6:00, October 12th, 2020, Freedom Force HQ

It took ninety minutes for their Black Hawk to make it from New York to Freedom Force HQ.  By that time, Ana was post-surgery, recuperating in bed in front of the TV with a very delightful dosage of morphine dripping down her vein.

Back on the helicopter, the hit-squad riding with Freedom Force kept their mouths shut.  Harpoon wasn't in the mood to talk, Scalphunter rarely ever did, and Blackbuster couldn't on account of his busted jaw.   All three of the failed murderers were escorted to the basement level once they made it to HQ, with Mistress, and a couple of decomposing animated corpses armed with machine guns, keeping watch until Johnson decided what to do with them.

Freedom Force's field commander already debriefed them during their flight.  He gave the team a couple of hours to catch their breaths before calling them into the meeting room for their new orders.   Gywenth was conferenced in from the hospital, and with Johnson's insistence, Ana from her bed as well, despite the doctors ordering her to get some sleep.

"Morning, Freedom Force.  Let me start with an update regarding Agent Garcia.  Her surgery was successful, and the doctors are positive about a full recovery.  I asked her to join the call because we need to decide what we are going to do about the rogue Telepath" Johnson leaned into the speaker  "Will try to keep it brief, Agent Garcia, but I am sure you understand both the urgency and the necessity of having you on the call"

Shiva had gone to sleep with a head full of nightmares. Mostly about the now dead little girl and her family. He had various dreams about her waving bye as he placed her on a train that fell off a cliff, or some other disaster.

When he woke, Six proceeded to smash a few walls while demonstrating what it would like to do to Harpoon via Hologram. John tired to ignore it while brushing his teeth and getting ready.

When he finally got to the meeting, he looked like he had not slept well. He looked as haunted as he felt. "Glad to see everybody is up and about..." he joked lamely. Trying to force a smile.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:48, Sat 16 Apr 2022.

Frank had slept in a chair outside Ana Sofia's hospital room. It wasn't clear if he was protecting her, or protecting everyone else from her, but nobody had asked him while he was awake. Eventually, though, he'd gotten up and forced himself into a shower and a new set of clothes.

At one point while showering, he'd found a small jagged piece of something stuck in his hair. He worked it free to discover it was a piece of Scrambler's skull. If he'd had breakfast at that point, he might've thrown it back up, but his stomach was empty.

When he came into the meeting, it was clear to anyone who looked at him for more than one second that he'd slept poorly. He poured himself a mug of black coffee and downed it in a few gulps, heedless of the temperature that would have scorched the mouth of anyone else. He poured a second mugful and sat down at the meeting table with it.

Kate was there, but looked grumpy, upset, and generally not happy.  She was in a generic t-shirt, generic sweats, generic shoes, generic everything.  It looked like she had raided the sports section of a college apparel store and didn't yet have a phone again.  She kept sneaking peeks at Ana on the screen but was otherwise rather quiet.

"We can't get the murderers you apprehended to talk, and I can only hold them for so long before we have to bring them before a judge.  Agent Garcia; is there anything you can tell us about the Telepath?  Agent Ohm; check the satellite images and street cameras for records of the event, and up to two days prior.  Good chance we can identify the rest of their team as they set up the ambush.  I also need you to perform an analysis of our servers and phones.  Someone hacked us.  It's not only that I was unable to contact you during the mission in New York, but that they knew EXACTLY where and when we're going to be"

Johnson was either too obtuse to notice the weary faces of the team, or simply didn't care:

"If any of you have anything else to suggest, now is the time.  Else, prepare yourself for guard duty.  Someone needs to constantly watch our prisoners, till we find a way to contain them"

In reply to Agent Johnson (msg # 5):

Jon sighed, and rubbed the back of his neck. "Sir, I would like to say that this attack succeeded because I did not detect the takeover of Agent Windtalker or the assault on the chopper. I should have sensed both and failed to save my fellow agent and the five people on the chopper. It is important to note the rest of the team bares no responsibility for these deaths, and I am willing to accept any conqesences I have coming."

He looks at the floor, not really wanting to meet anyones eyes. "That being said, I do have a plan to deal with future telepathic attacks, which could be put into place with or without me. However...I...er...cant tell you about it."


He rubs his neck as he looks up at the commander. "I want to of course, but every person who can have thier mind read is a potential leak. Not that they would ever tell anyone, but a telepath can pluck the info out of most people's heads. There is a way around that as well...but I am fairly sure you would not like what would be required."

This message was last edited by the player at 16:52, Tue 19 Apr 2022.

Kate was more than happy to be 'ignored' by the man she was increasingly sure was only on this earth to mess with them, not to actually help.  So she spent most of the meeting sitting quietly, trying not to draw attention.  She almost said something when Shiva tried to take credit for everything wrong in the world but just barely bit her tongue and held her silence.

"It's still my job to decide who is, or was, responsible for what, Agent Ohm.  Don't try shouldering all of the blame - you're not helping anyone by doing so.  And with regards to your initiative - I'm not going to authorize anything without knowing the details"

He kept his eyes on John, to make sure there weren't any misunderstandings

" - I believe you have work to do.  I will be expecting results within the hour"

"Then I guess I'll go take first shift on guard duty," Frank said. He finished his second coffee in two gulps. "See you guys later."

In reply to Agent Johnson (msg # 8):

"Ah...yes sir. I will, ah, prepare a report after accessing the satellite video feed." While a little relived he was not fired or worse, part of him still felt terrible. He could not help but remember the little girl he put on the chopper with her parents. Waving at Six as the energy hand strapped her in to be safe.

It was then he noticed Six forming images of the reptile faced child and her family. That and the images of the two chopper crew that had been controlling the doomed aircraft. "Stop it!" He snapped at the limb, and the images faded. He got ready to take over for Tank when he needed to rest, after he uploaded the data from the satellites.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:18, Tue 19 Apr 2022.

With things apparently over Kate looked to Ana and asked softly, "Are you okay, can you forgive me?"

In reply to Tank (msg # 9):

"Second shift," an otherwise quiet and tired Gwenyth quips cross the phone line. As the escort, she was already guarding the even-more-tired Windtalker.

"You failed.  Then you got yourself captured. So where do you get the galls to call me dumb?"

Tank arrived just in time to catch the last part of the conversation between Mistress, and the bare-chested burly man who went by 'Harpoon'.

The three members of the hit squad were huddled at the corner of the bomb shelter. It was the only room in HQ with walls thick enough to stop Blockbuster from punching through them in one blow.  Hopefully.  But for now, the blue giant didn't look like much of a threat.  He was stretched over the floor, his eyes closed and his chest heaving slowly.  Scalphunter was standing above him, quietly sizing up Mistress and the two zombies like a tiger preparing to pounce.

"Hey, Mistress," Frank said, entering the shelter through the heavy steel door. It was the one of the few doorframes in the complex large enough that Frank didn't feel like he was squeezing through it. It was built like a vault door, and probably as secure as one. That said, Frank (and probably Blockbuster) could rip it clear out of the wall given a minute to do so. "This guy resorting to throwing rude names now?"

"Yea" Mistress snorted while still keeping her eyes on their prisoners "That's the only thing he got left"

"Whatever"
Tank's arrival , ironically, put the prisoners at ease.  It looked like they were up to something, but now that 'reinforcement' arrived they had no choice but to bide their time.  None of them were in the mood of losing a few teeth.
"It’s not over.  Just you wait"

"Ooh, I'm scared." Frank rolled his eyes. Without his harpoons, this guy was about as dangerous as the cafeteria's lunch menu: smells a little funky, but really can't hurt you. "Come on, Harpo. If you wanna talk, then start with telling us who hired you. Otherwise, zip it."

"Or what?" despite the huge power discrepancy between the two, Harpoon didn't back down from the confrontation.  And not because he hasn't realized Tank could easily squeeze the life out of him
"What are you going to do, big boy?  You're the good guys, right?  You're not going to assault one of your prisoners without provocation"

"No, but we probably have different definitions of what constitutes 'provocation'," Frank replied. Killing a whole family, including a little mutant girl? That was lots of provocation for a beatdown. Part of Frank was just dying for an excuse to smack Harpoon around. "But if you're really interested in running your mouth, you just go ahead.

"You see, I don't need to do anything to you. Your friend here with the metal parts? He shot Scrambler to keep him from talking. The more you run your mouth, the greater the risk you're going to slip up and say something you shouldn't. So, sooner or later, he's probably going to try to kill you, just to shut you up.

"Worse, he knows that you're the one who's most likely to crack, of the three of you. He'd kill to keep others quiet, so he'd probably die rather than talk. We won't get a word out of him. And Blockbuster wouldn't talk even if he could. He figures he's still got a chance of beating me in a rematch, and busting his way out of here. But you? You've got the most to lose. You're the one we're going to parade through the judicial system and make the very biggest spectacle of. You blew up the helicopter, killing two pilots, and a family of civilians, including a little girl. We're going to make the biggest example out of you.

"And the longer you think about that, the longer he thinks about that, too.

"So, go ahead and run your mouth."

In his room, John prepared to access the satellites. He sat cross legged on the floor, typing on his unseen keyboard while his arms fanned out around him. Each beginning the process of accessing the data. John was about to hit the final keystroke when he paused.

He had not done this before. Sure he had downloaded images and video from those tech spy devices floating in space. This was different. He had never wanted to do this before...linking the arms to satellite signals, and then bouncing that signal to others. In effect, he would be everywhere. He knew he could do it, but never tried before. He had deliberately held back, because it was too scary to think about.

Nobody was supposed to know everything all at once.

Expect, now he needed to. Now he had to hunt down the hacker, who had targeted them and used the little girl and her family as bait. Then had their goons kill them 3 of them plus 2 chopper pilots because they where in the way. John had failed to prevent it because his senses where not enough.

They could be now though. He just had to stop being frightened of what could happen. When he refused to extend himself, people died. So now there was no other option.

"Commence probability calculation algorithm." He said, totally without needing to. The arms could be contacted mentally after all.

His awareness expanded as he used most of the computers on earth. Gathering up their knowledge and copying them into the arms. Accessing them like he did the first time he manifested his mutation, but it was only local then. Now it was commination across the globe, and maybe farther. His sensors building on themselves, expanding their capabilities exponentially. Effectively lauching his mind everywhere via the Freedom Force HQ Hub.

From there, he could create the Probability calculation program. The same way most people could guess at future outcomes by putting together what they know of past and present, the program would build on that. Using all the knowledge he had gained, he could do more than just guess. He could get there with high percentages of being correct. Granted it was only a short 'insight' into the future, but with time...who knew?

From there, he could find the hacker's device and track him down much easier...

OOC:
13:56, Today: Shiva rolled 9,3,8,6,5 using D10,d12,d8,d10,d8 with rolls of 9,3,8,6,5.  Creating an asset. Probability Calculation program

Wits-d10
Senses-d12
Computer like Mind-d8
Tech-d10
Resources-d8

Total=17
Effect die=d12

18:53, Today: Shiva rolled 10,9,6,2,12,5 using d10,d12,d8,d10,d12,d8 with rolls of 10,9,6,2,12,5.  Spending a PP for second chance. Hacking the Hacker

Wits-d10
Senses-d12
Computer like Mind-d8
Tech-d10
Assest-d12
Resources-d8

1 PP for second chance, 1 PP to add additional die.

Total=28
Effect die=d12

Harpoon's lips curled with anger.  He seriously considered punching Tank in the face, even if it resulted in little more than shattering his fingers over the invincible man's jaw. The fact that Tank was right about everything he said was what infuriated him the most; if he shrieked away from the confrontation Tank would get him to 'shut up'.  If he didn't, he probably would end up with that bullet in his brain - same as 'Scrambler'.  It was a hard choice to make for the proud man, between death and disgrace.  He would have chosen death, but his hatred for Tank was such that he wanted to stay alive just a little bit longer - if it meant he would get to see him die by the others.

Glaring, he clenched and unclenched his fists, taking long, deep breaths to calm himself down.

"Good boy," Frank said. It was a little uncharacteristic of him to actively taunt Harpoon, but it just slipped out. "Now go sit down."

Harpoon sat down.  He was too disciplined to be goaded into doing something stupid.  He gave Tank the stink eye though, which was the most he could do.  For now.

"Thank you for that.  He was starting to look combative before you got here.  I thought I was going to need to knock them all out" Mistress raised her voice for the last part, so the assassins could overhear her.  It would be good if they could fear her the way they feared Tank.

"I was trying to get them to talk, but hadn't had any luck.  Maybe we should call Gwyneth in here?  She has a way with people…"

John hacked the various devices of the hacker, making sure there was a few ways he could track the person. He wanted the whole deal, every crumb of data without the talented terrorist knowing what Shiva was doing. He made sure to do a total a profile he could get before moving in. He wanted the Hacker to think he got away clean before nabbing the target. He was worried about telling anyone directly, due to the telepathic eavesdropping that could be happening.

So he told Ana, so she could telepathically inform the others. It was the most secure line of communication, although he waited for her to feel up to the task. Instead, he would find alternative means to arrest the Hacker and be prepared to bring the person in.

Even if the enemy telepath read the minds of people near the hacker, they would only know what they knew. If they where not thinking about government arrests and Freedom force and mutants, and instead thinking about parking tickets for example, it would be hard even for a powerful telepath to pick out any threat.

Ooc-given my sucess, and that my mind cant be read, could I move in on the hacker or arrange a series of flase but mundane charges to bring the target in? Assuming what I now know about them shows them to be human.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:31, Sat 23 Apr 2022.

In reply to Mistress (msg # 24):

"Well, she's got the next shift on watch, but that's four hours from now." Frank didn't want to screw with Gwyneth's day too badly, but Mistress did have a pretty decent idea. "I think she'll probably be at the hospital for a while longer, though. Probably best just to wait."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:32, Sun 24 Apr 2022.

Waking up to the happy juice was surely more pleasant than without it. Ana Sofía is pretty loopy for a while as she comes to. 'So many things. Whooo... Which body is mine? Whoa...' Unfortunately, everyone within several blocks starts feeling similarly loopy off and on, significantly more so the closer they are to Ana Sofía. Once it starts occurring to the doctors and nurses, it's almost too late. A whole bunch of them who come into the room end up sprawled out in various spots in different states of bliss before one nurse finally manages to reach the morphine drip, and then herself succumbs.

As the morphine works its way out of her system things get back to normal in the area. Other nurses are able to drag the disabled workers out of the room. Of course, the morphine has worked its way out only after Agent Johnson had wanted her on the phone. Not that Ana Sofía really knows pretty much anything about of the person who possessed her anyway.

As Ana Sofía regains her faculties she also feels the pain. The doctors prescribe her significant amounts of Tylenol and Ibuprofen simultaneously to try to manage what the morphine was there for, without messing with her head. Once clearer headed Ana Sofía uses her powers on her own mind, cutting away the sense of pain for now.

By the time John calls her she's more in control. She listens to him and then conveys his message to the team. Until now she's just been trying to regain her faculties. But now that she has a chance to think about things, her memories come flooding back. She starts vomiting, which is really important to avoid right now with all the work that was just done on her. And that brings medical staff back into the room.

In reply to Windtalker (msg # 27):

John shows up in person, handing over flowers and some jello. He could detect what drugs she was on and has the medical knowledge to know thier side effects.

He scans the room, making sure no listening devices where present. Granted, a bit paranoid, but her and him where the ones most likely not to be mentally 'overheard'.

"I am really sorry about shooting you. I just wanted to say that in advance." Even if it did nothing to harm her, he still felt bad.

"Anyways, I got the info needed. You are the only one who can insure the sending the info to the team without much risk of it being overheard. You should be able to detect the telepath if they try something. You have to make sure to monitor Commander Johnson and the others in case the telepath is snooping. I cant even send it via text or email for risk they have a virus on thier devices. We gotta move quick, because the hacker and/or the telepath is gonna go to ground." He then tells her all the info he got, andnwanted to hack the hackers devices, but had his hands tied by the lack of a warrant.

When John arrives Ana Sofía shoos the nurses away. "I promise I have nothing more to vomit." Fortunately the IV is still providing her fluids and energy.

In reply to John's apology Ana Sofía says, "If you hadn't, we would all be dead. So even I'm better off for what you did. But I appreciate the sentiment nonetheless."

While she doesn't look great, Ana Sofía listens carefully to John's explanation. "That sounds like a good plan. It seems like this enemy can control a person but not really have access to their mind, so telepathically shared information may even be safe if shared with someone who is controlled. But I wouldn't want to count on that. Too bad I can't share things with you telepathically. But I do have another way. It's not just minds I can sense. Theoretically we could put a dedicated line to a monitor in a safe, and I could read the monitor if you've secured the line; or something like that. For now, let me share with the others what you've said." Ana Sofía then conveys what John wants sent to whomever he wants it sent to.

In reply to Windtalker (msg # 29):

"I...did not know you can do that." John said, sounding impressed. "So, if I am getting this right, you can see through solid objects? That's very handy. I will whip up a sealed comm unit with a secure channel, and proceed to put it in a vault!"

At first, Gwenyth thinks the hostile telepath has come to finish her and Windtalker off. She stands with a start and readies her rifle, scanning out the windows and up and down the hallways for any sort of hostile intruder. And then, all too quickly, she succumbs to the vapid bliss and isn't thinking about very much at all. At one point she manages to be coherent enough to reason that this must be the drugs working their blissful magic on the friendly telepath in the room with her, but seconds later she rejoins her brain in a giggling puddle on the floor. She thinks she may have traded compliments and/or silly anecdotes with Ana during that time, but she couldn't remember what they might have been.

It was not an altogether unpleasant time. She could see why so many actresses turned to abusing medication to relieve some stress. She could only hope that no emergency situations occurred during that time.

Gwenyth waves to Shiva as the many-glowing-armed techypants arrives, then fades back into the background as the two talk shop. She checks her phone, and then cuts in during a lull in conversation.

"Not to sound like I am eager to leave you Windy -- thanks for a wonderful time by the way, I've never been high before! -- but are you taking second watch? I thought Tank called dibs."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:07, Mon 25 Apr 2022.

