Move 0.5
Sunday September 16 – Anytime during the day. Outside Aspen, Colorado.

The house is a large private ski lodge. It is the only house within 5 miles and the only house on this mountain – which appears to be private land. Large windows overlook three sides, with the fourth side facing the mountain. There are no guards surrounding the house; for most of the day, there is only one man inside. He moves about freely, appearing to watch television for most of the late morning and afternoon. At 2PM, a government car pulls up the long, winding drive and Rod Bellar gets out and enters the house. He appears to enter without the use of a key.

For Wild Lotus, the trip to Aspen was simplicity itself.

She'd mailed the airline tickets back to the address provided and used most of the offered money to update (upgrade!) her costume and hire a housesitter for the duration. Iron Maiden met her in "their" clearing in Golden Gate Park. They stepped into a gnarled old spruce; a moment later they stepped out of cluster of young aspens just a kilometer or so from the house.

Leah looked around at the copse of trees and yawned to equalize the pressure in her ears. They were definitely a lot farther above sea level than they'd been moments ago in San Francisco. "That's a really handy ability you've got there," Leah said to Amrita. (Wild Lotus,) she reminded herself. (Think of her as Wild Lotus.)

The gratuity will be itemized on the bill," Lotus grinned.

Leah laughed. "I'll meet you at the lodge, yeah?" Leah asked. Amrita--Wild Lotus--nodded. Leah took flight.

Lotus smiled and watched her friend take flight. She couldn't blame Leah for wanting to go in under her own power -- any excuse for a flight had to be a good one. Waiting for her friend to get clear, she then stepped back into the aspen cluster and felt herself sink into the world root itself, choosing one of the aspens that lined the drive to that house, hurtling toward it with the speed of thought. Less than a heartbeat later she emerged from the tree directly across from the house and strolled with confidence to the front door.

Leah hung in the sky high above the lodge, observing it--not that she was learning much. If she were Superman she'd be able to see and hear everything there was to know from up here. As it was, she wasn't learning anything she couldn't learn from the ground. She hated going in with less than complete knowledge of what to expect, but there didn't seem to be any way around that.

"Time to see what's what, I guess," Leah said to herself. She fell out of the sky, only slowing at the last minute to land gently on the ground in front of the main entrance.

Ivan watched them carefully from his perch almost a kilometer away where he had been for most of the afternoon. Security was nill, but the location was at least discrete. He'd been watching the two men in the house do absolutely nothing worth noting for the better part of two hours now. They were relaxed and confident, despite having invited mutually unfamiliar vigilantes to their remote mountain ski lodge. It was peculiar to say the least. At least it seemed so to Sniper.

But then, as attendees began to arrive, his interest shifted. The women were worth noting, so far at least - he found himself slightly intrigued by the armor. It was almost four, however, and he reluctantly left his post. Ivan circled back and approached the house from the main drive.

Sometime before or after 4PM

Bellar greets each of you as you enter, he is accompanied by a man in power armor (http://lostcoastgaming.com/node/162). The Colts-Titans game is playing on a very large television monitor. There are bottles of water and a variety of sandwiches placed out and you are welcomed to them. Once everyone is in the room Thomas Morgan enters.

Shimmer walked into the room with quiet confidence and smiled politely at Bellar as they exchanged pleasantries. She paused to take a careful look around the room before helping herself to a bottle of water and sitting down on a leather sofa towards the back of the room. Once she was situated she watched the door expectantly as each new person came in.

Ivan arrived in street clothes (if pressed dockers and a royal blue oxford shirt counted as street). He wore dark sunglasses and a black leather duffel slung across his shoulders, neither of which did he immediately remove. In fact, he lingered near the foyer, opting against the provided accomodations.

(Oh shit.) Shimmer thought as she saw Ivan, the man from last night, show up at the meeting. If he recognized her then her cover was blown. It also fit perfectly into place now that she realized he was a vigilante. She slunched down in the couch a bit and was eager for the meeting to begin.

“My name is Thomas Morgan.” The man said. He was very well dressed (if casually), with well-groomed brown hair that is showing some signs of graying. Morgan is 5’9” and around 130 pounds. Most of you know how he is, he is the Owner of Avrio Industries. “You have already met Director Bellar; this is Paladin."

