Chapter 3

Isn't It Odd

"Can I help you Agnes?"

Agnes caught a glimpse of what the other woman was watching on her office television. It was a recording of the Hero TV episode that had been overrun by Kriem and Jake. She arched her brow, "Studying?"

Illiana rolled her eyes, "I really hope you came here for something relevant."

A folder was dropped on her desk and Agnes ran a hand through her hair, "As you well know Blue Rose is our resident Hero slash Pop star."

"I'm aware."

"There has been a release concert put together for her new collaboration album with Tiger and Barnaby."

"What? They've already been in interviews and photo shoots non-stop for the past few days! Are you really going to pull three hero's off the streets for a concert?"

Agnes smiled at the look of pure frustration on Illiana's face, "Yes, I am. This is a huge opportunity for Hero TV."

"You'll really do anything to get ahead won't you?"

Agnes just smiled at the woman and shrugged, "When the ratings go up that means the people are happy."

Illiana stood and slammed her hand on her desk, "The people are stupid. They think they're happy when they're in the midst of danger. You're feeding into their immaturity."

The other woman scowled, "I really don't care how you see it. My ratings come first here and if you screw it up you'll be gone."

"Maverick is not in charge of me."

"Oh that's right. You're a personal friend of the Judge; you two have a history right? What kind of history is that exactly?"

"Get out of my office!"

"Ana?"

Both women snapped their gaze to Yuri and Agnes smiled at him before leaving. Illiana was still seething and tried to calm herself, "I really don't like that woman. It's all ratings with her."

Yuri sighed and set his briefcase on her desk, "Try not to let her bother you."

"Right. I'm sorry. I haven't even been here a week and I'm pushing it already."

The man picked up the folder on her desk, "What is this?"

"Information on Blue Rose's concert. Tiger and Barnaby are collaborators this time around and they've already been out since I've arrived."

He tucked his hair behind his ear, "You need a drink."

"Yuri, you don't drink."

"No, but you do."

"We're already late so try to be serious about this. I can imagine that this is important to Blue Rose."

Kotetsu kicked back in the passenger seat of Barnaby's sports car and chuckled, "No need to tell me Bunny, I get it."

"I'm serious Old Man."

"Sure you are. You like all this extra stuff. We should be doing hero work."

Barnaby sighed and rolled his eyes, "This is hero work."

Kotetsu decided not to push it any further. Barnaby was comfortable with this work. He had avenged his parents and that was all he really wanted. He was King of Hero's and that was enough, more than enough even.

"New topic, what do you think about Miss Blackwell?" Barnaby's face became solemn and he almost glared at the road ahead of him, "What! Bunny I didn't mean to offend you!"

The blonde shook his head, "No, you didn't offend me. It's just that woman…"

"Do you not like her?"

"It's not that. I feel like I know whom she is, or at least I should know. But I don't. It's odd, her name sounds familiar."

"It should, her father used to be the Sternbuild Police commissioner."

"Used to be?"

"He was murdered."

"I don't get the secrecy Yuri." Illiana ran the tip of her finger around her martini glass and looked out at the sparkling lights of the city, "Everyone knows who I am. I didn't change my last name."

Yuri delicately put down his water glass and brushed back his hair, "Yes, but he doesn't know how that connects you two. He can't know, not yet."

"He can't know that his parents saved my life?"

"No. No one can, it's why the operation records were kept a secret too. Their work had to be protected."

The woman nodded, "I guess I get it. But, the man who killed his parents is dead right? That whole fiasco is why I couldn't come earlier… Why I had to stay away a whole extra year."

"Yes. But there are still more things at play here. I just want to keep you safe."

Illiana smiled at him, "I know."

He nodded, "So how do you like work?"

She sighed, "Agnes is a pain."

"Besides Miss Agnes."

"I haven't done much field work yet. But the Heroes seem to like me so I don't think I'll have a problem leading them. I'm still nervous though."

"About?"

"You Yuri." She glanced around them nervously, "What am I supposed to do when you just show up? I can't tell them to leave you be."

He frowned, "Just let me worry about evading them."

"I don't want to watch all I have left die."

Yuri reached across the table and held her hand, "I'm not going to die."

"I hope so." She smiled before jumping a bit and grabbing her phone as it buzzed in her pocket, "Hm, a file from Agnes."

Yuri watched her read carefully then a look of horror flashed on her features, "What?"

"Pleased to meet you, sir!"

