Log:A Collector of More Than Coins, Scene 3

A Collector of More Than Coins 2007/11/29 	 Akeno Citadel Janet Titan Variable Maria Bauer Leo Jeff Lambert 3

Sandy Bottoms Island

Akeno wanders along the island, hopping around the craggy rocks. The cop today is out to do nothing but explore his home. That, and he seems to remember seeing a good flat space of rock somewhere along this area. Perfect for meditation or practicing.

Janet is new to the city. She has her assignment but it's twenty four hours a day so she still has time to play the tourist. No doubt the city will soon be familiar to her but at the present time she's enjoying the exploration of new sights. Today she's visiting the Iskand with the intent to seeing the old lighthouse and eastern shore.

Citadel arrives onto the island, coming across the bridge. He drives a humvee, pulling over at a parking spot. He gets out and looks around, glancing over at the Old Prison. He nods and starts his approach for the old prison.

Titan comes down from the Maglev terminal, and looks around before starting to walk in the direction of the Oceanarium.

A sound - very loud and high pitched - can be heard coming from the northern, less populated end of the island

Citadel stops in his walk to the Old Prison, and turns and looks at the source of the sound.

Janet starts walking north curious about the source of the exceedingly loud noise.

Rather less obvious are some duller sounds of impacts - the sort of thing one gets from a distant meta battle.

Akeno looks up from his landing and frowns a bit. Turning, he 'port/jumps over towards the sound immediately and keeps going as quickly as he can to get there as soon as possible.

Titan turns to look in that direction, "Hmm." He then gets a running start, and leaps into the air, jumping in the direction of the sound...and hopefully getting a better view from the air.

Citadel turns insubstantial, and begins floating upwards into the sky. He moves upwards and into the direction of the sound, to gain a view of the source of the commotion.

Citadel looks downwards and then westwards, and moves to intercept the sphere.

Janet thinks. o O (This is going to be an interesting posting I see.)

Janet takes to the air finally heading towards the downed figures. She has no responsibility nor authority to intervene in civilian matters but offering what assistance she can to the injured is simple humanitarian decency.

Titan lands, not having seen the source of the sound. He looks around again, trying to figure it out.

The sphere outdistances Citadel with ease.

Citadel realizes he can't keep up, and stops. He looks around, then shrugs.

Citadel pulls out his PDA, and starts inputting his view of the incident. He thinks o O (Another incident report.)

Titan notices the flying people, and leaps in that general direction that they appear to be heading, taking a look around as he lands.

Citadel looks over and starts to float towards the fallen figures.

Akeno continues 'porting towards the the figures on the ground. He slows down a safe distance and hurries over to check on them, pausing as he sees Citadel. "Citadel. What was that thing?" Just in case, he activates his extra senses.

As people approach the two figures, they find one looks very strange indeed - almost like a giant ball of string - a rubberised figure stretched tight around what looks (and smells) for all the world like a giant cheese ball. The other is bound and gagged in some sort of chalk-white substance. He looks more like a grad student than a superhero (or villain).

The stretched woman (for so she is) calls out for help.

Citadel looks down and says, "A sphere." then looks at woman.

Janet begins carefully tearing loose the chalk like substance holding the woman captive.

Citadel returns to the ground and resolidifies. "I'll help uhmmm, the woman with the cheese."

Janet says, "Have the civilian authorities been called?"

Citadel looks and thinks, "Hmmm, uhmm..." then attempts to free the stretched out woman.

Janet begins carefully tearing loose the chalk like substance holding the man captive.

Akeno tilts his head, "Akeno Matsuya, CBPD." He smiles at Janet, then goes to help out as he pulls out his PDA and places the call to the station about it.

The chalky stuff is hard, but not so hard Janet can't break it. Once broken, it dissipates as if it had no real substance.

"You've got to stop them!" is the first thing the man says once his mouth is free. "You can't let them get hold of it!"

Janet glows with a golden aura each time she uses her strength to break loose another fragment of the chalky substance.

Titan lets the official sorts who have shown up deal with the immediate situation. He keeps to the back of the group, just listening for the moment.

Citadel looks over and says, "Hold of what?"

Akeno's eyes narrow, "Maria Bauer." He looks at the woman, keeping his senses active just in case. "What do Chalk and Cheese want?"