"Yes, of course," Wild Lotus smiled. "A pleasure to meet you, gentlemen. I'm Wild Lotus." She shook hands with Morgan and Bellar, then looked askance at the figure in armor.

Leah gave Amrita a nod of greeting when she joined the group. Then she turned her attention to their host. "Good afternoon, Mr. Bellar," Leah said. She took his hand. "You can call me Iron Maiden," she added, meeting his eyes. "Unless you know more than that?"

The imposing figure standing with armor-clad arms crossed merely nodded once in greeting after he was introduced. The dark blue face plate visor gave no hint of emotion or a temperature reading of the individual inside. But still, there was a sense of strength and mysterious intensity in the placid manner by which he stood there, looking at them, absorbing them in and yet revealing nothing.

"I don't suppose one introduces robots," Lotus mused aloud as she offered her hand, "so I wonder if the Paladin is the armor, or is in the armor?"

"One and the same," came the reply in an electronically modulated male baritone that yet retained some measure of personality to it. He took her delicate hand in his segmented gauntlet, creating a meeting of extremes, hard and soft. Her eyes couldn't see his as they flitted to Morgan for a moment and then back to her.

"While this suit can do some pretty amazing things, it's nothing without the man inside. Nice to meet you."

The redheaded woman nodded, obviously intrigued, but moved on into the room to avoid holding up the reception line. She grabbed a bottle of water and took a seat near a large potted fern.

“Thank you for coming. I have a job opportunity for you.” The way he spoke gave some hint of his passion for what he was doing and his intellect. “But, before I go to far into this, let me tell you a little about myself – if you’re going to work for me, you should know who you are working for.” He leaned against a window and folded his arms as if gathering himself for what he was about to say.

“Seven years ago, Rod and I were both members of the Los Angeles superteam the Defenders. Rod’s involvement is common knowledge, mine is not. I was the armored hero known as Paladin. During the battle, my legs were destroyed and I was very nearly killed. Had it not been for some quick work from Rod and another of our teammates, I would have been.” He lifted the pant legs of his trousers and tapped on it – revealing a metal leg.

“I tried to get back in the armor after, but something in me broke that day and I’m just not able to fight the good fight anymore. However, I am able to do other things.” He smiled to break the tension. “My plan – our plan – I hope – is to create a team of Superheroes here in Denver. ‘The Guardians’ was the name that I had selected; but you are free to pick another. I would provide you with a base, a vehicle or two (probably a ground and air vehicle), communications and electronic support, logistical support should you desire it, and a salary of $100,000 per year. Rod?”

Director Bellar cleared his throat, “Aegis would provide you with training and – if you’d like – federal sanction. But that’s not necessary – it’s optional. We would like to work closely with you; as close as you’d like to work with us. But – the deal is a package thing – you will all take the sanction or none of you will. That’s up to you.”

Shimmer listened intently as the host spoke and was drawn into the conversation despite herself. The mention of the hefty salary had almost made her head spin. She glanced at the door now and then as if she was expecting someone but when ‘government sanction’ was mentioned her full attention was captured. It had always been a dream of hers to work for a highly respected government agency and she could feel her excitement growing.

Thomas spoke again, “The salary – you won’t work for Avrio or even me. You’ll work for the Guardians. I will set up a trust fund to pay you; it’s a blind trust – the people who work it don’t know who their client is and you won’t have access to the trust other than they monthly payouts. My role here is to provide as much or as little support as you’d like and I are within my power.

“In the interest of full disclosure, Paladin was recruited for the team – but I have known him longer. With our previous, personal relationship, I recruited him rather than Director Bellar. He carries the name that I used to carry and wears a suit of armor that I have designed. However – he does not work for me in any capacity. However, with his different arrival and his name – I wanted any possible concerns about him addressed upfront.”

Morgan uncrossed his arms and his tone switched from sales-pitch to business, “I realize that money seems ‘common’; but I have always found that if you didn’t get it spelled out in advance – someone will get pissy.”

Leah felt her eyes widen a little. A hundred thousand dollars a year? She didn't find a discussion of money 'common' in the least. Stopping crimes in progress that she stumbled across, or helping people out in emergencies on her own initiative, was one thing. Working at it full-time was quite another. Of course money would be involved. How could it be otherwise?

