It was an annoyingly cold night in Paragon City. The War Walls were, as usual, causing interesting atmospheric disruptions that kept the rain and snow away,
but it wasn't doing much for the temperature itself.
In Steel Canyon, about two hundred meters from the Silky Doll, a generic blue car was parked, lights off. In the drivers seat, the bulky form of Anthony
Hopkins sat, patiently waiting to see what would happen. In his mind, he was going over the information he had on the building, its design, believed defences,
and the abilities of the three women that lived in the upper floors, along with any that may be in the area to respond if he stormed the building.
He was pulled out of his thoughts by the sound of a knuckle rapping gently on his window. Not displaying any outward surprise, he rolled it down slightly
and looked at the remarkably tall catwoman standing there. "Coffee?" Neko Romanova asked, holding up a large ceramic cup.
"Thank you," he said, taking it from her. "How long have you been watching?" He asked Purrfect Shield.
"After she took off the helmet, I did a speed recon," Neko replied, going around the other side of the car and hopping in. "However this
turns out, it's rude to leave you out in the cold," she said, offering him a donut.
"Hardly cold in this car, but thank you," he said as she adjusted the seat.
"I need to check if we're letting this part out to any of the others," she mused. "If so, Ifrit owes me a hundred dollars."
"For?" Anthony asked, honestly curious.
"Oh, I had a suspicion that there were people we wouldn't like in Crey that knew more then they let on and kept it secret for their own benefit.
Mind you, I didn't think it was QUITE so high," Neko admitted with a smirk.
"Miss Stingray never changed her name," Countess Crey's bodyguard replied. "We aren't stupid."
That got a chuckle from the catwoman. "That information on the originals was kept from the Scimitar project lead. Clever." She looked at the box
of donuts she'd brought, and chose one with strawberry icing.
"Compartmentalization was always factored in."
"Given how many compartments we checked, I'm impressed," Neko said in an impressed tone. "We honestly believed that you initially had no
way to translate the memory patterns, and by the time you might have, we'd been hunting." There was a moment of silence as they drank their coffee,
then she spoke up again. "So... I'll ask the expected question and get your answer for the usual politics."
"And that question being?"
"Is that the real Juliane-slash-Clarissa in there?"
"As far as I'm concerned," Hopkins replied honestly.
Neko smiled slightly. Whatever else she thought of the Countesses bodyguard, such loyalty earned her respect. "So, when did you meet her?"
"Shortly after she took over the company. I think I was the only one that ever figured out that Clarissa Van Dorn was a fake."
"Well, everyone else was much too interested in their own agenda," she said. "So many of those there, so many grabbing at
opportunity."
"I take it you have an opinion on that."
"An opinion on what?"
"On her reasons," he clarified.
Looking down at her coffee for a moment, the teacher turned warrior considered that. "Her reasons were pretty good actually," she said at last.
"Same reason people pick up swords and bows, or unleash impressive powers..."
"Not quite the reasons I meant." Neko glanced over at him. " I was thinking ofthe reasons she had for taking alternative methods."
"I was heading up to that actually. They're part of the same chain. Those... Her actions I can't agree with, but the reasons were
understandable." She sighed, sipping her coffee. "Afterwards, her reasons, her final goal... That's where the problems begin."
"Indeed," he noted, nodding for her to continue.
"Things such as the Protectors, the Scimitars, deals with the likes of Malta, Arachnos and Nemesis..."
"Fascinating how the Protectors get such strong reactions because they're flesh and bone, isn't it?" Anthony mused.
"It's not the Protectors themselves I have issues with, it's the nature of their creation," she said honestly. "That action, and the
purpose you used them for, tainted any legacy you intended to create. The murder of heroes, the editing of minds and identities... Trying to create Order
through such measures has always had a traditional response." For a moment, her mind wandered back, to bloody stained snow and the bodies of those used as
targets of a madmans power lust. And they'd been allied with him. Her first years as a mentor in the field had shown her the world was hardly the black and
white you were taught at the Academy.
"Mm. You have to admit, super powered robots that just happened to not be sentient would've gone by without half as much notice. An interesting
standard."
