"Yes, there should definitely be a spread on this bet, though, you know, one option doesn't preclude the other" the thought of the government trying to weaponize the Cranage-goo almost tipped the scales in favor of collecting his own sample.  Only, his forte  wasn't really biogenetics, nor his company's.

"I'll get to the bottom of this, in due time.  Now, since you're all already working for the government, and they have their own sample, none of you will object if I cleanup the beach here?" he wasn't really waiting for their permission. His repulsors could produce enough thrust to fly him into space.  Or enough energy to would incinerate the alien

"Sorry, kid.  I like your design, but that thing is just too dangerous"

In reply to Shiva (msg # 387):

"So the government already kept him alive, probably for exactly these reasons rather than out of kindness for the human beneath. Look where that got us. But I don't really disagree with knowing how to defeat it. Wherever it came from, there could be more... Iron Man, could you go pick up Danny when we're done here?"

'Hey, Danny. I'm asking Iron Man to pick you up. If he won't, I'll get the Coast Guard. Hang in there.'

Gwenyth nods to Stark. "Yeah, clean up. But don't destroy the beach, I'm sure the residents enjoy spending time out here."

She still couldn't believe that they were fighting an evil rubber monster from space a literal stone's throw from occupied houses. Any doubts she had about killing are diminished when she remembers the civilians. Yep. Doubts diminishing. Honest. She did a good. They did a good. And that's good, and not bad. She shakes her head vigorously once more. Damn these feelings! She preferred it when she had a script to tell her how she should feel, that made things easier!

Kate shuffled her feet, waiting quietly for things to finish so she could talk to Iron man more about Wax and just where he is stuck, and how they could try to go get him as she worked out the jitters of coming down from an adrenaline high.

If any proof was needed that the pool of black tar was sentient, it was provided once Iron-Man aimed his repulsors at it.  A disfigured facsimile of a man rose out of the ooze.  Its grotesque body - tenetacled-arms, a toothless maw, and holes where its eyes should be, was formed out of the same gooey substance.

The creature didn't put up a fight as Iron-Man punched its body full of holes with a quick succession of charged-particles blasts.  It just stood there and took it as its body evaporated into nothingness, maw curling into a cheshire-cat grin before the head, too, was finally gone

"I'm coming for you" were its last words.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 19:27, Sun 30 Jan 2022.

Back at the raft, a very cold and miserable Legion curled into a ball, hugging his knees with his arms in a failed attempt to keep himself from freezing

"A, a, a, ay...ha-ha-ha-te..you" he spart the syllables though chattering teeth

In reply to Carnage Symbiote (msg # 397):

"Well...that's not disturbing at all." Shiva said sarcastically, but oddly sounding a bit relieved. No doubt this thing housed Cletus' mind in even the small sample of its organic mass.

"Good news...we did not kill anyone. Bad news...we can't kill it. I'm pretty sure even smallest particle of this thing can indeed grow up to be a brand new Cletus. I might be able to design something to track its mass. After all, it is distinct from all other life forms on this planet."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:51, Sun 30 Jan 2022.

Well, we need to rescue Danny and arrest that Legion clone. And then I need to have a chat with our bosses. Murdering all those prisoners on the fears that some not even trying to escape might escape is murder. It's the same murder as done at the last prison. We cannot be party to that. So we need to change it. Who's going to help me?' That is said as a thought and including Danny so she can exclude Iron Man and the new unknown boss.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:06, Sun 30 Jan 2022.

In reply to Windtalker (msg # 400):

If Windtalker tries to include Shiva in the telepathic message, she gets an odd response. It seems to be a series of "0000011011111001"'s and no human thoughts where detectable. She does feel a slight sense of confusion coming from John however.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:21, Sun 30 Jan 2022.

'I'm in, and have some idea's on how to start.  I'll let you know how it goes, but we also have to get Wax.  He's trapped at the bottom of the ocean, but won't die, so we really need to get him out even if we have to put him in a regular prison he doesn't deserve to be cold and alone for ever.'  Is Kate's response, as she frowns at the weird goo thing.

'I agree. I've been thinking about how to get Wax out. I'm not strong enough to do it myself. He cannot be left like that.'

«I'm not sure I'd be your best ally in your fight over prisoner lives, given how I was the one voting to kill Carnage just now.» Tank definitely agreed that flooding the prison as a method of preventing escape was wrong, but he was a killer. If he tried to make the argument against killing, he'd just be seen as a hypocrite, and taint the entire argument. «I agree that there needs to be a change, but I'm just not the best guy to be making the argument with you.

«As for Wax: If Iron Man can't get him, maybe I can come back with scuba gear and dig him out by hand.»

"10880 Malibu Point, 90265. I'll be waiting for you" It was probably too late for the creature to have heard the challenge before being vaporized, but you never know

"Okay.  I think we're all done here.  I'll go pick up your friend.  And the one-man-army.  Your Mistress is resting at the patio down the street; she'll be alright"

This message was deleted by the player at 19:36, Tue 01 Feb 2022.

"Mistress!" Gwenyth remembers, immediately jogging to meet up with their team leader -- and get away from all the nerds.

"Wait Ironman!  What about Wax.  Can you get him out or at least have his location?"  Kate Speaks up as she has no real idea how else she could find him, the ocean is pretty big.

Gwenyth finds Mistress a couple of blocks down the street, just like Stark said she would.

The older woman was resting on a canopy swing, her body encased in hardened Styrofoam which served as an insulator from the evening's cold. She looked like a giant caterpillar inside its cocoon, and if it wasn't for her head sticking out Gwenyth would have had no chance to recognize it was her.

On the beach, Stark gave Kate a short nod before blasting off.

"Freedom Force; report.  Have you neutralized the threat?"

In reply to Agent Johnson (msg # 410):

"Agent Shiva here, director." John replies. "Threat is...temporarily neutralized. Long term we are going to have to deal with it again. I will have a full report emailed to you soon."

"Good.  I am sending the chopper to pick you up.  We will debrief you once you're back at New-York. Johnson out"

"Yes, sir." Recent memories of flight inside a metallic object do leave her wondering about the chopper, though.

Then she starts focusing.

"I haven't had the luxury of looking into either situation yet,<blue>" Danny replied, "<blue>but after the snippets I've hearths afternoon, it was my intent to look into the matter".   He was committing himself, at this time, only to learning more ... before making his own decisions.


Meanwhile, he was using his abilities* to warm Legion up, and keep them both protected from the cold until rescue could arrive.


                       * I am happy for this to be narrative, unless the Watcher wants me to roll bones

Kate sent feelings of appreciation and thanks to Ironman.  That kind of thing didn't really require words.  Now to see how the government handled things after this disaster.

Each member of Freedom Force gets a message on their various devices. Its titled 'this message will self destruct...'

The message says-'I get the feeling something is going on with you guys, so I wanted to tell you about this without anyone overhearing. Like it says, this thing will vanish from your device's storage without a trace. I am not sure if you already know this, but its worth seeing.'

Sure enough, a video plays on the message.


This message was last edited by the player at 19:43, Wed 02 Feb 2022.

Iron Man returned a short hour later carrying both Danny and the Legion. No Wax though.  The unlucky Mutant was buried at the bottom of the ocean under hundreds of thousands of tons of debris.  It would take days to clear, even with the proper equipment, and he had no choice but to wait there patiently until someone does go back for him.

The chopper on which Shiva arrived to the beach circled back by then and was standing by to carry them all back to New-York.  According to what Agent Johnson said he had planned for them, the flight back might be their only chance to get some shut-eye before another hard day of work.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:13, Wed 02 Feb 2022.