Log:Clinical Trials

2020/01/25 Cade Baker Copycat 1

Starguard, early morning. Mostly non-powered agents are in HQ at this point, except for two dedicated psionic agents who are more than just Gamma membership card holders. Which is why they get tapped by their Sergeant. There's a supervillain fight breaking out in Downtown that calls for a metahuman response. "Delta Squad's still scrambling. I need you two to get out there and do damage control or stop the villains if you can."

Baker only just rolled in, and rolled in may be an apt term, as he feels like he was carted in this morning. He's still getting used to the rotating roster after the relatively fixed M-F prior. "A fight? Really? This early? Don't the bad guys ever sleep?" Not even time to hit up the caffeinated mud dispenser in the break room.

"Alright. On it." He about-faces to head right back out the door. At least his board's still warm as he snatches it up to drop and hop once he's outside.

Agent Cade Crichton has been hard at work since dawn- mostly assisting with some engineered solutions on base & completing a report on an encounter earlier this week. He'd only just finished up a session in the training facilities & suited up into a flight crew suit when the call goes out.

He gives the Sargent a curt & professional nod as he and Baker are assigned.

"Criminals are always looking for a softspot. Must be a good reason for the early morning spree. Problem is, StarGaurd has a 24 hour watch." He says proudly to Baker before following his fellow agent for the door.

Cade checks in with Command as they exit so they can get more details en route over comms.

"Dispatch, this is Crichton- do we have any description on this attacker?" He inquires.

"It's something new. Reports are just saying it's a monster spotted in the Biotitech Inc building," Dispatch replies.

"Sounds like we'll find out when we get there," Baker points out. "Even the eye-witnesses are probably half asleep. So the sooner we get there, the better." They'll have a description, stop the fight, and might even be back before all the donuts are gone. "See you there." He zips off down the walk on his board, taking advantage of the more sparse pedestrians.

Crichton was going to offer Baker a lift but he seems content enough to ride the mostly vacant streets instead. He can't blame him- its a rare opportunity for any boardsport enthusiast.

<<"Roger that, Dispatch. Baker & Crichton are both en route." He advises as he jets straight up into the air before leaving behind a puff of cloud from collapsed moisture in his wake as he accelerates towards Biotitech Inc.

As the agents arrive in the city block of Biotitech's headquarters, there are business executives and lab researchers running out from the main lobby doors. All for not, as glass from four stories aboves shatters outwards as some bulky, terra cotta colored humanoid slime creature tackles Copycat out the window.

Copycat's arms and legs are straining against sticky-looking tendrils and threads from the creature as they fall down towards the street, a look of abject terror on her face.

Baker swoops his way along and turns into a slowing slide as they near the building of fleeing inhabitants. The windows shattering cause him to start and look up. Then the ... thing emerging causes his eyes to widen. "Holy... and it's got a hostage! And there might be another!" The report did state two villains fighting.

Crichton swoops in, spotting the falling pair and then the glint of the Sun's rays off the falling glass. His eyes widen as he hears Baker's breakdown.

His fearful eyes narrow as he steels himself and resolves to save everyone- even his partner groundside from the falling glass.

He even attempts to catch Copycat and her wrestling partner.

He reaches out with his telekinesis, focusing not on each individual object but an area- hopefully with all of the objects inside it and then halting their movement. His hands mimic his focus- looking as if he's trying to hold an invisible ball that is fighting against his grip.

Cade grits his teeth as he fights off gravity with nothing but the strength of his will and a bit of Guild Tech to keep Copycat & her monsterous beau and the most dangerous shards of glass from falling the entire four stories to the ground below. He manages to halt their fall about halfway to the ground floor.

"Not going... to... let... anyone... splat today." He says with obvious difficulty.

The shards of glass twist and spin on the same axes that were falling but no altitude is lost or gain for them or for the two living beings Cade managed to catch in his telekinetic companion field.

The escaping civilians flee as glass hovers above them, kept safe by Cade's actions.

Their fall arrested, the thing starts drawing Copycat closer to it with its slimy appendages. More tendrils lash out from the main mass to wrap around Copycat's waist.

"Help! But don't--Mmmmff!!" part of the mass wraps around her head, covering her mouth. Copycat tries to squirm free.

