Log:Night at the Museum

2015/12/19 Copycat Griffin Onyx Rick 1

Griffin smirks as he heads for the front door, and holds it open for her. "I didn't mean you'd hold me back. I meant you should be in bed resting..."

A cold breeze blows through the store.

"...and I know you're 'ok' but sometimes its harder later than it is now. Just consider it more training. Self-awareness training."

Griffin leans back against the open door and gazes at Copycat appreciatively.

Copycat slips out the door, smiling gratefully to Griffin as she passes. The cold breeze buffets her a little and she hunches up her shoulders in response, then wraps her scarf around an extra time to keep her warm and snug. "I...I feel fine now," she responds, but she's most likely fooling herself and no one else with that answer. "What's harder later? I'm good. More than good, I'm still alive. And besides, I can rest in bed once Kysmette is safe." Chances are if a baby wasn't missing, she'd be ready to curl up into a pillow fort and eat ice cream right now after what she's been through. And that's just for starters! But Cat is trying to put on a brave face and push herself.

Griffin nods knowingly. "I know you do. I'm just telling you- it's ok."

He bumps the door once with his rear end to give hismelf time to clear its path before it closes.

"It doesn't matter. I'll be there."

He looks toward the sun and makes a bit of a disappointed face. "Weather like this always makes me miss home- well at this time of year atleast. Not having any snow on the ground in December is more than weird." He says, speaking casually as they head toward the museum.

Copycat walks alongside Griffin, dressed not in her usual costume, but plain clothes. Not something she usually does in public. She's wearing a pair of jeans, a dusty purple long sleeve top, and a cream colored scarf wrapped around her neck against the chill. And, of course, black knitted gloves. She offers a soft smile. "What's okay?" she asks innocently, still trying to convince herself nothing's wrong. Denial is great that way. She gazes up ahead, trying to focus on their mission when he talks of home. "Really? Where're you from?"

"The Alaskan bush- well somewhere between Glennallen and Talkeetna was where I spent my childhood. But then we moved down towards Bethel when my mom passed." He says. He speaks a bit softer when he mentions the passing of his mother.

Griffin's BDUs has become his everyday wear under most circumstances these days- but that's mostly because he never seems to be off the clock. Today is no different, but there have been a number of Cat related distractions.

"The rose-colored past, where bacon roamed freely on the plains and unicorns ensured the world was flush with rainbow sherbert for everyone," suggests Rick Mason. He takes a sip of his coffee and strolls along beside and slightly behind the other two heroes. Rick eyeballs his coffee cup as though surprised it tastes the way that it does, then looks over at Griffin and Copycat with a vague smile and a shrug of his shoulders.

Pausing a moment, Rick makes a face at Griffin. It may be something like sympathy and apology and 'gosh, you are good at making me sound like a royal dick, man' all rolled up into one expression. Rick glances over at Cat and offers a smile and a roll of his shoulders as he adds, "Sup?"

In all their training, they haven't spoken much about their personal pasts. Just general stuff. Copycat understands Griffin is from another era, but she knows little of that previous life or how he ended up here. Copycat's eyebrows perk up and she looks over her shoulder and back towards Rick, a smile blossoming in greeting. More welcomed distractions! "Rick! H-hi. I was just thinking about you." Because who else would she go to for advice on dying?

Griffin turns around and returns Rick's puzzling look with a smirk. "Sup, Mason? Good to see you!" He says offering his hand for Secret Army-Daps.

"We're heading towards the museum- we're following a lead on Kysmette's kidnapping. You're welcome to join us- who knows, maybe you'll get to blow something up?"

"You... Were?"

Rick's expression is one of surprise at Copycat's response to his mysterious appearance. His smile gains a few hundred watts as a result, however, which is probably a good sign. Quickly re-arranging his coffee cup in his hands, Rick engages in mobile Secret Army-daps with Griffin.

"Well, far be it from me to turn down a chance to explodinate a museum. Those come along so rarely, especially in this dark, Trogdor-free future."

"Yeah, I was," Cat replies with a warm smile. "I wanted to talk to you about something. But, it'll have to wait. There's a baby girl who was kidnapped, and we only have a lead of...something. Not even sure if it's related." She stares at Rick curiously. "Trogdor-free future...?" she asks with some confusions. She has not heard of the Burninator in this new lackluster future of NOT ENOUGH FLYING CARS. But for some reason, in the back of her mind, it feels familiar.

Griffin nods as Copycat speaks and turns back to continue following his GPS to the museum.

"A lead is a lead..." is all he says to Cat's uncertainty.

Copycat nods in agreement with Griffin. "Well, it's all we got," she says as she huddles up against the cold and wraps her arms around herself. "I don't know how this Eye of Anubis connects to Next Generation or Ninth...but if it's something Alpha was thinking about, we may run into them again." She doesn't sound very eager to run into Alpha anytime soon.

Griffin reaches out and attempts to grab Cat's hand. If she allows, he will grab and give her a light & reassuring squeeze.

His face betrays nothing, as now thta Rick's along, he wouldn't be so upset about running into the twins again. They've got a blood debt to pay up on- Griffin plans on collecting.

Rick looks puzzled as his brown eyes swivel back and forth between Griffin and Copycat. More than once, Rick opens his mouth as if to say something, but seems to think better of it. Instead, eventually, Rick steps up alongside Copycat opposite Griffin, and attempts to wrap an arm comfortingly across her shoulders. His other hand offers his coffee cup.

"It sounds like you guys could use this coffee more than I can."

As much as Cat is trying to hide it and keep her mind busy on the mission, old soldiers like Griffin and Rick can probably easily see the shell shocked look in her vaguely haunted eyes. She thinks she's maintaining pretty well, but she also has no clue how bad she is at hiding it. So busy is she and her attempts at deception that she's not as focused on what's happening around her to realize her rouse is completely transparent.

She doesn't resist the grab at her hand, or the arm across her shoulders. Copycat blinks, as it just now starts to dawn on her that her act isn't fooling anyone. "It's...that apparent, huh?" she asks softly, accepting the cup of coffee. She squeezes Griffin's hand and lets her shoulders sag beneath Rick's arm.

"I've seen bigger and 'stronger' dudes crack under less pressure, Kat." Griffin says warmly. "I think Atlas could take some notes from you."

His hand lingers, as if he's the one who doesn't want to let go of hers.

"And now Mason's here too- we've got your back. You just do the best you can, and we'll carry the slack." Griffin smiles, and then leans into Rick's view to give him a nod.

"You're hanging out with an Army Ranger and a bomb squad tech, it's kinda hard to hide from old pros," replies Rick. Not that his brown eyes have stopped looking "haunted" since before he rolled into Colonial Bay. He looks over at Griffin and nods back, a faint, sober smile accompanying the nod.

"Focus on what's important for now. Get me up to speed on the Kysmette Kidnapping. How's this Nubian's brown eye tied in?"

Cat can't help but look relieved at the offers of support, but also awed at how they do it all. "You guys...you're the real heroes," she comments with a soft smile. "Alright, what do you know about Kysmette's kidnapping? Have you two talked about it any?" she asks as she looks between the pair as they walk. With the hand holding, the arm around her shoulders, and the coffee, she's starting to feel much warmer. She's no longer huddling against the cold winter breeze.

Icon enters from Nicholston.

Griffin laughs at Rick's brilliant titling that dies down to a soft chuckle as he answers, "No- we haven't gotten to catch up yet. I don't think I've seen Mason in a few days..."

He's distracted by the amethyst light falling from the sky. He looks over to it to make sure it's not trouble.

His hand instinctively releases Copycat's and goes for his sidearm. Someone's a bit jumpy today.

Rick continues to stroll alongside Copycat and Griffin, one arm draped across Cat's shoulders as they head in the general direction of the maglev station. His attention follows Griffin's back toward the amethyst light plunging toward street level. One eyebrow quirks upward before Rick shrugs a little bit.

"I know the Porter kid got nabbed. The Ambassador and I heard about that from that Caleb guy. Get me up to speed on your legwork though. Who's Alpha and how's this ol' brown eye involved?"

Copycat walks alongside Griffin and Rick, dressed not in her usual costume, but plain clothes. Not something she usually does in public. She's wearing a pair of jeans, a dusty purple long sleeve top, and a cream colored scarf wrapped around her neck against the chill. And, of course, black knitted gloves, one of which holds a cup of coffee. Rick's arm is draped over her shoulders comfortingly, and her other hand holding Griffin's until Icon shows up and startles him.

"Not brown eye," she can't help but snicker at the nickname. "Eye of Anubis. It's a black stone. Something Alpha wants, and Alpha and Next Generation are working with someone who I think was behind taking Porter's baby. No idea how to find them, but finding Next Generation may help us track back to the kidnappers. Or maybe they're also interested in the Eye. I...found out about it when Alpha...um. Touched me." She sounds like she's hiding something for sure.

"Look," replies Rick, "I am not calling it The Eye of a Nude Ass. That is just asking for trouble from the Upright Citizen Brigade."

Rick offers his knuckles to Griffin for a bro bump. This may be a hilarious old school reference. If only we were in the year 2015. Woe is Rick.

Thoughtfully, Rick tips his head to regard Copycat as she tries to explain about Alpha. Arching an eyebrow, Rick inquires, "I sense there's more to the story, Cat. What else am I missing here?"

Griffin's hand lowers as the purple man walks into the coffee shop. He glances back to the shop even as they pass it, as if waiting for something bad to happen.

When it doesn't, he turns back to the path before them.

When Cat mentions her 'encounter' with Alpha, Griffin get's visibly upset. Its very subtle- a bulging vein in his neck, the way he sets his arm on his holster cowboy/Rick Mason style. He focuses back to this mysterious stone. "We have no idea how they're tied to be honest. But Alpha couldn't stop thinking about the thing appearantly." He says very calmly despite that bulging vein.

It's not often that Onyx gets a little free time after having handed his daughter off to his grand parents so he can go to work, but the client called and said he had a few hours and so Onyx headed to the one place in the city he could work out comfortably without risking property damage. Fortunately for him it's just a hop, skip, and a jump away from where he was... mainly because the city isn't /that/ big really... and he can clear quite a distance with a single jump.

The reports of the homicide are lost on Onyx, as he hasn't managed to get himself a police radio or the like yet, so he simply falls out of the air in a controlled fashion, heading for a landing on the roof of Steel's Gym. It's a lot safer to aim for roofs, than city streets after all.

Copycat is about as unforthcoming as Griffin is at Rick's question. "I...it's...it's not important. We should focus on Kysmette's return, first. I'll explain more later?" she offers evasively.

Rick Mason sweatdrops at the combination of reactions from Copycat and Griffin. He shifts his weight uncomfortably, head lolling to one side, which brings his brown eyes to spy Onyx dropping out of the sky. Somehow, in spite of himself, Rick Mason has a complete first-time-in-New-York moment as he gawks at Onyx descending upon Steel's roof.

"It's raining men," Rick faintly sing-songs as he watches.

Griffin returns Brobump.

Then he follows Rick's line of sight to the landing Onyx. He chuckles at the reference.

