Crucible #38 - "Rage of the Machine"

[GM Mad]

Crucible #38 - "Rage of the Machine"


Roll Call: Eldrich, Flux, Goldstar, Lily, & Starguard

Edgar opens the way below, and Lily rushes off to find her daughter. Hopefully, no harm has come to Rose or any of the others...

Along the way, Lily runs into Dr. Marin. "Lily! Thank goodness! Is everything okay? Is it safe to go back out?"

Lily is quickly reunited with her daughter Rose. The little tyke seems blissfully unaware of what has been going on. She was playing with her new friends when Lily arrives.

"Hi Mommy!", Rose will say and she'll fly to greet her mother. "Back so soon?"


Elsewhere, Serena has helped revitalize Edgar. Starguard then informs the entity that he has found the necessary components to complete the repairs to Edgar's Bio-mechanical body.

"Yes, that is wonderful!", Goldstar adds clapping her hands. "Sure, I can show you how to get where you need to go." Goldstar turns and starts to head off. She stops after a few steps and turns around once more. "Uhm, where was I supposed to go again?"

At Edgar's direction, a floor underneath himself, Goldstar, and Starguard will begin to sink and move. In a moment, they are moving in a pocket of air through Edgar's very being. They reach Edgar's control center shortly afterwards. It is a large chamber that is a bizarre combination of organic growth and mechanical devices.

"This is my control center", Edgar will explain. "The necessary components that I need go over there."

"I'll get right to work", Starguard says.

The man in the starry armor examines the area to get his bearings. Then he begins to work. The damaged components are removed and the new ones inserted. Some work is required as the parts are not a perfect fit, so some adapting is necessary. After about five minutes work, the task is complete.

"That should do the trick."

"Yes sir, it did", Edgar will say. "That does feel much better."

Turning to Goldstar he will add, "I will be able to accelerate healing of myself now, Miss Goldstar. I will be fully functional in a few hours. I will be able serve you and your companions better now."

[GM Mad]

Roll Call: Tesla, Serena, and Sapphire

After healing Edgar, Serena joins the others on guard duty out on the battlements. As they stand and watch, something catches their attention off in the city. There is a bright flash of light far off in the distance. It seemed to come from the northeasterly direction.


Roll Call: Nemesis


Elsewhere in San Diego, Nemesis flew after Maelstrom and Helios of the Protectors as they went to take on more of the Minutemen. In short order, the trio find one firing blasts down into the street below. The two Protectors arrive first and hit the Minuteman with lightning and fire. Little remains of it after that. It's all over by the time Jen arrives.

However, a bright flash does attract their attention. It seems to coming from further inland. In fact, there are more Minutemen off in that direction!

[GM Mad]

Roll Call: Blackout, White Crane, Chimera, & Dr. Photon


Meanwhile, Blackout and companions are having their own troubles. He and White Crane helped Chimera and Dr. Photon into the elevator in their attempt to flee from Agents of Genocide. The car begins to descend with the Agents in hot pursuit.

"I hear them blowing open the elevator doors and I suspect those agents will be firing down on this helpless little car we are all riding in," Blackout will state.

"Then we should vacate the car immediately", White Crane suggests. Eyeing where the elevator is in relation to the building, she hits the button to have the car stop on the next floor below.

At the same time, Blackout pushes up the access hatch to the roof of the car and goes through it. He hurtles his rod upwards to where the Genocide Agents are looking down. The rod smacks one of the agents in his helmeted forehead. There's a loud clang and the agent is thrown backwards and out of sight.

"A little help here if you wouldn't mind, Dr. Photon. I believe your energy blasts will affect their regular agents a bit more."

"I don't need the likes of you telling me what to do!", Dr. Photon snaps in anger. "This'll slow those creeps down!"

Dr. Photon points her gauntlets through the hatch and fires. Blackout has to side step to avoid being hit. Several levels overhead, Dr. Photon's blast explodes in ball of super bright light! For a moment, it's as if the light of the sun fills the elevator shaft.

