Issue 1 Downtime

The headmistress' computer chimed.

Code: Select all

Video Chat Request From: Genbuzilla64 (J. Hino)
Accept?

The headmistress quirked a brow and clicked to accept.

A tired looking John appeared on screen.

"Sorry to bother you, but Will wasn't available and I need to report in before I fall asleep. Though I expect you'll want to hear this."

"If it's urgent, it's urgent. Go on, then."

"First, I succeeded in destroying the second market manipulation device. It was close though. I got myself captured first."

"Mister Hino, I'm not exactly the most interested in your father's stock value."

"Mister Stanton told me you went to Madripoor on personal business, but I'm guessing things escalated quickly if you were captured."

"He didn't tell you?" he asked, "Several members of the Hellfire Club were gearing up to stage a financial attack on my family. And I've now confirmed one of them is connected to the Jorogumo cult I was warned about. You... really won't like who was holding the device for her."

"I'm sorry Mister Hino, we've been dealing with issues on multiple fronts here."

"But please, being coy doesn't become you."

"Sorry. Again, tired."

He took a deep breath and exhaled.

"It was Melpomene."

This does seem to earn a frown from the headmistress.

"...back in Madripoor. Of course."

That was when he went over following the trail suggested by Hellfire member Henry Hereford's recent construction efforts straight into Melpomene's human trafficking operation.

"I was lost as to what his possible connection to her could be and it hit me sometime after she denied he was just a brainwashed puppet. His shift in business activities lines up way too well with her escape with Drew Burke. I strongly suspect the actual Henry Hereford is dead."

"Bell has... very particular notions about what she does to the people she uses her powers on. Even the slaves she'd take issue with calling them 'brainwashed' or 'puppets.'"

"I'll agree that there may be some degree of Stockholm Syndrome with Burke, in spite of our best efforts to help him heal, but we can't jump to conclusions here. Whatever you saw is whatever Bell wanted you to see."

"About the people she uses her powers on... I managed to help an anti-slavery crusader Bell had been 'convincing' that she was helping confront the truth. It was so against her nature that she managed to fight the suggestion and help me escape."

"Then there are two possibilities."

"The more hopeful one was that she hadn't had the time to do a more thorough job yet."

"The less hopeful one is that she had the time. Are you still with her?"

"Yes. I told her we could help remove Melpomene's conditioning so she agreed to return with me."

"You probably think I'm naive, but I believe her nature prevailed. Her anger at being used to enslave people seemed all too genuine."

"Don't drop your guard. There may still be triggers implanted in her."

"I'll be sure to sleep with one eye open. I imagine I will anyway until this whole cult business is dealt with."

"We can provide secure transport if need be, but you'll have to get to an X-Corporation branch office first."

"If I treat her like a prisoner I'll lose all the trust I've earned. I won't do that."

"Then we'll need you to keep us in the loop. If we don't hear from you, we'll have to send a team to your last confirmed location."

"That I can do," he agreed.

"Be careful, Mister Hino. Bell plays for keeps."

"I'm more worried about keeping my family safe from spider cultist Yui Kumo's next move, but I will."