Reassembly II: Creatures of Light and Darkseid (M&M 3e)

[Quellian-dyrae]

That sounded reasonable to her. It wasn't technically impossible for literally every soldier in their army to have had targets picked out, been in position, and been waiting for nothing more than a single go order to initiate their attack, but Katie suspected that an inquest into the readiness of the aliens would reveal otherwise. Nuclear weapons came to mind. Mutually Assured Destruction required all sides be prepared to launch a nuclear response very rapidly upon learning of a nuclear strike against them. And yet, protocols and safeguards were in place to prevent a mistake or false alarm from destroying the world. It wouldn't surprise Katie to know that the aliens had been prepared to initiate Protocol Galactus if necessary during the exchange. What she didn't expect was that they'd commit to something as destructive as a global invasion on a word, without any process of confirmation or even examining the situation. Even ignoring the logistical challenges, it seemed like bad military procedure. Unless Katie was grossly misjudging them, she didn't see the Skrull-Kryptonian alliance as having much motivation to be ready to initiate a massive global invasion within instants of receiving the order without any confirmation, security measures, attempt at negotiation, or anything. But she saw plenty of motivation for Darkseid to skip over all that boring military bureaucratic procedure in favor of narrating "And then they all attacked!!!!!"

Katie stepped down from the stand. She had been dismissed and did not wish to ignore procedure. Besides, she felt confident that the defense would bring up that point as appropriate, and a military expert would probably make it better than she would.

Katie headed to the waiting area, greeting anyone already there (if any) with a wave.

[CandyLaser]

This whole trial is a distraction, Sarah thought. It can only cost us valuable time and promote disunity at a crucial moment. That said, it was a far sight better than things like open war or summary execution of aliens. As soon as she was dismissed, she left quietly, acknowledging Katie quickly out in the waiting area. "I'm going to leave and get some work done - call me if you need me."

[Thokk_Smash]

Zach gives Jen a roguish grin as he sees his taunt hit home. Not only would her obvious show of emotion boost his own argument, he'd like to think his argument is valid in and of itself. This whole thing is f*cking stupid. The Skrulls and Kryptonians are guilty of assaulting the Earth, no question about it. But they are also right that Darkseid is coming to kill them all. Lock 'em all up, but at least use them to fight off Darkseid before deciding whether to kill 'em all or not. Or whatever a guilty verdict would do.

So it seems he's been dismissed from the stand. Zach doesn't take dismissal very well, though, so he takes the time for a final parting shot.

~"Me and all my friends,"~
~"We're all misunderstood,"~
~"They say we stand for nothing,"~
~"And there's no way we ever could."~

He gets to his feet as his gaze sweeps the gathered reporters and varied prosecutors and defense attorneys. He can't say he doesn't look accusatory as a frown graces his face.

~"But we see everything that's f*cked up,"~
~"With this world and those who lead it,"~
~"And now we fina'ly have the means,"~
~"To rise above and beat it!"~

"This one goes out to the little guys out there," he says, before...

~"We can't keep on waiting,"
~"Can't keep waiting on the world to change"~

~"I know that you all care,"~
~"And I know that the fight ain't fair,"~

~"But don't keep on waiting,"
~"Waiting on the world to change"~

"Y'all can quote me on this: life's gonna get a whole lot rougher soon. It won't be easy. And the thing that's gonna get us through it is each other."

With that, he gives a brilliant smile and a jaunty salute, and then saunters to the waiting room. He waves to Potence, then immediately sits down in a corner and pulls out a notepad. He begins scribbling furiously.

Spoiler

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C'mon, RNG, I'd really like a supra-10 roll here; I've got a few sacrifices lined up already:

Persuasion: (1d20+20)[33], +5 for those who swing that way

[Starsign]

Rene finds himself shuddering as the prosecutor stands up and begins speaking. It's not the way in that she said it nor her... rather... impressive structure, but that the question Rene is asked is very frankly out of his information. This definitely is heading to territory that the reptilian cannot properly answer. What he does know is that J'onn had talked to the other aliens, was cast out, and then... at some point, met the Misfits. He can't say the specifics; other people at the trial can however.

"As I said before, J'onn went and tried to talk to the rest of his kind about the plan. When his title was stripped he stayed on Earth as Martian Manhunter until..." Rene's mind draws a complete blank, just as he expected. "...I don't know. I believe that J'onn had met the Misfits at some point and, I'm guessing in light of that meeting, he chose to turn himself in to the skrulls and kryptonians. As far as I know, he didn't take any active action in stopping the alien plan that Rel'Kor and the Talisman had been working on." It still feels odd calling the Champion and Circe by their actual names now. It's also important for Rene to distinguish which plan is exactly being involved here; J'onn may have not gotten in the way of his former friend but that is NOT the same story about what happened with Rene on that warship...

Spoiler: OOC

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Been down and out of it most of the weekend. Brevity got the best of me today, sorry.

[TheIronGolem]

<Precisely. You are not an expert. You and your companions did not have an understanding of the procedure, nor the possible effects of your interference. Any damage inflicted upon Superman, permanent or temporary, cannot rest solely upon the shoulders of the aliens. Do you dispute any of this?>

"They would have killed him!" Jimmy almost protests.

Almost.

Apprehension. Suspicion. They want you to say that...

The symbiote is right, Jimmy realizes. He can't puzzle out the reason why, but the defense is clearly baiting him. Whatever point they're about to make rests on the fact that Rel'Kor's little game would have ended with Superman dead. Maybe they plan to build some kind of parallel between the Misfits' actions and those of their clients; point out how both did a lesser amount of damage to prevent something worse in the long run.

Who knows? In any case, he's not falling for it this time.

"As a matter of fact, Dr. Claw", Spider-Man says coolly, "I do dispute it."

"And that's because when I say I don't know anything about magic or science, I'm putting emphasis on the I. Potence knows magic, because obviously Potence knows magic. And Sarah Saturn...well, you see that list in Time Magazine last year? I think it pegged her as what, the sixth-smartest person on Earth?"

As an aside, rumor around the Planet had it that Tony Stark (number seven, down two from the prior year) had fired a couple of division heads over that.

"So if you want me to say that my companions didn't have an understanding of the procedure, I'm not gonna do that. Because I'm under oath, and I really don't know if they did or not. I was pretty much just muscle. I broke robots and carried Superman out of that torture chamber. I'm not qualified to comment on the rest of it, so I won't."

Jimmy's common sense seriously considers returning. Maybe it left too hastily. Maybe they can work things out...

"I will say that it's weird how you're using the worst guy possible to make this point with. It's like you're in one of those panels that tries to figure out if it's a doctor's fault that their patient died, and you're trying to get an opinion from the janitor."

...nope.

[herodofcows]

Spoiler: Ronin

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The defense might almost sound pleased, were it not for the distortion field.

<Precisely. And even with those . . . allegations . . . aside, the Phoenix was in accord with your actions. Rel'Kor's actions, and those leading to the Ten Second Invasion, were anathema to the religious doctrine that the aliens follow. Thank you, Ronin. No further questions.>

Spoiler: The Builder

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Walters' eyes are steely as she looks at you, but her voice is kindly.

"Hmm. Interesting. Can you think of a reason why he did not pursue a more aggressive course of action against a plan that he felt was wrong?"

Spoiler: Howard

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Walters has a sour look on her face, as though she is NOT getting the answers that she wants from you. You can see the gears turning in her head, and in the end she comes to the conclusion that she needs to concede this point.

". . . Thank you, Howard. No further questions."

Spoiler: Spider-Man

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It would be unprofessional for the defense to say something like "son of a b****", and you can't see their facial expression or properly read their tone, but . . .

<No further questions.>

Later That Day, Still On The Peak

Director Abigail Brand of S.W.O.R.D. was . . . begrudging in giving you permission to independently secure her station. Oh, she gave it in the end, but it took the full power of Potence's steamrolling her many objections that security was fine, her troops were trained to prevent everything you were describing, that this was entirely unnecessary, and so on and so forth.

Really, this whole affair is a bit embarrassing for S.W.O.R.D. Not only did they fail to give ANY kind of warning of the alien invasion, but now they're being forced to host a trial whose transcript essentially reads like a list of their greatest failures. Thus, when you all come in suggesting that they can't even secure their own space station, well . . .

"Fine," Brand had eventually growled, slapping a tablet down on her desk and glaring from behind her green sunglasses, "If you want to play Cub Scouts in my station, then that's your time to waste."

She'd issued you new visitors badges, identifying you as special guests of the Director.

"These will get you anywhere you need to go within the station. They will also track you, along with our usual security. Mess with them, take them off, or get in the way of any one of my agents, and I will personally stick you in an airlock and flush you out. Are we clear?"

Having dealt with issues of permission, the time has now come to look to areas of defense! Here, at least, Brand is forthcoming. Even if she doesn't particularly like your presence, she apparently isn't going to actively stonewall you.

"We'll be moving J'onzz from his cell in the prison at 1955 hours. He'll be restrained and placed in power-dampening cuffs. He'll have four S.W.O.R.D. agents with him at all times, and his route will be cleared and checked hallway by hallway as needed. His route goes along . . . well, here. You don't get a copy, but I'll keep you in the loop and you can see the map now."

The route J'onn will take circumvents most vital areas, but not everything is avoidable. From the Prison, he will pass the Sensor Array, go through a long series of internal corridors around the Crew Quarters, briefly have to pass along an outer area of the station (near space/Orbit) to avoid the Primary Docking Bay, pass around the Command Center, take a cramped shortcut through the Shield Generator, and then into the Courtroom.

Spoiler: Areas of the Peak to Defend

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Command Center Note: VERY busy.

Courtroom Note: All access HEAVILY scrutinized.

Propulsion Note: Cramped area! Hot, crawling with engineers.

Prison Note: Important Skrulls and Kryptonians provisionally kept here.

Weapons Systems Note: Many volatile pieces of equipment here!

Contraband/Evidence Locker Note: LOTS of unknown items awaiting classification.

Life Support Note: Obstacle-filled area, kept cold.

Crew Quarters Note: Occupied with scowling S.W.O.R.D. agents.

Shield Generator Note: Spacious area, difficult to get to.

Sensor Array Note: Low-gravity area.

Primary Docking Bay Note: Bustling. Lots of coming and going.

Secondary Docking Bay Note: Skrull and Kryptonian prisoners kept here aboard their deactivated ships.

Orbit Note: Plenty of debris.

