Soul Train

Name: Doc Mayhem
Apartment: 1023
Story Teller: ProfessorBlues
Description: Male Caucasian, approx 50 years old, has long grey hair tied in a ponytail and a neatly trimmed beard. Carries a katana. Eyes glow dark purple (blacklight effect). KAT/DA Scrapper.
Summary: Doc is a retired Kendo teacher who has discovered that his DarkForce 'mutation' has started to undo the aging process, stabilizing his age at a respectably healthy 50 years old. He's an ex-hippie, not especially friendly but personable, studies Zen Buddhism but doesn't practice it as a religion (more of a meditation technique). Uses Teleport power pool, has yet to learn how to teleport himself. Can ride motorcycles (and loves to do so) but does not currently own one. When Dark Armor effects are active, Doc's voice changes and will be written in black text.


Name: Sweet Seduction
Apartment: 1023
Story Teller: ProfessorBlues
Description: 19-year-old humanoid female, bluish skin, large almond-shaped eyes, tufted ears and tail, and two polished rams horns growing out of her forehead. Not much body modesty. Lives with Doc Mayhem - assume budding romantic interest. Ill/Sonic Controller
Summary: Cindy Seward and Molpe (a Siren from mythological Greek legends) were combined into one being by a Circle of Thorns summon spell gone haywire. The two share the same body, and are fully aware of each other. Treat them as mother and daughter, although at times they may act more like twin sisters. Molpe is mildly perceptive to most magical, mythical, or spiritual happenings, as that is the realm she was taken from. Assume all powers stem from use of her voice - deaf or hearing-impaired heroes will be immune or resistant, those with sensitive hearing will be susceptible. When Molpe is speaking, the voice takes on additional harmonic tones, and sounds slightly more musical. her thoughts and speech are in blue text.

Environmental Notes: Apartment 1023 has been thoroughly soundproofed (thanks War Club!) as Sweet Seduction has some minor control issues with her powers - she sings in her sleep occasionally, and also lets subliminals creep into her voice when she is stressed.

Kashaye, having done everything she could to prepare herself for a full day of work after months of being on disability, decided to cap it off with a good relaxing soak. She ran a hot bath, poured in some bath beads that had been given to her as a present by one of her SG members (oh, lilac, how lovely!), lit a couple of candles, and settled in with a glass of wine and a particularly trashy romance novel.

Once the water had gone tepid an hour later, she got out, toweled off, teased her hair back into her favorite afro (time to get it trimmed, it's getting out there), then, clad in a bathrobe, drank another glass of wine while looking out her balcony at the moon. Nights like this... they were meant to be enjoyed. She'd heard staccato gunfire a few blocks away, but the sound was fairly commonplace; she had long since learned to tune it out unless she was close enough to make a difference OR she was the one getting shot at.

She decided to leave the drapes and the sliding door open, as the breeze off the bay was pleasant and not too cold. She donned her oversized sleep-shirt, got into bed... and was asleep almost as soon as her head settled down on the pillows.

(( OO, I have a stalker! This is a first. ))

Kashaye, alone in her apartment, propped her feet up on her coffee table and reclined back on the couch, idly flipping the new Physiks tech ID badge around in her hand. She seemed to 'zone out' for several minutes, as she thought about the events of the day.

She had a new job.

She had a boss who she thought she'd get along with well.

She could get her research going again.

On the flip side, she had a potential new coworker that set her teeth on edge.

The new gig was fairly high-profile, and could get her 'noticed' by Crey. She was sure they already had her under some sort of surveillance; she'd heard enough tales about how they worked with potential 'assets' as well as potential 'liabilities.' She wasn't sure if she was an asset or a liability. Perhaps she was both at the same time.

Her thoughts kept returning to that Angelstryke character.

She picked up her phone.

"Hello, yes, Pavel? Hi, this is Kashaye Parker. You probably know me as Soul Train."

"Oh no problem! That assignment wasn't all that difficult, I'm glad you were able to use the information I got."

"Well.. I have a favor to ask. OK, two favors."

"The first one is in regards to a company called Physiks Technologies. More specifically, the CEO, Clarisa Feynman. I need to know as much background as I can get on both of them."

"Well... I've signed up to work for her, actually. As a researcher and as a field agent. I just want to have an idea of what I might be getting myself into."

"Right, the other is on a 'hero' (and yes, I use the term loosely) by the name of Angelstryke...."

