The home and headquarters of the infamous Bertelli Crime family

Hunter feigned sleep. He had been stupid, let his gaurd down after the incident with wraith and Dart he was expecting the luck of the amulet to protect him well theres good and bad luck. Bertellis boys had spent the better part of the night working him over and they'd confiscated all his gear. Hearing footsteps he laids as still as possible pretending to be unconcious.

"Why hello there Mr Derring or should I say Hunter? Not really sure, what do your friends call you?" He said with a chuckel as Hunter remained silent. Picking up hunters cell phone from a table he began idly flipping through contacts. "Above and Beyone investigations? Thats odd I thought vigilanties were supposed to be good detectives. Or maybe meddling in my business and killing my employees is more your strong suit. Lets see what this above and beyond has to say about your predicament."

Hunter leans back in the chair looking behind him casually as the men exit the room save one. There is a window where Hunter can see a large yard and some birds in a nearby tree.
He is in a room thats obviously been stripped bare of carpet and furnishings.

Friday, as much as I'd like a rescue taking these guys down is priority one. Don't risk the chance to make this city safer because of my stupid mistake.

Friday snorted a mental laugh.
Don't be a martyr unless you have to, you putz.  The cavalry's coming soon.

Where are you?  In case we lose contact?

I was knocked out before I was brought here, looks like san old house, definitely out in the countryside. Don't the bertellis have an estate just outside of Weston? They wouldn't bring me there...would they?
This message was last edited by the player at 11:44, Mon 30 Nov 2009.

Depends on how confident they were about not being seen.   Also, most of us are "city folk" and might have assumed that they'd keep you in the obligatory "warehouse by the docks"
This message was last edited by the player at 12:00, Mon 30 Nov 2009.

point. I guess I'll sit tight then.

He hears her mental chuckle.
Well, if you can escape without us, it would save me the effort, but don't take any chances.  He gave us 48 hours, so there's no reason to rush in there unless you're in immediate danger.    Can you tell me anything else about where you are?  There's no chance, is there, of Bertelli being smart enough to "pretend" to have taken you to his country house?

I guess its possible, theres really nothing else I can glean from being in a blank room tied to a chair. Of all the days to get kidnapped..

What's wrong with today?  You had a date or something?

Hunter mentally chuckles
No quite the opposite in fact. Remember the secret brain revealed when we faced him? Well today is the anniversary.

Hunter feels the mental wince.
Sorry, my friend.   I tend to get wrapped up in my own drama and other minor things that I sometimes forget things like that.  My apologies.   

Don't worry about it its not like I announced the date to the group and invited everyone over for a good cry or some @#%$

Well, you have to admit, if ANY of us could 'use a good cry' is you.    I like and respect you, Hunter, but you ARE kind of a tight-ass.

Friday's irreverant sense of humor is poking through a bit.

I'll take taht under advisement.

Even telepathically, Friday is mentally deadpanning.
See that you do.   What are friends for, after all?

A dark grey Aston Martin Vanquish drove through the iron security gates of the Bertelli compound, Dragon Fist behind the wheel.  As much as she had loved driving the car, they had agreed that it would be better for Dragon Fist as the 'Muscle' to drive the car into the compound.

They were both disguised of course.  Mirage was back into her tight leather skirt that ended above her knees and a bustier like top that was covered by a leather jacket.  Her long blond hair was pulled back into a long braid and she wore large sunglasses.  The look exuded feminine power, which was exactly what she was going for.  Dragon Fist was disguised in a well tailored three piece suit, and Mirage had made sure that he looked a little larger and more imposing than he normally did, adding bulk and a teutonic inspired square jaw.

She slid out of the car and walked up to the guards at the front door.  "You may take us to see your Boss." she said flatly and imperiously.  These were mere guards after all and well beneath her.  Her accent was western european, French possibly.  "We are expected and not to be kept waiting."

OOC:  Wasn't sure where to start and I didn't want to go too far.

>>>>>>>From The Abandoned Gas Station>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

OOC: It's cool...we can at least set the stage :)

Lucas walked protectively next to Mirage as they made their way to the front of the house, seeing the guards.

"Lucas The Enforcer" eyed the guards with a sense of contempt, not saying a word...getting into his role as the muscle, following Mirage's lead.

There are two men at the door the one on the right asks. "Your names?"

Mirage looks annoyed at the man who had dared to ask the question.  She holds out a shapely hand to restrain her business associate from turning the man into so much mulch, or at least that's how it would look.

"You may tell your boss that Domina and Maxim of the Severed Rose are here to see him.  Now go and announce us."  She rested her hands on her shapely hips, clearly perturbed by this little development.

"Maxim" follows "Domina's" lead and backs off, giving the guards a slight smirk as he does.

Perhaps Maxim could be an underworld alias that he might use in the future...

The man who spoke to "Domina"  nods to the other man who runs inside. WIthin minutes the man returns and says. "If you'll follow me." He leads them into a lavishly furnished home and into a sitting room. The room has an ornate fireplace and leather furniture with an indian rug across the floor.  At one end of the room is a man sitting in a high backed chair. Both will recognize him as Antonio Bertelli interim head of the Bertelli family while his father Vincent is dying in Weston hospital.

=======> from abandoned gas station

Peregrine landed lightly on the far reaches of the compound.   Using her enhanced senses and telepathy, she scanned for living and mechanical obstacles.

Hunter, we're here.   Think about your surroundings for me, would you?

I'm on what I believe to be the third floor, THeres a kid in here 18 at the oldest in a dark suit and sunglasses. Theres a lrge oak tree out the window, right side of the house.

Creeping closer to the house, using all the stealth skills (gleaned from many different sources) at her disposal, Peregrine looks for the side with an oak tree within easy sight of a third floor window.

He had become more used to not blowing out systems or even having them flicker as he enters them, pressing more dedication and concentration into his movement.  Riding the power grid from the gas station to here, he does his best to get as close to the house as possible if not being able to flow right into its power supply.  He does his best then to get a floorplan and lay of the land of the surrounding area.  Flowing from one system to another.  Searching the house thoroughly for any signs of Hunter and anything that might make a good distraction for the team.

Peregrine finds the window after a bit of dodging sentries she spots the window near the back of the house

Hotiwre finds the floorplans as well as a sophisticated and expensive seeming security system. Theres also cameras for the entire first floor the guest bedrooms adn a couple of empty rooms Hunter is in one of the empty rooms with a single sentry.

As soon as Peregrine pinpoints his location, she'll broadcast it to everyone. She'll do it subtlely, though, so as to not startle "Bonnie and Clyde".

She also reaches out mentally, linking everyone who wants it.

We've got you, Hunter.   Dragon and Mirage, it's your show now.  Let us know when to pounce.

'Domina' followed the man, casting an appreciative glance at the house as they were lead through it.  The Bertelli's had money, that much was obvious.  Her expression gives little away as she is introduced to Antonio Bertelli.

"Mister Bertelli, my name is Domina.  This is my business associate Maxim.  We represent a group called the Severed Rose.  You will not have heard of us before this day." Mirage said rather haughtily.  That was one of the reasons why she loved the French language.  It could portray haughty just by stressing the accent at certain points.  "I understand that you are interesting in some items that we've recently acquired."

Give me a minute with the head man here, Peri.  We'll establish ourselves and then let you loose.  Mirage mentally replied, sizing up the man behind her dark glasses.  His actions would tell her about his temperament.  Would he invite them to sit, serve them refreshments or just go for an all out intimidation?

When Mr. Bertelli is introduced, "Maxim's" expression doesn't change. He does what a good bodyguard does...he keeps a wary eye out, even though his eyes don't betray that sentiment. Using his sense of hearing, sharpened by many years of martial arts training, listening for anything adverse as "Domina" and Bertelli converse.

We're stirring the pot, Peregrine. Soon you will be able to kick ass...

"Please sit Ms. Domina. We're always open to new business agreements and we've certainly had a need for them with certain complications suddenly popping up." He sat forward his fignertips interlocked in front of his face. "Tell me about these..objects."

'Domina' took a seat.  "Thank you, Mr. Bertelli.  We have recently come into possession of a number of high tech weapons, weapons capable of harming the meta-human annoyances who roam the streets.  The Bertelli group is the largest and most powerful in the city and we wanted to give you the opportunity to acquire them for yourselves."

She snapped her fingers.  "Maxim, could you please show Mr. Bertelli your weapon."  Dragon Fist was carrying one of the blasters as part of his role as bodyguard.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:25, Wed 02 Dec 2009.

"Maxim" nodded slightly, furnishing the Blaster that he was holding on to and showing it to them.

Antonio examines the weapon his eyes lighting up in recognition. "And where did you..aquire such an weapon." He said cooly.

Zeke, watching through a security camera or listening in from traveling along the cables swears somewhere.  They were using the blasters they picked up from the docks as their 'way in'?!  Seriously... he figured Mirage was smarter than that.  These weren't just something you went into....

Keeping his cool in less than a second he was somewhere relatively safe.  Somewhere close by he could get back there but.. he needed to get this out.

