After having introduced herself to Daystar, Lifelight was beginning to space out when she saw Dane being brought back through the portal. Since she knew everyone else present was healthy, Lifelight trotted over to where Dane was so she could give him a quick medical checkup.

Since Duke was staying with the alien tech anyway, and the fight was finished, Lifelight wasn't worried about the tech getting damaged. Her forcefield turned off, Lifelight asked Dane, "Are you alright?"

---

Maggie answers Serena, "Arf! Thank you for worrying about my safety! I was worried for your safety as well, but would have been unable to aid you in combat. I am happy to be in your arms again, Serena. But how are you? Did you get hurt?"

Staying near the portal in back, the one to the police, Rodger's gaze focused and unfocused repeatedly as the android reported on what he witnessed going on via his internal mindmail system.

Space and ships.  It did not completely rule out the potential of them being from a different dimension, though simple aliens was starting to become the prevalent conclusion.  Closing the last of the space between them, he adds the Jammer to the pile of tech at Lifelight's feet.

"Have you had dealings with these aliens before?  It would be nice to have a name and planet of origin to add to my files, if they are known."

This question was put to everyone with no real single person having it directed to them.  Though his head does pivot over to Mittens, an unseen short lived smile tugging at his lips at the sound effect.

"Miss Adventure, when we have a moment away from the public eye, I need to speak with you."

Serena hugged the robot dog again, her eyes slightly red. She was already very attached to her new companion and would have been extremely upset had anything happened to her. "I'm fine, Maggie. They didn't hurt me at all."

Her wings rose to slightly encircle the two of them as they talked.

Mits' heart is melting at the touching sight of Serena hugging Maggie, tears welling up in her eyes, and a smile on her lips.

But upon hearing her name, she wipes her eyes and turns her attention to Daystar. "Moi?  Only tangentially.  In a 'coincidence' of timing, which I suspect would make sense to an astrophysicist, I received a warning from my Space Samurai mentor Halkor JUST after the badguys showed up.  I'll play it back for you."

Miss Adventure unrolls a flexible viewscreen that then hovers in place.



As the message plays, Mits looks deep in thought.  Once it finishes, she announces with finality,  "I've decided to name them The Ninja Yōkaizords - The animal themed space-samurai cyber armor commandos bent on galactic conquest who don't talk.

"If you don't mind stepping into my secret lair, I'd be happy to give you that secret chat you're asking for.  Just bear in mind, I expect you to be specific on those things you want to remain unknown and from whom.  When questioned by the Men in Black, I'd like to be able to truthfully say, 'I'm not at liberty to discuss that.'"

Miss Adventure opens a portal for Daystar that leads to an enormous warehouse full of toys.  (( Kinda like this: https://images-ext-1.discordap...9ae9aca023749260.jpg ))
This message was last edited by the player at 02:44, Thu 19 July 2018.

Anton knew life would be different in Weston City. He knew that starting over in the American city would be a drastic change. He never expected that an Alien Invasion would be included in the changes.

Upon arrival, his first order of business was to find a job. He needed to find a way to survive in his new home. After a few stressful days of dwindling resources and potential worry of returning to his old skills, Anton discovered a way to use those previous skills in n a way he hadn't considered...that of being a courier. Direct Services was a small courier business in Weston City, specializing in quick, discrete deliveries to any location in the city, If you need it there, GO Direct!

And that was exactly what he was doing when H.G. Wells became a prophet. The delivery was to a place called Apokryphos Cafe and Coffeehouse. Eschewing the typical bike that most messengers use, Anton simply used his own skills at Parkour and his unnatural talents to flow when not seen. That combination had quickly solved his resource issue. He had been in an alleyway just a couple of blocks away from the dropoff when a shimmering, swirling vortex of orange vomited three forms and a weird piece of machinery. It was clear form the start that these were not your typical Westoner. And the weaponry that they brandished quickly dispelled any good intentions. As the portal swirled shut, one of the aliens bent down and began to setup the odd machine in front of him. The other two peeled off and began to scan the area.

Already in the flow, Anton grinned to himself...Fighting Aliens, definitely American!....The first alien never saw what happened as an errant shadow slid across the ground directly at it. As the shadow passed below it, the alien dropped into the shadow as if it was a deep pond. Still moving, the shadow then slid across from the other lookout and then spat out the previous into the second. As they collided, another figure leapt out, launching off of the impact of the two.

Ironically, it would have been perfect except that the third alien was as oblivious as the two lookouts. Turning at the sound of a scuffle, the third alien snapped out a large staff like weapon and blindly swung back as it turned. Anton was in the middle of a triple somersault kick when the tip of the staff caught his ankle, stalling the kick and forcing another rotation. Quick and agile, Anton simply dove into the Staff Alien's shadow...emerging from the shadows cast be the other two struggling.