The effect on the Genocide agents is immediate. Each is blinded from the assault and fires their weapons randomly, but none come clear to hitting an enemy target.

The elevator car comes to a halt and stops on the 9th floor of the ADT building. The door opens and White Crane steps out to inspect the area. "It's clear. Come on!"

Dr. Photon begins to help Chimera out of the car, but the woman in royal blue resists. "Let me show those bigots the err of their ways!"

A bluish glow shoots out of the forehead of Chimera and sails up the elevator shaft. The light slams into the head of one of the blinded Genocide Agents. A moment later, he fires his weapon into his fellow agents!

Blackout can hear the sound of several bodies hitting the floor and then all goes silent. There still plenty of noise to be heard as men are crying out that they are either blind or hurt.

Then Blackout hears something else. A rumbling from seemingly deeper in the ADT Building. It starts as a dull roar and grows louder and louder like a runaway locomotive! A tremendous blast of energy rips through the elevator shaft, disintegrating the car two bays away from Blackout.

The monstrous blast of energy continues upward, smashing through the ceiling and continues outward into the sky overhead. Debris rains down from the bolts passage and the building shakes. A roughly five foot diameter hole has just been cut inside the building!

Noise draws Blackout's attention back to where the Genocide Agents are out. The one called the Purifier has reached the elevator door. He glares down at Blackout. "You'll pay for that, mutie lover!" With that, the Purifier steps into the elevator shaft, leaping down to where Blackout is standing!

[GM Mad]

Roll Call: Frostbite, Gladiator, Polaris, & Psi-Lad


Deep below the ADT building, the heroes have discovered a lab with more cyborgs in it.

"What is this place?" Frostbite asks no one in general.

"It is where these things were made", Gladiator simply states. "A hidden laboratory inside ADT. I doubt that PRIMUS knew this was here when they suggested we relocate the prisoners here."

Frostbite covers the remaining Cyborgs in ice.

"I got a feeling it's even worse than that, boss," Polaris will state. "Check this out!" Gesturing to a spot on the wall, the symbol of the organization of Genocide can be seen. "That robot was right! Genocide is involved in this!"

"A secret lab devoted to making cyborgs for Genocide?", Psi-Lad says rhetorically. "But to what end?"

"Perhaps as a new tool to deal with mutants", Gladiator offers. "But what concerns me is who was using these cyborgs to attack us? And if whoever they are only considers them to be pawns, then what are they really after?"

"Over here", Psi-Lad will call out. "We're close enough that I can sense their mind directly as opposed to when they are using their mental powers. Its through this way." Psi-Lad indicates the door at the far end of the cyborg lab.

A button is pushed the door slides open. Beyond is what seems to be a control center of some kind. There are seats before control panels that are on stepped platforms. The further back you go, the higher the platform is so that the back row can clearly see over the rows in front of it.

The platformed rows are all facing the same direction. The wall in that direction is entirely composed of reinforced glass panels looking out into a vast chamber.

"I would say that they are after that." Gladiator points off into the chamber outside the control center.

The whole thing reminds of you a large scale factory complete with catwalks and overhead cranes. Standing in a large pit is a gigantic mechanical robot. It easily stands fifty feet tall! The control center is roughly at head level to the giant robot.

"That looks a lot like a Minuteman!", Polaris will cry out in shock. "But I've never seen one that big before!"

Gladiator will glance from the Minuteman to the cyborgs in the previous chamber. "New type of agents and a new type of Minuteman. Genocide is upgrading their operations."

"How can this get any worse?", Psi-Lad demands.

Suddenly, the eyes of the giant minuteman begin to glow.

"You just had to say that didn't you, Brain Boy", Polaris answers sarcastically.

With equal unexpectedness, the head of the Minuteman pivots upward. Gigantic blasts of energy are fired from each eye. They streak upwards, slamming into the ceiling of the vast chamber and continuing onward out of sight. Debris rains down into the chamber, but falls off the Minuteman as if it was just raindrops. The building trembles from the energy blast.

"It is even worse", Gladiator states. "That thing is active."

