The Canadian Shield Web Site v4.0
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DogyDawg Productions
Site Design: windchill@sympatico.ca
Origin Of The Canadian Shield*
Trouble is brewing in Paragon City. The buildup of Supervillians and Terrorists has been noted by many of the Governments of the more powerful countries. Canada has dispatched a few CSIS (Canadian Security and Intelligence Service) agents to keep tabs on the situation but can’t send any overt aid without offending the US government. Those agents the CSIS already has in Paragon don’t have the training, manpower, or equipment to deal with super powered terrorists and criminals.
Thus CSIS has approached Mirage, a noted Canadian superhero, patriot, and ex-CSIS agent. Mirage is to gather a taskforce of Canadian superheroes and move to Paragon City to keep track of the situation and attempt to foil any plots and supervillians they do uncover. In return, CSIS will take up Mirage’s investigation of Crey Industries. The Canadian Government will also offer Mirage political protection should he ever be captured by the American Government.
He and his taskforce are not in any way affiliated with the Canadian Government, nor will they receive aid from them. The only contact with the Government or CSIS will be periodic reports on the Taskforce’s actions and the events going on in Paragon, disguised as newsletters and briefings internal to the task force.
It is dark out. To Matthew Westbrook, the man known as Mirage, darkness has become a strange idea. With his powers over light Mirage is able to see even in the darkest places without any source of illumination. He knows these places are dark yet he can see perfectly. When his powers first came to the surface this ability to know it is dark and yet be able to see in it was quite unnerving, but he has grown used to this along with many other strange things in his strange life. Mirage lies on a cot in a dingy hotel near the center of Vancouver. Ever since the Crey labs incident and the surfacing of his powers he has had trouble sleeping. Often in his dreams he sees a shadowy figure standing over his bed, a metallic instrument of pain in hand and a hazy face utterly devoid of compassion.
The cheap tan rotary phone beside the bed rings and instantly Mirage jumps to his feet. Who could it be? He hadn’t told anyone where he was living and did all of his communication through the anonymity of the web. With calm precision gained in his years with the Canadian secret service Mirage hooks his still running laptop into the line and prepares a trace program. Then he turns on a white noise generator to counteract any bugs or the new vibration listening devices that can be used by shining a low intensity laser on a hard surface such as a window pain. Only then does Mirage lift the receiver and put it to his ear.
“Hello?”
A rough voice comes over the line. “Hello Matthew. We need to talk.”
It is Roland McLean. Roland was Matthew’s department head during his years with the CSIS. Matthew had always liked Roland. Roland had ways been aloof and efficient. When the situation had called for it Roland had even been ruthless. But he had never been cold and honestly cared for each and every member of his department. He’d tried to talk Matthew out of leaving the CSIS permanently but had understood when Matthew had insisted.
“Roland. It’s been a while.”
“Yes it has Matthew. It has… Would you be willing to meet with me tomorrow? Like I said we need to talk.”
“Is this about me working for the Security Service again? If so you know I’m not interested.”
“I won’t lie to you Mat but it’s hard to explain over the phone. Would you please meet me and hear me out before refusing?”
“Ok Roland. Where do you want to meet?”
“There’s this great restaurant downtown on Hobson and 7th East called Sparanese’s. Best pesto linguini I’ve ever had. About noon sound good?”
Mirage smiled. He was always amazed how Roland stayed so fit despite his age and eating habits.
“Sure Roland see you then.”
* Click *
Matthew Westbrook (also known as Mirage) cursed himself as he walked down the street. Just a few weeks into his investigation into Crey Industries and already he was getting sidetracked! The city swept by as he strode down the street deep in his own musings and anxieties.
When he reached the restaurant, Roland was sitting in a corner table reading a newspaper. Mirage’s trained eyes spotted the CSIS agents that discreetly occupied all the tables within easy earshot of Roland’s space. Some he even recognized as former co-workers, but refrained from showing any recognition. Roland smiled warmly as Mirage sat in the seat opposite him.
“Matthew It’s good to see you again. You look much better than when I last saw you.”
Mirage nodded as he picked up a menu and began reading.
“I’m sure you’re curious as to why I’m so desperate to see you but why don’t we save that until after we eat.”
“Sure so long as you are paying.” Especially at these prices, Mirage thought.
The lunch was delicious. Too often now Mirage forgot to eat or simply did not have the time. He and Roland chatted about small stuff going on around the world, staying away from talk about the past.
“Well Matthew I guess I’d better tell you why I tracked you down. Or perhaps I should say why I tracked Mirage down.”
“I’m sure you have heard about what is happening in Paragon City. Pretty much everyone has.”
Mirage nodded.
“Well the situation is worse than the media has let on. Paragon has become a gathering place of Super-powered criminals and terrorists. Normal criminals and terrorists are bad enough but the American Government can handle them for the most part. Against Super-powered individuals normal Police and even military measures are relatively ineffectual. Nothing even remotely like this has ever happened before. The US has deployed what Super-powered and high tech resources it has but it’s a bucket of water on a house fire. They’re moving quickly to acquire more resources but it’s not like you can just whistle up a man who can lift cars and walk through a hail of gunfire. If the situation is not contained and dealt with in Paragon it could spread throughout the US and Canada. We can’t send overt help without making the US look weak. I don’t need to tell you what kind of a mess that could make. Sometimes politics makes me sick!”
Mirage nodded, he’d had that exact thought more than once.
“I can see where you are going with this Roland. If you’ve gone through the trouble of tracking me down then you have to know about my investigation into Crey Industries. Those bastards tortured me and used me as a human guinepig. And the government I work for can’t bring them to justice because big brother doesn’t want us investigating one of their weapons manufacturers. I’m not going to just let that go.”
“I know Matt. I know. But things have changed. The situation in Paragon has taken a higher priority with the US government than the anonymity of one of their weapons manufacturers. The CSIS isn’t geared towards that kind of operation Paragon City requires, we’re an information-gathering department. If we moved the kind of manpower and equipment we would need to paragon it would be impossible to keep things discreet.
I suggest we trade jobs. The CSIS can investigate Crey industries better, and faster than you can with your small team. You probably also know that Paragon City has long been a gathering place for costumed heroes. Even more are gathering there now to fight this menace. You will blend right in.”
Mirage sat stone faced, his mind racing. The CSIS could certainly investigate Crey much more efficiently than he could. And the Paragon City problem did indeed make him nervous. But he couldn’t just leave it be.
“I’m sorry Roland but I just can’t let this go. It eats at me day and night. I. I just can’t.”
Roland nodded.
“I know Matt. But you don’t have to give up your investigation. There is a Crey Industries research complex in Paragon. All we ask is you try to stop some bad guys along the way.”
“Resources?”
“I’ve got a small team ready to help you track and recruit other Canadian superheroes. We are looking for patriots and other people we can trust not to compromise security. After your team is assembled you are completely on your own. No one aside from me and the head of the CSIS will even know about this whole thing. The only contact you will have with us is the occasional information sharing and updates on your activities.”
Mirage stared into his water glass. Which was more important his personal quest for vengeance or the safety of millions of people. Was there any real question what he should do? Not really.
*Special thanks to Spatula of Doom for his work on this story