Shades of Deception (TAG)

[KingJ]

While it tried to put on a good face for public, internally Aegis was in an uproar. The other Pillars had already or were making their way back to headquarters. Abraham Bishop, known to the public as The Phantom, as already here and insisted on being part of this investigation. Liling Yang, known to the public only as Star Woman, was rushing back from an overseas assignment. Bradley Alans, Krackshot, was handling the press, spinning some story that was technically the truth but left out enough details to obscure what was really happening.

One of the Pillars was missing, known to most only as Shade. Colonel knew her real name, Morrigan Cavanah. He considered her a friend. And because she wanted her identity to remain secret, they couldn't unleash a full on manhunt for her. Not yet at least. Aegis was going to exhaust their internal resources before they violated her privacy and revealed her identity.

But the reason Colonel was making his way to the interrogation wing of Aegis Detention was the person that had been taking her place for who knows how long.

"Hello Avery."

He closed the door and sat down across the table from her.

"Abraham will be here soon. I can tell you he's not going to be nearly as calm as I am. I don't want to play "good cop, bad cop," though. So why don't you just tell me what happened, and where Shade is, if you know. I'd like to make sure she's alright."

Ivan Stane (running Abraham "The Phantom" Bishop)
Avery Castellano

(I leave the posting order up to you two.)

[Ivan Stane]

all my heroes

have now become ghosts

sold their sorrows to ones who paid

❧

To say he was upset would have been an understatement. He was furious and for many different reasons. The city had been massively attacked - he'd even heard about an attack on the piers and seen cellphone footage of some of those vigilantes getting their asses kicked.

He didn't know how Aegis could have seen those attacks coming but he couldn't shake the feeling that they should've, that he should've. And he couldn't shake the feeling that he should've known the woman fighting at his side wasn't who she claimed she was. She wasn't Morrigan. He didn't know how she'd done it and for how long.

All he knew was that she had better pray Morrigan was still alive.

He phased through the wall rather than use the door, fully aware he'd slam it if it he used it. He entered in time to catch Colonel's last sentence and figure it was about Morrigan. Displeasure or anger weren't even the right words to describe his expression when he looked at Avery, all the memories he had with her coming to the surface.

Disgust was the right word.

He didn't know how she could betray Aegis like this - How she could do this to Morrigan. Had she felt spited when Morrigan was named a Pillar instead of her? Was this all because of some petty grudge? He wasn't even sure if her reasoning mattered to him.

"I suggest you start talking," he practically growled. It wasn't that he didn't have the composure to hide his anger. Truth be told, he wasn't even trying to hide it. He wanted her to know just how pissed off he was, even if it turned out she didn't care. "Now."

286 ● Avery Castellano ● The more I write him, the more I love Abraham.

[attr="class","cred"]MADE BY VEL OF WW + GS

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[Avery Castellano]

Avery wasn't stupid. She knew she was in trouble, locked in like this. After what she'd done, usurping a Pillar, they weren't going to be happy.


It would make three of them. The dark brunette heard Colonel John Elsven's words. Honestly he had ceased getting the respect of 'Colonel' in her mind awhile ago. She waited for Abraham to show up on purpose. But she couldn't help but give a dry, spite-filled laugh when Mr Elsven asked what had happened. When Abraham told her to start talking.



"Yeah I'll start talking alright. I'll tell you what happened.  You let Challenge and Rage die.  And Void let the killers go free.  And you two didn't do a DAMN.  FUCKING.  THING."  Avery spat at Mr Elsven's feet.  Whatever expression of disgust Abraham had on his face, the look on Avery's face matched it.  

"But they're just two lives right?  Died in the line of duty right?  And rehabbing their killers was more important.  You fuckers couldn't even do that right though.  You know I met one of them at an armed robbery afterwards."  A dry, sarcastic sort of smile made its way onto Avery's face.

"They weren't so interested in talking though.  They were too busy shooting civilians.  So in case you're wondering, your organization's a fucking joke boys."  Avery scoffed, shaking her head.

"Your precious little Shade is alive."  Avery sighed.  Morrigan hadn't outlived her usefulness yet.  Avery was just glad there was enough damage resulting.

"Shame you don't have as much care for the others in your care as you do for her.  Challenge and Rage could have used that.  So could the Ledgers.  I'm sure there are others I didn't know of who died because of your carelessness."  She just stared at the two Pillars.  Glared at them defiantly.  Pillars.  The title was a joke.  She'd been a 'Pillar' for months.  They were supposed to be a Pillar of Aegis, of society, a sign of the great good those with superpowers could do for the world.  Instead they had had Void.  They had failed their charges.


