Worm, a fantastic web serial, is owned by Wildbow. This quest will spoil a great deal - if not...
Alchemical Solutions [Worm/Exalted] Thread 16: Playful Parasites Pervert Prayer, Perpetuate Plagues
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Gromweld
Learning By Mistake
Worm, a fantastic web serial, is owned by Wildbow. This quest will spoil a great deal - if not all - of the story, so if you haven't finished it already... go read it now! (Unless you don't care about spoilers, that is.)
Exalted, a delightful RPG system, is owned by White Wolf and CCP Games. Support the game by picking up a few PDFs on Drive-Thru RPG, would ya?
Credit to Sojiko for the Conquest Quest character sheet format.
Credit to PseudoSim for help formatting this Index.
Exalted, a delightful RPG system, is owned by White Wolf and CCP Games. Support the game by picking up a few PDFs on Drive-Thru RPG, would ya?
ALCHEMICAL SOLUTIONS
[Worm/Exalted]
[Worm/Exalted]
- STORY INDEX
- RELATED LINKS
- OMAKE
- QUEST-RELATED ART
- CHARACTER SHEET: ENDURING ORDER ADMINISTRATOR
- CHARACTER SHEET: FIRST PRAYER OF PERFECTION
- CHARACTER SHEET: IRIS OF INNOVATION
- QUEST EXPERIENCE LOGS
- QUEST MECHANICS
- NEW CHARMS & ARTIFACTS
- TAYLOR'S FIRST ARMOR
-
TAYLOR'S FIRST ARMOR (EQUIPMENT ●●●○○)
(Similar to this armor, but more 'regal' and with longer silken-armor skirt. Sadly, no cape.)
TAYLOR'S FIRST ARMOR STAT SHEET:
Armor vs Normal Attacks: 10 (+1 w/ AMU)
Armor vs Energy Attacks: 17 (+1 w/ AMU, +5 w/ HES)
Mobility: -1
Strength Min: 1
Battery: 150 Hours (Recharge/Repair 25 hours takes one FULL hour of Technomorphic Integration Engine)
Other Bonuses: Flight (AGM), +2 Dodge DV (AES), +2 to rolls for interfacing with technology (DCS), +2 Awareness (TPMG), Perfect lie detection against visibly-human targets (TPMG), +2 dice to attacks and defenses in one-on-one combat against opponents without exotic powers (TPMG)
Advanced Materials Upgrade v11.13a
Through use of Tinker-designed materials, layers of advanced polymers and fibers are applied on top of the existing armor to enhance Armor by +2 . Electromagnetic seals to reinforce the armor's joints can be activated upon command (reflexive, enable/disable once per tick) at the cost of one hour of battery life per minute, but yield another +1 to Armor while enabled.
Anti-Gravity Manipulators v2.03c
Two modes, reflexively toggled: Tactical Flight (15yards/second normal, 25yards/tick dash), Transit Flight (30yards/tick normal [60mph], 40yards/tick dash [80mph]). Transit Flight requires a Dex+Athletics roll for quick changes in direction. Every hour (round up) spent flying in Tactical Flight counts as two hours for purposes of Recharge/Repair time, where Transit Flight counts as three hours.
Assisted Evasion System v1.22a
Various tiny antigravity modules dot the armour. When enabled (reflexive, enable/disable once per tick), the system reads the bodily movements of the wearer and exaggerates them by briefly firing the appropriate antigravity modules. This results in a 'jinking' movement that increases Dodge DV by +2, but drains an hour of battery power per minute active.
Distributed Computer System v5.54d
A suite of signal monitoring and transmission systems spread out across the entire suit collect and process data to feed into the suit's distributed operating system. Through this system, the wearer is able to detect and interface with all forms of broadcast communications, as well interface with physical ports through use of extending plugs, granting the user +2 on rolls involving wireless communications and computer systems. Nearby suits equipped with both Distributed Computer System and Tactical Prediction Model Generator may coordinate against a single target to gain attack and defense bonuses as if the combat was still one-on-one.
Hazardous Environment System v6.44h
A series of insulating materials, reflective surfaces, and coolant systems designed to protect the wearer against exposure to environmental hazards. The suit gains +7 Armor against all energy-based damage, such as extreme heat, cold, electricity, and radiation. Additionally, the suit can reflexively vent its coolant to give an additional +5 armor against a single energy-based damage roll; this also hits everyone within 5 yards of the wearer with boiling hot coolant (2L) and reduces the armor bonus to +4 until the coolant systems are repaired.
Tactical Prediction Model Generator v.08b
+2 Awareness, +3 successes for detecting lie attempts (against visibly-human targets), +2 dice to all attacks and defenses in one-on-one combat against opponents without exotic powers.
- WCM's HOVER THRONE
-
WCM'S HOVER THRONE (EQUIPMENT ●●●○○)
(Like this, but with thicker arms, taller back, wood-colored, and with white cushions.)
A collaborative Toybox commission by the villainess WCM that cost her several millions of dollars, it nonetheless served her well for four years as a mobile command center for the various supervillian and mercenary groups she teamed up with to run heists and other jobs. Maintenance and recharging the power plant made it harder costlier to use over time, however, to the point where she recently commissioned a more reliable set of power armor from Toybox to use instead - a commission that will likely go unfilled after her death in Brockton Bay at the hands of Behemoth.
The throne itself looks more like something you'd see on the front deck of a mansion in the deep-south United States, and in a way it is; the chair was originally part of an entire furniture set from WCM's family mansion in Georgia, but when her family fell on hard times and was forced to sell she managed to keep her favorite chair for personal use. When WCM first struck it big as a supervillain, she shipped the chair to Toybox and had them build her a 'throne' inside of it.
At first glance, the Hover Throne appears to be a high-backed wicker recliner with comfortable white padding along the seat and back, but careful inspection reveals that the chair's 'hollow' parts are instead brimming with Tinkertech gadgetry. The left armrest folds up to reveal projectors for three hard-light keyboards and nine monitors - the keyboards went mostly unused by WCM due to her technopath-like power, but were installed as a backup should she ever run into a power-negator. The cluster of computers and servers in the Hover Throne are high-end Tinkertech, complete with several high-band antennas to hook into radio and wireless signals, and retractable cords with universal adapters - the combination allowing for physical and wireless connections to nearly any computer system. Mechanically, this provides a +2 bonus to Lore rolls with the relevant downloaded libraries, +2 bonus to Investigation rolls with an Internet connection, and a +2 bonus to War rolls for the purpose of battlefield coordination if a team's communications are linked to the device.
Beyond its computing and tactical capabilities as a command center, the right armrest contains a dispenser for a programmable replicator, which feeds from a two-foot-cube tank accessible from the back of the chair. New items can be programmed into the replicator by placing it in the fuel tank, though WCM herself only had several types of tea (sweet and normal), a version of her heirloom tea set, and pastries programmed into the device.
Though the Hover Throne has no direct offensive capabilities built-in, a bubble-like shield can be charged up and erected around the chair. The hazy blue forcefield can reflect errant small arms fire with ease, but sustained, direct assaults can drain the shield quickly. Recharging the shield's capacitor takes 60 seconds if the Hover Throne is in flight, or 30 seconds if it is resting.
The Hover Throne, as the name implies, is capable of independent flight and hovering. It is not especially maneuverable in tight spaces, but can navigate building interiors if the driver is careful enough. It's usual maximum speed is 15 miles per hour (7 yards per tick), while an 'extended flight' mode can be engaged to propel it at 30 miles per hour (15 yards per tick) though this mode imparts a -2 external penalty to combat maneuvers.
As a collaborative Tinker effort, it is considerably more prone to failure, however, and the antimatter reactor that powers it requires fuel only provided by Toybox - both factors that made WCM eventually recently deem it too costly to use due to her dwindling funds. Repairs cost anywhere from a month's expenditure of Resources 2 to Resources 5, and a full refueling costs a month's expenditure of Resources 5.
WCM'S HOVER THRONE STAT SHEET:
Speed: 15/30mph
Maneuverability: +1R (Technology/Lore 2, Drive/Ride 1) (Uses Wits+Drive/Ride)
Endurance: 1ft-diameter antimatter power plant that degrades to uselessness after 150 hours of use. Maintenance required after 30 hours of use, with every 1 hour after that disabling a random feature of the Hover Throne.
Crew: 1/1
Cargo: Built-in extended-space compartment on right side of chair, 3ft wide / 3ft tall / 6ft deep, with a maximum load of one ton.
Shield: 6L/6B, can withstand 10 health levels of damage before recharging
Armor: 6L/6B
Health Levels: Undamaged x 5/ Minor Damage x10 / Critical Damage x3 / Inoperative x 2 / Destroyed
Weapons: None normally.
Other Notes: Moving at double-speed drains the power plant at a rate of 1 hour/minute. Restoring the shield consumes 5 hours of charge.
- LOCATIONS
-
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
Relevant Philadelphia Information:
- Civilian Population: 900,000
- Parahuman Population (Officially): 10 Protectorate, 5 Wards, 91 Supervillains, 65 Unaffiliated Heroes, 9 Rogues
- Parahuman Population (Effective): 10 Protectorate, 5 Wards, 102 Supervillains, 67 Unaffiliated Heroes, 9 Rogues
- PRT Offices: PRT Headquarters/Downtown, PRT North, PRT Northeast, Protectorate Island
- Philadelphia's PRT usually counts Camden's non-PRT parahuman population in its numbers, as it does most of the work there. Cherry Hill and the other Camden County cities pitch in when available (which isn't often).
CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY
Relevant Camden Information:
- Civilian Population: 52,000
- PRT Offices: Camden PRT Headquarters
- Parahuman Population (Officially): 3 Protectorate, 0 Wards, 11 Supervillains, 2 Unaffiliated Heroes, 0 Rogues
- Many of Philadelphia's Gangs claim territory in Camden, but the parahumans don't live there.
- Somehow worse than Brockton Bay: over 40% of the population is under the poverty line, gangs rule the streets, and the most of the city is condemned.
Credit to Sojiko for the Conquest Quest character sheet format.
Credit to PseudoSim for help formatting this Index.
