Emerald City Knights {IC}

[CandyLaser]

Amy continued snapping pictures, capturing an image of F.O.E.'s retreat, as well as one of the applauding Maximillian Mars. Overall, she was pleased with how things turned out. Being useless for the fight hurt; she could practically feel the Crown in her bag, its power yearning to be unleashed. And she wasn't happy that the other heroes had to take more hits and be under more threat for her absence.

On the other hand, no one was seriously hurt, and now it was even less likely that anyone would link Amy Archer, intrepid reporter, to Viridian, flying gem-powered heroine. She'd have to use the Crown's illusion powers to appear in the same place at the same time, later, to really hammer home the belief that the two were separate people. Plus, she had a good story, and good pictures.

"Detective Buckner," she said, as the officer entered. "It's a good thing you're here. You missed all the fun, but just before those thugs showed up, Mars was just about to answer my question about the reports that the explosion and silver cloud originated a truck bearing the logo of MarsTech subsidiary RedShift Industries." She turned on her heel, looking Mars right in the eye with a smirk on her face. "So, Max - what's the story?"

[BarbieTheRPG]

Mars smiles and greets Det. Buckner with a double-handshake, "Your presence is welcomed as always detective. MarsTech stands prepared to assist in any way we can. I wont lie; these Knights are an impressive group. One I'm eager to engage, if they'll grant me an audience. Emerald City needs people like them. Especially in times like these. If RedShift Energies is involved in this tragic event, I'm sure ECPD and the FBI will ferret it out. I'm looking forward to whatever evidence comes to light. MarsTech has an association with RedShift, but only contractually. Let's let the investigation work itself out."

[prufock]

Xstatic
Condition: -1 Toughness, Fatigued |HP: 0

Seeing the danger has passed, Varish picks himself up off the floor and steps through the him-sized hole in the wall into Mars' office. The detective has finally arrived. Overhearing their conversation, Varish sees his opportunity to speak with the mogul. Excuse me, Mr. Mars, but we actually came seeking an audience with you. I'm glad we were able to help, but as you can see, something strange happened to some of us when that truck exploded on Yellow Brick Row. Personally, I'm quite worried. I don't know what effect, if any, this may have on my health, or those around me. I was hoping, with your extensive network, you'd be able to point me in the direction of a doctor who specializes in this sort of... abnormality. Varish scratches his head, clearly a little uncomfortable under the gaze of the technology magnate.

[BarbieTheRPG]

Mars smiled at Xstatic, "Not to worry, young man. Our biotech specialist can find the answers you need. In fact, I'll commit myself to making sure you have all the information you need regarding your electrical anomaly. Quick question: do you experience any electrical surge with your emotion shifts?"

Detective Buckner turns again to the Knights for answers, "What the hell happened here? This place is a mess! Did one of you lose it? Just tell me what happened and I'll try to manage the information. You don't have to worry about prosecution right now. I just need the facts to the best of your ability."

[Eldest]

Anna jerks back in shock at the idea of being prosecuted. They were the ones who sent off the bad guys! There were some, I guess villains? They burst in and gave us two seconds to clear out. I shot first at a second and a half. She grins cheerfully.

[Objection]

Oculus
HP: 1 | Condition: 1 wound, tries turning it off and on again

Elaine winces as the villain's energy blast hits her right in the gut and drops to her knees. Before she can get back up, her electricity-wielding ally fires an electric bolt only to hit the equipment on the wall. The electricity travels throughout the room, overloading all the electronics in the office, including Elaine's cybernetic systems. Her vision pixellates and becomes choppy before cutting out completely. Her hands freeze in place. She can hear the sounds of battle, and then they stop and are replaced by a bunch of voices, but all Elaine's focusing on is trying to get her electronic implants working again. It takes a little while for her to remember what to do, but then ...

"SURGE PROTECTION RESET! FIVE ZERO SIX DELTA SEVEN ALPHA!"

After Elaine speaks the code, her vision comes back to her immediately, as does mobility in her hands. She notices, in order, that Mars' office has taken a significant amount of damage, that there is no sign of the superpowered beings that had broken into the office, and that Detective Buckner is on the scene.