Now what?

[Blackout]

Blackout:

Blackout's aim is true once more, and the first foolish agent to stick his head out and peer down the elevator shaft gets a rod in the forehead for his efforts. Dr. Photon does help, but not without first giving a little lip.

"I don't need the likes of you telling me what to do!", Dr. Photon snaps in anger. "This'll slow those creeps down!"

"I'll remember that the next time we save your butt as it's running down the hall away from the fight," Blackout retorts, sidestepping just in time as her blast is fired.

White Crane is trying to get everyone off the elevator when Chimera decides she can fight too instead of running. Soon the elevator shaft is filled with energy and attacks of all kinds, including a massively destructive blast originating from somewhere below a putting a hole all the way up and through the roof. "Alright, now who did that!?" Blackout asks, "and whose side are they on?"

Noise draws Blackout's attention back to where the Genocide Agents are out. The one called the Purifier has reached the elevator door. He glares down at Blackout. "You'll pay for that, mutie lover!" With that, the Purifier steps into the elevator shaft, leaping down to where Blackout is standing!

Catching the rebounding rod as it finally returns to his hands, he hears the Purifier spewing something ridiculous. "What, you think I did all that with this?" he asks, holding up his throwing rod.

Not waiting for an answer, Blackout will hit the Purifier with a foot sweep as soon as he lands, and then drop down into the elevator car and catch up to the White Crane.

[Bruce]

Flux

Flux had materialized on the battlements of Castle Vigilant with the others but was too slow in his reactions. By the time he had sorted out the correct course of action the robots were defeated.

I'm going to have to do something about this. My reaction time is wayyy off. Maybe Edgar can suggest some training methods...

The new of Edgar's injury puts that thought on hold and the notion of Edger being 'fully repaired' is startling.

I never considered what it might mean if Edgar is able to leave now instead of years from now. Might be time to start looking for a new place to hang our hats.

The robots threat to the city is still there so Flux takes off in the direction of the Protecters and Jen. It is obvious they don't need him at the castle: Lily and Serena seemed to have everything well in hand.

Better then I do in fact... I best get myself in gear here while I can still claim leadership.

-------------------------------------------------------------
Yes it's that time of year again...when the lack of sunlight brings me to the point of near-total hibernation. Oddly, I have not recieved any notification via e-mail of new posts and have been too lazy to come see for myself, all my bad.

[Bruce]

Eldrich Arcane

With the failure of his spell Eldrich is unsure of what to cast next. The appearence of the other Vigilant, and the Protecters shake his concentration with their combined displays of sheer primal electrical power. In swift succession the menecing constructs are destroyed with no one taking any harm-until the news of the High One's injuries.

Lady Serena heals the High One, and the Knight of the Stars makes claim to be able to fully heal him as well!

As each person moves off to attend to either personal matters or further defense, Eldrich is left alone to wonder if he has what is needed to contribute to this assemblege of the mighty...

Somewhere there must be a place to relearn magic. I must find it. Even if I must start again as an apprentice! This cannot go on as it has. Perhaps the High One's scriptorium will contain information for me.

With that thought Eldrich begins to accend to the library unaware that the books contained therein are blank.

[Menagerie]

Lily:

Going off in search of her daughter, Lily encounters Dr. Marin.

Along the way, Lily runs into Dr. Marin. "Lily! Thank goodness! Is everything okay? Is it safe to go back out?"

"Yes, Dr. Marin, I believe so. We managed to destroy the 6 Minuteman robots that attacked the island. Unfortunately, there were others that headed into the city. No way of knowing whether they will return."

Minutes later, she finds Rose.

"Hi Mommy!", Rose will say and she'll fly to greet her mother. "Back so soon?"

Lily is overjoyed to see her daughter unharmed by the attack on Edgar. She scoops Rose up into her arms and gives her a big hug. "Hi, Rose. I'm glad to see that you were not hurt. Fortunately, we were able to destroy the robots very quickly."

Lily pauses to look at the friends Rose was playing with. "Is everyone allright?"