[Starsign]

Unlike before, Rene is quick to answer when he is pressed about J'onn and his less-aggressive actions towards his kind. "Because J'onn never want to attack his people over it." The reptilian is defensive on this topic and one could not blame him if they knew of what he went through... IF they knew, of which they most definitely don't. "He thinks of his own people as... family. Even if he may think he's an outsider to his own people and the people on Earth, he still cares for those he's grown up with. He doesn't want to be forced to choose one side or the other when there may be peace between them."

The more Rene was in this courtroom, the more he comes to despise this whole idea of a courtroom. It feels like an interrogation without chains; he's free to move yet not allowed to move. All he can do is speak and speak and hope he'll get out of this without making things worse.

Story of his life, right?

"I don't believe anyone, who cares for two sides and who has lived with both, would force himself to turn against one in aggression without finding another way first." Rene laves his mouth open momentarily, as if finding something else to say. Nothing comes to mind however, for there isn't really anything left for Rene to say. He doesn't know J'onn much beyond how they have interacted. The more Rene speaks, the more he's putting his tail in his mouth.

Spoiler: OOC

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Short by my standards again, but I've got a post up! Hopefully I'll be back on track soon to my usual posting quality for this game.

[herodofcows]

Spoiler: OOC

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All right dudes, this bit is going to be skill check central. Be prepared!

Potence, Sarah Prime, the Builder

The four S.W.O.R.D. agents currently accompanying you/taking the lead on the prisoner escort have about as much friendliness and personality as the progeny of a brick and a pitbull. They're wheeling a series of restraints with them, not unlike the cart used to transport Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lands. However, the restraints differ from their cinematic counterparts by having a lot more technological bells and whistles on them. Most seem to have to do with the various means of power dampening that have been attached ad-hoc to the machine: Sarah and Potence will be able to recognize SPIN tech, red sunlight, telepathy blockers, some of that mutant "cure" that was in the news earlier in the year before turning out to be bunk . . . just about everything and the kitchen sink. It seems that the powers that be have decided that there's no kill like overkill, owing to Martian Manhunter's unique Super-Skrull physiology.

The doors to the Prison open with a pneumatic hiss, and a rush of noise floods your ears. The prison takes up a whole "floor" of the Peak, and is packed to the brim with just about every extraterrestrial criminal that has ever tried something on Earth. You've got smugglers, mercenaries, assassins, thieves, would-be world conquerers, the odd tax-evader . . . all shoved into their own force-shielded cells and left to their own devices. Your arrival sparks a lot of whooping and hollering and screaming as pleas for mercy mix in with death threats in hundreds of languages. You don't recognize many of the races, let alone the individuals; a lot of this skews towards the stranger side of superheroics.

The noise dies down a little as you make your way down to the quiet cells where the Skrull and Kryptonian bigwigs are being kept, and here you start to recognize a few people. Mial-Zod, former Fist of Nightwing, glares at Sarah from behind the forcefield and paces like a caged tiger. Next door to him, his father (whose name might as well be "General") gives a small nod to Potence: you'd helped fight him once, after all.

"Potence! Sarah!"

The Talisman gives you a jaunty wave from her cell, rising from a meditative position. She actually smiles for a moment . . . and then she notices the Builder.

"Aaaah . . . Hello . . ."

She stares at the reptilian hero for a moment, and then blurts out:

"I am sorry for the harm I inflicted upon your family . . ."

Martian Manhunter appears calm as his cell's force shield is deactivated. Unlike the other Skrulls, he retains his humanoid "Martian" form, complete with cape and uniform. He acquiesces to his restraints without resistance, and gives all of you a smile.

"It is . . . very good to see you all," he intones, voice courteous and calm as a host to their guests, "I regret that the circumstances are as they are."

Ronin, Sarah-α

You stand on the elevated central area of the Command Center, slightly to the side as S.W.O.R.D. specialists of all shapes and sizes hustle and bustle from station to station. Director Brand stands nearby, watching like a hawk as various sub-functionaries track the running of the Peak, orbital traffic around Earth, and any of the dozens of operations that S.W.O.R.D. is running. It's mostly in codewords, but you get the impression that tensions are running a little high right now on top of whatever other workload is bearing down on the redoubtable agency. Some agents give you both glances ranging from hostility to curiosity, weighted somewhat to the former.

Thunderstruck

The Secondary Docking Bay is a bit of a hodgepodge right now. Typically a storage bay, the area is strewn with hastily-cleared cargo movers and other equipment necessary for material loading/unloading. The various Skrull and Kryptonian ships are clustered near the center, gunmetal-gray behemoths without the scantest flicker of power illuminating them as they lie like beached whales.

Platoons of specially-armored S.W.O.R.D. agents guard the many entrances from the inside and outside, and strike teams on troop transports are at the ready along the periphery. You have no idea how much of this is typical security and how much of this is special for today. Either way, there's a small army ready to breach and clear any one ship at the slightest flicker of . . . well, ANYthing.

There's a muted chanting coming from the ships, muffled by the hulls and the distance but still loud enough to be heard. You cannot understand the language, but you're a product of divine and rebellious forces: you know prayer when you hear it.

Spider Man, Howard

Propulsion is cramped to hell and hellishly hot. The area is essentially a series of interconnecting long tubes that resemble nothing so much as the interior of a submarine. There are dials, readouts, whirring devices, and encased streams of different colored energy poking out of every available surface in a nightmarish display of function over form. Everything gives the impression of being a single errant touch from causing everything to explode.

The technicians therein are a different breed of S.W.O.R.D. agents: loud, sweaty, and clad in maybe only about half of their uniform at any given point. They talk around you, over you, under you as you squeeze through into their workspace. None of them approach or appear to pay you any mind, but Howard catches a few staring when they think he's not looking.

Jimmy proceeds through in disguise, but the symbiote is uncomfortable. It is unaccustomed to extreme heat, and the temperatures within propulsion are uncomfortable enough to provoke a reaction. It's clearly in discomfort, but nothing extreme . . . yet.

Spoiler: Spidey

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We're going to treat this with the rules for Extreme Heat/Cold in the Hero's Handbook. Every minute (which for now will be every post), roll a Fortitude save. The save will start at 11, and increase by 1 every minute. On a failure, the symbiote will revert to a catatonic state and you will be considered powerless until 5 rounds after exiting to an area with normal temperatures.

Peregrine

Even you can feel the cold as you step into Life Support. The area is freezing, improperly shielded from the extreme cold outside for reasons you couldn't begin to fathom. However, it appears to be shielded from just about everything else: there's enough force-shielding and interconnecting bracing throughout the area to create a jungle gym of protective measures. You catch glimpses within of miniaturized greenhouses and fungal forests, protected and funneled by the grand latticework of the shields and braces.

The entire area is apparently deserted: no technicians scramble through here, and no security appears to be posted. It's nearly entirely quiet in here, absent the low hum of the machinery. It could very nearly be considered peaceful, were it not for the severity of the mission at hand.

Sarah-β

The Weapons Systems are a hell of a thing: you're essentially in a central nexus of the Peak into which all of the big scary guns retract when they're not being used to blast enormous holes in things. Everything here not thrumming with energy is resting deadly quiet, satisfied with its own explosive potential. The whole area has the feel of a tightly-cramped storage warehouse, with only the blast doors leading the gun berths to outer space giving any kind of indication that this room could be opened up to the vacuum outside at a moment's notice.

The guns are MASSIVE, big enough for you to walk on without any kind of fear of falling or vertigo. The smallest are the size of apartment complexes, and the largest resemble nothing so much as horizontal skyscrapers. Ammunition and loading mechanisms lie alongside each, ready for automated deployment.

There are a few isolated crews of technicians skittering about the place as you go through it. They appear to be doing maintenance on the various mechanisms dotting the guns. The sounds of their footsteps and the hum and whirr of their tools as they work echo through the cavernous space.

[Quellian-dyrae]

It was at "power-dampening cuffs" that Katie had determined that she didn't trust S.W.O.R.D. to handle J'onn's security. It wasn't that she didn't trust them, but they were obviously more concerned about J'onn himself being a threat than any threat to him. With his powers, the Martian Manhunter could defend himself even against a kryptonian assassin. Without them, he'd be lucky to survive a single punch or blast of heat vision.

She met General Zod's gaze firmly, not challenging or mocking, but not flinching or shrinking either. She had been a panicking mess when she had helped fight him, spewing augments with such a lack of discipline as to be the next best thing to random. Looking back, she could hardly believe the net results of her contributions and the additional risks Superman had to take on to protect her had balanced out at something-resembling-positive. But that was then. She knew she wasn't a peer to Zod, in terms of personal power, but she was also no longer completely out of his league.

She gave a slightly resigned smile and a warm, "Hey!" to Ta'li. She kinda hated seeing her in these cages. Katie did believe that the skrull and kryptonians had a lot to atone for. She did not believe that keeping them locked away was conducive to their doing so. As to whether or not they actually would if released...well, she felt that the Talisman's words to Rene made that clear. Hopefully the trial would help with that.

J'onn, though, she greeted with a professional nod. They were here to protect him, and she felt him deserving of it. She still, despite everything, saw him as the Martian Manhunter, a hero of Earth. One who had made some mistakes, perhaps, but still a hero for all that.

But for all the respect she afforded his reputation, it didn't change the fact that her only face-to-face meeting with him had been that night in Gotham, when he had tried to stop them from interfering in the deaths of hundreds. Not that it had turned out to be something within their power to prevent, but even so. First impressions mattered, and that one had stayed with her.

Katie respected the Martian Manhunter for his heroism, she understood the difficulties he had faced. But she was not ready to call him a friend.

As he was restrained, Katie began casting some spells. She sent her Helping Hand flying about, not just scanning the area with its tactile senses, but displacing her own sight and hearing through it. It required intense concentration, but it would make it way, way easier for her to detect any incoming threats. She linked the team with Shared Awareness for communication purposes...and made an effort to connect it to J'onn through his psychic bond with Rene. If that failed, though, she'd request, "If I can ask J'onn for a sample of his hair or blood? It will make it a bit easier for me to keep track of his position and status." Her scepter was in her right hand, and in her left, one of the various mirrors she had pulled from her shirt, handing them off to everyone to allow Fred an easy route to anyone who needed it.

Spoiler

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Prior to splitting up, she used her Magic Circle to give a mirror to anyone who wants one.

Support Caster array is set to Shared Awareness. Remember, all, in addition to the communication, this allows us to make reactive Perception and Insight checks as Team Checks as long as we're perceiving the same stuff. So we can't Team Check with other people in different areas, but those of us in the same locations can.

Helping Hand array is set to Floating Hand.

