"That is a bit more simple. Either they got paid for it in some way. Or, killing is an easy answer to a lot of issues; the more you kill the easier it becomes. The easier it becomes, the easier it is to use as a solution. Whether the killing bothers you inside or not, it solves things quite well."
He does note what had happened with Flora and Fauna. "I wonder what happened... did they go from directed to undirected attacks...?" he murmurs, as he looks up their father.
L.C. scans the file, "Z's right. Their first arrest they invaded a poultry factory and ... oh, they did the same thing in Boston! ... they altered the DNA of the chickens turning them into tiny dinosaurs. When arrested, they claimed that the DNA of those chickens had already been heavily altered and that the chicken farm was cruel and inhumane. They got support from the Eco Justice League Fan Club for what was basically a publicity stunt."
She flashes pictures of the twins at 17 being arrested and another of a rally of supporters outside a courthouse.
L.C. skips down, "Their fourth arrest happened at a protest about a housing development that was going to replace a small patch of pristine wilderness. Flora altered the vegetation to attack the lumber-bots and Fauna enlarged some endangered tree voles. One trampled a man. They were charged with murder, but it was reduced to manslaughter in plea bargain."
L.C. flashes some pictures of a tranquilized elephant sized tree vole surrounded by Norwegian police.
”Turned into…? So they can alter something already born… I guess that’s what was done to Charles, wasn’t it? I mean, you weren’t modified in utero, obviously. I mean, what they did sounds just like your nemesis’ abilities. What else do we know about where they came from, ma’am? Hometown, stuff like that?”
Shakes his head, ”Sorry, I’m slow catching up - these are all things you’ve already said. We need to find this man.”
Charles are too intent on their search for videos of Dr. Johansen to pay attention to the others.
"It is actually easier to alter genetics. Long term stability is a bit harder though. Plenty of examples where we're from-and we have lesser tech on the whole. Zellgato responds to Henri as Charles ignores him.
"I don't think the pathology of their growth into dissassociated sociopaths with a penchant for shutting down vitals is functionally useful though. They're not in hiding, unless Nissa wants fuel for a PR blitz, or for some future speech about their goodness to try and break them."
"We have a lot on the plate right now, between this, TAROT, and the potential for a smaller cross-dimensional cooperation treaty. Some of these are far more time sensative than others, and some are personal in nature." Zellgato's eyes linger on Nissa and Charles, the veratible protagnists in whatever the opposition seems to be writing. Smirking a little at what he see's as Theo's main involvement-tail and maybe some competition with patriot.
"How about I meet with Doc Z, and the others on The Farm"-As zellgato has started to call the temporary base in his home dimension "I can start that proccess. We should mock up a treaty of some sort and develop an organization that will help all three worlds in crisis level conflicts...Admitidly this world gets thet short end of that deal. You-thankfully-seem to be running light on world ending crisis unlike my world and Doc's." Zellgato offers to take some work off their plate while they set things up. "Gristlethorn seems pretty happy here, he could be a liason."
Lingering with a sarcastic statement "Or you know. We just kidnap the twins, and the chimera to another world."
"Manticore," Charles growls in correction even as they maintain their focus on their comm screen.
"Honestly don't know the difference Charles. Manticore."
"On my world, the mythology of Ancient Greece includes tales of a three-headed," Henri points at the engrossed Charles, "creature called a chimera. I think the manticore comes from similar tales - maybe a flying feline with the face of a man? I don't know that story as well."
If anyone looks over to Theo as Henri relays his information about manticores and chimera, he simply crosses his muscular arms and nods the affirmative.
Charles are too intent on their search for videos of Dr. Johansen to pay attention to the others.
When Charles finds a video of Dr. Johansen, he's in the background. A crowd of suits and officers watch a display of martial prowess. The focus of the video is on one of Johansen's genetically enhanced soldiers. By how hirsute the soldier is, and by her size, you might suspect she's had bear DNA spliced into hers. Dr. Johansen is clapping as the woman bests three average-sized soldiers in combat.
