Log:Superkids!, Scene 9

Superkids! 2007/06/01 	 Allure Auntie Rotter Toymaster#Barbie|Barbie Darkthorne Di 	 Jennifer and Jessica Porthole Rebound Shoro Yolanda Trick Toymaster#Doggie|Doggie Toymaster#Hoverboard|Hoverboard Toymaster#Saucer|Saucer 9

Scene: Steel's Gym

Jessica is walking from her room when no one's about when she hears a voice: "You're a hard person to find! Always somewhere else."

Jessica looks around in surprise. There shouldn't be anyone on this area of the Gym without her knowing about it in advance. She also goes on full alert, and elsewhere Jennifer starts heading in that direction.

Jessica says, "You could try phoning for an appointment"

A small figure steps out from behind the furniture.

"But you invited us!" says Barbie.

Jessica smiles but remains alert. "Yes, I did, didn't I. Did you come on your own or are your friends around?"

"I'm here alone. If the other's came, Auntie might guess. But no one will miss me. They don't even like playing with me, except Di and Rainbow."

Jessica grins, "That's because they're boys. Apart from Doll who wants to act like a boy."

"Yeah. She doesn't like dressing pretty or anything!"

Jessica can't help chuckling, seeing that the comment cuts rather close to home with her too.

"So Saucer brought me here and then I've been waiting for ages!"

Jessica says, "I've been busy. If I'd known you were here I would have come back sooner."

Jessica puts out a hand for Barbie to stand on if she wishes.

Barbie climbs onto the hand. She seems to be used to that. "I had to be careful, I didn't want Auntie to find out. But I don't want to go to jail either! Doggie hates it, and Hoverboard's crying all the time in my head."

Jessica nods, "I'm going to get them released. I want to do it by tomorrow evening at the latest. They'll be able to find their way back to Toymaster and all of you won't they?"

"I guess he and Porthole will find them if they can't."

Jessica says, "Will they find better if they were together in the same cell until I can have them released?"

"I don't know. Maybe it wouldn't matter much. Hoverboard just like to go fast and do tricks and it can't do it in the cell, anyway. And Doggie likes to cuddle, but Hoverboard's not very cuddly."

Jessica nods. "I don't like to see them in jail either. I was in jail once and I hated it."

"Will we really go to jail if we stay with Auntie?"

Jessica says, "You will all go to jail if you do things like robbing stores and stealing. If you and the others had just stolen candy and pretty clothes you would have got into trouble but probably Spitball and Doggie and Hoverboard wouldn't have been arrested and put in jail. But you also stole jewelry worth a lot of money. Going to jail will happen if you steal whether you are with Auntie or not."

"Oh! So if we don't steal we can stay with Auntie, then?"

Jessica holds Barbie up level with her face, "I told you all I wouldn't lie to you. I'm going to see that Auntie goes to jail. Auntie is a bad person. She has killed people. Now, if you don't get into trouble, don't steal, and give back the jewelry you stole, then you won't go to jail. Auntie will if I can manage it. But not you or your friends."

"I knew it! I knew Auntie was going to get us into trouble. I tried to tell Toymaster before, but he likes how Auntie lets him play, and he didn't listen. But he doesn't want to go to jail either. I think we've talked him into trying this school - maybe. He's not sure he'll like it there. I'm not sure *I'll* like it there...." She pauses, as if realising she missed something important. "Will I have to give back all my outfits?"

Jessica grins, "They're stolen aren't they?" she chuckles, "Tell me were you took them from and I'll see the store gets paid. Then you can keep the outfits." . o O(cheap at ten times the cost if it helps these kids and their toy friends).

"OOOH! Thank you!" She hugs Jessica - well, her face, being the close-by bit of her. "They came from the store in the mall."

Jessica thinks. o O (Besides I want to see Roger's face when I put the expenses claim in.)

Jessica hugs Barbie to her face, "That's easily sorted. I'll see they get paid tomorrow."

"I can help you - and the other toys, and even Toymaster - I mean, if you can convince him going to the school's better than being with Auntie." She adds in a whisper, "Most of us didn't want to steal anyway - it was more Toymaster's idea."

Jessica nods, thinking hard. "Barbie, Toymaster knows what you and your friends see and hear doesn't he?"

"Mostly. I think I can stop him if I try hard. He doesn't usually pay much attention to me anyway. Spitball says he only brought me to life on a dare." She sounds rather upset about this.

Jessica grins, "He's a boy remember. I bet you and Rainbow and Di all play together though. I don't want you to block him, Barbie. If I took you to the school for say a week you could tell him and your friends whether it's a good place to be couldn't you?"

"I could - oh, but Auntie might notice if I'm gone for that long. Oh, unless!" She actually bounces on Jessica's hand as she gets an idea. "Toymaster could fool her into thinking another doll is me!"

Jessica nods, and throws away her entire plan to date. Yes, it was the best shot to entrap Auntie, but the future of the kids has to come first. "That's a good idea. Can you ask Toymaster if he would do that?"

Barbie looks oddly pensive for a while then nods. "Toymaster's happy to do it. I think he likes the idea of tricking Auntie! And anyway he wants to find out about the school. Even if he doesn't really like school."

