She certainly hadn't expected Sorrel to crash into her, but she recovers from it quickly. It's like she just walked in normally. "Indeed. It would be poor form to leave a matter like this unattended." She looks over to Sam. Well...his powerset certainly didn't seem to include regeneration. Perhaps she might be able to get him to explain what she was seeing later, if she could get him to talk at all. But, for now..."Are you quite alright, Samuel?"
Sorrel and Solmira
Doctor coolridge is out at the moment. Matryoshka had a little incident over at the high school. However, If I might say so, with your condition still so unstable, it might be better if, until such a time as you stabilize, you stayed within the institutes walls. Alix says, looking at you through his bottlegass green goggles.
I'm fine, just got in a fight I wasn't prepared for. Smauel says, offering the seat to you as he stands, and wobbles. I'm gonna go eat, you guys have fun what do you do?
Quentin
We think our guys were expecting Phoen-X. they had loads of EMP's, and a few explosives on the roof Lockdown says
How did they plan to counter us? Slipstream asks, talking over Gestalt.
Anyone listening over the comms
there is suddenly a bunch of talk about food, and superheroic priorities over the next few days. you all recognize them as the paragon alliance (the important parts of it, the leadership). it is mostly unremarkable, but you do hear one part that is interesting...
We all need to keep our fingers on the pulse of this Harbinger situation. If he's in the city, things could go south fast.
what do you do?
Tripwires, if you'll believe it. Me and dad would go right through them, but you'd lose your feet.
Suddenly I hear my dad buzzing in my ear, in between mouthfuls of food. He and my sister have similar caloric demands, but I'm spared of their need to gorge.
Stay inside? To be monitored and probed and measured under the harsh lights? Sorrel's skin pricks, and his tail flags as every hair on his body stands on end. He's picturing medical harnesses and needles when he hears 'Harbinger' over the comms. His voice comes out low and hoarse as his throat dries up. "N-no otra ves- not again. No. Y- I have to go." His eyes flick to Solmira for a second before he's pushing past Sam to reach the door.
"Also, they'd moved all the hostages to a suite of small offices, and blocked the windows - not much room for Kendra to do her thing, or for a million clones. From what you're saying, a lot of unlucky guesses by the villains today - lucky for us!"
When the Paragon voices start, Michael looks around, trying to spot them before he realizes they're coming through the earpiece. He gives Quentin an inquisitive look, but doesn't say anything about it immediately.
Samuel decidedly wasn't fine if he was wobbling like that. Solmira was about to say as much when the comm chatter started, and Sorrel freaked out and started trying to force his way out. She knows that she should probably do something right now, about both of them.
...but there's little I can do, here. One of those too is too stubbornly secretive, and the other is simply incomprehensible.
I wouldn't be expected to do anything, either. It would shake what people know of me to go out of my way to look after another. They'd start asking questions, or simply cease to know me from the contradiction such attempts at benevolence would create. Neither is acceptable.
And that aside, I cannot talk freely with either of them here.
Solmira watches Sorrel leave, and flicks her eyes to Sam. She rolls her eyes. "Go ahead and eat, then. Sorrel will sort himself out soon enough, I'm sure." She takes the offered seat, and waits for Sam to leave.
It's only once the door shuts that she leans her face into her hands and sighs, deliberately letting the mask fall for once and showing her melancholy. At the very least, she didn't need the act in front of Wellspring. With the secrets he held and the way she'd entered his life, insecurity and weakness was what was expected here.
I'll leave it there until they leave. No sense in reclaiming it early...
While the thought occured to hide it in a spider silk pocket under the table crossed his mind, knowledge of a dangerous entity that could control insects might tip off the heroes.
"And here's the last of what you ordered." Jae-Lin said bringing the last of Quickman's food. The com was off now that he was in the area. "Would you need anything else?
KQ and Turnabout
Both of you would kn ow who Harbinger is. He's a pretty powerful telepath and psychic. He likes to send large areas spinning into chaos, setting up domino effects and then Archduke Ferdinand-ing it all. He is beleived tohave been responsible for the Glasgow uprising (the city is still trying to rebuild), the Bombings in rio (a 2-month gauntlet of terror, with multiple groups attempting to seize control of the government), and the containment failure of the advanced reactor in Bangalore (the city is no longer on the map). and a few others.