Peregrine.  I found where Hunter is being held.  Has one guy guarding him.  No telling what he can do.  Not important right now.  God DAMN IT FUCKING MONKEY FARTS I need you as a buffer right now.  Bertelli.  Maybe I'm beingparanoidIdon'tknow but I'm pretty sure he just made M and DF and not in the good way... in the Joe Pesci way towards the end of Goodfellas.  She....  fuck she just flashed the BLASTER ... well one of'em you guys grabbed from the docks.  Do you have ANY idea what those are....  that's a custom job Peregrine.  Hell the technology to even MAKE one of those things is decades beyond what's out there.  Decades.  FUCK!!  I'mheadingbackin.

And back in he goes.  Scrounging through the security system carefully but starting to make something up.  They needed something.  They needed something big.

'Domina' smiled.  "They were in the possession of some local heroes who did not appreciate their true value.  What were they calling themselves, Maxim?  It was some silly name.  Legacy, yes?  My associates and I decided to...reallocate them."

"The Legacy were not very pleased to lose their prized goods, but that is of little concern to us.  In fact they tried to get them back, in a very clumsy manner I might add."  'Domina' leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs calmly.

"Yes Domina...Legacy...one of their numbe tried to take them back...and was most unsuccessful..." 'Maxim' replied, chuckling slightly.

Bertelli leaned back seemingly satisfied with the answer. "Ah yes your encounter with the armored one, what does he call himself? Flying Fist or something like that. Your obviously a woman to be reckoned with if you could get those from right under they're noses. The weapons were being transported to me last night when they were intercepted the, specialty muscle, I had hired has since fled town but they were obviously inadequate. Though I have already paid for the weapons themselves your retrieving of them has saved me a good deal of trouble and I would be willing to pay for your services and perhapsenter a longer lasting business arrangement with the, Severed Rose was it? I can give you half a million dollars for the service of returning the weapons to me as well a percentage of the weapons I will be receiving from my source and any." He eyes Maxim for a moment "Specialty Workers you may require."

"Maxim" smiled slightly at the Special Workers comment from Bertelli but didn't say anything.

Lucas had to admit, playing the 'bad guy', even though it was only an act, was kind of liberating...

Peregrine winced at Hotwire's angry mental rant.  It was like nails on a chalkboard, but the guy did have a point.
Calm down, Hotwire.  I'm on it.
And don't stress too much yet, old friend.   Mirage is a slick customer, remember, and "stealing things from those weirdos in spandex" isn't exactly considered a "Mission Impossible".   Legacy is known for our brawn more than our brains by most of the Underworld.   It's not entirely true, but it's a stereotype that might just come in handy now and make the theft seem very realistic.

Peregrine finds Lucas easily and uses his location to try to find Bertelli and probe to see if he suspects her friends.  Most of Friday's contacts consider Legacy much better at catching and beating up crooks then keeping them locked up.  Some even think of the Paras as a "temporary setback", albeit a dangerous one.

'Domina' sat back and folded her hands in her lap, considering his offer.  "A half million dollars as a finders fee?  The weapons themselves are worth much, much more than that.  We could simply sell them elsewhere and make much more of a profit.  Somalia is particularly eager for any and all weapons and they pay handsomely."

She looked lazily around the room before returning her eyes to Antonio Bertelli.  "However, the other part of your offer intrigues me.  You are able to acquire more weapons of this type from the manufacturer and deal with the services of...how did you put it?  Special Workers?  You are willing to offer a percentage of this to The Severed Rose?  What would we have to do besides return your weapons at a discount?"

"Maxim" stays beside Domina as they wheeled and dealed, keeping a wary eye and making sure that there were no surprises that the Bertelli family had up their sleeve.

Antonio nods. "While its true many metahumans who choose crime prefer to go freelance there are a good-deal of them who prefer some added protection especially in what has been called, the superhero capital of the world." He speaks the last phrase with particular venom. "As for what I would like in return I'm afraid while you seem to know a good deal about me and my business I know next to nothing of yours, tell me what is it the Severed Rose doe? Drugs? Weapons trafficing?"

"Our business ventures are of a wide variety." Domina replied.  "Our members are involved in a number of ventures from smuggling, chemistry, forgery, money laundering and the like.  My speciality is the reacquisition of goods.  Maxim is in the, how shall I say it, business of persuasion.  He could give you a demonstration if you'd like.  Perhaps you have a person in your group that you are particularily displeased with?"

At Domina's comment, "Maxim" cracked his knuckles and smirks at the gathered entourage.

Hunter, came a voice that was distinctly recognizable as Lady Psyche's, though it was her mindvoice. The real Lady Psyche was a couple miles away from the place, just itching to do her little trick again.

Don, I want you to give me a description of everything in the room you're in. Don't leave anything out. I need to get a mental picture of what it looks like.

...

Is there anyone in the room with you, Don?

Don looks around th eroom
I'm tied to a chair in a white room with a drak brown wooden floor The chair is in the middle of the room. There is a young man maybe 17-18 standing by the door he's wearing a dark suit and sunglasses.

Antonio smiled and leaned back in his chair. "There is a pair I'm displeased with the difficulty thus far has been locating them." He motions to one of his gathered thugs who leaves and returns in a moment with two photos and hands them to Domina. The pictures are of Musclemass and Armory the pair from the docks. "They're names are MIles Ebert and Joseph Roberts. They grew up in a small orphanage in illinois each being released when they turned 18 they then turned to crime. Both were small time until they each aquired parahuman abilities. Mile's right arm has the ability to turn into whatever weapon or tool he can think of and Joe has two extra arms and is incredibly strong, it isunknown if he's bulleptroof. If they could be located I would be..apreciative. Though if you feel them too...difficult I have a certain thief that I would like dealt with."

Domina looked over the pictures.  Armory and Musclemass.  With the Bertelli's after them, they wouldn't be showing their faces in Weston for a long time.  "Finding these two would take time and effort that would be better spent on our next venture.  Who is this thief that you speak of?"

"Maxim" looked over at the photos and MuscleMass and Armory. If they had any common sense they would have packed up and left Weston as soon as possible.

Lucas admitted that he was a little curious about the thief as well, and why the Bertellis wanted him...and Mirage covered the question perfectly. He listened in as Bertelli fielded the potential answer to Domina's question...

The thug who produced the pictures of Armory and Musclemass produces another two pictures. They featured the same woman in one picture she is dressed in a black dress which shows off her ample curves and her hair is tied back in a bun.  The second picture is the same woman but with her hair down a mask concealing the uppper half of  her face. She is dressed in tight pants a corsette and long gloves going all the way up her arms. Both Mirage and Dragon fist would recognize her as one of the legacies first foes and one of Brains old minions." Her name is Helena Campanore, though she goes by wraith. She was an accomplished thief before one day she realized she could walk threw walls. A while back she joined in on a world takeover scheme, as far as I know it was foiled, she's since returned to thievery. She took something very important to me, a memento of my fathres and I'd like her found and dealt with."

"A thief who can walk through walls.  That is very interesting to know.  I should think that we would like to have a little conversation with this Wraith woman ourselves." Domina said, handing the pictures to Maxim.  "Remember her face Maxim.  We will keep an eye out for Helena Campanore.  We will contact you when we find her.  Out of curiousity, what did she steal from you that was so precious?"

Maxim looked at the picture and nodded.

"Yes Domina. I will commit her face to memory."

"Some family heirlooms. A ring and an iron mask. I'm unsure where the mask came from but the ring has been passed through my family for generations. I'm obviously more concerned with the ring but I would appreciate it if you could retrive both. If you would like I can provide some extra manpower should you need it."

Domina thought for a moment.  "We will keep our eyes and our ears open for any sign of this Wraith woman.  Perhaps retrieving your lost items might be a good way to cement a working relationship, N'est pas?"

"I am curious about the paras that you have working with you.  Do you have any that are not as unreliable as the two in the picture?  Why have you not sent them out to look for your lost items?"

Domina remained cool and collected as befit her cover, and in truth she really wasn't worried about the Bertelli's.

Peregrine, we're almost done here.  Give us another minute and then you may begin.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:37, Fri 11 Dec 2009.

"I have most of them however are not fitted to retrieval or are that adept at thinking fo0r themselves." He points to a large man by the door. "Simon here for example is bullet proof and it feel slike being punched by a brick wall or so I'm told, he was a boxer before finding his abilities and his way into his employ. There is one who may be able to locate it but I hesitate to entrust him with such an important job so early in his career."  He leans back. "HOwever the boy does show promise if he is a little rough around the edges. So to speak."

"Maxim" maintained his calm and composure, as he silently protected Domina and listened to the dialogue between her and the Bertellis.

There was a lot of useful information gained here...

"You actively recruit paras?" Domina asked, letting a little admiration creep into her voice.  "Do you train them from a young age or do you recruit them once they have mastered their abilities?  I have heard rumours of such places, where paras are taught from their youth in the use of their abilities.  It makes indoctrination much easier."

Maxim nodded at Domina's comment about being indoctrinated, still playing the ever-dutiful bodyguard.

Psyche contacts both Peregrine and Mirage via telepathy.

Mirage, Friday, it's Psyche. I've got enough of a mental picture that I believe I could pull that dimension stunt again. Just tell me when you're ready.

Aaron saw it in the newspapers; the mighty businessman Donald Derring had gone missing. He knew what he had to do. Plastering a sign on the door of the dojo saying simply "Classes Canceled," he had set out following the trail of ki Don had left behind.

