Train Kept A Rollin' (AP 2, HIT 6, REPUTATION 8, OPERATIONS 9)
Grand Theft Person (AP 2, HIT 9, OPERATIONS 7)
Long Shadows of the Night (AP 2, HIT 5, ESPIONAGE 9, OPERATIONS 4)
Smoke on the Water (AP 1, ESPIONAGE 4, OPERATIONS 4)
Pest Control (AP 1, HIT 3, REPUTATION 2)
If we had another time-limited 1-AP mission I'd be inclined to put that in place of Pest Control, but we don't, and at any rate, it might not just be helpful to hunt down Behemoths to possibly help with the Train Kept A Rollin' mission, we also really need money.
Yeah, I would probably agree with you whole plan as long as Puella Magi Justice Unlimited Magica and Reality Check don't cost 2AP. If those mission are 1AP they we pick one that need to done quickly next turn and do the other one the turn afterwards.
Yeah, I would probably agree with you whole plan as long as Puella Magi Justice Unlimited Magica and Reality Check don't cost 2AP. If those mission are 1AP they we pick one that need to done quickly and do the other the next turn.
I agree on Unlimited Magica, but we'll see with Reality Check. Bitterman did say Hero Worship would be this issue's Faustian. If it ends up being particularly gnarly and intimidating, I could see us putting off Reality Check for the turn after next.
I agree on Unlimited Magica, but we'll see with Reality Check. Bitterman did say Hero Worship would be this issue's Faustian. If it ends up being particularly gnarly and intimidating, I could see us putting off Reality Check for the turn after next.
The way I see it, depending on results, Long Shadow and Grand Theft Person could easily be interchangeable. I kinda prefer saving Long Shadow for when Arc is available in turn 5, however if we're not able to scrap enough cash by the end of this turn, I'll concede and go along with placing Long Shadow at turn 4 instead.
Considering we're forming teams turn 4, I'd suggest wherever team Mona gets placed, she avoids Grand Theft Person and Demon Flamez considering her vulnerability to psychics and mental manipulations from Le Petit Prince. Good thing we have Ellie around now to solve those problems.
I'm in favor of Long Shadow first because I don't think Arc will substantially change the chances. She did say she had distanced herself from the business stuff to do heroics!
I'm in favor of Long Shadow first because I don't think Arc will substantially change the chances. She did say she had distanced herself from the business stuff to do heroics!
I'm in favor of Long Shadow first because I don't think Arc will substantially change the chances. She did say she had distanced herself from the business stuff to do heroics!
Given how smug they're being, the DC is probably "You can't make it", especially since they've apparently got such deep penetration into the media that they can edit the questions asked in real time based on how they kept squeezing theirs in even after Chihiro was on guard for them.
But that's my doomerism and pessimism talking, I hope to be pleasantly surprised! I just want these fuckers to actually have a setback for once instead of constantly smugly going "ALL ACCORDING TO KEIKAKU"
Given how smug they're being, the DC is probably "You can't make it", especially since they've apparently got such deep penetration into the media that they can edit the questions asked in real time based on how they kept squeezing theirs in even after Chihiro was on guard for them.
But that's my doomerism and pessimism talking, I hope to be pleasantly surprised! I just want these fuckers to actually have a setback for once instead of constantly smugly going "ALL ACCORDING TO KEIKAKU"
The thing with this interview specifically is that Chihiro's an anchor for Ọsanyìn Centralized News, and Ọsanyìn is one of the big names behind Crusade. They absolutely have this level of penetration - it's their own show!
Meet the Rookies (AP 1, REPTATION 4, ESPIONAGE 6. OPERATIONS 5): The public needs to meet the newest members of Justice Unlimited. Surely, a carefully vetted interview will be a harmless way to introduce Black Swan, Menagerie Witch, Handyman, and Châtelet, as well as yourself? What could possibly go wrong? Lady Leizi: Takanashi Chihiro was Nora's old roommate in college and a current anchor on the Ọsanyìn Centralized News. She is also a fiend for hero culture. She has been salivating at the chance of an exclusive interview with the new interaction of Justice Unlimited. Doing her this favor would put her in our debt, and perhaps let us poach her from OCN.
It's more unpleasant than expected, sure, but I feel like that's less due to specifically editing questions and more that BrainInAJar decided to be evil with several of his questions.
At any rate, I'm going to be optimistic and say that this update's results will probably do extremely good things to the weekly anti-Crusade-propaganda roll, if we have to roll it at all. We already have a +6 to our roll from previous incidents this turn, at any rate.
YOOOOOOOO, this is GREAT. The only think I would say is that Marajo is more a peninsula than island, so it's closer to mainland Brazil than what's shown here. +1!
It's moments like this, you think back to your original team. What would Nora do in a situation like this? Wait, no, that's a terrible example to follow. She would just get angry and start swearing at everyone.
What about Yazmin? She was the most socially-able of all of you. Could you . . no . . . that she's also a poor person to imitate. Yazmin would give a rousing speech to inspire everyone to hold hands and work for the common good.
Not your forte.
Rakeem? No. Just no. Leviathan's Blood, absolutely not.
Who else then? Who would know—
Harper. What would Harper do in a situation like this?
DC 15.
Stat Check: REPUTATION 15. Lady Leizi, Valiant Gold, and Handyman have a combined REPUTATION 16.
The Audience has granted you +4 on this roll.
