Working for SUPER had interesting benefits.

Usually if Ranger needed to utilize explosives while operating he had to file paperwork, pay a $200 tax per explosive, wait for the tax stamp to arrive, and then file paperwork when the explosive was used. Of course that was only when operating stateside.

Working for SUPER gave Ranger another avenue to acquire materiel. Agent Sang had given Ranger access to anything she could requisition. This included 40mm grenades and detonation cord or as it was more commonly known as, det cord. Not to mention all the necessary blasting caps and assorted detonators.

While Ranger could operate as an intelligence asset, he had no illusions that his primary purpose for SUPER was to be a one man strike team. The combination of his experience on the darkside as a Delta operator combined with his power was incredibly destructive. He was like a bottled tornado SUPER could unleash on a person, place, or thing.

As SUPER in New York City did not have proper facilities to allow for Ranger to train, he had to drive the Fordasaurus to pick it all up and haul it to where he would use it. He also had to sign a not insignificant amount of paperwork.

Ranger parked the Fordasaurus and went into SUPER HQ. His attire was an odd sight. Cowboy boots, jeans, and a button up plaid shirt. Ranger wasn’t there for a meeting so he didn't bother to even attempt to conform to the normal dress standards.

”Michael Hunter. Pickin’ up my boom-boom.” Ranger told the equipment officer who looked at Ranger suspiciously before checking his inventory and confirming that there was in fact a pallet of materiel for Ranger.

“Yes, agent Hunter. We can have that loaded up for you and we’ll let you know when it is ready.”

Ranger nodded. Due to SUPER being an intelligence agency, there was still an annoying level of cloak and dagger to observe. This meant that he had to let other agents handle the loading of his truck.

”I’ll be ‘round. Text me when it’s ready.” Ranger said and turned to leave. He would need to find something to occupy some time.

Working at SUPER was a whole new experience. Pippa was not quite sure about finding her place yet. Her initial talk with Sang had... gone, in a way, and she was still here, responsible for PR. This could either be an opportunity or a dumpster fire, and it was hard not to rely on her instincts from the other universe and just conclude it was gonna be the latter.

Right now, Pippa wandered somewhat aimlessly at SUPER HQ, trying to familiarize herself with the building, the people, and generally be a friendly presence, so that when the time came to get everyone in shape they would not stare at her with wide blank eyes. Pippa could be nice and friendly when she wanted to be. And some of the employees were... not... as bad as the agents.

The guy in the cowboy boots was... um, definitely different. Pippa was standing nearby when he sauntered up.

>>”Michael Hunter. Pickin’ up my boom-boom.”

His what now?

Pippa arched an eyebrow as people hurried off to... load whatever they were loading. The name was familiar. Didn't Michael Hunter...?

"Hello there" she smiled, walking up to him once he seemed like he was just standing by "Michael Hunter? BlacTac?"

Ranger hadn’t managed to go anywhere before being approached by a short blonde woman. She got his attention before approaching and correctly guessing who he was.

”Yes, ma’am.” Ranger said with a small smile and a nod. ”Did the boots give me away?” He was likely the only person that cruised through SUPER HQ in boots regularly. Even when he was in Noel’s body, Ranger came to SUPER HQ in boots. After Ranger went and bought the boots.

”Is there somethin’ I can help y’ with…?” Ranger trailed off as he did not have her name. In Ranger’s line of work, sometimes people didn’t want to give names. Ranger’s tone asked for her name but he did not outright ask. If she wanted to give a name she could jump in, if not she could answer the question.

Maybe it was a little strange to strike up a conversation with an agent like this. But Pippa did not usually back down from a challenge, and she was definitely interested now about the Haven-security-SUPER-agent dude with the explosives and the cowboy boots. It was a pretty interesting mix.

>>”Yes, ma’am. Did the boots give me away?”

"I overheard your name." Pippa noted. The fact that she also overheard the rest went without saying.

>>”Is there somethin’ I can help y’ with…?”

"Pippa Swan" she offered a daintily gloved hand "PR department. For Haven, currently on loan to SUPER. I've heard your name before, but I don't think we've met."

Not the boots, the woman had overheard Ranger picking up his matériel. Ranger nodded. It made sense. More sense than identifying him by his boots. Though, as far as Ranger had seen, no one else had ever dared to walk into SUPER HQ wearing an $800 pair of boots.

The woman introduced her elf as Pippa Swan and held out a gloved hand. It was not Ranger’s first rodeo, several people he had met since coming to New York had very good reasons for covering their hands. Ranger gave Pippa a firm handshake.

”Nice t’ meet y’, miss Swan.” Ranger said. She was Haven but now working for SUPER. In that case it certainly made sense that she knew his name. ”I’m not surprised y’ve heard of me, I own BlacTac which as y’ know, provides security f’r Haven.”

An association that was incredibly awkward. Ranger, an Agent of SUPER who had spied on Haven from within, was the owner of the company who provided security. It was an incredible conflict of interests. And also the perfect cover and point of access.

”Is there somethin’ I can help y’ with, miss Swan? While I wait on my matériel.”