Beside Dr. Johansen are two children around the age of 7. It could only be the twins.
"It is actually easier to alter genetics. Long term stability is a bit harder though. Plenty of examples where we're from-and we have lesser tech on the whole. Zellgato responds to Henri as Charles ignores him.
"This is true," says L.C. scanning the twins files. "The creatures whose DNA they alter either revert back to their original form after several hours or ... die. Those poor endangered Norwegian tree voles suffered heart attacks!"
The vehicle sets down at Boston Theoretical.
The last thing L.C. says before you step out of the vehicle is "Okay, let's pick this up tomorrow, but I want to hear a plan! We won't be able to do any of the things we want to do if these First Responders cut our funding, but if you can bring the President a tri-world cooperation pact, perhaps she would see our value."
Charles glares at the image, but none of him see any trace of their tormentor in Dr. Johansen. "So he collaborates, then," he mutters to himself before looking up from his comm unit.
"One thing we need is an expanded PR department," Charles comments. "Are there any benefits from Boston Theoretical's research that *aren't* classified?"
"Again, this is likely outside of our duties," he continues. "As for our activities... if we *are* to go offworld, the news of it shouldn't be made public until the wand is recharged, so that we can return swiftly if need be."
"Though I would like to hear what Nissa's trap would be," he growls, bearing his teeth.
"We'd need a good reason to be off-world, though. The idea of cooperating more closely with the other worlds' TAROT's would give us a reason to be gone--I don't think giving them PR ammunition by going off for a vacation is a good idea. And really we do need to cooperate more closely."
"But be ready to go for their throats if they should stick out their necks."
Nissa replies, “The trap is simply to tell the truth and let it be misinterpreted, caught on camera, spread on social media. We do have plans to go off-world for business, and I really am canceling my birthday reservation. I would suggest we give our employees the day off and see what happens if it appears we are not at Boston Theoretical on the seventh.
“If nothing… I guess the upside would be we can expect nothing will happen on the eighth either.”
She asks L.C., “How good are we with surveillance—real and cyber? Any evidence the First Responders are after us in some way, spying if not directly attacking, helps our case.”
Charles glares at the image, but none of him see any trace of their tormentor in Dr. Johansen. "So he collaborates, then," he mutters to himself before looking up from his comm unit.
"One thing we need is an expanded PR department," Charles comments. "Are there any benefits from Boston Theoretical's research that *aren't* classified?"
"Again, this is likely outside of our duties," he continues. "As for our activities... if we *are* to go offworld, the news of it shouldn't be made public until the wand is recharged, so that we can return swiftly if need be."
"Though I would like to hear what Nissa's trap would be," he growls, bearing his teeth.
"We'd need a good reason to be off-world, though. The idea of cooperating more closely with the other worlds' TAROT's would give us a reason to be gone--I don't think giving them PR ammunition by going off for a vacation is a good idea. And really we do need to cooperate more closely."
"But be ready to go for their throats if they should stick out their necks."
"We'll get the marketing department on that," says L.C. in response to Charles' suggestion about non-classified benefits. "They want to do a video from Nissa's perspective when she's microscopic ... like when she was in my head and found Void."
L.C. shudders.
"If you want to get word to the First Responders that you're going to be offworld," says EIG, [b]"I saw some of the senators they were tight with. We also have established Tasha Gentry as someone in the know. I think we have a pretty solid plan here."
Nissa says, “I won’t contact Tasha for this. She trusts me to be honest. That said… I can mention her name when I’m at the winery. In case no one takes the bait, we leak to the senators.”
"So... we let it be known we'll be off-world to work on a multiworld cooperative defense agreement, then secretly watch and see if they try to pull something?" Charles sighs. "I guess it's the best we can do, since we can't really justify moving against them..."
His voice suddenly shifts again. "Unless we can find PhDestruction."
"But that seems unlikely without their moving first," he continues. "Perhaps Kai can work on a second layer of hidden cameras and such? If they move they would no doubt disable the obvious security."