"Yeah that's the man. He's ... well, he's a potential cog in the works. He's also possibly working for Physiks, so he might become a teammate... but right now I need leverage on him, I need to know how best to handle him so as to keep him out of my way. He's... rather disruptive."

"OK. Whatever you can get me, Pavel. And it doesn't have to be right now. I think I've got a short 'nesting period' with Clarisa, while we get my new subatomic research lab up and running... so if you need some time, that's fine."

"Yeah. I appreciate the warning. I'll watch my back around Angel, you can be sure of that. Thanks."

(click)

She contemplated the ID card some more.

(( OOC: consider this a formal 'background check' request on the named characters. Pavel Gaunier is a mid-tier contact from the FBI, and shows up in a couple of story arcs in Skyway City. Assume he has access to SOME of the requested information, and that as a favor to someone who's cleared all of his assignments -i.e. outlevelled him - he's willing to grant what Kashaye has asked of him. It should be written from the viewpoint of the FBI, OK? Please send to me via PM; I can give out my email addy to those that ask, if you prefer.))

"Doctor's prescription."

(( It's not that I don't like to try new characters. It's just that once I establish a character I try not to duplicate it anywhere else. All of my toons are unique entities; having the same one in two places would be ... repetitive. ))

as someone who runs a 'tigress' RP character, I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that I may incriminate myself.

(Points to Alt-itis control patch on left shoulder.)

Mroooooowwwwl!!!!!

Feral Tigress is on Guarrrrdian!! NOT on Pinnacle!!!

/em lashes tail and lays ears back

(( OOC: Soul refers that people call her "Ms. Parker" in a business setting among strangers, but "Kashaye" when she's with friends. Similarly, she'll never address Clarisa as anything but "Ms. Feynman" unless the only people present are already on first-name basis. ))

Soul excused herself. "Ms. Feynman, I would love to stay, but I do have some important matters of my own to attend to, and due to the events here today (pointed look at AngelStryke, slightly softened glance at 'the Twins' as she thought of them) I will be hard pressed to accomplish them if I stay any longer. Good day to you all!" In reality, her schedule is realtively free, but she does NOT want to be in the same building as this Angelstryke character, at least until she calms down.

She passed Jane in the entryway. "Wow. That was... interesting. Y'all need an escort home? Cos right now, you'd be a pushover for the first Outcast you ran across. You look seriously shaken."

(Mistress Ohm)

Tiny tiny, a little faith
I bet he played a little, bend the norm
Stay still, sit up straight
You know you got to concentrate

Mistress Ohm was jaded. Completely. The S&M scene, being a domme, it was all BORING to her. She'd been one of the more notorious ones to get into playing with electricity, and had gone so far as to write a research paper on the effects of power on Juicer Freaks that had been captured. But, she thought their methods crude, their practice of just .. GRAFTING.. massive apparatus to their bodies ... to them it was just plain chaos. And yet... she could see herself joining them. That was what scared her.

Oh pick it up, and put it in
You chose a great party
Tiny tiny, a little faith
I bet he played a little, bend the norm

The clubs... the private parties... the men that ould call her and beg to be tortured, dominated, abused... the money... all of it... was meaningless. Where had the spirit, the love, the PLEASURE gone? She had no idea. But like a rat on a treadmill, she kept doing the same things, seeing the same people, and continued to get more.. and more.. and more disenchanted with the whole thing.

Play it on
Play, play it on
Play it on
Play, play it on
Play it on
Play, play it on
Play it on
Play, play it on

Play it on....

And then it all changed.

She'd met a few superheroes at some of the parties... and although at the time they seemed just like another group of people with their own agenda, the Rikti invasion woke her up. The people she'd counted on to keep her safe were gone. The cops and the fire departments and the EMT's were all busy. Someone had to pick up the reins.

And Statesman started deputizing people. It didn't much matter what they could do, as long as it was semi-useful.

She started small at first. Handheld tasers, with a range of about 20 feet. Then she tried tesla coils and static discharges. Over the course of years the young inventor built what would become her power suit. It incorporated all the ideas she'd had for her previous 'pursuits'... but brought them into the light as crimefighting weapons.

Justice would be her pleasure. No more hedonism. Time to become a heroine, and not just a dilletante.

Saddle up, and get the tape
Saddle up and get the tape
Wrap me up, and tear me down
Red tape fill up all this ground

Tiny tiny, a little faith
I bet he played a little, bend the norm
Stay still, sit up straight
You know you got to concentrate

From the first day on the job, she felt better. It still wasn't enough to dispel the totally bored outlook she had on life outside of crimefighting... but instead it filled a void she never knew was there. A void of Purpose.