It was faint; only a man with an indomitable will would have left one that could reside for so long. Faint as it was, though, Shadowstrike followed it. It had taken far too long for his liking; he ended up at a house on the outskirts of the city - a nice one at that. It was that building he scaled, attempting to get a sign of Don's life force.

"We take them on a case by case basis. We try to get them young but so far we've been unable to find a pattern under which abilities emerged. I too have heard rumors in fact have found, evidence of such places but unfortunately many of them have been shut down in this country."

Shadowstrike finds Mr. Derring on the third floor near the back, he also spots Peregrine from the Legacy sneaking about.

"Maxim" continued to stay silent. "Domina" was the mouthpiece, and he was the brawn at the moment. They were however gaining a valuable amount of information, and then on Mirage's cue the Legacy could do what they did best...

With a glance to Peregrine, Shadowstrike couldn't help but wonder why she was here. They couldn't be here for the same reason he was, could they? They had larger troubles to worry about than some businessman.

Continuing along the wall, Shadowstrike found his mark. Covertly, he took a glance inside the window...

The room is bare save a chair in the center of the room with  Derring init beaten and tied up. Near the doorway is a yo8u8ng man whom looks rather bored he is wearing a dark suit and sunglasses which is odd at this ti me of evening.

Turning so his back stuck to the wall, Shadowstrike freed his hands to load a cyanide-laced dart into his blowgun. Lowering his muffler, he wrapped his lips around it, aimed, and shot at the man standing guard.

The man standing guard leaned agains the doorway Just as SHadowstrikes head popped up he looke out the window, seeing th eman with his blow gun his hand shot out turning th elights off. As the room filled iwth darkness the man dissapeared the blowdart tinging against the wall behind him.
Downstairs a young man stepped out of the shadow of Bertellis chair.  Leaning forward he whipsered in his ear before dissapearing again.

Antonio listened to the young man seemingly undisturbed by his appearance. He nodded as he turned to the other thugs. "Go upstairs to the prisoners room it seems they're trying to spring him, if they seem to be escaping aim at the prisoner shoot to kill." Standing he turns to his guests. I'm afraind I'm going to have to cut this meeting short, If you'd like I can have someone escort you to your vehicle or, You can accompany me and my men to see how we do business. It appears we have intruders on the premises and they will have to be dealt with."

Cursing silently, Shadowstrike was somewhat surprised at the man's reaction. Turning the lights off? Darkness was a ninja's ally. He was no less surprised when the man's life force vanished. Throwing in a few smoke bombs for good measure before leaping into the room himself, he made his way to where Derring was held.

"I'm getting you out of here," he whispered, taking his ninja-to to the man's bindings.

"Who the hell are you."He asks as a ninja pops in the window scares his guard off and the n sets him free. Rubbing his wrists He stands. "I'm not going anywhere I cant leave withou-" He stops leaning backwards to dodge a fist that came out of nowhere.

The guard from before appears in front of Hunter before aiming a punch a this throat. When he missed he dashed backwards holding out both hands. The shadows in the room pulsed and began moving until the formed into a long pole the size of a bostaff in the mans hands.

"Not important," Shadowstrike responded when asked his identity. Tossing his ninja-to to his left hand, he drew his katana with his right and faced the shadow-controlling man in a ready stance, short blade held in front as a guard. He watched the evildoer with trained eyes, seeing not his obscured form, but his pulsing ki.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:00, Mon 14 Dec 2009.

Peregrine saw the shadowy figure burst into the room.
What the CHRIST is THAT guy doing?   He's screwing up everything!!!

She was suddenly sympathetic towards cops when a Para jumps into an undercover operation and tanks it.

Sighing with frustration, Peregrine "heard" the orders to kill and flies through the window to intercept the man trying to kill Hunter.   She tries a "one-two" boxing combonation on the man, with her fists that could shatter brick.

Dragon, Mirage, we've got an uninvited guess who's playing "hero".   I'm moving in to save Hunter before the Newbie gets him killed.

The man ignores the ninja and instead heads toward Hunter swinging his staff. As he is just about to strike Peregrine Bursts through the window. The man holds up his arms which both become covered in shi9eld shaped shadow and blocks Peregrines punch THe shadow absorbs the brunt of the force but he still stumbles backward.

Hunter holds up both hands to grab the shadow stafff but stops as Peregrine bursts in much like the FNG. As Friday attends to the bad guy Hunter says very casually to the new guy. "You got an extra weapon in there?" He gestures to his form clad only in a wifebeater and boxers and bruises, lots of bruises.

"Maxin" looks at Domina, his expression unchanging as Friday's telepathic message comes through.

In a deadpan voice, he said, "Well, my dear Domina...shall we help deal with the rat infestation or shall we watch and see how the Bertellis deal with 'enemies at the gate?""

As the man rushed by, Shadowstrike smirked. Ignored? Perfect. It was a ninja's job not to exist.

As Shade was reeling from Peregrine's attack, Aaron closed in with a swing of his katana, followed by a jab from the shorter blade. After the jab, he tossed it to Derring at his request. The man was notably from the military; he knew how to handle himself in a fight.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:03, Mon 14 Dec 2009.

Peregrine tried to grab at the assassin, attempting to  use her strength to hold him, preferably in a bearhug.

Peregrine, stand back, came Psyche's mind-voice, sounding more than a little bit troubled. She 'saw' the ninja and would-be assassin jump in, and figured it was about time she tested a theory.

A fine, purplish mist covered the floor of the room quickly, and a small 'worm-hole' appeared right under the assassin (Shade). He would suddenly feel as if the ground had come out under him. The hole expanded to a good size, but was small enough so that at least two people could stand back to back and be touching the edges.

Out shot Lady Psyche, trenchcoat flapping as she latched onto the man, intending to drag him down into the purple abyss waiting before him.

Trusting her teammate, Peregrine flew back.

Seeing the vortex, she blinked in amused confusion.

Or, we could do that.....

Shade began falling into the vortex grabbing ont the edge of the floor he held on wih all his strength the shadows in the room began stretching towards the vortex until the shadows werecovering his arms and he disapeared.

As shade dissapears antonio and his goods arrive.  "Waste em!" He shouts as the goons draw their guns and begin firing at the heroes.

Domina slowly rose out of her seat.  "I would like to see how your men handle intruders, Mister Bertelli." she said, as one might suggest watching a vaguely interesting lab experiment.  She motioned for Maxim to follow and feel into a comfortable stride behind Antonio Bertelli.

She watched calmly as Bertelli gave the order to fire and placed a hand against Maxim's chest, restraining her bodyguard from leaping into the battle.  "Not yet Maxim.  Let us see how the Bertellis deal with these para intruders."

Maxim followed, but then relented when Domina held her hand to his chest.

He really wanted to help Peregrine and the others, but it was best to maintain their current disguises...at least for the moment.

Able to take on a parahuman in one-on-one combat? That he could do. Bulletproof? He was not. Quickly throwing a smoke bomb at his feet, Shadowstrike rushed over to Don, grabbing him by the arm. "This is going to feel a little strange, Mr. Derring," he said in a near-whisper. With a moment of focus that felt like an eternity, he and Donald fell through the floor into the room below.

Peregrine WAS bulletproof, but not painlessly so.   Sensing, telepathically, that the "newboot" had pulled Hunter through the floor, she joined him heading through the floor.
Of course, SHE went through the "old-fashioned way" by leaving a large hole.

Once through the floor, she'd fly under the goons and smash up  through the "ceiling", hopefully bringing them down to her.

Grinning, she decided that she really enjoyed what she did for a living.

As the three fall/burst through the floor they see ayojng girl about the age of fifteen sitting at a desk turning to look at the ceiling her mouth open in a scream.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:11, Wed 16 Dec 2009.

You might want to get under your desk. NOW!!!!

Peregrine tried to let the falling bodies and debris miss the screaming girl.   Assuming this worked.

The girl jumps under her desk screaming "Daddy!!!"  Roof falls to the floor as well as a few of the men who actually entered the room falling to the ground.

Hunter his face a mask of cold rage steps over to one of the men. "Wheres my Gear?" The man looks up glaring, "You think I'm gonna" In one swift motion the blade against the mans jugular. "Wheres my gear" The man terrified gives directions as he wets himself. Hunter kneels down relieving the man of his firearm. "Thanks" Turning to peregrine he says. "I'm goin after my stuff." And with that he rushes out of the room and down the hallway.

Staring with weariness apparent in his eyes, Shadowstrike didn't bother following Derring; by the way he handled the blade, he could easily handle himself. Giving the girl and the men in the room a stern glare, he shouldered his way out the window, rolling with the story-high fall. Tumbling to his feet, he made his way back to the dojo to recuperate a bit before his date.

Date... The action in the room put the memory at the back of his head, but the thought of his upcoming meeting brought it to the front of his mind. That woman... the one in the trenchcoat... that face... It couldn't have been Katy... could it?

>>> To the Streets >>>
This message was last edited by the player at 12:51, Wed 16 Dec 2009.

Zeke was tempted to blasts the lights back up to full blast when Shade obviously was using the shadows to power him.  But hey, why expose that little strength.  There was a damn good reason for him being under the radar.  No one expects a technopath to be all that great in a fight after all.

