Log:General Hammer, Scene 1

General Hammer 2014/03/04 	 Suzume Rae Sibusiso General Jack Hammer Chen Mirage Sasha

1

Champions Mush - Tuesday, March 04, 2014, 12:23 PM

Newtown

''A seemingly endless grid of primary roads, with some services, and quiet roads of middle-income houses and lawns: this is Newtown, or the Western Sprawl, as it is often known. Founded in the 2020s, in the backlash to the alien mania following first contact, it is an assertion of all that is human, mundane and boring, juxtaposed with the Alien District and those two periods were in history.''

''Newtown is not all uniform; styles of house show the expansion of city like the rings of a tree, and the neighboring districts too have their influence: the poverty of Harrisburg has seeped into the north as wealth has crept into the south and the students have invaded the northeast. Only the Alien District has failed to leave its mark.''

Suzume has just started chatting with Rae, who is sitting on a bench.

Suzume

''A short (140cm), rather cute, young japanese woman, well proportioned despite her lack of height. She has big expressive brown eyes, and long jet-black hair in a hime cut. She's dressed in fashionable clothes that emphasize her cuteness. She has a silver band mounted with finely cut rubies on her left ring finger. ''

Rae looks up and shakes her head, "Not really, are you looking for something though?" she asks, she is always willing to help people.

Rae

''This young woman looks to be in her late teens. She has lightly tanned skin that shows off her lithe muscles. She stands just over five and a half feet in height. Long blonde hair reaches down to the middle of her back, a few silvery white streaks run through it as well. Two pale blue eyes dart about to take in her surroundings. Her curves are sharp and angular giving her a carved like beauty.''

''A pair of white leather pants wrap around her legs and fit snugly. White sneakers adorn her feet. A white turtleneck top with a white leather jacket cover most her upper body. She appears to be wearing gloves as well. There is no visible skin except for a little at her neck and her face.''

Suzume smiles, "I'm looking at places to buy a home, so I was wonderin what you thought of this area."

Rae nods and then smiles, "Oh it is a quieter neighborhood. I tend to come here when I need some quiet time, at least I think it is, maybe its just when I come here." she giggles and then shakes her head a bit.

Sibusiso patrols the area in a manner that looks to the casual observer (or even a careful observer) like she is going for a lunchtime stroll. Her hands are stuffed in the pockets of her leathery coat and her head is tilted back a bit to capture the chilly sunshine.

Sibusiso

''Fit, beautiful, and over six feet tall, the woman before you does not blend into crowds. Her coffee colored skin is smooth and even despite her age. Her hair is graying black, relaxed, and worn in a shoulder length braid. The irises of her eyes are deep brown, almost black, with laugh lines at the corners. But more than any single detail, an aura of quiet competence and confidence hangs around her like a cloak.

''Sibusiso is dressed today in a fitted double-breasted leather jacket that hangs to the top of her thighs and patterned burgundy velour slacks that show off her shapely legs without being snug. Black boots peak from beneath the slacks. If she is wearing a camisole under the jacket, it is not visible.''

Suzume nods, "Thanks! I'll be getting married soon, and I'd like to find a nice quiet place to start a family. Do you know if many super-villains attack this area, compared to the rest of the city?"

Rae blinks a little, "Oh well congratulations." she says softly, and then looks down for a moment and then looks up, "I don't know, I have a public identity so I get attacked sometimes in all sorts of places, but then again at times they stay away."

Sibusiso pauses and kneels down to fiddle with her boot, trying to be unobtrusive as she eavesdrops on what is, in essence, a performance report of her work.

Suzume smiles, "Thanks you!" She nods again, "I didn't find many reports in the news archives, but not everything gets reported. It's good to get an actual superhero's take on it!"

Rae nods and shakes her head, "Not sure am that much of a hero, I just try to help out when I can." she says and shrugs a bit.

