AT THE VIRGINIA METAHUMAN RESEARCH FACILITY [Harvey Jones, Walter Shindell and Chuck Abraham, three newly manifested metahumans, have all been recruited by a mysterious government agency. At a top secret research compound in Virginia, they learn a little more about the government's metahuman operations, and hopefully learn a little more about themselves as well.] Harvey: Harvey says hello to, and shakes hands with both of the doctores before turning to Walter, this is not putting off but rather saving for last so he'll have more time to study him. As he shakes hands with Walter, Harvey wonders about him. Literally anything could happen, with one exception, that exception is Harvey think of a way to start a conversation with another meta. Harvey settles for giving a warm handshake, smiling friendily, saying hello and hoping Walter is a great conversationalist. * * * * * Hello B'aeyr, please to meet you. I'm Harvey Jones' player in CHC. If I'm not mistaken our characters just met in VA in the conference room. Harvey is physically 5'10" age 29, with brown hair and eyes, a California tan and a friendly grin (and I have an over-active sense of humor which Harvey got stuck with). Harvey shakes hands with, and says hello to, everyone getting to Walter last; this isn't because he doesn't look forward to meeting him but rather saving the best for last (he wants time to study him). When he gives Walter a warm hand shake he also gives him a strange, curious, look. The look says 'what's going to happen now, because I expect anything?' Since Harvey is shaking hands with a meta-human, anything is exactly what could happen. The only thing that couldn't happen is Harvey thinking of something to say, he can't figure out how to open a conversation with another meta. Harvey <><><><><> [His name is Walter R. Shindell, but people call him Walt. He's 6', weighs 185 Lbs., has red hair, light freckled skin, and blue eyes. Generally he dresses casually, jeans and a button down work shirt, high top black sneakers.] ***** Walt takes Harvey's hand gently, gingerly, as if expecting it to explode or some such. When (and if) if does not, he relaxes, sighs with relief, and makes the handshake more vigorous. "How y'all doing, Harv? You look about as sure about all this as I feel." Walt's answering grin states that it was *supposed* to be a joke, a tension breaker. "From what I've seen," Walt says," the folks here seem to be real nice." Walt turns to the doctor. "So now there's two of us, doc; what now? We gonna wait til we got enough for a game of 'pick-up'?" -Walt- <><><><><> [GM] "Well," says Dr. Kinnet, "why don't we see if our theory about you is correct; can you neutralize Mr. Jones' metahuman abilities?" <><><><><> Harvey: "Yeah, I was a little nervous. The last 'meta' I shook hands with politely assured me he wasn't currently electrically charged and I wouldn't be hit with several thousand volts, a shocking event. Unfortunately, he didn't tell me that until _after_ I started to shake his hand!" "So far all the people I've met here are really nice; just don't trust the floors!" (an in joke with Culbrand). "If we do start a pickup game, I don't know where we'll get someone willing to referee, or really durable sports equipment for that matter." "I'm from California, they found me after I avoided dying a couple of times, which I kind of like. What brings you to this out of the way area?" <> <><><><><> Walt: "Well, as far as I know it was a car; then again, with these government types, you never really know." Walt smiles, indicating that it was meant to be a joke. "I'm here because of a little run-in I had with someone or something that called itself 'legion'. Seems that I might have the ability to 'shut off' other people's powers, and then there's the matter of the 'special' relationship with probability...it seems to have a crush on me and wants to make me happy." Walt concentrates, not really knowing 'how' to do *it*, but willing to give it a try. <><><><><> <> Harvey: "Ha ha ha ha", as he sits down slapping the table as he roars with laughter. You have succeeded in completely breaking him up, you will get along just fine! After about 15 seconds, Harvey seems to get control of himself and takes a deep breath, followed by another collapse of laughter that lasts another 15 seconds. Harvey listens as Walt briefly explains his history, it sounds strange to Harvey and a little confusing but he assumes his explanation would be just as strange and confusing. The idea of someone able to shutdown meta-abilities bothers Harvey for some reason, much to his own surprise; but he recognizes its utility. ---- If that last part was attempting to demonstrate your power to shutdown metas (your unpower?) then you should probably ask permission before trying it on someone. Especially since if it works nothing will happen, which is normally what happens (except around here where it abnormally happens). Assuming you let Harvey know so he can try to do something he will attempt to cooperate (er, actually uncooperate by resisting, but you get the idea). After a few seconds pause as he considers the possibility of losing something he just got, and deciding what is safe to have fail, he'll step up on the air about 6 inches (if you are trying to stop him from starting rather than from keeping doing it, he'll try to step up on the air). <><><><><> [GM] Well, Walt was shaking Harvey's hand while trying to neutralize his powers. When Harvey tries to "step up" into the air, nothing happens. You try, experimentally, phasing your foot through the floor, and nothing happens again. <><><><><> Harvey: "Well it worked," says Harvey, "looks like a great way to handle malicious metas." "But I have a few questions: How long can you keep it up? Do you have to touch the target? Can you do it form across the room, or down the block? Can you stop 2 metas at once? .....And.... can you turn it back on?!" If the answer to any of these is 'I don't know' Harvey will offer to help test it out. <><><><><> Walt: Walt is inwardly pleased by the fact that he was able to make his power work, but mentally is asking himself the same questions that Harv has just voiced. While it is good to know that it does work, the particulars are what will allow him to make it really useful...or not! "Sorry 'bout not warning you I was gonna do something; guess I'm still real new at all this. Didn't mean any insult by it, Harv." What Walt would like to do with Harv's help, is a few experiments... - Can he do it at range? If so, how far can he work it? - Does he have to be able to see the person whom he is trying to nullify? - If he continues to concentrate, does the nullification continue? If he stops concentrating, how fast do the persons powers return? - If they can get access to more than one 'meta'(?) can he affect more than one at a time? - If Harv is *really* willing to help, Walt would also like to practice/test his probability powers a bit; try and do things like have harv walk along and suddenly trip or some such *random* happening. <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey brushes off Walt's apology for not warning him before testing the 'un-power' (or what ever you call it) with a simple "No sweat", he appreciates the apology but isn't too bothered by the test. Harvey is willing to help Walt test his abilities, especially since he might learn something about his own. When Walt mentions his 'probability power' again Harvey ask "What does this 'probability power' mean, besides that I'm not going to play poker with you". It's going to be tough studying 'random' events scientifically, since by definition they aren't repeatable (well, repeatability would be real improbable, but that's what your power does best, isn't it). <><><><><> [GM] It takes about a minute before Harvey can turn himself insubstantial again. As hard as you try, though, you can't seem to neutralize his power again without touching him. And after several repeated sessions of nullifying his power and then waiting for it to return, concentrating doesn't seem to prolong the effect much, though his power does seem to take a little longer each time to return. "We don't have any other metahumans around right now," says Dr. Kinnet, "except Jason, who's, uh, probably not the best test subject right now. But there are a couple who will be arriving soon." Mabe, appearing suddenly behind you says "And one of them, I would just love to see you test this 'neutralizing' power on." <><><><><> Walt: Walt jumps just a little at the undetected approach of Mabe; all this "total concentration" business had effectively put 'blinders' on Walt. He makes a mental note to himself that this is something to be careful of...it wouldn't do for him to get taken out from behind while focusing on one person. Actually, Walt realizes, that is what team-mates/partners are for; to watch your back. "Why so much interest in turning off this *one* 'meta', agent Mabe", Walt asks, trying to get a guage as to whether or not this is just curiousity or concern. [David, what I would also like to have Walt try is the following... a) Can Walt *increase* a persons power, sort of the opposite of what he does when he nullifies it? b) Does he get the power that he nullifies? One thing he could try would be to concentrate on 'standing on air' like Harvey does. He would try that right after he nullified Harvey.] <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey finds himself pondering why his power seems to take slightly longer to comeback each time. Is Walt getting better at it with practice? Is it a cumulative effect of multiple nullifications, sort of building on the effects of the previous. Is Harvey changing or Walt? Harvey continues to ponder but can't think of any way of testing it, and has to hope the universe gvies him an idea. When Mabe mentions wanting to see what happens when one particular meta is nullified Harvey gives him a raised eyebrow, his way of say 'tell me about it so I don't have to ask'. of course it is also Harvey's way of saying 'tell me about it so I don't have to ask, or else......... I will ask'. <><><><><> [GM] "Oh, this fellow just needs to be deflated a little," says Mabe. "He just manifested, like you two, and he seems to think he's God on Earth. His heart's probably in the right place, but he needs a reminder that superpowers don't make him invincible, before he takes on someone who really means to kill him." "Though come to think of it," he chuckles, "I would *love* to see if you can neutralize that smug wiseguy Paladin, too." Your attempt to "boost" Harvey's powers don't have any effect that Harvey can detect. (Of course, how does one become *more* insubstantial? From what Harvey knows of his abilities so far, he hasn't learned how to do something that works in degrees.) And you can't walk on air like he does. Neutralizing his power doesn't seem to give it to you. <><><><><> Walt: Walt is silent and pensive-looking for a moment. It is starting to look like his powers aren't going to make him into the bullet-proof 'stud' that the comic books portray. That's fine, but "combat training" sounds awfully close to "combat", and Walt knows enough about himself to know that is an area that he is woefully unprepared for. "Well, I suppose that would be a good idea...both the more strenuous testing and the "combat training", whatever that actually means. But I should warn you folks right now, I sure as heck am no combat-type; aside from a Remington 12 gauge and a very rare barroom brawl, I don't know my ass from my elbow when it comes to fighting." Walt looks at both of them, then nods to himself. "But if that's what this is going to take for me to be useful...let's do it." <><><><><> Harvey: As Mabe explains about the meta with an attitude Harvey comments to Walter "Guess you can't specifically nullify his attitude, but general nullification sure works on me." "As a rule of thumb, your elbow is something you hit the other guy with if he gets into range and as for an ass, that's what we're going to kick! But I wouldn't worry too much about the combat training, since metas are going to have to develope their own techniques for attack (and defense) that are rather non-standard." When Walt says 'If that's what it takes to be useful...lets do it' Harvey nods to himself, he doesn't say anything out load, but it shows that he thinks Walt just summed it all up. <><><><><> [GM] "You may need to evolve new tactics to use your superpowers," agrees Mabe, "but it's best to have a grasp of the basics. After all, as Walt here proves, you can't be sure you'll always have those powers!" He grins. What follows is only a bare-bones training session, more so Mabe can ascertain your existing skills than anything else. He's pleased that you're both in fairly good shape, and that you're not totally unfamiliar with firearms (Harvey is a bit more familiar, being ex-Army, though his marksmanship has definitely gotten rusty.) When Harvey mentions that he studies karate, Mabe immediately asks to spar with him. Harvey performs adequately, but Mabe has obviously had a lot more training. "You'll both do a lot better than that little wisp Donovan," Mabe says. "It's late, so maybe some dinner and sleep is in order for you. Tomorrow, I've got a few ideas to try out. First off, maybe this 'luck power' of Walt's is more likely to manifest when he's actually threatened. And Kinnet tells me you've been doing some interesting experiments with your ability to turn things insubstantial," he says to Harvey. "If you can phase your body in and out, you could be an invincible infighter. And if you can phase *other* people....consider being able to walk Walt right up to a hostile superhuman, ignoring whatever he or she throws at you, and then letting Walt turn solid just long enough to shut 'em off. It's certainly an idea worth trying out. And for that matter, I guess we'll have to start talking about pay and benefits, if you're really going to work for us long term. We offer a very generous package, believe me." <><><><><> Walt: After Mabe calls it quit for the training session, Walt is to say the least, exhausted. Just then the idea of a hot meal and then bed sounds a lot better than the "generous benefits". Walt drags himself after Mabe, interested in what he's been telling them but also glad for the respite. "I don't know if I much like the idea of being threatened by anybody, but I think you may be right; it may take a 'real' threat to make it work real well." [Walt will most likely follow the lead of Mabe for the immediate future, ie. food (w/ or w/o conversation) and then bed...wherever that is. <><><><><> Harvey: It's a long day. Harvey is disappointed to discover that not only is he out of shape, but he's also let his marksmanship get rusty. Harvey doesn't know who 'wisp' Donovan is, but even if he did try to make Walt a little more confident by telling him they were going to need to develope new techniques, Harvey never learned any of the advanced techniques to develope them out of. "I never thought of suddenly solidifiing/and desolidifiing in the middle of a fight, just using desolidification to safely get close, and there may be some limits we thought of when testing the ability...but your right, fading in and out in the middle would be very effective, if I could get the timing right. I did think of desolidifiing Walt so he could get close enough to nullify someone, there just one thing. Dr. Culbrand may understand what holds me up when I'm unsolid but I don't, and that's the same thing that would have to hold Walt up, we'd better test that very carefully." <><><><><> CHUCK: Continuation from “Chuck’s Story, Part Two” Not feeling at all tired, Chuck tosses and turns and finally heads out of his room to wander the place for a while. He looks for anything carelessly left out to read that might give him more info on the superpowereds running around. He doesn't get too nosy, but will pick up anything he finds lying about. If nothing else catches his interest, he looks for any other rooms like his which might be occupied by other paranormals. He knocks on any doors which look promising. <><><><><> [GM to Chuck] You don't find anything that looks particularly interesting...they seem to keep their technical material in file folders or in the labs. You find several men, both scientists and probably other federal agents, are still up. They ask you what you're doing, and when you tell them you couldn't sleep, they shrug and tell you you're free to wander around, though they'd appreciate your staying out of the labs and not bothering the scientists. You walk around the large ranchhouse, and find it is *much* larger than it seems on the outside; many sections are built in such a way as to be concealed from the outside, when you can only see the building from one angle, and there also seem to be several sets of stairs leading down. One opens onto a basketball court, which you notice has a large area on the hardwood floor that has been shattered. The others lead down to doors which are locked. Lots of doors in this place are locked, in fact. Figuring it would be showing poor manners to rip your hosts' doors off their hinges, though you're confident you could, you look elsewhere. Back in the wing where your room was located, you find several other doors, and knock on one. * * * * * [GM to Harvey] The bed is very inviting after a hard day learning how to walk through walls and drop iron weights from two stories up....you fall asleep almost immediately. And wake up, what seems like moments later, as someone knocks on your door. <><><><><> Harvey: "Just a minute" calls Harvey as he groggily sits up in bed, and begins wondering if left his pants sloppily on the floor or 'neatly' on a chair (depends how close the chair is to the bed). As he pulls on a t-shirt just before letting whoever knocked in two things occur to him, the first is 'what time is it?' (wondered as he glances around the room to see if there is a clock) and the second is 'could it be Mabe with a surprise readiness drill?' Just in case it's the latter Harvey will keep himself ready to desolidify, grinning to himself that he may be paranoid or he may be cautious. <><><><><> Chuck: A large blond haired man greets you at the door with a smile. He's built like a bodybuilder and is the size of an Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman. He ducks slightly to look in the room, as he comes close to approaching seven feet. He has a neatly trimmed mustache, bright blue eyes, and his hair is cut short in a military flat top. "GA TECH" is emblazoned across his gold T-shirt; Levi's and sneakers make up the rest of his outfit. "What'cha know good, neighbor?" he says, scanning the room behind you. His accent is distinctly Southern, from much further south than Virginia. He puts out a hand the size of a baseball mitt, eyes finally coming back to yours again. "Chuck Abraham. Pleased to meet you, sir." <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey blinks a few times at the big man now filling the doorway, partially to get the sleep out of eyes and partially from surprise before remembering his manners and shaking hands. "Hi, I'm Harvey Jones. Won't you come in?" (the additional 'if you'll fit in the room' is dropped as impolite but he does return a friendly grin). "Last person I asked 'what brings you here' told me 'a car', which still cracks me up", chuckles Harvey. "And what's with this Sir stuff? Even back when I was in the army I worked for a living". <><><><>><> Pleased to meet you, John. Harvey is 5' 10" with brown eyes and hair. The hair usually looks like it needs to be cut and right now is messed up anyways. <><><><><> Chuck: "Thanks. Sir is something my momma always told me to say when I wanted to make a good impression, or really tick someone off. In your case it's the former, although I'm pretty good at doing the latter, too." Chuck moves into the room and looks around to see if it's similar to his place. "Couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd wander around the place for a while. Did you get picked up by these agents, too, for being...outta the ordinary? They came by to find this one at the plant I work at and come to find out I'M one, too, for Christ's sakes. "They've been runnin' tests and stuff on me, and what I'd rather do is go out and USE my powers...make some money...kick some Third World butt. That kind of thing. Got anything to drink?" <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey can't help smiling at the explaination of 'sir', and he'd be willing to bet that Chuck could really tick someone off if he wnated to, fortunately so far he doesn't. "As for being 'picked up by the agents', I voluntarily came along, it seemed the easiest and fastest way to learn what I was doing. I have to admit you have more confidence than I did. My first thought when I 'manifested' was how do I keep from hurting myself with this. Since then it's turned out to be less likely to hurt yourself with a meta-ability, but I don't know why it's safe." Harvey is slightly bothered by Chuck's intended uses for his new abilities, although they're logical and he hopes his emotions don't show, even if he does think taking on an entire country, third world or not, would be difficult/infeasible at best. "Sorry, nothing to drink with me, there's a cafeteria around here somewhere but I don't think that will help. May I ask a personal question? With your build you look like you would have excelled in either football or basketball, how'd you choose one...or did you play both?". Sheesh, a seven foot tall linebacker, no wonder he seems a little over confident, or maybe he's not over confident! <><><><><> Chuck: At the word "football" Chuck's eyes gleam briefly. "High school football-- All-State champions. I had a football scholarship to U. G. A., but I turned it down." He shakes his head in regret. "I didn't think I was good enough to make it in the pro's, so I went to trade school instead. But I am a DAMN FINE mechanic," he adds smugly, grinning. "Well this 'meta' power hasn't hurt me. In fact, I seem to be pretty tough to injure in the first place. I tried to shave off my moustache and my whiskers dulled the razor without coming off. They tried to take a blood sample and couldn't even get the needle in--they had to use some sort of vibrating, diamond-tipped needle gun to finally break the skin. They tell me I don't need to breathe. And best of all, I can hold up a van with almost no effort at all...and no knee injuries. "What kinds of things have they found out about you?" <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey is impressed by Chuck's rapid fire list of accomplishments, and lets his face briefly show it. "I haven't shown much in the way of pumping jeeps and I can still cut myself shaving, but I've been shot and blown up and I still get to talk about it. When the going gets too tough I can avoid the attack by letting it go through me without doing any damage. Or I can go though what you think of as a solid object like it were air, kind of convenient when I want to take a short cut or I lock myself out." "How'd they test you to see if you needed to breath or not?" <><><><><> Chuck: "Told me to hold my breath. They think I'm making oxygen inside, so I don't need to breathe. "Sounds like a great power you have. I've never had someone SHOOT at me before. "You said something about someone else you met here. How many others like us are there here? I came along with a chick named Kelly, who's an agent for this place; she's got some power that lets her tell what you're feeling by sensing your heartbeat and body chemistry or some such nonsense." Chuck looks down uncomfortably, and you see he's blushing. He quickly changes the subject. "I had a run-in at the plant with a guy they told me was called Cheshire. At first I thought he was just another environmentalist wacko hippy pinko commie ponytailed faggot, but it's looking like that was just a sham. He was really trying to extort some money from the company. He's got a power that lets him move from one place to another without traveling in-between." Chuck catches his fist in his other hand and grinds his teeth. "If I see that freak again, I'll pound him halfway to China. He almost caused a reactor to meltdown." Chuck pulls his wallet and checks for some change. "I think I'll head down to the cafeteria and get a beer or something. I have NOT been able to get to sleep, which really isn't that bad, since I don't feel tired. You know, I had to give up smoking 'cause I don't even get a buzz anymore. Coffee, too. Hope beer's not the same way. Why don't you join me? I'll buy." Chuck conveniently ignores the fact the Harvey is apparently going to bed. <><><><><> Harvey: How do you test if need to breath:hold your breath. That figures, I should have thought of it. "Being shot at isn't all it's cracked up to be, at least from the statistics on its occurence. Better to avoid it, which is what I do best. Fortunately they haven't tried shooting me as a test, yet, as I really wouldn't appreciate that." "Hmmmm others. Basically they, or we, seem to be coming out of the woodwork all of the sudden. I've met 2 others, Jason and Walt, really nice guys. Just a bit of advice, I don't think Walt would try to take advantage of you but don't play poker with him......one of his 'special abilities' is being very lucky. I think there should be about 2 more 'metas' working for the DoD that neither of us has met, but they may not be right here." "Gee, what a great way to commute". Harvey grins at the arm long list of adjectives for 'cheshire' (and that's one of chuck's arms, not mine) which turns to his mouth hanging open when 'meltdown' comes up. "That's going too far!", Harvey nearly screams, once he recovers from the shock. Distressingly, while Deathstorm in Israel and Tornado in France didn't get to Harvey, the thought of a cloud of radioactive fallout spreading over an american city tells Harvey just how dangerous the malicious metas can be. "I'm going to pass on going for a beer right now. I think there are some security areas around here, and a habit left over from the army is to avoid anything security. The best advice about classified material I ever heard was if you see anything over the classified level, run in the opposite direction before the security department sees you and wants to talk to you. Besides, unlike you I still can sleep and need to; gee, I wish I had that no sleep needed power, would eliminate having nightmares etc. I'll probably see you at breakfast tomorrow." Got to remember to set the alarm clock, get up early and fidn the track so I can start getting back in shape. <><><><><> Chuck: Chuck heads over to the cafeteria to see about that beer. He strides up to anyone who happens to be there at this hour and joins them without asking. GM's Note: Unfortunately, Chuck's player was unable to continue playing after this, so Chuck was run as an NPC hereafter. <><><><><> [GM] Walt and Harvey are woken up early the next morning, by Mabe. "Get enough sleep?" he asks. "I got a few more ideas about your talents, maybe some more things to try out." Mabe introduces both of you to a thin, mousy blonde woman with large round glasses. "Special Agent Kelly Donovan," he says. She smiles nervously and adjusts her glasses. "You can just call me, uh, Kelly." "Donovan is a metahuman also," Mabe says. "She has what the brain boys are calling physiopathy, or physiological telepathy. Something like that. She can sense everything about your metabolism, biochemistry, respiration, and so on. Basically, she knows everything that makes your body tick. She can even read your DNA code. Problem is, she's still learning what to make of what she reads....kind of like being able to see a foreign language that no one else can, but it's still a foreign language." "We'd like to have her present while we test you. She may be able to tell a lot more about how your powers are working than any number of tests. One of her many talents is sensing metahumans. She's still learning how to actually differentiate between different powers, so this will be a training exercise for her too." "What we want to do is put you through an obstacle course...one with hidden hazards. Nothing deadly, of course, but things that could possibly cause you minor injury if you're not careful. We think this is the best way to test the 'stress' theory, that your powers will manifest best when you're in danger. Strictly voluntary, of course, and we will have paramedics standing by, just in case. Plus Donovan will be watching, and another talent of hers is being able to instantly diagnose injuries better than a team of doctors in the best hospital. So the actual danger to you should be minimal. Are you game?" During Mabe's talk, Donovan stands silent, watching the three of you timidly. <><><><><> Harvey: "Hi, Kelly", Harvey says, as he shakes her hand warmly but gently, he hopes. He smiles and does his best to put her at ease but gets the feeling she is still wary. Probably just the fact that she knows just about everything that could go wrong and is nervous about being around other metas, even ones as unthreatening as Harvey and Walt. (By the way, "Good morning, Walt"). When Mabe tries to explain Kelly's meta-abilities Harvey gets rather confused, but he suspects Mabe is a little uncertain himself. Still trying to put Kelly at ease he says, "Then I guess you can sense we're all going to be good friends", but hopes it didn't sound too corny or forced, even if it was. "The obstacle course sounds ..ah... interesting", Harvey says, the tone of his voice conveying that he is actually looking forward to the challenge,"But when you say minor injuries only, non-deadly do you also mean non-maiming?". Harvey considers it merely making sure they remember to check these things when they set them up, but since his meta-abilities are mainly defensive and keep him from getting hurt he isn't too concerned (although images of 'small' flame throwers that come to mind don't give him a warm feeling). He's still going to see if he can find a pair of protective eye-goggles before trying to run the obstacle course. When Mabe mentions that Kelly is a better diagnostician than a team of doctors Harvey ask her "Do you have training at treating injury to match your diagnostics? It'd make you a heck of a physician". <><><><><> Walt: "Howdy, Kelly," Walt says smiling inwardly at her apparent nervousness. From what he has seen of Harvey, they are the two least likely men on the planet to cause her any stress, let alone grief! >>"What we want to do is put you through an obstacle course...one with hidden >>hazards." Walt frowns slightly at the "hidden hazards" part of the speech. But, he can see the point of what they have been trying to get across; it may be that it requires some kind of physiological or psychological stress to "release" the full extent of his powers. "I'm game," Walt says, "and I'll be happy to have Kelly there." <><><><><> [GM to Walt] You and Harvey are to go through separately, so you can't see the surprises in store for each other. They send you through first. It's a good workout, but not nearly as exciting as you expected. You run up and down some hills, swing across a rope over a river, climb a couple of walls...it looks like a standard obstacle course, the sort you've seen in films about military boot camp. You wait for some "hidden obstacles" to manifest, but the only one you discover is a pit, covered with grass and leaves, waiting on the other side of one of the walls. You hit the ground and keep going down, the covering collapsing beneath you. It's only about five feet deep, and you land in soft mud, so all you get is dirty, though you realize you could quite easily have broken an ankle or something. You climb out and keep going. A man dressed in a black bodysuit, like a ninja outfit, leaps from a tree, missing you narrowly. He lashes out at you with a fist, which you dodge. As he moves closer, his feet slip and he tumbles to the ground. He jumps up quickly and keeps attacking. He doesn't hit you full force, but hard enough to hurt. Obviously better trained than you, you find yourself being bruised and battered until you're having serious second thoughts about volunteering for this. Then a tree branch falls on his head, knocking him out. Mabe, Donovan, and several other men run onto the course, a couple of paramedics checking your assailant. "Well, that was fascinating," Mabe says calmly. When you point out that aside from the pit, and the poor fellow with the mild concussion, it didn't seem like anything happened at all. Mabe laughs. "Come'ere and look at this map." He shows you a diagram of the obstacle course, which shows a lot of stuff you didn't see going through it. It started with the first stretch of the course, a slight downhill which caused you to speed up. "There was a simple tripwire there," Mabe says, "which should have just tripped you up. Somehow, you missed it." Up the first hill, you learn that a tear gas cannister was lobbed at you, landing just off the path ahead of you. You never even noticed it. "It didn't go off," says Mabe. A sniper fired a rubber bullet at your posterior, with a low-powered rifle, or tried to. "It would only have left a welt", Mabe assures you. "But the gun jammed." The first wall you went over, a metal one, was electrified. "Just enough to shock you a little," Mabe says. "It short circuited just before you went over it." There was another pit, along one of the open stretches, covered by a mechanically-triggered hatch. "Didn't open", says Mabe. "Mechanism jammed." A net didn't fall on you, a log didn't come rolling down the hill towards you, a whole host of rather primitive booby-traps just failed to activate. "Kind of crude, I know," says Mabe. "But we didn't have a lot of time to prepare for this, and I got to practice some of my old Special Forces skills." He chuckles. "Every time one of these amazing feats of luck saved your butt, Donovan here sensed a metahuman power activating." Dr. Kinnet says "We're still not sure whether you are actually manipulating probability, or exhibiting low-level precognition combined with very subtle psychokinesis, thus sensing and negating the hazards subconsciously. The next step is to see what your limits are when you're deliberately *trying* to interfere with normal mechanical and electrical devices and the like." "But first," grins Mabe, "maybe you'd like to watch Jones go through?" <><><><><> [GM to Harvey] Mabe shows you the start of the course, and says, "No cheating....don't use your desolid power to walk through the walls, you have to go OVER them." With that, you head down the track. The first wall is no problem...a lot like the obstacle courses you used to run on in the Army. The second wall gives you a jolt when you touch it...metal plates covering the top are electrified, and you feel your arms spasming as you grab it. After a moment, it subsides to a tingle, and you continue on. When you jump down from the wall, though, your feet sink into the dirt up to your knees. It takes you a few moments to free yourself, though you consider just desolidifying. Running on, you feel somehow....heavier. At one point, you hear a snapping sound behind you, but when you turn and look, you don't see the cause, so you continue on. Going through a small stand of trees, something whistles through the air and lands in your path. More Army flashbacks go through your mind as you recognize a CS gas cannister. The thick grey smoke billows out, and you try to gulp in air and hold onto it before the stuff gets in your mouth and nose. You feel your eyes sting as you go through the cloud, but at least your skin doesn't burn....usually, when you're sweating and your pores are open, CS gas hurts, like slapping alcohol on your face after shaving. Next is a short run uphill, with seems fine until a log comes rolling down the hill towards you! It's about two feet high, but it bounces a lot- you can probably jump over it without difficulty, but mistiming it could bruise your ankle at the very least. You consider desolidifying again, but decide you don't want Mabe to think you're wimping out. Fortunately, you don't have any problems with it. The net that springs on you immediately after that is different. You find yourself bouncing in the air, tangled in thick nylon cords. Once again, you ponder how to get out of this without "cheating". As you concentrate, the net begins sagging, lowering you to the ground, the nylon straining as if under a great weight. Abruptly, the hooks which hold it to the trees (and a couple of metal poles) above snap, dumping you on the ground....and once again, you make a surprising impact in the ground, imbedding yourself eight inches deep. After some struggling, you are able to work your way out, all the time hoping that Mabe doesn't lob another tear gas grenade at you! That thought makes you nervous, and you suddenly find the strands ripping as if made out of thin thread. Which is strange, because you thought you had already demonstrated that you *don't* have super strength. Next you go downhill, with another wall at the bottom. Going over this one, you land....and keep going, as a covered pit opens beneath you. It's only five feet deep, and lined with soft, sticky mud....which you go into, deeply. Up to your waist. This time, after struggling with it for several minutes, you get fed up and just desolidify your way free. The last stretch has a rope hanging across a river. Suspiciously, you take hold of it and swing across, tempted to let go, because the water would be nice, now that you're covered from head to foot in thick brown mud. In fact, the choice is made for you, as the rope suddenly breaks. You drop into the river like a rock, and sink straight to the bottom. You're actually walking on the bottom! Panicking, you struggle towards the surface, and shoot straight up, feeling oddly as if a great deal of weight has departed from your body. Coughing and sputtering, you crawl onto the far bank, and run the last hundred yards, to where Mabe and Walt and Donovan are waiting. "Hmm. Guess this really is an inadequate test," says Mabe. "Hardly slowed you down. We'll need to come up with some TOUGH obstacle courses for you metatypes." <><><><><> Harvey: "No cheating?! You're making this hard" jokes Harvey. Then sobers, "in fact I bet you are making this hard", but he is still looking forward to this, mainly for the challenge. As he walks over to the starting line he mutters to himself over and over "no cheating, no cheating, no cheating...just a little cheating, no cheating, no cheating". The course goes surprisingly well for Harvey. He was expecting more difficult obstacles, not that he could have designed them. Getting to the end Harvey is out of breath, and even more determined to get back in shape than before. The thought of what Mabe could mean by a 'TOUGH course' gives Harvey a shiver but he's still quite proud of his performance. "Did anyone hear a funny snapping sound while I was on the course? 'Cause I think I missed a thing or two that was happening." He can't help glancing at Kelly, who was supposed to be monitoring the course, but then looks away since he thinks that it would be impolite to ask what she saw (and she'll probably mention anything she's willing to). <><><><><> [GM] At your mention of the snapping sound, Mabe laughs. "Our sharpshooter just isn't having a good day today." At your alarmed expression, he says "Don't worry, it was just a rubber bullet, aimed at your derrier. It would have given you a little welt, nothing more. But apparently you didn't even feel it. That 'invulnerability' power of yours. Agent Donovan here was observing you the whole time, and has some interesting observations." The slender, perpetually-nervous looking women nods seriously and says "You're altering your density, Mr. Jones. Both ways. Your body mass went to practically zero when you desolifidied to get out of the mud" (so much for hiding from Mabe the fact that you cheated a little ), "but starting when you hit the electric wall, and everytime after that that you were in some minor danger of being hurt, your mass increased to over a thousand pounds." "That's probably how you've become invulnerable", says Dr. Kinnet, "though there must be more to it, since even increasing your density shouldn't make you immune to those HEAP rounds you got hit with back in California. Probably some kind of psychokinetic shield, linked to your increase in density. And psychokinesis would also explain how you are able to move, even when you are desolified, or when you weigh so much that your muscles shouldn't be able to move your own body." <><><><><> Harvey: "I don't know whether to be bothered that there was a sharpshooter shooting at me, rubber bullets or not, or by the fact that I didn't see him...... Where was he?" "I AM altering my density? Darn, I'll have to apologize to Dr. Culbrand, he suggested that but I didn't really beleive him. I hope he doesn't mind", Harvey says surprisedly. Then Dr. Kinnet joins in and Harvey starts looking confused. "Psychokinesis? I think they tested me for telekinesis when we tried the general testing and didn't find any. Is this somehow limited to just things I touch, Just things I touch when I'm very dense? The term really doesn't mean much to me". Harvey quickly tries to sort things out, it explains most of what happened on the obstacle course, although he's not sure about the net, and he isn't sure 'why' it happened". (Kelly called Harvey 'Mr. Jones') "Mr. Jones is awful formal for me, Ms. Donovan, please, just call me Harvey". [One thing I've got to test out soon. Harvey can somehow keep from sinking into the ground when unsolid, and even walk on air that way; but can he desolidify someone else and keep them from sinking into the ground (other than by picking them up and carrying them)?] <><><><><> [GM] After the obstacle course, Harvey and Walt get a chance to shower, eat and rest- but not long. Mabe comes stalking in purposefully, wearing a black jumpsuit that looks like it's designed for action. "You gentleman ready for a baptism of fire?" he asks. "Major metahuman incident in New York. Same ones as last night, in fact. We've got a jet warming up right now. Chances are it will be over by the time we get there- but no telling what the aftermath will be like." Donovan is following behind him, wearing a suit like his, but looking nowhere near as self- assured in it. Chuck Abraham, aka "Supraman", who Harvey met last night, is present also, looking not only self-assured, but eager. ======================================================= =============== A CHOICE OF EVILS [Harvey Jones, Walter Shindell and Chuck Abraham, aka "Supraman" (and an NPC for the time being) have all been recruited into a secretive government agency that has been studying, and combatting, superhumans. At their secret metahuman research facility in Virginia, they have just finished a preliminary series of tests designed to reveal more about their powers, when Special Agent Mabe, the man in charge of field operations, announces that there is a superhuman battle occuring NOW, in New York City. He wants the three supers, along with another one, Agent Kelly Donovan, to fly with him to the site of the conflict.] Harvey: "Ready for our baptism of fire? Of course not...but we'll do it any way!", Harvey says with a grin, "I wasn't ready when strange things started happening to me, why should I change what's worked so far?" "A jet? Let's see, get to jet, take off procedure, fly to New York, get stuck in holding pattern, landing procedure, drive to fight-get stuck in traffic-get lost and unlost....We may not even get there in time for the clean up. Better get moving if we want to get there, maybe you can review what's known about these combatants on the way, we'll probably have plenty of time." Inspite of Harvey's words sounding pessimistic about the chance of arriving in time to help, his tone holds a hint of eagerness and even excitement; the twinkle in his eye tells that no matter what he says he's committed to doing his best. <><><><><> [GM] Mabe laughs at Harvey's comments. "No circling the airport," he says. "We've got the authority to force any plane except Air Force One to make way for us. We're landing at a private airport, and a helicopter will be waiting for us." Mabe drives you all in a Jeep Cherokee to an airstrip less than half a mile from the ranchhouse, where a small jet is already poised at the end of a runway. En route to New York, Mabe tells you, "The superhumans involved are named Lucy Golden and Christine Tallin. Lucy Golden, who we've been referring to as "Lucretia" until we learned her real name recently, is a psychopath. She's strong enough to punch holes in concrete, invulnerable to high-explosive, armor piercing bullets, and she can fly, faster than most jets. She can also sense other metahumans, and she hunts and kills them, just for the fun of it, as far as we can tell. And she has no compunction against casually squashing anyone else who gets in her way. She tore a plane out of the sky last week, over Canada. Just ripped its wings off and let 23 innocent people smash into the ground. There was probably a superhuman aboard, but if so, he or she didn't survive." "The other night, she came after Christine Tallin at a celebrity party in New York City. Some of our other agents, including Jason Little- who, uh, unfortunately is still in the infirmary and couldn't join us-", Mabe avoids looking at Walt, "were tracking her, and caught up as she was trying to kill Ms. Tallin. Little almost electrocuted her, but she managed to get away. She was severely wounded, so we thought she'd stay in hiding until she recovered, but apparently she recovers a lot faster than we thought. And our friend Ms. Tallin, who refused our offer to help her, decided she wanted to turn her new powers into a boost to her modelling career, I guess, and held a press conference at another hotel. And guess who showed up?" Supraman slaps a fist into his palm and says "Don't worry, pal, we'll deal with this super-powered bimbo." Looking at Kelly, he says "She may think she's tough, but she hasn't run into me yet!" Kelly smiles faintly, but doesn't look too reassured. Mabe looks slightly amused, and says "I hope you can stomp her that easily, Abraham, but-" he looks at Walt, "I'm thinking if you can at least keep her occupied, our friend Mr. Shindell can sneak up on her and turn off her strength. Possibly with Harvey's assistance. Of course, this is assuming she's still there when we arrive. We might end up just picking up the pieces....probably pieces of Ms. Tallin." <><><><><> Harvey: "Well, I sort of figured you wouldn't let little things like holding patterns slow you down, Mabe, I was just sort of pointing out that we're limited in how fast we can respond to events once they happen. The only way we could be sure of arriving in time would be to be waiting. But your answer brings up another problem: where are you going to land the helicopter? The army never got around to teaching me the 'fast roping' method of rappeling from a hovering 'copter and jumping isn't really appealing", says Harvey, Before it dawns on him that he COULD jump out of a helicopter and just walk on air to the ground. "I don't know which is stranger, that this farmhouse has an air strip or that I didn't notice it before." slightly sarcastically. <> "If Lucretia can sense other mutants is there any evidence she can identify there meta-abilities at the same time? It would make a difference in how effective the distraction has to be to let Walt close enough." <><><><><> [GM] "We don't know how much she can sense," Mabe says. "We only know she can detect people like you, maybe the same way Donovan does, maybe not. As for the helicopter, don't worry, there will be someplace the chopper can hover over, close enough for you to jump out. Though you could jump out at any time, couldn't you, and just walk down to the ground?" he asks, echoing your earlier thoughts. "And Walt here could probably just jump out and expect a pile of mattresses