Aberrant: In the Beginning - Chapter 2- The Firmament of Heaven

[Dawn OOC]

Juno

"Talking is an activity. Cease and desist all activities." The suits form a semi-circle around her, their weapons pointed at her. "Turn around and put your hands behind your back. Any attempt to resist will be met with equal resistance. Any attempt to escape will be met with lethal force." These guys made the LAPD seem tame.

Michael

One of the Aussies was leaning forward, peering at the forth. "Aye, mate, I see it. What is it?" he asked. "Can you see anything from up there?"

Michael shook his head as he peered at the water. "Nothing," he said, keeping his course. The frothing had slowed for a moment, but now it was picking up again; whatever had disturbed the water was still there.

[OOC: Michael, you'll be in the area affected in the next round (post) and out of it two rounds after if you hold course.]

[SalmonMax]

Juno gives the talking suit a wry look, then with an expression of exagerrated meekness crosses her wrists together behind her back and turns around.

"This is so sudden," she quips. "We haven't even dated."

[z-Wei Fang]

"I can talk to him," Fang said, thinking of the way she'd grabbed control of the meeting earlier today. The thought of being able to capivate people like that was scary, but there was a little thrill of delight in her as well. She was sure that if all things failed, she could get this Malcolm to talk. "Could he be a New Person?"

[Katalyst]

Jay nodded as Fang told him she would talk to Malcolm. It was much easier to let her handle these types of things. Jay knew he was the brawn to her brains that was 100% fact. "Sounds good to me Fang. I'm not certain if Malcolm is a Novus, but if he is that could explain some of the strange things that went down on the sub. Once me and Juno get back, I'm sure you'll have something more to share with us."

A quick look of longing crosses Jay face as he bids Fang farewell. "Well time to see what's happen to Juno. I'll be back soon. Good luck with Malcolm." Fang watches as Jay blinks out of room, as she silently wishing him godspeed.

Teleporting back to outside the sub 6 dice no mega + 3 auto sux

3q spent of TP

Currnet Qpool 5

[Michael Peters]

Gritting his teeth, Michael drifts to the right, slowing slightly as he does so. Creaking, the fishing boat follows him, listing to starboard under the unusual "flying tug" locomotion. Under its new course, it should miss the roiling disturbance in the water by two meters or so.

Michael keeps his eyes focused on the froth, ready for whatever pops out of the water.

[Dawn OOC]

Fang

Fang watched Jay disappear, a soft sigh easing out of her before she could stop it. She turned away from him and walked back toward the medical center, where the man Malcolm would be.

She could compare his reaction to the brunt of her personality with her peers' reactions. It would be an interesting comparison.

Juno

The rifle butt slamming inbetween her shoulder blades was unexpected, but Juno didn't stumble. She didn't really have time to prepare to stumble either, as she heard the hard plastic on the rifle crack and the gasps from the soldiers. Suddenly, everything was much, much more tense.

Jay

Jay blinked away in a motion that was becoming second-nature to him, with as much as he'd practiced it today. But he didn't feel limitless; in fact, he felt on the edge of tired, not quite there but close enough that his body was taking notice.

He was back in the unlit ocean, floating next to the dead submarine.

[OOC: 1d10=3, 1d10=1, 1d10=3, 1d10=3, 1d10=1, 1d10=9 + 3 auto sux = 4 sux.]

Michael

He was watching intently for what would come out of the water, but he almost didn't realize what it was. He caught the whiff of an acidic scent, and then Whithouse began to cough. She was quickly followed by the Aussies and the other men, as something in the air began to impact them.

[SalmonMax]

Huh, Juno thought sheepishly. Did I change or something, or am I just that tough now? She didn't feel any of the 'symptoms' of an adaptive response (as the Aeon scientists called her changes). The slightly numb spot though told the tale. The guard had brought his rifle down right at the spot where neck and shoulder met...right onto the bone there. Since she'd been leaning forward a bit, head down, that bone had been protruding a bit.

