|
Post by Dead Sidekick on Dec 9, 2009 15:48:10 GMT -5
ooc: this thread is to carry out some role-play for the morning / early afternoon 14-ish hours for the heroes at Hank's Tavern after they've gone home and got a good night's sleep and before they hook back up with Solo in Chapter Six. Karma awards for Chapter 5 (and 5.5 for Solo) will be given at the start of Chapter Six. I'm going to "railroad" that everyone meets at Oldschool's homeless shelter at "3:00 PM" roughly 20 minutes or so before the warehouse explosion down the street (which is where Solo is)===== FLASHDANCE: It is 1:00 PM Wednesday afternoon. After the battle at Hank's Tavern, the heroes agreed to meet up with Oldschool at 3:00 PM, Flashdance and Greta spent the rest of the night drinking cheap beer and conducting an interview among other things ![;)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/wink.png) until the sun started to come up. Flashdance is awakened in bed by a bulky newspaper dropping on his chest. He's in his motel room at the Bronx Best Western. Cans from an empty 12 pack of Pabst Blue Ribbon litter the room. Upon the pillow next to him is pinned a note from Greta with her phone number. Standing at the foot of the bed is Arc, from the Paladin Institute. She likely let herself in the room using her electrical manipulation powers on the door's electronic locks. She laughs a bit sarcastically at surprising Leroy into waking up, and says "Good job maintaining a low profile." The front page of the Wednesday afternoon edition of the Daily Bugle newspaper (thick with grocery and clothing store advertisements) that Arc tossed on Flashdance's chest is emblazoned with the headline "HEROES HALT DRUG MONSTER MASSACRE AT TIMES SQUARE NIGHTCLUB" Below the fold, there is another story about the driveby shootings last night in and around Central Park. As Flashdance reads the "Monster Massacre" story, he notices that the byline of the article credits "Greta Myers" with authorship. The article mentions Oldschool, Shockwave and quotes Flashdance extensively, as Greta's interview recounted the story of the battle that transpired. There is no mention of the mutants Spellbound, Elixir, or Windchill. Arc sets up a laptop computer on the table next to Flashdance's bed and begins playing a video. The flickering video begins with buildings rising and falling out of view and scenes changing and Flashdance realizes that the footage is directly from his point of view as he leapt and teleported on the way to his meeting with Maximillian Pride at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Arc says, "Giving you nightvision is not the only thing the Paladin Institute did to your eyes." She pauses for dramatic effect, letting Flashdance fret about a loss of privacy, then says "Don't worry. They only record brief footage, video only, and only for a few seconds after you use your movement powers. Leaping, wall-crawling, and teleportation. It's part of a safeguard, for things like this..." Arc fast-forwards through Flashdance's showboat arrival at the Metropolitan Museum and pauses at the next use of his teleportation powers, filling the screen with the face of the masked gunman at the driveby shooting outside the museum before Flashdance teleported to the bus that the Broad Daylight Killaz thugs car-jacked. "His name is James Bourne. A former US Army Special Forces operator assigned to a 12-man covert counter-terrorism unit code-named 'Omega Strike.' They were the best of the best. All but three of them died last year in an attempted ULTIMATUM terrorist hijacking of a plane in Milan, Italy that resulted in the plane being blown up in the skies over the Mediterranean Sea. Understandibly, counter-terrorism agencies take plane hijackings very seriously these days. Bourne is accused of betraying that mission in Milan and killing his teammates. The two other operatives were found dead later in a plane crash in Germany." "That's the official line, and it took a lot of the right hand surveilling the left hand to come up with that. Even more classified is the fact that the Omega Strike team were surgically implanted with teleportation nano-circuitry far more accurate than what you possess, tied to heavily encrypted military GPS navigation signals. Nothing in Bourne's psychological profile suggests he would betray a team, particularly one devoted to fighting terrorism. His girlfriend was killed by terrorists. You might say he's quite zealous about striking back at terrorists hard. He's being made a scapegoat by some embarassed officials very high up in the military and intelligence communities." "We have reason to believe the team was actually betrayed by the other two operatives gone rogue. The reason we believe that is their teleportation circuitry used to be tracked by a deeply encrypted GPS signal database. Before the NSA shut down that operation, Bourne's teleportation signature only appeared at the scene of various terrorist training camps in Africa, South America, the Middle East and Central Asia. He jumps in, kills terrorists, and jumps out. Al Qaeda, JIHAD, Kobra, HYDRA, the Hand, Maggia crime families - in short he kills the bad guys. He does this on his own exactly as his former team was designed and trained to do, only now he's operating as a no-strings attached para-national entity codenamed: Solo. He's very resourceful, likely supported by mercenary networks with common interests. The other two Omega Strike members that survived the counter-terrorist assault on the plane in Italy last year, Gabriel Grant and Rowena Maclean, returned to base