Brass Ring Chapter 15: Lunch Between Brothers

Oliver and Cass entered the Les Enfants Bistro. The maître d' saw them, grabbed two menus, and asked them if they had a seating preference. Oliver held up his hand. “We’re looking for a guy sitting alone with circuitry on his face.” The maître d’ nodded and motioned for them to follow him. They were led to a corner table, partially in the dark. They were sat and Oliver ordered to cokes. The maître d’ disappeared.

Oliver glared at Psyborg. “Well, the cybernetic parts are new. I missed you, Boaz.” Cass was tense.

Psyborg smiled. “Experimental surgery after an IED in Afghanistan messed me up.” He drank from his tea. “I was so messed up at the time.”

Oliver leaned back. “Well, that explains the disappearance. Sorry you had to go through that. Still, recuperating at a country home would probably have been better than a hospital.” Cass visibly relaxed, and began studying the menus.

Psyborg grinned. “Probably. A country breakfast followed by a day of lounging in the sun. Yeah, that would have been nice.”

The two cokes were delivered. Cass held up her finger. “I’ll have the Cobb’s salad and he’ll have your pomme frites.” The waitress nodded.

“Oliver smiled. “You know me so well.” He motioned to her. “Boaz , Cass.” He motioned to Cass. “Cass, Boaz.” They shook hands. “So, Boaz, what’s up?”

Boaz grinned. “Oh, you’re going to love this.” He leaned in, conspiratorially. “I’ve been asked to kill you.”

Cass did a spit take. Oliver went to a neutral expression. Oliver was the first to talk. “Okay. That’s an interesting development.”

Boaz sipped his tea. “I thought so.” He put the tea down. “I have no intention of going through with it, but…”

Oliver smirked. “Just imagine how awkward family reunions would be. And that assumes Ma didn’t kill you herself.”

Boaz smiled. “Well, there is that.”

Cass leaned in. “So, what’s up? Is this supposed to be some sort of warning?”

Boaz lost all expression. “My boss wants you dead. He was impressed in all the wrong ways, so I was asked to eliminate the problem.”

Cass grinned. “Well, killing him would eliminate the problem.”

Boaz smiled. “It most definitely would.” He turned serious. “However, I would prefer to explore options.”

Oliver sipped his coke. “Okay, so the two basic options are something huge and public or something involving a dead body.”

Cass punched Oliver in the arm. “And we know you lack any modesty, so your naked body on a slab isn’t beyond reason.”

Oliver rolled his eyes. “You streak once during a toga party and you get branded for life.”

Cass chuckled. “Once?”

Boaz looked at the two questioningly, then went serious. “I think big and public would do.” He looked at Oliver. “And I know you have access to teleportation technology, so I’m thinking an explosion where you teleport out at the last moment.”

Cass was coy. “But that would deprive you’re your mysterious of the chance to gloat over the body of his dead opponent.”

Boaz looked at her with a slightly cocked head. “Dramatic for sure, but he wouldn’t care.” He paused dramatically. “He just wants you gone. Something about killing the head, kill the body.”

Oliver nodded. “I can sort of respect that. So when would you like us to do it?”

Boaz looked at him squarely. “Can we do it in the next ten hours?”

Oliver scrunched his brow. He took a sip of his coke, obviously concentrating. He put the coke down. “I think it could be done.”

The waitress delivered the pommes frites at that moment. ”Anything else?”

Cass nodded. “We’ll be fine, thanks.” The waitress departed. “Now, about this plan?”

They worked out the details while eating. After a while, they shook hands and departed. Oliver left a a sizable tip, and he and Cass returned to CAPES HQ.

* * * * *

Don Pelegrine had assembled everyone in the second suite. He had borrowed a projector from the hotel and had his maps ready to go. There was even coffee and various pastries. He just waited for everyone to come in; he knew that several of them wouldn't sit, especially Valkyr, who seemed to love visibly brooding. Sean and Liam, the Brothers Boom, were rudely teasing each other but were at least awake; the coffee here really was good, but he suspected that the boys had slipped in a little whiskey, but he didn't care as long as they were awake and listening. Only Psyborg was missing, but he had his own mission. I wish he was here to control those two idiots. Sentai Blue was present; the others must be helping Kung finish up in the lab.

The filtered in.Valkyr grabbed a cup of coffee and a cruller while Twid grabbed a bagel and liberally added cream cheese. The Yeth grabbed a cup of coffee, added some sugar and a little cream on the way to his seat. Sentai Blue just took her seat.

Well, the moment is right. Don Pelegrine showed a map of the city focused on a bank. “This is our target: The Third National Bank of Overton. We have three goals here: The money is the most obvious, but there are specific security boxes that must be taken as well. Lastly, and most importantly, there are several boxes that are stored here. Those boxes are the actual goal.” He had their attention. “The bank itself is virtually impenetrable. The vault even more so.”

Twid raised his hand. “So that’s what the laser is for?” The Yeth punched him.

Don Pelegrine rolled his eyes. “Yes, that’s what the laser is for. Kung will set up the laser just outside the bank, and should take approximately five minutes to get through the bank’s defenses. The Brothers Boom will play bodyguard.” The Yeth and Twid clapped hands. “We will have two assaults on the vault itself: Sentai and Valkyr will find the bank manager to see if they can get the security codes from him. If they can, it will speed things up and we can shut off the laser. Psyborg will try to break through the vault’s hardwired security. If neither assault is successful, the laser will finish its job in another ten minutes.”

