nextgen_adult:

Slowly news of the theft of the Quantum Mirror reached Akantha and she knew that it could be behind the erratic behavior of some of the world's super heroes. She booked a flight and then she was on the plane to New Orleans to visit the Champions.

nextgen_media:

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Thieves have stolen a national treasure of Malaysia during the night hours. The National Museum of Malaysia was burglarized and the Keris Taming Sari was stolen. Security systems in the National Museum were not tripped and the theft was not discovered until the morning hours. The identity of the thieves is unknown and the only clue left at the scene of the crime was a business card with the letter M on it. CONT Page A-1


Boston, MA - Hurricane Irene slammed into New England and Boston's own superhero team The Thunderbolts was out in the rough weather helping with rescue efforts and cleanup efforts. Down in New York the Avengers and the Fantastic Four were helping with efforts related to the hurricane. The officials of these two cities were more than happy to get a helping hand from their local superhero teams. CONT Page A-2


New York, NY - Stark Industries has announced it will be funding various research projects around the world. These projects range from the development of a hookworm vaccine to funding for the Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology. Keeping in line with the focus of Stark Industries' newest company Renaissance Technologies a good portion of the funding is going to projects to develop green solutions to many problems facing our world today. CONT Page B-1

oooh_shiny:

Akantha usually didn't encroach into another Guardian's territory, but a contact of hers had given her a heads up about a necklace that was of interest. Rumor had it that it once belonged to Helen of Troy and could charm men when worn. Akantha had her doubts, but she had to check it out. It was her job after all.

The necklace was in Washington D.C. and Baltimore wasn't that far away. After she had checked out the necklace and realized it was a fake, she headed north to Baltimore to visit an old friend. She could have knocked on the door, but where was the fun in that? She picked the lock and let herself in.

"Anyone home?"

nextgen_holiday:

There's a piece of paper and a pen attached to a bulletin board. Across the top is written:

New Year's Resolutions
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Anonymous entries accepted.

oooh_shiny:

Alexandra Thorne, at least that was what she was now known as, busied herself with closing up her shop Curious Goods for the evening. Antiques littered the shelves, tables and display cases in the small shop in the Near West Side of Chicago. The store had been open for the past ten years and run and owned by Alex.

She made her way around the shop putting things back where they belong after people had moved them during the day. It looked like the items were placed haphazardly around the small store, but Alex had a particular place for everything. She wasn't anal retentive about things, but there were a few small areas of her life where it shown through.

She went into the back of the store and emerged with a small dish of cheese and bread and sat it on top of one of the display cases. There were a few things from the old days she held on to. She made her way to the door and stepped outside for a moment.

The air held a slight chill to it, hinting at the colder weather to come. Maybe in a year or two she would move southward. She was tired of cold winters and snow.

Alex looked up and down the busy street. Despite the myriad of people on the street, there would be no more customers today. She took one last look and stepped back inside.