Log:Wasp Venom, Scene 24

Wasp Venom 2013/10/23 	 Mind Wasp Regan

24

Champions Mush - Wednesday, October 23, 2013, 4:26 PM

Mindwasp

''You see an attractive mulatto woman in a black long-sleeve form-fitting Quinntex suit that reflects yellow when light hits it. Her black shoulder length hair is in hundreds of tiny braids and the sclera of her brown eyes are honey yellow. Her waist is nipped in at the sides like she is wearing a corset, but her movements say otherwise. ''

The door of the interview room opens and Regan moves inside, instead of her normal attire she is wearing a plain black linen dress with long sleeves and a body suit underneath, the costume she normally wears as Obsidian Butterfly. "Good evening Miss Adamini, my name is Regan Scorby, I would like to talk with you. You have the right to refuse to in which case I shall leave. You should be aware that the conversation will be recorded but you may request the presence of witnesses or legal advisors if you wish.;

Mindwasp has not been suffering her confinement pleasantly. She is handcuffed and her head is encased in a mind-dampening helmet that includes a visor to cover her eyes, but the visor is currently up. Her mouth looks red like some kind of webbing was recently ripped off it. The helmet she wears is ironically the same helmet used on Miss Sato.

Mind Wasp says, "I'd love to help if you could take off the helmet first. It hurts."

Regan 

''Lustrous jet black hair is cut into a stylish bob, highlights of royal blue subtly shimmering as she moves, bouncing softly on her cheeks. Her skin is the colour of mist-veiled moonlight, pale and ethereal over a round, intelligent face still flush with the strength and promise of youth. High, full cheeks and soft, expressive lips hint at both the dazzling intensity of her smile and the dark and dangerous thunderclap of her temper, hovering for the moment somewhere in between. Above a fine, slightly upturned nose slate-grey eyes glitter mildly as they take in her surroundings. At 5'5" she is compactly built rather than statuesque, but her posture and bearing carry the languid, self-assurance and poise of an accomplished athlete.''

''A magenta linen tunic drapes loosely around her form, clasped at her slender waist by a black patent leather belt. It is intricately patterned with a network of midnight black tendrils and though rather loose seems carefully tailored. It flares slightly over her hips to stop mid-thigh, its sleeves coming to a few inches above her wrists, and is very loose around the neck, occasionally threatening to fall from her shoulder.''

''A black skirt of some heavy fabric falls to mid-calf where it meets the top of a pair of black satin and leather boots. The skirt's piping and pleats are of an eye-catching scarlet silk that shimmers with every graceful movement. She wears a minimum of makeup, a pair of black opal earstuds, an intricately worked necklace of amber, and a gold bangle on her left wrist.''

Regan nods. "You understand that any attempt to use your powers while you are here would constitute a crime?" She asks simply.

Mindwasp nods, "Of course."

"You may be under the impression that at this point there is no point in refraining from crime. If that is your belief I would suggest you have not considered your position in any detail." She moves to remove the helmet. "You are in a tenuous but far from hopeless position but ill considered action on your part, or that of your confederates will be catastrophic." She sets the helmet on the table, but instead of turning to take a seat she perches on the edge of the table, keeping the suspect within arms reach and her hands lightly folded in her lap. "So what is the ideal progression of events from this point for you?"

Mind Wasp says, "Since you took off the helmet, I'm assuming Commander Perrault confirmed that I've been framed?"

Regan shakes her head. "I have had no communication with the commander on this issue. For what have you been framed, and by whom?"

Mindwasp looks exhausted and on the verge of tears. Her long lashes flutter as she says, "Somebody scooped out the guts of the production unit in Saldanha and inserted a person in there. They made it look like I was doing all kinds of ... of horrible things."

Regan reaches out languidly to plant her palm against Mind Wasp's sternum.

The movement is slow but at the point of impact Regan's arm stiffens and there is a faint nimbius of some sort of energy around her hand. ""You really are an idiot Miss Adamini." She picks up the helmet and reattaches it. "I've encountered many in my professional life but your lack of intellectual ability really is terminal."

Mindwasp's eyes flutter wide in panic, but that is all she can do.

"I used to use deceit and manipulation for a living Miss Adamini." Regan says as she unhurriedly adjusts the strap under the inert woman's chin. "The key to it is never tell anyone something they know or can easily work out is untrue. That means that you must have some idea what intellectual capacity your target has and be able to match their powers of deduction." She pauses to make eye contact with the suspect. "So if you're going to sit here and wallow in feeble lies you can rot. You are simply too dumb to understand the things I came here to say." She then reaches out to apply a series of gentle strikes to Adamini's nerve points removing the paralytic effect.

Mindwasp coughs and sputters as normal motion returns.

