I wonder if John can use his powers as pseudo-telekinesis. "See" the computer next door with his Clairvoyance, envelop it in a force field, have the forcefield carry it to him.
Or, can he make his forcefield appear inside of someone's mouth, choking them ? I know Susan Storm can use her forcefield to give people an aneurysm, but I think that's beyond his powers.
[X] Plan: Representatives
-[X] Speech:
--[X] Lady Leizi
--[X] Wolong
--[X] Châtelet
-[X] Work the Crowd:
--[X] Chaucer
--[X] Gentleman James
--[X] Black Swan
--[X] Miss Naught
Horizon, City of Leviathan's Rest– The Apiary– January 17, 2068
"I am Châtelet, but my legal name is Opale Houdin-Reyes. I used to be Hiver of Les Quatre Saisons, but, uh, I don't blame you if you don't recognize me. I got a new haircut."
There's a smattering of polite laughter in the crowd among those in the know. Others are confused as to how this woman could have been Hiver and—oohhhhh. Good for her! A very small minority is outraged and offended, but they're very quickly told to fuck off by a small witch atop a shadowy steed before they can bring their bigatory to bear.
Either way, Châtelet continues her speech uninterrupted.
Minor Success: DC 5. Moderate Success: DC 10. Major Success: DC 15.
Stat Check: REPUTATION 5. Châtelethas REPUTATION 7.
You rolled: 18.
18 + 1 = 19. Major Success!
Châtelet's REPUTATION increases by 1!
"I, um, I was engaged, if you can believe it. To Abigail—The Giant Slayer that is. We kept our relationship private for obvious reasons, but were going to make an announcement before . . . y'know. The Movement."
A susurration breaks out among the crowd at that revelation. Hiver from Les Quatre Saisons marrying The Giant Slayer of SLAYERS? A scandal! And Hiver was a woman? The drama! For many a gossip, this epiphany had already made attending the memorial worth it.
Justice Unlimited's memorial was being held outside the Apiary, in the newly refurbished gardens. The outer perimeter had been inlaid with a border of black marble, on which were inscribed the names of some two-hundred and twenty-seven metahumans and six thousand and fifty-four civilians. Both groups were organized alphabetically, making it easy for mourners or the merely curious to find whoever they sought.
Châtelet stood on a makeshift, wooden stage with her image being displayed on large monitors strategically placed throughout the garden and projected onto the side of the Apiary. Her voice was clearly audible, but not overwhelmingly loud. There was no formal seating aside from the benches through the garden, so most people were standing or milling about.
Châtelet takes a second to collect herself before continuing. "Y'know, she—Abs—was the first person to really meet me. The real me. And she accepted who I was without a second though. I . . . I couldn't have been further from the person she always dreamed of, but she loved me anyway. She, uh, said I was her dream now."
Châtelet sniffs and wipes her eyes, but continues without pause.
"Abs always wanted the kind of life you see on TV. Marriage. A big house with a backyard. A dog. Three kids—two boys and a girl. She even had names picked out. I, uh, maybe didn't love the name Bronwyn, but I would get used to it!"
Châtelet gives a crooked smile.
"I never got the chance. Abs and I had our whole life together planned out, but, when the Looming God began to stir, she was first in line to stop it." Châtelet closes her eyes and inhales. "She never hesitated. Never thought to run away. I was there too—in the back on containment duty—but Abs was on the front lines, cutting her way forward."
Châtelet looks down.
"Until, um, until . . . until she couldn't anymore."
She wipes her eyes again.
"Ophélie was there too. Uh, that's Automne for those of you who don't know. Ophélie was the kindest, sweetest girl to ever exist. She was made too powerful too quickly—but even under the crushing responsibility of her power, she always found in her to smile."
Châtelet wets her lips and looks down.
"My baby cousin just wanted a normal life. She wanted to go to school, work a crappy job at the mall, sneak out a night to kiss her girlfriend, stay up too late watching TV . . . but when she saw a cloud of Behemoths so thick it blocked out the sun, she flew towards it."
A hush falls over the crowd as Châtelet looks up while grabbing the podium with a white-knuckle grip.
"Being a hero is insane. I mean that—there is something genuinely wrong with me. It's dangerous and all-consuming and usually thankless. There's no reward in life for being a hero—Leviathan's Blood, how many times have I begged for corporate money just so we could make rent? And there's no reward when you die either. You don't go to heaven at the end; you just go the same way as everyone else."
She looks back down.
"Your only reward is that maybe the world will be a little bit better. Maybe you'll have made a kinder tomorrow. And that's enough for you to keep doing it."
Châtelet lets out a wet laugh.
"That was enough for Abs, that was enough for Ophélie, and—someone help me—that's enough for me. The reward for being a hero is that you get to be a hero."
Châtelet puts a hand over her heart and looks at a specific place she's memorized on the monument.
"Abs, you were a hero. Ophie, you were a hero. Everyone who was at the QZ was a hero. And I'll be a hero until I join you. But—I'm sorry—that won't be anytime soon. There's too much yet to do, too many people who still need help, and too much life yet to live. I love you both, and I miss you everyday."
It should be raining, but there isn't a cloud in the sky.
"But a hero's work is never done."
* * *
You are Gentleman James.
You had to take a moment to yourself after Châtelet's speech. My, such powerful words! Such a beautiful speech from such a beautiful lady! And you're not the only one who seems to think so. Châtelet's name is what's on everyone's lips as you walk around the Apiary's garden.
Some person with greater wisdom than your own had the foresight to space the speeches out from one another. Gabriel is next, and he's currently backstage desperately going over his notes. Your stalwart leader did not wish to make a fool of himself or embarrass New Dawn, but you privately believed he was just as invested in impressing the lovely Lady Leizi.
Ah, there was something alluring about a woman with a car, wasn't there . . . ?
You shake your head and focus back on the scene before you. It was a somewhat unusual atmosphere for a memorial—there was a pensive air, but at the same time it also felt like a carnival. There was food, meet and greets with heroes, and children running to and fro playing all sorts of games. You honestly find it refreshing.
It has been too sad for too long.
You tip your cap at a gaggle of youths racing by, chasing one girl carrying a banner of some sort. A nearby man shouts at them to be careful.
That causes you to frown as you remember Wolong's request for you.
"Andre, please keep an eye out for people of a suitably . . . heroic disposition while you mind the crowd today. It's a request from Lady Leizi."
"Seeking new heroes? Is Justice Unlimited looking to continue to expand still? I can't fault their ambition, I suppose. But wouldn't Lady Leizi be better suited for sussing out private metahumans?"
"Not metahumans, Andre, regular people. I can't disclose why just yet, but we're looking for those without powers with a heroic disposition."
You adjust your tie. You're not a fool—you know something is going on. Gabriel has been a new man in the last month, and it's not just because of his attraction to Lady Leizi. Something has reignited a fire in him, one that's contiguous. Virginia said Lady Leizi all but confirmed something is in the works, but wouldn't say what.
You're torn. You trust Gabriel with your life and Justice Unlimited has more than earned the benefit of the doubt—Crusade's slander aside—but you don't like being in the dark. Sadly, that may be where you'll stay until New Dawn is entirely subsumed. The process has been as slow as boiling a frog, but the writing is on the wall. Black Swan nearly laughed at you when you tried to suggest she might consider joining New Dawn—not because she was being dismissive, but because there was something about that suggestion that was genuinely funny.
You sigh. Ah well, it had been a good run. There was something poetic about the group that was once a part of New Dawn welcoming it back into the fold. You just hope Renee doesn't take it too hard.
"Bwahahaha! You mere children have no chance against the might of La Máscara de la Locura!"
Delighted squeals interrupt your train of thought as you see a throng of young children swarming a very tall man in a suit and luchador mask. He tucks child under his arm and lifts another as she hangs off his bicep. The child appears to be trying to wrestle him to the ground.
"We'll stop you!" one gap-toothed boy shouts as he tackles the man from behind, only to bounce off.
"Bwahaha! We'll see about that!" he says with a boisterous grin, "You forgot: any who gaze upon La Máscara de la Locura are driven loco!"
At that, all of the children clap their hands over their eyes, even the little girl hanging off the man's arm. She drops to the ground with a thud and giggles.
"I am invincible! I shall drown this world in madness!No one can stop me! Except—" He sees you and gives a mock gasp. "Gentleman James?!"
The child all turns to you.
"Save us, Gentleman James!"
"We can't beat him!"
"I'm loco! OoooOoooOooh!"
"Well," you say, adjusting your hat, "It seems I have no choice. Have at you, villain!"
You gesture to the man's wrists and ankles with your head. He gives you a nearly imperceptible nod in approval. You then use your power, connecting his wrists and ankles together with your chains and slowly, slowly retracting them. His wrists are brought totally together as you leave him enough space between his ankles that he can still stand.
"He's open," a small voice shrieks, "GET HIM!"
The man is knocked to the ground by a hoard of vigilante youth who pound on him with tiny fists.
"Noooo! Noooo! La Máscara de la Locura is bested! Curse you Gentleman James! And curse you childreeeeen!"