Jessica says, "Do you trust me enough to go to Starguard with me to get Doggie and Hoverboard?"

She thinks about that. "Yes, I guess so. But why?"

Jessica says, "I'm going to get them out of the cells. They hate it there don't they. They can go to the school with you. Auntie won't miss them because she thinks they are locked up."

Barbie frowns. "It won't work. Auntie will know, because she gets Toymaster to tell her what's happening with Spitball so she'll know when to try to rescue him."

Jessica nods, "But Auntie doesn't really care what happens to Doggie and Hoverboard and you does she? She's only interested in Spitball. isn't that right?"

"Well - kind of. She's not *so* interested in us, anyway."

Jessica says, "So she's not going to make a rescue attempt for you. Not if she'll know that Doggie and Hoverboard will be out of the cells and can return to her after a week finding out what it's like at the school if you want to."

"Probably not, I guess."

Jessica nods, "Lets go then. have you ridden on a hoverbike before?

"Uh-huh. Oh - you mean one your size?"

Jessica nods, "Yes, one my size."

"No, never. But it can't be more scary than riding Hoverboard!"

Jessica grins, "I'm going to have to ask Hoverboard if I can try a ride sometime," she tells Barbie while heading with her through the Gym to the rear and her bike. "Hang on tight. Grab hold of my jacket."

Barbie nods and holds tight.

'Scene: The Starguard canteen

Anastrophe waves.

Jennifer says, "Doggie and Hoverboard are living beings with feelings. They are suffering locked up in the cells. I've just talked to Barbie. Hoverboard is mentally crying all the time I'm told. Hoverboard needs open spaces to fly free in. A cell is torture. I'm not going to stand by and allow that to continue one instant longer than it has to."

Allure nods. It's a good enough reason for her.

Jessica enters the canteen and waves, coming over to join Allure and her sister. "Hi. Allure, Jenn. Jenn, you got the papaerwork sorted out?"

The twins are seated at a table in the Starguard canteen with Allure and a barbie doll. The three girls are talking quietly.

Jessica sees Dr Simmons enter and waves to her, "Dr Simmons, do you have a moment?"

Barbie is being rather subdued now. So it's not so obvious she's moving to passersby.

Stands just beyond the cashier at the Starguard cafeteria and the condiment station. There, she careful separates her peas from her mashed potatoes. She looks up at Jessica, hearing her name. "Oh? Certainly." She sets down her cutlery, picks up her tray, and walks over. "What is it?"

Barbie freezes at the approach of the new person.

Yolanda eyes the doll curiously, before looking to Jessica. She smiles. "I didn't picture you as the type."

Allure nods a hello to Dr Simmons.

Jennifer says, "Dr Simmons, I have received information that Doggie, and Hoverboard in particular, are suffering mentally from being confined in cells. It's my intention to take them to the school in England. They will be more at ease there, and can report back of what the school is like to the other children and friends. If you have time I's like your presence while I transfer them to the school."

Yolanda nods to Jennifer. "Sounds delightful. But before I commit, let me check my schedule..." She sets down her tray onto the table. Looking over at Allure, she returns the greeting with a nods of her own. "Hi. Dr. Yolanda Simmons," she says extending a hand.

Allure shakes the proffered hand. "Allure."

Jessica waits while Dr Simmons checks her schedule.

Yolanda pulls out her PDA and begins checking it. "I would be wonderful and rare chance to see Lord Markham..." she says, distractedly. "When are you planning to leave?"

Jennifer grins, "I figure ten seconds to finish this cup of coffee. No need to rush so... let's say fifteen seconds from now."

Allure says, "So does this mean no plan to catch Auntie now?"

Jessica nods. "Yes. I had to weight up our best chance to capture Auntie against ongoing mental distress for Doggie and Hoverboard. I took me, oh, maybe a microsecond to decide. We can get Auntie so other fashion. When I heard how Hoverboard was mentally crying all the time from being locked up I know I didn't have any other choice."

Yolanda nods. "What about Spitball?"

Allure says, "I just wondered if you had another one.""

Jennifer smiles, "He goes with us. And now we're on a tight schedule. I've not said anything up to know because what wasn't known about cannot be planned for. But now it's known that I'm taking Spitball out of the cells too we must assume Auntie will be intent on mounting some kind of rescue attempt. Well this way she's got just a few seconds. No fancy plans on her part. No ambush. She probably can't even get to us. If we move *now*"!

Yolanda sets her PDA away. "Alright, then."

Barbie pipes up suddenly. "Toymaster's afraid - Auntie might get angry if you move Spitball and he doesn't tell her!"

Yolanda blinks, surprised. Until now she's assumed the Barbie was just a doll.

Jessica heads for the cells to collect the three detainees. Jennifer signs out a SG car for transport. "Barbie, You don't know if I'm really moving Spitball until you see him out of the cell. Once you do then Toymaster should tell Auntie. It's too dangerous for him if he doesn't. We're doing this so Auntie doesn't have any time to organize anything in the short time between her finding out and Spitball getting to the school."

Barbie agrees. "Ok!"

