“I can convert fire to holy light. Theo… maybe I should trade those useless shock weapons for a flame or plasma weapon.”
"Yeah. They seemed only mildly effective against those demons. I may not be an 'angel', I'm better: a half-god. I'll hold the line til you guys come back. Be careful." Theo smiles at the Bombshell.
"Keep an eye on that 'Patriot' guy and his team, too," Charles says. "I think I'll stay here and see if I can do anything to help get ready. I'm not good with the public relations angle of things, since..."
He waves all four arms.
"Best to use the wands, not the portal back near the Tower," commands Alt-Greer, "Even if that portal is still open, it's too close to the Tower to make a run at it. You'd have a trail of demons following you through."
As for Tarantula, she leaves her with this: “I did a review for Desert Hearts in my favorite high school class. I’ll bet ya prefer Aliens, but when things settle down, head down the the video store and check it out.”
"Okay ... I loved Aliens," says Tarantula. "She strikes a pose with her heavy artillery and says, 'I need to know one thing; where they are.'."
When Nissa uses Doc Z's Wand, the white light of The Shuffle opens before you. Anyone stepping through will get transported, along with Nissa and Doc Z, to the location Nissa has selected.
“Oh, Vasquez… she died so the others could live. Only to get killed off in Alien 3. And no I didn’t ruin the movie for you because there isn’t anything you can do to make Alien 3 worse. Avoid Robocop 3 while you’re at it.”
As she waves the wand, Nissa pints to herself and says, “This alien’s gonna be in downtown Boston.” (To check on Patriot as Charles suggested.)
"....I feel like this might be a movie I should see Nissa. Loan it to me later. also.. robocop? Is that a documentary?" .......also are you an alien?
As they prep to leave, Zellgato prepares as well to go with them. Prior to leaving he takes a moment to gather a few supplies "Take care, those deamons are poison strong. You two-actually all of you- take a dose of this."
When Nissa, Zellgato, Doc Z and anyone else who makes the trip steps through the portal created by the wand to the area in front of the church, they find it swarming with police, firefighters, soldiers, and the tactical personnel assigned to support TAROT. There don't seem to be any demons around now, but Rosewood's flowershop is smoking. The witch is standing out front, her arms crossed. The firefighter comforting her may or may not be charmed, but he is being very supportive. Down the block, The First Responders are standing on the bed of a truck and answering questions. It's too far away to hear them claiming all the credit for saving the day. News drones are no longer respecting any rule that kept them out of the perimeter. They haven't spotted the heroes yet.
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Alt-Greer asks, "So, Theo and, uh, Charles, ... what are you going to do until your friends get back? You need a shower? Rest? Meet the rest of the whack jobs at TAROT HQ? I see Kai is pretty busy. I guess she, I mean, he, ... um ... Well, I guess Kai is your MacGyver? I don't suppose they're still making that in your future. You want to watch some McGyver? We have a half-dozen VCRs and a huge library of VHS tapes for downtime!"
"urgh. I hate the news of this world. Zellgato simply states as he tries to duck out and find the guy he left his jacket with, and the downed drone.
Alt-Greer asks, "So, Theo and, uh, Charles, ... what are you going to do until your friends get back? You need a shower? Rest? Meet the rest of the whack jobs at TAROT HQ? I see Kai is pretty busy. I guess she, I mean, he, ... um ... Well, I guess Kai is your MacGyver? I don't suppose they're still making that in your future. You want to watch some McGyver? We have a half-dozen VCRs and a huge library of VHS tapes for downtime!"
"I'm a little thirsty. What do you have to drink?"
Nissa whispers to Zellgato, “Trying to avoid cameras? They have a way of noticing me… I’ll hitch a ride in your backpack.”
With that, she becomes a fairy—and momentarily subatomic if that’s what it takes to slip inside. From within the backpack, her fairy form glows but the light should not be so powerful as to shine through.
She says to Zellgato from within, “Please lead the way for Doc… and let me know when it’s safe for me to come out.”
Charles thinks for a bit.
"Honestly I'm not going to be able to relax while this is going on. Is there any way I could look over some records about Void? Maybe with a fresh perspective and another world's experience I'll be able to spot something we're missing."
