Hermie

((sadly, I'm going to have to bow out. I can't really afford to keep playing right now and I haven't been playing much as it is.))

"There are no cameras in the bathroom," he smirked. "I checked." Then he frowned at his food.

"He didn't ask me anything he didn't already know," he told her. "Except locations of bases, which I denied any knowledge of and he let it go. I can't figure out his game. He's given me an assignment that...is best not discussed here." He glanced briefly at a camera before turning his attention back to his plate.

Hunter crossed himself and bowed his head for a moment. Then he crossed himself again before picking up his fork.

"Yes, I noticed," he stated, looking around. "They should appreciate the fact that I haven't destroyed them yet."

Meaghan looked directly into Hunter's eyes and grabbed the plate he offered her. She moved forward and embraced him in a warm hug, carefully balancing the plate behind him.

"Nothing," She responded to his question, though it was a heavily veiled lie, "He didn't say anything at all about you when you disappeared...it was almost as if you fell off the earth." She didn't want to tell Hunter the truth. Father never ceased to praise her for her brilliance, her skill, or her ability to adapt and learn new ways to use old tactics; but his praise always was followed by a sharp insult of her missing brother.

Truth was Hunter never left the household...his memory tore at both their minds in its own way.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hunter gave her a careful hug. Of course the old man would tell her nothing, he thought bitterly. He turned set his plate in front of one of the bar stools.

"We should eat before it get's cold," he stated. "So do you have a place to stay? You're welcome to stay here if you don't. It's not much, I know, but I'd be just as comfortable on the sofa as in a bed. To be honest, I don't know what they put in the bedroom. I haven't checked it out yet beyond a quick glance this morning."

[ QUOTE ]
Meaghan drained the spaghetti then returned it to the pot; she sent a sideways glare at her brother as he was replacing his weapons on the rack when he asked the question, but corrected herself before he would see.

"I was ten when you left," Meaghan responded, "I've learned a lot of things in the past eleven years. Feel free to serve yourself first." That last part wasn't spoken spitefully, but it was a habit she picked up that the cook always chose their portions of the meal last.

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Hunter paused for a moment. Then he took off his gloves and jacket and picked up the plates with his burn-scarred hands.

"I am sorry," he said very quietly as he dished an equal amount of noodles, meatballs, and sauce on each plate. "What did he tell you? About why I left..." He looked at her as he handed her one of the plates, his sadness showing in his eyes as he let his walls down a bit. He was tired of being on guard all the time.

[ QUOTE ]
As Hunter opened the door, the smell of spice, sauce, and meat wafted out of the apartment. Meaghan was leaning over a large pot on the stove, gently stirring the contents.

"Hmm, you were kept longer than expected," Meaghan addressed her brother, "I stopped by the grocery on my way here...Last time I remember, your favorite meal was mother's recipe for spaghetti and meatballs, or was that just me? It was well over half our lifetime ago."

She turned off the stove top and turned her head, "Your timing is impeccable though, dinner's ready."

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"I haven't had spaghetti and meatballs in...well, a while," he stated quietly. Hunter went to a cabinet and got out dishes and silverware which he set on the bar. While she was busy with the food, he set his weapons back on their stand. "When did you learn how to cook?"

[ QUOTE ]
Hunter sat where he was for a moment after Jones had left to think about what the other man had said. In a way he was glad he had been given an excuse to contact Chen. He would have to be careful with his reports, but if he played it right he could help his old mentor again. He slowly stood and left the building. It was late afternoon now and the sun was getting low in the sky. He walked quickly back to the apartment complex, hoping to get there before nightfall. Hunter never did like the dark.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hunter quietly walked down the hall to 207. He didn't hear Mabel or her dog and preferred to keep it that way. His door was unlocked, as he expected. His sister had said she would be there. He carefully and quietly slipped inside, locking the door behind him.

[ QUOTE ]
Deputy Director Jones jotted down some things on a piece of papaer as Hunter talked, nodded, and asked a question. This went on for a while, the questions seeming to get more unimportant as the time went on. Eventually, Jones stopped. "Alright, Hunter, here's the deal," he said, tossing his pen on the table "There are a lot of blanks here. And I intend to fill them, with your help. I want you to find Chen, and I want you to play spy. Gather any information possible, even the smallest things. We'll keep you out there for a week and a half, then we'll check in and see how you're doing. Depending if your report is good or not, you may stay there, you may not."

