Futuristic Arcadia: Heroes World Brave

Henry said nothing as he was drinking water, partially because he began to choke and said water spilled all over the floor. "For combatting it, y'see..." he eventually added in between coughs.

"Oh I see!" Lynne remarked pleasantly before turning to Hardy. "You're name is Hardy, right? How long have you been a caretaker?"

As soon as Lynne addressed Henry, Akiko leaned over to Sir Brandon.

"Hey, uh, Sasha, I know you're supposed to be in character but let's cool it a bit, will ya? We're on a case here," Akiko whispered to him sternly before resuming her meal.

Across the room, Muna perked up a bit, eyes searching the restaurant full of diners.

Two figures entered the restaurant, both clad in black. Hoods covered their heads as they took several seats at the front of the restaurant. "Brother...I can sense them. They're all here, the whole family...Including that shadow bastard," one spoke.

"Last month's haul is gonna be the last job they undercut us on, eh dear brother?" the other replied. "But wait...I sense others...not some pushover supers, I don't think. What's the plan?"

"Plan...?" the larger brother shrugged. "We wait. These strangers we're sensing...they're levels are off the charts. And there's one..." he trailed off.

"One that seems similar to us?" the smaller brother finished. "Interesting indeed...Let's wait for now, then. See how things play out..."

***

Henry looked up, intent on eating his food before his teammates drove him insane, and nodded at Lynne. "As caretaker? Let's see...almost a decade now. 'Course I've known Sir Brandon for far longer. Our families go way back. "

"Oh, you must know each other very well, then," Lynne remarked, resting her chin on laced fingers. "Lots of stories to tell, I bet."

Akiko was about to make up a story when the waitress came up, clearing her throat. The ghost girl glanced down at the name tag, noting the name of Beatrice, whose own gaze was on the newcomer to the table. She raised an eyebrow at Lynne and seemed to think over her words until she noticed everyone was looking at her expectantly.

"Your hot pot is ready," Beatrice announced, indicating they should rise. "However, we will have to go to it. All of you, except her."

She pointed at Lynne, adding, "Unfortunately, we only allow one hot pot per person or table depending on circumstances. She had had hers."

Akiko paused, looking like she was about to inquire further but Beatrice raised a hand.

"And we shouldn't let it cool down. It is best served hot and the longer you dwell here, the... meal may be taken away and not served again."

"Oh! Uh," Akiko responded, looking at the bookseller with a sheepish grin. "Guess we take a pause here. You can stay if you wanna join us when we get back or head out. I mean, I don't expect you to-"

"Really don't want that hot pot cooling," Beatrice reminded sternly, Akiko giving a small pout.

"Alright, we're going. See ya Lynne, or be right back," the detective said with a small wave as the trio followed Beatrice to the table where a distracted looking woman in a rabbit hoodie was still searching the dining guests. She paused and turned to look at the approaching guests with a small smile though she still glanced past them occasionally. Lin put down the glass of red wine and beckoned them closer, noting the woman's gray eyes that seemed to inspecting him as well.

"Welcome to you all. Who is the recipient and their goal that they wish to accomplish with our aid?" Lin asked, getting straight to the point even though he was already looking at Sir Brandon as he said this.

~*~

"How can I help you folks today?" the bored looking police officer said as he shuffled through the papers on his desk, noting how calmly the two people walked in.

"My name is Brandon, Sir Brandon," the self-proclaimed lord said, smiling pleasantly. "To be honest, although I'm here, at the behest of my adopted daughter and the man I would call a son, I know little about this product. I'm never been one for hoodoo dark magic, you understand."

Suna glanced back at Sir Brandon at these words, his expression peculiarly blank.

"Yes, as you can see...Sir Brandon is quite ill," Henry nodded at Sir Brandon in a somber tone. "We've been all over the world, seeking help from the greatest medical professionals on every bloody continent. Didn't do us a bit of good. Their answers were all the same. Alpheum's our only hope at this point. ...Which leads us back to you," Henry looked up at Lin. "You can get us in, yeah?"

