Ari

Marceau listened with interest. In truth, he knew hardly any other heroes in the city, and he was honestly curious what they were like. He resolved the ask more about this 'Gossamer' later. For now, he simply said "Interesting. Guess our low mobility makes us less likely to meet other heroes that often" and kept a careful watch on the surrounding street for signs of danger. When Mad Dog re-emerged and signaled him to descend, he did so. Firing his grapple line at the edge of the building he fell quietly and quickly, taking care to scan inside each window he passed. Nothing out of the crumbling, decaying ordinary caught his eye. In about a minute's time, he had touched down next to Mad Dog. Turning to the other vigilante he murmured "So, I didn't see anything. Think we got here too late? Too early?"

Okay, going to throw a boomerang at the King of Spades. Attack roll: 23. DC is 23. Homing Attack on King of Clubs, Attack Roll: 31!. DC is the same. Going to try and Intimidate the King of Diamonds. -4 due to it being a Move action: 23.

Okay, so a more immediate issue with a less clear-cut solution? If that's the case, how about this amended version: One morning Marceau wakes up to find that all his gear(except his grapple gun) has been stolen, with a note on the wrought-iron chest saying simply "Gone crime-fighting. I'll bring it back". A quick round of questioning reveals that someone dressed nigh-identically to him snuck in through the window and took his gear in the night. He wasn't stopped because the stranger told Marcy's associates that he was a superhero down on his luck, and that he would return it the next night. Marceau isn't convinced, and goes off to figure out what's going on and who is responsible for this.

The dank quiet of the sewer was becoming ever more tense. An undefinable feeling of unease slowly grew in each of the three heroes trudging down the filthy walkway, an inchoate knowledge that something was about to happen. Despite all that, the rats scuttled before them, the..water ran unchanged, and the cockroaches moved with their usual rapidity away from Revenant's flashlight. With a harsh sound of metal scraping against rock, a large iron gate made of interconnected bars came groaning down in front of them! It, like the earlier guillotine, was old and obviously ill-kept, but it would still be a difficult obstacle to overcome. However, its slow movement meant that the three heroes could potentially stop it, and if it was as badly moored as the last trap, if could likely even be broken outright. The sound of metal on stone ground on, and the gate kept at its unhurried descent.

Okie dokie. Now for the first round it's going to be a surprise round, as the thugs aren't likely to be aware of Cubic and Covalent's existence just yet. So fire away. Meanwhile, I'd like a Strength check(DC 20) from Mala Suerte, Revenant and King of Suits to keep a metal gate from closing in front of them, or a Dexterity check to get past it by rolling/diving/what have you, or whatever else you see fit to do. Said gate is connected to two others that are beginning to block the main and other walkway.

Subito smiled genially and shook Johnny's hand gladly. "Subito Sondo at your service! Thanks are hardly necessary, just doing what I ought to. If you need advice on what to wear at school I'd be glad to offer it. What school you going too? That's one of the biggest things to keep in mind" At the sudden barrage of noise from the Gap confrontation, he briefly closed his eyes in quiet protest, opening them quickly and resuming his bright and pleasant demeanor. He deeply hoped this wasn't going to be a permanent problem, otherwise his enhanced hearing would be an unbearable thing to use. Simply turning it off was always a possibility, but he was well aware that he wasn't going to learn how to use his gifts if he didn't use them in the first place. Thinking it best to try and work in an explanation for the otherwise incomprehensible action, he said casually, jerking his at the confrontation in front of the Gap "Man, these places get all the crazies, huh?"

