In reply to Nightshade (msg # 70):

(rotten roll)

Reflex was not prepared for a compliment.  He pauses.  . No.  No.  No.  You hurt Panda.  Police only want to take you back to your creepy uncle who looks at you like you are candy and wants to... Never mind.  I'm not a hero and will never be. 

Black Diamond speaks up.  look kid.   Crime is not glamorous.  Trust me, I've been there. You haven't done anything wrong yet.  Don't ruin your life.

  My life can't get any worse.  The only good thing ever to happen to me is that guy giving me powers.  So its time things go my way. 

(Anyone else want to chime in.  Last chance before he runs away)

Sharp says "look, if you're in danger of abuse by this uncle you mentioned, there are mentorships in various organizations that can shelter you, or at least keep you protected. I've even volunteered for the Big Brother program back in the 70s. Maybe it's time I stepped up to volunteer again, if you're interested?"

Flicker watches Reflex, then tells Nightshade, "I gotta do this."
Immediately thereafter, he appears a couple arm lengths away from Reflex. "How fast can you talk, and listen? [Language unknown: I ivlaes wato an hein esofwi virsanart inwe toponc vorentast vernotpro, aspl To ichck as ec sta icaiouwhi setar trta-maut cencss resoutthu onsla. Whle ichntetin stiul Ncpromicnapr thiomeven he asadad waent con ni Tenast, diprfi ll thhaiv ng korderyin m ek m ca toatad ncmen ta. Nela weie us ainastsan ndeithous sta is onelwe eifo th areereres, hat stiv men peenee venntinte, onll atiromven sa din ughoutrat weron we somhateen ro."
"K areectver mi ioou a vor, pahe liwil ai. Ie t caroel eknt k, esticaine millpo was diieur ad bletiothu ard lin lat str be. Linncerat estch sethe atewhi-reance tawien tinbutntiart asiou as ureoerere k nce nenepl, ard ingntitrarom verurebut eswit i ainyiniveany it o lesmi olivitma, lonti erlesile resiet ti ourdaysom caenulfi utect eausetthu maan meriicma man ckivasni ulndad. Lintedoul isine besspr she ichoneder ntpentai esecof trsta pr anticaous t ateomence ho m olriivte, nt ilaibepe fiome o ardtheout ing niunei n tic ich il vireraain eenen hetero."
"K unduredin o hiolte ter tervenast fius lesstipre ous onusli ngpo, ionbleore onsourant an essareingrom le mounio. On sti ereforset herureday en stfi in calond ateameday hari thoec ti ur llil hatoertraortort no atstr ard i conomeles thoac mehou e e. Anyithdin nte enure mi ne, artbutnde evethaest prth ronewi eau aier reaonetic ilour tewe bende, eenwhihou sewhce wa onarpa a ect tic ceolmo men ss onre entiouous. Stintivor era, armoer a a eauerereaateant menwerntiver ut enmiio andounrut inis hatntirat fondac. Chee lare atedayith ch chce dayto con p po, tast u Te li an, Noul e icnttr loti isou"] Flicker points at Black Diamond [Language unknown: "llri even osfiho itad wh ardectlin, nous anyma ted trdi ul is. Eratiokor tofi ic ul belepe k ard iccom, acheus sti un lesbe ntidi som sast le artel reawasset voryinter t. Ecteveave, antrutman sa wiil herhatrom ei icivre san diur trtriv ck paettess ureiouectshe stla ei dihoet ma."]

In reply to Flicker (msg # 73):

. I'm doing just fine on my own.  I'm not going back to my uncle or go with strangers.  And its just my luck.  I finally get a break and It has side effects.  I'm out of here! . He sounds uncertain and a little scared but runs off.

(majestic and nightshade should have helped.  Oh well)

April comes out of the homeless shelter.  . Ava.  I think I need some time away from you.. Sounded still scared from Phobia

OOC No time like the present. Player thought the situation with the kid was under control. Ooops!

Nightshade will quickly fly after Reflex, "Flicker, Ocean, Sharp, going after the kid I'll be right back. M.O. I'm wearing the etracker just in case."
After a few minutes of trying to catch up to the kid, she sighs and turns back to meet with the others. "Wow, that kid is so fast he might as well be moving at lightspeed. Well I tried to talk with him. People, we need to get together and bring everyone up to speed on what's going on." She says while gliding to a easy landing.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:40, Thu 11 Nov 2021.

Ava gets in front of April and looks her in the eyes to get her attention.

"What did she show you?"

In reply to Nightshade (msg # 75):

Now the kid is dang fast .  Dex 30, running 40" combat.  So getting ahead of him will be difficult.  But I'm known for being fair.  Roll 3d6 and if you get even 1 six, you were in his path anyway. Or he just hears you.

April is still shaking.  The truth.  She showed me the truth.  . And she continues to walk away.

In reply to April (msg # 77):

"Her truth, not The truth.  She showed me herself dead, playing on my fear of someone I hurt killing themselves.  What fear did she show you?"

Flicker agrees with Nightshade's description, "whether he knows it or not, he's already passed that barrier. It's terribly unfortunate, I feel sorry for him."
"Can you imagine Sharpshooter, if he was stuck at thirteen years old forever? It's almost a classic formula for a reluctant villain."
"Which I think was the intent. The kid just got his powers, and from what he said they came from some sort of benefactor. Now the kid's finding out just how badly he's been used. I only hope I've assessed his temporal flow correctly. It's entirely possible that his aging has been accelerated rather than decelerated."

