La Casa Azul], home of the La Perdita Head of the Government. A few days ago.
"Mr. Prime Minister, I still don't understand why you have called me. I bore no representative role with Vanguard, beside the fact that there is nothing, as of today, that answer to the name Vanguard. Not a company, nor a no profit non-governative organization. You retired our license, we settled down. Some of the former member of Vanguard are looking for jobs, other for home, some for both. I still wonder what else you can ask us". Edulcore Cicciotto was angry. He felt the spirit of the eagle struggling to free himself from the mental boundaries in which Euro was keeping him. He concentrated, and sedated the eagle again. And smiled at the short, moustached man sitting on the armchair in front of him. Diego Alvarez Miguel Dos Santos. Prime Minister of La Perdita.
The short man raised his arms, his palms opened. "Mr. Cicciotto, you know it's not my... our ... faults. The request came from the United Nation Organization just after the seizing of Manhattan. We know you have no ties with the MBL, and it's just a coincidence your company bore previously the same name... and we grant you and your comrades political asylum on our soil. Still, I need you to hear something about Vanguard..."
"But why me? I don't have any ties anymore with «Vanguard». Like anyone else of his former members!"
"Mr. Cicciotto, your name is the best known among your former comrades. Beside, you have been specifically asked to be meet by some people". A single drop of sweat ran down the Prime Minister cheek.
Euro observed the impact of the drop over the desk, like in slow motion. "Who?" asked dryly.
"Members of the Strikeforce".
One minute later, Euro was accompanied to a different room. The Prime Minister himself opened the door, and without entering, saluted the Italian meta and left. It was all very far from the official protocol.
Inside the room, three people were waiting. One was a tall, muscular young man, with black curly eyes. The second was a man on his early fourties (or maybe younger), blonde, slightly shorter than the first. Both wore very formal black suits. The third was a short female, with a leather black miniskirt, white transparent shirt and black jacket.
"Wrong outfit for the island climate" said Euro, his eyes nothing more than narrow lines.
"The cooling system seems to work fine, Mr. Cicciotto" said the second one. "My name is Augustus Von Brown. My partners here, Miss Ursula Koester and Mr. Brandon Mullarney." He lend a hand toward Euro. The former Raptor looked at it, and stood still.
"Ah, well" said the man, retiring the hand. "we are here on the behalf of the United Nations Organisation and the free people of the world. The Nation of La Perdita has granted you political asylum on the island, hence you, that have been recognized guilty of terrorist acts toward nations member of the UNO, are safe from our police acts. But be warned. You, Edulcore Cicciotto, Grissom Montag, Phil Smith, Brianna Finnoungula, Danny Hearn, Mason Templar and the man known just as Priest are not allowed to leave the island. If one of you will be found outside the boundaries of the country of La Perdita will be captured and condemned, AND we'll be granted permission to enter the island and captured you and your former associates. If any form of resistance will be performed, the island will be invaded by conventional forcers and put under UN jurisdiction."
The younger man stepped toward Euro. His face just inches from Ed's own, he hissed: "Understood, bastard?"
Ed's face hardened. "You are mortally wrong, kid. You all are."
The young man stepped back. "I saw your skull faced friend killing my brother. All the world has."
The other man stood in the way. "As a partial contribution for your damages, we are confiscating your properties. Farewell".
The three people dissolved, leaving just a deep smell of ozone. Teleportation, Gaia tech style, though Euro. He was going to say "There is nothing left of our properties" but the disappearing left the words in his mouths.
A quarter later, seeing the Argo flying away toward north-east, Euro knew he was wrong. Just NOW there was nothing left.
