Within Vanguard Vault, Vanguard battled their evil, future selves: Vanguard Omega! During the Clone collective memory merge, Clone Alpha learned much of his opponents. (see last ish!)
Clone Omega also searched the new memories he had absorbed into his collective. Then the Clone Omegas spoke as one: “VANGUARD OMEGA! DYNAMO HOLDS A POWERFUL WEAPON! IT’S HOW THEY CAME BACK!”
Both Talons gleefully loosed their rage, snarling and slashing in violent, crazed, close combat!
Talon continued to press Talon Omega with everything he's got. Throw finesse to the wind and let rage and brute force win this fight! SLASH! Talon cut his avian antithesis again!
"Give it up, old man!" Talon growled. "There's no shame in losing to someone who's stronger and faster than you.....Your time is done!"
Talon Omega said, “You sure do talk a good fight, kid.” SKASH! (19 points! Roll with 6. Lose 13 from Hits!)
Avatar continued the deadly swordfight with his alter-ego antagonist! The twin Swords of Ares clashed -KTANG! - as Avatar shouted, "Yield to me! The path that you've chosen is NOT the hero's path!" The demigod of destiny cut Avatar Omega again! ZLASH! (No Luck Point needed this time)
Avatar Omega replied, “And what would either of us know of the hero’s path, John?”
KTANG!
“Are you referring to the mercy we showed Otom the Seer?”
FLANG!
“Or perhaps the concern we had for Shelley’s feelings?”
KANG!
“Stop fooling yourself, ‘hero,’ we’re as vain,”
TANG!
“…violent,”
ZANG!
“… and selfish”
KANG!
“… as Zeus himself!”
HYKK! Omega’s sword stabbed John deep! (despite your Luck Point spent to prevent it.
15 points! 2 from Power Points. 13 to Hits!) Even a half-hearted Avatar was still a deadly threat!
Both Lightning Strikes held their actions as they each watched Dynamo, and each other!
Both Symbiotes suddenly, simultaneously transformed from living electricity into human form again! SHAKOW! SHAKOW!
Then Symbiote quickly drove his tool into the deactivation port of Symbiote Omega
VMMMmmmmm sputter-sput-spt-spaaaa.
Symbiote Omega’s Harper Harness shut down and also instantly discharged the current extranormal genetic template!
Symbiote Omega smirked and said, “Clever boy.”
He removed a tool from his tool belt, scanned Symbiote’s back and said: “…And yours is gone. Where would you put it? Hm… Where would I put it? …Ah. Here!” he said, as he drove his tool into place!
VMMMMmmmmmmmmmm sputter-sput-spt-spaaaa.
Symbiote Alpha’s Harper Harness also shut down, except it did not discharge the current genetic template! Symbiote Omega had deduced the location of the deactivation port, but not the complete deactivation method! (He didn’t make all his Int saves)
Hal could not absorb new powers, but he still had the powers of Lightning Strike!
Sentinel had overcome the willpower of Sentinel Omega and seized control of his energy!
“Kirk this isn’t your world and we aren’t you. We stopped the Primate and prevented the Animal Revolution. We stopped the invasion of the Entity. We foresaw the possibility of the world turning on those of us with gifts and forged an organization to spearhead the unity between human and superhuman kind, and it’s working! We’re working together for a better future.”
Do you mean REACH?” Sentinel Omega sneered from behind his fading shields. “It won’t matter. We’ve seen the future of this universe. That’s why we chose this point in time. It’s all about to go wrong. And we can stop it. I can save him.”
Sentinel Omega’s chin touched his chest and he looked up through lowered brows at Sentinel and snarled, “After all we’ve been through. After all we’ve done. Saving him would make everything we’ve done worth it. It would justify our crimes. Exonerate us. Give us redemption at long last. You can’t take that away. You WON’T!”
Then Sentinel Omega did something he hadn’t done in years… since he battled another unbeatable foe: the Atomic Brain. It was his first killing, making all those that followed that much easier.
His shields grew fainter still as Sentinel Omega tried summoned into existence a small construct of solid energy… inside Sentinel’s skull!
(AAGH! He succeeds! Sentinel uses a Luck Point (I’ll safely assume) to prevent his immediate death!
Instead of death, damage = the construct as a brawling weapon, but the damage can’t be rolled with. And for the trauma, the equivalent of a Devitalization Ray attack. So: 4 from Hits. 15 from Power Points!)
The construct missed Sentinel’s head, but formed partially inside his shoulder!
Sentinel groaned: “You’d forgotten who you were… but no longer! You remember now. I know you do. What you’ve become… this isn’t you. You’re done with it! And you’re going to make a difference again. Do you hear me Kirk; you are going to find redemption. You will again become the hero you were always meant to be.”
And with that Kirk’s energies slammed into Sentinel Omega! “Nooooo!” cried the beacon of tyranny.
