[center] [h2]《 H. E. R. O. O N E 》[/h2] [/center]

[hr]

	Raymond Blum stared down at his phone, staring at the leaked images of the aftermath onboard the N-train. Violence was a necessary part of the job, but there was a reason they kept it hidden away from the public. Out of context, it just looked like a massacre onboard a train. 

	[color=fdc68a]"What, what is it?"[/color] Pandora asked, having only started paying attention once the Assistant Director started getting agitated about something. Like a moth to flame she rose from her chair and hovered over his shoulder.

	[color=fdc68a]"Oh, shit, indeed!”[/color] Pandora barked a laugh. [color=fdc68a]"Well, how unfortunate for you. That little incident on the train got leaked. Too bad."[/color]

	A bead of sweat ran down Raymond Blum’s forehead. He tightened the grip on his cellhpone. [color=SeaGreen] “Two of your teammates are dead, Pandora.”[/color]

		Pandora set an elbow on his shoulder, pouting. [color=fdc68a]"I suppose they are.”[/color]

	[color=SeaGreen] “I’ll not have you making light of it.”[/color] He turned to face the audacious woman, shrugging off her arm and pocketing his cellphone.

	 [color=fdc68a]"Oh, please. Don’t act so high and mighty. This entire bloody thing is just-”[/color]

	[color=SeaGreen] “I’m not sure what the policy was under the previous director, but I hope you won’t forget that I am your superior.”[/color] He cut her off with a stern look. 

	Pandora shut her mouth, raising an eyebrow.

	Blum continued. [color=SeaGreen]”Upon debriefing, I learned that you elected not to act immediately, instead choosing to let others go in front of you. Despite your experience and having the highest ranking power on your team. I was only going to bring this up in private, but since you seem intent on not showing me or your fellow Heroes respect, I might as well show you the same courtesy. Since your slot on team missions can be filled with someone more useful and proactive, I’ll be having you sit out the next mission. Please make your exit.”[/color]

	Pandora bit something back, glaring at the Assistant Director. He met her gaze. After a moment, the woman moved past him and out the door. Raymond Blum cleared his throat and looked to the other heroes. [color=SeaGreen]”My apologies.”[/color]

	He turned his gaze to Blitz. [color=SeaGreen]”Mister Baeth. I figure I’d also take this opportunity to remind you on HERO’s policy on self-defense. While your elimination of the targets within the train was technically legal, it’s not the kind of conduct I’d like to see continue. I know things can get pretty hectic in the line of fire, and your enemies were certainly dangerous. But as someone with a great deal of physical power like you, I know a little restraint can go a long way. I’m not asking you to fluff their pillows, but in future, don’t let your emotions get the better of you. The more people make it out alive, the better.”[/color] The Assistant Director explained. [color=SeaGreen]”Concussions and broken bones are recoverable. Dying, not so much.”[/color]  


	As Raymond Blum considered the implications of the leak and the future it had on HERO, he regained his composure, adjusted his tie, and cleared his throat.

		[color=SeaGreen] “Regardless. I won’t be taking any further disciplinary action. But if we want to fully succeed on these missions, it’s important that you don’t let the enemy divide you. Their only strength against us is our lack of vigilance. Now, we’re going to move onto our counter-attack.”[/color]

	A projector canvas came down from the ceiling. Director Steel, poised as ever, entered the room. Blur Rabbit, Stray, Enkidu, Kanati, Gematria, Fortune’s Son, Nilin, and Spark Gal had all been asked to assemble in the briefing room alongside Dawnbreaker, Blitz, Europa, and Dead Man. 

	[color=gray]”Law enforcement officers. Despite mixed results in our last batch of missions, the ball, as it were, is now in our court.”[/color] She said. From the ceiling, images were displayed on the white canvas. They showed four primary locations. Three images were marked in blue. One was marked in red.

