Synapse Who's Keeping Count Really

# Pastebin lSoOL24r
Monday, February 12th, 2018


3:44 PM <Saff|Millie> "I'm thinking about calling Quintana and Kintsugi. Cutting a deal and teaming with them. I know that you want me to join the GIT, and so do my parents, but..." ||
3:48 PM <•ColdGold|GM> ((Dex please))
3:49 PM <Saff|Millie> $roll 1d6+1 this is IMPORTANT
3:49 PM <[ATM]> Saff|Millie "this is IMPORTANT" [5] +1 = 6
3:52 PM <•ColdGold|GM> Max is already still when she sticks him so he doesn't react to the fluid at all. It takes a special focus she's not used to pay attention to Gecko's responses as she works, but she's able to do so and also maintain the quality of her work. She tweaks the connections on the arm to allow it to work properly. So it would be a useless metal brick attached to his side.
3:53 PM Gecko listens intently as she speaks, and Millie gets the sense he's just as good a listener as he is a talker. Someone who pays attention when people speak.
3:56 PM "I get why you'd feel bad about that, but honestly I know Artisan too. Not as well as you but we've worked together. I'd even call him a friend. But as little as I really knew him I knew him enough to know that if he didn't /want/ you here. I had to help clean up when he dumped some of the early intruders after the explosion outside of the HQ." He gives a small sad little smile at the memory
4:03 PM He looks over Artisan again. "Anyway, i don't think you're hurting anyone here. He'd be a lot worse off right now if you weren't here. I'm sure a friend has been exactly what he's been needing." He shrugs the smallest bit.
4:03 PM "Its definitely something to think about going forward though. Guard or not its good to have friends of some kind with you to have your back don't you think?"
4:03 PM As she finishes tweaking a bit with a wrench she sees her efforts have helped a bit. The arm won't work perfectly at first but it will function if he makes it, and one day work as good as before. Before she can respond to Gecko something weird starts to happen.
4:03 PM ||
4:05 PM Her vision starts to shift at the edges like TV fuzz. Her vision is starting to close out at the edges... Nobody else seems to notice anything weird with her and keep going on as normal.
4:05 PM ||
4:07 PM <Saff|Millie> "Hold up a moment." Millie says as she puts down her instruments. What's going on? She puts her hands down on the table, trying to stabilize herself. Is she being hacked? This cannot be happening right now. She has to work. She can't let Max stay like this! She has to fix him!
4:07 PM "No... No..." ||
4:07 PM <•ColdGold|GM> ((Computers/Know please))
4:08 PM <Saff|Millie> $roll 1d6+1 fuck
4:08 PM <[ATM]> Saff|Millie "fuck" [2] +1 = 3
4:10 PM <•ColdGold|GM> Digitizing her brain this possibility had occurred to her before. That she could be hacked, maybe controlled. She'd prepared accordingly. She reacts quickly throwing firewall after block up, and she watches in her head as each defense each stronger than the last is dismantled and rendered insignificant and destroyed and she's attacked from all angles. She understands part of what's happening, the code of it but there's another element to this
4:10 PM attack she can't understand.
4:11 PM "Millie are you okay?" Gecko asks, rushing forward to support her by her shoulders, and she remembers what he'd said as he came in ironically enough. Ted is also running over.
4:12 PM She isn't able to respond before the fuzz overtakes everything and she's alone in a world of fuzz and buzzing.
4:12 PM ||
4:13 PM → BananaCucumber joined (BananaCucum@net-953.v8c.91.77.IP)
4:14 PM <Saff|Millie> This... this can't be happening. Stuck in darkness, unable to move.... She has to finish her work! Who could be hacking her? Why would they be? Is it DeepSeaDaddy? Did they decide to turn on her? Or was it Thorn, as punishment for what her dad did?
4:14 PM Can she even communicate like this? Or would anything she say come out as gibberish. "Hacked...." She tries to get out, her heart racing. She's panicking. Why is this happening? ||
4:15 PM <•ColdGold|GM> ...
4:16 PM → Fulvus joined (Fulvus@net-gnp.jmd.44.67.IP)
4:17 PM <•ColdGold|GM> She talks and hears it from her mouth and everywhere around her. Mouth. She has a mouth! She looks down and she has a hand. She's still herself, still has her body in a world of static.
4:18 PM The enviroment becomes to come into context a little better, a completely white room with a white desk in the center of it the static playing at the rooms edges. There's a woman she recognizes sitting at the desk.
4:22 PM A very pretty brunette woman with long curly hair, and sharp severe features. She has a small beauty mark next to the corner of her mouth which is turned to frown. Ms. Petite from Thorn. The woman who'd spoken to her. Who she'd made the promise to.
4:23 PM "Milliicent." She says simply with no emotion in her voice.
4:23 PM Her arms are crossed.
4:23 PM ||
4:25 PM <Saff|Millie> "No, please." Millie pleads. "My dad made a mistake. My mom won't tell. It's... Please, don't hurt them, don't take away my powers, please... I can still help. I promised."
4:25 PM She feels like she's going to be sick to her stomach. "Please, I'll do whatever you ask. But I need to get back. I need.... I need to help him. I'm begging you, please." ||
4:35 PM <•ColdGold|GM> ...
4:38 PM Mrs. Petite holds up a finger silencing her with no room for her to continue talking.
4:38 PM "No Millicent. Your time for talking is over. It ended when your father broke our agreement. It's time to listen now." She demands with authority, leveraging the fact that she has all the leverage in this conversation. Her accent is still there, but the pleasant and gentle tone is gone now. Harsh instead.
4:39 PM "I am well aware of your situation. And frankly it doesn't rank in my highest concerns right now. What does is how you're going to make this up to our organization. ((Ed note -thorn*))
4:39 PM "
4:40 PM She looks Millie in the eyes her expression cold. "Do you understand what I'm saying here?"
4:40 PM ||
4:42 PM <Saff|Millie> Millie swallows and nods. "I understand, ma'am."
4:42 PM She hates this. She has to be back with Max. She needs to monitor him, watch him. She needs to extract her healing factor, inject him with it so that he'll survive the night. Millie feels absolutely sick to her stomach. "When you gave me my powers, I said that I'd do whatever you asked. I'm not backing down on that, even after my father's transgression." ||
4:43 PM <•ColdGold|GM> And she's award that every moment she wastes talking here the less likely the healing factor is to make a difference of any kind.
4:44 PM "Good." She says simply, she places both palms down on the table, less aggresive now that she sees Millie is going to cooperate.
4:45 PM "Tonight something big is going to occur in the city. You won't have a part in it. You'll have another task while the city moves to respond. Are you aware of the Crucible? Ground Zero?" Mrs. Petite asks.
4:45 PM ||
4:47 PM <Saff|Millie> Millie nods. "I am. That's where the explosion occurred. The source of the radiation." She swallows. "I... tonight? But... I have to keep an eye on Max. He... he could die."
4:47 PM She has no room to be bargaining. "I'll do it, if you can get someone to take care of him. Not shitty care, good care. Keep him alive." ||
4:48 PM <•ColdGold|GM> ((Social, please))
4:48 PM → Lid joined (uid200825@highgate.irccloud.com)
4:48 PM <Saff|Millie> $roll 1d6 Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck
4:48 PM <[ATM]> Saff|Millie "Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck" [2]  = 2
4:48 PM <BananaCucumber> heh
4:48 PM <•ColdGold|GM> Mrs. Petite's expression hardens.