"What just happened?" Elaine asks as she gets back on her feet and retracts her stun gun.

[BarbieTheRPG]

Maximillian Mars responds, "Something amazing."

Mars begins asking the characters their names, where they're from, why they fought the villains and would they consider forming a team to protect Emerald City from a very apparent threat. Surprisingly, he's very polite but also very determined in learning about you.

[CandyLaser]

Amy knew when it was time to fade into the background.

Actually, she didn't really have any idea of when to fade into the background, but nevertheless she got the sense that this might be a good time. She kept her recorder running, of course, but didn't interrupt as Max asked his questions.

[BarbieTheRPG]

Police sirens sound from outside the building and Detective Buckner signals a "stand-down" order via her radio, then she surveys the scene further while Mars continues chatting with the Knights. After a few moments, Buckner approaches the group, "This is officially a crime scene, Mr. Mars, so our CSI units will need open access to this space. I'm sure that isn't an issue. I will need to collect statements from everyone regarding the incident, starting with our 'Knights'. Will you all accompany me down to the lobby?" Detective Buckner smiles will walking for the door.

Mars crosses his arms over his chest saying, "Of course, Detective. Whatever you need, MarsTech will comply with, within reason." He watches the Knights a few seconds before turning back to his desk.

[prufock]

Xstatic
Condition: -1 Toughness | HP: 0

At Mars' reassurance, Varish visibly relaxes. If anyone would know what to do about this static charge he had picked up, it would be one of the most powerful technology developers in the country. With a relieved smile, he tells Mars a bit about himself. My name is Varish. I work for Emerald City municipal as an electrical engineer. That's what I was doing when the explosion happened - working on a junction box on Yellow Brick Row. I got knocked out for a moment, and when I woke up these sparks were shooting off my skin. I really just want to make sure this effect isn't dangerous to others, but... - he looks to the space that the villains had previously occupied - I guess I have my answer to that. If I can't get rid of it, I need to at least control it. I wouldn't want my daughter to get hurt.

He follows the detective to the elevator, feeling winded, but a little more upbeat than he had since the incident on YBR.

[Coal Seam Fire]

Strangelet

The insistent chirp of Kay's cell phone slowly drags her back to (near-) consciousness. Groaning, she rolls over and paws her nightstand for it, but it shifts erratically away from her hand until she actually wakes up enough to look at it. Suspiciously. Definitely a suspicious look.

"Hel—" she starts, her voice a croak, but the voice on the other end has already begun talking. "Wait. Wait. Praneesh! Slow down, please; I think I have a... Who wants what?" The response is shocking enough she sits up abruptly, dimming her vision and prompting a strong objection from her gut.

"But why? Oh... Uh, no, I hadn't heard. I've been asleep all day. Yeah, sick, probably the... No. No, it's okay. That's my project. It would look bad if I sent someone else." Kay does not go on to say that Praneesh only understands the theory half as well as she thinks. You learn quickly where your coworkers' limitations are, with weekly peer reviews. "Yeah, I'm sure. It's fine. I'll have to hurry, though. Can you call them back for me and confirm that I'm on my way? Thanks. Thanks, Praneesh. Hey, now. It could still be good news. Look, I gotta go. Okay, next Wednesday. Bye."

---

Just a hair over an hour later, a hastily-dressed and -coifed Kay rushes up the stairs leading to the front door of the MarsTech building. One hand is carrying a computer bag bulging with papers in addition to its intended contents. The other is doing something complicated to the blonde frizz exploding behind her head. By the time she gets to the doors and pressed the button on the intercom, the mess is restrained in a loose braid.

"Hello? It's Doctor Oniatis from ECU. I was—" She stops herself before saying "summoned." Big donors tended to inflate their importance enough without helping things along. "—called for. Emergency consultation."

[Eldest]

Drana resumes her grin once it's clear she's not going to be the focus of police attention, handing over a business card with both her professional and personal name (leaving out the middle name, of course: shouldn't give out your True Name as a practitioner). She'd cooperate as best she could, eager to get back to Sarah to let her know she's okay.