Besides, the team seemed to have things in control and his attention was elsewhere as well.  Looking through the files of the Bertelli's in their network, as quickly as he could get into it.  Moving through firewalls and passwords with ease, because as far as the system was concerned, he was the system.  The information was his to have just the same as the information was stored on the hard drive.  It was really an odd feeling all in all.  Shifting and flowing, taking the information into his mind in his 'rigged' form like this, flowing through the power grid and then dropping it into a laptop before absorbing back out.  He couldn't bring the knowledge into the phsycial world with him.  But he could place it in such a way that networks couldn't hook up.  His laptop had the wireless modem disengaged.  And the encryption on it was something only his mind 'rigging' into the computer could break.

And so, before leaving, he looks into all the information behind the Bertelli's that he can.  Their shady dealings, the who's who that might not be on dossiers with the police and most importantly what they knew about the person that developed these weapons for them.

Peregrine moves to subdue the armed men.  She grinned at Hunter and nodded.
Ah....boys and their toys....  she muttered ironically.

She tried to keep an eye on the girl, though she wasn't sure what to make of her.  Did the kid actually know what "Daddy" do for a living?   Either she was as dirty as her old man, or Bertelli was a sick FREAK for having a beaten man tied up RIGHT OVER HIS DAUGHTER'S ROOM!

Peregrine sighed.   Ah....she thinks again....."Boys and their Toys"......

Domina calmly stepped away from the collapsing floor.

"Hmm.  It would appear that these paras have something against your home, Mister Bertelli." she said distantly, observing the fight as an interested spectator.  "Was that man a member of the Legacy?  You had one of them captured and tied up in your compound.  Impressive.  A shame that you could not keep him."

Maxim stayed close to Domina, and crossed his arms as he observed the fight that was commencing. Peregrine and Hunter he recognized, but there was a Shadow guy present...and what appeared to be for a brief moment...a ninja? The Shadow man reminded him somewhat of the Dark Champion that he had opposed but he continued to say nothing at the moment, simply observing...

Antonio stops the men from firing downward and wordlessly he drops down to the next floor along with tow of his men he stands immediately aiming his gun at her. "You've got alot of nerve barging into my home like this."

 ONe of the men, a rather large man  with short blonde hair and a scar on his lef t cheek actually goes out the door. Seconds later he is seen running and jumps down the hole in a running, fall tackle at Peregrine.

Peregrine grins at Bertelli.
We weren't barging in, big guy.  We were formally invited by a man who was staying here.  If you don't like it, you shouldn't invite that man back.

When the blond gorilla tackles her, she goes into a flurry of boxing moves, punching harder and harder if he can take it.

The man can indeed take it   in fact it feels like she's punching reinforced steel. He returns some of her punches and while it does seem like she's getting punched by a wall its obvious while he is more durable than her he obviously isn't as strong. Bertellis men have left to find Hunter and search for the other "freaks" while Antonio himself is bringin his daugter to what he refers to as "the safe room"

As the daughter leaves, Peregrine shouts out:
I'd look into colleges REAL good, honey!   You're gonna need a good back-up career when "Mobster's Daughter" goes belly up, soon!

Seeing that she was more evenly matched then normal (and MUCH more evenly matched than she liked to be), Peregrine changed her fighting style.  Instead of some old-fashioned slugfest, she'd use her speed to dodge most of his punches and then land the occaisional "haymaker", hoping to make up for in quality what she couldn't afford to try for with quantity.

As the girl is exiting the room she flips Friday the bird.
 The man doesn't have the speed to hit you but he seems to be blocking most of your haymakers as well. You can tell he's experienced in boxing. Probably more than she is. As Peregrine is "floating like a hummingbird" He sends out a quick jab with his right and then attempts to sucker punch her with his left. The other men have left and Friday can hear gunshots in the distance.

damn it!  I HATE to have to cheat in a good fight, but I really don't have time for this.
Using her telepathy, she attempts to read the bruiser's surface thoughts, and trying to get a feel for what he's going to do.  In anticipating his moves, she might be able to better counter them.

Friday easily gets a hold of the mans mind and is able to easily counter  him. He however is taking the hits like a trooper  though he does stumble backwards a couple times.

Peregrine tries to see if the man has any weaknesses or old injuries that she could exploit.     She also tried to see if he knew anything incriminating about Bertelli (as long as she was in the neighborhood).

He doesn''t have any weaknesses that he knows of but he doesn't appear to be especially strong mnded. She got in here with minimal effort and is sifting through his brain with ease. The Bertellis use him mostly as muscle to send to peopole they know will fight back and come out. He used to be a boxer and a minor crime family even tried to have him killed when they failed he  went in and killed them Bertelli then offered him a job.

Peregrine sifts through the man's mind for anything useful for psychological warfare, especially in his early boxing career and when he found out he was a Para.

As Peregrine is searching for dirty little secrets Hunter still in his underwear which is now covered in blood and his amulet around his neck and the stolen weapons still in his hands a duffel bag around his shoulder. "Peregrine! We got what we came for, lets get outta here."

"Maxim" continued to observe with Domina...but as Lucas, he was concerned, seeing Peregrine having some trouble with Bertellis' henchman...though he didn't show it on the outside.

Then he heard Hunter telling them to get out...and that relieved him somewhat...even though he didn't show it through his facial expressions...but he was hoping that she would exercise the option of discretion being the better part of valor...

She hated running from a fight like she hated little else, but she knew that Hunter was the important thing here.

Feinting to one side when she knew that the "Blond Bombshell" was going the other way, Peregrine grabs his arm and flings him to the other side of the room.   Then she flies out, after Hunter.  Carrying him if necessary.

Hunter moved as fast as he could but it was obvious nhe was having trouble. When Peregrine moved to pick him up he didn't struggle, Instead he turned his head over his shoulder and said. "Drop me off at my place? Theres uh, something I think you should see. And Peregrine? thanks."

As the rest of the team leaves, he remains for the moment.  There was no telling what secrets might yet be shared!  One of the good things for him not showing himself just yet.  Besides there was a lot of information to look through that the Bertelli's had stored.  Knowledge was power and while he was looking for specific information.  Well there was no telling what else he could find.  Really, it wasn't like they could report stolen or ill gotten goods to the police if they went missing...

Peregrine smirks at Hunter.

Anytime, big boy.  That's what we do, right?

She grinned at her friend.

Yer not gonna survive all the crap we've been through just to die in that craphole.
It's just embarrassing. 

She flew to his place.

Gathering all the information that he could, he realized that there was one spot that the Bertelli's had left unguarded at its most vunerable and valuable moment.  He could not go there, what he needed wasn't connected to the network or power grid he was in.  And the information he had gained was equally as important.  A blink of the eye and he manages to place all the infromation he had gained into a laptop and back into the power grid then back to the compound.  To his amazement, even in that few second period of time, the holy of holies, the most important part of any stronghold, was still unguarded.  Doing his best, he bluescreens himself out so the cameras won't pick him up.

And then, he enters the most sanctified place of any base of operations.  The works of the area still fresh and readily as well as easily accesible to anyone that could get this deep into the building.

Approaching the countertop in the kitchen, a smile slowly forms over his lips as he picks up a plate full of spaghetti and meatballs a few slices of garlic bread as well as a fork.  Still smilling he turns and forms back into the powergrid to make his escape back to their HQ.

>>>>>  Legacy HQ >>>>

Domina maintained her distant curiousity at the fight, even moreso now that it was over.  She surveyed the damage to the house impassively.  "It is too bad about the floor and ceiling.  This did look like a lovely room."

She turned to face Maxim and Bertelli.  "That was Peregrine and the mostly naked man moved like the one known as  Hunter, both of the Legacy.  The ninja I did not recognize but I will find him out.  You managed to capture one of the Legacy, Mister Bertelli.  Well done."

"What did you think of Peregrine, Maxim?  Will she be trouble for us or can you deal with her?"

Maxim surveyed the scene of the now ended battle.

"Hmph...no doubt she can be dealt with, Domina. For every predator out in the world, there will always be one that will be bigger."

Bertelli returns with shade in tow He is obviously angry but its cold and calculating anger. He shoots a look at his men who begin to scatter. When Domina speaks he turns to her. "Unfortunately we weren't able to keep them we'll find a way to be rid of them though someday."

The boy behind Bertelli spoke up. "I'm sorry father this was all my fault, it was my job to gaurd him and I let him get away."

Antonio turned to the boy a bit surprised. "No Michael this isn't your fault, The Legacy are formidable we underestimated them we won't do so again.. No we'll need to change our tactics. Strongarming them isn't going to work they're to principled and we already know they can take most people even other parahumans with ease. Something more subtle is called for."

"Indeed." Domina said slowly and thoughtfully.  What sort of subtle could this man be capable of?  "It would appear that our little meeting has been disrupted, Mister Bertelli.  Maxim and I should take our leave of you so that you might better devote your attentions to recovering from the Legacy's attack.  We will be in touch."

She turned on her heels and began to walk out of the room, snapping her fingers for Maxim to follow her.  She paused at the door and turned back to Bertelli.  "It was a rare pleasure to meet you, Mister Bertelli.  I hope that we will be able to converse again under less exciting circumstances.  Maxim, bring the car around."

Maxim nodded and followed Domina at her instruction.

When she told him to bring the car, he replied, "At once, Domina..."

He then brought the car around, opening the door for Domina, and prepared for their exit.

