The wind practically blows Cassandra through the door of the tiny Thai restaurant. Where are they? she thinks, looking around the drab, worn interior of the restaurant. After Matthew's revelation earlier in the day, she'd been feeling marginally better about her new identity.

Why did Mom have to call last night - the first time in four months! -- only to curse me for being a freak of nature in addition to a heretic? Tony's protective reaction - grabbing the phone, articulately cursing in a succinct blend of Italian and English , before slamming the receiver down - had helped for a while, but the pain of rejection was still there. Not even Uncle Alex's special lunch delivery - watching him wade through the mass of reporters camped on her post stamp-sized front lawn (more like a couple of flower boxes, really) was funny enough - had cheered her up for more than a few minutes.

Tony had canceled his business trip to Colorado, and had dropped her off at the restaurant, declining her offer to join them. "You're as much a part of this as I am," she'd said, but he had only shaken his head.

"Nah. This is your gig - I'll just catch a film. Dad told me about a new Italian movie playing down the street."

"You talked to your father?" Cassie had asked, stunned. Tony's father had been even more opposed to their marriage than Cassie's mother - and more vocal.

"Yeah, last night after you went to sleep. Just told me that he thought I'd done OK marrying you."

After only a moment, Cassie spots Morgana and Matthew Chu-Wun, dressed as Dragon Fist, his alter ego, seated around the low table in the restaurant.

"Hi," she says in greeting to the two heroes. "So how are you feeling, Dragon Fist?" she asks with a sympathetic smile, sitting down next to him. "I thought you said this was a Thai place, Morgana?"

"Oh, you heard the music?" the heroine responds as Cassie seats herself, referring to the Ofra Haza blaring from unseen speakers. "The owners are Israeli."

"It's good to see you ," Cassie says, staring at the menu in her hand. She's dressed in jeans and a white shirt. Her hair is pulled back in an improvised braid. While dressed casually, she looks unrelaxed - tense even.

"It is good to see you as well," answers Dragon Fist, "I'm glad you could make it." He has short-cut black hair and brilliant green eyes. His costume is a dark green kung-fu gi with a sheen reminiscent of scales. Red mask and highlights add a bit of flash.

"I don't know why I always get a craving for a hamburger when I'm in a Thai restaurant," Cassie says, looking at the menu. "It's like my stomach knows it's the one thing I can't get here and then demands it." She sighs, putting the menu down. "Anyone know an easy way to dislodge 100 reporters from your front step? They've been camped in front of my house since the museum disaster. My dog is going hoarse barking at them, the neighbors are complaining and the reporters are trampling the flowers. I don't know what they expect me to say. We're all upset about what happened at the museum. I keep seeing that little girl's face. But I can't change what's happened. I suppose they want me to announce that the 'Golden Gate Guardians' have caught the guys responsible. Well, that's a little hard when I can't get out of my house to even start investigating..." Cassie's voice trails off as she massages her temple.

"Sorry, I've had the worst headache since all of this started. I've got some ideas about how to backtrack and maybe find these guys. VIPER is too far undercover I think to be located. And I just don't have the contacts to find them. But I do have some contacts in the art world. Perhaps if I can determine who VIPER stole that artwork for we can locate both the buyer and then - with some luck - VIPER. Well, it's an idea," she says. "What has been happening with you two? And where's the waitress?"

"I've been thinking about where to go from here," responds Dragon Fist. He steeples his hands in front of him and frowns. Then, he places them palm down on the table, giving each of his companions an intent look.

"VIPER's actions at the museum were threefold. First, they eliminated a paranormal as a threat. I don't know what Knightblade did to anger them so, but he must have threatened them greatly. They actually failed to complete his assassination only through your efforts, Cassandra, however that action has effectively exposed you."

"I don't quite know the details of it, but from talking with Knightblade, he and VIPER have had a feud for several months now," Cassie says, toying with her glass of water. "He apparently did something that really pissed them off. They were hunting him."

"Second, they stole over $37 million in artwork. This, I think, was the least of their objectives. Third, they initiated a political exercise which has resulted in increased anti-paranormal sentiment. I don't think they are finished with this yet."

"Perhaps, but I think this recent wave of anti-paranormal sentiment was a fluke," Cassie says. "VIPER had no way of knowing that any paranormals besides Knightblade and perhaps Silver Avenger Chow would be at this event. The guest list was not publicized. You and I, as well as some other paranormals were unknown at that time, and Ms. Windrifter - while publicly known - was not advertised as a guest."