You chuckle at the sight. He's actually doing an excellent job selling the impact of the blows—a few times you nearly leapt in before you realized he was just playing along.
"Children, that's enough! Leave Mr. Del Rivera alone! Leviathan's Blood, this is a memorial, not a zoo!"
A matronly nun storms forward with a severe expression on her face and her hands on her hips. Instantly, all of the children climb off the man and snap to attention.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Del Rivera," she says as the man climbs to his feet, "I don't know what's gotten into them."
"Nonsense!" booms the luchador, "They're just being children. Sor Carmen, please, relax! I know it is a solemn occasion, but they are not the only ones playing. I don't think our heroes will take offense!"
He says that last bit with a look toward you. You nod in agreement.
"It's good to see," you confess, "There is a time for tears for the dead, and a time to celebrate the life they left behind. I've had quite enough of the former!"
"Well," she says, biting her lip, "Okay. But be reasonable! The Mother Superior won't like it if we make a scene."
"Hmm, a thought," you say, "There are a number of confections for sale near the Apiary. Why not go and get something for the children? My treat! Tell them to add it to Gentleman James' tab!"
Which, thanks to a hot hand of cards, was currently Juan's tab. Meus pêsames, my friend. Work on your poker face!
The children cheer and a very harried Sister Carmen leads them away. You're left alone with the man, watching them leave. There's an awkward beat before you both blurt out something at the same time.
"Victor Valentino Del Rivera! I am such a fan—"
"Gentleman James, it is an honor—"
You both stop.
"I'm sorry, please—"
"No, no, you go—"
You look at each other before bursting out in laughter like old friends. He slaps you on the back.
"Gentleman James, thank you for playing along just now! The children get out so rarely, I'm afraid they are a tad pent up!" he says with a laugh.
"No problem!" you assure, "Gentleman James will always save the day! Ah, but who were those delightful youngsters?"
"They were orphans," Victor says, his smile dropping fractionally, "The residents of the Bainbridge Home for Youth. I do quite a bit of volunteer work there, so when the child begged to attend today's ceremony, I was more than happy to arrange transportation for them!"
"Begged? To come to a memorial? Far be it from me to question the respect of a younger generation, but . . ."
"Bainbridge was the home of Rosemary Ward, before she became Apiary," Victor explains, "She's something of an idol to them."
He glances at the towering dome behind you both. You follow his gaze.
"Oh." You have little else to say. You feel there's more on Victor's mind, but he either is not of a mood to share it or is purposely keeping it to his chest. A melancholy falls on his face.
Well, that won't do.
"I am a big fan," you say, "La Máscara de la Locura, Yo Golpeo, Tú Mueres, Guerreros Bodyslam de Júpiter, El Zapatero Triste . . . it is a crime you did not win the award for Yo Golpeo, Tú Mueres 2: Pero Doctor, Soy Pagliacci! I was moved to tears by your performance!"
Victor blushes, laughs, and rubs the back of his head. "Oh, come now, it's all political . . . and you haven't seen all those movies!"
"I have!" you insist, "Alas, I am starstruck as we speak! To talk to a real resident of the silver screen! Be still my beating heart!"
He flushs more and looks away.
"My time in the movies is nothing compared to what I do for these children . . . I just wish I could do more. So many were left destitute after the Movement."
His expression is maudlin again. His heart honestly bleeds for others. Hmm. An idea strikes your fancy.
"Y'know, my friend . . . if you're truly interested in doing more . . . a little birdie has told me Lady Leizi is recruiting for some sort of massive community outreach program. You would be perfect."
DC 10.
Stat Check: REPUTATION 5. Gentleman Jameshas REPUTATION 7.
You rolled: 2.
2 + 1 = 3. Failure!
"Truly?" he asks, eyes full of wonder, "It sounds like an incredible opportunity . . . but, alas, I cannot."
His expression darkens.
"There is something first I must do. Debts to be settled."
"My friend," you ask, wary at his expression, "It sounds like you're going to do something . . . dangerous."
He gives you a crooked smile. "Tell me, did you know a metahuman by the name of Gold Skull? A hero?"
You think. "Gold Skull . . . yes, I knew of him. The wrestler, no? He—ah."
"My brother, Caesar," Victor says, "He was not the most powerful, or the bravest, but he wanted to be a hero more than anything. He idolized Justice Unlimited—wanted to join them so badly, but felt he couldn't just ask."
He turns to you. "So, thank you Gentleman James, I can feel the spirit of my brother screaming at me from the other side for saying this, but, for now, I must decline. There are things a man must do in this life."
"I understand," you say, "I wish you luck."
"Thank you. Now, shall we go ensure those children are all worn out for their ride home?"
You nod. "Of course!"
* * *
You are Black Swan.
"Ohmigod, what's he doing here?!"
"Uhhh. Uhhhhhh. Should we bail? Is a fight about to break out?"
"He's hot!"
"He's like thirteen feet tall and can punch a hole in the planet. Adjust your standards!"
You zip through the air, following the trail of panicked voices. Your cape flutters behind you as you start and stop to make sure you're heading the right way. It feels weird being in your costume at a memorial, but most people wouldn't immediately recognize you as "Black Swan" without it.
That fact that a sizable population would recognize you is still something you're wrapping your brain around.
As you dash through the air, the whispers get louder until you reach their source—
"I can hear you worms. Given the occasion, I will be patient. Do not test that patience, however."
A booming voice cuts through the noise and one man shakes in terror as another woman . . . swoons? Ugh, no taste.
You look at him yourself. Scarlet Maturity is admiring names on the monument walls while being surrounded by curious guests standing a cautious distance away. He's even taller than before, his skin harder, his red veins of power more pronounced, his face stretched further until it is a vicious mockery of a human guise..
That he's somehow stuffed himself into a jacket and tie does nothing to stop the cold feeling of terror in your stomach.
Scarlet Maturity hits you so hard the air explodes. Literally, it catches on fire, blinding you. You fly through the air, spiraling helplessly and breaking the sound barrier. Eventually, you crash through a large building—a warehouse? You blow through it too quickly to tell—and rocket through the otherside. Your momentum carries you through a second building and through a ship floating in the docks. You hit the water, skipping like a stone until, mercifully, you finally stop.
Your world becomes a fiery holocaust of metal and flame as the fuel inside the ship ignites, turning the sea to hell. You can't see out of one eye. With horror, you realize your construct-body has been so depleted that part of your true core on your head has been exposed.
"The fights will find you even if you do not wish them to. The powerful cannot bear a peer. They will hound you in your every living hour. You will continue to grow stronger. Or you will die. That is the only law of this world."
You stop in the air and try to hide your shiver. You . . . you don't want to go see him. You don't want to fight him again. You don't want to have to be "the strongest".
"Black Swan, I have a visual on you. Are you okay?" Ellie's—uh, you mean Valiant Gold's voice crackles over your comm, "Are you going to confront Scarlet Maturity."
"Y-yeah," you stutter, "I . . . I got it."
Valiant Gold was in charge of the security team today. You were surprised they picked her instead of Doctor Silver, but he had bowed out of leadership with a proud look on his face, saying, "The kid is ready."
You look back at your comm and you can feel Valiant Gold frowning at you.
"I'll deal with him. Don't worry about it—it's okay."
You imagine him taking a swing at Ellie, whose body isn't a supermassive black hole, and you violently shake your head to get the image out of your brain.
"No! I'll do it! It's fine. I . . . have to do this."
". . . understood. But I'm here if you need me. And Black Swan?"
"Yeah?"
"Come find me after you talk to him, okay?"
You get a weird feeling in your stomach as a smile involuntarily blossoms on your face. You zoom over to Scarlet Maturity while babbling away. "O-okay! You wanna get funnel cake? Or there's this really sweet shaved ice and—oh! The photobooth. We can do that, or—"
". . . I'm still running security. I only have time for a quick chat."
Your comm disconnects and you bury your face in your hands and groan.
"Wow," the voice from your nightmares rumbles, "That was . . . astoundingly pathetic. Almost impressive."
"Shut it you!" you shout at Scarlet Maturity, who is way closer than you thought he was. You were, uh, a little distracted you guess. "Why are you even here?! Do I need to kick your butt again?!"
"Accepting the premise that you even could," he says, "That's not my purpose here."
"Oh, what is it then? Something diabolical, I bet!"
He lets out a massive sigh. "Did you say 'diabolical' because I look like the traditional depiction of Satan? My, haven't heard that one before."
"Oh. Umm, sorry?" you say nonplussed.
"To answer your question: I'm here to pay my respects like everyone else. There is no shame in falling while striving against the strongest. Only one may stand at the peak."
You notice where he's looking. It's in the "w" section, toward the front. He grumbles in dissatisfaction.
"I suppose the memorial is only for those who fell during the Looming God's awakening. I'll have to content myself with her statue on the other side."
"Why are you here?" you ask with narrowed eyes.
"I told you, girl—"
"No, no, I mean why are you really here? You normally don't do stuff like this! You're like above it all 'cuz you 'want to be strongest' and junk. You're like twenty feet tall! People would remember if you were in public a bunch."
"I don't need to justify how I spend my idle hours to lesser—"
"'Idle hours'? Omigosh, you're bored!"
