Crucible #55 - "Haven't We Been Here Before?"

[GM Mad]

Crucible #55 - "Haven’t We Been Here Before?"


It is the afternoon of July 4th, 1986. From the perspectives of the Vigilant members, they’ve lived through this day before. However things are not exactly as they remember them to be. Choices and circumstances that worked out one way the first time around are now different and in most cases better then they were before.

Lily is no longer a single mother, but rather a wife with twin daughters. Frostbite’s mother wasn’t killed in a plane crash five years earlier. Flux went with the more extravagant apartment this time, when he chose a smaller one originally. There is a business downtown call Vigilant Incorporated that wasn’t noticed before. Was it always there or is it another new wrinkle?

But apart from these changes, nothing else seems different. The news of the day is unchanged and San Diego seems surprisingly calm considered what tomorrow will bring.

Most of the Vigilante has arrived at the designated restaurant at Horton’s Plaza. Everyone as arrived with the exception of Dave/flux. Food was ordered and is being consumed, but not much else going on at the moment.


(I always love easy updates!)

Now what?

[Bruce]

Flux

Dave finally arrives at the eatery in Horton Plaza after paying off the cab driver and taking a glance at the directory pamphlet for directions.

Looks like everyone is here if that table is any indication. I see Lily and Eldrich for certain. She looks thinner but not as thin as before. Sort of a compromise between the two appearances. Wonder why?

Approaching the table Dave can now see and appreciate just how young some of them are. Tilt and Frostbite in particular both look to be kids.

Now who is this blind fellow? Blackout? He's blind for real? How does that work? Ahh well, personal questions later.

Dave strides up to the table unconsciously still holding his back straight and head up.

"Hello everyone. Glad to see you all. Let's get the food orders finalized and tuck in; we will be busy later today and pressed for time a bit. And I'd like to ask if anyone has noticed any ...changes in their daily lives without going in to personal details too much. Just to check a hunch."

[Blackout]

Blackout:

"Hello everyone. Glad to see you all. Let's get the food orders finalized and tuck in; we will be busy later today and pressed for time a bit. And I'd like to ask if anyone has noticed any ...changes in their daily lives without going in to personal details too much. Just to check a hunch."

Blackout turns his head towards the general area that he hears Flux's voice. "I didn't notice anything really out of the ordinary, but then I was more focused on getting here okay," the accent is a little thicker, but the voice is definitely Blackout's. Anyone thinking that his accent is what is changed soon considers he might just be doing it purposely as part of his "secret identity."

"I just didn't think to spend any time investigating for that possibility, and I don't know this city well enough to notice anything odd unless it was glaringly obvious," Blackout adds.

[Menagerie]

Menagerie:

Seeing Flux approach, Lily greets him. "Hi Dave. I think everyone's here."

Flux asks if anyone has seen anything odd in their surroundings. The blind man replies, and Lily recognises the voice: it's Blackout! He's blind?! He certainly doesn't seem to have any difficulty when in costume. Perhaps this is just a disguise...

"Well, I've already mentioned it to you, but I should probably tell the others.

"Before we left here on our strange trip, I was a single mother with one daughter whom most of you have met: Rose. Now, I find that I am married to Rose's father, Anton, and Rose has a twin sister named Blossom.

"What's more, there is a company based in an office building not far from here called Vigilant Incorporated. I drove by the building on the way here and it didn't look out of the ordinary.

"Dave, you said you called them; perhaps you could tell us what else you learned."

[Frostbite]

Frostbite

Cyrus drank from his Milkshake and took a large bite of his cheeseburger, As Lily and Flux stepped up to the table.

"Hello everyone. Glad to see you all. Let's get the food orders finalized and tuck in; we will be busy later today and pressed for time a bit. And I'd like to ask if anyone has noticed any ...changes in their daily lives without going in to personal details too much. Just to check a hunch."

“Well, My father mentioned that my mother wanted to see me. Though, I don’t understand how that can be… She died almost 5 years ago in a plane crash. My father also seemed to have a better job. He was dressing far better then I remember…”

He added softly, wondering all the while just what else has changed in his life.

[Backlash]

Backlash

Sitting at the booth Backlash orders a salad and water. He took in Tesla sunglassed covered eyes, beginning to stare He looked down then toward Flux,

“I was down at the beach for a short time. Nothing really seemed out of place to me. As in Personal life… Almost everything seemed the same… Though I don’t recall going to bed with anyone Last night. I woke up with some women sleeping next to me. Still don’t know or remember who she was." He said at an after thought.

“Viligant Incorporated?” he asked confused “Office, You think some how Edgar made it here as well?”

[Tilt-A-Whirl]

Tilt-A-Whirl:

Food arrives and Tilt couldn't be happier. She's famished after such a long run. Everyone seems to be pretty comfortable around each other, except for that wierd blind man. who is that? she thinks but doesn't ask aloud.

Dave strides up to the table unconsciously still holding his back straight and head up.

"Hello everyone. Glad to see you all. Let's get the food orders finalized and tuck in; we will be busy later today and pressed for time a bit. And I'd like to ask if anyone has noticed any ...changes in their daily lives without going in to personal details too much. Just to check a hunch."

it sounds like Flux Tilt thinks and takes a chance. She rushes around the table and nearly bowls over Dave, wrapping her arms around his waist and hugging him like she hasn't seen him in forever. In a way.. it kinda has been.

