JFI
Jumping Bean was welcomed in and given a communicator shortly after her arrival, even though she demonstrated she already had a cellphone. Mostly so the team could on the fly communicate with each other in areas most cellphones couldn't function in.
The roadtrip to the JFI Tower was surprisingly hectic for Jeff and Ryan - they were taking Jeff's nice and sporty little car, a gift from a former girlfriend Jeff had dated about a month ago.
It looked like the majority of the traffic was reporters and other interested parties heading toward the Tower, most likely hoping to get interviews and coverage of the new super team.
Ryan thought about this - it'd kind of make them not only agents of peace as far as the UN went, but also local celebrities. He'd...kind of have to be careful not to embroil them in any scandal. He briefly flashed back and rubbed his forehead, hoping it NEVER came to...THAT.
Jeff eventually soured on the trip and took a series of backroads, muttering profanity under his breath.
And finally they arrived, and promptly took out the Caulder Industries "micro-containers", changing into their superheroic costumes.
Jeff asked Ryan, looking at what looked like cybernetic pieces by his ears and jawline, "Been meaning to ask you, man, what do those things do?"
Ryan tapped one of them and said, "They monitor my power output, and play a message if I start toward an episode or something." All part of what he needed to do...
And so Collateral and Blazeforce walked out to the fore, finding their approach to the front of the building bombarded with flashes and the noise of cellphone cameras taking pictures.
Mason and Tyulla's approach was likewise covered by a lot of media attention, people were kept at a distance after the initial blitz by Isaac's security detail, but there was a surprising amount of activity. People wanted to know if JFI was going to do something about the relevant incidents recently.
Police Station
While it was incredibly convenient that the nitwits and the Rig had been put in the same station, it still meant Stelmaria needed to do some work to achieve her goals.
While the police officer in front of her, an older man likely with some experience on the force, tried to comfort the crying and shaking girl, she waited for her exact best moment to move.
Quite a number of officers were heading out to quell some riotous behavior incited by the formation of the Justice Force International.
And that's my way in.
She suddenly moved and brought bright blue stained lips to the officer's mouth, the kiss aggressive, sudden, and completely out of character for who she seemed to be earlier. The poison did not take very long to act.
The man had gone into it surprisingly eagerly, but by the time he felt the poison kicking in, he tried, failed, and spasmed as he thrashed in pain, his very flesh beginning to melt in places.
He still functioned well enough as a human shield, due to the underlying tissues not being totally affected yet. Bringing him into the line of fire as two off duty officers snapped to attention and fired at her, she then darted to the side, firing one bullet each from a hidden gun up her sleeve.
The officers fell, dead from each shot. Explosive bullets were nice. At the impact site they'd fracture forward and out, guaranteeing deadly damage.
She retrieved her shortsword, and moved.
Can't be TOO hard to find some Neo-Nazis. Just gotta follow the smell of cheeto dust, hats made in China, and abject failure.
Edited by NickTheSwing on Mar 1st 2019 at 5:53:30 AM
Police Station Lockup
The Rig bounced her knee nervously. She was already trying to figure out how to bear up the biggest person in the yard with a couple nasty bruises and without being exactly in shape. Nobody got her cell but her, so that was a bit of a boon, but on the other hand she had nobody to start a... jail riot with? Was that a thing? Hell, were the crazies from MI 6 or whatever going to erase her before she squealed about the mission?
She started hearing screaming and gunshots from the other room. Guess she was right!
"Hey!" She yelled. "When—when do you take me to prison? I've been really bad you know! Hello?"
Dan's Apartment
"Thanks." Su summoned up her cloud once again and, with one little hop, she was off. "Fuck yeah!"
Kitty Cafe
Fiona noticed Setsuko's shirt as she walked in. To be fair she actually noticed the rest of her, but it was the shirt that truly caught her interest. College. She thought about going to college back when she left Watch. She thought about doing many things. But for one reason or another, she just wasn't able to choose. What if whatever path she chose wasn't the right one? What if she had been better off choosing something else? What if she wound up dragged back into Watch? What if?