Jessica releases Doggie and Hoverboard and then Spitball. "Hi Spitball. Ready to get out of here?" She offers Doggie a hug and cuddle if it wants to accept. "We're in a rush by the way."

Doggie jumps up at Jennifer, but goes to Spitball for the cuddle. Hoverboard just starts zooming about the room.

Yolanda uses her mindlink to talk with her office assistant. o O ( Clear my schedule, Barbara, something's come up... )

Allure says, "Where now?"

The twins keep people moving as fast as the twin can encourage them to do so. "There's a flight to London leaving in twenty minutes Jennifer says."

"Can I tell Auntie yet?" asks Barbie.

Jennifer nods to Barbie, "Yes. I don't want any of you to be hurt by Auntie. You'd better tell her."

Doggie hops on Hoverboard.

Yolanda nods. "I'll take Barbie. Allure, would you keep an eye on the board. The twins can mind Spitball and Doggie. We'll make sure no one gets left."

Allure says, "Ok."

Jennifer says, "There's a car at the front."

Allure starts hurrying to the entrance.

Barbie step onto Yolanda's hand.

Yolanda holds her hand flat for Barbie to step onto. "Hello," Yolanda says. "I'm Dr. Simmons, but you can call me Yolanda." She'll hurry as best as she can once Barbie is in grasp.

Jessica grabs SG trooper jackets for herself and Jennifer and the twins activate their force armor.

Barbie says, "Hi! Oh! I should have worn my secret agent outfit today!"

Jennifer tries to keep people moving.

Jennifer says, "Come on, keep going, quick march..."

Jessica says, "Into the car everyone."

Yolanda tries to keep up, but moving with her case, she's probably dragging behind the others.

Yolanda points up to the roof top, "What's that?"

Jessica looks where Yolanda points, Jennifer looks in the opposite direction.

A portal appears and swallows up a parking meter near Spitball.

Allure says, "Where?"

Jessica says, "Back inside everyone!"

Jessica sees Auntie is just out of range of a run and whip strike. But Gemini is not a mistress of combat for nothing. Jessica grabs Jennifer with casual strength and lifts her six metres forwards. Now close enough to reach Jennifer pushes her whip strength and grabs at Auntie to hurl her down into the street.

Auntie, is so she is, gracefully dodges the tip of the whip. Clearly she's had not a little combat training.

Jessica drops Jennifer. Her whips coils back and grabs the SG car. . o O(Roger is going to freak!) and pushing her strength she throws it at Auntie.

Spitball is in a dilemma. If he goes back inside, then Auntie will be upset. If he runs to Auntie, the twins will be. Not wanting to close either door, he freezes.

Hoverboard, on the other hand, know exactly what it wants to do just now. Free! It whizzes off down the street, Doggie still atop it, away from the fight.

Allure, finally noticing the opponent, goes for her usual.

Saucer flies over and shoots an orange beam at Allure.

Allure is pulled into the air!

Yolanda reaches to her belt and clicks on her personal force field. She looks to Barbie. "We're going to go back into the building, alright?" She looks at the other children and says, "Follow me!" Assuming that Barbie agrees, Yolanda will take Barbie inside.

Spitball clearly considers it. But then, if Auntie can rescue him, that solves some problems too. He's still not entirely convinced his mother won't catch up with him once he loses Auntie's protection.

Jessica hurries to take Spitball back inside.

Jessica carries Spitball back into the SG building.

Jennifer holds ready waiting to see what Auntie and Doll and Porthole will do, "You can't get Spitball so you might as well go away now."

Auntie says something to Porthole, rather too quiet to hear.

Allure continues doing what she was as she's pulled higher into the air.

Porthole says somethnig back to Auntie, and seems to do something.

The saucer accelerates, flying off with Allure!

Doll flies out of hiding at the remaining twin.

Doll vanishes into thin air before striking!

Yolanda set Barbie down on the desktop of the receptionist. "I'll be right back, alright?" She waits for Barbie to acknowledge her before looking to receptionist and asking her: "Please keep an eye on her (Barbie). I'll be right back..."

The receptionist quirks an eyebrow as Yolanda talks to a doll. . o O (Psychiatrists. Crazier than anyone.)

Yolanda heads back towards the entrance and look out towards the fight raging in the street.

Jennifer carries Spitball back into the shielded security area.

You get Spitball secure again. Of Doll, there's no sign.

Barbie lies on the receptionist's desk.

Yolanda looks around to see who is still about. "Is everyone alright?"

Jessica sighs, "Define alright?"

Yolanda continues to look about. "Where is Allure?"

Jennifer says, "Out in the city somewhere, about to have an encounter with Doggie and the Hoverboard."

Yolanda says, "I don't follow. Will she need our help?"

The receptionist jumps as Barbie gets bored and gets up.

Jessica says, "I don't know. She hasn't taken my advice but considering how inept I've been recently maybe that's just as well."

Yolanda says, "Hmm. The Hoverboard is one of Toy Master's toys, correct? Auntie will be able to get them back. Are you in touch with Allure now?"

Barbie climbs carefully down from the desk.

Jessica slips a comm button out of her ear and hands it to Dr Simmons. "Yes. You can talk to her with this."

