The lawsuit against known vigilante “Focus”, revealed to be data-entry employee Geoffrey Stern, came to a conclusion on Wednesday the 19th and ended in favor of the citizens of Applegate St. which had been terribly damaged in a scuffle earlier in the year. Mr. Stern had taken his masked vigilantism to the streets and, while attempting to subdue another masked individual, recklessly used his laser eyebeams with no consideration for the neighborhood he was in. The destructive beams cut through car doors, shattered windows, and even destroyed the base of a tree, causing it to fall onto the home it was planted near. Several residents were injured with one requiring hospitalization and multiple residents claimed they were left without transportation due to damage to their vehicles.
“This isn’t a wealthy neighborhood,” one neighbor who requested to remain anonymous was quoted. “When something so destructive happens, we can’t just go off and replace what was lost. Some of us can’t even make it to our jobs without our cars.”
The citizens attributed the success of the lawsuit to Warren Crow, CEO of Crow lld. and head of Crow Insurance. Upon hearing about the destruction from a client, he agreed to help to cover the legal fees for the rest of those involved in the incident and put his resources to work for their benefit.
Thanks to the efforts of the citizens and the private investigators hired by Mr. Crow, Mr. Stern was finally identified and charged for his crimes against El Asilo as well as held accountable for the damage caused.
Others are sure to come forward with their own claims against Mr. Stern now that his identity has been revealed and Mr. Crow has stated that his company can be contacted for help in getting such claims to court.
“Those who want to call themselves heroes need to learn that their actions have consequences. If they can’t afford to cover the costs of the damage they do to our community, they shouldn’t claim to be there for our benefit,” Mr. Crow stated. “Even with the best intentions, it only takes a moment for such destructive power to ruin lives of innocent bystanders. It’s about time these vigilantes understood that.”
Mr. Stern is not reachable at this time for comment but at the time of the trial did express some remorse, only to site that the “villain” he was chasing was likely to cause much more damage than he had. It seems it will still be a while before heroes consider themselves accountable for their actions.
[Photograph: Ruby Smiles six weeks before her disappearance.]
Tensions continue to rise this weekend as twelve-year-old Ruby Smiles remains missing. Ruby, the daughter of well-known biochemist Jordan Smiles, was reported missing nearly one month ago when she never returned from a piano lesson a few blocks away from her home near the Point.
"We're heartbroken," Jordan Smiles said, in an interview conducted in his parlor. To the untrained eye, the Smiles home appears to be a well-put-together home, neatly taken care of and typical to other homes in the neighborhood. But when one looks closer, the signs of grief and loss are all too evident. A crumpled report card here, a crinkled photograph there. And the dark circles under Jordan Smiles's eyes.
"She's our little girl," said Smiles, barely maintaining his composure as he spoke. "I would do anything to have her back with us."
Despite Smiles's tearful admission, it seems that the Smiles family has not been contacted by anyone claiming to be the kidnapper, and has not received a ransom note.
"These things happen from time to time," said EAPD Detective Michael Mitchell, when approached for comment on the case. "I think it would be irresponsible to immediately assume that this is a kidnapping, but I can say that what we've seen thus far isn't encouraging."
When asked to elaborate, Mitchell had this to say:
"It happens, in El Asilo. People disappear without a word, the family never gets a note or a demand. We're lucky if we find the bodies. We're even luckier if the body is identifiable. Terrible, that this would happen to a kid, but it's nothing new."
Mitchell's response may have been callous, but it was clear from his demeanor that he had also spent many sleepless nights on this case. As the detective assigned to the disappearance, Mitchell has spent the past month devoting every bit of his energy to finding Ruby. It is a search that has drained the energy of all involved, even those reporting on the ongoing story.
Despite the constant stress of the case, Dr. Smiles has continued to dutifully attend to his job at Vantage Corp's headquarters, conducting genetic research. According to his supervisor, Anne Lately, he hasn't missed even a day of work in the wake of his daughter's disappearance.
Regardless of evidence or odds, the city as a whole will continue to pray for the survival and safe return of Ruby Smiles. As always, those with any information on Ruby's whereabouts should call the police hotline at (XXX)-XXX-XXXX.
POLICE DISRUPT PEACEFUL PROTEST WITH ARMED SOLDIER UNIT
By Cedric Grayson
Hundreds of people gathered this weekend at the beautiful Keaton Memorial Park to protest the SOLDIER project. Â Many in the city are upset and concerned with the steps Vantage is taking to further empower the police, given their abysmal record with unnecessary brutality. Â People took to the streets to express their dissatisfaction.