Baker is a bit slow to react, but only spares enough time for one mental self-kick. "If you have them, I'll try and get her out. Do you have them?" He reaches out, with mind rather than hands, for Copycat, though remain ready to... oh, screw that. As more tentacles snap out, Baker reaches for just her. Or, rather, around her, to see if he can wedge his 'grip' between her and her ...clingy friend.

"I've got them!" Cade says as he flies closer but keeps his focus on holding it all up. His hands aren't required but it sure seems to help him with the task at hand.

Baker slides the force of his will between Copycat's body(suit) and the slimy tentacles. He then exerts a burst of the fource outwards, rather than in, to splay them enough to slip her out. "Ok, she's free and I've got her, now!" He informs Cade.

The weird appendages are pressed away by Baker's telekinetic power. Copycat pants as she's able to breathe again. "Th-cough!--thanks!"

Cade relinquishes his hold on Copycat, making his job that much easier. He lets out a soft sigh and nods. "Good job, Baker!" He says encouragingly, before moving to fly the tentacled thing up and away- towards the roof so he can put the glass down and the monster away from John Q. Publick and buy himself enough time to try to bubble this thing.

Baker notes on the comms, "I'll be there to support in a moment, Cade." His first priority is getting Copycat safely to the ground. No squishing and, as Cade said, no splatting. He'd hate to make a liar out of him. He brings Copycat down and over to set her near him. "You alright? I'm going up to help him. Let me know if you feel up to tagging along. Up or down."

Copycat rubs her neck as she gets floated over to Baker. "I'm...I'm alright. Just shook up. That thing was a clinical trial patient. I didn't know what I could do that wouldn't hurt them."

The encapsulated mass starts to try spreading itself out against the bubble containing it.

It bursts free and drops down, landing on the roof.

Cade continues moving upward and onward with his package in tow, completely unaware of the origin of the monster in his telekinetic companion field. <<"Copy that, Jack."> Cade replies as he pushes them all up to the rooftop and flies up & over the building's edge himself- looking for a place in the center of the roof- equally distant from every edge so he has enough time to bubble the thing. Things don't quite go the way he plans pretty much immediately when the monster breaks free.

<<"You might want to hurry- it's slipped free. I've still got eyes on. Going to attempt to restrain.">> He reports, trying to keep his voice from audible panic.

He isn't going to try to bring the monster down with any of his StarGuard Hand to Hand Combat training- even with his personal telekinetic field to protect him that seems like an awful idea.

So he focuses his mind on an area around the monster and wills his companion field to surround the monster.

Cade's breathing and grunting can be heard over the comms as he wrangles his companion field into place.

The field forms around the monster and then moves to fill it self in overhead.

The energy is a faintly glowing ethereal green- and doesn't look particularly solid, but the tentacle monster will find that looks can be deceiving.

He comes down for a landing, planting his feet and holding his hands up towards teh bubble so he can keep feeding it telekinetic energy.

Copycat may have jinxed it. Just as she said she was feeling alright, she puts a hand to her head. "I...don't feel so...." she murmurs, looking pale and clammy before she passes out.

Baker blinks as Copycat faints. "Don't go anywhere. I'll be right back." She seems to be safe enough right here, for now. He turns to take a step towards the building, looking up before he leaps.. and launches himself for the roof.

The mass bubbles and tries to throw itself against the bubble barrier. It splatters against the green energy bubble with a horrible squishing sound.

"Heads up," Baker informs Cade as he lands on the rooftop. "The target's a patient here, not some random thing."

Cade grunts as he holds the bubble up against the monster's assault. He nods to Baker upon his arrival but he doesn't break his gaze from his bubble & the thing its containing.

"A patient? What kind of patient? Pretty sure their HMO isn't going to cover this." He inquires and quips simultaneously.

"More importantly- who's patient? We're going to need to reverse this." He says, getting serious again and no less focused.

Baker eyes the thing struggling, and now reaches out to help curtail that. "Copycat said a clinicial trial patient. No idea if they were trying to cure... this, or if it's some kind of side-effect."

The mass struggles and is held within the other telekinetic bubble, unable to escape or touch more stuff. Its lumpy reddish brown form doesn't even recognize something human anymore.

