Coolant awoke as he slammed into something. He pushed his over taxed body to action and used his remaining strength to open his face shield. He was in his chamber. He could see Sting and Newton, but he couldnt quite spot Mystic. Switching to thermals he made out two human signatures, an insect signature he had recently become familiar with, and a signature that was lower than room temperature.
[ QUOTE ]
Oh $#i7 that hurts! Sting was still on his hands and knees, as he took heavy, hissing breaths. Boss, you gotta get that leg bandaged. Who is the medic in this unit?
[/ QUOTE ]
His heavy, steel suit slowly pushed itself up to stand. Coolant grabbed a nearby plug and connected it to a slot that opened in his chest. He voiced a command for the room to warm itself to normal and stepped to the door.
Sting, Newton, if you could get him in here, Ill see what I can do, replied the very tired hero as he fought off sleep.
[ QUOTE ]
Oh $#i7 that hurts! Sting was still on his hands and knees, as he took heavy, hissing breaths. Boss, you gotta get that leg bandaged. Who is the medic in this unit? Sting started to get up and fell back to one knee, then decided to just lay on his back on the floor, holding his side. Coolant ok? And do we have any vegetable matter left? I need some for this wound.
[/ QUOTE ]
Newton reached into refrigerator unit and grabbed a head of lettuce. Will this work? He asked, tossing the it to the prone Sting.
Newton picked up another Dew, popped it open and took a few more sips. He stood up and hurried to the unconscious Chilled. He focused on the cell upstairs, and sent the Outcast there.
[ QUOTE ]
Sting, Newton, if you could get him in here, Ill see what I can do, replied the very tired hero as he fought off sleep.
[/ QUOTE ]
Bandages
bandages
Just a moment
Newton focused on his storage unit miles away, found what he was looking for, and yanked the large first aid kit through a wormhole. He wavered, drank some more Mountain Dew, and opened a bag of chewy Chips Ahoy. Thatll help, I hope, Cool, he said as he ate a couple cookies. Oye, he said again as he sat back down and leaned against a wall.
((edited for simultaneous posts.))
Sting grabbed the lettuce from the floor and tore a big chunk of it off as he scooted himself to a sitting position against a wall. He started chewing it, but soon he spit out the gooey mass and worked it almost like clay. He added a little bit more of his saliva and then packed it into the wound, spreading it out on the surface to form a seal.
Dont ask me why it works, it just does. Damn, that was not a standard or hollow point round. That thing had some penetrating power. Whos been giving the damn Outcasts armor piercing rounds?
[ QUOTE ]
His heavy, steel suit slowly pushed itself up to stand. Coolant grabbed a nearby plug and connected it to a slot that opened in his chest. He voiced a command for the room to warm itself to normal and stepped to the door.
Sting, Newton, if you could get him in here, Ill see what I can do, replied the very tired hero as he fought off sleep.
[/ QUOTE ]
Sting saw Coolant come out of his chamber. You ok man? You look as bad as I feel. Sting brushed some ash off the end of his shortened antenna. Lets get the boss patched up and then make sure our guest isnt dead.
"Shut up Mr. Burton, you are not brought upon this world to get it!" - Lo Pan
@MadGremlin
[ QUOTE ]
Sting saw Coolant come out of his chamber. You ok man? You look as bad as I feel. Sting brushed some ash off the end of his shortened antenna. Lets get the boss patched up and then make sure our guest isnt dead.
[/ QUOTE ]
Ill check on Chilled, Newton said tiredly. He snagged another couple of cookies and started upstairs.
The holding room was cool. The big Outcast was still, but Newton could see Chilleds breath rising in the room. Sheesh, Newton mumbled. He looks like he was run over by a truck. Or a walking refrigerator, he said with slight grin.
Newton called down the stairs. Hes still alive, but, boy, is he going to be hurting when he wakes up. Glancing at the room where the other two gang members were, he added. I told you we should have given him to Poison Sting. Your way is much too slow, Coolant. He grinned as he heard more whimpering from behind the door.