[Frostbite]

Frostbite

Entering the chamber of the 40 ft robot Frosty lets out a low whistle, "Wow... they been busy." the minuteman moves its head and a blasts a hole right through to the roof!

"We cant let that thing get outta here!" as he covers his head from falling debris.

Gesturing his hands forward he will try to produce an ice slide to look for a hatch.

[Tesla]

Tesla:

After healing Edgar, Serena joins the others on guard duty out on the battlements. As they stand and watch, something catches their attention off in the city. There is a bright flash of light far off in the distance. It seemed to come from the northeasterly direction.

"I wonder what that might be," Tesla says outloud, although she doesn't expect any of her fellow sentries to have an answer. "It's a bit far off, and I would hate to leave here if a threat could be soon in coming. Maybe someone else might know what is transpiring, or have an easier time in telling."

Tesla will see if anyone has anything to add before trying to locate the others to inform them of the situation and ask if they might have the resources to investigate from a distance.

[Nemesis]

Nemesis:

Elsewhere in San Diego, Nemesis flew after Maelstrom and Helios of the Protectors as they went to take on more of the Minutemen. In short order, the trio find one firing blasts down into the street below. The two Protectors arrive first and hit the Minuteman with lightning and fire. Little remains of it after that. It's all over by the time Jen arrives.

However, a bright flash does attract their attention. It seems to coming from further inland. In fact, there are more Minutemen off in that direction!

"Hey, wait for me!", Nemesis calls out to no effect. "Boy, everyone is sure in hurry! They didn't even save anything for me!"

Another Minuteman is scragged before Jen can even help out. Undaunted, the pink clad girl notes the strange burst of light off in the distance. Maybe she can help out with whatever is going on there! Nemesis will fly to investigate the bright flash of light.

[Serena]

Serena:

After healing Edgar, Serena joins the others on guard duty out on the battlements. As they stand and watch, something catches their attention off in the city. There is a bright flash of light far off in the distance. It seemed to come from the northeasterly direction.

"I wonder what that might be," Tesla says out loud, although she doesn't expect any of her fellow sentries to have an answer. "It's a bit far off, and I would hate to leave here if a threat could be soon in coming. Maybe someone else might know what is transpiring, or have an easier time in telling."

Tesla will see if anyone has anything to add before trying to locate the others to inform them of the situation and ask if they might have the resources to investigate from a distance.

"I don't know either, comrade", Serena replies. "I did see Flux flying off towards the mainland. Perhaps he is seeking to discover what cause the sky to glow? Neither Sapphire nor myself can travel there as quickly as you can. Perhaps you should fly to investigate this matter? We can defend the castle in your absence. I will inform the others as to what is happening."

[Goldstar]

Goldstar:

Having done this before, Goldstar isn't surprised to be taking Edgar's special gooey elevator. Unsure as to just what Starguard is doing, Goldstar will just let him do his work in peace. It short order it seems that Starguard was successful and Edgar has been repaired!

Turning to Goldstar Edgar will add, "I will be able to accelerate healing of myself now, Miss Goldstar. I will be fully functional in a few hours. I will be able serve you and your companions better now."

"That's wonderful, Edgar", Goldstar will say. "Does that mean you'll be able to create equipment much faster now? What else can you do? Lets get back to the others to tell them the good news?"

Returning to the others, Goldstar will seek out Flux but finds that he's departed. She'll tell Dr. Marin about Edgar being healed and now can be more helpful. Upon hearing Serena speak of the bright light in the sky, Goldstar will ask what that was all about.

[GM Mad]

Post Continued:

Roll Call: Eldrich, Goldstar, Lily, Serena, Sapphire, Tesla & Starguard


At the castle…

With that thought Eldrich begins to ascend to the library unaware that the books contained therein are blank.

As he walks through the castle, Eldrich will note the bright flash over the city far off in the distance.

"Yes, Dr. Marin, I believe so. We managed to destroy the 6 Minuteman robots that attacked the island. Unfortunately, there were others that headed into the city. No way of knowing whether they will return."

