Communications.

Text message to the legacy

Could you meet me at my place? We need to talk.

  Okay guys, backyard barbecue party at my place, the new one, then you all get a walk through.  If one of you wants to let Rodger and his family know, feel free, okay?}}  The address was included, and it was on the edge of town.

In reply to Hunter (msg #2):

Sure. When and where?

Nora's house, as soon as possible.

{{Well, food's on the gril now, so, you know, whenever you get around to showing up?}}  She had given her new address with the first announce.

In reply to Hunter (msg #5):

All right, I'll be there in a few minutes.

  {{Good.  Someone's gotta be hungry.}}

"Hello Painter. I have a job for you if your interested, any plans for tommorow night?"

"None in particular. What's the job?"

"A Mr. Witness is tracking a new drug craze in Weston and wants someone to watch his back. I figured since you're in the area and you already took down one drug syndicate whats one more?"

"Taking out drug dealers? I'll be there, boss man. You can count on it. Wait, syndicate? I thought I just took out one dealer. Was he supplying a whole bunch of other guys, too?"

"He was the main supplier, well the only one as he was getting the drugs from his veins, but he had a number of dealers and runners throughout the city. Drugs are not a one man operation not if you want to make real money."

Ozzy whistled, "I knew I saw the bucket of blood, but damn... Anyway, I'll be more than happy to help. When and where should I meet Mr. Witness?"

"He wants you to meet him at 830 at an abandoned schoolbuilding scheduled for demolition. Its on the seedy side of town. [<Insert address here>"

"Ill be there. 20:30 at (address). Got it."

"Very good enjoy the rest of your evening"
CLick

Text message to the Legacy (Hunter, Mirage)

Sorry to disturb everyone. Someone just tried to take a potshot at me at the dojo. The shooter got away but they intentionally left a note.

"Your weaknesses have been exposed, your Achilles' heel revealed. The end game is set. To find me, you must return...TO WHERE IT ALL BEGAN.."

Any idea as to what this could mean? Let me know when you can.

{Text to Mirage, Lady Psyche, Hunter, and Stormwalker}

I may have figured it out. Whoever is calling us out is at Above And Beyond. Where it all began. I"m headed there now. If you can, meet me there and we'll find this person who's been playing with us.

  {{Ozzy.  What have you been doing?}}

{{I was watching Mr. Witness's back, like I was supposed to for my job tonight, when a fight fell in my lap. Apparently there's a new 'drug' out there that's some kind of mutagen. And, well... let's just say you're not the only one in our group who's tall, dark, and scary anymore. The mutants that the drug makes can 'spread' it, and I took a hit. I'm about nine feet tall now, which is REALLY weird, with wiry muscles, wings, and a scorpion tail dripping mutagenic 'venom'.}}

  {{Grascious.  Now you know how it feels to have it sort of bite you in the tail.  You going to be okay?}}

{{Heh. I used to be human like you. Then I took a mutagen-laced bone dart to the knee. But... I dunno. I dunno so much about this. This might or might not be permanent, I don't know. Right now, though, it mostly hinges on Clarissa's reaction. I can understand if this form creeps her out a bit, but I at least need a shoulder to lean on, yeah? Just... wish me luck, bro.}}

  {{Let me know if you need my shoulder.  I know all too well how it feels.  I wish you good luck.}}

[Thanks... And, well, at least I'm still recognizable. Megs didn't flip when she saw me, at least. But now the big one...]

