Mutants & Masterminds: The Indigo Children - Prologue: Observation 01

[jameson (ST)]

As the fist streaked toward her face the girl had just long enough to consider all of the elements that had led her to be here. A dash of stupidity, a liberal dose of alcohol and weed, a portion of naiveté, a heavy splash of teenage hormones, and a perfectly normal misunderstanding on the relationship between the girl and a boy. That was more or less the mixture that had led to one wholly inappropriate attempt to cop a feel, one rather heated slap, and the girl, one Katie Bedford, having dashed off into the night crying and embarrassed. That mixture had of course gotten swirled in with the concern of a friend and the unfortunate placement of one gang of seven near-do-wells who happened to also be drinking and toking in Central Park.

Then the fist hit her and Katie went down like the proverbial sack of bricks. She’d barely even hit the ground before the hooligan was reaching to undo his pants. He didn’t get very far though as a blur of fair skin and red hair bowled into him with every last ounce of momentum that she could muster. The result was that the young man was bowled over and Penny tripped and stumbled over them into a heap on the ground.

“Well well, looks like we gots us two chickies to play wit tonite,” remarked the largest of the gangmembers. “A reddie too, looks like a nice tight un. Boys, we’z got a fun nite.” Penny scrambled to her feet but found that she was surrounded by seven young men who looked to have kept a tattoo and piercing parlor open all on they own for the past few months at least. Denim and leather dotted with chain and spikes made them look like rejects from a Mad Max film.

Preoccupied as Penny was with the realization that she had succeeded only in getting herself into a heap of trouble, she was in no position to notice that in bushes nearby a pair of white tigers were crouched, having been prowling through the park when the sounds of commotion had caught their ears. Uncommon in this part of the world there hadn’t been any of their kind seen publically since before the event when the New York Zoo had featured a pair. These were not them, though one was the child of that pair. The Event had made certain to change these two tigers though, both had developed sentience and human like features, and both were currently wearing T-shirts and shorts, which was a rather uncommon sight on normal tigers.

Overhead another victim, or perhaps beneficiary, of the Event glided on thermal updrafts. Super acute ears registered the sound of Katie as she ran blindly into the midst of the gang. With ultrasonic echolocation to navigate by and an unerringly accurate sense of hearing the great mutant bat had turned nimbly in midair and dove toward central park. Each new word, the punch and sound of Katie falling unconscious to the earth, the sound of Penny’s impact with the ganger, all of these provided course correction for the creature who’s dark coloration made him nearly imperceptible in the darkened skies.

[z-Penny Mann]

"Oh, hey, hi, guys," Penny said quickly, realizing that she'd done the implusive, dumb thing by tackling the guy. "I didn't know there was another party over here. My party is right over there. Not far away at all. Wanna a beer? We can walk you back over there and set you up with a nice beer, maybe a joint or something more recreational?"

She was babbling, but it was all she had other than the handful of dirt she was clutching in one hand. She didn't have mace or anything else with her, like her football-playing boyfriend. Only her wits, some dirt and a body unused to physical reactions. The only reason she knew how to tackle was because Mike and Randy had been horsing around and had taught her one day.

Let them be lured by beer. Let them take two seconds to reconsider what they were so clearly doing. It wasn't a prayer, but it was the closest she could come to it.

[OOC: Bluff (for the nearness of the party)

Bluff - 1d20 + 9 (1d20=5) = 14]

[Cole Mulvaney]

Cole moved silently through the brush, angling for a better attack. He could tell Ramani was right there with him, the two having already chosen their targets. It was his hope Penny could lure them away from the girl, but if not, he stood ready to show them the error of their ways.

"Come on you clowns take the bait" he said under his breath.

(stealth check for Cole= 26 (17+9))

(09:55:34) ChatBot: (Cole) rolls 1d20 and gets 17.

