Log:While You Were Out, Scene 1

While You Were Out 2009/09/23 	 Imaginary Girl Jade Jennifer Jessica Rakshasa Titan 1

From: Alex Winters 

To: Jade Ashcroft 

Subject: While I'm Away...

I'm going to be in Shanghai for a few days, and with Janet in Washington D.C., I'm leaving you in charge of the scientific matters at Transmat XD. There should only be about three things to worry about:

1) We'll be testing out a new sustained interdimensional gate protocol -- I like to call it the Looking Glass. We've developed a high strength electromagnetic force field to protect the gate -- the added protection should allow us to leave the gate open longer when we send through the probe. We'll test with our next probe: Earth-317.

2) We have an job candidate coming in. His name is Malcolm Dace. Talk to him and find out if he's as sharp as his resume says he is. You'll find the resume attached. He's from Lord Markham's School too -- do you know him? He's signed a non-disclosure agreement, but still, under no circumstances should he be allowed to see the Riftgate, or any other sensitive parts of the building.

3) Jennifer Markham will be stopping in. I believe she has some questions for Jon Masters. Jennifer's a good friend -- I'd appreciate it if you could give her whatever she needs.

Jade frowns as she reads her briefing. Notably point 2.

Into the place flies Imaginary Girl. Her feet touch the floor lightly, and she smiles on seeing a familiar face, offering a wave of greeting. "Heya, Jade! How're you?", she chirps.

Jennifer and jessica slam the door open, not with full strength but enough, in her continuing anger, to rattle the door in the frame. Jessica stops just inside the foyer with her back to the exterior wall. Jennifer strides across to the receptionist's desk. "I'm here to talk to Jon Masters. No I don't have an appointment. But either he talks to me or he has me thrown out. And frankly I don't think you have anyone around who can throw me out."

The reception area has muted black tiled floor, with the walls and roof painted off-white. The secretarial desk enclosure is barely twenty feet from the double set of glass doors leading in from the street. To its left is a large double-hinged door labeled Commander RG-1 and, ominously, underneath that Security. A seating area full of soft couches is to the right. Down the hallway that leads deeper into the building is are the offices of the Research Director and Executive Director. The direct elevator to the landing field on the sixth floor half roof is at the end of this hallway.

Jade says, "Oh-hi-Imaginary-Girl what-are-you-doing-here?" She frowns at the twins entrance. "Jenn, Jess? Calm-down what's-this-all-about?"

Titan was out on the street, in his 'civilian' clothes as he saw the twins storm into the building. He follows curious, poking his head inside.

Imaginary Girl actually /jumps/, startled, at the slamming open of the door. "Uhm... hi...?", she says to Jennifer and Jessica, waggling fingers at them, her smile a little bit 'faded' from its usual 'bright and happy' look. She opens her mouth to say something else, but Jade asks the question of the moment well enough, so she closes her lips on her words.

Lightray looks over when the door slams open away from the display talking about the tech. He stays where he is, but eavesdrops shamelessly.

Jessica looks over to Jade, "Someone wants Jon Master's dead. And they went extra-dimension and picked up a pair of my alter-egos to do the job."

Rakshasa saunters in through the now open door and starts poking around. She picks up an odd device and sniffs it speculatively.

The girl behind the reception desk blanches a little, upon the twins' entrance. "He-he's very busy right now... c-can I pass along a m-message?"

Jade nods: it's a good response, good enough to call through to Jon Masters, if he's answering.

Jennifer nods, "Yes. Get his butt out here or I go to find him. His choice. But he'd better not waste a lot of time making the decision."

Lightray frowns slightly as Jessica speaks and puts down a pamphlet he was holding. He moves closer to Jade and the twins. "Are you certain they were extradimensional, Ms Markham?"

Imaginary Girl pouts, putting he rhands on her hips. "That's not nice!", she says, in response to the twins' explanation of what's going on. Then, turning to Lightray, she says, "They sure are! I helped fight them!"

Jon answers Jade's call. "Hey. What is it?"

Rakshasa thinks. o O (Maybe she's quadruplets?)

Jessica nods, being a little bit more civilto Lightray, "They were close enough we were mind-linked. If they hadn't come from extra-dimensional I would have 'felt' them years ago."

