An Interview with Scarlet Shocker

Paragon City Times was recently fortunate to get an exclusive interview with the former “pop-mega-star-turned-super-heroine,” Rosie LaRouge, better known to most nowadays as the Magnificent, Death Defying, Scarlet Shocker.

It was conduced at the Shock Tactics base, somewhere in Paragon City, late one evening, with a somewhat battered and bruised Scarlet, after a punishing day out and about in Paragon, taking down some hard-core criminals.

PCT: Rosie (or should I call you Scarlet?) thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to be with us. How’s your day been?

SS: Call me Scarlet – Rosie was my old life. [She lit a cigarette and took a sip of a large gin & tonic, her fingers crackling with sparks on the condensation on the outside of the glass] and it’s been… interesting. Tough today.

PCT: Want to tell us about it?

SS: Just the usual, more of it, and the Vampyrs and Council were up to their usual, in force today. Plus, we were ambushed by some Sky-Raiders, and that gave us a hard time. I needed some quick medical attention there.

PCT: They defeated you?

SS: No, but they might have if it wasn’t for Mr Wulf and Corona. [She grins, it’s quite mischievous for someone so physically imposing – she’s over 6’ 8” tall – when referring to her fellow leaders of Shock Tactics, Great Wulf, and Corona, both fire tanks.]

PCT: Well glad it wasn’t today, but tell us about your transition from Rosie to Scarlet. That’s really the story of your origin isn’t it? That’s where Scarlet Shocker came from.

SS: Well most of it’s already public record, but I was the girl who had everything. [she puffs the cigarette again, a habit she’s only recently acquired. She says, quite matter-of-fact, that she’s in one of the highest risk careers in Paragon, and isn’t likely to have to worry about the longer-term health risks. Sadly, not many would argue with her.] I was this… media sensation. I only had to walk into a recording studio and I’d have a hit record. Hell, if I farted, it would go platinum. [She grins at her joke.] But, when the Freakshow attacked my concert, completely out of the blue and I discovered my powers, I knew that I needed to use them for the greater good. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not living a life of poverty. I’ve managed to fund the Shock-Tactics Supergroup and build the base, but that used most of my fortune. Plus taxes [again that wink.] So, I learned about my powers then decided to “go live” so to speak.

PCT: Shock Tactics is very important to you isn’t it?

SS: Without a doubt. I might be the best looking superheroine out there, but when I’m gone, I’ll be almost forgotten. However, Shock Tactics, and Shock and Awe, our subsidiary SG, will continue. That, I hope will be what Scarlet gives to the world - something to continue to fight for right, down the years, decades and if need be, centuries.

PCT: So you’re better looking than anyone out there? You’re looking kind of “punk” these days.

SS: [She laughs at the question] Well of course, if you don’t count Kemble and Corona… I’m tall so it helps but look at these thighs… Now, Corona – she’s stunning, and that figure to die for. It’s funny, if you think about it… I should have her [censored] and she should have my hips but… I think we are sisters in another dimension.

PCT: What’s your relationship with Corona and Great Wulf?

SS: That would be telling. Truth is, I love them to bits, they are always there when I need them and vice versa… but we try really hard not to screw things up by hitting the hay, you know? But then the whole crew’s like that. Ultra Lord, Tribal Avenger, D sTructor, Ray-Diator, and all the others. Even the less experienced, like Frostie, Raze,Volt Angel and Golden… they all pull their weight. Hell I’m gonna upset someone by not mentioning them now but… I think, to be honest, that’s why we are so successful. Because we don’t just team up to achieve a specific goal, we ARE a team to begin with. That’s why we do what we do so well.

PCT: So Villains beware, here comes Shock Tactics?

SS: Look I don’t want to sound arrogant here [she finishes her drink and lights a second cigarette] but nobody leaves Shock Tactics because it’s not working for them. We’ve even had a few knock on the door asking to join, but we’re not really about that. We aren’t there to be at the top of the tree in that sense. We are here to do right for Paragon, and to our friends. We hardly ever involve someone without working with them first. We have to feel that bond, and be able to connect. In battle of course, that’s vital, and it works really well for us.

PCT: Describe Shock Tactics in one word then.

SS: A brotherhood. [She didn’t even need a moment to think about that one]

PCT: Obviously, combat, scrapping, battles. That’s where you excel. What are your strengths in that area?

