VIRGINIA- THE METAHUMAN ASSEMBLY Part III: Tyler Arrives [At the government's secret metahuman research facility in Virginia, metahumans from around the country continue to arrive, reluctantly or eagerly, recruited to help with the metahuman crisis facing the world. Enter Tyler Sterritt, from Celina, Texas. Just another reluctant hero....] [GM] [to Lisa] The scientists explain that the purpose of the obstacle course isn't so much to test your abilities, since you should be able to pass through it easily, but to possibly discover new ones. "Shocks and surprises often trigger previously unknown metahuman powers. We can't put you through anything truly life- threatening, or even anything that *appears* to be life-threatening, but there are enough tricks and surprises along the course that you just might be startled into doing something you didn't know you could." He chuckles at some private joke. "Try to stay in your human form throughout...I'm afraid in your dragon form, you'd totally destroy the obstacles." The obstacle course proves to be not much of a challenge at all....a run around a track that winds up and down small hills, under trees, through bushes... Pit traps, nets, unexpectedly being dumped into chilling cold water...you tear through the nets effortlessly, walk right out of the pits, and the water doesn't bother you much either. Ladders and ropes and walls, which would have given you a rough workout before your transformation, but which you probably could have passed, now barely get your pulse rate up. A mild electric shock on a metal causeway startles you, but doesn't slow you. And after a few impacts in the back, you realize you're being shot at, perhaps with a low-powered pellet gun, or tranquilizer darts...it doesn't matter, they bounce off you. The "ninja" that drops out of a tree and tries to grapple you to the ground IS a surprise....but you peel him off like a child, and casually toss him into nearby bushes. Twice more, men in padded suits try to ambush you, once by looping a rope around you, and it's almost frightening how easily you shrug pass them. It's clear you could squash them like bugs, if you were so inclined. Culbrand is waiting at the end, looking a little disappointed. "I'd say Ms. Chang had an even easier time of it than Mr. Shindell," he says to Harvey, who's waiting at the finish line. "You didn't feel any new abilities manifest, I take it?" He sighs. "This is still a very crude testing instrument. We're working on something a bit more...sophisticated." He smiles. <><><><><> Lisa: " Nothing new manifested. But that course was so easy I don't think it would have triggered any new meta-abilities. " She says slightly dissapointed. " Both of my battles against metas triggered new powers because my life was in danger. Maybe a more sophisticated course would do the trick if the meta running the course could be convinced that her life was in danger; even if it wasn't. " " I guess it's back to testing me to see what I can do. That at least seems to turn up new abilities from time to time. Did you want to test my dragon form next or my weather control ability ? " " Also you were going to tell me about the results of my testing especially the blood tests. " <><><><><> [GM] It's evening by now, and the scientists don't plan any more testing for you until tomorrow. In the meantime, they inform you that another metahuman is going to land soon, and perhaps you'd like to meet her as well? "No psychos coming with her, this time," Dr. Culbrand tells you. Before you rejoin the others, though, Dr. Culbrand acquiesces to your insistent questions about the blood tests. He takes you to a laboratory, and shows you a series of slides, and small test tubes. "I told you that enhanced healing ability is one power we're seeing in numerous metahumans, right? Well, there's another ability that we have found in...well, to be exact, TWO out of that group. You being the second." He holds up a slide. "This is a tissue sample, taken from you. It's still alive." He gestures at a row of blood samples. "Your blood cells also won't die. Now look at this." He takes you to a microscope, where you examine what's under the slide. What you see appears to be a cluster of red blood cells, as far as you can tell, mixed with some other type of cell. Culbrand switches slides, and you see the same thing...blood cells, with something else. He shows you three more batches. "The blood cells were yours," he says. "The other cells....various bacteria, and viruses. All dead. Even outside your body for several hours, your antibodies attack any foreign body introduced into the blood samples...and destroy it." He holds up the first slide again. "The virus in this batch...HIV. Your immune system, just what little is present in a few cc's of blood, defeated an attempt to contaminate it with AIDS." "It did the same thing to malaria, rabies, assorted cold and flu viruses, and the bubonic plague." "First of all, I should point out that even healthy blood cells don't just attack invading viruses in a test tube, not like that. Yours did, and killed them." "Second, your blood is PURE. I mean, no contaminants whatsoever. Not even fatigue poisons, or normal waste products created by the continual process of cellular deterioration." "The implications..." he pauses, and takes a deep breath, "not only do you appear to possibly be immune to conventional diseases...but you don't even seem to be experiencing the aging process...at least, not at a normal rate." "This is all circumstantial, of course...I'm not prepared to say you're...immortal, without doing a LOT more testing, over a period of time. But, the possibility exists." With this in mind, you go to join the others at the airstrip once more. <><><><><> Lisa: " I'd be pleased to meet her after you explain my blood tests to me. It might actually be nice to meet another metahuman without some sort of psycho being involved. " She replies wryly. She listens to Dr. Culbrand with great interest as he explains what the bloodtests have revealed. By the end of his explanation Lisa is stunned nearly speechless. [OOC: But not even potential immortality can shut her up. (G)] " ... Wow !!! I need to think about this for a while. If you can figure out how this works ... Oh My ... " Her voice trails off in amazement. " I'll go down to the airstrip now. I need some time for this to sink in. " Lisa says distracted by her thoughts. <><><><><> [GM] It's been a LONG flight [], but at last, the trip across country ends in a descent towards a small airstrip, next to a building that seems only minimally lit from the air. "This is our Virginia facility," Agent Smee tells you. "About two hours from Washington, and with lots of rolling hills surrounding it. The scientists and administrative coordinators will want to debrief you after we land. There are a number of metahumans waiting for us as well...others like you who've decided to cooperate with the government. You'll get to talk to them too. They've got some pretty strange stories." Smee chuckles. [I'm going to assume everyone else is coming out to greet you, unless someone says otherwise. To save time, here's a repost of everyone else's description- though I will leave it to each PC to actually introduce themselves, or not : Lisa Chang: a very beautiful young woman of chinese heritage who's 4' 11" tall and less than a hundred pounds. Her eyes are black as is her hair; which is cut short in a twentyish style. She's in excellent physical condition and clearly exercises frequently. Lisa is dressed in jeans, sweatshirt and sneakers. She seems a bit distracted. Finn Shawn Colvin: might have been attractive, but the dark circles under her hazel eyes and lines of strain on her face, along with a mouth that at this point couldn't decide if it wanted to smirk or frown. Her clothing, blue jeans and a black Suzanne Vega t-shirt, along with a much-worn jean jacket, was rather rumpled, looking as if it had been slept in. Harvey Jones: is 5'10" with an average physique, brown eyes and brown hair. The hair is cut conservatively but seems a little shaggy and disheveled. He stands relaxed, but there's something noticably straight about his posture. Gordon Fancher: He is 5'11" tall and 205 lb.s on a stocky, athletic frame. While fairly obviously out-of-shape, he has so far managed to avoid getting flabby. He is wearing stone-washed Levis 501's, a green knit shirt with a Microsoft logo, and tennis shoes. He has light, golden-brown hair worn short on the top and sides, but hanging well past his shoulders in back. Despite the length, the hair is healthy and well-cared-for. The other end of his head is adorned by a neatly-trimmed moustache/beard. Peeking out from his roughly-oval face are a pair of piercing blue-grey eyes, which look out past a wide nose above a pair of full lips set in a warm, friendly smile. Walter Shindell: The quiet red-headed man [well, that's the only description he's posted so far! ] <><><><><> % Finn % [How late is it? Evening?] Finn waited impatiently for the newcomer to land, shifting from one foot to the other. She had spent most of the day on an emotional roller coaster, and was now looking forward to sleeping peacefully, with Walt's power keeping the dreams at bay. She hoped. When Tyler appeared, Finn did her usual brief scan of her mind, a check to see who she was, surface thoughts, and a quick look to see if she saw any sort of dark strings. She'd been doing it all day, with no success, and wasn't expecting to have it now, but she had to try. She'd decided against doing to her what she had done to Gordon ... Finn felt bad about that, but she'd been really punchy then, tired and pissed off, and he was the one she'd chosen to take it out on. She was still tired, and still pissed off, but a bit more aware of herself and her surroundings. That, and there wasn't a psycho she had to try and ignore until she had to see what he could do, and who he was. <><><><><> Tyler: She came off the plane with a single black leather overnighter slung