Log:Inside Man

2011/07/05 	 Aoi Bard Emile Stanton Flutter Imaginary Girl Lily Phoenix 1

Stanco, publicly traded company with a CEO who founded the company. Emile Stanton is a renowned philanthropist who has expanded his company into many directions. Yes, he has done some work for the government, but not in missiles or weapons technology. Some locations are more of financial advisory offices where he helps other companies figure out the best way to save money. In Colonial Bay, he's done more rescue tech type things. Last year, he gained world fame when he donated the use of a new tech suit to help tunnel into a caved in mine in South America.

Just a little basic knowledge about what Stanco really is. But that's just what folks might already know about the company that has a silent alarm triggered. Apparently something is going on at their campus (Yes, they have a campus, not so much just like a single tower.) For those who monitor emergency signals, there's an alert going out, and for those who do not, there are several emergency vehicles converging on the outskirts of the campus. There is also a private VTOL plane arcing towards the campus.. a private plane with the STANCO logo on the tail.

Imaginary Girl, flying about over the city on her usual 'patrol', can't help but notice all the hubbub... and quickly zeroes in on the source. Of course, the source is an entire /area/, so she hovers up above, waiting and watching to see if she can better pinpoint the cause of the disturbance.

Aoi is on patrol, yes she patrols, when the alarm is tripped. Changing course she heads to the site, coming in high and sub-sonic to avoid announcing her presence too dramatically as she scans from above to determine what is happening.

Phoenix is nearby, grabbing lunch with Lily at an outdoor cafe. She turns her head as an emergency vehicle rushes past them on the street. FOOOOSH! Her lunch drops from her hands as a smoking bit of ash as she instantly changes into her fiery form, hovering just above the pavement. She looks over to Lily, wondering if she needs a lift.

When you can run as fast as most vehicles you tend to be able to follow police vechiles. Especially when many of them are heading in the same direction. Bard has his guitar, no hat today, rose colored sun glasses, a black t-shirt some might recognize, and jeans. in addition to his shoes. The man of music comes to teh scene thoroughly unaware as to what is going on. perhaps he can over hear something.

A small purple winged girl flies toward the scene of the disturbance, not staying back to observe first, just going directly toward the uniformed officers with the enthusiastic question, "What is happening? How may I be of help? I am Flutter! Hello!"

Hovering up above the city block, Imaginary Girl focuses her attention on the police as they set up their command post... and listens in from afar while turning her eyes back down to /watch/ while she tries to eavesdrop to find out what's going on...

Lily nods to Phoenix, "Ok! Let's go!" She hugs Phoenix from behind, ignoring the flames, "Ready to Launch!"

Aoi quickly realizes the site to too large to scan thoroughly in a short period of time. But seeing a command center for police activitty being established she heads down to find out how she can help.

Aoi thinks. o O (I must find room in the suit for a radio.)

The emergency personnel are gathering a command post, the police officer in charge getting out of his car and gesturing for his men to gather 'round. "Listen up folks, we got us a hostage situation inside. We're not really sure what the details are, but all we know is that the administration building is where the board of directors is being held hostage. Yes, the entire board of directors.... minus the CEO who was en route and.." he gestures to the VTOL that's starting to land. That VTOL's engines block his next words from folks listening in.

As others start approaching the command post, the commander is both relieved and frustrated. After all, metahumans aren't exactly renowned for their reliability and discretion all the time. So he recaps the situation and asks, "Is there anything that anyone can do to get us eyes inside without provoking the guy holding'em? All we know is they have explosives rigged... we don't even know if it's one guy or a dozen."

Flutter smiles, "I can prevent the explosives from doing as much damage!" She clasps her hands together, seeming thrilled by this prospect.

Bard shrugs. "Not a clairvoyent." (yet..) o. "But I'm told I am good at talking to people." Bard states, noting the fire figure coming near. He sighs, knowing EXACTLY what is about to happen..."

Imaginary Girl frowns at what she manages to overhear before the VTOL's engine-noise 'gets in the way'. She doesn't really know which the administration building is, though, so she can't really just go in headfirst, either - so she angles down and flies to the command post, landing lightly nearby. "If they've got a bomb, we definitely need a plan, or lots of people could get hurt!", she says, even as her toes are first coming to contact with the street.

"Hang on!" Phoenix says, just before she rockets into the sky at full speed. She streaks across the sky towards the campus, the apparent center of the emergency. Once she's on scene, she sets down for a landing next to the police commander.

Aoi informs the commander, "My suit has neutrino scanning capability. I can onserve the interior of the building without needing to enter it, if you can provide a plan so I know which area to concentrate on."

"Wow... you have x-ray vision?", asks Imaginary Girl, with a bright smile. "That's /cool/!"

Lily listens to the police officer and tilts her hear back and forth as she thinks, "And I could go for the direct approach and just walk up and talk to them! I'm pretty inoffensive, but I can be distracting!" She eyes Bard, "And Bard can help distract the women and guys that aren't distracted by me." She sticks out her tongue at Bard.