Lynne leaned back in the cushioned booth, tracking the trio as the waitress led them through the restaurant’s maze of a layout to the table she knew lay at its center. So that’s what the hot pot meant, huh. Maybe old Lin would’ve been more cordial if Lynne had ordered properly? Somehow she doubted it. She wondered idly if the detective and her “family” would have better luck swaying the prideful gangster.

She switched her attention toward the rest of the restaurant, eyes scanning over the heads of the guests as she wondered how many others had been bold enough to order the hot pot today. Probably not many. Lin and his attendants didn’t strike Lynne as particularly busy people.

Lynne raised one hand to call a waitress over, deciding she may as well try some of the food here while waiting on the results of the restaurant’s hot pot, but hesitated when a pair of black hoods caught her eye.

Huh. Odd attire for an evening eating Chinese.

She ordered three plates of gyoza.

"There is a way but I would like to clarify, this is no magic Sir Brandon," a hint of skepticism in Lin's voice as he used the title given. "There is scientific backing to Alpheum's claims and results that have you brought you here, to me, to us."

Muna smiled at them, munching on another order of spring rolls they had ordered.

"And as all business goes, a payment must be made for such services. What is this life worth, Sir Brandon?"

"That I certainly cannot measure, for the worth of a life can only be counted by those around it," Sir Brandon smiled softly. "I have lived my life to a certain principle, and I can only hope that this principle has positively impacted others' lives." Brandon paused. "Ah, but you were speaking of monetary value, I am sure. Very well, let us discuss the price of the procedure."

"It is not money Alpheum desires," Lin explained, interlacing his fingers on the table. "If it were so simple, a way in would be guaranteed to anyone who had gathered enough regardless of means or goal. No, Sir Brandon, a life may be judged by those around it but it has intrinsic value in itself."

He glanced from "Sir Brandon" to Akiko who gave a small sigh.

"His life," Akiko said as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Alpheum likes to deal in corpses, does it not?"

Muna paused, holding up the spring roll in the air. She examined the gray eyed woman closer, not noticing anything else remarkable about her. There was a shift in the air, Lin leaning forward.

"We extend life and-" he began but Akiko shook her head, cutting in almost impatiently, "You extend life by playing with death. Sir Brandon's own death is imminent so he would be a good specimen for Alpheum's regenerative procedure."

Silence fell upon the table for a few moments before Lin spoke.

"Akiko Bong, was it?"

She gulped.

"Oops."

Henry frowned, at the near-instant recognition of Akiko. She seemed to have some sort of history with Alpheum, so perhaps this shouldn't have been completely unexpected. The ruse was falling apart as quickly as it was formed and Henry wasn't completely sure whether to drop the act just yet.

"I assume, all of you must be quite alarmed," Ken noted, the heavyset blue eldest son of Lin chuckled. "We could sense something was off from two of you from the moment you walked in," he nodded at Akiko and Henry.

At the word sense, Henry raised an eyebrow to which Ken explained. "Your chi. Your life force, your inner energy. All living things have it. A lost art some might say. Forgotten and lost in the late 40s with the advent of the super, mastered in secret with knowledge passed on only to select individuals. Not many know where to find us or seek us out....but Alpheum did. And so our humble family found our way into their good graces," he informed the three.

Ken then turned to his father and stated, "Ms. Bong aside, this one's aura is off as well," he pointed a thumb at Henry. "Not in the same manner either. As for the elderly gentleman," he glanced at Sir Brandon. "He's in terrible condition. Slowed breathing, his life is withering, fading. Interesting company. I suspect, she has ulterior motives but I can say it's honestly a wonder sir Brandon is standing before us speaking at all."

"Very interesting company," Suna agreed, his arms still folded. His eyes turned to the two hooded men and narrowed but he said nothing else.

"Well we apologize for the ruse," Brandon said softly, his demeanor and posture changing slightly. "I will admit I was approached by these young folk but it is true I have nowhere else to turn to besides Alpheum. I want to live after all."

"What a curious assortment of people today. Miss Aster, our hooded friends, and now one of Alpheum's crowning achievements scheming to get into Alpheum when she could just walk in the front door," Muna said, the realization having settled in a few moments before. She smiled sweetly, adding, "If she walked in to hand over her belt that is."

