Mutants & Masterminds: Future Imperfect - Cat on a Wire

[Joani]

The two mutants approached the general vicinity of the MIC. The police was trying to regroup and reorganise their defensive perimeter but some Mutants had obviously managed to escape. Most citizen had retreated to their homes leaving the city emptier than it normally would. The Helicopters approached and spread in a wide formation over the horizon. Travis could see they were Military transports and soon recognised them belonging to the National Guard.

His attention was distracted by a loud thudding noise, as if someone was dropping grenades followed by an explosion. Looking down he saw smoke and fog rising in circular patterns – definately a combination of flash-bang and smoke-screen grenades. On second look he saw the huge Blackhammer taking aim with a rifle that was easily a caliber .50 or even larger and then giving off a shot obliterating a bus just across the street.

Felicienne watched the scenery from the edge of neighboring building. Getting closer to the MIC from this point was getting exceedingly difficult since there weren’t much buildings high enough to continue her parkour. The huge ´Mutants´ Travis had identified were indeed some kind of robots but they did move too gracefully, almost like humans to be considered pure machines. A bright flash blinded her temporarily followed by a deafining explosion. The building she was standing on shook as if hit by an earthquake.

Click to reveal..

Please roll Initiative and Perception. Felicienne is at an -5 disadvantage mod for Perception, while Travis only gets a -2 mod.

[Travis Kincaid]

Travis halted, floating the the sky in his dark clothing he surveyed the unfolding scene. Robots, or powered exoskeletons, National Guard helicopters, and the MIC, still roiling and seething like a cauldron ready to explode. He wasn't sure if the National Guard were there to help, or attack, and he'd never even seen whatever the robot things were before; or maybe he had and it had been lost like some much else. He blinked his eyes against the occasional pop of bright light from below and scanned around for something, anything, that would help him make sense of the situation.

Click to reveal..

Initiative! Roll: 20 +6 Modifier = +26

Perception! Roll: 18 +9 Modifier -2 Circumstance Bonus = +25

[Rebekka Van der Vyse]

Felicienne crouched on her heels on the corner of a rooftop, studying the surrounding buildings near the MIC, green eyes bright in the dark, considering how to continue. She would have to take the streets, which offered more concealment, but shorter lines of sight.

She flinched as the nearby explosion assaulted her ears and eyes, adjusting instinctively to the swaying of the building beneath her. Watching the flying robots/Power armour above, then scanning the MIC below, a patchwork of gloom and fiery light, to see if she could figure out what - or who - they were looking, Felicienne began to reassess the reasons for satisfying her curiosity.

Click to reveal..

Initiative Roll: 7 +10 Modifier = +17

Perception Roll: 12 +16 Modifier -5 Circumstance Bonus = +23

[Joani]

Even though the situation had gone fubar and many things were happening simultaneously Travis kept a calm only someone with his training and background could possess. Felicienne remained almost just as calm, only the blinding flash was troubling her a bit more than him. Aside from that he could tell that she was on top of things and pretty much aware of the situation just as him.

From the corner of their eyes they saw someone floating inside the MIC’s main entrance even though that person seemed to try to take advantage from the cover created by the wall of fog which was obviously caused by some kind of grenade.

Said grenade was fired off by something they had never seen before. A huge, easily over 8 feet tall humanoid shaped powered armor suit or maybe even a robot painted entirely in black and carrying something like a supersized Heavy Machine Gun. It actually looked more like an anti-tank-Rifle and it was taking aim at the building on which Felicienne was sitting.

Something told Travis that thing wasn’t alone. If they were military there was surely a wingman of some sorts nearby.

Click to reveal..

You got a fairly good overview of the battlefield. The Blackhammer has probably noticed both of you, it certainly moves like it is aware of your positions. It is aiming at Felicienne and even if it won’t hit her by the size of the gun Travis can safely assume that hitting the building will get Feli into trouble. The screen of smoke blocks line of sight if you are standing on streetlevel, the Blackhammer is right in the middle of that but it obviously isn’t hindered by the smoke. There are no other obvious targets, no police-men, no mutants anywhere near

OOC: Travis' Turn is up. Next is the Blackhammer

[Travis Kincaid]

Travis clenched his fists in irritation. With a gesture he pulled debris up into a sphere of spinning particles, some tiny as peas others far larger, that orbited him, ready into intercept any energy attacks that may have been turned his way. With a thought he rose further into the air, topping out at just below one hundred feet, the extreme short range of his attack. His right hand curled into a claw that concentrated kinetic energy into an invisible bolt of pure power. Travis held still in the air, sacrificing his mobility for extra aim, and targeted a seam between armor plates. With an underhand motion, like he was tossing a ball to a child, Travis sent the blast of kinetic energy at the armored form, the kinetic blot shooting off at speeds faster than a bullet and slamming into the Blackhammer.

Click to reveal..