Whatever. Enough of that. Fiona was determined to make today worry free! "Thanks! Personally I love it! Though that's kind of obvious. I mean, it might as well have been made for me. To tell you the truth, I'm kinda a regular customer. If only because I've got nothing better to do. But enough about me. So, college huh? Thought about going, but I'm still not sure. What's your major? If you don't mind me asking?"
Police Station Panic
Stelmaria's actions did not go unnoticed from the rest of the police station; the speakers crackled and warned of the woman on the loose, armed and dangerous utilizing a concealed firearm as the officer screening the security cameras watched her rampage. However, amid this chaos lay a perfect opportunity. Whispers from a tattoo, hidden in the officer's ear, beckoned the man into action.
Moments later, the officer, identifying badges and other marks removed, emerged out of the hallway and opened fire on Stelmaria with a plasma rifle. Considering the offenders the town has put up with, the confiscation and evidence room had all manner of odd and unusual tech, and if the opponent had flesh melting poisons and other BS on her person, might as well bring out the big guns.
That being said, the rifle and mask were very incongruent with the body armor and SWAT helmet he was also wearing.
Cell Block Tango
As for Miss Rig, her prayers (or rather, shouts) received an answer as three officers barged into the jail, armed and armored for far more than a bunch of unarmed, unpowered prisoners. A female officer opened the cell doors while one of the male officers hurried his way to the back door where prisoner transports were waiting, carrying a suspiciously large box of luggage. The final officer, male, shouted to all prisoners present: "Alright, shitstains! Get in the van unless you want your execution date moved up to today! Move, move, move!"
If the prisoners took a second to notice, the officers weren't wearing their badges. But considering the sound of gun (and now laser???) fire it was an easy detail to miss.
Cell Block Tango
"Yes please! Ladies and drug offenders first!" Hanna jogged to the prisoner transport with her hands up, looking around nervously. "Are those energy weapons? Does MI 6 have energy weapons? Uh, unrelated to the first question." She couldn't believe her luck! If it held, she might be able to jack the transports and do what she did best.
Stelmaria
Ducking to the side as the policeman unloaded a plasma weapon down at her, Stelmaria mused to herself it was quite impressive they had those here. Hm, either they'd started pumping up the firepower of the average cop, or there was something more going on here than meets the eye...
...Well, it was something more that she wasn't paid to deal with.
Readying one of her grenades, she tossed it down at the heavily armed guard, the telltale beep of her advanced grenade speeding up right before the highly explosive detonation.
Just get in, kill some proud boys, and get out.
Ryan and Jeff
Ryan and Jeff, after making it in past the media blitz, were escorted to the same room as Jumping Bean and her friends. It looked like that room was due to be the meeting room for Justice Force International whenever something happened either in Easton or abroad.
Kitty Cafe
"Oh, uh, Botany." She smiled, a little sheepishly. "I'm not the most studious, y'know, so it's a little tough, but I figure if the whole 'superhero' thing doesn't work as a full-time job I'd need something to fall back on."
Setsuko tilted her head. "So what were you thinking about majoring in?"
What is so amusing about this? Why do you take lives? How can you forget?Kitty Cafe
Well dagnabit. Putting her on the spot, huh? Fiona briefly lowered her ears as she searched her brain for a suitable answer only to come up with bubkus. She supposed there was nothing for it but to be honest.
"Biology, huh? Well, honestly I don't know what I'd want to do. I just figured maybe it'd be great to do something different for a change, you know? Make something of myself, have a real job! But I still don't know what I'd do. I've spent more or less my entire life in, well, let's just call it law enforcement." No need to tell her everything just yet. "But after a while, I just had to get out. It took me a long time to realize it, but it wasn't for me. I guess what I'd really want to do more than anything or at least after my old job is be a hero! Saving lives, making a difference! It's probably what I'm best suited for really. But to go right from my old job to hero work? That just seemed like a bit much. And now I'm spending my days living off my savings until I figure out where to go from here."