waiting for him! And if old Chuck here is as tough as he says, I guess he'd just climb out of the crater he'd make and walk away. That just leaves me and Donovan having to disembark the old fashioned way." <><><><><> Walt: Walt shakes his head ever so slightly, amazed that so testosterone- ridden a man still exists. Still, he doesn't seem completely the fool; and everything that Walt has heard leads him to believe that this guy *may* be aas strong as he is of the opinion he is. "If this girl's tearing up folks like it sounds, well then, she aughta be put away til she either sees the error of her ways, or some shrink can help her. I guess we can just try to stop her." <><><><><> [GM] Supraman looks at Walt with a mixture of horror and contempt. "HELP her?" he exclaims. "See the error of her ways? Are you serious? This psycho is ripping people apart and you're talkin' like she's a naughty child we need to send to her room without supper?" <><><><><> Harvey: [[put away until she either sees the error of her ways, or some shrink can help her]] quotes back Harvey in amazement. " Do you really think there's much hope of either of those spontaneously occurring? And where would you put her to stay or find a meta-shrink capable of changing her??" Harvey says, his words coming on before the realization hits him, that he doesn't have an alternative. "...ah...hmmm... let me re-evaluate that, I may have been excessively hasty and pessimistic, sorry Walt" he apologizes while trying to see his way out of the dilemma he's dug himself into. "We don't really have an alternative do we, the only way we have to neutralize her so we could hold her is Walt, that's only temporary and I doubt Walt wants to volunteer for permanent guard duty on one psycho. MAYBE Kelly could come up with something to keep her down, since she can see the details of how it works, but that might take a while. ....I think I'm out of solutions" Harvey find concludes. If Chuck 'supraman' points out the 'obvious' (and permanent) solution, Harvey will hotly reject it with "Hey, we're the good guys here"! <><><><><> Walt: Walt shakes his head slightly at the hard words of Abraham. "Well sir, I truly do wish that *I* had *your* supreme confidence in the right and wrong of this here situation. *I* sure as heck don't know why this happened; maybe there is a reason why this here girl acts as crazy as she does. Heck, maybe whatever it is that caused her powers drove her insane to boot! Now, I ain't saying that we are going to have a choise - we may well not." Walt pauses, looking as though he's wrestling with some kind of dilemma. "But I do know this much; if you all are planning on just trying to 'drop' her without at least trying to talk sense to her, then you can darn well count me out of this little lynching!" He slumps back in his seat, appearing tired and spent. <><><><><> [GM] A little closer to New York, and Mabe reports back from the pilot's cabin. "Fight's over, and it looks like the good guys won," he says. "Apparently there were some other metas there, and they fragged Lucretia, and most of the hotel as well." Donovan looks relieved and nauseous at the same time; Supraman looks disappointed. "But we're still going in. We want to talk to these other metas." <><><><><> Harvey: "...Ah... Talk to those metas about anything in particular?" Harvey tries to think of something comforting to say to Kelly, but nothing comes to mind, so he settles for a brief smile. "Well, when you come right out and say it, I have to agree to at least TRY talking, but I also have to admit doubts it will work. My best, un- educated guess, sorry-I didn't take any psych courses, is maybe she's so terrified about the possibilities of malevalent metas that she's just decided to eliminate all of them...er, us. We all admitted the hazards, just none of us wanted that direct an approach to the solution." Harvey glances at Chuck as he says the last, then looks away immediately. "So maybe talking would work, but I don't suggest any of us except Chuck try holding our breath and waiting". "Hmmmmm, actually, I'd be willing to try talking to just about any meta we meet, both as the civilized and safe method, but Lucretia doesn't sound like the kind of person to respond to logic and reasoned discussion. Would you be willing to make a self-defense exception to the talk first rule? I don't think we'll have time for more than 'stop in the name of the l..' before she'll be attacking us, taking steps then might be very sensible." <><><><><> [GM] "It's a moot point now," says Mabe, "because she's already been 'dropped' for us." You land in New York, and since it's no longer a crisis situation, you drive to the scene instead of taking a helicopter. Yellow police tape surrounds most of the hotel. You can see shattered glass and fragments of concrete all over the place. The bodies have been cleared, but there's no doubt in anyone's mind that this was the scene of some serious carnage. Walls are shattered and cracked in some places, perforated by scores of bullet holes in others, and burned all the way through in two sections. The floor is alternately blood-stained (with silhouettes chalked out in three spots) and scorched. It looks like the aftermath of a small military conflict. Another agent, who introduces himself as Agent Donnay to your group, says "Total body count is five dead, including our girl, and fourteen wounded. Which is a small miracle, considering all the firepower that was being thrown around. You have to see this weapon that one of the metas arrived with- the damn thing is practically a man-portable field artillery unit." He lowers his voice and says "Actually, a couple of the casualties were 'collateral damage'." <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey surveys the scene, which resembles the aftermath of a military operation, noticing the holes, cracks and scorchs he sums it up concisely with "What a mess"! (actually, he thinks, it looks like a disaster and they should put in for federal disaster relief funds). As he notices the blood stains his expression turns even darker, luckily he doesn't notice the significance of the chalk marks. Considering the lump in his throat and tensness in his chest as he looks around he glances over at Kelly to see how she's holding up, they may need to get her moved if this is too much for her. As Donnay describes the 'super-gun' Harvey resorts to what little humor has left as a method of coping, "You mean someone just walked into the hotel with a howitzer under his arm"? ... "Oh, it was a woman. That explains it, she had it in her purse." <><><><><> [GM] Agent Donnay chuckles and says "She wasn't carrying it in her purse. She *summoned* it!" At Mabe's raised eyebrows, Donnay says "She seems to be able to summon objects out of midair. Whatever she wants. Don't ask me how, maybe she creates them out of her imagination, or summons them from another universe, but this damn gun is like nothing I've ever seen before. It's one helluva improvement on our own HEAP- throwers though. It's going back to Virgina, along with Lucretia's corpse." Kelly looks like she's going to be ill at that. "This girl seems cooperative enough. I've been trying to sell her on joining our little group, she's at least thinking about it. Don't know about the others though. There's a kid who's some kind of a shapeshifter, got his butt kicked by the psycho, but managed to heal himself right up afterwards. Then there's Ms. Tallin, little miss prima donna. 'Crystal' she's calling herself. Definite attitude. Typical Hollywood bimbo, she holds a press conference to show herself off, Lucretia shows up to kill her, and she blames the government because we should have prevented it." Supraman snorts at that. "Great, she'll probably get invited to the White House. I guess I should've known some liberal weenies would get super powers too." Mabe looks amused at Chuck again, then turns to Kelly. "Agent Donovan, I know this isn't going to be pleasant for you. But there may be information you can get from Lucretia's body that will fade over time. I want you to try to...whatever you do, 'read' her, find out what you can." "She's on ice right now, at the airport," Donnay adds helpfully, as Kelly turns even paler than before. "She'll uh," he leans close to Mabe and whispers "she'll probably be flying back with you." "Oh God...." Kelly moans. Supraman puts a huge hand on her shoulder and tries to be comforting. "Don't worry, Kelly, we'll all be there. And she can't hurt you now..." Mabe says "Donovan, I know it's not a pretty job sometimes, but think, if we knew more about her invulnerability, we might have been able to stop her before she killed all those people, and maybe we could have stopped her without killing *her*!" <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey looks concerned as Kelly moans, but his opinion of Chuck "supraman" Abrams goes up as he tries to comfort her. "Hang in there, Kelly, this is probably one of those things that is worse to think about and anticipate than to actually do.....sort of like going to the dentist", Harvey adds the last with forced cheerfulness. "It's sort of like a funeral, you say your respects and get out as soon as polite. Lucretia will just sort of lie there, quietly". Harvey decides this would be a good time to stop before he digs himself in too deep. Chuck said that we'd all be with her, I'm not sure we'll be able to be together but at least one of us is _definitely_ going to stick with Kelly and preferably all of us. <><><><><> [GM] Kelly is silent on the drive to Kennedy Airport. Rather than going in the main entrance, you all naturally take a side road onto a small corner of the huge airport which is reserved for government flights. Your plane, or one just like it, is waiting for you. The cargo bay door of the small jet is open, and something that looks like a small meat locker is already strapped to the floor of the storage area. You all become rather grim, realizing that in effect, it *is* a meat locker. Supraman helps Kelly up into the plane, then hops in effortlessly after her. Mabe, Walt and Harvey climb in as well. A couple of other agents are waiting, and as Kelly visibly steels herself, they open the lid. Lucy Golden, aka Lucretia, has obviously seen better days. Kelly spins away and clutches her stomach, trying not to retch. The woman inside is covered with gore. She is entirely naked, except for a few scraps of burned leather and denim clinging to her here and there. Her entire front side is shredded, looking like raw meat, burned at the edges. Her left arm is lying next to her, separated from her body. One leg is also separated from her, while the other one is mangled so badly it would surely have to be removed at the hospital....if the patient was still alive. Her eyes are closed, but under the blood and black soot that coats her face, her lips can be seen still pulled back in a snarling rictus of hate, with a bubbling froth of blood drying on her chin. Her purple mohawk, now streaked with red and black, still stands stiffly erect from her skull. The technicians don't look like they enjoy the sight, but they've obviously seen her already, since they loaded her into the refrigeration unit. Mabe looks down at the mangled corpse impassively, while Chuck glances at it, his lips twitching with distaste, then puts an arm around Kelly trying to comfort her. Mabe says "Can you read anything?" to Kelly. Chuck glares at him and says "Can't you see the lady's upset, Mabe? Have a little compassion!" "Mr. Sensitive." Mabe seems mildly amused, as always. "I realize this is a nasty piece of work....but as her body temperature lowers, any metabolic readings Donovan can get off of her are going to fade. Just do whatever you do, Agent Donovan, and then we can close the lid." Kelly looks up, then her eyes widen and her face goes even paler than before, as she cringes against Supraman. She mumbles something incoherent, to which both Chuck and Mabe say "What?" "She's still alive!" Kelly gasps. <><><><><> Harvey: "What'dya mean she's still alive!!! That's impossible!.......Well, I suppose it's not technically impossible, but that's one tough b*****" "Kelly, are you sure? I mean, have you ever seen someone newly dead before? Could she just have some cells that haven't died form Oxygen deprivation yet and still have most of her organs dead?" Harvey mutters to himself "we'd better put a guard on her anyway, and I don't mean a couple of cops with dinky little pea shooter pistols. We also have to decide if it's ethical to kill her when she's in this state", as he says the last he glances at Walt, wondering what he thinks then looks away quickly. <><><><><> [GM] "She's alive!" Kelly repeats. "She...she's got a power, it's active..." Kelly's eyes widen in horror. "She's *healing*!" she whispers. Mabe looks at each person in the cargo bay, with a piercing, calculating look. Then says "Abraham, why don't you take Donovan up above before she pukes all over the place?" Supraman looks like he's going to argue with Mabe- he obviously doesn't take well to being given orders. But then he glances at Kelly, who is shuddering and obviously unwell, and his face goes from belligerence to something like protectiveness, and he nods, with an irritated glare at Mabe. <><><><><> Harvey: "uh-oh", which seems to make this Harvey's day for understatement. Harvey moves a step forward and examines Lucretia's (Lucy Golden's) exposed wounds to see if there are visible signs of healing. "I don't know how long we have before she's up and around, but when she is we're going to be in big trouble". Harvey takes a deep breath, "currently she's defensless, relatively speaking, and we can terminate,...ah eliminate ..ah execute.......... oh let's just say it: 'kill' her. the question is do we have the right to and do we have the nerve to. I had a hard time coming right out and saying that but that is the bottom line. I'm somewhat in favor of just doing it, but not enough so to make the decision by myself. Care to offer an opinion, Walt?" After pause Harvey adds "generally I'm against killing a prisoner, in cold blood, unless they're either given a fair trial or they try to escape; but we may decide to make an exception in this case." <><><><><> Walt: Walt goes pale at the notion that this poor mangled...**thing** is still alive. "My God...the pain..." he murmers, a stricken expression plain on his face as he forces himself to view her. And she was slowly knitting herself back together; she would be up again before too long. Finally Walt spins away from the grisly sight and moves a few paces away, gulping air and trying to keep from being ill. Blood was one thing, but that, that mess was too much. He was pretty sure of what they wanted him to do...but he just couldn't do it. "I can't...I can't do it, if that is what you want. I made a promise..." Walt goes silent, leaning against the wall of the plane. <><><><><> [GM] Mabe frowns and glares at Walt. "Look," he says, "if this psycho revives, you're going to see even more bloodshed. She's as deadly as they come, and we CAN'T put her in prison. There's no prison on Earth that could hold her! Let her revive, and you're dooming God knows how many innocent people to die! Will you be able to look at the faces of their families and know you let those people die, because you didn't want to suffer the moral anguish of having blood on *your* hands?" Looking at both Harvey and Walt, he says "I know this is a dirty business, but the system just isn't set up to deal with people like you....not yet. We have no choice but to make our own rules and live with consequences." In a lower voice, he adds, "The best bet to finish her off is if Shindell can just shut off her powers. By all rights, she should be dead already, it's only her metahuman healing abilities that are keeping her alive. Turn her off and let her die naturally. But if you won't do that-" he looks at Harvey. "If Shindell won't do it the clean way, you have to do it the messy way. There has to be a limit to her regenerative powers, and you can destroy her vital organs....." <><><><><> Harvey: "Actually, we don't know if she's in pain, she could be comatose. I HOPE she's comatose because I wouldn't want to be her listening to this conversation. We may actually have quite a bit of time. We need to make a decision before she's active again, but she may require quite a while to recover from this much damage; and that's assuming she can completely handle this. She could actually die of her wounds before recovering, but that's unlikely." Harvey looks over with sympathy as Walt says he CAN'T kill her. When he speaks it is with regret in his voice, perhaps that he doesn't feel the same absolute refusal to do the deed, "You won't have to do it, Walt. I can do it, I don't want to do it, but I can do it both in capability and in willingness .. if I can convince myself. Having her atoms mutually interpenetrate those of a block of steel ought to be quite effective." "We can't just go making our own rules! Not if we want to be part of society. In this case we have make our own interpretations to existing rules. But you are right about living with the consequences." "Actually, causing her atoms to mutually interpenetrate a block of steel or other solid is quite neat. There's no blood, not even much of a corpse left. That doesn't of itself make it the right way to do it. I am not going to rush into doing something so irreversible when there is time to consider it. Did you know that's why I don't like capital punishment? Because if you find out you were wrong, there's no way to correct it." Harvey sounds almost desperate now, like he can't see an alternative and is desperately looking for one. "If this is proof by process of elimination, then absolutely every alternative has to be eliminated, how about sedating her like they did Deathstorm?" Harvey ask hopefully, before objecting to his own suggestion, "she's not breathing and has no ciculation now, so it might be difficult to make it work, drugs might not be effective, she might become immune..... dang, it's not even a permanent solution, just postponing the problem." Harvey drifts off into his own thoughts, trying to come to grips with an unpleasent situation that seems to have no alternatives. Obviously he isn't going to reach a decision on his own very quickly, something external is going to have to push him one way or the other, although Lucretia moving would probably do it if nothing else does. <><><><><> [GM] Mabe says "We don't have TIME for a jury trial! Maybe society will come up with a solution for people like this, eventually, but for now, we're on our own. All your cop-outs don't change what you know to be true. Call it cold-blooded murder if you want, I call it a necessary evil." From above, you all hear Chuck yelling out the door of the plane, "Hey, Kelly says there's another super-type around here." "Oh s***," Mabe says, looking out onto the tarmac. A dark-haired young man, of medium build and dark complexion, is walking towards the plane. His expression is cold, almost like a statue. Walt recognizes him. He saw this man in Dallas. Before he disappeared....with Jamie. Forty feet from the plane, he speaks, in a flat voice that carries above the sounds of planes taking off in the background; "I am Legion." As he walks, he transforms. Suddenly he's not a young man of medium build. He's a tall black woman, over six feet tall and rippling with muscles on a frame like a professional bodybuilder. She's wearing a black tank top, loose-fitting jeans, and running shoes. The word "Amazon" comes to mind, both because of her build and her stance, the way she carries herself as she walks. She looks ready to fight, even eager. She grins, and says "I am Legion. And I'm here for her. But I'll take all of you!" <><><><><> Harvey: "It's the appeals we don't have time for." "I'll get to it, but I don't have experience in convinving myself to do this, so it takes a little while to work up the nerve." "Uh-oh, I think we have trouble", which isn't as succinct as Mabe's comment, but does sum up the situation. Mabe mentioned this guy (guy?) a coupleof times but unfortunately Harvey forgot to folow up and get details. Whatever legion wants Lucretia for, it doesn't sound good. 'have her over our dead bodies', unfortunately sounds like just what legion is planning. Harvey tries to think strategically, but other than needing to have someone protect Kelly, and that they only have about forty feet to think of something, nothing comes to mind. <><><><><> Walt: Walt's jaw drops for a second, all thoughts of morality forgotten in light of this...visitation. He steps forward, a purposeful look in his eye. "All right, what in the name of **HELL** did you do with Jamie!!!! I shut you down right proper once, and by God, I'll do it again! You give me back that girl, you hear!!!!" There is an edge of desperate anger to Walt's voice, a fear for the little girl that he saw vanish into thin air. "You are not getting or taking _anything_ or _anyone_ from this place, and you will surender Jamie to *me*!" Walt stands ready, knowing that he *cannot* let "Legion" have its way here, but inwardly he is unsure as to what he can do about it <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey's not sure that Walt's is the best tactical approach (although neutralize first, ask questions later does jump to mind as an alternative). Harvey's considers taking the time to resolidify Lucretia in something solid, and hope that it's better than being taken by legion, but postpones it and quickly moves forward to stand next to Walt. <><><><><> [GM] "C'mon down here and make me, hero!" the tall Amazon calls back to Walt. She looks singularly unimpressed. "YOU GOT IT, LADY!!!" With a bellowing roar, Supraman launches himself from the door of the plane to the ground in front of the body-shifting metahuman, leaping forty feet as if he was hopping a fence. The two large people size each other up for a moment. Both seem unused to facing someone without looking down. Then Chuck reaches out and tries to close a massive hand around the woman's upper arm. She's not there, though- she steps back nimbly as he clutches empty air, then steps forward again in the same moment. She drops a few inches as one leg bends slightly, then she springs straight up.....seven feet up. Parallel to Supraman's head, one foot lashes straight out and drives into his face like a battering ram. The huge man is knocked off his feet and flies ten feet straight back. Lying on the ground, he shakes his head and rubs his nose, which is spurting blood. In the plane's cargo hold, Mabe has already produced a heavy pistol and is blasting away at the big woman, but she's already in motion, performing an impressive series of flips and cartwheels as she moves evasively towards the plane, at an angle oblique to Supraman. "GET HER!" Mabe snaps. "But don't let her touch you, unless you want to become part of Legion!" <><><><><> Walt: Walt *moves* trying to get off to the side of her. His eyes go wide with shock when the Amazon kicks the butt of 'Supraman', and he pales slightly, as if now thinking that maybe this wasn't the *best* idea that he could have come up with. But he goes anyway, silently praying that he can purposfully do now what he managed to do by accident before; shut it off. "Jamie, l'il darlin, can you hear me? It's Walt, angel; come on out if you can and I'll try and get you free." As he says this, he's moving forward toward the Fury that is making for the plane. "Well," he mutters to himself, "I sure as heck hope that my 'luck' is good for more than dice and ninjas!" Walt is thinking *very* hard about her not being able to touch him, let alone hit him. He envisions her making all the *wrong* guesses about how he's going to move as he approaches her. <><><><><> [GM] The tall black woman snaps a kick at Walt's head, fast as lightning and probably almost as deadly. She miscalculates the distance and her foot snaps the air a quarter of an inch from his nose, but withdraws too fast for Walt to do anything to counter it. She frowns, as if in disbelief that she could have missed. "Legion", or its current incarnation, springs back like a gazelle, out of Walt's reach. "Let's see if you can 'shut me down' with a couple of broken legs," she says, and moves back in, faster than any human should and looking all the faster because of her great size. As she kicks again, her other foot slips on a patch of oil, and she almost falls- but regains her balance with inhuman agility. Supraman approaches her from the other direction, and she leaps away, turning to keep both Walt and Chuck in front of her. <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey is trying to stay even with Walt, to back him up. He loses a little time glancing over at Abe, but Abe is moving so he probably isn't doing too bad (although the blow would probably have taken my head off). He loses a little more time trying to figure out Mabe's advice, how is he suppose to hit someone without touching??? No answer comes to mind, so Harvey will settle for hoping it takes a little time for anything bad to happen. Harvey _hopes_ that being desolid won't count as touching, since he'll be depending on it for defense, but he'll attack at high density. Maybe switching back and forth between desolid and high density will be effective, might even confuse this 'legion'. Having at least an illusion of a plan Harvey speeds up to match Walt, while trying not to look like he's rushing so he'll seem composed. <><><><><> Walt: Walt thanks God that his "power" seems to be working; he has *no* doubt but that his head would have shattered like an over-ripe melon if that kick has actually connected! But he can't leave it at that...not with Jamie trapped somewhere in there. He moves carefully toward her, only wanting to get the chance to touch her once without getting smeared. One touch,(he hopes) and this "Amazon" will be out of the fight. Without powers, "Supraman" should be able to deal with her/it. And hopefully that one good shot that she nailed him with would kill some of that pompousness that he exuded... ...but Walt wasn't betting on it; he was lucky, but not *that* lucky! "Ma'am, I do wish you all would be careful. Wouldn't do for you to fall and do yourself an injury now, would it?" Walt moves in, a purposeful expression on his face. <><><><><> Harvey: Even though Legion has moved so that Walt and Chuck aren't coming from opposite sides, Harvey like the idea so much that he'll move along the flank and try for a different angle to come in on. <><><><><> [GM] "Aren't you sweet?" the woman snarls at Walt. Supraman and Walt both stand between Legion and the plane, both are trying to move in on her, on each side. Meanwhile, Harvey attempts to circle around the group to approach Legion from behind. Supraman doesn't have the patience for tactical maneuvers, though- he charges the woman, swinging this time. Legion dips and extends one leg, catching him in the stomach with a kick that lifts him off the ground. The big man grunts and staggers backward, winded for the moment, but he still seems tough enough to avoid serious injury. Legion spins to face Harvey, and tries to grab him by the shirt front, then snarls as her hand passes through him. "If I can't hit you," she snaps, "you can't hit me, fool!" She proceeds to run right through him, making a wide arc around Walt and the gasping Supraman, heading towards the plane. <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey thinks to himself, in a snippy way, 'well I knew that if you couldn't hit me I couldn't hit you; but I figured it'd take you longer to recover from the surprise and I'd get to attack then'. Fortunately, Harvey doesn't lose time deciding to chase legion. (though he isn't sure what to do when, and if, he catchs her). <><><><><> Walt: Walt curses quietly., taking off after her, hoping beyond hope that *something* would slow her down long enough for him to get close. Close enough to touch her, and hopefully end this menace . He will be running as best he can, but will try to be wary of a quick kick or punch from her as she runs. <><><><><> [GM] The Amazonian incarnation of Legion easily outruns all three men, and at the side of the plane, leaps easily up to the lip of the cargo hold, then slips, almost losing her balance for a moment. Blasts of gunfire fill the air, and she reels back as the three agents inside, including Mabe, open up on her, point blank. She is blown off the edge and falls to the ground, landing with an acrobatic roll, but she rises very stiffly. Blood is running down her front. "Unnggh..." she grunts. "Damn!" Leaning over, she swivels her head to look at Walt. "You!? You made me fall, somehow...." "Well, what did you expect?" Her comment catches everyone by surprise, as it seems uncertain to whom she is addressing it. "Now has it occurred to you that while you're absorbing the psycho-bitch, if she's NOT totally comatose, we're gonna be helpless while you're trying to subdue her? And all these guys will clean our clock!" Without warning, she hops up, grabs the lip of the cargo hold, and flips herself up into the bay, feet first, with an impressive gymnastic maneuver. One foot drives into the stomach of an unwary agent who was leaning over the edge with his pistol, and he goes flying back into the hold, making a resounding impact that everyone can hear as he hits the far wall. "Hi Mabe," you hear the woman say. Two more gunshots, a heavy cracking sound, then silence. Supraman is the first to leap up into the hold. Walt and Harvey are now just beneath the edge of the opening. <><><><><> Walt: "NO!," Walt screams, a stricken look on his face as he hears the above. Walt tries to jump up and catch hold of the edge so that he can pull himself up. He imagines that *maybe* the shot that the Amazon took at Mabe was not really as bad as she thought (or it sounded). [Thoughts, bad thoughts, go racing through Walt's head. If Mabe, or any of the other agents are dead, it is at least partially *his* fault. If he had just done what they had wanted, used his powers to nullify Lucretia's, she'd in all likelyhood be dead now, and there would be no need for 'normals' to try and stop a powerhouse like the Amazon.] <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey's first instinct is to rush into the plane, possibly using a little 'walk on air' to assist, but a sneaky though comews to mind. What could legion plan as a counter to to legion's objections? A hostage comes to mind. So Harvey will continue under the plane a ways and then walk on air straight up, trying to come up on the far side of palne from the door everyone else is using. The extra time he's taking worries Harvey, but he figures Supraman is already in there and should be able handle things for the duration of the delay. Harvey figures to try to rush legion and desolidify her (it? them?) then drop with her right through the bottom of the plane. Possibly down into the ground even. Getting legion out of the plane should get her away from both the normal DOD agents and Lucretia; of course, it also gets her away from the other meta agents, darn. <><><><><> [GM] As Walter and Harvey both get up into the plane, their own way, they find Supraman and Legion duking it out in close quarters. Legion is fast, and clearly a better fighter. Her advantage is somewhat reduced by the lack of space, but she's still avoiding his blows and landing many herself. As she sees the other two men enter, she snarls and plants her foot in Chuck's chest, giving a mighty shove that thrusts him right over Walt's head and back onto the tarmac. Chuck hits with a thud, then lurches to his feet, wiping blood out of his face and limping back towards the plane. "All I gotta do is hit her once!" he growls. Mabe and the other two agents are lying on the floor; you can't tell how badly hurt they are. "Great, now what?!" the tall black woman demands. She aims an experimental kick at Harvey's head as he rises through the floor of the plane, and seems not particularly surprised when it passes harmlessly through him. "Dammit, let *me* handle this if you don't want us to get our butts kicked!" she snaps. "Or if you think you can do better, go ahead, see how well *you* can avoid that big-ass cracker! Yeah, I didn't think so..." She looks wary as Harvey rushes her, jabbing a fist through his face, finding it still doesn't connect, and thus seems taken by surprise when Harvey's hands materialize on her shoulders. She kicks straight up, through his groin, but her knee goes all the way to his chest. "How the hell did you-?" Then Harvey pushes her down, and they both sink through the floor of the plane. She struggles desperately as she begins floating towards the ground. Harvey finds that having desolified her completely, he can no longer hold onto her. And Supraman doesn't stop to think about how Legion came sinking down through the bottom of the plane; he charges her immediately, with a flying tackle that sails through her and Harvey and lands thirty feet away, where he skids along the ground, making a horrible grinding sound as his knees and elbows gouge grooves in the cement. Legion swears, then protests- "No! I-" And suddenly she's not there anymore. Instead, a little girl hovers in the air where the black amazon was a moment ago. A small white child with blonde hair, her eyes filled with a white glow. She's wearing a dainty blue dress and shiny black shoes, and she hangs in the air, with her hands clasped at her waist in front of her, like a mannequin. She looks about six years old. <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey is not very surprised by legion's sudden try at shape changing, because nothing legion does would really surprise him. He hardly slows down to conclude that this is still legion and the fight is still on. What does slow him down, slightly, is trying to evaluate the tactical situation. This is obviously a meta, the glowing eyes are a dead give away. That she is floating in mid air is also obvious, since she couldn't have stopped otherwise. Harvey decides that getting her moving towards the ground again could be difficult, and since he'd have to solidify, dangerous. He also isn't sure how long chuck will need to recover from plowing up the runway. Harvey quickly feels in his pockets and pulls out the only thing he finds, his wallet. Time to get vicious and hope this doesn't turn out to be a major mistake, he'll try to resolidify the wallet 'inside' legion. (Wonder if there'll be time for this before the next attack comes?) <><><><><> Walt: "JAMIE!!!!" Walt cries, swearing inwardly; he was going to spend the entire fight climbing into and out of the plane! Walt struggles to get as close as he can as quickly as he can, well aware that she has TK power and is part of Legion. "Honey, listen to me; it's 'uncle' Walt," he says, moving nearer if he can. "Do you remember me, darlin'? I'm the one who helped you and your daddy try and get away from those men at the Hospital. Jamie, I'm here to help" Walt stands ready, trying to approach the child but well aware that she could change or turn on them at any second. <><><><><> [GM] The girl doesn't say a word, but rapidly levitates away from Harvey as he extends an arm towards her, holding a wallet. She doesn't move a muscle, but her body simply moves vertically away, at a slight upward angle. Then she rotates until she's facing Walt, standing at the entrance to the cargo bay, with that eery, expressionless stare. The plane suddenly jerks, and rises into the air, then tilts, and Walt feels his feet going out from under him as he is dumped ten feet to the ground, landing conveniently on his feet with only a slight wince from the shock of impact. You hear bodies and a refrigerated coffin sliding along the floor of the plane, towards the opening, and Kelly Donovan screaming, in the passenger section above. Supraman, half-running, half-limping back towards the plane, pauses and stares. "Holy SMOKES!" <><><><><> Harvey: Well, I knew it couldn't be that easy. Looking at the plane being 'shaken' by an invisible grip, that's not too bad...but I bet it will be! This is getting hard! How do you stop a telek with the strength to toss around a jet plane? And a telek probably doesn't care if your solid or not when they attack! Walt could stop legion if he could get close enough, but that means either bring legion lower or walt higher. Since currently Walt is way over there Harvey will rely on the adage take the high ground and climb up closer to legion. He really doesn't know what to do when he gets there, but when Walt gets close he may resort to giving him a lift up. [Dave: How far away is Walt? and how high up is legion? I get lost easy for some reason.] <><><><><> [GM] Legion is now floating about 20 feet up, and Walt is about the same distance from Harvey. <><><><><> Harvey: O.k. plan revision time. Harvey will drop down and try to give Walt a hand up, to Legion. (Actually, I'm beginning to think getting legion out of the plane may have been tactically faulty. I just wanted to get it away from Lucy and the injured agents. Unfortunately, I gave it a lot more room to maneuver). <><><><><> Walt: Walt sees what goes on, and his eyes bug out at the enormity, the impossibility of it...a passenger jet just floating there!! "Oh my God..." he gasps, for a moment shocked into immobility. Then, strangely calm, Walt moves under the shadow of the jet. He concentrates fiercely, hoping against all hope that the 'little girl' part of legion will take it into her head to just put the jet down on top of him... ...and that his 'luck' would get him out of it, or at least save those people around him. <><><><><> [GM] Walt maneuvers to a point under the plane, as Harvey approaches him and makes as if to try helping him up in the air. Lucretia's refrigerated coffin suddenly slides out of the cargo bay and falls to the ground, the end smashing into the concrete and causing the container to break open. The chilled, bloody body of the deadly superwoman tumbles out and lies in front of you all, making a truly grotesque sight. Legion, in his/her/its current six year-old incarnation, remains motionless and impassive, hovering in the air. The jet, however, suddenly rotates about and then plummets down at an angle- straight at the approaching Supraman. The big man blinks as the plane descends on him, then he disappears under tons of metal as the body of the plane crashes down on him with an enormous impact. One wing also hits the ground, and crumples. The plane shudders and slides a few dozen yards, then comes to rest, looking something like an elongated beer can with wings, that someone squeezed too hard. <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey is shocked when the plane "crashes", a good trick for a plane that was parked on the run way! Chuck! Kelly and the other agents! After standing there for a few seconds, with his mouth hanging open, it gets through to Harvey that this is going to call for desperate measures. Breathing deeply to stead his nerves Harvey walks over to Lucretia's body, puts a hand on it, swallows hard, and desolidifies the body. He prays that she isn't aware of what is going on. Letting her slide into the ground before resolidifying should keep Legion from being able to absorb power too dangerous to allow. He hopes the late Lucy would prefer death to joining Legion. He hopes Walt can forgive him...heck, he hopes he can forgive him himself. It takes a few seconds after 'burying' Lucretia to focus on Legion and the problem of the agents who were on the plane. Harvey figures they'd better handle legion before trying to rescue Chuck and the other agents, so they'd better handle Legion very fast. <><><><><> Walt: "JESUS CHRIST!!!" Walt swears, fairly certain that the Lord himself would be in an awed, frightened state at this point. The sheer enormity of the crash has left Walt in a curious state of mind. "Harvey, try and get me up there!" Walt cries, previous plans forgotten. <><><><><> [GM] [Jeez, "Mr. Nice Guy" Harvey can be a ruthless SOB! Guess I'm not going to get to reuse Lucretia after all; leave it to PCs to do anything but what you expect them to do and exactly what you don't! ] Lucretia's skin feels cold and clammy when you lay your hands on her. With a deep breath, you concentrate and turn her insubstantial. Up above, Legion seems to shimmer for a moment, and the child's eyes widen, and her mouth opens, the first muscular activity you've seen from her. Lucretia sinks into the ground, then stops with just a part of her left hand still sticking out. "No!" Legion's angry cry sounds like the squeak of a startled child, which is perhaps what it is. But the emotionless face of the young girl is suddenly twisted in fury, giving her a chilling, almost demonic look. "She was mine! MINE!" Her eyes glow brighter, and her hair stirs, then rises like a golden halo around her head, stirred in an invisible wind. And a shock wave suddenly shakes the earth. Harvey is lifted off his feet, then some instinct causes him to become insubstantial again, but he can still feel a wave of force pass through him. An invisible hand lifts Walt and *hurls* him away. The helpless man goes spinning through the air like a leaf in a hurricane, is tossed almost a hundred yards, and hits a chain link fence, which bends like a volleyball net, strains almost to the breaking point, then rebounds, tossing the man against the ground, hard. The impact against the fence feels like being hit with a giant tennis racket. The ground smacks hard enough to break bones, which he probably has, but he's unconscious before the pain hits. The plane itself goes scuttling along the concrete airstrip, seeming to weigh not much more than Walt before the force of Legion's shockwave. Metal screeches and tears, a wing folds and crumples, and the body bends and flattens. Sparks spray all over the runway as metal grinds against concrete, and the bottom of the plane bursts into flames. It skids through the fence that separates the airstrip from the civilian portion of the airport, not far from where Walt is lying, though missing him completely (of course.) A few cars that were parked on and near the airstrip flip over and roll, end over end. One lands on its roof, bursts into flames, then explodes. Some people who were walking or standing in the area, observing the battle, go flying, some hitting the building and some slamming into the ground dozens of yards away. The aluminum walls of the government hanger bend inwards, and every door and window explodes inwards. Windsocks and satellite dishes and signposts, everything within a hundred yards, whether anchored to the ground or not, is ripped free and hurled away. A quarter mile away, windows and glass doors all along the airport terminal shatter, and people are knocked off their feet. A baggage truck tips over. Luggage goes flying. A plane coming in for a landing on the nearest runway suddenly dips and wobbles in the air, then the engines howl as the pilot tries to regain control and steady the descending craft. Legion hovers undisturbed in the midst of the maelstrom, then slowly lowers herself to the ground, twenty feet from Harvey. The angelic little girl stares at him with an expression that belongs on the face of Satan himself. "MINE!" she hisses. Harvey hears a voice in his head suddenly. **Maybe not such a great move, dude!** <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey looks heavily distracted, maybe it's what he just did to lucretia, maybe it's what Legion did to the airport, maybe it's that Walt can actually talk now... or maybe it's something that is making Harvey scratch his head and look around. Harvey looks over at Walt, "well, if your game then I'm game." << **Maybe not such a great move, dude** >> "Yeah, no sh**! I thought it was just a tactical move keeping Legion from absorbing Lucretia and becoming unstoppable, but this is a disaster! Who'd have thought?" Harvey suddenly realizes, he's all alone out here facing a _very_ powerful, not necessarily very mature or stable meta. He tries to think tactically, but considering the result of his last tactical decision was the destruction of the airport, combined with his blank mind, does not bode well for that approach. A stretegic retreat seems sensible, but since Harvey is the only one left that is unacceptable. Take cover or attack, that is the queston. Or Talk. Trying to buy some time, Harvey steps out and spreads his arms to try and look non-threatening. Just maybe there is some of the Jaime that Walt knew in there. "This tantrum is silly! Look at the mess you've made! For that matter, look what you did to our friend Walter!" (pointing towards Walt and beginning walking slowly towards legion's location, but on the ground so far) "He never hurt you and you just threw him across the field like a rag doll. It hurts when you fall like that!" Harvey barely manages to beat down the urge to cross his fingers. [sorry David, I've lost my bearings again, is Harvey between Legion and Walt?] <><><><><> [GM] plane <-Airport / | fence / | ========| x Harvey \ | x Legion \ | x Walt * * * * * * * * * * The little girl keeps glowering at Harvey. The cars scattered about the area suddenly rise and begin flying through the air, converging on Harvey. He flinches as the first one strikes the ground where he's standing, passing harmlessly through him but smashing against the concrete and sending metal and glass fragments in all directions. None seem to reach Legion, however. The next one flies through Harvey, hits the ground and rolls, bursting into flames. Two more collide in midair, then crash into the first, and all three detonate in a fiery explosion. Legion throws half a dozen cars at Harvey, all without any effect on the man, but littering the government airstrip with even more wreckage. Legion's hair rises again in that invisible wind, as her apparent tantrum continues. Harvey hears an ominous rumble coming from the earth beneath him. That young male voice sounds in your head again: **No dice, dude, no one home! Legion's all the way in control of that body! Man, you got him pissed off! When she gets done tryin' to kill you, she's gonna try to absorb you, and your friends too!** <><><><><> Harvey: There it is again! The second time that voice from nowhere, either Harvey is going crazy or something strange is happening. well,....stranger things hacve happened (starting about a week ago) so Harvey tries thinking back, "In case this is two-way: I see the problem, but do you have anything CONSTRUCTIVE to say? Because I'm really out of ideas and I'm open to advice!" <><><><><> [GM] **Umm, last time that other dude shut Legion down. So far him and that shapechanging kid are the only ones who've ever foiled Legion. Hell if I know what you can do....** The ground continues to rumble, and then fissures open up beneath Harvey's feet, a widening chasm splitting the runway. The child/Legion looks furious that Harvey remains standing in midair, instead of falling into the crack in the Earth. <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey thinks back sourly "great, so I'm really in trouble", not that it's the voices fault that he's in trouble and probably over his head. "If Walt shut Legion down last time, can you see if he's conscience now? I don't know what I can do, I guess the only thing is to try to get close enough to attack or else try to sucker legion into coming closer. I don't think the latter's going to work so better wish me 'luck', (I'll need it)." "Say, I know your not the phone company, but could you get in touch with the 'shape-changing kid'? If he's the other one to beat Legion, I could use the help. And I probably shouldn't ask, but when I get close enough to attack legion maybe you could sort of yell in Legion's ear and distract it." Logically of course, a voice you 'hear in your head', is going to have a hard time 'yelling in someone's ear' but ought to make a very good distraction anyways. "Sing out if you get any good ideas", Harvey tells 'The Voice'. Harvey will start moving towards Legion, under his breath cursing his inability to 'run' on air. Trying to get close enough to attack legion and getting ready the 'armor piercing wallet', while hoping Legion never realizes to just pull him arm from arm with telekinesis. <><><><><> [GM] **I don't think you get it....