"There's definitely more- but none of it is particularly applicible to today's mission. Kat will, well she'll tell you what's left when she can. She's had a tougher day than most." His hand drifts back to hers, his words stern and protective in a 'Drop it, Bro' kind of way.

then returning tot eh subject of falling men, "Boy he's gonna be unhappy when he gets down from there and finds the gym closed and swarming with badges." He smirks at that.

"I'm sorry, Rick. I promise I'll tell you. I just...I can't right now," Copycat says softly, avoiding meeting either man's gaze as her eyes drift to the sidewalk before them. When Griffin's hand drifts back to her gloved one, Cat manages to avoid her usual flinch. Instead, she lightly grasps his hand and gives it a gentle squeeze. "All I think I gleamed from Alpha is that Next Generation is working with Ninth. Ninth is someone whose been after Porter and Paragon, and is a strong candidate for being behind this. And Alpha was thinking about this Eye of A nude --" suddenly Cat blushes as Rick now has her doing it. She clears her throat and quickly corrects, "Eye of -Anubis."

Mad? Not so much. Concerned? Definitely. Onyx looks down from the rooftop at the crime scene and all the stuff that's going on there and shakes his head, crouching down on the rooftop he watches things for a few minutes before he takes a look around to the surrounding to see if he can spot anyone he knows... and he does!

Another leap sends Onyx through the air and he lands easily about ten feet away from Copycat, Griffin, and Rick. His aim is so good that he doesn't even come close to hitting anyone or anything, easily absorbing the impact of the landing. "Hey Griff, Cat, what happened at the gym?" Of course he asks that before anything else, like offering his hand to Rick, "Hey, nice to meet you." The big man says with a smile in his voice, even if it's not visible behind that mask of his. "I'm Onyx."

"So we find this Eye of Anubis, we find Alpha and Ninth, we break their legs, and we return the kid to the Porters," summarizes Rick. It sounds so very easy when you lay it out like that, but Rick is, of course, missing several key pieces of information. Foremost, of course, is that Ninth may not actually have legs - breakable or otherwise.

Blinking a few times, Rick looks at Onyx and offers a faint smile. He takes the proffered hand and shakes it firmly - much more firmly than a little guy like him should normally be capable of - before he replies, "Rick Mason. Nice to meet you, Onyx."

Onyx is nice enough to not try and test Ricks' grip, after all, they just met.

"Oh- that was you that just landed on the gym yeah- there was a bit of an incident." Grififn says mysteriously.

"We think it's related to the Porter's kidnapping. We're heading to the museum to follow up on a lead Copycat here... ran across. Considering the suspects- I say the more the merrier if you'd like to come along with us. I don't expect trouble but showing up in force might be helpful."

He says before adding, "I heard you saved Ken- you have my thanks for that, Onyx. He's a good kid. Anyways- since you got wrapped up in that I suspect you know what we're going up against."

Copycat smiles up at Onyx. "Hey. Yeah, great job. Was Ken hurt...?" she asks softly in concern.

"I don't really know." Onyx answers Copycat, "I'm not family so they just whisked him away and I was left answering what questions I could... which wasn't a lot." He sounds faintly annoyed by that but it gives him time to put together an answer for Griffin, "Why do you think that kidnapping is related? I thought Paragon just got killed... and then reactivated... or something. I don't really understand all that." He sighs, "Also, who is Alpha? That the thing that had Ken? That thing hit like a truck..."

Onyx also adds, "Nice to meet you also Mr. Mason." And lets Rick's hand go, because it would be slightly awkward if he didn't.

Not as awkward as you'd think. Rick can always just grow another hand if Onyx is feeling particularly attached to the one he's got a grip on.

Rick retrieves his hand, releasing his own grip on Onyx's hand. He smiles again, politely, and rolls his shoulders as he listens inquisitively for answers to Onyx's multitude of questions. Many of those questions, of course, echo the questions he had not so long ago. Perhaps a different, less familiar approach will earn answers that are hot on inquiring minds!

Griffin looks to Cat and then to Rick. He sighs outloud when their faces only tell him he'll be doing the talking this time around.

"Hmm- so that whole Paragon reactiviation thing? Yeah not even remotely on my radar. Indira put me on the case when she heard what happened. So you'd have to take it up with one of the Porters if you need answers there." He rubs his beard as he checks that off his mental checklist.

"Alpha is one half of a a pair of labratory scum. Literally. They're goo-monsters. They are not human- not in any way that counts." He says as that bulging vein in his neck makes another appearance, this time co-starring another one in his forehead. "Kat," HE says her name so gently, "She ran across Alpha and got some intel on a meeting he was a part of. There's an ancient stone- called the Rock of Anubis or something like that- it's going to be at the museum. He wouldn't stop thinking of it. We're going to see it to see if we can figure out why."

Griffin's thumb rubs the back of Cat's hand through her woll gloves before letting go and looking to Onyx.

"I think that about covers the highlights... of those lowlifes."

Ran across...that is a way of putting it very gently. Copycat seems to withdraw a little whenever Alpha's name is mentioned. She's trying to appear focused and on task, but really, she's distracted. Her eyes are haunted by the mention of him. "Alpha and Beta. They were human once, I think." Copycat's brow furrows as hazy memories begin to resurface. "Alpha was ex-military. Enjoys violence. Superiority complex. Pretty aggressive. We--," she halts and restarts, "--you fought when you saved Ken for sure."

As Cat gets confused with her pronouns from the mixed memories still lingering in her head, she gently squeezes Griffin's hand to ground her thoughts.

"Goo monsters," restates an apparently incredulous Rick Mason. How and why 'goo monsters' is the line in the sand for Rick Mason is mysterious. Perhaps it's just Griffin's presentation of the facts. Rick looks over at Copycat and offers a reassuring little smile, squeezing her shoulder with one hand.

"I know the type," comments Rick. Half-sighing through his nostrils, Rick glances over at Griffin for a moment with a knowing look. Rick's attention shifts back toward Onyx and Cat soon thereafter, listening as he mulls this information.

A hand reaches up as if to rub over the top of Onyx's masked head, but, then he realizes he is masked and there's no way to access any hair or scalp as the case may be. "Well then I'll help, if you run into that /person/ you're going to need all the help you can get." He stresses 'person' for whatever reason. "I can carry all of you if you want to get there... oh, now."

Griffin nods at Cat's 'in-depth analysis' of Alpha's psyche and motivations. He mumbles, 'Oh, yay- he's trained too?'

Griffin slides Alpha higher than Beta on the danger scale he's set in his head. He leaves him at the top of Griffin's other list- their former humanity is meaningless to Griffin. It's a short list, Alpha, Beta & one named simply 'Z.' He keeps this list close to his vest- in a place like this, many are against corporal punishment. Alpha and BEta can't and won't be contained, nor will they stop hurting, kidnapping and killing. That leaves Griffin one option after what they did to Copycat. That was it for him- and he will keep the promise he made to BEta before she escaped. He'll end this one way- or another. That's when Cat squeezes his hand and inadvertantly takes his mind off his blood lust.

Griffin says nothing though- still clearly not quite as grounded as the others.

Copycat smiles appreciatively at Rick as he gives her shoulders a squeeze. Her friends keeping her distracted is helping her cope for the moment. "You're definitely right, Onyx. We'll need all the help we can get. We'd appreciate anything you can do." Copycat's eyes widen as Onyx offers a ride. "Really? You can get us all to the history museum?"

"This is going to be one of those things we," Rick indicates himself, Griffin, and Onyx, "Never speak of again, but Cat never stops talking about, isn't it?"

Griffin sighs looking to Rick. "I'm afraid you're right about that." Though the corners of his mouth are turned up into a slight smile, so maybe he's looking forward to the experience as well. Maybe.

"All three of us- at once?" Griffin clarifies. With Alpha, Beta & NextGen looking for both he and Copycat he has no intentions of splitting up- not even for a moment.

Copycat blushes a bit at Rick's comments, a little embarrassed. "What? What do you mean? Do I do that?" she asks self-consciously.

"I don't know about that. It'd be easier if there were a bench or something... or a car would be even easier..." Onyx looks around to check out the surroundings. "But yeah, carrying all of you wouldn't be a problem. I'm pretty sure three people is well below my weight limit." He says to Copycat with a laugh following.

Looking towards Rick and Griffin, "Well, it's not like it's a date or anything. Either way let's do this, Rick over here." He offers one arm to Rick, "Griffin over here," The other arm, "Cat, hold onto my neck, and both of you hold onto her to make sure she doesn't fall. Or... Cat could copy me, and carry one of you while I carry the other. That's another option."

Copycat nods to Onyx at his suggested strategy. "Either of those options work," she agrees. She looks to Rick and Griffin to see if they're ready. She takes another sip of her coffee before, finishing it up and feeling it warm her insides. "Mmmm...thanks again for that, Rick. I owe you a coffee," she grins at him. Cat then turns her head to Griffin, offers him a smile and a squeeze of her hand, then lets go and steps forward towards Onyx and out from Rick's arm to prepare to mount up, or figure out their traveling configuration.

"Alright, well now that transportation is mostly settled... we should probably be prepared for the worst." Griffin says unsnapping his holster and removing his sidearm.

He kicks out the magazine and counts his rounds.

He pushes it back in and continues talking. "We know the Twins and Eighth are both out there- and this is at least on the Twins' radar so there is a good chance one of them will be there, or at least some representatives of NextGen." He looks to Cat as if he's second guessing this whole thing, then he sighs.

"Kat, we should probably do something about you too." He sighs, "Considering they think you're dead and all. It might be helpful to keep that up."

Copycat nods softly at Griffin's recommendation. "If there's anything I'm good at, it's disappearing or blending with a crowd," she offers with a sheepish, restrained smile.

Onyx considers, "The problem is, would you have any combat capabilities if you turned into a random person on the street? If you turned into one of us then they'd know you were around for sure." He folds his arms across his chest, chin tilting down as he drums his fingertips across one muscular bicep in thought. "Because if you lose your abilities... then you're liable to get killed, those black goo things hit hard as hell."

"Oh...right. Yeah, I would just...be a normal human if I copied a bystander. No powers until I changed back," Copycat admits, rubbing the back of her head.

Griffin nods in agreement with Onyx's assessment. He rubs his beard as he considers their options.

"Maybe she doesn't have to become one of us- Anyone would do, at least until the Twins or 8-Ball show up. Then- the jigs up anyways. If you want to keep to the shadows, well I certainly won't hold a grudge against you." He says looking towards Copycat. That over-protectiveness is starting to shine through again.

"Unless- there was someone we could snag on the way? Pop in- Cat-Clone 'em and straight to the museum?" He begins flipping through his contacts via his command-bracer. "Hmm... any chance we can get a hold of one of the Porters?" He asks absently.

Onyx says, "I'm not really all that good at being sneaky, I mean I have some natural talent for it but I am not an expert like a ninja or anything. It's possible you might be able to stay hidden if you copied me, but I can't guarantee they wouldn't see you, I don't know their capabilities. I also don't really know any meta's yet well enough to ask, hey, mind being copied?"