So, trip wires and battlefield control, we might have to change up our tactics. Archangel says. Lockdown Groans
So anyway, how did you take down Edgelord, Pyro, and Calamity? Gestalt asks, reduced to just her original self now, as the rest of the seats were taken.
Sorrel
In your hasty flight, you run into one of the less used common areas (only Anabell lives in this wing, by preference). All of the furniture has been moved aside, creating a fairly large open area.... with roy in the middle of it, leaping up and practicing a 3-point landing.
Hey Sorrel he says when he notices you. How was the Mayor thing.... are you okay? did Calamity hurt somone or something? he says as he finaly picks up on your emotional state. what do you do?
Solmira
I should probably tell doctor Coolridge about that. They say, whipping out their phone and shooting off a text.
Listen, I'm not sure I think Richardo is the best companion for you. He's got a lot of emotion going on, and his condition is kinda unstable. He and Tox really aren't the stabilizing influences you need to help integrate you into your new home. I think Quentin and Michael might be better for that role
And any new narcoleptic episodes? Injuries from overexertion? Do you feel that the treatments are helping you, or should we move on to the next idea? They ask. What do you do?
Jae-Lin
That'll be all for now. Thank you very much Lady justice says, handing you a 50 as Quickman dives into his latest dish.
I give a light shrug. The usual. We punched them until they stopped committing crimes. Why, how do you do it?
Solmira grits her teeth. She knew exactly why he was telling her this. But those two were the best models of what she came here for. Michael, and especially Quentin were no substitute for them. Really, to suggest that the most indistinct of all of them-
「Always trust what your doctor tells you. They always know best, so do not doubt them.」
...she had no reason to question what she had been told here. Logically, she needed to ground herself in this world before she could understand the aspects of it and its inhabitants properly, and to be able to be as they are. So if this was the way to do it, she would have to adjust accordingly.
He only sought what was best for her. There was no problem here.
And yet, anger still flared within her as her thoughts shifted paths and she let this pass without saying anything.
Refusing to linger on this, she moves on. "I've not fallen unconscious again yet, but I did suffer a bout of extreme disorientation whilst in combat with Warlock. I was trying to hit him whilst Quentin held him in a whirlwind. Nothing else, however."
"The treatments have helped. But these episodes still frustrate me. I wish it did not take so long to restore me to my prior health."
“Eh, hey Slam.” Sorrel comes to a stop in the cleared out common room. It wasn’t outside, but at least he felt he could breath. “No, it’s not that...” He crosses his arms, holding his shoulders to keep from shaking. He’s still in his suit, which has taken a few bad knocks--not all from the encounter at the Mayor’s house--and he must look like a mess. Suddenly conscious of his appearance, Sorrel stuffs his hands into the crooks of his arms and straightens his back. “That wasn’t so bad. We actually managed to get everyone out without anyone getting hurt. Warlock, Darqsoul and Calamity should be on their way to processing. Seemed like Calamity was just trying to get his name back out there.”
Sorrel hoped he had dodged the real question well enough. The less he dwelt on the clinic the better. “I wonder sometimes, you know? It’s like in that show, Carl Cosmos? -and the Floral Buds? The flower ladies from a broken dimension?” Slam either recognizes the show, or Sorrel recognizes he’s losing his audience. “Anyway, they go after these bad guys, which is really a minor part of what the show’s about, but every time, they kind of gloss over the fact that the bad guys are just ‘corrupt’ buds. Like, corrupt how?”
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" Hey now! Don't sell us short! We also got them with knives, sticks, light, and...what was it Sorrel conjured up? Mold?" Michael quips. After a moment, he adds, "Did anything else happen while we were all busy? Seems kind of odd that two villains would just both decide today was the day to launch comeback tours."
Solmira
Wellspring removes their gloves, extending one hand, palm facing upward. If our current course of treatment isn't being effective, it is possible we've been too focused on cardio-vascular and gastrointestinal issues... it is possible extended time without oxygen, or unshielded exposure to gamma radiation from a star you couldn't control might have inflicted some neurological damage. they take a sip of water, and a deep breath. If you're amenable, I would like to investigate this... but it might unearth some memories, I'll try to stay away from recollection, but human brains are hard enough... I understand if you say no.
