Log:Risky Intel

2019/10/18 Blok Rangel Quiet Griffin Copycat

1

Lien wanders into the lobby, slim gray daypack on her shoulders. One replete with hydration bladder and drink tube, it seems, as she sips from the bite-valve attached to the right shoulder strap. Nothing like the threat of an end of the world apocalyptic armageddon to bring a little excitement to life.

Copycat has had a terrible feeling in her gut since she saw the broadcast not long ago. She remembers the encounter with that particular Porter at the Transport Nexus some time back, when he was accompanied by Antigon and some type of energy being she didn't quite recognize. She managed to do something that day, something she hasn't dared to since. She gets a Terrible Idea (TM), and arranged to meet up with Griffin outside Starguard's steps without telling him about it until she could in person.

And so Copycat walks in alongside Griffin, full of nervous apprehensive energy, "...always one to five steps ahead of us. But I was thinking...if I could remember some of his past plans, maybe it'd give us some insight on what to do next. Or about some of his evil cohorts. Or-or-or...I dunno, a phobia? Something, -anything-, that we could use." She takes a deep breath. "I just need you. In case..."

Lien looks over at the entrance of the pink and gray pair, lifting a hand to give a brief, if friendly gesture of greeting; not exactly a wave, not quite a salute.

Go out, thwart looters, impose order on chaos, show off a bit, get touched by someone trying to get attention, object strongly, dip severely in mood, come back, shower, shower, shower, shower, shower, sleep. Back up again. Rangel starts the pulling on of gear as she rises in her little residential chamber in the barracks section, ready to face another day once she has the quiver strapped to her thigh, after taking stock and ensuring everything is in the amounts it should be. Pre-set arrows, 4/4/4 even split of bluntie, sharpie, "Aww I gotta come up with a name for them now..." Official name until that changes. The feline archer makes her way to reception, her mood significantly better than when she vanished.

"Awwwww what? Come on..." Rangel says to herself at the sight of Kat. She just assumes the little murderball launcher is here for another round. Because life does that to her. Makes sure she goes down, then just never lets up with the kicks. Good thing she saw the pinkhead first and not the other way around! Click! Rangel goes from feline archer to more generic Starguard archer! Maybe they're dull enough to not realize it's the same archer. So out comes a nondescript blonde woman wearing a Starguard standard issue bodysuit. Those aren't standard issue. Neither is the quiver.

Thankfully Griffin plays his reactions in real-time, far faster than most can keep up with. So his stoic nature is almost never questioned.

Still in his head the SuperSoldier protests loudly.

Griffin walks on quietly for a few steps more, allowing that initial wildfire of nopes to burn itself out.

He lets out a quiet sigh. "I'm not a fan of this idea at all, Kitten. But if you think you can handle this, I'll back your play." As if he could say anything different.

Copycat is completely unaware of the firestorm of NOPE in Griffin's head. He hides all of that well from her. She's also not at all sure she can handle this, which is why she's so anxious. She was only copying him for a scant few seconds, and already it was a lot for her. "I...I think I can. But! That's why we're here. I don't want to do this unless I'm in a cell. Just in case? I was only copying him for a short while before he knocked---um." She left almost all the details out concerning the encounter, save to say she was there when Portennant caused an in-flight plane's engine's to blow just by looking at them.

"O-oh look, there's--" A distraction? "--Lien!" Copycat very obviously diverts the conversation.

Griffin keeps stride and stands a bit taller hearing Kat is uncertain but dedicated to the idea enough to risk it. "Well then I guess that'll be enough then. I'll make sure you stay focused- so there will be nothing for you to be worried about. We've got this." He says, reaching around to squeeze her shoulder gently and lovingly.

He senses Rangel long before he spots her with his eyes. She stands out in the area being sheathed as she is in photonic energy.

When she comes into his line of sight he notes her and makes sure to keep an eye on her- especially with Kat around.

He spots Lien and gives her wave too which is cut off halfway through. He turns and looks at Kat quizzically, narrowing his eyes for a brief second before turning back to Lien & the holographed woman.

Copycat feels an inner strength as Griffin gives her his support and the hug, smiling smittenly to herself. She'll try and focus on that feeling to help bring her back if needed. She blinks up innocently at Griffin as he narrows his eyes at her suspiciously. She purses her lips lightly and fidgets a little, index fingers pressing together and apart a few times in a look of pure guilt. Under her breath, very fast--but not anywhere fast enough for the super soldider--she confesses, "...before he knocked me out..."

Lien quirks a brow at Kat, who looks even more anxious than usual, the query carrying to Griffin, as she expect he'll know the answer just as well. What's there to be so anxious about, anyhow?

"Welcome to Starguard," Rangel-incognito says. She looks on edge. Ready to move. Fast. Keeping a cool face. "I'm Rangel." New role, new name, maybe it'll work out. "If you recognize that name and now want to break bones I completely understand and request that you give me a head start before you begin. Actually that's kind of a lie I honestly don't get it but I wasn't there for whatever happened. This is dumb." She de-activates the holo-emitter. "Please, please don't hit me again. I can't stress enough how much I did not like that. Much happier having your backs than harboring bitter resentment." Beat. "If you aren't here to strike me down again, great! How can I help you?"

