Hostage Exchange Follow-Up Notes

The Cryptozoological Expedition

During the adventure of issue #8, Aela was not available as she was called away for something to do with, nonsensically given her orientation, Hoof and Mouth Disease in upstate Michigan.  

Once off the plane in the upstate, she is whisked away with a dozen other veterinarians in a strange van by men in black.  The van's oddity is that the windows are all shaded black, both inside and out.  It is navigated entirely by electronics that sense the outside.  No one knows the precise route or where they are taken.

Once at their destination, a man referred to only as Jenkins interviews her, as he does each vet, and indicates they expect she is needed for 2-3 days for an extremely sensitive assignment, one she must never reveal, even to her husband - whom he seems to know too much about.  His veiled threats are obvious and nearly drive Aela to react badly, but her curiosity gets the better of her, as well as the realization that resisting might be too dangerous long-term, and she reluctantly agrees to perform a post-mortem on a strange mammalian aquatic animal.

Aela finds that the animal looks rather featureless.  It's head is very large and almost bulbous while it's body becomes increasingly slender behind it.  The eyes are very large and round; at first glance to an untrained eye they look
like huge pupils that take up the entire eyesocket, however Aela notes immediately they are large but semi-transparent eyelids.  The mouth is small.  There is NO snout.  Instead gills are present on the underside of the animal.  Behind the large head is noticeable very short hair.  There is a moderately sized flipper on each side in the center of the body and a smaller, possibly atrophied flipper towards the bottom.  At the very tail end is a fish-like tail.  The animal in any case seems to share certain
fish characteristics, moreso than most mammals in water.  Inside the head is a very large, very complex brain.  One would believe it to be capable physically of human-level intelligence.  There are, however, no vocal cords as such.  There are body organs which may have created sound, however, in such a manner as whales "sing".  The organs are rather nonsensical.  It takes Aela over a day with the doctor's aid to diagnose which organ performs which basic function.  Most are in the "wrong" place from her experience.  The animal seems to have
had an extremely varied appetite, including many unidentifiable, possibly inorganic, items in its digestive tract.  

There is not much time for this, though, as the continual pressure is on "cut through the chaff and find the cause of death".  This pressure is mostly from an increasingly rude, rumpled, and rancorous Jenkins, who seems to subsist on nothing but coffee, cigarettes, and some small white pills Alea notes.  As the first day winds down, by the way, Aela is brought a literal wardrobe of clothes to choose from and $10,000 in crisp bills.  Jenkins  smiles (which is both rare and disturbing as his smile is more of a sarcastic snarl) and says, "Don't forget, it's cold cash and we're not the IRS.  We don't give s**t about taxes, get it?" 

The next day is entirely dedicated to searches for clues as to death.  Aela is told that toxicology comes back negative.  There is evidence of an unusual microbe in this and "the other samples" which is possibly a cause but may also be a simple symbiotic or leeching entity commonly found in these uncommon animals.

Aela notes that the heart seems large though that's merely a  hunch given the lack of predictability about this animal's physiology.  The doctor leaves and hurries back, apparently corroborating that another independent researcher has noted a similar issues.  Comparisons are quickly run and it appears that the heart size varies greatly among the creatures.  More  interestingly, the size of the heart seems inversely proportionate to the time since death.  

Aela and a group of 3 other vets are convened but prior to doing so are asked to wear masks and not to exchange names.  Nonetheless Aela recognizes Walter Smart, an Ann Arbor aquatic doctor she's worked with before and Walter returns a knowing look.  The team discusses and dissects, finally arriving at a conclusion that the animals had degenerative heart failure.  Weaker ones died earlier in the process and stronger ones resisted as the heart grew in response to the stress until finally succumbing.  This was an extremely rapid process; the oldest deaths appear to be between 2 and 3 weeks while the most recent are within the last 24-36 hours. There are no further clues though, unless the microbe or other samples can yield more in longer lab analysis.

Jenkins stays in the room the entire time.  When the team concludes that more detailed and long lab work is necessary, he starts to bellow at the team.  Realizing that the tired doctors could care less about Jenkins' temper tantrum, he storms out.  Five minutes later he comes back and denounces the "failure" and says the check is in the mail.  Busses arrive within an hour and everyone is escorted back - and reminded that secrecy
is paramount.

Aela, Sihn, and Namor

Following Speedo Man's, now also known as Prince Namor, announcement of his intent to take Aela, Eliot Sihn continues close studies of the sample he gathered from him.  He determines that Namor is faster than any of the Justice Squad as well as possibly tougher.  For a time Sihn explores a love potion of sorts, something to cause Namor to love Bud Girl or at least someone other than Aela, but he realizes there's too many unknowns in that equation.  Given Namor's (as Sihn begins to think of him, since it's rather humiliating to be defeated by "Speedo Man") determination to take Aela, Eliot girds himself for a last-ditch stand - arranging a place to meet Namor and then rigging it with explosives that will be triggered should he die in combat.

