AN:

Geojas378: (I know I already replied to you personally, but for everyone else who wants the answer) In one word: probably. In more, I haven't decided, I know at first it will probably be a heavy Rae/BB/Terra triangle. Also, the fact that BB is borderline obsessed minus the border over the prospect of having Terra back. He's kind of blind to anything else at the moment. Of course, starting this chapter the other plot will rear itself forward, hopefully not to detract from the romance, but to add another element of suspense about it.

End AN

Tessa Wilson dashed out the front door, toaster pastry hanging from her mouth as she dashed for the bus stop. She had her book bag in one hand and was slipping it onto one shoulder as she went. She took the pastry out of her mouth and swallowed, "Damn it why didn't my alarm wake me up this morning!" Tessa barely swerved to missed a dark headed man in a blue dress uniform. The man smirked as he took a half step in the opposite direction to let her by. He continued on and walked up the same path she'd just rushed down…

Darien Valson knocked on the door of a plain looking house in a suburban neighborhood. He looked down at his watch and counted off the seconds in boredom. It was almost a full minute- Darien surmised the man had checked several security databases and come up with nothing and had already set a dedicated search to said databases. As such Darien happened to be smirking still when the door finally opened.

"Mr. Wilson," he stated as fact, not as a question to be answered.

"You have me at a disadvantage, Mr.?"

Darien took his time to answer, letting the man dressed darkly with white hair draping down his shoulders examine him back. He looked rather disheveled lately, but from what word had reached Darien's ears about the incident over a year ago in which he had effectively come back from the dead, Darien was less than surprised. He watched Mr. Wilson's eyes catch every one of his hidden weapons under his blue dress uniform. But it lacked any military effects, which had to be why Mr. Wilson had used the term Mr., Darien had forgone his full gear in an attempt to try this more peaceably.

"Call me Valson, since we've only just met," he answered at last, "I'm here…" Darien licked his lips while he considered if he wanted to try this delicately, or go straight to the point. "I'm here because I represent- lead, and organization, this organization has an interest in profiling all persons with either abilities beyond human standard, or with vigilante tendencies."

He managed not to smirk as Mr. Wilson's eyes shot up to face his, drawing him away from further examination. "And why would you wish to talk to me about this."

"I understand you've taken to lowering your profile, and are currently caring for a girl with Geokinetic talents, currently suppressed is also my understanding."

"Curious though, what might give you that idea."

"Slade," Darien said at last, "I know you haven't used your alias 'Deathstroke' in some time, but we're aware you, some of your former contacts are already in our database."

"Fine, you know who I am, but the girl is innocent. She's not who you think she is."

"Regardless of who she may have been or not, we are aware of her, she isn't the issue at the moment, your skills and network would be more than valuable to- me," he finished, taking a far more honest approach that he originally planned.

"And just why would it be in my better interest to help you?"

"My organization was formed, albeit discreetly, that can only be indication of a trend, right now my organization only has power to document and database, but put simply- several persons with political power in multiple governments wants to know exactly who can do what and how well. Who knows what they will do with that information."

"You're saying- amongst other things- if I help, I might be a step ahead of whoever created your- organization?"

"Among other things, at least if you come cooperatively."

Slade smirked, "Which leads to the question…"

"…And if you don't," Darien finished. "If you don't, I have methods of coercing you, legally speaking I don't have any authority, but as a self-conscious citizen I'm quite aware of the fact that you have no legal documentation demonstrating guardianship of the young lady- for starters. Like you, I'm inventive."

"I thought this wasn't about the girl."

"True, it isn't, but right now she makes a good crowbar to get to you- not to mention what she may or may not be capable of."

"Speaking more of the now, what do you want from me?"

"I'm planning a trip to Paris, I want you there with me, I'd like some input from you while I'm there- recruiting," he smiled in a way that inferred he probably meant to use similar recruiting tactics on whoever was in Paris as he was using here. Suddenly a realization hit Slade-

"Wait a minute- The Brotherhood of Evil was based there."

"Yes, I believe they made you an offer you had to refuse? But don't worry, I have no intention of recruiting those four, they are best left as they are- in fact I will probably transport them to a safer storage location while we're there."

"And Tessa?"

"Call a sitter, or I can always call in someone if you like?"

"I'll use my own contacts thank you…" Slade scowled. "When do I have to be there?"

"Friday," he handed Slade a packet with airline tickets, "I'll be in the seat next to you," he smirked again as he just walked off.

Slade pulled the door shut and went back downstairs; he checked several computer screens running searches in several national databases. Finally in a couple of the more obscure databases he found and pulled together a small profile- no names, just pictures- and detailed reports. All of them more or less the same, he came in with abilities and varying descriptions and rescued some political figure, stuck around long enough for the police to not arrest him, then left without even telling his name. He put in a search for the name Valson, he didn't know if it was his first name or last- or perhaps even a codename.

After sorting through pages of clearly unrelated results he found one piece of date that looked relevant- and amusing. It was in one of the American government databases-

An application- rejected-

Darien Valson…

Slade couldn't help but chuckle.

That aside he went to the phone and dialed-

"Hello…"

"Of course it is…"

"Good, I need a favor-… Not a lethal one…"

"No this one I can only trust to you, you remember the girl-… NO I'm not asking you to babysit, Tessa is perfectly capable of taking care of herself- I need you to bodyguard- I don't want anybody getting to close while I'm gone- Anybody."

"… I'm glad I can count on you- By the way, have you heard any new organizations databasing supers?"

"…"

"…"

"I'll keep you appraised, I've been- shall we say- tapped."