[[Sorry, guys, I went away on vacation and didnt tell anyone.]]
Mystic was busy peeling the bullet off his robes. Not having anything more than a first aid, kit, he was limited in exactly what he could do. Medically, Mystic had above average training, but he was no doctor. He cleaned and bandaged the wound. He shrugged off offers for assistance, insisting that he would be fine. He had, in fact, had several wounds in his time far worse. However, he mostly tried to stay OUT of the line of fire.
This latest firefight brought the reality of this new situation and their vulnerability to light. Suddenly, Mystic was wishing that they had doors that locked on the first level as well.
How is the poultice working? Mystic pointed to the lettuce.
Mystic checked on Coolant as well. Are you up and about?
Then to Newton, You were the glue today. Without you, it would have gone really wrong. As Mystic hobbled off to go see to Sudden, he stopped and turned back over his shoulder. If you see something that might serve as a cane, be a good lad and point it out, would you?
Sudden didnt wake up for hours. And when he did, he wished he didnt. Mystic thought it would be a good idea to store him in interrogation room two. The table was kindling, the walls were smashed by large bug man and trolls, and the chair he was sitting in was both bent, and metal.
((OOC: Was wondering if Crey or Malta had kidnapped you or something! 
))
[ QUOTE ]
How is the poultice working? Mystic pointed to the lettuce.
[/ QUOTE ]
Sting gave the thumbs up. Be good to go in no time, boss.
Sting rested for a while, letting his body heal itself. Then continued to clean and repair their home.
Hey boss, Im thinking since Brander was moving in on this guys turf, he might be willing to sell him out without too much effort. Whatcha think?
"Shut up Mr. Burton, you are not brought upon this world to get it!" - Lo Pan
@MadGremlin
Coolant System was happy when he saw that Mystic was ok, and even the Outcast had survived apparently. Of course, he felt his energy peak slightly the moment he let an emotion slip through, and that signaled another nap for the chilled hero.
Immediately before losing consciousness for the second time, he forced his chamber to seal and lock itself. The door hissed and a locking mechanism made sure that nothing short of a tank would get into the resting hero. It wasnt like he had never slept in his armor before.
[ QUOTE ]
Then to Newton, You were the glue today. Without you, it would have gone really wrong.
[/ QUOTE ]
Newton grinned as Mystic hobbled off upstairs with a cane, Newton wandered to the big desk in the front room. He sat at the chair, put his feet up on the desk, leaned back, and fell promptly asleep.
Stings question to Mystic woke him up later.
[ QUOTE ]
Hey boss, Im thinking since Brander was moving in on this guys turf, he might be willing to sell him out without too much effort. Whatcha think?
[/ QUOTE ]
Newton looked around blearily, and saw that Coolants chamber was shut, and more of the Two-Six was straightened up. Sting and Mystic must have been busy. Newton stretched, reached under the desk, and pulled out a bag of Doritos. He wandered upstairs to find out what Mystic and Sting were doing.
Several hours after he had sealed himself away, Coolant System emerged from his living chamber. The severe burn marks around his chest and gauntlets were gone, and the hero no longer looked weary from his earlier exertions. He had once again resumed his passive demeanor, and he had even replaced his teleportation beacon.
Activating his thermals, he quickly located his teammates and headed in the direction of Mystic's overly bright signature.
Upon reaching the mage, Coolant deliberately bumped into a nearby desk to get his attention. It usually took people a while to get used to the fact that he could move around quietly in his armor; he figured it was a good idea not to surprise the flame throwing Mystic.
Good afternoon, my friends. Excuse me, Inferno, can I talk to you privately for a moment?
[[Back. No, just lannies. ]]
Hey boss, Im thinking since Brander was moving in on this guys turf, he might be willing to sell him out without too much effort. Whatcha think?
Mystic took only a second to ponder the question. Brilliant. Ill just pop in on him and see what he has to say now that hes in custody AND owes his skin to heroes.
