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[/center][color=darkgoldenrod][indent][sub][B]Location[/B] [COLOR=SILVER][I]Marville[/I] - [I]Oklahoma[/I][/COLOR][/sub][sup][right][b]Issue #2.02:[/b] [COLOR=SILVER][I]Taking A.I.M.[/I][/COLOR][/right][/sup][/indent][/color][hr][INDENT][INDENT]Music played softly in Barbara’s ears as she leaned over the keyboard at her desk. The earbuds were snugly tucked in her ears as her left cheek rested heavily, propped up on a fist. The absent-minded clicks of her mouse echoed through the precinct’s office as she searched her playlist for the first song that didn’t immediately add to her irritated mode. It had been a very quiet three months in Marville, crime had essentially dried up after the world watched Thor take the Surfer down. No one dared jaywalk let alone hold up even a convenience store if it meant the literal God of Thunder could show up to deliver justice.

Unfortunately, that meant Barbara’s butt was firmly planted on her office chair as she no longer had any excuse to get away from her desk and the backlog of paperwork that awaited her. Even after the ceremony three months ago, Lamb was still very adamant on Barbara tending to her own files and Thor’s constant involvement around the town wasn’t lightening her load any.

A rap of knuckles on the edge of her desk caused Barbara to lift her head, quickly turning to look at the person attached to the outstretched arm. Removing her earbuds, she forced a quick smile before straightening up in her chair and turning to the man standing over her desk.

[color=#4682b4]“Mayor Thomas, what can I do for you?”[/color] Barbara asked the relatively young Mayor as he stood in front of her, one hand in the pocket of his black slacks, the other fidgeting with the chain attached to a pocket watch tucked into the front of his matching waistcoat. 

[color=#ff0000]“I was wondering if you’d care to join me for lunch?”[/color] Mayor Roy Thomas asked with a smile, his hand leaving the pocket watch as he stretched his arm out towards the desk, placing his hand flat on the surface, leaning against the desk as he tried to assume a more casual pose. 

Looking down at her watch and then back up at the Mayor before answering, Barbara shrugged nonchalantly.

[color=#4682b4]“Yeah, I could eat.”[/color] She replied with a quick smile as the Mayor stood again, motioning for Barbara to go ahead of him as she left her own chair. Walking through the precinct, the pair approached the door that led onto the street as Roy broke the silence.

[color=#ff0000]“So, I just got off the phone with Lamb, apparently Marville has a giant pack of wolves running around.”[/color] He said with a slight chuckle. [color=#ff0000]“World is a very different place these days, men fly and dress up as bats while gods fall from the [i]fuckin’[/i] sky.”[/color] 

[color=#4682b4]“I thought we were going to lunch, Mr. Mayor,”[/color] Barbara replied, [color=#4682b4]“That sounds an awful lot like work talk coming out of your mouth.”[/color] She stated as the pair made their way down the street towards a small diner. Pairs of eyes turned their way as locals exchanged confused stares while Roy and Barbara took a seat across from one another in a window booth. 

[color=#ff0000]“I must admit, I did have some-”[/color] The Mayor paused, a smirk crossing his face, [color=#ff0000]“Shall we say, ulterior motives for asking you to lunch.”[/color] 

[color=#4682b4]“I had hoped as much.”[/color] Barbara retorted with a slight sneer, crossing her arms as a waitress put a menu in front of each of them along with a glass of water. 

[color=#cccccc]“Anything I can get y’all to drink while you take a moment with the menu?”[/color] 

[color=#4682b4]“Sweet tea for me please.”[/color] Barbara replied as the waitress turned towards Roy, watching as he examined the small offering of drinks on the back of the menu.

[color=#ff0000]“Y’know what? I’m not as tough as Miss Norris there and it is bitterly cold outside, so I think coffee for me please.”[/color] The Mayor smiled as the waitress scribbled the two drinks onto her pad of paper and departed for the kitchen. 

[color=#4682b4]“So tell me more about these ulterior motives,”[/color] Barbara said resuming the pair’s conversation as the Mayor put a hand behind his head, scratching it as he answered. 

[color=#ff0000]“It, uh, quite, unfortunately, may involve the giant wolves,”[/color] The Mayor replied with a smile.[color=#ff0000] “I’ve never tried to hide it, but I’ve been very anti-Thor since the day he appeared. I’m very against the idea of our town relying on an alleged god for protection when we have a more than adequate Sheriff’s department that has been protecting this town since its inception.”[/color] Roy explained as Barbara listened while leaning back in her seat. 

[color=#ff0000]“For the last three months I’ve been trying to think of a solution to our problem and I think I finally have it.”[/color] He continued, [color=#ff0000]“I want you to put together a task force.”[/color] Roy stated as he pulled a file from the briefcase beside him and placed it on the table. [color=#ff0000]“I’m calling it ‘Valkyrie’.”[/color] He paused as the waitress returned placing Barbara’s drink in front of her before pouring the Mayor his coffee.

[color=#cccccc]“Have y’all had enough time to decide on something to eat?”[/color] She asked as Barbara broke her dumbfounded gaze from the Mayor and quickly looked down at the one-sided menu. 

