Log:Pong Fulcritchit's Bad Day, Scene 1

Pong Fulcritchit's Bad Day 2020/06/12 	 Abigail Artemis Defender Ellbeth Griffin Lien Riptide Starshine Victory Pong Fulcrichit a shapeshifting alien 1

... since Earth President Koskinen announced that a referendum will be held in September on whether or not to join the Guild. The issue has divided the public in many countries, some feeling that it is long since time Earth was admitted, while others are just as adamant that Earth should remain outside the Guild...

[There follow several interviews with people on the street in the Alien District, both human and alien, for and against joining the Guild. Last among these is a gentleman identified by the subtitles as "Mr Pong Fulcrichit - Opposes Earth joining the Guild". His eyes are high up his head, just below a high hairline, as are his rather catlike ears, and he has no nose to speal of, but rather four holes. two a bit below the eyes and two above the corners of his mouth. His skin has a bluish-grey tint. He's dressed in a smart suit, is carrying an umbrella and has what could be mistaken for a newspaper under his arm, if people still bothered printing the things. On his head is a bowler hat - but worn strangely far back, presumably to avoid covering his eyes. He wears glasses, which rest on his ears and cheekbones.]

Reporter: What do you think about Earth joining the Guild?

Fulcrichit: I am opposed to it.

Reporter: Why is that?

Fulcrichit: In my estimation, humans are primitive, barbarous and violent. The benefits of their joining the Guild are limited, given their low technological, economic and social development, and their pugnacious nature is likely to bring increased tension and conflict to the Guild.

[Cuts back to the newsreader]

Temperatures are high - not only in that it's a warm and muggy day, but in terms of public attitude. The interview with Mr Fulcrichit has gone viral, upsetting people on both the pro-join and anti-join sides. There have been a couple of cases of assaults on aliens already today.

Riptide, since the announcement, has been on the look out for attacks on aliens. It's not hard to see what might happen with that. And with his latest power he can get an alien out of there quickly with little fuss. Thank you magic storm cloud bit. It was also good for making people disperse pretty quickly it seemed. Good power training! He just had to watch where he put it lately.

Ellbeth is disturbed at the unwarranted assaults of alien visitors. She's in the Alien District, and the most likely place where they might moccur, with the intend of stopping any in her area.

So, tension were high. Abigail is a soldier, and she does what she is ordered to do. But she is a high ranking soldier and so her opinion at least carries -some- weight. She recommended a covert presence at any gatherings, just in case fear got the better of super powered citizens. Were it just... people, it'd be one thing. But people with the capabilities of raising islands in the ocean, or blasting flames out of their hair or whatnot and it becomes a different thing entirely.

However, regulations are against the deployment of troops on US soil when emergencies are not declared. So Colonel Hearns requested and received permission to attend personally. Just in case tensions got the better of people. It is known to her superiors that she has a level head, and can handle major threats. So there we go.... she isn't in uniform, but civilian clothing. Anyone who knows soldiers though will recognize the bearing... the squared shoulders and the alert stance. Not to mention her golden softly glowing eyes as she observes from off to one side... hoping for the best, but here in case of the worst.

Victory has already had a long day. Commander Perrault is stuck in meetings, and SGG has been deployed to help calm things in the Alien District. Mostly he's had to be diplomatic, rather than actually take a physical role in anything.

As a hooman-passing alien diety, Artemis hasn't dealt with too much backlash in general, from those who don't know of her. For those who do, however, Artemis has dealt with their attacks in quick fashion or ignoring them. There's no honor in challenging a baseline hooman for throwing something that bounced off her shield. So instead, she is flying on patrol to break up fights against helpless aliens.

The Defender armor MK I reflects a shimmering orange in the light of the setting sun, standing tall and very visible atop an oddly cylindrical building near the center of the district. The presence of such a visible hero posted for all to see has helped drastically cut down potential attacks in his chosen area, though whether that is due to his knightly silhouette reminding people of the goodness of humanity, or the bulk of him threatening to come crashing down to stun them with the end of his crackling Arc Lance is anyone's guess.

Even Griffin Freeman's usual rush of bouncing from emergency to emergency on his daily patrols around the Earth couldn't keep him from noticing the growing disquiet between aliens and humans since that video post about whether or not Earth should join the Guild got out. After the 4th incident he decided to watch the video himself.

Naturally, he didn't like what Fulcrichit said but if he's here legally he'll respect his right to say it as he would with anyone else.

He takes a few moments to mull things over, sending Kat a message about his own feelings on the matter while diverting to the center of Human / Alien relations- Colonial Bay's Alien District.

