[Exterior Map: Each map square is 40 feet / 8”. Characters are not in scale.]
Outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral…
Realizing that Overdrive wasn’t coming loose, Avatar pummeled him right where he was, with the strength of Ares! POW! Unable to dodge or roll with the damage, Overdrive was beaten into unconsciousness!
Without missing a beat, Avatar barked from his web prison, "Run, child! You are in terrible danger here!"
The boy froze in fear!
Jack Lantern said, “A child?” with obvious delight in his voice.
Before Jack Lantern could choose between murdering Clone or the child, Web yelled, “I said: back off!” and then - BLORF! - the agile arachnoid covered the Halloween killer in his webbing compound, sticking him to the spot, without hitting Clone! Web dragged the unconscious Clone from Lantern’s reach.
Jack Lantern used his knife to cut into the web net. He chuckled eerily in his work. But he wasn’t free yet.
Caught in his own web, Avatar desperately sawed at the webbing with his sword, using all of his strength and the keenness of the blade that he wrought with divine skill.
Avatar and Jack Lantern were both feverishly sawing, glancing up at each other from time to time in this unlikely race and then Avatar broke free of his chrysalis cage! His sword was completely entangled now, and he relinquished it.
Jack Lantern was moments from freedom! [OOC: He damaged the web enough to require a d20 save, rather than a d100 save, but still failed his save. He’ll likely be free next issue!]
Menagerie, in the form of the Terrordactyl, surveyed the scene as he flew low through the streets, thought-sending the locations of downed villains to Nathan Lamb. He allowed the Voice to fall to the street as he quietly banked left, using the concrete canyons to cover his approach of Web!
The shape-shifting sorcerer coordinated his attack with Avatar as he silently soared into Web’s back, his terrifying mouth opening wide to bite his prey! GRONCH!
Web was caught unaware! [OOC: No Spidey Sense, apparently. He takes all damage off hits!]
The arachnoid assassin now lay limp and unconscious in the prehistoric sky-predator’s immense jaws as it flew directly over Jack Lantern!
Sentinel had his vision back. He saw that only the Halloween killer and Triceratops remained standing! Of them, one was free.
Triceratops pulled himself up out of the fire hydrant geyser he had just made, roared and charged Sgt. Stone, fairly blind with rage!
Sentinel saw his chance. As the Jurassic juggernaut sped up, a solid energy construct in the shape of a ramp suddenly materialized in front of Triceratops! His speed, power and rage were turned against him and Triceratops hurtled up the ramp before he knew what had happened! He hurtled through the air and into the tenth story wall of a stone skyscraper across the street! KA-RASHH!!!
As he tried to pry himself out of the wall, he lost his balance and fell to the street! - BOOM! – forming another impact crater on Fifth avenue!
Triceratops, badly hurt, tried to slowly crawl from the pit.
Sgt. Stone was waiting for him. “Stay down, junior.” THOOM! The big roundhouse punch put him down for the count. Stone smiled despite himself. “Like old times.”
[OOC: Next turn…]
Avatar quickly scooped up his young fan and sprinted him out to the expanded police line. It would prove the memory of the boy’s lifetime.
Meanwhile, Menagerie, Sentinel and Sgt. Stone closed on the remaining villain, Jack Lantern, who had stopped cutting at the web with his long knife.
Jack Lantern called after his young would-be victim, “Yes, today is your lucky day, young man. You’d do well to remember this moment.” Then he looked at the heroes that ringed him and coldly said, “I know I will.”
Then he collapsed to the ground. Moments later, he regained consciousness but seemed confused as to his whereabouts. And his voice was different. “Where am I?”
Suddenly, VROOOOOOM! CHESS Knights flew overhead and into the Cathedral. More headed for the heroes that circled Jack Lantern. Communications were restored and the CHESS frequencies were full of shouting. One message came through loud and clear: “Vanguard attempted to assassinate the President?!!””
Moments earlier, inside the Cathedral’s basement…
The Clone nearest Slingshot said, “Comrade . . . it is seeming that The President is not being main target of these villains. It is seeming that main target was Nanite, and I am being most sorry comrade but I was not being able to keep her safe from all of them. She was being instantly telephoned away to somewhere by Skin of the Deep and someone I am not knowing of ... I am most sorry comrade.”
Then the darkness lifted! Skin Deep and the Luddite were gone! Zephyr was still there! And so was the Silent Killer! Two of the secret service agents were rousing. And the back stone wall was severely damaged!
Slingshot’s estranged dad and brother had pushed their way down the hall, forcing their way past one Clone, to the doorway of the chamber. “Scott, you all right?” called his dad.
Two of the Clones instinctively moved to block their access into the room in order to keep them safe from any lingering ‘bad guys’ that might still be lurking about inside.