The Lair
Nice! Lockdown says, offerig a high-five
My thinking is that they figured they had a shot today, with the Paragons off fighting an invasion fleet, and Phoen-X still recovering from their fight with Arcturus Gestalt says.
So, what situations are you guys gonna get on, no that you're an official team? Archangel asks. We're gonna spend the next week or so trying to figure out what the hell is goig on out by the docks. Might be Dradge, though the Nova have been active lately, so it might be Sadalsuud.
Sorrel
I'm not sure I follow? Slam says, pulling a chair over to himself
Tox
You are walking home from work, the insane shift finally over. you are a few blocks from home when you see two people, badly beaten and left unconscious on the corner. What do you do?
I smirk. Dradge? There's no way! The smart money is that it's just Mr. Poppet or The Creeping Vine acting too big for his britches, but you have fun with that.
"By all means, go ahead. If there is damage it would be better for it to be known."
The words come out before Solmira can actually process what's going on, her speech sounding strangely tranquil despite the cocktail of emotions swirling about inside of her. Anything that was in her voice before was simply replaced with a supreme calm.
Solmira's fists clench tight. As much as she wanted to, and as much as the fact infuriated her, she couldn't say no right now. Her ability to display her unwillingness was limited simply to this - nothing overt.
It had nothing to do with Wellspring himself. Compulsion aside, she knew he was capable and well meaning. Whatever she might have remembered during his work, the memories that might come up...probably weren't anything that would be too much for her.
She was simply terrified of her mind being forcibly...changed. Altered by an outside hand. She didn't think he could do that. That he would. But he would be touching her mind.
And that was enough to make her afraid.
Of all the things to walk into to..."
Jae Lin considers ducking into the nearest alley to suit up, but it might take a bit and he didn't have any time to make sure no one would discover him with his pants down.
So Jae Lin, not Tox, walked onto the scene.
He pulls out his smartphone and dials 911.
"I'm on Batwayne Lane and there are a couple of injured men, unconscious. I think they're going to need an ambulance."
With his phone still out, he jogs to the two individuals to better examine them.
"Sirs? Are you all right?"
Jae Lin checks for vital signs and any visible clues that may prove useful for a later 'solo' investigation. For now, making sure the victims were all right, took precedence.
Solmira:
Wellspring takes your hand, and lets their power swirl through you. after a cursory examination of your physiology, they move on to your mind.
you can feel them poking around, flitting through memories briefly, before examining more esoteric areas.
Eventually, they break off the contact. I think that might help you a little. do you feel any better? they ask you
Jae-Lin:
as you move forward to examine the scene, a figure clad in black appears out of nowhere, in a black blur that came from the roof. Their gloved hand grabs the wrist of the hand you have your cell-phone in.
No no no, this scene wasn't set for you. she says in an echoing voice. Run on home, and don't tell anyone about this. She punctuates the last statement by revealing a long knife from her sleeve, before making disappear back into her garment.
I give a subtle pat to my comm. Turnabout and I need to wrap this up and look in to taking down Harbringer. That's the fast lane to the big leagues...
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Michael gives Quentin a small nod, acknowledging the need to head out soon.
"Don't have anything in mind yet. Maybe see how Calamity connected with his underlings; I thought DarqSoul was supposed to be contained somewhere. Hopefully today's stunt will get them put away for a while."
Things surface as Wellspring touches Lios's mind. The sensation of him poking about in her head...it feels incredibly intrusive. She feels utterly violated, helpless to stop it.
She'd focused so much on what she'd wanted from Earth. Her only thought to the future was to hone her skills, to be recognised as not being the same as everyone else. As anyone else. It was the only thought she'd given to the future. She had no plans really, other than that. And that wasn't even a proper plan.
Lios found herself filled with the distinct desire to leave this room and get away from Wellspring. She didn't want to be beholden to him, she wanted to make sure he didn't get near her head again, and if she could just get out before he said too much where she could hear him she'd be free.
When Wellspring stops doing his work and asks the question, she snaps back at him, eyes blazing. "No."
She shoots toward the door, damn well willing to break it down if she had to in order to leave quickly.
