Log:More Twin Troubles

2008/06/08 	 Akeno Jennifer Sable Variable 1

In Past Time's Coffee Shop
Regan settles into a seat, placing her satchel over the back of her chair and her hot chocolate on the table in front of her. Once settled her hands smooth the fabric of her dress.

Jennifer comes into the coffee shop talking to a pair of young identical twin girls, flaming redheads about eight years of age. The children are wearing school uniform, pleated knee length gray skirts, white blouses, gray jackets with a school crest of the breast pocket, red and white striped ties. Jennifer points the kids to a spare table. "Hi everyone." she gives those she knows a cheery wave before heading to the counter to place an order.

Vitalis sits at a table, working on his laptop.

Variable waves to Jennifer. "Oh, hey!

Caleb nods, pulling his PDA out of his pocket and taking notes in a way that competes for "least discreet act of note-taking EVER." "Mm. Now, that's not really an answer to --" he's cut off by Jen's arrival and waves. "Hey Jess!" Gesturing to indicate the girls, he adds "Let me guess: cousins?"

Regan smiles and waves by way of reply. "Hi Jenn, how are things? I saw you in the crowd at Best of the Best, are you planning on entering Monday's leg of the competition?"

Caleb blinks at the question, astonished, then seems to remember something and subsides.

Variable says, "I should have thought of waiting till the second time. That way you can know what's coming.."

Jennifer laughs at Caleb's comment. "Nope. Oddly, not this time. Ann-Marie and Marie-Ann Campbell. The daughters of Alister Campball, Minister of Defense in the UK. Also talented kids and pupils at my father's school."

Variable says hi to the kids.

Jennifer answers Regan's question, "Me? No. Not a chance. I know when I'm outclassed. There's some real talent in the competition this year."

Regan nods to the girls. "Delighted to meet you both, will you be staying in Colonial Bay long?" Her lips curl into a wide smile. "I don't think lack of talent is something you should ever feel concerned about."

[To Jennifer] Variable says, "Yeah, there is - I'm just hoping I can do ok. I don't think I stand a chance at actually winning!"

Variable says, "And there's even more people to come!"

The twin girls grin and wave back to Variable. "Hey, you were fantastic. I would have cheered for you." One says, "Me too." says the other. "But our keeper said we should cheer for Wasp." They point at Jennifer.

The girls smile and wave to Regan too. "Hello." and "Hi." come her way.

Variable laughs. "And she was right, Wasp was best! She beat me despite stopping to help someone else."

Jennifer says, "They'll be coming over for the Best of the Best events. Assuming they stay on good behaviour and don't get grounded again."

Regan nods firmly. "Wasp was fantastic, and the sportsmanship of risking her win to help a competitor showed that more than a great athlete she is exactly what we hope for in a hero."

Vitalis looks up and says, "This is the competition where you race around and try to show you are the strongest? Fastest?"

Variable nods in agreement with Regan.

Jennifer goes to get coffees for herself and the young Campbell twins.

Regan's brows lift slightly. "Perhaps they'd get grounded less often if they were less caffinated."

Regan's lips curl into a soft smile, perhaps to indicate she's trying to mess with Jenn

"It's not our fault." Marie-Ann says, or is it Ann-Marie? "We're trouble magnets. Honestly."

Variable grins to Jenn. "And you brought them in here? This place doesn't even know what dimension it's in half the time."

Jennifer nods as she returns with coffees. "That's true. Kidnapped by aliens. That was last year's summer camp. Caught in a bank robbery at Hatfield Mall on a shopping trip." She grins at Variable, "That's why I brought them here. Why subject some other place to this pair of walking disasters when it's probably going to happen here anyway, whatever it is."

Variable says, "Kidnapped by aliens? What aliens?"

"Icky ones." one of the twins says. "They were all slimey and drooling. They wanted to invade but our class sorted them out."

Regan says, "You would think by know criminals the world over would have this coffee shop entered into their GPS systems as a no-go area."

Regan smiles. "Your class? You're students from Jenn's old alma mater?"

Variable tries to remember about what slimey drooling aliens her parents have told her about. Doesn't really narrow it down enough.

Both the twins try to answer, but after the false start it's Ann-Marie who speaks. She seems to be the dominent one of the pair. "Yes. Lord Markham's School for Talented Children. That's us."

Variable has to ask. "What kind of talent?"