The energy got past his weakened shields and Sentinel Omega was hammered into unconsciousness!
The construct in Sentinel’s shoulder dematerialized! It left a scar that Sentinel would carry the rest of his life.
Meanwhile, Slingshot slapped Slingshot Omega's hands away. "Scott, I'm not standing between you and your child. I'm standing between you and _my_ child. You know I would do just about anything to protect them, but this? This is not like us. Vanguard has always been about helping the fellow man! Remember all the work we do with REACH. How could you have dropped so far? If you want to avoid what happened on your side, then tell me what happened and I'll be better prepared.”
Slingshot Omega interrupted, “You don’t have what it takes to stop it. You’ve never lost a child, Scott. You’re not prepared to do what you must to stop it. …You know me. You know us. Do you think I’m lying to you?”
Slingshot continued over him, “If you simply want to take over, then expect the smack down that you're about to receive, because you know just as much as I do that I will NEVER let you touch my family."
Slingshot Omega roared “MY FAMILY!” with unexpected emotion as he suddenly charged!
Slingshot pried a massive computer console from the wall and held it over his head and everyone in the room was reminded again of just how strong Scott really was.
WHAMM! The console crashed into Slingshot Omega with force, rocking him backwards!
Slingshot Omega didn’t use his regeneration trick now. He wanted to tear Scott apart with his bare hands. Another console, this one less irreplaceable than the last, was torn from its housings! Slingshot Omega smashed it into Scott!
KA-SLAMMM! (21 points! 8 to Invulnerability! 6 from Power. 7 to Hits!) Slingshot flew back ten feet!
With wet eyes, Slingshot Omega repeated, “My family.”
Meanwhile, Seven Clone Alphas faced off against six Clone Omegas! All were armed with staffs.
Clone Alpha steeled himself with memories of his family, and prayers to God. Then, knowing his enemy, from having seen his memories, he thought: “Maybe its me . . . I don’t know . . . I don’t understand how things could have gotten like this . . . there must be some kind of goodness still pumping through his darkened heart. I can not believe that this is the man I am capable of becoming. I have laid waste to an entire world . . . left its landscape riddled with ruins, and helped lead the human race into a dismal future governed by fear and yoked by hopelessness. I have done this with regret in my heart and the knowledge that it was wrong, and yet I have still come here to this world in search of a second chance. A second chance that will leave this world as barren and as devoid of hope as the world I have just left and yet it will be within this destruction that I will seek the forgiveness and absolution for the things that I have done?” He then remembered something his father once said to him, “Son . . . If you lie to yourself enough times . . . and with enough conviction . . . then some day your lie will eventually become your truth”.
Clone then heard the thoughts of the Clone Omega collective, thinking as one: “OUR SECOND CHANCE WILL NOT LEAVE THIS WORLD BARREN. WE WILL SAVE THIS WORLD. WE ARE ITS ONLY HOPE. DEFEATING US DOOMS THIS WORLD, AND YOUR FAMILY, ALEX!”
Clone Alpha suddenly and without warning lowered his weapons, threw his shoulders back and stood tall before his evil counterpart. His voice rang with a sense of melancholy truthfulness and grace as he said in Ukrainian, “Come . . . let us end this . . . let us put an end to the pain that we feel, and let us find forgiveness within our hearts for what we have done.” With that said, Clone Alpha and his duplicates slowly walked defenselessly towards Clone Omega and his duplicates with their arms stretched outward in an effort to peacefully embrace his misguided future self.
Clone Omega hadn’t the strength of will to dare absorb more of the Clone Alpha collective. Instead, they held their staffs and said, “YES, ‘BROTHERS.’ LET US EMBRACE.”
The opposing forces met! Clone Alpha began absorbing Clone Omega!
CHOK! SOK! WOK! Three Clones Alphas were beaten unconscious with the staves of Clone Omega, and then reabsorbed!
When the battle subsided, there was only Clone Alpha!
Once more he felt his minds were under attack from the invading personality and memories of the absorbed members of the Clone Omega collective! Once more he overcame them!
Alex felt… different.
Menagerie marveled at the power of Tyrannosaurus Maximus! He thought-sends to his teammates, “I have joined with the T-Rex form. I don’t know what has happened to Menagerie Omega. If you see a spider, assume it is Omega’s new form.”
Then the thunder lizard lumbered forward BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! and attacked Slingshot Omega with his terrible teeth! “ROOOAAARRR!!” GRUNCH!!
The malevolent man of might was injured and still in the jaws of Tyrannosaurus Maximus!
Avatar felt a sting and looked down and saw a black spider crawling on his upper arm! He’d been bitten! The first stage of the poison caused extreme pain and trouble breathing! (12 points damage, cannot be rolled with!)
The creepy arachnid leapt up over Avatar’s shoulder and landed somewhere behind him! Avatar hesitated to follow its path for fear of giving his back to the still-deadly Avatar Omega!