Suzume giggles, "Don't be so modest! I know your were instrumental in saving Starguard HQ from that madwoman's robot army a while ago."

Sibusiso straightens and drops the pretense of not listening in. "I'm certain there is less villain activity out in the country, but the advantage of living in the city is that if something *does* happen, there are also people on hand willing and ready to help."

Rae flushes just a bit and then looks up and nods, "there are people around." she says softly and then nods, "Sometimes it can be hard to find a good place, or where one fits in."

Suzume glances over at Sibusiso, as if noticing her for the first time, "Hi S'bu~!" She smiles softly at Rae, "Once I have my place, you're welcome to stop by any time! Kotone and I would love to have you." She giggles, "As a guest, as a guest! We're not poly!"

Sibusiso smirks, and says to Suzume, "I recognize the enthusiasm, if not the outfit. Or at least I think I do. We have met, I assume?"

Rae blinks and flushes a bit, "Thanks for the offer, um I don't hang around couples often." she shakes her head and looks down a bit. She looks over at Sibusiso for a moment and then back to Suzume.

Sibusiso says, "Perhaps afraid that the couple will try to set you up?"

Rae shakes her head, "Not exactly. Dates don't work out well for me."

Sibusiso says, "Why not? You look like the definition of what a lot of guys go for. All I get are fetishists."

Suzume grins at S'bu, "Could be, could be." She nods, a bit sadly, at Rae, "I'm sorry, I should have realized it might be hard for you."

Rae shakes her head at Sibusiso, "First is the fact that I am a hero turns some off, others I am just a point of conquest. Then the other thing..." she holds up her hand and the air around it gets a little frosty and then it fades. "I am too cold for most." she shakes her head, "Have had a series of one that haven't worked out."

Sibusiso pretends to pout unconvincingly and says to Suzume, "Fine. Don't tell me." To Rae she then smirks, "You do realize the pool of hunky, extra-durable guys is larger in this town than in most. Right? Or is your preference guys?"

Suzume bops S'bu in the arm, "S'bu is pretty durable, and durably pretty!"

Rae cocks her head to the side, "Yeah I have tried that." she says and shakes her head, "Most of the super...guys are hooked up." she then does blush quite deeply at the question about preference being guys. She goes even a little more at Suzume mentions Sibusiso.

If Sibusiso felt Suzume's bop on her arm, she doesn't show any indication. "I'm too old to be chasing guys," she says "... or girls for that matter."

Suzume giggles, "Too old to be chased?" She grins wickedly at Rae, "You know, with your pale skin, when you blush it's really obvious, and really, really cute~!"

Rae shakes her head a bit and stays just a little embaressed though she does peek up at the two.

Sibusiso moves a bit so that she is looming over the other two a little less, then decides to sit down on the bench instead, giving the current occupant plenty of room.

Suzume giggles, "Sorry, sorry~! Sometimes I get carried away teasing people. Can you forgive me?"

Rae shakes her head, "Its not your fault." she says softly and then she looks over at Sibusiso for a moment and then takes a breath to clear and sits up a little straighter.

Just then, a superhero in classic black and red spandex and cape lands in front of the trio. He is about five foot ten with the kind of extra-padded muscular build found on ex-athletes. His ash blonde hair is 1980's rock-star long. He flips his hair out of his eyes, places fists on both hips and treats all three ladies to his best smile. His teeth are very white.

"Hello ladies," the new hero says, then pauses for a reaction.

Suzume claps her hands together, "Oh my~! One of Colonial Bay's famous superheroes~!"

Rae blinks and jumps a bit at the appearance and the air around her drops in temperature. It fades as she realizes and she relaxes.

The hero smiles even wider at Suzume's reaction and gives her a good view of his red boots, black tights, black-belted red (outside the tights) briefs, black long-sleeve shirt and ankle-length red cape. A white circle on his chest bears the stylized black image of a pneumatic hammer.