Antonio nods. "The pleasure was all mind I hope to see you again n the near future. " With that he turns to Shade. "This way MIchael lets check on your Mother and Sister." He turns to two of his men telling them to escort Domina and Maxim out then walks off in the direction he came from.

Domina waited until Maxim had opened the door for her and she slipped into the passenger seat.  She gave the escorting thugs a haughty look as they pulled away from the compound.

"It looks like Bertelli has some para blood in his family." she commented as the gate to the compound slowly disappeared in the rear view mirror.

Once they were out of earshot of Bertelli's thugs, Maxim nodded.

"Yes...it does appear that there is more to him...and his family...than meets the eye."

Motioning for Domina to come forward, he then whispers to her, "I'm sure you've already taken this into account but we might want to check the car for bugs or tracking devices. Bertelli is too smart not to want to keep tabs on our...organization."

Mirage nodded her understanding.  "The Bertelli's would make for good allies.  We will discuss this with the others.  I believe that we were meeting at that italian sounding restaurant, Versuezzi's."

Mirage gave Dragon Fist a little wink.  If Bertelli had bugged the car, perhaps the idea of more of this mysterious new group operating in Weston would be enough for him to tip his hand and show up at the restaurant.

Lucas nodded back and smiled.

"Yes I believe conferring with the others would be most essential..."

As Business as usual went on for the Bertellis a solitary figure flitted along the edges of the compound. The figure crouched crouched on a hill producing a long package and withdrawing a sniper rifle. Staying low he reviewed the defenses and prepared for the wait, Come nightfall, he would strike.

Bill had a semi eventful week after the raid at the builders. He had stopped some minor crimes and had some serious talks with the mysterious voice as well as meeting up with Darren, or Fluid as he was now calling himself. They'd fought again, Darren angry for Excelsior's intervention at the pool party but last time he showed up at his dads house, through the bathroom sink and they just talked it looked like things were finally cool between them again. Right now he was floating over the remains of the Bertelli compound and speaking with the voice on what happens when one takes justice too far. "They're were people in there his wife and daughter, the cooking and cleaning staff that had done nothing wrong and all whoever did this cares about is that he took out a mob boss." He pauses as if listening. "Oh I know ther'll be consequences we've already seen a rise in street crime without someone to handle the gangs who knows when they're going to start fighting for the new head."

Hunter pulled up down th street from the bertelli compound pulling out a pair of binoculars to view the scene.

  He could see furtive movement inside the building of the compound.  SOMEONE was there, and didn't want noticed.

Hunter got off the bike and motioning for his father to follow moved in towards the compound bow in hand.

  Mr. Hurt followed, falling into a silent movement pattern that said to Hunter that he'd hunted men more than once before.

  The furtive movements were still happening, in the building furthest from the street.

Hunter moved silently and slowly towards the building praying Diantha was alright.

  He tapped Don's shoulder, then indicated he was going to move around to flank, and work his way in.  And that he was not going to leave unconscious bodies behind.

Don nodded going around the opposite way keeping an eye out for any guards.

  He moved out, silent as death, and just as swift.  He snapped two necks without pause, then slid into the compound.  Moving with care, he located the next outside guard and moved to take him out.  These guys were in serious trouble, they'd pissed off the WRONG family.

Hunter went the other way taking out guards from adistance withs ilent shots from his bow. Once they were all handled he made his way inside.

  He let Don lead, and did 'cleanup' on the way, taking care of the extraneous goons as he found them.  Snapped necks were a definite effective method to kill them.  Don found, upstairs, a 'playroom' designed for a toddler, but there was only a cabbage patch doll in the high chair.

Finding hte decoy Don let out a scream of rage punching a hold in the nearest wall. "Damnit....she's not here."

  He picked up the doll, and said "Yeah, well, he left you a DVD.  Cocky bastard."  He held up the disc in it's clear CD case.

A nearby big screen tv lit up with a video of none other than Michael Gargan, the Orb Spider holding Diantha. 'Why hello Don seems you found my first decoy house. I'll give you a warning first don't try to find me, she's much better of with me than a psycopath like yourself. I don't know what Jessica saw in you but it seems you've infected the public too. They'res so many vidoes of you on youtube.com. Like this one of You killing your best friend to the song INdestructible by disturbed....well at least the band name describes you. Catcfh you later Don don't worry shes' in good hands."

"I'll gt you for this you bastard. YOu've messed with the wrong family" Hunter told the screen that obviously couldn't hear him as he went outside to meet up with his father. "She's not here."

  "Dammit.  Well.  Where to next?  We can anonymous tip the coroner's office to pick up the refuse."

"Theres an old lab Bertelli was using to manufacture advanced weaponry. MIght be a good place for him to set up." DOn replied as he took off at jog towards the motorcyle.

  He followed, clearly intending to make damn sure Don had all the backup he needed.

Once they were both on the bike  Hunter sped off at top speed hoping he didn't get pulled over, he didn't have time for a high speed chase.

>>TO BUILDERS SAFEHOUSE>>

The Bertelli compound which had once belonged to the Bertelli crime family until they were all killed by a mysterious gas attack. IN recent days someone else had moved in though they stuck primarily to the large wine cellar which had been retooled into a lab. CUrrently the short white haired man was dressed in his traditional labcoat tinkering with his latest batch of weapons.

Mr. Fade walked in his razor edged bladed wings folded up on the back of his armor. His visor lowered as he used a suit mounted wielding laser to put some final touches on one of his builder drones. These small eight legged spheres were armed with a small but powerful fusion laser and precision equipment for smaller detailed work. It was only the size of a fist but the time this pets saved by doing the more menial work was well worth their construction. "Greetings... I've just finished another batch of drones. They will keep our research clean and controlled so we don't have to. I Estimate it will save us months if not years over the span of our lives."

"Excellent. Nothing better than good old machine efficiency." The man said as he looked up from his work.

"Yes machines definitely help with efficiency soon I'll set up a network for finding and capturing the best test subjects. Then our tests should become more accurate." He pressed his fingers against each other. "It'll be beautiful a network to purify all possible error from our subjects.

"Good good. See if you can do anything about finding the one's that were lost as well. The boy is less important though I would like to settle a score with him. The girl however I need alive."

"I'll have them found with in minutes of them going out doors... all I need is a facial recognition file otherwise its a no go. With out it my drones won't be able to hunt them down." He said calmly he had hoped the Builder would leave those who escaped be. The Builder was nothing more then a cat after all... and Fade was its owner. Sure the cat may think its lord and master and the Owner might have to bend to its will but in the end... the master was law. Even if he had to enforce his law through manipulation.

"Check the archives there should be some pictures in there perhaps a video or two." The man replied as he continued his work.

"Very well I'll see what I can find." Fade moved to retrieve the file. Maybe he'd go out soon... test out some of his new pets. Robots might be content with standing still in a pod for weeks at a time... but the mutants were getting restless... either way he needed a breath of fresh air away from this frustrating peon. who called himself master. He retrieved the file quickly and input the information into his drones targeting sensors via his wrist mounted control console. That should do it... now to figure out where he'd go for a nice lunch then he'd decided what wretched test tube subject would be unleashed on the populace in the name of science!

Mr. Fade found the files a variety of pictures from both their times strapped to a table as well as a couple profile pictures. It would be simple enough to add the data to his drones and find the escapees. The question was, would he?

Mr. Fade would upload the files to his drones. It wouldn't take long for his drones to find them if they were outside... though 'The Builder' could take care of it himself. He had lunch to take care of.

The drones flew off in search of their prey.

  Jack and Penny were in a cell.  There were bars keeping them apart, and they were naked.  The rest of the surroundings were glass.  And the sting of needlemarks in Jack's arms were a burning nag that woke him up.

Fade had returned from his lunch run a brown sack in hand as he approached the cells. "Truly? I feel cheated honestly..." He said as he approached the cells several armed combat drones in tow. "If I knew you weren't bothering to hide I'd have captured you both on my way back from picking up my lunch." He smiled beneath his armor masked face. "Here... that toxin my drones gave you will eat through your stomach lining if you don't dilute it." He idly tossed in two greasy burgers. "Next time give my drones a challenge... I can fix what is wrong with them if you don't even try."

"Oh... and don't touch the bars... they're nasty." He let out a soft chuckle as he raised his face mask only enough that his mouth was exposed so he might enjoy his lunch.

  "Leave them alone.  They are entering their punishment for escaping.  I want to savor watching this."  The glass walls were perfect to contain them, it not being actual glass, and not having any weak points from ventilation holes.  Once he was certain Jack was deep in the throes of desperation, he'd retract the bars from the cell, leaving Jack only one outlet for his desperate need.

Jack awoke from the stinging pain in his arm. He looked around the room sitting up. Why was he naked. "I'm going to kill you for this, you bastard." He growled.

  Builder laughed, his voice coming over speakers in the cells.  "You think you are angry now?  Just wait, my little toy, I will find out what makes you tick!!!"

Jack glared defiantly at The Builder. "I got out of here once. I can do it again. And when I do, your going to regret it."

"Very well Builder... I'll leave them be." With that Mr. Fade walked out of the cell room his robots remaining behind to ensure the prisoner's didn't escape. He headed towards the surface using his wrist mounted console to hack into the encrypted police dispatcher. Activating a voice morpher "Send a cruiser to the Bertelli compound we have reports of it being used as a drug lab." It was time that the Builder left the picture. This fool didn't deserve a reward quite like those Fade had captured for him. With that he released ten of his combat drones to guard the perimeter but not before locking down the building's exits... the Builder wasn't allowed to leave his going away party before it had begun.