Tilt returns to her seat and continues eating. Some of the others talk about differences, or not noticing any. Tilt honestly didn't think anything was out of place, but really she spent a lot of time just running. Having nothing to add, she just shakes her head no.

[Bruce]

Eldrich Arcane

"It is as I stated to the High One before; changing the flow of time is risky and never without consequence. Only because of the dire nature of the changes inflicted by the Saurions did I accede to traveling in time at all. That we are now subject to alterations does not suprise me. That the alterations afflict only us is a cause for relief not alarm. It could be far worse-and may yet be."

"As to the matter of what I may have seen, it is no use in asking me. I am unfamiliar with things as they should be and cannot judge if any changes have occurred."

[Tesla]

Tesla:

It appears everyone is here. At least we all made it back Tesla thinks to herself. There is talk about some changes a couple of the others have noticed. Some seem very obvious, but a couple others didn't notice anything at all. Tesla falls into the second group.

"I didn't notice anything out of place or different," Tesla says. "Of course I really didn't do much looking for that sort of thing. Once I knew I arrived at the right time and place, I made the long drive to get here."

Sitting at the booth Backlash orders a salad and water. He took in Tesla sunglassed covered eyes, beginning to stare He looked down then toward Flux

Tesla catches Backlash's stare, but when she looks at him, he's already looking away. She watches him for a moment, wondering if he'll look back at her.

Having nothing further to add, Tesla waits to see if Flux has anything to add about there being a Vigilant Incorporated that Menagerie mentioned. That seems to be a big change, and Tesla can't help but wonder what it means.

[Bruce]

Flux

it sounds like Flux Tilt thinks and takes a chance. She rushes around the table and nearly bowls over Dave, wrapping her arms around his waist and hugging him like she hasn't seen him in forever. In a way.. it kinda has been.

Dave is taken by surprise at the exuberance of Tilt's greeting. He hugs back and smiles briefly at her while wondering just what the heck is going on...

Umm, what's that about? Bad home life? No father figure? Come to think of it...I have no idea if she has a home at all.

Filing it away under 'yet another thing to be pursued at earliest opportunity' Dave listens to the responses around the table to his question about changes and adds his own.

"Hmmm, ok I don't know how relevant any of this is to our upcoming problems but I have noted some minor changes in my own life. More in the line of alternate choices made or decisions that could have gone either way coming out differently then I remembered. Only now, my memories are adjusting to the new settings. My guess is yours all will to, if they haven't already. As to why anything changed, well I leave that to wiser heads."

"One thing to take note of. Lily mentioned it and I will too. There is indeed a 'Vigilant Incorporated' at the Starr building not too far from Horton Plaza as the crow flies. I called them early this morning after seeing an interesting ad in the paper-placed by an 'Edgar'. It certainly sounded like him and he knew me. We spoke of meeting later, possibly today at their building. Maybe we should all go later today and see what's what. It's a puzzle to me that he can be here now, and aware of upcoming events when the cause of his appearance here has not yet happened. I'd like that cleared up."

I can't help but wonder...the 'Starr' building....Goldstar stated she was here during this time and avoiding her 'other' self...
Only now there is no other self. And may never be. So ...what happened to the one who went millions of years in the past? Is she here 'now'? Oh yes lots of questions....

[Menagerie]

Menagerie:

Lily grins when Tilt runs around to hug Dave. It's a very cute gesture, and makes it seem like she sees him as some kind of father figure. Very interesting.

“Well, My father mentioned that my mother wanted to see me. Though, I don’t understand how that can be… She died almost 5 years ago in a plane crash. My father also seemed to have a better job. He was dressing far better then I remember…”

His mother was dead?! Oh goodness... Lily thinks to herself. Her heart goes out to the young man, though it must be a relief to him to have his mother back.

“I was down at the beach for a short time. Nothing really seemed out of place to me. As in Personal life… Almost everything seemed the same… Though I don’t recall going to bed with anyone Last night. I woke up with some women sleeping next to me. Still don’t know or remember who she was." He said at an after thought.

Lily whips her head around to face the speaker. "Let me get this straight... You woke up with a woman in your bed and you don't know who she is or how she got there?..." Lily appears very confused. "That would seem to imply that you don't have any of the blending of memories that Dave and I have both experienced."

"It is as I stated to the High One before; changing the flow of time is risky and never without consequence. Only because of the dire nature of the changes inflicted by the Saurions did I accede to traveling in time at all. That we are now subject to alterations does not suprise me. That the alterations afflict only us is a cause for relief not alarm. It could be far worse-and may yet be."

"As to the matter of what I may have seen, it is no use in asking me. I am unfamiliar with things as they should be and cannot judge if any changes have occurred."

"I think I understand what you're saying, though it's a subject I'm not at all familiar with. To my mind, the bigger issue is whether this is really the world and timeline we came from, or whether we missed when we tried to come back."

"One thing to take note of. Lily mentioned it and I will too. There is indeed a 'Vigilant Incorporated' at the Starr building not too far from Horton Plaza as the crow flies. I called them early this morning after seeing an interesting ad in the paper-placed by an 'Edgar'. It certainly sounded like him and he knew me. We spoke of meeting later, possibly today at their building. Maybe we should all go later today and see what's what. It's a puzzle to me that he can be here now, and aware of upcoming events when the cause of his appearance here has not yet happened. I'd like that cleared up."