He looked at the group. “Once the vault is breached, responsibilities will shift The Brothers Boom will take care of any police that show up.” The two smirked. “Along with Valkyr.” Valkry smirked. “Sentai in all of her multiplicity and Psyborg will then empty the vault as quickly as possible. Psyborg will take care of the security boxes, while Sentai will remove the boes and money.”

He exhaled. “If everything goes well, and it should, this should net each of you a tax-free three million dollars.”

The Brothers Boom whistled appropriately. Valkyr grunted. Sentai nodded. Don Pelegrine turned off the projector. “That’s the plan. We just need to wait until the laser is ready.”

The Yeth raised his hand. “But what about those capes we fought at Osaka Electronics? They could be a problem.”

Don Pelegrine smiled like a cat about to pounce on a bird. “We have plans in place. Why do you think Psyborg is missing?”

The Yeth looksd around. “Well, we were curious why he wasn’t here.”

The don smiled. “He’s taking care of that little supers problem. They shouldn’t be present at the bank when we take the bank.”

The pastry table didn’t survive.

* * * * *

Oliver and Cass walked into the Hall of Memory, which contained memorabilia and statues of former members. Oliver turned on a light and the two began looking at the statues. Oliver pulled Cass along. “After that meal, I needed something to put everything into perspective.”

Cass smiled. “Well, you did just plan your own death.” She punched his arm. “It’s understandable.”

Imago faded in next to them. Imago was the first to speak. “How are the two of you doing?”

Oliver didn’t even look away from the statues. “Fine, I suppose.” He smiled. “Fine for someone who just had to plan his own death.”

Imago’s eyebrow went up. “Interesting.”

Oliver turned to the hologram. “We need one bit of information: What exactly are the Telemachus Accords? We’ve been dealing with the aftermath, so it would be nice to know exactly what we’re dealing with.”

Imago straightened up.”Ten years ago, a new kind of enhanced being started running roughshod over Overton’s criminal element.. There were more in the vigilante vein, not caring who they injured; in fact, they seemed to enjoy the violence that came with it. This ended up filling the hospitals with would-be henchmen and the number of funerals increased. Suffice to say that the insurance, healthcare, and funerary businesses thrived.”

Cass turned to Imago. “Dang. Things must have gotten wild.”

Imago nodded. “Truly. Members of CAPES were having problems keeping up with the vigilantes, as they had to deal with not only with the crime they were preventing but also trying to capture the vigilantes. Adamantium designed personal suits of armor that could take the energy blasts and other offensive capabilities of the vigilantes as well as rifles that could take down some of the more powerful enhanced individuals. This is the origins of the Overton Anti-Enhanced Suppression Unit.”

Oliver whistled. “Dang. I would like to see the specs on those items.”

“I will download those specifications to your smartphone.” Imago flickered. “Done. However, while this did empower the local constabulary, the problem was far from over. This is where Telemachus came in.” A hologram of Telemachus came into being, but he was younger and dressed in a trenchcoat. “Telemachus had two advantages. First, he was a first-rate detective, even without his powers. Second, he had some limited clairsentience and psychometry.”

Cass smiled. “That’s a pretty nasty combination.”

Imago allowed itself a smile. “Yes, and he proved how ‘nasty’ those abilities could be when combined with a thirst for justice. He tracked down each vigilante, uncovering their secret identities, one by one. It was simple enough, given that most of the vigilantes cared more for their version of ‘justice’ and less about hiding their identities. He would uncover their identities and then call-in a tip the AESU. Within months, Telemachus had cleaned up Overton.”

Oliver sat down. “That’s impressive.”

Imago turned off the hologram. “Truly. However, he was just beginning. He dropped out of sight, presumably to return to his private investigation business. However, six months later, he showed up at CAPES headquarters with files. Truly, no one is more terrifying than a man dedicated to his cause carrying evidence.”

Cass stood behind Oliver. “Truly.”

Imago brought up holographic copies of a database. Each entry had six blocks and an image of someone. “He told the CAPES present that he had spent the six months looking into the various enhanced beings of Overton, including those in front of him. He gave them the Ultimatum: He told them that he cared not what side of the law a being was on, but from now on he would be enforcing an honor code: For any being not obeying the honor code, he would leave an anonymous tip with AESU. He then slid a piece of paper over to those present and left.”

Oliver exhaled. “That took some courage.”

Imago nodded. “Truly. The honor code was published, of course, and soon every enhanced being in Overton was aware of the Telemachus Ultimatum. Understandably, some thought the code did not apply to them; They quickly found out that it did. Thus, peace was forced upon Overton.”

Cass blinked. “And that’s on the plaque at the end of the hall?”

The files in front of Imago disappeared. “Correct. The Telemachus Ultimatum was based on the Geneva Accords. In essence, fights were to be kept between enhanced being, no civilians were to be put into the crossfire with no casualties, and hostilities were to be dropped in case of a greater danger. Telemachus did not care if the being was hero or criminal, as long as his rules were obeyed.’

Oliver leaned forward. “But there was a failsafe.”

Imago nodded. “Correct. If Telemachus were to be killed, as opposed to dying peacefully or by accident, all of the files would be released. That is what has happened.”

Cass leaned back. “Dang.”

Oliver cocked his head. He was lost in thought for a moment. Then he sprang up. “Imago, tell Blue Shift to meet us at Telemachus’ home. I have an idea that may help us.” He turned to look at Cass. “Grab the Wraith suit; we’re going to need it.”

Cass smirked. “I like this version of you.”

The two ran out of the building. Imago looked around for a moment, turning the lights off as he faded into nothing. Darkness returned to the Hall of Memory.

[The last chapter is here.]