"And you're sure about this?"
"Couldn't be more sure about anything else."
"You're lying."
"Whatever, B. I know what I want."
"Look, all I'm saying is that you graduated top five in your class and had the option of picking any precinct in this dimension and the next because you happened to save the Chief's daughter but-"
Brian Wincott sighed. His mentee, Josiah Goode, did what he did best: ignore a real situation. With headphones on, Brian knew it was best to let things go.
For now.
Brian shook his head as he came to a stop sign and signaled to turn right. He was taking Josiah to the Two-Six in King's Row to be indoc'd for his new job. It was something the Detective was reluctant to do. It hadn't been that long since Brian's first day at the Two-Six; let alone his last.
The car turn slowly around the corner to avoid hitting pedestrians hurriedly crossing the street to avoid being hit. Then again, in this city, they may have just been rushing to the sanctity of their home to relieve themselves of the pressures of being outside in King's Row.
Memories flooded the newly appointed chief investigator for the Paragon Police Department. Memories of every day he'd spent with anyone involved with the Two-Six. Some of it pleasant. A lot of it not so much. One look over at a 22 year old Josiah and Brain had to try again.
Brian stopped just short of the precinct and yanked the left side of the headphones out of Josiah's ear. The reaction was as if the kid had been plucked on the temple.
"Hey man! Look, I know what you're gonna say. You're gonna-"
"You know what," Brian's voice raised a few volumes above Josiah's. Josiah rolled his eyes and stopped speaking, "You've got a big mouth. A mouth that can't be backed up by anything you have going on for yourself." The insult got Josiah's attention.
"Yea," Brian nodded with a smirk, "You saved a life. You graduated from a police academy and was among the first group to be integrated into the Metaforces Joint Task Support Group. Wooo, yay for you!" Brian added in a bit of sarcastic applause at the end. His face straightened almost immediately.
"But what the hell does any of that even mean? Please tell me? Answer me."
Josiah opened his mouth, but Brian cut him off, "Don't talk! You don't have anything worth hearing." The kid furrowed his eyebrows.
"It doesn't mean a damn thing if you don't have the ability to act or the desire to live," Brian leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms, "And as far as I'm concerned. You don't want to live. Do you? Answer me!"
Josiah was a little confused at this point, but started again to open his mouth. Again, he was cut off by Brian, "Nah, you don't. You really don't. What kind of respect to expect to gain with the attitude you have? Tuning the world out with your music when you don't want to hear the truth. This," Brian's voice raised as he picked up the MP3 player out of Josiah's lap, "is not going to save your life. This is not going to give you the power to save another life or make the right choices as a leader or follower. Nothing is. Except what you have here," Brian tapped Josiah's head, "And here," he finished with a poke at his mentee's heart.
Brian breathed in as if to let go whatever it was that allowed him to speak the way he just had. Silence filled the four-door black sedan with an air of stuffiness. Josiah's head hung low while Brian looked from the freshly graduated officer to the 2-6 precinct.
Without looking at Josiah, Brian started up again, "Your father wants you to help run the business. Why don't you want to do that?"
Josiah shrugged.
"Really? That's the best you got? I thought you knew what you wanted, yet, you can't tell me why you don't want? Yea, you're better off at Random Goodes with your family."
Josiah had reached his limit. He felt a large amount of respect for Brian for who he was to his father, Nathaniel, and who he was as a mentor when he was coming up i n the academy. At this point, Josiah almost felt like Brian was the big brother he never had. However, none of that mattered.
"Look at you! You think you have the right to tell me anything? You've got to be kidding me. Don't act like I dont why you're my mentor or any mentor in the first place! You got where you were because of groveling and a piecemeal redemption that still backfired on you! So what if you worked here! Did anything here! Since most of you left, this place has become something more than a passers-by precinct. A hangout spot for rejects that got the cases no one else wanted. I tell you what, I'll let you tell me something useful with the next statement you make and I won't think this ride was a complete waste of time.
Josiah started to wrap up his headphones while Brain watched in silence. The detective wasn't sure what he wanted to say, but knew that the string of emotions that may have usually been at a boiling point, was strangely calm. The most important part of what he was trying to do was keep Josiah's father's promise, but at this point he wasn't keeping up with his end of that promise.
When Josiah opened the car door to get out, Brian turned off the engine and got out as well. His 6 foot frame was covered by a large navy blue hooded sweatshirt and matching sweatpants. He had just finished a workout of boxing and running when he brought his mentee to the Two Six. His long brown hair was a lot shorter than it used to be. Now that he was working for the PPD again and in a position of authority, he wanted to reflect, once more, a disciplined image. His sideburns were cut just below the bottom of his ears and his hair was only about an inch long, evenly cropped on all sides. He looked as average as they came, regardless of his gymnast-like build. Probably the only thing that may have caused people to look twice at him would have been from his eyes. They were the color of emeralds.
"Josiah..." Brian watched as the 6'4" kid started to make his way to the station with his duffel bag.
"Tracy!" Brian called out after the boy using his first name. That made Josiah stop.
"Look, I'm not telling you what to do. Wouldn't dream of it. I'm no one's father. But what I do know is what's on the other side of that door. Doesn't matter what kind of paint job, or new plants, or how clean the bathrooms are now..."Brian sighed.
"Inside those doors is a life beyond your years. You've grown up seeing a lot living in a city of Heroes, but when you actually become a part of it, when you become what has come to be the ins and outs of this business, you learn that everything... not you, me, your family, the villains, and especially the heroes of this city are not what it seems on the news and papers."