In reply to Gwenyth Blake (msg # 31):

"Well, I guess I can do my work from here, but really this was just a matter of keeping the info secure and limited to just the team and Commander Johnson. I need Ana for that. You never know when the enemy might be listening in. Although if what Ana says is true, they can only mind control one target, and then use whatever telepathy they have." Shiva says.

John raises an eyebrow as he looks over Gwenyth's weird behavior. "Sooo...are you ok to get home? Frist time on narcotics should be done under a trained medical professional observation. At least, that's what all the pro-drug groups say..." he grinned.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:03, Mon 25 Apr 2022.

Ana Sofía replies to John, "It's sort of like my mind doesn't fit inside by body. It usually knows this body is home, but it seems to touch everything. Minds are easier than the physical, though. In both cases, senses are easier than manipulation. Between the two of us, we should be able to find just about anything anywhere when we're not held back by regulations. But that is a good reason to have those regulations in place."

"It's fine, I didn't really have any drugs!" Gwenyth giggles. "But seriously Ana, if you ever decide to throw a party you just have to invite me!"

"Anyways, I got a text from Agent Poopypants saying he needs my help interrogating our troublesome prisoners. I'm gonna give them a piece of my mind, let me tell you!" She cracks her knuckles, then races to put one in her mouth. "oh owowowow, why do people do that, ass, tits, bollocks, owww... A-Anyways, I can take your car back to HQ right?!"

---

However it is she ends up getting back to HQ, Gwenyth ends up there. She waves to Tank as she approaches the cells. "Hey. How many bones did you break so far? Have they said anything?"

"Surprisingly, not a one," Frank replied, waving back. He approached Gwyneth so they could talk without the prisoners hearing them. "They've been remarkably well-behaved so far. I had to convince Harpoon to shut up before, but since then they've all been quiet.

"Mistress was thinking that you might be able to convince Harpoon — or maybe one of the others — to say something useful."

In reply to Windtalker (msg # 33):

John waves as Gwenyth leaves, and then turns back to Ana. "It sounds like mental projection of the senses, or maybe even an 'Astral projection'? Granted everything I know about that is theoretical and not hard science. That being said, measuring brainwave activity might be a way to detect telepathic influence. If I could get a measure from when you are using your powers I can use that as a baseline."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:17, Wed 27 Apr 2022.

Kate has been avoiding things, specifically Ana shaped things, but didn't have anything else left to do to put it off for anymore, so even as Gwenyth was leaving, she was on her way in.  It wasn't that hard to figure out how to bus to the hospital, but she did decide she needed to figure out a way to make a carriable bag or something for flight.  It would make travel much easier.

Slinking around wasn't actually that hard, and she found the right room easily enough and listened in at the door, 'spying' on Ana and John for a moment as yet another delaying tactic.

John Nods at Ana's points. "I hope you are right. I really don't want those regulations helping the hacker and/or the mind controller with time to get away."

"Well, I have to use the men's room. I will be close by until Tank gets here if you need anything. Thanks for your help, Ana. Keeping the info secure is our primary goal." He starts to head out, and then pretends to run into Kate. "Oh, Kate! I did not see you there!" He lied, not really having the option of NOT noticing things anymore.

"I have a present for you. A commlink which fits into your ear and clings to the surface. As long as you are mouse sized or bigger, this will be there for you! And it's waterproof! Plus it can pick up music stations and is fully bluetooth capable!"

Before Kate can object, he hands her the tiny earbud looking device and heads off. Making sure he spoke loud enough for Ana to hear him.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:15, Wed 27 Apr 2022.

Of course she noticed him coming to the door and so was six feet down the hall by the time he came out but still she wasn't sure what to do with herself at John's rather overbearing personality.  Kate stands there for a few moments just blinking and looking at the ear thing now resting in her cupped hands as hurricane Shiva continued on down the hall.  Finally though she took a deep breath and slipped into Ana's room trying not to make eye contact.  "Hi Ana... are you alright?"

"Oh wow!" Gwenyth replies. "That's quite a change from trying to kill us. I wonder what their deal is." Striking stereotypical girly thinking pose in three... two... yep, there it is. There's a certain artificiality to Gwenyth's mannerisms, as graceful and cute as they are, and it only becomes more obvious as she makes the same poses over and over.

"She does? Hmm, okay..." She isn't sure where Mistress' confidence in her abilities comes from given that she didn't get a whole lot out of Essex' staff. She can't let that faith down now, though! "I'll see what I can do. This way right?" She vaguely waves in the appropriate direction.

---

Gwenyth arrives, carefully shutting the door behind her before looking around at the assembled baddies with a wide sweep of the eyes, taking the emotional temperature of the room. She fidgets coyly with the pink pearl necklace sitting low on her sternum, resting just above the low cut of her top that reveals the barest hint of cleavage.

General purpose charm check! 1d8 Focused Wits+Psyche, 1d8 Godlike Beauty, 1d8 Mind Control. Rolled 5,8,4 using 1d8+1d8+1d8. Taking 13 accuracy and d8 for effect.

With Gwyneth now in control of the prisoners, Frank heads back to the hospital to sit guard by Ana Sofia.

---

He knocks upon arrival and pokes his head inside. "Hey," he says. "May I enter?"

"Looky, looky, they finally sent us someone to play with"
Harpoon was doubly delighted - 'Tank' was gone, and a pretty woman came to watch them in his stead. Even if she proved to be as irritating as he was, she was at least fun to look at.  He licked his fingers, and ran them through his hair as he grinned at her.

Behind him, Scalphunter was staring at her as well, as did the eight-foot-tall blue giant, who stumbled back to his feet as he held on to his broken jaw.

"Oh, I throw parties, and you'll be invited. But they're much tamer. If I lose control and I'm scared or angry or something, things can get really bad really fast. Think about what just happened and then imagine it with emotion and adrenaline running things rather than focused intent."


"I hope so, too. I could hunt people down so much faster and more easily by violating privacy regularly. I just have to hope the head start not doing so affords the bad guys isn't too much. That's basically the dividing line between us and vigilantes."


"I've felt better, but I'll live, as will the rest of you. If everyone had taken it easy on me much longer, probably none of us would have survived. You did the right thing." She tries to give her best friendly smile in a body that doesn't want to smile right now. "Don't worry. We're still friends, and you can still crash at my place as long as you need." Ana Sofía looks for some sign in Kate's face or eyes that these comments are helping; while they're genuine, they may not be enough for now.


"Yes, please come in. Company is always good, especially when it comes in nice muscles."

Frank slipped into the room and closed the door behind him. While the menace they were most concerned with didn't even need to open a door in order to... uh, be menacing... somehow leaving the door open felt like less protection somehow. That, and privacy was still a thing, even in a hospital.

"Oh, hey," he said as he realized that Kate was there, too. "Am I here too early? I thought—" He thought that this was his turn at keeping guard. But he didn't know if Ana Sofia even knew that she was being watched, or if she thought this was just having visitors. So he didn't want to say it out loud. Besides, it sounded crass. Ana Sofia deserved to have visitors just for the sake of having some company. "—never mind. Oh, these are for you."

Frank had stopped by the hospital gift shop and bought Ana Sofia some flowers. He'd had quite the struggle picking them out, too. The woman running the shop had seen him consternating over the selection and had tried to help, but she'd then told Frank to buy the bouquet of lilies. Lilies felt too much like 'death' to Frank, since it was customary to leave them at graves, so he'd shied away from those. He hadn't liked the tulips much, the mixed flowers looked cheap, and the roses probably sent the wrong message. So eventually (after way too much time and mental effort) he'd settled on a bouquet of irises. He now held these out to Ana Sofia.

"So, how are you feeling?"

Some of the tension bleeds out of Kate when Ana forgives her and after just a moment of hesitation longer she throws herself, carefully, in to give her a hug.  One that is interrupted almost immediately as she catches the sound of Fank's footsteps coming and quickly lets go to scurry out of the way and immediate view of the door when he stepped in.

Honestly she looked like she needed some rest, though of course not quite as badly as Ana did, but that was fair given which one of the two had been badly hurt and which had gotten through the fighting alright.  Grasping for conversational straws she grinned a little at Ana's comment on Frank's muscles and added, "And he brought you flowers."

Her thoughts drifted out to brush those of the other two to see if she could pick up anything genuine worth teasing over or, if they were just friendship flowers, anything worth teasing over anyway just in a different way.

Ana Sofía smiles as Frank enters with flowers. "Thank you." In reply to his query she says, "Oh, well, not so great. But much better than us all being dead. Now that I'm self-managing the pain and off the happy juice, the physical isn't so bad. The memories are worse."

Kate was looking back at Frank for a moment before she laughs and turn's to Ana and sticks out her tongue at her.  "Is too fair, you're leaking all over!"  It's clear that a lot of her attitude is simple relief that Ana isn't holding things against her, but there is a fair bit of honest mirth in there as well as the younger girl banters back at whatever unspoken complaint the other telepath made.

"Táásh'aaníí?" Ana Sofía blurts out in reply. Then she seems to realize that probably wasn't understood. But her glare should still carry the sisterly threat to accompany her rhetorical question.

Frank was still wondering what Kate was talking about when Ana Sofia replied to her, and it wasn't even in English anymore. Navajo, he assumed. There went any chance of Frank actually picking up the conversational thread again.

If the two telepaths wanted to exclude Frank from their conversation, they had the ability to do so without him even knowing. So, this was something else. That didn't help him understand, of course.

"Um...?"

"Sorry, Frank. We're just establishing that Kate is going to play nice while I'm still a little loopy from the remnants of the morphine, or I won't be baking any more cookies for a long time." Her eyes and smile seem to indicate 'Aha! There is a good threat,' in a mischievous and friendly way. "Please, join us. I don't know how long I'm going to be in this hospital bed, so I'm even more happy for the company than normal."

"Cookies! That reminds me, I need to warn everybody." He needed to warn people about cookies? Yes, in fact he did. "My parents are coming to town, because they want to see where I live and work and stuff. My mother is probably going to bake about a half-dozen different batches of cookies, and that's just for starters. She'll even take requests... and might be a little offended if there aren't any."

 Ana Sofía doesn't respond immediately to Frank's comment, staying silent a little too long as she blushes some, eyes fixed on Kate. Then she scrambles for a late recovery, "You know you just nullified my no-cookies threat, right Frank?" She smiles at Frank with that, clearly not upset. "If I'm more mobile, your mother and I may have to trade recipes."  Ana Sofía looks back at Kate and gets redder than she had been, eyes wide.

In reply to Windtalker (msg # 50):

Kate pouted at the threat.  It was... mildly effective.  If only because they had been awfully busy recently so there hadn't been any cookies anyway.  "Wait.. what?"  Kate asked as Frank went on about the threat of cookies into the too long pause.   And then took a moment to stick out her tongue at Ana, ostensibly when Frank wasn't looking but making sure he would catch her at it all the same before giving him a big wide smile.  "It seems like you had better invite Ana over to meet them, or maybe they can stay with us?  Do they have a place to stay yet, one with a big kitchen and oven?  You know one that could hold the whole family?"  This was fun and Kate's mood was definitely impressively raised now.

Ana Sofia was turning red. At first, Frank wasn't sure why. Then he realized that some of the conversation was still going on telepathically, and he wasn't privy to it. Some might consider it rude, but Frank just decided that he'd probably walked in while they were having a private conversation. He assumed they were finishing whatever it was they'd been talking about before his arrival, and it had nothing to do with him.

"My folks can stay with me," he answered Kate. "I've got plenty of space. I've rented a townhouse. I was going to have the team over for a housewarming party, but when exactly would we have had the time, right? Anyway, the kitchen is pretty big."

"You're not giving up, are you?" Ana Sofía rhetorically asks Kate. She sighs. "Well, I did just come pretty close to dying, so maybe I should let go those youthful feelings of invulnerability. (Frank aside.)" She turns from Kate to Frank as she implies his true invulnerability. "Kate's been intercepting my thoughts because my walls are still a little weak from the remnants of the morphine, and she's being una entrometida... a busybody. But in our profession we see waiting is a good way to lose things. So while this is the worst I've ever felt or looked, no time like the present." The air seems to prop her up as she levitates suddenly from the bed, she reaches forward to hold Frank's head, and she kisses him. She has a moment afterward when she looks into his eyes before letting go, and then she falls back to the bed. "¡Ow, ow, ow, carajo, hijo de la chingada que duele!" Whether or not the language is understood, it's pretty clear from how she says it that those are pain-filled expletives.

When Ana Sofia floated up out of her hospital bed, Frank had a second to form the question of Why? but not enough time to ask before he found out directly. He was so surprised by the kiss that he almost forgot to kiss back. Ultimately his brain regained control of his facial muscles, though, and he returned the gesture in kind.

He hoped he did it well, but he didn't have a lot of practice.

When she broke contact, it again took him a few seconds to catch up. He blinked and shook his head like he was trying to get his brain to settle into gear.

"Why... I mean, I guess I know why, but... when? I mean, how long...? That is, um...." Holy crap, I sound like an idiot! "I had no idea!"

He hadn't seen any sign that Ana Sofia thought of him in that way before now. Had he missed signs? He was kind of clueless when it came to women.

His brain reached second gear, and he realized that Ana Sofia had hurt herself in the process.

"Are you okay?"

Frank's phone buzzed at the worst possible moment.  As did Shiva's.  And Kate's, had she had one:

"Agents, I got your message.  I need you all back at HQ so we can talk things over"

Before her grimace and swears, the look in her eyes had been happy that he kissed her back. His further comments help snap her back from the cursing. She smiles through the pain and is about to answer him when his phone buzzes. She gives the phone an are-you-kidding-me look.

Shiva was heading back to the lab. He had insured the info had been sent to the team and Johnson via the safest method-Ana's telepathy. As a result he was no preparing the most invasive virus he could make into the terrorist's devices. Once Johnson got the warrants anyways.

He signaled he was on his way, and proceeded to go. He wanted to stay below the radar, as he was still scanning his environment for watchers. A little paranoid, but he needed to be now. He was in his civilian ID, and the armature was retracted into his body. As far as anyone else was concerned, he was normal.

"Gah." Frank pulled out his phone and saw that it was indeed Johnson, just as he feared. "Ooookay. Johnson wants all hands back at base. Except you, of course," he added to Ana Sofia. "C'mon, Kit. I'll give you a ride."

He drew a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"Maybe you and I can talk later?" he asked Ana Sofia. It felt like a lame question, but he didn't really know what to say. They'd jumped right past the first date, right to the goodnight kiss, and Frank didn't really know what to say about that. The part of his brain that was jumping up and down yelling 'Yippee!' was not going to be granted access to his voice. Unfortunately, that part was almost the most coherent he'd likely to be for at least the next few minutes. "Or... something."

They're not restrained. Well, of course they're not restrained. She had only a vague understanding of how badly Agent Tank had been beaten up but knew enough that one does not just restrain that kind of power. That makes what she was planning to do just a little bit more dangerous. She tries not to let her nervousness show.

"Haven't you had enough fun for one night?" Gwenyth asks Harpoon. She thinks that's his name, anyways. He didn't seem to have a harpoon so she is not sure where that name came from. "I understand one of you beat up Agent Tank and somehow didn't end up with your skeleton in three different zip codes. Very impressive. Was it..." She glance at the blue giant questioningly; his jaw looked like it had been thoroughly Tanked. She nods, as if answering her own question.

"I don't suppose you would be willing to tell me why you went through all this trouble. Surely there are easier ways to get my autograph..." In reality, Gwenyth had signed very few autographs. For some reason, no one ever asked for it. And now, for equally inscrutable reasons, Harpoon was becoming desperate for one.

Kate just grinned at Ana's rhetorical question, cat ears slowly perking up through her hair to join the tail slipping out of her skirt.  She actually gives a little hop and skip clapping her hands at the kiss.  'Go sourceofcookies!' her thoughts poured over both of them full of approval and support.  Ana wasn't the only one who approved of Frank's abs and Kate wasn't the jealous type.

"Poor guy, what timing.." Kate commented when the buzzing ruined all their plans.  She was actually a little surprised to notice the odd ear piece in her hand humming slightly and it took a little bit for her to figure out how to stick it into her ear.  Disappointed to find it was apparently inert at that point, till Tank spoke up and she checked her actual phone to find a text.  She just got that phone two hours ago... how had Shiva already gotten it bluetoothed to the headphone?

Stepping over to Ana she gave her hand and arm a hug, careful not to hurt her any more than she already was, and leaned forward to put a kiss on her cheek so she could wink and whisper... her words just loud enough for Frank to hear a rather obvious failure of subterfuge for a pair of telepaths as she said, "Nice job, I'll keep an eye on him for you."

"Aargh..." That is clearly frustration dominating over pain. She rolls her head and eyes back on her pillows. Knowing she must forfeit the moment to Johnson Ana Sofía softens her face and rolls her head and eyes back forward and a little sideways to look at the two of them, mostly Frank. She welcomes the arm-hug from Kate. She says, "Yes, we'll talk soon... Stay safe, you two."

Frank stood there longer than he should have before leaving the room. Heading back to base felt like the longest drive in the world, somehow, but it was really just a few minutes. Halfway there, he turned to Kate and said, "So... what exactly did you do, anyway?"

Kate went along with Tank, certainly there wasn't a point in doing it in any other way so traveling together just made sense.  She also had a perky attitude as evidenced by her ears and how they twitched and turned the whole way.  "What do you mean?  I didn't doo anything."

Johnson was waiting for them, as always, in the meeting room, together with the complimentary mug of black coffee

"You all got the message from Ana, so I will make it brief.  Our servers, and your phones, have been hacked.  All personal information about you was retrieved by parties unknown.  Same about the files about the Mutant Brotherhood, and any other criminal we were tracking.  Agent Ohm handled the security breach, and also tracked the Hacker to Brooklyn.  I'm waiting to get the official warrant for the trace, then we can arrest him.  It will probably take a few days.  In the meantime, I need you all here in HQ guarding the prisoners"

"So, we need new phones?" A hacker from Brooklyn was at least better than state-sponsored cybercrime from Russia or China. Brooklyn, they might be able to do something about it. "Or has our security been improved?"

Being bored just leaves Ana Sofía thinking about the interruption. She needs a distraction. She needs to get up and about, but she can't really. But her body doesn't really need to get up and about for her to see some sites. She could go hunting the bad guys, but she doesn't have a warrant, so... She opens a world map on her phone, doesn't look at it, and presses... Egypt! She lays back and closes her eyes to help her focus. The she starts off eastward for a sort of trans-Atlantic flight.

