[ My friend and I do not own or even claim to own Paragon and its collection of heroes, villains, vigilantes and rogues. This story is to remember them, and what our own character's meant to us.]

"Over the last few months, a series of heists have broken out. It has been confirmed that each heist has been committed by the same person, however, the pattern is unclear. From office buildings to museums, from jewelry stores, to labs. This perpetrator has been very erratic. Police urge heroes to help catch this thief, before-"

The large screen T.V was clicked off by Jerold, chief of police. Ben watched as the man raked them all with a heated gaze, most likely lingering on him the most. Ben sighed as he saw his boss' face slowly turn to the tell-tale red, and with it came the usual lecture.

"Because this thief has been making a fool of us. We now have to stoop so low as to ask the masks for help! I'm ashamed to even call myself the chief of this police branch if we can't even catch one single THEIF!" Jerold slammed the tack board, with the map of the city on it, behind him. Ben watched as a couple of red tacks fell off from the force, he then jerked his eyes back up as the chief continued.

"Now we know that it's only been concentrated on one certain part of Paragon City. So here's what I need you guys to do. I need you to find me the connections between each of these places and figure out what his next target is. Any questions? No? Good. DISMISSED." Ben sighed in relief, glad he didn't get called out this time during their little 'meeting'. He got up quickly to try to escape through the doorway with his fellow co-workers before he was remembered.

"Not you Armsfield." he heard the chief say behind him. Groaning slightly Ben turned around to face his chief.

"Yes sir?" he asked as politely as he could.

"Where's that report on the items that was stolen Armsfield? I wanted that on my desk yesterday and it still hasn't been here."

"Well sir you actually just asked for it this morning and I-"

"And you what?! Thought you could slack off?! Not get it done and didn't think I wouldn't notice?!" Jerold snapped. Ben's cheeks began to heat up in anger.

"Sir! If you would let me finish, I would have said each of the items are classified as sensitive information! I only just now managed to gain access to the archives to see what they are!" Ben snapped back, and then realized what he's done and groaned to himself. Great now I'll probably be taken off the case.

Jerold eyed Ben for a long moment, he then spoke, his voice dangerously low, "If you weren't my best investigator, I would have not only taken you off the case, but have also suspended your badge from the way you talked to me. However, since you seem to be the only one who knows how to do his job in this place...I won't. Just get me that report...now." Ben nodded once, knowing full well if he said anything else he would just get himself into more trouble. With a stiff back he turned and stalked out of the chief's office and stomped over to his own desk. Grumbling to himself he sat himself down and began to pull up the information on each of the stolen items. As he gathered the report together, he began to notice a pattern to each of the items. The owners themselves, and the places the heists took place was certainly different, however each of the items were high-value medallions, and the order they were stolen in proceeded from the highest quality to the lowest. However, the knowledge of such medallions is limited to only a few.

Ben rubbed his chin thinking for a moment, if he knew Paragon as well as he thought he did, he knew each medallion was a piece to a set, something he encountered with his mentor while he was still a sidekick. He drummed his fingers on the desk for a moment, the only next target the thief could be after is a pawnshop in Atlas park. Ben grinned to himself, as he gathered up the items, it should take the chief at least a day to figure out the next target, allowing him enough time to maybe stake out the place, and hopefully catch the thief in the act.

Volt, Ben's vigilantly identity, smirked to himself as he silently eased himself out of the hiding place he's been nearly all night. He watched at the slim figure silently dropped itself down to the ground and silently stalk over to the vault. He blinked suddenly when the thief flipped on the switch to the room in the back, and he got his first look, at the infamous medallion burglar, as he was now thought of the thief. He raised an eyebrow as he was confronted with not a man as he first thought, but a woman. And a fine one at that. He thought to himself as he took in her appearance.

If he was guessing the woman was around five-six, and her milk chocolate skin, and her interesting black spiked hair, were the only tings that stood out against the out fit she was wearing.