Suddenly a secret service agent got on one knee and leveled his gun pointblank at Slingshot! “Freeze!”
Then everyone started moving and shouting at once. It was perfect bedlam.
The Silent Killer (a.k.a. Lightning Strike) dove over the heads of two Clones that guarded the nearest exit, and out of the room. He raced west down the corridor, turned south and then east and scanned the area with his electrical powers. The Luddite was gone without a trace, through the walls and beyond Strike’s range.
The teleporter Clone described left no trail that Strike could track. [OOC: The GPS on Skin Deep’s cellphone was merely a way to mark a safe target for the emerald teleporter to arrive at, without materializing into a wall. No Luck Point expended here.]
Strike transformed into electrical form and was gone! SHAKOW!
The secret service agent kept his gun pointed at Slingshot when the Silent Killer departed.
Two Clones fled the room to help the President as another Clone, fearing for his friend’s safety, placed himself between Slingshot and the government agent with his hands in the air and tried desperately to explain the situation, “Please, you are not knowing of the entire situation I am thinking. I am knowing of how this is looking, but it is not really how this is looking comrade. This is not the Slingshot you are looking, it is the other Slingshot who is not being here but is looking just like this Slingshot that is being to blame for all of this. That Slingshot is looking exactly like this Slingshot with most of same powers it is looking, but is not this Slingshot . . . please to be understanding this.”
Symbiote flew to the chamber doorway and was stunned silent by what was going on!
“Shut up! On the floor!” the agent yelled at Clone. Then at Slingshot: “Hands up! WHERE’S THE PRESIDENT?!”
The second agent was on his feet now.
Slingshot sighed and held his hands up to the agent. "No need. I understand how this looks. For the record, it was not me. It was Skin Deep impersonating me. You can request the CHESS records about her being able to take on my shape and powers. Also, for the record, they took my wife."
Slate's eyes buzzed with static as he turned to the agent, tilted his head to the right, and said, "No", and the first agent’s gun sparkled with the same static and evaporated!
Slingshot raised his voice for the first time at his progeny. "Ethan, stop that! The man is doing his job."
The disarmed agent picked up one of the other pistols, aimed it at Slate and Slingshot. “Get them up!” he barked at the second agent, who began waking the other unconscious agents.
The first agent spoke into his communication earpiece, gun still pointing. “Requesting immediate backup. Vanguard attempted to assassinate the President. We are in the Cathedral basement! Repeat: need backup now!”
Slate said: "The president is safe in another room, Clone can take you to him. My father was not who you saw attacked you. You can read the CHESS record and determine he is telling the truth. Right now, we need him."
Slingshot turned to the agent and paused, "If you want me to go into custody, let me know. What my son says is right, looks like the president was not the target after all. It was both my wife and my son. They weren't able to run off with him. Go check on him and I'll be right here when you return."
Slingshot turned to Ethan, "Son, I'm sorry. Don't be upset. I need you to be an adult now. Get Vanguard to help clear my name and look for mother."
Turning to his father, Slate implored: "I need you to help me find her. You found Nemesis using that energy they both release, maybe we can use that to track her. You have to look, you have to try. All those months you spent with her, when everything seemed lost. You didn't give up then, how can you just let them take her now."
Slate’s voice rose, "He killed her! What will he do with her now. It's so important to them that they came back not to just discredit us, but to get her. We can't let them have her, not for a minute. We have to go after them now." He drops to his knees and looks up at Scott with his Mothers eyes, "We have to."
The usually jovial features of his father hardened, "I'm not giving up on her. I never will, but the problem is Caine's manipulations. I can't go out halfcocked running into Caine's Office like we did that first time. We are here today because of that moment. We can't do it that way again. We have to have evidence and ensure that we can put it all on his feet. Until then we need to do our homework."
The first agent wasn’t letting Slingshot and Slate out of his sight.
The second and third agents followed Clone to the unconscious President and three other Clones.
One Clone was kneeling beside the President, checking on him. Was he still alive? Were his wounds fatal? Was he still breathing? All these questions and more raced through Clone’s mind as he struggled to make sure the President was merely unconscious and not actually dead.
The second agent checked the President’s vitals and said, “POTUS is alive,” into his communication earpiece.
The third said to the Clones, “I need all of you to get on the floor, face down with your hands behind your backs until we know what the hell is going on here.”
In time, the President was evacuated to the nearest hospital, with several CHESS Knights escorting him.
The wedding guests were moved upstairs and methodically processed and questioned by the Secret Service.
Rachel Ray and Clone never kissed, but when she saw several Clones at once, she asked her ‘escort,’ “Are you all the same person? I mean, do you all share one, like, mind? Or are you more like identical twins, or septuplets, where you all have different personalities, hopes, dreams, whatever?”
CHESS teams arrived and apprehended the auditioners that formed Homicide Unlimited.