"I would too," Lily says. "In fact, why don't we head over there as soon as we're done here?"

[Backlash]

Backlash

Flux wrote
"One thing to take note of. Lily mentioned it and I will too. There is indeed a 'Vigilant Incorporated' at the Starr building not too far from Horton Plaza as the crow flies. I called them early this morning after seeing an interesting ad in the paper-placed by an 'Edgar'. It certainly sounded like him and he knew me. We spoke of meeting later, possibly today at their building. Maybe we should all go later today and see what's what. It's a puzzle to me that he can be here now, and aware of upcoming events when the cause of his appearance here has not yet happened. I'd like that cleared up."

“Worth a shot to check it out, I don’t think are other friends(Dinos) would know of the name Viligant.” but then again he has been wrong before.

Lily whips her head around to face the speaker. "Let me get this straight... You woke up with a woman in your bed and you don't know who she is or how she got there?..." Lily appears very confused. "That would seem to imply that you don't have any of the blending of memories that Dave and I have both experienced."

He merely shrugs at her confused face, “You asked for different or weird things that weren’t there before.Surely this would account for such a question? Though I would wager it being a random encounter." He says with a shrug.

He then picked up his water and took a sip, his eyes fell upon Tesla again he smiled, as he wondered Wonder what her eyes use to look like….

[GM Mad]

Post Continued:

The Vigilant is at last reunited in a restaurant inside Horton’s Plaza. In their civilian ID’s, the group eats and talks about the strange things they have observed here in the past. Top on the list is existence of a Vigilant Incorporated, a business in Downtown San Diego. Flux has contacted them and spoken with an Edgar. After eating it is decided that everyone should head over to the Starr Building and look into this.

The Star Building is just a few blocks away from Horton’s Plaza, so reaching it doesn’t take a lot of time. The building itself is 25 stories high and seems typical to those in this area. From what Edgar told Flux on the phone, Vigilant Incorporated occupies the top three floors of the building.

There seems to be two main entrances to the building. You can walk in off the street to a guarded reception area. There is also the underground parking garage that Lily has a pass to.

How are you going to approach this?


GM Notes:

You can continue to discuss things at the restaurant before moving on to the Starr Building.

[Menagerie]

Menagerie:

He merely shrugs at her confused face, “You asked for different or weird things that weren’t there before.Surely this would account for such a question? Though I would wager it being a random encounter." He says with a shrug.

"What I was trying to say was that Dave and I both have two sets of memories: one of how things were before, and one that seems to account for at least some of the differences that we have experienced. For example, I can remember my wedding to Anton and the birth of the twins, neither of which occurred in our original timeline. However, I have no memories that would explain the Vigilant Incorporated temporary parking pass I found in my car. You and Cyrus, on the other hand, don't appear to possess any divergent memories. This seemed like an interesting, and potentially important, difference."

[Bruce]

Flux

Dave hides a small smile behind a blank poker-face.

He can't remember his one night stand and doesn't think that's unusual. I blame the beer.

Naturally, he can't explain this to Lily now. Not in front of the kids...

[Tilt-A-Whirl]

Tilt-A-Whirl:

Dave is taken by surprise at the exuberance of Tilt's greeting. He hugs back and smiles briefly at her while wondering just what the heck is going on...

Tilt smiles big and returns to her seat quickly. She's glad that Flux made it through okay. Tilt was so worried about him and she needs to protect him...

It sounds like we're all going to go see Edgar next! Tilt can't hardly wait. Tilt finishes her food quickly while the others keep talking. She is eager to see how Edgar has been after all this time.

[Backlash]

Backlash

Having had his fill of lunch backlash took out his wallet, taking out ten dollars he put it on the table. Looking to the others he wonders out loud.

Well, Times a wasting. Let’s get a move on.” He said as he got up from the table. “Anyone need a ride?” he asks curiously, as he put on his shades.


Regardless of who excepts his ride or not he will make his way to the star building parking on the street he sets the kickstand of his Harley and looks up at the building. Here goes nothing…. Or everything depending on how you look at it. As he Got off his motorcycle and headed to the front door.

[Menagerie]

Menagerie:

Well, Times a wasting. Let’s get a move on.” He said as he got up from the table. “Anyone need a ride?” he asks curiously, as he put on his shades.

"I'm ready," Lily says. Having eaten at home with her family, she didn't have anything here and thus no bill to pay.

"I can take up to three in my car with me. Since I already have a parking pass, it might make sense for some of us to go in through the garage, and the rest to approach through the front door. I don't expect any trouble, but it doesn't hurt to be wary."

[Blackout]

Blackout:

"I'm ready," Lily says. Having eaten at home with her family, she didn't have anything here and thus no bill to pay.

"I can take up to three in my car with me. Since I already have a parking pass, it might make sense for some of us to go in through the garage, and the rest to approach through the front door. I don't expect any trouble, but it doesn't hurt to be wary."

Blackout stands since it looks like we are about to leave, setting his cane to sweep in front of him. "I will take you up on the offer for the ride," he says, turning to face Lily where he heard her voice.

