Jayde felt anything but cool as a cucumber as they ascended the stairs to the FC HQ. Her palms were sweating within her steel-plated gloves. Her hands flexed into fists as her mind raced. As they breezed through the massive entrance doors, her gaze took in the various heroes milling about. Were they all here becaues they received the call as well?
Their footfalls echoed as they made their way to the front desk. She took advantage of the opportunity to steal a glance at Jay. He was tall, well-built, with rugged good looks. His neatly trimmed hair and beard were a rich shade of reddish-gold that reminded her of the early morning sunrise. It wasn't just his good looks that appealed to her so much, it was the man he was. He carried himself with confidence, exuding calm authority easily recognized when he walked into a room. His sense of justice and dedication to the protection of Paragon were unshakable. Since the moment they'd met, she had felt drawn to him. There were times she felt they'd known eachother their whole lives, and yet, she still had so much to learn about him. She wondered if everyone who fell in love felt the same indescribable joy she felt whenever she looked at him.
Shaking herself mentally, she returned her thoughts to the matter at hand. Jay hadn't told her much about why they were here, but she knew it had to be important. And judging by the number of heroes trickling through the door at a steady pace, whoever they were here to help, had to be someone significant. Her nervousness just grew tenfold.
"Yyyoouu rrang?"
Gave turned around slowly. Took you long enough. Ive been standing here, what? Less than a minute? Youre not aging on me, are you? He waved off his comment, though, and pushed straight into serious matters.
Listen, I need help. I need to get a group of heroes into Rogue Isles undetected, and I need to get them inside Arachnos undetected, and I need someone to have a master switch ready to pull them out again. Can you do that?
-----------
A tall, brooding figure entered the HQ. Pale skin was covered by dark motorcycle leathers, but bulky enough to reveal armor of some form or another underneath. His hair was an equally dark shade, but long and unkempt. His eyes were flat, disinterested, but they still flicked around the room and observed minor details. The strangest thing about him, though, was his aura. He literally didnt seem all there. He was opaque, to be sure, and human in every way of appearance, but he seemed
slightly more immaterial than the people around him.
Shortly after arriving, he noticed the people he was looking for. A group of heroes, all gathered together, all looking grim, suited up for the worst. He approached them, and opened conversation with a quiet voice. This is the where those seeking to join the task force are located, yes? A slight clip in his pronunciation betrayed eastern European decent. Someone murmured an affirmative, and he nodded thanks. I am Cell Block, and I greet you. He spoke again, before heading down the halls, into the guts of the base.
"Negative." the figure chuckled, the hood of his heavy cloak swaying about as he shook his head slowly, "Undetected ain't gonna happen any way ya twist it. Too much sensor muck to fool everything. Only delay it."
"However," he continued, "I can cause a little general chaos so that when they do find us, they won't have that much to divert our way. Even old spider-head's got priorities. I take it you're in a hurry, so let's get this going ASAP..."
"If I had Force powers, vacuum or not my cape/clothes/hair would always be blowing in the Dramatic Wind." - Tenzhi
Characters
[ QUOTE ]
"Well, that's a tough question..." He replied, keeping his eyes glued to the horizon. "There ar ea lot of factors to take into account, would I be arrested? We certainly can't have that, and not to mention, Arachnos would come looking for me and possibly try to brainwash me again. I know too many of their secret for them to just let me go. And even if I'm not arrested or brainwashed again, would I be met with contempt? Honestly, not many villains who renounce their ways can just escape their past life altogether. While a life in the Isles isn't all that appealing, there are many things that need to be taken into account when you contemplate going back to Paragon..." He continued to stare out at the horizon, and, after a few moments of silence, spoke again. "But to answer your question, as to whether I'd like to go back to Paragon, as to whether I'd like to return to my old life... yes... I can remember myself being a lot happier back then..." he chuckled and looked up at the sky. "Guess the saying is true. 'Ignorance is bliss...'"