Marceau shrugged "In that case we ought to make another reconnaissance mission. I'll do a quick scan from the roof down, you check around the grounds. Sound good?" his legs were still shaking from shock and the sudden bursts of effort he'd been making recently, but his voice didn't sound winded, something he felt comforting. The run over had been wonderful for clearing his head, the monotonous movement and seedy dullness of the Fens all but forcing him to confront himself over his hatred for the Zoom user. He was used to second-guessing his motives and feelings on most things, and he spent most of his time ruminating over events that had occurred earlier since he was a child, so he largely skipped the intervening period where he might have forgotten the incident and recalled it later. He had to confess, he hadn't had any idea he missed his own powers so badly that just seeing someone else gain powers would spark dislike I wonder if Mad Dog knows any powers he thought. Then he decided he might as well cut to the chase. Turning to Mad Dog he said "By the way, do you know many other heroes with powers Mad Dog?"

Smiling kindly, Marceau bent down and slackened the bolo slightly around his ankles and wrists. "I thank you as well! You've been of great help to us" In reply to Mad Dog's offer of more fun, he clapped him heartily on the shoulder and gave him the 'one second' sign with his finger. Moving quickly, he restrained the fallen gunmen with his bolos, tying them to pillars, support struts and the other metal complexities that made up much of the factory's interior. Once finished, he walked back over and said simply "I very much am, Mad Dog! Lead the way" he readied his grapple gun and unlocked and opened the large doors, feeling the cooler breeze of the gloomy decay that made up so much of the Fens, and wondered what it would take to heal this area of the city. He leaned against the open door, ready and waiting.

Unaware of the complex circumstances of the triggered store alarm, Subito turned nonchalantly to Johnny. "No problem! My sister has been hounding me to take a stronger stance against bullies, and she's very...into the whole 'fighting injustice wherever it's found' thing. Since we were kids, really. It doesn't happen a lot, no, but it can and does occur so be a bit more aggressive next time someone tries to say you're a thief without proof" Glancing over at the confrontation, he was shocked at the pale teen's speed he's got to be on a track team. Wonder if he's some big shot in that circuit? Seeing as there remained a chance the busy-body might keep being a nuisance, he casually kept himself slightly facing the new staredown.

INTIMIDATIOOOOOOON! Check! (21:15:25) Arichamus: Will do. Is IC down? (21:15:34) Lone_Star: Lemme check. (21:15:50) Fox: DCAU Waller is best Waller. (21:15:51) Lone_Star: Looks like it. (21:15:56) trollthumper: Gee, you just HAD to do that to the ONE woman in the DCU with staying power and a body that WASN'T some variant on "beauty queen"?(21:15:57) Arichamus: M'kay. (21:16:35) Dr_Archeville has enjoyed reboot!Superboy so far (21:16:36) System: Arichamus rolls 1d20 and gets 15. (21:16:49) Arichamus: +15 Skill bonus nets me a 30.

Slightly embarrassed by Mad Dog's exuberance at what he considered an actually rather botched job, Marceau raised a more subdued cheer: "Hurrah for the fists of Mad Dog! Fellers of strongmen and speedsters alike!" Shaking off the now-dismal feeling of satisfaction at the violent takedown of the suited men, Marceau strolled over to the conscious counterpart of the now insensible Zoom seller. His eyes now like two needles of blue fire coming from the hollows of his partially-concealed face, and his voice taking on a lower and more menacing tone than he had used in many a long year. His hands visibly reaching for his utility belt. "I dunno, Mad Dog. On the one hand it's not like he could, say, get a nose-full of that Zoom stuff and beat us to within an inch of our lives now that he's seen how that ends up. On the other hand, perhaps he might feel a bit more inclined to telling us who was buying and who was selling this stuff. Might be of use to us, you know? What do you say, O feller?" he asked a bit cheekily.

