Weasel's Strip Club, northern Wisconsin
Kristogar Velo walks in, and sees his acquaintance sitting alone at a table in the back of the club. Casually he walks over, sits down, and shakes his head. "Very classy, Ron..."

"Hey," Ron replies, "what's so bad? No one will expect anything this important going down here, plus we have a little fun...they did have fun where you come from, right?"

"Don't patronize me. You got what I want?"

"Yeah, I got it. Have I ever let you down?" Ron handed a gigantic pile of folders to Kristogar.

"You mean other than those three incidents in August this year?" Kristogar browsed through the contents.

"How is your knee, anyway?"

"Well, I need deep-tissue massages six nights a week that are utterly excruciating, but otherwise it's great. Jeez, can you be more descriptive about these people?"

"What do you expect? You say 'I want all information down to the tiniest detail of every possible metahuman in existence today', I deliver."

"Any of them know you?"

"Not a one. But one did know you."

Kristogar looked up. "What?"

"A Brit named Nowhereman. I don't recall who he was talking to, but he said something about you two making a guest appearance on a talk show once. Listen, I know your business ain't my business, but I question your choice of who to trust in this matter."

"I don't know any Nowhereman."

"Seriously, the guy's nuts. He ain't healthy."

"Listen," Kristogar was more than a little flabbergasted, "I don't know what you're talking about, but..." He stopped himself before he got too wound up. "Whatever. Thanks for the info." He got up to leave, but Ron stopped him.

"What will you do with it? Y'know, the information?" Ron asked.

"Well, nothing at the moment. But if any of them try to start an alliance, I'll be a founding member."

"You're kidding me. How the hell would you join a group of metahumans? That lame ass costume you got? That might've worked for the little blue people but it won't impress jack shit here."

"We'll see..." Kristogar trailed off. "You know, you should join their community, too. What was it that we used to call you? Tick--"

"Speck."

"Yeah. Well, I'm off. Give the school teacher my regards," Velo referred to one of the strippers. As he was walking out the door, Ron called out one last thing to him.

"I got it! You could tell them that your big ass knee brace has special powers!" Kristogar responded with a very traditional gesture.