Only Avatar had seen the spider!
Dynamo held the fist he had just used to hammer Lightning Strike Omega and caught a reflection of his face in a dead computer monitor. He stopped and looked at himself in disbelief. “..so…old …” he murmured.
Lightning Strike Omega saw his chance and fired white hot electricity from both hands at Dynamo! SHAKOW! SHAKOW! The lightning arced off the invulnerable man! But Strike Omega was clearly going to press his attack!
“Symbiote Omega,” he stated coolly, “we need this so-called ultimate weapon if we’re going to turn the tide of this battle!
To be continued!
OOC: Actions! One action worth of orders please!
(OOC: Lightning Strike/Tony: You said you’d attack anyone who went for Dynamo, but you also rightly said that attacking your counterpart with lightning is futile.
So does Strike attack Strike Omega or Talon Omega? Let me know!
You’ll have two actions next issue, one “held over” from this issue. Thanks!)
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Current Conditions:
Avatar: Hit Points: 33, Power Points: 21, Manifesting: None!
Clone: Bodies: 4, Hit Points: 6???, Power Points: 27, Hit Pool: 24???
Lightning Strike: Hit Points: 42, Power Points: 65
Menagerie: Hit Points: 40, Power Points: 28, Form: Tyrannosaurus Maximus!
Sentinel, Hit Points: 2, Power Points: 20, Creation Points: 40, Shields: 40
Slingshot: Hit Points: 63, Power Points: 63, Invulnerability: 0 until 143
Soldier: Hit Points: 28, Power Points: 54, Invulnerability: 0, Regeneration deactivated, Unconscious!
Symbiote: Hit Points: 53, Power Points: 66, Charges: 0, Copied: Lightning Strike
Talon: Hit Points: 31, Power Points: 56
Zephyr: Hit Points: 17, Power Points: 51, Charges: 9, Armor: 7
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Avatar:
Thoughts raced through John's mind. He knew some of this to be true, and yet...
"You group us together and yet it's not so! Wallow in your own failures all you wish but don't include me therein! A hero is not a hero because of the absence of faults but because he can overcome them!"
John presses the attack, ignoring for now the treacherous attack by the spider.
"You must regret those things to which you have given voice! Have you thought long and hard on them? Sat alone in the night and traced your failure back to each lapse?"
The swords dance between them. John is oddly detached, body locked in the duel between him and Avatar Omega but his mind sailing above it all.
"It's said that courage isn't the absence of fear but rather the ability to overcome it! It's the same with all of the other virtues and their opposites! A hero's hardest battles are fought within!"
He continues to press. Failure in this challenge is no option. Failure in the larger fight is no option. He commits himself fully to the fight. In many ways becoming what he is saying. It's not that he doesn't fear loss or even death because he does but he also knows that there are greater things at work here and that his own feelings, thoughts, prejudices, and preferences take a distant second place. While the divine power may not flow through him, he knows that he IS worthy of that power, now perhaps more than ever. Seeing this dark image in the mirror has triggered a change in him.
"Here is another truth for you, John! When all else is lost, when all is dark and the heart fails, when you're sitting there in the night with your regrets, know that, at the end of all, there is still HOPE. Redemption is lifeline of the hero fallen from grace. Yield this challenge and seize that moment, for it will not come again! Remember why you chose the name 'Kairos' in the first place! Make the hero's choice!"
OOC: John will pause in the fighting after this, briefly, to see what John Omega does. If he presses the attack and it looks like the challenge will be decided by physical battle alone, he'll go ahead and fight ferociously, even giving up that last luck point if he must.
OOC: If Menagerie can pick up thoughts, John will also be trying to signal that the spider is behind him.
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Sentinel:
OOC: Nice heroic stuff! Great post Harold.
Seth
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Symbiote:
Alpha Hal looks at Symbiote Omega, his depowered counterpart. The Patient Zero for all that went wrong on Omega Earth, the dark mirror of everything Alpha Hal Harper stands for and believes.
"NOT QUITE AS SMART AS YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE, ARE YOU, YOU SON OF A...?" the remainder of Hal's roared rebuke is drowned out by a thunder clap, as Hal hits his fallen counterpart with a lightning bolt. He won't hit Symbiote Omega with enough juice to kill him, but it takes all the self control he has to restrain himself.
OOC: That's Hal's action. If he still has a movement he'll run out of the room and towards the lab the two Zephyrs moved towards, turning to electricity in order to reach their location faster through the building conduits at the first opportunity.
Viva Vanguard,
Greg
PS: To clarify: Just realized that I posted my last movement assuming that one lightning blast will take Hal Omega down. If for some reason he's still standing Hal will be ready to (gleefully!) blast him again on the next round.
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Menagerie:
OOC: Wow Vanguard Omega can't tell when they are whipped. Great Issue Jeff.