As there's room, I'll shove my oar in. King is a bit better developed( little as that says), so I'll go with him as the Kicker'd one. In no real order: King of Suits: Murderer?! Marcy wakes up one morning to find that an outcry has come up against his alter-ego, who is suspected in the murder of a prominent city councilwoman. Knowing he can't now act in-costume, he moves to solve the mystery of who has tried to defame him without the protection and anonymity of his cape and cowl. For a lighter tone, how does this sound? Marceau's dormant powers abruptly flare to life, creating a self-aware monster of pure cosmic power convinced they're an angel and given to random bouts of violence against whoever it decides meets its ill-defined category of 'sinners'. As the only person who it listens to(and can safely hurt it), the King of Suits has to talk down the wanna-be angel and persuade them to return to their dormancy. If neither sound suitable, I'll gladly offer somwthing else.

Now then, I'll put up two more Notice checks(last ones for a while, I promise!), one for the kidnappers to try and detect EL Heraldo and one for Fulcrum to try and detect the incoming Heightened Security Measure. DC for the first is 20, the second is 16. Kidnappers(using the Soldier archetype from the Core Rules): IC still down, used in-Chat roll: (08:12:46) System: Ozob has set their status to Away (08:18:49) System: Arichamus logs into the Chat. (08:18:57) Arichamus: Hello. (08:19:02) System: Arichamus rolls 1d20 and gets 14. +2 from their Notice skill rank gives them 16. They don't see him.

...Which swarmed over and around Marceau, sealing him in a coffin of gritty rock! He attempted to dodge the sudden airborne-avalanche, but evading the current of sand and stone proved to be somewhat beyond him while he was simultaneously trying to keep his balance on a moving truck that was still bucking from the crushing blow given it by the King of Clubs. The sand poured over and around his head, obscuring from his sight the grav-bikes, the crazily-attired aliens, the marine carrying the shotgun and from his hearing the crackling bolts fired from Ford's alien pistol, the roar of the truck's wheels and motor as it sped across the desert sand. Down into silence, darkness, and stillness. Down into a black and stifling hell. Marceau had never been very frightened of small places. He didn't like them, but they held no terror for him on their own. Now that he was in the middle of a coffin of rock and sand, however, he began to be very afraid of them indeed, desperately shoving and wrenching and clawing, a fear of sudden death descending on him like a vast wave on the shore. He fervently hoped he wouldn't fail in protecting Ford. If only he could get out, he could beat them...

Now that the doors were closed and locked(though Marceau was well-aware that the Zoom user could open them at least four times faster than he had closed them), the King of Suits turned back to his erstwhile tormentor. His eyes bright, the pain in his torso tolerable, and the smell of victory in the air, he became careless. Not for the last time. He didn't bring back his arm hard or fast enough, and though his aim was impeccable(anticipating the speedster's movements was no easy feat), his strike simply wasn't powerful enough. He hurled himself at the suited man and did his best to punch him in the face, to no noticeable effect. He deeply loathed the man now.

Going for a straight-up Melee Attack: (22:17:42) System: Arichamus rolls 1d20 and gets 20. (22:17:49) Arichamus: ...WHAT?! (22:18:09) Arichamus: Okay, that plus the 16 Unarmed bonus makes it 36. TOU DC is 19. +5 due to it being a natural 20 critical so 24.

Subito didn't change expression when Alex attempted to remove his hand from his shoulder. Not due to any stoicism, but rather from a lack of interest in changing it. He seemed rather hurt at the word 'punk', however. "Watch your language. If you don't know what the word means, don't use it! Besides, it is my business as a citizen to make sure other citizens don't go making trouble for others on no basis whatever. You aren't the hired security here, so unless you have actual proof this guy's taken something, I suggest" he grated the word 'suggest' like he meant it "I suggest you either explain why you think this guy stole something, or leave him alone and go bother somebody else. Your call buddy" At the sound of the store alarm he cocked his head in the direction it came from, wincing slightly but saying without apparent difficulty "Well, what do you know? Looks like something's actually been stolen this time, why don't you go and check it out? Make yourself useful?"

Oh, sorry. Didn't know I was holding this up. :?

Okay, Reflex save. IC was down, so rolled in-Chat: (13:07:13) System: Arichamus rolls 1d20 and gets 2, +13 Reflex equals 15. Fails.