Evidently, the cumulative low-level adaptations she continued to undergo were enough to strengthen her bones to the point where hitting them hard enough would break whatever those guns were made of.

She wasn't sure if they were bulletproof...but if not, they'd quickly become so. But she didn't want to re-enact a scene from the Terminator. She wanted to find out what was going on down here, and doing that would mean a gentler touch.

"Okay, look!" Juno called out. "My hands are behind my back, I'm doing whatever you're asking. I'm not here to make trouble, okay? I just want to -talk-."

[Katalyst]

Jay lets his eyes adjust to the darkness of the water, before he starts his search for Juno. Only gone for a few minutes and she's gone. Where the hell did she go?

He figured she be trying to swim around the sub to look for a way inside, so he'd start with that. As he started to swim, Jay tried to put off the tiredness that was starting to creep on him. He knew what it felt like to run out of "q", and he sure didn't want that to happen down here. Hopefully his search for Juno wouldn't exhaust what energy he had left.

[Dawn OOC]

Juno

"Move," the guards ordered her. A hard nudge with the rifle indicated which way she was to go. Scowling, Juno complied.

The green areas gave way to a slick steel and plastic hallway. It reminded Juno of a scifi movie set. She expected someone with pointy ears to come around the corner at any moment.

But they didn't, and she was escorted to a room. In it was a desk and two chairs. She'd seen this scene before, too. She was shoved into a chair and handcuffed to it.

They left her there for a while. Despite being bored, Juno thought that playing their game might get her where she wanted faster. She sat tight.

After a while, a man walked in. Smiling, he sat down and immediately asked, "Who are you, and what do you want?"

Katalyst

He looked around the area, wondering where Juno had gone. Had she drifted away in the dark water? Perplexed, he followed the current a little ways.

He didn't find Juno, but he did find something else. Ahead of him, a blinking red light indicated something unusual was happening. He swam closer and saw it move a bit; it took another foot or so before he realized it was a mini-sub. He could barely see the shape of someone inside of it.

[SalmonMax]

Juno nodded at the man. Truth be told, her patience was wearing out. She was definitely onto something here, but there were people out there who probably didn't know where she was, and who knew how many ships that might be in trouble.

"Juno Reyes. I was checking out what went wrong with a submarine, and saw your place down here."

She leaned forward over the table a bit.

"Look, there's something wrong with the water. It's making metal get weak. Like...brittle. People are dying. I figure, maybe it's a side effect of your...whatever this is. Are you releasing toxic waste or acid or anything into the ocean?"

[Katalyst]

"That's strange? Those Navy guys didn't say nothing about them sending any mini-subs down here. I'm pretty sure that an aircraft carrier doesn't have something like that in it's inventory. So where did it come from?

Jay continues his swim towards the mini-sub, while he tries to see if there's any identifying marks that he can read.

(Perception 5 no mega's)

[Michael Peters]

Michael stared in shock as the people on the ship began to hack and cough.

Dammit! Some kind of gas! What compound is toxic and reacts with water?! Dammit!

Straining, he pulls the ship faster, attempting to drag it away from the roiling water. The wood his tether is attached to begins to groan under the added pressure, but he ignores it, trusting in it to hold for a few moments more.

[Dawn OOC]

Juno

"I'm sorry, but we're asking the questions here, Ms. Reyes." The blond man studied her for a moment, a polite smile fixed to his face. "What do you know about the situation out in the water? How did you know about the submarine? Who do you work for?"

Katalyst

The submarine bore no marks. While Katalyst was analyzing it, it suddenly swung about. Kata had time to notice two things: first, the mini-sub had fantastic manueverability. Second, it was throwing a missile at him; a missile that slowed only marginally in the pressure of the water before rocketing toward him.

Michael

The water churned and the boat complained, but Michael heard the hacking and coughing slow and cease - and not because they were dead. Far from it, though his charges were lying in the boat, working hard at breathing. "That as it," Whithouse rasped. "That was what I smelled bofore."

[Katalyst]

Oh shit! Jay had been exposed to many different types of gunfire in his time in the Army, but a torpedo topped the list, and besides I'm tough but not tough enough to stop that.