Last edited:
Gromweld
Learning By Mistake
RE-POSTED VOTE TALLY FOR 7.7
TL;DR - Kick in the Door (SPIRAL POWAH), Bank Vault Door Strategy (Making Shortcuts), Stay Together (Keep Kali Behind You), Save the Tourists (Military Retirees), Something Useful, Free Action: Swarm Guidance, FPoP - Craft (Shards ●○○), EOA - Artifact (Dragonsuit) ●●○○○, EOA - Lore (Artificial Intelligence ●○○), FPoP - Occult ●○○○○
Wow this vote was a mess. Too bad you didn't grab that point of Dodge, though...
Storming the Castle:
[X] Kick In The Door: Time is of the essence. You are the invincible diamond, and you bring the thunder. Kali can keep up.
No. of votes: 19
Nor, Cassiemouse, 1986ctcel, uju32, AckSed, charysa, ThrustVectoring, Skelm, Daemir, FunkyEntropy, Ridtom, suntzu, Klaus, SwiftRosenthal, Odysseus2099, wingnut2292, vali, spudman, Anasurimbor
- [x] Stunt: Metal screams as a tornado of blades clears your path. Kali, feet wedged between Plasma Thrusters, combines her powers with Gust's, annihilating any drones still targeting you through the jammer's interference. You slam through the X of insects on the wall like the fist of an angry god-machine, chunks of concrete scattering the surprised PRT heavy squad barricading the room.
No. of votes: 12
Skelm, Daemir, FunkyEntropy, Ridtom, suntzu, Klaus, SwiftRosenthal, Odysseus2099, wingnut2292, vali, spudman, Anasurimbor
- [x] Stunt: From a darkling sky, twin funnels of air reach down to write An'she's will across the island. Flexing your shield covered arm, you raise your voice above the howl of Gust's tornadoes. There's our covering fire. Crocker,engage. Bladedancer, hang on to the sword. We go on three. Two. One. Mark!
No. of votes: 4
Nor, 1986ctcel, AckSed, uju32
- [x] Stunt: Bladedancer. Yes? Prepare for rapid insertion. Look, Marmar. You're hot but now isn't the time to...HRNK! You grab Kali and take off in a blaze of light. You jink left and right, the shells from the defensive turrets whizzing by your head as you fly upside down, shielding Kali with you body as you make your approach. The southern wall - your chosen entry point - explodes inward as you rotate in the air, bringing your adamant-clad fist to bare.
No. of votes: 2
charysa, ThrustVectoring
- [x] Stunt:You land on the helipad and wade into the stream of turret fire. Glittering diamond spikes orbit around you in a corona of violet electricity. With thunderous boom you lash out at the entrance to the HQ.
No. of votes: 1
Cassiemouse
[X] Bring Me Chopper Backup: Work to take down the turrets before entering, allowing for PRT and Protectorate backup after you're inside.
No. of votes: 7
lostapenny, Riha, JackFolstam, Funcio, Arbit, theDragonBard, landcollector
- [x] Stunt: We have Uriel's promise of a distraction for the drones. You hand Kali a trio of Foam Grenades to match your own and begin to form Condensed Armor , Strider shall be gathering Tinkers and Thinkers to disable the machines. We will attack from above and focus on the more lethal turrets. Try to hang on to Plasma Thruster Assembly.
No. of votes: 3
Arbit, theDragonBard, landcollector
- [x] Stunt: Director, you say when Kali is prepared, We will handle the Turrets. Can you spare some equipment? Or anything long range enough to draw their fire? You create a shield of crystal around your arm for protection and speed. A timeline of the attack perhaps? List of Wards or Heroes missing?
No. of votes: 2
lostapenny, Riha
- [x] Stunt: Bladedancer's power seizes the blades on your armor, the strength and precision of her power supporting your own. Engine flaring, you flash through the overcast skies like a thunderbolt, dancing through the turrets' fire. Your strike is the wrath of an angry god-machine, driving the waiting PRT troopers under cover, as shattered metal falls from the sky like alien rain.
No. of votes: 1
JackFolstam
[X] Lay of the Land: You are familiar with the external security, and the turrets are fearsome. Work with Kali to find the optimal Dynamic Entry point.
No. of votes: 6
Imrix, noliar, veekie, wingstrike96, Scify, Enjou
- [x] Stunt: Water drips down on Vajra's armored form as she peers up at the dense pipes leading upwards. In a burst of motion, diamond mantled form ascends the plumbing, a rain of debris and wastewater below her. The reinforced flooring above resists briefly, then shatters in a muted burst of white lightning. Bladedancer hovers below, Uriel isn't going to like this.
No. of votes: 2
veekie, wingstrike96
- [x] Stunt: There are no true weak points on the Protectorate HQ, but there arespots that are less well-defended. You and Kali aim for one such location, her bloodthirsty grin threatening to split her face in twain as you plunge from the sky, the reinforced skylight of the Director's office looming ever larger before you. With a tinkling crash, you are inside.
No. of votes: 2
Scify, Enjou
- [x] Stunt: They look at the map. The road, the PRT jetty, the public jetty, the helipad, the labs, the cells, under the road... all covered from multiple angles. The staff quarters side however, No doors so not so many guns there. Long lines of sight.The big guns can't depress far in that direction, angle's wrong, we could approach under the surface.butYou could grow a fairing.Nothing but nets and rocks...We pop up at the end, I can take the Gs, ignore the shutters and go straight through the wall!You just want to destroy my bedroom!It would be empty.
No. of votes: 1 (STUNT TOO LONG)
noliar
Where's a Rogue When You Need One?:
[X] Bank Vault Door Strategy: Traps? ISF laughs at your puny traps!
No. of votes: 20
noliar, Nor, Cassiemouse, Skelm, ThrustVectoring, JackFolstam, 1986ctcel, uju32, Daemir, FunkyEntropy, Ridtom, AckSed, suntzu, Klaus, SwiftRosenthal, Odysseus2099, wingnut2292, vali, spudman, Anasurimbor
- [x] Stunt: The last drone hits the floor with a dull thump, one of Kali's swords in it's back. As the shard-embedded walls begin to move again, you shift your shield to your left hand and begin to transform your fist into a razor-sharp crystal spike. "What are you doing," your insect guides buzz in confusion. "Making us a shortcut."
No. of votes: 16
Skelm, Daemir, FunkyEntropy, Ridtom, suntzu, Klaus, SwiftRosenthal, Odysseus2099, wingnut2292, vali, spudman, Anasurimbor, AckSed, uju32, Nor, 1986ctcel
- [x] Stunt: There's no time to lose. Putting on as much armor as you can, you punch through a wall to get inside - based on your knowledge of the base, you've just side-stepped the single best spot for an ambush there. If anything was laying in wait there, you're now the one who's got it pinned.
No. of votes: 2
ThrustVectoring, JackFolstam
- [x] Stunt: Your Plasma Assembly scorches the halls as you sprint towards the source of the trouble, battering defenses as you go.
No. of votes: 1
Cassiemouse
- [x] Stunt: Breaking down the door to one of the cubical farms, you reflexively dodge as a bullet whizzes past your head and deflects off of one of Bladedancer's swords. You wave off the shaky apology of the office worker before you, pointing the terrified group toward the safest way out as you move on to the next door.
No. of votes: 1
JackFolstam
[X] Taking Ten: You're familiar with the security layout, but might as well play it safe inside.
No. of votes: 10
Imrix, lostapenny, veekie, wingstrike96, Scify, Enjou, Riha, Arbit, theDragonBard, landcollector
- [x] Stunt: You ignore Kali's grunt of annoyance, Even if I am confident in my abilities, I am uncertain of what other tricks may be in play. Bezalel isn't foolish. Kali sighs harder and you shrug, Just keep an eye and ear out for anything that seems out of place. This whole thing is suspicious.
No. of votes: 5
lostapenny, Riha, Arbit, theDragonBard, landcollector
- [x] Stunt: Advancing in silence, Vajra moves towards the building's generator room, ducking out of sight of a passing drone. A barely suppressed whimper from a closet catches her attention, a cowering man inside, Technician Flint, do you know anything about the building's power? Turns out she didn't have to smash the power lines after all. I will protect you, come.
No. of votes: 2
veekie, wingstrike96
- [x] Stunt: The interior defenses are focused more towards capture than damage, so you take the time needed to properly bypass and disarm them. Kali fidgets impatiently behind you, but a clear path forward and a secure escape route are better than being coated in containment foam. As you move, you take a second or two to check each room you pass.
No. of votes: 2
Scify, Enjou
Do You Split the Party:
[X] No, stay together.
No. of votes: 31
Imrix, lostapenny, noliar, veekie, wingstrike96, Scify, Nor, Enjou, charysa, Riha, Skelm, ThrustVectoring, JackFolstam, aetherialDawn, andres, Funcio, Arbit, 1986ctcel, uju32, Daemir, theDragonBard, FunkyEntropy, Ridtom, AckSed, landcollector, suntzu, SwiftRosenthal, Odysseus2099, wingnut2292, spudman, Anasurimbor
- [x] Stunt: Kali smirks, "Not my first live-action horror movie, Marmar." Nor yours. Keeping an adamant blade in one hand and shard launcher in the other, you extrude a shield. No rushing ahead either. You chide sternly. Kali pouts but nods, silently rearranging her blades to cover your path as you weave through the cubicles in the dimly lit office.
No. of votes: 14
Skelm, 1986ctcel, Daemir, FunkyEntropy, AckSed, suntzu, SwiftRosenthal, Odysseus2099, wingnut2292, spudman, Anasurimbor, Ridtom, Nor, uju32
- [x] Stunt: Kali follows close behind as you advance, lightning fast blades lancing out to skewer drones from out of their sight as you charge the heavier defenses, adamant claws swatting bullets and scattering lasers, shattering attacks, then plunges in fist deep into their mechanisms. But this was not the only battle, ahead there is the crunch of shattering drones. Chevalier.
No. of votes: 3
veekie, wingstrike96, charysa
- [x] Stunt: With only two of you, there is no sense in splitting up. As you frown at the T-junction, trying to decide which way would work best, Kali works to cover your back from the swarm of drones that has been dogging you for several minutes. A few more moments of thought reveals the best choice and you press on.
No. of votes: 2
Scify, Enjou
- [x] Stunt: As you smash through from office to corridor an auto-gun turret pops up. Kali is in cover behind you with practiced speed. You take the rounds on your wrist, bullets completely useless against angled, attuned, enhanced adamant. Only three make it that far before a shard from the cloud surrounding you destroys the gun as others flick out to block nozzles, remove sensors and generally make a mess neatly. A piston extends from the elbow of your already raised arm - the next wall is concrete.