Nissa takes L.C. on a long drive to Harvard, MA. The picnic grounds at the Nashoba Valley Winery has few empty tables. There are couples, families with children, and several all-female groups of twenty-somethings in pretty summer dresses.
But even in a place full of beautiful people, Nissa knows how to stand out…
“So sorry I need to cancel my celebration tomorrow,” she tells the maître d', “but now that interdimensional travel is no longer a secret, my director and I are moving the meeting off-world. I still want to open up a blueberry merlot tomorrow, so she’ll buy. Oh! And Maiden’s Blush—cute name!”
Once outside, Nissa is not about to derail L.C.’s career by drinking underage the day before she is of age! Instead, she sits with her by the lake, whispering, “I want to kiss you so badly… make our relationship known, cancel the boyfriend lists, not give a damn how sloppy or porno an innocent kiss looks when snapped by an amateur photographer… but ambiguously lesbian’s best for the plan. People who see me will want to know why I whisper, why my eyes feast upon you with such desire… but then we don’t kiss or even hold hands. Just two ladies chatting.
“Keep the conversation honest, but safe… you really are excited about actually going to another world, not just watching me, right? Let’s sit here and chat away! Ask me what it’s like to travel off-world, what the people are like, or… anything!”
Nissa and L.C. end up ‘fishing’ by the lake for hours…
…maybe they got a bite?
While Nissa and LC go off to leak the story, Charles prowl around the Boston Theoretical complex. They look for likely places to put concealed recording devices and likely places for hostile parties to break in, while checking in with the guards that would be left behind.
While Nissa and LC go off to leak the story, Charles prowl around the Boston Theoretical complex. They look for likely places to put concealed recording devices and likely places for hostile parties to break in, while checking in with the guards that would be left behind.
Charles sees EIG flirting with one of the guards. He seems uncomfortable. EIG is still wearing her "17 is Legal in Mass!" t-shirt. Charles doesn't need to make a Will save to see EIG doing this. There's something different about EIG. She's very easy to notice.
Nissa takes L.C. on a long drive to Harvard, MA. The picnic grounds at the Nashoba Valley Winery has few empty tables. There are couples, families with children, and several all-female groups of twenty-somethings in pretty summer dresses.
But even in a place full of beautiful people, Nissa knows how to stand out…
[dice=Supermodel]d20+16“So sorry I need to cancel my celebration tomorrow,” she tells the maître d', “but now that interdimensional travel is no longer a secret, my director and I are moving the meeting off-world. I still want to open up a blueberry merlot tomorrow, so she’ll buy. Oh! And Maiden’s Blush—cute name!”
Once outside, Nissa is not about to derail L.C.’s career by drinking underage the day before she is of age! Instead, she sits with her by the lake, whispering, “I want to kiss you so badly… make our relationship known, cancel the boyfriend lists, not give a damn how sloppy or porno an innocent kiss looks when snapped by an amateur photographer… but ambiguously lesbian’s best for the plan. People who see me will want to know why I whisper, why my eyes feast upon you with such desire… but then we don’t kiss or even hold hands. Just two ladies chatting.
“Keep the conversation honest, but safe… you really are excited about actually going to another world, not just watching me, right? Let’s sit here and chat away! Ask me what it’s like to travel off-world, what the people are like, or… anything!”Nissa and L.C. end up ‘fishing’ by the lake for hours…
[dice=How many hours?]2d4…maybe they got a bite?
With news streams being ubiquitous and AIs indiscriminate in who they buy content from, everyone wants to sell their vids and pics. Lenses start pointing at Nissa and L.C. the moment they walk in. Mics start trying to pick up traces of her conversation with L.C.. For Nissa to not be overheard when talking about wanting to kiss L.C. is going to require a Stealth check (DC 19).
