Dariusprime

Fulcrum: 8 posts to Vox A New Enterprise (2) Midair Conversations (1) Park Time Job (4) Scene: Fulcrum and Miracle Girl (1) Vox: 19 posts + 8 posts from Fulcrum = 27 posts = 3PP Dagon The King (4) It's Mov(in)g Day! (14) Tech Compliance (Open) (1)

Samples of pattern cloth appeared in Mona's now vacant hands. She examined them carefully as she listened to Viktor. "I wouldn't doubt that she checked in on you occasionally." "Maybe a nice autumn theme. This one with the gold and rust leaves would match well with the rest of the decor," she mumbled in a quiet moment. "Oh! I have the plates from that one thrift shop..." "Having both fresh and the substitute on hand would be the polite way to go. Phantom strikes me as a wine drinker though." She held up the patterned cloth for Viktor. At the word "marriage", Mona put down the cloth samples and tilted her head, "Have you been talking to Mom again?" After a few moments, she added, "I tease. I tease." She went back to studying the samples. "I really don't care if we marry or not, Viktor. I don't much like the concept of marriage, even in modern contexts. I am not for sale or rent." She leaned over and gave him a kiss. "That being said, if this is something you want, tying the knot is the least of my concerns. Having a kid I had to think about. This is a non-issue for me."

Mona smiled, "Thank you. Here's to hoping the journey is successful and safe." To that she retrieved another pastry, and this time, nibbled on it. "The Zero Zone also sounds like just the sort of place to cause memory issues like that. The whole thing...well...I understand why it has been used as a prison. Can't condone it myself, but I can understand the gravity of the situations faced." Another nibble. "Oh, chocolate." She visibly resisted the urge to annihilate this one as well. "I've visited some strange places over the years, but parallel Earths are surprisingly few on my list. I met my double from Animal Earth for example. But visiting Ani-Earth? Someday. So what parallel Earths have you visited?" As for Miracle Girl, Mona would from time-to-time wave the box towards her in temptation. A gentle, good-natured temptation.

"Later," was her, shall we say, suggestive reply to the device comment. She tapped her chin in thought. "It's been a good ten years together." At this point, Penny didn't really care what Viktor did as long as the massage continued. And my what sharp teeth she had. Cats have needle-like teeth anyway, and hers were particularly pointy. Especially for being 12 years old. Mona couldn't help but snicker. She took a sip of her beer and propped her head up with the other hand. "Now your circumstance wasn't technically a lab accident, but I can't argue with the results. I know if I was a talking raccoon or something I would stay far, far away from people." Her eyes lit up at the mention of Phantom. "That would be wonderful! I haven't spoken with her in years. I wonder how she and the family are doing? I'm sure Avenger is still Avenger. I'll admit I rather liked him. He just rubbed the other Interceptors the wrong way." She coughed, focusing. "She still deals with dimensional security I assume? Perhaps we should invite them over for dinner." She sat up quickly, almost launching out of the chair. From the way her eyes were darting, many plans were being draw up for the gathering. "Hmm..."

Ah, Super Senses. Gotta love'em. Ok, I think I follow now. Cosmic Awareness makes more sense for him, and so does a more general electromagnetic awareness. So I'll go with those two. Next, I will drop Sonar and keep Accurate [All Hearing]. You make a great point about Stun. I will change it to General. The free 2 PP will be put into Tremorsense. His sensitivity is beginning to manifest through other senses. Edits: Reworked Array, and updated Stun to General. Thank you for your help, angrydurf!

Alrighty, let's see what I can do here. 1) Typed EM Awareness to Hearing. 2) Radio is the basic 1 PP version. 3) Separated Ultra-Hearing and Sonar. I originally formatted Sonar with Ultra-Hearing to account for Accurate [All Hearing] creating Sonar. If I'm calculating right, the breakdown is: Accurate (All Hearing) 4 PP, Analytical 2 PP (All Hearing), EM Awareness (due to Very Common Descriptor) 3 PP, Radio 1 PP, Sonar (from Accurate Hearing) 0 PP, Ultra-Hearing 1 PP = 11 PP 1) Reformatted the Array, updated Power Loss, changed effects to Damage, and added Targeted. Stun is a Touch Range effect that requires a melee attack roll, and the Targeted Area Extra is applicable for effects requiring attack rolls. I reformatted it as Targeted for now, but please let me know if I missed something. Thank you!