The Earth leaps forward as he throws himself up and away, coming down with a thunderous boom outside of town and then beelining it for Stardancer Boulevard.

Sensing a number of energy signatures of note all congregating, Griffin reorients- flying to meet up with the others.

Lien has a few of her own personal opinions regarding extra-terrestrial relations, intergalactic organizations, deep space travel, and so on. A great deal of those concerns are left behind as she exits the Starguard complex with her pack over her shoulder. Current mission: Seek and eliminate. Target size: 12-16 ounces. Mission Time: Beer-thiry.

Starshine feels more at home in the Alien District than elsewhere, as she feels more alien than human since her discharge (and losing the only 'family' she had left). So she spends her time floating above the streets and rooftops. Until trouble starts. Like now. Noisy crowds in the streets. And when she asks what's going on, she gets screamed at ("Go home, alien!") and pelted with rocks and other debris. So she tries to rise above it all, about 25m up, over the First Contact statue. Watching for any signs of organized violance.

There are certain places known to be popular with the aliens - the Seven Stars restaurant for example - where crowds of protesters and/or troublemakers have gathered. Reporters can be seen with each of these crowds, and police are keeping an eye on things. Most of the protesters are along Stardancer, though there are a few less visible hotspots. Most notable, that based around reporters in a steet leading off Stardancer near York Blvd, along which there are a number of professional businesses. Among these is a respectable bank, important to many who do business with the Guild - the sort of bank that announces itself with nothing more than a brass plate. It reads "Joshfibble and Spawn - Bankers". Reporters and protestors are there in increasing numbers, hoping to catch employees coming out....

The gathering crowd, both reporters and protestors, burst into shouting as Mr Fulcrichit leaves work for the day.

Perhaps the crowds growing noisy and antsy means they are ignoring the armored hero on high. Especially if they are agitated to the point of harassing newly arriving metahumans they think to be aliens. Either way, it could also be the presence of everyone else, not just one guy up there.

Either way, Colonel Hearns does her best to just... go with the flow, being on hand just in case. Though, she -is- a known quantity to many of the citizens of Colonial Bay, and to the service-folks. She makes a point of moving along with the crowds, on the edges... and positions herself between them and businesses that appear to be ... specially attractive to the troublemakers. Still wordless... silent, but definitely -there- in the way.

Riptide, sensing someone with magic, leaps along the road as he makes his way by building ledges and rooftops over towards where he senses someone at least that's got a bit more say so in this. Or can at least point him a good way to. Dropping down, he moves to approach Ellbeth, "Hey! Uh... that librarian lady, right?"

A slow scan of Defender's surroundings reveals the patterns of traffic below, large blobs of humanity throwing up waves of heat where they have gathered in unruly protest. Though few large groups of humans are ever quiet, the sudden uproar from one in particular draws the mechanical knight's attention. Cycling through available radio bands, he searches for any police reports or local broadcasts that might be covering the incident live, metal boots crunching heavily against the rooftop as he strides around the edge of his chosen perch for a better view.

Victory is taking a short breather on top of one of hte lower buidings when he hears the new commotion. He moves to the edge of hte building to take a look at what is going on.

Artemis swoops lower as she notices the crowd gathering and shouting, her shield ready by her sword left in its sheath. She needs it not to handle the hoomans in their agitated state. Seeing the target of their ire making an appearance, she lands close to Mr. Culcrichit in case she needs to intervene on his behalf. "Peace! Is not this land built on liberty and the freedom of speech? If his words do sting, should that not move you to look inward to decide if they apply to you or not?" she calls out an old-fashioned British accent.

The Colonial Bay Sentinel arcs overhead, right past Starshine- having used her unique signature as landmark and on towards Colonel Hearns and Joshfibble & Spawn.

He's here to draw a line int he sand and remind his fellow humans to rise to the occasion before they act rashly- or at leas that wa shis plan. He can tell some are already on the verge of escalation just from the way the crowd moves.

Mics are shoved into Fulcrichit's face, and questions put to him faster than can can reply. The angry crowd shouts things at him, of which 'human-hater!' is about the most polite.

Fulcrichit finally manages to reply to a question. "I did not make any 'incendiary remarks'. I was asked a question about my personal opinion, to which I gave an honest answer."

Starshine spots Colonel Hearn and follow Sentinel to join her. "Are you here under orders, Colonel?"

Ellbeth works her way through the crowd to be within four meters of Fulcrichit, ready to provide protection if needed.