4:49 PM "Frankly. It doesn't rank in my highest concerns right now." She repeats hard.
4:49 PM hard as her face*
4:50 PM She has no interest in catering to Millie here. She will only demand and demand more.
4:50 PM Her expression lets up a little however, and her voice is neutral as she resumes speaking.
4:52 PM "However. We want you to perform well tonight. We'll have a medic sent over to watch for him. You will find an explanation for him and the Gecko for where they're from." She instructs.
4:52 PM She returns to the topic of hand, clasping her hands over the white desk. Is unnaturally quiet in static world save for how their words echo from everywhere around them.
4:56 PM "You will meet members of the local branch of the Supreme to pick up a person of extreme importance. The Supreme is not to be involved in this so it will be up to you to deal with escorting this individual. Get help, powered help, but don't explain what you're doing. Just sell them that its important. When you're all ready you'll move while the city is distracted. Get our person of interest into Ground Zero. Then you can consider your debt
4:56 PM paid for now." She goes quiet as she finishes laying it all out. Her eyes seem to bore into Millie taking her in in extreme scrutiny.
4:56 PM ||
4:58 PM <Saff|Millie> Millie nods, taking in all of the information. "Can I ask a question?" Millie asks as she averts her eyes to the ground. "Were you responsible for what happened to... what happened to Buckler? Did he break his contract?" ||
4:59 PM <•ColdGold|GM> "Buckler thought he could cut ties with us. He was incorrect. The mutants..." She trails off distastefully.
4:59 PM "They were an unforseen inconvenience. But that was all his doing." She lays out.
4:59 PM ||
5:00 PM She says flatly*
5:02 PM <Saff|Millie> Millie nods her head, trying to hold back tears. "I understand. I'll do what you say."
5:02 PM This. This is what caused everything. Thorn. And now she was getting wrapped up in it as well. The organization that killed her friend, killed Max's family.... now she was their slave as well. It made her sick to her stomach to think that she was tangled in all of this.
5:02 PM "I won't repeat Buckler's mistakes. I'm smarter than him. I... I promise I'll work hard." ||
5:03 PM ↔ Stoic popped in
5:06 PM <•ColdGold|GM> "Good. I wasn't lying back then when I said I expected great things from you. You're smart and you'll do well tonight. This is for good fret not young Millicent." Mrs. Petite leans forward and wipes a tear from Millie's eye gently while Millie herself is completely still. She gives Millie a smile and its hard to tell whether its genuine or nasty, at her expense.
5:06 PM "If you get this right you could be what they were to this city, what Stronghold was. We made them that way and we can do it again. You wouldn't be Buckler, that's reserved for your guest of honor tonight. But wouldn't it be nice to be the city's Siege?" She asks, her voice sounding deceivingly hopeful that Millie will agree.
5:06 PM ||
5:07 PM ↔ Stoic popped in
5:10 PM <Saff|Millie> "I'd rather be Synapse, to be quite honest." Millie said, flinching as Mrs. Petite touched her. "I don't need to ride on anyone's coattails. Siege was amazing, and I'll never forget her. But I'm my own person."
5:10 PM She straightens her back, trying to keep herself stable. "So that's a promise? Artisan survives the night, I help you with this, and I reap the benefits? What about my father? My mother?" ||
5:10 PM ⇐ BananaCucumber quit (BananaCucum@net-953.v8c.91.77.IP) Quit: http://www.kiwiirc.com/ - A hand crafted IRC client
5:10 PM <•ColdGold|GM> ...
5:10 PM "Synapse then." Her smile doesn't wane.
5:12 PM "You're correct on all of that. Your father will be pardoned. And your mother will be visited by an associate of mine to... Forget a few things. Do well enough and We could make her forget some other things too. Her aversion to your heroing for example?" She offers enticingly. "Everything will go back to before."
5:12 PM like it was before your dad messed up. Better than.*
5:12 PM ||
5:14 PM <Saff|Millie> "Yes ma'am." Millie says, giving another nod. "I will not fail."
5:14 PM She feels the hairs on the back of her neck prick up. Has she sold her soul to the devil? Even if she has, she has to comply. There's no other choice. Comply, or die. Comply, or Max dies.
5:14 PM "Approximately how long will this mission take? And how long do I have before it starts?" ||
5:16 PM <•ColdGold|GM> Mrs. Petite nods back again. Her smile fully genuine this time.
5:17 PM "You'll know when the bell tolls Millicent. Good luck." She says cryptically, and then the static at the edges of the room begins to shrink down until it takes up Mrs. Petite completely and Millie is left alone in the static again to think to herself before she comes back to.
5:17 PM ||
5:19 PM <Saff|Millie> Millie takes a deep breath as she fades back into reality. Where is she? Are the others still around her? Is Max okay? She pushes herself up, trying to get back to her station to work. She has to get as much of the arm done as she can before she gets to leave. She has to check Max's vitals, make sure he won't throw a clot or have an embolism, make sure his blood pressure is okay.
5:19 PM She's not a doctor, but she's spent a lot of time in hospitals. There has to be a way for her to handle this. ||
5:20 PM <•ColdGold|GM> ...
5:20 PM As she comes back into focus she blinks and realizes her cheek is cold. She's lying on the metal floor and her head /hurts/.
5:22 PM "I think she moved!" She hears Ted's voice, and with another blink things come into focus more. Her jacket does the bulk of the work but she's already on her feet again by the time she notices Gecko supporting her and speaking to her worriedly.
5:22 PM "Synapse. What happened?" He asks, his voice wringing with concern. A message pops up in the corner of her HUD. "Medic eta ~10 minutes" Unknown number.
5:23 PM Her healing factor is fully developed and she's already moving to it to inject Artisan with it before she answers Gecko. She lets out a breath as Artisan gasps out his first deep full breath since going unconscious.
5:24 PM The rest of the checks show he's mostly okay for now. Still a little shaky in some areas, but stable.
5:24 PM "Synapse?" Gecko asks again.
5:24 PM ||
5:30 PM <Saff|Millie> "I'm fine," Millie says as she looks over to Gecko. "Circuit short out. I didn't charge fast enough. I'm fine, though. I've called a doctor my dad knows, just to keep him stable. I'm hoping my healing factor will keep him okay for right now, help integrate the nerves and my matrix"
5:30 PM She turns her back towards Gecko and starts digging for another kit so that she can drain some more of her own blood, a backup supply just in case more factor is needed. While she walks she starts sending messages to Quintana and Kintsugi. A simple 'What are you doing 2nite?'
5:30 PM Millie knows that she's pushing her luck. Gecko is bound to ask questions sooner rather than later. "I might have to run out later. Can I trust you two to stay with him? Update me?" Once she finds another kit, she ties her arm and sticks herself again.
5:30 PM This time, she drains six vials as opposed to two, still running around the room to get things for Max's arm. She's pushing herself hard, and she knows she'll feel it later. ||
5:31 PM <•ColdGold|GM> ((Guts please, Endure applies))
5:31 PM <Saff|Millie> $roll 2h6 come on mills
5:31 PM <[ATM]> Saff|Millie "come on mills" (5) [6]  = 6
5:32 PM <•ColdGold|GM> ...
5:37 PM Its a lot of blood, too much blood for any regular person. But her body, her power is built for this. It acts on overdrive replenishing the blood almost as quickly as it comes out of her though she still feels a vague building fatigue behind everything, a repressed lightheadedness. This will all catch up to her later for sure.