[Tesla]

Tesla:

Well, Times a wasting. Let’s get a move on.” He said as he got up from the table. “Anyone need a ride?” he asks curiously, as he put on his shades.

Tesla follows Backlash out, and climbs onto her own motorcycle. She expects him to sneer or some other reaction when he sees she's riding an imported street bike. She smiles at him as she puts her helmet on, completely covering the glow from her eyes once more.

Regardless of who excepts his ride or not he will make his way to the star building parking on the street he sets the kickstand of his Harley and looks up at the building. Here goes nothing…. Or everything depending on how you look at it. As he Got off his motorcycle and headed to the front door.

Parking nearby, also on the street, Tesla removes her helmet and joins Backlash as they head inside. "You seem lost in thought," she comments to him as they approach. "Still trying to remember her name?"

[Backlash]

Backlash

As he gets ready to go on the open road he notices Tesla getting on a imported street bike. Reaching up to his shades he lowers them slightly as he looks over the brim of them at her and raises an eyebrow. Revving his bike up he pushes his sunglasses back to the brim of his nose and smirks.

Parking nearby, also on the street, Tesla removes her helmet and joins Backlash as they head inside. "You seem lost in thought," she comments to him as they approach. "Still trying to remember her name?"

"To be honest that’s the least of my worries. Besides if she meant anything to me I’m sure I would recall her name or least something about her. He said as he opened the door for Tesla. I’m not one for one night stands.

I’m more worried about getting through these next few hours… Kinda feel like Atlas.. The whole world resting on my shoulders, so to speak."

[GM Mad]

Post Continued:


The members of the Vigilant have made their way to the Starr Building in Downtown San Diego. Lily drove Blackout and as many as two other passengers there, while Blackout and Tesla rode their motorcycles.

The Starr Building is just as Lily described it, a seemingly normal looking office building in this part of town. Driving up to the card scanner, Lily inserts her pass and the gate opens. The display screen flashes her acceptance and directs her to park in a specific parking space.

Lily slowly makes her way through the underground parking lot while searching for the designated spot. It turns up soon enough and the sign above the parking spot makes her do a double take. It reads: “Reserved for Anton Garret”.

Other signs direct the group to the closest elevator. The group steps in and the door shuts behind them. While trying to figure out what buttons to press, a familiar voice is heard over the loudspeaker.

“Welcome to the Starr building, Mrs. Pak and friends”, a voice sounding very much like Edgar says. “You’re destination is the penthouse suite. Ms. Starr is expecting you.”

The elevator begins to move up.


Up in the lobby, Backlash and Tesla (and anyone else with them) step through the front doors. Their arrival brings the watchful eyes of the guards as the security desk upon them. A phone rings and one of the guards answers it. Following a short conversation, the guards exchange words and one of them comes forth.

“It appears that Ms. Starr is expecting you up in her penthouse. This way please.”

The guard leads you to one of the elevators. The door opens and you step inside. The guard reaches in from the outside and hits the proper button. He pulls back before the door closes and the elevator goes into motion.


On the upper floor of the Starr Building, the two elevators release their passengers at the end of a hallway. As the doors open, you catch a glimpse of an attractive woman waiting for you. She’s vaguely familiar looking, but different too. She has short blonde hair and blue eyes. Her dress is professional looking, a white blouse with a tan skirt and low-heeled strapy sandals.

Stepping up to Lily, the woman says, “Good to see you again Mrs. Pak. I believe we met at the last company picnic.”

To everyone else she adds, “Welcome all of you. I am Gloria Starr, the owner of this building and the CEO of Vigilant Incorporated. If you follow me please, we can go a place where we can talk freely.”

The voice sounds like Goldstar, but is slightly different as well. Gloria Starr lacks the golden skin and the glowing ‘fireflies’ that the Goldstar you remember possessed.

You follow Gloria down the hallway and into a small meeting room. Gloria closes the door behind.

“This room is temporally shielded, so you can speak freely. I’ve heard so much about all of you. It’s nice to finely meet you all.”


Now what?

[Bruce]

Eldrich Arcane

"I can take up to three in my car with me. Since I already have a parking pass, it might make sense for some of us to go in through the garage, and the rest to approach through the front door. I don't expect any trouble, but it doesn't hurt to be wary."

"I accept your offer. I cannot locate anything within the city without assistance."

Eldrich is somewhat wary of the 'ride' after viewing it more closely. It seems unnecessarily complicated and unsafe to operate on the narrow stripe of road way given over for that purpose. Still it is the only option. The other choices seemed foolhardy, as they were lacking even a sufficient number of wheels touching the ground and no protection at all from any attacks. Eldrich climbs in to the back of the 'car'.

As it turns out, the entry into the 'Starr' building is through a protected gate and underground passages. While not an archaic castle, it still resembles a fortified structure to Eldrich s' eye.

The shapemaster appears to have no trouble navigating her way about the place until leading us to a small room with no windows or other exits. The doors close behind them and Eldrich is about to protest when a disembodied voice speaks in the tones of the High One:

“Welcome to the Starr building, Mrs. Pak and friends”, a voice sounding very much like Edgar says. “You’re destination is the penthouse suite. Ms. Starr is expecting you.”

and the room distinctly begins to rise upward.

After finishing the ascent, the doors open onto a hallway and a second room releases the others onto the same hallway. Eldrich is relieved to see them but tries not to show it. The City of Wonders still ( or is it again?) catches him unawares with it's unending variety of surprises.

