Heroes: The Rise of Omnicorp

[Hotfoot]

"Yeah, we're supposedly on the side of right in the eyes of the law, but this looks like it's going to get real messy before it's done. I mean, I don't know much about the guys we're up against, but they're willing to blow up a building and kill dozens, if not hundreds of innocents just to clean up a mess. That says we're working with guys who don't have the best interests of the people in mind, or worse, people who think they do. Either way, unless we can nail them to a wall pretty hard, I don't like our chances. I mean, what happens if we dismantle this team? The guys that made it are still running around, and now they're pissed," He paused, looking around at the others.

"Talking to Ghost first sounds good, but I still don't trust him. What we need to find out is how dedicated is he to his boss, and how dedicated he is to his duty. If he's still stoic in the face that his bosses may have murdered numerous innocent people in the name of keeping things quiet, then he's going to turn on us the first chance he gets."

[LadyTevar]

"I don't think he's fallen that far," Argent answered, a bit sobered by Gravitas' points. She did not forget that a couple of MiBs had come to take her away at gunpoint. Saibot was bait for her as well.

"We know he's in the base right now. I can go get him now, this minute. It will also get me inside the base long enough to have a loose idea of the layout, and next time I can teleport -anywhere- inside it." That was the bonus of her teleporting, once she'd been inside it the first time, she could go back inside wherever a shadow lay ... such as inside the bank vault. That had been useful for a couple capers.

[rhoenix]

(OOC: I somehow missed this beforehand, so my apologies about being late)

She looked back to Blackheart, then to Blast. "Does that cover everything? Oh... no... Hydro's allergic to psionics, and Alexander here can toy around with photons, but is still really not sure he wants to join this nutso band of meta he's stuck with."

Alexander shook his head as he replied. "No, it's not that. It's simply that apart from watching the odd news report or reading the odd article about metas, I've pretty much had the same views of teams of metas as most of the people born without that capacity. Hearing that someone is a meta and part of a greater team of metahumans inspires thoughts of ivory high-tech lairs, one-of-a-kind vehicles, snazzy suits, and loud, melodramatic voices."

It was here Alexander paused as he looked a little weary. "I suppose colliding with reality was a splash of cold water on my face - no offense, Hydro - and my assumptions about how "heroic" meta teams operated were challenged rather quickly."

He paused again, looking at the gathered faces watching him speak, some masked, most not, one that was a tendril of dihydrogen monoxide. "Because of what happened that day, a little over a week ago, I knew more deeply than I've ever known anything else that I wanted to use my talents to save people; to help shield those without my talents from those with them; to make people's lives better following a natural disaster. In a way, I suppose I've been preparing for this all my life - I'm in good shape, I know a martial art, and I've studied and tested the sciences related to my ability during my career as a scientist, and as a student."

He began to lean a bit on his good leg at this point, and decided to finish what he had taken his feet to say. "I still want to help people. I still want to save people's lives, I still want to help those that I can. And that's why I'm still here, if you'll have me."

With that, he gratefully sat back down.

[SirNitram]

"Speaking for myself, I'd welcome another scientist onto the team. If it'll sooth your disappointment, I do have a genuine Armani.. Well, parallel-Armani.. that just needs drycleaned, but the others.. The only thing I can offer is a customized limo. It's technically one of a kind. Also armoured against most man-portable anti-vehicle weapons. For those riots you can't evade."

[LadyTevar]

"if you want the high-tech lair and fancy laboratories, go join the Guardians," Argent snerked.


*lightbulb*

"Then again...." she added, her eyes bright with The Idea. "He's perfect to join the Guardians...."

[Cynical Cat]

"Yes, lets send the rookie into a deep cover mission with a bunch of suspected cape killers who undoubtedly suspect there are people after them," said Blackheart. "I'm sure nothing bad will happen."

[SirNitram]

"Sorry, Argent, but Blackheart is right. You don't do undercover without lots of training.. It's why I don't even go public as my cover identities." Gravitas nodded. "And teleporting in is dangerous. Teleport-inhibitors can be turned on once you're in. Roach motel."

[LadyTevar]

"They're looking for people to join them, that much they were honest about," Argent said, trying to salvage a little of the idea. "Alexander's the perfect choice. He's not Ultima, not Mirage team, just a guy we rescued. His trick with photons may work with the solid light the rings project, which would give him an edge."

