Jack immediately scans the car, giving it a thorough examination in particular checking the undercarriage and parts that might be scraping against either the ground or each other. Moving against each other or a newly inserted thing, like for instance, a bomb.

Glancing at the boy running toward the supermarket, he suggests, “Princess, help Odelia with whatever that is about, I’ll check the car and then catch up.”

In reply to Jack Sharpe (msg # 20):

Darja shoots you a glare at the word princess.  But she flys after Odelia-bat.

The car seems normal.  Normalish.  It's been hot wired.  But no bombs or anything in it.

Inside the market, the student is rushing down the soda aisle.  He stops in front of the shelf stacked with 12 packs of Fresca, and reaches in, pushing most of them onto the floor.

He grabs one box near the back.  You can't 'see' into it.

"At last!  I can at least show everyone the really refreshing taste of Fresca today!  Everything else has gone south."

Odelia-bat turns into Odelia-jaguar.  That doesn't go over too well with many of the patrons.  One old woman falls over, grasping her chest.  Darja curses and flies towards her.

Odelia-jaguar is headed down the soda aisle.

A quick text is thrown to the Program folks: Roger hot wired a car and is running around as a student at … the 5th device might be there.

A moment later, when he sees the Fresca, he gets a bad feeling. Nothing ever goes right with Fresca.

Jack calls out, “Bomb in the Fresca!” as soon as he spots it and starts flying in to help intercept the device and Roger-host.

Using the mechanical doors, rather than waiting for the sensor operated doors he zips down the adjacent aisle and then hops over the Frosted Flakes, causing them to shake and start to fly everywhere as he moves rapidly. Objects slowly moving in flight as he touches down and blitzes.

Prepared to assist Darja or act on his own, as necessary.

In reply to Jack Sharpe (msg # 22):

Roger turns as the air fills with fiber rich cereal boxes.

Darja flies past and snatches the Fresca box out of his hands.  She turns and flies straight up, just knocking a hole in the ceiling and keeping climbing.  Seems she plans to throw the box into the river.

"What is with you people?  Can't a guy have any fun?"

Apparently not as Odelia-Jaguar leaps at him, knocking his host body across the floor.

She snarls at the body, which suddenly screams in a higher pitch than a eunech.

A middle aged woman standing at the end of the row rolls her eyes, putting her hands on her hips.

"Seriously.  I thought you types didn't like tearing up the civies."

Roger turns and looks at you.  "What's your story anyway?  Your handle is "Manitou" and you're dressed like a Mexican wrestler?  Identity crises much? Maybe I should take a handle too?  What do you think a good name would be?"

“Look, you want to light off some bombs in the middle of nowhere, we wouldn’t show up, but don’t blame us for doing our jobs,” Jack replies with that same modified voice, his hands folding behind him for a moment as he pulls out his cell phone and sends off yet another quick text to the program folks. In case they can scramble someone like Omen to actually incapacitate Roger. Verifying his previous text about Roger.

Reaching out, he grabs Odelia-jaguar by the nape of the neck and keeps her from trying to have a go at the Roger-host.

“Damaging his hosts has no effect, don’t hurt her,” he tells the girl and then lets her go.

Looking back at Roger, he shrugs slightly.

“My other costume is at the dry cleaner. For you? The Creeper? I mean, you do spend all of your adult time harassing teenagers, instead of robbing banks or something normal hoods do.”

In reply to Jack Sharpe (msg # 24):

He laughs.  "What can I say?  I seem to be stuck in the past."

He glances around and seems to fixate on a small, broken plastic tag holder.  He reaches his host's fingers down and picks up a jagged shard of plastic.

"Did you know human skin is remarkably resilient?  Takes more than you think to puncture it."

He jams the woman's thumb down on the edge of the tag shard, only managing to draw out a small rivulet of blood.

"But maybe you have a point.  Maybe I should be like all the other normal hoods.  Yeah."

He drops the shard, looks up at you and grins.  "I think I'm going to start calling myself Meat Puppet.  Yeah.  I think I'll just be like all the other hoods now.  Thanks kid.  You've really helped me find myself." He giggles.

The woman suddenly stops giggling and stumbles forward.  From outside, you can hear a large splash.  Darja chose the river option in terms of handling the bomb.

A moment later Gut Shot and a guy wearing a bandolero filled with several small glass vials come running in.

Gut Shot glances around, then at you and Odeila, who's starting to settle down.

"I take it we're too late."

Odelia manages to roll her eyes.

Jack just eyerolls at the show with the piece of plastic. He doesn’t act when the finger is punctured, but he’s prepared to step in if Roger goes for the carotid or something that the woman can’t come back from. Roger seems like the sort that if he doesn’t get a chance to make that point he’d just switch bodies and Jack would be playing keepaway for the next several hours until Roger managed to gouge someone’s eyes out or something.

