Log:Unverified Verity

2021/08/31 	 Engelicus Sinmore Lennox Kid Tengu Verity

1

There was an alarm at the bank that was triggered mid-afternoon. By the time Engelicus traced that sound to a location, the wall was already smashed out of the bank and only a few Urth law enforcers about. Where was the criminal? Caught already? And then he notices a different sort of alarm. Several. Moving away in a cluster by the sounds of it, in the direction of the Alien District.

Engelicus narrows his eyes. It must be related. He flies along, following the alarms. Perhaps it is the local law enforcers following the culprits. He makes sure to get enough height to try to spot whatever is making the noise.

This is the way. There is damage and upturned vehicles along the street as he journeys. Flying higher, he sees at the edge of the Alien District, a form climbing up over the edge of the rooftop near where he hears the sirens. It's some sort of metal armored beast! A 6'3" steel grey suit of armor with plates like a scaled animal. An ankylosaur, to be specific, not that Engelicus would know that in particular, but it may remind him of other similar alien species. The edges of his scales are sharp and spiked, and it has a long tail with a large spiked knob at the end.

The tail is currently wrapped around the waist of human woman with short purple hair, wearing a black tank top, a flannel red shirt wrapped around her waist, a gray mini skirt, black torn tights, and heeled leather booties. The hostage is kicking and trying to hit the metal tail with her clenched fists. Ankylosaur stands up on the roof, keeping the woman between him and the police below with their guns drawn but holding fire. "Hah! Looks like I'm rich, girly! You've ended up being pretty useful. Maybe I'll keep you around," he threatens with a metallic voice as he starts to run along the rooftops, loot duffle slung over his shoulders.

Engelicus realizes the law enforcers will have difficulty following along the rooftops, so he follows the criminal. He will need to get the civilian away from the apparent criminal before actively engaging. But how?

"Let me go. You said if I went along, you'd let me go," the woman complains fearfully.

"Shoulda read the fine print," Ankylosaur replies mockingly. "Why would I need to cut in a useless woman like you once I got away?"

Engelicus narrows his eyes as he catches the conversation, while the winged Origenian follows the armored bank robber carrying a theoretically innocent civilian across the rooftops. Though the conversation seems to indicate...that perhaps that may not be entirely the case. He calls out, "Drop the human, armored miscreant!"

The armored miscreant says, "Miscreant? MISCREANT?!" He sounds offended. Or maybe he doesn't understand the word. He turns around toward the voice, his articulated metal tail moving the woman to be a barrier between him and the insulting one. "What're you supposed to be, some sort of guardian angel?" he laughs. The woman was scared before, but at the arrival of a hero, she looks terrified. This city is known for heroes who do collateral damage. And...she's collateral.

Engelicus tilts his head, "I know not what a guardian angel is. I am an Origenian." Though there MUST be a connection between the perception of angels on Earth, and his alien race, based on the symbols on his armor. He slows to an upright position, and floats around, slowly circling the suspect. "Put her down. Otherwise, the punishment will be more severe. Be thankful there are no iso chambers on this planet."

Ankylosaur stares at the introduction. "Is that supposed to mean somethin' to me, pal?" the power armored villain sounds smug. As Engelicus begins circling like a vulture, Ankylosaur keeps turning, keeping the woman between him and the Origenian. "And get rid of my insurance? You hero types would have to be pretty crazy to attack me with a hostage. You think I'm scared of your threats? I ain't no stranger to solitary confinement. Now just fly away, little bird."

Engelicus watches his quarry. "You do not understand. I will follow you until you tire. And when you do, I will capture you. And if you kill that hostage...as you might, in your vain attempt to get me to let you go, then you will be punished more severely for it, making killing her an incredibly stupid move on your part. Your only way to potential freedom will be to fight me to get me off your trail. Because...I. Will. Not. Relent."

The woman stops hitting the tail wrapped around her waist and looks up at Engelicus threat with a doomed expression. "You're...not even going to try and save me?"

Her comments and Engelicus' makes Ankylosaur belly laugh. "If you make me kill her, it'd be your fault. But I see you're going to be a pain in my ass. Just remember, her death is on your hands."

"Wait, what!?" the woman panics. "Please, don't!"

The tip Ankylosaur's tail angles up at Engelicus, an opening at the end. POMF! A grenade fires at Engelicus!

Engelicus ends up getting hit by the explosion and tosses backward a few meters. He's still airborne, but clearly disoriented.