The woman who greets them is not known to him. Only the voice seems somewhat familiar as she greets Miss Pak and then the rest and directs us to a larger room that does not move with chairs and a table placed inside.

“This room is temporally shielded, so you can speak freely. I’ve heard so much about all of you. It’s nice to finally meet you all.”

she says.

"Greetings. I am known here as Eldrich Arcane. Are you an avatar of the High One?"

[Bruce]

Flux

Well, Times a wasting. Let’s get a move on.” He said as he got up from the table. “Anyone need a ride?” he asks curiously, as he put on his shades.

"I'll take it. I like the idea of multiple approaches."

And it saves me cabfare

Dave notes, but does not comment on, the implicit byplay between Tesla and Backlash regarding cycle makes. It's a universal debate, unresovable, eternal, and like domestic disputes unsafe to involve onself in.

Both of them park their machines on the street and head for the front door, Tesla still sparing verbally a bit with Backlash about his one-nighter.

Tesla removes her helmet and joins Backlash as they head inside. "You seem lost in thought," she comments to him as they approach. "Still trying to remember her name?"

"To be honest that’s the least of my worries. Besides if she meant anything to me I’m sure I would recall her name or least something about her. He said as he opened the door for Tesla. "I’m not one for one night stands. "

Not?? Then I am concerned. That sounds wrong to me. Sigh, add it to the list...

Passing through the front doors gets the attention of the security guards but a phone call from the penthouse(!) clears away all obstacles and a quick trip to the top floor to be greeted by the CEO herself, a Miss Gloria Starr who seems not to know anyone but Miss Pak (or is it now Mrs.Garret).

Stepping up to Lily, the woman says, “Good to see you again Mrs. Pak. I believe we met at the last company picnic.”

To everyone else she adds, “Welcome all of you. I am Gloria Starr, the owner of this building and the CEO of Vigilant Incorporated. If you follow me please, we can go a place where we can talk freely.”

“This room is temporally shielded, so you can speak freely. I’ve heard so much about all of you. It’s nice to finally meet you all.”

"Hello Miss Starr. What exacty have you heard about us-and from whom?"

[Backlash]

Backlash

“Watch the pipe.” he said as he turned the motor off, “Don’t want to burn yourself ,” not knowing if Flux ever road a bike before.


As they enter the building it bring the watchful eyes of the guards who watch them carefully. Backlash absent mindedly clutches and releases his right hand surveying them as the phone rings.

“It appears that Ms. Starr is expecting you up in her penthouse. This way please.”

And they are soon in the Elevator, Under his breath so that only the others near him can hear him, “I don’t like this… How’d they know who we were?”

Soon enough the Elevator came to a stop, the doors sliding open. He let Flux and Tesla go before him his eyes lingered to the sway of Tesla’s walk for the briefest of moments as they stopped, Apparently their host was standing before them.

As the doors open, you catch a glimpse of an attractive woman waiting for you. She’s vaguely familiar looking, but different too. She has short blonde hair and blue eyes. Her dress is professional looking, a white blouse with a tan skirt and low-heeled strapy sandals.

His eyes narrow with curiosity and mistrust though still hiden buy his shades, “Good Morning Ms. Starr.” he couldn’t help but wonder as the voice sounded oddly familiar. Once within the safe room Flux speaks up asking what they heard of us and from whom…

"Certainly a CEO of their own company/building doesn’t just see anyone off the street… What’s your game?"

[Menagerie]

Menagerie:

Blackout stands since it looks like we are about to leave, setting his cane to sweep in front of him. "I will take you up on the offer for the ride," he says, turning to face Lily where he heard her voice.

"I accept your offer. I cannot locate anything within the city without assistance."

"Happy to oblige. My car's this way," Lily replies, showing her teammates to her car: a red Acura TL.

They make their way the few blocks to the Starr building and enter the garage without problems. She's surprised to find her husband's name on the parking spot that she's assigned to. Stranger and stranger is this new life...

"My husband works here?" she says to no one in particular as they get out of the car. They make their way to the elevator. As they get in, a voice that sounds like Edgar greets them and tells them Ms. Starr is waiting for them in the penthouse.

The exit into a hallway, only to be greeted by a woman who introduces herself as Gloria Starr. She's dressed impeccably, and Lily finds herself feeling underdressed. Her voice and appearance are reminiscent of Goldstar, but yet different as well.

"My pleasure, Ms. Starr. I believe you are right." Now that it is mentioned, Lily finds she has some vague memory of such a picnic, though doesn't specifically recall this woman. Of course, there were many people there and the faces kind of blur together in the hazy half-memory that she has.

They are led into a meeting room which Ms. Starr says is shielded. Flex and Backlash both give voice to their suspicions, whereas Eldrich seems to take an almost worshipful tone.

"Please don't think us rude, Ms. Starr. I'm afraid this is a very odd situation for us and we're having some difficulty adjusting. Anything you can do to help clear this up will be greatly appreciated." Lily will hold off on giving any specifics until she has some idea what Gloria already knows.

[Tilt-A-Whirl]

Tilt-A-Whirl:

Riding with anyone doesn't sound like much fun. Tilt never enjoyed the painfully slow drives when she had to go with her mother somewhere. So Tilt just gets to the Starr building under her own power.