“Yikes,” he replies to Roger.

When Gutshot and (the Alchemist?) show up, he nods his head slightly. Releasing Odelia, he answers, “Roger was here a few minutes ago. I can take a spin around and see if I can spot any idiots giggling, if you’d like,” he mentions. "Princess took the bomb to the river. Based on what I heard, she made it just fine. In fact.."

He pauses and then clears his breath and speaks in Estonian, "You good Princess?"

When he hears back in the affirmative, one assumes..

"Yeah, she's fine."

In reply to Jack Sharpe (msg # 26):

Gut Shot nods at Mr. Bandelero.  "You haven't met.  Alchemist.  Uh...Titan, right?  Anyway.  You guys did good.  But man, is this gonna be a pain to clean up.

"Hard Time will debrief you and Darja tomorrow.  Oh.  I had someone swing by your place.  Your girlfriend is fine.  I had them contact her parents and take her home."

Odelia turns human and gives you a glare.  But she turns to Gut Shot, hands on her hips.  "Yeah, ain't that all hunky dory. But meanwhile, that whatever the hell he is got away."

Gut Shot gives her a cool look.  "It happens. Our primary concern is civilian safety. I want you to help anyone in here who might have been hurt."

She signals you to skeedaddle.

Darja is hovering over the roof.  She cocks an eyebrow at you.  I guess we did good, ja?

I will let you do anything you may want to do and we can wrap up homecoming. Thanks.

Jack listens and offers another prompt nod of the head. “Nice to meet you, Alchemist,” he greets the man and stands there with his hands behind his back as he listens to Gut Shot. He doesn’t really intend to act like a good little soldier, but he gives that vibe anyhow. He seems mildly pleased that someone went to check on Lydia, but he doesn’t say anything.

He looks over at Odelia’s comment and while it seems like Gut Shot is waving the girl off, as catching Roger is apparently impossible, he struggles briefly with making a contribution of his own. Wanting to point out that he felt that the Guardians were somewhat lackluster on their intelligence briefings. A simple “class” once a week to talk about the local Hoods.

Roger being one of them.

Something to bring up with HT when it isn’t a sensitive topic.

When told to make like a tree, he shoots out of the hole that Darja made in the roof and snorts at her comment, “Yeah, I saw you with that van full of mercs. That was pretty good. I’m guessing they lost the two meta mercs I tapped out,” he muses as he spins, looking in the direction they’d have gone.

“How’s Colby?”

This message was last edited by the player at 01:58, Mon 29 Nov 2021.

In reply to Jack Sharpe (msg # 28):

She grins.  You mean those two you fought with in the school?  We got 'em.  Or the Program people took them from me.  I saw them trying to sneak away.  Who's got your back?

She lifts both her thumbs, pointing them at her face.  This gal!.

Colby's fine.  I saw him getting some treatment.  I was going to go check on him.

She seems to think about something a moment and then says, in English, "Okay.  I can see why you want to wear the cape when you grow up.  There's a kind of high to pulling it off, right?"

Lydia texts you.  Got home OK.  Still feel funny.  Mom and Dad are freaking out.  Your aunt is nice.  Talk to you tomorrow

Jack nods at her when she begins to mention the duo that’d snuck away and then he actually shows a little bit of surprise before he smiles at her words. “Good. What kind of degenerate scum takes a job on kids?” he asks rhetorically and shakes his head.

Looking in the direction of the treatment area, he nods at her words and starts to fly in that direction as they talk. Not pushing the boundaries of speed, just casual flying.

“Yeah, the successes are great, but we need to remember that there are failures too, and sometimes we’ll see the darkness,” he reminds her, to bring it into perspective. Good with the bad.

Pulling out his phone, he glances at the text and sends one back: Let me know if you get worse, I’ll make sure top people are helping you, just in case.

In reply to Jack Sharpe (msg # 30):

I am so sorry.  I thought I posted the start of a new story line.  Sorry to keep you hanging like that.

Marlene pokes her head in the next morning.  It's still dark outside.  Five AM.

"They just announced it:  your school is closed for the rest of the week.  Cos of...you know."

She is silent a moment and then says, "I liked your girlfriend.  She's nice.  We didn't get the best introduction obviously. But it was kind of cute the way she was so embarrassed."

Marlene opens her mouth to say something and then shuts it.  She shakes her head and gives you a wane smile.

"Anyway.  You're on an early Thanksgiving break I guess."

She's right.  If you're off this week, that means you only have about two days of school next week before the Thanskgiving holiday.

"Are you gonna do anything special today?"

After a moment she sighs. <royralred>"I guess I want to ask...did you get caught up in all that bullshit last night? "</royalred>

Looking up from where he is reading from the AER, while listening to language lessons, now working through rarer languages and dialects all while while simultaneously watching anime, Jack nods at her words. “Figures,” he sighs.