Now that the bickering pair were civil, and she had an idea of their conversation, Mona addressed Selena, "'Bitch' is really a state of mind, and should be regarded as an honorific. Even if hurled as it insult. Reclaim your inner bitch." Her smile was a big, lopsided grin. Momentarily, the thin man approached their table. He was dressed in an apron, but otherwise could be mistaken for a customer. An order pad seemed to materialize in his hand as he stopped. "Duncan! How are May and the kids?" came Mona's introduction. Duncan scratched his long sideburns, looking bashful. "May's having twins in December." "Good for you!" Mona was about to say more, but Duncan looked hurried. The morning rush was still ongoing. Even if the first wave had cleared out. "Everything on my ticket, Duncan. I'll have my usual and a double of Black Death coffee please." Once the orders were taken, Duncan smiled and disappeared into the cafe. Mona tapped the table, looking pensive, before glancing at Selena. Finally, she addressed Claude, "Okay, my official question is what were you doing inside the taped area? I doubt it's anything nefarious now, but I am curious."

Yes, he is not supposed to have single-target attacks. At the moment his powers are still too raw and undisciplined to focus on a single target. Fluff wise I would say him channeling his power into a cone is an accomplishment. I haven't planned out the progression, but I may well buy up some single-target effects in future. Those effects would represent ongoing training and experience. An early build did have a standard Blast effect. Or perhaps I will try to work around the limitation of only having area attacks. Thank you!

Penny locked eyes with her perhaps favorite human. Nothing betrayed whether or not she understood what he said. Resumption of massages, she yawned and put her head back down. Now this was a lot to take in, and Mona looked all too serious. Dealing with the cat was a whole different ball game for her. Especially one that had powers like hers. Which meant that she went for a beer after Viktor's conclusion cooing. She returned with two pints and sat one on the table before partaking. She passed on the beer stein Viktor bought her for her birthday. Probably because she didn't have nine gallons of beer on hand. "I'm sure if you bribe her sufficiently she would be willing to endure a few tests. That's how I convince her to be good at the vet's." Mona sipped her stout and scratched Penny's ears. "You could be famous, Penny! Penny Archimedes, the Wonder Cat! I can see it now. Your name up in lights! Or at least on a paper." Penny continued using her patented poker face. "Really though," she directed at Viktor, "I hadn't considered that angle. We should have had swarms of Terminus cats running through the streets." She paused a moment, looking thoughtful. "Thank our lucky stars for that. Anyway, she wasn't in town during the '18 Terminus Invasion. I have to be source. Now this is a wild guess, but I'm thinking it's the exposure level over time. I irradiated her at low levels for at least 2 years. Maybe smaller animals are more prone to negative effects at high doses? With all the post-invasion chaos, people probably missed a mass die off of insects or delayed pathology in feral cats. Conversely, maybe humans are more sensitive to Terminus energy? That's an interesting idea." Another sip and a happy smile. Obviously, the alcohol didn't affect her. She just liked a good brew. "Practicals. How do you contain a dimension-cutting cat with cleaver claws? And have you always had those sensors?" The latter question came with a smirk.