"You destroyed six of them?", Dr. Marin will repeat. "That's remarkable! Thank goodness you and your friends were able to return so quickly."

Lily is overjoyed to see her daughter unharmed by the attack on Edgar. She scoops Rose up into her arms and gives her a big hug. "Hi, Rose. I'm glad to see that you were not hurt. Fortunately, we were able to destroy the robots very quickly."

Lily pauses to look at the friends Rose was playing with. "Is everyone all right?"

"Yes, mommy. The room shook a little bit, but apart from that nothing else happened. Can we come out now?"

"That's wonderful, Edgar", Goldstar will say. "Does that mean you'll be able to create equipment much faster now? What else can you do? Lets get back to the others to tell them the good news?"

"Yes, ma'am. My full medical capabilities will be at the disposal for all those in need. I'll be able to fabricate equipment at a much faster rate and generate as many avatars as need. I'll also be able to Tesseract more space should it be required. Furthermore, I will now possess defensive capabilities. Force fields for protection and be able to block the mutant detection devices that were used to draw the Minutemen to my location."

Returning to the others, Goldstar will seek out Flux but finds that he's departed. She'll tell Dr. Marin about Edgar being healed and now can be more helpful. Upon hearing Serena speak of the bright light in the sky, Goldstar will ask what that was all about.

Goldstar, Starguard, and Edgar return from their trip down below, coming out near the location of Dr. Marin and Lily. Serena arrives shortly after that and Goldstar asks Edgar what the bright flash was all about.

"I detected an intense burst of energy. It was of lethal intensity. The location of the burst is the ADT Building where PRIMUS took the prisoners to be held. Other members of the Vigilant are at that location. Furthermore, communications in that area are being jammed. I am unable to contact those there."

Now what?

[GM Mad]

Roll Call: Flux & Nemesis

The robots threat to the city is still there so Flux takes off in the direction of the Protectors and Jen. It is obvious they don't need him at the castle: Lily and Serena seemed to have everything well in hand.

Another Minuteman is scragged before Jen can even help out. Undaunted, the pink clad girl notes the strange burst of light off in the distance. Maybe she can help out with whatever is going on there! Nemesis will fly to investigate the bright flash of light.

Flux quickly discovers that the upper speed limits of his flight are quite high. He reaches the mainland in a matter of seconds. Spotting the bright flash, he is drawn to investigate it as are many others. He quickly spots and overtakes Maelstrom, Helios, and Nemesis who are also converging on the flash. All four reach the ADT building around the same time.

The scene is quite a disaster area. A strange transport sits on the rooftop helipad. Men in black and gray military fatigues stand guard. Several uniformed PRIMUS agents are down.

More noticeable is the combat going on between two Protectors, Quasar and Doc Sonic, with two more Minutemen. The Protectors fly about the Minutemen, blasting them with their attacks, but seem to be having little affect on the giant robots.

As you watch, a window on the 12th floor of the building explodes outwards in a shower of glass. Something unseen blasted it out from the inside. A few moments later you can see the building shake, but from what you cannot tell.


Now what?

[GM Mad]

Roll Call: Blackout, White Crane, Chimera & Dr. Photon


After the massive energy blast rips through the elevator shaft, the Purifier leaps from above down to where Blackout is standing. Right after the Genocide operative lands, Blackout kicks his legs out from underneath him in a wide sweeping motion. Caught off guard, the Purifier tumbles backwards and off the elevator! He falls down the elevator shaft!

Continuing with his sweeping motion, Blackout drops back down into the elevator and chases after White Crane, Chimera, and Dr. Photon. The three women are further down the corridor. White Crane is standing near the door to the stairs.

"We should regroup with Gladiator and the others to let them know what is going on", she says.

Right after saying that, the building unexpectedly shakes violently for a second. The force is enough to drop Dr. Photon to the floor.

"Although perhaps vacating the building would be an equally wise course of action", 'Crane continues.

