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[sub]July 2nd, 2033[/sub]
[sub]2:04 PM[/sub]
[sub]ScoundrelSearch HQ, Brookside, Castleburg[/sub]

ScoundrelSearch is an up-and-coming small business focused on hiring only "the most elite" supervillains to help "ordinary citizens fulfill their wildest fantasies" with the hired hand of a professional supervillain. They've described themselves as "Angie's List for people who want to watch their worst enemies' house burn to the ground." Of course, such service is very illegal, which is why ScoundrelSearch currently operates out of the back of a Carvel ice cream store in Brookside. 

It was a lazy afternoon at the ScoundrelSearch headquarters. Their office was nothing too impressive- a small warehouse-like area with gray stone walls and secondhand carpeting. Facing the secret entrance through the bathroom was a nice desk, a secretary currently taking a call. [color=gray]"Welcome to ScoundrelSearch, this is Melissa speaking...oh, I'm sorry to hear your boyfriend has been cheating on you...yes, we can certainly arrange for him to be abducted and tortured in a medieval dungeon...right, dungeon full of snakes, got it, we can do that for sure, you're going to have to pay a phobia fee...alright, I'm just going to need your credit card information...yes, if our villain fails at their task, you get all your money back...alright...yes...alright, very good! Thank you for your business."[/color] Melissa hung up the phone before pressing a button on her desk. [color=gray]"Dungeon Troll, we have a job for you. Details have been e-mailed to your work computer...also, we're sending that intern out to go fetch us some coffee and donuts. What would you like?...no, the blood of innocents is not being served at Starbucks right now, we can get you a pumpkin spice latte, it's basically the same thing...alright, can do."[/color] She tapped her fingers on the keyboard, beginning to type something out, when there was suddenly a loud [i]bang.[/i]

Melissa the secretary jerked her head over to see the hidden doorway into the headquarters burst open, the bald head of Mr. Impressive bursting on through. As the two security guards grabbed their weapons, Mr. Impressive put his hand on the metal door, a wave of metal coating his skin, and the bullets bounced off him harmlessly, flying like bouncy balls across the room and hitting the security guards, causing them to fall to the ground. Melissa cowered back, a pistol in her hand, as she hid behind her desk. Mr. Impressive strode across the room, looking over at the desk. [color=olive]"Hello there, pretty ducky. Is this the ScoundrelSearch headquarters?"[/color]

Melissa still aimed the gun at Mr. Impressive. [color=gray]"Back away, hero, or I will shoot!"[/color]

[color=olive]"No, you won't. Now..."[/color] Mr. Impressive removed a slip of paper from his robe pocket, reading it. [color=olive]"I'm here to ask for a job. For a good friend."[/color]

Melissa blinked. [color=gray]"The who for the what now?"[/color]

[color=olive]"Just running an errand for my ol' buddy Seraph. You know, the hero with the wings? Right, well, he's asking for a job from one of your goons. Personally, I think he's going [i]way[/i] too far, but what are you gonna do about that, right? Now, uhh, you have a guy named Nero in your employ? Seraph asked for him specifically."[/color]

Melissa very slowly and reluctantly pressed her button on her desk. [color=gray]"Err...we need Nero here. STAT."[/color]

Moments later, a man emerged from down the hall. He was wearing traditional Roman centurion armor, silver with gold features, a shining helmet with a red plume perched atop his head. He had fair skin and green eyes, a sharp pointed nose, and a thick brown stubble. He walked down the hallway proudly, a roman gladius hanging from his belt. As he reached the end of the hallway, his eyes found Mr. Impressive, who was casually leaning against Melissa's desk, and he quickly drew his gladius, pointing the roman sword at Mr. Impressive. [color=YellowGreen]"Halt, foolish hero! You are prepared to duel with one of the most fierce warriors in all of Castleburg, the Roman Emperor, Nero!"[/color] He held his quavering sword in the air, pointing it at Mr. Impressive. [color=YellowGreen]"I am the strongest villain in the employ of this agency, and I will duel you to the bitter end!"[/color]

Mr. Impressive yawned. [color=olive]"Not even remotely Roman. You're imitating a medieval knight, pal, not a Roman emperor. You should fix that. Alright, listen, Nero, pal, I've read up on your file, you call yourself some sort of tough-guy villain. Well, it's time to put that to the test."[/color] Mr. Impressive handed him the slip of paper he had been holding. [color=olive]"Seraph wants you to do some work for him. Torture a few heroes. Do what you normally do, record it for shits and giggles, make sure that he doesn't get his hands dirty. Can you do that?"[/color]

Nero read the paper. [color=YellowGreen]"I've heard of all these heroes before! Firebird? Tempest? Spacewalker? Quake?! These are some of HERO's top heroes! No way. I may be a crazy costumed villain, but I am [i]not[/i] a suicidal maniac. No. I refuse."[/color]

[color=olive]"What if we knocked them out?"[/color]

[color=YellowGreen]"Knocked them out?"[/color]

[color=olive]"Yeah, you know, have them fall asleep. Then you can do your weird Roman schtick. Torture them or whatever you do with your weird Roman fantasy fetish, go on the news and loudly declare victory over the heroes, and done. There's no blood on our hands, and you get glory and cash. You could finally leave this crappy organization, start your own little league."[/color]

[color=YellowGreen]"...alright. We have a deal. You knock them out, I finish the job."[/color]

[color=olive]"Now that's what I like to hear!"[/color] Mr. Impressive took his hand, shaking it firmly. [color=olive]"Is the Fourth of July good for you? We'll have all the heroes grouped together and easy to deal with."[/color]

[color=YellowGreen]"Hey, man, with the money you're paying me, I'll do any day. Thanks for not being like most heroes and throwing me into jail."[/color]

[color=olive]"No problem. Been my pleasure. And thanks for not getting mad at me for sleeping with your wife!"[/color]

[color=YellowGreen]"Wait, hold on, that was-"[/color]

Mr. Impressive was already gone.

Nero sighed, turning back to Melissa, who was still cowering behind her desk. [color=YellowGreen]"The things you'll do for a few million dollars..."[/color] Nero said with a sigh, putting a hand on his sword hilt. [color=YellowGreen]"At least I get to off a couple heroes, anyway. I haven't killed a hero in forever. Been mostly rich assholes...well, it's time to see how well these heroes deal with real Roman might."[/color] Nero walked down the hallway, rubbing his hands together, as he made his way back down to his office. [color=YellowGreen]"Ooh, boy, do I have a surprise for those heroes...hehehehe..."[/color] He laughed as he walked into his small office space, the door closing behind him. His voice echoed through the facility. [color=YellowGreen]"MELISSA! I WANTED A CAPPUCCINO, DAMMIT!"[/color]

Melissa sighed. [color=gray]"Maybe I should've thought this whole 'working for supervillains' thing through more..."[/color]

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