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Bit of fiction I wrote in 2014 about a "new character", Beatriz da Fontaine. I never hoped she would end up here. The parts between "<>" are translated from the Portuguese. Paragon City's City Hall, Meta-human Registration Office - Last Monday Beatriz Anna Valentina Allegra da Fontaine was chewing on her pen, trying to figure out this miserável form in front of her. "Please describe as best you can any meta-human or para-normal abilities you may possess:" "I am quite strong, and I can't really be hurt, and I can make blades with my mind." She bit her lips, closed her eyes a moment, and added. "And I can make people forget I'm there." Rodrigo Maldonado da Fontaine's family farm, on the outskirts of São Paulo, Brazil - 3 years ago "<Fernanda, have you seen Beatriz?>" "<No, Sehnor Rodrigo, not since breakfast.>" "Papa? <I'm right here...>" "<Where is she? I had asked her to help with the newborn calves this morning, and she's nowhere to be found!>" "<I don't wanna.. I don't feel too good... Daddy? can you hear me?>" "<BEATRIZ! WHERE ARE YOU!>" "<I'M RIGHT HERE, DADDY! CAN'T YOU SEE ME? CAN'T YOU HEAR ME? I'M.. right.. he...>" "<What was that... OH MY GOD! BEATRIZ! Fernanda, call the doctor, quick!>" "... Sim, Sehnor Rodrigo!" --- "<The doctor says you'll be fine, Angel. You just need to rest for a few days.>" "<But Daddy! I could see you, hear you, but you did not see me! I was right there...>" "<Shhhh... I know, and I'm sorry if I frightened you... but everything's going to be OK now.>" "... sim, Papa..." "<Daddy needs to go to work now. Go to sleep, I will see you later.>" "<NOOO! NO, DON'T LEAVE ME! IF YOU GO I WILL DISAPPEAR AGAIN!!>" "Shhhh... shhhhh.. meu pequeno anjo... <as long as I have you in my heart you will never disappear.. and I will have you in my heart, always...>" "... sim, Papa..." "<I can stay a little longer until you're asleep.>" "... obrigado, Papa..." Rio de Janeiro, Ipanema Beach - Last March The young woman was staring at the sea when she heard being called out. "<Hello, Yenny!>" She turned and smiled at her newfound friend who had just reached her. "<Hello Bea. Have you thought about what I told you yesterday?>" "<... well... I have to help Daddy with the new calves, and I have school... and...>" "<It's OK, Bea. You do what you feel is right. When the times come, you'll know.>" "... Ah... Sim." The young woman smiled at her. "Vamos à praia?" "Okay!" Rodrigo Maldonado da Fontaine's family farm, on the outskirts of São Paulo, Brazil - Last May "Anjo..." "Sim, Papa?" "<I have to go on an extended business trip, and I don't want you to stay alone on the farm. This is your sixteenth birthday present, Angel: where would you like to go? Ibiza? La Concha? Praia da Rocha Baixinha ?>" "Paragon City, Papa!" "<Paragon... that girl you hung out with during spring break was from there, yes?>" "Sim, Papa!" "<Hummm... Okay. Anything for you, Angel.>" Paragon City's City Hall, Meta-human Registration Office - Last Monday "Indicate someone to contact in case of emergency:" She started to write "Rodrigo da Fo...", stopped, crossed it out and wrote instead: "Jenny Herder, c/o Victoria Landsfeld Foundation".

Beatriz da Fontaine & Jenny Herder Kallisti Wharf Bea and the rescued heroine, Electrixie, arrived in Kallisti Wharf safe and sound. While Bea was escorting her to be admitted at Kallisti Medical Center, Jenny made sure Agent Smith of the FBSA would set up a guard detail. Later that evening, Bea told Jenny how the rescue mission went... --- "<I wish she had come with us...>" [*}, Bea sighed "<Who?>" "<... Miso-sa-zai.>" The name sounded musical in Bea's mouth. "Misosazai. <Wren.>" "Que?" "<The name means 'Wren', a sort of bird, in Japanese. You say she told you her parents were from Argentina?>" "Sim. 'La Plata", <I believe she said.>" "<And she declined coming back to Paragon City with you?>" "Sim. <She said she had important things to do, but I think she is still looking for the heroes.>" Bea had that look in her eyes, the one that earned her the nickname 'Saint Bea of the Lost Causes' at her old high school in Sao Paulo. "Por favor, Yenny. <She could not be much older than I was when I came to Paragonn, and she seemed so lost, and alone...>" Jenny smiled at her friend (or as much of a smile as her holographic emitters allowed) and put her hand on her shoulder. "<I will see what I can do>". Her eyes were already flashing, interrogating databases, and collating information.

