Solmira smiles a little smile. "Don't doubt yourself, Ricardo. We believe in you." She sends a little message back to Quentin. I will try.
Solmira starts to focus on threading all of them together. Drawing back her mind from Quentin's without letting go, she starts to reach out to Tox and Sorrel, her mind stretching to try and link them all through herself.
Try as she might, without having accustomed herself to her new abilities, she's stretched too thin. Desperation and defeat tickle at the edges of Tox and Sorrels' minds, and positively flood Quentin's, as she desperately tries to grasp out for a connection without quite being able to get the hold she needs.
"I can go first. It would be easier for me, I think." Sorrel twists his arms in the restraints and rolls his shoulders, cracking his neck in the process. "Can someone with gloves help me with this stupid mask... Somehow I doubt this voice modulator is going to help me here."
Anyone working with the team can spend Team one for one to help a teammate; give them +1 to their roll.
Anyone on the team can spend a Team out of the pool to give a teammate +1 on a move, after the roll. To do this, the spender has to be able to actually help—if you’re in a completely different place from your teammate, then you can’t spend Team to help, unless it makes sense in the fiction (a telepathic connection, maybe).
Multiple teammates can spend Team from the pool to help on the same roll—even low rolls can be turned into hits when the whole group pitches in and there’s enough Team in the pool. But each teammate can only spend one Team out of the pool for any single roll, and they still have to be able to actually help in the fiction.
Mentally, Sorrel pulls the intrusive sense of Solmira inward. The mud clears, and the centaur's surface thoughts are available. The first is: Is this part of the interrogation?
"My powers are still unstable. You can ask Dr. Coolridge. Between that, the hormones, and the frog juice," Sorrel smooths back his matted hair. "I'm honestly not sure what I'm capable of anymore."
"After the incident with Solmira this afternoon, Roy, Lucy, and I left to see if we could convince an empowered engineer to join their team. Roy had mentioned him before the incident, and we met up to take the subway there. When we got there, a whole bunch of bystanders--a few with guns--surrounded us. A more mature leader would have been coordinated. I should have talked to Turnabout, or the Guardian Mirror, but, after that incident with Solmira, I just had to go somewhere, get out, yeah? Con yo, this is bad..." Sorrel licks his lips.
"Anyway, I tried to wrap them up in vines- regular, smooth vines. They just... came out more aggressive than I intended. Like the wall this morning. I just try to do something simple, and it comes out... wrong. I called for backup, I tried to follow directions, then I saw it."
"I have another eye growing in." He holds open the lid, and the eye rolls erratically. "I don't really know what it does yet, but through it, everything seemed so clear, and so right. I saw the gangers, Slam, Hyla, Chryonova, like we were all strung together, and at the end of the strings--close enough he could have been watching from a window--I could feel something strong."
Sorel takes a deep breath. His eyes search back and forth through the air, looking for anything he missed.
Mentally, Sorrel pulls the intrusive sense of Solmira inward. The mud clears, and the centaur's surface thoughts are available. The first is: Is this part of the interrogation?
With Sorrel's draw, a tentative connection is formed to his mind. She would respond, but she's still struggling to connect to Tox, dangling dangerously from the precipice of their minds. She didn't want to know what the backlash would be if she faltered here.
Michael nods quietly, not trusting himself to speak at the moment.
By the time they arrive at the lobby, prolonged exposure to Maximus' aura means Michael takes in the scene, but waits for the adult hero before doing anything.
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I blanch as Michael walks in with Maximus. His aura interacting with Sorrel's guilty frame of mind will end in disaster. With the stronger connection, I can finally "speak" to Solmira and Sorrel. I hope she connects in to Tox soon, we need to all be looped in.
Solmira, I need you to do whatever you can to keep Maximus out of the room with Sorrel. His powers don't work on you, but I'll be compelled to do whatever he asks. It'll be a struggle to even make another suggestion. If you can get Tox wired in, I might have an idea, but he'll need to trust us and I don't know if he'll know to do that without hearing our thoughts and feeling all these feelings because I really feel connected to you and to Sorrel in such a deep way like you know how you can just know someone through talking to them but do you really know them no of course you don't because you aren't in their heads but I am in your heads and it's like I don't know which feelings are mine or Sorrel's or yours and like if everyone on earth felt this way maybe no one would be unkind to anyone ever again, because everyone is a person living their own lives having their own struggles and the things you do effect someone else and if you felt that, like really felt that, like if everyone felt that...uhhh...woah, that got away from me. Uh...just keep Maximus away from Sorrel ok bye, baseball baseball baseball baseball baseball, hey now, you're an all star, get your game on, go play...
