This was a story that kicked around my brain after i saw a piece by  Aelius which was based on the comic series done by  Eggplantman

It was originally meant to be a short and sweet piece but as was the trend at the time, it snowballed into something larger XD

Anyhoo, hope y'all enjoy :)


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Breakfast at Marko's

Evelyn looked at her watch as she walked up to Marko’s Diner, she couldn’t believe how late it was, so late it was early in fact. She really had to talk to her editor about some of these meetings, a scoop is a scoop and some of the folks she wrote about were truly incredible but she had to be able to stay awake long enough to write the damn story. She’d already been on the go for most of the day already and having this story suddenly given to her out of the blue hadn’t improved her mood much. At least this story would be good though, as far as anyone knew no reporter had ever interviewed Shadow before. There’d been a couple of pictures of him and a boatload of speculation but next to nothing was known about him. Well, Evelyn thought, if this interview was the real deal then she’d change all that. Plus it wouldn’t hurt her chances of a pay rise, at least Demigods magazine had that incentive right.

Looking through the window of the diner it didn’t seem her interviewee was present, she saw a couple of folk in the kitchen, an overweight bull who’d obviously just finished the late shift at the plant down the road and a German Shepherd who looked like he’d just hit the gym working his way through dinner in a booth towards the back. None of them looked remotely like the brooding, shadowy figure on the picture she had in her jacket pocket. She pulled it out and studied the hooded vigilante, correction, former vigilante turned corporate Hero she reminded herself. The Atlant Corporation had somehow corralled him and must have made him an offer so many others couldn’t. She couldn’t make out much in the way of detail; his hood hid most of his face aside from his nose, though the ears, tail and gloved hands marked him out as some sort of canine, though some speculated he was a wolf. A fairly beefy one too considering the cut of his clothes, Evelyn commented to herself, though he doesn’t have much of a wardrobe. As with most pictures of the mystery Hero he was dressed in woodland camo trousers, a hooded grey jumper, a thick leather jacket and a pair of boots that would make a biker proud. He looked like half the guys Evelyn had wanted to date in High school. She turned the picture over and read the messy scrawl that was her editor’s handwriting- ‘ask for Daryl Wycliffe, Marko’s Diner, 2:45a.m.’- She took a second look at the picture before sliding it back in her breast pocket.
“Maybe he’s not here yet?” she asked herself. She checked her reflection in the window, at least her hair wasn’t a total mess, one saving grace for having horns she supposed.

As she opened the front door a little bell chimed somewhere above her head. The worker at the bar didn’t turn from his beer, however the conversation in the kitchen stopped and a top heavy feline waitress appeared a few moments later, her nametag reading Tania. She must be real damn popular in this neighbourhood, Evelyn thought to herself.
“Hi there, what can I get you?” Tania asked, somehow still perky at this god-awful time of night.
“I’m looking for a Daryl Wycliffe, you seen him?” Tania beamed before pointing to the guy in the booth at the far end of the diner.
“Oh sure, he’s over there, hun. Can I get you anything else?” Evelyn was going to say no but a coffee was beginning to sound real good right about now. As Tania went to fetch it Evelyn studied “Daryl” for a moment. Well, he looked about the right build, he was the right species, maybe this was the man behind the myth.
“You want some sugar, cream?” Tania asked, momentarily catching Evelyn unawares.
“Just sugar, thanks.”

Evelyn made her way up to the booth, trying to remember the questions she was supposed to ask and wondering as to what answers she’d get. Daryl looked up as she approached and gave her a cautious smile before inviting her to take a seat.
“You must be Miss Munroe, sorry for the mess, I figured I’d have another twenty minutes or so before you showed up.” Evelyn noted the half eaten plate of lasagne with its minimalist salad and the little basket of breadsticks as she sat down and dug out her recorder and notepad.
“That’s okay, I make a habit of showing up early to these sorts of things. Let’s me set myself up and look presentable. Do you mind if I record?” Evelyn asked, indicating her recorder as she dug into her bag for her spare tapes. Daryl shook his head as he returned to his dinner.
“Fine by me, just as long as you keep to the agreement.” Evelyn nodded, she could still remember the hour long conversation she had had with her Editor and the lawyer the Atlant Corporation had sent over. She still couldn’t believe her work had to be approved by the Corporation before it went to print. She supposed they were just protecting their interests but she still felt it was wrong.
Once Evelyn had everything she needed within easy reach she pressed play and record, ensuring she heard the little click that signalled her temperamental recorder was willing to play ball before letting go, and started her interview.

“This is Evelyn Munroe interviewing Coraline City’s newest Corporate Hero, ‘the Shadow’. I suppose we should start off with how you came by your name, it isn’t your first after all.” Daryl gave a wry smile as he finished off a mouthful of his dinner.
“I think I came by this one the same as I came by ‘Night Owl’ and the half dozen before that one; a local newsie without any leads dreamt it up, broadcast it one night and then all of a sudden it was my name. Personally, I never gave myself a name, I had a perfectly good one that my parents gave me. I never intended to announce myself to the public so I left them to call me whatever they wanted. Most of the folk I dealt with had other names for me, none of them anywhere near as nice.” Evelyn chuckled at that as she made some notes on a pad.
“So you never imagined yourself as a cape wearing superhero whose name struck fear into the hearts of evil doers?” Evelyn asked, surprised at Daryl’s amused reaction.
“Lord no, I don’t think much of that sort of thing, skin tight spandex just doesn’t do it for me. Don’t get me wrong, I have a lot of respect for the folks that do it, I just don’t think it’s a look I could pull off. Nevermind that I never had the budget for that sort of thing. Besides, capes and bright colours don’t exactly blend into the background or a crowd of folks in the street, y’know? Considering my ‘look’ I could get that at a dozen stores anywhere and still be Joe average. Hell, I remember up in Bismarck County it became a fashion statement at one point.” Evelyn made a few more notes as Daryl wolfed down another forkful of lasagne.
“Is that why you were a vigilante for so long? You didn’t feel cut out for being a super? Or was it just that it was easier for you to be a nameless threat as your name implied?” Evelyn watched Daryl’s thoughtful expression as he washed down the last of his dinner.

