CANCELLED

Chaz read the e-mail from Agent Justin of BADGE repeatedly.

        Your request for an interview with Director Nova is denied at this time.
              Agent J

Every time Chaz read over the message, he understood the reason for it less and less. What? Everything was on track for us to talk after North Onnatangu. I bet Krystal must have nixed it on me. That Fae bitch!

Slamming his palms on the top of his desk, Chaz instantly felt the eyes of the entire floor of reporters sweep over to him. "Sorry. Mosquitoes. It was a big one."

He needed to find out what happened. When he came back from the battle with Skelanimal in North Onnatangu bragged to his Editor-in-Chief that he could come through with a one-on-one interview with the ever reticent and enigmatic Director Nova. There wasn't a morning meeting where his boss didn't give him the "did you get it yet?" look across the table.

If I can't make good on my word, I'll be passed over for stories left and right.He thought hard on what he may have done to upset BADGE and its leader. Nothing recent came to mind. He could potentially have been accused with not reporting a threat to the BADGE space station immediately as he learned of it, but that was over a month ago. The situation did come to light early enough for no harm or damage to be done.

Since coming back from the fight with Krampus's compatriot, it had been a slow news cycle. He hadn't done much cape related. What could the cancellation be a result of?

If nothing else, a good reporter had sources. "Director Nova, you're not getting off the hook that easily. This interview is going to happen, whether you like it or not!"

Chaz walked into a small pub outside of BADGE headquarters, surveying the booths and tables for his target. The place is ornate with brass fixtures and polished wood tables. The air is filled with mouthwatering aromas, a mixture of bar-b-q and baking bread fighting for dominance.

He whispers a barely audible message. "Are you here?"

A head poked out from behind one of the high-backed booths where a waitress stood taking an order. Alan Marcus waved Chaz over to join him.

Nodding in acknowledgement, Chaz moved over to join the Star Force league member. By the time he wormed through the lunch crowd milling about the bar, the server and Alan were deep in conversation.

"I'm doing fine," Chaz said. He smiled politely at the young blond server.

"It's so good to hear you say that. I don't know what I would do if I ever lost my parents like that." The server loomed over Alan and tapped at her order entry tablet. "I've seen you on the television ever since I was a little girl. You're only a year older than me, you know."

"Hi," Chaz interjected. The rosy color to her cheeks and the slow swaying from side to side at the waist brought a smile to his face. Less for her obvious signals to his new friend but for Alan's clear failure to recognize her interest. Chaz snuck in beside her and sidled into the opposite side of the booth, peeking at her name tag as he slid past. "Charity. I hope I'm not interrupting."

"Yeah. Hi." Keeping eye contact with Alan, the server gave Chaz a brief flutter of a wave hello. "Working at BADGE has got to be so interesting. What's it like working with Director Nova and all those heroes? Is Krystal Fae as nice as she seems on TV? I read all of her articles."

Chaz rolled his eyes.

"She is," Alan Marcus, or Catalyst as he was known with BADGE and the Star Force, said. "Smart too."

"I've thought about going red like her." Charity twirled a lock of her own blond hair. "How do you think I'd look, Mr. Marcus?"

Alan tilted his head as she flopped her hair about for him playfully. "No. I think very nice as you are."

Charity giggled and ran her hand along the top of Alan's shoulder. "Aren't you sweet. Oh, and you have muscles, too. What's a girl to do with a handsome man like you?"

"She could bring me a menu," Chaz muttered loudly enough for her to hear.

The stare she gave Chaz after turning toward him said everything.

"Please." Chaz gave her his most disarming smile. "I don't have much time for dinner before I have to get back to the Sentinel myself. And Alan and I have a lot to talk about."

"Whatever." She gave Alan a doe-eyed smile and walked away from the table. "I'll be right back, hun."

Chaz made a swooning face at her back as she departed. "She wanted you bad there, bro."

"No," Alan said. "She nice waitress. That all." He broke into a broad smile of his own. "You owe me twenty. I heard you."

"Yeah, yeah." Chaz nodded. He had made a bet with Alan, stating Alan couldn't hear Chaz whisper from across a crowded restaurant. The prosthetic hearing device the BADGE agent used was far more sensitive than Chaz imagined. "How about I just pay for dinner?"

Alan nodded happily. "Why you call me for meeting? What can I help with?"

"I need some information about Director Nova." Chaz explained his plight. "Do you have any idea why I'm on the outs with him?"