Free Action: Activating his shield at rank 4 (no V), just in case these guys have energy weapons

Move action: increasing altitude to 100 feet

Standard Action: Lancing the Backhammer with a kinetic blast. Using a +2/-2 All-out attack, and a +2/-2 Power attack. Net change is -2 to active defenses and +2 to damage. Using Rank 4 blast (no V), Damage DC will be 21 (15+4+2).] Roll: 15 +8 Modifier -18 DC = +5 PASS.

Dodge +4, Parry +1

[Joani]

Click to reveal.. (Saving vs. Travis' TK-Blast)

Roll: 3 +12 Modifier -21 DC = -6 FAIL.

Travis‘ blast hit the spot and made the Blackhammer go down to one knee denting the armor plating and splitting off some metal. The hole was solid and about the size of his fist but he could also tell that the Mech-suit was really tough, though. The thing adjusted it’s aim and remained locked with Felicienne – then it fired it’s main weapon with a hollow sounding thud followed by a sound that sounded like an explosion, only that it came much later than the impact of the projectile. This weapon fired high velocity rounds and it’s effect was devastating.

Click to reveal.. (Attacking Felicienne on the rooftop with main weapon. Feli has some cover)

Roll: 18 +6 Modifier -2 Circumstance Bonus -20 DC = +2 PASS.

Travis couldn’t see the projectile, not even its trajectory but he saw where it hit. The part of the roof which Felicienne had peaked over was gone, a huge gaping hole was where she just crouched easily 8 feet in diameter. There was no sign of Felicienne, only dust, smoke and debris.

Click to reveal..

Damage DC for resistance check is 25

[Rebekka Van der Vyse]

Click to reveal.. (Toughness Roll)

Toughness Roll: 1 +4 Modifier -25 DC = -20 FAIL. Um, yeah, that really doesn't work for me.

Toughness ReRoll: 3 +10 for HP +4 Modifier -25 DC = -8 FAIL.

-1 to further Toughness Checks, Dazed until next turn; Luck Use x1

The hyper-velocity round obliterated the corner of the building Felicienne had been crouched on, lacerating her with slivers of brick and support beams, the concussive force throwing the wiry woman through the air. Despite the ringing in her ears and the blooming pain, her body instinctively twisted with impossible grace, righting herself in the air, to land on the smoke-shrouded street in a low, easy crouch.

Felicienne shook her head, the thunder in her ears making every other sound seem distance, her breaths coming in ragged gasps. She could smell her blood seeping through her dark clothing, the dust and smoke in the air, the bitterness of gunmetal and ammunition, Travis somewhere above her, hackles rising at something like a wild animal, a predator nearby, and more...

Her curiosity was duly satisfied. The big robot-men were bad - she didn't care to learn more at the moment. She flexed, skin rippling over hidden muscles, then began to prowl away with eerie fluidity, using the smoke and debris to her advantage, pulling up an instinctive cloak against anyone trying to perceive, as she made her way for the ruined interior of the MIC.

There was still the person inside taking advantage of the cover provide by the Blackhammers. Felicienne decided she'd learn more from that then by providing a target for the Mechwarriors. Travis would be able to take care of himself, she assumed.

Click to reveal.. (Discretion > Valour)

Dazed (Only Free and one Standard Action)
Free Action: Activating Prowling versus All Visual Senses (Concealment: 4 ranks, no Virus roll required)
Required Stealth Roll: 1 +16 Modifier -13 DC = +4 PASS. Barely succeeded! Another bloody 1!!!

Stealth Roll for any other ways of noticing her (Skill Mastery-Taking 10 since the Roller hates me) = 26

Moving at Speed 3 [250 feet/round] (-1 to Speed due to Stealthing and Prowling already included, Half Ranks, no Virus Roll required)

[Joani]

Felicienne managed to land fairly safe inspite of being hit by a deadly projectile. The building was still shaking from the impact and large amounts of debris were raining down on the street. She took advantage of that short confusion and dashed passed the Blackhammer through the dust and wall of fog right into the entrance of the MIC finding immediate cover in the main hall. Her attention was still focused on the immediate threat behind her but as soon as she felt half way secured she noticed that she had to step, almost wade through piles of dead bodies. They were scattered throughout the entire main entry hall both mutants and police men... all dead.

The Blackhammer didn’t show any sign of noticing Feli’s fast escape and instead seemed to acquire it’s next target: Travis.

Click to reveal..

Felicienne may make a perception roll at -2 to assess her situation inside the MIC and pick up the trail of the mysterious person who entered the building.

ooc: Start Combat Turn 2 – Travis is up

[Travis Kincaid]

Travis gaped at the massive damage inflicted. Of Feli there was no sign, for all he knew she had been killed by that sole salvo. Rage filled him. This was pointless, senseless violence at mutants. Just because of a quirk of genetics these armored soldiers, who Travis could only surmise were under direct orders from the government, were attacking and killing mutants with overwhelming firepower. "I can do overwhelming firepower too asshole." Travis reached deep, gritting his teeth against the onslaught of the virus and pulling at the furthest reaches of his power. Twin lances of raw kinetic force crossed the hundred feet between him and the Blackhammer in the blink of an eye. Impacts equivalent to a tank shell of a HEAP rocket slammed into the Blackhammer. Travis sniffed and was shocked to find no blood in his nose, his mouth, no extraneous stiffness in his joints; this time the virus had let him have his vengeance.