“I don’t think I’ve ever considered being a vigilante or a Hero easy, but yeah, in a way it was a lot easier to just blend in. The crux of it for me though, was that I just sort of fell into the whole thing. I was just a guy, trying to get along and live the dream, make a place in the world where I was comfortable, work towards that white picket fence dream and make my Mom happy by giving her some grandkids. That’s what I was trying to do.” Daryl paused a moment as he absentmindedly pushed an olive around his plate with a fork.
“Then things changed, I didn’t really realise it at first, but over time it grew and sort of took me along for the ride. At one point I was doing the whole double life thing, I still do it when it suits me if I’m honest, but the more I got involved with being a vigilante the further away I got from that little ‘Honest Joe’ dream. Wind the clock forward and I’m a lot further down the line and the Shadow pretty much fulltime, locked in a battle to the death with mobsters and maniacs.” Evelyn waited a few minutes for Daryl to continue before deciding to delve a little deeper.
“When exactly did you start being a vigilante.” Evelyn watched as Daryl studied her intently for a moment.
“Afraid I can’t tell you that Miss Munroe.” Evelyn raised her hands in mock surrender, they’d both known that was coming. “I will tell you that it wasn’t just one thing, it was a series of things that happened over the span of maybe a year or so.” Evelyn nodded and decided to ask another question she was sure would get shot down but she had to ask.
“So how long have you been a vigilante?” Daryl’s smile told her all she needed to know.
“I’m afraid I can’t tell you that either Miss Munroe.” He actually has quite a nice smile, Evelyn thought before scolding herself for thinking it.

“Well then, if not for how long, then how about what it was like for you to be one?” Daryl was silent for a moment before giving a slight nod, much to Evelyn’s relief, it was one of the questions she had to get as the readers always seemed to want to know the answer to it. Especially as Demigods had rarely ever gotten a chance to feature vigilantes, for some reason they seemed more popular than “regular” Heroes.
“Well, like I said it was something I fell into, I didn’t really know much about how to go about it at first so I did the obvious thing and stayed out of sight as much as I could. I’m pretty good at that and it’s a bit of a rush in of itself to be invisible around the sorts of people I had to be around. It was pretty scary too, but after a while I found it easier and easier and then it just became a sort of a routine. The hardest part was always judging when to intervene, especially when there were innocents around. I think it was more luck and the surprise factor that got me through my first year than anything else. As time went on and I spent more and more time doing it... it... I just couldn’t stop doing it. I was helping people and sure that felt good, but what really sort of hooked me was the way i could see the effect I was having on the bad guys, and the knock on effect that had on everyone around them. That was a pretty powerful realisation. The title of your magazine says it all.”
“And what about now? Do you still feel that way?” Daryl was silent for a long while as he played with that lone olive on his plate.
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t still feel that way, but it’s tempered by my experience of the consequences of my actions, whether direct or indirect. The one thing I find, as I look back on it all and think about my future and what I’m going to do, is that... if I’m really, really honest with myself... I can’t really see myself doing anything else.”

As Evelyn scribbled on her pad she heard the click of the recorder as the tape ran out. As she ejected the tape and replaced it with a fresh one Tania strolled up to the booth, still perky as anything.
“You two doing okay? Can I get you anything? How’d you like the Lasagna, Daryl?” Daryl gave a big grin as Tania picked up his plate.
“Beautiful as always, give Marko my compliments. Uh, I’ll have another soft drink and uh... what do you have in the way of desserts? Any of that Pecan Danish you do so well?”
“Oh yeah, we’ve still got some, you want it warmed up?” Tania replied with a smile as Daryl’s grin grew a little bigger.
“Please...” Daryl then looked to Evelyn “... you want some too? I’m buying.” Evelyn made to refuse but Daryl would have none of it. “Trust me, best damn Danish you’ll find anywhere.”
“Uh... okay, fine, can I have another coffee too?” Evelyn asked, clearly outnumbered and too tired to fight a losing battle.
“Sure thing, hun, two Danish and two drinks coming right up.” As Tania strolled away, hips and tail swaying hypnotically, Evelyn gave Daryl an inquisitive look.
“Does she know about you being... y’know?” Daryl chuckled and shook his head.
“Nah, as far as anyone knows I am Daryl Wycliffe, that’s all they need to know.”
“Uh huh...” Evelyn looked back to watch Tania go “... the Danish isn’t the only reason you come here is it?” That earned her another laugh.
“Oh Tania’s just a friend, same as Marko and old Jim over there, there’s nothing deeper than that, and the reason I come here is because they do good food, the conversation isn’t bad and it helps me feel normal for a while. That’s all.”
“Friends to you, or to Daryl Wycliffe?” That earned her a scowl that disappeared as fast as it appeared, though the suddenly icy look stayed.
“Now that’s over the line, right there. And just so you know, to me there’s no difference.” For a while Evelyn feared that the interview had died right there. In all honesty she knew she’d said the wrong thing, but despite herself she’d had to ask it. Daryl didn’t say much until after Tania had delivered their order and sauntered back to the kitchen. He remained quiet until after he’d finished and was waiting for her to do the same.
“I’m sorry for biting your head off but you pushed a big button there, whether you meant to or not. Friends are a rare thing in my line of work, most of all you have to keep them separate from what you really are because it’ll get them killed by someone out to get you. You understand what I’m saying? I may be able to walk through shadows and I may be a bit faster and a bit stronger than most people but that don’t mean I can be everywhere.” He leaned forward, a sincere expression on his face. “But most of all it hurts like hell when something you did or didn’t do puts them in harm’s ways.” Daryl leaned back and looked out the window at the veiled world beyond the glass. “It’s a pretty lonely gig at the best of times.” Despite her genuine feelings of sympathy for Daryl in that moment Evelyn wished she’d had her recorder running when he’d said all that.