In close quarters, Anton began a series of quick and brutal strikes involving nearly every limb at his disposal. At the same time, he pulled one aliens rifle like weapon around just as it squoze the trigger. The resulting spray played across both the nearest alien and the staff wielding Shaolin alien, dropping both. Before the clip emptied, Anton continued the twisting pull and forced the last alien to shoot itself point blank range. Once last splat and it was over.

All of this happened in a matter of a few heartbeats. And in those few heartbeats, the Darkness within him growled in his mind. The beast was stirring. Looking over at the aliens, Anton looked back out along the alleyway. Nearby, he could hear a much concentrated version of conflict happening. One with more combatants. There was no doubting those sounds, nor what the outcome was for the loosers. Looking back at the Aliens, he was sure that they were no longer living? With a simple gesture, the shadows below each of the Aliens deepened as dark tendrils flowed over them and swallowed up their remains...Sleep Moi Druuk...Sleep...With only the device left, Anton swallowed it in another shadow as he headed towards his destination.

When he arrived at Apokyphos, the battle had concluded. And like his, the Aliens hadn't fared so well. Once again in civilian clothes, Anton slowly walked towards the group, “Excuse me? I have a delivery for Apokryphos Cafe?” The closer he gets to the group, he starts to feel a pulsing in his left side and arm.

On any other day, Mittens would make much more of a sunglasses-wearing delivery guy who looks like a dead terrorist from Die Hard re-animated as a zombie.  (Just read the character's description!)  But today, she's got her hands full with trying to coax the world's greatest hero into making an appearance while handling keeping track of several new awesome acquaintances.

"Follow the finger," she answers the person who she does not yet know is named Anton, "It shall guide you to your destination."

A strange statuette of a winged finger appears and begins floating toward the person resuming charge of the Cafe.  (( https://tytempletonart.files.w...e-finger-of-fate.jpg ))

Watching the message, behind the mask a frown forms on his face.  A look is given to Anton as he approaches the group.  More and more he was a little amazed by this world, as far as he could tell, parahumans were only recently made public knowledge.  Now in the midst of an alien invasion aftermath, there was no problem approaching a group.  Still, Mittens had it well in (floating) hand.

Remaining silent he looks to Mittens and then steps through the portal.

Looking around at the area, there was a brief moment he was ready for some trap to be sprung though it is short lived.  This situation was real, he knew that and he was willing to trust Meg that these people were on the up and up.  A soft amused breath is expelled.

"On friendly terms with someone in a giant warehouse filled with toys.  Now this is something I never thought would happen."

Mits puts on a catgirl muppet with pigtails that kinda resembles her on her right hand, pokes her hand through the portal, then shrinks it down to be just as big around as her arm.  To those outside the cafe, it looks like she's missing a hand.  To Daystar, it looks like the disembodied arm is missing a person.

Maggie says, "Arf! You are so strong, Serena! And your wings are pretty! I should ask Antoinette to give me pretty wings. Arf."

---

Lifelight is still waiting for Dane's answer when Anton shows up. Antoinette slowly looks at Anton and then points the direction of the cafe with a small smile. "The cafe is over there." then looks back to Dane to see if he is OK.

Mittens asks Matt, "Hey Matt.  What are your thought on trying to reach Halkor?  Either by communicator or by trying to locate him by portaling about or both?"

  "I might still technically work for the Cafe, but it would be for the best if you spoke with someone on the clock for that delivery." Matt wondered if Anton's delivery was still on time, given recent events.

  At Mitten's obvious question, he sighs.  "Mittens, we spent years with them and it was not until we were gone for all of five minutes that their civilization falls." Not QUITE an exaggeration, given the respective mockery of distance they both were capable of when not slumming it on merely 'faster than light' starships.

  "We can certainly check.  But the universe honestly is out to get you sometimes." Usually if it provides a tragic backstory. See also: Blind psychics. Which he leaves be because not sorting that is the more polite option-

  Wait, was that this timeline?  Man, being an unexplained entity is overrated when you're still having to deal with that sort of existential bookkeeping.

Mits nods.  "Let's see if the operator can get us a relay so we can talk realtime."

Knowing that a direct link with Halkor using this gizmo is a no-go, she dials the inter-planetary switchboard expecting to get, "Please enjoy this music while we get the next available operator.  There are 90 billion callers ahead of you."  *Looped music plays: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGP1d508a2o *

Serena laughed and hugged the puppy closer. "I think you're beautiful just as you are, Maggie."

She looked up at Mittens with one brow cocked. "90 billion callers ahead of you? I thought customer service was bad on this planet."

  Megaira had sensed when the aliens had been dispatched and dropped the shields over the building, so Anton could get in.  She was still behind the coffee-bar, close to the kitchen door.

Anton pauses for a moment when the floating emoji appears. Cocking his head to the left, he keeps his eyes on the apparent catgirl who was so helpful. With a simple nod, he resumes his delivery, walking into the Café. His eyes play across the interior, categorizing points of egress and contention. Upon falling on the slim figure poised at what looks to be the doors leading to the back, he changes his trajectory towards her.