Griffin comes a stop at her admittance. That's new and clearly unliked information.

Another sigh, this time a bit deeper before he catches up too quickly to be seen crossing the short space in between.

"Well, I guess- I'll just leave it at that." He says, clearly wanting to say more but holding his tongue due to circumstance, location & present company.

"Oh its a whopper, believe me. But we think we can pull it off- so should be fun. Worst case scenario you get to shoot Anti-Porter." He says before adding, "What? I'm not calling him 'James'. My Grandfather's name was James. Its a good name. Plus even our Porter doesn't look like a James."

He says in time to catch Rangel's introduction.

He steps in front of Kat as she deactivates her holographic disguise. His eyes begin glowing brightly in preparation for a fight.

But then he processes her words, with some confusion especially when a cat-woman is revealed.

His eyes stay brightly lit when he recognizes her by description thanks to her less than orthodox introduction.

"You're... that NextGen Gun turned State's huh?" He asks with surprise. He's got a quick eye. Still, he clenches his jaw as he reels himself in- visibly pulling in a nimbus of energy that he was preparing to use to defend Kat.

He keeps his defensive position, until all this is sorted right away. Plus second chances are by no means a measure of trust- just willingness to try.

Griffin's comment on shooting people gets Lien's attention and she perks up a little further... though the sudden shift in the room dynamic causes her other brow pops up some, too. Her eyes shift between the three, wondering what Kat did, this time.

Copycat purses her lips. "Did you just give Lien permission to shoot me?" she whines to Griffin quietly, as she thinks he means shooting Kat if she loses control as Portennant. That might sting.

Copycat is surprised as Griffin quick-steps in front of her, waiting until he seems to calm a bit before peeking from around him. "Who...? Oh." She recognizes the furry cat being.

"Right. The powering up when you know I'm about as sturdy as well how sturdy you're treating your partner? Friend? Super-friend? And not currently with readied weapon, that's sending the message like I should expect to be laid up again. But her confusion? Much more calming. Mixed signals, but I'm going to err on the side of not being clobbered. Those people who are after you from N-G? They're also after me." Rangel breathes a sigh. "Look, you hit really really hard. And that's in the past. I'm not looking for payback. Or a reinactment. Just..." She sighs. "Right. Rambling."

Moment to center her thoughts. "That kind of made me especially vulnerable. I can't go to hospital. Being poked and grabbed by doctors notwithstanding, I am a target. You put me in a hospital room, might as well ring up N-G and say 'hey we found your property, wanna try and brainwash her again?'" She leans on the desk. "You don't have to trust me. And you won't. Fine. I get that a lot more than you might realize. And you probably are thinking a lot."

Griffin regards Rangel intensely while she speaks, judging her words and her manner against his still-very-raw disdain of NextGen and all they stand for & have done to Kat.

Kat's response certainly helps things cool down.

Energy levels temper down and Griffin simply nods. "Well, clearly the Commander trusts you enough to see past your history with... them." He clenches his jaw again as if this is still difficult for him.

"So- I guess I'd be remiss in giving you a second chance too- but know, I'll be watching you. If you come after me and mine for any reason there will be no third chances." He says flatly.

"Yeah, that's pretty much what I'd expect," Rangel says. "And lesson learned from the Porter Portage, so I should be a lot less likely to make mistake and force you to be grumpy with me again. More grumpy I mean." She smiles, rather than grinning. "I even got some new super-nonlethal gear. Check this out." She sets a foam-tipped arrow on the desk. "So there's this toy for kids, Pomf. Real safe, spongey. You can't hurt someone unless you put some meta-level strength behind it and then really nothing'll stop that. But me? I know where to place it, sends a shockwave from a nerve cluster, puts someone to sleep, nothing broken."

Copycat is nervous enough already with what she may be trying to do, and having an ex-Next Genner around isn't helping much. She takes a steadying breath and steps behind Griffin again, trying to center her mind.

With her left hand, Copycat finger-creeps her hand up his scapula and over his shoulder. She murmurs very quietly to him, "I think I need their most secure cell. Just in case."

The SuperSoldier watches Rangel and her display cautiously but in the end - he nods, seeming to make good on his words. "Second chances are a rare thing- I look forward to seeing what you do with yours, Agent ... umm, Rangel was it?" He asks, making sure to show Rangel the proper respect due someone trying to make honorable amends.

Still, Griffin notes mentally to always try to keep himself between Kat & Rangel- just in case there's a long con being played. He can't exactly sense Kat when she's someone else or Annie for that matter so he doubts very seriously he'd be able to tell Alpha & Beta from Rangel.

"Good. Lien- you and me are going to make sure she stays in that cell." He answers, clearly agreeing with Kat.

Friday mornings are busy mornings at Starguard. Coming down from orbit, Sapphire descedned in her sapphire blue jet. The one that looks like a jet fighter from the early 1960's cuz.. you know, cool factor. Either way, Sapphire landed out back and stepped out as the jet dissolved.

"Well, finished my sweep. Looks all clear." she reports in as she departs the landing field, her flight suit and helmet merging with her energy aura and vanishing even as she strides into the lobby, her sapphire outer layer shifting to resemble a simple Starguard uniform.

