[b]January 1st, 7:40 PM
Madison Square Garden, New York[/b]

"The situation's clear, ma'am," reported the Guard Captain, his hands clasped firmly behind his back. "One security guard suffered severe burns and is headed to the E.R. for treatment, but there were no fatalities."

Karen's shoulders sank in relief, her entire body sinking into the sofa. She didn't know if she could have handled any of her fans or security being killed on her account. She knew that the guards were there to be protect her, but that didn't mean their lives were expendable. [color=orchid]"Please find out where that guard's staying, once he's open to visitors. The very least I can do is check up on him."[/color]

Still, they had gotten very lucky tonight.

It was clear to her now that just securing herself wasn't enough, she needed people that could somehow keep the crowd itself under control before things could escalate to the point they had back on that stage.

Pushing off the sofa, she rolled her neck. [color=orchid]"So, I'm guessing it's alright to head back out there now?"[/color]

"Yes ma'am. The assailant has been detained; we're waiting for the police to escort him into custody."

Nodding gratefully, Karen swept past him and out the door of her safe room. A quartet of guards followed along behind her as she made her way back down the hallway and into the main part of the arena. Unlike last time, it was eerily quiet--most of the crowd had evacuated by this point. Most, but not all.

Reclining some distance away from the stage, she saw Jones, who was the first one she approached. Raising her brows as his relaxed demeanor, she folded her arms. [color=orchid]"Chillin' even now, huh?"[/color]

She shook her head and glanced to the others near the stage. Approaching them without any fanfare, she offered the group a casual wave and a beaming smile. There were four people of note, aside from the guards--her attacker, the mage woman, the orange-skinned girl, and...the Kilowatt Kid? Wasn't he supposed to be retired? [color=orchid]"Seriously, you guys, I owe you all a [i]huge[/i] debt of gratitude for everything you did back there! Not only for coming to my defense, but for protecting my fans as well!"[/color]

[color=orchid]"Like, wow! I'm honestly in awe! Thank you [i]so[/i] much!"[/color] she said, offering them each a shake of her hand. Her hand lingered slightly longer on KK's, whom was an honest-to-goodness superhero! He wasn't one she had a plushie of, mind you, but still! It was always great to meet a hero in the flesh!

Her eyes then shifted to the man who had now been cuffed by security and had several handguns trained on him. Approaching him in silence, his head immediately snapped up at her approach. His mouth opened, as if he was trying to speak, but only a hoarse croak emerged. She frowned. [color=orchid]"Why? Why did you attack me? Did I do something to upset you?"[/color]

"K-Karen..." he managed to choke out, only to hunch forward and cough blood up onto the stage. "I...I...they...they told me...m-m-made me this way...I'm...I'm sorry...I l-l-love..."

Tears began to pour down his cheeks, and Karen's expression softened slightly. She reached out a hand to touch his shoulder, only to notice that he had slipped into unconsciousness. She glanced to the guards.

[color=orchid]"Be careful with him. Please make sure he makes it to the hospital in one piece."[/color]

"What?" balked one guard indignantly. "After he nearly killed Paul?"

Karen shook her head. [color=orchid]"He was thinking clearly, I'm pretty sure."[/color]

She turned back to her saviors, smiling in a slightly more subdued manner. [color=orchid]"As for you three, I feel I owe you at least a free meal for all you've done. Would you care to join Jones and I for some Chipotle?"[/color]