Sure it would take a while for anything of threat to arrive... but at least he'd be able to enjoy his combat drones first true live ammo test... Protect and Serve was the only thought that came to his mind as he stalked off away from the facility. The Builder wouldn't even know what had happened until it was to late.

"Not for a while.  You'll provide me some entertainment first!!"

Jack glared at the Builder when suddenly he felt..strange. He hurt bad and he could feel the blood flowing downwards. "Wh-what did you do to me?"

  He chuckled, and said evilly "I'm seeing what makes you tick, and granting your little wish, you pathetic para."

The color drained from Jack's face and his defiant glare vanished as realization dawned on him. "No. You monster."

  Builder laughed again, and said "Now what will you do?  Will you do what you want, or will I have to take my turn with my pretty little toy?"

Jack looked over at Penny's unconcious form. It hurt so BAD. And if he didn't the builder.. He shook his head violently.  HE couldn't help but inch slowly closer to her. "When I get out of here I'm going to find you, and NO ones talking me down this time." He looked at Penny again a long moment before kneeling.

--Fade to black--

--Fade back in--

Jack was in the corner of the cell as far away as he could manage. He couldn't stand to be near her right now. Tears streamed openly down his face, his defiant spirit from not so long  ago gone. "so sorry" he whispered over and over again.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:36, Mon 21 May 2012.

  {{Stop apologizing.  Now isn't the time for that, love.  And trust me, the alternative was far, far worse.  I'm not covered in bites and bruises this way.}}  She could still talk in his head.  And she wasn't mad at him.  He felt, weirdly, CROWDED in his head.

Mr. Fade had taken up a spot that he could watch the compound while at the same time being hidden from sight of those below. It was a good thing he had installed a zoom feature into his optic sensors so he could remain out of sight range but still watch his drones in action. He hoped the police arrived soon... if not the Para-Pals might not make it in time. Mr. Fade smirked mayhap once they're bodies laid broken before him thats what he'd change their names to. Though for now he'd enjoy his own hamburger and hopefully get to watch ten heavily robots designed for military combat tear apart a lone police cruiser.

Jack looked up suddenly. {{Penny? How are you? The dampeners...}}

  Penny answered softly {{I told you I mindlinked us.  How else do you think I could guide you?  This isn't 'extra' neural activity anymore.  Our minds are part of each other.  It's why I asked before I liked us.  And right now, I'm more in your head than I am my own.  Because he MIGHT renege on his word, and send in the goons anyway.}}

Jack glanced around the room again. {{This place is ten times more secure than the place he had us in in Philly. I- I don't know if I can get us out this time.}}

  {{We will get out.  Because I refuse to give up, and I refuse to submit willingly to capture.  If he decides we have to 'entertain' him that way, we can.  I'd REALLY rather not have him and his goons take a turn on me.  Having to have Meg heal the scars once was bad enough, having to have her see them fresh . . . I don't know what she would think of me.  Or any of them.}}  He could feel her trying to strengthen him against the drugs, although they still burned in his system, but he'd gotten past the worst of it.

Jack remained silent as he took another look around the room. {{Well I sure as well don't see how. We might have to wait for the others to figure out we're missing.}}

  {{I'm fairly sure they know.  I didn't shield myself at all when I realized what was happening when the limo lifted.  Anyone on the wormnet, or even a regular telepath, heard me.  Unless  they were dead drunk or insensate.}}  He felt a cool touch on his face, although her physical body hadn't yet moved from her spot, and she said {{I'm cold, love.  Can I bring myself over and curl up against you without you trying to beat yourself up more?}}

Jack looked over at her body. She had to be Freezing. But could he trust himself? Could he stand to be touched? He felt dirty and ashamed. Like he wanted to curl up and die. After a long deliberation he replied {{Okay..}}

  He felt her reach, from IN his head, and her body moved.  Stiffly, but she crawled close, then cuddled up to him.  She did feel like an ice-cube.  She was so little, she got cold easy.  Her face pressed to his breast as she huddled close to him, her arms sliding around him and her silky skin against his own.  She wasn't covered in blood or marks, which was how she USUALLY looked in the aftermath.  Clinging to him.

Jack looked down at her in wonder. No hesitation, no fear. After what he just did. Slowly, hesitantly he wrapped an arm around her drawing her close.

  He could feel the small smile on her face as she cuddled even closer, and she told him {{Why would I be afraid of you, love?  You're still protecting me.  He gave you a chocie that was no fit choice.  I'm sure you would have preferred not to watch another . . . session . . . which is what he would have done if you'd refused.}}  She stroked his chest, over his heart, and added {{And I love you.  I WANT you to enjoy being this close, or even closer to me.  Builder just hurts people.}}

{{How can you say that? Look at where we are, what just happened. This is EXACTLY what I promised would never happen. I failed you Penny. I failed you in a bad way.}}

  He could feel her sigh, and she flashed the memories.  Letting him FEEL the difference.  {{You tell ME, which one is infinitely preferable?  ONE person, or four or five?  Gentle, or having them like to see your blood and hear you whimper from pain?  Like to see your skin turn all bruise so it hurts to sit for DAYS?  You were still protecting me, you silly.}}  She hugged him, holding on tightly, adding softly {{Feeling how much someone wants to make you HAPPY, not sad, or feeling the beating on your mind of people who want to see you hurt, and cry, and who want your tears as they hurt you, over and over, because they think it's 'fun'?}}

Jack remained quiet but he did wrap his other arm around her and rested his head atop hers, she could feel the tears wetting her hair.

  She held him tightly, soaking up the heat that he had, knowing he hurt so much for what HE thought was a failure, wishing she could make it all better for him.  SHE didn't consider any of his promises broken.  Rather, she was sure it was the exact opposite.  Far, far better to have done as he had than the alternative.  It didn't take a genius to know that Builder had done this just to hurt Jack.  He blamed Jack for stealing her away from him, and for making her 'defiant' to his demands.  She hugged him a bit harder every now and then, even as she did her poor best to comfort him.

  Seeing that Jack was in tears, the Builder smiled, a vicious smile.   He turned to one of his guards, and said "Extract him, and give him a thorough beating.  See how he handles it.  If he resists, tell him he will be forced to watch a 'session' if he does not comply."

  The goons nodded eagerly, they recalled all too well the sessions they used to have with the girl.  Licking their lips at the potential, they headed down to collect Jack.

Jack looked up as the Guards entered He positioned himself in front of Penny but was surprised when they both grabbed him by the arms and dragged him out the cell.

  Penny shivered when they took Jack out, and curled herself up in a ball in the corner.  Closing her eyes and concentrating.  Jack could feel his head get more 'crowded', when the doors closed, cutting his view of her off.

The gaurds dragged Jack where they'd have proper room. "Don't try fighting back boy or we'll have some fun with you little friend. Hell resist all you want I don't care." One man held Jack's arms from behind while the other two began to beat him.

  {{Looks like so far, he doesn't want to get more exotic with you, love.  Bear with me, I'll help you bear the pain.  I'm used to it.}}

Jack grunted as the fists hit him. His defiant glare back though he didn't resist. {{Don't worry about me, Penny, this I can handle.}}
This message was last edited by the player at 15:16, Mon 21 May 2012.

  {{I'm not leaving you alone, love.  You DO need to protect your vitals, love.  Don't let them do you serious and true damage, okay?}}

{I'll try.}} He replied as the men continued working him over. They were proffesionals that knew what they were doing. They weren't about to kill him before the Builder was done with him, that didn't make it any more pleasent however.

  He heard a scream of rage from the Builder.  "You BROKE my favorite toy!!  What did you DO to her that made her flatline?"  The sound (in the background of the mic) a slow, steady beep of a heart monitor, but the heart rate was slow, very slow and stady.

Jack spit blood on the floor. "She's somewhere you can't reach her."

  Builder snarled "Beat him senseless.  Then he can tell me what he did to BREAK her when he awakens!!"

  Megaira stood outside the gates, unarmed and unassuming.  In her right hand she held roughly a hundred bee-bees, and her left hand held a small cloth bag with fifty steel ball bearings.  She stood at the center of the drive in front of the gate.  Staring inside with midnight sapphire eyes that were focused on something nobody else could see.

In a blur of red and gold Ex, wearing his 'fluidsuit' appeared next to Meg. "We have a plan yet?"

In reply to The Builder (msg #198):

Jack groaned as the men increased the ferocity of their beating eventually slipping into darkness.

  Meg said "You and Andy play with me and the heavy metal while Ozzy, Dragon Fist and Candy get the mout."

  Andy landed beside her, growling deeply as he said "Good plan."

  Candy appeared beside Meg with Ozzy in tow.

Ex nodded at Meg's plan. "I can do that, I'm in the mood to hit something I don't have to hold back on."

Dragon Fist nodded, eager to get the exodus of Rebound and Seer underway.

There was a slight chill in the air, which heralded the arrival of Icepick, riding one of his ice sleds. He set himself down, nodding to Candy, then the rest of the Defenders.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:51, Mon 21 May 2012.

