Thursday, November 25, 2010

Thanksgiving with the Patrol

This story takes place before the events of the on going story. Masked heroes were still wanted by the law and The Victor is still alive and well, but dealing with his first supercriminal The Dungeon Master.

Officer Alicia Huntre presented herself at the front desk of the Royal Hotel at six o’clock sharp Thanksgiving night. She wore a simple blue dress and had her chestnut hair up in a bun. The Victor had told her that it was a causal get-together and that she didn’t need to worry about how she looked, but Alicia had felt that if she was going to dine with the New York Patrol she should dress nice.

She hadn’t known how to react when The Victor had given her the invite. On one hand she should have tipped off her captain to the gathering of a know vigilante group, on the other hand she had been working with The Victor and his allies since shortly after he had began his heroic crusade and had seen enough to know that most of their intentions were noble even if their actions were illegal. Besides she wasn’t sure which of her superiors were in Dungeon Master’s pouch and with the New York Patrol were on the top of his vanquish list, it was better to risk her career than their lives.

Feeling the concierge’s eyes studying her, her mind returned to the task at hand. Returning his gaze, Alicia found him to be a man in his fifty’s with a kind round face and light blond hair, the name tag over his left breast pocket showed that his name was Thomas. Moving around to lead the way, he apologized and explained that she was the first normal guest he had seen all day.

As Thomas talked, Alicia ticked off the guest list and noted things the man didn’t know. "First there was Mr. Victor and with that blue metallic woman (The Victor and Light N Blue) who had blown out all the lights on the top floor last year." Getting on the elevator Alicia had remember The Victor had telling her about that, between fits of laughter. Apparently Blue had been so excited about her first holiday that she had lost controlled of her powers and overcharged and exploded the bulbs. Vic had paid for the damages and had put twice that up front for this year incase something happens. The concierge continued, "Next was a woman wearing a fedora and sunglasses who asked me if I wouldn’t mind being interviewed by her reporter friend, a Miss Jayne. Mr. Victor had asked me already to inform the staff that he preferred no talked to the press, but wouldn’t fault them if they did. I, of course, turned her down." Quiver is always seeking more press Alicia mused to herself. "Even if I hadn’t, that silent man put an end to it by shepherding her into the elevator." And Omni can be a little paranoid, she added.

Getting off the elevator, Thomas led her down a long hallway of rooms, before stopping before one of them. Looking around, Alicia asked, "Did The Victor rent the whole floor for today?"

Giving her a surprised look, the concierge said, "Rent? Mister Victor owns the top floor." To prove his point he nodded towards the door in front of them, instead of a room number there was the stylized V that was The Victor's trademark.

As if on cue, the door opened and the man himself appeared. The Victor hadn't been kidding when he told Alicia that this was a causal gathering. He wore a plain white shirt and a pair of blue jeans, but the image of normalize ended with his face, he still wore his red half mask. Grinning at the two, The Victor pulled out a pair of bills from his back pocket and handed them to the concierge. Alicia noted that they were both hundreds. "Thank you Tom, I can take Officer Huntre from here."

Taking the tip, Thomas responded, "Thomas, sir."

Closing the door behind him, The Victor moved into the hall. "Thomas, of course, Excuse my informality for a moment longer. How is your daughter, Karan? Last we spoke she was still recovering from her surgery."

Thomas' faced lighted up a little. "She's back to her old self, sir. She just got the lead in her school's Nutcracker."

"Nice to hear. Your shift is almost over, why don't you leave early? I'm sure that Karan will love to see you. I'll smooth everything over with the manager."

Thomas thanked him and headed back to the elevator. After watching him get on, The Victor turned to Alicia, "I'm sorry, Officer Huntre, but this was the first time I've had to talk to Tom all day. I normally don't talk about other people's business in public. Now would you like a tour before dinner?" With at he gestured to the end of the hall.

Alicia just crossed her arms and leaned against the opposite wall. "So you own the top floor of one of the most expensive hotels in New York. Why didn't you tell me you were inviting me to your home when you invited me?"