"Yeah, that ain't happening," Akiko said, feeling a little relieved that Sasha seemed to pass for an old man through and through. Though she did think it was odd that Lynne had been mentioned. "I will admit, I didn't expect an insurance broker to recognize me."

"And I did not expect you to come across out path either," Lin admitted in turn with a small chuckle. "We were told about you but your friends here are new. Do you truly care about the fate of Sir Brandon here or was he a mere pawn?"

"You heard your buddy there," Akiko said, nodding in Ken's direction. "We're not lying about that and I definitely didn't bring him here to die."

"Then the price just went up," Lin said as he indicated Beatrice over. He whispered in her ear and they exchanged a few hushed words before she bounded off to the table with the hooded men first.

"Your life for his. He will be fully taken care of, the diamond package, if you have a meeting with the board director. We'll even offer it to your friend and Miss Aster will be granted access to Alpheum as well."

Akiko frowned, "Just a meeting?"

"That's all."

Henry put his hands on the table and leaned over to whisper to Akiko, "I know this is technically what we came here for, but are you alright with this? You walk in on their terms and we play right into their hands."

"Henry," Akiko said, completely forgetting his fake name as she clapped a hand on his shoulder. "This is why I'm lead detective and you're not."

She spun towards the waiting table, slapping a SSP card of a hero named Full Cover on the table in its top loader. The foiling on the card shone but didn't detract from the red inked signature that spanned diagonally across the card. The art showed Full Cover with his hands out in his signature blue armor looking suit with gold outlines, a faint line circling him to indicate the translucent shields he used to put up.

"Challenge accepted!" she announced loudly even as her heart and spirits beat frantically against her chest.

~*~

"Gentlemen, your hot pot will be ready soon. Compliments of the house," Beatrice said to the two hooded gentlemen as she passed by them, not bothering to explain any further as she headed to where Lynne sat.

"Miss Aster," Beatrice said as she approached, unfortunately with no gyoza. "It seems you've been granted a chance to try the Phoenix Lin special with the help of your acquaintance and Mister Fenghuang's good graces. Please make your way back to the table for your portion."

Though why totally escapes me right now, Beatrice thought with some distaste as she indicated the table where the trio still stood.

~*~

"Sir Brandon, you will accompany these two," Lin said as he pointed to Suna and Muna, the latter of the two rising as he said this. "They will take you to Alpheum to begin your process."

"Wait, right now?" Akiko asked, looking slightly panicked.

"You said it yourself, Ken here," Lin said with a pause, nodding his head in Ken's direction. "Sensed that Sir Brandon's life was near it's end. I'm assuming you wanted him treated as soon as possible."

When Akiko didn't quickly affirm his statement, Lin smirked, "Unless that was a lie? Was it, Sir Brandon?"

"I believe that my health has already been confirmed," Brandon said, coughing to one side. "But I am not so afraid of death that I will dishonor myself. The decision will be the young lady's, hmm?" Brandon bowed slightly.

Henry gave Akiko a withering stare, before relenting with a sigh. Whether she had a plan or not, he was going with her for backup. He wasn't certain about getting that apparent civilian, Miss Aster involved but the three of them present would be enough to protect her if she wasn't able to defend herself if things went awry.

"Alright, so..." he began, using his actual voice now that the charade was over as he stood up from the table. "We leaving soon, then?"

***
Without another word, the two hooded figures nodded at the waitress, one of them leaving a sizable sum of money behind on the table as a tip. The older of the two brothers pat her on the shoulder and whispered, "Might wanna call it in early tonight," before heading towards Lin's Table.

Lynne looked at the waitress in confusion, her eyes flickering over to the table hidden at the restaurant’s center as she spoke. Had the detective and her friends said something about her to old Lin? She didn’t imagine he would just change his mind so spontaneously.

She put her hand on the table, making to rise from the booth as the waitress walked off to attend to other customers. The waitress was stopped by the cloaked pair from before, one leaning in close to whisper something only the waitress could hear. Lynne could hazard a guess what it was, though.

The men approached the center table. She had better join them.

Lynne stepped softly through the restaurant, circling around so the cloaked men wouldn’t notice her. She hung back from joining the table fully, remaining just out of sight for the time being as she watched the proceedings unfold.

obscured_light said:

"How can I help you folks today?" the bored looking police officer said as he shuffled through the papers on his desk, noting how calmly the two people walked in.