Victory sees Artemis arrive and he face palms briefly. He then takes a deep breath. The work day is close to over. Probably.

Knowing how humans shot the ambassador, Artemis is keeping an ear and eye out for weapons and snipers. She grips her shield in preparation.

Lifting a hand, Abigial wobbles it before her. "It is illegal to deploy troops on US soil without a declaration of emergency. It is however, perfectly legal for an officer who is not on duty, to attend such a gathering as this. If such an officer notices people behaving like moronic children, it is within that officer's rights to take appropriate action."

As she speaks, Abigail keeps her eyes on the crowd, roaming over them. Not lingering at one spot for very long.

Lien sighs at the growing ...ruckus. It wouldn't surprise her if the ACE-holes and RACE-ists were out in this. She recognizes a few familiar, friendly or otherwise, faces in the mix and wanders her way towards, but not into, the flock of quote-chasers.

Riptide, remembering the incident as well, is looking around. Particularly at rooftops. Seeing someone else, he moves after Ellbeth, commenting to her, "Watch it. There was an assassin on an ambassador a few weeks ago. I'm going to look around." He says before he moves off a different way, teleporting if he has to to get near where he sees the definite guy who might have answers. At least if he asked his partner. Riptide heads for Victory.

In response to a followup question, he says, "No insult was intended, at least by me. If the material was felt offensive to human sensibilities, surely the responsibility lay with your broadcasters not to repeat it."

He's about to make some remark in response the journalist's saying something about the public right to know when the the first objects start being thrown in his direction.

Ellbeth activares her sphere of Protection.

Victory sees the first objects getting thrown, and he turns his shield on. He scans the area, trying to get a good feel for waht level of threat they're looking at currently.

Victory remains on the building across the street, trying to get a good view.

The shield deflects the varied missiles, but leads to more excited reporting from the journalists - and anger from the frustrated crowds.

Griffin jets as the commotion kicks it up a notch- vanishing midflight and reappearing as he slows down floating just ahead of Ellbeth. He claps his hands to attempt to get the crowd's attention.

"EVERYONE! Calm down!" He shouts.

Artemis raises a hand. "Be not frustrated that thy acts of violence were thwarted," she says jovially. "Surely this can be discussed in a way most civil."

Victory calls out as well, echoing Griffin's statement. He makes sure to stand visibly on the building. "Citizens! Calm down! Are you trying to prove that he's RIGHT?! This is not a time for violence! Now it a time to show the exact opposite!"

And... now the throwing stuff starts. Damnit. Seems the beer will have to wait. Unless someone would be so kind as to throw an unopened one her way? Probably not. It's as he said: humans are so uncivilized.

Since she is highly unlikely to calm anyone with rousing oratory, Lien instead steps away from the focus to duck into an alley, behind a vehicle or similar to dress for success.

Starshine sees that the crowd isn't calming down, even with Victory, Sentinel, and Artemis' efforts. But she holds back, waiting for Colonel Hearns' lead

As debris begins to fly, Abigail begins to move. She's not glowing. She's not charging. She simply steps in the way of a projectile meant for the bank's window, and catches another. She's trying to diffuse tensions without appearing to be the aggressive one. "Seriously people. Glass houses." she mutters, but then raises her voice in her command authority tone, "That's enough!" she announces.

Victory continues to speak, trying to get he crowd's attention. "People! Calm down! This isn't the time for fighting! Do not prove him to be correct!"

Victory successfully grabs the attention of the crowds - and the reporters - at least for a moment!

Artemis keeps an ear open and prepares herself to interpose any objects that may get through Ellbeth's shielding. She moves to try and interpose herself between Fulcrichit and the most hostile looking section of the crowd. She looks over her shoulder and smiles at Mr. Fulcrichit. "If you wish it, I can fly you out of this crowd to safety," she offers. "I would recommend it before some ill fate befalls you."

Fulcrichit doesn't respond - distracted no doubt by both the hostile crowd and by Victory.

Griffin Freeman hears Victory's familiar voice and acts to back him up- in spirit & word.

He vaporizes a number of projectiles mid-flight as he moves to Victory's location. He simultaneously he transmits Victory's words over every common band available to him (so not over emergency lines) so that there can be no question what was said here today and where some of the city's most prominent voices & protectors feel on the matter.