She chuckled, coming back to the present. "This is true. Very true. People tend to place emphasis on the flesh... and it doesn't doesn't help
that the Protectors are sentient, their minds programmed." Although that was true of everyone, just not always in such a... mechanical way. "And
let's be honest Anthony, you know the average moral standard of Crey security. I tend to find them selling company drugs, company firearms, and mugging
people. No matter what the intentions at the top, when the lower ranks are so infested with corruption, your goals become unworkable."
"Indeed. Convenient, of course, that such things happen in Brickstown...the first place any hero goes when they need to shake down Crey thugs," he
noted with a hint of wry humor.
She snorted. "Oh, very nice."
"I doubt you find such pithy wastes of corporate time in Founder's, for instance."
Neko looked over him, amused smile forming. "Are you smirking?" she chuckled.
"If you've seen my file, you know I never, ever smile. It's considered physically impossible," he noted, utterly deadpan.
The catwoman laughed outright at that. "And the toxins in the cola that time? And CreyComps subliminal messages?"
"Slightly more extreme than most heroes would choose, but you have to admit, had they worked, the end situation might not have been as bad as you
thought....at least, within the Countess's lifetime, anyway."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Legacies are interesting things. Of course, to ones such as you, I imagine it's less so. We're unaware if you have a natural
lifespan."
There was a slight shrug as she took another mouthful of coffee. "I tend to watch legacies," she admitted. Watched them form, and watched them
die. "Which means I do tend to think about the long term, even if I am acting more directly lately."
He finished his coffee and handed back the cup. "Mmm. So how do you see this situation panning out then?
"Crey is worryingly unstable," she said. "Far too many elements have embraced the more criminal sides eagerly and are willing to break away
for personal gain, they're drawing attention away from other threats out there, and frankly, you're setting up another Arachnos and Nemesis. People
with ambitions and the more flexible morals to do what they believe is right, surrounded by those with just dark ambition. If something was to happen to the
people keeping it in check... Actually, make that when something happens," she added
"Interesting view, given where she is right now, and who might be running the company."
Neko paused, looking at the Doll. Once upon a time, there'd been a bar on that spot. Phoenix Archer had always talked the bartender into a saucer of
beer for her feline friend. "Time takes everyone Anthony," she said softly.
"Which leaves the question of what you plan to do."
Her moment of memory faded away. "I plan to finish my coffee and get back to work. You believe in what you're doing, I believe in what I'm
doing." She shrugged. "It's the way of the world, and only the future will show the outcome. Well, and Silos, but I don't trust the
bastard."
"I don't trust anyone that claims to alter time," Hopkins scowled
"I don't trust anyone that has Nemmys hairstyle," she replied with a smirk. She downed the rest of the coffee and climbed out of the car,
leaving the rest of the donuts. "Take care of her Anthony," she said softly.
"I'd hardly be doing anything else."
"Sadly, that's a rare trait these days," she said, walking towards the Doll. As she came up to the front door, a white armor stepped out,
shifting as Neko watched to something more akin to green with blue highlights. "So, what do we call you?" the catwoman asked with a wry smile.
"Ransom Sabre," she said simply.
"Welcome to the madness," Purrfect Shield chuckled, stepping inside.
"I doubt it's too much more complicated."
"She has no idea," Neko said to Sylia with a wry smile, noting the irritated scowl on Priss's face. "So, what'd she say?"
"She's not in charge of the company. Someone else is. And the fact that she has the possibility of bringing her down means she has to hide in the
last place someone would look for her.
"So, who's in charge?" the taller woman wondered.
"The Countess Crey," Sylia chuckled. Priss snorted in dark amusement as Neko raised an eyebrow. "You saw the news reports?"
"The Countess was released on evidence of Crey executives using the Revenant Hero project for a false Crey," she said, having put it together
already.
"And the Countess Crey continues running her corporation while one shows up on our doorstep, looking to hide from her....which one is which, however,
is harder to discern."
"Well, it might not hurt to look into if they cloned Hopkins too. As far as he's concerned, that was the real one. And loyalty like that isn't
easily fooled."
"Video of the boardroom shows Hopkins where he's always been. At her side."