  {{Megs gets her unflappable streak from her Mom.  She could TRACK you by scent, so I imagine you probably are identifiable by scent, still.}}

{{Hmm... prolly. And to answer your earlier question? Yeah. It's gonna be okay. Even if I'm stuck this way. Clarissa never ceases to amaze me, man. I am a lucky, lucky dude.}}

  The clear sensation of amusement came through, and he said {{Gives you a whole new appreciation for how much Vic means to me, doesn't it, my friend?  Believe me, you have a gem for a girl in Clarissa if she's not freaking.}}

{{Yeah. She's the one, man. I'm more sure now than I ever have been. And, ah... I'mma let you go, okay? Later.}}

To all upon the worm-net:

{{You are hereby cordially invited to the rather impromptu wedding of Clarissa Clemmons and Ozzy Gysbourne. We'll be getting married at Weston Hospital as soon as we can track down a dress and a justice of the peace. Come as you are, and sorry for the short notice! Also, if you can think of anyone who's not wormed that would want to come, give them a call!}}

  {{Ozzy.  We're coming, Mom and I, and she said SHE would handle a dress for Clarissa.  So, come as you are, to quote Nirvana.}}

{{Sweet! Thanks, Meggers! And tell your Mom thanks, too! That saves us the effort of looking for a backless dress. We're at the courthouse now... I can't believe it, I'm getting MARRIED!}}

  Meg's crystalline laughter echoed in his head. {{And I am delighted to see it happening to you, Ozzy.  Mom ALSO says she'll handle YOUR tux.}}

{{I know I need one. Heh, I've been wearing paint-clothes all day. The hours at Akbar's Really Really Big and Tall are a bitch, you know?}}

  {{Oh good heavens!  Oh, and Mom says you and Tats are GOING to be putting up with another Dragon.  So you're warned?}}

{{Tats said something about that, yeah. We've just been so busy getting me clothes, and doing... stuff... and now getting MARRIED that we haven't had time. Oh, fair warning, Clarissa's a catgirl now. There is drama involved that I will fill you in on later. Actually thinking about it makes me angry, and I don't want to be angry right now.}}

  {{No problem, Ozzy.  I do want the full story later.}}

{{You'll get it. Let's just say I showed a lot of self control by not turning a normie into a greasy red splatter, okay?}}

  {{I have no doubt.  Now, any preferences in tux colors?}}

{{Uh... black? I dunno. Unless your Mom's gonna put Clarissa in red.}}

  {{I don't know.  She's muttering in Han.}}

{{Iiiinteresting. Well, lemme know when something happens.}}

  {{If she was muttering in Greek, I could translate for you!}}

Ozzy....interesting story, may have to check with you about that later. Congratulations to you both. I unfortunately won't be able to make it due to...old business. But you have my support if you need it. Take care you two..

{{Thanks, Sensei... speaking of which, I may not be able to come to class anymore. I'm... well, I'm nine feet tall, and I can break a car with my bare hands pretty easy. I don't want to hurt anyone in class, so... Yeah.}}

Sorry to hear about that. Still, don't be a stranger Ozzy. No matter what you look like, you're always welcome. Both of you. Never forget that.

{{I figure I'll come by at least one more time to watch, and let everyone know what's up. Figure it's only fair, right?}}

That is more than fair, Ozzy. I hope to see you soon.

{{You will. And, hey, being mutated in the line of duty isn't all bad. Having a good woman has certainly helped!}}

In reply to Ozzy Gysbourne (msg # 49):

I know two very good women that come to my mind that have helped me. Guys like us wouldn't have made it as far as we did without them.

  The night before, while Ozzy and Clarissa were celebrating in private, Megaira had sent over the worm-net {{We have a second victim, guys.  This one's still alive, but it's rather shocking what's been done.  Be wary.}}

  Lin called Oswald Sr's telephone number n her cellular phone.

Oswald himself picked up, saying, "Hello, Lin. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

  "Hello my friend.  I have a young lady who is God Touched,d and they granted her powers.  She's having issues with the mutagen, so she needs a hand figuring out precisely what the stuff is doing to her.  Would you mind stopping over to Megaira's, and checking things out?  Or would you prefer we came to you?"

Oswald smiled, "Either way, Lin. I can come to you, or you can come to me. It may be faster, however, for me to go to you. I'll see you in a moment."

