Log:Gridlocked!, Scene 1

Gridlocked! 2010/10/18 	 Bard Merlin Spirit 1

The scene is set for a press conference on the steps of the Courthouse. The police commissioner has not appeared yet; there's an empty podium set up, stacked with microphones. All of the news network have shown up to cover the conference. Also, there are several mounted police officers on hand, lined up in formation to the right of the podium.

Bard is at the conference, but not in the main crowd, nor playing his guitar. Just there out of the way incase something were to happen, but also so he can listen.

Dorian is in the crowd, intending to keep an eye on things...and make sure it doesn't get out of hand.

The street in front of the courthouse is packed with stopped cars. A bunch of the stranded drivers have become part of the audience that's formed on the sidewalk.

The doors of the courthouse open and Police Chief Clarissa Camus emerges. She walks briskly up to the podium. She's slimly built woman in her 50s, with brown eyes and sandy brown hair. She's dressed in her civvies - a navy blue suit with an American flag pin on her lapel.

Bard thinks. o O (How cliche... though the pin will certainly get a lot of positive reception with some...)

"Ladies and gentlemen," Camus begins. "We find ourselves in the midst of an emerging situation... Let's start with what we know. At approximately 5:37 pm today, all of the cars in the city stopped working...

Bard makes a mental note. o O (Tax dollars at work...)

Dorian's eyes glow for a moment as he looks around, but then he returns his attention to Camus as she starts to speak.

Camus continues: "We have confirmed that someone has maliciously triggered the anti-theft circuit in all of these vehicles, all at the same time."

"We are actively and aggressively pursuing multiple leads on in this case. Our first goal is to reactivate all of the vehicles in the city and clear the street. Our secondary purpose is to find those people responsible..."

Dorian shakes his head quietly. . o O (Either a master villain type, covering up his or her real agenda, or some kind of hacker, just messing around for the heck of it.)

Merlin

A costumed adventurer. He's a man with a slight build in a black and blue costume. He's got a white well-trimmed beard. The upper half of his face is covered in a mask, with high-tech goggles covering his eyes, and a pointed blue wizards hat on top of his head. He carries a metal staff that looks like it has a number of buttons and switches near his fingers.

"Allow me so save you some trouble, Commissioner Camus..." A costumed adventure, dressed in blue, fades into sight, standing on top of one of the parked cars. Those who have seen him before will recognize him a Merlin, the costumed criminal.

Bard perks a brow. Either this criminal is TRYING to get caught or is stronger than he looks, either way, things may get a little out of hand.

"Freeze!" About a dozen cops cock their weapons and aim them at Merlin.

Dorian narrows his eyes a bit, and moves through the crowd, getting to the edge of it so he can get a better look at Merlin.

"Merlin," Camus says. She's quiet a moment, before she tells the police, "Stand down. That's an order... Do you have something to tell us, Merlin?"

Bard moves also to get a view of what's going on, and to move if things start taking a turn for the worse.

Dorian furrows his brow, and looks upward...toward a rooftop. There's a flash of light as he changes into his energy form....and then takes off, heading toward the building.

Bard sees the flash of light and turns to see what's going on.

Spirit leaves a trail of light as he heads up to the rooftop...to get a closer look at...something.

Merlin smiles, "It's nice to know that someone still remembers me..." His chest puffs up a little bit, confidently. "I will get right to it: I am the one who's disabled all of the cars in the city. You have 24 hours to deliver $100 million dollars, to the account of my choosing. If you fail to comply with my deadline, I'll take steps to ensure that the streets of the city remain clogged for weeks.

Bard thinks about this. "wait... we can pay you $100 mullion dollars to clear the streets, or spend the $100 million on street clearing." he thinks Spirit is going to flush him out, but until then he should keep him talking.

Merlin looks towards Bard, "You can sit around and debate it. Meanwhile, fires will burn while the fire department is powerless to stop them a. People requiring emergency aid will be out of luck, I suppose." He motions to touch his wrist. "The clock is ticking."

Bard blinks. "We have Air lifts you know this? Helicopters aren't un heard of."

Bard is just trying to keep him distracted.

Spirit finds a small device on the rooftop, about the size of an old VCR...apparently a hologram projector, equipped with a camera.

Merlin says, "Yes, but they are in limited supply - you can't have them everywhere at once. Which reminds me -- I'd like to say hello to Colonial Bay's criminal element." Merlin waves to the tv news cameras. "Only they might truly appreciate the sort of opportunity that this situation provide."

Bard thinks. "Actually for that kind of money we could get a small fleet of helicopters for each group... infact wouldn't that increase our ability to patrol?" he thinks some more. "Also how are we supposed to send you money when we don't even have an account to send it to?"

Spirit considers the device for several long moments, trying to make sense of where the transmissions are heading.

Merlin turns towards the commissioner. "If you check your mail, you'll find a message from with the delivery details."

Bard looks to Merlin.

Bard thinks. o O (These next few days are going to suck...)

Spirit takes off, flying over the building, and heading southward, leaving the telltale streak of light behind him as he travels.

Bard says, "So how many crimes do you intend toserve prison sentences for?"

"24 hours, Commissioner," Merlin says. "The choice is yours." And with that, Merlin fades away.

Bard thinks. o O (Well this is going to suck.)

"Ladies and gentlemen, for obvious reasons, I'm calling an end to this conference." Camus spins and heads back into the courthouse.

Bard looks to the commissioner. "I'll see what I cna find, sir." Marcus states. "But think carefully, you pay mad men see there is a way to make us buckle, and you don't thousands will suffer... think carefully. Until then, I'll rally the Meta's see if we can hunt him down."

Before disappearing into the build, Camus says to Bard. "Good. We have 24 hours."

Bard nods, and takes off finding a nice quiet place to start sending messages to teh others without people noticing he has electronic contacts.

Spirit returns after a bit...carrying a small electronic device. He lands back in the area in front of city hall.

Spirit doesn't notice any heroes around immediately...so he heads inside to the police department to let them know what he found.