Documenting Details

  “Why the hell didn’t we stop him from leaving? Marquis Marauder is a criminal, Dad!”

  “You’re right, kiddo, but today we had a chance to lose thousands, maybe millions of people to that beast’s attack, and he helped us drive it off. Trying to arrest him after that might mean he’d hesitate to help in the future, or some other villain who still has their soul might.”

  “Is this one of those rules you talk about, dad?”

  “Rule five, honey. No man is my enemy, when he helps protect the innocent.”

  Empire Girl and Empire Statesman, after the Mutant Megalodon attack on New York City, 1998.

  "More like making sure she didn't knock idiot Soviet pilots out of the air and start the war all over again." He grumbled. "But yes. I've felt shame at my nation, but I felt pride at what I saw American, British, and yes German people do in that year and more. It’s also when I decided to leave. I knew that eventually I'd strike out at the Soviets and their so-called "East German" government if I didn't distance myself, and I gladly took a large number of people who wanted out of Soviet hands in the process."

  Kitsune laughed. “Between you, Germinatrix, and General Winter there wasn’t much to stop you from leading people out of Germany to the Atlantean isles like a strange violent Moses.”

  "Yes, I sent Nereid several libraries worth of books to get one of the islands to populate."

  “For our viewers who aren’t familiar with the Atlantean islands, Ake Embla the smallest of the three main islands of the archipelago, about one thousand square miles total.

  Killian nodded. “And had nothing meaningful on it, aside from a small human population struggling with the pygmy Tyrannosaur population. Fortunately, there were valuable resources to trade and use. Besides we left with quite a bit that the Soviets had thought to steal from Germany, but I will not be apologizing to Stalin’s ghost about what I may or may not have liberated from my homelands stockpiles."

  "It did also give Nereid an ally against Orichal, the second largest of the three, and its warlords. Sadly, Ask Embla and Atlantea never managed to crush them sufficiently before they achieved a level of industrialization. But that's my opinion.” He sighed. “Still, it was hard to disagree with the idiots in the Nazi Party stance on German Nationalism in the broad strokes, considering the predatory nature of our neighbors after World War I, and World War II saw the Soviets planning to do the same."

  “Ignoring blaming the Jewish people for everything.” Bill said from behind the camera.

  “Ignoring that particular and spectacular stupidity, yes.”

  “The treaty of Versailles was a joke.” Solaris mused. “Fortunately, one the world seems to have learned from considering the resources put into the German and Japanese reconstructions.”

  "Yes, humanity might have learned a lesson or two for a change." The German rolled his eyes. “Though it seems eternally able to forget others, as it sees fit.”

  "You are old and cynical, my friend." Kitsune said with a laugh. "But then, so am I. At least Elizabeth still has a bit of optimism. Still, you were there for Berlin and I stood witness at Nagasaki."

  "Ronin." He nodded. "Damned fool. Brave Damned Fool."

  "Some of our listeners might not remember Nagasaki was the target for the second Atomic Bomb strike at the end of World War Two, or that Ronin, one of the Enhanced warriors on the Japanese side, managed to intercept the bomb well above its intended detonation point, at the cost of his own life." James added.

  "Estimates for how many people he saved are varied, but only a few hundred people were killed by the Nagasaki bomb, but it cost us my good friend, a friend I took there in hopes of stopping a second tiny sun burning my homeland. I regret taking him and am glad the Emperor saw sense. Fools in the army seemed to think we had several spare Ronin lying about instead of only the one man who had died."

  Solaris bowed her head in respect for the dead. “He was a hero. A hero in the truest sense and I am sad we never got to meet under better terms. I knew nothing about the nuclear program. The American government made sure to keep even a whisper of it from my team.” She reached out and squeezed Kitsune’s hand.

  "The only people the American’s screwed that up with were the damn Soviets. But then Stalin always had the best spies." Killian grumbled.

  "And in the US's defense, they haven't used them since then, ignoring the Kaiju Swarm crisis and even Japan accepted that it was deep enough in the pacific, and far from any land, to be worth the risk." Kitsune added.

