Mission:Only Love Can Hurt Like This - Finale: Consequences

Finale: Consequences

Briefing

Corlett is deep in conversation.

Yes. I see. I see. And you want... Uh huh. Ok. Yes ma'am. I will.

Corlett clears her throat before continuing.

Well, Character, we have a peculiar situation to deal with. It seems Countess Crey has contacted Ms. Foss personally to arrange a... handover of material. As in the material that incriminates her in Alphonse Crey's poisoning. In exchange we get the last of our missing data and gene samples.

• And that's it? She gets away again?

Ashling Corlett grins.

Oh, let's you and me worry about that later. Right now we have a meeting to attend on neutral ground. One of Chris Jenkins' offices in Kallisti Wharf. We go in, we make the swap, sign a few papers and the deal is done. Later? Well, who knows?

Unnecessary Solicitation

I better not be waiting for you at Jenkins' office, Character. This is too big to ignore.

Mission Objective(s)

Crey pulled a fast one and bumped the meeting time up at the last moment - typical.

• Meet with Countess Crey on neutral ground
  • Meet Ashling in the Conference Room
  • (Optional) Talk to Feralina
    • (Optional) Talk to Calanthe
      • (Optional) Talk to Vulcannon

Well, that's a rather unsatisfying end to a bombshell investigation. You can tell from the Countess' demeanor that it's not likely over for you and Corlett.

Notable NPCs

• The Ascendant
• Salena Falzares
• Dr. Coolbreeze
• Kid Electronix
• Kid Hydronix
• Kid Cryonix
• H. Knight Jr., Esq.
• Curupira
• Gloryhound
• Pyrolicious
• Norsewind
• Feralina
• Little League
• Calanthe
• Cauldron
• Vulcannon
• Eye in the Sky
• Classified Crey Demolitionist
• 9th Generation Hero Corps Clone
• Countess Crey Countess Crey is in full legal mode. There is no bargaining with her or room for idle conversation. She is one-hundred-percent focused on business.
• Chris Jenkins, Esq. You've seen Jenkins' face on countless billboards over the years. Given the presentation of this office, he must be very successful at his job.
• Ashling Corlett
• Iron Ellis
• Rebecca J. Foss, Esq. Rebecca Foss leads Hero Corps, and is none-too-pleased to see the results of this investigation conclude in this manner.
• Shiverstrike
• Agent Tavish Bell

Salena and Ascendant Dialogue

Salena Falzares: First, no. I don't date clients from other "rival firms".
Salena Falzares: Second, I don't date clients that try to put quarters into my VOIP phone to make a call.
Salena Falzares: Third, don't you own a cellphone by now?

H. Knight Jr., Esq. and Black Force Dialogue

H. Knight Jr., Esq.: I'd say the public relations blowback is negligible. Nobody's even heard of Mogadishu.
H. Knight Jr., Esq.: Now, we should probably talk about getting better representation for the triplets... that one's a liability.

Legal Counsel and Pyrolicious Dialogue

Legal Counsel: We're confident we can win at trial, the fuel stabilizer in that warehouse fire has had unexpected interactions with your powers.