You rolled: 11.
11 + 0 + 4 = 15. Success!
She would rip and tear, until it was done. But be cute about it.
You smile back at White Hawk. It's a hateful thing, sickly sweet like poisoned honey. And then you speak past him.
"Why, Stockpile, don't you have anything to add?" You tilt your head questioningly at the thief.
He stiffens up as Handyman and Valiant Gold look at you in surprise. But they trust you enough to follow your lead. You all look to the "leader" of Crusade, expectantly.
". . . it's 'Valiant Justice'," he finally says.
"Actually, ain't it 'Valiant Red, White, and Blue'?" Handyman askes, "Doesn't matter, we ain't callin' ya either, Stockpile."
"Stockpile, darlingly, be a dear and verify Valiant Gold's claims, would you?" you ask.
Stockpile tenses. White Hawk's smile slips ever so slightly.
"Why would he do that?" he replies, pleasantly.
"Excuse me, I was talking to Stockpile. Leader to leader, you understand," you say dismissively, "Now, Stockpile, I know Nora put psychic protections in all of her armors. You've butchered her work, but surely you kept those in place, yes?"
He bristles, but stiffly nods. ". . . I did."
"Well, then," you say, clapping your hands together, "The solution is simple. You'll check the logs on Valiant Gold's armor and verify that her armor detected psychic interference right before she discovered Seraph. If the logs don't match, then, of course, we'll give a full apology. But, if they do match . . ."
You look down at Seraph and widen your smile, displaying your teeth.
"Valiant Gold, if you would?"
Valiant Gold holds up her right palm and activates her armor's holographic display. A series of data and charts springs to life, waiting to be examined.
Stockpile steels himself and walks forward. As he does White Hawk turns his gaze to Joules, he slowly leans over and whispers something in his ear. Joules looks confused for a second before his eyes widen and he quickly looks back and forth between White Hawk and Stockpile. Then he races over and grabs the armored boy by the shoulder.
"Hey, VJ, what are you doing? C-come on, man, you ain't fallin' for this shit are you?"
"Language! We're still live after all," Chihiro says, mockingly imitating Juan Bonfim's voice.
"Uhh, sorry? A-anyway, VJ, you can't trust these guys! They're the enemy, remember!"
"Oh?" you say coolly, "We're enemies? I had no idea."
"See!" Joules says eagerly, "That's what I'm talking about! Just look at her! That vixen has a devious mind! She's the one who does all the sneaky shit. Remember? She's a criminal. You can't trust a thing those logs will say! They're obviously faked!"
He sweeps his arm across the set. "This whole thing's a set up! Look, they even have a hostess who's in the tank for them. They're trying to launder their bullshit with a pretty face!"
DC 15.
Stat Check: REPUTATION 10. Lady Leizi, Valiant Gold, and Handyman have a combined REPUTATION 16.
Chihiro uses her skill: You Little Shit!
You rolled: 5.
AUTO-PASS!
You Little Shit!
Chihiro has maintained her journalistic integrity in an industry that demands she abandon it, but she's still got hands. Once per mission, if Chihiro is present in a scene, or reasonably reachable by remote means, you may automatically pass any REPUTATION check where you attempt to damage a foe's credibility or reputation in the eyes of the public, so long as your negative claims are factually accurate.
"Y'know," Chihiro says looking and tapping her chin, "If Justice Unlimited was well-informed enough to know that Seraph was going to be up there and devious enough to come up with a scheme to frame her for using her powers on them. . . then why weren't they smart enough to come up with a way to prove it? Surely there would be better ways than to rely on someone who hates them?"
Joules sputters. "Well, uhhh, that's—"
"Also! I'm surprised to see a former member of Global Justice be so quick to dismiss Justice Unlimited's complaints! Global Justice used to take such a harsh stance against metahuman-based mental manipulation. They had too, with the damage rogue mind-controllers could do to the trust the public had in Justiciar!"
"This is different—!"
"I mean, think about it! Someone like Le Petit Prince starts taking control of people's minds and, suddenly, everyone begins to worry that Justiciar's doing the same thing! That's why she came down so hard on things like this. It was one of her most consistent Edicts!"
"That's—"
"I mean, when you think about it, if what Justice Unlimited says is true, is there really much difference between what Le Petit Prince did to Menagerie Witch and what Seraph tried to do? What would Justiciar think, to see her old subordinates potentially help cover something like this up?"
Stockpile reels like he's been slapped. Joules grabs his other shoulder and pulls him back, and then leans over to talk to Chihiro.
"Listen, sweetcheeks, you don't understand what things were like with the Captain. Maybe I can explain it to you after this over dinner—"
"Oh, I understand plenty," Chihiro interrupts, "And I mostly date girls, but, if I were to make an exception and date a guy, it wouldn't be for a misogynist coward who calls me things like 'sweetcheeks'."
"Uhh—"
"Turn around and get away from me," Chihiro says pleasantly, "Or I will identify your greatest insecurity and use it to destroy you utterly."
"Y-you can't threaten me—!"
"You have that shitty goatee because you're embarrassed by your weak chin."
Joules' hand flies to his chin as his lip quivers. Tears immediately fill his eyes.
"W-what's wrong with my goatee?!"
Meanwhile, Stockpile walks over to Valiant Gold, his posture rigid. You can't see his face through his helmet, but you can just imagine the set of his jaw. Valiant Gold stiffly holds out her display and Stockpile swipes his hand through it and copies the data. He pulls it up on his own screen and begins scrolling through it.