Josiah turned his head slightly over his shoulders. Brian wasn't sure what may have been getting through. He knew kids were going to make their own decisions. Maybe it was time to let Josiah make his. Brian did the same thing when he was that age. The boy was twenty-two. In the eyes of society, he was a man. So perhaps it was time to be treated like one; even if he wasn't ready. Some people have to piss on the fence to know that it's electric.
"I'm not gonna tell you to be careful," Brian concluded, "But be careful."
And that was all he said. Josiah turned forward again and adjusted the bag in his hands while he walked into the precinct. The area was semi-bustling with activity. It wasn't something he wasn't used to. he had spent a considerable amount of time in police stations growing up because of his interest in how things worked. One man was going through some paperwork while speaking with someone who looked to be Colonel Mustard. Josiah had seen his picture at several other precincts, tacked to a wall like a missing persons report. "Have You Seen This Man" was in bold letters underneath the picture. Apparently, it was a running joke amongst all of the officers who knew him.
“Right. Has Steel asked for any—“
The radio squawked, interrupting Kasoh’s question, “2-6 hero personnel, report to briefing room Alpha, show starts in fifteen minutes.”
Kasoh raised two fingers to his eye patch and gave Mustard a halfhearted salute as he walked to the stairs on the left, going up to the second floor, where Briefing Room Alpha was.
Josiah stood quietly while the first man left. Then he stepped forward and placed his duffel bag on the floor next to him. When he looked up, Colonel Mustard was glaring at him wish disgust. A confused Josiah looked around the room as if to make sure he was the one being started at. When he looked back at Julius and pointed at himself, it was all the desk sergeant needed to go off.
"Are you breathing on my glass?" When he didn't get a response, he started up again, even louder and picked up a service pistol from underneath his desk.
Are YOU, breathing on my glass?!" The heavily modified M9 glared at Josiah like Mustard's extended third eye. An officer walked past with a stack of paperwork, stopped, stared and started walking again.
"Colonel's got himself another gun." Other officers looked up in Mustard's direction and then went back to what they were doing.
For a moment, Josiah thought he was holding his breath. He was sure of it. A quick check let him know that he was. Now he panicked a little because of his need to breathe. At the last second, he turned his head left and let out a big rush of air and breathed in deep. He stared at Colonel Mustard. Fear filled his eyes for seconds before he remembered the joke he had become at other precincts. The fear vanished and he bent over to open his bag and present his documentation for indoctrination.
"Josiah Goode. Reporting," Josiah slipped the manila folder under the small slit in the glass and waited.
Mustard glared with his best glare while examining the new recruit. Josiah was tall. Universities had written his father in earnest, trying to get him to play for their school. in addition to his height, Josiah was an all-star basketball player. He set several records during his four year stint in high school. It felt natural to him, just like dancing. It wasn't ironic that someone who practically had headphones attached to his ears, could move and groove with the best of them. From hip-hop to tap to breaking, he'd learned it all. At 220lbs, he wasn't lanky. He was well-proportioned, in shape, and could run a six minute mile. You'd never know it with his usual wardrobe of a designed t-shirt, baggy jeans and any various color-combination of Jordans. Josiah wasn't a fighter, but that didn't mean that he didn't know how to defend himself. His black hair had a basic cut hairstyle where his sides were tapered and clipper cut short to blend blended into the top which was which was held a neatly-trimmed set of waves. Josiah loved going to the barber shop. It was an every other week tradition.
Julius scoffed. For more than two reasons, but mainly because he knew his glare was no longer effective. He placed the gun back under his desk and scowled under his breath. Josiah could only catch a few words. Colonel Julius Mustard had mastered the art of mutter.
Once everything had been confirmed, processed, and signed, Josiah picked up his bag and left the desk.
"You report to Simms. Upstairs. Briefing Room Alpha," Mustard called out before the sound of unrecognizable words became distant with each step Josiah took.
Once inside the meeting room, Josiah set his bag down once again and immediately noticed the freakishly tall woman on the other side of the room. From top to bottom, she looked like something from a dream he'd had. More than once. It took everything in his cool not to keep staring or post what he'd just seen on a social networking site.
He finally noticed the rest of the room and realized where he was. The man with the eye patch sat towards the back while he noticed to others having a quieted conversation. He decided he'd rather wait until he was acknowledged before sitting down or doing anything else.
In the meantime...
Hello, woman from my dreams.
Josiah looked away and smiled.
Brian watched from the Two Six entrance as Josiah continued with the decision that he'd made. It was nothing like what it was, but that was a good thing. Structure was a necessary component and allowing a ragamuffin pickup team of heroes solve crimes just didn't cut it sometimes.
The Detective turned away from the precinct and walked back toward his car to face a man in a blue pinstripe suit. He wore a black fedora and wingtip shoes. Silver cufflinks with an engraved "G" sparkled on his wrist. He was in his mid-fifties, but easily looked to be in the mid-thirties. The stranger's eyes seemed to have a plethora of stories to tell with a small remnant of a tinkle that let people know that he wasn't done yet. The thinning black hair was cut very short and could barely be seen with the hat that covered it. His dark skin was rough, down to his fingertips. He had definitely experienced the definition of a hard day's work.
"Well, that seemed to go a lot worse than you expected," the man spoke.
"Did it," Brian asked.
"I imagine so."
"Maybe," Brian stopped a few feet in front of the gentleman, who tipped his hat towards him and nodded with a smile.
"So what now?"
"Now," the suited man responded, "you keep your end of the bargain."
Brian walked past the man and around the back of the sedan to the driver's side door. He opened it and looked up.
"He's made his choice. Just like you did. Just like I did."
"And what choice is that," the gentleman asked.
Brian held the air in silence. A brief wind filled with specks of dust caused Brian to blink sporadically and look away to shield his face from any more debris. When he looked up again, the man wasn't anywhere in sight. Brian ducked into his car and closed the door.
