The phone rings in the Salvatore household just as Tony runs out the door for a meeting with investors. "Hello?" Cassie answers, water dripping on the floor. Knew I shouldn't have slept in!
"Mrs. Salvatore?" a voice says politely. After she answers affirmatively, the voice continues. "This is Anna Kingsley, from the advertisement division at Honda. We were wondering if you would be interested in representing us in advertisements for the Honda Odyssey. We're prepared to offer you two million dollars for four thirty second ads, as well as a complimentary, fully equipped Odyssey. Are you interested?"
"Ah, Ms. Kingsley, you kind of caught me at a bad moment," Cassie says, trying to get a towel around her wet hair. A difficult task when also trying to juggle a phone at the same time.
"Thank you for the offer, but you see I really can't do any endorsements for cars. I don't really know that much about them and while I'm sure you put out a very fine vehicle I just couldn't speak about a product I know virtually nothing about. I'm sure you would want to have a well-informed spokesperson," Odysseys says, trying hard to keep a ring tiredness from creeping into her voice. This was the sixth company to call this week. When will they just leave me alone?
"I really must be going," she adds. "Thank you for approaching me. I'm really sorry I couldn't be of more help. Ah, the dog is getting into the trash, gotta go."
Hanging up the phone Cassie looks at Lobo lying asleep in a patch of sunlight. "You do come in handy old girl," she says, scratching the dog on the head. Lobo turns her head slightly and thumps her tail once, twice.
Chris Donnelly tossed the paper sack he'd brought Stephanie lunch into the trash on his way out of Rubicon Technologies, the Duchess subsidiary that she worked for. He hadn't been called for a sub job today, and visiting Steph had lightened his concerns about the Visa bill. Rubicon had given her a sizable raise.
Whistling as he begins the trek to his car -- parked nearly a mile away, all the way across Golden Gate Park, Chris stops suddenly, as he hears shouting coming from the front of the de Young museum. Looking over, he notices a crowd of nearly two hundred people gathering around a gold and blue clad masked figure. When he gets close enough to hear, though, a groan inadvertently escapes him. "Oh, no!"
"Thank you for coming, Proteus," Cassandra Salvatore says to the insubstantial figure, rising from the floor in her office. "I just got the call from Starlight, and I'm glad you could make it at such short notice. Apparently she's taken it into her head to design a special radio for us, so that we'll be able to get in contact with one another without having to use the phones. She's sending a friend of hers, Dr. Gardner, over with them shortly." Glancing at her watch, Cassie says, "Ought to be here any mome--"
The door is flung open. A breathless Mark Burton is standing, an odd expression on his face. "Cassie! I, uh, mean, Mrs. Salvatore," he says, glancing at Proteus. "Sorry, didn't see you come in." Turning back to Cassie he continues, "You've got to see this! Go and look out side on the steps!"
"OK Mark, " Cassie says smiling. "By the way this is Proteus," she says gesturing to the superhero in her office. "Proteus, this excited young man is my assistant, Mark Burton. Mark was instrumental in helping out the night VIPER attacked. He got a broken leg for his troubles."
Pulling Mark aside as they walk out of the office, Cassie whispers to him, "It's not VIPER again is it?"
Lisa Gardner brushes a wisp of hair out of her face, as she hurries from her car, towards the de Young museum. The radio for Odyssey was tucked safely inside her briefcase, but as she approaches the museum steps, she can't help but hear the shouting of a blue and gold clad masked figure.
"Golden Gate Guardians!" the figure announces. "No longer must you suffer the slings and arrows of the fickle public! No longer will the media mock you! I, Foxbat, am here to organize you into an effective team that no agents of villainy will be capable of standing against! Together we will rid San Francisco of the nefarious influences of VIPER!"
Cassandra Salvatore dressed in a business suit, hair in a distinguished bun, steps outside into the February sunlight. Behind her, Lisa sees, is Proteus.
"Oh great," Cassie mutters herself. "A fox with bats in his belfry on the steps of the museum. Can this get any worse?" Just then, it begins to rain. Why did I have to ask that, Cassie thinks, getting plastered in the face by droplets of rain. At least its not a Dolce and Gabana suit, she thinks looking at widening rain spots on her crisp suit.
