Crucible #54 - "Back to the Past!"

[GM Mad]

Crucible #54 - "Back to the Past!"

The Future:

Lily sighs. She's really not doing a good job of communicating her question, as people keep answering different questions than the one she's asking. "It's not an issue of when it occurs, it's one of why. Originally, many of us got our powers from the White Event, something that everyone knew about and was aware that it had given many people superhuman abilities. However, in this case, if we succeed, there will be no White Event to explain the sudden gaining of powers. It will simply be a case of one day not having them, and then the next day - poof - having them. That may doesn't really fit the pattern that people are used to and may be difficult for them to accept. I suspect that any of you that got your abilities from the White Event will encounter the same dilemma eventually." At this point, Lily is reaching the point of just giving up on the issue entirely and dealing with it on her own later.

"Uhm, actually, my family always celebrates the 4th of July together starting in mid-afternoon and lasting well into the evening. I'm likely to be pretty busy the latter part of that day, but I can arrange to keep in contact via my cell phone. I can trade numbers with any of the rest of you."

“Ah yes, A 4th of July picnic always a fun get together. I mean I can see how important it can be compared to saving the world as we know it. But you go ahead Enjoy yourself, It maybe the last one we ever see.” his tone is even. “Seems our priorities are misplaced, Perhaps we should all have a BBQ instead, Heck we could even send the aliens an invite to attend.” he adds with a bit of sarcasm.

"Wow. There's a lot of repressed hostility in the room today."

“Lily, with all due respect, I don’t think you grasp the full significance of the situation,” Goldstar says tersely. “We’re trying to save the human race and you’re fretting over secret identities and family picnics! If you fail then you don’t have to worry about those things. EVER! I think most of us agree here that missing one family outing more than offsets the survival of humanity. If you can’t keep your priorities straight, then perhaps it would be a mistake in sending you back at all. We’ve got one shot to make things right again. Don’t be distracted by things that are trivial in comparison.”

Looking to Flux and the others, “Is there anything else you guys can tell me about this saucer? I really don’t like the idea of going in blind like this when the prize is so high so to speak.”

“I’m afraid that I cannot assist you in this matter,” Edgar explains. “I never arrived on your world until after the incident occurred. The saucer was destroyed before I ever even arrived.”

Turns out that no one here was around before the saucer exploded. No more information can be gleamed that way.

[GM Mad]

The Past:

With your plans (I hope!) in place, the group is then sent back into the past. Rose, Goldstar, and Edgar say their goodbyes and hope that someday you might meet again.

The experience is not unpleasant. The future fades from sight and you find yourself waking up where you were on the morning of July 4th. It’s now roughly a day and a half before the White Event. San Diego is as it was before the disaster struck. Everything that happens can’t help but seem like a dream now.

Lily awakens in her apartment. Getting up she rushes to check up on her daughters. The twins, Rose and Blossom, are sleeping peaceful in their rooms, seemingly without a care in the world.


GM Notes:

Backlash, Blackout, Flux, Menagerie, Tesla, and Tilt are now back to the same places they were on the morning of the fourth. Feel free to indulge yourselves as to where you were at that point. Quick testing will show that anyone who did not have powers the first time around will have them now. Anyone whose powers were changed since this point will have those changes now.

And so our third year of Crucible comes to a close. On to year four and you’re right back where you started! But is this the same history that you remembered it to be?

Now what?

[Tilt-A-Whirl]

Tilt-A-Whirl:

Backlash, Blackout, Flux, Menagerie, Tesla, and Tilt are now back to the same places they were on the morning of the fourth. Feel free to indulge yourselves as to where you were at that point.

"So you're going to be gone a few days again?" mom asked as Tilt sat at the breakfast table.

"huhwhaa??" Tilt stammers, trying to figure out exactly what was going on, then she remembered what Goldstar and Mr. Edgar said. She was back in time. "umyeah... theresabig... um... there's a big party and everyone is going to be there. i have to go," Tilt manages to slow down enough and sound like a typical teenage girl all in the same breath.

Suddenly Tilt remembers her goggles and her hands shoot up to her face to find.. nothing. Then she remembers she wasn't wearing them that morning. They're still in her room in the bottom drawer, hidden. Luckily her mom didn't see her movements and face just then!

"Alright, you're going to be staying with friends and not some boys are you?" mom says with a turn, hands on hips.

"mommmmmm!" Tilt replies, trying to sound embarassed. Her thoughts do wander to one boy, err, man, Tilt can't help but wonder if Flux is okay. "i'll be at my friends, you have the number!" Tilt says frantically.

"Okay then, have fun," mom says without much sincerity.

"yeah....." Tilt trails off, then pulls herself from the table. There is a lot to do and being stuck in the house isn't where she needs to be. She plans to go scout the area she will need to be in and see if any of the others are there. It's going to take her a while to get there even with her speed, so she better get started...