Click to reveal..

Attacking the Blackhammer again. Using a +2/-2 All-out attack, and a +2/-2 Power attack. Net change is -2 to active defenses and +2 to damage. Using Rank 8 blast (DC 23 V check), Damage DC will be 25 (15+8+2). Roll: 16 +8 Modifier -18 DC = +6 PASS.

Extra effort to make a second attack.

AGAIN! Attacking the Blackhammer again. Using a +2/-2 All-out attack, and a +2/-2 Power attack. Net change is -2 to active defenses and +2 to damage. Using Rank 8 blast (DC 23 V check), Damage DC will be 25 (15+8+2). Roll: 14 +8 Modifier -18 DC = +4 PASS.

Virus Resist Rolls:

Resist Virus Roll: 14 +10 Modifier -23 DC = +1 PASS.

Resist Virus Roll: 13 +10 Modifier -23 DC = 0 PASS.

Travis is currently Fatigued. Dodge +4, Parry +1

[Joani]

Click to reveal.. (Toughness save vs. Travis' TK-Blast)

Roll: 12 +11 Modifier -25 DC = -2 FAIL.

Click to reveal.. (Toughness save vs. Travis' second TK-Blast)

Roll: 6 +10 Modifier -25 DC = -9 FAIL.

The twin blasts hit the Blackhammer unexpectedly and found home across its massively armored chest. Armor plates got shredded to pieces as the blasts blew cleanly through the armor and left deep gaping wounds in its interiors and electronical systems. The pilot struggled to maintain position as his systems alerted him of several breaches and losses of stabilizers, gyroscopes and minor systems. It raised its left arm and pointed it at Travis firing off a net-like energy field.

Click to reveal.. (Trying to hit Travis with a netline to immobilize him.)

Roll: 5 +14 Modifier -14 DC = +5 PASS.

Click to reveal.. (Dodge, dodge, doge the net!)

Roll: 18 +4 Modifier -16 DC = +6 PASS.

The energy field briefly embraced Travis but didn’t seem to be able to establish the wanted immobilizing effect. Travis managed to shake it off just in time before it could completely ensnare him and it fell off him ineffectively to the ground. Still he could tell that these machines were equipped extremely effective to hunt, capture and kill Mutants…

ooc - next up is Felicienne

[Rebekka Van der Vyse]

Click to reveal.. (Perception Roll)

Roll: 20 +16 Modifier -2 Circumstance Bonus = +34 Booyah! Take that Dice Roller!!!

Heart beginning to slow its frantic hammering, Felicienne padded silently through the destruction of the MIC. Over the reek of dead flesh and voided bowels, the smell of explosives and crushed concrete, Felicienne caught a fresh scent on the air, alive and female. Keeping still and hidden, she stretched, working tensed muscles, teeth gritted in a silent snarl at the lingering pain.

This, this is being all wasteful, wanton. These poor mutants caught in the MIC, they are not deserving this... I will never be allowing myself to be made captive in such a fashion. Never!

Flinching at the sudden staccato sound of doubled concussive blasts coming from above - and glancing over a shoulder, hoping Travis had the good sense to retreat - Felicienne slinked deeper into corpse ridden ruins after her unsuspecting prey. After all this, she planned on getting something for her unwise curiosity.

[Travis Kincaid]

The thing still stood, all sparking electronics and shredded metals, and yet it stood. Travis, even furious, bathed in red rage, still held onto the basics of tactics however. He backed off, rising to just under two hundred feet and unleashed another attack, this time keeping himself moving the whole time, sacrificing accuracy on the alter of a better defense. His blast flew wide smashing concrete into dust and slivers of shrapnel. Blood started to leak from his nose and Travis, nodded, he'd been lucky before, this was more like what he expected.

Click to reveal..

Attacking the Blackhammer. Rank 8 Blast, using Defensive attack +2/-2. Attack down to +6, Dodge at +8, Parry +5. Roll: 5 +6 Modifier -18 DC = -7 FAIL.

V check

Roll: 5 +10 Modifier -23 DC = -8 FAIL.

Injured & Dazed, Dodge at +8, Parry +5

[Joani]

The Blackhammer remained unharmed from Travis‘ next attack but it still looked badly thrashed and black smoke was billowing out of the ´wounds´ he had torn. Major Nowak was cursing as she got more and more messages and reports about system that had failed to work. That mutant was far too powerful, probably a Class IV... or maybe even a V! She checked her systems making sure she had enough footage of the Mutant who was about to rip her suit apart.