Mistress Ohm was back. And this time, she wasn't going to run in circles.

Play it on
Play, play it on
Play it on
Play, play it on
Play it on
Play, play it on
Play it on
Play, play it on

Play it on....


Agent Provocateur - Red Tape
From soundtracks of "the Jackal" and "Underworld"

"Jumpin' Jehosephat, where'd y'all come from?" Soul stood quickly, tumbling the chair forwards to make a loud clunk! on the floor.

She saw who the newcomers were... and shook her head. "Doors. They have these things called doors, you know. You open them and walk through. Really."

She threw her hands up, and then cocked a thumb at AngelStryke. "HE decided to fly thru a plate glass window. You two teleported in, obviously... I expect Clarisa's gonna put a skylight in my office so's I can jump in thru the roof."

She checked out the newcomers. Young, teenagers apparently. Not threatening, at least on the surface. Definitely an improvement over Angelstryke, or as she thought of him, the Ego Without a Cause.

Jane, for her part, was doing her best to appear busy, although she kept looking at Angelstryke in a decidedly odd way... as if she was conflicted between running AWAY from the man... or running TO him. Soul had seen the look before, back in St. Louis. Only those had been 'working girls' of a different sort... and the men they gave the looks to were pimps and drug dealers. Angelstryke didn't appear to be either... but she knew that look.

She turned away. He probably DID have a thousand phone numbers in that black book of his... and every one of them was probably holding onto a broken promise... just like she was, only to a different man completely. Maybe that's why she saw Angel's delivery as she did... she'd been on the end of such a fishing line herself... got reeled in... and summarily tossed back.

She started. Was she bitter? Jealous? Or was it common sense, with no infatuation to muddy it all up? She didn't know. She tossed the book back at Angel without so much as a glance. She'd not give him THAT satisfaction, the smug [censored].

She hated to admit it, but one of Angel's suggestions DID make sense though. She wanted a beer.


"Jane? I sure hope this isn't a NORMAL day at the office... else I'll be needing to renegotiate my salary. Could you fetch some drinks? I don't know what our newest visitors want, but I believe Angel asked for a beer. Get two, please, one's for me. And get one for yourself too, you look really strung out, sugah."

(( OOC: OK, we need Clarisa to make an entrance Real Soon Now, cos it's starting to look like a Hollows pick-up team in here... ))

Ahhh. NOW she understood. Angelstryke had got his name in the news on more than one occasion, known for being singularly brutal with those he apprehended. And he had a rather unsavory reputation in social circles as well. Several of her fellow Stilettos had less than nice things to say about the man.

And here he was, in her boss's reception area, propping his feet up on a desk like he owned the place.

Well, he didn't. Time to assert that. It was times like this when her St Louis south/midwest accent gave way to a very clipped, cultured, refined manner of speaking, one she'd learned in many college lectures, society dinners, and other trappings of fine schools.

"First of all, MISTER Angelstryke... I'm not a scientist. I'm a contractor. Yes, my relationship with Physiks is of a scientific nature. However, I've also been put on retainer as ... a field agent. And I too am a registered hero. Unlike you, however, I've held on to something basic, which many people, mostly criminals, have forgotten. That is: Thou Shalt Not Kill."

"Yes, I've scrapped my share of Clockwork wind-up toys and diesel-powered behemoths. I've put down a lot of Vahz undead. But every mortal I've run across that needed apprehending, I sent in alive, and relatively healthy. And because of that, I don't NEED the extensive networks of criminal underground. There have been a few that have turned their lives around because of the way they were treated, by me and my supergroup sisters. Those few are why I do what I do, not some nihilistic worldview that says it's everyone for themselves. I saw enough of that in St. Louis. "

"I can tell you're a lone wolf. You do things solo, your own way, and screw what the law says. How many other registered heros will work with you? How many will put in a good word with a contact on your behalf, or even give you the time of day on the street, sir? The criminal element accepts you becuse you are ONE OF THEM. No other reason."

"So, first. I am Soullll Trainnn, one of the most sought-after Defenders in six neighborhoods and four Hazard Zones. I'm the reason people come back from assignments under their own power, WITH the goods, instead of by emergency medical transporter and a big hospital bill in the mail. I get waves from civilians and praises from heros from here to Founders. I hold Commander membership in one of the most respected and well-manned supergroups in the area. Don't call me 'toots'."