** the voice says, mournfully, before fading away abruptly. Legion keeps staring at you intently, and you feel the oddest sensation, as if something just went rushing through you again. Then she levitates into the air, before you get close to her, and floats quickly towards the plane. Which, you notice, is still burning. <><><><><> Harvey: Legion's move towards the plane reminds Harvey that there are people in there, friends. He also realizes he's wasted a lot of time and still has know good ideas what to do. This continual improvizing is running thin, he thinks, as he sprints after Legion. Only just realizing the plane had caught fire. <><><><><> [GM] As Harvey sprints to catch up with Legion, the fire around the airplane suddenly flares up, and an explosion tears apart the rear of the plane. The flames are rapidly spreading along the body of the craft. Meanwhile, Legion turns out to be heading not towards the plane, but towards Chuck, who is lying along the path the airplane took as it went sliding across the airport. Unconscious, he seems to be helpless against whatever Legion plans for him. The child descends towards the ground, while thirty yards beyond her, the plane looks ready to blow up at any second. <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey decides that given this conundrum he'll have to hope (pray?) that Chuck is as tough as he thinks and can hold out at least briefly against Legion, as Harvey heads towards the plane to try rescue the others. <><><><><> [GM] You float into the plane, passing through the flames without feeling the heat, and see Mabe and the other three men lying near the entrance to the still-open cargo bay. Mabe is semi-conscious, and trying to drag himself to the threshold. Above, you can hear Kelly screaming in the passenger compartment. <><><><><> Harvey: "Mabe, be right back after I grab Kelly!" Havey says as he rushs for the passenger section. When he gets there he'll throw Kelly over his shoulder (fortunately she's small and light) come back this way and help the other agents get clear. (If Kelly can run as well as scream he'll put her down by the door so he can try to help two of the other agents at once.) <><><><><> [GM] Kelly is almost hysterical as you phase into the passenger compartment, but doesn't resist as you grab her and pull her through the side of the plane. You set her down on the ground and hope for the best. Back in the cargo bay, Mabe has managed to drag two other men to the edge of the door. You quickly help them out, then grab the third. As you're carrying him out, the plane explodes. A fireball erupts all around you, and you experience the eerie and terrifying sensation of having flames go around you and through you, sense the air pressure blasting outwards as the shock wave blows flames and debris away from the plane, but somehow, neither you nor your passenger is harmed....however, you can't breathe, as the air is so hot you choke as soon as you inhale. You can hold your breath, but it seems to have an adverse effect on the agent you're carrying. You can only move as fast as possible towards safe ground, and hope that everyone made it. As you finally step into the clear, and set your burden down outside the radius of the the flames, you hear sirens approaching. Looking around, you see Mabe lying on the ground, over the two men he was with. He seems to be unconscious. Twenty yards away, Kelly is lying face up, and not looking good. Obviously severely burned, and bloody as well, she seems to have been tossed like a rag doll by the explosion. You can't tell whether she's alive. Walt is lying where he was before, and none of the flames or debris seems to have touched him. Nearby, Chuck, aka Supraman, is slowly rising to his feet. Legion is nowhere in sight. <><><><><> Harvey: The rescue wasn't a total success, in the sense that no one was injured, but so far everyone has survived. Unfortunately, Kelly doesn't look too good, Mabe and the other agents are kind of banged up (hope they give Mabe a medal for this!). It's lucky that Walt isn't injured; lucky but not surprising. Unfortunately, the fact that Chuck is getting up and Legion has disappeared is NOT good news. Since it probably implies that legion won. Harvey grimaces to himself and curses for taking so long with the rescue; then puts on his best poker face. There's always a chance Legion didn't take over, but it's slim. Legion seems to be targetting metas, Mabe and the agents should be safe, Walt is probably more of a danger to Legion than vice-a-versa, so is probably safe. Kelly may or may not be in danger, Legion might not want to take her over in her current physical condition. Harvey is more or less untouchable right now. Harvey will move towards 'chuck', wondering if possibly it is chuck. <><><><><> [GM] Chuck, rising to an erect stance, looks down at Harvey from his six-plus- foot height and confirms Harvey's worst fears; "I...am....Legion!" <><><><><> Harvey: "I don't suppose there's anyone reasonable in there that I could talk to?" (Partly to see if chuck is in there, partly to see if the 'voice' comes back). <><><><><> [GM] With the flaming wreckage of the plane behind him, and Mabe, Kelly Donovan, and the other agents scattered on the ground nearby, all injured or worse by their near-escape from the explosion, Harvey faces a glowering Supraman, only to hear the dread words; "I am LEGION!" Then his face contorts angrily, and in a tone sounding a little more like the old Chuck, adds, "Dammit!" Then his face smooths over again to that eerie implacable hostility, as if Chuck and Legion are struggling for dominance inside his body. Legion seems to have won, as "Supraman" shakes a fist at you and says "Next time. When you're alone." With that, he seems to ripple, and that dark-haired man you saw just before all this started reappears. With an expression frighteningly identical to the one you just saw on Chuck, he gives you one last look before he suddenly disappears. Just before Legion disappears, you hear that voice again; **He's gotta get Chucky under control, gotta go! From now on he'll know better than to take on a buncha you at onc-** ======================================================= ============= KENNEDY AIRPORT: CLEANING UP [A fierce battle at the Kennedy Airport in New York City occurred when the powerful and mysterious being called "Legion" appeared, trying to recover the still-living body of Lucy Golden, aka "Lucretia". Harvey Jones foiled Legion's intentions by turning Lucretia insubstantial and merging her with the airport runway. It was a pyrrhic victory, however, as Legion threw a telekinetic tantrum that devastated much of the airport, and set the government metahumans' jet on fire. Barely retrieving his comrades from the burning aircraft, he was unable to save Chuck Abraham, aka "Supraman", from being absorbed by Legion, and then escaping.] <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey decides to enjoy a much needed little emotional outlet and responds with a "Dammit" of his own. Followed by howled "Fight 'im Chuck, Give 'em heck!" just in case he can somehow hear. Harvey looks around surveying the damage, the injured actually. Fortunately there are sirens coming, hopefully ambulances; unfortunately there's not much Harvey knows how to do until they get here. The main thing he remembers is not to move people if he can avoid it. He'll head over to Kelly as the worst injured (well, most obviously injured). He'll cover her with his jacket and see how she is (if she's conscience she'll know better than anyone how she is). Not much he can do but tell her help will be there in a minute. When help does arrive he'll see what he can do about commandeering a radio or something that can patch him through to Virginia (he has the phone number on the 'business' card in his wallet, he'll call and as for Dr. Culbrand as the closest to in charge he knows of. Culbrand will know to to call for support in New York. If They say Culbrand is unavailable there's Dr. Kinnet, the only other name Harvey can remember off hand). <><><><><> [GM] Kelly is in critical condition; she has third degree burns. Mabe isn't much better, as he shielded his men with his own body. As the paramedics load them into an ambulance, they also revive Walt. They stare at him disbelievingly as he seems to have suffered only a few cracked ribs and a sprained shoulder, as well as an assortment of bumps and bruises, when that soaring flight into the fence should have shattered his insides. When Harvey gets hold of the Virginia facility, they tell him that you pretty much ARE "support" in New York. They have more federal agents coming out, but no other superhumans are available. Dr. Culbrand seems most disappointed that Lucretia's body will apparently be unsuitable for study. Grimacing at his cold-bloodedness, and shuddering a bit at the sight of the psychopath's fingers, still sticking out of the concrete just beyond where the government jet *had* been parked, Harvey goes over to check on the now-conscious (sorry B'aeyr! ) Walt. <><><><><> Harvey: (Actually the support I was looking for was paramedics and something to keep reporters out of the way. And Culbrand can still have the arm, I don't want it.) "Hey Walt, you hanging in there? I saw you take a flight lesson but I wouldn't recommend doing it again too soon" harvey says, trying to make light of it, although the tight look around his eyes shows he's under stress. "You missed my ultimate snafu at fighting Legion and you missed most of the 'wrath of speilberg'. Boy that legion is pretty 'possessive'" "Do you have any plans/suggestions?" <><><><><> Walt: "Well, now" Walt says, groggily shaking his head and wincing at the aches that this causes through his body, "looks as though we got ourselves whupped right proper." There is angry bitterness in his voice, and just a hint of despair. "Harv, I just *don't know*; I had hoped that I would be able to appeal to the little girl inside Legion, but I guess not. Unfortunately, I seem to have missed most of the excitement...I guess that I was a lot more tired than I thought!" A thin smile briefly crosses Walt's face, and is gone. "Maybe we could get some help from Virginia?" <><><><><> Harvey: "I called, Virginia would like some help from us. Actually, when I called Culbrand for support, which I meant ambulances and such, he thought I meant metas, sorry Walt, we're it." "We did get 'whupped', as you put it, darn well. But we did learn some about Legion. I'd better jump to the end and mention that Legion learned from us too. Anyway, I had a talk with a cool dude 'path, a telepath - all up here" Harvey says touching his temple. "Legion has complete control of Jaime's body, NOT the mind or sould mind you! Apparently meta abilities are physical not mental to some degree. When Legion possess a body it gains the power of that body, sort of pushing the mind aside. Jaime may have heard you but couldn't show it because Legion was dominating the body." "ah, warning: this is just my theory and observation, but it does fit the evidence." "Each time legion steals a body it has to displace the mind, which is what it's doing to Chuck now, Chuck will give it a fight, but I don't think he'll succeed in more than buying us time. Once Legion has control of the body it can use that body's meta powers. BUT while Legion has all those powers it can only use one at a time! So while Legion has the powers of telekinesis, enhanced physical ability and teleporting, it can only do one at a time. I'm not sure if Legion can use the telepath's power or if that's bound to tightly to the mind. Legion probably also has a 'meta sensor' capable body, but I don't know if it's one of the ones we know of. Finally, inorder to possess a person Legion probably needs to revert to its original form, whichever that is, and so is vulnerable to physical attacks." "'Cool dude', or 'the voice', or whatever you want to call that 'path warned me that Legion learned from our encounter and won't be attacking us, or probably other metas, in groups. Sticking to hitting metas singly would be safer for Legion." "We still do have one good feature, if you can neutralize Legions power, not just the power of the body being manifested, we might be able free people who have been possessed. Whether they'll be conscious when we do I don't know." "We need to attack, or get legion to attack us, in order to win, that's basic strategy. But I don't know how to find legion, can't bait legion, and we're in no shape for another fight yet. We need to get your ribs taped and I'm reluctant to leave Kelly alone." "PHEWWWWW. Quite a briefing, huh? You got any ideas? My success with strategic planning on this job was pretty bad so I'm willing to follow a reasonable lead." <><><><><> Walt: Walt smiles at the mention of the 'cool dude. "I kinda thought of him as 'surfer dude', but it's gotta be the same fella," he says, wincing again as he struggles to get into a more comfortable position. "He came along and gave me some advice way back when this all started, back in Dallas...Lord, seems like ages ago! Anyway, I have a feelin that you can trust what he tells you, though I couldn't tell you why." When Harv dithers as to whom he should help, Walt or Kelly, he waves Harv off. "You just tend to the lady now, ya hear? Ain't gonna pass on on acount of no busted ribs, I can tell you. Just see to her and hope that they don't try to charge us for the plane!" Walt grins suddenly at the notion of that, then turns back to Har. "Right now, all we can do is wait...lessin you want to try and round up them 'supers' what tore up that fancy hotel? Maybe they'd be willing to help out." <><><><><> Harvey: " 'surfer dude' it is. And he didn't say much other than that Legion will be back and more careful, and I have no trouble trusting that. I don't know if he can help us attack, or at least track, legion. But nice having a man on the 'inside'". "Best I can do for Kelly is to let the ambulance get her to a hospital. The wounded agents too. You ought to head in at least long enough to let an MD tape your ribs up professionally, or you could puncture a lung. No....come to think of it your power should prevent punctured lungs by stabilizing the rib. But lets let the doctor feel needed, and you can ride in with Kelly, maybe they'll even let me hitch a ride. Better if we can keep the team together, and watch Kelly." "Rounding up other metas sounds like a good idea except how do we find them? Kelly was our meta sensor, and she's down for a while" , "but they might be at a hospital! Since we happen to be heading there it might be a good place to look. Of course the government already talked to them but we can try the personal approach and at least warn them abotu legion and sticking together." "If you feel up to moving let's see if we can get Kelly to a hospital and ask some questions". <><><><><> Walt: Walt grimaces at the ache in his bones, but silently reminds himself how much worse that it *could* have been. "Sure 'nuf; let's try and ease the little lady on over to a hopsital. Heck, I might even let one of them there doctors have a look at *me* while I'm there." Walt rocks unsteadily to his feet, then straightens. "Let's do it." <><><><><> [GM] The paramedics take you all to the hospital, where Walt is X-rayed and given more thorough medical treatment. The doctors want him to stay overnight for observatio, especially when they learn how far he was hurled....they can't believe he doesn't have some additional injuries that might show up. Agent Donnay is waiting for you at the hospital. After making sure the two of you are all right, he says, "I guess this is what we'd call a partial victory at best. You stopped Legion from getting Lucretia, which would have been a catastrophe....but she got Chuck Abraham, which is nearly as bad." "Finding a way to stop Legion is going to be the number one priority for our boys back in Virginia, but for now, I recommend you two just get some sleep. There are metahuman incidents occurring all over the country, and we may need you again sooner than you think." <><><><><> Walt: "No, problem; *that* I can do" Walt says, settling back for a nap. <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey can't help grinning at the doctors' amazement that Walt could be thrown so far and uninjured, which probably confuses them, but they don't know Walt. Harvey will then ask about Kelly and Mabe. Mabe is definitely tough, but Kelly has him worried. <><><><><> [GM] The doctors tell you Kelly is in serious condition, but not critical. She will probably survive, but she'll have scars. With that to make you feel even worse about the day's events, you get some sleep at the hotel the agency puts you and Walt up in. The next day, Donnay greets you in the morning, and asks "How would you two like to meet *another* metahuman? He's one of the ones who fought Lucretia the other night. Now it seems he's interested in working for the government. Though I'm afraid he may have second thoughts if he's seen the news." <><><><><> Harvey: When Harvey realizes that Kelly is being kept sedated a light bulb suddenly goes on. He makes another call to Dr. Culbrand in Virginia and ask him to have one of the scientist do some research and find a particular kind of drug for him. '1) Powerful sedative 2) Fast Working 3)keep the subject unconscious for a while 4) safe even when administered by an ameteur under field conditions. ' Harvey's plan is to resolidify the drug inside an opponents body to render him unconscious without killing him. Of course resolidifying a pill or other form inside someone's gut may do limited damage, but the unconscious opponent can be given medical attention and it beats killing them. The second problem is that probably no drug exist that meets all the specifications, some trade offs will be needed between efficacy and safety, but Harvey will take what's available. He'll also ask Culbrand to send a sample (preferably several doses) to him in NYC as soon as one is identified. How's Mabe? (Harvey talking to Agent Donnay) "Pleased to talk to him. We need help more than ever, and we should warn him about legion some too. We can probably be pretty convincing." "What do we know about this meta besides that he may be interested in working for the government?" <><><><><> [GM] Dr. Culbrand sounds rather intrigued. "That is a...novel, method of administering a drug. Directly into the bloodstream by interspatial insertion....hmm. It is certainly worth exploring. I'll throw it out to our chemists and see what they come up with." Mabe is extremely unhappy that he's going to be out of action for the time it will take his broken leg to heal. He doesn't seem the sort of guy who'll enjoy hobbling around in a cast for a few months. But you have no doubt he'll be in the gym doing ab and upper body work, and practicing his marksmanship from a sitting or leaning position on the firing range. Agent Donnay tells you, "His name is Mitchell Langstrom, and he's a teenager. His primary power seems to be shapechanging. He can assume different forms, and possibly gains the powers of the person he duplicates, if that person is another metahuman. During the fight with Lucretia, he turned himself into a duplicate of HER! Unfortunately, she immediately slammed him across the room and into a wall....but he must have absorbed at least some of her invulnerability, because otherwise he should have been turned into paste. He also had her strength when he woke up and accidentally tossed a medic across the room. Anyway, we'll have to see how this works out, since his being a minor raises all kinds of new legal questions. I'm going to meet with him now. How about you two come along, and after I've talked to him for a little bit, maybe I can introduce you to him." <><><><><> Harvey: "Sounds good to me", says Harvey. "A shapechanging teenager... a shapechanging kid!" Harvey suddenly sounds excited as he turns to Walt. "I just remembered something Surfer Dude told me! That the only 2 people ever to stop Legion were you and a shapechanging kid. If this is the one we definitely want to talk to him!" <><><><><> Walt: "If this kid can stop Legion, then I don't care if I have to go kidnap him; we gotta talk to him!" <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey grins at Walt's enthusiasm, and then thinks about it and nods to himself: there is reason to be enthusiastic! =============================Backtrack......================ ================== MITCHELL [In Christine Tallin's hotel room: See "BLOODY AFTERMATH"] Mitchell: If the room has a window that can open, Mitchell will open it, take to flight, then head out and sneak to his car, intent on driving away. Otherwise, he will shapeshift to a 27 year old man with short raven black hair, hazel eyes, and a dense black beard, different features and voice but same build so his clothing will fit. Then he will try to walk out of the hotel to his car and drive away. >>> Either way, once underway, he will check the time, and if it is early enough, will straighten his clothing as best he can, and make his way into a department store, plastic at the ready, and acquire the following: One set of casual clothing of Julie's approximate size, including outer wear, undergarments, and shoes. Two sets of jeans, stylish t-shirt, socks, undergarments, and running shoes for a man 6' 4", heavily muscled. Clothing meant to emphasize attractiveness even further; designed for a Mr. Universe type looking ready to wrestle tall buildings before breakfast. Two sets of clothing, one of jeans, stylish t-shirt, undergarments, and running shoes, and one an attractive, revealing red dress plus shoes, etc., for a girl 5' 6", heavily endowed. Clothing meant, again, toward blatant seduction; designed for a one-in-a-century playboy centerfold requiring extra pages for the curves, though not grotesque. In addition, a black suitcase, and handheld police scanner radio, with batteries. >>> If all goes well, he will find a motel and check into it for the night, calling his parents from a pay phone to let them know he is all right, and find out how they are doing. Then a shower, and sleep. <><><><><> [GM] Going out the window is a bad idea- too many people, all over the place. But you don't have too much trouble slipping out in disguise. You notice that even looking relatively normal, any woman who makes eye contact with you smiles, and seems inclined to talk. You have to be rather curt in brushing your way past a couple of them. You get your clothes and other items (wincing at the thought of how Dad is going to react when he sees the credit card bill, though that is starting to look like the very least of your worries), then go to call your parents. Your mother answers, in a panic. "Mitchell!" she gasps. "Please, tell me you weren't involved in that....that massacre at the hotel in the City!" <><><><><> Mitchell: "Relax, Mom," Mitchell says quietly, making certain nobody is near. "And listen carefully, because I need you to understand what is going on. First, I am unharmed, despite what you will see on television. I went to a press conference there at the hotel, because of someone else with a shapechange ability being there. A lady named Crystal, or Chris Tallin. Crystaline, get it? Anyway, I went with another mutant or whatever we are...and then this crazy woman with a mohawk hairdo crashes in, trying to kill Crystal, and all other people like her, including me. There was a horrendous battle, and I wound up having to help by using my Special Talents. No doubt you'll see me get pretty well creamed by her, though really, I held my own considering her strength. Once you see me in action, at least you'll know I don't have to worry much about muggers anymore. She squished my wrist, but I healed it after I woke up from being punched out. I'm totally fine now, except for being exhausted. Listen, Mom, I found out tonight, as you will see, that there are people out to kill, and some out to enslave people like me. Think about that very carefully, Mom, because my life depends on it, and so does yours and Dad's. There are probably a _lot_ more people, and I know of at least one whole organization out to get me. They have special talents too, like this lunatic I wound up fighting tonight. I've got defenses...you and Dad have _no_ way of stopping someone like that lunatic. A bazooka wouldn't scratch her. A flame-thrower is like a gentle steam bath. She's rubble, but there are others. If anyone, and I mean _anyone_, civilian, government, Special, or whatever, finds out about me, you and Dad are going to be in severe danger, and me too. A lot worse danger than I faced tonight. I do know now, that I am not sick. A lot of people have these talents. Look, Mom, I've got to go get some sleep. I'll be staying in a motel tonight, but I had to call and make very sure that you keep Dad from going off the handle and calling anyone, authorities, doctors, or whatever. I'm safe and I'll drop by the house as soon as its safe to do that. Meanwhile, keep quiet, and go back to a normal daily schedule. Love you, Mom. Tell Dad I love him too, and I'll see you both soon, maybe tomorrow." After finishing up the conversation, he heads into the motel and goes to his room, settling in and locking the door. For a time, he sits on the bed, watching any news that might be on, while experimenting, trying to see if he can telekinetically lift several small objects at once. As a second experiment, he tries to levitate a blob of water from the sink and keep it together. *Tomorrow is the day. Have to go to a highschool, maybe two, in the area of the club, and hope to find out what Julie's last name is.* Closing the curtains, he goes to the bathroom, showers, then stands in front of the mirror and assumes the best possible Julie form, then settles into bed and watches television for a while, slipping off to sleep, planning the day ahead. *I hope I can find her. I can't go forever without knowing what happened.* <><><><><> [GM] On the phone, your mother says "Mitchell. Forget Julie. I want you to come home, right now!" <><><><><> Mitchell: In his most persuasive, reasonable voice, he says calmly, "I can't come home tonight, Mom, but I will tomorrow afternoon sometime. You know I am intelligent, and capable of taking care of myself. For once, listen to me, because my life depends on it. That is no idle speculation, it is a fact. My head may have been in the clouds for years, but now I _am_ in my element, and tonight cleared up a lot. This is a very serious situation. Life and death, mother. I am not caught up in fantasy now, and know it...I've had that fact shoved in my face several times today. I'm counting on you to have a clear head also, and be friend as well as parent. I need a friend and ally more now, than guidance. I can't make you listen to me, I can only pray that you will. Goodnight, Mom. I _will_ see you tomorrow, I promise." He disconnects, sighing. *I've got to figure out something to keep them from freaking constantly.* >>actions of going to motel room and bedding down for the night>> In the morning, he will get dressed in the Julie clothing, improve the form a bit more as needed, concentrating intently on remembering every possible detail, pack the Mitchell clothes in the suitcase, load up the car again, and head to a pay phone, looking up the addresses of any high schools in the area of the night club where he met Julie. Once he finds the one nearest to it, he will head there and find a safe place to park his car. Then he will walk to school, as if nothing were out of the ordinary, watching for reactions of recognition. <><><><><> [GM] The reactions you get at the high school are noticeable, but not exactly what you were looking for. You attract guys like honey attracts flies. And you attract dirty looks from girls like Rush Limbaugh at a Democratic fundraiser. Boys want to talk to you, ask you out, some even walk right up and slide a hand across your posterior as they proposition you! You're amazed at how rude and blatant some guys can be. No one seems to recognize you at this school though, so after being grabbed, groped and poked for an hour or two, you slip away and prepare to endure another round of the same at the next school. This time, after only a few minutes, a tall boy with a build and swaggering walk that says "jock" approaches you. "Hey, baby," he says, "I heard you missed cheerleader practice 'cause you were sick. Feelin' better, looks like. Man, you lookin' a LOT better!" He eyes you lecherously. <><><><><> Mitchell: *Oh great,* Mitchell thinks, at the approach of the jock, but maintains an outward smile. *I've always hated this kind, even as a guy. Sure looks no better from this side of the gender fence.* The rude, blatant approaches had been mere annoyances, though surprised to find she was not really disturbed by being attractive as a female. The jock disturbs much more, offending sensibilities from both the usual perspective, and a new one that seems to arise from the form, instinctively. "Hi, yeah, I'm feeling better," Mitchell replies, smiling. *It's a school. Worst this cretin can do is grope me.* "Still got a bit of the sniffles though, now and then," she adds, hoping to avoid kisses if the jock is Julie's regularly scheduled boyfriend. Mitchell tries to gauge what class is next, and how long away it is, to decide what to do next. *A teacher is more likely to know and say my last name. Or maybe I could get sent home.* Sudden inspiration comes. She smiles at the jock. "Miss me? I'll bet I was gone so long you've forgotten my last name," she says teasingly. <><><><><> [GM] "Huh?" The jock looks confused. "'Course I remember your last name." Unfortunately, he doesn't seem to feel it's necessary to state it. "So, umm, what are you doing after school?" He slips an arm around you. <><><><><> Mitchell: "I'll probably just go home early tonight, I'm still kinda out of it," she replies, allowing the arm to slink into place. *Oh God. Might as well get this over with quickly. Why did it have to be a jock, for pete's sake? Okay. I'm a shapeshifter. Not just a guy anymore. Go with it. Sheesh. But a jock? Rather have my wrist squished again. Not even a spectacularly handsome one. Ugh. Okay okay. Here goes.* She smiles brightly. "But maybe tomorrow I might be free." She begins concentrating intently on affecting him strongly, as she gazes into his eyes, her expression turning subtly seductive. "You know, I've been thinking of changing my name. That's why it's been on my mind. I need your opinion. I know my family will freak a bit if I do, but I was thinking of changing my name to something more exotic, you know? Like Julie Windsong or something more interesting. What do you think?" Her smile turns more seductive, eyes mirroring the mood. "Say my name, first _and_ last, three times, and I'll give you a long kiss you'll never forget," she promises, her expression and manner showing she is not kidding in the least. "And I'll go out with you this weekend, if you do, too." <><><><><> [GM] "You're actin' weird," he says, but his rapid breathing tells you that you're having the desired effect. "OK- Julie Abregas. Now how about that kiss?" He presses his lips against yours before you can say anything else. It takes a lot of work not to react negatively, especially when he slides his tongue into your mouth, and his hand prowls along your front. This certainly isn't as fun when you're on the receiving end! <><><><><> Mitchell: *Ugh!* she thinks, going ahead and maintaining the kiss, allowing the questing hands for an adequate time, then gently withdrawing when opportunity finally presents itself, managing a smile on the outside, thoroughly disgusted on the inside. *On the bright side, now that I've kissed this creep, any future kisses have got to be heaven by comparison.* Suppressing a shudder, or turning it into a seductive shiver, she smiles wider. "Sorry for acting a little odd. I'm just a little off balance today." She allows the embrace to continue a polite amount of time. "We'll set up a time and place for the date later. I'll have to wait until tomorrow to know what time I'll be needed around the house. Listen, I'd better go to the ladies room, then start mentally catching up for today before next class. Talk later?" she asks, smiling, then makes an escape to the restroom and quietly gags for a few moments. *Gods, why, among the two or three billion guys in the world, did it have to be that sleaze? Yuck.* A sigh, looking into the mirror. *Oh well, at least I've got the blasted name. There can't be that many Abregas's, even in New York.* After time enough for The Creep to lose interest for the moment, she will exit the restroom, and look for a pay phone around the school, to check the telephone directory. If no phone and directory is out in the open, or the Abregas's residence is unlisted, she will try to find someone in the offices and do the following: "Hi -- I'm Julie Abregas, you may remember me," (said teasingly, just in case the real Julie knows the person) "I sent a letter in, asking for a copy of my grades this year for the family records? I haven't received anything back, so I thought you might have the wrong address on file. Could you check for me and see what you have on file right now?" <><><><><> [GM] The clerk looks bored but polite and says "Probably still sitting in an in- basket somewhere, you know we never have enough people to handle all the paperwork around here. Can I have your ID card?" <><><><><> Mitchell: "Sure," she replies, and casually reaches for her purse -- finding none. "Oh, great. I left my purse at home, ID card and all. I wasn't feeling well this morning, but got better and decided to come in for the rest of the day, at least. Missed cheerleader practice, too." A sigh. "Couldn't you just look it up without the card, since I'm already here? I'd just have to go home and get it, otherwise. Too long a trip just for that." She looks hopefully at the clerk, exuding the best persuasiveness possible. "Come on, it'll just take a second. My allowance this month depends on showing the grades," she pleads. <><><><><> [GM] "Well...." she sighs, then says "I'm afraid I can't give you your grades without an ID, but I'll confirm your address, and whether they've been mailed yet." "What is it supposed to be?" she asks as she calls up your file on her computer (the screen facing away from you, unfortunately.) <><><><><> Mitchell: *This is getting ridiculous* she thinks, smiling. "Thanks. It's 834 east 73rd street. I hope it didn't go somewhere it's not supposed to. It'd be embarrassing to have _my_ grades arrive at someone _else's_ house." *Now or never. Worst they can do is call 'my' parents on me.* she thinks, and quickly, casually leans onto the desk, peering blatantly and solidly at the screen once it is called up, staring directly at it to read the address and commit it to memory, practically climbing onto the desk if need be, then standing upright again after a good look, once successful. <><><><><> [GM] "Hey!" the clerk protests indignantly as you lean across the counter and look at the screen. "Just hold on a minute!" You see Julie Abregas' address listed as 1342 west 96th street. (I don't know NYC at all, so for all I know, I just put her residence in the middle of Yankee stadium. ] "We seem to have the wrong address for you, and there's no note here of anything being sent to your house recently. Did you get a change of address form filled out and signed by your parents?" <><><><><> Mitchell: "Sorry," she apologizes, smiling. "I'm just in a bit of a rush...still a little nauseous," she explains discretely. "No, we asked for the form, but maybe it got sent to the other address too. Do you have one I can take home tonight for filling out?" She suddenly does her best to look nauseous, swallowing heavily, "Um, nevermind I'll pick it up later, gotta go!" she heaves a bit, and heads out the door abruptly, playing the part of someone about to lose her lunch violently all over a nice clean office. Once just out of sight of the office, she slows down and departs the school by fastest route. Once through the hurdles of leaving, she goes to the car and drives to some out of the way spot, then looks in the mirror and assumes long, straight black hair, the same basic build so that the Julie clothes will still fit, and alters the features and skin tone to be different from Julie, and a bit attractive american indian in nature. Then drives to some place a block or so away from 1342 West 93rd Street, and walks up to Julie's house, ringing the doorbell. <><><><><> [GM] A young man, early twenties, answers the door, leaning against the frame holding a beer in his hand. He seems annoyed at being called to the door at first, but his manner becomes more friendly as soon as he sees you. "Hi!" he says, with a bright smile. "Umm, can I help you?" <><><><><> Mitchell: "Hi, I'm a friend of a friend of Julie's," she says, smiling. "A long story, but I was wondering if she is home. It is very urgent that I speak with her. _Very_ urgent." <><><><><> [GM] "No, she's still at school," he says. "But, uh, you can come inside and wait for her..." <><><><><> Mitchell: "Have you actually seen her today, with your own eyes, or did she go to school early, or when you were not around or not looking?" Mitchell asks, trying to gauge his reactions and manner. <><><><><> [GM] "Yeah, I saw her this morning, why? Is she in some kind of trouble?" His manner seems mostly lust for you, but it's starting to be edged by concern. <><><><><> Mitchell: "Oh, all right. No, she's not in any trouble, just a friend had not heard from her in some time, and was getting worried. If she's still at school maybe I can catch up to her there. Thanks for the help, and good to meet you!" she says, bidding farewell, and then heads out, returning to the car intent on driving home to see Mom and Dad. >>> If uninterrupted, Mitchell will park the car out of sight of his house and walk to it, not bothering with new clothes or form. *Probably best anyway. Get them used to me showing up not quite myself.* <><><><><> [GM] Your mother, looking like a nervous wreck, is even more startled when a stranger just walks into the house. "Excuse me, who are y- is that you, Mitchell?" she asks tentatively, looking at your new and improved female form. When you confirm, she clutches her hands to the side of her head. "Now you can become a woman! Oh God!" Then she suddenly goes from panic-stricken to furious. "Where the HELL where you, what on Earth did you think you were doing running off and fighting lunatic superpowered killers, then you broke your promise and then disobeyed me when I told you to come home DAMMIT Mitchell!! Having super powers may be a whole new wonderful world to you, but super powers do NOT mean you can just ignore your parents! Or have you decided you don't need parents anymore?" She seems close to tears. <><><><><> Mitchell: Mitchell walks in, closing the door. "No, Mom. I need you and Dad more than ever. We need to talk though. This does change things, and we're going to have to iron out the changes." She sighs. "Lets sit down, please. I've had a rough day and night too." Once seated she continues. "I still love you, and never like worrying you, but I've learned a lot more of what I am, since I was last here. It's going to be difficult for both of us, but you've got to understand that things can never be quite as they were. I'm different. The world is different. And I have both new friends and new enemies. You probably saw one of the new enemies last night on the news. Another one belongs to some group called Legion, and tried to _absorb_ me yesterday, Mom. That was just when I was at the club, looking for Julie." "Some out there, like me, can track people with these powers. And some, apparently a fair number, want to enslave, absorb, or kill people like me." "You saw what happened last night. The woman with the mohawk tried to kill Crystal, the crystaline girl, and then detected me and a new friend of mine. I would have helped Crystal even if my own life had not depended on it, but it did. I have the power to...I don't know, drain the essence of someone, and mimic them, like I did with the killer, and the one who tried to absorb me. Like a doppleganger from fiction, I guess. I get the physical abilities of the one I mimic, too, to be on more equal footing." "I can fly, and move things with my mind -- telekinesis. I can become whole, when maimed or injured. I have my weaknesses too, I'm sure, but I have not run into many of them so far. I will be careful, though. I learned spectacularly last night, that I'm nowhere near invulnerable. I just pop back into shape quickly. It sure wasn't fun getting squished." She shrugs, expression revealing that Mitchell knows it is all very serious, life and death stuff. "I'm no fool, Mom." "The situation does mean that my life, as it was, is derailed. No telling how many more besides the absorbing person are out there, wanting to add me to their hit list. I've been working on mastering these abilities, and have enough now that I am nowhere near as vulnerable as I was. I have very little to fear from the usual hazards of gangs and such, and I am learning to deal with the superpowered segment of the population. Many are friendly, in very similar situations to mine. This Crystal...Chris Tallin, was a fashion model or something, and developed the ability to turn to crystal. Another I met can make things appear from another universe." "I can't continue living here, Mom." She sighs, looking serious. "I love you, and Dad, and will keep in frequent, daily if possible, contact. But you are my main weakness. You have no defenses against the type of being I fought last night, and if you were captured, someone could force me to do their bidding, else you or Dad be hurt. Mitchell Langstrom is going to have to fall off the face of the Earth, officially." "I may not be Paladin, but I've got unique abilities not even he has, that make me a valuable ally to criminals. So I'm going to have to go undercover essentially, assuming one or two false identities for daily living. I've got a pretty good idea of how to make a living legally, and safely. New York is grand central station for runaways...offiicially I will have to have run away from home." "Unofficially, I am still your son, daughter, kid, whatever..." a grin, trying to be comforting. "And I always will be. It can't be the same again though. I think you know that too. Once upon a time, sixteen year olds went out to battle for kingdom and kin. I've got to do the same, though with a little luck and work, I can keep the battle part to a minimum." "I need your help and Dad's also, though, or I'm doomed. I need you. I need you more than ever. Just in a different role now." "First and most important, no one can ever know that Mitchell Langstrom developed superpowers. You can't tell anyone, or you put yourselves in danger, and thereby put me in danger. Second, I'm going to have to give up driving my car. Third, I won't be showing up in my original form when I visit, so we need a code phrase, so you'll know when its me." Standing, she walks over to get a pad and pencil, writing 'Berlin Klaxon', and showing it to Mom. "This is the pass phrase. Remember it." After showing it, she erases it, then rips the paper up, putting it in the trash. "Whisper it to Dad, so he'll know too." "I'm going to be meeting with others like me, who are friendly. I hope to get a group together, able to handle threats that arise like the madwoman last night, and also able to figure out what is really happening. Maybe find out why people are developing powers." "If possible, I would like to get a base of operations set up quietly, somewhere out of the way; a place of safety. Sort of a Fortress of Solitude. The concept is valid, and needed desperately apparently." "Mom...this is something I have to do. Do you still love me?" <><><><><> [GM] Your mother looks stunned by your lengthy speech. Finally, she puts her arms around you and holds you. "Of course I still love you!" she says softly. "You could never do anything to make me stop loving you." Then she pulls away and her voice becomes a little firmer. "You-" she blinks, then says "Do you mind changing back to...to your real body? I may love you no matter what you look like, but when talking to you, I'd appreciate talking to the face you grew up with!" Then she goes on. "Mitchell," she says, "you are STILL living in a comic book! No, don't argue with me!" she cuts you off as you start to protest. "You had your say, now you listen to mine. Your father and I talked a lot, believe me. I'm glad he went to work after all, though I was too worried to go to work myself, because I know you and he just can't seem to have a reasonable conversation. But just because he's a little inflexible sometimes- quit rolling your eyes!