No. of votes: 1 (STUNT TOO LONG)
noliar
[X] Yes, split up.
No. of votes: 1
Cassiemouse
- [x] Stunt: I will draw off the hostiles while you secure the hostages, Kali. Don't worry, I can take anything they can throw at me.
No. of votes: 1
Cassiemouse
Calculus of War:
[X] Save Tourists
No. of votes: 24
Imrix, lostapenny, noliar, veekie, wingstrike96, Scify, Enjou, Riha, Cassiemouse, ThrustVectoring, aetherialDawn, andres, Funcio, Arbit, 1986ctcel, Daemir, theDragonBard, Ridtom, AckSed, landcollector, suntzu, Klaus, Odysseus2099, wingnut2292
- [x] Stunt: Bladedancer, shield as many workers and civilians as you can without leaving yourself open, You ready Impenetrable Repulsor Field, Focus on the tourists when you can. This isn't their fight. You notice that the tourists here are in much better shape than the average… and the tattoos of the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor...oh. That explains the lack of panicking.
No. of votes: 1 (This was the only Stunt that actively helped you, and no Stunt had enough to outright win, so I'm declaring this one wins.)
Odysseus2099
- [x] Stunt: Bladedancer, shield as many workers and civilians as you can without leaving yourself open, You ready Impenetrable Repulsor Field, Focus mainly on the tourists when you can. This isn't their fight. You eye your surroundings, cautious, Keep a sure footing in case though. This may become a bit messy.
No. of votes: 7
lostapenny, Riha, ThrustVectoring, Arbit, 1986ctcel, theDragonBard, landcollector
- [x] Stunt: Bladedancer, shield as many workers and civilians as you can without leaving yourself open, You ready Impenetrable Repulsor Field, Focus mainly on the tourists when you can. This isn't their fight. One of the male workers speaks up, I'm a nurse. Does anyone need attention? A chorus of 'yes' is the reply and he nods, Children first then.
No. of votes: 5
Daemir, AckSed, wingnut2292, Ridtom, suntzu
- [x] Stunt: You shield a group of tourists with your invincible force field as the white hot bloom of the singularity bomb floods one of the large conference rooms deep within the base.
No. of votes: 3
Cassiemouse, aetherialDawn, andres
- [x] Stunt: As you hurry down the hall, your attention is drawn by the panicked screaming coming from the cafeteria. A large drone has cornered the last tour group of the day, herding them up against a bank of windows. Lightning gathers in your hand as you leap forward, a warcry on your lips as the drone spins to face you.
No. of votes: 2
Scify, Enjou
[X] Save PRT Workers
No. of votes: 9
Nor, charysa, Skelm, JackFolstam, uju32, FunkyEntropy, SwiftRosenthal, spudman, Anasurimbor
- [x] Stunt: Are you sure about this Mar? Kali whispers urgently. Yes. There's at least one systems technician in that group that I recognize, and two power room engineers. They might be able to help us regain control of the security systems or at least tell us how to shut down base power. I'll take responsibility. On my mark.
No. of votes: 3
charysa, Skelm, SwiftRosenthal
- [x] Stunt: You sure about this? Kali whispers. Yes. I recognize at least one systems technician in that group, and two power room engineers. They can probably help us regain control of the security systems or shut down base power. Besides…" you look to the 'civilian' tour group, Eagles, Globes, and Anchors proud on their arms. "Like they'd let us protect them."
No. of votes: 2
FunkyEntropy, Anasurimbor
- [x] Stunt: "Are you sure about this Mar?" Kali whispers urgently. "Yes. There's at least one systems technician in that group that I recognize, and two power room engineers. They might be able to tell us how to shut down base power, or the remaining security systems. I'll take responsibility. On my mark."
No. of votes: 1
uju32
- [x] Stunt: You sure? Kali whispers. Yes. I recognize at least one systems technician in that group, and two power room engineers. They can possibly help us regain control of the security systems or shut down base power. Besides…" you look to the 'civilian' tour group; proud Eagles, Globes, and Anchors tattooed on their arms. "Like they'd have us protect them.
No. of votes: 1
spudman
- [x] Stunt: Are you sure about this Mar? Kali whispers urgently. Yes. There's at least one systems technician in that group that I recognize, and two power room engineers. They might be able to tell us how to shut down base power, or the remaining security systems. I'll take responsibility. On my mark.
No. of votes: 1
Nor
Grab-Bag:
[X] Something useful
No. of votes: 16
lostapenny, Scify, charysa, Riha, ThrustVectoring, JackFolstam, aetherialDawn, andres, Funcio, 1986ctcel, uju32, Daemir, theDragonBard, Ridtom, landcollector, wingnut2292
[X] Something shiny
No. of votes: 13
noliar, veekie, wingstrike96, Nor, Cassiemouse, Skelm, FunkyEntropy, AckSed, Klaus, SwiftRosenthal, Odysseus2099, spudman, Anasurimbor
[X] Something deadly
No. of votes: 3
Imrix, Enjou, Arbit
[X] But if it comes down to it, save the capes.
No. of votes: 1 (INVALID VOTE, Y U SO SILLY?)
Imrix
Free Action:
[X] Free Action: "Weaver," you whisper to the swarm above you in Old Realm, "can you use your bugs to keep an eye out for traps? And brief me on what you think is important." Part of the swarms settles on the back of your armor and then it begins to talk. "Confirmed. I'll direct you to the CC room."
No. of votes: 15
Nor, 1986ctcel, FunkyEntropy, AckSed, SwiftRosenthal, Odysseus2099, spudman, Anasurimbor, uju32, Ridtom, landcollector, wingnut2292, Arbit, Daemir, theDragonBard
[X] Free Action: That phone conversation seemed innocuous enough at the time, but in the context of Bad Things Happening, the Twins not answering their phone becomes more worrisome. Just to be on the safe side, you relay the information to the director as you make your way to the base.
No. of votes: 8
noliar, charysa, Skelm, ThrustVectoring, JackFolstam, Funcio, suntzu, Klaus
[X] Free Action: You bend down and pick up the drone you have just disabled, frowning as you look it over. Turning to Kali, you remark, This looks like Bezalel's work and yet... something seems off about it. I suspect there is more going on here than meets the eye. You shove it into a free pocket; perhaps Weaver can find something?
No. of votes: 3
Scify, Enjou, Riha
[X] Free Action: You make an effort to refine the shards you launch at drones and turrets. Compressing them, refining their edge. Every shot, every cut you make leaves diamond blades embedded in walls and foes, Kali ripping them free into a brilliant haze of adamant. The crystals snap together, forming a hovering diamond drill, Bladedancer? What- The construct grinds into the walls.
No. of votes: 2
veekie, wingstrike96
[X] Free Action: You nod to Strider just as he drops you off, See if you can find any Wards or Protectorate Heroes off base. Or any Tinker that can disable Belazel's creations. Something or someone to give us an edge. Strider nods before handing you something. A beacon? It dawns on you, To keep track of my location? Clever.
No. of votes: 1
lostapenny
XP Expenditures:
[X] FPoP - 2 XP - Craft (Shards ●○○)
No. of votes: 29
veekie, wingstrike96, Scify, Nor, Enjou, charysa, Riha, Cassiemouse, Skelm, JackFolstam, aetherialDawn, andres, Funcio, Quantumboost, BearTemplar, Arbit, uju32, Daemir, theDragonBard, FunkyEntropy, Ridtom, AckSed, landcollector, Klaus, SwiftRosenthal, Odysseus2099, wingnut2292, spudman, Anasurimbor
[X] EOA - 6 XP - Artifact (Dragonsuit) ●●○○○
No. of votes: 21
lostapenny, noliar, veekie, wingstrike96, Scify, Enjou, Riha, Cassiemouse, Skelm, ThrustVectoring, aetherialDawn, andres, Funcio, BearTemplar, Arbit, 1986ctcel, theDragonBard, Ridtom, landcollector, suntzu, wingnut2292
[X] EOA - 2 XP - Lore (Artificial Intelligence ●○○)
No. of votes: 19
noliar, Nor, charysa, Cassiemouse, JackFolstam, aetherialDawn, andres, Funcio, Quantumboost, BearTemplar, uju32, Daemir, FunkyEntropy, AckSed, suntzu, SwiftRosenthal, Odysseus2099, spudman, Anasurimbor
[X] FPoP - 4 XP - Occult ●○○○○
No. of votes: 15
Nor, charysa, Skelm, Quantumboost, 1986ctcel, uju32, Daemir, FunkyEntropy, AckSed, Klaus, SwiftRosenthal, Odysseus2099, spudman, ThrustVectoring, Anasurimbor
[X] EOA - 2 XP - Archery/Firearms (Sniping ●○○)
No. of votes: 12
Nor, charysa, Quantumboost, uju32, theDragonBard, FunkyEntropy, AckSed, SwiftRosenthal, Odysseus2099, spudman, lostapenny, Anasurimbor
[X] EOA - 2 XP - Presence (Swarms ●●●)
No. of votes: 6
JackFolstam, Arbit, Daemir, theDragonBard, Ridtom, landcollector
[X] EOA - 4 XP - Dodge ●●●○○
No. of votes: 1
BearTemplar
TL;DR - Kick in the Door (SPIRAL POWAH), Bank Vault Door Strategy (Making Shortcuts), Stay Together (Keep Kali Behind You), Save the Tourists (Military Retirees), Something Useful, Free Action: Swarm Guidance, FPoP - Craft (Shards ●○○), EOA - Artifact (Dragonsuit) ●●○○○, EOA - Lore (Artificial Intelligence ●○○), FPoP - Occult ●○○○○
Wow this vote was a mess. Too bad you didn't grab that point of Dodge, though...
Storming the Castle:
[X] Kick In The Door: Time is of the essence. You are the invincible diamond, and you bring the thunder. Kali can keep up.
No. of votes: 19
Nor, Cassiemouse, 1986ctcel, uju32, AckSed, charysa, ThrustVectoring, Skelm, Daemir, FunkyEntropy, Ridtom, suntzu, Klaus, SwiftRosenthal, Odysseus2099, wingnut2292, vali, spudman, Anasurimbor
- [x] Stunt: Metal screams as a tornado of blades clears your path. Kali, feet wedged between Plasma Thrusters, combines her powers with Gust's, annihilating any drones still targeting you through the jammer's interference. You slam through the X of insects on the wall like the fist of an angry god-machine, chunks of concrete scattering the surprised PRT heavy squad barricading the room.