"Valiant Red, White, and Blue, is now truly the time—?" White Hawk begins.
"Quiet," Stockpile barks. He scrolls for a few more seconds and then dismisses the hologram. It's easy to see his hands tremble with rage.
"Seraph," he says, his voice deceptively calm, "You're on indefinite suspension. Get out of here, now. You are confined to your quarters until I return and we discuss the rest of your punishment detail."
He turns to you, his words halting. It seems like he would rather chew glass than say what next comes out of his mouth, but, to his credit, he says it all the same.
"I apologize for my teammate's actions. They are inexcusable." You can see your face reflected in his visor. "She will be disciplined."
Handyman snorts. "Yeah, sure. A slap on the wrist, more like."
Valiant Gold is perfectly still. In your short time with her, you've learned this is a sign that Ellie is moments away from violence.
"I look forward to you sharing the details," you say. You gesture for him to leave the set. "Now, if you would excuse us?"
Stockpile grabs Seraph's arm and pulls her up off the ground. He moves to drag her away, but White Hawk steps in his path.
"Now, there's no need for this, "White Hawk says, "We'll still need to verify the logs are unaltered—"
"They're real," Stockpile interrupts.
"Given Lady Leizi's . . . talents, I'd still like Anansi to check to be sure—"
"You will not undermine my authority," Stockpile growls, leaning close to White Hawk. "I don't care if she's also part of your precious Horae Guard. Down here, this isn't how we operate. If you don't like it, you can fly back to Elysium."
His face is inches from White Hawks. "Do you understand me?"
White Hawk's face goes blank for a moment before he rearranges his expression to something sympathetic. "Of course, we all follow your lead, Valiant Red, White, and Blue. But you can't lose sight of the bigger picture. Think about what you've discovered. Justice Unlimited is dangerous. If your findings are correct, their 'Project Prometheus' threatens the safety of the very world."
Stockpile tenses again.
"We cannot give up this opportunity," White Hawk says, soothingly, "Do not allow them to use Seraph's indiscretions to distract from the threat they pose."
"Yeah, uh, excuse me. Question!" Handyman calls with his hand raised, "What the hell is 'Project Prometheus'?"
DC 13.
Stat Check: ESPIONAGE 10. Lady Leizi, Valiant Gold, and Handyman have a combined ESPIONAGE 21.
You rolled: 12.
12 + 5 = 17. Success!
That throws them for a loop.
"What are you talking about?" Stockpile demands, "It's your initiative."
"Uhhh, no it ain't?" Handyman says, looking genuinely bewildered, "I've never heard of it, and I've been with JU since the Movement. Lady Leizi, you been holding out on me?"
"Of course not, darling," you say, suppressing your smile. Rhys truly is a treasure, isn't he?
"See! She don't know either," Handyman says, "And she'd tell me if she did. We're tight like that. That's why I can call her 'Double L'."
You hide your internal wince. Oh, you will make Handyman pay for that one.
White Hawk gives another of his customary smiles. "Handyman—"
"Mister Handyman."
White Hawk's smile becomes a trifle fixed. "Very well, Mr. Handyman—"
"Mr. Handyman, sir."
You hear Chihiro snicker behind you.
". . . Handyman," White Hawk says, ignoring him, "I'm not certain what you're playing at. Black Swan confirmed the existence of Project Prometheus on live TV, during Crusade's debut."
"No, she didn't," Valiant Gold cuts in immediately, "She said this Project Prometheus is 'what you really care about'."
"Indeed," you agree, "A fictional boogeyman you could use as a pretext to take whatever action you wished against Justice Unlimited, including. . .
You give Seraph a meaningful look.
". . . this."
Stockpile looks away, and you can just imagine his scowl. White Hawk's expression remains the same except for his eyes, which open slightly. They're cold as ice and sharp as daggers.
"Tell me," you say, adjusting your sunglasses and matching his gaze, "Where did you even get this name, 'Project Prometheus'? Do you have a source? Or did you just pull it whole-cloth from out of the ether?"
"The information came from the Brass," Stockpile admits.
"And where did they get it?" Valiant Gold shoots back. You see the way she and Stockpile look at each other. The genuine hatred in the air is so thick you could cut it with a knife.
"Classified."
"Bullshit," Handyman snorts, "I bet it was Faust. He was spouting crap about 'Project Prometheus' when he was threatening us with Scarlet Maturity. And you see how that worked out for him."
"Christopher Mason is no longer the CEO of Dominion Security Concerns, and has no involvement with Crusade," White Hawk says smoothly.
"Ha!" Chihiro laughs. She covers her mouth and blushes when everyone looks at her.
White Hawk's face remains pleasantly aloof. "Of course, you cannot expect us to reveal the names of confidential sources live on television, can you? It could put their lives at risk."
"How convenient," you say, with a put-upon sigh, "You're able to make representations about their information without subjecting them to questioning, is it?"
Some of your annoyance is feigned. You didn't expect them to actually reveal their source. Honestly, Handyman was probably correct; their informant was most likely Faust. He didn't call it by name, but he knew of the existence of something like Project Prometheus. As for how he did . . .
Black Swan's description of the creature spying on you comes to mind. It was the best explanation. Did Faust have some connection with that thousand-eyed creature?