- doesn't mean he doesn't know what he's talking about." "You have made so many ridiculous assumptions I can't even count them, Mitchell. But on at least one, you're way behind." She pulls out a white business card and puts it on the kitchen table in front of you. "The government already knows about you, Mitchell. Two men came to see us this morning. They told us all about your escapade last night in the city." As you turn pale, she says "Just keep quiet and listen to me for a minute, before you start looking for bugs and spy satellites! I know you read all those Steven King novels where the government is run by shadowy agencies who kidnap and kill people. And I know that there *are* some unscrupulous people working for the government. Your parents are not completely naive, Mitchell. But these men said the government has been studying superhumans for months! They already have superhumans working FOR them. And they'll offer financial, legal and scientific assistance to you too, if you'll cooperate with them. Now look, doesn't it make sense, with people like that....Lucretia, and Legion, running around, that friendly superhumans would be a lot more useful to them as willing agents than as test subjects in some mad scientists' lab? Are they really going to drug you and dissect you, when you might be the only one who can stop super criminals like Deathstorm? The government may not be always benevolent, but it's also not always stupid. They obviously know about your friend Chris Tallin. Has she been abducted and dragged off to some secret laboratory? How about that fellow on the news from Georgia, 'Supraman', I think he called himself. And Paladin. Probably more who are going public. It's out in the open, so the government can't just eliminate you all, and it would be stupid of them to try. Maybe you don't want to work for them, but use common sense- this has gotten much too big for them to control using the sort of Nazi tactics you're fantasizing about, even if they were willing to!" <><><><><> Mitchell: Mitchell grins, and assumes original form, size and build adjusted just enough to keep the clothes on. "Close as I can get in these clothes, Mom." He sighs, picking up the business card and turning it over slowly. "Damn. Oops, I mean, darn. They work quick, I'll give them that. Yeah, Mom, I kinda figured they weren't into disection, after all, when they didn't open fire on me after I woke up and knocked that medic across the room. They seemed to take it pretty much in stride that we were fighting for truth, justice, and that sort of thing, and not just contamination to be wiped out. Like I said, Mom, I'm no fool. I've got an open mind about more than aliens and superheroes, you know." "I was hoping to keep you and Dad out of it completely, but I guess maybe the government knowing you're my parents isn't too bad. Still need to keep it a secret from others, though. You can see that. _That_ part of the comics, the villains in real life have probably read too." "So, what do we do about Dad? Oh, I don't mean to sound conspiratorial... but like you said, if one of us says the sun is yellow, the other just _might_ concede that it could be close, maybe green." A wry grin. "By the way, I found Julie's last name; Abregas. I visited her home, and from the sound of it, she's back to herself, though probably still worried she's losing her mind or something. I still need to talk to her, but that situation may be nearly solved." <><><><><> [GM] "What do you mean, 'What do we do about Dad'? We're not going to hide anything from him!" Your mother does something then that alarms you- she actually pulls out a cigarette and lights it! She quit smoking when you were six. After taking a few puffs, she says "What are you going to do now? I know we can't pretend this hasn't changed your life- but you ARE still going to go to school, and you're NOT going to run away from home and live some kind of fantasy comic-book life!" She fixes you with a hard "I'm-still-your-mother-and-can-still-ground-you" look. <><><><><> Mitchell: "I agree to schooling...but by private tutor, not public school. Two very good reasons for that; first, if one of these hostlie...'paranormals'...finds out about me, or senses my presence in a school, they could lay waste to the school and kill half the students trying to get to me. I'm not going to take that risk on behalf of others. Maybe that's comic-book ethics talking, but if so, there is something to be said for it. The second reason is time; I do plan to use my abilities to help where I can, whether helping the government or just freelance as Paladin, Wraith, and the others do. I'm smart, and you know it -- I can continue to study, in shorter hours each day or evening. It is not unusual today, for kid actors to do so. And I'll take a risk and go to a standard college when the time comes. Maybe things will be a little more settled down by then." "And...okay, I won't run away from home. But I will get an apartment or something, to spend time at when it's too dangerous to sneak back here." Mitchell gives his mother his most persuasive trying-to-be-a-good-son look. "Good compromise?" <><><><><> [GM] Your mother takes another puff on her cigarette and shakes her head. "You stop just making decisions about the rest of your life, Mitchell! Who says you're going to run around being a superhero? Are you trying to see how badly you get mangled before you get killed? We need to talk about this with your father." <><><><><> Mitchell: "It's just something I've got to do, Mom," he says. "Right now I have to go meet a friend. I'll come home tonight and we can talk to Dad then." >>>proceeds to planned actions of heading to Statue to wait for Tyler, with a stop for a burger and fries if there is time>>> <><><><><> [GM] You wait for Tyler, and wait, and wait. She doesn't show up. <><><><><> Mitchell: Mitchell sits in the car, gaze alternating between the statue of liberty, the parking lot, and the american indian girl in the mirror. *Must've gotten delayed in the hospital or somewhere.* *Gods and Goddesses, what am I going to do about Mom and Dad? They'll never understand my need to live as a superhero. And I'm sure not waiting until I'm eighteen to make my own decision on that.* *Should I run away? I can't live there, not with things like Legion following me around. But if I run, they'll be even more worried than if I maintain contact. But if I maintain contact, they'll be trying to order me around.* A sigh. *No! I'm not going to buckle down and let them control my life. This is my destiny. I have to grab onto it, and hold on tight. Not sit around in high school and watch the world go by.* Taking the card out of her pocket, she holds it in the light, staring at the telephone number. Stashing it away, she starts the car and drives to the nearest phone, gets out, and dials the number. "Hi...I...I got this card, that was left for me by a couple of agents. It's about an offer of help, in return for my assistance. Could I set up a meeting with someone about it today?" ======================================================= ================= MEETING IN NEW YORK: FBI OFFICE [As Harvey Jones and Walter Shindell recover from their battle with Legion, Mitchell Langstrom has decided to contact the government as well. The government agency in charge of superhuman activities hastily arranges a meeting.] ======================================================= = [GM] There's some confusion as you get transferred from one person to another (you're definitely dealing with the government, you think ruefully.) Finally a Special Agent Dreffus introduces himself. "You're Mitchell Langstrom?" he asks in a hesitant tone, having just heard your female voice. <><><><><> Mitchell: "Yes," Mitchell replies, "It's me. I don't really want to get into it on the phone -- but shifting is one of the talents. I would like to set up an appointment, today if possible, about the possibilities. I am willing to help. I'll probably need a fair amount of help also, due to my life circumstances." <><><><><> [GM] "All right," Drefuss says. "You're still in New York City, right?" He gives you directions to the local FBI bureau, and tells you that one of their special agents will meet you there. <><><><><> Mitchell: "I'll be there. Thank you," Mitchell replies, then disconnects, and gets back in the car to drive to the FBI bureau for the meeting. Having called while in the american indian girl form, and not wanting to bother changing clothes, Mitchell just goes in that way. <><><><><> [GM] When you arrive in the FBI office, you have to go through a receptionist, then several increasingly higher-level functionaries, before you finally make it to Agent Donnay, the federal agent who was at the cleanup following the battle with Lucretia the other night. "Mitchell Langstrom?" he asks. Then adds dryly, "This seems to be a new look for you." <><><><><> Mitchell: Mitchell smiles wryly. "I figured after last night's on the air performance it would be best to keep a low -- or entirely different, profile, for a few days. I want to keep as little public connection between my private life, and heroic style activity as possible." "So, first, tell me a bit about the offer, and the current situation -- I mean, it's just been a few days since I even found out I had these abilities. I was just an average, everyday teen, if a bit of a dreamer. I had always dreamt of such powers -- but I've got a feeling it isn't just something I developed from wishing." <><><><><> [GM] Donnay says, "The situation is this; we're still an 'agency' in its infancy. We- that is, the U.S. government, have known about metahumans for a short time longer than their existence has been public knowledge. But we still don't have any miracle weapons that can take down people like Lucretia....we'd sure like to know where your friend Ms. Sterrit got hers, though. Where is she, by the way?" "Anyway, so far, the only ones who've had much luck in stopping metahuman criminals and psychos like Lucretia and Legion are other metahumans. So we need people like you for defence against the predators. But we also need you for research. The more of you who volunteer to be studied, the more we may learn about you, and we may figure out both how to stop the bad guys, and how to help you realize your full potential as well." "From what your parents said when we talked to them, you seem like the type who's probably a little paranoid about the government. Your father's exact words were, 'He thinks you're hiding space aliens in Nebraska, and keeping Hitler's brain on ice somewhere in the Pentagon'." He chuckles a little at your rueful expression. "Don't worry, I'm sure he was exaggerating a little. But perhaps it would make you feel better if you spoke to some other superhumans that just joined us? In fact, they'd barely been at our research center a day when we had to bring them up here to help with the Lucretia mess, and they wound up getting in a nasty fight at the airport. Fortunately, two of them came out of it all right, and they wouldn't mind meeting you. I think they're just as confused and uncertain as you are right now." <><><><><> Mitchell: "No," Mitchell replies, smiling wider, "I never thought you kept Hitler's brain at the Pentagon. Nikola Tesla's maybe, but not Hitler's...just kidding." "Seriously though, I have been glad to see that there is none of the cloak and dagger bit. I'm not as nervous about it -- I sort of got the hint that you were not out to capture paranormals...or metahumans, whatever, when I accidentally tossed that medic across the room, and no one opened fire. But I'll be glad to meet the others." "My family life is at an unstable place right now. My mother and father thought I was looney tunes when I told them I had developed these powers; and I think I scared them a bit when I revealed it. They thought I was going to melt down into a puddle of toxic goo or something if I kept using my powers, and failed to go see a doctor about them. I have not had any ill effects from it, though. Well, except for it scaring me out of my wits the first night." A small laugh, running a hand through the unfamiliar long hair. "I think I might have to either get declared an adult, or strike some sort of deal with my parents. Probably the former, though. We need an 'emancipation by mutation' clause in the constitution, I think." <><><><><> [GM] "We certainly don't want any trouble with your parents," Donnay says. "We'll try to work something out with them. In the meantime, would you like to meet two of our other 'recruits'?" Taking in your slender, female form again, he says "Umm, are you planning to stay in that body for some reason?" <><><><><> Mitchell: "Sure, I'd like to meet them. Lead the way." Noting the look and question, Mitchell grins. "If you're going to have a shapechanger on the team, get used to it; I'm going to be seen in birth form as little as possible, and hope to keep my name out of the public spotlight, to protect my parents. Just call me Mystery. It's good, and fits whatever the form." "I'll demonstrate shifting at the meeting, if you like...but I can't make clothing, or shift the clothes I wear. It's all a biological change." <><><><><> [GM] Agent Donnay takes Harvey and Walt with him to the local FBI bureau. "So far, we're pretty much using them as our contact points, even though we aren't officially connected with the FBI," he says. "Now I'm going to meet with this kid and talk to him for a little bit, then hopefully he'll want to meet you." The two men are left in a conference room, with a table full of donuts and coffee, for about half an hour. Then Donnay reenters, with not a teenaged boy, but a girl! <><><><><> Walt: He's 6', weighs 185 Lbs., has red hair and blue eyes. He's dressed casually, jeans and a button down work shirt. Just now he looks tired, and maybe a little discouraged. <><><><><> Mitchell: The shapeshifter, recognizable only by youth at the moment, walks up, an american indian teenage girl, black hair, slender build and jeans plus t-shirt; casual, common clothes. "Hi, pleased to meet you, both." <><><><><> Walt: Walt blinks, for the moment confused. "Uh, howdy...miss; I'm Walt Shindell, and this here's Harv." Walt looks at Donnay questioningly. "I'm sorry, I guess my ears must still be playing tricks on me; I thought you all said that this here was gonna be a *male*...." Walt stops in mid sentence, as if seized by a thought. "Oh." He smiles then, sheepishly but with good humor. "Ah guess it's like my ma says; 'Walter, sometimes yer mouth is best used for chewin', so ah reckon I'll just go ahead and do that right now." Walt nods to the agent and the young...lady(?) and then goes over to prevent himself from sounding stupid by filling his mouth with a donut. <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey sticks out his hand and says "hello", offering to shake hands seems almost mechanical or from habit, but the friendly smile isn't. The mildly confused look on Harvey's face clears up as Walt makes the explanation obvious. "What my friend Walt there is trying to say is 'pleased to meet you and we've been looking forward to the opportunity to talk with you'". Harvey steps back a step, glances over the young shape shifter, and pauses, wondering what to do. Harvey seems to have trouble finding something to open with during these covnersations and would rather have let Walt start, but seeing as he is unavailable Harvey will have to improvise. "If this", he waves a hand at the shapeshifter in general, "is a demonstration it is remarkable; if it is intended to impress it is unnecessary, we're already impressed. Should we all sit down and chat for a while before starting on unpleasant topics?" <><><><><> Mitchell: Mitchell/Mystery returns the handshake, nodding. "I know it's a little confusing. I'm still getting used to the powers, myself. No, it's not meant to impress, it's just meant to keep my original face and name out of the public view. I plan to stay a few steps, and a few faces, ahead of the media at all times." "Sure, lets settle in and talk. You're among the first metahumans I've met, except for Crystal and one other." <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey thinks about it, 'a few faces ahead', and a wild grin pops up on his face. "A nice convenient way of handling it, and describing it. Probably worth planning for the future that way." "Actually I think we're all still trying to get used to this." A confused expression comes over Harvey's face "Frankly, I don't get it. Everything goes along normally for a long time, which is what normal is after all, and suddenly we've got metas coming out of the woodwork. I don't understand why we've suddenly got so many." Then he shrugs, indicating he can't solve it now, and will just let it wait. "Nobody I know has met all that many metas. I suppose the Doctors back in Virginia hold the record, since they've studied the metas working with the government, trying to help them identify and learn about there new abilities and figure out how they work. One thing about meeting new metas, it tends to be interesting." <><><><><> Mystery: "Yeah, tell me about it. I was nearly absorbed by that Legion thing -- except, for some reason, my body expelled its. Or vice versa. Never was sure, but I even turned the tables and drained it's strength for a time. Seemed much weaker." "I know it may sound farfetched, but I think it has to have something to do with space, or maybe aliens -- I mean, look at it in light of some scifi authors movies. Maybe the Earth is passing through a region of space that gives people special powers or something. Or aliens are bombarding the world with mutating radiation. Anything's possible." Mystery gestures toward her face. "Everything seems to be a lot more probable these days." "I've just about figured out my powers, I think. Trial and error mostly, going by the old comic book style powers, and trying everything I could think of out." <><><><><> [GM] Agent Donnay coughs a little at Mystery's "alien radiation" theory. "Let's not get carried away, shall we? Next you'll be saying it's the harmonic convergence, or somebody rattled their crystals too hard." <><><><><> Harvey: "Be careful Donnay, that Harmonic Convergence stuff is as good an explanation as we've gotten so far...it just mught be right!" Harvey says, finsihsing with an expression that says 'I hope not' eloquently. When 'mystery' mentions beating Legion, a look of pure joy comes over Harvey's face. He shouts "Excellent" and stands half way up; It looks very much like you just scored a touch down or something (depending on what sport this is) and he wants to slap you a high five. After Harvey quickly regains his compsure he sits back down, still grinning broadly and starts to explain. "'Surfer dude' our inside man at legion, mentioned that only 2 people ever beat Legion. We were pretty sure you were the 'shapechanger'; Walt is the other one." He looks at mystery with respect added to his delight. "Hmm, If your ability is to absorb other meta's powers, er ...abilities... " (Harvey isn't comfortable with the term powers), "and you absorbed legions's, which is to possess people, then it's possible you started to absorb legion as fast as legion absorbed you! Which is mind boggling to try to picture, but is an interesting defense and probably a case of an irresistable force meeting an immovable object." "I don't know about your 'space explanation' of the sudden appearence of metas. I don't have a better one, but just to advance the argument: Why would one piece of space be different than another? Why would aliens want to bombard earth with wierd rays? Assuming that we aren't on Alien Candid Camera or a new episode of the Alien Twilight Zone." "Don't be so sure you've figured out all your abilities yet. You'll probably be surprised; of course, you've probably been surprised already since your a meta. We tried the 'general test for everything we could think of' approach at Virginia. It's amazing how many things they could think of, and how many things were missed. The best system they came up with was having Walt and me run an obstacle course while being observed by a very perceptive meta. Unfortunately, she's being treated for injuries right now." Harvey's face turns glum as he thinks about her. "It turns out metas often exhibit a number of completely unrelated abilities, which surprised me since I would expect them to be related. You may not have found out everything yet." <><><><><> Mystery: Mystery smiles. "I don't know whether I started absorbing Legion or not, but I did win. I'm not anxious to try it again, just in case I might somehow slip up. Still, it's good to know I can beat some villain. That 'Lucretia' almost creamed me, even after I started draining her." "Well, I mean, there's one heck of a big black hole at the center of our galaxy, okay? And the space sure isn't normal there. So many it alters the structure of reality in bands extending outward through the galaxy; and when the solar system passes through some bands, this kind of thing happens." "As for the alien rays, I didn't mean like Gamma rays or anything like that. More like mind waves. To awaken our potential or something. Like the channelers always said was going to happen one day." Mystery shrugs, sitting back, thoughtful. "I don't know. Maybe the potential was always present, and is just now awakening on its own. We've got no shortage of legends showing similar things must have happened in the past. Or been expected. I mean, you don't just dream up such things for no reason." "I agree...harmonic convergence, or something similar, might be it. I mean, psychics have been predicting these changes...these elevations of humanity, and empowerments, for centuries. We saw it coming. Maybe not the mechanism, but the essence has always been evident." In a clear voice, stumbling only briefly from the unaccustomed tone and higher pitch, Mystery hums and whisper-sings a few lines of 'It's the end of the world, as we know it'. A sheepish grin touches her expressions briefly. "I'm a singer and musician, when not getting my wrists squished and head pounded by invulnerable superbeings." <><><><><> Harvey: "I decline to specualte in the dark, anything is possible. That we've always had the potential sounds reasonable, but why is it suddenly manifesting? Why not gradually? " Harvey shrugs, apparently in confusion. "I don't really want to face legion again either. Unfortunately, it is unlikely either of us will get a choice in the matter" Harvey says, sounding simultaneously serious and worried (it's obvious he's not happy about the thought of legion). "I'll trade you what we know and surmise about Legion, more of the latter than the former, for a description of your encounter with Legion. The information would be good for you since forewarned is fore-armed, and I'd like to know as much as possible about Legion. Trying to stop Legion is high priority but very difficult. Apparently, Legion will continue to target Metas and is getting more powerful and dangerous!" Harvey glances at agent Donnay, wondering if he'll try to stop him from giving out information on Legion, not that Harvey is going to let him stop him from giving a warning about the danger of Legion. "Nice voice," but sounds like Harvey knows little about music. <><><><><> Mystery: "There isn't a lot to tell," Mystery says, sighing. "But I'll try. Okay, I was out a few nights ago with my band, singing at a club. A girl approached me afterward, named Julie...well, events proceeded as they tend to do with teens, and we were going to become intimate. We became intimate in ways they just don't prepare you for in sunday school." A wry grin. "I wound up as her, she wound up as me -- I panicked, and made a mad dash for the nearest motel, where I proceeded to collapse into bed and tried to figure out what was going on. Somehow in the night I got myself back to normal. Anyway, my mind was clearer, and I went back to the house we were at when the change happened, but she was gone. I've been searching for her since then -- the next day, I went to the same club, early in the morning before it opened, hoping to find some clue of how to find her -- I, uh, didn't know her last name. Anyway, I was waiting around for opening time, when I was grabbed from behind by a very tall dark skinned amazon-like woman, who said, "What's Legion want with a scrawny kid like you?" "She then said 'oh well' and grabbed me by the throat. And my body started to merge with hers. But, my body rejected it, and then it happened again -- I mimicked her, just like I did Julie. I was suddenly as tall as her. She sent me flying through the doors of the club, and I actually dented the bottom of a counter, with my head. It was wild. She said something about her having worked long and hard to get such a body, and I should get my own...I said, 'Thanks, I just did'. A snappy comeback if I do say so myself." "So..." Mystery pauses a moment, resting chin on a fist. "Lets see...oh, yeah. I guessed from what I had felt, that she was like Vulture in those Jack Chalker novels...you know, absorbing someone, complete with abilities, and then able to assume the form ever after that? So I said as much to her, and she just said 'man, you read too many comic books', and lunged for me again. I said 'Try to absorb me again, and I'll mangle your cells so bad you'll think your father was Seth Brundle!' Pretty empty threat, I thought, but I hoped I could do something...so I tried it at a distance. Didn't work." "I punched at her, and my fist went into the wall behind her -- definitely had super strength." Mystery winces before continuing. "Before I could pull my fist out of the wall, she brought an elbow down on my arm and snapped it like a twig...felt awful, to say the least. She grabbed me again, and I tried to do something to her again...just wild attempts at changing her, or whatever." "I felt something pass out of her and into me. Energy of some kind -- and when she lifted me, she was surprised, and grunted with the effort. She was really a lot weaker. When she hit me, it didn't even hurt." "I was actually able to punch her, with good effect. Then I ran for it -- right through a door. The stolen strength let me rip through it like it practically wasn't even there. I escaped. And that was when I heard a voice... maybe it was this Surfer guy?...that directed me to the airport to meet Tyler." "That was the whole encounter." <><><><><> [GM] Agent Donnay seems to be trying to suppress laughter at Mystery's description of his "romantic encounter" with the unfortunate Julie. He becomes more serious as she describes her encounter with Legion. "Yes, she's part of Legion all right. One of Legion's first victims. Superhuman strength and speed, and high damage resistance, though not entirely bulletproof. She's also a trained martial artist." <><><><><> Harvey: "You KNEW about this aspect of Legion?! How come I don't remember being told about this at the briefing on legion?" Harvey sounds very irritated, then he seems to think for a moment and relaxs, a _little_. "Oh, yeah, we never got around to having a briefing on Legion, just lucretia. You want to see if you can find the briefing book on Legion so we can know what we know about him...er...it....er...them?" "You sing professionally? That explains the good voice, but I'm embarrassed to say I didn't recognize that song you sang, probably a really famous classic. Your encounter with Julie just proves something about metas, 'it'll be exciting and full of surprises'", jokes Harvey. Suddenly Harvey seems to be concentrating on something, "You changed Julie! I thought shapechanger meant you changed yourself, but you changed someone else. If you can change someone else, and you healed yourself, can you heal someone else?" Harvey sounds excited by the prospect. "Kelly, one of the metas from Virginia was injured in the fight at the airport. They'll be scars. Do you think.....?" "Have you found Julie? Sounds like you're still looking. If you want a hand, just ask. I'd kind of like to know if your changing someone has any side effects." "Who the heck is Seth Brundle? I don't recognize the reference, but it sounds like I'm missing a great insult, unfortunately Legion probably did too." "O.K. My turn to talk about Legion. Remember, a lot of this is speculation and surmise. Apparently Legion is going around absorbing metas. Let me rephrase that, possessing metas, literally. Once Legion possesses a person it shoves aside that person's consciousness and can control the body, making use of its meta abilities, which are apparently part of the body not just the mind. Yes the voice you heard, or actually that you didn't hear, is what, ah who, Walt and I refer to as 'Surfer Dude'. We figure he's a telepath Legion absorbed but that his power is part of the mind so he can still communicate. The rest of the bodies legion can use, but only one at a time, we think, hope too. There's a young male teleport, a 6 year old mega-telek, The amazon you saw and now chuck. Chuck was ... a friend." Harvey shows reluctance to discuss Chuck. "He's a big guy, very strong. It takes Legion a while to absorb a person and get the mind out of the way. I figure Legion needs to return to its real, original, body to utilize its power to possess, but haven't verified that. While possessign a person, their mind can fight back, if they're conscious. And this time frame leaves Legion vulnerable to attacks by others; Legion now knows this and will probably avoid multiple metas. Unfortunately I don't know how to get close to take out Legion with a team of metas since Legion has at least one form that is a meta-sensor...capable of detecting metas at a distance." <><><><><> Mystery: "'It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine' are the lyrics. It's by REM," Mystery explains. "I found Julie's school by becoming her, then going to a couple of high schools, and talking to the kids until I found one who knew her. I got her name, went to the principal's office, got her address, and went to her home...she wasn't there, but the father had seen her that morning, so she must have returned to normal when I did, or something." "I don't know if I could heal someone or not. Worth a try, I guess. At least I suppose I could get rid of scars by shapeshifting them away." "Seth Brundle was the name of the teleport pod scientist in the remake of The Fly." Mystery listens to the information on Legion intently, then, "Wait...if Legion has to return to its original form to assimilate someone, then the tall, dark skinned amazon would have to be the original body. But, she referred to Legion as 'I wonder what Legion wants with a scrawny kid like this. Oh well.'" "That doesn't much sound like it was the original form, to me." <><><><><> [GM] Donnay frowns. "We know a little about some of the metahumans that Legion has collected...we were there, as was Mr. Shindell, when it took Jamie Coris, the young telekinetic. Unfortunately, we don't know much about the limits of the being Legion itself, just the bodies it's using." "Finding out if, ah, Mystery, can heal people would be an interesting experiment. A lot of our scientists think that healing should be a possible metahuman power, but we haven't found a healer yet." [to Harvey & Walt, individually] You are noticing something as the meeting goes on; you are becoming VERY attracted to Mystery. She's pretty, but not the prettiest woman you've ever met; nonetheless, it's incredibly distracting watching her and listening to her talk. The fact that you know she's actually a teenage boy does not make you feel any more comfortable! <><><><><> Mystery: "I'm willing to try helping Kelly," Mystery replies, slowly, thinking. "And I'm willing to join up. I will need some kind of monetary support...probably, my parents will allow a private part time tutoring arrangement, if the tutor has major bigtime qualifications. We discussed it a time or two before, due to my plans for show business. Not too uncommon these days." "Also, I'm in serious need of a good costume. I don't know how many of the metas working for you use them, but since I can't fly or use telekinesis when not in my 'base' form, for some reason, I need some identity concealing clothes that will fit any form I assume; which means very stretchy. So I might as well go the whole costumed route, except when working undercover. I want to keep my legal name quiet. I'll want the costumes made secretly of course, due to the identity bit, so maybe I could provide the description and the agency could get it made?" "First things first, though...if someone's injured, and there is some chance one of my powers could help, lets go try. We have a lot to talk about, but while someone is hurting isn't the best time, if something can be done." Mystery looks wide eyed. "You know, Legion's right. I do talk like a comic book. Well, I guess at least the situation fits." <><><><><> Harvey: "I don't know that shapeshifting someone would help if the effects wear off, at least it wouldn't help kelly." Harvey looks over at Walter, "Hey Walt, do your ribs still hurt? It would give us a chance to perform a little test." "Wow, Seth Brundle really is a threat!" Harvey grins at the explanation of what Mystery had said to Legion. "..Dang... and it was such a nice theory, but I guess your right, Legion doesn't have to revert to original form to possess someone. Apparently Legion would be somewhat distracted, or at least busy, while possessing someone." <><><><><> Mystery: "I don't know that it was temporary, actually. _I_ haven't seen Julie; she might still be in form, and just hiding it somehow. Or maybe it wore off because it was accidental. Intentional, it might be lasting." "I tried making wings on myself to get away from Legion, but it didn't work, and just trying set my nerves on edge. I think I'm only able to work with human forms. I couldn't have mangled Legion...just changed one of it's forms, maybe." Mystery looks to Walt. "If you've got sore ribs, I'm willing to give regenerating them a try." <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey flashes a big grin when Mystery agrees to join up, sticks out his hand and says "Welcome aboard." It's obvious that Harvey likes the fact that another person is on the team, but he seems almost overly pleased. Harvey seems to be friendly with everyone but is going out of his way where Mystery is concerned. When Mystery mentions a stretchy costume Harvey seems to be distracted for several seconds, and reluctant to stop being distracted, but makes an act of will to get back to the subject. "Actually I don't think any of us wear a 'costume' but many of the agents wear a 'uniform', kevlar rather than stretch though. At least you have a good reason for a costume." Harvey laughs, "Very undercover in your case, I guess, since you can look like just about anyone". "I've been informed in all seriousness that the scientist on the project are reading comic books as part of their research. Talking 'like a comicbook' may make you fit right in." "I don't know if someone could hide such a major change from someone familiar with them; if her father says he 'saw' her, she's probably back to normal. And I'd really like to find out if it works and is permament before mentioning it too Kelly." "You still might have been able to do damage to one of legions forms. Unfortunately, we don't really want to hurt Legion's bodies, we want to hurt LEGION, and get the bodies back! Hurting Legion itself is proving a little more challenging." <><><><><> Mystery: Mystery returns the handshake, smiling brightly. "Good to be aboard. It's about time comic books became official reading material." "Kevlar's kind of bulky. I guess I'll just have to dodge a lot. I seem to bounce back from injury pretty well, at least." "So, how do we test to see if my regenerating works on others? Anyone have a papercut at least?" Mystery looks about. <><><><><> Harvey: "Yo, Walt, how are your ribs? And how do you feel about playing guinea pig for the lady here?" ('Lady' Harvey shoots back at himself, silently, this is a shapeshifter! Oh, well, if she doesn't mind then why worry about it, he thinks, relaxing a little, I'll just have to watch my language if she does.) "Or have your ribs already fixed themselves? Around here, the only probable thing is the improbable." <><><><><> Mystery: Mystery looks over to Walt, her dark eyes and american indian features framed by black hair, surveying the superhero whose ribs are in question. "I doubt it would be dangerous, since Legion has obviously recovered even from my draining it's strength." Mystery notices Walt is a bit tied up, and looks back to Harvey, eyes widening slightly. "I just had an awful thought...Julie looked like me, at least for a while -- and Legion was after me. What if -- what if Legion got her, and somehow that changed her back? Julie wasn't at school so far as I could see, but told her father that she was headed there..." <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey finally looks around and realizes that Walt has made a run to the toilet. So Harvey turns back to enjoying his conversation with mystery. "I don't think that it would take Legion to get Julie back to looking like Julie. There's a good chance that even if Legion found julie looking like you it would realize it wasn't you, since Legion is a meta-sensor; although I don't know if someone effected by your power would seem to be a meta not. It seems unlikely that Legion caught up with Julie. But we can check it out if it makes you feel better. It's not good to leave things like this nagging at you." Harvey smiles at Mystery, "Come to that, I'd feel better after checking this out. Umm, what school did you say she went to?" which is politer than asking how old Julie is. "I'll be glad to lend a hand looking for Julie if you like." offers Harvey, " Might be helpful to have Walt around when we go looking for her, of course, we have to look for Walt first, but I'm sure he'll turn up." <><><><><> Walt: "Well, I *guess* that I feel lucky...give it a try" Walt says, notlooking all that worried. [superhero? sheesh, give me a break; Walt is *not* a superhero! ] <><><><><> Mystery: "It's probably not dangerous," Mystery agrees. "Probably." Walking over to Walt, Mystery extends her hands to his. "Umm," she says, hesitating, "you might want to brace yourself. Just in case." Then begins concentrating intensely on Walt, willing regeneration, willing healing, gazing into his eyes for any cues as to when something starts to happen. <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey looks on as Mystery steps up to Walt. He isn't overly concerned, but he is watching attentively. <><><><><> [GM] Mystery lays her hands on Walt, and concentrates. She definitely feels something, akin to the power she used when shapechanging, and also like the very beginning of her(his) efforts to regenerate, before it became painful about a millisecond later. But it gets that far and no further. Walt can't feel anything. <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey waits patiently, at least as patiently as he can then finally breaks in "Well, anything? Walt, feel anything? Good, Bad, Strange? Are your ribs getting better, are you growing scales?" <><><><><> Mystery: "Wait, let me try something..." Mystery tries slowly shifting to Mitchell form, then waits a moment and tries again. <><><><><> [GM] Mystery's body begins rippling and altering like a claymation film, and becomes a tall, very handsome, dark-haired teenage boy. He lays his hands on Walt again, but still gets no result, aside from a feeling of resistance. <><><><><> Walt: Walt waits a moment, thinking and sort of "feeling" to see if anything feels at all out of the ordinary. "I don't *think* that I'm turning into any creature of the black lagoon or anything like that...""...of course, I don't really know as how I feel any better either." <><><><><> Mystery: Mystery sighs, hands falling to sides. "No wonder. You've got some sort of resistance to being affected. That must be why Legion didn't get you." Mystery shifts back to previous form, straightening somewhat shapeshifting disarranged clothing. "It won't work on you, regardless of the form, I think. Kelly might be different I suppose. What are her powers?" <><><><><> [GM] Donnay says "Agent Donovan has what the doctors call 'physiopathy', which I think they made up to suit the power. She can read peoples' metabolisms, the biochemical activity in their bodies, and so on. Down to the cellular level, if she concentrates. She also seems to have some ability to *control* other peoples' physiology as well. The doctors have suggested she would be a good candidate to have healing powers, but so far, all her attempts to heal people have failed. It would certainly be worth a shot for you to try your own powers on her, though." <><><><><> Mystery: "Lets give it a try then. Arrange for me to visit her -- I've got about enough time today before going to talk with my parents. Lets go." <><><><><> [GM] Agent Donnay nods. "All right." He looks at Harvey and Walt, and asks "Any objections to taking a trip to the hospital to visit Donovan?" [Assuming not...] He takes a large government car, which comfortably seats all four of you, and drives the fairly short distance to the hospital where the metahuman woman is being treated. There is a cop outside her door. "In case Legion returns," Donnay says, "though it's a token gesture more than anything else. Unfortunately, we can't very well protect her with 24- hour surveillance by a team of metahumans." Inside, Kelly seems to be sleeping. She's covered with bandages, and connected to an IV unit, and generally looks to be in pretty sorry shape. <><><><><> Mystery: Mystery approaches, suddenly thankful for being able to regenerate. Walking over the remainder of the distance, Mystery gently touches Kelly's hand or forehead, or whatever convenient location not covered by bandages; if Kelly awakes, Mystery softly explains the trying to help in healing; if not, just very carefully proceeds, concentrating on regenerating her, concentrating on making her scarlessly whole. <><><><><> [GM] Kelly stirs, looks up and says "Who're you?" in a drugged slur. Then she sees Harvey, Walt and Agent Donnay over your shoulder. "Oh, hiiii..." She's obviously only barely cognizant of her surroundings at the moment. She smiles up at Mystery. "You're pretty..." Mystery lays her hands on Kelly, and concentrates on healing her. Though the resistance isn't as fierce as when she tried to heal Walt, something still seems to be blocking the power. "You're....doin' something..." the burnt woman mumbles. Then, after thinking a moment; "S'not working....something in me....your power...cancels out, can't do somethin'..." She looks embarrassed. "Sorry, I can't really think straight....wish I wasn't so...." her eyes lose their focus and she drifts off. <><><><><> Mystery: Mystery quietly walks away, and back outside to talk to the others, whispering, "She said something in her is blocking the effects. I think _maybe_ I could break through, given enough time and effort, not to mention practice, but it would be tiring for both of us. Listen, if something is resisting, very strongly in Walt, less so in Kelly...maybe it's something we all have to one degree or another. A kind of immune system against the powers." Mystery sighs. "I wish we had some way to turn the immune system off, if so. Maybe meditation would do it, to switch off a person's powers for a while. Or maybe some kind of drug could be developed that nullifies powers temporarily, letting effects past the 'immune system'. If that's even what it is." <><><><><> [GM] Agent Donnay nods. "That's one of the most useful aspects of Donovan's powers; she's been very helpful in analyzing the abilities of other superhumans. If she was more coherent, she'd probably be able to give detailed information about why your attempt to heal her wasn't working. We'll just have to wait until she heals some more on her own." "I think you may be on to something, though. Maybe some metahumans have a higher resistance to the powers of other metahumans. Shindell has proved immune to Legion and you, you also rejected Legion's attempts to possess you somehow, and your healing power wouldn't work on Donovan. What we probably need are some controlled experiments where you attempt to use your powers on various metahumans and non-metahumans. I'm sure the lab boys will be happy to set something like that up. Which brings us to you. The next step in your case, if we can get cooperation from you *and* your parents, would be to bring you back to Virginia, where we can explore your abilities more thoroughly. Jones and Shindell have already been through the first series of tests" <'First'? the two men think> "and have already told you something about them...no dissections, as you can see they're quite alive and well. I'm sure they'll have some more tests to run on these two as well...if we don't end up going somewhere else first. Like I said earlier, there's metahuman weirdness going on all over the country, and us field agents are already getting in routine fights with the scientists over allocation of our metahuman resources." <><><><><> Mystery: Mystery nods quietly. "Maybe the tests can find a way around the problem. There has to be a way to shut off the immune system-like power. To voluntarily accept an effect someone is trying to produce." Mystery sighs. "Well, my Dad should be home pretty soon. I think I'll go home, get changed," a wry grin, "and wait for him. If you, any of you, want to come along, to join in the discussion, I could probably use some heavy duty support." "Then, the testing route sounds good. I've run into some major surprises along the way, which could prove dangerous with Legion after me." <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey immediately and enthusiatically offers to come along and lend support; if mystery doesn't mind giving away part of her secret identity. <><><><><> Mystery: "It's okay," Mystery says. "The agency knows my name, and you're part of the agency. Plus you've seen my birth genetics form. Probably on the news too, unfortunately. It'll probably die down, the publicity that is, if I'm not seen in public like that again. I can always hope." "At least I can avoid that face and incident being tied to my future activities as Mystery. You know, I think there was an X-Men character called Mystique that was a shapeshifter. Talk about life imitating art." "Probably should figure out a way to change the form my other abilities work in, eventually. Then I could skip the mask in any costume. Maybe the research will help there also." "Anyway, lets go. It'll do Mom and Dad good to see me as potentially a valuable part of a group effort, instead of just running around trying to defeat invulnerable psychopaths with purple hair." <><><><><> Harvey: "Maybe we'd better discuss a little strategy for dealing with your parents rather than trying to improvise completely. You're the expert on what your parents will go for so any warnings you want to give are appreciated. Basically I'd suggest we try to discuss the benefits of having similar friends, the benefits of having the experts help you with your new abilities and DEFinitely avoid mentioning field work if at all possible. That way we can suggest you come down to Virginia and let the scientist look you over, vastly adding to scientific knowledge, and let your parents get used to the idea before bringing up the possibility of your getting in a fight. Sound good?" Harvey chuckles at Mystery's comment about her (...his? It's spooky how good the shapechange is and how stable it's been so far) parents opinions of having a meta for a child, "Could be interesting when you tell your parents, 'bye mom, I have to go save the world' and they respond 'that's nice dear, be home by supper time'. It's almost enough to make you wonder if parents are a disadvantage... at least in this line of work; but I don't think so and I'll be disappointed if you say you think so, so please don't say so." <><><><><> Mystery: "They're just your everyday ordinary parents of a kid who keeps coming home with a new body every few hours," Mystery says, grinning. "They're probably wishing I would just get a few tattoos, a mohawk, and maybe an ear or nose ring, by now, and drop the shapeshifting." Mystery shrugs. "They're not too bad. My mother is going to be pretty understanding of me as a meta and a shapeshifting person. She won't go in for the heroic bit...fighting is something she would definitely not want to see me in. After all, even I was mainly headed for a career as a musician, actor, and clothing model. Standard showbiz path. It's a big leap from musician and clothing model to fighting for truth, justice, and to keep from having your head torn off by a psychopath who can lift small moons." "For Mom's benefit, I suggest you guys take the attitude of my protectors and guides in introduction to the organization. Nevermind that we're all pretty much in the same state of figuring this chaos out -- it will comfort her. Let her know I'm not alone, head filled with comic book images of heroism and great deeds." "Dad is the type that will respond well if you trigger his pride switch; make it clear that I have talents that can benefit people, and that I need training to reach my full potential. Hit his pride button sufficiently, and he'll start seeing me in a new light. I've seen the signs before." "I agree, the idea of starting off with the proposal for testing and training in Virginia is the best starting point. Make it clear that a private tutor can be arranged so my education does not suffer, and that will add a point in favour of it with both of them -- we've discussed it before, and they were not really down on the idea. Pretty common for showbusiness kids." Mystery sighs. "Though we don't want to get into it now...I can't live with them anymore. Not with people running around with the power to sense metas and seek them out. I should spend as little time near the house as possible, to keep from leading Legion or worse to them." "They're not a major disadvantage to me, but they are a weakness. Someone can get to them, when they might not be able to affect me directly." <><><><><> Harvey: "Very sensible parents. Strategy sounds good. I think I'll like them. Your dad may understand if we say your needed. At least for myself, and I think for Walt, part of the reason we're in this is _because_ we're needed." "Just remember, weaknesses like that are what we're fighting for" Harvey says getting a far off look in his eyes. <><><><><> [GM] Agent Donnay drives Mystery, Harvey and Walt out of central New York City, and into the upscale suburbs where Mitchell lives. His mother and father both meet him at the door, then hesitate, looking at the girl, and the three men behind her. "Umm, Mitchell....?" his mother asks, very hesitantly. His father looks like he's ready to either explode or have a stroke. <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey decides