Black Ice, Killshot, Chain, Inside Man, the Voice, Web, Overdrive, Dexter Sinister Jr., Jack Lantern and Triceratops were captured. The Fly appeared to be destroyed.
Catman, Black Sheep, The Silent Killer, and Damocles remained at large.
Vanguard reunited in the Cathedral, escorted by CHESS Knights and Secret Service agents.
There, Slingshot and Slate were arrested by the Secret Service. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law,” began the first agent.
The rest of Vanguard, including Sgt. Stone, Doc Rocket, Shelley and Felicity Chase, were being taken in for questioning, given their relationship to Slingshot, and their presence here during ‘his’ assassination attempt.
“Where’s Lightning Strike?” they were asked.
By the time they were marched out of the Cathedral and onto Fifth Avenue, reporters and photographers were there to capture the perp walk. News copters, government vehicles and agents, NYPD, and newly forming crowds completed the circus atmosphere.
Katherine Adams, national news reporter, spoke into a camera near them, “Wolf, we have reports there was an attempt on President Taylor’s life tonight, at the Vanguard wedding. And wait… yes, we’re now seeing Vanguard being led out, in what appears to be police custody!”
Lightning Strike observed all this from cyberspace through a traffic camera.
Unmarked vans pulled up. The secret service readied to load Vanguard into them.
Nathan Lamb, CHESS ID pinned to his jacket, stopped the first Secret Service agent. “Valk. Come on. You know this is extranormal business. Not your jurisdiction. Turn them over to CHESS. Grey is on his way to take custody,” he yelled over the street noise.“I bet he is,” shouted Special Agent Valk. “Not a chance. This is a Secret Service investigation. This was a Presidential assassination!”
“That’s not what Vanguard says…” Lamb replied.
“It’s what the President says!” interrupted Valk.
“…and you haven’t the facilities to hold them anyway,” Lamb tried with all the charm he could muster.
“They’re not resisting,” said Valk. “But don’t worry. MEDUSA is coming, in case they do.”
Slingshot had been framed pretty well. And Slate had attacked a Secret Service agent.
Vanguard had a long night of questioning ahead of them.
Sentinel’s Law skill told him the best they could hope for was to be back on the street in six to twelve hours.
Worst case, Slingshot and Slate would be arraigned, and bail would have to be set before they’d have a chance at freedom. Assuming bail would be set.
Sgt. Stone was reluctantly going along with all this but started looking at Vanguard when the vans pulled up.
Shelley glanced at Sentinel from the corner of her eye and, in Vanguard hand signal, asked, “Now what?”
To be continued!
OOC: Please reply to any and all of the above! I need next steps for each of you, please, which could include:
a) Take time to prove Slingshot’s innocence to the Law, which is feasible. Slingy’s on record as having fought a duplicate Slingshot a while back. But it's going to take time to untangle this mess; time Vanguard doesn't have.
b) Find Nanite immediately, which means blowing off, and angering, law enforcement until you can bring the guilty parties to justice and clear Scott's (and Vanguard's!) good name.
If you choose this path, how and when do you plan to escape custody, and how do you hope to find Nanite?
c) Anything else you guys cook up.
Thanks!
Current Conditions:
Avatar: Hit Points: 104, Power Points: 81, Manifestation: Hera and Ares! These are both about to expire.
Clone: Awake bodies: 11, Hit Points: 2 each, Power Points: 38 each, Hit Point Pool: 22, Unconscious bodies: 2.
Lightning Strike: Hit Points: 39, Power Points: 31
Menagerie: Hit Points: 21, Power Points: 58, Form: I’m assuming Man at this point. Tom?
Sentinel: Hit Points: 23, Power Points: 48, Creation Points: 96, Shields: 57,
Slate: Hit Points: 30, Power Points: 57
Slingshot: Hit Points: 35, Power Points: 39, Invulnerability: 8
Symbiote: Hit Points: 29, Power Points: 63, Charges: 11, Copied: Voice
--------------------------------------------------
Menagerie:
OOC: Wow! Awesome issue.
Yes, Menagerie would have turned into Man form around the time they were confronting Jack Lantern after Avatar had saved the child.
Is conversations with Director Grey considered next issue or would we be ask questions now as it would be general knowledge of the situation?
Regards
Tom
--------------------------------------------------
GM:
OOC: Thanks.
Depends on what you're doing. If you plan on waiting for Grey to show, ask questions now and I'll include answers next issue.
If your actions depend on his answers, I'll try to write his responses before next issue.
Best,
Jeff
--------------------------------------------------
Slingshot:
[ooc]I'm planning on staying put for the next little while. I'll do whatever is needed. I will be vocal about my innocence primarily, I won't push the being framed too much.
