Mutants & Masterminds: Future Imperfect - Cat on a Wire

[Felicity]

Felicity observed the person floating in mid-air for a second, wondering a bit what good the Valiant impersonation would do for him. She concluded that it must allow him to keep an eye on his surroundings, before returning to matters at hand.

She didn't really like this tense atmosphere, and the idea was slowly dawning on her that if everybody kept delaying everybody else, there'd be a problem.

"Can't we all just find a safe place, not in plain sight, where we also don't have to make a four-mile desert hike to get back? We can then discuss things in a more peaceful atmosphere, neutral ground, and so on,.."

Her voice trailed off a bit at the end and her lips closed in a bit of a pout as she considered that the others might not be in agreement with all of this.

[Joani]

„That.“, Dillinger spoke as he put his gun away, „is a nullifyier collar. Renders you mutants ineffective. As long as the light is blue everything is fine. Should it turn red...“, Dillinger looked at Grav and gave her a lopsided smile.

„Well lets just hope that won’t happen. It is also stuffed with explosives – I guess someone was watching too much Running Man back in the days.“, Dillinger made sure to stay in front of Felicity still covering her mostly with his body from any possible attack Travis might produce from his sleeves.

„So you call the shots now?“, he nodded at Travis, „We shouldn’t stay here, hard to tell when the Blackhammers will come back, or worse one of the Extractors. You guys have a car or a Van? We need to get out of town, pronto.“

[Travis Kincaid]

Travis surged forward, his feet crunching on the debris strewn floor as he dropped the few inches to the floor. His fist connected squarely with Dillinger's face, a thwack of flesh and bone on flesh and bone. Dillinger stumbled and fell down landing hard on his ass. "Fuck you! You make a joke like that and I will RIP. YOUR FUCKING HEAD. OFF!" Travis ignored the pain in his fist, the skin on his second knuckle had split and bled slowly, dripping crimson ichor to the floor.

He took a deep breath and then looked at the two women, one was obviously a mutant, but the other wasn't wearing a collar, and didn't appear to have any physical mutations. "Who put that on you?" he asked the white haired woman.

[Grav]

"I did." She looked him right in the eyes as she said it. "Faced with a half dozen blackhammers with weapons trained and locked on me at the time, it seemed to be a more intelligent decision."

"I'm not particularly happy with the arrangement, but there's alot more going on than anyone here save the man you just laid out knows."

[Rebekka Van der Vyse]

Felicienne's grin twisted into an affronted smirk. White-hair's claim of not being a hostage carried little weight with her wearing an explosive collar, despite claiming to have put it on herself. Travis didn't seem to like the man's tone anymore than she did either, and was far more... expressive with his dislike, punching him in the face.

Travis could just make out a rippling, shimmer in the air behind the man and two women as Felicienne dropped to the ground with soundless grace. The stunning, athletic woman let her superhuman prowling cloak lapse, lounging on her feet with deceptive casualness, ready to pounce.

"These Blackhammers, they are being the robot-armour things, yes?" Felicienne purred from behind Grav, tilting her head slightly at Travis, telling him she had his back, at least for now. She did possess a streak of fickleness.

"Pfft! If you are not liking this arrangement, then change it. I may be willing to attempt removing that potentially destructive neck piece... provided you are explaining more of the situation." She languidly waved a hand at the man sitting on his ass, her sharp nails flashing in the flickering light. "If he is objecting strenuously, I am being more inclined to do so."

[Felicity]

Felicity only barely managed to avoid Dillinger's rapid descent to the floor when Travis' fist connected with his jaw. She wobbled for a bit, now squarely beyond Dillinger's direct body cover.

More exposed to the eye, it was obvious that the petite Asian girl was wearing clothes at least ten years out of date, and had the slim but unimpressive physical build expected of someone whose body couldn't decide between being fifteen or twenty-five.

Her eyes widened in shock the split second after she realised what had happened, and dropped to the side of the semi-prone Dillinger.

"Mister Dillinger, are you alright?"

Her body shook ever so slightly at her own impotence, and she seemed to want to say something, until Felicienne dropped out of her sightless, soundless facade. Her eyes clung to the attractive woman for a few seconds, as her mouth fell open in shock.