[Bruce]

Eldrich Arcane

"Please do not distress yourself High One. You could not know this but I was there. I was held in durance by some people there and escaped easily when some of my memory returned. And I would prefer to be sent back in any case. If this attempt at temporal adjustment succeeds then the magical burst that released me will not happen. This means I cannot expect to recover my faculties that way. And if it fails then I will remain here in a realm of unavoidable defeat. Forgive my saying so, High One but that I cannot accept. I am willing to take the risk of non-existence to prevent that."

Eldrich is ready for temporal relocation. His only passing thought as the world's view fades away is to wonder if his memories will hold true.......


.........Eldrich becomes aware of the wall. It is familiar to him. He has seen it before. Plain, unadorned, and not very clean. Likewise his clothing. One piece, thin, plain white shift. Also not very clean. Also familiar.

I have been here before. No, I am back here again.

And the memories rush in of the days past, (or is it future now?) of the great city of wonders, and the terrible events about to unfold --again.

This little room. The small window in the door. Yes I remember! And I know what to do....

It goes much like the first (last?) time. A quick change to a proper set of clothes, re-seeking his personal magical items, and subduing the burly man that tried to use an item that crackled with electricity against him.

Odd. That did not happen before. But then, this is one day sooner according to the High One. Already things change. I hope this temporal overwrite does not result in some other calamity occurring in place of the one we must prevent. So dangerous to tamper with causality, so very dangerous...

Eldrich dons his sky-green Cloak of Floating, remembering the first time he saw the unnatural blue sky outside and the panic it invoked.

Yes, much is different now but one thing remains the same; I am still a stranger here. Perhaps....yes that might serve better.

Eldrich Steps away from the building he has escaped from, looking back to memorize the symbols upon it. Then he recreates his clothing again into something resembling the clothes he has seen before, worn by the passersby.

Better. Now to locate the place called Horton Plaza. It is well known to the inhabitants here. They will direct me I am sure. From there I shall find the eatery my friends mentioned. And I will stay there until they arrive. And perhaps if I trace the symbols I have memorized they can tell me what they mean.

Eldrich holds the symbols firmly in mind. They are clear to him and he will have no difficulty replicating them.

THE BEVLENSIN INSTITUTION. PRIVATE MEDICAL CARE FOR THE INSANE. EST. 1863

[Bruce]

Flux


"Here's the plan team. We're going in like a drop zone op. Scattered in potentially hostile territory. First thing we do is get bearings and regroup. That means Horton Plaza. That means soonest. Let's agree on a restaurant to meet at and scout from. We get close to the site of the sacrifice and the saucer landing. Scout the areas and get familiar with the land. All under cover of civvies. No uniforms, no power displays. Backlash, Tesla and Tilt will scout the streets where the saucer will land. It's yours to deal with. PRIMUS will arrive there too with Major Star and....well maybe others the next day. Remember that they won't know you at all. Treat them like the proper authorities that they are. If they ask who you are tell them and add the name Vigilant. That will lay the ground work for our cover story later."

"Frostbite, Menagerie, me, and Blackout will take the sacrifice zone. I'm going to get some smoke bombs and some old cans and set up a series of white smoke plumes around the area the next day to set the stage for a fire call. That should get everyone cleared out of there. When the culties arrive the only ones there should be us. The Steel Squadron will arrive there afterwards. We tell them the same story. We are the Vigilant, a new group forming, and we had info about an attack. Now, let's make sure we all each other's contact numbers memorized because obviously we can't carry anything written down."

"One last thing. We have foreknowledge of several events due to happen in the next 48 hours after the White Event. Some of those can still happen and we need to prepare for them. Edgar, I'm sorry to say this but I think you're still going to end up hijacked and in San Diego bay. Call it a soldiers intuition. If that happens we'll know what to do for you and what to expect."

And I'll make sure the only one who gains access to you is as close to innocent as I can manage.

"That's it folks. Any changes or additions to the plan will be after intel gathering. Let's get our goodbye's said and done. Sooner started faster finished."

I do hope you arrive in our little corner of the universe, Edgar. Otherwise you help the Warlord and his cronies attack and kill his enemies in some far off dimension somewhere. I don't want that for you. For a being like you that would be worse then death.

Flux says his goodbye's to Goldstar and the adult Rose as well as Edgar. He can't help but wonder how they will be affected by time's change. Will they cease to exist? Continue on in this universe until it ends? Neither? Too much to speculate on and not enough brain to do it with. As he readies himself to be relocated he wonders what his brother would make of it all.......and if he'll ever tell him


* With apologies to Phillip Jose Farmer

[Tesla]

Tesla:

"Here's the plan team. We're going in like a drop zone op. Scattered in potentially hostile territory. First thing we do is get bearings and regroup. That means Horton Plaza. That means soonest. Let's agree on a restaurant to meet at and scout from. We get close to the site of the sacrifice and the saucer landing. Scout the areas and get familiar with the land. All under cover of civvies. No uniforms, no power displays. Blackout, (Backlash maybe? said Blackout twice) Tesla and Tilt will scout the streets where the saucer will land. It's yours to deal with. PRIMUS will arrive there too with Major Star and....well maybe others the next day. Remember that they won't know you at all. Treat them like the proper authorities that they are. If they ask who you are tell them and add the name Vigilant. That will lay the ground work for our cover story later."