Vox Power Level: 7 (105/118PP) Unspent Power Points: 13 Trade-Offs: -2 Attack / +2 Damage, +2 Defense / -2 Toughness In Brief: Amateur astronomer hears the voice of the universe and unleashes latent sonic abilities! Catchphrase: Words have Power. Alternate Identity: Nicholas Brown (secret) Birthplace: Ames, Iowa Residence: Nevada, Iowa (hometown); Freedom City, New Jersey (school) Base of Operations: Claremont Academy Occupation: Student Affiliations: Claremont Academy, Unnamed Team, Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers Family: Marie and Johnathan Brown (Parents), Otis Brown (Great uncle), Judith and Buzz Oliver (grandparents), Orville and Jane Brown (grandparents, deceased), Various and sundry extended family members Description: Age: July 7th, 2003 Gender: Male Ethnicity: Caucasian Height: 5’3” Weight: 118 lbs Eyes: Brown Hair: Dark brown Nicholas is a small, young man with short-cropped hair and fearful eyes. He’s not scrawny. Under his band t-shirts and jeans is a teenager that helped his uncle on the farm. Years of sun have given him a medium complexion, but his northern European heritage is still apparent. His long face is lined with worry, and makes him look older. On better days, he observes everything with interest. On bad days, he just keeps his head down. Vox’s costume is a long-sleeved shirt and pants affair with a loose jacket. The base color is a light gray with darker gray accents and spaced lines. When moving, the contrasts look like rippling sound waves. His mask is a head cover, sleek helmet, and mirrored goggles. He tried a mouth guard, but that lasted one use of his powers. Matching gloves and boots complete the look. The outfit is just “normal” enough that in a pinch he could blend into a crowd or dark alleyway. Nonetheless, it is still constructed of morphic molecules. History: On June 19th, 2019, at 9:46 pm Central Time, a blast was detected 9 miles northeast of Ames, Iowa. The shock wave flattened trees and buildings in a 2 mile radius and shattered windows up to 5 miles away. The radial pattern of fallen trees aided first responders in locating the origin point. Near a small creek surrounded by farmland, Nicholas Brown, 15, was pulled unharmed from the wreckage of his campsite. Suspicion immediately full on the survivor. Investigators recovered unusual components at his parents’ home and his great uncle’s barn near the site. Nicholas remained catatonic for days, and upon recovery, appeared to suffer from a form of aphasia. Physically healthy, he seemed afraid to speak. Law enforcement soon closed on him. Thankfully for Nicholas, a team of specialists arrived to assist the growing investigation. An agent by the name of Philip Burton interviewed the young man. Within 36 hours, the cause of the event was determined. A secondary fire along the creek had obscured an illegal dump containing a volatile mix of chemicals. On July 1st, Nick was offered a full scholarship to the prestigious Claremont Academy in Freedom City, New Jersey. Philip Burton, aka Lamar “Sonic” Phillips, extended the invitation. What followed was a summer-long whirlwind of testing, training, and long-distance moving. Since the incident, more details have emerged. Research suggested Nick was the first active member of a line of minor psions. Their powers consisted of sensitivity to certain auditory and electromagnetic frequencies. This pattern explained the erratic migration of the family and their refusal to adopt new technologies. Many members sought out areas with limited electromagnetic and noise pollution. For example, Nick’s family settled in rural Iowa in the ‘20s. The explosion was the first manifestation of his potential. He had set up his radio telescope according to precise instructions. Where did he receive this information? From Morse code signals chiming in his ears at night. Why would he use this information? A mix of confusion, curiosity, and the thought that he was losing his mind. The real horror, however, arrived at precisely 9:45 pm. A clear signal repeated a message in triplicate. Somehow he directly sensed and understood its meaning. We hear you. Personality & Motivation: Nick is a highly intelligent and genuinely sweet young man. He is introverted by nature with bullying-induced shyness on top. Despite his social awkwardness, he can be quite charming and a skilled organizer when given the opportunity. His read of others is better than people give him credit. Mostly though he’d rather be tinkering on some project or another. People exhaust him and largely can’t be trusted. The trauma of gaining powers has added anxiety to his problems. Nick’s long-term plans are on hold. Right now his motivation revolves completely around controlling his powers. The crash course over the summer of 2019 has helped, but he is ill-at-ease being what he considers a weapon of mass destruction. That the school wants to put him in a noisy, electromagnetically rich environment is, to him, very foolish. Part of him resents being beholden to the heroes running the school. Another part of him is grateful for the many opportunities. This conflict has left him more than a little adrift and unable to focus. Powers & Tactics: Nick’s powers are very bare bones and blunt at the