Archive Mutants & Masterminds: Future Imperfect - Chapter 1: The end of the world as we know it

[Travis Kincaid]

Travis' head snapped around toward Joshua, he raised his hand fingers curled over as though grasping something. From within his hand little pops echoed forth as the air within was bombarded with restrained force. After a moment Travis lowered his hand, "What is going on here? I was in the casino and then ..." He trailed off obviously trying to recall what had happened to him. "Where are we? Who are you all?"

[Adrian Moss]

Toy manikins, writing in something that cold be German, and now 'Sitrep'. This sounded like a bad horror movie, only he and Becca were going through it, and the pain was very real. He really wanted to stop people and shake them all until someone told him what was really going on.

There wasn't the time for that, and who would he grab ... and who was to say their mutant power didn't trump his. This was so frustrating. He was supposed to be protecting Becca and here he had led her into this nightmare. Were else could he have left her, though?

Bah, all this was pointless. Get out first, think about the why's of it all later.

"Mr. Sitrep, why don't we keep with the business of getting out and ask the probing questions later. I'm bulletproof," he points thumb to his chest, " and she knows the way out," he waves a hand in Ronnie's direction. "Let's get with the leaving."

[SalmonMax]

Unlike Adrian, Juno had some experience with soldiers, and had heard 'sitrep' before, albeit it always in more teasing, playful tones. She stared hard at Travis, then Joshua as he gave his explanation.

"We all woke up in here," she tells Travis. "Only the huge punk girl seems to know anything. She says she's leading us out."

[Travis Kincaid]

Travis made a face, "Dammit." He looked back the way they had come, toward the lab, it didn't take much to see he was torn between moving forward and going back. "I need answers," he murmured quietly. He looked at the others around him though and saw the terror in their eyes, the worry. Fear was plainly written on some of their faces, concern and worry on others. Finally he nods to himself.

"OK, those robot things, they were using kinetic rounds, hyper velocity right? Anybody else bulletproof? If not the kid and I can block for the rest of you." Travis snapped his fingers and abruptly his form shimmered as though seen through the heat of a fire. He nodded to Ronnie, "Let's blow this joint."

Click to reveal..

Hurt (-1) / QP 10/28 / WP 1/3

*Activated EM: Shield total soak is now 23/21 vs physical (11/9 vs energy)

[Adrian Moss]

It was getting crowded up here. A hard decision had to be made. Then he recognized the man.

"Travis?" he whispered as the glowing one came up.

That made it easier.

"Becca, go back and stick with Juno. We have this handled."

He hoped that was right, them being safe because if something came up behind them ... enough of that. Time to leave.

[Travis Kincaid]

Travis turned and looked at Adrian, "You. I recognize you, from the shelter. Damn kid, how'd you get pulled into this?" He shook his head almost immediately, "That's talk for another time and place. Preferably one with beer and steaks." Travis cracked his knuckles and Adrian found it odd considering that Travis' hands had barely a scuff on them let alone calluses.

[SalmonMax]

"Go back?" Juno asked as she came up to join Adrian at the front. "I already said I was going in first."

She flaps a hand at Joshua. "His little...goblins or whatever just startled me is all. Seriously though, lets go. First in. Semper fi."

[Stargaizer]

Kevin watched everything that was going on up front. He also watched the young, white haired, white skinned lady (Annalise) who seemed a little green under the gills.

He spoke up, hopefully just loud enough that the two 'bulletproof's in front could hear him. "I've got everything covered back here. Just get us all the hell out of here!" Hypervelocity rounds, that doesn't sound good... If something happens I'll probably have to strain to cover these people... oh well, won't be the first time.

The front of the line taken care of, Kevin brought his focus back to the end of the line; and Annalise in particular. He tried to be soothing as he spoke to her, bringing all his many, many years of practice to bear. "Hey there; are you feeling alright? You look a little green around the gills. I'm a doctor, I might be able to help..."

He tried to appear as if he were giving her his full attention, and he was giving her alot, but he didn't want anything to sneak up on them while he was distracted.