After Evelyn had finished her Danish, which she had to admit was pretty damn good, Evelyn restarted the interview while reading over the notes she had made.
“Since we’ve covered your vigilante days, how about why you’ve come to Coraline City, why the move to Atlant and registered supering, and whether you’d rather go back to being a vigilante again.”
“Woof, that’s a lot of stuff rolled into one sentence.”
“Can’t tell or won’t tell?” Evelyn asked.
“I’ll tell you what I can.” Daryl said, yawning and stretching as he did so. “At least I’ll try before I fall asleep. Don’t know why you had to call this so early in the morning, you must be real dedicated to your work.” Evelyn snorted, he had no idea.
“Well they say the city never sleeps.” Evelyn quipped, Daryl shrugged and nodded a grudging agreement.
“Well, then... why I came to Coraline City. I came here to see someone put behind bars and I shall. They can run but they just end up tired and sweaty when I find them. As for Atlant, well, for one thing they found me, which is impressive, for another they offered me a fair bit of cash and some support. The cash is nice, but I don’t need it. The support however, is very welcome, especially as I’ve worked with a number of the folks Atlant has on their books at one time or another, I know they’ve got a professional operation going here. Plus all the gadgets and whatnot they’ve got there are really cool. It also helps that Atlant’s goals and mine are shared in certain areas.”
“Views such as?”
“Crime prevention.” Daryl’s tone suggested that was all Evelyn’d get from that.
“Alright then, how about the change from vigilante to registered super?”
“It was a condition of Atlant’s support. That’s the only reason I became a registered super, I’d never have done it off my own bat. Waaaaaayyyyy too much paperwork, plus the physical is a killer.” Evelyn didn’t doubt that, if half the rumours were true even trained Olympic athletes had a hard time during the physical tests that Atlant and other Corporations did on supers.
“So what’s it like being registered and Corporate sponsored?” She asked.
“I wasn’t sure what I was getting into at first but it’s a pretty good environment, I’ve learned a lot and in a way it’s kind of refreshing not to have to keep hiding every moment of the day. The weirdest thing is the whole shift rota thing my life goes by now, I get down time, which... to be honest I never really got on a regular basis. It’s also pretty weird to be working with and reporting to so many people. There are times when I just wish they’d let me get on with the job, I’ve been doing it for more than six years without people looking over my back, but I sort of understand why. I still don’t like it though. I don’t know if I’d go back to being a vigilante, I think it’s too soon to tell. Come back to me in a few months and ask me then.”
“I’ll hold you to that.” Evelyn said.
“Oh I’m sure you will.”

“Don’t judge me for this but these next ones are questions from our readers for you specifically.” Daryl’s ears pricked up, his face a picture of incomprehension.
“Say what?” Daryl’s look of confusion deepened as Evelyn gave him an embarrassed smile.
“Yeah, y’see when we announced on our website that you’d be getting interviewed we got a whole lot of responses from our readers, so we picked out a few for you to answer. You don’t have to answer them if you don’t want to.” I know I wouldn’t want to, Evelyn thought to herself, she’d had to trawl through them all and had seen the rejects. Daryl gave out a great sigh, looking to his wristwatch before giving a nod.
“Alright, lay it on me...” he said, his voice betraying his apathy.



"Thank you, you're really doing me a favour with these ones, trust me, they aren't too bad." Evelyn said with a reassuring smile.
"Yeah, well, we'll see when we get to them." Daryl replied, clearly unconvinced.
Evelyn shook her head as she suppressed a laugh and looked through her notes.
"Okay, I guess we'll start with this one; 'Who is your deadliest foe?' It's from one of the kids from your fan club."
Daryl's ears pricked up again, an incredulous look spreading across his face.
"Whoa, hold the phone there, a fan club? There's a fan club?"
At first Evelyn thought he was joking, but the look on his face betrayed his ignorance and genuine surprise.
"Well, yeah... I mean, you're 'The Shadow', a whole load of kids out there idolise you. I think they've even got a website registered up in Bismarck County." Evelyn watched as Daryl sat back, clearly flabbergasted by this revelation.
"Oh wow... I mean... oh wow..." Daryl was almost laughing. "That is one of the weirdest things anyone has ever said to me." Daryl sat there for a few minutes, his bewildered look slowly turning into a smile. "Bismarck County, huh?"
"Someone you know?"
Daryl's smile widened a little.
"I think maybe I do... so, my greatest foe huh?" Daryl half chuckled to himself "There's a lot of competition for that spot. I guess the one who provided the biggest overall challenge was a certain mob boss I put away a couple of years ago, just because of the amount of work I had to do just to get near him. I had to go through his entire operation just to force him out of hiding. Plus there were the various hitmen and other assorted loonies he sent after me.
"Though I'm guessing in this case they mean who was the most dangerous in a fight. Hmmm..." Daryl's expression became harder as he thought on that.
Evelyn found herself more than a little scared by it.
"I guess that would have to be a certain mystery hitman I came across one time, don't know who he was, but he was all business and he was very good. Lured me right into a trap, almost didn't make it out. Never saw that person again and I never found out who he was or who sent him. I do know one thing though, he was an immaculate dresser, must make some amount of money doing what he does. That guy was one of the few people I've ever encountered that made me fear for my life, and I suspect that he could have ended it too."
"Do you worry that this mystery assassin might come back?" Evelyn asked, scribbling down notes furiously in an effort to keep up.
"Yeah, I sometimes find myself wondering, but until I meet him there's no point in worrying about it. I mean, I'm surrounded by immaculately dressed suits most days, so, who knows? Could be one day I come into work and the guy at the photocopier turns round and puts a bullet in me. There's no point in worrying about it, otherwise I'd never get anything done. Just comes with the territory."
"If you don't mind me saying, but some might say that you're being pretty blasé about it."
Daryl shrugged his shoulders.
"Maybe, but people say lots of things, I know who I am and what I've done, let them think what they will, it's not like I can change people's minds. I have other concerns. Although it would be pretty cool if I could." Daryl winked playfully and laughed.
Evelyn couldn't help but smile along with him.

"Okay then, on to the next one. 'How does it feel to face an armed opponent?' This one is from a citizen of this very city."
"Hmm... well, if you want to get technical every opponent I've faced has been armed with something, even if just his fists. That was pretty scary when I started out, and in some ways it still is. There's always that chance that you may not be fast enough, that you'll miss that one guy who'll bring you down. It's a part of what I do, so, I guess in a way I expect it," Daryl said with a shrug.
"But, to break it down to something more helpful, it's all about presenting as small a target as possible and disarming and then disabling your opponent. That's fairly easy for me to do with most folk whether they have a weapon or not, I've trained to do it and most folks I deal with typically do not have that training. They think they have an edge because they've spent time in a boxing ring, or have a knife or have been on a shooting range a couple of times. Well, to be brutally honest, they don't. Sure they have a weapon, but they don't understand their environment, and I can use that against them as well as their own body's limitations.
"For instance; a guy with a shotgun thinks he's nigh invulnerable because he can make big holes in things, but a shotgun is a weighty thing, and not exactly accurate. So once I've made him unload all his shots at shadows and fake targets then what he's carrying is a weapon which is awkward to reload under stress and hard to use as a club. At that point all I need to do is close the distance and he's pretty much helpless, a few hits to something vital and he crumples. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a mean guy, but I don't mess around, I don't need these folk getting up again anytime soon and shooting me in the back." Daryl gave Evelyn a moment to catch up with her notes.