"No power displays," Tesla says. "That might be a little tough." She says the last pointing to her eyes, electricity bleeding off the edges of them. "I'll do what I can though."

Tesla says her goodbyes, even though they will be seeing most everyone in just a little while and then... then she wakes up as if from a very vivid dream. Sitting on the edge of her bed, glancing at the clock, she tries to put it all back together.

Getting up, showering, then turning on the radio Tesla knows she's back on the morning of the Fourth. It wouldn't be long before she would start watching the news, witnessing the events that caused her to fly out to that island and the castle upon it. Things would be a little different this time.

After dressing, Tesla looks at her pairs of sunglasses. None of them really hide her electrical eyes very well, but she has one pair that should do a decent job. Well, as long as she doesn't stare and it's a sunny day, not too many people should notice.

Dressed in shorts, boots, tank top and fingerless gloves (not much different from her "costume") Tesla heads out to her motorcycle that she normally doesn't use. She's probably only ridden it twice since she bought it, which was just before that fateful day when she would receive her powers. Putting on her helmet, which will hide her eyes much better, she heads off towards the restaurant and that approaching moment...

[Blackout]

Blackout:

One moment they are saying goodbye, for some possibly for the last time, and the next, Blackout is in his two room rented "home." It's completely dark, not that it bothers him. It hasn't bothered him in so long. Should I have taken Edgar's offer? he thinks to himself, but then dismisses it.

Blackout is pretty certain that aside from a handful of people, including most recently his friends and teammates on the Vigilant, that no one knows he is blind, especially those advanced dinosaurs. That will definitely be an advantage.

Blackout prepares to go out, choosing a fashionable but cool set of clothing and comfortable shoes from his small selection of civilian wear. A few adjustments to his rod, and it becomes a full-blown blind man's cane. Completing the look, he dons his opaque sunglasses and says goodbye to his tiny dwelling.

Taking the elevator down, all the while fumbling more than he needs to, which is only done for "appearances," Blackout solicits various help along the way. A bit more of his accent plays across his words as he thanks those kind enough to help get him to Horton Plaza. A few more quickly asked directions and Blackout arrives, sitting down with any of the others there, seemingly unaware that the table is occupied.

[Backlash]

Backlash

“I’m afraid that I cannot assist you in this matter,” Edgar explains. “I never arrived on your world until after the incident occurred. The saucer was destroyed before I ever even arrived.”

“Well at least it won’t be boring.” he says with a grin on his face. “Is there anyway you could send back some explosive devices back with us?” he asks curiously but doubts it.

He then says his goodbyes to the others and wishes everyone well, the next thing he knows he is waking up to the combination of the alarm clock and the sun glaring into his eyes. He move as to the edge of the bed stretches and then runs his hands through his hair. A sound from behind him rouses his attention, Looking back he sees the prone figure of a women cast in sheets. Sadly he can't even remember her name after the time traveling.

He vaguely recalls the last few days as the weariness of sleep begins to lessen its grip on him. Stepping into the shower, it all comes flowing back to him.

Quickly gathering his cloths of Blue jeans, White T Shirt, boots. He gets ready for the day at hand. Grabbing his Keys to his Harley and sunglasses he heads out to McDonalds to get his morning coffee.
After putting his ridding gloves on, He kicks the kick stand up and heads for his own apartment where he gets changed into much what he was wearing.

He then heads off to the Piers on the beach to have some fun in the sun.

[Frostbite]

Frostbite

"Frostbite, Menagerie, me, and Blackout will take the sacrifice zone. I'm going to get some smoke bombs and some old cans and set up a series of white smoke plumes around the area the next day to set the stage for a fire call. That should get everyone cleared out of there. When the culties arrive the only ones there should be us. The Steel Squadron will arrive there afterwards. We tell them the same story. We are the Vigilant, a new group forming, and we had info about an attack. Now, let's make sure we all each other's contact numbers memorized because obviously we can't carry anything written down."

Frosty will hand out his number to everyone who wants it. He then begins to say goodbye to everyone and wish them luck. He lingers with Goldstar and says, “I hope we meet again.” he says with a smile. Not knowing if this is the last time he will ever see her he gives her a big hug and then lightly kisses her lips.

-----

Soon the alarm sounds with in his room, His father comes in and shakes him. “Ugh I’m Up!” he says half awake as he vainly attempts to wave his father away. “You have a game later today?” his father asks.

“Yeah, though I have a lot of chores before I go.”

“I’ve finally have a day off from the docks so I can come down and watch you play.” his father says.

“Cool.” is all the young man says back.