He shivers at the sudden change in temperature, but passes it off as an errant breeze. He says, "Yes! I am a *new* hero. But you ladies can can call me Jack."

Sibusiso tries and fails to keep a straight face, but she does manage to stay silent. The corners of her eyes twinkling with mirth.

Suzume's eyes go wide, "Oh~! You're so amazing Mr. Hammer!"

Rae blinks and then shakes her head a bit and smiles, "Hi." she says and then looks over at Sibusiso and then back between the three.

Jack purrs, "It's *General* Hammer, but as I said, call me Jack."

Suzume bobs her head up and down by way of apology, "Oh, my mistake! So you're an all-purpose hammer?"

Sibusiso leans forward, her head between her knees and her hair falling over her face. She still manages to keep quiet, but it is an effort.

General Hammer says, "Is your friend all right?"

Suzume whispers, "It's that time of month, you know how it is."

Sibusiso starts gasping for air, her chest heaving with effort.

Rae does stand from the bench and stretches a little. She chuckles just a little.

Jack pulls several home-made business cards out of his waistband. "Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you lovely ladies," he says as he offers them.

Sibusiso sits up, a little more composed (but her eyes watery) and says, "No thanks. I'm good."

Suzume takes one with both hands and takes a moment to read it, "So what sort of powers do you have, General Hammer~?"

The card bears the same logo as Jack's shirt, says GENERAL JACK HAMMER in blocky capitol letters and has a web address under the name.

Rae takes a card and puts it in her pocket and dips her head politely.

General Hammer says, "I have a huge array of powers. I can fly. I'm strong. Tough." He pauses, drops down a half octave and waggling an eyebrow says, "Naturally good looking." Then in a normal voice says 'Lazer vision, regeneration, astral projection ... my powers are increasing daily." He pauses again and says "Huh. I think I feel a new one coming on."

Suzume steps back, "That's amazing~! Really amazing~!"

Jack holds out his hand and a small snowball forms in his palm. With an apologetic embarrassed smile he says, "Some of my powers are lame-er than others." He shrugs and drops the slightly slushy snowball on the pavement with a wet little splash then looks around for something to dry his wet palm on.

Sibusiso takes a couple steps back from Jack then says, "Interesting. I think Colonial Bay is going to be quite an experience for you."

Jack holds out his hand and a small snowball forms in his palm. With an apologetic embarrased smile he says, "Some of my powers are lame-er than others." He shrugs and drops the slightly slushy snowball on the pavement with a wet little splash then looks around for something to dry his wet palm on.

Sibusiso takes a couple steps back from Jack then says, "Interesting. I think Colonial Bay is going to be quite an experience for you."

Suzume blinks, "Ohhhhh! Do you buy chance copy the powers of people around you?"

Jack says, "Where would you get that idea?"

Suzume hmmsz, "Ah, well, you happen to be standing near a superheroine with ice powers, so it seemed and obvious connection."

Sibusiso looks to Suzume and shakes her head slightly, frowning.

Jack says to Suzume as Rae walks away, "You do? Awesome! Then we really should hook up. ... to compare notes and whatnot."

Suzume eyes widen in shock, "Oh~! Not me, the pale girl who was just here! I'm just an ordinary girl. There's nothing special about me~!"

Mirage strolls down the street, idly twirling a ruby tipped cane as he does so. As he sees the gathering of heroes, Mirage tips his hat in a greeting to them with his free hand, stopping the cane twirling for the moment. Or at least, a gathering with a hero there.

Sibusiso face-palms.

Chen pads along the sidewalk as a pink and black panda carrying a brown paper bag in its teeth.

Jack frowns as the two new heroes approach. "I think I feel a headache coming on," he mumbles as he pinches the bridge of his nose.

Mirage offers Jack an icepack. Where he got it is unknown, since he doesn't seem to have anywhere to hide those items... Mirage peers curiously at Chen as they approach.