[/ QUOTE ]
"Here - catch," Penny Arcade tossed him the little scanner, so that he could see the call for the task force. "Look - if you want to get out, now is the time to do it. These people are going to need cover to get in and move around as undetected as possible. They are going to need information they are not going to be able to get easily. We can help to provide that. I suggest we get in contact with them somehow, you join up, and when they leave, you go with them."
She sat back and looked at him. "If you are in that group, they can cover your exit and once you are entrenched in Paragon, Arachnos can throw whatever conniption fit it wants about your being there. I can't promise everything would go smoothly... in fact I can almost promise it won't," she smirked.
She stood up. "But if we are going to do this, we need to get moving. It will take a little bit of time to gather, brief, whatever... we need to call them up either before they go or before they get here, and before we can do that, we need to figure out what we are going to be able to offer them."
"Again, I bring up the 'contempt and mistrust' argument." Jake stated, looking over the scanner and reading the task force summary as he spoke. "At a time so crucial, they're not going to be trusting any villain, especially not one associated with Arachnos. Even if I fed them some vital information, they could, and probably would, just say 'Thanks sucker!' and kick my face in. Heroes have this nasty habit of treating villains like scum, even if they wish to redeem their ways." He said, with a hint of dissapointment in his voice, as if he himself were dashing his own hopes. "The only exception I can think of is Sister Psyche trying to help Malaise, and he sure taught them to ever try that again..."
[ QUOTE ]
"Again, I bring up the 'contempt and mistrust' argument." Jake stated, looking over the scanner and reading the task force summary as he spoke. "At a time so crucial, they're not going to be trusting any villain, especially not one associated with Arachnos. Even if I fed them some vital information, they could, and probably would, just say 'Thanks sucker!' and kick my face in. Heroes have this nasty habit of treating villains like scum, even if they wish to redeem their ways." He said, with a hint of dissapointment in his voice, as if he himself were dashing his own hopes. "The only exception I can think of is Sister Psyche trying to help Malaise, and he sure taught them to ever try that again..."
[/ QUOTE ]
Penny Arcade thought this over. "You do have a point," she said slowly. "You're right, it is a critical time, and they won't want to easily trust someone not considered to be a 'hero'," It was almost possible to hear the quotation marks in her voice. "Then again, the timing is critical, and they may not have much choice." She looked back at the horizon again, then back at him. "Look... Jake..." she rarely called him by his name. "I see all the ways this might not work. But... I'd like to try. I know what I want to do. And... I would like you to come with me. I would like to see you in a better place, if I could help to get you there." Her eyes searched his face.
Jake sighed. "You're optimism is rubbing off on me..." He chuckled. "Ah, well, I've done more improbable things, and there are some heroes that treat us over here in the Isles like humans... Guess I'll just have to hope that there's one like that in the task force and perform a flat out trade..." This statement was aimed more at himself than at Penny, he had a horrible habit of thinking outloud if the situation allowed him to.
Jay, hearing the man who had just entered, followed him over to the gathering group of Heroes. He reached back for Jayde's hand, feeling his heart pound in his chest at the thought of working these people. He worried slightly about his ability to keep up with them... But his new /help/ had increased his stamina by at least 10 fold, that, in addition to his repaired Piston Boots, which gave him spectacular jumping heights, he soon calmed himself down some. He peered at Jayde over his shoulder, curious as to what was running through her mind. He did one last mental checklist of his equipment before stepping before the group.
"Hello there, Officers Slayde *He motions to Jayde* and Scheller *Tips his hat* From the Paragon Police Academy. And if ya don't mind, were gonna tag along." All of this pours out in a heavy irish accent, it being very thick due to his nervousness.
I dont want us in undetected. I want us ignored. I know you can do that, youve got Portal Tech like a Riktis dreams. Get me near, Acid, and trust me, Ive got the rest taken care of. Gabe smiled, but it lacked any sense of humor. Oh, were going to have a good time on the Isles.