"Teeeeechnically Agent Ferryl," Rangel replies. "I like the new one better. Only one kidnapping to the name and that was an oops. Like he has same look and name and voice and everything as the guy who made the broadcast and allegedly it's his otherdimensional evil twin. I can show you the full report if they let me. Or if you have clearance I don't need permission."

"Once the crisis is done, you get any leads on some N-G jackasses, I'll show you what I think of them, just point me at 'em. I'll do the violent rest. I got a few scores to settle." Rangel hears the landing, attention turned toward the backways, not entirely familiar with the person by more than traces in the headquarters. "So you guys need a cell? I can handle opening that."

Lien gives Griffin a thumb up, then raises it and extends a finger to point a now finger-gun at Copycat. Just to let her know that Lien has her covered. Just in case.

Agent Ferryl who decided Rangel was better, Copycat, Griffin and Lien are currently at the receptionist's desk.

Also Agent Sapphire has moved onto the scene!

Copycat tries to keep over Griffin's shoulder, but he's too tall. So she ends up peaking around the side. "You kidnapped...wait, the real Porter? I mean, they're both real. I mean the local one."

Copycat eyes Lien nervously. "I think you're just hoping you're going to have to," she says with a little wrinkle of her nose that makes for a scowl that really just looks cute.

"Errnoeously thinking I had the speech-maker," Rangel replies. "But yeah. Mistake. Won't make it again. Had no idea there was a twin. Not the kind of thing you expect. Ever. Unless you know him I guess?"

"Pardon?" asks Sapphire as she slows to a stop. "Aer we discussing kidnappings?" she asks.

"Fair enough, Agent Rangel. I see your head is still attached and they aren't rebuilding the lobby so I'm sure that incident has already played out to my satisfaction." He says, suspecting that Paragon would have made sure there was hell to pay if Porter was seriously injured. "Local Porter & Para are a real power couple. We'd already know if things weren't ok." He says turning to soothe Kat's ruffled feathers before smiling, seeing her adorable scowl. He puts a hand on her shoulder gently.

He senses Sapphire's arrival but of course cannot see her until she enters the lobby. Naturally he turns to see what matched the energy pattern. He smiles seeing a familiar face and nods to Sapphire before returning to the business at hand.

If Sapphire can sense energy she may have sensed Griffin spike up a bit moments ago but that's all died down.

Blok, on a rare break from his duties at the Hospital, stops by StarGuard to see if anything is happening that he can help with.

"Just one," Rangel says in response to Sapphire's question. "Report should be available to read for anyone in uniform. You might get a kick out of how dumb I was. Some of the guys are still laughing about it. And I'm okay with that." A nod to Griffin at his suspicions. "So, cell," She slides the Pomf arrow back into her quiver. "Pick whichever one you want. Uh. Is the plan related to the looking like? And you want a really strong cell..." She looks thoughtful. "Should we have backup available?"

Blok catches some of that as he enters the Reception Area, "Friend Rangel needs help?"

Blok turns to look at Griffin and Copycat. "Who are Blok's new friends?"

Copycat's scowl quickly fades at Griffin's encouragement. "There's a lot of people. Maybe we should just hurry and get this over with."

Griffin nods to Blok. "I think we'll need to alert the Commander but otherwise, I don't think we'll be doing anyone any good getting more Agents crammed in there." He speaks as he steps towards Blok.

"I'm Griffin Freeman, pleasure to meet you. Say you're a big fella- you ever work a door before? You help her..." He points to Lien "make sure no one comes out but me and her." He points to Kat.

These might be confusing instructions considering only Griffin and Kat are going into the cells.

"Please, lead the way Agent Rangel." He says, sounding like he's eager to get this over with himself.

Blok says, "Not let Friend Rangel out?""

Lien offers Cat a smile of support and lowers her finger gun with a shrug. She steps off the wall supporting her and moves to follow, though does pause long enough to fire off a casual wave-salute to Blok, with whom she is hazily familiar.

"That's Blok," Rangel mentions. "Blok's allowed to touch me. If you noticed my reaction during our first encounter you know the significance of that statement." Rangel starts toward the holding cells. "No, the pink hair one, Blok." Rangel informs. "I'm not going to be inside the cell."

Copycat looks up at Griffin, looking a bit confused. "Are...are you coming in the cell with me?" she asks, a little nervous. For him.

"Of course I am." Griffin says giving his full attention to Kat with a smile. "You aren't doing this alone. Not a chance."

Copycat gazes up at Griffin in awe as her cheeks flush. There may be stars in her eyes.

Rangel ensures security knows not to keep anything unlocked on the way in. At all. Full lockdown with soft allowance for important passage. "Shapeshifter protocols," Rangel says to them.

Blok follows as the group makes their way into the Security Area.

"They're going to be watching us pretty closely, too." Rangel gets clearance for a brick-holding cell. "Every precaution except me having bow in hand because I'm pretty sure that's not an option yet."

Lien doesn't appear anywhere near as concerned as others, and certainly not as nervous as Copycat. She still hasn't drawn anything more dangerous than a finger, and even that isn't pointing at Cat anymore. She takes up a new leaning spot against a new wall to observe.