Suzume says, "Oh~! but this would be a good test, too see if you manifest new powers!"

Jack's features blur as if his skin suddenly turned to clay for a moment. Ignoring the offered ice pack, he stumbles back away from everybody else. "I think I have to go," he says.

The panda pads over to the group and drops the bag on the ground, "Hi. something happening?" it says in a girl's accented and hopeful voice, the toneal accents suggesting a native chinese speaker.

Jack takes to the air and flies away, his top speed only about 30 mph.

Sibusiso says, "My guess would be overload."

Mirage blinks for a moment in confusion. He shrugs, the icepack dissolving into a black mist. His cane does likewise, as he looks over to the talking panda. "Shapeshifter of some sort?" he guesses.

Suzume says, "Involuntary power mimic, I think."

Suzume's phone chirps, "Ah! Darn! I have an appointment. It was good seeing you again S'bu! Everyone!"

Sibusiso picks up another on Jack's waistband crumpled business cards where he dropped it on the ground and offers it to Chen and Mirage. "Anybody know somebody that can help him? For his own good, I think I need to stay as far away from him as possible."

The panda laughs, "This is Colonial Bay. A shifter is much more likely than a talking panda, don't you think?" it says. "Anyway, what's happening?"

Mirage takes a card, peering at it. "If he's a power mimic, I'd think it best if I stay away from him too," he admits. He sets the card on the bench, and shrugs at the panda. "Just got here."

The card bears the same logo as Jack's shirt (a stylized pneumatic hammer), says GENERAL JACK HAMMER in blocky capitol letters and has a web address under the name.

Sibusiso says, "New hero in town. I think he expected us to be impressed by his ..." dropping her voice in an imitation of Jack "Natural good looks.""

Mirage quirks a brow at Sibusiso. "Isn't that one of the most common superpowers here?" he comments to Sibusiso. "The 'naturally good looks' thing. Heck, there's some superheroes who's whole thing is being supernaturally attractive."

Chen picks up the bag and transforms to an ancient looking Shaolin monk, white beard down to his knees, leaning on a bamboo staff. "A power mimic?" the monk asks in a thin wavering voice.

Sibusiso says, "He *wasn't* that good looking"

Mirage hmms slightly at Chen changing appearance suddenly. "Impressive," he notes briefly towards Chen, leaning back. A lamppost for him to lean on suddenly springs up behind him, being pulled seemingly out of his own shadow. "Haven't seen many other shapeshifters."

[To Mirage] Sibusiso says, "If they didn't want you to, how would you know if you had?"

Chen reaches out with the bamboo staff and tries to lightly tap the lamppost to determine if it's an illusion on not.

Sasha walks down the stairs from the maglev station with a black overcoat draped over his usual attire due to the cold. His skateboard is strapped to his ever present messenger bag. The youth lights up a cigarette as soon as he steps off the stairs.

Mirage seems to be leaning on a real lamppost. The lamppost suddenly shifts to a red staff, as Mirage shifts into a large robed monkey, looking like Sun Wukong. He tries to swiftly take the bamboo staff out of Chen's hands with his new tail, which also definitely feels real.

Sibusiso frowns. "In the fan fiction, you two start wrestling and merge into one creature with features of both. I don't know how possible that is ... or how likely."

Chen laughs and tries to counter Mirage's action, twisting the staff in an attempt to free it from the tail.

Sasha blinks at the sight of a Chinese monk and Sun Wukong then takes a long look at the cigarette he is holding. With a slight smile and a shrug, Sasha begins to walk towards the odd grouping.

Sibusiso steps back a couple paces to give the kids room. As Sasha approaches, she says conversationally, "After a while, do you just get numb to it all?"

Mirage erks at the sudden twisting of the staff, not quite expecting that. The staff comes loose... along with the tail, which quickly darkens into a black liquid material which then evaporates. He quickly shifts back to his usual form, staff evaporating in the same way.