and blamed Bourne for betraying the Omega Strike team. But their stories don't hold up. Maclean recieved a large payment in her personal bank account from sources since identified as fronts for the Red Skull. Though two bodies were recovered from the later plane crash in Germany that officially killed Grant and Maclean, Grant's GPS tag was logged as accessing the teleportation net from the plane right before it crashed. Wherever he is, he's alive. With all the current 'Janus Directive' shake-ups of the intelligence community and resulting turf wars currently causing a lot of friction between SHIELD and Checkmate!, this is just another skeleton in the closet no one wants out. Including us, the Paladin Institute. Not only would it prove very detrimental to our organization if word got out we assisted in the development of the teleportation nano-circuitry used by apparent traitors funded by the Red Skull, America's violation of the Freedom of Power Treaty that prevents military and intelligence use of super-powered humans against other nations would certainly cause a big stink. There's a bit of a 'gang war' coming in the national and international intelligence communities as corruption is rooted out. One that could deal a serious blow that would undermine the Paladin Institute's independent efforts in rooting out that corruption if this 'Solo' were captured by officially sanctioned law enforcement agencies anywhere in the world. It's likely you'll never encounter him again, but if you do, your orders are to attempt contact with him and persuade him that you are employed by an agency with evidence that will prove he was framed last year, and try to arrange a meeting between him and us." "In the meantime, continue your hunt for the book stolen from the Metropolitan Museum." Arc fast-forwards through ensuing uses of Flashdance's teleportation power outside Hank's Tavern to the interior, where she pauses on a frame and highlights the Frankenstein's Monster and the Werewolf. "We've identified these two as members of an occult and paranormal themed team based in the Los Angeles area that call themselves 'The Night Shift.' What they're doing in New York City and why they're attacking local street gangs is unknown. These 'monsters' are attacking gangs loyal to various Maggia families and factions, and the 'Hammerhead' mentioned in the note left at the scene of the museum theft is a suspected Maggia family head." "Mr. Pride wants you to continue pursuing the case of the stolen book with these other superheroes you've met anyway, and he's writing the checks for it. He's expressed an interest in backing a secret fifth Paladin team if you and your new associates are successful in recovering the book. Such a team would be useful to the Paladin Institute in other areas, of course. Especially during this time with all the backstabbing going on in the intelligence community." The video turns black for a moment after Flashdance kicks the Werewolf through the wall at Hank's and then to a tumbling flash of light as Flashdance is buffeted against the wall of the low-rent apartments to the east of Hank's Tavern by high speed winds. "You meant to do that?" Arc teases. ===== [ooc: more to come ]
|
|
Flashdance
In(40) Member
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
'Let's Dance!'
Posts: 236
|
Post by Flashdance on Dec 10, 2009 1:21:58 GMT -5
Flashdance is sitting in a bar with Greta next to him and they are killing shots of Jim Beam served by a waiter who looks suspiciously like "Tatu" from Fantasy Island. It's been a fun night. Greta, all of his friends from Highschool and even his Grandpa who passed away a few years back are all kicking back, listening to the band of hound dogs on stage play some Garth, singing "Friends in Low places together. Sure, that stupid math test is in a few minutes and he hasn't studied for it, and strange enough doesn't seem to be wearing pants. Its all good though. They beat the bad guy and am now kicking back at the "Moonglow".
"Hey - Tatu, another round of 'beam - Paladin's paying!" "Sure thing Boss"
Then, Tatu does the strangest thing. He pours a shot of "Daily Bugle" and wings it at Leroy. He says "Good job maintaining a low profile"
All of the sudden, Leroys's eyes flicker open. A terrible taste in his mouth, he starts looking around for that little dog that must have rubbed it's @$$ on his tongue. Instead he just sees a bunch of beer cans, plus a note from Greta. He feels around on his face and finds his shades. Looking down, he notices he is still wearing his belt - the one with his name on the buckle... and not much else.
And Arc. Oh crap. "I am so busted" he thinks. At least she didn't storm in with a camera.
Luckily the pounding in his head quickly goes away due to his enhanced physical prowess. He listens to everything that she says, albeit in a slightly sheepish manner. After she has said everything he takes a moment to absorb it all and respond.
"Soooo, just so you know, this isn't as bad as it looks. I, um, was conducting PR with the local press and then went through a trust building exercise. "
"Seriously though, we didn't have much of a choice. Those monster movie rejects were hurting a lot of folks. I'm just lucky those other guys were there, or else my name might have had to be "Flash in the Pan"
"Wow, so what ever I see you guys can see to. I guess I'm alright with that see'ns how y'all gave me these powers... and I can't do much about it. (note to self - close eyes in the bathroom from here on out, especially during my "long" showers)"
"Did they do the eye thing to you to?"
