Interlude 1
In a darkened room, five people with grim expressions sat at a blank conference table. A worryingly thin folder marked "Schrödinger," was laid flat on the table. The tension in the air was palpable, making the cool room seem far more stifling. At the head of the table, the woman in a lab coat began to speak. It was not the first time she had spoken at the meeting.
"What are your thoughts on the individual or projection known as 'Schrödinger,' and the statements he made?" she neutrally began.
"His Agent is likely unrestricted," Alexandria began. "He seemed certain that he could enter Scion's dimension, though how he gathered his information is worrying. Potentially a thinker ability?"
"His method of transportation was quite unique," the Number man interjected. "Air was not displaced whenever he changed locations. There was no indication or warning for each instance."
Left unsaid was the knowledge that Cauldron would have no forewarning of his movements.
"If he possesses a thinker ability, it is likely entirely unrestricted, considering his statements towards what Scion would say," Doctor Mother noted.
"That's if we believe his statements," Eidolon said. Unmasked, the strongest parahuman in the world looked disturbingly mortal, face weathered by stress. The mysterious cape's statements had broken something inside him.
"So far they have held true," Alexandria said, her calm face belying the distaste simmering underneath.
"Perhaps he has another source, another unrestricted thinker," Eidolon said, all-too aware of his position. The meeting over him had just ended after all.
"He certainly possesses a precog blocker or is under the effect of one," Doctor Mother continued. "If we believe he has help, it's disturbing how long they evaded discovery. Such unrestricted Agents would have to have been dropped during the entity's arrival."
"His behavior conflicts with such an idea," Alexandria interjected. "If he was part of a separate clandestine operation, they would have spread the information sooner, or later."
Doctor Mother nodded at Contessa, and she gave the other three parahumans a paper. They quickly skimmed the documents, placing them down after finishing.
"The first known sighting of 'Schrödinger,' was in Dartmouth, New Hampshire. The person mentioned reportedly witnessed Schrödinger in his dreams, whereupon he began to ask the subject questions. Schrödinger left soon after, without receiving a response."
In a dark grey cell, the man in question sat in a featureless gray uniform. He had no knowledge, or parahuman abilities, but Schrödinger had visited him for some unknown reason. Even Contessa could not glean significance from him.
"Schrödinger's next destination was William Manton, who he killed immediately. Manton attempted to escape, but could not stop Schrödinger from killing him. After, he acquired fragmentation grenades from an unknown location, likely attacking Jack Slash in a self-destructive maneuver."
"Schrödinger then moved to engage the parahuman Bonesaw in dialogue, inviting her and the emotion manipulator 'Cherish' to an organization known as 'Millennium'."
"Roughly two hours after his first appearance, Schrödinger entered the office of Number Man, before the rest of Cauldron arrived. After leaving, he moved to kill Nikos Vasil, aka Heartbreaker, before we lose track of him," Doctor Mother said.
"How was such knowledge gathered if he's one of Contessa's blindspots?" the Number Man asked almost immediately.
"While Schrödinger is a blindspot, those around him are not, which allowed his movements to be tracked," the Doctor responded.
Silence reigned once more as the group digested the information.
"His actions can all be considered positive if viewed from a certain standpoint," Eidolon said slowly, "though they conflict with much of Cauldron's modus operandi."
"He seems to be seeking the same goal," Alexandria said. "His body language indicated truthfulness as he believes it, though the right power could fake the signs."
"Why act so dramatically? If anything his behavior thus far has been excessively violents," the Number man said. "It's likely his passenger is influencing his decision-making to some degree."
"If he even is human," Doctor Mother said. "What if he was the foreign element that interfered with the other entity's arrival to begin with?"
If Schrödinger wasn't human, an entity, the entity that granted Cauldron their strongest powers to begin with...
"That's only worst-case scenario," Eidolon said. "Why go to these lengths? Why not just continue observing? Why use a knife and grenades?"
"He likely knew Manton and Jack were Cauldron assets, yet killed them regardless," Alexandria said thoughtfully. "Considering how much he knew about Cauldron, we have to consider his actions under that light."
The entire group paused again to question the creature's motives.
"What is 'Millennium'?" the Number Man asked.
"We have found no evidence any such organization exists," the Doctor responded. "Subject Bonesaw said it meant a thousand years of peace."
"His behavior is similar to that of a fresh trigger's," Alexandria noted. "Going out on a power high, though the unlimited nature of his power rejects that idea. What if he was the result of an entity's accidental release of an Agent?"
"There would be more information about him somewhere," the Doctor responded. "It still doesn't explain where he acquired his information from."
"Powers generally have some unified theme or purpose," Number Man said. "A thinker ability wouldn't fit with what we have seen from his primary projection ability."
Nobody questioned the idea that Schrödinger was a projection. Calling oneself "everywhere and nowhere," didn't help at all in regards to that front.
"We're currently awaiting thinker analysis on his statements," the Doctor said, adjusting her glasses. "Only from more trustworthy clients of course."
Nobody said what they wanted to say, if Eidolon or Contessa couldn't glean any hidden truths, why would they find any more?
"Are there any security measures we can take?" Alexandria asked.
"Is there even a point?" Eidolon bitterly responded. "He seems to know everything important already."
The table descended into silence. Each person gathered looked like they had just bit into a particularly unpleasant food item, though the facial expression was hardly new at this point.
"Do we act on his demands?" Alexandria finally said.
"Extricating the test subjects without attracting Scion is impossible," Doctor Mother said, "though constructing the specified device is possible with the gathering of various assets."
"He said he would return," Eidolon said. "What do we do when the test subjects remain? What will he do?"
Nobody could find an answer to his question.