The wave of heat takes William by surprise, and he cries out as his skin boils and flakes away. In barely an instant the pain becomes to much, and he falls to the ground unconscious.
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Gigabyte smiled as their effortss proved successful, and a such was caught by surprise with his mouth open and ready for a sassy remark.
As the flames erupted Kyle was glad because of his helmet, as the others couldn't see the absolute terror that covered his face. He only managed to shout "You told me these were imaginary flames! Oh for fu-!" as the flames engulfed him.
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As per usual, Imagine's intrinsic hubris, combined with her mind thinking about shoes, or dresses, or money, or what other people are wearing, or how she looks, or shoes half the time anyway, contribute to her barely taking a step to the side as the exploding wall of fire consumes her and the others.
The ion shield of her Lex-Belt flares brightly, the magnetic field fiercely competing to compensate for the heat of a thousand angry suns unexpectedly erupting in their face.
As the wall of heat passes, Imagine grins sardonically and rises up, hovering until she's on equal ground with the newly freed martian.
'Now now,' she mind thinks, her unmoving lips not ruining her smile, 'Is that any way to thank us after saving you? Isn't there...anything else you'd rather think about?' She rests one hand a hip and strikes a seductive pose, in stark contrast of the carnage around her.
Fate takes a hit from the fire, but absorbs most of the damage. Unhuman and Gigabyte are knocked out and blasted from the Mindscape.
Fate and Imagine find themselves facing the fiery Martian alone.
"Saving us, yes, thank you. How long...No matter."
With a speed that surpasses even Imagine's amped up thought, still standing in air, he is suddenly in front of Imagine. His hand lances out
and grasps Imagine by the throat, pulling her to him. His hand burns. "I do not think, human, that you could deliver on that promise."
Unhuman and Gigabyte find themselves back in the Hall, the bodies of Imagine and Fate resting on the floor. The body of J'onn has taken on the same appearance as in the Mindscape, and is mimicking his actions there. He floats in the air, holding the throat of the woman in his mind, but empty air here.
Fate knows the Martian's mind is strong, but he needs at least try to incapacitate the creature.
Mystic Blast:
Fate's mystic blast lances through the space where the Martian was, but the target easily evades it.
William is fuzzy on the details, but is quick to realize the specifics of just how wrong this situation has gotten. He rushes over towards the floating Martian, calling out his name and grabbing at his arms. He might not be privy as to what's going on inside his head, but the green hero can recognize a choking stance when presented one. Either Fate or Imagine- though, if he was honest, he knew it had to be her- was being attacked within.
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Imagine's eyes go wide in surprise as she's grappled quite handily, the iron-grip slowly bringing her closer. Inside her neck veins pops and burst, spilling blood internally.
Fortunately the healing radiation of the L-Belt floods her internal circulatory system, deluging the site with nanotech and platelets, minimizing the damage.
'You...*urk*...would be...surprised...*gurk*...at what...I can...deliver!'
A single bullet hovers out of Imagine's gunbelt as she drops the pretense. She knows this isn't air she's breathing.
'And, FYI, it would've been -hawt-. Like, illegal in 37 states hot.
I'd rather bring pleasure than pain.'
In the brief inches separating the two, the bullet achieves relativistic speeds, turning to plasma as it races toward the mental construct.
But pain works too. -_-
Imagine gets an amazing shot off against the Martian, blasting him off of her and back several feet. For a moment, he seems off balance.
The Martian shakes off the injury, and his eyes fasten onto Kara. "How dare you?! How dare you attack the Burn! I had thought to reward you for freeing me, to spare you from the worst of what is to come, but no. Get out! Get out of my mind!"
The reality of the Martian mindscape ripples and attempts to reject the foreign particles.
Az feels the powerful onslaught of an amazing mind slam against him; his link to Nabu temporarily severed, he drifts back to the physical plane, all the while cursing his weakness for not being able to enforce the will of Order in this instance.
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'REWARD ME??? Sorry, chummer, I must've gotten confused about how good my reward was gonna be while you were imitating your Fifty Shades fantasy! Now get on the ground andURKGHK--'
The mind-wave flows over Imagine's formidable mental defenses like a tsunami crushing a child's sand castle.
She blinks a few times and shakes her head, unused to the feeling of being beaten in a Psychic Battle...and finding the sensation not to her liking.
'Well, that did *not* got well.
Any suggestions?'
"Yeah, no kidding," Az replies to Kara in Fate's voice, but in a most un-Nabu-like tone.
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Kara sits with her head in her hands for awhile, letting the nanotech wipe away the lingering headache getting ejected left behind.
'Sorry chummer, I think that's what we just tried to do. Current events update: it didn't go well.
Usually this is my kind of thing: Hit it with a sledgehammer until it either breaks or turns into something I like better. Either usually work.
