Prelude to next Episode: Consequences Of Power

"Jessie! Glad you could make it! Come in!"

In all the time Jessie knew Maurice, her court appointed attorney on retainer...he was never happy to see her.

"I've just been over the case files, mostly insurance claims regarding property damages during your latest *ahem* exposition. No permenant injuries or deaths this time!...that's...simply astounding. I gotta say, when city officials said you were a problem...I said to them, I got a solution!"

He opens his desk draw, and pulls out a circular looking device and places it on the tabletop.

"What's this?" Jessie inquires. She knew what it was...she wanted to know what this was about.

"Ahhhh, think of it as...an 'olive branch'...between you and the city officials." Maurice responds with a grin.

"That's an inhibitor collar, Maury..." Jessie stated, she felt her skin crawl.

"It's also the only way Hero Corps is going to reenact your status." Maurice looked down past his glasses, he wasn't grinning anymore.

"Oh for crying out loud! What if I'm taking an exam, Maury! Am I supposed to carry this thing with me at all times?"

"WEAR it...at all times, I believe is what the city officials stated...," Maurice corrected, "...for as long as you remained within Paragon City Limits."

Jessie just stared at the collar numbly...she even used one of them, on someone else, so she knew what they did. Specifically targeted low-level electromagnetic pulse emitters designed to interrupt the neural pathways which enabled...mutant gene expression.

She never thought she'd end up...having to wear one.

"Jessie, Jessie...this is just a balm, think of it as...a token of good faith! Just until this whole Mole/Anti-Mutant craze blows over..."

"Maury, I'M a mutant..."

"Exactly! YOU'LL be able to show mutants that they're harmless. YOUR collar will never get activated because YOU'RE not going to break the law." Maurice added smiling once more.

Maurice was good, he could probably post a masterclass vid on bullshitting.

"...and if I don't?"

"...Then you can kiss your career with Hero Corps goodbye..." Maurice shrugs indifferently as he shuffles through some paperwork, "Paragon University also stated mandatory expulsion without compliance, and then there's a backlog of property damage and personal injury claims that the city officials are more than happy to dump on your lap..."

"Jeezus, Maury!...what the hell?!?"

"You think that the worst of it, Jessie? DO YOU?!?"

Jessie blinked, shocked...Maury never shouted.

"...because if you walk out that door without that thing on...you so much as bend a blade of grass, scratch a paintjob, or scuff a building - I won't be able to help you..."

"You're my court-appointed lawyer!"

"Not without that I'm not, City Hall included as a stipulation to the terms that would annul my contract...if you expect any further legal representation without it - you'll have to do so on your own, Jessie."

Jessie sat down...numb.

"This is how things get settled out of court, Jes..." Maurice states walking around his cluttered desk and sits on the corner. "Believe me - that collar is your best option right about now."

"...can I...think about it?"

"You can take all the time you want, Jessie...since Star-Guard has you on suspension. Can't have you gallivanting around the galaxy while embroiled in a planetary legal dispute - records gotta be spotless! Believe you me, I wish that weren't the case...so you can take off and go live your lifelong ambition of taking on alien hordes and saving the universe!" Maurice replies, increasing in volume until he's practically red-faced and shouting.

Maurice calms himself as he straightens his collar, "...but down here, on Earth, especially in Paragon City...power such as yours has consequences."

***
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:17, Tue 15 Aug 2023.