it is best to let Mystery start and introduce the three of them. He settles for smiling and trying to project a friendly and normal (just your every day normal meta) demeanor. His back unconsciouly reassumes the straight stance that was ingrained in his army days, and he finds himself running his hand over his hair, checking the length and realizing that as usual it looks too long, by military opinion, although actually it is still pretty short. <><><><><> Mystery: "It's me, Mom," Mystery confirms. "Meet Agent Donnay, and two new friends who are also part of the agency that left their card for me earlier. It's okay, they know all now. We need to talk...really talk. So far I've been in too much of a chaotic situation to sit still long enough, for which I apologize. I know this is hard on you also. Very hard." Mystery looks from Mom to Dad, a calm persuasiveness in place, eyes showing a quiet resolve. "This is serious, and it is my future at stake, and yours. May we come in?" <><><><><> [GM] "Mitchell!" his mother exclaims. "Of course you can come in, this IS your house!" Pausing, she looks at the three men, and adds "Umm, you can come in too, of course." She whispers to Mystery, as all enter the comfortable, spacious home, "Are you becoming particularly fond of being a woman, or are you just *trying* to make this as disconcerting as possible for your father?" Inside, Mr. Langstrom holds out a hand tentatively to Agent Donnay, saying "I'm Clyde Langstrom. I guess you all have met my....son, already. So, uh, you all have super powers too?" He seems very uncomfortable with this whole thing. <><><><><> Mystery: Mystery leans close to Mom and whispers, "I'm finding it doesn't really matter much to me either way, Mom. A psychological effect of whatever happened, I guess. I enjoy any form on its own merits. Its like a kind of art, the design and wearing of a body. Besides, I need the long term practice, and Dad will have to come to understand just how different I am. I know it's scary, Mom. I'm still your kid though, and you're still my Mom. Much as you might like to be someone else's Mom right now; someone who just comes home with a tattoo or green hair." Mystery stands by, giving the other agents time to speak and make their introductions. <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey steps up after agent Donnay shakes hands and introduces himself, offers his hand and says "Hello, Mr. Langstrom, My name Harvey.....Harvey Jones." Harvey is reluctant to give his last name but it doesn't seem polite otherwise, and who is going to believe someone who works for the government named 'Jones' anyway? Which is unfortunate since Harvey doesn't want Mr. Langstrom to think he's been told an alias. "Pleased to meet you. Yes we've met your son, who currently seems to be putting on a little demonstration. Actually, the preferred term, at least by most people, seems to be 'meta-ability'. At least personally, I find the term super-power is at best melodramatic and at worst slightly conceited. Meta-ability, an ability beyond the norm. That makes a person having meta-abilities, a 'meta'. And in answer to your question, yes I am a meta, just that it doesn't necessarily show." <><><><><> [GM] "So what are your 'meta-abilities'?" Mr. Langstrom asks, with a note of scepticism. <><><><><> Walt: "Howdy, sir; names Walt Shindell...pleased to make your aquaintance. You have quite an...unusual son there." [I *think* Walt is there, isn't he? ] "Just so you all know, it would seem that I'm one of them there 'Metas' as well. Don't you worry none, though, it ain't catchin'...'least, not as long as you had your shots!" Walt grins, obviously amused by the concept of himself being referred to as "more than human"; the "meta" is just a wee bit too close to pompous for his comfort. Just plain folks; that's Walt (or at least how Walt would *like* to be. <><><><><> [GM] Mr. Langstrom says "That's all fine, but you still haven't answered my question. And what are you all planning to do with your powers, now that you have them?" With a dour look at his very beautiful, very female son, he says "Mitchell has this idea he's going to go around in a costume being a superhero." <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey is slightly offended, almost shocked, when Mr. Langstrom comes right out and ASKS what his meta-abilities are; it isn't that he's surprised as much as that it goes against his sense of meta-etiquette, a person should volunteer that information or be allowed his privacy. But since the question seems to originate more in skepticism than in prying, he'll reply. Harvey steps to the nearest wall, places his hand on it waits a second then desolidifies his hand and presses the forarm through the wall. After pausing a few seconds for what he's doing to sink in he turns to the Langstroms and says "don't worry, your wall is still there, I'm just not. Actually I've just gotten my molecules to politely get out of the way of the wall's. Obviously this is great for when I forget my keys, but I suspect it drives the security people up the wall!" A few seconds later a funny thought seeps into Harvey's consciousness. Laughing he comments to Walt, "It just occurred to me, the first thing security people do is issue a photo ID badge; what are they going to do when they meet a shapeshifter? ... I guess they'll have to issue a whole pile so big they can't even be carried around and check each one; or else issue one id and inform everyone that if the wearer matchs the photo, the wearer's a fake!" <><><><><> Mystery: Mystery giggles, highly amused at the thought of the identification card difficulty. "The moment I got my powers, and for that matter Legion got its abilities, photo cards became unreliable. Though, for a shapeshifter, multiple identification cards might be necessary anyway. I've even been worried, driving, about being pulled over -- my driver's license doesn't change with me. Maybe I could get one with a color LCD plate that has a file of registered appearances, or something." In typical teenage fashion, Mystery pauses and moment and glances into a mirror, shaking hair into place before continuing the conversation. "It'll be a bit of a challenge to security measures, true." Turning back to the conversation, "A lot of these abilities are going to shake the foundations of society." Mystery does not return the glance unpleasantly, but corrects, "Just because I can be blond, doesn't mean I'm an airhead, Dad. Sure, I've always dreamed of such things...but believe me, I've met enough of the reality to know that I don't want to get into a lot of superheroic battles. I'm revising my plans severely where that is concerned. I'm just not the brawling type; I can hold my own, as you saw, but it's just too bloody. You know I've always been squeamish about gore." A sigh. "I've basically gotten the nonsense punched and wrung out of me over the past couple of days, Mom, Dad...I'm not living in a Marvel comic book, and know it. True, there are similarities...but when the hero loses in a comic book, you can just wait for the next edition for things to get straightened out. In the real world, some things never get straightened out; and fighting unnecessarily can be lethal." A serious look is firmly in place in Mystery's eyes. "You know what scares me more than the Lucretia's and Legion's out to get me? I'm afraid for you... I love you both, and don't want anything to happen to you." "And I know you are worried about me -- that you care about me. I'm not going to leave you out of the loop -- I want to work with you both in coming up with a way to keep you safe, take into account the changes this makes in my life, and build a future for me." <><><><><> [GM] Mr. and Mrs. Langstrom both stare at Harvey's feat, aghast. Mr. Langstrom doesn't seem to appreciate Harvey's wit, but Mrs. Langstrom asks "What does that....feel like? I mean.." her hands flutter in the air, as she struggles to adjust to this strange phenomenon, "what would happen if your power...stopped working, while you were in the wall like that?" Agent Donnay speaks up and says "We're not sending all our metahumans into battle, Mr. Langstrom. We need to conduct research too, find out how these powers work. It's entirely possible we could keep your...uh, son, safe in our research facility, living like a nice comfy lab rat. Evenings and weekends off, of course." "I don't think it's even LEGAL for you to have a minor acting as...as a law enforcement officer, or super-soldier or whatever," Mrs. Langstrom says, still looking at Harvey with his arm stuck through the wall. "A lot of laws are probably going to be rewritten pretty soon," says the government agent. "But no, I don't think we could legally justify putting Mitchell in danger, at least until he turns 18, or gets parental consent at 17." "He won't!" snaps Mr. Langstrom. "Well," Donnay sighs. "There may not always be a choice. Sometimes other metahumans come LOOKING for their own kind, with malign intent. And that's something that will happen whether your son is working for the government or not. With us, though, he has more backup in case someone nasty like Legion or Lucretia does show up." Mitchell's mother looks like she's going to cry. <><><><><> Mystery: "Mom," Mystery quietly says, walking over to comfort. "It's all right. It truly can be. I can't stay in the same house from now on, though. I'm like a meta magnet. My talents are a strong pull for anyone who wants to try and control other metas. Which means my presence puts you and Dad in danger. Very serious danger, and me too -- because Legion, or some other hostile meta could hold you hostage. I care too much about you to let that happen." "Right now I'm being hunted by Legion, who wants to literally make me a part of Legion, who is a shapeshifter like me -- except to absorb someone's form and powers, Legion absorbs the whole person, whereas I just absorb the genetic code." "I have a resistance to it, as most metas do -- not beyond breach, with enough effort. But you don't have any resistance at all. Legion could absorb both of you without even breathing hard." "The agency is an offshoot of the federal bureau of investigations, loosely; not a military organization. The first thing I want to do, is join, then go for a controlled, scientific exploration of my abilities and future potential. At the same time, I will have the backup of the agency for when Legion makes its next move to take me over. You see, I'm very valuable to Legion -- because our powers are similar, in a way; I would fill out and complement Legion's other forms and absorbed people." Mystery turns, facing both parents. "I need your cooperation to join. It is a way for me to have scientific assistance, greater resources, and allies who can help me deal with dangers as they present themselves." Pouring on the persuasion heavily, Mystery adds, "Tutoring can be arranged for a few hours a week to help me keep up with studies, and this way, if we are careful, I can stay in contact. It'll be no worse than boarding school." <><><><><> Harvey: <> Harvey raises an eyebrow in surprise, then looks at his arm embedded in the wall. After considering for a couple of seconds he responds "It doesn't feel like anything...anything in particular anyways. It's just, well, normal for me now. It sort of feels like air does to you, in other words it isn't particularly noticable." <> Harvey winces, "I have nightmares about that." "Actually there seems to be little danger except under special conditions," glancing at Walt. "I think there may be something akin to the autonomic nervous system that keeps you breathing and handles reflexs. It will keep me from accidentally resolidifying while in another solid. Of course, it works better when I'm careful." "Back when my abilities first manifested, I found them really scary, inspite of the fact that they saved my life on a couple of occasions. I've been assured that no one is known to have been hurt directly by activating there powers." Harvey then mentally kicks himself, he just referred to meta-abilities as powers, he hates that expression, especially when he's the one using it. Harvey relaxs some as Mystery laughs, somehow being able to laugh at the assorted weirdness that keeps coming up seems very important and he's glad mystery can join in. Harvey grins back, he hadn't considered the possibility of a shapechanged mystery getting pulled over. "I had the same concern about society's foundations when I was first told about the existance of metas. I guess the future just depends whether these foundations are built to earth-quake building codes ... that's something people from California are concerned about." Realizing that Mr. and Mrs. Langstrom are present, Harvey decides to amplify a bit, but still addressing mystery. "We're just not prepared for some of the difficulties that come up when certain people manifest meta- abilities. For some time to come it looks like we're going to be depending on the personal trustworthyness of the individual, And I don't know if that's good or bad!" Harvey turns to Mr. Langstrom, "Congratulations, Mitchell is one of the trustworthy ones." <><><><><> [GM] "Actually," Agent Donnay says, correcting Mystery, "we aren't exactly affiliated with the FBI, except in that we're both sanctioned by the Justice Department. The FBI works...with us, although right now we get priority service when we need something from them. They aren't entirely happy with the arrangement, nor is anyone else in the bureaucracy. The Bureau wants their own agents, naturally, and the military is already grousing, because right now, official policy is that ALL cooperative metahumans come to *us*, and the military, as you can well imagine, is eager to have a few super-soldiers of their own, if possible. Eventually it will all be settled by a bunch of bean-counters" (Mr. Langstrom turns a little red at that epithet for his own profession) "but until then, we've got about as much freedom of action as is possible in this red-tape logjammed government." Harvey's endorsement of Mitchell seems to touch his parents somewhat. And Mystery's efforts at persuasion seem to be having an effect. They soften considerably, even his rather gruff father. "Mitchell," his mother says, "I can understand your concerns, but....well, are you going to avoid ever having regular friends and family, and staying with them, because you *might* be in danger? I mean, what a horrible life, like you're in the witness protection program or something!" "Maybe it is...*somewhat*....sensible," his father adds. "But what about school, college? And just what ARE the legal aspects to this?" he demands of Agent Donnay. But Mitchell senses that he's already won, it's just a matter of smoothing over his mother's concerns and his father's ego. <><><><><> Mystery: "No, Mom. I'm not going to be a total recluse. I realize I can only go so far in protecting friends, and you. I'll visit, and we can arrange plenty of time together away from the house, too. I will have friends -- true, many may be other metas, but that's good in a way, while I'm learning more about myself, and my abilities." Mystery smiles slightly, radiating as much calm, reasonable assurance as possible. "I won't let this totally isolate me but I do have to take the safety of others into account. I'll work on taking reasonable precautions, so that friends, and you, aren't hurt. I'm not going to lock myself away." Turning to Dad, Mystery assures, "I can arrange for a private tutor, to let me keep ahead in studies, a few hours a week. We've discussed that before; it's nothing new, and it works well. The individual attention gives more advanced learning in a much shorter time. I'll still go to college. By the time I'm ready for it, more good metas should be out of hiding, and security measures can be taken to keep other students from getting hurt." "This will help me have, if not an average life, a secure, and rewarding one." <><><><><> Walt: "Folks," Walt says quietly, "I know that you don't know the lot of us from a hole in the ground; the fact that you all are listening to us at all means a lot to me, I can tell you. You all love your kid, and I can appreciate that; even though I got none of my own, I'd rather get whupped myself than see any youngster get hurt..." Walt pauses for a moment, as if trying to piece together what it is that he wants to say. "Sometimes regardless of how much you hate the idea of something, though, you just have to make it a consideration in your view of the world. My guess is that us 'metas' are here to stay, and that no amount of wishing is going to make the changes go away. Like my mama says, once the guests are in the house, it's too late to make like your not at home. Your sone got caught up in this huge change, and that's scary...but now what you all have got to do is help him to deal with it in the way that is best for everybody. I don't claim to know what that is; heck, I don't rightly know if I'm doing the 'right' thing. All I do know is that I took what I knew and made the best decision that I could with what I knew." "Now, I'm sure that if you really look at this, and still feel that Mitch here should be home and pretending to be just like everyone else, then agent Donnay here *will* respect that, and you all will be left alone...for now. But what he said about other metas is true; some of them are *HUNTING* us, trying to enslave or kill us. All you gotta do is look at the news to see that. What are you all gonna do if Legion shows up looking for ol' Mitch here?" "Sorry to put my nose in sir, ma'am, but I just figured that if someone who has been in a position like Mitch's is spoke up, it might make things a little more understandable." <><><><><> [GM] Mr. Langstrom looks thoughtful, though still not entirely happy, while his wife nods to Walt. "I see what you're saying, Mr. Shindell," she replies. "I guess....I guess we can't just pretend Mitchell can go on living like everybody else as if nothing had happened." She puts her arms around her son-turned-daughter and says "But he's so impulsive and full of bright ideas he gets from his comic books and roleplaying games....I *don't* want him trying to be heroic. This research is all well and good, as long as it stays just research, no fighting people like....Legion, whatever you called him." Mr. Langstrom says "I want phone numbers, an address, people in charge, all of that. So we know what's going on at all times, and can find out if we don't." Agent Donnay starts talking to Mystery's father, writing some information down for him, while Mrs. Langstrom helps him/her pack a couple of suitcases. <><><><><> Walt: Walt smiles slightly at Mitch's mom's blurted remark. "Ma'am, no offense, but that sounds to me like most young people that I know. Heck, it reminds me of *me* at that age, though a trifle less sharp, I'm sure." <><><><><> Mystery: Mystery returns Mom's hug. "I'm impulsive, but no fool. It wasn't fun fighting for my life and freedom. I'm not going to be seeking out that kind of trouble anytime I can help it. Right now, I'm just glad to be going somewhere I can learn more about what I am now." Mystery proceeds with the packing, then, once ready, hugs parents again, and smiles. "I'll keep in touch, I promise. We'll arrange some safer way of talking, keeping you informed, and times together as soon as the testing is through. Meanwhile, you have to stay absolutely quiet about me, except to say I went off to boarding school or something. Make something easily believed up. No one can know where I am, or that I ever showed any sign of being a meta; for your safety, and mine." >> Once the parting is over, Mystery heads out, to head back with the agents. "I'll need to pick up the things from my car, and someone should arrange either for new license plates to my car, or a safe place to store it." <><><><><> Harvey: As they are leaving Harvey takes a minute to try to reassure Mystery's parents "I'm something of an optimist and maybe a little over confident, but I really do believe every thing will work out well in the end. Of course being an optimist I can never be pleasantly surprised but I'm usually reasonably satisfied by the outcome. And don't worry too much, I think Mitchell is a little paranoid, which I also think is good, as long as it isn't carried too far" saying this Harvey looks around to see if Mystery heard the last comment, and gives a grin. "Paranoia is a survival instinct, and the agency issues Licenses to be Paranoid. Just becuase we're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get us, just that we're very hard to surprise." <><><><><> [GM] The Langstroms don't look very reassured, despite the best efforts of Mystery, Harvey, Walt and Agent Donnay. Mitchell's mother makes him promise to call her every night. Back in the car, Donnay says "We can get your car, no problem." "After that, time to check in with home base, and if there are no more emergencies here in New York," he sighs, "We'll head back to Virginia." * * * * * Mitchell's car is recovered, and Donnay arranges for it to be taken to a government storage area. You're then told that you're going to return to Kennedy Airport....presumably there's a new plane ready. Which there is, though the damage to the airport is far from repaired, it's back in business, after rush efforts by a small army of emergency workers. Harvey and Walt can't help feeling an unpleasant sense of deja vu as they climb into the plane once again. But nobody attacks, and you're soon in the air. Donnay briefs you all as you climb away from the Big Apple. "Right now we've got these werewolf killings in the southwest, and if Donovan hadn't been taken out, we'd probably be putting her on that one...she might be able to work with the FBI to track this psycho, since they're trying to get a profile. Not much point in sending any of you there, though....if we can't even find him, it doesn't matter whether or not you could capture it. This particular metahuman- we assume it's a metahuman, since I'm not quite ready to believe in real werewolves yet- is a mission for a large, well-coordinated search effort, not a small group of meta-agents." "There was also a breakout at a mental hospital in Baton Rouge. Ironically, we had already heard some reports about a guy recently confined there, which led us to suspect that we had another metahuman on our hands. We had agents on the way to investigate, and the alleged meta escaped from the hospital about three hours before our people arrived. We think he was broken out by other metahumans. We're not sure what kind of powers he has, but he's believed to have made several people disappear, and he's possibly a pyrokinetic as well. Not to mention, a more mundane killer was released during the commotion. A serial killer. The Louisiana State Police are all over, looking for both of them, but we suspect if there are metas involved, they could be anywhere by now. Nonetheless, our other "team" of metahuman agents is on their trail with our investigators right now." "There have been several incidents in Florida that trouble us, and in Los Angeles as well, but so far they're still in the investigative stages." "Where you two are most likely going to be asked to go next," he says, indicating Harvey and Walt, and conspicuously NOT indicating Mystery, "is Chicago. There was just a major battle in Chicago, involving several metahumans. Right now, we still have no idea what brought it about...although we have made contact with at least one of the participants, who seems to be somewhat cooperative. But a couple of the bad guys were caught. One can generate force fields, the other one we haven't determined yet what his powers are. They're both being kept drugged while they're brought to Virginia. In fact, they'll probably be there before we are. We're hoping that you all may be helpful in, um, questioning them." "At any rate, it gets more interesting. That same day, two women were admitted at a nearby hospital, claiming to have been abducted and tortured by a telepath. And now we have some indications that that may be connected with the earlier battle. We're getting new info on a regular basis...I'll probably get another update from the agent in charge in Chicago within an hour. But there's definitely something going on there, and we may well want some metahuman agents of our own out there pretty soon." <><><><><> Mystery: *Wonderful,* Mystery thinks, listening to the briefing politely. *Left out of the real action and travel because of two years age. Not likely. Might as well let it pass now, though. The testing will take a while anyway. Besides, I might find some way out of being hampered by age, if I delve into the science of it deeply enough.* *I need to work on a style, anyway. Meanwhile, contribute what you can; life's just turned into one big scifi flick, and you're the king of comics.* "I think you should consider that the werewolf might have the ability to infect others. I'd watch returning agents carefully, if I were you. Just because the werewolf is probably just someone who watched too many horror films and manifested a talent for wolfing out, doesn't mean that the wolfen form can't be fully equipped in that way, emulating the supernatural. Our legends of the supernatural may _come_ from metahumans. Any sufficiently advanced state of chaos is indistinguishable from Fright Night." <><><><><> [GM] Donnay listens to Mystery, with a slightly bemused look on his face. "Believe it or not, some of the government's 'Top Men' really are pretty smart," he says. "Everything you just mentioned, we thought of. So far, though, there's been no sign of this 'werewolf' being contagious. All the people it's killed...several dozen, so far, have stayed dead. And we're pretty sure there's only one out there, or at least, only one who's doing the killing." <><><><><> Harvey: When they get to the airport and Harvey sees the remaining damage he visibly swallows and turns pale, remaining quiet and troubled until they're airborne. After listening to Donnay's rapid-fire status report Harvey mutters something to himself, but the only word that can be made out sounds like 'over-time'. Since there's nothing to due until they arrive or new reports come in, Harvey leans back in his seat and tries to get some rest, while he can. <><><><><> Mystery: Mystery leans back in her seat, and rests, awaiting arrival in Virginia. BACK IN VIRGINIA [Following a battle with Legion at New York's Kennedy Airport, Harvey Jones and Walter Shindell wearily return to the Virginia Metahuman Research Facility, with a new member of the "team"; Mitchell Langstrom, aka "Mystery".] ======================================================= ======== [GM] The flight to Virginia is fairly short- you land at a small airstrip in what appears to be the countryside, a short distance from a large ranchhouse. Walt and Harvey have obviously been here before; Mystery sees that while there's a large spread of land around the building, there doesn't seem to be any crops or livestock being raised anywhere. Donnay gets out of the plane, followed by the three metahumans, then the flight crew. Already coming out of the facility, looking excited and anxious, is a distinguished-looking man with white hair and a lab coat. Harvey and Walt recognize Dr. Culbrand. He barely lets you all get off the plane and start walking to the building before he starts talking. "Ah, you're back, good! We just got two new metahumans here at headquarters, flown in from Chicago." He looks at Walt and says "The Justice Department wants them questioned, as they were captured while trying to blow up a good part of a Chicago neighborhood, apparently. Of course, they've been kept, ah, sedated, since it wouldn't do to have them blowing up the vehicle that was transporting them, or smashing up the base here. We were hoping you can neutralize them, at least long enough for them to be questioned." Then his eyes go to Mystery. "Uh, I don't think we've been introduced, young lady. My name is Dr. Culbrand, I'm in charge of metaphysiological research here." He whispers to Donnay, "I thought you were bringing a young man, the shapechanger?" Donnay looks rather amused. It strikes the others that Culbrand is almost a stereotypical researcher; he has difficulty seeing anything beyond his current project... <><><><><> Mystery: Mystery smiles mischievously, nodding to Dr. Culbrand. "I'm the young man in question," she says, giggling. "On alternate weekends and major holidays, anyway. If you think _you're_ confused, you should talk to my parents. Pleased to meet you -- you can call me Mystery if you like, for convenience. Sort of a take-off on the Mystique character in X-Men. Which isn't too far off, really." A thought suddenly hits, and Mystery looks from Dr. Culbrand to Walt and back again a few times, settling on Walt. "You can neutralize powers? Make a meta into a normal person for a while? What would happen if, say, you did it to an injured metahuman like Kelly? Would that nullify the resistance to healing and change?" <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey jumps in, "It occurred to me, but I didn't think Kelly was the best target for experimenting, given her condition. Once she's up though, then she'd make an excellent observer. Maybe Dr. Culbrand and the other scientist can come up with some theories given time, might be better than driving blind." "How are you doing, Dr. Culbrand? I think Mystery surprised us all. This seems to be a long duration demonstration. I'm impresseed, I keep expecting her to forget what color her eyes are and have them change, but I haven't noticed any differences like that yet, and I've been watching." <><><><><> Mystery: Mystery giggles, trying to picture someone walking around forgetting their eye color. "I don't have to remember it. I have to concentrate to change, even back to the birth-genetics form. I can just stay like this, or like any other form. Except that I guess what you would call my 'base' body has additional powers." <><><><><> Walt: Walt shudders at the thought of having to face something like that, so plainly animalistic and dangerous. Legion may be powerful, but at least it thinks and can be understood like a human. This creature, whatever it was, showed some of the traits of beast *and* man, and that (to Walt's mind) made it impossible to comprehend and all the more frightening. "I will surely be satisfied if there is only one, I will. Seems to me that who ever has the job to catch or stop the darn thing is going to have to be one tough hombre, not to mention one lucky..." "oh" Walt swallows the rest of what he was *going* to say. "So, agent Donnay, when exactly do we get back?" <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey breaks into an incredibly big smile in response to Walt's half spoken comment, "Either very lucky or able to be in many places at one. That latter power is exhibited by organizations like the police, the FBI and teams of investigators." Dang, Harvey thinks to himself, I just used the term Power again, I really hate the fact that I'm starting to do that more and more. Harvey grins back at Mystery, "that's not how I would have guessed it worked, but hey, it makes sense to me. An interesting challenge would be to see how close you can hit this form after you've reverted for a while. But I'm glad you don't spontanteously change eye color, since I've come to like that particular shade of green very much." "If your base form has additional powers, have you checked any of your other forms for additional powers you don't exhibit in the base form? You haven't shown any reason to to suspect so, but you haven't really proven you don't." "Oh, and sorry for not being clear about our specific meta abilities before, I'm just not comfortable coming out and telling everybody about them. I'm not sure if that's because I'm embarassed by discussing them or because I'm paranoid and want to keep the details as a surprise. I didn't mention I can reverse what I demonstrated and increase by density too." <><><><><> Mystery: "So far anyway, forms get better each time I assume them, and with general practice also. I know what you mean about the eye color; it's always been my favorite color." "I haven't really tried looking for abilities unique to forms, mainly because I imagine, then assume them, and haven't specified any. Well, once I tried for superstrength. It didn't work too well. I think maybe I can only get that sort of thing when I mimic another meta. I guess we'll find out in testing." "Paranoia about not having surprises is a good idea, but don't be embarrassed about the powers," Mystery advises, smiling. "Sherlock holmes wouldn't be coy about admitting to superb powers of reasoning and deduction; nor Einstein or Tesla in powers of visualization and intuition; or, frankly, superman about being able to fly and make the morning toast with an intense stare. We're not going away, and probably, we're the future of the human race. People are going to continue having kids who turn out to be metas, very likely. It has to be accepted as just like any other power of the mind or body." "It's going to be part of our future to help shape perception of metas, Talents, or whatever one wants to call us. We have to show that it can be a positive change in the world. It may be corny, but the world needs heroes; ones not afraid to be proud, and be good examples as metas. Maybe the next generation will have fewer Legions, and more Green Lanterns, if we do good as role models." <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey is surprised when Mystery says that each time she assumes a form it gets better. Better how he wonders, but decides not to ask. "All right, I won't be embarassed by meta abilites. But since none of the people you sited bragged about their unusual abilities I guess I'd better not either." "'The world needs heroes', I like that, I'll have to try to keep that in mind; but I think we're in for a lot of work if we're supposed to be role-models for the entire world." <><><><><> [GM] Dr. Culbrand leads the three of you into the ranchhouse, which Mystery sees is actually a spacious office-complex, although several wings go out in various directions, cleverly built so much of the interior is not apparent from the outside, giving the illusion that the headquarters facility is bigger on the inside than the outside. Mystery also notices that nearly every male head turns as she goes past....for that matter, Harvey, Walt and Agent Donnay, and even Dr. Culbrand, seem to be eying her surreptiously, then trying to look away when she notices. "If you're ready to begin tests," Culbrand says to the girl, "we'll start with the same preliminary experiments we ran these gentlemen through. Meanwhile, I believe the field agents would appreciate Mr. Jones and Mr. Shindell downstairs, to help question our two captured meta- criminals." <><><><><> Walt: "Well, sure, I guess that I can head on down there an' lend a hand." <><><><><> Mystery: "Sure, I'm ready. I'd better take time to switch into some looser clothing though, for a wider range of forms during the tests. Is there somewhere I can change?" Mystery looks to Harvey and Walt. "See you soon. I've got an appointment with vivisection in a top secret government lab." She winks, then rolls her eyes at Donnay. "Just kidding. Thank you for the help in getting in." She smiles to Dr. Culbrand. "Lead the way." <><><><><> Harvey: <> Harvey chuckles then says "What you have is an appointment with boredom. They are going to test you for every conceivable, and some inconceivable, meta-ability most of which you will not have. It's boring but painless." Then Harvey reconsiders slightly, "Oh, yeah, they'll also give you a medical test. The sphygmophone is cold, the sphygmomanometer is tight and the blood test stings." Harvey pauses then explains, "don't worry, a sphygmophone is the fancy term for a stethoscope and a sphygmomanometer is the technical term for a blood-pressure cuff." <><><><><> Mystery: Mystery, grinning, follows Dr. Culbrand. "I'll probably need a blood test for a few dozen forms, and as many blood pressure readings. Good thing I regenerate, or I might get sampled away to nothing." She giggles. "A whole new meaning to the term cellular division." <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey grins at Mystery's comments, and enjoys the pun, but hopes Culbrand is very tolerant; some researchers don't have senses of humor where their work is involved, then recalls the Culbrand is pretty cool when the unexpected comes up (helps with his job) and Harvey relaxs. <><><><><> [GM] Dr. Culbrand leads Mystery away from Harvey and Walt, and to an ordinary-looking medical examination room. Two more doctors, one male and one female, are present. "Your shapechanging abilities are definitely something we'll spend a lot of time exploring," Dr. Culbrand says. "Yes, the ramifications are endless. Just as the theoretical physicists' heads are spinning over Mr. Shindell's ability to alter the laws of probability by conscious and unconscious effort, your ability to assume whatever form you like....a hundred questions spring to mind, and undoubtedly hundreds more will arise as we go on." "I'd like to establish a baseline, though, try to establish your normal, or previous parameters, so we'll have something to compare with. For the first series of tests, I'd like you to revert to your original form....the one you were born with, as you put it." [to Harvey & Walt] Agent Donnay leads Harvey and Walt down a flight of stairs, one that neither of the metahumans has been down before. "We actually have four captured metahumans now," Donnay says. "One has so far displayed nothing but superhuman strength and toughness, but not on the level of Supraman or Lucretia...he can lift about a ton, and his skin deflects knives, but the St. Louis police department brought him down with a hail of gunfire. He arrived at the hospital critically wounded, but had healed back to normal in a day or two. We debated whether we should keep him drugged, in case he has other powers he hasn't displayed yet, but Agent Donovan seemed fairly sure that he didn't have any others, at least none that showed any hint of manifesting. So we're keeping him locked up down here in a titanium-reinforced cell. We've tried reasoning with him, but he seems to be your basic psychopath; before he became a metahuman, he had a long record of petty theft, assault, and later repeated wife-abuse. The cops came in when his last fit of rage apparently brought out his powers, and he put his fist *through* his wife. He actually seemed to enjoy the discovery of his superhuman strength, and critically injured two police officers when he started throwing his furniture at them. But he isn't too bright; he just went from there out to the local bars, beating the crap out of people and wrecking places, showing off his strength, until the SWAT team arrived and brought him down." "Our second guest has one very simple power; he can make people drop dead just by looking at them. Drains their life force, according to Donovan. Ironically enough, he was already *in* prison, recently sent there for rape and burglary, when his powers manifested. Apparently they manifested while the inmates were giving him a 'welcoming party' in the shower. Thirteen cons dead in about ten seconds, and then he started dropping people right and left like flies...went on a rampage through his wing, and killed just about everybody, including four prison guards. Of course, that left him still confined in the cell block, with no way to get out. We were called in, and we just flooded the wing with knockout gas, then brought him here. We're keeping him in a drugged coma." Donnay looks grim, and says "He killed three more of our people in the process of our learning how his powers work. He doesn't have to see you, he just has to know where you are. He even got one of the doctors through the f***ing intercom! We don't know how, but apparently if he can get just a vague idea where you are, he can lock onto you and nail you. So we aren't taking any chances. Dr. Culbrand has hypothesized that he wouldn't be able to get someone who's talking to him by radio...but so far, he's having a problem finding volunteers to test the theory." "Which brings us to our two newest arrivals. As you may have heard, there's a metahuman in Chicago called 'Falling Star'. She turns into a fireball and can fly at supersonic speeds. According to some eyewitness accounts, she's a very young woman, possibly even a child. She's been active in the inner city areas of Chicago, intimidating gangs and tearing apart crack houses by flying through them...literally. Well, yesterday, there was a gang battle in Cabrini Green, one of the worst areas of Chicago, one of the worst areas in the country, for that matter. Falling Star showed up, and so did these two. We suspect that's not a coincidence, which is what we're hoping to question them about, with your help. They seemed to be after Falling Star, but a couple more metahumans showed up. A woman who can control gravity, and according to witnesses, some girl who was teleporting around and kicking the hell out of people. Possibly others as well; we're still getting details from our agents there. So there was a battle between our two guests and those other metahumans, and these men lost. The police arrived, followed shortly thereafter by us, and we drugged them and brought them here." "One of them displayed the ability to generate force fields, which stopped grenades, bullets, and Falling Star, who slammed into one at full speed. He can also make them move and hit people. The other one...we don't know what powers he has, or even if he does have any powers for certain. He was heavily armed, with a shotgun, a whole bunch of grenades, and an air rifle loaded with tranquilizer darts." "From examining them and their equipment, and especially the vehicle they came in, we think they're from South America; quite possibly, they were sent by the Columbian mafia. It's not surprising that the drug lords would be able to get their hands on a couple of hired metahumans in a short time, but it's not a pleasant prospect at all." <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey finds himself almost moaning as he realizes just how bad 'bad' is, but stops himself. He almost ask if there is ANY good news, but decides against it because he isn't sure he'd like the answer. "What kind of strategy do you have in mind for questioning these guys? I assume we'll be questioning them one at a time, do you want to start with the guy with the gun?" "And Agent Donnay, are you positive it's a good idea to hold all the meta-villains together? If there were one escape, which it seems would eventually happen, you could have a domino effect and have them break each other out. Wouldn't it be better to form several special holding facilities and keep them seperated?" <><><><><> [GM] Donnay smiles humorlessly. "Yes, it probably would be a good idea to build separate facilities. But do you have any idea how much this facility alone costs? To really be safe, against what you're suggesting, we'd need a separate prison for every single metahuman criminal we capture. Not likely we'll get the funding for that...although if people like Legion and Lucretia keep causing mass destruction, we may at that. Right now, the biggest problem is that this is a short-term solution at best." "You see, we have this fellow who can kill with a thought, and he's an amoral psychopath. What do we do with him? As long as he's conscious, he can kill anyone who comes near him. Our choices are kill him, drug him, or put him in a small, dark room with no ability to see or hear outside. With some metahumans, even the last option is unavailable. The Israelis had to drug Deathstorm, because all he had to do was wake up, and he could have blown apart everything and everyone around him. Personally, I'm surprised they *didn't* arrange for an "accident" to befall him. I'm sure that's exactly what would have happened the moment Paladin turned his back, and if the Israelis didn't send that flaming person who killed him, then they must have thought he was a blessing from God when he did." "Summarily executing captured criminals who haven't even been put on trial yet, or keeping them in a drugged stupor, is, needless to say, utterly illegal and a blatant violation of the Constitution. We're doing it anyways, because the alternative is worse. But we can't keep this secret forever, and sooner or later the word will go out. The ACLU and Amnesty International and all those other leftist airheads will scream bloody murder and jump up and down about our unconscionable violations of these poor murderous super-killers' civil rights. A court order will come down requiring us to take them off the drugs." He smiles grimly and says "I only hope we can somehow arrange for some of those whiny lawyers and civil rights activists to be present when we do." "Right now, a few, a very few, members of the House and Senate are being made aware of the situation. We're trying to get some quiet legislation rammed through that will give us some 'extraordinary powers' when dealing with metahumans. Right now, we're not even operating under an executive mandate, because while there's no doubt that the President is being kept appraised of what's going on here, he doesn't have the balls to personally sanction it. He doesn't want to take responsibility if it blows up in his face. I guess he'll pull the Reagan/Bush defense; 'Gee, I didn't know exactly what was going on, I trusted my suboordinates'." "We want to question the man with the force fields first. He's a somewhat known quantity. We're hoping that Shindell can concentrate *real* hard on neutralizing his powers, while we question him." He looks at Harvey and says, "If that doesn't work, you may be our backup. We're assuming, and hoping, that you'd be able to walk through these force fields and...subdue him. How do you feel about that?" <><><><><> Harvey: "When I suggested seperate detention facilities I figured they'd be very small and thus cheaper, but not cheap" Harvey quickly corrects himself, "they still need to be effective." <> "I'm against killing someone without a fair trial, but heck, as far as I'm concerned give the guy a lawyer to represent him, try him and kill him before he even knows it's going to happen. Personally I wouldn't want to know it was coming." <> Harvey answer back, quickly, "Neutralize first, ask questions later. I don't know if I will be able to walk through a force field, since I've never seen one before, but it's worth a try. One thing, if he does prove a problem give me a tranquilizer to hit him with, O.K.? After what happened the last time, I'm really reluctant to eliminate anyone" there's an almost pleading tone to Harvey's voice as he makes the request. Harvey returns to business then and suggests "Probably a good idea to keep the element of surprise, are Walt and I dressed like everyone else the prisoner will have seen?" <><><><><> Walt: Walt listens while Donnay and Harv go back and forth about the right and wrong of how/where/why do deal with 'meta' criminals. And while he may not be very pleased by the topic of conversation, he keeps such thoughts to himself. "Um...pardon me, agent Donnay, but don't we have to be, um, I dunno, deputized or some such before we can take part in this. I always thought that this is the sort of thing that only the police or FBI or some such was supposed to be doing." <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey is caught be surprise by Walt's question, it never occurred to him. "DO we need to be? He's already been arrested so we aren't going to arrest him, there are no statutes covering neutralizing meta abilities or walking through force fields. We're just going to be listening to someone being questioned, civilians can do that...I think." Harvey also turns to Agent Donnay and raises an eyebrow. <><><><><> [GM] Donnay chuckles ruefully. "I just told you how we're illegally imprisoning and drugging suspects, without a