Click to expand...

Klaus smiled and pulled his wallet from his pocket before quickly opening it to reveal a detective's shied, "Terribly sorry I didn't phone ahead, mate, but this is coming from the top, and if I didn't get down here quick, the chief would have my head!"

The officer blinked, waiting for Klaus to get to the point.

"I need to speak with Triple Nine. We saw the attack on the news and heard about his capture, and he's wanted for questioning in a string of robberies that may have led to this attack!" Klaus turned his phone toward the Sargent and scrolled slowly through official-looking records and grainy, albeit doctored, surveillance camera footage. "

My associate here, whom you may recognize as, The Alchemist, has graciously offered to assist me with the questioning should something go awry."

----

"Looks like tonight might not be a bust after all," Yamato muttered to himself as he watched his father's dealings from the rafters of the restaurant.

Suna and Muna both guided Sir Brandon into the parking lot where a wrapped challenger beeped, its lights flashing on. On the exterior of the car was a pink gradient background transition to white with cherry blossoms on the lighter parts. On the back half was a white rabbit symbol outlined in blue. Muna put the key remote back in her pocket and walked over to the driver's seat while Suna directed Sir Brandon to the back seat before taking his own in the passenger seat.

The car roared to life and sped off towards Alpheum as music blared from the speakers.

~*~

Lin nodded, Ken getting up to leave as Lynne joined them. He directed all three to the parking lot where his own bright blue Honda Civic sat next to the empty spot the Muna's Challenger had been. They also sped off in the same direction as her with Beatrice leaning against the back wall of the restaurant, watching them go, a cigarette in hand and the tip money secured in her pocket.

She dropped the cigarette, snuffed it out with her heel, and took one last look at the restaurant before she got into her own car and drove off into the night.

~*~

"She should know better than to stay where she was rejected," Lin muttered to himself as he sat alone, watching Lynne leave with the rest. His attention was redirected to the two hooded men approaching. Lin took a sip of his wine, watching them carefully.

"Gentlemen, is it cold out tonight?" he asked as he carefully placed the empty glass on the table, shoving it over a few inches to clear a space before him.

~*~

The officer narrowed his eyes at Klaus as silence hung between them. He turned towards his computer, typed a few things, a couple clicks there, before he looked back at the man before him. He then glanced at the woman behind him who didn't seem too pleased to be there.

"Yeah, alright," he finally relented with a small grunt as he stood up. Directing them to follow him, the officer took them through the precinct, directing them towards a small room and ordering them to sit down. It was bare with a table and four chairs and a mirror on the wall. A few minutes later, a single person walked in but it wasn't Triple 9. Instead, it was a burly looking man with an immaculately combed handlebar mustache and slick dark blue suit. He pulled one of the empty chairs back and wiped at it with a handkerchief before taking a seat himself.

"I understand you wish to see my client, Triple 9," the man said, pulling out a business card from his breast pocket and handing it over to them. "Rieper Bonson. Attorney and representative for Mister 9. He is currently unavailable to come out but I would be more than happy to address any concerns you two might have."

~*~

The Alpheum Foundation was based inside a series of buildings that looked like they were stacked on top of each other like a house of cards that stopped halfway. Space existed between each building and only 4 of the buildings served as a base for the others stacked on top, some of the the higher ones supported by large, circular structures covered in ivy and blooming flowers. Where there was space on the roof, slanted glass roofs covered the space, string lights and more greenery inside with seats and tables for the viewing pleasure of the employees and guests.

It spanned a large amount of land with one of the buildings on the very outer edge notably destroyed. It looked like someone had burned and smashed half of it, construction going on to repair it. No one was on site however as Muna pulled up, flashing her badge at the guard at one of the gate at the front entrance. He let her in with hardly a glance, recognizing the car easily. She parked and the trio got out, Muna keeping her badge on a lanyard around her neck.