"I am not," he says just a little too quickly.
"Yes you are! You're still on suspension with Powers, so you can't do whatever evil stuff you're usually up to! You have nothing to do, so you came here!"
"You think—"
"Maaaan, you came to a memorial? Where no one likes you? Can't you watch something on TV at least?!"
". . . the Winter Meetings are over for baseball, the Yankees didn't make any trades, and the Lakers and Patriots are terrible this year," he says, looking down and frowning, "I've tried, but I just can't get into hockey or football."
"So you're here because you have no friends! Awwww!" you mock, "I'll be your friend Chirstian! You wanna go punch orphans or whatever it is you do when you're not getting your butt kicked?"
Ha! Good one, Mona! Zing!
"Hmm. Interesting. I've not sparred with a peer in nearly a decade . . . Very well, I accept your offer, Black Swan. I'll decide on suitable activities and contact you at a later date."
Ha! Got him again—what.
"What, what? You took that seriously? Really?! Where are you going?! Come back! I'm not punching any orphans!"
* * *
In the distance, a witch sits atop her chimeric mount, watching through binoculars.
"Leviathan's Blood . . . it's not just that her charisma fails when she talks to someone she's romantically interested in . . . it attracts people she hates! It's pointing in the wrong direction!"
"Can you get off me?!" a woman shouts from beneath Echidna, who sits atop her, "This is so Slytherin! All I said is that he is unnatural and we shouldn't let kids be exposed to him!"
"The only unnatural thing is you not shutting up!" the witch shouts, "Now, quiet! I have a best friend to save . . ."
"How Gryffindor!"
"Liking a children's book series is not a personality!"
* * *
"Heroism is a choice."
The next speaker was Wolong. The podium was littered with notecards and other reminders. Public speaking did not come easily to Gabreil Kwan—one of the many reasons his political power in New Dawn had been limited, until he was the only one left. But Lady Leizi thought it best that New Dawn have a representative, and no other would do but him.
Besides, he wanted to speak. He owed it to everyone. He could give the dead that much, at least.
"It's not something that comes naturally. No one is born 'heroic'. It's a choice that must be renewed, consciously, everyday. And it's not a choice limited to a special few. The people I knew were some of the greatest, bravest people in this world, but they were also just that: people. Some were jokers."
Lloyd never met a situation he couldn't quip at. It was maddening, but, when things were at their darkest, it was he who made sure you could still laugh.
"Some were poets."
Ami had a number of books of poetry in her office that she wrote and published under a pseudonym. She thought no one knew, but the members of Denial were always first in line when she released a new collection.
"And some were mothers."
Wolong hadn't seen Ellie yet. He didn't have the courage. Would she resent him? Would she resent them all for failing Yu over and over again? She would have every right. For all his "feelings" for Ellie's mother, he never hesitated to ask when he needed her in the field.
He was a hypocrite.
"They had everything to live for, big and small. But when the time came, they chose to don their masks and put their lives on the line. They chose to be heroes."
All of them. Everyone of them. Even . . . Yelena.
"But you don't need to wear a mask to be a hero. Heroism is something that lurks in every manner of decision, big and small. Whether it be facing the Leviathan in the Quarantine Zone, or holding the door for a stranger."
Wolong looks out to the crowd.
Minor Success: DC 5. Moderate Success: DC 10. Major Success: DC 15.
Stat Check: REPUTATION 5. Wolong will roll with a +1.
You rolled: 7.
7 + 1 = Minor Success!
There is a small crowd paying attention, but his words mostly fall on deaf ears. There are too many competing distractions and—was that Scarlet Maturity?! Oh my. Better wrap it up.
"We can learn from superpowered metahumans of this city, and we can learn from those who have an impact on our own lives. Anyone can be a hero. Anyone. It just takes a choice."
With that, the Dragon of New Dawn bows off stage.
* * *
You are Miss Naught.
Ah, poor Gabe. Guy worked day and night on his speech, only to have it be ignored like the veggie plate at Ollie's last birthday party. You son and his bratty friends were just too young to appreciate the nuanced flavor of hummus, dammit!
But, yeah, you warned Gabe that a lecture might not be the most engaging thing at a memorial. He needed to show a little emotion, a little oomph. But that just wasn't his style. Guy would talk about his feelings like they were math problems. Part of the reason he never managed to get Heavenly Astrologian in the sack.
Well, that and she was a single mom too?! Damn, you wish you knew! You would have loved having someone who understood what it was like when you were pregnant, or when Ollie got colic, or how lonely the nights could be when your baby is asleep.
You sigh. What a shame.
Oh well! No use dwelling on the past. Her kid was apparently hanging around Justice Unlimited, so maybe you could at least meet up with her? According to your dear protegee—one Menagerie Witch—Black Swan was crushing on her pretty hard and dropping spaghetti all over the place whenever she saw her. You had to see that!
But first. . .
"Smile!" you say taking a picture of Ollie playing with a bunch of children. Slacking off to watch your son? No! You're just connecting with the youth of today! Besides, aside from Gabe asking you to find 'non-metahumans with heroic tendencies' for vague and likely nefarious reasons, you had nothing to do! Sure, Gabe was gonna be pissed later, but that's future Virigina's problem!
Life was good now that Justice Unlimited found the Holy Grail or something. You were content to just kick back, shoot a few baddies, and collect that sweet, sweet paycheck. You swipe a lemonade and put it on Andre's—now Juan's tab—and sit down next to an older man with graying hair.
You immediately like him. He's wearing grandpa-chic, but you can tell from the way he moves there's more to him. He's got a low center of gravity, and his movements give no indication of hesitation or infirmary. He lowers his face to a flower to examine it without plucking it, and his motion is smooth and graceful.
He sees you staring and gives a small nod.
"Ah, excuse me if I'm in your way, young lady."
"Not at all, old-timer! Just taking a load off while I can. Don't mind me!"
He nods again. "Very well. I was just contemplating the mysteries of this flower. Whether in peace or adversity, the flower must bloom. It cannot choose what world it is born into. It can only do its best to prosper in the place it is given. There is much to be learned from it."
"Woah," you say, "That's so deep! Are you some sort of secret expert or something? Meditating under a waterfall? Practicing kung-fu until you reach enlightenment? The sort filled with ancient wisdom—aaaaand you were just fucking with me, weren't you?"
"I don't know, I was just ad libbing, but I think I got somewhere pretty profound at the end there," he says as his eyes crinkle in amusement, "Forgive an old man for his fun. I am Song Yu-Jin."
"Miss Naught!" you say sticking out your hand, "Pleased to meetcha!"
He shakes your offered hand. "So, tell me Miss Naught, did you assume I practiced martial arts simply because I'm Chinese?"
". . . the mandatory sensitivity we all attended tells me to say no."
He does that thing where he smiles with his eyes again. "Oh, really? I was going to say you were right. I operated a martial arts studio before it was destroyed during the riots after the Movement."
"I knew it! You totally have a Mr. Miyagi vibe!"
"He is Japanese; that is different."
He says that so sharply you find yourself sitting up ramrod-straight.
"Yes, shīfù! Sorry, shīfù!"
He glares at you before relenting. "Well, at least you didn't say 'sensei' . . . you pass!"
He says that last bit with a toothy grin.
You slap him good-naturedly on the back. "You old fart! Is this how you get your sick kicks? Teasing delicate young maidens like myself?"
He snorts. "If I see a young maiden, I'll be certain to be careful."
"Oof, careful geezer. Age before beauty and all that," you stretch your arms over your head and crack your neck. Ollie is still playing, laughing like you haven't seen in a long time. Maybe you should just move to the Apiary . . .
"So what brings you to this shindig, Yu-Jin? Did you, uh . . . know somebody?"
He shakes his head. "No . . . not personally. I've been living in the Apiary since losing my studio and home, and I only thought it right to honor those who once called this place home. But, honestly? I'm a tad at odds with myself."
"Oh? What's up? Apiary not to your liking?"
"Quite the opposite, I'm very comfortable here," he says, "No, I just feel my usefulness is at its end. My studio is gone, all my students have left me, and even my prized pupil, Keith, is onto bigger and better things in the OID."
"OID?" you say confused. What's he doing there? That place is a warzone; only the NID makes it look safe right now. Unless he's a. . .
". . . metahuman?" you venture.
"Who can say?" he says, eyes twinkling, "I don't wish to fade into obscurity, but neither do I see a path forward for myself. It's quite the troublesome dilemma."
Huh. Maybe you can get away with slacking off after all!
"Y'know," you say slyly, "I remember Double L complaining the other day that none of the newbies knew how to throw a punch. Instructors that are willing to work with metahumans are pretty rare and in demand . . ."
DC 10.
Stat Check: REPUTATION 5. Miss Naughthas REPUTATION 5.
You rolled: 8.
The Audience has granted you +2 on this roll.
8 + 2 + 0 = 10. Success!
Age is merely a number.
"Double L . . .? Oh, Lady Leizi! I understand the nickname now."
"She loves it!"
"I'm certain, " he says with his eyes twinkling, "And are you positive she would have use for someone such as myself?"
