Exploding Boy (Plot thread, summary, thingy)
By
Arctic_Princess,
Posted on: 2009-01-10 22:50 in Roleplaying
The Canadian Kid stepped through the doors to Galaxy City Hospital.
The layout and decor of the place threw him for a second. He'd only had to visit the Kings Row hospital once before now, and for a while he thought he was right back there. Shrugging it off, he made his way over to the reception.
With a dazzling smile, the Red & White adorned sixteen year old began quizzing the woman behind the counter.
"Evening, miss! I was wondering if you could help me..." he said in confidence unbefitting of a teenage boy.
"Of course, sir. What seems to be the problem?"
"I'd like to know if you've had any recent admissions. Within the last quarter hour or so...we had a disturbance nearby at the Galaxy Girl statue and believe someone may have been sent here."
A few clicks on the computer in front of her and the receptionist slowly shook her head.
"I'm sorry, sir, nothing in our records of any admissions within the last hour. Is there anything else you need?"
The Kid smiled, nodding as he looked down at his patriotic costume.
"Could I trouble a doctor for a quick radiation check? Just to be on the safe side...there were traces at the blast site."
With a nod and a hand gesture, a doctor stepped up to The Kid's side, placed a hand on his shoulder and walked him over to the elevators.
"It's our pleasure, Canadian Kid. Right this way."
@Crius
Bassai, Canadian Kid, Alruna, Kahi
Mistress Rad, Culpeo, Ms. Demeanor, Celsius
If nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do. Let's go to work.
(( FYI, there would be no trace. You'd have to stand on that spot for a couple of weeks to take enough damage to worry over. ))
Disclaimer: The above may be humerous, or at least may be an attempt at humour. Try reading it that way.
Posts are OOC unless noted to be IC, or in an IC thread.
Run that past me again will you? a middle-aged man wearing a lab coat looked at the slight, purple-swathed woman as if she were about to go off.
I didnt see it myself but according to another hero some regular guy just exploded. He was being harassed by some Hellions. Now can we get on with my scan please? Id rather not be responsible for the quarantine of my entire apartment block.
Helena Hammond, previously known as Phobia and survivor of the First Rikti War (if you could call being in a coma for four years surviving) stood impatiently in a GIFT laboratory, waiting to be scanned for radiation levels. In her delicate hands she held a grubby, polythene bag which contained a plastic scraper and what looked like regular dried mud, mixed with motor oil.
The scientist took the bag from her and looked at it curiously before stowing it away in a plastic container and labelling it. Helena didnt quite catch what the man wrote but she stopped herself short of attempting to read his mind. That was a steep, downward path she tried to avoid at all costs.
After receiving the okay, Helena went behind the screen and removed her street clothes, gasping as her feet touched the cold, tiled floor. She stepped into the screening bay and let her mind wander back to earlier in the evening.
It had certainly been an odd evening. She had arrived at the statue in Galaxy City, a regular meeting place for Heroes to relax, on the lookout for Richard Huntington. Something had triggered in her mind that morning and she just wanted to chat to him and possibly have a little flirt. There were few pleasures to be had these days for a single girl with her talents and he had been so helpful when she had asked for his aid a year ago, to try and block out her wretched powers.
The conversation, Richard-less, was soothingly banal: people were chatting about fashion and making jokes. Helena had clocked the very tall man, seemingly made of rock, as she approached the large concrete plinth but then this was Paragon and she had seen far worse.
Minutes were lost in thought and then she was brought back to the explosion and felt the way the ground had trembled for a split second. People turned their heads to see the cause of the commotion, heroic instincts rising to the fore. Helena had no idea why she had felt inclined to oh wait! The Rocky Man had returned, his face and chest covered in grime
well more discernible grime than he had previously worn. Helena had offered a handkerchief from her utility belt and felt like an old woman in the process.
Another hero, a young man in a cape asked, You saw someone?