[Rodney]

{{Skill Mastery: Stealth - take '10' + 11 = 21}}

The sad reality is that they, the two girls, didn't appear to have much time. Rodney would have prefered to wait and found an opening that would have allowed him to ... he didn't know. Maybe pick them off one at a time, or something like that, but he didn't think he had the time.

He swooped in from above, circling quietly and looking for an opening, or for the crisis to worsen.

If he rushed it, it wasn't going to be his best stealth landing, but he could salvage it, he was sure. Now to figure out something to scare off the guys enough for the girl still standing to get her friend out of there. Rodney was always good enough to make his escape ... or so he thought. He could fly after all.

Rodney internalized his lines, the best ones he had to put the bad guys off there game and give him the precious amount of time to get the innocences out of the way. He hoped that would be enough too. Otherwise, all he could do was remain stealthily and above it all.

[Ramani]

Ramani was on the edge. Her tail kept lashing from one side to the other and every muscle tensed in anticipation. Hunting with Cole had become second nature and the two tigers complimented eachother perfectly - only Ramani's lack of patience caused sometimes trouble but she seemed to enjoy the extra thrill.

Stealthroll (Dex mod +5, Stealth 6 Ranks) (1d20+11=18)

Slowly she closed in from the other side angling Cole's attack path. She waited for him to initiate the attack, since she preferred to surprise her prey twice. The second of terror which Cole caused gave her the opportunity to attack all out without holding back - just the way she liked it.

[jameson (ST)]

Unaware of the world of hurt that was preparing to descend upon him the gang leader moved forward toward Penny. Hemmed in by his cohorts she had nowhere to go. "Yeah? You gots more chickas over dere too?"

Before Penny could reply two of the goons shouted, "Jeesusz! What the hell are those things?" They both pulled knives and one pointed to the forms of Cole and Ramini crouched in the bushes. "Shit man, there's fuckin tigers in the damn bushes man!"

"Tigers? Shit man you're nuts, prolly just some dogs." The other gangers also pulled knives and the leader shoved Penny, "These yours? You better tell those fuckin things to back down or else!" He pulls a knife from under his coat, "Little girlie, you gonna scream for us real good."

OOC:

• Bluff check (+0) (08:12:49) ChatBot: (GM_dude) rolls 1d20 and gets 11. - Result = 11 (failure)
• Notice check (+5 group bonus) (08:22:55) ChatBot: (GM_dude) rolls 1d20 and gets 14. - Result = 19
• Initiative: Penny 3, Leader 10, Gangers (6) 12, Cole 12, Rodney 22, Ramani 26
• Rodney gets suprise bonuses for his first attack, the rest of you are flatfooted (no dodge bonus) until your initiative step.
• Defense values: Gangers 2(1 while flatfooted), Leader 3 (2 while flatfooted)

Penny and the gang leader are in the middle surrounded by the other 6 gangers who are in a mostly even circle, the tigers are to the south and Rodney is approaching from the North East. The gangers form a circle roughly 10 fee across (diameter).

[Ramani]

Ramani changed her victim as the situation changed. The prey was now aware of its imminent death and Ramani decided to take out their leader first to cripple their morale. Chances were high that the others would run for their lives once they saw their strongest ripped in half. Extending her claws Ramani flexed her muscles and virtually pounced the leader with all her might, trying to take him down with one single attack burying her claws as deep into his chest as possible.

Attack roll using All-out-Attack trading 3 Defense for 3 Attack. Base Attack is +3 (1d20+6=22)

Acrobatics Rank 6, Dex Mod +5 (1d20+11=26)

(ooc: Damage DC 21 (15+6))

[jameson (ST)]

The gang leader has enough forewarning to stumble backward. though unable to completely avoid the blow Ramani's claws are blunted by his leather jacket to only a dull impact. With a cough of expelled air the leader takes the punch with little apparent effect.

OOC: Toughness Save (+5)(DC 21) (10:31:43) ChatBot: (jameson) rolls 1d20 and gets 14. Result = 19, failure by 2

Takes a bruised level (-1 on further toughness checks)

[Rodney]

The tiger was the opening he was looking for. She hit the leader and he looked like he was going down. He should have gone down. Really, he should have.

