Heroes: The Rise of Omnicorp

[LadyTevar]

Argent opened her own bottle of green tea. "You did get the attention of every Guardian Force fan on the internet," she said before taking a sip of the tea. She did not mention she was one of them. "If your bosses think they can grab enough tech to replicate it, it would be a great idea." She gave the ring a rueful glance. "I'd even try out for it."

They were out in the middle of the desert, waiting for the rest of the team to hit a very distant base like a ton of bricks. Must be time for small-talk. "Elias, meet Dan Ryan, codename Ghost. Dan, this is Elias DuBois, who's crazy enough to think he loves me." The last was added with great fondness, and a look far difference than anything Ghost might have seen her share with Saibot. That had been infatuation and sex; it was clear Elias had found a deeper connection to the half-demonic shadow-thief.

[Marcao]

The tension in Team Mirage was readily noticed and he found himself struggling to maintain neutrality and perspective. He was torn by a handful of emotions Blackheart and Argent, the nascent love he felt for the meta and his responsibility to Mirage. In the end, what Blackheart said made sense. He would accompany Argent and yet it would take him away from the team if only briefly. Still, something about that bothered him. He said nothing however, certain that he would return in time to fulfill his obligations. How long could talking to Ghost really take?

Argent swallowed him and took into the shadow realm that he was so familiar with and moments later, they emerged on their destination. His defenses all but glowed and his eyes seem to have an inner glow as twin emeralds swam in rivers of power. He was taking no chances with the existing situation, none at all. Still, everything seemed to be in order. In this hyper aware state however he felt that was something was occurring just beyond the reach of his perceptions. The link that connected his mind to Argent's was not a river, it was a stream but it was enough to grant him insights into her mind. He was no empath, but he had been around Argent enough to know what her talents felt like when used. This was different and yet familiar, her emotions were not guarded and yet...

Argent continued to talk and Ghost joined in, the ring being offered to him was a genuine surprise to him. When Ghost gave him the ring he spent a moment looking down at it. It looked so small.

"So this is one of the rings? Doesn't look like much." He held the ring between his thumb and forefinger before his hand moved and he placed it in one of his pockets. "I have no real desire to keep this Ghost, but unlike you I do not share your enthusiasm for the possibility of these little toys to be mass produced."

His head turned and he glanced at Argent for a moment. Was she really so interested in having the CIA with toys such as this? Were these not the same people that would have loved to have gotten their hands on her and squeeze all they could from her abilities? Her assertion surprised him but he said nothing. His attention flickered towards Dan and he nodded his head.

"It is good to meet you Dan. I am sorry that you chose not to come with us, but I respect dedication and duty." He stressed the dedication and duty more so than anything else.

His head turned and he smiled at Li Na, he leaned towards her the tip of his nose brushing against her cheek before he placed a kiss on her temple. "I don't think it, I know it." He loved her. There was no doubt in his mind that he did, but he had other responsibilities as well. He pulled back then his attention lingering on Argent for a moment before he focused on Dan.

"Okay Dan, I am going to lay it all out. I respect your decision not to join us, but you have been hanging out with Saibot as you have mentioned. Saibot is a known criminal, someone that should be rotting in an orbiting prison for the things he did." He had almost killed Li Na but he did not mention that. Saibot's crimes were varied and well known.

"So I have to ask, why were you with him? Stick to the facts please, we don't have a great deal of time." Ghost had admitted that the base could be filled with potential traps for Team Mirage. He could do little about that here. If he thought that he was going to sit here and listen to his life story, he was sadly mistaken.

As he waited for Ghost's response he concentrated more fully on the link that he shared with Argent. Was it his imagination or was it something else? He was going to find out.

[Agent Fisher]

Ghost frowned. "It isn't going to be replicated or mass produced. It stays as it is. The last power ring. Well, aside from the one Gravtitas has. As for why I was with him. I told my bosses I had been approached by Saibot to be recruited. They told me to join him and if I had the chance, take him and Kyosuke out. In the mean time I was to pass on any intel I could get."

He didn't mention the fact that he wasn't invited to come with them, or anything like that. Maybe if he had been with them, his personal life wouldn't be so bad right now.

[LadyTevar]

"Kyosuke's in on this? You didn't say that before!" Argent accused, glaring at Ghost for keeping that from her. Now she was really annoyed. "Dammit... Ghost, why didn't you tell me that sooner!"

She reacted out to three strands, those she thought would understand the message the best. Blast, Gravitas, and Hotfoot couldn't mistake this invasion of their mind as anything else but Argent's touch. *Concern (for them)* *Warning/Caution*. She didn't want to touch Blackheart; he was pissed enough at her, an invasion of his mind even for a warning would just give him more reasons to yell at her.

As she sent that message to those she hoped wouldn't take it wrong, she looked up to Tachyon for advice. "Should I try to teleport to them and warn them?"

[Agent Fisher]

Ghost looked at her. "I could have sworn I did. Sorry." He said. "And yes, go, tell them right now. They need to know." He said.

[Marcao]

He did not have Argent's ability to discern emotions and through that manage to easily understand if someone was being less than honest or not. On the surface so far, everything that Dan had said appeared to be plausible. It was when he brought up Kyosuke that he blinked. Hmm, that was unexpected.

"Kyosuke eh?" The demon hunter was not unknown to him. He had also been present for an altercation that had transpired between himself and Team Mirage in the Ultima facility.

"That is certainly a new wrinkle." He admitted. His eyes flickered from Argent to Ghost and back before he nodded. "If Kyosuke is involved in all of this, then the rest of the team should be informed. His presence changes things." Plans would have to be altered.