Jay wasn't to sure how torpedo's functioned but his best bet was to simply 'blink' out of it's way. Whoever shot it at him obviously didn't want him to find something. Things were getting deadly serious down here and it was time for to try and get some answers.

Click to reveal..

Teleport roll 1d10=9, 1d10=3, 1d10=3, 1d10=6, 1d10=5, 1d10=8 2 + 3 auto = 5 sux

Qpool 2/26

Soak: 9B/5L

WP: 5/5

HL: Normal

As the torpedo moves in closer, it takes Jay a tad longer than normal to focus his Quantum causing him to barely 'blink' out of the way, and quickly reappearing above the mini-sub, trying to secure a hold of it.

[SalmonMax]

Juno frowned slightly, but when you thought about it the fact she worked with Aeon was public news. It wasn't like five minutes with her name and Google wouldn't turn that up.

So she shrugged.

"I'm with the Aeon Foundation. I know about the sub, because we were asked to help with the rescue mission FOR the sub, which then turned out to need a rescue also. As for the stuff in the water, I don't know much, which is why I was asking you. Whatever it is though, it's pretty much wrecking every ship that tries to go through here which is apparently a lot."

She looked around casually and added, "So do you guys have James Bond strapped to a table somewhere, or what?"

[Michael Peters]

Michael continued to pull the trawling vessel, slowing as he turned to survey the deck.

"Is everyone ok? Everyone can breathe?" His voice is filled with relief. As the various crew coughed and muttered their assent, Michael returned to his safe speed, making for the distant port.

"That is what hit you and the other crew back on the ship, Whithouse?"

[Dawn OOC]

Katalyst

As Jay reappears over the submarine, he sees the tornado twist in the water. Unbelievably, it turned around and came straight back toward him!

Juno

The man frowned, narrowing his eyes at her. "The 'stuff in the water'? I'm not following." He smiled suddenly. "I believe we have Mr. Bond around here somewhere. What else do you know about the 'stuff in the water'?"

Michael

Whithouse nodded, hacking for a moment. "Yes," she croaked, "exactly. That smelled exactly like what we had on the ship." Suddenly she paled. "But that means... something metal down below... it's being ruined by whatever is in the water. What if it's a submarine? People could be... " She looked sick as she trailed off.

[Katalyst]

Jay was shocked! There was no way in hell that a torpedo could do what he just saw. From what he had read in school, torpedo's homed in on ships not people. Could him 'blinking' away caused it to turn on the mini-sub? If that was the case then another simple 'blink' would be enough to save him.

Jay knew he was down to the last of his Quantum. He had perhaps one more shot at 'blinking' away but where was he going to go? He wasn't about to leave Juno down here by herself, but he had no clue to where she was, other than down here in the water. Damm he sure could use Renee's help at the moment. The torpedo closing him on him and he had to make his decision and fast. Jay draws upon his quantum one more time, a draining sensation overtakes him as the last of energy his used in his effort to 'blink'. As he tries to 'blink' he feels his energy coming back enough for him to complete the 'blink' It happens so fast that all he can do is 'blink' as the torpedo closes in on him once again.

Click to reveal..

Teleporting inside the sub where he found Malcom.

1d10=8, 1d10=3, 1d10=6, 1d10=4, 1d10=4, 1d10=8

2 sux + 3 auto's

Qp 0

HL: healthy

soak: 8B/4L

using 1 point of Q from eufiber.

[Michael Peters]

Michael frowned from his position in the air, concern and frustration written large on his face.

A submarine? Christ, are there people in trouble down there?

Michael stared towards the shore, seeing the strip of land tauntingly close. Focusing, he feels the strange tension behind his eyes as his vision is magnified. After a moments examination of the small docks, he makes a decision.

"Alright! I'm going to bring you into port!" He calls to the crew of the fisher-ship. "After that, we'll find a way to help anyone else who might be trapped."

If we can...

Michael begins to power forward, making best safe speed.