"All of this could be cleared up if you would submit to an audit!" Stockpile snaps, jolting you from your thoughts, "If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear."
"My, an 'audit'? And just who would conduct that audit? You?" you ask, acidly.
"No," Valiant Gold says, rejecting the idea immediately, "Lady Leizi, he's a thief. He's already stolen Valiant Silver's work; he's just going to take whatever else he sees."
"I am trying to stop her madness, not perpetuate it!" Stockpile shouts, "I've seen the proof—what she's done. Do you have any idea what you're doing by continuing to wear that armor she's made? Do you know what powers it?"
"Yes," Valiant Gold snaps. She holds up her hand and points at herself with her thumb, "Me."
Valiant Gold's helmet retracts, leaving her head uncovered. A domino mask on her face preserves her identity.
"I'm a metahuman only in a very technical sense. My mind constantly produces a low amount of psychic energy. It's an entirely useless power, except it's able to power the EXCEED-BEYOND armor I wear."
Valiant Gold's helmet reforms around her head. The eyes on her helmet narrow.
"Now, tell us what powers your armor."
DC 18.
Stat Check: REPUTATION 10. Lady Leizi, Valiant Gold, and Handyman have a combined REPUTATION 16.
You rolled: 6.
6 + 3 = 9. Failure!
"Don't try and turn this around!" he snarls, "I'm not the one threatening humanity!"
Valiant Gold continues glaring at him, but then she tilts her head ever-so-slightly, as if she's listening to something.
Minor Success: DC 5. Moderate Success: DC 10. Major Success: DC 15.
Stat Check: OPERATIONS 10. Valiant Gold has OPERATIONS 9.
"Wait . . ." she says, almost absently, "When we clashed at the memorial, you kept pinging my psychic protections . . ."
She stops talking and stares out into space long enough that Handyman shifts uneasily and puts his hand on her shoulder.
"Uhh, VG . . .?"
"He can't power it the same way I do, he's not using his power like Valiant Silver did, so it has to be an external psychic field, so that means . . ."
Valiant Gold's eyes snap to Stockpile in realization.
". . . so you power it with other people's psychic fields. That's what your armor was doing to trigger my defenses at the memorial."
Stockpiles flinch is all the confirmation anyone needs.
"But that's not it, is it?" Valiant Gold says in the same dreamy tone, "Because, then, how would your armor operate normally? You have to have another external energy source, and it has to be big—"
"As fascinating as this digression is," White Hawk interrupts, "We've strayed far from our original purpose here. Crusade, and the public at large, has grave concerns about Justice Unlimited's conduct, and we hope you can alleviate them here and now."
Valiant Gold snaps out of her fugue and grabs her head while shaking it. You look over in concern, but she quickly waves you off.
"Such altruism," you drawl in response, "And are those concerns real, or about phantoms like 'Project Prometheus'?"
White Hawk nods his head. "Our concerns that you're tampering with the Looming God aside, there is also the matter of your conduct with regard to Monarch and her forces. Justice Unlimited has essentially taken no action against the tyrant in the NID. And when she forced the issue and attacked your memorial, you capitulated to her demands instead of standing your ground."
"Funny, I remember punching that Heracles guy a lot," Handyman replies, "Did they go and change the definition of 'capitulate' and not tell me?"
"I am, of course, talking about the innocent girl Justice Unlimited returned to Monarch's clutches," White Hawk says, "Why, you went so far as to strike myself in order to hand her back over to a gang of the most depraved metahumans in the world. The charitable interpretation of this is 'capitulation'."
There's an angelic malice in his eyes, the judgment of the divine on mortals.
"The uncharitable interpretation would be 'collusion'."
"Again, did you miss the part where we threw down with those guys?!" Handyman shouts, "I nearly got an acid bath there!"
"My team ably repelled Monarch," you say coldly, "Substantiate your claims or withdraw them."
"Ah, no offense intended, of course," he lies, "My compliments to your team. Six metahumans who held the line, was it? And the four representatives from Justice Unlimited were all so inexperienced. One must wonder where you found all of these burgeoning talents."
DC 15.
Stat Check: ESPIONAGE 10. Lady Leizi, Valiant Gold, and Handyman have a combined ESPIONAGE 21.
You rolled: 12.
12 + 5 = 17. Success!
"I believe we just spent the better part of two hours answering that question," you say dryly, "Were you not paying attention? You missed a wonderful program."
"Yes, such neat explanations," the Crusader answers, "Justice Unlimited has truly been blessed with an assortment of powerful metahumans. Why, even well-known heroes such as Châtelet are displaying power and competence not seen before!"
He looks over your shoulder to where the rest of your team watches off-set.
"Menagerie Witch, so young, yet already so powerful. Handyman, a shapeshifting powerhouse, capable in both combat and espionage. And Black Swan, a rookie heroine who happens to have the power to defeat Scarlet Maturity. The very person whom Justice Unlimited swore to destroy. Truly, it is all a sign of great fortune."
His gaze turns sharp, like a bird of prey.
"Or, perhaps Justice Unlimited made their own luck."
You keep your face perfectly neutral, even as your heart pounds in your chest. You feign annoyance and give him an unimpressed look.
"Darling, just say what you mean. We're well past the point of trading veiled barbs."
White Hawk smiles at you. "Reports abound of the metahumans in Monarch's employ displaying previously-undisplayed abilities. Her forces also seem to be enhanced. Perhaps she's discovered some method of strengthening metahumans? And chosen to share it with Justice Unlimited in exchange for . . . leniency."
