Log:Out of her Body with Frustration, Scene 2

Out of her Body with Frustration 2019/10/04 	 Annie Blok Carpenter Grimm Lady Winters Rangel Voyager Sydney Rollins

2

Carpenter was sent to the hospital to investigate the case of a drugged woman mumbling that she was the victim of a bodyswap. Various other heroes got involved mostly by happening to be at the hospital. As the drugs wore off, it was established that the woman was one Doug Williams in (Sydney Rollins') body. It also became clear that the drug was the effect of (Doug's) own power, which he had used on Sydney. The heroes followed the trail from the bar where they had met, and found that Sydney(Doug) had headed to Doug's place, but had left again after ransacking it, before the heroes had arrived. Now the heroes are following the trail again, which appears to be leading toward Sydney's own place.

Blok has been following the rest of the group as they followed Rangel, staying at the back and quiently observing.

It's well into evening now as the heroes follow the trail roughly in the direction of CBSU.

Grimm got out of her evening criminal justice class a while ago. A messenger back of class books on her shoulder, she's cruising along for a place to grab dinner before going home to study.

Lady Winters follows detective Carpenter.

Carpenter walks along with the group. "I'm happy I wore comfortable shoes today. Looks like she's headed back toward her apartment, like we guessed initially."

Rangel nods. "Yeah, and that's about where my guessing dries up until we get a clue from there. Or I can follow the trail and keep you posted as to where I end up if I'm not knocked unconscious when it's discovered that this is a much bigger thing than we thought. You all okay to do the ...lawful entry? I'm still fuzzy on what we're allowed to do within the confines of the investigative process."

Lady Winters asks the detective, "Why would she ransack Mr Willian's apartment instead of contacting the police and reporting what happened?"

Grimm notices the parade of heroes coming her way, quirking a brow. "Field trip?" she asks as she draws near their path.

Blok says, "Would the police believe her?"

Lady Winters says, "In this city? Yes."

Rangel grins. "Because she's got something pretty big to hide and having Doug as body is really easy on her since she can knock out any interlopers by playing grabby with them like Doug would only she doesn't end up on my arrow-butt-ratio-science list."

Blok says, "Hello, friend Grimm. We are tracking a body thief."

Rangel adds, "That list contains only one item so far."

Annie glides lazily overhead on white-feathered wings, abusing what thermals there are from the concrete and looking down for interesting things. She walked into a raging gunfight/meta party just the other day... and everyone unsconcioused themselves or cleaned up before she could join in the festivities! Not this time! She bound to find something inter-ooh! What's this? A Ro parade?

Carpenter shrugs. "I'm not sure why she didn't contact hte police. Probably worried about the cops not believing her, I suspect. I deal with metas more than a lot of the beat cops have to. She also likely freaked a bit when she got use of his powers." He waves to Grimm, "Hey there."

Carpenter notices the apartment number, "It's a ground floor apartment this time."

Rangel also adds, "Hello team-mate!" She glances at Carpenter. "yeah, initially, but then she stopped to think and went straight for McGrabby's place to get an overnight pack or three."

Rangel concludes, "She's planning to camp in Doug for a while."

Grimm looks to her fellow SGG member in surprise. "For real? Did one of you guys get body-jacked?" she asks, examining the others. She flashes an easy and familiar smile to Carpenter. "Hey, Jack. Looks like you're back to the grind already, huh?"

Grimm seems to have forgotten Rangel is the newest (oldest) SGG member here. She starts to turn to walk with the others. "Is this person super dangerous?" she asks?

Blok says, "Not one of us, a patient at the hospital."

Carpenter grins at Grimm. "Yeah, back to the grindstone." He shakes his head, "There's a woman who was swapped with a guy who is in the hospital, like Blok here said. Said guy tried to drug the woman. She freaked, used a power which swapped their minds. She's in his body."

"Yeah, really nice guy who can knock people out by palm contact using some secreted toxin. Claims he wears gloves so he doesn't accidentally take anyone on a surprise date. Also a prominently terrible liar." Rangel informs.

The Model 9 Prototype has been rather quiet as they follow the trail- mostly becuase such an assembly of metahumans and other less powerful (though no less empowered) heroes is a time for observation and learning, not necessarily becoming the center of attention. It is afterall, learning to people properly.

It does chime in agreement with Rangel's explaination.

Grimm nods to Carpenter as he explains, keeping in step with him and glancing back at the others before looking ahead. "That guy sounds like a creep..."

