Jackie Kyles appraises the group. You guys look photogenic. He said. Let's get you to the backdrop. You guys mind posing? The Phantom wouldn't pose. He just stood there, ya know.
He didn't need to pose. The lanky man said. He's the Phantom. His mere presence was enough.
Both Jackie and the woman roll their eyes.
Enough fanboy-ing, The woman said. Ready?
The photoshoot was quick, though it probably felt longer than it was. The trio were perfectionist. Afterwards, the three took each one of the group, one at a time. The interviews consisted of questions such as;
What's your motivation for superheroics?
What do you think can be done about the situation in Eden?
How do you feel about being part of a legacy such as the Masquerade?
Who are your superhero influences?
Why do you smell like catfood?
With each interview finished, you're allowed to go back into the base with the others.
'This is so weird...' She thought to herself, as she made a small show of pretending to be intimidating during the photos. Whenever she opened her mouth to look like she was roaring at some unseen enemy, however, there was an odd itch in the back of her mind. As if there was a way for her to be truly frightening. But nothing seemed to actually come, which left her curious and worried.
But other things soon came up to distract her, in the form of interviews. She fumbled for a moment, unsure of what to do as the questions came out in a flood. How would she be able to answer any of these? 'Wait, she thought, 'Maybe I could... like the deaf, yeah! I've only seen a few videos though, would it even be enough...?' Steeling herself, she proceed to answer the questions to the best of her ability, hoping at least one of these people understood sign-language.
"I want to be accepted, to show that even if I am a monster to those that look at me, that in my heart I a hero. I will uphold the legacy of this group, and I will try my best in making this city a safe place." She decides to end it there, having not enough vocabulary nor courage to continue beyond just this, but hopefully, it'll be enough. Enough to establish that she's not just some beast, but a thinking person who wants to save others.
With that, she spends a moment watching the others with their own interviews, before making her way towards the headquarters.
Felix didn't have a problem with cameras. He was a bit nervous if only for the fact that his parents might see this and decide he might need one of their "special" training sessions for review. He might be out of commission for weeks if that happened.
"Sorry, what was the question?" he asked, returning his focus to the task at hand.
Oh, motivations huh? Well, its more of a way to make sure bad things don't happen. I rather like the idea of being able to live a normal life. And while I might not be able to, I think everyone should if they want to."
"As for Eden, not sure really. My usual method is getting rid of the dangerous elements, but not sure if that'll work."
"I've done some reading, research and the like. I have a lot to live up to if half the stuff I've read is true."
"Influences huh...Hmm, well I don't have any fancy powers per se, so I admire the guys who can get stuff done through hard work. Though, even with fancy powers some people have a lot to deal with. I guess the X-men are the most known. I've got a lot of respect for them."
"My name? Just call me Felix. That's good enough."
The Darkstorm smiles and jumps strait into the questions, with far more enthusiasm than a college student taking an exam.
The names Darkstorm
My motivation? Well that is simple, to be a hero. What else could there be? I mean sure the attention is a bit nice, as long as I don't get followed around all the time like Stark.
Eden's situation is difficult,but with the New Mascade it should be safe once more.
The Mascarade is an amazing organization I am proud to be part of. While we may not all be in suits like the Phantom, we all are contributing to make Eden safe again.
uhh what? I mean I guess supermsn cause if the flying, maybe more martian mamhuntrt and the vision. But I'm really just me. Not copying anyone or trying to live up to anything.
What's your motivation for superheroics?
"Restitution. I've harmed many people in the past. While I had good intentions, in the end I did more harm than good. Since my brain surgery I truly fell the pain I've caused and it haunts me. It drives me to do good."
What do you think can be done about the situation in Eden?
"Well, one thing that's the same as the old me is that I like a challenge. Eden has problems, but I'm going to put my mind to helping to solve it. The difference is that now I'm working with a team. With all of us working, I think we can definitely make a big difference and turn things around."
How do you feel about being part of a legacy such as the Masquerade?
"I have to laugh at the way things turned out. The Phantom was one of my first nemeses, and now we work together. Who would have predicted this? "
Who are your superhero influences?
"While I've had some successes as a villain, I also ended up being taken down many times. At the time I studied all of them as foes. Now they've become my role models."
"Err, well some of those are a bit tricky." Thoughform answers, having created his opaque old man image for the photoshoot which he continued to maintain for the interview. "You could say I'm something of a lost soul... I don't remember much about myself, but I know this is my city, and I'm going to do what I can to protect it. I feel honored to be a part of the masquerade, and uhh... well that's about it really. I'm still catching up on recent events, so you'd have to be more specific about whatever situation you're talking about. Phantom is helping me sort everything out, so I'm following his lead."
