where shipping and receiving happens

At the docks there are a group of men moving large crates from a boat. ANyone familiar with the area would recognize the men as working for the Bertelli family. Off to one side are two men one is incredibly large with a small head and four arms and the other is small and lean but there seems to be a strange deep red gauntlet going up his arm.

As the two are overseeing the operation the red armed man suddenly turns his arm morphing into some form of cannon. A beam fires out of it blasting an arrow out of the air. "Rich, WE GOT COMPANY"

Mirage crouched on a nearby rooftop.  She was intently studying the scene below her, the two meta human thugs watching over the moving of the crate.  She was becoming very interested in what was in that crate.

The mysterious woman in red had been tracking the Bertelli family for some time.  One crime that she busted up had opened the door up to their secretive existence.  It seemed that they had taken precautions against anyone interferring with their shipment.

Mirage sighed.  It was times like this that she really could use some assistance from the rest of the Legacy.  She was used to being the rabid lone wolf loose in the city but she was almost smart enough to realize the benefits of having someone to watch her back.  Too bad that her ego kept getting in the way.

She was contemplating her attack when the one called Armory shouted out something.  They couldn't have seen her, Mirage was very sneaky when she wanted to be.  Who had shot the arrow then?

A masked man heavily armed and in urban camoflauge leaps down from a nearby building. Bow in hand he notches an arrow but quickly has to duck as the four armed man throws a crate at him.

Steel Thunder looked at the action begining below him.  "Damn, Micheal, I knew legacy was based here but I didn't think I'd run into them on the first night."

"And you should't!" called back Micheal from his radio,"leave well enough alone. you haven't even tested the offensive systems yet."

"Well then I guess we should do it know, huh?"

The man known as Steel Thunder flies toward the action.

Hunter.  Of course.

Mirage frowned.  Things had been tense between the two of them after their heated words a few months back.  For her part, Mirage had tried to smooth things over with the man.  She actually liked him.  He was brave, skilled and had a drive that was comparable to her own.

Mirage was not about to let him take on these two thugs by himself.  She flicked her wrist in a very feminine gesture, snapping open a crimson fan with long blades at the end of each spine.  She threw the fan at the thug with the four arms, hoping to give him a distracting cut.  She'd teleport down and follow it up with a generous meeting of her shapely boot meeting his face.

The large man stumbles as the bladed fan connects Then stops as he takes the boot to the face. Not even fazed by the second attack, in fact it almost seemed as it "snapped him out of it" He growls bring his lower right arm to punch at the Woman.

The second man's Arm suddenly shifts into a long blade and he rushes Hunter slashing wildly.

"Decisions, decisions," Eric thought and then noticed the blade come out of forearms.

"That's it." Staying in flight, Steel Thunder lets loose with the pulse laser on his right arm.

"Tag your it!"

Hunter unknowing of the man floating above them rushed forward hearing the blast at the last second. In a flurry of motion he drops his bow drawing one of his blades and blocking the blast. The sword takes the brunt of it but it breaks under the pressure hitting Hunter in the chest, not doing any serious damage but enough to stun him.

"Damn idiot!" Steel thunder called," I'm trying to help you."

/ooc in case I wasn't clear in the last post, I was shooting at Armory, NOT Hunter.  I doubt that they were that close together.  gm call?

They were running towards eachother. I apologize if thats not clear enough in their posts. Also Hunter's powers are increased speed agility and reflexes so his reactions arene't too much of a stress.

and so theres not any confusion I play hunter.

/ooc ok thanks just wanted to make sure it wasn't me not being clear.

/ic

Steel Thunder puts himself in between Hunter and the incoming sword.

Micheal screamed over the radio,"What the hell have you done? Do you know who you just shot?"

"Not now micheal, I'm kinda busy." Eric answers back on the interior radio so the outside can't hear him.

"You know," jibed Steel out loud again, "I hate it when I make a boo-boo. Now time for you-you."and blasted again this time at the right target.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:03, Mon 02 Nov 2009.

Armory goes to aim his own attack at the armored hero, but is not quick enough and takes the blast square in the chest, and goes flying into the water.

Musclemass was well named.  The man was huge and looked very strong.  Mirage was counting on him not being as agile as she was as she slipped to the side to avoid the mans large fist.

"You're a strong fellow aren't you?" she said with a smile as she spun gracefully away from the man.  When she stopped, she was holding a crimson coloured fan in each hand, holding them in a delicate and feminine manner.  Her skirt slid open to reveal a length of her leg as she looked Musclemass over again, striking a dainty pose.

"Whatever will a poor girl like me do against such a strong man?"  she teased.  The spines on the fans lengthened into needle-like blades as she readied herself to attack.

Seeing his immediate threat gone, Steel Thunder drops to Hunter, being careful not to startle the man or more specifically so he doesn't get hit.

"Hunter, are you alright? Easy there I'm on your side."

Musclemass grins at Mirage but turns as he hears a splash behind him. "MILES!" He yells seeing Armory going into the water and begins running towards the water to save his friend.

Hunter puts away his blade and draws his bow moving around the F.N.G. TO let an arrow loose at musclemass THe arrow sinks into the four armed mans back but he keeps running. "It ain't over yet newbie, how bout you scoop the other guy out of the water before he drowns? Mirage and I'll handle the big guy."

"You got it." Steel Thunder flies off towards where Miles went in the water.

Micheal called on the radio, "Yeah that is all we need, to kill a guy on your first night out."

"I hadn't forgotten him.  I just wanted to make sure Hunter was alright first"

"I'm comin buddy!," The large man shouts as he dives in soon dissappearing from view.

Mirage flowed over to the edge of the dock, her trademark crimson smoke swirling around her.  She frowned at the water and the two men swimming in it.  "You must be joking.  There's no way that I'm going to get into that water." she muttered to herself.  Being a city dock, the water was less than crystal clear, and it was probably a good thing that it's muddy colour hid the bottom.

The blades of her fans disappear and Mirage absentmindedly fanned herself as she waited.  "Best to let the big guy haul his friend out of the water for us, don't you think Hunter?" she said with a friendly grin.  "Who's your new friend?"

Hunter glances at the armored guy. "Dunno he just showed up, shot at me, called me an idiot and assured me he was on our side." The bowman shifted his attention to the F.N.G. "You got a name? Or should I call you newbie?"

" You can call me Steel Thunder. And for the record I wasn't shooting at you I was shooting at our swimming friend over there."

Steel Thunder flies over to check out where the blasted victim went in, switching to Thermal Imaging to find him easier and pick him out of the drink.

As soon as Steel Thunder flies over to the water Musclemass pops up out of the water using two arms to hold his friend over the water and the other two to swim over to the docks. Pulling himself out of the water he looks at the heroes a look of fear on his face. "Does anyone know CPR?"

Mirage frowned.  This hadn't exactly turned out the way that she had expected.

She leapt up into the air, her trail of crimson smoke forming into a long lasso.  Mirage flipped over top of Musclemass and tangled him up in her red line.  Landing behind him, she gave him a healthy push away from Armory.  "Watch him, Hunter." she commanded and knelt over Armory.

Mirage ran a hand over one side of her face, sweeping her long hair out of the way and began to administer CPR to the other nearly drowned Armory.

Inside the armor, Eric began to sweat. "Damn...damn...damn," he thought.

"Micheal, call the cops on the non-traceable line and let them know what's going on." Eric said into his scrambled radio

Hunter silently moves next to Musclemass his bow next to his head. "Don't try anything funny."

Musclemass nodded quickly. "Please just save my brother."

As Mirage began CPR things looked grim for the heavily armed villain. Suddenly he lurks forward and begins hacking and coffing up water.

Micheal quickly dials 911 and anonymously reports trouble at the docks with someone hurt.

"I've done it.  You need to get out of there, now!" he calles into the radio.

"No" comes the reply quickly."I need to see this through.  Just make sure we can vary the power level of this thing down a few notches when I do get back."

Almost muttering to himself he says out loud," I didn't mean to hit him so hard..."

"This is why we have something called training. The problem with paras today is they find out they shoot lasers from their eyes and start figgting crime the next day. Theres no thought put into it."

Steel Thunder's entire attitude seemed to change, his self doubt completely gone for the moment, "And where would you suggest one gets this training from, eh?"

Before anyone could interupt, he continued, "That's your problem, you think nobody can do what you can."

"Kid, it took twenty years of individual and millitary training to become the man I am today and I'd like to see how well you fare without that suit." Hunter knew he shouldn't let this kid get to him, Lucas would know what to say. He was the nurturing type.

Mirage made sure that Armory was breathing okay and made sure that his hands were bound up in one of her crimson lines.  "Really now.  If you want to play super villain near the water you should learn to swim.  Maybe a nice quiet stay in a jail cell will help you come up with a new direction for your life because you two are obviously not very good at this." she said to the smaller para.  So much for her mean and ruthless image.

She stood and turned her attention to Hunter and Steel Thunder.  Mirage had to agree with Hunters point, people suddenly get powers and tend to be more overly enthusiastic than safe, often times endangering the lives that they were trying to protect.  On the other hand, Mirage did not go to Super Hero school.  Let me menfolk beat their chests, she had more important things to do.

Keeping a bit of her energy on the bindings of the two villains, Mirage went over to the crate that they were off loading.  "Let's see just what devilry you two were up to." she muttered as she cracked open the crate.

Eric was strongly tempted to keep the argument going, but he wasn't going continue to show how green he really was and he sure wasn't going to apologize in front of the villains.

" Yes I would like to know myself,"Steel Thunder said turning to Mirage.

The first few crates were filled with guns, no surprise the Bertellis were known gun runners. The last two were a bit more interesting. The first contained, several strange looking guns, like blasters from some scifi show, and the last one had a large canon with a place for the user to stand.

"Well, this is interesting." Mirage said, running a gloved hand along the barrel of the large cannon.  "This is some serious firepower.  I think that the SCU would be interested in seeing this."  She walked to the first crate and picked up one of the blasters, turning it over in her hands.  She was very tempted to dump both crates into the river.

"I don't suppose that you'd like to tell us what these are all going to be for or who they are going to?" she asked Musclemass and Armory.  "It might help endear you to the police."

pm
pm

PM

"Your crazy if you think we're tellin you anything" The man said defiantly

"Whewwwww"Steel thunder whistled. "You boys have some nice looking toys here

"These have ta be custom.  I think you need to answer the lady's question and takes a step towards Musslemass.

The big guy looks to his partner "Yeh sure Miles? They saved your life"

"To cover their own asses, And now that I aint dyin they want ta throw us in jail. Just like when we were kids."

"Aww you had a tragic childhood. How cute." Hunter raises his right leg and takes a long knife from the boot. Moving over to Musclemass, Hunter held the knife menacingly. "You know I've always wondered the limits of someone with enhanced durability. I've never gotten the chance to experiment." He moves the knife right next to Musclemass' ear looking straight at armory, "What do you think?"

Good cop and Bad cop then?  Mirage sauntered over to Armory and knelt down in front of him, so that they were face to face.  Her every move exuded the dangerous femininity that she was known for.  She reached out to touch the side of Armory's face.

"Sweety, we could have left you to drown and not batted an eyelash."  She fluttered her long lashes as if to emphasize her point.  Her voice was low, seductive.  "Hunter still has a hankering for a little bit of action.  I'm all for a little rough stuff and it would be a shame to let him have his way with you when I went through all that trouble of bringing you back from the brink of death.  It would be a waste of such a strapping man such as yourself."

Mirage let her gaze drift over the man, making the action very noticeable.  With a smile, she leaned even closer to armory, resting a hand on the mans chest.  "I'm sure if you cooperated with us, we could put in a good word for you.  Why repeat what has happened in the past?  Take a chance on a fresh start.  Wouldn't you like that?"