[GM Mad]

Roll Call: Frostbite, Gladiator, Polaris, & Psi-Lad


And finally, underneath the ADT building this group of heroes has just witnessed the activation of the Minuteman Mark 7. The fifty foot tall robot just blasted a path straight through the building with lasers projected from its eyes!

"We cant let that thing get outta here!" as he covers his head from falling debris. Gesturing his hands forward he will try to produce an ice slide to look for a hatch.

Gladiator moves to stop Frostbite. "I do not question your courage, Frostbite, but we do not have the power to slow the Minuteman down. Our logical course of action is to withdraw and alert the others to this danger."

"The mind I've been sensing is inside that thing!", Psi-Lad calls out. "She doesn't care who she hurts to accomplish her goals. Everyone, everything is expendable!"

As you watch, the Minuteman raises its huge right arm. It extends outwards and begins to sweep the area around it, smashing through the concrete reinforced walls as if they were cardboard!

"Everyone out of there", Gladiator calls out with just a touch of emotion in his voice. "NOW!"

The outstretched arm smashes through the bank of windows that look out into the construction pit. The heroes stay ahead of the destroying arm and flee back into the cyborg lab. The Minuteman's arm shreds the control center, uprooting consoles and chairs with its passing. Support columns for the room are broken in two and the ceiling begins to collapse! A shockwave is felt through out the building as what lies overhead begins to fall!

[GM Mad]

GM Notes:

Yes it's that time of year again...when the lack of sunlight brings me to the point of near-total hibernation. Oddly, I have not received any notification via e-mail of new posts and have been too lazy to come see for myself, all my bad.

It's been well over a year since I stopped sending out E-mails when new posts were up. Unless you're referring to responses to your own individual posts. It's hit and miss on that front. Sometimes I get mails days later or not at all.

Pretty much everyone should pop in and see what is going on at least once a week or as much as they can. Everything here is voluntary, so I don't bug people asking when they plan on posting. That's your responsibility. I will allow at least one week for everyone to post, or longer depending on my own situation. Sometimes it's shorter if everyone is in, such as with this update.

[Menagerie]

Lily:

"You destroyed six of them?", Dr. Marin will repeat. "That's remarkable! Thank goodness you and your friends were able to return so quickly."

"We did, though not me personally," Lily says with chagrin. "I was able to do little more than occupy one of them while the others destroyed them. I shall have to find a way to do better."

"Yes, mommy. The room shook a little bit, but apart from that nothing else happened. Can we come out now?"

"I'm pleased to hear that, sweetheart. Sure, I believe it is safe to come out now." Lily will turn and lead them back toward the surface.

Upon reaching the surface, they encounter Goldstar, Starguard and Edgar. Goldstar tells them of Starguard's repairs to Edgar. Lily turns to the sentient starship. "I recall you saying something of coming here because you were damaged. Does this mean you will be leaving soon?"

There is a bright light in the sky far over the city and it catches everyone's attention. Edgar fills them in on what he senses. The news of it being near ADT and the other members of The Vigilant is disturbing. That Edgar cannot communicate with them is even worse.

"I don't know about the rest of you, but I believe we need to try to help them," Lily says. "At the same time, I don't believe we can leave Edgar, Dr. Marin and the children alone here. It appears that we should split up once again. Anyone have any thoughts on who should stay and who should go?"

[Bruce]

Flux

Minutemen robots and unknown hostiles on the roof. So who's trying to demolish the building from the inside out? Are people still inside?

Thinking more quickly than before Flux makes a decision and aims to enter the building in minute size to search for people to evacuate.

The Protecters can handle the robots, I hope, but I've got a bad feeling there's more in there then just Genocide.

[Bruce]

Eldrich Arcane

As he walks through the castle, Eldrich will note the bright flash over the city far off in the distance.

What is that? I had best return to the others, for it seems the troubles are not yet over.

Eldrich Steps back to the main room in time to hear the High One's summery of information and Lily's request for ideas.

"I will remain here Lily. I do not fly swiftly and as I have seen, my magic is of little use against constructs. Further, since their devices failed to defeat us here will they not now send additional forces against us? In either situation I think it best to keep myself here."

