SpicyWaffle

"You're on, you pzzycho!" barked the Bee-Keeper angrily, pointing a finger towards the gaggle of Negator doppelgangers with dedicated vim and determination. Clenching both of his fists, the Hero of the Hive unfurled his wings anew with a sharp flick of metal-on-metal, beating them against the air in a flurry of activity. He wasn't about to give those murderous clones a chance to wreak havoc on them - or anyone else! Buzzing towards them, the Bee-Keeper put his shoulder to the macabre madmen whom had since flooded the underground lair, swirling across the room in a maelstrom of raw, unchecked force in an endeavor to bring each and every one of the Negators reeling to the ground.

So, things. Let's see... Bee-Keeper's gonna lay low the many Negators. How many? ALL THE NEGATORS, if at all possible, via Overrun. He's got Fast Overrun to hit a bunch of em', and Improved Overrun so they can't move out of the way. Bee-Keeper III'll use his Strength as his Trip Ability Score, and his Flight to get around. The following modifiers affect his Trip Attack: Strength Modifier (+11) + Improved Overrun (+4) + Flight 5 (+5), for a total of +20 on the Trip Check. Not counting Improved Trip, because the verdict seems to be out on that one He'll Take 10 for the Duplicates (assuming they're minions), and roll to hit for the actual Negator if he can catch him. Move Action: Fly ten feet up. Standard Action: Bee-Keeper III Fast Overrun +11 vs. Negator Duplicates, Taking 10 on the Attack Roll (+21 Total, with a DC30 Trip Check for each hit) Standard Action (Cont'd): Bee-Keeper III Fast Overrun +11 vs. Negator: 1d20+11 → [20,11] = (31); Blam! If hit, that's a DC35 Trip Check.

Once again, Baxter began to say something; his lips moved with purpose and even a bit of fiery contempt at the situation... but nothing came out. There was only silence as he sighed, head sinking down as Wander relayed their urgency again. He had to face the facts: she was right. "I know... I juzzt... I know, okay?" he conceded even as his voice faded, rubbing his helmeted eyes as best as he was able as he straightened himself up. He was tired and haggard, mental and physical duress alike taking their toll on the boy. He didn't like the prospect of walking into the lion's maw anymore than any of the other survivors of this fiasco likely did, forced to ponder what his replacement - if he'd even been replaced at all and not just taken for some sick form of sport - was up to every waking moment since Dorothy clued them all in. Even now, he couldn't help but glance at the Claremont student who must have been even more perturbed knowing she was causing havoc back home. "Alright. Let'zz do it. What'zz the worzzt that could happen, right?"

Behind the facade of a cold and calculating hive-mind creature, Baxter's face was an odd amalgam of grimly bizarre glee and mild annoyance as he continued to play the maestro with his maelstrom of bees. The other heroes he'd so hoped would understand only seemed intent on making his job harder; but there was always a silver lining as Quickstep made her way onto the scene! If they wanted a ruckus, then his former friends were going to get a ruckus! "Why can't you guyzz underzztand?!" he buzzed back harshly from somewhere within the center of the cybernetic storm. "It'zz the only way! Freedom Zzity izz overrun with criminalzz; and every day, more take their plazze! The only way to zzhow them they aren't welcome izz to put an end to it - to them! To everything they reprezzent! Without criminalzz, the zzity'll be a zzafer plazze for everyone, and it'll be zzo eazzy to keep it'zz zzitizzenzz from turning down that road!" The Bee-Keeper paused, letting the weight of his words - no, his very ideals - linger for a moment, before continuing, shifting his gaze between the lone remaining biker, his colleague, and then finally resting his eyes upon Silver Spider and Jubatus; his harassers of the worst variety. Twice had they tried to ruin his machinations; this would not stand! "I guezz you'll juzzt have to zzee it for yourzzelvezz... you'll have to experienzze our Wrath firzzt hand!" Turning to his lone ally in this endeavor, the Bee-Keeper barked out his plan to the teleporting teen, pointing one finger towards the lone remaining biker, "Quickzztep! Don't let that crook get away! I'll take care of my... friendzz." With the last words of the Bee-Keeper uttered, they almost rang of a wounded, angered soul laced with salt; but the Hero of the Hive was all business now. Pivoting on his heel and taking to the sky, the author of the automated swarm directed his minuscule brothers and sisters like a master composer, their ranks quickly replenishing themselves even after Jubatus' little upset. Yet, it didn't seem to move. The cloud remained poised right where it was, unflinching as it swirled around the streets of the Fens, the bees mauling everything in their path as they went. Cold and cruel, the Bee-Keeper III pointed the palm of his hand towards the duo below, letting loose a stream of highly focused energy that rippled through the swarm from his camouflaged position -- the same energy he used to blow a hole through that first biker!

REVEEEEEEENGE! Anyway, here we go... Free Action: Maintain Bee-Keeper III's Alternate Power. It fades on his next turn. Anyone still in-range (with the exception of Bee-Keeper III and Quickstep) is caught in the Blast 10 effect. Standard Action: Switching arrays to his Autofire Blast 14, targeting them both and using All-Out Attack (+4 Attack/-4 Defense) and Power Attack (+4 Damage/-4 Attack). Bee-Keeper III's Autofire Blast Power Attack +14 vs. Jubatus: 1d20+14 → [16,14] = (30); If Hit, DC33 Toughness Save. Bee-Keeper III's Autofire Blast Power Attack +14 vs. Silver Spider: 1d20+14 → [19,14] = (33); Critical! If Hit, DC39 Toughness Save. Bee-Keeper's Defense is now at +10 instead of +14 due to All-Out Attack. EDIT: Also, I'm so sorry, guys EDIT 2: Derp. Can't move and target multiple things at the same time with Autofire. Removed the Move Action, since I think they're still in range of 140'. Guess Bee-Keeper'll have to remain a harder-to-hit target till' the next turn :(