The Victor stepped back as if she had slapped him. A look of embarrassment crossed his face as he recovered and walked towards her with his hands out an apologetic gesture. "This isn't my home, Huntre. I just thought that you might feel compelled to report to your captain if you had known that you had been invited to the New York Patrol's headquarters."

Alicia pointed to the insignia on the door behind The Victor, "So everyone has a room here?"

"Of course, to change or rest up before heading back to their lives or cases." To prove his point he gestured towards down the hall, which Alicia noticed for the first time had the insignias of each of the Patrolman.

Still angry about being deceived, but curious Alicia let The Victor lead her into his room. No, not deceived, The Victor never lies, he just told her that the New York Patrol was having a get-to-gather at the Royal Hotel and let her come to her own conclusions. Whatever anger she had however turned into awe as she looked around his room. Despite being an ordinary sized room, Vic had some managed to turn it into a gymnasium and lab, with room for someone to use either equipment without disturbing the other. Moving to the bed, Alicia found a sketch book that The Victor must have been working in before she had arrived. Picking the book up she noticed that The Victor seemed almost nervous about her having it. Must be like a journal to him, she thought to herself. Getting ready to put it back, The Victor stopped her. "You can look at it if you want."

Flipping through pages, Alicia found designs for equipment, including something called a gravity rope, drawings of his teammates, and several half finished sketches of a beautiful woman that Alicia didn't recognize. Apparently The Victor was human after all.

Before she could ask who the woman was, the lights began to flicker. Following The Victor out to the hall, Alicia found that the lights had brought both Quiver and Omnifarious out of their rooms. While Quiver seemed to be taking notes, Omni seemed to be just glaring at the two of them. Or at least Alicia thought he was glaring at them, his pitch black face mask made it hard to tell what was going on underneath. The Victor just smiled at both of them, "Everything is fine. Dinner will be served in a few minutes, so please finish up."

With that he led to Alicia to the room next door to his. The insignia was of a blue lighting bolt linking two white tesla coils. Knocking as he came in, "Blue is everything okay? The lights are flicking again." Leaving the door open, he went inside. Alicia followed and was suddenly overwhelmed by streaming lights and techno music. The room looked like an arcade, with games lining all the walls. On any space that was open between the games were posters of various sci-fi movies. At one of the games stood Light N Blue intensely playing. Alicia suppressed a grin as she noticed that even Blue was causally dressed with a pair of black jeans and a t-shirt for the movie Tron.

The Victor calmly walked over to Blue and tapped her on the shoulder. Like someone had flipped a switch, the lights turned to normal and the music stopped. After moment Light N Blue turned around and smiled at the two of them, "Greetings Red and Other Red. Is dinner ready?" Other Red, Alicia wasn't fond of the name but it was better than the original Old Red. Old, she was barely twenty-seven.

The Victor just chuckled, "Almost Blue. But I'm here because the lights were flicking again."

Blue appeared to became a little embarrassed, "Sorry, the higher levels of this game was proving difficult. Next time I'm remember to turn on the power vacuum."

Noticing the confused look on Alicia's face, Light N Blue pointed to a red box plugged in the corner. "Something Red designed to balance out my electrical field when my emotional circuits start to cause problems."

Before Alicia could ask more questions, there was a knock on the door. Blue opened it to show Quiver. The famed archer wore a brown trench coat over a purple blouse and slacks. Her eyes were covered by a large pair of sunglasses. "Dinner's ready everyone."

Leading Blue and Alicia out, The Victor turned to Quiver as he shut the door, "Is Conan here yet?"

"Not yet. Why don't you go see what's keeping him while I have a word with Officer Huntre."

Turning to Alicia to he said, "If you don't mind. I also have to see the staff about something."

Alicia just shrugged, "The duties of being a host. I can handle her."

After The Victor was gone, Quiver turned to ask Alicia something only to have her cut her off, "No comment." And pointed to the hidden mike on Quiver's trench coat. "I don't like being interviewed without my consent."