5:40 PM "Circuit short out? Doctor your dad knows?" He asks trailing her, the questions already coming. Ted rushes over to Artisan's side checkint him.
5:40 PM "His pulse is stronger now." He interjects.
5:40 PM "If your Tinkering makes you pass out like that well no offense but I think your parents have a little reason to be concerned there." Gecko continues despite Ted his voice a little stern.
5:42 PM He sighs.
5:42 PM "I'm sorry I'm just..." He pulls at his mask slightly to rub at his temple before setting it back into place. "Where are you going we still need to talk. And I still haven't told the Guard I'm here. I need to know what's going on. With him too." He says flat out, jerking a thumb back at Ted, who goes still and pales a little.
5:42 PM ||
5:45 PM <Saff|Millie> Millie shrugs. "It's the first time it's happened, and I've already diagnosed and corrected the problem. It's fine, Gecko. I'm fine. Pinkie promise."
5:45 PM She forces a smile, then turns to Max on the table. Millie hands the vials over to Ted, hoping he'll put two and two together to get them into the centrifuge, and shrugs. "I don't know why he's here, to be honest. I didn't have time to ask. Trust me, I'm just as concerned as you are. I... I didn't even know Max was in the slums."
5:45 PM Millie sighs and pulls a chair up next to Max so that she can continue working while talking. "I really don't care what you do with Ted, so use your best judgement. I'm more... I'm upset that Max didn't take me with him. I could have protected him, could have prevented this." ||
5:51 PM ⇐ Druza quit (uid209687@charlton.irccloud.com) Quit: Connection closed for inactivity
5:57 PM <•ColdGold|GM> ...
5:57 PM ((Deception please Saff))
5:58 PM <Saff|Millie> $roll 1d6 Soc come on millie please.
5:58 PM <[ATM]> Saff|Millie "Soc come on millie please." [4]  = 4
5:58 PM <•ColdGold|GM> $roll 1d6+1 Geckon Wits
5:58 PM <[ATM]> ColdGold|GM "Geckon Wits" [3] +1 = 4
6:08 PM ⇐ Megafire quit (Peter@net-psjdbd.direct-adsl.nl) Connection closed
6:13 PM <•ColdGold|GM> Gecko seems to take her smile with a grain of salt but he thankfully doesn't pursue the danger part of the conversation any further. Ted takes the vials and walks them over to the machines already knowing what to do and he gives her a knowing nod. His eyes widen and he frowns looking very hurt at Millie's words. He takes off the pieces of cloth since they aren't helping him anyway. And his tone is slightly bitter as he talks.
6:13 PM "You said he didn't want to he a hero. Max." He points at Artisan and he looks angry now, he walks up to get closer to Millie his tone conveying his hurt.
6:13 PM "Woah." Gecko says. Raising his hands slightly to his pockets but Ted just groans in frustration and kicks a workstation.
6:13 PM "That's exactly what I'm saying! You said he doesn't want to be a hero but from what I've seen he's more heroic than the two of you will ever be!" He says with emotional force that sounds like its been building up for weeks and Gecko takes a step back his hands upraised in appeasal this time. Ted points at Millie and all his claws point at her too. "You acting like you're so nice when you're just like the rest of the city. Judging me without
6:13 PM even knowing me. Just because I look different. Because you /heard something about me/. You, lying about your system making you pass out. My hair hates it when people lie" He says and he's tearing up. His eyes are a slightly transparent green color. He turns and points at Gecko this time.
6:13 PM "And you, acting like you're here to help. Like you're some perfect guy when all you want to do is make connections. Because you're a stupid young kid like me and you think she's cute! You wanna know something? I'm a member of the Watch now. That's a position of honor with my people. They know that I was at the mall to meet Undertow my favorite team of all time. That I talked to Roach, the person I didn't know would kill two of them later. And
6:13 PM the way people had hurt her drove her to what she did. I was only there next to her by chance but the city blamed me because I'm ugly. Because I'm different! Because I'm an /Offshoot/!!!" His voice is raised on the verge of a yell but not quite there. He's all out ranting now, his hair claws are going wild grasping and clawing violently at everything around him like a barrier against the world.
6:13 PM "Well guess what. All I've done is help. I brought him here because I wanted him to get away from my people who were going to /kill him./ You would have held him back there. Would have just run. He was a damn hero out there. Like Shark and his dad in the videos. And you know what I did that because I'm not an Offshoot. I'm so tired of that fucking word..." He's crying now.
6:13 PM He drops to his knees. "I'm human can't you see? I'm human... Just like you." He sobs.
6:15 PM He points at Artisan his claws all pointing at him as well. "He knew that. I asked him why he didn't look at us like we were monsters. I couldn't understand it but I could see he didn't judge us in his eyes. He told me "My dad was always my dad, even when he looked different. You all remind me of him a little..." Ted trails off quiet and the room is silent.
6:16 PM ||
6:20 PM <Saff|Millie> Millie goes silent.
6:20 PM "I... Fuck. I'm sorry, Ted. You've done nothing but help me, and I just tried to sell you out so that maybe Gecko would forgive me for what I did in front of my parents." She puts her tool down and looks over at the Offshoot. "I didn't think. I... I know that doesn't make up for it. I didn't listen to you. You're right. You're so right."
6:20 PM Her hands shake as she tries to pick it up again, still pushing herself to work even though her stomach feels like it's in knots. "You are human. You don't know me, and you still helped me. I..." She looks over at Gecko, and then back to Ted. "And no, I wasn't being one hundred percent truthful. But I... I can't tell you why my system went down. You just have to trust me. I'm okay, and I'm going to get Max in working order, and then I'm going
6:20 PM to work on the cure."
6:20 PM She grabs the tool and starts working on Max's arm some more. "If it's okay with Gecko, you can stay here. I'll employ you. But I just. There are things that I have to sort out. Gecko, ask me any questions. My time is running short." ||
6:24 PM ← Snowcrash left (Snowcrash@net-64h.ua7.110.181.IP)
6:30 PM <•ColdGold|GM> "Its a part of the reason I  built the wall, besides the ferals..." A strained weak voice comes from behind Millie and everyone turns at it.  its Artisan's eyes are slightly opened.
6:30 PM "...It's so hard to look at you when I see my dad in each and every one of you." He finishes. He looks up at Millie and Gecko gives her a pointed look like he still wants to talk to her, but he doesn't immediately. "It's good to see you up Max." Gecko says quietly, sounding humbled as he walks over to Ted.
6:31 PM "I'm so sorry Ted..." He starts, though he sounds like he doesn't know where to go from there. Instead he doesn't say anything else and extends an arm foe Ted to grab onto to help himself out.
6:31 PM $lesser rend
6:31 PM <[ATM]> [Torso] [Any 1] Tear: One quality granted by armor removed as costume damaged, easily repairable.
6:32 PM → Stoic joined (Stoic@net-q27eo5.nj.comcast.net)
6:32 PM <•ColdGold|GM> The claws on Ted's hair rip and tear at Gecko's arm angrilly as he helps him up but Gecko bears it with braced teeth, helping him up anyway.
6:33 PM "Hey Millie. Thanks for coming." Artisan says quietly up to her with a faint smile. "You really saved my ass. Haha." He coughs.
6:33 PM ||
6:34 PM <Saff|Millie> Millie drops her tool and wraps her arms around Max, trying to be careful of his wounds. “Saved your ass, but not your arm. I’m sorry. I’m... I’m going to fix it.”