Titan just mouths the words, 'Chalk and Cheese', his eyebrow raising in a questioning manner...but he doesn't actually say anything.

Akeno says towards Titan, "I don't think up the names. I simply read the reports." Freaky. He isn't looking at Titan, of course.

"You don't need to know that!" the man breaks in. "But you can't let them have it! Much less that boss of theirs!"

Citadel shrugs and says, "We don't need to know what they want, save the fact that they aren't suppose to have something, we don't know about it. So how can we stop them, when we don't know what it is?"

Akeno turns his gaze on the man, "I don't know who you are, but right now you're aiding a criminal. Care to explain /why/?"

Maria rolls her eyes. "Can't you tell we're in over our heads? Tell them!"

Citadel nods and says, "Obviously."

The guy says, reluctantly, "It's my, um, invention. It gives people superpowers!"

Akeno frowns, "Gives people superpowers? How?"

Citadel nods and says, "Oh, why didn't you say so. Are these two wanted?" looking at Akeno.

Janet listens quietly.

Akeno shrugs, "Maria is. The other, I don't know him. I've called the station, though. Just leave them in there."

Citadel nods and says, "They are yours then."

"I'm sure you wouldn't understand if I told you," sniffs the man.

Maria is more cooperative. "He doesn't know himself. It's alien tech. He just figured out how to make it work."

Citadel looks over at Maria, "Alien technology? You have been playing with alien technology?"

Akeno frowns, "Which alien race, Maria?"

Janet suddenly has a lot more interest. "Alien technology?" she asks the woman. "Where is it? Who is after it?"

"It *is* my invention. It could never have given powers to anything terrestrial without me!" maintains the man, offended.

Citadel nods and says, "Good lord, two quabbling people talking about alien technology." then shrugs, "They need to be turned over to proper authorities."

"I don't know where it is," says Maria. "They've been holding me hostage to get the others to hand it over. The idiots decided to fight it out instead..."

Akeno nods at Citadel. "Nuthouse with blockage for meta powers." He sighs, looking at Maria, "Maria. If you want to get an earlier parole, start from the beginning and tell us the whole story. Otherwise, we'll just turn you in and go after Chalk and Cheese ourselves."

Maria starts talking. "No need to threaten me - I never wanted to be mixed up in anything like this. I just thought it would be great to have powers....."

Titan just continues listening in silence at this point, rubbing his chin and looking thoughtful.

Citadel shakes his head, "Bioengineering. Not my stuff."

Akeno nods, listening as he watches. "We'll have to ask Silver Spider later."

Citadel looks at Akeno, "Silver Spider? That vigilante conspiracist?" then starts to laugh.

Janet looks over to Citadel. "I recognize you. I've read your file. I'm not sure which of us has jurisdiction here but as this seems to involve civilian criminal metas I'm willing to let you take the lead in this incident. Is that agreeable to you?"

Akeno shrugs, looking at Citadel. "I do not think we have many bioengineering experts in the city, Citadel. Yes, she is a conspiracist, but otherwise, we are all on the same side. Why do you think I've not arrested half the metas in the city?"

"The beginning? Leo," she indicates the man, "came to me - I hadn't seen him since college. He asked me if I wanted superpowers! All I had to do was help him a bit with the animal experiments." She looks a bit uncomfortable. "Well, I was in two minds about that, but I could see he'd do it with or without me, and I figured the animals would be better treated id with....."

Citadel looks over and says, "I don't have jurisdiction yet. I have yet to formally take my post. Paperwork." then rolls his eyes. "But I know who can deal with them."

Citadel looks at Akeno, "Surely there is someone else who knows more about genetics and metahumans than that one?" then shakes his head.

Akeno looks at Maria, "Then what?" He looks at Leo as well, pointedly ignoring Citadel at the moment to get the full story it seems. "And Leo, I would recommend cooperating. If you have anything that might be able to fill in on this, then please do."

"It was all going fine at first, but then some of the rats escaped. And after that we needed some apes to test it on before risking using it on a human - of course, I should have said no then, but I was too excited by that point. I foolishly took part - and was arrested."

Citadel pulls out his PDA, "Excuse me, got make a report, and ask for assistance."

Akeno nods, "And from there, what happened?"