[Tim Wiley]

Things were more interesting by the moment. It seemed that they were all mutants and each one had their own unique powers. Score! his brain shouted as he realized that he had the proverbial 'smorgasborge' of powers to play..er choose from. The only question was when to sample the various tidbits of abilities. It was probably smartest to wait until they were out of this retro-tech facility. In the mean time, striking up a conversation might prove fruitful.

"Hey doc." Tim moved closer to the man who seemed distracted by a beautiful and wet woman in the exodus from the facility. "I can use some healing too."

[Stargaizer]

Kevin looked up from Annalise at Tim as he approached, showing that he was still paying attention to his surroundings. He looked Tim over, poking lightly at the holes in his side where the tubes were attached.

His tone was calm and reasurring. "Well, it doesn't look like you have any more injuries than the rest of us. We're all just a little banged up; nothing serious and nothing that a few night's rest won't cure. Now, if there's something else wrong with you, something that I didn't see, we can talk now, but otherwise I'd have to ask that you wait until we get out of this place, to somewhere where we can take a breath and I can preform full examinations. Not to mention get access back to some medical supplies." With that he gave Tim a smile, showing that he really did want and mean to help, just not right this instant (unless there was something more wrong with Tim than meets the eye...)

[Grav]

Annalise looks to the man identifying himself as a doctor. "It feels like there's a swarm of drunken bees making their rounds through French Quarter in my stomach. My sense of balance is kinda fuzzy too. Beyond that I feel alright considering how messed up this evening has been."

[Stargaizer]

Kevin nodded to Annalise, and, after apologizing that he didn't have his 'bag of tricks' on him, offered to give her something once they were out to settle her stomach, promising that it would most likely go away in a couple of minutes on its own. He also offered to provide his arm if she needed it for balance on their way out.

All of this while waiting on an answer from Tim and waiting for the column to move out.

[Rorx]

As the water starts to slowly dry Tom starts feeling twitchy, some of his muscles jumping at random on their own but only in a minor way that doesn't produce any gross movement. He starts rubbing his arms and legs occasionally to relieve the feeling. At the same time he feels a little on edge, wanting, no needing to be on the move, and the quicker the better.

He moves briefly closer to the front, and while slightly taken aback by the homunculi when he sees no-one else is significantly bothered by them at the moment he ignores them for now.

"Come on people, lets get a move on I don't want to get put back in there because you guys were too busy chatting."

Having said that he moves back to where Morgan is in the line.

"Well I didn't figure you for a mutant, but then I did my best to keep undercover as well so I guess we're even. What happend to the girl you were with? I notice are purple haired leader is barely fitting into the same design of dress."

[Tim Wiley]

,,

Quote:

"Well, it doesn't look like you have any more injuries than the rest of us. We're all just a little banged up; nothing serious and nothing that a few night's rest won't cure. Now, if there's something else wrong with you, something that I didn't see, we can talk now, but otherwise I'd have to ask that you wait until we get out of this place, to somewhere where we can take a breath and I can preform full examinations. Not to mention get access back to some medical supplies."

That's great doc. he thought to himself. I'll do it myself- later. With your unbeknownst help of course.

"I understand." Tim said with feigned forlorn, his eyes and head looking at his feet. After a brief moment, he lifted his head and stuck his hand out for the doc to shake. "Hi. I'm Tim"

[Katalyst]

"Christ people we going to leave or what? You guys can take your sweet as time but I'm not trying to stick around waiting on whatever it was that brought us here, so stick a fork in it and let's go!" Joshua says rather angrily.

[z-May Allman]

Ronnie nodded to Travis. "We were taken but now we're going; the rest can wait. <But it's Berlin again,>" she said, adding the last in German. "<We need to get everyone out of here.>"

She glanced back at the loud, angry guy and nodded, then ghosted into the corridor. Wish I was doing this, Lena said nervously.

So do I, Ronnie solemnly replied. So do I.

The room she'd come from was a dead end, so Ronnie called the elevator, pressing herself against a wall and preparing for the worst.

[Travis Kincaid]

Originally Posted By: May Allman

Ronnie nodded to Travis. "We were taken but now we're going; the rest can wait. <But it's Berlin again,>" she said, adding the last in German. "<We need to get everyone out of here.>".