"The main divide between ambitious amateurs and real threats is when I encounter people with real skills and/or powers. I've seen teams of mercs who keep in constant contact with each other, wear high spec body armour and use military grade weapons, training and tactics. These are not people that you play around with, they play for keeps and though it pains me to say it, they don't always give me the opportunity to take them in alive.
"Now before you go making judgements understand that this is a serious business, this is my life on the line and when you aim to take it I don't take kindly to it. I've never felt good about killing anyone, but I have done it and it is not a decision that I took lightly. Some scared, down on his luck guy with a gun and more stress than sense is one thing, but a team of stone cold killers aiming to gun you down and take your head for money is quite another. Then there are those misguided folk who just happen to be supers..."
Daryl's features hardened again in that way that Evelyn was starting to recognise as a sign of bitter experience
"Well, that's something you have to play by ear most times, no two of them are ever the same. I'll be honest and say that I had to run from more than one fight with their kind, I did what I could but I'm not invulnerable. Most times I was lucky or had some help, oftentimes very much unexpected but very much welcome.
"It also helps when the other guy starts to monologue. I don't know why they do it, but it always gives me that extra bit of time to think up something and turn the tables so I'm grateful for that too."
Daryl watched as Evelyn gave him a sceptical look.
"They actually do that? I thought that was just something that happened in movies or comic books."
"Hand on my heart, it does happen, ask anyone who has dealt with a rogue super and they'll give you a couple of good ones. Some of them are actually pretty funny."

Evelyn shrugged her shoulders and made a note to herself 'Dig up info on villain monologues, possible side piece?'
"Okay then, something to look into I guess, so then... okay, how about this one; 'Do you ever regret becoming a Vigilante and do you ever think about going back to a normal life?'"
Daryl became very still as he looked out the window again, the horizon gradually becoming lighter as dawn approached.
"Do I regret becoming a vigilante..." Daryl took a little while as he thought on that, "I guess, on the whole I could say no, but that wouldn't be the definitive answer."
Evelyn watched Daryl, almost having to clamp her jaw shut so that she didn't ask something that might threaten the interview again.
"There's a lot I regret not being able to do, things I could have done differently, the fact that I can't really live a normal life any more, I mean, let's face it, I'm not really in a position to settle down and have kids. Not with the Shadow as part of my life. Then again, there's all the good I've done, the lives I've changed, the lives I've saved... the lives I may yet change for the better... maybe that's too much to throw away just so I could lead a normal life, y'know?"
Evelyn silently thanked anyone that could hear her for her recorder being on, this was gold! She'd have a fit if Atlant tried to censor that!

"I know you sort of explained part of this one but I'll ask it anyway, 'What does justice mean to you and how do you enforce it?' Another one from your fan club," Evelyn said with a smile.
"Got some interesting thinkers in this club," Daryl replied, "Justice... hmmm..." he sat back and stared at the ceiling for a moment before looking back to Evelyn, "well, without sounding like a comic book Hero-in-spandex-undies, to me Justice means that those who were wronged are avenged."
"Avenged?" Evelyn asked, her eyebrow raised and her pen poised on her notebook. She watched as Daryl's face went through a few odd expressions as he fought to find the words he felt were right.
"Well, it sounds a bit, what's the word... Draconian, I guess? But that's basically what the law does. You commit a crime you pay for it and those you wronged are compensated as best they can be. That's how the law works, or how it should work."
"You're saying the law doesn't work?" Evelyn asked, watching Daryl's expression carefully.
"Oh man, this one's a toughie to explain, and it don't help with you putting words in my mouth, Miss Munroe," Daryl replied with a pointed look.
"So how would you explain it? And call me Evelyn, I'm not a school teacher."
"Heh, okay then, Evelyn. If you break the law and people get hurt, then you're a criminal. That'd be the cut and dry answer. I know there are shades of grey, extenuating circumstances, tragic histories, twists of fate and lawyers will use whatever they can to push things in their favour, but there's no denying the simple truth. I know that sometimes things slip through the net and the police or the feds don't pick up on them until it's too late. That can happen to supers too, by the by. But there's a divide between crimes, especially when it comes to three things in my mind; drugs, organised crime and super-related incidents. Even more so when the three get intertwined."
Daryl paused again to let Evelyn catch up.

"When the crimes get so big that they affect people regardless of outcome that's where the law becomes... bogged down, shall we say? If those that set the wheels in motion either can't or just won't face up to the consequences, or even worse just plain don't care, then that's where the system breaks down. That's where people like me step in. Now before you ask it... because, I know what you were going to ask, Evelyn - I am not above the law, but I do work for the law. I work in those grey areas most of the time where the law can't reach quick enough. I find the people, I find the evidence and if need be I stop them cold. If they try to run, I chase. If they stand against me, I knock them down and if they give me no other choice... well, that's up to them more than it is to me. They could stop it at any time if they just thought about, or were capable of thinking about it, they make the choice more than I do."
"I suppose another part of the question would be 'Would you risk your life to save a criminal's?" Evelyn asked, scrutinising Daryl's face, quite surprised by the dark look that flashed across his features before being replaced by a blank expression.
"That would depend on their crime and whether they would atone for it."
Evelyn watched Daryl for a moment, trying to pick out that look she had caught but a glimpse of before.
"Are you saying you wouldn't?" she asked.
"Again, that would depend on them and their crime," Daryl replied, his voice even, his face still carefully blanked.
"Would you care to expand upon that?" she asked, trying to winkle something out from behind that impassive visage. She'd seen something, she knew it was there and she wanted to see what it was.
Daryl took a gulp from his glass and turned it over in his hands as though studying the way the light reflected from it.
"Well, you remember that guy over in Alpha City? That guy who cut people up and replaced his own body with their parts?"
"Uhh... Jigsaw, I think his name was, yeah, I know him," Who doesn't know him? Evelyn thought as she suppressed a shiver at the memory of him.
"Yeah, that freak. Well when they caught him and he turned state's evidence on his buddies that felt like a mistake to me. I won't criticise the folks from New Dawn or their team. I've seen how they work and I admire them for it. But, if it had been me, I wouldn't have taken him in. He's just too dangerous and too clever to be easily contained, and it's a damn shame that he escaped and is on the run again. Again, I'm not criticising Zodiac, New Dawn or the A.C.P.D. I just wouldn't have done it."