Alt-Greer asks, "So, Theo and, uh, Charles, ... what are you going to do until your friends get back? You need a shower? Rest? Meet the rest of the whack jobs at TAROT HQ? I see Kai is pretty busy. I guess she, I mean, he, ... um ... Well, I guess Kai is your MacGyver? I don't suppose they're still making that in your future. You want to watch some McGyver? We have a half-dozen VCRs and a huge library of VHS tapes for downtime!""I'm a little thirsty. What do you have to drink?"
Greer looks in the closest fridge. They're command center is in a Best Buy, so there are a lot of fridges. This one looks no different from the others, but apparently is being used. "Hey, alright, we've got New Coke, which is crap, Caffeine-free Diet Pepsi, crap, RC Cola, which is okay, I guess, and Coke Classic."
Greer takes out a can of Coke Classic without waiting for Theo to answer and hands it to him.
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Doc Z suddenly finds himself surrounded with camera drones. A few of them project holographic talking heads of famous newsstreamers. All of them shout questions, "Mr. Zellgato, why are you wearing a mask. ... Where did TAROT go? ... Did you fight any demons today, Mr. Zellgato."
Doc Z draws his wand and prepares to blast the closest one out of the sky.
Charles thinks for a bit.
"Honestly I'm not going to be able to relax while this is going on. Is there any way I could look over some records about Void? Maybe with a fresh perspective and another world's experience I'll be able to spot something we're missing."
Tarantula sets up a VCR and brings out a box of tapes. "Have at it!" she says, assuming Charles will understand how this ancient technology works. She has pushed the first tape in for you.
On the tapes, Charles will find scenes of previous fights they have had with demons. There is one where they were fighting a vrock, like the one today. Just as it was on its last legs, it summoned another. They retreated. The two vrocks started quarreling over the dead and soon were doing enough damage to each other than they returned to finish the job.
There's another tape showing the time Greer drove a jeep full of explosives right into the base of the Tower. There's no entrance at that level, only wall. The Tower has windows, but the lowest is 30 feet off the ground. Greer did leap out of the vehicle, but it was hardly 'action-movie star style' like Tarantula had said. Nice explosion though.
They seem to have a lot of hit and run battles with the demons, luring them into following closer to the perimeter of 'the radius' where they have back-up waiting. Getting demons away from the tower and blasting them seems to be there preference.
There's one tape that has a little yellow sticker on it. Something was once written on the sticker, but it's now been redacted with very tiny black writing that reads ...
Alt-Greer takes out a can of Coke Classic without waiting for Theo to answer and hands it to him.
Theo drinks about half of it. "Ahhh. Thank you. Now can you talk me through the defenses of the store? Anything I can help shore up, granted I'm no Kai, but I have basic carpentry skills. Or anything else I can help with right now."
Alt-Greer takes out a can of Coke Classic without waiting for Theo to answer and hands it to him.Theo drinks about half of it. "Ahhh. Thank you. Now can you talk me through the defenses of the store? Anything I can help shore up, granted I'm no Kai, but I have basic carpentry skills. Or anything else I can help with right now."
[dice=Diplomacy]1d20 + 15
"Unless the Tower moves or the radius shifts, we're safe. We're about 500 feet beyond the radius and it usually doesn't move that quickly. Don't suppose you can share some advanced futuristic weaponry with us?" asks Greer.
"It's not mine to share, but I think you can borrow them. I just need them back in working order." Theo takes out the Pulse Gauntlet and Static Truncheon and explains how they work.
I don't see Nissa minding if they are returned to her. Besides, she know they were used to help protect others, right? The godling succeeding in his moral acrobatics check.
"I'll leave that to the actual geniuses like Kia. Me.." Theo holds up the angelic holy sword, "I wanna kill some fu<king demons with this sword!!"
Shifting on his heels as he notices Doc Z going offensive, with a sigh, "So not paranoid. Agressive. Nissa."
Zellgato reaches out to Doc Z to lower his weapon. "As much as I'd want to do that, we're on a time table. Ignore them and lets go." Zellgato attemtps to wad through the drones with the good doctor in tow. Aiming again to find their transport with his jacket and the drone.