Imaginary Girl gets a confused look on her face. "Oh! Yeah... /that's/ what 'extradimensional' means!", she says, slapping herself on the forehead.

Jade says, "Hey the-Markham-twins-are-here they-say-someone's-trying-to-kill-you-and-sent-a-pair-of-her-doppels-to-do-the-job and-they're-insistent-on-seeing-you-right-away"

Jade watches the twins closely. She wants to make darn sure these are the Markham twins-1 and not doppels themselves.

"Wait... what? Slow down..." Jon says. After a short pause, he says, "Hold on, I'll be right out..."

Titan speaks up finally from where he's standing by the door. "You know...being so insistent on seeing him when versions of you want to kill him might look...suspicious."

Jade says, "Mr-Masters-will-be-right-out Now-why-didn't-you-just-ask?"

Rakshasa snickers, "They'd have to be real idiots to try while I was here. Oh and the rest of yyou too, I guess."

The receptionist eyes Jennifer and Jessica a little warily, but she turns to the others. "Can I get you folks anything? Coffee?"

Jennifer looks at Titan. Nods after a moment. "Yeah. Maybe you're right. Being mind-linked to my alter-sisters when they died might just have impaired my judgement a little. It's certainly shortened my patience."

Imaginary Girl smiles brightly at the offer of coffee. "Oooh!", she says, lifting her feet off the floor as she starts to just float in place. "What flavors do you guys have, or is it just regular stuff?", she asks of the receptionist.

Titan nods. "It's understandable. It forced you to confront your own mortality. After all, it's almost like you died yourself."

Jade grins, tries to defuse the situation a bit. "Yeah-you're-making-me-look-patient just-take-it-slowly-I'm-sure-Jon-is-as-concerned-about-this-as-you!"

Jessica says, "Half of me did."

Lightray listens to the various interplay then murmurs to Jessica and Jennifer, "My condolences, Ms Markhams."

Jade wonders privately if the twins should see a meta-psychiatrist. People dying while in mental contact has been known to cause major problems....

"We've got this Dutch Blend..." the reception says heading to the receptionist. "It's ok, not as good as the donut place on the corner, though."

Jennifer stands at thedesk tapping her fingers on the surface... making slight indentations on the wood.

Imaginary Girl floats over to the receptionist's desk, nodding her head. "Can you put plenty of cream and sugar in it for me, please?", she asks, sounding for all the world as if she's an eight-year old getting a treat!

Rakshasa perks up, "Ooh Free coffee."

Jade feels awkward. Dealing with upset people isn't her forte. She can't even join them in coffee.

Titan watches the others heading toward the coffee, and then turns back to regard the twins some more, keeping at a safe distance. It's obvious he's trying to evaluate their current state of mind. He's not terribly subtle about it. But then again, little that he does is 'subtle'.

The twins are quite obviouslytense, irritable, and impatient. On the edge would be the first impression.

The front door swings and in walks Malcolm Dace. The teenaged prodigy is dressed in a black turtleneck with a black blazer. Sneaker on his feet contrast with the rest of his outfit. "Hmm. Well, I certainly hope that all of you aren't here interviewing for the job." He smiles confidently.

Imaginary Girl turns around at the sound of someone else coming in. Seeing him smiling, she lifts a hand to wave, adding the happy chirp of, "Hi!", to the greeting.

Rakshasa gives the upstart teen her best "teacher glare"

Jade says, with sudden coolness (and an amazingly steady voice), "Mr Dace. You are here for the interview?"

The receptionist serves up coffee to Imaginary Girl (with plenty of cream and sugar) and to Rakshasa.

Jennifer and Jessica frown on seeing Malcolm Dace walk in. They were a lot younger when he saw them at the school, but people as smart as Malcolm can also be perceptive, and she doesn't want him to recognise her.

Lightray looks over at Jade then to Malcolm Dace. He smiles slightly for some reason then steps a bit closer to the twins.

Titan glances to Malcolm, and just keeps out of the way, beside the door for the moment.

Malcolm seems largely immune to the teacher glare. He responds with a wave and a smile. "Imaginary Girl! Nice to finally meet you in person." He turns from person to person. "Titan. Lightray. Rakshasa." His brow crinkles a little as he spots the twins. He seems curious, and a little surprised. Finally, he responds to Jade. "Hello, Jade. Yes... I'm here to interview. Where's Alex? I thought that he'd be here to greet me."