A computerized voice reminded her of the obvious next choice. ´Tactical retreat recommended´. She hated tailing like this but she’d had to follow orders and the suit was too valuable to be damaged further or even worse – get destroyed. Her wingman was too far away and their mission required to cover a great deal of the city, which was rather difficult with only 6 units at her disposal. They simply lacked the time to train more Marines to use these suits – something she’d stress on her debriefing.

„Screw me sideways!“, she cursed and took a last look at Travis before she ignited the jets and jumped up picking up speed like a jet-fighter. „Another day, another time I’ll get you, Mutant!“

Click to reveal..

The Blackhammer takes off and picks up speed real quick. If you want to chase it, let me know with your next post, else the immediate threat is gone

Originally Posted By: Grav

Everyone was dead, the entire mission was a wash. Still she couldn't just leave, they'd detonate the collar before she got through.

"Fine I guess I will have to fight." She brought up her barrier, to what she knew was a safe level, and hoped it would be enough.

Grav failed to notice the silently approaching Felicienne who noticed two more scents as she reached the room in which Grav had taken cover. One definitely male scent that was nearby and another female scent that led downstairs.

Click to reveal..

Since Justin is gone till Monday I’m going to autopilot Grav a little.

ooc: Feli’s turn. Blackhammer's turn was dealt with already assuming there would be no intereference with Feli's action. Combat turn end if Travis won't go after the Blackhammer and let it flee.

[Felicity]

Felicity concentrated, nervosity making her breath erratic. Whatever this place, it hadn't seen much fresh air recently, and the atmosphere had a pressure of its own. She didn't move an inch - she was nothing if not obedient and accomodating - but neither could she remain impassive.

Click to reveal.. (Initiative)

Roll: 13 +2 Modifier = +15

In the dim light below, she had no hopes of seeing what was going on, but that wouldn't stop her. Closing her eyes she strained her ears, trying her hardest to catch a sound other than the occasional drip of water.

Click to reveal.. (Trying to figure out what is going on.)

Roll: 11 +10 Modifier -15 DC = +6 PASS.

Certainly she heard some explosions, perhaps twisting metal - she couldn't be sure. But there definitely was a rush, some low humm that rose in power to a distant roar, until it slowly started to fade.

A door opened somewhere, but after that no additional noise came. She couldn't tell if this was good or bad, but silence was a good indicator of trouble being gone.

Click to reveal.. (Concentrating on Special Sense)

Roll: 6 +10 Modifier -15 DC = +1 PASS.

On second thought, she added to herself, trouble's still here. She felt a Spark, something pulsing not too far away - definitely inside the building. She pushed her back against the wall and kept herself on her toes.

"What rabbit hole am I climbing out of now?" she thought.

[Rebekka Van der Vyse]

Staying cautious, Felicienne stayed hidden, keeping a watchful eye on the white-haired woman drifting above the ground, a faint distorting softening her outline. The dead and dying littered the hallway, limp limbs dangling from doorways, smoke and blood staining the air. The woman seemed to be looking for something... or someone.

And she wasn't the only one living left in the MIC. A part of Felicienne's acute awareness noted the presence of a nearby male and a more distant woman a floor below. Now, let us being seeing who is looking for whom, hmmm? And perhaps, they will be voicing their reasons.

Less visible than a shadow, Felicienne prowled along the edge of where the wall and ceiling joined, avoiding the dead bodies, exquisite muscle control, supreme acrobatic ability, and sharp, fine claws carrying her along in absolute silence. Teeth gritted against the lingering pain suffusing her flesh, she followed White-Hair, hoping her curiosity wouldn't cause her too much trouble.

[Joani]

ooc: I effectively end combat turns now. Should Travis want to go after the Blackhammer I will move that into a seperate thread and resolve combat there with him.

As Grav watched the Blackhammer lift off, smoking and billowing with smoke she asked herself for a second if that would somehow influence her "deal" with the General in some negative way. She quickly shook off that idea and refocused on her task - finding Dillinger.

... He found her instead. Felicienne saw a tall handsome man in his late 30s early 40s carefully entering the room, a handgun, 9mm probably taken from the Police, held carefully downwards. Grav seemed oblivious of his presence and he was probably unaware of Felicienne's existence since he offered her his back entirely, without looking back even once.

"You don't look like one of them.", he opened making Grav turn around quickly, poised ready for action. She relaxed somewhat as she saw him but her eyes stayed on his gun.

"You're Dillinger, right?", she asked him.

He nodded briefly, "And you're the Cavalry? They sent one lousy Mutant to pick me up? Who are you? Mary-Sue?"

Grav rolled her eyes before she answered, "Listen, I'm not really thrilled either..."

"Yeah, I suppose. They fitted you already... nice one.", Dillinger remarked as he put the gun away feeling safe for now. He approached her carefully and looked at the collar around her neck which was made of a slick and shiny silvery metal. There was a blue light circle illumination which was difficult to make out how and where it came from.