Grimm's hands clench and unclench a few times before relaxing.

Rangel smiles. "Well, he's got my interest now and I have lots of free time so... I'm probably going to see what happens when we leave him to roam for a week."

The apartment building stands out. While in an older part of town, it's only a few years old. That's not so remarkable in itself: in a town where meta fights demolish buildings from time to time, rapid rebuilding is often more of a priority than blending with the surroundings. It's a five-storey, rather functional building - or eyesore, as the neighbours would have it.

Rangel suggests, "Check Doug's phone location? She might not've ditched it yet."

Carpenter nods. "We're here. Let's go the direct route, first. If she's not here, we'll have to go with other options." He heads up to the door, intending to knock or ring hte doorbell as needed.

Rangel just sniffs to see if Doug's scent has gone in and out of the place.

Annie follows the pink elephants on parade, sailing down to land on a building (maybe THAt building, maybe not) to peer down and see what's going on. Since every time she said 'Hi' at the gunfight party seemed to make everyone fall down, she doesn't greet anyone just yet. That could jinx it!

Rangel also listens at the window for inside activity.

Carpenter tries the buzzer for Sydney's apartment.

Rangel moves around side, sending text information to Carpenter, "no keys - used a window to get in - low security place I think"

No one answers the buzzer this time, either.

"There's definitely a guy still in there," Grimm comments as she sees Rangel sniffing around. "Not sure if it's -your- guy...but I'm guessing there's a chance."

Carpenter tries the same trick Nicky suggested previously. Mutliple buttons, trying to get someone to buzz them through.

Once again, the trick works, though not as immediately this time.

Grimm quirks a brow as Carpenter starts mashing buttons. "Do you ...want me to just let you in?" she asks.

Carpenter grins. "No need. Wait until we get to the apartment door." He pushes through the outer door, and heads toward the apartment proper.

The Android holds the door for the others.

Lady Winters chuckles quietly. Seems she's 'corrupted' the detective, at least in a very minor way.

Carpenter figures that Rangel still has the outside covered, and he goes to the apartment door. He then knocks a couple of times.

Rangel sends text. 'Window forced open, body is packing bags'

Blok looks at the standard-height ceiling, and decides to guard the open window.

No one answers the door. But a guy carrying a bag runs suddenly toward the window Rangel is at - until he sees Rangel!

Rangel waves, looking actually friendly, casual.

"He's running!" Grimm warns.

Carpenter calls out. "Sydney. Doug. We know what happened. We just want to fix it."

The Model 9 moves to impede Sydney/Doug's progress.

Sydney(Doug) keeps an a careful eye on Rangel, and shouts to Carpenter, "Fix it? What do you mean, fix it?"

Rangel sends, 'I have visual, am at window'

The Robot chimes cheerfully. "Greetings! This Unit has arrived with this others to assist you recovering your original edition body!" It says by way of answering her/his question.

Sydney replies, "Yeah, that's what I figured. Just like after the accident. Be a good girl, get back in your own injured, useless body. While creeps like this Doug guy are using their powers to hurt others...."

Grimm raises an eyebrow at that.

Carpenter sighs. "Sydney. We know Doug drugged you. Thing is...he needs to go to jail for it. I'm afraid that if you don't swap back, you'll take hte fall for what he has done."

The Robot is now officially out of tis depth. It holds its position but devtes most of its energies to processing what's happening.

"Oh he's not gonna be doing that after," Rangel replies. "If this ends up with him going free, and I assure you that will not be a fast determination, I will make it my personal mission to give him a very healthy respect for the fear of what happens to him if he tries anything of the sort again, and you know when all you have is a bow and everything looks like an archery target..."

Carpenter finally states who he is, since he hadn't yet, and 'Doug' can't see him. "I'm Detective Carpenter, from the CBPD."

Blok says through the window, "Your body is recovering from the drug at the hospital."

Lady Winters says, "If need be I will testify in court that the current owner of this body is not the person who engaged in drugging other victims."

Grimm scrunches her nose as she starts thinking about all the criminal justice and ethics classes she's taken. "But she's still technically stolen a body..."

Rangel sends, 'I think she went avenger of victims against Doug and tracked him down'

Button mashing, running in, running around, hopping into windows... so much is going on! Annie can't get the best view from this high, now, and nothing of what's inside. She steps off the non-frontage side of the building to drift down to ground level. All the better to see and hear the haps.