 
Countess Crey: Ah, it seems your little gopher has finally shown up.
Countess Crey: A shame that they weren't here to defend their actions when this meeting started.
Chris Jenkins, Esq.: A terrible shame. But as this is a time-sensitive matter, it is unfortunate that we had to close the matter without them.
Ashling Corlett: Oh, of all the sneaky little... Jenkins, what would Maria think of you brokering these kinds of deals?
Iron Ellis: Watch yourself, Ash. Not here, not now.
Rebecca J. Foss, Esq.: Yes. The last thing we need right now is more conflict.
Countess Crey: You are so right, dear. We must settle the matter of the tape.
Chris Jenkins, Esq.: Well, Ms. Corlett, she may be my grandmother, but she still takes my checks to cover her rent and medical insurance, because she knows I love her. Moving on...
Chris Jenkins, Esq.: Ms. Jafri, I take it you've had time to review the NDAs?
Shiverstrike: I and the rest of the team have reviewed them. We are none too happy with the terms, but it does give us what we want in the end. I will state for the record that Ms. Foss' decision, whatever it is determined to be, will be supported.
Countess Crey: Marvelous! What a fair and equitable transaction for all of us. Now, kindly remit the tape to my custody?
Rebecca J. Foss, Esq.: You will find the tape in a secure lockbox with Mr. Jenkins' paralegal. And you will submit the missing data we seek, I hope?
Countess Crey: You already have it in your databanks. I would recommend a sweep of your public facing login protocols, there are some terrible vulnerabilities about.
Agent Tavish Bell: Heh. Zing.
Chris Jenkins, Esq.: As you and your members sign the NDAs, I will remind you on the record that the contents of the tape and the implications of anything seen in the locations where it was obtained will be met with swift legal action if released to the public.
Chris Jenkins, Esq.: In expectation of your compliance, Crey has in good faith deposited the missing profile and medical data of your personnel into a public server accessible via your member login page.
Ashling Corvett: ...This isn't over!
Countess Crey: I say it is, so it is. Isn't that neat?
Countess Crey: See you around... Ashley? Ashton? Close enough.

Feralina

Briefing

Feralina glares at you, but her silence holds fast. She twitches for a second like she wants to say something, then regains her focus.

A voice rings out from nearby. 'Feralina has been asked by the HC brass not to interact with anyone outside the organization. I can try to answer some questions if you like.'

• Talk to Calanthe

You turn your attention to the hero sitting on the floor nearby.

• Close window

Vulcannon

Briefing

Vulcannon does not react to your attempts to converse with her.

• Close window

Calanthe

Briefing

You're unsure how best to engage with a hero who hasn't moved from their position, seated squarely on the ground. You simply begin speaking to them and hope for the best.

• I, um... are you going to stay down there?

Calanthe looks at you.

Not all of us are so fortunate to be in a 'great mood' all the time, Character. Beneath this slender frame is a nuclear furnace, and without tight physical and emotional control, I could be a liability. That's why I work with Hero Corps, and that's why I'm here, with my back to the negative stimuli, peacefully finding my zen.

• Your zen? That's very progressive.

Calanthe hums to herself a moment. The temperature around you dips cooler.

Yes, my zen. It keeps me and everyone around us safe. And before you ask... yes, we're all perfectly safe or Foss wouldn't be here in the first place.

• Maybe I should just ask my question.

Feralina did die, Character. I was there when they lowered her into the ground. But as many cats are like to have, she has nine lives. The person you rescued in Kallisti Wharf is in fact Feralina. But I fear that when these proceedings are over, she was always just 'undercover'.

• Wait, what do you mean?

Calanthe shakes her head and waves you off.

• What does that mean?

• Hi there. Yes, I have plenty of questions.

Calanthe smiles at you.

I'm not authorized to answer many hard-hitting questions. Mostly a Hero Corps member is allowed to talk freely about themselves, and in cases like this, any pertinent information about the situation at hand, such as the curious case of Feralina's second of nine lives.

• Can you tell me how Feralina is... here?

This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.

• Can you tell me more about Hero Corps?

Calanthe giggles.

I forget that we're just on the rebound here in Paragon City, and not everyone knows what the Corps are about anymore. Do you see those designators on our backs? They say "C.S.M.L. Classification'. Hero Corps takes in those who could be a Metahuman Liability. That's what the ML stands for. CS, well... that stands for Corporate Sponsored.

• Hero Corps absorbs your liability in exchange for training you?

Calanthe smiles.

That's one way of seeing it, for sure. I did not have a pleasant coming-of-age story with my talents. I was sponsored by the Corps and given another path to walk, with mentorship and guidance, to control and focus myself into something better for all humankind. I owe her and everyone else an unpayable debt.