Imaginary Girl oooh's and accepts the cup of coffee in both hands, lifting it for a sip - after which she makes a pleased "mmmmmm!" sound, of course. She smiles, again, at Malcom, and say. "Nice to meetcha, too!", she replies to him.

Lightray nods politely to Malcolm.

Finally, Jon Masters emerges from behind the security checkpoint. "Hey, what's going on...?" Seeing all the heroes, he's taken about for a moment, but then he quickly recovers, asking Jade, "What's the situation?"

Jade says, "I'm-afraid-he's-out-of-town-on-other-business so-you'll-have-to-put-up-with-me. I-suppose-I-shouldn't-be-surprised-to-see-you-applying-for-a-job-here it's-hardly-the-first-time-you've-copied-me. But never-mind-that now."

Jade says, "Ah-here-are-the-Markhams I'm-sure-they-can-explain-the-situation-better-than-I Mr-Dace-has-just-arrived-and-I-need-to-take-care-of-him."

Jennifer almost smirks for a moment at Jade's putdown of Malcolm. But then she sees Jon Masters. "You, Mr Masters, have an enemy who wants you dead. On your Shanghai visit."

Malcolm folds his arms. "Disappointing. He's the only one here capable of judging my credentials..."

Drinking her coffee, Imaginary Girl just floats there, near the receptionist's desk. While her coffee's got her quiet, for now, she's looking from person to person as she follows the conversation.

Jade says, "We'll-see-about-that-Mr-Dace." She smiles. "I-think-I'm-in-a-better-position-to-judge-than-he-on-certain-points. Would-you-like-some-coffee?"

Jon nods to Jennifer. "Perhaps we should talk in my office..." He looks over to Malcolm. "Welcome, Malcolm. I've afraid you've caught is in the middle of something it seems..." He walks over to shake the teenager's hand. "I hope that you don't mind waiting for a moment for us to sort things out?"

Lightray quietly listens to the various speakers, then murmurs, "Has Alex gone to Shanghai, Mr Masters? I ask since Jade mentioned he was out of town. And Jennifer had a visins a few days ago fo you being killed in China."

Titan furrows his brow as he watches Malcolm. He mutters to himself quietly, "What if...hmm."

Lightray takes a full recovery..then relzies he doesn't need it and puts it back.

Imaginary Girl takes another sip of her coffee. absently licking her lips afterwards.

Malcolm shakes Jon's hand. "I can wait. But don't wait too long though, or a certain tranportation in South America might snatch me up." He winks. To Jade: "Yes, I'll have some coffee. I could get used to you fetching me coffee."

Jon Masters looks to the gathered heroes. "My office is this way," he says, gesturing in the direction.

Jade rankles at that, not to mention the reference to the rival company. But she's not going to show open hostility with Masters here, so she goes to get the coffee.

Jennifer and Jessica start to move in the indicated direction, "Horatio's old office?"

Jade says, "Should-I-stay-with-Mr-Dace?"

Jon says to Jade. "No, come with us. Susan?" Jon turns to address the receptionist. "Can you watch after Malcolm while we sort this matter out? Thanks."

Lightray nods to Malcolm Dace. "A pleasure to meet you, Mr Dace." He then follows the others towards the office.

Jade follows Jon then, while doing a mental calculation of how long it would take Malcolmn to reach anything sensitive if he should be up to no good.

Titan shrugs a little bit, and follows the others toward the office.

The reception area has muted black tiled floor, with the walls and roof painted off-white. The secretarial desk enclosure is barely twenty feet from the double set of glass doors leading in from the street. To its left is a large double-hinged door labeled Commander RG-1 and, ominously, underneath that Security. A seating area full of soft couches is to the right. Down the hallway that leads deeper into the building is are the offices of the Research Director and Executive Director. The direct elevator to the landing field on the sixth floor half roof is at the end of this hallway.

This is a rather large office, with black carpeting, soft black leather couches, and a number of plush seats. The large cherry-wood desk has a 3' multifunction video display is mounted on the wall next to it, and a computer workstation is on top, next to a PDA data center. Despite the anachronism, the west wall is lined with bookcases full of real books. The collection is an impressive array including legal works, history, alien contact and speculation, strategy and tactics.

Jennifer enters from Reception Area.

