Heroes: Endings and Beginnings

[Charon]

Inferno pursed his lips. "So it's not part of the omnicorp system, even though it's an omnicorp robot? That's all I can think of as to why it's not causing havoc."

[SirNitram]

The hologram flickered out of view, replaced with an image of the machine in question with notations remarking on it's known loadout. When requested to find current location, there was a sound not-unlike clearing one's throat.

"My apologies. I had picked up private security cameras and image files from civilians that showed the creation on the move in response to a bank robbery. Suspects are now escaping and will be engaging target mech within moments."

The schematic vanished, replaced with a map of the city, highlighting the scene and Chicago Ultima HQ. "Plotting most expedient path with minimal civilian assets blocking." The 'AI' reported, before a way through the map appeared. "Zero baseline casualties so far."

[Comrade Tortoise]

"That is what I was thinking Inferno. Given its modus operandi, it has obviously not been affected by the Omnicorps incident. And its behavior is not that of a Warbot. More like some sort of peacekeeper bot? If that is the case, it could potentially be reasoned with. But of course the humans dont try that, oh no. They panic, call in the proverbial airstrike..." the tone of his voice let them know that he had some personal experience with that last one.

[B4UTRUST]

"Your job right now, gentlemen, isn't to debate the whys. The 'bot needs to be brought in. We can worry about why it's not slaughtering baselines by the dozens after we've got it back here. This is a minimum force operation. As I said, your priority is to protect the civilians and minimize collateral damage. They're far more important to us than the bot. Use the minimum force neccessary to safely detain it and escort it back here.

"Thank you for the visuals NeXT, good work. Alright, people, you have your orders. Motorpool is standing by with transport and we've got a armored transport unit on call to haul this thing in if it comes to that."

-------------

Both of the targeted metas would nailed with the splatgun and hit the bank wall behind them. The one called Hammer-man was held tight, but knew he could break this gunk. He waited until the mech targeted one of the others. The massive shock knocked the meta out and brought him to the ground. Hammer-man burst free from the gunk and launched himself at the bot. He had ripped the vault door in the bank from its hinges single handedly and thrown it dozens of yards. Ripping this oversized toy apart shouldn't be too hard.

The leap brought the muscle-bound meta close enough for hand to hand with the bot. If such a thing was really possible. He swung his fist forward hard enough to dent the armor. This blow was quickly followed by a second, carrying the dent a little further.

[LadyTevar]

Jerri seemed to be the only one who'd heard NeXT. "It's stopping a bank robbery as we speak?" she exclaimed, then watched as NeXT changed the Hologram to show where the bank was located.

"Does 'protecting population' include the bank robbers, Agent Hawk?" Jerri asked, picking up the vial she had set out on the table. "Heidi wants to know."
Will you just drink, dammit?

Heidi knew Jerri hated transforming in front of people, mainly because until she got together with the people down in Supply, she'd either had to wear a uniform that was too big for her, or have Heidi get annoyed by how tight it was and just rip the stupid thing off. Returning to normal with half your clothing off was not amusing. It'd taken a year to get the first suit worked out, but all her uniforms now had hidden pleats that let it expand the needed room. All Jerri had to do was remove the armored vest, the only part that couldn't change size.

In a practiced motion, one hand unzipped and removed the vest, as the other popped open the vial to let Jerri swallow it down. Then, she turned her seat away from the table, letting her long hair down out of the bun as she did so. Lowering her head down almost to touch her knees, she let the transformation take her.

The chair shook as Gemini's body trembled, muscles bulking, bone mass increasing. Even bent over, it was clear she was gaining visible inches in size. The long hair that covered Jerri's face during the start of the change now seemed to reverse up inside her skull, leaving a mass of short reddish-brown curls framing the broad face now revealed. There was only the sound of laboured breathing, no sounds of pain, before Gemini sat up and stretched her now muscular arms over her head to the sound of her back popping all the way down. A shake of the tousled curls, and Heidi rose up from the chair.