Her mind raced on the realization that she hadn't noticed the woman because of the huge target Travis had been to her senses. She had failed Mr. Dillinger in so many ways now...

[Travis Kincaid]

Travis scowled at the other woman as she fawned over Dillinger. He shook his head, he didn't know the whole story; not yet. "Those suits eh? Yeah, I can kinda understand that, I was shocked how much punishment it took before fleeing." Travis thought quickly, then asked, "Who's behind those things? That kind of tech is bleeding edge, gotta be a major corp or somebody's military."

[Joani]

Dillinger moaned and refrained from any attempt at standing up. Travis almost knocked him out and he still had trouble focusing but he did hear Travis‘ questions.

„They are military... our military to be precise and designed to contain the so called Mutant threat.“, Dillinger looked at Felicity and slowly nodded at her trying to give her a comforting smile.

„I’m fine.“, he whispered to her and sat up still rubbing his jaw and tasting blood in his mouth.

„I’m not sure if I deserved that but I’ll let it be for now. You should be more worried about the Extractors, though. You won’t see those coming for your ass.“, Dillinger coughed wiping away some blood.

„I don’t mean to bore you with my petty concerns, but we should really go now – those guys don’t take a break.“

[Grav]

"Dillinger." Grav speared him with her amber gaze. "Is this collar a locator as well?"

"If we run, they'll find us if I go with you if it is. If that's the case then I'll stay here, and make my own way back."

She looked at the others. "There's no need for any of you to risk all our lives trying to remove the collar, not when getting out of here is something we need to do first."

She didn't know what the Extractors were, but if it came down to her staying, and the others leaving she was fine with it.

[Travis Kincaid]

Travis' eyes narrowed dangerously, "You deserved worse. I don't take kindly to people abusing my fellow mutants, and that extends to assholes making jokes about the same. Got it fucktard?" Travis looked at his hand, flexed it, the knuckles cracking as he worked the pain out of it. The impact of his punch had actually hurt a little, and his skin was split. Damned virus. Maybe I was luckier than I though in that little scuffle outside. "If you want to get going quickly then I suggest you explain what an extractor is and why you fear them so much."

[Rebekka Van der Vyse]

Felicienne gave Dillinger a scathing look of disgust. It seemed more than a little hypocritical to her that Dillinger was perfectly willing to take help that was coerced, while running around with another mutant, collar-free. Still, lingering here was just asking to get caught.

"I suggest lingering here, it is going to get us caught, no?" Felicienne commented. "Begin heading for the breach we entered by, Travis, I will look for us a path that is clear and unwatched."

Felicienne began to slink away, her appearance blurring as she flexed a mental muscle, pulling upon her superhuman ability to conceal herself. Just before fading into total invisibility and turning a corner, they could see the blurred void pause. "Oh, and perhaps, Travis, you are asking why we should be helping this Dillinger, When it appears he is working with the Blackhammers and those who would place explosive collars around a mutant's neck, hmm?"

And then she was gone... or was she?

[Felicity]

Felicity decided that the beautiful woman was right, and that no one was getting anywhere unless they started to get moving. Whatever it was the others were talking about, it all seemed very mysterious. While she seethed inwardly at the lack of trust the others had in Mr. Dillinger, she understood that they were not at fault - they didn't really know him like she did...

She began to set out towards the hole where their reluctant scout had gone, calling out behind her:  "Best to get moving then, we can sort things out later, including the collar. I don't think it's wise for anyone to stay behind, at all."

[Joani]

Originally Posted By: Grav

"Dillinger." Grav speared him with her amber gaze. "Is this collar a locator as well?"

"Yes, but only Grimes has the necessary hardware to track them. He wouldn't give that away to anyone else."

Originally Posted By: Travis Kincaid

Travis' eyes narrowed dangerously, "You deserved worse. I don't take kindly to people abusing my fellow mutants, and that extends to assholes making jokes about the same. Got it fucktard?" Travis looked at his hand, flexed it, the knuckles cracking as he worked the pain out of it. The impact of his punch had actually hurt a little, and his skin was split. Damned virus. Maybe I was luckier than I though in that little scuffle outside. "If you want to get going quickly then I suggest you explain what an extractor is and why you fear them so much."