That's a new one...
Jae Lin had thankfully fought the urge to reflexively use his enhanced strength to immediately fling the sudden person against a building.
He nodded, put his phone away, and quickly ran away. At least, it would appear as such for the next few blocks until he was quickly out of sight.
Five minutes later, Tox was slinking his way back to the scene. If he can spot the assailant lurking in the shadows or find them with his bugs, he'll attempt to Pierce the Mask
Sorrel kneels to maintain eye level. Maneuvers like this, the centaur had watched animal planet to learn and practice. "Like, remember when Lionheart threw the Terrible Terrapin through High-rise Place? Aren't we all Neo-empowered? Aren't we all one bad day- one headline away from villainy? Those cells..."
Sorrel goes quiet.
"Anyway," he laughs nervously, "I think on a later episode, we'll find out more about those corrupt bulbs. -like all the references to the Roses in season one..."
KQ and Turnabout:
Poppet? God I hope not, dudes got creep factor Slipstream says
Vine isn't a bad idea though. Maybe he's grabbing people for whatever f~$@ed experiment hes got going on Lockdown adds, earning himself a dirty look from a nearby hero, sitting next to a 12 or 13 year old ward.
Archangel turns to Turnabout Yeah, wasn't he in the slammer over in Chicago? what is he doing here?
Solmira:
I'm sorry... I didn't realize the effect would be so pronou- Wellspring calls after you.
Sorrel:
I don't think that's a good way to view it. Roy says, absently floating up and down. Yeah, sometimes people get hurt by the good guys when stuff goes sideways, but Villains go out to hurt pople, and the heroes try to stop them. That's the line, to me, if you're standing in front of a scared crowd, are you facing toward them, or the thing they're scared of? does that make sense? He asks
Tox:
You find them on a nearby rooftop, looking over the scene, waiing. climbing up a nearby fire escape, you can get a good look at them.
Four figures, the girl who attacked you earlier, a tall-ish guy in a dark purple longcoat, with a domino mask that has bits going from the inner corner down and outward, another person with long, multicoloured hair, heavy makeup, and at least half a dozen peircings, with an electric guitar on their back. And one guy who seems to only be making a token effort at a costume, wearing a concert tee, baggy pants, and a ski mask. he's the only one noticably armed, with a telescoping staff on him.
They are waiting for someone.
You could make a big entrance (it would get you influence on the guy in the coat, and the person with the guitar)
When the person they're waiting for arrives, they want to extend him an offer.
what do you do?
Tox takes a deep breath.
In through the nose.
Pause.
Out through the mouth.
Time to get to work.
As it seemed a big entrance would gain influence on the guy in the coat and the person with the guitar, he would try in the veritable "Tox" fashion.
But first, he made sure to take off his communicator and have his bugs carry it to a place nearby, to be able to pick up the conversation or fight, that would take place very shortly.
Four against one, he needed them to not act rashly, and he needed to be clear that he wasn't to be taken lightly. He rose the activity of bugs slowly, normal ones, some that could bite, annoying ones, ones that you couldn't resist brushing at if they buzzed in your ears.
And at once they began to sing. A creepy, eerie hum of insects as they flapped, chirped, and buzzed in unison for three seconds, clearly announcing a well-known bug user in the area.
Sorrel shakes his head. Were he the cynical type, he'd be laughing. Instead, he looks down at the floor. "Problem being, Slam, that's not always a choice we get to make. Miss a dose, or get too worked up, and I am the thing they're scared of, good intentions or not, and they will put me back in containment. I'm growing horns and fur and extra eyes, and I don't know when the capes are going to decide I'm more monster than hero. Wellspring is already recommending I stay inside. Con yo, maybe I'm too close to it." Sorrel puts his hands up in surrender. "Maybe I'm just sweating the details. You've seen me around since they first took me in. Do I look more human to you?"
Looking up, Sorrel searches Slam's eyes. He was a nice enough guy, Slam, but Sorrel needed something more than soothing platitudes.
When she's done flying away as fast as she can possibly manage, Solmira glares back the way she'd come. As she presses herself against a wall and starts catching her breath, she looks about with burning eyes to see where she'd ended up, and spots Hyla giving her funny looks.