"A cool old guy who can do spin kicks and pulls pranks? Yeeeeeah, I think you'll fit in juuuuuuust fine."
Name: Song Yu-Jin Age: 61 Stats: HIT 4, ESPIONAGE 3, REPUTATION 5, OPERATIONS 4 Tolerance: 3 Chaucer's Notes: Mr. Song originally hails from the Old Industrial District, where he ran a small martial arts studio. He's since relocated to the Apiary following his home's destruction. A widower with a college-age son abroad, Yu-Jin has become something of a pillar of the community in his golden years. He runs a small daycare that caters to working-class families, he teaches a Tai Chi class in the morning, and he's reportedly still quite the martial artist. Rumors hold that he was the instructor of Counterstrike, a popular vigilante working out of the OID. If he's truly skilled enough to teach even metahumans, he may be a welcome addition to Justice Unlimited. Lady Leizi: My shīfù once told me there are only two kinds of aged warriors: those who abandon the fight altogether and age gracefully into infirmary, and those who bitterly resent time's theft of their prowess and train relentlessly to not give up one iota of their skill. That kind is all the more dangerous for their experience along with their ability. Mr. Song reminds me of the latter. He plays the role of the kindly grandfather, but I have a feeling that still waters run deep. The true problem presented by his age is what to do about his cover. We either give him a subtle power that could have plausibly remained hidden, conceal his identity, or somehow find a way to reverse aging.
* * *
"It's often been said that 'the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice'. That righteousness may come slowly, but it is inevitable."
If the audience was distracted during Wolong's speech, then they are held in rapture at Lady Leizi. There was a certain mystique about her. She was the sole surviving member of the original Justice Unlimited, she had rebuilt the organization from ashes in a matter of mere months, and it is said that a butterfly cannot flap its wings in Horizon without word of it reaching her ears.
Yet, she rarely made public appearances. Even in Justice Unlimited's heyday, she was relegated to the background—the power behind the throne rather than the one sitting in it.
What would she say? How would she say it? The thought was on everyone's mind. Even Scarlet Maturity was mildly interested, if only to judge her worth as an enemy.
"I dearly wish that were true, but, in my experience, it is not. The world is an arbitrary, cruel, indifferent place. Good things happen to bad people. Bad things happen to good people. There is no one coming to save a little girl who has just lost her mother. There is no one to stop her father from trying to turn her into a monster like him."
A hush falls over the crowd.
"For years, I truly believed that to be the nature of the world. Mercy is a sin, compassion a weakness. Take and hurt as you please, because you will be taken from and hurt no matter how you act. When I escaped from my father and the Triad, I was ready to enforce my will on this world. To hurt others as I had been hurt. But, then . . . I met the most wonderful people in the world."
Her voice cracks at that last statement, but the Lady of Lightning pushes forward.
"They accepted me without question. They gave to me without hesitation. They loved me freely even though I didn't deserve it and may never will. They gave me space, time, patience, and told me over and over again that I was better than I dared dream. They believed in a better version of me so strongly, that they willed her into existence."
Tears roll down her cheeks, but her expression is defiant. As if challenging why you aren't crying.
"I didn't—I just couldn't—understand why. So, one day, I asked. And Yazmin—Uiara—told me something that I still remember to this day: 'The only good in this world is what we put into it.'"
Her eyes burn with a passion most did not expect to find in such a cold woman.
"The universe is neither hateful nor benevolent. It simply is. If there is kindness in this life, it comes from the people who choose to put it there. Even then, there's no guarantee it will be returned. Bad things will happen, it's unavoidable. A monster could kill someone you love and not face a day of punishment for it."
Scarlet Maturity shifts in place. He raises Lady Leizi a notch in his estimation.
"And a Leviathan might one day wake up. The game is rigged. The universe tends toward indifference. That is why heroism is an act of defiance. A statement against entropy where all there is to be gained is your own soul. You do not have to be a bystander in this life. You can be more."
Minor Success: DC 5. Moderate Success: DC 10. Major Success: DC 15.
Stat Check: REPUTATION 5. Lady Leizi has REPUTATION 4.
You rolled: 18.
18 + 0 = 18. Major Success!
Lady Leizi's REPUTATION increases by 1!
Lady Leizi's words would be repeated a thousand times over after her speech. It was the kind of landmark moment where everyone who was there could recall it with perfect clarity. Her words would prove popular quotations, so popular that a local tattoo artist would get so tired of people requesting it that she would make a stencil that could be filled in.
"Because while there was no one to save a younger me, there should have been. And next time, there will be, because I will be that person. I will be the justice lacking from the universe."
Her shout echoes over a silenced crowd. After a second, her expression shifts to something nostalgic and painful.
"I won't forget the people who taught me that," she says with a wet smile, "Nor the people who died alongside them. There is no reversing time. There is no saying the things you left unsaid. All we can do is live lives of which they would be proud."
She looks back at the Apiary, its ever-present hum having fallen silent.
"Goodbye everyone."
What a terrible day for rain, under a cloudless sky.
"I love you."
* * *
You are Black Swan.
It's been twenty minutes since Lady Leizi's speech ended and you've just now managed to stop ugly-crying. Leviathan's Blood, she's just . . . the best. You're totally getting her limited edition figure with the lightning effects now—you don't care if the scalpers have it marked way up!
Lady Leizi had the last speech of the day, but there were formal funeral proceedings planned that would mark the end of the memorial. The atmosphere here is weird now—sober, but in a sorta happy way? Like the relief you feel after a good cry.
"Man, she's so hot."
"I guess she knew Justice Unlimited better than anyone? I mean she is Justice Unlimited now."
"That shit about her dad? Holy crap, I had no idea . . ."
"There is no way Valiant Silver was responsible for the Movement. I mean, after that speech? Someone like that wouldn't support a monster!"
"She's so hot."
You gain +3 to your roll counteracting Crusades attack on your REPUTATION next turn!
It's kinda . . . sad how easy people change their minds about stuff. A few days ago, everyone was willing to believe whatever Crusade told them. Now they were doubting it just because Lady Leizi gave a good speech? I mean, better late than never, but come on . . .
You're flying around, keeping an eye out for more people who might be good for Project Prometheus, when you spot Mr. Chaucer talking to two women.
Well, "talking" might be putting it mildly. They have him cornered—literally. They're by a fountain and have him surrounded on either side. One has a shock of bright red hair, while the other looks a little older with black hair pulled into a bun. You fly a little closer, and you can hear the lady with black hair talking.
". . . Leizi hasn't responded to any of our community proposals. These aren't just vanity projects of mine, they've been discussed and voted on by the people who live here!"
Mr. Chaucer looks flustered. "I understand, Soraia, but this may not be the appropriate time—"
"I don't know," the redhead says, dramatically tapping her finger on her chin, "We normally can't even find you in the great big Apiary! I think now's the perfect time, don't you?"
"Joelle, listen," Soraia says with sharp eyes, "Everyone is grateful for Justice Unlimited letting us stay here after you drove off Floating Venom Morpheme. Doubly grateful that you helped Ms. Lawson heal those who were poisoned. But people are starting to put roots down here. They're paying you rent. We need to talk about how the people here can have a say in how to build their community!"
"Think about it!" the redhead says, "The Apiary is gigantic. We could build a school, a library, a stadium! Just look at how these gardens have brought everyone together. The food court is a good start, but we could take things so much further!"
"Shelley is exactly right! You just adopted a young girl," Soraira points out, "Don't you want her growing up in a place she can be proud of?"
Mr. Chaucer puts up his hands and sighs. "Madeline is a special case . . . however, I take your point. Honestly, your proposals sound lovely. It's just that we haven't the budget for it at the moment—"
DC 10.
Stat Check: REPUTATION 5. Chaucer will roll with a +2.
You rolled: 2.
2 + 2 = 4. Failure!
"'You haven't the budget'?" Soraia demands, "You just collected a bounty on a Named-Rank Behemoth! I know all those families of all those people Black Swan saved donated money. We pay you rent! Where is it all going?!"
"We only charge rent that's equal to cover utilities," Mr. Chaucer protests, "And the rest of our budget is stretched tight."
"Can we see it?" Shelley asks, her expression calm and reasonable, "I'm sure that would clear up any confusion."
"I'm afraid—"
"No, Joelle, I'm afraid," Soraia interrupts, "I've seen this happen too many times. Justice Unlimited has the best of intentions—of that I have no doubt—but you're ignoring the people who live here. If you're going to let people stay here—people who don't work for you—then you have to give them a voice in how things are run. Or else, one day we'll all wake up and realize we're at the mercy of superpowered overlords."
"You don't have to tell us everything," Shelley says, playing the good cop, "But you can't have it both ways. Either you care about the opinions of the people who live here, or you don't.. Don't pretend to be better and then act the way Dominion or English-McLeod does."
Mr. Chaucer takes out a handkerchief and mops off his face. Dang, they're really giving it to him! And, you kinda see where they're coming from? Opale's been talking about how you've blown through all your money for a week now.
You like people living here. You want them to stay. But you also need them to trust you, especially when you can't say everything.
And Mrs. Del Rosairo and Shelley really seem like they care about people. You gotta do something.