He shifted his stance and his tone softened, he looked each person in the eye (as much as their masks would allow), “So – anyone have any questions? Anyone want to join up?” Morgan asked. “If this doesn’t sound like your bag, please leave now.”

Ivan ran one hand over his smoothly shaven head as if in consideration of the offer. He glanced at the door, then back to the gathering, then the door again. Someone spoke up.

"What does `federal sanction' mean in this context?" Wild Lotus put the question into the inevitable silence that always followed ultimatums.

Bellar stepped forward. "It means that you will have police powers, you will have the backing of the United States government and AEGIS specifically." He began, "On the plus side — as I see it — you'll have full access to federal data banks; you'll have a team of forensics, tactical and medical experts at your disposal; you'll have federal resources for training. We can have you testify with concealed identity should we need you in court. You'll also have full medical and education benefits.

"On the downside, you'll be responsible for obeying the rules of evidence and the rule of law. There will be times when you will be ordered into or out of something; and you’ll be expected to comply with those orders. You will be required to undergo combat training and we will probably also want you to undergo some level of powers testing. All results will be confidential — but we will have them, along with you." He stopped.

"The upside to not having sanction is freedom of action, at the expense of privilege and resources. You can delivered evidence to us without having to obey the rules of evidence – but we will be limited in our use of that. You won’t have to listen to us (or anyone else) when you are ordered into our out of a situation.” He spread his hands, “But, you’ll still be called when the guano hits the fan, and we will expect you to show up.

“I have worked both ways and -- let me be honest with you -- you have a great set up here. The private funding you have, the base and vehicles are something that we never had without government funding and the strings that go along with that." He paused, "But, we were on our own, I gave up my private identity because I *needed* to testify against one particular criminal. If we had Sanction -- I could have testified without giving that up.

"I realize that you have no reason to trust me -- and I also realize that you have every reason to believe that I have a vested interest in your taking the sanction. And – you would be right about that. I want you to take the sanction option. But, I have been where you are and I know that this is entirely up to you. We won't be forcing you into anything."

Lotus nodded thoughtfully, one long finger stroking her lower lip while the fern nearby played with her hair. She appeared not to notice. "Thank you, Mr. Bellar. If you please, a further question -- who would be `giving the orders,' as you phrased it, to this team? And to whom would we be answerable? `The government' is a big, faceless entity to someone like me."

Both Rod and Thomas nodded, "Yes - it is." Rod agreed. "If anyone will be giving you orders, it will be me. The orders might come from someone with a rank - but if I don't sign off on them, they aren't worth the paper they're printed on." It had been a hard and long argument over that when the process of "Sanction" had been discussed. But, in the end, Bellar had won the day. "You'll be the first 'Sanctioned' team; but, any orders will come from me. I answer to the Attorney General and we both answer to the President. So, technically - orders could come from any of those three."

"And another question. I know that Wild Lotus here was approached in the same fashion I was. Which suggests that all of us were. Which suggests that Mr. Bellar and/or AEGIS have been watching all of us for some time. Just how closely have you been watching us, Mr. Bellar?"

Rod nodded. "We monitored you for as long as three and as little as one month before approaching you." He opened a briefcase and pulled out six files each with a codename on them. "Here are you files - every scrap of data we collected. They are yours to do with as you please and they are the only copies. We have assumptions and drawn some conclusions about your powers and your personalities based on what we observed."

Leah got up and retrieved her file, labeled Iron Maiden. While Morgan spoke, she sat down next to Wild Lotus again and flipped it open. Just as Bellar had said, it contained photographs and reports of her public appearances as Iron Maiden. There were several profiles written by different people, judging by the writing styles. Leah skimmed over them as Bellar and Morgan spoke.

Ivan's interest suddenly spiked. He removed his sunglasses and stared for a hard moment at the dossiers on the table. Finally he came down from the foyer and snatched his up. He flipped through it with predatorial voracity.

Lotus retained her seat, curled up cozily in the sun with the fern, watching with interested eyes who arose to claim their file from the desk, and who did not. Hers remained where it was, for the moment -- what Bellar and Morgan had deduced about who she had been had caused them to invite her here, now. What was more important to her was who she was to becom, and with whom she would be sharing that process.