Barbie comes over, aware of the change of mood. "Does this mean we're not going to the school?"

Yolanda accepts the comm button. She eyes it and places it close to, but not into, her ear. "Hello, Allure, can you hear me?"

Jessica says, "We can still go to the school if you want, Barbie. We'll be going on our own though."

Allure says, "Hello, yes? Who is this?"

"Of course I want to go! But why alone?"

Yolanda says, "This is Dr. Simmons. Are you alright? I think it's important that we get the others back here.""

Allure says, "I'm fine - and I think I can get them to come. Jessica doesn't think it's a good idea, though."

Jessica smiles wryly, "Doggie and Hoverboard are with Auntie again and they'll be missed if they go. And I'm not going to be able to take Spitball. Not after this. At 9:00am tomorrow morning Roger will be in the office. At 9:01am I'll be off this investigation and the clearance to remove Spitball from the cells revoked. Actually I'll probably be an ex-SGG member too."

"But that's not fair! You had a good plan!"

Yolanda looks to Jessica. "Allure says she can bring them here. I can't think of a reason not to. Can you?"

Jennifer manages a slight chuckle, "If it was a good plan we'd be in London on the way to the school by now. But it wasn't and so we aren't."

Barbie says, in a strangely thoughtful way, "I think it's just that Auntie had a good plan too. She's very clever."

Jessica nods, "Yes. If Auntie knows Doggie and Hoverboard got away then either they all come in, all the children and Toymaster's friends. Or neither of them do. Auntie is a killer. I don't want to give her any reason to suspect the children or Toymaster's friends might be escaping from her influence. They could end up dead in that case."

Allure says, "Hello? So what am I supposed to do?"

Barbie says suddenly, "Toymaster's scared now! He says he'll tell you anything you want about Auntie, but he wants out of there!"

Jessica says, "What about the others, Rainbow and Di and Porthole and Saucer and everyone else? Do they all want to leave?"

Yolanda looks to Jessica. "I think we should bring Doggie and Hoverboard, if we can. If we let them return I'm not sure what they'll returning to."

"All the toys. Toymaster's too scared to talk out loud to the others." She pauses. "And anyway not all of them are there."

Jessica says, "Any who want to come here can."

Barbie says, "THe soldiers are already in the car. Auntie told Porthole to put them there, in case we tried again."

Allure says, "Ok. I'll bringing them in."

Jennifer looks over at Dr Simmons, "Do you have an opinion?"

Barbie looks up at Jennifer. "You don't trust us?"

Yolanda says, "Yes."

Yolanda says, "Barbie can you tell us anything about where Toy Master is?"

Jennifer says, "Barbie, I don't trust me. My judgement has been bad on the last three missions. I won't get someone killed because I fouled up."

"He's with Auntie. I don't know where, but it's not far. Porthole and Diamond and Trick are there too."

Yolanda radios, "Be careful on the way back, Allure."

"I know it's not far because Porthole can get here through only one hole."

Allure says, "Ouch."

Yolanda says, "Allure? What is it?"

Allure says, "The saucer just crashed. Want me to bring it in too, if I can?"

Yolanda says, "Yes."

Allure says, "I'll do my best."

Yolanda's eyes narrow. "Barbie, is Toy Master alright?"

Barbie nods. "He's just worried Auntie will work out we've been talking to you. She's very upset about something."

Barbie pauses. "He thinks it's mostly because she had to rush even more than she planned for, but she also said something about 'Wolfguard'."

Yolanda hmm. "We need a way toll locate them..."

Jessica sighs, "The whips, A dead-giveaway to anyone who's been in Europe. She'll be scared. Heaven knows why after my feeble performance."

Yolanda says, "I wouldn't dream of suggesting this if the situation didn't seem so desperate... Does Starguard have any long range homing devices?"

Jennifer looks a bit shocked, "Homing devices? You're joking, aren't you?"

Barbie pipes up suddenly, "Saucer says he knows the way!"

Yolanda nods. "Yes... Unless you can think of a way to find them, I'm quite serious... Oh?"

Jennifer says, "You need to know where your target is to send in a homing device anyway."

"Because he's had to scout by flying from there before."

Yolanda nods. "I realize that. But if Saucer can lead the way, I won't have to tell you about the rest of the idea."

"Of course, Saucer gets lost a lot," says Barbie encouragingly.

Jessica says, "Uh... Allure and you aren't front line troop types. If Auntie was Uncle I'd bet on Allure but she's not. I'm seemingly a bit useless right now. Let me see if I can contact anyone else."

Allure arrives, with Doggie and Hoverboard and carrying Saucer.

Yolanda looks to the twins. "I can stay here with the children. It's time for you to save the others."

Jessica nods, "I'll do that or die trying. One or the other."

Allure says, "I'd do the former. More constructive."

Allure tries to reach Rebound again on the communicator, explaining the situation.

Jennifer and Jessica are in the reception area along with Allure, Yolanda, a hoverboard zooming around the room, a stuffed dog and a barbie doll. Jennifer is talking to the doll.

One of those things under the 'disasters when people ask how things can get any worse' category is this. Darkthorne showing up. Well, if you ask Regent at least.