She could tell now Blackheart wasn't buying it. "And... if I bring him to them in the middle of the night, saying that you hated the idea and threw a fit, Ghost at least is more likely to believe me. If Sentinel *is* Saibot, he'd take Alexander just to spite you."

[Cynical Cat]

"Argent," said Blackheart, "I get it that you don't want to admit that Saibot is a bad guy. It is, however, making you fucking stupid. It's not happening. Alexander's life is not a toy you get to play with to try and find some kind of good in Saibot. Have you read the grief off any of his victims? The brothers and sisters and parent and children they left behind. You seen Gazer's file? Have you felt how his parents, his sister, and his fucking pregnant fucking fiancee are feeling now? You have so much sympathy for the perpetrators, maybe you should start spending some time with some fucking victims."

[LadyTevar]

What Blackheart forgot is one of the first lessons Argent ever learned.

"They aren't going to kill you dead if they think you're a spy," Argent said, looking Alexander right in the eye and showing no sign of lying. Alexander was even slightly inclined to believe her as she said this.

[Cynical Cat]

[deleted]

[LadyTevar]

That got Blackheart her full attention as she turned to face him.

"I think we both know enough of Victims," she answered, her voice soft and low. "Our first victims were our parents."

[Cynical Cat]

Rage bubbled to the surface. "Don't give me the poor little me bullshit Argent! Did you just use your fucking powers on Alexander to try and make him want to walk into a fucking abattoir?"

[LadyTevar]

"No," Argent answered with a smile, secure the the fact she was standing in one of many shadows in her house. "I just used my power to lie straight-faced and piss you off."

[Cynical Cat]

Rage boiled with him. Kill this annoying thing and take apart its brain, said a voice within. We shall take what secrets we need from it. "I'm glad," he said, "that Alexander's life is a joke to you. I should have known better. That your Tong boss buddy ran extortion rackets, hacked up people who didn't pay with hatchets, and pimped out trafficked teenage girls after they had been gang raped into submission didn't stop you from working with him.

[Marcao]

It did not seem to be able to end. The history between Blackheart and Argent seemed to be pulling them both into a vicious circle, a downward spiral that would only end when they came to blows. They had graduated from simple distrust and disdain towards choices made to outright hostility and attempts to goad each other. He could only handle listening to this so much since each moment this continued it eroded the very foundation of the Team. How long was Team Mirage going to remain a cohesive force? At this rate...

"Enough." He said. "Enough God Damn it!" He growled.

"I don't give two shits if Saibot is alive or dead. We have heard both sides of the argument, let us make a choice and carry it out while there is still a Team Mirage left!" The bickering that he was seeing wounded him. He derived no comfort from the exchanges between Blackheart and Argent.

His head turned and focused on Alexander as he continued. "I do not recommend that you go play James Bond." He had no talent for spycraft and he had never been trained for those sort of missions. "However, you may choose to disregard my recommendation. Still, if you are going to make the choice I can do something to help."

He took a step towards Alexander and then another. When he was close enough to him he took a deep breath and pushed. The psychic shroud that surrounded his mind was a personal thing. It was the one facet of his powers that he barely understood and could not adequately control. Li Na had helped in shape his perception on that however, the tenuous link that she had managed to form had been a surprising if encouraging event. He had worked hard on it, certain that given enough time he would be able to understand the secrets of the shroud.

He had been partly successful. He still could not control the flow in and out, it still remained a brick wall offering the same challenge to be overcome to friend or foe. He could however, expand on it. He had discovered that it could be spread out like a tent over an area. The knowledge had thrilled him, for he could see the possibilities that it could offer the team. He could protect the team from psychic detection and potential attacks. He did so now, pushing the shroud over and around both himself and Alexander.

There was sadness in his eyes as he did so. This was not the circumstances that he had hoped to unveil this new trick of his. But the situation around them was spiraling quickly out of control. There could be no doubts if Alexander chose to embark on a suicide mission. No doubts at all.