[BarbieTheRPG]

Outside MarsTech's main building ...

Dr. Oniatis waits awhile for a response that doesn't come. Just as she thinks to press the button again, she spots a MarsTech security vehicle pulling up nearby. Officer Hoyce Linden. He used to work at Redshift Energies but moved over to MarsTech for a better package, but Kay remembers the friendly man. He always talked about buying a nicer boat to fish Albian River. A very "chatty" fellow. He rolled down the window and waved at Kay, "Doctor Oniatis! Hey! Come on, I'll ride you over to the big conference over at forty-six!" As she greets Linden, Kay notices several people gathered in the lobby of the main building.

Inside the main lobby ...

Illuminated chiefly by sunlight fro outside, the lobby is semi-filled with people, probably MarsTech employees, yammering about the latest attack! The security guards attempt to clear the area, as one of them props open a door because the air-conditioning system, along with all power, is down. Detective Buckner sighs and adjusts her glasses, then looks at Amy and the Knights, "Could you please give me any and all details regarding what happened up there? You're not under oath or under threat of prosecution, but I would appreciate the truth here." She draws a mini-recorder from her pocket and 'clicks' it on, holding it chest-level. Slowly, many of the people in the lobby are ushered out by security and Buckner nods at them in thanks.

[prufock]

Xstatic
Conditions: -1 Toughness | HP: 0

Varish sits down in one of the guest chairs in the lobby to catch his breath. We had barely arrived, detective, when these four people burst in and threatened and attacked us. He gives the detective a brief description of each. I didn't catch their names, sorry. Heck, I've barely had time to catch the names of everyone here.

[Eldest]

Drana nods along with what Varish (so that was his name!) was saying. I think they called one of them... Power something? Powerhouse? It was sorta fast and violent, so I'm not positive of that.

[Objection]

Oculus
HP: 1 | Condition: 1 wound, co-operative

Elaine does her best to answer the questions from Mars and the detective. Earlier she had given only her code name, but it appears more and more that she and the other heroes that day are going to become fire-forged friends, so she gives her civilian name in addition. When it comes to recalling the events of the battle, however, she is not as helpful as she would hope. She emphasises the presence of the villain with the electric lance, stating that she kept away from that one.

[BarbieTheRPG]

Buckner frowns, "An 'electric lance' and Powerhouse? Sounds like F.O.E. Strange. Anything else? How did Mr. Mars react during the attack?"

[Coal Seam Fire]

Strangelet

Kay frowns as she approaches Linden and the buggy. "The message I got didn't specify the building; maybe that part was just lost in the hand-off. Do you know what's going on here, though? I think I saw police ins..." She pauses halfway to the passenger seat as she notices, finally, the considerable damage to the building.

"Ohmigod! Hoyce! Was anyone hurt? What exploded?! Isn't that floor just offices??"

[CandyLaser]

"I can confirm that they were members of F.O.E. I recognized Cannon, Dreadknight, Powerhouse, and Tempus. I've done some stories on them, back east - they normally run with the Freedom City crowd, so I don't know what they were doing out here. As for Mr. Mars, he was calm, for the most part; he took cover behind his desk around the time that the power went out. The fight lasted less than a minute, I think - it's hard to tell."

[BarbieTheRPG]

*Outside the building*

Officer Linden looks at the damaged building and frowns, "Yeah. A bunch of those costumed thugs showed up making trouble! I got called in because of it! Seems the same folks who saved all those people on the 'Row came here to stop the thugs! I got the story when I showed up just now. It's amazing no one was seriously injured! I heard it all went down near Mr. Mars office of all places!" A police siren sounds briefly as three cruisers enter the complex and speed up to the main building!