Griffin nods to the security guards as they enter and move on past to the cells. "Good. I'm sure the Commander will be too. Hopefully the extra eyes will help mitigate our Anti-Porter Copy's games a bit." He says as he continues to the cell farthest from the entrance to the secure area.

He doesn't say anything about the bow comment but he does make eye contact with Rangel, nodding gently as if he appreciates the sentiment.

He goes into the cell first, to help take the sting out a bit. This was not how he saw his day progressing but as always he proves he'll be there when Kat calls. He offers her his hand.

"It's more than just him," Copycat murmurs as she follows along with Griffin. She hesistates at the cell door, then reaches out to take his hand and smiles weakly, stepping inside with him.

Rangel signals the cell door operator once everyone is in place.

Blok steps in front of the door once it closes, and braces himself against it, also activiting his Gravitic Anchor.

Griffin asks Kat, "Well, if its not jsut him- what else is it?" He never breaks eye contact. He just stands there looking fearless for her sake.

Copycat looks up into Griffin's eyes, looking like she's dreading to say. "I...I didn't really mention much. About my past encounters with this Porter and the other people he had with him," she says as she fidgets a little.

Griffin clenches his jaw again.

"Anything I need to need to know, right this second? Because otherwise, we're in it now. So if it isn't going to help me keep you grounded then I say we shelve this for a time when... you know. We aren't being watched by the Commander and half of S-G-Sec." He says, keeping his patience pretty well considering the circumstance he was just dropped into a few minutes ago.

"No, it's ...it's okay. I just...there was another guy who kind of looked like Spirit. And...and...another you," Kat murmurs and bites her bottom lip. "He...was not a good person."

Copycat is locked up in a cell with Griffin, nervous and a little shy with strangers around. She's peeking up at him like she wants to apologize for something.

"He probably didn't have you." Griffin says with a smile. "I've met another version of myself who went the Anti-Porter route too. Called himself the 'Bright King'. @$hole. I mean- you could tell that by the name though, right?" He says with a smile, relieved that it wasn't soemthing much more serious. He reaches up and takes her chin in between his index finger and thumb. "We're here. Together. Lets just focus on that. Keep you grounded and we won't have to wrorry about anything." He says, making it sound so simple.

Blok continues to hold the door.

"He probably didn't have you." Griffin says with almost no concern with the subject matter now that its aired out. "I've met another version of myself who went the Anti-Porter route too. Called himself the 'Bright King'. @$hole. I mean- you could tell that by the name though, right?" He says with a smile, relieved that it wasn't soemthing much more serious. He reaches up and takes her chin in between his index finger and thumb. "We're here. Together. Lets just focus on that. Keep you grounded and we won't have to wrorry about anything." He says, making it sound so simple.

Dorian walks down the hallway into security, through the gate. He had a message sent from the receptionist about...something going on in the holding cells.

"He didn't," Copycat confirms. Her eyes widen a bit at the mention of the Bright King. "Really? That's a really scary thought." Her head and eyes lift to his as he encourages her. She smiles softly and gives a slow nod, then closes her eyes to focus. She takes in a deep breath, then lets it out. A few moments past. She opens her eyes...and is still her. She blushes a bit. "Well, this is...embarrassing. I'm not used to so many people just watching."

Copycat closes her eyes again and tries to focus. She tries a tactic Dr. Silverback suggested, trying to use musical associations to ground herself. Trying to ignore that there's an audience, she tries to recall the confidence. The ego. Everything just going your way--hey! Copytennant opens his eyes and finds his brown eyes meeting Griffin's golden ones. He starts to smirk, then blinks a few times as Kat tries to keep some control. "I hope you remembered the Porter Protocols. We don't want any glitches, do we?"

Griffin smirks for a half a second- caught off guard by Kat's performance anxiety. "Oh - ha. Yeah- ok. I could see that being distracting. That's pretty much the last thing we need here." He says before falling quiet as Copycat centers herself and pulls a NegaPorter out.

"Oh. We definitely didn't forget that." Griffin says before radioing silently for confirmation. "Please tell me you guys have somehting called Porter Protocols enabled." He asks, sensing the COmmander in the room.

Dorian gets down to cell in question and looks around, "What's...going on?"

Blok says, "Blok hold door."

CopyPorter starts lightly tapping his left foot to some unheard beat. He's dressed in a nicely tailored suit, maroon tie, and is rather unremarkable looking. He glances at his watch at the same time Griffin does. Both Kat and Griffin forgot about the Torus-powered PowerPixie+ smartwatch.

"They're trying something that could be incredibly catastrophic by the sounds of how they wanted precautions taken," Rangel reports. I got clearance for a brick cell, got shapeshifter holding protocols in place because she is one, and uh... just general alart for holding."

"Well isn't that something," CopyPorter says as he pulls his chin away from Griffin's hand and slaps his hand down on the watch. FLASHTHWUMP---

--FFSSHSSFLASHTHWUMP. CopyPorter reappears, having only flicked briefly.

Griffin sees the watch too late and is reaching out as CopyPorternant slaps the trigger.

His hand goes right through the area where the watch and wrist were just before he reappears.