Dillinger was still rubbing his jaw and gave Travis a lopsided smile. „Hey, we’re all in the same boat here friend. I’m sorry I didn’t flash you my Mutant Registration ID right away when I saw you – maybe I should just pin it on my jacket so everyone can make me out as a clear target?“

„Anyway – Extractors are elite soldiers – specialised in fighting Mutants and neutralizing them. You’re lucky if they are just out to capture you. I don’t want to run into them and I’m sure they are already on their way since the Blackhammer’s just create the diversion for the Extractors to strike. Isn’t it wonderful what our Military is capable of?“

Felicienne’s suggestion was very welcomed and Dillinger simply nodded in her direction while he put a hand on Felicity’s slender shoulder. „My only concern is to get her to safety. Maybe I got something I can give you in return? If we are lucky I could find a way to get off that collar, too. But I lack the necessary tools right now... I know trust is a difficult matter – you have to decide if it is worth the risk. Ask her if you have your doubts. I am taking nobody as prisoner. White-hair here came looking for me, not the other way around. The girl is under my protection, she is not my prisoner.“

As soon as Felicienne got out of the building she saw several shadowy figures, very similar to her own camouflage ability setting themselves up on the roofs of the buildings just across. At first sight she could count 6 but maybe there were even more...

[Grav]

"I thought as much."

She looked at the others Resolutely. " Anywhere we go, they'll find us. All of you go, I'll stay and keep them busy."

[Joani]

"That won't change much, Doll. Grimes sent you; he wants to know where his toys are. I'm going to a place he knows anyway - He just doesn't know what I'm going to do. You've got to trust me on this one. If he sent you to pick me up he made one mistake and that may be our chance of getting back at him.", he pondered his next thoughts for a second.

"You said you can teleport? All of us, right? Mind if I borrow that handy little gift of yours?"

[Grav]

She nodded. "If it gets us out of here without getting shot at, then go for it."

She hoped that whatever he was going to do wasn't a permanent thing, and steeled herself for whatever Dillinger was going to do.

[Travis Kincaid]

"Control collars rigged to blow off peoples' heads. Power armored soldiers. Exterminations squads. What next?" Travis shook his head. Looking at Felicity he asked, "Is all that true? He's protecting you, and you are not being compelled or controlled?" The woman didn't get a chance to reply before Travis held up a hand, "Quiet, listen." Distantly he heard movement from outside, he knew Feli didn't make that much noise unless she wanted to, or was made to. "I think your Extractors are here, or getting close. If you're going to do something, do it now."

Click to reveal.. (perception check to hear the extractors)

Roll: 18 +9 Modifier -20 DC = +7 PASS.

[Rebekka Van der Vyse]

Felicienne silently snarled at the figures beginning to encircle the compound, cutting off clear routes of escape, and slipped silently back into the MIC. Incredibly acute hearing catching the last few comments by Dillinger, Grav, and Travis, the cat-burglar faded into view right next to the group, giving the Blond Telekinetic a sharp nod.

"The Extractors, they are being here. I am assuming those people who are approaching under stealth are being them," Felicienne informed them. "I am not doubting my capabilities of escaping their net, but I am thinking it is being more difficult for the rest of you, unless... You are having another way out, no?"

[Felicity]

Felicity arched her delicate brow at hearing the bad news, still not quite sure how all this went pear-shaped so quickly. She focused her attention at the way outside, trying to sense if any of the approaching shapes happened to be Mutants.

Just because they hunt Mutants she thought to herself doesn't mean they can't be Mutants themselves...

Click to reveal.. (Check to scan for Mutants approaching)

Roll: 9 +10 Modifier = +19

With some agitation in her voice, so like that of an 80's TV show's significant other, she added:  "Mister Dillinger is on it, we should be fine."  And turning slightly to Travis:  "And no, I am not coerced or a captive"

Looking around, Felicity started to look for places that could provide cover. We might need to buy them both some time... she didn't like the prospect of that.

[Joani]

"Actually I do.", Dillinger answered Felicienne his eyes seizing her admirable figure which made him smile since he liked what he saw.