No. of votes: 12
Skelm, Daemir, FunkyEntropy, Ridtom, suntzu, Klaus, SwiftRosenthal, Odysseus2099, wingnut2292, vali, spudman, Anasurimbor
- [x] Stunt: From a darkling sky, twin funnels of air reach down to write An'she's will across the island. Flexing your shield covered arm, you raise your voice above the howl of Gust's tornadoes. There's our covering fire. Crocker,engage. Bladedancer, hang on to the sword. We go on three. Two. One. Mark!
No. of votes: 4
Nor, 1986ctcel, AckSed, uju32
- [x] Stunt: Bladedancer. Yes? Prepare for rapid insertion. Look, Marmar. You're hot but now isn't the time to...HRNK! You grab Kali and take off in a blaze of light. You jink left and right, the shells from the defensive turrets whizzing by your head as you fly upside down, shielding Kali with you body as you make your approach. The southern wall - your chosen entry point - explodes inward as you rotate in the air, bringing your adamant-clad fist to bare.
No. of votes: 2
charysa, ThrustVectoring
- [x] Stunt:You land on the helipad and wade into the stream of turret fire. Glittering diamond spikes orbit around you in a corona of violet electricity. With thunderous boom you lash out at the entrance to the HQ.
No. of votes: 1
Cassiemouse
[X] Bring Me Chopper Backup: Work to take down the turrets before entering, allowing for PRT and Protectorate backup after you're inside.
No. of votes: 7
lostapenny, Riha, JackFolstam, Funcio, Arbit, theDragonBard, landcollector
- [x] Stunt: We have Uriel's promise of a distraction for the drones. You hand Kali a trio of Foam Grenades to match your own and begin to form Condensed Armor , Strider shall be gathering Tinkers and Thinkers to disable the machines. We will attack from above and focus on the more lethal turrets. Try to hang on to Plasma Thruster Assembly.
No. of votes: 3
Arbit, theDragonBard, landcollector
- [x] Stunt: Director, you say when Kali is prepared, We will handle the Turrets. Can you spare some equipment? Or anything long range enough to draw their fire? You create a shield of crystal around your arm for protection and speed. A timeline of the attack perhaps? List of Wards or Heroes missing?
No. of votes: 2
lostapenny, Riha
- [x] Stunt: Bladedancer's power seizes the blades on your armor, the strength and precision of her power supporting your own. Engine flaring, you flash through the overcast skies like a thunderbolt, dancing through the turrets' fire. Your strike is the wrath of an angry god-machine, driving the waiting PRT troopers under cover, as shattered metal falls from the sky like alien rain.
No. of votes: 1
JackFolstam
[X] Lay of the Land: You are familiar with the external security, and the turrets are fearsome. Work with Kali to find the optimal Dynamic Entry point.
No. of votes: 6
Imrix, noliar, veekie, wingstrike96, Scify, Enjou
- [x] Stunt: Water drips down on Vajra's armored form as she peers up at the dense pipes leading upwards. In a burst of motion, diamond mantled form ascends the plumbing, a rain of debris and wastewater below her. The reinforced flooring above resists briefly, then shatters in a muted burst of white lightning. Bladedancer hovers below, Uriel isn't going to like this.
No. of votes: 2
veekie, wingstrike96
- [x] Stunt: There are no true weak points on the Protectorate HQ, but there arespots that are less well-defended. You and Kali aim for one such location, her bloodthirsty grin threatening to split her face in twain as you plunge from the sky, the reinforced skylight of the Director's office looming ever larger before you. With a tinkling crash, you are inside.
No. of votes: 2
Scify, Enjou
- [x] Stunt: They look at the map. The road, the PRT jetty, the public jetty, the helipad, the labs, the cells, under the road... all covered from multiple angles. The staff quarters side however, No doors so not so many guns there. Long lines of sight.The big guns can't depress far in that direction, angle's wrong, we could approach under the surface.butYou could grow a fairing.Nothing but nets and rocks...We pop up at the end, I can take the Gs, ignore the shutters and go straight through the wall!You just want to destroy my bedroom!It would be empty.
No. of votes: 1 (STUNT TOO LONG)
noliar
Where's a Rogue When You Need One?:
[X] Bank Vault Door Strategy: Traps? ISF laughs at your puny traps!
No. of votes: 20
noliar, Nor, Cassiemouse, Skelm, ThrustVectoring, JackFolstam, 1986ctcel, uju32, Daemir, FunkyEntropy, Ridtom, AckSed, suntzu, Klaus, SwiftRosenthal, Odysseus2099, wingnut2292, vali, spudman, Anasurimbor
- [x] Stunt: The last drone hits the floor with a dull thump, one of Kali's swords in it's back. As the shard-embedded walls begin to move again, you shift your shield to your left hand and begin to transform your fist into a razor-sharp crystal spike. "What are you doing," your insect guides buzz in confusion. "Making us a shortcut."
No. of votes: 16
Skelm, Daemir, FunkyEntropy, Ridtom, suntzu, Klaus, SwiftRosenthal, Odysseus2099, wingnut2292, vali, spudman, Anasurimbor, AckSed, uju32, Nor, 1986ctcel
- [x] Stunt: There's no time to lose. Putting on as much armor as you can, you punch through a wall to get inside - based on your knowledge of the base, you've just side-stepped the single best spot for an ambush there. If anything was laying in wait there, you're now the one who's got it pinned.
No. of votes: 2
ThrustVectoring, JackFolstam
- [x] Stunt: Your Plasma Assembly scorches the halls as you sprint towards the source of the trouble, battering defenses as you go.
No. of votes: 1
Cassiemouse
- [x] Stunt: Breaking down the door to one of the cubical farms, you reflexively dodge as a bullet whizzes past your head and deflects off of one of Bladedancer's swords. You wave off the shaky apology of the office worker before you, pointing the terrified group toward the safest way out as you move on to the next door.
No. of votes: 1
JackFolstam
[X] Taking Ten: You're familiar with the security layout, but might as well play it safe inside.
No. of votes: 10
Imrix, lostapenny, veekie, wingstrike96, Scify, Enjou, Riha, Arbit, theDragonBard, landcollector
- [x] Stunt: You ignore Kali's grunt of annoyance, Even if I am confident in my abilities, I am uncertain of what other tricks may be in play. Bezalel isn't foolish. Kali sighs harder and you shrug, Just keep an eye and ear out for anything that seems out of place. This whole thing is suspicious.
No. of votes: 5
lostapenny, Riha, Arbit, theDragonBard, landcollector
- [x] Stunt: Advancing in silence, Vajra moves towards the building's generator room, ducking out of sight of a passing drone. A barely suppressed whimper from a closet catches her attention, a cowering man inside, Technician Flint, do you know anything about the building's power? Turns out she didn't have to smash the power lines after all. I will protect you, come.
No. of votes: 2
veekie, wingstrike96
- [x] Stunt: The interior defenses are focused more towards capture than damage, so you take the time needed to properly bypass and disarm them. Kali fidgets impatiently behind you, but a clear path forward and a secure escape route are better than being coated in containment foam. As you move, you take a second or two to check each room you pass.
No. of votes: 2
Scify, Enjou
Do You Split the Party:
[X] No, stay together.
No. of votes: 31
Imrix, lostapenny, noliar, veekie, wingstrike96, Scify, Nor, Enjou, charysa, Riha, Skelm, ThrustVectoring, JackFolstam, aetherialDawn, andres, Funcio, Arbit, 1986ctcel, uju32, Daemir, theDragonBard, FunkyEntropy, Ridtom, AckSed, landcollector, suntzu, SwiftRosenthal, Odysseus2099, wingnut2292, spudman, Anasurimbor
- [x] Stunt: Kali smirks, "Not my first live-action horror movie, Marmar." Nor yours. Keeping an adamant blade in one hand and shard launcher in the other, you extrude a shield. No rushing ahead either. You chide sternly. Kali pouts but nods, silently rearranging her blades to cover your path as you weave through the cubicles in the dimly lit office.
No. of votes: 14
Skelm, 1986ctcel, Daemir, FunkyEntropy, AckSed, suntzu, SwiftRosenthal, Odysseus2099, wingnut2292, spudman, Anasurimbor, Ridtom, Nor, uju32
- [x] Stunt: Kali follows close behind as you advance, lightning fast blades lancing out to skewer drones from out of their sight as you charge the heavier defenses, adamant claws swatting bullets and scattering lasers, shattering attacks, then plunges in fist deep into their mechanisms. But this was not the only battle, ahead there is the crunch of shattering drones. Chevalier.
No. of votes: 3
veekie, wingstrike96, charysa
- [x] Stunt: With only two of you, there is no sense in splitting up. As you frown at the T-junction, trying to decide which way would work best, Kali works to cover your back from the swarm of drones that has been dogging you for several minutes. A few more moments of thought reveals the best choice and you press on.
No. of votes: 2
Scify, Enjou
- [x] Stunt: As you smash through from office to corridor an auto-gun turret pops up. Kali is in cover behind you with practiced speed. You take the rounds on your wrist, bullets completely useless against angled, attuned, enhanced adamant. Only three make it that far before a shard from the cloud surrounding you destroys the gun as others flick out to block nozzles, remove sensors and generally make a mess neatly. A piston extends from the elbow of your already raised arm - the next wall is concrete.
No. of votes: 1 (STUNT TOO LONG)
noliar
[X] Yes, split up.
No. of votes: 1
Cassiemouse
- [x] Stunt: I will draw off the hostiles while you secure the hostages, Kali. Don't worry, I can take anything they can throw at me.
No. of votes: 1
Cassiemouse
Calculus of War:
[X] Save Tourists
No. of votes: 24
Imrix, lostapenny, noliar, veekie, wingstrike96, Scify, Enjou, Riha, Cassiemouse, ThrustVectoring, aetherialDawn, andres, Funcio, Arbit, 1986ctcel, Daemir, theDragonBard, Ridtom, AckSed, landcollector, suntzu, Klaus, Odysseus2099, wingnut2292
- [x] Stunt: Bladedancer, shield as many workers and civilians as you can without leaving yourself open, You ready Impenetrable Repulsor Field, Focus on the tourists when you can. This isn't their fight. You notice that the tourists here are in much better shape than the average… and the tattoos of the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor...oh. That explains the lack of panicking.
No. of votes: 1 (This was the only Stunt that actively helped you, and no Stunt had enough to outright win, so I'm declaring this one wins.)