Travis shook his head, "Balls," he muttered. He looks at Adrian, "Kid be prepared for the worst but if it comes to it and you all need to retreat I'll stay behind and cover you all." He looks at Ronnie before she slips around the corner and mouths, Don't you leave me behind again.

[Adrian Moss]

It took him a moment to mull it over, but Adrian nodded. After all, if he was so invulnerable, how had he been captured so easily before? Best not find that out again. He stole a quick glance back to Becca, who like Juno was bunched up in the front. Damn, they were ready for a grenade to take them all out. Joy.

Adrian's eyes tracked forward again. Ronnie was calling the elevator. That could be really good, or really bad. Still, he hadn't seen any cameras, so maybe ...

[Joani]

The doors of the elevator opened with a loud clanking sound. The doors where huge, like everything else. It felt a little like being caught in some retro-future-style Alice in Wonderland meets Aliens setting.

The mutants entered the elevator and Ronnie checked out the options. There was one level below them which read <Laboratorium 2>

The current level read <Laboratorium 1>

Level one above read <Maschienen- und Reaktorraum>

Top Level read <Brücke und Kommandozentrale>

Click to reveal..

Translations: Laboratory 2, Laboratory 1, Machine- and Reactor room, Bridge and HQ

[Travis Kincaid]

Once it was clear that the elevator was empty Travis spoke up, "Come on folks, into the elevator, quickly now." He stood just outside the door looking back down toward the lab, back toward the possibility of tangible clues to what had happened to him. I'll be back and I'm going to bring this place down on your heads!

[Adrian Moss]

Adrian moved in then stood by the door so that other people could pass and he would be in the front facing of the group when they went down, or up, and the doors opened again. He looked over at Travis on the others side. Travis had a strange expression on his face, so no words were exchanged. Adrian gave a quiet sigh as Becca got on board too. Besides, it was nice that now Juno could stand at his side. The doors were large enough that it would take three to shield the others inside.

[Stargaizer]

Kevin shook Tim's hand and replied "Dr. Kevin Bridges, at your service. I really think we should be going now, though."

Kevin ushered everybody into the elevator, having to shoo a couple of people from the back of the line. As such, he was the last person in, standing in the middle of the doorway (far enough in that the door would have no problem shutting). He looked back and forth between Adrian (who he recognized) and Travis. He explained, "Helping people isn't just about curing their wounds, it's also about standing between them and those that would hurt them. I've had more than my fair share of bullets bounce off of me as well. And, on top of that, I should be able to cover this entire door with a forcefield. I don't know how much of those hyper-velocity rounds it'll stop, but between that and us three we should be able to keep these people safe."

With that he looked towards Ronnie. "So, which way?"

[z-May Allman]

Ronnie thought quickly. She hated being responsible for all these people; it made her really nervous. Travis' mouthed comment didn't help, as it was a reminder of a time when she had failed someone else in a major way. I won't, she mouthed back; she'd already made that promise to him.

The bridge would be really heavily guarded. The engine room, in theory, less so. Plus there might be a ship they could steal. Her mind made up, Ronnie said, "Maschienen- und Reaktorraum. When this thing stops, you three guys be ready." Silently, she prepared for the worst.

[Joani]

As soon as Ronnie hit the button a strange mechanical sound right next to the button console could be heard followed by an hydraulic sound. A second console appeared next to the first showing a standard digit-interface with the numbers 1 to 10 and * and # symbols.

Above it stood in german letters <Bitte Sicherheitscode eingeben>

This thing must've been really old by the looks and sounds of it.

Click to reveal..

Translation: Please enter security code

[z-May Allman]

"Aw, fuck me!" Ronnie whispers, before bending down and trying to see if she could bypass it - of it if would provide a hint to the code on the console.

She peered at it, and saw wear on some of the buttons. "Ok," she mumbled, thinking rapidly. 1-5-9 were the numbers with wear, and after a moment, she grimaced. "Assholes, don't use birthdays in your security codes. Jesus." She punched in 1-5-1-9-1-9 and hit enter. The elevator started to move.

Click to reveal..

Ronnie's Intrusion (spent WP, +1 diff): 2 sux1d10=9, 1d10=4, 1d10=1, 1d10=10, 1d10=5

[Joani]

The elevator started to move with a mechanical roar and yet another clank. It took almost a minute until the elevator reached its destination.