Proteus looks up and sighs. Yeah, California weather. Sun shines all day long every where but here. Should have moved to San Diego.
Across the crowd, Chris also sees Cassie Salvatore -- her picture has been plastered throughout the city, in newspapers and magazines -- as well as the large gray figure in a red and white costume.
Chris strains upward to look over the crowd. He spots the paranormals being addressed by Foxbat. "That's Odyssey," he realizes. "That's right, she works here. Who's that other guy with her, though?"
"Well," he thinks to himself, "I've been wondering about meeting these people. I wonder how they'd feel about the Comet showing up. I hope they've at least heard of me; I don't need to get in a fight with them. Especially with all these people around. Foxbat, though, is a different matter. Maybe I should be ready, just in case something happens." Chris heads toward the car at a jog, where he keeps the Comet's costume.
Apparently, Foxbat also notices Cassie. "Ah, my lovely Ms. Salvatore," the well-formed figure croons, moving towards her. "You are just the person I've been waiting for." Kneeling before her, he reaches out for her hand, and kisses it. "Ah, what a pity. You're still married?" He looks crushed. "You will soon come to realize that it is only among your own kind that you will be truly happy."
"I'm sorry Foxbat, but you've got to realize that my heart is pledged to another," Cassie says, trying very hard to sound serious, but afraid that at any moment she's going to break down and giggle. "Remember, love knows no boundaries."
A few people snicker, and the crowd continues to grow in size. Foxbat continues, looking deeply into her eyes, "I am here to organize the Golden Gate Guardians into the best paranormal team the world has every known."
"But Foxbat, if you devote your help to the Guardians, what will the rest of the nation do in your absence?" Cassie asks. I hope Mark has the good sense to be calling PRIMUS right now, Cassie thinks to herself. I wouldn't mind seeing Maria show up. "The Hudson Hawks, PRIMUS, even the Avengers in Chicago - don't they all need your help. Wouldn't it be selfish to devote yourself soley towards us. I couldn't live with myself if I knew that the great Foxbat was going to devote all of his attention toward just San Francisco."
And, I don't know if San Francisco could survive it, Cassie thinks to herself. How do I get rid of this fox, guy, uh fox?
"None of them have the true need that you seem to. Look at your museum!" he says sweeping a hand towards the scaffolding. "You need someone to help you out, to watch your back. Are you gaining weight? Of course, it looks quite nice on you -- you really were too thin, I thought. We'll get you on an exercise program right away," Foxbat finishes. "Now," he says, putting his arm around Cassie, "I think we should start with 45 minutes on the Stairmaster daily, then ease into a weight routine."
A red flush blossoms over Cassie's checks. How dare he talk about me like that! Gaining weight, indeed. I don't think I'm gaining weight, Cassie ponders for a second. Why am I thinking about this right now?
'Putting on weight?" he murmurs in a low tone of voice, to Mark. "Oh, that's a definite faux pas. Can't wait to see her unload the artillery here." Despite the strangeness of it all, Proteus finds himself grinning in anticipation.
"Foxbat, you don't talk about a woman's weight in public," Cassie says in a chiding tone. "It's not seemly. Now regarding your offer of help. I know your intentions are good, but..." Her voice trails off as a guy in a red and yellow costume flies up.
"Damn, she didn't let him have it . . . Hello! Bogey at 12 o clock!" Proteus looks up from the steps, unmoving as the events transpire. He appraises the newest addition to the group, as the Comet flies up. He shakes his head, as the heroes keep piling up.
Chris stops in his tracks as the rain begins. "Oh, great," he mutters. "Well, nothing to do for it." He reaches the car and gets his suit out. Looking around, he spots a deserted alley tucked between two office buildings. With nothing better around, he ducks in and hides behind a garbage bin.
Shortly afterward, the Comet looks out to see if anyone has spotted him. Seeing no one, he takes off, choosing an inconspicuous vantage point from which to observe goings on.
