Sakurako has been busy over the past month or so, getting everything in order was a herculean task... or a task for a Nova. She has time and time again further learned her talents aren't at their peak, and her potential... is truely limitless. Except only by her own will.

Her recent discovery, of being able to transmit herself over the opnet as so much data, was a shocking discovery. She never believed it to be possible. Forming the realization that perhaps... she shouldn't be so suprised anymore by her nature.

Sandcaster recently gave her a call over her private OpNet address, requesting a meeting. Sakurako answered in the positive.

She transmits herself over the OpNet, and appears in a WCK boardroom, one she had an open port for. Then with a thought she broadcasts a thought to Sandcaster's Comlink.

"Sandcaster, this is Sakurako. I've arrived. What is it you want to talk about? I'm in Boradroom 2."

She's wearing a dark navy blue business ensemble. A sailor-collared blazer and skirt, with a white blouse underneath with a dark blue bowtie around the neck under the blouse's collar. She adjusts her patent-leather shoes with a tap of each foot.

"I never thought... I'd make good shoes... lots of good toe-room. High-heels should be erased from fashion." She mumbles to herself.

"I'll be right there."

True to her word, Sandcaster stode into the boardroom some thirty seconds later, closing the door behind her. Motioning Endeavor to a seat, she took a seat directly opposite, setting a thick folder on the table between them.

"I know that you've been very busy, so I'll cut to the chase. Simply put, I would like to offer you a position with the Windy City Knights. Alchemist is on a sabbatical for at least the next several months; we need a top scientific mind in his place, and from both your dossier and the work you have done with our security system, you would fit the bill perfectly. You have, if you don't mind me saying so, a knack for the practical while still being quite capable of thinking outside of the box, and that's the perfect combination for us.

"I'd also like to make clear that this is not intended to be a temporary offer, with the position disappearing when Alchemist should return. I would very much like for you to consider a permanent position as a Knight."

She lightly pushed the packet across the table to the pink-haired inventor. "Everything - and I do mean everything - regarding the position is in that packet, from the compensation plan to the liberties you can take with WCK facilities...and design of said facilities, if you so desire. I don't expect a decision immediately, so please feel free to take your time to look through the material and ask any questions you may have."

Sandcaster locked eyes with Endeavor; she wanted no mistakes here. "In all honesty, I have a very short list of people I would like to see in this position. A list of one, to be precise. And I sincerely hope that your answer will be yes."

Sakurako glances at Sandcaster for a moment. Steepling her fingers as she leans foreward.

"I have 3 distinct questions regarding this, Sandcaster. I hope these don't put you off."

She clears her throat.

"One, I have duties with my corporation. If the WCK wishes me to work with them there would be... a certain baggage I bring with me. If you wish me to join, my responsibilities would be split, so the question coming is will I be able to pursue matters regarding my business?"
"Second, is what would my duties here entail? Would I be just operating as Alchemist's temporary replacement untill his return, which would make me a full member, with different responsibilities?"
"Third and finally, and this is just a minor one... What's the dress code?"

She staightens her ensemble, and stretches a small bit.

"I prefer... outside of public engagements and concerns where getting geared up is a required need, to be comfortable. Since I am sensitive to extremes of temperature at a lesser range. What is just a bit chilly to me is quite frigid and what is delightfully warm is hot to me... I'm a room temperature girl, unfortunately."

Good questions, Sandcaster thought.

"OK, point for point. So long as you can juggle the responsibilities, I see no conflict of interest between you joining the Knights and continuing in whatever capacity you wish with STIA. That said, if something were to somehow crop up where there was such a conflict, I would expect you to notify me and to step aside from the situation until the conflict was resolved. Mind you, I'm having a hard time imagining such a situation cropping up.