Mystic spent some quality time with Sudden Chill, very slowly explaining the facts of life to him. Now, as I see it, it looks like you may have had your butt saved by heroes in front of a number of other Outcasts. So if you just walk out of here, then it will be your own men who rat you out as being a
what do they call that? Oh, yes, a rat.
What guys? It wasnt very convincing. Perhaps his mind was on his recent loss at the game of love.
Oh, you know, the two you set up to watch the Two Six and report back to you. Blonde gentleman, about so high, likes Cheetos. Mystic held his hand up to indicate height.
They wouldnt rat on me. His confidence was obviously not rock solid.
They wouldnt know not to. And you dont know which side of the building they set up on, do you? Mystic was taking a chance with that one, but it paid off. Sudden Chill looked around the room like it was his first time in the station. I didnt think so. So they will see their mate come out of the Two Six, unmolested, and immediately make you for someone who sang like a swallow. So why not burn mr. Brander and those that have supported his moves on you, by taking everyone down a notch and stay OUT from under the burning roof when it comes down?
The thug smiled. Because this has nothing to do with the Outcasts. Sure, we hired the trolls, gave them the target and generally ran the police off, but we didnt do it for ourselves. That information is going to cost you.
Mystic sighed. I hate lengthy negotiations, so this is what I have in mind. You tell us what we want to know, and then we set up a bunch of furniture at the entrance thats being watched. You blow it up and fly away and tell everyone you caught us napping. Try to include that we were incompetent.
Later on, Mystic hobbled into the common area and stirred some milk into the tea he was carrying.
Upon reaching the mage, Coolant deliberately bumped into a nearby desk to get his attention. It usually took people a while to get used to the fact that he could move around quietly in his armor; he figured it was a good idea not to surprise the flame throwing Mystic.
Good afternoon, my friends. Excuse me, Inferno, can I talk to you privately for a moment?
Oh, hello. Mystic looked around the room. Looks like were alone, unless someone can turn invisible that Im not aware of.
At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if Newton could read minds. The little guy seems to be able to do everything else, Coolant attempted humor before returning to his neutral state.
Look, it seems that whether or not you like it you have become the leader of this sad bunch of misfits, myself included in that of course.
Coolant took a seat on one of the more stable looking desks and paused a moment to collect his thoughts.
I screwed up today. Pretty bad actually. It seems like we got off easy today, but we both know things could have gone a lot worse when I shut down. I'm supposed to protect others, but all I did was become a liability to be dragged away. I'm hoping you didn't have to carry me here.
At this point, Coolant could feel depression creeping in, and he stopped to take a few, calming breaths, My power comes from my emotions, and I lost control today. It wasn't any fault of my armor. I have been training to control my anger more than anything else, and I tried to use it to give me some extra strength today. I figure you noticed, that didn't turn out too well
As leader, you need to know your teams strengths and weaknesses. I never should have gone into battle without telling you mine. I can understand if I am to be punished in any way or if you would care for me to resign. Unlike the others, I am here of my own volition and may leave any time you choose.
Coolant stopped for Mystics response but then quickly added, If you do wish me to stay, however, I will answer any further questions you have. Even if I would prefer not to.
Sting took a break to share a full-sized bag of Cheetos with Newton though he was worried that Newton would bite him if he took too many.
So Im thinking we might need a few more to round out this little gathering of misfits. Sure you got the bubbles, and the gravity stuff, Im thinking we could use some more firepower and a little healing. Sure the boss-man can dish it out, but it would be nice to have some support for him.
Sting munched on a few Cheetos, then tried in vain to wipe that orange stuff off of his fingers.
I cant believe there are not any other hard luck or sucker for a sob story heroes out there that would want to help.
Plus, we almost got our butts kicked in a little scrap; pretty sad for our first real fight.
"Shut up Mr. Burton, you are not brought upon this world to get it!" - Lo Pan
@MadGremlin
[ QUOTE ]
So Im thinking we might need a few more to round out this little gathering of misfits. Sure you got the bubbles, and the gravity stuff, Im thinking we could use some more firepower and a little healing. Sure the boss-man can dish it out, but it would be nice to have some support for him.
