7th Mission // Video

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Jacob films this post while standing in front of the white walls of Helix Station in Maurtia Falls, wearing a navy-blue tank top and black shorts. Judging by the sweat visible on his arms, he just finished his exercise for the morning. His ramrod-straight posture projects an image of Official Business that doesn't match his casual tone of voice, or his workout clothes.]

Hey, everyone. I'm Jacob Taylor. I work with RISE: that's an imPort police team, for all you new arrivals out there. I'm putting together something new for the community... kind of a public safety resource. Like the FAQ, but focused on who's causing trouble these days.

So I thought I'd ask: what do you think are the biggest threats around here? Criminals, terrorists, the Soviets? Maybe there's something most of us haven't heard about yet that more people need to know about. It's important to be aware, especially when people might want you dead. There's always something happening under the surface around here.

Oh, and just so we're clear: this is going to be a list focusing on groups, not individual people. So don't bother talking about who your least favourite imPorts are.

[He pauses for a moment, then relaxes his posture as he segues into more civilian matters.]

That's about it for official business. Unofficially... I was wondering if anybody has got suggestions on a good name for a dog.

[He's totally planning to get a dog. Heads up, MF 001 housemates!]

Comments

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Damn. So is your world post-apocalyptic? Or just always trying to get that way?

[pyrogue]

Hasn't ended yet, far as I know. Came close a few times. That sorta thing is what the Justice League is for. Superheroes, y'know? Even back when I was doing nothing more dangerous than robbing banks, the local one used always shut me down quick. [ He smiles a little at "quick".

...And promptly realizes what he let slip sans context. ] Been reformed for years, for the record.

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Jacob chuckles, letting it go.]

Hey, it's no problem. I'm reformed myself. And I was into something that was probably worse than robbing banks.

[pyrogue]

[ Mick's smile falters, though it's barely noticeable. He's done a lot worse than robbing banks to. But nothing he really feels the need to share.

But it instantly warms him to Jacob. ]

Reformation ain't a cakewalk. I won't pry if you don't wanna go into it.

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Jacob shrugs, acting more unconcerned than he really is. After the fiasco with 'Agent Taylor,' Cerberus is a less well-healed scar than he wants it to be.]

It's fine. It's all out in public for anyone who wants to dig through the Network.

I was part of a survivalist group called Cerberus for two years back home. I told myself I was going outside the law to protect humanity. 'The greater good,' that kind of bullshit. Turns out there's a good reason people like that get called terrorists.

[pyrogue]

The road to hell and all that, I guess.

[ He's sympathetic, though. What he did was never that unselfish. Maybe in the beginning, when he thought being a row with pyromania everyone could see was better than it bursting out unexpectedly as a civilian.

But then again, maybe because his ambitions were low he never caused as much damage as he could've. ]

Sometimes the worst choices are the ones that seem the most right. But you got out, to your credit. Takes a real strength of character, if you ask me.

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Yeah, exactly. It's always more slippery than it looks.

[Jacob nods, accepting the implicit praise without denial or agreement. He tries to have the strongest character he can, and part of that is not going around talking about what a great guy he is for trying to do the right thing.]

Thanks. I got out just in time- before the organization could get really bad. I was trying to figure out what comes next when the Porter took me here.

What about you? Do you know who you want to be now that you're not a robber anymore?

[pyrogue]

Was a little bit more than a robber. "Supervillian"'s probably more accurate. Though we liked to call ourselves "Rogues".

[ Even reformed, even years later, that Rogue pride still slips in and he can't help but make the correction. ]

For a while I tried strictly civilian jobs like factory work, y'know? Wanted to be normal. But going full civilian… you start to miss the old days. Fallen off the wagon that way. Guess normal ain't for me.

Tried full-time superhero too, but that got weird real fast. Now I'm trying for a balance. Keep the day job, pull out the suit part-time.

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

You were a supervillain? Like... the Scarecrow?

[Jacob's face suddenly cools a little, and his body language closes up. Please don't be Gotham-level bad news, Mick.]

[pyrogue]

[ Mick picks up on that reaction a little; he used to it, even if it is a bitter pill to swallow.

He does make a face at Scarecrow though. ]

Gothamites. Those freaks like to make it personal. [ Sorry, Harley. ]

Naw, I knocked over banks, jewelry stores, fought the Flash. Just did it all with my Heat Gun, sometimes a few friends.

[ He looks away for a moment, scratching his chin. ]

Not gonna pretend I didn't get up to some bad things, but us Rogues always had standards.

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Jacob relaxes, and nods.]

Right. There's a difference between a criminal and a terrorist. Or a serial killer.

So you were mainly in it for the money?

[pyrogue]

[ Or an arsonist, but Mick's gonna continue to keep that little bit to himself. ]

Sorta. [ He rubs the back of his neck. ] Money's always nice. But if that was all I wanted I wouldnt've needed a costume for that. You could call it a status thing.

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Okay. So it was also... recognition. Fame. I suppose you got a lot more attention from people when you were wearing your costume than you would have if you just wore an ordinary ski mask.

[pyrogue]

One way to make a name for yourself. [ Beat. ] Literally, mine was Heat Wave.

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Heat Wave, huh? I can't really judge. When I got a costume last year, I started calling myself 'The Protector.' I'd rather go by something simple than try to stand out.

[pyrogue]

Whatever works, works. You still active?

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Yeah. Still fighting the good fight. Or not, depending on how you feel about RISE.

[pyrogue]

[ Mick waves a hand. ] To tell you the truth, don't know enough about the details to say either way.

You've been burned once before and have your shit together, you tell me.

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

I've got my shit together, huh? Good to know someone thinks so.

[Jacob smiles good-naturedly, not fully self-deprecating but leaning that way a bit. He knows his worth, but constantly doubts what he's doing with it. Especially after the 'Agent Taylor' nightmare in June.]

Anyway. I feel good about what I'm doing, and I believe in the people I work with. RISE has got resources and legitimacy. It would be tough to put together this threat roster if I was just working independently.

[pyrogue]

Teams are like that. They're all about making a better whole. Makes working solo just seem dumb. Legitimacy helps, too. You don't realize how helpful having those resources are until they're offered.