“Dad, Ill be down for breakfast in a minute, I just want to take a shower.” his father nods and turns and leaves. Once showered he gets changed into his clothes jeans, t shirt and placing his hat on his head. He recalls the interactions with edgar and he wonders…. Closing his eyes he concentrates on the cold and when he opens them he finds himself covered in Ice! Willing himself back into his human form he heads down to breakfast and his waiting bowl of Fruit Loops.

“After the game, Im gonna head to the Mall for a little while, My sticks are getting kinda beat up.”

[Menagerie]

Menagerie:

“Lily, with all due respect, I don’t think you grasp the full significance of the situation,” Goldstar says tersely. “We’re trying to save the human race and you’re fretting over secret identities and family picnics! If you fail then you don’t have to worry about those things. EVER! I think most of us agree here that missing one family outing more than offsets the survival of humanity. If you can’t keep your priorities straight, then perhaps it would be a mistake in sending you back at all. We’ve got one shot to make things right again. Don’t be distracted by things that are trivial in comparison.”

"You're welcome to your opinion, Goldstar," Lily replies coolly. "But if you believe having my help for most but not all of the time is of less value than having none, then you're a greater fool than you were two billion years ago. And if this is indeed the end of our world, then I would certainly choose to spend some of that time with my family.

"That said, the saucer won't arrive until well into the next day. Same with those performing the sacrificial ritual. What exactly is it you believe we need every one of us doing for every minute of the day and a half leading up to that?

"Scouting the parking lot? It's a huge, flat, concrete surface with a variable number of cars. It would take one person a few minutes to scout it out thoroughly - less if we send Tilt.

"Scouting the sacrifice site? A few people can easily scout it in an hour. Personally, I've shopped there dozens of times and know it pretty well already.

"If you've worked out some kind of individual, detailed itineraries for each of us, I'd be interested to see them. Otherwise, I guess we'll just have to muddle through as best we can."

Flux provides instructions for a basic meeting and recon of the area. Lily agrees to make the meeting; she can adjust any plans she might have to handle the timing of it. Afterwards, she takes time to say goodbye to Rose, making certain to let her know just how proud she is of her daughter.

====

Waking up in her own bed back home, something seems wrong to Lily. She rushes into her daughter's bedroom to find them both asleep. *Wait! Both?! I only had -- have one daughter, right?* Lily shakes her head, trying to resolve the conflicting memories that clash within her mind.

Closing the door, Lily returns to her own bedroom. Slipping into bed, she snuggles up against her husband, Anton...

Lily has almost fallen back to sleep when her eyes flash open. *Husband? Anton?! Wait. No.* That sleezeball ran out on her as soon as he learned she was pregnant. Didn't he? Yet she has memories of them getting married. Of him being there when the twins were born. Memories of nine years of a reasonably stable, if sometimes tempestuous, marriage. She also remembers spending those years single - the only parent of her sole child.

What is going on here? It is becoming clear to Lily that this isn't her world. Or at least not the same as the one she left. She needs to talk with Flux. Are the others here? Have they changed, or ended up elsewhere?

Only one way to find out.

Lily slips out of bed, careful not to wake Anton. Retrieving the number from her memory, she goes to kitchen and dials the number for Flux.

*God, please let him answer...*

[Bruce]

Flux

The shift comes in mid-stride. Being an early riser, Dave is already out power-walking the sidewalk before dawn and the switch catches him there. The 4th was/is going to be a busy day and Dave planned well in advance to have everything finished before going off to see his brother's family for the holiday.

That's all changed now. Got to cut this short and get back to the apt. Start ringing up the gang and set up up our lunch meeting. Oh wait...it's too early they won't be up yet. Still, best be getting back anyway. If they do wake up the calls will be coming in fast.

Dave about-faces and heads back towards his new home, rearranging plans in his head.

Ok I was going to pick some civvies tomorrow at Horton Plaza, I can do that today instead, pick my spots to plant the smoke bombs, pick those up at a fireworks vendor, meet Sam later in the P.M., attend the family picnic, hit the sack early, and set things up tomorrow at the Plaza. All under control.

Dave strides into the lobby, waving to the desk man as he heads to the elevators. Punching the button for the fifth floor and stepping out when the door opens still mulling the schedule changes. Digging his key out for the apt door and fitting it to the lock proves more difficult then it should. The key goes in but won't turn in the lock.

Now what?! This wasn't sticky yesterday!

Further fiddling gets no better results and Flux is about to slip through the door when he notices the number on the key is not the same as his apt number - and neither is the nameplate on the door.

What...what happened? Am I too far back in time? But I've got a key...to the door opposite mine!

Flux spins around to face the opposite door, the one that has his name on the plate and that matches his key number. Distantly he hears a phone ringing in there. He inserts the key. It turns readily and he enters. Inside is his newly bought furniture and the just installed telephone which is indeed ringing. Four quick strides and he is picking up the receiver and hoping it's not Rod Serling on the other end.

"Hello?"

...........................................................................................................

Yes, I meant to say Backlash , not Blackout for the saucer landing site. I fixed it in the post. Thanks Tesla.