"Cybersecurity stuff is all the way over my head," Gwenyth says. It isn't clear exactly what she had done to the prisoners to try and get them to talk, but she had been very desperate for a cold shower after, and her hair is still wet. "I guess it is a good thing I did not use my phone for very much, huh? The PR guy has been doing most of my social media for me and I never got around to downloading the weird app that opens the weird files that weird Agent Shiva keeps sending us. Weird us."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:18, Fri 06 May 2022.

"Best to lay off the phones for now, which is why I want you all here, in HQ.  Once we secure the warrant we will all fly directly back to New-York and deal with the hacker.  In the meantime, I want you to pair up when guarding the prisoners.  They look too comfortable for my taste..." he tapped his finger with annoyance over the table
"We're going to have to bring them in front of a judge by tomorrow and formally charge them"

Kate just shrugged, but did have one question to ask.  "Were they listening in on our phone calls or just stealing all of the whatever was on them?"

Then after Johnson talked about guarding in shifts she asked, "So who's with who?"

Shiva seemed unhappy that the team had to wait. "Sir, I would stress again the time we are giving this terrorist is helping them. I know we are bound by the rule of law, but this person is very capable and cunning. They won't waste the time we are giving them."



"They had hacked the system of FF HQ. They knew our location, and when we would arrive at the fire. I have found that virus and neutralized it." He answered.



"I said I would set that up for you if you wanted...and they did not hack our phones, just the locations via our main servers in the HQ." Shiva sighed.

"Oh, good, that's waaay better."  Kate admitted after Shiva explained a little bit better.  "So um, with this ear thing... can I still make calls without my phone? or do I need it too?"  It would occur then that he hadn't ever actually explained how it works to her.

In reply to Kate Messer (msg # 73):

He grinned when she asked. "Its totally press activated. It can link up to a phone, even one that's not on you! Plus, to turn it off, you just lightly touch it with a finger or paw. Its smaller than a normal ear piece, but it has special skin cling properties which means it wont fall out due to movement or water." He seems very happy she planned on using it.

"There is no 'buts' here. Just because a criminal is clever doesn't give us the right to break the law in order to capture him.  We're going to have to out-fox them" Johnson said with finality, not anticipating any further discussion on the subject

"Valerie is arranging for a judge to come here, to HQ, rather than transporting the prisoners to court.  We have more than enough evidence to hold them until their trial, and their crimes are severe enough that none of them are going to make bail. But we need to go through this formality.  I'll need your written affidavits first thing tomorrow morning.  Eight o'clock.  "

"We're going to hold them here... until trial?" Frank tried to voice this with some respect, but he sounded incredulous anyway. There was only a handful of people on the Freedom Force team to begin with. Guarding three super-powered mutants 24/7 seemed like a herculean task for them. "How are we going to manage that?"

"There are...alternative means." Shiva said reluctantly. "But they would require using certain assets that many would find...diffcult to say the least. I have yet to introduce the plan formally, but I believe it could work very quickly. Much quicker than trying to create an anti muntant technology."

"Go on, I'm listening"

"If you all recall, I said that after the Camp X incident, if there is a mutant problem then there is a mutant solution. As Freedom Force was created to deal with hostile and terrorists mutant like we have downstairs. We need a mutant able to counter such abilities that we don't have a simple means to hold.

I think...I can use a mutant to create a mutant detainment system. Unlike Camp X, it would not need to create comatose prisoners. Just prisoners unable to utilize their powers to escape."

He inhales, clearly not wanting to bring up the next bit.

"I believe that mutant is Zoey Fujino."

"Are you proposing to give control of our prisoners to ONE person, a person currently facing murder charges? Is that your idea?" if this was a joke, Johnson didn't find it funny.  Not that he ever found ANY joke funny.

"Agent Shiva... John..." Gwenyth massages her temples. "I know you've been plugging along at this mutant containment problem for at least as long as I've known you, considering every idea under the sun. But, really, have you met the girl? I did for, like, thirty seconds; she is one wacky piece of work. I don't claim to know very much about very much but you can trust me when I say she'll never work with us."

"I am aware of what she has done. I am also aware of what she CAN do." John replied, mostly to Agent Johnson.

"The specifics of her crime and behavior, while awful, is not outside a norm. She is not a terrorist, or a fanatic. She was in a horrible situation and made a terrible choice. She is also paying for that choice. It does not change the fact she can still give back to society. We are more than the worst thing we ever did. I have to belive that." While talking to Johnson, he looked directly at Gwenyth and the others when he said it.

"As for the use of prison labor, there is a historical precedent. The FBI, and the federal government have used criminals to create systems to detain and catch criminals, not to mention the national security of the United states. We allowed Nazi scientist to settle here after the war in exchange for thier knowledge. That knowledge allowed the United states to win the cold war."

He looked back at Agent Johnson. "Is our situation with powerful mutants more or less secure than you told me? Because Zoey and her powers can be restrained in many diffent ways. The prisoners down stairs? Not so much. And unlike Zoey, they will kill anyone to escape."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:48, Sat 07 May 2022.

"Yeah, I think we get all of that, but have you met her?" Gwenyth responds, for once not shrinking or backing down under the attention of a male coworker. "I'm telling you, she's supervillain material in the making. She just needs the means, and you're talking about delivering all the superpowers and minions she'll ever need right to her. Spend thirty seconds in a room with her and you're know I'm right."

Gwenyth seems to have an awfully strong opinion about someone she barely met, and for her to be speaking so frankly about it even knowing how fond Kate seems to be of the girl almost feels out of character. Could there be more to these feelings that Gwenyth isn't saying?
This message was last edited by the player at 17:45, Sat 07 May 2022.

"I don't think she's a supervillain in the making," Frank countered. He had some experience with Zoey, and he didn't think she was evil. She was just... bitchy. "But I don't know if she's really our best option, either. Can't Danny Tanner do everything she can do, anyway? Maybe we can use him as our overseer."

Frank didn't exactly like Tanner, either. In fact, he kind of hated the guy. But he was probably less dangerous than the ever-volatile Zoey Fujino.

"Where is Agent Tanner anyways?" Gwenyth ponders aloud. "Didn't I hear something about him taking some time off to deal with a family emergency or something?"

"Whether or not her actions are 'outside of the norm' is not for you to decide.  That's what a judge and jury are for.  You are not a psychologist either.  I've read Fujino's psychological profile, and I find agent Blake's assessment to be much closer to the mark than agent Guberman's.   But even if this wasn't the case, I still wouldn't entrust so much power and responsibility in the hands of any one man.  I wouldn't even trust myself.  I AM interested in knowing, though, how you were thinking of restraining her.  Containing her is diverting too many valuable resources which we could better use elsewhere"

He gave a brief nod at Gwenyth when she mentioned Tanner.  The young man was on an extended leave of absence following the death of Commander Pierce.  It wasn't clear when, if ever, he would be coming back.

Kate watched the discussion like one would a tennis match looking for a chance to get a word in edgewise.

"It would be like parole you know and she's hardly some kind of Nazi..." Her words were soft and basically went unheard as others debated more loudly.  At Gwenyth's statements though she was struck temporarily dumb. 

"What are you talking about spending resources containing Zoey.  She turned herself in.  She isn't fighting anyone or trying to escape and she doesn't murder children for fun."  Having had just about enough she is finally speaking loudly enough to be heard.

"And how would having her suppress the powers of someone give her minions for all of her terrible evil plans, you know, the ones that started with her turning herself in nicely instead of going on some kind of killing spree or joining Magneto because the Government just tried to kill her AND us, and when are we going to talk about that Mr. Johnson?"

Gwenyth frowns. "I suppose given the recent smear campaign it would be very difficult for Zoey to convince anyone to work with her. The news is calling her a terrorist now. In a way I do feel kind of bad for her... even if she were somehow to be cleared of all charges tomorrow she is never going to meet a friendly face again." She strikes the stereotypical girly think pose for a moment. "I wonder why she let herself be taken without a fight if she really distrusts authority that much... wait a minute!" She turns to look at Kate. "What's this about the government trying to kill us?! When did this happen?"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:20, Sat 07 May 2022.

John turned to the others, but does not address Kate's claims. "Look, Gwenyth is right. I have not met her. I have only seen videos, heard audio files, and read reports. However, all of that tells me she is no Magneto in the making. Not unless, that is, we make her into such a person by treating her like Magneto."

He nods at Frank and Kate."I dont know where Agent Tanner is, but I do know we have Zoey contained. He said.

He turns back to Commander Johnson. "The psych evaluation you are speaking of does not seem to take into account her actions. Kate has it totally correct. She surrendered, did not fight to get free, and has totally cooperated. Even confessed. She could have maybe even killed Captain America if she really wanted to. My understanding is she offered no resistance." He pointed out.

"As for containing her, my technology cant stop mutant powers, but they can use Zoey's limitations against her if it even came to that. Right now, you are using the zombies to limit her movements because she cannot effect them. It would be a simple matter to rig up a taser restraint devices that would activate the moment she called upon her powers. I can run an independent sensor array managed by my own abilities. So the restraints would activate on it's own the moment it registers any unauthorized use of her powers. Because she cannot effect anything without a living system, she could not prevent any device from going off.

And that's assuming it's even needed. Because while your psych profile may state she is a danger...the facts say otherwise." He stares at the Commander.

The he glances around at the others. "The whole point of Camp X was to restrain mutants like Zoey. Beings so powerful they where like a bomb unto themselves. Yet Camp X insured the worst possible reaction from the mutant community, and terrorists like Magento.

At this rate, Freedom Force will become a prison camp because no one else can restrain these people. Which means we will be at a loss against another organized terrorist strike. We need another solution, and we are fortunate to have one already available.

I just need to talk to Zoey and get her help. If I am wrong, and Gwenyth is correct, that will be clear. Ana can tell me if she is lying. Then you can throw away the key. However, if what I am saying is true, then she can help us. Maybe she cant fully redeem her actions, but she can pay her debt by solving this."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:11, Sun 08 May 2022.

"I don't care how many videos of her you think you've watched.  You are not a trained professional.  None of you are in any position to determine how volatile she really is.  I'm not going to make the bad situation we're in even worse by putting a delinquent in charge of containing dangerous mutants.  Your own plan of containing her is ill-thought of as well, which just proves to show how tenuous your grasp of the situation is.  We don't know if there even IS a way to know when she uses her powers.  Tazing a person who can effectively control every fiber of her body might also not work.  And that woman killed the entire prison population with but a thought.  She could murder a city of millions in the blink of an eye, and we would be powerless to stop it. " Johnson shook his head

"You haven't even considered the political implications.  Just imagine the headlines: "President Davis Lets a Suspected Murderer Guard Dangerous Terrorists".  Davis pro-mutant agenda is about to cost her the election as it is.  Her advisors will NEVER allow her to go through with a 'plan' like this.  If you can even call it that"

Johnson looked between the Agents, and John, in particular,
"I'm done talking about this.  The only thing we accomplished was getting my coffee cold.  If there is nothing else to discuss, I will call you in after we secured the needed warrants"

In reply to Agent Johnson (msg # 90):

"If all my plans are so terrible, there should be no harm in proving me wrong and letting me talk to her. Unless you are hiding something from us." John said, meeting Johnson eyeball to eyeball.

"At the very least it might help us update her joke of a dossier. We know precious little about what she's really capable of. It'll get him to shut up about it at least."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:38, Sun 08 May 2022.

"I don't need to make any allowances to get him to shut up" there was ice in his voice "I'm not hiding things from you.  As a matter of fact, we allowed Kate to talk with Zoey, earlier this evening.  But I am not going to allow YOU to do so, and for one reason alone" he met Shiva's gaze with a hard one of his own

"I don't trust you"
This message was last edited by the player at 06:25, Sun 08 May 2022.

"... heeeey, that sounds like the alarm I didn't set to let me know when Harpoon is awake, I better check on our guests, ta~!" This sounded like it was getting personal and Gwenyth didn't want to be here for what was coming. She appreciates Agent Shiva's efforts to try and do what he thinks is right, but for her it's just a job that she can't afford to lose right now. She scurries from the room before the trouble in paradise can suck her in.

In reply to Agent Johnson (msg # 93):

Shiva was silent for a moment. He registers Gwenyth dodging her way out of the conversation, but is focused on the Commander. His eyes seem to be focusing on things beyond what he should be looking at for a moment.

"I see. I can risk my life in the field, but nothing I do otherwise matters. That's...very educational, Commander. Let's hope we dont end up regretting that."

Despite John's calm voice, Six smashes a table in half. Even John seems surprised by that, despite seeming even keeled. There is not even an expression on his face.

"Please excuse Six, Commander. You...understand how he gets. It's in my file." John says, flatly and without emotion. All the while Six was going through several very hostile Emoji faces.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:49, Sun 08 May 2022.

"I'm gonna go," Frank said, getting up from the table. "Maybe let the two of you talk this out in private."

Johnson waited for both Gwenyth and Frank to clear the room before addressing John:

"Let me make this very clear: this was the first, and last, time I would tolerate such behavior from you, Agent Ohm" he eyed the broken table, and the hostile six which was still making faces at him

"Go use that genius intellect of yours to sort yourself out. Get your appendages fully under your control, before you come up with any new bright idea. This way you would at least earn my respect, if not my trust" he shoved the broken shards of his ex-coffee mug out of the way with his foot before leaving the room as well.

In reply to Agent Johnson (msg # 97):

John said nothing, but watched the man leave. Six made more enraged faces, but John seemed just to breathe. He blinked a few times, and finally headed out the door.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:00, Sun 08 May 2022.

Kate slipped out after Gwen.  Ignoring just how useless Johnson is.  He's custom designed to ruin anything they could achieve... something to look into later.  Catching up answered Gwen "She went in because I asked her to.  Because she isn't a bad person.  And yes the government tried.  It was on Noman's Island, at the prison before you came.  When they fired missiles at it to kill us and the prisoners and everybody there.  Johnson doesn't want to even look into it, say's it couldn't happen, but we were there.  Ask Ana if you don't believe me."

Just a few day's into the week Kate calls for a meeting with everybody, including Miss Tits, er Valerie Cooper, even if she can't help but think of Zoey's nickname when that other woman comes to mind.

In reply to Kate Messer (msg # 100):

Shiva responds that he will come will come, although he privately asks if Johnson might not be included due to the fact John does not want to go to jail. After Six punches the man's head off, that is.

That's a joke...maybe.

It also cannot be traced through Freedom Force's servers, so he feels confident about telling said 'joke'.

If Kate has to invite Johnson, Shiva promises to be good.

Frank arrives early to the meeting, bringing with him a couple of boxes of donuts. People are just happier when there are donuts, and thus less likely to bite each other's heads off.

At least, that's his reasoning.

He also makes sure there's plenty of coffee, for similar reasons. He doesn't know precisely what Kate is calling the meeting for, but given how their last one went, it possibly literally can't be anything good.

Frank walked into the meeting room carrying the boxes of donuts and a coffee tray, to find he had nowhere to put them on.  The table John cracked was removed earlier that day, and a replacement one has yet to be installed.  The chairs were gone as well, leaving the meeting room cold and inhospitable - like their commander.

Johnson was already standing inside, being the first to arrive. He eyed Frank inquisitively -  he had a strict rule forbidding them to eat during a meeting, but since he didn't know what the exact reason Kate gathered them in for (she might be celebrating her birthday for all he knew), he didn't say anything.

OOC: Ana, you can assume you've been released from the hospital earlier that day, and can attend the meeting.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:35, Mon 09 May 2022.

Kate wasn't really early for the meeting.  In fact she had gone to meet with Ana so the pair could arrive together.  The young mutant looked a little bit jumpy, or maybe nervous as she looked around once the pair came in.

In reply to Kate Messer (msg # 104):

John joins the meeting, and instead of seeming sullen just seems a bit frazzled. He exhales, makes sure his hair his combed, which then Six does for him even as he tries to fight the arm off. Unsuccessfully.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:34, Tue 10 May 2022.

Gwenyth arrives a little later than the others, carrying a soft-top card table with her. It isn't much, but at least it's a place for them to put their junk. Unfortunately she had forgotten about the lack of chairs.

"Echo!" she calls into the empty room. It reverbs slightly.

Ana Sofía had asked Kate to grab some clothing from home, knowing she wouldn't have time to go home and get to the meeting. If she were to fly she could without a hitch, but that would mean a little more physical activity than she currently wants. So she shows up with Kate in an Uber.


Once at headquarters Ana Sofía starts walking in gingerly from the Uber. Then, realizing walking is physical enough, she just floats along slowly instead, her feet just inches off the ground. The slow speed means the air pressure doesn't matter much, and now she doesn't have the uneven motion of walking.

"Hold these," Frank said to John, pressing the boxes of donuts into his hands. "I'll go get some chairs."

There was a utility closet not far from the meeting room where a supply of folding chairs was stored. He stepped out into the hall and headed in that direction, but stopped when he saw Ana Sofia and Kate coming in.

"Hi!" he said. Did he sound too enthusiastic? Was he blushing? Was he making a fool out of himself? Was he driving himself crazy with the inward barrage of questions? "I'm getting chairs."

Smooth.

Having said it, there was nothing left to do but do it, so he went and got the chairs. He picked up a half-dozen and brought them quickly back to the conference room where he started to set them up.

He didn't sit, though. The chairs had a weight limit of two hundred and fifty pounds, and Frank was looking at two-fifty in the rear-view mirror.

In reply to Tank (msg # 108):

"Uh, sure." John said, still trying to avoid looking at Johnson. Which was impossible, because he pretty much saw every thing. Six at once tried to shove a donut into his mouth, and he slapped the energy limbs away. Six then seemed to shrug, which was odd because it was not attached to a shoulder, and started handing out the donuts to everyone but Johnson.

Shiva exhaled, and got a strange status report from Three. It looked like Frank's body tempture was rising and he had high levels of brain activity. In his new paranoid state, John thought his teammate might be under mental assult. However, Three  zoomed in on who he was talking to and showed eye dilation, blood flow, and heart rate increase.