Riding the highs and lows of the alien craft's pros-and-cons, Baxter had remained for the most part morbidly silent, only suffering a swear here and there at the initial prospect of it being unable to fly by human means. Thankfully, Jill had a trick up her sleeve - and what a doozy of a trick it was! But still, it didn't feel right. Awfully convenient for the Curator to just stop bothering with this particular craft; then again, it might very well be the only way off this godforsaken rock. "Zzo, what? We all juzzt cram in and zzing campfire zzongzz while we fly right into the clutchezz of thizz Curator guy who wantzz to do who-knowzz-what to uzz?" he repeated, nodding towards Blue Jay even as the prospect of stealing one of their foes' crafts remained one of their best options. "Not to, y'know, doubt you guyzz or anything, but I'm with Jay. Azz much azz I'd like to zzock thizz guy right in the fazze for what he'zz done, I don't wanna..." he began, cutting himself off as he tried to find the right words for it. "I don't want to put all our eggzz in one bazzket. I mean, it'd be nizze if thezze Defenderzz had a ship we could snag inzztead of the alternative. There'zz no telling what the Curator'zz got on hizz bazze; zzure, he could have a zzhip we could uzze... but he could alzzo have a bazzillion robotzz with deathrayzz guarding them! And judging by what he'zz got going already for himzzelf, I'm not all that interezzted in finding out if we can avoid it. Zzo I zzay - if we can - we find thizz Defender zzhip, and if it workzz, we come back and look for Zztratozz and anyone elzze that might be zztuck on that Fake Freedom. Then we can high-tail it outta here and get back home." Pausing for a moment, the Bee-Keeper panned between the gaggle of heroes and heroes-in-training, gauging their reactions. "We leave zzomeone or a couple of zzomeonezz here to guard thizz zzhip juzzt in-cazze, and the rezzt can look into the interzztellar zzhip the Defenderzz might zztill have zzitting around."