"You mean...show up as another hero to back you up?" Copycat's eyebrows perk up curiously. "It'd be better than going in, um, 'unarmed'. And I wouldn't want to leave you guys along of things go bad. Maybe we could try one of the Porters? They might know more about what's going on, anyway." She looks to Onyx and smiles at his offer. "That could be an option, too. I know I've copied Mr. Porter before. I'm pretty sure he wouldn't mind. He might be the only person I know aside from Rick who wasn't upset or bothered that I copied him."

Onyx says, "Pretty sure I wasn't upset..."

"You...you weren't?" Copycat asks as she stares up at Onyx with surprised doe eyes. When that sinks it, she suddenly seems relieved. "I'm glad. Thanks for not being mad at me. I just thought it would help at the time," she adds bashfully.

Griffin nods and fights the urge to say 'Me either...'

"Sounds like we've got a plan. I've got Porter's number let me call him up- see if we can meet up with him.

Griffin rolls a dial on his command-bracer and then clicks the wheel.

"It's ringing." He says.

"Hey- Porter? It's Griffin, Griffin Freeman- I'm sure you're busy, but Kat, Onyx and I are following up a lead-"

"Mmhmm- that's right trying to find Kysmette."

"Surprised, but not upset." Onyx says to Copycat, "I have no claim to be upset with anyone who is trying to do the right thing when it comes to helping and protecting innocents and those who can't protect themselves. If you ever figure out who I am, I trust you'll be able to keep it to yourself. If I had a problem with it, I'd have added sleeves to my costume."

"I wouldn't tell," Copycat vows solemnly to Onyx. She hadn't meant to exclude Griffin in her list of people who wouldn't be bothered. They've partnered and trained together on her powers extensively, and she knows he was fine with it. "I understand what's at stake and why a secret identity is important. I wouldn't risk someone else's loved ones with information like that. I used to have a secret identity, but...it was hard to keep." She looks back to Griffin, watching him eagerly as he talks on the phone.

"Like I said- I appreciate you taking my call. I know time is of the essence here- and things just got more complicated. I need to hide Kat, in plain sight preferrably. I know this is weird to ask- but can we meet you somewhere so she can do her cloning act?" Griffin rubs his neck neverously as he asks Porter for a favor.

Copycat wraps her arms around herself, trying to resist the urge to pace. She's not sure if this is the best idea, but she doesn't want Griffin to have to face the twins or anything else without her. "Any luck?" she whispers.

"You are the man, P!" Griffin says, lighting up. He nods to Copycat.

Griffin turns to look down the street as he asks "Would you mind shooting me your coordinates? We'll come to you."

A few moments go by and he says, "Perfect. We're en route now."

"Alright Onyx- he's not too far away from here. Can youg et us here?" He says showing Onyx his command-bracer and sending the map data to the screen there for everyone to see.

Copycat takes a deep breath and lets it out. She's not sure how it'll be this time around copying Porter. Being a concerned dad who lost his kid might be a bit overwhelming. But it may help her understand pieces of the puzzle with what she saw from Alpha. "Wow, so...he really was okay with it?" she asks as gathers closer to the other two.

"Easy as pie, as the saying goes. Easier actually... Brace yourselves." And Onyx will go about hooking an arm under each of their shoulders, taking a secure hold, and leaping through the air with the greatest of ease, covering miles and miles, if necessary, to land wherever it is the map shows. The wind will whip by them as they travel at several hundred miles an hour through the air and then slow to a moderately terminal velocity of 120 mph before landing. Whomp. "Don't these guys we're going after know Porter too though?"

Copycat grits her teeth and clings for dear life. She's used to flying. At much slower speeds. Not hurtling through the air at amazing velocities. When they land, she lets go and stumbles a bit. "Some might. Alpha didn't know him, I think, which means if it's the twins, they won't."

Porter isn't all that far away, especially not at hundreds of miles per hour. It may not be a surprise, but the location is a coffee shop, or just outside it. He gives a wearied wave at the people literally dropping in. He's actually used to that form of travel. He's used to alot of things, unfortunately.

Their take-off tickles Griffin, as he laughs almost the entire way. "Wooo-hoooooo!" He shouts, having too much fun to worry about how silly being carted around like this might seem to others.

He's about to say, "Well that beats parachuting anyday!" when he sees Porter's worn and worried face.

The mission takes priority in his mind again.

"Even if they recognize Porter- they'll see me- and you too." Griffin says to Onyx as they stride toward Porter. "If thats the case it'll be an all out rumble anyways."

"Porter, it's good to see you. I wish it was under better circumstances of course." He says offering Porter his hand and an understanding look on his face.

Onyx reaches out a hand to steady Copycat when she stumbles, "Sorry, not how I normally like to carry a lady but, with two people it was a necessity." He offers apologetically then nods towards Porter politely before he says to Griffon, "It's your show. I can try to sneak and be unseen, maybe surprise them if they're there but that's up to you."

Copycat smiles up at Onyx thankfully. "I understand. We're in a hurry and have a mission. And I won't be very lady-like in a bit, if this plan pans out." She looks over to Porter, offering a sad, sympathetic smile as a comfort. "I'm sorry about what's happening to you, Mr. Porter. I can't imagine what you're going through." But she might, very soon. "We'll do whatever we can to find more clues on how to find your daughter."

Porter nods to Griffin and company. A hint of a smile at Cat, though it takes some effort. Effort refueled by a long sip of coffee. "Thanks. And thanks for helping. Clues are good. Reallt good. We thought we had one, but..." A sigh. "Didn't really pan out."

"That sucks Porter. I'm sorry to hear that." Griffin says. "I won't rest until that little girl is back home with you and Third."

Griffin begins scouting the imemdiate area, making sure there is no pressing danger, or people who might be one of the Twins sneaking about.

Onyx considers the goings on, but, he hasn't a voice in the goings on per se. Right now he is simply muscle, and that's alright, maybe they can get something done. He moves away from Copycat so she can do her morph thing then notes, "I'm already standing out like a sore thumb here..."

"Well, there'll be more clues. I, um, learned something about these Next Generation...jerkwads," Copycat somehow manages to say a relatively tame version of what she thinks of the tentatcle twins, "And I think they're working with that magenta energy guy. Or planning to. So...we're following the Next Generation lead. And they kind of think I'm dead right now, so we're trying to keep it that way," she says all in one breath, then stops to inhale again. "So we needed a cover for me, which is where you came up."

Porter blinks at that news. "Really? That doesn't sound good. Any of it." Then he frowns at them thinking Cat is dead. Something tells him he shouldn't ask how or why. Not now, anyhow. Porter nods. "Yeah, makes sense." Griffin explained what they wanted. Now he has a better idea why. He sucks down s'more caffeine, then offers up his other hand for Cat. There's a small smirk. "Guess it's only fair, right?" He was her before, once. "Just... be careful." He looks to Griffin and Onyx. "All of you." Back to Cat. "And.. um.. don't drink all the coffee."

Griffin nods, "We will, Porter- you be safe yourself. If you need anything you call us. With Jumpin' Jack Flash over here, we'll be there in ... well in a flash."

Griffin steps back wondering if there is time to buy stock in a coffee company now that there are 2 infinitely rich coffee-addicted Porters running around now and pulls open his GPS system to bring back the icon for the museum on his ARHUD.

"Got a mission to think of. I'll have to skip the coffee," Copycat grins gently. She clasps Porter's hand with her gloved one and concentrates. When it's not skin-to-skin contact, she at least has a little more control over the process. She furrows her brow in concentration for a moment. Her body begins to shift. It grows taller, but doesn't get much bulkier. Her clothes alter with her to something looser. Jacket, shirt, jeans, matching Porter's. Her hair darkens and shortens, the rest of her shifting, until there's another Porter, sans coffee. Releasing Porter's hand, Portercat looks to Onyx and Griffin and nods. "Okay. Think I'm ready."

Onyx nods after all of that then looks towards Griffin, "Well you two can try to go in all regular joe like, I sort of... can't. So the options are a bit trickier there. I mean I can go in, but it'll draw attention, some people might even think I am a villain because I am not very well known yet." He's apparently used to expecting the worst of people in some respects. "The other idea is... I can go in first, be a distraction, and then you two can see what you can find..." He pauses, "Or how do you want to play this?"

Most people are probably surprised when something like this happens. Or a little weirded out. Or something. But Porter is use to this kind of thing. He seems to run into an apparent clone of himself once a month or so, on average. At least this time he's expecting it and it's planned.

Portercat listens to Onyx, then looks over to Griffin. "What do you think? We go in, take a look around? Call in help if things get rough?" He looks back to Onyx. "You said you might be able to sneak in?"

Onyx rubs at his masked jawline with one hand, "I think I could sneak around once I got in, I'm not a cat burglar though, I don't know how to get in without being seen, not in costume."

"Well, I'd imagine that if they see me at all- they're gonna go to DEFCON 10. Same for Porter, considering they wronged him first." Griffin says still rubbing his beard.

After mulling what was said over a bit, "Though- maybe having Onyx waiting in the wings might give us an edge the Twins cannot account for. I think that might be the best plan. Kat," He nods towards Portercat, "and I can go in first- Onyx maybe you give us 2 minutes and you sneak your way in. We can meet at the entrance to the Egyptian exhibit?"

"I'll...try to keep control of that. No guarantees." There never are with Copycat's powers. She might not have any say in the matter.

"Yeah ok." Onyx answers, two minutes should give him enough time to get into street clothes, go in, find a place to change, and then be all sneaky like after all. "I'll signal you when I am there and we can go from there, I'll keep an eye out."

Portercat looks down at his hands with a scrutinizing 'how does this work?' expression as Onyx and Griffin strategize. He flexes his arm experimentally. Not that there's much muscle there to flex. He gets a little lost in feeling out the new body, then he forgets there are others watching. Suddenly he blinks, looks up, then quickly stuffs his hands in his pockets to look nonchalant, and failing utterly at it. "Good idea," he pipes up. Nothing to see here.

You have already voted for that character today.

PorterCat would be relieved that Griffin is a bit distracted buying tickets to the museum- all the better to to get into the museum without raising too many eyebrows.

He nearly bites the tip of his tongue off when he sees the price. He's really going to have to get someone to design some kind of system that shows him the cost without 51 years of inflation.

Comic books are weird. But the life of Rick Mason sometimes rises to the occassion and proves itself to be stranger and more mysterious then many who call this comic-book universe home.

One such event takes place during the hours immediately following Kysmette Porters kidnapping.

There are many teleporters in the city, and each one of them whether magical, quantum or distinctly other does some damage to the localize field of time and space. In most universes this kind of damage would be irrepraible but would be relatively minor and indistinct from the lives of the three-dimensional creatures from local spacetime. But comic-book universes are indominable in their own special ways- case in point, the space/time diviation experienced by Rick Mason.

Previously Rick Mason, Onyx, Copycat and Griffin were en route to the museum to investigate the mysterious and ancient 'Eye of Anubis'.

In the standard continuity Onyx offers the trio a ride to the museum. But Rick Mason experienced something altogether different.