The Deputy Director sighed and picked up his papers. "Well, that was fun," he muttered under his breath as he stood up and walked towards the door. He opened it, but before leaving, he turned back to Hunter. "A week and a half. Make it worth my while," he said, then closed the door and returned to his office.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hunter sat where he was for a moment after Jones had left to think about what the other man had said. In a way he was glad he had been given an excuse to contact Chen. He would have to be careful with his reports, but if he played it right he could help his old mentor again. He slowly stood and left the building. It was late afternoon now and the sun was getting low in the sky. He walked quickly back to the apartment complex, hoping to get there before nightfall. Hunter never did like the dark.

[ QUOTE ]
Nyte paused in her actions, snapping her cell shut and regarding the women in front of her more closely. Self conciously she ruffled her feathers at the compliment as though trying to tuck the wings closer to her body - which was silly but while Nyte was used to stares and the occasional comment...but very few compliments.

"thank you...you have a lovely voice"

And she did, it was a voice that got ones attention without needing to be loud, or perhaps it was simply the matte of fact statements she had made which got nytes attention.

"I just moved in not to long ago"

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Sirrah smiled slowly, though it didn't seem to reach her eyes. It was almost as though she were merely copying the expression without fully knowing what it meant.

"Welcome," she said in her soft, almost dream-like voice. "My quarters are number 201. They are nice, except for the woman with the dog. I do not like her."

[ QUOTE ]
Nyte had intended to return to her apartment after the others had gone thier own way..but had been sidetracked by text message from one of her comrades. she was in the process of replying when the expanding pressence of another person caughth er attention.

Normally such a thing was not worth noticing..afterall people were constantly moving in and out of Nytes mental radar, for the most part she ignored it..filtered it out as background noise...once in a while however something would catch her attention. Something like someone approaching her from above in the middle of an alley and clearly not useing the noisy fire escape.

Glancing over she quirked an eyebrow at the person landing apparantly under her own willpower, not that that was unusual in Paragon.

"Sneaking out?"

She questioned the new arrival.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sirrah blinked and cocked her head to one side, regarding Nyte with a quizzical expression.

"I have not seen you before," she remarked in a soft, whispery voice. "You have wings. They are pretty."

Back at the Apartments:

Sirrah heard Mabel's dog stop barking and decided it was safe to venture out. It was late in the afternoon, and there was much she wished to accomplish before dark. She peaked her head out of her door, the door of apartment 201, and saw Mabel still in the hall, talking to their landlord. Sirrah sighed. She hadn't been able to come up with the money for rent yet. She carefully closed her door and went to the fire escape that led out into the ally between the apartment and the next building. She swung over the rail and let her self glide to the ground, mentally controlling her fall.

Name: Sirrah Trana
Stage Name: Star
Current Age: 20 on earth (200 in her home)
DoB: February 14, 1989 (date of her earthfall)
City of Origin: Stockholm
Nationality: Sweden
Hair: Platinum Blonde
Eyes: Gold
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 130 lbs.
Distinguishing Features: Extremely tall and thin as a stick but surprisingly not anorexic
Current Location: Paragon City
Current Occupation: Supermodel, fights gangs and crime in secret (tries to keep people from realizing she's the one doing it)
Abilities: Powerful psionic attacks, telekinesis, psychic healing, immune to human telepathy and telempathy (her alien mind is unreadable by humans)
History: Sirrah Trana is a member of a race of alien beings that live in the sun. In her natural form, she would appear as a floating ball of light and heat. There was a war among her people, causing solar flares visible here on earth. Sirrah was a soldier, and one attack on her unit caused a solar flare that carried her and the other survivors to earth. Sirrah crashed in Stockholm. She was wounded and, after observing the form of the creatures on this planet, was able to take the shape of an infant. She was found by Hans and Karina Tranna. They adopted her and raised her as their daughter. Sirrah was able to impress her name on them but she was shocked to find she could not communicate with them further. She kept her true nature secret from her "parents" and the other humans she has come in contact with. She began searching for the others of her unit as soon as her new body was able to walk. She became a model at the age of fifteen and travelled to America at eighteen. By this time she was well known as Star, the Swedish supermodel. She has never forgotten who she is and will not give up searching for her unit and, hopefully, a way home.