"So what's the plan?", he asked nonchalantly as he looked out the window to assess the situation.

Click to reveal..

Since Justin isn't back till monday I suggest we don't move thaaat much away from this scene. I know I'm asking some suspense of believe but lets try to be cooperative

Felicity can hear the voices upstairs and follow the conversation.

[Felicity]

As the silence was broken by the voices - Mister Dillinger first, then some unknown woman - Felicity slid herself along the wall to get closer to the door.

Crouching down to maintain as much concealment as possible she listened intently, her ears twitching slightly as she tried to catch as much of the conversation as possible.

The noise outside the building seemed to have died down, and as far as she could tell the situation was tense, but not explosive.

[Travis Kincaid]

"Oh, no! The fuck you don't run from me!" Travis had a split second to act, the armored suit having blasted off improbably quickly. "Watch that first step..." he began, and then plummeted from the sky as he kicked off his flight and put all his power into telekinetic strength. His grasp was instantaneous but even with all his strength directed toward the grapple the armoered exoskeleton broke his grip like it wasn't there. "...it's a doozy." Travis slammed into the ground at near terminal velocity, a deafening crash echoing in the area as the concrete and pavement exploded away from the impact. "FUCKING COWARD!!!" Travis yelled into the night sky, lying in the rubble strewn crater of his landing.

Click to reveal..

Telekinetic grapple. No attack roll needed (perception range).

Grapple check Roll: 14 +8 Modifier = +22 opposed by strength or dodge of target Roll: 19 +12 Modifier = +31

Resist the V Roll: 17 +10 Modifier -23 DC = +4 PASS.

Cond: Fatigued, injured, and really ticked off

[Grav]

"They didn't give me much of a choice." She looked to Dillinger and nodded.

"Do you have anything else you need here in the MIC, anything we need to retrieve?"

She looked around. "If not then we leave, quickly and quietly. I can get us 32km away without pushing hard, and 500 km if I had to, though that would be extreme."

Her tone suggested annoyance, and resignation.

[Joani]

Dillinger briefly evaluated Grav's words and then shook his head. "You a teleporter? I'm not going to teleport, we do this the old fashioned way. Besides, we won't travel alone, the package is too valuable to be transported like this.", he looked at Grav and his initial nice attitude shifted a little.

"Damnit, Grimes should've known I won't do this shit. Idiot!", he cursed as he drew the gun again as if thinking was easier when he held it in his hand.

"We let her decide, that's it!", he suddenly realized how to get out of this mess as he nodded to Grav. "Let me get her, you stay here and keep your head low."

Dillinger tugged the gun back and left the room to get Felicity.

Click to reveal..

Giving you guys room and chance to intervene or keep on watching, whatever you want to do.

Travis will get up when most of the dust and debris has settled. You're alone outside.

Felicienne - you pretty much saw and heard everything that happened inside.

Felicity - Dillinger will ask you to come with him upstairs. You can post that part if you choose to do so.

[Felicity]

Felicity had pressed herself flat against the wall when footsteps approached the door. She wasn't surprised when Mr. Dillinger opened the door. He had a strange look in his eyes, haunted yet relieved. He spied into the darkness for a second or two, allowing his eyes to adjust to the dark, then smiled as he saw Felicity's attempts at concealment.

"Now it's safe," he said, putting emphasis on the first word,"I'd like you to come upstairs. There's someone here to meet, and some things to discuss." It was just like Mr. Dillinger to say just enough to make her feel safe, and leave enough in the dark to keep her interested.

Upstairs was chaos - the building seemed like it had been gutted, and Felicity couldn't make heads or tails what this building could be, or what its purpose was. She didn't have to have any special gifts to know that people died badly here, and the smell overpowered her.

Mr. Dillinger led her past the worst, she could notice the subtle guidance where he influenced where she went, a slight tug on the shoulder or making full use of her reliance on his presence to feel safe.

Quickly they arrived at their destination, where the woman he had been talking to was standing. She felt small here, in this corpse of a building, her slight form chilled by the wind gulped up by such vacant space.

With her amber eyes she saw what appeared to her the remains of a battlefield, the vestiges of rampant energies quickly dwindling now that those who controlled them had deceased.

She sighed for a moment, then recomposed herself."Alright," Felicity piped up, her clear high-pitched voice wavering slightly under the stress of her new-found situation,"I am here, now what?"

[Rebekka Van der Vyse]

Her patient curiosity was being rewarded, Felicienne mused, as she continued her observation of the proceedings. It seemed the white-haired woman was sent to retrieve the slender, Asian beauty. Indeed, she was getting the sense the entire disaster surrounding the MIC may have had something to do with this woman and she noted the incongruity of the metallic collar White-Hair was wearing. That is not merely for identification, I am thinking. Perhaps a leash of a sort?