"Second. I don't give a rat's a55 about your 'rep'. Cross me, or those I work with, and I'll send you to the Zig with an arrest chit taped to your forehead without batting an eyelash."

"And lastly, Ms. Feynman extended me an offer to get my life's work back on track, when... OTHERS... in this town took everything I'd done and become and locked it up as theirs. So I owe her. In comparison, you're merely an opportunistic thug looking for a score. And she knows it, no matter how sweet the 'prize' you're holding out. So keep that in mind, when you start wondering who'll stay, and who'll be shown the door, once all's said and done."

So saying, she uncrossed her arms from the chair back, and leaned forward. "You may think me as just another high-falutin' HERO with a haughty b1tchy manner and too much caboose. That makes us relatively even, because I regard YOU as something I scrape off my shoes after stepping in it accidentally. Now, are we clear on where each of us REALLY sits?"

Soullll caught the phone, and hung it up.

From grad student, to research assistant, freak of nature/accident, briefly unemployed, superheroine, and now paid consultant... she'd just added 'bodyguard' to her resume'. She was still angry at this brash young man for his entrance, and although she felt bad about causing him some pain, the manner in which he presented himself (essentially holding poor Jane hostage, along with the office!) made those regrets rather minor.

[ QUOTE ]
He pulled up a chair and laid his feet onto Jane's desk. "Anybody got a beer?"


[/ QUOTE ]

She looked at Jane. "Jane, sugah, looks like we ain't getting to go home anytime soon, so we might as well get somewhat comfortable. I'd not mind something cold myself."

She grabbed one of the smaller 'kiosk' chairs, turned it around, and straddled it, resting her arms on the chairback. She felt more comfortable doing this, than trying to keep her legs crossed in front of this guy, now that her skirt was ripped and hanging off her like a flag. Plus she felt that the posture gave her more of a 'tough b1tch' look... in other circumstances she'd have wanted to go the other way, appear more feminine... but right now, that wasn't called for at all.

"So... since we gonna be spending a while together, waitin' on Mz. Feynman, s'pose y'all tell us who ya are, at least?"

Soullll strode down the hallway to where her paperwork said there'd be a small office she could 'camp out in' while her facility was built.

Finding a phone and a terminal, she called up Clarisa's cell number.

"Clarisa... yes, it's Kashaye. I know, this is rather odd."

"Well, we have a situation at the office."

"Short version? OK. Someone just flew through the plate-glass windows of the second-floor reception area. I thought it was an attack, and retaliated to the point where the person was down, but not out. He said something about 'wanting to speak to you', also that if I didn't 'produce you' within 5 minutes I'd be attacked, and now he's getting pushy with Jane."

"Yes he's still here. Three of your rent-a-cops are with her, and so far he IS behaving himself... aside from the window."

"He SAID it was to 'give you an offer you couldn't refuse'. But he's withholding something, and he bothers me. Even mercenary types know enough manners to use the door, or at least make their entry covert, not blatant breaking-and-entering in broad daylight."

"OK, let me put you on hold..."

Soullll pushed a button on the phone, and a light started blinking indicating that the line was in use. Taking note of the extension number, she walked back to reception, keyed in the same number on the phone off to the side of the reception desk, and hit "XFER TO STATION".

"Clarisa? Yeah, he's here, hang on one sec."

She gestured to the stranger with the handset. "Y'all wanted Ms. Feynman? This is as good as you get right now, unless you want her in a bad mood cos you called her back into the office right after she left to attend to field business. Speak your piece."

After the stranger took the handset from her, she stepped back to Jane's desk and folded her arms across her chest, to indicate she was NOT leaving this potentially dangerous person alone with Jane, security guards or no.

Soullll stared hard at the interloper, shaking her head at his audacity.

"You flew through a plate-glass window, into an occupied office ... so you could get on Clarissa Feynman's calendar??"

Warily she stepped out of her battle stance ((toggles drop)) and took two steps backward. At that point Jane re-appeared with three armed guards (who still were no match for the newcomer.)

"One second, fellas. Jane, do you know where Clarisa was heading? Because this man wants to speak to her, ASAP."

Shaking her head, she turned back toward the man. "I still don't get why y'all couldn't have used th' phone.... or the front door..."

Turning on her heel, she strode out of the office, muttering to herself. "Gettin' a body all keyed up an' all... make NO sense...."

[ QUOTE ]
He flew right through the window into the room.