[/ QUOTE ]
Im definitely with you on the healing part, Newton said. Thats where we just kind of fell short. He turned the open end of the bag to the insect-man.
[ QUOTE ]
I cant believe there are not any other hard luck or sucker for a sob story heroes out there that would want to help.
Plus, we almost got our butts kicked in a little scrap; pretty sad for our first real fight.
[/ QUOTE ]
We did at that, didnt, Newton said, licking his fingers and then trying to brush the orange powder out of his green mustache. We didnt work as a team at all. We all arrived at different moments, and our efforts individually were brave and heroic to start with, and then degenerated into a series of oopses. Newton shook his head. And Im no better than you in that, he said, seeing the expression forming on the insect-mans face. I completely exhausted myself instead of pacing it all. Between my showing off with gravity and the wormhole, Ive stretched myself way to thin. He held up his Mountain Dew. Thus the influx of sugar and caffeine.
They sat there for a few moments, and Newton seemed to be spacing out a little. His expression changed a little from mild surprise to comprehension to concern. He glanced over and realized Sting was watching him. Sorry, just thinking about things
Newton said, a little embarrassed.
Teamwork. Its not really something I am all that familiar with. I tend to just rush in and try to rip up the toughest thing I see. Sting shrugged which was a bit odd to see a big bug do.
[ QUOTE ]
They sat there for a few moments, and Newton seemed to be spacing out a little. His expression changed a little from mild surprise to comprehension to concern. He glanced over and realized Sting was watching him. Sorry, just thinking about things
Newton said, a little embarrassed.
[/ QUOTE ]
Whats up man? What things? If you have dirt to spill, let me have it!
"Shut up Mr. Burton, you are not brought upon this world to get it!" - Lo Pan
@MadGremlin
[ QUOTE ]
Whats up man? What things? If you have dirt to spill, let me have it!
[/ QUOTE ]
"Let's just say that I don't think you are the only one who has trouble controlling your emotions," Newton said thoughtfully, looking in the direction of where Mystic and Cool were meeting. "I'm not sure how cognizant you were of the whole fight, but there was a little girl in the midst of the fire, and Cool lost his cool when she got hurt." He nodded slowly. "That was right before he collapsed. It does make sense now."
Coolant stopped for Mystics response but then quickly added, If you do wish me to stay, however, I will answer any further questions you have. Even if I would prefer not to.
Mystic stared at him. Yes, I see. That is something youll have to work on. I suppose you should be punished in some way, since it would be terrible to reduce our strength by twenty five percent on day two. So
Mystic looked around the room. Youll need to fix that radiator by next week. If you cant do that, then you can have someone come in and replace it
or youre fired.
Mystic turned away from Coolant. I dont fancy losing anyone. Course I dont much fancy being in command. Ill be the first to tell you when youre too much of a liability. Now if youll excuse me, Im going to get some rest before I let everyone know what I found out from our unwilling guest.
"Look at it this way, at least you didn't freeze up in combat. I mean... well... hmmm."
Newton nodded slowly. "That was right before he collapsed. It does make sense now."
Mystic hobbled over, pretending not to hear the last portion of the sentence. And how are you chaps holding up? Morale in the dumps? Moping about is it? Or have you reconciled with your first debacle and resolved to do better yet?
Before they could answer, Mystic held his hand up. Brilliant! You chaps saved my bacon today, recklessly throwing yourselves into a melee that I started too early. Awful bad show on my part, I shant let you down like that again. Thank you for throwing yourselves into harms way. Why if Coolant hadnt overpowered himself then my foolish shenanigans might have gotten that girl killed. Im going to have a lie down, then we can discuss what our friend in the cooler has been chattering about. Get some rest everyone, big workings this evening.
Mystic headed for the bunkhouse to have a nap. Hed only thought to bring painkillers, not a whole medical kit. It would be one of the first things hed have to acquire if things were going to go like this every time. He just hoped they werent. He also hoped that if his crew were smart enough to see through his shifting of the blame to him, they would be polite enough to just go with it. He felt Coolant deserved to have some leeway for his volunteer status. It would be bad if everyone looked at him like a liability.
