Heroes: The Road of Good Intentions

[Charon]

Legacies looked at the two, and with a slowly growing grin stepped up to the poolside.

Legacies jumped up in the air high enough to make certain he had plenty of velocity for when he came down. In all likelyhood everyone but Argent and Blackheart saw it coming. All Argent might have picked up was the little bit of mischief that came from Legacies just before he landed in the water.

When a being that can reform his general shape enough to glide through the air decides to make a splash, a splash is made. A near wall of water came up as Legacies landed, soaking everyone around the pool. When the water finally settled, Legacies could be seen standing in the middle of the pool, the water still streaming off of his flesh as he looked around with an almost manic grin.

[SirNitram]

"Thank you, Legacies. Now I can't read the paper." Mike heaved a sigh, shaking his head. The two lovebirds had been bad enough. "Gonna try and find out what I can about the objective my way. You guys relax. You've certainly earned a day off."

[Agent Fisher]

"Well we learned one important thing, the person who did this wasn't alone and had help. The next stop is the crime scene. Have our people scan the area. As for the rest of this stuff... Hell I don't know. It needs to be read, see if we can find something.

"Besides, you should know how this works by now. We stumble down two hundred wrong turns before finding the right one in an investigation. If this job was easy everyone would do it."

Ghost nodded. "All right, lets get a move on. The longer it takes to find a lead, the less chance we have it will lead to anything."

[B4UTRUST]

Saibot's cell rumbled open again. A pair of guards were waiting outside of it, escorting a small medical team.
"Up and at'em, Sunshine."

The medical team walked into the cell and began to take his vitals, making notes on a chart.
"He's cleared for travel."

The needle, long and gleaming, appeared from one of the medbags. They plunged it into a large corked bottle filled with a greenish-tinged liquid and extracted a measure into the needle. They expelled the air from the end and taped it a few times to be certain before injecting it into Saibot's arm.
"This is a tranq. You'll be out for most of the flight and held in sensory deprivation. This is for your protection as much as the guards, do to the often erratic handling of a sudden unfamiler shift to zero-g. You'll be held in sensory dep until the transfer from orbital transport to a interplanetary transport at the orbital platform. So just relax and it'll all be over in a few moments."

The drugs started kicking in as the med team left and the guards moved in, beginning to put Saibot into the sensory dep suit.

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

Prophet gathered the evidence back into bags and boxes.
"We'll have to sort this shit later. Cascade's scene is still the most recent, maybe we can find something. Astral will scan the area and see if she can find something of use. I'll try and sense something out. You've got experiance with this sort of thing, Ghost, search the area and see if you can find anything. Alright, everybody lets go."

The team started heading for the door. Prophet hit the lights and held the locked door for everyone to exit before he closed it. Kyosuke paused and hesitated for a second, glancing at the clock.
"I have an appointment I must attend to. I'll rejoin you as soon as it's complete."
"Fine, you've got the address."

Kyosuke walked down the hall towards a bank of elevators and hit the button, entering the first cab that opened.

[Bloody Good]

It was about time Tasat made his way outside, dressed in the jeans he had been wearing earlier. Thanks to Tholos' foresight, they were clean. Ish. He'd been off somewhere since dinner, no doubt making some sense of when and where he was. Looking over the scene before him, he raised an eyebrow, and seated himself on one of the pieces of patio furniture far out enough to be only mildly wet. "I assume that all of this would make perfect sense if I had been here a few minutes ago."

He was carrying a coke bottle filled about halfway with some thick, black, gritty liquid, and a short, thin blade that resembled a sharpened knitting needle than an actual knife. If anyone possessed legendary powers of observation, they might realize that the bottle had been affixed to the inner side of his shield since he had crawled out of the sewers earlier.

Opening the battered bottle, he dipped the needle-knife in it, and the liquid settled into a long groove along the blade. Craning his neck awkwardly to look at his own chest, he started adding more shapes to the tattoos. Shirtless as he was, one could see that the pattern did not stop at the shoulder, but actually covered nearly a third of his torso as well. He paused to think before each dime-sized shape was started, making for slow going.

[Agent Fisher]

Ghost nodded at Kyosuke and headed with the group to the garage. The old spook looked at the group. "Whoever wants to ride with me, get in." He said as he stepped into his black Ford Crown Vic.

[Cynical Cat]

Blackheart broke away from the kiss, smiling. He turned his head towards Legacies. "You're supposed to keep the water in the pool."

[LadyTevar]

Li Na was feeling too good to be mad at anyone right now. Her hand on Blackheart's arm, she leaned her head around his body to look at Legacies. "I could make him stand out here all night to refill it," she teased, smiling as widely as Blackheart.