	[color=gray]”Our primary mission is an investigation into the attack on Michelle Lewis. The attempt on her life sobered her up, so to speak, to our investigations into her and her cohorts actions. Heavily inebriated at the time, her eye witness accounts of her own actions were shotty at best. Four pieces of information were provided to us via her input.”[/color] 

	She pressed the button of a remote she had gotten from seemingly nowhere, and the blue dots lit up with information.

	[color=gray]”Her own record and camera accounts show that the last thing her and her friends did was ‘raid’ a convenience store for ‘more booze.’ This is Sahara Snacks. They caused a great deal of property damage here, and the cameras were destroyed as a result. One to two of you will be deployed here to investigate.”

	“Next, an underused port. Cargo containers used to be moved on and off ships from this location, though preliminary scouts show a lack of activity in recent months. A perfect place to operate something illegal. Michelle Lewis reported breaking open several cargo crates to see what was inside, though again, her memory is spotty. A small team of you will be deployed to search the area.

	“Thirdly, an abandoned seaside warehouse that used to be used for storing pharmaceutical supplies. Michelle Lewis went there for reasons she didn’t want to elaborate on, though she insists that whatever it is they didn’t do there, it wasn’t there fault. Yet another select few of you will be deployed to search area. All of you will maintain telecommunications contact throughout the mission, incase evidence needs to be cross referenced throughout the multiple locations.”

	“Finally, she gave us a word. Lighthouse. She can’t remember where or how she heard it, but the word quote; ‘creeps her out now’. This will be our primary mission. Assistant Director?”[/color]  She indicated the taller man. 

	Raymond Blum stepped forward, indicating the red dot on the map. [color=seagreen]”Sam Everette may have escaped, but she didn’t leave without clues. The nuclear bomb she was attempting to secure was potentially being sold to an anti-mutant supremacist group called the Order of Pure Citizens.”[/color] Derision entered his voice. [color=seagreen]”Or ‘Oops’, for short.”[/color] He chuckled, glancing at the stern Director and clearing his throat.

	[color=seagreen]”OoPC is also attempting to muscle into the fight pit market. As you may know, illegal bloodsport is all the rage these days, and is used as prime recruiting ground for ‘promising’ villains. Right? Whoever controls these fight pits will have steady access to eager, desperate people with powers, willing to fight and be hurt for money. Combine this with their desire for a nuke, and it’s clear that OoPC are looking to forward their agenda via leverage.”[/color] He cleared his throat.

	[color=seagreen]”This clubhouse, the Rainy Day, is highly suspected of being the location of a fight club. Members of the Rocketeers were also spotted in the vicinity, furthering the connection between Ms. Everett and these eclectic douchebags.”[/color] The Assistant Director said.

	[color=seagreen]”Your mission here is pretty simple. Locate and arrest Kilroy Evans. He is both one of many managers of the fight club, a member of the Rocketeers, and has strong ties to OoPC. If you can get him, we can squeeze him for more intel.”[/color] He showed a mug shot of a particularly greasy looking man.

	[color=seagreen]”Your secondary objective is to shutdown the fight club, kicking serious ass in the process. There may be many persons of interests within the building that are secondary objectives. Arrest them if you can. We have the jump on them this time- there’s no evidence to suggest that they know we’re coming.”[/color] He said. This plan was a good one. They had to act fast in both instances, sure. Both to not lose any leads left behind by the Michelle Lewis case, and so that the Rainy Day fight club doesn’t go back underground. But they still had the jump on the enemies of peace in Castleburg.

	[color=SeaGreen]”Your teams have already been assigned. Rest up, take the night off, you move out tomorrow evening at 4 o’clock PM. 1600 hours.”[/color] He set dossiers on the table. On them were their assigned teams.

	[color=SeaGreen]”If any one of you have any thoughts or concerns, be it about the roster or about the mission, the Director and I will be hearing them now.”[/color] He said, folding his hands behind his back. He shot a glance towards Director Steel, who nodded, silently saying: ‘not bad’. Raymond Blum stood up a little straighter. 

	The day of their next mission would be arriving faster than they thought.