[sup][h1][center][img]Banner[/img][/center][b][center][color=black]A R G U S[/color]
[color=red]A R G U S[/color][/center]
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[color=gold]The Therapeutix Gala[/color]
[color=green]New York City, USA[/color]

"This is frog-hunter calling Eagle One. There's a complication."

"Eagle One here, frog-hunter. What sort of complication?"

"Three ring-necked pheasants and a great blue heron just entered the pool. Still no signs of our frog. Should we clear before the heron notices?"

"Negative. Just don't enter the pond. Keep eyes out for the frog either entering or leaving. Once he's alone, you know what to do."

"Understood. Frog-hunter out."

[hr]

[color=orange]WITHIN A SECRET GOVERNMENT COMPLEX[/color]
[color=green]Washington, DC[/color]

Amanda Waller sighed, rubbing her forehead. Was she the only one who could think around here? The gala was too good of an opportunity to catch the flying Martian that had eluded all their squads so far. If he felt so secure as to go out for hot chocolate with some of the rising 'heroes', then surely he'd go to a place where he'd been fully invited. Right? With a sigh, she got up from her chair and strode down to the lower levels.

SWORD being there was troubling though, especially if they were using the 'Lanterns' as their representatives. So far, it had seemed like SWORD genuinely did not realize that Martians had landed on Earth. Why else were they still allowed the American landing site uncontested? Especially when they'd come down so hard for one measly escape pod? Though of course, it could be to lure her into a false sense of security. Or with the escape pod, they'd also understood that the DNA within was the most valuable aspect of the find...

She shook her head. She'd kept what spies she could on SWORD's operations. If they hadn't found that SWORD knew anything about the Martians, then they didn't know anything and she could allow her paranoia to ease a bit. Still though, too many 'heroes' had risen up, many simply acting on their own and expecting civilized governments to just accept their existence. Warbird was a promising push-back, but she was still far too unpredictable. Why couldn't her colleagues understand? Power without order and discipline would always lead to tyranny and ruin. And no child or radical ever truly had the order and discipline they needed.

She finally descended into the lowest level where a human-sized tube gleamed within power as a figure floated within. Amanda rested her hand on the glass. Soon, they'd show them all. Soon, they would show the world true heroes, fighting for the cause of their country and not allowing 'feelings' and 'uncertainty' fuel their actions. But first, they'd need to see if this prototype survived.