The next day, the phone calls, emails, and 'teams posts' start early and do not stop.  Maybe the most interesting question comes from the Head of Security.  "Do we have a budget number for this?"

Rei sends the following reply.

If there is an existing method of stopping people from bypassing walls, then there should be enough in the procurements budget.
If there is no such method available or in existence, then the R&D budget will be used to hire the necessary researchers and scientists to create it.
Then there is the general fund to help covering such things.

After a little while, a few more questions come in.
What areas to be covered?  Will suggest budget after more research into topic.  Time frame?  System for after EOD or all day?  Solution that identifies and then alerts could be less and just as effective as deterrent.

There are a few possible solutions based on discussion with 'military' security contractor, but lethality could be an issue.  If an intruder is killed for B&E, there could be legal repercussions.  More a possible legal item than actuality, but possibility none-the-less."

Perhaps we should answer If before we get into How, Where, and When. Once we know the method then we can begin to make cost benefit analysis projections based on deployment. Non-lethal preventative measures that can be installed or deployed are optimal for liability and should be the highest priority.

The last email for on the subject just says, I'll bring somebody in.

***

A voice message from Shadow was left for you.  It simply said that at 8 PM, the limo would be out front of the building to pick you up.  On the dot, the limo arrives.

Rei walks out the front doors and sees the limo which she struts towards. She sports a lovely blue evening dress with matching kitten heels that click on the concrete.

She gives the driver a warm smile as the door is opened for her.

The limo is mid-sized, immaculate, with a black exterior with gray interior.  The driver does open the door for you; she is dressed and formal.  She says nothing.

Inside the dimly lit cabin, is a man.  "Good Evening.  I'm glad you decided to join me.  I'm Doctor Ferrand.  Can I offer you a drink?  We have simple sparkling water, if you do not drink."

[OOC] Middle aged man in a nice suit; glasses, grey suit, black shoes, average build.  He has a slight accent that sounds French.

In French she responds, "I'll have what you are offering."

She then settles in the seat and makes sure she's appropriately ladylike.

"You are the Doc mentioned by Shadow last night?," she asks as she accepts her glass.

He pours you a flute glass of bubbling water and hands it to you.  In French, "I am the 'Doc' that Shadow referenced.  He is good at what he does, but he isn't formal in anyway.  What else did he tell you?"

His French accent is not continental.  He turns up the light in the cabin, and when he does, you can see his skin is a light tan and his hair is dark.  His eyes are, in contrast to his skin and hair, are very light in color.

Rei shakes her head slightly, "He only told me that you were interested in speaking over dinner. I think he intended you to make whatever pitch you have for me."

"So, where are we dining and what is your proposal?"

Slipping back into English, which still has a slight accent, "Shadow has been saying we should take the limo through the SuperDawg drive through, but I have made a reservation for one of the small private rooms at Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba.  I hope tapas is fine.  As to what I have to talk about, it is simple; Chicago needs a group of heroes again.  And I think you need to be in it."

Rei returns to English and allows her native French accent to show more than she normally does, "SuperDawg would have been a bold but terribly disappointing choice. I'm relieved you disregarded Shadow's culinary recommendation even if Hiromi and I have been making our way through every pizza and Chinese takeout restaurant in the city."

"As for local heroes disappearing from public view, the Red Monday incident was the impetus for that, was it not? I've had it mentioned to me, but I'm not familiar with the details other than one hero died and another is still in a coma."

He smiles when you agree with his SuperDawg diss.

When you start to talk about 'Red Monday', his express does change; somber and a little pain.  "That I'm sure is part of it.  The memory and fear.  Another is the general lack of people in that position; of that stature.  There are few that have taken upon the title of 'hero' in Chicago for a long time.  We have vigilantes like Predator, and even the occasional flash, but most do not stick. The flash and disappearance of Paragon is an example.  He was helpful for a while, and now he has gone silent."  He stops mid-thought and then continues.

"Examples could help that.  You on the other hand, with your public position, is still here. You may not be as well know as some, but that transparency can be an asset."

"I'm a public relations director for a branch of a multinational corporation. My ability to be a hero is amazing PR even if there is sometimes backlash against supers. Even with the boon of public relations, I do enjoy helping people that need it and are left to fall between the cracks of society. It is unfortunate that there are far greater cracks here in the U.S. that inevitably spread elsewhere. Some of those cracks made it to Europe which has been troubling."

She then smiles, "Even with the PR angle, I do get a thrill from helping people. Even if the difference is less significant than the efforts Rousseau International makes in helping the world, being closer to even the smallest changes is more...connected. There is a more emotional bond there that is far more real than helping a nation alleviate starvation with some fast growing grain or stopping a disease with some new medical breakthrough."

He shakes his head, "That I can understand. Helping an individual is something you see and feel quickly.  It doesn't matter how or why you did it, the person knows you did.  Maybe a smile...maybe they relax...they eat with gusto and eat well for the first time in a while.  You feel it.  They appreciate it."

He shifts in his seat and sets his drink down, "What I am suggesting would be on that level...just with a team.  It is something Chicago needs...it is time to try again."

"You seem to want a public team, so you will need people that can be out in the open. Will there be a base of operations and support personnel for this team? What is your plan?"

"Yes, I do want to see a team in this city again.  The lack of is hurting it.  For instance, both Pain and Baal got away with robberies during the day.  Joe stopped Pain in his tracks, but there is nobody here to do that now.  Nobody organized anyways.  Baal is a much bigger threat than Pain, even if he seems to be a common robber (although deranged).  And none of that accounts for the Hancock incident, which we still don't understand or if we'll be visit by 'the wasps' again." He stops for a second and tightens his lips.  He relaxes again quickly.

