Log:Science Fair, Scene 1

Science Fair 2007/05/27 	 Artemis The Maid|Evangeline Amber and Azure|Jennifer and Jessica BadaBoom Nils Sunderland|Nils Quicksilver Rebound Lorelei|Stephie Vicki 1

Contestants and spectators gather for the annual Colonial Bay Science Fair.

Jessica and Jennifer are smartened up a little, wearing dresses instead of jeans and teeshirts. The general appearence is rather spoilt ny their hair. Jessica's is dyed a chromatic green and Jennifer's a bright metallic yellow.

Alex is busy at one of the tables, working on putting the finish touches on his demonstration. He's got his PDA out and seems to be running through some calculations.

Jennifer is enjoying a stretch as she walks around looking at the exhibits. She doesn't bother Alex seeing that he's busy. Jessica grabs a could of chairs up front for the speechs later and makes use of one of them.

Evangeline enters the sports complex, and is somewhat astounded by the spectacle she sees, with various booths and stands all about for various exhibits. Never having been to such an event before, she looks about like a lost child in a crowded mall.

Jennifer waves as she sees Evangeline enter the sports hall.

Evangeline is oblivious to Jennifer's wavings, and the young Hartford lady wanders down a hall.

Alex works on finishing his exhibit, which seems to resemble some sort of high tech espresso machine, with digital clock readouts.

Jennifer makes a point of checking out what she can of Nil's exhibit. She won't have the faintest idea what it is, probably, but at least she'll know where it is.

Opposite from Alex, Nils Sunderland stands in front of his exhibit, which seems like a tall dark cylinder with a glossy finish, about seven feet tall. He wears a smug smile on his lips and is checking out the competition.

Quicksilver comes into the gymnasium and glances around a bit. He stands out a bit with his shiny silver skin, but not too much given what city this is. He moves through taking a look at various exhibits.

Jessica gives Quicksilver a cheerful smile when she sees him. Sje's sitting at the front of the seats for the later presentation reserving a couple by her presence.

Nils spots Jennifer and smiles. "Come to see the champion of this year's science fair?"

Jennifer nods, "Yes. Whoever it is. Good luck."

Evangeline walks down a row of exhibits on the opposite end of the building, still as lost as can be. She at least is still marvelling at the sights she sees.

For those not familiar with him, Nils Sunderland is high school student. Thin, with a pale complexion, and wearing glasses. From his appearance, he's the sort that gets picks on by jocks at his high school.

Jennifer steps a little closer to Nils and lowers her voice, "Let the best man win a fair contest of skill. And in case you had any thoughts of changing the odds remember I can still punch you out if I need to." The comment delivered with a smile as if, as far as another observing can tell, she's merely chatting socially.

Nils says, "Typical. Violence is the first response of the ignorant. Luck has nothing to do with it -- I'm going to win, because I, Nils Sunderland, have the best project."

Quicksilver waves to Jessica and drifts in her direction. "Hello," he says when he gets close enough to carry on a conversation.

Evangeline comes across one exhibit where a high school girl explains her project to a reporter. "... Ant pheromones... I've experimented in synthesizing them artificially, and tried modifying the behaviour of the colony."

Jennifer smiles at Nils without any snugness or scarcasm. "Nils, if you do that I'll be among the first to congratulate you. As I said before, good luck."

Jessica says, "Hi. How goes? I would offer you a seat but I'm not sure they can take the weight."

Evangeline glances over at the ant pheromone exhibit, pondering... "pheromones... perfume?"

Quicksilver nods, "probably not and I think I have put on some weight," he says jokingly. "Things are well, just wanted to come take a look at the science fair, since I am kind of an experiment myself."

Stephie arrives a little later than she intended, and looks about getting her bearings.

The teenager with the ant exhibit looks over to Evangeline. "Well, not exactly -- they a chemicals the ants use to communicate with one another."

Evangeline says, "Ah... I see. Like a cell phone...""

Jessica grins wryly, "So am I." She checks to make sure nobody is in earshot, "I got seriously insulted a couple of days ago and couldn't do anything about it. The people didn't realize they were insulting me."