Ankylosaur looks confused as Engelicus dives FOR the grenade. "You one of them crazy capes with a death wish?"

"That'll make him think twice," Ankylosaur says smuggly. He turns to run, sprint fast across the roof, but not so fast he can't run and gun while his hostage trails behind him shouting.

Engelicus reorients himself...and then watches Akylosaur, not moving to engage just yet. Perhaps he is 'thinking twice'?

Thinking the hero got wise, Ankylosaur keeps running, thinking he's getting away with it. He leaps over a gap between buildings as he goes, now on an adjacent rooftop.

Engelicus flies off after his target...keeping pace.

Ankylosaur runs to another footop edge and halts to look down for something, then looks back to see Engelicus coming for him. "Maybe you ain't as smart as I thought." His tails and his victim are jostled about to aim the grenade launcher tip at Engelicus. This time, the barrel glows red and a laser blast shoots at the Origenian.

Engelicus manages to deftly avoid the laser blast, though he realizes he didnt' need to be quite so cautious. His opponent probably would have missed anyway.

Ankylosaur watches Engelicus dodge cautiously and takes a purposeful step back off the ledge. He and the hostage he has in his grip plummet down, along with his loot. The woman shrieks on the way down.

The words are starting to sink he. He said he wouldn't relent. He'd just keep following until Ankylosaur fights him. But the villain gets another idea. "Fine. You want to keep trying to follow me? You got to make a choice. Capture me, or save the hostage!" He does a spin for momentum and uses his tail to fling his hostage straight up in the air toward where Engelicus is and beyond. She shrieks as she flies 24 meters straight up, which puts her 14m above where Engelicus waits in his relentless hunt.

Engelicus immediately flies up to try to grab the tossed woman, zipping up to her and taking a hold of her...hopefully.

Engelicus does have a bit of difficulty grabbign her, as she flails about. He nearly drops her, but he manages to get a hold of her wrists with both hands at least, rather than around her waist, as he had originally intended.

The woman dangles and at least stops screaming. She pants heavily and looks down, which is a mistake, because that makes her start screaming again. "Don't let go!"

Engelicus nods. "I will not. Do not fear."

Lennox is just walkin' here, man. He knows nothing about bank robberies or power-armor villains or new Godflora heroes. (Well, technically the last is not true; he has met Engelicus before.) No, just a businessman walking.

KT hobbles himself down the road- pausing, seemingly mid-commute to turn hsi ehad skyward, to watch the action between the angelic looking being & the power-armored vil.

"Arid." He says, as he watches on- a word someone looking like him would probably avoid saying in common company.

Wild Thing enters from Universal TransMat.

Ankylosaur uses the hostage as a distraction and opens up a manhole cover. Despite his bulky size, he manages to slip in and get away, tunneling his own escape route.

Two blocks from all this, at the edge of the Alien District, there are cops with guns trained on a rooftop but no villain in sight. They start to wonder if they can stand down or need to go searching.

The woman takes a step back and rubs her wrist. "I...I was in the bank and he grabbed me while robbing the place."

Engelicus's wings disappear slowly, ending with a few embers. "He made it sound like he was splitting the loot with you, miss. Was that the intention?"

For some reason, the Origenian finds his ability to discern the truth with this human hazy. Difficult. He can't verify the veracity of her words.

"Splitting? No. He threatened me and tried to get me to stop struggling by offering a little bit of cash. He said I wouldn't get hurt if I didn't resist," the woman says.

KT uses the shifting chaos to approach closer, using his form to his advantage. No one ever suspects the out-of-shape human with the knee brace.

The woman tugs her mini skirt down. Her black opaque tights are torn from the scuffle, but it seems to fit her look. "Thanks for not letting me die," she says awkwardly. "You've, ah. Really got the avenging angel look down. I thought you were going to let him take me."

Engelicus nods slowly as she answer. "Hmm. I will have to research what these 'angels' are. I am now curious." He shakes his head, "I would not have let him take you. My actions were merely a ploy to point out the futility of harming you and to hopefully get him to let you go."

Approaching from a different direction than the cops and even Engelicus did, Sinmore comes sprinting up the street. She looks momentarily puzzled, skidding to a halt so that she doesn't simply plow into the assemblage of bystanders around Engelicus and the young woman he just saved. Unlike KT, Sinmore definitely does not blend in. You know, what with being 10' tall, stone flesh, and fire hair. For the moment, however, Sinmore stays quiet and observes in detail.

