Boomtown Blues (( Open RP ))

"Oh so you can Assume that only monsters, killer psionic robots, psychopaths, mutant punks and nazis would live here, but I can't even remotely say that the cowardly masses that cry for help when there purses are snatched wouldn't live in Astoria? So very fair of you."

She looked to the sword then to his face. "Nice sword are you going to fling it out and show this girl how to behave? I warn you I like to be on top." Was kind of fitting that He who lies took the Draw stance cause in the brown trench coat and work boots she does have a Cowboy like appearance. (yeah I know that sounds so dirty... I'm starting to like Blackdraft might have to make her a server character!)

Dreg at the same time stopped in his tracks and looked at the two. He was told to give Blackdraft backup. After thinking for a moment he figure he wait after all rushing in blasting as it were might just get him blasted by both Blackdraft and the man who looks quiet angry.

"****.", the spined heroine commented, looking around for the truck now that most of the villains were down. The truck was gon- no wait, there it was. A couple of blocks away, and disappearing fast. She didn't bother informing the other hero that she was leaving since he appeared to have vanished anyway, instead just taking a flying leap down the road after the truck, up onto a rooftop. She then jumped from roof to roof along the vehicle's path, not keeping it always in sight but enough that she didn't lose it as she trailed after it. Something bigger than an average robbery was going on here, and she wanted to know what.

{Talos}

Gravitatron blinked as both heroes seem to take off. Then he looked in the direction of the spine chick went. "Damn she's after the truck!" He fishes in his pockets for the communicator. "Gravitatron to Acid Zero both Wreaking Ball and Hotwire are down and I'm barely standing. A high level hero chick with wicked spines trailing you." After that he limped to where the other two Villains were laying in the street.

appon reaching the two he drags Hotwire closer to Wreaking Ball and channeled his remaining energy to open a Wormhole Teleport bubble escape. (team Teleport) He didn't have to go far there was a waiting boat for the three of them. It was thought safer for the team braking into the building to use a different escape route then the truck. With in moments the three Villains vanished from the street.

"Wilco." Acid responded via the microscopic commlink in his left ear, then closed the channel. Well, that was unfortunate. He'd hoped the wrecking crew trio would've been able to take care of those two. Hmf. well, they said good help was hard to find for a reason, after all.

Thus the reptilian began to plot. Depending on which actions the hero (or heroes; it was quite possible that the second hero pursued the truck as well and just hadn't been noticed) now took, he'd need a contingency for each case. Good thing he'd brought along some help...

He Who Lies stared at Blackdraft for a moment before withdrawing his hands. Not so much because of her than noticing that Dreg had arrived and appeared to be standing by. "You are so ignorant that you're beneath my contempt." He spat. "Go do something useful, like dying in a fire. I have better things to do with my time than killing squatters."

There was a sudden burst of white light, and when it faded, He Who Lies was gone.

{Boomtown}

"Well well ignorance is bliss" then she spun and aimed the gun at Dreg. "Now who the hell are you?"

"I was sent to ba..." Dreg was saying when Blackdraft yelled "SHUT UP! He might still be here just hidden listening in. So give me a good reason not to blow your head off. I told Old man Jenkins I can take care of myself."

Jenkins? There wasn't any Jenkins ... oh cleaver think Dreg "Yeah but his Son Tom thinks otherwise."

Meanwhile in a hidden base in the northwest corner of Boomtown.

The figure moved about the construction robotic limbs reach up to make adjustments. A second figure walked into the work room "Sir it seems there is trouble with the extraction team in Talos."

The robotic figure turned and walked into the light the only things that revel that he was more then a machine was the breathing of his chest and the exposed brain with wires attached. From the Cybernetic face came the voice. "That piece is vital there aren't many Rikti detonators intact."

"It's already on route sir They were able to load it onto the waiting truck."

The robotic face turned to look at the fusion bomb. "This project must be built with as much Rikti tech as we can gain. People Must believe it was built by them. We have to remind people the Rikti are monsters that need extermination."

"Yes Sir Anonymous X I shall contact Acid Zero and get an update on his progress."

The Cyborgnetic Anonymous X nodded. "The Rikti must pay for what they did to me... to us. Do that and contact the other two extraction teams have them prepare but wait till we know if we can continue with out interference."

The two went back to there work.

(( This hasn't died already has it? ))

((I dunno. I was just kind of waiting for what Pious would do next...))

(( When someone says their character vanishes (not stealthy vanish, but rather not even there anymore vanish), I tend to take that at face value unless otherwise requested and proceed as if they weren't there until such time as they reappear. ))

OOC:

Just between all of us OOC, He Who Lies is a stalker. He'll be vanishing a lot.