Flutter moves directly over to Phoenix, eyes wide. "Oh hello! You're on fire!"

Aoi starts to explain in great and unneeded details, "Oh, no. It's not x-ray. I employ solar neutrino back scatter imaging, integating the detection events with custom software based on medical CAT programs."

Bard looks toLily. "Or so I am told."

"Well, we don't know how many or where the hostage takers are. All we know is that some intern inside dialed 911 and told us that the board was being held hostage and then we heard a shot and the call ended. The intern may be injured, dead, or maybe just the phone got shot." offers the commander as the VTOL's engines shut off and the hatch opens. From within, steps the renowned CEO Emile... and he's striding right towards the command post and the cops.. and metahumans of course. He has basically a future version of an iPad in hand and holds it out towards the police commander. "Sir, I've taken the liberty of uploading the schematics to the building onto here. I tried accessing the internal camera system for you but it seems that they've taken that offline already." He looks around at the gathered heroes and asks. "You're going to keep my people safe, right?"

Aoi nods to Emile. "That is my first priority."

Lily nods vigorously, "You bet! Even if it kills me!"

"Hello everyone," Phoenix says. She nods hello to Flutter as well. She takes a moment to note the other heroes here, including Bard who gets lingering glance. "Aoi, this reminds me of the time we had to fight Mortua and Domina. Let's try the same plan."

Imaginary Girl, after declaring x-ray vision to be 'cool', moves over in front of Aoi, leaning in to look at the visor of the woman's helmet. "Uh-huh... it lets you look through things, right?", she questions... then lifts a hand, clearly meaning to tap-tap a fingertip against the helmet's faceplate. "Did you make this yourself? It's neat!", she comments.

When the CEO shows up and asks about the safety of her people, the 'oooh! shiny!' demeanor seems to fade away as Imaginary Girl turns to face the businessman. "I know I'll do my best, and I can vouch for at least two of the others that I know they'll do the same", she says... then adds, after the others chime in, "... and I guess that's everyone." with a gesture at Aoi, she adds, "Can you give those plans to her? I betcha her super-suit can upload it or something."

"I can make the explosives not do very much damage at all!" She flits back from right in front of Phoenix, to the officer speaking, "I have done it before!"

Bard blinks. "So are we going do what we normally do? blindly rush in kicking anyone in teh head who seems threatiening? or do we get a plan?" He looks to pheonix, unsure of what the glacne was... He seems troubled for a moment. maybe he didn't know EXACTLY what would happen...

Phoenix turns and explains to the others. "Aoi uses her scanners to locate the hostiles and the innocents. We move into position quietly. When we're ready, we breech and use the element of surprise to take out the hostiles and protect the innocents." Phoenix puts her fist down against her flattened palm.

Flutter did that, flitting from Phoenix to officer, rather than mysterious disembodied voice.

Flutter goes wide-eyed, "Of course!" she cries. "A surprise elemental!"

Lily raises her hand, "Um. I'm not really very sneaky?"

Bard nods. "Hmm... do we have any clues as to waht they are using? or if any metas are with them?

"If we can take out the bombs first, we gotta do that, so people don't get hurt, too", Imaginary Girl adds, after Phoenix outlines a quick plan of action. She eyes the pixie-looking girl, and asks, "... how do you make bombs not go off? Magic?" Her tone of voice isn't patronizing or disbelieving... she's clearly, from her tone of voice, just /asking/...

"I surround the bombs and what surrounds the bombs in a protective and immobilizing layer," Flutter replies, smiling. "I would not prevent them from detonating, but the damage would be far less severe, if any."

"Oh... that's pretty cool, for sure", Imaginary Girl replies, with a smile, at Flutter's description of how she muffles a bomb's kaboom.

Phoenix looks over to Aoi. "Are you able to use your equipment to locate the bombs or the hostages?"

Aoi says, "I'll need to get closer. This is a large site."

Phoenix nods to Aoi and says to her and Lily, "I might be able to melt my way in under the building to get us closer, undetected, provided we can steer around the water system."

Lily hmmms and looks over to Emile, "Sure, if Mr. Stanton is Ok with us damaging his buildings."

Aoi looks at the plans, and then goes back to Emile, "This looks like a possible approach route. However there's no details of the underground facility that provides that access. Are you willing to supply details for this area?"

[To Lily] Phoenix says, "Property damage is fine, if it lets us save those people."

Lily nods, "Oh, of course! Hehe. Sorry, I was thinking like an actuary for a moment."

Mister Stanton looks a little uncomfortable, not horribly so, but a littled bit. "I wouldn't care about damage to the buildings. They can be repaired, people cannot. But do me a favor, don't damage the underground research facility?" he asks. Then looking towards Aoi, he shrugs and adds, "That's just where we're working on the new prototype based on the drilling suit we used last year... I don't have -access- the schematics without being in my office... which likely has a bomb in it right now."