• Do you mind if I ask some questions?

This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.

• Hero Corps babysits you?

Calanthe frowns. The air around her warms slightly.

If you want to paint it in that kind of light, sure. But I see it more as a 'second chance'. My entry into the world of superheroing was devastating, and could have severely altered my life if someone like Shiverstrike hadn't been around to defuse the situation. I was given another path to walk, with mentorship and guidance, to control and focus myself into something better.

• Hero Corps absorbs your liability in exchange for training you?

This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.

• I didn't mean to disrupt your zen.

This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.

• One question, mostly. Feralina is alive?

This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.

Calanthe

Briefing

Calanthe is intently focused on her own personal balance, and is not entertaining small talk from you.

• Close window

Vulcannon

Briefing

Vulcannon glances at you from over her book. It's a recently published work by T.T.L. Watkins called 'Descent' describing the fall of Dr. Vahzilok. You didn't know it made it to print yet...

...Yes?

• Hello there, friend!

Vulcannon doesn't look up from her book.

Not your friend, not your buddy, not your pal. Let's keep this strictly business, and not try to make friends during a legal proceeding that will likely warp narratives for years to come.

• Warp narratives?

Vulcannon sighs and gets back to reading her book.

You'll find out soon enough, and it won't be from me.

• You shouldn't lead me on to shut me out.

Vulcannon looks directly at you.

I don't know how to say this nicely, so I'll just say it.

I don't care, and I'm not sorry. Now please go bother someone, anyone else.

• Wow.

• Your conversation skills could use some work.

This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.

• Do you mind if I ask you something?

If it's about Feralina, then yes I do mind. And anything else, really. I'm not here to educate you.

• That was kind of rude.

This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.

• Wow, really?

Vulcannon sighs and rolls her eyes.

I'm not authorized to answer on the grounds of personal connections that could cloud the integrity of my statements. Now please kindly go away.

• Wow.

Ashling Corlett

Briefing

Corlett can barely contain her rage. She speaks in a raspy whisper.

The audacity! The predictable, backhanded, slimy audacity that I should have expected from the Queen of Lies! She changed the meeting time at the last minute, and Jenkins didn't inform us until 3 hours ago, knowing that it would disrupt us to reschedule everyone! Half of our best members aren't able to be here for this now!

• And here I thought I was early!

Corlett tries to whisper, but is doing a terrible job of it.

The Countess knows that without our best here, and those who are representing today under the stress of last-minute arrangements, the possibility of getting numerous concessions is better. I can't believe this is happening!

• How's this going to play out, you think?

Corlett deflates, her body posture becoming one of defeat.

We've already lost the chance to nail her to the wall on the tape. It's inadmissible as evidence because our operation was off the books and you weren't able to make it here to defend yourself or the operation. Because Foss had to operate with plausible deniability, it fell on me to defend the op, and I didn't have the hands-on experience you did. They played us good on this one. What a stupid, inconceivable technicality.

• So what is there left to do?

Corlett looks at you and then a sudden realization strikes her.

I have an idea of what to do next... all depends on his archival habits. I'll let you know if that dog will hunt when I get to him.

• Oh, this should be good.

• If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck...

Corlett smirks.

I'm trying to keep my rage in check, and it's really becoming quite an exercise. As much as I love lampooning Corporate America, this situation really has our proverbial bull caught by the bits.

• I don't follow.

Corlett smiles weakly.

Not now. I'll tell you later.

• ...okay. So what can be done at this point?

This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.

• It makes me angry... but what can we do?

This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.

Debriefing

Well, Character, it wasn't what we wanted but it's still a win. Even so, as far as this Hero Corps officer is concerned, it's not over yet. Right now I'm going to go see Neil in the Architect Entertainment building - just for a chat, you understand? We can't have copies of vital information just lying around for anyone to find, can we?

Corlett salutes you.

We'll see each other again, I'm sure of it. Until then, if you need help, just look for Hero Corps.