Kid Tengu pulls a tablet from his pocket and like a reporter, he shouts, "Whats your name Angel-man?" He holds the stylis like he's ready to take notes.

"Wha...you don't know? You! You're a...the wings! The armor! The looks! C'mon!" the woman motions up and down. She's awfully brave to be saying this to the Origenian, but she's also a jaded local.

Engelicus blinks, and says to Kid Tengu. "I am not an 'angel'. My name is 'Engelicus'." Yeah. Sounds like Latin-adjacent. He turns back to the woman, "I am from another world entirely. I have only been on this planet a few short weeks."

As Engelicus responds to Kid Tengu, Sinmore opens her mouth. No words escape. Her mouth closes and stone lips purse in thought while her fiery eyebrows furrow as Sinmore processes that information.

"You practically even have angel in the name," the woman protests. She raises a dark brow and looks him over. "So...does that make you an alien or something?" She lets out a sigh, sounding a bit exasperated. Or trying to breathe out the anxiety from her near demise. "I'm Verity. Thanks again. I'm glad your ploy worked out."

Engelicus nods. "Yes, I suppose...I am an 'alien' to you." He pauses, "Verity. 'Truth', yes? Hmm. It is nice to meet you, Verity."

"Yeah," Verity rolls her eyes a bit at the meaning of her name. "My mom liked the meaning and wanted to give me an American sounding name," young woman says. She starts noticing the other heroes coming and falls quiet.

The police have begun mobilizing again, and seem to have realized the combat has moved after someone up the street reported them. Sirens begin to sound again, and Verity starts to try backing away from the not-angel who saved her.

KT continues listening in, but witht he danger passed, he has no vested interest in revealing himself- so instead he continues getting information in the manner the form provides.

"An alien you say? Why did you come to Earth? TO stop bank robberies?" He asks, still primed to take notes.

Eight metric tons of giant woman side-steps around the edge of the crowd as Verity starts backing away. Sinmore frowns, still trying to make up her mind about Engelicus. The fire giantess tilts her head, planting her hands on her hips as she steps into space in Verity's way. "Maybe you should hang out until the police say you can go? I'm sure your testimony will help speed the investigation along."

Engelicus shakes his head, and says to Verity, "You should remain, to give your statement to the law bringers on this world. Yes, as the...large woman says." He looks up at Sinmore curiously.

Sinmore narrows her eyes as she looks down at Engelicus. "That feels wrong, but I'll allow it," rumbles the giant, "Since I can't ever seem to meet Bloodlit that understand local idioms."

Verity looks highly uncomfortable, but pressured into staying. She slows her retreat and halts, looking toward the sirens.

"Pretty sure they don't exist," says a black man in a leather trench coat, white tee, and jeans. "That said, idioms are the oddest part of language. Cultural."

Engelicus nods slowly at Sinmore's statement. "Idioms are indeed difficult. And this world is very confusing." He turns his attention back to Sinmore, "But do not fear, you are safe now."

"Who doesn't exist? Bloodlit or large women?" asks a puzzled Sinmore, her emerald fire gaze shifting toward KT for several moments. Sinmore looks back at Engelicus and tips her head, slowly shifting her gaze down to Verity. "Would you like to take a seat while we wait for the cops?"

KT looks even more surprised when Sinmore states that Engelicus is a Bloodlit- a term few use for the Godflora. A fanboy grin grows over his face as he steps closer, glancing upward occassionally.

He grins at Sinmore. He's been having a rough week, so this is a nice change of pace.

"Godflora that are familiar with American idioms," says Lennox, the black man.

Verity isn't feeling very safe and is a little fearful. "Right. Sure."

"You really should relax," opines Sinmore to Verity, "The danger has passed now."

Sinmore tries very hard not to look down at the KT that has stepped up beside her. The fire giantess absently lifts a hand to rub at the back of her neck while she keeps her attention mostly focused on Engelicus and Verity. Only sparing glances are shot toward Lennox and KT, Sinmore puzzling over them both internally for the moment.

Verity sees no opportunity to escape or sneak away with all the heroes that closed in near her. The police pull up and start getting out of their squad cars.

Engelicus nods to the arriving law bringers, "I am Engelicus. I have rescued his woman...Verity...from the miscreant who stole from your establishment. However, I am loathe to say that he did escape while I was rescuing her."

Lennox, curious at Verity's behavior, watches her with something approaching interest -- is it the fiery giant, the Godflora, or the police she seems to fear? Only time and observation will tell.