Aoi frowns, which isn't seen inside the visor, "Mmm... Unless you can think of another likely target for the criminals, I'd think that suit research in highly likely to be their goal. They may be someone already in there. And this suit is not stealthy. Can someone sneak in first and check it's clear for me to enter?"

Bard raises a hand. "I probably could, but it may take me some time." He offers. He pops his neck. "Though i'll need someone in my ear giving me a heads up if I can. otherwise this can be a very short trip..."

Phoenix floats over toward Aoi to look at the building schematics. She's quiet for a few moments, and she folds her arms. "Hm. Here..." She traces out a path on the map with a line of of fire, hovering a couple insides safely above the surface. "This looks like the best way to get in without being detected."

Aoi Bard, I can follow behind you and warn you of danagers ahead. If you have one of the communicator units that were handed out?

Bard shakes his head. "I don't. Not on a team and never had a reason for it."

[To Bard] Phoenix says, "Now you do. The police have tactical communications systems they can lend us."

Now's when things change up just a bit. From within the campus, a radio broadcast goes out. Well, more like a video broadcast using radiowave signals. One of Emile's people says, "Sir! Check the security channel!" and he switches the pad to view what he was trying to get into earlier, the interior cameras. This shows a single viewpoint where a dozen board members sit at a table. Nobody but them is on camera but a voice can be heard from off camera.

"I see you all gathering out there. Humans, metahumans. I have no beef with any of you, but if any of you come closer, people will die. We have the board of directors here, gbut that's not -all- we have. I don't plan to show you everything we have because I'm not stupid but... look closely and you'll notice that each person has their very own personal anti-personnel explosive device as a new addition to their wardrobe. Now, just to show you that I mean business...." and the viewpoint shifts to an outside camera. Those at the command post might be able to see directly, but the camera shows the central garden area just outside the admin building and the front doors open before a young woman tied to a rolling chair is literally -rolled- out onto the sidewalk. The voice continues, "I'm going to blow her up in five seconds. Anyone decides to interfere with that, and I kill another hostage. All you can do is sit and watch." he says.... and the countdown begins....

Aoi taps her helmet, "I can't use them. Is someone able to relay between the Sageguard team communicators and the police systems?"

Lily leaps away as soon as she sees that, heading for the woman in the chair.

Bard makes a face. "Bastard!" . o (not even original, totally got this off swordfish! And why random murdering, what does he possible gain from this?)

Phoenix follows Lily.

Flutter creates an illusion over the area of the woman, unchanged. Anyone going in will not be seen.

Aoi freezes in indecision for a few moments.

Bard looks to Aoi. "Details? any way to stop him from doing this?" He asks her. "Could you create an EMP puse perhaps? Knock out all electronic in the building? Also how did he see us? he has to be watching..." He looks around, speaking very softly. <> bard speaking in his alien tongue. it doesn't rhyme though.

Flutter mentions, "He won't see anything we do and she will look like she is still there. Get her out, please!"

Flutter watches carefully for what could be used to kill the woman.

Flutter even makes a sign facing the heroes on the edge of the illusion, explaining what she had done.

"No!", Imaginary Girl says, and then she's just /gone/ in a blur of movement... which is followed by a sudden RUSH of air and a *CRACK* like a peal of thunder right atop the command post as she's suddenly going supersonic. Snatching up the woman and the chair, she hurtles up and out over the city... though the sonic 'boom' shockwave that she leaves in her wake does shatter windows, even flip over a small parked car, all along her path, and the rush of wind that follows her sends anything smaller than that small car (including people) tumbling, perhaps knocked completely over. She flies with her body wrapped around the woman, to shield her from the roughness of the high-speed transit through the air. Of course... except for the sudden KRACKABOOM and mini-tornado like effects of Imaginary Girl's passage, it looks like the woman's still sitting on her chair out where she was placed.

Bard waits to see how IG's actions will be precieved, though flutters magic gives him an idea. He looks toh er and leans in to whisper something

Aoi finally reacts, well after Imaginary Girl. She heads for the underground classified area, intending to scan in before entering.

Phoenix's flames get fanned by the wake of Imaginary Girl zooming past her. "Somebody's got to stop this madman..." She puts her hands together and then dives forward, melting her way through the pavement and tunneling underground. In her wake, she leaves a flaming duplicate of herself hovering above ground.

Bard chuckles. "I still like her,style." Bard chuckles. "Nevermidn my statement flutter." He says folloing phoenix. "Oh and emile, officers, try to get us his motives at least!"

It's not like IG's action is subtle. Sure, there's an illusion covering the woman in the chair, but.... with the disturbances, and everyone leaping into action, there's a loud laugh that comes over the video screen. "How utterly predictable!" says the man's voice.

Emile leans his head to one side and says, "That voice. Oh crap. That's the facility's head of security.."

