Williams calls in the team to the Comms room, Ok looks like we have our next mission. A lot of details are unclear but Doc has found some info on Clockwork, It seems he was not from this group of Eternals but it seems he may have fought with them, or been allied with them. The video we got from his system isn’t good quality, But I think he was here to stop some sort of invasion and he may not of been alone.

Williams presses a button and a video starts, It’s extremely distorted, but you can see the sign that says Welcome to Asheboro.

A robotic voice sounding like Clockwork is heard. Seeker, How long till his arrival? This town seems to be a partial source of the infiltration.

Another robotic like voice is heard Another hour or so Clockwork, We are only to hold the perimeter to ensure the infestation is contained. Don’t be heading off like you did at Titanos

No visuals of the voices can be seen as Clockwork seems to be focused on something in front of them in a wooded area. You can see the bushes start moving

Seek…..!!!! A large reddish brown creature comes leaping from the woods but a large blasts cuts off the feed. Jocasta attempted to clear up the image but the fraction of a second screen shot couldn’t be cleared up

I’ve looked into Asheboro, there are rumors of a few people who had gone to visit and for no apparent reason never returned home to their families or work, they just opted to stay in the town. Abandoning pretty much all communications of their family friends and past lives. There had been increase in report of large monsters but they were brushed off as folklore similar to  bigfoot sightings and such. There is one report of 2 men that were big name hunters in Florida going on a hunt in the area of Asheboro, Both their families had filed a missing persons report when they hadn’t been heard of for 2 weeks, Authorities found them living in a house in Asheboro, When interviewed both hunters said they simply did not wish to go anywhere else, that they were happy to live here, When they were asked about their wife and children, both gave similar answers of shrugging and saying, something like “ Hard to explain easier to see.” The camera cut and the news report was never finished or followed up on.  But it is hard to get any info, and it seems last week A couple of news reporters from Raleigh who had gone to investigate on the story reported nothing unusual. However…

 Williams produced another video on the screen. It was one of the news reporter from Raleigh reporting on fire the footage was from a few weeks back.

This is John Gould for WSOC Ch. 9 news. This is footage Live from Fenton street where a large fire is engulfing this beautiful area. you could see the excitement in the young looking new caster his tone was almost riveting to listen too as he reported the story. A few other clips showed the mans enthusiasm

And this is from his last broadcast.
John Gould for WSOC Ch. 9 news Accident on North Raleigh boulevard, it’s just causing a lot of traffic, if your out and about right now… Deal with it. Don’t think there was any reports of injuries.

It's obvious the reporter isn't in the same frame of mind as he was a few weeks back, After that last broadcast he was asked to return but seem to have given the station his dismissal and moved his daughter and Wife to Asheboro also.

"Jocasta, do me a favor and run a background search on Asheboro checking for any connections between it and any subsidiaries, spin-offs, etc of an entity called Lotus Enterprises," Kevin told the team's AI then looked to the others, including William.

"So yeah, about four years ago this bunch was developing "crowd-control techniques," "non-lethal weaponry" and so-called "preemptive pacification measures" and stuff," Kevin told them making finger quotes as needed.  "Basically these assholes were in the business of low-grade mind control, helping despots maintain power by controlling their populations.  Subliminal advertising, chemicals in the food to boost suggestibility, that shit.  They operated in the Balkan regions and were disappearing homeless, refugees and local Romany to use as test subjects.  I figured to be going after them for Dev when he nixed it."

"And it was because that Doom guy that runs Latveria went scorched-fucking-earth on their asses,"  Kevin told.  "No survivors among them.  Except the prisoners.  They were okay.  Ended up in Latveria.  From what I've heard about the place it means they're still kinda prisoners, but at least they're not lab rats anymore."

"Any way, Lotus's research focus was on weaponizing depression.  Sapping the will.  It's not like you loved your despot or anything like that, you just couldn't be arse to care about overthrowing him," Kevin continued.  "Kind of like the way this reporter dude doesn't seem to give a crap about... the news."

"I don't know that's what this is.  Honestly, I don't think that's what this is.  Doom was pretty damned thorough.  And if it's him, why the hell would he do this in Asheboro even as a test run?  Still, we're gonna wanna be careful.  Noise-filtering earplugs.  Light-filtering glasses.  Nose-filters.  If I could set us up with NBC suits that didn't look like NBC suits, I'd do it," Kevin concluded.