Odysseus2099
- [x] Stunt: Bladedancer, shield as many workers and civilians as you can without leaving yourself open, You ready Impenetrable Repulsor Field, Focus mainly on the tourists when you can. This isn't their fight. You eye your surroundings, cautious, Keep a sure footing in case though. This may become a bit messy.
No. of votes: 7
lostapenny, Riha, ThrustVectoring, Arbit, 1986ctcel, theDragonBard, landcollector
- [x] Stunt: Bladedancer, shield as many workers and civilians as you can without leaving yourself open, You ready Impenetrable Repulsor Field, Focus mainly on the tourists when you can. This isn't their fight. One of the male workers speaks up, I'm a nurse. Does anyone need attention? A chorus of 'yes' is the reply and he nods, Children first then.
No. of votes: 5
Daemir, AckSed, wingnut2292, Ridtom, suntzu
- [x] Stunt: You shield a group of tourists with your invincible force field as the white hot bloom of the singularity bomb floods one of the large conference rooms deep within the base.
No. of votes: 3
Cassiemouse, aetherialDawn, andres
- [x] Stunt: As you hurry down the hall, your attention is drawn by the panicked screaming coming from the cafeteria. A large drone has cornered the last tour group of the day, herding them up against a bank of windows. Lightning gathers in your hand as you leap forward, a warcry on your lips as the drone spins to face you.
No. of votes: 2
Scify, Enjou
[X] Save PRT Workers
No. of votes: 9
Nor, charysa, Skelm, JackFolstam, uju32, FunkyEntropy, SwiftRosenthal, spudman, Anasurimbor
- [x] Stunt: Are you sure about this Mar? Kali whispers urgently. Yes. There's at least one systems technician in that group that I recognize, and two power room engineers. They might be able to help us regain control of the security systems or at least tell us how to shut down base power. I'll take responsibility. On my mark.
No. of votes: 3
charysa, Skelm, SwiftRosenthal
- [x] Stunt: You sure about this? Kali whispers. Yes. I recognize at least one systems technician in that group, and two power room engineers. They can probably help us regain control of the security systems or shut down base power. Besides…" you look to the 'civilian' tour group, Eagles, Globes, and Anchors proud on their arms. "Like they'd let us protect them."
No. of votes: 2
FunkyEntropy, Anasurimbor
- [x] Stunt: "Are you sure about this Mar?" Kali whispers urgently. "Yes. There's at least one systems technician in that group that I recognize, and two power room engineers. They might be able to tell us how to shut down base power, or the remaining security systems. I'll take responsibility. On my mark."
No. of votes: 1
uju32
- [x] Stunt: You sure? Kali whispers. Yes. I recognize at least one systems technician in that group, and two power room engineers. They can possibly help us regain control of the security systems or shut down base power. Besides…" you look to the 'civilian' tour group; proud Eagles, Globes, and Anchors tattooed on their arms. "Like they'd have us protect them.
No. of votes: 1
spudman
- [x] Stunt: Are you sure about this Mar? Kali whispers urgently. Yes. There's at least one systems technician in that group that I recognize, and two power room engineers. They might be able to tell us how to shut down base power, or the remaining security systems. I'll take responsibility. On my mark.
No. of votes: 1
Nor
Grab-Bag:
[X] Something useful
No. of votes: 16
lostapenny, Scify, charysa, Riha, ThrustVectoring, JackFolstam, aetherialDawn, andres, Funcio, 1986ctcel, uju32, Daemir, theDragonBard, Ridtom, landcollector, wingnut2292
[X] Something shiny
No. of votes: 13
noliar, veekie, wingstrike96, Nor, Cassiemouse, Skelm, FunkyEntropy, AckSed, Klaus, SwiftRosenthal, Odysseus2099, spudman, Anasurimbor
[X] Something deadly
No. of votes: 3
Imrix, Enjou, Arbit
[X] But if it comes down to it, save the capes.
No. of votes: 1 (INVALID VOTE, Y U SO SILLY?)
Imrix
Free Action:
[X] Free Action: "Weaver," you whisper to the swarm above you in Old Realm, "can you use your bugs to keep an eye out for traps? And brief me on what you think is important." Part of the swarms settles on the back of your armor and then it begins to talk. "Confirmed. I'll direct you to the CC room."
No. of votes: 15
Nor, 1986ctcel, FunkyEntropy, AckSed, SwiftRosenthal, Odysseus2099, spudman, Anasurimbor, uju32, Ridtom, landcollector, wingnut2292, Arbit, Daemir, theDragonBard
[X] Free Action: That phone conversation seemed innocuous enough at the time, but in the context of Bad Things Happening, the Twins not answering their phone becomes more worrisome. Just to be on the safe side, you relay the information to the director as you make your way to the base.
No. of votes: 8
noliar, charysa, Skelm, ThrustVectoring, JackFolstam, Funcio, suntzu, Klaus
[X] Free Action: You bend down and pick up the drone you have just disabled, frowning as you look it over. Turning to Kali, you remark, This looks like Bezalel's work and yet... something seems off about it. I suspect there is more going on here than meets the eye. You shove it into a free pocket; perhaps Weaver can find something?
No. of votes: 3
Scify, Enjou, Riha
[X] Free Action: You make an effort to refine the shards you launch at drones and turrets. Compressing them, refining their edge. Every shot, every cut you make leaves diamond blades embedded in walls and foes, Kali ripping them free into a brilliant haze of adamant. The crystals snap together, forming a hovering diamond drill, Bladedancer? What- The construct grinds into the walls.
No. of votes: 2
veekie, wingstrike96
[X] Free Action: You nod to Strider just as he drops you off, See if you can find any Wards or Protectorate Heroes off base. Or any Tinker that can disable Belazel's creations. Something or someone to give us an edge. Strider nods before handing you something. A beacon? It dawns on you, To keep track of my location? Clever.
No. of votes: 1
lostapenny
XP Expenditures:
[X] FPoP - 2 XP - Craft (Shards ●○○)
No. of votes: 29
veekie, wingstrike96, Scify, Nor, Enjou, charysa, Riha, Cassiemouse, Skelm, JackFolstam, aetherialDawn, andres, Funcio, Quantumboost, BearTemplar, Arbit, uju32, Daemir, theDragonBard, FunkyEntropy, Ridtom, AckSed, landcollector, Klaus, SwiftRosenthal, Odysseus2099, wingnut2292, spudman, Anasurimbor
[X] EOA - 6 XP - Artifact (Dragonsuit) ●●○○○
No. of votes: 21
lostapenny, noliar, veekie, wingstrike96, Scify, Enjou, Riha, Cassiemouse, Skelm, ThrustVectoring, aetherialDawn, andres, Funcio, BearTemplar, Arbit, 1986ctcel, theDragonBard, Ridtom, landcollector, suntzu, wingnut2292
[X] EOA - 2 XP - Lore (Artificial Intelligence ●○○)
No. of votes: 19
noliar, Nor, charysa, Cassiemouse, JackFolstam, aetherialDawn, andres, Funcio, Quantumboost, BearTemplar, uju32, Daemir, FunkyEntropy, AckSed, suntzu, SwiftRosenthal, Odysseus2099, spudman, Anasurimbor
[X] FPoP - 4 XP - Occult ●○○○○
No. of votes: 15
Nor, charysa, Skelm, Quantumboost, 1986ctcel, uju32, Daemir, FunkyEntropy, AckSed, Klaus, SwiftRosenthal, Odysseus2099, spudman, ThrustVectoring, Anasurimbor
[X] EOA - 2 XP - Archery/Firearms (Sniping ●○○)
No. of votes: 12
Nor, charysa, Quantumboost, uju32, theDragonBard, FunkyEntropy, AckSed, SwiftRosenthal, Odysseus2099, spudman, lostapenny, Anasurimbor
[X] EOA - 2 XP - Presence (Swarms ●●●)
No. of votes: 6
JackFolstam, Arbit, Daemir, theDragonBard, Ridtom, landcollector
[X] EOA - 4 XP - Dodge ●●●○○
No. of votes: 1
BearTemplar
Gromweld
Learning By Mistake
Interlude: Chevalier
***
Robert Hoover couldn't remember when he'd first caught on to it, but within the first few months of his time in the newly-christened 'Wards' program he had started to pick up what Hero had called a 'danger sense.' Eidolon had confirmed that it wasn't anything to do with his secondary Thinker power, and after talking it over with Mary and Hannah, it wasn't something unique to just him.
It manifested differently for everyone, he learned as the years went by. For many, it was a slow tightening of the diaphragm, causing a churning feeling in one's gut and a noticeable increase in air intake (something about the body accelerating oxygen absorption rates). Others, it was a prickling feeling on the back of their neck and down their spine, giving the classic impression of "being watched." It was slightly different for everyone, but one thing was certain: those that developed it, and payed attention to it, lived. Those that didn't, died.
It was a major reason he allowed Kali such leniency in her training habits for the Wards, as Philadelphia hadn't lost a Ward in the five years since Roundabout died and Bladedancer took over. The Youth Guard had been furious about her methods at first, and he'd needed to go to bat against them more than once to prevent Kali from being replaced, but it always came down to the same result: a paranoid Ward was better than a dead Ward. In retrospect, he often wondered if more of his own Ward team would be alive if Eidolon, Legend, Alexandria, and Hero had been as aggressive in their training.
So when Robert's hands started tingling and he felt a chill go down his spine, just as he was walking past the main underground entrance to the Tinkertech Labs, he yanked his cannonblade from the magnetic clamp on his back and assumed a combat stance.
"Whoa, what the hell, Chevalier?" came the justifiably-alarmed voice of Who from his side, but Robert - Chevalier, now that he was focused - listened to his senses as he scanned the corridor. A quiet moment passed, but he kept his guard up; in his experience, it was never, "just a strange feeling."
Two seconds later, he spun at the sound he'd heard a handful of times in years past: the shearing, metallic keen of the Tinkertech Labs' emergency security barriers slamming shut.
There had been no alarm sounded, no alert from the scientists over the public address systems, and no planned tests of Protectorate Island's security features. Chevalier processed these facts at a deep, subconscious level, while his body reacted on instinct towards the perceived threat.
Consciously, he focused on various materials and items stored - phased, with his power - within the blade: density of the shard of Marrow's hyper-dense armor stored within it, size of the fifteen-foot wooden pole, shape of his razor-edged 'deadly force' blade, weight of styrofoam.