Steel Thunder just stood and watched.  It was obvious that these two had done this before. Even though he would never admit it, Hunter was right.  He was a newbie.

But that didn't mean he had to be completely useless.  Time to start recording what was being said.

Armory kept glancing from Hunters knife to Mirages assets, He swallows hard before saying. "Alright.. What do you want to know?"

Just then several police sirens could be heard not far off. Katy, still sitting in the passenger seat of the lead car, took out her police-issued Glock and flipped it twice. She was still unfamiliar with the use of ballistics weapons, but she decided now might be a good time to get used to them.

Not five seconds later, four cop cars zoomed around the corner, stopping wherever the police car did. Katy, along with the rest of the police, stepped out of their vehicles and took cover behind the open doors. Katy casually flipped the safety off her weapon, and almost immediately recognized several of the people there. Lady Mirage, Hunter, and some other...metal man, along with several baddies.

Without another thought, Katy projected her thoughts onto the para's, as well as the new metal one.

I suggest you hurry this up. The Police are grateful, but some of the people I have with me want nothing more than to lock up a Para, Came a distinct Feminine voice, speaking into the minds of Hunter, Mirage, and Steel Thunder.

It was then that Katy spoke up verbally. "Paras, please drop your weapons and put your hands behind your head. Then turn and face us," she said rather loudly.

Mirage frowned as Lady Psyche's message was broadcast to everyone and then she watched warily as the police deployed.  Always with the interruptions when she was working.  You'd think that the Weston Police would know better than to try and threaten her.

"I want to know where the weapons came from and who they are going to." Mirage asked soothingly.  She was ignoring the Police warning, throwing up an thick cloud of dark smoke to obscure Hunter, Armory, Musclemass and Steel Thunder.  At least the police would see a thick cloud of smoke.  "Tell me everything that you know."

"I don't know where they came from. The Bertellis are distributin them amongst their soldiers ta deal with people like us."

"They must have come from somewhere.  Who was your contact for the delivery?" Mirage asked.  "What are the Bertelli's planning?  This is a lot of firepower."

pm

All contacts been done anonomously. In fact the guy waiting looked like a robot, though I guess it could have been a guy in a suit"

"I guess there's a lot of us around and I bet we all look alike, huh?" he said sarcastically.

But inside...It was getting to be time to go.  Lord knows what dad would say if this ended up on the news, looking bad.

"A walking robot?  Did it have a name?"  Mirage asked, her eyes sliding over to Steel Thunder.  Well he did show up suddenly and shoot at Hunter 'accidently', but it was unlikely him.  "So you were just picking up the weapons and then what?  Go on a rampage downtown?  Knock over some banks?  What were you planning?"

"Handin them over to the Bertellis, Do I look like I need more firepower? We're just the muscle."

Mirage bit back a sarcastic reply.  "A big, tough man like yourself?  I'm sure that you've got all the right power in all the right places.  Where were you going to hand them over?  Where was the meeting place?" she asked.

"Lady my arm is a gun.. And thats all your gonna get from me. We gotta skip town now as it is." He raises his chin defiantly at her while glancing to his partner.

Mirage had the urge to plant a punch right in that raised chin of Armory's.  "Are you sure that's all that you want to give me?" she asked softly.  "I was so hoping for more.  You're really going to find skipping town to be rather difficult without our help, especially when the Bertelli's find out that you've skipped town with their weapons.  That would be a very easy rumor to spread."

Armory has an intense look of concentration on his face. Without saying another word to Mirage. He looks to Musclemass and shouts. "Now!"

As Armory shouts now, Musclemass shoulder bashes Hunter Sending him flying over the edge of the dock. He then stands and attempts to break the psionic bonds.

Hunter grunts as he goes flying into the drink. He attempts to adjust grab onto the dock but falls, many arrows fall out of his quiver.

Mirage reacts quickly, her gentle questioning good cop demeanor disappearing in an instant.  She can feel Musclemass straining against her psionic bonds and the man was very strong.  She wouldn't be able to hold him too much longer.  She drew an arm back and a long dagger materialized in her hand.  She thrust the dagger at Armory, aiming for the mans head.


"Get the big guy, Thunder." she shouted, without taking her eyes from Armory.

Armory, quickly falls back to avoid the dagger and then, "nips up." Spinning so his back is to Mirage he turns his arm into a cannon again, and aiming over his shoulder, fires at Mirage.

Steel Thunder reacts in the same instant his name is called.  He was unwilling to use the pulse laser at so close a range, especially after what had happened last time.

Let's see how tough this guy is... Using his fully enhanced strength, he punches Musclemass right in the face.

Musclemass takes the hit in the face andstumbles backward grungting. Where anyone else would be seriously injured he has a small cut on his lip. Still straining at the bonds with all for arms he rushes at Steel Thunder in a shoulder tackle.

Attempting to sidestep out of the way, Steel Thunder tries to bring an elbow down on the big man's neck.

Damn!

Mirage cursed as she twisted out of the way of Armory's blast.  She was having to concentrate on maintaining both villains bonds but Musclemass wasn't making it very easy.  Her attention was divided and she reacted a little slower than she should have.

As Mirage twisted away, she threw her long dagger at Armory, aiming for his head once more.

With a resounding roar Musclemass breaks free of MIreages bonds and sends a punch righat at Steel thunders face

"Hold your fire," Katy said, for about the tenth time today. She wasn't liking who had all come to the disturbance, especially the ones who had the cops called on themselves. Katy picked up the VC radio.

"This is officer Hanson, requesting Para-Swat. We're at the docks, in between piers 11 and 12. Be advised, I'm sending the rest of the units home," she spoke into it.

"Yes, ma'am. But keep the officers, you're going to need the ba-," and then Katy turned it off.

"All of you, go home. Conventional gunfire like ours won't do much against paras."

"But."

"That's an order, Stevens," she snapped back. Reluctantly, all of the officers who were currently at the docks turned and left. As soon as they'd rounded the corner, Katy threw off her shawl, along with her bandana, and began unzipping her rather loose pants. . "Don, if you tell anyone, I'm going to kill you," she said, though it wasn't needed.

Underneath the outerwear was a black jumpsuit, almost skin-tight. There became a ripple in time and space beside Katy, and she stuffed her civilian clothes within, and withdrew a long trenchcoat. Quickly putting it on, she ran towards the group. 15.6? That's a record, she thought, then stopped just a little bit away from everyone. She did some of her best work from a range.

A rather powerful force-field shot outward, toward Musclemass as he threw a punch at Steel Thunder, along with a renewing of telekinetic bonds that made it difficult to move. "I wouldn't try it," the Lady Psyche said.

Steel Thunder had no intention of testing the strength of the armor plating.  With a quick blast from his foot jets, he attempts to get out of the way and behind Musclemass.

As new bonds appeared around Muscle mass hands he lwers his arms and shouts "MILES!!" and rushes towards armory scoping him up in his arms and taking the psychic knife to the lower back.

Mirage felt Musclemass break her psionic bonds like receiving a kick to the gut.  The man was just too powerful for her to try and hold while she was fighting Armory.  She reeled slightly and it threw her aim off, Her psychic knife digging deep into the muscle mans back.

Mirage took a moment to steady herself.  She then leapt into the air, gracefully flipping towards Musclemass, a long spear forming in her hands.  She was going to drive the spear into the giants head and hopefully take him out of the fight for a while.  Then they could deal with Armory.

Just as Mirage move towards him Musclemass, with armory in his arms. Leaps over the neraby buildings and out of sight.

Just as The team disappear from sight Hunter pulls himself out of the water, Dripping wet with a few of his weapons missing.

Mirage lands on the dock and throws the spear at the retreating Musclemass.  The throw misses of course.

The beautiful woman shakes her head and walks over to Hunter, helping him to his feet if he will let her.  "Are you alright, Hunter?" she asks.

"Psyche?  What was with the police show of force?"  Mirage asks the other woman pleasantly.  "Doesn't Jordans SCU unit usually respond to para crimes?  You know I hate having police guns pointed at me."

Psyche was looking around for any object useful when coupled with her psychometry, but was having no such luck.

"It's been very slow at the station for the past couple of weeks. People were getting restless," Psyche said, turning her attention towards Mirage, "And I do apologize for the weapons. They don't make officers like they used too." To punctuate her point, Lady Psyche sighed.

Hunter allows Mirage to help him up shivering a little as she does though he's trying not to make it obvious. He offers a nod to Lady Psyche before turning to Steel Thunder. "don't worry about it kid sometimes they get away. WE'll catch em next time they pop up, plus once the Bertellis find out they squealed they'll have their own problems to deal with. SOrry bout the mess Lady PSyche and the amount of paperwork you'll have to deal with. I miss anything else while I was in the drink?"

" Yeah I know they sometimes get away but that doesn't make it any easier." said the big metal man.

Changing the subject, Steel Thunder looks to Hunter, " I do feel bad about the sword, though.  Can I replace it?"

"No harm done, I suppose." Mirage says as she walks over to Lady Psyche and slowly walks around the woman, giving her an appraising eye.  Mirage swept the trenchcoat aside with a deep red coloured fan that appeared in her hand.  Standing behind Lady Psyche, Mirage leaned in a little closer, putting a hand on one shoulder while she softly speaks over the other.  "Really, dear, the trenchcoat simply must go.  It's so last decade.  You have such a nice figure that it's such a waste to hide it."

HUnter shakes his head. "DOn't worry about it I got plenty left." Moving to the others. he dropped his quiver and puts some of his gear in it as he removes his outer coat leaving just atanktop underneath.

Lady Psyche actually shivered at Mirage's touch. It wasn't that she was unused to it, it was almost always unexpected, and then there is the whole 'two psychically-empowered individuals brushing power' ordeal as well. She blinked several times before she answered.

"I've always thought it added to the mystique," she answered truthfully, "And I'm never sure about showing my figure. This body-suit does enough of that. . .And I'm afraid no one will take me seriously."

Mirage blew gently on Lady Psyches ear and her trenchcoat disappeared, courtesy of Mirages illusions.  "No one takes anyone in a trench coat seriously and you have far more potential without it, darling."  She said softly.  Lady Psyches black bodysuit began to change slightly.  A short leather-like skirt flowed around her waist, chains dangling from one side while a long slit split the other side.  Long knee high boots with a tall heel formed over her legs while a ornately decorated bustier wrapped itself around her chest.

"I've always felt that a woman should look like a woman.  Why hide your feminine strength?"  Mirage continued to speak softly to Lady Psyche.  "Give it some thought, dear."

Psyche felt a shiver as the illusion took effect. Her garb completely changed into a. . .Sexier. . .Outfit. She liked it, but she felt it showed off her...assets, too much. The girl closed her eyes momentarily, smiling slightly. "I appreciate the offer, Mirage, but I'll stick with what I've got. . .For now. Maybe in the near future," she said.

Hunter pulls in on his motorcycle, now in a fresh change of clothes. Stepping off the bike  he asks. "So you two have any other skull bashing planned for tonight?"

"Pity.  We could have so much fun putting together an outfit for you.  You just let me know when you're ready." Mirage said and gave Psyche a little pat on the shoulder before moving away from her.  Her illusion faded from around the woman as she walked away.

"You know that I'm always up for skull-bashing, Hunter." Mirage said with a smile.  She sauntered over to lean against his bike.  "We have one more immediate concern though.  These crates of guns.  I'm thinking of taking them to Legacy Base and then seeing what I can do with the Bertelli's.  They might not know that we have their shipment yet, and even if they do, they'll probably want it back."

Hunter nods leaning against his motorcycle. "I figure the towo of you would have an easier time moving them than I would with my own two hands. And I got someplace to stop by.  How about I meet you back at base?"