[Frostbite]

Frostbite


"but we just cant...." his voice trails away As he watches the hand rip through windows and supports.

Gladiator yells for a retreat and Frosty agrees. " Let get outt here!"
He will turn and haul butt towards the exit.

[Nemesis]

Nemesis:

Following the strange flash of light, Jen comes across two more Minuteman and more members of the Protectors. She'll pick one of the robots-- the one that Maelstrom is not attacking-- and let him have it with her robot killer blast!

[Serena]

Serena:

"I detected an intense burst of energy. It was of lethal intensity. The location of the burst is the ADT Building where PRIMUS took the prisoners to be held. Other members of the Vigilant are at that location. Furthermore, communications in that area are being jammed. I am unable to contact those there."

Serena listens as Edgar answers questions, but she doesn’t really understand what is being said or what jelly has to do with it.

"I don't know about the rest of you, but I believe we need to try to help them," Lily says. "At the same time, I don't believe we can leave Edgar, Dr. Marin and the children alone here. It appears that we should split up once again. Anyone have any thoughts on who should stay and who should go?"

"I will remain here Lily. I do not fly swiftly and as I have seen, my magic is of little use against constructs. Further, since their devices failed to defeat us here will they not now send additional forces against us? In either situation I think it best to keep myself here."

"Eldrich's thought echo my own, Lily. Blessed Salvation was not powerful enough to harm the metal giants in any measurable way. I will remain here as well to guard against any further attacks."

[Goldstar]

Goldstar:

"Yes, ma'am. My full medical capabilities will be at the disposal for all those in need. I'll be able to fabricate equipment at a much faster rate and generate as many avatars as need. I'll also be able to Tesseract more space should it be required. Furthermore, I will now possess defensive capabilities. Force fields for protection and be able to block the mutant detection devices that were used to draw the Minutemen to my location."

"Stellar!", Goldstar will say beaming. "You should get these defenses of yours up as quickly as possible."

"I detected an intense burst of energy. It was of lethal intensity. The location of the burst is the ADT Building where PRIMUS took the prisoners to be held. Other members of the Vigilant are at that location. Furthermore, communications in that area are being jammed. I am unable to contact those there."

"I don't know about the rest of you, but I believe we need to try to help them," Lily says. "At the same time, I don't believe we can leave Edgar, Dr. Marin and the children alone here. It appears that we should split up once again. Anyone have any thoughts on who should stay and who should go?"

"I will remain here Lily. I do not fly swiftly and as I have seen, my magic is of little use against constructs. Further, since their devices failed to defeat us here will they not now send additional forces against us? In either situation I think it best to keep myself here."

"Eldrich's thought echo my own, Lily. Blessed Salvation was not powerful enough to harm the metal giants in any measurable way. I will remain here as well to guard against any further attacks."

"Sounds okay to me. Come on, Lily! Let's find out what's going on over there!"

Goldstar will head to the exit and fly off to investigate the energy discharge to find out where the rest of the team is at.

[Blackout]

Blackout:

Blackout chuckles as the Purifier can't keep his footing and topples off the elevator car. He is slightly saddened that he will now not be able to continue the witty banter that they had only just engaged in, but maybe sometime in the future he will get another chance. Blackout immediately drops down into the elevator car in one smooth motion and catches up to White Crane and the others.

"We should regroup with Gladiator and the others to let them know what is going on", she says.

Right after saying that, the building unexpectedly shakes violently for a second. The force is enough to drop Dr. Photon to the floor.

"Although perhaps vacating the building would be an equally wise course of action", 'Crane continues.

"I agree," Blackout says of her second option that she offered as he shifts his center of gravity to remain standing. "I have no desire to become a permanent resident here." Blackout will move to evacuate the building, keeping his senses alert for any trouble or if anyone left in the building needs help in escaping.