A toy flying saucer also darts this way and that, lights flashing.

Jessica says, "Hi Darkthorne, thanks for coming. Rebound is coming over so I'll save the explanation for when he gets here and only have to tell it once if that's okay with you."

The flying saucer mostly seems to be doing its darting about near Allure.

Jennifer is asking the doll, "Can you sketch the layout on a sheet of paper?"

Darkthorne nods, "S'alright. Less effort is always a good thing as long as enough to get the job done is used."

"I can try. Have you got a really small pencil?"

Rebound says, "Heya Folks. What's the sitch?"

Jessica says, "Hi Rebound. Okay, this is a rescue mission. We have a lead on the location of the evil mastermind behind the child meta thieves. She is, in my opinion, very dangerous. I have evidence she has killed several times in the past and I doubt if she will worry about killing again."

Yolanda nods. "Darkthorne. Good to see you." She moves over where Barbie and Jennifer are gathered.

Barbie looks thoughtful again, which looks weird on her. "I don't think she'd kill you."

Jessica says, "It's possible some of the children will take part on her side. The objective is to rescue the children. Injuring them isn't in the plan. Barbie is drawing a layout of their lair for us."

"Got it." Rebound says.

Jennifer asks Barbie, "Why do you say that?

Darkthorne now sees why he was called in. They needed someone who can shoot back instead of die. "Would my usual attempts to solve things by talking like I keep getting asked to be more likely to work with them or something?"

"Because you're metas. She doesn't hurt metas unless she has to."

Jennifer looks pained. "I hate it when the ground rules keep changing on me." she says.

"Interesting..." Yolanda says. She takes a old-style pencil from the desk and snaps it. She offers Barbie a piece of the pencil lead, small enough for her to handle.

Barbie does her best to sketch the "lair". It's pretty boring: a two bedroom apartment, long and thin. Living room and kitchen at the front, then a corridor with one bedroom, and the bathroom off it, and the second bedroom at the end. The door to the apartment is also off the corridor.

Jennifer says, "Auntie, that's the mastermind behind the children Darkthorne, has picked up meta children who were in bad situations. There have been a number of deaths around her while she's been doing that. She also has been teaching the children that as metas they are superior to everyone and deserve to have whatever they want without having to work for it."

Allure decides to avoid joking that that sounds good to her.

Darkthorne says "Which I'm assuming she does, by making them work for her to get it." Hey, it's still kinda working for it. It's just not the usual sense of the term. "And those with the superior to race outlook has not been a source of a good time for us back home."

Rebound says, "Got it -- how do they get around?"

Rebound says, "And who should we hit first?"

Jennifer says, "One of the children, a boy named Porthole, is an excellent teleporter. He seems to be able to open up a portal from point to point."

Barbie says, "Mostly Porthole teleports them, at least sometimes, to make sure they're hard to follow."

Rebound says, "Remind me to invent a teleport suppressor, one of these days."

Allure says, "Midnight would love you for that."

Rebound says, "He would've been the first person I'd test it on."

Jennifer waves her arms in uncertainty, "I'd say Auntie. But if she's been doing this not for her own benefit but to, in her mind, help the children... well a lot of my anger seems to fade away.

Rebound says, "Are they any security measures we should be aware of?"

Darkthorne wonders if he can use his failing at getting people to stop being crazy peacefully which results in them trying to maim him for the practical benefit of reminding people to fight back because yes they are violent/insane. The only ones hurt in the end are him and them....This plan needs work.

Barbie shrugs. "I don't know. Maybe not, because it's not like *home*, and they haven't been there long." Then she says, "But Auntie probably got some cameras or something there. She does stuff like that."

Rebound says, "Alright. Which room is Auntie's? The one at the end of the hall?"

"No, the one in the middle - Di's there too, so Auntie can keep an eye on her."

Rebound nods. "Alright. Shall we do this?" Rebound looks at the other heroes. He nods to Darkthorne. "I'm not sure if we've met. I'm Rebound."

Jennifer says, "This is going to sound crazy, and I've been doing and saying crazy things lately, but maybe we can try talking first?"

Darkthorne waves hi to the guy he also doesn't know. "Darkthorne. Nice to meet yah." He looks over to Jennifer "Can I take notes? It never seems to work for me."

Rebound says, "It does sound crazy... these race supremacists -- they're hard to sway."

"It might work," Yolanda says, "Given the proper approach. Auntie seems to care for the children... we've got a good home in mind for them: the Markham estate."

Allure nods. "Usually I'm all for talking - but if this Toymaster is afraid of Auntie - well, we can talk to her after we take her down?"

Jennifer says, "I've had the idea all along that Auntie was using the children. That they were a resource she was exploiting and intended to exploit further as the children grew up and becoming more powerful metas. Oh heck, Stephie, I just don't know any more. Rebound, you decide. I can't. I've messed up too many times recently."

Rebound says, "I say we sneak in and try to get the drop on Auntie."

Jennifer nods and the twins go to their lockets and make a selection from the equipment stored in there.

Barbie watches the twins changing gear enviously.