With the authorities, I'll be amiable and helpful, will ask about how is the search for Nan going. I'll go into all the details especially the facts around the timing regarding my coming down the stairs, knowing that people have seen me come down before just before the blackout and that the president was in the hand of the doppelganger before "I" showed up.
With the news, Scott will be short and to the point: help find Nan. If asked about the investigation, beyond the one quote below, it will be the only time that he will mention anything about himself. He will return to asking about finding Nan.
I would like to think that Felicity Chase, being the marketing goddess that she is, would jump on that and help promote the "Help Find Nan!" to further the cause of the supers. The spin is as follows: to show that supers are just like everyone else. They can suffer from the bad guys. They can be abducted, incarcerated. They are just like you and me. Help find Nan!
[/ooc]
If I get in front of cameras/news, I'll say the following:
Speaking fast, but clearly as if Scott won't get the chance to get it all out. "A mercenary task force known as Homicide for Hire has abducted my wife Nan and framed me for this. I implore you, if you have any information on her whereabouts, please contact Vanguard. I don't care what happens to me. Please help find Nan."
[ooc]I'm visualizing being walked to a truck and Scott gets a mike in front of him. He'll simply stop, say his few words and keep moving.[/ooc]
If I'm allowed special dispensation for clearing my name, great, but I assume that I won't.
[ooc] I'm willing to play this one by the rules. If that puts me on the bench for a few turns, then I will. I won't break out of anywhere. If I'm allowed to leave, then I will. At the same time, if I can post bail, then I will. If I'm not allowed to leave, then I will hope that my fellow Vanguardians will help find Nan.
I certainly wouldn't complain if I'm being detained and Slingshot starts appearing elsewhere. :)
Just sayin'
Stephane
--------------------------------------------------
Lightning Strike:
Strike will continue to probe unusual surges or decreases n the grid. He assumes that nobody can just appear and disappear without a trace. The police/secret service probe is clearly second to tracking down the potential killer of his wife. Strike would never have participated in any politically motivated search (given his relative independence fomr the group) so his dissapearance would not raise suspicion with Vanguard. He will focus on areas where there are blackouts and brownouts to see where the luddite may have rematerialized.Assuming that this may take a while, Strike will also target Catman independently so that his mouth can be shut by the silent killer!!
OOC: Strike will prepare to come up with a good reason why he wasn't there during the whole scenario. I am hoping that good snooping will pay dividends.
--------------------------------------------------
Sentinel:
I think you had Kirk silent last issue ... can't expect him to keep his mouth shut :) and now to make up for the silence.
After being caught up on the events he’d missed Kirk signaled Ajay, “Ajay, we need you to work some of your magic. In this digital age with all of the recording devices available we should be able to get time stamped images proving that the attack on the President by Skin Deep began while our Slingshot was still here protecting the crowds on the street. Try to compile some hard proof and forward it to anyone that can help as quickly as possible.”
Kirk couldn’t have been more impressed with Scott’s choices this day or prouder to call him friend. He wondered if their situations were reversed and if it was Shelley missing if he could make the same sensible rational choices.
When Kirk saw Scott and Slate being escorted away and the call for all Vanguard and their closest associates to surrender to the secret service it all hit him and angered him. When Shelley signaled him, his anger turned to determination and action.
With all the reporters covering the wedding it would be easy enough to get their attention. He flew towards the media and descended to the crowd as recording devices and flashes were upon him as they gathered to hear.
“We know that you all have questions as to what happened here today and why, and that there are false rumors spreading. So let’s answer your questions and set the record straight now.
First off, we’d like to thank our fellow workers, the brave men and women of the NYPD and CHESS for their heroic actions this day. And we’d like to thank each and every one of you present for your support and bravery, for cooperating with them and for keeping your heads during the attack of the super villains.
To answer those questions perhaps we first should explain why this big wedding? Certainly some of our detractors will try to use this against us stating we should have known something like this would happen. So why this big event? And the answer to that is simple.
When a couple in love choose to let the world know about their commitment, their vow to each other in marriage they choose to share their special day with those closest to them … those that support them and touch their lives and give meaning to them. For those that love them, that big day can mean almost as much to them as it does to the couple themselves. But you all know that already.
When the announcement of Nanite and Slingshot’s wedding become public, they were overwhelmed by your outpouring of love and support. And by how much each of you wanted to be a part of it. As you look around you today we see people of all walks of life and all backgrounds united together to celebrate something wonderful, something bigger than each one of us, something bigger even than Slingshot and Nanite themselves; among you are some public celebrities…
(Kirk eyes the crowd and upon seeing a supportive celebrity gives a hand motion or nod towards them – perhaps Johnny Depp (mentioned --- perhaps Robert Downy Jr or Samuel Jackson)
… and even President Taylor himself. Having already dedicated their lives to serving you and grateful for your outpouring of support they felt their choice of wedding had to be one that included all of you.
