Fame. Not Gonna Live Forever.
Fame. Not Gonna Live Forever.
>>
Uncle Lou turns out to be right. It's a complete zoo at the yard today. Three separate reporters have to be told that he was way too busy for an interview, and he is constantly getting badgered by people who were suddenly in the mood to peruse the scrap heap. The look on some of their faces when he doesn't bother to get the yard pickup truck and just hauls the loaded trailer around to the drop-off areas for the different things is mildly amusing. But it isn't worth the hassle.
Don't these people have things to do?
He puts in a long morning and spends his breaks reading the materials Starfire gave him. With nobody to practice the moves on that are intended for use against other people his size, only two of the books are of real note and then only parts of them. But many of the suggestions and moves they contain are interesting and specifically designed for success against smaller and more agile opponents.
Some of it makes sense to him, some of it doesn't. But what the heck, he might as well try some out next Friday night. None of it looks any more dangerous than anything he's doing, just different.
At lunch, Uncle Lou had said that the area they are working on is way bigger in person and they've put something like a thousand men on it between all nine blocks. Due to them working on all the buildings in that area, they got permission from the city to simply block off all the streets leading into that chunk of Gotham, and they're using the streets within the cordon as a staging area for equipment and such.
With twenty-four-hour security, of course.
His uncle told him at the rate they were looking to get things done, they'd be working on restoring the interiors within a couple of weeks. So all the news they know about is good.
>>
Offices of the Daily Planet. 11:34 AM that morning.
Perry White, chief editor of the Daily Planet, slams the door to his office open. “Is Lane back yet?! Lane!”
His secretary shakes her head. “Sorry, boss. She was up all night putting together the Arkham piece. She's at home, catching some sleep.”
Perry stops for a moment, then storms back into his office. “Get Kent in here. We need to send somebody down to warn the kid, and I don't think a phone call will do it. That video went viral as hell when the net nerds got a hold of it. Fourteen million new subscriptions worldwide and counting, and something like three hundred million views. That's completely ignoring that the whole thing's been stolen and is being hosted by a dozen more sites worldwide. It's crashed our server twice. We've had to post the thing on four mirrors to have a prayer at keeping up with demand. Plus, the amateur video editing crowd is having a field day. It's been up for less than five hours. This kid just became the hottest topic on the planet that isn't dating a football player. We need a follow-up with him anyway, and it just became time-critical to get our hat in the ring before some other news outlet gets him to sign away publishing rights.” He stops at the still-open door and grumbles. “Our own cyber security people tell me there are already three independent game developers that have announced games that include him. Two with 'Mangle' in the title, which I am sure will make him just as happy as a clam. We need to get ahead of this before we alienate a kid who is in line to be one of the biggest heroes around.”
Connie, his assistant/secretary can't help the raised eyebrow. Perry looks at her oddly, thinks back to what he said, and sighs as he closes the door. “Pun not intended.”
>>
“Do we have anything on that kid? He'd be a fantastic addition to the squad, and if his empowerment is purely biological as is suspected there is every chance it could pass down.”
“Not that I'm aware of. He's been good about keeping in touch with the local police when he has to go active. Plus he has the backing of the Justice League at this point. Particularly the locals in Gotham. There are rumors of videos beyond the Gotham Point fire and the footage from Arkham, he was wearing his recording setup at the Gotham Grand incident after all. There are also rumors of an underwater battle against Croc that may have video as well.” The slender hacker looks up to his superior. The mad gleam on her chunky face is at odds with what he expects from his darker-skinned colleague.
“See if you can find them. And keep digging. If we can get him, we'd have at least one member of the current lineup that could be trusted not to be a liability as soon as the bleeding starts.”
The man at the computer looks at her a little concerned. “I get that we need all the help we can get, and I can even agree that he'd be a fantastic addition. But if he isn't breaking the law, then I'm not sure what you expect us to do. By all counts, he's been on the side of angels. Why go after him?”
Amanda Waller looks at him with a combination of scorn and pity. “There is no better job that he could have than to work for us. We protect the world. We'll send out the packet and see if he'll bite. But these metas always foul up eventually, and if he hasn't signed on by the time that happens we've got him on the cheap. In the meantime, see if there is anybody from Division Six that wants to give it a shot.”
“Six? The kid is only sixteen?! And look at him, what exactly are you expecting here?”
Waller rolls her eyes as she walks away. “That should make it easier.” She pauses for a moment, then shrugs. “Roll out the offer. If nobody takes it, don't push. And look into the kid's uncle while you're at it. Nobody lives in that part of Gotham long without getting some dirt on them.” The look she's getting doesn't thrill her. “That's an order, Gary.”
The man goes back to his work, sighing.
>>
“Our opponent has come up with a new plan. One which hinges on the co-operation of this young meta right here.”
The seemingly late middle-aged man is passing around a collection of folders that contain information concerning one Thomas Wierzowski.
“The videos that are included on our internal server are legitimate. If possible, we will work around him. He is only part of the problem if he makes himself so. But we need a plan to remove him if he proves to be able and willing to slow down our goals.”
The chorus comes back from dozens of the most highly trained and dangerous people on the planet.
“Yes, my lord!”
>>
A voice as deep as Tom's own that comes from a giant who seems to be made of concrete is reading the report from his minion with mild amusement.
“This boy interests me. Investigate him. If he seems suitable, acquire him.”
The response comes from a woman who blends all the best attributes of a loving grandmother with the stern and uncompromising demeanor of a boot camp drill instructor. Seasoned liberally with the cold essence of a coiled viper.
“Of course, lord Darkseid. Thy will be done.”
>>
Author's note:
Manchester decided to toss me another bone, and frankly? For most independent players, I would imagine this is the response. Consider this canon, with my thanks. Even if you could kill Tom, the 'nuclear' umbrella of people that will (might) make your life miserable is getting extensive and at least one of them that seems to care is playing for keeps.
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Generic sinister bar:
"No. Fuck off."
"Very well, we're prepared to increase your fee--"
"There isn't enough money in the world for it."
"Pardon? Your target doesn't seem to be that impossible."
"Oh, sure, I can already think of a couple ways. It wouldn't be easy, but it's doable. The kid still needs to breathe, for one. No, it's the other thing I heard about Gotham lately that's making me turn you down."
"You shouldn't believe such rumors--"
"I have my own sources which I trust more than I do you, and I'm not going anywhere near there. If I want even more batshit crazy in my life, all I need is to hook up again with my ex. Stuff like Cheshire halving Two-Face and keeping him alive until she finally finished him off, nuh-huh. Beat it, asshole. I ever get the same offer from anyone else, I'll make sure she hears about it because I damn well want to stay on what passes for her good side. You still here?"