(( Blackdraft is paranoid it's part of her nature that when someone goes poof she's expects an attack. Like I said before if no one posts I just continue on my own I'm kind of working on this idea going to Mission arc. ))

{Boomtown}

Blackdraft kept looking about at the ground for any puff of dust or distributed ground that might expose a hidden person. "Come on newbie lets get out of sight." Blackdraft didn't give him a chance to respond before she started moving heading at first away from Sanctuary's entrance.

"Um... alright" Dreg followed her. "Listen here newb you weren't sent to give me backup. If that was the case you have a weapon. You were sent to die..."

With that she turned and aimed the gun at him. "HEY WAIT!" Defensively he trusted out his hands and Telekinetic blast at her. All the effect it had on her was she staggered back then lifted in the air. "Oh stop whining I'm not going to kill you. That is what Tom wants and I don't play political games. Listen and learn Tom wants to make Sanctuary his own private kingdom."

"That's not what Sanctuary is for! I was here when we started it. With all the mayhem of the Rikti war we had no where we figured if we build a hidden home right in the middle of the worst hit place the Rikti would never look for us."

"Good idea but for one problem Human greed."

"What about the other leaders that's why we have three heads?" Dreg asked as the two started walking again this time back to Sanctuary. "Don't ask me I'm just a lookout and I'm telling you to do the same. Now just watch your back with Tom. You hear nothing more from me about this." With that the two enter the underground hide out.
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(The Trio going there but going the long way. The plan as they know it was deliver the goods to Acid and then take the boat to IP.)
{Talos}

Gravitatron and the others appeared on the boat it wasn't much just a tug boat but it served there needs. Wreaking ball woke up and dragged Hotwire inside the cabin as Gravitron started the motor and the boat set out for Independence Port. "Damn what was it High level day in Talos? Those were clearly tough Heroes. Just look at my Armor!" Wreaking ball complained as he sat down. "And Hotwire still offline. Not that he was any good awake."

Gravitatron shook his head and opened his comunicator. "This is Extraction team one we got away from the capes and on route to Independence Port." From the comunicator came the operators voice "Understood Gravitatron, return to Boomtown as soon as you can."

((Yeah, there are very few people around here you just can't tell something. But I can understand Pious' approach seeing as how we do have a few and it only takes one of them in a thread to make things frustrating because of the 'I can see everything' character.))

With no one stopping it, the truck simply went on its merry way, pulling into the ferry just as planned. This really was too easy. Acid had expected somewhat more of a challenge.

"Go for Papa Palpatine." he answered when a call came into his commlink, the person at the other end momentarily confused and prompting the Khelari to add, "Yeah, it's me. Go ahead."

"Master Zero, Master Anonymous X wishes a progress update." the henchman retorted, "Is the operation on schedule?"

"Well of course it is." the reptilian's tone momentarily took on a mockingly shocked manner, "Why, I'm downright offended you'd think otherwise. Seriously though, yeah. Also I've told you: you can just call me Acid."

"Yes, Master Acid." the henchman's response caused an eye roll. What was the world coming to...?

Blackdraft would discover that no matter how carefully she surveyed her surroundings, nothing was amiss. There were no gaps in the wind, no shadows where they shouldn't have been, no sudden puffs of dust, no tell-tale step vibrations in the ground - nothing. Either there really was nobody following them or somebody WAS following them but was skilled or talented enough to not give themselves away. Even searching for presence would turn up nothing.

And should it come to be that somebody was following the pair, said somebody had just followed them inside sanctuary undetected.

{Boomtown}

The Mall turned into living space was filled with people making junk into useful tools. The two didn't talk much Dreg tried to start a conversation but Blackdraft never replied.

The came to the center of the mall and instead of a food court or some display what was there now was a Garden. Trees of different kinds with bushes all were food producing plants. From the trees came a figure standing 10 foot tall thin and covered with leaves. His or It's face was without a mouth or nose just what might be 6 wood knot eyes. Beside the figure was a young girl maybe 14 or 15 "He said welcome back Blackdraft and welcome back as well John."

Dreg stepped back "Wait.. what he didn't say anything he never did." The girl smiled "I can read minds thought most minds I feel lost peoples thoughts can be wild but Silvanus thoughts are slow calm. Unlike yours your mind seems more scrambled then normal." She looked at the tree man Silvanus then back to Dreg. "He is also glad your free from the Lost."

"Gee thanks. Well I'm glad to be back home at last." He looked over and spotted Blackdraft picking up at Toddler. He couldn't help over hear her speak to the child. "See Windy mommies back" He looked away as she gave the little girl a hug.

