...And I don't have to tell you, Jessica that The Vulva has a nasty stank which is easy to track.
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Jessica is momentarily taken aback by the unexpected boon of responses to her question. She elects to take them one at a time, starting with Ice Storm.
"I tell ya' Jessica," he belts from his diaphragm. "These low lifes, like the anal CIST, Tender, the blueish Balls, the Headdress, the Vulva, and the Mealy merchandise."
He points a finger at the camera in a posed manner. "You better run like the disease infested vermin you are. The city is under our protection. You stand no chance."
"I see," Jessica replies, the epitome of professionalism.
Dash pushes himself in front of the camera. "That's right. Just like Moolah Loans can get you out of a rough financial situation, we'll get you out of this rough villain situation. After we're through with them, they'll wish the Crusaders were here instead. And that's a Dash Gunnar personal guarantee!" he proclaims, letting his eyes glow with the disruption beams surgically installed by Spectacle advertisements.
He pushes another business card into the reporter's hand and mutters, "You want an interview; any time, any place. I'm your man, lady."
The Cardinal moves forward, approaching the reporters. "Thank you, Ms. Anderson, that will be all for now. No further statements at the moment, but we'll be happy to hold a press conference after we've dealt with the current nuisances pestering our city." His body language suggests that she move on, and he mimics Ice Storm's dismissive attitude of the Crushers in his last statement.
Jessica seems oblivious to his efforts to dismiss her. "And you are?" she asks, thrusting the microphone into Cardinal's face.
Ice Storm continues to rant over Cardinal's attempt to squelch his tirade. "We are going to rain down pain on your pansy hides." His hands and fingers imitate a rainfall. "There is no shelter from the oncoming Storm."
"We do have a few leads Jessica. For instance, we can track down Anal Cyst through close relatives. We just have to go into any truck stop restroom in America and we can find his mom's number under the phrase 'For a good time call'!"
Dash is undaunted by Ice Storm commandeering the microphone and mugs in the background, firing air guns and giving side profile thumbs ups that make sure to show off his shiny jetpack. Occasionally he chimes in with a, "You tell 'em, Ice!" and "Dash Gunnar and the new Crusaders gonna introduce those losers to a whole world of paaaaaain!"
Jessica seems unimpressed by Ice Storm's bravado, and completely ignores Dash. She turns to Dialkar.
"What's your story? Are you here to campaign for rights for non-humans? What is your immigration status?"
"What about you?" she says, looking to Firelash. "What do you call yourself?" What are your powers?"
She goes back to Cardinal. "Are you the spokesperson for these 'New Crusaders'? Is your intent to bring the Crushers to justice? Are you working with Lt. Broyko?"
The headquarters of the Crusaders is called the Crusader Citadel, situated on the top four floors of the Harmon Building at the corner of Lake and Center streets in downtown Center City. It is heavily guarded by advanced automatic defensive systems and contains the launch platform for the Crusader's mini-shuttle as well as the TEACHER computer system, a near-sentient computer of ultra-advanced design.
The arch-foes of the Crusaders are the Crushers, a loose confederation of many individual villains who have cause to hate the Crusaders for one reason or another. Thus, their membership is constantly changing and expanding.
Given the timing of the news team, and the end of the call with Teacher, Ice had half expected the news crew to transform into ambush. He saw Jessica basically ignore him. Truth be told, It hurt a little, but he did what he meant to. Trash talk can be effective sometimes.
As she goes off to interview the Cardinal. He gestures to Dash. He eases out of the crowd and towards the main entrance. Hey man, you can fly right? the question as rhetorical, but he wanted Dash engaged.
He steps outside and looks up the skyscraper. Teacher is supposed to be a sentient computer. It should have responded with some sort of reply. Add in the fact that the Crusaders are incommunicado. And we have attacks all over the city? I don't buy this is all a coincidence. Lets have a look up there.
Dialkar looks strangely (the only look he has) at the microphone thrust at him, and wonders what an 'immigration status' is...
Dash grins broadly. Heck yeah I can fly. Scoping the place out sounds good. Something is wrong for sure if they're not coming out to greet Dash Gunnar
Orion shakes his head.
"entity designated creator did not install soundless relay and receiver systems."
I'm Firelash. I have some control over fire and I can fly. That's about it, ma'am.
The young man deliberately left out some of his abilities just in case the bad guys are getting the news feed also....
I think I can disintegrate the doors to get in Dash tells Ice Storm
Ice thinks about what Dash suggests. The fact was that national security took precedent over privacy rights. A boatload of cutting edge technology was stolen for who knows what. And the Citadel silence was enough to justify, at least, computer hacking. Had he been alone, He might go in a take a peek, although the defense systems give him pause.