With that, he hung up the phone, and teleported over to the Kattakara Estate.

  {{Guys?  There's a wire-mesh man on the TV, and he says it's important.}}

  {{All-call.  We have a job to do, guys.  Long-johns party time, get together so we can stop some serious stuff.  Meet at Megs or send me an image so I can pick you up!}}

[[I'm on my way but Penny's staying behind, she's NOT going in the line of fire.]]

  {{She can help from where she is, Jack.  You just keep her linked in.}}

  {{We have an issue at the Weston DPA, if anyone wants to assist?}}

Fiona's Phone rings.

"Hello?" Fiona's voice was sounding a bit deeper than usual, thanks to her current form, but it was still recognizable.

"Hey sweetie. Whats up?' Danas now familiar voice came from

"Um, not much... except that I woke up as a werewolf today. How about you?"

"The same, minus the werewolf part. Things have been quiet around here lately since word got out I 'stopped three supervillains sent to kill me'. Though thats not the only rumor going around. I've stopped correcting everybody just cause I got sick of the conversation."

"Wait, what?" Fiona was rather taken aback by that. "I haven't told anyone about that... how have people found out?"

"Well the cops did take the guy out of my apartment. Some of the neighbors prolly saw and rumors get spread from there."

"Oh, right. Well... do you want to hang out? Shall I come over to your place? Or do you want to meet up somewhere?"

"Are you stuck all wolfy? Going out might be a problem if you are, but I'm game for whatever you want to do."

"Nah, I think I can change shape. Hold on." A moment later, Fiona was back to her regular voice. "Yeah, I was just staying in wolf shape for my magic practice."

In reply to Megaira Kattakara (msg # 60):

I can meet you either at the house or at the DPA. Whichever is convenient.

  {{Meet us at the DPA building.}}

In reply to Fiona Reinhardt (msg # 70):

"So anything in particular you want to do? Go out somewhere, or just chill indoors? I haven't seen your place yet."

  On the all-call mental channel, Meg sent {{You guys. Got a long john party at the DPA building, about to move tracking some hostile folks who speak bad English.}}

  On the all-call mental channel, Meg sent {{You guys. Got a long john party at the DPA building, about to move tracking some hostile folks who speak bad English.}}

"Long John party huh? Well, I hope you counted on Ice Cream..be there in a few, icy form and all.."

  {{Awesome!}}

  Matt's phone rang.  RING RING

  Ring Ring, BANNANA PHON- "Hi, I kill grammar deader than Dracula after a Run in with a Belmont.  So I guess that's why I didn't get across the Mindworm is currently working, even if the first try was a botch.  Van Of God is on the approach, but I'm guessing you have a specific address in mind."

  Clarissa chuckled, and said "Okay.  Here's the address. It's a FUNERAL HOME.  Go figure.  And . . .. I don't actually have my own mindworm.  I just overhear Ozzy's."

"Well, I don't have my own place. I live together with some other paras. I'm sure it's not a problem if I show you around, though. It's at [insert address here]. Do you know how to get there?"

"Yeah I'll get a cab. See you soon."

"Hey, hold on," Fiona said quickly before Dana could hang up. "How about I pick you up? A lot cheaper that way. And probably more fun."

"Thats cool sounds like fun. You sure you don't mind bringing me around your friends."

"Of course not! I'm sure you'll love them. Some of them are a bit odd... no odder than me, though." Fiona chuckled a little. "See you in a bit."

"I'll be waiting with bated breath." Click

  Andy to Bella:  {{Could you come to [insert address] so we can catch that gang of criminals after the DPA building, sweetie?}}

  Bella to Andy {{Sure.  Give me a couple.}}

Zeke to Dragon Fist:

{{Hey Luke, some guy with a shiny necklace is at the HQ looking for you.  WHAT have we told you about picking up strays?  Make sure to at least leave water out for this one, would ya?}}

Gotcha, Hotwire. I'll be there in a few minutes.

