The Paragons

Chapter 2: Carlisle's Correspondence

Once The Viper had arrived at Duncan's apartment, she dropped down onto the balcony, startling the doctor in the process.

"Phew, you're here!" he said. "Don't scare me like that! You almost made me jump up to the ceiling!"

But the heroine wasn't in the mood for jokes. "Quit exaggerating," she replied. "What was it you wanted to talk about?"

As he walked towards his work bag and pulled out his laptop, Duncan called The Crawler into the room to join them.

"Take out your phone and look up your call history," he instructed. "You see Carlisle's phone call, right?"

"Yup," she responded. "It was fairly recent, so it's still near the top."

"I didn't get a message because I don't have a phone," The Crawler informed bluntly. "But it seems like I was mentioned on both calls, so it still seems like I have at least something to do with this."

"Right. Whatever this is about, he wants you just as much as he wants me." He then turned his attention back to The Viper. "So I'm just double-checking; you're absolutely sure the phone call was from 'Giorgio Carlisle'?" Duncan verified.

"That's right." The superheroine held her phone screen up to Duncan so he could see it for himself.

"Uh-huh.....mine says the same thing," he answered, taking a look at his own device. "The reason I asked.....and the reason why I asked that you come over to the apartment.....is because I just received a video message from this 'Giorgio Carlisle' person mere minutes ago."

He logged into his laptop and pulled up Carlisle's message, waiting until he had The Viper and The Crawler's full, undivided attention before pressing the play button.

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The message began with Giorgio Carlisle himself sitting in front of the computer screen, with a look that was equal parts optimism and realism. He took a deep breath, then began his spiel.

"Good evening, Dr. Duncan Drevis. I hope this reaches you well.....it is my last attempt to try and communicate with the superheroes who have recently risen to fame across the country. None of you have responded to my phone calls; although I will admit that I probably came on a little bit too strong.....that's entirely my fault. If I put any of you off, then I apologize greatly; you don't have to trouble yourself with this if you don't want to.

Moving on.....I was hoping to bring all of you together to create a combined 'task force' of sorts. To unite you all under one banner to fight for the good of our world, you know?"

The trio looked at each other with interested expressions as Carlisle continued.

"I really believe that we can do some real good here, if you all truly do decide to work as one. Should you choose to do something about this.....I beg you, notify The Viper of this message—I know you've recently began partnering with her—and let her know that I wish for you, her, and your lizard partner to gather the heroes from across the country and bring them to the U.S. branch of the Global Defense Council; our building is located in New York and is in the same state as Mercury Heights, which is The Viper's home city, so I assume it shouldn't be that hard of a challenge."

"What is he talking about.....?" The Viper asked confusedly. "As far as I know, the three of us are the only 'heroes' around."

"Please.....I already have some of my colleagues who are calling this a 'lost cause'; that I'm holding out hope for a solution that will never come. If you really are out there.....prove them wrong, won't you? I chose to send you this letter out of all the other heroes because I'm aware of your dark past, and your strong desire to atone for your deeds. If you were the one to get the word out—and successfully form the team—I can't think of any better way to redeem oneself than this."