You must maintain cover
Without any obvious signs of stress, I don't see how we could justify breaking in. A hunch ain't enough
The strange half-humanoid-looking fellow responded quietly to the one discussing tactics, "I am somewhat tough. More than a normal person but seemingly much less than the rest here. "
Zane has been standing in the back, quiet for the moment. He has stayed away from the camera and only approaches the group when it is off and the crew is leaving.
He is dressed in a finely crafted business suit, more of a wall street banker look than a super hero.
I am Zane, if I can be of service let me know. I have certain powers as well. I am handy in a fight and have the power to fly through walls...if warranted. I agree, we can't just go rumaging through the Crusaders stuff if they are just out of town.
It is a pleasure to meet you all.
He looks to Dialkar, Do you understand us? Do this for yes and this for no. gesturing for yes and no.
Perhaps we should go somehwere and check out our potential adversaries and their powers from the various news articles about them on the internet?
My house isn't too far from here, though my car won't hold everyone.
Dialkar makes a shrugging gesture...but nods...confirming...some...understanding...of the words, at least...
Well whatever we do we should get started Dash says Crusaders being missing seems like a bigger problem but taking out the bad guys will get us more TV time and Dash is all about the TV time.
Thank you, Ms. Anderson, but as I stated, we are not really prepared to issue a statement at this time. his tone and body language lightens up for a moment. But since your reputation is getting to the heart of any story, I will make one unprepared statement. If the Crusaders are indeed missing, as you implied earlier, it will be up to someone else to stop these blackguards from threatening our city. We have come here today to prove we have what it takes to become Crusaders in our own right, and in that spirit, we will do what it takes to put an end the villainy of the Crushers. As to my name, I am Cardinal. Will that suffice, Ms. Anderson?
Taking out the bad guys and saving the city will get you a reality show my man. Still outside, Ice starts rummaging through the trash can. He grabs a pizza box lid, He starts to write on it with a Sharpy he carries.
Look man, we need to convince the police to work with us. He says to Dash while still writing.They gotta be sick of dealing with the super villians, and they have all the clues to find them.
Done both talking and writing, Ice slams the message against the glass door. The sound is loud enough for the interviewees to hear.
It Reads:
GOING TO PD
MEET U THERE
He drops the cardboard lid. He goes to a nearby bush and pulls a heavily customized dirt bike. He stradles the black bike and starts it with his signiture jump on the starter. The engine is silent thanks to a customized muffler and a noise canceling technology that uses soundwaves.
He races towards the steps only to bypass them with a teleport, bike and all.
Dialkar shakes his head as he's seen the humans do so often, and looks at Cardinal...then the other...applicants...before striding for the door outside. He stops at the door and watches...
Flurry heads over to the building's door as well.
How can I get TEACHER's attention, I wonder?
He knocks heavily on the door a couple of times, then looks around for a fingerprint, hand, or eye scanner somewhere so he can identify himself. If nothing else can be found, he places his hand on the door for a moment to see if it helps.
Figuring that he's done enough PR work for the day Dash strides outside and fires up his jetpack to follow along with Ice swooping high then low, basically showboating.
I think we'll have a much better chance of defeating them if we don't announce our capabilities to them, so there will be no discussion of that at this time. Necessity makes me believe we can defeat them. I do possess some knowledge of the Crushers, and without Mocker at the lead, they're relying on Marionette to pull their strings and she's nowhere near his tactical level. As to our loose cannons they just might surprise us all when the time comes to step up.
Flurry avoids the reporter as best he can, turning to face away from her towards the lobby camera. He smiles, lifts up his chin to show his neck, and squeezes lightly at the front of it to show he can't talk.
He nods his head back towards the reporter and gives a look of urgency, hoping the computer will have figured out that the reporters need to be cleared (if it can do anything about it).
Seeing Flurrys troubled look Jason approaches the reporters. "I think our friend here can't speak and it looks like he doesn't want to even if he could."
Dialkar clicks his mandibles a few times.
Tver looks around, lost in thought. These are the ones who will stop the villains?
Hey Cardinal, I'm fine with you taking the lead on this.....I'm a little...new at this thing...you know. Any rough idea to start?
Zane has been standing in the back, quiet for the moment. He has stayed away from the camera and only approaches the group when it is off and the crew is leaving.
He is dressed in a finely crafted business suit, more of a wall street banker look than a super hero.
I am Zane, if I can be of service let me know. I have certain powers as well. I am handy in a fight and have the power to fly through walls...if warranted. I agree, we can't just go rumaging through the Crusaders stuff if they are just out of town.
