From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe

Sammy stared at the piece of paper in her hand, as she had off and on since the Vanguard messenger had delivered it to the Academy. Her hands shook slightly, sending tremors through the parchment. Her brown eyes were moist as she read it over once more.

"We regret the time it has taken for us to deliver this news. We trust that this information will remain confidential, as per Vanguard's OPSecs policies.

Regarding the whereabouts of one Rose Noelani, working under the codename of Rose Widow: her last coordinates place her as being in Pork Chop Hill. She was last scene in the company of several members of Vanguard from the Rogue Isles. They were to destroy a number of Rikti equipment and return to Vanguard. None of the group returned. Dimensional activity within that area indicates that the party used a portal to exit the Warzone.

At this time, we believe Ms Noelani to be with fellow operatives within the Rogue Isles."

The rest seemed...just a blur...meaningless hollow words expressing their condolences over lack of further intel, praising Sam for the work she had done for Vanguard in the short time she'd joined them. It didn't matter though. Not any more. She'd come to Paragon to find her mother. The closest she'd come to that goal was the stupid letter in her hand. The frustration...the futility of it all...it finally was too much. With a bit of a growl, she balled the paper up and chucked it across her dorm room, where it fell harmlessly to the floor. A sob choked out of her, the tears that had been held back now falling.

"What do I do now?" she said rather pitifully.

Sam didn't have any friends in the Rogue Isles...no contacts whatsoever. In fact, the only people she'd had contact with from there were folks that didn't exactly have her welfare in mind. So it seemed, for the moment, that her search was over with. She looked up, her eyes just happening to settle on a poster of Manticore that was plastered on the wall. Her room mate had a bit of an obsession with the hero. Despite the fact that it was well known he spent some time in the Rogue Isles, he was still widely regarded as a great hero.

That's when it dawned on her. Slowly it came at first, but as the minutes passed, the idea began to form.

"...I could go undercover..." she said in a voice barely audible.

Sammy rose to her feet and paced the room, going over all the details in her head. She'd need a new identity, something that she was all too familiar with thanks to her childhood. New costume. New...everything it would seem. Her hands reached up to remove the goggles from her head. She eyed them for a moment...then with a sigh set them down on her desk. The Samoan Scrapper's signature blast goggles would have to remain behind. She couldn't risk her cover being blown. With her plan firmly in mind, she began to gather up a few things: clothes, money, essentials. She knew she could get to the Isles through Siren's Call. She'd need a new costume to do it though. She had the money for it, she knew that much. She gathered everything, shoving it into a duffel bag, then turned to grab a pen and paper. She couldn't just...leave. She'd made friends....the least she could do was leave some word about what was happening. She sat down at her desk, and began to write.

"To Evolution-X Leadership:

I thank you for everything you've done in trying to get Vanguard to release information about my mother. That work has finally paid off, as I was given a letter today with some information. It seems that she is in the Rogue Isles.

I know I'm probably breaking some sort of rule...but I can't just stay here and do nothing. I'm leaving to go undercover and see what I can turn up. Don't bother trying to call...you'll find my cell phone is sitting in my dorm room right now. -Hopefully- this won't take long and I can return...but...if not...please let my father know that I tried.

If you hear about a Veiled Stryke over in the Rogue Isles...that's me. I'll try not to get in too deep.

Samantha Noelani, the Samoan Scrapper"

After writing her note, she set the pen down. Her gaze drifted to the cell phone sitting out on the desktop. She debated calling her dad. Her father wouldn't be pleased with her plan...not at all. He'd come tearing off to Paragon City after her. In his poor state of health, she doubted the trip would be good for him. Maybe she should call Midori? No...most likely Midori was busy. She needed someone to talk to...something to give her a little bit of courage before she slipped off into the unknown.

"...Adrian..."

Adrian could be counted on to cheer her up. Her boyfriend had a knack for bringing some light into any topic, no matter how serious. Honestly, she needed a little of that to boost her spirits. Adrian didn't pick up...and she was forced to leave him a message.

"Adrian...I was hoping to catch you before I left, but I guess that isn't going to happen." She sighed, and after a moment continued. "I um...I finally got some information about my mother. Vanguard says she's in the Rogue Isles." Tears threatened to fall again. She sniffed, trying to hold them back, her hand coming up to swipe at the few stubborn ones that fell. "I'm going undercover to find her. So um....so don't bother trying to call. I'm going to leave my cell phone here. It's not safe to take it over there." She bit her lip...and for a time didn't say anything. "Listen...be careful while I'm gone. And um....I'll do the same. Bye, love..."

Sam pulled the cell away from her ear, and reluctantly hit the end call button. She stared at it a moment, feeling a little heart sick. She didn't want to do this...but what choice did she have now? If she wanted to find her mother, she would have to go over there. She swiped at a few more tears as she set the cell phone down, then rose to scoop her bag off of the bed. As she walked out of the Academy, she swung by the administration office. It was empty, as most everyone was out on mission or elsewhere in general. With a bit of hesitation, she set the note she had written where it would easily be noticed...and walked out.

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