moment. A lot of effort has gone into training himself not to speak. Even the slightest whisper can rattle cause tremors and break delicate objects. Speaking at normal volumes unleashes the equivalent of a bomb. A muzzle mutes him when sleeping or when he otherwise feels uncomfortable. Control aside, Nick is fairly capable with his basic array. The default power, Cascade, can quickly bludgeon groups of foes. Shear releases a directional wave with similar, albeit more precise, results. His favorite accomplishment is Resonance, a directional cone that disrupts targets’ physiology without lasting injury. At the moment, his defense is largely based on training and lots of bruises. Typically, he will evade attacks, close on one or more targets, and unleash one of his effects when they are in range. His training suggests he should be able to develop finer control and more powers over time. The techniques of other sonic (especially Sonic!) heroes have inspired him. Even if he is a bit too bitter to admit it right now. Power Descriptions: The Vox Universum array appears as visible distortions in the air: layers of sound waves rippling from him. Transverse waves imparted into material follow a similar pattern. Although the results tend to pulverize many materials. The exception is Resonance, which appears as a fuzzy, heat-like shimmer as unpleasant to see as feel. All uses are accompanied by a booming amplification of the words he speaks. The specific words aren’t important (yet!). Volume, duration, and inflection seem to be the drivers. All of his powers are psionic in nature. A current hypothesis is that his sensitivity has induced an ability to interpret universal principles as sonic effects. They originate from his mind. The more he listens to radio frequencies and sounds, particularly interstellar signals, the more he seems to understand them, and at an analytical level. Sources as esoteric as Words of Creation, echoes of the big bang, and murmurs of chthonic entities have all been considered. Obviously, these effects have the sonic descriptor. Complications: Bad Company (Reputation): Where he grew up, he is now considered a public menace. Enemy Mine: Nick doesn’t know it yet, but interested parties have noticed him. Among them is the ever curious Maestro. Goes to 11 (Accident): Nick’s powers default to Cascade. Even the slightest whisper can rattle foundations and shatter objects around him. In combat, his powers have a tendency to cause collateral damage. Let It All Out (Phobia): As much neurosis as training, Nick holds himself back out of fear. This can cause him to hesitate or freeze up at the worst times. Never Going Home: Developing powers has put a strain on his relationship with his family. Being far from home and homesick doesn’t help. Secret Agent Man: Having a secret identity sucks. Werewolves of London: Ames was the biggest town he knew. “Fish out of water” does not describe how overwhelmed he is by the big city. Abilities: 2 + 4 + 4 + 6 + 4 + 2 = 22PP Strength: 12 (+1) Dexterity: 14 (+2) Constitution: 14 (+2) Intelligence: 16 (+3) Wisdom: 14 (+2) Charisma: 12 (+1) Combat: 6 + 16 = 22PP Initiative: +6 Attack: +5 Melee (+2 Attack Focus), +3 Ranged, +3 Base Defense: +9 (+8 Base, +1 Dodge Focus), +4 Flat-Footed Grapple: +6 (+5 Melee, +1 Str) Knockback: -2 Saving Throws: 3 + 4 + 3 = 10PP Toughness: +5 (+2 Con, +3 Defensive Roll) Fortitude: +5 (+2 Con, +3) Reflex: +6 (+2 Dex, +4) Will: +5 (+2 Wis, +3) Skills: 48/48R = 12PP Climb 2 (+3) Concentration 4 (+6) Computers 4 (+7) Craft (Electronics) 4 (+7) Craft (Mechanical) 4 (+7) Diplomacy 2 (+3) Knowledge (Physical Sciences) 3 (+6) Knowledge (Technology) 3 (+6) Language 1 (English [Base], American Sign Language) Notice 5 (+7) Perform (Stringed Instruments) 4 (+5) Search 2 (+5) Sense Motive 4 (+6) Stealth 4 (+6) Swim 2 (+3) Feats: 12PP Accurate Attack Attack Focus (Melee) 2 Defensive Roll 3 Improved Initiative Luck 2 Power Attack Quick Change Uncanny Dodge (Auditory) Powers: 1 + 11 + 18 = 30PP Immunity 1 (own powers) [1PP] (Psionic) Super Senses 11 (Accurate [All Hearing] 4, Analytical [All Hearing] 2, Cosmic Awareness [Hearing] 1, Electromagnetic Energy Awareness [Hearing] 1, Tremorsense 2, Ultra-Hearing 1] [11PP] (Psionic) Array 9 (Vox Universum; 18 PP Array; Power Feats: Alternate Power 2; Drawbacks: Full Power -1 PP, Power Loss [When Unable to Speak] -1 PP) [18PP] (Psionic, Sonic) Base Power: Damage 9 (Cascade; Extras: Area (Targeted: Burst) +1) [18PP] Alternate Power: Damage 9 (Shear; Extras: Area (Targeted: Cone) +1) [18PP] Alternate Power: Stun 6 (Resonance; Extras: Area (General: Cone) +1) [18PP] Drawbacks: -3 = -3PP Disability (Mute, unless using powers; Frequency: Common; Intensity: Moderate) [-3PP] DC Block ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC 16 Toughness Damage Cascade Burst Touch DC 24 Toughness Damage Shear Cone Touch DC 24 Toughness Damage Resonance Cone Touch DC 16 Fortitude Stun Totals: Abilities (22) + Combat (22) + Saving Throws (10) + Skills (12) + Feats (12) + Powers (30) - Drawbacks (-3) = 105/118 Power Points Comments: Formatting troubles aside, here is my Claremonter. The build is deliberately basic. I'm looking forward to figuring out the character and his power set will mature.