Charles is... not exactly unimpressed with the videos (once he figures out how to play them), but disappointed they don't show more. Until he gets to the last one.
He stares at the note for a little while, then looks for Tarantula. "So... what's the story with this tape?" he asks.
Charles is... not exactly unimpressed with the videos (once he figures out how to play them), but disappointed they don't show more. Until he gets to the last one.
He stares at the note for a little while, then looks for Tarantula. "So... what's the story with this tape?" he asks.
"Ah," says Tarantula. "Someone took a Sony Handycam inside of the Tower during one of the raids. It got weird quickly. People started screaming, clawing at themselves, at each other, talking to people who weren't there. The started attacking each other. One guy seemed to think his ex-wife was attacking him. He shot his best friend in the head. Others were yelling about demons. ... You can watch it. Some people just have a bad reaction to it. Best not to watch it too many times."
Other people in passing have called Tarantula 'Mary,' but she reminds 'loose lips sink ships' and 'remember our codenames'.
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Shifting on his heels as he notices Doc Z going offensive, with a sigh, "So not paranoid. Agressive. Nissa."Zellgato reaches out to Doc Z to lower his weapon. "As much as I'd want to do that, we're on a time table. Ignore them and lets go." Zellgato attemtps to wad through the drones with the good doctor in tow. Aiming again to find their transport with his jacket and the drone.
Doc Z joins Zellgato is trying to slip out of the crowd and away from the camera drones.
He's not as stealthy as Nissa and Zellgato, but you manage to slip away.
Within an hour SuperHeroNews is running clips of Doc Z and Zellgato side-by-side and speculating about whether one is an android, an apprentice, an alter from another dimension, or a future self. The most popular theory is on an android future version of Zellgato sent back in time to save us from demons.
"I'll leave that to the actual geniuses like Kia. Me.." Theo holds up the angelic holy sword, "I wanna kill some fu<king demons with this sword!!"
"We don't head into the Radius for batting practice," says Greer, "You'll have to wait until tomorrow to kill demons."
"Maybe you don't need the caffeine after all. Next time we'll make in that caffeine-free diet pepsi. We don't head into the Radius for batting practice," he adds.
Nissa flies back out of the backpack and flutters along, once it’s safe.
“Welcome to my world,” she says to Doc Z. “Y’know, it’s funny that my world doesn’t have its own Zellgato… but it could be that he’s from our 1980s.
“Oh! Which means your world must have my doppelgänger’s ancestors, not that I’d have the slightest idea who they are. I’m adopted.”
Now that Nissa’s traveled both fourth and fifth dimensionally—and not in a comic book this time (she thinks)—the fact that it can be done isn’t so terrifying. She even has a thought that puts her mind at ease… but timetable. Right.
She stops herself from chattering on and calls up her gf/boss.
“L.C., my robot broke again but it wasn’t my fault. A giant demon did it, then he flew away. I have not one, but two Zellgatos as my witness. Mind if we head into the flight deck?”
"Umm ... so, the giant hole in the sky is closed. Can I come out of the Flight Deck? Scarlett says not until the rest of you are back, but I think she just likes to be in charge," says L.C. in an exhausted by weary voice. "You left a power-hungry psychic in charge, Nissa!"
"Come on back to HQ," says L.C. "I don't know if Security will be able to handle complaints from two Zellgatos though? Does he know they're unionized? He can't just yell at them about protocol randomly ... anyhow, come on back."
“But remember it’s been opening nightly at 1 a.m. So I think you’re not safe until we implode the tower on Alternate Earth. And let’s include Scarlett in the meeting… we met the TAROT leader. Kai is with him fixing Big Red and helping to build a device, and Charles and Theo are there too.”
Nissa is talking as she walks.
She hesitates for a moment. “Greer’s the leader, L.C.
“Sorry… there isn’t a good way to say that. He’s not our Greer, but even before I saw his face, his voice and the way he commanded his team reminded me of him. I didn’t see any versions of us.”