Tilt joins with Flux and the others going through the front door. She doesn't say anything as she stands around waiting for the elevator to finally stop.

To everyone else she adds, “Welcome all of you. I am Gloria Starr, the owner of this building and the CEO of Vigilant Incorporated. If you follow me please, we can go a place where we can talk freely.”

The voice sounds like Goldstar, but is slightly different as well. Gloria Starr lacks the golden skin and the glowing ‘fireflies’ that the Goldstar you remember possessed.

Tilt waves a big, friendly hello. The woman though seems different from what Tilt remembers. Plus Goldstar wasn't coming back with them. As Tilt works through this, she sticks close to Flux in case this turns out to be a trap. She can't have Flux getting hurt...

[Goldstar]

Gloria Starr:

Gloria waits nervously as the elevators rise up to the Penthouse Suite. Finally, they arrive and the doors open. People that she knows about but never met issue forth. Gloria goes to greet them.

"Greetings. I am known here as Eldrich Arcane. Are you an avatar of the High One?"

“Ah, yes, Eldrich, pleased to meet you. An avatar of the High One?”

Gloria looks a bit confused about that.

“More like an operative for my mother and her associates.”

"Hello Miss Starr. What exactly have you heard about us-and from whom?"

“You must be Flux. Like I told Eldrich, my knowledge of you comes from my mother and her associates. About why you are here and I’m here to assist you in this endeavor.”

His eyes narrow with curiosity and mistrust though still hidden buy his shades, “Good Morning Ms. Starr.” he couldn’t help but wonder as the voice sounded oddly familiar. Once within the safe room Flux speaks up asking what they heard of us and from whom…

"Certainly a CEO of their own company/building doesn’t just see anyone off the street… What’s your game?"

“No games here. My task to is assist you in your task to prevent from what happens tomorrow from coming into being.”

Tilt waves a big, friendly hello. The woman though seems different from what Tilt remembers. Plus Goldstar wasn't coming back with them. As Tilt works through this, she sticks close to Flux in case this turns out to be a trap. She can't have Flux getting hurt...

Gloria smiles and waves back at Tilt.

"Please don't think us rude, Ms. Starr. I'm afraid this is a very odd situation for us and we're having some difficulty adjusting. Anything you can do to help clear this up will be greatly appreciated." Lily will hold off on giving any specifics until she has some idea what Gloria already knows.

“I am sure that this is quite odd for all of you. This world is not quite what you expected it to be. While I can’t explain everything just yet, I can tell you a few things. After you departed the far future, our mutual acquaintances continued to work and study the situation. They discovered that while the Saurians are watching this particular time and place for any changes to the timeline, they are not as diligent in the years and decades before now. In short, they could make minute changes before the big event and they wouldn’t be noticed as much.”

“That’s where I came in. You’ve all probably noticed my close resemblance to Goldstar. I was bio-engineered from her DNA. I have some of her abilities, but at the same time have a normal human form that you see before you. The Saurians didn’t notice me as I’m not the true Goldstar and that I’ve been here for a long time. They would notice me as soon as I transformed.”

“And so I’ve been preparing for you arrival for a very long time now. Building up Vigilante Incorporated in a fashion that wouldn’t draw much attention to it. Setting up a base of operations and preparing as much for what is about to happen. There has been some manipulation of your pasts that have changed your present circumstances a bit. I hope that they were to your satisfaction. Rose really wanted to have a father and a sister while she was growing up, so now she does.”

“Anything else you wish to know?”

[Menagerie]

Menagerie:

Lily waits patiently as Ms. Starr answers their questions and provides some additional information, a skill she has developed over her years in the D.A.'s office. Some of the more personal information hits her like a ton of bricks and she gapes unattractively for a moment before recovering herself.

"I'm not a scientist, so as I understand it, you're essentially a clone of the Goldstar we know, but your powers have been damped down to make you less apparent to the Saurians? Does this mean that Goldstar and Edgar created you in the far future and sent you back to a time some years or decades before now?

"Also, we keep hearing what sounds like Edgar's voice here in the building. Did he or some part of him come to this time as well?

"Are you also saying that the changes in our lives were made intentionally by you or by Goldstar and Edgar in the future? Does that mean also that you or they engineered for those of us who hadn't gained our powers yet to have them earlier than expected? For example, I didn't gain my abilities until the events that happen - or happened - tomorrow, but now I have them. Also, in this timeline, just how long have I, or we, had them?

"Does my... husband - I'm still getting used that - work here at Vigilant Incorporated? And if so, in what capacity?"

[Frostbite]

Frostbite

Taking out his money, he placed it on the table, when everyone is offering rides, He speaks up, “Ill take you up on that ride. Beats the bus, especially the ones on the south side. Never do know what your sitting in.”


“Who’s Anton? He your husband you were talking about?” he asks curiously as they make their way to the building. Within moments they are informed to head to the penthouse.

On the upper floor of the Starr Building, the two elevators release their passengers at the end of a hallway. As the doors open, you catch a glimpse of an attractive woman waiting for you. She’s vaguely familiar looking, but different too. She has short blonde hair and blue eyes. Her dress is professional looking, a white blouse with a tan skirt and low-heeled strapy sandals.