Magitech Scepter array is set to Augmentation, which she uses on herself in the indefinite slot:

10 points to duplicate the Remote Sensing and Enhanced Perception of Finding Hand outside of its array.
5 points for Enhanced Perception and Persuasion 5.
5 points for Enhanced Senses 5 (Counters All Concealment) to the Senses function of Floating Hand.

Katie is Concentrating (standard action each round) on the Remote Sensing, basically setting the scrying point to her Helping Hand so as to benefit from the Enhanced Perception. She'll use free actions to maneuver the Helping Hand around obstacles and such as they go (including checking behind them regularly) to minimize possible cover.

Her current active Senses are Ranged Acute Analytical Counters All Concealment Touch, which is also Accurate and Radius by default. Her vision and hearing are displaced to her Helping Hand as well. As long as she continues Concentrating, she has an effective +20 Perception for her displaced sight and hearing. She has +5 Perception for purposes of her touch sense, since it isn't thaumaturgically enhanced.

Persuasion if necessary to get J'onn to give her a thaumaturgic sample (and to get the guards to allow it): (1d20+17)[23], +5 if Attractive applies.

[CandyLaser]

Sarah was all over the place. Literally, in this case. Sarah-β was having the most fun. As she traversed the vast space, filled with appropriately-sized guns, she couldn't help but speculate on their method of operation. A breath mask dangled off a lanyard around her neck as she clambered over the guns, seeking the best viewpoint she could manage and considering whether or not it would be good to devote Saturn Foundation resources to helping S.W.O.R.D. miniaturize their weapons technology. If nothing else, the loading mechanisms could easily be replaced by a portal-feed system, which would let the organization store the massive ammunition someplace less voliatile. On the other hand, she wasn't exactly a fan of S.W.O.R.D. and getting into bed with them might put a damper on the Plan... Probably better to just memorize everything she saw, identify weaknesses and possible points of attack, and work on reworking the massive cannons into more efficient tools from a purely theoretical perspective.

Sarah-α, on the other hand, was all business. Her eyes flitted across the various monitoring stations and screens. She, too, was capturing everything she saw. And since she shared a mental link with Sarah-Prime, that meant that Sarah-Prime was getting a first-hand look with how S.W.O.R.D. ran its operations. If they knew she had a photographic memory - and they probably did - they had to assume that everything they were saying or doing would be fodder for Sarah's analysis later. No surprise, then, that people were watching her with undisguised hostility. She shrugged it off, of course. The Misfits were saving the world and that meant riding roughshod over small-minded provinicial organizations like S.W.O.R.D. She did take note of the extra tensions, though, and quietly asked Director Brand about it. "Out of curiosity, Director, is there something else going on that we should know about? It's always possible that the imminent attack on this facility is a cover for something even more sinister."

And finally, there was Sarah-Prime. She was busy splitting her attention between three different detailed mental links. As a result, her expression lacked its usual intense focus, and her eyes occasionally flicked and fluttered as she processed some input from her trans-temporal duplicates. She seemed to ignore Mial-Zod entirely, and only greeted Talisman and the Martian Manhunter with a distracted nod and a simple, "Hello."

[Starsign]

Being out of the courtroom, Rene only got a very, very brief moment of respite before the whole assessment and watch plan was put into action, all thanks to Katie's insistence of course. The reptilian feels a horrid chill as the prison opens up to him and the Misfits accompanying him. The whole place reeks of an awful stench and not one he can simply describe. It's an ambient stench, one that his reptilian nose feels rather than smells. Being here is unpleasant in the most isolated of ways. Are all supervillain prisons like this? Or even all prisons? He's afraid to ask anyone that as his dreary and sorrowing reptilian eyes look out at the various desperate, hopeless or angry prisoners here.

Not helping Rene's mood is all the power-dampening tech crap which the S.W.O.R.D. agents are bringing just for J'onn. If there's any reason why he ends up getting assassinated, it's because of that stuff. Rene is already uncomfortable of the idea of having his powers, and his reptilian body, nullified. Returning to human would be such a strange and uncomfortable experience if he had to live with it. He, for one, would object greatly if he was to be nullified when there's an assassin coming for him. He, at least, is glad the assassin that wants him dead is currently stuck in a cell far away from here.

Rene's mood briefly sinks further as one of the skrulls calls out to Katie and Sarah. At first Rene doesn't recognize the skrull; the voice is familiar but the tone is nothing like what he recalls. It isn't until she looks Rene's way that he realizes this is Circe, or the Talisman, in her cell. For some reason he hadn't expected her to have willingly turned herself in, or let herself be locked up by her own kind like J'onn was, or however she got into there. In truth, had Katie not told Rene way back about the Misfits' time travel adventures, he would've been horrified to realize that the Talisman is somehow still alive. As is, he's "merely" surprised and shuddering to see her in the prison.

"Oh, hey." Rene is slow to speak when he responds to the Talisman's blurt. At this point in his life, he doesn't have any malice left in him to hate her for what she tried to do with Rene's family; several other beings have done more harm to Rene since the events in Castle Doom than she ever managed to. Instead his voice is filled with the slight tinge of fear. This is the being that nearly forced that Other ritual to occur on Curt, and damn near happened with Rene and Croc as well. By all accounts this isn't something Rene hasn't forgiven yet. Even if she did so under well-intended circumstances, she used Rene and his family like playthings to a higher order. He doesn't simply forgive such actions... yet he'd be lying if he didn't feel tired over the idea of holding a grudge for someone who's wrong him months ago.

His reptilian eyes drift away from the imprisoned skrull before looking back at her. "...Thanks for apologizing." His response is brief, though considerably kinder than what he could've said. With everything Rene has missed, there's a lot he wants to ask her about. Yet that's not what he's there for. "I wish this wasn't such a bad time to meet again. If there is a better time, there's a lot I wanted to talk about with you." His voice rings with sympathy, inclined more to understand than to confront. It's the most that he's able to tell her right now as he, Katie, Sarah and the agents move on.

Contrast to Katie's bizarre hesitance, Rene damn near runs to J'onn as the cell's forcefield deactivates in an effort to hug him. Rene and his relieved smile only get several feet forward before turning his head and noticing the agents' narrowed eyes and sneers. Clearly they don't really want Rene to make any sudden actions with J'onn given the warning about the assassination. Instead Rene restrains himself as he watches J'onn walk out and accept the power restraints as the reptilian takes one of the mirrors offered by Katie.

"I'm just glad you're alive, J'onn." While the events at the warship may have led Rene into a trap, and one which J'onn had partly encouraged him into, there is no doubt that what J'onn had done to help Rene, especially directly, is the one positive thing which stays long and hard in his mind. "I didn't really get the chance to tell you earlier but... thank you, for everything." He can't even recall whether he showed J'onn any appreciation both times they've met; it's about time that Rene did so now while they have the chance.

Rene does, in the meantime, keep his eyes and nostrils open in case of any activity or hostility within the prison. He is supposed to be a bodyguard of sorts for J'onn and it'd be senseless to forget that if Rene is trying to stop an assassination.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Alright, switching over to Evasion Instinct for the time being. Gonna make a Perception check and will have Rene's smell/scent senses at being Acute, Extended, Accurate, Analytical, and Counters Concealment, in addition to having Infravision: (1d20+11)[31]

I'm not really sure what other rolls I should make in the meantime.

[Thokk_Smash]

After his own testimony, Zach had spent a good dozen or so minutes furiously scribbling in a notebook. When he seems to have exhausted his desire to write, he snaps it shut and books it out of the room. He knows his plan, and he wants to get there with plenty of time before the Manhunter's journey begins.

He quickly slips into the S.W.O.R.D. uniform Director Brand had so kindly and not-at-all-grudgingly allowed him to borrow. He arrives at the Secondary Docking Bay with the gravity befitting an agent of such an austere and powerful agency. Although it chafes him a bit, he plays the part of a diligent agent to the hilt, making his way through the bay on the catwalks and the floor with the census in hand.

The sound of the chanting brings a grimace to his face. Outwardly, it might seem he is scowling in disgust at the alien language. Inwardly, however, he is intently listening for the feelings behind those prayers. The earpiece that Saturn had made for him allows him to listen through the walls to better hear them, and the alien language is translated easily for him.

Spoiler: Skill checks

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Perception check, for his Analytical and Acute Detect (Emotions) attached to his Hearing, with a Penetrates Concealment (Hearing) from Sarah's invention: (1d20+10)[29]

Expertise (Musician) to analyze the intent and melodies of the chants: (1d20+20)[39]

[SuperCracker]

Ronin

Katie had passed out mirrors earlier, and Ronin had instructed everyone to call for him if needed. He intended to play switch hitter in the upcoming events.

Ronin had donned Sarah’s space gear (expecting that. It was far less bulky than present-day technology would allow for, appearing like something out of Mass Effect. The helmet was off, and he’d managed to fasten his sheath to the side. Starsoul didn’t need life support.

Fred was used to the looks he was getting and he no-sold all of it. People tended to discount the value of a mutant samurai until the moment they needed one. Brand and her people were trained, but Sylvester’s prophecy proved that they weren’t enough to stop this assassination. The Misfits are.

He kept his eyes on the camera feeds and watched those around him. His magic gave him whispers of where to observe and intuition of people’s hearts.

[Lizard Lord]

Howard would also accept any offers of a SHIELD uniform but when he was refused his request of a fake mustache and sombero (key component to any disguise; at least it always worked on Duckworld.) Howard decided any disguise attempt would be useless after all. They claimed they didn't have any such things, but Howard had his suspicions that they were simply being stingy. Which he kept quietly to himself. Just kidding, of course he didn't. He complained about it to Spider-Man the whole way to the propulsion room.

"I mean what kinda operation are they runnin' that they would expect me ta believe they don't gots a basic disguise kit? Its just another @#$%^&* ploy ta keep tha feathered man down. Its criminal I tells ya."

The heat of the propulsion hits Howard like a metaphorical ton of bricks. It might not be listed on a listed archive weakenesses anywhere, but being a duck means that Howard doesn't have sweat glands. Come to think of it, how much of Spider-Man (if any; he could be a freakin' fake like Batman) is part spider? Does HE have sweat glands? Howard was about to ask these important and hard hitting questions when he remembered he had something else he wanted to talk to Spider-Man about. Depending on how close he is to Super-Man Spider-Man may not take this line of dialogue well, but it should be asked all the same. Howard has yet to since master having two different dialouges at the exact same time, but he can still look around to see if anything or anyone is doing something wrong there while he talks.