[/ QUOTE ]

Soulllll whirled at the sound of breaking glass, shoving Jane aside... and in the process she discovered the hem of the business casual skirt she'd worn was too low and too TIGHT. But, she'd have to attend to that problem later.

She focused on the object, no, the MAN, hurtling thru the window, gathered several n-th dimensional cosmic strings attached to his existence.. and PULLED.

He immediately slowed down... whereas now Soullll sped up. The Speed Siphon would only keep him slowed for a few moments.. but those were moments she needed. Another supracosmic pull, and the energy of his muscles was literally leached out of him... and into her and the completely befuddled secretary. Like the previous defense, the Power Siphon wouldn't last... but while it was in effect, the stranger wouldn't be able to hit very hard.

Soulllll was about to hit VERY hard.

She gathered minute amounts of kinetic energy from the subatomic structure of the room, the furniture, the walls, the carpet, the acoustic tiles on the ceiling... and channeled it through her in an actinic blue bolt that sent the intruder backwards to slam against the wall. He'd not got enough lift to sail out the broken window, but as it was he hit hard and flopped to his knees. Disoriented and still feeling the effects of the speed siphon, he was slow to get to his feet.

"Get out of here, Jane! GO! Call security!!" She finally had had enough of the skirt, and reaching down, she ripped the side from hem to waist. So what if it wasn't proper business attire? She wasn't in a meeting, this was a battle. She stood ready, looking for weak points in his movements and analyzing his stance, so as to be ready for his next move. All she had to do was either knock him senseless, or occupy his time until the guards arrived... hopefully that would be soon.

Prince Pyros:

possibles
David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust
Planet P Project - King for a Day
Rammstein - Feuer Frei!

"Ah, I see. Much more secure system than what we had to work with at Poly." She grasped the keycard, swiped it thru the training 'lock' at the front desk, and smiled as the light lit up green and the system emitted a cheery 'beep!'. Then she clipped the card to the lapel of her jacket.

"Um... Ms. Feynman... you look as if you have somewhere to be. Allow me, please."

Standing close to her new boss, so as to include her in the radius of effect, Shaye released a specific pulse of energy, one that would set up a resonating effect in the subatomic building blocks of living beings ((Inertial Reduction, triple-DO slotted for Jump enhancement)). Once the distinctive sound and glow of the effect faded, she gestured, and Clarisa was rocked by another kinetic effect, one that would cause her entire body to offer much less resistance to movement and provide better energy-to-motion efficiency ((Speed Boost, double-slotted DO for run speed, 1 DO for endurance recovery)).

"There! The effects will fade soon, but you have about an hour's worth of travel powers."

She tried hard not to giggle at Clarisa's expression. "Just... don't run into anybody, and when you jump, try not to overshoot... you could end up all the way acros the zone if you don't pay attention. And watch the landings! especially when the Inertial field wears off, you'll find yourself in free-fall about thirty stories up."

(( I'm assuming this is where Clarisa takes her leave and exits...))

Turning to Jane, the secretary, she took the clipboard, and started initialing items... real estate (( lab/power station map )), personnel, power needs, communications links, etc etc etc.

In the write-in section, she wrote in:

Three (3) DOE-grade supercomputers (redundancy checking and fail-safe)
One (1) particle accelerator array
One (1) microelectronics fabrication workshop
Five (5) radiation shield emitters (treat as Insulation and Repulsion Bubble from FF Defender set)
One (1) quantum fusion reactor (similar design to Rikti technology Quantum weapons, only on much larger scale).
Full lab shielding protocol - inc doors, walls, equipment, perdonnel decontamination/isolation, and shielded disposal.

At the bottom she wrote:

NOTE: Carefully screen lab personnel, as Nictus-infused beings are severely allergic to any stray radiation from this project!!

She handed the clipboard with the forms back to Jane, and said "This will get us onto the game board."

Where's Bo at?



Feral Tigress (alt on Guardian) just asked me to read this entire thread to her. She's ... not too good at reading, no. And now she wants to MEET HIM!!

"MRRROWL!! Feral Tigress gonna POUNCE on Bo Bindel somet'in' GOOD!!! OOO!! Him sound FUN!! Prof, you gonna bring Ferrrral to meeet Bo, mrrrrowl?? PWEEEASE???"

Yes, she wants to PLAY with the troll. Look out Bo. There's a 6' mutant white tiger out there that just got a crush on ya...