Was it worth risking something like this happening? Perhaps Benjamin Franklin said it best, “Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.”
Unfortunately it seems there will always be little men that seek to elevate themselves above others. These sorts of men out of greed scheme to use fear and hate to achieve their selfish ends. They tear down what others try to build up. This great nation of ours has always risen above the egos and agendas of such men. That’s why the United States remains the premiere beacon of liberty and hope to the world. And that’s why Nanite and Slingshot made their decision to share their special day with all of you … out of hope and for liberty. They refused to exclude you out of fear.
Unfortunately some did try to take advantage... they missed the spirit of this day and tried to corrupt it to their own ends. You saw a big part of it with the battle of the super villains. However that was merely a distraction from their true agenda. An assassination attempt was made on the life of President Taylor and as part of it they tried to frame Slingshot to discredit Vanguard. Fortunately Vanguard saved the life of President Taylor. Unfortunately this came at great loss to us. We are distressed to report that during the battle Nanite was captured by the enemy and her whereabouts are currently unknown. If you have any information that can assist us in her rescue, please contact us.
We are currently cooperating with the Secret Service in their protocols to thwart the final part of the plot, that of clearing Slingshot and Vanguard’s name. The attempt on the President consisted of an attack by a most-wanted felon, a super-powered shape shifter codenamed Skin Deep who had previously publically assumed the identity of Slingshot and posed as him again today. The president had been taken to a secure room under the protection of the Secret Service. With a surprise attack disguised as Slingshot she incapacitated the Secret Service and was about to take the life of President Taylor. Fortunately members of Vanguard arrived just in time to save his life. When the agents revived they found the genuine Slingshot present and the President moved to a safe location under the protection of Vanguard’s own Clone.
Certainly we can appreciate the confusion of the events and we are confident that this matter will be resolved quickly. The safety of our President is always paramount in the minds of Vanguard.
‘Mr President, sir, if you are listening, we wish you well. Vanguard will always be vigilant with regard to your safety and available at your call.’
With the safety of President Taylor secured we do appeal to those in authority to speed the process to clear Vanguard to begin the search for Nanite immediately. This was her wedding day. We cannot let it end this way. Vanguard needs your help now."
OOC Let's see if we can cut some red tape...
Best,
SethPS: A quick addendum that I assumed the answer would have been 'no' due to Strike's attempt but perhaps you'll say otherwise to make my next actions tougher ...
upon hearing about Harrik having a new teleporter on the crew and their actions Kirk tries to scan the area to see if he can pick up any energy trail from the teleporting effect that Kirk can follow ...
Kirk can sense energy beyond Strike's level, although what happened may have already dissipated or be beyond his range.
And Kirk communicates to Menagerie, "Any trail on the teleporter on the mystical end of things?"
--------------------------------------------------
GM:
IC: The Secret Service wants to move all of Vanguard out of here asap for questioning.
Slingy's brief plea is completed before he's asked to move along.
Sentinel flew towards the media and descended to the crowd as recording devices and flashes were upon him as they gathered to hear.
“We know that you all have questions as to what happened here today and why, and that there are false rumors spreading. So let’s answer your questions and set the record straight now.
First off, we’d like to thank our fellow workers, the brave men and women of the NYPD and CHESS for their heroic actions this day. And we’d like to thank each and every one of you present for your support and bravery, for cooperating with them and for keeping your heads during the attack of the super villains."
At that moment, Sentinel felt a hand on his shoulder. It's Special Agent Valk. "We've got to go. Now," he said unhappily with one finger on his earpiece.
OOC:
Continue? Cut short? Other?
Thanks,
Jeff
--------------------------------------------------
Sentinel:
At that moment, Sentinel felt a hand on his shoulder. It's Special Agent Valk. "We've got to go. Now," he said unhappily with one finger on his earpiece.Kirk turns his head towards Valk checking his energy aura for foul play just in case and tunes into him telepathically to be sure there are no ulterior motives (ie no mind control, not a pawn of Caine, etc)
“This will just take a moment Agent Valk; Vanguard is giving full inter-agency cooperation and courtesy to your team and we’d ask for this moment in return.
If Valk resists, Kirk will say something along the lines, “We’ve been giving you full cooperation here, I’m sorry you don’t have the courtesy to return it. Tell you what, I’ll follow protocol to check with our actual liaison, Agent Grey, about this. I’ll be right there (Kirk points a few feet above them) waiting to hear from him away from the noise of the crowd. As Kirk rises, he clicks his communicator and says, “Ajay, get me Grey immediately please.”
Kirk rises high enough to be out of Valk’s reach and continues to speak.
“Agent Valk was just reminding me how important it is that we sort through these events quickly … while I’m following some protocol in that regard checking with our liason I’d like to finish my statement to you and I thought I’d be sure that everyone here can hear …”
Kirk can use a construct to amplify his voice if necessary. Please note the adjustment in his speech towards the end.
