S A R A H M A R I E K I N G
S A R A H M A R I E K I N G
Millenia Park, West Side, Mapleview; with Kenzo Yamamoto(?)
Abilities Used: Sixth Sense@McNephelim(?)
Weaving and winding, Sarah progressed out of Little Asia and through the short stretch across Mapleview. It was a dull walk, which she made swiftly and with minimal care for anyone that might have tried to steal her attention. The uneventfulness of it was preferable to getting delayed by obstacles, natural or otherwise. This allowed her to focus on where she was going, and where the amulet was pointing her to. The sigil would only shift a little as she veered with the off-kilter grid of the city’s layout. She adjusted accordingly. Whether or not Kenzo had fallen in step behind her, she neither knew, nor particularly cared; she had made it clear enough that she would slow down if he lagged behind. So much as the extra set of hands would help, especially if they had to fight their way through anyone, that help was useless if they were deadweight. She would rather fight alone than alongside someone whose head and heart weren’t in it.
Emerging from the block outside of Mapleview, she surveyed the expanse of Millenia Park. Sarah checked the amulet to find it pointed across the park towards Riverside. Ahead of her to the East were City Hall and the History Museum. On her right, were the pond on the South side and a large, open field. To her left, the walking trails and the Department of Superhuman Affairs headquarters were the features of the North end. Being early afternoon on a Monday, the Park was relatively empty, save for students from Paragon Academy in Riverside, vendors along the trails, and a few suits from City Hall on their barely deserved afternoon recess. The way forward appeared clear of any immediate danger.
However she couldn’t shake the feeling of something from the North end, a subtle tickle brought on by something radiating from the DSHA that had her hairs on end. It was discomforting, but not concerning; it wasn’t the first time she had picked up on strange vibrations from that building. She had long assumed that they had Supers both on their staff and locked up as prisoners, and that the collective energy let off by so many in such a tight space was enough to trigger her higher senses.
Ignoring the feeling, she stood still and deliberated: whether to keep to the North end of the park, along the walking trails, or to head South and circle the pond.
The first option would mean moving through more of a crowd. In turn that meant more chances to be intercepted or distracted, but probably less chance of actual conflict; 70th Street liked to roam the Northwest corner of the park, but they likely wouldn’t act out in a crowd so close to City Hall and DSHA. Police and Affairs agents would be out in droves if they did. If she circled the pond to the South, it would be a longer walk, but fewer people to navigate through. If the feeling she was getting from the DSHA building was a threat, she’d be able to keep well enough away. Even so, if she were being trailed, the open field a sparse crowd would leave her open to getting jumped, or picked off from afar.
The thought of her home a short walk up the block from her, crossed her mind as she debated her choices. Stopping by the apartment complex and rallying three or four bodies from her Parkside West crew was an option. Most would help her on principle, at most to the edge of Riverside if she asked. Some, however, would ask too many questions: what she was up to, who she was going to see, where she was going so far outside of Mapleview… questions she either couldn’t answer or simply didn’t care to explain to anyone that didn’t already know. She declined the idea immediately. Getting a crew to cross the park would take more time from her.
She decided then to take her chances on the North end. If anything did come up, she’d be able to work through the foot traffic to Riverside without too much issue.
She gave the amulet one last look. Confirming she was still on track, she tucked it away, this time in the front pocket of her pants. It was a tighter fit, but more secure than the loose pouches of her hoodie, where it would more easily fall from in a fight, or end up lost if she had to ditch the outer layer. Patting it snuggly behind her thin wallet, she proceeded toward the nearest path.
K E N S H I M A Z U
K E N S H I M A Z U
“Ah. Speaking of whom…” Shimazu had turned around to the sound of the door opening and seen Ashley arriving with a set of aprons and tee shirts bearing the Lucky Noodle’s logo. They weren’t anything fancy, but constituted the restaurant’s ‘uniform.’ Consistent with the young server’s attention to detail, they had been washed, dried, and pressed for their return (though he had insisted that she didn’t need to turn them back). The neatly folded stack of garments still felt warm to the touch. “Thank you, Ashley. You’re welcome here any time you can make it, even if only to visit. Do have a good semester at college.” He offered a short bow of the head.
“Ah yes. The state of things.” Ken looked to either side of himself, acknowledging the disrepair. He endeavored to maintain an undaunted disposition over it to assuage any concern on Ashley’s part. “There was a small altercation this morning. No one was severely injured, and Detective Donahue here is assisting us in bringing the culprits to justi--”
“I think we all got off on the wrong foot and I wish to talk.”Shimazu pivoted toward a far corner of the room. Standing amid a dark patch amid the fluorescent glow was the man that had taken Madeline. Ken set the pile of shirts and aprons down upon a nearby table and placed himself between the man and Ashley. “Get yourself home, Ashley,” he said calmly, hiding the undertow of fear he felt. His stance was neutral, arms relaxed at his side, but feet spread with intent to move if things escalated again; he hoped that Julia and the Detective would emulate him and not jump to any sudden action.