"But didn't he help to catch several other rogue supers? I remember some laboratory used several cures for some obscure diseases they found when they raided one of his old safe houses."
"Oh yeah, he helped them, after leading them on a merry dance for most of three months before he broke out and went on the run again. Also, those cures were found during a hunt for someone else, and I don't remember hearing about them being too healthy for the patients anyway. I'm just saying, I wouldn't have taken him in. Maybe I've become too much of a cynic but it felt like what good may have come from it didn't outweigh the bad that came before or after. That's all I'm saying."
"So you're saying that if you don't see the chance of redemption then you wouldn't save a criminal?" Evelyn asked, wondering if maybe the vigilante life hadn't simply burnt Daryl out from the inside?
"Well, short answer is yes, to be brutally honest. Long answer would be it depends on the crime and the criminal. I can't save people from themselves, I can only try to save the people around them that get burnt. If they can be saved, yes, I'd do it in a heartbeat, but some people don't want to be saved."




The interview stalled after that, Evelyn's tape recorder stopped with a "click" and she and Daryl exchanged silent stares for a while.
Was this really what it was like to be a hero, vigilante or no? Did they really weigh lives in such a manner and determine fates with an inscrutable stare and a cold, unfeeling logic? Was this what that life did to people? Or was this just what the Shadow had done to Daryl Wycliffe or whoever he really was?
Evelyn thought back on the other interviews she had done with supers: she'd met the glory boys, the straight laced ex-military types, the cops and the ones who really did talk like something from a comic book. She could see the similarities; Daryl was just as committed to "the good fight" and his record, what was known of it anyway, showed that abundantly. Yet despite the charm he could turn on he was scarred. There was a sense of right and wrong, but it felt like it was balanced upon a sword edge, and the blade was razor sharp.
Was such a Hero really what Coraline City needed?

"That's probably not going to go down too well with the kids, huh?" Daryl said, draining his glass in one long gulp and gesturing towards her cup, "you want another one?"
"Uh, yeah, sure... may as well..." she didn't look at him as he got up and went to the bar.
She flipped through her notes and scribbled at the bottom of her current page "What is a Hero?"
She sat pondering that one, it was often said that those with power were expected to carry the burden of it alone.
Just how heavy is it for you, Daryl?
She shifted around and turned in her seat and watched Daryl joking with Tania and the bull who was still nursing his beer. He seemed so calm, so casual, so genuine. They were his friends yet they'd never guess who he really was. Did Daryl know who he really was? Was it an act or did he really believe in it?
"It helps me feel normal for a while" he'd said.
When people try to kill you and you spend your life dodging bullets and taking down creeps and freaks what is normal? How the hell do you even begin to recognise normality?
"Ugh!" Evelyn pounded her forehead. Here she was, half three in the morning in the middle of an interview and already she was getting philosophical and way out of her depth. "Just get on with the interview, Evelyn Munroe, the story is what you're being paid for."
Daryl strolled back and took his seat while Evelyn fiddled a fresh tape into her recorder.
"Should we keep going or would you rather call it quits for tonight?" she asked him, trying to close the finicky recorder's lid.
"Sure, the night is still young. I've got the time."
Evelyn finally snapped the lid shut and got the little bugger to record.
"You mind if I take us back to where we left off?" she asked.
Daryl gave a shrug that suggested he had no problem with that.
"So do you ever feel pity for the people you bring in?"
"Some of them, the real sob stories, the ones who just got so confused and betrayed by life that they didn't know up from down. They're just the tragic cases every city has; the people who had such promise but never got to shine. The rest I'm neither here nor there about."
"Even the ones that, as you put it 'couldn't or wouldn't or didn't care about facing up'?" Evelyn asked, knowing she was probably over the line, well over the line with that one.
"As I said before, they made their choices. It just angers me that they couldn't make better ones."
Evelyn nodded her head and turned a few pages back in her notebook.
"Uh... okay," she half smiled as she read the question, "this one is from Alpha city, 'have you ever been sued for property damage?'"
She tried to stifle a laugh as Daryl half choked on his drink.

"Ah..." he said as he mopped his chin and took a napkin to the puddle of soda he'd sprayed across half the table, "I think it's safe to say, no, not by anyone who wasn't implicit in something they shouldn't have been."
Evelyn's eyebrow arched as she gave him an inquisitive stare.
"Really? Some crook tried to sue you?"
"Yeah, he was trying to say I purposely damaged his warehouse. 'Course I wasn't the one that riddled the place with bullets fired from the guns he'd been stashing in that same warehouse. It was more of a delaying tactic than anything else, trying to discredit me to draw attention away from his other crimes. Needless to say that didn't fly with the judge."
"And what became of this guy?"
"He had an unfortunate accident in a shower."
Evelyn gave Daryl a hard stare before he raised a hand in a calming gesture.
"In prison, someone wanted him quiet before he squealed. Trust me; prison is the last place I want to be. Too many old friends with long memories."
Evelyn held his gaze for a few moments before deciding that he was being honest. Though for a moment she had wondered.
"Okay then, how about this one 'Do you have any other special abilities?' That one's from time over in Riego Delta."
"Special abilities, huh? Hm... well, I make a mean Mac 'n cheese..."
"I think they mean in terms of powers."
"Oh, uh... not really. Just the Mac 'n cheese. Get that from my Mom, always have been pretty good in a kitchen. If you hadn't guessed already, I like my food."
"Your Mom a cook or something?" Evelyn asked.
"Nah, though I think she could have if she wanted to, but she met my Dad and... well..." Daryl gave an embarrassed grin.
"Do your parents know about what you do?"
"Yes, but that stays off the record."
"Okay, I can accept that."

Evelyn took a sip from her coffee as she looked over her notes again. She was down to her last few questions. The ones she could ask anyway.
"Here's one from another Coraline City resident: 'Have you ever considered teaming up with another super or vigilante full time?'"
"Create my own little league of super do-gooders? Heh... that'd be something. Uh... yeah, a couple of times I thought about it."
"Really? You have anyone in mind?" Evelyn asked, pen poised.
"Well it was mostly when I started out, just trying to find someone who could point me in the right direction. Like a mentor sort of thing, someone who knew what I was doing and could be safe with that knowledge. Someone like Hidalgo, y'know? I remember thinking at the time that if anyone it'd be him I'd team up with. No one knew who he was back then, he'd come out of the shadows and then he'd be gone, just that wacky calling card of his left behind with a couple of trussed up goons to let people know it was him."
"In other words exactly what you turned out to be like?"
"Heh, yeah, I guess so. Thing is, he was clear across the other side of the country, so that'd be tough to swing. There were a couple of other folks who operated around where I was at the time, but they had their own goals so nothing happened. Really, my mentor came in the form of an ex cop, he knew people and places and really set me on the path."
"This mentor have a name?" Evelyn asked, highly doubtful she'd get an answer.
"Patrick Langemark, used to work organised crime and homicide. Wore his badge for more than forty years. You won't get much out of him though, he's been staying in Oak Ridge Cemetery for the last four years. I suppose you can talk to him, just don't expect a conversation."
"Oh, I'm sorry..." Evelyn made to continue but Daryl dismissed it with a casual wave of his hand.
"Hey, don't worry about it. You didn't know. Anyway, yeah I thought about joining up with folks but I got used to working on my own. That's all changed now though."