Sword listened, not really understanding all of it. Monsters? That sounded delicious. But an infestation could be problematic, without more combat-oriented units. Nest of giant ants? Unlikely. And it did seem that the news reporter had a problem, with different intonations and body language between videos. Dopplegangers? He didn't know.

Then Kevin spoke up. He listened, and was confused as usual. Wasn't lotus a flower used in incenses and alchemy? He knew what glasses and earplugs were, while 'NBC suit' made no sense to him whatsoever.

He remembered a cartoon he'd seen on the rec room scrying crystal (television) the other week. One with a heroic duck fighting cabbages from outer space.

"Twin Beaks?" he asked out loud.

Alison had sat quietly listening, her arms folded and leg crossed, disturbed by this kind of thing. The harnessing of depression as a weapon.  Having watched her brother's struggles with depression, it hit home.

"Well, the robotic entity conversing with Clockwork spoke of a 'he,' singular. Did they mean the one responsible for this infiltration?   That could fit with a domineering leader, like Doom.   Or, were they awaiting the arrival of some ally?"  She paused, serious mood broken for a moment by Rager's question.    Understanding him, them, a little better made his remarks endearing and funny. Looked at from the view of aliens striving to make sense of this crazy world.

"I'm sure this would have already been thought of, but I'll ask just in case:   what amount of interface did Jocasta have with Clockwork?  Is there any data from his banks that hasn't been fully reviewed yet?"     

Lois looked troubled by the briefing... not because she knew any inside information, but because the team would be at risk of mind influencing 'things'.  What if someone put her under a 'spell'... and she killed someone?

"Is it wise for us to go there?  I'm glad this Asheboro Effect isn't immediate, but it still seems pretty quick.  Couldn't we just nab a few people, retreat, and run some tests on them?"

While nervous and unsure about her suitability for the situation, Lois took heart in Darkstar's experience and the (apparent) bravery of the other team members.

"If the Effect creates apathy, what if we took something that was the opposite?  Would they cancel each other out?  Or could Bloodrager 'cure' us with spells?"

"I don't think it's Doom," Kevin told Alison.  "Part of it is I just flat don't want to be him.  If there was an old-timey map of the world for super-types, Doom lives in section that's labeled 'Heere Be Dragons.'"

"But also, something like this doesn't really fit what I've heard of him.  This guy is like what you'd get if Tony Stark and Thor did some really intense hate-fucking that somehow made a baby that was raised by Genghis Khan," Kevin informed them.  "Subtle, he usually isn't."

"I dunno yet," Kevin said, switching his attention to Lois.  "Figure that's the answer to pretty well any question you have about Asheboro right now."

He addressed the room.  "Some of you weren't here for Laredo, but all of you were around for the Maggia stuff.  But the truth is that this, right here, is our first actual Task Force job.  We'll take reasonable precautions, but ultimately it's on us to go in there, figure out what's going on and poke it with a stick."

He focused on Taskmistress.  "Any files or information packets about this?  We're the ones who'll be writing them.  So, lets focus on surviving to be able to do that."

Jocasta nodded to Darkstar starting her search after a few mins replied back...

Information on Lotus Enterprises is limited, but there is no Connection to Asheboro, Last information on Lotus Enterprises after The Victor Von Doom incident  is that Lotus Enterprises had hired Benjamin Donovan as their lawyer and the case was thrown out of court. Their only know operations remains in the Latveria, Romania and Hungary area, nothing in North America

As for Asheboro, It seems like any other town, Before the people never wanting to leave incident was brought up  Their only highlight is back in 2010 there had been reports of an asteroid crashing down and causing black outs to the town researches had gone but came up empty handed the only trace was a large 20’ crater near Lake Lucas. There were slight traces of elevated radiation but nothing that was harmful to humans or the environment. Back then the population was about 15,030 people, as of late it is estimated at almost 30 thousand. The populations seems to have boomed but not the businesses.
She then turned to Alison,

Clockwork is a construct like I have never seen the technology is very Alien and hard to interface with. I’m sure if I was able to completely access it I could get more information along with possibly rebooting the core system but the security within equivalent to what we call a firewall  is like nothing I have ever seen. Me and Doc Ock were lucky to retrieve this information. Although Octavius is still trying to work on the system. she advise Allison.



Williams looked around stopping at Lois as she asked her question.
Of course we’ll be taking precautions I won’t be sending you all in, Possible in groups. Far as we can tell if it is mind control then we’ll need to be prepped in some way.