"Stuck at 13? Damn, that's harsh. The elixir that maintains my vitality retards my aging, but I'd hate to be stuck like that. Does that mean he's immortal? Or just that he has a normal span of time on this Earth, but stuck at age 13?"

In reply to Sharpshooter (msg # 80):

. You know how we always argue about me being an enabler?  She showed me your point of view.  Your fear that I'm the one keeping you not only fat but dependent on me.  I just need to prove to myself that things wouldn't change if I let you be not dependent on me.  I love you, but I think we need a break.  Besides, Nightshade needs the information you have. 

Nightshade casually puts an arm around Flicker's shoulder for a brief hug while shaking her head, "Stuck at 13? To be honest, without a decent family or friends it would probably kinda suck, excuse the pun. I've spent way way too much of my teen life in terrible situations, sometimes caught between survival and what few ethics I could remember." Gently squeezing his hand before letting him go, she quickly moved to intercept April. Looking at April she asked, "What am I supposed to know that you can't or won't tell Ocean?"

In reply to Nightshade (msg # 82):

Ava puts a hand on NightShade's shoulder.

"Now's not the time, okay?  She's just been through a major ordeal being kidnapped by a mentalist that preys on and manipulates fears."

To April:

"You may want to stick around for a bit, I had Primus impound the van, since I don't drive.  We can discuss things in private at home later tonight when emotions are less high, okay?"

To NightShade:

"I'll tell you what we've found out so far once we get back to Primus.  Too many eyes and ears here..."

In reply to Majestic Ocean (msg # 83):

I'll be at home, packing.  Like I said.  I need some space right now.

You all make it back to Primus

When the group arrives at the government headquarters and have verified privacy, Nightshade turns to Majestic Ocean saying with a polite smile contradicts the impatient tone of her voice as she says, "I'm just coming off of being hangry. I'm not hungry anymore, but I'm still just a bit annoyed. I'm sorry about April, Majestic, but I need some answers."

Sharp says to Nightshade "tell me y'all didn't go assaulting that McGavin feller, did ya? Man's got a right to be presumed innocent until proven otherwise."

With an angry flinch, Nightshade briefly closes her eyes and clenches her hands into fists. When her eyes and hands open again, she is visibly calmer. She replies to Sharpshooter with a tight smile, "Ok, per your request, I'm telling you that I didn't assault 'that McGavin feller'. I will also tell you that he has been instrumental and persistent in provoking me to do so."

"I, too, am concerned with Mr. McGavin. If the machinery and chemicals he appears to be  developing were combined with a protective suit similar to the turtle armor, with a flick of a switch one could have a subservient, powered henchman to do whatever was asked. It may be possible that Mr. McGavin is in Oppenheimer's position, and doesn't have much choice as to the disposition of the final product."
"If that IS the case, we could find out by asking PRIMUS. With security this tight, we merely ask if McGavin is involved with metahuman research. Any answer that isn't a quick 'no' is a qualified 'yes'.

In reply to Flicker (msg # 88):

"Okay, we already know a few things...

McGavin is just the PR/Security guy and cannot be threatened.  Yes, he has a wife and kids, but he is dying, and well, threatening to kill him doesn't work."

Sharp asks "Dying? From what, and how did you find out?"

In reply to Sharpshooter (msg # 90):

"Dude, seriously?  Your buddy was the one who told me...you were right there."

"Also, the new Supervillain Prison going up?  AAI and McGavin are involved in it, and whoever is behind them is using the front of the bloodmobile to make supers out of the local homeless population so they can run...amok...and be captured, thus generating and fulfilling the need for the prison.  Whoever is the money behind the Prison is your one behind all this."

"I bet if you search the bus, that conveniently had a bomb threat called on it, you find the serum injected into the IVs used on the the homeless people.  If not there then in the residue within the tubes themselves..."

"There's something wrong with that. They might turn these poor souls into unknowing weapons of mass destruction, but unless the effect is permanent it doesn't generate the need for the prison. Of course, if they've managed to find a way to maintain the effect without appearing to interfere in its course then they could calmly keep the cells full, and whenever there was a real meta to incarcerate, turn off one of their 'made men' and send him to the streets as 'rehabilitated'."
"That would account for their need transmit matter. We need a biochemists to evaluate the half life of their formula. I've got it on my phone."

In reply to Flicker (msg # 92):

"I don't know about Bio-Chemistry so much, but I do have functional knowledge of Meta-Abilities, Genetics, and Pharmacology."

"First things first, though, let's get a team to search the bus for the samples/residue we need.."

In reply to Majestic Ocean (msg # 89):

I am going to jump ahead a few days. The scientist is back as is Ellie and her boyfriend Chuck.  This will give everyone time to spend those xp. Remind me what you want with your xp.  Update characters if possible.

Neither the scientist nor Ellie nor Chuck want to admit they were abducted. The butcher is not pressing charges.  The tape of Nightshade's outburst will be played over and over again but without her apology or her calming down.  Making everyone avoid her.

If you have any questions or things you want your character to do during those days, let me know.

1 xp, and Happy Thanksgiving.

Thanks for the EP and Happy Holidays to all!