Imaginary Girl enters from Reception Area.

Jade enters from Reception Area.

Lightray enters from Reception Area.

Jessica enters from Reception Area.

Rakshasa enters from Reception Area.

Still sipping at her coffee, Imaginary Girl floats along after the others. "Y'know... this is /really/ good coffee!", she comments, mostly directing her words at Lightray.

Jennifer looks around the office, "It's changed a bit."

Jade says to Masters as she goes through, "Sir, are you aware Malcom Dace is a potential security risk? Do you know he's a meta?"

Rakshasa flops down on the leather couch and lounges

Titan enters from Reception Area.

Lightray smiles gently at Imaginary Girl. "Well, I am certain this company can afford the best, my dear."

Jon walks into the room and settles down in a chair behind the desk. He looks around, after Jennifer's comment and nods. "I have had a few things moved in. Plesae, everyone have a seat."

Jennifer walks angrily back and forth in the office burning off her intense emotions as Jessica sits on a chair, right of the front edge with taut posture

Jade perches on a seat for a moment but is standing and pacing again in no time.

To Jade, Jon says, "No, I wasn't aware, but Alex assures me that the school he went to was excellent. I guess part of what I need is your take on him, so see if he'd be good for the company or not. But first things first." He turns to Jennifer. "Tell me again what's going on."

Imaginary Girl nods her head at Lightray's comment, floating on over towards the desk. She doesn't take a chair for herself, instead simply folding her legs up underneath herself so that she's sitting, cross-legged, in mid-air as she keeps floating in place. The coffee cup, now empty after her last sip from it, gets set down on the corner of the desk.

Lightray takes a seat and listens.

Jade can't sit still. Jennifer's news is serious, but at the same time she doesn't trust Malcolm an inch. She hope that they're keeping a close eye on him.

Jessica nods. "There was a plan to have you assassinated on your Shanghai trip. The assassins imported for the job were alternate dimensional versions of me. Close enough I was mind-linking with them when I was dreaming. We tracked them down. With close physical proximity the mind-link became full. Because alter-me couldn't keep any plans secret from me whoever it was behind the plot killed them."

Jon tries to absorb the news. "That's..." He swallows, and tries again. "I'm due to travel to Shanghai next month. Do you have any ideas of who would want me killed?"

Jon adds, "My trip there was supposed to be secret, so the fact that you know about it at all... well, it makes me all the more worried."

Rakshasa blinks, "Er. Now we all know about it. Including this kid here."

Jennifer says, "No. I don't know who wants you dead. And why they imported alter-dimensional assassins. If you want assassins there's plenty of high quality ones around without having to go off dimension. I can give you a half dozen names off the top of my head."

Titan rubs his chin, "Perhaps there's time travel involved, too."

Jade says, "It's-possible-the-person-who-wants-you-dead-is-also-from-another-dimension the-motive-could-be-connected-to-our-research-here."

Jade says, "And-parallel-events-could-give-insight-into-your-plans indeed-it's-conceivable-that-the-mastermind-is-a-doppel-of-yours though-that's-pure-speculation."

Jessica says, "Whoever it is they killed part of me. Part of my family. I want them. I want them real bad."

Jon stands up and sighs. "I wish I could help. As a company, we get threats and hate mail on a regular basis. Luddites, religious groups, crackpots... or technology seems to be a lightning rod for people with a mental imbalance and a pen.

Lightray murmurs, "How did your duplicates die, Jessica? That may narrow the field of suspects."

Jessica says, "They were training for the assassination in a copy of Steel's Gym's practice room. When we found it and went there, after it became obviously the alter-twins and I were mind-linked, someone set off demoltion charges and blew it up."

Jennifer says, "I.. I mean they... got caught in the explosions."

Jade says, "A-practice-room? That's-impressive-if-the-people-behind-if-are-from-another-dimension constructing-such-a-thing-here...."

Titan looks to Jon, "Perhaps you'd be willing to take meta bodyguards on the trip? I'm sure any number of us would do so, pro bono."

"Maybe they found a way to move whole places like that between dimensions? Maybe they just swapped out what was in that building in their world for what was in it in ours?", Imaginary Girl says, speaking up again after having been quitely listening for a while.

[To Imaginary Girl] Jade says, "Either-way-it-implies-impressive-resources."