The minscule tears in time and space taking place almost constantly in this town of meta-humans coalesce into a quantum field that so happens to make Rick Mason's gravitational area its home for exactly 25minutes 14seconds.

Rick is pulled into an pocket universe that picks up almost exactly where we he mysteriously disappeared from the pages of the standard continuity.

Rick materializes there as the quantum field stabilizes. There he turns to see Onyx leap away, without Copycat and Griffin.

When he asks where he was off to, he was told by Copycat and Griffin, that he had a pit stop to make and would meet them at the muesum.

Griffin offers to get them a taxi- seeming extremely protective of COpycat, who can fly.

Rick shrugs and rides along with the called car.

Absolutely nothing strange, terrible or even incredible happens along the ride. The talk, joke, and take turns at being awkward per usual. Then as the museum is in sight- the taxi, Griffin, Copycat and even the pocket universe dissolve having spent the quantum fields amassed temporal energy. This has the effect of dropping Rick Mason flat on his ass where the taxi was stopped in traffic. The museum is about one block away- a quick jog for the Undead Soldier.

As Rick winces he looks up to see Onyx, PorterCat and Griffin land in the park adjacent to the Museum, then Onyx leaps away shortly thereafter, to enact his part of the plan decided upon in the standard continuity.

"... What in the world..."

Rick Mason climbs to his feet after a few seconds of sitting on the pavement in shock. He's pretty sure that just goes to prove that the Universe hates - or at least severely resents - him at a deeply personal level. Letting out a long, suffering sigh, Rick starts jogging toward the museum and tries to ignore the indignity of his now road-rashed pants.

Maybe he can claim he's celebrating Freddie Mercury's birthday?

Portercat watches Onyx leap away, straightening out his jacket and quickly shoving his hands into his pockets for safety's sake. The second trip around was a lot more comfortable than before. Familiar. Something he feels used to. More and more memories are starting to filter through. And with them, some of the emotion of losing a daughter, without the benefit of another mind to anchor him. "So, what's the plan, Griffin? We just walk in plain-clothes, see what we can find out?" Portercat asks, slow and steady. Things have been going too fast to really absorb all that's happened. Maybe that's a good thing.

"Exactly- as long as the Twins and Ninth make themselves scarce we can just casually stroll in- get the intel and move on to our next objective." Griffin says matter-of-factly. "Should be a piece of cake. If not, we'll have backup inside. Everything's in our favor." He seems very confident.

Griffin turns to look toward the museum, then, he double-takes. "Is that Rick?" He asks suddenly then before PorterCat can answer, "Naw... couldn't be."

Rick heard that, Griffin. He continues jogging toward Griffin and Portercat as his eyes narrow slightly, regarding his friend and... Portercat. Quirking a red-orange eyebrow, Rick inquires, "What happened to Cat? How'd you get Mr. Porter to join you?"

Portercat glances towards Griffin, brow quirking before he nods around the general area, eyes tracking passersby while recalling the cover. The twins could be anywhere. "I'm afraid Cat's no longer with us," he says in very subdued tones, not looking towards Rick. His eyes fix back on Griffin before looking back to Rick. "I heard there was a clue that could be related to my daughter's whereabouts."

Griffin was about to tell Rick the deal when PorterCat speaks up and gives him that look. 'Need to know... I guess.' He thinks to himself, and nods towards Rick.

"We're hoping they Eye will get us closer to the twins so we can stop whatever they're planning- and more importantly, save Kysmette. Then, maybe Porter ('and I' he thinks to himself) can get in some seriously dark vengence-inspired wetwork. You in?" Griffin asks Rick.

Portercat watches as the passersby get out of earshot, then whispers to Griffin, "Okay, coast is clear. You can tell him."

"Oh," replies Rick at the statement that Cat is no longer with the group. He wonders what he missed while he was... Falling out of a taxi? Rick feels confused by time and dimension skipping. It's like eating a tofu burger for the first time. The Undead Soldier rubs the back of his head for a few moments before shrugging at Griffin.

"You really need to ask?"

Griffin grins, and looks to Rick.

He speaks very lowly, and lays out the who what when and why. No more details than necessary but more than enough to continue on with the plan. "Rickles- this is Kat. The Twins tried to kill her- almost succeeded too. We thought we'd keep her off the table for now so the Twins can continue thinking she's dead."

He smiles at Rick's question. "Of course I don't. It was more of an offer to ride out. Because I'm still planning on bringing the fury to the Twins- and Ninth too if we can manage it." He claps Rick shoulder in a brotherly fashion.

"So let's get some evidence and get Mr. Porter's kid back," comments Rick. He may or may not be trying to make it appear that Griffin's bit of information was terribly mundane. Rick glances over at the museum and then back at Griff and Portercat, lips compressing into a tight line. Griffin knows that expression, Rick's game face is getting put on. Apparently it is now show time.

ACTION!

Portercat offers a sheepish grin to Rick as Griffin outs him. The grin does falter a bit at the mention of 'almost' succeeding. He looks away before the smile can be seen fading completely. "Right. So we'll just go in, try to seem like normal people..." Portercat flinches at that, "...and check out the exhibit to see what's so special about this relic."

"Yeah we're just a trio of good friends who enjoy archeology out for an afternoon at the museum. Couldn't be simpler." Poor deluded caveman, its like he hasn't been around here long.

"Yeah we're just a trio of good friends who enjoy archeology out for an afternoon at the museum. Couldn't be simpler." Griffin says.*

Poor deluded caveman, its like he hasn't been around here long.

"Man, I wish I had known. I'd have brought my Indy hat and whip," comments Rick. He frowns slightly in just such a way that suggests he might not be acting. Rick Mason may be just nerdy - and movie savvy - enough to have a good Indiana Jones Halloween costume handy. Is this what he spends his bodyguard money on?

Portercat cranes his head around to quirk a brow at Rick. "You...have those?" Clearing his throat, the looks towards the museum entrance and starts walking. "Might be a bit conspicuous..."

"Man- too bad you didn't bring it. It'd be a good look these days. People's minds would be blown." Griffin says grinning, beginning to walk off and match pace with Porter.

He tucks his hands in his vest pockets- not due to being cold just out of habit.

Rick follows the others, shrugging a little bit at Portercat's question.

"You don't have 'em?"

Portercat stiffens and his eyes bug out a little at the question. "A hat and whip? Why would I?" he asks all too quickly.

"I had a pretty sweet Wookie costume- but that was 50 years back. I can't imagine my stuff is still ..." Griffin says before smacking himself in the forehead. "I haven't been home since I've been back. I mean why would I? But now I'm curious to see what all is still standing."

"... Okay. Wookiee costume is a little much," offers Rick. He rubs the back of his head a little bit and looks over at Porter. It's another of those 'this guy' looks. Rick glances back at Porter and shrugs, "Why wouldn't you have 'em? You're filthy rich and marrying a beautiful woman that accepts you for the kinda nerdy dude you are."

"I'm going to pretend you didn't say that." Griffin says while trying his best to not start an Indiana Jones vs Star Wars debate. Because Star Wars wins. Everytime. Espeically after Crystal Skulls.

Griffin nods at Rick's analysis of Porter's love-life. "True dat."

Portercat rubs the back of his neck as the potential from brother turning against brother brews about him. The talk of a beautiful woman makes him thinks of things that Katrina Prince just isn't used to. "W-who, Para? That might be asking a lot." And then it hits Portercat. A nerdy memory. "Right, Indiana," he suddenly realizes, then blinks and looks at the pair of them. "I don't think I have the looks to pull off Indy."

Rick shrugs at Griffin. He means no offense, wookiee is just a /LOT/ of costume to handle. Our dear Mr. Mason is one of those guys who'd rather just throw on a hat, a jacket, and a sweet signature weapon and get down to pretending to be awesome.

Let's never mind the fact that Rick's actual wardrobe for awesomeness involves a lot more work. Indeed, getting the Breach Suit on is more akin to suiting up like a wookiee than preparing to be Indy. On the other hand, Rick gets to carry a gun like Han and that is its own reward.

Onyx is hiding inside the museum, having entered in secret identity and then gotten changed inside where upon which he has stealthily... stealthed... towards the Egyptian exhibit to meet up with Griffin, CopyPorter, and possibly others before trying to find the goo beasts from Hades.

Portercat slows as they approach the museum entrance, face looking drained for a moment as he thinks that the Twins may be there. May be anyone. He gulps and pulls a hand from his pocket, rubbing his throat nervously. "So, just...recon. For now." Recon is a thing, right? He's not sure at the moment and is just making things up as he goes. Some of Copycat's strategizing mind is gone and replaced with Porter's planning, which is...no plan!

Griffin nods to PorterCat, "Just recon, hopefully. But best to be prepared for everything." He says.

Griffin's eyes scan the crowd, darting from person to person from behind his headset. His Augmented Reality HUD provides detailed information on various things, but none of it is useful.

While the inaugural festivites were last night, the new exhibit is still in its premier weekend. The museum is unusually busy, and with many more suits, evening dresses, and money than a normal evening. 'Tis the season to seek donations, right? Several guides and aides move about in semi-authentic, yet embellished Eqyptian wear, and uniformed security personnel are more numerous and visible. Regardless of any occult rumors or mumbo jumbo heresay about the exhibit and Eye, the find is unique and quite valuable.

The sheer mass of gold and precious stones in many of the encased displays could tempt any number of criminals, but the centerpiece is absolutely gorgeous: a regal set of sceptre, rings, and headdress. All are gold or gilded and set with a variety of stones in expert craftsmanship.

Wait. There's no giant onyx there. The only piece of proper size and shape is... relegated to a tertiary display. Covered in a sealed and sigiled clay container, the softball+-sized ebon stone is only apparent via a small "barred" window cast as part of the container.

Rick Mason follows Portercat and Griffin up the museum steps. They precede him through the doors and into the museum's lobby; all seems perfectly normal as Rick pulls on his SmartShades, the lenses going clear in the moderated interior lighting. He slips past a dad and his daughter as they exit the Science Museum, scooting through the closing door behind the proud little duo.

Somehow, in the quarter second that Rick spends in the door frame, reality skips for him again. He stops directly inside of the door and looks plaintively at Portercat and Griffin, inquiring of the backs of their heads, "Was... Was I wearing this a second ago, guys?"

For unclear reasons, Rick Mason is now clad in faded blue jeans, black leather cowboy boots, and a generic "military camouflage" poncho woven from what appear to be traditional fabrics.

Portercat nods to Griffin and slips his hand back into his pocket to be safe. "Right. I'm ready this time. I think." Not a glowing endorsement. He walks up the steps and steps through the museum doors. Casting a glance towards Rick at his question, his brows knit into a clueless expression as reality warps his memory of it. "Uhh, yeah." He looks up towards the helpful signs explaining the different museum wings, and starts on the way to the Egyptian exhibits. As they approach the starting displays, he restrains a whistle at the villain-bait littering the museum.

It's a good thing most people don't look up, and that Onyx blends in with the shadows, and that there's so many people that security is focusing on the gold and jewels and expensive exhibits rather than trying to pay attention to /everyone/. Onyx does a solid job keeping out of sight though, waiting and waiting for the others to show up, while keeping an eye out for the goo twins.