"Yeah - I totally ment to do that. The wall never stood a chance against my face. Guess it will take a bit of practice to get that trick down against targets that fast"
"I have a couple of issues here though. This Solo Fella, well, let's just say he won't be winning any good Samaritan awards - he's a freaking headcase. There's no middle ground with him - just dead or alive. I watched him kill somebody yesterday. I'm going to do what you need me to, but do we really want him? He's a couple plugs short of a full pouch of "Redman" "
"Also you apparently didn't catch everything through the eye-cam" And he explains the Hydra scene - "know anything about that?"
**After she mentions about working with the others**
"No problem there; they seem like good people. We're supposed to meet up at this soup kitchen that the dude name Oldschool works at around 3:00 anyway. Soooo, speaking of which, I get the feeling Oldschool hangs out at this place a lot... a LOT. Not sure why, I've only known him for a day and I already know the guy is a freaking genius. Don't suppose Paladin would have a job for the guy?"
With that, Flashdance will talk to Arc, hopefully getting answers to his questions about the place he went. In the back of his mind though, now knowing about the camera in his eye, can't help but wonder if Arc DID have a camera when she came into the room...
|
|
|
Post by Dead Sidekick on Dec 10, 2009 10:39:39 GMT -5
OLDSCHOOL: After returning to the soup kitchen / homeless shelter on the Lower East Side where Mike Sherman makes his home after the battle at Hank's Tavern, he crawls into his bunk and soon falls asleep. In the morning at breakfast, he's greeted by a spry old man named Jenkins, a Korean War veteran with many long stories and a good nature just as long. Everyone at the shelter likes Jenkins. He sits around at the shelter playing checkers and chess most of the day as he spins his tales of war in the Far East and hard luck stories. But today he wants to talk about Oldschool, particularly his heroism as reported in the news. The local morning news is featuring stories of the driveby shootings in Central Park and the violence at Hank's Tavern. As always, Jenkins wraps up whatever he has to say with a fatherly chiding of Oldschool that he "doesn't belong here" - here meaning living in a homeless shelter since his failed business venture wiped him out financially. "You've got to stop moping around here, get in with some good people, and move beyond your setbacks." Jenkins, all of 77 years old, is still active, sweeping, cleaning, and cooking around the homeless shelter. He often jokes that he "can't die because he has a full day tomorrow." One day, Jenkins will die, leaving a legacy of hard work and fond memories for everyone that got to know him. The news of Oldschool responding to Maximillian Pride's call for superheroes has brought the homeless shelter an increase in food donations, perhaps in part due to people wanting to get a glimpse of the new superhero in town. Around 11::00 AM, a big rig truck from a local grocery chain pulls up to the warehouse converted into a food pantry, followed by a black stretch limosuine. The chauffeur gets out of the limo, and enters the homeless shelter asking for a moment of Oldschool's time. Rather shifty looking men pull up in a panel van behind the limo, and they get out and begin unloading the grocery truck into the homeless shelter's pantry - cases and cases of canned goods. One thing is for sure, and that is that the shelter will have a good Thanksgiving in November with all of this food. As Oldschool walks out to the limo with the chauffeur, Jenkins picks up a broom and follows them outside, idly sweeping the sidewalk. The heavily tinted back window of the limo rolls down, revealing a man in a dapper 1920's-era pinstripe suit with a strange-shaped head. The top of it is extremely flat, like a table. He says, "Please, get in" and the chauffeur opens the limo door for Oldschool. ===== [ooc: more to come ]
|
|
|
Post by Dead Sidekick on Dec 10, 2009 11:33:03 GMT -5
[Flashdance]
Arc laughs at Flashdance's embarrassment. "I assure you, the video transmit relays in our retinas have more to do with recording what you see for study later when we're in action with our powers than what we do in our spare time. And..." she muses, "You weren't exactly in a 3-piece suit when I assisted in surgically implanting the high impact shock absorbing musculature enhancements in your... legs at the same time."
"Seriously though, Paladin Control is not interested in being a peeping tom except for when their agents visit alternate planes of reality, battliing the supernatural with science. They only record when you use your powers, and it's only video. It's more to do with 'if you don't come back' from an Institute mission in our primary focus on extradimensional threats than wanting to keep you under surveilance constantly. The video glimpse of Solo was a lucky break."
"And no, the answer to whatever question you're forming about how the Institute's primary focus on supernatural threats ties into the ongoing intelligence community shakeups is 'classified.' Let's just say there's a lot of literal deals with the Devil out there."
"As for the Solo situation, if you do encounter him, you're on the same orders all other Paladin field agents have. Try to persuade him to come to us, and most certainly do what you can to keep him out of the hands of anyone else to the extent you can without compromising the Paladin Institute's official non-existence by gettting yourself captured."
"And you say you were briefly teleported away with the Werewolf? The machine you describe is odd, to say the least. The green uniform with orange straps sounds like HYDRA involvement. Just another terrorist organization too zealous about their religious bent, at least in the cells that actually worship Set or follow the cult of Kobra seeking to bring about their 'Age of Chaos.' I'll look into that and get back with you on what I find. Severe blood loss can cause hallucinations. How'd you get cured so fast? There's not even a scratch on you."