Jessica comments, "They had duplicates of my equipment. My stuff. Not what I would have been using if I'd not changed course. They had some of the stuff, Jade, that Timmy made for my sisters and brothers."

Jon sighs. "I'm tempted to take you up on your offer Titan. Part of me would feel guilty through. Shanghai is halfway around the world, with no Transmat access. It would be terrible if something were to happen here while you were they, guarding me."

"I could go with you while Titan stays here", Imaginary Girl offers.

Jennifer points to Imaginary Girl, "So it takes six seconds for heroes to get back here instead of one."

Lightray murmurs gently. "Colonial bay has a plethora of protectors, Mr Masters. It will survive."

"Well... a little longer, if I don't wanna wreck everything around me when I take off, but yeah... /fast/", Imaginary Girl says, in reply to Jennifer's suggestion.

Titan grins, "Then take people who travel fast, like IG. Or those that can jump into orbit and use the rotation of the earth to their advantage to get back."

Jon nods, "Maybe I will accept the offer, then. This building, where they had the practice room... who owned it?"

Jennifer looks blank, "I never thought to check. I...well I haven't been tracking too clearly for the last week or so."

Jade says, "We-should-check-on-that-then where-was-it?"

Lightray looks over at Jennifer, then his gaze turns to Jessica. He does not speak though.

Jennifer looks to Imaginary Girl and Lightray, "You flew us all there. Where was the place?"

Titan raises a brow, looking to the twins. After all, that's not something they'd normally miss.

"It was in the hills outside the city", Imaginary Girl replies. "If someone's got a map, I can point out where...?"

Jade brings up a map for IG.

Jon nods and turns to Jade. "Maybe you can help them look into that. I'll give you my itinerary for China once it's final."

Jennifer says, "Mr Master, you may well get a lot of crank threats. But surely you know who your real enemies are. The people who are willing to kill. There can't be many with the ability to go grab extra-dimens."

Lightray thinks for a moment. "It was a building just past where the old Sylvanta mill was up in the hills."

Imaginary Girl points out an area on the map. "It was thereabouts", she says to Jade. "If there's good pictures from satellites to zoom in with, maybe we can find the building itself?", she posits.

Jade says, "Hm Leading-Edge-Experiments whowever-they-are a-privatrly-owned-company very-little-on-them."

"Yeah!", Imaginary Girl says as the image comes up. "That's it. See how it got all blown up after the fight?", she adds. "How's looking at a picture of it gonna help you figure out who owns it, though?", she asks of Jade.

Jon says to Jennifer, "The FBI maintains a file on the more credible threats. Still, I'm afraid that the worst people out there are the ones who give no warning."

Jennifer says, "I have access to theFBI database. Let's see what it says."

Lightray looks up at a corner of the room for a moment. "Whomever is behind this has the capability to traverse dimensions, an intimate knowledge of your future activities Mr Masters, and a great deal of resources. As well as an utter comtempt for hte lives of others."

Jessica gets out a secure PDA and starts searching.

Jennifer nods to Lightray, "That's the thing that bugs me. If you're going to know some top quality pros, which is more likely, to know home talent or know how to contact talent on some other dimension.

Titan says, "We shouldn't assume that the culprit is from this dimension, though. Unless we have proof of such."

Rakshasa hmms, "Maybe this other dimension is a little further ahead than ours. Like, maybe, amonth a head in time, in addition to being, like, a parallel dimension."

Jon says, "Thanks for your concern and your information Jennifer. I'm afraid that I must go attend to other matters right now." He looks to Jade. "I'll have a chat with Mr. Dace. When you get a chance, can you look in on the Looking Glass? I'm sure that the techs are eager to get a start on it."

Jennifer leans forward over the desk getting into Jon Masters face, "They're mine. You find out anything, you make sure I get told. This is family. It's personal."

Lightray looks over at Jon Masters. "Could this Looking Glass be something someone in another world would cosider a threat?"

Titan furrows his brow, "Miss Markham...why are you getting in his face? What good is that going to do? I'll be blunt. Knock it off." He shakes his head, and gets up, intending to head back out to the entrance area.

Jade nods. "I'll-get-right-on-that." She hesitates a fraction of a second. "Sir-Malcolm-and-I-went-to-the-same-school I'd-like-to-talk-to-you-before-you-make-any-decision-about-him."