6:35 PM Shit, she can feel her eyes watering. Is she crying? In front of people? This isn’t like her. “And Ted helped. It wasn’t just me. I...”
6:36 PM Millie’s voice gets low. “I’m so glad you’re okay. You’re so important to me.” ||
6:36 PM <•ColdGold|GM> ((Social please))
6:37 PM <Saff|Millie> $roll 1d6 fuck
6:37 PM <[ATM]> Saff|Millie "fuck" [4]  = 4
6:40 PM → Pinkhair and Sidezero joined  ⇐ Stoic and Pink quit
6:53 PM <•ColdGold|GM> Over in the distance Gecko and Ted are facing each other amongst still hastily working bots. Its hard to make out what they're saying but they're talking. That leaves Max and Millie to talk to each other privately. He returns her hug weakly with a groan, and then a chuckle.
6:53 PM "Yeah I know Ted's a good guy. I wouldn't have made it if he didn't find me..." he trails off and looks at Millie in her eyes.
6:53 PM There's a pause and Max looks over at where his arm is missing, his eyes widen and he looks back up at Millie.
6:54 PM "I tried to wipe your tear away but I didn't realize it was gone..." His voice sounds weak, but he clears his throat.
6:55 PM He settles on doing it with his left hand instead after a moment, using a clean part of it. Its comforting.
6:55 PM "You're special to me too Millie." He says quietly not breaking eye contact with her. He has a solemn expression on his face.
6:55 PM ||
6:56 PM <Saff|Millie> She looks at his arm and sighs. “I’m working on it. I’m going to make it... you’ll be okay. I’m so sorry.”
6:58 PM Millie can feel her heart racing. She wants to kiss him. She doesn’t want to leave. “I... realized I haven’t been fair to you. But I hope you forgive me. I hope...” she closes her mouth, then opens it again. “I... Max. I like you.” ||
6:59 PM <•ColdGold|GM> Max opens his mouth to speak. "Millie I..." He trails off.
6:59 PM He instead tries to lean up towards her, weakly. Is he trying to kiss her? She swears he is. He's looking at her lips and...
7:00 PM The sirens go off and everybody goes still.
7:02 PM Sirens Millie had been trained as since a baby to instinctively shrink agaist. To pursue secure cover with your family. Everyone else in the room knows what they mean too. Normal people hide.  Ascended of all stripes assemble at Stronghold HQ. The city's cape capitol.  There was a Feral Husk awake in the city...
7:02 PM Is that what Mrs. Petite had been talking about?
7:03 PM Her phone and Gecko's start going crazy at about the same time and he immediately unfreezes checking his.
7:04 PM Millie and Max share a long look before Millie looks down to see several missed messages from Quintana and Kintsugi, and her Dad is calling. A message pops up in the top right corner of her HUD. The handle is FisherOfMen.
7:04 PM ||
7:04 PM Faust|Ignatius → Faustus
7:09 PM <Saff|Millie> Millie's eyes go wide. A feral husk? Shit. She leans down and kisses Max, her heart pounding as she pulls back. "Ted, keep Max and the medic safe. There's food in the fridge, tinkertech pretty much everywhere. Keep him and yourself alive. I've trusted you this far."
7:09 PM She turns away, running towards her suit. She starts stripping as she goes over to it, not caring who sees at this point. She needs to get in her gear and get going. While she dresses, she checks her phone and her HUD. Jacket on again.... This time she grabs extra batteries for her pulses.
7:09 PM Deep breaths. It's going to be okay. She denies the call from her dad and starts texting him. 'Can't talk now, got to prepare. I'll be okay. I love you, tell mom and Sammy I love them too.'
7:09 PM As she gets ready, she stops herself. It sounds like she's preparing to die. Millie shakes the thought from her head. She can't die. She won't. Still... Millie packs a few bottles of disinfectant solution, a field med kit, and the batteries inside the container on her jacket. She might need them. She hopes she won't have to. ||
7:11 PM → iridium248 joined (iridium248@net-79p.vhr.127.203.IP)
7:21 PM <•ColdGold|GM> Max kisses her back and there's a flutter of emotion she knows they both feel as they kiss. Even as the sirens ring in the background it feels right. They let go of each other and she's already moving. Ted is back to panic mode like she'd seen him earlier scrambling around but he has the presence of mind to nod at the very least as he goes to get supplies together.
7:23 PM Both Artisan and Gecko both spare her a glance and then look at each other as Gecko moves to head towards the exit. "We'll talk later Synpase." He gives her a look that says he's going to make sure he gets his answers. "Be safe." He says before turning the world into swamp as he clambers out of the lab at extreme speeds on newly forming terrain like a Gecko down an the elevator shaft.
7:26 PM Looking over her texts Millie can see all the messages she missed.
7:26 PM Quintana:
7:26 PM "Nuthin. Was just gonna play ball nd patrol. Y?"
7:26 PM "I'm going out lmk if you still wanna do something."
7:26 PM "Are you okay? Im heading Stronghold now!!"
7:26 PM Kintsugi:
7:26 PM "I'm free if you are. Wanna talk over Sushi though? I know a good place in Japan town. I'm starving."
7:26 PM "Fuck."
7:26 PM "Synapse."
7:26 PM "Shit. Call me."
7:26 PM "Asap."
7:27 PM → CaptNameless joined  ⇐ iridium248 quit
7:29 PM <•ColdGold|GM> Her Dad starts calling again at the texts and she sees her moms call stack on top of his.
7:29 PM The message from FisherOfMen reads "Meet with Quintana and Kintsugi before going to Stronghold at the specified location." There's a GPS ping her brain can follow.
7:29 PM "I will be there to meet you also. I have things to tell you all but its very important that you're altogether and that you stay safe. The city is counting on you."
7:29 PM "Millie." Max calls at her back as she gathers her things. The sirens continue to blare.
7:29 PM → iridium248 joined (iridium248@net-79p.vhr.127.203.IP)
7:30 PM <•ColdGold|GM> "Be safe. Please." He says trying to move out of his spot on the bed to stand as well.
7:30 PM ((Final post Saff))
7:30 PM Ted rushes over to steady him.
7:30 PM ||
7:35 PM <Saff|Millie> Millie's heart is racing, but she's not sure if it's from the sirens or the kiss. She waves goodbye to Gecko, then turns back to Max.
7:35 PM "I'll be okay. I've got work to finish here, after all. Ted will take good care of you." She then turns to the offshoot and gives him a smile. "I'm really sorry, I truly am. You're brilliant, and I can't thank you enough." Everything is just happening so fast. Thorn. Feral Husk. Looks like her mysterious benefactor was planning to reveal themselves, and Kintsugi and Quintana are coming to pick her up. All of that, and she has to do what she
7:35 PM was told or she'd end up like Buckler.
7:35 PM That still.... made her sick to her stomach. So, they had done all of this. It was their fault that Max lost his entire family... but they also saved her life. She's here to save the city because of them.
7:35 PM Millie looks at the two, and nods. "I'll be back before you know it. Synapse here to save the day." ||
7:35 PM <•ColdGold|GM> ||||

# Pastebin 08sTTHDW
<ColdGold|GM> ColdGold ...
3:13 PM → [ATM], Megafire and Snowcrash joined  ↔ Antioch nipped out
3:20 PM C<ColdGold|GM> ColdGold "Okay are you ready?" Rosario asks, before pressing the call button on the video calling program "Scoop"
3:20 PM The computer set in front of the Director and his Deputy Director begins to ring and Leron looks over to Director DuBois.