carelessly over her shoulder, the big gold letters "T S" emblazoned on the side. She was wiry, narrow-hipped, small-breasted and moved with a boyish loose-limbed gait. She wore custom Wranglers fitted snug enough that she probably had to lie down to wriggle into them; they were tucked into handmade Charlie Dunn lizards with gold tips and heel caps, and topped by a matching belt sporting what appeared to be a solid gold PRCA trophy buckle the size of Lake Superior. An expensive black Amarillo Slim pullover with gold collar tips peeking out over the lapels of an unstructured black silk tweed blazer. Her eyes were covered by blackrimmed Serengheti Drivers == impenetrable ovals of mirrored darkness. Her thick mid-back-length spiral-permed hair sprawled in carefully crafted disarray. She paused during the debarcation walk to fish a soft pack of Winstons from her pocket, ignoring the ramp's smoking warnings. She lipped one out, put the pack away, produced a gold Dunhill lighter and snapped the cigarette aflame with professional smoothness. She was trailed by a pair of suits, solid, imperturbable men with the dark Ray-Bans, white shirts, narrow dark ties and short hair that screamed Feds. Their bulk made her look even smaller than her somewhat gaunt 5'2". At the gate she paused to look around, curious more than anything else. When she caught sight of the herd of metahumanity, she muttered something to one of the Feds...Smee...who laughed and said, "See? I told you so." Her wide mouth twisted in a brief ironic grin. Up close, she looked less thin and more *honed*, as if by a difficult life; fair-complexioned, slightly freckled, she looked somewhere between twenty-five and thirty. It could have been less; she was hard to read. She and the Feds made straight for the matching suits, whereupon she introduced herself. "How y'all doin'," she said. "Tyler Sterritt. Ah guess ah'm your new guinea pig." <><><><><> [GM] [to Finn] Tyler's mind is not as easy to read as most you've encountered. You don't "hear" any of her thoughts just by listening passively, and your quick scan of her mind reveals a sort of "fuzziness" that blocks gathering much information....a not-quite opaque but definitely not transparent screen of sorts. [Remember Finn hasn't encountered mind shields before, with the exception of Slopes' utterly impervious mind.] Tyler is edgy and extremely wary. And something about her makes you feel the same way. But you don't sense any dark "threads" connected to her. <><><><><> % Finn % Listening to Tyler's story of how she defeated the evil ... metahuman, Finn shuddered visibly. Only when she was done did she speak up. "No, I wasn't really interested in that ... it's just that 'smoked' is such a vague term, and with what I've seen in the past few days, I was wondering if you were being literal ... if you could really turn people into smoke." She shook her head, then smiled an apology. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to make you relive it, I was just wondering. After all, I didn't know you could pull things out of some other dimension when you said that." Finn hung back a little bit from Tyler, letting her go on alone, annoyed at herself for alienating the one person who might have some sort of power like hers ... ... or someone who was keeping something from them on purpose. Or both. <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey, looking a little tired and strained still manages a grin and a quip for reply, "welcome to the treadmill" [or whatever you call that thing that guinea pigs exercise on in their cage]. Stepping up he starts to offer his hand, then pauses uncertain. "Etiquette suggests that we should start by shaking hands. But the new etiquette we're just starting to develope suggests we should assure each other that it's safe to shake hands BEFORE we shake hands." He grins, "I'm safe if you are. But aren't you glad to know I'm not charged with several thousand volts before we try this?" "Actually", he confides, "I can't store voltage, but the first meta' I shook hands with could, he was just a little tardy on telling me." Harvey is doing his best to make a friendly greeting. His sense of humor is in full gear but through it it is still possible to recognize a person trying his best to be friendly. (Unfortunately it can also be recognized that he isn't good at this small talk stuff and introductions and his conversation is running out of steam.) <><><><><> Tyler: Tyler shook his hand firmly, although the metahuman-story gab sort of whizzed in one ear and out the other. She didn't seem perturbed, however; if there was ever anyone less affected by other people's conversational difficulties, it was she. "Mah pleasure," she said. "Tyler Sterritt. Uh...pardon me, ah don't think ah caught your *name*..." <><><><><> Gordon: Arriving as Tyler deplanes, I slip up next to Lisa and glance down at the diminutive beauty. "Sorry I missed your testing today, Lisa. Unfortunately, I had my own tests to 'perform' for. Hopefully, I'll get a chance at another time." I watch the new 'recruit' come down the steps from the plane. Thinking to myself, _Hmm. Not *bad*-looking, even if she *does* look like a cowboy. Oh, *cripes*, she *smokes*! What a waste!_ [Sorry, I'm playing myself, and I have a real thing about smoking. So why am I playing a smoker in TMU...? ] When she comes over to the group, I wait my turn, and then introduce myself with a friendly smile. "Tyler? I'm Gordon. Pleasure to meet you. I just got here today, myself. Welcome from a fellow 'newbie'." <><><><><> Tyler: "Gordon? How y'doin'." Tyler shook his hand just as had Howard's, and made a point to look him over with cool detachment. The process was a mnemonic aid of sorts; Tyler tried to associate grips, or eye color and shape, or some other salient feature like bulbous noses or big ears, with people's names. It was a trick she'd developed early in the press scrabble surrounding her brief celebratory career (and its even more colorful demise), and it had helped her survive without a constant "...now, who'd you say y'all are?" <><><><><> Lisa: " You didn't miss much Gordon; they made me run the obstacle course in my human form. I expect they'll be testing my dragon forms' powers tomorrow. If you can get free, it should be interesting. " Lisa replies her distraction fading as she watches the newcomer deplane. ********* " Hello Tyler, I'm Lisa. " She greets Tyler with a friendly smile as they shake hands. <><><><><> Tyler: "Hi, Lisa." Tyler seemed to handle women and men equally well; there didn'r appear to be any of the territorial "sizing up" that often went on when strangers meet in a potentially stressful or even competitive situation. "Cute," she drawled, grinning lopsidedly. "Bet you got to fight 'em off with a stick." <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey looks surprised, then thoughtful as he reviews how he introduced himself. Finally he has to admit he forgot a rather important detail, at least to him. "Sorry, Harvey... Harvey Jones" he introduces himself formally and seriously. But then a hint of a grin appears on his mouth and his eyes twinkle, "Really, I really am a Jones. And I was before I got here, although I might be the only one around here who can say that Do you have any idea how many Smiths and Jones there must be around here?" <><><><><> Finn: [I'm holding my introduction until I get word from the GM on Finn's mindwipe... er...mindscan. I mean, she's not going to shake your hand if you're one of the BEN's goons, is she? -- Dazz] <><><><><> Walt (lurking in the background as always) perks up when he hears the name. "Sterritt? Tyler Sterritt? Shoot, y'all could knock me over with a feather! It's right nice to meetcha, Ms. Sterritt; I reckon I saw you do your thing 'bout a hundred times!" The red-haired man starts to offer his hand for a friendly greeting, then pulls it back hastily. "Sorry, but I reckon you better know that if I touch you, your powers go away for a while. Normally I'm pretty darn friendly". "By the way, I'm Walt...Walt Shindell". <><><><><> Tyler: Tyler was momentarily nonplussed; a PRCA fan, here? Still, she found it surprisingly pleasant to be recognized. "Tyler, for God'sakes. 'Ms Sterritt' sounds too much like somebody's high school counselor." She wrinkled her nose, then a wide grin spread across her face. It did her a big service; years fell away, and she suddenly looked a lot closer to her true age of twenty-two. "Walt Shindell. Walt. Like Walt Garrison. Ah'll 'member. Listen here, ah can't *tell* y'all how wonderful y'all's voice sounds. Swear to God, ah thought ah was gon' be stuck in a New York accent hell for the rest of m'life. Ummm...where'd you see the rodeo?" She looked like she wanted to punch his arm companionably, then thought better of it after his warning. "ESPN, right? Ev'ry body saw that s***." <><><><><> Gordon: To Lisa. "Obstacle course, huh? Sounds like something I'm likely to find in *my* near future. I'll certainly try tomorrow, though at some point I'll be going into DC to meet my kids at the airport." Grinning at the lanky woman, "Just fine... so far. Then again, nobody's electrocuted me with a handshake yet..." <><><><><> Tyler: [OOC: Tyler is *lean*, not lanky . Overtall college basketball players are *lanky.