Jon nods to Jennifer, unable to hide that her stance makes him a little uneasy. "Yes, of course. From what I understand my life is at risk too. I'll cooperate fully."

Imaginary Girl pouts as she remembers, thanks to the so-clear indication of it, about how tense Jennifer and Jessica are with all this. She doesn't interfere, though.

Jennifer spins around opening her mouth.. And then nods, Tutan, it's because I'm mad clear through and I don't have a legitimate target for it. So I'm picking on any one unfortunate to be in front of me." She looks back to Jon, "Mr Masters, I apologize."

"If you needa hit someone to vent, y'all can spar with me at the gym", Imaginary Girl offers to the twins. "If ya think it'll help ya calm down some."

Jon Masters sits back down in his chair. He sighs. "Apology accepted. It seems as though the circumstances have put you under a lot of stress..." He finally responds to Lightray. "Maybe I should let all of you see the Looking Glass. It's not much different from our current level of gateway technology. Of course, I must have your word not to let any information of what you've seen get out."

Jade says quietly to Jessica as she gets up, "You-know-there-could-be-psionic-trauma-as-well-as-psychological you'd-do-well-to-have-you-father-check-you-over."

Titan nods to Jennifer, though clearly a little surprised that he didn't become a target. He then looks to Jon, "If you think it would help, sir."

Imaginary Girl looks over at Jon and nods her head, making a 'zipper' motion across her lips, then using a finger to 'cross her heart'.

Jessica says, "Jade, that's a good idea."

Jon rises to his feet. "Jade, can you take them to see the gate? I'll talk to Malcolm, and I assure you that I won't make any decision before consulting with you first."

Lightray nods to Mr Masters as he stands. He murmurs to Jade, "How did Mr Dace know my name? Has he studied metahumans extensively?"

[To Lightray] Jade says, "I-wouldn't-say-*extensively*-but-he-is-a-metahuman-'expert'-on-Capes you-know the-TV-show."

"He oughta know better than that, then", Imaginary Girl says about whats-his-face using Lightray's name that way. Unfolding her legs from beneath herself, so that she's no longer 'sitting' in mid-air, she floats over to lay a hand on Lightray's shoulder.

Lightray hmms. "Ah, I will have to watch it sometime. Capes." He smiles up at Imaginary girl as she lays her hand on his shoulder.

Jon excuses himself and heads to catch up with Malcolm Dace.

Jade mutters to herself, "He-ought-to-know-better-than-many-things but-he-did-cheat-on-a-metahuman-ethics-esssay...."

[To Lightray] Jade says, "I-wouldn't-bother."

Jade says, "Well-then Looking-Glass..."

Titan nods. "Let's go take a look."

Jade nods and leads the way from the room.

This is a rather large office, with black carpeting, soft black leather couches, and a number of plush seats. The large cherry-wood desk has a 3' multifunction video display is mounted on the wall next to it, and a computer workstation is on top, next to a PDA data center. Despite the anachronism, the west wall is lined with bookcases full of real books. The collection is an impressive array including legal works, history, alien contact and speculation, strategy and tactics.

Lightray murmurs softly. "I wonder if we shall see Alice."

The reception area has muted black tiled floor, with the walls and roof painted off-white. The secretarial desk enclosure is barely twenty feet from the double set of glass doors leading in from the street. To its left is a large double-hinged door labeled Commander RG-1 and, ominously, underneath that Security. A seating area full of soft couches is to the right. Down the hallway that leads deeper into the building is are the offices of the Research Director and Executive Director. The direct elevator to the landing field on the sixth floor half roof is at the end of this hallway.

The walls, floor and ceiling of this chamber are constructed of the same shiny metal as the Security Area. The expense of entirely enclosing an area some twenty yards wide and the same distance deep, and fifteen feet high, with Questonite must have been considerable. Dominating the chamber is the Riftgate itself. The glittering black metallic ring is ten feet in diameter although the portal diameter itself is a mere eight feet across. There's a definite warping of local gravity which can be felt close to the Riftgate. When active the interior of the ring displays a shimmering silvery surface with rippling reflections.

On the left side of the chamber as you enter is the control console, several banks of electronics and optical computing systems, and a small but self contained cold fusion generator capable of powering the Riftgate independently of external power. At each corner of the chamber are ceiling mounted automatic weapons just in case something unwelcome comes through.

