<Unionverse: The Crooked Wand> All He Left Us...
By
Forse,
Posted on: 2010-06-08 04:52 in Roleplaying
<Epilogue - All He Left Us Was... Alone>
Crowne Memorial, Kings Row, 10.06pm Monday 28th June 2010
A medical alert flashed across the computer monitors and a teleport beacon lit up. Doctors flew into action and Dr Hamilton was called into the foyer of Crowne. For a few minutes there was a deathly silence, before Issa and Alexia burst into the reception area and locked gaze with him.
Hes upstairs. This way. He was bought in by the assisting hero, Tiger White.
Dr Hamilton had been studying the teams various biology differences since their arrival in Paragon. He was Tams doctor, and thus Mars as well the only consultant available in Paragon City that had both the medical knowledge to assist and the rapport with the team to get information. It was his suggestion that he served that purpose they had saved him previously and he had saved them since.
Broken ribs, two. Healing has already started on those and sorted out a third. He has broken metacarpals below the second and third digits on his left hand and a fractured wrist on his right. Mars young, his healing is even faster than Thomas. Bruising is going down and were doing scans for organ damage. There are large bruises across his back and stomach kicked. Theres blunt trauma to his head and back, and a massive dose of sedatives in his system, Id say...
They knocked my son down, beat him, kicked him, and stopped him getting back up, over and over again... they drugged him to stop his Rush and left him alone, locked away until they were ready to do it all over again. Alexia gave the doctor a stern glare and barged her way through a set of double doors, Dont tell me what my sons been through. I can tell. I just KNOW. NOW WHERE IS HE?
Zephyr Institute, Atlantic, 11am local time, Monday 28th June 2010
James sat watching over Mar in silence. After his food the night before Mar had noticed both the pain in his hands and the queasiness in his stomach. James insisted he lay down and very quickly the sedatives in the food had taken affect.
James knew the drugs were there for both of them. He also knew Trollkin would survive a double dose. It would leave Mar asleep for a long time however... James didnt know how long, but they certainly couldnt question him if they couldnt keep him conscious. It was to be his last desperate attempt to keep him alive just a little longer. To hold out until help arrived.
James pressed his ear to the door of the cell. Guards outside had been speaking almost non-stop about the arrival of Joseph Zephyr that morning. Soon he would be taken for questioning. He was their only conscious prisoner...
Crowne Memorial, Kings Row, 10:21am Tuesday 29th June 2010
Mar sat up in his hospital bed sorely and glanced around the room. He was already feeling much better, a combination of the much more advanced medical technology of Paragon City and his Trollkin accelerated healing. He hadnt slept again after waking. On the couch opposite his mother slept, she had remained on silent vigil over her son throughout the night and it was only when Mar was certain she had finally succumbed to sleep that he began to stir himself and move around.
He didnt want to be left alone. He smiled softly through a stitched up lip at his moms form, he felt secure. Something bugged him relentlessly. There was no sign of James. Where had he gone, had they taken him, was it too late to save him too?
Mar lay back down and hugged the pillow tightly. He looked over at the door left ajar at his request. He couldnt have it closed. He couldnt get locked in again with no way out. His gaze also caught a plate of cookies left with the get well soon card and flowers. His bandages hands couldnt reach to check who had left them yet, but he was sure to ask his mom about visitors.
Zephyr Institute, Atlantic, 8:50pm, Monday 28th June 2010
The guards had come for James half an hour ago, and lead him to the Zephyr chamber as James had suspected they would. He went along quietly, no more resistance from him that could endanger Mar.
James sat in silence in the Zephyr, watching a glass of water break down. It was almost like watching it evaporate slowly. The water looked there, yet at the same time was rapidly phasing out of reality, the glass would soon join it. The water wasnt for him anyway as it was a warning to him what would happen if he did not speak.