* Post-pubescent teens with terminal acne and their first growth spurt under their belt are *lanky*. Underfed lions are *lanky*. Jeez...] "Well..." Tyler's grin was full of mischief, as she shook his hand. She'd been sorely tempted to wish up a joy buzzer, just to watch the expression on Gordon's face. "You're safe with me, pretty much. Ah'm relatively harmless." She sighed regretfully. Maybe the joy buzzer would have been a little much this early. "Harvey Jones. Right." Tyler grinned amiably. "Jus' call me Jane Doe-Smith. Still...reckon it coulda been worse. Coulda been Jim Jones. Hell, coulda been *George* Jones; *that'd* make mah ears hurt." <><><><><> [GM] Agent Gemann clears his throat. "How about we all go inside? Ms. Sterritt might like something to eat after her long flight, and I imagine the rest of you are hungry by now as well. You can discuss your experiences over dinner. And we can let you know where the agency is at right now." <><><><><> Walt: >>"ESPN, right? Ev'ry body saw that s***." Walt looks puzzled. "That ESPN there, that's TV, or cable, or somethin', right? Don't get much time fer that, I'm afraid, bein' on the road and all. Nope, I've seen you many a fine afternoon or evening, right there on the fence, sometimes so close that I'd get clobbered by bull sweat!" [He seems hugely pleased when she tells him to call her 'Tyler'] "Yep, I can see what you mean about the accents, though. Not much character ta these here Easterners now, is there?" <><><><><> Lisa: " Well excuuuusssssse meeee ! " She replies with mock outrage. Her eyes sparkle with amusement as she turns to regard Walt. " Would you care to rephrase that; I think the foot in your mouth is interfering with what you meant to say. " She does her best to keep from smiling but can't help it as the image of walt with a foot in his mouth goes through her mind. " Even if no one else is hungry I am. Let's go inside we can continue our discussion there. " She begins walking back to the building still smiling. <><><><><> Gordon: Releasing Tyler's hand, I respond in my Northwest accent, with a pinch of Texan [no New Yorker here ], "That's good to hear, Tyler. When you have fought two murderous paranormals in as many days like I have, you begin to wonder..." Turning to Agent Gemann, "Sounds good. I could use a thorough briefing at this point. Lead the way." <><><><><> Harvey: "Well, my ears don't hurt but my head starts to spin every time John Smith introduces me to John Smith", jokes back Harvey with a smile. <><><><><> Gordon: As Lisa begins to cajole Walt about his foot, I fail in my attempt to suppress a snicker, and turn away to the side as I cover my mouth with my right hand. Then she mentions food, and I straighten and spin to follow her into the building. Can't help but admire the view along the way... <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey also tags along, just not as closely as Gordon does. I guess he hasn't done as much to work up an appetite. But he is hungry and he looks forward to some useful, and hopefully for a change good, news. <><><><><> % Finn % Standing apart from the others, trying to remain unnoticed for a time, the brown- haired woman finally stepped forward as the group began moving into the building. "Sorry I didn't say anything earlier, but I was a bit out of it. I'm Finn Colvin, though I doubt you would have heard of me, Walt did tell me a bit about you last time I ran into him. He can go on forever about rodeo stuff, so I expect you two will get along just fine," she smiled pleasantly, though there was a slight furrow to her brow that marred her good looks. While not as gorgeous as Lisa, she was attractive in her own way. Finn stuck out her hand and shook firmly, but briefly, and then followed the rest of the group into the building. She cringed at one point during the trip and cast a glare at Gordon's back, but didn't say anything mentally or verbally to him, instead deciding to speak to the object of his attentions. **>> Lisa, it's a damned good thing you can't read minds, that's all I have to say. Do you know how many men here want undress you, or have done so in their minds? <<** She sounds more than slightly annoyed, but more with the male sex in general rather than anyone specifically. "So, Tyler ... what happened to you to make you want to come here? And forgive me for being forward, but what is it that you *can* do? We seem to have a wide variety of people here, with an assortment of abilities. Most of us have ended up here because of some battle with a ... metahuman who was bent on destruction, but you didn't come in with anyone else, so I'm just a bit curious. No big battles with evil superheroes lately?" She chuckled a bit at her last question, but seemed genuinely interested in the answer. <><><><><> Tyler: Tyler grinned engagingly at Finn's questions. "Hell, it's more what *didn't happen. Ah don't know if y'all remember, there's this weir...ummm, a metahuman, sorry, named Crystal. Christine Tallin. Ah met her first back east, at some sort of speech thing she was doin'. Things went all to hell in a hurry when this *other* freak shows up, fit to kill and coppin' a *serious* attitude. Well, this major bi*** is tearin' the place up, hurtin' and even killin' people left and right...anyway, ah got lucky and smoked her. "Anyway...after that, things got a little freaky. Ah just wanted to fade into the woodwork, but *somebody* out there doesn't like me, ah guess. Had a couple episodes where ah swear to God they's tryin' to kill me. Whoever *they* is, ah don't know, so don't ask." Tyler lit another cigarette, and took a moment to savor it as they walked. "Anyhow, ah got this crazy idea. This Crystal sorta owed me, seein' as she was the loony's target in the first place, so ah decided ah was gonna try and hook up with her, just as a friend or somethin', sorta to get someone to cover my back, if y'all know what ah mean. When people are tryin' to run you over and shoot you and s***, you get a little overcautious. "Ah followed her out to LA, and sure enough we got to pallin' around. That was cool. Ah can tell you ah felt safer, for sure. Then all of a sudden she went apes***, all 'down with the system' and 'I'm goin' vigilante' kinda stuff, and vanished. Well...ah wasn't ready to let somebody shoot me; ah didn't want my narrow butt hangin' out to dry, so ah contacted these boys." She indicated the FBI guys. "They like me 'cause ah can wish up s*** from some sidereal dimension..." she pronounced it with humorous exaggeration: side-AIR-ee-ull dy-MEN-shun. "Ah reckon they want to figure out just what ah can come up with. They's all proud of the big-a** gun ah come up with for that New York thing." <><><><><> % Finn % Finn listened to Tyler's story, occasionally interjecting a question. "'Smoked her'? How did you do that?" It certainly doesn't seem as if Finn had been watching much television lately. As Tyler told of what had happened to Crystal, Finn got a little pale, but seemed determined to keep on going. "Vanished? Right after she started acting lika a completely different person, hmm? To quote Dr. Sam Beckett, 'oh boy.'" Finn bit her lip as Tyler continued, explaining just what it was that her powers were. She seemed a bit surprised when Tyler stopped and looked over at her curiously. "Really? Do you know if you can do anything else? I mean, not that that's enough, pulling things from other ... dimensions is fine, don't get me wrong," she grinned, "but I was wondering if you knew you had some mental... powers as well." She just let that hang in the air, waiting, hoping, that Tyler would elaborate. <><><><><> Lisa: Finn's telepathic question really doesn't surprise Lisa. Her only response is the image, in her mind, of her dragon form tongue stuck out at the men following her. She's definitely amused by her oglers but keeps walking. She listens to Tyler's explanation somewhat confused. " I think you mean parallel dimension. Sidereal has something to do with fixed stars I think. " Lisa leads the others into the cafeteria and selects a very healthy meal. She stakes out a table for the others to join her at. Paying attention to the ongoing discussion she starts in on her salad. <><><><><> Gordon: The strain of the last few days is really starting to take it's toll. I begin to feel an overwhelming need to cut loose a bit. I rush to catch up with Lisa. "*Lisa*. I was just thinking... most dragons I have ever heard of can fly. Can you? If so, you feel like racing me to the building?" <><><><><> Tyler: Tyler shrugged. "Parallel, sidereal, ah don't know. Could be the Fifth Dimension, for all ah know. Hell, could be a K-Mart of the future, and ah'm in the Home Time Shopping Club." In response to Finn's first question, however innocently it was intended, Tyler's face hardened grimly. "Y'all want to know how ah smoked her? Y'all like that s***? Wished up the Gun From Hell, tha's how. Damn' electromatic supercharged killer rifle, sorta like that minigun-thing in *Predator*. Ah don't know guns much beyond huntin' and plinkin', but ah knew ah wanted somethin' *bad*, y'know what ah mean? Anyway...like to broke mah shoulder, but it did her in. Cut her to doll rags, as a matter of fact. Blood and brains and s*** all over the place. The bi*** kept crawlin' forward, an' ah kept shootin', 'til there wasn't nothin' left but road kill scraps. That what y'all wanted to heah? Y'all get off on that?" Her voice had risen sharply near the end, and her jaw was set. She did *not* like talking about it. Tyler went on stiffly, "...and, if ah got any mental powers...well, 'less they're related to how ah manage to wish up stuff...then you got a scoop. Ah ain't exactly Kreskin." <><><><><> Lisa: " Home Time Shopping Club, I like that one. " She laughs softly. " Personally I belong to the endangered mythical species anti-defamation league. " She replies to Tyler. " Let's just walk for tonight Gordon. I can fly when in my other form. But my clothing doesn't change when I do. I'd rather not destroy another set of clothes unless I absolutely have to. We can race some other time, it'll give us a chance to find how fast we can fly. " She answers Gordon. <><><><><> Gordon: Catching bits and pieces of Finn's and Tyler's conversation over my shoulder, "I know what you mean, Tyler. In the past week I've been involved in enough death and destruction and bloodshed to last me a lifetime. It *hasn't* been fun." Back to Lisa, I reply with a disappointed tone in my voice. "Sorry, I guess I'm just a bit wound up. I can see where that could be a problem; fortunately, my powers don't seem to affect my clothes - guess my 'force field', if you want to call it that, protects them as well as me. So far as I've been able to tell from the little testing I've been