[color=#4682b4]“I’ll take the Voodoo Chicken Wrap with a side of rings please,”[/color] She stated pausing before quickly remember a key component of her order,[color=#4682b4] “Oh, but could you substitute the diced tomatoes for jalapeño please.”[/color]

[color=#cccccc]“Sure can, hun.”[/color] The waitress smiled, turning to the Mayor, [color=#cccccc]“And for you, Mr. Mayor?”[/color]

[color=#ff0000]“The Bison Burger sounds good, although with a side salad for me. Afraid I don’t get out from behind my desk too often.”[/color] He laughed patting the obviously toned stomach beneath the form fitted waistcoat. Giggling along with the Mayor, the waitress wrote down their orders as Barbara rolled her eyes, watching the giddy girl return to the kitchen to put the order in before turning back to Roy.

[color=#4682b4]“So what exactly is the purpose of this task force?”[/color] She asked as the Mayor opened the file on the table between them, spinning it around to face Barbara as he replied.

[color=#ff0000]“It’d be to put the power back in the hands of the people, show them that they don’t need to rely on metahumans for protection.”[/color]

[color=#4682b4]“Why Valkyrie, you’re not seriously attempting to saddle me with an all-female task force are you?”[/color] Barbara asked as she looked over the file.[color=#4682b4]”This isn’t some affirmative action political overly-corrective bullshit is it?”[/color] She inquired sarcastically as she began to flip through the files while the waitress arrived with the food. Nodding her appreciation as the woman placed the plate of food in front of her, Barbara picked up an onion ring as she began to chew on it while reading.
 
[color=#4682b4]“Sara Lance, Evelyn Crawford, Renee Montoya?”[/color] Barbara exclaimed as she flipped a couple more pages, looking at the suggested candidates that Mayor Thomas had provided. [color=#4682b4]“Ellen Yin, Chloe Decker? Seriously Roy! This is bullshit, what the hell ever made you think this was a good idea. Does Lamb know you’re planning this?”[/color] 

[color=#ff0000]“He actually suggested the name.”[/color] Roy chuckled as Barbara rolled her eyes before running her hand down her ponytail. 

[color=#4682b4]“Liar, Lamb hasn’t ever looked at a book let alone read one.”[/color] She replied before picking up her wrap and taking a bite. A smile crossed her mouth as the mixture of blackened chicken and jalapeño warmed her mouth before she turned her attention back to the ‘Valkyrie’ file. 

[color=#4682b4]“So how exactly do you plan to pull this off? This kind of operation is going to take hardware that the Sheriff’s Office doesn’t exactly have the money for.”[/color] Barbara stated before starting on the second half of her wrap as Roy put down the last portion of his burger.

[color=#ff0000]“The town has actually received a very generous donation from the estate of Lady Elaine Marshe-Morton. She specifically requested that it would be put towards superhuman activity suppression.”[/color]

[color=#4682b4]“Lady Elaine?”[/color] Barbara asked, a curious eyebrow arching above one of her hazel eyes. [color=#4682b4]“You mean the widow of that self-inflated Welsh oil tycoon?”[/color] 
 
[color=#ff0000]“The same one.”[/color] Roy replied, [color=#ff0000]“Guess she doesn’t want her collection of antique weapons accidentally struck by lightning.”[/color] He chuckled before continuing, [color=#ff0000]“Either way, thanks to Lady Elaine’s generosity, I was able to reach out to A.I.M.”[/color]

[color=#4682b4]“A.I.M.?”[/color] 

[color=#ff0000]“Advanced Idea Mechanics, they’re the same group who supplied the NYPD’s taskforce a couple of months ago.”[/color] Roy explained, [color=#ff0000]“I just need you to agree, you’re the best officer on the force and if you agree I think the town could really get behind this.”[/color]

[color=#4682b4]“Well, most of the town,”[/color] Barbara responded with a laugh of her own before her phone began to ring. Pulling the device from her jacket pocket, Barbara unlocked the screen and pressed it to her ear.

[color=#4682b4]“Norris,”[/color] She stated, before nodding, [color=#4682b4]“Uh-huh, I see. I’ll be right there.”[/color] Barbara replied before putting the phone back into her pocket as she looked back at Roy. [color=#4682b4]“I need to get back to the station, apparently there’s a Fed at the precinct for me.”[/color]

[color=#ff0000]“Take the file with you, look it over some more.”[/color] Roy said as he pushed it towards her. [color=#ff0000]“Give me an answer by the end of the week, deal?”[/color] He asked as he stretched out a hand. 

[color=#4682b4]“Deal,”[/color] Barbara replied as she tucked the folder under her arm and shook his hand. [color=#4682b4]“But you’re paying for my lunch.”[/color]

[color=#ff0000]“Then we have an accord.”[/color] Roy smiled as the pair released their hands. Nodding her farewell, Barbara headed for the door as Roy smiled, watching the blonde woman as she walked back towards the Sheriff’s Office.[/INDENT][/INDENT]