Setzer

Well, time to take it easy for me... I´m going to be absent until 15th september, and perhaps even more time. Personal stuff, I need to lend a hand to my family specially. I let my 20 Questions unended (I don´t need to say it, but refs, don´t count it) and my Time Machine post (thanks again to SC for his patience).

I Feel so :oops:ed I could explode.

(IN CONSTRUCTION) Twenty Questions! Summer afternoon. A transparent glass table and a couple of cups separate the two partners, one of them is famous enough to not be necessary to describe it, while the other is a muscular man with a tank top and a bandage covering his face half and arm. Rick "Voyeur" Royer: Thank you for your welcome, Vanguard Manuel Rubio, Vanguard: You're welcome. It was a real surprise to receive notice that someone wanted to interview me. Not to mention someone like you. RVR: Oh, is that an insult? (smile) VAN: Not in the least, you can believe me (shakes with emphasis) It's just that I never figured I could have an interview with Rick Royer, ever (uncomfortable smile) I feel a little... diva? RVR: But you´re gaining quite a name, that´s what they say. Especially after the attack ... I hope you are well indeed. VAN: Oh, I told you, it's nothing ... (shrugs and tries to stand, with a little sigh) Ouch. Well... let´s start with this, right? RVR: Right. Just relax and let yourself go... "Let´s talk a little about you, Vanguard. You are one of the heros that don´t have a secret identity. But still, you have an alias and the costume. Can we ask why?" Sure thing. What I mean is I have a civilian identity as everyone else. This started as a patrol of the neighborhood, and I do not quit merit from any of them. They risk as much as I do and they do it face off... why should I be different? Every one of us risk our lifes for the people we care of. I´m not one of those "cape-haters" as someone has told me; got the secret identity and the costume, but anyone that cares about it can also get my profil with ease. Even if I had all that, with how bad I am hiding things does not last long (laughs) "Now, now. Talk a little about yourself, big man" As I said, I´m from Spain, but I´ve lived in Miami most of my life. You can tell it for my grammar and the fact I let the occasional spanglish, sorry about that. I´m a five years old freedomer. "...and about those people and your costume..." No, that´s a thing I can´t really understand. What is the problem? They look for the costume and say "oh, look at him, mister American Patriot. Another bigot right-wing fanatic". Sigh. Why that obsession with the banner representing a totalitarian dystopia? I´m not into politics. What I really mean is what the banner represents. "...?" This country was founded on the hope of many people, those who sought a better future for themselves, their family and friends. Of those who had a dream about a land of opportunity and freedom. This is Freedom City. This is the Opportunity land. And this ... this is the dream. A dream worth fighting until the end. "How would yo describe yourself? People talk about your phisique, but, what do you think when you look in a mirror?" They say THAT? Whoah, who would have told it (shocked) I must admit, when I look into the mirror, that I´m in pretty good shape "Now that´s an understatement!" [...]yeah. I mean, the training I've been doing all these months and running, jumping and fighting it´s showing. Sometimes I wonder where I left my beer belly... "strengths and weakness. People want to know THE TRUTH!" That´s not a little dangerous? Anyway, it´s not like it were a secret or something. As all can see, I´m strong, fast and resilient. And I can not be very smart (forget the can not, I´m not), but they say I have a way with people. And you know what I can do with my shield, I can assure you that is no small feet mantain the grip when the blasts rain and catch it in the right second. What I lack... well, powers. People in the business can lift tanks, going invisible, grow 500 ft and the like. Impressibe. Me, well, if they have a bullet I have the armor jacket and anything else (shrugged)

QhKQKLiHxAw ¡¡¡HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SORSEY!!!

