Where is Jade, Scene 8

Star Guard Reception Area
The reception area has muted black tiled floor, with the walls and roof painted off-white. The secretarial desk enclosure is barely twenty feet from the double set of glass doors. To its left is a large double-hinged door ominously labeled 'Security'. A seating area full of soft couches is to the right. Down the hallway that leads deeper into the building is the office of the Director of Operations and the exit to the landing field outside.

Meeting a few days after speaking to Nicky Winters
Dorian is already in the conference room when Star Girl arrives. "Hey there."

"Hey," Star Girl says, a little out of breath from the run that brought her here from the campus.

Star Girl says, "Glad I caught you... got a minute?"

Dorian nods. "Of course. What's up?"

Star Girl comes into the room. She's sure to close the door before turning around to face Spirit. "So.." she begins with a sigh. "There's been a bit of gray going around lately."

Dorian nods, "You talking about my interactions with Nicky?"

"Yeah," Star says. She tilts her head a little. "Look I might be a little overly sensitive to the whole mind control thing, having been on the wrong side of it recently... It is just me, or is Nicky kinda creepy?"

Dorian nods. "She's a vampire. They're all kind of creepy, honestly."

Star Girl shrugs. "Yeah, sure... But the way she talks so casually about mind controlling the guards at Stronghold. I dunno... it rubs me the wrong way... I wonder if we should really be trying to make a deal with her."

Dorian nods slowly, "I understand your concern. Now...you realize she agreed to go to prison in the first place as part of a deal, right?"

Dorian says, "Admittedly, she clearly had this mind control scheme set up so that she could leave at will. And she's done so in the past to meet with me a couple of times. But she's always gone back to prison after that."

Star Girl nods in response, and she listens.

Star Girl says, "I guess that counts for something..."

Dorian says, "She...has softened over the years that I've known her. I guess due to interactions that she's had with both me and Dancing Coyote. He was...well, a very compassionate person. I think he managed to get through to her."

Dorian says, "My attitude is...everyone deserves a chance at redemption."

Star Girl folds her arms. "I guess you're right... I mean she could have done much worse with mind controlling the guards." She still seems a little uncomfortable with the idea and she looks at the ground for a bit. "If we go through with the deal, she'll leave Stronghold right?" she finally asks, looking up to Spirit.

Dorian nods. "She would, yes. But that's not our decision to make. I've already contacted the DA, to see what he thinks about it. I've laid out the reasons why, and the whole nine yards.

Dorian says, "I agree...I'm somewhat uncomfortable with it, too. This could come back to bite us. But...if she wanted to be free, she could have done it long ago."

Star Girl nods with a rueful look. "I suppose you're right..."

Star Girl says, "Speaking of freedom... you're aware of the situation with Adam?"

Dorian says, "The what with who?"

Star Girl nods. "So a few months ago, we rescued this guy from a VENOM base. He was in some kind of stasis tube and hooked into a computer that was supposed to download him with information. But when we broke into the base, I think it messed with the countdown - all of the computer equipment self destructed, and we got him out before it was too late. So, without any better ideas, we brought him here.

Dorian nods. "Huh. So...is he a normal guy who's been altered? Or is he genetically created by VENOM?"

Star Girl says, "Genetically created by VENOM, as far as we know. He's a blank slate, with the exception of some kick-ass fighting skills... And I guess other skills that even he might not know about."

Dorian nods. "He might be a sleeper. An 'activation code' might set him off, and he could try to kill someone. Perhaps a particular target."

Dorian says, "That's the kind of thing that would take a mentalist to find, though."

Star Girl says, "Or he might not... So far he's been under protective custody, but I'm starting to wonder if it's fair to him..."

Dorian shrugs. "It's probably wise, though. He's effectively a living weapon. After a bit, they'll probably let him go, but continue to monitor him."

Star Girl says, "How long is too long? It's been a couple of months already..."

Dorian shrugs, "Hard to say. I mean...I was monitored by the FBI for years."

Star Girl says, "You were watched by the FBI?"

Dorian nods. "Yup. I was changed by a nuclear accident over in Africa. And in my rage, I went on a rampage through the nuclear facility. After that, I was a pretty staunch anti-nuclear activist. I still attend rallys one in a while, but not as often as I'd like."

Dorian grins, "Not surprisingly, the FBI was concerned I'd effectively become a domestic terrorist."

Star Girl says, "Hunh"

This is Star's first time hearing the story. "After the rampage, did any heroes come after you?"

Dorian nods. "During it, actually. I fought a hero team on my own. Knocked out at least one of them. Their brick. A guy named 'Warhead'."

Star Girl says, "What happened after that?"

Dorian smiles. "Honestly? A lot of counseling. I felt like I wasn't human anymore. Because I wasn't. My face looked like it had no facial features. I survived by absorbing energy. From the sun. And from other people, by touch. I was angry. Very angry. And full of angst, pretty much all the time."

Dorian says, "Charges were dropped, since it was felt that I was a victim more than anything. But that doesn't help you pick up the pieces afterward. If I had been jailed immediately, I'm sure I would have become a villain. No question."

Dorian says, "I had so much self-loathing, that I needed a fair amount of positive reinforcement from my fellow heroes when I started out. Fortitude. Wasp, especially."

Dorian says, "It's part of the reason it was so painful for me when the Guild effectively wiped her memories. That particular connection was gone. Or at the very least, changed. She didn't view me as much as a peer after she returned. More as a mentor. It felt odd to say the least."

Star Girl nods quietly, absorbing the information.

Dorian sighs a little bit, "To be fair, though...I'm sure it removed some painful memories for her, too. But it all went at once." He pauses, thinking. "Those first couple of years were pretty exhilirating. I managed to make my share of enemies. Made a lot of friends. Won the Best of the Best. Hah...by taking a taxi during the scavenger hunt. I didn't have any movement powers like flight, or whatnot."

Star Girl says, "Maybe we have a chance to help Adam in the same way the other heroes helped you."

Star Girl says, "Er, that's what he's calling himself now, Adam."

Dorian smiles. "You asked me for tips previously. Do you remember what I said to you?"

Star Girl says, "You told me to follow my instincts."

Dorian touches the side of his nose. "Exactly."

Star Girl nods. "Right. I need to find Mindstar..." She turns and moves for the door. She pauses and says to Dorian, "Thanks, Spirit."

Dorian smiles. "No problem. It's part of what I'm here for."

Star Girl smiles and gives Dorian a nod before rushing off.