Then he focused his concentration on Grav again. "This won't hurt but it'll feel... sickening maybe. You won't be able to use your powers for a while, hopefully we'll be safe before things get worse."

He reached out to touch Grav and the moment he made contact with her she felt how he sucked the source of her power out of her. There was a moment of fear and doubt but she felt it was too late to protest, she had lost her ability to access her powers - they were effectively gone.

"Wow... nice...", he smiled again looking at her. His hair changed taking the same white color as hers did and he stepped back as if he had taken a drink too many.

"You're a Class Five... I should've known.", he supressed a laugh and raised his hand in a very similar gesture as she did earlier opening a portal which led into a parking lot near a gas station. It looked like any ordinary gas station, but Grav knew it couldn't be much further out than 30 miles.

"Apres vouz?", he gestured towards the portal enjoying the power he wielded for the moment.

Click to reveal..

Granting Grav 1 HP for playing along without resisting I will inform you when your powers return

[Travis Kincaid]

"Energy weapons?" Travis asked, his eyes searching for what he knew he wouldn't be able to see.

"What?" The question came from multiple sources.

"These extractors, do they use energy weapons? Lasers, ion beams, particle weapons, flame throwers? Or just conventional weapons?" Travis asked, shooting an irritated glance at Dillinger.

"Uh, assault weapons. Why?" he said as he tried to usher the three women through the portal.

"All of you go, now, I'll cover us and go through last. Ballistics aren't anything I need to fear." Travis spared another glance behind him at the others, "Go damnit! The faster you all go, the faster I'll follow."

Turning away, his eyes still scanning futilely for the Extractors, Travis began to concentrate. He reached out to the kinetic energy in the surrounding area. At first he could only feel his own kinetic field, but as he concentrated he could feel the movements of the others behind him, and, further out, the movements of other beings, other movement, the rats scurrying through the shattered walls, the footsteps of the optically clad extractors, the crumbling of broken concrete as it contracted in the cool night air and succumbed to the damage it had taken from the earlier attacks.

"Bring it on you little bitches. I'll fucking destroy you," Travis whispered to nobody in particular, his eyes narrowed, and his teeth bared in a violent grin.

Click to reveal..

Extra Effort - Power Stunt (spending a HP to negate the extra effort )

Kinetic Sense: Ranged, Radius, Accurate Detect Motion/Kinetic Energy (Mental Sense) (5 pp)

Status: Fatigued, injured (from prior combat)

General Perception check: Roll: 13 +9 Modifier = +22

[Rebekka Van der Vyse]

Felicienne gave Grav and Dillinger a pair of wary looks. A Class Five mutant and another mutant who could steal powers. She also noted Dillinger's admiring glance, but besides the fact Travis was still there, she wasn't in heat, so hardly cared.

Knowing Travis had resisted the assault of the Blackhammer, and figuring he would be able to resist the Extractors just as well, Felicienne gave him a nod and a small smirk, then peeked through the portal stealthily, the scent of gas and exhaust assailing her nostrils. When she found the coast clear, or at least no one looking their way, she waved at the others, then padded through the portal with eerie grace.

She kept her face down, partially concealed behind a curtain of midnight hair. Just because she stepped through a hole in the air, that didn't necessarily make her a mutant. She would rather keep her status as one unknown to the world at large. But she had the unique muscle that activated her cloak poised to flex.

[Felicity]

Felicity admired Travis' guts, despite the fact that he had laid a hand on Mr. Dillinger. She didn't have any incling as to what Extractors really were any more than the others - except Mr. Dillinger - but she was glad that the consensus was reached to get out of this place in any case.

She hurried after the pretty woman with the French accent through the teleportation portal, her mind racing to consider all the possible things that could go wrong back in the building they just left.

Instinctively, her mind wandered, mentally adding up what she had learned of the nearby Mutants. If things would go wrong, a ready support plan might save the day, she hoped.

[Joani]

Click to reveal.. (Opposed Check vs. Travis' Perception)

Roll: 18 +8 Modifier -22 DC = +4 PASS.

Travis concentrated and focused on the kinetic energies in the immediate surrounding. Once he got a feeling of the area he slowly extended his awareness until he sensed something out of the ordinary.