((16:01:41) ChatBot: (Rodney) rolls 1d20 and gets 4+2=6.)

The leader didn't go down and Rodney came hard, feet-first, into the ground behind him. It was an epic miss and a true lost opportunity. Still, Rodney quickly adapted to the situation as it was developing. He rose up on the heels of his feet/hand, clutching a throwing knife in one foot while standing on the other. His wings were tuckedin, making him look larger than he was. He nodded his head to the tiger saying,

"I'm here to help the girls," and hoped that would suffice to not get him attacked by the tiger-thing next to him.

'Next round,' he thought, 'I see if I can scare the bee-jeebers out of them ... and if that fails, I get hurt.'

[Cole Mulvaney]

Ramani's attack failed to do much more than bruise him. Then this weird bat thing came zooming in and missed the same guy. Hoping he was putting on a better idea since it was currently 7 on 3, He jumped out from his hiding spot, drew himself to his full height and roared his threat. "I'd be leaving if I were you boys. You see, I have more knives than all of you combined."

His claws extended from his hands and seemed to gleam in the moonlight.

(15:05:52) ChatBot: (Cole) rolls 1d20 and gets 6. 6+7 is 13 total)

[jameson (ST)]

OOC: save rolls

(16:28:54) (jameson): Gangers (+3)

(16:28:59) ChatBot: (jameson) rolls 1d20 and gets 10. Result 13 (unfazed)

(16:29:11) (jameson): gang leader (+6)

(16:29:14) ChatBot: (jameson) rolls 1d20 and gets 11. Result 17 (unfazed)

"Fuck the freaks, cut 'em up!" Yelled one of the goons as he and a fellow charged toward Cole. The pair charged the man-tiger flanking him in order to gain an advantage toward their attacks by splitting his focus.

(16:34:48) (jameson): Thug #1 aid roll

(16:34:54) ChatBot: (jameson) rolls 1d20 and gets 5.

(16:34:57) (jameson): fail

(16:35:09) (jameson): Thug #2 attacks Cole (+2)

(16:35:15) ChatBot: (jameson) rolls 1d20 and gets 18. Result 20 (hit)Damage/Toughness DC 18

Likewise the other two attacked Ramani, both punching their knives toward the creature before them as it tangled with their leader. The first lands a solid blow but the other misses, his knife simply shearing off a lock of fur.

(16:39:23) (jameson): Thug #4 and #5 attacking Ramani (+2)

(16:39:28) ChatBot: (jameson) rolls 2d20 and gets 13,6. One Hit, Damage/Toughness DC 18

The last two ignored Penny outright, instead focusing on the bat-thing that had landed behind their boss. Their strikes were simultaneous slashes of steel that sweep through nothing but air as they find the rapidly moving bat creature too difficult to hit in the melee.

(16:43:25) (jameson): Thug #3 and #6 attack Rodney (+2)

(16:43:30) ChatBot: (jameson) rolls 2d20 and gets 5,9. Both miss

Finally the gang's leader recovers from the blow Ramani landed. With a twisted grin he says, "Here Kitty Kitty, papa needs a new fur coat." He lashes out with a powerful thrust of his blade ramming the cold steel toward her chest.

(16:47:11) (jameson): Gang Leader Attacking Ramani (+4)

(16:47:15) ChatBot: (jameson) rolls 1d20 and gets 9. Result 13 (hit) Damage/Toughness DC 17

Cole Toughness save against DC 18

Ramani Toughness saves against 18 and then 17

[z-Penny Mann]

The tiger was talking. THE TIGER SPOKE ENGLISH. Oh, God... that joint... I'll never ever smoke again if you get me out of this, God... Terrified, she stumbled away from the talking tiger displaying his organic steak knives.