Acid looked at him doubtfully, but Gabe let it pass. Grab the folks standing outside, would you? I trust weve had enough time to build up the ranks.
Power Breaker woke up with his head literally buzzing. That was a new one. His nanites had saved a phone call message for him.
He was starting to get really concerned at the rate they continued to change and adapt. It wasn't like they ever did anything that intentionally hurt him (aside from the spikes jutting out of his shoulders), but they never gave him any warning when they did something. For instance, they were still translating the Malleus Mundi somewhere in his subconscious. Those were not fun nightmares.
"Greetings, brother," a gravelly voice vibrated off his inner ear, "My sources tell me there's something big going on. Something involving some of those people you told me about. Give me a ring, and we'll discuss methods in which we may assist their endeavors. They're going to need help."
Brother Mauthe.
Power Breaker grinned. His brain buzzed again, this time scanning the airwaves for any information dealing with whatever it is Mauthe was talking about. Too bad he was too late to hear the call for Heroes. However, what he did catch was a WSPDR snippet from Amanda Vines. She said something about a "spy" being taken into custody in Ghost Widow's Tower before being cut off by her co-anchor.
"Aw crap," Breaker muttered, "Too much of a coincidence. I'm gonna have to deal with this..."
Having showered, shaved and eaten breakfast all on "auto-pilot," he grabbed his clothes and started heading for the Giza. He had to talk to somebody in the know, somebody without any need for money, favors, or anything that could be classified as a "human need," and that somebody was a peculiar little Slot Machine...
My Stories
Look at that. A full-grown woman pulling off pigtails. Her crazy is off the charts.
Acid gave a short shrug, the wide shoulders of his heavy gray cloak rising and falling in silent answer to Gabe. However, the hooded head did give a nod, and so he turned to guide his steps into the main hall, where the task force had assembled.
"I see we've got some jumpy ones." he chuckled, arriving just after Officer Scheller's shaky introduction, "That might be a good thing. So then, I take it you think you're prepared...?"
"If I had Force powers, vacuum or not my cape/clothes/hair would always be blowing in the Dramatic Wind." - Tenzhi
Characters
Experiment, who had been amazingly silent for the past... Well, however long really- He had been playing Tetris on his PDA, suddenly looked up at the cloaked figure.
"You bet your raspberry gumdrop buttons we're ready!"
War Bird hovered in the meeting room, decloaking once more as the door opened to let people in. He "docked" with the chair, aranging himself in the manner in which humanoids were intended to sit in chairs.
He scanned everyone that entered's City ID and matched it against the Crey database and the city database of heroes, believing he was accessing imperial records and registry codes from the IFF transponders the other "ships" were carrying.
War Bird's coms officer monitored the air for sonic transmissions or "com chatter" to report to the captain, who was called from his ready room once it appeared that the rest of the task force was assembling.
Cedric and Matt looked to each other and shrugged.
"We're ready to go," Cedric stated with a smug grin and slammed his fist into his palm, "I can't wait to wail on those Arachnos!"
Matt hefted his katana (in its sheathe) and laid it across his knees. He gave a definitive nod to signify his willingness to get the job started.
My Stories
Look at that. A full-grown woman pulling off pigtails. Her crazy is off the charts.
[ QUOTE ]
Jake sighed. "You're optimism is rubbing off on me..." He chuckled. "Ah, well, I've done more improbable things, and there are some heroes that treat us over here in the Isles like humans... Guess I'll just have to hope that there's one like that in the task force and perform a flat out trade..." This statement was aimed more at himself than at Penny, he had a horrible habit of thinking outloud if the situation allowed him to.
[/ QUOTE ]
"There might be someone we could hook up with," Penny Arcade said thoughtfully. "First I would say we need to stock up on whatever we want to take with us, and then... ever played slots?" She got up to go, setting her watch. "Meet you back here in, say, twenty minutes?"
Then she paused, on the brink of taking off, as if something had just occurred to her. "Oh... hm... do you have magnesium grenades? If you do... I'd bring them along." Her voice sounded rather ominous at this, and then she took off abruptly, heading out directly into the sun so he couldn't see where she went, to stock up in preparation for the incoming task force.