The blade still reshaping in his hands, Chevalier took a half-step and jammed the tip of the blade into the descending four-foot wall of reinforced steel, ceramics, and other bizarre alloys that the PRT hoped would counter (or at least, delay) a potential runaway-disaster of Tinkertech. The hilt of his blade jerked out of his hands, the force of the descending wall driving the pommel of the blade into - and slightly through - the ceramic tile on the floor.
His power struggled against the mountain of pressure the security barrier exerted against the blade, still attempting to distend to the length of the wooden pole contained within. Backup gears and servos in the door's frame crackled with electricity and strained metal, pushing the hilt of his blade deeper and deeper into the floor until finally the cannonblade's wide cross-guard stopped its descent. As Chevalier felt the oncoming of a power-induced headache, he quickly considered other available objects and materials before switching out the fifteen-foot pole for a six-foot one.
A split-second of high-pitched squealing later, the massive barrier finally settled as Chevalier's blade finished shifting into its new, shorter length. Barely five feet of clearance remained between the floor and the bottom of the blast wall.
The entire process had taken less than five seconds.
"What the shit-"
"Go!" Chevalier barked at the young Stranger, pointing with a free hand at the gap underneath the four feet of defensive armor. "We can't be on this side of the barrier!"
Spewing a litany of curses, the baseball-themed Ward quickly sprinted underneath the wall, and Chevalier followed immediately after. Standing up straight again on the opposite side, his right hand darted to the small pouch of supplies strapped to his armor's back and slid out the four-inch version of one of his backup blades - already growing in length as he began to use his power to give it proper combat traits. It didn't have nearly as many materials and objects stored within it as his primary blade did, but that was only due to budgetary concerns, not a lack of preparedness.
He hadn't lost his main blade in over eight years, and his idle habit of storing more and more items and materials into it meant it was worth somewhere in the range of ten to fifteen million dollars.
He really didn't want to lose it; the paperwork involved in replacing it would be astronomical.
His power would fade and cause the items phased within to eject if he didn't stay within six feet of the blade, but there was at least a few minutes before his power's effect began to degrade. Hopefully he could get to the bottom-
Above him, a turret popped out of the ceiling and aimed at the two heroes. He heard it more than he saw it, what with his helmet's slightly-reduced field of vision, but he was already lashing it out with his backup blade before the telltale sound of sprayed containment foam began.
"What the flying fuck is going on!?" asked an unknown voice from somewhere around him.
Chevalier spun on his left foot and assumed a defensive stance against the originator of the voice, a demand for them to identify themselves on his lips just as the young Stranger in front of him suppressed her power and recognition bloomed in his mind.
"Who? What are you doing here?!"
"I-" stammered the Ward, still holding her tinkertech baseball bat in front of her as if she could have possibly parried his blade, "I came over to help Weaver move her shit back home! We were going to see her in the Labs, then everything went fuckin' nuts! What's going on?!"
That… yes, that made sense. He even vaguely remembered picking her up at the front entrance of the Island a few minutes ago, and listening to some of her irreverent chatter about the prank war she, Clockblocker, and Weaver had waged over the last week. He pushed the returning memories to the side and focused back on the pressing issues at-hand.
"That's the quarantine wall for when something goes wrong in the Tinkertech Labs," Chevalier motioned with his head while he lined up shots with his cannonblade at the next six turrets popping out further down the hall. Focusing his power as he fired, he gave the quarter-sized projectiles the weight and density of tungsten after they had left the rifle chamber at the base of the blade - easily drilling holes through each squat turret. After the deafening cracks from its firing and the clattering of metal from the destroyed turrets died down, he spared a glance at the Ward.
Her body was in a practiced combat stance designed to anticipate attackers from any angle, and her head jerked back and forth; still a little too much tension, but good. She also kept her right hand on her bat's grip and her left hand free and elevated - either to brace the bat or grab at something if needed - which was likely a mimicking of Bladedancer's own stance as he knew Kali hadn't started them on intense weapon training yet. Still, it was good for barely a month of training.
If the base's defenses truly were compromised, as he was beginning to fear, she might last a few more seconds.
"Your power doesn't work on computers, correct?"
"No," she replied, shifting awkwardly in her combat stance at the admission. "Fuck, is that what's going on? Our own shit is hacked? Where the fuck is Dragon?"
"It's the only explanation for the lack of alarms or announcements. Hopefully Bezalel can turn things around, otherwise someone needs to get to the control room in the Administration building and shut it all down manually."
"This's happened before?"
"Twice, but there are enough safeguards that we had warnings before. That there's nothing-"
Chevalier let his voice trail off in a sigh as he recognized a growing staccato of metal -a clanging, whirring, and buzzing of gears, servos, and pistons.
"Ah, good, that sounds like Bezalel's drones. He should be able to give us an update through them."
As if on cue, a massive robotic gorilla rounded the corner; complete with artificial hair, skin, and eyes, the only sign of its metallic nature was the unnaturally-metallic footfalls it made on the tiled floors. Flanking it were well over a dozen types of different bird drones, all similarly lifelike in their appearance, with several of them resting on the larger beast's shoulders. Chevalier began to raise an arm in greeting, when the mouth of the gorilla opened wide and flashed a brilliant red.
The foot-wide crimson beam that lanced out from its mouth struck him dead-center in his chest, blasting him back into the half-lowered barrier but only left a blackened mark on the silver plating.
Thanking his paranoia for keeping up his armor's density at all times, Chevalier staggering to his feet as the swarm of drones and mechanical gorilla charged his position.
"Command override!" he roared, lining up a shot on the gorilla's left arm. "Voice authorization: Chevalier dash four seven eight eight!"
As one, the artificial gorilla halted its movements while the avian drones glided gracefully to the floor and locked up. For a moment, there was silence.
Then the mouth of each mechanical creature opened wide and the synthetic voice of a man echoed into the long hallway.
"This is Bezalel. I'm not home. Leave a message at the beep."
Fourteen answering-machine beeps rang out, followed by each of the drones' mouths snapping shut with mechanical clicks.
"Bezalel, wha-" Chevalier managed to blurt out, but immediately after voicing the Tinker's name the mouths of all the drones popped open again.
"This is Bezalel. I'm not home. Leave a message at the beep."
This time, however, the drones sprang forward with inhuman speed and force, crossing dozens of yards in a heartbeat.
"Holy shit!" came a voice from around him, but Chevalier was more concerned with the thousands of pounds of mechanical death trying to pummel him with a two-fisted overhead slam. Chevalier quickly sidestepped and made the robotic primate pay for the move with a rising slash at its right armpit, cutting deeply into its inner workings and making the arm flail wildly for split-second before it went limp.
As he backed away from the massive beast, he noted a some of the birds try to throw themselves at his legs, arms, and head as distractions. The few that struck him barely made him flinch, but for some reason the rest of the birds seemed to be focused on something else around him.
"Fucking birds! Fuck you! Die!"
The unknown voice behind his back made Chevalier leap to the side again, ensuring that it was no longer behind him while still maintaining a guard against the multi-ton metallic primate. So lifelike was its appearance - besides the leaking synthetic fluids and sparking wires visible under it's right arm, now - that he caught an emotion of apprehension as it glanced at something to Chevalier's right and then back to him before snarling and leaping for a crushing grapple.
But its aim was wildly off, almost as if it was reaching out for something else.
"Aaaah!" came a high, panicked scream, somewhere off to his right. The snapping and crunching sound of armor and bone being pulverized followed.
Chevalier's gut twisted at the sound, but he was already driving the full length of his cannonblade into the exposed upper back of the massive drone. A small explosion of sparks erupted from the wound as seven feet and nearly four thousand pounds of metal lost collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut.
He heard another pained cry as the beast toppled over, but Chevalier pushed the easily-forgotten - yet somehow still troubling - sound out of his mind. Yanking the blade free of the downed gorilla drone, Chevalier made quick work of the rest of the avian drones with nine slashes and a shot from his cannonblade to dispense with the last fleeing bird.
That was strange, he didn't recall destroying the other four bird-drones.
Frowning at the thought, he resized his blade to an easier-to-carry three feet in length and then turned back to where his original blade was still keeping the massive quarantine wall propped open. The cross-guard was slowly burrowing into the floor as well, but Chevalier had not heard or seen any sign of scientists fleeing from the labs yet.
"Ch-cheva-"
Whirling around at the recognizable, pained gasp, Chevalier gaped in horror at Who's mangled form lying partially underneath the robotic gorilla. The drone's enormous left hand was still wrapped in a pulverizing grip around her right shoulder and tucked-in arm, and its abrupt termination had caused it to fall shoulder-first into her lower legs - pinning them against the wall. All across her body there were massive rents in her armor from where the avian drones had slashed her, but a silverish layering underneath the armor appeared to have remained intact.
He ignored the flickering images behind her, of dark hands reaching out, grasping, tearing at her body and clothes.
"Who!" he exclaimed in growing panic, already looking for a way to pry the Ward loose. "When did you get here?!"
"I've… urgh… been here the whole fuckin' time," she weakly ground out as Chevalier carefully moved his blade to fulcrum the fallen primate off of her legs. "Fuckin'... hate my power… sometimes."
"Your power doesn't work on dones, then?"
"You just-" the young Stranger spit out in frustration before being interrupted by a gasp of pain. "N-no, it fucking doesn't. Try to remember that."
Chevalier grimaced, realizing that Who's power had likely caused some iteration of this conversation several times already.
"You need to focus everything you can on not letting your power slip anymore. I can't defend you if I don't know you're here, and it looks like the drones are prioritizing easier targets. Now… get ready. This is going to hurt."
Chevalier leaned on his bade, shifting the robotic carcass almost a foot back from the wall. Now no longer supported by the drone's shoulder, Who sank to the floor in a twisted mess of pulped knees and shins.
Whatever indignant curse was on her lips - likely a protest that she wasn't an easy target - died as the young Stranger passed out from the pain and crumpled even further.
Chevalier blinked in confusion, then stood up warily and pulled his blade up from where it was wedged against the corner of the wall and the floor.
Why am I prying the fallen gorilla away from the wall?
Looking around, he reoriented himself by reviewing the events up until that moment. He had been walking to the Tinkertech Labs… by himself? Yes, that felt right. He was going to pick up Weaver after her tests with Dragon had concluded early and she had been allowed some free time to talk with the technicians about some of the more recent acquisitions and tests. Uriel wanted her off the Island tonight, and Chevalier had been off-duty, so…
Hmm, but why did I stop by the front entrance?