  "The Kaiju Swarm, caused by a maniac splicer, was an occasion where three dozen Kaiju all turned up in a group." Jessie explained. "He was killed in a joint US and Soviet, as this occurred in 1985, air strike involving an undisclosed number of nuclear bombs.” James said.

  "Ironically, they didn't kill many Kaiju, but the Splicer, who called himself Goliath Lord, was well and truly vaporized." Killian replied. “A true crying shame.”

  “Lord. I know there are splicers on the side of the angels, but black cape splicers are the worst. How long were we cleaning up after bloody Mengele?” Solaris groaned, rolling her eyes.

  "We're still cleaning up after that idiot. And his clones. Not the one that runs a coffee shop, the rest of them." Kitsune muttered.

  “And we aren’t talking about the Monkey.” Kriegsmarine said his voice pained, Solaris and Kitsune nodding in agreement.

  "I admit, I suspect half the rogue splicers in the world spend at least some time training with one of his clones or using his research notes. They all start sounding the same after a while. Perfection through modification, godliness through genetic superiority." James added, now really wanting to ask about this monkey.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Jessie shared her partner's pain but bit back the question. "At least the pro-social slicers do nice and lovely things like cure illnesses and help the injured. And occasionally create weird, theme creatures but then all splicers must be a little nuts."

  “I can’t really argue that.” Solaris said with a chuckle. “I fought a splicer snake down in Florida recently, I found its nest and hired a Wrangler to set up an egg incubator for me. He is going to swing by every couple months to check on them.”

  "Of course you kept them. I noticed a tank with several eggs and heating lamps in your hall." Kitsune chuckled. "You always had a weakness for the truly odd."

  “Well, the parent was beautiful. An almost pearlescent white snake, I have a purse and shoes being made from the hide.

  "And there, ladies and gentlemen, is the turn of the century Britania in a nutshell." Killian laughed.

  "At least her generation had gumption. Now their police are afraid of kitchen knives in the hands of goons." Kitsune snarked

  "Japan's about as restrictive." Killion countered

  "Yeah, but our guns and police learn to fight. I have no idea what these modern 'bobbies' are doing."

  “I admit being a bit perplexed by some of the modern views on weapons.” Solaris said looked over at Killian “You would have skinned it too, there is no sense in wasting a three-hundred square foot hide. Especially an acid resistant one.”

  "Well, I admit, you present a valid point. Sheer utility alone would demand its use." He chuckled. "And I would like a new coat. Have you confirmed they're going to hatch similar leviathans?"

  “No idea. They could be regular snakes, but odds are they are slicer beasts, the wrangler said they are developing very slowly, so it will probably be a year or more till they hatch.”

  “So, one may hatch white we are here. I'll need another beer to prepare, if you don't mind young Anzy." Kreigsmarine joked.

  “Not at all,” she pulled out another beer handing to the German.

  “Do you want one Kitsune? When they hatch, I mean. I know Killian here hates snakes.”

  "Perhaps, at least once we know if it's a threat to the entire community or not." The Asian woman chuckled. "Even then, it could be entertaining to send the young toughs amongst the younger students to deal with it, just to teach humility."

  Killian took a large swig of beer. "Meanwhile, I'll agree with Doctor Jones on two issues, Nazi's are a pain in the ass, and snakes suck."

  “I got that reference!” Solaris laughed. "I'll let you know when they hatch then,” she winked at Killian. “And if you want a new coat, I took the hide to Phantastique’s place, I'm sure you have the number.”

  "I will have to reach out. I do need a new coat." He nodded. "Though I was halfway through determining how to raid your house. Stealing my fun."

  Kitsune rolled her eyes. "I swear, it’s always like this with these two. I think it's because he reminds her of her brother."

  "It's partially that, partially we were raised very similarly." Killian nodded. "Though Katja I think, always had a crush on her." He teased.

  "Katja?" one of the podcasters asked.

  "Katja Winkler Von Halidaye, otherwise known as Germinatrix." He explained. "Solaris was the only one she actually really feared, and Katja is an unusual woman on many levels."

  "My brother was far more destructive than Killian.: Solaris said a bit sad that Hugh was currently dead. “And Katja, she always felt so young to me, she was just a baby thrown to the battlefield, parroting a madman’s ideals.”