Janet nods to Citadel. "In that case it seems likely that jurisdiction is split. The criminal side is the responsibility of the local police department. Alien technology comes under my jurisdiction. Detective Akeno, I suggest you take charge of the investigation since you will have a far better knowledge of the local meta criminals and when the alien technology is tracked down I'll handle that aspect."

Citadel nods and says, "I'll just notify my department." as he gives a report.

Maria continues, "I don't know much about what happened after that till they broke me out of jail, and I got some powers at last. But of course, then I was on the run.... And somehow, Chalk and Cheese found me, when I was visiting my dogs at the zoo, and then I was a captive again, though of criminals. And their employer."

Titan snaps his fingers. "I think I was there for that breakout."

Citadel listens to the confession, "Yes, claims of alien technology." as he mutters into the phone softly.

Akeno nods, "Who is their employer, Maria?"

"I don't know his name. He's an old guy, but - well, commanding. Erect. Striking silver hair. And, he's surrounded by these little dancing lights! Weird. Chalk and Cheese just called him their employer mostly. Or sometimes, the collector."

Citadel looks over and says, "Hmmm... The Collector?" then nods, "Claims the employer is called The Collector?" then nods, "No sir, sorry, haven't been given access yet." pausing, "Will do."

Janet steps a pace back and continues to listen as she contacts Starguard and starts reporting the situation to them. "...yes, claimed to be alien technology. Delta have been stood down and Gamma isn't ready for field operations yest.... Let the CBPD deal with this until the existence of the alien technology is proven... SGGTL out."

Citadel glances over and waits for CBPD to arrive and take away the two.

Titan says, "So....I may have missed it, but where can we find these villains in question?"

"They've gone after the device!" snaps Leo. "The first thing I said was that they can't be allowed to have it!"

Citadel points and says, "They are in the sphere? And where is this device?"

Leo hesitates a moment, then says, "Jeff's place, in Creekfield. Jeff Lambert. Where he works, I mean. He's a locksmith - they've got him hostage now."

Citadel nods and says, "See, why didn't you say so." looks to Janet, "Shall we pay this Jeff a visit?"

Janet nods. "How far is Creekfield. My newness here is proving a problem. I don't know the local area. Do we need transport?"

Citadel looks over and says, "My vehicle is right over there." pointing to the humvee he drove to island with.

A black-clothed, winged figure flies in from over the bay, from the direction Titan's not looking.

Citadel looks upwards and says, "What the hell is that?"

Titan raises a brow, "What's what?"

Citadel points upwards to the winged figure. "That!"

Titan turns to look, "Probably another meta? There's a huge number in town, you know."

Janet says, "At a guess I'd say a meta. Not known to anyone?"

Variable swoops down to land, looking about. "It's all over? I came as soon as I heard there was trouble."

Titan chuckles, and looks to Citadel, "See?"

Citadel looks closely, "Hmmm, yes, did you see the Sphere."

Citadel looks over and says, "It is probably heading to Creekfield."

Variable thinks. "It looked like it was heading about that direction - what was it?"

Janet repeats her question, "Which is how far away? The rest of any required conversations can be held while we'd making for that destination."

Citadel shrugs and says, "Could be alien technology too, to steal some alien technology." then shrugs, "Would you be able to take these two, and drop them off at the police department?" addressing Variable. "You can head to Creekfield after that."

Variable says, "Creekfield's a suburb, right across the city from here."

Citadel flips out his PDA, and says, "Not far." as he heads for his humvee.

Variable points west and a bit south.

Citadel points and says, "Unless you want to use the Maglev." continuing his movement to his car.

Variable looks at the two. "Yes, I could do that!" She's quite delighted she seems to have been accepted so quickly. "MagLev doesn't go to Creekfield, at least yet."

Janet says, "I'm not the fastest flyer around but I can go straight there, if I knew where there was. Unless someone else can travel faster I suggest I carry everyone the Creekfield."

Titan shrugs, "I don't know if I'm faster or not, really."

Variable concentrates and seems to put on a bit of muscle. "Do you know where Via de Vance is? You just follow it out of town and keep going west and you get to Creekfield."

Citadel points and says, "Oh, do hurry up."

Titan nods, "Clear on the far side of town."

Variable says, "I'll get them to the police station!" And she picks the two up and flies off, seeming a little pleased with herself.

Janet says, "If neither of you can fly I suggest you board the hummer and I'll carry that. One of you can give my directions on which way to go."