"So Doug would get what's coming to him. But what about all the others? Do you know what it's like to have a superpower - one that could beat almost any supervillain - and not be able to use it?! How much I've seen that I could have stopped - except it's 'wrong' to take over other people's bodies? I've had ENOUGH!"

Blok says, "Is it that simple?"

Rangel pushes the window open enough to talk without being open enough to gain access. "Hi. Just chatty. I'm not PD, can't arrest you. Won't impede you if you decide to run. Prefer if you didn't 'cause that makes things messy."

Carpenter sighs. "No. I don't know what it's like to have a superpower, Sydney. I don't have any. But at the same time, I have a responsibility. You effectively stole from Doug. Please...come with us peacefully."

Grimm whispers to Carpenter, "Rangel and some of the others are by the window outside. Oh! Rangel's starting to open the window..." She's just telling him what she can sense.

"Oh! Hi!

Carpenter nods to Grimm. "I'd rather not have this get violent. And it might."

"I didn't steal. That was an accident - when he used his power on me - a very lucky accident, but an accident. But it opened my eyes... I'm doing no good just hiding my powers, pretending I don't have them...."

Lady Winters looks at Carpenter, "I'm sorry, detective. I will not impede your actions but I cannot as it stands find it in my conscience to assist you in taking her into custody.

Blok says to Voyager, "Please restrain anyone who tries to exit through this window. Her powers may not affect you."

Lady Winters adds, "She is telling you the truth."

Carpenter says to Lady Winters, "Fine. Do you care about the next person she swaps with? Or the one after that? Every single one of them ending up in a new body? Every....single...one."

"I can stop her. No violence," Grimm offers Carpenter.

"Yeah, hiding them's a pain in the butt, especially when someone pins you with being able to do stuff and then you have to hide bodies. Trouble is Doug can press charges on you right now." Rangel informs. "We'd be thrilled to get pressed charges against him instead of you."

Carpenter points to Nicky, "She swaps with you, and then me, and then Grimm. She ends up in Grimm's body. Grimm's in mine, I'm in yours."

"Oh! Hi!" Now Annie feels confident to waggle fingers and introduce. "We know Just what it's like to have powers to beat up everyone!" Her nose wrinkles. "Where's the fun in NOT using that? And what's wrong with borrowing bodies? We do it all the time." Not only is no one unconscious yet, but it seems it's right up her area of expertise to be helpful!

Grimm looks Carpenter over as he mentions her being in his, then snaps out of whatever she was thinking. "She's talking like a villain now, Winters. Though I guess you just can't see that."

The Android tries to mull over the moral quandrythat seems to have divided the Earthlings as it observes.

It turns towards Annie's unfamiliar voice.

Blok responds to Annie's comment, "Borrowing suggests that you return the bodies. This person seems intent on keeping the body she has taken."

Lady Winters looks at Grimm, "No. Actually I cannot see that. She seems to me to be talking like a frustrated potential hero. I hear about defeating villains, bot using her ability for illicit purposes."

Rangel adds, "I'd prefer if we didn't try to restrain her if she leaves. I can follow, and keep up."

Rangel doesn't make this secret from Sydney.

"Seems like a tone deaf view," Grimm comments, then looks towards the doors.

Carpenter sighs, looking at the prior case report. "It looks like Spirit convinced her to return to her body the first time. Maybe he'd be willing to try again."

Grimm comments, "At best, this is making her a vigilante if she doesn't return the body. If she does...then yeah, she's a hero."

Sydney sighs. "I knew this would happen. You'd try to stop me. That's why I was trying to run. But I'm just trying to stop the bad guys - using what abilities I have."

"Good news, you stopped that bad guy pretty cold, and got him to tacitly admit to his own series of wrongdoings by lying through his teeth with some stupid stories," Rangel informs. "You swap back, we can get that ball rolling, and you don't get chased for it as a fugitive to boot."

The Android chimes. This is a point it can understand.

Blok speaks through the window, "Someone who switches bodies with a villain to facilitate that villain's capture, then switches back, could be a hero. Someone who takes a villain's body and keeps it, is no better than the villain.

Grimm faces the door. "We're not saying that creep didn't deserve to be stopped and pay for what he's done." There's a personal edge to her voice when talking about Doug's crimes. She reigns it in. "Now return his body so he can go to trial. Then you get to be the hero who stopped that jerk from hurting anyone else."

Carpenter takes a deep breath, "Doug can't go to jail without someone testifying about what he's been doing."