In addition to the security roving about as inconspicuously as uniformed, armed security forces can, a pair seems almost part of the exhibit: one flanks each side of the primary display cases.

The exhibit is not the only invaluable presence, however. A rather portly man in an ancient tweed suit speaks to another man in an immaculately-tailored contemporary one. Until one apparent James Porter comes into view. Promptly excusing himself, he is also prompt to approach Portercat. Magically, or subtly-cued, one of the guides/aides appears. This one either has all the good genes, or she is there much more for how confidently she wears the thin white linen period wear than her knowledge of the period.

"Mr. Porter! Welcome! You were sorely missed at the gala, but we're delighted you could join us tonight!" The guide becomes his personal guide as she steps up to his arm with a bright smile.

On the plus side, maybe it distracts people from the other Onyx in the shadows.

Griffin looks to Rick and says, "You know- I want to say no, but my mind is telling me no." He shrugs.

He looks around the room and fights the urge to whistle himself. "This place should have hired us for security, eh Mason?"

As the guide tries to snatch Porter away, Griffin steps with him. "Actually, Mr. Porter will be needing a little space tonight. I'll thank you to inform the staff for him." He speaks sternly, not taking no for an answer.

Rick still feels discombobulated, in spite of his friends' reassurances to the contrary. He scratches absently at his chest through the fabric poncho as Griffin moves to intercede on Portercat's behalf. The Undead Soldier shifts his weight from one boot to the other for a moment or two before shrugging and moving deeper into the museum.

"My team brought Indira here last night for the inaugural gala. It'd be a conflict of interest, I think," comments Rick to Griffin out of the side of his mouth. He absently shoves his hands into his jeans pockets as he casts a thoughtful brown-eyed gaze around the museum's main floor, "hovering" in Griffin and Portercat's general vicinity. Mentally, Rick is mapping the layout to the best of his ability.

Portercat looks on a bit helplessly as he's approached. He knows exactly why they're approaching, and he's still a bit helpless in the face of it. Where's Para when you need her to run interference? Thankfully, Griffin runs interception, which gets a sigh of relief from the disguised Cat. Her offers up a smile to the guide and others. "Sorry. There's been a family matter to deal with. I'm just here to enjoy the exhibit," he apologizes. He nods to Griffin. "Thanks, Mr. Freeman," he says with a grateful grin. He glances around at the exhibits to try and spy the Eye, or the other Onyx.

"Of course. We won't be getting separated today. Certainly not until our fungus problem is dealt with." Griffin says.

At least some people are easy to spot, like PorterCat, and Griffin, and now the guy wearing the poncho and looks like he belongs in an ancient Spaghetti Western 2D movie. Onyx shakes his head just a fraction but otherwise, remains still because movement tends to draw the eye of predators, and humans most definitely are. As are other things. Eyes open, search search search. Keep an eye on this 'Eye'...

The portly man startles when Griffin speaks up. "Oh! Well..." He is caught off-guard. "I wish you the best with your matters, and hope you enjoy the exhibit." The aide/guide steps back from Portercat and moves out amongst the other patrons while Tweed Man looks for other potential donors.

His search suddenly becomes a bit difficult as, not a minute after stepping away, the lighting in the museum sudden cuts off. There are a few startled gasps and at least one brief scream before the emergency lighting cuts in to provide a modest amount of illumination (primarily at exits, walls, and permanent displays).

Lack of light? Rick Mason laughs at your puny human eyeballs.

He blinks owlishly as the lights go out, his own brown eyes glittering dangerously in the black panels of this epic team-up comic book. It is, after all, a startling shift from light to no light. Fortunately, Rick Mason's become well adjusted to operating in pitch black environments.

Rick prowls around Portercat and Griffin slowly in the darkness, all of his senses primed as he waits for the other shoe to drop. Of course, Rick keeps his superhuman eyes peeled for the dangers lurking in the darkness.

Onyx is as blind as anybody else once the lights go out, but, that usually means the fun stuff is about to begin... or the absolutely terrifying stuff, depending on the company at the time.

Rick Mason isn't sure how to tell you this, Onyx, but you're amongst Bad Company right now.

Portercat grins at Griffin's comment. Definitely not again after the last time. But then, the lights go out, and that idea may have just gone out the window. When the emergency lights cut back on, he looks alarmed. "The eye," he whispers to Griffin with urgency. His hands come out of his pockets and he starts to rush further into the exhibit hall, trying to find the Eye on display. Terrifying stuff in the dark? He's not even thinking about that. All he's thinking of is this may be his only chance to get a lead on where Kysmette is.

Griffin's headset clicks over to nightvision automatically as the lights click off.

He looks to PorterCat and then nods to Rick.

His head turns slowly back towards where the Eye of Anubis is. "I've got eyes on it, Porter." Griffin says matter-of-factly. His hand slowly drifts towards his pistol but then he decides in this crowded space that might make things worse.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please remain calm. We seem to be experiencing some kind of power failure," intones Tweed Man. "Please make your way to the main entrance." The guides and some of the security personnel begin to assist. The two guarding the exhibit remain guarding the exhibit.

Rick Mason narrows his eyes as Portercat takes off for the Eye of Anubis. He lifts a hand to rub over his scruff, brown eyes scanning all of the exits intently whilst he stands still amidst the throngs of panicking humanity. Slowly, Rick starts walking patiently toward one of the emergency exits nearest the exhibit. Considering most of the foot traffic is headed for the main doors, Rick takes his time in picking his way through the teeming masses toward his target.

Onyx is still remaining hidden, to the best of his ability, until given cause to make his presence known since doing otherwise would defeat the purpose of being all attempted black-ninja.

Griffin heads towards the Eye of Anubis as he sees Rick Mason covering one of the emergency exits. Considering its the way Cat went, he's doing his best to keep up without hurting any of the civilians.

Maybe hiding out in the psyche of a worry-struck father wasn't the best idea.

Griffin lifts a man out of his way and continues moving through the press of people.

The darkness is suddenly banished by a powerful, crimson light that simply appears amidst the display cases. Only for an instant. When the flash fades, an armored, humanoid figure is left in its wake. It continues to provide some additional lighting due to the lines of similar ruby light than pulse in patterns down limbs and across torso.

It pans blank faceplate across those gathered, "Interference is futile." More panning until it focuses upon the Eye. "Objective located. Analzying."

Onyx doesn't wait, he doesn't slow down, he just blurs into motion trying to strike before Eighth can get to prepared. Bolting across the intervening distance with ease due to his incredible athleticism Onyx plants one foot, spins on it's axis, and tries to drive the heel of his other foot into the back of Eighth's skull, hopefully before he gets that field in place and if so, he'll suck it up.

Boot to the helm! The impact is there, though perhaps not as much as Onyx may have liked. Eighth is wobbled, but not rocked.

Rick Mason's attention shifts back toward the Eye, Portercat, Griffin, and the looming shape of Onyx-beating-Eighth. He pivots on the heel of one boot to size up the situation. When Onyx thunders out of the overhead darkness, Rick faintly shakes his head and reaches under his poncho. Inexplicably, Rick produces a grenade from under his poncho.

Popping the pin, Rick twists slightly to one side. He winds up and pitches the grenade over the heads of the general public, his torque sending the grenade spiralling perfectly through the air as it sails toward Eighth. About a meter before it reaches Eighth, the grenade explodes... Which is to say that its outer casing erupts outward to reveal that its internal structure is a series of interwoven cables that are now spreading outward in all directions as they spiral about a central axis that is hurtling toward Eighth.

Unfortunately, Rick Eastwood instead entangles a mummy desperado.

Or an overhead light fixture.

Eighth approaches the case and The Eye. "Initiating deterrent." The glowing energy lines pulse brighter and a crimons energy field expands from its person to include itself and the targetted display case before it ceases expansion. "Analysis resuming."

Yes, copying a worried, overprotective father was probably not the wisest of ideas. Portercat clenches his fist and his eyes narrow angrily at the sight of Eighth. "Hey! You! Where's Kysmette!?" he demands with the sort of unknowing brashness Porter tends to show when someone he loves has been threatened. Stealth? What's that?

He can't do anything about Eighth while that protective field is around him. If only there was a fault in Eighth's power systems, or a short circuit somewhere.

The ruby red energy constructed dims for a moment with an energy drop, but Eighth's systems recover to full power before the field decays and falls.

Griffin is not happy with the way this mission's begun. 'Another mistake...' Griffin thinks to himself as Eighth lights up the room and puts his techno-mind-bubble around the eye. He decides to count Porter's lack of stealth as the same mistake that begain this chain of though floating through his head.

He was so focused on the Twins showing up that he didn't account for Eighth's teleporting bullsh*t.

"Mr. 94, We meet again." He says as he charges the Psychically-Psychotic Kidnapper Undead-Cyborg.

Griffin seems to be trying to take the offense to keep Eighth from making his get away, and to keep him from directly attacking PorterCat... because its not like he's exactly armored.

The PorterCat does something amazing- he drops Eigth's shield! His strategy changes immediately as he tries for the Eye- but then the field flickers back to life.

Griffin ducks and turns back towards Eighth.

As he nears, he he focuses his strike as his right arm lashes up towards his jaw..

While composed of energy, the field struck by Griffin may as well be made out of reinforced concrete. It certainly feels like it to Griffin's fist.

"God damn it... Rick- hit him! Hard!" Griffin says shaking his hand out after attempting to break his forcefield.

The cabled mummy, less than effective kick, and even the solid field don't seem to discourage the security personnel. One of the remaining guards points his energy pistol at Eighth. "Freeze! Back away from the disp-AAHHH!" Maybe it's good that he doesn't complete the demand, as it isn't possible, the way he started to word it.

Why doesn't he finish? That would be the discharge of the other guard's weapon. Into the first guard. His body twitches and falls. to twitch s'more. While that guard does the horixontal spaz, the firer looks to Griffin with a predatory smile. "Looks like you found a new team, Freeman. Too bad what happened to the last one..."

Onyx blinks as his kick did practically nothing, and then there is a flying net, that does even less but make a tangle out of something other than Eighth. "Damnit." He says to himself before taking a step back. He doesn't really notice what's going on at first, security guards should really not try to deal with obvious meta threats, and then there is the whole 'Freeman' thing, which, rings absolutely zero bells for Onyx. "Hit the same spot again." He says to Griffin, tactically sound, assuming they can weaken it. Stepping back he focuses his qi, centering himself and then he steps forwards with a Kiai! Lets hope he manages to hit the same spot, with any strength at all...

Rick Mason looks to Griffin as the "Old" Ranger calls the play. His muscles twitch in a practiced fashion, eyes widening slightly under his shades as equipment pops up in his HUD. Suppressing the urge to appreciatively whistle, Rick instead whips his arm out of his poncho again, hurling another tactical black cylinder at Eighth. The pin spins around his thumb while the spoon falls away from the grenade itself in flight, clattering to the floor as the first guard hits the ground in a heap of dead.