"We should get this to containment ASAP," Baker comments once it seems to be contained, here and now. "I'll pick up Copycat on our way there. The medtechs should check her out." He steps backwards off the edge of the roof and lowers himself to the ground while still maintaining his hold on the thing.

Cade only glances towards Baker to give him a nod after Baker seems to grasp the creature. When Baker seems to have it in hand Cade drops his own bubble so he can take the telekinetic version of a breather.

"That's what I call support!" He says enthusiastically, enjoying having another teke to work with and finding a clear camaraderie with the other Guardian.

He reaches up and reactivates his comms. <<This is Agent Crichton. Baker has this mass of tentacles in hand- was advised by F.M.R. (first metahuman responder) on scene that this is a person. I repeat, a person- and a patient for a clinical trial, presumably for the address we're at." He reports before looking to Baker.

"Copycat? I can escort if you've got a good grip on Grippy." He replies, nodding to the held mass before it and Baker go off the edge.

Cade shrugs and moves to follow and swap to a support position.

With the barrier down, the mass struggles anew, nearly breaking free of Baker's grip.

Baker frowns as the thing nearly pries itself out of his telekinetic grip. "Cade. Can you re-bubble it? I don't think it's going to come along quietly. I can try and subdue it, but I don't want it squirming loose."

Cade follows and nods. "Sure. I can't keep it up forever, so we may have to work out a back and forth if we're planning on holding this thing. Maybe we see if there is a way to contain and reinforce whatever was holding our patient."

He reaches out and summons another bubble around Baker's grasp.

"I'd really like to avoid hurting it, that's for sure." He says, clearly focusing on the task at hand and flying effortlessly as he does so.

Baker waits until the trial subject is englobed before releasing his hold on it. "I'm not going to hurt it, though it may wake up with a headache..." He then focuses his mind on its own consciousness, to give it a jolt. Or three. Or more. Hopefully it will lose consciousness before HE gets a headache.

Cade keeps his focus and flies along side Baker, maintaining the telekinetic field as he does so. "Not the best win, but we'd still finish the mission." He says by way of agreeing with the plan forward. They're StarGuard Agents- the mission has to come first. Style and grace are secondary efforts at best.

After a few mental blasts from Baker, the mass settles and loses most of its cohesion, spreading out along the bottom of the bubble. It looks akin to ground beef.

"Eww..." Baker eyes the less animated ...stuff. "I'm glad you're carrying that..."

Copycat is still passed out on the sidewalk where Baker left her. Dispatch radios to the agents, << A Starguard Containment crew is on the way.>>

Baker hasn't forgotten about Copycat. Now that the threat is contained, and the more permanent ...goo-men crew is on its way, he turns his attention to her. Copycat is lifted gently and brought to hover nearby, so that he can at least visually check her for any previously-overlooked injuries. Also, there's no reason she has to wait on the ground for medtechs to get here.

Copycat floats over to Baker, cradled in telekinetic force limply. Her brow has broken out in a sweat. She doesn't seem seriously injured except maybe some squeezing, but she looks feverish. The places along her face where the goo thing grabbed her, namely along neck, mouth, and cheeks, are a little flushed and red.

"Yeah- I'll bet." Cade says as he holds the goo gingerly, trying to keep it as the focus of his vision without actually looking at it too closely.

"This poor person..." Cade says flying around his bubble to glance back at the hole in the building.

"You ever heard of Biotitech, Baker?" Cade inquires a few moments later after he moves to Baker and Copycat's location.

He looks back at Copycat, only now realizing she was injured.

"Crap! What happened to her?" Cade asks, swinging the bubble back into his POV.

Baker frowns while looking her over. "She seemed fine when I first freed her, then she feinted. It might have some sort of infectious quality? Toxin or disease? She looks like she's fighting off something." He also 'feels' her flushed cheek. "Could be illness, as she seems feverish. I just hope it's not too contagious." Because that could mean they all get stuck in quarantine.

He cues his comms, "Agent Baker to Control. Advise the containment team there is a possible contagion threat, and send a medical team."

<> Dispatch coordinates with the containment team.

"Oh man... that's really bad. Guess we got lucky they called two tekes in at least?" Cade says, struggling to find a silver lining. He's still successful.