DC 10.
Stat Check: REPUTATION 5. Black Swan has REPUTATION 10.
You rolled: 20.
20 + 4 = 24. Critical Success!Natural Crit!
"Hi, Shelley! Hi, Mrs. Del Rosario!" you chirp as you land nearby, "I heard you guys talking! I don't think Maddie would like going to school, but I think it's a neat idea!"
"Thank you!" Soraira shouts, throwing her hands up, "Then can we—"
"Nope!" you cut her off, "We're broke!"
You give a snappy salute. Everyone stares at you.
Shelley starts, "Black Swan—"
"You can call me Mona! You live here—we're neighbors!"
". . . Mona," she starts again, "Where is all the money going?"
"I can't tell you!" you say brightly. You look side to side conspiratorially. "Secret."
"Mona," Shelley says patiently, "You can understand how that doesn't engender confidence, right?"
"Yep!" you chirp, "But I still can't tell you! I will say that it will prooooobably be obvious in a few days."
"They why can't you—"
"Hey, so are you guys good with numbers?" you ask abruptly, "Ms. Del Rosario, you ran a co-op, right?"
"You can just call me 'Soraia'," she says, off-balance, "And I yes, I was part of the board . . ."
"Goodie!" you cheer, "Because while Lady Leizi is the coolest and I love her so much, she's, um, not very good at bookkeeping. Châtelet took a look at our financial records and started crying. The Double L is good at other stuff! But not this."
You give them a big grin.
"The job is too big for just Châtelet though. We're still trying to make sure all of our records are accurate. Valiant Silver . . . also sucked with money."
"I see . . ." Soraia says.
Shelley gives a little smile. "Could Châtelet use some help in an official capacity then? Perhaps she could hire people from the community to help organize Justice Unlimited financials?"
"Wow!" you say putting your hands to your face, "That would be awesome."
"And if they just so happened to see where the money was going . . ."
"Then they better keep it a secret!" you say, "'cuz lots of bad guys have been trying to find out too! Just ask Scarlet Maturity!"
Shelley pales a little and nods her head. Soraia narrows her eyes and opens her mouth, but the stops herself and nods.
"Fine," she says, "I assume there will be NDAs?"
"Prooooobably."
"Fine," she repeats, "But there won't be anything stopping me from using anything I learn in any proposals sent to Lady Leizi?"
"Yeppers! You should probably just give them to Châtelet though . . ."
"An excellent solution!" a relieved Mr. Chaucer says, "Thank you, Mona! Now, let's set up a meeting to discuss the finer points of the arrangement . . ."
They start talking specifics and you get kind of bored and fly off. You really like them both! Shelley initially just seems kind of nice, but she's a little sneaky. And Soraia really cares about doing the right thing. You could probably use someone like her to keep you honest before you guys get all like Powers or, bleh, Crusade.
Name: Soraia Del Rosario Age: 31 Stats: HIT 1, ESPIONAGE 3, REPUTATION 6, OPERATIONS 4 Tolerance: 5 Chaucer's Notes:One of the refugees who settled in the Apiary after the Movement, she quickly became one of the group's leaders. She helped distribute resources to those that most needed them, organized events to boost morale, and kept the refugees from devolving into infighting while under siege by Floating Venom Morpheme. She actually already works for us as a member of our administrative staff. She has something of a reputation as a firecracker—she has her beliefs and is not shy about sharing them. Thankfully, her beliefs seem to be of a heroic disposition: most often she voices disagreement when she is concerned that the refugees—now residents of the Apiary—are not being well-cared for or treated fairly. Lady Leizi:Nora would have loved her immediately and then found her deeply frustrating, partially because she reminds me of Yazmin. Soraia has a history of involvement in local and workplace politics, notably helping found an union in her previous workplace. It was successful until their jobs were outsourced to cheaper suppliers, after which she started a semi-legal cooperative dedicated to producing licensed medicine to distribute either for free or at very low prices. She's well-known and well-loved around the Worker's Mitt, and would certainly help differentiate us from other, more corporate hero organizations. However, she would also certainly object to some of our more . . . questionable methods if she felt they were not adequately considered or justified.
Name: Shelley Marie Age: 27 Stats: HIT 1, ESPIONAGE 5 REPUTATION 4, OPERATIONS 3 Tolerance: 6 Chaucer's Notes:Ms. Marie originally hails from the Worker's Mitt, where she worked as a music teacher. She gained a reputation for her advocacy for strong unions and fair pay for those employed in the music industry in the Mitt. She eventually found her way to us with the refugees after her home was destroyed, and she was one of the people sheltering from Floating Venom Morpheme when we retook the Apiary. She is by all means pleasant and charming, but she has a habit of finding herself in places she doesn't belong. She claims she is merely "unlucky", but I believe Ms. Marie may have more of a nose for trouble than she lets on. Lady Leizi:I've heard of Shelley before— she used to occasionally make large donations to reconstruction efforts in the Mitt wherever it was damaged by metahuman combat. I know she's involved in multiple unions, and is a fixture at town hall meetings. I would say she's unremarkable, except for uncanny knack of being at the right place at the right time to do the most good. I've not been able to find hard proof, but I'm fairly certain she was the one to agitate the protests against DeLeon after we rescued Menagerie Witch. Useful to have on our side, though I'd keep a close eye on her.
You fly back up, feeling a little pleased with yourself. That was subtle right? Black Swan can do subtlety! She doesn't "always fumble worse than the Cleveland Browns", Maddie! You don't even know what that means!
You're preening at the actions of "Shadow Operative Black Swan" when more whispers catch your attention.
"What are they doing here?"
"Oh shit, is a fight gonna break out this time?!"
"Y'know, they're cute but something's missing . . . not monster-y enough, y'know?"
"What is with your taste?!"
You let yourself droop in the air and let out an aggrieved sigh. What is it now?! Is it Scarlet Maturity again?! Because if it's him or someone similarly blast-able, you're feeling pretty blast-y!
Except, it's not. It's four people in blue uniforms standing with perfect posture: Stockpile, Plasticity, Perspective, and Joules. They walk together through the crowd and then split up to go to different parts of the monument wall.
Ahhhhh! You wanna pull out your hair! What are these weenies doing here? They better not say anything about Justice Unlimited again or you're gonna kick their butts!
You zoom over to Stockpile—you will not call him by his stupid stolen name—and land to give him a piece of your mind. But as you do, you draw short as you see what he's doing.
He's set out a glass in front of the wall and is pouring a bottle of malt liquor into it. He stops when the glass is full, and then closes his eyes and bows his head.
You zoom over and see where he was looking: "Lamar Thompson—Steadfast".
He takes a breath, sniffs the bottle, and then takes a sip from the drink. He swallows it for a half second before immediately sputtering and coughing. He doubles over as he desperately spits to get the taste out of his mouth.
"Ugh, Leviathan's Blood, that's awful," he coughs, "Why . . . why did the First Lieutenant like this stuff?!"
"What are you doing?" you ask, bewildered, floating next to him.
"It's the First Lieutenant's favorite drink. Or was," he says, wiping his mouth, "I . . . this is something you do for people who have died, right? That's what they do in movies at least . . ."
You give him a flat look. "You've never been to a funeral before?"
"I'm an orphan," Stockpile replies, "This is the first time I've lost anyone really close to me."
Oh.
No! No, no, no! You will not feel bad for him! He's a lying butthead!
"Why are you here?" you demand.
He blinks at you. "I'm honoring fallen comrades?"
"Yeah, but why here?"
His expression hardens. "It's a public memorial, isn't it?"
You roll your eyes. "Ugh. Crusade just wants the good PR, doesn't it? You're here to take photos and say more mean stuff about us."
He frowns and leans forward. "Maybe. But let me ask you this: why are you here, Black Swan?"
". . . I live here, duh."
"No," he says, shaking his head, "Why are you here? With Justice Unlimited?"
He steps closer to you.
"I've seen you. You are . . . truly good. You care about people. You care about doing the right thing. You have so much power. You defeated Scarlet Maturity! Why waste it working for a criminal in service to the ideas of a madwoman?"
"Don't call them that!" you shout back, "They're heroes!"
He shakes his head again. "I understand how you might feel that way about Valiant Silver. I admired her too. But she was an Algernon-type . . . there is a price that must be paid for using our powers."
He looks down. "It breaks my heart, but the Valiant Silver who caused the Movement was not the same Valiant Silver who battled The Defiance Unit. Her power . . . destroyed her."
He looks away.
"Like it will destroy me."
He grabs both your hands in his and leans forward with shining determination in his eyes. "But power hasn't destroyed you. It won't corrupt you!"
"Umm," you say, feeling your face heating up, "Thanks but—"
"You won't age or die. You can be the hero that leads us into the future! Black Swan, please—"
You start to panic a little bit when someone grabs your shoulder and pulls you away from Stockpile. He stumbles before catching himself and whips his head up to confront who just interrupted when your savior steps in front of you and roughly grabs his arm.
It's Ellie.
Minor Success: DC 5. Moderate Success: DC 10. Major Success: DC 15.
Stat Check: OPERATIONS 5. Valiant Gold and Black Swan have a combined OPERATIONS 13.
