Sometimes it could seem like Alex wasn’t one for thinking. That wasn’t true of course, but pick the risky path enough and people start to wonder.

She’d already had a plan in mind before the situation started to evolve – before Ultion showed up and those demon-things found a way to get even weirder – and just because the circumstances were changing didn’t mean she had to change with them. It didn’t matter whether the creatures were possessed kids or simply out to play more mind games; those things were a problem, people were in danger, and her powers had never really suited much beyond the direct approach.

Alex at least found the time to spare Victoria a glance, a cursory nod, before stepping up. Maybe there might’ve been more had she chosen to go comms-on but there was no fixing that now. Someone had to be the first to charge out of the blocks, and that might as well be her.

“Hey assholes!” Barghest yelled, making her way across the straight with purpose. “This is my turf and fear is my thing, so you can get the hell away from them.”

Arms wide and fingers splayed like claws, dark power dripped from her silhouette like oil. Her shadow came alive. “Trouble’s right here if you want it, so either you run on home and let C know I’m waiting or I’ll make you the message.”

Eh, sounded better in her head.

---

Alex is attempting to Provoke the shadow demon things into focusing on (and presumably attacking) her. Obviously ignore this if they're not susceptible at this time.
03:15, Today: Alex (Barghest) rolled 4 using 2d6.  Provoke Someone (+Superior).

Well that's a miss anyway.

PAYBACK
Gritting his teeth, Payback fights his way farther into the inferno. And over the roar of the flames, and the cloying suffocating smell of roses, he hears a voice just up the stairs and to the left (where the smoke is thickest) the rise up in disgust and terror:

"OH MY GOD, NO! JEREMY! JEREMY! STAY AWAY! STAY AWAY!"

Before dissolving into a blood-curdling wail.

And at the same time he can see down the hall to his right, a large wide open room with what looked like metal tanks all along the edges. And he caught hints of mint in the rose-smell.

Which is what gasoline smelled like when it burned.

The fire was in that room now, and creeping toward the tanks.

GHOST AND INDIGO
The teleporting took the soldiers by surprise, but not for long. As soon as Indigo and Ghost were clear, they split into two groups. One circled to the left, and started firing small pellets sizzling with electricity at Indigo. The second circled to the right and started firing those large net-cannisters. One, two, three, four.

And the leader fell back between them and he looked up to the helicopter and put his wrist to his mouth. Looks like he's about to call for backup.

And you both hear the screaming from inside the building. Whatever was happening in there was escalating.

OOC: Indigo, whatever those things are, they will certainly hit you if you don't do something.

BARGHEST AND ULTION
The three shadowy forms holding back, their heads snapped around at Bargest's voice and they looked around, afraid and uncertain. The shadows that covered them seemed to droop, and small puddles of shadow formed around their feet.

The other two, however, looked up from their accosting of the Coven women, made eye contact, and suddenly their forms shifted. Their arms grew longer, faces extended and grew pointed and sharp.

The one on the steps grabbed Pink Mohawk by the hair and neck (and its fingers ran like liquid into impossibly long ragged talons and wrapped around her neck) and spun her around and held her to close. It's mouth opened, its teeth nightmare fangs, and it seemed about to bite into the woman's neck.

"Trouble?" said the other, its voice a low whisper, "We are the trouble and you will leave us or we bite and bite and bite."

OOC: Ultion, the three that are holding back look like nothing so much as small children who are worried about getting into trouble. Get them to stand down and the other two will probably do so as well.

OOC: Bargest, don't forget to mark Potential for the miss.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:22, Fri 17 Mar 2023.

"That's it, we're outta here, hang on," Susanna said, quickly getting her bearings for the next teleport.  Whatever this newest surprise heading their way was, or more precisely her way, she didn't intend to stick around to find out anything about it.  And Ghost was right, they had to help Payback.

But she didn't want to risk doing a teleport straight down to the street from here, not with two people.  If she collapsed from having overexerted her powers, she wouldn't be any help to anyone.  There was a shorter building nearby, though, and she used that as a stop along the way, bringing them there first, then down to the sidewalk a short distance from the flames.


14:22, Today: Indigo rolled 8 using 2d6+2.  Defend.
Looks like she's still putting herself in danger.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:26, Sun 19 Mar 2023.