Jay nodded to the hooded figure. He'd have to have all his wits about him if he were going to be of any use, so he mentally steeled himself and fell in behind Jayde. Breifly he looked around and wondered to himself. "Is this all were bringing?" and then moments later. "Oh.. right, heroes..." He shrugged and checked his gear, running through his checklist, still feeling the twinge of unpreparedness with out his gun.
Static Therapy followed the others, trying not to look too conspicuous. He hated that they were in the Freedom Corps building, so close to all those Longbow agents.
Acid gave a satisfied nod. He had to admit he was glad to get right to the point for once. Usually, the guys on the blue side of the fence never stopped with their questions - who he was, why he wore the silly cloak, and so on and so forth. He liked remaining covert, and this was a welcome change.
"I wouldn't worry." he commented on Jay's mutterings, "If need be, I can always call for backup. Now then, do follow me. I think Gabe has a little more to show you..."
"If I had Force powers, vacuum or not my cape/clothes/hair would always be blowing in the Dramatic Wind." - Tenzhi
Characters
"Slots?" He uttered after Penny left him on the rocky outcropping. Magnesium grenades?
Jake usually carried all of his belongnigs with him, especially seeing as he didn't bring all that much with him to the Isles in the first place. Just to make sure that he had what he needed; however, he checked the confines of his trenchcoat.
...Hey, a flash grenade. Forgot I had those... Anyway, and three Scout drones. Check. "Everything seems to be in order..." He mumbled, brushing some hair away from his eyes. "Nothing to do except wait, I suppose..." Laying back down on the hard, flat surface, he began to gaze up at the sky, wondering of Paragon would accept a villain seeking redemption.
(( [ QUOTE ]
Oh... hm... do you have magnesium grenades?
[/ QUOTE ]
Don't think I didn't see that. 
))
The recruits filed in, and Acid Zero closed the door behind them. Gabe surveyed the group, and nodded mentally. He hadnt heard of most of them, but a few he knew by reputation. He did recognize Cedric and Matt, of the Grey's Army, however. Hed spent some time out of Paragon, touring other super-powered cities. Kingsvale had been on that list, and Grey's Army had made him feel quite welcome during his stay. But, that was a different business.
Overall, Gabe was pleased. He had heroes willing to help, and by the look of it, a diverse bunch. Best begin, then.
Okay, folks. Listen up. He called out. Any sense of pandemonium died out, and was replaced with calm attentiveness. We have a problem. A hero was kidnapped, and taken to Rogue Isles. To dispel any rumor mongering before we continue, yes, the hero in question is quite close to me, and was kidnapped in response to a mission we executed. We have reason to believe Ghost Widow is directly involved. If anyone feels they cant take that level of threat, walk out now, no loss of face. No one moved. Good. Our mission is to infiltrate Arachnos, find the location of Subtle Inquiry, stage a rescue, and escape. We have full support, until we leave, in which case weve hit the point of no return. To rephrase that, stock up on anything you need now, because no one is coming in after us. Gabe let that digest for a moment as he called up various maps and plans he displayed on the hologram field.
Now, Ghost Widows tower is here, in Mercy Island. Were going to enter as close as we can, aquatically, with transportation provided by Acid Zero and Portal corporation. Gabe nodded to Acid. Hell also be responsible for pulling us out, but hes a last ditch effort. We are not to rely on him unless weve been identified as heroes. Speaking of which, does anyone here rely on their equipment for powers? Were going to be completely swapping out our costumes in a few moments, and Longbows put together some alternate IDs, which they assure us will hold the highest level of scrutiny. Gabe paused once more for breath.
That just about covers it for now. Any questions? Once were geared up, were leaving. Its a guarantee Rogue Isles knows were coming, just not where from or how many. Once we leave this room, the Task Force has begun, and no contact with the outside world is allowed.
