Trouble ahead...

[comic_awareness]

Bruce sat in the mission war room, bringing up various pieces of data on the computer, projecting holographic screens into the air.

"In prison... in prison...  last know crime... last known crime..."

He manipulated some more data, looking over countless records and pulling the files into sections.

Something... something definitely wasn't right, and a pattern was beginning to emerge.

"Okay," he said aloud.  "What're you trying to tell me...?"

Comments

[comic_awareness]

Bruce shook his head. "No one major. Two of them have worked for HYDRA, three of them for AIM, a different two for the Maggia, and one of them for RAID, but none at the same time."

[poorgirlsarcee]

She frowns at that. "Okay, really, there some new group out then?"

[comic_awareness]

"Maybe," Bruce admitted. "Or some old group operating in new ways. Some Hydra or AIM splinter cell, maybe."

[poorgirlsarcee]

"Guess they missed the memo to ease the new recruits in slowly by giving them like a year before throwing the big guns at a hero group?" Mira says it completely deadpan, though she gives a faint grin to tell Bruce if he wants her to help she'll be there.

[comic_awareness]

Bruce allowed himself a small smile.

"You'd think," he said. He looked over the list. "Okay, let's start cross-referencing this stuff. Groups they have in common, and last reference to criminal activity. See if anything pops up."

Eventually, a pattern did begin with emerge.

"All fell off the map within the past six months," he said. "But not a significant amount of organizational crossover. Or at least, not enough to be relevant. Too many people willing to work for whoever pays them. And none of these guys are world beaters. They're grunts and killers and robbers, but none with their own "take over the world" plan."

[poorgirlsarcee]

"So should I remind them of the memo when we go deal with them?" Hey the smile was cute okay, she wanted to see if she could add a chuckle there. Come on Bruce, just a little one.

Though as she starts shifting through the files she sees what he's talking about. All joking around's shoved back for now.

"So who would hire an army of thugs? Because thought most the heavy hitters that rich would keep the glory to themselves..."

[comic_awareness]

No chuckle this time. Bruce's sense of pattern recognition and general feeling of dread was kicking in too much.

"Someone planning something big," he said. "And with either a lot of resources... or the ability to make people believe in whatever they're planning. Still a huge list, and that doesn't even get into the idea of someone just outright mind-controlling them."

[poorgirlsarcee]

She sighs, one of these days Bruce.

She's flipping through files still. "Not seeing anyone with the tech here. New player maybe?" She hated that idea, but had to throw it out there.

[comic_awareness]

Bruce nodded. "I should put in a call to Sammy too... see if any of the big name players... Count Nefaria, MODOK, anybody like that's popped back up on the radar."

[poorgirlsarcee]

Mira was silent a moment. "Do that, I'll see if they're recruiting fresh blood from the colleges too. I still have a few contacts. Not really administrative level, but shouldn't be that hard to tell if something's going on. At least that is if they haven't gotten themselves booted from campus yet."

[comic_awareness]

Bruce nodded. "Good idea," he said. "I'll put out some contacts, talk to Tony and Cap too, see what they know. And we'll reconvene in a couple days."

[poorgirlsarcee]

"Works. Should get answers back from most of my people in a day."

[comic_awareness]

Bruce pinched his nose and fought back a headache. "That's a plan then. Good luck."