Click to reveal..

Activating Electromagnetic Vision: Visible Light Attuner.

QP: 26 / 21

[SalmonMax]

Juno sighed and shook her head. "No, it was a movie...whatever, nevermind. Look, a sub's sunk and a lotta people died on it. Another ship's in really bad shape, and there's even another ship that's afraid to get too close."

"There's something in the water that's f...that's messing with metal. It makes it get all brittle and easy to break. Plus, it makes this kind of poison gas or something as it works. At first I was thinking it must be acid, but now I'm not so sure. Acid wouldn't just eat metal, and nothing else is getting damaged."

She looks her interrogator in the face, studying him for signs that he knows what she's talking about. "And the funny thing...the hilarious thing...is that right in the middle of it is this weird secret underwater base. So you want to tell me what's going on now?"

[Dawn OOC]

Juno

"No, you know quite enough, Ms. Reyes," the man said, standing. "Thank you for what you have told us. At this point, you'll be waiting for a bit, for which I apologize. But someone will return to speak with you."

Before he was done talking, he was moving toward the door.

Michael

It seemed to take too long to the time-pressed nova, but he finally saw the gray smudge of land on the horizon, and then the lights of port. Thankful, the nova steamed into port, the oddest boat ever to visit Iceland.

Someone shouted at him from the dock, and Michael waved. "I speak English!" he shouted, and the man nodded. "I said, who are you and why are you here?"

Katalyst

He was back in the damaged submarine, and for a moment, all was quiet. Then something pounded the submarine and it's skin peeled away in a gout of blue energy. Katalyst tensed for the electrical shock that was sure to slam into him, only to find that it had dispersed on the hull of the dead sub.

[Michael Peters]

Michael grins wryly at the man who called up to him.

I stream into port, a human tugboat, angelic wings flapping away and this guy just wants to know 'why' I'm here?

"My name is Michael Peters. I'm working with the US Navy, trying to help some ships in distress."

Slowly, Michael drifts down to the dock, gently setting down next to the fishing ship he pulled into port. As he continues speaking, he unties the towing rope that attached him to the stricken vessel.

"There's a woman on board who needs medical help. Is there a hospital nearby?"

He waits for the man to respond, hoping that this will be quick. He needed to see Whithouse safely to the hospital, then find some blankets.

[SalmonMax]

"Look, mister...whatever the hell your name is...people are dying, alright? Can we fast-track this?"

She tried to stand up out of her seat. "Just take me to your leader, alright? You obviously know what's going on."

[Katalyst]

Jay lays down in exhaustion and breaths a small sigh of relief. hopefully the sub would provide him with some protection from the mini sub and whatever else was out there. As much as he wanted to help Juno, he couldn't help in the state he was in. Besides, maybe there was something he missed in here that could help to find out just what the hell is going down in the murky depths of the Atlantic.

[Dawn OOC]

Michael

“Yes, we have a hospital!” the man shouted back, then pulled out a cell phone and made a quick call. When he was done, Michael was on the deck, and the man said, “They’re on their way with the ambulance.” He paused, but the excitement of having Michael there was too much, and he blurted, “You’re one of those Novuses, right? Wow… what’s it like to fly?”

Juno

As she started to come to her feet, the chair itself moved, wrapping strange pseudo-pods around her and pulling her back down. It wasn’t really that harsh; the weird skin-like tentacles were almost gentle, applying just enough pressure to keep her in her seat.

“I’m sorry Ms. Reyes, but I must insist you stay, and remain in that seat,” her interrogator said, smiling smugly. “Someone will be with you shortly.”

Katalyst

For a long moment, he lay still, trying to get some juice back. Finally, he felt like he could move, and he stood up slowly, surprised at how shaky he felt. Eager to find something to take the time, he grabbed a handful of papers and started to leaf through them.

(Kata, I need a Perc + Awareness roll)

[Katalyst]

Tired as he was Jay still was able to concentrate on his task. The simple mission had turned into a life or death situation in a matter of mere moments and the more info he gathered would help to keep him alive.