The face was broader, more like a sibling than the same woman. Taller by at least 4 inches Gemini's body had filled out proportionally, the slim athletic build maturing into a body trained and honed at heavy sports. The gleam in the eyes and slight smirk on her lips was fully out of character with the mousy scientist they'd been introduced to only moments before. The voice was once again similar but deeper and smokier, what a poet might call a bedroom voice. "Hello, boys..." she drawled, her eyes meeting each man, AI, cyborg, and turtle, in turn for a split-second of sizzle. "I'm Heidi. Let's go drag that metal monster in, shall we?"

[Hotfoot]

Mark 25 turned to Sunrise and spoke for the first time since his introduction. "It is a heavily armed and armored machine, designed by Omni-Corp. An airstrike would be fitting. That we are being tasked with its retrieval is indicative that the humans that command us are taking a more restrained approach." The voice was somewhat monotone, and clearly artificial. Still, there was something behind it, the speed of the words that indicated...something. Even after he was done, he continued to look in Sunrise's direction.

Inside, Mark 25 reviewed Sunrise's file again, making sure he got his facts straight about the loudmouthed turtle. As he did, he turned to Agent Hawk, checking the status of his vehicles in the motor pool.

"My car is ready to go, as is my motorcycle. Give the word, sir."

Then Heidi appeared, and Mark 25 switched on his recording devices. There was a moment of phantom feelings, but they were quickly lost in a sea of thoughts and protocols. He said nothing, but nodded to her respectfully.

[Charon]

Inferno got to his feet, barely seeming to notice Gemini's transformation. "Right, let's get going then. Time is of the essence." He glanced back at Agent Hawk. "We won't want to make too big of an entrance, no need to spook either the civilians or the robot into doing something stupid."

Inferno slipped his mask onto his face and walked out of the room, one of the Omega Team shirts tucked under his arm as he made his way to the waiting vehicles.

[SirNitram]

"Attempting measures to disable suspects and detain mech. Advisory: Offensive powers likely insufficient to do more than delay." NeXT's avatar vanished.

Riding the wires was good. Shifting his attention fully to the crime scene, Al searched for a suitable source of light. There was precious little that he could use; most objects burned out when transformed into makeshift lasers. He quickly looked up the price of a single security camera, and loaded one of his frontends into it's controlling system.

Behind you.. Al said, unheard in the dataflows. The tiny red 'active' light shifted suddenly, creating a brief, intense laser pulse aimed to knock down the meta attacking the police mech.

[General Havoc]

The hammer-blows were hard enough to actually force the multi-ton robot back a pace, but its kinetic stabilizers kicked in before it could be seriously threatened with tipping over. As the "Hammer" man wound up for a third blow, the robot locked its compressed air cannon onto the would-be pugilist and when he stepped in for the punch, opened fire at point blank range.

There was a loud "KaRUMPH" and the air seemed to distort for a moment before a focussed blast way blew the offending Metahuman back hard enough to shatter the masonry facing on the section of the bank wall that he would strike. Lest that not be enough however, the robot followed the blast up with a pair of adhesive sludge blasts, followed by a concussion grenade, all aimed at the same point. The concussion grenade would stick in the adhesive pulp, and detonate there, sending most of its kinetic force rippling through the sticky mass into the body of whatever it was containing. Force travels easier through gelatins than through air.

The robot began to retract its taser (an fairly slow process, and turned its main body around so that the uncovered gun-arms were pointing squarely at the fourth metahuman. "Desist your resistance immediately or face the consequences."

[Dark Silver]

Legion rose from the table, looked at Jerri as she swallowed the serum and became Heidi, and allowed a almost entertained smirk on his lips.

"If that is all, then I suggest, as Agent Inferno said, and make our way with undue haste. Gentlemen," and with a almost appreciative glance over at the far more athletic Heidi, "and Lady....let's go bag us a 'bot..."