Inside, Sir Brandon would see brightly painted murals on the walls of a lush garden on one side filled with different kinds of flowers and blue butterflies. The other had a forest with oddly placed apples scattered throughout and strange looking fruit in abundance on the vine wrapped trees. On the wall behind the really long reception desk was a large screen that was showing different ads for Alpheum and their products. Currently, it featured a woman in a black and light blue latex dress, blue eye shadow and with a streak of blue in her done up hair. She was smiling as blue butterflies flew past her, walking in a garden where families sat together and talked animatedly. On either side of the wall was a hallway.

Looking up, Sir Brandon wouldn't see a ceiling but several floors with a glass barrier keeping people from falling down onto the reception area. A few people in lab coats or suits walked around, curiously glancing down as they noted guests had arrived.

Behind the large reception desk was a man and woman both typing away behind it. A fruit basked sat between with oranges and melons. The two of them glanced up and the man smiled brightly at Muna while the woman went back to whatever she had been working on.

"Carrion," Muna greeted him to which the man grinned broadly. "Came to drop off a new patient."

Carrion, as the man was named, looked back at Sir Brandon, his eyebrows shooting up as he noted the fragility of the man.

"Yeah, I gotcha," he said as he pulled out a clipboard and beckoned to Sir Brandon. "This way please."

With a wink to Muna, not even glancing at Suna, Carrion led the old man to a room on the right side, passing by closed doors until they came to the last door on the right of the hallway. It was a cozy little room with a plush, velvet blue couch that boasted a whole two seats. There was another screen showing off ads, a glass wall that looked out on the property, and small end tables with blooming bright purple flowers with glowing blue pollen. Carrion handed the clipboard with admission forms on it and headed off towards the door, explaining, "The doctor will be right with you to discuss any concerns you may have. Just feel free to fill out the form while you wait."

~*~

In an entirely different area of the Alpheum Foundation, Ken pulled up and flashed his own badge. He was admitted in and guided the three to a different building made entirely of glass windows on the front. Its own reception area boasted dark brown leather chairs and a single woman sat at her small reception desk of mahogany with LED lights on the front.

"Well hello there," she greeted them with mild surprise, raising an eyebrow at Ken. "I'm assuming you have an appointment? Otherwise this is as far as any of you go."

"I was told no appointment was necessary if it is in regard to the Prototype," Ken explained, pointing at Akiko who didn't seem to have her usual mirth. Instead, she was eyeing the building warily that didn't have the same impressive view as the one Sasha had been led to. The walls were a rich, deep red and also led off to two hallways. There was a ceiling and a mix of classical and modern music played on speakers.

The receptionist looked annoyed and looked Akiko over who met her gaze with apprehension. She picked up the phone and still looking at Akiko, dialed someone. The line rang only once and the receptionist explained what Ken had arrived with.

"You're sure?" she asked for the fourth time, eyeing the whole group with some disdain. A pause and the receptionist confirmed that they would wait there before hanging up.

"You can go," she said to Ken before turning to Lynne and Henry. "You two sit on the left...."

"And you sit on the right," she finished, turning to Akiko. "You will all have representatives out shortly."

Ken bowed his head and took his leave, exiting the building. Henry leaned back in his chair and exhaled, taking in the pristine cleanliness of the Building. They must pay their sanitation staff well...he hoped, at least. Although, it made him restless for whatever reason. Sitting up, he asked the receptionist, "We're getting representatives for what exactly? We can't go with her?" he asked, pointing at Akiko.

The receptionist didn't even look up from the furious typing at her keyboard, "No. From what I understand, if she is indeed the Prototype, then only she needs to be seen. You two on the other hand are welcome to talk to our representatives on acquiring life insurance policies."

The clacking stopped and she looked up briefly, adding, "You might need them" before resuming her typing.

"What we need is the tickets validated for the tour," Akiko said, holding up her phone where a QR code was displayed on the bright screen. The receptionist stopped again with a small sigh and held out her hand. Akiko walked up and held out her phone, just out of the woman's reach.

"Scroll down," she commanded impatiently to which Akiko obliged. The woman scanned the screen and then looked over at Henry and Lynne.

"If you two really want the tour still, we can do the guided one of the visitor's building. This building is employees only so either wait here in the lobby or I can have you escorted to the visitor section for the tour."

Starting to get irritated, Henry commented, "...I don't want your damn insurance, I want to go with her! That's why I'm here....and what do you mean prototype?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.