Iris' cell phone rang.

Thanks to the tweaks she had made to her cell-phone, she could answer her phone through the communication devices she had made so long ago. A tap with her free hand and she had Machine Smith in her ear.

"Hello? Sorry if I'm distracted. There's three rabid mutants attacking kids in the gym."

'Sorry for interrupting Kiddo. Zeke's back, can you come by the LEgacy's headquarters when your finished?"

"Zeke's back? Great! Yeah, no problem. Right after this. I'm pretty sure that debate team will be gone anyway."

Incoming call on Captain Jordan's office phone...

"Please tell me you heard whats going on and your calling to help."

"You know me too well, Captain. Any ideas on where our kidnappers might be holed up?"

"If I knew that I'd have SWAT on their asses already. We're close to an international incident here DF, China's NOT happy about this. We found one of their old bases by the Dock's but it looks like they cleared out a while ago, and in a hurry."

"All right, I'll check with the others and find a way to track them down. Aside from what we received in the alert, is there anything else you can tell us?"

PM

PM

PM

PM

PM

PM

PM

Hello Meg....it's Lucas. I hate to disrupt what you're doing, but the Chinese ambassador has been kidnapped by the Parahuman Front. Is there a way that you or anyone there might be able to help track him so we can mount a rescue?

  Meg answered while she finished shutting off the grill {{You know I'm good at tracking.  The question is, can I get his signature to begin with?  Because I need to know WHOM I need to locate in order to track them down.  Where do you want me to meet you?}}

"I'm at the Legacy HQ right now. If you can't make it here, I can come to you, I at least have a picture of the kidnap victim."

  Her amusement came clearly, and she said {{Since when have I had trouble getting places?  Give me two minutes.  I want to bring dinner with, since I just finished grilling all these burgers.}}

"Little did I know.." Lucas said with a mental chuckle. "All right, I'll wait for you...plus I have a new friend here...someone who is helping us out.."

"Andy...Dragon Fist....I was wondering if you could help us out with a snatch and grab. Meg found the Chinese ambassador that was abducted, and we need to get him out of danger before the fighting starts."

  {{Sure can.  Need a visual of the location though.  Hurts to materialize inside things.}}

"We're down at the Docks. The tough part of town. Our target is Warehouse 27. I've got Meg here with me, and she's help pinpoint him."

  {{Flash me a visual, and I'll be there.  I can bring Vic, if you need me to?}}

"Every bit helps, we could use her too."

He then flashed a mental glimpse of the warehouse they were staking out.

  {{Bill, love?  Hate to tell you this, but your mother escaped from prison.  You know she's gonna go on a crimespree, right?}}

[[Damnit, Okay I think Ozzy's got the rest of this handled, I'll head home and we can work on what to do.Did the news give any details?}}

  {{She got away with someone named Circe?}}

{{Wasn't that what they called Isoldes mother? Terrific. Its like the 'evil mom team'}}

  {{Not impossible.  Circe and Mantis.}}

To Meg:

{{Hey Meg, talking with Machinesmith and Iris.  Got a few questions for ya.  Sounds like you were working on a gravity drive?  How'd that work out for you, and do you have any notes on it.  Also, I have a little project I need to work on that I don't trust in the city, let alone any government watchdogs in HQ.  Do you happen to know of any remote area I might be able to use?  I figure if there's any remote area, you or your parents would have a pretty good idea.}}

  He could taste amusement as Meg answered {{Yes, I was working on one.  I SORT Of have notes, and yes, I know of a remote place, and I could get you a way to go there if you needed it.  As for the gravity drive . . . the difficulty is to generate synthetic gravitational waves.}}

{{Sounds good, thanks Meg.  I'd appreciate the remote place, when you're free to show me where it is and get me there.  I'll have plenty of time to look at the gravity drive.  Between Iris, Machinesmith, yourself and the Atlantean device I ate, I'm sure we can figure it out.}}

  {{You three will have to do the hard part, you have to study ME to figure out the missing element.  I'll be a little bit, but yes, I am sure Mom can get you a perfectly remote place that you can work on dangerous things.}}

Wide-spectrum message to anyone on the worm-net:

[[Hey, guys, do we have any clue where the NPR base is? They sent a sniper with more mutagen bullets to Weston High School today. I wanted to give them their broken toys back personally if I could.]]