You rolled: 7.
7 + 4 = 11. Moderate Success!
"Excuse me," she says, grabbing something out of his hand. It's a palm-sized screen with a small wand on the back.
"What's that—?" you ask.
"A scanner of some sort," she says in a flat voice, "He was using it on you when he thought you were distracted."
Ellie snaps the antenna in her hand, throws the device to the ground, and then crushes it with her foot.
"Now, he's not."
"You—!" Stockpile snarls. He approaches Ellie, but she catches him off guard by shoving him with both her arms. He falls backwards, windmilling his arms before landing on his bottom.
"Black Swan isn't interested in any offers from a little boy dressed in stolen valor," Ellie spits, "Do not let me catch you using any more devices on any more people here. Finish paying your respects, and then get lost."
Ellie's expression doesn't change during her speech, but her tone is ice cold. Before Stockpile can reply, she grabs your hand and begins to pull you away.
"Wait!" Stockpile barks, "Who are you? What is your name?"
Ellie stops and turns around.
"Valiant Gold."
You see Stockpile's eyes widen in shock. Then Ellie pulls you through the crowd and the faker disappears from view.
You're not really sure where Ellie is dragging you, but she doesn't slow down. You kind of just float and let her take you where she will. Her face is a mask of determination, her piercing brown eyes looking forward, framed by long, delicate lashes. Her wavy hair bounces in the breeze, and her mouth is set in a line. Her lips look soft. Her hand is warm in yours.
But the time she suddenly stops and turns around, you're cherry-red. She leans forward, eyes like the sun, and you feel your heart flutter ands you close your eyes and lean forward—
"What were you doing back there?" she demands, "That boy is the leader of Crusade. He's not to be trusted."
Your brain stutters as you snap out of your fugue. "W-what?"
"He was obviously trying to poach you," she says, "And if not, he was trying to learn something about you. He's an Algernon-type. I have no doubt he plans to make use of what data he's able to recover."
"Uhh, sorry?" you offer, "I don't like him either, but he was right that it's a public memorial. It's not like I can just kick him out for being a meanie-butt?"
"Yes, you can!" Ellie snarls. You rear back. There are unshed tears in her eyes. "He doesn't get to just walk in here. Not after he dragged her name through the mud. Not after he stole her armor and pretends he's her. He doesn't—"
You hug Ellie.
She stiffens in your grasp before returning it.
"No, he doesn't," you agree, "But if we kick him out, he wins. We just gotta ignore him for now. Then, we'll kick his butt later when he reveals his evil, meanie-butt plans!"
Ellie stays still for a second before pulling back and sniffling. "Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Thank you, Mona."
You grin at her. "No problem. And . . . thank you for protecting me."
Ellie rolls her eyes. "I wasn't sure if that was what I was doing, to be honest. You seemed to enjoy his attention enough."
You tilt your head in confusion. "Huh?"
Ellie pinches the bridge of her nose. "Mona . . . he was attracted to you. Yes, he was scanning you, but I think his offer for you to join Crusade was spontaneous."
"What?!" you say, shocked, "He liked me? Nooooooo waaaaaay! That's so flattering!"
You remember with his eyes flashed and were all intense. It freaked you out, but on someone else you . . . kinda like it?
"Huh! He was k kinda cute when he was getting all worked up!" you muse.
Ellie's eyes widen in some emotion you can't place before her expression snaps back to her usual impassive mask. "I see. Just be careful next, Black Swan."
She quickly pulls away and disappears into the crowd.
"Ellie, wait!" you stutter as you lose sight of her, "He's cute for a poo-head! A poo-head! His head is poo! Come back! Please! Fuuuuunnel caaaaaakes!"
* * *
You are Valiant Gold.
Why do you keep talking to Black Swan? Every time you talk to her, you leave feeling lightheaded with your stomach in knots. She's the only one who does this to you. Makes you feel so nervous and off-balance.
Bah. You shake your head to clear it. You need to focus. The memorial is nearly done now, but that's no reason to let your guard down—
DC 15.
Stat Check: ESPIONAGE 8. The Security Team has a collective ESPIONAGE 32.
You rolled: 5.
5 + 12 = 17. Success!
"VG, it's Doctor Silver. We got a situation."
Adrenaline spikes in your blood as your comm crackles to life. Suddenly, the confused feelings fade away as the world takes on a sharper clarity.
"Report," you say without missing a beat.
"There's something underground, Valiant Gold. Something big. And it's coming toward the surface."
"Where?" you demand.
"Just outside the gardens on the south side. I'm heading there now."
"Good, bring Palisade with you. Have Menagerie Witch put her summons on standby and get Handyman in disguise in the area," Your thoughts whirl. "Dreamcatcher manage to manifest anything new?"
"Still spiders," Doctor Silver replies, "Apparently it's a recurring nightmare. Especially bad for him."
"Understood. He's on crowd control then. Get everyone away from that exit in as calm a way as possible. Tell them there's an electrical malfunction and we need to let techs dig up the power wires in the ground to fix it."
"Smart," Doctor Silver says with a warm chuckle, "You're nailing this, VG. Yazy or Nora themselves couldn't have done better."
You ignore the warm feeling of pride that comes at his words as you race to the south entrance. You move as quickly as you can without alerting anyone in the crowd.
"How'd we miss this?" you say frustrated.
"It's my fault," he admits, "It's at the very edge of my range. I'm not used to distinguishing regular versus irregular seismic activity, so I didn't think anything of it. I would have missed it altogether if it weren't for Cain tipping me off."
"Cain?" You can't hide the surprise in your voice.
"Yeah, some guys he didn't recognize approached him and asked him to help them put some things in the ground. He turned them down, but came to me right away. Guess they found some other stoolie to take up their offer."
You frown. You remember the briefing on Simão Cruzes da Silva Neto, a.k.a "Cain". He was a notorious, non-powered killer from Brazil that had found his way to the Apiary with the refugees. You had thought the meeting was about having him removed, but to your surprise, he was being considered for Project Prometheus.
Name: Simão Cruzes da Silva Neto, alias "Cain" Age: 30 Stats: HIT 5, ESPIONAGE 4, REPUTATION 1, OPERATION 4 Tolerance: 7 Chaucer's Notes: What is this submission doing here? Has someone taken leave of their senses? Why in the world have we taken the time to screen this man?
For any enterprising soul who finds this file by accident, let me be very clear: "Cain" is a spree killer, a non-powered "vigilante" who was active in Brazil and infamous for his crimes. He is perhaps the most dangerous non-metahuman on the continent! It is rumored his first kill happened when he was twelve, and for years afterwards he waged a one-man war against the cartels. He killed anyone he believed to be a member without pause, despite being involved in the drug trade himself. He has an estimated murder count in the triple digits, including his own father!
I cannot fathom why this man would ever be considered for Project Prometheus. Lady Leizi: I was the one who submitted Cain for screening. Cain's life has been unbearably tragic, and it has shaped him to the hardened killer he is today. By all accounts, his father was an abusive monster responsible for the death of his mother—I am in no position to judge what one does in that situation.
My reasoning for his consideration is simple—his abnormal, natural tolerance is too high to simply disregard outright, and there is something to be said for having disposable assets. He's currently on parole, and is in Horizon to help raise his sister, Fernanda, raise her son, Afonso, following the death of her husband. The strings controlling Cain are easy to spot—we will ensure his family will always be taken care of, and he will participate on any assignment we send him on without question.
I just don't ever expect him to be a team player. No doubt his mere presence would offend some of our current members. Some may even refuse to work with him. And if his inclusion on Justice Unlimited's roster were ever made public, there would be severe consequences for us. One can only imagine what Crusade would do with that information. It is an extreme risk, but one I believe is at least worth discussing.
You can't say you were a fan of the idea, but you at least understood Lady Leizi's reasoning. His bizarrely high tolerance meant that he could easily be another Black Swan—if one who was possibly unstable and malicious instead of merely incredibly irritating. Chaucer, John Henry, and Handyman had been bitterly opposed to the idea, Black Swan and Châtelet were uncomfortable, and only you and Menagerie Witch were level-headed about it.
Still, this mess was a mark in his favor—you got the warning you needed to be ready.
The ground is trembling now, the tremors growing more pronounced as you near the south exit. You're running the opposite direction as the flow of the crowd now. Giant spiders with the face of a mustached man wearing a hat that says "Coach" are herding people away as Dreamcatcher directs them and tries not to cry. The shaking reaches a fevered pitch, you're nearly knocked off your feet when—
It stops.
And then the earth erupts. A plastic-looking drill painted an eye-searing pink and purple color bursts out of the ground and then unfurls like a flower. A ramp smashes onto the ground creating a stairway to a metal pillar contained in the center of the machine.
There's something odd about the pillar that gives you a headache just looking at it. It's like reality itself has been folded in half, the space occupied by the pillar extending forever into the horizon and leading to a dark room where a woman lounges on a throne.
Then she stands up.
The pale woman wears black, metal armor with wickedly sharp pauldrons and a seven-pointed crown of dark obsidian sits on her head. Behind her, a smaller, hooded figure emerges from behind her throne carrying a banner depicting a black butterfly on an orange background. She walks from her throne, moves into the distorted space, and then steps onto the drill.