Penny's stumbles moved her away from the melee, now that she had a big hole because everyone was focusing on the attacking... things. She dashed to Katie's side and checked to see that she was breathing. "Crap, crap, crap," she muttered, glancing back pensively at the fight. When she saw the first tiger that had helped them getting brutally attacked, Penny got over her fear and got dumb.

Her slim, expensive cell phone was in her back pocket. She hadn't gone for it yet because she didn't want the thugs to take it off of her. Her hands started for it.

[OOC: Will save (1d20+5=8)]

[Cole Mulvaney]

Cole grunted as the Knife that actually struck stopped just short of his skin. Evidently the thug had misjudged his distance slightly. He snarled as they attacked and readied his own attack.

Toughness save (19) no damage. (14+5=19)

http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/1789108/

[Ramani]

Ramani growled angrily at the Gang Leader ignoring the attacks around her. The man was mocking her which got her even more mad. Baring her teeth she prepared to follow through with another attack trying to rip the Gang Leader's throat off with here fangs, just when one of the Thugs managed to slice her with his knife. Her following roar was a mixture of pain and rage.

Toughness save vs. DC 17 and 18 - Defens...=14, 1d20+2=21)

(ooc: first save failed by 1, second save success by 6 - Status Ramani - Bruised)

normal Attack, no mods (1d20+3=15)

(ooc: Attackroll - Toughness Save DC 20 (15+5) for the Gang Leader)

[jameson (ST)]

Ramani's powerful jaws crush down on the gang leader's throat tearing skin, muscle, and tissue. Hot coppery blood burst from ruptured arteries as the man stumbles backwards and falls to the ground clutching his throat.

OOC: Bite attack on the throat will do lethal damage

(10:09:03) (jameson): Gang Leader Toughness Save (+5) (DC 20)

(10:09:08) ChatBot: (jameson) rolls 1d20 and gets 5.

Result 10 -> fails by 10 -> Staggered, Disabled, Stunned

He's Bruised, Staggered, Disabled and Stunned - not actions this round, limited to single actions in following rounds, loses dodge bonus and further -2 (Defense bonus = +0

[Rodney]

Now that was an opening. A small part of him felt sorry for the ganger, but then it was the man's own greed and stupidity that had put him there. Turning to face the two gangers who had attacked him squarely, Rodney raised up his wings and hissed loudly in the most menacing tone he could muster.

Intimidate Roll:(15:18:55) ChatBot: (Rodney) rolls 1d20 and gets 1. 1+6=7 total.

"Run, or we'll gladly eat all of us!"

Damn, that didn't come out right.

[jameson (ST)]

OOC:

• (15:58:17) (jameson): opposing Intimidate check - Gang Leader +6

  (15:58:21) ChatBot: (jameson) rolls 1d20 and gets 3.

• (15:58:39) (jameson): opposing Intimidate check - Gang members +3

  (15:58:44) ChatBot: (jameson) rolls 1d20 and gets 6.

No effect on any of the opposing combatants.

[Cole Mulvaney]

Cole frowns. Now Ramani had done it. That guy likely wasn't gonna live from that wound. I still refuse to follow it though He raked his claws across the chest of one of the two attackers, the one who'd actually almost hurt him.

http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/1790210/

10+4=14 on attack check (hit)

damage is 6 (DC 21)

[jameson (ST)]

Cole's claws rake a bloody furrow in triplicate down the young man's front. He cries out in pain and collapses to the ground shock overtaking him instantly and rendering him unconscious.

(08:27:09) (jameson): Thug #2 Toughness Save (+2) (DC 21)

(08:27:13) ChatBot: (jameson) rolls 1d20 and gets 11.

Minion rule, failed T save results in KO

[jameson (ST)]

Still running on a temporary boost of adrenaline and courage and failing to see their friend and de-facto leader fall the gangers press their attack. As Cole attacks one of the men the other uses the chance to ram his knife into Cole's side.

(08:34:07) (jameson): Thug #1 stabbing Cole (+2)

(08:34:12) ChatBot: (jameson) rolls 1d20 and gets 16.