" ... else we will bite and bite and bite."

The shadow-thing's bloody promise echoed in Vicky's ears.  The threat was dripping with violence, with a malign intelligence.  What the heck had taken over these children?

With the burgeoning hostage situation developing rapidly — and threatening just as quickly to spin to out of control — Vicky spared a glance at Barghest in all of her terrifying glory.

Ultion was quick ... tough even ... if she mimicked any concrete or brick or steel that were ubiquitous in any urban setting.  Barghest could be a holy terror ... sometimes literally.  But neither one of them were a speedster.  Even with their powers combined, they couldn't hope to be faster than the shadow-talons that had already slipped around the vulnerable spots on the women's necks.

"These two have the drop on us."  She whispered to Alex in her best really looking for a plan, here  voice.

"But I think they'll back down if we can get the other three to stand down.  See if you can take them out ... I'll try to keep these women safe."

Ultion swallowed once and charged toward the pair of shadowy miscreants that had taken the hostages.  Ever since she had merged with Markus ... she had had heightened abilities.

Time to put them to the test!

13:56, Today: Victoria (Ultion) rolled 5 using 2d6-1.  Savior (Defend). – 5
A failure (but yay potential!)
This message was last edited by the player at 18:57, Sun 19 Mar 2023.

Payback looked between the metal tanks, and the direction of the scream.
He stood paralyzed for a second, unsure what to do. That much gas could level the whole building. But there was a person in trouble for certain in the other direction...

With a yell of frustration, he tore himself away, running in the direction of the scream.
"Person in danger in here. Gas tanks set up. Looks like arson, not accident. Going for the person." He yelled into his comm in a clipped tone.

God I hope there's no other people in here... He thought as he ran, absorbing what fire he could as he moved. ...And that the others get here soon.

When Indigo told him to hold on, Ghost realized how tightly he’d be clinging to Indigo’s forearm. Readjusting his grip, he gave Indigo a quick nod.

“Copy,” Ghost responded to Payback over the coms, “Indigo and I are on our way. We ran into a tactical team on a nearby roof. They were kitted out with net launchers to capture something but they seemed surprised to see me so I don’t think its us. Stay safe!”

PAYBACK
Up the stairs and into the open door at the top. The smoke is thick and black and oily up here. It's an effort even to breath. The heat is oppressive, like a blanket, weighing him down, making it hard to move.

Inside he sees a lab tech, a middle-aged woman, mousy, glasses, hair pulled back in what was a severe bun but is coming unraveled. Her lab coat is signed and smouldering at the edges.

Why wasn't she going through the door?

Because between her and the door (right in front of Payback) was what looked like a puddle of human flesh. He could see a set of clothing off to the side. The tech was backing away (farther into the fiery inferno!) away from it.

As he watches, the puddle of flesh bubbles and starts to shift and move. It forms a horrid human-like face that turns, turns, emitting a long sad high-pitched whistle.

It catches sight of Payback and starts flowing toward him with shocking speed, rising up from the floor and forming an undulating lump with that horrid face at the front. Instead of the whine, it starts to emit a low gurgling growling sound.

Also, the air in here, it smells... radiation smells like cinnamon. The air in here is like cinnamon tinged with the bitterest of almonds. As soon as he smells it, he feels lighter somehow. Like maybe he can absorb more energy if he tried...

OOC: If you try to absorb more energy instead of helping the tech or responding to the lumpy puddle monster, you can mark Potential while you do so.

ULTION AND BARGHEST
As soon as Ultion starts moving, the little creature and its buddy stand up from the two woman, in creepy unison, and lock eyes with Ultion. And suddenly the around her prickles with some kind of chaotic energy and her chest locks up and her throat closes and she can't draw a breath.

The two standing back are looking a little braver now...

OOC: Mark a Condition. If you decide to try to absorb this energy, shift Freak up and any other label down. If you decide to keep acting without doing so (and still not breathing), shift Savior up and any other Label down.

INDIGO AND GHOST
Indigo manages to catch hold of Ghost and teleport two shit hops, but as she does she's struck in the shoulder and back by two of the little pellets and an electric shock goes through her body.