Ann-Marie answers, "We can fly and we're strong and we can't be hurt."

Variable nods. "Useful talent!"

Jennifer asks, "Mind if we join you?"

Regan's shoulders lift slightly. "You're certainly more than welcome to join me. Caleb was just in the middle of grilling Variable for any personal information he could use to compose a portrait."

Variable says, "Sure, please do.... I can fly too, but I have to grow wings. Or turn myself into a big balloon. But that's dangerous, because I might go POP!"

Jennifer and the twin girls move over to join Regan and Variable.

Regan says, "I certainly wouldn't suiuggest it. It can't be good for you. I have to say that I've considered the concept of being a shape changer and I just don't know thatmy sense of identity would be strong enough to withstand the strain."

Variable says, "I guess it is kind of weird. I like just being me a lot of the time, even though doing a lot of the stuff I can do is fun."

Jennifer nods to Variable and laughs. "I like being me, too. In fact I'm my favourite person."

Regan nods. "I like being Jennifer too, only I like to do it when she isn't around to see me boorrowing her outfits."

Ann-Marie asks Jennifer, "Can we go to the Gym and play in the Workout Room, please?"

Variable grins, and shapeshifts to look like Jennifer. "Why wait?"

Jennifer laughs, "You're lucky then. Lorelei taught me a little dress sense." She nods to the twin girls, "Sure. Stay at the Gym though, okay." she tells them and then continues, "I used to buy all my clothes from army surplus stores."

The twin girls stand and wave farewell to Regan and Variable before leaving the coffee shop. They are walking towards the Gym when a black van with heavily tinted windows pulls up and blocks the view from the coffee shop.

Regan says, "Lovely meeting you both"

Variable looks up at the reduced sunlight.

Regan smiles at the two girls as they leave before turning her attention to Jenn. "Lovely girls, will they be staying long?"

After just a moment the van pulls away down the street. The twin girls are not in sight any longer and there's nowhere they could be if they were continuing to walk.

Jennifer says, "Only for the Best of the Best events. Although they'll be in the country later this year for a summer camp."

Variable says, "Where'd the girls go? They aren't flying, are they?"

Jennifer shakes her head. "No. They had better not be. They're under strict instructions to hide their talents while over here."

Variable says, "Where did they go then?"

Variable pops her head out the door to look.

Jennifer looks out of the window. "Huh? I don't know. They aren't at the Gym. I have Jessica on the front desk."

Variable says, "That van - maybe ..."

Regan blinks and turns her attention to the windowed storefront, her lips pursing slightly as she looks up and down the street. "Would they have their cell phones on?"

There's no obvious sign of the girls. The van the blocked the view is proceeding down the street towards the docks area.

Variable grows wings (and telescopic vision) and takes to the air, tring to get a better view.

Jennifer nods to Regan. "Yes. Good thought." She gets out her PDA and hits a speed-dial buttom. The PDA beeps with the no connection tone.

Looking carefully Variable spots a half eaten candy bar on the street where the girls were. The wrapper is from a Past Time's snack, and she remembers one of the girls was munching on a snack when they left.

Regan's brow furrows slightly. "There.. What van?" She seems to be taking an uncharacteristically long time to get up to speed." Her lips purse as Jen fails to get a signal.

Jennifer nods, "Yes. What van? Let's go ask Variable. She saw it."

Variable swoops down to pick up the candy bar in case there's any more to it as a clue and chases after the can.

The van is obeying the city speed limits and not that hard to catch up to for Variable.

Jennifer tells Regan, "Variable is chasing a van towards the docks she just told me over the SGG comms."

Jennifer nods as she gets another message.

Variable reads out the plate for Jenn's benefit.

says, "Variable tells me she's chasing a van that was outside when the girl vanished. I'm going after her. Are you coming?"

Regan nods slightly. "Ok, I just need to get changed, you get going, I'll catch you up in a few moments." She snatches up her satchel and makes her way to the bathroom.

Variable keeps following the van.

Sable leaves her stachel stashed in the bathroom before leaving the coffee shop through the bathroom window and haring off along the street in front of the cafe, snatching something from Jennifer as she moves past.

The van drives into the docks area and pulls up at the rear of a isolated fishing gear shop. Two men leave the back of the van carrying the missing girls, who appear to be unconscious. Another man exits from the driver's cab. All three are archtypical Men In Black.