...Lacy Yumi. Good. Anything other than the blasted telepath.
She levels a harsh, luminous stare at Hyla, to match the 'push your luck and die' expression she was wearing. "Yes? Is something the matter?"
Tox:
once the bugs start, the group is on guard, the knife in the girls hand, the guy in the longcoat starts looking around. Theguy in the ski-mask gestures toward you, making a gesture as if to say in that general area
The guy in the coat turns toward you (actually, one building to the side, but close) and yells Glad you're here. Why don't you come talk... we don't Bite
what do you do?
Sorrel
Roy wavers I dunno. you don't look more human, but looks aren't everything. Like Hyla, she's got that whole frog thing going on, but she still a really sweet girl, and, like, my best friend. he says.
Besides, you're, like, a big time hero. you just took down DarqSoul, and Warlock, and you guys took down Pestilence last time. Keep this spree up, and no one can say you're not a hero.
Tox nods his head over to the unconscious and beaten men.
"But clearly you have fangs." Regardless of the danger, Tox acquiesces, and leaps from the one building's roof to the other.
"Alright, I'm curious to meet the folks who would bludgeon two men senseless to get my attention."
Ok, it's clear that Turnabout has no intention of wrapping things up. I yawn a bit. Sorry crew, but I don't have the unlimited energy stores that dad and Lady Kid Quickman have. I'm beat. Turn? You ready to get moving?
Sorrel has to consciously snap his jaw shut. He was so sweet. Wrong, but genuinely well-meaning. He was a friend of Hyla, too. Hopefully not too good a friend.
Sorrel cracks a smile and turns, busying his gaze with the doorway. He wasn't sure if he wanted to run through it or close it. "I didn't technically help with Warlock or Darqsoul. I mostly ran interference on Doctor Calamity with Tox until the others had the grunts handled. -but I do see what you're saying. Hyla is a good friend to have, and if you're making the comparison, I'll shut up and take the compliment..."
Turning back to make eye contact again, Sorrel asks: "So other than practicing for your debut, do you have anything going on?"
"Sadly, I didn't have time to ask him about his escape," Michael replies. I'll bet Mirror knows something, though.
At Quentin's question, he replies "Yeah, we should probably go catch up with the others. Thanks for the invite! " He offers a winning smile to the Choir, especially Quicksilver, as they head out.
You seem... upset. Lacy says, leaping up to the roof. Did something go wrong over at Town hall? She asks
They were already pretty senseless The guy with the piercings says. They were dealing in your neighborhood
My name's... well, for now, you can call me Horus. The guy with the coat says. She goes by Shrike He says, indicating the girl who attacked you. They're Machery, he indicated the person with the piercings.
And I'm Arne The guy in the concert tee says.
Dude, we're using code names! Machery admonishes. When we're in costume, you're The Stoned Seer!
I hate that codename. Arne says
Anyway! Horus says over the two squabbling. We think you've got potential. We think you might see the world like we do..
We don't really do that whole "cops and robbers" thing. Shrike quips
Yeah, we try to focus on the real stuff Horus says. dealers and gangbangers f%&@ing up our neighborhoods, slumlords and corrupt cops preying on people, real stuff. We want to make a real difference, actually help people.
what do you do?
I... well, Lacy and I were kinda gonna go talk to this super scientist kid over on the other side of town. apparently he can make battle suits that took a direct hit from Sunder, and kept going. Roy says, bringing up youtube to show you
The video shows shaky helicopter footage of the terrible Terakinetic standing in the middle of... from the date, probably Aurora. someone in a purple battlesuit is soaring around, lauching missiles at Sunder, who seems unphased (big surprise there). The rest of the city is breaking down under Sunder's earthquake.
A building collapses, forcing The person in the suit far to close to Sunder, who takes the opportunity to slam a fist into the person.
He survived that. He says, as the video confirms his words. you watch as the person in the suit catches themselves on fire hydrant, and gets back on his feet. [/b]He's in the city, over by the theater, and he's only about a year older than Me and Hyla. We're hoping He'll join us.[/b]
Glad to have you. Archangel says
Later dudes
You two behave yourselves Gestalt says, smirking
Good to see you, Michael Slipstreal calls And it's slipstream, Quickman Jr.