Edited by kkhohoho on Mar 2nd 2019 at 8:48:10 AM
Magpie & Trickster—Police Station
Magpie had just finished submitting a report to the police about possible corporate corruption while Trickster snoozed in a chair next to them. As long as it scared the fat cats, they would get their nourishment.
Magpie, meanwhile, was busy ignoring the pokes from the other side of the mental block she'd constructed. It would do her and others no good to lash out at perceived oppressors.
There had to be due process. Verification. Only then could judgement proceed—and it should never end with death. Magpie had learned enough from the French Revolution to know—
(the streets running red with blood)
(heads piled up like so many stones)
(bloodshed, burn, tear)
(they will pay)
(glorious, glorious revolution)
Magpie suppressed those thoughts a fight broke out, started by some woman that was very skilled at fighting. She didn't know what her goals were, but they couldn't be good.
Trickster jolted awake and tapped an end of their staff against their ground. Some nearby potted plants sprang up in an attempt to entangle Stelmaria.
Magpie rushed her, dodging shots from all sides, having grabbed a baton from a fallen officer (she prayed for him, to whatever gods would listen, these poor souls) and rushed Stelmaria.
Jumping Bean, Red Tiger, Black Wolf—At JFI
Jumping Bean smiled graciously for the media, answering a few questions, before entering the room. Red Tiger and Black Wolf attempted to do the same, and seemed to charm the reporters with their cheerful earnestness and enthusiasm.
"We're here," Jumping Bean said, running a hand through her (very luscious, so the reporters said) hair.
Now, it so happened that Red Tiger was still in his hipster getup. The marking of the Chinese character for "king" stood out sorely on his forehead. Black Wolf was wearing his punk clothes. One of his ears twitched as he eyed up the gathering.
"Hello! I'm Red Tiger! This is my sworn brother—" Red Tiger began.
"I can introduce myself, you idiot! I'm Black Wolf," Black Wolf huffed.
"And I'm Jumping Bean. I believe you have not heard my full title. It is: Saint of Demon-Quelling and Healing, for the record. Pleased to meet you all," Jumping Bean said, only semi-imperious. She bowed to soften her words.
Edited by JumpingFruit on Mar 1st 2019 at 10:36:37 AM
I wear the skin of the Elder Things, having come unto my own.Stelmaria
"Well, over-armed police officers and now small children...what a day..."
A flash and her shortsword severed the limbs of the potted plants, and she found herself looking at Magpie and Trickster, slicing through the police baton with the molecular blade of her sword. She briefly ran a hand through her hair and overheard some telltale noises in the distance.
"Don't tell me you're here to rescue the piggies...? Aww, that'd be adorable!" She...certainly sounded like she was reacting honestly.
She was no stranger to Easton, and this was hardly the most unconventional rescuer she'd faced.
Ryan and Jeff
Jeff whispered to Ryan as they stood together with Jumping Bean, Black Wolf and Red Tiger before the media - it was much more orderly now, far less people trying to use the chaos to get in disengenuous coverage. Ryan recalled overhearing the commotion of some shithead from a Drudge affiliate getting pulled out.
Jeff tried to whisper to him again, "Who's the cutie and her pals? I mean, I know their names but—-"
Ryan shrugged, and gestured for Jeff to quiet down while they were out here.
Ryan however bit his lip when one reporter brought up his past - "Collateral! Would you say you're confident in your ability to be a part of this team, and not cause any harm apropos of nothing?" - and he answered in an even tone, "This armor isn't just for show - it channels and harnesses my power. I wouldn't come back if I wasn't confident in this."
Ryan found himself looking down at his right hand, grateful he hadn't started sparking, because internally...
Can I really say that?
Did that fucker even study up? I blew up cuz...because...
Don't justify it. It happened, you let things boil over and explode.
Am I really ready for this?
Meanwhile...
Myrkaan approached where Walker told him to be to meet with him, and brought with him tidings of the events that had happened so far. "Ahh, I am so relieved to see you after SUCH an eventful day. Surely you heard...the meta-humans have forged ahead and made a new team!"