able to do so far, I seem to fly fairly fast. I would estimate that I'm somewhat faster than a car at highway speed; probably somewhere in the 60 - 100 mph range." I wander on into the building with her and begin loading up my tray with food. Since I don't see any beers that look good, I settle for Pepsi with my meal. Joining Lisa at the table, I dive into a large bowl of chili. <><><><><> Lisa: She listens, fretting, to the exchange between Tyler and Finn. Keeping part of her attention on them she answers Gordon. " Don't worry about being wound up it happens to everyone sometime in their life. I think you just need to relax and take some time to get used to all of this. " " Your abilities seem to work more outside your body than mine do. One thing I've seen is that different metahumans may have the same power but they express it in different ways. Flight for example. Though I expect the scientists will find telekinesis is the most likely cause no matter how the the meta-ability expresses itself. " Her voice trails off thoughtfully as she turns her attention to her fruit juice. " Now that I think about it just what exactly is it that you do Gordon ? If you don't mind my asking that is. I know you can fly and have a forcefield but do you have any other meta-abilities ? I don't think anyone has said or if they did I didn't catch it. " She asks. <><><><><> % Finn % Listening to Tyler's story of how she defeated the evil ... metahuman, Finn shuddered visibly. Only when she was done did she speak up. "No, I wasn't really interested in that ... it's just that 'smoked' is such a vague term, and with what I've seen in the past few days, I was wondering if you were being literal ... if you could really turn people into smoke." She shook her head, then smiled an apology. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to make you relive it, I was just wondering. After all, I didn't know you could pull things out of some other dimension when you said that." Finn hung back a little bit from Tyler, letting her go on alone, annoyed at herself for alienating the one person who might have some sort of power like hers ... ... or someone who was keeping something from them on purpose. Or both. <><><><><> Gordon: "You're right, Lisa. *I'm* certainly no stranger to stress. The race was just an excuse to *fly*, and I must admit that I *LOVE* flying! In fact, I've wished I could fly ever since I was a little kid. Now that I can, I'd have to say that it's as much fun as anything I've ever done. Maybe I'll go fly around a bit after dinner; I haven't flown at night yet. Could be way cool." Finishing up my chili, I start on the banana. "Well, my vision has certainly been enhanced, apparently I can even see in the dark. I'm also significantly stronger than I was previously, though quite a bit less so than you, apparently. However, my 'biggest' power would be my energy release - what they would call an 'energy blast' in the comic books. I can release a rather powerful burst of energy as a beam attack. I can also release in kind of a cone to fill a larger area. I can even cause it to explode outward in all directions from my body in what one comic- book character calls a 'Nova blast'. I haven't been able to figure out exactly what kind of energy it is, but it seems to combine some of the characteristics of fire or heat with those of electricity and even coherent light." <><><><><> Lisa: She listens carefully to what Gordon says. Thinking about it for several moments, as well as what Finn had said earlier, Lisa decides to reply to Gordon in a most singular way. " Stay here for a few minutes I'll be right back there's something I have to take care of. " She says doing her best to stop from smiling. Lisa immediatelly goes to her room undresses and assumes her dragon form. She goes back to cafeteria and curls up in midair beside Gordon. She'll finish her meal taking great care not to make a mess of things all the while enjoying the surreal aspects of the situation. [OOC: Lisa (Tien Lung) is twenty feet long and looks just like a mythological chinese dragon with glowing golden eyes.] " This is my metahuman ability for those of you who haven't seen it yet. Since a lot of the other more publicity minded metas have taken a new name for their public appearances I selected Tien Lung. It means heaven(ly) dragon. " " I don't know that they'll let us go flying unsupervised despite perfect nightvision. This is a topsecret lab after all. But they do have an olympic size swimming pool in the next section. Care to go for a swim ? " Tien grins at him showing all of her sharp fangs. Her golden eyes are shimmering with mischief. In her mind Finn can hear shark music straight from Jaws playing overlaid by Tien's giggles. <><><><><> Tyler: Tyler went right straight for the Budweiser, mostly because Bud was at the front of the cooler, and partly because she didn't see anything stronger sitting there. Cigarette in one hand, longneck in the other, she leaned against a wall as far from the others...especially the dragon...as she could manage. It was a tribute to her self-control that she didn't wish up a little something for pest control...like a bazooka. She decided, after a quick half the bottle and a shaky-handed drag on the Marlboro, that these guys were *really* weird. Mitchell had been seriously f***ed up emotionally, and Crystal had been a little spacey, but *these* guys...Hell, she still had nightmares about her comparatively ordinary "talent", and these guys were bandying their abilities about like a collection of kids with baseball cards! She finished the Bud with a second, long draught, and decided to go back for another. And another and another and another, she figured, until all of this s*** seemed normal, or she was so much in the bag it wouldn't matter. <><><><><> Gordon: As Lisa excuses herself, I find myself wondering what she's up to for a moment as I watch her leave, one eyebrow raised. Once she's out of sight, I return to what's left of my dinner, which is gone rather quickly. I think about having seconds, but decide against it. While Lisa is gone, I notice Tyler standing off by herself and making repeated trips to the cooler. I wonder whether she is just shy or if something else is bothering her, but figure that it's best to let her handle whatever-it-is in her own way until such time as she brings it up. Then Lisa returns. "*GYAHH*!" I holler as I scramble out of my seat. Fortunately, it only takes me a moment to realize that *this* must be Lisa's dragon form. As she floats in mid-air, I wander around her, viewing this new form from different sides. "Cool! For some reason, I had been expecting more of a European-style dragon, but *this* is *great*. I really like the way the oriental dragon combines beauty with power. If I remember correctly, oriental dragons usually don't breathe fire or anything; is that true?" "'Tien Lung', huh? That's a pretty good name. To be honest, I haven't really thought about a 'codename' for myself, which is surprising considering how long I've been reading comic books. I guess I should give it some thought..." "You may be right, though as isolated as this place seems to be, and if we promise to stay below the treeline, I can't think why flying around a little should be a big problem. I'll have to ask one of the agents about it. As for swimming, I rather enjoy swimming, though I didn't bring my trunkst. I suppose I could ask around and see if there are any spares available." <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey gets very quiet when he overhears Tyler telling about her fight with Lucretia, for some reason he seems to want to leave the area, he settles for the other side of the room (out of ear shot of the rest of the story) not only doesn't say anything he tries to not even think anything (but Finn might notice something about airports and intense guilt if she specifically looked). He concentrates on his dinner silently for a while. Fortunately he's just about to take a bite when Tien L'ung comes back because his mouth drops open in surprise (and although no one present would know he automatically goes non-solid as a reflex reaction, fortunately he doesn't go through the chair. he stays that way for a few seconds trying to regain his composure before getting the nerve to force himself to re solidify). Eventually he notices Tyler standing by herself near the beer and moves over to talk to her (snagging a beer at the same time, though whether he is getting a beer as an excuse for talking to Tyler or is talking to Tyler as an excuse for the beer even he doesn't know). "Hello, Tyler. Food to your liking? And the company?.........One thing you have to admit, we're an interesting group." <><><><><> Tyler: Tyler hesitated, then shrugged. "Beer's're okay. Ain't eaten anything yet." She stubbed out her smoke, then took another swallow, wiping her mouth with the back of the hand that was wrapped around the bottle's neck. "Sorry, guess ah'm soundin' a little unfriendly. Harvey, right? Jones," she managed a lopsided grin. "See, ah can remember, when ah try. "Yeah...ah guess y'all could say that they're...colorful." She shook her head slowly. "Ah don't think ah'm *ever* gon' get used to this." <><><><><> Harvey: "Tyler, like the president" he replies with a grin. "Actually, and this will surprise you, the food is quite good here; inspite of this being a government installation". then he adds with a whisper "and you don't get assigned K.P" (secretly crossing his fingers behind his back and wishing there was some handy wood to knock on). "I don't know if you get used to it or not. Mainly you've got to just roll with it and try to be flexible. Actually it's amazing but every one of the metas gathered here has proven to be kind of person you'd want watching your back", his tone says he likes and trust the people here, and that he's already developing a trust in you. <><><><><> Tyler: "Harv, ah hope y'all are right," Tyler said, her expression fading to seriousness. "Ah been bustin' mah