To answer those questions perhaps we first should explain why this big wedding? Certainly some of our detractors will try to use this against us stating we should have known something like this would happen. So why this big event? And the answer to that is simple.
When a couple in love choose to let the world know about their commitment, their vow to each other in marriage they choose to share their special day with those closest to them … those that support them and touch their lives and give meaning to them. For those that love them, that big day can mean almost as much to them as it does to the couple themselves. But you all know that already.
When the announcement of Nanite and Slingshot’s wedding become public, they were overwhelmed by your outpouring of love and support. And by how much each of you wanted to be a part of it. As you look around you today we see people of all walks of life and all backgrounds united together to celebrate something wonderful, something bigger than each one of us, something bigger even than Slingshot and Nanite themselves; among you are some public celebrities…
(Kirk eyes the crowd and upon seeing a supportive celebrity gives a hand motion or nod towards them – perhaps Johnny Depp (mentioned --- perhaps Robert Downy Jr or Samuel Jackson)
… and even President Taylor himself. Having already dedicated their lives to serving you and grateful for your outpouring of support they felt their choice of wedding had to be one that included all of you.
Was it worth risking something like this happening? Perhaps Benjamin Franklin said it best, “Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.”
Unfortunately it seems there will always be little men that seek to elevate themselves above others. These sorts of men out of greed scheme to use fear and hate to achieve their selfish ends. They tear down what others try to build up. This great nation of ours has always risen above the egos and agendas of such men. That’s why the United States remains the premiere beacon of liberty and hope to the world. And that’s why Nanite and Slingshot made their decision to share their special day with all of you … out of hope and for liberty. They refused to exclude you out of fear.
Unfortunately some did try to take advantage... they missed the spirit of this day and tried to corrupt it to their own ends. You saw a big part of it with the battle of the super villains. However that was merely a distraction from their true agenda. An assassination attempt was made on the life of President Taylor and as part of it they tried to frame Slingshot to discredit Vanguard. Fortunately Vanguard in coordination with the Secret Service saved the life of President Taylor. Unfortunately this came at great loss to us. We are distressed to report that during the battle Nanite was captured by the enemy and her whereabouts are currently unknown. If you have any information that can assist us in her rescue, please contact us.
We are currently cooperating with the Secret Service in their protocols to thwart the final part of the plot, that of clearing Slingshot and Vanguard’s name. The attempt on the President consisted of an attack by a most-wanted felon, a super-powered shape shifter codenamed Skin Deep who had previously publically assumed the identity of Slingshot and posed as him again today. The president had been taken to a secure room under the protection of the Secret Service. With a surprise attack disguised as Slingshot Skin Deep threatened the life of President Taylor. Members of Vanguard including the genuine Slingshot arrived to assist the Secret Service agents in saving the life of President Taylor while Clone moved the President to another secure location.
Certainly we can appreciate the confusion of the events and we are confident that this matter will be resolved quickly. The safety of our President is always paramount in the minds of Vanguard.
‘Mr President, sir, if you are listening, we wish you well. Vanguard will always be vigilant with regard to your safety and available at your call.’
With the safety of President Taylor secured we do appeal to those in authority to speed the process to clear Vanguard to begin the search for Nanite immediately. This was her wedding day. We cannot let it end this way. Vanguard needs your help now."
Once done, Kirk flies down to Valk or to the rest of Vanguard depending on the situation to cooperate.
OOC: Although in my original speech I tried to not make the Secret Service look too bad, it’s now adjusted to not make them look bad at all. This is Kirk’s last attempt at diplomacy with Valk. From Kirk’s standpoint, even though he resisted it, both his teammates and Grey put him up to being ‘team leader’ or ‘spokesman’. He is responsible for his team and he is going to do what he can to protect them. And from a government department standpoint, he is to Vanguard what Grey is to Chess and Valk is to the Secret Service in this situation.
If Valk approaches Sentinel to push this further and I would assume he will, Kirk will reply, “Valk, We’ve shown you every courtesy here today. Your team blew it. We did your job. You’re welcome. In return you’ve allowed us to be discredited and you’re delaying our taking care of our own. Now you can extend us the same courtesy we’ve extended you or my next press statement will fill in the details of how your team was incapacitated and unconscious within seconds leaving the president unprotected against the assault of Skin Deep. If not for us, the President would have been dead at her hands when your team revived instead of in a safe location under the protection of Clone. So how about cutting the red tape so we can find Nanite and those truly responsible for this attack?”
If Valk isn’t sleeping with the enemy here, I’m hoping he’s smart enough to realize Kirk did him a solid and help out or at least be impressed enough to respect his stones in standing up to him. If Valk doesn’t approach Kirk in anger, perhaps Kirk can approach him and give the same sort of information in a more diplomatic way to try to get them released quicker.