  Andy growled "Jack is out.  But I can still read him, so someone is awake and aware in his head.  No read on Penny's mind.  She able to bodyswap?  If so, we may havetwo in one, make ure we get both of them.  NOBODY gets left behind, dead or alive."

As soon as Ozzy appeared, he started armoring up. Once he was done, he took a few heavy steps towards the door in his Mark Two armor, saying, "Sounds to me like we got a plan. We ready to breach? Ill screen any fire for the removal team, so you can focus on getting Jack and Penny to safety, Candy."

"I'm ready, want me to rip this gate down?"

Fade watched as the heroes assembled before simply pressing one of his wrist mounted console's buttons. It was at this time the drones outside advanced on the gate opening fire on those assembled on the opposing side with assault rifles of a strange design.

Ozzy reacted quickly to the appearance of strange robots. By the time they pulled the trigger, Ozzy had a forcefield up, hopefully one that could withstand the hail of bullets from these odd assault rifles, and protect his friends.

  Meg snapped both her hands forward, and all the spheres she had brought spilled into the compound courtyard.  Then they leaped into the air and began to swirl in a protective arc in front of the gate.

Ex placed himself between the others and the hail of bullets. "Looks like this party's already started." Ex said as he flew THROUGH the gate  smashing it to bits as he did so he kept flying straight at the assembled robots.

  Andy snarled, and flung lightning at the robots, curious to see if they were immune to it.  Of course, NORMAL lightning was blue-white. HIS was purple-black.  It slammed into the carapace of the first robot like the wrath of God.

The bullets these rifles fired were unique using a firing mechanism designed by Fade. The bullets they fired were coated in a high density energy that made them more effective when striking barriers or hitting things that happened to be bullet proof. Though one exploded as it was struck by lightning.

Ex zigzagged avoiding bullets and building momentum as he flew through a robot. {{Careful guys these aren't normal bullets, they hurt ME.}}

Dragon Fist conjured his Chi sword, then slashed at the robots with nearly inhuman quickness.

Icepick made an ice slick right below the feet of the robots not engaged with anyone, hoping to get them to slip and slide and lose their footing.

  Megaira walked forward, her eyes glowing with the energy at her disposal.  A shield of rippling air in front of her, the molecules super thickened by a gravity field that was probably well over twenty times earth normal.

Ozzy grimaced as the bullets broke through his forcefield. Several slammed into the thicker parts of his armor and stopped, though some found their way through and entered his body, causing him to cry out and move for thicker cover.

"Gah! I'm hit! Is everyone else okay?" he said once he'd found his voice again, out of the direct line of fire.

  Meg twisted the magnetic fields, pulling the bullets to her as she walked (seemingly unconcerned as she took hits) to Ozzy, and laid her hand on his back.  Her eyes flared emerald as the powerful jolt of healing energy slammed into him.  Then she flung all the slugs back at the robots by focusing them through a gravity acceleration tube to forty times earth's gravitational pull.

Ozzy nodded in thanks, and leaned out from behind cover to add his own magical arrows to Meg's barrage, hoping to at least do SOME damage, if he couldn't provide his friends with cover.

  Andy roared back, and leaped up, then snapped his wings a couple times, and dove for one of the robots, talons extended and putting his weight behind it.

The drones seemed more designed for dealing damage then taking it and the ten of them quickly crumbled.

  Candy blipped herself and anyone who had been assigned to the 'extraction' team to the doors, and passed a hand over the lock, melting it as she yanked it open.

Dragon Fist's hands began to glow many colors: light gray for air, red-orange for fire, blue for water, and a soft green for earth.

The blasts hurt when they struck him. But he would not be denied. With an almost inhuman shriek, he charged both of his fists with "Earth" and struck the ground, centering the "quake" around the robots.

As soon as Candi had the door open, Ozzy formed a magical riot shield and stepped through, not wanting to expose her to too much danger. After all, as far as he knew she was squishy, too, and she didn't have any armor on.

After the brief "quaking", Dragon Fist, being part of the extraction team appeared with Candy at the doors, taking a protective stance next to her.

  The door that Candy opened led them into a dark space, the charnel smell of blood a thick coppery-metallic flavor on their tongues with every breath.  The floors were metal grating, and every step rang on the metal.  They could hear the crude laughter of men ahead, and Candy got a mulish expression, looking pissed off as she saw something ahead.  A well lit series of glass cells, with various nude heaps of what had to have once been human, or parahuman, wreckage in them.  Some of them still breathed.  A couple of them did not.  Looking like she'd been attacked by mad technospiders, her body festooned with leads and needles and wires, Penny's form lay on a hospital bed, albeit without much of a mattress, very slow, even breaths barely moving the chest, and the heart monitory running a slow, steady beep.  With a pulse rate of 38 beats per minute, it was terrifyingly like she'd been put into a coma or something worse.

Dragon Fist followed along quietly with the extraction team. Seeing Penny's comatose form, he was filled with a silent rage. A rage at the man who had perpetrated this whole thing.

And once Penny was extracted and safe, he was going to end this reign of terror. And end the man responsible for it.

Jack was in one of the glass cages, completely devoid of clothing and covered in bruises. He was sprawled out in the center of the cell, unconcious.

Ozzy grimaced at Jack's condition as he formed a cutting saw with one hand, using it to open the door via removing the lock.

"Looks like we're good to go, just about," he said, "Let's just hope that the Builder's too busy keeping the others away to notice us."

  The Builder's goons were coming, and their first warning was a buzz past Ozzy's ear.  The dart quivering in on the floor from hitting the glass was NOT meant to kill, and there were more of them coming.  All of them armed with rifles and more.

  Hearing the saw that Ozzy was using with Jack's ears, Penny opened his eyes, but found the images too much to manage without Jack helping to process them.  So she let them close again, and sat up.  Of course, it LOOKED like Jack, unconscious and badly beaten, was getting up while out!!

Dragon Fist turned toward the oncoming gunmen, and let loose a gust of wind, intending on knocking them off their feet.

Mr. Fade prepared his rifle ensuring the optic zoom scope was properly calibrated he extended the stand and took aim at the only way out of the building. Heroes were to squishy to ensure the deaths of those who needed it most. So it was his duty now to ensure the Builder's justice was absolute.

All around, everyone could see the semblance of fog in the area. A light mist, which soon manifested itself in the form of Ju-Long, The Mist Dragon.

A look of focused anger was on his face as he immediately went to work dismantling the robots that were fighting the New Age Defenders.

Dragon Fists air blast sends five of the guards flying backwards knocking them unconscious but more were still coming.

Ozzy kept his saw going with one hand, hoping to get the door to pop open soon. Jack moving didn't even register as he had to turn his attention to the new wave of oncoming guards! With his other hand, he started firing paint-arrows, hoping to at least get some covering fire down, to buy him some more time!

The lock pops open and Ozzy manages to get the bars open.

While Ozzy worked on the door and getting them out, Dragon Fist continued to use the blast of air to attempt to keep the guards at bay.

  Candy told Ozzy "You worry about them, tell me when you got them both."  And she brought up a SHEET of fire between them and the guards.  It was about to be HOT in there.

Jack blinked and looked around. "Guys? Oh thank god your here." He stood shakily and moved towards the door he looked like he'd been hurt bad. "Where's Penny?"

  Her dry answer was only audible in his own mind.  {{You weren't awake, so I was getting you in gear.  I don't know how to turn your field on, love.}}  He was, he realized, upright and moving, and he'd had his eyes closed a moment ago.

{{Penny can you get back in your body? We need to get out of here.}}

  He felt her reach, and heard a distinctly pissed {{No.  Not right now.  He's got dampeners on me, and until we shut them off, I'm stuck hiding in yours.  There's enough tie to keep the brainstem working, but I can't fully move in again without setting off the shock collar attached as well.}}

"Sorry it took us so long to find you. We found Penny hooked up to some weird thing, but I dunno if she's responding... Anywho, let's get you out of here! Candy, can you port Penny and Jack to safety?" asked Ozzy as he turned, bringing up a shield just in case Dragon Fist's air blasts didn't work twice.

"Not yet." Jack said as they started talking about porting them out. "We need to find the Builder first. We need to find out what he did to Penny."

"The Builder does indeed need to be found," Mist Dragon said solemnly as he misted amongst the others. "He has much to answer.....his evil ends today."

  {{You're going to have to tell them I'm in YOUR head, or they may never get all the dampeners off, love.  I can't get through the fields, he made the blasted things with ME as a research subject when he designed them.  They're fine tuned to keep me locked in my head, or out of everyone else's.}}

"We've got to find out how to get the dampeners off her. She's not in her head right now, she's in mine."

"Whoah, whoah, whoah. Hold up. If we off the Builder, then doesn't that mean Jack's doomed to a life of being a fugitive? If we can't prove he didn't do it, then short of a presidential pardon, he's screwed, last I heard! Did I miss a memo?" said Ozzy, hoping to make them see reason. He wanted the Builder gone as much as the next guy, but sometimes logic had to triumph.

Jack growled a bit. "He's right...We need him alive...for now."

"Yes...we still need him to clear Jack..." Dragon Fist added. "His evil is repulsive, of that there is no doubt. But right now, we need him...Jack needs him....if he is to have any hope of a normal life."