The police officers start to take statements from Engelicus. Two approach Verity. "Miss, are you hurt?

Verity is still shook. "I don't think anything's broken."

"Alright. We still recommend you be seen by an EMT. If you could come this way to give a statement?" one of the officer asks, motioning toward an ambulance that's parked across the street while the police section off this part of the street.

Engelicus nods as the law bringers go to take a statement. He turns back to the other heroes. "I am glad that the law bringers here seem to be relatively efficient."

Another officer takes down Engelicus' statement. "Right, and...how do you spell your name?" he asks of the new Godflora.

KT leans in, ready to get the proper spelling.

Engelicus nods, and spells out his name for the officer.

Once the cops arrive, Sinmore steps back and out of the way. Time to let the professionals do their job, she seems to think. Sinmore does, however, keep her gaze on Engelicus and Lennox for the time being; her expression is curious and/or puzzled.

Lennox shifts a little to watch Verity. Ah, true -- battle shock. He should have identified that, though his experience is with different, less flamboyant forms of violence. He continues to watch her, even as he listens to the cop experiencing Engelicus for the first time -- and the other way around.

Evan is not connected.

Officer Cohen rights down the name, raising a brow at being called relatively efficient. "Yeah. Well. We try. Can you explain how the perp, uh, miscreant, escaped?"

Engelicus nods, "I believe that the armored criminal escaped into the ground, thorugh one of those...circular doorways that you have in your intersections."

Shoving her hands into the back pockets of her pants, Sinmore frowns while she eavesdrops on the various conversations the police are having with their witnesses. This whole situation seems weird to her, but then again... When isn't her life weird these days? Mulling things over, Sinmore absently bobs her head as Engelicus seems to confirm he's a Godflora without saying he's a Godflora.

The EMTs are looking Verity over. They're taking her pulse and she's sitting on the rear bumper of the ambulance. There's an exchange with the officer.

"What's your full name?"

"Verity Ahmad," Verity answers.

"Can you tell me what happened here?" the officer asks.

Verity takes a breath. "I was waiting in line at the bank when this supervillain came in and told everyone to get down. He robbed the place, and when you all showed up outside the bank, he grabbed me as a hostage and told me not to move. He...he used me as a shield to give him a chance to run away. When that angel looking guy chased him, the villain frickin' threw me and got away."

KT is careful to take a few, casual sniffs as he passes by some key figures at the site- you know, just in case.

Lennox might be oblivious to Sinmore's attention, but perhaps an ?'innocent bystander' would not interject himself into such a situation -- or be so blase' about a fire giant.

Who isn't blase' about angels and fire giants at this point in Colonial Bay? Show me someone who is and Sinmore will show you a replicant spy from Dimension U!

Lennox continues to watch the woman Verity, but finally glances up at the giant female with an upraised brow as if to ask her, 'Something for you?'

Engelicus finishes with his statement, he says to the policeman, "I do hope the female human is okay?"

Sinmore shrugs at Lennox. "Same thing to you," she replies a calm, conversational tone. Her expression clarifies a bit as she seems to snap from whatever distant thoughts had held much of her attention. Blinking, Sinmore peers at Lennox in curiosity.

The officer gets contact details from Verity, checks her driver's license to get additional information. The officer taking Engelicus' statement looks over at Verity by the ambulance. "Probably rattled, but healthy enough to walk over. She may be in shock, though."

The EMTs finish their examination of Verity. "We should get you to the hospital to make sure there isn't any internal bleeding. You said you were being squeezed aroudn the waist.

"I feel fine. I can drive myself. I can't afford an expensive ambulance ride, anyway," Verity gets up.

The EMT looks concerned. "That's why you need to be examined at the hospital. You could be bleeding internally and not feel it, but...we can't make you take the ambulance there."

Engelicus nods and says to Verity, "I could fly you to this hospital, if I was told where to find it."

Verity is about to refuse when the EMT speaks up. "It's not that far from here. I guess if you're flying, it's a big building that way with a giant helipad on top," he points to the direction of the student quarter.

Engelicus looks in that direction, "If there are not many of these 'helipads', then it should be easy to spot."

KT watches on, wondering if he could possibly tag along, but seems to think better of it.

His PDA beeps in his hand and he realizes he's got a lead - well a hope, to follow up on.

KT slinks, well hobbles thanks to his shape's kneebrace, towards the MagLev, looking like some random online writer, or perhaps just a man with a taste for facts. Eitherway, he makes his way away, with a slight smile on his face.