Within five hours of fishing, a drone tries to sneak up on Nissa and L.C.. Hearing it will require a Perception check (DC 20). L.C. failed her check. If Nissa succeeds, the journalist remotely piloting the drone introduces himself and asks, "Nissa! Ms. Bombshell! Do you have time to answer a few questions?"
Nissa manages not to confirm her desire to kiss L.C. But unless L.C. helps her look for the drone , Nissa is oblivious to it.
Without knowing of the drone, Nissa can keep up her act as planned, making honest conversation with L.C., “Too bad we can’t uncork a bottle. One day… just one day too young, but it would derail your career. I would never to anything to take away what you’ve worked for… and almost died for…”
—and the words are spoken softly. The goal is to pique curiosity. Emphasis (and just slightly, volume in-crease) on topics like ‘going off-world’ and ‘big day tomorrow’… but Nissa is either purposely vague or whispering specifics stealthily.
A drone silently records and rebroadcasts as Nissa whispers to L.C. her plans to go off-world.
Back at Boston Theoretical, the AI-generated newsfeeds start floating the new video of Nissa to anyone near a screen not dedicated to another purpose. Theo, Charles, EIG, Henri, and anyone else within view of the screen sees the story leak. The ticker shows the number of eyeballs on the story grow exponentially.
Unless Nissa has left on infosphere linked devices elsewhere, notifications start to disrupt the little private celebration with L.C. and the drone flies a little closer and into view for a reaction shot.
Nissa gets the alert. ”Cat’s out of the bag,” she says.
Standing up, facing the lake, she says to no drone or camera in particular:
“Big 21 tomorrow, fans. As you can see, my director’s holding the bottles uncorked. I’ll get a taste of my hometown wine as soon as I legally can.
“As for the off-world trip, fear not fans! Only out for one day, home in time for supper!”
She takes L.C.’s hand. “Shall we?” She and L.C. are no different than other well-dressed young ladies at the winery. Locking arms or holding hands is perfectly normal here… except when an under-21 supermodel is holding the hand of her director.
All three of Charles' heads focus on EIG.
"Is something wrong?" he asks.
"Or perhaps, something went right?" he theorizes.
He also notes the news, seeing that Nissa's story is being picked up as desired. But it remains to be seen if the desired reaction will follow.
All three of Charles' heads focus on EIG.
"Is something wrong?" he asks.
"Or perhaps, something went right?" he theorizes.
He also notes the news, seeing that Nissa's story is being picked up as desired. But it remains to be seen if the desired reaction will follow.
"Kai did it!" says EIG, pointing to a large silver hairclip she wasn't wearing before. "It suppresses my abilities! I'm so happy! I'll finally be able to go on a blind date without the person thinking I stood them up! I'll be able to make friends. No one will ignore me now! Muhaahahha."
The guard she had been flirting with shuffles his feet nervously and tries to ignore her, tapping away at his pad.
"Well, congratulation, EIG!" Theo smiled at the young woman. "You give much thought to contacting your family now?"
"Well, congratulation, EIG!" Theo smiled at the young woman. "You give much thought to contacting your family now?"
"Pretty sure mom and dad were ignoring me before my powers manifested. I don't think that was me. I think that was just them," she looks sad and then hugs Theo. "Thanks for asking. Sorry about the t-shirt and the scandal."
Before Theo can ask, "What scandal?" she snaps a selfie of the two of them. In the selfie, that she immediately auto-tags and posts, Theo is probably looking confused while EIG hugs him while wearing a '17 is legal in Mass' shirt with his face on it. The selfie starts collecting eyeballs before she un-hugs Theo saying, [b]"This scandal!"[/b
Any non-dedicated screen near any member of the team will now be showing stories about Nissa and L.C. possibly being a couple, stories asking what is going on between EIG and Theo, and, buried somewhere in-between, stories about the TAROT team going off-world somewhere to fight monsters.
While Nissa and LC go off to leak the story, Charles prowl around the Boston Theoretical complex. They look for likely places to put concealed recording devices and likely places for hostile parties to break in, while checking in with the guards that would be left behind.