Kashaye finally allowed the all-business expression to slide into a slight smile as she reached for the pen and the contract. She flipped through each page, skimming it, rereading clauses she had questions about... and then with a flourish signed her name at the bottom of the third page, and dated it.

Then she reached across the desk to shake Clarisa's hand, the smile becoming a broad grin. "Ms. Feynman.... er, Clarisa... this could be the start of something big."

Must - resist - urge!!!

(I'd have to get both Mistress Ohm AND Soullll Train done... there's no way around it....)


GillBates, you are da r0x0r5, dude!!

Beatrice McAllister, also known as the heroine 'Mistress Ohm', regarded the cream-colored envelope, and then opened it.
[ QUOTE ]


Alexandre Ivanovich

invites you to celebrate his birthday with him

on Friday the twenty-third of September

two thousand and five

at seven o'clock in the evening

at his residence at 1256 Founder's Street

Paragon City, Rhode Island



[/ QUOTE ]


Oh my.

THIS looked to be the type of soiree that she'd been needing for ages. What with her own contacts ringing her phone off the hook, plus the Stilettos needing her to assist the new recruits and lend some firepower, she hadn't had downtime to speak of for months.

She started to compose a reply... and then made a phone call.

"Hi Jonathan."

"Yes, I know, it's been months."

"Well, you know about the heroine gig...."

"Rarely."

"I know. And I'm sorry."

"Um...."

"Look, when we were together you didn't have time for me, OK? That's why I left. I told you why then, and you supposedly understood."

"How is it any different, though? I'm serious, Jon!"

"..."

"OK, look, I didn't call to get my butt chewed out, alright? It's sore enough as it is...."

"Well if you'd let me TELL you..."

"OK. (pause) I'm not interested in getting back together, at least not right away, but if you're interested, I'd like to take you to a party."

"Yes, a PARTY. A real black tie affair, OK? Not like those 'Bring a box of Franzia' things you and I always used to go to."

"No that wasn't a dig at your friends. Some of them were mine too, remember?"

"Look, let's not get into it, OK? I'm sorry, I called because I thought you might like to go. Apparently not."

"Yeah you have a good one too."

Bea hung up the phone. MEN!!! She blew air thru her lips in frustration.

She dialed another number.

"Ms. Rae? Yes, this is Beatrice."

"Oh nothing much. Um, listen... you feel like goin' to a party?"

"I dunno, this nouveau-riche Russian guy, the one's got his name in the society pages."

"Oh you got one too? Sweet! You going?"

"OK. Maybe we should call some of the younger Stilettos, then, show up as a group."

"All right then. I'll make some more calls. I'm glad it's more than just one or two of us, Ms. Rae."

"Uh huh. Let me know if you want me to come by and help with the new costume design too."

"Yes. Ok. Bye!"

She dialed a few more numbers, discovering that the entire senior membership of her supergroup had also received invitations, but that some of the younger ones did not. She decided to take one along as a 'party sidekick'.

She quickly fired off a reply to the invitation.
[ QUOTE ]

ON BEHALF OF THE STILETTO HEELED ENFORCERS, VIRTUE CHAPTER

My dearest Alexandre Ivanovich,

Thank you for the invitation to your birthday party.

Beatrice McAllister, also known as Mistress Ohm, will attend. She will be bringing 1 guest.

Warm regards,

Mistress Ohm
Spike Commanderette, S.H.E. (Virtue)


[/ QUOTE ]

Then she picked up the phone again.

"Serge! Hi! Listen, um, that favor you spoke about? Yes, I know, you haven't seen any Tsoo around since we spoke last. That's because I put three triads into the Zig hospital for you."

"No really! I'll bring by some of their toys to show you."

"Ha ha, Serge! No really, um, listen... I got an invitation to this party... "

"Yes! How did you know it was Alexandre??"

"Oh."

"Well anyway, I need to speak to you about that new costume you mentioned? Uh huh. Yes. That one. I think... we'll be going more FORMAL with this design."

"I know. Evening gowns aren't on the menu. Such a pity, I'd look good in a dress. But alas, they're not designed for movement."

"Hey, I've an idea. The City Rep authorized me to wear a cape. Will that work?"

"Yeah, floor length, and we'll pair it up with one of those lovely bodysuits you have."

"Super! Listen, when can I get an appointment?"

"Now? You're KIDDING!!! I'll be there in... 20 minutes."

"You're the best, Serge. Bye!"