Result 18 Hit - Damage DC 18

Not two yards away Ramani is likewise engaged by the youths who try to slash at her. The nearly feral creature move too quickly for them however and even as their leader falls to the ground with his neck torn open she moves to the side and avoids their attacks.

(08:36:11) (jameson): Thug #4 and #5 attacking Ramani (+2)

(08:36:15) ChatBot: (jameson) rolls 2d20 and gets 3,10.

Result 2 misses

Rodney finds that stopping to taunt one's attackers does little good without a suitably impressive display of power, or at the very least a threat that sounds vicious enough. The two gangers grin madly and attack him even as his words echo as a failure in his own ears.

(08:39:59) (jameson): Thug #3 and #6 attack Rodney (+2)

(08:40:05) ChatBot: (jameson) rolls 2d20 and gets 19,15.

Result 2 hits both damage DC 18

Cole - 1 Toughness save DC 18

Rodney - 2 Toughness saves DC 18

[Cole Mulvaney]

Cole grunts again as the second thug attacks, still catching only fur. He silently thanks God his fur is so damn thick, though he's gonna have to do a little trimming to even things out. He wheels on his attacker and prepares to send him down too.

http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/1790865/

1d20+5 for toughness save (14+5=19=success)

[Rodney]

Rodney stumbled back from the pain of the blows, but the pain was worse than the damage.

(15:59:34) ChatBot: (Adrian) rolls 2d20 and gets 13,20. +1 Toughness so totals of 14 and 21. He's bruised.

One cut a bloody furrow along his forearm. The other struck poorly and left a white mark on his brown flesh.

[z-Penny Mann]

Penny fumbled out her phone, a slim, expensive piece of equipment that would do just about anything. Now, it became a weapon, as she opened it and dialed 911. Before the operator could answer, she set it down, knowing that a call to 911 in New York generated a visit from authorities even if there wasn't an answer - especially if there wasn't an answer.

Then she did what her father had taught her to do: the right thing. Despite the fact that had her father been here he would have told her that the right thing was running far, far away, Penny found a thick, sturdy stick. It was possibly the dumbest thing she'd ever done.

As she turned, she tried to determine which thug to hit first.

[Ramani]

Ramani growled satisfied as she saw the Gang Leader’s body go limp. She turned around to face the two thugs snarling at them and then roared at them menacingly from the top of her lungs. Baring her fangs and claws fully.

Intimidation roll +6 Ranks and +3 Cha mod total +9 (1d20+9=13)

(ooc: Status Ramani – Bruised)

[jameson (ST)]

OOC:

(09:51:34) (jameson): opposing Intimidate check - Gang members +3

(09:51:40) ChatBot: (jameson) rolls 1d20 and gets 17.

Result 20 (pass by 7)

The gang members rally around their fallen leader (all gain +1 defense and attack this round).

[Rodney]

This wasn't working out well. Rodney wasn't built to go one on one with these heavier humans. That was more the tigers' game. Rodney needed some space. His wings flashed out and then down rapidly. The Bat took off into the night sky, not going far, but hoping none the less to disappear in the night sky. He knew he had to come back down, but he wanted to do it with an element of surprise.

(Move:Flight plus Skill Mastery: Stealth 10+11=21)

[Cole Mulvaney]

Cole struck quickly hoping to down the other ganger who'd attacked him just as quickly as he had the other one. The bat had taken wing, leaving him and Ramani outnumbered. "This just gets worse and worse."

((Attack roll

http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/1792671/

15+4=19 total

Damage 6))

[jameson (ST)]

Taking advantage having only a single opponent Cole struck a furious blow. The man's T-shirt split open and red began to soak into the cloth as he fell, already succumbing to shock.

(07:56:21) (jameson): Thug #1 Toughness Save (+2) (DC 21)

(07:56:25) ChatBot: (jameson) rolls 1d20 and gets 4.