"I can move the weapons, so don't you worry.  I'm a strong woman." Mirage said with a grin.  She could teleport the crates easily enough.

A thin trail of crimson smoke wafted out towards Lady Psyche and seemed to beckon her to take a seat beside Mirage as the woman looked over at Steel Thunder.  "Now then, Mr. Steel Thunder.  With the excitement all over, would you like to introduce yourself properly?"  she spoke pleasantly and invitingly.

Psyche rolled her eyes. "I've been wondering when the next Legacy meeting's gonna be. I'll take 'em myself, if you want." As if to punctuate her point, several of the crates in question raised themselves off the ground to levitate just a foot above it.

There was hardly a sign of straing in her voice as she spoke. "It would've been fun, Mirage, I don't doubt that. Just...not today, or tomorrow. Now, lessee if any psychometry works." she walked over towards the crates that had just started moving, and took off a gloved hand. She pressed her middle and index finger to the wood, and closed her eyes, letting in the psychic information.

 Lady Psyche gets a vision of an older man dressed in a lab coat tinkering on a wor table. He has short grey hair and seems a rather lslight man. He's wearing glasses over his blue eyes and crooked nose.

Hunter waves at the two heroines as he drives away. As he nears his destination he turns off the gps in his bike.
>>TO Church.>>

Psyche frowned as the crates disappeared at Mirage's whim. Even being the prodigy she was, Psyche still had a lot to learn about the powers of the mind. . .And Mirage. She stowed that lingering image in her mind, making sure to use her ability later, and turned and walked over to lean next to Mirage.

"Steel Thunder, eh?" she asked, skeptical as ever, "Never thought I'd see a kid in a metal suit again..." She rolled her eyes, then cast a sly glance at the boy. It was almost as if she was looking straight at him.

<interim>

After a good talking too, and a couple of choice words, Steel Thunder flew off, and Lady Psyche chuckled slightly, looking at Mirage slyly. "Well, that's one disturbed kid," she said.

"Anyway, shall we head back to the Legacy?" she asked, then held out her hand, a small crackle in psychic energy running down her fingers. It was obvious Psyche was itching to try the teleporting trick.

Mirage watched the armored man fly away.  He was new to the whole hero business and seemed to be a little unsteady.  Hopefully he would remain on the side of the angels.  "There are so many new kids wanting to play with the big girls." she said wryly.  "I hope that this isn't a trend."

Mirage turned to look over at Lady Psyche, specifically at her outstretched hand.  Shaking her head slightly and wearing a small smile, Mirage took Psyches hand causing another few bolts of psychic energy to leap between them.  Mirage then pulled the woman closer so that their bodies were almost touching.  She put an arm around Psyches waist and placed the other womans arm around hers.

"Keep close now." she said softly as her trademark crimson smoke began to envelope them.

-> To Legacy HQ

The immortal adventurer Ethan sharpe was currently leading a member of the New Parahuman army on a merry chase  Looking like something out of a prkour video He leapt over boxes off of walls and genrally doing insane acrobatics stunts to keep his enmy on her toes.

His pursuer a woman in a balck gi pulling weapons of orange light out of thin air and throwing them at the  fleeing immortal. "Stand and fight coward!"

>>>>>>>>>From The National Guard Base>>>>>>>>

Black Jaguar appeared between Ethan and the pursuing woman, her hands glowing with arcane energy.

"You will stop!" she said, gesturing with her hands, and bands of arcane energy attempted to bind her hands and legs.

Ethan front flipped right over Black Jaquar and kept running.

The woman skidded to a halt pulling a chinese broadsword out of nowhere and slashing at the newcoemer

"Very impressive," Black Jaguar said to the woman. "I shall match yours...with my own..." and she thrust an arcane-powered palm strike at the woman, hoping to knock her out quickly.

The woman blocked the bllwo with her blade which seemed to be made out of the womans willpower. "out of my way interloper he must pay for his crimes against his own kind!"

"Con permiso, chica, but he is needed elsewhere..." Victoria replied as she gestured with her hands, and a ball of force appeared heading towards the woman.

The woman growled as she was sent flying backwards. Ethan had gained some distance due to Victoria's distraction she could probably port him out while the woman is distracted.

Black Jaguar chuckled for a moment.

"If only I could finish this fun..but there are other things to do...Adios..."

Arcane light reached out from her to surround both her and the fleeing Ethan.

"Hold on to your lunch, muchacho..."

And away they went...

>>>>>>>>>To The National Guard Base>>>>>>>>

The satelite had been doing everything it was supposed to, except when it did one extra pass of the moon than it was supposed to.  It was still feeding NASA telemetry but with the extra pass it was going to be way off its projected splash down point.  The Air Force and Navy had mobilized a while ago and air traffic was detoured a bit around the city for the re-entry.  Thankfully they were given plenty of time so travel plans were not really messed up.  And it came in away from the city.  Still the brilliant fireball falling through the sky and splashing down some ways out from Weston.  It doesn't take long for the crews to salvage the wayward satellite.  And as soon as the satellite touches anything electronic to the hull, a slight spark jumps from the satellite to the hull.

Alarms sound as a security team converges on the reported intruder.

"Hey guys, it's alright.  Um...  sorry about the change in co-ordinates.  If it's not too much of a trouble... I really gotta use the bathroom.  Some pants would be nice, too.  Kinda cold out here.  Heh."

It was his standard dress for working around the base when the intruder busted in hunting for him.  A bathrobe, simple pair of boxers and a nice pair of men's slippers.

  They gave him a 'hairy eyeball' and offered him a pair of handy urban camouflage print combat pants.  Then they sort of tried to hurry him off the deck and at least into the mess hall for a bite to eat.

The boat was rocking slowly, with each step he found his mind was swimming.  Maybe it was the time out of his body as well.  Holding out a hand he leans his head over the side and lets loose a stream of bile.  Shaking his head slowly he holds his stomach, letting out a slow groan.  Slowly being lead by the security team he keeps his eyes closed and just focuses on everything else but that till he gets below decks where the rocking wasn't quite as bad.

Going into the Head, he does his business and gets changed, rinsing his mouth out and then heads with them to the messhall.

"Maybe just some ginger ale and some bread if you have that.  Please.  Will be on my way then, thanks."

He grins easily at that.  He figures he has a pretty good handle on the anti-gravity device.  And he always kept a pair of goggles in his bathrobe now, just incase.

  A can of ginger ale and a dinner roll seemed to materialize by his elbow, and the cook asked "Sure you don't want anything else?  You look a little hungry."

Blinking a little at the materializing he gives a little chuckle.

"Nifty, and thanks.  Nah, I'll be ok.  Just look that way cause I finished throwing up.  Really otherwise I feel fine.  Think it has something to do with polarity and energy flow.  When ever I'm rigged into something, body sorta feeds off the energy though still create some 'waste' to allow for energy to not really be disrupted."

A little shrug is given at that, bout the best he knew how to explain it after all.

  The cook shook his head, and said "Hope it wasn't the dry heaves, those are nasty!"

"Yeah, just a bit.  Little bile.  Hence the light food."

Finishing the food rather slowly he burps just a little, swallowing a bit that tried to get itself out of his system.

"Look.. um...  no offense meant but.. just going to sit here with my eyes closed and my head down till we hit the docks."

A friendly enough smile is offered as he rests his head against the table infront of him.

"So.  Hate.  Boats."

  He got a consolationary pat on the shoulder, and they headed for the docks.  When they got close enough, one of the lieutenants asked him "Can you handle being rowed to shore?"

It had taken Zeke a while to process what had been told to him about Andy.  He did his best to keep his mindworm shut.  Rubbing the bridge of his nose about the time the lieutenant approaches he finally speaks up.

"Time travel.  Lovely.  Why do extra-planar locations of exhistence and religious doctrine have to effectively be on a different point of space-time effectively allowing for temporal travel on their curvitures.  Fucking time travel.  Can go to hell and just fucking stay there.  Where it belongs.  And take its bastard siblings alternate realities and meta-planar physics with it."

A pause.

"Fucking NASA and their exploring the moon and all the shit they keep on file to allow for faster comparison of knowledge.  Didn't know that till after I hid in that satellite.  If that V-Ger Chick and Demonically Mutated Dwayne Johnson show up.  I quit."

Giving a very tired, very stressed out look to the lieutenant a nod he slowly stands.

"Yeah... I should be good with that."

  The lieutenant gave him a 'eeeek' look, and nodded.  The seemingly random rant making him wonder if their passenger was quite . . .  sane . . . but he led the way to the rowboat without asking about it.  Instead, he said "Hope you're good with heights."

"Heights?"

A shudder is given as he looks how high up they are but he does manage to climb into the rowboat.  Closing his eyes he wraps his arms around his chest tightly, rocking slowly back and forth while singing under his breath.

"I love the people, I love to watch them die, I love the mournings, I love when they say good bye, I love the whole world and all its meatbags.  Boom de ah da, boom de ah da, boom de ah da, boom de ah da.  I love the vengeance, I love to sing and fight, I love the chicken, I love to poop and bite, I love the whole world it exhists at my grace.  Boom de ah da, boom de ah da, boom de ah da, boom de ah da.  I love to read books, I love to watch foes flee, I love to write fates, Ilovetoyellouteeeeee, I love the whole world and fire punches in the face.  Boom de ah da, boom de ah da, boom de ah da, boom de ah da."

  "You must play World of Warcraft.  This won't take long."  Then he dropped them.  It was rather like a 'Demon Drop ride' from Cedar Point.  They splashed into the water, and the two swabbies began to row them to the docks.  It took about five minutes to get there.

"Fit the profile, sure.  But the game is kinda boring.  Guess it comes with being a techno...  path."

The color drained from his face at the news he received from Iris.  His facial expression went from a little thrilled at the drop to hollow like someone had just slammed him in the gut with a sledge hammer.  As soon as they reach the docks he absorbs into the power grid of the city without a word.

>>>> Legacy's New Digs >>>>

---->> From Oswald Gysbourne Residence

  Megaira and Ozzy arrived in the area of the Docks, and Meg settled them to earth on an actual dock.  She told Ozzy "I didn't want to just LAND on them, so we'll sneak closer on foot."

Ozzy nodded, "Probably a good idea. If we can get the drop on whatever minions that Count Chocula has managed to scrounge up, then that will make this even easier."

  Meg nodded, and projected the readings she'd interpreted from the raw scans of her GEM scan, so that it wasn't a mess.  She also projected her suggestion for Tats to scout the building through the vent shafts, if he was game, since it would keep him safe, and STILL give them an inside view.

Ozzy nodded and Tats slid off of Ozzy's arm, scurrying into the ventilation system of the building Meg indicated to get a look around, Ozzy sending the image of the GEM scan over their mental link to try to give Tats an idea of where to go.

  Meg smiled at Ozzy, and said "I figured you and Tats wouldn't mind borrowing his eyes to check for their actual presence.  He has no blood to make him good prey, so they shouldn't attack him, and he's small enough the vent shafts are virtual highways!!"

  Tats was finding that the airshafts were strangely free of vermin here . . . .

Ozzy nodded, "Yeah. They try to suck his blood, they'll just get a mouthful of paint for their trouble. I just hope that doesn't, like, destroy him or something. Probably won't, honestly. Golems are really hard to kill, especially when they're only semi-solid. That's the beautiful thing about my paint golems, and why I was able to chump LeCarde like I did. Though, honestly, I was really just hoping for it to absorb a few blasts of hellfire or something to give me time to get a spell off. I guess that he thought that the casting-me was the ruse, or something... and it seems that the vermin that you sometimes find in air ducts really don't like this place. Well, vampires are supposed to creep most animals out. I think that bats and wolves are the only things that can really tolerate them, as vampires have a certain affinity for each. Well, that, or something's been eating them, and is *really* good at hunting them."