((Edit: Grey informed me I got his character's backgrounds incorrect. Fixed!))
Swapping out our costumes? Static Therapy thought to himself. He looked up at Gabe. This isn't going to end well He decided to take his chances and while everyone was shuffling out of the briefing room he slowly got up and approach the hero.
"Could I speak to you privately? It's rather improtant.
"Aquatically is probably a bad idea." Acid retorted, standing somewhat anonymously in the far back until now, "No, I think the public channels will be better. I'll just have a gate made to the DPO in Grandville. Recluse doesn't bother with the place, and I highly doubt my associates would have any disposition to tell him their gate got something not from White Plains."
"As for the location of Ms. Inquiry," he went on, "I'm somewhat confident I can get that out of Scirocco. Ghosty bugs him almost as much as she does Scorpion. You guys focus on getting to Mercy, I'll see what I can get location-wise. The ferry system's got no security aside from the drones, and they're not hard to fool..."
"If I had Force powers, vacuum or not my cape/clothes/hair would always be blowing in the Dramatic Wind." - Tenzhi
Characters
"Cool!" Cedric shouted, "I always liked covert ops! You gonna be throwing me in Arachnos Armor?"
"Ced..." Matt muttered to his friend, "Don't you kind of need that armor?"
"Nah, man! I'll just pop out the modules Shel put in this stuff and switch it into the new stuff, easy-peasy! How do you think I run around with just my cammy pants and PT shirt?"
"Lunacy?"
"Heh, yeah... But I also got a modified Grav control module hooked into the belt. This [censored] no problem!"
"And they called me mad," McGinty muttered as he rolled his eyes, "Well, I'm good with what I've got, so long as I get to keep my sword. Suit me up, and let's get to business."
----
Power Breaker reached the Giza and approached a machine nobody else seemed to use. In fact, they seemed preternaturally disposed to avoid it.
"Hello, old friend," he rumbled as he inserted a coin and pulled the lever, "Heard any good stories?"
The orange screen went through its bells and whistles displays. The little dials spun, but Breaker knew they wouldn't land on a winner. However, a personal greeting for the Brute was typed out on the orange interface.
Then, the screen went blood red.
"Danger."
"I know," Power Breaker inserted another coin and pulled the lever, "Got any clues as to what?"
"Spider Specter," the screen replied, "Old friends... New foes... Very little payoff."
"I figured as much," Breaker sighed as he tossed a hundred dollar bill into the slot and pulled the lever again.
"Some who would be allies are headed your way."
"Should I trust them?"
"Unknown. Their intentions are difficult to fathom. Both are of similar dispositions to you... But both have commited great sins."
"So have I."
"Your actions mitigate your karma."
The dials stopped on a winner and a fifty dollar bill slid out of the slot.
"Stay put, and they'll be here shortly," the slot machine finally explained, "It has been good knowing you, Raymond. I hope your dreams come true."
"Hope it's the pleasant ones." Breaker chuckled before walking away to find himself a seat.
My Stories
Look at that. A full-grown woman pulling off pigtails. Her crazy is off the charts.
[ QUOTE ]
Power Breaker reached the Giza and approached a machine nobody else seemed to use. In fact, they seemed preternaturally disposed to avoid it.
"Hello, old friend," he rumbled as he inserted a coin and pulled the lever, "Heard any good stories?"
The orange screen went through its bells and whistles displays. The little dials spun, but Breaker knew they wouldn't land on a winner. However, a personal greeting for the Brute was typed out on the orange interface.
Then, the screen went blood red.
"Danger."
"I know," Power Breaker inserted another coin and pulled the lever, "Got any clues as to what?"
"Spider Specter," the screen replied, "Old friends... New foes... Very little payoff."
"I figured as much," Breaker sighed as he tossed a hundred dollar bill into the slot and pulled the lever again.
"Some who would be allies are headed your way."
"Should I trust them?"
"Unknown. Their intentions are difficult to fathom. Both are of similar dispositions to you... But both have commited great sins."
