Log:Powerless in Chinatown, Scene 5

Powerless in Chinatown 2021/02/26 	 Chen Dark Horse Diva Kid Tengu Lennox Nara Another Man's Army 5

Nearly a week has passed since One Man Army, Microwave and Silkworm (in her cocoon) were attacked and deprived of their powers. Precision has declared that she can do no more for Silkworm, and the coccon has been taken to the hospital to see if Western medicine can help at all. Things in Chinatown remain tense, and Lee's metas still travel round in groups, but no more has been seen of the attacks, yet. It is a cold day, even for Februrary.

The heroes have managed to lure out an agent of their mysterious adversary (Chen pretended to be One Man Army to prompt an investigation). They caught him - as it turned out, the man who had planted the cameras in the alley and in some other places in Chinatown - and persuaded him to talk, in exchange for his being allowed to go free with his reputation with Rent-a-Goon unmarred. As a lowly hired goon he didn't not know terribly much, but he told the heroes certain things of import, such as that he has also installed cameras outside Steel's Gym and where he met the intermediate who hired him: a house in Upper East Side, where (supposedly) his teleporter watch should take its user.

The heroes have decided to go to the house next, but are still deciding on the approach: whether to try to gain the advantage of surprise by using the teleport device, for instance. 

Lennox has suggested -- strongly -- to the technician that he hang out at Sentries until the party's winding down, but on the 'hey, how do you want to --' front is mostly for letting these guys try to do this again, and trapping them that way. But a B&E, flashbangs or not, is fine by him too.

Apair of eyes and a mouth appears on the thick winter coat Kid Tengu is wearing, "Why not both. We go in via teleport and a few seconds later you break down the doorif we signal someone is there?"

"This seems like the most prudent way to cover all the exits." KT agrees with a nod- wearing the form of a gruff ne'er-do-well matching Chen's cover.

Dark Horse nods. "Both sounds good. How would hte signal be sent to those outside?"

Lennox glances sideways at Dark Horse, then shrugs. "Works for me. You two," he says, addressing KT and Chen, "resistant to flashbangs?"

The coat shudders. "Pleasse. I can hear a ant crawling on a leaf a hundred yards away. Can you imagine what a flash BANG granade does to me?"

Then suddenly, a girl who's not dressed at all for the weather. If Chen's a winter coat, Mika is.. not. Mika's wearing a haltertop over her slight chest, and a skirt that shows a few inches of pale thigh before a pair of black stockings take over. The outfit has a general checkerboard pattern, large black and white squares that line up perfectly no matter how her limbs are arranged or the clothes get ruffled. The clothes don't get ruffled at all though, a perfect representation at all times.

"HIYEEEE! Today we're exploring china town!" She announces excitedly to well -- no one in particular it would seem. "One of the oldest areas of Colonial Bay, it was created when ... oooooh, are those super heros? Let's take a closer look."

She seems to flicker, rather than move by using her legs, closer to the group.

"Yeah- I'd rather you didn't." KT says simply enough- not wanting to elaborate too much on his weaknesses. As as shifter with excellent hearing he is all too aware of the fact that you can never be too sure who's listening in.

Due to recognition, a colourful light display flashes in beside Lennox, and this heralds the arrival of Nara who seems to just appear there abruptly. "A gathering, my hello for you. Planning, yes? To help?"

Chen says, "Doesn't stop me being effective. Just hurts. So if the situation warrants, use it."

Lennox hmms. "So much for that idea."

Lennox shrugs. "I was going to suggest you taking one of my flashbangs with you, and just let setting it off be the signal. But if it is going to incapacitate one of our own ..." He glances at the arriving Nara, and nods in recognition.

Chen says, "I have a Starguard Gamma communicator. Anyone else?"

Dark Horse shakes his head, "I can change my headset to match hte frequency, as long as it's not encrypted?"

The Chinatown metas are not in evidence around here at the moment. But then, given that they going about in groups now for self-defence, combined with the need to take shifts, means there's typically only one group on patrol at any time now.

&#42;flicker flicker* "... you need a distraction? Loud noises?"

Asks Mika as she gets alll up in the small circle of heros. Minding your own business, waht's that?