"There are a few helipads. Giant H on top of them. But the building says 'CBSU Hosptial' on it. Big sign," the EMT explains.

Engelicus nods and looks to Verity, "I can get you there. Are you prepared to depart?"

Verity is a bit uneasy. Stay with the cops, or be stuck with the vigilante? "Um. Sure."

Lennox simply shakes his head in response to Sinmore's words; he'd not said anything. When the cops get around to him, he gives name and all, shows his ID and licenses (not that he's carrying anything at the moment), and confesses as to how he saw nothing.

Engelicus's fiery wings manifest again, springing from his back, though there's no heat from them at all. He gently picks up Verity this time, and takes off slowly, starting to fly toward the hospital. Or at least in the direction indicated.

Sinmore blinks a few more times at Lennox, cocking her head to one side. With a shrug, Sinmore looks back over at Engelicus and the cops. When the cops get to her, Sinmore gives her name and shows her Omega Guard ID and decoder ring before she explains she was on her way to the bank robbery to help when an angelic being with fire wings dropped out of the sky holding a woman. Plus there was a crowd of civilians in her way, so Sinmore stopped and that's about all she knows for sure.

Verity tries not to shift in discomfort as she's carried, and avoids any small talk. She also tries not to look down. From flying directly over the city, the hospital isn't too far away.

Engelicus spots the helipad...and he decides to land at the main entrance to the hospital. Or at least the entrance with the most people going in and our.

Verity gets dropped off at the front entrance. At least his flight was voluntary and a lot more comfortable by comparison to being chucked. "Thanks again for the rescue," she says, some awkwardness due to the weird Origenian.

The cops get all their statements in and thank the heroes. "Hopefully we'll get the villain next time," says one of the Sergeants. "Thanks for your statements. You're all free to go."

Lennox nods to the officers, then comments to the giantess, "Drop by Sentries some time. Be good to get the big table in use."

Engelicus nods, "We will make sure you are seen to, Verity." He steps inside to look for one of the staff..."This worman doth need assistance. She was potentially injuried by a powered ne'er-do-well attempting a robbery."

"Sure. Next time I'm hanging out with Artemis," replies Sinmore with a laugh.

Lennox's eyebrows go up a little. "She doesn't use them; not big enough. But as you like," he ends mildly, nods a courtesy, and ducks under the police tape to be on his way once again.

Verity groans inwardly as she can't seem to shake Engelicus. He's so odd. "Right. Of course. Thanks," she murmurs and goes in, lagging behind him.

The nurse stops and looks Engelicus up and down as he makes his demand. "O...kay." She leans to look around the tall, armored man. "Which woman?"

Engelicus motions toward Verity. "This woman here." He turns to make sure she did indeed follow him in.

Verity is caught walking quietly toward a hallway on the right.

"She doesn't use... Tables?" asks Sinmore, not quite sure that she's understanding Lennox.

Engelicus calls out to her, "Verity! This way!" Drawing plenty of attention to him...and her.

Verity halts and tries not to cringe as she fails to sneak away. She turns and nods. "Oh. Okay," she says as people stare at him, and then her. She walks fast to him so they can get a move on.

The Nurse looks to the woman. "Are you alright? What happened?"

Lennox turns as he's walking away. "Artemis doesn't use the big table; she's normal-sized, not a giant!" He ducks under the tape, and keeps on going.

Sinmore blinks a few times. "I need more sleep. That should have been obvious." The fire giantess promptly leaps away to make good her escape.

Engelicus nods. "She did get squeezed by a veritable villain! He didst hold her around her waist most strongly!"

"Oh, you poor dear," the Nurse said.

"I don't really feel bad," Verity insists.

The nurse nods. "So no major symptoms? Well, if you sign in at the Emergency Room, we can still run some tests to make sure you're alright and nothing's wrong," she motions down another hallway to the Emergency Room's internal entrance. Verity seems to be doing her best to refuse help.

Engelicus nods to the nurse, and then to Verity. "Will you be able to find your way successfully to this 'Emergency Room'?"

"Yes. Definitely," Verity answers positively. "It's a straight shot from here."

Engelicus nods. "Good. I shall take my leave, then. I wish you well, Verity."

Verity nods at Engelicus. At last. "Okay. Goodbye. Thanks again," she sounds more upbeat now.

Engelicus nods, and makes his way outside...perhaps he can still find that armored criminal if he searches for a bit. Surely he will appear again sometime soon. He takes off into the sky, to patrol a bit.