[hr][@Leophael] [@myinneroblivion] [@ShadowsofNight]
[hr]

Thankfully there was nobody who recognized the two, well none that made themselves known to the pair. Most of those who looked at the two were just admiring how the two pulled off such a casual appearance so well. If they didn't know any better, they would have assumed the two were models doing PR work for the everyman and everywoman's apparel. Majority of common folk would have deemed a day like this any other day; but to Bob at least, this was a good day. A brief break from reality when he could feel like Jacob again.

By the time the two got to HQ, Paul had already woken up from his morning nap and greeted them with a friendly smile and used his head to gesture them to the stairway leading to the second floor while catering to a handful of people enjoying the café, using the laundromat, or both.

Upon reaching the room, they were to see Manny dressed up in a slightly ill fitting suit. On the table they see the man's laptop connected to a dusted old projector that looked like it came straight from the 90s. Likely was from the 90s. "Ah, welcome welcome. Take a seat on the sofa and let's begin the presentation of the plan. Please do save the questions or comments for later." He gestures the pair to the sofa treating it as if they were his professors during his dissertation defense. Using a wireless mouse as an impromptu clicker, the ancient projector noisily hums to life and projects his presentation to the kitchen wall. It was a power point presentation with a LOT of cheesy slide effects to the words: 'Operation: Bamboozle'

"What I plan to do is not very heroic." The slide changes to a png of a generic moustache twirling villain from old time movies. "Not sanctioned by Rent-A-Hero nor the HCPD. Technically this is illegal, but I'm willing to go in between good and evil to help a friend. Cause that's what real heroes do." 

The slide changes to now one of a comic book of a man in a phoenix outfit looking somberly at a glass of whiskey. "The Inextinguishable Phoenix, issue # 9. The titular super hero gets depressed after getting his powers sealed by his arch nemesis Frostbite. Feeling distraught and disheartened at losing his power, he quits being a hero and the Bay City is left worse without him." 

A click from the wireless mouse changes the slide to show a a teenaged boy dressed in a full costume with a lightning motif. "Enter Sparky, one of Phoenix's closest allies. Been with the birdman fighting for Justice since 1996. Couldn't bear to see his best buddy and ally like this. And goes off and puts himself in danger knowing that Phoenix won't let him get hurt." 

Another click and it shows the phoenix themed super hero saving the teenager from a gang of thugs. "As depicted on screen, Phoenix even without powers goes to help save his friend and realizes that even without his powers he can still be a hero. And in issue 11 we get to see how he gets his powers back by making a deal with a cosmic being to help him beat Frostbite. OH and in issue 15 Sparky sacrifices himself to save-" Manny pauses and coughs into his hand to regain his composure as he got a little too into the topic.

"Well, I got a plan." Another click shows a building with a sign saying 'Curtain Call: Amateur Actor's Club and Theater Troupe' "I've hired ten actors from Curtain Call to pose as a gang of kidnappers to pretend kidnap your parents when they get to Hero City." He pauses to display himself. "I will be pretending to be their gang leader holding them for ransom." He takes a sack cloth and puts it over his head. "I present to you Bagman, an upcoming criminal overlord looking for old money to 'fund' his building of his criminal empire."

He pauses to take the mask off. "I'll be coordinating with you via the earpieces I provided and by the time you guys come in and save Talia's parents, they'll be in awe of Talia's heroic ability and forever indebted to her." He clicks the mouse one more time and it goes to the fin page with the hand drawn logo of the CHAMP.

"So what you think?"