3379/Do You Know What You're Doing

Do You Know What You're Doing
Date of Scene:	13 December 2017
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Are the Blackhawks going into business soon?
Cast of Characters:	Oracle, Lady Blackhawk

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Oracle has posed:
It doesn't take much to track down a cell phone number. Barbara is damn good at what she does. And although it's unlikely that Zinda -- or even the new company she's keeping -- has tapped that line (at least YET), she's still cautious to scramble and encrypt the entire thing. This will give her a good chance to test out the mellifluous androgynous voice that is becoming Oracle.

Zinda cell phone rings, and Barbara's satellite feeds triangulate her location. Which... now that she's thinking about it, it's really time to work on the coding that lets her perhaps do more than that. Maybe she should look at that NSA code one more time -- it's messy, but she can streamline and improve it to get the sat images she wants in hi-def....

The needle screeches off the vinyl record of her mental tangent when the phone connection is actually made. "Zinda Blake?" asks the genderless tenor voice.

Lady Blackhawk has posed:
Zinda Blake is actually in something like an office today. At least it's the closest thing she's had to one. Blackhawk Freight has an office they let her use, complete with a computer (which is switched off) as well as file cabinets and a desk. Dressed in her Blackhawk tunic complete with pleated skirt, the cap is on the desk.

So is Zinda, for that matter. The blonde perches on the edge of the desk as she addresses the infernal buzzing in her pocket. A bit of fumbling, then she answers it. "Hello, this is Blake." is the automatic reply. Then there's a pause as she processes the voice. "Who is this? You ain't nobody I recognize."

Oracle has posed:
"No, I'm not," Barbara replies, letting the software do its job and keep her anonymous. She fully realizes the disadvantages of contacting someone completely out of the blue. "You can call me Oracle for now. I'm... can we call me a 'concerned observer' for the moment? We've never met personally, but I've followed you for a long time. You are someone whom I admire greatly, and I don't want to see you get taken advantage of. So I guess I'm taking it upon myself to butt into your business and make sure that you're not under duress with the Cranston deal."

Lady Blackhawk has posed:
Sitting on the edge of the desk, Zinda lightly swings a booted foot to drum the heel against the desk while she chats. The last Blackhawk laughs softly. "Well, then... 'Oracle'... is your concern because I'm an *old* broad or because I'm blonde?" She lets the question sit for a moment, leaning back on one hand. "While I do appreciate havin' a secret admirer and all, this old gal CAN take care of herself. Let's just say Ms. Cranston and I have some common interests."

Oracle has posed:
"Actually, neither," Barbara retorts. Although Zinda can't hear the grin. "It's more because you haven't stepped into the limelight in some time, and I know what the Blackhawks were to you. It seemed... out of character, from all I've learned of you. You don't tend to play boardroom games, so Cranston sought you out personally to get you to sell. I don't think there's much she could really offer you as incentive for that, so my main concern was coercion. I don't think business dealings have changed much, but I couldn't quite figure what they might have used for leverage. So... if they *are* leveraging you into doing something you don't want to do, I wanted to offer my assistance."

Lady Blackhawk has posed:
"Honey, without a face or even a real name, I'm findin' it real hard to find a reason to be sharin' a lot of personal information. But trust me when I say that Miss Cranston and I are aligned with our plans. Or, rather, my plans. What *I* get outta this deal is the money to do a few things I've been wanting to do since coming back. Plus a few perks."

Oracle has posed:
"That's fair," Barbara replies easily. She considers opening a teleconference, letting Zinda see her face. But... her face may make stupid society pages and tabloids in the foreseeable future. And that would lead unknowns FAR too close to home. Not to mention.... would Zinda even know how to ANSWER that call??

"You know.... I wondered how long it would take you to finally try to pull it back together," she says quietly, removing the disguising software. "I can't give you my name. Yet. But.... if you're looking to put together another Blackhawks team, I would be *very* interested in offering technical expertise in getting your island up and running in the 21st century. It's something that I already do for a few costumed folks in Gotham and thereabouts."

Lady Blackhawk has posed:
Pause. For several heartbeats Zinda doesn't say anything. "Honey, if you're serious then I know this ain't the sort of thing *polite* folks discuss over the phone. Not in today's environment." She crosses one leg over the other, heel drumming the desk again. "But just suppose for a moment that I *was* lookin' to do what you suggested. If you're offerin' technical expertise towards something like that, you must know the sorta obstacles I'm facing."

In other words, if you're interested then I'm interested. All you gotta do is make me believe you're the real thing and not some Commie spy."

Oracle has posed:
Gotcha.

Barbara smiles faintly, and the amusement colors her tone. "I know a great deal about the obstacles you're facing updating that place. I can see it on a satellite," she tells the other woman. "And the line you're on is encrypted, so ... we can talk, albeit briefly. If you were looking to do it, what would it take to convince you that I can do what you need done and that my motives are... well, I can't precisely say "pure" what with working with the guy with the pointy ears, but let's call them 'chaotically good.' What would prove it to you?"

Lady Blackhawk has posed:
Encrypted line, hmm? Okay, Zinda has something of an idea what that means. "Okay, sugah, you definitely got my attention." Zinda replies after a moment. "You send someone to vouch for you and we're golden. Meanwhile, if you're as good as you say, then I'm sure you got all sorts of ideas. First one being how to keep a paramilitary group with modern planes operating from an abandonned island base off the CIA's radar."

"But this is my Op, and it's my base. I get final say on what goes down. That's the deal I cut with Cranston."

Oracle has posed:
"I have no interest in taking over your operation," Barbara assures her. She's rather got her hands full in Gotham at the moment. "I can definitely get you under the radar. I'll be in touch, and I'll make arrangements for a way you can contact me when you need to. I'm looking forward to getting to know you better, Lady Blackhawk."

Lady Blackhawk has posed:
"Same here... Oracle." Zinda replies. "Y'all keep in touch, now. Until then, I'll be waitin' for my Dick Tracy watch."