"The choice to be someone he doesn't know how to be."
The car started and drove off past the police station and around the corner. From where the car was parked, a well-dressed man tipped his hat one last time.
"He'll learn. You did."
Simms stopped his conversation with the cat-woman in the suit to give Goode a once over.
"You're my new wunderkind rookie right? Goode?"
Without waiting for confirmation he waved at a seat, "Paperwork later, have a seat get ready for the briefing. Onnoroc! Make your overeducated *** useful and update the boy!"
Kasoh rolled his eye and made a 'come hither' motion at Goode without looking up from his data tablet.
Infinity
Sam Varden 50 MA/Reg Scrap
Doomtastic 50 SS/Inv Brute
Ceus 50 Eng/Kin Corr
Cinderstorm 50 Fire/Fire Blaster
Quote:
So fixated was he on Quex that he probably didn't even notice the other woman going past him. Not that Abbie was particularly noticable, most people had forgotten her face despite it being in the news only a couple of months ago. In a city of heroes, a couple of months ago may as well have been the dawn of time. And she herself wasn't particularly noticable in a crowd. She wasn't excessively tall like Quex, nor was she overly short either. Her hair these days was usually kept shorter, no longer than shoulder length at the most. Aside from that it pretty much sat as it fell, she didn't care enough to do anything fancy with it beyond keeping it reasonably tidy. Her clothing was equally average - though in the two-six it might stand out for not being a uniform. She was dressed in her usual short black shirt, leaving her arms and most of her midriff bare. Accompanying it were the black jeans with a thin purple stripe down each leg, flared at the bottom and held up by a studded belt, and the sturdy black boots. Regardless of whether he noticed her or not, though, she went right on past and into the briefing room.|
Hello, woman from my dreams. Josiah looked away and smiled. |
Quote:
| "Onnoroc! Make your overeducated *** useful and update the boy!" |
[Admin] Emperor Marcus Cole: STOP!
[Admin] Emperor Marcus Cole: WAIT ONE SECOND!
[Admin] Emperor Marcus Cole: WHAT IS A SEAGULL DOING ON MY THRONE!?!?
"You're my new wunderkind rookie right? Goode?"
Without waiting for confirmation he waved at a seat, "Paperwork later, have a seat get ready for the briefing. Onnoroc! Make your overeducated *** useful and update the boy!"
Kasoh rolled his eye and made a 'come hither' motion at Goode without looking up from his data tablet.
Josiah looked over at the man who had came in to the Two Six a little bit before him and sat down in the chair next to him. He slid the chair back a few inches so not to seem so close, but it was difficult with the other chairs all right next to each other.
Defeating the purpose of sliding back, he leaned forward and spoke softly, "What's with the update? I thought we were..." Josiah looked around warily at everyone and that's when he noticed Abbie.
When did she get here?
Then he remembered the unfamiliar smell he picked up when he had been staring at the other woman. His nose always seemed to work apart from the rest of his consciousness, like a rogue sense. Josiah looked back to Kasoh, "What update? Am I the only new person so far?"
"So far. We're all old hats here." Kasoh said, looking up from his tech device, he waved at Abbie, "Hi Abbie."
"I'm Dr. Kasoh Onnoroc--call me Kasoh, or Doc, or...whatever. That's Quex in the back, she's mean."
The warrior woman snorted, but didn't correct him.
"That's Warpshroud." He pointed to Abbie.
"Now, the update. We were called in for a briefing. That woman in the suit? She's a Fed of some sort--or just has a really bad tailor."
The cat-woman looked over at Kasoh and frowned, then ignored him, pulling out a flash drive and began loading some images.
Kasoh ticked a few points off, not really noticing that his pendantic tone of voice could be considered arrogant, or condesending, "Under an hour ago, there was a kidnapping in Steel Canyon. Eight year old girl, White Ford Van. Eyewitness news reports that they were low level gangers, Channel Six says Skulls, Channel 12 says Hellions, and Cable 34 says Nemesis, but 34 blames everything on Nemesis. Obviously, we are going to get some kind of mission pertaining to the effort."
"How am I doing Simms?" He called out.
Quex walked up and slapped Kasoh on the back of the head with her spiked metal gauntlet, "This is serious." she muttered before walking back to hold up the wall.
Rubbing the back of his head, Kasoh examined his fingers which came back smeared with a little blood, "See? Mean."
Infinity
Sam Varden 50 MA/Reg Scrap
Doomtastic 50 SS/Inv Brute
Ceus 50 Eng/Kin Corr
Cinderstorm 50 Fire/Fire Blaster
So far. We're all old hats here." Kasoh said, looking up from his tech device, he waved at Abbie, "Hi Abbie."
Josiah held a curious gaze at Abbie. She seemed too average to not be more than meets the eye. Her casual attire and demeanor only made him convinced of it even more.
"I'm Dr. Kasoh Onnoroc--call me Kasoh, or Doc, or...whatever. That's Quex in the back, she's mean."
The warrior woman snorted, but didn't correct him.
Josiah couldn't help but take in the purposeful opportunity to look at Quex again. There was something about her. Maybe it was the armor, or the sword, or perhaps it was battle weary design her body had taken from whatever lifetime of encounters she'd come across. It could have been a combination, Josiah wasn't sure.
"That's Warpshroud." He pointed to Abbie.
The rookie smiled and nodded when Kasoh pointed her out, "Warpshroud." He'd said it out of acknowledgment and also just to hear it come from himself; to see how it sounded.
"Now, the update. We were called in for a briefing. That woman in the suit? She's a Fed of some sort--or just has a really bad tailor."