He swirled around in spiritual form, unassuming, in contrast to Myrkaan's true form.
"And among them is one Ryan Brady...or Atomix...or Collateral, as he now calls himself. This is one meta-human with uniquely destructive abilities. Get him angry enough and he'll produce nuclear wasteland."
"Yeah it's...really not the most subtle place in the entire city, now is it?" He chuckled, rubbing the back of his head as he eyed the giant building. So, shrugging his shoulders, he pointed. "Well, we have a destination, so let's hit the road!"
...
The hustle and bustle of the media was one that, in the long run, Mason knew he was going to very much be in a love/hate relationship. The constant prodding and poking into his social life, but at the same time the ability to spread his name into the ages well beyond his time.
but at the moment, their presence was not exactly welcome, and as he and Ty pushed past them he did glance at her from the side. He wasn't entirely sure if their loud, obnoxious statements, questions and demands would get to her at all, or if he should find a way to keep her calm during this. So instead he decided to keep their attention forward, as one would do, and he quickly all but kicked the door open to the massive building.
"Welcome Ty, to the rest of our lives!" He laughed as he held his hands out in excitement, the grin on his face. "Its only gonna get better from here, dear, just you wait!" The excitement in his voice was noticeable but at this point, it was likely a more impressive feat to find the times he wasn't excited. He spun around, in a circle as he took in the sights and just...the general energy he felt.
"Can you FEEL it?" He asked, finally stopping his spinning, his hands in his coat and just...admiring where he was. Like even he himself couldn't believe it.
Tyulla – JFI
Tyulla merely shot a hard glare towards the hounding reporters; rubbing her arms self-consciously as she kept her feet moving to the best of her ability. A gentle nudge or two sent them stumbling back when they got in her personal space, but thankfully Mason didn't linger and soon kicked open the door.
She wondered if his feet must hurt from doing that.
“Yes. It's very shiny,” she dryly remarked, hiding her grin at his enthusiastic antics. “Now, don't we have someplace to be, dear? How do these things work again? Since I don't see any stairs,” she frowned—looking all about for a moment. “Do you levitate from the exterior in? Because that seems inefficient.”
‘Dear’. Seriously. She wasn't sure whether to slap him through the wall or laugh.
borkKitty Cafe
"Hm." Setsuko put her tail to her lip in the same manner that someone would put a finger. "Well, if you really want to help people, you could major in Criminal Justice. Or maybe Superhuman Studies. There's a lot of demand for both, I hear."
She shrugged. "Though I can see how being a normal detective might not be as appealing as being a superhero. Especially if you're been a normal cop before. Though... you say you were law enforcement, but were you allowed to, like, actually use your powers on the job? 'Cause at that point that just seems like being a superhero with more paperwork."
What is so amusing about this? Why do you take lives? How can you forget?The emphasis on Dead made him wince and he glanced back at her with a nervous little grin. Maybe it'd be a good idea to cool his jets for the moment. Getting a friend, becoming a super hero, that was all well and good. What wasn't well and good was the idea of that excitement coming off as obnoxious, and lord knows he didn't want to step on any toes of friends he literally just made.
So he took a deep breath and considered it another day on the job, nothing too exciting, nothing too crazy.
"Sorry."
He still felt the need to apologize for the slip and pointed off to the side. "Elevators." he said. "Guess you haven't been around to see them. We just step inside and they take us up to the floor we need to do go." A pause. "I don't know what floor we go to, so I guess we're gonna just have to guess about it. Or go to the top and go from there. Either way."
JFI Tower
A mechanical voice spoke up to Mason and Tyulla from the hallway around them, letting them know, "Floor 11 is the JFI Meeting Room, where missions and information is relayed directly to the membership."
Meanwhile, the press briefing ended, though not quickly enough for Ryan. He was still more than a little nervous about this due to all the reporters. Once they were inside the tower, one of the security agents informed Ryan, Jeff, Jumping Bean and co. that the eleventh floor was where they should meet up for missions and obtaining information.
Kitty Cafe
Well dagnabbit. She just had to press it, didn't she? She didn't really like talking about Watch, especially nowadays. But if she kept on prodding, she might have to.