"Please take us both to the others, we can continue this conversation another time." He continued. They could continue their conversation with Ghost then, but so far he was impressed with Dan's apparent motives and alibi. He would talk with Argent later and see what she thought on the matter.

[Agent Fisher]

Ghost nodded. "He wasn't at the base when I was there, but he could have returned in the mean time. I believe that's who were supposed to meet in Vegas before those mind jumpers showed up."

[LadyTevar]

"Both?!" Argent repeated, staring at Tachyon in shock because she really hadn't planned on letting Ghost anywhere near her home, just because he already knew where one of her safe houses was located.

"Yeah ... Blackheart's -really- going to like that idea, Elias," she added, running her hand through her hair in frustration. "Can you imagine how badly he'd ream me for bringing Ghost back to the house, when he doesn't even trust him to tell me the truth?"

[Marcao]

Elias blinked and smiled as he glanced at Argent. "I meant you and me Argent. I don't want Dan anywhere near the team until we get everything sorted out. I believe what he has told me, but I don't think taking him with us at this point is a good idea."

[Agent Fisher]

Ghost sighed. "Tell you what. Go get me some water. I'm talking like a gallon or two if you are going to be leaving me here for awhile, and maybe a chair and something for shade? And then just leave me here. I won't go anywhere, you've got the ring. Oh, and please don't give it to Blackheart, or mention it to him." He said.

[LadyTevar]

Argent looked from Tachyon to Ghost. "That... might be the best idea or simply leave you here with him, Elias," she said, unsure what course would -not- get her yelled at. "The only other idea I have is to just go to my place in M-City. Dan's been there before, so it's not a big secret," she said, forgetting that Elias hadn't been to the M-City apartment.

[Agent Fisher]

Ghost shook his head. "Nah, just from a perspective of security, better to leave me out here."

[LadyTevar]

After another second of thought, Argent stepped close and kissed Elias on the cheek. "I'll return in a moment," she promised and vanished between

+++

She emerged back at the house, to find the rest of Mirage Team hadn't really moved. "Good! You've not left yet! Ghost just got a message from Saibot to bug out." She gave Blackheart a hard look. "There's worse news. Kyosuke Shingure is with Saibot. Ghost thinks that's who they were supposed to meet in Vegas, before the attack on the strip. There's a chance he's at the base now, which might be why Saibot's calling for evac."

[Cynical Cat]

"Fuck," said Blackheart. He was at his most eloquent. "Alright. Did Ghost give up the base's location?"

[LadyTevar]

"The same place I told you earlier," Argent pointed out politely, looking over to Gravitas. "Do you need me to guide you there?"

[Cynical Cat]

"You mean the place that you found because Ghost was there and Ghost is currently well outside?" said Blackheart. "Can you find the base again even without a direct link?"

[LadyTevar]

Argent took a deep breath before she answered. "Like every other teleporter, Blackheart... once I've been there, I can always go back. Didn't I answer that earlier?"

[Cynical Cat]

"You weren't clear," said Blackheart. "And I've yet to meet a teleporter whose powers work exactly like another teleporters. If you can get us into the base en masse, go for it. I'll take point and hopefully attract all the attention. If we're lucky, Saibot surrenders. If not, Grav, Tach, and Blast should land on him like the Hammer of God. He'll probably be paying a lot of attention to Argent and I in a fight and we'll use that against him. Not that any of our plans is that close to what we end up doing."

[LadyTevar]

"What about Tachyon and Ghost?" Argent asked, not mentioning that she had not been planning to be in the attack on the base. This was Blackheart's vendetta, not hers.

[Cynical Cat]

"We still need to secure Ghost and we need Tachy," said Blackheart. "Hell, he hits harder than I do."

[LadyTevar]

She closed her eyes a moment, taking another deep breath before she spoke. "Blackheart, would you rather have Tachyon or myself with you, because someone needs to stay with Ghost and I refuse to bring him here. At most, I would take him to the apartment in MCity, to make sure he was well out of the way." She was managing to keep her voice even and attempting to be calm and reasonable, not to start an unnecessary fight.

[Marcao]

Argent stepped next to him, leaned against him enjoyably and kissed his cheek. Before he could offer any sort of rebuttal she took herself into the darkness and vanished.

"Bu-" He sighed softly and glanced towards Ghost.

"Women" He half said, half muttered. Ghost did not need him to baby sit him. He had just been informed that a new threat had presented itself and he was being left in the sidelines. He could hardly make certain that another incident like the one that claimed Legacies could not occur if he was in the sidelines!

He took a deep breath and concentrated his attention on Ghost. "Saibot and Kyosuke." He let the words linger in the air before he continued. "Tell me about Saibot Ghost. The information I have on him is flimsy at best and you have spent some time with him. How stable is he? What are his goals? His ambitions? You mentioned possible traps before, what makes you believe that they are present?"

He watched the meta closely as he waited for his answers.

[Hotfoot]

Hotfoot narrowed his eyes. He didn't like the way this was going, but if it was now or never, it was time to give it a shot. "I don't really like Kyosuke. I suppose I could focus on him while most everyone else works on Saibot. I'll try to come up with some sort of signal or...something."

[LadyTevar]

Argent looked over to Hotfoot and gave him a wickedly amused smile. "You took him out last time, so I'm sure he'd love to see you again. Watch out for magicked patches of floor, though." Kyosuke had caused a part of the gym floor to become ... well, gluey ... during that training session. It had slowed Hotfoot down a bit.

She looked back to Blackheart. "So, who'll it be? Tachyon or me?"

[Cynical Cat]

"You don't want to do this, so you're out," said Blackheart. "Tachyon. As for you," he said addressing Hotfoot, "you're too damned fast. If I try to give you orders it'll slow you down to my speed when reacting and that's stupid. Use your best judgment and take care of your teammates."