Itty-bitty bee-sized edit! This is sort of embarrassing, considering how long my edit request was sitting there, but I just noticed I used the super-old sheet with the out-of-date fluff from when Bee-Keeper's sheet was first being approved. The following isn't so much as a spending of Power Points or anything like that; just a minor little amendment. The previous edits that Gizmo did are still there and it's all mechanically sound from its last approval, so everything should still be kosher there. Sorry about the inconvenience! [b][u]Player Name[/u]:[/b] SpicyWaffle [b][u]Character Name[/u]:[/b] The Bee-Keeper III [b][u]Power Level[/u]:[/b] 11 (162/162PP) [b][u]Trade-Offs[/u]:[/b] None [b][u]Unspent Power Points[/u]:[/b] 0 [b][u]Progress To Bronze Status[/u]:[/b] 12/30 [b][u]In Brief[/u]:[/b] An unlikely heir seeks to revivify the zanily tarnished Bee-Keeper legacy in the name of justice. [b][u]Alternate Identity[/u]:[/b] Baxter Bowles [b][u]Identity[/u]:[/b] Secret [b][u]Birthplace[/u]:[/b] Bayview, Freedom City [b][u]Occupation[/u]:[/b] High School Student, Superhero [b][u]Affiliations[/u]:[/b] Franklin D. Roosevelt High School [b][u]Family[/u]:[/b] Barry Bowles (Uncle; Incarcerated), Benny Bowles (Father), Samantha Bowles (Mother) [b][u]Description[/u]:[/b] [b]Age:[/b] 17 ([i]DoB:[/i] May 15th, 1995) [b]Apparent Age:[/b] 17 [b]Gender:[/b] Male [b]Ethnicity:[/b] African American [b]Height:[/b] 5'10" [b]Weight:[/b] 154 Lbs. [b]Eyes:[/b] Hazel [b]Hair:[/b] Brown [b][u]Appearance:[/u][/b] Of the unassuming variety, Baxter isn't much to look at on first glance. Sporting a modest physique, Baxter's hobbyist activities keep him in decent shape. Regardless, he comes off as rather plain, able to blend in with a crowd rather easily; a trait he's found somewhat useful amidst the high school crowd and would-be gumshoes trying to decipher his secret identity. When not in costume, Baxter keeps his dark hair short and simple, preferring a crew cut style to prevent any irritating interference with his vision. Typically found dressed in casual clothes purchased from Bayview Mall, the secret apiary adventurer is practically indistinguishable in terms of any other teen walking the streets... save, perhaps, for the unusual backpack often found strapped along his shoulders. In costume, however, is a wholly different matter. Once the armor goes on, Baxter becomes the Bee-Keeper (III), an up-and-coming albeit prematurely tarnished young hero of Freedom City. The armor in particular stands out, stylized more after the European Dark Bee, showing off a large pair of metallic, insectile wings of a silvery-black, a full-body battlesuit recently painted by Baxter himself with black-and-yellow stripes, and a helmet affixed to the rest of the heavy-looking ensemble which bears both a pair of antennae and faux compound eyes. More streamlined than the Bee-Keeper Armor 2.0, the 1.6 Eco-Edition is a lighter, but less versatile model that lacks many of the finer points than its crafter's final version, more so for practicality than an intended sacrifice for gain elsewhere. Unlike the more famous model worn by the Bee-Keeper II, however, this one doesn't actually host an army of living bees inside its whirring form. Rather, the Eco-Edition suit carries within itself an assortment of miniscule robo-bees, designed by Barry in the event he didn't wish to bring harm to his buzzing brothers and sisters; hence, ecologically sound for the bees, but not so much for everything else. [b][u]Power Descriptions[/u]:[/b] [i][b]Descriptors:[/b] Bees, Technology[/i] With no powers to speak of himself, Baxter relies on the various gadgets and gizmos his now-incarcerated uncle built into this particular streamlined, collapsible backpack-shaped model of iconic armor to get the job done. Once unpacked and donned, the armor functions as intended: physically augmenting servos with enough strength to lift a cargo jet, functional retractable wings for flight, and a plethora of self-replicating robo-bees programmed to act just like the real things, it's certainly a scientific marvel brought to life. If it weren't for the fact Uncle Barry was one too many workers short of a hive, it might have been one of the greatest inventions in the last decade; but alas, its only use now is to put fresh whelts on criminal scum before locking them up in the clink, all of which are powered by the busy little robo-bees who collect electricity like normal bees collect pollen. The most often used tools of the Bee-Keeper Armor 1.6e are no doubt the various blasters. Within the right palm of the metallic exoskeleton is a small energy converter capable of projecting a beam of golden-hued energy generated by the busy bees housed inside the suit, using them as a sort of living battery; the other hand bears a similar compartment, though this one fires super-sticky synthetic (and surprisingly delicious!) honey alternative, capable of stopping any man in his tracks while being wholly nutritious. A pair on the wrists jut out ever so slightly, but bear similar functionality, firing toxic stingers coated in synthesized bee venom which can cause illness in victims. While many of these things are insidious inventions by a distraught Barry Bowles, he wasn't a heartless inventor, and left a few failsafes just in-case things got out of hand. As such, most of the armaments carry a triggerable anti-toxin when signs of serious danger rear their head, such as an allergic reaction or the like. [b][u]History[/u]:[/b] Born and raised in Freedom City's Bayview district, Baxter Bowles had always been fascinated with superheroes. After all, Freedom City was the proverbial mecca therein, and between their constant exposure on television, in comic books, and on billboards all over the city after the Terminus Invasion, it was no wonder that the young boy found himself awe-stricken by them. They were icons; people to look up to, who went out of their way to make things safer not just for the city, but for the world as a whole. As a kid, he would often fantasize about those farfetched dreams; swinging from skylines like the Raven, duking it out as Captain Thunder, and all other manner of such thoughts that children had a propensity to conjure. Such thoughts, however, faded for a time as he grew older; coming to terms that such a thing wasn't possible in his own future. Baxter grew into an energetic boy nonetheless, and things were well amongst the family. That is, until it turned out crazy ol' Uncle Barry really was crazy. He was all over the news, going around doing heinous things in a bee-suit, causing no end of grief for everyone. While Baxter was certainly shocked at this revelation, his father and Barry's younger brother was even more infuriated, having become the laughing stock of his lawfirm. For Baxter though, this shifted to life at school. No longer was he the unassuming teenage kid who slept in math class; no, he'd henceforth been demoted to 'the kid who hung out with that crazy bee guy on TV,' despite his protests that he did not, in fact, associate with his uncle. Suffice it to say that school became substantially rougher soon thereafter. Things changed though when that mysterious letter arrived, heralded by a cadre of small robo-bees. Curious, Baxter sneaked a peek at its contents, and in it contained the location of a storage unit located in the Fens, as well as a key. After the onset of Uncle Barry's criminally-insane breakdown, Baxter felt intrigued to investigate; the errant letter and its contents clearly important. It wasn't long after arriving on the scene that he found the prototype suit hidden amidst his uncle's old salvaged knick-knacks from his electronics shop, and took it as a golden opportunity - a one-of-a-kind battlesuit of his very own. He tinkered with it, figured out how it worked, and said nothing to his parents; going so far as to hide the cryptic letter he'd gotten that was probably meant for his father. But this suit? This was his chance to live the dreams he'd all but given up on; to do something more than just be himself. Like in the comics, he could be something greater; and as he discovered the secrets of the suit and how to work its robotic denizens, he felt like he could be just like his heroes on the Freedom League. Weeks turned to months whilst Baxter secretly trained away from prying eyes outside of class whenever he could, growing in confidence as he did so and studying how the mechanics of the apiary outfit worked, adamant about his goals and eager to at least make an attempt at defending the down-trodden and putting a damper on the criminal element still rampant amidst Freedom City. Now? Now, Baxter was ready. Ready to take his shot at being a real superhero, just like he'd always dreamed. Ready to take this one chance and put it all on the line in reckless abandon in order to do something for the city and its denizens as a protector. Ready to redeem his family name from his insane uncle, and fix what he'd wrought. With a fresh coat of paint, some idealism of youth, and a desire to make an impact, Baxter took up the mantle of the Bee-Keeper anew, eager to take his shot at what he believed he was meant to be. Not for fame, or fortune, but for the opportunity to rise above his station and do his part for the community as a real superhero. [b][u]Personality & Motivation[/u]:[/b] Much like