Rakshasa follows the others in, im her usual excessively casual manner

Lightray strolls into the room, bringing his wings close around his body as he enters. He galnces around as he enters curosity writtenon his features.

Titan walks in with the group, looking at the various parts of the room, having not been in here before.

Jade enter Riftgate Chamber after a quick wave of her security pass. "Looking Glass," she says. "Some of the delays in out research have been in getting this up and running...."

Imaginary Girl floats in along with eveyrone else, quietly.

Jennifer looks around curiously. She's never been in here before. OIt used to be the cells.

Jade says, "Oh - if-any-of-you-experience-any-sensory-loss-or-anything-like-that, tell-me-immediately. That-will-be-a-security-breach...."

Jessica is looking over at a side wall, "That was where Spitball was being held." she mutters to herself.

Titan raises a brow, "Sensory loss?"

For those who have been here before, the atmosphere is a bit more relaxed, when compared to the times that Janet is around. Music plays from a set of speakers as techs work on they consoles. "Hey, Jade! Just in time. We're just warming the gate up!"

Jade nods to Jessica, "He-told-me-about-that..." To Titan she says, "That's-part-of-Malcolm-Dace's-powers not-that-I'm-saying-he-would-do-such-a-thing," she adds unconvincingly.

One of the other techs comments, "One of the downsides of the new system: It takes forever to open and close the gate now. But once it's open we should be able to collect tons more data than before."

Jade says, "Hey! With-any-luck-we'll-be-getting-a-look-at-Earth-317-in-a-minute-folks (that's-a-recycled-index-number the-'original'-Earth-317-has-been-shown-to-have-been-a-hoax)."

Jade nods. "With-Looking-Glass-we-should-be-able-to-find-out-a-lot-more-before-sending-people-through," she explains.

Rakshasa becomes vaguely translucent as she demonstrates somewhat uncharacteristic caution and dematerializes

There's a lot of activity going on here as the techs call out their information: "Force field engaged. Layer 1 is operational. Layer 2... Layer 3... All three layers engaged." "Probe is ready." "Gate is coming online... now!"

The walls, floor and ceiling of this chamber are constructed of the same shiny metal as the Security Area. The expense of entirely enclosing an area some twenty yards wide and the same distance deep, and fifteen feet high, with Questonite must have been considerable. Dominating the chamber is the Riftgate itself. The glittering black metallic ring is ten feet in diameter although the portal diameter itself is a mere eight feet across. There's a definite warping of local gravity which can be felt close to the Riftgate. When active the interior of the ring displays a shimmering silvery surface with rippling reflections.

On the left side of the chamber as you enter is the control console, several banks of electronics and optical computing systems, and a small but self contained cold fusion generator capable of powering the Riftgate independently of external power. At each corner of the chamber are ceiling mounted automatic weapons just in case something unwelcome comes through.

"What's the Looking Glass stuff do? We can see through before going through, now?", Imaginary Girl asks, offering a guess of her own.

Rakshasa becomes vaguely translucent as she demonstrates somewhat uncharacteristic caution and dematerializes

Titan nods, watching. He's quite calm about it all. He keeps an eye on the gate, but says to Jade, "So, the prior 317 was a hoax? What was it?"

The gate is a shiny black ring about ten feet in diameter, with an opening 8 feet in size. The opening shimmers with a silvery reflective surface. Instead of remaining that way, it stops rippling and becomes still and soon everyone is able to see through to the other side...

Jade says, "You-know-I-actually-can't-remember. I-don't-know-everything-you-know."

The scene beyond the portal is of space -- Instead of a planet, its simply void and what looks to be an asteroid field. The force field about the gate protects the room from radiation and vaccuum. In the distance there are flashes of light.

Jade looks through, saying excitedly, "You-wouldn't-believe-the-calculations-involved-in-getting-three-stable-force-fields-in-close-proximity-to-a-rift." Her tone indicates pride in work that doubtless would sound dreadfully boring in detail. "Hm... or maybe not 'Earth'.

"Ooooh!", Imaginary Girl says, floating towards the ring to get a good look through. "Wow...", she comments, then asks, "I wonder what those flashes are?"

Jade grabs some sensor equipment and tries to get some readings on the flashes.