"Well then, since we've come back to the subject of Atlant, is there anyone there you'd like to work with more?"
Daryl gave that some thought as he downed his drink.
"Hm... well, the support staff are top notch, I'd have them any day of the week. In terms of supers; Jaeger, Thunderbolt, Green Marmoset, Yukio, Zero... uhh... probably the folks from Team Epsilon too, they seemed pretty with it from what I saw of their training. Oh, and Stormsoul! She's not on the books, I'd just like to work with her." Daryl replied, that grin spreading across his face again.
"Stormsoul? Why her?" Evelyn asked, genuinely curious.
"Well, she's tough, smart, can shoot lightning from her hands and is pretty easy on the eyes. Plus her costume is pretty spiffy too." Daryl said, now smirking.
"Uhuh, there a romantic angle to that in there somewhere?" Evelyn asked, wondering if perhaps Daryl really was just a guy after all?
Daryl laughed, "Well, if I hadn't met a certain someone a good few years ago there might well be. Though I'm afraid to say that my heart belongs to someone else."
"And this lucky girl knows this, does she?"
"Oh yeah, she knows. She's been very patient with me. Not everyone would be willing to wait for a fool like me."
"I guess we're not going to find out who she is, are we?" Evelyn asked, though she guessed it was more a statement of fact.
"Afraid not." Daryl replied with a friendly smile.



"I guess that's us, then" Evelyn said as she flipped through her notes one final time and turned off the recorder. She looked Daryl in the eye as she ejected the tape, "Unless you have anything to add?"
"No, I don't think I do, not at this time of the morning anyway." Daryl replied, leaning back and flexing his sculpted arms as he gave a great yawn.
It was quite odd for Evelyn to think that she was sitting across from an urban legend. Aside from his physique anyone would have taken him as an ordinary guy, especially from his manner. He looked almost harmless as he rubbed his eyes and gave her a tired smile. Yet from their conversation, it was clear that this was the last person in the world you'd want to mess around with. He'd dealt with mobsters, rogue supers, hitmen and mercenaries. He was probably one of the most dangerous people in the city if he put his mind to it.
Though despite that... was he really still a genuinely good person? Was the gentle, urbane wit that he seemed to have a front to keep people around him comfortable?
Evelyn couldn't help but wonder as she tidied her various bits and pieces away: "Who are you Daryl Wycliffe? Are you the Shadow? Are you this amiable person that I have shared the last hour or so with or really the dark enigma that lies behind the latter? How much longer before this life, or lives you lead, destroys what balance you have left?"
Are you being too cynical, Evelyn Munroe? She thought to herself.
After all, don't they say the light is brightest when shining in the dark?
She caught a glimpse of her wristwatch as she stuffed her recorder back into her handbag. Almost four in the morning, a fine time for philosophising. She really had to have a talk to her editor about some serious overtime.
"Well, thank you for seeing me and answering my questions, Mr Wycliffe." Evelyn said, proffering her hand, which Daryl took in his own and shook gently as he put on his coat. Surprisingly so, considering how large his hands were.
"Not at all, Miss Munroe. Though next time, can we do this at a more respectable hour?" Daryl replied, that warm smile creeping across his face again.
"Of course, it's a date. What do I owe you anyway?"
"Owe me?" Daryl asked, slightly confused.
"For the coffee and Danish." Evelyn replied, indicating her now empty cup.
"Oh no, you don't owe me anything. Atlant can pay for this one, call it a fringe benefit."
"Really? Got to get me one of those." Evelyn said, joining Daryl as he laughed. It wasn't a particularly funny joke, but early hours, lack of sleep and caffeine do odd things to the brain.

Daryl led the way towards the front of the diner, where Tania and a Jack Russel wearing a stained apron that Evelyn guessed must be Marko were talking with old Jim. Tania broke off her conversation as she saw Daryl and Evelyn approaching.
"So, you two enjoy your date? How is he, hun? Just as much a smooth talker as always?" she asked, giving Evelyn a conspiratorial wink.
"Oh he's certainly quite the charmer." Evelyn replied, still wondering how the hell the feline waitress could still be some damn perky at such an ungodly hour. "Though this was business, even if there was pleasure."
That earned Evelyn a few hearty laughs, old Jim giving a long slow chuckle that seemed to burble up from some vast depth.
"Business huh?" Marko said "Now what sort of business would you have with this lug, huh?" he asked, laughing as he pretend boxed with Daryl.
"Oh, look who's talking," Tania interrupted "at least Daryl knows how to treat a lady, when's the last time you took me out for dinner?"
"Baby, we go out to dinner every night!" Marko shot back.
"Mmhmmm... every night in this dump, gets a bit samey after five years, lover." Tania quipped as she looked to Evelyn, "It's a wonder that I married this fool, I tell you, hunny. But at least he brings home the bacon, even if it is for the breakfast menu the next morning."
"Oh you know I bring the bacon, babe." Marko said as he and Tania shared a very intimate kiss.
"Woah, hold up guys, not in front of paying customers, huh?" Daryl said, shaking his head as the two parted, Tania slapping Marko across the ass, making him yelp in surprise. "So what's the damage, Marko?"
"Uh, that's $32.85; for a brodo di pollo, lasagne, four sodas, three coffees and two Danish," Marko replied as he consulted an order slip.
Daryl handed him a $50 bill and waved away the change as Marko made to hand it to him.
"You sure, Daryl?"
"Nah, keep it, treat your lady to a good meal on me." Daryl replied with a wink to Tania.
"You're good people, Daryl. You two take care of yourselves." Tania said as Daryl and Evelyn left.
"So that's what you call normal, huh?" Evelyn said as they stepped out into a light wind, smalls spots of rain landing on them every so often as the weather dithered on whether to drench the city now or later.
"As normal as I can get around here anyway. You mind if I walk you to your car?"
"Concerned for my security, Mr Wycliffe?"
"Always, especially at four in the morning in this neighbourhood."
Evelyn said nothing as Daryl escorted her down the street to where she had parked her car, now that the interview was over it seemed hard to think of anything to say to him. As she unlocked the door Daryl reached into his coat and pulled an envelope from it.
"Oh yeah, that reminds me, when you're on your way home tonight, swing by 4th and Maple and open this when you get there." He proffered the plain envelope to her, which had no writing on it but clearly had something inside it from the bulge that was centred in Daryl's palm.
"What is it?" Evelyn asked, cautiously taking the envelope and making to open it.
"Don't open it now, when you've gotten to 4th and Maple, then you can open it. Call it a favour."
"A favour?" Evelyn asked as she gave Daryl an inquisitive stare, weighing the envelope in her hand. It didn't feel that heavy.
"Humour me." Daryl replied, that same smile she had seen a dozen times tonight on his face, though his eyes seemed quite serious.
"Okay, I'll swing by 4th and Maple then, this is part of the security concerns, Mr Daryl Wycliffe?"
"Just thinking of your safety and mine, Evelyn. That's all."