"I think perhaps their goal was to publicly - very publicly - kill Knightblade and make a profit while they did this."

"But, this must have been planed in advance," Cassie continues. "And, I'm inclined to agree with the FBI agent quoted in the Examiner. VIPER stole specific items. There were valuable paintings and artwork they passed up. This suggests that they already had a buyer lined up. Essentially, they were stealing to fill an order."

"We've got to meet them on all fronts. First, Knightblade may still be in danger. I don't think they chose him as a mere "paranormal example," otherwise, they would have struck at Ms. Windrifter as well. No, I believe they targeted him specifically and apart from the publicity value. PRIMUS _may_ be able to keep him alive, but we've got to discover why they wanted him dead. Cassandra, you may be the only one of us able to get close to him, thanks to your healing ability."

"I wouldn't expect too much help from PRIMUS on protecting Knightblade right now," Cassie says looking down at the table. "He sort of pissed them off. Said some stuff and well, they were mad at him before he said the stuff. I'm not sure why. He says he doesn't know why either. All I know is when we captured Thermond and saved those hostages - well, he nearly got

himself arrested. PRIMUS treated him like he was a criminal that they couldn't pin anything on yet, but they were going too. I'll check up on him. I'd like to get him out of thehospital before VIPER can target him again. If we thought the attack at the museum was bad, just imagine what damage VIPER could do in a hospital....."

"This..." Dragon Fist pauses and his voice takes on a heavy note of contempt, "... Paranormal Legislation movement must also be fought. Morgana, you are the activist, and perhaps the most experienced of us in this arena. I can connect you with a friend who can devote time and money to this cause."

The hero pauses as the waitress arrives to take their orders. This takes a bit as the woman is a bit awed at having no less than _three_ paranormals at her table. Then again, considering recent events, that may be fear and not awe in her eyes.

"As I said before, I believe VIPER intended to turn public sentiment against paranormals. Thus, I expect things will get worse if we remain inactive in opposing this. We've suffered a major public relations disaster, and it's imperative that we do something."

He turns to Cassie. "One thing that those reporters are providing us is a voice to the public. True, they will use and hinder us, but its possible they will unwittingly aid us. For one thing, if you say something to them it will get out."

"I don't know if the Hard Copy reporter going through my trash is the necessary forum for good publicity," Cassie says with a trace of dry humor. "I think he's more interested in my love life. However, CNN keeps calling. I can try. Any suggestions on what to say? I'd rather not hint at any investigations - no sense alerting those we are after. If I had the money, I would suggest a victim's aid fund. There were two children orphaned by this attack. Both their parents were killed. Or maybe some sort of fund to help the museum. If either of you have friends who are philanthropists and be willing to donate. A cleanup crew is an idea. With our combined powers and my husband's help - he's an architect - we could safely move away a lot of the rubble. That would save the museum a tremendous amount of money in demolition crew expenses."

"The artwork now, that's probably our only realistic avenue of offensive action. Cassandra, your idea of tracking prospective buyers is good. I can add to that with some contacts of my own. If any Asian art is going to be up for sale, some of it will probably go through Chinatown."

"I'll start checking," Cassie says.

Dragon Fist leans back and folds his hands together on the tabletop. He smiles. "A friend of mine is always telling me I either talk too little or too much, and am never in between."

Cassie smiles, and wonders to herself how Mark Burton is doing.

"OK, just to recap. Cassie, you're going to check up on Knightblade. Let me know if you need help. If we do manage to get him out, he may need a place to recuperate, and I may be able to help with that."

"Cassie and I will start tracking the stolen artwork. Morgana, you need to start looking into the public relations and legal issues. I'll also try contacting a reporter friend of mine and see if I can't arrange some positive press for us."

"We need to get in touch with PRIMUS and the police," Morgana says. "I know that they do

not like us much but we have to make the effort. If we do not, we will be accused of being 'uncooperative' and having 'vigilante mentalities', which will do our cause no good at all," she says with a wry grin. Morgana continues, "At least media coverage will not be a problem. Poor Birdy has been swamped with calls and faxes asking me to speak on various shows. Why can't we ever get good publicity like this?"

Dragon Fist looks up as the waitress comes back. "It looks like lunch is here."

"Great," says Morgana, "I am famished."

Cassie looks down at her plate. Suddenly, a peanut butter sandwich seems a lot more appetizing. Sighing she picks up a fork and starts to eat.

PBEM Turns Page