"Charming," she chuckled as she took a seat. "So, the eternal games gets more confusing."
but it wasn't doing much for the temperature itself.
In Steel Canyon, about two hundred meters from the Silky Doll, a generic blue car was parked, lights off. In the drivers seat, the bulky form of Anthony
Hopkins sat, patiently waiting to see what would happen. In his mind, he was going over the information he had on the building, its design, believed defences,
and the abilities of the three women that lived in the upper floors, along with any that may be in the area to respond if he stormed the building.
He was pulled out of his thoughts by the sound of a knuckle rapping gently on his window. Not displaying any outward surprise, he rolled it down slightly
and looked at the remarkably tall catwoman standing there. "Coffee?" Neko Romanova asked, holding up a large ceramic cup.
"Thank you," he said, taking it from her. "How long have you been watching?" He asked Purrfect Shield.
"After she took off the helmet, I did a speed recon," Neko replied, going around the other side of the car and hopping in. "However this
turns out, it's rude to leave you out in the cold," she said, offering him a donut.
"Hardly cold in this car, but thank you," he said as she adjusted the seat.
"I need to check if we're letting this part out to any of the others," she mused. "If so, Ifrit owes me a hundred dollars."
"For?" Anthony asked, honestly curious.
"Oh, I had a suspicion that there were people we wouldn't like in Crey that knew more then they let on and kept it secret for their own benefit.
Mind you, I didn't think it was QUITE so high," Neko admitted with a smirk.
"Miss Stingray never changed her name," Countess Crey's bodyguard replied. "We aren't stupid."
That got a chuckle from the catwoman. "That information on the originals was kept from the Scimitar project lead. Clever." She looked at the box
of donuts she'd brought, and chose one with strawberry icing.
"Compartmentalization was always factored in."
"Given how many compartments we checked, I'm impressed," Neko said in an impressed tone. "We honestly believed that you initially had no
way to translate the memory patterns, and by the time you might have, we'd been hunting." There was a moment of silence as they drank their coffee,
then she spoke up again. "So... I'll ask the expected question and get your answer for the usual politics."
"And that question being?"
"Is that the real Juliane-slash-Clarissa in there?"
"As far as I'm concerned," Hopkins replied honestly.
Neko smiled slightly. Whatever else she thought of the Countesses bodyguard, such loyalty earned her respect. "So, when did you meet her?"
"Shortly after she took over the company. I think I was the only one that ever figured out that Clarissa Van Dorn was a fake."
"Well, everyone else was much too interested in their own agenda," she said. "So many of those there, so many grabbing at
opportunity."
"I take it you have an opinion on that."
"An opinion on what?"
"On her reasons," he clarified.
Looking down at her coffee for a moment, the teacher turned warrior considered that. "Her reasons were pretty good actually," she said at last.
"Same reason people pick up swords and bows, or unleash impressive powers..."
"Not quite the reasons I meant." Neko glanced over at him. " I was thinking ofthe reasons she had for taking alternative methods."
"I was heading up to that actually. They're part of the same chain. Those... Her actions I can't agree with, but the reasons were
understandable." She sighed, sipping her coffee. "Afterwards, her reasons, her final goal... That's where the problems begin."
"Indeed," he noted, nodding for her to continue.
"Things such as the Protectors, the Scimitars, deals with the likes of Malta, Arachnos and Nemesis..."
"Fascinating how the Protectors get such strong reactions because they're flesh and bone, isn't it?" Anthony mused.
"It's not the Protectors themselves I have issues with, it's the nature of their creation," she said honestly. "That action, and the
purpose you used them for, tainted any legacy you intended to create. The murder of heroes, the editing of minds and identities... Trying to create Order
through such measures has always had a traditional response." For a moment, her mind wandered back, to bloody stained snow and the bodies of those used as
targets of a madmans power lust. And they'd been allied with him. Her first years as a mentor in the field had shown her the world was hardly the black and
white you were taught at the Academy.
"Mm. You have to admit, super powered robots that just happened to not be sentient would've gone by without half as much notice. An interesting
standard."