Fulcrum's amused expression shifted to a smile. She offered Miracle Girl a fist bump before addressing Bolt. "Well, let's see. Human life is good, and has been good to me. I have loving parents, a friendly sibling rivalry, great friends and neighbors, and a loving partner. A partner with whom I hope to have a child with sometime in the near future. Here's to hoping the kid takes after dad." "I have a successful, multifaceted career. Inspiration has come to me in all manner of artistic endeavors, and I make a good living at it." Several million by her taxes. Of which all but a modest living went to charitable causes. "I'm grateful to do something I love every day. Meeting fans and critics alike is a joy." "I have the privilege and opportunity to travel the galaxy. Later this week a large alien friend named Jolee will be joining me for lunch. Assuming I don't have to rescue another interstellar squid on the way to CoVic." She laced her hands together again and leaned on her elbows. "'Shining gods'." She regarded Bolt carefully a moment. "Is it really a job, Bolt? Is it a job to you or your dad?"

By this point, the cat's purrs were loud enough to rattle furniture. She opened her eyes at the attention to her paw, but did not protest. Mona's gaze whipped up to Viktor, then back to the cat, but she didn't say anything. Frankly, a dimension-ripping cat with Penny's personality was rather concerning. Frightening was the wrong word. But something she agreed needed to be studied and addressed. Bad enough that the poor cat had been irradiated all these years. Though Mona would certainly take meta-feline powers over many of the alternative outcomes. Like water around reeds, Penny's extended claws slit microscopic rents in reality. These tiny incisions fluttered open briefly, revealing other places beyond them, but a millisecond or two later they snapped closed as prime reality reasserted itself. Infinitesimally small pulses of electromagnetic radiation, primarily radio waves, accompanied the closure. Various particles, then, likely were present as well. Mona was probably right about losing limbs too. The claws looked, for lack of a better turn, rather lethal. Perhaps the vicinity of mono-molecular sharpness. And certainly sturdier looking than a typical keratin-based claw. "I would hope she couldn't, but that is probably too much to ask," was her quiet reply. She shook her head and mumbled. "I don't know how I'm going to deal with a kid if a cat gives me this much trouble." Seconds thoughts perhaps?

Mona smirked at their banter and continued walking. To Selena's factoid, Mona looked her way, "Whatever do you mean? I'm almost frightened to ask. Oh, and congratulations surviving high school. Really." True to her word, a small cafe trimmed with ivy and wrought iron emerged from the trees and shops bordering the park. Mona pressed onward after crossing the street. She hummed at Claude's analysis, her face looking pleased, appreciative even. "I like you." As the group passed the first tables, Mona waved across the cafe to a thin man with dreadlocks. He smiled, waved back, and motioned to the outside area. The umbrella-topped table was in an odd spot. The outside seating area was on a corner, vaguely triangular, and this table was hemmed in on three sides by walls and bushes. The narrow area also sat a fair distance from the next nearest table. Mona pulled out chairs before circling the table. After the two settled, Mona sat down, or least appeared to, but was noticeably hovering just over the chair. "We can talk freely here. An interesting physical phenomenon this spot. The only way to clearly hear sounds into or out of this spot is from the roof." She pointed up the three story brick building. And she was right. As soon as they passed into the small space, the sounds of clinking flatware and conversation faded into the background. Putting her bag down, she addressed Claude, "You are correct. What are the other portions then?"

Mona's smile turned into a grin. First, the banter in Spanish was entertaining, even if the only words she understood were chica and Summers. Credit to the Espadas for the former. Secondly, Summers. Now that was a name she knew. Last she heard Old Man Summers had finally taken a much deserved retirement. She idly wondered what the new Summers was like. Once Claude finished speaking, Mona glanced over to Selena, her tone flat. "Boys." Still off she strode after retrieving her bag. As she walked, slowly at that, she chatted to Selena, "Sorry to draw you into this. I'm always on the clock. Hopefully, we can pick up where we left off." As they exited the park, her attention drifted to the record shop. On cue a pair of boys, maybe 13, hurried out of the shop. If their posture wasn't suspicious enough, their clothes were much too heavy for summer. Half away across the street they made eye contact. They didn't...so much as freeze as tense up, bug eyed, and march back toward the shop while pulling out CDs and records from their clothes. "The only people afraid, or uncomfortable, around me are those with guilty consciences."