*In the lobby*

Looking at Amy, Detective Buckner adjusts her glasses, "I think I read some of your work. What was your name again, miss? What was your business here today?" There's come cross-chatter on Buckner's radio to which she responds with a few police codes. As if almost on cue, three police cruisers arrive outside the lobby! Buckner looks, keys her radio a few times, and the cruisers drive slowly leave. Turning her attention back to the Knights, the detective says, "Well. I thought coming here would be insightful, but this was special, and not in a good way." Buckner looks over the group, sighs and smiles, "I can't put my finger on it just yet, but, as you've all experienced firsthand, something is definitely amiss in Emerald City. I have a nagging hunch MarsTech and perhaps Mr. Mars specifically is involved more than it seems. But please don't let anyone here know because this is an ongoing investigation. I'm only telling you this because you've shown true heroism today more than once. That counts in my book even if the higher-ups don't trust you."

There's a flickering of interior lighting as the building regains power and the security guards inspect the lobby for any undetected damage. Buckner looks around, "It seems Mars has some sort of proposition for all of you. If I can make a suggestion: play along. See what he's planning and why. I'm asking you to help ECPD out here as unofficial informants. The safety of millions could be at stake. What do you think?"

[CandyLaser]

Looking at Amy, Detective Buckner adjusts her glasses, "I think I read some of your work. What was your name again, miss? What was your business here today?"

"Amy Archer, freelance journalist. I came to talk to Mr. Mars about reports that a MarsTech subsidiary was involved in the blast at Yellow Brick Row. Will you be heading up the investigation, Detective Buckner? I'd like to interview you, sometime soon, about the explosion and subsequent events?"

[Coal Seam Fire]

Strangelet

Kay grimaces at the news, and at all the other details that slipped out during Officer Linden's explanation. Superheroes. Great. So either the disaster at the Row was bad enough to fly in an outside team, or... I'm not the only one changed.

"Damn it! ...'s amazing no one was seriously hurt." Kay recovers lamely, then tries to hurry past her non-sequitur outburst. The steering wheel jerks left about ten degrees in Hoyce's hands. "Yeah, we had better hurry over to the back-up meeting location. Sounds like big trouble, if masks are popping up, right?" Then she forces a smile and climbs into the passenger seat.

[TheRedHerring]

Frostbite


Edgar Reed-McKay had finally woken up to his phone going off fifteenth time that morning. He had just begun to read the first text from an unknown number as he realized what the problem was. "Oh no I was supposed to be at MarsTech twenty-five minutes ago!" Edgar exclaimed, then he jumped out of his bed put on some fresh clothes and ran out of his apartment to his car. Knowing that MarsTech was a sponsor of his YouTube channel he wondered what the meeting was about.
He thought that he was being dropped from his contract. Or more likely it eas about the chaos that put him in the ICU. All he know was that the meeting was with one of the higher-ups in the company as he found the main office and hurried inside.

[Eldest]

"It seems Mars has some sort of proposition for all of you. If I can make a suggestion: play along. See what he's planning and why. I'm asking you to help ECPD out here as unofficial informants. The safety of millions could be at stake. What do you think?"

Anna raises an eyebrow, nodding slowly. I think I can do that. She frowns, puzzled. I do want to know what happened, too. That explosion was bizarre.

[prufock]

Xstatic
Condition: -1 Toughness | HP: 0

Varish nods along with the Detective's words. If Mr. Mars believes he can help with my "condition," I will definitely go along.

[BarbieTheRPG]

*Inside the building*

Detective Buckner nods to the Knights and Amy Archer, "Thank you. I'll check back with you later to see what you learned from Mars. Have to get over to Redshift Energies and chat with the FBI. Stay safe." Buckner exits the building as the Knights make their way to the elevator and back to Mars' "redesigned" office. The CEO is on the phone setting up a crew to repair the building when he sees the Knights return. Finishing his call, Mars walks toward the Knights smiling but noticing something outside he pauses and walks to the window!

*Outside the lobby*

Suddenly, the street near the main building seems to ripple and shimmer like the sea tosses by a storm! A huge bubble of asphalt expands from the ground some twenty feet in diameter then BURSTS! Now standing in the MarsTech parking lot are the unmistakable figures of four members of the Freedom League! Dr. Metropolis! Johnny Rocket! Bowman! Seven! Dr. Metropolis points up at Mars from the street and yells, "WE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN YOU COULDN'T BE TRUSTED, MARS! NOW YOU'LL PAY FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE!" Employees walking through the outside area seem frozen in shock!