Sting just watched Mystic limp off, wondering what the hell he was talking about. Then he turned to Newton. Was that an inspirational speech?
Sting stood and stated; Im going out for a little air, be back in a bit. With that he made a circuit of KR, avoiding any confrontations though he did stop on a roof to watch some Lost scrounge through a dumpster and had to avoid some weird mystics up on a roof.
Soon he was back at the two-six, feeling a little better.
"Shut up Mr. Burton, you are not brought upon this world to get it!" - Lo Pan
@MadGremlin
[ QUOTE ]
Sting just watched Mystic limp off, wondering what the hell he was talking about. Then he turned to Newton. Was that an inspirational speech?
[/ QUOTE ]
Newton stared after the robed Mystic. I think were all feeling a bit guilty about how that first battle went. We are all owning our part of the mess up.
[ QUOTE ]
Sting stood and stated; Im going out for a little air, be back in a bit.
[/ QUOTE ]
Newton found himself sitting alone in the outer office again. His handy little singularity had allowed him to listen in on all the conversations, but he silently cursed himself about guarding his own expression; he was an actor, he should be better than that.
And it was certainly better that Mystic was leader than any of the others, including Newton. He preferred to be the comic relief in the background. He thought back on what he overheard Coolant say
[ QUOTE ]
At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if Newton could read minds. The little guy seems to be able to do everything else,
[/ QUOTE ]
Pretty soon they would see his shortcomings. He sighed and cynically thought that he would probably be the first knocked out and sent to the hospital.
A creak in the floor alerted him that someone had snuck up on him. He half turned in time to see a baseball bat coming at his face. His world exploded, and then darkness.
Coolant didnt know whether to be happy or sad, so he chose to remain neutral.
Mystic hadnt kicked him out and had given him a simple task as his punishment. On the other hand, he had spent the last half hour in meditation to prepare himself for any questions the mage had wanted to ask, and now, he discovered he had actually been looking forward to getting some things off his chest.
He had several precautions to take to improve his battle performance; this was not going to happen again. But first, he was going to fix that radiator.
A low thump from one of the outer offices got his attention. Stepping in to see if more of the old building had collapsed, he soon discovered Newton on the floor and two thugs standing in the room. One of them had just used a bat on the back of his teammates head.
Coolant shifted his voice controls to the loudest setting to both intimidate and attract attention, I think you two gentlemen are lost. Allow me to escort you from the premises.
He was prepared for battle again, but this time, he was in control.
Coolant shifted his voice controls to the loudest setting to both intimidate and attract attention, I think you two gentlemen are lost. Allow me to escort you from the premises.
"Oh bloody hell, if it isn't one thing..." Mystic turned from the door to the place he was calling "bed", back to where Newton was sitting. Walking was painful, so it would have to be flying that took him to the wall near the shouting. He hovered where he could see Coolant around the offices and pillars.
Coolant was addressing someone, loudly. Mystic resolved himself to waiting until some action occurred. If there were infiltrators, who knows how many there could be, or what their plan was. It was then that he flew up behind a pillar and looked behind him to see yet another thug attempting to sneak up on him, holding a pipe.
Mystic set off the alarm on his radio and encircled the thug in flames, seconds later throwing a fireball that landed behind Coolant, flashing flame out in all directions around him, but leaving him, and if he did the spell right, the inanimate objects, untouched by the flame.
[ QUOTE ]
Mystic set off the alarm on his radio
[/ QUOTE ]
There was a buzzing at his side the radios emergency alarm, and he heard some amplified talking, but could not make it out.
What passed for their front door had been carefully set aside and he could see movement inside. As Sting leapt into the room he saw Newton lying on the ground. Several thugs were standing around he and Coolant, who was also in the room. A burst of flame the thugs as he saw Mystic hovering above.