Minion rule, failed T save results in KO

[jameson (ST)]

Rodney launched into the night sky almost as though Ramani's roar had intimidated him into flight. The gangers rallied however as their odds became more acceptable. Despite the generally tenuous nature of gangs these men were at least loyal to each other and their leader who even now was heading down a one-way road toward death. The four attacked Ramani venting their frustration at the being who had, in all probability, killed their friend. Two of their blows soundly struck the creature before them and a third sunk deep into soft tissue.

(08:00:59) (jameson): Thugs #'s 3, 4, 5, 6 attack Ramani (+2)

(08:01:05) ChatBot: (jameson) rolls 4d20 and gets 19,20,16,2.

3 hits, 1 critical (+5 damage)

Ramani save vs 2 DC 18 hits and 1 DC 23 hit

[Cole Mulvaney]

No Goddammit you don't get to do that to her! His own voice screamed inside his head as he dashed in stopping one of the attacks. The knife glints in the light before finding purchase in his chest as he draws himself up to protect Ramani. He grunts at the pain, but a deeper part of him burns with rage at actually being hurt. There's a new smell of blood, his, in the air and his lips curl back in a snarl.

"Humans should know better than to gang up on a woman, especially when her mate is standing by." His voice drops to a guttural octave and his eyes radiate hate. Both sets of claws are dripping from the other two men he'd laid out as he prepared to renew combat against the remaining ones.

(((Spent hero point to gain Interpose feat to take the critical hit for Ramani)))

Toughness vs 23

http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/1796292/

15+5=20 fail by 3 1 Bruised level)))

[z-Penny Mann]

Penny knew that she had to keep moving. Speed becomes force. Swing your entire body to gain centrifugal force. Hit in the back of the torso - best place to limit fatality and avoid missing due to the head moving.

She tried to keep it clinical, as she assaulted another person for the first time in her life.

[OOC: Attack roll (1d20+2=11)]

She was so close. Her make-shift club actually slapped his coat, but it missed his skin. Catching herself, Penny shoved her glasses higher up on her face and got ready for another swing.

[Rodney]

Their eyes didn't even try to follow him into the darkness. Instead, the urban savages fell upon the tiger (was that a female?). Knives lashed out and came back bloody. The other tiger (her mate/her brother) leapt into the fray and was also bloodied. They were surrounded!

They also had their backs to Rodney. Time to get it right this time, he thought and he slashed back out of the sky knife cutting the air before him ... until it hit flesh, or at least leather jacket. He hit someone and it wasn't someone on his side.

(15:25:10) ChatBot: (Adrian) rolls 1d20 and gets 12. 12+2=14! Damage DC of 17.

He landed again, blancing on his wings and one foot/hand, knife held in the other. He seethed through his sharp, little teeth, looking as ferocious as he felt.

[jameson (ST)]

The knife sliced through leather and flesh, cutting a clean red line through the man's upper arm. His arm fell limply and the man took off into the dark clutching the bleeding wound.

(15:42:33) (jameson): Thug #3 Toughness Save (+2) (DC 17)

(15:42:38) ChatBot: (jameson) rolls 1d20 and gets 12.

Minion rule, failed T save results in KO

[Ramani]

Originally Posted By: jameson (ST)

The four attacked Ramani venting their frustration at the being who had, in all probability, killed their friend. Two of their blows soundly struck the creature before them and a third sunk deep into soft tissue.

(08:00:59) (jameson): Thugs #'s 3, 4, 5, 6 attack Ramani (+2)
(08:01:05) ChatBot: (jameson) rolls 4d20 and gets 19,20,16,2.

3 hits, 1 critical (+5 damage)

Ramani save vs 2 DC 18 hits and 1 DC 23 hit

Ramani couldn’t believe the audacity of the stupid humans but before she realised what was going to happen the ganger’s did what their namesake stood for – they ganged her up. Her reflexes took over but only Cole managed to save her from the worst stab that could’ve killed her. A white blur intercepted one of the thugs deadlier blow and bought Ramani some time. Unfortunately both the attack and Cole’s initiative caught Ramani by surprise. She managed to dodge one more blow but instead of getting herself out of harms way she ‘dodged’ into a knife which connected with a sickening sound sending her stunned by the pain to the ground.