Chen morphs into a young Chinese girl after the 'tail' comes off Mirage. "I haven't hurt you have I?" she asks quickly in a worried tone.

Sasha murmurs to Sibusiso. "Oh, you are seeing it as well." He laughs. "Well, good. I thought I had lit up the wrong fag. And yes, to some degree. But then I am jaded I suppose being a fanboy and all."

Sibusiso nods to Sasha. "Well, you can add another one to your list then: General Hammer, I believe he is calling himself."

Sasha raises an eyebrow as he says with mild excitement. "Is that a new hero in town, mam'selle?"

Sasha adds after a beat. "And does he have a sidekick named Sergeant Sickle?" The youth grins.

Mirage shakes his head at Sasha. "So far it seems impossible to kill me or even seriously hurt me, so no. Just not used to tails," he notes to Chen. "Admittedly should practice more with shapeshifting."

Chen smiles in relief. "You had me worried when your tail came off, mister. Your shifting is pretty good though." Turning the Sasha, "Hadn't seen you for a long time. Have you seen Trick recently? Is he doing alright at that school?"

Sibusiso reaches over and plucks a crumpled business card off a bench and offers it to Sasha. "Be careful what you do with that," she advises. "He forgot to include a pocket in his costume and had that in his waistband."

Sasha sighs dramatically but with that same grin on his face. He murmurs in his thick Russian accent, "Ah, pity. I feel Russian metas are woefully underrepresented in the city." He then respnds to Chen. "I have not seen him, no. But I have talked to him. He complains about the schoolwork, but likes his new friends."

Sasha looks at the business card then hands it back to Sibusiso. "I will have to look at his site."

Mirage nods at Chen. "Well... shapeshifting is kind of core to what I do. Natural weapons are useful." Shadows shift around him again, shifting into a werewolf with black fur this time. And very sharp teeth, and claws. He growls, "Useful for both combat and deception."

Sasha blinks at the werewolf transformation and takes a slow step back.

Sibusiso shakes her head and does not take the card back. "I think it best if I stay away from him." Turning back to the twins, she scolds, "You do realize that of all powers shapeshifters are second only to mentalists in generating fear the general populace. Tone it down."

Chen extends a arm and tentatively touches the tip of a fang if Mirage allows. "That's neat. I can't do sharp like your teeth." She morphs her arm and hand into a sword. "It looks sharp but if you feel it there's no edge. How do you manage?"

Sasha murmurs to Sibusiso. "I am fine, mam'selle. Just a slight fear of wolves. I actually find shapeshifters fascinating."

[To Sasha] Sibusiso says, "Thanks, but I don't know if self-admitted fanboys count as general populace where powers are concerned. My point still stands."

Mirage blinks, freezing as the fang is touched. Definitely sharp. He touches the sword, hmmming, before briefly shifting into a samurai with katana. He brings the sword up for Chen to feel it, glancing at Sibusiso. "I'll... stay away from monstrous forms for the time being." He then turns towards Chen, shrugging. "Dunno, just seems natural for me. Might be because I have no natural form? All I do is conjure some sort of shadow matter, then shape and control it. That's all my body is made of, thus the shapeshifting."

Chen listens to Mirage, "I don't have a natural form either. Not really. I have this form which I use most often but as far as a natural form goes, this is it." She says, and sinks down into a shapeless puddle of goop for a few seconds, before returning to her previous shape.

Sasha cocks his head to one side as he watches the shapeshifters. He slowly smokes as his eyes drift over the two metamorphs.

Sibusiso also watches the pair, but her expression is worried.

[To Sibusiso] Sasha murmurs, "This is actually really, hmm, cool. Good thing the weather is keeping people in."

Mirage hmmms a bit as he sees it, lowering the katana for now. "I... see. Maybe it's just because you can't really make something hard biologically like that? Uh. Or not enough fine control for an edge," he ponders. "I didn't really study much biology, as my powers aren't really related to it..."