He glanced at Mark 25, and gave a half hearted grin, "No offenses intended Agent.."

With that, Legion was making his way to the door, prepared to head out...never once having told his abilities to the team.

[LadyTevar]

"oo... Motorcycle," Heidi said as she passed by Mark25, following Inferno's tight ass out the door. "I like your style, Agent."

Heidi walked like a movie star -- self-assured and positive she was the center of all attention. The view from the front was mighty fine... the view from her rear would make any man want to follow, just to watch her walk.

[Comrade Tortoise]

"Impressive work" said the massive turtle. Remarking on the Serum and the transformation it affected. Then he turned to Inferno

"I will try very very hard not to make people think they are being attacked by something out of Godzilla movie. maybe if I get in touche with supply I can get them to fashion some sort of... giant form concealing coat..."

As for Mark 25, there was something behind that voice. He could not put his finger on it, but something.

Then he headed out the door.

[Agent Fisher]

Mike jotted down his notes, weapon placements on the robot, other information that he needed.

As he wrote, he looked up, hearing the turtle talk. 'Great, a bigoted giant turtle.' Shaking his head he finished his notes, and stood, looking over and taking in the sight of the transformation. One word came to mind at the sight of Heidi. 'Wow.'

He smiled and turned, grabbing his bag and stashing his notebook. As the group stood, he moved over to the box and grabbed a couple shirts. Mike moved towards the door with the rest of the team, eyes drifting to the backside of Heidi infront of him.

"I'll drive." Mike volunteered.

[Charon]

Inferno looked back at Sunrise, sighed, shook his head, then looked to Mike. "No offense man, but I've been living here for a few years, I'd be better with the roads."

Inferno found that he wished he'd managed to get a way to contact NeXT before he disappeared. "Anybody know how to contact the AI? We'll want him to make certain the roads are clear for us to get through fast and to keep more civilians from getting close to the area."

[Comrade Tortoise]

"He is networked right? He must have some way of receiving messages. You can always ask the front desk how they contacted him to tell him to show up here?"

[Agent Fisher]

Mike nodded. "None taken. Course, I've been driving in Africa alot, so I'm used to just ramming cars out of the way if I need to get somewhere in a hurry, so probably not a good idea here." He said, opening his bag as they walked and removing his sidearm, spilling the paddle holster onto his belt, as they reached the elevator.

[LadyTevar]

Heidi rolled her eyes. "Do I still have to be the brains too?" she asked, looking at the trail of men behind her, and smirking as she caught Gordon looking at her ass. "Laptop. Wireless connection," she finished, flipping open the small device.

She held it effortlessly in one hand as she opened an IM on the board.
== Open IM SN: NeXT
== The boys want to know how to keep in touch with you. (typed one-handed with surprising dexterity)

[Dark Silver]

"I doubt that'll be a problem..Inferno was it?"

Legion was already activating a comm bud on his lapel, before tightening his gloves on his hands. "I doubt we'll have much problems getting to the site."

Legion arrived at the elevator which would take them to the Motor Pool first, and pressed the down button. The specs on the Omni-Corp machine, and the steps it had taken so far, told Legion's seasoned mind that it had things mostly under control.

Mostly, anyway.

The ding of the arriving elevator caused Legion to look for the opening door, and stepped in, holding it open for the others, "We would still do well to hurry."

[Hotfoot]

As Mark 25 turned to leave the conference room, he clenched his fist at NeXT's comments, not so much for the content as the delivery. For years he had been fighting the method of talking he had been programmed to follow, the shell of mechanical thought he hid behind. Hearing those words from a purely mechanical being reminded him just what he had presented himself as for years. The comment from Legion drove the point home further. He said nothing.

