Why don't I take it under advisement? Barracuda says, the tendons in his neck bulging as he grits his teeth when Midnight's ball of air strike him in the chest.
Because you're really p*ssing me off now
He shoulders his shotgun once again and levels it this time at the scarred man dashing across the rooftop toward him.
Once again it roars, a jet of flame spitting out, the retort slamming back into his shoulder but the muscular man leans into it like he has a thousand times before. The slug smashes into Lucas' shoulder, ripping through his temporarily toughened skin and ploughing an ugly furrow in the meat of his shoulder.
Hit
Barracuda then continues to back away, putting more distance between he and his assailants before dropping prone, trying to get what cover he can from Midnight's blasts.
As Barracuda vanishes from her optimal target efficiency, Midnight simply solves the problem by moving closer.
There is a small torrent of wind gusting around the alley beneath her, as she suddenly surges through the air, powering towards the building rooftop to get closer to the mercenary.
Lucas hurls a small device at the gunman. The bomb explodes in a burst of flame.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Akio moves closer to the edge as the others shout and continue to attack the gun man. He spots some loose board and grabs at them to swing across the gap as a make shift bridge.
Barracuda grunts in pain as the bomb lands beside him and showers him in hot flame. He reaches into his pack and takes out a stimpack, popping the top and thrusting the needle into his thigh so that the chemicals flood through his system.
With the plants making a flimsy bridge across the buildings Akio steps onto the planks and then over on to the roof moving towards the gunman.
Coasting to a stop and hovering above the rooftop Midnight wastes no time summoning more air to blast the thug with.
Surrender, you cannot prevail!
Lucas races across the bridge Akio has made and hurls another bomb at the gunman. "Time to surrender! You're outnumbered and you've got no where to go!"
-Posted with Wayfinder
Barracuda ducks beneath the blast of air that Midnight unleashes but he cannot avoid the burning device that Napalm lobs.
The slim asian man closes in on him and though he is dressed like a delivery boy, Barracuda has been around enough to be able to recgnize someone who can handle themselves when he sees one.
He pumps the shotgun rapidly, ejecting the cartridge within and then with lightning speed snaps another into the chamber.
Then, with the weapon reversed, he brings it around in an arc, clattering into the side of Akio's head with a sickening thump.
He shows no intention of giving up;
Fat chance, ugly. he spits at Lucas.
Akio attempts to dodge the large gun man only to get a club to the face, he wipes away blood from his mouth feeling a proper fight coming up shifts into his fighting stance and unleashes a straight punch and a looping kick.
hp - 8/15
Akio reels from the blow of the shotgun, hot blood running down the side of his face. The vision in his right eye blurs as the pain flares in the side of his face.
But his instinct has been honed by intense training and he lashes out with two strikes of his own. The first drives into the man's stomach and as he doubles over, the second comes down in a chop like a hammer blow on the back of his neck.
Barracuda is sent sprawling, his head bouncing from the gravel roof with a thud.
Lucas whistles as he comes over. "Damn, that was some Jet Li moves, man. What's your name again? Akio? Hey, I want to see you in the ring with some of the SHIELD folks."
Lucas quickly kicks away Barracuda's weapons and then searches the man for anything else. He looks back at Midnight. "What do we do with him? We probably should take them all back with us."
Midnight lands softly on the rooftop, clutching her side but walking normally despite the red stain.
Well Lucas, we're in a bit of a quandary really, we had no real jurisdiction in doing what we did, just the loyalty to the idea of doing what was right. As we were dealing with armed robbers, perhaps we should drop this gentleman off with the local peace officers and discretely vanish to the local SHIELD office?
She glances between Akio and Concussion
Do you have a communicator on you to request some sort of pickup? Or advice!?
As the large gun man drops to the floor, Akio takes a deep breath and drops his arms to his side.
" My name is Akio, I suppose we aren't all as we appear." He looks around at each of them. "I may have picked up a few things living my whole life at the temple." He says with a short smile, as Lucas searches the man.
"A phone you mean?" He questions the storage woman. "All I was my bike..." It dawns on him now. "I just left in on the street! I bet its long gone now. This doesnt bode well for me keeping my delivery job." He sighs.
"We all jump into this not really sure what was going to happen, but I'd do it all again." He states. "I may have helped a few people before but i've never really stuck around for what happens next with the police."
Lucas nods to Midnight. "Maggie should have called--- Wait, what? You were just passing along and decided to get involved? I thought you were dispatched under orders to help! Oh hell, that means..." He pauses for a moment, trying to work out the ramifications. "That means, we just exposed dozens of people to our powers without any authorization." He sighs and pulls out his phone.
"We need to get to a safehouse quickly. With all that's been going on, the police could arrest each of us no matter what we did here. Somebody grab him." He points to Barracuda. "And make sure to get his guns. We need to get out of here. I hope Maggie knows what to do." He taps the picture of his wife on his phone and the number begins to dial.