Tats was slightly troubled by the lack of vermin in the air-ducts. After all, what if whatever had cleaned them out posed a threat to him, or at least would notice him and give away his position?

  A figure in a darkened room was sitting up, reading.  She heard the soft sounds of something scrambling in the air ducts, and she drew closer, then peered into the duct through one of the grilles.

Tats heard someone getting up in a nearby room and tried to quickly get out of the line of sight of the grille, planning to freeze stone still if he could.

Over their mind-link, Ozzy sensed Tats' worry.

"Well, he's been spotted apparently, and there's noise coming from a totally darkened room. With your GEM scan, I'm pretty sure we're good to go. Shall we?" asked Ozzy, getting ready to enter the building with a basic light spell to illuminate the way. Given that vampires had excellent night-vision, he'd expected it to be dark in there, anyway.

  Meg nodded, and said via mindworm {{Let me move ahead, you realize that I can move silently to myself?  I learned how to do that when I was young, because I wanted to be able to sneak around places.}}

{{Yeah, I figured. Go for it. I need light to see, which ruins any sneaky-stuff I can do. But you can probably see without light, right? You might be able to sneak up on them, especially if I'm distracting them.}} he replied silently, before he started looking for a door. If it was locked, he'd try his old trick of getting a paint-appendage through the door to open it from inside.

  Meg grinned, and replied {{When I shift my vision into the EM spectra, yes, I can.  Not to mention HEARING and smelling better than any other human can, so I can echolocate by sounds above human hearing and below human hearing.}}

{{Yup. But remember, vampires are predators, designed for hunting humans. They can see in even pitch black rooms, so don't count on the darkness to hide you. Plus, they can smell your blood. So, be stealthy, but don't go too far, and keep your guard up. You *should* be okay with your regeneration, but I don't want to see what those vampires will do if they get hopped up on your energies. Vincent was bad enough, if your blood manages to make them stronger somehow... ugh."}} thought Ozzy.

  Meg began to move, and she wasn't kidding.  She made not a whisper of sound, and sh answered him {{I'm operating on the premise that their senses are on a par with my own, so I will presume they see me as soon as I see them.}}

{{Just don't get too terribly far from me. If I can distract them by being the more plainly obvious target, I can tank while you sneak up and get them from behind. Want a stake, or is that going to be exclusively my job?}} thought Ozzy.

{{If I touch them, my innate healing abilities will want to work on them.  So you'd better do the staking.  I may be able to hold them still for you though.  It may look a little horrible though.}}  She moved like a giant stalking feline.

Ozzy nodded silently as he pulled a stake from his messenger bag. When the vampires came, he'd be ready for them. He followed behind Meg as he did, using a basic light spell so he wouldn't be seeing by shinlocation, the process of knocking your shins into various objects around a room as you stumbled blindly through darkness.

{{Not sure how much that would do, but OK. After all, you can't fix dead stuff, right? Vampires are dead. I'm more worried about them drinking your blood than anything else.}}

  Meg replied {{You know there's iron in blood?  And phosphorous and magnesium in bones?  Guess what, I can hold those.}}   She held up a hand, and added {{There's a vampire.  I smell the blood, but hear no heartbeat or respiration here.}}

Ozzy followed behind, wondering if the vampire could sense them yet. Regardless, he held his stake at the ready, hoping to not get caught off-guard.

{{I meant more the healing working on them, but OK. I figured you'd at least be able to null-grav them or something. You know, if you can grab them like that, could you pull them apart, Magneto-style? Decapitating a vampire is also quite effective.}}

  Her answer was matter of fact, and rather blood chilling.  {{I haven't tried it yet, even I can't reassemble someone from dead, so I didn't want to experiment on a living person.  Vampires are already dead.  Shall I give it a try then?}}  Clearly, there were mental marks left from when she'd been possessed that she had NOT discussed with anyone.

Unfortunately for the mental marks, Ozzy was not the sort to be flipping out about them. He wasn't exactly 'Comics Code Authority Approved' himself.

{{Go for it. As far as either myself or Grandpa knows, the only thing to be done for these poor bastards is to destroy them. If it works, great. If not? Either stake it again, or burn the body just to be sure.}}

  Meg nodded, and he saw her eyes blaze, just before a wet, sickening cracking noise came to him, and he got lightly spattered with something wet.  Meg said thoughtfully "Oops."

{{Eh. It happens. Glad I didn't have my mouth open, or I might have been 'infected'. Also glad this isn't what I was going to wear on my date tonight. Heh, Vampire Slaying Rule Number Three: Never wear anything you don't mind washing blood out of.}} thought Ozzy, deciding that it was best to keep his mouth shut for the moment. He kept his guard up, trying to watch Meg's back as best he could with the little light he had.

  Meg opened up a mindworm channel between them, and he could see the 'traces' spattered all over the place from her ripping that vampire limb from limb.

  Hearing the sounds in the other room, she nodded once, and then swirled into mist and flowed away, vanishing into the darkness and leaving Tats to have run of the ventilation shaft.  But she'd been wide awake.  Clearly no ordinary vampire.

{{Nice. Are we outta the woods, here, or does Deady McRippedapart over there have friends?}} he thought, still trying to keep an eye out.

Which is when Tats sent Ozzy a message, via their link.

{{Ozzy, the vampire is leaving! I think you may be in trouble... what was that wet ripping noise?}}

{{Just Meg getting her 'hands' dirty. Megs, seems like that wasn't the one who noticed Tats. We've got at least one more target in here. If they're up and about during the day, it probably means they're tougher than the average leech,}} he sent to her via the mindworms. He then used his link with Tats to try to get a relative feel for where his familiar was, to try to predict where the attack would come from.

  Meg nodded, and expanded her scans.  So far, nothing.  The EM signature was too faint, and diffuse to be sure where the vampire had gone.

{{Where are they? Tats isn't that far away, they should be here by now... I'm gonna go get Tats. Watch my back, please?}} thought Ozzy as he started moving towards where Tats was, keeping his guard up the whole time.

  Meg moved with him, and answered {{Their EM signature is fading, I think that the other vampire left!  Means they don't want to face us.  Yet.  Scary idea, isn't it?}}

  Tats couldn't detect the vampire any more, but he definitely had a creepy vibe.

{{Huh. Well, that sucks. The one we killed can easily be replaced by the one that got away. Freakin' vampires. Ergh... I wish we could just go on the news or something and say 'Hey, everybody, carry some garlic around if you go out at night, or into buildings with no windows during the day.' Not that they'd believe us, more'n likely.}} thought Ozzy.

Tats gladly crawled back onto Ozzy's arm, clearly a little shaken up by his close encounter with the vampire.

  Meg gave Tats a gentle stroke, and said {{I know.  This is a frustrating exercise indeed!!}}

Ozzy nodded, {{Heh. Yeah, that's the way of monster-hunting. If you don't get 'em all, they tend to re-populate and try again. Still, what else are we gonna do? Just let them murder people?}}

Tats simply smiled and let Meg do what she was going to do. Despite being a paint construct, he seemed to enjoy the petting.

  Meg nodded, and gave Tats another stroke.  She said aloud, softly "I can tell you like being petted, Tats.  And all we can do is our best at stopping them, Ozzy.  We're ONLY humans, or parahumans."

Ozzy chuckled, "Just because he's not used to it. Our mental link makes it a little... odd, to say the least."

Tats smirked and said, "It's sort of like trying to tickle yourself. It really doesn't work that well."

  Meg chuckled, and said "Well, you fall under the 'small, pettable and pretty' category.  Which means I'll tend to pet you when you're not busy, because you're pretty and it's just a nice way to tell you thanks.  Even if it does make Ozzy give me funny looks!"  Gently teasing Ozzy a little there.

"Meh, I can block it out. It's no big deal." said Ozzy, shrugging.

Tats just smiled and said, "It's about time I got some thanks for all the work I do around here. 'Go crawl through the vents, Tats, Go deliver a message, Tats'. I swear, it's like he thinks he made me or something."

  Meg giggled, and said "You two sound like twin-siblings."

"Wouldn't be entirely innacurate. As I think you know, Tats is a part of my personality, magnified and warped a little. With our link, we can do a lot of things twins sometimes can. Of course, in some ways, we're the same being, but in others, were two separate entities. It's... really complicated," said Ozzy.

Tats just chuckled, "Meaning that he doesn't know enough to explain it. As much as he splits his focus, I'm surprised he can get anything done."

Ozzy smirked, "Eh, true enough. Vampire slaying, my green belt test at the dojo, and a date, all in one day. I'm a busy guy. Of course, some might say that's a good thing. I haven't had time for graffiti in weeks!"

  Meg chuckled, and said "It keeps you running.  And here I don't do a whole heck of a lot unless you count studying gravity, electromagnetics, and now I'm adding genetics obstetrics and actual medicine."

"Damn, girl, when do you sleep? Or do you?" asked Ozzy with a chuckle.

"Anyway, getting back on track... do you think we should see if we can find any more, or just wait for the others to report on their ends?"

  Meg admitted "I don't sleep a lot, but it's not like anything I'm studying is difficult for me to learn.  And, well, with the physics, gravitics and electromagnetics, it's sort of a natural knack."

"Yeah, seems to make sense. Still, remember, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. If you don't consider all that stuff to be a hobby, you probably want to find one. After all, you've gotta have something just for yourself, right?" said Ozzy, smiling.

  Meg half-smiled, and said "Well, my time is my own, to do with as I wish, since I no longer need to work.  I pretty much have some ideas, but some of them are really hard to do without taking long chunks of time away from Earth."

"And we keep calling you back. Damn, I kinda feel bad, now. Still, it's good to have you around every once in a while," said Ozzy, smiling.

  Meg shrugged, and said "Given the projections for my lifespan?  I will have plenty of time to experiment later, Ozzy."  She clearly preferred to be there to help her friends out.

Ozzy smirked, "Heh, glad to hear that. We definitely need ya, Megs. That trip to the hospital a few days ago reminded me how lucky I am not to have to deal with that every time I get hurt. Though, I guess now, the whole secret identity thing is moot, huh? At least, for me, anyway."

  She shrugged, and said "Yeah.  Although I never had one.  How could I?  It's hard for me to blend in with the normal people out there a lot of the time.  Too much that I know that others don't know I know."

Ozzy chuckled, "Heh, I was worried more about guys like LeCarde coming to call when I didn't want them around. Since that's not really something I can avoid any more, may as well drop the pretense, right?"

  Meg nodded, and asked "Flight?"

"Please. If we're done for the day, I need to get back home ASAP, and if not, it'll be better if we move quicker," said Ozzy.

  Meg chuckled, and the two of them lifted up, then shot through the halls to the outside.  Then they shot skyward, and she scanned again.  She said thoughtfully "The lords can apparently operate in the dark during daylight hours.  Not good."

"No, not good. Of course, they're at least limited in the daylight hours, and if you can trick them into getting into someplace where you can suddenly open some windows, you've got them. These vampires don't seem to be that stupid, however. Which, unfortunately, is why we may have to break Rule #1. Of course, technically, we already broke it last night, but meh. It was for a good cause," he said, smiling.

  Meg chuckled, and said "That we did.  Everything else I can read looks to be difficult to get to, so we'll have to table it unless we want to be causing a fair bit of collateral damage.  We need maps of all the subterranean crap in Weston!"

"Yeah, I don't think the people of Weston would be too happy if we started boring holes through the ground or whatever. Hmm... maybe the police or somebody would have access to something like that. I'll be surprised if the Order doesn't. But, yeah, let's call it a day, maybe try again tomorrow," said Ozzy.

