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Boom shifted uncomfortably on her feet. Her muscles tensed as War Pulse scanned the two speedsters. He was trying to get a read on them, she'd wager. That wouldn't be difficult; at least not for someone of his caliber. Laura wiped the sweat from her brow and tried to stand straighter and appear a bit tougher. The way the merc's eyes moved...the way he observed every motion she and her brother made...It was disconcerting. Like he was staring right into her soul. Laura made note of War Pulse's stance. She'd studied martial arts, particularly American kick boxing, since she was a little girl. And Laura recognized the bent knees and wide movements instantly. This guy knew how to fight; better than the speedsters did, she imagined. But that wouldn't save him, not when he was faced with a four on one situation where everyone (well, almost everyone) involved was on his level. It was the criminal's confidence that gave Boom pause. The way he looked Icon and Thunderbolt and everyone else right in the eye, unflinching, was damn frightening. Laura couldn't imagine standing up to a guy who can hold up a space station and his three allies who were just as intense without the least bit of concern.
The 'Winter Soldier,' as Arthur had code-named the terrorist, paced in front of the heroes. He spoke nonchalantly, as if he was among friends. Again with the confidence. He was manipulating the audience, as any decent speaker does. War Pulse wanted them to believe he was invincible. Untouchable. It was working. Boom questioned herself. Pull it together, girl. He's just acting. The guy's probably sweating bullets. 'Sides, you've got Icon to keep you safe. What's the worst he could do?
Icon and Iron Knight's attempts to appeal to War Pulse's humanity backfired. The mercenary saw right through what they were trying to do and shot the plan down right quick. It wasn't until he questioned the team's motives for even being here that Boom stepped forward and addressed War Pulse herself. "Listen, dickhead." She started, her voice solid and her eyes denoted her staunch will. "Frankly? I don't give a shit about you 'seeing the light.' I just want another big gun and I don't care how we get you on board. But Icon and Knight here? They're genuine. If they say you can be redeemed, then I believe it too." Boom paused before smirking slightly. "I would've paid you, personally. But Iron Knight's a Scrooge." Thunderbolt offered his sister a subtle thumbs up when War Pulse's attention shifted away.
"You don't need to be a Good Samaritan to be a hero." Thunderbolt said. "Not all of use cape and tights types are as perfect as Icon. We don't ask that you are, either. Just as long as you point your guns at the bad guys, you're a hero in my book." The speedster interjected when the mercenary claimed that they had 'pegged him for someone else.'
"I'm fine; really." Boom replied whilst suppressing a giggle, waving off War Pulse's concern. She'd had long enough to rest and would be back to full in a few minutes. The pretty young lady comment hadn't gone over her head but she chose to ignore it. Harvey would have a hissy fit if she flirted with a terrorist/mercenary. Thunderbolt was already giving her the evil eye.
The conversation continued for a couple more minutes. War Pulse was in, if only to get back at the Pax Metahumana freaks for kicking the crap outta him earlier. Iron Knight wasn't done and continued to preach. He droned on for awhile; long enough for Boom to space out a few times. All of it was directed at the mercenary anyway, so there wasn't anything significant she could get out of the conversation. Thunderbolt did his civic duty and absorbed every word that was said, as he always did. He had gotten used to it, what with all of the garbage he puts up with working for the Lost Haven Police Department. A whole lot of talking with nothing getting done.
What Boom did notice, however, was Iron Knight's refusal to shake War Pulse's hand. The heroine's brow furrowed in frustration. Prick. Laura grumbled mentally. Was it really that hard to be diplomatic about things? Sure, Chris disagreed with the guy's reasons for joining them. But what does it matter if his heart isn't in the right place? The merc agreed; it should have been left at that.
Before long Iron Knight led the rest of the team to the side and left War Pulse to chew on what he'd said. Arthur went over the next phase of his master plan. Icon would be splitting off from the rest of the team to go and find another hero, some sort of spider/girl hybrid, and recruit her as well. Meanwhile the main squad would head back to Lost Haven and search the city for the bomb as well as the bad guy's hideout, which he believed would be in different locations. Boom nodded her head in understand of the plan and prepared to head back to the city with her brother. Before she left, Laura turned towards the mercenary. "Hey War?" She called. "You made the right choice. Now let's go kick some ass!" The two speedsters sped away in a cloud of smoke, a trail of blue light behind each of them.