"As you know, Merlin was very cautious when it came to keeping an eye on Vanguard," Graviton said, as a manner of introduction, standing next to the giant screen of the Strikeforce's uber-computer and in front of a group of inner-circle Strikeforces, Hero and ACK among them. "Though he placed undercover agents in both La Perdita and Munich, he never allowed any of us to access the continuous stream of information they fed -and continue to feed- our computer... Now we know why. Vanguard aren't the bad guys... Merlin is."

"Was," Hero corrected. "I just briefed everyone on what we found on Merlin's secret files, Graviton, there's no need to repeat it. Also, I don't see what this has to do with the reason we're in this room..."

"Yes, yes, the information about the murder," Graviton said, "we'll get to that. Be patient, Brandon." Graviton started walking around the room, like a teacher in front of his class. "These agents in Vanguard's enviroment report on anything they do -- what kind of movies they watch, what kind of food they eat, what kind of people they see... and, of course, what cases they work on." Graviton smiled.

"I have little patience today, Doctor," Hero interrupted once again. "Could you please get to the point once and for all?!"

Graviton shook his head and sighed, then continued to walk. "When I fed the computer the information about Merlin's murder to see if killings with any similarities had happened around the world recently, it returned two restricted reference files, which required Merlin's password to be accessed. Lucky for us, Merlin didn't seem to have much of a memory; I was able to find a sheet with every one of his passwords written down in his desk. Using the password I was able to open the files... and I realized they were the latest reports on Vanguard's activities. Both Vanguards."

"WHOA!" Brian Dead yelled. The rest of the 'classroom' looked at him. "...sorry..."

"So, both Vanguards are investigating murders similar to Merlin's?" Freak asked.

"Exactly," Graviton replied, "though it isn't precisely the way the people were murdered what connects the three cases, or even the identities of the killed, as one would think... it's something much more simple, actually." Graviton pressed a button in the computer.



"They found the same symbol in both murder scenes?" Freak asked. "So it was a signature..."

"Well, not the same symbols," Graviton explained, "but similar ones in similar pieces of paper. We know that the one in La Perdita showed a symbol resembling a lightning bolt and the one in Munich is apparently a Q... but our agents weren't able to photograph the evidence without arousing suspicions, so that's all we know. Uh, yes, Brian?"

Brian Dead put his hand down. "So, well, if the Vanguard guys aren't really baddies... then why don't we just phone and ask 'em what's in the papers?"

"Ridiculous," Hero said.

"Actually, that's not such a bad idea..." ACK added. "We would find the killer faster if we compared notes and--"

"You shut up, traitor!" Brain snapped. "What's this guy doin' here, anyway? Shouldn't we fire him for, you know, bein' a fuckin' spy and all???"

ACK looked at Hero, who simply made a quiet sigh.

"Actually, Brian," Hero said, "as I said to the rest of the team before you got here... late... ACK wasn't spying on us under Merlin's orders... but spying on Merlin on my orders. We put up the act of exposing everything earlier today because we knew Merlin was watching, and it was all part of our plan to expose him."

"So..." Brian said, absorbing what Hero had just said, "...you trust this guy?"

Hero looked at ACK. "With my life," he lied.

Graviton coughed. "Back to the subject at hand... I think ACK and Brian have a point, Brandon. I have been reading the reports from the agents, and I must say both Vanguard teams are impressive. If anything, we should be worrying about whether they trust us..."

Hero still felt resentment against Vanguard for having killed his brother... but he had to do the right thing. He chose to put his feelings aside and do what's best for the team. "All right," he said. "Let's contact them."

"There's also the small matter of Vanguard being banned by the UN..." Freak said. "Anyone remember that?"

"Why's that even a problem?" Brian asked. "Why don't we just tell the UN what we found out about Merlin and VI and..."

"No," Hero interrupted. "The time isn't right to inform the UN about that."

"Then how are we gonna work with Vanguard then???" Brian asked.

"Well, if I may," Graviton said, "I have an idea that might just work..."