But this? To use your parlance, his 'hocus pocus' out mojoed my mojoed and we got all kind of a cross-mojo, and he gesplogected my jibbles, love.
Oh behave.'
Imagine and Fate reawaken in their bodies with terrible headaches. The Martian has seemingly vanished, but a quick look at surveillance footage shows Gigabyte that he actually left at such high speeds that it appeared to be teleportation. The Martian left the Hall and flew into space, where the League's satellite net tracked him on his way to Earth's Moon.
Otherwise, the Hall is still wrecked, but the immediate danger seems to have passed.
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Outside the LexSec has mostly regrouped and formed a cordon, coordinating recovery efforts. For the most part they've put out any fires and are making sure that any looting or other rioting is kept to a minimum until local law enforcement can arrive in strength.
Imagine takes a moment to sulk, then continues her mind-speak, head still buried in her lap. 'The moon?? Srsly? I...I can't get to space. My an' the boys can operate in space, but we don't have a bird ready to go just right now.
Anyone else have a way to break atmo? We could try to chase him to have MM vs US 2: This Time It's Personal! but unless we can catch him, that's mute.
Any ideas? Otherwise should we try to salvage this place?'
At some unheard command a pair of LexSec descend into the Hall and start policing the area, seeing if anything requires immediate attention.
If they do, they'll communicate it to Kara who can't be bothered to do the hard work of actually looking at anything right now.
A buzzy, static filled, occasionally interrupted voice comes from the holographic system.
"If you desire a vessel, I can make one of the Javelins available to you. There are other, less public, means of accessing the Moon via the Hall. The boom tube generators can take you to the currently mothballed Moon Watchtower. J'onn has been known to use it as a retreat, so perhaps that is where he has gone. Regardless, it would get you closer faster, but you would lack the means to return."
Internal argument in Fate's head:
Az: "Nabu, can we breathe in space?"
Nabu: "I can. Unfortunately your inexperience makes it so that we, currently, cannot."
Az: *makes marge simpson growl*
Out loud:
"I can easily bridge the distance, but it would take an extreme effort to take us all. In an emergency, I might be able to get us home safely, but the jet sounds like the best option. Also, I'm afraid I need a space suit."
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Imagine perks up. 'Oooo! The Boom Tube sounds interesting! Oh my yes we MUST have that!'
Now having a new experience to be manic about, Imagine jumps up and starts looking around. 'Okay, yeah, does anyone else need a suit? Speak up now. And, ya, he's feeling all 'Men-are-from-Mars' right about now so retreating to his ManCave sounds about right.
So, naturally, we're gonna go and nag him take out the garbage. ;)
Also, if you have to go potty, now's a good time.'
Exactly how Imagine puts emojis into her mind-speech is not currently fully understood.
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"If- if we need to get to the moon fast, then I'll volunteer. I'm more resilient then... full blooded humans. I can survive without a breathable atmosphere for a time. I can try to hold him back from whatever it is he's doing and give the rest of you time to prepare."
"Fate, one of the Javelin flight suits will provide you with life support should you need it. The moon Watchtower should be retaining its atmosphere unless something has changed, so you will arrive in a safe area. I'm not sure if you will be able to wear the suit on top of the Fate helmet."
When you are ready, VICTOR activates the teleporters and you step inside, the swirling tube of interdimensional energy bending space around you. A moment later, you step out of the boom tube onto one of the upper levels of the Watchtower. through an open door, you can see the round JLA table once used by the League to discuss business. The tower is currently in a low power mode, having been mothballed. This base is not known to the public. Everyone is aware of the Hall of Justice, those in the know understand that the Hall is a facade and PR project, and that the real work is done on a series of satellites, the largest of which is the Watchtower satellite. The Moon Tower is a backup base.
Currently, the halls glow with red emergency lighting and the place is deathly quiet.
"I can removed the helmet, but my connection with Nabu will be lessened, and my abilities greatly reduced. We will keep it as a last resort."
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The LexSec precede Kara out of the boom tube. The squad members hold their rifles out as the tactical-walk out of the shaft and into the base. Shouts of "Clear" "Clear" "Sector clear" "Perimeter clear" can be heard as they pour out into every likely hiding place and field-of-fire, making sure the wayward Martian doesn't wait for them in ambush.
Imagine floats over to the main control area, turning the lights on and bringing the station up to full power. ("What? A subsidiary of LexCorp built this place. No, silly, they didn't -know- it was a subsidiary.')
'What do you guys wanna do? Just wait for him? I can refresh everyone's medicine.
Are we agreed that we shoot on site? We could try and inviade his mind again, but I don't know that we can get inside as easily.