And theeeeere they go!!! Go straight, turn left, turn left again but this time right the window with flowers, please be careful with the pots in the higher houses as Vanguard said, take the Third Boulevard all around... the native and the notoriously british did everything and more. As he said, a little more by foot and they would be in Mott with Grande. And indeed, after a very uphill and very badly paved road that could made SC wonder if flying was such a terrible idea after all, they were in the place. Large blocks of buildings rose on either side of the road, the day was superb and people leaning out windows, talking to each other on the sidewalk or hanging clothes on the ropes. It was the very picture of a traditional ethnic neighborhood in the United States. The sidewalks were perhaps a little larger than normal, and the atmosphere had a few things that were not associated with the modern city that was Freedom City, but alas, it was Freedom City for a few years in the past, and time can do lots of things in a neighborhood, even one that you can say "it´s like the first day!". Some of the buildings were somewhat older and were chipped, but the place was clean and honest in general. And not frequented by people like the main streets so that were a problem for both time travelers. -Well, mister, hope you like the place! Everything looks like it´s in his place and time. Yeah, about that. It was clear as water which building or place they should inspect the first. From his non-objective point of view, at least.

Vanguard was a little uncomfortable with that. Yes he knew the most likely places where the shraphnels might have ended, but it was still true that his main concern right now was another. Not that he didn´t want to save time, please! But, you know, the powerful allure of returning home and give you a hug, Katherine... -So, you´re British, doctor? Funny how Freedom City attracts people from around the world ... I myself am Spanish -he shrugged, wit a little smile- But hey, I've lived here long enough to be my home, so if there are significant changes I should realize ... He shook his head as if to shake a bad thought before continuing. He seemed calm and upbeat, but a good observer could see the lines of tension in his face, a tension that he was trying to hide. -Follow me, Supercape. Let´s find it together.

Vanguard could left a hand too. PL 10, nothing really special, high Gather Information ango good overall combat and defensive skills

March 6th, 2007 March 6th, 2007 March 6th, 2007 No way. No way that could be that day, that month, that year. There was only a more cruel date the fate could have slapped him which. It was simply something that could not be. He remained as stalled. -Yeah, yeah... -he nodded absently- No worries, I don´t fly. Have no powers, in fact. I must insist, NO WAY! No, you must, repeat, must repair this time accident! Anything you do here will have a print in the very fabric of the reality! You´ll be toying with the universe! "Who cares, really? I need to see her..." -Listen, Supercape, I think we should... uh... I know a good zone where look for the shraphnels. If he could go there normally, and watch her without causing any damage... If he could go there normally, and watch it without causing any damage ... had to be some way to do so. He had to be any, just, sure there should be. And I could slide a warning about the convenience of not leaving the house in certain day. Such a detail can´t be a time flux, it´s simply a friendly warbning, a suggerence, an advice. Not like he were revealing what were gonna happen.

"Hiccups in history" ought to be one of the best time-paradox synonymous ever. Problem was, that thing was (incredible but true!) real, not some Futurama episode. Knowing that in the year 1.000.000 and 1/2 humankind will be enslaved by giraffe wasn´t going to be a great help. -... That was way over his league, the only way that he could help was with sensible ideas like take a newspaper and perhaps buy a pair of pears to check if the time rifts rot the fruit. Besides that, no one that he could ask about the whole thing, nothing he could really do with his own hands, and he was not Stephen Hawking. Or Supercape for that matter. -Alright. Here in a sec! A few quarters less and a paper more, Vanguard exit the store with the item. He waited until SC ended his timefixin´ power application to open it and take a good look. And the news said...

He must admit it... that was pretty impressing. While he was putting on the trenchcoat, Supercape had only to wish it and BRIGHT! -Nice trick! "I trust if you recognise me back in our time, don't reveal my Identity?" -Why, that hurts. But of course! The problem, for his part, was that he had no way of disguising his face. No mask, no cowl, no shade-projecting fedora, not even a balaclava. Would have to trust that no one recognized him... by the way, he wasn´t exactly the same guy that years ago. -I´m not a scientist, I´m afraid. Perhaps it´ll be enough if nobody sees us too closely... I mean, this is Freedom City. Colored-suit guys on incognito? Sounds pretty plausible without think "time paradox!". We should start moving, mister... that time eff is not going to repair itself.

Be quiet to pick up a newspaper... well, wasn´t the most awkward thing that has happened in the last weeks. A little down-the-earth, for sure. So... uh... we put our fake moustaches or something? ´Cos I have not one of those. I´m no Raven, I´m not "crazy prepared". Geez, I´m not even "moderately decent prepared". -A lot of times...? You can feel that? Well, then you should see what one should I pick. You´ll now which one is the correct for this timeline, aren´t you. Apártate que me tiznas, thought Vanguard in his old tongue with a smile. -Well, I have a trenchcoat, night guards in winter are cold. It covers pretty well the armor. But I have this uniform... how much, one month or two? So I don´t think anyone recognize it. And you, mister, you said that have not been here that long. So I do not see why anyone would recognize us.