The grenade detonates in a super-heated flash-fire of plasma that roils momentarily over Eighth. The flow appears unevern, though, the high-energy "matter" diverted and funneled along the glowing crimson conduits covering its carapace. All pulse brighter at detonation and remain more luminous after, though the armor, even already dark, displays scorching and some warping and softening.

The choice isn't too difficult, as the big man that kicked down the energy field makes himself a target. Onyx is also familiar, not that the others aren't. Also, he isn't Griffin.

The guard's upper back distorts, bulges and finally erupts in a quartet of extruding fleshy appendages. All of which stretch and lash out for him.

Portercat looks over to the faux guard attacks the other guard and taunts Griffin. His hands curl up into fists until his knuckles turn white, as Cat's own memories bubble to the surface with flashbacks of what was done to her. Cat can only hope that it's Beta, and not Alpha. Not now. What's important is that they find Kysmette.

Right. Kysmette. Copycat tries to withdraw into the copied memories to help focus on the task. Which unfortunately means Porter's priorities take over. "Griffin, forget about them. We need to take down Eighth, fast and hard!" His eyes fix on Griffin's and he gives a hinting nod. Cat and Griffin trained and put a lot of hours into the Workout room to work as a team. Now's the chance to put that into practice.

"System Operational Status: One hundred seventeen percent. Analysis complete. Initiating arcano-energy dispersion," Eighth announces as it lifts a hand. A pale crimson beam erupts from its hand to strike the Eye and is maintained.

Griffin is secretly happy PorterCat is PorterCat, because as soon as Alpha made his presence known his own internal directives shift just slightly towards putting Alpha down with all due haste.

PorterCat's nudge helps keep him on task. He nods towards PorterCat and says, "Right."

Even a Porter- some things shine through, like the hours and hours of tedious training both Copycat and Griffin have put themselves through together.

Griffin moves fluidly as he times his attack with CopyPorter's. They've only got one real shot to make this count and even the playing field a bit.

He leaps to the right and rolls over on his shoulder as he hits the ground. At the same time he draws his sidearm, and as he comes to a stop he's already leveled it and aimed it at Eighth's chest. He doesn't hesitate or even consider which round he's using. He's just trying to put the neon-dog down.

Portercat moves in, and even though his fists are clenched, he doesn't punch. No, he kicks the SOB in the back of his knee, hoping to be lucky enough to break something.

The triple-threat of lasers zot-sot-splot on Eighth's torso. Much of the energy is redirected and diffused, but it does knock the unit off-balance. Conveniently, just as PorterCat rushes in for a kick. At the leg Eighth steps back on. Just as it steps. There is a grating, wrenching sound as the join tiwsts and bends in a a way that one wouldn't normally see it bend. Eighth makes a wobbling hop before clattering to the ground. "ERROR. ERROR," the digitized voice echoes. Down, disoriented, if not completely out. The beam formerly connecting it to the Eye winks out as systems fluctuate.

"Grab the eye! Quick!" Griffin shouts to anyone but Alpha. Oh no- he has a special message just for Alpha and he plans on delivering it himself.

"Geek the cyborg," calls Rick to Griffin & Co. He twists toward Alpha, one red-orange eyebrow quirking upward as he sizes up the betentacled security guard-alike. Standing with his feet planted shoulder-width apart and arms out to either side of him, a darkly pleased little smile spreads across Rick's swarthy 5 o'clock shadow.

"High noon," spits Rick, his speech bubble inexplicably cut off at the corner of the comic cel. The next cell is an enormous splash cel, showing Rick throwing the front of his poncho over his head with one forearm as his other hand wrenches the particle revolver from a holster at his hip.

As the poncho clears his face again, Rick brings both arms up to cock the hammer on the revolver with an audible whine. Rick doesn't waste time on letting the particle revolver really spool up its internal accelerator. His trigger finger contracts, almost daintily squeezing the trigger of the particle revolver. The red pilot laser hardly has a chance to paint a dot in Alpha's direction before a bolt of orange-yellow light and matter sizzles downstream toward Alpha, arcs of electricity roiling over the "surface" of the stream of relativistic particles and energy.

The beam of relativistic particulars hits the not-guard square in the chest. Though the momentum transfer doesn't rock him, it still burns a pencil-thick hole through his chest. Possibly into the wall somewhere behind, though it's only visible for a moment before the hole closes back in on its own., A scorch mark and angry red flesh still remain, but it's no longer a through-and-through.

Onyx doesn't smile in satisfaction when Eighth goes down, nor does he look pleased when the cyborg seems in such distress. If he were any of those things, it'd be hidden behind his mask anyways and he is torn between 'Geek the cyborg', 'Get the Eye', and 'Paybacks are a bitch' on Alpha. He makes up his mind though and mutters, "To bad not in the open, I'd love to slam him at mach..." Still he turns and leaps towards the Eye, trying to grab it just in case Alpha makes a move before the others can get to it.

Aside from being larger than a softball (nearly a soccer ball including the clay container holding it), the Eye of Anubis isn't blatantly remarkable. Until it, or the container, that is, is touched. The sigils on the container glow softly as Onyx plucks it up and it immediately seems to warm at his touch. Hot, ven, though not painfully so.

Eighth continues to spout such informative warnings as "Memory exception error at 0x8F0000" and "1D10T error detected."

Meanwhile, Alpha looks to the blue-screened red one, then to Onyx with the Eye, then to Griffin. Then he... grins? 4 to 2 odds aren't working so well, so he tries to shift those more to his liking. Legs ripple and thicken into meaty trunks before a quick sprint-hop carries him away from the group... and closer to the patrons still filing out. The four tendrils split down their length into eight. Then sixteen. They flail out in all directions to snatch at guides, security personnel, and patrons alike. An equal opportunity grabber.

He snatches up a half-dozen of them, provoking screams, gasps, grunts, and much squirming. Griffin is eyed above that predatory smile. "You left two last time. How many are you willing to sacrifice now?"

That 1D10T error can only be Porter.

Portercat wants nothing more than to pummel Eighth. There are people in trouble, but Eighth knows where is--no, wait, that's not right. He knows where Porter's daughter is, not hers. But Porter's will is still exerting itself and making priorities difficult. He can't risk Eighth escaping again. But...innocents! But...Kysmette is a helpless innocent!

While personalities clash, Porter gives a frustrated kick to Eighth's head. "Shut up and tell me where Kysmette is!" he yells, losing himself.

Porter's foot is really good at finding it's way into his mouth. So, too, is it good at finding the joints between armor plates, design flaws, or temporal anomalies. Eighth is starting to sit up when the stomp ricochet's its helm off of the floor. Precisely on a service access port for a memory module. Which is jostled loose, forcing a hard error and system reboot. Eighth falls limp.

Griffin turns his sights on to Alpha knowing he should help cover Onyx's escape. But he can't stop himself.

"After what..." He pauses as if forcing himself to go on, "after what you did to her? To Copycat? You can have them all. I'm only here foryou." Griffin growls back to Alpha.

He hopes keeping up the ruse won't send Copycat deeper into Porter's psyche.

Then he releases all that pent up anger and rage at having found Copycat like that, really thinking she was dead, and all the rest to really tip over the edge- just a bit. His voice grows wild and as he barks his words at Alpha spit goes flying out of his mouth.

"I'm going to kill you over and over... and over again. You might heal- but I'm going to break you. Inside where it won't ever grow back."]

Part of Griffin hopes he's bluffing, the other part of him is working through the likely logistics of keeping something like Alpha contained and in constant misery.

Finally- certain of what he must do- he pulls the trigger.

3 tight blasts are emitted from the gun toward Alpha.

The tight cluster of beams into Alpha's chest have a cumulative effect. Flesh is seared, incinerated, and neighboring tissue ruptured due to flashboiling. The next effect leaves a much larger gaping hole in his chest and causes him to stumble back several meters. Yet, he does not fall. Nor does the quarter-meter gap through his torso end him. Severe, yes, though much of it is already rapidly repairing or replacing flesh before one's eyes.

Onyx has the Eye! He is about to decide what to do with it when Alpha grabs up all those innocent people, "Don't even think about-" What he was going to say is lost as Griffin explains how he would sacrifice so many innocent lives in his pursuit of vengeance and then follows it up with action to fit the words, "No!" Onyx shouts, throwing a hand out as he was unable to jump in the way of those beams in time but now... now he can act. "Stop you fool!" Onyx shouts at Griffin before he leaps into action once more but this time he leaps to cover Alpha, "Everyone stop right now or I destroy this thing!" He shouts, holding the eye in his large hands. "I swear, put down your weapons or this thing is useful to nobody!" He turns his back on Griffin and the others to go face to face with the 'Guard' that is Alpha, "Put them down, unharmed and alive in exchange for the Eye and I. I'll be your hostage if you let them go."

"What... the..." Griffin looks to Rick and mouths the words 'fu*k...' before looking back to the scene unfolding around him. He's flabberghasted. Maybe he did too good of a job coming off crazy and vengeful- not to say he isn't feeling a little unbalanced and vengeful.

Portercat's attention is pulled from his own vengeance streak, looking over at Onyx at his announcement. His jaw drops open as he struggles to remember what he desperately doesn't want to. "No! You can't! You don't know what he's done! What he's capable of!"

Onyx says grimly, "I know I'm not willing to murder innocent people by his hands like you two are."

That snaps Copycat's personality back into focus from shock alone. She's never killed anyone, and isn't about to. "I...I'm not trying...I..." his voice is shaken and unsteady, sounding wounded at what he may have become. 'Porter' puts a hand to his head, trying to clear it. "-He's- the killer. And he'll kill more with that Eye."

"Are you /HIGH/?" yells Rick at Onyx. He has the particle revolver hefted, trying to aim at Alpha through Onyx, with one hand. Rick's other hand is resting on one of the grenades secured to the combat harness wrapped around his black silk shirted torso. An expression of disbelief is written large across his face as he stares at the back of Onyx's noggin.

Spinning the particle revolver around his forefinger, Rick roughly holsters the weapon. His other hand falls away from his grenades. Rick looks over at Griffin and Portercat before looking toward Alpha and Onyx.

"Fission mailed," mutters Rick under his breath.

"Onyx- do NOT give him that stone!" Griffin shouts.

It looked like that Grin would vanish when he was blasted... but, no. Now it is back in force. Predatory force. Very unbecoming of a security guard, though maybe not one with umpteen tentacles full of museum-goers. More of the recent burn-crater heals, until it resembles a mild sunburn. "The stone and Glow Boy, and you can have them back." Now Alpha is directing his attention and words to Onyx, since he's the ...reasonable one.

Eight still appears to be rebooting, or was temporarily shut down.

"That's not the deal." Onyx says firmly, "It's a win for you if you get the stone, but you're not getting /anything/ until you let those people go." He doesn't look away from Alpha but answers Griffin, "You gave up any credibility you had when you willingly went to sacrifice six innocent people Griffin. He doesn't need this rock to kill more people, and he's not going anywhere without me, and only me, if he wants it."

All those tentacles, waving about? And with people flailing and trying to escape? They're probably getting thrashed about while Alpha's attention is on the negotations. And it's hard to coordinate so many limbs gracefully. Portercat watches Alpha worriedly, hoping that maybe some or all while tangle into one big, ridiculous knot.