"Not exactly. See, it was less law enforcement and more, well..." She quickly glanced around to make sure no-one else was paying attention. "...more secret agent stuff. Cloak and dagger, espionage, James Bond. That sort of thing. And compared to just beating up the bad guys, it's a whole other kettle of fish." Fish. She could really do with some fish right now. Maybe she'd order some sushi in a minute or two.
"And honestly, the place I was with? It's not really that obvious at first, but when you've been with them for as long as I was, you start to notice it. They kinda have an anti metahuman basis. And, well." She gestured at herself. "Needless to say, I kinda fit in that category. After a while I just couldn't take it anymore. I had to get out. But still, it was my life. So to just go from that to something else? I just don't think that's something I should take lightly. Though I guess I can't keep living off my savings forever. I guess what I really want to do is more of what I've been doing, only without the anti-metahuman bullcrap. If it weren't for that, I probally would've stayed. But as is, I just don't know."
Tyulla – JFI
“Don't apologise. Few people would dare,” she smirked, uncrossing her arms as her more curious, child-like look crept back onto her face as she dropped her guard down. “So we just step inside...?”
"Floor 11 is the JFI Meeting Room, where missions and information is relayed directly to the membership."
“Oh,” she muttered, momentarily glancing up and around at the disembodied voice before shrugging and moving over to the elevators. “Guess that helps...”
As soon as they were inside the thing, she peered at the buttons curiously and prodded at the one marked ‘eleven’. Or at least the one she assumed was 11. The number system used to be a lot more cursive than this.
“And now we... wait? Oh!” she started—surprised by the jolt of the elevator. “To think last time they barely got horses under control...”
borkMagpie & Trickster—Police Station
Magpie grunted "I have no idea what you're talking about!" as the baton was sliced up, and immediately dropped down for a leg sweep to try and trip up Stelmaria before throwing forth a few fisticuffs in an attmpt to gauge just how strong her opponent was.
Trickster focused their illusion abilities and tried to make Stelmaria dizzy by making the floor look like it was tilting this way and that. The chief flaw in this was that nothing slid along the floor as it appeared to tilt.
Jumping Bean, Red Tiger, Black Wolf—At JFI
Jumping Bean opted to climb the stairs while Red Tiger and Black Wolf took another elevator. They started to hum along to the easy-listening music, but stopped as soon as more people stepped on.
They soon reached the 11th floor.
"This is a pretty nice place you've got going here," Jumping Bean remarked.
I wear the skin of the Elder Things, having come unto my own.Stelmaria
Dodging the attack from Magpie, Stelmaria jumped backward and then held her head as the effect from Trickster's ability started to occur. She managed to grab into her belt and pulled out a large number of tiny black spheres, promptly breaking into a run and tossing them behind her. The moment friction was incurred on the orbs, they promptly exploded violently, sending the ceiling down. The intention was obvious - to keep them away.
Not here for their little tricks...and there they are...
She saw off in the distance a cell visibly containing the targets of her little outing.
JFI Tower
As Ryan and Jeff got off there as well, Jeff whistled at the sight of the place. There was a prominent large master computer present in the middle of the room, which seemed to have a number of monitors displaying various corners of Easton. The room itself had duraglass windows that allowed an easy high vantage point to look out on to Easton, many chairs, tables and a lounge with a robotic servitor that apparently handled drinks.
The floor was covered by a fine Turkish rug, most likely quite expensive for how much it covered.
That was when the ceiling opened up and a figure flew down from above. He was covered in an ensemble of silver armor, a winged helmet, and had strong, angelic wings. His body armor clung to a well muscled, tall form. As the figure landed, he introduced himself, "Welcome, friends! I am Arkhiel, and I'm honored to serve alongside so many heroes."