Zephyr entered the room and cast a glare at him. Slowly he walked over to the table and leant across it. He picked up the glass and moved it aside, placing it back down on his end. The water stayed where it was, giving up on its vain attempt to stay liquid and boiling away into the ether.
At which point did you remove the video from the facility?
There is no answer I can give to that question that will spare my life.
Was there any time you worked at this facility that you were not also under the employ of the Trollkin Parliament?
There is no answer I can give to that question that will spare my life.
Zephyr quirked an eyebrow and his brow furrowed. He had been told that the spy was prepared to speak in exchange for the Mongrels good treatment. Was not food and a locked door good enough treatment?
At which point did you remove the video from the facility?
My name is James.
Zephyr smashed the glass against the far wall with a blast of icy wind. YOU WILL ANSWER MY QUESTIONS! he roared with brightly glowing eyes, and drew himself up to loom over James. At which point...
There is no answer I can give to that question that will spare my life. James interrupted. In less than twenty minutes you will begin to die from organ failure as you phase out of reality. Do you understand? said Zephyr, beginning to pace along his side of the room. James took a moment of silence, he was already feeling light headed from the affects of exposure and with Zephyr casting within his patron Artifact the process seemed accelerated yet Zephyr took no notice, he could not tell what was happening in James mind after all. He answered for the first time a question he could answer truthfully without endangering the Parliament or himself further.
Yes.
Crowne Memorial, Kings Row, 11:50am Tuesday 29th June 2010
Mar had sat chatting with his mother since she awoke at around 11am. They spoke about the news, about going bowling on Saturday with Jacob, about summer vacations and Bubble and Chichester visiting whilst he was being treated.
It wasnt his mother that bought up the abduction first. Mar apologised for playing with the Artifact Stones. Alexia just started to cry and gave him the firmest and gentlest hug she could.
Zephyr Institute, Atlantic, 9:19pm, Monday 28th June 2010
An alarm started to sound, and both Joseph and James broke their locked exchange to stare up in the direction of the noise. James condition was worsening quickly as his already weakened body had no resistance to the affects of the room. They had left the table some time ago, and James was now sat against the far wall. The table had long since vanished and now Zephyr simply crouched before him, still relentlessly questioning him with the same unanswered questions over and over. The alarm had drawn his attention however, and James took that moment to reach into his overalls and touch his necklace gently. Zephyr turned to James with a smirk and stated, The alarm notifies me I must now leave you to your fate. Such a shame you refused to answer questions.
There wasna an alarm before.
Its new.
Its na someones here.
Zephyrs face grew sallow and he stood, turning away from James. Do you have any last requests?
One. James was struggling for breath and his voice grew wispy and tired. He laboured on to keep his thoughts focused. Turn out the lights... when you leave... you do na need to watch...no-one does.
Zephyr did not turn around, but gave James a dismissive wave as he headed for the door and safety, Very well. It makes no difference to me.
Independence Port, Paragon City, 11:50am Tuesday 29th June 2010
Chimera sat by the sewer access building, quietly reading in the midday sunshine. It wasnt the sort of book he usually cared for, and someone had torn out the front inside cover. He glanced out across the waters of the docks, even thick with pollutants and the affects of industry he couldnt help but be slightly amused with the way the light shone off the surface.
A dockworker, a young man in his very late teens, interrupted him.
You cant doss here. Get lost.
Chimera straightened himself up and took a good look at the intruder into his personal space. He stared at him with his pale eyes and the dockworker backed off slightly, a tense moment of silence was broken by Chimera, You use Aria Chem creams...
No I dont.
Yes, you do... I can tell.
Its... its my girls yeah... dont, what you doing? This is whack yeah...
The dockworker turned but Chimera was already next to him. Yes, it is whack, said Chimera with a smirk, bringing both his fists down hard against the young mans shoulders. As Chimera drained the energy from his target the discarded book sat on a packaging crate, the high sun reflecting off the glossy cover and just barely the indentations of someones writing could be seen briefly.