"Again punching," Handyman shouts, exasperated.
"Or," Stockpiles follows up, "It's something more dire. The footage of your confrontation with Powers proved that they were using Scarlet Maturity's true abilities to enhance the powers of their members. It also showed that Faust was seeking to extract information from Justice Unlimited. We believe that was because Justice Unlimited has a similar metahuman enhancement program."
Minor Success: DC 5. Moderate Success: DC 10. Major Success: DC 15.
Stat Check: REPUTATION 13. Lady Leizi, Valiant Gold, and Handyman have a combined REPUTATION 16.
You rolled: 8.
The Audience has granted you +1 on this roll.
8 + 1 + 1 = 10. Moderate Success!
"Almost" only counts in horseshoes and hand-grenades.
That accusation is so close to the mark that it makes your heart skip a beat. However, it's also so close that it's the perfect cover. You can hear a susurration coming from the crew around the set, one that you have to imagine is mirrored by the viewing audience at home.
"That can't be right. Justice Unlimited can't enhance the powers of metahumans . . . right? They can't be dealing with Monarch."
You maintain your cool demeanor and give a dismissive laugh. "I'm flattered by your belief in us, but no such 'metahuman enhancement project' exists. Châtelet has rediscovered her confidence having escaped from under the thumb of her abusive cousin, Menagerie Witch was forced to develop her power to save herself from Le Petit Prince, and Black Swan was trained by Uiara because of the power she wields, not the other way around."
"Even if something like that did exist," Valiant Gold spits, "What right does that give you to demand an audit? How does that justify attacking us with a telepath?"
"Because," Stockpile growls at his mirror, "Justice Unlimited is enhancing its members by taking power from the Leviathan!"
You could hear a pin drop in the stunned silence that follows that proclamation.
". . . fuckin' what?" Handyman says, bewildered.
"We know Valiant Silver was experimenting on the Leviathan, because Uiara saw fit to warn her father of her madness," Stockpile says, "I refuse to believe that you, Lady Leizi, were ignorant of what she was doing. But why? Why tamper with something so dangerous? To make Justice Unlimited even more powerful."
". . . is that even possible?" you ask, nonplussed. You're so baffled by his assertion that you're not even offended by his accusation.
DC 15.
Stat Check: OPERATIONS 10. Valiant Gold has OPERATIONS 9.
You rolled: 11.
11 + 0 + 5 (???????-????) = 17. Success!
"Yes . . . it is," Valiant Gold says, her voice far away, "It would be incredibly fucking dangerous however. You need one hell of a psychic-siphon; something stupidly huge. And it would be inefficient as shit. You would need to practically live in it for years for it to have any noticeable effect."
"Dang, really?" Handyman says, genuinely surprised, "Wow. You really know your stuff, VG."
You also blink at Valiant Gold's insight. You knew she had been meticulously studying Nora's work, but you had no idea she had mastered it to this extent. But something else also tickles you about her words . . .
Since when did Ellie swear that much?
Valiant Gold shakes her head again and rubs her forehead. "If we had something that big, there would be no way to hide it. You can plainly see we don't."
"Again," White Hawk says, his voice perfectly reasonable, "Simply allowing Valiant Red, White, and Blue to inspect the Apiary would alleviate these concerns—"
"Concerns you're inventing," you say, tartly.
Minor Success: DC 5. Moderate Success: DC 10. Major Success: DC 15.
Stat Check: REPUTATION 15. Lady Leizi, Valiant Gold, and Handyman have a combined REPUTATION 16.
You rolled: 14.
14 + 5 (Seraph was Caught Red-Handed) = 19. Major Success!
"I assure you—"
"I care nothing for your assurances," you snarl. You've finally had enough. "Just as I do not care for the Elysium Station's transparent attempts to take control of Horizon-proper!"
You feel something hot and angry welling up in your chest, something you usually push down. "Control" has always been the word that has defined your life; being able to control your emotions was the reason you survived into adulthood. However, it has also inhibited you. Stopped you expressing yourself, from letting people see the real you. And what you need now is authenticity in order to smack down this smug child and his smiles that don't reach his eyes.
"You may not care about the bodies you must climb over in your bid for power, but I do," you continue, "I have lived in Horizon my whole life. I am one it's people. And I am the only person here who fought the Leviathan and held my ground."
That last line is directed with a withering glare at Joules, who still has a hand protectively over his horrid goatee.
"Justice Unlimited has always stood for the idea that heroism is a form of solidarity. We protect others, not for profit, but simply because they are fellow humans and therefore entitled to their dignity. We are guardians, not custodians."
The feelings that you were taught by your team bubble on your tongue and coalesce into the words you could never find before now.
"Justice Unlimited is mighty because we care for others and are cared for in turn."
You jab an angry finger at White Hawk. "Heroes should help people, not starve a borough and attack other metahumans live on TV! How rich it is that Crusade feels entitled to invade the minds of those who disagree with it! Especially when it is little more than an opportunistic grab for power by three megacorporations in a trench coat!"
"Oh, snap," Handyman whispers, putting his hands over his nonexistent mouth.
"But you cannot control the world. Just as you cannot control fate," you say, "The most you can do is help the person next to you and ask that they help the person next to them. That is the only true way to change the world around you."
You stare down White Hawk, whose smile is now nearly completely gone.