how there are two sides to every coin, this is no exception for Baxter. Outside of the armor and high-tech gizmos, he's just your average, everyday teenager, complete with all the problems that come along with that package. Despite his laid-back, almost idyllic facade at school and with his friends, Baxter still has to deal with all the stress of balancing a life of superheroics and secret normalcy. Things aren't always peaches and chocolate chips, but he gets by, and retains a relatively happy-go-lucky albeit somewhat reserved disposition; the latter more in part due to exhaustion than an earnest endeavor to come off that way. He's a sharp enough lad, able to work out this-and-that on his own without any hand-holding, but he's certainly no prodigy. What he lacks in physical and mental faculties, he makes up for with a strange sense of charm; that relaxed friendliness in the face of adversity and laid-back optimism that's earned him at least some indifference if not acceptance from the local cliques in school. A silver tongue helps, having had lots of practice wrapping mom and dad around his little finger with honeyed words and careful omission. Sure, he might lie on occasion, but that doesn't mean his morals are flippant things to be tossed around. His compass, while skewed, is nevertheless pointed soundly towards that of good. On the flip side as the Bee-Keeper III, Baxter is a wholly different fellow. Behind the mask and within the hardened metallic suit of insectile inspiration, he feels changed; empowered and confident, nearing the point of arrogance, some might say, and emboldened by a desire to do good. Often found spouting horrible bee-related puns and making grandiose speeches in a truly voluble manner, it almost seems comical by comparison. Yet, despite his charmingly goofy routine as a wise-cracking, apiary-themed adventurer, the newest Bee-Keeper takes his self-appointed job quite seriously, adamant in his fight against injustice. Ever since he was a kid growing up in Freedom City, he'd watched superheroes on TV and read comic books, but Baxter never thought he'd had the stuff to really be a hero; saving people from the criminals and bringing them to justice were just farfetched dreams that were crushed before they'd began. That is, until he found his Uncle's old suit of armor. Given a chance to actually live the dream and redeem the good name of his family after his uncle's tumultuous decent into madness, Baxter felt compelled to take up the mantle. After all, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; to be something more than average or an associate of a crazy bee-themed loon, helping people in a way that most might consider unachievable on a personal level. This was his chance to be a real superhero and redeem his good name, whilst putting villainous vagrants in their place in the process! [b][u]Powers & Tactics[/u]:[/b] Hit hard and hit fast. This is the grand strategem the young bee-themed hero has relied on for the last few months, utilizing the armor's various features and augmented capabilities to put evil-doers in their place through brute force, superior mobility, a little crowd control, and the (relative) safety the battlesuit provides from conventional arms. Having never been officially placed in a position of cooperation with other heroes yet, the newest incarnation of the Bee-Keeper isn't quite sure what he'll do when thrust into such a circumstance, but thus far things have been going swimmingly. [hr][/hr] [b][u]Complications[/u]:[/b] [b]Rated 'T' for Teen (Age):[/b] Youth and speed might get the girls, but getting you into bars and nightclubs it does not. Even as an underage superhero, Baxter must still conform when out-of-costume with the laws and regulations regarding his age. [b]Bee Amazzzzing! (Obsession):[/b] While he wasn't always as such, Baxter has begun to harbor a newfound interest in bees. Sure, he doesn't have any live ones at the moment, but its quickly becoming a fascinating study for the boy that's no doubt been spurred on by his discovery of Uncle Barry's decidedly denounced prototype battlesuit. When he can find the time, Baxter seeks out knowledge regarding these busybodies in an endeavor to unlock his - and the suits - full potential, like his misguided uncle before him. [b]All the Buzz (Reputation):[/b] Given Baxter's double-life as an already (semi-) infamous and self-styled super-villain of the same name, it's fair to say that he gets his share of grief from capes, cops, and cowls alike for his legacy motif despite his best attempts otherwise. Likewise, as an obvious heir to the distressingly comical (but adept) Barry Bowles, Baxter has a harsh place amidst Freedonians as both a distant relation to an insane guy fascinated with bees and the very image of the same fellow when armored and patrolling the streets. [b]Homeroom by Nine O'Clock (Responsibility):[/b] While the Bee-Keeper's sting might always be within reach of lawbreakers everywhere, Baxter isn't always so fortune to be suited up to do so. After all, he has things he must attend to on a regular basis; and of these things, the bane of them all is his curricular studies. As a high school student, Baxter must attend (and slip out only when it's easy to get away with) his classes regularly, relegating the majority of his crime-fighting activity to the late night variety. Failure to show up... well, hopefully there won't be another parent/teacher conference any time soon. [b]Who is that Masked Apian Weirdo? (Secret):[/b] As a would-be superhero, Baxter does his best to keep his identity a closely guarded secret. While supervillains, mooks, and various other misguided miscreants might prove a perilous sort of ordeal for the aspiring apiary protege, there is one thing he fears more: his parents finding out he's been sneaking out to fight crime on the side. [b][u]Abilities[/u]:[/b] 4 + 4 + 6 + 4 + 0 + 8 = 26PP Strength: 32/14 (+11/+2) Dexterity: 14 (+2) Constitution: 26/16 (+8/+3) Intelligence: 14 (+2) Wisdom: 10 (+0) Charisma: 18 (+4) [b][u]Combat[/u]:[/b] 10 + 10 = 20PP Initiative: +6 (+4 Improved Initiative, +2 Dex) Attack: +5 Base, +7 Unarmed, +11 Bee-Keeper Armor Attacks Grapple: +24/+7 [w/o Beesuit] Defense: +11 (+5 Base, +6 Dodge Focus), +2 Flat-Footed Knockback: -6/-4 [w/o Protection]/-1 [w/o Beesuit] [b][u]Saving Throws[/u]:[/b] 5 + 7 + 8 = 20PP Toughness: +11/+8 [w/o Protection]/+3 [w/o Beesuit] (+8/+3 Con, +3 Protection) Fortitude: +13/+8 [w/o Beesuit] (+8/+3 Con, +5) Reflex: +9 (+2 Dex, +7) Will: +8 (+0 Wis, +8) [b][u]Skills[/u]:[/b] 48R = 12PP Bluff 6 (+10) Craft [Electronic] 4 (+6) [sup]SM[/sup] Craft [Mechanical] 4 (+6) [sup]SM[/sup] Diplomacy 8 (+12) [sup]SM[/sup] Knowledge [Life Sciences] 4 (+6) Knowledge [Pop Culture] 4 (+6) Knowledge [Technology] 4 (+6) Notice 8 (+8) Perform [Dance] 6 (+10) [sup]SM[/sup] [b][u]Feats[/u]:[/b] 27PP All-Out Attack Attack Specialization [Unarmed] 1 Beginner's Luck Dodge Focus 6 Fast Overrun Grappling Finesse Improved Grab Improved Initiative 1 Improved Overrun Improved Throw Improved Trip Interpose Luck 3 Move-By Action Power Attack Precise Shot 2 Skill Mastery 1 (Craft [Electronics], Craft [Mechanical], Diplomacy, Perform [Dance]) Stunning Attack Taunt [b][u]Powers[/u]:[/b] 61PP [b]Device 15[/b] (Bee-Keeper Armor 1.6e; 75PP Container, [i]Flaw:[/i] Hard to Lose; [i]Power Feat:[/i] Subtle) [61PP] [device][b]Communication 4[/b] (Radio) {4DP} [b]Comprehend 2[/b] (Speak & Understand Animals; [i]Flaw:[/i] Limited [Bees]) {1DP} [b]Enhanced Constitution 10[/b] {10DP} [b]Enhanced Feat 2[/b] (Ultimate Save [Toughness], Uncanny Dodge [Auditory]) {2DP} [b][u]BE[/u]: Enhanced Strength 18 + Super-Strength 8[/b] (Effective Carrying STR 72; [i]Power Feats:[/i] Alternate Power 4, Groundstrike) {39DP} - [i]The Proportionate Strength of a Bee![/i] [array][b][u]AP[/u]: Blast 10[/b] ([i]Extra:[/i] Autofire, [i]Power Feats:[/i] Accurate 3, Improved Crititcal 2) [35PP] - [i]The Sting of Justice![/i] [b][u]AP[/u]: Nauseate 10[/b] ([i]Extra:[/i] Ranged; [i]Power Feats:[/i] Accurate 3, Reversible) [34PP] - [i]Toxic Stingers![/i] [b][u]AP[/u]: Snare 11[/b] ([i]Power Feats:[/i] Accurate 3, Tether) [26PP] - [i]A Sticky Situation![/i] [b][u]AP[/u]: Strike 10[/b] ([i]Extras:[/i] Autofire, Penetrating; [i]Power Feats:[/i] Accurate 2, Improved Critical 2, Mighty) [35PP] - [i]A Mighty Beeting![/i][/array] [b]Flight 5[/b] (250 MPH/2,500') {10DP} - [i]Flight of the Bumblebee![/i] [b]Immunity 1[/b] (Bees) {1DP} [b]Protection 3[/b] {3DP} [b]Super-Senses 5[/b] (Darkvision, Direction Sense, Distance Sense, Ultra Hearing) {5DP} 4 + 1 + 10 + 2 + 39 + 10 + 1 + 3 + 5 = 75DP[/device] [b][u]Drawbacks[/u]:[/b] -4PP [b]Normal Identity[/b] (Full-Round Action) [-4PP] [pre]ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC17 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Unarmed in Suit Touch DC25 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Strike Touch DC25 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Blast Ranged DC25 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Nauseate Ranged DC20 Fortitude (Staged) Sickened/Nauseated/Helpless Snare Ranged DC21 Reflex (Staged) Entangled/Helpless[/pre] [b][u]Totals[/u]: Abilities (26) + Combat (20) + Saving Throws (20) + Skills (12) + Feats (27) + Powers (61) - Drawbacks (4) = 162/162 Power Points[/b] By special request, done! (it was quick)