So...ether Frank is poisoned...somehow...or...

John noted Frank's goofy grin as he spoke to Ana. "Oh. OH! Oh. Well...well...that's...gonna make for interesting team gossip." He chuckled. Then he noticed Six gazing at Frank and Ana with a big smile emoji.

"Cut that out!" He snapped at his limbs, which caused it to form a tongue to stick out at him.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:29, Tue 10 May 2022.

Kate laughed with a smile at Frank's announcement.  "Great, weird, but great."  Of course she held the door for Ana, being unusually solicitous towards her older sister figure.  Of course once they actually got inside the room she found out why he was getting chairs.  "Well that's odd.  I wonder why the place was emptied out... anyway..."

She waits until Frank gets back and everybody is mostly here.

"I wanted to talk to you all because I thought it would be important.  When Wax was retrieved we talked.  He gave me some information about Magneto and some of the things he's done, and places he went.  So well, I thought that it might be important to go visit them before he has a chance to clean them up, or he might start using one or two of them again.  Being left on the bottom of the ocean left Wax feeling a little less inclined to be loyal than before."

Of course that was just what Kate said.  Despite Shiva knowing she heard the ping of his message to her she didn't pull out her phone to read it.  Glancing at him and just slightly shaking her head.

"I know it isn't quite the same as the group of assassins but um... well I wasn't sure what we should focus on first.  Trying to catch that last one, who's probably fled or Magneto."

"Hi," Ana Sofía replies to Frank, a bit sheepishly compared to her norm.

As Ana Sofía settles in she says, "I can link all of us privately except for John. I just need to link John in somehow." She reaches out to the whole team, less John, and their bosses. 'You can all talk to each other with your thoughts now. Just don't think about private things.'

In reply to Windtalker (msg # 111):


Frank had to wonder why John was invisible or immune or something to telepathy, but he kept forgetting to ask when it was a more appropriate time. Now was not such a time. He took out his phone and texted John: R U sure this line is secure now? If his answer was Yes, they could just quietly text John while the rest of the conversation went on telepathically.

Gwenyth waves away the proffered pastry. "I'm behind on my weekly exercise," she explains. "Thanks though."

Gwenyth probably would have remained oblivious to Frank's feelings if it weren't for Shiva's arms, at least one of which is utterly terrible at disguising his feelings. She blushes a little, smiles, then frowns. "Wait, does Taylor Swift know about this liason?" she asks cluelessly. "Ohhh the twitters are gonna be maaaad." Just what Freedom Force needs right now. More drama.

On hearing Kate and Agent Windtalker in her head Gwenyth cocks her head.  A second later Gwenyth seems to spontaneously develop tomato-based superpowers as her face turns red. She buries her face in her hands, emitting an embarrassed whine and trying to resist the urge to flee from the room.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 05:19, Wed 11 May 2022.

In reply to Gwenyth Blake (msg # 113):

John responds to Frank's text with a thumbs up emoji, and nodded in his direction. He had been around the team long enough to know when they where having a telepathic chat, and did not need super sensors to figure it out. While at first he felt a little left out, these days having his thoughts only to himself seemed like a rare prize. Granted he trusted the two telepaths on his team, it was all the others that creeped him out.

He is curious when he sees Gwenyth go all red faced. He walks over and grins as he gestures with his head toward Frank and Ana. "Great for FF web traffic. 'Lives of the heroic and mutated'. It will sell on all the networks! Now we just need to get you in a romantic subpolt!" He chuckled.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:25, Wed 11 May 2022.

"Well so um.. what should we do?" she asked aloud.

"Tracking down the hacker and getting a lead on the group of assassins is our first priority.  Magneto is laying low for the time being.  We will deal with him in due time.  Agent Messer - send me the full report on Wax's interview.  I will forward it to our friends at the FBI to start working on what they can while we're at New-York"


He took a deep breath before continuing

"You are all ready for travel?"
This message was last edited by the player at 13:00, Wed 11 May 2022.

"I want to hide in a box forever and just cry," Gwenyth mutters under her breath, but out loud she just says. "Yeah sure."

Ana Sofía does her best to ignore Gwenyth's comments for all their sake, Frank's and her own with regard to media and Gwenyth's with regard to Harpoon.


She doesn't ignore Agent Johnson, though. "Sir, in all honesty, I don't know how ready I am for travel. I'm all for tracking these criminals down. I just don't know how much my body can take yet. I will certainly help the team as I can, while trying not to slow the team down."

 Frank put the phone away. There didn't need to be any mental yelling about it; he'd texted once and stopped when warned the first time. It seemed that maybe Johnson had Frank on his 'Who Can I Alienate Today?' Bingo card.

Johnson had everyone on his who can I alienate today Bingo card... But Kate pouted a little more.

"Agent Garcia; you can take a leave of absence until you've recovered.  We will manage without you in New-York"


He nodded to the rest of the team as he brought the meeting to an end:

"We're leaving tomorrow afternoon, as planned.  If there are no further questions we can conclude this meeting.  Agent Messer - I will be expecting your report about 'Wax' by end of day, today"

Kate let out a defeated sigh.  More paperwork.  Though this was some she intended to not bother with since there wasn't actually any secret information from Wax so there was that.  In fact maybe she would just go see him instead.

"Well, thanks for the doughnuts Frank!" She said as she snagged one and got up.  Looking around she blew out a breath.  "Shiva can you help me with writing things.  I don't know how."

  If and when she and Shiva are alone as they will get she will do her very hardest to check to see that they aren't being watched before saying anything more to him.

John, following Kate, is paranoid enough these days to make sure they are not being spied on. Via tech or some other ability, Shiva will do his very best to insure privacy. Not to mention using a white noise device from his utility belt just in case.

Johnson didn't quite alienate everyone today, and the meeting was already over.  But who knows, the day is still young.  Their commander stepped out of the room without saying another word, heading straight to his office.

OOC: Kate, Shiva, I'll need a Wits + Senses + Mystic roll from each of you
This message was last edited by the player at 14:52, Fri 13 May 2022.

OOC:

Wits-d10
Senses-d12
Computer like mind...not helpful in mystical stuff-d4(+1 PP)

Total=12
Effect die=d10

10:59, Today: Shiva rolled 2,8,4 using d10,d12,d4 with rolls of 2,8,4.

"Yes, sir. I should remain here for now," she says when he permits her not to travel, knowing full well this is both true and could be deceptive for anyone eavesdropping.


Once the meeting is done Ana Sofía wastes little time exiting. She's eager to get home.

As instructed Kate takes her time.  And to her great annoyance actually does have Shiva start helping her to figure out how to write the report.  Though she seems a bit distracted that could just be her age talking.

OOC:  She will take the extra time to be careful.  I'm thinking two rolls one to set up an asset for noticing malice and the other to actually try and do so.  I have a question though, would her telepathy be usable or not for this roll?
This message was last edited by the player at 14:47, Mon 16 May 2022.

In reply to Kate Messer (msg # 127):

Shiva does assist Kate, but only when she asks for it. He does respect Kate after all...and is a little scared of her. He was pretty sure she might be able to beat up Tank if she was really mad, which meant he stood zero chance.

OOC-Can I create an asset Kate could use? A combination of Kate's and Ana's telepathy and my ability to communicate info directly to all teammates to alert them? Basically Kate and Ana are the alarm system, and my Sensors are the alert.

Frank sighed. Their best bet for help would be no help at all.

  Kate offers up an additional option as she struggles, clearly she is not a touch typist.

After getting back to his office, Johnson continued the telepathic conversation with the rest of the team:

Kate continues to hunt and peck as she tries to sense if Malice is spying on them or not.


OOC:
1d8 Ride the tiger (wits)
1d8 Natures body (improved senses from partial transformations)
1d4 +1ppDistinction
attempting to create an asset 'familiar with Malices Presence' from their previous encounters and having spotted her among the prisoners earlier.

WOW....
08:09, Today: Kate Messer rolled 1,1,2 using d8,d8,d4 with rolls of 1,1,2.  create asset/ or not
pp end at 3

1d8 Ride the tiger (wits)
1d8 Natures body (improved senses from partial transformations)
1d8     Distinction
08:10, Today: Kate Messer rolled 7,6,1 using d8,d8,d8 with rolls of 7,6,1.  notice malice.
Total 13 effect d4 pp = 4

Sorry everyone I just filled the doom pool to overflowing :(

Neither Kate nor John detects the presence of the spirit.  Does that mean she isn't there?
OOC: +1d8, +1d6 to doom pool from Kate's opportunities. 

"This sucks.  Why do we always have to write reports.  If I just text some of the details can you just.. you know make it all fit the right format and stuff?"
With her senses not alerting her to anything Kate gives up on the computer, but instead of speaking out loud or typing anything more on the screen anyone could see she takes the precaution of using her phone held up close where hopefully Malice wouldn't be able to see it even if she were swirling around them somewhere, at least not without having to move through her and making her presence obvious.  Her phone texting skills are definitely several steps above her typing ones but she still takes some shortcuts along the way.



Text to shiva
Dont read with eyes
Enemy pychic spy
hackr house bomb trap
plan to fake leaving
enemy wants rescue prisoner
kill hurt anyone here
get dr strge or prf x to help with us trap bk.

Then hitting send she slips the phone back in her pocket.

Once in front of his computer, Johnson pulled up the file he had on the 'Marauders'.  Shiva would be able to 'read' it without displaying it on a screen, so there was no risk sending it to him.  For the benefit of the other members of Freedom Force, he recited the report, from memory, on their shared telepathic link:

"This is what we currently know about the Marauders:

Harpoon has the power to transform any object into destructive energy - how much energy depends on how 'elongated' the object is, and how strong he hurls it.  He's the one who took down the helicopter.  His blasts are strong enough to level entire buildings, but he would have to have something to throw first.

Blockbuster is supernaturally strong and durable

Scalphunter is a living cyborg that can create technological devices out of his body.  Knives, guns.  But also phones, power drills, and keys.  He's also strong, fast, and can quickly regenerate from life-threatening injuries.

Scrambler was the Mutant killed by Scalphunter. He could drain people's powers by touching them, disrupt any electronic device, and is a prodigy hacker on top of it.

Arclight can create seismic charges with her body.  While she isn't supernaturally strong, per se, she can punch through anything, and is highly resistant to kinetic attacks

Riptide can create hurricane-level winds by spinning his body around in high velocity. Objects thrown while spinning travel faster than bullets.

Last is Malice, a disembodied spirit of a young woman who 'died' the moment her mutant powers manifested. She resides on the Astral Plane, where she is virtually unassailable"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:51, Tue 17 May 2022.

In reply to Kate Messer (msg # 134):

Shiva, making sure not to nod to Kate, makes sure to send a help message to Doctor Strange. He would go through Iron Man if needed. He would make sure not to visibly type  said message, and send it only through his tested secure method of communication.

Kate seeing no response from Shiva sighs. "Fine I'll write it all myself."  And then proceeds to do some creative writing of her own ab out the mythical meeting with Wax picking a spot in rural Wisconsin she's seen as Magneto's secret base.

Johnson was annoyed at having his thoughts exposed.  He distracted himself best he could to prevent the team from learning something they shouldn't, and seriously considered sending Freedom Force off immediately, rather than waiting for the next day.

A black armoured SUV speeds down the highway to the Freedom Force HQ.

In the back a young man with blond curly hair looks solemnly into the blue light of his phone, "Today's the day. I am on my way to join Freedom Force. I think that I can safely say that my life, indeed even the world, will never be the same again."

"So don't forget to like this video and click the subscribe button, Fam!"

This message was deleted by the player at 15:33, Thu 19 May 2022.

Breaking with tradition, Johnson left his office to welcome Illya personally, rather than sending one of the other Agents to pick him up from the main gate.  They were in a precarious situation, and the only person he really trusted right now not to slip his tongue was himself.  He first made sure Ana added the young man to their mental link, then signaled the vehicle to stop

"Good afternoon, Agent.  It's good to finally meet you in person.  I'll explain in detail once we're inside, but in brief, I brought you here because I need you to guard a trio of dangerous prisoners while the rest of the team fly to New York to continue our current investigation.  You have a couple of hours to settle in and meet everyone before your shift begins"

In reply to Agent Johnson (msg # 141):

Illya stares at Agent Johnson in near disbelief, "I...Yeah. No. I gotcha. Uh. Sir." Illya attempts a half-salute, half-handshake that ends in profound awkwardness.

Nearly jogging to keep up with Agent Johnson, Illya tries to take it all in, "I mean, yeah, guard the prisoners. Wait. What? Dangerous?"

The sudden and unexpected connection to mental link stuns Illya into stopping for a moment,

Johnson's scowl deepened as he looked at the stammering Illya

In reply to Agent Johnson (msg # 143):

"Right. No. Of course. Nothing classified. Ever."

Illya cleared his throat, "Just one final question, Agent Johnson. Who am I guarding?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:29, Thu 19 May 2022.

As the meeting has ended, Ana Sofía is on her way out. Before she leaves she whispers to Frank. She floats from the doorway to the newly arrived car. "Hi, I'm Windtalker. I'm sure I'll see more of you soon." She only remains a moment before rising into the sky at a gentler pace than normal. Then she heads home.

In reply to Windtalker (msg # 145):

Ilya looks up in total joy, “Yeah. Awesome. You will.”

He begins to raise his phone but feeling Agent Johnson’s eyes on him, he grimaced and puts it back in his pocket.

Kate leans back to take a break from her work, slacking off for a bit to see if she can tease a new target. "So, Shiva... you and Gwen hmm?  Is there something you want to talk about there?"

Gweynth stared at her computer monitor, feeling slightly frazzled. Not just because she had been doing mindless busywork in some kind of scheme to prevent psychic astral ghost woman from realizing they know she is lurking around -- although certainly that too -- but also because of the words that had just appeared on her screen:

tra la la i do not no how to right a good report and cannot think of anything to right so i am going to right about righting reports and how it is hard and sucks and is bad. by describing the problem i have solved it. quid pro crow. icksetera.

I am just going to delete this before anyone sees it, Gwenyth thinks to herself. She hopes she thinks it only to herself, anyways. Let's see, delete, delete... ah, here it is. Tap! Do I want to save? No, I said delete- oh no my report!

Gwenyth tries to open Word back up but it is no use, everything is gone. Fuming incandescently she stands from her desk, shoving her chair against the wall (in a very graceful and delicate fashion!) and decides to go on a patrol of headquarters to calm down.

Kate's thoughts come across their shared psychic link just in time; Gwenyth has to support herself against a wall to keep herself standing amid the resultant gigglefit.

Gwenyth straightens up and notices the newcomer to headquarters. She coughs and forces some composure back on before curtsying. "Agent... Black Hole, right?" she greets him. "I'm Gwenyth! Or Agent Blake if our resident stick in the mud is within earshot. I guess that means I can't call you Agent Black, huh? Black? Blake? ... oh nevermind. Hi!"
This message was last edited by the player at 05:20, Fri 20 May 2022.

Illya, still very new to telepathy, holds his finger to his ear when responding to Kate, [Private to not Shiva" "Right! What? Reports? Like in school? No. Sure! I guess I can write it for you."]
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:40, Fri 20 May 2022.

In reply to Kate Messer (msg # 147):

"She...ah...is a super agent and great friend?" He said, trying not to blush and with a very fake smile. Even Six moves about and does an emoji face of a skeptical raised eyebrow. "Go away Six!" He snapped, trying to shoo away the limb with one hand.

In reply to Gwenyth Blake (msg # 148):

A great beaming smile breaks across Illya's face, "Hello Agent Blake! You can call me Illya. And Black Hole in the field, I suppose."

He looks around absolutely awestruck, "This is all so amazing. I made it!" And Illya looks back at Gwenyth, his eyes alive with joy, "This is going to be awesome!"

He half brings out his phone, "Oh! And hey! Would you give me a shout out on your social channels? That would be a huge help! And maybe we can do some content together? The Fam would love to get to know you?" Illya starts getting especially excited, "And maybe you could do demonstrate your powers for my TikTok series on mutant powers!"

Six's antics bring a grin to Kate's face.  "Sure she is.  Except she isn't really a very good agent.  None of us is, except maybe you and Tank.  We're all just mutant agents..." hmm she'll have to remember that one, it was good.  "So... want me to see if I can put in a good word for you?"

For some reason she then blinks as if taken aback by something even though Shiva hadn't actually responded yet before refocusing on him eagerly.

In reply to Kate Messer (msg # 152):

"Its...ah...always...ummm...good to have praise from a colleague?" He said in the most awkward way possible. Also as if this would somehow answer Kate's question.

Six forms a animated 'Eyeroll' emoji. "Dont make me get Five to cut you off! I know he cant stand you!" John snapped at his annoying limb.

In reply to Black Hole (msg # 149):

There is a response to BH's efforts.

As he walked back to his building Johnson repeated the same information he had about the Marauders, previously conveyed to the rest of the team. The sooner the entire business with the Wraith was concluded the better.  He hated the mental link that forced him to share his thoughts with his subordinates.  And even worse was listening to theirs
This message was last edited by the player at 05:17, Sat 21 May 2022.

In reply to Agent Johnson (msg # 155):


Lost in joyous rapture, Black Hole wanders off in what he believes is the general direction of where the prisoners are being held. He clutches his phone to his chest like it's an Olympic medal.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:04, Sat 21 May 2022.

Johnson ordered the team to prepare for departure as soon as Illya joined up with Mistress.  The two Mutants would have to fend off the impending assault on HQ, and watch the prisoners, until the rest of the team arrives to relieve them.   Johnson also stayed back despite knowing that the Marauders were planning to kill him, specifically.  And in case communication would be down again, and since they couldn't rely on Ana who was sent to find Malice on the Astral plane, Johnson nominated 'Tank' to be second in command.

Things proceeded exactly according to plan, until they didn't.

The 'away team' left on the helicopter, and landed in the nearby wooded forest, waiting for the Marauders to show up.  The suspicious black SUV heading down the main road toward HQ was picked up by John almost immediately.  It was the occupants that left the vehicle which caused a few eyebrows to rise.  There was Arclight and Riptide, which were expected, but the third was a thin Asian man wearing the same jeans and plaid shirt he was buried in…

"Okay! Hello Illya~!" Gwenyth replies with approximately two-thirds the man's own joy. "Yes! Awesome!"