She snorted faintly at Kevin's analogy of Dr. Doom's persona and MO.    Nodded after Jocasta fielded her question regarding Clockwork.  And, was reassured the plan wasn't to go charging in en masse, for reasons Lois pointed out.

This reported asteroid, however- "If it was a meteor, there should be some fragments to be found.   So, if that's the case, I'd wager it was something else."       

"Well, figure the only we're likely to get comprehensive answers is to cover all the bases," Kevin told them.  "William can be in the plane with Doc Squid in case we need back up or quick answers.  Darwin, I'd like you to be some kind of incognito aerial recon, giving us a literal bird's eye view of the situation.  Just don't turn into something some hunter is going to shoot and eat.  Bloodrager and Taskmistress, I want you to go in on foot and scout out that meteor site and the surrounding area.  Figure that leaves me, Aurora, Mortis and Spider man to go into town as maybe college kids on the way to Florida who have car trouble or something.  I've hot-wired enough cars to create some problem that looks real enough."

"And yeah, Spidey, you're gonna have doff the mask for a goodly part of this one.  We can't go in as Alison, Kevin, Lois and Spider Man," Kevin told him.  "But bright side, you get a cute pretend girlfriend.  Or boyfriend or that's your flow.  I'm game if you are, but figure it might freak out the Red Staters."

Alison nodded, "College student I think I can do. Although, my professors from that last semester may say otherwise.   Too busy learning the ins & outs of hypersonic flight to focus on mundane stuff, like abnormal psychology.  Which, really, might have been useful info.   Anyway, I think all three of you are adorable. I'm good however it shakes out.     As for him," she gestured toward their web-slinger, "just give him a wig and a baseball cap.  Advanced rosacea explains the red face, and the bug eyes, it's hyperthyroidism."

Sword glanced down at his ring after Alison spoke of possible meteor fragments. But said nothing in response. But he listened closely to Kevin's strategy and nodded. "Do scout," the big man agreed cheerfully.

Taskmistress nodded. She couldn't remember how she joined this group but the big boss had informed her that she had been hired after an Op that went wrong. The Big Guy Bloodrager was a good friend or as much a friend she could make in her line of work. She was busy assembling and disassembling as she listened to everything going on around her.

"So what about some drugs we can use to counteract the Ashbro effect?  Kevin's plan is the best I've heard yet... but if I go weird, you have full permission to lay me out."

Lois thought having a headache was better than having corpses.

"What about a Mission Impossible face for Spiderman... to keep his identity secret?"

Having Spiderman along undercover made Lois feel safer and a bit excited at the prospect.  A wise cracking partner could make the situation a bit more light hearted and humorous.  And Spiderman had pretty good morals, so he'd look out for her if... something happened.

"What drugs?" Kevin asked Lois.  "We don't know what the hell the "Ashbro effect" even is except that it makes people want to stay there.  We'll wear nose filters as long as they're subtle enough not to be noticed, but otherwise, presumably the effect isn't instantaneous and we're aware of it so we can watch for it and cut out of there if we need to."

"But yeah," he said, turning to Alison. "The key here to not to be noticed.  Or at least not to put whatever's doing this on its guard."

He pointed at Spidey's face.  "That's a mask.  It's obviously a mask.  And even if it wasn't obviously a mask, we don't want people curious about us or staring at us because one of us seems to have a weird skin condition."

"I mean, would you have fallen for the rosacea story?"  Kevin asked Alison.  "No?  Then don't assume that just because these are small town people that they'll be stupid or gullible enough to fall for it either."

"And look," Kevin said as he turned to Spider Man.  "I get it.  Your secret identity is important to you.  But at some point you either trust the rest of us on the team or you don't.  And let's face it, the likelihood that somebody in this town is going to recognize you is really, really slim.  And if they do, we'll figure it out and work around it."

Deedee rolled in her chair. One leg hanging over the side, one arm over her head, hair in disarray. She'd have looked quite comfy as a cat, but not so much as a human.

"I can go high, but I'm kind of concerned about this whole mind thing. I mean...my brain is kind between human and animal on the best of days, and in animal form I'm kind of leaning the other way. So...what if this effect sticks me in animal mode?"

William looked at the group.
I’m not sure what to expect, we don’t know if it’s the water, the area around the meteor or what that is having the effect and seemingly corrupting the people. So there is no way of knowing if or what drug would be effective to prevent. Kevin’s idea is sound for now with most of the angles being covered and the team taking on several angles. I will also have Jocasta on standby, Doc was working on a shell similar to a Life Model Decoy but it isn’t quite ready just yet.