The ant-girl pauses, as if she's not sure how to respond.

Stephie spots Jessica and heads over to her - seems as good a way to decide where to start as any.

Quicksilver nods, "I tried to ignore such, to keep from losing my temper, cause if I do that, I could seriously hurt someone."

The reporter who was talking to the ant-girl excuses herself from the conversation. She raises a camera in her hands and begins to scan the exhibit floor.

Evangeline smiles attractively, as she feels all good that she feels more scientific now

Stephie says, "Hey - how goes?"

Nils says, "Your offer of luck is accepted, but not necessary. Now to see how Alex is doing..."

Jessica says, "Hi Stephie."

Stephie says, "Been here long? Anything interesting?"

Quicksilver turns and dips his head to Stephie, "Greetings to you." he says and smiles a little. He runs a hand over his solid silver hair.

Jessica says, "ONly just starting. Alex's been so busy I haven't spoken to him yet. Traded insults with Nils. Evengeline is avoiding me. Same as usual in other words."

The reporter, a woman in a tan skirt with matching coat walks over towards Jessica, Stephie, and Quicksilver. She aims her camera for a snapshot. "You're not one of the exhibits, are you?" she asks of Quicksilver.

Stephie says, "Nils, of course. I'd put it out of my mind he'd be here." She was about to respond to Quicksilver when the reporter broke in.

Ant-Girl finally response, sounding a little exasperated, "Yes... except for the fact that pheromones work by using the ant's acute sense of smell, and not phones, radiowaves, or sound... yes, it's just like a cellphone."

Quicksilver cocks his head to the side, "Who is this Nils?" he starts and then looks at the reporter, "No, I am not one of the exhibits." he looks at her, "I am one of the heroes of this city, though I have yet to do alot."

The reporter says, "Say 'Cheese'"

Idle message from Jessica: Please direct your page to Jennifer.

Evangeline smiles at the Ant-Girl, nodding her head in that intellectual understanding sort of way.

Stephie says, "Hey, there's Phil. Excuse me."

Stephie heads over to the entrance.

Stephie keeps it friendly even to Eva. "Hey Phil! Eva! Long time no see."

Jennifer frowns. "Great." She mutters.

Quicksilver smiles for the photo and looks more like some kind of silver statue. He watches Stephie walk off and then returns his attention back to Jessica, after all they had been talking.

The report snaps the photograph. "Thanks!" She waves and begins to move back to the exhibits, she pulls out a pda and begins dialing.

Phillippa smiles upons seeing Stephie. "Hey!"

Quicksilver glances about the room and watches the comings and goings.

Stephie says, "I wasn't expecting to see you here!" She grins. "Not that it's exactly my scene either."

Eva's response is les than enthusiastic. She eyes Stephie, then turns to Phil. "I'm going to check on Nils -- find out what this big surprise project is..." She walks out towards the exhibits, brushing past Stephie.

Stephie says to Phil, "I doubt Eva's ever going to forgive me...."

Phillippa sighs, "She can be so stubborn sometimes... You're here to see Alex's project?"

Stephie says, "Mostly. Dad would probably have pushed me into coming anyway, though, of course."

Phillippa nods. "I wouldn't be here, except for Nils. He's been raving so much on his project; eventually I caved."

Jessica clams up while the reporter is near.

Quicksilver waits for the reporter to go and looks back at Jessica.

Stephie says, "His project - it's that robot of his?"

Jessica says, "Reporters, huh. They can be a dratted pain in the you-know-where."

Evangeline continues to browse exhibits at the other end of the building, having moved on from cell-phone using ants.

Quicksilver nods, "Especially when one is trying to be inconscpicous. I suppose I should have came as my other self, but then it is getting to the point where there are signs if one is looking." he chuckles a little, "So...what brings you here?"

By now the group of judges has made their way to Nils's table. Nils stops halfway on his way to see Alex; instead he hurries back to his booth to run his demonstration.