And that explains how the guy has everything wired so well. "Blood is now on your hands." the guy says before the image flickers to a small office and a man sitting behind his desk. Suddenly, the man's no longer there. He's replaced by a small explosion that blasts the window out behind him. Of course, there's a side effect. That window is in an office a bit closer to you all, and the man's body comes flying out towards you all. "Anyone feel like continuing their stupidity?" he asks.

Of course, Phoenix is being sneaky. Aoi's moving the way she was instructed and she's out of sight for the moment...

Bard feels no remorse for the blast, though oldmemories flash at the sound. The man was likely to die anyways. he gets into the building adn attempts to gain control of the situation.

Bard is moving with phoenix until he is inside.

Imaginary Girl stops flying and frowns at the woman's facial expression. "Are you okay? Did they put a bomb on you?", she asks, even as she sets to trying to find any such device on the woman, while holding the chair (and the woman strapped to it) up with one hand.

Up in the air, the woman says, "No, I -am- the bomb." she says as she erupts into flame. Yes, it's like Phoenix 2.0 up there. Sure, the flames on her skin won't do much to IG, but she's literally turning into fire 100%. She flows out of the chair and IG's grip like she was shot out of a flamethrower, and she rockets towards the ground at full speed. "You guys -are- so predictable!" she calls out.

"It was a trick?! How mean!", Imaginary Girl says as she flips in the air so that her head's pointed down, diving after the flame-girl...

Aoi gets to her intended location and spends a few seconds scanning the area she's about to advance into to make sure nobody is already inside. Then she'll attempt to runa by-pass on the security systems so her presence in the classified area is not detected by them if the area is unoccupied.

Bard pages Phoenix and Imaginary Girl: aftershock can my illusions be used to remove me from sight?

Flutter sits down on one of the police cars, staring at the place where the man landed. "I'm sorry," she utters aloud.

"I don't get it, Marcus," Phoenix says as she burrows beneath the ground. "Why did try to kill the woman. He knew that we'd do anything to keep the hostages alive."

Bard looks about teh hallways carefully to see if A) there is anyone about and B) if there is a security pannel he an attempt to gain control from.

Bard also uses his illusions to make it seem as if nothing had happened from Phoenix's and his enternace.

Flutter looks at the officers, "If you wish I will depart to prevent others from dying."

Once inside, Phoenix flames off to try and avoid detection for now.

And now for surprise #2. Flutter obviously feels bad for the situation. But then things change, "Don't feel bad." says the man on the ground who -was- the one blown up. He stands up and brushes himself off before charging towards Emile, "Now you die!" calls out the guy who was obviously not very damaged....

While it is easy to trick Flutter, it is not easy to dull her thoughts. She etches a symbol in the air, speaks a single arcane word and surrounds both the charging man and pretty much everyone else in the rather wide area of effect in a thick layer of glowing substance.

Phoenix looks over at Bard and says in Chinese: << The surface?! The bad guy is down here, somewhere. I'm going to find him and blast him into next week! >>

Having gone into a partial dive, the fire lady turns and arcs upward again. She comes to a pause just about seven to eight meters away and unleashes a superheated plasma blast right up towards IG from below, "I just love a hotfoot, don't you?!" she asks.

Imaginary Girl, already flipping to dive down after the fire-woman, flies right down into the plasma-blast. She brings her arms down in front of herself to /try/ and block it, still holding the chair, even. The chair's /obliterated/ by the blast, and Imaginary Girl's sent spinning upwards from where she was, though she manages to catch her momentum and regain control of her direction of travel. "Ouch!", is all she says, though... she looks angry, now.

While it is easy to trick Flutter, it is not easy to dull her thoughts. She etches a symbol in the air, speaks a single arcane word and surrounds both the charging man and pretty much everyone else in the rather wide area of effect in a thick layer of glowing substance.

Flutter has no Mental powers.

As the man charges closer, and Flutter traces her sigils... the man freezes in place and then his eyes roll up into his head a bit. He's not unconscious, but seems to have been stunned by -something-... maybe he's vulnerable to magic!

Phoenix turns and rockets back down the tunnel at full speed, filling it with heat and smoke. o O ( Damnit... if you're wrong Marcus, I'm going to kick your ass. )

Aoi enters the undergrould facility. Partly out of curiosity, but mostly because she suspects it's involved, she checks to see if the modifed suit in down in there before starting to scan the admin building above her.

Phoenix melts her way through the barrier blocking her way and floats up above ground to assess the situation.

Heat) (15), +5 Temperature Levels (15), Area of Effect (25m Radius,

Limit - 1 Turn (Flames Can Be Extinguished Normally, +1/4),

Flutter speaks, "I am sorry for immobilizing everyone but it was the easiest way I could keep him from harming you!"

The guy entangled seems to be shaking off whatever effect hit him. He's growling and snarling and muttering, "Bitch, once I've killed him, I'm gonna imaginative series of comments.
 * bleeep bleeep*.." he goes on for a bit, but it's a very vulgar and -very-

Flutter smiles, "Oh please do to me what you are intending to do first! It will take longer!" She is being absolutely sincere.