  Meg switched to answer Ozzy, giving him the GEM scan results showing where high concentrations of parahumans were in the city as she said {{There you go.  Fresh GEM scan results.  Not sure which one is whose, but you can see where there's groups of Paras.}}

"We're also outside of a structure where they're holding the Chinese Ambassador hostage. Andy and Vic are going to do a snatch and grab, then we're taking them down."

{{Sounds good, Meg.  Thanks!  I guess Lin is over at the house where I was, or is she still in..  Ohio I think it was?}}

There was an obvious grin that would filter through with that message.

Switching over to the broad range.

{{NPR?  I really have missed a lot huh?  Only NPR I know is like Skynet.  Doesn't really have a central base of operations, just a bunch of volunteers spreading news over the radio waves.}}

In reply to Dragon Fist (msg # 128):

[[School shootings AND kidnappings? Man, these guys are going nuts. And, sorry, Hotwire, I meant NPA. New Parahuman Army or whatever. A bunch of real bastards who're going the Magneto route. Paras should rule because we're better or whatever. Anyway, I have some of their stuff that I just broke, including said school shooter. I figured they may want it back. Also... HOTWIRE? Dude! It's been a while. What's up?]]

{{To quote Stallone, someone stick me back in the fridge.  New Parahuman Army.  Just.  And I'm pretty much just getting caught up with everything man.  Right now working with Iris and Machinesmith to build that jet we got the plans for.  I think the trick is going to be...  figuring out a place..  to hangar it.}}

Que mad scientist laughter over the worm-net, which he calms slowly.

{{Sorry, sorry just.  Had a little bit of a brainstorm there.  I hear I have your wife to thank for Machinesmith being back up and around.  Congratulations on getting married too man!}}

[[Yeah, Clarissa's awesome. I think you two'll get along pretty well. Good to have you back, though.]]

  Clarissa tapped Ozzy's mind worm to answer {{Thank you.  We've got two more to chase down, I'm playing 'catch me if you can' with this one, but I can tag and bag him into something relatively harmless if we want fast and dirty?  And yes, Hotwire, I'm to blame for MachineSmith's makeover.  I'm just glad he doesn't mind the new look. I am also borrowing ozzy's worm, I don't have my own and I can't talk mind to mind with anyone but Ozzy.}}

  Meg answered {{Mom is at home, but she'll be coming here.  Or, to my place, anyway.  May as well learn this one myself while she sets it up.  Hell, she'll probably make me do it to learn it.}}

Jared asked, curious, on the worm-net, "What's a mutagen bullet?"

  Andy answered {{They are like tranq darts that you use on wild animals and such, but they are loaded with a pink liquid that's mutagenic.  Hits a normal person, they mutate and go berserk.  Both Ozzy and Clarissa were hit by the stuff, which is why neighr of them looks human all the time.  Also why they are immune to further mutations.  I'm immune by dint of being what I am, but the mutagen apparently was designed to have a way for all of the mutants to continue spreading it, like a bio-plague.}}

{{Thank you, Clarissa.  Thank you.}}

He has to mentally compose himself.  And there was just a thought for the mind worms, too.  That they could transmit emotions as easily as words, what did it say for them.

{{Alright, Meg.  Thanks for the help, and take your time.  We'll head on over for your place then.  Be careful.}}

In reply to Clarissa Gysbourne (msg # 133):

[[Fast and dirty is the ideal here, dear. I'll take care of the other one, I have a visual. Sniper's nests tend to have good views of the surrounding area.]]