"I've lived a heck of a life- but never once did I think, since waking up here in the present that I'd see you all acting this way!" He exclaims before hanging his head a moment, perhaps dramatically but as earnest as anything he does. "I'm ashamed- what I've seen since this visitor from another world gave his opinion on us is nothing less than shameful. And not just humans- but aliens too. I've protected people on both sides of the line around the world and this cannot go further. The United Earth is supposed to mean something! We're suppsoed to stand of something- but the 15 words from someone 'other' and you're ready to close the rest of the universe off to us? Why? Your feelings? We're better than that. We were better than that a half century ago. All these wonders, all this time and this is as far as we've come?"

The crowd, for half an instant, stands in awe of the doubly whammy of Victory and Sentinel's speeches, and in shame. Then a man in the crowd contorts strangely, and an alien creature - vaguely humanoid but seemingly all tooth and claw, shiny black but for the yellow eyes, tears out of the man's skin. "Yesss... treacheroussss evil humansss...." it hisses. "Peacccceful protessssst, hah! I knew you couldn't be trussssted...."

The human skin sloughs to the ground.

Defender was content to stand guard, Arc Lance held across his body and helm shifting slightly as he scanned his surroundings for further threats. The presence of nervous aliens below was tagged and filed away in the back of his mind, priority notes on who might need help if his fellow heroes are unable to de-escalate the situation. He might have remained silent and watchful, a shining beacon standing beside the words of his fellow meta humans. But then a damn alien comes tearing out of its human disguise, and the hero's attention snaps back down to the crowd, vision cycling back into infra to see if he can spot any other potentially harmful creatures who might be lurking among them.

The crowd scream, the monstrous and murderous sight having drawn their attention back from the heroes!

Ellbeth weakens the protective sphere slightly as she multi-tasks her nimd and attempts a Mind Lock on the toothy alien.

The alien mind seems hard to get a lock on...

Riptide frowns as he sees the alien, then looks up at the other heroes. He asks, "Would their not being able to see help out or not?"

Abruptly, there is an explosion from *inside* the sphere shielding Fulcrichit and the reporters near him!

Ellbeth's sphere, fortunately, reduces the explosions's damage. Only minor injuries are taken, and that outside the sphere's reach. Three reporters and Fulcrichit are blow outwards, but come to no lasting harm.

The the shrapnel and other debris from the explosion pass through Starshine without harming her.

Artemis is hardly bothered by the explosion, and looks around in surprise as others go scattering. "What was that?!" she asks, her superhearing ears ringing.

The toothy alien springs at the burly human who "cast the first stone"!

Seeing things devolving, Abigail moves all of a sudden. A glow forms about her as she propels herself forward. "This is a time to stop violence!" She yells as she moves to shield the target with her body.. curling about and taking a swipe down the left side of her back... along the shoulderblades... a swipe that cuts visibly, blood spraying as she grunts from the pain.. but stays in her feet.

Defender does not launch immediately into violent action at the arrival of the alien. Having enough experience as a hero to know when something might be a trick, and with so many heroes around to run defense, he waits to see what the creature does. It is only when it lunges for one of the civilians that he lifts his lance, leveling it at the charging creature and letting loose a blast of crackling electricity toward its back while Abigail leaps in its way.

The electrical crackle hits the alien. But doesn't seem to do a heck of a lot.

Artemis saw the explosion's source and at last, draws her sword. She marches towards the toothy alien. "Halt your ire! There is treachery afoot! Someone has planted that explosive device within the microphone of one of the reports!" she aims her sword to point towards the reporter whose mic exploded. Then she draws her blade back as it breaks apart into a segmented bladewhip and turns towards the toothy alien. She flicks her arm forward, and with a loud crack, tries to tie it up before it can do more harm.

The bladewhip isn't able to wrap around Artemis' target.

Starshine flies to hover above the spiky alien. "Attacking someone for a crime before determining who committed it is not Justice. Adults determine the facts before acting"

That... hurt. Abigail grunts and makes sure the civilian in front of her is okay, before she turns... eyes blazing with power. "You should learn to leave well enough alone." she states, blood dripping down her left flank from where she has been flayed in the back. Also, that leather biker jacket of hers is RUINED! She's had it for years. It was her favorite jacket. SON OF A BITCH MUST PAY... okay, she digresses and says, "So, who -are- you?" she asks of the shapeshifter. "Don't tell me you are who and what you -appear- to be. You can obviously alter your appearance."

Victory jumps off the building he's on, trying to get to where the confrontation is, about 20m away...making his way through the crowd. While he's doing so, he places a call in to Starguard, "I need some details about two alien species: The one that Mr. Fucrichit is part of...and Bachals. We have a conflict in the Alien District, and I need some intel."

"Roger that, one moment," says Starguard.