They shook hands. Pippa's powers did not work on humans, but she had her sating gloves on for safety reasons most of the time. She tried to live up to his firm grip at least, since she already had to crane her neck to look up to him.

>>”Nice t’ meet y’, miss Swan. I’m not surprised y’ve heard of me, I own BlacTac which as y’ know, provides security f’r Haven.”

"Indeed." she nodded. SUPER and Haven were merging in more ways than one, apparently. She'd have to look more into that, in case it had any visible implications. Pippa liked getting ahead of things whenever she could. Especially if they wore cowboy boots.

>>”Is there somethin’ I can help y’ with, miss Swan? While I wait on my matériel.”

"Well, about that. Did I hear it correctly that you are picking up explosives?" Pippa ventured, tilting her head.

Ranger smiled. It only made sense that someone from PR would want to investigate when someone was picking up explosives. ”Yes ma’am. 40 mike-mike an’ det cord.” Ranger stated it as if there was nothing out of the ordinary with someone just casually picking up a truckload of military explosives.

Because he was speaking to a PR person, he added, ”Should be enough t’ drop a buildin’ ‘r two… Or make hundreds uh holes in them.” Most of what Ranger was picking up would likely be dedicated to training. Ranger was not a demolitions expert, but if SUPER called on him to be a one-man strike team he would need to be one.

Pippa knew what she'd heard, but there was a lot to be learned about people when they were confronted with a direct question one already knew the answer to. Michael seemed like a direct kind of guy. And he was a SUPER agent, so she expected a high degree or nerve from him.

>>”Yes ma’am. 40 mike-mike an’ det cord.”

Well, she understood ma'am. Pippa was more familiar with home-made things that went boom, from her days of resisting old SUPER. Not that she'd ever blown up something directly.

>>”Should be enough t’ drop a buildin’ ‘r two… Or make hundreds uh holes in them.”

Uh-huh.

"And are we? Dropping buildings, I mean?" she asked casually, adjusting her glasses "Not that I have security clearance or anything, but if something goes boom on SUPER's watch, you bet it will land on my desk sooner or later."

Ranger was not surprised. Ms. Swan was doing a good job as someone working in the PR department. Looking out for the image of the organization. Ranger was talking about potentially dropping buildings and she had zeroed in on it.

”We might could.” Ranger shrugged, ”Nothin’ on the schedule now, but it doesn’t mean there won’t be one in the future.” Then with a smile added, ”Besides, if I do my job right, there shouldn’ be anythin’ tyin’ anythin’ back t’ SUPER.” Ranger wasn’t about to slap on a vest that read ‘SUPER’ on the front and back and start shooting 40mm grenades through windows of buildings in broad daylight in the middle of Manhattan.

He might do it without the vest though. If he had to.

”I don’t know what I may or may not be called on t’ do. I’m not some mutant wrecking crew that can make their own hole int’ buildin’s. Most of what I’m pickin’ up is earmarked f’r trainin’. On a mission I’d only use a few yards of cord ‘r maybe a couple grenades as the situation dictates. Consider these kinds of matériel… surgical explosives. Less t’ whom it may concern than traditional explosives.”

It would have been a beautiful day at SUPER if the answer would have been no, ma'am, we are just taking these dangerous materials to be destroyed before this whole organization takes a turn for humanitarian work.

Obviously, this was not that day.

>>”We might could. Nothin’ on the schedule now, but it doesn’t mean there won’t be one in the future.”

Pippa sighed, pursing her lips. She was not exactly giving the orders around here, the man did not owe her an explanation. As long as he was not putting holes into Haven. But she also did not want to antagonize an agent right off the bat.

>>”Besides, if I do my job right, there shouldn’ be anythin’ tyin’ anythin’ back t’ SUPER.”

The old Pippa would have punched him in the nose, just for that. Even if she had to jump up to reach.

>>”I don’t know what I may or may not be called on t’ do. I’m not some mutant wrecking crew that can make their own hole int’ buildin’s. Most of what I’m pickin’ up is earmarked f’r trainin’. On a mission I’d only use a few yards of cord ‘r maybe a couple grenades as the situation dictates. Consider these kinds of matériel… surgical explosives. Less t’ whom it may concern than traditional explosives.”

Goddess above these things had their own lingo. Pippa was familiar with some of it, but the attitude... well, you had to be born with that.

"Training" she concluded on the word that was about to make the least amount of damage "Alright, I can work with that. Provided that I also get some plausible answer for what exactly we are training our demolition crew for..."

Pippa wanted a plausible reason for what the demolition crew was being trained for. Ranger wasn’t sure how open he was supposed to be to SUPER PR. It was obviously best if they knew more rather than less as that way they could plan ahead for situations… but Ranger wasn’t used to being that forthcoming with people who didn’t have an equal security clearance and a need-to-know.