Mona raised an eyebrow, "شکلات باعث می شود جهان به چرخش درآید." (Persian translation: "Chocolate makes the world spin.") Such an odd young man. At first glance a fairly typical teenager, but the more she listened the more mature he seemed. In fact far more mature than his age would suggest. The way he comported himself actually made her a touch leery, especially considering his hand was in his pocket. She'd seen his type before, and focused on him as a whole lest that smile was just a diversion. Outwardly Mona was still, looked him over skeptically, and kept her eyes glued to him. That's when Selena's comment clicked. Mona glanced at Selena's shirt, up to her face, and over to Claude. Realization dawned. "Ah! I'm Mona. A pleasure. I think I know what is going on here." With surprising dexterity, she plucked the two stragglers from her back. They were gently deposited with their parents, who were chatting on a nearby bench. "Great to meet you all. Unfortunately, I must be on my way. I hope you have a wonderful day! And Shawna," she added, offering a low five to the young girl, "keep practicing that swing and have fun!" After the return high five, Mona stepped back over to the group and rubbed her hands. "Either of you thirsty? Hungry? I know a great outdoor cafe down the way. My treat." Obviously, she had an ulterior motive, but darn if she wasn't genuine.

Mona just winked back and listened. To her credit, Mona only looked amused at Viktor's quick recovery at the mention of the Terminus. She nodded to his question and tapped her chin in thought at the idea of dimensional frequencies. The concept wasn't completely foreign to her, but not something that exactly came up when she was studying ultra-black pigments. Maybe she could... "Hmm..." The grin faded slowly, replaced with a mix of consternation and puzzlement. Her eyes locked onto the cat. "That darn cat! I've given up trying to keep her inside. Last week she was gone all day, and I've yet to discover how she's getting out. I initially thought she was large enough to operate the door. But I blocked the doors and windows from the outside. Did I tell you about the liquor cabinet incident? Last month in Berlin, I found her sleeping inside the locked cabinet in my apartment. Now that we're home, I wonder how long it will take for her to escape again. I mean it's not like she can tele...port?" She just stared at Penny. Penny 'Haters Gonna Hate' Teymourian sat there purring, her eyes closed.

Mona watched with growing concern at Penny's irritation. So much so that her first response was, "Please massage the cat before she slices your arm off." She was completely serious, if still grinning. Once that was settled, Mona pondered the idea of pushing the ship, her face looked pinched up, if her eyes sparkled with whimsy. "Well...I suppose I could push. But I'd rather you run some tests while we race instead. That way I can spend some time inside the ship, and you can do what you do best. And perfect your skip drive too." "I wonder which dimension. Perhaps the Zero Zone? Since it came up and all, and does sort of fit the bill. Sometimes I wish I had majored in the physical sciences or engineering like Mom wanted. Maybe I'd have a better background for this information. But that's not the way my brain is wired." She laughed lightly, still sporting the big grin. "Regardless, I'm glad the 'barrier' is supposed to happen. I don't want to rip another hole in reality. I worry about that sometimes." She cocked her head to the side, "'Endless possibilities' is right, buster. Please elaborate! Tangentially, you don't suppose I could, you know, travel between dimensions?" Mona had a long-standing pattern of enjoying Viktor's science talks. Gentle steering occasionally needed. Especially now, as a free man, she appreciated how patient, enthusiastic, and humble he was concerning his knowledge. Appreciation that showed on her face. No wonder he taught a little on the side. He'd be an excellent teacher as well as father. She made a mental note to mention that.

"The honor is mine. I'd be more than happy to sign it!" Fulcrum sifted through her shopping bag as she spoke. "I loved that setting too! Just between us, she may be revisiting the setting. A working title I heard was Wheelguns West. Remember the cowgirl with the six-foot revolver rifle?" She nodded as she turned back with a pen. A business card passed to Selena for the omnibus. The card gave the contact information for the Freedom City Artists Cooperative. In return Fulcrum gladly signed the inside cover, Dear Selena, Keep the West Wild and Weird! All the best, Mona Teymourian. "If you're interested, I can ask Vicky to sign it too. She's off doing her own thing, but we can make arrangements." All the while she'd glance toward the Suspicious Character walking nonchalantly by. Just as she was about to speak again, she stopped momentarily. This happened to coincide with Gnomon, who had just passed them, answering his phone. She tapped the pen on the book's cover in thought. "Excuse me a moment please. Clock time," she directed to Selena. As Claude groused, Mona looked over her shoulder, two kids still clinging to her back. "As a sister I recommend appeasement with chocolate-frosted 'tarts. With No Entry signs." Her tone was friendly, helpful even. And definitely directed at him. There was no way she could have heard that conversation. Right?