"That is a lesson you will have to learn if you truly want to call yourself a 'hero'. Though, I suspect you are indifferent to the term." You shake your head. "I do not respect Crusade. I do not submit to your moral authority to 'audit' us and look for misdeeds. Leave. And if you ever harm a member of my team—no, of my family again, I will destroy you in one moment and forget you ever existed in the next.
You look at Seraph, cowering behind White Hawk. "Oh, and Shiloh Stetson?"
Her head whips over to face you, her mouth open in shock. You give the telepath the same smile you gave Foxglove.
"You may wish to consider returning to Elysium."
She shivers in terror. White Hawk narrows his eyes at you. Yes, you say back, silently, Even his precious Horae Guard cannot completely escape your web.
Stockpile steps forward. "Is that a threat—?"
"You should be ashamed," you growl, "I did not know Justiciar well enough to guess how she would feel, but I knew Steadfast. Do you know what Lamar Thompson told me the night we met? 'Do not end up like me.' A weapon. A tool for others. Lamar knew he was being used by Global Justice, and he loathed himself enough to think he deserved it. Do you think he would be proud of you, becoming just like the person hated most?"
"You didn't know him!" Stockpile roars.
"I knew him all too well; I was engaged to his son!"
The unearthly, delighted gasp Chihiro lets out nearly derails your train of thought. Valiant Gold's eyes widen, while Handyman contorts his face into a cartoonish caricature of surprise.
. . . it's technically true. Rakeem had bought you the ring after all; he simply hadn't gotten around to giving it to you yet.
Stockpile crumples in on himself. "He . . . he wouldn't . . . the First Lieutenant . . ."
He can't bring himself to say the words. He knows the truth.
He should be ashamed.
"I think we're done here." You turn to Chihiro and bow slightly in apology. "I think this has been enough excitement for everyone. Justice Unlimited will be taking our leave. Thank you, Ms. Takanashi, for your time."
You move to leave, but White Hawk rushes forward. "I don't believe we're quite finished. Crusade still has a few more questions on behalf of the public—"
The sound of your palm hitting flesh rings across the set, followed by a gentle discharge of lightning. Not enough to be considered an attack, but enough to make sure White Hawk feels the slap.
And that you don't break your hand.
His eyes bulge as his head turns and you inadvertently scrape off the make-up that was covering the bruise on his cheek. My, it seems Valiant Gold's attack had more of an effect than he first let on. White Hawk himself is stunned, like he can't comprehend what just happened.
"Begone, little bird," you whisper, "Fly back to your roost in the sky."
You pivot in place and march out with Valiant Gold and Handyman. You see the rest of your team waiting, ready for this long day to be over.
But as you leave, the final look White Hawk gave you stays vivid in your memory. A face as still as untouched snow, housing eyes burning with a grudge deep enough to drown the world.
Lady Leizi gains +1 to her REPUTATION.
* * *
Horizon, City of Leviathan's Rest–The Apiary– January 18, 2068
Later that day, you sit in the conference room with your much-subdued team.
Opale is seated, staring into the mug of tea in her hands. Rhys lounges next to her, while John Henry sits with Sandra glued to his side. Maddie looks the worst of all, her face pale and eyes hooded. Chaucer is next to her, guarding her like an irritable hound.
"Madeline," Chaucer says, "Are you certain you wouldn't rather be at home—?"
"No," Maddie says quickly, "Those fucksticks aren't going to make me go hide in bed. I'm not even sensitive to psychic attacks like Mona."
"But—"
"I. Am. Not. Running."
". . . of course."
The room falls into morose silence until—
"Hey, question," Rhys says. He's back in his human form. "Why are we actin' all mopey? We won! Fuck those guys!"
Opale looks up at him. "What do you mean?"
"Whaddya mean, 'what do I mean'? We won! Everyone saw Crusade look like a bunch of assholes, no one knows about Project Prometheus, and Double L got to slap the most slappable face in the city. We won!"
"He's right, you know," you say, smiling at Rhys, "Crusade is doing their best to limit the fallout, but they have enough uncomfortable questions to answer that their 'concerns' about us are no longer in front of public consciousness."
You gain +5 to your roll counteracting Crusade's next attack on your REPUTATION next turn! Justice Unlimited has garnered enough public support that Crusade's next attack on your REPUTATION will automatically fail!
Opale gives a small smile. "Huh . . . I guess we did win."
"I'll say!" Sandra whoops, "Everyone on Hero for Hire is talking about how badass Lady Leizi is and how Crusade is creepy. Justice Unlimited stocks are going up, baby!"
". . . they're also lusting over White Hawk," John Henry rumbles, "It seems pretty-boy has gained himself a number of fans. And that thief is being praised for 'doing the right thing' and calling out Seraph. It seems she's the one getting thrown under the bus in all this."
"Surely there will be other consequences!" Chaucer says, outraged, "People cannot seriously believe she was acting of her own initiative."
"People will believe whatever they're told, because people are damn fools," John Henry spits.
Sandra pokes him in the side. "Sugarboots, I told you already: you're handsome when you're filled with righteous anger, but, if you don't calm down, I'm not wearing that thing you like after the kids go to bed tonight."
"P-pookie!"
"Don't 'pookie' me, Mr. Superhero!" Sandra says, pulling back from him, "You're the old man on this team. Start acting like a damn example!"