Unfortunately the confrontation must take place after Thanksgiving dinner - the one Eliot perceives to be his last.  Namor has arrived extremely early - he's been waiting for this moment for years.  As Namor off-handedly greets him, Sihn jumps in, stating, "At least you're punctual.  Before we settle this, I've got a few things I want to say.  I'd like to light a cigar, but I've heard of your aversion to them, and I want to make sure" he stares straight into Namor's eyes "you hear what I have to say."

"First.  I love Aela more than anything, including my own life.  I worked hard to win her love, and I will not let any harm come to her."

"Second.  Aela is not your Princess.  I've known her since she was a child, and I can prove it."

"Third, I know you won't believe that, and that the only way I can change your mind is to defeat you.  This isn't too likely, but I'm going to do my best."

He takes off his coat, and carefully folds it across a chair.  He then briefly kneels and says a short prayer.  He stands, crosses the room, and puts his fists up.

His unwavering love of Aela as demonstrated to Namor, along with his bold assertion that she cannot be his lost Princess Lakura, persuades the somewhat bemused prince to give Eliot a chance to prove his claim.  Namor is sensitive to what he considers deceitful human ways but is struck by Sihn's sincerity.  He agrees to meet Eliot and Aela at dinner - in fact he names the place, an extremely exclusive restaurant, the sort of place with only six tables and where reservations are often made a year in advance.  Apparently Namor has a connection to it and is at least able to wrangle the use at the last minute of a table in the balcony.  He's impervious to the cold weather though it's uncomfortable for the Troll.

Bob Rogers, at Sihn's request, does some reconnoitering and lets him know that Namor shows up fairly early there as well.  Surprisingly, Namor is wearing a nicely tailored suit with an ascot.  As he meets Sihn and Oceanchild, he hardly speaks to her or notices her, deferring to Eliot the whole time.  As his is style, his voice booms as they chat on the way to the balcony, disturbing briefly the other patrons.

As Eliot has noted strange things have happened and in order to ensure it's really Namor, he asks him to crush a cube of steel, which Namor does after a minor bit of effort.  

As they converse and childhood photos of Aela are displayed and names of referrals are given, Namor seems to believe them.  He marvels at how she looks like Lakura and becomes sentimental.  Eliot as well reveals his duplicity in letting Namor believe that Eliot and the Troll are different people back at their Blue Moon meeting.  He explains it was necessary to ensure the safety of his teammates as well as to assess the situation.  Namor accedes the decision was sound and seems unoffended despite his own rather extreme code of conduct.  Moreso, Namor is intrigued by the nature of Eliot/Troll and what he still believes to be separate beings inhabiting the same consciousness.  He cannot accept that these are one and the same people with simply different appearances.  

Continuing on, Namor explains his history with Lakura.  She appeared out of nowhere, nearly dead, and members of his realm nursed her back to health, battling her innate inabilities to live in Namor's inhospitable climate.  She came with meta-human abilities which developed more greatly as she recuperated and lived among his people (Namor continues to dance around where his land is).  As outsiders are unwelcome in Namor's land, he took a personal interest, observing her.  He found her rebellious and powerful nature attractive despite her not being of his people, and pursued her in the long-standing ancient ways of his people.  During the Preparation Days, as she was prepared by the Lady's Ladies, she somehow escaped.  He believes she was fed lies by his political enemies.  In any case those responsible for guarding her were quickly and "mercifully" put to death.  He adds, "It was the greatest displeasure of my life to witness my faithful, long-time Captain of the Guard Ara M'Namor take the ultimate responsibility and plead guilty.  I would have waived the sentence had it not been for the political storm that pardoning a friend would have caused.   Ara said farewell in his last moments and I know he was glad to be of his last service to me, proving my strength and service to the people of my realm."   Namor feels Lakura would have ended up somewhere on the western coast of North America if not an island somewhere from Hawaii eastward.  He claims that would have been the natural direction to go.  Namor spent a few years dividing his time between ruling and quietly wandering among humans, learning a few things about their culture.  Then a civil war forced him to spend much of his time back home.  The last couple years have been a time of relative peace and he has been able to pursue his Princess again.  However, there are those in his land who would see his plans frustrated.  While he doesn't go into much detail, Sihn quickly  surmises that Namor must still prove himself somehow to his people by recollecting his betrothed.  Perhaps he's still legally bound to marry her and only her, though Namor does not state this.  It's clear that Namor must issue an heir to solidify his rule and the Princess Lakura is pivotal to this in his mind.  Despite all the political motivations, Namor seems to have a heartfelt need/love for the woman.  The politics seem to merely complicate the situation.

As they speak and as Namor alludes to the harsh standards/rituals of his society, the two men grow to respect each other more and even somewhat like each other.  They share rigid ideas of right and wrong, dividing the world into black and white, that which must be done and that which must not be done.

After a time, towards the end of the meal, Aela suddenly blurts out aloud, "Do you [Namor] have any idea who my parents are?  Might you or Princess Lakura or members of your families be one of my parents?"  At that moment the DNA strands that Eliot has been studying dance in his head - and so does Aela's - in fact he realizes, his face briefly paling, that Aela is in fact Namor's daughter, an idea she instinctively has grasped as well.  