"Blackheart, I have extended my shroud around Alexander." He said softly. If he had doubts that Li Na had not played by the rules, all they had to do was ask again. Of course, he had no idea what effect if any his shroud would have on an existing effect. He had never tried this before. But he had to try something...

~~~~

1. I talked with B4 earlier about this capability. This mess forced me to bring it out before I wanted to, but the situation seems to warrant it. B4 was cool with this twist.

[frigidmagi]

This was giving Tobin a headache. We can't have one simple planning discussion or debate without massive drama and cheating. Hell some of us can't even talk to each other without trying some bullshit or flinging shit up and around.

Blast walked to the center of the room. Took at deep breath. Saying what Blackheart would say wouldn't work. What would Gravitas say? No good. What would Uncle Joe say? He had been a Staff Sgt with Dad and on the SWAT after that...

"Whoa folks. Let's call a time out here okay? Boss can ya take a deep breath for a moment? You're looking like you're gonna kill someone and I think that's a bad idea. I mean think about it, we're suppose to be low key here right? Plus you told me killing teammates was out of bounds. Argent, it's a creative suggestion but seriously it's a bad idea. It puts someone who has no escape and no training in a den surrounded by combat veterans who may, or may not be killers. We don't know. That's the problem to many unknowns. Not to mention Alex here does not have any spy training. It'd be like asking me to do James Bond. Just isn't going to happen. So I'm going to vote against it to. Everyone has ideas that get shot down, even though they think it'll work. Hell, I still think working together my surgery plan would have done the job but everyone said no, so that's the breaks. Let's all pretend to be adults and professional and just back off. Take a minute." He said standing right between Blackheart and Argent.

He very purposefully left his shield down. Standing there without his father's armor or his shield to protect him he was just as frail and breakable as a normal 19 year old. A gutter punk with a gun or a knife could take him out right now and he was fairly sure everyone knew it.

I've got to stop doing this, one of these days I'm gonna try this and get my head snapped off literally he thought vaguely as he tried to smile cheerfully.

[SirNitram]

"If this continues, I will treat you like the children you are acting like." Gravitas snorted at Blackheart and Argent. "You will be placed in time-out. On other planets. Obviously the tensions over Saibot have increased, but as far as I'm concerned, Guardian Force is not our primary problem. Or have we forgotten every other situation on the planet in favour of grudges like immature wannabes?"

The tone was quite forceful, annoyed, and lecturing. "All of us, the minute we left, became renegades, insurgents, and fugitives. If we complete the objective, we get back in the good graces of Ultima, but if we do not because we piss around with personal nonsense, that won't happen. Personal is not the same as important. Do I need to give marching orders?"

[rhoenix]

"Speaking for myself, I'd welcome another scientist onto the team. If it'll sooth your disappointment, I do have a genuine Armani.. Well, parallel-Armani.. that just needs drycleaned, but the others.. The only thing I can offer is a customized limo. It's technically one of a kind. Also armoured against most man-portable anti-vehicle weapons. For those riots you can't evade."

This caused Alexander to chuckle. "I do appreciate the thought - the idea of being heroic while wearing an Armani suit certainly has its merits. The limo might be a bit overt for my tastes, however."

He was about to say more, but Tachyon was walking toward the chair Alexander was currently sitting in, with an intent look on his face. Despite the multiple conversations happening at once, Alexander had overheard that Tachyon had intended on doing...something.

His first thought was that Tachyon might try something similar on him as what Argent did to Hydro earlier. However, he forced himself to slow his breathing, and allow it to happen.

If he had to describe the effect, Alexander would have said that for one split second, he knew what it was like to be psychic, before that opening closed irrevocably. It was as if someone showed him a door to his house he'd never known was there, only to cover it over on both sides with concrete and lead. It also felt as if someone ran ice water through his body for a moment or two, and involuntarily shuddered briefly.

He looked calmly, though with a hint of confusion at Tachyon. "Thank you, Tachyon - but what did you do?"

[Marcao]

He glanced towards Alexander for a moment before he found himself speaking. "I have a gift, a layer of power that protects my mind from psychic abilities. I can't control it very well, I can't make it differentiate between friend or foe. However, It seems that I can extend it, open it like an umbrella and use it to protect other minds like it protects my own. I just tried to cover your mind thus." He said.