Solmira's eyes follow Lacy, and she lets out a small 'hmph'. "No. And if you must know, what 'went wrong' was something that occurred long before I ever arrived on this primitive planet, and something I had not expected to have to suffer the effects of here...not to mention something beyond your ability to amend."
Solmira's eyes continue to follow Lacy, scrutinising her every move and trying to figure out her goal in this exchange.
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I'd prefer Quickman Jr. Kid Quickman? That's fine when you're eight... I call back to my sister as we leave. I drop some cash for myself and Lucy's milkshake then walk back to the van.
Can we stop at that fancy grocery store, Compleate Cuisine? I want to pick up some of that textured vegetable protein stuff...
Tox listens to the pitch, and nods as Horus finishes.
"That does sound like good work," he admits, though one eye behind his mask peers at the unconscious men.
"I can't really get on your case for methods either, I mean..." Tox hold up one silken gloved hand and extends his fingers releasing a visible small waft of vapourous anathesia that dissipates in the wind, "I should be the last one lecturing on methods."
"How long have you guys been at work? No offense, but not sticking to codenames gives off a sense of releative inexpereince. Also, let the guy choose his name. He's the one that
s going to have to live with the damn thing after all."
Sorrel watches intently. He's seen durable capes in the infirmary after glancing blows from Sunder. It's real tough trying to help stop internal bleeding in a man with skin like diamond. The guy was no joke.
The technology reminded him of Solmira and the thing he was meant to give her, so it wasn't hard to mask his eagerness. "Vato with that reputation has probably been visited by the recruiters, but he might be swayed by the personal touch. If you think someone with field experience might help your chances, I wouldn't mind tagging along- as long as it's not meant to be a thing between you and Hyla."
Are they a couple? It sounded like they were pretty close- trying to form a team at least. What did that even matter, though? He's met Hyla, but he has no reason to be jealous over her. Solmira's the one who reached out to him.
Michael makes a comedically exaggerated "yuck" face. "I don't know how you can eat that stuff. Let alone paying that much for it!" In spite of that, he punches the store's address into the van's nav system. "So... That was your dad, right? And the Alliance? What happened there? " Mirror probably knows already, about Harbinger, but I should check in with her soon.
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I look a little embarrassed. Its not for me. Sorrel can't digest meat anymore and this is the best meat substitute in the city. I wanted to make him a meatball sub.
On his second point: Dang, I don't know. I don't think they were talking to us. Should we investigate?
Sure, I guess. Roy says, reaching for his knapsack (which creates an amusing juxtaposition, in his tailor made purple-white supersuit, with a bookbag slung over his shoulder). We'll be taking the subway though... you can still do that, right?
I'm sorry... I didn't mean to upset- Lacy says, before a voice from behind you. Whirling around, you see a rail-thin girl, maybe 17 or 18, wearing a black tanktop and sweatpants, with short, messy brown hair. Genevieve Drake
Lay off her, princess She says, her icy blue eyes meeting yours. For gods sake... they way you talk about how primitive we are, you'd get the impression you weren't a narcoleptic nobody who abandoned her world in a failed attempt to be the big fish in a little pond. Why don't you get off your high horse, and take a good look at your own abilities.
She turns to walk away, saying just loud enough for you to hear Maybe people will start noticing you, if you do something notable.
Eh, my family doesn't live around here, so I don;t need to worry about retaliation against them. Arne says And honestly, without that motvation, I didn;t feel the need for a codename.
So shrike and I took it upon ourselves to christen his masked self! Machery says, laughing
Anyway Horus says, again trying to quiet his cohort We've been operating for a couple months. SS is usually in ops, bute wanted to come meet the potential newbie.
So, what do you say? we could use another close combatant, and Arne says that freaky bug stuff you do is god for scouting. Shrike says
"The hard part is going to be the stairs." Not to mention the tight spaces. "People seem to have a higher tolerance for weird stuff on the subway. I should be fine as long as I'm with someone in costume."
Michael's snarky smile and tone drop. "Oh. That's....a really nice idea, actually. TunnelBus sells their sauce by the jar, don't they?"
On the rest: "Yeah, we probably should. If he's really in town...well, they probably won't call us to help with him directly, but there'll be a lot of slack to pick up."