It is a pleasure to meet you all.He looks to Dialkar, Do you understand us? Do this for yes and this for no. gesturing for yes and no.
Perhaps we should go somehwere and check out our potential adversaries and their powers from the various news articles about them on the internet?
My house isn't too far from here, though my car won't hold everyone.
I think Zane has the right idea Firelash, we should regroup somewhere away from the public eye and attempt to formulate a strategy. How about it, people, are we going to stop the Crushers? If so, my opinion is that we need to figure out who we are and figure out what they can do, and form a plan to stop them, including figuring out exactly what it is they're up to.
As to my taking the lead, I'm not sure we should be letting a presumptive reporter make that determination for us. I just didn't figure we'd give the reporter- and therefore the Crushers- any more clue as to just how completely disorganized we are at this point. I'm not saying I won't lead, just that I'm not going to without the approval of this group.
I am in...if the rest of you are?
My SUV is around the corner. Those who can fly can follow us there...or you can come to 1000 Kheldon drive if you prefer to use a GPS?
Flurry regroups with the others gives Zane a thumbs up when he suggests they all go to his place. He can't fly, so he starts to head towards the parking lot.
"I'm in, better than running everywhere and hanging around doesn't seem to be very productive."
Dialkar follows the group...not entirely sure what the deal is, but figuring it's best to learn as you go...
You follow Zane to a Suburban. It fits 7 fairly comfortably. He drives you to a suburb of town then turns on a small side road.
He chats with you amiably, telling you about how he has been secluded in his studies until recently.
You come to a gated entrance but only see some manicured woods beyond.
You follow a packed gravel road until it opens up to what appears to be some Manor grounds. A large Manor is ahead and Zane drives around to the back and pulls into a large garage going underneath the manor. He waits for the others to fly in before closing it.
We should have penty of privacy here, my family prizes its privacy, not many have been here before. Follow me.
He leads you into a lower basement with a well stocked, large wine cellar. He pulls on a bottle of wine and a panel flips open. He places his and on it then keys in some kind of code into another keypad before the wall slides open revealing a larger chamber beyond.
It appears to be some kind of laboratory with a number of books, a small server farm, and some tables where all sorts of things are laying on and one large central table that is clear. There are a number of odd drawings on the floor as well.
We will be safe from prying eyes here. Feel free to grab a tablet and look at anything from the internet. Sit.
He points to a very large table that looks like it might have been carved from a Redwood from the sized and color. Drawings (Runes) lie across the top of it. Zane sits down.
Dialkar looks at everything...slowly scanning, taking it in...but unsure of what it all means.
Dialkar looks at everything...slowly scanning, taking it in...but unsure of what it all means.
Looking at Dialkar, At some point my insect friend we will have to figure out a way to talk with you. Until then you will have to make sure you let us know if you understand and agree with what we are saying.
Does that sound reasonable? There must be a spell that can help with that...so lets see what we know about the "Crushers".
I'm in....I don't want to be the guy who said "Gee, I could have done something!" Any ideas?
I'm in....I don't want to be the guy who said "Gee, I could have done something!" Any ideas?
Lets see what powers they have and then discuss what we want to do about them. We can wait for them to strike next and try to catch them, try to get them to meet us, or try to find where they are hiding...might be pretty difficult.
I will have Dennis make up some sandwiches while we are discussing.
He goes over to an intercom system then talks to a man about sandwiches.
Dialkar watches Zane as he speaks...then nods...a very brief nod...and continues to watch.
Tver walks into the cellar, grabs a tablet and sits down.
"My, how far technology has come since now." he says of the ancient (to him) device. He fiddles with the device, quickly finding his way to Google.
"Hah, it always amuses me to see Google before they took over."
Flurry walks up to a tablet and after a little bit pulls up a text program.
He keys in: Hi. I'm known as Flurry.
I'm very fast and good at getting
through defenses. I can also take a hit like a champ.
It would be best for me to fight a heavy, slow enemy or to charge one that attacks from a range on the ground.
It takes him a while to type as he's not really good with technology. He holds up the tablet facing the others so they can see it.
After reading Flurrys message he turns to him. "With me I can make anyone slow our very fast for that matter. I think we might work well together."
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Temper's identity and powers are unknown, but he seems to be able to instill berserk rage in his opponents. Victims of this control later feel emotionally drained.
Shiela Brewster, the Shrew, is known to be deceased. She was a female boxer who was known to be a drug addict. She reportedly died in the aftermath of a battle with the Crusaders when she contracted rabies from a group of rats that were under control of fellow Crusher, the Ratmaster. He lost control when he was rendered unconscious and Brewster contracted rabies when the rats turned on her.
Arknight and Tenro: Are you guys still in?