Morgan broke in, "While we had you under surveillance, it stopped after any encounter. You were not followed back to your homes and we do not know your identities. 'Sanction', however, will mean that you'll need to reveal those to AEGIS." Morgan pulled out a small round sphere: "These are the recorders we used. I monitored each of them from my office here -- in real time. We used no other human source other than ourselves. Does that allay your concerns?"

The profiles were interesting. They varied a little in detail but they were remarkably uniform in their conclusions. The analysis of Leah's speech and actions--from word choices to accent to her reactions to questions or observations--was frighteningly thorough, and eerily insightful. She hadn't realized how much could be gleaned of her personality and background from so little.

It wasn't like she'd held press conferences or issued official statements. They were working from a handful of brief on-camera responses to local television reporters and transcripts of interviews with criminals she'd apprehended or people she'd rescued. Nonetheless they'd done a remarkably job of nailing down who--or what--she was. They might not have tried to find out her identity, but with this kind of information in hand it wouldn't be difficult.

Leah looked up from the file. "I can't say that I'm excited about telling you who I really am but I can understand the necessity--if we agree to sanction."

Ivan looked up sharply. He swept from one face to the next before settling on Bellar. "I am in," he said without emotion. "Vith Sanction and pay advance."

Paladin had been content to watch the proceedings and remain silent in his armor shell from his place standing - the seats wouldn't have held him anyway - near the entranceway. He'd already had his questions answered and had told Morgan and Bellar that he much preferred official sanction. It was gratifying to hear the first few voiced opinions lean towards that avenue of operations.

Turn 0.51
Morgan clapped his hands with enthusiasm, "If those questions are answered, then we'd like to leave you guys alone to discuss your status. Once that's decided, we can start to show you the toys and perks of the job." He nodded to Director Bellar and they started toward the door, "When you have come to a decision, pick up that phone," he pointed to a black phone that sat on a desk, "and let us know. If the hour gets on and you get hungry, there's food - just call and we'll direct you to the dining room. There's a bathroom down that hall." He pointed toward a hall on the left."

He gave one last chance to ask questions, then nodded with a smile and walked through the door with Bellar.

Paladin nodded to the men as they walked past him at the doorway. Once they had gone, he closed the door and moved to the windows. His footsteps on the hardwood floor made a steady heavy drumbeat in the accoustics of the large open room. His white and blue armor gleaming in the tree-filtered sunlight, he looked out at the picturesque landscape, seemingly content to let the others begin the conversation.

Leah closed her file and put it aside. Nobody spoke immediately. She glanced at Wild Lotus, who met her gaze inscrutably. Amrita seemed content to wait for someone else to speak. Leah shrugged. (Somebody has to go first. Might as well be me.)

"So..." Leah said, "Is anyone utterly opposed to working with official sanction? As I said, I'm not thrilled about having my identity to known to the authorities. But given that AEGIS was able to watch me--and closely--for weeks or months without my noticing, it's not like they couldn't find out whether I wanted them to or not. So I don't see any reason not to take the offer."

"Does anyone disagree?"

"I do not disagree," Wild Lotus said softly. Her voice was lightly inflected with Indian accent, almost unnoticeable until she spoke at some length. "But I feel compelled to ponder whether this Sanction turns us into political tools, and whether we would be freer to act with more integrity without it."

She smiled slightly. "I realize those questions cannot be answered with the information we have at hand. But I am curious to know what you others think."

Jack hadn't said a word. He'd sat quiet in the back of the room, his hands folded in his lap, nodding intently at everything that was said but by no other means participating more than the paint on the walls or the coffee in the kitchen. Still, despite his silence, he'd had a full conversation, had argued and disputed through his silence, since the moment he'd walked through the door. That didn't change now, as he sat amid men and women who would either become new friends, or a day's dalliance.

'You agree to this,' Jack's father intoned, his mental voice stern and yet low, 'and you're signing off on your freedom of choice, on our ability to operate beyond regard. You're putting on a uniform, you might as well grab a bat and start clubbing everyone you see, because you're just another -'

"It would be nice to work on a team," Jack said, an answer both to his father's silent voice, and the commentary of his friends.