Darkthorne see's kicking the door in screaming incoherently while waving a gun around not only doesn't happen on Kasketon as a plan, but not on Earth either. "Whatever works." Kasketons scream perfectly coherently when they do that of course.

Allure says, "Are all the toys staying here? Well, we'll need the flying saucer."

Rebound says, "Toys should stay here. Can the Saucer make it back here without us?"

Barbie says, "Unless he gets lost again."

Darkthorne says "I had that problem too untill I started reading the street signs."

"Saucer flies to high to read them!"

Allure says, "So, are we ready to go?"

Darkthorne is, but he has no idea where the apartment in question is.

Jessica says, "No. I could do with a six month refresher course. But don't let stop us."

Rebound says, "Saucer, if you get lost on the way back, meet us at the Space Burgers. It's got a giant saucer on top of it -- can't miss it. Let's go."

Saucer flashes prettily, then takes off.

Saucer flies generally above building, so is a bit hard to see, but follows the streets, presumably for ease of navigation.

Saucer heads in the general direction of the university - student slum territory, lots of cheap apartments, many converted townhouses.

Rebound will bounce/glide behind saucer, carrying anyone who needs a lift.

Eventually Sauncer stops over one such converted house. Barbie's directions already include the detail that the apartment in question is the one of the second floor of three [American-style counting].

Darkthorne is so glad he has that thing with the handle bars and sidecar and hover propulsion to get around in a hurry. Yes saying hover bike would have been faster. But It wouldn't get him to the next comic page any faster.

Rebound sets down on the rooftop nearby, but out of sight from the target.

Allure says, "So, what now?"

Rebound says, "Ok. There's camera security, most likely. We'll need to get past it."

Rebound says, "Twins in first, we follow them up -- same routine like the ACRO warehouse."

Allure says, "Hm - just a thought - if Auntie *is* suspicious, then seeing the saucer may have alerted her."

The saucer, having clearly marked the building, flies off as instructed.

Rebound says, "Right. Plan B - then. Kick in the door before they can teleport away. Let's go!"

Demonic hordes out in whats left of nature aren't big on video surveillance. As such Darkthorne's methods in avoiding surveillance are only as good as the next gun wielding loony. However following those better at it's lead is harder when you weren't at things like ACRO warehouse's. And from Rebound's switch to plan B for Bust asses was how that went?

Rebound will bounce in through the front window, carrying folks with him.

Rebound crashes through the front window to find himself in the living room. Other than conventional furniture there's not much here, and no one happens to be in the room. THe sole door leads to the corridor.

Rebound lets go of Allure. He's continue by pulling the door open and bouncing through.

Darkthorne see's its another day, another smackin against the wall when hoping being hurled towards it will make it through a window. At least this time he only has to go up and over the sill as opposed to fall forty feet down massive tower before catching a window sill.

The corridor is immediately empty but that doesn't last long. From a door to the right comes Auntie herself!

Allure brings up the rear, being slower than the others.

Rebound expands violently, growing so that he suddenly fills the hallway. He tries to slam into Auntie and knock her from her feet. After the attack, he shrinks down to normal size.

Rebound says, "Careful, I think there's someone invisible here." He points to where he felt the presence of someone. "Remember, there are children here. Be careful."

The invisible person is stunned and becomes visible.

Also, the closed kitchen door is suddenly open after all.

Darkthorne guesses talking things through is something that not only would fail, but he gets to skip straight to the usual end result today. "I'll be careful." Danger, Children. Do not feed. Do not make eye contact. He figures he may as well take a shot at the older target for now.

Auntie sees Rebound crush Trick, and even through her mask her face can be seen to twist in anger. "How DARE you!" She strikes out at Rebound.

Auntie misses, perhaps from having been squashed.

Allure can do little but stand ready, the way being blocked.

Rebound grumbles. "It was an accident, lady! Tell the children to stay out of it, and they won't be hurt."

Darkthorne says "Yes, I was aiming for you, not him." Tact thinks they and DT need to see other people.

Darkthorne waits to see if the peacfull method continues its losing streak before commencing with the usual end problem solving method.

Rebound tries to grab Auntie, stretching his arm to wrap around her.

Trick makes a dash down the corridor.

Auntie follows Trick down the corridor, but as she does jumps up and tags the ceiling

The ceiling promptly crumbles, collapsing into the corridor behind her.

"Children! We're under attack - we need to get out of here now!"

Darkthorne has a simple two step plan. Well, more than two literal steps. Step one. Run after them, and incidentally so Mr.Gun hand can easily extend past Rebound. Step two, fire widened to hallway width blast after the fleeing ones.

Anastrophe isn't even knocked off her feet by the blast. Though it does ignite some of the dust particles, which flare prettily for an instant before dying out.

Darkthorne makes a note to examine his gun when this is over. It's been doing less to random crazy ladies and poorly constructed boats than its done to armored demons. He continues the chase and attempts the ever manly and honorable 'take that *censored* down!' move. Also known as introduce face to floor by shoving down really hard on a gripped back of the head when it works out.

Auntie goes down on the floor hard.

Auntie picks herself up of the ground. "For *that* you'll find out why I'm called Auntie Rotter!"