For a moment there seemed to be nothing but then he felt something moving which was far closer than he suspected at first. He had closed his eyes to concentrate and was surprised to ´see´ someone approaching the building from the roof in a professional manner. Within seconds he realised that they were surrounded by a number between 6 to 12 people, all similarly in shape and ´type´ of movement – like an elite unit – most likely the Extractors Dillinger was talking about.

Knowing the Portal was just behind him he waited a few more seconds before he shot a telekinetic blast down the main corridor hitting the first Extractor to enter the building square on the chest and lifting him off his feet. He had little time to register if he had wounded his target but at least they’d be more cautious now to advance. Travis stepped through the portal and Dillinger instantly shut it, once he was on the other side.

„Welcome to the Great Basin Highway 93 – god I’m starving, anyone want a snack?“, Dillinger announced and nodded towards the Diner next to the Gas Station.

Click to reveal..

Sorry Felicity – I totally overlooked your Mutant-Sense thingy. There were no other Mutants around the MIC aside from those you phyiscally saw. Sorry for this slip on my behalf.

[Grav]

Bereft of all her powers, Annalise felt sick to her stomach, and more, she felt normal. The last time that had been the case was when she was twelve, before flight and everything else she could do manifested. "Tell the world why don't you?" She looked at Dillinger as he related the truth only she'd previously known.

She walked through the portal, still fighting Nausea from Dillinger's effects. "Keep going Dillinger, The safe allowable range per gate is sixty miles. We need to get further away, before they regroup."

She was hungry, but she didn't trust her abiility to keep anything down at the moment. "Maybe some water, but no food. I don't trust my stomach right now..."

She was little better than a normal human now, and a part of her reveled in it, the other part missed the ability to defend herself.

[Travis Kincaid]

"Food can wait. We need to get that ... that thing off of her first. Then we can get rid of it and let your boyfriends chase a ghost for a while." Travis was clearly speaking to Dillinger. His tone was less adversarial than before, but far from friendly. "And once we're far away from that device, you had better explain what the hell is going on, because you clearly know a lot more than you've said so far, and more than the rest of us are aware of."

[Rebekka Van der Vyse]

"Then let us being seeing about removing the collar," Felicienne said coolly, patting her close-fitting pack strapped to her back, holding her tools to circumnavigate security systems and various locks. She glanced at the Gas Station, specifically at an eighteen-wheeler gassing up, a smirk gracing her lips. "There are being many places we can set it on its way."

She glided smoothly to Grav's side, keeping her between herself and Dillinger and casually peered at the collar, trying to determine if she would be able to deactivate it. Military hardware, yes, but I have defeated such, before. She sauntered over into the lee of the gas station, wrinkling her nose at the repugnant smell wafting from the public bathroom she was sure even those with a normal sense of smell must have noticed and waved the others over.

"You, you are knowing if this thing, with her powers being deactivated, it can be removed without being triggered?" she asked, giving Dillinger an intently curious glance as she reached into her pack and began to pull out a set of customized tools.

[Joani]

Originally Posted By: Travis Kincaid

"Food can wait. We need to get that ... that thing off of her first. Then we can get rid of it and let your boyfriends chase a ghost for a while." Travis was clearly speaking to Dillinger. His tone was less adversarial than before, but far from friendly. "And once we're far away from that device, you had better explain what the hell is going on, because you clearly know a lot more than you've said so far, and more than the rest of us are aware of."

Dillinger listened carefully and nodded. „True, I do know more than you and I will share what I know but first we’ll make a deal.“, he put his hands protectively on Felicity’s shoulders giving her a gentle squeeze of reassurance.

„I’m trying to free her from those who really hold her prisoner. General Grimes and his lackeys. He is also responsible for those mechanized units that hunted you and the Extractors. I can prove everything once we got to the lab, then you can decide if my story is just made up or for real. Felicity doesn’t deserve to be used as their genuiea pig, I decided to take her out but the only way for them to believe that she is truly gone is to convince them that she has died... which is going to be a rather difficult task. I don’t know what your part in this game is, but I have access to valuable data – data you won’t believe and which could cause a massive destabilization of our country. Riots, anarchy, revolution – what is happening is Vegas is just the tip of the iceberg.“, Dillinger sighed briefly looking down to the young girl.