Click to reveal..

Awareness Roll

1d10=2, 1d10=9, 1d10=10, 1d10=4, 1d10=6, 1d10=8, 1d10=1, 1d10=10, 1d10=4 4 sux

popping 10 for Observant quality(if that applies)

1d10=2, 1d10=7 1 sux

5 sux total

[Michael Peters]

Michael grins at the man.

"Fantastic!" He calls to him.

Turning to the people on the deck, including the young woman under his charge, he reassures them.

"Help is on the way. Is everyone breathing OK? No after effects from that gas on the water?"

His eyes flit from one person to the next, searching for signs of distress.

[Michael Peters]

After receiving assent to his question, Michael kneels with the crew of the ship, positioning himself next to Whithouse. Michael sighs softly as he realizes that everyone on the deck was staring at the wings. Concentrating slightly, he wills them to fade and is slightly surprised to see disappointment on a few faces.

A few moments of silence pass... a lull that begins to grow uncomfortable as the distance wailing of sirens begin to approach.

"Whoever you are, mister" speaks up a bearded sailor "we owe you our thanks."

As if a dam has broken, the crew of the ship begin nodding and speaking all at once.

"Yeah! You're really amazing!"

"You're one of them Nova's right? Working with the UN?"

"What's it like to fly? Can you do anything else?"

Michael is taken aback by the flood of questions. Trying to buy time to work out an answer, he flashes a brilliant smile, watching them grin back.

"Well, uh, yes. I am a Nova. My name is Michael. I erupted the day of the Galatea explosion, in Washington DC."

He begins to relate the story of his accidental shooting and waking up in Vietnam. The crew of the ship listen in rapt attention. He has only begun to describe the headaches he had had to deal with in Ho Chi Minh when the first ambulance rounds the commercial block and comes into view, quickly followed by three police cars and another ambulance.

Working quickly with a pair of crewmen, Michael lowers the gangplank. About half the crew has moved to the dock by the time the first response vehicle had pulled up. Michael stays with Whithouse, waiting until the medical personnel began to move towards the group to help her to her feet and support her as they move towards the gangplank. Voices begin shouting over the sirens as the crew and the police began to try to sort out what has happened. A mix of english and icelandic banters back and forth before one of the officers calls for order. He speaks rapid fire icelandic for a moment and some crew help the shivering men who had been drifting in the water forward.

Must have been a request that the injured come forward. Michael thought.

He waits, impatient, as the bottleneck of the remaining sailors at the gangplank slowly begin to descend to the dock. Being last in line, he starts to worry that Whithouse's medical care might be neglected.

Whithouse squeaks in surprise as Michael suddenly sweeps her into his arms and ascends into the air again, his wings unfurling and carrying him over the side of the ship. The emergency response personnel and the police stare, their jaws slack, as the almost perfect man drifts towards them.

A few of the bystanders that have begun to accumulate to see what was going on begin to take photographs of him. An angelic figure carrying a woman towards awe-struck rescuers.

"This woman needs medical care. Also, I need to speak with someone about getting some blankets for another ship in distress at sea."

At their quiet direction, he helps Whithouse onto a wheeled stretcher. The attending medical technicians only glancing at her, their focus still on Michael. Frowning slightly, he gestures towards Whithouse and the men start and begin checking her over and wheeling her towards a waiting ambulance. Some of the crew point towards Michael, some speaking english and some icelandic.

"He saved us! The Nova!"

"It was amazing! He towed the ship!"

One of the officers, obviously senior to the others, moved towards Michael, a smile on his face. He extends his hand and says in rough english:

"Thank you for you help, super-man."

Grinning at being called 'super-man' Mike takes the mans hand in a firm grip and shakes it. The clatter of cameras pick up at this action as more would-be photographers try to capture the moment.

Speaking clearly, Michael begins to relate the events that lead him here to the attentive group around him as the emergency workers continue to aid the frozen sailors.