  Meg nodded, and after surrounding them in a sphere of magnetic energy, she flung them through the air to the Gysbourne place once more.  She said "I have to admit, I am SO glad I can fly this way."

Ozzy nodded, "Yeah, it has to come in handy. I've got my license, at least, and hopefully Grandpa will teach me how to 'port sometime soon."

  Meg chuckled, and said "I would imagine that teleporting would be a dangerous thing to learn!"

---------->> Gysbourne Residence

"Eh, not so much more dangerous than learning to drive. You @#%$ up, you die. Simple as that. It's just a bit easier to screw up teleporting than it is driving, I think," said Ozzy as they flew towards the Gysbourne residence.

---> To Gysbourne Manor --->

A subtle mist blew into Weston with the morning sunrise. Soon the sun broke through it, but there was still a mist that was travelling from the docks, further into the city of Weston. One could almost see the outline of a man amongst the mist, but with enough strange things in Weston, it would be just one among many.

It calmly, quietly, made its way through the docks, and to the streets of Weston.

>>>>>>>>>To The Streets>>>>>>>>>>>>

---------->> From Kattakara Estate

Araniel settled them to earth in the docks section, as close as he could manage to the chaos-nexus he could sense.  He asked Jared "Can you feel the pulse of it?  Inside this building?"

Jared nodded, after a minute.  "I can.  It looks like a flower, blooming, exploding.  Sickly."

He paused, and then asked, "What's the plan?  Are they still human?  Or is this a termination mission?"

  Araniel said "This is a search and destroy or banish.  If you cannot banish them, destroy them.  They are not meant to be here."  He touched the wall, half closing his eyes as he felt the nexus within, and said "Suggestions on getting to it?"

Jared looked at the side of the warehouse.

  Araniel ran his hand lightly over the old brick that was the wall, and asked Jared "I do hope you don't have a problem with destroying dangerous things, it's sort of what I do as a rule."

Jared barked out a short laugh, and then shook his head.  "I put bad people down.  It's what I do.  In Iraq, Afghanistan, Special Forces, Black Ops, I was the guy.  And then things went pear-shaped, and my career path was FUBAR.  I had intended on retiring from the military, but someone, or something, else had a different plan.  I mustered out, took my medals and came here."

He looked at the brick wall, and said, "The wall is no problem.  I developed the ability to turn into a ghost and pass through anything."

  Araniel grinned, and said "Good.  That means you can get inside and open a door.  I don't like breaking things unless I have no other choice."

Jared nodded, and said, "I'll open that door.", indicating the person-sized door, rather than the equipment door, and ghosted through the brick wall.  He paused to make sure he was not seen, and to spend a moment taking a look at the general layout and scene, before moving down to unlink the door where Araniel would be waiting.

He'll unlock the door, or slice off any padlock or chain on it.

  Within the warehouse, it was dark, with a great many stacks of crates that kept visibility to a very short distance.  But he could FEEL the crawling sensation of that chaos nexus that was pulsing like a heartbeat, and heard something NOT human that sounded . . . wet.  The door was padlocked and chained shut, and the rust indicated it had been so for quite some time.

Jared noted the pulsing Chaos, and the wet-sounding creature moving around; his eyes sharp, he moved silently to the door.  He brought the DarkBlade to his hand, grasped the chain binding the door, gently sliced through the chain, making sure there was no sound, silently eased the bolt back, and when the door was fully unlocked, he stepped back through the door to the outside.

"There is something in there.  It sounds wet, and heavy, but it was too dark for my to identify."

Then he smiled without humor, and said, "I'm ready... you?"

  Araniel nodded, and drew his sword, the soft glow from it illuminating the area around him as he answered simply "Well, then we go forth and kill it."

Jared pushed the door open as quietly as possible, and slipped inside, blade out.  His vision pierced the darkness easily, and after stepping inside, stepped to the side to allow Araniel access.  He moved along the wall clockwise, looking for whatever made the wet-sounding noise.

He walked softly, deliberately, as he hunted his prey.

  Araniel tilted his head, and then indicated the cross-path that lay ahead, indicating he would go that way, and Jared, who could walk through walls, could move dead ahead.  That sound was in 'front' of them, which meant he could walk through the piled crates to go see it.

Jared nodded, and ghosted through the crates dead ahead, and cautiously peered out to see what manner of nightmare was slithering around the warehouse.  Just his face emerged.

Although Jared knew, in the world of men, he was an original badass, this was not the world of men.  This was the world of Angels, and nightmares, and Chaos.  He would do well to tread cautiously.

It looked like the Blob.  Gooey and purple and slosh-splorping around in the warehouse, it's ooze dissolving some of the nearest crates as it kept doing circuits, like it was guarding.  Something that looked like a skinless dog walking on eight legs padded into view with it.

Jared waited until the 8-legged dog pulled even and the slghtly past, and then he stepped out, swung his katana at its neck, attempting to cleanly sever its head.  He'll continue the motion and simply step into the crates across the aisle.  An attack and a distraction, Jared hoped he would kill the dog, distract the blob, and hold it's attention lng enough for Araniel to flank it.

  The skinless-dog-thing yelped as he severed it's head, and the blob came whipping back, although he was out of sight by then, and it covered the dog thing, and a moment later, it had a dog HEAD sticking out of it's substance, and was looking around with it!!

Jared made a face, and thought to himself, "John Carpenter's, 'The Thing.'  Scared the crap out of me as a kid.  I will definitely need a wench or three tonight to help me get to sleep."

He briefly considered his options, before deciding that drawing it's attention so that Araniel could flank it was a pretty good option, so he stepped out of the crate, said, "You looking for me?" before stepping to his right and back into the crates on the opposite side of the aisle, drawing the creature to him.

  Araniel waited for it to move, and Jared saw him step out and swing, his flaming sword slicing into it and making it scream and thrash wildly.

Jared moved a tick after Araniel did, catching the Chaos beast turning toward his companion.  He sliced deeply into it, once again aiming for the dog's head ( that he cut off previously ).

He and Araniel traded blows with the creature; Jared preferred guerrilla hit-and-run tactics.  Araniel's preference remained to be seen.

  Araniel slashed hard, then dodged backward, and flared with light, blinding the thing as it screamed in pain.  Giving Jared a good shot at it's 'back', where he'd sliced the head off it again.

Jared smiled briefly, and swung his blade to cut deeply into it.  He was curious to see what effect Dark Force had on Beings of Chaos.

It screamed and thrashed, the pain lancing through it to make it howl and gibber as he hurt it badly.

Jared continued his attack.  Balanced, careful, pressing, yet not all-out.  He struck again, and again, moving and dodging, using the surrounding terrain to his best advantage, his blade a blur of Dark Energy.

  Araniel slashed with his sword as well, alternating blows with Jared so that the beast was caught between them and couldn't withstand them for long.

Jared kept up the attack until the beast was dead; he was unrelenting, but always in control.  The Dark Energy that surged through him since his change was cold, calculating, and distant, not the hot, uncontrolled rage of the berserker, but the chill blade of the assassin.

Once the beast shuddered and moved no more, Jared flicked his blade clean, and then said to Araniel, "Well fought.  Onward?"

  Araniel said "Now to the gate.  We see if we can seal it closed."

Jared nodded, and ghosted through the wall of crates to the next aisle, and in this fashion cycled closer to their objective.  He deliberately left Araniel to walk the traditional way, scouting ahead to make sure the path was clear.  Even wh an Angel, his predisposition to "protect" was too strong to easily ignore.

  Araniel had to move to the end of the hallway, then take a cross-corridor.  One half of the warehouse was on one side, with a cross-corridor in the center and at each end.  The rest was arranged in long straight rows of boxes.  As he drew closer to the center, Jared could feel a twisted 'wrongness' in the air too.

They converged on the center, and Jared asked Araniel, "This is your province, Araniel.  What do you need me to do?"

  Araniel concentrated on the warp, and said "You braid your power with mine, and we seal the warp point here so that things can not come through it.  Ready?"

Jared nodded, and began to weave his own dark power in with Araniel's bright power.  It was a study of contrasts, and although Jared was not sure *HE* could manage two such different types of energy, he was cautiously optimistic that Araniel could.

"Ready."

  Araniel grinned, and used his control of his own power to 'loop' the braid around the portal.  He said "We have the basic frame, now shape the rest like a siderweb or a yarn ball around it, connecting your strands dark to dark as I do the same with my own, and since the two energies are not competing, but cooperating, it will hold the Chaos Warp shut."  He began to show Jared how, using his own power to throw loops around the warp like spiderweb bands.

In reply to Araniel (msg # 209):

Jared nodded, and began to weave his own energy, anchoring it to the same points as Araniel's, but choosing different paths.  The end result, as it began to take shape under Jared's rather surprised eyes, was a weave both strong, repairing, and redundant.

He murmured, to no one in particular as he worked through the complex knot work, "Knit one, pearl two."

The task took quite some time to complete, and once or twice Jared made an erroneous attachment and had to redo that section, but in the end the Spirograph of energy coalesced, and he stood back, satisfied.

He looked over at Araniel.  "Looks good to me.  What do you think?"

  Araniel examined the weave, and smiled, then said practically "Well woven and effective.  One or the other of us, if not both, will feel it if this nexus opens again."

Jared nodded.  "Interesting.  Time will tell whether that's a good thing.  But for now, it'll do.  Anything else that needs doing?"

  Araniel tilted his head, and said softly "There is something else still here that does not belong.  Are you ready to remove it's taint too?"

In reply to Araniel (msg # 213):

Something about the way Araniel asked the question gave Jared pause, and he said, cautiously, "Probably, but I don't sense anything else amiss.  What's bugging you?"

  Araniel said "I sense . . . taint.  It's not flat out evil, YET, but it's a taint, and it is contagious."  He closed his eyes, and padded slowly toward the darkness where he sensed it.

Jared followed, cautious yet curious, weapon out.  He had sharp senses and a warrior's training, but this was all new to him.  Still, at the end of the day, there were always things that needed to be killed, and he was there to do it.

  Araniel kept moving, and Jared began to feel it too.  Like an awareness of a skunk long before it arrived, this was a nagging, irritating feel like a sharp sawblade was just lightly rubbing back and forth on the edge of his senses.  Jarring, sharp, but not so much that he'd go directly for it.  In the corner of the warehouse, there was a large 'puddle' of something that was faintly luminescent greenish.  It looked like algae in a puddle, but Jared could sense it was much, much more dangerous.

Jared asked, very quietly, not moving any closer, "What... Is... THAT?"

  Araniel said "It's taint.  The stuff will wildly mutate, possibly beyond normal life-sustaining properties, and it is dangerous.  So we need to destroy it."

Jared nodded, and then asked, simply, "How?"

  Araniel said "Well, we either burn it away with my flames, or if you have a way to obliterate it, you can do that too.  It has to go.  IT is not living matter, but it will affect living matter."

Jared considered his own abilities for the moment, and then said, almost regretfully, "I believe the sword I use can damage just about anything living, but I don't generally consider swords the best weapon against slimes.  Fire seems like a better choice.  Go for it."

And he stood back and let Araniel do his thing.

  Araniel nodded, and began with circling the pool of it with his flame, then began to draw it inward, and concentrated, searing the stuff into nothing but ash as he concentrated.  His flame was something more than just fire, and it burned that taint out of existence as it consumed it, making it's presence in their awareness shrink like a fading stench.