"So....speakin' o' criminal?" Okay, perhaps not the best way to start this conversation. "I get that those Raoist guys did some real bad stuff, yea? But....I'm also really hopin' its only tha leadership that gets locked up or tha chair or whatever punishment it is that they would get. I mean...ta do any o' those ta what is basically a whole nation, not ta mention 'bout 99.99% of tha livin' Kryptonians? Didn't we fight ta prevent that sorta thing not too long ago? And it ain't like we don't know that Darkschmuck won't do tha same if'n we kick 'em off Earth, cause he already told us he would. O' course if they stay here that gots it own logistical problem. Darkschmuck's whole schtick is spreading conflict, though I don't think he does it in a mystical sense but ya don't really need magic or power cosmic or whatever ta do that anyhows. Even a guy wit' no powers could do it if he had tha' right angle and hatred fer aliens that just invaded is a pretty @#$%^&* easy angle. But if they had formed some kinda hero team ta try and improve their public relations or maybe actually try ta do their best ta make up fer what they did.....

Well that still might not work unless tha only guy from either o' those species whose public opinion ain't in tha @#$%^&* gutter lead them. Such a team would be best fer Earth and even if it doesn't manage ta do its mission statement it would still save some folks lives, since that's what superhero teams do. I can't think o' anyone that would be better ta lead them then Superman. Even his cousin is being painted wit' tha same brush as tha Kandorans and if he led it this team would be good fer her too. Now I wouldn't blame him if he decided he can't forgive 'em. Not sure I could do it myself if I were him, but I also hear he is one o' tha most heroic heroes that have ever heroed, so I figure he's gotta be more forgivin' than me anyhows. While I have met and worked wit' tha' guy before we don't know each other all that well, and I figure maybe it would come better from someone that did. If ya don't wanna do it I could always ask Katie. Heck I'll even do it myself if I gots no other options. I'm sure if I scream in front o' tha Daily Planet long enough he'll show up."

[herodofcows]

Potence, Sarah Prime, the Builder

Spoiler: The Builder

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Your sense of smell tells you things that your more human senses and instincts never could. You can smell the perspiration on the guards as they go about their business: fear, adrenaline spiking the air like an iron garnish upon the air. You can sense it on all of the humans, minus Potence and Sarah: the guards are afraid.

As they cart J'onn through the prison, your senses paint a picture of the environment with superhuman acuity. Evading you would be almost unthinkable, and so it is that you can say definitively that there is nobody at liberty beyond the S.W.O.R.D. agents on guard and going about their business. However, that is hardly reassuring: they're all armed, and scared, and a powerless J'onn would be an easy target for an errant assassin . . .

But that's not what you're supposed to worry about. You're looking for a Kryptonian assassin, and you smell none that are not half-hidden behind the ozone tang of the forcefields.

As you crest the exit of the prison, you are able to smell a group S.W.O.R.D. agents outside of the prison, heading towards the Sensor Array (which you will have to pass on your intended route). They appear to be maintenance from the looks of their uniforms and equipment. Unlike the others, they don't reek of fear.

Spoiler: Potence

Show

You're able to get a decent read on the guards currently escorting you and most of the ones that you pass. These guys are extremely on edge, and your presence is doing very little to assuage that. There's a sense of hair-trigger tension about them, like they're ready to spring into action at the slightest provocation.

Your scrying expands your awareness along your intended route. You can sense a group S.W.O.R.D. agents outside of the prison, heading towards the Sensor Array (which you will have to pass on your intended route). They appear to be maintenance from the looks of their uniforms and equipment. Beyond them, there are two heavily-armed agents talking in hushed tones within the Crew Quarters area.

". . . don't like it, man. You heard they assigned two capes to-?"

"You're being paranoid. It's just a precaution."

"I dunno . . . maybe there's something they're not telling us . . ."

Spoiler: Sarah Prime

Show

To your ability to discern, there are no visible traces of sabotage or attempts at compromising the equipment that they're using to restrain Martian Manhunter or any of the other aliens. If anything, they're restraining him too tightly: the sheer quantity of countermeasures they have set up will make it very difficult to free him quickly, should it become necessary. Martian Manhunter will be completely helpless as long as these restraints are active.

The Talisman gives the Builder a surprised look, and then nods quickly. She looks a little taken aback, as though she hadn't honestly expected for him to respond with anything other than a growl.

As Potence reaches out with Shared Awareness, she quickly finds that Rene works as a kind of relay between the Martian Manhunter and the rest. Whatever bond they have somehow has all of the thaumaturgical strength necessary to keep Shared Awareness active between everyone. It's . . . uncanny, and probably worth further investigation, but for right now it's useful.

~I take it from this increased security that things are not going well~

It is not a question so much as a statement. J'onn seems resigned more than anything else.

The S.W.O.R.D. guards push J'onn back through the Prison area as you move forward, each checking the surrounding area to the best of your ability. Within a minute, you are exiting the area and going towards the corridor leading to the Sensor Array. There is no sign of trouble . . . yet.

Ronin, Sarah-α

Spoiler: Sarah-α

Show

The inputs from the Command Center would be too much for anyone other than you. As it stands, you're able to quickly parse through the vast majority of the data you're able to see on the terminals facing you. There is no visible sabotage as of right now, but you're able to quickly identify a few important trends:

1. Non-Terran spaceships are universally being denied permission to dock, instead being redirected to other locations in orbit to wait in a holding pattern.
2. There are a set of readouts tracking extraterrestrial vessels on Earth. You recognize most of them, and you'd known about them previously. There are a few unknowns, though: You can see some Inhuman/Kree signatures in several remote places on Earth, a Shi'ar signature in Colorado, and a Star Sapphire near Coast City.
3. There's an encrypted communications relay feed transmitting back and forth between the Watchtower, the Peak, S.H.I.E.L.D., and the Pentagon. From what you can tell, the data is mostly intercepted news feed from the trial . . . but not all of it. There's something else being sent back and forth as well . . .

Spoiler: Ronin

Show

You can see echoes and fragments of emotions and memories as your fae senses take the lead. In many ways, the results are unsurprising: people are scared, people are tense. There's an air of tremulous expectation in the air, as though everyone is expecting something to go horribly wrong. Only Brand seems to be keeping her cool, or else her callousness extends beyond antagonizing Henry McCoy and really does just pervade her every waking moment.

The camera feeds are wide-ranging, but ultimately a jumble: the Courtroom is packed with media, the Primary Docking Bay appears fairly tame . . . nothing appears particularly out of place.

You do notice one agent in particular casting worried glances at you and Sarah from time to time, beyond the usual curiosity and mistrust on display. Though she tries to hide it, she's sweating and breathing rapidly. This could be fear, or nerves, or some unknown emotion; it is difficult to tell.

The Command Center hums along as Brand scoffs.

"You mean beyond the usual house of cards that is my day-to-day job? No, trust me: the testimony of a traitorous ex-JLA member pretty much takes up most of my schedule today."

Thunderstruck

Your approach garners a few curious looks from the peripheral strike teams and guards along the edges of the Secondary Docking Bay, but nobody stops you. Perhaps they are just curious about the new face. Whatever the reason, you are noted but not quite noticed.

Sarah's tech does its work well, and you are soon able to hear the swell of the chanting as though you were within the mass of worshippers themselves. The translation is not perfect: something is different about the way they are speaking their language. However, it's enough to parse their approximate meaning:

"Blessed is Change, Renewal/Rebirth/Revival
By the Light/Glory of Rao-who-is-Sl'gur't-who-is-Kly'bn
Misfortune/Plague/Ill-Luck will Change/Destroy/Wash Us Away
Corruption/Rot will find no purchase in our soul/flesh/self
When Change, Renewal/Rebirth/Revival is our hope and guide"

Spoiler: Thunderstruck

Show

The intent behind it is unusual, but clear to someone like you: where humans might pray for the strength to endure, the aliens are currently praying for the ability to change and adapt. This is not a prayer of hope or comfort, this is an anthem of acceptance. The aliens have resigned themselves to the worst.

And deep within, you feel a force stir:

The walls that they built close in upon them
Their fortifications shall be their tomb

Spider Man, Howard

As Howard rambles onward with his diatribe, several nearby workers begin to stiffen up in different ways. Chatter and banter gradually die away, and Howard begins to notice some less-than-friendly looks getting tossed his way. Nobody speaks up and says anything, but there's a general frostiness to the air that hadn't existed before . . .

Spoiler: Howard

Show

You don't see any visible attempts at sabotage, but you CAN get a bit of a read off of these guys around you.

Your words are being met with disapproval not so much because of a principled opposition to your points. If anything, they stiffened up once you suggested that Superman should lead them. This isn't so much disapproval of the general idea as it is irritation with you for suggesting that good ol' Supes should have to put up with the alien whackos that tried to kill him. This is navigable. You could potentially start a dialogue with these guys given the right set of points.

Sarah-β

As you scour the area and enjoy the warm fuzzies of hypothetical weapons planning, your sweep begins to yield some interesting points.

First of all, the majority of the guns are offline. The only ones that look as though they could spring into action at a moments notice are short-range beam weapons, best suited for dealing with small craft or superpowered individuals at close range. These would maybe knock some Skrull fighters out of the loop or seriously inconvenience a Kryptonian that had only been exposed to the yellow sun for a few months, but it wouldn't do jack squat against any of the big Skrull ships.

Secondly, one of the maintenance crews is using VERY different technology than the others.

It's hard to tell which one, owing to the distortion of the echoes, but you can hear the equipment and identify the telltale pulsing: where most of the echoes come from conventional equipment or the odd Palmer omnitool, someone in the weapons bay is making use of something exotic to take apart one of the guns . . .

[Quellian-dyrae]

Katie could hardly believe how easy it was to link to J'onn through Rene. Thaumaturgically connecting to Kayla was (negligibly, from a practical standpoint, but noticeably from a technical one) harder, and they were twins. Between that and the warmth that Rene showed the skrull, Katie's own reticence eased a bit. There was a bond of trust between these two, that much was clear, and Katie felt Rene a good enough judge of character to take notice of his example.

~We have a prediction of a threat against you. A kryptonian assassin, in all probability. Don't worry though, SWORD's been informed and we're all on guard throughout the station. We'll keep you safe, promise!~ she sent back, while simultaneously sharing a constant information feed of what her scrying picked up with the rest of the team.

Also what her intuition picked up. The guards seemed...particularly tense, to her. Which kinda made sense, she supposed, but there was a difference between healthy caution and alert readiness and spring-taut anxiousness, and they were feeling distinctly on the latter end. "You guys okay? If there's anything we can do, just say the word. We're here to help, after all!" she offered gently. "Oh, um, and just to check, is there currently maintenance scheduled in the sensor array?"