She chuckled, coming back to the present. "This is true. Very true. People tend to place emphasis on the flesh... and it doesn't doesn't help
that the Protectors are sentient, their minds programmed." Although that was true of everyone, just not always in such a... mechanical way. "And
let's be honest Anthony, you know the average moral standard of Crey security. I tend to find them selling company drugs, company firearms, and mugging
people. No matter what the intentions at the top, when the lower ranks are so infested with corruption, your goals become unworkable."
"Indeed. Convenient, of course, that such things happen in Brickstown...the first place any hero goes when they need to shake down Crey thugs," he
noted with a hint of wry humor.
She snorted. "Oh, very nice."
"I doubt you find such pithy wastes of corporate time in Founder's, for instance."
Neko looked over him, amused smile forming. "Are you smirking?" she chuckled.
"If you've seen my file, you know I never, ever smile. It's considered physically impossible," he noted, utterly deadpan.
The catwoman laughed outright at that. "And the toxins in the cola that time? And CreyComps subliminal messages?"
"Slightly more extreme than most heroes would choose, but you have to admit, had they worked, the end situation might not have been as bad as you
thought....at least, within the Countess's lifetime, anyway."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Legacies are interesting things. Of course, to ones such as you, I imagine it's less so. We're unaware if you have a natural
lifespan."
There was a slight shrug as she took another mouthful of coffee. "I tend to watch legacies," she admitted. Watched them form, and watched them
die. "Which means I do tend to think about the long term, even if I am acting more directly lately."
He finished his coffee and handed back the cup. "Mmm. So how do you see this situation panning out then?
"Crey is worryingly unstable," she said. "Far too many elements have embraced the more criminal sides eagerly and are willing to break away
for personal gain, they're drawing attention away from other threats out there, and frankly, you're setting up another Arachnos and Nemesis. People
with ambitions and the more flexible morals to do what they believe is right, surrounded by those with just dark ambition. If something was to happen to the
people keeping it in check... Actually, make that when something happens," she added
"Interesting view, given where she is right now, and who might be running the company."
Neko paused, looking at the Doll. Once upon a time, there'd been a bar on that spot. Phoenix Archer had always talked the bartender into a saucer of
beer for her feline friend. "Time takes everyone Anthony," she said softly.
"Which leaves the question of what you plan to do."
Her moment of memory faded away. "I plan to finish my coffee and get back to work. You believe in what you're doing, I believe in what I'm
doing." She shrugged. "It's the way of the world, and only the future will show the outcome. Well, and Silos, but I don't trust the
bastard."
"I don't trust anyone that claims to alter time," Hopkins scowled
"I don't trust anyone that has Nemmys hairstyle," she replied with a smirk. She downed the rest of the coffee and climbed out of the car,
leaving the rest of the donuts. "Take care of her Anthony," she said softly.
"I'd hardly be doing anything else."
"Sadly, that's a rare trait these days," she said, walking towards the Doll. As she came up to the front door, a white armor stepped out,
shifting as Neko watched to something more akin to green with blue highlights. "So, what do we call you?" the catwoman asked with a wry smile.
"Ransom Sabre," she said simply.
"Welcome to the madness," Purrfect Shield chuckled, stepping inside.
"I doubt it's too much more complicated."
"She has no idea," Neko said to Sylia with a wry smile, noting the irritated scowl on Priss's face. "So, what'd she say?"
"She's not in charge of the company. Someone else is. And the fact that she has the possibility of bringing her down means she has to hide in the
last place someone would look for her.
"So, who's in charge?" the taller woman wondered.
"The Countess Crey," Sylia chuckled. Priss snorted in dark amusement as Neko raised an eyebrow. "You saw the news reports?"
"The Countess was released on evidence of Crey executives using the Revenant Hero project for a false Crey," she said, having put it together
already.
"And the Countess Crey continues running her corporation while one shows up on our doorstep, looking to hide from her....which one is which, however,
is harder to discern."
"Well, it might not hurt to look into if they cloned Hopkins too. As far as he's concerned, that was the real one. And loyalty like that isn't
easily fooled."
"Video of the boardroom shows Hopkins where he's always been. At her side."
"Charming," she chuckled as she took a seat. "So, the eternal games gets more confusing."