El Heraldo turned back to Fulcrum(Fulcrum!) and whispered his report: "They have immensely strong crates made to keep them whole from anything short of super-human strength, but the locks have been weakened due to their not being seen as being quite as necessary as usual, so that at least gives us something to work with. Also, they called each other by what I assume to be their real names, so I believe that will make it a bit easier to figure out how this happened and who's behind this, once we have this kidnapping thing broken up that is. One other thing: one of them, named Mark? He said something about 'Heightened Security Measures' that could take down the people they've captured if they got loose" Settling into a tenser crouch he peered down at the quiet grey-coats. He said softly "So what's the plan? You take care of the kidnappers while I disable the boat?" he clutched the Bandera, forcing himself to remember that with it he was basically bulletproof.

Meanwhile, far below... "Mark!" hissed one of the grey-swathed men carrying a crate in tandem with another(presumably 'Mark') "Keep your end up! If we drop this thing wrong the brat inside will get out and paralyze us with that noise she makes". Mark seemed comparatively unconcerned "Keep my end up, Tom? I'd say something about glass houses and hrngh!stones, but I'll just say this to quiet you down: even if we did drop this crate wrong, the catch inside wouldn't be any better off for it" Tom made unconvinced noises and Mark sighed wearily before explaining further "The titanium alloy we cast these boxes in are pretty much impossible to crack without super-human strength. The locks aren't the sturdiest, maybe, but the rest of it more than makes up for that, you could drop one of these on a carborundum spike from 200ft. and you'd be hard-pressed to find the dent with a magnifying glass. Some of the catch has potent abilities, yeah, but they're nothing compared to the, ah, 'heightened security measures' is how our Fearless Leader described them" apparently reassured(and slightly cowed), Tom continued his labors in silence. The vessel the crates were being loaded onto was a small black-painted boat done up to look like a fishing craft. There where several clear signs of a deception being employed, however, including a suspiciously large cube amidships, covered with a huge array of tarpaulins, ropes and fishing nets, not to mention what looked eerily like small gun emplacements dotting the sides. There were twelve of the crates, each of which had to be manually loaded due to the need for secrecy requiring them to keep from using the nearby dock cranes. It was slow going, but they were about a third done by the time Fulcrum had arrived. Clearly, action was called for...

Another Notice check(DC 12) to see if Heraldo can make out clearly what the kidnappers are babbling about. IC down, rolled in-Chat: (13:41:17) System: Arichamus rolls 1d20 and gets 10., +4 with Notice Skill makes it 14 so Passed.

Staggering to his feet, Marceau gave Mad Dog a shaky thumbs-up "I'm alright, not great but I should be fine for now. Let me hamper our speedster's getaway if you don't mind" he said, flinging a flash/bang at the Zoomer's head. It was poorly aimed, and he cringed as it left his hand, but he sent it with as much aplomb as he could muster. It made him almost sick to admit it to himself, but he felt a surge of quite undignified and downright evil pleasure at seeing the Zoom-user humbled so by Mad Dog. Turning quickly he stumbled over to the large front door of the factory, seized the metal handle and slammed the steel doors shut, locking them as he did so. Putting his back to the cold alloy he faced the two combatants, ready to head back into the fray if the Zoomer proved unfazed by the fists of Mad Dog and the flash/bang.

Okay, going to try for a Dazzle on the Stunned Zoomer. The Attack: IC was down when I began, so I rolled in-Chat instead. (12:34:45) System: Arichamus rolls 1d20 and gets 3., +8 equals 11. Rerolled(-1 HP), (12:35:08) System: Arichamus rolls 1d20 and gets 2. +8 equals 10. Going with the 11, I suppose, DC is a 15 Fortitude save. Move action to close the front door of the factory.

Sorry to get back to this so late. Yeah, Init time for the Thugs and the twins. Theirs: 14, 21, 6.