Bea thought for two nanoseconds, and then, hurredly changing from her street clothes to her uniform (damn leather bustier!! OOF! I need to visit that personal trainer again!), she exited her apartment and rose into the sky headed for Steel Canyon.

Doc slogged onward, down the storm drain. Damn that crazed doctor and his experiments. Damn them all to perdition. Damn them for what they did to innocents, damn them for the deperately ill they conned, and most of all, damn them for him getting his gi all soaked through with raw sewage!!


Must be getting early clocks are running late
Faint light of the morning sky looks so phony
Dawn is breaking everywhere
light a candle
curse the glare
Draw the curtains I don't care
cuz it's alright

I will get by
I will get by
I will get by

I will survive


He knew that, had he just gone on with his life, kept the dojo instead of leasing it out, and followed his pacifistic hippy nature and STAYED OUT of those gang fights, he'd never have gotten all messed up in this.... HERO... business. What was he thinking?? Darkforce or no, he was a sensei, a teacher, not some gung-ho swashbuckler with a ponytail! By Jerry G's ghost, hippies aren't supposed to do this sort of thing!

I see you've got your list out
So say your piece and get out
Yes I get the gist of it
but it's alright
Sorry that you feel that way
The only thing there is to say
Every silver lining's got a
touch of grey

I will get by
I will get by
I will get by

I will survive

Lost in thought, he stumbled through yet another ditch flowing with ... muck... and then saw them ahead of him. Abominations, they were called. Basically reanimated corpses all stuffed full of dead hero parts like trussed-up turkeys. And as zombies went, they were nasty. Slow, but nasty. Anything that made a point of hocking caustic goobers at you... at least the Doctor could have made them more... sociable, perhaps?

Ah well. Time to carve up some cold cuts.


It's a lesson to me the eagles and the beggars and the seas
The ABC's we all must face try to keep a little grace

It's a lesson to me the deltas and the east and the freeze
The ABC's we all think of and try to win a little love

It wasn't too difficult for him to take on the three shambling hulks. The work was in taking down the crazy-eyed surgeon that came bolting around the corner, cursing at the top of his lungs... "My specimens! you destroyed my specimens! Have you no HONOR, sir! This is valuable medical research!"

"Save it. Better yet, that'll be your eulogy." Doc sidestepped the poisoned crossbow bolt and introduced the loony-bin sawbones to his sword. The battle was again rather short, and again, Doc prevailed, yet not without some injury... he yanked his gi aside to reveal a 6" gash where the nutjob had sliced him with a bonesaw. Ow. Dammit. And it'll get infected too. He ripped off the hem of his gi and tied it around his leg as an ersatz bandage.


I know the rent is in arrears
the dog has not been fed in years
It's even worse than it appears
but it's alright
Cows are giving kerosene
kid can't read at seventeen
The words he knows are all obscene
but it's alright

I will get by
I will get by
I will get by

I will survive

Doc, slowed down by the wound to his leg, continued sneaking from pipe to pipe, wall to wall, still looking for the bodies that had gone missing from the morgue. Everywhere, sewage and rusty equipment, and occasionally an example or two of walking undead, but no bodies! He swore under his breath. Why they don't just send a whole contingent of marines down here to clean the whole place out...

He turned a corner, to find a huge underground vault. Off to one side, giant agitator rotors stired up pools of the sewage, while catwalks crossed the space in between. And on the catwalks... there they were! Six of them, all lined up. Two Reavers were busy dissecting one, removing useable flesh.. thankfully they hadn't progressed very far. And behind them... an Eidolon. Dressed head to toe in black leather, she surveyed the operation like a foremen at a job site. OK, Doc Mayhem. She's the one to take down.

"Hey! Can't you people rent a decent CLINIC to do this kind of thing in? Someone here owes me a cleaning bill!"

<<The hero is mine. Continue the work, this will not take long.>>

Doc unsheathed Blade of Spring Dawn, and mentally let loose the Darkforce that flowed through him, as a buffer against the same force the Eidolon would bring to bear on him. She had crossed the catwalk to size him up.

<<Ah. A traditionalist. Very well, 'hero'. I'll be using that pigsticker of yours as a scalpel soon enough... to dismember your dead body.>>

"Do not disregard me so quickly. You may find that the blade does not wish to change owners."