„I’m open for any conditions you state, mine are – help me pull this through. It will give Felicity liberty and... and it is for a good thing, you’ve got to believe me.

Originally Posted By: Felicienne Devereaux

"You, you are knowing if this thing, with her powers being deactivated, it can be removed without being triggered?" she asked, giving Dillinger an intently curious glance as she reached into her pack and began to pull out a set of customized tools.

Dillinger looked at her and then at Grav before he answered, „I’m not a hundred percent sure. You see, I know what these collars do, I know on which kind of technology it is based on, but I have no experience what an attempt of disarming or deactivating it will do. If I take Grimes‘ arrogance into account I suppose he won’t assume that anyone would be skilled or brave enough to try to deactivate it. Are you sure you can do this? Is that your mutant power? Cyberstuff or something like that?“

[Felicity]

Felicity looked at each person in turn.  "I'd say if you try we need to keep some distance. I can make sure that either - or maybe both - of you will heal fast enough that small explosions would be harmful but not necessarily lethal. But if the blast is large enough..."

She then looked at Mister Dillinger.  "I can alter their bodies to withstand some damage - do you suppose it would be enough?"

[Rebekka Van der Vyse]

Gripping Grav's shoulder with a surprisingly strong hand, Felicienne brushed Grav's white hair out of the way to get a better look at the collar. She snorted contemptuously. Military grade, yes, but she could see the electromagnetic locking mechanism was just an adaptation of a Traum vault safety, and the small size of the collar limited the layers of defense available.

She gave Dillinger a smirk, white teeth flashing in the deepening dusk. "Pfft! Mutant powers. What I am having, it is being much the better. Skill and experience." She reached into her bag and pulled out several customized tools that looked like they belonged to either a jeweler, a dentist, or possibly a mad scientist."

"What, what are you doing? Yes, I want this off, but if it can explo-" Grav protested, beginning to squirm.

"I am thinking, it is being better if you are not moving, no?" Felicienne growled in her husky voice, her hand tightening on Grav's head as she probed at the collar. She gave Felicity a quick glance. "You, you do nothing, I am not needing the distraction."

In a surprisingly short time, almost like in a movie, there was a muted click, and the collar sprang open, dropping into Grav's disbelieving hands.

"Bien! You are seeing? Pas de problème," Felicienne boasted. She snatched the collar from Grav's hands, gave it another once over, then swaggered around the gas station, approaching the big Mack Truck from it's blind spot. Felicienne slipped through a shadow and for a moment, the others lost sight of her. As the eighteen-wheeler began pulling out back to the highway, they suddenly saw her sauntering back, her hands empty.

"There, these extractors, they are having something else to chase now, no?" Her cool, gold-flecked-green eyed gaze shifted between Travis and Dillinger. "Now, where are we going?"

[Felicity]

Felicity watched the woman worked with a growing sense of foreboding. This woman was walking a thin line, between the skill to do what she could and the pride that would get her killed. She made a quick mental note that this woman was dangerous, taking risks that would kill not only her, but everyone around her.

Her mind raced. Even if what Mister Dillinger said was true, and I was in danger from part of the army, I doubt I would've been in greater danger than now. This is getting crazy, and I don't even know if it's for real.

When the beautiful cat-burglar returned from her foray into the shadows between the trucks and shifted her gaze from one man to the other, she smiled her sweetest smile while swallowing the lump in her throat.

Fade in the background, Felicity. she thought to herself, Smile and play along. Don't draw any undue attention.

"Well, anywhere's better than here. It will be getting colder soon." she said, hoping to sound the least bit sincere.

[Travis Kincaid]

Travis nodded, " I can agree with that. If they are monitoring that thing at all, they're making a bee line here first thing. Even stopping for a few minutes means somebody may have seen us, somebody can tell them where we went next." Travis turned to Dillinger, "You still got her stolen powers? Why don't you pop open a boom tube to somewhere nice and inconspicuous, somewhere public where we can get a bite to eat and have words?"

[Grav]

The entire thing happened quickly enough that Grav just stood after her initial resistance and let it happen.

She sighed. "So much for ever returning to my quiet life as a teacher."