I mentally trail off, trying not to let my thoughts go kablooey again as I move to intercept Maximus and Turnabout. I won't be able to stop him but maybe I can stall him...
Feeling Solmira's connection slipping, I mentally reach out and stretch my mental thread closer to hers, giving her the boost she needs to make the connection.
An unfamiliar, feminine-affected voice responds: It's okay, Quentin. You're doing great. I really do appreciate all that you do... I usually go with "I'll make a man out of you" from Mulan. Guy Fieri's music is before my time.
Thanks...Sorrel? We'll all get through this. I just need to loop into Tox. I have a plan but I hope we can get him on board.
Tox notices his teammates have gone unnaturally quiet, but he's in such a weird headspace that he doesn't mind. He's actually kinda relieved that they're occupied, which pushed off the hammer falling with him and his "on-the-side-vigilantism."
With the push from Quentin, Solmira manages to grasp onto Tox's mind, and stabilise the link...and subsequently, finds herself drained.
...I was right to doubt that I- The sending cuts short as she realises she was letting slip her private thoughts, though try as she might, she can't clamp down on the feelings of inadequacy.
She just hopes Quentin and Sorrel weren't attentive enough to notice these feelings were just buried under everything else before.
...pathetic. Of course I couldn't manage this...for all I sought when I came here, I have attained so little...and soon I'll return with nought to show.
She has to focus. Just...pretend they don't notice. Act, like before. Maintain the identity.
There we go. Try not to act strange, Tox.
Now to answer your first thought, Ricardo...no, this is not part of the interrogation, if this is not already apparent. Quentin said we would be there with you in spirit, and with this, we shall be present in mind as well.
And all of you - KEEP. TALKING. I am aware it is difficult for your primitive minds to adjust, but if you keep behaving like this, they shall realise this is occurring if they have not done so already.
As Solmira reverts to her old behaviour, it's easily apparent from the link both how hollow the display is, and how little she wants that known.
And as for Maximus... A wave of revulsion rides across the surface of the tide of emotions. Other feelings crop up with it, similar to the response from when she was informed about Harbinger and his actions. I suspect he shall want to see me quite soon in any case, due to my business before I arrived here. If Quentin's idea with Tox will delay my meeting with...HIM...then that would be appreciated.
Outside the headspace, she starts to glare at Quentin, narrowing her eyes and letting her words out in a growl as she acts affronted at being ignored. "Quentin..."
Just refuse me, so I may drop this facade of trying to press you. You have more than enough reason to deny me with those two right there.
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Talking talking words wait...uh, so man that was super scary what happened today I was pretty freaked out
Tox, it'd be a disaster if Maximus went into the room with Sorrel. The aura would make him go crazy. I think we can distract him, but I need you to trust me. I think we should talk to him about your...new friends. He's very interested in them, and he might be more interested in learning about them then about Sorrel. Solmira won't let anything happen to you, she's immune to his powers.
On that note...Solmira, I need you to be the point person in steering Maximus. It's a struggle to even contradict him, let alone suggest he do something different. That...that might mean he turns his attention on you. Can you let us know what his beef with you is, so that we can better help you. Oh my god I can't believe three out of my five teammates are in trouble with the grownups are Michael and I the only ones who aren't total scr-oh hey I'm still wired in man it's hard to keep things in check I'm super glad to be on this team
For a moment, Solmira is speechless. The glare intensifies, and you can feel that this one is very, very real.
Then, she stops gaping, and buries her face in her palm. "Useless...absolutely- yes, it appears you were, if THIS is all you can muster now." She takes her hand a little away from her face, and the glare swaps for a look of simple disbelief. "Have it your way, Quentin. I don't know if this is idiocy, or the worst attempt at misdirection I have ever borne witness to, but right now, I care not to find out." With a sigh, her arm falls, and she stands by Sorrel. "That...whatever it was, aside...exactly how much assistance do you need, Ricardo? Is it that important to have a gloved assistant to remove that mask?"
Well. That happened.