Stephane, Menagerie's agility is so low that between the two Slingshots and him, he will be last to take an action. Let me know what you want Slingshot to do and I will write Menagerie to support it. Feel free to attack Slingshot Omega, even though with a miss there will be a chance to hit Menagerie.
Jeff, How much of Slingshot Omega is sticking out of Menagerie's mouth. I am asking to see if there is enough of Slingshot Omega to slam him against a wall. If I do that do I get the full HtH damage roll? If Menagerie threw Slingshot Omega to Slingshot Alpha to hit would Menagerie's HtH damage roll be counted as velocity to add onto Slingshots punch? I am trying to think of more colorful (4 color) attack that are as effective as biting down. If the best attack is to bite then Menagerie will do that.
Alpha Assemble!
Tom
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GM:
OOC Replies:
Harold (and Tom): Menagerie can receive thoughts that are actively broadcast at him, after he’s activated his thought speech. But he can’t set up a mental switchboard (so that Avatar and Slingshot can communicate directly for example) or read surface thoughts.
Greg: ‘Halpha’ and ‘Patient Zero.’ Great stuff!
Tom: There is enough of Slingshot Omega outside your jaws to slam him against a wall for full damage.
If Menagerie threw Slingshot Omega to Slingshot Alpha to hit, Menagerie's HtH damage roll would be counted as “velocity damage.” Thought-speak coordination will be required of course.
Thanks for finding 4-color attack options!
Best,
Jeff
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Menagerie:
OOC: Jeff, Thanks.
Stephane do you want to hold your action so we can play a little "Pitch and Hit" or do you want to beat on Omega while I hold him. I would then smash Omega into the wall?
Harold, thought send the spider information and I will pass it on to the rest of the team. While I can't switchboard, I can relay info.
Thanks
Tom
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Slingshot:
OOC: Sure thing. Let's show him how we can work as a unit.
Jeff, I have the Tactics skill. I know that Menagerie doesn't. I hope we can get something good going. Did I destroy the console when I hit him or is there some left so I can hit him like a baseball?
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Sentinel:
OOC: Hi Jeff.
Couple of questions.
"His shields grew fainter still as Sentinel Omega tried summoned into existence a small construct of solid energy… inside Sentinel’s skull!"
Just to clarify so I make sure I'm understanding correctly, our Kirk specifically tried to make the construct manifest within his protective helmet, but outside of his brain, so as not to kill him. His apparently killing the Atomic Brain was inadvertent (and I say apparently because I'd forgotten until now, but we never did recover his body from the scene, did we, hmmm). From your wording it appears that Kirk Omega deliberately went for the deathblow, which isn't a total shock given what he tries with our Kirk in this issue. So that is correct, Kirk Omega took his life deliberately?
Thanks for the usage of the luck point and keeping Kirk alive. Just so I can understand in game terms, I know this means he rolled twice successfully to do it (special attack); can you help me to understand how it did so much damage. I'm not questioning it happening, but I figure at this point energy-wise his damage has to be some kind of single dice roll, so how did he do 19 points here which is more than the best damage at full power? Is it the rules of trauma or devitalization ray attack or what? Again, I'm just trying to understand since whenever I think I come up with something clever for Kirk and succeed, (like the attack on the Brain), it always comes back to bite me (used on me by Penumbra and now Kirk Omega), so I just want to understand how he could do so much damage here for future events if needed.
I've got two possible actions for Kirk given he's running low on power and is one hit away from being taken out of the battle entirely. One is using his energy sense to hopefully get some pluses on targeting Menagerie Omega Spider and hopefully even with lower power levels if he hits it would be enough to take him out in that form even with lowered damage - plus with Kirk forming some closed energy hands or a couple of giant bug swatters (if suspended in area the multiple armed construct or if on a surface just one of them) it would be more like targeting the general area which would also give a good shot of hitting him. Also, it would make a cool silver age type panel (giant hands or bug swatter).
Or, even more importantly since it looks like we may have turned the tide here, we need to find out what Vanguard Omega knows about the near future that they are so sure we can't handle. Many of them have referred to it, and we need to know before something happens to prevent us from finding out. I'd call this Kirk's 'heroic lore' knowledge kicking in here, but with the Eon device perhaps being evoked, assuming we win, I can see Vanguard Omega 'disappearing' or being relocated away from us so we don't get to 'question them' and we can't let them go without knowing that information ... in fact, that is just the sort of information that Kirk wanted Vanguard to have prior to them leaving the Omegaverse.
*** So my question is, does Clone Alpha have that information from the absorption process, or does he have only what you told him thus far? Although Kirk wouldn't know that, he could simply ask, "Alex, have you learned the details of what events occurred with Vanguard Omega that changed their world and they say they are here to prevent?" ***
If we don't have that info, then Kirk will have to try to lock in on the thoughts of one of Vanguard Omega and hopefully get them thinking about it (Slingshot seems the primary candidate at this point since current dialogue has him thinking about it already assuming his remains conscious).
