Unsure what else to do, MINOTAR continues to herd others out of harms way.
I think my systems went haywire as soon as I touched him and he's still there. Is that right?
Briefly stunned by the awesome power of the tornado, Electron snaps his attention back to the dire situation at hand. Having spent some time experimenting with generating electricity in innovative ways he hatches a half-baked plan.
Though the tornado's debris field is far too wide for his power to manage, he tries to plant himself right in an area where would be able to give the fleeing bystanders the most cover. Then he projects an electrical field across the path of the tornado and its flying debris.
Seeing Electron starting to manage the debris field successfully, MINOTAR starts some calculations...
Moving closer to Electron, trying not to startle the man, MINOTAR raises his hands as he approaches, static sparks already coming off his individual digits.
"Reconfiguring power matrix for maximum power amplification! Three... two...ONE!"
Grasping the 'man' on each shoulder, MINOTAR begins pumping up the Amps flowing freely through the hero!
"P-P-POWER AMPLIFICATIONzzzz RECONFIGURE...AT MAXIMUMmum CAPACITY! OV-E-ERLOAD IMMINENT!"
QNetic blinks and sputters, his arm rising almost of its own accord as his systems move power to his blast. He unleashes the full fury of his blast against the decidedly not innocent kid.
re-routing neural map to compensate for damages. the systems inform his still off-kilter brain.
Attack
If that hits, kid needs a DC 26 Toughness vs Kinetic Blast
"Wu di ewe u?"
Once the danger ends, MINOTAR releases his hold on ELectron and stutter steps away to sit on a curb, smoking a bit along the way.
"My-iee neural-paths ar-r-r-e trying to reconnect...STANdddd BYE!"
With the tornado dissipated, Ghost looks around for the group, then teleports over to them. "So, what's up with the kid?"
Electron wobbles a little bit and he seems a bit paler and dimmer than before from the exertion. "Whoooo," he gasps out. "I didn't know if that was going to work." He bends down and places his hands on his knees to support himself for a moment.
Looking at the vanishing funnel cloud and resuming a more human shape, if large Straightjacket comments "Umm, what just happened?"
his father, as usual, more perceptive of his surroundings comments
With that, Straightjacket, starts to bound over to the struggle.
"That-t-t-t-t-'-ll hap-hap-hap-pen. Kid's a wa-wa-walking-ing-ing disas-as-aster." Q's mechanical voice reverbs on itself, systems still being re-routed. He looks at the kid, one eye flickering on and off. "Can you-ou-ou shut-ut-ut it dow-ow-own?"
Ghost crosses his arms, studying the kid. Everyone time one of them had attempted to attack the kid, something had happened. The waterboy and the cyborg were both messed up right now, which meant that whatever was up with this kid, he couldn't necessarily control it. Being rather familiar with that feeling, he felt maybe a tiny bit of sympathy. Perhaps a different tack was needed.
"Unfortunately, kid, trouble seems to be following you. So, let's start at the beginning. My name's Ghost. What's yours?"
Hearing the boy's unusual answer, MINOTAR begins reviewing the various actions and the boy's various responses since encountering him.
"It-tttt appears to be defensive in nature? His ability seems to be defending him: Subconsciously if not on purpose. Unless-sssss some other factor is involved we cannot see, his power is respond-d-d-ding to his instincts and/or adrenaline surges. I suggest attempting to calm him and then assure his safety and protection. That should help...temporarily at least."
Ghost thinks for a moment. He barely understands his powers - and he certainly doesn't understand Michael's. Still, there had to be a reason behind them. The robot may have a point.
"Well, Michael, let's see if we can figure out what's causing all this bad luck. How do you usually feel right before some of this bad luck happens?"
Electron pops into the grid to pop out close to the group to join in the discussion. Hearing the last bits, he chimes in, "Bad luck? A plane crash and a tornado are the effects of bad luck for anyone around him? That's pretty extreme. How come we haven't heard of so many major events happening anywhere else? What's different?"
Q bends over, trying to clear his head while letting the others talk to the boy. Glad to see the tornado's gone, anyway. Kid's a danger to himself and everyone around.
"Umm, ok this is a sticky one. I've got no ideas. "
"Well how about we get you a burger or something, and then get you out of town. Maybe one of us could stick around and get stuff for you when you or hungry or such? We can do shifts or something. "
MINOTAR stands slowly and casually, the smell of fried electronics strong near him. He moves a little closer to the young man.
"Does this happen when you are only awake sir? Or when you are sleeping too?"
Nodding at the man's simple logic, MINOTAR tries to remain calm and still near the man to prevent triggering of his abilities. Suddenly his logic circuits slam into overdrive for a moment startling even MINOTAR himself...