[Menagerie]

Menagerie:

"Hello, Flux?" She doesn't know his real name, but Dave can hear Lily's voice on the other end of the line. She sounds troubled. "Is that you? This is Menagerie."

Once he confirms his identity, Lily continues. "Have you noticed anything... odd? Something must have gone wrong. I don't think we ended up where we should have. Things are just... different here."

[Bruce]

"Hello Miss Pak, er Lily. This is David Soloman. Flux. And yes I have just noticed a slight difference in things but I'm not sure what it means. Why? What have you discovered?"

Dave moves around the room looking at everything closely. It all seems to be his and in the places he would have put them, if this was the apartment he had rented. And yet... he had LOOKED at this one but decided to take the smaller, less expensive one instead. Or was it the other way around? Suddenly unsure, Dave remembers thinking it was time to start looking beyond basic quarters as this was going to be permenent home now. 'Live a little, take the one with the extra room and a balcony. You can afford it.'

I did think that, but I remember thinking 'save the money you might want to move up to better in a year' too. Well let's settle one thing right now-get to a mirror.

"Hold on a second Lily, I want to check something".

Dave leaves the phone on the living room table and heads to the bedroom, remembering a full length mirror in there-maybe.

Opening it, Dave discovers two things.
One: he looks the same.
Two: his closet is already filled with new clothes.

Ooookay then.

Back to the telephone. Picking it up. Wondering just how far off the rails this train has jumped.

"Yes Lily definitley changes on my end. This means we can't take anything for granted including our major event or the timing of it. I'm going to wait until lunch time to head over to the Plaza. By then I will either have heard from the others or called them. Turn a radio on. Tune it to a news station. I'll do the same with mine here. Maybe that'll give us a heads up on any major events. Still going to be able to meet for lunch?"

[Menagerie]

Menagerie:

"Hello Miss Pak, er Lily. This is David Soloman. Flux. And yes I have just noticed a slight difference in things but I'm not sure what it means. Why? What have you discovered?"

"I'm not sure if I ever talked about this, but until now, I was a single mother with one daughter - Rose. Now I find that I'm married to her father, and she has a twin sister - Blossom. Even stranger, I have memories of both lives, and they're starting to distort one another in my mind."

"Yes Lily definitely changes on my end. This means we can't take anything for granted including our major event or the timing of it. I'm going to wait until lunch time to head over to the Plaza. By then I will either have heard from the others or called them. Turn a radio on. Tune it to a news station. I'll do the same with mine here. Maybe that'll give us a heads up on any major events. Still going to be able to meet for lunch?"

"Good to know it's not just me," Lily replies with a tone of relief. "I'll keep an eye on the news. And yes, being married should make it easier for me to meet up with you. It would probably also be a good idea to contact the others and find out if they've experienced anything odd. At the very least, they should know that this may not be the world we thought we were returning to."

[GM Mad]

Post Continued:


The Vigilant have been sent back into their own past. Their mission is to prevent the chain of events that lead to the human race being written of existence. The Saurians are carefully watching this time period and would likely notice any major changes in the way events originally unfolded.

However, many have already noticed that things are not exactly the same as they were before. Previously Lily was a single mother with a seven-year-old daughter named Rose. But now Lily is married and Rose has a twin named Blossom. Flux now lives in the apartment across the hall from his old one.

Puzzled by all of this both Menagerie and Flux turn to the radio for news. The major story of the day is the same as it was the first time around. The Supervillain group known as Deathstroke attempted to blackmail the entire country! The villans were demanding the complete surrender of the United States Government by threatening to trigger a meltdown in ever nuclear reactor in the country. While most hero teams in the country were out trying to stop Deathstroke it was the Los Angeles based team X-Factor who actually saved the day.

Nothing seems out of order as far as the other news of the day goes. The Padres are hosting a day/night doubleheader with a large fireworks display after the games. Major Star is throwing out the first pitch.

Those who happen to peruse the newspaper might notice something unusual in the want ads. There is an ad for a company called Vigilant Incorporated, some type of security firm. A phone number is listed and callers are directed to ask for Edgar.


As previously agreed upon, the individual members of the Vigilant meet at a café near Horton’s Plaza for lunch. It seems that you have much to discuss…


GM Notes:

Feel free to add minor changes to your characters background, if you so desire. Things are not exactly as you remember them, and some things are actually for the better. The group is at a restaurant in Horton’s Plaza.

For the curious, Deathstroke was a classic Champion's modual that was part of X-Factor's future.

Now what?

[Bruce]

Flux

Dave tunes in the radio to an all-news station before dashing back down to the lobby for a newspaper. A quick glance at the front page shows no discrepancies from last time. The radio news matches up too. No obvious changes there. Dave grabs the encyclopedia off the shelf and thumbs through it looking for specific entries and letting his eye fall on random sections as well.

Nothing seems to be altered there either. Not to my eye anyway. Maybe it'll all make better sense after coffee. And breakfast. Definitley breakfast next.