So when she appears, on the ground below, safely out of the way, that side of her body is numb and tingling and her head is swimmy and addled and she finds it hard to concentrate.

The soldiers do not move to engage. They start toward the building instead.

OOC: Mark a Condition. If you want to teleport again this scene, you will have to roll to unleash your powers.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:59, Thu 23 Mar 2023.

The shadow-children's dark energy broke over Victoria like a wave, and she felt herself ... eroding.  Not physically, but spiritually.  It was as if the power threatened to unmake her in some way.

Sometimes though — as when iron faces the terrible heat of the forge — the ordeal itself, even a terrible one, has an altogether strengthening effect.

Vicky felt something within her, a certain kind of pressure or resistance, give way ... and the power flowed into her.  She felt her skin darken, and her cheeks hollow.  Her flesh became pockmarked and cracked like weatherbeaten stone.  She became aware of the hum of the distant street lamps.  The scent of the rotting garbage from a nearby alleyway ... mixed with the pungent tang of fear coming off of the coven.  All of her senses sharpened and Ultion became something both more than — and less that — human.

Ultion looked at Barghest, her voice was lower now.  Full of menace.  Rough and gravelly.  "Looks like they want it the hard way."

Marking Angry and shiting Freak up / Mundane down.

Fire. A... Puddle monster? And now radiation!? This was spinning out of control way too fast for Payback's liking.

If he went for the woman, the monster would have free roam, and the radiatiln would still affect both her and Payback. Unacceptable.
If he went for the monster, radiation might kill the woman. Unacceptable.
And if he absorbed the radiation, the monster would have free reign to attack them. Unacceptable.

Options A through C just wasn't enough. So screw that. He'd make option D.

With a furious grunt he opened himself up to the radiation, sucking in that sweet poison. He moved towards the monster as he kept channelling the energy. He could feel it intimately inside him. He could feel it strengthening him, just like he felt how it would melt him apart if he let go of his control for a moment. It was intoxicating.

And then he tried to flare the energy at the monster at the same time as he absorbed it. He'd never done something like this before. But what better time than a literal trial by fire?
Come at me. I'm gonna melt you down to nothing. shouldn't be too hard, seeing as you're halfway there already.!" he yelled, his voice warping and echo-y from the energy coursing through him.

He then  glanced at the woman, his eyes flaring bright green behind his mask.
"Get outta here! go for the fire escape!" he called to her, not quite as loud to avoid the monster focusing bakc on her.
Taking a deep breath he flared his energy once more, focusing on funneling the radiation at the monster.

OOC:
Since I'm trying to both absorb radiation and engage the monster at once, I figure I'll take the potential for absorbing, and roll "unleash my power" to do it succesfully.

12:37, Today: Markus (Payback) rolled 5 using 2d6-1.  Unleash powers

Aand that's another potential, making it 3. Time for a new move or something.

This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 12:32, Thu 23 Mar 2023.

Luckily, Susanna's feet were safely on the ground when she discovered that she was having some trouble standing upright.  Her head was spinning like she'd just gotten off a merry-go-round and she felt like she'd just pulled an all-nighter, but those two problems weren't even the worst of it.  No, the worst was that one side of her body had gone all tingly from whatever those pellets were that had hit her, as if half of her had fallen asleep and was just now starting to wake up.

Was there something still stuck in her skin, a dart or something that she could pull out?  With her good hand she reached for her affected shoulder where she'd felt something hit, patting anxiously around the area.  This was the worst possible timing.  Just when the others really needed her help, she was suddenly useless.

Glancing back at the roof where they'd met the soldiers, she turned back to Ghost.  "We've got incoming," she said, grimly, her voice sounding as unsteady as she felt.  "They must be here for whoever or whatever started this fire."

Marked Insecure.

“Guess they do,” Barghest agreed, seemingly unconcerned by her partner’s transformation. You got used to these things given time.

She flexed her would-be talons, the motion releasing her very real claws with a sharp snap. Darkness welled about her deeper still, pooling thick and inky at her feet, yet now there were stray flecks of red among the shadow. That same claret colour sparked in her eyes, set them ablaze against a black richer than the early morning light. It left her looking a step removed from those shadow beings – maybe they both were that now. Monsters to fight monsters.