2 Saves vs. #18 (1d20+5=14, 1d20+5=20)

(ooc: Actual results are 13 and 19 b/c of -1 mod derived from being Bruised. New status - Bruised x2 & Stunned (no dodge, -2 Def))

[Cole Mulvaney]

When Ramani goes down Cole Roars again and puts himself between her and the rest of the gangers, and lashes out with his claws at one of the thug who'd attacked him.

Attack roll

http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/1797170/

2+4=6 clean miss

In his rage and rush, Cole misses the thug he had attacked. "Goddammit!"

[jameson (ST)]

Seeing their fellows unconscious or worse the remaining three men decide that some things just aren't worth risking. Three mutants right out of a movie who look ready to fight to the death are not worth the risk of continuing especially given the way the tide had started to turn. En mass then fled into the night their footsteps quickly fading into the background noise of the city beneath the moans from the other gang members and the gurgling of the dying leader's labored breaths through his ruined throat.

[Cole Mulvaney]

As they run, Cole starts to relax, his claws sliding back into his fingertips. He quickly turns to Ramani on the round and inspects her wound. It doesn't look real bad, but for tonight their excursion is definitely over. He gently lifts her up in his armsnuzzling her neck softly. "Come on Ramani we need to get home and get that treated."

He looks at the bat and the girl with an almost apologetic look. "Sorry if we scared you ma'am, we just weren't gonna keep going when we saw them act like that."

He nods to the bat. "My name's Cole, thanks for the assist. I think we all made a pretty good little team."

[z-Penny Mann]

The tiger was talking again. Penny tried to wrap her brain around that. She really did. But the thought - "That tiger can talk" - kept running into everything she knew and held dear, the Way Things Were. The problem with tigers talking was that tigers didn't talk. Bats didn't get to be so large. Tigers weren't, by nature, altrustic either.

She opened her mouth and to her embarrassment, she said, "Tigers aren't altrustic." She blinked, flushed and then added, "I mean, they are hunters driven by a biological concern for their own survival, to live long enough to pass on their genenic material. They're highly territorial and don't often share hunting grounds. They communicate... um, well, mostly by growls and roars."

She drew a breath and realized she could hear a tinny voice talking. Moving her head to center in on it made her brain swirl, and she bent her knees and braced her hands on them, only to discover she still had her club. She braced that across her knees instead and leaned on it.

That voice was important. Something she had done. Remembering, she jerked her head up and said, "I called the cops. Well, 911. They're probably on their way. You need to go." Her head spun and she muttered, "Omph. Dizzy." She really wanted to get back to the world where she hadn't been almost mugged and tigers didn't talk. If there was a White Rabbit around here, she didn't want to see it.

[Rodney]

He was about to talk with the two tigers when the human talked. What babbled out of her mouth caused him to cock an eyebrow in her direction.

"Umm ... you're welcome," he said with a grin. Turning to the tigers.

"Maybe we should talk about this ... about us being us and all that. Away from here would be better. I've got no interest in meeting the cops."

Rodney russled his wings.

"Oh, I'm Rodney," he added, looking to both Penny and the Tigers.

"I can hover above quietly until help arrives for you," he looks to Penny, "and your friend. It's still dangerous around here tonight."

[z-Penny Mann]

Now the bat was talking. Penny felt a smile distort her face, but it wasn't necessarily an attractive or happy expression. It was very much the expression of someone whose world was coming apart at the seams while she tried to keep it in one piece.

"Rodney," she repeated, the evidence of her prodigious intellect nowhere to be seen. "Rodney the bat." Did this qualify as stranger danger? Could it get stranger?

"I'm ok, I think," she said. She was still smiling, an unsettled, desperate expression. "They won't be back. Noth- No one else will come before the cops arrive." I need to be in a talking-animal-free-zone ASAP!