tail to rehab, you know? But there ain't nobody gon' let me back in the Show if they think ah'm some sort of freak; they'd always be worryin' that ah had some sort of illegal *edge*, you know? They'd be all sweaty that they was lettin' Superman into the rasslin' match." She pushed off the wall and took Harvey's arm. "C'mon. Ain't no use to sit here and mope; whyn't you show me some of their famous chow. And..." she waggled her empty beer bottle, then rocked her eyebrows in mock Groucho style. <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey grins back at Tyler, "This way to the food, which may not be famous but definitely is not infamous." As they walk over he thinks about her concerns, "I hadn't considered the problem you described of being known as a meta. Apparently you've got very good reason to not want to be known as a meta, although it sounds like it would not give you an unfair advantage. You've got a good reason to hide your identity, and a harder time doing so because you are already somewhat famous", he says still pondering. Pause, "And pleased to meet you, I don't get to meet many celebrities" he says with a smile (He didn't see even the ESPN tape of her accident, but Walt certainly seems to have recognized her). <><><><><> Tyler: Tyler looked somewhat abashed. "Ah don't know about *famous*, but ah had a life, before, and ah was doin' okay, most times. This..." she made an inclusive gesture, rife with frustration. "...this is more like gettin' some sort of rare disease, you know? Ev'rybody wants to poke and prod, only nobody really gives a rat's a** about the person who's got the disease. 'Can y'all help us with these tests? Can y'all come over heah and let us stick you, see what happens? Heah, try *this* drug, while we look interested and make notes." She shook her head, and gazed into space, smoking moodily. After a minute, she went on as if she'd never paused. "Finally, it gets down to... 'heah; we can use parts of your body to save someone else. Y'all don't mind, do you?" Sne sniffed. "That anti-bad guy strike force thing...that's just askin' for a *real* big donation. Your life." <><><><><> Harvey: "It's not THAT bad!" objects Harvey, but he's rather confused, with a feeling best described as 'all at sea'. He pauses for a minute, searching for an alternate analogy. And searching for an idea to hold onto in the face of Tyler's well placed concerns. Latching onto the first analogy that comes to mind he offers "How about looking at it this way: instead of being the patients we're more like the doctors. We can try to help the patient, but we may make things worse." He shrugs, "Hey, surgery is dangerous, and this condition is something no one ever saw before". He smiles at Tyler, looking hopeful. Hoping he has somehow gotten lucky and explained why he feels a need to contribute. <><><><><> Tyler: "Look, ah'm not tryin' to kick the crutches out from under any genuine sympathy y'all might feel," Tyler pointed out. "Hell, ah feel it, too; ah'm not heartless. Ah jumped right in the big middle of the s***-storm, jus' like the rest of y'all. But they're treatin' us a little like we was *tools*, not people, exceptin' for when they try and play on the ol' heartstrings. Ah just..." she shrugged, unable to any better express her misgivings. "Okay. Maybe y'all got somethin' with your medical comparison; but *me*, ah feel a hell of a lot more like one of them disposable things on the E-room tray, than ah do any doctor. Even if they fix someone else, they gonna pitch me away like a used syringe, if the situation calls for it. Maybe ah just want a little more of kiss, 'fore they bend me over...you know?" <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey has to admit that Tyler has something of a point. While he may not agree entirely with her he knows there are difficulties. But he continues to push awareness of those difficulties to the background. Unfortunately, even though he disagrees with Tyler's analogies, he can't fight them because she seems to better with these weapons than he is. He wonders if maybe he should have used the analogy of them as police officers (preferably with bullet proof vests). Sigh, too bad he had to grab the first argument that came to mind. Maybe someone else will be more successful at arguing with Tyler, he hopes. <><><><><> Gordon: Listening to Harvey and Tyler, I find that my perspective seems to differ from both of theirs. "You both raise interesting points. I guess I view this mostly as being pretty much like any other job offer. The main difference seems to be that this job could prove much more dangerous, and that's something I have to consider before agreeing to take the job. At least, I feel as though I have some control over what dangers I will choose to face. After all, I suspect that they will have a *hell* of a time trying to *force* me to do anything I don't want to. Also, I'm willing to undergo testing because I *really* want to know just what I have become. It is possible that my continued survival may depend on my understanding what I am and what I can do. Again, I only have to let them test me in ways that I am willing to agree to. The other thing I want to mention is job satisfaction. I see the potential of this being a job I which I can actually do some *good*. In my previous job - the one I had until Terra-Rizer destroyed the building out from under me - I did unspeakable things to numbers in the pursuit of making corporate executives richer, while getting paid a pittance myself. [Admittedly a rather pessimistic description.] I *like* the idea of doing a job which could be of benefit to real people, rather than just making the rich richer. Still, I have many concerns that I must consider before making a final decision." <><><><><> Tyler: Tyler rolled her eyes in obvious rejection of Gordon's illy formulated logic. "Being a live organ donor helps people too, Gordo. Only you only get to do it once. Ah thought you had a family; guess y'all are plannin' on insurin' yourself to the eyeballs, 'fore you go out, right? Ah'm sure those kiddos would really appreciate a close-hand look at the insurance check, 'staid of havin' you come home of a night. *If* the insurance people'll cover this sort of suicide duty." She sighed. "Ah ain't makin' fun of y'all, wantin' to do some good. Sorry if it sounds like it; for a fact, ah approve. But these Fed jokers ain't showed me nothin' that resembles either a *plan*, or an *organization*. 'Scuse mah French, but ah sure as s*** get the strong mental picture of a flock of chickens who think the fox might be loose in the henhouse. Ain't a brain between 'em; these boys're all just recruiters, only they ain't got their routine down just yet. Maybe after supper, they'll make up for lost time. But ah, for one, am gon' take a s***load of convincin'." <><><><><> Gordon: I take a slight step back and examine the floor as Tyler tears into the subject. When she pauses, I collect my thoughts for a few moments before trying to better explain my thoughts. "Well, uhh, Tyler. I guess I just see it as less of a suicide mission and more like being a cop. Being a cop is also pretty dangerous, but the vast majority of them survive to retirement or to eventually switch to a different line of work. And perhaps I'm being overconfident, but after just going toe-to-toe with Terra-Rizer and that assassin called Avenger - the one who's been going around murdering meta-villains - I've gotten the impression that I'm a little harder to kill than most." "And you're right about my family. That's why I keep stating that I have a lot more that I need to know and consider before I make a decision on this. It's also why I said that *if* I do decide to sign on, I intend to execise a lot of judgement in determining what actions I will involve myself in." <><><><><> [GM] Tyler's mouth quirked in an ironic smile. "Yeah, well, maybe that's a better analogy; but bein' a cop entails a hell of a lot more trainin' than these Feds are offerin', 'least so far; and some backup, and a technology edge, and a support *system* that...so far, anyway...ah ain't seen. Y'all don't just get a badge and a handshake, and go out and start bustin' bad guys. "Ah'll be honest; it sounds more like a badly conceived military mission, *without* the planning and backup; some goofy Chuck Norris or Steven Seagal bulls*** of a 'Guns of Navarone' kind of thing, only these bad boys can pick up the Guns of Navarone and point 'em back at you. "*Ah* think we might be useful, *if* we work within the structure of an organized *team*, with some trainin', and better liaison than we've seen. So far, it looks like they're just scramblin' to throw stuff at the Bad Guys, so's they can *say* they're doin' somethin', and it ain't pretty." <><><><><> Tien Lung: " That's great Agent Gemann I'm certain Gordon is going to have great time flying tonight. " She says in a slightly overenthusiastic voice. Then continues in a normal tone of voice her eyes sparkling with continued amusement. " I was going to go swimming and after do my exercise routines. " She turns away from the table taking her tray and returning it. Then she goes to the swimming pool and spends at least half an hour swimming getting used to her dragon form. When she's done Tien goes back to her room resumes her human form and does a moderate aerobics routine before resting. <><><><><> [GM] Agent Gemann watches everyone eat, along with Mahon, Slopes and Smee, these four being the agents currently visible. [Y'know, I have yet to make a list of all the agents I keep pulling out of my hat every time I need a new pair for a new PC...gonna have to do that real soon, treating them as interchangeable is starting to be more confusing than amusing...] Gemann, apparently being the senior one here, stands at the head of the table as conversation dies down. "Well, we have six of you together in one place, which is probably the largest metahuman assembly we've yet managed. Maybe the largest assembly there's been on Earth, as far as