Flutter adds, "You are mistaken. I am not a canine, and I am not specifically female. I am instead a construct designed to look as one would be. And purple. I am also purple."

Phoenix asks Flutter. "What's going on out here?"

"I'm not much for a hot foot, actually...", says Imaginary Girl as she dives right down into the fiery woman's face and wraps her arms around her enemy. "How about a /hug/ instead?", she says with a grin. "Oops... can I /touch/ you, alla sudden? Did you forget who you're dealing with here?", she adds, the last in harder tone of voice.

Flutter is not deliberately taunting the angry immobilized man. She is simply explaining what she is not.

Flutter goes on to explain to the man the inaccuracies of his crude remarks and the impossibilities, and suggests that she can alleviate his confusion.

"I'm not much for a hot foot, actually...", says Imaginary Girl as she dives right down into the fiery woman's face and wraps her arms around her enemy. "How about a /hug/ instead?", she says with a grin. Squeezing, she asks, "You forget who it is you're dealing with, here?", in a harder tone of voice.

Bard enters the hallway moving quietly (stealth) trying to find a security terminal. He doesn't knwo what teh opponent has in stroe but he's gotta find someone to ask that of after he makes it so teh enemy is effectively blinded.

Bard moves around a corner, well hidden in the darkened room by his old career's skills. He sees Aoi, though remains quiet. She likely could find him if she wanted to anyways.

Phoenix directs a narrow jet of flame towards Stanton to cut him free of the entangling matter.

Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a spaceship! It's an explosion! This one will get folks to see it from below. Ironically, it's just about the right time for the bomb if there -was- a bomb. The fire lady tries turning into flame, and then scowls as she turns back, "Tricky eh?" she asks as she explodes, a huge ball of fire in the sky...

The big explosion up in the sky is followed by a KABOOM... yeah, that'd be Imaginary Girl hitting supersonic speeds, again. Almost immediately after, there's a HUGE fountain of water a few miles off the coast, big enough to be visible even in the distance, as if something just slammed HARD into the water from up above.

Phoenix sees the explosion and then the following splashdown in the water. o O ( ... What the..... ) She focuses on freeing the police commander from the entanglement as well.

Phoenix thinks. o O ( If that's Imaginary Girl, I hope that she's alright... It would take me a while to get out there in case she isn't.... gotta focus on the situation right here. )

The guy in the entangle shakes his head as if trying to clear it. His arms transform into what appears to be blades. Yes, this guy is a poor man's T-1000. He flexes, and those blades shred the entangle as he surges forward towards the now freed CEO....

Even as the guy surges forward, the entangle comes up and wraps everyone else up. As that happens, blade boy cries out and his eyes roll up in his head. He goes limp and his arms turn back into arms...

Imaginary Girl 'flies' up through the water to the surface, so that her head and that of her doused opponent break the surface... then she squeezes again, and the woman in her arms stops struggling, going limp. "Heh... gotcha", she says, though she looks pretty 'wiped out', herself.

Phoenix points both of her hands at the entangled cyborg. After taking a moment to aim, she says. "TRy to escape again and I'll blast you."

Meanwhile, under the ground, in that facility, Bard and Aoi have been moving towards the powering up armor. We will assume that seeing that made Aoi tell Bard where to go, and she quantum phased through the floor to get there faster. As she arrives, and as Bard enters the level and the -huge- room where the armor's powering up... the armorsuit turns and it's one of those annoying similarities. It phases through the wall itself and seems to be making its escape.... or attempting to

Bard sees teha rmor attempting to run. his mind stretches over the distance between him an teh armor attempting to get into it's mind. "Stay and fight" can be heard in a voice layered with a psionic and suggestive tone.

The guy in the armor pauses and turns back to look over his shoulder, "Good point, you shouldn't prove -much- of a challenge." That said, he points the arms at Bard and activates the firing command. One round of the very light Magnetic Accelerator cannon fires, and strikes the resilient Bard. Fortunately, it was more of a glancing blow...

Bard is struck and slide backwards. "That all you got?" He grins, readying the guitar.

Flutter moves toward the tunnel Phoenix made..

Flutter moves down the tunnel Phoenix made. She is far less worried now that she will accidentally have someone harmed.

Bard can't see or hear, not too much of a problem. He grins despite being effected. He stepsforawrd 5m and takes a deep breathe the air swirls around him as he roars like a primal beast. a concussive wave of sound flies forward as his word rings throughout the chamber. "COWARD! You rely on tricks and deceptions! You mock us! I see through your game! I see through your puny shell you call a life! If not for that armor would you be so confident? Would you dare attempt to face me?"

Imaginary Girl, winded, lays out on her back to float on the surface of the water... and drapes her KO'd opponent across atop her, so that the woman won't sink and drown. She just lays there for a short while, to catch her breath...

Phoenix blasts down the tunnel, offering a de-flamed arm to carry Flutter along if she needs a lift.