Multifaceted eyes and motion sensing antennae are very helpful in avoiding ambush. Sting just detected the thugs on either side of door as they attacked from the shadows; it probably saved him from losing his head, but the bats still knocked him prone.
"Shut up Mr. Burton, you are not brought upon this world to get it!" - Lo Pan
@MadGremlin
Coolant watched as he was encircled in flames, but he also noticed they seemed to avoid him. In two motions that would pass for one movement of his arm, he switched on his icy armor and frozen aura.
Before his armor had completely solidified, he moved up to the distracted foes and landed a one-two punch meant to floor the bat wielding thug. As the first one was going down, the second opponent pulled a gun on Coolant, but he never got a shot off as the flames engulfed him.
Coolant quickly knocked the gun away from the fire, and slammed the burning punk to the ground with his elbow, sucking some of the heat off him in the process.
Lowering his voice slightly from his earlier shout he said, My thermals are no good with all this fire around, but I can see one guy going upstairs.
Sting rolled away from the follow-up blows, backing toward the rest of the group. He brandished his spines, and then kicked one of the thugs in the knee, knocking him down. Heh, they always fall for that one.
But the second thug was good; he came at Sting with a flurry of blows, wielding the bat like a light saber. Sting continued backing up, trying to minimize the number of blows that made contact.
"Shut up Mr. Burton, you are not brought upon this world to get it!" - Lo Pan
@MadGremlin
Mystic flared off another bolt at a would-be ambusher and then swooped down on Newtons position. He grabbed him up with great difficulty. Wow, can make
everything
lighter
but him
gah! Settling for a close place of relative safety, Mystic unceremoniously deposited Newton on a nearby couch which was in plain sight of Coolant but out of the main fight. After Newton hit the couch like a sack of potatoes, Mystic quickly opened a box of donuts that was sitting on a coffee table near the couch and heated them to a temperature very close to that of fresh from the oven before flying out one of the windows that was boarded up and into the second story through a different boarded up window.
You idiot, youre going to get yourself killed! It was Suddens voice. Mystic silently flew in behind the newcomer, ready to fry him to a crisp if it came to it. The young thug was busy trying to untie Sudden when Mystic came upon him. He saw something he didnt expect to see, fear in Suddens eyes.
The younger thug was probably only sixteen, but was the spitting image of Sudden Chill. Mystic was already in the middle of his spell as he came in, but decided to change targets, choosing the whiteboard on the wall of the interrogation room instead of the back of the young thug. The whiteboard flew off the wall, ablaze and the young thug went backward over a table trying to avoid the flaming object.
DANNY! Sudden was only partially untied and hurled a frosty mist at the younger thug to keep him safe from the flames.
Mystic rolled his eyes as Sudden looked pleadingly at him. Then the mage set down behind the youth who had thrown off the no longer burning debris and was searching the doorway for his assailant. With one punch, the young man went down. Then Mystic grabbed his hand in pain. Sod a duck! Now I remember why I dont bloody do that!
Thanks. It was a big thing to say for a tough guy. It made Mystic stop whining about his comparatively insignificant sacrifice.
Yes, well, were still dealing with your brothers ill conceived escape attempt downstairs, so lets have you two brilliantly escape out a window post haste. Mystic untied Sudden as he looked at him quizzically. It means right now.
Oh! Chill picked up his younger brother and flew out the window that Mystic had busted open. Then Mystic returned downstairs to see if there were any more problems brewing.
Sting was in mid-dodge when Newton pulled him through and he fell to the floor. He quickly patted out the flames that were still burning in a few places on him. One antenna was now about 2 inches shorter than the other and blackened at the end.
Oh $#i7 that hurts! Sting was still on his hands and knees, as he took heavy, hissing breaths. Boss, you gotta get that leg bandaged. Who is the medic in this unit? Sting started to get up and fell back to one knee, then decided to just lay on his back on the floor, holding his side. Coolant ok? And do we have any vegetable matter left? I need some for this wound.
"Shut up Mr. Burton, you are not brought upon this world to get it!" - Lo Pan
@MadGremlin