Over the debris of eggs, bacon and toast, Dave replenishes his coffee for a third time and opens the paper to peruse every word of it.

If the changes aren't that big then things will still happen as before. If there are little changes, they might not show up noticably, and if the changes only involve the Vigilant members that time -traveled....well I don't know what that means. I'm already remembering finding this apartment and choosing it over the smaller one more clearly. If it's true for me then the others will have the same deal going on. Maybe it's the way the universe adjusts?? Hmm treading into deep waters without a life jacket.

Dave is down to the obits and want ads in the paper and is only scanning lightly over the words now...a trick learned in the service for picking out the important bits out of the minutia of reports.

One word jumps out at him in the employment section and his eye skips back to the beginning of the ad to read it over again....and a second time too.

Vigilant Incorporated! Call Edgar!? Can't be! How? Oh this is too much. Now I have to call this number just to put it to rest.

Dave tosses the paper aside and grabs the phone.

Ok dialing the number...maybe it WILL be Rod Serling this time...

[Menagerie]

Menagerie:

Ending the phone call with Flux, Lily turns on the radio. She listens for a little while, grabbing herself a cereal bar to try to offset the fluttery feeling in her stomach. As best she can tell, everything is as it was, across the city and across the nation.

It's not long before Anton and the kids wake up. Lily begins her usual (?) activities of getting everyone ready for the day. Breakfast is prepared while Anton helps the girls get dressed After breakfast, Lily grabs a shower for herself and gets dressed. Anton is reading the paper and the girls are playing in their room.

Coming out of the shower, Lily gets her first good look at herself and gasps. Looking in the mirror, she can see that she is thinner than she was. In fact, she looks much more like her Menagerie persona would out of costume! Could this be part of why Anton decided to marry her instead of running away?

Once dressed, Lily goes to Anton. "I'm sorry, honey, but I need to do some last-minute shopping. Can you get the girls over to Mom's and I'll meet you there later?"

"No prob," Anton replies. "I got it covered."

"Thanks, hot stuff," Lily says, giving her husband (!) a kiss. She then lets the girls know what the plan is and kisses them goodbye before leaving. It takes her a little while to identify her car, as there isn't one that matches the Honda she used to drive. Using the button on the key fob, she tracks down an Acura which accepts her key. *Anton must be making decent money now,* she thinks to herself wryly. *That's a pleasant change.*

A little later, she is at the cafe where they agreed to meet. She seems to be the first one there, so she requests a booth with enough space for everyone.

[GM Mad]

Update:

Vigilant Incorporated! Call Edgar!? Can't be! How? Oh this is too much. Now I have to call this number just to put it to rest.

Dave tosses the paper aside and grabs the phone.

Ok dialing the number...maybe it WILL be Rod Sterling this time...

Flux calls the number in the want add as directed. After a few rings, a cheerful receptionist answers the phone.

“You have reached the offices of Vigilant Incorporated. How may I direct your call?

Flux asks for Edgar and is transferred. The line is picked up once again.

“This Edgar. How may I help you?”


Lily slips behind the wheel of her car. A parking pass dangles from the mirror, one that she’s never seen before. It’s a guest-parking pass for the Vigilant Incorporated parking lot. Glancing at the nearby cars, the one next to hers has a regular Vigilant Incorporated parking pass.

[Bruce]

Flux

A receptionist! This can't be the Edgar I know, knew, will know, bah! What is the proper tense for time traveling??

“This is Edgar. How may I help you?”

"Edgar, this is Mr. Solomon. I'm calling about possible employment as my current position is in flux just now. Might I make an appointment to see someone in personel? It would have to be later in the day today or first thing tomorrow if that can be arranged?"

It sounds a little like him but over the phone it's hard to tell.

[Frostbite]

Frostbite

As he is grabbing his hat to head out the door his father calls out to him…

“Don’t stay to out to late, Cyrus. Your mother is flying in tonight and she wants to see you.” he said as he was adjusting his tie for work.

Frosty stops dead in his tracks and looks at his father in confusion. Mom died almost 5 yrs ago in a plane crash! And when did his father start wearing a tie for working at the loading dock!

“Ugh, Okay Dad. I’ll be back later.” as he heads out to Horton Plaza.

Upon reaching Horton Plaza, he soon finds the café, and heads in. Seeing Lily at a large booth and sits down and waits for the others.

[GM Mad]

Update:

"Edgar, this is Mr. Solomon. I'm calling about possible employment as my current position is in flux just now. Might I make an appointment to see someone in personnel? It would have to be later in the day today or first thing tomorrow if that can be arranged?"

It sounds a little like him but over the phone it's hard to tell.

The voice on the phone does sound similar to the Edgar that you knew.

“Ah yes, Mister Solomon. We’ve been expecting your call. I’m glad to see that our advertisement reached one of you. Yes, please come in for an interview. Anytime is good, I’m always here. Our offices are located at the corner of Kettner and Ash. We occupy the top three floors of the Starr Building.”