Artemis sheathes her sword again as she continues walking on foot to the toothy alien, moving to put a hand on his shoulder. "Come, friend, we can speak calmly and cease these arguments. Would you war against a whole planet?" she says calmly.

The creature narrowly dodges away from Artemis's hand.

The alien hisses, "War? That impliesss equalsssss.... No. Hunt...."

Starshine says, "On this world, most of the hunting is done by animals, not people."

"If what you want is a challenge, then this is not the way to do it. If you want to prove you are superior, if you really are what you appear to be... then you will accept a challenge. One on one, to prove your superiority, or to accept -my- equality to you." suggests Abigail, glowing golden eyes narrowing.

The alien laughs. "Perhapssss you are lesssss advanccced than your animals....."

The he eyes Abigail. "You suggesssst maybe a duel?"

"I do." replies Abigail, "A duel without putting bystanders in danger. A duel that proves you -are- advanced and civilized as opposed to some animal who will attack random people."

He grins. "And what do you sssstake on thissss duel?"

"My life. My pride. My dignity. If you win, then I am at your mercy, and you have proven that you -are- superior to me." suggests Abigail, "But, what do -you- stake on it?"

Victory frowns at the idea of a duel to show just how civilized people are. But he doesn't interrupt.

Artemis smiles at that. "A duel? I wonder who to place my wager on," she says, now interested in the sport at hand. She looks to Victory and grins. "Care you to make another of our wagers, Friend Wade?"

Abruptly 4 more aliens (of 3 different species) appear from nowhere on the bank steps. The are dressed in matching (as much as possible) body armour and carry weapons that are clearly not from from around here!

"More aliens!" shouts a voice from the crowd. "Get them before they get us!"

Defender continues to stand firm with both boots planted, Arc Lance leveled at the insectoid alien and blue lights flickering across the silver plates of his armor. "That is enough." he orders, not raising his voice so much as upping the volume of his output, calm voice underlined by a harsh, electronic static. "A duel is a test of egos that proves nothing. As you have come to our planet you will be held to our laws, and the assault of a US citizen with a deadly weapon is a serious crime. You will stand down and comport yourself with dignity while the authorities investigate this bomb threat, or you will be made to stand down." Only once all of this has been said does the mechanical knight's visor shift, taking in the crowd as they begin to panic, "As for the rest of you, disperse. Go back to your homes."

Riptide looks around, seeing the others have it handled mostly, he decides to add a bit of theatrics before he moves to check on the reporter that was holding the bomb microphone. Both for evidence as well as to make sure they are even alive! The rest are going to be checked as well. In the mean time, the theatrics take effect as a literal storm cloud appears above the friendly flier's position. A literal one that forms out of no where. Who wants to stay around when it's about to rain, after all? The clouds are roiling, too, just moving around.

Riptide approaches the one that had the bomb microphone, "Hold up there! I don't care for your reasons for having an exploding microphone or anything, but you're injured. Sit back down and let me get some paramedics to check you at least." His hands are up in a non-hostile aggression motion, too.

Sentinel has been his normal self- quiet & observant, his own concern protecting others - a drive not quelled by bad behavior or the stoking flames of whatever species has thought to make Earth its hunting grounds.

He manages to keep a stoic look of focused attention as the other aliens reveal themselves & the people at the center of the explosion begin getting to their feet. He lets out a silent breath of relief- glad he can make sure the situation is stable before treating the injured, and that one kid he met isn't knocking the crowd around this time or making things worse. Him running to triage actually earns a nod of recognition from Griffin.

Occasionally his eyes flash as he scans the crowd, the aliens and his allies at 1000x human normal.

He nods in agreement with Defender's tough but fair commands and floats over to back him up by putting himself equally distant to the revealed aliens with extraterrestrial assault weapons & bank logos on their uniforms & Defender- creating a defensive line for the other heroes to act from.

"I gotta say- that sounds right to me." He says in agreement with Defender. "You heard the man! Every one go home and think about what kind of society you want to live in!"

The guy whose microphone exploded gets up, facing Riptide. "I'm ok. I think that weird sphere saved me...." He says. Meanwhile, there's a shout. "LOOK< MORE ALIENS - WITH GUNS! GET THEM BEFORE THEY GET US!" There's a scream or two, and more things thrown. One guy, who seems to have taken the precaution of bringing a brick in his pocket to the peaceful demonstration, hurls it at a bank guard who startled him by his abrupt appearance. The bank guard fires back instantly with his gun....

Sentinel is too slow. The brick and the man vanish in an instant flash of searing light. The crowd stands agasp for an instant. Then all hell breaks loose.