"Miss Adamini, thank you for your time. I suggest you acquire the services of competent legal counsel. Your belief that you are intelligent enough to represent yourself is very much unfounded and borders on the delusional." Regan moves to the door. "I came here to help you Miss Adamini, to make some arrangement where you could just walk away from this and never bother me again. But if you were bright enough to see that that is in your best interests you would already have done it. So instead, you can rot here in the fetid stench of your own lies."

Champions Mush - Wednesday, October 23, 2013, 9:28 PM 

Steel's Gym

''Inside the door is a spacious reception area. Directly opposite the entrance is a wide full length window of thick armor glass providing a gallery view into the workout area. To the east is a desk where gym staff check membership cards, schedule sessions and give out information. Next to the desk are vending machines selling snacks and chilled drinks and a jukebox. The west side of the reception area has a pair of old fashioned pinball machines and a holographic Hogan's Alley combat shooting game. Some framed Photographs, a Plaque, and the Gym Rules are hung on a wall beside the gallery window. ''

''The central area of the reception has a half dozen tables and chairs for members who are waiting for their booked session or discussing the outcome. A short flight of stairs leads down to the massive stainless steel door of the workout room as well as doors to the restrooms and changing rooms that are equipped with showers for freshening up after an exhausting practice. An arched opening provides access to the more conventional areas of the Gym, a weight training facility, the exercise room, and a heated swimming pool. ''

Regan moves into the apartment above the gym, looking for where Hardcase might be.

Hardcase has been a horrid house guest. She hasn't been rude or crude, but her attitude has been closer to 'get what you can before its gone' more than anything, whether 'it' is time on the TV or ice cream. Hardcase has put on a few pounds and isn't so rail thin, however.

On finally locating Hardcase Regan smiles. "How quickly can you pack your things and be gone?" she asks without preamble.

Hardcase shrugs, "Things? Let me get on my boots and I'm gone." She sighs with an 'I knew it' attitude.

Regan says, "You can keep the the stuff you bought. Pack it up and take it with you. You can also have the money since it seems to mean so much to you. If you are still within the city limits within six hours you will be arrested on charges of kidnapping, extortion, terrorism and a host of conspiracy charges. But since you and your colleagues seem one and all to be grade A morons I don't expect that advice to carry much weight."

Mind Wasp says, "Charges of what? All I did was eat all your food and flip a few coins to find a dude at an antique shop. You're out of laundry detergent by the way. ... and is there still a hold on my passport?"

Regan says, "Your friend Rewind has issued a threat to start bombing the city if Adamini nis not released. He created a copy of Barabara Wawa and kidnapped her. Since you've been complicit in his remaining at large and free from interference you are guilty of those crimes too. In fact I can make a strong case that you only pretended to hand yourself in to better monitor the investigation to find Rewind and Adamini. Sort out your passport yourself. It is not my responsibility to babysit you any longer."

Mind Wasp says, "That idiot! When I get my hands on him, I'm ..." she bites short whatever she is going to say and jams a bare foot in her boot.

Regan lifts a hand. "I already know the two of you are close, why do you imagine I am so annoyed. But my advice and I will repeat it loudly and clearly and use really short words so you'll be sure to follow." She pauses for emphasis. "Go a-way. Do not try to find him, do not try to contact him. Leave him to the fate he has chosen. Or you will find yourself in prison for a very long time. The charity phase of our relationship is over. If you cross me in any way ever again you will suffer badly. Am I making myself clear?"

Hardcase pauses, looking at Regan quizzically. "You *don't* want me to find him?"

"No, what I want is for me to find him. But you won't tell me where he is and even if you did I have absolutely no reason to trust a single word you say. This is the position you put yourself in by being duplicitous, or untrustworthy, or lying constantly." Regan explains with an exasperated tone. "You had an opportunity to be something other than a loathsome parasite and you chose not to take it. If you have information you think might be useful go take it to Star Guard, they may not be sick of being lied to yet, but I've had enough."

Hardcase shrugs, finishes putting on her boots and says, "No skin off my nose if you want to do things the hard way. And who said I knew where he was? Knowing where he is and finding him aren't the same thing."

Regan folds her hands in front of her watching Ms Case pack. She apparently sees no reason to respond to the young woman's last utterance, content merely to ensure that she doesn't steal anything on her way out. If she needs luggage Regan will provide it.

Hardcase literally has nothing to pack other than her boots and the cash Regan gave her. She walks out the door, says "transmat?" and flips a coin. She evidently doesn't like the result because she flips the coin a few more times before heading in a totally different direction.

Regan makes a call to a locksmith to have the locks changed and while waiting for them to arrive sweeps the apartment for bugs and checks the security system.

Once the mundanities are dispensed with Regan heads over to HIVE headquarters in Quinn Tower.

Regan approaches reception at Hive Inc and asks for an appointment with Bee.

The yellow-eyed receptionist says, "I'd be glad to set that up for you. She's currently out of the city, but would tomorrow be good?"

"Sure, what time?" Regan asks.

The receptionist finds a time that matches Regan's schedule.