She inhaled deep, ignoring the odor of the dead, as she gathered the scents of these clandestine players for later reference. The acrid stench of explosives arose from the collar, explaining White-Hair's dissatisfied expression. A leash indeed, a most dangerous leash.

Felicienne's ear twitched at the resounding crash and loud profanity issuing from outside. It is sounding as if Travis, he is being relatively okay, if not more than a little furious. The kittenish woman cocked her head - she could no longer hear the whirring of the Powered-Armor's mechanical components, nor the loud thrum of it flight system.

Barely giving a moment to consideration, Felicienne slipped out of the MIC, keeping her ears tuned to the conversation between the two woman and one man as she let her nose guide her to Travis. She found Travis sitting up in a Travis-shaped pothole, a furious expression on his handsome face as he brushed crushed concrete from his chest and legs.

"Oh, it is good to see you are well, Travis, mostly well," Feli murmured softly, crouching behind to bring her lips close to his ear and dropping her preternatural concealment.

Travis jumped in surprise, throwing himself forward and twisting around, rubble rising up threateningly under telekinetic power. When he saw who it was, the rubble dropped back to the ground.

"Feli? You're alive!" Travis exclaimed in relieved surprise.

"Alive? Of course, why would I not be alive?" Felicienne replied, brows furrowed in puzzlement. The puzzlement faded quickly under renewed wariness, Felicienne glancing back at the ruined MIC, making shushing motions with her hands as she glided up to Travis.

"Doucement, Travis," Felicienne implored in a low voice. "Inside, there are being three people who are still alive. The Asian woman with blond hair and amber eyes, I am thinking, she is the reason for the attack on the MIC. The man, he is a sort of keeper or guardian, perhaps, and there is another woman, white-haired who has been sent to retrieve them, under the cover of the distraction provided by these robotically armored soldiers."

Felicienne frowned. "The White-Hair, she is being coerced. She is wearing a collar about her throat." She pulled her green eyes off the MIC and faced Travis directly. "The collar, it has the scent of explosives about it." She noticed Travis' lingering, surprised, wide-eyed expression and straightened, looking down at herself. Admittedly, her dark clothing was speckled with slivers and blood, but it wasn't that bad.

"Qu'est-ce que c'est? What is being the problem, Travis? This, it is looking much the worst than what it is, I assure you."

[Grav]

Anna stood and waited. "Hurry up. I'm not particularly comfortable in the charnel house that this place has become as of late."

She shook her head. "I'm uncomfortable with this whole situation."

She waited, watching the roof and the doors, and idly traced the collar with a finger.

"Damn."

[Travis Kincaid]

Travis had lain in the dust and shattered stone for a minute or two before finally sitting up. He was, for the moment, filled with the kind of impotent rage that followed when an enemy fled the field of battle. He was dusting himself off when Feli whispered into his ear. He was in the air ten feet away with a kinetic blast at the ready before he saw her for who she was. He released his power with a nearly audible pop and settled onto the ground once more.

...

"I though you were dead! That thing blasted that building a new asshole and you disappeared." Travis wasn't sure if he wanted to hug her or slap her, he sufficed by fidgeting with his dust covered jacket, "Anyway, that suit bugged out when I started to tear into it. Army doesn't make them as brave as they used to I think."

[Rebekka Van der Vyse]

"You are thinking me dead? Pfft! Nine lives, no?" Felicienne boasted, arching a dark brow and tapping herself between the breasts with a long nailed finger. The bravado was slightly lessened by the wince tightening the corners of her large eyes.

"That blast, it is throwing me clear of the building, but I am landing on the ground on the far side, being none the worst to wear," she admitted. Feicienne turned to look in the way Travis had nodded, though the Blackhammer was beyond even her sight to see. "I am being glad you are well - I am knowing you would be - and that... thing, it is being gone."

She faced Travis once more, frowning and pointed her chin at the remains of the MIC, her expression growing serious. "I am thinking, it is leaving because it is already doing what it is it came here to do. Before the smoke it lay down covered everything, I am seeing a woman enter the MIC. I am thinking the woman is the White-Hair woman - I followed her scent. And she is here for the other woman."

Her ear twitched, listening to anything being said inside, then arched another brow as she crouched, poised to enter the MIC once more. Her limbs shimmered, taking on the pattern of rubble beneath her. "Shall we see if we can be finding out why this woman is being so important?"

[Travis Kincaid]

"What White-Hair woman?" Travis ran his fingers through his hair and then sneezed at the dust dislodged. "What blonde Asian for that matter? I'm a little confused here." She repeated the story quickly, and Travis nodded. Looking up at the fading contrail of the departed battlesuit he sighed. "OK, yeah, if those motherfuckers came here to get this woman, I feel a very compelling drive to ruin their plans. Let's go."