Initial assessment COMPLETE. Continuing interrogative statements for further evidence.
"So, do you think of yourself as a walking bad-luck generator for other people? In so doing, you are forcing yourself into a hermit-like life to prevent hurting anyone, and therefore making yourself miserable in the process? Does this sum up your current situation? I must ask: Are you an orphan? Have you ever been related to, been near, or spoken with a 5th dimensional being? A powerful magician or cursed object? Meteor or other alien-like artifact? Were you born on earth to your knowledge? Can you prove that?"
|
"Uh, no? Yes to the hermit thing. I'm not an orphan, I've never heard of a 5th-dimensional being or magician. Never even seen a meteor. Yeah, I was born in Reno, Nevada. This... phenomena... began when I was about 6 years old. I've always been lucky, but I only inflicted bad luck on others when I was threatened. It wasn't a conscious thing, it just happened. Then, about a month ago, my bad luck started affecting things around me with no rhyme or reason. I left home to avoid hurting anyone I knew."
MINOTAR nods in a an almost human manner.
"NEW Speculation: Could your personal Luck then be based on the absorption of such forces from your surroundings? When you were younger they were minor in power, so did not require as much to absorb such energy, but as you have aged, your powers have grown exponentially. Your own personal safety and luck must now comes at the cost of your normal life..."
MINOTAR looks around as the tornado's destruction.
"...and those of others lives too that may accidentally bump into you it seems? If this is true, you have few options."
"Absorption and redirection of entropic energy? How fascinating." Q's brain begins whirling at accelerated speed, energy flowing to his synapses. "Do you have analytical capabilities for detecting such fields, Minotar?"
Again MINOTAR shakes his head in a very human-like gesture, although this time in the negative.
"Unfortunately not Mr Netic. My brain was designed simply as a combat computer, therefore specifically for tactical analysis. It was designed to help provide me appropriate responses to defeat any obstacle in my programmed path. My 'sudden evolution' into a sentient machine seems to merely allow my free will to use it more...imaginatively? However, speculating further on my possible evolutionary functions...both my chassis and mental functions should slowly expand and improve as time passes as long as my repair-nanites continue to function as they have been. However, this will most likely happen in response to needed repairs from severe damage, and will most often appear as sudden or possibly even unknown upgrades that may take time for me to master. Such a sensor is therefore possible, but unlikely at this time. Does that answer your question?"
Turning at the current silence, MINOTAR speaks to the stranger again.
"QUERY: Would you be against sedating you temporarily until someone from the Justice League can arrive to investigate? They could then take a look at you to see if your powers can be placed in stasis or help you master control of them somehow. However, I can understand if you were reluctant to do so. I myself have only recently gained my own freedom and would hesitate in any circumstances to lose it again voluntarily."
"I still think we could just take him camping in the middle of nowhere so he can't hurt anyone and just keep him supplied. Let the JL know about it to check on him. "
Ghost shakes his head. "His powers might cause something to happen if we attempted to sedate him. He would likely have to voluntarily sedate himself, and even then, his powers might kick in. As much as I like Stretch's plan of taking him camping in the middle of nowhere, and then ensuring he has supplies, if his abilities should do something out there, it could result in himself or other campers being hurt." Visions of massive wildfires and avalanches danced through his head, and other natural disasters - after all, the kid conjured a freaking tornado without thinking about.
He examines the kid. "What we need to do is figure out a place you can stay where you won't feel threatened, that also protects others from out of control phenomena. It would be a place you could learn to control your powers so bad luck doesn't happen. Unfortunately, I don't know of any place we can do that with. Does anyone else?"
"NEW Speculation: Could your personal Luck then be based on the absorption of such forces from your surroundings? When you were younger they were minor in power, so did not require as much to absorb such energy, but as you have aged, your powers have grown exponentially. Your own personal safety and luck must now comes at the cost of your normal life...""...and those of others lives too that may accidentally bump into you it seems? If this is true, you have few options."
Electron contributes to the conversation, "Maybe, but what if his bad luck is in overdrive because he actually is threatened by something now - some looming threat that started about a month ago? Could he be being stalked by something or someone?" Electron gasps. "Or what if he's some kind of canary in a coalmine and acting as an early warning for all of us!"
"Or perhaps even a threat to the whole area." he adds, helpfully.
"I agree that staying away from people until we can get some help would probably be for the best."
"I am...was...currently staying at a remote Justice League facility a few miles from here. It is out of town, disguised as some form of other facility. A...SPA of some sort I think...my information files are falling short on a better description...would that work here to keep him relaxed but safe?"