"Probably take some of the pressure off, right?" he shrugged. From his frame, with his broad shoulders and wide chest, the motion seemed exagerated, almost epic in some regard.

"But ... I dunno. Maybe I'm just a little nervous about this sanction stuff. I'm sorry, I don't remember your name, but you're right," he motioned to Wild Lotus with a nod in her direction. "I mean, we all know that the law and doing what's right are two different things. The law sometimes needs to be bent to get the job done, and I'm sure we won't be able to do that if we're government agents.

"Then again, I bet it'll be a lot easier for us if we're sanctioned. If we're all agreeing, that is. I'm just saying ..." He trailed off with a nod. In his mind, louder than ever, his father wailed in protest.

"I don't know about any of you," Paladin finally said, "But I'm no vigilante. I'm not above the law, and I don't think this team should be, either."

He turned from the windows to face the others, hands clasped behind his back. "Sure the law's imperfect, but it's still the law. Where do we draw the line on how much we're willing to bend it? If we go into this thinking it's okay to set the law aside any time we think it's getting in the way, then what does that make us?"

"As I understand it," Leah said, "the question of law-breaking doesn't arise. If we choose not to be sanctioned we're not agreeing to break the law--we're choosing not to be law enforcement agents. We would be acting as private citizens but nonetheless still expected to obey the law.

"We wouldn't be held to the same rules as the police when it comes to collecting evidence because that's the case for any ordinary citizen. But if we violate the law, we can still be held accountable. And considering how much AEGIS already knows about us, joining the Dark Side would be a bad career move--quite aside from the fact that I have no desire to do that."

"So the question isn't whether we become lawless vigilantes and above the law--it's whether we want to be actual law enforcement agents."

Ivan watched all this discussion with mild interest, like an amateur tennis match. Already familiar with the idea of sanction, he added little. Besides, he had made his decision. Once done, he would rarely be swayed.

What he found suddenly more interesting, however, than the droning debate going on around him, were the faces of those assembled. One, in particular.

They were mostly women, he noticed, and all of them masked. Sniper had always been open about his identity. He had no ties, nothing to hide, no one to fear. Certainly he had made his share of enemies, but he did not shy from them. He enjoyed the challenge as well as the freedom his public identity brought him.

But these others...

He glanced at each one in turn, comparing them to memory. Only one seemed familiar. He couldn't place it for certain, but definitely someone he had seen before. Long, raven hair, dark skin, darker eyes. Reserved.

Resignedly, he forced himself back to the discussion. The memory would come to him. Eventually.

Lotus had nodded as her friend the Iron Maiden spoke eloquently to the point. "I spoke of acting with integrity, Paladin. Not without it."

"Full access to federal data banks; forensics, tactical and medical experts at your disposal; federal resources for training..." Paladin ticked them off on his fingers. "I'd hate to take those for granted. Plus, testifying in court and losing my private identity doesn't appeal to me."

He shook his head again and stood up off the table. "I don't equate 'sanction' with 'cop', 'lack of integrity', or 'political tool'. That's a big leap for me and I'm not there yet. I understand the natural reaction to avoid losing 'freedom' but...freedom to do what? What can't we do with official sanction besides break or bend the law?"

He realized that he was thinking out loud at that point, so he ended with, "I'm not naive but I'm not a cynic, either. Wth everything we stand to gain, it's a no brainer. I vote for sanction."

"Very well then," Lotus smiled. It was warm like the sun, rife with understanding and good humor. "That is your vote and your mind is not open to question on the matter. I envy you your certainty, Paladin. But perhaps you will forgive those of us who do still have questions in our minds and hearts about this. For all our love of the law of this land," and it was evident in her words that she did love it, warts and all, "it sometimes requires its agents to act in ways that violate their personal integrity. I question whether that is the path we wish to choose. That is all."

Paladin didn't appreciate being called closed-minded, particularly by a stranger, but in his previous line of work he'd endured much worse and he didn't take it personally in any event. After all, he'd had the opportunity to think about the issue a lot longer than she or the others had.

He held up a hand. "Point taken," he offered diplomatically. "I've had weeks to think about this and I asked a lot of the same questions myself. You go right on questioning."