"Very well.." Mist Dragon replied. "A Shaolin normally does not advocate the taking of a life, but this Builder has done much evil. Now he has the chance to do good and clear Jack of his crime, though he may not know it."

  Candy asked "Okay, so we're not done here yet.  Where to?  Left, right, or to the front?"

Ozzy breathed a sigh of relief, "Good. Now, let's find him and bring him in, shall we? Once Jack's cleared, if the government proves predictably unreliable at holding the Builder, we can always off him when he gets out. Or, Hell, I'll sneak into the prison and shank him or something."

  Andy rumbled from the back "If they won't send him to prison, I might unbend my principles enough to blink in and rip him into very small, bloody slivers and fling the bits all over the walls of his chosen location of repose."

"I don't know where he's holed up in here. Anyone got locating powers?"

  Andy arched one eyebrow, and said "Technically, no.  But you know what?"  He suddenly smiled, and then leaped straight up, wings snapping out and slashing through the walls as he ripped into the ceiling, making a large hole through it in a heartbeat, and landing in the lab where he'd felt the gloating, sickening pleasure of the Builder, a snarl that was utterly inhuman escaping him as the Builder let out a scream and scrabbled backwards.  "Sometimes the rats in the walls can't HELP BUT WATCH!!"

Fade's eyes watched his wrist mounted console which he fed the camera feed through. "Very good little heroes. Its time to gave your better his prize." His off hand prepared the bunker grate that he'd use to escape should the Heroes decided to retaliate.

The Builder fell backwards  using both hands to scrabble away from the THING in front of him, all present can smell something nasty as the mad scientist wet himself. "P-ppppplease, spare me!"

  Andy snarled again, and moved a bit closer, clearing the entrance to the lab, and he dipped his tail down, the blades snapping shut as he moved.  Wings mantled and eyes pinned on Builder.

Jack stalked towards the builder. "How do we get the dampeners off?! Tell me now or so help me god..."

Ozzy smirked as he approached, "You better tell him. The only reason you're alive right now is because we need you to 'fess up to your crimes and get Jack off the hook. Which is, honestly, in your best interests anyway. Do you REALLY want him in the prison yard with you? If he's in for murder anyway, what's one more, right?"

"You're trapped in your own gauntlet, Builder," Dragon Fist added.

"Your own misdeeds have caught up with you, villain," Mist Dragon said.

"There's two sets. One installed under her scalp, another placed atop her forehead. The latter can be broken the former will have to be removed..."

Ozzy chuckled, "Good boy. I'm assuming you know how to remove them safely, then? Keep in mind, her well being is tied into your own as well. There is an awful lot of room between 'healthy' and 'dead', after all. I don't have to kill you to make sure you can never experiment again."

  Andy snarled again at him, and the rest of them heard {{Looks like I make a very nice 'scare the holy daylights out of them' person.}}    He snapped his teeth near Builder's foot as the fellow was taking a while to answer.

"Y-yes." He scrambled to his feet and moved towards Penny removing the dampener placed on he forehead before deactivating and removing the ones in her head.

[[Yeah. I may not even have to break out the ol' "I will roll you up like a tube of toothpaste" threat.]] replied Ozzy via the worms.

  Megaira moved to give Penny a once over, and told Builder "The other thing is, Builder, if you EVER lay a hand on either Jack or Penny again?  Well, I would love to find out if your body can take five hundred terrestrial gravities."

"And if you somehow survive that....then your ass belongs to everyone else," Dragon Fist said, the eyeholes on his helmet glowing a brief azure blue.

Jack stared hard at the builder as he took out the implants, to make sure he didn't try anything. The adrenaline was wearing off and what he had done had started to weigh on him again.

  Andy snapped his teeth at Builder again, then looked around, frowning.  Moving to stand, he took a deep breath, and let another growl out as he stalked over to a desk, and ripped the front off of a locked drawer as easily as most would open an unlocked one.   A rippling growl escaped him as a note, spattered in blood, hand written, with fingerprints on it, fluttered to the floor.  He took it delicately in two talon tips, and held it up in the air.  "This is human blood.  And those look like fingerprints."  The way he was holding it, his own fingers never touched it.  Only the talon tips.

"Oh-ho-ho! What have you found, my inquisitive friend?" asked Ozzy as he turned to face Andy.

Jack stared at the note. "I know that note. Its the one he left at my mothers house. To taunt me."

  Andy rumbled, and said "Dragon Fist.  You have police contacts.  Tell them you have something they want.  Come and get it."  His normally deep voice was even deeper, with a heavy growl underlying the words.  He looked at the Builder, and smiled, reaching over to just delicately touch a spot over Builders 'third eye' for a moment.

Dragon Fist nodded, then took out a cell phone, placing a call specifically to either Captain Jordan or Detective Martinez, letting them know that there was a break in the case against Jack, and evidence enough to possibly exonerate him of the crimes that he was accused of. And to come as quickly as possible to *insert address here*

As the Builder finished with the Dampeners Jack grabbed him roughly. "Alright lets get this &#%$ over to the cops" {{Can you get in now Penny?}}

  He felt her reach, and then she flowed into her own body, her eyes flicking open as she inhaled, a deep breath, and they ALL heard {{Oh I HATE IVS!!}}  Even as every IV and other probe stuck in her body popped OUT.

  Meg laid a hand on Penny's arm, even as she slid her jacket off, revealing a sleeveless top beneath, and wrapped it around Penny, even as she let her energies wrap through Penny and heal her.

Ozzy nodded, "Good job, everyone. Looks like we've got this wrapped up. Now we just have to wait for the cops to come and take the Builder away. Hopefully for good this time."

  Andy said darkly "He'll get what he deserves.  Be it now, or in a few years, he will get it.  I will personally arrange it."

Dragon Fist nodded at that.

"Justice will be served on you, Builder. For all the pain and torment you have visited on these and others, their pain will visit you a millionfold."

"Lets just get out of here. I've had enough of this place to last ten lifetimes."

  Andy nodded, and said "Ozzy first, then Meg, Penny, Jack, Builder, I'll escort, Icepick, Fyre, and the rest.  I think. I'm the strongest here, so e's least likely to get out of my grasp."

"No tricks..." Dragon Fist said pointedly at Builder.

Now that the action was over Jack's actions were fully weighing on him the others would notice he refused to look anyone in the eye and wouldn't even look in Penny's direction. "I think it'd be best if I brought up the rear."

  He might not be looking at her, but Penny reached back and caught Jack's hand.  She felt better with his hand in hers.

PM

Jack looked down as Penny took his hand. He had to stop himself from pulling away.

As soon as the Builder entered Fade's sights he'd put several high powered energy laced rounds through his head like any novice sniper would.

The first bullet fired slightly to the left and hits Jack in the chest, He's able to adjust his shot for the second and hit the builder with that one.

Jack cried out as the bullet hit him straight in the lung falling to his knees as one hand went to cover the spot.

Ozzy did indeed take the front, and when the bullets started flying, Ozzy did the logical thing and raised a wall of stone with his magic, though within the city it was likely made of mostly concrete.

"Shit! Get down, everyone! Tats, get up the wall, and see if you can see anything! Let's see if we can't ask our gunman a few questions."

Tats slithered off of his spot on Ozzy's arm in response and scurried up the wall, peering about for any signs of movement, or the sight of a scope's lens.

  Meg snaked her hand past Penny and grabbed Jack by the arm, and let her healing flow, making the hole that had appeared in his chest.  The tissues regrowing visibly, sealing the hole.  Meg said "You may have to hack up the blood, but you won't have the holes."  She couldn't vault Penny and get to the Builder, but they HAD found the note.

Having confirmed his second shot hit the Builder he decided it was time to leave while the getting was good and quickly dropped down into his security bunker which directly linked itself to the sewer systems which he'd use to ensure no one followed him into the twisting labyrinth.

"No sign of anything, Ozzy. Looks like they've disappeared already!" said Tats.

"Dammit! Well, looks like *somebody* didn't want Builder talking. Well, at least we got the note," said Ozzy, as he punched the wall he'd brought up in frustration. Today was just not a good day.

The group heard the sounds of approaching sirens and soon the police arrived, a lot of them.

Dragon Fist felt good about being a part of the operation which finally led to the downfall and arrest of The Builder, as they all escorted him out.

But then...the unthinkable happened. Two shots.....and it suddenly ended The Builder.

"Son of a--!" he grunted, frustrated with the fact that Builder was not going to face justice.

Having seen no signs of the sniper since, Ozzy let the wall down for the cops, saying, "Well, sorry to make you come all this way for nothing. Looks like someone didn't want the Builder talking."

Captain Jordan let out a string of expletives at the sight of BUilders lifeless body. "Of all the luck...You said you had some evidence as well?"

Ozzy nodded, "Eeeyup. We found a note that our corpse here wrote a while back, taunting Jack about how he killed Jack's mom. It has some blood and fingerprints, too. Sound good?"

Jordan put on a pair of latex gloves before taking the note and reading it. He let out a low whistle. "As long as everything matches this should be just what he needs." He waved over a csi person and they put the note in a plastic bag.

  Andy rumbled, and said quietly "Builder WILL face justice, Ozzy.  I Marked him."

Ozzy nodded, "Works for me. Lets go home, guys. We did good."

Timeskip!>>>

Dragon Fist nodded, then extended his wings and flew away.

>>to Timeskip