"Zzoundzz like a plan!" buzzed the Bee-Keeper, smacking the palm of his gauntlet with his fist in solidified agreement as he maneuvered his way beside Jessica. He might not have been completely up-and-up on the situation as a whole, but Baxter had long since picked up the gist: lasers that can destroy a city are bad - real bad. "I'm with Ironclad then. We'll make zzure they don't get their planezz and zztuff up in the air. Time to ruin their day beefore thezze guyzz make a mezz with their lazzerzz of doom!"

Geez! What do you guys have against Bee-Keeper's magnificent lil' bee-bots? He just wants to be the best Iron Age Vigilante he can be! Bee-Keeper III's Will Save +8 vs. DC17: 1d20+8 → [11,8] = (19) By the skin of his teeth!

Here was Baxter, straddled between a bunch of geniuses as he stood atop the roof and twiddled his thumbs. He had no degree in Aerodynamics, or a doctorate in Civil Engineering. He was just some wet-behind-the-ears kid suddenly thrust into a very, very serious situation. It was just his luck with people using lasers for nefarious purposes. But that was neither here nor there; right now, the Bee-Keeper needed to do something, lest he just be dead weight for an already increasingly tense situation. But what could he do? He didn't even know how most of these whatever-it-was the other battlesuit wearing heroes were discussing! How was he supposed to... Then came an idea. A simple idea. A clever idea. A simply clever idea. Flipping through the HUD in his helmet, the Bee-Keeper drew up what looked like a humble two-dimensional map of the city, sliding his eyes across it until his vision was filled with a transparent overlay of the airport. A few more blinks here and there, and the map zoomed in, highlighting power sources not unlike some sort of cliche' thermal vision from the comics he so loved. Even he was surprised as he struck gold: there on the map, two buildings stood apart from all the others... and, just as Dragonfly had noted, were none too far from the airport itself! "Yo! Think I found zzomething!" exclaimed the Hero of the Hive, double-checking the little overlay just to be sure of himself. "Down by Jameson Airport, there'zz thezze buildingzz, right? They're zzucking up a lot of power. A lot like, whoa." he explained, miming the sort of quantity he was talking about as best as he could muster. "If you guyzz're right, then, hey, that'zz gotta be them."

Why would you want to destroy the Bee-Keeper's wonderful nano-bees?! :cry: Also, yeah, I can't speak for Tiffany, but the Bee-Keeper's power descriptors are "Bees, Technology," just for the sake of clarity.

