In reply to Quozaxx (msg # 85):

He climbs over them in the space between their shoulders and the top of the tunnel, wriggling when necessary. If the tunnel is so tight this can't be accomplished the best he could do is catch up to Nightshade and Doll.
Among other things, must pass through intervening space prevents teleportation into a space seen through a window unless there's a path to the room through an open door, and doesn't allow teleportation to escape entangles. Plus it allows the GM to say, "your body won't fit through the space left in the tunnel so you can't bypass anyone in the tunnel." That is how Flicker's teleportation is INTENDED to work, so don't hesitate in telling me I can't do what I said I did.

I think I hurt my language center.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:28, Wed 15 Mar 2023.

Nightshade puts away her wings, since she (apparently) cannot fly or glide through this tunnel. However, she will get as close to the fleeing VIPER agents as she can then leap straight ahead at the nearest one carrying some of the chemical.

OOC
Her leap is 10", will that enable her to reach, bowl through, or pass the VIPER Agents?

In reply to Nightshade (msg # 88):

The tunnel was made by Armadillo.  Not much taller or wider than a single file.  Which is why poor ocean would not be able to fit.  (too many cakes - you know). So Flicker catches up with Nightshade.

Nightshade is having trouble jumping high enough for a decent jump.  (and I believe you have to jump high as well.  So let me know if I am wrong.). The agents are running at 16 hexes (non combat 8 base x 2). They have a +2 run.

You don't catch up.  There is a fork in the path.  An agent per path.  You don't know who has the calming formula. But now you can each take down an agent.

In reply to Viper agent (msg # 89):

"Flicker, take the right and I'll go left! Call out when you've got your agent!"
she said as she continued running after the fleeing VIPER Agent.

Once her target was isolated in a singular tunnel by himself, she curled in her ears and
screamed into the VIPER agent's back.

OOC
Nightshade rolled 12 using 3d6 with rolls of 6,5,1.  Activation roll 14-.
15:38, Today: Nightshade rolled 13 using 3d6 with rolls of 3,5,5.  Sonic Scream EB.
15:39, Today: Nightshade rolled 36 (with 9 body) using 10 with the Hero (Champions) system. Damage for Sonic Scream.

Using her close range Sonic Scream she attacked the VIPER agent.
It successfully activated, she hit a DCV of 6, and she did 36 STUN and 9 BODY.

(I'd also expect that she caught the agent by surprise (and possibly in non-combat) and the limited space may have also affected his DCV.)

Flicker doesn't acknowledge Nightshade in any way except calmly doing as she suggested. Moments later, he catches up with the Viper agent. Accosting the agent, Flicker prepares to react to the agent's response.

In reply to Nightshade (msg # 90):

I forgot to mention the agents above ground toss their guns and surrender.

Before I post the results of the scream.  Flicker and Doll can attack if they want.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:55, Thu 16 Mar 2023.

Assuming the best way to stop a runaway would be to slow it down, Flicker reaches out and drains the temporal energy from the Viper agent.

OOC: touch the agent and drain SPD
16:12, Today: Flicker rolled 11 (with 3 body) using 3 with the Hero (Champions) system with rolls of 4, 2, 5.  to attack with drain (OCV 6, DCV 6).
16:12, Today: Flicker rolled 25 (with 7 body) using 6 with the Hero (Champions) system with rolls of 6, 5, 2, 2, 5, 5.  drain, -1 SPD for each ten points.

hits DCV 6 or less, drains off up to two points SPD depending on defense

The Ranger secures prisoners, asking the guards for extra sets of cuffs. Then he gathers the weapons.

In reply to Sharpshooter (msg # 94):

When things start getting in hand, Ocean will check on the kid to make sure she's not traumatized...

With the pair of Viper agents splitting off with each headed in separate directions, Doll took the direction opposite that of which Nightshade was headed to better divide their efforts.

"Where do you think you're going?!" the miniature martial-artist shouted to the Viper agent as the distance between them narrowed.  "Get back here!"

Not expecting the agent to comply, the tiny woman launched herself into the fleeing criminal.

OOC:  Oops. Realizing that I haven't updated the character sheet.  Sticking with the character as written.
Basic Strike (+0 OCV/+0 DCV) 6d6 Damage

09:27, Today: Doll rolled 9 (with 3 body) using 3 with the Hero (Champions) system with rolls of 4, 3, 2.  To Hit, OCV 6.

09:27, Today: Doll rolled 27 (with 7 body) using 6 with the Hero (Champions) system with rolls of 5, 5, 5, 6, 2, 4.  Strike, 6d6.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:42, Sun 19 Mar 2023.

In reply to Doll (msg # 96):

Doll and Nightshade knock out their foes

Flicker slows his down.  He has a grenade in his hand and is slowly opening it.  Very, very slowly opening it.  The pin had already been pulled.  So the question remains - should he get coffee first and come back or just finish him off

Ocean sees that the little girl isn't phased at all, being McGavin daughter
SS gathers all the agents.

Flicker's eyes widen at the sight of the grenade, and he gives the timestream a shove. The Viper agent slows even further. Everything else nearby, slows down as well.
Flicker prepares to grab the agent and run full speed back out of the tunnel as soon as the agent releases the grenade.

OOC: switch multipower to Suppress SPD and reduce SPD by one to anyone within 8" that has less than ten points of power defense

In reply to Flicker (msg # 98):

Flicker grabs the agent to safety.  The grenade falls in the empty tunnel and explodes.  Nightshade and Doll hear the explosion but are safe.

In reply to Viper agent (msg # 99):

3 XP

SS will probably get his meal with baron Teuton

The formula is safe.  The press got it all on camera.  The question of the rights of the villain are raised as is the ethical questions it raises.

Anyone want to say anything?