He looked at the man sternly, eying him over to catch the details he might have missed before; he looked different than he did earlier… less like a beast and more human. When Ken finally spoke, he stayed calm and collected. “Can you start by telling us who you are?”
Z H A N G, T A I W U
Z H A N G, T A I W U
Silence abounded for the duration of the ride between Nighthaven and the site of Xiao Feng’s business. Taiwu retreated inward to mull over the reliability of Amara and The Void. He had no reason to doubt her commitment to her word; her sect being relatively new, The Blue Dragons had had few, if any, dealings with them. Until such a moment that she betrayed their trust, they would honor the truce with vigilance. The divide between their respective territories left Taiwu with some reassurance; what good was it to seek conflict with a faction on the other side of the city? Surely The Void would sooner come to blows with the Delgato Family. In the long term, an alliance with Amara would certainly benefit Xiao Feng’s pursuits in keeping Anthony well enough out of the way of their turf war with 70th Street; the old mob boss had preferred to undercut Little Asia over squashing the rats in Mapleview. Birds of a feather, I suppose.
Taiwu grinned as if he had just made a breakthrough..
He stayed grinning as Xiao Feng entered the car next to him. “I’ve been enlightened. But I have been tasked with an errand if I wish for Amara to provide me with a concrete answer.” Taiwu rang his hands together in deep thought on his next words. “Should we proceed with the plan to attack the Lucky Noodle, I will need our mercenaries to procure a blood sample from Shimazu’s pupil. Of course, if they end up killing her, then they need not bring a sample back. With respect to this, I advise a truce between us and The Void in Nighthaven. It shouldn’t be difficult to maintain, given our opposite corners. Though I do believe a longer term alliance with them may be of benefit.” He observed his boss’ bloodied handkerchief, and offered his own inquiry: “What of your business here?”
Assemble?
Artemis, Katherine Tran, Gregory Vaughn, & Horace Wolfe. Veridian Technologies Conference RoomAn indescribable sensation overtook Greg’s body as he was teleported by Artemis. When the group appeared in the conference room, he needed a moment to find his balance and reorient himself. “That was weird.”
“Yeah. I feel that,” KT validated. Don’t worry, she projected to Diana. I’m seeing we can trust him.
“You get used to it… eventually.” Wolfe, who hadn’t missed a step in the instantaneous movement, rushed to the doors. After checking the hallway, he set the digital signs to mark the room as in use, and shut and locked the doors. “I will echo Artemis’ question,” he said, turning his attention back to Vaughn. “What business do you have with us?”
“To talk about this little arrangement.” Vaughn pointed his pinky and thumb forward, the former directed at Wolfe, and the latter toward Artemis. “And what it means for the situation moving forward.”
Diana crossed her arms over her chest for a moment looking towards Wolfe for a moment and then over towards Vaughn as he addressed the two of them. “We don’t really have any formal arrangement. I just happened to be in the neighborhood and heard the commotion and stepped in.” She said, trying to keep her work with Veridian Tech a secret.
Vaughn paced silently and thoughtfully. Artemis’ response was as he expected; he’d heard ‘just in the area’ or some variation of that thousands of times, a few times from his own mouth. He halted near a window, and then turned back to the table where Artemis, Wolfe, and KT had all taken their seats. “The Department of Super Human Affairs is many things,” he said calmly. “Inept and Ignorant aren’t close to the top of that list. The recent Veridian warehouse break-in: Intelligence indicates that one vigilante, Artemis, was also in the neighborhood to foil that. Among a list of other, we’ll say, conveniences, placing you perfectly to keep Veridian Technologies, its employees, and its assets safe from harm. And with your recent dealings against the Delgato Family intersecting with it all, including today’s attack… if Ms. Tran’s power is more than a parlor trick. Taking a fight to the most powerful company in the city without a strong personal motive is a bold move, even for Anthony.”
“I can’t say I disagree,” Wolfe contributed. “Under the circumstances, deducing that the Delgatos would target Verdian to draw Artemis into some kind of trap would seem sound--”
“Given that she has been uniquely inclined to protect the company--”
“Hardly a breach of any laws or codes,” Wolfe stated conclusively.
“All of that is besides the point, though.”
“Then what is the point?” KT chimed in. “And if you won’t say it, I will.”
Diana remained standing as she stared at Vaughn but didn’t try to make any indication either and remained pretty calm. “I do stop other criminal activity, last week I did foil some Seventieth Street and Delgato illegal weapons trade.” She said with a slight shrug. “But what is it that you really need?” Diana asked.