Thanks.
Seth
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Menagerie:
OOC: Sentinel will move before Menagerie, so there is a very high probablity Slingshot Omega will be awake if you try to scan him.
Tom
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Lightning Strike:
Since I have two actions this turn, I figured I would shock everyone and get them in early. Of course it doesn't hurt that my kids are sick today and both taking a nap so that there is some heavenly quiet time!!
Strike speaks to the rest of the team. "We are taking the battle to them but we can't rest now. There is nothing more dangerous than a wounded animal."
OOC: Bonus points for remembering the show and episode I stole the quote from!!
Strike will move on from his counterpart and attack Talon Omega who hopefully will be so enraged that he won't recognize the attack coming. "We need someone to engage Lightning Strike Omega to ensure he can't get to Dynamo. Symbiote and I will be ineffective against him so we need someone to engage him hand to hand!!"
In his second action he will blast Avatar Omega which will hopefully free up and additional hand to hand opponent for Lightning Strike Omega.
Hopefully we can strategize and ensure that Strike Omega is not successful in getting the ring from Dynamo. After all, as we know Strike Omega is the most powerful and intelligent member of Vanguard Omega. :)
That's all for now,
Tony
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Avatar:
OOC: This early? Nah, that's Strike Omega posting...!
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GM:
OOC:
Must be.
But I can’t place the show you’re quoting from, Tony.
Slingshot, you have the majority of the console remaining.
Sentinel, there was no protective helmet. Kirk Alpha (and Omega) attacked the Atomic Brain’s actual brain with a construct he placed inside the Brain’s force field. (Issues 41-42… One hundred issues ago!)
It killed him. The body was found, just not in the first few hours of the clean up due to the building collapse.
Here’s you writing about Kirk talking about it with Lancaster in Issue 109: “The conversation… had been similar, about living with the consequences of ones actions; it was after the death of the Atomic Brain from Kirk's actions in battle with Homicide for Hire. That memory pained Kirk.”
This Luck Point wasn’t used to prevent Sentinel Omega’s attack. A Luck Point used that way makes the attacker roll again and use the worst of both rolls. It would have been an ineffectual use of a Luck Point since Kirk Omega has such a phenomenal chance to hit you.
Instead, the Luck Point was used to survive certain (brain) death! (the fate that was visited upon the Atomic Brain)
Quote from the Luck Point rules:
“What are Luck Points good for? Here are the possible uses:…
-Escape death. Regardless of how far past the negative of your Basic Hits, your character somehow miraculously escapes death but is reduced to 0 Hit Points and 1d6+3 Power.”
I went easy on you and figured damage from the construct as a brawling weapon + Kirk Omega’s damage mod for Hit Point damage, and 3d10 damage to Power Points from having the item materialize inside you.
Please don’t use this info for “future events.” If I never see your squeaky-clean, boy scout PC use a killing attack again, it’ll be too soon! J
Fyi, Penumbra’s vile attack was unrelated to the Atomic Brain. She could teleport objects. She probably never knew what you did to the Atomic Brain.
Clone Alpha should have the memories you’re looking for. He just needs to “search” his new memories for them, like he searched for Vanguard Omega’s objectives and weaknesses a few issues back.
Best,
Jeff
Slingshot:
Batter up!
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Lightning Strike:
OOC: Go back to the 60's and think about the mines!
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Sentinel:
OOC: Ok, no online search done here but was it the Star Trek episode with the Horta? I was thinking of that one from the original email but didn't have time to check to see if I was right.
Will reply on Jeff's reply to me likely on the weekend. I want to see if I can find my original email on that issue - although I did confuse the force field with a helmet in my current reply - I thought I specified trying to get the construct to appear in the force field but so as not to kill him and was surprised and shocked by the death and had Kirk react accordingly. The end result was the same, but Kirk didn't take the action with the intent of it being a killing blow or try to materialize the construct directly in his brain... that may have been what happened inadvertently however. I wouldn't think you'd have let me post Kirk deliberately attempting a killing blow... again, I'll check a bit further as this week I won't have time.
Thanks.
Seth
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Lightning Strike:
OOC: We have our winner!!
That was the same episode with the two immortal lines from McCoy.
I'm a doctor, not a bricklayer!!
I am beginning to think I could cure a rainy day.
Classics!!
Tony
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Sentinel:
OOC:
Greg, in case you missed this ... and something that should be great fun given the choice of Legion and the current DC Universe reboot ( ..ugh.. - the more I read the more I dislike)
Seth
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Menagerie:
OOC: I agree on the yuck factor. I won't be reading.
Tom
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Avatar:
OOC: Will Kirk have sex with one of the female Legionnaires? Skimpy costume and odd-colored skin puts money on Shadow Lass!
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Symbiote:
OOC: Yeah, I saw this the other day. Seems silly, an idea that panders to rabid fanboys. Will I be buying it? HELL YES!
