Training Trip: Apocrypha Slides!

Post Ward Mystery Epilogue: That Nostalgic Feeling

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At twenty seven years old, Richard Blake normally cut a very imposing figure. The company suit helped emphasize his well earned musculature, while years of practice had allowed him to maintain his professional demeanor under any circumstances. He was a far cry from his sixteen year old self Ricky B. who had nearly lost everything when a classmate framed him for assault.

It had led to the worst night of his life, but he had found a surprising source of support. Between that and sticking to his guns, his current future looked brighter than it had any right to.

But Richard never forgot who was there for him when his mother was working three jobs, or all his "friends" lost his number. Which was why he was slumming it in a Philadelphia coffee shop wearing sweats and a hoodie. She was why he had passed on sensitive information and potentially sabotaged his career. However, he knew that Miss Briar would never ask such things of him lightly. Not to mention that he had only come as far as he had because of her help.

Watching his old mentor settle down in her chair, hot drink wedged against her prosthetic, he could not help but notice how much more of her hair had gone gray since they last spoke in person. He could never forget where he came from, but honesty he planned on avoiding Arizona until his mother passed, or finally retired to Florida like she kept threatening. "I hope that it was worth it, Ma'am. You asked for a pretty big favor this time."

Carefully removing the top of her drink, Miss Briar took a sip before replying. "I know, and I never would have asked if it was not serious. I honestly didn't expect those two to get such tunnel vision. However, if I had allowed them to continue to flail around like a couple of elephants, it would have drawn too much attention. Better an attempt at being diplomatic than setting off an incident that would have gotten...messy."

Snorting at the idea of Anne Briar, the biggest badass he had ever known trying to be diplomatic, Richard, a.k.a. Singe took a sip of his own coffee. The two of them sat in comfortable silence before his natural curiousity got the better of him. "You know, it's VERY interesting that two ladies of interest from another world fixated on you. Particularly ones with such colorful backgrounds. I don't suppose you would mind filling me in on what that was all about?"

Taking another, slow sip, Anne frowned. "That is a very complicated story that will have to happen another time. Let's just say they represent my past, but I don't plan on letting them have a real impact on my future. I'm too god damned busy for that kind of bullshit."

The blunt statement made Richard's eyebrow raise to his hairline. It was a rare day that anyone could get the older woman to swear. His agency training began to kick in reflexively, threat assessments and evaluations dancing in his head. Clearly, there was enough there to dig deeper, masked or no. But he took a breath and forced those instincts back through sheer willpower.

The last thing he needed was to lose his plausible deniability.

His moment of introspection was interupted by a rhythmic beeping. Frowning, Miss Briar carefully put down her drink before taking out a burner phone. Her frown turned into a sigh when she saw the return number. "It looks like I'm going to have to cut this thank you drink short, Richard. However, remember that I now owe you a favor. Please, don't use it lightly."

Snorting at the idea that he would bother the woman more than he already dared, Richard nodded. She had taught him better than that after all.

Standing up, half consumed tea already a casualty of expediency, Miss Briar paused before getting one last word in. "Oh, and call your mother more. She misses you enough that she keeps coming to the bar to bug me for news. Believe me, family might not always be blood based, but you don't want to have any regrets about it. I learned that one the hard way."

With that little bit of pithy advice, the woman was turning towards the exit, moving as fast as she could without her cane for support.

Sighing, Richard took another pull of his coffee. He recognized an order when he heard it, so now he had to calculate time zones and schedules to make sure he did not wake his mom up or get her during work. Yet another reason to encourage her retirement to the east coast.

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Finding a bench in a nearby park, Anne Briar, formerly known as Taylor Hebert, allowed herself a second to breathe before returning the earlier call. She was getting too old for emergency red-eye flights along with third rate home made spy gear. There was a reason she worked remotely behind a desk these days. However, giving a determined Tattletale or Dragon any more data points than necessary was just asking for fate to fuck things over again.

Thank God the Simurgh was nice and dead.

Feeling better with a moment to breathe, she flipped her phone open and dialed the familiar number. "You know Annette, when I said that I would call you later, I didn't mean next week. I was just wrapping up the loose ends of this cluster fuck."

Sounding somewhat contrite, the older woman replied. "I'm sorry for getting anxious, but I was worried. It takes a lot to shake you, and those blondes managed it in less than a minute. Are you alright, Anne? Seriously, is everything ok now?"

Sighing, she leaned back into her chair. "More or less. Lisa has mellowed out a bit, and I can only assume that Victoria has somehow grown up. Otherwise those two would have killed each other before they managed to find your home address. I think I managed to clean up their trail. But keep your panic button handy for the next month or two, just in case."

The phone was silent for a beat before Annette replied, her voice much firmer than before. "That is all well and good, but how are YOU doing? Please, don't hold back on me now Anne."

A part of her was happy that the older woman had properly learned phone protocol.

Another part just wanted to be Taylor right now.

Taking a deep breath, Anne Briar answered as honestly as she could. "I'm just sort of...processing at the moment."

There was another beat of silence before Annette spoke in a no-nonsense tone that would not be denied. "Well then, here's what is going to happen. You are getting on a train to New York City and meeting me there in a couple of days. We are going to spend some time together until you can properly wrap your head around what you're feeling. Okay?"

Wiping away a small tear, the badass Miss Briar replied, her voice rough. "Okay, that sounds great. I'll call you when I get settled into a hotel."

A few more platitudes and she was alone with her thoughts.

It was not that Anne did not miss her people from Earth Bet. For all her issues, and there were a LOT of issues, Lisa was probably the reason she had survived as a Parahuman as long as she did. Rachel was more loyal than she had any right to be, and Aisha, well, she grew on you like a fungus. Hell, Charlotte was probably flooded with grandkids she would never get to meet.

But Earth Aleph needed her, and the last thing the former teenaged warlord could handle was being a helpless target.

So now all that was left was for her to continue to move forward. It was as simple as that.

Of course, the dramatic moment was hindered by a texting notification. Looking at her phone, Anne fought the urge to twitch.

"I am happy that you survived. Enjoy your "retirement" and don't worry. We won't tell a soul. - D."

Damn it Dragon...