trial or even any kind of due process," he points out. "And you're worried about legal niceties like whether you have to be deputized." He sighs. "As a matter of fact, we *will* be legally deputizing you, so you'll be official law enforcement officers and everything. For that, though, you do have to go through a certain amount of paperwork and other drills, things we haven't had time for yet. In the meantime, don't worry, there's no law against your helping us question a suspect. For that matter, there's no law against your helping us arrest one. You can always make citizens' arrests. You just won't have the legal protection that a duly appointed officer of the law does, until we get you your tin stars." With another ironic chuckle, he adds "And I'm almost certain there's no law against neutralizing someone's metahuman abilities." He looks at Harvey thoughtfully and says "Good point about the tranquilizer, though; you were talking to Culbrand about working something like that out, weren't you? Could be a good opportunity to test that out- I'll give him a call and see if he has anything he can send down here right now." He goes to a small grey phone sitting on the near wall. <><><><><> Harvey: While Agent Donnay makes his phone call Harvey turns to Walter and comments, "Got to tell you, this 'deathwish', or whatever you call him, scares me." <><><><><> Walt: "Well, I sure am pleased to hear that; I'd be right worried if I was to find out that you were *enjoying* the thought of this wacko!" Walt waits, not quite sure what to do next. <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey's voice sounds slightly strained as he corrects Walter's interpretation, "I'm not saying I don't like the idea of this psycho, I'm saying I'm Scared of him!" Having said that Harvey seems to pull himself together and get his eyes under control, but it takes him a definite act of will power. <><><><><> [GM] A minute later, Agent Donnay returns and says "Yeah, they got something they want to try." A few minutes later, one of the researchers comes down the stairs and hands Harvey what appears to be a vial full of light brown sugar cubes. "This is a fast-acting tranquilizer that will hit almost immediately upon being absorbed into the bloodstream...which will be instantly, if you phase it into the person," the doctor says. "Of course, you can still do damage if you put one in their eye, or brain or heart or some other vital organ...but if you just stick it in their arm or neck or any other place containing nothing but flesh and veins, it'll dissolve almost immediately. It would probably hurt a bit, because the flesh will be disrupted a little, but it shouldn't be anything severe." He pauses and says "That's the theory, anyways. It hasn't been tested yet. We were hoping you'd try it on some lab animals, before actually trying to use it on a human." <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey holds the vial up to the light and peers at it quizically, muttering more to himself than to anyone else, "I kind of thought the gut would be a good target, get it absorbed by the intestinal area, but the arms and legs might be safer, just got to avoid the bones I guess." Turning back to Agent Donnay Harvey says, "Sounds like a good idea to try it first, although the lab animal might have a different opinion." <><><><><> [GM] Donnay frowns and says "Supposing it knocks out the lab animal, it still won't tell us for sure how well it works on people, right? Look, we need to question these guys pronto, because there's still stuff going down in Chicago. I don't expect you'll actually need to use those little cubes, they're just a backup. We already have them hooked up to IVs, and the room is reinforced and sealed. *If* Shindell's neutralization power works, they won't be able to do anything. We're obviously only going to wake one at a time." Donnay hands Harvey a pistol, and says, "*If* by chance something goes wrong and you need to help subdue them, try your knockout cubes first, and maybe a good-old fashioned whack on the back of the head. If things get desperate, this is for last resort." The agent scowls at the researcher, who's scowling at him, and says "We can try testing your little trick according to the 'scientific method' when we have more time." The doctor counters "Those two will still be drugged in their cell ten minutes from now, won't they? We don't know for sure that the shock of solidifying an immaterial object into somebody won't cause unforeseen trauma. Or that the chemical composition of the soporific cubes won't be altered by the...desolidifying process, since we don't really know what his power does to the molecular structure of things whose density he alters." "Well, we can always rely on Shindell's luck," Donnay snaps back. "His luck may keep *him* alive, but there's no guarantee it's transferable," the doctor points out. "Fine!" Donnay snaps. "Bring down your bunny rabbit or whatever so Jones can stick the cube in it." "We're thinking of a chimpanzee, actually. It's a little closer to a human in size and physiology. And we'd rather not bring it down here- Mr. Jones should come up to the lab. We'll need to monitor the immediate results of the cube insertion..." "Oh for Chrissake," Donnay growls. "Do you wanna go along with this, Jones, or take care of business first?" <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey was more concerned about what resolidifying the drug in someone would do to them than whether it would knock them out or not, but he never gets a chance to say that, or anything else because of how fast Agent Donnay and the researcher begin talking. Harvey accepts the gun when handed to him, but it doesn't look like he really wants it. Then he examines it, carefully; better to pay attention to these things than pay for it later. Then, since he doesn't plan to use it, or rather plans not to use it, he puts it away. This presents a bit of a problem since where does one keep a gun that is out of the way? He doesn't have a shoulder holster, so he ends up sticking it in his belt (if it has a safety he carefully sets it first!) He considers putting it in the back of his belt instead of the front, but that's very uncomfortable so he just sticks in the right front side of his belt, grip to the right, in case he changes his mind and decides he does want it after all. But he doesn't think it at all likely that he will change his mind about this. As Agent Donnay and the researcher 'discuss' what to do next Harvey's head goes back and forth like a pendulum while he tries to keep up with the conversation, just as his neck is starting to hurt the conversation comes to an end. "Oh heck, let's just get this questioning over with and I'll stop by the lab when we're done and we can actually test this stuff." Harvey removes one of the 'cubes' of knockout drug and puts it in his right pocket where he can get at if fast, and put the tube with the others in his left hand pocket. <><><><><> [GM] Donnay nods. "Let's get going, then." You're reminded of a modern-day dungeon, down beneath the complex here, with a number of heavy metal doors lining a dimly-lit corridor. Two more men are waiting for your group, and enter one room ahead of you. As Harvey, Walt, and Agent Donnay file into the small room, it seems to be much like a hospital room; the "patient" is lying in bed, with an IV and various sophisticated monitors connected to him. He looks like a middle- aged Hispanic man in good shape, with short black hair and a thin mustache. He's been put in a straight jacket, and even his ankles are manacled. At the moment, he seems quite thoroughly unconscious; one researcher is instructing an armed agent on how to administer the drug that will wake him up; apparently the doctors aren't staying for the interrogation.... Donnay turns to Walt and Harvey and says "You two ready? You're first, Shindell; let's see about that neutralizing trick of yours. We don't even know for sure that this guy *is* a metahuman, but naturally, better safe than sorry. You do whatever you have to, and Jones stand by with those magic sugar cubes, just in case things get hairy." Both of you can see that the two other men in the room are also standing by- with pistols already in their hands, held pointed at the ceiling, but with fingers already on the trigger. <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey gets the unnerving sensation of walking along the dim corridor of a dungeon on the way to the 'cell', which bothers him much more because he believes the hall should be well lit for security than because it looks like a dungeon. He considers commenting on it, but figures security experts have been all over it already and must have some reason for it. Harvey looks over the heavily restrained possible meta, this is the one who is supposed to create force fields. Harvey wonders why the change to uncertainty about whether he's a meta. Standing near the meta, on the opposite side from Walter, Harvey unabtrusively puts his hand into his right pocket, where he placed the unwrapped knock-out cube. He takes a few deep breaths trying to relax, or at least look relaxed. Considering that preparing for the unexpected might be wise, he also desolidifies himself, it doesn't show and it might be handy if things start hopping. <><><><><> [GM] [oops- sorry! I messed up and forgot that they were planning to interrogate the force field projector BEFORE the other one. You're right; the man you're facing is the one with the "known" power, and he has long, shoulder-length black hair, no mustache, and a muscular build.] <><><><><> Walt: Walt also looks upon the person before them, wondering to himself if maybe he hasn't gotten himself in over his head. Remembering Jamie and all the evil that can be caused by power without control helps somewhat, but he still comes away from his thoughts feeling somewhat...not quite dirty, but on 'shaky ground' morally speaking. Things were a hell of a lot easier when the only things that Walt had to worry about were himself and getting the load there on time! If the prisoner is awake, Walt sort of nods to him. Otherwise, he'll just look to Harv and Donnay, and take their lead. <><><><><> [GM] The prisoner isn't awake, yet. Donnay looks at Walt and says "We're going to bring him out of his sleep, now. See if you can start neutralizing him, right away. Jones, stand by- the least sign that any metahuman powers are activating, like force fields or anything, go ahead and take him out." <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey nods and moves the hand in his pocket so he's holding the knock-out cube he put there before. He isn't too concerned, he has a lot of confidence in Walt's ability to neutralize the prisoner and besides, he'll probably be pretty groggy until after his first cup of coffee. There should be time to at least ask a few questions before having to fight over it. So Harvey is pretty relaxed, but ready, and trying to look non-threatening. <><><><><> Walt: Walt shrugs, still uneasy about the whole thing but willing to go along for the moment, as it doesn't seem that anything going on here is going to hurt the guy lying there. He concentrates, trying to envision the guys powers as a circuit or some such thing, and Walt's powers as a 'circuit breaker', interupting their flow. He watches and waits other than that... <><><><><> [GM] Walt imagines the long-haired prisoner's powers being "interrupted", and feels...something. He knows he did something, but there's no visible reaction. But Harvey feels his own body tingle and become more substantial for a moment. One of the other agents is adjusting the IV that's dripping into his arm, adding some new drug...abruptly, the prisoner snorts, and his eyes open. Donnay leans forward. "How do you feel?" he asks the man. The prisoner looks around, dazed, then realizes he's thoroughly restrained. He begins struggling, trying to pull free, and staring intently at Donnay. Walt feels something surging and struggling in the man, pushing against Walt's own will. With an effort, the trucker forces the other metahuman's power down, but feels it still struggling, just as the man is physically struggling against his mundane restraints. This seems slightly different from his encounter with Legion, when Jamie's powers seemed to simply shut off. Donnay tells him, "There's no point in fighting, your powers have been neutralized," with a look at Walt that says *I hope!*. "Now calm down, we're not going to hurt you, we just have some questions to ask you." The man begins spouting off in Spanish. Donnay makes repeated efforts to question him in English, then looks around. "No one thought to send a Spanish-speaker along?" he demands of the other two agents. He looks at Harvey and Walt, but neither of them speak Spanish either. "All right," Donnay says. "Put him back under until we can get an interpreter down here...either he doesn't speak English, or he's pretending not to." A moment later, the struggling metahuman falls unconscious. While you all wait for someone who speaks Spanish (Donnay says there are several in the facility, it won't take long) he asks Walt "How did it go? Did you have any trouble? Figure you can keep him turned off?" <><><><><> Walt: Walt rubs his forehead and rolls his shoulders as if trying to relax them. He shrugs in response to Donnay's query. "I reckon he was trying to 'fight' me off, 'least it felt that way." He looks at the slumbering 'Spaniard', then purses his lips as if trying to figure out how to explain the experience. "It was like...like this here fellow had his powers in a, I don't know, let's say a jar. He was on the inside, and trying to push the 'lid' off so as he could go ahead and use his powers. I, on the other hand, was trying to keep the lid on, so to speak. I feel like I had to use both hands to hold the 'lid' on." <><><><><> Harvey: "You might want to watch the size of that 'jar', I know you weren't aiming at me, but I felt an effect too. And I thought you had to touch the meta you were neutralizing?" "Hey Donnay, when you wake the guy up again, how about going a little easy on him, O.K? Your panicing the poor guy, he probably figures your going to take him next door and vivisize him next!" The Harvey starts, as he realizes he's giving advice to the expert, "Of course, I'm not an expert," he apologizes, "but I think you might want to go a bit easy, at least until we find out if he's really vicious or just a mercenary or something." <><><><><> [GM] Donnay says "Hmmm." Then, as a young rather nerdy-looking man in slacks and a sweater enters the room, Donnay introduces him. "Jerry Lorenz. One of our computer people, but he also happens to be fluent in Spanish." Jerry looks a little nervous as he glances at the heavily- restrained, drugged metahuman. "Don't worry," Donnay reassures him, "it's completely safe." Harvey and Walt both try to maintain poker faces. The field agent says to Harvey, "I'm not trying to give him the Gestappo treatment, but considering his situation, I think we can assume he's not going to be well-disposed towards us. We know he's vicious, Jones; him and his friend were tossing bullets and grenades around, and this guy tried to kill some chick that was trying to stop him. You saw the way he was staring at me; I strongly suspect he was trying to turn me to mush with that force field power of his. You just keep a tight lid on that jar, Shindell." With that, they bring the man out of his drug-induced slumber again. He takes a little longer to become coherent and cognizant this time. "Can't keep putting him under and bringing him out," mutters the agent handling the medical equipment. "If we put him out again, we'll have to wait at least six hours before trying to wake him up again, or else we could OD him." Donnay snorts, and the others get the impression this wouldn't bother the agent too much. Once again, the hispanic struggles, and Walt feels his power struggling to assert itself...but it's much weaker this time, and Walt has no trouble keeping it down. Perhaps the man's glassy-eyed look and slurred speech has something to do with it. {The following is translated through Lorenz, as Donnay asks questions in English and the prisoner answers in Spanish} Donnay: "What's your name?" Prisoner: "Who the-" (Lorenz says, "heck", but the others suspect it was something more colorful) "-are you?" Donnay: "I'm Special Agent Donnay. You're being held prisoner by the U.S. Justice Department, for assault with intent to kill, reckless endangerment, and whatever other charges we can hold you on. We know you have super powers, and we aren't about to give you a chance to use them. If you ever want to see the light of day again, you'd better answer my questions. Cooperate with us, and maybe we can help you out. Keep giving me crap, and you're going to stay here for a long, long time." Prisoner: "What did you do to me? My power isn't working!" Donnay: "Bingo. It isn't going to work either, so quit trying." Donnay looks at Walt for reassurance, and relaxes a little more when Walt seems not to be unduly strained. "Now do you want to answer any questions, or do we just knock you out again?" Prisoner: "Let me go!" Donnay: "What's your name?" Prisoner: "F*** YOU! Let me go!" (Lorenz hesitates, then translates that one literally.) Donnay leans forward and places his hand over the man's mouth, clamping it shut, and stares into his eyes. Walt and Harvey both feel a little nervous, as this interrogation is becoming rather uncomfortable. But the prisoner doesn't seem to be responding to calm questioning, and Donnay hasn't hurt him, or threatened to hurt him...yet. Donnay: "Listen to me, pal! We are NOT going to let you go! Not until you show us some cooperation. You are extremely dangerous, and we're going to do whatever it takes to keep you down here, in a goddam coma, as long as it takes, unless you show some willingness to cooperate with us! Now you answer a few questions, and maybe we'll work something out. We can go on from there. You keep cooperating, maybe we can make a deal with you. Maybe you'll even get out of here eventually. You keep yelling and screaming and refusing to talk to us, and you can stay asleep for the rest of your life! Now, what is your name?" He takes his hand off the man's mouth. The prisoner stares darkly at the agent for a moment, then answers, "Juan Jimenez." Donnay: "What were you doing in Chicago?" Juan: "I was paid to go there." Donnay: "What for? Who paid you?" Juan: "The Boss." Donnay (with exasperation): "Who's 'The Boss'?" Juan: "I just do what Miguel says." Donnay: "Who's Miguel?" Juan: "I came with him." He seems to be having increasing trouble getting out a complete sentence. Donnay: "The other man we captured, the man with all the weapons?" Juan: "Yes." Donnay: "Does he have any super powers?" Juan: "Uh....I don't know. I never see any." Donnay: "Where did you come from?" Juan: "We flew from San Antonio." Donnay: "Where before that?" Juan: "Columbia." Donnay swears. Then asks "What were you supposed to do in Chicago?" Juan: "Catch...catch that blessed person." (Donnay looks at Lorenz and asks what the prisoner meant by 'blessed'. Lorenz shrugs. "Maybe someone with superpowers?") Donnay: "Do you mean Falling Star?" Juan: "Huh? What falling star?" Donnay: "The girl, in Chicago, the one who turns into a fireball." Juan: "Yeah. Her. Girl...fireball." Donnay: "What were you supposed to do with her when you caught her?" Juan: "Who?" Donnay: "Falling Star!" Juan: "Where?" Donnay: "What were you supposed to do after you captured the girl?" Juan: "Uh...Boss want her. Say Miguel. After fireball." Donnay: "What boss? Were you supposed to kill her, or take her somewhere?" Juan: "Take her where?" Donnay swears and sits back as they reinject a sedative and the metahuman blacks out again. "That's the problem with keeping someone in a coma," he says. "It tends to make them a little woozy. We'd have to bring him out completely and let him dry out to interrogate him at length, and that's not an option right now." "I guess now we question 'Miguel'." <><><><><> Walt: Walt shrugs. "OK, I guess; that time it seemed easier than the last, maybe on account of the fact that he was kinda doped out. I sure do hope that you all are being *real* careful about that stuff...from what I hear it sure is easy to do a body injury with it." Walt waits to see where they go next. <><><><><> Harvey: "I think they generally let the M.D.s handle the drugs, I'd trust them. I guess they just stepped out in case things got out of control, which thanks to you, they didn't" (silently adding, 'though not becuase they didn't try'). "Nice job. And if we get out of here, probably the docs will get back in here, and look after the _patient_", glancing over at Agent Donnay. Harvey then turns to face Agent Donnay while he waits to see what comes next. <><><><><> [GM] Donnay and the other two agents, along with Lorenz, lead Harvey and Walt to a room two doors down. In this one is another hispanic man, similarly drugged and restrained. This man is a little smaller, and has short hair and a thin mustache. "Same routine," says Donnay. "This is the guy that was carrying an automatic shotgun, an air rifle with tranquilizer darts, and a bandolier of grenades. With all that firepower, he probably doesn't have any offensive powers, but we'd better not assume that. Shindell, you do your neutralizing thing, in case 'Miguel' here does turn out to have some kind of power. Let me know right away if you *do* feel something from him." The other agents start the same procedure as before, waking Miguel from his sleep. <><><><><> Harvey: Same drill as last time. Harvey will take a position near 'miquel's' shoulder, on the opposite side of the bed from Walter, and casually put his right hand in his pocket, holding the knock-out cube. He'll try to look relaxed and non-threatening, the form is a lot easier because he plans to do it unsolidly. <><><><><> Walt: Walt readies himself, preparing to insure that the 'lid' stays on the 'jar' <><><><><> [GM] As Miguel's eyes open, Donnay leans forward. "Good morning, Miguel," he says cheerfully. "Se Habla Englais?" The man's eyes narrow, and he stares hard at Agent Donnay. Walt, concentrating on neutralizing whatever power might manifest, doesn't feel anything. "You're being restrained and drugged in a high-security prison," Donnay says, "and until we get some answers, this is where you'll stay. So the silent act won't help you any." Miguel stares at him a moment longer, then says, in English, "I want a lawyer." Donnay shakes his head. "Sorry pal, you're being held under the Emergency Federal Powers Act" (from the bemused glances that go between the other two agents, Walt and Harvey suspect this is an Act that Agent Donnay just legislated) "which means as long as you're considered an uncontrollable threat to the public, we hold you here as long as we have to." Miguel jerks and struggles against his restraints, to no avail, and begins a stream of epithets in English and Spanish that starts with a creative description of Donnay's anatomical configuration and ends with a commentary on his mother's sexual habits. He manages to speculate on the ancestry of all the men standing around him in the process. "Well, that was certainly colorful," Donnay says, not looking fazed in the least. "Are you finished yet?" The prisoner is breathing hard, and clenching his teeth together. "Why don't you tell us why you were in Chicago?" Donnay asks. "We know you're a hired gun. And you had the misfortune to get caught. We're after the ones who sent you. We want to know who's sending superhuman hit men out after other superhumans." As Miguel thinks about that, Donnay says "You're from Columbia, right? We already tracked you back as far as San Antonio." The man frowns and says "I ain't no freak, ain't got no powers." Donnay smiles slightly and looks at Walt. "How about that, Shindell? Do you think he's telling the truth?" <><><><><> Walt: "Well, now, I reckon that could be so; I ain't felt so much as a 'peep' out of him. Then again, he could just not be using whatever powers he might have. I wonder what the chance is that his being angry right now would have of making his powers go off 'by accident'? If he did have them?" "What are the odds on that?" <><><><><> [GM] Donnay shrugs. "No idea, although the scientists have mentioned that stress seems to trigger these powers in many cases. I'm guessing if he had one he'd be trying to use it right now." He turns back to the prisoner. "You've got about ten seconds to start talking, then I turn the IV back on and you go back to la-la land, habla?" Miguel snarls at the federal agent. "You already know who I work for!" "So why did they want you to capture Falling Star?" Donnay asks. "How the hell I know? I don't care WHY they want somethin', long as they pay to get it done!" "You don't care what your bosses were planning to do with a little girl?" Miguel smiles, showing teeth. "It's that kind of job, man." <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey's 'poker face' developes a frown of distaste, but he says nothing. He's developing a dislike for the mercenary, but he doesn't seem too much of a threat. Harvey hopes he isn't going to be surprised but he figures this merc is just that, good with guns but handlable by normal agents. The nagging thought is, why send this one out against 'falling star' if he isn't more dangerous? Harvey is still suspicious, or maybe paranoid; and not ready to assume he isn't holding back some surprises. <><><><><> Walt: Walt scowls, angry that this...thug is so happily casual about the possibility of a child being wounded or worse, so long as he gets paid. Walt thinks very hard about what the odds might be that this scum might get a headache from the stress...right now. A migraine headache, the kind that leaves you curled up and whimpering from the pain for hours on end. "Bad attitude, pal; gonna get you in a heap o' trouble one of these days." <><><><><> [GM] As Donnay shakes his head and asks Miguel "So what exactly were you supposed to do with Falling Star once you caught her?", the prisoner's eyes suddenly bug out, then squeeze shut. "Aaaghh!" he exclaims, teeth clenching together. He grimaces, clearly in extreme pain, and snarls "What the !%@$ you doin' to me?" Donnay frowns, looking at the other two agents, who seem equally baffled. <><><><><> Harvey: The prisoner shrieks, which causes Harvey to jump, because to Harvey's heightened sense of paranoia this is obviously intended as a distraction. He clutchs the knock out cube in his right hand (which is still in his pocket) and tenses, ready to leap at the prisoner with it and try to subdue him if it looks like he is succeeding in breaking free or attacking. The look of distaste that had been forming on Harvey's face as the merc spoke, changes to a set look of determination. Harvey's accumulated distaste for the prisoner leads him to briefly consider the gun jammed uncomfortably in his waist band, but he decides there are better and more effective ways of handling this guy. <><><><><> Walt: "What'r the odds, Miguel, that that there headache o' yours would go away if you just told agent Donnay here what he wanted to know? You know, *sometimes* those kinds of headaches can disappear as quickly as they appear." Walt shrugs, making it clear that he's not going to admit that he's *directly* responsible for it. <><><><><> [GM] Miguel looks at Walt, as does Donnay. Donnay cocks an eyebrow, and a slight smile, not an entirely pleasant one, appears on his face. "What'd you do, drug me you !&@$!?" Miguel snarls. Gritting his teeth, he snaps at Donnay "Lissen', I get paired up with that stupid peasant with his freak powers, they say he can catch whatsherface, Fallin' Star, I'm along to keep him outta trouble an' deal with cops and other people in the way. Juan ain't too smart. And then once we have the girl, I drug her, and we supposed to be contacted by someone in Chicago." "Someone was going to contact you IN Chicago, once you had Falling Star?" Donnay asks. "Who? Where?" "I dunno who, man! They know where me and Juan would be, they supposed to call us; my job only goes up to catchin' the girl and turning her over to whoever comes to get her." "What about those other metahumans, the ones who took you down?" Miguel scowls. "They weren't part of the plan. I dunno who the hell they were!" "Why did Columbians care about a superhuman in Chicago?" "Hell if I know! I already told you, I just do what I'm paid." "Where did they find Juan?" "I don't know. I think he's some dumb peasant out of some dumb village. He sure ain't never had no education. And if I had powers like him, I sure wouldn't be some mindless flunky!" "Do the Columbians have any other metahumans working for them?" "I don't know." Like Juan, Miguel's speech is becoming slurred, as the drugs are still running through his system, and his mental incapacity is accelerated by the splitting headache he seems to have developed suddenly. <><><><><> Walt: Walt nods, satisfied, and concentrates on 'manipulating fate' so as to cause the headache that sprang into being to fade away as it came...unexpectedly. "There now, that wasn't so difficult, was it?" Walt says, seeming to believe that the fellow has said what he knows. "Well, Donnay, what now?" <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey speaks urgently, trying to get the question in before Miquel goes under again, "Where were you supposed to be that the Columbians would contact you?" <><><><><> [GM] "Motel" mumbles the mercenary in reply to Harvey. Whether or not Walt succeeds in turning off the man's headache as easily as he turned it on becomes moot, as the other agents start pumping drugs into him again. Miguel slips back into unconsciousness. "We'll have Agent Donovan check him out, once she's in condition to come back here, just to be sure, before we take him out of the coma," says Donnay. He looks at Harvey and says "We do know what motel they were checked into; a cheap Motel 8 on the outskirts of Chicago. There wasn't anything of any information value there; just their other sets of clothes and travelling supplies. Most of what was interesting was in their van, and that was weapons and some drugs which our charming fellow here was probably going to use to keep Falling Star under control. Why do you think that's important?" <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey checks that Miguel is unconscious and then gestures to step outside. "Because we have the worlds greatest impersonator upstairs being probed and prodded by the doctors, and if it isn't known that these two were captured we could possibly arrange for whoever was supposed to get in touch with them, to get in touch with us, so we can add them to our 'collection' here. Even if it is known they were captured we can probably come up with an explanation for how one of them got away." Harvey glances at both Donnay and Walt to see how they are responding to the suggestion. <><><><><> Walt: "Well now, I suppose that it might be a good idea, so long as we get there soon and can come up with a darn good story as to how one of them got away and what happened to him for the last while." Walt frowns, looking scornfully at the unconscious Miguel. "Damn S.O.B." he mutters, obviously referring to the prisoner. "Well, I guess I'm up for it; what do you think, agent?" <><><><><> [GM] Donnay scratches his chin. "The idea has potential." "There are a few problems with it, though. The first and biggest is that he's a minor, and we promised his parents he wouldn't be going into danger. Now of course, we have no intention of putting him in a combat situation....but we can't be sure how these things will turn out. Personally, I think the kid's already demonstrated he's capable of making decisions for himself, but I'd have to check with my higher-ups to see if we can justify taking such an action. Whether we can keep our legal butts covered, so to speak. And of course, it all depends on whether he's willing, but the kid seems so eager to play superhero, I doubt that's seriously in question." "Second, like you said, it'll take some creative storytelling to come up with a plausible scenario to give whoever these guys were supposed to contact." "Third....seems likely whoever contacts him will be talking to him in Spanish. It's possible he can speak Spanish like a native, but I doubt it." "Well, let's head on upstairs. We'll see what 'Mystery' thinks of all this." <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey listens to, but shrugs off, Agent Donnay's objections, at least for the moment. "_Officially_ we're not taking her into a dangerous area and unofficially she can probably handle herself; but check with legal and see if they have any ideas how to make it stronger. Remember too, Shapeshifters very rarely get carded. And I agree, once we explain the situation, Mystery will almost certainly volunteer." "The creative storytelling depends on whether mystery speaks Spanish, we might get lucky there, and if she can mimic the sound of one of these guys." "So let's go run it past Mystery and see what kind of a reaction we get. And on the way, I have to stop off and knock-out a chimp, should only take a minute." <><><><><> [GM] Agent Donnay takes Walt and Harvey upstairs, to a clean, brightly-lit lab filled with a variety of animals. Rabbits, rats, mice, and most prominently, in a large cage in the center of the room, a chimpanzee. Harvey takes out his little brown "sugar cube", and nervously approaches the chimp, as the doctors watch carefully. Donnay seems amused. The chimp bares its teeth at Harvey in a wide monkey grin. Harvey extends his arm through the bars of the cage, causing the chimp to screech excitedly. It seems more curious than frightened as Harvey's fingers enter its arm, and then let go of the cube. The chimp screeches loudly and angrily as the cube solidifies in its arm, leaps all over the inside of the cage, obviously in pain, and then grabs the bars nearest Harvey and shakes them in agitation, baring its teeth in fury. All that in about two seconds, then it begins making strange warbling noises in the back of its throat, and staggers. The chimpanzee falls backwards, flops around for a moment, and then goes limp. The scientists quickly pull it from the cage and put it on an examination table, checking its pulse and breathing with a stethascope. "I think he's going to be fine," one of the doctors says. "Pulse is a little slow, but breathing is normal. He's knocked cold, but alive. We'll run a series of tests when he wakes up, of course, and we have to remember that drugs don't always affect chimps the same way as humans. But it looks like the knockout cubes work pretty well...we'll just have to wait until you get a chance to try them out on an angry, violent superhuman, and then see if they really pass muster." Donnay grins at Harvey's less-than-enthusiastic expression. Then he turns to Walt. "You didn't do anything to affect the probability of this experiment, did you?" he asks the other metahuman. "Speaking of which...cute trick, that headache thing. You have more cards up your sleeve than I thought. And that was quite a piece of work...didn't know you had it in you." <><><><><> Harvey: "2 seconds, not bad." Speaking to the scientist, "Could you let me know as soon as possible if there was any tissue damage or not? I wouldn't want to use this on a human and then find out you had to amputate the chimp's arm." He looks down at the chimp, silently apologizing for the pain, then turns away. "The knock-out cubes aren't going to work on _all_ meta-humans, since I suspect some don't have circulation, or don't sleep, but it's nice for the more normal of the abnormal." "Well, shall we go see if Mystery has any good 'story' ideas?" <><><><><> Walt: Walt shrugs at Donnay's offhanded compliment. "Any scum that has that little care in him for children, well, I reckon he gets what he gets then, don't he?" Walt watches the test on the chimp without comment or expression. MYSTERY [At the Virginia Metahuman Research Facility, Mitchell Langstrom, aka "Mystery", is introduced to the scientists on the staff, and begins a series of tests to determine the limits of his metahuman powers.] ======================================================= ========= [GM] Dr. Culbrand leads Mystery away from Harvey and Walt, and to an ordinary-looking medical examination room. Two more doctors, one male and one female, are present. "Your shapechanging abilities are definitely something we'll spend a lot of time exploring," Dr. Culbrand says. "Yes, the ramifications are endless. Just as the theoretical physicists' heads are spinning over Mr. Shindell's ability to alter the laws of probability by conscious and unconscious effort, your ability to assume whatever form you like....a hundred questions spring to mind, and undoubtedly hundreds more will arise as we go on." "I'd like to establish a baseline, though, try to establish your normal, or previous parameters, so we'll have something to compare with. For the first series of tests, I'd like you to revert to your original form....the one you were born with, as you put it." <><><><><> Mystery: "Sure," Mystery says, and concentrates on assuming standard Mitchell form. <><><><><> [GM] The doctors watch as you resume your original body, fascinated. They begin a standard, but *very* thorough physical, while Dr. Culbrand asks you, "Can you give me a detailed account of *every* ability you've manifested thus far? Exactly what have you been able to do, under what circumstances, and what have you learned about your own limitations? According to what I have already, from Agent Donnay's interview, you can change shape, possibly absorb the genetic code of others, including powers in the case of metahumans, drain strength, and you somehow changed someone *else's* body too? There's also a reference to 'other powers' you supposedly possess in your natural form. I'd like as much detail as possible." <><><><><> Mystery: In as much detail as possible, Mystery relates the events of discovery of the abilities, in the order and circumstances in which they manifested, and the apparent limitations, then summarizes. "Apparently, I can become any human. It's easier for me to base a new form on my own genetics...for example, just changing age or gender, then refining from there...than trying to copy someone in appearance, from memory alone. I can touch someone to absorb the genetic code and form, and so far, it looks like powers too. I can fly and move objects with telekinesis when in my birth genetics form. I can just stay in an assumed form as long as I want to, without accidentally changing back. I sometimes spontaneously mimic someone...like a doppleganger, I guess." "And, though I always was good looking, it's like I'm super attractive now, male or female, and very persuasive. I don't even have to try, but I have tried concentrating on it a couple of times with good results. I have yet to test the extremes of it, though. I'm almost afraid to." A wry grin. "I felt like I might have been able to change or heal Kelly, in the hospital, or Walt...except that there was a natural resistance to it that I didn't break through. More in Walt, and less in Kelly." <><><><><> [GM] "We have a standard battery of tests we put new metahumans subjects through, though that 'standard series' is constantly evolving, as we devise new and better ideas," Dr. Culbrand says. "In your case, we will alter it as we go on, since we already know so much about your basic abilities- it's more a matter of refinement, establishing your limits, and exactly how your powers work. Of course, we will still test for abilities you may not have thought of." First is a series of mental exercises, some of them right out of the hokier textbook ESP tests- though, you reflect, if one accepts that ESP may exist, which now hardly seem doubtable, then being 'hoky' doesn't make them invalid. But after trying to predict cards, rolling dice, playing roulette, and guessing numbers, not to mention concentrating on a variety of individuals, also sitting behind a one-way mirror and being told to let the doctors know if you sense anything at any time, you have to conclude that ESP and telepathy doesn't seem to be among your talents. You take an IQ test, because Culbrand tells you that several metahumans have exhibited significant increases in intelligence after manifesting. Your results, as imprecise as IQ tests are by their nature, don't indicate any definite increase. You could have told them that you've already tested yourself for any projective powers, but they try it anyways. No energy blasts or anything similar, but this does lead to your telekinesis. This is something you look forward to, since you haven't had much opportunity to fully explore even the talents you know about. You're pleased to learn that they actually have a "psychokinetic testing range" set up, with various weights, objects of varying density and composition, and many different items to manipulate, in a series of tasks ranging from simple levitation to complex manipulation of multiple precise mechanisms. After experimenting for almost an hour, your weight limit seems to be comfortably established at about 30 pounds; you can move more with considerable effort, but only slowly, and with great difficulty. With concentration, you can thread a needle, but doing so while holding a 1 pound weight in the air at the same time takes almost a minute, by the end of which you're getting a major headache. They let you rest a while before continuing the PK tests. Of interest to them (and you!) is whether you can deflect projectiles coming at you. They have a coompressed air gun that fires tennis balls. Starting at low power, they have you stand in its path and try to deflect them. To your surprise and delight, you discover that by trying to project a shield around yourself, your TK locks onto the incoming balls and knocks them aside. They gradually increase the power until the tennis balls are coming at you at over 100 mph. At that point, they're starting to get very close before your power finally absorbs enough kinetic energy to shunt them aside- and you're feeling some of it. You also miss one, and get a stinging bruise on your thigh. Culbrand runs some calculations on a computer, based on precise radar measurements they took during your tests, and the amount of force that the tennis ball projectiles were exerting. After looking at a printout, he announces "According to these calculations, you could probably stop a bullet- at least a small caliber one. But not with 100% accuracy, and it would hurt. Your power could certainly be a lifesaver, but it won't let you wade into a firefight like Lucretia or Paladin." After that, they run a cursory check for pyro- and cryokinesis, but you don't seem to be able to affect matter on a molecular level. You want to test your levitation, not to mention all your other talents, but you're dog- tired by now. They suggest you get some rest, possibly they'll run some more tests in the evening, otherwise it can wait until morning. <><><><><> Mystery: Mystery grins as Dr. Culbrand advises him that he will not be able to wade into a machine gun stream counting on the telekinesis to deflect bullets. "Don't worry. I probably wouldn't wade into a firefight if I _were_ bulletproof. Too unnerving for me. But, I wonder what would happen if I mimicked someone who _is_ bulletproof, then we did the tennis balls test again? I guess we'll get around to that." *** Mystery decides to take a rest, and asks around until he is directed to whatever room he will be staying in, where he settles in, essentially going to bed, thinking over the day's testing. *Pretty good, overall. Telekinesis was something not even Mystique could do. I really am a little bit like Mystique and Rogue combined. Shapeshifting, and power draining and mimicking.* *Need to practice the seduction part, though. I wonder if that was what affected Julie so strongly. Wonder how intense I can make it.* With thoughts of things to practice, he tries to drift off to sleep. <><><><><> [GM] The next morning they want to get an early start, and you anticipate a long day of testing. They start with your levitation ability. Dr. Culbrand is a little surprised that you're able to levitate yourself, when you obviously mass more than your normal weight limit. In fact, you can also carry a considerable amount of weight with you, though your speed slows down a lot. They take you outside, where they ask you to stay low to the ground, so as not to possibly provide a spectacle to any distant observers, though they tell you that the government has fenced off the land in a five mile radius. Propelling yourself in a straight line, they clock your unencumbered top speed as just over 30 mph; you refrain from pushing yourself to your limits, knowing how tiring such maximal efforts proved to be yesterday, and knowing if you burn yourself out early, you won't get to learn as much today. As long as you keep your speed at a "comfortable" level, which seems to be no more than 30 mph, you feel that you could maintain it for quite a while; it's no more tiring than walking at a brisk pace. Culbrand says they'll test your maneuverability later, but he wants to get a general overview of all your talents now, before they go back and spend more time on specifics. Next, they get to the shapeshifting, something which brings a large number of doctors and research scientists to the spacious room where you're demonstrating your abilities. For starters, Culbrand asks you to switch back and forth between your "normal" form and the female form you wore yesterday (he also asks where you "got" that form.) Then he asks if you can alter whatever details you want, such as eye color, skin color, height, subtle alterations in body type, etc. You can, and he starts describing all manner of refinining tests that he'd like to conduct, learning your limits. Whether you can assume non-human forms (you tell him you can't, and he speculates whether you are only limited to human body *shapes*, i.e. could you adopt blue skin, or an unnatural arrangement of internal organs, etc. At this point, another doctor interrupts. Her name tag identifies her as Dr. Lietta, and she steps forward and speaks somewhat hesitantly. "Mr. Langstrom, there was something that's been reported to us, and, well, we're all experiencing it now. I think it bears further examination now, particularly since we're curious whether you're aware of it and are doing it deliberately." She's a middle-aged woman, not unattractive, but certainly not anyone who looks like she'd be interested in a teenage boy, but she flushes slightly as she says, "Your....forms, are very physically appealing, but whether or not that's genuine, or 'improvement' on your part...you seem to generate a level of attraction far above what your mere appearance would account for. Quite frankly, just about everyone who's been in your presence, when you're the opposite sex as the observer, reports feeling, well, highly attracted to you. Sexually attracted. Just now, when you were shifting from male to female..." she shakes her head, as if amused at how casually she discusses a phenomenon that should be considered impossible, "I noticed a definite change in the mood of the room. When you were a female, I found you somewhat alluring, very pleasant to look at...but as a male..." she blushes. "The effect was considerably greater. And my male colleagues reported the reverse." From the reddened looks on the faces of all these staid, serious scientists, even Dr. Culbrand, you suspect that Dr. Lietta is either the bravest/nerviest of the bunch, or else she drew the short straw. But she's doing an admirable job of discussing how you turn her on in abstract, clinical terms. <><><><><> Mystery: Mystery cannot resist doing a low-velocity spin the the air, grinning widely at the feeling of freedom in flying, while humming an old television series tune, the theme to Greatest American Hero, as the lyrics pass through his mind. *Look at what's happened to me, I can't believe it myself...suddenly I'm up on top of the world, it should have been somebody else...Not! Believe it or not, I'm walking on air, I never thought I could feel so free...flying away on a wing and a prayer, who could it be? Believe it or not, it's just me!