The peaceful protest was interrupted when SOLDIER unit 028, Sybil, arrived on scene in a large, armored vehicle. Â Recognizing the danger, the crowd moved back, all except for one courageous teenager who wanted answers. Â For safety reasons, the Gazette will not be disclosing any of her personal information.Â
When asked why she approached Sybil, this is what she had to say: “I didn’t move back, I wanted to know what gave her the right to bring an arsenal to a peaceful protest.  She laughed at me.  It was like she didn’t even know what she was doing was wrong.”  She recounted.  “I asked about the program, about their anti-hero agenda... It was like nothing bothered her.” Â
This paints a disconcerting, uncaring picture of our newest law enforcement agents. Â Unfortunately it gets worse. Â The situation escalated when the protester tried to press Sybil for a comment - the SOLDIER unit decided the best course of action was to pull a gun on a minor.
“I panicked,” the protester said.  “I mean, she had a gun out.  I knew people were still watching, probably videotaping - so I punched her in the face while she still wasn’t in a position to shoot me.”  When asked if she had intended to cause the SOLDIER unit any harm, she had this to say: “I broke my hand punching her.  I mean, I knew it wasn’t gonna hurt her.  She’s a robot.  It was, like, a symbolic gesture.  She elbowed me in the face right after, gave me a black eye.  I dunno what would have happened if Catiline and Cicero hadn’t been there.  They probably saved my life.”Â
When the situation got out of hand, local heroes Catiline and Cicero stepped in, one helping this young protester to safety while the other stayed and distracted SOLDIER unit 028. Â Thanks to their help, the protest dispersed without any casualties.Â
“I know some papers are going to make it seem like we were rioting,” the protester said in a final comment, “It’s easy to do that, because of the masks and the crowds - but listen, we weren’t there to hurt people.  We were there because we were afraid.  We wore masks because we were scared of being killed, of our families being killed.  We were angry and dissatisfied, but we were peaceful, and we were trying to make a difference.  The city responded by sending truckloads of police in riot gear, and a combat android armed with an arsenal of lethal weapons.  We never fired the first shot.  All we’re doing is trying to stay alive.” Â
(CEDRIC GRAYSON is a long-time writer for The El Asilo Gazette.)
The Keaton Memorial Park has seen its share of violence and chaos. Nearly a year ago, some citizens may remember it as the scene of one of well-known super-criminal Commando's stunts of vandalism. The park lies barely two blocks from the Pine Street Bank, the scene of a violent shooting earlier this year. By all accounts, the park (and the civilians who live nearby) have had their fill of danger. However, it seems that danger has not had its fill of them.
This past weekend, approximately 500 protesters gathered at the Keaton Memorial Park, armed with angry signs, black clothes, and the odd mask or baseball bat. The crowd stretched over the green, blacking out the park with its sheer mass and density. Witnesses at the scene report that the yelling was verging on deafening, occasionally solidifying from aimless shouts to rhyming chants. Chief among them was a chant that repeated itself throughout the night: "Rulers with your iron fists, now you know whose a** to kiss."
It was to this scene, barely contained by a small police force on-sight, that SOLDIER unit 028, who answers to the name Sybil, arrived.
"It was loud, yeah, and there were plenty of people, but that's kind of my job," Sybil recounted, preferring to stare at a cup of tea rather than drinking it. "I got called in to back up the standard police who were controlling the riot."
At that moment, Sybil encountered the first sign of trouble as one rioter tore away from the crowd to argue directly with her.
"She sounded young," Sybil recounted. "Most of what she had to say was generic anti-Vantage sentiment. She accused me of being complicit in plots to hunt down so-called 'heroes,' which I'm sure we all agree is ridiculous."
But, Sybil says, the situation soon spiraled out of control. The rioter crossed the boundary line, and according to nearby witnesses, Sybil reached for a weapon as a warning.
"That's when the kid decked her in the face," reported Detective Beverly Wilde, who was also at the scene as backup. "I don't think the hit did any damage, but it looked pretty solid."
According to Wilde, the conflict was abruptly cut off when two other rioters interfered in the situation. One rioter dragged the puncher off, removing her from the confrontation, while the other distracted Sybil momentarily until the situation had dissolved. These rioters were later identified as teen super-criminals Catiline and Cicero. Neither has previously been seen at protests or riots.
Catiline and Cicero could not be reached for comment, and the masked rioter who punched Sybil remains unidentified.
"There was no more violence after that incident," Sybil reported, clearly undisturbed and showing no signs of injury. "The crowd disbursed an hour later with no further violence. But I cannot speak for what might have happened if the police had not been on the scene to contain the riots. I think the city, as always, owes the police force, and this project, a debt."
Sybil did not seem to be looking for a gold star when she said this. She said it with the confidence of someone who knows they are right. Regardless of whether or not the police did avert another crisis at the Keaton Memorial Park, the city can at least be grateful that we are once again at peace.
(LYDIA SPRY is a self-described workaholic. She enjoys espresso, and pulls the occasional all-nighter. She has been writing for the El Asilo Times for ten years.)
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