Ranger shrugged, ”Breachin’ buildin’s mostly. Nothin’ like Waco though.” Ranger began, easing any possible concerns of a possible bumbling like ATF had with the Branch Davidians in 1993. ”As much as SUPER likes t’ play the role of an investigator like the FBI ‘r like a bunch uh spooks like the CIA… Sometimes we need t’ get our hands dirty. Apprehend a target, destroy assets, disrupt organizations. Think of it like police action more so than a military operation. Executin’ warrants signed by judges from the MISC.” Ranger said referring to the Mutant Intelligence Surveillance Court established by the Mutant Intelligence Surveillance Act or MISA. A mutant specific law in the vein of FISA. Both laws established shady and secretive court systems, but they were courts and warrants were issued by them so that some level of due process could be observed.

Training was a good cover for almost anything, the same way weather balloons were excellent for most unidentified airborn objects. Except, while weather existed everywhere, training needed to have a point of some sort.

>>”Breachin’ buildin’s mostly. Nothin’ like Waco though. As much as SUPER likes t’ play the role of an investigator like the FBI ‘r like a bunch uh spooks like the CIA… Sometimes we need t’ get our hands dirty. Apprehend a target, destroy assets, disrupt organizations. Think of it like police action more so than a military operation. Execution’ warrants signed by judges from the MISC.”

"Yes, it is the dirty part that worries me" Pippa sighed. The guy talked like there was nothing shady about SUPER operations at all. Which was blatantly false. "Alright, if I may make a suggestion: in the off chance someone asks you, definitely do not say... any of that. Warrants or not you sound like a military operation. And not in a good way. Mutant citizens do not want to hear it like that. And I am told SUPER is trying to mend fences not... demolish them."

Ouch. The metaphor just slipped out.

The problem with using a phrase that can mean two different things is that context can easily corrupt what you intended. By getting his hands dirty, Ranger had meant to jump in and put in some honest work. Pippa being worried about that must mean she understood it to be that Ranger was willing to compromise principles and act shady.

That, or if she knew anything about his past she knew he was used to operating on the dark side and honest work for him was shady by her standards. It likely didn’t help that the honest work included explosives.

Pippa then suggested that Ranger should avoid saying any of what he said to her to anyone. ”Ma’am, I don’t make a point uh talkin’ t’ anyone who doesn’t need t’ know about anythin’ work related. I am only tellin’ y' so if somethin’ does blow back, y’ ain’t caught unaware. An’ my goal is t’ exercise least necessary force. If entry can be made without explosives all the better. If I can apprehend a suspect without havin’ t’ go hands on, that’s a win. I prepare f’r the worst case scenarios. If all other avenues have failed an’ the only way t’ keep Americans safe, whether they’re human ‘r mutant is t’ blow my way int’ a compound an’ neutralize threats via lethal ‘r less-lethal means depending on the situation.” Ranger knew that his explanation likely still sounded very military. Ranger took a breath and added, ”I’m not preparin’ t’ drop in’ homes in the black uh night and snatch ‘r terminate people. I’m preparin’ f’r when there is credible intel on former SUPER assets that have slipped the net, we find those behind the abductions, ‘r we uncover a mutant terror cell opertain’ on our soil. I’m not about t’ start snatchin’ some kid off the street who accidentally inflated his aunt at the dinner table.”

Ranger was there to be like a military asset. Just as police agencies had SWAT teams, SUPER had Ranger to overcome obstacles and handle difficult and sensitive assignments while still holding to the letter and intent of the law.

>>”Ma’am, I don’t make a point uh talkin’ t’ anyone who doesn’t need t’ know about anythin’ work related. I am only tellin’ y' so if somethin’ does blow back, y’ ain’t caught unaware."

Well, wasn't that nice. Getting a little heads up of things possibly blowing up and then landing on her desk. That was all Pippa could really hope for; having some experience with things blowing up without notice (usually with good reason), she appreciated knowing that this was a possibility.

>>"An’ my goal is t’ exercise least necessary force. If entry can be made without explosives all the better. If I can apprehend a suspect without havin’ t’ go hands on, that’s a win. I prepare f’r the worst case scenarios. If all other avenues have failed an’ the only way t’ keep Americans safe, whether they’re human ‘r mutant is t’ blow my way int’ a compound an’ neutralize threats via lethal ‘r less-lethal means depending on the situation.”

"Alright alright, at ease" Pippa waved a hand. She understood that SUPER took its operations seriously, but geez she was not in military PR for a reason. And if things turned shady, she would be the last to be informed anyhow anyway.

>>”I’m not preparin’ t’ drop in’ homes in the black uh night and snatch ‘r terminate people. I’m preparin’ f’r when there is credible intel on former SUPER assets that have slipped the net, we find those behind the abductions, ‘r we uncover a mutant terror cell opertain’ on our soil. I’m not about t’ start snatchin’ some kid off the street who accidentally inflated his aunt at the dinner table.”

"Well, that's refreshing" Pippa smirked, amused by the mental image despite her better judgment. It was a good change compared to the bag-and-tag policy SUPER used to have on the other side about all kinds of mutants. At least now the big guns and explosives were for their own rogue agents. Baby steps. "How is that going, by the way? The super assets I mean. Besides explosives, they are the ones who definitely make my job more challenging..."