  "Oh yes and ironically was given the 'weakest' serum. And we all know how that worked out. Seems the serum had less to do than native potential. We're still trying to figure out how things worked, since attempts to duplicate these things are at best hit or miss, and usually miss ugly."

  “My understanding is that the original formula, the one used to create you, me Katja and Hugh, was never really duplicated." Solaris said switching her tea out for wine.

  "Attempts were made in the intervening years. That's ignoring people who tried processing one of our bloods, or the like. One group seemed to have succeeded but then couldn't duplicate the results. Some other loon released an aerosolized formula, a corruption from what few notes he could find, that caused low powered enhancements and mutates. Rumor has it one of the Mengele’s has an effective enhancement formula, possibly more than one, but tracking which one is challenging."

  Kitsune nodded. "That's ignoring the enhancement techniques others have tried, and environmental results. There's some theories that even suggest enhanced population density can increase the chances of spontaneous enhancement."

  “And there’s even a few botanical’s and ‘natural remedies’ that are claimed to work, usually complete rubbish or worse.”

  “It does seem that the more of us that are in an area the more of us gravitate to an area.” Solaris said, “But it means that more services are available too. I got my first real haircut since my enhancement, and it was divine!”

  “Artificial sapphire, right? Some powered females petitioned for a Nobel prize for that. Didn’t win.” Jessie chuckled.

  "Fools, keeping a lady happy is part of the path to peace." Solaris laughed.

  "Perhaps they weren't sure if it should be peace or a science prize." Killian chuckled. "On this front it was easier for men. For short hair we could use more energetic methods. It required a shower after and wasn't the best smelling due to lasers and burning hair, but it got the job done if you didn’t mind high and tight."

  "From my perspective the future has been lovely." She chuckled. “Though I’ve found myself purchasing aircraft to avoid commercial flights.”

  “Multiple aircraft? I should have expected it.” Killian chuckled.

  “Why would you expect it?” James asked.

  "Lady Summers here is constitutionally incapable of not building organizations. You obviously know about the Guardians, and St Nicks, but lesser known is the workgroup she led in the UN before disappearing. This group joined with another project into UNLOC when it became obvious a multinational organization was more than needed."

  “Isn’t there a company of the Airborne that identify as the Sun’s Foot Soldiers because of the work you did with them, developing those boots during the war?” Kitsune mused aloud.

  Solaris blushed. "Well, it's more for business ventures and such right now. We are getting everything together to restore my family home in England. And I believe Elenore is looking at expanding our influencer support business. My first little garage has been getting terribly busy.

  "And I also heard you're going to be opening a restaurant soon." Jessie asked. “You didn't take long knocking the last of the ice off, so to speak."

  Solaris shrugged. “The property I purchased to turn into an Enhanced Gym came with a little restaurant, and one of my staff is a chef, so it only makes sense to let her use that space. Another small front that came with it is going to be a gallery run by another staff member."

  "Well, I run a country, so I still have a bigger office." Killian joked.

  Kitsune yawned dramatically. "I've been in your office. It's not that big."

  "It’s, wait, when were you in my office?"

  Solaris chuckled. looking at Jessie and James. "And that sums up the three of us right there."

  "Well, on that note of paranoia, that's it for this week’s Capewatch podcast. I hope it was as astounding for our listeners as it was for us! Thank you again Solaris, Kreigsmarine, and Kitsune. And also, thanks to our episode advertiser, Polar VPN."

  Solaris smiled at the podcasters. "I hope that was good for you, it was a bit of an odd interview."

  "Not really. Podcast formats are a little less predictable than interview shows you might have done in the past.”

  "Most of the podcasts I’ve watched were more like documentaries. So, I wasn't sure. She looked at the other two "That was fun. It's been forever since we all got a chance to chat."

  "Indeed." Kitsune said. "And the evening is not over yet, but we can talk more once the young ones have left. I have another topic to discuss with you both."

  The podcasters smiled taking the hint. "We are going to head to the hotel and start reviewing the footage. Thank you all for this. It's going to be amazing."