Chen says, "I have no idea if its encrypted, Dark Horse."

Dark Horse nods. "Let's check. Give me the frequency, and we'll test."

Chen says, "It's radio I think, DH. I'm a shifter, not a tech wizz."

Nara follows the flickering Mika around with each change in position, fascinated by what she sees, utterly distracted from the situation she had been drawn to. "Hello I give! You have my similar. Do you know? Me? Us? Vatanavra?"

Dark Horse sighs. "Let's assume that's off the table. Pick another signal."

Chen says, "One of us screams for help?"

Lennox eyes the suddenly two lightbeings present. "Well, merde," he mutters, then smiles. "That will work."

&#42;blinkblink* then Mika leans in to peeeeer closely at Nara, "ooo! .. nope, not at all. Watcha doin? need signal for....parade? sneaking something in? Sneaking something out?"

Then suddenly dawning realzation as.. maybe they don't know her? Well, she's not online. "I'm Mika! A Diva Construct(tm) Nice to meet you all~"

KT watches the two light-beings warily as they flicker about. He doesn't trust anything he can't totally track.

The two lightbeings are drawing the attention of the (admittedly relatively, thin, because of the cold) crowd. Superheroes aren't such a rate sight in Colonial Bay, but these two are something else. People pull out their PDAs and take pictures.

Dark Horse looks to Lennox, "You know them?"

"I certainly hope so- or else we're having our spot blown for nothing." KT says turning away from teh crowd taking pictures.

Chen says, "We go now or not at all. Those vids and images are going to hit the web in a minute."

Nara makes a flourishing bow, seemingly about as affected by gravity as Mika herself, with similar means of getting around. "Naravkazalamata, in the long and in the short, Nara. Can help?" she seems to be asking many rather than only Mika.

KT pulls the teleporter out. He chooses now. "No since in waiting. Let's go now." His finger hovers over the trigger.

Dark Horse nods. "So...go!"

KT taps the button.

Chen echoes, "Go." and the eyes and mouth vanish from the coat.

Chen thinks, "We're going to have to scream REALLY loud."

KT and Chen suddenly find themselves elsewhere. Somewhere darker, because it's indoors. Somewhere with a smell of pizza and the sound of a TV showing some sporting event. Somewhere where 6 armed people in dark grey armour are sitting around. 4 of these people have their visors up, showing *exactly the same face* behind them. The various people swear, jump to their feet, lowers their visors, ready their weapons, as appropriate.

Dark Horse nods. "Let's get over to hte building as quickly as we can."

Lennox blinks, and sighs. "The young are always stupid," he says, and nods to Dark Horse. "Yeah. This," he gestures with a thumb at Nara, "is Nara, met her at Steel's the other night. C'mon, you two," he says to the light girls as he follows after DH.

As though obeying, Nara maintains close proximity to Lennox, staying a precise distance from him to respect personal space.

Kid Tengu holds up Dasher's hands and says, "So the rent-a-goon agency didn't call ahead? Last guy ran into hero trouble, but handed the gig off. You guys did pay for the ... what's it called- the Banger-Backup, right?" He holds his hands out to the side and nods towards the Hellions rag hanging from his hip. "That's me. Dasher. Hellion. Broke- hence the gooning."

Diva's already introduced herself sooo... She just follows alongside. "I guess this supposed to be .. secret hush hush." She notes, again to nobody in particular, and stops her livebroadcast.

"Banger Backup? No one told me about that... hang on, let me check..." says one. Oddly, no one does anything, seemingly.

"Sure, man. This isn't the first time the service didn't call ahead." KT replies cooly, as if this really weren't a surprise.

Chen changes to tiger mode for the best combination of defense and combat mobility. But otherwise holds any action. If KT can buy time, so much the better.

The one who spoke before speaks again. "Do you have proof of who you are? We don't seem to have any record of backup being expected..."

Chen speaks VERY VERY quietly, knowing KT has great hearing. "Jon-Joe of the Hellions will vouch for Dasher.

You know all those movies, with the chase scene where the lead car is doing insanely dangerous things, like driving into oncoming traffic? And where, despite all probability, they never get into an accident? Apparently, those direct doors got the idea for those kinds of scenes from the black man in the driver's seat.