"Alright. So that's our bad." Griffin says with a nervous laugh. "To be fair, you did just drop this in my lap- but still. I should have known better." He reaches out with his hand out and nods to the watch, looking like he wants CopyPorter to hand it over just in case.

He stays calm and patient despite possibly dealing with a Kat that's lost int he wild. "I'm sure that ego is tough to wrestle with for anyone, but this is the part where you shine through Kitten." He speaks quietly, as if he weren't in a confined cell with the most dangerous paper tiger in the multiverse.

"Uh, if we can just disable stuff," Rangel says to Dorian, "We may want to do that like right away nowish and without assuming anything is safe. She just time hopped. He just time hopped."

CopyPorter's foot stopped tapping shortly before the watch smack. "Not entirely unexpected," he says with a sigh. He watches Griffin hold out his hand, smirking as if giving it up were ridiculous. But calling him Kat's pet name causes the smirk to drop a bit. His left foot starts tapping lightly again and after a moment, he unfastens his watch and holds it out over Griffin's hand before dropping it into his open palm.

Griffin takes the watch and pockets it. "Thank you." He says giving her/him a loving smile as if this were just any other day in their lives. "So, do you want to take a seat? Get comfortable and let's talk this out or do you need a minute to make sure you're still driving?" He asks, electing to stay where he is for now.

Lien is still here, supporting that section of wall with her shoulderblades as she watches Catennant. Not that she can do much about him until after he might escape the cell, and she hopes that probability is low. Then again, considering the current CC: that CC is doing... who knows?

Katennant purses his lips and holds up a finger for...silence? That foot keeps tapping. Focus. It's hard when your mind isn't really yours anymore, but the memories of the real you are. He takes a breath, and then smiles slowly. Not a warm smile, exactly. Take takes a seat on the cot in the cell, straightens his tie and suit to remain impeccable. While he's doing that, the tapping stops.

Griffin waits patiently, letting Kat's self arise to the occasion. If he's lacking any faith in the pink-haired heroine he doesn't show it. He's as calm and stoic as ever.

He silently wonders what the tapping is- a twitch from Kat & her Dupe meshing or something directly from the mind Porternant. He's hoping the others pick up on it- he's here to keep her anchored and in the room. He'll ask some questions but not at the risk of loosing Kat to Anti-Porter.

"You comfortable? I don't want you getting annoyed or dealing with anything that's going to cramp your focus. So if anything is bothering you, let me know. We can pause, correct and get back to it when you're ready- ok, Kitten?" He says in a flat, almost monotone manner since he's feeling a bit out of his element. He's keeping his mind on Kat 'in there' and the task at hand since something about Porternant- even Kat's dupe of him- unnerves him terribly. As if everything he knows and likes about the Original Earth-1 Edition of the man was inverted and sharpened.

He hates interdimensional nonsense almost as much as he hates time travel.

Its days like this he misses being a soldier or a bounty hunter- when things were simple.

Katennant crosses his arms with a hint of impatience. "Quite comfortable...Griffin, was it?" His eyes sweep the cell, then cut to Griffin with a look of annoyance at the nickname. "Kitten? That's not a fitting name for a lion, is it?" The ego on this guy.

As though to taunt Cat-Porter-What?, Rangel has coffee brought in for those on post, not touching it herself. The perks of Starguard: Sending one of the grunts out. To the mess hall. The tray has the sweetener and whitener and creamener and whatever else people seem to need to make the stuff work.

Griffin doesn't suffer for it much. "You know very well who I am." He says flatly, clearly trying to keep Katernant's mind on her original memories whenever possible.

"Don't worry, we'll be sure to show you the proper reverence once you've done something worth revering. As for now, 'Kitten'- you and I have work to do. Its up to you to save Halloween." He says, trying to trigger something for Kat to hold on to through all this. He's seen her face big ego's before. He's pulling out all the stops to keep the ocean that is Porternant's ego rife with life preservers for his Handwarmer+.

He looks her/him in the eyes and stays there. If Kitternant wants to play predator he'll play along there too. Just another angle to play in a game of Superhero Chess he figures.

Plus he's still pretty certain that if there's a 10-ton gorilla locked in a cage with a self-proclaimed lion- he's the former. He knows he's got to keep that confidence himself if he's to see he and Kat through this lest they both be washed out by Porter's ego.

Katennant's eyes widen slightly at the mention of Halloween. The costumes they were working on. It'll be for nothing if they don't stop Porter! Also, the world needs to be saved, but Kat is clinging to what she can.

Tapping his foot again, he takes another deep breath. "I...he...this is difficult. He's been recruiting. Playing the long game. We're not the only one...he--," she stops, looks suspicious and glances off to the floor. "The ice cream was a trick," he suddenly realizes. "He scouted it out long before..." he says a few moments later. This sound disconnected as Kat tries to sort out hazy memories.

Griffin raises a bit of a smile as she comes back to him. "I know. You're doing a great job. You've got this." He says encouragingly.

"Not the only one's-- oh." He pauses to let her collect her other current self. "Ok we'll just tackle this one step at a time. So just sort it out the best you can or ramble it through. We'll sort it out either way- together." He says after a moment. "So let's start at the top. Long game. What's the goal? And who has he been recruiting?" Griffin asks calmly, hoping the others are taking notes.