Jessica tells Quicksilver, "Alex Winters is a friend of mine. I'm here to cheer him on."

Stephie says, "Looks like ithe judge are heading Nils's way - shall we go have a look?"

Quicksilver nods, "And this Nils person?" he asks, since he did seem to find something about the way they were talking.

Jennifer drifts back that way to see what Nils' project is about.

Stephie has no especial desire to go near Nils, of course, but it only seems polite. And she's curious.

Phillippa winces, "God, I hope not. That thing was way creepy." She frowns slightly. "You know, now that you mention it -- is has been a while since I've seen him around with that... thing."

Jessica says, "Nils used to be a student are our school. He's a few kegs short of a balanced mental picnic. Bit a tech freak too so he comes up with weird gadgets. He's caused trouble in the past. Nils and Alex are rivals here.""

Stephie says, "Well, let's hope he's got past that."

Quicksilver nods, "Got it," he says and then glances around a little, "I see." he looks at some of the exhibits, "Have you looked at the exhibits?"

Jessica says, "Yes." Which is a little odd considering she's been sitting in that chair since she came in.

"...Ladies and Gentlemen," Nils says as he addresses the group of teachers gathered around him. "Distinguished judges. It is my pleasure to present to you a marvel of several engineering disciplines.

Evangeline slowly wanders her way towards the Nils exhibit.

Stephie heads with Phil towards Nil's exhibit, trying to keep a low profile.

The reporter has made her way over to Nil's exhibit as well. She stops to take some photographs.

"The work you are about to witness," Nils continues, "Represents teh culmination fo several years of research up to and beyond the leading edge of scientific knowledge..."

Quicksilver cocks his head to the side at the voice, "Any idea what he is showing?"

One of the teachers grumbles, "Sunderland, we do have other exhibits to see today... Let's get on with it."

Stephie whispers to Phil, "Needn't have hurried. By the time he gets to the point we could have walked across town."

Jessica shakes her head. "None at all. It's all a great mystery."

Evangeline continues to walk past exhibits, glancing at each, as she makes her way in the general direction of Nil's exhibit.

"Alright then." Nils says. He points a remote control at his exhibit - which is a seven foot tall cylinder. It clicks and thrums to live with energy. The cylinder begins to rotate, revealing a hatch that runs nearly the height of the case, and through the hatch the contents are visible...

Inside the case, there's a teenage girl who appears to be sleeping. She's strikingly beautiful with a trim figure, and wavy blonde hair. She's dressed in a white bodysuit, with the letters 'VIKI' stenciled across the front and along one of the legs.

Stephie says, "So much for that hope."

Jessica snorts, "The nerd dreams lives on."

Nils says, "I present to you the Virtually Intelligence Kinematic Individual. Mark Two." Nils turns towards the girl in the case and says, "Vicki... awake!"

Evangeline arrives in time to see the sleeping girl exhibit.

"Sunderland, what is the meaning of this..." One of the judges says outright.

Stephie whispers to Phil, "Has anyone *told* him that if he wants a date, this isn't what he needs to work on?"

Quicksilver cocks his head to the side, "Um..." he shakes his head a bit.

The sleeping girls eyes open, large and pale blue, almost anime-ish proportions.

Jessica assesses the ?robot? objectively, "Got to admit he's got a touch with the teen-nerd dream girl replication."

The Vicki looks around at the gathered people and the faces lookign back at her. She hmms softly, seeming a bit uncertain about the whole situation.

Evangeline asks another onlooker. "Pardon me, sir... but... why is there a girl inside of a giant can?"

Nils says, "I've gone beyond of the realm of artificial intelligence into a new field I like to call 'virtual intelligence'. Previous attempts at similating human reactions and expresss were false and artificial. Vicki on the other hand..." He extends a hand to the girl robot, saying, "Good morning, Vicki. Why don't you come out and say hello to everyone..."

Stephie looks on sceptically, suspecting Nils is, as usual, exageratiing.

A bystander comments to Evangeline, "He says it's some kind of robot."