Looks like she's keeping him busy. Did anyone call PRIMUS? Well, time to make my entrance. He looks up. Rain. I hate rain. Taking a deep breath, the Comet flies over to the museum and lands right by Foxbat and Cassie. "Sorry, Foxbat. You've got an appointment back in New Jersey."
"Who are you?" Foxbat asks, sounding somewhat irritated. "Is he one of your friends, Ms. Salvatore -- or can I call you Cassie? -- I suppose it's OK if he is. But if not -- am-scray, kid." He turns back to Cassie. "Now, I must say I do like the new haircut, but must you wear it up like that?" He sighs. "It makes you look like a librarian."
Great -- first Foxbat, now somebody else in costume, Cassie thinks. Where do all these guys come from? He doesn't look like a supervillain and he's trying to help....Well first one thing at a time.
Walking up behind Cassie, Proteus taps her on the shoulder. "Don't mean to frazzle you, but who's that?"
Cassie glances up at Proteus then back at the guy in the red and yellow costume talking with Foxbat. Shrugging her shoulders she whispers, "I think he's a new volunteer. Did you invite him?"
"Look Foxbat, I know you are trying to help. But with the recent attack on the museum and all the stuff that has happened with Protector and Knightblade, we've really taken a beating in the public eyes. The only way to change that is to pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps you see. We've got to prove to the public that we can solve these problems on our own. If you show up and save us, well the public will think we can't take care of things and that we always have to be saved by you. That may make you look good, but it won't help us and I know that you came here to help us. The best thing you can do is let us prove our worth to the public on our own terms. They'll respect us more if we do it ourselves."
Comet looks at Cassie with a thoughtful eye. Not bad, he thinks. Let's see. Foxbat is a nut, with the attention span of a five-year old. Maybe...a distraction? "Besides," he interrupts. "Everyone's waiting for you. All your fans back in New Jersey. You don't want to disappoint them, do you?"
Foxbat sighs. "New Jersey holds no allure for me anymore. I have done all that I can there -- the video stores are free from the evil influences of Disney films. I have decided to expand my crusade, and to free California of the Disney corporation. After California, I will save Florida."
Who the hell is this kook anyway? Proteus thinks.
Foxbat strikes a proud pose, and gives Cassie an imploring look. "You have no idea how hard it is, to labor day and night against the tyranny of a multinational corporation." He pats her hand. "It's such…lonely work. No one understands -- Disney has already subverted many. Why, look at the merchandising from 'Pocahontas' -- a completely inaccurate, insulting film, and yet people by the millions flocked to the theaters, and bought t-shirts for their children!"
"I need people to aid me in my crusade -- I will help you regain your good name, if only you will help me as well, fair Cassandra."
Proteus leans down and whispers to Cassie, "I'm waiting for your answer to this one! It better be good!" He grins at her. "You just must have all the fun."
"Foxbat, you have to understand," Cassie implores. "You have your quest and I have mine. I have to help the people here in San Francisco against VIPER and other threats. I can't go with you on your quest. I'm sorry."
Disengaging her hand from Foxbat's she adds, "If you excuse me, Foxbat, I have to go back to work. There is still a lot to do to repair the museum from that VIPER attack. I'm sure you understand."
Foxbat looks downtrodden, and a few people in the growing audience say, "Awwww."
"C'mon, Cassie!" Someone in the audience shouts. "Let him join your little team! He's our type of nut!"
"Yeah, he's better than Knightblade!" someone else adds. People begin to laugh and chant, "Cass-ie, Cass-ie, Cass-ie!" they begin. Foxbat looks up, hope gleaming in his eyes.
"Oh for goodness sake, when did I become the personnel director for the Golden Gate Guardians?" Cassie mutters to herself.
"Look, why don't we go inside and discuss this," she says to Foxbat, Proteus and the unknown paranormal. "We're all getting drenched out here on the steps and were drawing quite a crowd. My job is on shaky enough ground as it is, I don't need a riot on the steps of the De Young to add to it."