Maggie answers the phone almost before it has a chance to ring;
Lucas! Lucas where are you, are you ok? she asks frantically. It's chaos down here, there's police everywhere.
People are talking about a group who broke into the bank and saved the hostages before chasing one of them down the street. The analysts are waiting for cell phone footage but the none of the X-Men, the Fantastic 4, not even Heroes for Hire or New Mutants were in the vicinity. Did you see them?
"Uh, right. I saw the commotion. My friends and I, we, uh, fled the scene. Where are you? We need to get everyone to safety."
No Lucas, I was just acting as any citizen of morally upright standing would have, although I note that this may have inadvertently alerted the world to the presence of a few more... 'gifted' isn't that what they call us?
She shrugs
In any case, SHIELD needs to help now, I've no doubt they will know the best course of action to take
She smiles hopefully as Lucas talks on the phone.
Akio moves to the man placing his foot on his back. "He should be out for quite a while." He points out. "Long enough for us all to get out of here and for the police to take him into custody. What are we all waiting around here for? I don't put much stock in shield, from what i've heard of them they have bigger things to look after."
The group decide to make their way out of the scene, some concerned that they have used powers in public where they have previously operated under the radar or otherwise without authorization of SHIELD.
I'm down in the crowd, people are going crazy here. Maggie says. Come to me if you can, Lucas.
As the group descends via the fire escape, any thoughts they had of slipping away quietly are soon dispelled when they see a dozen people or more hovering around the entrance to the alley way, snapping at you with cell phones and, more concerning what looks suspiciously like a news crew pushing through them.
Beyond them, the flash of blue and red lights can be seen around the crime scene.
This is Christine Everhart live with WHiH news live on the scene of a bank robbery in the heart of New York’s Financial District. The usual mid-morning rush was violently interrupted this morning as a group of masked men stormed into the bank armed with pistols and shotguns and took hostages before clearing out up to $3m worth of jewellery from the vault.
Amazingly, it was the actions of four previously unseen super-powered individuals that intervened… wait… actually… here they come! Rob, I can see the team returning to the scene. I’m going to try and get closer… if I can I will get an interview… you are watching a live exclusive here on WHiH!
The reporter, a tall elegant blonde, who is incidentally wearing too much make-up and an overexcited smile, barges toward you with a camera-man following close behind. In seconds you are lit by a powerful spotlight mounted on the camera and a microphone thrust into your faces.
Christine Everhart, WHiH. Would you care to tell us what happened? Who is this new crime-fighting team? Are you looking to fill the void left by the Avengers? Are you a new branch of the X-Men or an offshoot of the Inhumans?
The questions come in quick succession like the rapid fire of the pistols you so recently faced and at the moment you can’t say which is more daunting.
Noting the hesitation of the others, Midnight moves to the front, though she keeps her hood up even as she addresses Christine.
Citizen Everhart, you appear to be correct in that a group of alleged criminals stormed the bank with weapons, took hostages, assaulted several citizens and then attempted to leave an explosive device behind, presumably to cover their tracks.
She gestures at the others
Seeing an imminent threat to the lives of law-abiding New York citizens, we simply did what any other law-abiding citizen would have done in our places, act in order to prevent harm where actual harm had occurred and further imminent harm was highly likely.
She smiles
Now as I'm sure you will understand, we will need to speak to the authorities, and until they have investigated we really aren't able to add anything further
She begins to turn away, but then turns back and leans in to the camera.
Christine you mentioned Avengers, X-men, Inhumans... I think the most important thing to take away from this morning's incident is that any citizen of New York could have been with us, could have helped us this morning. There is a hero waiting to act inside each and every one of you, it just needs the right moment
Her smile is the only thing the camera can see underneath her white hood.
She gathers the others with her and moves off towards the authorities
So much for the subtle exit... right, we were acting lawfully at all times and have every intention of co-operating with the law keepers...ok?!
Christine you mentioned Avengers, X-men, Inhumans... I think the most important thing to take away from this morning's incident is that any citizen of New York could have been with us, could have helped us this morning. There is a hero waiting to act inside each and every one of you, it just needs the right moment
So despite the apparent failure of the Sarkovia Accords due to the actions of the fugitive Captain America and his group, to monitor and sanction super-being activity, you and your team are advocates of vigilantism? Is that correct, Miss....? the reporter says, eagerly thrusting the microphone back into Midnight's face.
Midnight freezes, ushering the others ahead of her protectively as she turns back to the reporter.
Vigilantism is the act of taking the law into one's own hands and attempting to enact justice according to one's own understanding of right and wrong. The United States and the state of New York recognise the concept of a citizen's arrest whereby a private person may arrest another person when the person arrested has committed a felony.
She holds up a hand quickly as the reporter opens her mouth to speak.