She lunges at Darkthorne.

Darkthorne didn't even know she was called that? Is it too late to skip the learning experience?

Rebound blinks and looks up at the crumbling ceiling. Gears start to turn in his mind. "Don't let her touch you!" Of course, it's too late.

Rebound walks down the hallway, following Darkthorne. "Kids, look away!" he says. He tries to throw a knockout punch at Auntie, now wanting to try his luck against the Rotting Touch.

Allure is really finding the narrow corridor annoying. Unable to do much else, she check the room at this end of the apartment. Empty.

Darkthorne finds himself in a kinda lot of pain, a touch of 'I need to go to the gym', realizing a stupid word play about a touch contact move... And then ignoring all this in favor of just punching someone in the face.

Darkthorne murders innocent air molcules with his strike.

Anastrophe doesn't try to finish DArkthorne off, but runs straight for the end room, disintegrating the door to speed her entrance (Trick following her). "Porthole, get us out of here!"

Auntie doesn't try to finish DArkthorne off, but runs straight for the end room, disintegrating the door to speed her entrance (Trick following her). "Porthole, get us out of here!"

A small girl comes out of the bathroom. She looks remarkable unperturbed by the excitement.

Rebound tries to grab Porthole and set him in the hallway. He'll try to puff up so that no one outside the room and see inside.

Allure sets to work on Porthole.

Porthole, for some reason, doesn't just teleport away.

Darkthorne is so very glad Rebound grabbed the escape route... And blocked off his? Death by crazy lady, not how he figured he'd go. He attempts to put this off by shooting at said lady again while ensuring they stay in shoot visual range.

Darkthorne called it. Between her and the escape route are now Darkthorne and Rebound. With Darkthorne closest.

She tries to reach out and touch somone, viz Darkthorne, again.

Rebound tries to put out Auntie with a boot to the head.

Auntie is bowled over by the punch but rolls back to her feet.

You ever have one of those days? You know, when someone's been literally sucking the life out of you and wont fall down and stay down when you try to stop them? Darkthorne is having one of those days. And if you will direct your attention to the graphic news footage of a day he had two weeks ago, we don't even need to delve into his fifty year career as a Scout back on Kasketon to tell you he's had worse. And how nice, The lady's down and up again methods (He can do that too kids!) gave him more than enough time to adjust the aim on his gun to...Well, stay aimed at her. And put it to use.

Following coordinates given Shoro is in the slum area about to make entrance...

Shoro arrives at the coordinates and sees a second story window broken in, he looks up and in a blue blip he makes it up to the ledge to look in the room....

Shoro doesn't hesitate, his friends are in danger, and so is DT. He attempts to *POP* into the room behind Porthole and deliver a massive wolf strike to the young boy's exposed side. The boy may be young, but he's seen all he needs to see to know there is no childs play here..

A blue *POP*, a glowing blue fist, the sound of whoosing air as his fist flies through the air to strike at Auntie, and the Deafening sound of silence as his fist goes just wide...Shoro curses himself, his surprise lost.

Auntie is torn. Darkthorne and Rebound block the way to Porthole, but Shoro is between her and the other kids. This isn't going well, at all. But in the end, she chooses Shoro....

Shoro goes to one knee..stunned..

For some reason, she chooses a less deadly attack against Shoro.

Shoro groans as his energy reserves seem to drain from him..his limbs feel heavy and he feels as if he's worked out for 10 hours...

Di asks Shoro, "How come you're fighting Auntie?"

Shoro says through pained and gritted teeth.."Ask first why Auntie has almost destroyed the gray man."

Shoro says to the little girl.."Auntie is making you children do bad things..I'm sorry, I wish didn't have to.." he still says, though fatigue is seen in all of his actions.

Shoro shakes his head coming back to his feet..."Auntie..it doesn't have to be this way.."

Darkthorne skips 'shoot person in small enclosed space and miss' attempt number..five was it? in order to rest while Shoro is being dramatic and ask "Is there some method of talking things through peaceful nobody is informing me of? I keep trying it but it never works." The guns away at the moment, but at least while he didnt know why the crazy lady was named rotta or whatever and why (he does now thought) She doesn't know his gun being put away means it may as well be pointed at her.

The twins enter the apartment via the front door and take an instant to assimilate the scene in front of their vision.

The twins activate force armor. "Sorry I'm late. Traffic is dreadful. So did we skip the talking bit or has it failed. Auntie, You want to talk or shall I just take you down?" Jennifer says.

Shoro says to the Twins.."The talking was over before I got here as well.."

Auntie hardly even seems to register the twins amidst the chaos.

Jessica and Jessica hold actions for this instant while their mind assesses the tactical combat situation.

Rebound can barely even see Auntie now the door's open. He goes back to the old plan - make sure Porthole doesn't have LOS on anyone, especially Auntie, and blows up to fill that end of the corridor.

Darkthorne says "It seems talking was skipped by both sides tonight with the same end results talking has always got so far. I'd be pleasantly surprised it people stopped trying to maim each other for once. But I just don't see that happening."

Auntie decides that things are getting a bit too tight in the hallway. She dodges past Shoro, grabbing Di on the way, and into the back bedroom. Oddly, she holds Di on the heroward side of her.