She smiles. "Thanks for taking it off, I'm just a little beside myself. Between what I've been told today, and the fact that up until now I was simply a registered mutant high school science teacher, today has been alittle much for me."

[Joani]

Dillinger relaxed visibly after Travis agreed and smiled at him geniunely. „Sure thing, I couldn’t agree more – let me check my memory – Caliente should be cozy.“, with the same non-chalant gesture like Grav did when she opened a Portal Dillinger created a new one and nodded towards it. „You know the drill.“, he winked at the women and waited until everyone was through.

Once they got out the other side he chuckled at Grav and shook his head, „Honestly, I’m not buying that ´I am just a teacher´thing. You are waaaay too powerful to have flown under their radar. Probably the reason they captured you in the end.“

He hesitated for another moment and looked around, „Ah there – I think that fancy mexican restaurant should be able to tend to our needs.“, he placed one hand casually on Grav and she slowly felt how her powers returned. Leaning in to her he spoke in a low voice, „I may have to borrow that power again, later.“

The restaurant was almost empty aside from two burly looking guys sitting at the bar. Obviously there weren’t much people around on the 24th...

[Grav]

"Why not simply let me do it and save me another round of nausea?"

She looked at him. "Power or not it doesn't change what I am, and what I did before today. I njoyed the quiet life I had."

She left unsaid what the general had told her about her heritage. It was disturbing enough it still sounded crazy to her, and she didn't want to sound crazy to the only people she felt she could halfway trust at this point.

[Travis Kincaid]

Travis appraised the slender white haired woman. "School teacher eh? What did you teach?"

"Physical science and physics," she replied as they entered the restaurant.

Travis laughed and shook his head, "No fucking shit, eh? Specialize in 'shit that you only ever see in Star Trek?'" They were quickly seated at a table far removed from the few customers thanks to a discreetly placed tip from Travis. As they perused the menu and order drinks Travis said, "I've got my bullshit meter on, so speak plainly and truthfully. Who are you two and why does the government want you?"

Click to reveal.. (Insight check as Dillinger & Felicity tell their stories.)

Roll: 2 +7 Modifier = +9

[Felicity]

Felicity seemed a bit taken aback by that question.  She sighed, her mouth showing a slight twitch as she recollected memories she didn't think of much in years.  "Let me start at the beginning. I was born during the Vietnam war, and my people and I were evacuated to America when I was a baby a few days before the Tet Offensive."

"I think Mister Dillinger might know more than me, but I've been in protective custody of the US Military for the last twenty years due to rival gangs in Vegas' Chinatown being after me for my power. That was in 1986."

"They've treated me very well, and in fact I couldn't imagine why they'd suddenly be a danger to me, as I was there all along."

She scraped her throat, realizing that what she knew - or thought she knew - no longer applied.

"I think..." she scraped her throat again. "I think the reason the government would want me is because I have the power to alter living beings, especially Mutants."

"To me, Mutant powers stand out like a light in the dark, and I can tell how strong you are, or what you can do. And if I find that unique piece that makes you a Mutant, I can...play around with it."

Felicity twisted her hands in the air before her, like she was playing with strings of yarn, her gaze steadily glued to the table before her.

"I don't really like talking about it, because I try to do the best I can, work hard to do some good. But all the great people who made me proud of being a Mutant, some of which I saw being born and grow up, are dead now. And I am no hero, and I don't like doing half the things I can do."

She looked Travis straight in the face.  "But I guess I'll just have to see where this all goes. For now, consider me as our medic. When we have more time, I am willing to explain more."

She sighed and lowered her hands to the table, palms up.

"Will this do?"

[Rebekka Van der Vyse]

Felicienne arched a questioning brow at Grav as she stepped through the portal, not believing that a mutant of her purported power was satisfied with such a pedestrian job. Felicienne shuddered at the thought - occasionally attending class at UNLV was trying enough, in her opinion.

Dillinger's choice of restaurant earned a slight, condescending frown - Felicienne wasn't that fond of Mexican cuisine - but as soon as they entered, she excused herself, heading to the bathroom. With fastidious care, she checked her wounds - already knitting smoothly - then did what she could to clean herself. She would have preferred a bath, but she would make do, for now. Her sensitive ears allowed her to follow the conversation, even from across the restaurant.