Josiah smirked and thought back to a movie he'd seen recently about two drug cops working on their last case and explosions and Cuba and something or the other.
Quote:
Josiah was so enthralled with the information on the screen that he barely gave a passing glance at Kasoh's fingers. His mind would register it properly later. |
The cat-woman looked over at Kasoh and frowned, then ignored him, pulling out a flash drive and began loading some images. Kasoh ticked a few points off, not really noticing that his pendantic tone of voice could be considered arrogant, or condesending, "Under an hour ago, there was a kidnapping in Steel Canyon. Eight year old girl, White Ford Van. Eyewitness news reports that they were low level gangers, Channel Six says Skulls, Channel 12 says Hellions, and Cable 34 says Nemesis, but 34 blames everything on Nemesis. Obviously, we are going to get some kind of mission pertaining to the effort." "How am I doing Simms?" He called out. Quex walked up and slapped Kasoh on the back of the head with her spiked metal gauntlet, "This is serious." she muttered before walking back to hold up the wall. Rubbing the back of his head, Kasoh examined his fingers which came back smeared with a little blood, "See? Mean." |
His mind couldn't help but revert back to the day he came home from school one day to find out that the daughter of a neighbor's family had been kidnapped while she was on her way to school. She was also eight. The police eventually found her, but it had been too late. She was found just outside of a sewer entrance, body mangled and beaten. It left the family crushed and they moved to another state for what they figured to be a fresh start, but that just seemed impossible.
Josiah knew that girl. He used to watch her play outside and sometimes was a Plan C babysitter when the neighbors needed. He'd loved that little girl like a little sister.
Audrey. Audrey Belle.
The case probably didn't have anything to do with what happened then five years ago, but Josiah felt obligated all the same. especially, now that he was authorized and trained somewhat to investigate anything of a criminal nature. He focused back in on the briefing and tried to keep the emotion out of things.
"It doesn't sound like a Skulls or Hellions MO. What have ave we gathered from the scene of the kidnapping?"
Josiah's eyes averted left and right, "Or... is that what we're here for?"
Quote:
Abbie gave him a lazy wave as the Fed started loading up images. "Abbie, when off duty", she commented to both of them before turning her attention back to the briefing. Kasoh's commentary as the various things came up helped, given the woman herself seemed content to let the pictures do the talking. That or she'd missed something somewhere which was entirely possible given how little attention she typical paid to briefings of any kind. The captain, both the old one and the new one, had yelled at her for it more than once.| "That's Warpshroud." He pointed to Abbie. |
Quote:
| Josiah's eyes averted left and right, "Or... is that what we're here for?" |
[Admin] Emperor Marcus Cole: STOP!
[Admin] Emperor Marcus Cole: WAIT ONE SECOND!
[Admin] Emperor Marcus Cole: WHAT IS A SEAGULL DOING ON MY THRONE!?!?
"Not quite, Warpshroud." Simms looked around the room, checked his watch and nodded at the Fed. She nodded back, and he spoke, The 2-6 has been tasked with assisting in case, and we will not disappoint. Bringing that girl to her parents is more important to me than most of your lives."
Quex and Simms gave Kasoh a pointed look. Simms shook it off and continued, "The Special Agent will brief you.
Simms stepped back from the podium, allowing the cat woman in the suit to approach. She grabbed the projector remote and brought up three pictures. Simms stepped out.
The suit was not nearly as bad as Kasoh made it out to be, though it was not from Seville Row by any means. The Agent was short, a little over five feet and looked very thin. Still, there was an air about her that implied she cared not a whit what other people thought. Evidence of extreme self confidance, or an inherited cat behaviorthe score was still out.
My name is Special Agent Irene Mackenzie with the FBIs Metahuman Affairs Division, Ive done hero work under Razerclaw. Ive been called in to lead the investigation on this case, as this kind of child kidnapping is my specialty.
We dont have much time so Ill try to be brief. Irene used the remote to bring up a picture of a young girl, dressed in a sundress. At first pass, she wasnt at identifiable as human, for she had large cat like ears poking through her reddish hair and large green eyes with a vertical iris. She was holding a rag doll and smiling brightly, which revealed sharp incisors.
This is Melissa Gabriel age 8. She was kidnapped forty five minutes ago on her way home from dance class. PPD was notified who notified the Bureau.
She was grabbed by two young men, late teens/early twenties, both Caucasian and dressed in gang colorsSkulls.
They were in a white Ford Econoline van, local plates, reported stolen the night before. The van was stolen from an address in Kings Row, deep in Skull territory, and through quick response on an AMBER alert tip, we found it fifteen minutes ago in Skyway. Someone tried to sink it in the aqueducts.
The PPD and groups of heroes are searching Skyway as we speak. Its unlikely they will find anything. In 75% of cases, children abducted by strangers are killed inside of three hours. Current Evidence and my own experience lead me to believe that outcome is not going to happen here, but taking that kind of risk is unacceptable.
There have been no demands from the kidnappers and Melissas parents have no criminal connections, are not crime fighters, and are not affluent. Its likely she was kidnapped because of her feline mutation. If the kidnappers can get her out of the country, shell bring about a quarter of a million dollars.
PPD from Kings Row are investigating the area where the van was stolen, and have given us two leads.
Irene switched to a mugshot of a barrel chested man with a hook in his nose from being improperly set, Jack Radialcrush Horton is a Skull Bone Daddy pretty high up in their Dyne distribution network. It was in his territory the van was stolen. Hes currently in major lockdown in a warehouse in the Garment District. The PPD have the warehouse surrounded, but so far they have repelled both SWAT teams and the PPD Mech Suit Team. Reports from survivors indicate the presence of Emily Darkgloom, a thug from the Rogue Isles with melee based netherworld powers. We dont have a picture of her. I want the bulk of you to travel to the warehouse, bring them in, and find out what Horton knows.