And then she was moving, that writhing bloodshot shade trailing like smoke in her wake.

---

So we're charging in backed by a dread aura and looking to throw hands:

00:33, Today: Alex (Barghest) rolled 7 using 2d6+3.  Directly Engage a Threat.

Just barely staying on top of things. I'll take Frighten the Opposition for my pick.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:40, Fri 24 Mar 2023.

Ghost saw Indigo waver after their latest jump and kept his grip on her arm a moment longer to help her steady herself, "Agreed, and if we want answers we'll need to find the fire starter first."

"You still up for this?" Ghost asked, nodding his head at Indigo's shoulder where she'd been struck. Struck protecting him because he'd acted without thinking. Taking a deep breath, Ghost gave himself the count to five to calm down then began to take in and mentally organize the details of their situation and surroundings. He needed to find a way to deescalate the situation then take safe and deliberate steps toward it.

No need to charge in like a cowboy again.

---

I'd like to assess the situation.
20:13, Today: James (Ghost) rolled 10 using 2d6+2 ((3,5)).
I believe I get to ask two questions on a ten so:
How could we best end this quickly?
What here can I use to contain the fire?

PAYBACK
Whatever this radiation was, it was like no other kind of energy Payback had ever tried to absorb or re-direct. The moment he started drawing it into himself it felt like it sank deep into his bones, like it had just been waiting for an invitation. And so when he tried to shoot back as he absorbed it, it stayed inside him, burning his muscles and bones, drying out his mouth and making his skin feel tight and dry.

But at the same time, he suddenly felt a rush, like his powers increased all in a moment. He felt like he could absorb this whole fire all at once if he tried...

But then the horrid puddle monster washed over him, covering him in warm spongy flesh, trying to shove him out of the room and back down the stairs.

(he did see the tech escape out of another door in the back, although it seems to be a door that leads farther into the building, rather than toward the entrance)

OOC: Roll to Take a Powerful Blow.

INDIGO AND GHOST
Left with a momentary reprieve, the scope out the situation.

You do, however, hear what sounds like Ultion and Bargest in some sort of melee just around the corner...

OOC: The soldiers will leave if they 1. capture Ghost, 2. eliminate all witness from the scene, or 3. are ordered to by their superiors. The model of helicopter hovering overhead has built-in fire suppression systems.

ULTION AND BARGHEST
The dark tenor of Ultion's voice stops the creatures up short. They start and break eye contact and suddenly she can breathe again.

Just in time for Barghest, looking more than a little like a shadow creature herself, to charge at the two of them, talons flying. They land in a crazy, feral heap. Barghest gets in several good blows, and takes a long, deep scratch on her chest.

But then her aura of dread fills the air.

The two that were standing back pause. One of them yells "No!" and the shadow bleeds away from him and trickles onto the sidewalk like spoiled milk. And it's definitely Aaron. He backs away, fear filling his face. "I don't want this! I can't..."

And he breaks and runs down a side street. When he does so, the other that had been holding back also cuts and runs (although his shadow sheathe remains) in the same direction.

The remaining two stop fighting and back away from Bargest, trembling. The shadow covering them ripples and mottles, as though disturbed by some inner current.

They start looking for an escape route. Not seeing anything, they turn a full 180 and run away down the main street.

OOC: Barghest takes a couple of solid hits. Mark a Condition. The immediate threat is over, although the last two would very easy to catch. And the other two maybe, if you hustled.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:30, Sat 25 Mar 2023.

“That’s it? That’s all you’ve got?!”

Alex was none too pleased to say the least. For all they’d talked a big game those things had turned tail without her even breaking a sweat, and having been dragged out of bed to sit through warnings about their spooky boss she’d expected something more – or at least something she could sink her teeth into. They’d let her get her blood up then left her cold, and that pissed her off something royal.

Though practically shaking with frustration she still held her ground, reigning herself in. One of Barghest’s hands was balled tightly in a fist at her side, practically smoking in her fury, while the other pawed blindly at the fresh gash in her chest. She hadn’t bothered actually looking at it yet, only having eyes for the fight and the horizon. It didn’t even hurt in the moment anyway.