3:20 PM "Okay they're calling. Here goes." He nods at the Director before answering.
3:20 PM "Can you hear us clearly?" A higher pitched male voice comes through the computers speakers accompanied by the image of a man in a bright pink button up shirt and and a white tie. His hair is done into thin braids that are all colored a reddish brown with blonde tips. Vice Director Leron Davis, Ignatius recognized him from some internet searches Rosario had run him through to prepare for this meeting. Him and Rosario are sitting in one of
3:20 PM their offices in front of a desktop computer with a webcam set up on top of it. The Director a man who'd had less images of him on the internet to look at was there as well. They were in one of the PRT's conference rooms.
3:20 PM The two had decided a conversation over the webcam would be the easiest way to facilitate their discussions given the state of things in the city and their busy schedules following the Hare's message.
3:20 PM ||
3:21 PM ((Whatever order you want, describe yourselves to each other))
3:21 PM A<Antioch> ...
3:25 PM DuBois nudges his glasses further up his nose when the screen starts displaying the video feed, taking a moment to rub his forehead after he does so.
3:25 PM He frowns, then rubs his hands together for warmth - the air conditioning in the building is far lower than he's accustomed to. He's visibly tired, though his suit is acceptably undisheveled and his eyes are attentive.
3:25 PM "Ignatius," he says, eyeing the Offshoot leader through the screen. "I'm Administrator Allen DuBois. Interim Director. I appreciate your time and willingness to discuss." ||
3:25 PM F<Faust|Ignatius> Faustus ...
3:32 PM Clad in a slightly dirty green hoodie with holes at the shoulders that large spires sprout from, Ignatius adjusts the blue scarf around the lower potion of his face. "It's no problem. This is Rosario, she's going to be handling the computer on account of my difficulties in doing so."
3:32 PM Holding eye contact with the camera, despite looking at the screen, due to his eyes being nothing but burning pits, Ignatius' expression is almost completely unreadable.||
3:33 PM A<Antioch> "We're both busy," DuBois says, "and we both have our own problems to solve. I'll make this fast."
3:34 PM "We each have our wants and needs, with respect to those problems. I don't expect nor encourage you to disclose said wants and needs outside of what's necessary."
3:36 PM "My intentions for this discussion are simple. We learn enough about each other that we don't inadvertently interfere with or inconvenience the other as we address our issues, mutual or otherwise. I won't get ahead of myself and suggest cooperation, but I'll leave it on the table for a future meeting." ||
3:39 PM F<Faust|Ignatius> Faustus ((You want to go CG or should I?))
3:39 PM C<ColdGold|GM> ColdGold ...
3:44 PM Rosario gives a short wave, her bracelets jingling against her chains as she does so. She opts to remain wordless though, in his dynamic with her she'd taken to the back in most verbal affairs, serving more as physical support and a reassuring presence nearby.
3:44 PM "Hello Rosario. It's good to meet you, and to finally speak to you as well Ignatius." Leron says with a gracious head bow.
3:44 PM "When my predecessor was in power I had no say over things, but had I this meeting would have happened much sooner. Luckily our new Director is on the same page as us here. I'd like to say though that we /should/ push for compromise and cooperation here if at all possible. We're both forces for good in this city, and we're on the same side. Its better if we move to build each other up, and not at odds with one another." He says, saying his
3:44 PM piece, but then backing off to give the floor to the Director again. Rosario gives a short nod at the forces for good line.
3:44 PM ||
3:45 PM F<Faust|Ignatius> Faustus ...
3:51 PM "Good, we're all on the same page then I think. If you want my plans, I think you're going to be disappointed at how mundane they are. Beyond the normal operations of the Watch." He sighs.
3:51 PM "Right now I've finished a meeting with Artisan to discuss financial compensation, and when it comes through it's going towards constructing a school so that the children can get some normalcy."||
3:53 PM A <Antioch> "My plans as they pertain to you are outlined as follows," DuBois begins.
3:57 PM  "First, the establishment of a codified agreement with respect to your portion of the city, such that jurisdictions are laid out, as well as a mutually satisfactory resolution to the implementation of municipal infrastructure."
3:58 PM  "Your mention of the school leads me to believe this should be touched upon first. The mundane issues are the issues that affect the most people."
3:59 PM "You have your Watch. I'm given to understand that you have your own means of law enforcement, prisons, et cetera. Presumably, the Guard patrolling in your territory would be more of a nuisance and source of conflict than they would be of assistance."
4:00 PM "Water, electricity, paving. Retail presence, availability of commodities. I regret I haven't had the opportunity to brief myself fully on your territory, as my focus has largely been inclined towards the parahuman aspect of this city. How are you faring on those?" ||
4:01 PM F<Faust|Ignatius> Faustus ...
4:10 PM Ignatius leans forward a little, then takes a moment to process all that. "I can agree to that, there's still quite a bit of distrust for the Guard around here."
4:10 PM He taps a claw. "Retail presence is non-existent, which so far isn't a large issue. Most people here need custom clothes, some have dietary restrictions, so local businesses have cropped up to cater to that."
4:10 PM "The essentials like water and electricity are perfectly fine to the points we've reclaimed and rebuilt, and there's a maintained road to the market. It was used during the festival." Ignatius leans back a little.
4:10 PM "Everything works well enough, the biggest issue we have is building in such a way that everyone can enter buildings. Handicap access is paramount."||
4:10 PM C<ColdGold|GM> ColdGold ...
4:11 PM "In a place that desperately needs handicap access." Leron points out shaking his head.
4:12 PM "The water and electricity we have is not something we can fully depend on either. We only have so many resources here. We need to be reconnected." Rosario says, saying it kind of like she's negotiating it as a requirement for a deal.
4:12 PM ||
4:16 PM A<Antioch> DuBois nods. "My authority only extends to the Guard, but I intend to speak with the city leaders shortly hereafter, and intend on informing them that reconnecting you to municipal power, water, and other necessities is a requirement that should be expedited."
4:17 PM "There are concerns that your territory is operating, in essence, extralegally of San Raul and California," he adds, "but those aren't my concerns. That issue is immaterial until the immediate crises in the city are resolved."
4:18 PM "Construction that accommodates the variant body types amongst the Offshoots is a difficult criteria to meet. I would suggest the services of a Tinker suited to such, but as far as I'm aware, Artisan's name is mud in the Offshoot community."
4:20 PM He shrugs. "It's possible you could negotiate his construction as part of the reimbursement you'd earlier mentioned, but I find it unlikely that even a slim majority in your territory would trust the technology of a Tinker one degree of separation from Buckler himself."
4:21 PM "Off the record," he says, looking pointedly at Leron, "there may be merit in discussing the matter with the Elite presence in the city. One of their number, Agnes Court, resides in Vancouver. She's more reasonable than many of the higher-ups in the Elite. Her power specializes in rapid, large-scale constructions of an organic bent."
4:22 PM ** ((Oh, crud, redact))
4:22 PM ** ((I'm still thinking Wormverse))
4:22 PM ** ((Just that most recent line))
4:23 PM C<ColdGold|GM> ColdGold ((It's all gucci. Even if you use it, I can just redact or alter it later)
4:23 PM ((But do your thing))
4:23 PM ((Or even make up a cape))
4:23 PM ((The Director would know about stuff like that))
4:23 PM A<Antioch> ((O, cool. What's the new name for the Elite))
4:23 PM C<ColdGold|GM> ColdGold ((Supreme))
4:24 PM ((Or The Supreme to maintain the flow of the name))
4:25 PM A<Antioch> "Off the record," he says, looking pointedly at Leron, "there may be merit in discussing the matter with the Supreme presence in the city. One of their number specializes in rapid, large-scale constructions. Terrakinesis and phytokinesis in tandem. They've aided in reconstruction efforts in the past. A point for consideration." ||
4:25 PM F<Faust|Ignatius> Faustus ...