Travis dropped into a low profile crouch and then rose half a dozen inches off the ground and glided into the MIC as silent as the grave. Felicienne was initially amused until she realized just how effective his technique was, he avoided the crumbling rubble and the shattered concrete that covered the ground, moving silently with ease and at speed. He paused at the corner of a nearby building, straining in the darkness to see inside the former detainment center. Looking back at Feli he waved her over. "I can't see for shit, can you take the lead?"

Click to reveal.. (Stealth check)

Roll: 16 +9 Modifier +2 Circumstance Bonus = +27

[Joani]

Dillinger obviously tried to keep Felicity guarded and saved. Part of him was always half covering her and he was constantly observing Grav for any wrong move she might make.

"So they sent only you? I suppose your mission was to infiltrate the MIC and find us, then get us out of here?", he chuckled briefly.

"That idiot, Grimes.", he cursed and added a suppressed, "Fool!" as he drove one hand through his hair.

"Let me see, everyone's dead here except for us - that blast earlier, was that some kind of EMP? There was an explosion just a second afterwards, made the whole building shake, we fled into one of the detention cells, when I got out everyone was dead.", he walked to one of the dead Mutant corpses and lifted it up a little, uprighting the upperbody just high enough to show Grav something.

"See, no gunshots or anything. They were killed by something entirely different, my guess is a Mutant Power, or something that triggered Mutant Powers. You see how the corpses are sprawled randomly over the floor, as if they were hit by surprise. Looks like one of Grime's newest toys if you ask me.", he dropped the corpse without giving it a second look.

"You got a working transport? A Van or something?", Dillinger's eyes were watching Grav while he kept his vigilant guard over Felicity.

[Felicity]

As Mr. Dillinger recounted his story and emphatically stressed what must have occurred at this place, Felicity seemed only half-present. During the entire time, her amber eyes didn't blink once, lazily observing one section of the room after another.

She wholly accepted Mr. Dillinger's recounting of events, although she couldn't quite place his sudden burst of outrage.

She then pointed one finger at Grav. "I think this lady wanted to use her power as transportation. Why would she have a van?"

[Grav]

"No I do not, Mr. Dillinger. I rode here in the passenger compartment of a Blackhammer and was dropped off and told to meet with you."

She shook her head. "Now you say you want to leave and I can facilitate that but you will have to trust me."

She looked to Felicity. "Yes, that's correct." She waved her hand and a portal roughly five feet across appeared, showing the desert roughly thirty kilometers away.

"In truth I arrived in the company of others, but for whatever reason, they aren't here anymore. Thus I suggest we go as I can take us. Unless you want to see whatever made Blackhammers vacate the area. I for one do not."

[Rebekka Van der Vyse]

"Follow," Felicienne murmured, gaving Travis a nod, then gliding ahead of him. Though her she had to navigate the rubble on her own two feet, if anything, she made even less sound than the Telekinetic Man, and wasn't much slower. Dressed in black, she was a barely discernible shape ahead of him, only the pale hand she held out behind her giving Travis something to focus on, something to direct him.

Felicienne flowed back in the MIC the way she had just come, the man's words making her look at the dead bodies anew, her eyesight not impeded by the darkness. They did look uninjured, and scattered randomly about.

Glad Travis could fly and she didn't have to worry about him stumbling over a body, Felicienne quickly led him to a hallway perpendicular to the one the others were standing in. She held her hand flat, silently telling Travis to stop, then extended a finger, hoping he would understand than she wanted him to give her a minute. Regardless, a second later, her hand and the rest of her stealth figured blurred into invisibility.

Felicienne prowled around the corner, crouched low, and froze, seeing the hole hanging freely in the air, showing a scene of a desert landscape. And it was more than a mere image - she could feel a soft, dry wind flow through it, could hear the soft rasp of blowing sand, her sensitive nose picking up the distinct scent of the desert, with a faint undercurrent of city stint. She couldn't be positive it was Mojave, but she thought it likely.

Felicienne did not dither and slipped back to Travis, who was inching ever closer with his flight-boosted stealth. His first awareness of his shapely companion was an intimate touch on his waist, the prickle of her nails on his flesh. He could feel her breath on his ear, her voice a bare whisper.

"White-hair, she is making a... hole, a portal to the desert. Mutant power escape plan. Very convenient." Travis could hear a speculative tone in her husky voice. "If we wish to follow, we are needing to be quick. And I am thinking, for you at least, subtlety, it is not being a valid option."

[Felicity]

Felicity looked at the portal, her eyes widening. "But we don't have water, or anything else to survive in the desert. We'd need to be out of there very soon again, or we need another destination...so where are we going? And what are we running from?"

Click to reveal.. (Perception check for sensing Travis and Felicienne)

Roll: 10 +10 Modifier = +20

Not enough to notice Travis or Felicienne with any "regular senses". Felicienne is not detected by this at all.

She felt a tug at the back of her head, and her eyes were drawn towards a single manifestation of power approaching just at the far range of her senses. It was powerful but spiky, like a high-octane car.