Michael and I were in the park, earlier. While we were there, a super unleashed a blizzard upon a house in the area, allegedly motivated by knowledge that the resident was responsible a number of injuries and at least one fatality, likely more, for which they were not held acccountable. I am currently attempting to find out more on that situation. The reason why I would have his attention is that I was responsible for subduing said super, and we both managed to exit the site before Maximus arrived on the scene. I now need an explanation for him as to why the individual I was left to subdue is not currently in police care.
That is as much as I can currently say. Events may be ambiguous, but given Maximus's capabilities and attitude, you ought to know why I am reluctant to give a more clear version of events at this moment, just as a precaution. There's a sense of protectiveness and a severe rise in guilt behind that statement.
Quentin, if you can get Michael away from Maximus, I need to know what he has told him, in full detail. I would link him with us, but...I don't believe I can, currently. Similarly, I need a plausible explanation for Maximus that will not be torn apart in short order. This will help if I end up being questioned.
Otherwise, I will work with Tox to keep him occupied. Quentin, if you can remain out of his range of effect, I can relay back what is happening at our location to you so that you may help direct our interactions and provide general support.
Are there any questions or issues that come to mind?
Yeah, I don't think I've ever seen that much blood I think I'm getting the hang of things now though. I'm just a little shellshocked.
SORRY Solmira, not all of us know how to carry on psychic conversations. I didn't even know you knew how until right now. I'm not sure how to get Michael away from Maximus without getting Maximus' attention and without you drawing Maximus' attention. As for your explanation...could the super have gotten away? Maybe she was playing possum and sucker punched you when you were alone?
Solmira's mind recoils and draws in to itself reflexively, and you can feel her becoming more distant. I've...I've had time to learn the nuances of telepathic interaction...how to operate under the effects of a telepathic link...just...just not from this end. It's...it's something I've had to do a long, long time. Whatever Quentin has called up, it's not let out to any part of her mind she's allowed you access to.
...that doesn't concern you. Back on point. If Tox and I are to distract Maximus anyway, then you ought to have an opening while we are operating. Your explanation is reasonable, but without knowing what Michael has said, it's possible our stories may conflict.
...hold on. She? Do you have any idea who the individual I encountered was, Quentin? With her now holding things back, there's no signal as to whether or not she wants to know more or you to know less.
I cringe a little at Solmira's forceful thoughts and guardedness. I'm glad I didn't each much at dinner because...woof...barf city.
I don't, but I'm getting...I don't know, impressions? Metadata? Extra information around your words. The super has a...female vibe in your thoughts. I don't mind peeling Michael away while you and Tox talk to Maximus, but there's a risk that he'll want to grill you right then and there. I don't think so though...he's really hype about this vigilante thing Tox has going. Tox, will you talk to Maximus about the other group?
His account of events matches up with Cryonova's report, though his observations may indicate Harbinger. Omni says
I thought we weren't gonna use that name. Quickman says
Only in public, we mustn't start a panic, that will only give him further opportunity Omni says You say your powers are unstable? that would seem the case, there is no notation of any Thinker powers, only a Shaker 4, We will have to update
Okay. For what it's worth, Sorrel, I believe you. But you still killed two people, and injured half a dozen more. That do you think should happen, when the disciplinary council reviews your case?
Quentin. Maximus says, by way of greeting. I heard you were at the scene of the diaster, over on cheapside. We should talk later. He says
the DFS lady, on the other hand, freaks out a little, whispering to Michael Is he okay.... he's covered in blood? What disaster on cheapside?
How will you two distract Maximus?
Gestalt and Slipstream come into the lobby. I heard dad was here Slipstream starts. Does anyone know whe- OhMyGod Tox are you okay? Lucy finishes, rushing over to Tox, stopping just short of touchig his costume, remebering that his blood is toxic.
One copy of Annette stands beside Lucy, but another walks over to Solmira Don't suppose you know what the hell is going on. Today's been kinda insane. she says Between you and me, I think the adults are being tight-lipped because we've got one of the chosen inbound, or something, and they don't want people to panic before they can organize an evacuation.
Solmira sighs and shakes her head as Quentin keeps talking.
Of course you're getting that. Yet more to learn...at least I will be aware in future.
"Gloves keep the oil from your skin. It's like a drug... Gives you visions, like peote..." ~Never effected me before.~ Sorrel sends a few half-remembered chemical drawings. ~Thank you. It's not half as bad as it seems. Not for you... Nothing but spectacles for the two of us, yeah? Let's see if we can win another day of starlight...~ Aside from the jarring juxtaposition of the deep voice modulator and what is apparently Sorrel's inner monologue, the centaur seems resigned to a steep punishment. His thoughts touch on Tox while he's explaining his own dangerous fluids. The words Flora and Fauna pop up, stylized like the title of a comic book, but are quickly swept away.