Quicksilver just watches curiously, "beyond artificial intelligence like some kind of living machine?" he is thinking to himself.

Vicki takes the profferred hand. "Thank you, Nils." She steps down from the cylinder, taking care to watch her footing. "Ah, hello everyone," she says, making a small wave with her hand.

Stephie is so far not very impressed: after all, so far this could be programmed, and isn't suggestive of intelligence at all. Certainly fo more than the earlier Vicki.

One of the judges seems to be thinking along the same lines. "Sunderland, how do we know this is part of some carefully rehearsed hoax?"

Eva smiles, laughing. "Congratulations, nerd. You've made the Six Million Dollar Blow-up Doll."

Stephie can't help laughing at Eva's comment.

Evangeline glances at VIKI. "The dolls I owned that cost $6 million were not as impressive..." she says to herself softly.

Nils folds his arms. He sounds a little anoyed, but he keeps himself in check. "Very well then. This is about science. I challenge you to prove that Vicki is a sham."

Stephie is tempted - very tempted - to call out something that pops into her head. But she keeps herself in check.

The Vicki frowns slightly, looking over at Eva and to Stephie. She looks perhaps a little... hurt?

Quicksilver cocks his head to the side and dips his head to Jessica and then turns and heads towards the exhibit.

"Vicki, why don't you tell us a little about yourself." One of the judges asks.

"Uhm, hello." Vicki says. "My name is Vicki. I was born six days ago... Well, maybe that's not the right word. I was created -- but I like to think of it as my birthday..."

Stephie frowns and looks toward the doors, ready for trouble.

Suddenly there's the sound of glass shattering as at almost the same time, eight of the gymnasium windows are destroy with energy beams. From outside, grenages are tossed into the room and they detonate with deafening noise and blinding light. Just afterwards troopers with jet packs and rifles fly into the room as the exhibit erupts inot chaos.

Quicksilver doesn't seem suprised and looks almost like he is trying to choose a target.

Stephie sives for cover and keeps her eyes tight closed as the grenades go off.

Evangeline glances over towards the commotion. "Another science exhibit?"

Stephie thinks. o O (Why does this sort of thing always seem to happen when I'm as Stephie?)

Jessica and Jenn are handicapped, too many people in too many potential fields of fire. There's a time for discretion and this might be it. They hold ready but don't provoke any response.

In addition to the troopers, there are two advanced looking power armors. The smaller of the two flies over the group gathered by Nils' exhibit. The pilot of the armor points a finger at Nils. "We've found you, you little rat. We'll make an example of you for the world to see what happens when you steal technology from ACRO!"

Alex caught by one of the flash grenades tries to feel his way towards the exits on his hands and knees.

Nils shrieks, "Save me!" He cowers backwards and Vicki steps in front of him. "Don't worry Nils, I won't let them get you." she says.

The heavier of the two power armors says. "Let's deal with the meta first, Artemis." He turns to face Quicksilver.

The lighter power armor says, "Roger that, Apollo. One thing first:" Artemis, looks towards Vicki. "Command Kernel Override: Dog Echo Oscar Five."

Artemis levels a gauntlet at Quicksilver and fires a bolt of energy.

Quicksilver takes the blow easily, though it does knock him back a ways, but he keeps his feet.

Apollo follows up Artemis attack with one of his own, a gauntlet blast.

Stephie falls back on her standard secret-ID tactics - trying to distract all hostiles in range. Of course, it helps if she can draw their attention to her, so she acts the panicked civilian to the hilt, running this way and that and screaming.

Quicksilver gets hit again and moves back once more. He gets rocked a bit more by this one though and it looks to have him slightly upset and pissed. He leaps at Apollo, looking like he is going to try to slam him as he goes by.

Krang! Quicksilver slams into Apollo. The fying power armor sails backwards through the air and is ejected from the gymnasium.

In the chaos, Eva slips outside.

Vicki says in a monotonic voice. "Override Code accepted." She straightens up from her defensive stance.

Stephie thinks. o O (Darn. Bad enough with Nils in charge of Vicki.)