With that, Arc unzips a garment bag revealing a brand new Flashdance costume to replace the bloodsoaked one sliced by the thug at Hank's Tavern.
"It's SHIELD-issue Beta cloth, a bit more amenable protection against penetrators and edged weaponry. Don't get shot in the face." Arc jokes.
[Beta cloth Flashdance costume, Excellent Body Armor vs. Physical damage / Typical vs. Energy]
Arc then produces a new metallic baseball bat. "The alloy is classified, but you're not strong enough to break it on anything's head. Can't say the same for the heads you'll be bashing with it."
["Enduranium" baseball bat, Material Strength: Monstrous, Damage = Strength +1CS or Material whichever is less.]
Sliding back a panel in the handle area of the bat reveals an integrated cell phone / radio relay.
|
|
|
Post by TasK on Dec 10, 2009 12:29:10 GMT -5
Mike Sherman rolled to his side and slid his legs over the side of the bed to sit. He yawned as he blinked trying to adjust to the brightness of the room he shared with eight other men. His stomach gurgled in hunger, no doubt from the void created by eating all the pizza, last night.
He looked about the room, trying to focus on what seemed wrong. It was there, barely beyond his perception. His mind struggled to grasp the significance.
The light!
The light and noise. His hypersensive ears picked up all sorts of conversations. It wasn't 6 am. It was much later.
He either had slept in or someone had forgotten to wake him up. He always emptied the garbages in the morning because it was a rough neighbourhood. The alley behind the soup kitchen was notorious for violence and drug abuse. It was one of many chores, Mike volunteered for.
It was the only thing he had of self-worth lately. Something productive to do.
Mike walked into the common bathroom and brushed his teeth. Then he washed himself at the sink with his bar of soap. The shirt he had wore, yesterday, was torn and wrinkled. He grimaced when he looked at it's reflection in the mirror.
He'd have to take another shirt from the communal clothes bin he shared with his roomates. The only good thing was there always seemed to be plenty of T-shirts there. Not much for warm clothes like the shelter needed donated to, but beggars couldn't be choosers, he thought.
Mike was thankful, just the same.
He walked down the stairs after combing his hair and pulling his sneakers on. The tables were fairly empty, but many people were about talking to old Jenkins as the old man weaved his tales of bravery and heroism.
Jenkins was a war vet, who had served in the Korean War. It seemed such a shame to see a man who had served his country so bravely, have so little. It never seemed to bother the old man and he was a true inspiration to Mike. Jenkins at around 80, still did the work of three men around the shelter.
As Mike sat down, someone brought him a large bowl of soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. Heightened sight and hearing and he completely missed the person who had performed the good deed. It wasn't often someone got served at a soup kitchen. He had been so deep in thought dwelling on all the deaths from yesterday that he hadn't noticed.
Mike mused that someone was probably trying to butter him up to do the dishes for them tonight.
He had just finished his meal when he sensed someone watching him. He looked up to regard a gentleman wearing an oldschool suit with what looks like a chauffers hat quietly waiting to be noticed.
Mike nodded slowely when the man asked for a moment of his time. He stood and followed the man outside to a stretch limosine. Mike's pride fluttered angrily.
If it was Stark, he'd cave the playboy's car in, bodyguard or no!
Instead it was one of the strangest looking men he had ever saw. The man looked like an old mobster from the twenties and his head was so abnormally shaped that it took considerable willpower not to stare.
Mike climbed into the limosine at the man's invitation and took a seat opposite. He smiled goodnaturedly, pleased that it wasn't Tony Stark and at the man's manners.
So few people seemed to bother with 'please' anymore.
"Mike Sherman, " he said, introducing himself as he offered his hand. The man who sat opposite him was as big as himself, with large hands that looked powerful enough.
It had seemed too long since he had had a good handshake. There was nothing that said respect more than a firm handshake...
|
|
|
Post by Dead Sidekick on Dec 10, 2009 19:10:56 GMT -5
[Oldschool]
After Oldschool gets in the limo, the chaffeur gets in driver's seat and drives away, leaving the men unloading the canned goods into the shelter and Jenkins sweeping the sidewalk with a very disturbed and suspicious look on his face.
In the seat next to the flat-headed man is a vintage Thompson .45 sub machinegun - a "Tommy Gun" notorious for its history in the gang violence of the Prohibition days of Al Capone and organized crime. The man himself speaks with the mannerisms of an old mob movie, an almost comical Marlon Brando voice from a man that looks like a Dick Tracy villain. He never does introduce himself by name.
"I'm going to talk. You just listen, and listen carefully. Mr. Sherman. lets me tells you how things are, and how things can be. The police have been harassing me and my business associates every day since this past weekend about some artifact stolen from the Metropolitan Museum. It's beginning to try my patience, see. I don't know anything about that, but the cops lean on people like myself and my family to justifies their paychecks. I don't begrudge them that. Being a cop is an honest living, though it pays just little enough to make more lucrative offers tempting. Offers from people like me, who keep the police busy with things to do, see? They takes out people not cut out for crime, we takes out people not cut out for law enforcement. Some of theirs mole in to my business, some of mine wear badges. Keeps everyone honest. A mutual understanding. Business."