"Yeah, man. I always carry my University ID while I'm temping... for superpowered guys who prefer money to whining babies & saving cats and aren't too picky about how they get it." KT/Dasher says rolling his eyes. "I mean- if you want to put me out front til you're good, that's fine by me too. Not the first time I've had to deal with that either. Once I had this job - guy was a real bastard. Sent me and this new guy out against some superjacked guy with missle launchers on his shoudlers. Let's just sya the F.N.G. didn't last a minute out there. But you know who's still pickin' up gigs?" He makes a move to indicate himself. "So who's playing?" He asks, shifting the subject casually as if its all old-hat.

"Yeah, man. I always carry my University ID while I'm temping... for superpowered guys who prefer money to whining babies & saving cats and aren't too picky about how they get it." KT/Dasher says rolling his eyes. "I mean- if you want to put me out front til you're good, that's fine by me too. Not the first time I've had to deal with that either. Once I had this job - guy was a real bastard. Sent me and this new guy out against some superjacked guy with missle launchers on his shoudlers. Let's just sya the F.N.G. didn't last a minute out there. But you know who's still pickin' up gigs?" He makes a move to indicate himself.

He snaps his fingers and points to the one with the most obvious problem with his arrival. "Call Jon-Joe. Reps for the Hellions. He'll vouch for me. Put in a lot of work- got my hands plenty dirty for him and some people who he pointed my way. Go ahead- he'll tell ya I'm on the up and up." KT/Dasher says easily, with an almsot hard-boiled attitude.

The other 5 keep you covered as one indeed does go to call to check. That's one minute of stalling...

KT notes the weapons and the originally unaccounted for mass of opposition inside the house with them.

Dasher sighs with a lethargic indifference to the whole situation. He tries to see around one of the Dupes covering him to see the game. "So who's playing?"

One of the guys answers and gives the score, though they don't seem put off their guard. The guy who made the call comes back. "'K, you check out, Dasher. But we've got no recored of this 'Banger-Backup'. The other guy wasn't supposed to bring anyone else in on this!"

Chen is thinking, "The kid's good. Real good. What a team we'd make."

KT/Dasher nods easily as if this isn't a surprise to him- though in truth he's quite relieved.

"I dunno- maybe he had it as part of his contract? Rent-A-Goon has a lot of premium options these days. I'm just tryin' t'keep the lights on- so I don't really know what else t'tell you." He shrugs. "But I'll tell my Project Coordinator when everythings is all over."

The guy seems mollified, as much as one can tell behind his visor. "Yeah, tell me about it. Got to say, I like having my new job here - let of a lot more organised than Rent-a-Goon ever was, I can tell you... So - anyway, I guess I'd better hear your report. You used the teleporter, so I guess something went wrong?"

They keep visors down and weapons in hand, but no longer point them directly at KT. One guy goes back to watching the game.

Dasher/KT nods. "Yeah- I was over in Chinatown, flipped on my Availability Beacon on the app and go to scrape up a little cash or a little coffee." He answers, coming up with this all on the fly based off his previous covers & slinking about.

"Been a slow week, so I figured I had an hour at least. Figured I could skip out of Chinatown and maybe work over someone not under someone's protection before a call could come in." He explains with plenty of blue-collar flare.

"Didn't even get off the street corner. Boom. Backup-Banger call came in straight away. So I took off for the location- did the device hand-off. I thought he was running a scam when he told me this thing was a teleporter. All I know is this guy better turn my PDA back in to the P.C. when he shakes the 'roes."

He shrugs again, as if to say "Well what can you do?'

"Anyway- he takes off one way and tells me to count to 15 and hit the button. Sure'nuff I hit 10 and a whole pack of capes goes flying by- right after him." He adds. "5 Seconds later- here I am. Talk about front door service, amirite?"

With Dark Horse navigating, Lennox manages the drive in record time. Probably record danger too, but you do what you have to. Getting close, he Rolls down the window and reaches out to bang his hand on the roof. "Stop now," he calls out, And slows to only slightly irrational speed. About half a block from their destination, he finds a fast parking space if he can; if he cannot, well, it's only a parking ticket or a tow to an impound lot.