I know. Besides the prisoners in 'hotsleep', there's one more in this facility, Special Agent Little, who Shindell and Jones have already met. He's, uh, still recuperating from an unfortunate accident." Gemann avoids looking at Walt. "Special Agent Donovan has been transferred to a D.C. hospital, which is where she's at right now. There are several other metahumans in our agency currently on assignments in Texas, Missouri, California and elsewhere." He declines to elaborate on 'elsewhere'. "All of them are engaged in crucial missions. So that leaves you six...whichever ones of you are willing to help out." "Everyone knows Fancher's situation, as he helped stop Terrarizer in Seattle. Colvin and Chang stopped TWO meta-lunatics in Boston. Sterritt's given us her background, and we know she also had a brief association with Mitchell Langstrom, currently MIA." This brings back some unpleasant memories for Harvey and Walt. Gemann looks at them and goes on. "With over an entire week of experience, Jones and Shindell are the veterans of this group." "Which brings us to the current situation. None of you have officially 'signed on' yet, not even Jones and Shindell. And we aren't about to demand it," he adds hastily, as Finn's hackles rise. "But whether as deputized Special Agents, or just involved citizens willing to help, this is what we plan to do next, and where we need your help." He pauses meaningfully. "You already know about this alleged 'Puppet Master', from what Jones and Shindell experienced in Chicago, and Colvin's, uh, dream." He coughs. "Despite the lack of any hard evidence, we think that this person is potentially a VERY grave threat. If any of what Colvin has suggested...that he may be responsible for the nuclear explosion in Germany, that he's had a hand in several nasty events that have taken place worldwide, are true, it indicates a very capable telepath with motives that go far beyond personal aggrandizement. Nuclear terrorism and abduction of other metahumans would be bad enough. But, there is also credible evidence to suggest that there may, repeat MAY," he hesitates, "be extraterrestrials here on Earth as well. And if that's true, this Puppet Master has already kidnapped one. This same extraterrestrial allegedly has access and knowledge of highly advanced technology. Exactly what we DON'T want falling into this dangerous lunatic's hands. Not to mention some other issues, like the fact that he's already had this woman, whether she's an alien or not, tortured and raped. And if she is an alien, and a representative of an advanced interstellar civilization, it brings up the question of how her people are going to react to such poor treatment." "All very good reasons to want this creep stopped. Now, aside from the bits and pieces we've gotten from some of you, we don't have a lot to go on. This Puppet Master may or may not be all that Colvin thinks he is, but we have no real idea at all WHERE he is. We are tracking down some possible leads." Finn gets flashes of thought from Gemann, that in fact some new information has come up which is making his superiors, and probably some people several echelons up in the government, take these rumors about telepathic masterminds and alien visitors MUCH more seriously than they did yesterday. "What I want to know is, how many of you are willing to help? Ms. Colvin, you would be of most help using your powers to continue trying to gather information. I don't know how you do what you do, so I can't give you any advice how to do it....but anything you can learn, we need to know. And we're going to solicit whatever additional aid we can from the young woman you spoke to earlier." "As for the rest of you, the help we need from you is contingent on our actually being able to track the Puppet Master down. If we can, and I hope we can, what we'll need is, quite frankly, firepower." His expression is serious as he looks at the half-dozen individuals, from around the country and various walks of life, all of whom have had their lives abruptly yanked off-track only days ago by the manifestation of incredible powers. "The only one here who's had any real combat training, as far as I know, is Mr. Jones. Believe me, I don't like asking a bunch of civilians to risk their lives in a potentially deadly battle. But here's the thing. This Puppet Master has used, and continues to use, metahuman agents of his own. We have no idea how many he has. It could be just one or two, or he might have an entire cadre of them now. We also don't know if they're all mind-controlled dupes, or if some of them serve him willingly. Heck, we don't know HE's really the one in charge; he might very well be part of some larger plot. But it is VERY likely that when and if we track him down, when we go after him, we'll be facing not only whatever mental powers he possesses, but all the powers of however many metahuman allies he has. We've already seen that just one or two of you can wipe out a small army of regular soldiers or agents. Our agency will send all the armed agents we can, with as many precautions as are possible, but if he has just two minions like Terrarizer or Lucretia on his side, we could probably throw everyone we've got at him....and watch them all die." He lets that sink in. "Your lives have all been thrown off-balance by your powers, some of you are probably still in shock. Others," he glances at the levitating dragon, "seem to be adjusting just fine." He almost mutters the last part. "Some of you have had a chance to be tested a bit, and learn more about your powers, Jones and Shindell have already gone on a couple of missions for us. But I fully realize that you're all untrained and unprepared. And of course, I can't tell you when this hypothetical attempt to capture the Puppet Master will take place....it could be tomorrow, or we might be hunting him for months or years. Hell, maybe we'll find out it's a big hoax." "But we want...we NEED, a ready reserve of metahumans who are willing to go in with us, if and when that happens. It's not without compensation; believe me, the government plans to offer whatever enticements it takes to solicit your help. But, I want to know how many of you would be willing to volunteer, either for this or any number of other, equally serious and potentially deadly, metahuman situations that might arise. Because ready or not...and we're not...we're making plans NOW to do something when the time comes. And we don't have a six- month training program to put you through. If another Deathstorm or Blizzard showed up in Washington tomorrow, threatening to massacre several entire branches of the U.S. government, we'd have precisly two options; call in airstrikes and pray we kill off less of the executive chain of command that way than would die if we left the villain alive...or send a couple of you supertypes after him, and pray you win. And which option would do less collateral damage, who knows?" <><><><><> Tien Lung: " I'll help. " She replies seriously. Tien waits to see if Agent Gemann has anything else to say. <><><><><> Harvey: Being described as one of the veterans of the group, by a whole week, makes Harvey want to groan, but he manages to stifle the impulse, barely, and just looks uncomfortable as he realizes how unprepared he really is. The references to Kelly and Mitchell do nothing to help his feelings. When the speech seems over Harvey raises his hand (only to shoulder height, old habits about what happens when you volunteer die hard) and offers, "The chance to do something significant is just about irresitible for me, I like feeling needed. I'm in." and after a pause he admits, "and think I'd feel better fighting than just waiting for the shoe to fall". <><><><><> Tyler: Tyler had picked at the food, settling for small portions of a few low-fat items that made it look like she was worried about her weight. Hard to imagine, considering her shape. She'd slowed down on the brews, too, intent on keeping a low profile. The Feds brief speech brought a frown to her face. "Look...ummm, ah thought y'all latched onto that cannon ah used against Lu...ummm...Lucretia. Can't y'all just duplicate that, and let all those dedicated, *trained* agents use 'em?" She paused to light a cigarette. "Ah don't know about everyone else's motivation, but ah was sorta lookin' for a place ah *wouldn't* get killed outright. If ah wanted to duke it out with every bad boy in the area, ah coulda stayed on the street, 'cause there were sure a few of 'em tryin' to shoot mah butt, y'un'erstand?" She slumped in her seat, quietly savoring the smoke while she collected her thoughts. "Ah don't want to sound ungrateful to mah country, but ah didn't *ask* for this s***. Oh, ah know. Ah know what you're gonna say. Ah jumped right in like Calamity Jane when ah saw that crazy woman tryin' to hurt ev'rybody, and to tell the truth, ah'd prob'ly do it again, circumstances bein' the same. "It's just that plannin' an assassination ain't self-defense, you know? And ah'm a little worried that we're gonna end up as a little *more* than a quick reaction team of some sort, if things work out like they always do in government." <><><><><> % Finn % Eating sparsely, Finn had remained rather quiet throughout the meal, only rolling her eyes at Lisa as the girl returned as Tien-Lung, shocking the heck out of Gordon. When Gemann made his "recruitment" speech, Finn listened carefully, and as he went on she wondered how he managed to seem to believe what he said. She knew how he felt about ... metahumans, and it surprised her that he was able to appear so "gung-ho" about it all. Maybe it had something to do with that new information that had flashed in her mind briefly as Gemann thought about the aliens ... Carefully, quietly, she poked in Gemann's mind to see if there was anything more she could discover than the brief flash she could see, but withdrew without going any further. Lisa's immediate acceptance didn't surprise her at all, she just smiled at the girl and projected an image to