Ivan Stane
KingJ

[KingJ]

Colonel sighed when Abraham came in and was immediately hostile. That wasn't going to help the situation. Although given what Avery said, he figured that it was already a pretty terrible situation from the get go.

"I'm not going to debate with you Avery. What has happened in the past is tragic. We made decisions based on what we knew at the time and what we were allowed to do within the bounds of the law. There isn't a day that goes by that the people we've lost doesn't weigh on my conscience. But that doesn't change your actions and where we need to go from here."

He leaned forward. He didn't want to be intimidating, but he was trying to be firm. He considered Avery, and all the members of Aegis, something like his children. And when one went rogue, like Avery, it brought him no small amount of pain.

"Avery. Where is Shade? Is she safe? There is a difference between "alive" and "safe.""

Ivan Stane
Avery Castellano

[Ivan Stane]

all my heroes

have now become ghosts

sold their sorrows to ones who paid

❧

Well damn. And everyone thought he could hold a grudge.

Not that he didn't understand where Avery was coming from. He understood as well as anyone could. He knew he'd never understand fully because he wasn't her, he hadn't experienced those things in her shoes. He could only empathize so well.

But that understanding didn't stop him from being rightfully pissed. He returned her glare right back at her. He couldn't believe she'd ever been a part of this team. Even with all she'd gone through, with that loss, he thought it was a bit extreme to kidnap and replace Morrigan.

"Bad shit happens," he replied, "And it happens to good people and sometimes that just can't be stopped no matter how much we try. You know that. Challenge and Rage knew that. The Ledgers knew that. But what you've done..." He shook his head. "Is a disgrace, a dishonor to their memory."

He wasn't going to debate this with her either but unlike Colonel, he wasn't going to talk to her as if she was rational, as if she was the same person they'd once had as a member of Aegis. She was far from that person, in his opinion.

"At least we try to honor their memories," he added, "We don't go around kidnapping people and then using the dead as an excuse for the actions of the living."

A part of him was honestly glad none of their fallen could see what she'd done, who she had become.

He leaned to the side against the wall, arms folded across his chest.

"You know what," he said, "It's a good thing Challenge and Rage aren't here... They deserve better than to know what a disappointment you've become."

289 ● Avery Castellano ● n/a

[attr="class","cred"]MADE BY VEL OF WW + GS

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[Avery Castellano]

Avery heard Colonel's words.  At least he showed regret for what happened.  In Avery's eyes, that helped at least.  And his first priority was making sure Morrigan was safe.  Avery sighed, momentarily less angry at the man.  She was still very much hurt about what happened.  And it needed to change.  But Colonel was only a symptom of the problem.  She understood at her core that he'd thought he was doing the right thing when he helped found Aegis.  Even if it hadn't worked out that way.  And she was about to answer as to how Morrigan's condition was when she heard Abraham's words and she felt angry again.  She let it stew while she listened to all of the man's words.  Disgrace.  Dishonour.  Using the dead as an excuse.  Those words made her angry enough.  But then he spoke about how it was good Challenge and Rage couldn't see what a disappointment she was.  Her fiery rage turned into cold temper.  

"Don't presume to tell me what would honour or dishonour Challenge and Rage.  I know far better than you ever could."  Avery shook her head, tears in her eyes that she refused to let fall.

"Do you know.  Do you know that I was there when Challenge and Rage died.  Challenge?  She died right in my arms.  That's when I discovered one of my powers.  You see, I can take on the memories of some others.  When Challenge died, I inherited every memory she had.  She lives on in my mind."  Avery smiled ever so slightly, tinged with so much sadness Avery could barely take it.  But she had.  She had for years.

"My mother.  She died in my arms, and I remember everything she did.  Joining Aegis.  Training.  Meeting Rage.  My own birth.  Her pride for me.  And her pain in her final moments.  Her thoughts of how badly she wanted me to know how much I meant to her.  I remember it all.  So don't presume to tell me that what I'm doing is wrong, that Challenge and Rage would be ashamed of what I'm doing.  I'm doing what I have to.  And I'm doing it precisely TO honour them.  And make sure no other little girl has to go through what I have."  She closed her eyes, a tear finally slipping down her cheek.  She sat down crosslegged on the floor, her shoulders slumping slightly.  Just because she was willful and strong while she was doing what needed to be done didn't mean she didn't feel through it.  She looked at Colonel.