[Menagerie]

Menagerie:

Putting the key in the ignition, the parking pass hanging from the rear-view mirror catches Lily's eye. She pauses a moment, confused. Then taking it down, she examines it.

Vigilant Incorporated?! It can't be!

Questions and speculations wrestle in Lily's mind. What does this mean? Is it in some way connected with the group that they are, or were, or will be?

Lily checks both sides of the parking pass for an address or phone number - anything that would help her contact them. This is too... odd to be ignored.

[GM Mad]

Update:

Menagerie:

The guest-parking pass has an address, the corner of Kettner and Ash, and a phone number on it. That location is a mere 4 blocks north, and 6 blocks west of the Horton’s Plaza complex in downtown San Diego. (The streets can be picked out on the San Diego Bay map.)


Meanwhile everyone else has gathered at a café inside Horton’s Plaza. Anyone going to say anything? Order some food? Something?


Now what?

[Frostbite]

Frostbite

Frosty Sits and waits at the booth looking around for the others to come through the door. For several minutes he waits but no one has yet to come. “Might as well order then.” Raising up his hand to the waitress he says, ‘Excuse me, Can I get a menu?” he quickly over looks the menu then is ready to order.

“Can I get a Cheese Burger Deluxe and a Chocolate milkshake?”

Frosty will sit wait for the others and his food. He will pick up his knife and fork and start drumming an Aerosmith song on the table.

[Backlash]

Backlash

After a morning of goofing off at the Shore Backlash looks down at his watch. “Ah crap. I’m gonna be late.” he says as he makes his way to his Harley. Starting up his motorcycle he heads for café. Weaving between cars on the freeway he mutters to himself. “Gotta love holiday traffic.” as he flips off a beemer for beeping at him.

After about a 30 minute ride he parks his bike and heads to the café. With a ring the doorway bell announces his presence . Looking about the café he doesn’t spot the group or anyone familiar. Though a teenager sits at a far larger table then a single person would sit at.

Approaching the youngster Lash looks him over as he drums away. “You waiting for someone kid?” he asks curiously. “Hey…” he places a hand on the table when he doesn’t begin to notice him talking.

[Menagerie]

Menagerie:

Noting the address on the parking pass, Lily quickly realizes that it isn't far from her destination at Horton Plaza. Pulling out of the parking lot, she decides to take a spin past this Vigilant Incorporated office. Can't hurt to look, though she's uncertain whether she'll stop in or not.

As she drives, she pulls out her cell phone and dials Flux's number. Might as well tell the boss about this...

[GM Mad]

Update:

Menagerie:

The address in question leads Lily to the Starr Building at the corner of Kettner and Ash. Nothing about the building looks out of place, just a typical office complex. There’s a carded underground parking entrance.


Now what?

[Menagerie]

Menagerie:

As she drives by the building, Lily doesn't notice anything obviously unusual about it, other than the name. Looking at her watch, she also notes that she's running just a tad late for the meeting at the restaurant and continues on her way.

"Come on, Flux, pick up," she says softly, waiting for him to do so as she drives.

[Bruce]

Eldrich Arcane

Eldrich had more trouble then he expected reaching Horton Plaza; many people he spoke to had odd reactions to him. At least one person gave him wrong directions and several declined to speak to him at all. It was more than a bit strange but Eldrich paid it no great heed. Even the comment ,'too much fake suntan goop, dude' did not touch him. Still, it takes the greater part of the morning to reach his destination and still locate the 'eatery' by name as he could not actually read the lettering anywhere.

At last Eldrich arrives at the entry to a 'cafe,' sanity still intact and looking for familiar faces. Spotting two possibilities at a large table he heads in that direction.....

[Bruce]

Flux

“Ah yes, Mister Solomon. We’ve been expecting your call. I’m glad to see that our advertisement reached one of you. Yes, please come in for an interview. Anytime is good, I’m always here. Our offices are located at the corner of Kettner and Ash. We occupy the top three floors of the Starr Building.”

It's him! Somehow it is!

"Thank you sir. That makes it easier on me to schedule my visit. Be assured I will be in to see you as soon as I can. Goodbye."

Dave hangs up the phone and checks the time: getting close to lunch and traffic will be a bear on the holiday. Reading the paper and the encyclopedia took time but it was worth the effort.

Dave takes the phone up again to call a cab to Horton Plaza, gives his new(?) address and hangs back up.

While starting for the door the phone ringing brings him back to it again with the passing thought that some things are universal...run late and it never fails.

"Hello. Mr. Solomon speaking."

[Menagerie]

Menagerie:

"Hello. Mr. Solomon speaking."

"Hey, Dave. Lily again. I found something pretty weird and thought you would want to know about it.

"I found a parking pass in my car for a place called Vigilant Incorporated. Pretty spooky, considering. Anyway, I just drove by there - it's not far from Horton Plaza - and it looks pretty normal. I'm continuing on to the restaurant, but we may want to check it out after our meeting."