"I have to agree that I don't want to be forced to reveal my name if I wind up testifying in court," Leah said. "So that's one good reason for siding with Paladin on this. "On the other hand, I think you've got a good point too," Leah said with a nod to Amrita. She smiled. "On the gripping hand...if we accept sanction and then find ourselves being asked--or ordered--to do something we can't accept in good conscience, we can always resign."

"I suppose that is true, isn't it?" Lotus said, laughing joyously. It was that characteristic laugh Leah had learned was her friend's way of reminding herself she was free from fear, now. "Right in the middle of a mission, if need be too, I'll warrant. Very well. If no one else has such questions I'll withdraw mine, and go with `sanction' if that is what the group decides."

Once again silent, Jack watched as the debate rattled back and forth. On occasion, his eyes would narrow, a steeled focus that said nothing of the similar debate that rattled off in his mind. It was as if he were listening to two conversations, both on the same topics, both from men and women who valued their opinions and sought to sway others. Externally, they debated openly and freely. They discussed, considered options and choices.

Internally, the debate was much more one-sided. His father, to put it bluntly, had demanded time and again that he stand up and leave these club-swinging sheep to their own devices. Let the lemmings march off the cliff. Don't go down with them. Walk away. Now.

Jack shuffled in his seat, but did nothing else. Let him argue and scream. Jack chose to stay.

A brief lull ensued that statement and Ivan glanced about their faces. "A vote, zen?" he asked, his Eastern European accent heavy.

Jack nodded. Inside, his father's ethereal hand had already X'd off his choice on the ballot, already slapped his big red buzzer, or pleaded for the teacher with his hand in the air. His choice had been made, and with every available neuron he had under his control, he bade Jack do the same. So much so that Jack, consciously, wrestled off the urge to do the opposite - to vote for no sanction - just to spite him.

"Shut up, Dad," he muttered, his hand over his mouth only a moment, to casually hide his lips moving. It was nice that his father could communicate with him in his mind, and a crying shame that he couldn't return the favor. He had to speak out loud for his father, who existed in his mind, to hear him. Something like multiple personality disorder, with an unfortunate social twist. Let's save the questions for later, and hide it now, he resolved.

"I'd have to go with sanction. It's not about the identity or anything like that; I just have to figure that sooner or later, we're going to have to save someone that's going to have a choice about whether they want to be saved. I've got to figure, in those situations, they'll take the badge over the good citizen any day, right?

"Just makes things easier in the long run, I guess."

"So Paladin, Sniper and...Singularity Man? are in favor of sanction, it looks like," Leah said. "I'm in favor too, I suppose. Mostly for my own reasons. If I have to testify in court, I'd rather not have my real name splashed all over the media. But still, I vote yes."

Leah looked at Wild Lotus, adding, "Wild Lotus too, with certain reservations, I believe. Mainly that we can quit if we're asked to do something we can't abide."

Leah shifted her gaze to the other two heroes, Paragon and Shimmer. "That just leaves you. Y'all haven't had a lot to say. Any opinions?"

Shimmer smiled nervously as the attention turned to her. "...well." Her eyes flashed to the door one last time before she gave the group her full attention. "I am very much for santion and am excited to see that the rest of you have voted that way." Her nervous smile warmed quickly as she continued, "...we still have our free will and like Wild Lotus said, we can always resign if we feel that our morals are being compramised."

After the discussion wound down, it was Wild Lotus who nodded and stepped over to the phone. "It would appear we are in, with Sanction," she said, a gossamer hint of humor in her words.

Bellar and Morgan returned to the room. "Thank you for making that go so easily." Bellar said. "We'll be sending over personnel over the next week." He said with a smile, "If you could all raise your right hands and swear or affirm ... " After deputizing them all, he handed them a package that included: a badge, a high-tech-looking cell phone, a device that turned out to be a communicator and a book called Federal Laws, Due Process, And You.

"Please take some time and read over the book", Bellar began, "It'll cover the rules of evidence and criminal protections and such. Enjoy." He said ironically; then turned to Morgan, "Next?"

Shimmer took the items happily. She beamed as she studied the badge and a single tear slid unbidden out of the corner of her eye. It appeared as if this would be her new home for a while.

Morgan smiled, "Ah yes. Your base. Let me give you the tour."

to be continued ...