Looking down on the building Vaiable sees a chimmey on the roof.

Variable shapeshifts into a long sticky snake whose adhesives also "happen" to be stinging for a human target.

Variable wiggles down the chimney and curls up in the stove. There she listens to the conversation betweent the man in black and the shopkeeper, and waits for one of them to be alone....

The shop keeper is talking to a Man In Black. The conversation is discussing how to transport the prisoners safely to Washington. The shop keeper gloats at the prestige that will come from capturing a Wolfguard assassin.

The Man In Black goes behind the shop counter. He bends and then descends a ladder from the appearance of his actions and vanishes from sight. The shop keeper goes back to sweeping the floor.

Variable whispers what she can observe down the comms too.

Sable can find a rear window that seems a suitably weak point of entry. But... when exercising her ninja skills she spots a top quality alarm system.

Variable exudes a tendril like a still smaller snake to slip between the stove door and its frame and release the catch.

Variable pushes her way out of the stove, trying to stay out of sight, and tries to ambush the shopkeeper.

Sable's lips purse slightly as though perhaps she had bitten into something sour.

Variable slithers across the floor to the shopkeeper and attempt to wrap herself round him and sting him.

Sable works deftly, and quickly at bypassing the security system and the latch on the windoe before sliding it open as swinging smoothly through into the rear room of the shop

There's a door from the rear storeroom that's in the logical place for going into the shop front.

The surprise sting from Variable leaves the shop keeper stunned but still conscious.

Sable starts moving cautiously forward through the building, murmuring into her com-link. "Variable? Where should I be heading?"

Sable opens the door to the store room a crack before stepping smoothly through into the shop-front and delivering a short sharp punch straight over the man's heart. Or at least that is where it's aimesd

Variable is a long thin snake half-wrapped round the guy.

The shop keeper is clearly affected by the nerve strike but he remains conscious.

Sable lands the punch squarely on the nerve cluster in the middle of the sternum and looks a little surprised that he is still standing.

The shop keeper sinks down to his knees on being stung again. He's out on his feet but likely to recover almost immediately.

A moment after being hit the shop keeper shakes his head regaining consciousness but still stunned.

Sable steps back and aims a kick at the middle of the store-owner's chest. Where before she was attempting subtlety this blow while still deft and smooth seems focused entirely on raw power.

Sable's weight rocks forward with the kick, not enough to commit her balance but certainly enough to lend force to the blow which unfurls with a crisp, clean, clinical precision, smashing her target back against the counter with a loud thump before he slumps slowly to the floor. As soon as the kick is finished she drops into a low crouch to try and use the counter as visual cover against the camera.

A trapdoor located behind the shop counter is pushed open from underneath and two Men In Black emerge from it in leaps up from a lower level. Taking positions using the counter as partial cover they level energy weapons at Regan and Variable. One is holding a open wallet folder in his off hand, "Armed federal agents. Put up your hands and remain still or we will respond with lethal force."

Sable lets her weight swing forward as she seems to step toward the nearest of the two agents, but instead of landing and taking her weight she twists and ducks in a smoothly executed pirhouette, trying to provoke the agent into fire that she can evade.

The agent covering Sable shoots as soon as she starts to move, before Sable can develop sufficient speed to be able to avoid the shot.

Sable's body apparently twists just enough that the impact takes her in the shoulder rather than more squarely. the impact is more than enough to knock her reeling, smashing her back against a display of aquariua that tumbles and crashes to the floor, a sheet of shattered glass sweeping across the floor.

Sable moves across to the agent who just shot her and attempts to punch him hard in the side of the throat

Sable swings her fist in a practiced, vicious arc, the first two knuckles of her right hand smashing into the junction of the agent's jawline and neck.

The agent is slammed back into the wall behind the counter of the shop and slips to the floor in a shower of falling bait packages.

Variable shapeshifts into a subtly different, more constrictorlike snake, and then starts wriggling like mad so as to be harder to hit.

Akeno runs into the shop, swinging the door open hard enough that's probably going to come off it's hinges. He waits until he actually seems a non-hero before he calls out, "Freeze! CBPD!" He's of course ready to get the hell out of dodge if gunfire comes his way, after all.