4:26 PM A<Antioch> ** one of their number in a cell outside this city
4:26 PM ** slim minority
4:37 PM F<Faust|Ignatius> Faustus Ignatius sighs again. "I knew this would have something to do with that, but I really would like to stress that Offshoots are a completely new issue. Even enforcing some laws would be impossible for some."
4:37 PM His gaze doesn't break as he goes on. "If I'm really being honest, our community has been negatively impacted enough by capes that the only way anyone would allow that is if they were an Offshoot too."
4:37 PM "And no, even Halos don't really work. There's already a slight bit of resentment for Offshoots with "pretty" mutations, that would be worse for them. No, I think that at least now, it has to be done the old-fashioned way."
4:37 PM Weaving his hands together Ignatius ponders for a moment. "You're being very helpful, I was a bit worried you'd be less polite when you sent The Hare to talk to me. Shutter lives in our part of the city, so I was thinking it was a race thing, but maybe you just didn't get the chance to go over that?"||
4:40 PM A<Antioch> "I was informed that there was a screening process to enter your territory and assumed sending the Hare would expedite an opportunity for me to get in contact with you. I hadn't yet, unfortunately, debriefed myself on Shutter's prior interactions with your group, nor about her living and personal situations."
4:40 PM C<ColdGold|GM> ColdGold ...
4:40 PM A<Antioch> "I apologize if sending the Hare conveyed the image of my attempt to appease you by sending a token minority to represent my interests. The idea is distasteful to me." ||
4:41 PM C<ColdGold|GM> ColdGold ((Anto halos are the pretty natural mutants. They're almost triumvirate tier))
4:41 PM A<Antioch> ((yer))
4:41 PM C<ColdGold|GM> ColdGold ((There are four or five in the guard organization))
4:41 PM ((National heavy hitters))
4:41 PM ...
4:42 PM "The Hare is great anyway. Shutter has her strong points, but diplomacy isn't one of them. The Hare has been exceptional since he started." Leron adds, having a little bias of like towards the Hare in his voice.
4:42 PM ||
4:43 PM F<Faust|Ignatius> Faustus ...
4:48 PM "It's not a big deal, I understand you were handed something that needs a lot of work. Being hooked back up to the grid would be very good for us." Smiling a bit with the tone his voice takes, Ignatius waits for a response and anything else to discuss.||
4:53 PM A<Antioch> "Secondly, with respect to crime and justice in your territory, the matter of jurisdiction still stands. I'm told you currently have Andre the Dragon in your custody. It is a minor thing - if you believe you have the resources to keep him contained, I will defer to you. Otherwise, my facilities are available if you wish to transfer him, though the issue of transport is as well a point of vulnerability."
4:54 PM "It is a minor point that brings me to a major one - the villain known as Hops. I don't claim to be aware of the extent of the crimes he has committed in your territory, but he is still wanted for the kidnapping of a Californian senator, and as such we are currently pursuing his arrest." ||
4:55 PM F<Faust|Ignatius> Faustus ((CG or should I go?))
4:56 PM C<ColdGold|GM> ColdGold ((Scrutinize Anti))
4:57 PM A<Antioch> $roll 2h6+1 Scroot
4:57 PM A<[ATM]> ATM Antioch "Scroot" [5] (1) +1 = 6
4:59 PM C<ColdGold|GM> ColdGold Its over a web camera, and Rosario doesn't exactly have regular facial features to show what she's feeling being made of chains, and similarly can be said of Ignatius being made of rock. But despite that he can tell the outright strong personal dislike on Rosario's face at the mention of Hops and Ignatius has the trace of a scowl for the faintest moment too.
4:59 PM "He hasn't been seen anywhere besides the slums since then. You're our best bet on information regarding him." Leron adds.
4:59 PM ||
5:08 PM F<Faust|Ignatius> Faustus And immediately the smile is gone. "Let me tell you exactly what he did. Hops came into our territory, gathered misguided children after nearly killing their "leader" who I've been taking care of, then guided them to a march on my base."
5:08 PM "This led to him breaking in with a group of them, killing some of my men while holding Stretch hostage, then he proceeded to attack me personally as well as Kali. In the ensuing fight, more of my guards were killed, and more than one child ended up having to be killed in self-defense. Kali was near-fatally injured."
5:08 PM "Hops then threw himself into ground zero, brought out something that was not even remotely human, and the act mutated him. We have artist's depictions ready to send to you, and everyone available is looking, but if he's smart he isn't hanging around here."
5:08 PM There's a note of anger in his voice as his eyes burn. "I think hoping to bring him in alive is useless now, he's willing to kill anyone for whatever reason, and now has a body-count in the double digits."||
5:10 PM A<Antioch> A flash of concern passes over DuBois's expression.
5:10 PM "How long ago was this?" he asks urgently. ||
5:12 PM F<Faust|Ignatius> Faustus "Three days."||
5:13 PM C<ColdGold|GM> ColdGold ((Its been longer than three days I think?))
5:13 PM ((One sec))
5:14 PM ((Six days**))
5:15 PM F<Faust|Ignatius> Faustus ((redact))
5:15 PM "Six days."||
5:15 PM C<ColdGold|GM> ColdGold ...
5:16 PM Leron's face matches the concern on Dubois', and Rosario shakes her head with the disgust at the memory.
5:16 PM ||
5:22 PM A<Antioch> "Shit," DuBois breathes, "it may already be underway."
5:23 PM "Another item on my docket was the controlled destruction of all existing components of Buckler's technology."
5:26 PM "My prior work was for Watchdog, and predictions corroborated by multiple Thinkers informed me that the chances for an event at ground zero causing catastrophic loss of life were nominal but causally linked to certain event criteria."
5:29 PM C<ColdGold|GM> ColdGold ((K9*))
5:29 PM A<Antioch> "It's difficult to discern the particulars for these predictions, but there are certain flags, so to speak, that increase the likelihood of such an event by an unsettling amount. Structural damage in the immediate proximity of Ground Zero, tampering with the remnants of Buckler's equipment. There remain two further criteria that are not met, but this concerns me enough that I'm liable to cash in one of my favors to update myself on
5:29 PM the situation."
5:31 PM "Though I've done my level best to purge the corruption from the Guard, I can't confirm the integrity of this video feed's security - best not to disclose the remaining two criteria here. There are forces in this city plotting chaos to their advantage, and I'd prefer this information not reach their ears." ||
5:31 PM F<Faust|Ignatius> Faustus ...
5:34 PM C<ColdGold|GM> ColdGold ...
5:34 PM ((Faust wits please))
5:34 PM F<Faust|Ignatius> Faustus $roll 1d6 Special Eyes pls
5:34 PM A<[ATM]> ATM Faust|Ignatius "Special Eyes pls" [6]  = 6
5:35 PM C<ColdGold|GM> ColdGold ((Continue as normal))
5:44 PM F<Faust|Ignatius> Faustus "You see that's very, very distressing. But I would like to talk about that last point." Ignatius sighs. "I was discussing with Artisan, the recently recovered remains of Buckler. He was going to pay a large sum of money for the armor back, but hearing this..."