And with that, the constant whoopwhoopwhoop comes to an end. Mika might have to arrange for a self driving car to find itself elsewhere if it's in the way.

Dark Horse looks to the others in the car. "Spread out and cover the various entrances?" He looks to Lennox, "Have a radio at all?"

The guys listens to Dasher/KT's spiel, waiting for an information about One Man Army which never really comes - and at one point is further distracted when something exciting obviously happened in the game, to judge by the sound of the spectators - and it's not until the car pulls up outside that he suddenly raises his gun again, saying, "Shit, I *knew* I shouldn't have trusted you!" and all the others start getting combat-ready too!

Dark Horse gets out of the car, and starts to jog over toward the building.

Lennox shakes his head, pushing one ring fist into the palm of the other hand; he winces, and a spot of blood appears on the back of the cupping hand. In an instant, underneath his coat he wears scale mail and a very modern combat harness, along with a sword in its sheath. "Not in a situation like this, he states. Go in hard, fast, and do not stop until all of the other guys are on the ground."

Dark Horse starts to slow his step as he get closer to the building. "Hrm." He doesn't SEE anything. But he does get a sense of unease.

Kid Tengu shakes his head. "Hold on one second- I think you've got the wrong idea. Is something going on?" KT asks feigning concern, lifting an arm out benignly in a very human looking expression of confusion. Of course, then the arm stretches out at high speed and his open palm becomes a fist. Simultaneously a wry smirk rolls over his face as he give up his role.

Diva vaults off of the car, landing neatly on her feet. Her clothes maintain their perfect appearance, not a speck of grime on them from the roof of the car. "Do I need to make sure nobody calls for help?"

The guy grunts. But his armour seems to have handled most of that.

"Sure," Lennox says to Diva. Glancing at Dark Horse, he adds, "Can you kick open the door?"

"And the award for best goon in a tactical takedown goes to C-Money & KT- Shifters Extrodinaire!" KT announces as he lays a pair of knuckles into AMA #4's sternum. Its more finesse than outright strength, but he's just probing defenses and being as big a distraction as he can.

Nara helpfully provides a beacon by hovering above Lennox's location, staying with him and having no certainty regarding what she could be doing that is otherwise helpful. Attentive at least! And quiet. But very visible.

Chen suddenly comes to life. Dropping off Kid Tengu's back and forming into a large saber tooth tiger. She roars. Loudly! From her shoulders a pair of extra limbs extend. one trying to grab a space ray-gun, the other attempting to briefly wrap around a AMA's waist and hurl him through a window.

From inside the dwelling comes first the snarling roar of an enraged saber tooth tiger, then the sound of breaking glass as a gray armor suited guy is thrown outside.

Another Man's Army is shocked by the sudden change of a coat into a sabertoothed tiger! All of him. Even the ones who aren't here!

Nara is quick to act when she spots someone making their way out of a window by defenestrative force. A basin-shaped object made seemingly out of light forms from nothing and provides a severely eased landing by way of a slide into the middle of it.

"Never mind," Lennox says, "I brought my own." His hand dips to his hip as he goes up the steps to the door, and steel scrapes as he pulls his sword from its sheath. Starting low, his arm describes an arc as he cuts a hole through the door.

Mika's back to talking Really Excitedly to herself! "Hurrah! So now we're at the bad guys home.. ehm... where are we?" Mika takes a quick look around as if to get her bearings, then looks back at the house they're about to invade. "here! Buncha mooks inside that're up to NO GOOD. I swear!" What nogooding are they up to? How many are inside? Who knows! Mika has no idea why she's here, but it's live and it's streaming so it's good! "So we're going to walk inside!" Mika does a little hop at this. She disappears at the apex of that, returns .inside. the house, narrowly avoiding landing on top of a couch. "Then show Supreme! Mika! Justice!" She poses dramatically at each word with her arms, ending up with both 'gun fingers' held up at the nearest badguy who's still standing up and *pew pew* "Sorry bad guy!"

The impossibly sharp blade slices through with ease, dropping the wood into the foyer. "Go!!" shouts Lennox.