I love that they're using the Great Darkness Saga-era Legion, my favorite time period in LSH history. And yes, I want to see Kirk hitting on a Legion gal, especially if it's Shadow Lass. Shady ranks right behind Power Girl on my pathetic list of Women Who Don't Actually Exist But I Still Drool Over.
I love that they're using the Great Darkness Saga-era Legion, my favorite time period in LSH history. And yes, I want to see Kirk hitting on a Legion gal, especially if it's Shadow Lass. Shady ranks right behind Power Girl on my pathetic list of Women Who Don't Actually Exist But I Still Drool Over.
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Sentinel:
Sentinel said to Clone, “Alex, search your memories, do you know what Vanguard Omega fears will happen in our future so we can prevent it?”
Kirk focused on his energy sense once again, this time specifically for the pattern of Menagerie Omega. Since he knew it echoed that of their own Frank Donovan he knew exactly what he was looking for amidst the chaos of the battle sidestepping and bypassing other readings. Upon locating and locking in on him there were no words exchanged as it would have served no purpose*. Kirk’s energy swarmed over the area forming hands (or a bug swatter depending on whichever works best for his location) smashing the arachnid out of the battle (hopefully).
*Yup kiddies, take note and polybag this issue as Kirk attacks without a speech!
A good weekend to all.
Seth
OOC:
Hi all.
Per below, I found my original email regarding the intent of Kirk's attack on the brain and here is that section of the post:
Assuming Kirk isn’t needed with the train save, then as he rises to sky level he matches the height of the Atomic Brain and the energy show continues focusing from around the area to around Kirk himself. He “eyes” the Brain and outstretches his hand pointing towards the Brain and all the energies seem to focus around him and then arc forward across the sky at the Brain.
This is all part of the big show and a physical distraction. Kirk’s real attack is that he focuses on the area just above the “brain” of the Brain. He tries to create an animate construct within the forcefield of the Brain. (I'm figuring on about fifteen points unless you think something else would be more appropriate) His hope is that since he can create them anywhere within the scope of his field of power, that he would be able to focus on the area and bypass the forcefield protection. In addition, since he cannot attack with it this turn, the hope would be that since it is being formed within the limited area of the interior of the forcefield, it would take up the space within it and that 750 pounds of weight falling on the brain of the Brain would do some damage. He try to take up the area within the forcefield so that
(1) the weight would damage the brain
(2) the brain might have to either drop his forcefield allowing him to be open to attack or disengage his brain from the body to allow space in the forcefield and prevent his brain from being smashed against the robot body
(3) spend his next action countering this appearance of the construct instead of attacking or destroying something else
Kirk really has no idea if any of this will work but does know that the brain of the Brain is enhanced from his energy sense and feels he is taking necessary action in this case to preserve the lives of bystanders and his teammates (see flashback sequence)
I added the underlining to show my/Kirk's intent. Nowhere does it say he tried to materialize the construct in his brain, in fact, it says the exact opposite several times.
Even after the issue was 'printed', some subsequent emails after the issue included further inquiry as to what happened. Point being, Kirk NEVER intended to kill the Atomic Brain. His intent was to disable him as he would any foe. If the construct materialized directly in his brain, that certainly was NOT his intent, and in fact he tried NOT to do that. I took it from that issue that Kirk's materializing the construct in the force field above the brain of the Brain still caused too much damage resulting in his death. The other dialogue and memory was dealing with the accidental death of the Brain, not Kirk's intentionally using a killing blow. I would think that against his character, his weakness, and not allowable. It was never my intent for it to seem that our Kirk deliberately took his life. I'm sorry if anything I'd posted made that unclear.
That was why I sent the email on this issue asking if this Kirk deliberately intended to kill the Brain. Whether or not he did is certainly Jeff's call and either way at this point, his attempt on Kirk's life was (sadly) deliberate, but our Kirk didn't and can't run that way. I do hope this is sufficient so that Kirk's killing of the Atomic Brain is officially accidental in the game continuity, as I'd never thought it otherwise and the thought it is being deliberate never came up in my mind.
Thanks.
Seth
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GM:
OOC: Hi Seth,
You certainly seem contrite enough, but I'm tripped up by this part:
"750 pounds of weight falling on the brain of the Brain...
"the weight would damage the brain"
Dropping a 750 lb. weight on an unprotected brain is as close to a death sentence, or a brain-death sentence, as I can imagine.
And I don't think that makes Kirk a mad dog killer or anything.
I always saw this event as Kirk in an extremely desperate situation (the Brain was taking him apart, which was the whole reason why he was recruited by Jim Harrik, the Mercenary, to join Homicide for Hire in the first place).
Then the Atomic Brain endangered civilians on the elevated train, including Timmy. [ :) ] To protect those civilians, and to prevent harm to other civilians, Sentinel took it upon himself to take the Brain out of the fight, the only way he knew how, kill him with this desperate, special attack to the one vulnerable area not protected by his impenetrable armor.