Listening to her compliment about Lydia, he nods in agreement.

“I'll try to invite her over this week, since we've got nothing else to do, apparently,” he tells Marlene idly. Thinking about things as his hands turn to his phone, stopping the AER articles from autoscrolling.

Thinking about his plans for the week and his open schedule, he nods after a moment.

“I'll go visit mom. Date with Lyds. Probably do some more Program stuff,” he checks off a few ideas idly, ticking a few fingers up.

“Get caught up? Sorta. I saved lives, I guess,” he answers.

In reply to Jack Sharpe (msg # 32):

Marlene smiles, though it seems to have more than a touch of wryness to it. "Figured. Proud of you for that. Just be careful, okay?"

She turns around then stops, poking her head back in. "Oh. When you go see your Mom, can you take her a package?  She texted me saying she wants me to send her some soap and cream cheese."

---

Lydia texts you that afternoon.

Thanks for saving the day. What a mess. Folks are overreacting so I need to be the good girl and stay home today. Can we meet up Wednesday for lunch?

HT texts you and Darja.  Good work this weekend. Let's meet up at that field we did the first time. Oh nine hundred tomorrow morning. Not like you guys got school

Around lunch time you "hear" something outside.

"You're just a liar..."

"You should BE honest."

"You kids are being rude. I just asked you a question."

You take a "look".  Saul is downstairs in the breezeway, standing in front of the door to the apartment under his.  A couple of BEs are facing him, some kind of pamphlet in their hands.

“Sure, just put anything you want me to take in a bag,” Jack suggests, since she still has a few minutes before heading off to work. It’ll save him from trying to figure out which cheese he is supposed to be taking with him, and which is supposed to stay in the apartment.

“By the way, have you given any consideration into the house thing?” he asks.

---

Of course.  Want to make it a trip? If you can get away earlier in the morning, I can take you somewhere and we’d be back by late afternoon?

Having said that, he sends a quick text to his mechanic on the other phone: Can I swing by and pitch a project to you? It’d be a quick thing to make. Frankly, I could make it with scrap metal and a welding torch. He’ll need to make a thing if he’s going to take Lydia anywhere more than a few blocks away.

Looking at the text from HT, he replies: Ok.

When he spots the interaction on going between the BEs and goes over to pick up his key and wallet. Stepping out into the hallway and locking up, he walks down the stairs to back up Saul.

“Hey Saul,” he calls out, then since he has been learning, among all the other things, he adds, "These guys bothering you?" in Hebrew. Just to practice.

In reply to Jack Sharpe (msg # 34):

Marlene nods when you request she bag stuff up but stops at your question. "Honestly, with everything going on, I actually forgot."

She seems to consider a moment. "I dunno. I mean...it would feel like I'm selling you for a house. I'm...I'm not sure how comfortable I am with that. Does that make sense?"

---

Saul blinks as you speak in his mother tongue.

The BEs just stare at you.  You notice they aren't blinking. No. Wait.  They just did.  Once.

Saul cocks an eyebrow, obviously surprised, but shakes his head. "No," he says back in Hebrew.  "When did you learn-Never mind. Hang around if you you a minute though."

He turns back to the BEs.  "Look. I'm not tryin' to stop you. But Mrs. Kowolski said she isn't interested. She's actually an atheist-"

"Then why do you care?"

The other one nods. "You should BE more concerned with those that think like you do."

Saul frowns. "Is that what you believe? Never mind. Mrs. Kowolski has asked you to leave her alone. She asked me to come down and explain that to you. If you want, we can ask the cops to come explain it to you. Alright?"

The BEs study him.  Then you. Then they look at each other.

Without another word they turn around and move off.

Saul waits until they are headed up the sidewalk and sighs.  Thanks Jack. Mrs. Kowolski talked to one a' them outside the Piggly Wiggly a couple of weeks ago. Now they keep stoppin' by.  She's elderly and served 'em tea and cookies cos she thought she had to be hospitable. But they kinda took it as a sign she was interested.  They...well anyway.  Thanks.

"I heard about what happened at your school.  Were you there? You okay? All your friends alright?"

“I want you to get the house,” Jack mentions. “It’s not you selling me, it’s me giving you a gift so that you get something out of having a Cape for a nephew.”

“Besides my handsome face.”

---

Jack looks back at the BEs, not blinking back at them. Playing a staring game with them.

Without looking at Saul, he gathers the rest of the conversation that he hadn’t been there for. They are trying to “convert” her. Weirdos.

Looking back to Saul, he nods at the older man. “I was there, defused a few bombs, stopped the bad guy, no big deal,” he tells the rabbi, acting like he’s joking. Mostly for the laughs. “But yeah, I’m fine. My girlfriend got hit with the ipecac, and she felt off for a bit, but she should be fine now.”