"Last night, you and your friends stopped a driveby shooting in Central Park that used a car stolen from me. And then you busted up an attack on one of my bars. For that, I'm appreciative. But then, your efforts led to the arrest of some of my people. Eight of my guys are in the hospital right now."
"Everybody has a price, Mr. Sherman. I'm making a down payment on you with this diversion of one of my grocery store's overstock to your shelter."
"Now that you and your friends have gots my attention, I thoughts I would return the favor and gets your attention, see? Alls I gotta do is make a call, push one little button, and my boys delivering food to your homeless shelter can turn it into a slaughterhouse. I'm not makin' threats, just statin' facts as they are and as they can be."
"I wants you and your friends to walk away and live happily ever after. We all want that, Mr. Sherman. I hopes you'll take my words to heart before our interests conflict to a less desireable resolution. A guy like you can go far seizing opportunties when they come up. I hopes you take this one."
The limo stops around a block away from the homeless shelter, and the chaffeur gets out and opens the door for Oldschool. Down the street, the big rig truck and the van pull away.
The strange flat-headed crime lord says, "Have a Happy Halloween" as Oldschool gets out of the limo.
After walking back to the homeless shelter, Oldschool finds Jenkins leaning against his broomstick. The wizened old man says, "I always tell you that sometimes when opportunity knocks, it's the devil on the other side of the door. Well..." indicating the limo that drives away in the distance, "what did the devil want?"
|
|
|
Post by Dead Sidekick on Dec 10, 2009 21:02:09 GMT -5
[SHOCKWAVE]
After the battle at Hank's Tavern, Shockwave returned to his studio apartment and went to sleep.
In the morning he awakens to see news stories on all the local channels about drive-by shootings that occurred last night and the alleged "monster attack" on the bar in Times Square.
Calls to Felicia's cell phone remain unanswered. When Shockwave calls the Metropolitan Museum, he briefly speaks to the curator, Mr. Pride, who informs him that Felicia did not come in to work today, did not call, did not return the Met Museum's Jeep SUV, and is not answering her phone.
Around 10:00 AM. a knock comes at the door of Nicholas Slade's / Shockwave's apartment. It is Dr. Edwin Lancaster, a former associate from the R&D division at SHIELD who also is the head of the physics department at Empire State University. The British ex-patriate speaks with a clipped Cockney accent that gives a sophisticated demeanor to his academic mannerisms.
They start with small talk, but the conversation turns to shop talk as colleagues about various projects they had worked together on at SHIELD.
Dr. Lancaster, "Eddie" to his friends, comments to Nicholas about his quiiting SHIELD over personal disagreements with the agency's inexplicable shifting of resources and removal / promotion of certain individuals overseeing projects of questionable morality and integrity.
Lancaster notes that the recent "Janus Directive" handed down at the behest of NSA advisor Henry Peter Gyrich has created as many Byzantine divisions in the intelligence community's various bureaucracies as it did merging departments together. It's a chaotic mess, but after the Freedom of Power Treaty was passed by the United Nations, the Checkmate! teams in the United States and the former Soviet Union fell under the auspices of SHIELD and there's a lot of stepped-on toes and infighting resulting from it.
Still, Dr. Lancaster wonders why Nicholas quit SHIELD when their department was fairly safe from the shakeups, and in fact had gained new resources from Project: Cadmus and new contracts with S.T.A.R. Labs in conjunction with deals with Stark Industries, Lexcorp, Wayne Enterprises, the Brand Corporation, Roxxon Oil, and Shaw Industries. Quite a large chunk of the world's leading technological innovators were now contributing to SHIELD's Research and Development division. Dr. Lancaster advises that Nicholas should at least "get a haircut" (meaning report in to SHIELD's main headquarters through the secret entrance of a barbershop "front" on Madison Avenue) and see what's going on, maybe come back to work for the agency. Barring that, he adds, if Nicholas is interested in teaching acoustic wave theory to physics students at ESU, he might be able to pull strings for him to create a position for him.
As Dr. Lancaster departs, he oddly notes that seven people were admitted to local hospitals last night with symptoms of vestibulocochlear nerve trauma of the kind that could resullt from high pressure explosions or dosimetric overloads from a sonic weapon much like the one they had worked on years ago trying to come up with a way to take down the Hulk. "A man with your expertise could help us look in to that."
=====
Shockwave goes to the Celestial Temple of Pizza restaurant and is greeted by the owner Giovanni. Leaving the restaurant with a big box of fresh pizza are three costumed teens, one with green skin and hair, another female with golden orange skin and hair - Robin, Beast Boy, and Starfire from the Teen Titans. The adolescent heroes nod a greeting to Shockwave as they pass. As Giovanni returns with Shockwave's bag, he mentions that Mr. Pride from the museum had called asking if anyone had seen Felicia since she left the heroes at the restaurant last night.