"Kai did it!" says EIG, pointing to a large silver hairclip she wasn't wearing before. "It suppresses my abilities! I'm so happy! I'll finally be able to go on a blind date without the person thinking I stood them up! I'll be able to make friends. No one will ignore me now! Muhaahahha."
Charles smiles, then remembers that showing his teeth is no longer as friendly-looking and makes sure to keep his lips closed for his smile before speaking. "That's great! I'm happy for you."
"So perhaps we should have a better name for you than EIG?" Charles suggests. "Unless you wish us to keep calling you that, of course."
Part of him, however, is still focused on the challenges ahead, and what they might do about them.
"Kai did it!" says EIG, pointing to a large silver hairclip she wasn't wearing before. "It suppresses my abilities! I'm so happy! I'll finally be able to go on a blind date without the person thinking I stood them up! I'll be able to make friends. No one will ignore me now! Muhaahahha."Charles smiles, then remembers that showing his teeth is no longer as friendly-looking and makes sure to keep his lips closed for his smile before speaking. "That's great! I'm happy for you."
"So perhaps we should have a better name for you than EIG?" Charles suggests. "Unless you wish us to keep calling you that, of course."
Part of him, however, is still focused on the challenges ahead, and what they might do about them.
[dice=Perception]1d20+10
EIG slips off her new hairpin and for anyone failing a DC 15 Will save, she disappears, "I'm thinking 'Disappearing Woman' or 'Fade' or something. Still thinking. As soon as I turn 18, I'm going to join the team officially. L.C. said they'd make me a costume ... "
While Nissa and LC go off to leak the story, Charles prowl around the Boston Theoretical complex. They look for likely places to put concealed recording devices and likely places for hostile parties to break in, while checking in with the guards that would be left behind.
All of Charles wince as EIG slips her hairpin off and...
...what were they doing again? Oh, right, checking in with the guards and seeing if there was anything more to do to prepare.
EIG reappears, having turned her hairpin back on. "Fade! That's what I'll call myself when I join TAROT"
"TAROT's letting kids join now?" says a woman's voice. EIG turns and sees Scarlett Meadows approaching. EIG gives an excited wave.
Scarlett turns on Charles, "Is it true? Greer's alive?"
Charles can feel Scarlett's mind reaching out to his but stopping on the edge. She doesn't pull the answer out of him, but waits anxiously. You've never seen Scarlett anxious before.
"TAROT's letting kids join now?" says a woman's voice. EIG turns and sees Scarlett Meadows approaching. EIG gives an excited wave.
Scarlett turns on Charles, "Is it true? Greer's alive?"
"Oh hey Scarlett," Theo smiles, nearly pushing EIG away from him as the sexy telepath approached.
"Well. 'A' Greer is alive." The Olympian tried to explain. "Parallel World Greer."
Theo notices Scarlett's a bit off. "Scarlett? You okay, Baby Girl?"
All of Charles wince again.
"That hurts," he growls, while at the same time looking to Scarlett. "As Theo says, he is not the Greer from our world, but rather a version from another."
Charles looks between EIG and Scarlett while also saying to the young woman, "Don't do that to us." He sighs and adds, "If you could, please. It... affects each of me at a bit different rate, and the cognitive dissonance is... pain's not exactly the right word, but I don't think words in English exist for the feeling of your brains being out-of-sync with each other so..."
Simultaneously Charles continues, "It was strange... the parallel Earth appeared much like our past, yet Greer was quite similar to... the one we knew."
Scarlett sobs a little. She feels your sympathy and accepts it. "I think I'd still like to meet him," says Scarlett. "I need to let go of any hope that it he could still be with us."
When Charles complains about EIG's power going on and off, EIG says, "Oh, that's weird that it hurts your brain ... your brains. I'm sorry. I think I'm going to keep the suppresser on anyhow. I want to know what it's like to be seen."
She starts working on her superhero theme song.
Scarlett composes herself and says, "So, when are L.C. and Nissa coming back? I want to go with you when you meet this Parallel World Greer again."