Beatriz da Fontaine & Jenny Herder Kallisti Wharf, offices of the Victoria Landsfeld Foundation "<I have contacted Doctor Brayne at HenchCo and asked him to assemble another team. Only this time you will be in charge.>" [*] "Sim." "<Do you want me to procure you another sui...>" "NAO! <I mean.. no, thank you.>" "<As you wish. But your usual costume might be too noticeable, and might attract unwanted attention.>" Bea shrugs. "<If I cannot wear my> 'traje de herói'... <I'll wear this>". She picked at the off-the-rack shirt and jeans she was wearing. Jenny nodded. "<My contact at the Longbow base in Nerva will again be your extraction point. HenchCo will assure your safe passage from the mission's location to the base.>" Bea blushed as she remembered the reaction of the Longbow officer the last time they met. "... sim..." "<Bea, I cannot thank you enough for what you are doing.>" Bea shrugged again, with a smile. "Nós somos heróis. Salvar vidas é o que fazemos." [*] translated from Portuguese

Beatriz da Fontaine & Jenny Herder After Gravidian's "rescue" "<You are saying you removed your suit and left it there?>" [*] Jenny's expression was neutral, but her tone showed some curiosity. "SIM! <That thing was so itchy!>" Bea almost started scratching herself at the mere mention of the non-descript black catsuit she wore on her mission to the Isles. "<I see. The garment was specifically made not to be traceable, so it is not a concern. But that means you had no clothes on when you arrived at...>" "ISSO NÃO É IMPORTANTE!!!" Bea cut her off, blushing. "<But this is...>" She told Jenny everything she learned during that mission and everything she noticed about her provisional teammates. "<The person in charge was this> Doctor Brayne?" Jenny's eyes were flashing rapidly. As she gathered all publicly available information on the good Doctor and on HenchCo, her eyes grew colder. "Sim." "<Thank you, Bea. I'm afraid I will have to ask for your help once more - there are still abducted heroes in need of rescuing, and I believe you are their best hope.>" "<I will do my best, my friend.>" [*] translated from Portuguese.

Talos Island Capitaine Comète Madeleine was standing still. Or more precisely floating still, a thousand feet above Talos Island's train station. Doing so helped her focus while her skinsuit was processing the photographs Madeleine saw earlier. "Yes, yes, I concur", she muttered to herself. "There is a 95 percent probability these images originated from the location designated 'Rogue Isles'." "Now... how does one go to those 'Rogue Isles' ?" Kallisti Wharf Capitaine Comète & Jenny Herder "Absolutely not." The face of Jenny Herder, founder and CEO of the Victoria Landsfeld Foundation, was impassive as always, but her tone was firm. "You are too inexperienced with this world and its dangers. And you would, to use the vernacular, 'stand out like a sore thumb' against the overall dreariness of the Isles." Madeleine, standing at attention before her, tried to interject: "But, Mademoiselle Heurdeur, those heroes need us!" "They need us, but you will not go. I will take care of this." "... Understood, ma'am." Talos Island Beatriz da Fontaine & Jenny Herder "This is a big favor I am asking of you, Bea." Jenny and the petite redheaded woman were sitting in a discrete booth at Lee Ho Fook's, a popular Chinese eatery in Talos. Jenny was both happy and concerned to see her friend again. "You will be alone, in hostile territory. Your abilities make you innately suited for this task, but I still..." Beatriz da Fontaine shook her head and patted her friend's hand. "Pensar nada disso, minha amiga. If those people require a rescue, I am willing to do my part." "Besides", she added with a grin, "I have heard the club scene in Santo Martial is simply espetacular!" St. Martial, the Golden Giza Beatriz Anna Valentina Allegra da Fontaine put on her most dazzling smile as she shows her invitation to the maitre d'. "Ah, Miss Da Silva", he said, using the name written on the impeccably-forged documents she was carrying, "welcome to the Golden Giza! I hope your stay will be to your liking." "Sim, obrigado!" answered Bea in the most bubbly-headed voice she can muster. "I hope so too..."