[SalmonMax]

"What the..." Juno looked at the armrests that had come to life and engulfed her arms. The seat had extruded tendrils that held it against her legs. And the whole thing was attached to the floor, meaning she couldn't get up, even by taking the chair with her.

This really ought to freak me out more, she thought to herself as she tested the weird rubbery stuff.

No dice. It stretched a teeny bit, but wouldn't give any past that. Juno looked up at the interrogator.

"Okay then. Go ahead and go get 'someone' then," she told him, as if it had been her idea all along. "Take your time."

She waited for him to leave, then glanced at the guards to size them up before taking any action.

[Dawn OOC]

Katalyst

The paperwork on the floor revealed that this wasn’t a standard submarine. While it was outfitted with some toys, it was privately owned by an unnamed corporation. This sub was used for undersea transport, from "the Dome" to Headquarters, wherever that was.

Michael

It took a bit to clear all the questions and satisfy the authorities. They had a lot of concerns about the nature of his emergency, including about the possibility that there were other ships out there in danger, with no really good way to get to them. Finally, they were willing to let him go, assuring him that they’d take care of the people he had rescued.

But the reporters weren’t done, and as the officials stepped back, they surged forward, shouting and asking questions. Cameras snapped; microphones thrust themselves dangerously close to his face.

Juno

She had little time to size up before a woman entered, leading a couple of technicians wheeling a cart. They all wore lab coats. “My name is Dr. Angela Reeves,” she said, smiling at Juno. “How do you feel, dear?”

“Fine?” Juno said uncertainly, a little put out by this woman’s strange, professional attitude. It was like a doctor’s bedside manner.

“Now I have a few questions,” Dr. Reeves said, pulling out a clip board. “How old are you? Do you smoke or drink? Are you sexually active? Are you taking any medications?”

[Michael Peters]

Michael recoiled from the onrush of microphones and cameras. He had briefly dealt with news-reporters and the like before, but only on feel-good Sunday morning pieces. Never had he had the full force of the frenzied media on him.

"Please... everyone calm down." He said, raising his voice slightly. This did little as they weren't looking for pleas for calm, they were looking for their scoop.

Feeling pressured by the advancing crowd, Michael took a hesitant step back. Moving forward to fill the space, someones boom-mike swung forward and clubbed Michael on the forehead. Instantly, his hesitation turned to anger.

"Listen you people!" He shouted, unconsciously activating his near divine presence. Wings formed from the air at his back and his feet lifted four feet off of the docks. The crowd stopped, their eyes wide, jaws slack as Michael Peters changed, in their eyes, from a man whose story could make their career... to something more.

Michael scowled at their sudden change, realizing that he had once again touched some presence within him, the same one that had affected his friends before. This time, he intended to use it to his advantage.

"My name is Michael Peters, and I am a Nova. I am currently working with the Aeon Society to provide aid to crewmen affected by a naval calamity. I brought this ship into harbor, so the crew would not be lost to the sea, and to collect supplies for other beleaguered ships."

He smiles his now amazing smile, but it doesn't reach his eyes.

"At this time, any further questions should be directed to the Aeon Society"

(Activating Awe-Inspiring, and flight, again, in preparation for leaving)

[Katalyst]

Originally Posted By: Dawn, OOC

Katalyst
The paperwork on the floor revealed that this wasn’t a standard submarine. While it was outfitted with some toys, it was privately owned by an unnamed corporation. This sub was used for undersea transport, from "the Dome" to Headquarters, wherever that was.

After reading the paperwork Jay was even more confused. Who in the heck could have a 'dome' out in the ocean with nobody knowing anything about it. Heck is there even the technology to even build something like this? Could this 'dome' be where the cause of the disturbance is coming from?

All the thinking started giving Jay a headache and now wasn't the best time for it. Juno was out in the water somewhere, and he was low on juice. If he was going to get any answers it seemed that he would need to find the dome, which should be close he reckoned since the sub was here. Getting in the sub was easy but getting out without using his powers was going to be another. Don't want to flood the damm thing but that may be my only option. I'll rest up a few more minutes before heading out.