She then turned to Mr. Dillinger, one eyebrow quirked slightly. "It is safe to assume that whoever did this is no longer here. Any Mutants who had been here are either dead or have removed themselves. That puts any Mutants at the scene currently in the same situation, correct?"

[Joani]

Dillinger shook his head trying not to sound angry when he answered Grav, "No Portals or Teleports, I don't trust you enough to let you decide where we go. A transport, just like I said, something I can drive, understood?", he brushed a loose strand out of his face and double checked his gun again before he put it away.

Then he smiled at Felicity and nodded, "Aye, my love. We're all in the same boat but now we have to leave.", then he furrowed his brows putting a hand on the young asians shoulder.

"Do you sense anything? Is someone still alive?"

[Grav]

"Fine. Just remember this could have been so much easier." The portal closes and the white haired mutant sighs. "Let's get moving then."

Knowing she had no choice, she lead the way out of the building, back into the main yard where hopefully she'd find some way to satisify the untrusting prick currently overcomplicating things for them all.

I swear if I end up dying because of you, you're gonna come along with me bastard.

[Felicity]

Felicity nodded to Mr. Dillinger, and she hissed after Grav. "We're not alone, Lady. Whoever's coming is no pushover - it's a Mutant as powerful as you are."

She then turned to Mr. Dillinger. "Charged to the brim, ready for anything - but not moving very fast. This Mutant's cautious, probably looking for answers, not a fight."

[Travis Kincaid]

"We've been made," Travis whispered to Felicienne. He moved closer the room, close to the trio and readied himself to unleash hell. At the first sign of hostility his shield would snap into place, there was plenty enough rubble around to do the job, and a blast of kinetic energy was already ready to throw. Travis wasn't looking to kill anybody, and by the sound of it at least two of them were fellow mutants anyways, and apparently one of them could sense the strength of his mutation, a rare ability indeed. In his haste to gain a better vantage point Travis skimmed a wall, setting dust and broken wallboard to falling, the noise was slight, and they already knew that he and Feli were present, but he winced just the same.

Click to reveal.. (Stealth check, moving closer, trying to gain LOS.)

Roll: 2 +9 Modifier +2 Circumstance Bonus = +13

Readied actions, shield and TK Blast

[Felicity]

Slowly turning along with the approaching Mutant, Felicity felt a slight knot in her stomach - she hoped with all her might her assessment of the newcomer had been correct. Nonetheless, she prepared herself mentally.

Click to reveal..

Felicity readies an action to intervene if the Mutant approaching uses hostile powers with a targeted Interdiction.

Hoping to sound at least somewhat confident, she called out into the hall, where she last spotted the Mutant moving. "Who's out there? Show yourself, we don't mean to start up trouble."

[Joani]

Dillinger drew his weapon and protectively positioned himself infront of Felicity while he nodded at Grav to take a position on the other side so she was covered from sight by anyone approaching their position.

Travis could hear the telltale sound of someone removing the lock of his handgun and he was very well aware of the tension in the air. This could go awefully wrong if handled prematurely.

Dillinger made a move forward, not aggresively but determined and pointed the gun in Travis direction. "Who are you?", he demanded to know and Travis could tell in his eyes that this man would shoot if necessary, he wouldn't hesitate which was a sure indicator that this man was trained - maybe a former soldier - or worse, some organisation - AEGIS for example.

Click to reveal..

If actions lead to combat I will ask for Initiatives - till then lets resolve this via RPing. Dillinger won't risk putting Felicity in danger

[Travis Kincaid]

Travis stood and glided into the room silently. "I'm the guy who's getting pretty sick of people taking mutants hostage and killing the ones that they don't want. Who the fuck are you?" Travis' arms were crossed and he floated in the air in apparent relaxation. He looked at the man's gun for a moment, and then dismissed the firearm as an inconsequential threat. "Are you two ladies alright?" he asked before seeing the collar around one of their necks. "What is that?" he asked, pointing.

[Rebekka Van der Vyse]

As Travis glided out into the hall, Felicienne took the opportunity to fade back into her surroundings. Soundlessly, she scaled the cracked wall, then crawled along the ceiling. She stopped right above the trio, ready to pounce if things went to hell. Travis wasn't the only getting sick with mutants getting accosted for no reason other than being mutants.

Her sharp, white teeth were bared in a tight grin, green eyes intently watching the man and two women, trying to determine which of them was the most dangerous. They all smelled of mutant, but that was as far as she could determine.

[Grav]

Already Exposed, Grav tensed slightly. This was one of the mutants she was told to avoid. She was trapped by the collar, and because Dillinger was an idiot. She looked at him and her amber gaze smoldered. We could have avoided this, you ass, if you'd let me do this my way.

"No one is a hostage here, and we were just leaving. As far as I've been able to Ascertain, we're all fine, thank you for your concern."

She ignored his question about the collar. Now was not the time for it.