Lightray murmurs, "Yes, seems that this Earth never formed. Interesting." He looks over at Jade. "Does the probe comfirm the absence of a planet?"

"I could go through and look for myself, if y'all want?", Imaginary Girl offers. "Long's I have a way to get /back/ later..."

Rakshasa says, "Maybe someone blew up the Earth, and those are the flashes from the desperate space battles between the attackers and the rag-tag survivors of the Earth Defense Fleet?"

Jade says, "Imaginary Girl there-are-three-force-fields-between-you-and-the-gate!"

Special Defences:

--

Levels:

Perception: +5 with all sense groups

+2 vs Range Modifiers for Sight and Hearing groups

Normal Hearing is a Targeting Sense

Reputation: +1 to social tests and appropriate PRE-based skills

+1d6 to PRE attacks

Combat Skill: +1 OCV or DCV for Grab, Move-By, and Disarm maneuvers

"There are?", Imaginary Girl asks, looking around in the area in front of herself. "I don't see any...."

Titan shrugs a bit, "It does look like the planet was destroyed. But that's just a guess."

Jade says, "Spectrographic-analysis-shows-that-the-asteroids-are-fragments-of-an-earthlike-planet hm-almost-certainly-earth there-are-minerals-which-indicate-biological-activity-on-the-planet-in-the-past."

Titan mutters to himself, "Hmm. I wonder if I can survive in space. I mean...I've never tried, right?"

"Uhm... guys?", Imaginary Girl says, leaning forward to peer through the riftgate. "I see two big ships shooting at each other out there... and some gray-skinned guy with a beard fighting, too", she says, after a moment.

Jade says, "There's-a-grey-skinned-humanoid-with-a-beard-firing-energy-bolts, and-two-starships-fighting...."

Lightray blinks.

Rakshasa says, "Hah! I was right!"

Titan raises a brow, "Uh...huh. Can we tell who the humanoid is? I mean...who the counterpart here might be?"

[To Rakshasa] Jade says, "Right-about-what?"

[To Jade] Rakshasa says, "About someone blowing up the earth and the flashes being a space battle"

Jade says, "I-don't-recognise-him might-be-a-metahuman hard-to-say."

Jennifer doesn't know if it will work but pulls out her binoculars for another look.

"He sure looks like a meta from here", Imaginary Girl comments, still watching what she can see.

Suddenly a loud voice makes an announcement from outside the building. It must really be loud, to be heard from this far inside the structure. The voice says:

"ATTENTION TRANSMAT RESEARCH -- YOU HAVE BEEN JUDGED AND FOUND GUILTY - GUILTY OF CRIMES AGAINST EARTH. WE ARE HERE TO SERVE NOTICE, AND CARRY OUT PUNISHMENT ON BEHALF OF ALL EARTH-LOVING PEOPLE. WE ARE EARTH'S PROTECTORS, WE ARE THE ALLIED CHAMPIONS OF EARTH."

Jade says, "I-meant-in-the-propoer-sense-as-opposed-to-say-an-alien."

Jade swears, but fortunately to fast to be made out.

Lightray shakes his head and heads out to the front of the building as quickly as he can.

Rakshasa yawns, "You guys can stay here, I'll go take care of those ACEholes. I'll be back in under a minute."

Imaginary Girl spins around in the air at the loud voice, frowning. Indecision's clear on her face as she glances back through the riftgate at the battle taking place there.

Jade says, "Intiate-shutdown we-don't-want-to-take-any-chances-with-ACE-out-there."

"Initiating shutdown procedure!" one of the techs calls out.

Rakshasa drifts through the walls toward the source of the voice

Titan nods. "I guess we better hold off the ACE folks." He starts on his way out, trying to determine where it was coming from.

Jennifer says, "Let me know if you need any help. In the mood I'm in I might hurt some of those ACE people."

Imaginary Girl, as shutdown gets started, turns away from the gate and starts after the others heading out to deal with the ACE folks.

Jade says, "Well-we-know-Decibel-is-out-there-I-wonder-who-else?"

Jade goes to cycle through the security area.

Lightray smiles grimly. "Well, probably none of the members of RACE."

Jade says, "Don't-go-overboard-Jessica these-guys'-heads-are-pretty-broken-already!"

Jade says, "Decibel, Conviction, Crystal, Vector. Wonderful."