[Blackout]

Blackout:

Having arrived, Blackout makes his way, taping his "cane" in front of him. Hearing a voice that could be Backlash's, Blackout taps his way over there.

Arriving at the booth, he slides in as if he was expeceted. However he doesn't say anything and just keeps his head facing forward, his thick sunglasses and cane apparent to all there.

[Tesla]

Tesla:

Parking her motorcycle and removing her helmet, Tesla wonders just how late she is. Traffic wasn't pleasant, even with the ability to weave in and out of it. I would have much rather just flown here she thinks to herself.

Making sure her sunglasses are in place, she makes her way to the cafe, careful not to stare at any one person for too long in case they notice her eyes. Hopefully no one will think her too strange for wearing her sunglasses inside. The worst they'll probably think is that she's hung over or on drugs.

Making her way inside, Tesla looks around. She sees a couple people wandering over to one booth, some of them unsure of themselves. That's probably them Tesla thinks, although a quick headcount shows some still have yet to show.

She'll walk up and say, "Hello boys, room for one more?" Hoping to see some hint of recognition from even one of them, she'll slide in to the booth. Looking over at the milkshake when it arrives (or if it's already there), Tesla will say, "That looks good." She will then flag down the waitress and order one for herself.

[Bruce]

Flux

"You found a parking pass in your own car? Does that mean you're an employee? Is it in the top three floors of the Starr building on Kettner and Ash? I called the place after finding an ad in the paper. The 'Edgar' referred to in it sounded like ours and he seemed to know me. Definitely worth checking. By the way, tell everyone I'm going to be late-don't know by how much. Reading the whole paper and thumbing through the encyclopedia took more time than I thought it would. I called a cab and it's on its way but...well you know."

If she's been there why doesn't she remember? My memories are adjusting to the new circumstances.....I think.

[Menagerie]

Menagerie:

"You found a parking pass in your own car? Does that mean you're an employee? Is it in the top three floors of the Starr building on Kettner and Ash? I called the place after finding an ad in the paper. The 'Edgar' referred to in it sounded like ours and he seemed to know me. Definitely worth checking. By the way, tell everyone I'm going to be late-don't know by how much. Reading the whole paper and thumbing through the encyclopedia took more time than I thought it would. I called a cab and it's on its way but...well you know."

"Well, it was a visitor's pass, so I doubt I'm actually an employee. Then again, I saw similar passes in other cars in my building, so at least some of them might be employees. But I don't have any memory of going there, so maybe I just had an appointment there or something... I don't know.

"That's the right address, though I'm not sure of the floors, since I didn't go inside; I just drove past the building.

"Edgar? That's a little hard to chalk up to a coincidence, if you ask me."

Lily pulls into the restaurant parking lot, looking for an empty spot. "Okay, I'm just pulling in now, so I'll let everyone know. Talk to you when you get here."

Lily flips her phone closed and parks her car. Grabbing her purse, she heads inside. Looking around, she spots a large booth with an unusually-disparate collection of people. Figuring this must be her teammates, Lily joins them.

"Hi. Is this the planning group for Edgar and Goldy's party?" Lily asks. She's dressed in the same outfit she wore to Horton's plaza tomorrow when she ran afoul of the plot there and became a metahuman. Strangely, even though she's much thinner, the dress fits just fine...

[Tilt-A-Whirl]

Tilt-A-Whirl:

Tilt sees Horton Plaza, ready to speed right on in, but then remembers she needs to be careful. Finding a good alley or parking garage, she zips in and then lets out a long breath, walking normal. Just before emerging on the street she remembers her goggles and quickly takes them off and stuff them into a back pocket.

Tilt walks in and smells the food, immediately hungry. She hears Lily and spots the group who all look wierd without their costumes. Tilt walks up with a big grin and waves at everyone. "hithere! um.. hi!" she says with excitement.

Tilt will sit down and want to order. "a soda.. mmm some fries. oh a burger! cheese too... oh they have milkshakes? one of those..." Hopefully the waitress is patient.

[Menagerie]

Menagerie:

Just moments after Lily sits down and greets the growing group, a youngster whose words come out in a virtual blur. Tilt. Gotta be, Lily thinks to herself.

She catches a bit of a spark from behind the other woman's dark glasses, leading her to believe that it's Tesla.

One of the guys appears younger than the rest. Frostbite has always seemed young, perhaps even as young as Tilt, so this must be him.

Likewise, another of the guys looks very out of place, like he's not used to eating in restaurants. Might be Eldrich.

This leaves two guys unaccounted for. One wears sunglasses and carries a white cane, apparently blind! Could this be either of their teammates? The guy sitting next to Frostbite is probably either Blackout or Backlash, though she can't be entirely certain.

As she's puzzling this out, Lily greets the others. "Anyway, I'm Lily. I'm sure we have a lot to talk about." She extends a hand to shake for any that are willing. "Dave should be here soon."
__________________________________________________________
I know Lily's name has come up a few times among the group, but I'm not sure how many others she would know the real names of.

[GM Mad]

Post Closed