In reply to Jack Sharpe (msg # 36):

"I saw her...well. I'm assumin' it was her. Cute young girl in a bluish dress?..when she was leaving.  I was a little concerned cos the lady she was with seemed kinda...police like.  But Marlene said it was fine so I didn't worry.  Sorry if I'm bein' nosy.  I'm old.  You get nosey when you're old.

"Anyway. Glad you popped up.  I'm goin' out to the facility tomorrow.  Wanted to ask if you wanted me to drop anything off for your Mom."

Jack doesn't bother to add on any other defining traits about Lydia, as the blue dress and the timing are too in line otherwise. “That's her,” he confirms without talking about who the people who picked her up were. It doesn't really matter.

Hearing the second question he nods a little in thought.

“Well, I'm going up too, we can travel together? I'm supposed to bring some stuff from aunt Marlene.”

In reply to Jack Sharpe (msg # 38):

Saul grins. "That sounds good.  I'm gonna head up there about 8:30 in the A M.  That too early for ya?"

Your cell buzzes.  It's Kevin.

Come get a burger for lunch.

“That should be just fine, thank you Saul, do you drive or will we be taking the light rail?” Jack asks, knowing that there is an option. He actually knows the answer, since he’s a neighbor and has super senses, but he’d never travelled with Saul so he has to ask. Just so he can act like he’s planning ahead. “Oh, and did she like the sugar skull you brought last week?”

Looking at his phone, he sends back: Sounds good.

There any response from Lydia or Ooter?

In reply to Jack Sharpe (msg # 40):

"Light rail.  Driving long distances is a bit tough on me these days. So why drive when I can make some city worker do it for me. Am I right?"

Lydia texts back.  Sorry. Mom wanted me to make cookies with her. She's been all about bonding time today.

Can we shoot for Wednesday? Folks were really freaked by what happened.  Neither of them leaves me alone for long. I need to let them work the worry outta their system.

No response from Ooter.

Saul chuckles about the sugar skull.  "I think she did.  Maybe. She studied it for a long time an' didn't say much. But she kinda shrugged at the end.

"Don't take this the wrong way but your Mom...she's a...very private person, ain't she?"

“Well, hopefully riding in a train is a bit more comfortable for you,” Jack says with a smile and reaches out to pat the man on the shoulder before starting to back away. Clearly intending to make his exit now that a plan has been made and the issue with the BEs has been dealt with.

Pulling out his phone, he glances at it and texts while he talks with Saul: Wednesday. Try to get a few more hours free.

With that said, he thinks about her reaction and then how he’d seen his father there. Or maybe had seen his father there. Huh.

“Super brains are like that. She might have been thinking about the molecular structure or all the things she could make with it,” he shrugs a bit himself. “Anyway, see you tomorrow Saul.”

He decides to head to the burger place.

In reply to Jack Sharpe (msg # 42):

The text is to Lydia, right?

You haven't heard from Ooter by the time you head over to meet with Kevin.

He's got another tray of burgers and curly fries.  He nods at you as sit down.

"How was your date?"  He chuckles as he dips a fry into some ketchup.  "She okay?"

He pops the fry into his mouth.

"So...during all that chaos, I sort of tripped into one of the Program's computer banks.  Sorta accidentally hacked it."

He picks up one of his burgers.

"You said Roger was lookin' for 'Manitou', right?  I've never heard that one.  There is a file on the Program's Mainframe.  But the security was tight.  I mean tight.  I didn't have the time.  But I was able to see where it was being kept.

"The file was where they keep the stuff on Black level MTI threats.  Your file was in there too.  Also tight security."

Kevin picks up his Mr. Pibb. "Whatever Manitou is, it's heavy of the heavys.  Did Roger give any clue as to why he'd be lookin' for something...or I guess someone...like that?"

Yes.

Jack takes a seat with his milk shake and sips at it a little. “Her parents are freaking out a bit, but I imagine that’s going around for everyone who isn’t in the Program,” he admits, looking at his fingernails for a second as he thinks about everyone else in the school.

Listening to the tale about the story, he waits for the question or point and nods slightly. “It was on a to-do list on his cell phone. The list was: Mess with Sarah noted as ‘done’, Kill Whitefalls noted as being close but not done, Kill Dan, one about whether you’re still breathing, a list of the students in the program which didn’t have me and implied a sixth which doesn’t exist, and the last item on the list was all in caps and italics ‘who is manitou?’” Jack relays the list, in case it’s in any way helpful.

He shrugs.

“Ron had said that Roger was trying to get to the mainframe to look up a girl named Sarah’s dad—who according to Ron, Roger believes created that this guy created him—which would also explain why Roger hates her so much. Anyway, unless Sarah’s dad is also Manitou, I've got nothing.”