"So have I."
"Your actions mitigate your karma."
The dials stopped on a winner and a fifty dollar bill slid out of the slot.
"Stay put, and they'll be here shortly," the slot machine finally explained, "It has been good knowing you, Raymond. I hope your dreams come true."
"Hope it's the pleasant ones." Breaker chuckled before walking away to find himself a seat.
[/ QUOTE ]
Penny Arcade collected her things with brusque efficiency.
The old base wasn't large, but it was big enough to hold all the gear she had managed to accumulate during the course of her adventures. Now she zipped there quickly, intent on some specific things.
The stealth suit was brand-new, acquired only two days ago from those who would have used its power for ends that Penny Arcade considered to be unworthy. It had been stored on a male mannequin when she had found it: but upon removal, it had shrunk to fit its new owner. Brilliant stuff. She had spent the last couple of days preparing it for use: removing booby-traps and tracking devices, and running it through its paces. It was clean - she had intercepted it before its former owners had had time to muck with it too much. She stripped down and slipped it on in seconds.
The magnesium grenades took longer. She had acquired them when she first came to the island, but had hardly used them since. After rummaging through drawers and crates, she finally found them at the bottom of one of the big toolboxes.
Her mind drifted for a moment as she rolled one around in her hands, to a masked man in the Zig, made of shadow...
She shook her head, clearing it of the memory, and focusing on the grenade in her hand. She took the whole box. Just in case.
On the move again, she rang up Jake's number, but got voicemail. "Jake! Meet me at the Giza! Er... as a guest, we're not going to assault the place." She hung up, and headed to St. Martial.
The Golden Giza was a monstrous thing, a gigantic golden pyramid which towered over everything else on the island. Penny Arcade sometimes liked to come here, and eat lunch on one of the benches out in the lush, sculptured gardens. She wasn't exactly a patron, but she had done a job or two from time to time, and so her presence was tolerated. No one seemed surprised to see her come inside.
Penny Arcade wasn't a gambler, but sometimes she would hang briefly around a particular slot machine and play a few quarters. Today, there was someone else hanging around the slot machine too: a fellow named Power Breaker.
She knew him by reputation only. There was something of an underground railroad in the Isles; on occasion, some unfortunate soul would find a hankering to go to Capeville, and, like a lucky gambler, would hit on exactly the right combination of luck, money, and contacts to make the trip alive. Penny Arcade was considered a way station. She didn't know Power Breaker personally, but suspected that he also was considered a way station.
She nodded at Power Breaker, dropped a token in the slot, and watched the dials spin.
"Your actions mitigate your Karma," Slots said on the little orange screen.
Penny Arcade sighed. She hated conversations that began this way. Her eyes slid to Power Breaker, but she judged him to be too far away to overhear.
"Can I trust him?"
"Unknown. His disposition is similar to yours."
"Mmmm." She put a square token in the other slot this time: it represented more money, though Penny Arcade didn't care in the least, since the Giza had given her several stacks of these things some weeks ago in lieu of genuine payment.
"Your time on the Isles draws to a close." She shivered at this proclamation.
"When?" She couldn't help the question.
"Unknown."
"I brought magnesium grenades," she said hopefully, pulling the lever again.
"You'll need them," Slots said, and declared her a winner.
Jay glanced over to "Alle" "Heh, cool as a cucumber." he thought to himself. "Well, You ready?" He swung his door open and exited the car, quickly grabbing his duffle bag from the trunk. The bag seemed to get heavier every day, it contained his gun. He hadn't even fired it since his change, but felt bare without it. He made it about halfway up the car again before turning back. He decided to leave the gun, he had to learn to work without it. He reopened the trunk and removed the gun from the bag, placing it back in it's lock-box. Tossing the now much lighter bag over his shoulder he closed the trunk and moved around the passenger side, joining Jayde as they walked up to the Freedom Corps HQ's main doors.
They pushed inside and stopped, looking around unsure of where to go from here.