Officer Linden and Kay witness the whole event as it happens roughly thirty feet in front of them! The security guard goes to speak in his commlink but seems too stunned to say anything!

Just as the Freedomm League start to move, Dr. Metropolis shouts again but this time in anguish, grabbing his head while staring at Mars, "GET OUT OF MIND!!" As if almost on que, the entire building begins to shake and everyone inside is shifted around slightly by the rumbling!

[BarbieTheRPG]

*Mars' office*

There's a sudden rush of air in the office as the Freedom League flies into attack-mode! Oculus suddenly finds herself being pelted by punches from Johnny Rocket who is moving so fast he can hardly be seen! The speedster says, "We saw you at the Yellow Brick Row so you wont surprise us! Give up now or get put down!"

[Objection]

Oculus
HP: 1 | Condition: 1 wound, confused and trying to be diplomatic

Elaine is happy to play along with any offer by Mr. Mars if it will help her friend's investigation. She says as much to the detective with a warm smile while keeping silent about the possibility of her employer wanting any dirt on Mars that she can get. Then the tremors begin and she struggles to keep her balance. She sees the renowned hero Dr. Metropolis getting visibly and audibly angry at Mars, although she has no idea why. Before she can think too much about it, however, she feels a series of punches connecting rapidly with her and is barely able to make out the attacker Johnny Rocket, although one has to wonder how much of that is because she is seeing stars. Still, that means both her former colleague and a famous superhero team reckon something's up with the CEO, so Elaine tries a diplomatic route with the speedster.

"Sir, I do not wish to harm you," the cybernetic hero says as she raises her hands in a peaceable gesture, "especially given what transpired here earlier. I've only met Mars in person today, so I don't know any dirty secrets of his. If your friend is right about him, it'd be best if my new friends and I knew what you guys know sooner rather than later."

[BarbieTheRPG]

*Mars' office*

Johnny Rocket nearly appears out of nowhere due to moving around the room so fast and says, "Harm me? You can't even touch me, baby! You crooks are always making excuses but you never realize in the end, crime doesn't pay!"

*Outside*

The Freedom League has sprung into action! Bowman draws and fires an arrow with a long cord following it at the rooftop, then he swings up through the whole in Mars' office! Seven rises from the street and sails into the office through the same hole! Dr. Metropolis sinks into the street vanishing!

*Mars' office*

Bowman swings into the office and before he even lands, he lets loose another arrow at Xstatic which explodes into a tangle of ropes that temporary ensnare Xstatic! He yells, "Party's over, folks! The Freedom League is on the scene!" Hovering into the office just behind Bowman, Seven begins chanting in some unknown language as crimson energy glows from her hands, then a glowing set of manacles appears hurtling through the air straight at Drana, but the eldritch chains miss Drana! Emerging from the wall behind Mars, Dr. Metropolis yells, "EMERALD CITY SCREAMS FOR JUSTICE, MARS! REAP JUSTICE!!" The floor around Mars ripples and a huge hand composed of the floor itself rises to grab the startled CEO!

[Coal Seam Fire]

Strangelet

"Crap." Kay grabs officer Linden by a shoulder and gives him a firm shake. "Hoyce. Hoyce! Radio the SWAT team, or Blackwater, or whatever secret goon squad you guys have to keep in reserve here. Tell them you're under attack by the Freedom League, then get Mr. Mars out of the area." Strictly speaking, Mr. Mars is nowhere near Hoyce. But Kay's limited experimentation since the explosion at the Row has been enough to keep her from taking things like 'distance' too seriously, anymore. If only there weren't so many witnesses around...

"Oh well. Gotta break an omelette." With that, she reaches forward, toward where Mars is visible inside. Objects around her bulge and ripple as the space she occupies collapses on itself, and then she's inside next to him. "I'm evacuating you," she blurts out before snatching at the front of his jacket and releasing the tension that held her displaced.