Charles's ears droop a little at the description, but he clenches his jaw in determination. "As unpleasant as that sounds, it's probably the best chance for any missing clues. I guess come unplug this thing if I start screaming or something."
He puts the tape in and hits play.
The video starts just outside of the tower. A group of humans is climbing a fire truck ladder through a window and into the tower. Well, they are mostly human. A couple of them look different. One is bigger than human's get. The other has they eyes of a cat and claws.
They are 8 of them plus the one holding the camera. The one with the camera enters through the dark opening last. The room inside is large and dark and damp and looks like it is made of stone. The lights they carried in with them do little to enlighten the room. The darkness seems supernatural.
The first sign that something is wrong is when one of them looks at the darkness in front of her and says, "Ma, what are you doing here?" a couple seconds later she starts firing her weapon. All hell breaks loose soon. The humans don't seem to be shooting at each other, so much as at other things in the room, but they take each other down with their crossfire. Most of them are wounded before the demons enter the room. A half-dozen demons, each unique, descend on those survivors who were only wounded by friendly fire.
The camera man does not move throughout this. Perfectly still. He doesn't even move when the last human dies and a demon strides up to him. The demon lifts a spiked tail in the eye and threatens the cameraman with it. He does not move. The spike lashes out past the camera and, when it reappears, it is covered in blood and viscera. he demon catches the camera.
No humans left.
"The demons flew the camera out to us. Dropped into our hands. They wanted us to watch," explains Tarantula. "We know how to get in. Just, no one has ever made it back out before."
“But remember it’s been opening nightly at 1 a.m. So I think you’re not safe until we implode the tower on Alternate Earth. And let’s include Scarlett in the meeting… we met the TAROT leader. Kai is with him fixing Big Red and helping to build a device, and Charles and Theo are there too.”
Nissa is talking as she walks.
She hesitates for a moment. “Greer’s the leader, L.C.
“Sorry… there isn’t a good way to say that. He’s not our Greer, but even before I saw his face, his voice and the way he commanded his team reminded me of him. I didn’t see any versions of us.”
"You're going to have to explain this to me very slowly," says L.C. "So, what are you doing back? What do you need?
Theo, with nothing better to do, was watching over Charles's shoulder.
"A$$holes." The godling thought aloud.
Kai watches the tape as well, having taken a break from tinkering while the assistants finish up soldering the less delicate parts of the imploding device. A hand goes to the band around Kai's forehead, rubbing the side of it.
"I am very curious if B.I.N.A.H., or something like it, can be used to protect from the demons' mental influence. It would have to be heavily adapted though, since they seem to experience very realistic hallucinations, rather than emotions. Besides, it's not my design - we might need my friend to help us, but I don't want to put her in danger."
Kai watches the tape as well, having taken a break from tinkering while the assistants finish up soldering the less delicate parts of the imploding device. A hand goes to the band around Kai's forehead, rubbing the side of it.
"I am very curious if B.I.N.A.H., or something like it, can be used to protect from the demons' mental influence. It would have to be heavily adapted though, since they seem to experience very realistic hallucinations, rather than emotions. Besides, it's not my design - we might need my friend to help us, but I don't want to put her in danger."
It is rare for a problem to actually give Kai a headache, but this one does, and rather quickly. Maybe Kai can come back to the reverse engineering of B.I.N.A.H. another day.
The two Zellgatos and Nissa cannot avoid hearing the cheers from the crowd for something Plantwoman is saying at the First Responders press conference, happening now, just a little up the street.
Nissa knows she could outshine Plantwoman… but now, while she’s got the crowd’s support, is not the time for that game.
She replies to L.C., “I need to cash in the gear I got from Eleu. Y’know how I can turn fire into holy light? Well, I need fire or plasma weapons to do that. If there’s a way you can enhance my ability, that would help.”
She assumes at least one Zellgato would agree it’s best to head straight back to HQ.
This Zellgato would agree with exiting the scene. Disliking the media of this world. Dragging his past alternate double with him. "Can confirm my weapons were pretty ineffectual. Biologies don't match what I know. " adding on as they exit the area "May want to have someone monitoring the interviews down here. I'm guessing there's going to be an impact of their pretty words."
