"No, I entirely understand. For you, it's like walking into the belly of the beast," Della replied. "But you can absolutely stay here. I don't need you to clean or anything, just so long as you pick up after yourself. I told you to make yourself at home before... Um, I think I told you that, at some point," she continued, laughing a little, "and it's still true!"
She took a few moments to scoop up the last of the chocolate spheres, and quickly drained the milk into her mouth. "Though, if you don't mind, could you handle my dishes right now? Dishwasher is built into the counter, right next to the sink," she asked as she stood up. Della took the few steps to lean down and kiss Katrina's cheek. "Text or call if you need anything. I'm never far," she told the beautiful woman that was in her house before she rushed to the bedroom, retrieving her costume, and teleported out.
Back in Halcyon City, she stepped into a quiet corner of the AEGIS HQ's lobby. With a steady stride, she approached the agent keeping watch. "Doormaker. Commander Walters wanted to talk to me."
"Of course, ma'am. He's in conference room C," the agent replied.
"Thank you," she told him, and walked up the three flights of stairs to the conference rooms. C was, naturally, the third one, and she knocked at the door.
"Enter," came Walter's slightly shaky, but still authoritative voice.
Doormaker walked in, pausing slightly upon seeing someone else in the room. "I was under the impression we'd be meeting alone," she said.
"I asked Mr. Boehr to provide assistance. You know his work has been valuable in the past," Commander Walters said.
The two men were stark contrasts. Commander Walters, a frail and short octogenarian dressed in a simple but perfectly-tailored AEGIS uniform. And Kyle Boehr, a man built like a refrigerator, dressed in a vest over a plain white t-shirt and jeans. Internally, Della wanted to chew him out for dressing so casually, but she held her tongue. Commander Walters had invited him, for some reason, so the least she could do was be polite.
The Commander continued with "The Marchetti family has always been present in Halcyon City. Anyone with any awareness of the crime scene here knows that. But Vincenzo has been much bolder. Much more aggressive. Much less restrained," he said. "Businesses that paid for the family's 'protection'? Vandalized, stolen from, some burned. Gangs that paid tribute? Run out of the city, impounded into the family, or killed. And the recent attempted kidnapping via Packrat represents an escalation of an unprecedented degree. He's attempting to recruit or force metahumans onto his side. We don't know his end goals-but we can be certain they aren't benevolent."
Kyle spoke up after the Commander had finished. "Speaking of which, where's the thief? You intercepted her and took care of the situation, right?"
"I didn't intercept her, exactly. She was attempting to betray the Marchetti's when I happened on the scene, and I helped her escape safely," Doormaker said. "I believe this represents a genuine turning point for her-even ignoring any potential benefits that might come from someone with her abilities on the side of the law, part of the mission of AEGIS is to give metahumans the option to choose, provided they don't use their powers to harm others. This is her chance to choose better."
Walters nodded, but Kyle scoffed. "Right. Once a criminal, always a criminal."