What do you want to do now. we are Going into downtime.

"Time to play the old 'shell game'." Doll announced, though her audience of one probably wasn't able to appreciate her attempt to be witty after being knocked out.

"Who's hiding the formula?" she asked playfully as she walked around the body.  "Is it you, sweetie?"

The tiny woman checked both of the agent's hands and explored all exposed pockets as necessary to conduct a thorough search for the container(s) that held the formula that Viper considered precious enough to stage such an elaborate heist.

Whether or not she was fortunate to secure the formula, she makes sure to restrain the Viper agent that she had defeated and drags him or her the length of the tunnel back to the prison parking lot, stopping momentarily at the forks where the tunnels had spilt to call out and make sure that her teammates were equally successful (not that she had any doubt).

Back above ground, Doll coordinates with her new teammates to make sure that everything is under control at the prison and waits around for the prison officials to confirm that nothing else.  It wouldn't be the first time somebody staged an event as a distraction to cover up some other activity.

The shrunken superheroine did not address the press and did not share any opinions about the day's events.

Sharp is in his Texas Ranger guise. He'll call in Federal agents and Primus to handle the bookings and the high-end tech, respectively. His comments run around "no comment" to "get that camera out of my face".

Flicker gets the Viper agent out of the tunnel, grabs the agent's shoulders and shakes the agent as he begins shouting into the Viper agent's face, "What're you, goofy? If I hadn't dragged you back here to get some bracelets you'd be wearin' a wooden kimono!"
Shoving the agent along towards the uniforms (guards or whatever), Flicker continues to mumble about grenades causing tunnel collapses and the short amount of time anyone in the tunnel would have before they were out of air.

In reply to Flicker (msg # 103):

Doll brings the formula back up.

Everyone is near or on the stage and you all see reporter Tom Longstreet push a microphone at you.  Tell the viewers what happened here today.

(come on, you know you want something to say)

Flicker approaches the reporter and nods to him. "It was just the same old song and dance, Mr. Longstreet. A sort of coordinated attack on the prison to release inmates and sabotage the justice system. You'll have to ask others for specifics, I was mainly rounding up thugs."
Then before Tom Longstreet can ask anything else, Flicker is suddenly elsewhere. He can be seen near the tunnel opening, where Flicker asks Nightshade, "hey, kid, are you ok?"

Nightshade smiles weakly and nods before hugging Flicker in a tight embrace. "I'll be fine, man o mine. Okay more seriously, yes I'm alright. But I hate having to scream like that. It hurts everything when I do it. I'm just glad we got that formula before the snakes (VIPER) made off with it." She pauses to nuzzle his cheek. "Um, I think I might have a few words for the press, wanna meet up later for dinner and dancing? Or do you think I should take some time and then make a formal press release?"

"Tell you the truth, I don't know how to handle the press. Used to be I'd just tell 'em it was classified. Now they've gone and learned to ask what classification and who do they contact. Usually I just play dumb."
"You just say when you're ready, and I'll show up. I haven't been dancing in decades, so it might take a bit to get started, but it always works out with the right partner."

In reply to Flicker (msg # 107):

(If Nightshade wants an interview, let me know)

OOC
Oh yeah, she's willing to give an interview this time.

In reply to Nightshade (msg # 109):

Wait!  I think Nightshade also wants to make a statement.  Go ahead Nightshade

Before she begins her statement, she hands her helmet to Flicker. (Her helmet is set to record the interview, sending a clean copy to her cell phone.)

“Mr. Longstreet. Let me begin by saying that despite any words to the contrary, I have always tried to act within the spirit of the law, for the betterment of sentient life on this world, and to protect the innocent. Yes, I am a meta-human. Yes, I have additional abilities that most people don't have. But they don't have my problems either. But this is not all about me.

The Neighborhood Watch was formed to protect regular people. The Watch was created because we recognize that exceptional ability brings on exceptional responsibility. We in the Watch don't believe that might always makes right, we believe that trying to do what's right for everyone makes everyone better. We in the Watch don't believe that we are the final determiners of justice, we usually seek to work with legal representatives of justice towards the best results possible.

Speaking for myself, I know that Divine Benevolence comes in many forms. Some are not the ones I was raised with, yet I see value in many spiritual truths. I seek to walk in the footsteps of the all the heroes of this world who have come before me.

I believe that sentient beings need to be able to make open and free choices about their behavior, and then be subject to the consequences of those choices. A starving man who steals food to eat because he has no other choice may legally be a criminal, but I believe that he needs help, not punishment because his choices were based on his fundamental needs, and he had no other recourse.

Also, I believe that sentient beings that live in a society should have complete access to all the rules, customs, and general knowledge available to that society, so they can make informed decisions.

Anything that removes free will is wrong. The so called 'calming formula' does just that. It removes choice and responsibility from free thinking sentients, therefore it removes from them their fundamental rights as thinking and feeling beings. Therefore, it is wrong and evil.

At this point, Nightshade will look right at Tom Longstreet and say, "You know Tom, I have been portrayed as a violent person. And honestly, sometimes I am more violent than the average person. But most of the time, I'm not. I don't really want to hurt anyone. I mostly want to watch children play, fly the night skies past lovers watching a beautiful moonrise, play in a pickup game of basketball, sit in a crowd of happily screaming fans, cuddle with puppies or kittens or a really good friend. I was adopted and raised by an unusual family who loved me with all their hearts.

The Neighborhood Watch is here to stand for what is right. We are civic guardians here to help the people whenever and where ever we can. To quote from an old favorite song:

Alright check it
Let me tell you this in closin'
I know we might seem imposin'
But trust me, if we ever show in your section
Believe me, it's for your own protection

'Cause we see things that you need not see
And we be places that you need not be. "