Still Not Safe [M&M 2nd ed]

[Matar]

"I'd like to take a look at the area around the base, it looked breathtaking when we approached it by helicopter. We've got rein of the whole island, we should take advantage of the chance to stretch our legs."

"Yeah! Great idea, dude. Maybe some place at the coast? Take the tram as close as we can and see if we can reach there in time or something? I dunno, tossing ideas out."

[Tengu_temp]

Emi takes a shower, and changes back into the same outfit she wore yesterday. Soon after everyone else went to class, she leaves her room as well - her destination is different, however. Taking her guitar, tabs for several songs she wanted to rehearse and a bag of snacks (she hasn't really eaten anything today), Emi leaves the base, heading for a nice spot she found yesterday - a large, wide tree. She climbs it, sits down on one of its branches and starts to play, both the new songs and ones she has more practice with. Several hours later, she can still be found there - she has much more dedication to this hobby than anything else.

(Edited some stuff.)

[Cubey]

You can indeed take a monorail to HQs' gates, and continue on foot to explore the rest of the island from there.
The island really is wild - except for the port far in the distance, SECT headquarters and a lonely road that links the two together, you see no signs of human civilization. The vegetation is usually low, mostly grasses, and you start at the highest point of the island - so you can look out far into the distance. Although the island is located on the less welcoming part of the North Sea, there is a sense of serenity in its environment.

At (roughly) the same time, from Ben's POV:
"They were... great people. So friendly, and open." Laura closes her eyes. Perhaps she's reminiscing. "Adam was the first one who welcomed me. He was always making sure everyone gets along by solving potential conflicts. He believed that we can really change the world for the better even when everything looked so dark. Alice and Jake... at first I was afraid that they might be the kind of people I knew before, the really awful kind... but I was wrong. They were kind and friendly and not mean at all. That was a bit embarassing, to judge people before knowing them better." It seems a light blush creeps on her cheeks. "Jun... he was quiet. He was mostly walking around and listening what other people had to say. He was 'always open to new experiences' - that's what he said. He was almost always absent at evenings, going to an arcade or a local mall... and Yelena..."
She smiles. "Yelena was kind and beautiful... just being near her made you feel safe and appreciated." This statement is followed by a long pause.
"We took some pictures together. I can show them to you later... but maybe some of your friends would like to see them as well?"

[ChronicLunacy]

Ben Brooks

"You mean our friends, right?" Ben grinned. "Remember, you're part of our team now, too. There's no need for you to be alone so much. ...I know I'd like to see you around more as well." he said, running a hand through his hair in an almost nervous gesture. "You've always been kind of apart from the rest of us, like you were different because you were part of the first team. I've been here for five years and I hardly know you. But you're not really that much older than me, are you?" he said, wondering if she'd look at him instead of averting her eyes and acting shy like she normally did.

[Cubey]

"Not much older?" The blush stays on Laura's cheeks. "About four years, I guess... that's not really that much at least for some people..."
"But I just... don't want to lose anyone else anymore. There is no escaping it - I must try hard to protect everyone. Devon, too... she's a good person, even if she doesn't act it now."
Her gaze drifts down. "I will try to spend more time with all of you. As much as my doctor lets me. The Great Pretender... is powerful, but these powers are really dangerous. To me, I mean."

[TooManySecrets]

Sara
"Mind if I tag along?"

Sara is walking over, dressed in some utilitarian shorts and a light blue shirt.

"Hey Todd." She looks at Lorne. "Lorne, right? I'm Sara."

[Matar]

Todd gives Sara a mock salute and grins. His reply is simple.

"Yo."

[Haven]

After class, but before getting on the monorail, Lorne heads back to his room, gets on his computer, and writes a quick email to Professor Kovac asking if he can satisfy the math and physics educational requirements by working in the labs instead of attending classes. He also writes to whoever's in charge of the exercises asking if he can do them separately, citing his phobia. This reminds him to look up and write to whatever psychological counseling service is on-base, to see about setting up appointments.

Sara
"Mind if I tag along?"

Sara is walking over, dressed in some utilitarian shorts and a light blue shirt.

"Hey Todd." She looks at Lorne. "Lorne, right? I'm Sara."

Lorne clasps his hands behind his back, but looks glad despite this seemingly unfriendly gesture.

"I think I've heard of you. Sara Lowe, right? Specialist in various forms of complex systems analysis? Fellow Alpha Squad member?"

He gives her a friendly nod and a smile.

"It's good to meet you," he says sincerely.

[Fri]

Devon's appearance somehow make James even more silent. He doesn't talk at all in their class, and you're not even sure that he's listening. After the class, without saying anything he goes straight into the gym, doing physical exercises and shadow fights until his clothes are completely drenched in sweat, with his earphone blaring god-know-what into his ears.