~Killed!?~ Sorrel's blood chills. ~Permanent Containment. Lobotomy. Execution.~
"I-" Sorrel's voice cracks as his throat constricts into a knot. His knees wobble, and he swallows desperately. "P-protocol for an empowered criminal involved- involved in..."
Over the telepathic connection, Sorrel is whispering to himself, heedless of how it's spilling out into his teammates. ~You didn't do it on purpose. It was an accident. This is why you can't go out unsupervised. You couldn't have known what would happen. This is because you keep clinging to the past. This is because you fight it at every step. This didn't happen before. This never happened in training. Why can't you just accept it?~
Sorrel chokes back tears to continue. "That's not what you mean... I... might know why my powers are out of control. I'll-" Sorrel swallows again. "I'll follow through with Dr. Coolidge's recommendations. I'll stop the injections... I won't leave campus without Turnabout, and only on business... Just... I want to be a hero. Nothing else is as important." His voice says he had more to say, but he stops. Over the telepathic link, Sorrel's voice halts.
"Hey, Quentin" Michael offers a wave. " You ok? How's....things?" Best not to draw Maximus' attention to anyone until I know what happened...
He tries to reassure the woman, making it seem like this is no big deal. "I'm not sure what happened, but he doesn't look badly hurt - and if something had gone badly wrong, Maximus wouldn't have had time for the escort. It'll probably be on the news later, though. "
Tox nods along, knowing it makes sense even if it makes him want to be the smallest he can make himself.
Okay, sounds like a plan. I'll follow your lead, but I'm not going to rat on these guys. I'll detail, but I can't just give them everything."
Solmira, I have no idea how you're doing this, but I trust you.
Alright, lets go.
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Solmira gives Annette a flat look. "I'm hardly interested in speculating on their reasoning. At the moment, my main focus is-" Solmira chokes mid-sentence as Sorrel's distress comes flooding in. "...addressing the unbridled chaos that likes to make itself known whilst I am speaking. Excuse me." Looking thoroughly unimpressed, Solmira walks away and makes a point of looking like she's on comms, saying mundane things in her native tongue in case someone attempts to eavesdrop on her act. Internally though, she's freaking out, and even with her guarded distance signs of it make it out to the others.
Why are those two not responding to this?! Are they making no effort at all?! Solmira's mind becomes a little more withdrawn. ...why are they doing nothing? If they do not, then... A feeling of apprehension manages to trickle out. I have to.
Solmira starts to send to Sorrel specifically. She was probably going to end up sending things she'd rather keep to herself in this exchange.
Ricardo...if they even consider doing you ill, then regardless of who they are I will ensure they regret it.
You were manipulated. Events were controlled to provoke your reaction, and ensure it had the outcome desired. And if it had not been you, it would be all too easy to do the same to another. Your issues would not have enabled the event. Likely, they just provided a convenient means to avoid suspicion whilst achieving their goals.
You are not responsible for what happened to the people caught up in this plot. You cannot reasonably be blamed for the events that occurred. You will not be treated as something to be contained, as one that deserves to be punished, as an individual that cannot be trusted.
You are none of those things, and have never been in the time I have known you. That is not something that will change.
A slight sense of affection pervades the words, woven into them rather than being found in the feelings that indicate her emotional state, as if it came from somewhere deeper in her mind.
She stops the fake comm chatter, and walks up to Tox. "It appears that I am not the only one with business with that insufferable man. We may as well get this out of the way." She glances to Lucy as she stares at the blood covering Tox, and there's a slight, deliberate pause before her head turns to look at her. "He was providing first aid at an incident site, if he has not already told you. I'm sure he can tell you later once he is done with...Maximus. She crams as much disdain as possible into his name as she says it.
With me, Tox. It is time we provided our proper distraction.
Be ready to handle Michael, Quentin.
With a little mental nudge to Tox, Solmira starts walking out to meet Maximus, making sure Tox is not far behind as she does.
I'm having a hard time keeping so many conversations going in my head at once, so push everything but Solmira and Tox out. I'll need full concentration for this.
I subtly slow my walking so that Solmira arrives at Maximus before I do. I know he's very interested in Tox, so hopefully he's too excited about Tox to care that I'm pulling Turnabout away.