Jessica extends energy whip curling it around to strike from the side rather the the front.

Jennifer also extends energy whip curling it around to strike from above rather the the front.

The whip snaps at Auntie as she reaches for Di, and she falls to the floor unconscious.

Darkthorne says "You are awesome." Then falls over.

Jessica says, "Shoro, good to see you but what are you doing here?"

Jennifer says, "Hi kids, is everyone alright? Anybody injured?"

Darkthorne considers saying 'making me look competend by comparison' but opts against it.

Shoro chuckles.."Call of duty..and Kids.." he goes over to DT.."I'll help you my friend." his hands glowing.."Girls..make sure the kids are safe..." he doesn't turn his back..its not safe..

Toymaster is breathing heavily but looks relieved now the fighting's over. Di goes to check Auntie's ok straight away, ignoring Jennifer. Porthole seems more interested in Allure. Trick is not to be seen.

Shoro looks around..counting..after healing DT.."Someone's missing..my count is wrong.."

"The invisible kid," says Rebound. "He's vanished."

Jessica says, "speaks to Porthole and Toymaster as they seem to be the leaders, in as much as there are any, "Listen. The police will be coming in a minute. Porthole, can you get all your friends and Toymaster's friends out of here? If you want to go to the school in England, and honestly I think you'll love it, go to Steel's Gym and wait for me. If not then make your escape, and call me to let me know how you're doing."

Darkthorne says "...I think the fact that makes sense is outweighing the fact its bad for me right now." He looks over to the fallen lady. "I am going to shoot her till my gun goes click if she gets up and trys to melt me again."

Porthole speaks for them. "We'll go somewhere and talk about it now. And let you know what we decide."

Di seems most distraught about Auntie, checking and rechecking she's still breathing.

Shoro looks at the kids.."Good luck kids..we never wanted it this way.." he says..

Jessica nods to Porthole, "Look after Di, she needs help. Oh, and listen to Rainbow sometimes, she's smart even if she's a girl."

Shoro says, "Charlotte.." he says softly to Di. "Be well ok?""

Di looks at Shoro curiously.

Shoro's hands glow.."Charlotte..mahy I see if I can help?" his mask melts away from his mouth, and he smiles, although the rest of his face is hidden.

Di nods.

Porthole sets about organising the kids, including mentioning a codename for where they're going to meet in a rather loud voice.

Shoro's mask reforms over his face and his hands glow blue, his gloves dissolving, he places a gentle hand on her cheek and says, "Do not be afraid.." he watches her..."How is it you haven't grown any my dear?" through his hands he allows energy, chi, to flow into her..trying to make her whole..

Di says, "I don't want things to change. Like when my mommy and daddy died. I don't want things to change any more!"

Jennifer uses her medikit of Darkthorne if he stands still for it, "Hi Darkthorne, what was it this time?"

Darkthorne's scout gear recalls to make that easier. "Oh, the usual. Eveyrbody missing crazed person despite not much place to miss. My innards being slowly melted. Oddly it can be considered to have gone quite well for me compared to usual."

Shoro nods.."My mommy and daddy died too Di..I know how you feel. It hurt inside, but sometimes growing up and things changing can be ok too you know?" he uses tones that are soft and gentle, like his touch. "How do you feel?"

Jessica makes a mental note to speak to Shoro about Di and his relationship with her.

"I don't want Auntie to go away either! It's not fair!"

The other kids seem rather surprised. One gets the impression this is more than Di's said about her past to them.

Shoro looks at the fallen foe.."Auntie, I'm sure she took care of you..of you all." he looks around, "But...she is not being good to you. She is making you do bad things..." she reminds him of Sakura Soma, she's about her age.."Charlotte..there are people who would take care of you, love you, and show you how you can use your specialness in good ways." again his mask melts, almost revealing his face, but not quite..and he smiles, "I promise you."

Di doesn't answer. She just goes to the bedroom and quietly picks up her dolls.

Shoro waits outside giving her her time and privacy..his mask reforms..and perhaps its just a euphemism.

Jessica says, "Stay together." to Porthole and Toymaster, "You're more than just special. You're each other's family. Look after yourselves and stay in touch, whatever you decide about the school. Toymaster, will you let Barbie go there? She can then tell you what it's like at the school.""

Toymaster nods. One gets the impression he's already in favor of the school, if just because staying with Auntie is no longer viable.

Shoro kneels to Di.."Charlotte. I will keep in touch with you. And you can with me anytime. ok? You don't know me, but I hope you can trust me."

Di looks into Shoro's eyes, and for once looks too old, not too young. She doesn't answer, though.

Jennifer puts a call through to the local FBI Office. "Hi, I'm Jennifer Markham. Can you ask Agent Fuchs of the Washington office to give me a call? Tell him Starguard has someone in custody he'll be very interested in speaking to."

Shoro's mask melts once more..almost revealing all..a gentle smile. "I am easy to reach.." he offers something into her hand if she allows.

Darkthorne says "Belive him on that bit. Sure today wasn't the best example but he does well in the 'keep you safe when reeealy needed' department."