The next slide was a wiry man with sunken eyes. His arms were heavily tattooed with a Skull motif, Other lead is William Grimsnap Tenpenny, a Grave Digger with ambition. Hes a runner and was seen an hour before the kidnapping at a nearby Up Up and Away burger. He lives in High Park. Cyclops here She pointed to Kasoh, and I will investigate that location.
Everyone make sure to get a radio and keep it on, its likely we wont be back here until after this situation has been resolved and Ill need to order on the fly.
Infinity
Sam Varden 50 MA/Reg Scrap
Doomtastic 50 SS/Inv Brute
Ceus 50 Eng/Kin Corr
Cinderstorm 50 Fire/Fire Blaster
She was grabbed by two young men, late teens/early twenties, both Caucasian and dressed in gang colorsSkulls.
Josiah held in his surprise. His mother always taught him never to let anything surprise him. Maybe it was Skulls. Eh, what do I know?
"I want the bulk of you to travel to the warehouse, bring them in, and find out what Horton knows.
Josiah leaned back in his seat slightly. He didn't want to seem too comfortable in a high-intensity situation. From what he understood, or rather assumed, his job would start here at the station. Everyone in the room looked more than qualified and prepared to handle on-location assignments.
Everyone make sure to get a radio and keep it on, its likely we wont be back here until after this situation has been resolved and Ill need to order on the fly.
Josiah stood up amongst the hustle of the others moving into their various responsibilities. He stepped quickly over to the Captain and waited at a position of Parade Rest until he was acknowledged. During that time, he became aware of the fact that he was the only soldier in the office apart from everyone that was downstairs. To Josiah, this meant that he may be playing a bigger part in this operation that he initially imagined. A nervous sentiment spread across his entire body.
"Captain Simms, what will be my part in this assignment?"
Oh man...
Simms looked up at Josiah and it was his years as a police officer that kept the annoyance off his face. He did not consider himself an impatient man, police officers could be listed amongst the most patient people in the world.
Still, his own memories being a young recruit were not repressed or otherwise, so rather than be short with the young man, Simms gestured for Josiah to be at ease.
"Relax Goode. You're on the Warehouse strike team. You're from the Metahuman forces right? So you've got some kind of super powers. Make sure Quex doesn't violate anyone's rights after the fight's over. Her definition of justice is a little...savage."
Infinity
Sam Varden 50 MA/Reg Scrap
Doomtastic 50 SS/Inv Brute
Ceus 50 Eng/Kin Corr
Cinderstorm 50 Fire/Fire Blaster
Quote:
"Skulls, capable of fending off the power armor guys. Right", Abbie commented mostly to herself. "Welp, nothing like a challenge to brighten up the day. Anyone who wants a lift, speak now or forever hold your peace." With that she stood up and headed for the door, proceeding at her usual fairly unhurried pace through the building to the front door. As she left the room she could be heard muttering to herself, "What the hell kind of name is 'Radialcrush' anyway?" Of course, as always she got all of two steps from the front door before vanishing into the swirling purplish-black energy of a Nictus teleport and reappearing on a nearby rooftop.| “Jack ‘Radialcrush’ Horton is a Skull Bone Daddy pretty high up in their ‘Dyne distribution network. It was in his territory the van was stolen. He’s currently in major lockdown in a warehouse in the Garment District. The PPD have the warehouse surrounded, but so far they have repelled both SWAT teams and the PPD Mech Suit Team. Reports from survivors indicate the presence of Emily Darkgloom, a thug from the Rogue Isles with melee based netherworld powers. We don’t have a picture of her. I want the bulk of you to travel to the warehouse, bring them in, and find out what Horton knows.” |
Proceeding via teleport from rooftop to rooftop to the Garment District, it didn't take her particularly long to find the warehouse. What with being surrounded by armed police officers and all, it stood out from the others just a little. She looked around to find whoever seemed to be in charge and teleported down to appear some distance away, so as not to startle him overly much. "You in charge here?", she asked just to be sure, as she began teleporting everyone who'd requested a lift back at the station to her.
(( Feel free to have your characters teleported.
))
[Admin] Emperor Marcus Cole: STOP!
[Admin] Emperor Marcus Cole: WAIT ONE SECOND!
[Admin] Emperor Marcus Cole: WHAT IS A SEAGULL DOING ON MY THRONE!?!?
The Swat Captain was looking at floorplan when Warpshroud approached. The tall blond man ran his hand through his short cropped hair, Thats me. Captain Hammer, PPD SWAT. You the Hero Strike Team I requested?
Quex took the teleport, appearing next to Warpshroud, looking at the building and the retinue of surrounding PPD officers. She didnt wander far, but the Amazonian brunette kept a hand on her sword while noting the positions of snipers gauging the solidity of the perimeter.
Infinity
Sam Varden 50 MA/Reg Scrap
Doomtastic 50 SS/Inv Brute
Ceus 50 Eng/Kin Corr
Cinderstorm 50 Fire/Fire Blaster
"Oh. Umm, Captain I don't...actually...ha..." the words trailed off as the Captain, focused on the task at hand, left the conversation before Josiah finished.
...ve super powers...
Josiah looked around as Abbie began to exit via teleportation. He decided he might as well so as not to disappoint on his first day.
Once through, he shook from a violent shiver that ran down his spine and back up again.
"Ok that'll take some getting used to...oh crap!"
He waited as Abbie spoke with the SWAT captain and then stepped behind her and tapped her on the shoulder.