The Rocky Man replied that hed seen a guy in trouble, being beaten up by some gangbangers. And then the three of them were at the area of the explosion, indicated by a dark patch on the tarmac behind the statue. Helena had tried to scan the area mentally (an act which avoided entering another persons mind entirely), but there was no sign of sentient life in the small, open-air parking lot.
The Rocky Man and the Caped Guy discussed the bizarre events whilst Helena stood dumbly, looking at the scene.
Should we
check the hospital or something? The Caped Guy asked. He sounded Canadian to Helena: Canadian and ever so slightly nervous.
Helena remembered asking what had happened to the man and his aggressors.
I saw some flaming bits around but, theyre gone now. I had my eyes closed during the blast
he replied. In my experience, people dont normally blow up.
The Caped Guy had made a decision, Ill go check the Hospital. The admissions desk should have picked him up if he was ported there. But he didnt move: The scene was strange and had a totally unknown quality to it. Perhaps thats why the three of them remained there, or perhaps the Canadian was new to all of this and was waiting for someone else to call it?
Well, this is an odd place tbe standin. Helena didnt see the girl at first as she was bent down, scooping up gunk into the bag.
Some sort of explosion according to Rocky there. Helena mumbled from her bent over position. The man didnt appreciate that description but he explained the situation to the girl.
Ah right. I'm assumin' there was a person involved? The place stinks o'th'unnatural. The girls nose wrinkled and she added, Aye... what's it y'r callin' it... radiation.
Radiation? Helena was the only one who asked the question but she sensed it was suddenly very much at the front of everyones mind.
My kind's not fond of it. I'll be off. And with that the girl returned to the statue and resumed her conversation.
And then the three went their separate ways: Helena made her way to the GIFT lab, the Canadian wandered off to the hospital and Rocky remained. Helena drifted back to the present just as the cold water shower started. She screeched as the hard water assaulted her.
Everything seems pretty normal Helena. Youre good to go. A tinny voice from another room came through the speaker.
When can I expect some results? From the sample I took, I mean. Helena shouted, drying her hair with a towel.
Couple of days I reckon. Want me to keep em here or shall I post em to you?
Keep them here, Johnny. Thanks.
((I'm having to be away for a week, possibly two, which has come as a bit if a surprise. So, I will post the results here and try to keep up to date. PMs to people affected by this post to follow))
[ QUOTE ]
GIFT REPORT 274HOHHPSI
01/12/09 08:45
***
Sample: Extraction source - Galaxy Plaza. No contamination from operative detected.
Details: Traces of Gamma Radiation low. Not considered a threat. Oil substance identified as regular tarmac. Super-heated.
Likely source unknown: Heat and radiation levels associated with explosive devices. Would need evidence of associated trauma to suggest explosive device. No shrapnel collected.
Fibres identified: Cotton, polyester.
[/ QUOTE ]
Helena looked at the stark report and turned her head inquisitively to Sally, one of the lab technicians.
It means whatever happened, Helena, wasnt the result of a bomb. The woman explained.
Radiation was minimal. Certainly theres no threat to you or the public. Im afraid this ones a bit of a mystery. You dont think your friend, the rock monster, could have imagined it?
Helena held the printout in her hand and chewed a corner in thought. Her expression betrayed her fears and Sally responded kindly.
You know youre fully capable of reading minds now. The tests, the drugs, the rehabilitation its just your self doubt holding you back, Hel.
The two women hugged, with Helena mumbling her thanks before she made her way home to her lonely apartment overlooking Gemini Park, the printout still in her hand. By the time evening came, Helena had decided that she would seek out this rock guy again and do a little more investigating.
(( So you try coming up with a good name for a thread like this.
There are a couple of people investigating the amazing exploding boy and his various detonations and general messing up of the environment, so this thread is a place to keep all the storylets, summaries, investigative comments, yadda, that anyone wants to post.
I'm managing the plot, so PM me if you wish to investigate anything involving this. ))
Disclaimer: The above may be humerous, or at least may be an attempt at humour. Try reading it that way.
Posts are OOC unless noted to be IC, or in an IC thread.