She’d had worse. Probably.

“Bite and bite,” Barghest scoffed. She threw up a choice vulgar gesture towards the retreating monsters’ backs. “Go ‘head and bite that!”

---

Marking Angry, and subsequently not being particularly immediately concerned with the truth behind our attackers or the state of their victims.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:24, Sun 26 Mar 2023.

Struggling as the ooze thing enveloped him, Payback yelled in equal parts fury and desperation. The woman didn't leave when he gave her the chance. His powers weren't working now when they needed to more than ever, and this despite the fact that he could feel them getting stronger as he absorbed the radiation. Was he really that much for a screwup? Had he inherited his dad's useless traits?

Payback felt almost numb as he realised his situation.
The building was gonna blow any second now. And he'd saved no one. He hadn't even had time to find Aaron. And now it seemed he'd leave him alone with their old man. Maybe he should have left it to the others, done something more on his level...

"NO!" he roared. The monster was on him. Surely it couldn't handle all. And The fire couldn't blow the Gasoline if it was gone. And he had the power to take it all now, if only he could make it work. One last try.
"Please..." he muttered from within the monster as he concentrated all his anger, all his frustration, all his fears to focus on one thing. Taking in all the fire.
"WORK DAMMIT!"

OOC:
23:09, Today: Markus (Payback) rolled 8 using 2d6+2.  Take a powerful blow

Alright, in order:
I struggle past the pain, and take the conditions guilty and afraid from the powerful blow.
But I also give ground, giving the goo monster an opportunity.

From my advance for getting three potential, I choose to rearrange my labels. Specifically, I switch savior and freak, and add +1 to freak. Thus my freak is now at +1, and my saviour is at -1.

Lastly, I try to unleash my power one last time, to absorb the fire from the building with my seemingly new and improved power.

23:47, Today: Markus (Payback) rolled 9 using 2d6+1.  Unleash powers to absorb fire.

Ok, so it works this time. Except the DM will now tell us how it's temporary or unstable.

"Crap."  Now there were three bad things going on that they had to deal with, and Susanna was liking it all less and less.  "Can you see what's going on there?" she asked Ghost, nodding towards the sounds of the fight.  "Then I can go see if Payback needs help.  If he needs a rescue I won't be able to get both of you out of there at once."

Truthfully, she wasn't sure if she'd even be able to get herself out, not the way she felt, but she wasn't going to say that out loud.  If she got told to sit this one out, she'd just have to disobey orders, and she didn't really want to do that.

"Aaron, no!"  Vicky cried, the concern sounding out of place in her distorted voice.

She stated after the pair of shadow-children that had her partners brother.

"Wait!  We can help."

Vicky will Provoke Someone, hoping to get him to stop running away, or at least let her catch up to him.
05:26, Today: Victoria (Ultion) rolled 9 using 2d6+1.  Provoke Someone (Superior). – 9
Aaron will err and Vicky gains a critical opportunity.

BARGHEST AND ULTION

The members of the Coven are starting to get themselves and up organized. Pink Mohawk seemed ready to hug and thank Barghest when she walked away spouting profanity. She eyes the young Mask dubiously as stands and curses out the little creatures with great gusto.

The dark-haired woman under the streetlamp gets up and the second dark-haired one grabs her and hugs her.

And they both give Barhest a piercing look, "Sister," one says. And then again, "You're sisters." And the second says, "We can always tell."

Meanwhile, when Ultion calls out after Aaron, he stops. Turns. His face filled with the 'will I get in more trouble' kind of fear common to children.

"Who are you?" he asks, "How do you know my name?"

OOC: Ultion: he's about 20 feet away. You might just catch him with a good, hard lunge.

INDIGO AND GHOST
Just as Indigo is wondering what the f*ck to do about all this, there's a bright flash of light just behind her, and she turns just in time to see Ghost fall to the ground in a heap. Behind him, the lead soldier steps out of shadows, holding a long baton sparking at the end. He bends down, eyes locked on Indigo, and grabs Ghost and throws him up over his shoulder.

He starts backing away, "Don't do anything stupid, little girl. I don't know what this asshole told you, but you don't want be his sidekick in any of this. It's too big for you. You stay right there and let me do my job."