[Tesla]

Tesla:

"I don't know either, comrade", Serena replies. "I did see Flux flying off towards the mainland. Perhaps he is seeking to discover what cause the sky to glow? Neither Sapphire nor myself can travel there as quickly as you can. Perhaps you should fly to investigate this matter? We can defend the castle in your absence. I will inform the others as to what is happening."

"Very well then," Tesla will say. "I don't like the idea of spreading out our defenses here too much, but there should still be enough here to hold out in case another attack comes."

Tesla will concentrate and take to the air once more, heading off in the direction of the strange glow and hoping to catch up with Flux and any of the others who might be on their way there also. She will look back at the castle one last time before it fades from view just to make sure no enemies are en route that she can see from her vantage point.

[Menagerie]

Lily:

"I will remain here Lily. I do not fly swiftly and as I have seen, my magic is of little use against constructs. Further, since their devices failed to defeat us here will they not now send additional forces against us? In either situation I think it best to keep myself here."

"Eldrich's thought echo my own, Lily. Blessed Salvation was not powerful enough to harm the metal giants in any measurable way. I will remain here as well to guard against any further attacks."

"Sounds okay to me. Come on, Lily! Let's find out what's going on over there!"

"Very well then," Tesla will say. "I don't like the idea of spreading out our defenses here too much, but there should still be enough here to hold out in case another attack comes."

Lily looks around at her new friends in The Vigilant. "Okay. Looks like we have enough volunteers to stay here and protect the Castle. Thank you, Eldrich and Serena. I believe Metalla is around here somewhere, as well, so Dr. Marin and the kids should be well-protected. The rest of us should be a sufficient force to contribute meaningfully to stopping Genocide and recovering our friends."

Lily turns to their blue-skinned companion from Sanctuary. "And what of you, Sapphire? Will you stay or will you come with us?"

A thought that has been fluttering around in Lily's mind tumbles past her lips. "Before we go, there is something I've been wanting to try. When I take Major Star's form, or at least the form that he had when I met him yesterday, I seem to take on some of his power as well. Before we fly into this fight, I would like to see if that holds true with others."

Lily will take Tesla's form first, then attempt to expell electricity in a manner similar to what she has seen from the electrically-charged woman. Afterwards, she will change to resemble Goldstar. With a shout of "Stellar Blast!", Lily gestures up in the air out over the bay.

[Sapphire]

Sapphire:

Lily turns to their blue-skinned companion from Sanctuary. "And what of you, Sapphire? Will you stay or will you come with us?"

"It is my duty as a member of Sanctuary Security to defend our staff and those they treat. I shall remain here in that capacity incase any more enemies arrive."

[Goldstar]

Goldstar:

Goldstar looks on with interest and puzzlement as Lily changes into her own version of me and tries my powers!

Afterwards, she will change to resemble Goldstar. With a shout of "Stellar Blast!", Lily gestures up in the air out over the bay.

"Uhm, Lily? I don't have a Stellar Blast. I do have an Ion Blast, a Photon Blast, a Radiation Blast, and a Plasma Blast. I can create an Electro-Magnetic Pulse, Generate a Solar Flare, and become as dense as a Neutron Star. Does that help?"

[Menagerie]

Lily:

"It is my duty as a member of Sanctuary Security to defend our staff and those they treat. I shall remain here in that capacity incase any more enemies arrive."

"Ahh, okay. More people defending the island is good. Hopefully, the rest of us will be able to hook up with Nemesis and find our missing Vigilant."

"Uhm, Lily? I don't have a Stellar Blast. I do have an Ion Blast, a Photon Blast, a Radiation Blast, and a Plasma Blast. I can create an Electro-Magnetic Pulse, Generate a Solar Flare, and become as dense as a Neutron Star. Does that help?"

"Oops. My bad," Golden-Lily says. "Guess I better try that again. By the way, what do you do, say or think about to activate your Neutron Star ability?" Once Goldstar gives her answer, Lily will try to do the same and increase her density, then return to the blast idea and attempt to mimic the Ion Blast instead.

========================================
I hope I'm not having TOO much fun with this...

[GM Mad]

Post Closed