* *Just like the light of a new day, shining from out of the blue...breaking me out of the spell I was in, making all of my wishes come true...Believe it or not, I'm walking on air, I never thought I could feel so free...flying away on a wing and a prayer, who could it be? Believe it or not it's just me!" *** "I didn't 'get' the form anywhere," Mystery explains to Dr. Culbrand. "I started in my birth genetics form. Then, I changed just my gender, figuring since a male has both X and Y, I should just be able to turn my Y's into partially dormant X's, which I read once is the normal state for a female; some of the genes in the second X chromosome are turned off, and it's kind of bonded to a cell wall or something. I'm no microbiologist, but it gave me the general idea. So, as a female version of myself, I spiced up the curves a bit, changed my eyes to my favourite shade of green, and enhanced the american indian part of my genes. It worked great." "Yeah, I think I can do humanoid shapes, since I was a pretty messed up girl when I just tried to remember Julie's body, and attempted to shape myself into her. At the very least, I ought to be able to do forms with deformities. I had the impression I got the internal organs in a mess that first time too." Mystery listens to Dr. Lietta, and nods, smiling slightly. "I am aware of it, but I'm not doing it on purpose. Several other people have mentioned it to me, and I walked through a highschool as a female, so got a major clue on just how intense the effect is. Once I started noticing it, I experimented a little, and though I've never taken it to its fullest extreme, I think I can up the effect. Lets see..." Mystery switches to the female form so as not to affect Dr. Lietta as strongly, and concentrates on pouring on the seductiveness, increasing the effect to the maximum degree without straining and tiring out quickly. [Don't you just love Mischievous disad? ] <><><><><> [GM] A stir runs through the males in the group in front of you, and you see *very* discomfitted expressions on all of them. Several turn away, and even Dr. Lietta's eyes glaze over a bit. "Would....would you please stop that?" mutters Dr. Culbrand. <><><><><> Mystery: "Umm," Mystery says, turning down the seduction effect to normal levels. "Yes, I'd say that one definitely works," Mystery comments, and idly tries assuming the Mitchell form, then trying to make it Vulcan by giving it a faintly olive skin tint, and pointed ears, with black hair in standard Vulcan bowl-cut. <><><><><> [GM] The scientists show a slight amount of relief, but still seem discomfitted by you, and Dr. Lietta, even after your Spock transformation, which she regards with some amusement, says "Really, would you please turn it off?" Dr. Culbrand watches your shapechanging with fascination, and asks "Can you assume more....divergent forms, such as, say, horns, or wings, or blue skin? My God, we could spend years just exploring this aspect of your powers. But aside from some general indications of your range of ability, I think it would be more productive to wait until Agent Donovan is...better, and able to assist us, since she can obtain more data just by watching you than we can with a year's worth of blood tests and tissue samples." <><><><><> Mystery: Mystery shrugs apologetically. "It is off. I mean, this is the minimum level it reaches. I can't tune it down any further. I guess it's a bit like breathing, or pheromone emissions. Always active. Its down to the level I came in with -- if you're still feeling more effects than that, maybe the major exposure a minute ago just altered your hormonal levels or something. It might take a bit of time to fade. Wild. Superseduction. That's one you don't find in the comic books very often." Mystery grins, tapping a fingertip to the pointed tip of an ear. Mystery tries wings, horns, red, blue, and lavender skin shades, claws, a tail, and various other slight variants on human form, then tries for a merfolk form. After finding out the maximum range of variation from human norm, he tries to become a baby, then returns to Mitchell form, wondering aloud, "How do we test the changing of others, or healing?" <><><><><> [GM] You find you're very limited in deviating from the human norm; you manage to create bony projections on your forehead which don't quite break the surface of your skin; tumor-like nubs that give you a headache. Your shoulders bulge slightly and become mishapen when you try to grow wings, and likewise the attempt at a tail makes your spine elongate a little, but all you can do is make yourself look like a human with a deformed growth, you can't actually manifest extra appendages or body parts. You can change your skin color considerably, even to shades outside the normal human range...but only slightly. Your "blue" skin is really just blue-tinted, as if you were suffering from hypothermia, and likewise the other shades are noticeable up close, but not that obvious at a distance; you can't turn bright blue or lavender. Your attempt at a "merform" just makes your legs become curved and stunted, and your skin becomes a little rougher, but you can't turn them into a tail or grow scales. Your shift into an infant form is perfect, however, and the scientists stare at the beautiful baby you suddenly became, before you change back to normal. "Very strange," Dr. Culbrand says. "One would think that growing some minor appendage like horns or a small tail would be far easier than turning your entire body into that of an infant. Perhaps you are only able to assume forms that are found within the existing human gene-pool; somehow, you can access every possible combination of genetic traits, but you cannot make up new ones. That is only a theory, of course." "I do not know about shapechanging others; it would be best to start with animals, I think. But healing should be simple enough; we need only inflict a shallow cut on a volunteer, and we can see if you are able to heal it. Then perhaps we will test it in more detail, though to test how severe a wound you can heal, we will have to revert to animals again, or visit a hospital." The prospect of seeing animals cut up or broken, or going to a hospital ward to deal with maimed and bleeding humans, is making you a little queasy. <><><><><> Mystery: "I think you're right," Mystery agrees. "It's like I'm tapping into human genetics only. Pretty useful. Given that, I guess I could have six fingers on each hand, six toes to each foot, a few extra breasts, and a host of other genetically determined human devitations from the norm that are fairly common in the gene pool." "Lets go with trying to change an animal first. I'd rather put off the wounding of animals as long as possible." Mystery manages a very good green skin tone without even trying. <><><><><> [GM] The doctors take you to a large and spacious laboratory, and into a room where a selection of lab animals is already sitting on a counter. Ready to be subjected to all manner of metahuman powers, you think grimly. There are rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, and even a chimpanzee, who sits in a cage looking rather forlorn. You notice there are also aquariums along the wall, with a variety of insects, fish and reptiles. "Why don't we start with something simple?" asks Dr. Culbrand, oblivious to your discomfort, as you remember all kinds of lab animal horror stories...although these animals look well-fed and healthy, and show no obvious signs of having been subjected to anything cruel and inhumane. "We can see if your metamorphing power will affect something small, like a rat. Perhaps just changing a few features within the normal spectrum for a rat...such as its hair color, and perhaps make it a little bigger." <><><><><> Mystery: Mystery selects a moderately sized white lab rat, grinning, not too worried about what his own power will do to it. Touching its back with several fingers, he gazes at it and concentrates on first one change and then another, mapping out what he can do, first trying to change its fur colour to grey, then checks its gender and tries to reverse it, then tries youthening it to half its age, pausing to check for results after each of these. Whether there are or not, a mischievous idea overcomes him at the thought of making it bigger, and he tries concentrating on making the rat into a human girl. *If I command human genetics, why not?* he thinks to himself. <><><><><> [GM] Unfortunately, you don't get as far as creating a human girl; the rat doesn't respond to *any* of your attempts to alter it. You get the same non-response with all the other animals, even the chimp. "Perhaps you can only manipulate human genes," Dr. Culbrand says. "In yourself or others. We'll have to decide how to conduct such an experiment, but in the meantime let's move on to healing." One of the other doctors comes forward, and Culbrand says "We can start *very* small....Dr. Lake has a paper cut on his hand. The risk should be minimal." Dr. Lake holds up his hand, with a tiny cut, looking like he's not so sure of the "minimal risk". "Have you ever healed someone *else* before?" he asks. <><><><><> Mystery: "Nope," Mystery says. "Don't worry though, the worst that could happen is you wind up a teenager, probably," he assures, grinning a moment, then returns to more serious attitude and clasps Dr. Lake's hand. "Umm...prepare yourself just in case it's a wilder ride than planned." And he holds Dr. Lake's hand in such a manner so that the cut can be observed, then concentrates on healing and regenerating him. <><><><><> [GM] Dr. Lake doesn't seem to appreciate your joke, but he allows you to take his hand. Concentrating, you feel another of those indescribable sensations. Dr. Lake blinks and sways for a moment. You see the miniscule cut on his finger close and disappear almost instantly. "Unggh," he grunts. "I feel a little dizzy, and my hand is numb." He pulls it away from you, and looks at it. His eyes widen slightly, and he shows the unbroken skin to the others. <><><><><> Mystery: Mystery stares. "Neat. I'd be a big hit in the bible belt. So, I can use the power to regenerate others too. You've probably got your appendix back if you lost it." He grins. "So, only two more of the known abilities to go. Changing others, and mimicking humans and metahumans." Mystery looks about at the assembled scientists seriously. "We've seen that my abilities work only within the standard range of human genetics. That does provide a measure of safety. Would one of you volunteer to be altered? I need to know a few things about the general ability to modify others. I'm not going anywhere, so I can promise that I will change you back or to any form you want after we see how it works, whether it is permanent or not, and that sort of thing. Whatever happens, I really think the odds of actual harm are very remote." <><><><><> [GM] The scientists look at each other with decidedly uncomfortable expressions. "Er, let's wait on metamorphing others," Dr. Culbrand says. "I think we'd like to test the extent of your healing abilities first. This may be the single most significant power you have. I mean, no offense, but shapechanging and flying is all well and good, and much more exciting from your point of view, I'm sure. But if you can heal more than just little cuts...serious wounds, even mortal wounds, for that matter, diseases....I suspect your services as a medic will be far more in demand than anything you can do with your metamorphing abilities. We'll want to test more humans, and also more metahumans, to see if that really is a consistent block on your powers. Animals also." Dr. Culbrand looks around and asks "Is there anyone in the facility right now who's injured, beyond needing a band-aid?" "Mr. Little is still burned, from that, uh, accident with Shindell," one doctor says. Culbrand frowns and says "He's a metahuman. But yes, it can't hurt to try healing him too. But any normal humans?" One of the other doctors says "George Menkins, one of the network administrators, has a fractured wrist. That would be a good interim test, before we take him to a hospital for more serious cases. And I'm sure George would love to have his hand out of a cast three weeks early." Dr. Culbrand nods and looks back at you. "If this is all right with you? After that, perhaps we will check with Mr. Jones and Mr. Shindell and see if they can help test your ability to absorb other metahuman powers." <><><><><> Mystery: Mystery nods thoughtfully. "Sure, I'm willing to try. The broken wrist first, though, since its not a metahuman. Then the burn patient, and maybe I can break through the immunity. It felt like a resistance, not an invulnerable wall. Though it was more in Walt than in Kelly. Obviously, Legion can break through with enough effort. Maybe I can too." "Lead the way," Mystery says, remaining in Mitchell form for the moment. <><><><><> [GM] George Menkins is a mild-looking man in a shirt and tie, working at a computer terminal when you come in, bandaged wrist resting on the desk next to his keyboard. He turns, somewhat surprised at the procession of scientists and a teenage kid. He's a little nervous at the prospect of being a guinea pig for metahuman testing, but assurances from you and Dr. Culbrand (and the prospect of being able to bowl again) convince him to let you try. You take his wrist, concentrate, and feel energy pass from you to him. Menkins sways slightly, and seems overcome with weakness for a moment, remaining a little shaky even afterwards. But when he's taken to the infirmary and inspected, his wrist turns out to be totally, 100% healed. "Very impressive," Culbrand says, while Menkins smiles delightedly, flexing his newly-healed wrist. They begin a complete physical on Menkins, looking for any clues to how you did what you did. He comments that he still feels quite enervated, and Culbrand asks if that's how you felt after regenerating yourself. <><><><><> Mystery: "I guess it does drain energy, but even more than that, when the actual regeneration is in progress, it _hurts_. It feels like the wound is being hit with a blowtorch on full blast. I think even my DNA hurts." Mystery grins. "It probably uses up a lot of biological energy in the process. Glad I could help, Dr. Menkins." "So, what next? Trying to find out if I can break through metahuman resistance? Or bioshifting others? There has to be someone around who would like to be younger, or have different hair color or something." <><><><><> [GM] "Let's try healing Mr. Little first," Culbrand says. In the infirmary, you meet a tall, fuzzy-bearded man with a thick Kentuckee accent. His arms and chest and parts of his face are wrapped in bandages, but he seems fairly cheerful, chewing on some tobacco and watching TV from a bed. "Special Agent Little was one of the first metahumans we recruited," Dr. Culbrand says. "He can absorb and discharge electricity. Unfortunately, no one thought of the possible result of his shaking hands with Mr. Shindell, who can neutralize metahuman powers. Jason happened to be carrying a substantial charge at the time. Shindell accidentally shut off Jason's power, and all that electricity was instantly discharged into his body. If not for the fact that Jason is also superhumanly tough, he'd probably have been killed." Jason grimaces at the memory. "Ayup, aye could grab holda wuna them heye-tenshun wayers, an' not get hurt, but it all kanda fed back on me when that feller pulled mah plug." He looks at you curiously and asks "So y'all think yew kin heal me up? That'd be nass." <><><><><> Mystery: "Argh," Mystery says. "That's awful," he replies in response to learning how Mr. Little was burned. "I do have a healing power...something about metahumans seems to resist it, though. I'm willing to give it my best shot however. So, here's what I want you to do. I'll touch you...and hope you are feeling a little low in the voltage department today," Mystery grins slightly, "and you concentrate intently on being very accepting of what my power does. Will yourself to be totally vulnerable. Open yourself to my will." Mystery reaches out with his hands and grasps Mr. Little's hands gently, gazing into his eyes. "Let all the barriers down. Relax. Be very relaxed, and accept my power's work. Feel it entering you, and healing you. Close your eyes and relax." Mystery concentrates intensely, trying to surge the healing forces into Mr. Little, to regenerate and heal him completely, pouring on the power, repeating, "Let the power in! Let it enter you!" and wondering suddenly at the similarity of the situation to religious healers. Mystery does not give up easily, trying again and again if necessary, putting all possible emotion being it and repeating the affirmations. <><><><><> [GM] You try, and try. Concentrating until your head hurts. But while you feel your energy reaching out to Jason, it hits a wall that just won't yield. Something in his body, or aura, or mind, or whatever, rejects your attempts to affect him. Just as Walt and Kelly did. Jason seems a little disappointed, but doesn't seem unduly upset. "S'too bad, woulda been nahs to git fixed up super-quick-lahk." You keep trying, but the effort seems futile. Meanwhile, someone comes in to talk to Dr. Culbrand, and after a while, he turns to you. "It seems," he says with a sigh, "that as usual, our experimentation is going to be interrupted. Special Agent Donnay wants to talk to you. I'd guess they're hoping to coerce you into going on one of their field missions." He seems disapproving, and adds "You don't have to go, you know." You suspect the researchers and the field agents form two separate factions in this place, both vying for your time. <><><><><> Mystery: "No," Mystery replies, "I thank you for the assistance in mapping out the general nature of my powers, Dr. Culbrand. I think I should go assist in this troubled time, however. As my ability in healing does not seem to work on metahumans, I will have to use my other talents for the most part, and apply healing where I can." "Don't worry, I'll give you more time soon in the research. We need to find a way to do a few things. Like turn off the resistance factor. Or check and see if changes I make in others are permanent. Or how to make such permanent effects. Many areas of study." Mystery rests a few minutes, then shifts to american indian girl form and heads out to find the others. *Thank the galaxies. I even got away without being sampled away into little tiny bits.* VIRGINIA TO CHICAGO [Harvey and Walt assisted Agent Donnay in interrogating the two prisoners brought to Virginia after a metahuman battle in Chicago. Now they want to find out why Columbian drug lords wanted the young superhuman "Falling Star" captured. Meanwhile, Mitchell Langstrom, aka "Mystery", has been poked, prodded, and run through the same gauntlet that the other men did earlier, and is eager to escape from Dr. Culbrand and his scientific staff and find his way to some action....] [GM] Unfortunately, you find that while you were going through the process of questioning the two prisoners, Mystery was going through a rigorous series of tests, tests with which Harvey and Walt are both familiar. It's quite late now, and he's already gone to sleep. [I know normally you might insist on waking him up...but there's a little snafu here; I already advanced Mystery to the next day. So, to preserve continuity, can we assume you wait until the next morning?] * * * * * Mystery has already been through some more testing when Walt, Harvey and Agent Donnay catch up to him the next morning. Except "him" is back to being a "her"; Mystery has resumed the guise of the lovely American Indian girl which you first met, and Walt and Harvey both feel that familiar, maddening attraction. Mystery, for her part, looks rather happy to see you all....probably glad to escape the relentless tests that the scientists are so eager to inflict on all their metahumans, whenever they get their hands on you for a few hours. <><><><><> Mystery: "Whew," Mystery breathes, sighing in relief, stretching slowly as the last of sleep starts to wear off, obviously relaxed from conking out after the rigorous testing. She blinks in the light. "You know that old song, 'I left my heart in San Francisco'? Well, I was afraid for a while there that I would wind up leaving my heart in a jar of formalin or something. Oh, hey, I _can_ heal...unfortunately, not metahumans." "So, what's up?" she asks, yawning and stretching again, oblivious to the psychological impact that adds to the usual aura of desire surrounding her. <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey grins at Mystery, "We thought you might be interested in a break from the testing...and that maybe you could help us with a little puzzle that came up. We could use the services of a very good imagination. Oh, and do you speak Spanish?" <><><><><> Mystery: [OOC: I've been keeping track of the thread -- the following assumes being quickly briefed on the situation.] Mystery smiles. "I love puzzles," she replies. "No, I don't speak Spanish, but go ahead and fill me in." After listening to the situation, Mystery nods thoughtfully, leaning against a wall. "I know how we can tell whether Miguel is a meta or not. My powers of healing and change of others apparently work only on non-metahumans because of a natural resistance. If he turns out to be easily changed, chances are good he's a normal." She pauses, thinking -- and then a devilish smile breaks into existence on her face. "I've got an idea." The sparkle in her eyes holds a great deal of mischievousness. "It would require one courageous spanish speaking agent who is not a meta. I think I might be able to make the agent into a clone of Miguel. Then, I could become a Falling Star look- alike, and pretend to be drugged. You two could lurk nearby, and follow us after the pickup. Once we are sure we know about everyone involved, and whatever else is going on, then the agent who is not a meta could take off, and I could distract the criminals while you two enter the scene." <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey smiles and apologizes, "Sorry about the slow intro, I just wanted to make sure I had your attention", noticing that Mystery certainly has his attention. Harvey nods appreciatively as Mystery suggests shifting a normal, spanish speaking, agent into a copy of Miguel; looks shocked but reluctant when Mystery suggest impersonating a captured Falling-Star and objects when Mystery suggests letting them take her somewhere. "Whoa, Whoa, Whoa! Time out! I loved the plan until you got to letting them take YOU somewhere else, far too risky. Too many things that can go wrong. We'd better settle for grabbing the first ones who contact you and not push our luck." <><><><><> Mystery: Mystery's mischievous grin widens. "I found out I have a devestating kind of distraction talent," she says, assuming a highly seductive pose, with a wink. Immediately when Mystery winks, she goes into Seduction emanation overdrive for sixty seconds as a demonstration, pushing it entirely up to the maximum, no-holds barred blast, then slacking it off to usual levels, after a couple of teasing pulses of it. (All the while, observing the others reactions to learn more about the ability.) <><><><><> [GM] Suddenly, Walt and Harvey both feel almost overpowering lust. Pure, throbbing sexual desire, for the sexy, alluring, charming, teenage girl WHO'S ACTUALLY A BOY! standing in front of them. Neither of you remember feeling like such a miserable cluster of raging hormones since your teenage years. And this is far worse! Walt, after a moment, gulps and seems to be able to control his natural impulse to reach out and grab her, but Harvey is moving towards her, trembling, obviously trying to resist what the animal part of his brain is demanding. And Agent Donnay is ahead of him, also looking like he's trying to resist, but having even less success. Donnay's hands fall on Mystery's shoulders, move towards her collar, and the fed mumbles "W-What are you trying to do, kid? God I have to have you!" He gulps in air and looks flushed. <><><><><> Mystery: Mystery giggles, eyes flashing with good natured humour, as she ducks out of Donnay's hands and slips away a few feet, backing up. "It's just a little demonstration. I'm not your average bioshifting kid. I've got some talents of very adult nature that have been manifesting. You've probably noticed a sort of extremely strong attraction aura around me? It's something I can't shut off, unlike this stronger degree. Though, even this has a kind of aftermath effect, by the looks I got from the researchers after I toned it down to its normal minimum." "Its non-directional, so far as I've been able to tell. A radiance, that even pierces the natural resistances people and metahumans have, I think." "My new first name is Mystery -- I think my second name is Desire," she comments, backing up another step. "It makes for a major advantage, and probably a good way to get someone to tell all, too. Kept to a level where they can still talk, of course." <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey makes no reply, apparently because he is unsure that he's regained enough control to speak. But he's thinking, with the part of his brain that isn't busy, 'killer distraction'. <><><><><> Mystery: While Harvey recovers, Mystery considers the points made about the plan. "Alright, so I won't go anywhere. You can move in immediately after I... subdue...whoever came to pick up Falling Star from Miguel. I'll tone down the desire level enough to let you do it, of course." <><><><><> Harvey: Turning to Agent Donnay, "Sounds like we have all or most of a plan, all we need now are a brave agent who speaks Spanish, transport to Chicago and for Mystery to have a look at Miguel, and maybe Carlos while she's at it." <><><><><> Mystery: "Yeah, questioning might be particularly effective under the influence," Mystery agrees. "I'll need a photo or at least good description of Falling Star, too," Mystery adds to Donnay. <><><><><> [GM] "Interesting idea. We still need to check upstairs on this. But in the meantime, sure, why not let you look at our two 'guests' and see how well you can copy them." Agent Donnay is rubbing his forehead, and has a none-too-friendly expression as he regards the beautiful Indian girl. He didn't seem to appreciate her little "prank", nor the maddening, lower- level desire effect that she radiates. As the group heads back downstairs, Donnay says "We don't really have a picture of Falling Star, except in her ball-of-energy form. Eyewitnesses say she's a young black girl, maybe eight or nine years old, which means, given the vagueness of the accounts, she might be several years younger than that or several years older." <><><><><> Harvey: "I really doubt she'd be several yers younger than 7 or 8, but several years older is definitely possible." <><><><><> [GM] Donnay shrugs. "We don't know how young a metahuman can manifest. Jamie Coris, the girl you fought at the airport, who's possessed by Legion, is only six. Since obviously children *can* become metahumans, though apparently not as often as adults, then for all we know, it might even be possible for a baby to develop super powers." "Falling Star has been attacking drug dealers, crack houses and street gangs in Chicago. That suggests a child old enough to have opinions about morality, and the will to act on them. So no, it's not likely she's younger than eight or so. A four or five year old with superpowers might have a vague idea of wanting to be a 'hero', but probably wouldn't be so selective. Or have been so successful at concealing who she is." "Even so, don't discount the possibility. Where people like you are concerned-" the agent glances at Mystery, "anything seems possible." Back in those small incarceration rooms, Donnay takes you all to see Juan first, the long-haired "peasant" with known powers. "So how about it?" Donnay asks. "You think you can do a perfect duplication?" <><><><><> Mystery: "It would probably be best to err on the side of older, and plan on an eleven or twelve year old form," Mystery says, thinking aloud, and walks along. "Lets see Miguel first. Also, if anyone has a camera, we should take a couple of good pictures of him, so that I can have a reference that is easily portable." Mystery follows quietly, lost in thought. <><><><><> [GM] Donnay brings Mystery and Harvey and Walt into Miguel's room. He is lying unconscious in his bed. <><><><><> Harvey: "Well, if we assumed several years younger, she wouldn't have been born yet! But go with the best description we have, and hope the other side doesn't have a better description." Or we'll just have Walt cross his fingers on that one. "They've probably got mug shots of the prisoners, do you need a full body photo?..." Harvey slaps his head gently, "Mug shots, I keep forgetting," turning to Agent Donnay, "I was supposed to look over some photos of Kirov's known associates but I keep forgetting. Probably have to put that off until after this trip, but I hope I don't forget again by then." <><><><><> Mystery: "No need to awaken him," Mystery adds, walking over to near Miguel, reaching out and touching his bare wrist, concentrating on mimicking him. If successful, Mystery will very intently study his features and form, changing form several times until it is easy to get a high quality Miguel duplicate body without touching him, just by concentrating on the memorized form and features. <><><><><> [GM] Mystery touches Miguel, and feels that odd sensation of absorbing some small part of his essence, though not the more draining effect that he applied on Lucretia. Harvey, Walt and Agent Donnay watch, fascinated, as the petite girl's flesh ripples and twists and contorts until a perfect double of Miguel is standing in front of them....stretching the fabric of the clothes that the girl was just wearing. Fortunately, he isn't an extremely large man, unlike Juan. The three men note with relief that Mystery's "attraction factor" diminishes considerably when he assumes a form that is the same gender as them....it diminishes considerably, but not completely. <><><><><> Mystery: Mystery shakes his head. "I definitely need to design some stretch outfits, before I burst out of my clothing one of these days." He carefully begins studying the face and form, and paces, obviously getting the feel of the body, then returning to gaze at Miguel more for a while. After what seems a lentghy learning session, Mystery reaches out and touches Miguel's wrist again. "Now to see if he is a meta." Very methodically and carefully, Mystery studies the Miguel face, features, form, body build, skin, eye, and hair color, any scars or other identifying marks, teeth, musculature, everything needed to assume a good Miguel duplicate without assistance of touching him, and taking time to do it right. Afterward, Mystery reaches out and touches Miguel's wrist, and concentrates on changing Miguel into a female version of himself, based on his own genetic code with only that one difference, while at the same time making note of any resistance Miguel seems to have of the same sort metas have. <><><><><> [GM] With Mystery's hand on his chest, the unconscious Miguel suddenly begins changing. His chest swells up, and the other men watch amazed as breasts grow beneath his shirt, almost like inflating balloons. His mustache shrinks and almost disappears, while his face smoothes over, the cheekbones narrow, the eyelids become slightly larger, and the lips slightly fuller. His entire body changes in configuration, the hips widening, the waist narrowing, and the muscular bulk in his arms and legs diminishing. Within seconds, Miguel has become a woman. She is not very attractive, looking like a rather masculine woman...but definitely female. "Holy s***!" exclaims Donnay. <><><><><> Mystery: Mystery grins with Miguel's old features. "That's something you don't see everyday. Except around me of course. Talk about new forms of sentencing." "Miguel is no meta, unless one with no resistance at all -- which seems unlikely." Mystery grins wider, mischievously. "Why don't you bring him around?" *Finally, a guinea pig.* Mystery thinks. *Well, that's what crooks are for, I guess.* Experimentally, Mystery maintains the touch and concentrates on every shred of masculinity being erased from his genetic code and form, age adjusted to 20, and feminine nature and secondary sex characteristics enhanced threefold; along with a few attractiveness enhancements. Once satisfactory, Mystery tries concentrating on the changes being permanent. "I think Miguel will be a little too disoriented to do much struggling, don't you?" Mystery asks, eyes sparkling in a manner destined to send criminals, friends, pets, and minor household appliances running for cover one day. <><><><><> [GM] The already-feminized Miguel begins morphing even more as Mystery, in Miguel's original body, lays hands on him again. The breasts grow to truly outrageous dimensions, the waist shrinks further, the hips widen even more, and the "man's" figure assumes proportions that make Barbie look like Kate Moss. "Oh my GOD!" exclaims Donnay, jaw dropping. Miguel's face has become child-like in its softness, and not a single hair follicle can be seen on "her" face or arms or any other exposed skin. "She" has become quite beautiful....but still looks not quite right, as if she was a member of a species that is almost, but not quite human. "You seem to be pretty good at playing with your own body," Donnay says, "but it looks like you need more practice with others'. And, umm, not that I feel any sympathy for this creep- heck," the agent shows teeth in a nasty grin, "the idea of sending him to prison like this- he IS still legally a man, after all- is tempting. But, keep in mind what you're doing amounts to experimentation on a helpless prisoner. We do that out of necessity, to find out how these powers work. But let's not start doing it for kicks, kid." <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey finally finds his voice, "It isn't permanent", but there's a little doubt in his voice as he tries to determine if it is or not. Oh! Julie revert so it isn't permanent...but that was an accident, does it make a difference? Harvey settles for adding a cautious "probably." "Er, send him, him?, him to prison for what? We have no witnesses of anyone matching this description breaking any law so how are we going to get a sentence?" He looks over at Mystery to see if she gets the hint, and has to do a double take before remembering the disguise. Harvey mutters softly to himself "I don't think this is covered by the Geneva Convention...I don't think any of this is covered". <><><><><> Mystery: "I'm really, really hoping Julie reverted -- if she did revert -- because it was an accident. These mimicking and transformation of others seem my main defense and offense, except for seduction radiance. I would hate to not be able to make a permanent change in a foe." "Yeah, the Geneva Convention is getting more and more out of date." "I don't know," Mystery says, grinning. "It may not be quite the human norm, but I'll remember how I did it. It's kind of a neat variation, really." Mystery makes careful note of the technique, to attain the particular variation on human again. He returns Donnay's grin at the thought of sending Miguel to prison as is. "That's funny. Sort of." "Sorry, but though I may not be a villain, you'll have to get used to my being a little more...well...think of Mztylplk or Q as a superhero, and you get the idea. Two of my idols." "I understand what you mean, though. Still, can I leave him like this for a while longer to see if it is lasting?" Mystery asks hopefully. "Consider it an added safety measure. Plus, we four are all witnesses to the fact that it is in fact, Miguel whateverhisnameis, in new form. I'll change him back if a few days pass without reverting; you'll need to keep him around long enough to continue questioning and processing anyway, and in case we find out something while carrying out the plan." "Besides," Mystery says, grinning, with a wink. "I think I'm getting awfully drained today. I'd better save my next transformation attempt for the volunteer agent. Its a much more urgent matter, wouldn't you say?" <><><><><> Harvey: "(sigh), If we're going to try this in Chicago we'd better get moving soon", unconsciously looking at his watch without even bothering to remember what time it is. <><><><><> [GM] "Hmm." Donnay looks at the astoundingly curvaceous "man" on the bed, and frowns. "Before we let you practice on any agents, it might be nice to confirm that you CAN change your subjects back...." <><><><><> Mystery: "No problem," Mystery comments, casually reaches out and touches Miguel's forehead, then concentrates on copying the genetic code from the Miguel form currently worn by him, to Miguel, and causing restructure according to it. <><><><><> [GM] Miguel reverts to his old form, now looking identical to the doppleganger standing above him. "Great," Donnay says. "Now I think Jones is right, any further experimentation should wait-- we can test either en route, or when we get there.....IF we decide to go with the entire plan you suggested. We'll have a Spanish-speaking agent with us for sure." "You should probably familiarize yourself with Juan, too," Donnay says to Mystery. He calls another agent down to keep an eye on Mystery while he takes whatever "samples" he needs from the captured metahuman. "Meanwhile, I'm gonna get us ready to go. Expect to be in the air again within a couple of hours." He grins at Harvey's impatient/exhausted look. <><><><><> Mystery: Mystery loosens his belt a bit and removes his shirt to keep from ripping out of the too-small clothes, muttering, "Definitely have to design a stretch outfit soon." He then touches Juan and absorbs the genetic code and form; once in the form, he goes through the same process as with Miguel, of shifting into and out of Juan's form until he has it down. Then, experimentally, he absorbs Juan's essence again, more strongly, and remembering the description of Juan's power, concentrates on making a force field in the air. <><><><><> [GM] The air in front of Mystery/"Juan" seems to thicken, turn hazy, and then develop a green hue. An instant later, there is a transparent green wall reaching from the floor to the ceiling. It doesn't shimmer or flicker at all, but seems as solid and stable as a sheet of green glass. <><><><><> Mystery: Mystery's jaw drops. "I..." he starts, staring in amazement. "Didn't think it would actually work! That's fantastic! Its not just physical abilities I get when I mimic someone -- powers too! Like Legion, except I don't have to absorb someone to do it." "I wonder..." he shuts down the force field, then tries changing just his hair color from Juan's to blond, while maintaining the rest of the code; then tries the force field again. Whether that works or not, he tries experimenting to see if he can learn Juan's genetic code so that he need not touch Juan to assume his form and powers again. <><><><><> Walt: Walt looks on, his expression saying clearly that he is in over his head, and is just going along for the ride just now. <><><><><> [GM] The blond "Juan" is not able to create a force field, and even after restoring his hair to the original color, Mystery is no longer able to manifest the unconscious metahuman's powers until he touches the real Juan and reabsorbs his genetic code. Meanwhile, as Mystery continues experimenting with his force field powers, Harvey waves an arm experimentally at one of the glowing green walls. The wall turns out to be solid to him, even when he lowers his density in an attempt to push through it. <><><><><> Mystery: Mystery discretely plucks a single head hair from Juan, shifts his own form to Miguel's form, then tries to absorb Juan's genetic code and powers from the hair, testing it afterward. If absorbing from a disembodied genetic sample does not work, he finishes learning Juan's features and form thoroughly. <><><><><> [GM] It takes several tries to "read" enough info from the hair sample to assume Juan's shape perfectly...and it still doesn't allow Mystery to duplicate Juan's powers. Only touching the man himself seems to accomplish that. Agent Donnay returns, and asks if you're done yet. "The plane is fueling as we speak," he says. "Our men in Chicago say that not only is there an extremely dangerous metahuman on the loose there, but...well, I'll brief you on the rest once we get in the air." <><><><><> Mystery: "Yeah, I'm ready." Mystery says, and stuffs Juan's hair deep into a pocket, then puts back on the shirt, tightens the belt, and resumes the american indian girl form, straightening the clothing further. "I'm just glad I didn't turn out to be the Incredible Hulk," Mystery jokes. "It would be tough on the clothing bill." "Dangerous metahuman? That's all right. We're pretty dangerous too. I'll be right back." She heads to her room and takes the suitcase with police scanner, flute, and assorted purchased clothing styles, then returns. <><><><><> [GM] It seems to Walt and Harvey, especially Harvey, that they've been spending an awful lot of time in the air lately. But there's no check-in, no metal detector, no having your luggage sent to Tahiti...on the other hand, with all this constant scrambling to react to the next metahuman crisis, you have yet to meet anyone who seems to be really in CHARGE of this whole operation. And the subject of your compensation has yet to be addressed. Of course, so far, none of you have had time to go spend any money. It's almost like you've suddenly been drafted to fight a war. And considering what's been happening in New York, Budapest, Tel Aviv, Marseilles....maybe you are. So once again, you're relaxing in a small government jet that is en-route to Chicago, while your current mission leader, Agent Donnay briefs you. "As you already know, this 'Falling Star' has been flying around Chicago, roughing up gangs and drug dealers, for a couple weeks. We've had little success in tracking her down, but she's already become something of a folk hero to the people living in Chicago's projects." "So for some reason, it looks like the Columbians wanted her taken out. I don't know why they'd be so concerned; Falling Star may get a lot of attention, but she can't really be having a significant effect on the drug trade in Chicago. But they sent Juan and Miguel after her." "Well, what actually happened is that Falling Star showed up in Cabrini Green, which is one of the most violent neighborhoods in the country, to stop a gang battle. And Miguel and Juan were waiting for her. Thing is, several other metahumans happened to be there at the same time. Obviously, there are quite a few people playing games behind the scenes here." "So, net result was that these other metahumans kicked the snot out of our Columbian friends, Falling Star flew away, and one of them stayed behind to talk to the police...and to our men who were in Chicago trying to track down Falling Star." "The next day, this same metahuman, and the two others- who are all women, by the way- showed up in a hospital in Chicago. Here's where it gets strange." Donnay looks around at the three metahumans in the passenger compartment with him, with a skeptical expression. "They say they're all friends, and were in Chicago looking for *another* metahuman, a grade-schooler with mind control powers. They said they stumbled onto the fight in Cabrini Green by accident." "The first one, the one who stayed behind to talk to the cops, is a married woman from Illinois who can control gravity. The second one is a teenager from California. She's a telepath and she can also teleport. And this teenager and the third metahuman were apparently captured by...ANOTHER metahuman, right after their fight! This latest addition to the metahuman managerie is also a telepath. And....it seems he tortured and raped the two women he captured." Donnay pauses, gauging the impact. "Yeah, it seems we're dealing with all kinds of unpleasant characters here. Juan and Miguel are starting to look more and more like bit players. This evil telepath had some armed men accompanying him, men who had Russian accents and carried Soviet-made automatic weapons." "That's not even the weirdest part, though. I mentioned a third woman. She's also a telepath. And when our agents in Chicago finally caught up to this trio in the hospital, and got them to tell their story....this chick claimed that she's an extraterrestrial!" <><><><><> Harvey: The suggestion of an alien in Chicago manages to distract Harvey from his current desire to beat some of the villains he's been hearing about with an enhanced density fist, it even manages to distract him from trying to figure how to sneak up on a telepath. Since Agent Donnay made no mention of an...'exotic'...appearance for the putative alien Harvey's skepticism is barely limitied by his attempt at an open mind. "Trying to be polite, in the interest of preventing a war with Mars, but has a competent psychiatrist evaluated this claimant?" (he's slightly sarcastic as well as skeptical.) <><><><><> Mystery: Mystery looks at Harvey in disbelief. "Let me get this straight," she says, eyes sparkling. "You're sitting in an airplane headed to chicago, because you developed superpowers and joined a new government agency for superheroes, and with a research staff paging through comic books to look for new ideas on what to expect. You're sitting in the company of a bioshifting doppleganger and seductionist straight out of X-Men, and another superhero also. We're on our way to Chicago to stop a plot by drug dealers to capture a superheroine who is under twelve years old and can turn into a sphere of energy. We may be called upon to find a way to stop an evil master telepath supervillain, and are very likely being hunted by Legion, a composite, assimilation shapeshifter. There is a werewolf terrorizing an indian reservation. There is a fellow named Paladin lifting ships out of the ocean with his hands and carrying vehicles into space for fun and profit. To top it all off, someone is sending Blipverts to leaders of small countries." She looks out from under her eyebrows at Harvey. "And you're scoffing at a person from another ball of mud and rock somewhere out there?" Her reserve shatters and she breaks into a giggling fit. Mystery's eyes seem to burn at hearing of the rape. "Now there's one to change just a _bit_ and send to prison," she comments. She sighs, then listens to the rest of the story, eyes lighting up at the mention of an extraterrestrial. "An alien. In Chicago?" she giggles. "That's not exactly my first guess as a place to have a close encounter of the third kind...they usually stay out of major cities, I imagine. Unless..." "Unless they can change their bodies like I can, or have machinery for doing it. In which case, they may be everywhere, unseen, walking in human form. Wow." <><><><><> Walt: Walt's neutral expression gradually fades away, replaced by a mildly shocked, then grim expression at the story of the 'Meta' who raped the two women. "I guess that settles once and for all that all us 'Superhumans' ain't so super," he says, slightly more pale than when Donnay began his sorry tale. "I wonder what the chances are of this *bastard* suffering a heart attack are," Walt mutters quietly, "from what I understand they *can* effect even fairly young people." Walt seems slightly surprised, but not greatly so, at the mention that one of the women claims to be an extraterestrial. "Why not? Seems like that'd be about the only thing that we haven't seen now, wouldn't it?" <><><><><> [GM] Donnay listens to the three metahumans reactions, rolling his eyes a little at Mystery's enthusiastic hypothesizing, and giving a tight