Regrettable, but justified.
Kirk was a little tormented afterward but knew it was necessary, like the ever popular "killing in war," or killing someone who had a gun to a hostage's head. There weren't a lot of choices left on the table. So it was excusable in terms of his strict moral code, but made for some good roleplaying with the angst and all.
Fyi, Kirk Omega did the same thing to Atomic Brain in his universe. The similarities between that attack (death from dropping a construct's weight on a brain) and the attack on Kirk Alpha (materializing the construct in the brain, because there is no room to build a construct above it to drop it from) were enough for Kirk Omega to consider it the same "move."
Thoughts?
Best,
Jeff
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Clone:
OOC:
Alright, I’ve got some catching up to do – first off . . .“Kev:
Great post.
And it's funny, I'd actually thought of a flashback sequence to go with my post thinking it appropriate, but simply didn't have the time to pen it all. Yours worked nicely with the actions... and hopefully breeds success in your actions.
Seth”
Thanks Seth, from someone who ALWAYS puts out a well thought out response, the compliment is greatly appreciated.
“Sentinel said to Clone, “Alex, search your memories, do you know what Vanguard Omega fears will happen in our future so we can prevent it?””
Anything on that Jeff or should I work that into my response . . . that I’ll be sending out tonight ;)
Jeff, in this last issue you wrote something that I was hoping to get a bit more info on . . .“Once more he felt his minds were under attack from the invading personality and memories of the absorbed members of the Clone Omega collective! Once more he overcame them!
Alex felt… different”
What do you mean he feels different?
What do you mean? You mean the way he talks?
Different how? What's different about him?
You mean . . . let me understand this, 'cause, ya know maybe it's me, I'm a little screwed up maybe . . . but he’s different how? I mean different like he looks like a clown? Does he amuse you? Does he make you laugh, he’s here to flip’n amuse you? What do you mean different? Different how? How is he different?
Eleventy-two hundred points to anyone who can name that flick =D
Will Be Posting Tonight,
-Kev
Great post.
And it's funny, I'd actually thought of a flashback sequence to go with my post thinking it appropriate, but simply didn't have the time to pen it all. Yours worked nicely with the actions... and hopefully breeds success in your actions.
Seth”
Thanks Seth, from someone who ALWAYS puts out a well thought out response, the compliment is greatly appreciated.
“Sentinel said to Clone, “Alex, search your memories, do you know what Vanguard Omega fears will happen in our future so we can prevent it?””
Anything on that Jeff or should I work that into my response . . . that I’ll be sending out tonight ;)
Jeff, in this last issue you wrote something that I was hoping to get a bit more info on . . .“Once more he felt his minds were under attack from the invading personality and memories of the absorbed members of the Clone Omega collective! Once more he overcame them!
Alex felt… different”
What do you mean he feels different?
What do you mean? You mean the way he talks?
Different how? What's different about him?
You mean . . . let me understand this, 'cause, ya know maybe it's me, I'm a little screwed up maybe . . . but he’s different how? I mean different like he looks like a clown? Does he amuse you? Does he make you laugh, he’s here to flip’n amuse you? What do you mean different? Different how? How is he different?
Eleventy-two hundred points to anyone who can name that flick =D
Will Be Posting Tonight,
-Kev
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Lightning Strike:
OOC:
The quote seems to resemble Goodfellas (one of my favorite movies) but I don't remember the "different" part. I think the quote was "funny" as opposed to "different" and the language was quite colorful in the movie.
Here is the link.
Tony
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Menagerie:
Menagerie braced himself for Slingshot Omega’s attack. While he was securely in Menagerie jaws, the shamanic shapeshifter knew it would not impede Omega’s attack. Menagerie was on guard to make sure that Slingshot Omega didn’t stretch his arms to attempt to ‘slingshot’ Menagerie into his teammates.
OOC: While I want to hang onto Slingshot Omega, I won’t do it if he tries to turn the T-Max into a weapon. The next section is for the situation where Slingshot Omega is still in Menagerie’s mouth.
Menagerie received Avatar’s thought send about Menagerie Omega’s attack as a spider. Menagerie thought sends to the rest of Vanguard. “Menagerie Omega is in spider form. If you see a spider don’t hold back. Attack as you would any other villain.” Menagerie looks at Slingshot. Now he is wishing he had attended Vanguard’s tactics session. He would have to think of a simple plan. Menagerie noticed the computer cabinet Slingshot is holding looks a little bit like a bat. Menagerie hears his high school coach in his mind. “I’m am sorry son but you all you do is throw the ball straight. That makes you the greatest batting practice pitcher here but nothing else. If you are willing you can be on the team to do that and be the last man on the bench. Menagerie thought sends to Slingshot, “Have you ever played baseball. Interested in a little BP? I have a nice rubber ball I can throw, let’s see how hard you can hit it?