"The goal?" Katennant simles faintly, a little distant for the moment. "Domination, of course. I don't want to destroy the earth," he says with a smug smile. The smile fades a bit. "He wants to rule it. Like he's done with his Earth. Like he's been doing with other earths. Manipulating, twisting, nudging fate, just the way he needs to line them up."

"He's been recruiting from the entire multiverse. Powerful metas who can be bought or will follow. It's easy to find the perfect ones when you have Fate on your side," Katennant says. "He has a crueler version of you. A paragon. Spirit," he recounts. "And definitely more by now."

"Yeah- I figured as much. Better than wiping us out, but doesn't sound like he's going to be interested in claiming it in name only and scooting on to the next world and forgetting about us." The SuperSoldier reasons simply as he thinks things through.

Griffin fights the urge to look towards the monitors outside the cell after she goes over the sparse details she has on Porternant Original's current roster - no small army of highly powered metahumans.

He takes a breath and keeps his cool.

"That's bad. So fighting this out is probably a loosing game. He can pretty much replace any one of them we take down- maybe infinitely, afterall- if even a third of our doubles out there would take the payoff- well what's a third of infinity? Something about this guy makes me thinks he doesn't give up without the whole collection. And that's only talking about our dupes. What about versions of beings who don't even exist in this reality?" He asks, sounding as if he's got at least some experience in these types of things. "So that's likely an uphill battle- a last ditch Hail Mary. We're not there yet. What we need is a chink in his plans. If he can wield fate then we need a way to ... I dunno- redirect the rivers of fate against him from the outset." He says aloud. "Do you know what date it is? And if so, can you remember anything coming up that we might be able to derail?"

"Check that. Does he recruit more than one version of any individual?" Rangel asks. "Because if he's going by a third of infinity, he wins without having to threaten. Just sends out a very large force."

"Aside, just recruit about a dozen of mercenary style me and it's all over." Rangel is only half-joking.

"That could hold true for recruiting all of you. He was...intrigued by what he saw when he arrived here. He didn't even know about the multiverse until this world's idiot accidentally brought him here," Katennant opines. "And then," he spreads his arms and smiles. Darkly. Ego overwhelms Kat for the moment. "Revelation. Why settle on ruling just one earth? I'd spent all this time fighting Paragon on my world before I finally crushed her--quite literally, so sad--and here she was, working with my dimwitted other. They worked so well together, that gave me the idea to start recruiting my own metas. Perhaps there was one thing your Porter did right. He showed me the light. My truth path."

"I guess under 'facing Rangel or Ferryl' conditions, uh... don't let her get a breather," Rangel suggests. "You didn't see me in a real fighting scenario. You get the drop on me, I'm a pushover. I get the drop, it doesn't go well. Keep her defensive. Not bragging. I'm trained to take out meta bodyguards."

"Well, why rule any entire world at all?" Rangel asks. "I mean... yeah, it sounds grandiose but what's the point? You get a neat title, but what's ruling an entire world give you that ruling an entire city doesn't?"

"Why? WHY?" Katennant laughs. "You only ask because you're insignificant. Small."

"No, genuinely curious," Rangel says. "I'm only kind of dumb and small."

"If this seriously ends up being that you're just doing it because you can, I'm going to laugh for a while," Rangel adds.

Lien adds her own comment, so to not speak, to the proceedings. She lifts one hand to open and close fingers and thumb rapidly, like so much flapping gums, while looking at Catennant.

Katennant frowns as Rangel feeds into Portennant's megalomania and ego, letting it run away from Kat's control. He stands up, adjusts his cufflinks. Cooly. Calmly. "It may require more of a demonstration," he says, tone like ice as he starts walking towards the cell door.

"Look, you got one guy in there calling you Kitten, might start making violent eyes at me if I do, and plus, you'll feel gross." Rangel says, trying out the talkdown angle instead of the agitating one.

Lien stifles a yawn with one hand as the other keeps flapping. Yapping. Whatever Kittennant might term it.

Katennant sighs faintly. "Why don't you open this up and allow Griffin out? I'm done talking," he states.

"Mentalist lockdown. Now." Rangel felt that attempt.

Griffin attempts to flashstep in front of Katernant, not aware of how close things just got to going well off the rails. "Woah - guys. We're on the same team here!" He says loudly. "You guys need to take a step back and remember what's at stake here!"

Katennant's eyes shade to Griffin's. "You're right, Mr. Freeman. We -are- on the same side. We should be trying to stop Porter. Out there," he suggests.

Yes...Kat is in complete control. It's time to leave now, Katennant convinces Griffin.

"This was a terrible idea. We're don---" Griffin is in the middle of saying when he's struck by Katernant's manipulation of the hands of fate.

He rethinks things.

"You know what we are done here. We'd be better off taking this straight to Porter." He says with some renewed certainty.

"Open up the doors." Griffin says, without Kat turning back into her regular, less evil self.

Rangel does not decide to release Griffin and Hooligan. She does step away from the controls.