Surveying the chaos that had stricken Millennium Mall as the last of the ninja warriors fell at the hands of Cobalt Templar, the young bee-themed hero breathed a loud sigh of relief. All around them, the place was a mess; the strange Wasp Ninjas littered the shopping center everywhere, right along side broken glass, destroyed mannequins, crumbling supports, and electrically-scorched tiles. Doctor Metropolis was going to have a field day with this nonsense if he stumbled across it before the mall's proper channels could. Still, Baxter felt good. He'd never fought ninjas before! Fatigue and bruises pushed from the equation, Templar was right - it was pretty awesome! The only way it might have been better is if the civilians hadn't been caught in the crossfire, put at risk for... well, the Bee-Keeper really didn't know what drove the assassins to strike from the shadows! All he knew for sure was that if Cobalt Templar hadn't been there, it probably would have been a much more one-sided confrontation. "Thankzz!" the Hero of the Hive finally responded, a comically cheesy thumbs-up added in with strange gravitas before returning to a more stoic pose. "But not azz awezzome as you! I mean, man! Giant mazze to the fazze! BLAM!" exaggerated the Bee-Keeper, miming what could only be some guy with a golf club beating things in the head for justice. "And the fiery zzwordzz? And the gun?! Way to make the Expendablezz look like a cheap knock-off!" Panning back to the scene at hand, the armored Apiary avenger grew somewhat more somber. "Zzeriouzzly though, what'zz the deal with thezze ninjazz?" he inquired, prodding one of the unconscious henchmen with his foot. "Who attackzz a mall in broad daylight? I mean, I'm no ninja expert, but I've zzeen enough moviezz, y'know? Alwayzz thought they were zzuppozzed to zztrike from the zzhadowzz, then dizzappear."

Haha, all Baxter has is Knowledge: Technology +6. Oh, praise be to thee, oh mighty dice gods! Please don't gimme a 1! Knowledge: Technology +6: 1d20+6 → [16,6] = (22)

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" the Bee-Keeper interjected, forming a time-out sign with his hands as the tidbits of information slipped out, panning frantically from the newly arrived Dragonfly, to Jessica and then finally resting his vision on the lupine techie, a chill running down Baxter's spine. "I knew I wazz getting that 'missed zzomething' vibe." Pausing for a moment to let what little information he had sink in, the Bee-Keeper folded his arms, as if contemplating what to do. "Zzoo let me get thizz zztraight. There're thezze hacker guyzz, and they're building zzome zzorta giant death lazzer that can wipe the zzity out from partzz that they zztole from tech companiezz?" he repeated, sounding not unlike a parrot sitting on a washing machine. "If we know thezze guyzz are right around here zzomewhere, then hey, cool! We're on the right track. Think you could, I dunno, narrow it down though? Like, zzpezzific buildingzz, maybee? Guezzing we're zzorta on a time limit here."

Following Wander in her clandestine act of laying low, the Bee-Keeper remained as still as a rock, watching the smoking remnants of the intact vessel from behind the safety of one of the remaining dead trees. Clearly the same kind as the ones he saw back at the other Freedom City, Baxter couldn't help but wonder what might have knocked it out of the heavens. Then again, it usually wasn't a good idea to look a gift horse in the mouth. "I'm with Wander on thizz one. We're not gettin' anywhere juzzt zzitting here looking at it," he whispered as best as he was able through the shared communications channel. The prospect of getting home was right there in front of them; if some fluke by the Curator meant they could get off of his little playground of stolen worlds, then Baxter was all too happy to use his captors' assets against him. Giving the scene a quick ocular sweep, the Bee-Keeper rose from his hunched position and started to make his way slowly towards the foreign craft, eyes peeled for trouble -- the last thing he needed right now.

From his position amidst the trio, the Bee-Keeper could only cock his head slightly at the entourage of armored heroes poised atop the rooftop, fighting his own urge to wave vehemently towards his pal. But his jovial disposition at the prospect of punching evil was somewhat diminished as it became clear that neither Jessica nor he knew who this mysterious Fenris fellow was. Indeed, this whole thing was sort of odd for Baxter, but he nevertheless kept his cool, granting Ironclad a small but very cheerful wave before focusing his attention on the lupine battlesuit bearer whom he'd even more strangely never heard of. "What zzhee zzaid. And what'zz thizz about a meeting?" the Bee-Keeper added, scratching his antennae-bedecked head with a metal gauntlet as he glued his eyes to the metallic wolf-like entity. "Did I mizz zzomething here?"

Momentarily surprised by the coup d'etat of Silver Spider, the Bee-Keeper took the brunt of the blast right in his chest, the armored avenger letting loose only the mildest of wheezes as he clutched his smoldering plate. For a second the Bee-Keeper almost seemed stunned at the fact he man had winged him, exchanging a horrifying, faceless look between the goons with the laser rifles and his one-time ally turned Benedict Arnold. "Alright! I zzee how it izz!" he chided, clearly upset that Silver Spider was turning against him and siding with these criminal scum. "Thought we were friendzz, Zzilver! Guezz we know where you zztand now; right nexxt to thezze blood-thirzzty criminalzz!" It was on now; and the Bee-Keeper was all business as he spread his arms like some macabre puppeteer, fingers twitching at unseen strings. "You zzhould have zzurrendered when you had the chanzze! Now I'll zzhow you why they call me the Bee-Keeper!" In a deafeningly loud hum of activity, millions of minuscule robot bees poured forth from the hidden compartments of the Bee-Keeper's armor as their buzzing song became a symphony of destruction just reaching the crescendo of unfathomable doom, sweeping across the impromptu battlefield stinging and shocking everything in their wake. The swarming cloud of bees took to their masters' foes with cold precision, the Bee-Keeper himself orchestrating their lethal bombardments as he himself was enveloped in their nano-robotic embrace! All these nefarious goons would face the penalty for their villainous transgressions at the needle-like appendages of his cybernetic brood, and would forever know now the full wrath of the Bee-Keeper!