The two clashed in the middle of a pool of green effluvia, Doc inflicting severe wounds with the sword, while the Eidolon did her part to drain his lifeforce and will away. In the end, though, Spring Dawn remained in his grasp. He somehow managed to dispatch the minions that flocked to him when the Eidolon fell... and then, bruised, cut, battered, and nearly choking from the smell, he one by one carried the bodies back to the sewer entrance where morgue vans waited to carry them away.

As the sunshine hit his bedraggled face, Doc understood. It's not about the accolades, or the added status. It was about character. Something everyone could recognize and appreciate... even a jaded old hippie martial arts teacher, who somehow had managed to become a swashbuckling hero... despite his protests to the contrary.

The shoe is on the hand that fits
there's really nothing much to it
Whistle through your teeth and spit
cuz it's alright
Oh well a touch of grey kinda suits you anyway
And that was all I had to say
and it's alright

I will get by
I will get by
I will get by

I will survive

We will get by
we will get by
we will get by
we will survive

We will get by
we will get by
we will get by

we will survive.



"Touch of Grey" - Grateful Dead (from In The Dark)

"Well, now, Ms. Feynman, Ms. Parker is fine for now, cos Soul Train's the heroine, not the person, right? But my friends call me Kashaye, or simply Shay..."

She paused, and then laid a copy of her thesis manuscript on the desk. "This, plus my everlovin' self, is all I got left of a project I was working on for four straight years. I'm workin' on a doct'rate fo' theoretical subatomic physics, specifically, the forces that govern momentum and inertia. The field has numerous practical applications... but we have to figure out how it all works. Isaac Newton came up with a lot of th' basics... but I've been digging deep into the theoretical stuff, and I MIGHT be able to prove him wrong."

She took a breath. Now for the hard part.

"Crey done took all that. Because of a clause in the funding legalese, they had the right to 'appropriate' any project at Poly that they wanted, either to develop it themselves, or to lock it up as IP so that no one else could go after it. That's how they shut all this down. My prof is on their payroll now, as a consultant, all the equipment, the data logs, even my thesis final draft, which is now so classified even I can't download it."

"The reactor shielding mishap that spawned my powers, well, THEY have the telemetry logs on that. So they know more than I do about what happened, how it happened, and why it happened. They might even be using it to try and create more metahumans... and I really feel for the subjects, cos some of the tests we did afterwards didn't turn out well. If Crey goes down that road, they'll be looking at a lot of death and dismemberment payouts."

She looked straight at Clarisa Feynman. "That's why, if you take this up, we have to go step by step, slow and easy. No rushing into things. I WILL not have anyone's messy traumatic death-by-sudden-induced-motion be on my conscience. I hope that works for you.. because if not, well, it's been nice talking to ya, love your facility, and thanks fo' th' coffee."

She cast her eyes down to the desk, then resumed. "If that's agreeable to you... I'm at your disposal."

Soul consulted a phonebook hanging from a payphone at the Skyway tram.

"What was the name of that company? Oh yah. Physiks Technologies... hrmm... aha, here we go. Finally might be able to make some headway against the Countess for hijacking MY thesis, not to mention my paycheck!"

(dial tones and a coin drop)

"Hello, is this Physiks Technologies? Yes, I was told to speak to your meta R&D department. Yes. That's right. Sure I'll hold."

(insert banal hold music - approx 1 minute's worth.)

"Yes. Hello. My name is Kashaye Parker, I used to be a grad student at Paragon Polytechnic? ... Yes..... I was referred to you by one of my fellow grads.... Yes, I am a meta.... Soullll Trainnn.... Um, I have the ability to affect subatomic energy, enertia and momentum.... it was a research project... well, that's why I'm calling you folks, Crey Tech appropriated all of the equipment and lab data and locked it down, but I still have my thesis manuscript.... I'd be willing to drop it in your lap if you're interested in starting up a similar project... what's in it for me? .... well, my doctorate's been on hold since Crey took over, plus I was working at the lab itself, so I'm currently not employed... well, yes, as a superheroine... what?... you do?.... Well that sounds interesting, definitely something to think about.... Um, let me check my schedule, I can come in, lesee, how about Tuesday afternoon?.... Yeah, around two.... I'll bring a copy of the manuscript... yes sure, I can demonstrate my abilities... no problem.... Thank you! Yes. Tuesday at 2. Goodbye."

Soullll hung up the phone. Time to stick it to Crey. And if this Physiks outfit was all it said it was, she might be able to get her life back on track after all.

Smiling, she stepped outside to the ramp platform, looked up, and then silently rose into the air, her red, gold, and white cape fluttering behind her like a flag.