Namor dismisses the notion summarily, other than to indicate perhaps some horrid humans took advantage of Lakura and Aela resulted.  Aela presses on, however, before the evening is done.  Namor indicates merely that it is not possible and besides being his daughter is too dangerous for her to dream of.

Later, once Alea knows for a fact from Eliot that she is the prince's daughter, she later arranges for a dinner alone with Namor.  She confronts him with the facts; he becomes emotional, almost shedding a tear, and warning her to drop her "delusion" and he will not punish her for lying of such a thing - in other words, he wants her to forget the truth and conceal it.  She presses him on this point, and he finally relents, saying, ""All my offspring have died...unnaturally.  In part it's been....my own doing - I - you would not understand.  In another part it's  been my enemies.  I do not want you to die.  You are a powerful and beautiful girl.  You seem to stand above these puny humans and I am - proud.  I like your strength and that you do not mince word like these silly weak soft sub-beings.  I - hope you are my daughter.  I will believe you at this time but it must be between us.  It is tantamount to death otherwise.  Keep it to yourself.  Know that I will treat you as mine in ways that I can - but ways that will not endanger you.  You must trust me on this.  And you may call me Edgard - when we are in private - ONLY!"

The Captain's and Superman

Marty Davis encounters Superman yet again in the bathroom mirror.  Details will be provided later, but essentially Superman impresses on The Captain the importance of being heroic.  He goes on to note how The Captain must be a role-model.  The Captain asks Superman about seeing through walls - he thinks he should be able to do it but can't get it to work.  Superman assures him someday he'll get it, perhaps when he needs it most...

The Blue Moon

While the usual divorce cases come in and Laughton hires another detective, in part to compensate for the erratic Jimmy Hell, some more interesting clientele visits the Blue Moon as tales of the heroes who are related to it arise. 

A man from Highland Park claims his soul is being stolen by a shaman he cannot see or hear and has never met in any "life".  Marty asks him, "What do you mean by "in any *life*"?  Also, how do you know your soul is being stolen if you cannot see or hear the shaman?  And what exactly do you want us to do about it?"  Laughton wants to know more details about how it smells/tastes/sounds.  The man replies to the questions, "I want you to stop this thing.  I've lived, by my reckoning, some 312 times though I'm fuzzy on over 200 of these lives.  I can feel my  soul being taken out, partly as my morality is ebbing - I may become completely amoral." He admits that he's not so sure it's a shaman but the magic feels like a shaman, gradual and earth-related.  Unsure what to do, they take it under advisement.  Recently, Sihn and Laughton have visited an Asian mystic; Sihn to control his anger and Laughton to toughen his mental defenses.  Laughton thinks the mystic may help him on this one.

Another client comes in requesting some shady research, stuff that will be paid tax-free, on a couple corporate figures.  The client wants to remain anonymous but seems to have deep pockets.  Marty isn't interested in this one tries to discourage Laughton from getting involved in something like this.  "We need to elevate our standards and morals.  We're heroes ya know!  We have to be good role models for the youths in this city..."  Laughton just nods, seeming to agree.  "OK, go work on the divorce cases, I'll take care of these guys so they don't trifle you again with their request." - i.e., in the future, they can come directly to Laughton.  Laughton assigns part of the case and does some research himself...

A self-proclaimed vampire comes to the agency, needing another vampire found.  Marty presses the vampire on details of his lifestyle, such as feeding on human blood; Laughton counters, ""Marty, we are here to solve mysteries, not evaluate what possible merit the solutions provide.  The important thing in a detective agency is results.  Well, results and profits.  Well, results, profits and seeing that justice is accomplished.  Well, results, profits, justice, and stopping  conspiracies.  _That's_ the important thing here.  Not the reasons behind why some fellow who thinks he's a vampire wants to see if there is another
person out there that also thinks they are a vampire.""  Marty responds, ""But...but, if this guy is out there sucking people's blood and hurting folks then we can't take him on as a client!  I mean, geez!  We wouldn't find Slayer a woman just cause he's lonely.  Heck, if this vampire is out there hurting people then we can't help him... we gotta stop him!"  Laughton concludes, ""And if he really is a vampire, and then if his other vampire is also real, don't you think that it would be better if we knew where both vampires were hanging out?  Besides, where did you get the idea that just because someone is our  client we can't stop them from doing nasty and terrible things?"  Laughton takes a deep breath and lets it out with a heavy sigh.  "Marty. my friend, you've come a long way, but the road ahead is still long and bumpy."  The vampire appears to have a lot of money - Laughton takes the case and Marty shuts up for the moment, hoping that Laughton is true to his word and that they will indeed stop the vampire and his hunted if they're truly dining on human blood.

The Hectic Life of Suzanne Palmer

The frenzy of activity after the collapse of the Purple Hat gang has everyone of almost every capacity in the District Attorney's office busy, working 12-14 hour days through Thanksgiving.  Suzanne is no exception and wonders when she'll get a chance to see more of the strange Justice Squad up close - and she wonders why they picked that name when she was just about to adopt the nom-de-superheroism of Justice...