"I meant more what he's like as a person, and if we can trust him to be reasonable.  But if they're all different individuals then we can't judge what that copy might do based on our previous experiences"

Price scratched his beard

"Going in without intel is asking for it.  But I don't think we have enough to go on to draw a full psychological profile of the man either.   Knocking him out cold might be our safest bet.  Get him to a secure location where we can interrogate him properly, without endangering anyone else other than ourselves" he stopped to look at Ana
"Or perhaps you can dominate him from a distance.  Plant a suggestion in his mind that would make him more amenable to talk?"

"... or maybe give a clone a viral toxin ... non-communicable, debilitating but not life-treatening ... that he might be willing to 'deal' for the cure to?" Danny suggested quietly, as much to himself as anyone else.

"We're not poisoning the guy," Frank snapped, hearing Danny's muttered comment. He smacked a hand down on the table almost hard enough to crack it. What was wrong with this guy? Viruses and toxins? Wasn't he supposed to be a medic? Frank wasn't sure he'd want Danny to be responsible for any of his future treatments. The kid sounded like a mad scientist in the making. "We're going to talk to him. In a locked room and under bright lights, if need be, but just talk.

"No toxins, no viruses, no torture... no bullshit."

She'd let it go earlier, but here it is again. "I can hear you as though you whispered in my ear." She glares at the new guy. "When we last encountered the guy we're after and his associates, they were trying to free mutants from medical experimentation. Freedom Force just recently interrogated a doctor running experiments on them." Ana Sofía's temperature is certainly rising as she continues. "We Native Americans were attacked with disease, and more recently unknowingly subjected to medical experiments! Now we mutants are having medical stuff forced upon us! Why would we want to perpetuate that!?" A few things around the room start to jiggle and rattle, and sounds of screaming are 'heard' without any sound. Ana Sofía stops to calm herself a little; the jiggling and non-sound screaming die down. "One of Ms. Cooper's agreements with Freedom Force is that we end such unwanted medical 'treatment' on mutants. That was a caveat Frank and I both needed to hear before signing up."

“Calm down!!” Price raised his voice over Ana’s and Frank’s  “The both of you!”

Frank’s slamming his fist, and Ana’s telekinetic outburst, ended up spilling Price’s coffee all over the table.  It was a ridiculously large mug – the size of a soup bowl, and the hot coffee reached halfway across the table before dripping to its sides, soaking into the wall-to-wall carpeting.

“God damn it, you voice your disagreements in a civilized manner, or don’t do it at all”  he gave them all a stern look to make sure they got the message.  He decided not to address the specifics of Ana's and Frank's objections, nor Danny's idea; he'll be damned if he allows them to hijack his meeting!

“Now, Windtalker, I believe I asked you a question.  Can you, or can you not, make sure he'll be willing to talk with us?"

"I might be able to convince him, especially if it's close to what he wants to do already for whatever reason. A little push in the right direction is easier than total domination. He's not especially strong-willed nor was his mind protected by anyone else last time."

Newton's face was blank, though his clenched fists were betraying his facial expression.

"Sir, I believe we need to change mission parameters. I don't see a possibility of capturing this guy completely, not now at least. And I don't think our laws can handle this guy in the court. It would take years long planning to completely capture this guy."

He drank some water from to bottle in front of him. This team lacked cohesion, granted they were just brought together but they were not in a state to operate, hopefully Price will put them in a decent shape before the assignment.

"Also, I would like to know more about this doctor and speak to him myself"

Danny just sighed, and shrugged his shoulders in acceptance.
This was not a room for contributing, he was gathering ... unless you agreed with the aggressive types.  There would be little room for tolerance or empathy for varied points of view.

"Focus! Our mission is to apprehend and interrogate Michael Thornton.  Get intel on the rest of the Brotherhood.  NOT capture each and every one of his clones"

He took a deep breath to calm his nerves before he would continue

"Now - I'm going to tell you exactly how its going to go down.  One - We take the next flight to Kalispel.  Two - we loan a van from the local FBI office.  Three - Danny, Newton, Fiona set up around the Floral shop. Frank rides with me.  Ana and Mistress walk inside and try to talk him into coming with us.  If they fail, Mistress will gas the entire store and knock him out cold.  Backup team to get involved only if he makes a run for it.  Questions?"

Frank had no questions. He shook his head briefly, and kept silent.

Ana Sofía nods to the plan, staying silent now.

Danny, also, acknowledged and indicated that he had no questions ... and began to pack up here, so he could prepare for said flight.

Ana Sofía finds a moment to catch Danny to ask, "If you're able to manipulate viruses really well, how about something in the other direction? Could you cure a child of cancer? Dr. Adler's son is dying of cancer, which is how Dr. Karasu and Essex were able to manipulate him to do his experiments on mutants."