All those flailing tentacles. Maybe it was just a matter of time. Aide over the guard. Around the lady in the blue dress. Back through between and... yes, all of a sudden, there are a few knots.'

Griffin would kick Onyx's ass if it weren't for all of this other less Alpha-Male-related stuff going on. Like how he wasn't really going to sacrifice those people to Alpha, or how that stone might be the key to their actual destruction of the world as we know it.

That isn't even mentioning the whole 'the many outweigh the few arguement'.

Griffin really has more than enough problems and Boy-Scout Demi-Gods wasn't even on the list.

"I don't think there's enough room in here for your sanctimony- Onyx." He snarls as he levels his gun at the rebooting cyborg. He doesn't hesitate. He fires without thoughts of concern or mercy. Dogs get put down. This thing needs to be dismantled and put back peice by piece unti we can figure out where Kys is, then it needs to be dropped into the sun, or a black hole.

At the very least it should be covered in napalm and then put into an air tight container, dropped into the bottom of the ocean, then set ablaze inside the container at the bottom of the ocean, then the seals should be opened after all the oxygen in the room has been used flooding and crushing the container and Eighth with it- after getting the intel on Kys.

Another zot zot zot. The lasers impact and ...spatter, spreading as they'd done before. This time, the effect is more pronounced.. Something definitely happens. The faint, flickering crimson energy highlights flare to bright intensity. "Reboot complete. Systems status: One hundred sixty-one point two four percent."

Onyx is still waiting to see if Alpha will release those other people in exchange for him and the Eye.

"I believe this here is what they call a Mexican stand-off," comments Rick, brown eyes tracking toward the re-awakened Eighth. His lips turn down in a frown as he comments, almost absently, "And I thought I told you guys to put the Abominable Corpse Man down for the count?"

A stand-off that Alpha has no intentions of keeping evil. "Right. I hand them over, you shoot me s'more. Sure, why wouldn't I do that? You're in no position to make demands. You give up the rock, or I kill one. " To make his point, the tips of over tentacles harden into sharp, jagged, chitinous spines."And I already asked once," he points out with a sneer adding to his grin. A tip lashes out for the noisiest captive.

Onyx shakes his head a fraction of an inch and then he spins into action again. The first thing he does is drop down, because now he is out of the line of fire. Also while doing so he is snapping his free hand down to plant it on the ground, pivoting on the ball of one foot, and attempting to smash the heel of his foot into the back of Alpha's ankles to try and send him to the ground, especially since his tentacles are all knotted, he might lose his grip as well! It might also hurt a bit.

Portercat gasps as Alpha forms those familiar, sharp, awful spines. His throat constricts. He can't let someone else suffer a fate like that. So he wishes. Really, really hard. Maybe he'll miss due to getting tripped and will only get clothing in those spines. Maybe one of his own tangled, hardened limbs will get in the way.

Alpha-guard catches a solid blow to trunk-like leg and is knocked off-balance. He attempts a handspring back to his feet, but his hand wraps up in his own tentacle and he falls. He doesn't release the hostages, and the impaling appendage continues to dart for the woman. The tip then suddenly stops a centimeter from her forehead. After having wrapped around several over tentacles, it seems it reached maximum extension. At just the right moment. Lucky!

Meanwhile, Eighth's reboot is completed. It quickly scans the current situation and lifts a hand to fire a crimons beam at Onyx. Or, more specifically, at the Eye he holds.

Rick's eyes narrow slightly as Eighth fires that crimson beam toward the Eye of Anubis. He doesn't actively think about what happens next, Rick's body just performs the action.

The Undead Soldier's hand comes up from his hips to wrench a grenade off of his combat harness, the weapon snagging for a split-second before it pops free. Rick pulls the pin and hurls the compact cylinder at Eighth, the spoon flying free of the grenade an instant before it explodes into a mass of weighted cables. Once again, those cables seek to ensnare Eighth.

"Maybe you missed it while you were having a computer seizure, but someone told you to shut your hole and know your role," growls Rick toward Eighth. The cable grenade actually hits its target this time, weighted lines rapidly tangling around the Power Vampire. One presumes captivity, in this case, is A Good Thing .

What was Eighth preparing to fire from the ground is suddenly a mass of tangled cables. This changes things slightly. Possibly more than slightly. Nothing happens for a moment, and then the crimson glow begins to be seen again. If not from between cables than actually making them glow dully, themselves, for a moment.

The cables glow ruby, brighten to crimson, then flare to white before the metal vaporizes. Now free of them, Eighth stands. "Interference is futile," it reminds in the flat digitized voice.

Griffin is almost shocked when his blasts power up Eighth. Almost. Except everytime Griffin lays a shot on this guy- Eighth laps it up and asks for more.

He sighs as he turns to get an eye on both Amoeba and the Cyborg.

"I think they've both got hearing problems, Mason." He says as Alpha hits the ground.

Griffin clicks the two-setting dial over from High-Intensity Laser to Solid-Mass Accelerator.

This is a hell of a stand-off and Captain Karate-Scout is holding their only playing card. "Alpha, there is no way you're getting out of here- most definitely not with the stone." He says trying to buy time while he tries to figure out the best way to stop Alpha from hurting anyone- if only to get Onyx out of here with the Eye of Anubis.

Onyx frowns as he tries to think of ways to free those innocents and to deal with Alpha and to deal with Eighth again and to survive all of this. That's a lot of 'and's', Onyx isn't sure he can do all of those things /and/ survive. So he does the only thing he can do, he throws the Eye to PorterCat, "Get it out of here." and then he tries to grab hold of Alpha's tentacles to try and pry them off the innocents so they can get loose.

Onyx now finds himself the proud possessor of one very scared, grateful, and lightly-dressed aide. The one who attempted to claim Porter's arm previously.

Onyx will of course immediately release said innocent.

Things are getting out of control here, Rick realizes, but there is not a whole lot of room to maneuver. He glances over at Onyx, African-American Aesir Karate Kommando, as he starts working on stripping Alpha of hostages. Rick's attention then follows the arc of the Eye of Anubis toward Porter and, by extension, back to Eighth who is vaporizing the cables that bound him so helpfully.

Frowning, Rick reaches behind his back with one hand and pulls out a full on military combat knife. Crouching for a second, Rick springs across the intervening space toward Eighth. Spinning the knife in hand as he descends toward the luminous undead cyborg, Rick calls to Portercat, "Porter! GET OUT!"

While in flight, Rick's expression grows intense. He breathes heavily and narrows his eyes as he drops toward Eighth, combat knife gripped securely in a proper knife fighter's grasp. Something about how Rick is balancing in air, he seems different... Like he's operating at a new, different level.

Mr. Mason the projectile leaps across the room, leading with the knife. Which winds up driven into Eighth's blank faceplate. The blade does punture the plate and hits something behind it with a slightly wet, dull noise. Eighth remains standing, though does not appear pleased. Neither does it appear displeased. Nor annoyed...delighted... nor much anything else.

"RRAHH!" Alpha, on the other hand, is visibly, and audibly, annoyed. He forcibly retracts his additional appendages, tangles and all, into his body. It's painful, but he is good at avoiding permanent damage. The drawback is, of course, that all the hostages are dropped to the ground in the process.

Onyx shouts, "RUN!" at those just released.

Meanwhile, Eighth turns its helm, possibly embedded blade and all, towards PorterCat. A hand lifts and launches a beam of crimson energy hir way... well, at the recently-deposited Eye.

Portercat's eyes grow wide as the stone Eye and container come flying his way. Along with a flying Rick with a combat knife. And a Griffin. He catches the Eye of Anubis, almost fumbling it. It bounces once, twice, thrice off of his hands until he finally catches it and clutches it to his chest. And then, everyone's telling him to run. "B-but...those people...I--" and before he can run, Eighth sends a lance of red energy in his direction. He tries to zig when he should've zagged.

Portercat ends up zagging right into the energy blast, which hits him square in the chest. He goes flying back, crashing first through a display of costumery and tapestries. Not so hard. They soften some of the blow. Not so much when he crashes back first into the nice Egyptian style column against the wall with a terrible WHOOF. He slides down to the ground, his head dropping forward as he sits propped up against the column, barely conscious. The Eye and its container fall from his limp hand as little birdies and Mr. Bunny circles his head.

Onyx nods in satisfaction now that Alpha has released all those people, who should have taken that opportune moment to start running for their lives (especially since everyone gets to go on 12) or so he hopes but things are going from bad to worse. "Really? You guys tell me he's an energy vampire, and then you shoot him with energy, and you complain about /me/ trying to save lives..." He mutters something else to himself but it doesn't carry. Running over towards Eighth he tries once again to try and hammer the undead cyborg into the ground with another roundhouse kick.

Eighth's blast erupts towards PorterCat and he is willing to do just about anything to stop it from hitting home- including wearing the blast himself.

He takes a step towards Eighth and leaps towards the intervening space between Eighth and his target.

He's not going to make it- superhumanly fast or not- he isn't as fast as the energy heading towards PorterCat.

He stretches his arms out to try to get any part of him there, but to no avail.

Eighth's helm snaps around at the force of the kick, the holed faceplate cracking further. It definitely felt that, as it did the prior boots to the helm.

Rick's hand is snapped to and fro by Eighth's head moving hither, thither, and yon. Despite the fact that Rick's wrist appears to be dislocated following Onyx's boot to Eighth's head, Rick flails his hand around until, with a sickening KRRRRRAAAAAAQcrunch, his wrist seems to repair itself.

"Good of you to get back to business," snipes the Undead Soldier. He twists around, sharply whistling at Alpha. Rick's knife-free hand pulls another grenade from his harness and lobs it at Alpha. "Think fast, Jello Mold."

The shocking discharge of the grenade courses through Alpha's flesh. His body twitches and he yells more. Thankfully, there's currently only the four limbs to twitch and flail.

Not surprisingly, Alpha didn't like that. A new tentacle sprouts, its end hardening into one of those jagged, chitinous spikes as it is spawned. It promptly lashes out for Rick.

Eighth, however, remains neutral. Its focus shifts to the now unattended Eye. Another beam lances out for it, less bright and more ... dispersed than the one which struck PorterCat.

The beam strikes it and linger on the container briefly before fading. "Objective complete. Arcano energy defensive matrix dispersed," Eighth asserts.

Rick Mason smiles an ugly little smile as he watches Alpha writhe in electrical agony. There's a certain amount of primordial satisfaction to be derived from watching a monster suffer from Man's good works. On the other hand, Rick may just feel secure in how things are going to work from here on out in the fight.

At which point a new tentacle erupts out of Alpha's body, lancing across the museum toward Rick Mason. It hardens into a chitin spike in transit, plowing into Rick's chest and glancing off of several ribs in the process as it utterly decimates the concealed armor of his as yet unexplained cowboy wear. Rick looks down at the spike in his chest and then back up at Alpha as blood starts to bubble up around the edges of the borehole.

"I'm not... Hrrrk... I'm not that kinda... Kinda guy," burbles Rick as he stares damningly at Alpha, "You wanna... Put your fil... HRRRK... Filthy hentacles in me... You gotta buy me dinner first..."