Gwenyth immediately looks a little nervous as Illya takes out his phone. "Oh, ah... s-sure, sometime when I'm not busy!" But the truth that she couldn't say on camera was that Gwenyth hadn't actually written a single post on her social media since she had joined Freedom Force. It was all done by her PR team, same as most of the rest of the agents; for her part she only checked her Twitter in order to see what sort of awesome fan art was being posted. "Hey, I gotta fly -- not literally -- but I'd really love to talk later! Ta~!" She flees the camera.

---

Gwenyth was once again flying the team to its destination. She was determined not to let Freedom Force lose any more helicopters and reasoned that her 'awesome protagonist power' and her not inconsiderable piloting skills ought to be more than a match for any dumb missiles. She felt a little nervous leaving Mistress back at HQ, wondering if she had recovered enough. She knew Freedom Force had other mutant agents but they hadn't been told if they would be present. She hoped so. And she was distracted for other reasons too, but tried to put those out of her mind to focus on the mission ahead. An assault was not a time to be having boy troubles.

Gwenyth glances towards John as his arms go into an overdrive of activity. "Something I need to be worried about, Agent Shiva?" Gwenyth asks dutifully over headset.

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 157):

Black Hole dutifully, but tardily, reported to Mistress.

When the final Freedom Force personnel, in a long chain of them extending back to just after Black Hole departed from Agent Johnson, directed him to Mistress, Black Hole approached her with a mixture of relief, joy, and trepidation, "Black Hole reporting for duty! I guess. What's the sitch?"

"Oh, hello dear" Mistress would have hugged the young man, if she didn't need to keep at least one eye on the prisoners. The three - a hulkish-bluish man, a living cyborg, and a bare-chested wrestler, were all standing at the corner of the room, eyeing Mistress and Black Hole like they were about to become their next meal.  "They're making me feel nervous.  I am of half a mind to gas them"

In reply to Mistress (msg # 160):

Black Hole stops dead in his tracks and stares mouth agape at the three Marauders, all courtesy forgotten, "Shouldn't they be in their cells?"

"Oh, we don't have any" Mistress was patient with the young man. How could he have possibly known, having just arrived and not even been given a tour of the place
"And even if we did, you think iron bars are going to stop them?"

Black Hole's eyes go wide, but quickly a look of grim determination settles onto his face, "Right. Well. As my dad used to say, "Look to the earth, not the skies." I suppose, if the other Marauders reach us, gas them and then I'll pin them." He seems confident, though a bit, understandably, nervous."

"Uh. What does your gas do?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:44, Sun 22 May 2022.

"Don't hold back if you do.  That giant smurf over there went toe-to-toe with 'Tank'!" so either he was incredibly strong, or incredibly stupid.  Or both.
"I'm not going to hold back either.  I could use a knockout gas, but in their case, I'm considering something like sulfuric mustard gas.  Will burn their skin right off their bodies" she didn't mind it if the prisoners overheard her.  Perhaps the threat of it would be enough to prevent them from trying something.

Mistress and Black Hole’s conversation was cut short as Johnson called them, and the ‘away team’ ,over their earpieces:

”Freedom Force, I got three hostiles approaching the perimeter fence.  I’m sending a squad out to delay them.  Tank – get your team back here, now”

"You heard the man," Tank said to Gwyneth, in the pilot's seat. "Take us home, on the double."

Gwenyth turns about in her seat to peer at Agent Tank quizzically. Something doesn't feel right. She chews her lower lip for a moment before turning back the right way around in her seat, hands flying over the controls. "... Aye, on the double," she concurs, bringing the metal behemoth back to life and pushing it for every ounce of speed it can give.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:02, Mon 23 May 2022.

"Yeah, ether they have access to zombietech, or they cloned Scrambler! Which would make a sick sorta sense why they where willing to kill him in the first place!" Shiva replied to Gwenyth and the others. He proceeded to scan the biodata of the three terrorists, especially the 'new' version of Scrambler.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:57, Mon 23 May 2022.

"Could Malice have possessed Fiona?" Gwenyth offers. "I recall thinking it was odd that she wasn't staying to defend HQ with the others."

In reply to Agent Johnson (msg # 165):

Black Hole looks nervously at the "prisoners", "Why do I feel less like the captor and more like the captive?"

Black Hole and Mistress were standing inside a bomb shelter, at the sub-basement.  And even down there, they could hear the sounds of rifles going off.  Muffled.  Faint.  But it was unmistakable.  The source of the big sonic 'boom' that followed was undetermined.

Far away at the helicopter, Shiva could track exactly what was going on back at HQ.  The three Marauders were facing off five 'agents' on the other side of the electrified barbed wire fence.  Johnson's squad opened fire on the Marauders as soon as they approached the fence, forcing all three to take cover.  The soundwave from the single clap of Arclight hands not only peeled the metal barrier backward, but also sent the agents flying a good hundred feet away.  The waters of the small lake crested, and the birds from the swaying treetops all the way on the other side of HQ grounds flew away in panic.

Any ordinary man would have sustained serious injuries, or outright died, from being tossed with such force, but the five agents stood up almost immediately, and still clasping their rifles, charged forward yet again.

In reply to Gwenyth Blake (msg # 169):

"Scanning...yup, that guy is no zombie. Even the more evil twin brother thing is out the window. That guy is a 99.9% physical match. He's a clone for cetain." It gave John a chill. "How many other clones do they have out there?"

One of the arms showed a hologram to the rest of Freedom Force. Showing the attack of the Mauraders on the agents.

"I'd get out now if I was you.  While you still can"
Harpoon grinned at Black Hole.  The blue giant standing next to him cracked his neck with anticipation

In reply to Harpoon (msg # 173):

Black Hole closes his eyes in a vain attempt to keep Harpoon out of his head, "He's just trying to scare you. Ignore him. You got this. You're Black Hole! He's just a thug and a bully."

A fragile serenity washes over Black Hole and a smirks to hide his anxiety, "I know what you're trying to do. And it won't work. You'll see soon enough who your friends are dealing with."

Turning his back on the prisoners, Black Hole pulls out his phone and looks around nervously before beginning his livestream, "Hello Fam. As you know, I have joined Freedom Force. We are about to be attacked by Marauders from both without and within. I've no doubt that lives are about to be lost."

"So, please, please, please. Press like and subscribe."

Black Hole then holds his hand out and his precious phone gently floats up from his upraised palm. With a flourish, he directs the phone to a nearby wall, pinning it there so that it can capture all the action.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:41, Mon 23 May 2022.

"Either his regeneration is even better than we were led to believe, or there is more at play here. Either way I don't like this."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:12, Tue 24 May 2022.

In reply to Gwenyth Blake (msg # 175):

"Correct. I am wondering why the prisoners we do have did not just off themselves. They may not want to be reborn as clones for some reason." He proceeds to reach into another section of the chopper with one of his extra limbs. It produces a steel weapons case, and opens it for Gwenyth's selection.

Gwenyth hums thoughtfully, then looks down at the control panel in front of her. "Hey Agent Shiva, did you have time to install the package we discussed? It's this button, right?"
This message was last edited by the player at 03:46, Tue 24 May 2022.

The 'Agents' Johnson sent to delay the Marauders were a tenacious bunch. After surviving Arclight's initial blast they split up, took cover, and opened fire at her from five different angles.  The woman only just barely managed to avoid getting hit by keeping her head down and crouching behind the concrete pad at the base of what remained of the electric fence.


2d8 Prowess (mob size '2'), 1d8 made for violence distinction, 2d8 master combat, 1d8 rifle resource
The Shambling Horde rolled 11,5,15,4 using 2d8,1d8,2d8,1d8 with rolls of 6,5,5,7,8,4.  gunning down arclight.  total 15, effect 1d8

1d10 prowess, 1d8 soldier of fortune distinction, 1d8 durability, 2d8 master combat
Arclight rolled 5,7,5,16 using 1d10,1d8,1d8,2d8 with rolls of 5,7,5,8,8.  reaction vs shambling horde.  total 16, effect 1d10, Arclight successfully dodged the attack

In reply to Gwenyth Blake (msg # 177):

"You got it. Rocket boosters for maneuvering, and targeted electrical current. I call em the Telsa cannons! You activate them with the lighting bolt button on the control stick, and the side button for the boosters. Running your thumb over them will cause a targeting HUD to appear on the pilot side widow."
This message was last edited by the player at 06:29, Tue 24 May 2022.

"Thanks, you're a sweetheart. Tank and company, how 'bout I set ya'll down just outside Arclight's murderdeathboom range and once you've got her distracted I'll bring some thunder on the others?"

"Sounds good, but with one modification," Tank said as he moved towards the helicopter's door. "I'm going to jump out and try to take out Scrambler before he can make trouble. Hopefully I can flatten him before he screws with anyone's powers."


Stunt – Jump from helicopter: d8
Prowess: d8
Brains plus Brawn: d8
Superhuman Strength: 2d12
SFX – Mighty Blow: Spend 1 PP or add d6 to the doom pool to double Godlike Strength for one action.
Combat Expert: d8

Tank rolled 7,3,2,6,8,2 using d8,d8,d8,d12,d12,d8 ((7,3,2,6,8,2)).

Total: 15
Effect: d12

Scrambler didn't want anything to do with the firefight.  He was a glass cannon of a sort, and could easily be killed by a stray bullet. He climbed back into the driver's seat of the SUV and turned the ignition.  If they distracted enough of the Agents, it might have left the main gate undefended.

There was another reason for him to put as much distance as possible between him and the rest of the Marauders.  'Riptide' already started spinning, and he had no desire to be caught up inside a violent tornado. The vacuum suction from the Coriolis Force created by the rapid spin already created a rotating column of air extending into the skies, threatening to pull off the ground anything not welded to it.

The fight which broke outside gave the signal for the three prisoners to act.  The attack on their guards was swift.  Scalphunter pulled out a hidden blade and lunged at Illya, aiming to puncture his throat with one quick jab:

Prowess 1d10,  Solider of Fortune distinction 1d8, Enhanced Strength 1d8, Combat Master 1d10, hidden knife 1d8.  spending 1d8 from doom pool to add an extra die to total
Scalphunter rolled 10,6,1,3,3 using 1d10,1d8,1d8,1d10,1d8 with rolls of 10,6,1,3,3.  stab black hole.  Total = 19, effect 1d10

This message was last edited by the player at 19:12, Tue 24 May 2022.

...and the biggest and strongest of the Marauders went directly for Mistress.  The old woman was nowhere near a match for him, which was just the way he liked it:

Prowess 1d10, Streetfighter distinction 1d8, Godlike Strength 1d12, Expert Combat 1d8
Blockbuster rolled 9,8,3,8 using 1d10,1d12,1d8,1d8 with rolls of 9,8,3,8.  punch Mistress.
using a die from the doom pool to add another die to the total.  Total = 25, effect 1d12.

In reply to Scalphunter (msg # 183):

Distracted, Black Hole doesn't spot Scalphunter's attack until too late. He attempts to summon a deflective barrier to prevent the knife strike, but is not quick enough.

Willpower d10, Maximal Impact d8, Gravity Control d12, Novice Combat d6, + Unleashed (Step up or double any Gravity Manipulation power for one action. If the action fails, add a die to doom pool equal to the normal rating of your power die.
Spend 1 PP to add an extra die to the total.
Black Hole rolled 5,3,2,1,2 using d10,d8,d12,d12,d6 with rolls of 5,3,2,1,2.  Deflect Scalphunter's knife attack. Total = 10, effect d12
This message was last edited by the player at 20:10, Tue 24 May 2022.

Blood gushes forth from Black Hole's terrible neck wound. Black Hole becomes pale as a sheet and holds a hand to the wound in vain. His voice is small and frightened, "You cut me."

He looks up at the grinning Scalphunter, "You cut me." His voice deepens and becomes well of time and space, "You insignificant gnat! I control the fundamental force of the universe! AND YOU CUT ME!" Black Hole floats up from the floor slick with his blood and holds forth both his hands. A terrible small singularity, black as death, forms between them and with an unearthly smile Black Hole sends it into the gap in Scalphunter's armour where he withdrew his knife.

Willpower d10, Maximal Impact d8, Gravity Control d12, Novice Combat d6, Afflict d6, and spend 1 PP to convert SH's 1 into an Opportunity Stunt d10, + Unleashed (Step up or double any Gravity Manipulation power for one action. If the action fails, add a die to doom pool equal to the normal rating of your power die.
Black Hole will use his Afflict SFX to impose a gravity related complication on SP, stepping up the effect die (d12 by 1).
Black Hole rolled 10,1,6,5,3,9,6 using d10,d8,d12,d12,d6,d10,d6 with rolls of 10,1,6,5,3,9,6. Black Total = 19, effect d12 stepped up one
This message was last edited by the player at 20:11, Tue 24 May 2022.

Gwenyth grins. "I thought you might, Agent Tank. Getting you into position!"

Creating an asset for Tank: The Perfect Shot!
14:49, Today: Gwenyth Blake rolled 25 using 1d10+1d8+1d12+1d8+1d6 with rolls of 3,6,9,1,6.  The Perfect Shot.
Total 15, d8 effect.

Like Illya, Mistress was too slow to react.  Blockbuster's punch went right through her - his giant fist puncturing her ribcage, and coming out from her back, splattering blood and pieces of her spine all over the wall.  The woman opened her mouth to gasp for air one last time before she crumbled on the floor, lifeless.

Prowess 1d6, Homebody pâtissier distinction 1d4, Novice Combat 1d6
Mistress rolled 6,1,3 using 1d6,1d4,1d6 with rolls of 6,1,3.  reaction roll vs Blockbuster's punch.  total 9 vs 25, 1d12 effect die stepped up three times! Mistress taken out, permanently

"If it's ok with you, I know how these dirtbags like to shoot down vechiles. I dont want to give them another chance to do so. I think it's time to simulate one of my favorite d & d spells..."

Shiva opens ether side of the chopper and 2 sets of 3 arms come out of both doors. They extend thier length and size, looking like the vechile has six extra arms all it's own. Each pair of 3 sporting a shield, a clamp like claw, and a large mace like ball. All made of solid light, and easily long enough to reach any targets for shielding or attacking.

Of course, Six did not make a mace, it created a very large bunny head. "SIX!" John yelled in irritation.

Ooc: creating assets-helping hands.

Wits=d10
Stretching=d10
Tech=d10
Distinction: uber nerd=d4(+1 pp)

Spending 1 pp to get second chance re roll, and 1 pp to make asset last.

Total=17
Effect die=d10

16:36, Today: Shiva rolled 7,10,2,3 using D10,d10,d10,d4 with rolls of 7,10,2,3.  Spending a pp for second chance.

This message was last edited by the player at 20:45, Tue 24 May 2022.

If Black Hole didn't yank Scalphunter's blade sideways, he would have found it jammed deep inside his throat.  He was still bleeding, but the knife missed his jugular. He now faced a few problems (not necessarily ordered by severity): Blockbuster finished off Mistress, and was turning his attention on him.  Harpoon just ran past him, quickly clearing the stairs up three at a time.  He was too distracted by pain, and weakened by the loss of blood, to use his powers effectively to pin down Scalphunter.  And the powerful, unleashed use of his powers yanked a part of the load-bearing wall down.  The entire building was going to collapse on top of his head.  Bound to.

+1d12 to doom pool from failed 'unleashed' on reaction roll.  +1d6 from opportunity.
1d10 Prowess, 1d8 Solider of Fortune distinction, 1d8 enhanced strength, 2d8 combat master, 1d10 from Black Hole's stress, 1d12 loaned from doom pool (+1 additional PP to Black Hole, and +1 XP).
Scalphunter rolled 3,6,8,12,3,11 using 1d10,1d8,1d8,2d8,1d10,1d12 with rolls of 3,6,8,4,8,3,11.  reaction roll vs Black Hole.  -1d8 from doom pool to keep extra die.  Total =27 vs 19, attack resisted.  Another +1d12 to doom pool from failed unleashed SFX, and stepping up doom pool die from 1d6 to 1d8 due to another opportunity on the roll.

"Black Hole, I want you to fall back. The rest of Freedom Force are here.  Group up with them - don't engage on your own" Johnson was talking through Illya's earpiece as he himself evacuated his office.  He has just seen Mistress murdered on the security camera, and knew he was the next target on the list.  "Tank - we need someone back at HQ.  The Marauders escaped"

"Agent Blake can touch-and-go," Tank suggested, even as he plummeted to Earth. She was piloting, so she'd have to be the one to go back.

"You're not disembarking?" Gwenyth asks Agent Shiva. When she stops to think about it, it makes more sense to operate this way. "Alrighty, all aboard the murder chariot. Here we go."

Gwenyth spurs the souped-up heli towards the battle zone, doing her best to evade the growing windstorm and fire from range. When she gets line of effect on Arclight, she fingers the jury-rigged controls and fires upon her with Shiva's tesla guns!

d10 prowess, d8 action hero, d12 godlike reflexes, d10 Focused vehicles + Tesla gun.
04:10, Today: Gwenyth Blake rolled 34 using 1d10+1d8+1d12+1d10 with rolls of 8,5,8,10.  ZZZZT.
Total 18, d12 effect! (erroneously had a d8 in there initially, which I removed)

In reply to Gwenyth Blake (msg # 193):

John wanted to stay, but his sensors picked up Harpoon getting to the first floor. "It's Harpoon. I...I have to get him. I'm sorry. But...you will be fine with the chopper! You can do anything!" He smiled at Gwenyth, trying to hide his fear. He seemed to want to say something more, but hesitated.

"Stay safe, I will see you soon."  He said, feeling like a coward. He jumped out of the chopper, his arms giding him safely down and tracking him directly to Harpoon's location.

OOC-going to intercept Harpoon as my action.

"Good luck!" Gwenyth calls.

The vastness recedes from Illya's voice and he looks around with wide eyes at the death and devastation around him, I need to get out of here.

Looking quickly to stairs that Harpoon took, Black Hole envelopes himself in a cocoon of gravitons and then reverses their attraction to the surroundings and increases the level of the repulsion to gravitational equivalent of a planet. Then severing his remaining connections to the room, the repulsive forces shoot him up the stairs at an incredible speed, propelling him like a rail in a rail gun.