[B4UTRUST]

Indigo team piled into the various vehicles and sped away to the the crime scene. Upon their arrival they spread out to search the area. Prophet started directing the troops.
"Astral, scan the area and see what you can find out. Ghost, search the place, see if you can find some sort of clue we might have missed."

Astral did her thing, slumping down to the ground, her body leaning against the wall her eyes closed. She left her body and began walking the area in the astral plane. The whole horrible scene replayed before her in muted dull colors, the afterimage of murder that somehow scared the astral plane.

Frank's body was a drab grey against the wall where he was hung. In the street before him was a brightly glowing circle of red. And behind it were four figures. She couldn't get a clear visual on them, their features were like a blank picture. She walked closer and circled around them several times, looking from different angles. The four figures glowed in a softer hue of grey, not readily apparent from a distance.

The shapes began to solidify the longer she concentrated. Three of the figures flowed into new forms, more animalistic instead of human. The fourth, however, remained quite human.

And then she lost it, it was gone. The scene vanished and her eyes fluttered open.
"W-we've got a problem."

----------
Saibot's body was inserted into the sensory deprivation system onboard the shuttle. This was a safety issue for both the prisoner and the guards on board. The guards had been trained in how to handle the stresses on the body and mind of zero gravity, while the inmates had not. The massive acceleration required for escape velocity, coupled with the sudden onset of weightlessness had a tendency to do strange things to a unprepared person's body. Hence the tranqs and sensory deprivation.

The launch platform was raised upwards as the flight team went through final pre-launch checks. The exit doors closed and sealed, the loading ramp was pulled away.
"Mission computers online and connected, flight plan uploaded and confirmed. UHF and VHF are check, tanks are full and gauges reading. GPS sats connected, satcom online. Emergency systems are in standby. We're cleared for launch by tower in one minute."

The countdown began, the massive thrusters on the orbital transport flaming to life.
"Transport Orion you are cleared for takeoff in 5...4...3...2...1...Blastoff."

The thrusters did their thing, blasting the transport off the launchpad. The transport accelerated and took off across the Atlantic at an upwards angle to rendezvous with the Orbital Platform currently holding position over eastern Asia.

In the back of the transport the prisoners' bodies were gently swaying in their sensory deprivation pods, oblivious to the bone-breaking forces assaulting the shuttle at that moment.

----------

A glowing object hung suspended in the air near the path of the shuttle, waiting. As the transport came hurtling towards the object, it moved to intercept, the glow flaring brighter as more power issued forth.

The glowing object streaked across the sky towards the shuttle and collided with it.

Inside the flight deck sensors started chirping as the shuttle was struck.
"What the hell?"
"I don't know, bird?"
"Up here?"
"Hell, I don't know. We're not seeing anything on the sensors, unless we start getting a warning don't worry about it, could have been anything."

The Orbital Platform was visable at the edge of sensor range and closing. He called ahead, relaying their approach.
"Orbital Platform, this is prison transport Orion, on approach vector 12, request connection for disembarkment of prisoners."
"Transport Orion, we have you on radar, you are cleared for connection at dock 3. I repeat, cleared for connection on dock 3."
"Confirm dock 3, ETA 4 minutes."

In the flight deck the sensors went wild as the transport rocked. Indicator lights lit up, showing that they had a massive hull breach.
"The fuck?!"
"Nelson, what the hell is going on back there?"
"There's smoke everywhere! Something hit us, it broke into the shuttle! We're under attack!"
"What?! Up here?!"
"Oh shit, he's comi-ugh."
"Nelson? Nelson! Orbital Platform this is Orion, we've got a problem, something has broken the hull of the transport."
"Continue on your heading, we're dispatching a rescue vessel to your location to assist. ETA two minutes."
"Roger that Platform, I think we're under at-"
"Orion, come in? Repeat last transmission."
"...."

The flight deck door opened up. The two pilots looked over their shoulders as a man rushed in. A moment later they were both dead. The shuttle tilted and fell. It began a headfirst nosedive towards the earth, spinning in a tight deathspiral.

In the holding area guards were dead, one of them threatening to be ripped out of the gaping hole in the hull.

Saibot's sensory deprivation equipment was jerked off roughly and he was quickly brought back to reality as he felt his body being pushed and pulled in a dozen different directions all at once.

When his eyes cleared there was a figure standing in front of him, his features hidden by the harsh bright sunlight streaming through the hole. Part of it was blocked out by the impression of some sort of wings.
The figure pulled something off one of his hands and set it into Saibot's hand.

The figure spoke, a japanese accent heavy in his voice.
"Perhaps next time, Garth, one should be careful where they keep their belongings. I shall see you planetside in a few minutes if you make it. You should have enough energy left in the ring to make it safely. There's an island below us, that's where I'll be."