What! Better than Knightblade! How can they even think that! thinks the Comet. Stepping forward, he addresses the crowd. "People, please! Knightblade has yet to be proven guilty of any crimes in a court of law. Why do you judge him so callously? Have you forgotten the good he has done? The lives he saved? The brutal attack that almost killed him?" He gestures toward the damaged museum. "Have any of you asked yourselves if he might not have been set up? Although they failed to kill him, Knightblade is a ruined man because of accusations and innuendo. One less superhero for VIPER to worry about."
"Knightblade was a bleepin' traitor," a heckler shouts. "And who the hell are you, anyway?" The crowd laughs again, and Japanese tourists push through to the front to snap shots of the paranormals.
The Comet continues, "Ask yourselves this; if you had superpowers and chose to risk your life to help others, would you want to be ridiculed in the media and in the court of public opinion? Would you want your entire life turned into an open book for the gossip-mongers and publicity hounds? Would you want to go through what Odyssey, Knightblade, and Protector have been through? They tried to help; she had her life exposed, the others have become pariahs or even wanted by the law."
The crowd starts to look bored.
"I'm not telling you to get down on your knees and thank us for being here; that's not right either. But when you go home and watch the news talk to Miss Salvatore's high school friends about their opinions of her, or see the tabloid shows drag Knightblade's name through the mud, just think of what it would be like if it was you."
He turns to Foxbat. "Think about what PRIMUS would say if you joined the Golden Gate Guardians. They think you're a criminal, not a hero. They wouldn't understand, and they would just make things harder for Miss Salvatore. If you really want to help her, you'll have to prove to them that you're really the hero you know you want to be."
"PRIMUS thinks I'm a villain?" Foxbat laughs, "What have you been smoking? Why, last week I had dinner with Silver Avenger Hawkins and his lovely wife -- they even let me hold their new baby! A darling thing he is, too, though what a terrible name -- David Albert Hawkins." Foxbat holds his nose. "I have no idea what they were thinking."
Professor Gardner stands in the back of the crowd, awe-struck by the sheer lunacy of the situation. "Oh, if they only had a glue-grenade," she thinks to herself with a smile, "I probably should go and change." Leaving her briefcase and her lab coat in the car, she ducks into an alley. Pulling off her glasses shaking her hair free, she levitates into the air while stripping the last vestige of her disguise.
A Dodge Avenger pulls up, behind the crowd, and Silver Avenger Maria Chow hops out of the passenger's side door, followed by Agent Terry Kestler. The crowd parts for the Silver Avenger, and the Japanese tourists' cameras start flashing like mad.
"Maria, my beloved!" Foxbat drops Cassie's hand and gracefully leaps forward, flipping in mid-air, and landing in front of her. He quickly kneels, and grabs her right hand, only to kiss it fervently. "I have missed you so." He pauses, then lauches into "Maria" from West Side Story.
"You really do attract them, don't you, Cassie?" the Silver Avenger mouths over Foxbat's head. "Look, Foxbat, what are you doing here? Have you forgotten your obligations in New Jersey?"
I console myself with the fact that I'm hopefully getting less weirdos than if I were single, Cassie thinks. Looking back at Maria, Cassie rolls her eyes.
"I could not bear the thought of these fledgling paranormals, without a role model to lead them," Foxbat answers, standing up. Maria Chow suddenly takes Foxbat's arm, and whispers something to him. From behind the crazy paranormal, Agent Kestler sneaks forward, and grabs the ping-pong gun from his belt and tucks it in her own. Foxbat doesn't appear to notice.
Glancing up at the paranormals, Kestler winks, and gives them the thumbs up. Behind her, the crowd laughs. Kestler pulls a very oddly shaped pair of handcuffs from a satchel (emblazoned with the PRIMUS emblem), and suddenly the Silver Avenger nods to Kestler, grabs Foxbat's arms, and, while she's holding him there, the agent slips them around the man's wrists.
"I'm betrayed!" Foxbat cries. "How could you do this to me? 'Frailty, thy name is woman!'" He shouts at Kestler. "And you, Cassie, you do nothing to save me?" He sighs, and sits on the museum steps, looking forlorn.