"As for those responsibilities...Alchemist did have a few irons in the fire when he left. Some of those things are on indefinite hold, but I've been trying to continue others as best I can...particularly, what I've come to term '3C' - 'creative contingency countermeasures'. 3C would fall into your hands. That said, I don't want you to think that you are a temporary Alchemist; you would be a full member of the Windy City Knights, not a stand-in for an absent member, and I hope to find that you would bring some rather pleasant surprises to the table. We're rather free-form her, at least to some extent; if you decide that you would like to try your hand at a bit of field work - and can demonstrate that you would be up to the task - I'd be happy to let you try."

Sandcaster smiled. "As for the dress code, we do have a uniform of sorts. That said, it's an advanced, lightweight, bullet-resistant jumpsuit that can go over or under other clothes at your option, and we have members who wear it either way. So long as the clothing is relatively neat and clean and doesn't look like you just stepped off the runway for Victoria's Secret, you can wear pretty much whatever you wish. Given Chicago's weather and your sensitivity to extreme temperatures, by all means please wear whatever makes you comfortable."

One last issue. "I'm sure your familiar with the reality show that films here. It can be an issue for a lot of people. That said, I'm one of those people, and you'll find that I've shut down the cameras in this room for the purpose of this meeting...and that I don't permit the cameras in my office at all. Frankly, I'm working on getting rid of this 24/7 filming altogether by negotiating a change in format for the show, but until then, I'll see that you get the shutdown codes for anything in your workspace."

Taking a deep breath and hoping for the best, she finished, "Do you have any more questions?"

"I can do one better... I am planning on opening a STIA branch in Chicago. I have the initial interests and investors lined up. I believe that the WCK will be perfect as a demonstration of what I have to offer not only as a Knight, but also for my corporation."

She pulls out a pair of glasses from a pocket in her blazer and puts them on. A HUD comes to life, as she is now able to monitor the connections she has priveledges to.

"I can... if I wished, to place the WCK under enough NDAs to make it impossible for the reality show to film. I can... shift the focus away from having the Knights as some sort of PR stunt for the politicians of Chicago and turn it into a real operation to run counter to Utopia's interests in the region. I think the WCK is almost where it should be. But it needs renewed focus. If enough interest shifts from putting up a good face to actually doing what is right... then I should be doing my job here.

We should be here, after all, because we honestly wish to make a difference, not as wanting fame and fortune out of the deal.

The only reason why I run STIA is because of my need to increase my financial base and to create new technolgies to ensure the safety of Novas and Humans alike.

Working here will only help further those goals."

She adjusts her glasses.

"Here is the rub though... for me to put my name on the dotted line... You, and the rest of the WCK will have to agree to a contract as your own union, to work within STIA. This way I can completely wean the WCK from Chicago City Payrolls. Therefore, you'll have more control over your own interests, and my interests run in tandem with the WCK."

She smiles.

"In fact..." She leans foreward, the lighting of the room glints form her glasses, hiding her eyes. "The WCK will be a perfect place to roll out new equipment and gear. Constant field work will be an excellent way for me to figure out where I need to upgrade equipment."

She looks up back at Sandcaster.

"Sandcaster, you now have my needs on the table. If you are operating as a representitive of the WCK, then you have my requirements for my joining. Not just to become an equal member, but your new, sole sponsor."

"I am the thing you require if you wish to stop being hounded by cameras, constantly."

Sandcaster smiled, but it was a sad sort of smile; the kind of smile that said "if only..." without a word.

It was a really good presentation, and she has no shortage of good ideas. Too bad that the fundimental premise isn't workable.

"As much as parts of your idea may appeal to me personally, I'm afraid that it's just not an option for the Knights, and for quite a few reasons."

She sighed, and dived in. "First of all, we are a municipally chartered organization. If we were to switch ourselves over to a single private sponsor, that charter would vanish like a soap bubble, and with it our mandate to even call ourselves the Windy City Knights...let alone continue to operate in close conjunction with the city authorities.