Flutter takes the lift! "Whee!" she cries, looking around and moving forward herself to see what's about.

Flutter performs another trick she learned! Surrounding Bard, starting from his position and just suddenly moving outward at what seems to be a natural pace, are a dozen duplicates, all acting in much the same manner.

Having done what he could for now, the pilot of the armor suit shakes his head. "What the... I need to get this suit out of here..." he mutters to himself, "What am I doing?" Then he cries out, though Bard can't hear it, "Next time you mess with my mind, I'll use the heavy shells!" and he turns to make his way out through the wall, "This suit is neat!" he calls out as he goes.

Imaginary Girl shoots up into the air, leaving yet another sonic boom in her wake as she flies up and then down in a very ballistic sort of trajectory, carrying her KO'd enemy with herself as she goes, dropping out of supersonic speeds as she comes down over Colonial Bay.

Flutter moves through the place, seeing if there are any things that are liable to explode.

Bard moves upstairs to teh CEO. "So, military battle suits?" He asks as if this is nothing. "Deactivate it once it's above ground, or atleast give us a method of tracking." He looks to the CEO.

Mister Stanton asks as people come out of the tunnel. "Okay, so... what? What about the hostages and the explosives?!" He's understandably upset as he attempts to stalk towards the building but is restrained by police. He waves a hand at the mention of the suit. "It's made for getting into and out of dangerous locations... not for combat."

Imaginary Girl comes down out of the sky to land at the command post, laying the unconscious woman on the ground. "Officers... take her into custody. She's one of them... the whole chair thing was just a trap. She's a fire-using supervillain, so be careful about that", she says. She looks a /little/ worse for the wear, after her fight, as if she still need a bit more time to fully catch her breath. "How'd things go, here?", she then asks, as she sees everyone regrouping.

Bard says, "Then teh gun? Mention fo heavy rounds? The fact it is in a secret vault beneath your facility." He sees IG return and her explaination. "I have the strange feeling they aren't in harms way at all... he seems skilled in bait and switch. none-the-less IG go check teh board rooms for the board of directors."

Imaginary Girl nods and floats up off the ground... but then hovers there. "Uhm... which one's the building with the board rooms in it?", she asks, after a moment, directing the question at no one in particular.

"The what? Gun? Heavy shells?" Emile seems truly confused. "What shells? We only included systems for bypassing solid materials... and sensor systems to see in the dark along with propulsion and defensive systems. Weapons were never authorized for deployment." Then he pauses and curses, "Chief Williams... damnit. It's my Security Chief who was behind this. He -must- have altered the construction and made sure that I only saw reports of what I wanted to see."

Flutter continues to search the building for explodes.

Inside the board room, there are the members of the board, bound and gagged, and yes... they all do have fragmentation explosives rigged to their chairs. But there's nobody there to monitor them anymore. It's just ... well... they're rigged to blow we'll see. Fortunately, the bomb squad is on site.

Bard says, "Well then, how do we track one of your suits? he seems to simply... walk through walls. If you have so much invested surely you ahve a way to get it... perhaps even shut it down from a distance. For if your employees where doing things too risky, a way to retrieve them"

After being told where to find the board members and having found them, Imaginary Girl hurries to fly the bomb squad to where they need to be - because, well, it's just faster that way, right?

Flutter offers to protect everyone and everything from the brunt of the explodes

"Normally, sure. But I assume that if Williams sabotaged things, that he took that into account too." mutters Emile. He then pauses and says, "You know... you guys did okay after the initial insanity." A gesture to his assistant, and he says, "If you had support, organization... teamwork, you'd be really a formidable team. I have an idea... the world needs its heroes organized and not just running pel-mel around trying to stop random crimes. Why don't you let me set you up as an official team. I'll handle the sanctioning, and the financial parts of it. I would very much like you to track down Williams for me if you could." he says.

The Bomb squad guy is a team, not just a guy. But they're transported and before long, they have things well in hand. "Good thing you didn't try to evacuate them." says the chief afterwards, "they were rigged with motion sensors to detonate."

"I'm not an expert about bombs", is Imaginary Girl's reply to the chief. "That's the Bomb Squad's job, right?" She, of course, was too busy ferrying bomb squaddies and, as they were freed of their bombs, evacuating board members from the building, to have been around earlier, when Emile made his offer of funding, etc.

Bard shakes his head. "No your trying to redirect this. what we ened is you to target that thing with your money, not our organization. There is a man in a fancy suit with access to metas and moeny we don't have. getting a team of emta under yyour collar is teh least of my concerns, sir, but if you're looking for publicity I'm sure you could get it in other peaceful endevors."

Bard says, "Your top priority should be retrieving your suit, punishing the man who stole it and threatened innocent lives. You want a team, I can give you a contact number for a friend, but honestly, I'll pass for now... especially since 2 of my ex's are on that team.""