He looks back up at the hole and then to their captured quarry, wondering what could have been going on up there.

He lets go of a breath he didn't even know he was holding when Dispatch confirms Baker's request.

The hover containment van arrives shortly, descending from the roofline straight down to a clearing on the street. Agents hop out of the back in hazmat suits, thanks to the warning. There's a sealed containment cell inside the van. One of the guys waves Cade over. "We can take it from here once you deposit it in the containment cell."

Copycat starts to wake up with a groggy groan. Which turns pained as she clutches her stomach.

There's a little flailing as she suddenly thinks she's falling, only to realize she's floating.

"She was trying to warn us about something. Could've been not to get too close.. shhh. It's alright," Baker shifts his comment to Copycat when she comes around. Somewhat? "Just try to relax. I've got you. It's safe, but the med team should check you out."

Cade nods and hoists the Mass towards the containment cell. Every moment he wishes he had another bubble to spare just to be sure but he seems confident to the new arrivals.

Once at the cell Cade examines the entryway to the cell and slides the Mass into it, paying careful attention to keep it from coming into contact with anything until its inside the cell.

Copycat settles down and relaxes as best she can as she's held telekinetically aloft. "It's...it's just a patient, don't hurt...wait, did I already say that...?" she asks, looking disoriented and feverish as she looks around to finally spot where Baker is.

Once the bubble with the mass is loaded into the cell, one of the containment agents closes the cube-shaped unit with the lifting of a lever. The front lifts up, hermetically sealing the cell with the bubble inside. "Alright, we've got it contained. Thanks, Agent Crighton."

Baker moves Copycat around to hover before him, reclined, so that he's in her view. So she can see him grin at her. "You did, and thank you. It's contained, unharmed. Might have a bit of a headache tomorrow, but it wasn't very cooperative. How are you feeling?"

"No problem. Thanks for making great time. Make sure you treat them ok- I get the feeling there's more to this. Either way, despite how it looks that's a person in there so we need to make sure to give them the best treatment we can." He advises with a nod before bounding intot eh sky and flying for Baker & Copycat. He already looks relieved to see Copycat conscious enough to speak. He can't hear bu the knows its a good sign.

He comes for a landing near by but is quiet so Kat can answer Baker's question.

"I feel cold. And my stomach hurts," Copycat murmurs, then winces in pain as she holds her stomach. She starts breathing in a labored pattern.

Baker tries not to scowl, if just for Copycat's benefit. "Med team's on it's way. I think the trial patient had something toxic in it, or it was toxic. They'll get you treated.

Baker adds. "Do you know if it came in contact with anyone else?" To Cade, he notes, "That team better be quick. They may need to screen all of the employees, patients, and bystanders."

"Toxic...?" Copycat asks in surprise, wincing and gritting her teeth at another stomach cramp. She curls up a bit from the pain, then tries to focus. After a few moments, she shifts into a red-headed man in loose, bagging clothing. Breathing starts to come easier. He starts to relax as the stomach pain eases up. "It touched some of the scientists up there," CopyRick says as he looks up towards the broken window Copycat smashed through.

"I'll see what I can do about giving one of the medical convoy an express route here." Cade says before looking ot Kat to say something when she turns into Rick. He cocks his head and then flies a bit hgiher and taking off down the roadway.

He activates his comms.

<<'This is Baker- I'm looking for the medteam en route to give them an airlift to site. We've got a friendly down and in need of immediate assistance.">>

<> informs Dispatch. Should be a quick matter for him to go by and scoop up the team's vehicle.

It's only the second time Baker's witnessed Copycat, well, copycat, and it still takes him a bit by surprise. He expects she knows what she's doing, though, and the lessening signs of discomfort prove that. "Alright. We'll get everyone screened. You feeling better, now?"

CopyRick nods, wiping away the sweat from his brow. "Much. Just burning off whatever this is." Tension leaves his body and he changes back into Copycat. The red marks are gone, and she's looking a lot less pale. "Thanks for helping me."

<<"Copy that Dispatch. En route to them now. Tell them to keep their eyes over the roadway and flash the lights when they see me. Crichton out.">> Cade requests before he begins accelerating now that he knows where he's going.