Seth
--------------------------------------------------
Symbiote:
Hal remains largely silent during the public arrest phase of this entire situation, remembering his father talk about how many perpetrators had given away any chance of avoiding jail time just by running their mouths during an arrest. "If you're ever in a situation where the cops read you your rights, son, shut up and wait for a lawyer," Ralph had told his children. "Even if--hell, ESPECIALLY IF--you're innocent. Police are good people by and large, but remember, a lot of them don't think their job is to do justice. They think their job is to arrest somebody, guilty or not."He'll therefore wince a little when Sentinel starts making a very public statement to the crowd--until he actually hears it. Well done, Kirk, exactly what we needed at this moment, Hal thinks to himself. He'll try to physically block any Secret Service agents who attempt to interrupt the speech if feasible.
Once at wherever Vanguard is to be questioned, Hal will be polite but uncooperative. "I was outside, several hundred feet in the air, fighting The Fly and The Voice when this assault on the President occurred," Hal insists. "I don't believe Slingshot had anything to do with it but I know I didn't, and you have both eyewitness and video proof that I was nowhere near the crime scene when the crime happened. I will be happy to give a statement if subpoenaed at a later date, but right now I just don't have the time for it. I'd like to leave." He'll then start to leave. If the police/secret service try to detain him, Hal will suddenly grab his head and begin to sway as if about to lose his balance. "Don't feel well, all of a sudden....that ray that The Fly hit me with...he said something about a 'plague beam'....I...I think I need medical attention."
Cops are terrified of violating anybody's civil rights, and they give a lot of leeway if somebody claims they are having a medical emergency (OOC: I've actually seen this. One of my offenders avoided a sentencing for months by claiming he was having a heart attack every time he was subpoenaed into court) so one way or another, between weak evidence for holding him and doing an "Elizabeth, I'm comin' to join ya" routine like Fred Sanford, Hal is hoping to be released quickly....
....where he will immediately go back to Vanguard Vault and pull up his schematics/medical records on Nanite. Hal is her attending engineer/doctor, he arguably knows her workings better than anyone. He's hoping to find some sort of beacon signal for her, very much like the one Nemesis emitted, and track her location. He'll enlist Doc Rocket's help for this if possible and use a luck point to do it, if possible and necessary.
Once she's located he votes we gather up whatever members of the team are free and Go. Get. HER!!
Viva Vanguard,
Greg
--------------------------------------------------
Avatar:
Avatar was largely unaware of everything happening with Slingshot, Nanite, the President, etc. and was very publicly busy outside in the street fighting super bad-guys. If requested, he will go along with the authorities for questioning but says nothing about anything other than what he observed on the street. When/if Vanguard is released, he offers any of his skills or powers to aid in finding Nanite and her kidnappers. If release is delayed overly much for any reason, he will calmly demand to be released.
--------------------------------------------------
Menagerie:
IC: Menagerie will silently be led by the SS (Secret Service). As he is being moved he will talk with the rats in the basement to learn as much as he can about what happened. He will reach out to his guide and 'His Lady' for the significance of Nanite's capture. He will only answer questions if a CHESS liaison is present. He will state he has no idea what happened to Lightning Strike. It is not uncommon for him to venture off on his own and it is possible that he was a victim of today's events.
Menagerie will repeatedly tell them that Slingshot had followed them outside and fought against Homicide Unlimited. Slingshot did not go to back into the church until Menagerie told him that the POTUS was under attack by Skin Deep.
"I saw both Slingshot outside the church with us and Skin Deep inside the basement attacking the POTUS."
If the Secret Service asks how I saw them both at the same time, I will look to the CHESS liasion for permission to disclose.
"I talk to animals"
If the Secret Service asks how I told Slingshot about the attack on the POTUS, I will look to the CHESS liaison for permission to disclose.
"When I am an animal I talk to people"
If the Secret Service asks how I know it was Slingshot outside and Skin Deep attacking POTUS, I will look to the CHESS liaison for permission to disclose.
"I have magical senses, I know the truth."
OOC: Menagerie will use all his Charisma and Intelligence to help convince the authorities to release Slingshot and Slate under the supervision of CHESS and Vanguard. Emphasizing Slingshot was a man protecting his family and country and Slate is a child who had just lost his Mother and reacted to protect his Father. While he will agree that MEDUSA would be able to hold them, Vanguard would be better at supervising them and there is still the issue of the kidnapping to resolve. Wouldn't it be better if MEDUSA focused on the threat to National Security these kidnappers represented?
If it appears he is wasting his time he will request permission to leave. He will join the rest of Vanguard in helping to find Nanite.
