As Ozzy's casting was interrupted, he let out a loud "Ooof!" as Beetle tackled him. The armor protected him from most of the Beetle's power, but it still hurt like a bitch!

"Agh! Dammit... see how you like THIS!" growled Painter, before sending a stream of paint into Beetle's eyes, hoping to blind and disorient his foe.

Beetle screamed as the  paint hit his eyes stumbling backward as he tride to get the paint off.

In reply to Icepick (msg #66):

As the ice pudddle formed underneath hsi feet the man  backflipped behind the coutner popping up to fire before ducking back down again.

In reply to Hornet (msg #69):

Time to stop playin' around....and see what a Cryomancer can really do...

Icepick then began to drop the temperature in the vicinity of the gunman who was firing at him, creating a bubble of pure cold around his hands, trying to get him to drop the gun.

Painter got up somewhat shakily, his chest burning with every breath he took. It definitely felt like something was broken, or at least fractured. Still, he wasn't about to let a little pain stop him. Instead, he'd ladle a little more hurt on his foe. Painter rushed towards the blinded Beetle, a sledgehammer forming in his hands as he swung it at Beetle's chest, hoping to return the favor of some cracked bones, a defiant growl rumbling in his throat as he swung.

HOrnet cursed as the guns got too cold for him to hold dropping them as he tried to move out of the cold bubble.

Beetle fell backwards as the sledgehammer collided into his chest he fell to the ground his breathing labored.

Painter grinned beneath his mask as he swung the sledgehammer one last time at Beetle's knee, putting all his strength into the blow. He was still up and fighting, and he had to take out Beetle now, while he still had momentum. The paint obviously couldn't contain him, and he doubted that the simple chest-smashing would keep him down for long, much like it hadn't Ozzy. So, instead, Beetle got a busted kneecap.

In reply to Hornet (msg #72):

Icepick was gratified that his ploy worked. Now things were somewhat even. Concentrating, he began to expand the ice bubble even as Hornet tried to escape it, but making sure none of his teammates were affected by it.

Beetle grunted as the sledghammer hit his kneecap but stayed down. Meanwhile HOrnet was shivering trying to stay warm. "T-t-turn it off!"

Satisfied that Beetle would stay down now, Painter leaned on the sledgehammer gingerly, his breath coming in short, shallow gasps that had a pained sound to them.

{{Ooogh... lemme rest for a minute... then I'll come... help someone else... ow...}} sent Painter.

Icepick chuckled at Hornet's misfortune, keeping the icy bubble on him.

"C'mon....stop squirming and say Uncle...you know you want to..."

  Meg slipped inside, and on the way 'by' Painter, she clapped a hand on his shoulder.  And he felt that familiar wash of heated energy that left a surcease of pain behind it as she was checking the patrons who were getting up. {{Guys, guy on the roof teleported out.  Don't know where he went.}}

He throws up his hands. "I GIVE JUST TURN IT OFF!"

Icepick turns to the others. "Got another one here guys....he's cold to the touch...cover him..."

With that, Icepick slowly starts to raise the temperature so that his teammates can mop up the henchman.

Ex comes in to the lobby a brown clad clawed man over his shoulder slash marks on his chest."The girl got away but I manged to get claws here."

  Meg held her hand out to Ex, a clear offer (to him) for healing if he wished it.

Ex took megs hand. "I don't know what those claws were mdae of but they HURT."

  Meg shook her head, and pulsed healing power into him, and said "I don't know, but that sure doesn't look good!"

"Tahnks Meg' BIll replied as his wounds healed. "Darrens going to be peeved when he finds out not only did I take off without telling him I ogt hurt as well."

  She shook her head, and said "Someone's going to be yelling at you!"

Victoria frowned. Where was Andy?

"Andy...Andy...?" she called out to him using a spell to his mind. "Donde estas?"

  Andy was there, he was just trying to puzzle out something.  When Vic called, he unphased and wrapped his arms around her, setting his chin atop her head.  Of course, in Demonshape, it made SOME of the patrons more than a little leery.

Victoria smiled as Andy wrapped his arms around her.

"It looked like you were trying to ponder a mystery. Anything I can help with?"

  He said softly "Something is off about the woman I knocked cold.  I'm trying to . . . analyze?  Anyway, I'm trying to pin down why she felt so very off.  Something has my hackles on edge, and it's not as proverbial as I might wish."