  {{Fast and dirty it is.}}

All call on the mindworm network

Penny just gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. Anybody who wants to meet her is free to come to the hospital.

There was a long pause before Jack found his voice.

".....Tim? TIM! Thank god your alright, what the hell happened? Who's phone are you on?"

  Tim said "I'm not exactly sure what happened . . . but I'm alive.  I'm having some, umm, problems, and it's hard to keep clothes on.  I'm using a really nice girl's phone, I sorta, umm, materialized?  In her living room."

"Your using a girls phone, whose living room you materialized in, and you can't keep your clothes on? Is that supposed to be code? Were you at some girls place instead of the lab?"

  Tim shook his head, and said "No . . I was IN the lab.  I don't remember exactly what happened that it blew up . . ."

"Maybe you should explain this in person. Can you make it to the hospital? You need to meet your niece anyway."

"Yeah, I think I can make it there."

"Alright see you soon."

A serene mind voice communicated with Penny.

"Congratulations my dear Penny to you and yours. You have brought a beautiful new life into the world. If I may, I would request that I be like a....honorary uncle. And you are able to see her in a way you've never been able to before."

  {{Of course you can.  Please come and visit us here in the maternity ward!!}}

"I will be there soon, my Child. I am very happy for you." The smile was evident in the venerable Shaolin Priest's mental voice.

To all the Wormnet:

Guys, I hate to cut out like this, but something big has happened, and it requires my attention. I ask that you keep watch of the city, my family and the dojo while I'm gone, and I'll be back as soon as I can.

If Knight Errant needs assistance, please lend him your aid. He's an up and coming hero with great potential. Congratulations to Penny and Jack on their new arrival.

Take care of yourselves, all of you. I will return soon.

Zeke's phone is a-ringing

Via Worm-Net

{{Be warned, a Chaos being has chosen to invade and make things difficult, please leave him to the Gysbournes, or to Victoria and I, he's nothing to play with.}}

{{Chaos? Fuuuuck. Well, Clarissa and I sent Loki packing, so this thing can't possibly be worse than a trickster god, right? Where is it, Andy? We'll come get it, or come help.}}

  {{The tricky prick is moving around and sending minions through.  You may want to study some more banishing runes.}}

Ozzy chuckled mentally and replied, {{They're Chaos spirits. I can study all I want, but a lot of times the rules just don't apply to them like they do to everything else. Perks of being a being of pure anarchy, it seems. Best thing I know of is to work creatively, and try to make use of their chaotic nature.}}

  Andy's answer to that one was slightly amused.  {{They don't want ME 'banishing' them.  There is no 'coming back' or 'getting better' if I do it.}}

[[You guys want a hand? The Guardian of Earth is an agent of order after all.}}

  {{Party's wide open, my friend.  We just didn't want one of these guys sneaking up on someone and having it bite someone in the ass.}}

In reply to Andy Black (msg # 159):

"Understood, on my way see you in a few."

  Meg had flipped open her cell phone, and dialed a number while she and Matt and Ozzy were disembarking from the shuttle they'd  been testing in the local solar system, and she said, when it got answered "Uncle Ethan?  Umm, I should tell you not to be alarmed if you get calls about a UFO in the area.  You're going to want to stop by my house here really soon,
 like today, to see why.  I promise, it's nothing bad  . . . but it's related to something else I need to talk to you about too."

  Meg answered the phone at Apokryphos without losing track of the battle outside, answering with a rather distracted sounding "Apokryphos Cafe, how can I help you?  Please be advised there is currently an incursion of high tech hostiles of some sort being handled by some of our less experienced parahumans right now."  Clearly, she wasn't rattled, just a bit distracted.

There was a pause, briefly.  Long enough to be believed by most but clearly rehearsed and measured by someone with a decent amount of training.

"I.. see.  I was suggested by Lin to talk to her daughter Meg about a job.  Sounds like now might be a bad time, though.  Name's Kevin."