<<THE END>>
Forse: lvl 22 FF/NRG Defender
Tam Krannock: lvl 37 Shield/Mace Tanker
Toppa Grace: lvl 25 Fire/Ice Blaster
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Red Commissar: I'm in the Queen Mother. Only more awesome. And alive
<Mission 2 Writeup>
Theo met the heroes at the statue early into the evening. The team gathered and discussed the completion of the portal technology and installation of Richard's relay and transponder, as well as the basic plan of action.
The team grew to consist of: Annette, Theo, Ellie, Shanna, Jacob, Kumi, Chichester, and Michael. Whilst Theo gave one last call to Alexia to reassure her, the rest of the team headed to the Wand's apartment in Kings Row.
What greeted them was an apartment that was mostly device. Toppa had filled much of the main area (lounge/kitchen/diner) with equipment and was busily bringing the Keystone Portal to life. Cassandra Baudin was also present, and took a personal item from each of the team members. If there was a point where they ventured into a place Toppa couldn't bring them back ((such as inside the Zephyr Artifact itself)), or they became hopelessly split up then she was their security net.
Each team member took a portstone device from Toppa, and the Keystone surged into life - much to the glee of Toppa. The large circular mainbody filled with a rippling pool of white magical energy. The process was simple enough getting there. Toppa had a stable abrupt portal that was being wedged open Paragon side. All they had to do was step close enough to vanish inside the light.
The team quickly made their way into the facility, where Toppa needed a moment to configure the Stonegaze to allow scanning of the facility. So they bought him time by battling the mages and the scientists that had armed themselves. Toppa managed to identify a 'blackspot' up ahead that was masking everything inside, and suggested heading there.
The team also bumped into a Disgraced Guard, who desperately fled as the battle grew more intense between the security services and the Heroes. He begged for mercy, claimed he was only following orders... but was knocked unconscious before he could explain further. Toppa grew concerned over this guard's behaviour, but the Team moved on. Soon they were battling within the processing labs of the facility itself. A mixture of Zephyr Prison Guards and the lab teams cobbled together into a formidable fighting force. Michael was knocked down early on but staggered back into the fray, firing off as many spells as he could to keep the larger groups split and fractured out.
During the scrap in the processing lab Annette was also knocked out by a Prison Guard, who Theo was quite sure said something vaguely specist as he beat his face to a bloody pulp with the hilt of his blade. Annette got back up and pressed on unwaiveringly.
Jacob held the team together through the deeper sections of the lab, and was holding up the rear with first Michael, then Theo and Shanna. Toppa identified that they were very close to the Zephyr Artifact itself, and Ellie could definitely sense an immensely powerful item close by.
At this point, Toppa gave them a choice, should they take a look at the Zephyr or press on? Ellie called it a "Dead end" to which Theo added "Literally". He did check the Zephyr Artifact's room, however someone had turned the lights off and it was impossible to see inside from the monitoring stations. Although Shanna hesitated at the decision Theo did point out they can come back later - so they left.
Deeper into the labs still they beat down the guards held up in the security offices, and dived down the corridors at super speeds. Chichester led out front - even when she didn't have to - and kept pulling in the guards and gathered nasties (even when she didn't have to... she was just that concentrated on finding her friend). Kumi was looking out for her however, and the pair would dive into groups of Class first, as everyone else waded into the fray of flying security officers and "Swatters" as Theo put it - the Trollkin SWAT guards still loyal to the Class.
Finally near the Class labs they found Joseph Zephyr himself. Toppa had warned them that they couldn't shut down security doors and free up time to save Mar until they had Joseph's keycard.
Joseph, for all his posturing and attempts to look tough, was beat down by a furious Jacob and Ellie. His personal guards were mopped up, and his attempt to call in more failed miserably has he was forced down to the ground and medported out injured. Jacob was able to recover the keycard... but one of the prison guards with Joseph smirked as he medported away...