Also, before you mention use of force, a private person is justified in using non-deadly force upon another if they reasonably believe that the other person is committing a felony, and the force used is necessary to prevent further commission of the offense and to apprehend the offender.
She sweeps her hands around.
So there are no vigilantes present in this alleyway.
She crosses her arms
I must say your complete lack of understanding of the legal system of the country in which you reside is a concern, especially where you are mandated to investigate news impartially and objectively rather than using sensationalist bylines and goading language. I would hate to think you were playing on the issues of the day to boost ratings as opposed to actually reporting the news... what I can tell you is that your choice of provocative language has cost you and your station, WHiH was it? Whilst I will not speak for the others, I can say with utter surety that you are the last news outlet I would choose to talk to from this point.
With that she turns and walks away, ignoring any further attempts to engage her.
Are you a citizen? Everheart calls after Midnight. Of the United States I mean, or planet Earth for that matter?
I guess we don't have an answer to that one, viewers, and to her legal and constitutional presence but WHiH will remain as always your dedicated seekers of truth.
Do you have any further comment for those people you saved? Their families must be extremely grateful for saving them from Barracuda, the underground thug responsible for so much crime in the greater New York area..
She once again puts the microphone in front of those still gathered before the camera even as EMTs and Police come to see to the stricken form of Barracuda.
Lucas tries to hide his face with his arm, knowing that with his mutant appearance, there will be no mistaking him in the future. But at her comment about Captain American, Lucas growls. "Ah, come on, lady! Nobody loves this country more than Cap. The guy's been fighting for it before either you or I were born! If I was half the man he was, we wouldn't even be having this conversation. He deserves some time to work through this. And so do we! Get out of here!"
He shoves her microphone away and begins to walk quickly down the street. Wish I had the damned hoodie now.
He looks back at Concussion and Akio. "Come on you two, unless you want to stay for an interview."
Akio sulks away from the front of the alley, hoping to get out of there before anymore attention is brought on them. Not wanting to get into the politics of why they did it.
Alone for a moment Akio rubs the back of his neck, still in his delivery clothes he speaks up. "Well that was fun but I'd better get back to my job, I'm sure you lot can deal with the aftermath i'm not really want for all that bureaucracy. I'm also not looking forward to explaining my failed deliveries." He says as starts to look around the the bike he left near the bank.
Lucas grabs Akio's sleeve. "Not so fast. Your bike can wait. Come with us. All of you. Otherwise, these people will keep hounding you." He walks briskly towards where Maggie should be waiting.
Akio tenses up for a seconds as the big man grabs his sleeve, turning to look the man in the eyes. "All you needed to do was ask." He say pulling free. "I'll come with you if it saves me the hassle for later. I still don't know what to call you or her." He nods towards the strange woman.
"My name's Lucas. Come on, my wife is waiting. She'll get us out of here. Then we can all have a good discussion about what happened."
Eventually, Lucas, Connie and Akio meet Maggie.
But the journey, though short, is somewhat strange. The sun is still blazing down on this hot and humid afternoon in the city and your blood is hotter still, coursing with adrenaline after the fight and being suddenly thrust into the lime light.
And making your way through the streets of the financial district until they become less and less crowded almost makes it feel like you are the criminals, on the run.
You meet with Maggie under an overpass beneath the Manhatten bridge.
She hugs Lucas fiercely, her arms like a vice around his neck. Before quickly stepping back and shooting him that look that she always gave when she was annoyed.
You scared the crap out of me! she says, slapping his shoulder. Why didn't you wait for back up, or better still let the field agents deal with it, or even better than that wait for someone like Spiderman to show... hey, who is this? she says, noticing the young asian man and the girl, mostly dressed in leather, standing behind him.
Akio sighs. "I hope so, it wasnt even mine." He responds to Concussion attempt at appeasing him.
"Nice to meet you Lucas, lead the way." He follows closely behind the large man.
---
Akio stands there almost awkwardly now as he's pointed out, still in his delivery uniform looking unmistakably stereotypical asian. "I'm Akio, I was fortunate enough to meet your husband and the other two. It seemed like we couldn't just wait around and had the same idea." He stands up taller now, more assertive.
"Are you a member of shield? Like these two?" He motions to Lucas and the strange woman.
Lucas hugs Maggie tightly. "You are a sight for sore eyes." He recoils somewhat as she admonishes him, but he protests. "Hey! I was with a field agent!" He points at Midnight.
"Besides, I had these two ready to rush in as well. I'm not going to let two civilians endanger themselves if I can help." He nods to Connie and Akio. "They were quite the help too. I think we need to bring them in for a debriefing though. Barracuda could have really messed them up."
He nods to Akio. "Maggie is one of our top scientists in mechanics, robotics, and electronics. She worked for Stark Industries for several years before joining SHIELD."
"Let's get to somewhere safe where we can talk. What you saw might take a bit of explaining. And I'd hate to get ambushed by the news again."