You guys might want to give Rick a second. He looks a little worse for wear. And possibly only on his feet because there is a spike going through him and supporting his weight.

Portercat starts to rouse slowly. Just in time to see the Eye taken and stare in dismay. Which turns to horror as he looks up to see Rick lanced by Alpha. "R...Rick..." he groans weakly. Shick. He needs to get up. He needs to try and move so he can help. He knows Rick will recover, but it's still hard to watch.

Griffin groans as Eighth states its objective complete. "Every God Damn time." He says.

"We've gotta get this mission back on the rails guys." He says trying to rouse the squad & turn the tide back in their favor.

With Alpha inside his pal, Rick- he assumes he's got things under control because it's Rick.

He turns, swinging hisfirearm back towards Eighth. He curses himself for not taking the easy shot at Alpha while Mason has him distracted, but the Cyborg is the largest threat currently.

He aims for the hole left by Rick's knife and fires a Solid-Mass Accelerator Round.

Eight's helm snaps back at the impact and the faceplate shatters. The face within is pasty to the point of snowy skin with bluish lips and eye sockets. There is also a notable entry wound in its cheek that bisects a deep cut. There is a small amount of blood, oozing out with the speed, consistency, and nearly color of reddish molasses.

Onyx continues his apparently futile assault on Eighth, why, because Eighth is the one he might have a chance to do something to, not that he's been successful before with either of these villains but... "What does he mean defensive matrix? Is the artifact vulnerable now?" But he lashes out with another kick at the armored zombie. "You should stay dead... this is why I hate super science..." He mutters to himself.

Everyone seems to like kicking, shooting, and/or stabbing Eighth in the face. Though, with a face like that, maybe it isn't so surprising. Onyx's most recent boot to the head seems to be that facebearking straw, as Eighth's body follows the snapping head to fall back to the ground.

Rick Mason teeters to and fro, his weight supported by the organic spear Alpha has so tactlessly, unromantically rammed into his chest. Clearly Alpha needs lessons in romance from George Takei.

"It's about damned time!" Alpha yanks the tentacle forcibly out of Rick. Wham, bam, thank you Mr. Mason. He then breaks into a run, heading for the emergency exit in the wall not far from Rick. The recently sharpened tentacle softens and lashes over to scoop up the Eye from the floor.

Portercat's hand flops with a complete lack of coordination to try and grab the eye before Alpha does. And completely fails. With a pained grunt, he braces against the column and slowly pushes himself to his feet. The polished floor can be awfully slippery. Especially with all those fleeing socialites probably dropping some belongings in their hurry to flee.

Did anyone notice that the costume PorterCat crashed into was all but sequined in faux pearls? That are now slicked with Rick's blood. Well, Alpha does, as his travel to the door suddenly becomes slower when it turns from running to be more... sliding along the floor on his face.

Did anyone notice that the costume PorterCat crashed into was all but sequined in faux pearls? That are now scattered all over the floor. And slicked with Rick's blood. Well, Alpha does, as his travel to the door suddenly becomes slower when it turns from running to be more... sliding along the floor on his face.

Griffin turns & then runs with his enhanced speed- covering the gap to the blood slick, and then leaping over it to attempt to land on, and Alpha in place.

"I'm not done with you yet- not by half!" He shouts as sails through the air.

Alpha is on his face. Now he's on his face getting unfriendly hugs from Griffin.

Onyx doesn't chase after Alpha, there's only so many people who can grab onto someone after all and he has business to conclude. He winds up for a /heavy/ kick at the downed Eighth.

Ordinarily, Rick Mason would be running to assist Griffin in sackbeating Alpha. Right now, however, Rick Mason is kneeling on the ground, supporting himself with one fist pressed against the floor. Wheezing and shuddering, the Undead Soldier focuses on forcing his body to plug that gaping, sucking chest wound that Alpha left behind.

"Hangggglllk... Hang onto him... HHhhrrrrrrrllll... Griff... Be right... Be right there."

"10-4!" Griffin says from atop Alpha. He holds on to a tentacle with each hand, and places his knees over the other two. He twists his ankles beneath his buttocks hoping to hold him in place until his Army-Bro can provide cover.

Alpha's predatory grin is not so apparent now... and now just because it's planted on the floor. Perhaps in attempt to gain more traction, and definitely to piss off Griffin, his form suddenly loses cohesion and ... melts. He's already rather prostrate on the floor, so the shift to a puddle of colloidal bio-mass ins't much of a change. Aside from slipping through Griffin's fingers, he doesn't really move much.

On the other part of the floor, Eighth's eyes open to the sight of... Onyx's very large foot hefted above it. Several million calculations are made in the span of a second or two. "Immediate matter translocation protocols activated." The voice is the same digital without the faceplate, only with less echo. The energy lines along its armor brighten into a glare that blurs together over its form, and then it is gone.

The Eye drops to the floor with the liquefaction of the limb holding it, and the clay container shatters. The large, spherical stone rolls a few meters across the floor before coming to a stop.

Portercat is aghast as Eighth manages to teleport away. "No!! Kysmette!" That was there one lead. Gone. His fists clench as he scowls in frustration and failure. Snapping his head to Alpha, he glares. "You'd better have something good to tell us!" he threatens, looking not all that intimidating. Lesson #1: Never incur a father's wrath. Even if it's a proxy father. A faux Porter? Copycat is clinging to that so she can face Alpha again so soon after what he put her through. He tries to focus on channeling chance and fate. What are the chances Alpha's cells snap back to a cohesive solid form? Maybe it's a ticklish reaction from being gooped up with Griffin left in the puddle. Maybe his genetic modifications aren't as perfected as Next Generation had engineered.

Maybe Alpha sneezes. Maybe its because he's willing his body too hard to get purchase to get the hell out of there. Flesh rapidly reforms, into a humanoid, albeit a vaguely-hued humanoid-shaped thing of flesh. Which would actually look familiar to Onyx.

Griffin attempts to restrain himself, but he knows Alpha isn't the type of monster you leave to roam again to torture and disect someone else- who might not have the ability to steal regenerative abilities.

Considering how out of it Alpha looks, Griffin knows what he's about to do isn't even remotely honorable- but on the other hand he knows it is completely necessary.

Griffin rocks up, releasing 2 of Alphas tentacles and sitting upright.

He pulls his pistol out of its holster and puts it right next to where he hopes the single-celled bastard keeps its head.

He moves the switch over to High-Intensity Laser. Once again, he does no hesitate or even consider any other possiblity than the course he's set.

'I'll do what ever I must to keep Kat safe- and you crossed too many lines. God forgive you- because I won't.' Griffin thinks as he squeezes the trigger.

The salvo of shots aimed for the general head area take chunks of gooey organic matter with it. Alpha is more of a semi-solid than a normal human being, made of a collection of mutagenic morphing cells. His head is blasted away piece by piece until he shudders and goes limp, for now. It's only a matter of time before he reforms and revives.

Portercat isn't pleased to watch. He averts his gaze and only looks back once the shots have stopped. There's no look of grim satisfaction or victory. Just relief mixed with due horror. But mainly relief that the monster has been put down for now, long enough to be imprisoned.

And now he doesn't have to act the tough guy. Not that Porter seems tough by any measure, but he's feeling less so now, barely conscious from the single blow he took earlier. He slumps sideways heavily against the cracked column, using it to help keep him upright. "You...you stopped him," Portercat says in awed, congratulatory tones that are a bit subdued from exhaustion. Taking a nasty blow like that and pulling the strings of fate were more taxing than Cat ever realized.

"I wish I could burn these remains- make sure he's gone. I doubt StarGuard will approve of that plan though." Griffin grumbles just before turning to see PorterCat leaning for support.

Griffin leaves the goo-man and rushes to CopyPorter's side. He crosses the space between them almost as fast as s/he can blink. "You ok?" He asks as he takes hold of PorterCat's shoulder and looks into his eyes. "Let me give you a once over..." He says clinically as he rolls over into his Triage Training. Using the auto-pilot that gives him to try to separate his confused mess of feelings for the man-woman jumble before him.

"Think I'm just dizzy. Doesn't feel like anything's broken. But I almost passed out after I finally stopped flying through the air," Portercat offers an apologetic smile for being such trouble. Now that Alpha's down and out, Cat feels a bit more comfortable about emerging from her disguise. At least mentally. He glances towards the body of Alpha as he whispers, "Do you think it's safe? To try to become me again?"

While Portercat may have some bumps and bruises, nothing's broken. He just seems a bit dazed and beleaguered. Maybe he was just lucky with how he hit the column?

As for the mess of feelings, it's something Cat is used to experiencing herself. Personal feelings are repressed for the moment, with considerable effort, to avoid extra awkwardness as much as possible.

Griffin's voice almost purs with an odd mixture of relief, concern and those other- wholly avoidable feelings he's going to have to learn to master. "As much as I'd love to see your beautiful and not to mention real face, maybe we should keep you on the low until we can get out of here. After all 'Porter' will likely need to give a report to StarGuard about what happened here." Griffin says feeling incredibly awkward for using this tone with another man- even if it is a woman in there, somewhere.

Portercat looks a little flushed and uncertain how to respond at first. Right now, there's all sorts of feelings and thoughts mixed up in that head. Not just Cat's shy, lovestruck feelings, but Porter's worries over his daughter, and his feelings for Paragon. But at least for a moment, some of Porter's feelings can be boxed away.

"Okay," he grins shyly. "A little longer. Just until we can get this sorted out and get somewhere safe." He casts another look at Alpha, unconsciously rubbing his throat again and appearing uncomfortable. "I...I wasn't sure I was going to be able to hold it together there. I think you were right. About me needing to rest," he murmurs, before his brown eyes wander back to Griffin's. There's another awkward grin. "This, ah, must seem weirder than usual for you..." he apologizes.

Griffin wonders just where a 'safe place' could be for Kat. He'd offer his place but considering its an underground bunker with military style bunks and showers, well there's only so much awkward allowed in any one issue by the Comics Code.

He returns PorterCat's smile, "Just a bit longer. Can you hold it together- just until we make sure Alpha is secured and we can clear the police barricades. Then I will personally run you anywhere you want to go." He looks into Porter's brown eyes wondering where Copycat is under all that Porter.

"Oh just another 'normal' day in 2056." He says as his smile grows wider. "I can deal with all the weirdness in the world, just as long as the people I care about are safe."

The awkward alarm chimes.

Griffin clears his throat and removes his hands from PorterCat. "You know- all this time training, teaming up and ... other stuff, ya know- and I have no idea where you live. I suppose that's pretty typical for you capes though right?" Griffin asks changing the subject of conversation off PorterCat's attempted murderer.

"Yeah. I can hold it together a little longer," Portercat smiles softly. There's definitely some Cat in there. Like with that smile. And the sudden, embarrassed expression when he realizes Griffin doesn't know where Cat's been staying. "Oh, I've been living out of the Beach Hotel since I got here while Dr. Silverback's been trying to help me," he murmurs with some embarrassment over being just a hotel resident.