"She's safe.  I'm not heartless."

KingJ
Ivan Stane

[KingJ]

Colonel’s eyes were harsh as they darted to Abraham. He really wasn’t helping.

“Phantom. Take it easy.”

He turned his attention back to Avery. He knew what she was going through. He’d lost friends. Family members. So had all the other Pillars, and many other Aegis members.

“I’m glad she’s safe Avery. But where is she? We need to find her. I know what you’ve been through. I understand. The very reason I continue doing what I’m doing is so their sacrifices don’t go to waste. Don’t add Morrigan to the list of people who have been hurt.”

Colonel knelt down near Avery, offering as much sympathy as he could. “Avery. Break the cycle. Tell us where Morrigan is and end the suffering. We can work together. It doesn’t have to continue to be like this. We can change things for the better. Together.”

Ivan Stane

[Ivan Stane]

all my heroes

have now become ghosts

sold their sorrows to ones who paid

❧

Naturally he stood by all of what he'd said and he shot Colonel's harsh look right back at him. He was tired of that man - of Aegis - being soft when they needed to be sharp, when they needed to cut. One of these days, he thought, they were going to regret being soft.

It wasn't as if he didn't sympathize for Avery - especially after hearing her story. He may not have known her as well as Colonel had, but he knew her well enough to decide he didn't think she was lying. Still, he knew he couldn't let that show. He knew that while some people manipulated with lies, others manipulated with the truth.

Perhaps Avery wasn't planning to manipulate them, but believing that wasn't a risk he could take. Not with Morrigan's life on the line.

Abraham leaned back against the wall he'd first phased through, arms folding across his chest. Ah, Colonel was showing his sympathy. He wasn't surprised.

A part of him wondered if Avery fully believed what she was doing was the right thing, that her parents would approve, that she was on the right side of history. A part of him wondered if she had any doubt.

He didn't believe her when she said Morrigan was safe. Maybe she wasn't heartless but that didn't mean Morrigan was safe. She'd kidnapped her and taken over her whole life - That in itself didn't show much heart.

He had a feeling he was going to argue with Colonel later on what her punishment should be.

He sighed, seeming to let go of some of his anger though that was just a facade. "We can't change the past, no matter how much we pray we could. All we can do is focus on the present in hopes of a better tomorrow."

"Your quarrel is with us, Avery," he added, "Morrigan didn't choose to get involved. Those losses are on us, the Pillars at the time. Let us bring her home."

335 ● Avery Castellano ● n/a

[attr="class","cred"]MADE BY VEL OF WW + GS

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[Avery Castellano]

Avery looked at him, asking her to break the cycle.  To end the suffering.  She looked him straight in the eyes.

"I am breaking the cycle.  The cycle of negligence.  You're right, she isn't to blame.  She's a symptom of the problem.  And do you not have to treat the symptoms of a disease?  That's all I'm doing.  She's safe.  Unharmed.  But you aren't finding out where she is from me."  If she told them, they would have no further use for her.  And while they plead for Morrigan's life and location, Avery knew there were absolutely no guarantees of what they would do with her after she told them.  

"No offense, but you already tried changing things.  Aegis literally is your shot at that.  And it didn't work."  She heard The Phantom's words about the quarrel being with them not with Morrigan.  

"No.  The one responsible for my losses are her predecessor.  My parents died and Void helped rule that the ones responsible should be rehabbed.  I met them afterwards and they were doing the same damn thing.  You talk about breaking the cycle about you haven't done a fucking thing okay?"  Avery sighed, shaking her head.  She turned with her back to them.

"You're not finding anything from me.  You can stop your good cop bad cop routine now."


KingJ
Ivan Stane

[KingJ]

She wasn't hearing them. Colonel sighed, and stood up, realizing that he wasn't going to get through to her today. He'd have to talk to her again later, possibly without The Phantom. Maybe with Star Woman or Krackshot, another one of the Pillars. Maybe one of them would be able to reach her.

"I suppose that's all for today then. I'm sorry we put you through a good cop bad cop routine. That wasn't my intention." he said with a pointed look at The Phantom.

"I'll have you taken back to your cell and make sure you're comfortable. I'll see if Charlotte can bring you some cupcakes. If your tastes stay the same when you're using your powers, I know you're quite fond of them."

He moved toward the door, waiting to leave until The Phantom did.

"I'm not trying to bribe you or buy your cooperation. I just want to make sure you're taken care of while we decide what to do about all of this."

Ivan Stane
Avery Castellano