OOC:

Ghost: if you happen to have a chance to post before Indigo, you can't really move, but you can still operate any computer functions of your suit or gear.

Indigo: if you're more excited by this chance to prove you're a real hero, shift either Danger or Savior up and Mundane down. If you're more terrified you'll screw it up, shift Mundane up and Superior down.

PAYBACK
As the strange radiation sinks farther and farther into him, Payback feels a deep, powerful rush as his powers expand. And, at the same time, he becomes consumed with the idea of vengeance. Of revenge. Of taking all this, and everything else too, and taking it into himself until he's glutted with every piece of crap the world could possibly dump on him (which is no better than he deserves) and giving it back. Giving it alllllll  back. With interest.

He opens himself up and, with a strangled, cry starts pulling the heat and fire and smoke and radiation and whatever else into him. All their mistakes. Their arrogance. Their carelessness. Their callous disregard for others. All of it.

All. Into. Him.

Those outside are presented with the bizarre sight of the huge plume of fire and smoke, like a film reel in reverse, are just.... sucked back into the building, leaving it damaged but largely intact.

All that energy rushes into Payback. More. And more. And more. And more. Until he was so filled with he was fairly bursting with it.

And then he was hit with a wave of nausea. And the feel of burning pain deep inside his bones.

He can't hold it. He can't keep it. He can't maintain it.

(he can't do anything right)

He was going to have to do something with all this. And fast, or he would either explode or burn away to ash.

Just then the main door slams open and a dozen armed soldiers sweep into the main floor hallway...

OOC: Shift your Danger up and your Mundane down. Take +1 On-going to Directly Engage a Threat or Defend Someone from Harm., until you get rid of all that energy. If you want to Unleash your Powers to "Reshape your environment" or "Overcome an obstacle" (in a way that isn't either Directly Engaging or Defending) you automatically get a 7-9 result without rolling.

Howling from equal parts pain and exultation as the power coursed through him, Payback tried to focus his mind, to not get lost in the power. His head snapped up when the soldiers rushed in.
"BaCk OfF!" He yelled, sheer heat displacing the air in a burst around him as the power responded.
He looked down startled at the floor around his feet cracking and warping under the heat. Was.. was it starting to melt!?

He then noticed his arms. The sleeves on his hoodie had burned away up past his elbows, the veins on his arms bulging and glowing a clear green. The radiation?

Starting to realise just how much power was in him right now, he glanced over at the soldiers, his eyes burning with green fire as he briefly considered unleashing it on them.
But they might just be responders, not someone behind this mess...
"YoU shoUlD Run." he managed to say, his voice loud and echoey even now that he spoke somewhat calmly.

He then directed his power at the wall towards the street. He had to get out of here, get somewhere barren where he could unleash the power without hurting someone. Or at least save it for someone who deserved it. And he didn't trust himself to do that right now if provoked by the soldiers.

 "HAAAAAH!" he yelled, flaring the power, aiming to turn the pure, flameless heat at the wall to melt a way out. The heat didn't exactly only move in the one direction, but he hoped that would discourage the soldiers from engaging.

OOC:
I unleash my power to reshape the environment. Or to overcome an obstacle in the wall, I guess. Whichever fits.
So that's an automatic 7-9 result. And I imagine unstable would be a fitting description for the current situation :p

At first, what the soldier was saying just made Susanna angry.  All right, so she didn't have the greatest or most impressive outfit, and she certainly didn't have big guns to hide behind like this guy did -- he had to be compensating for something there.  But that was no reason to be insulting.  And as much as she hated to admit it even to herself, he got through to her.  She wasn't just angry, she was scared, too.  He might be a regular guy, but he was ready to handle Masks and he was about to drag Ghost off to who knew what horrible fate.  Worse, she still felt awful from whatever they had zapped her with.  How could she stop him?

Then the soldier said something she absolutely hated: It's too big for you.

That was it.  Scared or not, hurt or not, it was time to prove to him, and to Payback and anyone else on the team who still might doubt her, that they were wrong.  You can do this.  This is your chance.