Imaginary Girl glances over at Bard, a 'huh?' look on her face, then goes back to helping ferry about people that need to get somewhere, quickly.

Shaking his head then, Emile sighs and says, "You.. are a cynic. I am not trying to redirect anything. I want to hire a team to track down Williams and return my company's property so that I can have it dismantled and scrapped. I have no desire to have an armed suit out there... I do not want to be responsible for deaths or damages.... As such, I wish to take responsibility and provide the means to end the threat." He looks over towards the ferrying IG and shrugs, "So, you are saying that it's more important to you that you not compromise your emotional attachment to past relationships, than to save lives? I thought you were a -hero-?"

Flutter flits over to where she had the man immobilized before he could attack. "Who was he? Why did he hate you so much?"

"The why offer it to us?" bard asks. "There are others out there that can find a giant suit of metal better than us. and a hero? I enver claimed to be a hero. I'm also not the one who has their name attached to a melatic machine retrofitted for murder." Bard states. "If you point my way I'll do it. But you instantly wanted to form a team, that is why I'm bothered." Bard can give a stare to stop some in tehir tracks. "If you want to form it after you give me a way to find this thing, that's fine, but first thing si first, we have a robot suit on the run, what ways could we track it?"

Turning his eyes towards Flutter then, Emile shrugs and says, "I've no idea. I have never seen that man before in my life. I -assume- that he was hired by Williams. As for why he might hate me, I have no idea." And then he looks back to Bard, "Because you were here at the start. You tried to stop him.. and I wanted to give you the chance to do so. As for the team... why -not- kill two birds with one stone. I try to make sure my company is always doing things to improve the state of the world. That's how I run things... in theory." He scowls a bit and shrugs, "I am sure there is supposed to be a tracking device in the armor. So shall we head down to the facility and try to activate it?"

Bard says, "Let's head down then. But for 'two birds, one stone' I find that tends to be a hasty thing. Besides I am not a professional hero, I'm just a good citizen, really. Only difference between me and any random man on the street is heritage. Otherwise I'd just be a pretty face, and have a good music career.""

Flutter flits back to Emile, "I may be able to stop him from moving through walls. I know of a sigil which will at least for a short time, prevent it, though it takes time to fully work."

"So... you'd choose to stay on the sidelines and make music when you could do so much more to help so many people?" asks Emile as he starts walking towards the administrative building. It's not a long trip once power is restored downstairs. "If that's the case, then why did you come here today? You're a hero son... whether you try to deny it or not. You'd be better off working with others who also want to help the world, than just trying to lie to yourself about it." he offers as he steps into the elevator and gestures for any going with to join him.

Bard says, "I'm only here because I owe someone something, and nothing more. Call me what you want, it doesn't really matter to me."

Flutter moves into the elevator, eager to assist.

"That's too bad. You're wasting your potentiual... believe me." remarks Emile as the elevator remains open. "If you're not interested in this, then by all means.. go on your way. I am sure that my people can handle the tracking down of Mister Williams." and he looks to Flutter, "I presume you are interested in helping as well?"

Flutter smiles, "I am helping when I am able!"

Bard chuckles. "I'll help, I just need a way to track him. And time. He also used a flash bang gernade... any way I might be able to find your records for that kind of purchase?

"If it was purchased... and not crafted." offers Emile, "But I thought you had no interest? The -team- will be tracking down Williams. If you want in onthat, then you're going to be a part of the team, right? If not, then I'll have my driver take you home." he's holding the Elevator door open still with a thumb on the button.

Bard says, "If your insisting on it, at least give me the honor of naming it." Bard chuckles. "I imagine I could think of something."

"That will be up to your teammates. I will ask for no role in leading, dictating policy or anything on the team. I only want to help them to form so that they can benefit the world." offers Emile as he places his thumb on the down button. The scanner checks his biometrics and then the car starts going down into the sublevels. Before long, it opens up into an area that's just starting to get people back into it.

Bard thinks. "We won't have to wear matching uniforms will we?"

"Same answer, up to the team, not me." Emile says before offering Flutter a grin, "What do you think? Matching purple uniforms sound good?" he asks with a chuckle before walking out and heading to a team starting to boot up the computers, "The tracking device?" he asks, and the woman at the computer points to a table with a small box on it. "You mean -that- tracking device?" she asks.

Flutter replies, "I have not worn a uniform before! I have no understanding of the value of such things!" She smiles.

Bard winces. "Well I'm sure there would be atleast 2 people happy with that..." Bard mutters. "Either way, what about satelite relays? the power source probably has a unique signature. track via non-traditional means?"

"It's worth a shot." offers Emile who nods to the techs in the room. "Though I don't personally have any satellites in orbit. Our company doesn't handle telecommunications." He sighs and mutters, "And to think, the entire purpose of this project was to -save- lives."

Flutter looks thoughtful. "It is perhaps then ironic! I believe there is a spell to detect irony before it strikes."