Monarch has arrived.
The hooded figure carrying the banner trails behind her. Monarch looks over at the figure, halts her step for a moment, and then inclines her head at two others who quickly flank the standard bearer. One is a gigantic man dressed like a gladiator with a lion skin pelt around his shoulder. The other is a spindly black, featureless outline of a man constantly warping and moving, like a tape being sped up and rewound. Behind them is a man in a hazmat suit and gas mask, with large tanks of something strapped to his back and connected to a hose. Finally, in the rear of this procession, is a woman dressed like a French aristocrat with puppets dangling from her skirt. She walks hunched in on herself, clutching one of her arms to her chest.
Heracles. Warpstar. Acid Rain. Marie Marionette.
You don't recognize the hooded figure with the banner, but you don't need to. Any one of them would be a nightmare for Justice Unlimited to fight. Let alone five of them.
There's an explosion of light behind you, and you see a figure leap into the air and rush toward Monarch.
DC 15.
Stat Check: HIT 25. The Security Team has a collective HIT 34.
Everything slows down for you. There's liquid ice in your veins. The figure rushing toward Monarch is wearing blue armor with red highlights. It looks like your armor. Around his arm is a gathering glow of power.
It's that idiot-thief, Stockpile. You have less than a second to make a call. He's about to attack Monarch and turn this into a brawl. There are still people nearby, let alone everyone in the gardens behind you. Any kind of fighting is going to lead to people dying. Not that he cares—they're not his people.
Well, that makes it an easy decision, doesn't it?
You feel the watch you never take off—that you can't take off—start to glow. You race forward and leap as the golden shine covers your body.
"It's showtime."
You feel a tingle of energy as your clothes are dissolved and pulled away into a pocket dimension. Simultaneously, a dark blue bodysuit spreads from your watch and covers you completely from the neck down. As soon as it's done, plates of golden armor materialize and fuse together over your chest, arms and shoulders. Smaller plates of armor form around your head before coming together into a helmet with a face plate and glowing eyes that envelopes your head. Your vision goes dark for a split second as the HUD activates, displaying Nora's last message to you:
ACT IN THE NAME OF GOOD, YE WHO BEARS THE CONSEQUENCES OF THY ACTIONS.
FIND THY LIMITS.
EXCEED BEYOND.
Finally, a green hologram of a scarf dotted with stars wraps itself around your neck and drifts behind you. You're embraced by the legacy of the two women who loved you.
You are Valiant Gold.
You catch Stockplie's arm before he can swing and drag him from the sky. The energy discharges, carving a deep furrow into the ground, but not hitting anyone. He jerks around at you, as a pulse of blue light bursts out of his armor.
Psychic Interference Detected. Counteracting.
That's . . . a deeply worrying message from your HUD. Stockpile snarls through his helmet.
"Who are—you. What are you doing?! Monarch is right there."
"Use your head," you growl back, "You start a fight here and it's going to turn into a bloodbath. Monarch could have emerged from underground in the middle of the gardens if she wanted a fight. Actually—she could have just fired projectiles at us through her portal. There is no reason for her to come in person unless she has other plans."
"You don't know that."
"I do. Stand down. This situation is handled."
"I don't care! I'm ending this!"
Activate Module: Rock.
"Start caring!" you shout as you throw Stockpile behind. Your unexpected strength catches him off guard and he sails to the ground and lands in a heap.
A slow clap comes from in front of you. Monarch is applauding, an amused expression on her face.
"Delightful. Are the two of you to duel for our entertainment?"
Your reply comes in the form of a semi-translucent blue barrier of light that surrounds Monarch and her lieutenants. At the same time, a hoard of shadowy spiders, dogs, and jungle cats swarms their location. Great, stygian corvids fill the sky as you spy several large snakes hiding out just of sight. Echidna arrives, the red glow of the Hustle surrounding her. Handyman is in position, posing as a terrified attendee.
"Like I said: handled."
Monarch's amused expression turns to a scowl.
"Is this how you greet all well-wishers at a memorial? Your manners need work, girl."
"What are you doing here?" you say, unphased, "I doubt you intend to surrender yourself."
She lets out a theatrical laugh. "And abandon my people? My domain? Return us to the care and custody of the very people who left me and mine to rot in a trans-dimensional penitentiary?"
She glares daggers at you.
"Never."
"Then what do you want?" you ask again. You signal Handyman to move closer. This could go hot at any second.
"Have you taken leave of your hearing? We have told you. We are here with the members of my court to make amends and pay our respects. The Movement may have been our liberation, but it very well may have also been the destruction of this world. We wish to honor the fallen."
". . . that's it?" you say, not bothering to hide your skepticism.
She grins again. "Is it so hard to believe that a peer would want to come to an event hosted by Justice Unlimited? The people of my domain are peace-loving. We make no war even as others invade our borders, kidnap our citizens, and attempt to starve our populace! Simply because they label us as 'criminals'. As if they have the right to judge us."
"You have an issue with murders being judged?"
She gives an imperial shake of her head. "That is who they once were. Any who remain in our kingdom have abandoned their baser nature and agreed to follow the laws, as all must. Those who once were scorned and feared are now protectors."
"Protectors?" you say flatly. You're getting increasingly annoyed. "Is that what you call it when two of your followers enslaves your 'people', marches them into the Uni District and uses them as human shields?"
She nods her head. "You are correct. A grave crime. Committed by those who were sworn to obey. But, as we said, we are also here to make amends."
She gestures and suddenly all of her lieutenants step to the side except Marie Marionette who walks forward and then knees before Monarch.
"Marie Marionette," Monarch announces, "You have violated the laws of our land. You have injured our citizens. What say you to these accusations?"
"I'm guilty," she says in her sligh French accent. Her head is bowed.
"You have been given two choices. Either accept just punishment for your actions, or be forever exiled. What choose you?"
"I . . . I accept punishment. Please, don't make me leave. Please."
"Very well. Raise your right arm." She motions to Warpstar as Marie Marionette obeys. "My soldier?"
"YoU gOt It bOsS—uHh, I mEaN, mY lEeGe," he says in a fractured voice. Suddenly, his arm disappears and reappears, sticking out of Marie Marinette's shoulder. His arm bends, grabs Marie Marinette's arm at the elbow, and pulls—
And in an instant, Warpstar's arm is back on his body. In his grasp is Marie Marionette's arm from the elbow down.
Marie Marionette collapses to the ground, blood flowing from her stump. Monarch holds out her arms and proclaims, "Marie Marionette has paid the blood price for her crimes! Her victims and their families will be compensated and made whole. Let this be the end of all grudges against her! The people of my domain reject the notion of eternal punishment to which we were subject!"
She kneels down and pulls Marie Marionette to her feet. "You may use your power to stop the bleeding. Your punishment is over, Marie."
"Thank you," Marie Marionette says, pale and shaking, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
Heracles and Acid Rain help move the hydrokinetic puppeteer back to her position in the rear of the group.
"Does that satisfy your urge for blood?" Monarch demands of you, "For that is all my people intend to spill this day."
"Tch." You're annoyed. You have a feeling you walked right into that one; she wanted to put on that little show.
Monarch surveys the scene through Doctor Silver's barriers. "We must say, we are disappointed. I thought Justice Unlimited had pride. You reject use, but you permit the attendance of this boy here—"
She points at Stockpile.
"—after he slanders your beloved former leader and steals her name? For shame. He and his wretched 'Crusade' are ones sowing discord and starving a borough."
"AlSo A tAcKy NaMe, HiStOrIcAlLy," Warpstar adds, "JuSt SaYiN'."
"You scum have the nerve," Stockpile shouts before you intercede again.
"Stay down or I'll put you down again," you warn him. Heracles lets out a snort of derision from behind the barrier and you see Stockpile tense. He needs to let it go. Doesn't he understand they're deliberately provoking him?
As if that wasn't enough, your comm crackles to life again. It's Doctor Silver.
"VG, there is something else underground. Something big. Can't quite make it out, but they have something up their sleeve here."
Perfect. Dollman, you'd guess. The drill looks like his handiwork, and he's not with the rest of them. You wrack your brain for what you can remember about their powers.
Heracles. Super strength and durability. Unremarkable except for the fact that he can only be hurt by short range physical attacks. It's how he nearly killed your mom—he ignored her power over inertia. You grit your teeth. Sounds like a perfect way to test Module Rock.
Warpstar. Can instantly teleport any part of his body anywhere he can see, not limited by distance and not requiring direct sight. Also super strong, and can teleport other things back to him when he recalls his limbs.
Acid Rain. Algernon-type specializing in acids, bases, and dispersal methods. A walking mass casualty event.
Marie Marionette. Hydrokinetic with a tendency to control the bodily fluids, including blood, of other people.
Monarch. Can link two points in space that allow for instant transportation and preservation of momentum.
It would be a tough battle, even with your current advantage. That's not even accounting for all the innocent lives you would have to protect.