Edited by NickTheSwing on Mar 2nd 2019 at 5:06:09 AM
Jail Break
"Yes they are and do you think a local cop would know that...?" the female police officer answered the Rig, as the male cops herded the prisoners out the back and into the transport vehicle, just as Stelmaria rounded the corner to see them closing the door. A male officer hurriedly cuffed and secured the prisoners before hopping into the back with them and closing the back doors while the other two headed up the front and started the engine, the sealed off luggage brought to the front alongside.
Edited by Starbound2 on Mar 2nd 2019 at 5:27:41 AM
"Hey, Humanity got pretty far on its own!" He leaned back against the back wall and pondered for a brief moment, stroking his chin before he shrugged. "I mean, we still beat the hell out of each other with weapons if we feel like someone insulted us, but now we have moving metal boxes that move us higher, which is nice!"
His attempt as a joke failed, he relaxed for a moment, watching the numbers beginning to rise on the elevator, his fingers gently tapping against his upper arm and finally, turned his gaze back onto her.
"When...WAS the last time you came here, anyway?" He asked after a moments pause. "It sounds like it's been a while..."
Yes Mason, because when the concept of Horses being riding animals was an insane thought, that may have "been a while".
Kitty Cafe
"That's... wow. I can see why coming out of that wouldn't be an easy transition." Setsuko leaned back in her chair, gazing towards the windows. "I honestly don't know what to tell you. It's hard, trying to figure out where you're headed. But..." She turned back to Fiona and smiled.
"I might have one idea. I was gonna ask you about this anyway, so... how do you feel about Justice Force International? They opened up here in Easton and I was thinking about trying to join. Wasn't sure though. I mean, I've never worked in a hero team before, so I'm kinda nervous about just walking up and saying 'hi, can I join your club', but on the other hand I really want to do as much good as possible, and they could help with that..."
She sighed. "Also my boyfriend thinks they're evil for some reason. I, uh, haven't told him about..." She gestured to herself. "This. I'm disguised as a human most of the time. So if I have to do international stuff I might have to tell him and that's also a big thing and I just... oh, sorry. I'm rambling, aren't I?" She crossed her arms nervously. "Anyway, if I did join them, would you want to, I don't know, join with me?"
What is so amusing about this? Why do you take lives? How can you forget?Kitty Cafe
Fiona blinked. Truth be told, she had thought about joining the JFI. It wasn't the worst option in the world. If nothing else, she'd be able to kick some ass and make a difference while still getting paid. Though she still wasn't sure if it was the right course of action. But now here was someone who wasn't quite sure what to do herself either. Alone, neither of them might have had the courage to do it. But together? Together, that might have been a different story.
"Ah, what the hell? Sure! Honestly if it were just me I don't know if I would've done it. But maybe together, I wouldn't be so scared. So let's do it!" She was about to order some sushi before she remembered the bit about her boyfriend. "Oh, yeah. Maybe it's not my place to say this or anything, but if your boyfriend can't handle going out with a monkey, then that's his problem. Not yours. That said, if he really cares about you, he'll understand. And if he doesn't? Then I guess you'll know where he stands."
Kitty Cafe
"Yeah! Fuzzy girls stick together!" Setsuko pumped a fist in the air. She giggled slightly as Fiona mentioned her boyfriend. "Oh, I'm just a little nervous about telling him I'm a hero. I don't want him to, like, worship me or nothin'. But I know he loves me, and with you beside me, I'm not worried about a thing."
She giggled. "Anyway, I'm kinda hungry. How good's the food here?"
What is so amusing about this? Why do you take lives? How can you forget?

Kitty Cafe
"Hey, Fiona!" The monkey girl called. A few heads turned at her entrance, but the latent weirdness of Easton meant no one really hassled her, which was nice.
She plopped down unceremoniously in the seat across from the catgirl, dropping a backpack next to the seet. Her armor from last night was gone, and instead she was wearing sweatpants and a sleeveless shirt bearing the Easton Community College logo. "Sorry I'm late, I had to jog here from campus. Boyfriend has his own class, so he couldn't give me a ride."
She stretched a bit, and rolled her shoulder, looking at the decor and smiling. "This is a cute place you picked. I might start coming here myself."
What is so amusing about this? Why do you take lives? How can you forget?