[TooManySecrets]

Sara
"Likewise," she says, returning the nod and smile.

Sara looks around. She seems a bit jittery.

"So, what's the plan? Take the monorail around or do we want to feel the earth under our feet and hike it?"

[Haven]

"So, what's the plan? Take the monorail around or do we want to feel the earth under our feet and hike it?"

"A bit of both," Lorne says. "Take the monorail as far as it goes--to the edge of the base--and then hike as far as we please."

[ChronicLunacy]

Ben Brooks

"Not much older?" The blush stays on Laura's cheeks. "About four years, I guess... that's not really that much at least for some people..."
"But I just... don't want to lose anyone else anymore. There is no escaping it - I must try hard to protect everyone. Devon, too... she's a good person, even if she doesn't act it now."
Her gaze drifts down. "I will try to spend more time with all of you. As much as my doctor lets me. The Great Pretender... is powerful, but these powers are really dangerous. To me, I mean."

"Well I'm going to try to end this whole thing quickly so that you don't have to use it anymore." Ben said as the lift stopped. "I won't insult you by trying to get you to stop, because I know you want to protect everyone. Just..." he shuffled his feet. "keep in mind that there are people who want to keep you safe, too. I mean, everyone does." Ben led the way out of the lift. He looked a little flushed himself.

It wasn't exactly a huge leap of logic to figure out that Ben was fond of Laura. She was one of the very, very few girls his age that he was around on a regular basis. Obviously, since he had been shut in and working for SECT for his teenage years he was a little less than experienced when it came to women. He was fine with normal conversation, but when things started to turn more serious he got flustered. He tried his best to hide it, though.

[Drascin]

Andy greets Laura with a big smile and offering her a handshake - though it's a rather diagonal one, due to height difference . "Ah, you're the girl who couldn't arrive to the first fight? Nice to meet ya. I'm Andrés - call me Andy. Yeah, we were going to go outside for a while, to see the island, be touristy, get into no end of trouble, you know, the usual stuff." he winks. "And so, if we're all here, let's go! The day's advancing, and I'm not sure they'll let us go around after dark"

[Matar]

"Indeed! Onward, to adventure!"

Todd begins there little "adventure" with the rest of the team. He doesn't take charge, mostly talking with the other members and stuff. However, he does try to nudge them into walking towards the coast.

[Fri]

James watches his sweat drips into the floor for a while, before wiping his face with his towel.

He then walks around the HQ aimlessly, hoping that he could find Devon without asking anyone.

When he finally meet her, he waits until he get a chance to talk to Devon alone.

"Devon. Fight me. I want to know how strong are you."

[kamikasei]

Cat simply enjoys the walk, setting a brisk pace unless the others call on her to slow down. She doesn't say much except in answer to others.

[Cubey]

Laura doesn't say anything. But after a while, she breaks the silence with a quiet voice:
"They all wanted to keep me safe. Yelena... died keeping me safe." Her smile is painful, but she does not say anything else about the topic. During the meal you had together at the mall, she does not start any conversation, but responds to smalltalk. After that, Laura wishes you good bye and goes in her own way.

Everyone else's adventures go without interruption - it's like if the whole island was an untamed land, ready for exploration! You probably find Emi around - the tree she sits on is large for those on the island, so it was easy to see from a long distance. Other than her though, you meet no people - from time to time a car or other vehicle drives from the port to the base or the other way around, but they do not stop and nobody inside them gives you any attention.
The island feels full of life, not just plants but small animals as well. Although as far as animals are concerned, it's mostly birds and tiny creatures like bugs or snails. It doesn't seem there are any mammals on the island - perhaps it was too remote for them to reach.

Surprisingly, James manages to find Devon after all! Some people saw someone who looks just like her in one of the local libraries - and you see her there indeed, reading a book by a table.
"I'm very strong. Don't make an error." She responds, not even looking up from the book.

[Matar]

Todd picks up the occasional piece of dry wood while walking towards the coast. He loves the fresh air, it smells so... good.

Assuming nothing else much happens, Todd makes it to the coast with the rest of his team. Almost immediately he starts getting rocks, dry sticks and leaves to build a camp fire.

Unless something happens before they get there.

[Fri]

James smiles a strange smile.

"That's exactly why I want to fight you."

[Cubey]

Nothing happens to interrupt Todd - the island seems so... normal, that one has to wonder does it really house headquarters of a powerful organisation that uses PSA-wearing teenagers to combat giant shifting monsters that come from outer space or somewhere else around the Earth.