Oh, you Bikers! Why you actin' so cray cray? Bee-Keeper III Toughness +14 vs. DC25: 1d20+14 → [3,14] = (17); Dazed & Bruised x1!; gonna go ahead and spend a Hero Point to reroll, thus negating the Daze since he can only get a minimum of 10. Still bruised though And now comes the reckoning! Taking advantage of the PL Bump, Bee-Keeper'll Extra Effort to pick up an Alternate Power, then spend his last remaining Hero Point to thwart the Fatigue. He has now let loose the Bees of War! Gigantic Mechanical Bee Swarm of DOOM!: Blast 10 (Extras: Area [General Cloud], Duration [sustained]; Flaws: Action [Full]; PFs: Linked to Obscure & Immunity, Progression 2 [x2; 100']) + Immunity 1 (Own Powers) + Obscure 2 (Total Visual Concealment; PFs: Progression 4 [x10; 100'], Selective) {51ep/51ep}. Each target in the 100' Blast Cloud centered around the Bee-Keeper gets a Reflex Save (DC20: 10 + Blast 10). A failed save means they make a Toughness Save at DC25, while a successful save means they make a Toughness Save at DC20 (15 + (Blast 10/2). Evasion, of course, applies to the Reflex Save. If they continue to linger in the cloud, these affects repeat the following round, and can do so each round as long as the Bee-Keeper maintains his Sustained Blast as a Free Action. Lethal Damage for the goons, of course! In addition, as long as Bee-Keeper is in the midst of his 100' Cloud Obscure (of which he's at the center and has immunity), he has Total Concealment against Normal Visual Senses. This is his sole action for this round :3

From the campsite Baxter had toted their impromptu transport to, he seemed oddly content. Not at the situation, mind you, but just the fact that the sun existed was a welcome sight. But in the intervening week (if it had actually been a week at all), Baxter had time to mull things over. The prospect of another him - some cheap double in a Bee-Keeper getup, if not a whole other Baxter! - living his life was less than comforting. Would anyone even notice? Could they notice? And why go through all the trouble replacing him just like the Curator had Dorothy and the others? The thought alone was unsettling; and the only thing that was keeping his head clear from being overshadowed and mired in wanton concern was the prospect of this ship they came all the way to Chicago for. And then Wander cursed something awful, and Baxter's heart skipped a beat as he caught a fleeting glimpse of... he wasn't sure, but the ensuing boom more than made up for his uncertainty. Whatever it was, it was bad. "Gotcha!" he yelped, the sense of urgency driving him as he stumbled up and began running towards through what was once Indiana as soon as Wander bolted out from the camp. With defined purpose, the Bee-Keeper suited up even as he started running, the whir of plates, servos, and millions of robotic bees humming in unison in his ears as he transformed from a pathetic teenager into an armored heavyweight, taking to the skies right on Wander's heels. Or, at the least, as close to 'on her heels' as he could muster as the woman began outpacing him with startling alacrity. He didn't think she was so fast! But nevertheless, he was trying his best to follow in her wake. If the Curator was bombing their only way off this rock, they needed to get there quick! Without it... Baxter didn't want to think about being stuck here on this ring world forever, some pawn in an unending game he couldn't even conceive. They had-- no, they would stop that bombardment! There was no other choice.

There were days Baxter dreaded going to class, and this one was no exception. He'd only just arrived, making the rounds through the hustle-and-bustle after his first period math class. Boring. Dull. Predictable. Uninteresting. But all in all, Baxter knew it was a mandatory sort of ordeal; he couldn't fail his Junior year again! The only saving grace he had now as he made his way from math to history was that this time around he had previous knowledge, and his grades weren't in the gutter. He'd even managed to avoid being excessively tardy thus far! Then came the familiar vibrations of his cell phone. An unexpected surprise, Baxter just smiled towards his friends and classmates as they passed him, flipping his phone open to view his latest message - no doubt something or another about the gossip going around school or some hilarious lolcat picture. Instead, what he saw was even more surprising: a call to arms for the kicking of butts from Jessica! For a second, Baxter pondered his answer. He could stay here in class, keep his grades up, and get out of the hole he'd dug himself last year. But on the other hand, there were bad dudes to punch, and it was his responsibility to be the best bad guy puncher he could be; after all, it was sort of a thing for superheroes these days. With a flurry of adroit taps, Baxter - no, the Bee-Keeper! - gave his response. "OMG yes! luv pnching bad dudes. where u @?" Slipping away to his usual hidey-hole, it wasn't long before Baxter was in-costume and streaking through the air, metallic wings abuzz as he made his way towards the rendezvous point Jessica had sent him. Sure, he had to keep his speed throttled a bit - he didn't wanna break every window pane and windshield along the way! - but it wasn't long before the all too familiar armored Apiary was on the scene, soaring up and onto the roof of the hard-to-miss K&ST building; looking quite keen in regards to thwarting whatever shenanigans were going down before dialing Jess' cell through his helmet. "Hey! Juzzt thought I'd let you know I'm up here on the roof, Jezzica. Zzo... what'zz thizz I hear about bad dudezz needing to get punched?"

When the elevator gave way, the Bee-Keeper wasn't quite as on-the-ball as Ironclad. With its sudden drop, so too did he, thumping off of the ground with a loud thud. Thankfully, Baxter was a plucky fella, bouncing back (more or less) from the startling descent just in time to see the carnage strewn out all over the much larger secret base. And there, of all things, was the monster responsible - it could be no other from where Baxter stood, eyes wide in shock and horror at the blood and burnt bodies. "What... what'd you do?!!" he barked, less out of shock and more out of obvious anger. There was a line when it came to dealing with people; every villain he'd met up until now had at least had standards. But here, where the ground was stained red and the air reeked of burnt flesh, that line had been crossed. "Thezze guyzz... they're..." Trailing off, the Bee-Keeper clenched his fists in sheer anger. He didn't know who these people were. He didn't care. Good, bad... they were dead now. Dead because of this guy who so smugly challenged he and Ironclad. This monster whom had just earned the Bee-Keeper III's undivided ire. "I don't care who you are, you crazzed lunatic! But I promizze, I'm gonna make you pay for your crimezz againzzt thezze people!"