"Apokryphos Café? I have a delivery..." The tone is casual as he moves to hand over the package. However, he can't help but feel that there is more to this person than at first meets the eye.

  Meg smiled, and said "Thank you.  These must be the spices Mama said she needed to special order.  Let me hand them off to her, she's got the kitchen right now, did you need payment, or a tip?"  She looked young to be in such charge, but it sounded like she knew what she was doing.  She also had an intensity to her that was unusual for anyone so young looking.

  Megs had heard all the ruckus at the museum, and she called up Miss Adventure's information (she DID have her card) and sent her a text asking if things were okay and if the situation  had been resolved without casualties, or if further medical assistance was needed.  She also wondered if she should maybe spend a little more time down here, and not up in the labs, but that was something for another day.  Gargoyle had been out of town for a while, but she did send him fairly regular updates on his Mom, since she still lived here in Weston.  She remembered the trip to Hell with Painter and Excelsior to rescue Gargoyle all too clearly.  The Cafe was good for the evening, and she had nothing much else needing her attention if the museum was good.

Text reply...  Pfsh.  Why fiddle with texting when you can just answer face-to-face even faster?

A door-shaped portal opens for Meg and through it she can see superheroes giving statements to the police.  Thanks to Matt's clean-up superpower, by now the only signs there was ever any violence is the various mummy bits littering the floor, and several bewildered victims recently healed up by Lifelight.

Mits gives a big smile and thumbs-up to Meg.  "While things are handled in here, I'm sure there's still plenty of folks that could use the attention of a healer.  Dunno what kinda investigative prowess you possess, but that's what phase we're moving into.  Whodunnit?  Whydeydoit?  How?  Etc."

  Megs stepped through the portal . . .

------------->> Museum

The workspace that Meg had set him up with was proving to be quite advantageous.  He had to admit he did not have his mentor's focus when it came to situations like this.  While food may sometimes be set aside longer than it should be, rest had to come.  As it was he had been pushing himself for the last few days and he finally crashed.  When he awoke he went on a heavy schedule of making repairs to the Osprey.  His talk with Miss Adventure had also left him pondering things.  Things that he needed a relatively clear head for.

A clear head that would be easier to obtain on a full stomach.

Since the Museum, this was the first time he ventured out of the new place Meg set up for him.  The fatigue didn't show on his face though, that he had mastered well enough to function at work after an evening of crime fighting.  His smile is as warm as ever.  He takes a seat, being sure to have his back to a wall and ready line of sight to as many doors as he can manage.

Two men entered the cafe, one well muscled with long blonde hair currently done up in a ponytail the other with short dark hair and a light layer of stubble. The blonde man carried a young girl, who looked about one.

The hostess turned and when she saw them, looked instantly star struck. "Oh! Welcome Mr. Excelsior sir."

The blonde man chuckled. "Please, just Bill. Is Meg in?"

"I'm afraid she's just stepped out Ex-..Bill. But if you'd take a seat I could let you know when she gets back?"

"That'd be great, two cokes please, and milk for little Bella."

The hostess nodded. "Right away sir."

The two men sat down, putting the little girl in a high chair. The brown haired man shook his head, grinning. "Told you you should have kept your identity secret."

"They would have figured it out anyway after yours got exposed."

"Yeah, but I'm not nearly as famous as you."

"Oh hush"

Family.  There was that same twinge deep in the recesses of his heart that he did his damnedest to forget and remember every day.  So this was Excelsior in his civilian garb, so the other one was likely Fluid.  Darren Masters.

Idly his thumb rubs against the ring that rests on his right ring finger, before catching himself as if his hand was in the cookie jar.  He heard a lot about both of them, but still he knew from experience that print could some times be larger than the truth.  Others, painted the person in a completely different light.  He trusted the judgement of those that knew him, but still.

Despite the twinge and the short lived nervous twitching of his thumb, the facial mask never falters.  Standing he makes his way, a bit shyly towards the couple.

"S'cuse me.  Thought you looked familiar but...  really?  You're Excelsior?  Fluid?"  He waves his hand a little, just that non-verbal gesture of asking for forgiveness.  "Sorry, I get it.  Really I do.  You're out with your family but, I just wanted to say thank you.  So.  Thank you."

  Meg came in through the back way, as usual.  She tilted her head, then smiled as she recognizd who was there, and dropped her parcels off in the kitchen before she headed out front to greet some of her oldest friends.  "Hey guys, good to see you two, and you brought my favorite little girl with you.  How are all of you?"

Bill smiled warmly as Kevin approached. "Hi, yep that's us." Bill waved a hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it, happens all the time. You're actually more polite than a lot of people." He held out a hand for a shake. "Nice to meet you..." He trailed off waiting for Kevin's response.

As Meg arrived Bill turned, but not before getting the handshake. He smiled widely "There you are!"  He wrapped Meg in a hug, and Darren stood up to join them. From her high chair Bella reached for Meg, and then began to float, high chair and all, towards Meg.