"If you are tempted to make a choice that may prove to be massively unwise, it should be your choice to make and yours alone." He was saddened that he had to do this but it could only help diffuse the tension that had descended about them. He could deal with Li Na later. Right now, preventing an escalation of hostilities between her and Blackheart overrode all other concerns.

[rhoenix]

Nodding at Tachyon's explanation, the talk between Argent and Blackheart made a bit more sense. His eyebrows furrowed as he thought about this. "So, just so I'm clear, the current talk is basically sending me to meet with and hopefully join this Guardian Force?"

He looked around for confirmation, but continued anyway. "So, I have no espionage training, and no real training in using my particular meta talent. We don't know much about this Guardian Force except that they apparently have high-level backing, and were observed saving civilian lives in Las Vegas. You know your teammate Ghost is a part of this Guardian Force, and some suspect that another part of this Guardian Force was also a former member of this organization, and possibly even a former member of this team. You have no facts concerning their base of operations, doctrine, or true goals. Did I miss anything?"

Leaning back in his chair, looking a bit tired of the events of today, Alexander continued. "Just so this is clear, I am a civilian scientist, for all intents and purposes. I'm afraid the college I went to didn't offer courses in things like infiltration and espionage."

[Cynical Cat]

He threatens me. He thinks the void is barrier to me. Kill him. Devour him. Take what is his and regain more of what is mine. No. "You are not in charge, infant would be godling," said a voice from the void. Then, more normally, he continued. "Nor was her use of her powers on Alexander acceptable behavior. You do not mind control your teammates. Sit down Gravitas and do not presume to threaten me as I do not threaten you. You too Blast. No one is going to get hurt.

"Going after Guardian Force will have to wait. Doesn't matter if it is our best move, the fracture here is obvious. We can't deal with suspected cape killers in number if we're coming apart at the seems and we are. Alternate plans for finding these agencies are now our prime concern. If they are killers and continue to kill, that's on us and we'll have to live with it. I'll pass our data and speculations back to Ultima and hopefully it will get resolved properly."

[Hotfoot]

Hotfoot stood up, clearly irritated by the continued bickering between Argent and Blackheart. "Look, Alex, here's the deal, I don't trust anyone outside of this room save one person right now, and bottom line, I don't like the fact that the last suits we met involved in this mess were willing to kill a bunch of regular folks just to cover it all up. You go in there, we don't know what will happen to you. They may mess with your brain and get you to work for them, they may kill you, they may just have you feed us misinformation. I've seen a lot of crazy shit since I started doing this, and I don't think it's a good idea to send anyone in alone," He looked at the rest of the group and took in a deep breath.

"Look, why don't we focus on preparing to take down this group? If we can talk Ghost and Saibot back to our side, hey, great, whatever. If not, let's get ready to take down the entire thing. On that note, Argent, you said you had that knife? Could you show me where it is?" With that comment, he sent a quick little emotion of wanting to leave the room with her, hoping she would pick up on it.

[rhoenix]

Hotfoot stood up, clearly irritated by the continued bickering between Argent and Blackheart. "Look, Alex, here's the deal, I don't trust anyone outside of this room save one person right now, and bottom line, I don't like the fact that the last suits we met involved in this mess were willing to kill a bunch of regular folks just to cover it all up. You go in there, we don't know what will happen to you. They may mess with your brain and get you to work for them, they may kill you, they may just have you feed us misinformation. I've seen a lot of crazy shit since I started doing this, and I don't think it's a good idea to send anyone in alone," He looked at the rest of the group and took in a deep breath.

This caused Alexander's eyebrows to raise in surprise at the unexpected complement. "Well, thank you Hotfoot. And don't worry - as odd as here may be, here is where home is now. I'm not leaving unless I have to."

[LadyTevar]

Argent had been silent, even empathically, ever since Tachyon had first stood up. The demonstration with Alexander was met with a tilt of her head. As she cautiously explored the expanded shroud, something that only he and she should be able to feel, she listened to the heated discussion around her.

The voice from the void caught her attention, jerking her head around to look at Blackheart. She could feel his rage, and when he swallowed it to attempt to move past the anger and try to get the team back on track. Yet, it was Hotfoot's silent plea following his public question that finally got her to react.

"Very well," she said, taking the opportunity to leave the room. "In my room." She turned her back on Blackheart and Tachyon, striding to the door and opening it, expecting Hotfoot to follow.