The voice while clear seems, off.  Almost synthesized and filtered to hide something else.  A phone trace would show it pinging from a cell phone tower near his apartment.  It would take actually going to the apartment to find the rest of the trail.

  He heard a soft chuckle, and she said "Oh, it's okay.  I'm just monitoring the civilians in the area to make sure none of them get caught in the crossfire.  If Mom recommended you, then I know she has a reason.  Please do stop in so I can see what skills you have, and find an appropriate job.  I also run the Apocryphal Apartments, so if you don't have kitchen skills, handyman skills may be useful.  In either case, I am no stranger to paras, obviously, so you're welcome to come on down to Apokryphos, just please be careful about the hostile high tech beings, they're definitely of non-terrestrial origin."

Dane's phone began to ring, if he looked at the caller I.D. it would simply state "Work", a contact he didn't recall entering into his phone.

"Dane? It's Mike. The boss needs to see you, first with some bigwigs then a run down on your new assignment. You dressed?"

In reply to Cyber-Shaman (msg # 165):

Dane answered. “I can be there in a half hour; caught me getting out of the shower. That work?”

"That's good, give me a call back when you're ready and I'll open a door for you"

In reply to Cyber-Shaman (msg # 167):

Dane paused. “Dress? Suit? Uniform? Tactical?”

"Go with Uniform for now, you got a debriefing on those aliens and then we got your undercover i.d. all set for you to review."

In reply to Cyber-Shaman (msg # 169):

“Roger that. Dress uniform. 10 minutes. I’ll be ready.”

He finished drying himself, shaving and dressing, and was ready in exactly nine minutes and thirty seconds.

He waited for the portal to appear, ready to walk through it.

The golden doorshaped portal appeared ready to take Dane to Safehouse 17

The phone answered after a few rings.

"Weston SCU, Captain Hanson Speaking."

"Captain Hanson, this is Daystar.  I was at the attack on the museum a few nights ago.  I have information about the case, I apologize for taking so long to acquire it.  Speaking to you in person may be for the best, but I hope I am not wasting your time."

"I have more information as well, we should talk. Am I to assume from your method of call we're going to be cliche about this and meet on the roof of he station or have you come in through my office window?"

There was almost the sound of amusement to his voice.

"The roof would be more convenient."

And whatever slight hint of amusement was gone.

"However, I am not opposed to the front door and entering your office like a civilized person."

"Might be best to keep you under my hat for now, never know when you need a secret weapon. I'll meet you on the roof in ten, with the case load I got now no one will be surprised if I take up smoking again."

"Understood.  See you in 10."

Miss Adventure's phone rings.

Mits is still quite surprised at how seldom that happens.

Miss Adventure answers!  "Yeet!"

Gasp!  Miss Adventure is Gen Z?!  That's right, dear reader.  She originally started adventuring in this universe 2012 at the ripe old age of 18 right after graduating.  But that was a different timeline!  Due to [technobabble], in this timeline, Mittens is about 24, not 26 years old.  (Gen Z either way, though.)

"Yeet, as well, Madam Adventure.  It is good to speak with you.  You can call me Alfred.  Master Daystar asked me to contact you, I hope I am not interrupting anything."

The voice is warm and friendly, clearly with a British accent.

"Master Daystar does apologize for not being able to speak with you directly, he is currently looking over information.  A pair of escaped Parahumans are making their way towards Weston and he is looking if it may be possible to intercept them."

Mittens grins.  She's a long-time fan of the Alfred of film and comic, and this version is living up to the legend.

"It is good to speak with you as well, Sir Alfred.  Fear not the interruption, for Miss Adventure is quite the multi-tasker and can hold a phone conversation while simultaneously enjoying fun times with friends.  Master Daystar is forgiven so long as Mittens is allowed to help out with his heroics!  Interception should be a snap.  Just need the locations.  Both for Daystar and the suspects."