He says showing an satellite over view of the city.
I’ve had a straight feed Via Satellite over the city for a while but nothing really looks out of the normal.

Hearing Deedee Williams nods.


Agreed Deedee, As a precaution, I need you all to remain in constant contact. If you feel any sudden change mentally or physically you are to report it to everyone right away, Even the slightest ill feeling. We are not taking any chances on this one.

Alison gave Kevin a distinctly 'wha-?' sort of look.

"Um, you didn't really think I was serious about that? Did you?"   She shook her head, laughing faintly.

"I'm done with silliness.  Studious and serious, only, from here on out!"

She nodded her agreement as to the immediate report of even sleight feelings, twinges, or mood shifts.

"I'm sorry, may have missed something, somewhere, but what is a Life Model Decoy?"   
This message was last edited by the player at 21:05, Wed 03 July 2019.

Bloodrager grunted acknowledgement of William's instructions. Lots of amulet chatter, he expected, with everyone on the team reporting in regularly just in case. He didn't know what a 'Life Model Decoy' was, but assumed it was some high-tech magic item Otto was enchanting. Sounded like maybe it projected illusions, if it was supposed to be a decoy?

He peered at the image. He'd learned enough from Spiderman to recognize that he was looking at a city map or the like, identifying a street grid, but he didn't know where any of the food or good hiding places were in this Ashboro place.

"All right, fine, just try to get done with whatever it is ASAP," he told Spider Man through teeth that weren't quite gritted as the latter cut out for a "family emergency."  "We're gonna need to leave for that Asheboro thing pretty soon."

He considered how he'd sounded, looked at Alison and sighed.  "Yeah, I am strong with the Leader Dickhead today.  Sorry about that."

Shortly after Spider Man left, Doc Squid return with some thing that resembled an over sized trombone case which he placed in front of Bloodrager and then opened.

"Yeah, that's for you, our Barbarian Cleric," Kevin said as the case reveal a huge, two-handed war club made of iron with a leather-wrapped handle.  "I asked the Doc to cook that up for you.  I get that you're a healer, but sometimes the best way to treat injuries is to prevent them.  And one of the best ways to prevent them is to twat the would-be injurer upside the head with a big-ass club."

"Doc also included a contact taser in that thing," Kevin explained.  "Basically it's like a Mace of Disruption.  You give regular people a light hit that'll knock 'em out and just smack the shit out superhumans and whatever the fuck those animal things we saw in Clockwork's video.  Taskmistress is pretty awesome, but she might need a little if those things turn out to be bulletproof or knifeproof."

"Um...I have a question."

Deedee kicked her legs slowly, turning her head to look at everyone, albeit upsidedown.

"If these people who are there don't want to leave, and really think they don't want to leave, then are we even going to notice that we're changing our minds? I mean, we'd just think it was normal, right? I mean, they do."

She shrugged, an interesting gesture upsidedown.

In reply to Darwin (msg # 20):

"Most of it is we'll be looking for it,"  Kevin told Darwin.  "I mean right here, right now, do you have any desire to move to Asheboro North Carolina to live out the rest of your life?  Assuming that's a big "No" then if you start feeling that way once you get there, you tell the rest of us."

Sword peered into the case, and whistled appreciatively at the big club inside. Nice workmanship, he thought.

Reaching in, he picked it up in both hands, giving it a heft to see how it was balanced.

Alison nodded sagely to Kevin.   "You may be a Leader Dickhead, but your our Leader Dickhead.  And we'd follow you into the bowels of Hades.  Or even the South Bronx."    She was looking at her phone, while talking.

"Huh.  Asheboro's got a zoo with sixteen hundred animals.  But, Dee, you can turn into what, sixteen hundred and ninety four different animals?  So who cares?  I wonder though if those animals - or any dogs, cats, or birds in Asheboro, for that matter - have been affected too.     And, if no - is it possible for Darwin to communicate with them?"   

Lois pursed her lips in deep thought.

"However they are doing the Ashbro effect Dee Dee, we just have to look out for mandatory public gatherings, something in the drinks, or widely broadcast messages.  I'm hoping that the brainwashing needs constant reinforcement, so we can free people without years of counseling."

Otherwise she was ready to go pack for a 'fun' trip.

"Years of counseling is gonna be something for other people to provide," Kevin stated.  "Or job is to find this whatever-it-is and shut it down so it doesn't grab more people."