He will attempt navigate his way out without causing too much damage as best as he can, but will repel anything that he can't avoid. And if there's an opportunity to blast through Harpoon, he'll take it.

OOC: Power Stunt - Human Rail Gun

Willpower - d10
Gravity Control - d12
1 PP Stunt - d8
1 PP Add Flight to the pool - d8
Unwavering Confidence - d8

Black Hole rolled 7,8,1,7,4 using d12,d10,d8,d8,d8 with rolls of 7,8,1,7,4.  Human Rail Gun.

Total = 15
Effect die - d12
This message was last edited by the player at 15:34, Wed 25 May 2022.

The only thing that went through Scrambler's mind right before he drove into the man that appeared out of nowhere was: 'oh-shit'.  The black SUV smashed into Tank, or more correctly, mushed into him. Scrambler, who didn't take the time to put his seatbelt on, flew right through the windshield with a screech.   Carried by momentum, he rolled a couple of times over the asphalt, grazing and chafing his skin before finally coming to a rest in a bleeding, moaning, pile on the side of the road

Prowess 1d8, look out for number 1 distinction 1d8, functional manipulator 1d10, novice vehicles 1d6
Scrambler rolled 1,4,1,6 using 1d8,1d8,1d10,1d6 with rolls of 1,4,1,6.  reaction vs Tank.
Total 10 vs 15.  effect die stepped up to 1d12+.  Scrambler is eliminated.

Arclight noticed the chopper rising behind her, but there was little she could do about it.  She was pinned down behind the fence by the armed guards, and couldn't so much as raise her head without risking getting a bullet through it.  Gritting her teeth, she mentally prepared for what was to come, counting on her superhuman durability to save her from the onslaught.

She grinned through the excoriating pain.  She endured worse than being electrocuted, and before losing consciousness she took solace in the fact that even if they did kill her, she would rise again.

Prowess 1d10, Mercenary assassin distinction 1d8, Enhanced durability 1d8, Master Combat 1d10
Arclight rolled 1,3,4,6 using 1d10,1d8,1d8,1d10 with rolls of 1,3,4,6.  Reaction to Gwenyth .
Total 10 vs 18.  Effect die stepped up to 1d12+. Arclight eliminated.

Harpoon barely made it to the top of the stairs.  He took a quick look around to try and get his bearing.  He knew 'Johnson' was somewhere inside the building, but hunting him down would be a waste of time.  Much easier to bring the entire structure down on top of his head. All he needed was something to throw...

The blow from behind caught him completely by surprise. Black Hole, propelled by his gravitons, was faster than a race car, and Harpoon was not particularly light on his feet. And though he was beefy, and in peak physical condition, it wasn't nearly enough to keep his bones intact when the young man blasted right past him:

Harpoon rolled 10 using 1d10 with rolls of 10.  adding 1d10 for Black Hole's stress.
Harpoon rolled 5,4,1 using 1d8,1d8,1d8 with rolls of 5,4,1.  reaction roll vs Black Hole.
Total 15 vs 15.  Attack successful.  Harpoon gains 1d12 physical stress
+1d6 to doom pool from Black Hole's opportunity.  +1 PP to Black Hole

This message was last edited by the player at 19:17, Wed 25 May 2022.

Blockbuster roared with frustration as the young man took off before he could give him the same treatment he gave his lady friend.  He delayed only for the time it took him to stomp over Mistress' head, leaving behind a giant, bloody footprint in the floor before he too, like the Scalphunter, charged up the stairs in pursuit.

OOC: Blockbuster and Scalphunter don't have any movement powers.  They make it to the first floor by the end of the round

'Riptide' was spinning inside the center of the tornado, totally obscured from sight by the tempest.  The column of air kept on getting wider and wider, and now it was moving right toward the helicopter, threatening to suck it into the vortex:

Prowess 1d8, The eye of the storm distinction 1d8, 2d12 tempest (unleashed), 1d8 combat
Riptide rolled 5,7,6,11,4 using 1d8,1d8,1d12,1d12,1d8 with rolls of 5,7,6,11,4.  spending 1d8 from doom pool to keep extra die. Total 23, effect 1d12.  Reaction needed from Gwyneth

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 201):

Having arrived above ground, and feeling well smug about having clobbered Harpoon, Black Hole surveys the new battlefield. He looks on in horror as Riptide's deadly tornado begins to engulf the helicopter.

Snarling, he reaches out to ease gravity's pull on the helicopter, hoping that it will give Gwenyth more maneuverability.

OOC: Black Hole will use a PP to active his Reactive SFX, giving his d12 Gravity Control power to her dice pool.
Reactive. Spend 1PP to add a Gravity Manipulation power to another to another character's dice pool before they roll a reaction. If that character takes physical stress, take d6 mental stress.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:46, Wed 25 May 2022.

Gwenyth frowned a little as Arclight went down into a vaguely steaming tangle of limbs. Shiva had done a good job on the modifcations, but Gwenyth really hoped she hadn't killed the woman. A good hero shouldn't need to kill. She wished she still had Shiva's eyes to confirm Arclight's vitals, but she couldn't let concern for her enemies override looking out for her allies.

Alarms started to blare all around Gwenyth as the forces of the winds became too strong to ignore. She grit her teeth as her hands flew over the controls. There was another force acting on the helicopter as well, mitigating the battering winds. She was unsure as to its source, but she took advantage of it. "You won't bring this bird down today," she hisses through clenched teeth, even as the riptides sheer the cockpit windshields and hull plating from the craft. The sound of Shiva's rocket boosters make the helicopter even more of a cacophony than usual.

14:45, Today: Gwenyth Blake rolled 26 using 1d10+1d8+1d12+1d10 with rolls of 8,4,4,10.  Thread the needle!
14:52, Today: Gwenyth Blake rolled 11 using 1d12 with rolls of 11.  Black Hole's reactive die.
Total 21. Thanks Illya! You saved me from a OHKO! Still d12 stress.

Almost blind from the wind in her face, she lines up her failing instruments with the base of the whirlwind and fires again!

14:59, Today: Gwenyth Blake rolled 31 using 1d10+1d8+1d12+1d10 with rolls of 9,7,10,5.  PEWPEWLAZORS.
Total 19, d10 effect toward Riptide!

As Riptide’s tornado batters the helicopter, rending Black Hole’s threads, he clutches his head and calls out in pain. OOC: d6 Mental stress from Gwenyth’s failed reaction

Black Hole doesn't have time to see whether the helicopter is safe, as the three Marauders bear down on him and Shive, "Shiva! Take cover!"

Black Hole again bends the flow of gravity so that there is an irresistible gravitational pull between the three Marauders and every single window in the area. The windows immediately shatter and a vortex of glass engulfs all three.

Grabbing his still bleeding neck wound Black Hole goes to fly away and put as much distance as possible between him and Scalphunter, but catches a glimpse of Shiva on his own, I can’t leave him. So he moves up and extends his reflective gravity cocoon to help keep Shiva safe from the glass, and shouts over the howling and grinding vortex, “I guess we die together!”

OOC: Glass Vortex
Harpoon Stress - d12
Gravity Control - d12
Willpower - d10
Unwavering Confidence - d8
Novice Combat - d6
Area Attack SFX - d6, d6
Black Hole rolled 8,5,5,4,2,1,1 using d12,d10,d8,d6,d6,d6 with rolls of 8,5,5,4,2,1,1.  Glass Vortex.

Total = 13
Effect dice - d12 (Scalphunter) and d6 (Harpoon) and d8 Blockbuster
This message was last edited by the player at 21:24, Wed 25 May 2022.

It was hard shooting at a target she can't see.  Firing from a swaying helicopter which was slowly, but inevitably,  being pulled into the center of the tornado made things even harder. But she was quite positive the tornado was no longer gaining in either in speed or in width.  A hit, possibly?

Prowess 1d8, The eye of the storm distinction 1d8, 1d12 tempest, 1d8 combat, 1d12 Gwyenth (and helicopter) complication 1d12
Riptide rolled 6 using 1d12 with rolls of 6.  and 1d12 complication to reaction.
06:53, Today: Riptide rolled 3,8,1,5 using 1d8,1d8,1d12,1d8 with rolls of 3,8,1,5.  reaction to Gwenyth. spending 1d8 to keep extra die.  total 8+5+6= 19, vs 19.  attack successful, Riptide gains 1d10 physical stress

All three Marauders react differently when a rain of sharp shards of glass rains upon them.  Blockbuster stays put, counting on his thick skin to protect him.  Scalphunter perfectly calculates the trajectory in which the shards were traveling, and took cover behind one of the walls.  Harpoon could do neither.


Harpoon rolled 8,1,1,4 using 1d8,1d8,1d8,1d10 with rolls of 8,1,1,4.  Total 12 vs 13, Gains 1d6 stress, stepping up current stress to 1d12+.  Harpoon is shredded, and eliminated!

Blockbuster rolled 2,2,5,5,3 using 1d10,1d12,1d8,1d8,1d10 with rolls of 2,2,5,5,3.  reaction to Black Hole. Total 10 vs 13, Blockbuster gains 1d8 stress

Scalphunter rolled 4,1,8,3,3,4 using 1d10,1d8,1d8,1d10,1d8,1d10 with rolls of 4,1,8,3,3,4.  reaction to Black Hole.  using 1d8 from doom pool to add extra die, total 16 vs 13, attack dodged.  +1d8 to doom pool from Black Hole's opportunities, +1 PP to Black Hole.

Shiva moves inside the building, and starts tracking the sources of movement via his penetrative sonar that goes right through the walls. Using an variety of IR and biological detection markers, he figures out who is who quickly, and uses his arms as extra legs to move him quickly down the halls.

It was then he detected Black Hole coming his way, the gravity effect off the hero visible to Shiva but few others. He pauses for a moment to see Harpoon die, and seems like he is about to say something to BH. However, he is suddenly distracted by one of his energy limbs sending a stream of data to his unseen HUD.

"We are not dying today! Your Gravity just set off a major Faultline! We gotta get out of here! I think I can calculate the best plan for escape! You fly, and I will tell you where to go!" He climbs on BH's back with a bit of difficulty, and makes sure the other agent does not bleed out via a slap patch medical bandage adhesive on BH's wound.

Thousands of probability and physics calculations where run by the six energy limbs. Each adjusting for micro changes in the environment and looking for a way for both of them, and anyone else they could nab with their extended reach, and get out of the building before they where crushed. The only living person he found was Johnson, about to jump out a window and risk breaking his legs.

Six moved, faster than John could react and send the other arms to stop it. However, Six did something unexpected. It grabbed Johnson, and carried him to the ground safely.

Then it formed an emoji face in front of the man and stuck a tongue out at him. Then it insured Johnson got clear of the collapsing building by grabbing him again and moving  the Commander quickly.

OOC:

Trying to navigate us out before collapse, or predicting parts of building that will collapse before they do, in order to avoid that route. Grabbing as many civilians as I can reach and taking them with us. I do have a long reach and can sense people still trapped in building. Turn out that was only Johnson. Sigh...

Wits-d10
Senses-d12
Tech-d10
Helping Hands Asset-d10
Distinction-Building about to go splat!(d4 +1 pp)

Spending 1 PP to add to total

Total=15
Effect die=d12

00:52, Today: Shiva rolled 4,5,5,6,3 using 1d10,1d12,1d10,1d10,1d4 with rolls of 4,5,5,6,3.  Finding a safe way out.

This message was last edited by the player at 20:54, Thu 26 May 2022.

Tank wasn't sure how well a direct assault would work against Riptide, who would probably see him coming. But Riptide was so focused on the tornado in the sky that maybe he wouldn't notice an opponent on the ground. It was worth a shot.

Running right at Riptide, Tank threw himself right at the villain...!

Prowess d8
Brains Plus Brawn d8
Godlike Strength d12
Combat Expert d8
Riptide's Stress d10

Tank rolled 4,5,1,2,4 using d8,d8,d12,d8,d10

Paying 1PP to keep 3rd die in total

Total: 13
Effect: d10

Tank ran right into the tornado, disappearing in the swirling column of wind.  He wasn't able to see beyond the tip of his nose, and his wild punches never fully connected with their intended target.  What's worse, he could feel his feet starting to lift off the ground, his body swept away like a leaf in the wind.


Riptide rolled 4,2,6,6,4 using 1d8,1d8,1d12,1d8,1d8 with rolls of 4,2,6,6,4.  reaction to Tank's attack. Total 12, effect 1d8.  Riptide physical stress increases to 1d12.

Prowess 1d8, Eye of the Storm distinction 1d8, 2d12 tempest (unleashed), 1d8 combat, 1d12 Gwenyth condition, 1d6 area effect.  Riptide rolled 5,5,2,6,4,9,6 using 1d8,1d8,1d12,1d12,1d8,1d12,1d6 with rolls of 5,5,2,6,4,9,6.  Tornado!  spending 1d6 to keep extra die.  Total = 21, effect 1d12 vs Tank, 1d8 vs Gwenyth.

Stepping up 1d6 to 1d8 from Tank's opportunity.

This message was last edited by the GM at 14:27, Thu 26 May 2022.

Tanks feet were slipping. If they came away from the ground, he was done. But he couldn't reach Riptide to stop him, and the winds just kept getting stronger. His mind raced, trying to solve a problem that his limited training never predicted.

Or had it? Some of his Freedom Force training had involved watching any and all video of the Hulk in action, him possibly being the only creature on Earth that was demonstrably stronger than Tank. And the Hulk had one trick that Tank could try for himself. The Hulk had, at least once, simply slammed his hands together to blow out a fire. Tank could possibly use the same trick to blow out the tornado... or at least disrupt it enough that it didn't blow him away.

Wits d10
Brains plus Brawn d8
Godlike Strength 2d12
SFX - Mighty Blow: Spend 1 PP or add d6 to the doom pool to double Godlike Strength.
Combat Expert d8
Riptide's physical stress d12

Tank rolled 3,4,6,4,8,3 using d10,d8,d12,d12,d8,d12

Total: 18
Effect: d12

(Well, that sucked.)
Spending my last PP to use Invulnerability keep 3rd die.
SFX - Invulnerable: Spend 1 PP to ignore physical stress or trauma unless caused by mystical attacks.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:48, Thu 26 May 2022.

"Come back here!" Blockbuster charged right after Shiva, with Scalphunter not far behind him.  Both of them heard the warning about the imminent collapse of the building, and neither considered stopping to save Harpoon from being buried under worth their time.  The giant brute found a much quicker way out of the building - he stepped right through the outer wall, literally bringing the house down behind him.

It didn't happen all at once.  First, the roof of the second floor caved in when the outer wall Blockbuster walked through toppled over.  Then the second, unable to carry the excess weight, collapsed on top of the first.  Soon the entire structure collapsed, like a house of cards, and when the dust settled, only the outer walls remained, and between them a heap of concrete debris.

The giant didn't wait to see what was happening behind his back.  Black Hole escaped once.  He wasn't going to let it happen again:

Prowess 1d10, Godlike strength 1d12, Streetfighter distinction 1d8, combat expert 1d8, Black Hole stress 1d10
Blockbuster rolled 5,2,8,3,1 using 1d10,1d12,1d8,1d8,1d10 with rolls of 5,2,8,3,1.  Smash Black Hole. Total 13, effect 1d12.  Reaction needed from Black Hole

...and the Scalphunter trying to Scalp Shiva:
Scalphunter rolled 1,2,8,7,2,2 using 1d10,1d8,1d8,1d8,1d8,1d8 with rolls of 1,2,8,7,2,2.  stab Shiva. Total 15, effect 1d8. Reaction needed from Shiva
This message was last edited by the player at 14:55, Thu 26 May 2022.

In reply to Blockbuster (msg # 211):

Black Hole growing in confidence, though mildly concerned about destroying the entire Freedom Force base, smirks as the blustering giant thunders towards him. Shifting to ensure that Shiva's not in any danger, Black Hole gathers a massive planetoid of debris interposing it between him and Blockbuster and increasing the gravitational pull between the planetoid and Blockbuster in order to deflect the giant dolt's fists.

OOC:
Willpower d10
Unwavering Confidence d4 (+1 PP)
Gravity Control 1d12
Combat Novice d6
Blockbuster's physical stress d8
Spend 1 PP to activate BB's 1 to create a stunt die d10

Black Hole rolled 12,8,1,5,5,3 using d12,d10,d10,d8,d6,d4 with rolls of 12,8,1,5,5,3.  Planetoid!

Total: 17
Effect: d10

SFX - Kinetic Absorption. On a successful reaction against a kinetic action, convert your opponent's effect die (d12) into a Gravity Manipulation stunt for your next action.

In reply to Blockbuster (msg # 211):

Scalphunters knife bounced harmlessly off of one of the Arm's shields. Shiva did was not even looking at the man, but he could easily sense him coming. However, he was more focused on the building...

"I think we did this dance before. Last time it did not go so good for you." He pointed out to the murderous mutant. Sure enough, the other arm where now drawn to the foe, and moved into postion. Even as they did so, they where analyzing both of the enemy's movements and fighting style. Which quickly allows Shiva to predict thier next set of defenses, and ready for a counterattack.

ooc:
Prowess-d8
Senses-d12
Acrobatics-d8
Asset-d10
Building collaspe-d4(+1 pp)

Spending 1 pp to add 3rd die.
Spending another pp to get a d10 stunt die based on SH's roll of 1.

Total=21
Effect die=d12


12:14, Today: Shiva rolled 8,5,6,7,1 using D8,d12,d8,d10,d4 with rolls of 8,5,6,7,1.  Reaction vs attack.



The arms then lash out, two on each mutant. Four gaint energy clamps attempt to grab thier wrists and lift them up. Making sure they hang from the air and are out of kicking range. "Hang out, will ya?" He said, causing Six to do an eyeroll emoji.

ooc: grapple complication on both targets.

Prowess-d8
Stretching-d10
BB's stress-d8
Asset-d10
Stunt from opp-d10
Uber nerd-d4(+1 pp)
Area effect sfx-d6

Total=25
Effect die=d10 BB, D8 SH

Spending 1 pp to add to total.