"Hi, so...we met in the other ummm, the precinct. Josiah. And I wasn't sure or aware maybe that I'd be here. Not that it's a big issue," he laughed nervously, "but I sort of umm, forgot some...everything at the station. You know, the little comm device and a sidearm and...anything else necessary to you know...live."
Josiah shrugged, "I don't know. I...hmmm, what do you think?"
Josiah kicked himself for being unprepared and for his nervousness. He has been trained by some of the most qualified minds in the world, not to mention this was just a quick bust. Why was he so hesistant? Brian's words rang in his head like a gong. Part of him kicked himself again because he was probably right.
Stupid pride.
Kasoh watched the others go trying to hide the disappointment on his face. When he could no longer sit still while his best
acquaintances went off to battle, he turned to the FBI agent, So, Irene, just you and me, eh?
The response to his eyebrow raising dialogue was terse, Its Special Agent Mackenzie. The feline woman replied, gesturing to the door.
Kasoh picked up his bag of spirits and made wide sweeping gesture with his arms as he moved out. You know, dont be intimidated by my rather impressive book of degrees, Im actually tough enough to fight some Skulls and a random Etoile thug.
According to Simms, youre a barely functioning addict who just happens to be brilliant. Ill need brilliant more than they need chemically induced strength.
That is a gross mischaracterization of my abilities
Kasohs indignant ranting could be overheard the entire trip out to Agent Mackenzies waiting Buick.
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Sam Varden 50 MA/Reg Scrap
Doomtastic 50 SS/Inv Brute
Ceus 50 Eng/Kin Corr
Cinderstorm 50 Fire/Fire Blaster
Quote:
Since she seemed to have become the defacto group leader on this one, Abbie answered the man with a quiet chuckle. "Yeah, you might call us that. Anything we should know before we go in?"| “That’s me. Captain Hammer, PPD SWAT. You the Hero Strike Team I requested?” |
The man started to answer, but stopped as Abbie got tapped on the shoulder.
Quote:
| "Hi, so...we met in the other ummm, the precinct. Josiah. And I wasn't sure or aware maybe that I'd be here. Not that it's a big issue," he laughed nervously, "but I sort of umm, forgot some...everything at the station. You know, the little comm device and a sidearm and...anything else necessary to you know...live." |
Maybe he could fetch coffee?
I don't drink coffee. Nice idea though.
I was joking...
I know. Still a nice idea.
Of course none of that was visible on the outside, save for Abbie's eyes going slightly distant as she discussed things with her symbiote. "Kid, if you who didn't think to grab some equipment that is neither my fault nor my problem", she answered him before turning back to the SWAT captain. "You have a spare gun for this idiot?"
The captain directed one of his men to go find such a thing if he could, before turning back to Abbie. "As I was about to say, there’s the main entrance, we figured it would be too heavily fortified, so we tried to breach a side door, walked right into a trap. Exploding Barrels, Men behind ‘arrow slits’, and that damn brute. Dark melee powers, the men couldn’t hit her at all, and the good shots she absorbed with some kind of Dark Shield on her left arm."
Abbie nodded her understanding. "Traps, ambushes, psycho lady. Got it." She looked around for Quex. "I think we might just have the solution to your brute problems... Hey Quex! If I sneak in past the traps, you think you can take that brute if I teleport you in right on top of her or as close to as I can?"
[Admin] Emperor Marcus Cole: STOP!
[Admin] Emperor Marcus Cole: WAIT ONE SECOND!
[Admin] Emperor Marcus Cole: WHAT IS A SEAGULL DOING ON MY THRONE!?!?
With the information they had, Quex wasn't too sure how her swordplay would stack up against the brute's shield. But she couldn't admit that, "Of course. Will you go after The Skull boss?"
Quex reached into a belt pouch and retrieved a gray metal device that looked like a sword pommel. It was a Vanguard Sword and she looked between the hi-tech sword and her traditional family blade. Which one was better against magic?
The SWAT Captain pointed Josiah to the mobile armory, it had a variety of weapons for gun specialists.
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Sam Varden 50 MA/Reg Scrap
Doomtastic 50 SS/Inv Brute
Ceus 50 Eng/Kin Corr
Cinderstorm 50 Fire/Fire Blaster
"Kid, if you who didn't think to grab some equipment that is neither my fault nor my problem", she answered him before turning back to the SWAT captain.*
"Well I-" Josiah started to agree, to an extent, with Abbie but was cut off.
"You have a spare gun for this idiot?"
The SWAT Captain pointed Josiah to the mobile armory, it had a variety of weapons for gun specialists.
The rookie walked toward the armory and passed by Quex, who been deciding on a weapon to use.
Quex reached into a belt pouch and retrieved a gray metal device that looked like a sword pommel. It was a Vanguard Sword and she looked between the hi-tech sword and her traditional family blade. Which one was better against magic?
"Use the other sword," Josiah said, pointing to Quex's regular blade.
"A lot of older swords, and I say that because of how it looks, were subject to certain purification rituals that disengaged any type of magical prominence anywhere on the sword."
Josiah opened the double doors to the mobile armory and scanned the lining of the van where the various weapons were hung. His focus felt different the moment Abbie insulted him and he was pointed to the truck. It was almost like a trigger.
"It just has impartialities," he picked up a modified M-16 with grenade launcher, examined it and put it back, "that the brute won't be able to use against you."
Josiah's eyes popped open on a set of dual Desert Eagles that, if he remembered correctly, were the same type his Command Leader used during a training operation. He grabbed them off the wall and gave them a once-over.
Three port comp. Modified rubber grip. Lightweight. Bore gauge for lineup and accuracy. Hard chrome. Feels kinda like a 44 mag.
