[center][sub]Meanwhile, in Brookside...[/sub]

Bateman Turnpike was probably the most impressive road in all of Brookside. The turnpike was built by Morgan Bateman, an old motel chain CEO from years prior, and the high-speed run ran on a curve across the lower edge of Brookside. Though it wasn't anything fantastic by any means, the road remained fairly clean as the dividing point between Brookside and Watervale. Along Bateman Turnpike was a variety of small businesses in Brookside and the road itself was overall the center of much livelihood. It was among the safer areas of Brookside as well, though that wasn't really saying much at all.

It was at this time that B- tier hero Thundering Whisper walked down the road, on patrol. Thundering Whisper was one of those more old-timey heroes that opted to wear a full costume, with blue spandex accompanying gold highlights and a shimmering face-mask, but he was one of the more respected older heroes in the Organization. He was respected enough, at least, to be able to skip out on Powers' meeting to instead go on patrol down the Bateman Turnpike. When there was crime to fight, after all, it was up to heroes to stop it.

Today, though, it seemed like there wasn't much crime at all, and it had started to drizzle, so Thundering Whisper decided to stop walking the beat and ducked into a small coffee shop on the turnpike. All-Day Espresso. Sounded good enough. The hero walked up to the counter, ordered a coffee, and then took a seat at one of the tables inside. The coffee shop was not exactly brimming with business, but there were a few patrons inside, with an old lady sitting in a corner booth, a middle-aged gentleman reading a newspaper, and a young girl, obviously in full teenage rebellion with a half-shaven head and bright green hair that was furiously texting away.

As Thundering Whisper drank his espresso while looking out at the drizzling weather, another man entered the coffee shop, wearing a black raincoat, a matching fedora, and with wizened features and grey hair that put him in his 60s or so. After the man got his coffee, he then walked over to Thundering Whisper's table and took a seat opposite him. "Nice meeting you, Mr. Whisper."

Thundering Whisper raised an eye. "Do I know you?" 

"Not yet. My name's Emilio Ranucci. I work for a local construction firm around these parts. I'm a big fan, by the way. I know you aren't as big as you once were, but I remember seeing you fight The Capricorn on TV and telling myself, 'this man is a legend.'"

Thundering Whispered smiled. "Good days, good days."

Ranucci chuckled. "Those good days are passed, eh?" he said before taking a sip of his coffee.

"Oh, they have. No more respect for old geezers anymore," Thundering Whisper said, a bit resentful in his tone. "All the media cares about is the flashy stuff. Wings of Law. Captain Fireworks. Starbright. All that stuff. Not much in it for real crime fighters."

Emilio Ranucci grinned. "I feel you, Mr. Whisper. But what if I told you that there was a way to get back a lot of that respect?"

Thundering Whisper raised an eyebrow. "I'm listening."

Ranucci slid a few papers across the coffee shop table. "My boss, he runs a very good private defense company. They do really good, really tight work, even better than HERO if I may so myself. If you were to sign up with us, you could be top of the top. Respected across the board. And there's a big reward in it for you. Loads of cash."

Thundering Whisper seemed quite content with this at first, but then slowly realized a discrepancy, then raising an eyebrow. "I thought you said you work for a construction firm."

Emilio Ranucci smiled, and as he did so, Thundering Whisper saw something very peculiar about the man. His tongue was covered in some sort of gray metal. [i]Silver.[/i]

"Mr. Whisper, you don't have to worry about the details. Just sign your name on the paper here, and we can be on our merry way."

Thundering Whisper stood up, shaking his head. "I can't. Sorry. HERO pays me too well. Take care." But as the hero moved to leave the cafe, Ranucci stood up in front of him, blocking his path.

"Should've known it'd come to this. Clean him up," Ranucci said to the other patrons in the cafe.

Suddenly, Thundering Whisper saw four handguns trained on him- the barista, the goth girl, the old lady, and the newspaper man all holding pistols that were aimed right at him. Before he could use his powers or start a fight, rounds of arcing electricity shot out from the barrels of the gun, hitting Thundering Whisper and sending him to the ground, jiterring, as Emilio watched, shaking his head. 

"Bring him back to Watervale. We'll have fun with this one," Ranucci said with a nod to the individuals in the cafe, before turning and walking out of the coffee shop into the rain. 

[/center]