As soon as Solmira and Tox are standing in front of Maximus I gesture to Michael to join me.
The frothing fear emanating from Sorrel subsides, but the guilt remains. ~I guess I can't count on being unique in everything. It's possible anyone convenient would have served in my place to paint such a terrible scene. Still, I can't just hope it won't happen again. I have to do something, even just to atone for my part, large or small.~
Listen, Sorrel, you seem a good enough kid to me. you aren't the guy who brought a gun to school and hurt a bunch of people, you're the guy who was getting high in the woods, and started a forest fire. In my view, there is a difference. Gregory says.
Of course, the others might not agree. you would do well to prove you're a hero in the next few days. If the council so decides, you might well be tried as an adult for assault with a superhuman ability, and murder in the second degree. work with your team, speak with Dr. Coolridge, do something to sway at least two more members of the disciplinary review council that you don't deserve to be prosecuted. Omni adds
Tell Quentin to come in on your way out. thank you for talking to us, Sorrel.
Ah, Solmira He says, with the tone of affability badly affected, like he doesn't really know how to sound polite. were you able to aprehend the villain? he asks, before he spots Tox
And Tox, is it? I hope Quentin has explained the situation to you. report on Gryhalcons desk by tomorrow afternoon. he doesn't even pretend to be affable here.
So much nastiness the past few weeks. The Chicago refugees, that boys suicide, and now this. what is this world coming to.
Turnabout Kendra calls out from nearby, closing the distance quickly. are you okay? were you at cheapside? is your team going to be able to stay together? she says, looking genuinely worried. a new cut goes down her cheek toward her collarbone. what do you do?
"Actually sir, I need to brief you on a personal project I've been working on."
Maybe if I spin this, the hammer will fall a little lighter on the team. he sends to Solmira.
"I've been in communication with a group of vigilantes in the area. I don't know much about them, but I've worked with them once and they seem to work well. Perhaps I could scout them?"
Take the bait little fish...
I quicken my pace, trying to get to Michael before Kendra does. Trying my hardest to gesture to him without Maximus noticing.
"Yes sir... thank you, sir."
Sorrel's legs are still unsteady as he exits the private room. He looks up from the floor to seek out Quentin, and spots Maximus with Solmira and Tox. ~They're done with me. They want to talk to Quentin next. What do I do?~
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Even better! Sorrel, you get Turnabout away from everyone, tell him what's going on and find out what he told Maximus. I'll get this sorted. You did great.
I enter the conference room and sit down in front of dad and Omni.
Before either of them can speak, I count out three names on my fingers.
Timothy Wrey, Ellen Yuntz, Caleb Wrey. The three people that Omnirangutan killed when Spaceman Caveman used his devolver revolver and turned him into a beast. It was tragic, it was horrible, it wasn't even investigated. Spaceman Caveman is in Microprison for those murders. That was the right decision then, it's the right decision now. A disciplinary committee is wrong. You know it's wrong. Harbinger killed those gangbangers. He's going to kill more before he's done and this is exactly the distraction that he wants.
We done here?
Sorrel gives Maximus a wide berth as he makes his way through to Turnabout. He nods to Kendra, "Archangel. Turnabout. Sorry to interrupt, but I need to talk to 'oh captain my captain' here, yeah? I just got out of the Inquisition, and I need to make some arrangements." He sees Kendra's cut and flinches. "I hope that wasn't one of my vines..."
With Maximus distracted, and Sorrel approaching, Michael steers the woman over towards Kendra. "I'm fine, I wasn't at cheapside, and I don't know. Can you take [this woman] and help find her a room? She was attacked, and I think we should keep her here and safe for a couple of days. I need to talk to Ricardo - I'll catch up with you later."
He turns to Sorrel, and starts walking away from the crowd in general, and Maximus specifically. "Hey. Sorry I couldn't get there. Are you ok? What happened?"
You almost certainly need to just to make him listen. He is far from the finest of examples for this planet.
Solmira's eyes narrow as she looks at Maximus. How anyone could hold find any real value in him, she didn't know. As it was, she dreaded to think what she'd find if ever she even scraped the surface of his mind.
...though I suppose that won't be a concern for much longer.
As Tox pulls Maximus's attention, she scrutinises him. She had no desire to associate with him...but she still needed to comprehend him. With all that was currently happening, insight on the perpetual source of turmoil would help curb the issue he presented.