During the commentary, you see officer Lindsey touch her earpiece, nodding, Right away. She says before she turns to the group. Sorry to cut this short, but we've got a serious issue in the works. Bank robbery, but with some serious firepower on the wrong side. Phantom's on his way there. You guys should be, too.
"Oh? Well, see you guys there then." Thoughtform says, fading from sight as he lets his illusion dissipate, and turns his attention to locking onto the phantom instead. With a few moments focus he pinpoints the hero and... shifts to appear invisibly beside him.
Felix grabs the nearest person, in this case, Atsuko.
"I don't fancy having to hoof it there, so if you wouldn't mind not leaving me..."
He has a smile, but you can tell he seriously concerned about being left behind.
Next time, I need to track down a movement artifact...
'A-ah what, a robbery? But where-' She attempts to ask to the best of her ability using sign language, just where they're even supposed to go. She has no way to tell if the officer can understand or not, but it doesn't hurt to try. Otherwise, she just hopes that someone else thinks to ask.
Darkstorm infuses himself with bio-energy, enhancing his strength. He grabs Felix andtakes off to the bank.
Come on guys!
--while enroute to the bank--
"As much as I appreciate the gesture Darkstorm, I'd prefer to do walking trick with Atsuko than being hoisted around by my armpits several thousand feet in the air.
I could put you down if you want but this tends to be faster.
There was a clicking sound, and Atsuko's voice came over her communicator. "I've never actually carried anyone else through it, and I'm not sure I can..." she pointed out. "So if you want to risk bad things happening to your body, that's on you." Fortunately, Darkstorm had taken care of that for her, and none of them needed to find out what would happen if she tried to carry someone too heavy along with her...
Aside from that, however, she simply took a few steps through the area, fully intending to see what was going on at the bank in question.
Felix sighs and looks down at the city.
"C'mon, you know how it is. It's not really cool to be carried around all the time. Can't really strike fear into the heart of evil if I need a piggyback ride to the fight. Ah well, I'll have a solution in a couple weeks or so..."
"Well, I can fly us all there. Technically, it's still grabbing you, but telekinetically."
However you get there, once you arrive on the line, it's a scene. Police officers bunkered against their cars, pistols aimed into the bank. The Phantom leaning against a squad car, hand held against his side, lurching as if he was wounded.
Once you're within their vicinity, a lieutenant walks up to you, eyeing you all. Glad you're here. He said. The Phantom's been wounded, and they've got hostages. What are we going to do?
"Hey Phantom!"
Felix hurries up to the Phantom. Seeing the usually imposing man look injured caused his a bit of alarm.
"You alright? What are we up against?"
She rubs her hands together, nervous about this difficult situation, and waits for potential instruction from someone more socially inclined. She's not exactly very stealthy, being a big scary monster, but it could be possible her sudden appearance would draw gunfire at her instead of the hostages... She considers the various scenarios in her head, wondering as to what her finaly roll will be here.
I'm going in to servey the scene Darkstorm says fading from sight.
He flys into the building, hidden from the human eye. He looks at the scene on the inside.
Atsuko winced slightly as she saw the experienced figure wounded by whatever had gone on... although it seemed far from fatal. Heroes were hard to kill, and harder to keep killed. "Let me know once we've found the target." she said quietly. "I have a few things that might work."
The Phantom's gaze rolls over to the group. Bankrobbers, common thugs. He states, his voice notably more gruff. That's what I thought going in. They've got snipers, and they knew I was going to be here. They got me through the abdomen, just missing my stomach. He coughed. I'm on enough stims right now to drop a bull, but I'm not going to be of much help for you on this mission. He stretches his back from his diminished stature. I think it might be a trap. The Cardinal is trying to thin the herd.
You see the obvious, at first. Almost a dozen armed men playing sentry to three times that many hostages.
Then your eyes rise, you see one man, armed with a high-tech sniper rifle.
Then you notice, it's pointed to the team.
Everyone down! Darkstorm hisses quietly into the team Bluetooth like comunicators. Sniper!
He will fly over the sniper, hanging ten feet above him. Thoughtform. I need you. If I attack I could endanger the hostages. The sniper is the guy directly beneath me. You are the only one of us who can stop him without alerting the other thugs.
"Everyone get to cover!"
"Ah, yes," he says knowingly. Seeing as he can protect himself against bullets, he also flies up to draw sniper fire - though away from Darkstorm.
"I expect that calling for your surrender would be pointless, but I do so anyway."
'Wha- What‽' She turns away from the phantom, her face twisting into a frightening snarl. Or more, a frightened one that also happens to be pretty scary as well. There's not much of a difference with her. She actually starts paying attention to her all-around vision, hoping to see this sniper through the windows.