Baker nods. "That is one useful trick. Sit tight here as long as you need. I need to get the employees and patients corralled to get screened." He gains a little shimmer as a field snaps into place aroud him, giving him his own private bubble of air. Just in case the others get grabby, or its otherwise contagious. He then heads off to start directing the recent evacuees to a staging area for the incoming team.

Copycat nods and lets the agents take charge of the situation, trying to get her feet on the ground again.

As Cade flies over the city, he spots the traffic jam due to a fender bender. It doesn't seem serious, but it is taking up an intersection. The medteam van flashes its lights when they spot Cade.

Crichton arcs to the right around a building and begins accelerating again as soon he's banked around the corner.

He swoops in a tight circle near the fenderbender and then looks for the Medical Team Van.

The lights bring him on in easily. Once he's close enough Cade reaches out with his mind and attempts to lift the van out of traffic after bubbling it for safety and ease of transportation.

<<"Alright Dispatch, I've got them and am heading back to Baker's location.">> He advises.

Dispatch acknowledges. The medteam van lifts up into the air in Cade's grip and is safely air-lifted over to the BiotiTech Inc building. Once set down, the Med team disembarks with field kits.

Cade flies along the Med Team. "We've got a local meta, Copycat down with an unknown pathogen or toxin." He advises. "She was looking pretty rough when I left to get you. She was even shapeshifting when I left- and considering what I put into containment, I'm presuming shapeshifting is bad." He adds as he tries to guide them towards Baker & Kat's last position.

Copycat's still waiting where she was left, but Baker has set up a staging area with the evacuees gathered. They're all a little shook up, but calmed down upon seeing the patient loaded into the containment van.

The Containment team is closing up the van and getting ready to depart.

"Everyone," Baker calls to those who fled the building, and any that might appear similarly ill, "its safe, and medical services are on the way. Please, for your own health, gather over here so that they can tend to any who require assistance." He waves them over to an area near the building, but away from the debris.

A few people in labcoats look winded and are starting to show signs of being feverish as they follow Baker's instructions. About three people in total.

The med team heads over to the gathered civilians and begins treating the sick people.

That would be Baker's cue to head back over to Copycat. He may have some medical training, but he's not screening crew. "I'm not sure exactly what you 'burned off' earlier, but you still might want to let them check you out. Then again, they are fairly hands-on."

Copycat blushes. "Well, they'll use gloves at least, right?" she asks, looking much better now. "That's probably still a good idea, though," she agrees, though sounds a bit uncomfortable. She hesitates for a moment, then finally makes herself take the first steps towards the med team.

Baker ahs and hadn't thought of that. "Yes. That's always standard precaution, for everyone involved. " He nods. "I only meant I'd understand why you'd be hesitant." He escorts her there, and even sees that she gets bumped to the head of the line among those who appear asymptomatic.

Copycat still insists the symptomatic people get seen first. "I really do feel better," she tells Baker. "I shapeshifted into someone who has regeneration abilities."

Baker nods to her. "Understood, and I don't doubt it, but humor me? Besides, it's procedure."

"Okay," Copycat relents, holding up her hands briefly in surrender with a smile. "Since it's procedure and you asked me to humor you."

The Med Team checks the sick patients. One of the team heads over to Copycat, latex gloves on and a bag with her. "Hello there. How are you? Are you experiencing any symptoms?" He starts to reach for Kat's wrist.

Copycat flinches briefly, but seeing the gloves, she gives her wrist over so he can check her pulse. "I was having bad stomach cramps and passed out, but I heal fast?" Well, she can heal fast as Rick, anyway.

Baker does seem humored, and relieved once she's getting looked at. That lets him shift his attention out to the scene as a whole, namely the others getting looked at, for any belated signs of alarm. There's bound to be a followup investigation, but for now he's just here to get the scene cleared.

The medic checks her pulse, bloodpressure, and her eyes to see if they're dilated. "Okay, you seem to be fine. But if you feel any symptoms, go to the doctor or the hospital, alright?"

"Alright," Copycat nods and agrees.

The symptomatic patients seem to be getting worse. The medics are quickly getting ready to move them out to the hospital as regular EMTs finally make their way to the scene after going around the traffic. The sick patients are loaded up and taken to the hospital.