AMA instance #3 goes flying back into the wall. He's not quite unconscious, thanks to that armour. But only not quite.

When Nara has ensured the outwindow man has landed safely, the basin fades from existence and she returns to Lennox's location, trying to stay out of his way and lighting up the surrounding area within.

Dark Horse heads through the open door, and looks around, getting his bearing to see exactly how many opponents there are.

Dark Horse looks to the others, and says quietly, "We've got some people upstairs." He motions to the stairs to indicate to keep an eye on them.

Kid Tengu flips up to the ceiling to split the attention of AMA's dupes as much as possible.

"The look on his faces was priceless!" KT says with a laugh from up above. He shifts into a more humanoid looking sabretooth tiger because this is how shifters show solidarity- sometimes its all in the tiger stripes.

Mika's arrival prompts KT to use his inhuman flexibility, clinging & stretchiness to flip along the ceiling to give the newcomers room to enter the fray. Once he's settled in a more central location one of his legs flies out at the next nearest goon as another sails into a wall beneath him.

KT's motions are quick- not lightspeed though and he choreographs the whole thing just to keep as many of AMA's eye on him as possible.

His foot catches #5 right in the shoulder and sends him flying head over heels into the TV tat had drawn his attention so completely previously. "That's what you get for not telling me who was playing." KT says impetuously.

Sabre sighs humorously, "I was going to watch the game, KT. Guess I'll have to make my own field goals." Slipping sidewards to clear room she elongates her tail and forms a club like mass at the end of it. Then swings for AMA #6. Bringing the tail club is from below.

Sabre contects but with somewaht of a glancing blow.

The guy falls down, at least.

Sabre calls out, "Three upstairs."

The teens in the play room are going to have to fend for themselves for now; sheathing the sword and producing a pistol for one hand and a combat baton for the other, Lennox combat sprints for the stairs, taking them two at a time and staying ready for incoming fire.

Diva moves to the guy she just stunned and waggles a finger at him. "Guns are bad when you're shooting people with them!" She points to another mook who's still standing, "You shouldn't have guns, either!" Diva announces as she tries to turn them off the soft way. The way that doesn't involve putting dents into walls.

Lennox presents his weapon and fires as soon as he sees a target, but the guy is in motion, and Lennox does not properly correct. *Phut phut phut* into the wall on the other side of the AMA.

Diva moves to the guy she just stunned and waggles a finger at him. "Guns are bad when you're shooting people with them!" She points to another mook who's still standing, "You shouldn't have guns, either!" Diva announces as she tries to overload the gun in the hands of the guy she just knocked senseless. Wouldn't do to knock HIM senseless again.

The alien-tech gun, alas, proves too resiliant to break that easily.

Dark Horse reaches out and opens the door to take a look inside at what is going on.

"You have made a point of swinging for the fences today." KT notes to Chen from his perch on the ceiling. "Maybe we can catch the highlights after we mop up here."

Dark Horse bounds up the stairs, following after Lennox. He gets to the landing and takes a swing at the opponent there. No wise cracks, though. He doesnt' know his opponents well enough to bother.

Dark Horse does strike home, but not hard enough. There is an audible 'thunk'.

Sabre grins, "We can watch the highlights at my grandfather's house. I'll cook a meal and we can sink a few..." She pauses a loment, then continues, "soads."

AMA #1 concentrates - and splits into 3!

AMA #2 scrabbles about and recovers the gun the sabretooth knocked from him.

Number 5 and 6 stand up and, together with 4, fire on Chen. Because she's a SABRE-TOOTHED TIGER!

Their hands are still shaking. They all miss!

Sabre may have only struck a glancing blow but as several AMA closes attack her she's rather pleased she erred on the side of being evasive.

The guy on the land fires on Dark Horse. He did just hit him, after all.

Dark Horse manages to avoid the shot easily. "You're going to have to try again. And again, probably."

The last two come out of rooms at the opposite ends of the landing and fire on Lennox - he may have missed, but he has a gun.

Nara recognizes the pointing weapons as a threat, and surrounding both she and Lennox, solidified domular light construct. THe area dims from the super-clear lighting.