12:38, Today: Shiva rolled 3,10,3,10,8,1,5 using D8,d10,d8,d10,d10,d4,d6 with rolls of 3,10,3,10,8,1,5.  Attacking BB and SH.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:14, Thu 26 May 2022.

"If at first you don't succeed, try, and try, and try, and try, and try..."
Scalphunter's retort to Shiva went on and on incessantly.  His blade became a blur as he stabbed at the arms trying to grab him.  Some he managed to keep at bay, but at least one wrapped itself around his leg.  Just like last time.  "and try and try and try and try and try and try and try and try and try and try and try..."

Scalphunter rolled 10,5,1,7,7,7,2 using 1d10,1d8,1d8,1d8,1d8,1d8,1d8 with rolls of 10,5,1,7,7,7,2.  reaction to Shiva. Loaning 1d8 from doom pool (+1 PP to Shiva), and keeping extra 1d8 (-1d8 from doom pool).  total =24 vs 25, Scalphunter gains grappled condition at 1d8

Blockbuster rolled 2,2,5,3 using 1d10,1d12,1d8,1d8 with rolls of 2,2,5,3.  reaction vs shiva.
Total 8, vs 25. Effect die stepped up to 1d12+ Blockbuster is lifted off the ground and is taken out.

The Agents had very specific orders; stop any threat to HQ.  For some reason, they decided to interpret their orders in the very broadest sense possible.  And then some. 'Scrambler' could barely crawl, but what if he had a gun? He was obviously still a threat.  Nothing a bullet to the back of his head wouldn't fix.  Arclight?  Her eyelids just flickered.  Better make sure she doesn't wake up and go on a rampage.  And a giant that could topple houses could easily escape being grappled.  He would find it much harder to do if he was pumped full with lead.

The Shambling Horde executes Arclight, Scrambler, and (possibly?) Blockbuster.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:50, Fri 27 May 2022.

In reply to Shiva (msg # 213):

Black Hole laughs, "Hang out. Classic." He looks back at Siva, "Hold on, we're going to join the others!" All four lift off into the sky and streak towards Tank and Gwyneth. As they fly Black Hole looks at Scalphunter and his eyes become black wells of gravitons, "Welcome aboard! Have a good flight and I hope the seat isn't too much of a squeeze."

Black Hole then greatly increases the gravitational connection between Scalphunter and Shiva's energy clamps, to the level of a neutron star.

OOC: Black Hole will attempt to apply a gravity-related complication on SH

Gravity Control 1d12
Stunt die from Absorption SFS d12
Willpower d10
SH's complication d8
Affliction SFX d6
Unwavering Confidence d4 (+1 PP)

Afflict. Add d6 and step up effect die by +1 when inflicting a gravity-related complication on a target.
Black Hole will spend 1 PP to add a third die to the total.

Black Hole rolled 6,4,1,2,6,4 using d12,d12,d10,d8,d6,d4 with rolls of 6,4,1,2,6,4.  The Electric Squeeze.

Total: 16
Effect: d12+1
This message was last edited by the player at 15:52, Fri 27 May 2022.

The arm around Scalphunter's leg tightened.  It had a good grip, but that didn't mean it could muster enough force to pull him off into the skies.  His metal frame easily outweighed the giant Blockbuster.  And after digging his heels into the ground there was little hope to dislodge him:

Prowess 1d10, Living Cyborg distinction 1d8, Supernatural Strength 1d8, Master combat 2d8, Black Hole stress 1d10, 1d8 loaned from doom pool
Scalphunter rolled 10,1,2,7,6,5 using 1d10,1d8,1d8,2d8,1d10,1d8 with rolls of 10,1,2,5,2,6,5.  reaction to Black Hole.  Total 21 vs 16 attack resisted (-1d8 from doom pool to keep extra die, +1d6 from Black Hole's opportunity.  +2 PP in total for Black Hole)

Scalphunter knew from past experience that if he doesn't do something about the arms grappling his body it would only be a matter of time before he'll find himself in a cell again.  He made another attempt with the blade, slicing and puncturing with all his strength:

Prowess 1d10, Solider of Fortune 1d8, Enhanced Strength 1d8, 3d6 master combat, 1d8 Cyberblade
Scalphunter rolled 10,2,8,11,2 using 1d10,1d8,1d8,3d6,1d8 with rolls of 10,2,8,4,1,6,2.  stabbing at shiva's arms. Spending 1d6 from doom pool to add extra die to total.  Total = 24, effect (physical stress) 1d8.  Reaction needed from Shiva.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:45, Sat 28 May 2022.

In reply to Scalphunter (msg # 218):

Despite his normal methods of keeping the blade at bay, Shiva may have been a little overconfident this time. The blade manages to catch one of the limbs, and cut through the tendril. However, before the energy limb can be struck, Black Hole's gravity powers deflect the blade!

Ooc:

Prowess-d8
Stretching-d10
Asset-d10
SH complication-D8
Activating SH's roll of 1-d10
Distinction-d4(+1 pp)


1 pp for second chance SFX
1 pp to activate SH's opp.
1 pp to add 3rd die

Total=20 27!
Effect die=d12

I failed the defense, but because my effect die was higher than the attack die, is the damage downgraded?

06:58, Today: Shiva rolled 7,2,3,4,9,2 using D8,d12,d10,d8,d10,d4 with rolls of 7,2,3,4,9,2.  Reaction vs attack.

Correction!

12:06, Today: Shiva rolled 11 using 1d12 with rolls of 11.  BH's reactive die.

With the new roll, the total is 27! Defense made! Many thanks BH!

This message was last edited by the player at 16:13, Sat 28 May 2022.

In reply to Shiva (msg # 219):

Black Hole looks back at Scalphunter struggling with Shiva's energy clamp and arms, "I'm really beginning to not like that guy."

He reaches out to protect them in a sleeve of repulsive gravitons.

OOC: Black Hole will use a PP to active his Reactive SFX, giving his d12 Gravity Control power to Shiva's dice pool.

Reactive. Spend 1PP to add a Gravity Manipulation power to another to another character's dice pool before they roll a reaction. If that character takes physical stress, take d6 mental stress.

In reply to Black Hole (msg # 220):

Six moves over to Black Hole. The energy limb shifting the end of its length to form a hand to offer the Hero a 'high five'. "Not now Six..." Shiva groans, but with a grin under his mask.

Black Hole cheers and gladly high fives Six.

Being caught up in the whirlwind, Tank could barely see, much less act. But he needed to try something. He knew that Riptide was somewhere in there with him, but he couldn't see the creep anywhere. He was in the eye of the storm, of course, so that was where Tank needed to go. Yet he could barely move, much less move in a particular direction.

He needed to break free of the tornado before he could do anything else. And that meant trying that same stupid trick that had failed him a minute ago. He felt like an idiot trying it again, but couldn't come up with anything better. He spread his hands wide and slammed them together as hard as he possibly could...!

Wits d10
Brains Plus Brawn d4 (+1pp)
Godlike Strength 2d12
SFX - Mighty Blow: Spend 1 PP or add d6 to the doom pool to double Godlike Strength for one action.
Combat Expert d8
Riptide's physical stress d12

Tank rolled 6,2,5,2,4,6 using d10,d4,d12,d12,d8,d12 ((6,2,5,2,4,6)).
Spending 1PP to keep 3rd die.

Total: 17
Effect: d12

Back at HQ, Shiva's and Black Hole's hair was ruffled by a shockwave originating over a thousand feet away.  The impact was much more impressive closer to the source of the thunderclap.  Trees were uprooted, rocks pulverized, helicopters spun uncontrollably, and Riptides internal organs shredded.

The tornado was no more.  The column of wind subsided and faded into nothingness, revealing the middle-aged man that stood in its midst.  Riptide, disoriented, and badly hurt, was bleeding out of his nose, mouth, and even his ears!  Unable to maintain his balance, he fell down on his knees and emptied the content of his stomach at Tank's feet.

Not far away, two of the Zombified Agents approached the 'fresh meet', rifles raised and pointing at the crippled man...

Prowess 1d8, Eye of the Storm distinction 1d8,Tempest 1d12, Expert Combat 1d8, Tank's complication 1d12
Riptide rolled 6,6,3,4,7 using 1d8,1d8,1d12,1d8,1d12 with rolls of 6,6,3,4,7.  reaction roll vs Tank. Total 13 vs 17.  Riptide stress exceeds 1d12.  Riptide eliminated.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:08, Sun 29 May 2022.

"Hey, don't—!" Tank started to get between Riptide and the zombie agents but stopped before he could completely block them. Riptide was dying anyway, thanks to Tank. He was just trying to blow out the tornado, but apparently he blew out the guy making the tornado in the same clap of his hands. If Scrambler was anything to go by, though, Riptide might also be able to come back from the dead. Maybe that was why Scalphunter was so blasé about shooting him that first time. He'd come back.

Then there was the question of how they could hold Riptide if he did survive. Headquarters wasn't equipped for it, and if the plumes of smoke and dust were any indication, HQ might not even be there anymore.

"Fuck it," Tank muttered, and got out of the way. Let the agents do their dirty work. Riptide was as good as dead already.

Black Hole shakes his head, "Enough, you annoying gnat." He floats a bit off the rubble-strewn ground and opens himself fully to the universe's gravitational force. It flows through him like a unchecked river after a heavy rainfall. His voice again takes on a deep and distant tone and his eyes become akin to the night sky, "You may be crafty and dangerous, but you are insignificant next to a fundamental force of the universe."

Black Hole will increase Scalphunter's gravitational connection to the earth's core to the equivalent of a black hole, or as near as he can get to it.

OOC: Black Hole will attempt to apply a gravity-related complication on SH

Gravity Control d12
Unleashes SFX d12
Stunt die activated from SH's opportunity d10
Willpower d10
SH's complication d8
Maximal Impact d8

Black Hole will spend 1 PP to add a third die to the total.
Black Hole will spend 1 PP to activate SH's opportunity.

Black Hole rolled 8,7,10,4,5,8 using d12,d12,d10,d10,d8,d8 with rolls of 8,7,10,4,5,8.  Express Elevator to Hell.

Total: 25
Effect: d12 physical stress

As gravity flows through him, he begins to lose his sense of self and expand exponentially to join the force that he manipulates. Even has his mind frays and unravels, a small sense of self clings to consciousness, amidst the maelstrom. Panicked and not sure how else to retain himself, he severs his connection to gravity and falls to the earth, amidst the dust and debris.

OOC: Illya shuts down his Gravity Manipulation powerset (+1 PP).

Limit: Power Overwhelming: Shutdown Gravity Manipulation and gain 1 PP. Recover power by activating an opportunity or during a Transition scene.

As the tornado fades away and visibility is restored, the flaming wreckage of the modified helicopter is found some distance away in the tree line. Gwenyth seems to have gone down at some point; it is not exactly clear when, or if she is okay.

(( Gwenyth got Complication'd out and apparently her ability to be untouched by natural forces doesn't apply to tornadoes I guess. It's the weekend and with Riptide down I don't have any good things to do anyways, so maybe it's better this way. ))

Tank turns his back on Riptide, and he's spared from seeing the Zombies empty the clips of their rifles into his body.  It's one less problem to worry about, at least for now.

On the other side of HQ, Scalphunter plummets into the ground.  The gravitational force doesn't merely pin him down - it squishes him out of shape.  He can't so much as open his mouth to scream as his bones are crushed and the reinforced titanium (or whatever his body is made of) begins to buckle under the pressure.  But just before he would become a human pancake the pressure mercifully stops.  The Scalphunter isn't dead, but pain makes him wish he was.

OOC: Scalphunter stress exceeds 1d12+, and he is eliminated.

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 228):

Shiva let's go of Scalphunter's leg lest it tear off as Black Hole pulls him down. It was then he got information about Riptide, Tank, and more importantly the helicopter. That took him out of the shock of seeing the villain's crushed form.

"Gwenyth!" He said, his limbs giving him vast distance. Moving like a huge daddy long legs spider with four of his limbs. The other two still carrying long Blockbuster as they wrapped around the villian.

OOC-what do I need to do to find Gwenyth? Senses roll?

Johnson only stepped out of cover once all the Marauders were either dead or incapacitated.  He knew he was unable to impact the result of the fight, and the best thing he could do was get out of the way and avoid becoming a causality.

"Agent Ohm, find out what happened to Agent Blake. I called for urgent medevac one minute ago.  They'll pick up whoever requires medical attention to the nearest hospital"

OOC: no need for a roll.  She should be at HQ grounds, somewhere. 
This message was last edited by the player at 04:08, Mon 30 May 2022.

In reply to Agent Johnson (msg # 230):

John does not reply, as he is focused on finding Gwenyth. His arms carrying him and BlockBuster, and scanning various spectrums and sound waves. Looking for traces of biological material until she can be tracked down and pulled out of any wreckage John can find. Assuming she even needs to be rescued that is.

John was trying to convince himself that she was more than agile enough to leap out of a crashing helicopter, in the midst of a tornado. It had to be, because...because she could do that. She was as agile as Tank was strong. He could not let himself believe anything else.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:55, Mon 30 May 2022.

Tank spots the helicopter by the treeline and races to it. Between Riptide's tornado and his own shockwave, Tank isn't sure if this is rescue or recovery. He gets to the fallen gunship and rips the door off.

"Gwyneth? You okay?"

Black Hole runs after Shiva, though without his flight he lags well behind.

Precious minutes later he arrives at the gunship, gasping and pale. He watches silently.

There is a softly glowing purple silhouette visible through the smoke and dust, which soon resolves into the actress-turned-superhero as she breaks free of the obscuring cloud. Her ponytail has come undone and her iridescent hair blows mesmerizingly in the breeze, glittering in the sun.

"That didn't go as well as I had hoped," she says casually, punctuating with a light cough into one hand. She looks around at the worried faces staring at her. "What's with the looks? Don't tell me you thought a little crash was going to... to... wait-" A hand flies to her unbound hair and she looks around frantically. "What happened to my tiara?!"

In reply to Gwenyth Blake (msg # 234):

Shiva felt relief once his sensors picked up her actual location. He did not tell Tank she was not inside the wreckage, as he was too busy rushing over to where she had bailed out of the doomed aircraft. He sent a message via the comms to the entire team that she was ok.

"Dont worry, I will find it." Shiva says, laughing as Gwenyth looks about for her hair placement device. He sends one of the limbs searching for the item, able to dectect it from pervious scans.

"Its amazing how you are the only person on earth able to look photo quality good after  a near deadly helicopter crash." He sighed and shook his head. "I suppose I will have to build you a new one with better armor...Six! NO!"  He suddenly said.

While one arm was searching the wreckage for a lost item, two arms where high in the air holding BlockBuster helpless, two other arms where needlessly scanning for threats and spies...Six was doing something odd.

It rushed over to Gwenyth, and tired to wrap around her shoulders. Not in some sort of restraint grasp like Blockbuster was being subjected to. Instead it was more like a firm but warm hug, with the end of its length formed into a hand to gently stroke her hair.

"SIX! Get off her!" Shiva yelled, and one of the other two scanning limbs moved over to Six. The three arms seems to regard each other for a second like cobras about to fight over food...but then six disentangled itself from Gwenyth. The end of its length forming an emoji face of a big smile with a teardrop.

"I am so sorry about that! It wont happen again, I promise!" Shiva said quickly, uselessly tugging on Six's length. As if it was a rope he could somehow withdraw.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:51, Tue 31 May 2022.

Black Hole watched in stunned silence, "Is it always like this?"

"I'd love to tell you that it's not," Tank replied. "But I'd be lying."

Johnson was the last to arrive at the crash sites.  He couldn't fly, or stretch himself over great distances.  And he wouldn't so much as run to get there faster:  there wasn't anything he could do to help even if he did get there a few minutes earlier.

"Yes, I'll tell them"
Johnson didn't inquire about Gwenyth's condition.  If she was capable of standing on her feet, then she was fine.  He terminated the call with Valerie, and pulled out his earpiece first, before delivering the bad news:

"Mistress is dead.  It's already all over the news.  They have the footage"

"Footage? How?" Tank was furious at hearing that Mistress was dead, doubly so that someone had leaked a tape of it to the news. "Were the Marauders broadcasting?!"

Gwenyth chuckles awkwardly and turns just a bit away from Shiva, a lock of hair blowing in front of her as if to hide her blush. "Well yeah. Mutant powers, y'know? Nothing special..." she says, waving the compliment aside like it's no big deal. It is no big deal. Just Gwenyth doing what she does. Being pretty.

Gwenyth yelps as she is proxy-hugged by Arm Six and makes a token and ineffectual effort to escape. A moment of stillness, then she legitimately tries to scoot away from the glowing appendage while swatting at it (still ineffectually because it is made of energy).

"It's fine, it's fine..." Gwenyth says to Shiva in a tone that suggests it is anything but. She starts needlessly trying fix her clothes, but stops as Agent Johnson draws near. She coughs again and straightens up, crossing her wrists shyly behind herself.

The demure pose doesn't last long as news of the agent's passing comes "NO!" she cries out. "Mistress- t-they couldn't have! I... uwah..." She covers her eyes and bridge of her nose with her hands.

In reply to Gwenyth Blake (msg # 240):

John moved over to Gwenyth, speaking softly. He does not touch her, but just let's her know he is here if she needs anything. "I'm really sorry, Gwenyth." When she tries to hold it togeather.

Five is returning with the Tiara in an energy orb at the end of its length. At once, Six swoops in and grabs the item, placing it carefully in Gwenyth's hand. Five seem to have no reaction to the 'theft', and goes back to scanning. However, it seems to be scanning the tiria as it returns to its owner.

Shiva, while staying close by to Gwenyth, looks briefly upward at BlockBuster restrained and held in midair. He knew who killed mistress, the evidence was literally all over the giants hands. While Shiva had never interacted with Mistress beyond casual greetings, this was a loss to everyone. He wondered if Johnson had just listened to him if she would be alive right now. Likely not, but having two guards instead of just Black Hole on his own might have made the difference.

Second guessing himself was second nature. If he had helped Black Hole, maybe this could have been stopped. He could not think about this right now. Once the stark/pym prison was up and functioning, none of this would be needed anymore.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:46, Tue 31 May 2022.

