“There’s no point in hurting innocent people.  Yea, I heard that line before, and look where it got us” A Legion holding a rifle raised his voice to a shriek

“If we would have done things MY way, the war for mutant liberation would have been over by now.  But you’re too cowardly, too spineless, to do what is necessary” he aimed the rifle at the announcer, who slowly raised his hands over his head

“-The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants”

The quote was followed by a burst of machine gun fire.  The Legion announcer’s body convulsed with every bullet entering his body, before finally slumping down next to the podium, blood pouring out of his mouth

“THE REVOLUTION IS AT HAND!!!”

A few of the Legions armed with the rifles likewise opened fire –on the REST of the Legion clones, making sure no one would be able to stop them from massacring the hostages.   Panicked screams filled the air as both mutant duplicates and humans alike ran for cover – behind the seats, toward the exits; their legs taking them as far away as possible from the murderous manics before they will have the chance to gun them down like they did one of their own.

"Now, Kate, go, go, go!" there was no more point in whispering, or sneaking about.  Either they take out the clones now, or they'll murder everyone in the assembly hall. Without waiting for Kate she charged in, firing her pistol at the podium.  Even if those weren't precise shots, it would at least distract the clones for a little while.

Newton was expecting a reaction, but he wasn't expecting one half of Legion clones to attack other half. Before these clones hurt more than each other Newton threw broken pieces of broadcasting equipment to shooting clones.

Attack Legion
d10 Wits
4d10 Gravity control Unleashed Versatile
D8 Aggressive Pacifist
D8 Combat Expert

Newton rolled 9,9,4,5,8,4,8 using D10,d10,d10,d10,d10,D8,d8 with rolls of 9,9,4,5,8,4,8.  Attack. Let's goooooo

Total: 9+9+8 (-1 pp) = 26
Effect die: d10

Newton's plan didn't have its intended consequence.  Every clone smashed with a broken piece of equipment multiplied mid-air, turning into a literal Legion by the time they hit the floor.

Instead of the four armed gunmen, they were now facing at least a dozen of them, all hellbent on getting their payback against humanity.


Spend 1d10 from doom pool to activate the Legion 'absorption' SFX. Legion mob size increases from 2, to 3.   

Newton's attacks were precise, he was pretty happy with how he wielded his powers until Legion clones started to multiply.

Ok, time for a new plan. Ana I want you to coerce them to merge like you did before, or fry their brains, it is up to you. I will try to give them something to shoot at.

It was a silly idea, but Legion clones were looking angry enough to work. Newton gathered debris of broadcasting equipment and pressed it into a vaguely humanoid shape, like a human sized Lego figure. Thus there was the opponent of Legion clones.

Things have gone south, quickly, and Kate would do what she could, but didn't expect that going after them one at a time would be successful, so even while she did she sent out a mental plea to the legion's that weren't shooting at everyone in sight.  'If you merge back with the crazy ones, will that make them stop being crazy'  She wasnt sure if if it was a question a direction or just a waste of time, but at least it might help get the legion to busy killing themselves to switch to the people who didn't have nine plus lives.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
1d12 Asset against Legion
1d10 In touch with her wild side
1d10 Natures Response: indicates as much as ten times the response time and coordination of an ordinary human.
Versatile Hybrid Versatility: Steps back d10 to 2d8
1d6 Combat Adept
1d6 naturally armed sfx step back highest die +1 level stress type
d4 Distinction +1pp
d10,d10,d8,d8,d6,d6,d4
23:23, Today: Kate Messer rolled 10,9,6,2,2,1,4 using d10,d10,d8,d8,d6,d6,d4 ((10,9,6,2,2,1,4)).
Total =19 effect d8,d8,d6 +1 pp distinction +1pp for 1 on a d6
Spend 2pp to keep additional effect dice
pp = 0

---

At least that had been her plan originally, but after taking out the first clone she realized they didn't yet have an idea how she fought, while she knew just how they would react.  From there it was mostly a very high stakes game of tag, her with claws, them with guns but unfortunately for them she was fast.  Fast enough to draw the eye, fast enough to get them to try and hit her, and fast enough that they didn't realize she was having them cut each other down until it was too late.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:20, Wed 15 Sept 2021.