He takes a sip from his drink,  "As to in the open; like you, no.  I wouldn't push people to be public.  But with you in the front of a team, it would have more legitimacy.  And yes, there is a base of sorts to use.  It would tie you to Chicago, but for a person of your means and with how much you've traveled, is that so bad?"

Rei shakes her head, "I don't mean will the others have public identities. I mean can they operate in the public without having to worry about authorities after them or making the team look bad? I have to be careful to be a good Samaritan. I will not be associated with vigilantes that recklessly endanger people, use extreme violence, or murder."

"I'm now tied to Chicago for the foreseeable future, and if I want to go elsewhere, I have access to a corporate jet or can book a first class flight. My being reassigned elsewhere is possible, but due to my family name, I have much greater leeway in regards to that."

"Is there someone willing and able to lead this team? While I can be the face for it and add legitimacy, I would rather allow someone else to lead it."

"You would be the first person on-board.  Being that, you would absolutely have input into membership.  And my plan was never to include the 'Predators' of the world.  Although he has a place in Chicago, I don't approve of his methods and there have been issues already.  I don't know that he would be one to join anyway and that always brings up the question of conflict, but that can be addressed as it happens."

"You would be the forward face of the team, as to leader, that would have to develop.  This is not the military and I think things need to be more organic.  I would be behind the scenes and have the ability to get vast amounts of data.  I have a fair amount of resources at my disposal, which would be brought to the team."

A familiar voice pops over the intercom, "Show her the car."

The Doctor takes a deep breath and sighs.

Rei arches an eyebrow once more and says, "Hello, Shadow."

Then she asks, "Car?"

"He owns a...." CLICK

The doctor turns off the speaker from the front of the limo.  "I own a very special DMC that is in storage.  And Shadow is jumping ahead of things."

[Private to Mindstrike: Roll an INT against 9 RV/OV.  ]

PM

[Private to The Game Master: 9? The DeLorean Motor Company is infamous in business circles as is the rise and fall of John DeLorean.]

Reply

[Private to Mindstrike: Not about the car specifically.]

PM

[Private to The Game Master: Mindstrike rolled 12 using the Mayfair Exponential Game System with rolls of 7, 5.  Int check.
I got diddly.]

In reply to Mindstrike (msg # 24):

He sighs, "We can talk about that later, if things progress.  Along with a good many things.  Although I'm taking a chance right now, I can't reveal my entire plan now.  What if you say no?" He smiles.

"So, since you know a few things about me...us...tell me a few things you wish to share about yourself."  As he says this, he draws a circle in the air to encompass the car and people in it.

[Private to Mindstrike: The roll was for a history/background item that does not change what is happening now.  Not a big deal.]

Rei swirls the last of her drink before finishing it and says, "What would you like to know that you can't find with a Google search of me? Admittedly, most of the articles about me and interviews I've given are in French, but the language barrier isn't a problem for you."

"Ha...no, French is not a problem for me.  I have and I do looking into things very thoroughly.  I have made sure that you are the one that I wanted to talk to about this topic.  Try not be be alarmed, but surveillance is sort of my specialty."

He smile, "I certainly have not done anything that would be 'creepy', but your public appearances have been reviewed."

"My vision is a team of four or five individuals that can support each other.  There is a certain amount of coordination and information that would need to be done, and those would fall to me.  In the field, as to leads; it depends on the team.  Who is brought together with those skills or desire to lead, may just lead.  Although I don't picture matching suits, like in the comics, we would need to make sure there is communications, compatible motivations, complimentary skills and abilities, public persona would be important, and sufficient discretion.  We can't have a Predator or Giedi Prime on the team.  That would be disastrous."

The car starts to slow and stops.

Rei nods, "If we get a Predator or G. Prime, they will not be on the team for long. We will have to police ourselves or outside forces will demand us to submit to outside accountability. We may have calls for that regardless of how we carry ourselves, but dealing with that will be my expertise."

Noticing the car has stopped she asks, "Tapas awaits?"

"I agree with your concerns on both subjects.  I've been working on a few plans to minimize ill-will toward the project." The door is opened by the driver.  You do not see Shadow.  You exit the limo and dine on tapas.

[OOC] I was not going to rp dinner.  If there are questions or items you want to bring up, please do.

[OOC: That's fine. Rei will want more details if possible.]

After the private dinner, the limo is brought back around to pick them up.  "I'm sure you have more questions.  Please, ask what you want and I'll answer everything I can."

"You've alleviated my greatest concerns for now, so I think I'll see where this goes."

The ride back to your office is pleasant and unhurried (although quicker now that some of the evening traffic has thinned).  When you get to your office, "Here.  Take this card.  It is to a burner phone that I'll turn on two days from now.  You can reach me there.  I'll have it for a few days at least."

[OOC]
The card is just a white cardboard square with a hand written number on it.

The card is accepted and placed into her small purse. On the return, Rei instructs the driver to divert from the Rousseau North America offices to her penthouse building.

The ride is uneventful, but full of conversation.  Nothing deep...all light and fun.

Rei says, "Thank you for the proposal and dinner. I will call you in two days to see how things are coming along. Good night...Doc."

She then exits the limo giving a nod and smile to the driver as she struts toward the door which is opened for her by the doorman, Antonio, with his slightly oversized doorman's jacket.

He asks in his thick Brooklyn accent, "Not flying in tonight, Miss Rousseau?"

"Not tonight, Tony. Had a dinner date. Having a good evening?"

"Nobody has hassled me, so it's a good night. Got a friend gonna make me an actual pizza tomorrow. Been too long since I had a real slice."

Rei shakes her head and smiles, "Enjoy your night, Tony."

She then goes to her private elevator to her penthouse suite. Seeing Hiromi seems to be asleep, she showers and watches a couple episodes of Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir before bed.

PM

[Private to The Game Master: This thread has run its course.]