A Harmless Visit (07-05-2022)

## GEO-7, Arthur's Bay, Camelot [07/05/022]

Heralda presses a button near the door at the entrance of GEO-7, and waits for a response. A CACG agent asks through the intercom, “State your name and business.” Heralda responds, “Oh, I’m Heralda Smith, I wanted to visit the Roundtable to check on them.” There is a moment of silence before the door opens up. Heralda walks in with her bodyguard and gets checked at the terminal. They make her walk through a metal detector as well as her company. After the routine security checks, they take her to the recovery room, where the affected Council members were resting at. She slowly walks over to the still unconscious Archangel and looks upon him. The others notice her presence and look over at her. “Uh, hi Ms. Smith,” Malik says with a confused tone. “Any reason why you’re here?” Heralda turns around and says with a smile, “Oh I just wanted to check on you all, see how you’re all doing.” Wizard looks at Witch and then says, “You could’ve just called.” Witch nods in agreement. Herlada chuckles and responds, “Nonsense, it would be disingenuous if I didn’t come check up on my protectors. Dr. King was it? I appreciate you stepping in so fast.” Malik waves off the compliment. Heralda then looks at Archangel again. Void notices and says, “He’s been out ever since the attack. He can’t hear you.” Heralda nods and wonders, “I never would have thought the invincible Director would be in such a state.”

“Yeah well, welcome to the party.”

“He…is alive, correct?”

“Archie wouldn’t die from a simple ice dagger. He’s fine. Just needs a bit more rest.”

Heralda then says under her breath, “What a shame…” Void hears this and asks, “What was that?”

“It’s a shame he’s not able to continue his duties at the moment.”

“Yeah…it is…”

“How about you? I heard your hand got hurt pretty badly.”

“Oh, yeah it’s fine.”

“Really? It seems you have some scarring.”

Heralda looks down at Void’s hand and then back at him. “I thought you were able to regenerate?” Void looks a bit stressed and responds, “Yeah, so this is quite new for me.” Heralda then locks her fingers behind her back and says, “Thank you for protecting me.” Void scoffs, “We were protecting the boss and Malik. Not you.”

“Indirectly then. Either way, I appreciate it.” She puts one of her hands out, with her other one still behind her. Void looks at Heralda and then reluctantly shakes her hand. Heralda jerks her hand back and stumbles onto a chair behind her. Witch perks up and asks, “You good?” Heralda adjusts herself and assures, “I’m fine, thank you. Just felt a bit light-headed. Well, I won’t bother you guys any more. I’ll be heading out. Have a few speeches to make. Heralda turns around and Void notices something on the back of her neck. A strange sigil. It felt familiar to him, yet he couldn’t quite understand what it was. She walks out with a wave and her bodyguard follows suit. “Did anyone else see that?” Void asks. Malik responds, “See what?”

“She had something on her neck.”

“Really? I didn’t notice.”

Wizard asks, “Has she always had it?” Void shakes his head and says, “I never noticed any tattoo on her before, but then again I don't really relish any time spent near her...” Void looks at the door, and then at Archangel, still unconscious. He sighs and sits back.

Heralda enters her limo and takes out a collapsed Quick Switch Staff she’s been holding ever since she escaped Brazil. She puts it in her handbag and holds out her hand. It envelopes itself in A-007 and begins to drip down to the floor of the car. Heralda smiles a bit and then dissipates the substance. She takes out her phone and calls Judas.

“General, there’s something I want you to look at.”