[ QUOTE ]
Deputy Director Jones scribbled down a couple of things as Hunter said them, then looked up with mild anger. "Cut the attitude, Black, and you'll live longer," he said before continuing "Any major hideouts you know of? Or houses of any senior members?"

[/ QUOTE ]

"No, sir," Hunter replied coldly. "At least not in this country. The only major bases I am aware of are in the Europe and Africa, and none of the senior members are foolish enough to remain in one place for long. So even if I did know where some of them were two years ago, that information is old and they would no longer be there. Sir."

[ QUOTE ]
Deputy Director Jones jotted down the name of Gold One, as well as drawing an arrow to the picture of Chen and writing Gold Three, as well as 'Replaced Martina Ruez' "I don't care if you've never worked with him, do you know his name?" Jones continued after he was done. "And if you know any of the Silvers, tell me their names, too."

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"I do not know the identity of Gold Two," Hunter replied a bit impatiently. "Nor do I know any of the Silvers active in the Pacific theater. Silver Seven is, or was, Kian Macmorough. Chen was Silver Three. I don't know who would have been promoted in his place. The only other Silver who's name I know is Thomas..." He scowled as he thought of Lochlan's enforcer.
"I don't know his last name," he added quietly.

[ QUOTE ]
"Thanks for making my day, Hunter, we're now involved in fighting the Rainbow Squad," Jones said, sighing. "Alright, well, let's start from the top. You know any of these Gold Members besides," Jones looked down at a folder on the table and took out a picture of Chen "This guy?"

[/ QUOTE ]

"Lochlan Macmorough is Gold One," Hunter said without hesitation. "I've never worked closely with Gold Two. Gold Three, as of two years ago, was Martina Ruez and Chen was one of her lieutenants. I don't know what happened to cause his promotion."

[ QUOTE ]
Jones saw the look Meaghan gave him and ignored it. He was Deputy Director, he got a lot of looks like that. "No Hunter, you probably don't," he said, opening the door of the room and motioning him in, then closing the door behind them. "Sit," he ordered, but not taking a seat himself. "I know half of this myself, Black, but this is recorded and it'd look bad on my records if I didn't start with this. Defenders of Men. Give me some info. Anything, really, just don't lie," Jones looked Hunter directly in the eye when he said the last part.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hunter sat down with a sigh. He spoke in a flat, bored voice, like a history teacher listing pointless dates and facts for a quiz.

"The Defenders of Man were officially founded in 1947 by Howard Brentley of London England. They were a natural outcome of his war activities fighting the Nazis. For roughly ten years they were a positive force, aiding the West in it's cold war efforts against communism by uniting people to the ideal that Man is the ultimate expression of evolution on Earth. Around 1960, this ideology was twisted by a new leader to exclude mutants. By the 70's the Defenders were committing acts of terrorism against any they considered Enemies of Man. This list included mutants, aliens, supernatural powers, and anyone who used them or sided with them. They continue down this path today. They are commanded by a Council of Twelve consisting of three Gold Defenders, each in command of a territory known as a theater, and nine Silver Defenders who act as Lieutenants to the Golds. There are only three Golds and nine Silvers at any time. Subsequent ranks are as follows: Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, White, Black, and Gray. Is that enough information for you, sir?"

[ QUOTE ]
Meaghan had to restrain herself from slamming Jones into the ground after pushing her brother and ordering him back to the interrogation room; after all, a move like that would have most of the DPSA on her back. Instead, she slightly frowned at her brother as he walked away and the elevator doors began to close.

"I'll catch you at your apartment," She waved goodbye to him, "Take care okay. And Jones...behave yourself." And with that, the doors closed and she disappeared to who knows where.

[/ QUOTE ]

"I suppose it's pointless to ask what this is about," Hunter muttered as he reentered the interrogation room with Jones right behind him.