“What I, and I think you, need, is a wider net. The point: Whether it’s a formal arrangement, or mere coincidence bringing Artemis into close proximity to Veridian, there’s been an uncanny level of coordination between the two parties. I believe there’s potential there. And I think now is the time…”
“Time for what, exactly?” Wolfe leaned in.
“To get a team together.” Vaughn’s tone went low.
Diana looked at Vaughn for a moment like he had grown a second head as she stared at him down, she always did work alone and preferred it that way. “I rather work alone, and I don’t necessarily play by the rules either, i’m sure you have a pretty big record on me by now anyway.” Diana said.
“I’m aware of your record, Artemis.” Vaughn turned away, and took a long look from the window; the Financial District to the west dominated the view beyond Nighthaven, with parts of Riverside, Mapleview, and Halcyon Heights visible in the few spaces between the highrises.
While Vaughn’s back was turned, Wolfe glanced towards Artemis with an expression of mild reproach; for her insistence on working alone, Diana had shown herself capable of working with others, himself most of all. “Let’s hear the Deputy Director out.”
Vaughn turned around. A hopeful gleam in his eyes contrasted against his otherwise stoic face.
Diana sighed slightly as she looked towards Wolfe for a moment before turning her attention back to Vaughn. “What did you have in mind?” She asked.
Vaughn drew a breath, and held it in for a moment. He knew he'd only have one shot at pitching his idea, one chance to bring the right people into the fold. What had played out as a simple speech in his head was looking more like a hard sell; if he messed up, he'd be back to working the situation on his own... doable, with time, but easier with others working with him, and the reality was that time might not be on any of their sides. "The city is in a rough place," he said. He paced back-and-forth a few strides, and returned to looking out through the window overlooking the city.
"I've seen a lot out on the streets. We thought, after the battles ten years ago, that we'd be able to clean up and recover... that things would get better. But that hasn't happened." He turned back to face the group assembled in the conference room. "The vacuum left behind has been filled in. The Delgato Family owns nearly half the city, and Anthony is gunning for the mayor's office; the 70th Street Gang has consolidated power in Mapleview, and the Blue Dragons in Little Asia; both of them are eying expansion; talk around Nighthaven of increasing occult activity... that's all not to mention the layers of... issues within law enforcement, or the zealots up in Halcyon Heights."
Vaughn ushered in his restlessness enough to plant himself firmly in place. He stood tall and strong as he continued. "All of these groups are represented by regimented, disciplined, well trained, and powerful people. With the exception of the Puritan movement, they all have teams of Supers either loyal to the cause or paid to do their work."
"I'm sorry Deputy Director, but would you cut to the chase properly?" Wolfe had cut into Vaughn's rambling.
"The criminal world is organized; their plans are already in motion. The city needs heroes. And not just the isolated acts and disjointed pockets of resistance. We need something concrete. A coordinated front--"
"You're not suggesting what I think you are?" Wolfe interjected.
"I am," Vaughn stated plainly. "The reconstitution of The Defenders." He looked around the room, but held his gaze at Artemis. "I won't pressure you to be part of a team if it's not what you want. What I will do is ask your help in bringing the right people together."
"Why not just call up the old team though?" KT asked.
“Unfortunately,” Vaughn said sourly, “that’s not an option.”
Diana thought for a moment as she looked over towards Wolfe, working alone was what she did prefer, but there were a lot of gangs throughout the entire city as well, and having the backing of a Government Entity would be pretty useful. “I’ll consider thinking about it.” Diana said looking over at Vaughn.
“Of course,” Vaughn said conclusively. “I know it’s a lot to ask out of the blue. Take some time to consider it.” He reached into.a pocket on his jacket, producing a business card. His full name, office location, email address, and phone numbers were all listed on the card. He set it down on the table between his audience of three. “If you decide to take me up on this, give me a call.”
He turned to make his exit. Wolfe stood up after him. “I’ll escort you out, Deputy Director.”
They opened the nearest door to the hallway, and were met by a younger DSHA agent carrying a brown paper bag that looked like it had been sitting in a cluttered car. “Uh… Mr. Vaughn… uh… your fish taco.” The agent awkwardly handed the bag off to Vaughn, who accepted as though it were water in an oasis.
“Thank you.” He unbagged and unwrapped the footstand delicacy and took a bite. “Mhmmm… still warm.” He, the agent, and Wolfe rounded the corner, out of sight and out of earshot.
“So,” KT broke a short silence. She had been staring at the business card on the table. She had her thoughts about Vaughn’s proposal, but decided it best wait until they had more privacy before opening up. “Probably best for you to get changed and back to regular business? Should I wait up here?” She stood up and walked toward the window as Wolfe re-entered the room to another momentary silence.
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