If you guys can immobilize him, I think, given plenty of time, I could wear him down. I can be irresistible like that, equal sign right-facing bracket. =]'
'No,' Williams voice echoes through their minds. Imagine, Gigabyte, Fate, and the soldiers feel a subtle shift in their minds, as if a new pathway has been opened. Everyone aside from perhaps Gigabyte should easily recognize this as a form of telpathy and can come to a conclusion; They've all been linked mentally.
'Not until we fully understand the situation. IF we go charging head first again, we'll end up the same way as within his mindscape. But this time.... we wouldn't have our real bodies to act as a safety net.'
His face twists, and any sense of leadership he may've displayed quickly fades to inexperience. 'Uh, because we'd be dead. In case you didn't understand that.'
The station hums and rattles as normal operations are restored. As the air warms, and lights flicker on, strange sounds echo through the cavernous chambers.
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'Ooo! Mmmmmmmm...." Imagine yelps then purrs contentedly like someone sitting down in a pool of lemon pudding. "Ooooo, baby, a mind-link. Already? I mean, I've heard about people who did this, even had an offer once, while touring Europe. But I never thought that it'd feel this....dirty. Alright, well, Imma just let go an' let this happen. I like a man who knows what he wants.
Alright stud, you got the party started an' swinin'. Now what?'
'Now I start to regret the decisions I made in my life, especially this last one...'
He rubs a hand against his face, fighting against his natural instinct to flush.
'Gigabyte, this station should have cameras. Would you be able to access them remotely or through a port?'
Fate is completely out of his element, but stands ready to assist as needed.
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Gigabyte rubs his masked chin at Unhuman's idea "Well, if the connection is stable and Double M hadn't bursted everything on arrival... yeah, I can access them." he says as he 'extends' his senses towards the Hall's mainframe to establish a connecyion "That said I don't know what's the current ping standards on Earth-To-Superhero-Moonbase connections so we may get some lag."
The cyborg pauses a moment before considering the term he used and adds "Lag mean delays, for those of you wondering. And now, I need some ambient music for this..."
The background music player he so wisely decided to add months ago during a boring afternoon starts playing this song as his digital self works his way to the Moonbase's CCTV.
Gigabyte quickly gains control of the base's security systems. After a quick scan through the many holographic cameras, he finds the Martian in the combat training room. The holographic projectors in the room are creating a lifeless, barren planet that is, strangely, not Mars. On this planet there is a high tech chrome city at the center of which is a massive pillar of green light. At incredibly high speeds, Green Lanterns flicker through the city, as though the Martian is watching a movie at extreme fast forward.
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'Well that's odd' Imagine think/says as she looks at the virtual terraforming going on. 'Since it's the training room, can you re-control it to, like, attack him? If we can have it do our work for us, that would make things easier.
Failing that, if you stayed here and we attacked, could you use the room to distract him a whole bunch?'
I am confident our companion can do just that! Let's head in! Fate recommends.
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'Whoa, whoa, whoa. You don't get to play until you take your medicine. Boys? And anyone else?'
Imagine waits until anyone who wants to gets in the circle. Then her eyes roll into her head as their head-glands are stimulated in a way nature never intended...or could anticipate.
'Whew! Yeah! Alright, -now- we can go.'
"W-wait! We shouldn't just... Hack into the system like that. This must mean something to him, I want to talk to J'ohn in person. No tricks, no ambushes... That's not how we should act. We're supposed to be heroes. Attacking him while he's defenseless and hurting is wrong! My grandfather would never stand for a plan like that Luthor."
William crosses his arms, trying to make his stand against a possibly underhanded tactic.
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"Well... yeah, I could... but do you really want me to suckerpunch him?" answers Gygabite to Luthor's suggestion "Not that I am against it, if he hits half as hard here as he does in his hocus pocus mind we'll be toast... but I can try something else..."
The cyborg removes his helmet and shows a big smile as he turns to the mainframe "V.I.C., I'll send you something, see if you can help me" he says as his connection kickstarts and his hands start drumming an imaginary keyboard.
Okay, here's what Gigabyte ia trying to do:
•Check what assets does the Combat Training Room
•Override the control of said room without desactivating it
•Send some holoenemies, Brainiac's bots would suffice.
•Program a routine that would send the original Justice League's team sans MM to our target and help him fight said holoenemies before start asking for help. If he is hostile towards them they would start disengage tactics and go into hiding before waiting ten minutes and restaring the routine. If not hostile they will try to talk with him before retreating to fight an 'unknown foe' and restart the routine after ten minutes.
The last part is where V.I.C.T.O.R. comes into action as I bet he has folders and folders on the original team and their manners, style et al.
My main aim is to keep him distracted but also to overload his brain with memories of his time with them in an attempt to force his mind to stop being nuttier than squirrel crap.
"Wh-hey, what are you doing!"