Jared watched with interest as Araniel used his "Holy Fire" to destroy the Taint, and then said, "For the record, I have strange powers, but I have no idea where they came from, or what, if anything, they mean.  Some sort of random mutation, a touch of the Divine, or Infernal?  No clue... but they do seem to be fairly death-aspected.  And by that I mean I can a lot of the traditional powers associated with the undead, like vampires, or ghosts.  I don't *feel* evil or creepy, but my powers definitely seem to be a little creepy.  Any insight you can share would be appreciated."

  Araniel nodded, and said "You are not evil, nor are you demon-tainted.  You are blessed with genetics that quirked to give you access to what our dark angel brothers use.  So you could say you've awakened your inner angel."

Jared thought about this for a moment, and then said, "Well, that's certainly odd.  Angelic genetics.  I wonder if I can generate some sort of black fire.  Because that would certainly have a nice cache to it."

  Araniel chuckled, and said "You have always known this, it is in the bible that was given to you through the prophets chosen by God to write his words."

Jared shrugged, and said, cautiously, "The Bible is silent on some importent topics, and it seems to be incomplete, meaning, GOD adds to it from time to time.  One of the areas left unaddressed concerns superheroes."

  Araniel asked gently "What part of it concerns you?  You are still children of God."

Jared shrugged again.  "Some people think powers derive from the Devil ONLY, that GOD does not intervene that directly in the lives of men.  Then, of course, there are beings like Zeus, or Odin.  Or aliens.  The Bible speaks of the lives of men, but doesn't mention other GODS, or aliens, or vampires, or... Well, you get the idea.  The world is a bigger place than the Bible would imply... Which makes me wonder whether God is intending on adding to the work in the near future?"

  Araniel nodded, and said "The world IS a complicated place indeed.  And some of what you speak of is covered.  But other things, men misinterpret.  You realize that He is still very active in lives, he just elects to make it less a screamingly obvious intervention, and steers things so it all seems coincidental, because he promised to let men choose their own fates?"

Jared laughed; he couldn't help himself.  "'Less screamingly obvious?'  At the risk of being sacreligious, he made us... has he MET us?  We don't do 'subtle' very well.  Not only that, but the Bible has been translated and retranslated by folks who substituted their own agenda in place of what the text actually said... 'Thou shalt not kill' versus 'thou shalt not murder'... 'thou shalt not suffer a witch to live'...  a lot of Leviticus..."

Then he paused, and said, "Each small word or word change sends the world into tremendous contortions.  It would be nice if he would make a brief appearance and straighten out a few things... Like confirm or deny for the Jews if Jesus was the chosen son of GOD the prophecies spoke of... confirm of deny whether Gabriel spoke to Muhammed, and if so, did he carry GOD's words accurately... confirm or deny his proscription on homosexuality... abortion... divorce... "

Then he shrugged again, and said, "All WAAAAAY above my pay grade.  My job is to fight evil.  I hope, at the end of it, GOD judges I've done more good for the world than not.  As for superheros or people with powers, if we're part of GOD's plan, that's terrific, I'm good with that."

  Araniel nodded, and said "Yes.  All men and women are the children of God.  Some of you are descended from the Nephilim, like May, my daughter.  Yes, I'm technically Nephilim myself, but I can confirm some things.  Although I'm not here with official sanction.  It's not time, yet, for armageddon."

Jared quirked an eyebrow.  "Well, there's a sobering thought."

Then he shrugged again.  "Again, above my pay grade.  So, what's next?"

  Araniel said "Well, now that we've cleaned this place out, we can go shoot the breeze somewhere, or we can go hang out where you were staying, or you can come up with something to do.  I believe I'll come along with you, this is apparently a toen that's a hotbed of dangers."

Jared thought for a moment, and then said, "This mission is complete, let's head back, regroup, and see what's shaking.  As for coming with me, you are welcome so long as you down get all backlit and do that Roma Downey Jr thing.  Which will make no sense to you if you haven't seen "Touched By An Angel."  Awful show.  Except for John Dye, who was good as the Angel of Death."

  He laughed, and said "Can't say I watch much television, so I'll take your word for it.  However, if you feel like stopping off for a couple hot coffees or hot chocolates on the way, you have my vote.  Chocolate is wonderful stuff."

Jared laughed.  "Knows GOD's plan?  Check.  Works to combat evil and drive back the forces of darkness?  Check.  What he wants more than anything else?  Hot cocoa."

Then he laughed again.  "Cocoa with an angel; how could I refuse?  Let's go."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:03, Sat 30 Nov 2013.

  Araniel laughed, and said "I have a true fondness for hot cocoa, it's wonderful, wonderful stuff.  I can't describe how good it is to taste chocolate after not being physical for ages and ages, and it is . . . really indescribable."  He indicated Jared should lead the way, his wings folded neatly behind him as he sheathed his sword on his back, between them, and grinned.

Jared just chuckled, the juxtaposition of an Angel of GOD sipping cocoa continued to amuse.

They walked (or cabbed) over to the local coffee shop, and Jared ordered, completely against any previously established history, a peppermint cocoa with whipped cream.

Once Araniel had his, he said, "I assume they can't see your wings?  Or sword?"

  Araniel nodded, and said "Correct.  I can choose whom I wish to perceive what I truly am, and those who just see another guy hanging out drinking something.  I am glad my daughter has fallen in with such a good group of people."

Jared sipped his ridiculously fru-fru drink, and said, "I just arrived today; don't know her.  Who is she?  Your daughter, I mean?"

Then he said, "Everything I know about Angels I learned from 'The Prophecy', but the second one concerned the Nephilim.  I'm guessing that having a child was a pretty meaningful decision, more than most?"

  Araniel nodded, and said "Yes.  It is the choice that actually makes one a Nephilim, to lie with the daughters or sons of Adam and Eve.  May is the one running around with wings like mine, but no sword."  He sipped his peppermint hot cocoa, and his expression was positively blissful.

Jared paused.  "Obviously GOD is ok with the, um, 'intermingling.'  I imagine May is extremely powerful, probably more than she knows.  Is she a warrior?"

  Araniel said "Actually, she's a healer.  That's not surprising, since I am a warrior-angel.  I was a Guardian Angel, but I couldn't take seeing so much evil and NOT doing something about it anymore, so I chose to 'fall'.  To become a Nephilim."

Jared asked, "The rules are different for nephilim and angels?"

  Araniel said "Rather different, yes.  Angels who have not fallen and become Nephilim do NOT visible intervene.  Nephilim can, and frequently DO.  We have also chosen to lay with the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve.  Which, since I have a daughter, I've obviously chosen to do that, which is why I am Nephilim."

Jared shrugged.  "I'm torn between 'total fan boi, pestering you with questions' mode and leaving all of it alone as way above my pay grade.  The way I look at it, if GOD had meant us to know all the answers HE would show up and give an interview."

Then He chuckled, and said, "If HE, for whatever reason, wants to give an interview, I call "DIBS!""

  Araniel chuckled, and said "He's a rather quiet one, but he knows everything.  So he plans for things none of the rest of us even dream of, like the Morningstar rebelling."

Jared looked puzzled, and said, "You all were surprised by that?  Seriously?"

Then he shook his head, and said, "Every system, especially one that puts the idea of "choice" at the center, must have an alternative.  Meaning, if you are choosing between two sides, both sides must be able to make a compelling case, or it isn't a real choice.  Or, to put it another way, if I say, "You can have a cup of cocoa, or I'll plunge a red hot poker into your eye," there's technically a choice but in reality, not so much.  So GOD, in order to make the system work, needed someone to represent the "other side" of the equation.  Which means, of course, that since GOD created angels, he created Lucifer, and because he has perfect knowledge of his creation, he knew Lucifer was going to fall, which means, of course, that that his plan all along."

He shrugged, "GOD purposefully created Satan and empowered him to do exactly what he is doing because it was the only way for the entire system to work.  Choice."

  Araniel said "It wasn't that someone fell, it was WHO fell.  We did not expect one of the most beautiful among us to fall."

Jared shrugged.  "Funny.  Makes perfect sense to me.  Who would follow a third string angel anywhere?  The Adversary would have to have the stones to hold his own.  Remember - real choice."

 Araniel smiled, and said "Well, in all truth, we half expected Uriel to rebel, since he's an Archangel, and he's rather antisocial to the rest of us, but Lucifer kept it completely under the table until the day he declared Rebellion."

Jared almost snarfed his cocoa, and he said, highly amused, "Wait, wait, don't tell me... you were all cheesed off because you had "Uriel" in the "Who's going to fall?" pool and he didn't come through for you?  That must have been awkward around the water-cooler afterwards, eh?"

  Araniel said "Not exactly.  We were more thinking along the lines of Uruiel starting the open rebellion, and here Lucifer, who had given no signs of it, came out and was roaring rebellion to the world."

Jared just shrugged.  "I suspect GOD kept suspicion from your mind and the evidence from your eyes.  I suspect GOD realized that if you alll found out prematurely that you could have prevented the fall, or at least minimized the damage.  If my theory about GOD engineering the whole thing is true, he would have had to create the possibility of Lucifer operating in secrecy.  Which would have meant folling or misdirecting all of you.  Odds are, Uriel was in on it.  Orders."

Then he set his cup down, and said, "You realize, I assume, that I have no idea what I'm talking about, right?  We're just two guys enjoying coffee."

  Araniel chuckled, and said "Of course.  And we both work to help protect the majority of humanity from evil.  Especially the kinds they can't fight themselves."

Jared nodded, ordered two more cocoas, and then said, "I need to learn that fire trick.  Which brings me to the Taint.  You implied it was not evil, but if Chaos.  So... What *is* Chaos, where did it come from, what does it want, and how do I fight it?"

  Araniel said "Well, I can help you a bit there.  You understand the theory of the four elements, right?  And that there may be more than four elements, right?"

Jared nodded.  "Vaguely.  Earth, air, water, fire, right?"

  Araniel nodded, and said "There are dimensions for other elements too, more than just the four major elements you mentioned.  Light, Shadow, Chaos, Order, Darkness, and others.  Humans can't normally sense or cross them, although my kind do because we're made to do so, but in essence, Chaos is the tool that was used, with some careful prodding, to create all life."

Jared paused.  "So, making a SWAG here, unfocused Chaos could be used to warp, or mutate, existing life, then?  Hence, why it is so dangerous, and contagious?  It warps life on a DNA level, like cancer does, and can be passed from person to person?"

  Araniel nodded, and said "You have it dead on the mark."

Jared paused again, and asked, "Werewolves.  Vampires.  Other things that go 'BUMP!' in the night... were they caused by Chaos infection?  Both can spread their condition, if the stories are true... and, of course, the next question is, since I don't, so far as I know, have the ability to conjure fire like you do, how to I find and destroy Chaos?"

  Araniel said "Could you sense the taint, once I pointed it out to you?  If so, remember that feeling, and when you sense it, like with any other sense, home in on it.  Now, we shall have to experiment with your abilities when we're a little less public, but I think I could teach you to call darkfire."

In reply to Araniel (msg # 265):

Jared nodded.  "Yes, once you pointed it out.  A combination of creepy and queasy."

  Araniel nodded, and said "You sense it, you hone in on it, and you track it down and destroy it."

Jared smiled.  "Dark Fire.  I like the sound of that.  I have wondered where my abilities come from... Kinda creepy abilities, used to fight evil.  Like "Ghost Rider."

  Araniel laughed, and said "I think I might have seen your 'Ghost Rider' person on the television.  It looks confusing."

Jared shrugged.  "Hollywood.  All imagination; nothing needs to makes sense."

  Araniel chuckled, and said "That sounds about right."

Jared paused, and then said, "Why can the dead speak to me?  Why can I see them?"

  Araniel nodded, and said "That would be a darkangel bloodline.  They handled the shepherding of the souls of the dead.  It's why you can talk to them now, I would venture."