The doors opened and instantly the elevator was flooded with hot, steamy heat. The room ahead was tinged in an orange light and the heavy sound of machinery at work could be heard. So far no other personell could be seen.

The engine-room stretched itself like a large hall at least 300 feet long and 100 feet wide. The ceiling was easily 20 feet high. In the distant low voices could be heard talking in a foreign language.

Click to reveal..

The voices speak german but it is yet too distant to make any sense

[Travis Kincaid]

Travis scowled. "Unless one of you folks can pull an H.G. Wells and go transparent I'll be back in a minute." Nobody replied that they could and Travis, crouched low, began to quietly move forward out of the elevator car.

[z-May Allman]

"Squishies in the center, toughies on the outside," Ronnie whispered. "No one touch anything. Shield-making dude, you are ahead of me but behind Travis. Trav, not too far ahead - don't want a repeat of Berlin, right?"

[Adrian Moss]

'I'm kind of quiet, Adrian thought over the sound of steam escaping. He wasn't mutant-style quiet, but close enough. Still he had been caught once or twice. Maybe this wasn't the best place.

He looks into the room. It didn't look great. If something happened to Travis, then what.

'I guess then I'll cut it on!'

[SalmonMax]

Juno frowned to herself. She was quiet still...still focused on watching and listening. Everything was so bizarre! The oversized movie set, and everything being in German of all things. She mentally chastised herself for not having learned that language while stationed there.

Worse though was the nagging suspicion that was starting to dog her. This purple haired fraulein, who'd just happened to escape whatever happened to them, and who just happened to speak German and who just happened to know the code for the elevator. The 'just happened tos' were piling up awfully damn fast.

"What happened in Berlin?" Juno whispered.

[Travis Kincaid]

Travis smirked at Ronnie, "As I recall that went down rather poorly, yes." He looked at Adrian, "Keep your head down and look for anything that might be an exit. Look for signs that say Ausgang. A-U-S-G-A-N-G. If you see any hostiles make a fist and hold up next to your head, Ronnie will know to stop." Travis shows him the gesture he means, then with a silent nod he slips forward into the engine room.

[z-May Allman]

Ronnie sighed. "What part of 'we are sneaking out' do you people not understand?" she grumped softly, keeping her voice down. "I'll tell you about Berlin, or Travis can, later, when we're not trying to quietly escape. I've dealt with these fucks, and I just want out of here."

To the scrappy kid, she said, "We're looking for a ship, some way outta here. We're not in a building, and we're going to need transportation off this thing, whatever it is."

[Stargaizer]

Kevin looked at Ronnie. His voice was calm and quiet, just like one would expect from someone used to covert operations. "I would actually prefer to be in the back, as a rear guard, but I can see your point. Just make sure you have someone back there responsible enough to keep everybody together. It's impossible to protect everybody if they're all spread out. Oh, and just so you know, I'm not much for sneaking... not anymore anyways."

With that he assumed his spot in the marching order, behind Travis, in front of Ronnie and slightly to the side of and behind Adrian.

[Katalyst]

Joshua said nothing as the others continued to talk amongst themselves. He was glad that someone could understand the writing that was everywhere, cause he would have been lost in the sauce had he tried to make by himself.

Being quite wasn't a problem for him at all as he moved in behind the guy Travis referred as 'kid'. He was worried that the others might make to much noise, as they walked out of the elevator.

Click to reveal..

Stealth roll

1d10=4, 1d10=5, 1d10=2, 1d10=2, 1d10=10, 1d10=2, 1d10=10, 1d10=1

2 sux

[Tim Wiley]

It was at times like this that time wished he could speak another language. Everything seemed to be in German, he knew that much, and he was confident that he remembered what the words were. Their shape and order were easiest enough to remember. If only someone could translate them for him he would remember them. Maybe it was time to take up German, if only to find out more about the people responsible for his abduction and incarceration.

The ones who professed to be bulletproof, arrayed themselves in such a way as to shield him and the others. Now that he was surrounded by mutants, he was curious about them. What powers did they posess? Whose powers were useful to copy in a combat situation, and whose for other mundane yet useful tasks? I'll take a peak at them in time, and see what each has to offer.