Instead, he made his way to the motor pool, looking for his motorcycle, but not with his eyes. His vehicles were linked to him, and as soon as he was close enough, he started the engine remotely. A gyro-stabilizer spun up and allowed the bike to start moving without a driver. By the time the cybernetic agent was near the door, the heavily modified motorcycle was ready to go. The bike was built for speed, but modified to handle the weight of Mark 25's Cybernetic body. A helmet dangled from the seat, which was just large enough to support him and one passenger. The paint job matched the detailing on Mark 25's body, but of course carried the Ultima symbol and appropriate emergency lights, and no doubt a siren somewhere.

Mark 25 did not wait for the elevator. Instead, he took the stairs, bounding down entire flights in single strides, using his force fields to soften the impact with the ground, not so much for his benefit, as the building's. He knew the layout of the building, and he knew the fastest way to the motor pool. Anyone who chose to follow him might get their faster. When he arrived, he found his bike, waiting for him. Mark 25 climbed onto the bike, revving the engine needlessly, waiting for the others to get to their modes of transportation.

[SirNitram]

== Open IM SN: NeXT
== The boys want to know how to keep in touch with you. (typed one-handed with surprising dexterity)

NeXT: I can access anything networked; pardon me, my attention is on the bank's security network. A simple modern phone with data capacity would be sufficient. Powerlines are.. Slow.

[Charon]

Inferno looked at Legion, he was the only one whose powers were an unknown. He'd have to ask once they were on the road. "Let's hope so, but I'd rather be certain."

Like Mark, Inferno decided to take the stairs rather than the elevator. He bounded down the stairs, the normal jolts that would cause the normal human body suffering quickly healing and fixing themselves, nor did he become short of breath despite the exertion as he mindlessly made certain his guns were in their holsters. He didn't arrive as quickly as Mark did, as he couldn't hop entire flights of stairs at a time, but he still got down before the rest of the team.

Inferno looked at Mark as he revved his motorcycle's engine and smiled. "Nice ride." The meta then grabbed one of the vans that was meant to hold plenty of people. Not a stylish ride to be certain, but plenty of storage capacity.

[Dark Silver]

Legion stepped out of the elevator as it reached the motor pool floor.

"And that's when I bought the horse a prostitute" he finished the story from the elevator, with a lopsided grin.

While they were behind Inferno and Mark25, they arrived there just intime to see Inferno pick out the van, "I do believe our ride has arrived...."

With that, Legion moved towards the van, he knew from earlier that his m1911's were strapped to his chest, and loaded, and as long as he kept his gloves on, he was no worry of hurting his teammates.

[Agent Fisher]

As Legion finished his story, Mike laughed, shaking his head. "Sounds likes fun times." He said.

As they reached the floor, Mike separated from the group, running over to his car and popping the trunk. He grabbed a bullet proof vest and slammed the trunk closed, sprinting back to the van.

"So, who's got shotgun?" He asked, looking around at the group as they started loading into the van.

[LadyTevar]

== Open IM SN: NeXT
== The boys want to know how to keep in touch with you. (typed one-handed with surprising dexterity)

NeXT: I can access anything networked; pardon me, my attention is on the bank's security network. A simple modern phone with data capacity would be sufficient. Powerlines are.. Slow.

==Ultima commlinks, once we're close enough, I hope. Cya soon.

"Ok, NeXT can get hold of us via cellphone, possibly by our earbuds when we're close enough," Heidi finally told them, shutting the laptop down. She put the laptop in the van, and then looked over to Mark25. All alone on the motorcycle.

A very wicked grin crossed her face. "You boys have fun, meetcha there," she said, walking straight to Mark25 with a sway in her steps that once again should have the boys pausing to watch.

She stopped beside the purring bike, looking Mark25 in the faceplate. "Got a helmet?"

[Hotfoot]

Mark 25 grabbed the passenger helmet without even looking and tossed it to Heidi. "Hop on." Every word Mark 25 said passed through a computer, in fact, much of the verbal section of his brain had been cut in to, connected with a verbal database, and even programmed suggestions of how to talk. With effort, he could override some things, but the voice, it never changed.

Actions, however, were another thing entirely, and it was through his actions that Mark 25 did most of his communicating.