Jared rubbed his unshaven chin thoughtfully.  "When you say, 'bloodline', I assume you mean something other than genetics, since so far as I know neither my mother nor my father was an angel, dark or otherwise?  Although it does seem odd... you've said things that would imply there are inherited factors here, but that would be really tough."

  Araniel nodded, and said "It IS a hereditary factor.  Think of it like a serious recessive."

Jared paused, and then said, "Then we are all Nephilim, eh?  So some sort of mutation activated my extremely recessive Dark Angel gene?"

Jared pondered this, and then shrugged.  "Cool.  I can work with that.  Learn Dark Fire.  Fight the good fight."

  Araniel chuckled, and said "Yes.  Good idea.  It is always good to have more people doing GOOD."

Jared paused again, and then asked, "Do my now active genes convey any extra rights, responsibilities, or bans?  In short, is there anything i cannot or should not do?  Above and beyond the usual."

  Araniel tilted his head, and said "Well, if one follows the laws that Moses was given, one is generally safe."

Jared sighed.  "Tough not to kill in my line of work."

  Araniel shook his head, and said "That's where the confusion comes in.  See, your JOB is to defend and protect those who can not do what you do.  If you are protecting them, and your enemy falls dead, then you have not slain another for personal reasons.  So that's not breaking the laws of Moses."

Jared shrugged.  "But I'm not a white hat type of guy.  I want to find the bad guys and kill them wherever they are.  Asleep, in their beds, if possible.  To me, there reaches a point where a person has hits "unrecoverable"; terrorists, child molesters, etc.  I want to slay them all.  No trial.  I don't want to wait to catch them in the act.  Their past actions doom them."

  Araniel smiled, and said "That is why you can sense evil.  Let IT draw you to your rightful prey.  Darkangels also dealt with dispensation of justice to those who have committed unforgiveable crimes."

Jared smiled, a smile which did not quite touch his eyes.  "Then I'll keep up doing what I'm doing.  And I have ta say, I was BORN for this."

  Araniel nodded, and said softly "There are those who do the unforgiveable and then think they can be washed as pure as those who never got a chance to sin.  They do not understand that some things are unforgiveable.  You can teach them so."

Jared nodded.  "Sounds perfect.  Now I just need a mask."

Then he paused, "Meg will be OK letting me stay at her house?  I'm not sure if that is a long term offer or just a short-term, until I find a place thing..."

  Araniel chuckled, and said "She means it in the long-term sense.  She's not the kind to turn anyone who needs help away, haven't you noticed?  She's a Fury, but she is very kind to her friends."

Jared, knowing next to nothing about Greek Mythology, said, "What the heck is a Fury?  I like the sound of that, but you may not mean what I think you mean... and my initial impression was that she was a nice person, and not at all, well, furious."

  Araniel said, with a smile "Furies are the children of the Greek Gods who have a mortal, or human, parent, and they can dish out incredible amounts of punishment.  They're not exactly human at all, although they can look human.  Miss Megaira looks human, but she's a Fury, and should you rouse her anger, she would be a frightful opponent.  Especially since miss Megaira is an Immortal."

Jared chuckled.  "I'll make sure to pay my rent on time then.  Whatever that rent turns out to be."

Then he shook his head.  "Daughter of a GOD.  Like Hercules.  Wow."

Then he looked puzzled, and he said, "Isn't "immortal" a subset of "Fury?"  You mentioned it like it was a separate thing?"

  Araniel chuckled, and said "It is.  Her mother is an Immortal.  Megaira is a Fury AND an Immortal, as well as technically being a demigoddess.  But she's also one of the sweetest tempered people I've met in a long time.  I doubt she will bother to charge rent."

Jared laughed despite himself.  "A sweet-tempered Fury.  That's funny."

Then he shook his head and said, "Sounds like a heckuva woman.  Ah, well."

Then he focused on the business at hand.  "So... should I just wander the streets, seeking out bad folks?  That actually works for me, since I don't sleep much and seem to be immune to the elements."

  Araniel nodded, and said "That, and probably keep an ear out for the all calls if they have you hooked up with their communications method.  I do like these people."

Jared shuddered.  "The bug in the ear.  Gross.  But useful."

Then he paused, and said, "Anything else before I get back to work?  Evil doesn't sleep, so neither do I."

  Araniel shook his head, and said "Don't be afraid to ask for backup.  I'm sure those young people at Meg's house would be happy to help."

Jared nodded, drained the last of his cocoa, and stood up.  He fastened his coat, and said, "I will if I need to, trust me.  They don't send soldiers out alone too often,  so I'm used to working in a team."

He stuck out his hand.  "Good to meet you, Araniel.  If the offer to train me up is still good, I would definitely like to take you up on it."

  Araniel nodded, and shook his hand as he said "The offer stands.  Come find me when you want to work on it, and I'll teach you as much as I am able."

Joseph's heart was pounding, as it always did right before work.
His pre-work ritual was simple, some stretches to limber up, quickly covering vital points with layers of force-fields, and making sure his mask as secure on his face.
Satisfied with his outfit and stretches, he begins his work.
A quick blink, and he was on top of a building, giving himself a good vantage point.
He looked around, his vigilant gaze scanning for any sign of the drug shipment he had heard was happening today.
His search was rewarded with the sight of a black van being led into a warehouse, multiple men stood by the doors, bulky jackets suggested they were hiding something underneath, most likely kevlar vests and handguns.

"I should take out the exterior guards first."
Moving around the warehouse, he tried to find all of the guards before he made a move, wanting to make sure he didn't miss anyone.

It was almost time to attack.
Joseph grinned, it was time for Guillotine to do his work.

In addition to the two at the main entrance there was another guard at a side entrance, and three more patrolling the area, plus whomever was inside. The men looked alert but confident, as if they weren't worried about running into anything they couldn't handle with ease. The two at the front chatted quietly, while the one at the side entrance smoked a cigarette.

Guillotine was ready.
From his vantage point he began, creating human shaped force-fields to try and trap the guards he had seen.
After that, he felt around with the perception part of his second power, to get an idea of the inside of the warehouse.
If it looked safe enough, he would jump in, with a larger force field to surround himself.
If it was dangerous looking, he'd go in anyways, and start creating fields to entrap the would-be drug shippers and buyers.
He felt confident, up till now he had never had a problem with his tactics, this was just another raid to him, at least for now.

The guards outside were caught unawares, the fields surrounding them making them incapable of moving or even warning their allies. Inside he saw about what he expected, armed guards patrolling the area, drugs being unpacked and prepared for distribution. On the catwalk above the others were three men in the same sharp suits the rest of the thugs sported, but with the addition of skullcaps, dark sunglasses, and gloves.

Guillotine had a odd sense of humor, and a slightly warped sense of justice, so it only made sense for him to start forming forcefields around the heads of each criminal scum that he spotted.
Once the bubbles had formed around their head, they would be slightly lifted, just enough that they couldn't comfortably stand without a sensation similar to being hanged.
Taking out the weapons was also a good priority, and each one he knew of would quickly have the barrel filled with a long cylindrical field, clogging them.

As he worked securing who he could, Guillotine looked around for anything he could loot, such as money, and began the destruction of all drugs in site, containing and then dusting them with the secondary effect of his fields.

He was fortunately good at multitasking, so special attention would be payed to the three head honcho looking fellows on the catwalk, as walls of force fields start to surround them so that he could imprison and interrogate.

  The majority of the available 'loot' was the sort he wanted to destroy.  This looked to be a location for packaging and distribution to dealers rather than where the cash was picked up, or where the payroll was.  He could also find some guns and ammo, but there wasn't as much of that around as there should have been.  Something was a little off kilter here for a drug distribution center.  The fellows up on the catwalk seemed to be a little more alert than most, detecting something was going on almost as soon as he began materializing his force fields, and they split up to prowl in an almost professional military manner.

In an isolated section of the docks, two groups conferred over the trunk of a car. One group consisted of Latinos dressed in yellow and black, the colors of the Locos, one of the few ethnic gangs left since paras appeared. They mostly looked cautiously excited as they stared at the case on top of the car.

The second group was smaller and were dressed in biker gear. One of the bikers opened the case, revealing what looked like a rifle but shaped differently than a traditional firearm. "These babies shoot completely silent with the fire rate of an LMG. The magnets they use let them pack an extra punch, treating level 2 defensive powers like a normal person and still damages those higher. The same ordinance the army fits their anti para units with."
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:29, Sun 25 Oct 2020.

Antoinette is walking along the docks. She likes the sound of the waters and the feel of the breeze. She also likes walking and wandering. Its a thing she has been doing since she first could walk. She sees the people up ahead. Being the friendly person she is, she smiles softly and waves at the gangs, wandering in their direction. Poor girl has no idea she is walking towards some crooks.

Ironically, it is a good thing for her that she isn't in her super suit, or those crooks might have thought to test out their new gun on her force fields. Also ironic is how her anti-magnetism safeguards are meant to protect her equipment from magnetic effects, but might just be able to protect her from these guns' "extra punch". Maybe.

Still, all of this might not matter depending on how things go down. The naive, kind-hearted farm girl might wind up being treated nice for all she knows, or she might wind up seriously hurt.

One of the bikers spotted Antoinette as she rounded the corner and quickly reached over and shut the case. The rest of them stood around trying to look like they were just having a conversation, unconvincingly. Several produce cigarettes and one starts talking about last weekend's sailfish game.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:24, Fri 06 Nov 2020.

Antoinette walks over to the group and says in her usual soft tone, "It's a nice night." as she smiles an innocent smile. She looks over the bunch of them to get a good view of each of their faces. While that might help with identifying them for police later, that isn't her motive. She just likes people. That smile still on her face, she says, "My name is Antoinette. I hope you all are well."

She thinks about what these people's lives must have been like. Were they loved? Were they hurt? Whatever the case, she hopes to have them feeling like someone cares before the end of her walk.

The men took an aggressive stance, Several shared confused and suspicious looks, one waved a hand in the direction she had been walking. "Well why don't you do that hoping elsewhere lady."

Antoinette turned to the one who was shooing her and asked with a look of concern on her face. In her usual soft-toned voice, she asked "Are you OK? I want to help."

Her lack of fear just seemed to add to the legitimacy of her concern. But this girl is bad at taking the normal clues like when people don't want you around. At least she has learned hugs aren't always the best thing for people who hurt inside. So while she might have offered hugs right away when she was younger, she now knows to hold that thought until she feels out what is best for the person she is talking to.

Some people don't want help. But that is a concept she never was able to wrap her mind around.

The assembled thugs looked bewildered at the question. " What? Uhh, yeah I'm okay."

One of them leaned towards the others. "I think she's like my cousin, on the spectrum and @$%#."

Antoinette looks at the one who spoke about his cousin. "Oh. Yes. I am diagnosed autistic." she smiles. She is also keeping keen attention on where the suitcase is. "I am sorry if I interrupted anything important. I hope you have a good day."

She turns to head off. As she does, she dials the police and looks to turn a corner. She cares for the group of criminals and genuinely hopes they can be helped. But letting them get away with crime would be the opposite of helping.

If she gets to a corner without the criminals stopping her, she hides behind it and changes into her super suit while listening to the dial tone.

The goons looked amongst eachother. "So do we finish the deal or...?" One asked
"We could always cap the puta" One of the Locos offered.
"Hey!" Interjected the one with the disabled cousin. "I ain't no angel but I'm not about to kill some disabled kid. Probably doesn't even understand what was going on."
"But she could tell somebody" countered the Loco.
"Then we finish business quick, or reset the meet."
"I don't hold merchandise." Said the biker that had been describing the merchandise. "And she saw our faces, someone follow after her. You can test your new Merchandise."