To everyone else she adds, “Welcome all of you. I am Gloria Starr, the owner of this building and the CEO of Vigilant Incorporated. If you follow me please, we can go a place where we can talk freely.”

The voice sounds like Goldstar, but is slightly different as well. Gloria Starr lacks the golden skin and the glowing ‘fireflies’ that the Goldstar you remember possessed.


Cyrus does a double take upon hearing the women’s voice. He could have sworn it’s the same as Goldstar, the looks are similar but she lacks the golden skin and fireflies. Still whomever she is sure is attractive.

“Pleasure to meet you to, Miss” he said with a smile as Lash and the others begin to ask her questions he can’t help but say,

“Lash, give her a chance before you jump down her throat!” He said somewhat defensively without realizing it.

“So let me get this straight… Your working for Your mother, whom we all knew? Is she still alive?“ He asks curiously.

[Goldstar]

Gloria Starr:

"I'm not a scientist, so as I understand it, you're essentially a clone of the Goldstar we know, but your powers have been damped down to make you less apparent to the Saurians? Does this mean that Goldstar and Edgar created you in the far future and sent you back to a time some years or decades before now?

“It is a bit complicated,” Gloria admits. “Strictly speaking, I am not clone of Goldstar. A clone is an exact copy of another person and I’m not an exact copy of Goldstar. I’m much more human than she ever was. I have to sleep and eat and do all things normal humans do. My genetic structure was based on hers, but tweaked into what you see before you.”

“Yes, I was created in the future and have done much time traveling since.”

"Also, we keep hearing what sounds like Edgar's voice here in the building. Did he or some part of him come to this time as well?”

“There are rules that I have to follow being that I can have access to advanced technology. One of these rules is that I cannot possess any technology that does not already exist in the world. Computers with Artificial Intelligence already exist, so the Vigilant Incorporated computer is sentient. It’s brain patterns are based on Edgar’s. But otherwise, the Edgar you knew is not in this present time.”

"Are you also saying that the changes in our lives were made intentionally by you or by Goldstar and Edgar in the future? Does that mean also that you or they engineered for those of us who hadn't gained our powers yet to have them earlier than expected? For example, I didn't gain my abilities until the events that happen - or happened - tomorrow, but now I have them. Also, in this timeline, just how long have I, or we, had them?

“The changes with you were made by Rose. She just wanted you to have a happier life, so she set up these changes. It was also a test of the theory that subtle changes could be made to the timeline without catastrophic affects. Please don’t be mad at her. She just wanted you to be happy.”

“When you were sent into the past, your future selves were merged with your past selves. For those of you who didn’t have powers before, that’s when you gained them in this timeline. If you already had powers, then they were upgraded to where they had been in the future.”

"Does my... husband - I'm still getting used that - work here at Vigilant Incorporated? And if so, in what capacity?"

“He’s a salesman. Vigilant Incorporated is a home and business security firm. ‘Always Vigilant’ is our motto.”

“So let me get this straight… You’re working for your mother, whom we all knew? Is she still alive?“ He asks curiously.

“Time is relative a famous scientist once said. She’s alive here in the present; two of her in fact, and still exists in the future and the past. She can’t return to this point in history because she’d be spotted.

[Menagerie]

Menagerie:

“Who’s Anton? He your husband you were talking about?” he asks curiously as they make their way to the building. Within moments they are informed to head to the penthouse.

Lily nods. "Yes, though in our previous lives, he ditched me as soon as he found out I was pregnant, so that may explain some of why I'm having trouble adjusting to this."

Lily just nods as Ms. Starr explains her creation in a bit more detail. The technical aspects of it pretty much go over her head, but she thinks she gets the gist of it.

Ms. Starr answers her question about Edgar and the VI computer. Again, it mostly goes over her head. "So you either programmed it based on your knowledge of Edgar, or brought back the necessary logic bits to incorporate into this computer system. Either way, it's not really Edgar."

“The changes with you were made by Rose. She just wanted you to have a happier life, so she set up these changes. It was also a test of the theory that subtle changes could be made to the timeline without catastrophic affects. Please don’t be mad at her. She just wanted you to be happy.”

"Oh, I'm not angry, and if Rose will be happier then I cannot argue with that. It's just an... adjustment that may take some getting used to."

“When you were sent into the past, your future selves were merged with your past selves. For those of you who didn’t have powers before, that’s when you gained them in this timeline. If you already had powers, then they were upgraded to where they had been in the future.”

"Okay, so I wasn't superhuman in this timeline until this morning, and my family knows nothing about this change yet. I'll have to keep that in mind."

“He’s a salesman. Vigilant Incorporated is a home and business security firm. ‘Always Vigilant’ is our motto.”

Salesman. That makes sense. "So he doesn't know anything about the larger intentions for the firm, at least in terms of supporting us? Are there other employees who do know about that, and how do you plan to implement that function in an organic way that won't upset the company as a whole? I imagine that suddenly announcing that you're here to act as a base of operations or support group for this superhero team might come as something of a shock to your employees."

“Time is relative a famous scientist once said. She’s alive here in the present; two of her in fact, and still exists in the future and the past. She can’t return to this point in history because she’d be spotted.

Lily does a double-take. "Two?! How does that work, exactly? Were there always two of Goldstar here and we only met one, or did one somehow arrive more recently without alerting the Saurians?"