her of Lisa dressed up as a MIB ... or would that be WIB? ... and then the dragon also in a (rather large) suit of dark colors as well. Harvey's half-raised hand continued the smile, but Tyler's reality wiped all traces of it away, and Finn nodded in agreement. "*Euroninja*," she emphasized, not using the name Gemann had chosen to give him, "is what I'm here for. Whether or not he realized it, he picked a fight with me in that dream-vision, and I am here now only to stop him. I am *not* interested in being on any sort of strike team to go out and capture more dangerous ... metahuman criminals for your dungeon downstairs. I want to find Euroninja, and get Ashiya out of his hands. And stop him from manipulating more people. I'm not signing anything, except maybe a consultant's contract. If you want to draw something up to that regard, feel free. I will, of course, look it over before signing it. But I'm not going to be part of any strike team or force." <><><><><> Tien Lung: * I said I would help Finn, not join, this agency. * She projects the image of her dragon form in trenchcoat, mirrorshades and black hat. * That Finn, is precisely what I don't want to be. I told Agent Gemann that before. I don't mind helping with these nutcases for now but I don't intend to make this the end all and be all of my existence. * She thinks in an exasperated reply. * I'm staying a civilian too. * She adds amused. ******** " Agent Gemann a consulting contract sounds good to me also. I don't mind helping out with any of these psychos, for now. But I don't want this to be what I do for the rest of my life. All that being said, there's no way I can turn my back on this telepathic monster. I'm afraid it's stop him first or else he'll come after us. " Tien continues in a melancholy voice, after Finn has finished for the moment. <><><><><> Walt: Walt also looked a bit bug-eyed when he was referred to as one of the "veterans of the group", but manages not to choke or laugh out loud. "Well now," he drawls as he slowly looks about the room, "I reckon that this is goin' ta be bout as safe as tryin' to sneak away with widah Jenkins peach pie. Heck with it, though, I'm in; mama'd never forgive me if I started actin' the part of a sensible man *now*!" He looks at the others with a mixture of fondness and disbelief. "Now what about the rest of you all? Carefull how y'all answer; y'might hurt mah feelins, and ah been known to carry a grudge nigh on to half an hour!" The sardonic grin on his weathered face tells the truth of his jibe though. "But seriously, folks, it's purty darn simple the way ah sees it. While it is true that we _may_ not be able to do what neds to be done, I know for darn sure that no 'normal human' is going to be able to do! No offense, agents; ah know that you all are doig anything and everything that y'all can think of. Walt then sits down, looking for all the world as if he just used up his speech quota for the day. <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey breaks into a wide grin at several points as Walt speaks, and ends with agreeing with a hardy nod. While he isn't sure he would have come out and said that normal agents can't handle these things he won't disagree with Walt now and he can't think of anything to add. <><><><><> Gordon: I listen with interest as Agent Gemann begins his briefing. Then he mentions that we 'already know this Puppet Master'. Instantly, I become very confused, _Puppet Master? Who's he talking about? I think I missed something here_ I realize that I need to ask him about this, but he continues on at a rapid pace. If she is scanning, Finn will sense my growing sense of frustration in wanting to ask Gemann about this, but he keeps talking and I *really* hate interrupting people. Finally, he pauses to let what he has said sink in, and I raise my hand, "Agent Gemann?" I pause, waiting for him to acknowledge me. When he does [assuming he does], "Uh, I'm afraid I *don't* know anything about the person you mentioned - 'Puppet Master'? I must have missed that part of the conversation. Could someone fill me in?" [OOC: If my memory serves, the discussion regarding PM occured before I reached Virginia. He/I also hasn't heard any more about Lucretia and Legion than was publicly broadcast on the news, which isn't much...] After Gemann finishes his pep talk, I sit back and listen as the others reply. Tyler seems to have a good question regarding her gun, though I can imagine quite a few types of powers that even the biggest, baddest gun in the world would be ineffective against. I do find it encouraging that many here seem to be willing to oppose this 'Puppet Master' character. Eventually I give my response, "Well, I certainly see the importance in stopping people like Terrariser and this telepath. On the other hand, my first obligation is to my kids and their safety. If it appears that my joining this organization will provide the safest environment for Katy and Taylor, then that's what I'll do. Then again, if I think they will be made safer by my changing my name and moving to the Aleutian Islands, then I may just do that. I won't risk making my children targets." <><><><><> [GM] "I'm sure we can work out some kind of 'consulting' deal," Gemann says to Finn and Lisa, sounding not entirely pleased. He looks at Gordon. [continuity glitch- I realized "Puppet Master" hadn't been used previously by anyone in this thread. Guess it was just my eagerness to get rid of that stupid name Kim gave him, but I guess it's gonna stick. ] "The so-called 'EuroNinja' is a metahuman mind-controller," Gemann says. "Initially, he was believed responsible only for kidnapping two young women in Chicago, both of them metahumans. One is a teenager with telepathic and teleportation powers, the other is the alleged alien I mentioned. We now believe he sent a pair of metahumans after Falling Star as well; we have them in the basement. He also managed to capture one of OUR metas when the idiot kid went off by himself. Jones and Shindell can tell you more about that." Though neither look like they want to. "And evidence is building up that he's involved with many other incidents. He has connections, he has resources, and he seems to know a lot more about metahumans than we do. He kidnapped the alleged alien a SECOND time, and still has her, as far as we know. The first time he had her, he tortured and raped her." [to Finn] Gemann heard a report from the techies who have spent all day analyzing the alleged alien probe that Harvey and Walt brought back from Chicago. There's no longer any "alleged" about it. They haven't been able to open it up- in fact, they're rather afraid to try- but what little they have been able to determine about it indicates that it *couldn't* have been manufactured on Earth. The engineers are quite certain they're dealing with an alien technology. From another source, a few scattered intelligence reports have shown disturbing parallels..Gemann isn't fully aware of all the details himself, but he's been briefed on possible leads that COULD connect 'EuroNinja' to, among others, the Mob, some racist hate groups, and Russian espionage agents. At a low level, he's thinking hostile thoughts at you *stayoutofmymindstayoutofmymindstayoutofmymind* He doesn't know you're probing him, but he's doing it continuously, just in case you are. It doesn't do much to block you, but it is annoying. <><><><><> Tyler: Tyler snorted sarcastically. "S***, that's some slick recruitment speech, ah don't mind tellin' you. Makes me want to jump *right* up, and go headhuntin' for some psycho who takes over the minds of people with super stuff a lot more powerful than mine, and tortures 'em. Ah think maybe ah'm gonna need a *little* time to think about all this. Preferably, without y'all breathin' y'all's patriotic, guilt-trip hot breath down mah neck. You boys make any kind of arrangements for someplace where ah can rest up, and maybe think a little at mah own pace?" <><><><><> Gordon: All traces of a smile fade from my visage as Gemann brings me up to speed on 'Euroninja'. "Sounds like a royal b******. From your description, I would be inclined to agree with your assessment of his being a *major* threat. One question: I believe you mentioned something about Finn and a 'dream' regarding this guy. What was that about?" <><><><><> % Finn % Finn shook her head slightly at Gordon's question, and then shrugged and began to explain as best she could. "According to ... the teenager," she omitted Kim's name, "there are people who can see the future. That's quite possibly what my dream was. It was very hard to explain, but I saw Euroninja, and he was controlling a lot of people over the world, with dark threads coming from his fingers. 