But can you really trust Monarch at her word? You don't think it's entirely a cover—she wants legitimacy. She wants to be seen being treated like a peer of other heroic organizations. You didn't miss how she tried just now to liken her treatment at the hands of Crusade to how they've treated you. Attending the memorial peacefully—being treated as an equal and in control of some of the most violent Wonderland inmates?—would be a PR coup for her.
But it would give you more time for evacuations. And the chance to try to see if you can discern anything else about Monarch's plans. It's a golden opportunity to spy on her.
Or . . . or something else tickles in the back of your mind. Or, maybe this is bullshit and her false dilemma is bullshit. She wants to talk? Fine. Let's talk.
[ ] . . . go loud.
-[ ] What tactics? (subject to veto by QM. Good plans will result in bonuses to HIT checks)
DC 13. HIT 45. Rolled with advantage. After the first HIT check, Black Swan will join the battle. After the second HIT check, the rest of Justice Unlimited and New Dawn will join. REPUTATION check to get Crusade to coordinate with you. Multiple OPERATIONS checks to limit civilian casualties.
[ ] . . . let them walk and try to spy on them.
-[ ] How? (subject to veto by QM. Good plans will result in bonuses to ESPIONAGE checks)
Minor Success: DC 5. Moderate Success: DC 10. Major Success: DC 15. ESPIONAGE 50. Will be rolled with all of Justice Unlimited and New Dawn's stats. REPUTATION check to limit fallout from Crusade's reaction. A failed REPUTATION check may result in a fight breaking out between Monarch's forces and Crusade.
[ ] . . . talk. Fuck this, the only way to win is not to play.
Minor Success: DC 5. Moderate Success: DC 10. Major Success: DC 15. OPERATIONS 10. Valiant Gold will roll with her own stats. Success on OPERATIONS check will grant Valiant Gold bonuses on subsequent DC 15, REPUTATION 10 check to get Monarch to leave without a fight.
Well! This is interesting. I must admit, I'm tempted to go for Option 3. We wouldn't be rolling with a penalty for the Operations checks, as Valiant Gold's OPS is at 9. Unfortunately, we would be rolling the Reputation check with a -2 penalty, though the potential success on the Operations check could swing things back in our favor.
................................well then.
Yeah i got nothing, I was in the middle of writing something when this popped up. Like the Candidates we got and HOLY SHIT this really is a big choice.
BTW if we use cain he needs to hard espionage spec and Ironically handyman power would have been best for him. Though now its pribably best to give him something like clairvoyance and invisibility to make sure he really is hidden.
Also Im nit sure if its worth turning him to t10 since hes too unstable and thats too much power.
Shelley as a T6 should be a good to buff for T10 since 2000 would be costly but worth it.
Song is perfect for Wade family combo but need fastpass firet for him to reach T5
BTW if we use cain he needs to hard espionage spec and Ironically handyman power would have been best for him. Though now its pribably best to give him something like clairvoyance and invisibility to make sure he really is hidden.
Also Im nit sure if its worth turning him to t10 since hes too unstable and thats too much power.
Shelley as a T6 should be a good to buff for T10 since 2000 would be costly but worth it.
Song is perfect for Wade family combo but need fastpass firet for him to reach T5
"And a Leviathan might one way wake up. The game is rigged. The universe tends toward indifference. That is why heroism is an act of defiance. A statement against entropy where all there is to be gained is your own soul. You do not have to be a bystander in this life. You can be more."
Lady Leizi's words would be repeated a thousand times over after her speech. It was the kind of landmark moment where everyone who was there could recall it with perfect clarity. Her words would prove popular quotations, so popular that a local tattoo artist would get so tired of people requesting it that she would make a stencil that could be filled in.
That was an amazing speech, and it shows. LL is truly coming into her own, not letting this tragedy define her, but rather choosing to move forwards and be more.
Yes!!! That's the PR we want! Hilarious that people are switching it up and thinking LL is too moral to support a monster when at that point in time she was the only one supporting Valiant Silver, but nobody needs to know that.
"Huh! He was k kinda cute when he was getting all worked up!" you muse.
Ellie's eyes widen in some emotion you can't place before her expression snaps back to her usual impassive mask. "I see. Just be careful next, Black Swan."
"Leviathan's Blood . . . it's not just that her charisma fails when she talks to someone she's romantically interested in . . . it attracts people she hates! It's pointing in the wrong direction!"
...... hmmm....
Is it possible to to give them until evacuation has completed to talk and then tell them to leave while blasting them once evacuation is over?....
Also.... ..... When I think of Monarch I think of venture bros .... .....
Are you fine with giving him the Wade family combo after getting fast pass or do you still want to turn him into a Master splinter expy with sewer rat?
Any for Cain Again the biggest problem really is him getting out of control and killing. That said as Leizi shows sonething a. Show of support and trust nurtured with care would allow someone to Become more something Leizi should be able to handle.
Funny enough for us the best Side effect is probably dysmorphic mutation in order be able to give him a new identity whole cloth.
Also while espionage spec would let us hide him id also make it difficult for us to find him if he goes wild unlike with a straightforward power.
So thinking about a Sniper Powerset would suit him too.
Hide far away and porovide cover fire with Clairvoyance and a Range Power.
Song works for a lot of our midcosters and seems like a fairly decent all rounder at base we could use for Wade Family or Golem/Frostbite combos at a glance, Soraia and Shelley seem worthwhile to build up to see if we can get 1-2 extra 10 costers in time for rescuing Moon River and seem like good backliners at base potentially, Cain would have to be on Espionage if using him at all and yeah, we'd frankly want some kind of disguise based power or something dysmorphic to shift his appearance. He seems insanely powerful at baseline but he seems like his reputation would cause even just interteam conflicts from currents and looking at candidates like Soraia and Shelley.
Leizi and Opale getting +1 Rep are nice buffs to them in terms of helping patch up Leizi's holes and making Opale have a stronger niche.
[ ] . . . go loud.
-[ ] What tactics? (subject to veto by QM. Good plans will result in bonuses to HIT checks)
DC 13. HIT 45. Rolled with advantage. After the first HIT check, Black Swan will join the battle. After the second HIT check, the rest of Justice Unlimited and New Dawn will join. REPUTATION check to get Crusade to coordinate with you. Multiple OPERATIONS checks to limit civilian casualties.
Edit: We'd be rocking with the security team of Rhys/Maddie/John Henry/Ellie/Palisade/Dreamcatcher functionally. This is a 34 hit team so we'd be rolling at a -5 initially even with rolling advantage. So assuming we end up spending 5 points its a 13 with advantage which is okay but not amazing. From there though Black Swan should even it out and then things get positive, but that first turn makes this genuinely brutal to meet.
Plus the REP and OPS checks are presumably going to also be quite difficult.
[ ] . . . let them walk and try to spy on them.
-[ ] How? (subject to veto by QM. Good plans will result in bonuses to ESPIONAGE checks)
Minor Success: DC 5. Moderate Success: DC 10. Major Success: DC 15. ESPIONAGE 50. Will be rolled with all of Justice Unlimited and New Dawn's stats. REPUTATION check to limit fallout from Crusade's reaction. A failed REPUTATION check may result in a fight breaking out between Monarch's forces and Crusade.
Justice Unlimited and New Dawn have 57 ESP together so this would be rolling with a +3, though there would need to be the unknown REP check. If this is using global stats over hero it'd be 58 ESP instead for a +4 for a worse REP roll.
[ ] . . . talk. Fuck this, the only way to win is not to play.
Minor Success: DC 5. Moderate Success: DC 10. Major Success: DC 15. OPERATIONS 10. Valiant Gold will roll with her own stats. Success on OPERATIONS check will grant Valiant Gold bonuses on subsequent DC 15, REPUTATION 10 check to get Monarch to leave without a fight.
Ellie has OPS 9 and REP 6 so she'd be rolling at neutral on the talk and at -2 at base for the subsequent roll (though the the roll bonus would get this to be a +1 with advantage).
I'm not fully parsing this in terms of if we're getting full numbers to work with? Is it initially security, just Ellie at the start, Ellie + Crusade at the start, etc? Since that would change how I react to this pretty heavily.
I did not expect for Cain to get that buffed, holy. I understand the reluctance in recruiting him, but I don't think he's someone who kills randomly and he's actually the easiest shot we have at another Potency 10, which is shocking.
Also I wrote him, so I kind of feel obligated to include him, so.
Its a risk and we need tonhave Leizi to put serios ot bond and hopefully guide him to heroic patch like JU did for her.
But its admitedly both interesting and useful just need to make sure we give a power set that we can handle and lowrs risk of identity being caught.
Pribably pure utility or disguise. Though tehere is danger of us having problem finding him if he goes wild woth inviisbility or disguise powers.
Clairvoyance powers is the best to give him something with great Utility while also keeping him away from combat.
Hmm for disguise I think Multiplex is best whatever changes the power goes through gives him additional way to hide his identity. It should be boosted by base potency atleast.
I did not expect for Cain to get that buffed, holy. I understand the reluctance in recruiting him, but I don't think he's someone who kills randomly and he's actually the easiest shot we have at another Potency 10, which is shocking.
Also I wrote him, so I kind of feel obligated to include him, so.
