This interview was conducted by Joel Priddy, interview subject is "hero" Bernie Rhodes. For reference: the English accent has made some words simply over my head. You'll notice the words "edited for content" while I clean up or simply substitute my best guess for the words used.
JP: For the record, the tape is rolling, and this will be transcribed later. If there is a moment you need during the interview, say for any off the record comments, let me know, and we will pick up after the interlude. First, let's get a
little background on you, Bernie. Country, state or city of origin, what you used to do there, that sort of thing.
BR: I used to work as a manager for bands back home in London.
JP: That doesn't really seem to give you reference to having to fight off criminals, does it?
BR: What kind of a question is that? I take it you've never had to get paid by dirty club owners who say your act was the reason for the riot at there "night" club. (Edited for content) I always carried a gun to ensure payment.
JP: I just wanted to clear that point up, some rumors had gotten to me that you really had no real dealings with underworld types in your former profession...
BR: Can we move on then?
JP: Sure. How and why did you come to Paragon City?
BR: I was coming on holiday and to have a chat with some old friends who were doing quite well in this hero business, much to my dismay.
JP: Dismay?
BR: Please, I'll get to that later.
JP: Sorry. I'd just like to make a point for the record which hero friend you may be talking about.
(Tape stopped for brief moment.)
JP: Go on.
BR: Right then, a few of my contacts within what is known as "The Family" were having quite a time with a new hero. Turns out I know the chap. Well I thought it would be a good idea to go on holiday as business was slow. So I came on a nice cargo ship, as the captain had some nice spare quarters and there were some girls coming along. A picturesque voyage with good dining, and lots of entertainment if you get my drift. (Edited for content.) So my port of entry happened to be Independence Port. Industrial wasteland docks that serve the world, and me as well. Upon my arrival, a couple of mooks within "The Family" known as button men muscle were there to take my bags. And susequently use them to put my lights out. Before I faded out from the roughing I was getting, I caught a glimpse of a hero in a blue and red suit.
JP: Walt Jabsco?
BR: Who's telling this story? (Silent pause while Bernie gives me a miffed stare.) Yeah, it was him. When I came to, I was at the Bell Medical Center. Walt had put his emergency teleporter on me and activated it. After he took care of my welcoming comittee, he came to see me in the hospital. He told me I had gotten my licks in on one of them, but the other one was a little bit to tough for me to chew on like the old days. Anyway, I couldn't say to him what I had come to say. He told me a story that I couldn't ignore, so to get revenge I wanted to try out this hero gig.
JP: Well, that almost answers my next question. What was the story Walt told you?
BR: Interview him if you want that answer, but as far as I'm concerned, it's off the record.
JP: I may make it a point to interview him at a later date. (Phone calls haven't been returned by Walt Jabsco. I'm still trying to contact him.) So I hear you're a business owner now.
BR: You shouldn't believe everything you hear.
JP: Come on now. I think "Paragon Copy" is a great resource for the modern hero.
BR: Yeah well, I was just recently taking out some "Sky Raider" rubbish when one of the things they did really infuriated me. They had taken all the evidence I had collected on their operations. They may have been able to destroy it if I didn't get there in time. That and I had a good contact during the ordeal, so they didn't expect me to be able to take it back.
JP: So, could you explain more about "Paragon Copy"?
BR: I could have made copies of all the evidence, but the resource didn't exist. I had thought about opening a business with some backing from some old friends in the UK, but what? Paragon Copy, that's what. A 24-hour resource for heroes of all kinds. unlike some of the more popular chains, Paragon Copy caters to heroes on the move. There are heroes who only operate within certain times of day. With schooling for some, training for others, working for yet more, a hero sometimes has to squeeze in the life as an ordinary citizen. Some heroes operate off of light or dark, hot or cold. Paragon Copy stands ready to assist heroes everywhere.
JP: Rumor also has it that "Paragon Copy" is also known as "City of Xerox".
BR: Your rumor mill is quite good. City of Xerox, while catchy, is not the name of the store. Xerox is copyrighted or trademarked or whatever, and I cannot use the City of Xerox in reference to my establishment for fear of lawsuit.
JP: But isn't your store filled with Xerox brand copiers?
BR: Yes, it is. But we also have Macintosh, IBM/Windows, and Linux based computers for data copying. Not all evidence is on paper. The only real rule we have for copies is no magic items. We had a lot of problems in the early days. We've had consultants ranging from Xerox to Azuria to try to get some way of doing it, but it's still a ways off.
JP: Really, are magic items that much of a problem?
BR: Yes, a simple magic recipe for raining frogs, which an aspiring young hero brought in, filled one of my copiers with actual frogs. They burst out and ruined my store for a week until we destroyed the copier in a magic fire. Special thanks goes to Xilefa, even though I lost a copier in the process. Magic heroes can still make copies of normal evidence on normal parchment. It's just that magic items weren't meant for copying.
JP: So your main location is in Independence Port?
BR: Yes, and we are looking to expand into Galaxy City, Atlas Park, and Talos Island.
JP: Doesn't that location put you in the middle of Family territory?
BR: Yeah, but I like to thumb my nose at the blokes while I make some extra cash. They've tried to shake me down a few times, but the amount of heroes who are in the store or the area at any given time has foiled their attempts. The first few times, I didn't even know because Kangor or BlastFurnace took them out on the way over. I was thinking of getting police drones, but I haven't had to so far.
JP: So can we talk about your backers?
BR: I'd rather not...
JP: Well, the rumor mill says...
BR: That isn't even close to going on the record. If you have no more questions, we're done here.
(Tape ends.)
After that, Bernie said something about needing to stop a Banished Pantheon ritual that he suspected the Circle of Thorns would be at, maybe even some Warriors, and he was on his way. The rumor mill says Bernie's backers also back the Family, strange as it may seem. Nothing has quite been able to explain that, and Bernie refused to brush the subject. This has been a bizarre interview. Subsequent follow up still has not gotten me in contact with Walt Jabsco.
Xilefa has only said that the magic fire spell she used was available at any Tabitha Fabish location, and it's easy to help a friend in need. She also said something about the City of Xerox being the best copy store for the hero on the move. This was the first time I had heard the "City of Xerox" phrase, but she also warned me before the interview that some subjects aren't for discussion with Mr. Rhodes.