Titan nods, "Fair enough."

Creekfield

Approaching from the sky, Creekfield's old centre is a bit more evident than it is on the ground, but Jeff Lambert's shop is rather in the new "centre" such as it is - the road to Colonial Bay.

Citadel drives in his humvee, heading to the location of this so called shop.

You can find the place without much difficulty - the sign says "locks and home security".

Citadel gets out of his car, and looks around. He heads for the shop, and see if the business is still open.

The shop looks pretty much closed up.

Citadel bangs on the door.

There's no reply.

Citadel looks around, and peers into the windows.

The windows are hard to see through, it's like they've been covered with frost - or chalk.

Citadel walks around the shop, looking for a back entrance.

There is a back entrance, also closed, and, strikingly, chalk white.

Citadel checks to see if the door was left unlocked.

On closer inspection it looks like it was forced. But it's shut now, and doesn't budge.

Citadel turns desolid and walks through the door and looks inside.

Inside, it looks like the place has been turned over by someone searching for something. Lots of things are the same chalk-white. Noises of more searching can be heard from the basement.

Citadel listens and decides to head on down, floating down the staircase.

Bingo. One woman made of cheese. One chalk white guy. One older guy surrounded by sparkling lights, all searching. And one person encased in the "chalk" stuff.

"Here! This has to be it!" says the old guy as he picks up what looks something like an old movie camera.

Citadel attempts to grab the item quickly, as he moves to the object, solidifying quickly to grab ahold of it.

Unfortunately luck isn't with Citadel. The old man happens to step aside from the excitement of finding the device just as he makes the grab for it.

Citadel looks around and says, "I'm afraid this criminal activity must be stopped." then looks at the man, "You must be The Collector?"

says, "Someone's come to play!" says Cheese."

The old man nods, "I am a collector, certainly. And I'm afraid you won't be stopping me from adding this to my collection."

Citadel shrugs and says, "An old movie camera? Sure, why not." then chuckles.

The old man gives Citadel a disdainful look. "Will you let us pass? Or will we have to resort to violence?"

Citadel looks at the men, "I'm afraid I can't let you pass. Sorry, I must bring you in." then nods.

"Violence then. Most distasteful. Cheese, Chalk, if you would?"

Citadel shrugs and says, "You can surrender the device, then no violence."

Cheese raises her arm toward Citadel.

Abruptly a section of Cheese's arm comes shooting at Citadel, and indeed detatches itself.

Citadel grumbles a bit as that stings. "Ouch, that cheese packs quite a punch." as he feels a slight pain.

Cheese smiles. "Ooh, you're a tough one. THat makes this more fun!" The detached cheese scrambles back to rejoin her.

Citadel pauses and says, "What type of cheese are you?" then scratches his chin, "Monterey jack? Cheddar?"

Citadel glances closely, "Damn, you're like a giant cheese board..."

Chalk looks thoughtful as he watches Cheese's attack, and says, "Please don't force us to hurt you." But that doesn't stop him from leading off with his own attack.

"And all of me yummy!" says Cheese.

Citadel notices the sting and says, "Ohh, that tingles!"

Where the blast hit has the same white discoloration.

Chalk comments, "Quite impressive. I see I'll need to take a less direct approach."

"Do as you must," says the Collector. "And then come and join me: I'm leaving."

Citadel shrugs and moves towards The Collector, reaching out to grab ahold, and squeeze him if necessary.

Of all the stupid luck! So dense is Citadel he cracks the floor and trips slightly, missing him so doing. The Collector laughs - a cold laugh. "You'll not get me so easily. You see, I've already collected one superpower. And if it was effective in the hands of one as simple as Amy MacLaughlin, imagine how it is in the hands of one of my abilities."

Citadel looks up and says, "Who is Amy MacLaughlin?"

says, "Is she so easily forgotten? Colonial Bay's Lady Luck? Sic transit gloria mundi. Allow me to give you a taste of her abilities."

He gestures at the ground, and the motes of light around him shoot out towards it.

Citadel nods and says, "Lady Luck, so you stole her powers. Kinda feminine."

The floor cracks more beneath Citadel's feet....

Citadel looks down and shakes his head, "Damn weak floors."

"Bad luck. And on the contrary, she stole the powers that should have been mine."

Citadel shakes his head, "Sure, you stole her luck."