Felicienne returned after Felicity explained her situation, taking a seat as far from her and Dillinger as she could - she was not enthused by the thought of either of them touching her, considering the nature of their powers. She waved the waitress over, ordering an anaranjado to drink and an order of parrillado, then turned her sharp, green eyes on Felicity and Dillinger.

"There is something I am not understanding, me," Felicienne commented in a low voice that would not carry beyond their table. "If you are being already in the 'care' of the government, what is being the need for all of..." She waved a hand, trying indicate the turmoil that was inflicting Las Vegas, the carnage at the MIC, everything that had gone on in the city on Christmas Eve. "... this? The assault on the MIC, it is being needless, a waste, when you are already being in their custody."

[Travis Kincaid]

"Feli, dear, the man did say he was trying to free her from her imprisonment," Travis said, his demeanor improved after a shot of tequila and half a margarita. "If he is telling us the truth the poor girl was little more than a guinea pig for the bastards." Travis spared a look at Grav, the young woman was out of her element as well captured and coerced into wearing a device that would have killed her.

Travis sighed, "Our government appears to no longer care for our well being now that mutant kind has ceased to be able to right the wrongs of our mundane forbears." Travis munched on some tortilla chips and salsa before spearing Dillinger with his gaze. "And you? What is your part in this, you side of the story. You're a mutant who can steal powers, but you seem to have a lot of inside knowledge of this General ... Grimes was it? ... of his methods and operations. I think there's a story there I'd like to hear."

[Joani]

Originally Posted By: Felicienne

"There is something I am not understanding, me," Felicienne commented in a low voice that would not carry beyond their table. "If you are being already in the 'care' of the government, what is being the need for all of..." She waved a hand, trying indicate the turmoil that was inflicting Las Vegas, the carnage at the MIC, everything that had gone on in the city on Christmas Eve. "... this? The assault on the MIC, it is being needless, a waste, when you are already being in their custody."

„Because...“, Dillinger started a bit angered but quickly forced himself to calm down, „Because_they_are_looking_for_us, ma petit chere“, he pronounced the words slowly for Felicienne.

Before he could follow up, Travis interrupted and asked his questions taking some of the building tension out of the starting conversation.

Originally Posted By: Travis

Travis sighed, "Our government appears to no longer care for our well being now that mutant kind has ceased to be able to right the wrongs of our mundane forbears." Travis munched on some tortilla chips and salsa before spearing Dillinger with his gaze. "And you? What is your part in this, you side of the story. You're a mutant who can steal powers, but you seem to have a lot of inside knowledge of this General ... Grimes was it? ... of his methods and operations. I think there's a story there I'd like to hear."

He offered a deal and part of it was telling his story – Dillinger drove one hand through his hair which had turned back to it’s bleached blonde after he had lost Grav’s powers. „I work for Grimes... worked that is. I know him since the early eighties. My first assignment was Felicity...“, he stopped suddenly looking at the young asian with a painful look in his eyes. She obviously had no idea...

„Grimes was establishing this military project. Huge thing, lots of genetic engineering and stuff, including cloning. He wanted to understand how Mutant DNA worked and eventually decipher it and put it in ways together to create the kind of Mutant he wanted. Supersoldiers, Infiltrators, Assassins – one perfect Mutant for each kind of dirty job the military and the Government had put their sights on. Those collars for example, they are based on how Felicity can change your Mutant powers.“, he downed his drink in one gulp and sighed, it felt good getting this off his chest but he also knew his story must’ve sounded insane.

„The truth is, the Government never cared for us. They are just out for their own benefit and for Grimes it is war. We are at war with all other countries who employ Mutants, specialists – UNISON, AEGIS or whatever goddamned label they put on it. I’m not proud of what I’ve done in the past. I’ve seen too many die in senseless experiments and I’ve seen how they abused her... and I’m sick of it. But they won’t stop unless they know she’s dead, that’s why we have to go back to the lab. I can fake her death there and with your help we have at least a chance.“, he gave Grav a sideways glance and suddenly his eyes lingered a while longer on her profile.

„Something about you seems familiar...“