5:44 PM Ignatius lets out a sigh. "If I destroy the armor, can I have your assurance that you will make up the payment for the school? Right now he has a small piece of it, but this at least keeps it from being even more tro-"
5:44 PM Suddenly slamming a fist against the table, Ignatius' words pick up a bit more shock. "Hops took the gauntlets too. This is bad."||
5:49 PM A<Antioch> “Making his capture all the more pressing,” DuBois says. “I wish to devote full measures to ensuring this situation doesn’t come to pass, but there may be a need to develop a fallback plan to mitigate the severity of the incident, if we are unable to prevent it.”
5:50 PM “The school can be done. No question. I will acquire the portion from Artisan as soon as possible.”
5:50 PM ||
5:55 PM -||
5:56 PM “I’ll need to consult with you and others on how best to dispose of the armor before we move forward. Traditional methods may do more harm than good. Matter deletion and translocation specialists, perhaps.” ||
5:57 PM C<ColdGold|GM> ColdGold ...
5:58 PM "I can think of a few heroes in the guard that might be able to help." Leron confims absently from behind as he jots down a few notes.
5:58 PM "What kind of danger are you talking about Director? If you're going to be working with us on something so important we need to be open surely. We live right over the Crucible after all." Rosario speaks up, concern in her voice.
5:58 PM ||
5:59 PM F<Faust|Ignatius> Faustus ...
6:00 PM Ignatius nods in agreement. "I can melt it down, but I agree with Rosario." He looks back. "Either way, we're going to increase security now that we know how apparently important the Crucible and that armor is."||
6:03 PM A<Antioch> DuBois frowns. “How familiar are you with the nature of Buckler’s power?”
6:03 PM ||
6:04 PM F<Faust|Ignatius> Faustus Ignatius shrugs, producing a grinding sound. "I've become more acquainted with it recently, but still not too familiar."||
6:06 PM A<Antioch> “I’m not versed in the particulars, nor am I capable of being so, not a Tinker myself.”
6:14 PM “Here’s what I can say, best as I can explain it.”
6:15 PM “Buckler mutated himself for combat. The effect was essentially permanent, though he had a catalyst to reverse it.”
6:16 PM “First among my concerns - those mutations are meant for combat utility. And yet, there are Offshoots with debilitating transformations that seem to lack combat utility, am I correct?” ||
6:17 PM F<Faust|Ignatius> Faustus ...
6:18 PM Ignatius nods. "The most debilitating ones have combat utility, but yes there are some that lack it altogether."||
6:18 PM C<ColdGold|GM> ColdGold ...
6:19 PM "These mutations were meant for fighting. Not day to day life. Its not convenient." Rosario points out, speaking out again. She sounds like she's already accepted it. Leron takes on a symathetic facial expression.
6:19 PM ||
6:21 PM A<Antioch> “And some weren’t meant for fighting at all,” DuBois states. “It’s little-known, but Buckler had a select amount of strains that he weaponized to debilitate opponents with mutations. I expect some of those are reflected amongst the Offshoot population.” ||
6:22 PM F<Faust|Ignatius> Faustus ...
6:22 PM "That explains some things. What exactly are you trying to get at though?"||
6:31 PM A<Antioch> “I was able to dig up information on Buckler’s mutated victims, sequestered in an asylum,” DuBois explains. “He never applied his own serum to them. Why? Genomic incompatibility, a reversion thresholding time?”
6:31 PM “Why haven’t other capes attempted to heal those mutations?”
6:33 PM “I worry,” DuBois says gravely, “that exposure to the reversion catalyst may be fatal. That’s my primary candidate for the cause of the predicted disaster, but I can’t yet be certain.” ||
6:33 PM F<Faust|Ignatius> Faustus ...
6:36 PM C<ColdGold|GM> ColdGold Leron looks over at the Director with a surprised and clearly horrified voice and Ignatius realizes how young he is. Late twenties, early thirties, flamoyant. Its a wonder he'd made it so far in the ranks at such young an age. Rosario frowns next to him and reachs out to clutch his hand under the desk, out of sight of the webcam.
6:36 PM ||
6:40 PM F<Faust|Ignatius> Faustus Ignatius straightens up in his chair. "I'd been thinking too, about something similar. If we were given a cure, I wonder how many of our lives were saved by our mutations, and if losing them would kill us."
6:40 PM He stares intensely. "I'll melt down that armor immediately if there's even a chance of there being something like that. Too many, I worry, would jump on something with even the smallest chance of fixing them."
6:40 PM "But if even one of them dies, it's not acceptable." Grasping Rosario's hand tight, he can hear the scraping of metal on rock. "This may be inconvenient, but at least we're not throwing out our lives."||
6:43 PM A<Antioch> “Buckler’s demutation mixture was or is stored in liquid serum form within his armor. He weaponized his mutations in gaseous form.”
6:44 PM “A method of disposing of the armor without triggering a release of the reversion serum in gaseous form will likely be necessary.”
6:46 PM “I use the term ‘gas’ loosely, mind you. The radius of effect from Ground Zero can’t be explained by traditional gaseous behavior. Scientists far better than me - I’m no scientist at all - have considered the catastrophe and its mechanics. Radiation-analogue particles seeded within the gas, some say.”
6:47 PM “And I’m uncertain what safeguards Buckler’s equipment might have with respect to tampering. Fail-safes, dead man’s switches, though that’s likely long past, but Tinkertech is known to be volatile, regardless of if its creator is alive or dead.” ||
6:50 PM F<Faust|Ignatius> Faustus ((CG?))
6:50 PM C<ColdGold|GM> ColdGold ...
6:54 PM Leron looks up from his notes. If its as you say it is, I can go put in a call for someone who can help us dispose of the suit properly and quickly. Is Rudy around?" Leron asks Director DuBois. He was one of the three people in the Guard privy to Rudy's identity as Cavalier and his presence in the city. His knowledge would definitely come in handy here. But he hadn't been in the office. Had been silent and 'out on a job' apparently. Leron
6:54 PM shrugs.
6:54 PM "Regardless finding Hops and containing the armor seem like our highest priority. Do you have any info at all on where he might be Ignatius any bit might help." Leron asks.
6:55 PM Rosario speaks up again. "There was the shifting near market place. The ground moved as a huge hill ran through it with a laughing gliding Offshoot riding over it. The damage reminds me of what that thing... Did to the crucible when it escaped."
6:55 PM ||
6:56 PM F<Faust|Ignatius> Faustus ...
7:03 PM "That's all I have." Ignatius shifts a bit. "Yeah, it's radiation. I can try to get it where nobody can find it, this whole base is practically lined with broken Tinkertech so I doubt anyone could hope to figure out where it is."
7:03 PM Realizing he's still grasping Rosario's hand, hard, he eases up. "When you have someone in order to take care of it, you should send them in plain clothes. Like I said, people are getting skittish about capes."||
7:04 PM A<Antioch> “I’ll get on that immediately,” DuBois promises. ||
7:05 PM -||
7:06 PM “Large hill, laughing gliding Offshoot? Thing, Crucible?” he addresses Rosario. “I’m missing several pieces here, I think.” ||
7:06 PM F<Faust|Ignatius> Faustus ...