Damn fine outfit too, shows off that nice athletic physique... Volt blinked and shook his head Snap out of it Volt, you have a job to do, you're here to arrest her, not admire her. However, he couldn't help but admire her as she moved towards the vault, the black body suit she was wearing seemed to fit her like a second skin, emphasizing the smooth way she walked. He watched as the woman knelt in from of the vault and attached something to the top of it.

Volt frowned slightly, That's no electronic vault there she's breaking into what's that device for? His silent question was answered as there was a quiet beep, and a slight chuckle from the woman. The alarm system on the vault itself huh? He continued watching as the woman pulled down something from her hair, sunglasses, Volt noticed. He then sharpened his attention as she began to turn the tumbler to the vault. Just as he heard the click and she opened the door, he shifted into his super speed and dashed around in front of her, snagging the medallion before she could take it. Volt then stopped behind the woman, the medallion hanging in his hand.

"Looking for this?" he asked, grinning. The woman paused for a moment before tuning around to face him, she put the shades back to the top of her head, looking at him with bright blue eyes, she then quirked an eyebrow, eying him up and down most likely taking in his one-piece suit made out of Kevlar material, he knew that the navy blue color stood out against the single gold bolt going from his shoulder to his belt. He continued to study her through he mask which hid his stormy-gray eyes through one-way lenses.

She tipped her head to the side, "Mhm, the question is, what's it gonna take for you ta let that go?" her voice was smooth with a slight burr to it, like he would come across in people in more run down areas in a city.

"Sorry, but all you'll be getting is some good time in the slammer." Volt told her, watching her reaction to what she would to. He was surprised when instead of getting panicked or angry, the woman smirked at him, amusement in her eyes.

"Sorry boyo, I don't do jail. Bad on my rep ya know?" Her tone was teasing, as if she was making light of the situation.

Volt's grin got wider, "I think you just sullied it a lot more. Now come quietly and maybe you won't serve as bad as a sentence." In truth he really didn't want to bring her in, something about the woman didn't seem like a really bad criminal.

The woman laughs, he couldn't understand where she got this confidence, "Can't do that either. I don't do anything 'quietly'."

Volt blinked, and then sighed slightly, cracking his neck and knuckles, "Well, I hope the owner of this shop can pay for the damages..." he trailed off, taking in the most likely priceless artifacts the back had. And I really hope I don't hurt her too much, she doesn't seem like the type to take a hard hit.

He blinked when the woman looked around as well, "Hmn... fight ya in here? Like hell. And damage all these pretty lil' things? Nah, nah..." The woman winked at him then with an amazing burst of speed that he wasn't expecting she ran and jumped back up into the air vent she dropped down from in the first place.

"I don't think so boyo." her voice drifted back to him from the vent itself. Volt blinked at her sudden exit then rubbed his chin, before laughing slightly, recognizing the fact she didn't want to leave to much of a mess.

"I guess not, but I still can't leave ya so..." he gathered kinetic energy beneath his feet, allowing him to jump up to the vent as well, building up electric energy in his arms, he sent a minor discharge through the vent. However, after a moment of silence, he looked into the vent expecting her body to be paralyzed, instead he was faced with an empty vent, and a distant square patch of moonlight, most likely leading up to the roof top. Volt blinked a couple of times, surprised she could move that quickly. She didn't seem like a person with super speed... he mused as he shimmied into the vent and speed crawled though it, in an attempt to catch up with her.

Volt grunted slightly as he pulled himself up onto the rooftop, and was met with the woman standing there, pulling on some fingerless leather gloves. She looked over her shoulder at him and threw him a smile.

"Well ya quick one ain't ya?" her tone still held that teasing note to it. Volt flashed her his most charming smile before charging his super speed to slide behind her to grab her arm and twist it up behind her. Just end it quickly, can't afford to drag it out with this woman, she's too...distracting. Yet, Volt blinked in shock as he found his arm being grabbed and for a brief moment he was looking up into the sky before he slammed onto the roof.