=====
Shockwave returns home with his computer, and begins researching information on the Frankenstein's Monster and the Werewolf. Not much information is available other than classic literature and old horror movie references. He then stumbles on some reports in the Los Angeles Times about a minor superhuman team called Night Shift, who's members all seem to have a horror-movie theme about them.
The Flashing Blades gang are street thugs and enforcers of mid-level prominence in New York City. The Bat Boys gang is all but dissolved, their star in the crime community pretty much fallen as new gangs - the Broad Daylight Killas, the Gutter Pirates, the anti-mutant Buzz Cuts, the Crimson Smiles, and the Doomsday Disciples have edged them out.
|
|
|
Post by shockwave on Dec 11, 2009 0:04:06 GMT -5
No more armor, so back to Nick.
With no leads on Felicia, Nick is worried, but unable to do much on that front. He makes a note to himself to check the police reports to find out if the SUV was spotted. A plan with little chance to get anywhere at least made him feel better than having no plan at all.
On the call with Mr. Pride, he makes sure to inquire about the license number of the SUV, any GPS tracking on the vehicle.
Nick is obviously surprised by the appearance of Dr. Lancaster at his door. Is he just playing with me? Do they know that was me last night? This can't be good at all. He is polite, but avoids saying too much, mostly looking for signs of what the his former colleague's angle was. Now what? I don't want to get back into the corrupt mess that SHIELD is, especially after walking off with dangerous project data. A teaching position could be interesting...probably pays better than freelance computer work, and would give access to a better lab. Would that make it too easy for Lancaster to keep tabs on me though? Sounds fishy. All of this shuffling of agencies sounds like an even bigger disaster, since it consolidated too much power in an already corrupt agency. Maybe they were the ones who would need to be monitored, and perhaps the teaching position would put me in a position to turn the tables and watch SHIELD through Lancaster?
As Dr. Lancaster leaves, Nick says he'd be willing to look over the evidence about a possible sonic attack, and will have to think about a possible university position, but that it was interesting.
===== Back in armor for the pickup.
Shockwave thanks Giovanni for all of his help and hospitality, mentioning he'd spoken to Mr. Pride about Felicia too, and was worried about her whereabouts. He acknowledges the other heroes as they leave.
===== Back to Nick, ditching the armor.
After some research, Nick is glad he'll at least have a few things to contribute for new information when meeting at the shelter in the afternoon. With that research done, he heads for the barbershop, wondering if this is the right move, or if this is the beginning of the end of a very short career as a costumed hero.
|
|
|
Post by Dead Sidekick on Dec 11, 2009 16:59:06 GMT -5
ooc: I have no idea of the specifics of why Shockwave quit his position with SHIELD, or what exactly he saw as corruption, so I'm winging it here with vagueness to take off running with it as it is developed.
=====
Mr. Pride from the Met Museum laments that there is no GPS tracking system in the Jeep SUV that Felicia borrowed. He says if he doesn't hear from her by tonight he's going to file a missing persons report with her and report the SUV stolen. He seems rather upset that if she's okay, he may have to fire her, but if she's not okay, the least of her worries is not having a job to come back to. Regardless, Mr. Pride seems genuinely concerned. "It's not like her to just not show up to work without calling."
=====
Dr. Lancaster didn't seem to be fishing for any information from Nick, and other than having noticed the vestibulocochlear nerve trauma, not something that shows up often in emergency rooms, much less seven in one night. There was no indication that he made any connection between Nick and Shockware's stun attacks. Nick does know that Lancaster is not trained as a field agent. If SHIELD were going to send someone to spy on him, it definitely wouldn't be Edwin Lancaster.
Still, it might be a good idea to sweep the apartment for listening devices later. With SHIELD, you just never know. For all Shockwave knew, he could have had just invited a Life Model Decoy of Lancaster into his apartment.
It might be a good idea to wear the armor to the meet-up with Oldschool and the others at 3pm, just in case SHIELD agents do ransack Shockwave's apartment while he's not there.
=====
Shockwave wraps up his brief research into the Frankenstein's Monster and the Werewolf and a makes a quick study reference of some of New York City's street gangs, the most information he finds is on the "Buzz Cuts" gang, the only one of the gangs with a political bent as they are highly vocal about their hatred of mutants. They all wear short shaved haircuts, vintage B-52 bomber crew jackets, and Doc Marten work boots, sometimes with Nazi regalia like their "skinhead" counterparts, but more often with anti-mutant slogans tattooed on their arms. "Thin The Herd" is one of their favorite slogans. Without a commercially available way to track and detect mutants, most of their assaults have been upon normal humans that for some reason "looked mutie" to them. They seem to be a just another self-justifying ignorant lot.