An, of course, Manuel had no idea of what Supercape was talking about. And it doesn´t matter, really. He was listening with great interest, with that kind of silent admiration a man has for those that are obviously way more intelligent that him. Eleven-dimensional curvature? Whoah, man. And he thought the income statement was a real challenging moment in the life. Feel like an amateur child. -Well, I was going to ask if they really did a time bomb, but the question now sounds a little unnecessary -he sighed- Then we need to fix the botch in the time wall, the go home, but being extra-careful about our former selves? He looked from side to side, checking the place. Apparently he saw nothing worthing an alarm. -Hey, mister, no need for such language -he explained, calmly- There could be kids near... we do not want them to catch bad habits, aren´t we? It was his neigbourhood after all (well, before all). -Anyway, relax, mister. That´s not a hard one. Only need to pick a newspaper.

Vanguard arose slowly, carefully, after the crash. He had broken the barrier of time and space and probably a few ribs... no, lucky time. That was falling with style, after the bomb... the time bomb? "Welcome to the past..." -We´re talking about "the past" like in past, past? -he inquired, a little confused. It could not be ... and yet it was. Recognize the place after a look was like a Nostalgia St´walk down. He could see the old marvel which was the Tucker Tornado of the samely old Martin. Ye Olde Ice Cream Shoppe (I didn´t make it, they really uste that name!), the Texaco gas station and... ehr... -Well then, Supercape -he said, holding out his hand- Name´s Manuel Rubio, codename Vanguard... you know, a nom-de-guerre is mandatory or something like that -he shrugged, not worrying about that. His grip was strong, firm and friendly- Nice to meet you, sir. I must admit, I´m new in the business... specially in the Back to the Future business. So... what would happen if I see my former self? We both explode, or...? Time travel. Man, that was weird. And a man that a week ago fought a sharkmen army knows a little about weirdness. -How long... about five, six years.

Vanguard took just a moment to get off the place and back up, now free from the so-called "Time Anarchists". The emergency stairs were climbed in a hurry, considerably fast, by a man who had both the strenght and the agility. The only thing that would have been even better... have some kind of knack for detect bombs. "The m-brane fractal damage is pretty severe... I am trying a quasi-Heseinberg-Hawkins elastic distortion workaround of the non-linear vaccuum collapse but it seems that..." -Sorry, no idea what you´re talking about! Gonna look fer that bomb! And even took a while to find something that might resemble a bomb.When he found it, smiled... only to feel the same smile dyng in the mouth as the place was trying to devour and burping itself simultaneously. One second, one pop, and half the place including him was eroded from existance in that plane. "...oh dear..." -Oh Chr-

No way they could take him flat-footed for a second time. This time he went to them in a second. In the next second every war cry the guy could have screamed transformed in an "Oooof" as the iron shield strike his stomach, render him speechless. All the rest was a matter of moving the shield, reacting at therir own movements and reactions. In the next few seconds they were all in the floor, with no serious damage but tecnically useless. Now their weapons weren´t a menace for anyone. "Damn, I´m gettin pretty good at this" Doc was right, the more you training the easier it becomes. And man, was he training at the time! Muscular memory was really a must-be. Those people were ex-soldiers or had some kind of paramilitar training, and they fell so easy... I have met enough people who could take better hits during my life. Truly, I'm not exactly a wimp to say. Heh, still got it. Well, time to take this guys on hands of the boys, and next to the police. -Hey 3rd Base! Got a few heavy-armed punks in Lansbury´s. Bring the handcuffs and call de cops, please? Right, right, tonight´s mine. Geez, what a dick. Communication cut, he took the guys outta the place. In a few minutes (not more than three) the boys will be there. But he had to search the surroundings about the... ¿Time Bomb? No idea what they meant with that, but "bomb" sounded seriously enough for him.