"Now, now. Don't ya go underestimatin' me boyo." Her face appeared above his, smirking slightly. Volt blinked again before jumping up, dropping into a combat ready stance, as he did so he noted the woman skipped back slightly to let him up. Volt never dropped his grin, usually he just wore it, but now he was really beginning to enjoy himself.

"Dealt with speedsters before eh? Not like me beautiful." Volt winked at her, not being able to help himself, it just seemed so natural. He then threw a lightning fast snap kick towards her head, empowering it with kinetic energy.

I sure hope you're a good fighter beautiful, else this might hurt a bit and damage that pretty face.

Just as he hoped, she blocked his attack, taking the brunt of it with her forearms as she brought them up to defend her face. However, due to the fact he also put a bit of a kinetic energy behind it, she ended up sliding back. For a brief moment he could have sworn he saw a flash of irritation in her eyes, but then it was gone too quickly for him to be sure.

The woman smirked, "I have to admit that ya be quicker than most. But I've dealt with you're kind before." He watched as she dropped into her own combat ready stance, and at that moment he realized he might be outclassed when it came to martial arts.

She then winked at him, "Else I would've been caught a long time ago." Volt nodded, and smirked slightly.

She most likely it a very good martial artist though I don't recognize that stance, although... His thought drifted off as he scanned her up and down briefly, her stance was loose, but seemed to hold power, like a cat in waiting.

I got to say... her form.. He then shook his head, snap out of it Volt, fight don't admire.

Although a part of him, that was quickly growing, didn't want to fight her at all. Despite that he charged his speed once more and moved in quickly enough to send a low sweep kick at her ankle.

Just.. immobilize her..then I can talk to her... ask her about the medallions... do my job...

Volt was surprised though when instead of dodging she took his attack, and winced slightly thinking he would hear the crack of her ankle. So he was a bit surprised when instead of falling, she used his energy behind the attack and did a kind of side flip, landing on her hands to deliver her own sweep kick towards his head. Volt was glad he still had his speed charged, else if he was a fraction of a second later he would have gotten smacked right in the head.

He hopped to his feet, grinning widely, "You're a great fighter beautiful." And now I don't want to fight you either. He watched as she pushed herself up with her hands, and landed on her feet, she then smirked at him.

"Ain't too bad yourself boyo, though your speed is a bit of a problem." She tapped her chin, and Volt watched as she looked around a little confused, "Can't exactly turn this into a game of tag either..." she looked at him with a smile, "considering you would win."

Volt mentally sighed to himself, I'm done, I just can't fight her anymore.

He then grinned at her again and sped behind her, but now that he practically lost the intent to fight her, now he just wanted to talk, "And that's how I take in the bad guys! Although you don't seem that bad to me beautiful. Perhaps we could... work something out." Please, please please be interested.

He watched as she crossed her arms, her back still too him, she then looked over her shoulder at him raising an eyebrow.

"Oh? And what can ya possibly have ta interest me hmn?" she sounded curious at least. Volt tapped his chin for a moment, before an idea came to mind.

"I got it! If you, with your talents, help me out with my cases, I'll spare you being placed into the system. Not a bad deal, huh beautiful?" Volt smiled to himself, he would definitely be able to keep his end of the bargain. He backed up some as she turned around to face him, her arms still crossed; he then watched as she tipped her head to the side as if considering his deal.

"Hmmmn... help ya in turn of ya not turnin' me in?" she grinned at him, "Sounds like a good deal to me. Although now I'm going to have to send them back earlier than I meant ta." For one brief moment, Volt wondered if she meant the medallions. Shaking off the thought, he snickered and handed her a slip of directions on it.

"Drop by my place beautiful, and we could talk business. And maybe have a bit of fun while we're at it." he winked and zoomed off, pausing briefly too look back, but she was already gone. Volt sighed to himself.

I sure hope I didn't make a wrong choice.