The figure turned and moved over to the hole. He stuck his head out, made sure of his bearings and stepped outwards, disappearing upwards as his wings unfolded, flapping to stabalize himself.

[Dark Silver]

Normally, one wouldn't be woken up from such a heavy tranquilzation and sensory deprivation so soon, but the feeling of having your body pulled and ripped by heavy g-forces tended to make one snap out of it.

The heavy accented voice, as well as the feel of something being pressed into his hand finished bringing him through, as well as the sudden surge of energy as his Ring made a return.

He slipped the Ring on his finger, the rush of energy waking the groggy parts of his mind, and his jumpsuit turned back into his uniform. The man was right...there wasn't a great deal of power left in the Ring, but there was enough...

The Life support field began to glow around him, as he rushed to the breach in the wall, and without concern, he lept.

He kept the power usage low, the Life Support field being a primary function that kept his body from feeling the forces against him, would always have power...until the ring was throughly exhausted. The small features and the tiny dot of the island continued to grow as he speared through the air, and at what he figured was a half mile above the ground, he used the Ring's flight powers.

He slowed, a sharp angel becoming a graceful arc, he swooped over the Island, before he settled down, and just to be safe, he made it seem as if the Ring ran out of power, right then, as the life support field flickered to nothingness.

Garth surveyed his surrondings, eyes narrowing behind the visor, and crossed his arms. He didn't get a good look at the one who sprung him...but the voice gave him a good clue.

"So...what do I owe you for springing me Kyosuke..." he muttered more to himself, he didn't see the man yet.

[B4UTRUST]

Kyosuke set his feet down onto the sandy beach with a final flap of his wings before the folded behind him, shrinking and flowing back into his body.
"Owe is such a strong word. I have an offer for you. I have need of a officer amongst my ranks. My goal is to continue what I have been doing and to save the world from the violence of metahumans. Join me or not, your choice. You're about ten miles from the mainland. Quite a swim, but I'm sure your ring has enough power to keep you alive for it. Disappear if you like, but you'll spend the rest of your life looking over your shoulder wondering when they'll catch up for you.

"My offer is to join me and invoke some justice, the kind that the governments only claim to when they destroy cities to capture one man. Think about it, I'll be back in a few hours. If you're still here, you're still here. If you're not, I wish you luck."

Kyosuke turned and walked a dozen or so yards inland before sweeping some sand away in the spot before him. A round stone was laid in the sand, symbols and glyphs etched into it. He pulled his sword out from under his jacket and struck the tip against the stone. The stone began to glow and a light erupted upwards from it. Kyosuke stepped in and disappeared. The light faded and the stone went inert once more.

[Dark Silver]

Saibot watched the Japanese man disappear, eyes narrowed behind the helmet's visor. Disappear? If he disappeared, he'd be broke, without a home...they'd find him, if they didn't consider him dead already in the shuttle....

He spent the next few hours mulling over Kyosuke's offer. A chance to do real work again, and allies he could count on, to a extent. And maybe he could find Lei....

He took a seat beneath one of the shade trees, and waited for Kyosuke's return, his decision made.

[Agent Fisher]

Ghost knelt down by Astral, he had swept the area and found some sand and a few splinters. The sand he had no ready idea for, but the splinters, maybe a club of some sort. Something was nagging his mind but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. "What did you see?"

Astral retold the account of what she saw.

Inside the spook's mind, gears were turning, and his many years of covert operations and intelligence gathering kicked in. Three animal/human figures with a fourth human. Animal/humans, sand, wood splinters. Something clicked as he remembered the fight he had had with Kyosuke. He had used sand to bind Argent and WARpath, a wooden sword to beat the crap out of them. He had summuned three creatures who had shifted into human forms, Ghost remembered backhanding the wolf human.

But he had to be sure, he couldn't just stick his gun to the Japanese man's head and pull the trigger, he needed to be sure.

"Hmmm, interesting." Ghost said, no telling anyone his suspicions. "What sort of animals were they?" As he spoke, his hand reached down to his side and he flicked the safety off of his pistol, trying to be ready for the next time he saw the Japanese man, just in case Astral said what he feared. He hoped and prayed she didn't confirm it to him.

[Charon]

Legacies smiled some as the suit began to slide over him again, covering his face. "We doubt that very much Argent, but you're welcome to try." Legacies smirked at her as he hopped out of the pool and back onto the deck, walking over to the kitchen to put the dishes away.

[LadyTevar]

Li Na watched Legacies walk past, shaking her head. A part of her thought about having a shadow thwack him, but she was still in too good a mood. Besides, he might hit back.