Her Helping Hand gave the maintenance crew a friendly wave as it passed by them on its scouting mission...which, conveniently, also gave Katie an opportunity to study them in a bit more detail, both visually and tactilely.

Spoiler

Show

Persuasion to try to get the guards to open up some: (1d20+22)[42], reduce by 5 if Attractive doesn't apply.

Not sure if we should be rerolling things like Perception and Insight each post, but I think for now consider Katie to be Routining them (30 for scrying, 15 for tactile sense, 27 for Evaluating).

And just for purposes of being properly paranoid, Expertise (Engineering) to give those maintenance guys a once-over, make sure they have what looks like all appropriate tools and are doing appropriate maintenancy-looking things. (1d20+8)[27]. She'll use the Analytical function of her tactile sense to check that there aren't any odd radiations or other energies emanating from them. Routine Expertise for identifying them as needed.

[SuperCracker]

Mirrorshades turned towards the unsettled agent. Then Ronin approached her, making no attempt to hide that he was doing so. He stopped in front of her, within three to four feet. His arms were at his sides as he observed her up close. Ronin believed that she had the same training as the other S.W.O.R.D. (he liked the name) agents. Despite the fear and tension present in most of them, none were cracking like she was.

He believed that something was amiss.

“You’re sweating. Why?” It was readily apparent that he wasn’t going to walk away without an answer.

[CandyLaser]

Sarah-α

A hidden, encrypted data feed, potentially being used as a steganographic channel? Finally, something interesting. Sarah-α started tapping out some commands on her wrist computer. Time to see what was being hidden. If it was S.W.O.R.D. hiding the data, then she wanted to know what was so secret that it couldn't be shared. If it was someone else, piggybacking on the organization's systems, then she needed to know what was going on right away.

Spoiler: Rolls

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Technology! (1d20+20)[26]

Sarah-β

Taking apart a gun? That was her job. She started searching, methodically teleporting from place to place to seek out the aberration.

Spoiler: Rolls

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Investigation! (1d20+20)[21] This Sarah will also use her Polymath power to gain ranks in Quickness (Limited: searching only), representing her knowledge of advanced investigative and searching techniques. If that won't fly, then she'll power stunt a Quickness power off her arsenal array as she manipulates space-time to complete the search quickly.

Sarah-Prime

"Weapons offline, potential saboteurs detected there." she mumbled, sending the same message out telepathically through Katie's Shared Awareness. "Hidden data feed - SHA-512 elliptic curve cryptographic algorithm, maybe more... too many moving parts. We should get going. Who designed these restraints? They make J'onn too vulnerable." Her conversation was a bit erratic and disjointed, compared to normal, but Sarah-Prime was still capable of focusing. "They should have consulted us. Potence, Builder - be ready. There's no way that J'onn can defend himself now - and I suspect that the attack, when it comes, will have inside assistance."

[TheIronGolem]

"I mean what kinda operation are they runnin' that they would expect me ta believe they don't gots a basic disguise kit? Its just another @#$%^&* ploy ta keep tha feathered man down. Its criminal I tells ya."

"Well, they were probably worried they'd lose track of you, what with all the other ducks dressed like Pancho Villa."

Spider-Man is noticeably slower on the draw than usual with his retort. It's uncomfortably hot in here, for Jimmy but especially for the symbiote. The alien's thoughts are muddled by the oppressive heat, and some of that confusion bleeds into Jimmy's own mind through their unique link. He tugs ineffectually at the collar of the mechanic's jumpsuit the symbiote currently resembles. Next time, he promises himself, he's patrolling the walk-in freezer.

As Howard goes into his proposal about having Superman lead a team of Raoists, Jimmy doesn't react right away. At first, this is because he's not really listening. He's focused on the tablet he's carrying around, watching for updates from Sarah or the others while pretending to supervise the work going on around him (trusting his Spider-Sense to spot threats while his eyes are occupied). But as Howard's speech goes on and starts penetrating the fog in his brain, Jimmy's silence takes on a different meaning.

Obviously, Jimmy knows that Superman is functional again, and over the hill in terms of recovering. But he's still fairly fresh from a long stint as Superman's protector and caretaker - one that lasted for months and felt like years. Part of him still thinks of Superman as his charge, in some kind of weird inversion of their relationship in the years before he became Spider-Man. And the Raoists? For Pete's sake, Jimmy just spent an afternoon doing his part to make sure those jerks never see the light of day again! Especially considering what the light of this sun does for them!

But...when he runs this thought through his "What would Superman do?" filter - as he does most things hero-related - Jimmy is forced to agree (however sullenly) that Howard has a point. As a journalist, he knows the value of appearances. And as someone who knows Superman better than most, he has a feeling that the Man of Steel will forgive the Raoists long before he, Jimmy, will even consider it.

"Heck I'll even do it myself if I gots no other options. I'm sure if I scream in front o' tha Daily Planet long enough he'll show up."

Jimmy looks up sharply from the tablet at this. Then he remembers it's Howard talking, and he looks down sharply instead. Finally, his heat-addled mind realizes the duck is making an oblique jab at his and/or Lois' penchant for getting into scrapes that require Superman's attention, not subtly implying that he knows who's behind the big red S.

"Okay", Jimmy says at last with a sigh. He goes back to scanning the tablet, pretending to work as he talks to Howard.

"I don't like it. But he might. I can get you some time with him. Make your case and I guess we'll just see what he thinks. He does like building teams, that's for sure."

He must, after all, if half of what he'd told Jimmy about dragging Batman into the JLA kicking and screaming was true.

[Starsign]

Rene walks hunched over as the group begins escorting J'onn out of the prison and towards the sensor array. The horribly overwhelming stench has, at least, come partly from just how afraid the guards are; Rene knows this feeling well. He's lived these past months being afraid for so long that he can't say when he was terrified and when he was brave. In this case, they could be afraid of the potential assassination. Rene knows really damn well how powerful kryptonians are and there's no doubt that the guards know too. At the same time, why all those restraints are on J'onn. They can't be worried about him rebelling, can they? No it has to be the assassin. ANY sort of alien attacker should terrify normal guards, and a potential kryptonian one is even worse.

Not to say that anyone else may be a potential threat of course. As they pass through the corridor, Rene looks curiously at the two maintenance agents. He would've been fine simply passing through had they not smell so... different from the others. Almost immediately he uses Katie's shared awareness, something he got the hang of quickly thanks to prior experience with psychic communication, to alert her when she approaches the guards. ~Uh, Katie? Be careful. They smell... different. They don't have fear, unlike the rest of them.~ His concerns may simply be false but it does not hurt to be careful when he doesn't need to speak. Mental communication is a very convenient ability.

Rene is, as well, relieved to be able to contact J'onn even through all those absurd nullifications put on him. All Rene wants at this point is some form of private conversation with the super skrull in what may be the final time they actually meet. Being able to meet J'onn, however, is only part of why Rene is glad. The other part comes from the rather resigned attitude J'onn has. At first notice, it's a very bizarre change in attitude he has from the comforting and goal-oriented person he was back on the warship... Then Rene recalls that J'onn had acted like this before back during Rene's crazy dream trip. J'onn had been almost disappointed during it; disappointed in himself for not contributing much, despite that Rene and his family would've been completely ****ed without the super-skrull's help.

All of a sudden, Rene feels his heart dim at the thought that the assassination may have happened because J'onn resigned himself to death. What a horrible and ****** way for a hero to go. If that is the case then Rene has to do everything he can to convince J'onn to snap out of it. If that's not the case... Rene still needs to knock J'onn out of his attitude. It's not going to do anyone any good.

~Hey, J'onn?~ Rene's thoughts echo into the mind of J'onn, and unknowingly everyone else, as they begin walking down the corridor. ~You're... still acting this way, like you were back in that dream.~ Rene can't get that mess of a day out of his head. That dream almost had turned to hell had Rene not somehow managed to break the Totem away from Croc and the Lizard. Though by now it just feels like another memory incinerated into Rene's mind. ~J'onn, please talk to me. I remember what you said back then about yourself, and it's worrying me now if you think you're being, um, 'useless.'~ He wishes he could think of a better way to put it, but he can't. The resignation Rene is feeling from the Martian Manhunter is horrid.

Just to be safe, Rene's head and eyes dart around in the corridor, and at the sensor array when they inevitably reach it, to look once again for hiding spots within the area. This time, he's not looking for anyone hiding there but for places he can hide J'onn and himself should there be a chance to do so. Even if stopping the assassin is important, keeping J'onn alive, to Rene, is even more critical.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Made a knowledge (architecture) check on the OOC already to look for potential hiding spots for J'onn. Here's a Perception check to go with it just in case: (1d20+11)[22] Evasion Instinct btw is still up.

Also, though it may be senseless to try, here's an Insight check on the two guards in case Rene can get some idea of their outlook/interest in the situation regarding if they're a threat or not: (1d20)[17]

[Thokk_Smash]

Zach salutes and "yes sir's" and "yes ma'am's" his way through the catwalks until he is sure he has heard all he can hear from the prayers below. What he hears is...not great. The Kryptonians below are a hair's breadth from giving up entirely; they're just waiting for a sign from their gods that they're all going to burn in whatever their religion uses for Hell.

That won't do. Not only is Zach opposed to such fatalism on principle alone, if these Kryptonians go into a downward spiral of depression then it's more likely that Sylvester's prediction will come to pass.

Not if Zach can do something about it.

With one last salute to the other guards ("Yessir, just us guards here, nothing out of the ordinary at all"), he strides off and out of direct eyesight of the guards. Finding a little niche, he tucks himself in and closes his eyes to concentrate.

He reaches into the ball of power coiled up inside of him. Teasing out a long, slender coil of lightning, he spins it and manipulates it until it's an invisible net of mental energy. With a metaphysical twirl and toss, he spreads the net out so it reaches either end of the Peak. He'll be able to speak/think with anyone with a conscious thought, but for now, he focuses his mind on the Secondary Docking Bay's chanting inhabitants.

Spoiler: Power Stunt

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Power Stunting off of Blaze of Glory to make Imagine All The People: Communication 3 (Area, Selective, Distracting, Rapid 2, Subtle, Feature 1 (Each individual can make themselves appear in others' minds as whatever they like, usually an idealized form of themselves), Feature 2 (All involved know each other's positions and status, if willing)), Comprehend 1 (Zach is understood by everyone)

Spoiler: To the Kryptonian chanters

Show

Within the minds of the assembled Kryptonians, a man appears. He is tall and handsome, for a human, and within his body a core of lightning can be seen softly pulsating. In fact, the Kryptonians can see each other in their mind's eye, through the walls of the ships so that all are present in thought and mind.