The Legion didn't take Kate seriously - at first. The fluffy cat/woman charging at them didn't look all that menacing.  Nothing a few bullets wouldn't put a stop to.  Only after one of the clones had his eyes gauged out by razor-sharp talons did they realize they were facing the equivalent of a man-sized frenzied badger.  Each of the clones had the same bright idea at that point - gun down the cat with automatic fire, even if one of them was in the way.  The only thing they managed was to kill each other off while the beast leaped from one clone to the other, carving them up with her claws.

Legion rolled 11,3,8 using 3d8,1d8,1d10 with rolls of 4,1,6,3,8.  reaction to Kate's attack.
effect 14 vs 19. 

Legion mob eliminated

'Newton, is the roof locked down?'

The gunshots have stopped, almost as abruptly as they've started.  Slowly, the hostages get back up on their feet.  None of them have been hurt - the only causalities seem to be of the Legion - whether the murderous, or the 'saner' ones.

From their shared gestalt mind, the team can all see the hostages leaving the building from Ana's point of view.  Between that, and the rest of the Legion clones safely contained in the upper levels of the buildings, and with both the Russian President and Price recovering under Danny's care -  Freedom Force has the situation well under control.

As the gunfire ends Kate realizes her phone is ringing but before she can wipe her hands off and answer, it goes to voicemail.  Looking around she seems almost surprised that there isn't a violent clone remaining to cause trouble even if some non-violent ones are still alive or slipped away in the confusion.  Using a pitcher of water to wash her hands more thoroughly now that she missed the call anyway she looks to the Widow for direction.  "Um, what do we do now?"  only after asking it aloud remembering that sourceofcookies is also on the line so to speak and repeats it mentally to Ana.  'Things seem okay-ish now.  What should I do?'

It took a little while to get things marginally organized after that before she could find the chance to actually get out her phone and realizes that call earlier was from Zoey and hit the callback icon, curious why she was calling now of all times.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:14, Thu 16 Sept 2021.

The local cellular network must have collapsed in the chaos, as Kate's callback refuses to go through. Fortunately, Zoey left a message for her!

"Kate, pick up the damn- wait no, phones don't really have receivers anymore do they? I wonder- fuck! I saw on the news the Brotherhood has taken the United Nations, get the hell out of there. I'm coming to get you. Call me when you get this! If you can't, meet me in Central Park where Ana took us after Manhattan melted just like we discussed. See you soon. And if I see you with even one hair out of place I swear I'm killing every single Legion in New York."

Once she knows the roof is locked down after the clones have been cleared from near the hostages, Ana Sofía lets Captain Finner know that his men can enter and secure the place. She makes him aware of the members of her team (adding Kate to the list) so they won't be apprehended, especially as Danny is keeping people stable. She also lets him know medics are on the way for the Russian president at the very least.

Ana Sofia replies to Kate, 'I'm not sure. I know I'll have a big debrief after this. I need to check on Frank, too.'

She checks her phone to see she missed a call from Frank amid the chaos. She calls him back to check in, knowing Price is here and wounded so something didn't go as planned.

"Hey," Tank said, answering the phone. "What's the situation?"

Kate sighs as she reads the message from Zoey, and just texts back.  "I'm fine, everything is fine, no need to get biblical on Legion"  Of course as she looks around at the mess she ponders that maybe it would be okay to get biblical on that menace.  He could have shot her and just because she wanted to see the UN.

As the police and others came in she thought about sneaking off again, like from No Man Island, but well, too many people had seen her, and knew she was here.  Probably better to fess up to it, besides she was unambiguously a good guy this time.

Ana Sofía thinks to Newton and Danny, 'Frank is at a destroyed Avengers Tower and says Iron Man is inviting us to chat. We're supposed to meet Valerie at the Jacob Javits Federal Building in six hours. Danny, I figure you'll be with Price until someone can take over. Newton, let me know. I'm going to join Frank so we're at least still paired up.'<i>

Then she quickly thinks to Kate, <i>'Good to sort-of see you again. I told the police you're with the group that helped stop Legion, so you should be OK.'