Devon puts the book on the table. James can see the title - Brave New World.
"I gave you my warning." She walks outside, where she waits for James, right near the entrance to the building that houses the library.
"Choose your next action wisely." Her stance is not battle-ready at all. But it seems she wants to fight now anyway.

(If you choose to attack, you have the initiative.)

[Tengu_temp]

Even if anyone is approaching, Emi does not seem to notice them. Her eyes closed, she's busy playing and singing (though the guitar is much more prominent - she really is better at it) a theme from a classic anime series.

[Fri]

"You honor me."

James ignore Devon's taunt and put a defensive stance. After seeing that she's not going to open the fight, James strikes.

Spoiler

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Dunno if it'll make a difference but... simple normal melee attack (1d20)[15]

[Cubey]

James's attack is fast and precise... but Devon jumps to her left, and you miss totally. Her speed is inhuman! She grips the hand that you used to attack and pulls it down with incredible force, at the same time her leg blocking yours to make it even harder for you not to fall down.

Her strength and agility are incredible - it's as if she was fighting with her PSA on. But she isn't.
(DC 29 Strength or Dexterity check - choose whichever, you have +2 for both anyway, you get knocked prone if you fail. Your action comes next - if you fall, you can get up as a move action)

[Matar]

Todd easily get a camp fire going. As big of an idiot as he is, this seems to be something of a talent for him. He takes care to build it perfectly, and to make sure no embers will escape. Even though the ocean is so close, they really have no way of getting water.

The cooling cross breeze and crashing of the ocean against the rocks, mixed with the warmth and light of the fire is extremly soothing.

"Hey dudes, I hope ya don't mind... but I think imma go to sleep out here for the night."

[Fri]

"Gah!"

Spoiler

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(1d20)[17] I can't possibly sucess, but I'll roll anyway[/roll]

James falls down hard. But he isn't giving up yet. He flips from his prone position.

"Thank you for not holding back!" he says as he follows it with a kick.

Direct attack is useless, so James uses the kick as a feint, before following it with his real attack.

Spoiler

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(1d20+13)[17] acrobatic bluff, -5 for doing it as move action

By the way, did devon's previous attack do any damage?

[Cubey]

Devon's previous attack did no damage to you.

Devon avoids your attacks by jumping into the air. The jump is extremely high - more than three meters. She flips in the air, giving momentum to a downward kick that leaves you staggering. But that's not all - she continues the assault with several punches to your abdomen, then headbutts you. The last thing you can see is her stoic expression closing in at incredible speed, then all goes black and you fall down unconscious.
(1d20+2)[10] - toughness roll vs DC 32

You wake up a bit later, hearing noises. Around you there are many people dressed in SECT uniforms, the closest carrying first aid kits.
"He's awake!"
"Hey, are you with us?"
"Does it hurt?"
"Make the way, everyone!"

It hurts, but you don't think you have any injuries... except for a large bruise on your forehead.
Devon is nowhere to be seen.

[Drascin]

Andy actually helps Todd get firewood, in fact.

"Mind? That is probably the best idea you've had today, Todd. I'm thinking of joining, actually"

[Matar]

Todd laughs a little and nods his head.

"Go for it man, the more the merrier. Nothing beats sleeping outside, I'll tell you that. Besides, I bet in a place like this you can see the stars perfectly. Beats any city, that's for damn sure."

[Tengu_temp]

It seems the others are having a campfire! Good for them. Emi simply watches from afar, from her tree, though.

[Cubey]

(Like always, if you don't want to timeskip yet, then say that actions in your post come pre-timeskip.)

Camping out went just fine, the night sky was clear and the atmosphere was great. Although the morning caught you being colder than expected.

Nothing much happens during the next few day - Lorne's microwave cannon has its design finalised, and SECT is working on a prototype. Despite initial warnings, nobody commented negatively on you skipping morning exercises or class - for those of you that did, that is. Laura was acting shyly, but responding with friendly awkwardness. Devon, luckily, was nowhere to be seen.

It's Saturday - the day of PSA exercises, taking part in a fortified building with a glass dome. Their name is misleading though - it's mostly staying in your armor while having your vitals measured in real time, with some shifting and unshifting every few minutes. You do not feel any significant exhaustion after over half an hour of such practice.
"Excellent. Ladies and gentlemen - your results are more than satisfactory." The commander was present during your training. He just finished looking through the gathered data.
"It seems we can make your exercises be more intensive without any ill consequences. This is it for today, but since we still have time, I will answer a concern voiced by one of you a few days ago. That is, I allow one session of sparring now - any two of you can face each other now if you want. Take note, we will interrupt it if it becomes too dangerous or tiring."

Does anyone of you feel like fighting each other?