Best
Tom--------------------------------------------------
Slate:
Slate allowed them to handcuff him and followed his father’s example; his body seemed to be on autopilot. In his mind he continued to play the recent events over in his mind. Static swirled around his eyes, like some kind of electrical fish continually looking for something.Logically, he understood what his father was doing and why, but his emotions railed against that logic, demanding action. He struggled against himself, and blocked out everything else. He didn’t even glance at the photographers or reporters yelling his name. At one point, Slingshot stopped and made a short plea, but that didn’t even register to Slate.
OOC: Slate will observe. He will not answer questions or be helpful. He feels he did the right thing by the president, and for that he lost his mother. Basic sulking child syndrome.
Jon
--------------------------------------------------
Sentinel:
OOC:
I think getting you guys back into the lab is our best bet to track Nanite.
Otherwise other possibilities are(1) Silent Killer gets contacted - unlikely since Homicide Unlimited has served its purpose
(2) Strike picks up a lead on the street through his street sources (the rest of us don't really have them to my memory)
(3) We can try to do some internet chatter checking
If anyone has any other ideas on tracking Nanite I'm all ears... although Kirk may be taken away by MEDUSA after standing up to Valk ...
Seth
--------------------------------------------------
Lightning Strike:
OOC: Damn!! Two out of three runs through me. Tough couple of weeks for Vanguard.--------------------------------------------------
Sentinel:
OOC: Desperate time call for desperate measures ... :)
Seth
--------------------------------------------------
Clone:
- Rachael RayThe wedding guests were moved upstairs and methodically processed and questioned by the Secret Service. Rachel Ray and Clone never kissed, but when she saw several Clones at once, she asked her ‘escort,’ “Are you all the same person? I mean, do you all share one, like, mind? Or are you more like identical twins, or septuplets, where you all have different personalities, hopes, dreams, whatever?”
Clone looked a little confused by Rachael’s questions and said matter-of-factly to her, “No, I am being all of one person no matter how many of me there is at being.” Fearing that this might freak her out somehow; Clone continued, “ . . . but this is not to be scariest of things, I am knowing of many things that I can be doing for wife as a husband that can be in many places at many times.” Before she can even react to that statement she is suddenly dragged off to safety by a nearby security team. As she steps into a limousine waiting close by; Clone calls out to her, “I am having much fun on our date Rachael, please to be calling of me! I am very happy looking forward to you meeting of my family!” As the limo door closes, Clone places his fist to his ear with his thumb and pinky extended and mouths the words – Call – Me.
- Questioning
The authorities would probably just get themselves frustrated and confused trying to question Clone about what happened. Between his lack of skill with the English language and his fear of government agencies anything they would get out of him would just sound something like this:
“Please comrade; as I am telling of Secret Services persons . . . who by the way I am thinking they are not being so secret since it is that I am knowing of them . . . ( Clone then waves his hands in the air as he realizes that he is straying off topic ) . . . but as I am saying much before, you are not knowing of entire situation I am thinking. I am knowing of how this is now looking, but it is not really how this is now looking comrade. This is not the Slingshot you are looking for, it is other Slingshot who is not being here but is looking just like this Slingshot that is now being here to be blamed for all of this. That Slingshot is looking exactly like this Slingshot with most of same powers it is looking I am thinking, but it is not this Slingshot . . . please to be understanding all of this comrades.”
OOC:
Don’t feel so bad Jon, pretty meager stuff here as well. I wish I could add more; I actually sat at my computer for about an hour or so just re-reading the last issue and everyone’s response a couple of times, but I can’t honestly see Clone getting more involved than what I wrote up top. I would even go so far as saying that Clone would probably either be too afraid to get too overly involved i.e. out of his fear of the government, etc. ) or because he was advised not to get involved due to his child-like honesty and poor command of the English language – Clone would be a defense attorneys worst nightmare lol.
Clone would of course do anything he could to help Vanguard clear the names of his friends; but as I just stated above, it would probably be behind the scenes and not out in the public eye – the last thing anyone would want is Clone getting in front of a TV camera crew lol =O
On a side note – I could definitely see Clone in the tabloids wrapped around some kind of made up Rachael Ray scandal lol. I keep envisioning the old ‘Bat Boy and Bigfoot love child’ type stories that would appear in the Weekly World News or something lol. I would imagine that his hopes of ‘hooking up’ with her would be blown to pieces because of all the weird and negative press the ‘couple’ would receive – poor Clone =(
Jeff, if you need anything else from me let me know.
Talk to you all soon,
- Kev
--------------------------------------------------
GM:
OOC: Thanks Kev. The Rachel stuff is hilarious.
--------------------------------------------------
Sentinel:
OOC: Just wondering if 'all' of the Clones were rounded up ... just sayin ...
Seth
--------------------------------------------------
Slingshot:
OOC: :) [queue - Barry White Music ]
--------------------------------------------------
Clone:
OOC: LOL You guys are hilarious! =D
- Kev
--------------------------------------------------