[Blackout]

Blackout:

“And so I’ve been preparing for you arrival for a very long time now. Building up Vigilante Incorporated in a fashion that wouldn’t draw much attention to it. Setting up a base of operations and preparing as much for what is about to happen. There has been some manipulation of your pasts that have changed your present circumstances a bit. I hope that they were to your satisfaction. Rose really wanted to have a father and a sister while she was growing up, so now she does.”

Blackout listens to everything Ms. Starr has to tell us. A lot of the pieces seem to make some sense now, but this last bit doesn't sit well with Blackout.

"Manipulation of our pasts?" Blackout asks. "I'm not sure I like the sound of that," he says as he faces where he heard Ms. Starr speaking from. "I'm sure best intentions were meant, and all that, but messing with our pasts is quite a bold step. I understand some of us had no powers before this event and changes had to be made, but changing what we remember and what used to be history for some of us without our consent is a lot to ask us to stomach."

As Lily talks and Ms. Starr comments further, Blackout tries to hold his tongue. He can see a grown up Rose with incredible powers at the end of time and universe wanting a happier life for her mother, but is Lily happy with these changes? That's what somebody forgot to ask. The whole thing makes Blackout sick, and it probably shows on his face.

[Bruce]

Eldrich Arcane

It grows worse in the telling: this is not Goldstar but a daughter of sorts, The High One is not here but copied in some strange way and they continue to alter time from that distant point in the future that should not now exist.

Do I speak out? What should I say? It is already too late to prevent the new changes and the aftereffects that will surely follow. So dangerous, this power to alter reality. So tempting to make 'fixes'. And temporal doubles! Two versions of the same person at the same time! Nothing in my limited memories of temporal magic even hints at a good outcome to such an event. Self cancellation is the most favorable outcome. The other possibilities...too horrific to speak of.

A few of the others seem to have an inkling of the wrongness of it. I shall hold my tongue for now...

[Bruce]

Flux

I didn't see this coming and I should have. Top brass have a way of setting up ops and then adding on permutations until missions get bloated beyond possible operation. It just didn't occur to me that the future set could continue to exist and operate after the time we left. I'm pretty sure they didn't 'plan' my apartment choices or a mother's continued survival, job changes, ect. It just fell out that way. Sam would be pulling what's left of his hair out hearing this. 'Tampering with causality' he'd call it.

Judging by the look on Blackout's face he's not a happy man just now. I wonder if things went worse for him after the changes.


"Ms. Starr, I do hope you are right about the 'no catastrophic events' part of your summation. But if you have any way of contacting the future versions of Edgar and Rose and Goldstar please employ it to firmly request no further activity regarding time alterations. Changes have occurred already that do not jibe with my memories and I don't like the ground shifting under me. We are here in the field, as it were and should be allowed to complete the mission without long distance interference. I am , in fact , not sure how they can still exist if we succeed in our mission. Their continued existence implies that we fail. Do you have an explanation for this?"

[Tesla]

Tesla:

As he gets ready to go on the open road he notices Tesla getting on a imported street bike. Reaching up to his shades he lowers them slightly as he looks over the brim of them at her and raises an eyebrow. Revving his bike up he pushes his sunglasses back to the brim of his nose and smirks.

Tesla just gives a good-hearted laugh as she revves her bike as well. She stays close to him but doesn't play around. She's all business when it comes to driving.

"To be honest that’s the least of my worries. Besides if she meant anything to me I’m sure I would recall her name or least something about her. He said as he opened the door for Tesla. I’m not one for one night stands.

I’m more worried about getting through these next few hours… Kinda feel like Atlas.. The whole world resting on my shoulders, so to speak."

Tesla doesn't comment on what Backlash reveals about the mysterious woman. However, when he mentions feeling like Atlas, she replies, "You're not alone on this you know? We're all here and we're a team."

Up in the lobby, Backlash and Tesla (and anyone else with them) step through the front doors. Their arrival brings the watchful eyes of the guards as the security desk upon them. A phone rings and one of the guards answers it. Following a short conversation, the guards exchange words and one of them comes forth.

“It appears that Ms. Starr is expecting you up in her penthouse. This way please.”

Tesla can't help but raise an eyebrow at the notion that we've been expected. She doesn't stare at the guards for too long though in case they notice her eyes past her sunglasses. She lets out a breath she didn't know she was holding once we are all in the elevator.

And they are soon in the Elevator, Under his breath so that only the others near him can hear him, “I don’t like this… How’d they know who we were?”

Tesla notices Backlash is tense too. She can't really read Flux and Tilt seems oblivious to the whole thing. "I really don't know," Tesla replies quietly. ""I wasn't expecting anything like this. I wonder if something's gone wrong."

Ms. Starr turns out not to be Goldstar - not exactly. As the others begin talking, questioning and listening to Ms. Starr and her explainations, Tesla can't help but wonder if anything was changed for her. Not everyone mentioned any changes and she still doesn't remember anything. However, there is a rising feeling in her gut that something did change and will spring itself on Tesla at the most inconvienent time.

A couple of her team members are less than happy about learning about these changes being the result of manipulations of the past. Flux poses a question to Ms. Starr that grabs her attention, and so Tesla wipes all other thoughts from her mind to listen to this important answer.

[GM Mad]

Post Closed