So, instead, she looked up at Blackheart. "If you want, we can get dried off a little and I can give you the tour of the house I promised."

[B4UTRUST]

Astal glanced up at Ghost, eyes blinking rapidly as they returned to seeing normal reality.
"I don't know for sure. Some sort of monkey looking thing, a dog maybe and some sort of cow? I couldn't tell for sure. Why? You know something?"

Prophet stepped over to Ghost.
"What'd you find, Ghost? You're nervous."
---------

Kyosuke reappeared standing over the stone. The flare of light died away once more and Kyosuke stepped off.
"I see you're still here. I take it you've decided?"

[Dark Silver]

Saibot looked up with the flash, seeing Kyosuke, and nodded.

"Take me to the Gobi Desert, we can talk on the way....but yeah, I'm in."

The things he would need to do now was on his mind....he needed to make the world forget Saibot...forget Garth. It would be time to cut off his past, completely...

Saibot stood up, and walked towards Kyosuke, "and from now on, I'm only Saibot...until I can come up with another identity."

[B4UTRUST]

"Gobi desert? That will require a few jumps. You're about to travel what is refered to as the World Gate System. It utilizes what you westerners refer to as ley lines. The system has been in place for longer then most history books follow.

"Fortunatly this gate only goes to one place. So when it starts glowing, step on."

Kyosuke stood back from the stone and tapped it with the tip of his sword again. Once more the stone lit up, light flaring from under it as the gateway opened.

[Dark Silver]

"Yeah..the Gobi...if we're going to do this thing, I need to recharge my Ring..."

When Kyosuke opened the portal, Saibot stepped in, felt himself infused by the gate, then diffused all in a second, as he was taken from the Island.

Overall, it was no worse than the Guardian's teleporter system..

[B4UTRUST]

When the pair materialized again the climate was much colder then the mild beach weather they were experiancing a moment before. The new location was near the top of the Gomadan-zan, on an isolate part of the mountain.

The stone was set in the middle of a small clearing, surrounded by stone lanterns. There was a small path that lead down into a cave. The rest of the area was densly covered in woods and fauna.
"We'll have to head down to get to the other gates. I warn you before hand, keep your fear in check and don't leave the path. You would not wish to get lost down here. You'll see why."

Kyosuke walked calmly towards the cave entrance without hesitation and vanished into the engulfing darkness. His footsteps echoed up the stone stairs as he decended into the mountain.

[Dark Silver]

Saibot nodded, and followed Kyosuke down. He never left the path, and stayed as close as he could to the Japanese man.

"Just let me know where to go..."

[Agent Fisher]

Ghost looked at the team. "I'm nervous cause this is the spot where my friend died. And from the sounds of it, died from the hands of meta with some not so human friends. And since we have no idea who it was, for all we know that person could be watching us right now." He said, holding off on telling his suspicions. He stood. "Excuse me for a minute, I need to go answer the call of nature."

Ghost turned and walked down the street, finally stopping in a nearby coffee shop. He pulled out his cell phone, dialing a number. "Hey, Jim... Yeah, it's been awhile... Jim, I want you to hold onto a bit of info for me. You remember the game from back when we ran that IA thing when I was with the company. If you hear about anything that happened to me, I want you to call Agent Bowman at Ultima HQ and tell him that Shingure Kyosuke did it, and he also did the thing with Cascade. He'll understand what it meant. All right, talk to you later man." Ghost hung up and breathed out a long sigh. He returned to the team, five minutes later. "Ah that feels alot better."

[SirNitram]

Data drifted by on the screen of the laptop, and 'Mike' just stared at it, occasionally plucking something that stood out from the stream. In a few hours, he'd have to sort through that pile. And so on, as he sifted through false leads, dead ends, empty shells, and all the tricks that existed to even an entirely normal business wanting to hide their numbers.

Demons. A corporation that bound demons into people. If the Olympians could see me now.. He absently thought. His old team. Sure, they strutted and talked of godhood... But actual demons... This world was beyond his depth, he had been starkly reminded. It had been the discovery of his lifetime that the supernatural worked, when he had delved into the true limits of Nova evolution and seen it with his own eyes, but people here seemed to take it for granted.

Hours ticked by. The connections gradually became more noticable. But such is the way of someone who had made a lifetime of becoming aware and proficient with connections.

[Cynical Cat]

"Sure," Blackheart replied to Li. "Give me the tour."

[LadyTevar]

"Sure," Blackheart replied to Li. "Give me the tour."

A shadow lifted the towel she'd brought out and handed it to him. "Of course," she said with a grin, turning away from him. "Since you've seen the kitchen and breakfast nook, we'll head for the garage and you can stop being curious about the basement."