In the back of his head he realized that his pack of cigs was probably ruined. he would need to procure one soon or he would become ornery.

"Anyone have a smoke?" he asked innocently.

[Rorx]

Tom followed the lead of those scouting ahead and tried to move quietly as they left the lift.

Click to reveal..

Stealth [1]+5 dice

(01:34:22) ChatBot: (Tom) rolls 6d10 and gets [3],7,1,6,7,1.

2 sux

[Travis Kincaid]

Travis looked over his shoulder, "I don't know who asked for a cigarette but if you light up now I'll kill you myself." It came out in a whispered snarl that allowed no room for uncertainty, he meant the threat, perhaps not literally but certainly the spirit of it. He shook his head and then ghosted forward moving.

Click to reveal..

Stealth 3 + Dex 5 + 1 M-Dex

(07:43:22) ChatBot: (Travis_Kincaid) rolls 8d10 and gets 2,3,5,7,4,9,3,10.

(07:43:29) (Travis_Kincaid): and the mega die

(07:43:33) ChatBot: (Travis_Kincaid) rolls 1d10 and gets 5.

(08:54:14) (Travis_Kincaid): pop the 10

(08:54:17) ChatBot: (Travis_Kincaid) rolls 1d10 and gets 3.

Result = 3 Sux

[Grav]

Annalise stops and comes to a decision. "OK I might have a faster way." It wasn't something she wanted advertised, but everyone here was a mutant like her.

She had to focus more than normal due to the nausea, but did her best to open a warpgate to the top of the school where she taught.

The Gate began as a tiny pinprick of blackness, rimmed by brilliant white. As her Will forced the gravitic pinhole opening larger she smiled as she could start to see the school through it. It was like looking through a window in space/time, one where the window got cleaner and larger, and the the Hope of Freedom was tangible in her.

((Paying double qp) and spending 1 WP to use power.

(08:37:28) ChatBot: (Grav) rolls 5d10 and gets 9,6,10,5,7.

If rerolling 10's then

(08:39:16) ChatBot: (Grav) rolls 1d10 and gets 10.

(08:39:22) ChatBot: (Grav) rolls 1d10 and gets 10.

(08:44:12) ChatBot: (Grav) rolls 1d10 and gets 5.

add successes equal to quantum 3+3=6/ reroll 10's 5+3=8

sux 6-Range 200,000 km

sux 8-Range 20M km

[Stargaizer]

Kevin looked at Annalise, then back to Ronnie, then back to the portal that was opening. His hand went up in the 'halt' sign, and he said to Ronnie, in the same quiet voice he had before. "I suggest that we e-vac some of these civilians, and the rest of us stay and figure out exactly what is going on and who's running this show. If we all port out now, we'll never figure out even where we were all taken away to, much less how to keep this from happening agian.

I suggest that those of us who are bulletproof stay, along with you, because you can speak and read German, mine's too rusty to be of use, and the lady who can open the portal, so we can get out quickly when we need to. Everybody else should get out while they can; the smaller the intrusion force the better."

With that said, he looked to Ronnie for confirmation or rebuttal, then looked around at everybody else, to judge their reactions.

[Joani]

Annalise concentrated feeling nausea boiling up from the depths of her bowels. It felt to her as if she was freefalling. Through sheer force of will she swallowed the urge to puke down and reached out to fold space to her liking.

Her perception skewed extremely and for a moment she wasn't sure if she could make it. The Portal slowly opened and she concentrated on a place far away from here where she thought safety would be. Annalise stumbled as control of her powers constantly slipped. She felt like bouncing through the room without any means to regain her footing. Left was right, up was down, black turned white.

The Portal showed a place somewhere in the middle of nowhere in the desert near Las Vegas. Then the image flickered and changed as if someone switched the channels on the TV. The Portal showed a room exactly like the one you were inside right now.

Annalise's eyes rolled wildly and she reached out for Kevin to support her - then she fell unconscious with blood tickling out of her ears and nose.

Click to reveal..

The Portal leads back to the room. PM for Grav with details