"The Zero Zone? Now that is a strange place. From what little I've heard, your story is consistent with the physics of that place. But I'm sure you know that all too well by now." Realizing the deliciousness of this new batch, Fulcrum unceremoniously chomped her muffin in one bite. Now the scene wasn't quite as comical as you'd imagine. She was a rather big gal anyway, but the poor muffin didn't stand a chance anyway. Two chews and it was gone. "Not trying to invite myself, but if you ever need back up, I'd travel with you to the Zero Zone," she tacked on with a serious tone and firm nod. Part of her was interested in visiting for opportunity, but another part wanted to support her new friend in such an unu Toward the tail end of Casey's story, Mona winced. "Ouch! That would explain surviving though. I've heard of various combinations of events leading to full-blown powers. Heck, I was blasted with Terminus radiation while on chemo. Anything can happen." Eyeing the box of treats, she picked out a turnover and almost took a bite while talking. "I take it both of you were okay? I mean after the lightning strike? Seems you were, but you never know." Yes, now, she bit into the pastry.

Oh, yes, Claude did make eye contact earlier. At least it felt that way. Fulcrum had glanced his general direction while chatting, and while he was a distance away, he could have shown she looked him right in the eyes. But soon enough she turned her attention back to pressing matters. "...softball too! I grew up playing and even played in college! You don't have to my size to be good. Keep playing and have fun!" The little girl sitting in the crook of her elbow grinned. Closing on Fulcrum took a bit of time. The kids, though easily distracted, seemed intent on her. Eventually though, enough peeled off to play Capes and Crooks or were scooped up by parents that Selena was able to make her move. Shifting the smiling little girl from elbow to shoulder, Mona shook Selena's hand firmly. "Thank you! That means so much to me. I'm always happy to meet a fan! The whole enterprise is really a labor of love." At which point her shoulder passenger decided to wrap her arms around Fulcrum's neck and slide down her back. The choke hold didn't seem to phase Fulcrum. "A dear friend of mine recommended putting out a magazine. I still have no idea how she put together such a network of authors. What in particular interested you?" Shaking her head, she said, "Sorry, I'm getting ahead of myself. Excuse me a moment please?" At which point the passengers on her left arm were swung back-and-forth before being deposited in parental arms. Once the numbers (and the volume) were diminished, she glanced toward a shop across the street and a cordoned-off area to Selena's far left. Then she turned back to Selena. "I'm Mona. What is your name?"

Fulcrum waited patiently and with great amusement. After all Viktor and Penny were having a bonding moment. Which recalled a few memories of early relationship days. Particularly how Penny only really started liking Viktor after the whole Incident. After the cat accepted him, Mona knew the relationship was solid. She never mentioned that Penelope Archimedes Teymourian was a non-negotiable part of the deal. Or that she was a he until 2013. Whether that memory or Viktor's reaction contributed more to her Cheshire Cat grin was left to the ages. "Thank you. Thank you! The experience was... unique. The first time I just kept picking up speed until I felt like I hit some sort of barrier. Like g-forces, but I still felt like I was accelerating. Until, well, I was just floating along while the stars were swirling around me. That was the odd part. The stars didn't pass by me. They dimmed, and seemed to spiral together in these odd patterns. But somehow I still knew where I was going. That may answer the navigation question. For a moment orbiting Alpha Centauri A, I was terrified I'd be lost out there. Then I just thought about where I wanted to go, and next thing I knew I was home. Intuition I suppose." Tapping her fingers on the arm of her chair, she continued, "The pattern reminded me of the spirals I saw when I looked through the window of your house from the outside. I can only conclude I wasn't so much traveling faster than light than folding space-time around me. Which makes sense in light of your hypothesis that my superhuman strength may be partially based on warping space. You remember: helps explain why I don't pulverize the surface I'm touching or the collapsing the object under the strain." "But as for what it was like," she nodded, still grinning, "It was joyous, beautiful, transcendent. The world just faded away into a void, yet there was this vibration like I was connected to the universe. Eternity. Infinity. Next thing I knew my vision was engulfed by this yellow light: Polaris. I was giddy. I watched an alien star burn and churn and eject glowing matter into space. I orbited a giant and its neighbors and saw new constellations. I'll be frank, I felt like a goddess. I want to do that again. And share that with you."