Everyone laughs as John Henry's face colors and he ducks his head. Sandra laughs too and then leans over to peck him on the lips.
You feel very pleased with yourself for inviting her to join you. The mood in the room has lightened. Sandra leans around John Henry and speaks to Opale.
"Say, Opale, are you back on the market yet? 'Cuz my cousin just got divorced and she's a doctor . . ."
"Uhhhh," Opale says, turning bright red, "Umm, thanks? But I'm so not ready for that right now. W-what about . . . Rhys!"
Rhys looks at her in disbelief. "Opie, I'm gay."
"I know, I panicked!"
"Y'know, my sister's husband's brother just got out of jail . . ." Sandra says, tapping her chin.
"Hell no."
"He was in jail for running a pirated-media site."
"Oh no," Handyman whispers, "Nerds are my weakness."
"Oho, I'll give him a text! And don't worry everyone else, we will absorb you into this family. One way or another!"
"Resistance is futile," John Henry says, nodding sagely.
Sandra looks over at Maddie, who crosses her arms. She shakes her head slowly. "Don't even think about it, lady. My sexuality is one big question mark."
That makes everyone laugh again, and a pleasant chatter breaks out. It seems like things are winding down until the frivolity is interrupted by a knock on the door.
Ah, you were expecting this. You go to answer it while Rhys looks around.
"Where the hell are Mona and Ellie anyway?"
"Mona was still out of it when we got back. It seemed like a better idea to just let her go home," Opale explains, "Ellie said she'd walk her back."
"So we all agree those two are in love, right?" Chihiro says, walking from the door where you let her in, "Because they're totally in love."
"Ms. Takanashi! What an expected surprise!" Chaucer exclaims. His shock is mirrored by everyone else.
"Oh, don't be like that. I had to come here after seeing the two of them," Chihiro says, taking a seat, "I mean, did you hear Valiant Gold? 'What did you do to Black Swan?!' When the rest of her team got whammied too? And she and Black Swan supposedly don't get along? Yeah, that's a pair of frenesbians if I ever saw one."
"Whammied?" Rhys asks.
". . . frenesbians?" Opale inquires.
"Yeah! Whammied! Bamboozled! Borked! Zonked! Y'know, messing with your head but shy of mind control?" Chihiro says, waving her arms, "And they're friendly-enemy-lesbians: frenesbians! Try to keep up!"
You do nothing to hide the twitch of your lips. Chaucer clears his throat.
"Ah, I . . . see. Pardon my directness, Ms. Takanashi, but why is it that you're here?"
"I need two favors," she says immediately.
"Ah, yes, of course. Name them."
"Well, I punched Juan Bonfim in his stupid, perfect face before handing in my letter of resignation at the station so . . . I need a new job and somewhere to lay low in case I'm wanted for assault."
"And I've already agreed," you chime in, "Everyone welcome our new Director of Communications!"
"Ah, bully then!" Chaucer says, nonplussed.
"Hell yeah, welcome aboard!"
"Oh wow. This is . . . going to affect our budget even more, isn't it? I mean, I'm glad to have you! {But where is the money gonna come from . . .?!"}"
"I need my own line of marketable plushies for my menagerie, yesterday."
"So my sister's husband's brother just got out of jail and—"
"Pookie, no."
"Pookie, yes!"
"One at a time, one at a time!" Chihiro says, grinning broadly, "But first, a question. Project Prometheus is totally a thing and you were fucking with Crusade, right?"
Everyone in the room shares a glance. You put a hand on the shoulder of the newest member of your staff.
"Darling, you have no idea . . ."
Takanashi Chihiro joins as an affiliate member! You gain access to her skills, The No Spin Zone (Now with Spin) and You Little Shit!
+1 Global Action! New Global Actions unlocked!
* * *
You are Noelle "Ellie" Han.
You're exhausted and emotionally drained, but sleep eludes you. You lay in your bed, staring at the ceiling. Your feelings are a tangled snarl in your breast.
Black Swan was so disoriented that she didn't fully grasp what Crusade had done to her. She was in no state to do anything but go home and rest, and Châtelet agreed when you told her. You could have let her find Black Swan own way home, but the idea of letting her out of your sight filled your heart with dread. So, you walked her home.
The whole time, she was in a daze. She babbled about her favorite television shows, her superhero memorabilia collection . . . and then she started talking about you.
". . . I don't want her to hate me! But I can't stop putting my stupid foot in my mouth wherever I talk to her! It's like, she's so pretty and, whenever I see her, my brain just starts going 'beep-boop, time to self-destruct'. What am I going to dooooooooo?"
You tried to ignore the way your heart flipped in your chest. Black Swan had no idea what she was saying—she . . . she may as well have been drunk. She was just rambling.
". . . I don't hate you," you muttered.
"Huh?" She looked at you like she just realized you were there for the first time. "Ellie! Oh, Ellie, hiiiiiii! You should leave before I accidentally say something that makes you hate me again."
"I don't hate you," you repeated, louder, "You're an amazing hero. You're powerful, you're kind, you . . . you make people believe things can be better. You're the reason no one died at the memorial. I . . . I was useless without you."
You look down.
"You what a hero should be. I admire you. I just wish I knew why you hated me."
"I don't hate you! I have a curse! The turbo-fumble! I'm cursed with the turbo-fuuuuuuuuumble!"
"Right."
"Noooooo, believe me, please! It's that I . . . I don't feel so good. Where am I? Why . . . my head hurts."