OOC: If Slingshot Omega is gone from Menagerie’s mouth or incapacitated and Lighting Strike Omega is in human form.
Menagerie roars as he charges across the room. He slams his head into Lightning Strike Omega.
OOC: If Slingshot Omega is gone from Menagerie’s mouth or incapacitated and Lighting Strike Omega is not in human form. He will attack the either Omega: Talon, Symbiote, or Slinghot, whichever presents the best attack. Menagerie will not attack Kairos Omega out of fear that he will mess up the challenge.
Menagerie roars as he charges across the room. The floor shakes as the mighty T-Max smashes into its foe.
OOC: If none of the other Vanguard Omega presents the best attack. He will change into the Eagle and search for Menagerie Omega
Menagerie screeches as he takes to the air. He eagle eyes searched for the sinister shape shifted spider.
Viva Vanguard
Tom
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GM:
OOC:
OOC:
Clone said: "Sentinel said to Clone, “Alex, search your memories, do you know what Vanguard Omega fears will happen in our future so we can prevent it?”"
Anything on that Jeff or should I work that into my response . . . that I’ll be sending out tonight ;)
Anything on that Jeff or should I work that into my response . . . that I’ll be sending out tonight ;)
GM reply: Please work that into your response and I'll reply next ish, like last time you searched the Omega memories.
Clone said: "Once more he felt his minds were under attack from the invading personality and memories of the absorbed members of the Clone Omega collective! Once more he overcame them!
Alex felt… different."What do you mean he feels different?
GM Reply: IC: After absorbing the Omega collective, Alex feels different. He's never felt this way before, so it's difficult to describe. He still looks the same, sounds the same, has free will, but he feels like something about him has changed.
Alex felt… different."What do you mean he feels different?
GM Reply: IC: After absorbing the Omega collective, Alex feels different. He's never felt this way before, so it's difficult to describe. He still looks the same, sounds the same, has free will, but he feels like something about him has changed.
OOC: I think this will get worked out next downtime.
Best,
Jeff
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Clone:
Sentinel said to Clone, “Alex, search your memories, do you know what Vanguard Omega fears will happen in our future so we can prevent it?”
All four Clones then simultaneously turn their heads to look at Sentinel and respond in unison, “Da comrade . . . “ Clone’s duplicates then pause for a moment as they once again divide themselves into additional copies ( OOC: Jeff I wasn’t 100% sure how many I would be able to create so I just left it vague – I’m assuming two? Clone intends to make as many armed duplicates of himself as he can ).
As Clone’s genetic facsimiles take their place amongst the others, they continue, “ . . . it is themselves that they are fearing . . . themselves . . .” Before they can even finish their sentence, the Clone brigade lunges forward like an ancient Spartan phalanx and attacks ( OOC: assuming that he/they can do so after they’ve already created additional duplicates ) Talon Omega ( OOC: or the next nearest ‘Omega’ if Talon Omega is already unconscious )! As Clone and his duplicates struggled with the dark images deposited in their mind by Clone Omega, their weapons lash out savagely at their target. The replicating regiment then finishes their response to Sentinel; their words falling away from their tongues like an ominous warning, “ . . . themselves and their mistakes!”
OOC:
I actually considered having Clone and his duplicates try to use their new found knowledge of Vanguard Omega to try and put an end to the hostilities peacefully, but then I realized that these future versions of ourselves probably wouldn’t listen or give up. I figured an attack would not only be the most sensible thing to do, but might go along well with the whole ‘Clone Alpha just absorbed a much more hostile and aggressive Clone Omega’ thing. Even though Clone Alpha won the battle of wills, I’m running under the assumption that there would probably be a little bit of Clone Omega’s evil persona still rattling around inside of Clone Alpha somewhere.
Tony Wrote:
The quote seems to resemble Goodfellas (one of my favorite movies) but I don't remember the "different" part. I think the quote was "funny" as opposed to "different" and the language was quite colorful in the movie.
Yeah – I made a few changes to make it more Clone-esque, and pulled out a few of the F-Bombs ;)
Talk to you all soon,
-Kev
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Talon:
Talon smiles a wicked grin. "And I'll still be talking after I take you down!"
OOC: Talon will continue to strike at Talon Omega. He will spend Luck Points to benefit him in the fight if they can be used in his defense.
Best Regards,
Denny
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Slingshot:
OOC: For my sake, I'll be waiting for Menagerie's throw and hopefully knock Slingshot omega out of the park.
If it doesn't come, or Slingshot Omega does something different, then I'll just go after him with the console like last turn.
IC:
Scott says nothing and waits for Menagerie's throw. Once he connects with Slingshot Omega, he says, "You lost your family, but instead of helping me with mine, you try to take it away from me. You know that you can help and work with me! This is my last attempt at making sense out of you. Choose!"
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