Back in the security office they found out why. With Zephyr porting out the Security Computers were being trashed remotely. Boobytraps or sabotage? Theo wasn't sure. The team spread out and searched for a computer not yet shut down. They found one tucked away - forgot in the hasty retreat of the guards. All the Class members were fleeing now that Joseph had been taken down.
With the doors now opened, Theo again offered them a choice - the blackout was gone and there was *something* inside the Zephyr Artifact, and there were lifesigns in the offices around where Joseph himself was guarding. Kumi spoke up first - lifesigns are good news. Let's go for that. So the team headed off back past the security room.
Theo carefully opened the doors a little (The left one, as Toppa pointed out helpfully) and took a look inside. A form was tucked into bed gently... Ellie got him to stand back and shredded the doors entirely with her energy claws. Mar was in one of two beds, but they couldn't wake him. He was in pretty bad shape and Jacob and Ellie agreed that he was likely sedated as well. Theo gave Ellie the oneway as she was carrying Mar and they disappeared in an abrupt portal. Mar was rushed to Crowne Memorial and Issa flew into action to fetch Alexia immediately. Ellie attended alongside Doctor Hamilton ((the lovely Doctor Hamilton... see below)) until she was asked to give the family space.
Back inside the facility, something was bugging Shanna. She needed to see the Zephyr Artifact. Theo reluctantly took her to it, and the team followed. Once there he switched the lights inside back on, and opened the doors...
Annette ventured inside the room, warned that she couldn't stay inside for too long. *Something* was dissipating quickly, but an Artifact Stone necklace stayed behind. Michael recovered it inside a glowing golden sphere of energy. However the necklace was a mystery to him, it was certainly magical in some form. Meanwhile Kumi and Jacob were keeping Chichester occupied as they feared what could be inside the room. So Chichester got a first aid lesson.
Theo shut the doors again, and Shanna took out her frustration by melting the wall into the door, sealing the Zephyr Artifact inside its own storage room, and Michael added some of his own sigil seals for good measure. Theo also took the opportunity to complete trash their monitoring stations as well and scramble as much as he could.
Toppa was having trouble getting people out so close to the Artifact, so everyone pulled back and started to leave. The trip back was much more unpleasant, like being pinched all over and pulled out of existance. Toppa warned people of this slightly too late for 'backing out of the process' complaints. Annette likened it to dying - but Toppa was expecting the feeling to be more like falling backwards through a giant marshmellow.
The team started to break up now back home. They had just been through an exhausting process. Jacob left mostly silently after helping Annette back to her feet, giving Theo a reassuring nod. Michael went back to study, and Ms Baudin followed - each person collecting their belonging as they went. Shanna was exhausted and disappeared home quickly whilst Toppa was distracted shutting down Keystone in the noisiest, wallshuddering, vaguely pink lightning that will knock you over even if you're sitting down, way. Chichester snuck off to visit Mar in Crowne Memorial.
Mar was still unconscious, the sedatives kept him asleep even whilst the Doctors checked him out, with Alexia's watchful eyes on her son at all times. He still got too visitors immediately; Chichester, who insisted on trying to sneak in - and Bubble, who bought cookies. They stayed as long as the Doctors allowed, Alexia mostly just remained silently sitting by her son's bedside.
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((Wow, even more than last time. Can the person with the necklace please raise their hand. I think Michael retained it but didn't catch a message of him returning it to Toppa or Theo.))
((For anyone wanting to run the mission again or separately, the Arc ID# is 422630, "Saving Mar from the Zephyr Institute". I'll leave both missions up until the weekend is over.))
Forse: lvl 22 FF/NRG Defender
Tam Krannock: lvl 37 Shield/Mace Tanker
Toppa Grace: lvl 25 Fire/Ice Blaster
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Red Commissar: I'm in the Queen Mother. Only more awesome. And alive