Bee-Keeper III's Initiative +6: 1d20+6 → [11,6] = (17)

"Haha. Zzeriouzzly!" The Bee-Keeper couldn't help but laugh at Gabriel's little jib. But maybe he was right. Maybe there really was some sort of Wasp League out there with a bone to pick. Had his uncle been in-league with them? Perhaps a competitor? It was hard to say, given the strange means in which he'd stumbled across them each time. But serendipity is one thing; in hindsight, it was beginning to border on the realm of ridiculousness. "But, yeah, I'd apprezziate all the help I can get, and for you keeping a lookout for thezze Wazzp guyzz. Juzzt watch out for them, 'zzpezzially the Wazzp Botzz. Thozze thingzz are dangerouzz!" buzzed the boy behind the bee-themed battlesuit, giving his erstwhile comrade a nod of acceptance. Turning away, he peered towards the city below again, the street lamps flickering here and there along the West End's derelict streets. It was getting late - later than Baxter had intended to linger. No doubt his parents were going to have a thing or two to say if he wasn't back before midnight; a thought that filled Baxter with more dread than anything else. "It'zz been... uh... zzomething," he murmured, not sure how best to evaluate the subject of this impromptu inquisition. "Zzeriouzzly. Thankzz again for the help. Nizze to know there'zz zzomeone I can call out to if I need a hand. But I've really gotta get back to, um, finizzhing thizz patrol. Y'know, crime never zzleepzz and all that."

Taking the flaming blade in hand awkwardly, the Bee-Keeper looked at it with a mixed sense of awe and skepticism. "I don't know how to uzze thizz thing!" he yelped, pointing towards the fiery blue short sword whilst holding it aloft in his other hand. Whatever chance he had at getting something a little less stabby was quickly admonished, however, when the vicious swordswoman thwarted Cobalt Templar's attack. At least the big blue fella was right on the money: she was pretty strong for a little lady! Strong enough to push him back, at least, and Cobalt Templar was looking not unlike a giant living brick in comparison to Baxter's smaller, more metal-rimmed physique. "Guess now's a good time to learn..." Shaking the cobwebs of doubt from his mind, the Bee-Keeper followed suit with his ally, charging the dual-wielding woman with his stumpy little blade of searing flame. As he closed the gap, the incognito teenager began to flail it wildly, more akin to a kid with a wriggling fish between his hands than an accomplished bladesman, each blow as easily deflected as the last. It had to have been insulting for the woman to deal with such a whelp, her face marred with derisive disdain as she struck the Apiary Avenger across the abdomen with one of her trusty swords, sending a shower of sparks flying from his person as the Bee-Keeper tumbled to the floor behind her. "Urgh... note to zzelf: avoid zztabby implementzz..." bemoaned the bee-themed hero as he staggered to his feet. If nothing else, at least his failed attempt yielded some kind of success - now he was behind her! There was no way she could deal with both of them in unison, striking as a single force from opposite sides! "We've gotcha now!" barked the Bee-Keeper in renewed defiance, gripping his newly procured blade between his cold steel gauntlets as he charge her again like a wild animal!

Quietly, the terrified teen waited for Quickstep to finish regaling them with her tale at Claremont Academy; of how she hid from Stratos and survived off of grub from the ruined world's elitist academic institution, nearly biting his tongue at the mention of the insane doctor searching for his deceased adversary. It didn't make him feel any better to know that he wasn't the only one completely out of his element, and even if it had, Baxter was positive it wouldn't have made any difference. He was still stranded here in some makeshift collection of worlds-that-were, or could have been, or had been before this Curator guy showed up. "Sorry," Baxter apologized as Dorothy finished, trying his best to look sympathetic to what she had to go through. She'd been here longer than he had; maybe longer than everyone else here. He'd had a rough start, to be sure, but at least he hadn't been stuck here on his own for weeks. "Like I said, I don't know who it was," Baxter repeated, his tone of terror granting some leeway to make room for mild annoyance at being treated like a child, though his face quickly re-contorted itself into one of fear as he struggled to continue. "I just know that it knew the radio frequency in my suit, and it knew who I was... and knew about Blue Jay. It knew where we were, too... told me it was hunting us," the Bee-Keeper whispered, clearly skittish at the thought of some creature prowling after him. "And it sounded like him. Like Harrier, I mean, but... but not him, y'know? But if it is the Curator, then... then I don't know. Maybe he's got beef with you guys, or maybe he's watched Gladiator a whole bunch. Either way, you're right: it doesn't make any sense. It just... none of it makes any sense..." He paused again as he trailed off, as if in thought. When they'd met Doctor Stratos, he was clearly out of his mind. But he wasn't a bad guy - a villain, yeah, but not a bad guy. He was a lonely old coot, broken and mad. Maybe that was the secret he knew. Maybe he'd always known the Curator was behind it; or, at the least, suspected it. Maybe it was a completely different secret entirely. Who knew? For a moment, Baxter almost started to say something, heart racing and a familiar tightness finding itself lodged in his throat. He wasn't even sure how he could phrase it without seeming heartless; having, perhaps, driven the already mentally unstable supervillain to his doom through a berating of his actions. Thankfully, Harrier's discovery interrupted his opportunity to relive the guilt. "Okay. Cool. We've got wheels," hummed the unarmored Bee-Keeper, cautiously moving up along to where the vehicle remained dormant beside Harrier. "So now we just need a hose and a bucket. And, uh, some gas. And to make it to Chicago without getting blasted by those ships, if that's where we're going."