Josiah unlocked the clip and let it fall into his hand. He unhooked a bullet and smiled. On the rim underneath the primer was a "P.I."*
Pure impervium.
Once he was all set up, he grabbed a holster and looked up at Quex again.
"So go with old school. Leave that tech stuff out of it."*
A sub-conscious pull tapped in to Josiah's brain and it almost felt like a portion of him was splitting apart. A few blinks later and he was left wondering what had just happened. It almost felt like someone had borrowed him.
Quex smirked as Josiah loaded up on gear. "You going to grab a bow and stay low tech with me?"
She thumbed the Vanguard Sword's hidden switch and the bright monomolecular blade shimmered into existence. Holding it in her left hand, and her family blade in her right, she tried a few swipes and dual bladed blocks.
She clashed the two together and the metal sword sizzled and glowed faintly purple. Quex was somehow satisfied with that result and stowed both weapons.
"I am ready." She declared.
----
The drive had been short and silent. Kasoh stared sullenly out the window at the passing buildings of Kings Row. When Agent Mackenzie pulled the black Buick up to the building, she got out of the vehicle, her tail twitching as she waited while Kasoh pulled himself out of the large car.
Tenpenny lives on the fourth floor.
Kasoh looked up the building, reaching into his pocket. We expect him to be home?
Last anyone saw him was that burger joint an hour before the kidnapping. I think hes our guy and hell be wherever the girl is. There might not be anything in his place. I pray Tenpenny and Horton are in cahoots and the girl is over there. Otherwise well have to beat Melissas location out of Horton.
Kasoh opened the door for Irene, Thats not quite how it works, Special Agent Mackenzie. You know that.
When she didnt bother to reply, Kasoh raised an eyebrow and followed her inside.
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Sam Varden 50 MA/Reg Scrap
Doomtastic 50 SS/Inv Brute
Ceus 50 Eng/Kin Corr
Cinderstorm 50 Fire/Fire Blaster
Quex smirked as Josiah loaded up on gear. "You going to grab a bow and stay low tech with me?"
"Is there one in here?" Josiah, with joking curiosity, turned and studied the armory one more time, "Hmm...guess not."
The soldier patted the sidearms on his waist, "Im just sayin, Quex. And these bullets are about as pure as they come."
She thumbed the Vanguard Sword's hidden switch and the bright monomolecular blade shimmered into existence. Holding it in her left hand, and her family blade in her right, she tried a few swipes and dual bladed blocks.
"And you didn't ask for my opinion anyone, so please feel free to disregard," Josiah smiled and walked toward the gaggle of officers making final preparations to move into position. He still had to wonder where this newfound confidence was coming from. It was as if someone was pushing his buttons while he watched.
Quex clashed the two together and the metal sword sizzled and glowed faintly purple. Quex was somehow satisfied with that result and stowed both weapons.
"I am ready." She declared.
Quote:
"I tried archery once, back in high school", Abbie mused to herself as Josiah picked out some weapons. "Wasn't very good at it, I didn't have the strength. Probably still don't, unless they let Dwarves compete."| Quex smirked as Josiah loaded up on gear. "You going to grab a bow and stay low tech with me?" |
Somehow I doubt they do.
Oddly enough so do I.
"Anyway", Abbie continued. "If we're all ready, I'll go see about sneaking in shall I? I'll teleport you both in once I've found a relatively quiet spot inside to do it." She started to turn and go, but stopped. "Oh right, rookie. Umm... When you feel like you're being pulled in every direction at once, that's me trying to teleport you. Just don't resist it and you'll be fine." Of course he'd be fine if he did, too, but just wouldn't get teleported. The warshade waited a moment for him to either say he understood or ask for further info, then turned and walked off toward the warehouse. Faint wisps of purplish energy covered her, and then she was gone. Well, from ordinary sight anyway. Heightened senses, magical wards, or certain kinds of computer targetting could still pick her out easily enough. But given these were Skulls, she doubted they had any such thing. Even with stolen Crey tech - she'd never known Crey to use such things either. Of course, that didn't strictly mean they didn't possess them.
Thus, she was relatively cautious as she snuck, invisible, around the side of the building looking for a way in.
[Admin] Emperor Marcus Cole: STOP!
[Admin] Emperor Marcus Cole: WAIT ONE SECOND!
[Admin] Emperor Marcus Cole: WHAT IS A SEAGULL DOING ON MY THRONE!?!?
The building manager was a squat rotund man who jangled the keys in his fat grip incessantly. Some people were like that. Give them a small responsibility and some shiny hardware and they thought they were something. Hed done it himself a time or two, but this man took it to a level that Kasoh could appreciate and at the same time be filled with violent impatience.
If it bothered Irene, it didnt show. She was hard to read. Kasoh had met plenty of Twileks, Tortuga, Wookies, or other alien species and he didnt have as hard a time reading them as he did her. Well, she was human, just with a peculiar mutation. Perhaps that was the problem, he was thinking of her as alien. She was socialized as a human. Probably, she had stonewalled some of his probing questions.
This is it. The building manager said, pointing out the door before he began to unlock it.
Kasoh stepped up to the door, putting his right side to the door. Curling his right arm in front of his face, he drew a scalpel in his left, while Irene pulled out a revolver.
Irene gave him one warning, which surprised Kasoh, Tenpenny, Federal Agents! Surrender peacefully!
When they heard nothing from the other side, Kasoh pushed the door open and immediately smelled a corpse.
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Sam Varden 50 MA/Reg Scrap
Doomtastic 50 SS/Inv Brute
Ceus 50 Eng/Kin Corr
Cinderstorm 50 Fire/Fire Blaster
Dreg being the official newbie on the force he was dressed as a homeless man walking on the street.