Sibusiso raises her voice just a touch, "Hey guys!" she says. "Care to demonstrate something for me?"

Chen turns her head, "Sure." she says impetuously without waiting to hear what.

It does seem that the youth is correct: no one seems to paying much attention to this unusual grouping.

Mirage glances at Sibusiso. "Hmmm? What in particular?" he says, still looking like the samurai. He lets the katana evaporate into nothingness for now, though.

Sibusiso says, "Let me see if you can imitate me."

Chen laughs, "That's easy." she says, and an instant later there's a second Sibusuiso standing in the street. "Hows this?" she asks in a perfect copy of Sibusiso's own voice.

Mirage shrugs, and quickly shifts into a copy of Sibusiso! ...well, almost copy. "...getting details is a little more troublesome," Mirage notes, in an almost exact copy of her voice too. The gender's at least right, though...

Sasha quirks a grin. "I am not certain the world is ready for such hotness," he murmurs.

Sibusiso nods. Still frowning, the older woman says, "Next time you guys are at the library, look up the incubus rape defense. It is an unfortunate fact of history. ... It goes like this: a woman accuses a prominent man of rape. The man says, 'I didn't do it, it was a shapeshifting incubus demon.' Since demons cannot touch good christian woman, the *victim* must thus be a witch so is burned at the stake. It happened."

Chen reverts to her most usual form with a look of horror on her face, "That's disgusting. It.. It really happened?"

Mirage shifts back to his 'normal' form, commenting, "I have absolutely no plans whatsoever of doing that."

Sibusiso says, "I grew up in Zu, where the color of one's skin still matters despite the abolishment of some laws. Japanese people, for example used to be 'honorary white' because Colored people, including Chinese, couldn't live in certain places or do certain things by law. There are *no* shapeshifters living in Zu."

Sasha looks over at Sibusiso. "How would people know if a shapeshifter is hiding among them?"

Sibusiso smiles, "They would be showing off on street corners. It is only natural to show off when you have powers."

Chen grins, "Like me, you mean. Yeah, I show off. But I've got nothing to fear. I can't be harmed, not permanently. If a shifter was scared of being found out she wouldn't use her ability."

Sasha starts to speak, then apparently changes his mind.

Sibusiso sighs and nods, "But this isn't Zu. Sorry if I am projecting the fears of another place and time on you."

Mirage comments, "I'm kind of with her," pointing to Chen. "I've been hit by a several story tall dragon before, and emerged completely unharmed."

Chen turns to Mirage, "Can you do big?" she asks, and grows to twelve feet high.

Sasha nods slightly. "It is okay, mam'selle. Fears follow us all the time. Or so my Baba always said."

Mirage shifts into a large black dragon of similar size. He lays down on all fours, nodding his now draconic head at Chen. Puffing a bit of black smoke into the air afterwards.

Sasha blinks at the dragon.

Sibusiso tries to relax and asks, "Are either of you stronger at that size?"

Chen grins and bows to Mirage, returns to her usual size. Turning to face Sibusiso she asks, "You don't like Zu?"

Chen shakes her head, "Not me. When I do big I have to hollow myself out. There's only so much of me. The bigger I get the weaker I am."

Mirage nods at Sibusiso. "Harder to hurt, too," he growls in a draconic voice. "More 'matter' in my form." He then shifts back shortly after, flexing his hand afterward. "Still feels weird, though."

Sibusiso says, "I love Zu. It is my home. But it is a bit like talking about family. Not perfect no matter what we feel." She shrugs and adds, as much to herself as anything, "Hakuna Matata.""

Chen picks up her paper bag, "It's been fun showing off. But I need to finish making deliveries. Maybe I'll see you around."

Mirage waves to Chen. "See you later, then."

Sibusiso says, "I think that is my queue to go too. Thank you for putting up with an old woman"