"Don't worry, Foxbat," Cassie says. Leaning over she plants a kiss on his cheek. "I'm sure there's a woman out there somewhere who can meet your standards and join you on your quest. A piece of advice: when you meet her, don't insult her about her weight."
A few moments later, Sherman pulls up to the museum, moves through the crowd, and drives UP the steps to where Foxbat, the PRIMUS agents and paranormals are standing.
"Jesus, Avenger, did you have to drive through ALL the red lights?" one of the PRIMUS agents grumbles.
"I wasn't driving, Hanson," the Silver Avenger shoots back.
"That explains why it took you so long," Cassie says smiling. "Thanks for your help."
Agent Terry Kestler steps up to the paranormals, blue eyes sparkling with amusement, making her look very young. "Hi again, guys. Mind if I take your statements inside?" she asks, glancing up at the sky. "Who are you?" she says to the Comet.
"I'd like to know the answer to that question too," Cassie says, looking at the Comet. "I think we still have some coffee inside. Maria I've been trying to get ahold of you. I really wanted to invite you to this barbecue Tony and I are having," Cassie adds, going over to the Avenger.
"Sure -- I think I'm supposed to bring the beer, aren't I?" she says, holding the door open for the heroes. "What kind do you want?"
"Ugh, don't let her bring that gross kind she brought to my New Year's party," Agent Kestler makes a face as she steps inside. "It was some stinky German beer that you could eat with a fork."
Proteus inwardly sighs. Too bad, I had hoped she'd be a good malt beer kind of girl. Ah well, maybe she's into microbrews. Geez, what am I thinking here!
"If you brought tequila we could have margaritas," Cassie suggests. "I love margaritas."
"The beer was not my fault!" Maria says to Kestler. "How was I supposed to know it was a German university student's practical joke?"
"Well, that went really well," mutters the Comet. To everyone, he says, "I'm called the Comet. I'm pretty new at this, but I'm glad to meet you all." He extends his hand to Cassie.
Whoops, we forgot all about this guy! Proteus waits while Cassie shakes hands with the newcomer, then extends his own hand. "Nice to meet you, Comet. Or is it The Comet?" Smiling, he shakes hands with him. "This is the newcomers' brief for Superheroes Not-so-Anonymous. I think we get a one-day chip for showing up."
Agent Kestler -- a tall, thin blond woman in her early twenties with sparkling blue eyes -- smiles. "Terry Kestler. So nice to meet you," she holds out her hand. The Silver Avenger follows suit.
Emerging from the dark alley, Starlight streaks across the sky with her sparkles contrasting highly against the gray sky. Mentally, she brings up her forcefield and readies herself for the unexpected danger. Arriving quickly at the museum, she brings herself to sudden stop as she sees that Foxbat was easily captured. "Ah. Hi guys! Sorry I'm late."
Maria Chow nods to Starlight, as a uniformed PRIMUS agent steps forward. "We've found no sign of Foxbat's gang, or any of their vehicles, Avenger," he says crisply.
"That is interesting, Thompson, and completely in line with Avenger Hawkin's report about the break-up. Question is, who helped him escape?" the Silver Avenger muses. "Keep looking, Agent Thompson."
"Yes, Ma'am," he says, before wheeling and exiting.
Stepping back, Proteus approaches Agent Kestler. Whispering to her, he asks, "They aren't going to hurt that Fox guy are they? I'm curious as to what he did, or what he can do to merit the attention of PRIMUS?"
Agent Kestler grimaces, and rolls her blue eyes. "Where to begin with Foxbat? Well, he's certifiable -- certainly you've seen that -- and while he doesn't possess true paranormal abilities, members of his 'gang' do, and the equipment he uses puts him into PRIMUS' jurisdiction as far as that aspect is concerned. As for what he's done -- right now he's wanted for escaping from Stronghold, assault on federal agents, destruction of federal property, and related charges, not to mention what the Hudson City police want him for. I think he was initially in Stronghold for kidnapping the New Jersey Governor -- not to mention the later Disney video fiasco. He's toons," she adds, watching through the glass as the man is led into Sherman.