Fulcrum gave Miracle Girl a reassuring smile before listening to Bolt. As he spoke, she tapped her chin in thought and gently rocked in her chair. An amused expression crept over her face. This conversation, maybe this whole trip, was obviously becoming quite enjoyable to her. Slick, Bolt. Very slick. Looking around the room in thought was really a pretense. She was really looking for AV devices. But she was gathering her thoughts regardless. Eventually, which was a few seconds at best, a course toward pure honesty was charted. Best not to overthink things. When she spoke, her tone was frank. "I don't. I'm not being facetious nor am I self-flagellating. I could talk up my pros and analyze my cons." At that she held out her hands like moving scales. "Simply put however, I don't know if I can do the job. The League is a lot of responsibility. Responsibility I am not sure if I can handle or want." "You're right. There is only one Captain Thunder. And Bolt. And Miracle Girl. And Fulcrum. I didn't show up here to replace or be as good as anyone. I'm here," she leaned forward and tapped a finger on the table, "because maybe any good accomplished can be multiplied as part of the League. And if I'm not right for the team, that's okay. I'll still be out there fighting the good fight."

"A wonderful bonding experience comparably, but I'd rather not go through the latter either." A wry smile at the memory turned to a tender one at his caress. "You old smoothie you. I will be right there beside you." The beast, sated, reverted to fluid state. Thankfully, Penny was used to the kinetic side of this particular person. Why? Because the rewards were so worth the patience. The volume of her purring slowly crept upward. Any louder and she'd be rattling the furniture. To Viktor's gentle teasing, Fulcrum did something rather out of the ordinary. She turned her face away, looking rather bashful. His laugh, however, elicited a chuckle of her own as she turned back. Her face scrunched up in thought, and the wheels in her mind could be seen whirring. Maybe the cliche that couples became more alike had a grain of truth. Her pride at her accomplishment just needed the right phrasing. She spoke up a few seconds later. "Well, let's see. I started out for Mars and eventually Pluto. Alpha Centauri, being our nearest neighbor, was my first interstellar target and took about 0.5 seconds. I arrived at Polaris from Earth in less than a minute. If my math is correct, I should be able to reach Coalition Victory Station in about 45 minutes." She continued stroking his hair.

Her response was a snicker. "Don't let her fool you. She loves you like a son. Even if she is too proud to admit it until you put a ring on a my finger." "Quite a few people would be happier if we checked in occasionally. For both of us." Fulcrum looked into her tea cup, swirled it, and took a sip. "Do you need a five year journey? Because if you do, we can make this work. I just have obligations here I can't leave that long. Commitments I can't or won't walk away from. Maybe I shouldn't have even suggested going with you. You could go out there and really find yourself." Crossing her legs, she reclined in the chair, still holding his hand. A sheepish look crossed her face. "Regardless I wanted to bring up what I meant by commute. You mentioned a shuttle, or perhaps picking up a pod at CoVic. After all of that, I started wondering how fast I could fly in space. No air resistance, microgravity, etc. Sooo I may have done a few short trips off world. How fast is the Weltraumwohnmobil?" At his weaker chuckle, she didn't say a thing. She simply freed her hand and began running her fingers through his hair again. That techorganic hairdo she seemed to like.

"It's Fulcrum!" Soon enough, a chorus of young voices joined the first. "Fulcrum! Fulcrum! Fulcrum!" The ruckus erupted on the western tip of the park. On this otherwise quiet morning, a mob of young children had descended on the giant heroine. They were crowding around her, peppering her with questions, and a few "flew" in orbit around the group. Amused parents and guardians began gathering at the scene. A few moments earlier, the heroine had been leaning against a tree near the sidewalk and intently watching a shop across the street. She wasn't kitted out though. On the contrary, she looked rather dapper in dark slacks, dress shoes, a white button up, and a powder blue vest. Hanging from a branch was a canvas shopping bag. The sudden attention seemed to catch her off guard. Quickly enough though her surprise turned to delight. A few moments after that she was in "improvised public relations mode". Which meant that she was a hovering jungle gym and answering the sorts of questions only children had the honesty to ask. Kids were hanging from her outstretched arms and one was swinging on her six-foot braid. For all the squealing attention, Fulcrum seemed to be enjoying herself, or a least had a great deal of tact. Still though she kept an eye on the shop, a record store, across the street.