The interior of the shop is getting rapidly trashed, where it isn't already so. One man is face down on the floor of the shop. There's a large snake wiggling like mad on the floor near him. Sable is over by the shop counter. Behind the counter are two Men In Black (tm) with energy weapons. One is on his butt surrounded by fallen packets of fishing bait. The other is pointing his weapon at Sable. He calls out to Akeno, "Federal Agents requiring assistance."

Akeno considers very briefly it seems as he glares at the two MiBs. "ID. Now." Sable he knows. The two MiBs? Not even in his files more than likely, but in this case he plays it safe. If they are, he'd rather not fight Sable but if it comes down to it...

The agent on his butt lifts up the hand not holding an energy weapon. He's holding an opened wallet folder with some kind of ID in it.

The snake abruptly says, "They kidnapped two girls - my guess is they're holding them in the basement!"

The standing MIB shakes his head. "Arrested. They are Wolfguard Assassins."

Variable says, "No they aren't!"

The agent glares at Variable, "Oh yes they are."

Akeno carefully makes his way over, eyes on the man with the ID as he makes his way forward. "Wolfguard Assassins? Maybe you are new to town, but the last I checked, you don't have jursidiction as far as metahuman matters are concerned either."

Variable says, "No they're not. They're the daughters of the British Minister of Defence!"

The sitting agent tells Akeno, "Check the ID, pal. MIA. Meta's in the US are our jurisdiction. We have full authority when it comes to Meta threats."

Variable wriggles behind the counter while attention is more on Akeno.

Sable points to the one on the ground. "You stay where you are. Regardless of what they are they have rights. Legal counsel. That sort of thing."

The standing MIB shakes his head again. "No, they don't. Anti-terrorist act of 2034. Wolfguard is a proscribed organisation."

Sable says, "Well, I kind of think people who snatch innocent schoolchildren off the street are terrorists. So why I'm placing you two under citizen's arrest."

Akeno growls just a bit. "There have been rumors of such an agency existing, however, there's also been a good deal of criminal organizations that will impersonate such because we are not familiar with them. Legally, I should take you into custody as I was made unaware of such as well and more than likely you are such criminals." He looks at the other two. "The heroes I trust more than federal agents at this point." His eyes take on an unfocused look. "Sable..." He looks at the snake. "... and I don't know you, but what information do you two have?" He glares at the agents as well. "One word out of you two and I'll help them knock you out."

While the conversation has been taking place Variabe sneaked aroundthe counter to peer down into the sub-level. She sees a secret base, a couple of holding cells. One occupied by the two girls who are still unconscious, and the third agent who is mostly through putting on power armor.'

"Check with Washington, officer." the standing agent tells Akeno. "You know the trainers at Steel's Gym have been targeted by assassins on several occasions. We caught these two Wolfguard heading to the Gym."

Sable gestures to the snake. This is Variable.

But the snake is nowhere to be seen.

Variable rolls in a sidewinderish fashion down the hidden stairs into the basement.

Variable then tries to sneak up on someone before he finishes suiting up.

Sable says, "Jennifer had two girls visiting from England when they were abducted by these two clowns. They're students of Markham."

Akeno frowns, glaring at the agent. "Now I know you two must not be who you say you are. Sable has helped out on many an occasion. Her assistance has been quite invaluable. Like I said, with all the trouble some of these new agencies have been giving us here? I trust her more than I do you two and I know enough good standing heroes that can vouch for them, including the Markham sisters."

The agent shrugs, "Hardly very likely. Everyone knows Wolfguards are always teamed up in identical twins. Bit too much of a coincidence don't you think, officer?"

Down in the sub-level the comm system beeps to signal an incoming message.

Variable attempts then to wrestle the guy, constrictor fashion - especially trying to get where they armour isn't on yet

The agent in Variable's grip seems hardly affected by the squeeze.

Variable grabs the half-armoured agent, though he's stronger than she is. Unfortunately her squeeze does little to him.

Sable glances to the agent. "You're arresting foreign citizens on the basis that they're meta-humans and twins? And that seems sane and legal?" She shakes her head slightly. "What are you guys on?"

The agent that was talking to Akeno smiles, "That will be Washington calling us, officer." he says after the beep from downstairs. I can get you confirmation of our jurisdiction."

Sable shakes her head. "You don't have jurisdiction. The United States has a legal system that the government and its operatives are subject to. That's the basis of its constitution. By definition that government cannot give its operatives the right to violate its laws, and most especially not international law."