Lien frowns. Kat doesn't seem any more her, and Griffin is... well, biased. Lien doesn't blame him for that, it's just a presumed fact. She straightens up from the wall and looks to Rangel, shaking her head. Fortunately, Rangel already has her own suspicions. She tugs at one of the shoulder straps to her daypack, and it begins to melt away, as does the pack, into a metallic ooze than swarms over her person in a thin layer, re-solidifying into more durable apparel.

Katennant folds his hands behind his back, patiently observing. "Perhaps you'll have to get the door yourself, Griffin. I don't think they can hear you."

Griffin is nothing if not focused- years of operating at the point of the spear made his mind a steel-trap.

He realizes what he's saying sounds silly and that is what causes him to raise a brow at what he's saying.

"Belay that." Griffin says, turning back to Katernant. "That's real cute. But that kind of thing won't work on me, you'd remember that if someone wasn't goading your 'other'. So let's try this again. You can either take a seat and compose yourself or we can pull the plug on this right now. We'll find another way to save Halloween."

He steps away and looks to Rangel.

"Agent Rangel- I'll trust you'll keep your quips to those on the other side of the monitors. Please mute the line unless you have a question for your guest." He says firmly, keeping things professional.

"Griffin? I think I'll call you that over Mr. Freeman. Since we've become such close 'friends'," Katennant says, the veiled threat in his voice already evident. "One way or another, you're going to open that door. It'd be shame if you lost control of your powers here, and harmed someone important to you. Such close quarters. All that stored up energy."

Quiet is unsure of options, short of most certainly NOT opening the door. This limits her available options, though perhaps one is still viable. Her weapon's barrel elongates and narrows as a Questionite penetrator is constructed at the molecular level with its breech, with a discarding sabot around. She steps towards Rangel and the control paneled wall before aiming towards the transparent cell door. If the round does not penetrate, she angles so that any ricochet should be defelcted down the hall towards the other, empty cells and the dead end of the block. The weapon is readied, though she does not yet fire.

"It'd just be you and me going up in here, Kitten." Griffin says fearlessly, stepping towards the walls and slapping it with a good deal of super strength. "Solid questionite, more than a foot thick on either side. And that's jsut the public stuff. Who knows what they keep in the walls. Forcefield generators. Energy refractors. Some kind of science crap I won't pretend to understand." He turns back to Katernant. "You think I came in here if I was going to be a danger to anyone but us? Maybe Mr. Freeman is best, because clearly you don't know me or us. If you did, you'd know that there was no way I was letting Kat go on a suicide mission without me. Loosing herself to your rotten memory is the same thing. If she's been lost to a spectre, I'd rather you light this candle now." He says getting incredibly intense. "So if this is when we go- this is when we go. At least we're together, right? They can celebrate Halloween on Mars and you & I can hope there is golden armor in the afterlife." He winks at her.

Katennant laughs at that. "Only one of us is 'going up'," he says after his laugh dies off to a simmer. Perhaps Griffin hasn't been burning enough energy fast enough. All those energy fields meant to keep Katennant in is just feeding his fuel cells rapidly, causing Griffin's energy to risk overflowing. It's like his eyes are burning brighter...

Quiet's round is loosed, propelled at ridiculous speeds into the cell door. There is a resounding sound of night-invulnerable metal upon nigh-invulnerable metal, and likely some ricochet. Whether some of the penetrator actually penetrates, or it is spalling of the cell interior opposite the impact, shards of metal are propelled at still releatively high speed into Kittenant's leg.

As Fate would have it, Katennant is taking a half step back from a starting to charge-up Griffin when the bullet strikes, managing only to graze, miraculously. But that seems enough to make him stop, and blink down at his leg in surprise like this has never really happened before. He touches the tear at his upper thigh and draws back bloodied fingertips, just staring in surprise. There's a break in the ego. Just enough for Kat to get some control. And she takes it, trying to reject all the power and confidence in the world and more, shrinking down--only slightly--back into herself. Just in time to wobble and fall back towards the cot behind her.

Griffin is feeling very certain of himself. Almost high on his bravery or so he thinks for a half a second.

He feels an old feeling that he hasn't felt in some time since making sure to always work himself to the ends of the Earth, exerting himself the whole time.

A tremble comes to Griffin's jaw and subtle movements threaten to move into speeds well beyond the human eye. Even turning his head leaves a slight afterimage as he realizes he's suddenly threatening to overflow with energy.

He starts to breathe slowly, trying to keep a hold of himself.

He turns towards the walls- opposite of the monitor well & and observable sensor clusters.

He begins to pour energy into the questionite walls directly from his hands- Infrared energy. Its going ot get hot in here- but not deadly so thanks to Questionite's various properties.

Griffin's hands glow white hot as Quiet's penetrator blows through cell and shards hit Katernant.

He clenches his jaw, turning away from the wall- his hands still white hot.

He clenches his fists a couple of times- never releasing the tension in his jaw as he absorbs the energy back into himself- suddenly able to easily contain his energies.

His eyes remain locked on Katernant's injury too. He visibly stops himself from rushing to his aid.

"You back with us, Kitten?" He asks, containing himself quite well all things considered. "If not I'm calling this- now, chink or no chink." He is serious.