"Hmm. A 51-50, eh? At least he's better than fighting VIPER all the time. And worth a laugh or two," Proteus responds.
"Of course at this point, I have to ask what happened to the other teammates?" mutters Proteus to Agent Kestler. "Casualties of War?"
Kestler sighs, and mutters back, "Protector's still AWOL, and Knightblade hasn't said anything lucid since he was captured, which is making all the federal prosecutors batty."
"Wow, the Guardians are really batting a thousand. Are we the second round draft-picks then?" Proteus smiles slightly.
"I'd still like to volunteer my healing services," Cassie says. "I don't know if it will help, but I'd like to try to get Knightblade back to his normal self."
"And then he can explain how they were able to control him so easily," adds the Comet. "If VIPER has developed technology to control minds, no superhero in America is safe."
"Actually," Agent Kestler says, "We're not so sure that he was mindcon-" A sharp look from the Silver Avenger, and the young agent stops, midsentence. "You'll have to get in contact with the federal prosecutors, and his appointed defense attorneys," Kestler says instead. "All arrangements are going through them now."
Proteus says, "I think every man or woman makes a conscious decision on what they want to do. This idea of mind control is too easy. It gives too many people the perceived freedom from responsibility for their actions. It would be great if Knightblade were completely innocent for his crimes, but from a realistic point of view, I would find it more probable that he might have been blackmailed into cooperation, than mind controlled. Just my two cents."
"So, what happened here?" the Silver Avenger says to assembled group. "Looking for new teammates, Cassie?"
"Well, you know those ads in the Examiner's personal section," Cassie says, a smile sneaking onto her face. "They bring such an unexpected response. I guess I should have said no foxes, please."
"Seriously, I don't know what possessed him to show up here," she says, entering her office. "Mark could you get some coffee for all of us."
"Two creams?" Mark asks Maria, who nods.
"I guess he saw all the publicity in the newspaper and just decided to try and help us." Cassie shrugs her shoulders. "Who can figure him out. By the way, what did you say to him? He was tame as a mouse."
The Silver Avenger looks at the ceiling. "To be honest, the last time Foxbat went through therapy, someone got the bright idea of hypnotherapy. All of us were briefed on his 'lucid' word." She shrugs. "Seemed to work, anyway."
"You of course know Proteus and Starlight and as for this young man," Cassie turns toward the Comet, "I really appreciate you leaping to the Guardian's defense. Lord knows we could use a few fans. But perhaps you should properly introduce yourself. I don't think I've met you before and I'm pretty sure I would have remembered someone in an outfit like that. I'm guessing that stands for something besides 'cool, calm and collected'," she says pointing at the big blazing "C" on the Comet's uniform.
"Um, yes, one cream, lots of sugar. Thanks Mark." He turns back to the group as his name is mentioned. I thought he said his name was Comet, right?"
"Sorry about that. You can call me Comet. I've just started with this superhero business, and I'm still getting used to the whole idea. I don't know if you saw anything about it up here, but about a month ago down in San Diego I ran into Firewing. Last Monday I helped the local fire department with that fire at the Veccini Plastics warehouse. It got on the Oakland news, but I guess it didn't get any notice here." He shrugs. "I guess now they'll be linking me to Foxbat as well as your team."
"By the way, Miss Chow, I don't suppose you would know about the causes of that fire, would you? From what I saw it didn't look like anything minor could have started it."
The Silver Avenger shrugs. "We haven't been invited to participate in that investigation," she says apologetically. "From what I understand, the arson divisions of the Oakland Fire Department and Police Department are solely handling the investigation."
Proteus nods and looks around. "Well, I can't speak for everyone, since I'm a newbie too. But hey, any effort you can make for the home team is great. I heard Miss Avenger refer to a team, Cassie. Is that why you called Starlight and I here today?"
"Umm, to be honest - no," Cassie says, sort of flustered. "I mean not that I wouldn't consider you for a team or that I don't think a team is a great idea. I uh....boy this is going to sound really anticlimactic here...I invited you here to ask if you wanted to come over to my house for a barbecue."