One of the troopers says, "Take him down!" Three of his teammates follow the order and they train their guns on Quicksilver.

Evangeline glances around, and tries to duck into the lady's restroom.

Phillippa runs over to where Alex is stumbling about. "Come on, Alex, it's this way." She starts to lead him to someplace more private.

Alex says, "Phil? Alright"

Quicksilver takes a recovery.

Artemis commands Vicki. "Capture that worm and don't let him go." She sets down on the ground and tries to blast Quicksilver.

Alex slips out of the room with Phillippa's help.

Stephie keeps up the panicked running about screaming - this time she tries to include Vicki in the effect toom though she doubts that she can affect the robot.

Quicksilver shakes his head as Artemis shoots him again, "Well big ones first, small ones if someone else shows up." he moves over to her and throws a punch, putting a bit of extra effort into it.

Quicksilver prepares a powerful strike and misjudged the angle or something because he misses completely.

Four troopers keep on doing what they doing before for lack of a better idea: they keep shooting at Quicksilver.

The other troopers fail to do anything more, and start to seem confused.

Evangeline quicky changes her outfit from within the Woman's Locker Room

Artemis looks up at the troopers and shouts at them. "What are you doing? Focus your fire on the silver guy and take him out." She turns and heads over to Vicki and Nils. She tries to grab Nils and train a blaster on him.

Artemis says to Quicksilver. "Don't move, big guy." She threatens Nils with her blaster.

Stephie keeps up the same tactics. She doubts she can help Nils any better by changing now.

Stephie hopes the others get back from wherever they're changing soon!

Rebound bounces into the room. "Alright! Let the boy go!"

A woman in a black catsuit. The suit appears to be armored, but still light enough to allow quick movements. Her identity is masked by a simple black domino mask. She appears to be in her late teens to early twenties, with lightly tanned skin and dark hair cascading to her shoulders.

The troopers seems to be rallied by Artemis's commands. Six of them act -- three of them shooting at quicksilver and three at Rebound.

Zam zam zam! The troopers open up with a barrage of plasma fire. Only one of them scores a hit on Quicksilver.

Quicksilver is looking a bit drained after he dodged out of the way but was still hit by one of the shots.

The Maid emerges from the locker room, and proceeds to try to head towards where Nils is help hostage. "Pardon me, sir..." she says as she curtseys. "Would you please release him?" she says politely.

One of the troopers accidentally shoots his comrade. Since arriving on the scene they've become very disorganized.

Artemis looks over at The Maid. "Not likely." She turns to Vicki and says, "Stop them!"

Artemis tries to grab Nils. Her boots jets thrum, in preparation of escaping.

Nils, frightened, puts up little resistance.

Rebound frowns. "We can't let her escape with him." He holds back, though, uncertain of how to proceed.

Stephie keeps trying the same old trick. Since it basically seems to be working.

Two of the troopers collide with each other in midair. One of them drops his weapon. All told, it looks as though there's no more fighting left in them.

Quicksilver is still worried what Artemis might do to the kid, so just puts his hands up and catches his breath, he does notice the newcomer but isn't sure if friend or foe.

Vicki says, "Command acknowledge." She scans the battlefield and looks for targets. Her gaze settles on the recovering Quicksilver.

Vicki tries to wallop Quicksilver with a punch.

Rebound springs into action putting himself in the way of the attack.

Quicksilver doesn't get a chance to catch his breath as the punch connects and he collapse unconscious with the blow.

The Maid tries to recover Nils from his abductor, by... well... trying to swing at Artemis.

Artemis, with Nils in her grasp flies into the air and out of the gymnasium.

Rebound bounces out of the gymnasium after Artemis.

Stephie has an idea. It's a longshot, but hey. While keeping up her "distracting" she tries saying to Vicki, "Command Kernel Override: Dog Echo Oscar Five. Cease fighting."

Stephie just prays the override wasn't designed for a combar situation but simply as a safeguard, and the code works more than once.

"Override Denied: Unit Already in Override Mode." Vicki says. She turns and begins to scan for more targets.