=====
Nick goes to the false front barbershop that serves as the secret entrance to SHIELD's underground base, a sign in the window says "Closed." Whatever is going on, the base is on lockdown. for the day.
|
|
Flashdance
In(40) Member
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
'Let's Dance!'
Posts: 236
|
Post by Flashdance on Dec 11, 2009 17:51:41 GMT -5
"I'd appreciate any info you can get. I'm not to fond of other people teleporting me. It just feels... violating some how. I'll ask the others if they saw anything similar.
"Severe blood loss can cause hallucinations. How'd you get cured so fast? There's not even a scratch on you."
"Nah - I saw what I saw. The others would know I blinked out for a few seconds as well. Anyway, out of this cast of characters that I met up with was this lady named "Spellbound". Not sure exactly what she could do, but she was able to heal me up. Good thing to; as you can see from my shirt I should have a nasty scar running from my neck to my belt buckle. But I feel great!
With that, Arc unzips a garment bag revealing a brand new Flashdance costume to replace the bloodsoaked one sliced by the thug at Hank's Tavern.
"It's SHIELD-issue Beta cloth, a bit more amenable protection against penetrators and edged weaponry. Don't get shot in the face." Arc jokes.
[Beta cloth Flashdance costume, Excellent Body Armor vs. Physical damage / Typical vs. Energy]
Arc then produces a new metallic baseball bat. "The alloy is classified, but you're not strong enough to break it on anything's head. Can't say the same for the heads you'll be bashing with it."
*Flashdance lets out a low, slow whistle*
"Arc, I love you. Did I ever tell you that? THIS is what I'm talking about! This outfit is light as my old one"
**He then swings the bat around in an obviously show-off manner, making a silly "ninja 'Kai'" when he is done**
"and this bat feels like it's' balanced just for my swing! Can this phone make 900 calls? Um, not that I would or anything. Just asking in case it got stolen...thankyouthankyouthankyou!!!"
**Flashdance puts on his new duds and admires himself in the mirror. Somehow the belt buckle on this one seems a bit shinier than the last one**
"Seriously though - thanks. I guess in training it's hard to remember how easily I can still be hurt in a real fight. This helps a lot. I think I am going to jump into my civilian clothes and go for a run before I meet up with the others at that shelter, and maybe grab a bite or 5 to eat - man I'm hungry now days!"
"Besides, I need to make sure I look good for my interview on the six o'clock news tonight"
Flashdance pauses for a second before looking back at Arc, winks and says "... just kidding!"
|
|
|
Post by TasK on Dec 11, 2009 22:48:48 GMT -5
Oldschool frowned when the man did not shake his hand, but kept his comments to himself and listened. The man's tone was one of a man who did not like to be interrupted. Mike leaned back and crossed his arms.
He was surprised when the man spoke of donating to the shelter in reward of last nights adventure. The tingle of pride, however, was soon squashed as the man's words turned to veiled threats.
Oldschool was not amused. This... gangster had him bent over a barrel. There was nothing he could do. There were far too many innocents that would suffer on far too many levels.
Food was one... lives were another.
Keeping his face neutral, Oldschool exited the car. He did not turn around as he walked away. He heard the limo pulling away. There was nothing he could have said.
Should have just boot-stomped him though the trunk.
Oldschool almost didn't notice Jenkins, but he turned and studied the old man for a long moment, considering. Finally, he filled the old man in on everything. He needed advice and Jenkins had seen alot of life, and war.
There had to be someway to get out of this...
|
|
|
Post by Dead Sidekick on Dec 12, 2009 3:14:41 GMT -5
{Oldschool]
Jenkins listened to what Oldschool told him about the conversation in the limo, and informs him that the flatheaded man is "Hammerhead," a major East Coast Maggia crime family boss as they sat at a table with a chessboard.
Jenkins listens to Oldschool lament of the dangers he has placed on the homeless shelter, and takes that warrior poet tone that enthralls everyone that take the time to listen to Jenkins to discover he sometimes dispenses wisdom.
"What is a captured soldier's first duty?"
Jenkins repeats the question, then answers it. "What is a captured soldier's first duty? A captured soldier's first duty is to escape. This goes to the very essence, the very heart of the warrior's philosophy."
Jenkins smirks at the muscular hero's quizzical look. "We play chess. Sometimes you beat me, sometimes I beat you. But everytime we play, we are mindful of how each move either forces the other to move a piece or move pieces into position all with the goal of gaining and pressing advantages until checkmate. Pawns sacrificed here and there. Moves that seem inscrutable and counter-intuitive become the key to victory. Chess divides the lucky from the tactically brilliant."
"It is the same for a captured soldier. The war does not end in a POW camp. My war never did. The warrior's philosophy seeks advantage in all things, even seeming defeat."