Gwenyth starts a little as the tiara is plopped haphazardly into her head, where it slides down her bangs and gets stick on her pinky finger. "Oh, um, thank you..." she says quietly. She begins work on bunching up her hair into its signature asymmetric ponytail and securing it there with the intricate hair dec. The bulk of her mind was still on Mistress' passing, slowing her work.

Lost in reverie, Illya mostly just stands silently trying to process the titanic events he just took part in, "I only just met her, but she was so kind. Even in the face of such incredible danger."

But then with a jolt, he exclaims, "Footage?! Oh crap! My phone!"

He hastily attempts to reach out to gravity, but having separated himself from it he can do nothing, "Oh no. The protective cocoon..."

"Wait. You live-streamed it?" Tank asked, equal parts shocked and outraged. "Dude, what the hell is wrong with you?"

The full weight of what he'd done landed on Illya like a crashed helicopter. The young man grew pale and looked at his feet, "I...I just wanted to get the story out there. You're heroes. People should know."

Tears stream down his face, "But...I...I didn't know. I just didn't know." His voice trails off in a whisper.

"Yes, he did. And now the entire world witnessed the brutal murder of a Federal Agent.  Her family watched it. Her friends.  This is not how they were supposed to find out." Johnson spoke in the same deadpan monotone voice he used during their debriefings.  It was as if he was reading his grocery list.
"I'm going to assume you're as dumb as a doorknob, rather than just an asshole.  That's the kindest thing I can say to you today"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:04, Tue 31 May 2022.

While Johnson was berating Illya, Frank got an incoming call himself.  His mother...

Damn it. If he let her ring through to voicemail, his mother would just hang up and call again. She'd probably seen the live-stream and wanted to know if he was okay. With a sigh, Tank stepped away and answered the call.

"Hey, Ma. This isn't a great time...."

In reply to Agent Johnson (msg # 246):

Six looked like it wanted to do soemthing awful, as it was making several angry emoji faces. Instead, Shiva stepped in front of Black Hole and got in Johnson's face.

"Commander, many mistakes where made today. Made by myself and others...and you. How about instead of insulting and belittling people who risk thier lives for you, you save that for later when we have a chance to do an assessment of what went wrong? Otherwise I will ask you to leave and write a report later!" Shiva said in a cold tone, but nonetheless direct.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:45, Tue 31 May 2022.

"You're out of line, Agent Ohm" Johnson said slowly "Back down.  Now"

The only sounds coming from the other side of the line were whimpering

In reply to Agent Johnson (msg # 250):

"Sir, I am asking respectfully that you back off right now. This is not the time for insults." He said.

"When you're in charge of Freedom Force, you'll get to say what time it is for what.  In the meantime, you can barely be in charge of yourself" Johnson looked at Shiva, not his arms, but he obviously didn't miss them angrily emoting at him.

This message was deleted by the player at 19:52, Tue 31 May 2022.

"Mom?!" Tank called. "Mom!"

In reply to Agent Johnson (msg # 253):

"Sir...the way you are doing things right now, thier wont be a freedom force left to lead. Again...there is no point in petty sniping and juvenile comments. And we have other concerns. May we focus on that, please?" Shiva said, trying to stay calm.

Gwenyth looks at Agents Shiva and Johnson as they get into it again. A day before, she might have injected herself into their weird and stupid little dick-measuring contest. Now, though, she doesn't sure she has the energy.

She looks at Agent Tank as he no doubt gets an earful from his mother about how dangerous Freedom Force is. As she looks to the demolished remnants of what was once a quite fine building, she can't really blame her.

She looks at Agent Illya. Gwenyth knew she was dumber than some, and that's why she let Freedom Force's own PR department run her social media. How did this kid manage to get this far without learning the basics of media control? Image was everything.

Gwenyth walks away from all the yelling to be alone with her thoughts. She passes by the mysteriously non-decaying corpses that walk and shoot. She looks down at the body of Arclight. Gwenyth hadn't wanted to kill her. She still had no idea why they wanted to kill them. Aren't they all mutants? Why aren't they all on the same side?

Riptide, too. Gwenyth passes by the crushed tin can of a car that once housed a living Scrambler, now squeezed flat by Tank.

And... Mistress. So much Gwenyth wanted to talk to her about. Exercise and diet and workplace ethics and shoes and boys. Gwenyth never knew what it was like to have a mother. At times, Mistress gave her glimpses of what it might have been like.

So much death. The fellowship is splintering. Gwenyth couldn't stand it. She sat herself on a rock overlooking the lake, hugged her knees to her chest, and quietly sobbed to herself.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:05, Tue 31 May 2022.

In reply to Shiva (msg # 256):

Ilya wipes the tears from his cheeks. He’s never looked younger, “It’s okay, Shiva. Agent Johnson is right. I made a terrible mistake. And I need to own it. I’ll do better and earn back everyone’s trust.”

In reply to Black Hole (msg # 258):

Shiva keeps his stare at Johnson, but ultimately backs down when Black Hole asks him. Granted he did not want to make this about his issues with commander, but the man seem to care more about his own reputation and poltical goals then his team or public safety.

"We can work this out, Black Hole. I made worse mistakes than you did. It happens. Trust me, this is not the worst thing in the world." He said, before heading off and looking for Gwenyth.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:13, Wed 01 June 2022.

Johnson was about to let things drop for now, but he couldn't overlook the 'it happens' part
"It's that sort of attitude that gets people killed in the field"
He commented to Black Hole after Shiva departed.
"Now - if you're done crying, we need to recover Mistress's body from under the wreckage"

"Frank.  Frankie" Ellen could barely talk. She was weeping and hyperventilating, barely able to get a word out of her mouth "I saw...  I saw him killing her"

Crap. She saw Ilya's live-stream.

"Yeah, that was..." Was what? A mistake? A tragedy? The most disgusting thing she'd ever seen? All of the above? "That was really bad."

Needless to say, despite the distance, Shiva heard Johnson's nasty little comment. For such an accomplished commander with his background, he acted like a teenaged bully. He made sure Six did not stretch back to the man and flick his ears...or worse. Shiva focused in on the other sound noise others without enhanced senses could hear.

He could see and hear Gwyneth crying, and wondered if he should leave her alone. She left after the argument started, and clearly her and Mistress where close. While she may insist on being by herself, she should at least know he was here for her.

He cleared his throat as he approached. "Gwyneth...before you tell me to go away, I just want you to know I am here. If you need me. You don't have to deal with this alone. You where there for me when I needed someone. I can do the same for you." He gets closer to her, unless she tells him otherwise.

Of course, he made sure two of his limbs where out of sight. They where busy constricting Blockbuster, and Shiva felt sure Gwyneth did not want to see the murderer right now. With the sensor data limbs One and Two where sending, he was fairly certain the blue giant was helpless. He also made sure the man was off the ground and his mouth was blocked in case he wanted to shout nasty things.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:58, Wed 01 June 2022.

In reply to Agent Johnson (msg # 260):

"Right. Mistress. It's the least I could do."

Illya reconnects to gravity and re-bends it to his will. He will begin slowly and cautiously, as he digs out the rubble. But as his connection strengthens and his self-confidence returns, he begins to move larger and larger pieces of debris, until eventually he's tossing them about like baseballs, which brightens his mood considerably. But once he has uncovered the collapsed room with Mistress, he stops abruptly and becomes gloomy again.

OOC: Illya reactivates his Gravity Manipulation powerset by spending 1 PP during a transition scene.

"yes" his mother tried to stop herself from breaking down again, without success.  Some more wailing followed, and in between the plea for her son
"Come home, Frankie.  Why don't you come back home?" where it's safe, where there's always food, where there aren't any giants around that could punch him through his chest and stomp on his head like that poor woman.

Blockbuster was bleeding to death in Shiva's arms, having been shot, repeatedly, by the Zombies.  The medivac called by Johnson arrives just in time to evacuate both Illya, and the barely recognizable corpse he dug out of the ruins of HQ, to the nearest hospital, and morgue, respectively.

Johnson, concluding a very heated conversation with Valley, was more irritable than usual. He moved closer to Frank, not quite giving him the order to finish his personal call, but clearly expecting him to get it over with.

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 266):

Still keeping the gaint at a distance, Shiva sent several other arms and his medical kit to keep the gaint from bleeding out. No doubt the murderer still had information useable by the team, and Shiva was not keen on executions.

"Mom... I'm sorry, but I gotta go." Frank really didn't have time for this. It was only through sheer luck that his mother had waited long enough to call that the crisis was over. She could have just as easily called right after Mistress was killed, while Frank was jumping out of a helicopter. "We'll talk later, okay?"

He looked over at Johnson, who was being remarkably patient regarding the call. He must have a difficult mother, too, Frank decided. He shrugged, as if to say, "I know, but what can you do, right?"

"I'll call. Promise. Okay, love you too." He disconnected the call and shoved the phone back into his pocket as he rolled his eyes. He was going to get a huge earful of this later.

Johnson gave Tank a short, approving nod. Not because he sympathized with Tank's situation (Johnson always looked like he was designed in a lab, rather than raised by a mother), but because of the way he handled the situation

"Tank - I'm going to need to stay here a little bit longer.  Give Gwyneth and Shiva a few minutes to catch their breaths, then get the team to J. Edgar Hoover Building in DC.  We will be working from there until we secure a new place.  And keep Scalphunter under surveillance at all times - personally.  You're the only he can't possibly hurt"

He took a look at Blockbuster, still held by Shiva's arms.  He was bleeding, heavily, and he wasn't sure if it wasn't too late to do anything for him.  Or if he cared to.

OOC: Shiva, give me a 'medicine' check for treating Blockbuster.  None of the powers apply in this situation. 

Ilya perks up from his grim vigil, “How are we supposed to get to DC?” A slyish smile spreads across his face, “Cause I have an idea.”

At the moment, Tank was more concerned with how he was going to retrieve Scalphunter from under the rubble of HQ. Dig him out by hand, he supposed. But that would take quite a bit of time, if he was being careful not to collapse the rubble further.

Still, the question of how they'd get back to D.C. was a good one.

"What's your idea?" he asked.

In reply to Tank (msg # 271):

A great goofy grin erupts on Illya’s face, “Get to the chopper.”

"Maybe we can check the motor pool first. See if anything survived." Driving into the city had to be easier than flying a broken helicopter through force of will. "And if you find something I can use to carry Scalphunter, let me know. A bucket, something."

In reply to Agent Johnson (msg # 269):

Shiva's limbs, coating BlockBuster like two constrictors made of solid light, moved the gaint in random patterns. Avoiding or deflecting the worst of the swarm of bullets.

In reply to Tank (msg # 273):

Illya deflates a bit at Tank's good sense, "Oh yeah. That would make more sense." Though a small smile creeps onto his face as he contemplates the possibility that the motor pool was utterly destroyed.

Gwenyth nods at Agent Shiva's words. "Thank you," she says softly. "I would really like to be alone with my thoughts for a while now." And with that, she waves him away.

---

A little while later Gwenyth meanders over, hearing talk of transport. "There's always my limo," she offers. "It's at my criminally underused apartment so it should have been spared the... uh... holy crap, what happened?" She takes a few jogging steps up a nearby bluff to get a better view of the ex-headquarters. She shakes her head. "There's also my personal helicopter, but it's a two-seater."

"GET. ME. DOWN!"
Blockbuster was still suspended midair, grappled by Shiva's arms.  Relatively unharmed, he flexed his muscles, trying to wring himself free
"You're dead little man.  You're all dead!"

Johnson's mouth twitched with annoyance.  He was sure Blockbuster was killed by the Zombies, but it looked like Shiva had done a good job protecting him.  Too good.
"Tank.  It looks like the suspect is trying to escape. Stop him"
Blockbuster was hanging upside down, and every time he tried to perform a crunch so he could reach Shiva's arm, he ended up being flipped in midair yet again.  He wasn't going anywhere, but like Johnson said - he was trying to escape...
This message was last edited by the player at 19:08, Mon 06 June 2022.

In reply to Gwenyth Blake (msg # 276):

Illya's eyes widen, "Limo? Personal helicopter? Coooool."

Tank walked over to Blockbuster, not sure what he could do at this point other than hitting the guy. Hit the guy who was restrained and half dead. He wasn't sure he could do it. Legally, he couldn't, but they were so far afield of what was legal when it came to restraining and containing super-villains that it hardly bore thinking about.

He smacked Blockbuster upside the head. It was hard enough to crack the skull of a normal human, but only hard enough to get Blockbuster's attention.

"Cut it out," Tank ordered. "If I have to get rough, I will."

Tank really didn't want to kill Blockbuster. For one thing, he was a prisoner already. For another matter, if he could come back like Scrambler did, it was tantamount to just letting him go. It was a lot safer to keep him alive where an eye could be kept on him.

On the other hand, he murdered Mistress. Tank wanted not to kill him, but he didn't want it that much.

But the next step wasn't killing him. The next step would be to break all of Blockbuster's limbs.

In reply to Tank (msg # 280):

Illya watched Tank tower of Blockbuster with wide eyes. He recalled Mistress' death, and his eyes narrowed. But gradually his fists unclench and his anger drains, replaced with a profound exhaustion, "I should be able to keep him from hurting anyone else. But where can we take him?"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:32, Mon 06 June 2022.

Shiva returned from the forest, making sure his grip on Blockbuster's ankles where secure. "Dont worry, he's not going anywhere. Besides, he know he's not bulletproof. Because if he was, the zombies would be no threat to him." He said, making sure BlockBuster heard him. After all, Shiva had saved the murderer's life from those attacks.

"Worse comes to worse Agent Black Hole and I switch off until Agent Windtalker comes back."

He does send a message to Gwenyth's phone. That bit of jewelry is not normal. It seems a bit unstable out of your presence, and filled with extra dimensional energy. Do you want me to contact an expert on those sorta thing?
This message was last edited by the player at 16:25, Mon 06 June 2022.

Gwenyth turns to the writhing Blockbuster and stares piercingly at him until, at some point in his thrashings, the two of them meet eyes. Gwenyth narrows hers. She points at him with a single perfect finger, glittery nail polish sparkling in the sun. "Quit it," she orders him firmly, scarcely raising her voice. "We're trying to have a conversation here."

A buzzing in her blazer pocket sees her looking away to pull out her phone. When she sees the message she goes abnormally still save for a momentary fluttering of her eyelids, then goes back to normal as she nonchalantly types out a curt reply to the text; No thank you. She then swiftly deletes the message.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:31, Tue 07 June 2022.

There wasn't any point in trying to escape with so many people watching him.  Later though...
The giant stopped struggling, but getting him to stop talking was going to be a lot harder:
"I want to see my lawyer" he held back the chuckle, but not the stupid grin "I know my rights!"

"There's nowhere we can take him.  I'm not flying him to Hoover - he'll be one giant's leap away from the White House" Johnson almost regretted that Blockbuster stopped trying to escape.  That would have given him all the excuse he needed to stop him, 'by any means necessary'.  Now though, they were stuck with him.

"Maybe we should keep him here.  I'll have a couple of RVs in here to serve as a temporary base for all of us"

"Wasn't your jaw broken?" Tank snapped at Blockbuster. The implied threat (which he wouldn't really act upon) was that he might break it again. "You'll see your lawyer when we've got an interview room, you putz."

The threat of having his head knocked off kept Blockbuster in line.  His jaw, though mostly healed, was still hurting.  He didn't want to take his chances with Frank.  Much better to wait until someone else guards him. A 'softer' target.

He did grin though.  This wasn't over.  Not by a long shot.

Illya shuffles over to Shiva, "What if we made a sort of anti-gravity cage for him? I can easily suspend him, but I would be stuck doing that all the time. Do you think you could create, like, a gizmo that would keep the reversed gravitons?

In reply to Black Hole (msg # 288):

"Yeah, I tired that. But without Mr Stark's replusor ray tech, the power requirements are waaaaay outta budget." Shiva replies with a sigh. It was then Six, from behind John's head formed a dollar sign emoji while shaking its 'head' no.


OOC-GM does not want high tech solutions by PCs.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:19, Thu 09 June 2022.

Illya looks thoroughly stumped and he slowly attempts to sort through the predicament, "I could build a rough cage from debris, but he's strong enough to be able to punch his way out. I could suspend him, but gravity will revert the instant I stop actively inverting it."

Illya runs his hand through his blond curly hair, "Is there anyone that can take him off our hands? The Avengers? The X-Men?"

"The Avengers don't want to hold our prisoners, and they don't have the facilities for it either.  Even if they did, we can't release a prisoner into the hands of a third party" he didn't even mention the X-Men, which were, officially, all wanted for vigilantism
"We need to figure this out ourselves"

Johnson wanders away to take his call, returning a few minutes later with the news:

"Update from Agent Messer.  She, Agent Garcia, and Sean managed to find and detain Malice on the Astral Plane.  From what she told them, the Marauders were hired by David Gair.
Mr. Gair is in charge of 'Special Assets and Operations', and reports directly to the CEO.
He also runs a Black Site in New York.  A cloning facility..."

"A cloning facility?" Even with Scrambler coming back from the dead, it was a little difficult to take in. Cloning was real now? And it was being reserved for super-villains, of course. "We need to shut that down. Hard."

In reply to Tank (msg # 293):

"That disproves the evil twin theory for Scrambler. Although that was never much in doubt. Let me scan his DNA for any tell tale signs of direct manipulation. I doubt I will get anything out of it, but its something I can research later. I wanna know if they have more cloning labs out there..." Shiva says, scanning Scrambler's remains once more just for good measure. He also checked for any unfamiliar surveillance for his paranoia's sake.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:12, Wed 15 June 2022.

Illya nods vigorously in agreement with Tank, but his bruised face and bloodied clothes suggest that he may not necessarily be ready for an immediate return to action.

His confidence also wanes when he looks at Blockbuster, "We can't bring him with us."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:22, Wed 15 June 2022.

"We can't do anything without a warrant, and we're not going to get one.  I can't tell a judge we need to search the premises based on an unrecorded conversation we had with a ghost in a dream" it sounded insane saying it out loud, even to him
"I'm going to ask the FBI to interrogate Mr. Gair, as part of the current investigation into Essex.  If he cooperates, we might have enough to justify a search of their facility"

OOC: nothing to indicate that Scrambler is a clone based on his DNA alone.  But unless he does have an identical twin, it is safe to assume he is one.