Not one to wait for even a moment, Mits tunes into the police band to listen for the APB for the escaped Parahumans.

"Where they are, is the difficult part and where Master Daystar expects you will be able to help.  We have a last known location for them but they have been moving from that location, potentially, for some time.  Master Daystar does have some theories and he is working on locating some potential paths they would take to get to Weston City.  Unfortunately, the term he is using admittedly is 'Needle in a haystack'."

Mits wiggles her ears.  To everyone at the Park, it just looks like she's still as tickled by the sound of Andy's laugh as before.  But listening to that on top of the WCPD APB and Alfred is just about to start to challenge the Space Zen Samurai Catgirl's Scatterbrain.  But for now, she's still got plenty of room left in her noodle to imagine a silly tag-team match of Andy and Dane vs. a Yokai Zord and a particular Clown, M.C.'d by McGruff the time cop.  (Don't ask.)

"Mittens is once again wishing she'd developed the psychometry ability during her training, but she'll have to settle for minor foresight and telepathy.  Miss Adventure will visit any hey stacks directed to and report if she picks anything up.  1,000% ready to help out.  Just gimme a target."

Psychic powers vs. Batman's protege!  Who'll find the badguys first?!  Daystar, obviously.

A file is sent over, a map depicting the surrounding area of Weston City and a lot of ground between the city and the last known location of the two parahumans.  There are twenty six locations - a purple pin near to a larger circle being one location.  One is highlighted as well as a location with an altitude above the city skyline.

"Master Daystar will be able to rendezvous with a portal here, and begin his search here.  He will continue south, checking the other locations as he goes.  The rest he asks you look at.  The two parahumans are Warrior and Chimera.  The purple pins are cabins that are currently not being rented.  The circles indicate large areas known for an abundance of wildlife or a large livestock farm.  For Chimera to use her ability, she requires a large amount of protein.  We are hoping they choose the quiet approach to seek out animals... but she is known for eating her victims as well to dispose of evidence.

Master Daystar is hopeful we can attempt to talk them down.  While they have revenge in their thoughts, this escape may have been caused on extenuating circumstance."

Alfred actually laughs a little bit.

"Master Daystar has always had a good heart.  He was always willing to look at the possibility of extenuating circumstance, no matter how much his Mentor attempted to remove that 'flaw' in his approach to the criminal element."

It almost sounds like the computer program is proud that 'flaw' remains.

Mittens coulda sworn she was talking to an A.I.  But Alfred laughed.  Mittens' own super-expensive alien-tech A.I. never laughs.  But then, she didn't get the thing based on it's Turing Test scores.  Then again, Mits is making a lot of assumptions about Daystar's timeline based off the little she knows, so maybe his Alfred is much younger than she'd assumed and really did come with him through the looking glass.

"Leave it to Miss Adventure to focus on the non-urgent when time is of the essence."

The requested portals are opened up for Daystar.  There's a very brief whiff of park fair food to go along with the distant sound of children having a great time.

"If Mittens had a nickel for every time someone she knows brought up nomming people like fig newtons, or nomming their blood, or nomming their souls.  'His is a good heart...  With barbecue sauce!'  They'd say."

~There are no listings of any scheduled pig roasts in the search area at this time.~ Mits' space Alexa informs her before she can consciously think the question.

Mits opens a tiny portal to each of the pinned locations she was asked to search and does the Zen Space Samurai thing to reach out with her feelings to try and sense strong emotion.  Empty cabins shouldn't have any emotions coming from them at all, so that needle will certainly stick out like a sore thumb that screams at 100 decibels if it's hiding in any of those hey stacks.

"I agree, Alfred.  Judge Dred is hardly a role model and was never meant to be.  'Act justly and to love mercy,' as the Good Book says.  Also, 'Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.'  Nevertheless, I appreciate the warning to do my best to not become a snack.

"What are Warrior and Chimera known to be capable of these days?"