Sable says, "But why don't we get thie identity of the person on the far end of the communicator, so we can arrest them too."

Akeno frowns a little. "Sable, enough." He looks at the agents. "We'll go down, but I'll say this much. Unless you have the president or the secretary of defense on that screen, I can and will put you under arrest."

The agent shakes his head at Sable. "Never heard of the old Patriot Act. It was never repealed. That is where our authority derives from. When it's a matter of National Security normal rules don't apply."

Akeno says, "And... you are calling two girls? Teenagers, who I seem to recall seeing at one point, a matter of national security? Don't tell me we have another corrupt agency like Starguard was on our hands."

The agent climbs down the ladder into the sub-level and waits for Akeno to follow. "Ma'am," he says to Sable, "This is a restricted area. You are not authorised to enter. Stay up top."

Variable wriggles out of her skin - or more accuately most of her flesh, which drops limply to the ground - and into the man's power armour.

Akeno frowns. "She comes, or this place is shut down. The hard way." Wind starts to pick up. "I'm quite sure I can do it, too." Surely federal agents are aware of his recent training trip, right? Too bad them following probably wouldn't happen. Let alone the fact that Akeno's been displaying some interesting wind abilities lately.

Sable says, "You have no evidence, just a genetic coincidence."

The agent tells Akeno, "You have no idea what those Wolfguard girls are. These aren't cute little kids. They are killers. That's what they were bred and trained to be. All it needs is the right trigger and you're got a street filled with dead and dying."

Downstairs a third agent is frantically trying to rip off a suit of power armor.

Variable tickles!

Sable says, "Let's head downstairs and just try to be civil."

Akeno snorts. "You expect me to believe that? Look at the Markham girls." He says simply. He looks evenly at the agent, glaring quite openly with a bit of an unerving look. "Considering you just insulted a friend of mine, however, I recommend you take back that statement. I am supposed to be off-duty right now, thus you're on my time at the moment. I went on duty because you were causing a ruckus and I'm one of the few metas on the force."

The agent talking to Akeno smugly walks over the communicator and switches it on. An irate florid face stares out of the screen. "-P-, you blundering fool. You've kidnapped the daughters of a senior British politician. Release them at once and then get yourselves back here. I'm sending a fresh team to replace you. This never happened, understand. Never happened." the person on the communicator is shouting.

Variable writhes all over the man's body inside the suit, to urge him to get it off as fast as possible.

Sable's jaw drops open momentarily but then snaps shut.

The snugness drains out of the agent talking to Akeno like a popped balloon deflating.

Akeno frowns a bit, "Secretary of Defense, huh?" He frowns a bit, "Mr. Secretary, if you do not mind, these two are in my jursidiction at the moment. My name is Akeno Matsuya, Detective with Colonial Bay Police. Technically, it is a kidnapping and while I could disavow knowledge of it, the two heroines present aren't under either of our orders."

The Sec of Def sighs, "Detective Akeno, this unfortunate incident carries the grave risk of seriously damaging our relations with an allied country. I would urge you and those heroines you say are present to not speak of this matter. Let the record show that the girls were kidnapped by unknown persons and were then rescued by the CBPD and local heroines. I urge you to consider the needs of your country."

Akeno considers, then looks at Sable. "What do you think?"

Sable clasps her hands in front of her, lips pursing slightly as she follows the exchange. Her head tilts fractionally as she regards Akeno for a moment. "I think two things, I think that it would be a demonstration of good will not to humiliate the president or secretary of defence because of the ineptness of their underlings." Her shoulders lift slightly. "But I suggest that this entire incident highlights the need for an organisation that is familiar with dealing with meta-human threats. I would therefor suggest that secretary of defense needs to publicly endorse Starguard and its Colonial Bay officers."

Akeno shrugs. "I've got no problem so far with that. Might I also suggest the US Marshalls as well? Your men are probably pretty good 'cause I haven't heard of them before this incident. But, they need to get a better information network and not jump at wild geese, so to speak."

The Sec of Def winces. Then he nods. "You drive a hard bargain, Miss. I can agree to that. As for -P- and his team. There's a place in an Inuit community that's been needing someone who is sufficently deep into my bad books. I hear Anchorage is quite warm this time of year. I'll leave it in your hands then Detective Akeno." The screen clears.