Taking a deep breath, she came up with a plan.  If she teleported to a spot just behind the soldier and grabbed hold of the incapacitated Ghost, she could then get the both of them to the nearest spot that she could see that the soldier couldn't.  With any luck, she was still unimportant enough that the guy wouldn't have any idea of her limitations and might think she'd gotten them a mile away in the blink of an eye.  Maybe.

If any of that actually worked.

15:48, Today: Indigo rolled 1 using 2d6-1.  Unleash powers.
I knew this would be too much pressure on the dice roller.
Shifting Savior up and Mundane Down.

Barghest shifted under the attention, though her demeanour went some way to mask it as irritation rather than the sense of being seen … not that she really understood what the hell they were seeing. She glanced back to Ultion, just checking in, then threw her attention back to the Coven with a shrug. “Yeah, sure. Whatever you say...”

That she was unimpressed was obvious. She’d already had more of her fill of cryptic nonsense for the evening, so the last thing she needed was people passing weird remarks on their synergy or whatever.

“So you guys are all okay, yeah? Nobody too badly hurt?” It sounded stiff, more asked for formality than out of genuine concern. The half-hearted pass of her hand didn’t do much to sell things either. “Really should get out of here if you can. I'll be around but that doesn't mean those assholes won't try again if they find their balls.”

BARGHEST AND ULTION
The women all got up, dusted themselves off, checked for serious injuries. Pink Mohawk was cut quite deeply in a couple of places and was being tended by the others.

And then, just around the corner, the fiery building was extinguished all at once. A few onlookers start to wander over toward the alley leading to the building.

The thin, frail woman looked up at the two young Masks. "Thank you for your assistance. What were those creatures?" She looked at Bargest. "You seem... similar to them. Are you.. akin.. in some way?"

INDIGO AND GHOST
As soon as Indigo tried to teleport she felt a jolt of pain and nausea shoot through her body and her vision went blurry.

The soldier backed away with a dry chuckle. "Knew it." He put his forearm to his mouth. "Asset acquired. Evac."

A rope came down from the helicopter above. He grabbed it and hooked it to his belt and was swiftly pulled up into the sky.

With Ghost still draped across his shoulder.

PAYBACK
It took all his concentration and all his focus, but he managed to direct the impossible energies contained in his body toward the heavy concrete and steel wall. Within moments it was glowing red. Several more moments and the concrete started to crumble and melt. A corona of fire surrounded him and he heard (vaguely, as though from far away) a gurgling cry as the the puddle creature fled from the fire.

No more than ten seconds later he'd melted a roughly human-sized hole and the wall was red hot from floor to ceiling.

Spent, gasping for air, Payback heard a the groaning squeal of metal and the floor lurched an inch or two beneath him.

It's possible he'd some some real damage to the structural capacity.

And somewhere in there the soldiers had, indeed, left the building.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:16, Wed 05 Apr 2023.

Vicky cursed as the shadow-children made their escape.  This can't be good, the heroine thought.  What has Aaron gotten himself into?

Crossing back over to Barghest and the coven, Ultion answered the witch.

"They're not with us.  They're something ... altogether different."

Susanna half-fell against the wall, almost overcome by the pain and the nausea.  Except that wasn't even the worst of it, and her heat sank all the way to her toes as she realized she'd screwed up.  That dart or whatever it was had messed her up more than she'd known, and she'd failed when she was needed the most.

"They've got Ghost!" she said into the commlink, struggling to pull herself back together.  "The soldiers from the helicopter!"  Maybe somebody else could come to the rescue, she thought, bitterly.

Painting from the exertion, Payback walked slowly to the hole he'd made. Looking down at the street below, he vaguely noted the helicopter starting to move away, and the chatter over the comm. It was staticy and indistinct. He realised it was a wonder it was still working at all, though.
The others were saying something... About Ghost and the chopper?

Shaking his head to try and clear it, Payback knew he had to get out of the building first.
Them he could try to do something about the chopper. Maybe shoot his power at it? With the charge he held now, some kind of beam might be possible.

Reaching into what was left of his pant pockets, he grasped for the bouncy ball he kept on him. It was a puddle of melted rubber in his pocket now. But mimicking it should still be enough to jump to the street safely.

So that's what he did. Jumping out as he touched the rubber, Payback hoped the others were having better luck than him.