He was meant to get involved but he made closer to the building even now playing his natural part of a nobody. Something was unnerving him a mental vibe that didn't seem right. His job was to guard the exit to give the team a warning if an ambush enters behind the swat team to pin them down in a cross fire.
It was frustrating waiting knowing that something was going on and he couldn't join in. Making the choice he would rush in when he gets one stray thought that something went wrong.
"Oh right, rookie. Umm... When you feel like you're being pulled in every direction at once, that's me trying to teleport you. Just don't resist it and you'll be fine."
"Molecules. Dissection. Rebuilding. Teleportation. The idiot can follow," Josiah said with a quick smile and a raised eyebrow.
He watched Abbie until he couldn't anymore and turned to Quex. His first thought, as it was when he first saw her was how tall she was. For some reason, it wasn't something he'd gotten over. He was used to being one of the tallest in the group. It didn't necessarily matter to him, but when he thought down deep, maybe it did.
Josiah shook all erroneous thoughts out of his head and approached the warrior, "My comms are down. And by down, I mean non-existent. I'll try to keep a close perimeter, but you know better than me just how this might go down. My experience is a little...lacking." His eyebrow raised again as he reviewed what he just said to himself.
"In combat! Lacking in combat! I...the umm.. missions we had were for the most part controlled and you know... theres only so much realism that goes..." Josiah cleared his throat while surrounding officers that heard the debacle chuckled or just shook their heads.
Josiah was left giving sideways glances, "Hurry up, Abbie," he muttered to himself.
The heat was ramping up in Paragon City. Early reports by meteorologists claimed that this could be the hottest summer on record. People who didnt have the power to see the future didnt immediately believe the weather reports, but did complain that the heat was starting to get a little ridiculous.
Hot town, summer in the city, back of my neck feeling dirt and gritty. Been down isnt it a pity, doesnt seem to be a shadow in the city , Kasoh Onnoroc sang poorly and off key as he entered the lobby of the Two-Six Precinct in Kings Row, a paper back rattling with fine distilled spirits as he walked.
The wide open lobby was more humid than the one eyed doctor liked, but the large space was impossible to keep climate controlled. Kasoh nodded to a few of the officers milling about, two officers holding down a rowdy Vhazilok Mortifactor gave him a friendly return nod.
As he approached the sergeants desk, he saw what he was starting to consider the usual flavor for the end of a business day at the Two-Six: a few Skull hoodlums, some generic pickpockets and some street walkers. Kasoh didnt mind, any day that went by without a murder or some Skyraider assault on a local business was a good day.
The Two-Six didnt get a lot of good days. The past few months had been hard. Lots of personnel changes and reams of paper had been utilized as the members of the precinct fought forces from Hell and then a corruption conspiracy in the PPDs own ranks. Nobody came out of those events smelling pretty.
People walking around looking half dead something something hotter than a matchhead
From behind the thick bulletproof glass cube that protected him from the rest of the world Julius Mustard looked up from his paperwork to sneer at the mans arrival, Hey Doc, save us some pain and shut your trap.
Mustard produced a white binder that was aptly named, Onnoroc Sign In/Out. Flipping it open, he pushed the binder out to Kasoh, who signed back in. Part of his agreement with the City was that he signed in and out of the Two-Six whenever he took personal time. The idea offended on so many levels, but after the debacle at Ziggursky and his many altercations with the Precincts former Captain Fischer, he considered himself lucky to not be practicing medical quackery in the back of an alley in Port Oakes.
Why Ketchup, you wound me. This close to shift change and youre upset?
Mustard scowled, You missed the memo? Figures. Our section switches to nights tonight, and not all of us can prescribe themselves stimulants whenever they want.
Kasoh grinned and shrugged, dismissing the portly curmudgeons criticisms, Anything happen today?
Not down here. Quite a bit of chatter from Steel Canyon. APB out on a White Ford Econoline Van, Plates 457-VDX. Its an AMBER alert.
Kasoh scowled, sharing a disgusted look with Mustard. AMBER alerts were issued when a young child had been forcibly taken and the city wanted everyone to know about it in case a civilian could spot the vehicle before things got ugly. Hero or Police, nobody liked hooking a case that involved kids, because somehow, any crime is just worse with kids.
Right. Has Steel asked for any
The radio squawked, interrupting Kasohs question, 2-6 hero personnel, report to briefing room Alpha, show starts in fifteen minutes.
Kasoh raised two fingers to his eyepatch and gave Mustard a halfhearted salute as he walked to the stairs on the left, going up to the second floor, where Briefing Room Alpha was.
The briefing room had a single executive style table with chairs ringing it. A large projector was set up already, though its display was just a laptops desktop. Standing against the wall was Quex, a sword wielding time displaced warrior princess from something something BC. They worked together often enough, and she spent a great deal of time in his medical office getting stitched up. She tilted her head at him and she looked pointedly at his bag of alcohol, but said nothing.
If she was going to nag, she could at least verbalize it. What was that look about? Pity? Scorn? Lust? No probably not lust.
He took a seat and looked in the other corner, where the Precinct Captain, Simms, was talking to a woman in a suit so off the rack, she might has well had Fed tattooed on her forehead. Immediately, he noticed the womans long gray hair, pointed cat ears, and other feline features including a twitching tail. Some kind of human/cat hybrid or mutation. Curious, he pulled out his new Data Tablet and tried to access the local news.
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Sam Varden 50 MA/Reg Scrap
Doomtastic 50 SS/Inv Brute
Ceus 50 Eng/Kin Corr
Cinderstorm 50 Fire/Fire Blaster