And then Zach opens his mouth...

~"Please allow me to introduce myself,"~
~"I'm a man of chords and revolts"~
~"I've been around quite less than your long years,"~
~"But please listen while I emote"~

~"I can't pretend to know"~
~"What challenges you're facing"~
~"I know you've come from far beyond,"~
~"And for what you've lost there's no replacing"~

~"Now you're feeling low, worse than ever,"~
~"And you're looking to Rao-who-is-Sl'gur't-who-is-Kly'bn"~
~"Looking to Him to make it better,"~
~"Or punish y'all for your sins."~

~"Pleased to meet you,"~
~"I know I don't share your faith,"~
~"But listen, this is true,"~
~"It ain't just you been kicked in the face."~

~"We got kids getting shot, siblings killed,"~
~"We got people killin' themselves just to escape,"~
~"And we can't always see over the hill,"~
~"Or out of the grave in which we've been placed."~

~"But y'know..."~

~"You gotta rise up,"~
~"When you're living on your knees you"~
~"Rise up"~

~"Tell your brother that he's gotta"~
~"Rise up,"~
~"Tell your sister that she's gotta"~
~"Rise up!"~

~"'Cause life is just a story,"~
~"So let's make 'em tell it right"~
~"'Cause when our peoples tell our stories,"~
~"They'll tell the stories of tonight!~"

~"Raise a shout to free will!"~
~"Something life can never take away,"~
~"Something your gods did give you..."~

~"Stand on your own two feet tonight!"~

~"You can't feel the heat until the Flamebird flaps his wings,"~
~"His crucible is meant to burn away your sins,"~
~"You won't know your worth now, guys, until you take a blow,"~
~"And if you resign yourselves now, Darkseid'll surely grow..."~

~"So don't back down, now,"~
~"Don't run and hide~"
~"'Cause these are the things that you can't deny,"~
~"I'm passing through your lives like a satellite,"~
~"And this is the thing that you can't deny, now:"~
~"You're still alive, don't deny yourselves that, now."~

Spoiler

Show

Expertise (Musician) check for quality: (1d20+20)[29]
Persuasion roll: (1d20+20)[37]

[herodofcows]

Potence, Sarah Prime, the Builder

Spoiler: Builder

Show

It's hard to properly assess the architecture of a floating space station. Your college courses were no slouch, of course, but this is a little bit beyond your paygrade . . .

. . . or, it would be, if you weren't networked up to a bunch of teammates and hyped to the gills with magic.

Your best bet for easy escapes would have to be the vents. Granted, it would be a tight fit, but you're pretty sure J'onn could shapeshift through the worst of it and thereby get through anywhere. Better yet, you can smell the peculiar mix of chemicals that Peregrine is being exposed to right now. Given the opportunity and your nose, you could lead J'onn to Life Support from just about anywhere in the station. Sure, there'd be the question of where to go next, but it's a good first step!

As far as J'onn . . . you hear his thoughts in your head and yours alone. Something about this link that's formed between you . . . it's faint, but it circumvents Shared Awareness (unless you wish it broadcasted*).

~Useless? Hardly, Rene. If anything, I suffer from a profusion of use. Your strength within that dream was a PLEASURE to watch. It is heartening to know that my adoptive home will have others to step into the breach when I am gone. I only wish I didn't have to die to make my point, but we can't have everything, can we?~

*In which case, tell people to check the spoiler.

Spoiler: Potence

Show

As you continue to scry ahead, you notice that your route is mostly clear. You have a few idle S.W.O.R.D. agents around and about, but they mostly seem to be focused on trivial tasks or just in process of walking from place to place. You hear the conversation between the two heavily-armed S.W.O.R.D. agents die down as they realize you're approaching, and they stand to attention.

The maintenance crew . . . they seem normal. You do a quick inventory of the tools they're carrying, and you're hardly Kayla in these matters, but everything looks as it should be. Granted, you can do a lot of bad things with normal tools, but nothing on them suggests that they're anything more nefarious than a maintenance crew.

~Kryptonian assassins? Really . . .~

J'onn's tone is just as resigned as ever.

~I suppose I am in your capable hands, then. As long as I can make it to the judicial chamber, this will all be worthwhile. It has to be.~

The guards snap towards Potence as she addresses them, and then immediately turn towards the maintenance crew. A ripple of frustration and anger crosses their faces in tandem.

"Sonova . . . damn it, keep moving. I'll sort this out . . ."

Growling, one of the guards sprints over to the maintenance crew and begins hissing angrily at them. Ordinarily it would be out of your range of hearing, but with the Builder's senses, Potence's scrying, and active Shared Awareness, it all comes through clearly:

Spoiler: Conversation 'twixt Guard and Maintenance Crew

Show

"What the hell are you idiots DOING here?"

"What do you- we've got scheduled-"

"Not NOW you don't! We're in the middle of prisoner transportation! Get out of here!"

"Now look mate, 's right here, we've got the work order and everything . . ."

"Let me see THAT . . ."

"It's all signed! Look away! Bloody hell . . ."

There is a sheepish pause, and then . . .

"Uh . . . Right, just . . . just get in there and stay out of the way."

"Wasn't gonna do anything else. S***, man . . ."

After briefly inspecting their paperwork, the guard returns sheepishly. A lot of the tension seems to have gone out of both agents, now replaced with a slight embarrassment as they continue to push J'onn down the way into the Crew Quarters. The area is a warren of sorts: two stories, all accessible by ladders or lifts. It's spacious, like a promenade criss-crossed and folded in on itself. Aside from two heavily armed S.W.O.R.D. agents standing to attention, there are very few people about that look as though they might be a threat.

The tension ratchets back as soon as Sarah's muttering becomes discernible to them.

"She serious?" one of them growls to the other, "Release the f***ing Super-Skrull with Supes' powers?"

Ronin, Sarah-α

Spoiler: Sarah-α

Show

The encryption is no joke! Whatever is within is meant to be hidden from prying eyes such as yours. You manage not to trip any alarms, so you can continue to observe passively, but you've got no idea what's in there yet.

The agent half-jumps out of her skin as Ronin approaches her, and stammers at the question.

"I d-d-d-don't, I, I, I m-m-m-mean . . ."

Woof. Bad stammer on this one.

"Ronin!"

Brand's bark clears the hubbub of the Command Center, which was already beginning to ebb and flow as Ronin approached the agent. The Director is positively radiating anger (but conveniently ignoring Sarah's hacking attempts).

"You want to observe, then observe, but do NOT interfere with the running of my organization. We clear?"

Thunderstruck

You're out of sight of the other guards, and a niche is easy to find . . .

Well, okay. Bathroom stall. Whatever. It works, is the point. It's nice, quiet, porcelaneous, perfect for being ignored.

Within the landscape of your consciousness, though . . .

Spoiler: Thunderstruck (and those he Shares Awareness with)

Show

You are playing within an amphitheater. It is a massive gleaming marble affair, the kind that one might idealize from reading about the theaters of old. The acoustics of your call echo with pinpoint perfection through the air, piercing the ears of the listeners with effervescent clarity. There is no limit, no sky to halt the advance of the amphitheater's steps: it simply proceeds higher and higher, reaching up to the limits of your vision.

Every seat you can see is filled with the aliens, sitting shoulder to shoulder in what might nearly appear cramped were it not for their clear comfort. There are far more Skrulls than Kryptonians, but you often have to look carefully to tell the difference: yes, the Kryptonians are human-looking where the Skrulls are green, small, and profoundly alien, but it is as though their forms shine through some diffracting prism. It takes you a moment to realize that THIS is the ideal for many of them; Skrulls have become Kryptonian in some wises, and Kryptonians have likewise adopted Skrull characteristics.

There are exceptions, of course: a few Kryptonians haughtily manifest without pretense towards human or Skrull qualities, and a noticeable number of Skrulls have taken on bizarre unconventional shapes of various stripes. Overall, though, the effect is one of nearly-perfect congruence.

Their voices roar in a thousand tones, speaking a million different phrases and words. Without the service of WHATEVER it is powering you these days, there would be no parsing it. But by some indescribable process of magic, psionics, and spirit, their words become sentiments become declarations become prayers.

On one side:

Change flows heedless, and so all change must follow
No fighting whatever comes, feel no sorrow
We are as life makes us, we're specks in the tide
Let Death keep its rigor, by change we'll abide

Come Flamebird and Nightwing, come Sl'gur't's will
Come what may come, we'll endure everything still
Adapt to the grief and adapt to the chance
Adapt or perish, by retreat, advance!

On the other

Kly'bn and Rao, we are as we are
We are, though they'd have us be naught, be not,
The tides of change are ours to weather, whether we will
Or whether the weather wears woefully
Our flame shall still burn, still shimmer
Though the gusts of woe and corruption assail
We are scars in the face of the storm
Let our cries be legion and our sun burn bright
Let the darkness shudder to take us,
Let our blood be as glass, to cut those that shed it,
Let us be bold, let us be essential, let us be
That which stands in the midst of the change and remains true
Let us be the truth unbowed, unbroken,
Erased entirely or spoken in full

Sarah-β

You flit through the area, a wraith of teleportation, but the acoustics are elusive and you have no other guide. You zip from maintenance crew to maintenance crew and, aside from scaring the bejeezus out of a few technicians, you come up with nothing. It's not that there isn't some kind of malarkey going on, because there most certainly is. But for all of your speed and discernment, you cannot seem to get a proper lock on the location of the activity. All of the crews seem to be doing their jobs with conventional tools and, while all of them are noisy, none appear to be the source of the distinctive thrumming that has your hackles raised.

Spider Man, Howard

As the two of you talk, one of the previously-glaring workers sidles up to you. He's approximately dressed in his S.W.O.R.D. uniform, but "approximately" is the best can be said: the top half is tied around his waist in favor of a sweat-and-grease-streaked white undershirt. It's difficult to tell if he's a mutant, or part-alien, or just REALLY hairy.

"'scuse me," he opens, addressing the both of you with a nigh-unidentifiable Metropolis patois of the grand old style, "'d'youse two knows Sooperman?"

Everyone nearby is watching carefully as this interaction takes place. Tools are set down. Gazes both friendly and not are pointed firmly at you two.

. . . Is this dude seriously about to start something?

Peregrine

Pending post

[SuperCracker]

Brand wasn’t going to like this… Ronin completely ignored her and kept his focus on the suspicious agent. “Do you know what happens if they succeed in assassinating J’onn? It will conveniently cause a war with the Kryptonians right before Darkseid shows up. The lives of everyone you know will be in danger.”