"Captain Finner, I need to go now. If you need to get in touch with me, contact Freedom Force and ask for Windtalker. I think you have everything under control." Ana Sofía looks skyward and takes off rather quickly. Between the lack of traffic and her speed, it takes well under a minute to get there.

Kate is rather surprised at just how quick Ana is to leave.  Just giving a mental wave and,'Um.. goodbye.'  With nothing left to do she heads back towards the room with the Russian president in it keeping an eye out for a restroom along the way where she can wash off at least a little bit though if intercepted by police will let them tell her what to do first.

Kate is, indeed, stopped by the police swarming into the building before she has the chance to leave the assembly hall, or get herself cleaned off.  Naturally apprehensive, the officers advanced with their guns pointed at any suspicious figure, which Kate most certainly was.

The one thing which prevented them from yelling at her to get down on the floor with her hands above her head was the collected presence of Captain America.  The hero was the first one to step into the room, and as soon as he saw Kate he signaled for the officers to stop and lower their guns.  If the cat-woman was a member of the Brotherhood, he concluded, she would have gone after the hostages by now


"Freedom Force, I presume?"

"Oh wow, I thought you were supposed to be like a hundred." Kate blurts out upon seeing an absolutely yummy Captain America in person for the first time.

Then her brain kicks back on and she starts to actually answer his question though being nervous and self concious and a bit overawed her mouth just doesn't turn off.  "No just a person but I know lots of people who joined freedom force even though I didnt cause I wasn't there, and then they just didn't come back to the school so I left, and then we tried to stop a Nazi senator but he wasn't actually a Nazi and it just got complicated cause he is kind of a decent guy, so we got confused and then I wanted to see the UN cause I had never done so before but it was attacked and this pretty Russian spy needed help so I did cause I've met Legion before and he's not a good person and we fought a bunch, and then he decided to fight himself and that was weird but really lucky cause otherwise he would have killed a lot of people instead of just himself."

At which point she finally has to take a pause for breath.  All the while trying to kind of hide that her arms are covered in blood behind her back and she should lick them clean but resists the impulse because he's staring right at her!

In reply to Ana Sofia Garcia Mendez (msg # 110):

We are waiting for Putin's doctor to arrive. That was why we couldn't join you physically. We shall regroup once the doctor comes here.

"Nazi?" Captain America lifted an eyebrow.  Nazis were sorta his specialty, as it happens. But no, the young woman was rambling, likely still rattled from the fight with the Legion.  He gave her a light smile to put her at ease, and patiently waited till she took a breather before talking:

"Everything is alright now, ma'am, thanks to you.  Would you like to take a minute for yourself, while we secure the area?"

Danny, his fury at the Russian's treatment have simmered to a colder, more vengeful hatred, still remained with his patients ... keeping them alive.

Kate nodded, firmly, seriously, of course she would, she meant to say all that.  And with great dignity retreated to a bathroom to rinse off and make herself more presentable.  When she came back out much of that post fight adrenaline and nervousness had worn off and she was much less highly strung, and more comprehensible in conversation along the way to the meeting later.

By the time Kate returned the last of the hostages was helped out of the Assembly hall, and the Legion clones (the ones who were still alive) were handcuffed and escorted out of the building.  Captain America stayed back only because he wanted to talk with Kate some more, and to make sure an overzealous cop doesn't decide to arrest her

"The building is secure now, Ma'am.  The Legion trapped at the upper floors decided to surrender, and they are bringing them down right now.  Are you alright?"

Kate was a bit flattered that Captain America was still here, talking with her.  "Ah, yes I'm fine.  Thank you for asking, um.. none of that was mine." She figured he had probably meant the blood.  "What's going to happen now that all the fighting is over?"

She was a bit curious, and not exactly looking forward to trying to sneak out given that she could almost smell the press waiting for it's next victim outside the line the police were maintaining.