Evelyn got into her car, placing the envelope by her handbag on the passenger seat while Daryl closed the door behind her. He didn't move as she started up the car, even as she drove off, he simply watched her go and gave a little wave. For the first five minutes she drove in silence as she seemed to catch every red light she came to. Then as her fatigue and ever questioning mind got the better of her she turned on the radio to drown out her thoughts, as was her habit these days. The music wasn't anything to write home about but it helped her to relax.
She almost headed right for the I64 turnoff and home before she remembered what Daryl had asked her to do.
She picked up the envelope and its mystery contents. Was he really serious? 4th and Maple was a bit off her usual route. Then again, could she say no? She stared at the package for a long while before she realised that the lights had turned green.
"Ah, what the hell..." She turned left and headed into the uptown financial district.
Thanks to the new one way systems the Caroline City Council had been putting in it took another twenty minutes before she parked up on the kerb of 4th and Maple. She was just across from a donut shop and an anonymous building that was swathed in scaffolding, the wind billowing the rainproof sheeting giving the impression the building might just set sail. She waited a few moments, looking around for anyone who may be watching but there was no sign of life.
Picking up the envelope she found herself feeling oddly nervous, which was ridiculous, it was just an envelope. It wasn't going to explode or anything... at least, she hoped not anyway. It opened easily enough and as she tipped it over a slim, silvery grey metal object, about the size of a mobile phone but far slimmer, fell into her waiting hand. Putting the envelope back on the passenger seat, she inspected the odd item. It was completely smooth and seemed to be solid. She could discern no markings or even a manufacturer's serial number or logo.
"So what the hell am I supposed to do with this?"
Even before she had finished speaking a series of small, light blue LEDs lit up all along the edge of the device, the telltale whirr of some internal mechanism causing to vibrate.
"Woah!"
Evelyn watched, utterly flabbergasted as the device began to glow internally and projected a holographic image roughly the size of her hand. She immediately recognised the logo of the Atlant Corporation; a tall tower rising from the sea, rays of light emanating from the tower as it did so.
"Ah, connection established..." the image changed from the logo to what must have been a web camera view of a young Hyena in a Death metal t-shirt with more piercings than Evelyn would probably have called healthy, never mind attractive.
"What the hell is this?" Evelyn asked as the Hyena chuckled at her reaction.
"You have no idea how many times I hear that every day. Okay, if you have this then you should be the right person, however I'm going to have to ask you to submit to a security check if we're going to continue this. Otherwise you're going to have to explain to a District Attorney as to why you're holding this device. You follow me so far?"

"Uh... yeah, I follow you."
"Okay, now if you could hold the device in your left palm as steady as you can... then slowly place your right palm into the light roughly about the middle of this picture. Hold still as much as you can otherwise we'll have to do this again."
Evelyn obeyed, wondering just how this would prove anything. The whirring sound got louder as she placed her palm into the light but she felt nothing.
"Okay, you check out, now I need you to confirm your date of birth, your address and the codeword you agreed with one of our reps earlier today. Just a precaution. Oh, and you can remove your hand now."
"Fifth of April, 1982, my address is 406, 12 Bourmont street and the codeword was... uhh..." Evelyn floundered for a moment as she tried to remember what the codeword had been, she'd been too angry over the prospect of having her work censored by Atlant at the time. "Uhh... fairly sure it was Market Garden."
There was a stony silence for a moment as the hyena checked something on his side of the... whatever it was they were talking through.
"Okay, that's all in order. Evelyn, my name is Ricky and I am going to be your co-pilot for tonight. Now before we take our maiden flight together I have a pre-flight checklist I need to go over with you so you understand what's going to happen. You with me so far?"
"Yes, I understand." Evelyn said, not at all sure what he was talking about and quite surprised by how professional this young hyena sounded considering his appearance.
"Okay, now I'm going to discreetly display a route for you to follow on the device you're holding, kinda like a GPS route map system like TomTom. Basically I need you to follow this route while I monitor your progress. Now don't be surprised if you find yourself having to double back a few times, that's purely standard procedure. Now, how much gas is in your tank?"
"I have about..." Evelyn squinted at the dial on the dashboard display "... a quarter tank left."
"Okay, that's more than enough, all in all this shouldn't take more than twenty minutes barring anything unexpected and you'll be home safe by half four at the latest, okay?"
"Okay." Evelyn replied, not at all comforted by the "barring anything unexpected" part.
"Now, Evelyn, the following must be stressed as vital to your own safety, okay? Listen very carefully and repeat exactly what I say back to me, you understand?"
"I understand."
"Okay, at no point over the next twenty minutes should you deviate from the route I mark for you. You will obey all traffic laws unless I specifically tell you otherwise. If you notice any vehicles following you, do not panic, I will be monitoring your journey every step of the way. You will not, under any circumstances, open the door or windows of your car for a stranger, even one in an emergency services uniform, unless I tell you its okay. You will keep the device we are communicating through on your person at all times, at all times, okay? Repeat that back to me please."
Evelyn did so, almost word for word.
"Okay, that's good, Evelyn. Now, this is the most important part. If anyone attempts to gain access to you, you will remain as calm as you can, you will not resist and you will shout out their description to me, okay? As loud as you can." The serious expression Ricky had on, though slightly distorted by the projection, made it crystal clear that this was not a joke.
"Now before you get all worked up, remember this, I am with you on every step of this journey, okay? At the slightest hint of trouble I will get you away from it as quickly as I can and will guide you to a place of safety. I will direct agents to you and they will safeguard you, okay? You are not alone in this, help is but a call away and I have speed dial."
"Okay, I understand."