For some reason Silvanus and the Telepathic girl were looking down the hall but if either notice anything neither said as they both went back into the gardens.
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{IP}

Wrecking Ball had taken off his armor and was at the moment repairing it. "We weren't meant to fight high level Heroes! I mean face it those two had to be 50s." Hotwire whined as he worked on reconnecting the cut skin and wires on his shoulder.

"Would you shut up Hotwire were almost in IP from there we take the train to Steel Canyon an then it just an easy trek to Boomtown and we can rest." Gravitatron said as he piloted the boat into dock.

Usually. But not this time. The reason for this of course wouldn't be revealed for some time - or at least not until the ferry arrived on shore and people began to wonder why a certain truck didn't move after docking...

(( I post more perhaps tomorrow morning right now I'm to tired and I got work tonight.))

(( Thanks Paradigm_Shift I didn't even think of having this sub-plot till after you had He who lies follow the two. Took me a bit to get the angles the way I wanted in my head.))

He Who Lies might have noted that Silvanus and Rose for that was indeed the name of the girl was looking at a figure who hurried out and to the exit of Sanctuary. The arrival of Dreg disturbed the plans and Tom was on his way to the base of Anonymous X's group in the north west corner.

Silvanus and Rose went to the center of the garden where Rose sat down and started tending to a flowerbed as Silvanus moved to two other tree like people. These two were female or as close as female as they could be. All three stood silently till an Old woman entered the clearing. "Greetings Silvanus, Radande, Adhene and Rose" she said as she entered. Rose stood up and went to where the Three tree people stood and her eyes rolled back in her head as she spoke her voice seemed to lack emotions. "Welcome Head Mother Ginger how may we be of aid?"

Ginger sat down and sighed "I think I just need someone to listen... Tom's being more a pain then normal he's up to something. Rose have you seen anything in his thoughts?"

Rose blinked as she came back to herself "You know I try not to read minds Ginger only these three give me some control with out them I get lost in the minds of others. Besides it's rude." Ginger lifted her hand "I didn't mean that you tried to read his mind but your powers are stronger then most thought readers. I was just thinking you... heard him in passing."

She looked to Silvanus then to Ginger "I'm sorry Ginger he knows I can read others thoughts so she keeps his mind well guarded. He is disturbed by Dreg arrival thought for what reason I don't know. You know how he hates something he has no control over."

Then Rose's eyes rolled up again and her voice took on that empty tone. "Me and the others do not approve of how Tom wishes to run things. Plants as well as people aren't meant to be hidden in caves. It is sad that he wormed his way into the Head council after Franks death." Thought it was still rose her voice changed a touch as one of the other three used her "I still wonder how an Embalmed Cadaver got into Sanctuary."

"Your right Rose... I mean.. Sorry it's still unnerving how you three use her as a means to talk. I don't know who is saying what."

"Yes it is not the best way to communicate but we had long ago lost our own ability to talk, and Rose does accept." The Three said using Rose.

Ginger nodded "I didn't say I don't approve just it's unnerving. I'm afraid if Tom gets worst we might have to try something drastic. Maybe an emergency election to have him impeached."

The three tree people looked at eachover and even Rose was in on the silent comunication. Then Rose looked back at Ginger and with her own voice. "We aren't in charge Ginger to say anything would influance you."

"Thanks for just listening I bring up my idea with William" with that Ginger got up and headed away. Once gone Rose looked at the three Dryads for that how she thought about them. "You might bluff to Ginger and the others but your thinking about having Tom killed" her voice flaring with anger. "Higher beings indeed."

After a few moments she looked down then back at them "Yes I understand but why not tell Ginger and the others you believe Tom had the Embalmed brought in... Oh yeah... I guess someone had to help him so who?"

Silvanus then made a very human gesture of shrugging his shoulders.

Meanwhile Carl had caught up with Dreg and the two were going down to the lower level of the former mall. Now however what once was a parking garage was now makeshift housing. "I found a place for you John it was just emptied. The guy that had it before got lucky and found a job then moved out to a place in Faultline."

He looked at Carl as they passed the makeshift buildings Most were made from former office cubicles that been salvaged from nearby office buildings. Dreg smiled then "Glad to hear the main reason for this place is working. A place to get back on ones feet."

Carl nodded "Yeah Him and his wife had just married too. A real happy ever after. Now just need to get an army of Fairy Godmothers down here for the rest of us Cinderellas."

For the first time in a long time Dreg laughed "I think I fit with the Shrek crowd now."

Carl stopped and opened the door to a one room chamber. "Well Shrek this isn't the swamps but welcome home."