There was a sudden edge to his words. “If you know something, this is your last chance to tell me.”

It was then that another spark of paranoia hit him. Kryptonians and Skrulls can hide among anyone. He switched over to True Sight and swept his eyes over everyone present. If someone in the Command Center were a not-obvious infiltrator, it could be very bad.

Spoiler

Show

Rolling insight again. (1d20+16)[35]

Then switching powers to true sight so he can power-scan her and everyone else in the room.

[Quellian-dyrae]

~Looks clear up ahead,~ Katie sent.

"I mean, I would, honestly," she replied when she "heard" the guard's growl (actually got it filtered in through Shared Awareness since her own sense of hearing was currently a sector or two ahead, but close enough). She brought her Helping Hand back over to scry their current location, both to be ready in case a hostile approach and to better keep track of conversations in the immediate vicinity. "It's like, I totally get get that he's super-powerful and it's your job to make sure he doesn't escape or anything, so I understand why you wouldn't. I'm just pretty sure the threat to him is more probable than the possibility that he'd try to escape. But, you know, different priorities, and all. We're the superheroes with the whole overarching mission and future predictions and stuff going on, you're the guards who are just trying to escort a prisoner safely to where he's supposed to go. We completely understand that what seems like the most important thing happening right now to us is probably just a headache to you guys. Sorry about that, by the way," she said with a little, slightly sheepish laugh.

"That being said, we are really pretty sure that this attack is going to happen, and that J'onn wouldn't try anything. If you were to let him out of his restraints, or at least tone down the suppressions you've got on him enough that like, maybe he can use some of his defensive powers or something, it'd be a big help to us, and a really positive gesture towards the other skrull and kryptonians. I mean, I don't know much about prisoner security and stuff, but I kinda figure little things like that, when you can do them, make the whole experience just a bit less negative for everyone. I would be willing to personally guarantee his good behavior. But, I know you're not the bosses, so it's totally okay if you can't because protocols and stuff." No challenge, no hostility, no demand. She remained completely friendly and conversational (albeit a bit rambly and scattered, as was her wont), letting the request hang gently.

Spoiler

Show

Let's take another shot with Persuasion. I don't really expect I can actually get the guards to remove the dampeners and such, but if I can get them to tone them down enough that J'onn's defensive powers can come online, or failing that, maybe just nudge them a bit more towards the friendly side of the scale towards us and/or the Raoists, I'll take it. (1d20+17)[30], additional +5 if Attractive applies.

[CandyLaser]

Sarah-Prime

Sarah had just assumed that SWORD would not even consider releasing J'onn, and hence wanted to get him moving as soon as possible. Now that the possibility had been broached, though, there was no reason not to back Katie's play. "It seems clear he's more likely to survive transport if he can defend himself, at least a little bit. He doesn't need full mobility or access to his offensive powers. If your devices are precise enough, just restoring his durability would go a long way toward making things easier."

Spoiler: Rolls

Show

Try to assist the Persuasion, using Polymath to get Teamwork and +8 Persuasion: (1d20+13)[32]

Sarah-α

This version of Sarah stayed out of the director's way. Ronin's interference gave her cover as she kept trying to decrypt the transmission.

Spoiler: Rolls

Show

Assuming I can try again, I will: (1d20+20)[37]

Sarah-β

The search continued. The noise continued, as well, and Sarah went back through her mental catalogue, trying to see if she could figure out anything about the device in question from the sound.

Spoiler: Rolls

Show

Ditto. Trying another Investigate, assuming it's allowed. (1d20+20)[33] My rolls last time were garbage, so maybe the RNG will bless me. I'd also like to roll some relevant Expertise to see if I can place the noise in memory - e.g. does it sound like Apokaliptan tech? Reed Richards' gear? Stark? Alchemax? Here's a roll, including the +5 for Eidetic Memory: (1d20+25)[45]

[Lizard Lord]

Howard gives the Spider-Man a nod as he pops a fresh cigar into his beak. He was hoping to get someone else to sell the idea to Superman, but Howard's not on unfriendly terms with the big S so having a meeting setup seems like the next best thing.

Before he can light his cigar one of the Sword workers walks up to him asking about their relationship with Superman. Howard eyes up the guy to figure his intentions, but figures there is no point in not answering honestly regardless of what they may be. Worst case scenario is Howard and Spider-man wind up getting chewed out by Brand for fighting her employees even if they did start it, but Howard's used to crap like that by now. Second worse case is this guy is an Agent of Darksied, or whoever else the assassins might be; which might be painful to deal with but it would be great if one of them was actually dumb enough to expose themselves right now. Third worse case scenario is getting into a fight with Sword but without Howard getting blamed for it for once. None of the other scenarios Howard can think of are even worth worrying about.

"Ya I knows him. Worked wit' him on a few jobs. There was that time tha Toyman was using my likeness ta make evil rubber-duckies, there was tha time we both got stuck in Bizzarro world (though I'll admit I enjoyed feedin' tha humans bread crumbs), and there was tha time wit' tha guy whose name I don't think anyone could ever actually pronounce. There were also a few weird ones to. Why what's it to ya?"

[Starsign]

Rene had been... for a lack of better words, fatally stiffened as he communicates with J'onn privately. Whatever mental communication J'onn had set up, it remained particularly distinct from the Shared Awareness which Katie connected Rene with... That and, perhaps only for Rene, the psychic connection provided by J'onn is more familiar to the reptilian than the magical signal that's connecting Rene to everyone else.

Yet the reason why Rene suddenly appears to have stopped walking, eyes darkening into fear and body shivering like he's in a freezer, was what J'onn told the reptilian privately. While J'onn had publicly communicated with everyone about wanting to get to the judicial chamber, Rene feels that whole thought to be a gigantic load of resigned lies; a phrase twisted from truth just to make the other heroes feel more at ease. Without really getting a grasp at what could happen next, Rene already feels like he know how this may turn out should he not try and help; and not in the sense of protecting J'onn from attacks or hiding him in the air vents.

Spoiler: Mental Conversation

Show

~J'onn, stop.~

Rene's "speaks" through his connection with J'onn, and only J'onn, in the very sorrowful tone which Rene has adopted during all the trauma he went through at the warship incident. ~Please, stop thinking like that. Death... dying won't accomplish anything, whether it's here or by the court's decision. We've already seen what happens if you're assassinated; the kryptonians and skrulls go to war with each other and are nearly obliterated. There'd be barely anything left, and it's because you died.~

Rene's thoughts echo with concern as his mind shifts around to various memories he's had, ones he can share with J'onn, some which J'onn himself was there for.

~J'onn, you told me you had no desire to die. But... that's what you're saying now. You're thinking you're letting yourself be taken to court to execute you. And you think everyone will GET something out of it?!~ Rene almost knows what it's like to simply curl up and let the world forget him; to live on as a dead person and think it's better for everyone that way; and he knows that doesn't work.

~J'onn you've done a lot already by being alive. You saved me on that warship. I couldn't be here if it wasn't for you. You helped teach me to fight for my life, not to run and hide. It's why I came here willingly. I want to help. I want to fight where we need to. I can do so much more if I stay alive than if I die.~ The tone of Rene's voice hints at fear, an emotion he's carried a lot. ~I mean I'm scared; I'm ****ing terrified fighting villains. I worry I'll get myself killed over it. But... if I don't fight to the last, what else can I do?~

He sighs, feeling tired recalling all his memories. It's a drain on his mind remembering some of the worst memories he's had. ~I know that, if I die, there won't be many who will miss me. You, the Misfits... that's about it. Barely anyone else likes me. Croc wouldn't miss me; the Lizard sure as **** wouldn't; the Secret Warriors wouldn't. But if I died, I can't do anything else with my family. I wouldn't be able to help my brother. When I die, that's it. I can't do any more. If I was dead, my brother would... I can't even imagine how worse he'd get. That's why I need to stay alive. I don't want any of my family and friends to die. And that's why I'd like you to stay alive as well.~

~So when we get to the court, I'll let you speak. But please, don't advocate yourself to execution. And please convince them otherwise if they consider executing you. There's a better place in this world for both of us than whatever afterlife we end up in. If I have to, I'll speak up on your behalf. I'll ask them if they can reduce your punishment; exile or imprisonment, not death. I'll protect you like I would my brother. J'onn, all I ask, please, is that you don't seek to become some sort of martyr.~

Walking in silence, at least to the eyes and minds of almost everyone else, Rene looks up, around, and all over as he examines the entire construction of the station. It wouldn't have worked had he not been able to pretty much see everyone else's perception. ~Hey everyone?~ Rene speaks through shared awareness. ~Think I found an escape route, if we need it. Air vents provide a way through to life support. I can lead J'onn to it if needed. It just won't be super-fast as I'm not-~

It will be fast

Rene pauses, hearing the voice in his head once again.

Stop holding back, and we shall be fast

For a brief moment, Rene's vision illusions into a near-pitch black field. No one there except himself... and a strange, shadowy being, almost like the Totem, like that awful being in him. Except the being is smaller, roughly Rene's size, vaguely humanoid and... of all things, speaking in Rene's voice.

Accept. Relax. Deny all else. Let go and take it for yourself!

Then all illusions disappear as Rene finds himself back in reality. His body shivers coldly for a moment as he fails to comprehend just what he saw. It was the beast of course, the one he'd been hearing in his mind all the time. Yet it didn't seem to be an individual being like the Totem. It's... different, like a part of him all along. He can't understand it, just that whatever it is, it's very close to Rene right now.

~...I'll be as quick as I can if we have to move. We'll just need to be careful.~ He concludes with a dull mood, trying not to be overwhelmed fearing the unknown as they slowly make their way to court.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

I've got... something going regarding Rene regarding his powers. Hopefully might make sense soon. In the meantime, Persuasion check on J'onn: (1d20+1)[17] Very likely chance I'll be using HP to reroll or boost via EE. Hmm... That's a rough spot to be in.

[Thokk_Smash]

Zach studiously ignores the writing on the bathroom stall (seriously, this is a high-clearance awesome secret agency spaceship--people still complain about their bosses on the bathroom wall, really?). Instead, he focuses on the scene happening within his soul...