Atsuko focused on her powers and shifted well to the side, pausing for just a moment as Darkstorm noted the need to protect the hostages. Indeed, that was their priority. "I can attack some of them if need be." she murmured into their communicators. "I don't think they'll be able to tell where it's coming from. Or I could try to whip some blocks between the hostages and the thugs..." Either would do, really - what was important was helping the people, and working as a team. She had exactly zero intention of going off on her own without so much as communicating a plan.
As they team bunkers down, the Phantom looks down on them. You hear him chuckle again.
You got a plan? He asked, sliding his back down the van and slumping his head. I'd hate to have called for backup only to see you all skewered by some sniper, after all.
Felix's hand shoots up to activate his comm.
"Darkstorm and Thoughtform, we need that sniper gone. Atsuko, if you could defend the hostages that'd be great."
Felix remembers the war simulations he played with his mother. Every unit he lost was 10 laps around the island. The first match he lost over 60. That had been a very long week.
"Masumi and Apocalypse? I think you guys are going to be our front liners here. I'll support at range."
He pauses for a moment.
"I mean, uh, my suggestions at least."
The buzzing sound of a commlink rings through where her ear should've been, and she finds herself surprised. She had placed it there before she activated the initializer, not expecting it to even work. But it seems it could. Still didn't let her talk back to them, but at least she could understand the plans laid out to her. And so far, they seemed sound.
Sharpened teeth on display, she moves forward and prepares to roar and draw the sniper's fire if given some sort of signal. Hopefully the man will think to take out the big scary one first, and as painful as getting shot though the face was the first time, she'd prefer that over someone else getting hit.
"That works." he sends to the team. "I'll move in once Masumi covers the hostages."
Now! Darkstorm bosses into the mic.
Darkstorm appears right above the sniper, a glowing ball of bio-energy in his hands. He launches it at the sniper.
As Darkstorm got started, Atsuko focused on the darkness near the hostages - and dozens of tendrils burst out of it, grabbing every object they could and hauling them together to create a barricade between the hostages and things like stray gunfire. It was probably going to frighten them, but she really didn't have the time to spare to do anything about that - and their safety came first. That was what heroes did, after all.
As the wall goes up he pops out in front of everybody. "Listen up, you foolish humans. You aren't going to get out out of here. Surrender now!"
Ravager rushes forward, screaming mostly in terror as she endangers herself rushing straight towards the gunmen. Hopefully combined with Apocalypse's deceleration, they might be intimidated into surrender. 'This is insane! Why did I agree to do this‽ We're going to get killed!' She chants mentally as she runs forward.
Oh s!&@ they're going along with it.
Felix keeps an eye out and a knife ready in case someone appears in range. Non-lethal shots are what he prefers, though a large threat may not give him a choice.
"We need eyes! Thoughtform, Darkstorm, can either of you get me a head count and a threat assessment?
The Black Phantom nods, mostly to himself. What? No order for me? He said to Felix, his tone of voice suggesting even he knew he was in no condition to fight here, and he was simply joking.
The sniper is thrown from his perch and onto the ground. You hear a deep thud, even from here.
However, you see him get up, stiff, and aim at The Darkstorm.
Finally see him, you notice something.
White mask. Red targeting eye. This wasn't any simple sniper.
The gunmen raise their weapons and prepare to fire, obviously shocked at the development.
She starts to hesitate, wondering if she's really up for this...
"S@@%!" Felix openly swears as he sees the sniper take aim at Darkstorm.
The sniper is mine!
One of the advantages of being off to the side was that people were probably paying far less attention to her than anyone else. (The lack of a uniform might've helped, too. Sometimes, the easiest way of hiding was to be in plain sight... although given her abilities, she probably had no right to make that comparison...)
Instead, she focused on having her tendrils make the best opening for the hostages to escape that she could. She had no doubts about her ability to contribute to a fight, but protecting innocent people came first, and she could trust the others to do their part while she did hers.
The hostages, onces protected by the tendrils, leaps back in initial shock, but then realize that it's giving them the opportunity they need. They run along the path Atsuko cut for them, towards her and out of the line of fire. Amidst the chaos, none of them were hit, but two of the robbers trace the tendrils to their origin and open fire.
The bullets rain in on Masumi, each one looking for a vulnerable spot.
The Sniper takes The Darkstorm in his sights once again, lining up a shot from his rifles and letting it loose.
Darkstorm recoils from the shot, the bullet running through his shoulder. He fades from view, flying behind the sniper.
Felix will "give" one of his luck points to Masumi so she can reroll a roll she doesn't like.
Felix will then see if he can distract the sniper to give Darkstorm time to recoup.
The first bullet misses her by a mile, exploding a potted fern near the front of the bank. The second bounces off her hide and into the ceiling, but it's the last one that manages to nick her in the chest. The wound however closes up quicker then it has time to really inhibit her movement as she continues her terrified jaunt.
'AHHHH WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?!'
When she's within fifteen feet, she reaches out with a claw to swipe across across a gunman's face.