"At least we have something in common," said a grainy voice behind her. Alicia turned to see Omni. Of all the members he was the only one to be dressed in his costume. A pitch black suit and full face mask. To say that he made her uneasy would have been putting it lightly.

"I didn't want you to be here, but," gesturing towards Light N Blue and Quiver, "they thought it would be nice to see the other woman in The Victor's life in a less combative location. I know you can hold your own in a fight. That's all I need to know about you, Delilah."

Uneasy feeling a side, Alicia doesn't take being talk down to very well. Getting into Omni's face, "The name is Officer Alicia Huntre. Talk to me like that again and you'll know how well I am in a fight."

Whatever Omni would have said next, it was lost as a joyous voice boomed down the hallway, "Sorry I'm late folks, but Isaac just couldn't decide what to wear." The whole group turned to see Professor Nice walk off the elevator. With him was a tall dark man of vague origins. His voice had the desired affected as the tense evaporated. While Nice was dressed in trademark vest and khakis, his friend wore a plaid shirt and jeans.

Taking the lead, Conan led the group down the hall towards the dining room. Walking by the door, Alicia noted that insignia of the New York Patrol. Under it was the group's motto, "A hand when needed, a fist when required." The Victor had told her that he had suggested it as joke, but it had stuck. Walking into the room, she realized that this was normally the Patrol's meeting/trophy room. The wall to the right was lined with framed clippings of their various exploits. To her left was a case with what almost looked like a tool belt inside. The words First Case and Professor Mechanic's Tool belt were printed on the side, showed that it was indeed a tool belt.

"One of the few good things he's ever done and it was an accident," Alicia turned to see Light N Blue staring at the belt. Looking at Blue, she realized how human the android could be at times. Right now she seemed like a daughter dealing something she didn't want to.

Before Alicia could think of anything to say, Quiver walked over and led Blue toward her seat saying, "We all know honey, its okay. You're not an accident." Alicia normally didn't see Quiver comfort someone. She was either trying to get people to talk to the press or buy one of her products.

Omni bumped passed Alicia before turning back and giving her what she took to be a dirty look, "The kid's been through a lot. Leave her only." He moved to a darkened part of the room before she could respond.

Thinking it was best to sit down before there was any more problems, Alicia turned to see Professor Nice waiting for her. "Don't mind him. He might be rough around the edges but he means well. Vic wanted me to show you to your seat. Its right beside mine." Raising his hand to stop Alicia from responding, "And please call me Conan."

Taking her seat, Alicia started to admire the setting. The turkey took up a third of the table. Surrounding it was deviled eggs, macaroni, three different kinds of stuffing. and green beans. Even with all the food cover it, Alicia noticed that the table was a work of art. Big and round made of wood with the letters N Y P carved stylishly into the middle. It looked like someone had put a lot of time and effort into the construction of it. She wondered who it was, only for Conan to answer her unasked question. "Our Vic is a talented one." He nodded towards The Victor as he walked in and took his seat. "He spent weeks just trying to figure out what kind of wood to use." Seeing the confused look on her face, he added, "Sorry. One of the drawbacks of being an empath. Always know what someone is feeling."

Turning to greet Vic, she asked, "Did you get everything settled with the staff?"

Looking towards the darkened part of part the table, The Victor said, "I needed them sent a few more meals home with Omni." Noticing the stunned look on her face he added, "He's a skilled detective but sometime he forgets to buy food for himself. Whatever he doesn't want, he'll give to the shelter."

Obviously not wanting to talk about anymore, The Victor called out, "Quiver, why you start us off with what you're thankful for. After, of course, you turn of the mikes." The embarrassed look on Quiver's face sent a small chuckle around the table.

As everyone talked about what were grateful for, Alicia realized that The Victor was wrong earlier. This was his home. A place where he was the father figure of a weird family that did care about each other even as they fought. A family with Omni as the overly protective big brother, Quiver and Blue as the loving but very different sisters, and Conan as the middle child that helped balanced them out. New York was honored to have these protectors call it home, and she was honored to be a part of their family, if only for a little while.

Followers