Antoinette get an operator, but her tone is one of.manufactured cheer and politeness, and doesn't sound like she thinks this is a priority. SHe agrees to send a car, but who knows how long it will take to get there.

While she is talking, two of the Local take two of the special guns and start following after Antoinette at a brisk pace. The one that objected has his back turned.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:25, Mon 02 Nov 2020.

Seraph turned and headed for the water, gaining some altitude as she did. She was watching for signs of trouble and saw a really big one. Antoinette was in the process of changing into her suit, there was a man with a gun advancing on her and what looked like other men with guns conducting business that certainly did not look like trading Girl Scout cookies.

Threatening her was one thing but threatening Antoinette: one of the sweetest, kindest, and most caring people she knew? That would not stand.

She snarled and let her flames roar to life around her, the very air shimmering as her wings caught fire and the crown of flames encircled her head. Her sword appeared in her hand, wreathed in flame, and fire tickled her forehead.

With a snarl she fired a golden blast of energy at the man who was about to do something quite untoward with her friend.

Since changing into her supersuit doesn't take much, Lifelight is suited up in a matter of seconds. She needs protection from these new guns; her forcefields protect her from bullets, not anti-tank level munitions. But they let it slip that their extra punch was due to magnetism. So she calls in her exo-suit which launches from about a couple blocks away towards her position.

The exo-suit has her Anti-magnetism Safeguards. But will it arrive in time to save her? Then Lifelight's HUD informs her of the presence of Serena. She needs to buy time. Lifelight peeks and sees thugs on their way. Thankfully, by now, Lifelight has a plan in mind. Hopefully, the plan will work.

The plan:
-Shoot paralyzing energy beams at the two thugs to buy some time.
-Call for Serena.
-Fly to thugs and obtain the guns.
-Get Serena to safety and explain the situation.

Lifelight executes part one and two of the plan. She peeks her hand around the corner and fires paralyzing shots at the two thugs. As she does, she flies in a zig-zag pattern towards the two thugs (JUST in case she missed or they should wake prematurely, she wants to be dodging ahead of time). "Seraph!" she calls out, "Their weapons can hurt you! Be careful!"

The two thugs heard Seraph snarl from above and turned, one avoided the paralyze ray with his spin, the other simply pivoted and got hit.

With one frozen in place the other pulled the trigger letting forth a stream of bullets. Seraph can feel the impact, and the bullets dent her armor.

The others hear the commotion from the car. The salesman reaches into his jacket, pulling forth two large strange looking pistols, one red, one blue. The reluctant biker sighed and smashed his own fists together, his skin either changing to, or being covered in stone. The loco who had been talking held up his hands and glowing yellow orbs appeared in both of them.

The rest of the gangsters grabbed more of the rifles from the trunk and started moving towards the commotion.

The flames and golden glow around Seraph intensified as she poured more power into the force field that manifested as fiery armour. She ignored the impact of the bullets and leveled her sword at the man firing and let fly a beam of bright golden light that struck with kinetic and thermal energy.

Lifelight takes the weapon from the paralyzed thug and slings it over her shoulder. She can't put it anywhere else without risking that it could be picked up by someone else and she wants it in tact so that the D.P.A. or the S.C.U. will know what street gangs got their hands on. No doubt this is reverse-engineered or flat-out stolen technology from official law enforcement agencies (or military).

Lifelight can see her Rescue Exosuit not far away and should be there any moment now. She flies to the roof to be out of line of sight from the thugs and waves Serena over. "Seraph! Here first please!" She wants to talk with Seraph without yelling, but also doesn't want herself OR Seraph out in the open sky where people can shoot at them. For now, at least.

Lifelight is admittedly assuming none of the thugs can fly, but even if one of them does, chances are low it would be too much more than one or two of them. All the same, she has her paralysis beams ready.

The second thug goes flying as Serena's blast hit him in the chest, slumping against a nearby wall. The other !eh approached as a unit. The one holding the glowing orbs motioned for two of the normal things to head forward. They rounded the corner their weapons held aloft as they headed towards the alley where Seraph and Lifelight stood!

Seraph banked around and landed on the roof next to her friend. "Fancy meeting you here. The night is full of bad people doing bad things so I think I'm going to do bad things to them first and probably harder."

Lifelight says in a tone that sounds rehersed, "They have new weapons like this one." she shows the weapon she had slung over her shoulder. "Designed to get past super defenses. They work using magnetism, but my exosuit has an anti-magnetism field and will be here soon. Please be careful. Also; this is for you."

She offers Seraph some kind of sci fi choker. In her more usual tone of softness, she says, "Put this on. It interfaces with my suit, so I will be able to communicate directly with you without needing to call your phone."

The two thugs in front rounded the corner of the alley where Seraph and life light stood talking and immediately opened fire. They let loose a storm of bullets, instantly filling the air with them, and the lack of recoil made even their 'spray and pray' style of shooting surprisingly accurate.

The others move forward slowly. They hang back a bit, waiting to see what the heroes do before they get close.

Seraph put the choker on and gave Lifelight a smile. "I don't think they were planning on meeting an Angel of Vengeance when they designed their weapons. I'll-" she stopped speaking and stepped fully in front of her friend, wings spread wide and covered her with her fiery defences whilst she threw out her other hand and let fly a blast of fire so hot it crossed from white to blue and ionised the air between her and the thugs shooting at them. Everything between them from wall to concrete was incinerated, not even ash remaining. The fire was so intense that lightning spat from it and struck objects in the path it traveled.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:03, Sun 22 Nov 2020.

Lifelight is protected from the bullets by the incinerating fire of Seraph! Sure, Lifelight has force fields, but these weapons would have broken through. It is a tech advancement Lifelight's mind has been working on an affordable and time-saving way to defend against since she heard about it. (She already found a way, but it was unaffordable and time consuming)

It was then that Lifelight's Exosuit arrived, landing on the roof where Lifelight and Seraph were standing! Its landing was gentle, not so much as a thud.

With a warm tone, Lifelight talks to Seraph through the choker she just put on, "If you can hold them off, I can rewire my exosuit's anti-magnetism safeguard to extend outside of the suit and that will make their guns less powerful."

Even while she begins messing with her exosuit's control panel to prepare it for the modification she mentioned, Lifelight then gets on her exosuit's intercom and says, "Attention. There is no need to be hostile. I am not here to harm you. Please stop. I care for you. If you lay down your arms, you will not be hurt by the beautiful angel. Please stop."

Despite how loud her voice was magnified, Lifelight's soft tone still came through as if some soothing voice were trying to calm a panicking crowd.

The Salesman inched forward, staying around the corner and out of sight for now. "Sorry, but I ain't inclined to trust your good nature after you just incinerated two men."

He popped out from behind the corner and raised the blue pistol, firing a  blast of cold energy at Seraph, then ducking back behind the wall. As he dived back out of the way the stone biker charged forward, fists raised.

Seraph brought up her fiery sword and cut through the blast of cold before moving in the engage the stone tough. She spun, the razor sharp ends of her trailing feathers slicing through the air with an audible hiss as her sword almost made a deadly arc, wreathed in crackling flames.

Lifelight made the adjustments, but one could wonder if she even needed them at this rate. All the same, as long as there was still danger, Lifelight had to do her part to lessen or negate that danger. The salesman's objection to Lifelight's offer, while valid, does not take into account Seraph cooked people who were trying to kill her and Lifelight. Self defense and all. However, Lifelight cannot choose a response out of the half dozen or so responses running through her mind.

Lifelight then gets on her exosuit's intercom again and says, "Attention. There is now an anti-magnetism field operational. Please do not operate devices that use magnetism as the results may be unpredictable or dangerous."

With that, the exosuit begins moving forward to the place the others were hiding. Since Seraph is working with a sword, that means Lifelight doesn't need to worry about friendly fire.

NOW she has a response. "My intentions were good from the start when I met you and then people attacked me to kill me. Seraph cannot be blamed for defending herself and I. But we will stop hostilities when you lay down your arms and surrender."

Again, her tone is very... non-threatening. Nothing stern about it. She doesn't do the intimidation thing even in a mecha suit.

Seraph's sword left deep gouges in the stone man's arms as he brought them up in a boxers defensive stance. He responded with a jab followed by a right hook


"You're wearing a super-suit and called a giant robot, you can drop the 'innocent autistic kid' act. You walked up to us, made a show of looking at our faces and walked off, knowing we would not want to leave a witness. That's entrapment. You're supers so it's a maybe whether that'd fly in court but you still need to follow justifiable homicide, same as the cops. There was no warning, your angel friend took shots that only dented her armor and made no attempt to knock them out like she did Jorge over there. The cops show up and they're gonna take your friend in for murder, you as an accessory, and us for fencing stolen goods. I don't need to tell you which of us is looking at a longer sentence. So how about you call your friendly, I'll call off mine and we can all sleep in our beds instead of a prison cot?" The Salesman shouted from behind the corner.

Several of the Locos were talking quietly in spanish. The word "Dio" is repeated multiple times. Several do the sign of the cross

“Your two friends employed lethal force. My friend was not in her armour when they opened fire with the intent to kill. I responded to lethal force with the same kind of force. Since you’re here that makes all of you accessories to attempted homicide. Dealing in deadly, super killing weapons is not ‘fenced goods’ and would, in fact, be a felony,” Seraph growled.

She smiled grimly at the rest of them. “I also know your laws. I acted within the confines of the law and you weren't entrapped as you weren’t coerced into action. Shall we play this game some more?”
This message was last edited by the player at 15:32, Sun 22 Nov 2020.

Lifelight takes a moment to respond, "I record everything I do on video, so the truth will be known."

Seeing people make crosses, Lifelight says, "Do you know what the cross stands for?" Her tone sounds more like she is curious rather than any kind of accusation. She hopes for their sake they can make things right with God. "Seraph is not a fallen angel. She is an angel of righteousness."

With that, she flies her mech over towards the rock man. "Please surrender."

She attempts to grab a hold of the man. "I am a healer. I can heal your wounds. The sooner you stop, the sooner you will be healed."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:09, Fri 20 Nov 2020.

"Lethal force to most, but not to you. And you'd already taken down two without killing them, they come down hard on paras that kill, they don't want another Hunter. You show that video anr they'll just haul us all away. I'm under no illusions, I know the cops are taking me away tonight, but that's what lawyers are for. We both got two ways we don't go to jail, kill everyone on the other side, or forget this ever happened. Are you ready to do that? Even the helpless unconscious guys?"

 The lead loco growled "I choose option A" And steps forward flinging those yellow orbs that appear in his hands. When they make contact they burn, like an acid. Two more of his goons stepped out with him, opening fire.

The concrete man turned as they stepped out, his eyes widened in shock and he melted down into the street.
[top]

Seraph hissed as some of the acid splashed through her force field and touched bare flesh. The fire from her sword blazed higher and changed colour until it was a brilliant blue-white and radiated heat that could be felt meters from her person. She ignored the men with the firearms and went for the beast that threw the acid, her sword coming up and around in a deadly, searing arc of the hottest flame.

Lifelight is sad for the criminals on a number of levels. They are so convinced of their rightness that they think "go our separate ways" is going to help anyone. But worse, some of them would rather die than even doing that much.

Those weapons were *designed* to be lethal to supers and the enemy is still trying to claim they believed it wouldn't kill them (nevermind they initially intended to kill an innocent who they didn't even think was a super)

Either way, talking has proven futile. The enemy will twist anything said to fit their evil mindset. Part of it is their belief Lifelight was acting when the reality is, she really does have autism and really does care about them.

Tragedy aside, while Lifelight cannot heal the thugs who were incinerated, she *can* heal her friend Seraph. So she walks the mech closer to her and reaches with her hand, attempting to cause Seraph's wounds to heal.