"Whoops, sorry about that! Here I am making this an official newcomers brief and you were just being friendly." Proteus looks down, slightly embarrassed.
"And there was the thing about radios," Cassie rushes on. "Dr. Gardner - she's a friend who wants to help. She was going to drop by a prototype radio that we might be able to use so I don't have to keep calling everyone's cellular number every time there was an emergency. I was thinking that maybe Dragon Fist, Proteus, Starlight and I could test them out and see if we could then communicate with each other in times of crisis."
Cell phones? thinks the Comet. I can't even afford an answering machine.
Starlight begins, "For the team effort, Professor Gardner has started to create radios similar to this one." Strapped to her left wrist is a small radio with a G3 symbol on the face. "You tap the symbol to transmit." The G3 symbol glows slightly, " and tap it again to stop." The G3 symbol fades as she stops transmitting. "You can open it up if you need to change to the frequency. And basically, that's all it is to it. It's an open channel, so you need to watch what you say." She tunes it to the local FM news channel.
"..And all quiet on the Bay Bridge. Back to Jack Stetson with the weather."
Proteus interjects, "You know, if we where them on our chest, we could say neat stuff like, 'Proteus to bridge, four to beam up!' and 'I cannae give 'er any moore power, Cassie, or she'll blow!'" Looking around at the surprised faces, he drops his head in a very boy-like manner, saying, "Sorry, one too many times around the Star Trek block."
"That's OK, I like Star Trek too. Just as long as you don't call me Deanna Troi," Cassie says, laughing. "I hear any cracks like 'Odyssey, can you sense anything about the opposing force' and I clobber you in the gut."
"And then every time Agent Kestler has to take a report she doesn't have to call just me. She can call everyone," Cassie says smiling at Kestler. "I believe in sharing the wonders of PRIMUS paperwork with everyone. I think my hand gave out halfway through writing that last witness report. I suppose this Foxbat thing means another report?" Cassie adds, wincing in anticipation.
I wouldn't mind Agent Kestler calling ME, thinks Proteus. Of course, that's assuming she's not seeing someone. GEEZ, what am I thinking? Just fill out the report, go home and take a cold shower!
"Well, yes," the PRIMUS agent says. "But it really won't be much more than an incident report, since you weren't involved in fighting in any way. This is how we at PRIMUS encourage peaceful resolution of conflicts among friendly paranormals."
The Silver Avenger looks up abruptly. "I remember that seminar," she murmurs to Cassie.
"Ahhh, the whole swamp them with paperwork so they won't ever think about blowing a whole in the TransAmerica building again strategy," Cassie says with a smile.
Terry Kestler opens her satchel. "Actually, there's really nothing to it. Just fill in all your pertinent information -- you can put the radio frequency for the phone number. You do know that if you don't scramble it, anyone with a scanner will be able to pick up your conversations, don't you?" She begins passing out forms -- her hand brushes Proteus' and she blushes slightly. "Oh, sorry," she whispers.
"Um, no, my fault, I should have watched where. . . Um, sorry." Nice going, clutz! Just knock the papers out of her hand next time!
"After you fill out your personal info -- you don't have to put any secret information, but do give us some sort of contact number. You should be aware that the personal stuff is classified, and will only be seen by Silver Avenger Chow and me. Bear in mind that if one of you goes missing or is kidnapped by a villain group, the more we know about you, the better we can help you out ourselves." Kestler shrugs. "Or not. Anyway, after you fill that out, just write down what you saw happening from the moment you saw Foxbat. Thanks!" She accepts the coffee from Mark.
Proteus asks, "So are these radios ready to put down as a means of communications? I still haven't gotten a cellular phone or beeper yet."
"I guess, but you still might want to leave a phone number," Cassie says. "Just in case."
"By distinguishing marks do you mean tattoos?" Cassie asks, looking up from her form. "Or are you just referring to things like ritual scaring, piercings and navel rings?"