[ QUOTE ]
As Hunter and 'Sarah' pressed the elevator button and as the door opened, they would be surprised to find Deputy Director Jones standing in the small room. His eyebrow raised slightly. "I was informed I would have time for questioning, you two," he said gruffly, pointing back towards the interrogation room. "Go. Now," he said, pushing Hunter slightly.

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((YAY!! Feel the love))

Hunter scowled slightly but headed back to the interrogation room. He gave his sister a questioning look, knowing she would only come back if she decided to on her own. He, however, didn't feel like pushing his luck.

[ QUOTE ]
"Perhaps..." Meaghan quirked a smile, "I don't like to be caged, I get claustrophobic when I'm restrained." She stood and picked up the metal chair, then walked over to the doorway and propped the leg against the handle. With a few strong, quick tugs, the handle popped off with the lock and the door slowly swung ajar.

"Stay here if you want," She turned to Hunter with a smile, "But they need to learn to play by my rules; I'm leaving." And with that she walked out into the hallway toward the elevators.

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Hunter frowned and considered for a moment, lightly rubbing his left wrist. It wasn't as though he could really run. They could find him wherever he went. He got to his feet and followed his sister. If they wanted to make a deal out of it, they knew how to contact him.

"So where are you staying?" he asked her as they reached the elevators.

((I think we're all eventually going to get to the point where we're waiting for doodaa))

[ QUOTE ]
"Is there anything you need at the moment, Agent Smith? I don't have any more information on the Defenders' plan currently since all the parties that are going to be involved have yet to arrive...so nothing will be solid yet. In fact, things could change in a completely different direction."

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"As we seem to getting nowhere at the moment, we'll stop here for now," Agent Smith stated. "Wait here. I'll inform Deputy Director Jones. He may or may not have questions for you himself." He left the room. The door locked with a loud click as it closed behind him.

"Well, it seems we're waiting here then," Hunter remarked.

[ QUOTE ]
"Actually," Meaghan continued to explain to Hunter, "I don't believe these people would give him the chance; they're too stupid for that. But I trust Chen is experienced and crafty enough to avoid their feeble attempts, in fact, we could help him without the DPSA."

"Ms. Black," Smith spoke up, "I know our arrangement is under your terms, but I will stress that you shouldn't attempt to deceive us."

"Of course not," She responded submissively, the slight popping of her wrist could be heard as she rolled it...something Hunter would recognize as her telling a lie, "I'll keep my word that I won't use the DPSA as a tool, but treat them as allies."

[/ QUOTE ]

"I am, unfortunately, bound by different terms," Hunter told her. "I'll have to leave Chen to you. I would just lead them straight to him." Agent Smith sighed in exasperation.

"Should I even be here?" he wondered aloud. "Look, we're trying to help you as much as take down this organization. We're on the same side."

"And you think these people would give him the chance?" Hunter questioned darkly. "They would lock him up with the rest of them, assuming they take him alive." Agent Smith cleared his throat.

"As one of 'those people,' I give you my word we will work with whoever is willing to work with us," he stated. "If this Chen is one of the good guys as you seem to think, then I'm sure we can arrange something."

((there is a way, I believe, to keep scenarios separate if we reply to the ones we're in and view the posts as threaded as apposed to flat))

Hunter leaned back and studied his sister. He had never wanted the complete destruction of the Defenders, just a change. Chen, one of the few people he had ever trusted, was on the right track. He didn't believe in the current ideology that excluded mutants and other supernaturally gifted humans. As Hunter's mentor, he had taught him to look beyond the surface someone's worth. He was the one who had given Hunter the courage to tell Lochlan he was wrong.

He knew what his motives were. He wasn't so sure about Meaghan.

"What?" Hunter turned to her in surprise. "Chen's never been involved in anything so blatant. Why would he risk his position now that he finally has the power to implement change?"

"Who's the target?" Agent Smith asked, ignoring Hunter.

He hugged her back with a small smile.

"It's good to see you again, Sissy," he whispered. After a few moments, the door opened and Agent Smith returned with another chair.

"Well," he smiled. "Now that we're all friends again, let's talk about this Chen character and what he's doing in my city."