"Chevalier!"
Weaver's voice, coming from beyond the half-stuck quarantine barrier, jolted him out of his introspection. Taking a balanced, kneeling position - in case another group of drones suddenly rounded the far corner- he peered underneath the barrier.
"Weaver?" he called out loudly, keeping his cannonblade trained in the general direction of the previous sound. The disorienting feeling he still had surrounding his memories implied there was some sort of Master or Stranger effect at play, which would also explain why Bezalel had flipped, but it never hurt to be too cautious.
"SINGULARITY PURGE INITIATED. STEP AWAY FROM THE BLAST DOORS."
Just as the ominous robotic voice finished blaring its declaration, several things happened at once.
The floor upon which Chevalier's original blade had been wedged against dropped, as the entire Tinkertech Lab building began its plummet towards the naked singularity being generated five hundred feet below.
A torrent of pressurized air blasted out of the narrowing gap between the quarantine barrier and the floor, pushed out by the falling building.
Thousands of pounds of steel, ceramics, and exotic materials slammed home, sealing off the falling building and its doomed inhabitants.
Weaver appeared out of thin air as she tumbled into his forward leg and collapsed on the floor, yelping in pain from striking his armored shin face-first.
A thunderous rumble nearly managed to knock Chevalier off his feet, a deep, menacing roar of reality torn asunder and millions of pounds of matter compressed to a single point in space. The shaking continued, until a massive metallic bang came from overhead - massive metal doors at ground-level sealing off the hole where the building once was - and this time Chevalier was knocked off his feet from the jolt.
On the ground, Chevalier could feel the deep, gut-churning roar growing - a wordless, infinite hunger that shook the world harder and harder with its need. He tried to scream out to Weaver, but the sound was lost even to his own ears.
Like a bored god had suddenly changed channels on the universe, the howling fury of the naked singularity winked out, leaving only a dull trembling of the earth in its wake.
Long moments passed as Chevalier's eardrums attempted to process normal sounds again, and the air reaching his lungs felt lighter than he remembered it.
"Cheva- oh, Maker! Who!"
Feeling Weaver clamber over him and towards the remains of the robotic gorilla, Chevalier allowed her to pass and then cautiously pushed himself to his feet while still maintaining his grip on his cannonblade. Turning his head towards Weaver, he noted her hair and skin morphing back to their 'default' state as her obsidian forearms and hands - claws, really - seemed to shatter into dozens of deeply-disturbing knives, scissors, prongs, and needles.
"Weaver?" he asked, stepping forward while his eyes tried to focus on what she was hovering over… and failed. "What are you doing?"
"What do you- oh. Chevalier, who was with you while you were fighting-"
"No one. I was alone," he replied quickly, with some minor confusion. He blinked at the pull of some forgotten memory, but shook it off as he shifted his armor around in preparation for further combat.
He cocked his head as Weaver bit off a curse, but she still seemed fixated on… whatever she was doing.
"There is a Stranger on the Philadelphia Wards team. Her power makes you forget she is or was around."
Narrowing his eyes in thought - and in frustrated concentration - he mentally reviewed the Wards roster. He knew there were thirteen, as he recounted…
Wait, yes. There is a Stranger on the team, but… oh.
"She's," he tried, making an uncertain gesture towards the vague area around Weaver, "around here? Injured?"
A nod, though from where he was standing he could make out her desperate, pained expression.
"Critically hurt. Her right arm and shoulder are completely crushed, and everything below her thighs is… not recoverable. I'm going to have to take her legs off before the internal bleeding kills her. Same with the arm, and I'll have to open her chest up to pump out the blood in the right lung before I seal it off."
Chevalier didn't let his legs buckle.
"Without you here, I would have left her to die. Walked away as she bled out."
"I- well, she was coming to visit, so I would have been here anyway." Silence, for a moment, before her voice rose up again. "It's- it's not your fault, Chevalier. Her power-"
"I oversee the Wards," he ground out, the metal of his right gauntlet squealing lightly under the increased pressure of his grip. He tried again to see the what his failure had cost a young woman, but his mind guided his eyes to a random point on the wall. "Our... My precautions for her power weren't good enough. I may have just cost her her career, and we still have to carry her out of the most heavily-guarded base after the Birdcage."
Weaver worked in silence, allowing Chevalier a moment to push away the self-doubt and begin to plan a way out.
"My swarm on the surface is being targeted by the turrets now," Weaver eventually stated cleanly, the crystalline harmonics of her voice echoing a bit more loudly now. "I managed to spell out that 'Bezalel drones gone rogue' over the side of the Administration building, but I'm not sure if anyone saw it. Can you take out the cameras in this hallway? There are eight that I can see."
Chevalier frowned beneath his helmet at not having thought of that before, then set about stabbing his over-sized blade into the sensors that Weaver guided him to.
I'm not sure I would have found half of those, though.
"Next," she whispered over… some sound that made him grimace just trying to focus on it, "take the bird drones and place them gently on my back. The gorilla is too big - I've already tried absorbing it - but maybe I can figure something out from one of the birds."
He paused, about to wonder aloud whether or not it was safe for him to distract her from whatever she was doing; it was important, and it involved the gut-dropping understanding that he had possibly killed another Ward, but the details of it kept slipping from his mind each time his attention focused elsewhere. Before he could open his mouth, however, he shook the concern away.
She has that Thinker power that let her multitask. I guess that even applies to life-saving surgery.
The most intact bird-drone corpse looked like it had taken a vicious blow from a blunt object, cracking its head and spine in a 'U' shape. Gathering it up with one hand, Chevalier carefully lowered it so that it its body rested gingerly on Weaver's arched back-
With a snap and and series of mechanical noises, Chevalier felt the drone yanked out of his grasp as it began to fold up in impossible, reality-defying folds before being sucked up into a palm-sized door that had suddenly appeared between Weaver's shoulder blades. The door - somehow manifested through her baggy grey hoodie, as well - emitted a whistle of compressed air before the lid snap closed and faded away as if it had never been there.
Weaver, herself, never even flinched once throughout the entire process.
There's bizarre parahuman powers, and then there's that.
"I'm... hmm. It's similar enough to the one I absorbed at the party, but… there's something else. Can you bring me another one?"
Two more bizarrely-absorbed artificial birds later, Weaver's motions stilled.
"What's Bezalel's Tinker speciality? His real one?"
Chevalier rocked back, slightly, but he shouldn't have been surprised that she had managed to piece something together. Still…
"You're not cleared for that."
Weaver's head whipped around, revealing a face covered in splatters of blood where the tracts of tears had not washed it away. The obsidian spider legs framing her head twitched menacingly, and what dark, graphite-like skin he could see drank in the hallway's pale light.
The look in her narrowed, glowing golden eyes promised that she would have that information from him - willingly or not.
Behind her loomed the wavering image of a massive, incomprehensibly complex mechanical eye. Like every time Chevalier's Thinker power fixated on it, the image somehow turned to regard him directly. Plates and gears the size of continents shifted until the eye narrowed, radiating palpable disdain.
He had faced down Endbringers, but he could still feel dread from time to time.
"Cybernetic conversion," he admitted with a nod, though her eyes only widened slightly at the answer.
"You kept that from me?" she hissed. "After everything I've told you and the PRT about Autochthon?"
"Only Director Uriel, Director Costa-Brown, and I know about it," Chevalier shook his head, both to deny the accusation and to disperse the feeling of guilt. "Even Dragon doesn't know."
Her luminescent gaze searched his own mask, though he felt it protected him not at all. After a moment, she turned back to her work, snorting a bitter sigh through her nose.
Chevalier let her work in silence, turning back towards the opposite end of the hallway in preparation for another attack.
"His isn't perfect," he heard her grouse out. "At least his birds weren't. That explains why I was getting a mixture of instructions from my charm, though."
He nodded, already knowing as much. It was why he had been so leery of her claims of conversion, in the end. Several more minutes of wet, disturbing sounds echoing out from behind him passed, before the silence fell again.
"What is his big project? That he's been working on for the past few years?"
Chevalier grimaced, having expected this question. It was his leading idea of what had started this entire mess in the first place, after all.
"Converting himself."
At her continued silence, Chevalier warily turned to look at the young woman-turned-cyborg.
Her eyes regarded his own helmet, betraying nothing but focus. After several more seconds of silence, she nodded.
"I have a plan."
Sparks of blue and black electricity snapped out from the blazing white diamond in her forehead. They trailed out to her nightmarish halo of spider legs, causing them to twitch viciously.
"In this plan, I am going to carry Who, invisibly. You are going to fight me a path to Bezalel."
A spurt of blood from… somewhere… splashed across her face.
"Then, we are going to talk."
FunkyEntropy
Occasionally insightful, possibly grumpy
- Location
- Los Angeles
And talk we shall.
Interesting word choice in the thread title there, Grom.
FunkyEntropy
Occasionally insightful, possibly grumpy
- Location
- Los Angeles
Gromweld
Learning By Mistake
Whoops! Forgot one! Fixed.
Uhoh.
I sure hope that thread title is about how Autobot turned Excised Imperfections into a lewd girl and not anything Bonesaw related. It is a small hope, though, as while the first part would fit, I can't think of anything with the second part.
I sure hope that thread title is about how Autobot turned Excised Imperfections into a lewd girl and not anything Bonesaw related. It is a small hope, though, as while the first part would fit, I can't think of anything with the second part.
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*stares*
Gromweld
Learning By Mistake
I am saving this for future consideration, FYI.
... always, when Beam weapon rules come up, I am so disappointed.
They could be so cool. They are so terrible at their job.
A beam weapon is the tool of a mortal-slayer with motes to spare. The tool of someone not seeking worthy challenges.
In this case, of course, non-magical is... different.
But still...
(P.S. I will forgive beam weapons if one kills Saint.)
They could be so cool. They are so terrible at their job.
A beam weapon is the tool of a mortal-slayer with motes to spare. The tool of someone not seeking worthy challenges.
In this case, of course, non-magical is... different.
But still...
(P.S. I will forgive beam weapons if one kills Saint.)
*sees thread title*
FFFFFFFFFFFFFF-
*sees Iris' mental state*
shit
I'm now wondering if we're missing out on useful insights into the S9's actions because we haven't been looking too closely. What have we not managed to catch?