smile in response to Walt's quiet outrage. "I suggest we reserve judgement on the 'ET'," he says. "Our man in Chicago, Agent Tim Mahon, said his impression of the woman was that she's a little flaky, but not completely out there, if you know what I mean. He was extremely skeptical about her claim to be an alien also, but he said the two, uh, Earth women, believed her, and claimed they'd seen evidence that convinced them. And Mahon said they both *seemed* rational and intelligent. So let's not buy into every crazy Star Trek theory that comes to mind-" he gives Mystery a sardonic look, "but even though I don't really believe in extraterrestrials, at least until I see a spaceship with my own eyes, we'd better not dismiss the lady's story without at least checking it out first. Even if she is a little crazy, Mahon said she definitely seemed to know an awful lot about metahumans, and this psycho telepath in particular." "Naturally, there are other explanations besides the lady being a shapechanging alien from outer space, or ETs infiltrating our civilization," he continues, looking at Mystery again with a look that reminds the teen uncomfortably of the ones he used to get from his father. "For instance, the alleged alien is a telepath herself. She may well have used some kind of mental influence to convince her friends that she's an extraterrestrial." "On the other hand, Mahon's gut instinct was to not reject her story out of hand. Mahon's got pretty good instincts, he's what you'd call a 'people person'. And consider that, A) the other two women were convinced, B) this lady brought some interesting devices with her to the hospital, which Mahon was only able to inspect briefly, but he said they were either some kind of techno-gadgets he'd never seen before, or else really good sci-fi props, and C) We've got that loon Pulsar, who claimed there was a spaceship or something in orbit above the Earth. Now, all of this put together still isn't totally convincing...but it warrants us taking it somewhat seriously, and I understand that someone decided it actually warranted telling the President. Though what exactly he's gonna do about aliens, when he can't even deal with Cubans...." Donnay shrugs again, with that ironic smile of his. <><><><><> Harvey: "Oh, on the contrary I don't scoff at the possibility, even likelyhood of aliens out there...", but then he gestures ceilingward, "out there." I'm scoffing at one showing up and looking recognizable. Inspite of everything movies have done to try to think of the strangest, bizzarrest and oddest, they ain't seen nothing yet. When we finally meet aliens I'm quite confident that not only will they look odder than we imagine, they'll look odder than we CAN imagine! The thing I most expect, is that they'll look like what I, and we, least expect." "Not that I can't be convinced to change my mind, it just isn't going to be easy." "O.K. O.K., I won't dismiss the possibility of aliens in Chicago out of hand, I'll postpone that. Changing the subject, is the first order of business when we land still to try to collect" (Harvey seems to like that word),"a few villains with out excellent bait? If so maybe we should make a few tentative plans. You did find a spanish speaking agent, didn't you? Hopefully someone with an interest in acting." "Yes heart-attacks can affect young people" agrees Harvey, then adds, "Also quite probable is a stroke, especially if I catch up with him since they can affect young people too, particularly if you hit them over the head. I just wonder how probable it that we'll be able to sneak up on a telepath?" "Assuming we're going to continue with trying to collect", Harvey is definitely becoming attached to that word, " a few Columbians for our collection, I figure we'll put the 'bait', sorry Mystery, no slight intended, the 'excellent bait' in one room and wait next door. When someone shows up we let them talk for a few minutes to see if they say anything useful, then we collect them. I'm kind of in favor of being in the next room, especially since for me all walls are doors, attacking _through_ a wall should give the element of surprise, although through the floor or ceiling also has advantages." "This plan sort of needs a way to know what is going on in the other room though. Can we borrow some listening equipment? And while we're at it can we put some kind of homing beacon on Mystery and the other agent, just in case something goes wrong and we need to track them?" "And anyone got a street map of Chicago and a pen? There's something I'd like Walt to try. It's an incredible long shot, but hey, that's Walt's specialty." <><><><><> Walt: "What is that y'all want me to try? Ain't never been real good with maps...I just kinda 'feel' my way, get directions from other truckers, stuff like that." <><><><><> Harvey: "Let's put it this way: if I hand you a pen, put a map in front of you and tell you to close your eyes, wave the pen in the air and then touch it to the place on the map where this motel we're going to is, what's the probability you'll actually mark in the vicinity of it? If I do it the answer's pretty easy, it just doesn't have anything to do with question. Want to try? Just to see what'll happen?" <><><><><> Walt: "Ain't gonna cost us any to try, then, is it?" Walt quips, shaking his head at how absurd the whole thing sounds. "So where's this here map, hmmm? No time like right now, I always say." <><><><><> [GM] Donnay is able to produce a map of Chicago and a pen, and hands them to Walt. He looks rather bemused, and asks Harvey, "Just what do you want to prove with this little experiment?" <><><><><> Harvey: "I don't really understand how Walt does what he does, or even precisely what he does when he does it; but we've been roughly referring to it as being lucky. This is an attempt to harness luck to find out where something or someone is when we don't know where. If we're _lucky_ Walt can get the random event of putting the pen on the map to match the unknown event of an object being somewhere." Harvey looks a little uncertain himself. "This is something I might suggest someday if we're ever in a bind to find someone we've lost track ofand if it doesn't work I'd rather know now then spend time later." He shrugs. <><><><><> [GM] "Interesting hypothesis," Donnay says, looking skeptical. He looks to Walt to see what the man will do with the pen and map. Agent Donnay lays a map of Chicago out on a small fold-down table in front of Walt, and hands him a pen. He, Harvey and Mystery watch as Walt takes the pen and closes his eyes to begin the experiment. <><><><><> Walt: Walt tries to *avoid* concentrating, just kind of letting his eyes drift across the map. If anyplace feels more *right* than any other, he'll immediately let the pen fall there. <><><><><> [GM] Walt lets the pen drift across the map. He feels nothing unusual, no strange sensations, nothing seems to guide his hand. The point comes to rest on a spot in northeast Chicago, near Washington Square. "Well," says Agent Donnay, "that's not far from Cabrini Green, where this situation apparently started. But the motel rendezvous is way down here-" he points to a spot across the city. "If your power is based on altering probability, maybe it only alters the probability of *other* things? I mean, you affected coin flipping and dice rolling, and seem to be able to make electrical wires spontaneously overload, that kind of thing. But maybe it has to be something external, you can't affect a mental process?" Donnay shrugs. "But I'm just a federal agent, not a scientist, what do I know?" * * * * * Anyone want to do or say anything else before landing in Chicago? <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey looks over at Agent Donnay, shrugs and says "Makes sense to me. At least we won't waste time because of this idea of mine if we're ever in a hurry to find someone". He peers at the map again for a couple of seconds and mutters "at least it didn't land in the middle of Lake Michigan." Then looking at Walt," You might be able to influence where the pen hit to select a particular location, but you'd have to know where you were trying for to do that, I guess." "I'm glad we're almost there, I feel an extreme need to stretch my legs." <><><><><> [GM] The plane descends towards Chicago's Midway Airport. "Let's double-check your shapechanging schtick and see if you can still turn into Miguel or Juan," Donnay says to Mystery, as the plane enters a landing pattern. A few moments later, the plane rises. "What the hell?" demands Donnay. The copilot comes back and says "Nothing to worry about folks...least as far as we're concerned, for the moment. But, uh, you may want to hear this. We aborted our landing pattern because our contact with the control tower was interrupted. There's a speech being broadcast all over the airwaves, overriding every radio frequency!" The captain switches the sound in the passenger compartment on, piping his radio reception over the P.A. system- and the team of feds and metahumans hears the last half of Pulsar's broadcast, complete with the reference to "invisible satellites". <><><><><> Harvey: "Interesting, I've never seen an invisible satellite mystelf" <><><><><> Walt: "Wouldn't know, myself; ain't never seen one neither." Walt grins weakly, trying to make a joke to avoid thinking about that faceless Pulsar just blasting people as the mood strikes him. <><><><><> Harvey: "Is it significant that neither of us has been looking for one?" <><><><><> [GM] Donnay looks at the two wisecrackers in amazement. "Well, I'm glad you find this amusing," he says. "Personally, I think this Pulsar character may be a bigger threat than Legion!" <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey looks up at Agent Donnay, his smile gone, "and what would you like me to do about him? The guy can travel in space, possibly at the speed of light; and I can't keep up or catch him. Personally I'm glad we aren't going to have to try to handle him right away; after a little more practice we might be able to do something about him but right now he's a bit out of our league." Then he looks over at Walt and considers, "...well, out of my league, but I don't think we're ready to tackle him yet. Now if he shows up I'll reconsider that evaluation and try to do something about him but until then I'm not looking for trouble with him." <><><><><> [GM] Agent Donnay frowns, but there seems to be nothing more to do about "Pulsar" for the moment. After a few minutes, the pilot reports that normal communications seem to have been reestablished, and your jet descends on Chicago. It taxis off the runway on a reserved section of the Midway Airport, and comes to a halt in front of a black government van. "All right," says Donnay, "until we hear otherwise, we're going to stick with the current program, which is to try to bag Miguel's contacts- though I will be checking with Agents Mahon and Hackley, of course, to see if anything new has turned up with our 'alien' friend and her associates." He frowns, thinking over something. As you all get into the van, Donnay turns to Mystery and says "Now, like I asked earlier, how about seeing if you can still turn into Miguel again, so we can be sure we can really pull this off?" <><><><><> Mystery: Mystery nods. "I practiced pretty well back there." Carefully, Mystery attempts to assume the Miguel form again to demonstrate. <><><><><> [GM] Mystery shifts into Miguel's form, and Agent Donnay nods approvingly. "All right...let's go." The van drives through the city of Chicago, until it arrives at a small Holiday Inn, just outside the downtown area. "This is actually down the street from the rendezvous point," says Donnay. "We're staking it out. We still have no idea, of course, whether or not our Columbian friends' contacts will actually attempt to contact them. They may assume they're both in jail." Inside a suite at the Holiday Inn, Donnay introduces the three metahumans to a young Hispanic man, wearing the same dark suit that all these agents seem to wear. "This is Agent Estes. He'll handle the Spanish interpretation for us." He looks around. "So, why don't you all tell us what you intend for the immediate future? You had a variety of ideas for dealing with these people, and right now, we're following your lead, since it's your powers that will determine how successful this operation will be." <><><><><> Walt: "Well, here's hoping our luck don't run out on us here!" Walt says to nobody in particular. <><><><><> [GM] Donnay nods. "You ready, you other two? How do you want to play this?" <><><><><> Harvey: "I already made my suggestion, the straight forward apporoach. Let them make contact, see if they drop any useful information and collect them before anything can go wrong." <><><><><> Walt: Walt shrugs his head and looks rather sheepish. "How do *I* want ta handle this? Mister, I'm the *last* one you want to be planning this covert-type stuff! My closest shot at subtle is not to blurt out how I feel about a girl in the first five minutes of the conversation." "I am, however, pretty darn good at following the leader, if you get mah drift." <><><><><> [GM] Donnay nods. "OK." The Hispanic man looks a little nervous, as Donnay tells Mystery, "Agent Estes has volunteered to let you try to shapechange him into Juan. You know, considering that Miguel seemed to be the brains of the team, and Agent Estes is the one who knows Spanish...it might work better for *you* to be Juan, and try making *him* look like Miguel." <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey can understand why agent Estes is nervous, he'd be rather nervous himself if he weren't busy being grateful Mystery's shapechange power doesn't seem to work on Metas. He tries to think of something reassuring to say, but where meta-abilities are concerned there really isn't much he can say. So he settles for going over and shaking hands, smiling and saying "So, Agent Estes, ready to win an Oscar?" <><><><><> Mystery: Mystery nods to Donnay. "The plan is actually for Estes to be Miguel, and me to be Falling Star -- or as close as I can get, without details. Need to have bait, not just a hook, in a manner of speaking." Walking over to Estes, Mystery smiles reassuringly. "Trust me, it is not harmful. It will feel weird, both the change and having a new bodily form, but don't worry. Now...hold my hand, and brace yourself." Mystery holds out a hand, while in Miguel form; when Estes clasps hands, Mystery concentrates on imposing the genetic code of Miguel, as currently worn, on Estes. <><><><><> [GM] Estes looks a little nervous, but controls it well as Mystery, in Miguel's body, clasps the Hispanic agent's hand. Estes murmurs something in Spanish as his body begins swelling and shifting...he stretches inside his suit (Miguel is a little taller than Estes), and his short, neatly trimmed hair grows longer, while a mustache appears on his upper lip. His skin darkens, his facial features ripples, and after a total of about ten seconds, there are two Miguels standing in the room. Estes staggers, until Donnay catches him, and asks "How do you feel?" "O..Ok," the agent says. "Feels...strange...like all my body parts are the wrong size...have to get used to the balance..." "Yeah, we also need to get you some clothes that fit," Donnay says. He turns to Mystery and says "All right, I guess we could try to get hold of those other metas, the ones that actually met Falling Star. But we don't know how soon we can do that. The Columbians probably don't know exactly what she looks like, so if you can just do a small, skinny black girl, about age eight, I think it'll pass." <><><><><> Harvey: [Does Estes sound like Miguel now that he looks like him?] <><><><><> [GM] [Estes has Miguel's voice, though not his intonations and other speech mannerisms.] Mystery nods, and begins shrinking, as his skin turns darker and smoother. In seconds, s/he is about four feet tall, a skinny black girl, as ordered. "Maybe a little too old...try for a couple years younger," Donnay suggests. Mystery obligingly shrinks a few more inches and goes from the edge of adolescence to a girl obviously in middle-elementary school. The men in the room notice that her unnatural attraction factor is still in effect...but thankfully, the sexuality aspect seems to have been replaced with an overwhelming desire to protect this "child", who is about the cutest, most adorable little girl any of the men can ever remember meeting. "Better," Donnay says. "I hope this will work." "You're telling me," the "youngster" pipes in a voice that eerily resembles that of Mitchell Langstrom, though this is only noticeable to those who have heard him before, in his natural form. "I hope I don't have to be tied up and gagged." "No," Donnay says. "Miguel had a nice little portable pharmacy in their van....they clearly planned to drug Falling Star. So I think all you need to do is pretend to be asleep." He turns to Harvey and Walt. "All right...let's do it." <><><><><> Harvey: "Yeap, let's go for it! Hey, Mystery, Estes, good luck..oops, forgot, old show business tradition, I meant 'break a leg', time for you to win an Oscar. Hmmm, still need to get 'Miguel' some better fitting clothes and for that matter I doubt baggy and oversized is 'falling stars' recognized mode of attire." "It just occurred to me that the colombians might contact Miguel by phone first, at least to see if he has falling star before showing up. I don't know how complicated it is to set up for a trace, do you need to go to court for that? but maybe you could get that set up and Estes could get long winded, maybe argue about payment so the trace could be finished. That would give us a physical location, even if just a pay phone or that it's a cellular. While we're talking about technical goodies, got anything handy so we can tell what's going on with Mystery and Estes from the next room? I mean, I can just stick my head through the wall and listen, but unless I take to wearing a lampshade for a hat, it's going to be pretty noticable." "I notice I'm suddenly asking for a lot, but as long as I am I might as well go for the moon. We could even put transmitters on Mystery and Estes so we could follow if anything goes wrong. WHICH WE AREN'T GOING TO LET HAPPEN, but a little paranoia is good for you." <><><><><> [GM] "Of course we'll be monitoring them electronically," says Agent Donnay. "And I expect their contact will almost certainly call them by phone before showing up in person." Harvey, Walt, Mystery (disguised as Falling Star), Agent Estes (disguised as Miguel), and Agent Donnay head for the hotel that was the original planned rendezvous for Miguel and Juan. Harvey, Walt and Donnay carefully make their way into an adjacent room, on the opposite side of the building, as Mystery and Estes settle in to their own hotel room. The three men in the other room are able to observe what happens in Estes' and Mystery's room by means of a hidden camera they hide in the ceiling fan. Mystery, as Falling Star, is carried in by Estes after he parks the van that Miguel and Juan were driving in front of their room. Then they all wait. And wait. And wait. It seems that there won't be any contact after all, when the phone finally rings. Grinning, Donnay activates a recording device on the table in his room, with Harvey and Walt, which will let everyone hear what's said on the phone in Estes' room. Meanwhile, on a portable monitor, they watch "Miguel" pick up the phone. "Hello?" he says. No sound comes from the recorder in the next room. Whoever is on the other end doesn't hang up....but nothing is being said. Donnay frowns, then the frown deepens as Agent Estes stands abruptly, and turns to face Mystery, who's sitting on the edge of the bed in her Falling Star guise. Harvey and Walt simultaneously get a very bad feeling. Then Estes draws his pistol from concealment beneath his shirt, and shoots Mystery. The "girl" gives a startled cry, then the slug knocks her across the bed and tumbling into the far wall, where she hits and drops to the ground, leaving a bloody smear on the wall behind her. CHICAGO - Covert Operations [Accompanied by federal Special Agent Donnay, Harvey Jones, Walter Shindell, and "Mystery" (Mitchell Langstrom) have come to Chicago to investigate the attempt by a pair of Columbian villains to capture the juvenile metahuman Falling Star. Their undercover setup goes sour when Agent Estes, who has been altered by Mystery's powers to look like one of the Columbian villains, suddenly becomes possessed after a phone call, and shoots Mystery!] Harvey: "SH--!!!" Light dawns, "We've got a meta who can travel through phone lines and possess the person on the other end!!! Looks like this is yours, Walt, see if you can neutralize him fast! I'll help with the gun and the wall, just be careful not to neutralize me or Mystery. Donnay, can you get the phones turned off to cut off his escape?" Then Harvey grabs Walt's arm to help him through the wall. 'Dang', thinks Harvey, although he doesn't say it out loud, 'should have practiced this entry with walt'. This method of entry should gain the element of surprise; but it occurs to Harvey about the time he reachs the wall to wonder if the possessor gains the memories of the possessed? On the way towards the until recent Estes Harvey reachs into his pocket grabbing for one of the knock out cubes. <><><><><> [GM] Harvey grabs Walt and tries to pull him through the wall, but Walt's startlement deactivates Harvey's power, so he bumps face-first into it instead. A moment later, they try again, and both men go phasing through the wall, into the room where Estes is already turning towards them. He fires two shots which pass harmlessly through Harvey and Walt and blow holes in the motel wall through which they just emerged. <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey's mind is a blur as he tries to sort out priorities. Questions keep blowing by: Is mystery regenerating yet? What will Walt's power do to Estes? Am I sure he can't possess a meta because meta's are resistnant to other's powers? What the heck do I do first? O.K. Harvey decides, priorities first, keep Walt desolid because of bullets and hope Estes doesn't hit Donnay in the next room. If Walt's power doesn't do something to Estes then hit him with the cube so we can work on Mystery. Head towards Estes so can use the cube. (And remember to cross fingers as soon as have a hand free.) <><><><><> Mystery: Mystery, as unconscious, bleeding, shot shapeshifters tend to do, bleeds quietly, sadly, in a heap. <><><><><> Walt: Walt, trying to keep his thoughts focused. concentrates on whatever 'jumped' into Estes; the idea being that hopefully if the power that allowed this to happen is neutralized, then Estes will be just Estes again! It fleetingly occurs to Walt that not getting shot would be nice also! <><><><><> [GM] Walt's concentration seems to do nothing- Estes continues firing his revolver at the two of you. Fortunately, Harvey's power has remained active. With a steady hand and an expressionless gaze, Estes fires the rest of his shots through the intangible pair and into the wall behind them. As he ejects the shells and reaches for a handful of replacements, Harvey moves in with his cube, sticks it into Estes' shoulder, and lets go. The metamorphed federal agent jerks for a moment, then swings his pistol at Harvey's face. Harvey winces as it connects, realizing he made the mistake of completely solidifying...and wasn't able to continue increasing his density to the point of "invulnerability" fast enough to avoid getting a bloody gash across his cheek and a split lip. Rapid alteration of ones' density during a lab experiment proves to be easier than when your friend is lying in a bloody heap and someone is firing a gun at you! Estes backs away a step, fumbling with his shells, trying to reload the revolver. His eyes are starting to glaze, and his hands move clumsily. <><><><><> Walt: "Hell with it," Walt mutters, then hauls back and swings forcefully at Estes, hoping for a good connection. <><><><><> [GM] Walt lets go of Harvey, and feels himself...solidify. There's no other way to describe what it feels like for your molecules to stop moving aside to let solid objects pass through. Solidification. A unique and unusual sensation. Being solid, his fist makes a solid impact against Estes' jaw. The Miguel- clone falls backwards and hits the floor. He doesn't get up. <><><><><> Walt: "Well, good then" Walt says to nobody in particular, rubbing his hand absently. He then moves to relieve 'Estes' of any other weapons and to secure him as well as is possible. <><><><><> Harvey: Harvey is relieved when Estes goes down, and looks to stay down. "Nice shot, Walt. Better keep neutralizing him, just in case something is going to jump out and hit one of the others of us." Then Harvey remembers that he forgot Mystery and silently curses himself. He moves towards Mystery trying to determine how bad it is and what he can do to help. No brilliant ideas of how to wake Mystery up so she can start regenerating or how to stop the bleeding come to mind; but one idea does come to mind. Harvey suddenly turns and runs back through the wall he entered through. As soon as he's through he yells "Donnay! How much do you know about first aid?", he would have yelled sooner but it's kind of hard to yell when your lungs are full of wall. Figuring Donnay probably was trained in handling combat wounds Harvey plans to give him a short cut through the wall. If there is some reason not to he'll go back by himself and try to slow down the bleeding, and think of a way to wake up Mystery. <><><><><> [GM] While Walt is relieving Estes (who is quite unconscious- whether from the drug, the punch, or both) of his revolver and using his own handcuffs to secure his wrists, Harvey walks back through the wall, and sees Donnay has already taken off out the door, going the long way around the hotel building. Agent Donnay comes bursting through the door barely twenty seconds later, his own revolver at the ready. He looks a little foolish, and holsters the gun. "Paramedics're already on the way!" he says, and rushes to Harvey's side to inspect Mystery. Mystery, still in the form of an eight year-old girl, is a bloody mess. Estes blew a hole right through her chest, and gore is splashed against the wall. Harvey and Donnay can see exposed lung tissue and other internal organs. "S***!" Donnay says, "she shouldn't even still be breathing!" Which, amazingly enough, she is. But if this doesn't qualify as "mortally wounded", nothing does, and Harvey comes to the same conclusion that Donnay voices aloud; "The only that's gonna save her is that super- healing power he's got-" he blinks as if thinking something odd, then goes on, "Somehow, we gotta bring 'er up out of shock enough to turn it on." He begins slapping the girl across the face smartly with the palm of his hand. "LANGSTROM!" he bellows. "WAKE UP!" <><><><><> Mystery: >>Pain, overlaid by sickening numbness<< A cry issues forth from Mystery as consciousness comes, dimly at first, amid overwhelming pain and an eerie feeling of wrongness, then more strongly; her eyes open slightly and she looks up. *Got to pull myself together.* Concentrating intently, pulling will up to maximum, Mystery invokes regeneration as before, desperately trying to regenerate and heal. <><><><><> [GM] The little girl gasps and opens her eyes, then her mouth gapes open, and she makes a horrible gurgling sound. Blood bubbles out of her lips, and her eyes are glazed over in shock and pain. Mystery feels her entire body *burning*, and the flames seem to be paying particular attention to every single nerve ending in her chest. All the air in her lungs seems to have become ammonia, and every beat of her dying heart pumps more undiluted pain through her arteries. As Harvey and Agent Donnay watch, the ragged bloody flesh around the entry wound begins swelling, and the bleeding stops abruptly. Lung tissue seems to be reforming, and bones and skin begin stretching across the gaping hole. The terrible wound is healing before your eyes. The regenerative process stops as the pain becomes so severe that Mystery screams and almost blacks out. With the last vestiges of energy, she manages to push through the agony, as every regrown cell seems to pop into existence with an explosion of pain as its substance is torn from the cells adjascent to it. Mystery slumps back into unconsciousness as the wound finally seals shut. <><><><><> Harvey: "Wow! " Harvey is visibly relieved and turns to relay the good news to Walt, "Looks like she got it! Bleeding has stopped but she's unconscious again. Probably just needs so rest after that. You know", Harvey says turning to Donnay, "there are going to be somne very surprised paramedics here soon." Harvey looks down on Mystery for a few seconds longer to make sure that every thing stays alright, or at least as alright as it's going to get and then turns to other matters, to distract himself. "What are we going to do with Estes? My guess is he was possessed over the phone lines, but if that's right, how do we exorcise him without getting someone else possessed? Walt can probably keep him from possessing someone else, but only for so long. ... When we get Mystery picked up by the paramedics, can we get a trace on that phone call and see if there's a body at the other end?" "How are we going to explain this to Mystery's parents?" Harvey ask aloud, silently blaming himself for getting Mystery itno this. <><><><><> [GM] "Unless whoever was on the other end is still there, I doubt we had enough time to trace the call," Donnay says. He looks at the phone, still lying on the carpet where Estes dropped it, just before he pulled his gun. "Umm...maybe we should pull the cord out of the wall or something." He looks over at Estes. "Do you think you've neutralized whatever it is, Shindell?" Donnay uses his radio to call the federal agents staked out nearby, and confirms that whoever called Miguel and Juan's room hung up before a trace could be run. Very cautiously, he picks up the phone and hurriedly sets it back on the hook. Shortly thereafter, paramedics and policemen come flooding into the room. As Harvey predicted, the paramedics are somewhat amazed to find no serious injuries, particularly considering the amount of blood and gore splashed against the wall, surrounding a large caliber bullethole. Estes and Mystery are both put on stretchers to be taken to the hospital. Donnay frowns and says "Normally I'd say we should proceed on our own...though to do what, I'm not sure. But I think Shindell better come along, just in case whatever took over Estes' mind is still around when he wakes up." <><><><><> Walt: "Donnay, I ain't all that sure of _anything_! If I don't rightly know how my 'powers' work in the first place, I reckon it'd be damn hard for me to say if they did or didn't. I caouldn't tell you if it was my 'great neutralizing force' or the right to his jaw that settled his hash, so to speak." [W/ regards to Walt going along] "Why, sure, I'd be right glad to; maybe I can keep anybody else from getting shot." <><><><><> Harvey: "Well, I'm certainly confused. I figured we'd just find where the other end of that phone call was and there would be a person who had moved out of his body to possess Estes and gotten stuck. But then he couldn't have hung up so so maybe it's more like a post-hypnotic suggestion, without the hypnotic. So Estes might not be contagious, but I wouldn't want to be wrong. Frankly I don't know what options we have left. We sort of lost the element of surprise, and almost an agent. And we have no clues. I guess I'll come along and hope one of you has a brilliant idea." Harvey is slightly depressed by the way things turned out. <><><><><> [GM] By the time you get to the hospital, Mystery has woken up, though Estes has not. Mystery feels like someone used her diminutive body for a soccer ball, and played a few games up and down the streets of Chicago. Her chest still burns, and her stomach hurts like a b****. She might be able to heal the remaining damaged cell tissue...but the prospect of going through that painful regenerative process again sends a wave of nausea through her. You've barely had a chance to note that the youngest metahuman has revived, before Donnay comes back from making a phone call. "Remember those people with the alleged 'alien'- the other metahumans?" he asks. "It seems they granted Pulsar's demand, and just had a meeting with him. We *were* keeping tabs on them...but the agent who was staked out at their hotel isn't responding to our calls. And there was some kind of electrical display over by the lake not long ago, which could definitely be another one of Pulsar's stunts. Agent Mahon, the guy who's been their point of contact and the one relaying info to us since the fight in Cabrini Green, wants us to join him and go looking for these yahoos." He smiles apologetically but not very sincerely at Mystery. "No rest for the weary, kid. You can stay if you want, but I don't guess an ardent UFO-watcher like you will pass up a chance to meet a real-live alien?" He smirks. "Especially since I've been told that this 'alien' is one gorgeous babe." He looks at Harvey and Walt. "How about it, guys? I know things are moving fast and we're still sorting out what the f*** happened back there with Estes...but that drug you stuck in him will keep him KO'd for a while, and I'll make sure he's restrained and put in isolation until we get back and can figure out if he's OK. Meantime, we got another situation that we can't ignore." <><><><><> Mystery: Mystery sighs. "You know," she mutters, "I've got to be the most smushed mutant on the planet. I'm going for a new world record. Oh well." "Hold on a few minutes, let me finish pulling myself together, then I'll rest on the way." Mystery steels up and tries to finish the regeneration process, then go to american indian girl form. <><><><><> Harvey: "Sure, Let's go. Just make sure they disconnect any phones or intercoms near Estes in case he wakes up before we get back." "You feeling like you'll live, Myster?" <><><><><> [GM] Mystery grimaces, and activates her healing power again. It hurts just as much as she thought it would. The three overworked metahumans and Agent Donnay meet a new Justice Department agent, Tim Mahon. He's another handsome but unremarkable looking clean-cut government agent with sandy brown hair. Agent Mahon shakes hands all around, then briefs you. "Me and my partner, Agent Hackley, were originally here in Chicago looking for Falling Star. We stumbled upon the situation with Miguel and Juan and a local street gang- after the fact, actually. I was the first one to meet one of the other metahumans involved. Later, I got to talk to the other two...after they'd been brought to the hospital." He frowns. "There's three of them, altogether. One is a schoolteacher from here in Illinois, named Nancy Hartwick. She seems to have the power to control gravity. The other is a teenager from California named Kimberly Brenner. In fact she's from Oakland, not far from Mr. Jones' hometown. She's a telepath, and also a teleporter." Mahon frowns, and goes on, in a skeptical tone. "The third...that's our alleged alien. She said her name was Ajiza. Physically, she looked human enough to me, though extraordinarily beautiful and a bit exotic. That is to say, she seemed to have a mix of Asian, African and European ethnic features. She said she was a telepath also; I personally never witnessed her use any telepathic abilities. But the two 'Earth women' believed she was a telepath, *and* an alien. In fact, Ms. Brenner claimed to have been taken aboard an alien spaceship...apparently belonging to another race that's enemies with Ajiza's people." "I don't know how much I believe about the alien business, but they all *seemed* rational enough. We've already done background checks on all three of them, found not even a traffic ticket on either Ms. Hartwick or Ms. Brenner, and found zip on Ajiza. Until tonight, I was still highly inclined to consider Ajiza's story a fabrication, a delusion, or...hell, I don't know. But after that stunt with Pulsar...well, I went back to talk to them, and they said yes, those invisible satellites that Pulsar was talking about do indeed belong to Ajiza, and they were going to go talk to him. So unless Pulsar is also in on this hoax or whatever, it's becoming increasingly difficult to laugh off the alien story, however bizarre it may seem." Mahon's expression turns even more grim. "What *isn't* a fabrication is that Ajiza was tortured and raped by someone who captured her and Ms. Brenner after their fight in Cabrini Green. The two of them said it was a sadistic telepath, accompanied by two armed men with European accents. Apparently this telepath wanted to know more about Ajiza and her alien technology, and used torture and rape as a means of breaking her under interrogation when his telepathy proved insufficient. But they escaped, and made their way to a hospital, and that's where Hackley and I caught up with the three of them." "They proved generally willing to work with us...albeit a bit mistrustful. Well, more than a bit. And Ajiza is skittery as hell...not surprising, considering what happened to her, but the other two said her people are pacifists. She kept lecturing me about how 'violent' and 'barbaric' we all are." "They wanted our help in tracking down the other telepath, but didn't want to let us in on their methods, or what exactly they planned to do to locate him. Then this Pulsar broadcast, and they told me again that they'd let me know what happens *after* they meet with that lunatic." "About an hour ago, there was a burst of intense light, and several bolts of lightning...from a clear sky, mind you, out by the lake. Sounds kind of like Pulsar's style." "I had Agent Hackley sitting in a surveillance van outside the hotel where the Hartwicks are staying here in Chicago. I haven't been able to raise him on the radio for the last twenty minutes." "So that's where we're headed now. And if any of you think you can put any of this together on the way, by all means don't be shy." <><><><><> Harvey: Alarmed by Mahon's inability to raise his partner, which sounds suspicious and therefore sinister to Harvey. It seems a federal agent would be sure to stay in contact at all times (but what does Harvey know), and besides, Harvey is becoming paranoid just to stay alive. "This does not sound good, we'd better move fast", heading in whatever direction seems to be the proper direction to get there. (Hoping the agents are giving some idea which way they expect to go, because otherwise he's going the wrong way). "I'm still skeptical of an alien turning up and looking fully human, but I don't have any reason to reject the concept. Since I don't feel compelled eitehr way at this time, I'll just settle for 'it doesn't matter', either way we've still got the same problems to handle." <><><><><> Walt: Walt frowns and shrugs slightly. "Well, it don't sound as though this Harwick womans gravity powers would let her do thunder and lightning and all that...but that does sound like it's right up Pulsars alley. Seems to me that it was Pulsar out there; maybe they snuck out or KO'd your surviellance guy and then took off for a meeting at the lake." Walt's expression hardened when he heard of the torture and the rape. "Well, agent, we sound pretty barbaric to *me* when you hear the story. I'll be *more* than happy to help find this sicko!" <><><><><> Mystery: Mystery, still shivering occasionally from memory of the wounds, quietly contemplates the situation as told by Mahon. "I think, if there are alien invisible satellites orbiting Earth, that it's probably for observation. The question is, what makes us worthy of sensor stations, and a personal visit? I mean, the galaxy has to be pretty much crammed with life, considering how abundant it is right here on Earth, in every style of ecological condition imaginable, and some that stretch the imagination severely. So why us, and why now?" A wry grin. "I can believe a human-appearing alien. I mean, look at me; if I can shapeshift, and Legion can too, why should we think there are not aliens capable of changing their biologies?" "In fact, the alien being a telepath seems to indicate it...because if there is one type of talent among the aliens, surely they have the same range and degree of Talents that are showing up here on Earth. Probably some very fundemental aspect of consciousness." <><><><><> Harvey: "I thought we were still in communications when the special effects occured?" Harvey grins in agreement with Walt's offer to *help* find this 'sicko'. He doesn't say anything but he does nod slightly without even think about it. "Crowded? Earth is crowded with life but this happens to be an exceptionally nice place for it. We've checked out the other planets in our own solar system and found nothing, not a spec of life. The nearest star system is Centauri, a binary system and unlikely to support life as we know it. The other star systems in the neightborhood don't seem to stand out as having life. And as for earth having life, if it didn't we wouldn't notice it because we wouldn't be here, so we have to exclude it from statistical analysis; life starts to look pretty darn sparse...not to mention that life is so incredibly remarklable it is almost unbelievable." "Even if life was common, can you imagine ignoring some if you found it? We've got people who study everything from microbes, to snakes to dinosaurs. You find life and somebody will study it. It's finding it that's hard", muses Harvey. "Excuse me, but if meta-talents are a fundamental part of consciousness, howcome we only just found them?" "Anyways, whether or not this is an alien, the 'sicko' is homegrown and our problem." [I assume this long philosphical conversation is taking place on the way to where Mahon's partner stopped reporting from.] <><><><><> [GM] Donnay frowns. "I'm not an astronomer, but I thought the jury's still out on whether there's life on other planets or not. If this alien is for real, I guess we'll find out though, won't we?" Agent Mahon continues trying to radio Agent Hackley, and gets no response. <><><><><> Harvey: "Oh, I'm not saying life isn't probable, I'm just disagreeing with it being common. With all the stars in the galaxy there is probably other life, probably other intelligent life, but it isn't common; at least that's my opinion." "There might even be life, as we don't know it, on the outer planets like Jupiter. Of course, any extraterrestial life will be life as we don't know it." <><><><><> Walt: [referring to the torture/rape] Walt, to Harvey: "Well, the way I see it, there's some things that just are *not* done. Back where I hail from they'd just shoot the bastard and be done with him, simple as that. To be honest with ya, Harv, I can't say as that'd sit too poorly with me at that." Walt's frown deepens. "Some things just aren't done....." he whispers to nobody in particular. <><><><><> [GM] Agent Mahon nods. "I saw Ajiza at the hospital, after her and Kim Brenner escaped." His face is grim. "That poor girl...I'd be inclined to kill someone for treating a dog the way she was treated. What this sadist did to her was unspeakable....and, very professional. He hurt her just about every way it's possible to hurt someone, without doing any serious, lasting damage. Physically. On top of that, the three women all say he's a potent telepath. And obviously, he's extremely cunning, and sneaky. A metahuman Ted Bundy, is what we may be dealing with. I'd almost rather be dealing with Legion or Pulsar...at least they leave explosions in their wake so you know where they are." "Too bad we can't just shoot him on sight," Donnay says, with a perfectly neutral expression, as he turns onto the street on which the Budget Hotel is located. <><><><><> Walt: "Speaking of 'shooting him on sight', what exactly *are* we going to do with him, or for that matter anybody else, if and when we *do* catch him?" Walt shrugs. "I mean, shucks, I'll go on slugging baddies in the jaw like I pasted Estes, but somehow I think 'Supraman' or Legion's 'Amazon' wouldn't be impressed. Heck, plenty of 'normal' people haven't been all that impressed! We started to talk about this before, and I never did get a real answer. If we're gonna keep racing around the country taking on the baddies, we gotta have something better than my right hook and Harv's 'magic sugar cubes'!" He grins. "In the meantime, what kinda leads we got left? Anything?" <><><><><> Harvey: (To Walt) "Don't knock the knock out cubes, they work pretty well! For that matter your meta-ability can be extremely potent when facing a meta. You remember when I told you not to neutralize me or mystery back during that fight? I didn't mean to be impertinent, but if you'd hit me while I'd been in a wall I be dead, very dead. And if you'd hit Mystery she would have bled to death in about 5 seconds." "Actually, if I understand your power, you should be able to induce something like a major epileptic seizure. If you could get an opponents neurons to all fire at once, sort of like shorting out a piece of electrical equipment, they should convulse. If that's too drastic you could try to limit it to part of the brain. There's a part that deals with sleep," waving his hands and pointing in the direction of his head, "somewhere in there, I don't know where, if you increased activity in it a person would probably just fall asleep; when we get back to Virginia ask one of the doctors where that part of the brain is, I am way over my head here." "Come to think of it, I asked facetiously how to sneak up on a telepath. Looks like your the answer. When in doubt, 'neutralize first, ask questions later'". <><><><><> [GM] "That's part of what our R&D department is working on, Shindell. Weapons that can affect metahumans, and some way of restraining them once they're captured. I guess for some, a specially-reinforced prison cell might do it...there are metahumans who can bend ordinary jail bars, or punch through a cement wall, but maybe reinforced steel would hold them. But then there are those like Paladin or Pulsar, who probably couldn't be stopped by much of anything that present technology can produce." Donnay grins without mirth. "Maybe we'll get lucky and these space aliens will have a solution." "In the meantime," Mahon says, "you're right that we're just stumbling along by trial and error. What we seem to be is primarily damage control. And as soon as I come up with any brilliant ideas, I'll be sure to let you know." Donnay nods. "This telepathic torturer doesn't sound like someone who can break through walls, though who knows, Legion seems to be telepathic, and he, she or it can break through just about anything. If we *do* catch him, we'll probably do what we did with Miguel and Juan...drug him into a coma, take him back to Virginia, and then maybe try to interrogate him, with Shindell's help. And I dearly hope that we eventually find some other way to neutralize metahuman powers, because we certainly can't rely on any one man's power." "The only leads we've got right now are whatever we may find when we catch up to the three ladies." The van pulls up behind another dark van that looks very similar to the one you're in. Mahon gets out and anxiously runs to the passenger side, banging on it and then pulling out a key and opening it up. Agent Hackley is inside, fast asleep. Mahon shakes him violently, and it takes five seconds of vigorous shaking before the other agent, sitting in front of some electronic equipment, finally opens his eyes and starts to focus on his partner. "What the f***?!" Donnay growls, as Hackley looks a little embarrassed. Hackley can't offer any explanation for his falling asleep...he apparently just nodded off in an instant. Although he claims he wasn't tired. Mahon looks grim. "Considering we're dealing with a telepath, I think this is really suspicious." He looks towards the hotel. "I say we'd best head for the Hartwicks' room...and be alert."