7:08 PM ⇐ Megafire quit (Peter@net-psjdbd.direct-adsl.nl) Connection closed
7:10 PM F<Faust|Ignatius> Faustus "The crucible is a less... charged... term for ground zero. And I mentioned Hops dragged something that wasn't human from it." He goes on. "It was powerful, and it didn't have body heat. The worst part is that somehow, it could change the surroundings." Ignatius quickly clears the air. "It's the least of my issues now that you mention all this, but you shouldn't underestimate Hops."
7:10 PM "He's worth everything you can throw at him, and I've already done what I can to find him."||
7:11 PM A<Antioch> “There was another... for lack of a better term, mm, being? In the Crucible, as you call it, that Hops took, in addition to the gauntlets?”
7:12 PM “How did it affect the surroundings? How were you able to ascertain body heat? Any other observations you were able to make when you did?” ||
7:12 PM F<Faust|Ignatius> Faustus "Negatively, not important, and no."||
7:16 PM A<Antioch> “Mm. Large, moving hill,” DuBois muses.
7:16 PM C<ColdGold|GM> ColdGold ...
7:16 PM ((Sorry checking in after my long ass post in the other channel))
7:16 PM F<Faust|Ignatius> Faustus ((No problem, Ignatius would have been curt there anyways))
7:17 PM C<ColdGold|GM> ColdGold Rosario doesn't offer any more information, and Leron is quiet as well. The conversation seems to have come to another slow point.
7:18 PM ||
7:19 PM A<Antioch> “I’ll take those images of Hops you’ve prepared, research Buckler’s technology further. Speak to Artisan, acquire the gauntlet...”
7:19 PM “Any details about the hill and flier will be appreciated as well. I’ll take every lead I can get.”
7:20 PM “Nothing else I’d raise has the immediacy of what we’d just discussed – if there’s anything you wish to ask or say, now is the time.”
7:20 PM “We all have our jobs to do.” ||
7:21 PM F<Faust|Ignatius> Faustus ...
7:24 PM ← Snowcrash left (Snowcrash@net-64h.ua7.110.181.IP)
7:29 PM F<Faust|Ignatius> Faustus Ignatius ponders, unlacing his hand from Rosario's. "I think there may not be, but I want to be very clear on something. It slipped my mind in the panic." He puts his hands on the table. "There's currently an Offshoot at large connected to Roach."
7:29 PM He continues. "This man is not at all connected to Roach, and was a bystander. I want his name cleared. He's taking up residence in my territory and I take full responsibility for any of his actions." Ignatius laces his hands.
7:29 PM "Going back to Andre the Dragon. Right now he's being held here for detox, I do not want to transfer him, as I think that would negatively affect his treatment. It's been slow going, and withdrawal is hard, but we're doing what we can."
7:29 PM "If you're wondering about Hush, she's taken up residence here as well. That should take three big things off your plate."||
7:31 PM A<Antioch> “The, ah, I believe I know the one you’re speaking of. Present when the Hare was detained, if record serves. Done, understood, and appreciated. A handful less things to distract us from the big picture.” ||
7:34 PM C<ColdGold|GM> ColdGold ...
7:35 PM Leron looks like he wants to add something but Director DuBois'  personal line begins to ring. Only Cavalier and his family and his close friends have his number and they know not to call him unless its an absolute emergency.
7:35 PM ||
7:37 PM A<Antioch> “An emergency,” DuBois states, picking up the phone. “Stay on the line in case the crisis pertains to you. If it is confidential, I will hang up.”
7:38 PM He picks up the phone, glancing at the caller. ||
7:38 PM C<ColdGold|GM> ColdGold The caller ID reads 'Rudy Evergreen'.
7:38 PM ||
7:39 PM A<Antioch> He answers the call. “DuBois speaking. What’s the crisis?” ||
7:40 PM C<ColdGold|GM> ColdGold ((Wits Faustus))
7:40 PM F<Faust|Ignatius> Faustus $roll 1d6 Special...Ears?
7:40 PM A<[ATM]> ATM Faust|Ignatius "Special...Ears?" [1]  = 1
7:42 PM C<ColdGold|GM> ColdGold A tinny crash that hurts his ears, what sounds like panicked screams from a large group of people, an ear piercing screech, and then a sound like a loud laser going off and a muffled. "...fuck. Oh fuck!" in the background before Cavalier's voice comes through more clearly.
7:44 PM "Director. T... ater i ...eak ..ity. Asap. Se-d EVERYONE. Feral H...." His voice is going staticky cutting out.
7:44 PM Ignatius on the other line is oblivious to all this.
7:44 PM That's when they hear them...
7:47 PM → Sidezero joined (uid245947@charlton.irccloud.com)
7:49 PM C<ColdGold|GM> ColdGold Its a sound that sends chills down the spines of everyone assembled. They all know what it means. Had heard them in drills and practices, on the news showing a ruined city and a massive amount of dead bodies in the aftermath. Something they'd all been trained to understand meant danger. They were loud sirens like air raid sirens but with a deep booming undertone to make sure they were absolutely heard. They could be heard through the cameras
7:49 PM and in both the separate locations of the Guard Headquarters and the Citizens Headquarters. Its an emergency siren. One they've never heard in person outside scheduled tests. They sounded telling people to hide, for capes to assemble at the closest meeting spot as soon as possible. In San Raul that had always been the Stronghold HQ and with the danger the city was facing attendance from Ascended was almost compulsory for almost a number of
7:49 PM reasons. Not getting into the complications of the blood.
7:49 PM "Feral Husk..." Cavalier's voice comes through one last time before the call cuts up.
7:50 PM Rosario is looking over at Ignatius wide eyed at the sirens, and Leron looks terrified.
7:50 PM "Director?" He asks.
7:50 PM ||
7:50 PM F<Faust|Ignatius> Faustus ...
7:54 PM Looking back at Rosario, Ignatius appears to be completely calm. "Alert the Watch to gather everyone in the base so they're safer. Ascended stay here to help protect them and as early warning." He stands up.
7:54 PM "Good luck. I'll be calming the masses."||
7:56 PM C<ColdGold|GM> ColdGold Rosario is already dashing out of the room without a goodbye.
7:56 PM ||
7:56 PM A<Antioch> “Keep your people safe, Ignatius,” DuBois says. “It’s time I see to mine.”
7:57 PM He exits. ||
7:57 PM F<Faust|Ignatius> Faustus ...
7:58 PM C<ColdGold|GM> ColdGold The call drops leaving Ignatius and DuBois to their respective stations.
7:58 PM ((Final posts from each of you))
7:58 PM ((I'll continue you guys in prequel discussions separately at your leisure))
7:59 PM A<Antioch> “Peak City. Assemble all we can muster,” he instructs Leron. “I will be working elsewhere.”
7:59 PM “The opportunity for those in the shadows to act freely is more valuable than blood. Go.”
8:00 PM He dons his Tinkertech and leaves. ||
8:03 PM F<Faust|Ignatius> Faustus Ignatius breathes deeply, trying to keep calm, fighting an urge. He slowly walks out of the room, small cracks appearing on his body and showing small glimpses of slag and metal before he pulls them back together.
8:03 PM He needs to stay calm now, but he'll be vigilant. When he's calmed his people and given them their security blanket made of words and declarations, that's when he can be of use. He'll watch over them.
8:03 PM They need a protector, and if anyone else thinks they'll catch him unaware, they have another thing coming. Emptily glancing at the door to the balcony, he walks towards the gathering hall.
8:03 PM Another small crack appears near his chest, slightly different than the others, before sealing shut again.||
8:04 PM C<ColdGold|GM> ColdGold ||||