Copycat clutches her leg as hot pain shoots through it. She looks up at Griffin, eyes starting to water as she grits her teeth. She looks upset. Maybe not herself. Until she picks up the pillow on the cot an throws it at him with all her tiny might. "You....you were just going to let yourself go out with me? How could you!?" she tells him off, gazing up at him in disbelief. She sniffs. A few times.

"Actually I was thinking of not being part of this any longer," Rangel replies. "Hope it works out. This is Agent Franklin. Or was it Agent Muldoon?"

"Franlin, Ma'am."

"Sorry, I"m bad with names. Anyway. He's now in charge of doing what I was doing." She sets the Starguard logo bands into her quiver, then sets that down, and takes a seat.

Griffin smiles, stepping towards Kat. "Oh come on- what was I supposed to do? Bet against you? No way. Not when we had an Ace or two up our collective sleeves." He says as he steps up to attend to her wound, ignoring the pillow easily. "Not even without an Ace up our sleeve. There's no way I'd leave you to that monster. Plus I could have probably blasted the walls with X-Rays or something. That's pretty tiring."

He pretends to have never been concerned at all while simultaneously wanting hug and punch Quiet. Perhaps just hug tightly til jsut one thing pops.

Quiet lowers her weapon. Saccharin, sugary sweetness that threatens tooth decay in a twelve block radius? Situation has returned to normal. Her weapon reverts to its default configuration and then collapses further to be stowed again at her back.

Ok, perhaps not quite so sugary, but thrown pillow's and lover's not-really-quarrels are also a sign of normalcy.

Copycat wipes at her eyes as Griffin helps with the flesh wound. Luckily it's just a shallow clean cut. Grazing, really. She manages a smile for Griffin anyway. A trembling one. "He...he's a monster. There's nothing similar between him and Porter. Just...embraced his powers instead of being afraid of them like Porter. Made everything go his way. Started changing him. Shortly his parents thought they'd have to do something about his attitude, they died. Mysterious wok-related accidents. He was awarded the damages from the wrongful death suits. Things just...started continuing from there."

"Well that certainly explains a lot." Griffin says, pulling a disinfecting gel from his pocket first-aid kit. "Like why he gives me the creeeeeps everytime I see him- even though he more or less looks just like a friend."

"Agent I think you can disengage safeties. We're done here." He says, choosing not to make things worse by chewing her or anyone out. Instead he looks up towards the monitors and says, " Q- that was some shot. Glad you were here. With that newfangled woundshield gel there probably won't be any scarring." He doesn't like Kat was shot but it was a call that needed to be made, otherwise this cell would have been their crematorium if he'd have let Katernant go on much longer.

Copycat sniffs a bit. "I could...just...borrow Rick's powers and be all fixed up," she suggests. At least that's a madman she knows.

Quiet's armor melts away, returning to its less conspicuous daypack form. In response to Kat's suggested course of action, she raps on the cell with a knuckle, makes a bit of a grimace, and gestures a wave off with her hands. Perhaps she thinks one Rick is bad enough, just less so because he's not here.

"I'm not going to tell you how to take care of yourself after sharing your skull with AntiPorter." Griffin says, not wanting her to suffer any longer than necessary- even if he's had enough with shapeshifting for the day.

He turns and snickers at Quiet's two-cents on the matter.

Copycat glances Quiet's way. "Also, ow. You -shot- me," she says, too tired to be angry. She rubs her forehead with her non-bloodied hand. "I'm sorry we didn't learn anything useful enough. I don't think anyone's really stopped him before. Except his world's Paragon and the heroes she inspired, getting in the way of his plans."

Lien rolls her shoulders in a shrug to Kate, hand gesturing to Griffin with a finger gun that "fires" its thumb. She arches a brow at Kat afterwards.

Copycat stares at him a moment. "You were thinking of shooting him...?"

Lien gives Kat another shrug, though only one shoulder. A gesture to Kat is followed by an exagerrated gesture of shock, both hands lifting to pantomime tears with rotating knuckles at the corners of her eyes, and concluding with a single palm lifting to slap herself in the forehead. Following that, she thumbs at Griffin, followed by a fist whose fingers suddenly burst open.

Copycat stares with a look of horror on her face at whatever she thinks Lien is communicating. More specifically, at the fist bursting open in reference to Griffin. She gasps a bit.

Lien purses her lips, then exhales a quiet sigh through them before pulling out her qPid and tapping out a message. She turns it towards Kat. SHOOTING HIM MIGHT HAVE SHOCKED YOU BACK TO YOU. WITHOUT HURTING YOU. OR STOPPED HIM FROM EXPLODING. THEN I REMEMBERED HE'S $#@!ING BULLETPROOF.

Copycat squints as she reads the qPid. "How was I supposed to figure that out from that??" she says defensively of her misunderstanding of Lien's charades.

Lien considers Kat a moment before tapping out a response.

1) LEARN TO SIGN

2) IMPROVE YOUR CHARADES SKILLS

3) STOP COPYING PSYCHOPATHIC MEGALOMANICS

4) ALL OF THE ABOVE

Once everything appears settled and zero danger of her actions being misinterpreted, Rangel gathers her quiver, leaves the holding area and exits building by the landing field.