#tinfoilhat #paranoia
FFFFFFFFFFFFFF-
*sees Iris' mental state*
shit
I'm now wondering if we're missing out on useful insights into the S9's actions because we haven't been looking too closely. What have we not managed to catch?
#tinfoilhat #paranoia
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sainen
Elder Lich
just think an Alchemical practitioner of the Laser Panther style can Microwave him inside his stolen armour.
Iris' mental state has been Divine Fury since some point in thread 15. It's not exactly new.
Whoops, my bad. Still, I have to wonder if it's better or worse that he doesn't have any essence. Given the scale he works on, divine fury might screw the whole of New England.
sainen
Elder Lich
don't worry too much there isn't enough essence for Iris to the whole of New England at this time.
Ridtom
Good. Bad. I'm the man with the Wand.
(Thanks to @Gromweld for clearing a few things up! Don't remember if we had an Interlude from this character in canon. Interesting to write him as serious.)
Misdemeanor
How long had it been since he felt this nervous? Stupid question, Behemoth wasn't even two months ago. But he couldn't deny that this was a different kind of nervous though. This wasn't the feeling he got when fighting Kaiser or Coil's Mercs or kicking around a few punks for doing something stupid. Not even when he was younger and was one of the most pursued mercenaries in the Cape world.
It clicked then.
This was the same nervousness he had felt when he stood at that Alter in Brockton Bay and the music had begun to play. He remembered Dauntless standing at his side - Kevin in his civilian clothes - the best man a guy could ask for, enjoying the hell out of his discomfort way more than he should. Robin and Colin were behind him, Robin looking very out of place in a tux that seemed to be actively trying to strangle its wearer. Colin meanwhile, had a surprisingly rare small on his face, though this one seemed to be in a better spirit than Kevin's.
A Kodak moment if there ever was one.
Ethan shook his head. He had been doing a damn good job of keeping those memories back and he planned on keeping it that way.
Still, he thought as he looked at the door to Sarah's room and raised his fist,that would almost be preferable to this conversation.
That feeling of nervousness only got worse as he rapped his knuckles against the door. He waited. In the mean-time he eyed the boxes that surrounded him the hallway, six in total. It was almost funny: years of making memories in that apartment by the Bay and all they had to show for it was six boxes, two of them clothes and the rest random trinkets.
Neither of them had thought about unpacking for a long time.
"Go away." The voice from behind the door was muffled and to his ears more than a little strained.
"It's me Puppy."
"Don't call me puppy you... you asshole!" Oh damn it this wasn't good. "I don't want to see you, or hear you, or have you stand outside my door! So... s-so just leave!"
Ethan rubbed his eyes as he leaned his forehead against the door with 'PLINK', "Sarah. This is your husband here. No joke."
A pause. "....Are you serious?"
"Dead serious." He meant it too. Despite what many may have thought, he and Sarah never really got into many fights. In fact, there had only been two major times that they'd came to verbal blows: the first time he met her father and made a crack about his job or something and way later when they were discussing Trigger Events. That had been a nasty couple of days.
There was a longer pause this time and for a moment, Ethan thought that she hadn't believed him. So it was with a heavy sigh of relief that the door swerved open with a creak. Staring into the darkened bed-room, it dawned on him that he might have screwed up worse than he had previously thought.
The door slid closed behind him as he made his way into the room. It didn't take long for him to spot her: She was sitting on the bed, back turned to him and facing the wall. Yeah, she was pissed alright.
He didn't say anything. His mouth had been what got him here in the first place and he wasn't willing to trust himself to not blow it again. So he sat on end of the bed, as close as he felt she'd let him be without getting up and moving.
Silence. Almost unbearable for both, but Ethan was willing to hold out for her.
When she finally spoke it was painful for him to hear, "You're still that asshole that broke monsters out of the Birdcage."
He ran his hand through his hair and closed his eyes, "Some part of me is still that guy, yeah. I told you I had a bit of a sadistic streak remember?"
"I'm not fucking around here Ethan." He flinched at the cold tone that she said his name. The ex-villain most definitely preferred being yelled at than this. At least yelling showed more emotion than disdain.
"Me either Sarah," he spoke slowly, quietly, "You know how I am. Whenever something happens that I'm not ready for, I joke about it. Play it off as not being a big deal. It's what I do to- what's the word I'm looking for..."
"To distance yourself?" She turned to him, lines of tears glistening in the low light of the room. Her eyes were puffy and red, filled with anger and fear. Ethan had to fight to meet those eyes.
"Yeah. Distance myself when I'm scared-"
"You're scared?!" She scoffed, wiping one her tears on her sleeve, "Ethan I'm pregnant! I have a kid in me! I-I'm not ready this!"
"Well, it's not like we didn't plan for something like this in the future. You've even had the tests done to make sure your power would do nothing in case of this."
"That was then!" She turned fully to face him, bringing both her knees onto the bed, "We had a home in Brockton Bay! N-Not," She waved her hands around the nearly empty and plain room, "this! Our friends were alive and we some semblance of a back-up plan! I still planned on doing patrols and active engagements!"
Ethan copied her and moved both knees as well, edging closer to her, "You can still do that! We'll get new things, make new memories here! We still have friends here too Sarah. Robert, Kali, Marrow-"
"That's not the point!" She finally shouted, bringing her face closer to his.
With a worried frown, Ethan placed a hand on her shoulder as she broke into sobs again. He could actually feel his heart tighten whenever he saw tears trickled down her cheeks. She wasn't looking at him anymore, too busy using one hand to wipe at her eyes.
"Puppy." He croaked, "Please tell me what's really bothering you. I'll... I'll try my best to fix it. I don't think it was my stupid joke that hurt you. I'll keep my mouth shut forever if I have to, just tell me what's wrong."
She nodded but didn't immediately respond. He was fine with that, since he was just as lost as she was on what to say.
Sarah looked him in the eyes again, but there was no disdain or anger behind them. Only fear.
"I d-didn't really believe that we'd get this far. It seemed like a fantasy. One of us would get hurt while on the job or get tired of the other and leave. Even marrying you was a shock to me, like some big dream."
"I know that feeling. I still get goosebumps thinking of you walking down that aisle."
She half-laughed, half-coughed at that, "Still, I could handle that. Everything I did was on a set path except for whenever you got involved. I loved you then and I still love you now, but damn if you didn't make it hard sometimes."
He didn't know what to say to that that wouldn't prove her point, so he just nodded.
"After we married each other, things went back to normal for us... for a certain definition of normal. But it was routine and everyone and everything was familiar. Safe. On a real level, I never really thought that we'd actually have kids!I-I..."
She floundered for a moment, lost, before she finally blurted it out, "So many mistakes Ethan. I tried to make up for them by pushing myself harder and harder, but they're still mistakes. I think I'm going to be a horrible mother, Ethan, and I don't know what to do."
His heart broke, "Oh Sarah." Ethan engulfed her in a hug, tears following down his face, while his wife broke into sobs on his chest. "You're perfect Puppy. Don't you ever think differently, please."
Husband and Wife sat there for a long time, letting out tears of fear and frustration. In it's own way, it was a sign of healing, both seeking to comfort the other as best they could. He didn't ask what mistakes she had made, Scion knew that he had made his own along the way. No, he'd stay silent with her and do whatever he could to help. So when her lips touched his, Ethan returned it with a gusto.
***************************
"You know what I'm scared of the most?"
Sarah just hummed into his shoulder as he continued, "That our kid would get powers. All the egg-heads say things like how most Cape kids get a power related to their parents like New Wave, but all I can think of is how horrible my Trigger Event was. I don't know what I'd do if our kid suffered something as bad your kidnapping or my plane-crash."
He didn't notice the pained look on her face at the mention of Trigger Event and she quickly cleared her expression. She shifted under neath the covers, curling closer to her husband who was lost in thought.
"I hear 2nd Generation of Powers aren't as... traumatic." She replied, "Glory Girl got fouled in a Basket Ball game after all."
Ethan scoffed, "C'mon Sarah, you know that wasn't all that was probably the cause. The leap from being kidnapped like you to what? Getting an F in school or something?" He shook his head, "No. What we went through was horrible and I would never wish for it on our kid. Hell, even if he or she did get powers, I wouldn't let them go out and fight crime."
Sarah bit her lip painfully, thinking, "Ethan?"
"Yeah?"
"I... I..." She sighed and closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of his bare chest, "Never mind. Let's just focus on the now part okay? How did everyone handle the news once I left?"
He yawned as he thought back, "They laughed pretty hard when you decked me with a pie, so good job on that. Kali was in stitches of course, didn't really see what Marrow was doing, and Robert gave me a stern lecture. Might as well have slapped the stupid out of me."
"Not enough obviously."
"Obviously," He kissed the top of her head, "Weaver though... I don't know actually. She looked like a little... god I am messing up on words today. That pie really rocked my brain."
She just rolled her eyes.
"But seriously, something clicked with her once she pointed out you had something in the oven. You might want to talk about it to her." He scratched his cheek, "If only to get the best damn baby-sitter in the world. No misbehaving when we got the scary-robot girl on speed-dial."
She punched him lightly in the ribs, "Be nice to her!" She glared at him as he chuckled before snuggling closer, "It's probably a good idea to see what's going on with her though, poor girl looked like she saw a ghost before she told me. Tomorrow though. I just want to lay here with you for now."
He smiled down at her, "I love you."
She returned it, "I love you more."
They embraced each other one last time before sleep took them both.
She never mentioned the note she found in their mail-box.
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(#CauldronCapeProblems. Poor Battery, always trying to do the right thing but always coming up short. I imagine talking about Trigger Events was awkward as all hell. We never learned what she told Assault her trigger was, so I'm guessing she went with a half-truth: She was kidnapped a second time by some gang-members and the memories of her first kidnapping along with the stress of the second one caused her to trigger.
You guys can guess what Assault said to Daddy Battery.)
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This was beautiful, Ridtom. Excellent work.
- Location
- Fabulously Rainbow Ireland
GG's trigger was a basketball game not a volley ball one.
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Ridtom
Good. Bad. I'm the man with the Wand.
Are you sure?
Huh. Thought for sure it was Volley Ball.
Huh. Thought for sure it was Volley Ball.
Thanks! Had it on my mind for a while now.
- Location
- Fabulously Rainbow Ireland
Because Bonesaw/Mannequin are doing surgery/tinkering in front of him and he doesn't have the ability (or the motes) to say "NO, YOU IDIOTS THAT NOT HOW YOU DO IT!"