Illiana sighed heavily as Agnes introduced the Second League heroes to Tiger, Barnaby, and Rock Bison. She was appalled. Agnes had gone as far as to split Hero TV into two-league format. Illiana was smarter than that though, she knew that Agnes just missed having someone to do her bidding and raise ratings.

"Second League?" Kotetsu questioned.

Agnes was steaming with pride, "You and the other First Leaguers will handle large scale crimes under Miss Blackwell and the Second Leaguers will handle smaller crimes under me."

"We will do our best sensei!" The second leaguers bowed and trotted comically from the room. Agnes wished the boys good luck and followed after them.

Illiana left her corner and crossed her arms, "Well?"

Antonio frowned, "They didn't even glance at me."

Kotetsu slapped the man on the back, "Your out of costume. They just didn't recognize you."

"Right."

Barnaby stretched a bit, "They're a little odd."

Illiana tucked her hair behind her ear and put her hand in her jeans pocket, her white dress shirt ruffling a bit, "But they're something. I guess I can't argue, it's not work piled on me."

Barnaby gave her a friendly smile, "Did you come to meet the second league?"

She returned the smile, "Sort of, they're looking for a backstage thief so I figured it would be good to be around. I also came to see the concert. Good luck."

Antonia playfully punched Kotetsu, "Break a leg!" He then followed the woman out.

Kotetsu grumbled under his breath about muscle-head cows with pea brains until he noticed his partner still watching the door, "Bunny?"

The blonde smiled at him before also punching him in his arm, "Don't mess this up."

"Ah Bunny! It's still tender!"

The concert was…interesting, she decided. She was glad she came; it was nice to see the heroes doing something different before she started barking orders soon. But she was seriously hoping all these extras were a minor thing. Illiana was climbing into her car when her earpiece started beeping. She pulled it out of her pocket and sighed, "What's going on?"

"The backstage thief has struck, I need you in the van right now. I want to air this." Agnes spoke calmly.

"Second league is your responsibility."

"Blue Rose, Tiger, Barnaby, and Rock Bison are all here. They are your responsibility."

Her driver looked at her warily and she threw in her things and shook her head, "I'll find my own way."

She looked a bit like a mad woman running through the crowds of girls still screeching over Barnaby and a few for Tiger while most of them were boys of puberty and up going on over Blue Rose. She burst into the van and was all business.

"What did I miss?"

Agnes stepped aside to let the other woman see the screens and grab her more official headset, "The thief is a NEXT with the power of invisibility, and He's heading down the tunnel on a scooter."

"Who is in pursuit?"

"Tiger."

"Tiger, what's your status?"

"This sicko is dressed up like blue rose!"

Illiana pinched the bridge of her nose, "Do you have the man in custody?"

"I will!" She listened as he breathed heavily because of his running and the incessant beeping inside his suit. "What the heck?"

"Tiger? What's going on?"

The man didn't seem to hear her or be listening because it sounded as if he was speaking with himself, "How did I run past him?"

Agnes put her hands on the console, "What? What happened?"

"Just be quiet for a minute!"

There was more beeping and air rushing before Tiger gave a panicked shout, "Why am I jumping so high?"

"Tiger? What's going on?"

"…That was scary. What's happening to me?"

"Tiger stop talking to yourself and talk to me!" Illiana was starting to panic.

"Oh! I-I'm fine!"

"Miss Blackwell. This is Barnaby, I have Blue Rose with me."

She took a deep breath."Catch up with Tiger. Something's going on and I don't have any visuals."

"Yes ma'am."

"Bison."

"Yes?"

"Position at the end of the tunnel right now. I think the thief is coming our way."

"I'll catch him!"

Illiana crossed her arms and frowned at Tiger who was staring at his hands. "Tiger. I need you to tell me what happed in that tunnel."

Tiger looked the young woman in the eyes and sighed before slapping a smirk on his face and shrugging, "Rock Bison was in the bottom. Why not let him have this one?"

Illiana smiled at him then noticed Barnaby and Blue Rose approaching, "If you plan on sticking with that… but if you really want to talk, you know where to find me."

Barnaby clapped his partner on the shoulder, "You're kind as always, Kotetsu. Today was amazing."

"Well…you know."

"You got my bag back for me." Blue Rose hugged the item close, "Thank you."

"Uh, your welcome."

Illiana turned to walk away from the group and into the fray of the police cars and news crews and Barnaby walked up after her, "Miss Blackwell."

Pleasant shock flitted across her face when she faced him, "Barnaby, please call me Ana."

"Right, Ana. I wanted to ask if you would join me for dinner tonight."

The woman smirked and nodded, "Sure. Just promise not to call me ma'am again."