"Oh, and do I really have to put my maiden name down?" I wonder if PRIMUS knows about that nickname or not? Cassie thinks.
"Yes, no, no." Kestler answers.
Comet motions to the Silver Avenger, who walks over to him a few minutes later, after she's finished speaking to one of the transporting agent. In a quiet voice, he says, "About this; am I included? I mean, if you all trust me that quickly, I'm flattered; it certainly gets us over the 'new guy in town, probably a villain, let's fight' thing that we hear about all the time."
The Silver Avenger gives him an odd look. "You really are new at this, aren't you? These," she gestures to the papers in the Comet's hand, "Are the federal equivalent of a police report. You just write down what you saw and what you did for the record." She gestures outside, where PRIMUS agents are speaking to numerous other people and taking statements.
The Comet continues, "If I am included, then I should mention that I really don't have a number you can contact me at, at least not without giving away my secret identity." He looks embarrassed. "I'm not, shall we say, financially in a position where I can afford a cellular phone or a pager."
"Cassie?" Maria Chow calls. While she's walking over to them, the Silver Avenger says, "If you trust Cassie with your information -- your phone number or whatever -- then you can use her as a contact, providing she doesn't mind. Or maybe they could just give you one of their radios."
"Well, that would definitely help," says the Comet, pondering. He quickly fills out the incident report. "Did you want me to write out what I told the crowd, too? It didn't seem to make much of an impression on them."
"I wouldn't be too hard on yourself," the Silver Avenger says. "If it makes you feel any better, when DJ Johnson was the Silver Avenger here, he answered a call in this park right after he arrived. Some of the homeless threw garbage at him and called him a neo-Nazi freak." She shrugs. "It's very difficult to tell how people here will react on any given day."
"Hey, it happens to the best of us," Odyssey says, "Currently my neighbors aren't too impressed with my superheroing. I believe Mr. Janus has filed a complaint with the planning commission saying that being a paranormal violates the neighborhood zoning. Can you believe that?"
"Zoning violation? God, how can ignorance repeat itself over and over again? What's next, paranormals riding in the back of the bus?" Proteus shakes his head and clenches his fist in frustration, the cracking of his knuckles like a gun shot in the small room. "I sorry, but small minded people really piss me off! What, oh sorry Mark, yes, I'll still take that coffee."
"Of course, my very well-reasoned response to that is to invite every paranormal over to my house for a barbecue this weekend," Cassie says with a devilish smile. "If I'm going to violate zoning it's going to be done in a big way."
"Maria, Agent Kestler -- you're both invited," Cassie says, while handing her incident report back to Kestler. "The Golden Avenger is also invited, but I don't know really how to get hold of him or if he'll be in town this weekend?"
"Starlight, Proteus I hope to see you at my house as well. Starlight could you pass the invitation on to Dr. Gardner. I'm not sure if I'll see her in the next couple of days. If she comes, it would give a chance to thank her in person for the radios. Proteus, I don't suppose you could materialize in Janus' yard on your way to my house," Cassie adds, laughing. "It'd be worth all the harassment just to see the shocked look on his face as you glide through his petunias. Of course I understand if you can't."
"Oh, I'd LOVE to! Maybe I'll even stop by and ask for directions." Proteus grins rather evilly himself.
Cassie continues, "And Comet, you're new to this superheroing business. Think you could handle a paranormal barbecue? It would give you the chance to meet Dragon Fist. He's not here today, but I think I might be able to convince him to come on Saturday."
"It sounds like fun, and I'd love to come," answers the Comet. "I was wondering about Dragon Fist, actually. I'd heard of him being part of your group, so I was surprised not to see him when I arrived."
"Yes, Cassie, why isn't Dragon Fist here? Was he busy?"
"I believe he said he was tied up with family matters," Cassie replies. "Don't worry though. I'm sure he'll be at the barbecue."
Proteus hands the incident report to Maria. "Here you are, Miss Chow. I'll go over this personal information sheet and bring it to the barbecue on Saturday."
"Whoops, here you go Agent Kestler, my report is done." And so am I, he adds mentally. Wow, she's a knockout!