. what are you doing here Dave?"

"I may have memory loss, but I also have a job. And responsibilities to fulfill besides fitting your criteria for guilty. I work here, doofus."

[I]Okay. Okay. Take it in. Learn. Never do this again. From now on you don't do soliloquies. You have internal monologues.[/I]

"I'm on your side, Mike. But, I also have to be on Matt's side. I can't let you go and commit this hate crime."

"I already called him off. I called him off hours ago and that was that. He hung up. Case closed. Now get out of my place of work. I don't need you here and I swear to god if I ever catch you here again I'm calling the cops."

"Yikes. Umm, sorry."

At that, Rick emptied his load and slumped past his former client. "But don't ever waste my time like this again."

"P-lease. Do not think you can--can. . ." he started before being persuaded to tame his tongue by the crime fighters overwhelming presence and burning eyes.

"I don't know what's gotten into you, but I do know that before too long, I'm going to get it out of you."