Your heart started racing for a different reason. "Black Swan . . . Mona, stay with me, please. We're almost home where you can rest."
You desperately tried to remember everything Nora ever wrote about psychic interference. Could this be permanent? Was Mona in danger—
She'll be fine. Just needs a nap
—before you realized Seraph wasn't powerful enough, and wasn't with Mona long enough, to possibly damage her in any significant capacity. Psychic manipulation with long-term, lasting effects was nearly impossible without a dedicated power. If Mona wasn't a vegetable now, she would be fine.
". . . don't go," Mona said, clinging to you.
"I—"
"Don't go."
"Yeah . . . of course. I'm not going anywhere."
Mona wouldn't release you until you brought her home, and even then she petulantly refused to let you leave. She made you come with her into her room, only allowing you out of sight to change, and begged you to stay while she climbed in bed. She clung to your hand like a life-preserver as she drifted off to sleep.
". . . don't go," she mumbled sleepily.
"Okay," you whispered back. She closed her eyes, and, in seconds, her chest began moving with the steady rhythm of sleep.
You could have left then, but you found yourself strangely reluctant to. You watched her face as she slept, an expression of innocence. You tucked a stray hair behind her ear and felt a sense of peace you didn't even realize you were craving.
Ever since Mom died, you've been running. With your girls, with Lady Leizi, even after meeting Nora. Nowhere felt permanent. You were . . . unmoored. Adrift.
Now, you felt like you were home.
Okay, but why?
You started at Mona, trying to find the answer to that question, before finally giving up and letting yourself out of her room.
Where her mother was waiting for you.
Marisa Morales-Merola was a formidable woman who did not so much as ask you to stay for dinner as insisted. The next hour was a grueling examination of who you were, your past, and your connection to Mona. You explained the current situation to her, and profusely apologized for Mona's condition.
At the end of it, you felt like you had gone another round with Warpstar. You worried there would be more, but Marisa had just clapped you on the shoulder and said she "approved". She then gave you enough leftovers to eat for a week and sent you home.
. . . how in the world did Mona have any friends if her mother was this meticulous about screening them?
You stare at your spartan room as you replay the memories in your head. Mona's room had been filled with all kinds of decorations and personal touches. You have . . . a desk.
Maybe you do need a hobby.
You huff and resolve to get a motorcycle while you turn over in bed. But your jumbled mind still won't let you sleep. Stupid feelings. Stupid Crusade. Stupid bastard-thief Stockpile. How did he power his armor when not in combat? The answer had seemed so obvious for a moment, but it had slipped away like water cupped in your hands. What was it?!
DC 15.
Stat Check: OPERATIONS 15. Valiant Gold has OPERATIONS 9.
You rolled: 11.
11 - 3 + 5 (???????-????) = 13. Failure!
. . . the answer eludes you.
Great, now you're annoyed too. Everything Crusade said tonight was odd. They picked up on the fact that the number of new, powerful metahumans Justice Unlimited found was unusual, but then they devolved into a conspiracy theory about using the Leviathan to enhance metahuman powers. It's like the idea of creating metahumans never occurred to them.
Why were they so hung up on the Leviathan?
You finally feel yourself drifting off. Stupid White Hawk. He spoke like he was making a grand proclamation, as if he had deduced what Project Prometheus truly was. Why would he think anyone would even try to use the Leviathan that way?
Luck Check: 13! Lucky!
As sleep claims you, a familiar voice rings in your ears.
Because maybe someone else already has.
You bolt up in bed, adrenaline surging in your veins. Your head is pounding but the pain is muted. Like you've been struck in the head by a mallet wrapped in cotton. But, try as you might and as desperately as you want to, you can't hear the voice anymore.
"N-nora . . . ?"
In the next few days, Lady Leizi has a lunch arranged with Yara and Belle Sabreuse. It will be at Yara's residence in the Foot. All members of Justice Unlimited will be in attendance. Please detail what equipment you wish to give each member. You have 4 shield generators and 1 healing symbiote.
[ ] Equipment Plan [Write-in]
Next, how are you approaching this meeting? Lady Leizi does not know much at all about Yara, aside from what was in Yazmin's video. Yazmin never talked about her sister.
[ ] Approach like this is an extraction operation.
Yara is in grave danger from a rogue power-copier who has operated for years, undetected. Socialite Butterfly has already attempted to abduct her, and Belle Sabreuse can't keep her safe forever. Impress upon her the danger she is in and convince her to come with you to Apiary.
[ ] Approach like a recruitment pitch.
Yazmin wanted you to protect her sister. Well, you have on way to make sure she will always have the power to protect herself. Invite her to participate in Project Prometheus and join Justice Unlimited. Give her the chance to be just like her sister.
[ ] Approach this like a lunch.
You have your ulterior motives, but you're dealing with a socially-isolated girl who has no one she can trust. You don't know anything about her, and she doesn't know anything about you. If you are to convince her of anything—especially the sincerity of your desire to protect her—you need trust first. Get to know her.
Buckle up. Shit gets real next time. I'm gonna be busy with the holidays, less time to write than usual, so just a heads up it might be out later next week. We'll see!
Calling out Crusade's bullshit, calling out that Stockpile's doing the exact thing that his mentors wouldn't have wanted him to do, getting Crusade to slip up on stuff, it's all just so perfect! Truly, this was a magnificent update.