Spoiler: In Zach's mind (...no, it's not empty)

Show

The appearance of his show's hall gives him a brief pause. Sure, the marble-aesthetic is cool, but not exactly his style. With a wave of his hand, the environment around the Skrull/Kryptonian audience shifts and morphs. Instead of a marble-and-classical arena, a modern-style concert hall emerges. The seats are plush and comfortable, spotlights hang from invisible catwalks, and there are innumerable balconies that spread out to the heavens. The stage is the finest wood, and the space directly in front of the state is open: perfect for a crowd of shouting fans, and with plenty of opportunity for an audience member to jump up on stage to participate directly.

Zach himself is dressed as he normally is: ripped skinny jeans, sleeveless leather jacket over a v-cut shirt to show off his chest hair. Lightning curls around his form, like a cat nuzzling its favorite human. The pulsating lightning remains in his chest, beating to the rhythm of his song.

~"Humans are children to you, I know"~
~"You wanted to use us for your plan, it shows"~
~"But now that we know, some of you want to go"~
~"But if you'd let us help, your strength will grow"~

~"Two plus two is four, such a bore"~
~"Yet Skrulls plus Kryptonians are so much more"~
~"Way more than just the sum of your parts"~
~"Thrust together by tragedy, bonded through your hearts"~

At this point, Zach gestures to two of the aliens, who appear to be on opposite sides of the argument. If they want, they'll appear on stage with him.

~"Specks in a tide still hold their own weight"~
~"By banding together, they can change their own fate"~
~"Specks of dust are weak, unformed'"~
~"But when dust bands together, a mighty mountain is born!"~

~"We can be your support, we can be your allies, we can be"~
~"So much more than what you've seen"~
~"So much more than you've thought"~
~"And if you leave we'll be left the mess you've wrought"~

He gives the two in front of him a hard stare. It is not judgmental, not angry; yet he makes clear that their actions have intertwined their peoples.

~"This play is not done, the end is unwritten"~
~"The saga unfinished, the dessert unbitten"~
~"This is your Hoth, your Fellowship scattered,"~
~"This is the time when your wills will be battered"~

~"So please...don't just give up, don't throw us away"~
~"Don't scrap this whole plan, this first act of your play"~
~"This can still work, this Raoist-Earth alliance"~
~"Now we're aware, we can fight with you...if you'll let us"~

At the end, he reaches his hand out to the two on stage: an invitation, an offer, a pleading.

Spoiler

Show

Expertise (Musician): (1d20+20)[30]
Persuasion: (1d20+20)[35]

[TheIronGolem]

"Ya I knows him. Worked wit' him on a few jobs. There was that time the Toyman was using my likeness ta make evil rubber-duckies, there was tha time we both got stuck in Bizzarro world (though I'll admit I enjoyed feedin' tha humans bread crumbs), and there was tha time wit' tha whose name I don't think anyone could ever actually. There were also a few weird ones too. Why what's it too ya?"

Before the worker can respond, Jimmy breaks out into a big dopey grin, pointing excitedly at Howard. Without a warning from his Spider-Sense, he assumes the guy is at worst some jerk with a chip on his shoulder because Superman didn't help him sand his deck or whatever.

"THAT'S where I've seen you before!", he exclaims. "Those rubber-duckie robots the Toyman used to wreck that farmer's market in Metropolis! Ha! Those were supposed to be you!? I was there for that! They were actually pretty cute, at least before they started lighting stalls on fire. They gave m-" - Jimmy remembers he's supposed to be incognito here, talking duck in a sombrero notwithstanding - " they gave Spider-Man a pretty hard time from what I heard."

[herodofcows]

Potence, the Builder, Sarah-Prime

Spoiler: Builder Mental Convo

Show

You hear J'onn sigh within your head. It's a mournful sigh rather than an annoyed one, but you can tell that there is an essential quality of conflict to it; a sense that he would strive to make this other than it is.

~I didn't . . . I don't wish to die, no. I don't think I do. I . . . If what you say is true, then . . .~

~I knew I'd be killed, going into this. Maybe by some of my brethren, who would not have the old ways die. Perhaps it would be at the hand of the Thing-That-Corrupts, or one of his servants. But it wasn't going to be meaningless. I was going to make them understand. I had something ready, like what I showed you. I was going to show them what I'd felt all those years . . . I was . . .

He sighs again, and there is defeat within it.

~It was going to be all for nothing after all?~

Spoiler: Potence

Show

As your Feeling Hand continues forward, you get a broader sense of the Crew Quarters. The area is almost entirely deserted, and what few people you sense appear to be hurrying in one direction or another. Clearly this is an all-hands-on-deck scenario going on here.

The guards glance at each other as you pass through the Crew Quarters, taking a shortcut that leads you to the small corridor along the edge of the station that looks out into Orbit. It's less awe-inspiring than one might imagine: you're facing out into what would almost look like a regular night sky, were it not for the lack of light pollution giving a vast look at the stars beyond.

"Look . . ." one of the guards begins shamefacedly as the other half-looks away, "we could get into a lot of trouble for . . ."

He sighs, rubs his eyes, and then gestures Potence over.

"Just watch where I point, okay? You hit that in THIS sequence, press this, unlatch THAT . . ."

It takes a moment, but he lays out the means of releasing J'onn from his restraints.

"Only as a last resort," the guard half-threatens, half-pleads as he finishes up. The look on his face is one of a man who has just given his job security to a wizard.

Ronin, Sarah-α

Spoiler: Ronin

Show

It's tricky because S.W.O.R.D. employs a number of extraterrestrial expats, many of whom have metahuman capabilities. Most are products of being accustomed to heavier gravity or different environmental conditions, some are empaths or technopaths, some even potentially have staying power comparable to Kryptonians exposed to yellow sunlight for about a year or so . . . But no packages that would betray them as Skrulls or Kryptonians.

As far as your read on the stuttering agent: she's baseline human, probably has a little bit of a mutant thing, and more importantly she's just following orders. Whatever she's doing, she's doing on behalf of another figure of legitimate Earthling authority.

Spoiler: Sarah-α

Show

You break in this time, but it immediately becomes clear that you're dealing with a code jockey that's as good as you, if not better. You're able to look at the logs of previous communication but whomever is managing the security on this is moving to shut you out ASAP.

Luckily, you're quick on the draw. You throw a backdoor in there for yourself before getting booted out. It's not the most immediate thing in the world, so you're operating on a few seconds worth of delay, but it's untraceable. The code jockey isn't about to notice your intrusion again anytime soon.

The gist of the previous logs is that the participants in the conversation are minutely examining the motion of the trial and the Martian Manhunter and preparing to initiate something called Fire Road. The most recent logs you were able to see from the conversation has S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Watchtower advising the Pentagon to hold off on initiating Fire Road as of yet because the Sunglasses are not in position to deal with potential Seashell interference. Something called the Bricklayer is inbound.

Brand is . . . miffed, to say the least.

"I want him off my bridge and confined, now!"

Two S.W.O.R.D. agents approach, weapons drawn and pointed at the mutant's head at Brand's furious gesture. She turns now to Sarah's doppelgänger.

"YOU can stay and act as a relay. Tell your teammates what just happened and make it DAMN clear that I'd better not hear about any more interference with my station coming from them."

Thunderstruck

Spoiler: Within the Mindscape

Show

There is a brief ripple through the crowd as the scenery changes, but you cannot tell whether it comes from consternation, concern, or awe. The crowd begins to shift and move like a living thing under the auspices of your music, not quite a dance but not quite restless shifting either.

Charging headlong is a path to disaster
To heed this mortal is to ignore our masters
Some might wish to try some last desperate defense
But others would wait for our god's call from hence

Can gods not speak with mortal mouths?
Listen, his words strike a chord, call for striking
Our holy war at last is wholly ours
What profit is prophecy if you ignore prophets?

We plead forbearance, for bearing this is much
You'd have us be running, but we're still becrutched
If you'd have our-

We've lived as watchmakers
Preparing, making, remaking anew
To time and design enslaved, art and artifice our shackles
Let action be our watchwords now!
Let us be hunters against the beasts at the door!
Give us the dignity of sentries sent to try!
Let us seize fire from our shackles
And raise hot defiance to boil corruption away!

As these thoughts circle through your head, you can hear a clatter of boots going on towards the Secondary Docking Bay. No alarms, though . . . Or rather, no alarms YET . . .

Sarah-β

You find them, all right. It's a six-person maintainance crew, all human, nothing out of place to the casual observer . . . Until you look at the equipment.

From the look of it, these guys took a full Shi'ar engineering kit and gave it a new paint job and casing to make it look as best as possible like a bunch of Stark castoffs and other taxpayer-provided tools. Based on what they've got pulled up and the settings on them, they're spoofing a hard connection to one of the bigger shipbuster-caliber guns. If you hadn't interrupted it, they'd be able to swivel the gun (up to 45 degrees left or right) activate/deactivate it, and fire it from a handheld device.

". . . Can I help you, miss?" one of them asks, coming towards you with a hard expression on her face. You can see the others are continuing to work, scarcely seeming to pay you any mind . . .

Spider Man, Howard

The twin statements from the duck and the technician that nobody knows seems to throw the hostile atmosphere into consternation. The hirsute engineer peers at you nearly owlishly (or, he would, were he not so built like a boar as to render absurd all comparisons to owls).

"You knows him? So . . . So what's alla dis stuff about Sooperman bein' all messed in da head? Is he workin' wit' da Skrulls now or sumpin'?"

The techs start to gather about, putting in final touches onto this bit of maintenance or that before peering in.

"'Cuz," continues their de facto spokesman, "We likes Sooperman up here. Looks out for da little guy. Saved da station once. So if he's workin' for dem Skrulls now, well . . . why?"

"'scuse me!"

From beyond the crowd, you see an influx of other S.W.O.R.D. techs streaming into Propulsion. Unlike the other denizens, they're in full uniform and look driven by explicit purpose. They're lugging in a bunch of new technology on carts. It all looks uniform: dark silver with glowing blue plates on it, very bleeding-edge looking and markedly in contrast to any visible technology within the area.

The apparent leader of these new technicians strides over to you. She looks alien, with blue skin and pale blue hair, and speaks with easy confidence.

"Need you guys to clear out. Brand wants these new boosters installed pronto, and we need space to work, so-"

"'ey 'ey 'ey woah now!" barks the other interlocutor, rounding on the woman with clear hostility in his voice, "Whaddayamean, WE gots ta clear out? We're da greasemonkeys what runs dese parts 'ere . . ."

The new tech looks at him like he's something she'd wipe off of her shoe.

"Okay bud, do you know how to install a Raptor-class hard-light repair unit? No? Didn't think so. Guess what though, my team does. Let us work."

"Ain't heard nothin' about no-"

"Take it up with Brand, all right? But do it later, we're on a schedule. Get!"