William dosn't see or know exactly what Kyle has started to do, but in his mind he's clearly decided to go against him. He floats upwards to seem more menacing toward the mechanical hero. "I Said we were going to talk to him, not use the training room to try and kill him! Were you listening to me at all?"
"Well... yeah, I could... but do you really want me to suckerpunch him?" answers Gygabite to Luthor's suggestion "Not that I am against it, if he hits half as hard here as he does in his hocus pocus mind we'll be toast... but I can try something else..."
The cyborg removes his helmet and shows a big smile as he turns to the mainframe "V.I.C., I'll send you something, see if you can help me" he says as his connection kickstarts and his hands start drumming an imaginary keyboard.
** spoiler omitted **
•Check what assets does the Combat Training Room
The combat training room uses a supply of non-ferrous combat training drones in a variety of configurations to simulate a variety of threats. These, combined with a variety of energy emitters, allow the room to simulate the powers of different threats. All of that can be overlaid with holograms to create the appearance of different terrains and opponents. There are a library of encounters and training routines with AI sufficient to make each encounter different. The room does lack any sort of telepathic ability, but the drones used are also immune to mental effects.
•Override the control of said room without desactivating it
Normal use of the room, provided your JL security clearance, would require no checks at all. Seamlessly overriding the current operator requires a Computer Check
•Send some holoenemies, Brainiac's bots would suffice.
Easily done, pulling existing enemies from a library of options.
•Program a routine that would send the original Justice League's team sans MM to our target and help him fight said holoenemies before start asking for help. If he is hostile towards them they would start disengage tactics and go into hiding before waiting ten minutes and restaring the routine. If not hostile they will try to talk with him before retreating to fight an 'unknown foe' and restart the routine after ten minutes.
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Kara responds to Unhuman, her mouth still, keeping a wry smile unnaturally fixed as words pour, unstopably, into heads.
'Hmmmmm. You must not be up on current events, so I'll fill you in. We just got butt-stomped back on Earth when we opened with a "talk to us about your feelings" approach. He doesn't seem like he wants a hug and a mocha latte. He wants to terraform and destroy things, starting with our faces.'
As William steps it up against Gigabyte, Imagine responds in kind. 'Ummmmm, no. That's not how it works here. I mean, are you...threatening me?'
The sardonic smile stays on her face as, at an unheard signal, ten WHM-6R WarHammer assault rifles are trained on Unhuman by ten armored suits.
Eleven forms, ten rifles, and two beautiful eyes rise up to William's level, leveling the playing field. 'No. -YOU- said YOU were going to try and talk to him. So SHUT THE F#~* UP and GET IN THERE! -We-, the smart ones, are going to STAY out here and, after he turns you into a QUIVERING RED PASTE, then the SMART PEOPLE will let the robots AVENGE your stupid, POINTLESS DEATH!'
Or are you only brave when you are telling -other- people to go do the hard stuff?'
Unhuman's mouth starts to gape, before his cheeks flush red with anger and his teeth gnash. "How dare you! I wouldn't have any of you be part of a plan that I myself wouldn't do. You want me to go in there? Fine, then I'll go in there. Gigabyte... I think I saw a glimpse of your plan. Don't send in Superman."
He twists his head, as his entire body starts to morph and change. His limited suit expands while changing into a familiar blue hue, and his skin obtains a rosy pink tone as black hair grows from his head. In mere moments, he's the perfect image of man of steel. "I'm going in his place. Join me when you're ready- Or don't."
With his piece said, after sending a sharp glare at Imagine's men to step aside, he flies down the corridor in search of the training room.
Unhuman, Wait! I'll go in with you. Invisibly. As an aside to Ms. Luthor, he adds It might be wise to monitor his hostility levels and warn us if we're in immediate danger. With that, Dr. Fate fades from view and follows Unhuman into the training room.
Unhuman enters The Kitchen, and soon 'Superman' is flying accross the alien world. He feels the mental connection with Dr. Fate, and knows him to be closeby.
Within a few seconds he hears the holographic phantasms of the old league members spring into being, and he leads them all off toward what appeared to be fighting off in the distance.
"J'ohn!" He calls out, as he races in to pummel a braniac-bot from behind. He noticed that it crumpled a lot more easily then even Imagine's boost could provide, likely Gigabyte trying to cover up the weakness of his disguise. It's not immediately apparent if he's playing the roll of a hollographic phantasm, or as the real son of krypton himself.
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His job done, with only monitoring and being prepared to reinforce as his new tasks, Gigabyte took a rock and sit on it.
As he kept an eye on the room, Kyle turned to Kara and grinnee "So, Imagine, what's in this for you?"
The cyborg let the question sink a bit before continuing "If there's a name asociated with having anything you desire in the world, it's Luthor... so why risk your cute face? Why not stay back and enjoy a life full of riches and luxury?"