Carpenter adds. "...and whoever that person is...would be a hero in their own way. With or without powers."

Rangel grins. "Seems we're all on board with you using that power for awesome. Your call, Sydney. Talking as a former fugitive, it's not a lot of fun being on the run. Sometimes the chase is fun but you seem less likely to be able to escape than I would be and that would be a boring chase."

Annie shrugs at Blok. "We don't steal them away when we borrow, exactly. Nothing to give back." Then she squeezes herself through the window to make it easier to talk and see what's going on. "Oh! Maybe find another meta with juicy powers, but wants a vacation! You could time share! We do that sometimes.." A pause and she rolls her eyes before looking to her left. "Yeah, yeah. We know. We're overdue. We'll get you our playtime, too..."

Rangel adds, "Also you would almost definitely come under the notice of Next Generation and they would definitely like to have you around without you wanting to be around. Not a threat, just... really warning you about that so if you do go on the run, be very hidey. Like hidey enough that I can't find you."

Sydney hesitates. Some good points have been made. "Ok. Say I go back. Hell, it's not like I *want* to be someone else my whole life. But what happens the next time? The next time I see villain shooting innocent people or knocking down buildings or aliens invading or whatever?" Yeah, clearly she lives in Colonial Bay.

"I think if you can swap for long enough that the body gets restrained and swap back no one on the side of law would be upset that you stopped the smacking-down-buildings." Rangel shrugs. "Are you thinking some other result might come up?"

Carpenter says, "I can't answer that, Sydney. I don't know. But perhaps you can speak to someone about it. One of the counselors with Starguard, maybe? They can help you with either controlling your powers or just...deciding what to do with them."

Sydney nods, to herself mostly. "Yeah, you're right. Of course you're right." She sighs, again. "I'm just tired of feeling so helpless...."

"That conversation'd be easier if you open the door," Rangel suggests. "There's... four? Three or four there."

Sydney opens the door. It's not like the door really makes a difference if things go badly.

Carpenter smiles as 'Doug' appears. "Hi. Thank you. Not only for making this decision. But for stopping your attacker."

"I'm not sure I can even take credit for that. I was already drugged - I must have acted on instinct, or just got lucky...."

Carpenter grins. "I believe that's most of being a hero. Instinct. And luck. Or if you're lucky, like most of these folks, you get powers too." He points with a thumb toward the group.

"Technically I got powers but they don't help once the fur starts flying," Rangel says. "I make arrows go into things real good. Glad I didn't need to put an arrow in you today. I like you. You brought Doug to us."

Chyoode smiles ruefully. "But I seem to have got unlucky on what power I got."

Sydney smiles ruefully. "But I seem to have got unlucky on what power I got."

Grimm smirks. "You should see the living blob guy. You'll count yourself lucky after that."

Rangel asks, "Can you do it again? If not then that's gonna get awkward."

Blok says, "Blok arrived on Earth with power to root myself to the ground."

Sydney nods. "Yeah. Heck, the first time I did it I jumped maybe 4 times before I figured out how /not/ to...."

Carpenter nods. "You've managed to keep from doing so since hte first time?"

"Mostly. Once I did it again when I got a really nasty fright, but I switched back again immediately."

"There's an allegory for repressed anger in there somewhere," Rangel muses aloud.

Carpenter nods again. "I do highly recommend talking to a counselor if you haven't done so. I think it'll help."

Sydney nods. "Yeah, probably. But better still would be to find a way I can actually use these powers usefully!"

Carpenter nods. "They can probably help with that, too. I'm sure Starguard could help. I can't speak for them, but they have what...three members here now?" He looks to the others to see what they think.

Lady Winters says, "Come to Harrisberg and talk to me."

"Like you just did," Rangel nods. "If you can do that reliably, you've got yourself a method. Just need a catchy name and some good press. I'll be surprised and probably ask you to pick a new one if you go with Rangel, but the choice is yours."

Grimm nods. "Commander Perrault will help you. We've got resources. You'll get to be a hero," she grins.

Blok says, "Friend Dorian has been most helpful to Blok. He will help you, too."

Sydney nods. She seems rather calmer now; likely just having someone to talk to too has helped. "Thanks." And sigh. "Ok then. Let's go give this creep his body back."

"And definitely not see how far I can put an arrow into its butt from a half mile when we do," Rangel adds.

Blok says, "Does swapping requires skin contact?"