'Puppet Master' would be a good term, but I think he'd like it too much, so I insist upon calling him Euroninja. What I saw was a possible future, but it wasn't really anything as coherent as that. He talked to me, and said that if he knew of my existence when I learned of his, he would have killed me for presuming to go against him. He has this thing about women, too. Doesn't think they're worthy of fighting against him." Finn stopped, looking uncertain for a moment, then went on. "It's the second dream I had in as many nights, though the earlier one wasn't as much a dream of the future as dream of what was really happening. If you're wondering why I'm so irritable and pissed off, that's your reason. Nothing like waking up in total terror two nights in a row." Ending with her typical sarcastic jibes, Finn glanced over at Walt with a brief look of relief and gratitude. Then she returned to Gemann. "Okay, fine. I'll go through your damned tests tomorrow. But I'm not doing the obstacle course. I've seen it, and I'm sorry, but I really don't think that I'm the physical sort, if you know what I mean." Her annoyed look became edged with a cat-who-ate-the-canary smile. "Meanwhile, your boys and girls in legal can work on that contract." [A couple of things ... I didn't get a response from Finn's asking if the agents could get the two missing guys on the phone. She figured they were both within range, and was going to try that. Should I assume they weren't available? And secondly, Finn's going to keep a telepathic eye on Tyler as often as she can. She's made Finn feel uneasy, and Finn doesn't like that. :) When Tyler goes off to her room, Finn will wait a bit and then "go astral" and check her out that way, since she didn't get a chance to do it before. And she doesn't think anything back at Gemann. :)] <><><><><> Gordon: I turn and watch Finn's face as she tells me about her dreams. I can see the pain and fear that has followed her through this time. "Thank you, Finn. I appreciate you sharing that information with me. I didn't mean to dredge up painful memories for you. I know that this has been a very difficult time for you. I hope you can understand my need to have some idea of what's been going on." <><><><><> [GM] "You have any good ideas, Ms. Sterritt, be sure to share them with us," Gemann says sardonically. "We've had a whole three months or so to organize a response to people who can destroy cities. We ARE working on a training program, and continue to recruit more field agents and investigate other means to combat criminal metahumans. You don't have to join our 'strike force'...just providing research data to the scientists would be a great help. But if someone is about to inflict cataclysmic damage to the United States, we have no choice but to throw what we have at them, trained and organized or not. Obviously, training and organization will come with time, and make our agency much more effective. In the short term, if this alien really IS an extraterrestrial, with knowledge of science and metahuman powers that exceeds ours, then she could be a great help. Combined with the nature of the person who's holding her hostage, that makes her logically an important person to try to locate and rescue." "No one has to make any decisions right now. Tomorrow, we'll let the scientists run the tests that Ms. Colvin has graciously agreed to," (he says this with just a trace of sarcasm), "and see what sort of 'contracts' we can write up. Maybe I will have some more information for you all. In the meantime, most of you are pretty exhausted from your day's activities, and we DO have sleeping accomodations for all of you." <><><><><> Harvey: "Getting the 'alien' back sounds good. But since we have no idea where to look it could be rather challenging." (Harvey can't help sounding irritated, he honestly wants to do something, he just can't come up with anythign to do about this. It's making him rather frustrated.) "Yawn". Yhe yawn is staged, to a degree, since he hasn't had a hard day but he would like to turn in early so he can get some sleep before the nightmares started ( and he is a little tired). Harvey heads back to the room he's been assigned and goes to bed early. But he wakes up very early, and decided to get in an early work out if possible, even though he hates the thought of wondering around an area thta may have security sections. <><><><><> Tien Lung: Once the meeting is over Tien disposes of her tray and heads straight for the pool. She'll swim for about half an hour. She uses the occasion to get used to swimmming in her dragon form and giving it some general conditioning exercise. After she's done she'll head back to her room and change back to her human form. Lisa goes through a moderate aerobic workout, then showers and lies on the bed to get some rest. [experiments- original message lost] <><><><><> [GM] Your attemps to manifest your dragon aura tangibly, and project yourself astrally, don't work. <><><><><> Gordon: The thought of a warm bed sounds really good right now, but I have the feeling that I'm unlikely to get much sleep until I wind down a bit. Flying seems like *just* the ticket. I head over to Gemann, "If it's OK with you, I'm going to go out and cruise around a bit. I *promise* I'll stay below the tree line." If he doesn't argue, I head out and hit the air. I feel an unbelievable sense of freedom as I slip the bonds of gravity. At first, I kick it into high gear, racing to and fro, and practicing high speed turns and such. After a while, as I begin to relax, I slow it down and just sort of drift about, examining the grounds of the headquarters and it's surrounding lands to get the feel of the place. Besides, I'm just naturally curious... Eventually my weariness begins to catch up with me so I head back inside. After getting someone to show me to my room (and where the bathrooms are, if they're not in the rooms), I take out my contacts, strip down, and hit the sack. [Amadan, I don't recall anything about packing a bag before heading out here, so I assume I'm going to have to beg a change of clothes and some saline solution for my contacts.] <><><><><> Tyler: Tyler managed to restrain herself from getting into it with Gemann after his rude remarks. As much as she wanted to tie into him, it wouldn't serve any purpose beyond making her feel better. Besides, it was a good bet that he was little more than a gofer; *someone* up the line ran this circus, and would make the important decisions. Still, they were right about one thing; she was a little jet-lagged, and she did want to get somewhere quiet and unwind. Tyler collected her bag, grabbed a beer for the road, and waited for their hosts to direct her to wherever they had the group housed. <><><><><> % Finn % The folk singer's yawn doesn't have to be faked ... with as little sleep as she has gotten in the past few days, along with her experiences, both while asleep and awake. [AnB, was Finn's bed big enough for two?] Shoving away the food that she had barely picked at, Finn managed a half-glare back at Gemann's sarcasm, but her heart wasn't fully into it. "Actually, now that I think about it, we may have to hold off on that testing. A lot will depend on how long it will take me to get my ... powers back in the morning." She glanced over at Walt, waiting for the inevitable blush. "But I, for one, am looking forward to a peaceful night's sleep. I'll see you all in the morning." She headed back to her room, whether or not Walt accompanied her. She placed herself in a chair, after moving off the piles of paper that were the songs she worked on during the night. Then settling herself in, she took herself, her mind, out of her body and "went astral," as she had become accustomed to calling it. First, she flew up and out and tried to spy Gordon. Finn wondered what his aura would look like, as compared to all the others she had seen so far. She watched his flying for a time, a smile creeping onto her face as she saw how much he enjoyed it, reveled in what he has been ... given, if that was the proper term, but all too soon she returned to the facility, for a brief, quick check on someone else. The other newcomer, the one who she wasn't all too sure about. Tyler. <><><><><> [GM] Not really a king-size bed, but could probably fit two. [to Lisa] Although your attempts to manifest your dragon "aura" failed, you do feel something....odd. No amount of exploration or meditation produces any insight, though. You get the sense that you triggered something, but can't be sure what it is. Another problem arises, though, the same one as last night- you're not really tired. Despite the obstacle course (which, granted, wasn't much of an effort for you) and the other excitement of the day, with two new arrivals and all, you really don't feel tired. A little mentally fatigued, perhaps, but you toss and turn in bed, trying to sleep, and unable to do so. [to Finn] Gordon's aura seems quite benign....he's your basic, average joe, albeit with a few insecurities and past sources of anguish lurking in the background, but who doesn't have a few of those? He's definitely enjoying his new powers. Lisa is tossing and turning, trying unsuccessfully to sleep. Her dragon aura is brighter than usual, and winks at you again as you drift by. Harvey is tossing and turning also, but he IS asleep, though perhaps wishing he wasn't. Nightmares disturb his sleep, and his response is resigned fortitude, such that it seems apparent that he endures these nightmares regularly. Lastly, Tyler. She's lying in bed also, trying to sleep. Something disturbs her. But as before, an opaque veil conceals her aura and her thoughts. You clearly won't be able to read much more from her unless you "push" the veil aside...and what effect that might have on Tyler (and whether she'd be able to sense it) you can only guess. The impressions you're getting are contradictory...your "feel" for people, that you've always had, tells you that Tyler isn't a threat. But your talent for spotting trouble tells you that she is. And your...powers will neither confirm nor deny either impression. <><><><><> Lisa: " Hmmm ... Something happened when I was experimenting. I suppose the only way to find out will be to wait and see what happens. Though I could go talk to Finn. Yea right, bad idea. It'll wait until morning. " She murmurs to herself. After trying to get to sleep and realizing that she just isn't tired Lisa will get up. She'll begin practicing her martial arts leaving the lights off, to try out her ability to see in the dark. If this doesn't help her get to sleep she'll go out and find something to read for the rest of the night. <><><><><> WALT He simply sits in another chair, or on the bed, or slouched down in a corner; whatever has him there but not right next to her. <><><><><> [GM] [to Tyler] As you lie in bed, the Puppet Master's plan, a self-contained mental message, unfolds. No, you aren't going to bring Mitchell through. You don't even know what his role in the plan might be, if any. You're simply to wait a few hours, until the greatest number of people are probably asleep. Then, you will open a portal to the Puppet Master's St. Louis layout. But you stay here, to bring back those who are going to be coming through. And, the Puppet Master advises, keep your head down.