SS: I’ve got to say we are excellent at the set piece. We’ve worked together long enough to know what each other does and how they work. We are a thinking group. It’s rare we just blunder in to something. But even then, if our opponents get the drop on us, we still fight as a unit. We’ve a good strategy, and we are flexible.

PCT: So where are your weaknesses?

SS: [Scarlet sticks her tongue out] Don’t be a muppet.

PCT: No, come on, you’ve just spent loads of time “bigging-up” ST, and now you’re telling the world you’re impervious, but looking at your costume tonight [it’s dirty and torn form her exertions today, the leather’s scuffed and burned] you don’t just walk in to every fight and march out singing.

SS: Well you’re right there. It’s known I’m a bit… well the word they use most often is “squishy.” I dish the damage out but I don’t stand up to too many direct hits. Not like Corona or Mr Wulf. That, and the fact I get lost a lot. I’m rubbish at navigating and that’s all I’m gonna say on that subject. [Again that wink]

PCT: Why do you call him Mr Wulf?

SS: He asked me that once and I said it’s because “[censored]-head” is too insulting. [Her laugh there is genuine and happy, but then, she has a great voice.] Seriously tho, his name is Great Wulf, and it just sounds silly to refer to him as “Great” or “GW” [her nose scrunches] – I’m not against initials, but GW is too close to “Gee Dubya” for comfort, you know?

PCT: What are your plans for the future? [She’s making her 2nd G&T and on her third cigarette as the questions asked]

SS: Immediately or long term? Immediate is go to bed when we are finished. Long term, grow the group a little more. I don’t see us needing many more members, but to make an analogy with soccer, I’d say we need a slightly stronger midfield. Though, being English, I prefer cricket, and think we need a few more all-rounders in the middle order. At some stage, I think Shock and Awe will have a much more important part to play in the Shock Tactics project.

PCT: So who’s running this project?

SS: Shock Tactics are. That’s maybe a trite answer, but it’s true. Every member has a voice because we are all part of the same team. Though in truth we aren’t a democracy (that doesn’t work in this environment, as history proves) but I guess if you have to really outline how we work, our leaders are myself, Corona and Great Wulf, but I’m probably the driving force there. Great Wulf is the “fixer” in many ways. He’s the equivalent of the Sergeant at Arms too. He’s not afraid of giving someone a kick up the backside and telling them to get on. But equally, he’s turned around and said that “So-and-so is due a promotion” and he’s always spot on. Corona, she’s very measured in her approach. She rarely ever voices an opinion, but she does, you’d better listen. She’s unflappable. I get a bit showy so Corona will come into her own one day if we all throw a wobbly at the same time. But then Ultra Lord, and Tribal Avenger both have their calming effects, and Ultra’s been in Paragon for longer than us so I often consult with him. He’s our Seer. But, we have meetings, we all have a chance to communicate, so… someone wants to say something, they can – and do.

PCT: So ultimately, where is Shock Tactics going?

SS: Good question. We are going to be one of the more recognised SGs in Paragon, not because we have “the most” anything or get to be top of the charts or anything but because we already have the respect of our peers and other Heroes in Paragon. We don’t’ throw our weight around or pose nor do we pack the team with people we don’t know. That’s not what we are about. We’ll grow slowly, our base will improve slowly, and we’ll improve our performance. If you’re asking do we have a specific destination in mind, then the answer is a resounding “No” but I don’t think anyone is gonna give it up in a hurry.

PCT: Rosie LaRouge, aka Scarlet Shocker, thanks for your time.

SS: G’night hunni

PCT: To learn more about Scarlet, Shock Tactics or any of the team mentioned here, Please go to:
Shock Tactics

"You got to dig it to dig it, you dig?"
Thelonious Monk

Interesting. I gotta do me one of these sometime too.

Thanks...

"You got to dig it to dig it, you dig?"
Thelonious Monk

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Interesting. I gotta do me one of these sometime too.

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I love this idea... hope to see more interviews from shocker. Same as RedCommissar, got to have a go at this myself.

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Interesting. I gotta do me one of these sometime too.

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I love this idea... hope to see more interviews from shocker. Same as RedCommissar, got to have a go at this myself.

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Thanks. Really glad you enjoyed, and Shocker will be back for more

"You got to dig it to dig it, you dig?"
Thelonious Monk