"And so, now Hammerhead has you over a barrel. Or does he? Is that what you are? A pawn futilely trying to checkmate a king by yourself? No escape, just close enough to the king to be killed? Or are you protected by other pieces? If the king takes you, does he endanger himself of checkmate?"
"I will tell you what I think. I think Hammerhead stinks at chess. He's frightened over the loss of a few pawns, lashing out, and in doing so giving momentum to his opponent. He thinks you and your friends are a threat, and in doing so is opening himself to a more subtle threat. There are unseen forces at work here. A bigger picture, the whole chessboard, this gang war."
"Look at you. You're already considering inaction as an option. Afraid your actions will provoke an attack that could come at at any moment just as food deliveries from Hammerhead could come at any moment. He has such power, such a large army arrayed against you, is that it? You might as well be taking orders from Hammerhead if he's dictating your strategy. We've played chess many times, Mike. I know you're a better chess player than this. You have a warrior's heart. You understand the chessboard."
"I didn't see any corrupt cops or hit squads with Hammerhead. Just goons with food, and you getting into a limo to be cowed like a lonely pawn. Words have you uncertain of your path. You're letting Hammerhead recruit your fears and doubts to keep you out of the game."
Jenkins gets up to walk away in a feigned huff, but pauses enigmatically. "I don't want to play chess with you anymore if you're not going to try to win all the time."
|
|
|
Post by Dead Sidekick on Dec 12, 2009 17:32:18 GMT -5
ooc: Spellbound's player is having computer issues but will rejoin us as soon as possible.
[Elixir / Windchill / Spellbound]
It is Wednesday, October 14th, 2009, 2:00 pm.
After some morning classes, Elixir walks into Sparky's, a hamburger grill on campus at Empire State University, wearing his mask and costume. Walking through the quad, he had witnessed a small student demonstration, protesting in support of the current Mutant Registration Act currently being debated in Congress.
The news of last night's battle at Hank's Tavern keeps repeating on the local TV networks. From those, Elixir learns that Flashdance, Shockwave, and Oldschool had a hand in stopping a driveby shooting and a bus hijacking in Central Park earlier in the evening.
He finds Windchill in costume, sitting in a booth with a bottled water that he is using his powers to grow crystalline ice sculptures on the table. For the most part, the grill is empty, save for a few students that are fascinated with what Windchill is doing, but nervously leave him alone.
As Elixir approaches Windchill, he notices that the air around his booth is mildly cold, not dangerously so, but a bit uncomfortable. He is unshaven, and depressed looking. He looks like he hasn't slept.
Spellbound has yet to arrive.
|
|
|
Post by Dead Sidekick on Dec 12, 2009 17:49:49 GMT -5
[Flashdance]
Arc smiles curtly. "The cell phone is for general use, but don't go nuts ordering Chinese takeout with it. The radio system puts you in direct communication with Paladin Control and other agents in the field, and there are some, but that's classified. Use it only if you have to."
"And try not to get your new costume trashed. Beta cloth isn't exactly off-the-rack."
"If you need anything, call us, discreetly."
With that, Arc leave Flashdance to prepare for his meet up with the other heroes at Oldschool's soup kitchen shelter at 3:00pm.
|
|
Elixir
In(40) Member
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
Posts: 232
|
Post by Elixir on Dec 12, 2009 22:02:26 GMT -5
Elixir sighs in resignation at the demonstration, thankful that it is only a small representation. He hates the fact that outspoken ignorant people can, and do, try to sway public opinion, like the debate to teach evolution. Someday this is all going to come to a head, and that will be ugly he thinks.
I’ll be damned if I’m going to let some yahoo in Washington make me register, while they line their pockets with dollars from tobacco and big oil, or funnel money to arm terrorists in foreign countries.
Elixir sighs again.
Late last night he texted, his fraternity brothers and let them know that the band wasn’t going to work out since all that was left was the bass guitarist. He dragged himself through his classes in the morning, earning curious looks from his classmates since he was usually one of the most involved students. He tries to walk tall though while in costume, can’t be a hero while slouching he chides himself.
When he walks into Sparky’s he orders a coke, large fries, a giant burger, and asks for a bottle of tabasco sauce to go with it. Then he walks over to join Windchill.
Speaking quietly, Elixir asks, “Hey Windchill, you eaten anything yet? Listen, I’m here if you need anything. I’m not going to pretend I know what you’re going through, but I’m here.”
Hesitantly, Elixir unfolds some wrinkled pages that he’s been walking with. “Also, I went back afterwards and got these, they’re the lyrics you all were using. You may not want them now, but hang on to them.”
Once his burger arrives, Elixir dumps the whole bottle of sauce onto it, patiently tapping it to keep it pouring. He’ll slowly eat, while keeping an eye out for Spellbound. Between mouthfuls Elixir says, “We need to connect with Oldschool, Flashdance, and Shockwave. They’re our lead to what’s going on right now, and they know more about this than we do. They also need to know that the monsters that attacked were some kind of artificial creation, they weren’t really alive.”
|
|