by TheTimeTrust
Kit Piper's office, MBL Consulting:
"Kit?" called Shirley Francis from the outer office. "Doc Q's on the vid-phone."
"Thanks, Shirley," Kit replied, and then he punched a key on his computer screen. "So how goes it, Doc?" he said into his computer screen, smiling like a cobra.
The face of Dr. Henry Quantos appeared on his screen. "Well, the security systems appear to be in working order. You should be able to test them and possibly put them into use today. Security camera C in the basement, however, keeps shutting down for some reason. I'll put in a notice to your electricians to check for faulty wiring, or a possible problem with the camera itself. Oh, and I've also been shopping around for the best price on a used military hovercra--"
"Yeah, but... how are you doing, man?" Kit interrupted. "We haven't really talked, you know?"
"I'm... I'm doing fine, thanks," replied Quantos.
"Doc... Henry... Hank," Kit said. "Hank... baby... I've been in business long enough to tell when someone's bothered by something. Now tell me, what is it? Is it me? Can I do anything to help you out? Tell me, what?"
"Well..."
"Yeah?"
"Frankly, Mr. Piper--"
"Hank, call me Kit!"
"Only if you call me 'Doc' or 'Dr. Quantos,' Kit..."
"Oookay... now, you were saying, Doc?"
"Frankly... Kit... I do have my concerns about your background. I've been doing some checking into your past, and I've discovered you have a criminal record."
"Oh, that. It's nothing. I got into some trouble while I was a kid in Detroit. A couple of stolen cars. It's completely behind me."
"It says here that you've also been arrested three times for confidence schemes."
"I was young and foolish, Doc! I didn't know anything about the business world back then. I grew up on the streets."
"Well, you have managed to keep out of trouble since then, but... well..."
"Spit it out, Doc. I won't bite your head off."
"Look: I feel partially responsible for the situation these metahumans are in, which is partly the reason I agreed to sign on as the group's scientific adviser. But I hadn't planned on getting into a small business scheme run by -- pardon the expression -- a so-called 'con-man with a heart of gold'..."
"Oh, Doc, there's nothing to worry a--"
"Let me finish. I'd been working for Malvan-X as head of the research department since 1985, and during those years I did a few things that I regret. I'm sorry to say that my desire for scientific knowledge and the company's desire for new areas of exploitation many times superceded both my own ethics and the professional ethical code. Frankly, by the time Malvan-X went bankrupt, I was glad to be out of there, and I was also glad to be in a position to offer my assistance to a struggling band of metahumans in their 'social revolution'...
"But after Ciccioto's death and this new capitalist venture of yours, I have a great deal of concern as to where this is going, concerns about this new direction. My main concern is that you, Kit, are trying to exploit these metahumans' abilities for your own profit. Yes, I am aware that you are basically their employee, since they are the principal shareholders, but it seems to me that this is counterproductive to the original goal of making the world safe for metahumans."
Kit sighed. "Doc, I can understand your concerns. Really I do. But right now, the truth is, these wonderful men and women need something to keep them occupied. They've been on the run since day one, you know? It's only been recently that they've even had a chance to have some downtime. And they're finally getting back on their feet and taking control of their own destiny instead of getting their destiny handed to them. And as far as metahuman rights goes? Man, I'm probably in a better position than you could ever be to understand what 'second citizen' means.
"I grew up as a black man in a country where we had to FIGHT for our civil rights. But along with the fighting we had to get up on our own two feet and make something of ourselves just to show the world we could, that all men really are created equal. You know what I'm saying? This MBL Consulting isn't just some quick, get-rich, money-making scheme, Doc. It's a chance for a group of metahumans to prove their worth, one case at a time. They need to prove their worth to themselves before they can prove it to the world. Most of these guys are just kids, and they don't even know themselves, let alone their powers, all that well yet. Let 'em use this company as a training ground to figure out how they can work together to do good. Otherwise, this whole Hero Revolution thing is dead before it ever starts, and we might as well hang up the towels right now."
Dr. Quantos was silent for a few moments. Finally, he spoke. "I see what you mean... Kit. Maybe you're right."
"Thank you for bringing your concerns to me, Doc. I couldn't do this without you."
"Well, I've got to go. I have another client to conference with. Talk to you later."
"Seeya, Doc. And thanks again!"
"Bye."
Quantos' face disappeared from the screen, and Kit Piper sat back in his chair and lit a cigar. "Baby," he said, grinning, "I still got it."