"There's also the matter of the U.N. We have very recently entered into an agreement with the Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery. They're giving us the green light as their partner with regard to such issues here in Chicago...but again, it requires our charter to remain intact, and to accept at least some small amount of public funding."

She sighed deeply; the last major point wasn't something she particularly cared for, but it needed to be addressed. "And as much as I don't like it, I have to admit that the show serves a purpose. It's not a propaganda reel like what Utopia spoons out to the press, it's not gritty home footage of Terats tearing up a town, and it's not that god-awful wrestling business; it's a real program about real novas, for better or for worse.

"Mind you, there are aspects of the show that are going to change. Indeed, I've already started into negotiations with the network, and the format is going to go from the sort of 'fishbowl' thing that it has been up to now to more of a 'excerpts from the job' thing. No more cameras in the offices and labs. What will be shown will still be real, but will not be so intrusive...and will not be a security risk, which has been my major issue with the whole thing. It's going to be a bit of a balancing act at first, and if it doesn't work out, I'm going to err on the side of caution and pull the plug altogether...but I'm willing to give it a shot.

"In any event," Sandcaster added, "I've secured enough funding where the Knights will still be in good shape even if I do have to tell the network to take a hike. And while I know your heart is in the right place, I can't turn the team into a subsidiary of STIA. I'm perfectly happy to see a technology partnership with your company, of course, but I think that keeping each as an independent entity will be in the best interests of both."

Sakurako stands up.

"Then.. it would not be in my best interests to pursue this further. I have too much invested back home to split my efforts in such a fashion.

Although my contract to work with the WCK that was made for the recent upgrades still stands... once that is complete, that is all the involvement I shall have, then."

She walks over to the still open wireles port.

"I hope you find someone adequate to fill the vacuum." She sighs. "If this was a year ago, I may have said yes... but now... It's a matter of timing, Sandcaster. You were a little late."

Sakurako then freezes in place, her eyes wide.

"Shit.... There I go putting the horse behind the carraige."

She quickly turns to Sandcaster.

"I'm sorry I insulted you with that previous offer, Sandcaster. I think my responsibilities can be compatible with the WCK.

There is one issue you may have to address. While my duties with STIA allow me a work visa, my taking on of this job would require some extra help. All I simply need is an ongoing contract with you, or a member of the team, or having myself contracted to the WCK. Therefore THIS would be part of my job, yet I still have my duties with STIA as well."

She smacks her forehead.

"I didn't need to own the WCK... I'm on Sandcaster, on your terms, but we need that little formality of hiring me to make this work... Hell, I'll work minimum wage to help you guys afford my contract... You do need me, and I am SORRY to have went for the juglar like that."

She smacks her forehead again...

"Minimum wage... I never thought I'd conciously go for that... But I make enough as a CEO."

It was almost physically jarring, watching the sudden about-face. It took Sandcaster a moment to realize that Endeavor may very well have been testing the waters to see just what sort of resolve the Knights would have on certain things; it appeared that they - or she, at any rate - had passed the test.

The smile that came to her face now was both genuine and pleased. "I'm glad to hear that you'll be working with us. But don't worry about the salary issues; we aren't in anything resembling such bad shape that we cannot offer you the full compensation package. And we'll take care of the international issues; we've already done likewise with Black Star."

Standing, she made for a moment to reach across the table to shake Endeavor's hand; then, remembering the dual issues of the woman's heritage and the possible issues with her new skin, she aborted the maneuver and opted for a bow instead. "It's good to have you aboard. We're not exactly formal here; do you prefer to be called Endeavor or Sakurako? You can call me Anne, by the way."

Sakurako takes her hand, and firmly shakes it. Not only does she have quite a grip... her skin feels quite up to the task.

"Around us, it's Sakurako. But... I don't mind using Endeavor with other matters. After all... We're superheroes, right?" Sakurako says that last bit with a smile on her face.

"I can't wait to help out in a further capacity."