"Don't worry about it too much," Charles replies to EIG. "Being like... well, this, is full of strange moments of discomfort. One more isn't that much of a problem."
"An excellent question," he responds to Scarlett at the same time. "It should be very soon now."
Teasers on the viewscreens show that your trip to another dimension is getting traction. Rumours are spreading as to where you're going and why. Most are nonsensical, but some come close to real truths. A few pundits are guessing that there is a multiverse of worlds very much like your own out there and that's where you're going. Lots of speculation; very little fact.
Despite no one asking, the First Responders reassure the world that they will be here to protect their own dimension first and foremost and leave the "mucking about in other dimensions" to TAROT.
Nissa and L.C. return from their trip, rumours flying.
EIG delights in sharing her news with Nissa about Kai creating a device to suppress her powers and her future superhero name possibilities.
Scarlett is there. She seems frazzled. She never seems frazzled. She wants to meet Alt-Greer.
Nissa replies to Scarlett, “I was hoping you’d want to.” Nissa is aware Scarlett may have already read the party she hadn’t said—she had hoped meeting April would undo the deaths caused my Ms. Gray. She would have tried to get Greer and Scarlett together.
Now, Alt-Greer and Scarlett can meet… and who knows? Maybe Alt-Greer lost an Alt-Scarlett or another woman. He definitely seemed alone and is definitely not in a relationship with Tarantula. On that thought, Nissa wants to check on Tarantula and April. (And ask if they watched Robocop 2 yet.)
She also asks Ron, “Can you follow social media for us? We’ll need our devices to go dark so we really seem to be off-world…”
Ron smiles at the question about social media and cracks his knuckles. "Finally, my years of training put to good use."
"Didn't you train in transdimensional engineering?" asks L.C.
"I'm talking about my REAL training!" responds Ron. He arranges to make sure all your devices go dark when you are supposed to be offworld.
April and Tarantula seem to be getting along. April knows a number of movies from the early 2000s, before things really fell apart on her world. Tarantula, coming from a world still in the late 80s knows nothing about them. Both of them think you live in a world of high-tech luxury and are taking full advantage of it. Tarantula is confused by the idea of recycling and has wracked up 500 credits in fines for putting recyclables in the trash portal.
None of Charles have any more ideas of how to prepare.
At 6:30 AM your devices chime as Ron has sent an alert for 'Flight Day' and an itinerary ... It's the kind of thing he would send if you had scheduled a transdimensional trip. Considering you're not actually going off-world, it may seem like a bad reason to wake up at 6:30.
Nissa wakes up with a big smile. Her last day of being 20 included a trip to a winery (but no drinking) and Robocop 2 with April and Tarantula.
Now it’s her birthday, and she’s ready to go to war. She prays to the Dawnflower, If Flora and Fauna can truly be redeemed…
They’ve killed so much. A part of her wonders if they deserve it. Another part wonders if people born as living weapons can be taught. But definitely, their creator must answer for the murders if not the twins.
What twins need may not even exist… but some would say that about her goddess. So my ignorance of their path to redemption doesn’t mean there isn’t one.
She texts “on my way” to Ron, and gets on her way.
Henri is an early riser - or not much of a sleeper at all, to be honest - and is amped up and ready to go.
Non-Dedicated Vidscreens light up with teasers as you pass. "Is the World Safe Without TAROT?" and "Who Will Protect Us While TAROT Takes a Break?" and "Are the First Responders Up to the Challenge?" all flash by. The stories feel planted.
Charles have found themself waking up with the sun of late... which given it's summer, means they're already up when the alarm goes off. As usual, after a bit of grooming (much easier in their bipedal form... however it works to have the cleanliness transfer between forms) they head to the mess to have a nice, large meal with their various additives.
"Perhaps they shall stage an attack to thwart rather than infiltrating..." he murmurs to themself as he eats. "Or perhaps both at once? An 'extraplanar' attack upon TAROT while we're supposedly away?"