Nissa says, “I’m sure of it. But if I try to win the crowd back while they’re ready to eat outta her palm, I’ll appear the petty one.
“I’m good at manipulation… but it would take celebrity status I don’t have to march on camera, contradict her and still have any credibility. Better to hear her whole speech and know what her message is, and make sure it’s evident the truth is on my side.
“The Atlanteans were dolts, but Flora actually knows how my game works.” Nissa hasn’t forgotten the murders. She doesn’t believe the twins are truly redeemed or even interested in redemption. But to her surprise, she respects Flora. “Clever girl.”
She winces at her word choice. She does not respect the film Jurassic Park.
In the book, he had a bazooka instead of famous last words.
"Converting fire to holy light?" asks L.C. "That sounds more like magic then science. I really don't know who to ask about how to do that. Unless the Atlanteans could help with that. Apparently, Pah has been watching Hawks News from his hotel and wants to know if you needed any support."
"Seems almost like a magic problem more than a tech problem, but we don't have a lot of experience with that," Charles complains.
He crosses all four arms and looks over to Theo. "I'd say we should ask some of the other worlds, but look how well that went for us."
“Oh! Poor Pah! Yeah… lemme get him first!” Nissa does just that. (She also wants the 399 gold slips, but that can wait. In fact it should—none of that gold is hers to spend.)
As soon as she meets Pah, she’ll apologize for his less-than-warm reception, thank him for his support and give him the details!
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As Nissa breaks off for Pah, Zellgato will simply do what he knows any Apocolyse world denziens would want...... and takes Doc Z to the cafeteria for a lot of food, drinks and the l ike
"While we're on a time table-the Wands need to charge, or the portal opens tomorrow night. In the mean time. Eat. Also consider thinking about supplies, or useful things. We may not have access but it can't hurt to look into."
Pausing as he takes a treat. "I would suggest taking the time to relax for a moment from your world. But last time I did that a pirate prince killed a coworker, mind controlled kidnapped another one, and then Theo had to rituatlly fight him to the death or risk invasion en mass. So. Don't relax too much."
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Pausing as he takes a treat. "I would suggest taking the time to relax for a moment from your world. But last time I did that a pirate prince killed a coworker, mind controlled kidnapped another one, and then Theo had to rituatlly fight him to the death or risk invasion en mass. So. Don't relax too much."
"Pirate prince, eh? That does sound tough," he says taking another sip of his Cawfee. "This stuff is terrible. How did this world manage to avoid getting attacked by demons but still f@%# up coffee?"
The cafeteria is still serving mushroom-based 'Cawfee' instead of real coffee. I think one of the heroes bought an espresso machine, a grinder, and real beans, but they're downstairs in the detention area TAROT has given to you to use as bedrooms.
“Oh! Poor Pah! Yeah… lemme get him first!” Nissa does just that. (She also wants the 399 gold slips, but that can wait. In fact it should—none of that gold is hers to spend.)
As soon as she meets Pah, she’ll apologize for his less-than-warm reception, thank him for his support and give him the details!
Pah is delighted to see Nissa, "Have you seen the news? I'm all over it. I had no idea that one of my kind had visited your world before, but this 'Fish-Guy' they are mistaking me for could have been my great-grandfather he resembles me so much. And, they seem so fond of him. Clearly he was a true hero." Pah rewinds the VR on the viewscreen in his hotel room and plays the SuperHeroNews 'Heroes in History Moment' about Fish-Guy again. He doesn't sound at all sorry when he says, "I'm sorry if my appearance in Boston has caused any trouble. I do hope that no one expects me to fight any crime. What is it you do need?"
“Oh, Pah… you have nothing to be sorry about. I wanted to be a good hostess, but the damn demons. They’re on another world now—World 16—and I wanna help them. They’ve got people like me who are getting killed. I wasn’t given these powers so I could fluff this sorta thing off as not my problem. My powers are a blessing.
“I turn fire into holy light.” Knowing how that could come off, she adds, “I don’t mean like I’m the Chosen One or anything. The celestials are handing out superpowers like candy on World 16. I think those of us who get the powers are meant to band together.