"All clear sir"

"Good!"

Price checks his watch

"I'm off to arrange our flight.  In the meantime, get ready; acquaint yourself with the map of Kalipsel and the surrounding of the 'Woodland Floral and Gifts'.  Don't pack too much either - we will pick up whatever equipment we need from the local FBI office"

Danny stopped and considered Ana Sofia's question a moment, then said, "I haven't attempted such yet ... but ... I can't see why I couldn't ".   He seemed speculative, but with an underlying confidence.
"Maybe we should speak with Mr Price about that option".

The small city of Kalispell lied at the center of Flathead Valley, tucked between two subranges of the Rocky mountains. The main attraction wasn’t the city itself (though it had its own sort of rugged charm), but its surrounding;  the vast areas of untouched wilderness that beckoned outdoors enthusiasts.   The green valley was surrounded by forested mountaintops, with rivers and creeks interconnecting hundreds! of small lakes.  Life in Kalispell, really, was just passing the time Monday till Friday in anticipation for the next camping trip.

The team could definitely feel the different vibe once they landed in the small airport.  Everybody seemed far more relaxed, less in a hurry.  Not to mention friendlier.   After picking up their luggage, and checking in to one of the small family-run hotels, they spent the next day at the local FBI office preparing for their mission.  Price made them memorize the street names surrounding Michael’s floral shop.  He grilled them on where each of them was supposed to be throughout the operation, and what they should be doing in case things go south.   It wasn’t supposed to be complex – get in, convince Michael to come with them peacefully to answer a few questions.  If he bolts, knock him out.   Kalispell was a sparsely populated town, and ‘Woodland Floral and Gifts’ was located at its outskirts.  That, at least, would make things simpler if they had to use deadly force.

“Alright”  Price was sitting with Frank at the back of the very conspicuous black van, which they therefore had to park on the adjacent street to avoid being spotted.

“Everybody is in position” he communicated to the team via their hidden earpieces, having confirmed that they were where they were supposed to be by checking the feed from their body cameras.

“Mistress, Windtalker – you’re up.  Remember; nice and easy"

Walking through the airport Ana Sofía says to no one in particular, "I should retire to a place like this... peaceful."

---

In the planning she says, "What's our story? How about getaway wedding planning? Wilderness retreat wedding? That would give him a reason to speak with us more than just buying something."

---

"Shall we?" Ana Sofía asks Mistress as she gets out of the van. She walks with Mistress over to the floral shop. Walking through the door she says to Mistress, "This place looks nice. I bet they'll be able to do a great job with it."

A sweet shopkeeper’s bell welcomed Ana and Mistress into Michael’s shop.  A couple dozens of richly colored bouquets (made in advance for the walk-ins) were placed at the forefront of the room, and to the sides of the narrow aisle leading to the counter at the back.  There, their person of interest was busy working on the new orders, together with his assistant.

“I got this, Clara” he smiled at the young woman and stepped behind the counter, wiping his hands on his apron as he briskly walked over to Ana and Mistress, a cheerful smile on his face.

“Good morning ladies, and welcome.  What can I do for you for?”

This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 15:45, Sun 13 June 2021.

That he doesn't quickly recognize her tells Ana Sofía something. She smiles back and begins speaking a little lower so the other woman won't hear. She gives a nudge to make her suggestion sound more appealing before he makes any sudden decision. "Hi. We have an offer for you. You can come peacefully and quietly with us to discuss the Legion, or you can make it difficult on us and make the ensuing discussion less pleasant. After all, it seems you yourself haven't been up to what your kin have been."

Mind Control Complication
1d10 Willpower
1d8 One Step  Ahead of You
1d8 Mind Control
1d8 Psych
1d6 Enthralling Mind (+1 step effect die)

12:17, Today: Ana Sofia Garcia Mendez rolled 2,6,1,6,2 using d10,d8,d8,d8,d6 with rolls of 2,6,1,6,2.  Nudging the Legion her way.

That's a 12 with a d12 effect die.
Doom Pool gains d8 -> +1 PP (2 PP now).

In the van, Frank did nothing but observe the equipment that was listening to and recording the conversation. The recording appeared to be functioning excellently, with the voices being clear and precise. No adjustments were required.

It was boring. But it was necessary.

"Yes, yes, of course" Michael's head bobbled up and down.  Ana could have 'suggested' that he slit his own throat, and he would have considered it to be an excellent idea just the same.

"I will come peacefully and quietly with you to discuss the Legion" he repeated after her, almost word to word
This message was last edited by the player at 18:14, Mon 14 June 2021.

Ana Sofía leads him down the street and around to the adjacent street and the awaiting van.