Bard says, "Hold On, I have a friend I might be able to ask." Bard grins a sense of malevolence for a moment, before producing a cellphone and calling the enar by naval base. He's asking for one Captain Abigail hearns."

It turns out that Major Hearns is incummunicado. She's on a training mission where she's totally out of touch with anyone for the next several days. That sorta thing happens when you're an active duty marine officer. The Lieutenant that takes the call is happy to take a message though....

Bard makes a face.. "Who else do we know able to track things..." He thinks.

Bard says, "Diane might, but i doubt asking the chinese is in your best interest"

"Well, I need to speak with the others too." offers Emile, "You make yourselves at home." Emile inclines his head, "I have an office in Shanghai. Maybe I can make it a legitimate business question." he adds as he heads for the elevator.

Bard nods. "If only we had a way to track it... but first we should put his face in everyone's mind across the globe, no where to hide, he'll be forced to be on the offensive.

"If he didn't just steal it to sell to someone." mutters Emile as he steps into the elevator and then hits.. ground floor. Soon, the car opens there and he steps out, "Now if I can locate the lovely flying woman, the flaming woman, and the armored one." he mutters.

Timing is good... because Imaginary Girl's just landing and setting down the last of the Bomb Squad guys next to the team's personnel carrier. "No problem, guys. Thanks for making sure no one got blown up!", she's saying to them, in response to their thank you's, waving a hand at them as the load up to head out.

"Ah, there you are!" calls out Emile. Meanwhile, the assistant down below asks Bard and Flutter what she can do to help. Emile strides forward and gestures to IG. "Imaginary Girl!" he adds, "Can you come over here a moment? I have a question and an offer!"

"Uhm... okay", replies Imaginary Girl, floating over that way instead of simply walking over. "What's up?"

Flutter looks puzzled, "I am unsure what I am able to do to help at this very moment!" she declares with a smile.

"What good is cash if the only people you can interact with are jsut as likely to kill you as they are to help." Bard offers. "He looks to IG. Then to flutter. <

"The disagreeable young musician, and the cheerful purple one are down below... we are trying to track down the man who caused all of this. He stole a suit my company had been working on, after redirecting the research to add weapons to it when it wasn't supposed to be armed. But since it's my company's fault, I want to make things right. I -also- want to make sure that the world is better when I am gone than it was when I arrived, so to that end, I want to organize a team of heroes, give you all a chance to improve your skills, to save lives, and for my company to help you do all of that. Are you interested?" he asks as he gestures to the elevator.

The assistant mutters, "As if anyone in Somalia would care whether we wanted the guy or not. Or Tibet... or other countries that wouldn't give a heck about a man wanted in the States."

Bard shrugs. they seem hell bent on proving him wrong, why argue.

Imaginary Girl's feet touch the ground and she puts her hands on her hips. Pursing her lips in thought, she's quiet for a bit. "What's the catch? There's /gotta/ be one", she finally questions of the businessman.

Not so much focused on proving anyone wrong, as just pointing out the flaws in the points being made. It has less to do with who's saying anything than what's being said. "Catch? I just want to be the backer for a superhero team. I've always wished that I had powers ... but this is the best way that -I- can feel like I'm being a hero, by helping other heroes do their thing." He gestures for IG to step into the elevator, "Please tell me you're not going to be a cynic too?"

"I wanna help people... I just don't wanna have anyone telling me /who/ I can help. Everyone deserves to be helped, if they need it. Long as you never try to tell me or the team we shoudln't do something we think is right, I won't have any problem with it", Imaginary Girl says, though she wags a finger at the business man as if lecturing him.

"Oh, I won't be team leader. I just want to help -form- the team. The team makes their decisions for leadership, roles, tasks..." Then he gestures into the elevator again, "I already explained all this to your friend... I assume you are one of the exes he spoke of?" he asks.

Imaginary Girl rolls her eyes. "Yeah, actually I am... me and Phoenix. He cheated on me, then he cheated on her. I'd trust him with being on the team, but I couldn't /ever/ trust him as a boyfriend, again", she says. "I wancha to put all this stuff in writing, then I'm gonna find a lawyer and ask 'em to look it over so that you can't try and wiggle outta it, if that's okay?", she says, making it sound half like a question and half like a demand. "I don't wanna /ever/ be told I can't help someone who needs help, if I'm available to help 'em. You give me that much, and I'll be on your team", she says, laying out what /she/ wants in what she hopes are crystal-clear terms.

"This is about -empowering- you to do what you do already, but more effectively, and with more support. I have no interest in turning you into a private merc force. Now, are you going to come down with me and talk to the others, or are you going to continue telling me to do what was I was planning to do already?" Emile smirks and adds, "You know that it is generally considered bad form to talk -down- to someone. I have treated you with respect and you are speaking to me like I am a child. Can we please just get in the elevator?"

"Sorry... just... everyone treats /me/ like a kid... I didn't wanna get taken advantage of", Imaginary Girl says, her cheeks flushing a little bit as she heads on into the building.