"I'm gonna enjoy this..." A woman in a black uniform and domino mask appears. She snaps her fingers, tossing a small mote of energy towards Vicki.

The wisp of energy explodes in front of Vicki in a brilliant flash of light and a thunderous boom.

Vicki staggers slightly and looks around slowly, seeming to be disoriented.

The Maid tries to fly after Artemis as fast as she can.

Quicksilver takes a recovery.

The Maid tries to pursue, perhaps futily. "Please, release him!" the Maid calls out...

Outside the gym, in the skies above the campus, Apollo appears. He fires a rocket at The Maid from a shoulder mounted launcher.

The Maid goes crashing down into the Sports Center below, cratering into the ground. She lies in the crater, going "Ughhhhhh...." a bit as she seems dazed.

Stephie figures she can't really do any more inside, so rushes outside to check on the situation.

Artemis continues to fly off with Nils. ( 40" Non-Combat )

Quicksilver gets to his feet and just tries to gain his bearings and catch his breath, after all he has been unconscious.

Rebound jumps into the air and tries to grab a hold of Apollo.

Rebound stretches up and manages to grab a hold of Apollo, tangling him up in a ball of stretchy limbs.

Apollo fires a rocket, with Rebound wrapped around him.

The rocket fails to hit anything and sails into the sky.

Rebound tightens his grip on Apollo.

Stephie strikes a stunning pose in Apollo's direction, praying no one will notice in the confusion.

As Apollo catches sight of Stephie's form he abruptly goes limp in Rebounds coils. Stephie rapidly adopts a more conventional pose!

Quicksilver realizes not much left inside, and heads towards the exit, though stops to slam a fist into the robot, it might be blinded but don't really needing it recovering and hurting innocents, in its current state.

Vicki stagger backwards across teh exhibit floor and crashes into a set of ant farms.

Stephie watches in dismay as Artemis retreats from sight.

Rebound parachutes down from the sky with Apollo in tow.

Stephie says, "Darn it - I was hoping someone else would deal with her...."

Rebound says, "Starguard is in route. They can pick up the ACRO troopers."

Quicksilver looks around and shakes his head, "Sorry, I tried to get them both and stop them." he shakes his head a bit, rubbing it slightly.

Stephie says, "What about Vicki? If Nils was telling the truth, she *may* qualify as sentient, despite this ACRO override. I'm inclined to doubt it of course, but still"

Rebound says, "We'll take her in and run some tests, I suppose."

Stephie thinks. o O (He wasn't to know that the men could be left to me.....)

Stephie nods. "I wonder if ACRO wants her, too, ideally? If they're worried about stolen tech. THough they seemed happy enough to leave her."

Rebound says, "Seems like they figured Nils was more important, somehow."

Quicksilver shrugs, "or something in her programming to make her return to base." he shrugs, "Or the one we took out was to get her." he frowns a bit, "This does make me quite curious though."

Stephie nods. "The trouble now is, how can he be found?" She lowers her voice. "We should coordinate with Phil and Eva. As a teammate of their, they may have some ideas about that."

Stephie says, "Curious about what?"

Quicksilver shakes his head, "What he stole, how he stole, how they found out, why attack here and not when he was alone." he shrugs a bit, "Not good tactics." He looks at Stephie, "Teammate?"

Rebound nods to Stephie. "I'm thinking that maybe Apollo will be able to tell us."

Stephie says, "I'm just surprised *that* he stole it. Nils prides himself on his own genius, so I'm surprised he stooped to stealing to win this thing."

Stephie nods to Alex. "I hope you can get him to talk!"

Quicksilver shrugs, "maybe he only stole a part?" he asks and then shrugs, "How is the guy doing? I smacked into him good when I knocked him out of the building."

Rebound says, "I think I know someone who'd be perfect for questioning him." He steps away and talks into his com unit."

Stephie nods. "Well - I suppose I should be going - I can't imagine this scince fair will be continuing immediately, and dad will want to know I'm ok when he hears about this!"