“But having powers doesn’t make me or any other super ‘better’ than those without. I’m still weak in a lotta ways… and not so sure I’m strong enough to take on the demons. There is one way I can do better.
“With help…”
She takes out her gun. She holds her left hand against the barrel and pulls the trigger.
She sits down, crosses one leg over the other, and shoots herself in the thigh and the kneecap.
“This doesn’t hurt me at all. My sun goddess gifted me with this resistance. I imagine the blazes of hell do the same for the demons.
“If I were to convert the fire to holy light, the shots would hurt me a little and hurt the demons more. But even then, it’s a mix of holy light and harmless fire.” She gives Pah a look that pretty much says, here’s-where-you-fit-in. “Surely there’s a kind of magi-tech that might enhance my conversion, so that all of the fire becomes light?”
Nissa will not demonstrate this power here, since she will not use her goddess’ power to harm herself. She would gladly take Pah to the lab, and maybe he and L.C. can put their heads together…?
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"Pirate prince, eh? That does sound tough," he says taking another sip of his Cawfee. "This stuff is terrible. How did this world manage to avoid getting attacked by demons but still f##& up coffee?"
The cafeteria is still serving mushroom-based 'Cawfee' instead of real coffee. I think one of the heroes bought an espresso machine, a grinder, and real beans, but they're downstairs in the detention area TAROT has given to you to use as bedrooms.
"I'm not sure I've ever had real coffee. That was a hot commodity where I'm from. Not much for a grunt... I think my captain probably had some.... I've taken to hot cocoa here."
“Oh, Pah… you have nothing to be sorry about. I wanted to be a good hostess, but the damn demons. They’re on another world now—World 16—and I wanna help them. They’ve got people like me who are getting killed. I wasn’t given these powers so I could fluff this sorta thing off as not my problem. My powers are a blessing.
“I turn fire into holy light.” Knowing how that could come off, she adds, “I don’t mean like I’m the Chosen One or anything. The celestials are handing out superpowers like candy on World 16. I think those of us who get the powers are meant to band together.
“But having powers doesn’t make me or any other super ‘better’ than those without. I’m still weak in a lotta ways… and not so sure I’m strong enough to take on the demons. There is one way I can do better.
“With help…”
She takes out her gun. She holds her left hand against the barrel and pulls the trigger.
[/ooc]She sits down, crosses one leg over the other, and shoots herself in the thigh and the kneecap.
“This doesn’t hurt me at all. My sun goddess gifted me with this resistance. I imagine the blazes of hell do the same for the demons.
“If I were to convert the fire to holy light, the shots would hurt me a little and hurt the demons more. But even then, it’s a mix of holy light and harmless fire.” She gives Pah a look that pretty much says, here’s-where-you-fit-in. “Surely there’s a kind of magi-tech that might enhance my conversion, so that all of the fire becomes light?”
Nissa will not demonstrate this power here, since she will not use her goddess’ power to harm herself. She would gladly take Pah to the lab, and maybe he and L.C. can put their heads together…?
"Oh, my," says Pah when Nissa shoots herself. He doesn't seem entirely surprised by it though and recovers quickly. "I'm sure the Atlantean Heritage Science and Technology Institute has exactly what you need. Quite sure, actually. I attended a lecture where they demonstrated something quite like that ... It's so unfortunate that we can't ask them for help but, well, I mean, you know you are probably their least favorite person in the TAROTverse. What a shame."
"I'm not sure I've ever had real coffee. That was a hot commodity where I'm from. Not much for a grunt... I think my captain probably had some.... I've taken to hot cocoa here.""Pirate prince, eh? That does sound tough," he says taking another sip of his Cawfee. "This stuff is terrible. How did this world manage to avoid getting attacked by demons but still f##& up coffee?"
The cafeteria is still serving mushroom-based 'Cawfee' instead of real coffee. I think one of the heroes bought an espresso machine, a grinder, and real beans, but they're downstairs in the detention area TAROT has given to you to use as bedrooms.
"You should stock up when we go back," says Doc Z, "Perks of the job, right?"