"That's good Evelyn, now I have just one last thing to say, you already signed a contract with us but I have to remind you. You will not talk to anyone about tonight, you never met a man named Daryl Wycliffe, you've never heard of a devilishly handsome guy named Ricky, whom all the ladies love. I in no way advised you to take the route you're about to take, nor did I monitor your progress along said route. You will not print anything in your fine magazine, which I subscribe to by the way, about the Shadow or his affiliations with Atlant Corporation unless you are given approval by an authorised representative of same. You are not holding a device capable of remote holographic real-time communication and digital identity scanning, nor have you ever seen one, nor will you under any circumstances talk or write about one unless authorised by a representative of Atlant Corporation. Needless to say you cannot keep said device and shall hand it back to an agent who will meet you at your home, who needless to say you never met and was never handed said device you never handed to him. I know that's kinda confusing as all hell but you signed the contract."
"Yeah, I remember, is there anything else I can't write about not having experienced tonight?" Evelyn asked, watching as Ricky checked something on his end of the remote holographic real-time communication and digital identity scanning device he was not communicating with her through.
"Uhhh... oh yeah, you of course cannot talk or write about the contract either... and... I think that's it." Ricky replied with a smile. "So, now that the legal stuff's out the way, let's get to the journey at hand, shall we?"
The hologram collapsed and winked out, the device now displaying a map of Coraline city from an inbuilt screen Evelyn swore she'd not noticed before with a small car symbol denoting Evelyn's position.
"Okay," said Ricky's disembodied voice "uploading route, now..."



Evelyn waited as raindrops started to patter across the roof and windshield of her car. Nothing really happened aside from a small hourglass turning end over end in the top right corner of the screen.
"Uh, does it usually take this long?" Evelyn asked after waiting for a little over a minute.
"Hmmm..." Ricky said "Uhh, technical problem on my end I think, gimme a second."
Evelyn waited while Ricky mumbled to himself as he corrected the error. Despite this incredible piece of technology that she had in the palm of her hand, Evelyn couldn't help but remark to herself that it was only so incredible when it worked as it was supposed to. After barely half a minute a red line coursed its way through the map, marking out a route on the screen.
"Ha! Knew it, okay, you should have a route now. Just follow that and we'll be rolling in clover."
Evelyn set the device down on to her lap and put the car in gear. She made one final check that there was no one else around or any oncoming traffic and made the turn on to Maple Street.
The drive along all four miles of Maple Street was probably the most uneventful yet most paranoid journey of her life. There was no one else around at this time of the morning except for the odd garbage truck trundling through the streets. Yet thanks to Ricky's previous warning Evelyn couldn't help but populate every dark corner and parked vehicle with strange masked people who were waiting to kidnap her. Even though she scolded herself for thinking such things the fact that she could hear Ricky's muted conversations with some unknown watcher or watchers both reassured her and also gave credence to her fears. She had been through strict security measures before when meeting other supers for Demigods, but she had never felt so vulnerable.
Maybe it was just because someone had spelled out the dangers to her? Maybe it was the sudden realisation that there had always been dangers and she was just now understanding that fact?

Evelyn almost jumped out of her seat when Ricky's disembodied voice spoke up from her lap after a lengthy silence.
"In two blocks you need to take a left onto Winchester... you okay over there?"
"Yeah..." Evelyn replied, hand clutched to her chest "you just gave me a fright there. Left on Winchester, got it."
"Just keep cool, Evelyn. No one's going to hurt you. You're just driving home like any hard working citizen."
"Yeah, except some idiot put the idea in my head that at some point a gang of masked kidnappers are going to stop me and take me away."
"Ahhh... yeah..." Evelyn could almost hear the embarrassment on the other end of the line "Well, my bad there. If it helps, as far as I can tell you are not under surveillance, not from anyone apart from me anyway. Besides, help is but a call away, okay? Trust me, I've been on both sides of this, you're safer than you could possibly imagine, Evelyn."
"Well you can say- wait... you've been on both sides of this? What do you mean by that?"
"Oh, I've been exactly where you are now, though back then I wasn't working for Atlant and we certainly didn't have such a sweet piece of techno wizardry as you're holding in your hand. Trust me, Evelyn, you're getting the VIP treatment tonight."
Evelyn thought on that as she made the turn on to Winchester Drive. Despite herself she could smell a story and she wanted to pursue it.
"So how did you end up where I am now? You don't seem the type to qualify for this sort of thing. No offence..."
"None taken. Well, you may have noticed that I don't exactly look like the outdoorsy type..."
"You look like half the kids I see in the Bean at lunch break."
"Oh man, haven't been there in so long. But yeah, that may be profiling and all but it's pretty much true. Ever since I was thirteen or so I've had a knack with computers. I was never much good at anything else. So I'd spend a lot of time surfing around, learning new things and uhhh... creating some interesting files."
It took Evelyn a few moments to read between the lines.
"You were a hacker huh?"
"Eheh... yeah, pretty much. Never did anything serious, just liked to gather information on whatever took my fancy at the time. There's a wealth of incredible stuff out there if you just know where to look."
"I imagine most of it behind firewalls and such, right?"
"Right again, Evelyn."
"So was it Atlant that you got caught poking your nose in?"
"Actually, no. Corporations are too tough, they hire hackers and some serious security professionals to safeguard their systems and get a bit litigious about people trying to hack them. Only top end hackers dare even try, mostly for prestige. No, I was interested in the activities of a few individuals I'd heard about on the news. I tracked their movements, planned out their businesses both dummy and real, and I realised that these people had some major pull in places they shouldn't have. So I started messing with their files, screwing around with their bank accounts and dropping hints to the police and couple of other right minded citizens."
"No doubt that stirred up the hornet's nest, so Atlant put you in special custody?"
"Yep, so when I say I've been where you are, I know what I'm talking about. I was scared stupid. I was just a kid screwing around and living in my parent's basement. I really didn't think at all about the impact I'd have on myself. Not until a certain someone came to my door in the middle of the night, laid out everything I'd done and told me exactly what those that I'd messed with would do to me. That was one heck of a wakeup call. But hey, I'm alive, I've got a job, I make an eight digit sum a year and I'm out of my parent's basement, so I figure I got a good deal."
"Hmmm... and this mystery person, just who was that?"
"Oh you interviewed him not half an hour ago, heheh."