"You might think about that before crossing me."

Citadel pauses, "This got do with the alien technology right? What is it, genetic manipulator?"

"A very good question - but certainly an excellent addition to my collection. Cheese?"

Cheese this time throws herself at Citadel's nose and mouth, evidently trying to smother him, but passes right through.

Citadel transforms into an insubstantial form. "No thanks, I already ate."

Citadel looks over at Chalk, "Please, I'm not a fan of the color of white."

Chalk smiles. "It seems appropriately ghostly." And he again shoots his chalk-white energy.

Citadel gets whacked, and stumbles back, "Impressive." then coughs, falling on his ass.

The old man takes the opportunity to head to the stairs. "Well, it's time to bid you farewell."

Citadel looks over and says, "It seems you possess superior tactical abilities. Take your object and leave then, leave the innocent."

He looks back. "I have no further interest in him. You might, however: he's not exactly an innocent. Goodbye."

Citadel shrugs, "We will let the courts decide that."

"Of course." He heads up the stairs.

Citadel floats upwards, regaining his footing. "We will meet again." then waits for the room to clear.

The other villains make their exit too, Cheese last.

Citadel gets up and heads for the man who was tied up. He attempts to free him from his chalky prison.

Citadel looks at him and says, "You have lots of explaining to do."

You free him - and he helps. Seems to be quite strong himself.... "Explaining?" he says nervously.

Citadel nods and says, "Alien technology, your part in all this stuff." then shrugs, "You won't mind a trip down to the police station?"

"I didn't do anything wrong!" he says immediately. "I'm a victim here!"

Citadel nods and says, "Then you have nothing to fear, just a few questions."

He nods, collecting himself. "Of course... no problem..."

Citadel nods and escorts the man down to the station, for a full statement.

Of the villains there's no sign, by the time Citadel goes.

Citadel looks over and says, "So, why did The Collector want that old camera?"

"It's... that's.... uh - how much do you know?"

Citadel looks over again, "Please no lies, it'll be much easier to start from the beginning. Maria and the other guy are at the station now."

His eyes dart back and forth as he considers, then seems to come to the conclusion it's best to talk. "It's a machine that gives superpowers," he says.

Citadel nods and says, "I think that is her name, the stretchy girl, and the one who claimed he invented some special device that can give people powers." shrugs, "Don't tell me the camera is the device."

Citadel nods, "I see, and how does it do this?"

"Um, well, you point it at them and then you press some of the buttons - of course you have to set it right - I don't really know, you'd have to ask Leo. He's the one who knows about that stuff...""

Citadel pulls out his PDA, recording all these notes down. "So much information over alien technology."

Citadel nods and says, "Yes, he is in custody."

Citadel drives the man down to the station, "Cooperate fully, and it'll be much easier."

"All I can tell you is it can give you any power it's copied."

Citadel nods and says, "So you take a picture of someone via the camera? And then you can take them. Impressive?"

Citadel shrugs and says, "Who is this Collector anyways?

Citadel stares at him, "You should get associated with such unsavory people. Bit crazy too."

"I don't know. Is that his name? I never heard of him before he kidnapped Maria!"

Citadel nods and says, "And you used it to gain powers too?"

"That was kind of the whole point!"

Citadel looks at the man, "And whose powers did you copy?"

"Um - I don't know. Leo got a copy somewhere. They're kind of like yours though. Maria's came from Rebound - got a good picture or whatever of him...."

Citadel nods and says, "You can become desolid?"

"I think maybe, but I haven't got it quite figured out yet. I meant I can become really dense.

Citadel pauses and shakes his head, "Really dense, but maybe not desolid. Hmmmm, sounds like someone else."

"Maybe desolid too. I think one of the rats managed it once. I just haven't worked out how yet."

Citadel shakes his head, "Rats? Wait, I remember those rats that had superpowers, and that grad student who ran away."

"Uh, right. That was Leo." He might as well say as much: you'll find out soon enough.

Citadel nods and says, "You part of any special group?"

"Special group? What do you mean?"

Citadel shrugs and says, "I remember someone saying the guy was in some anti-Starguard or government group."

"What? Leo? No way! He's not political at all."

Citadel nods, "I see."

Citadel looks over and says, "By the way, ever thought of a job in law enforcement?" then chuckles.

That catches him off guard. "Huh? Why?"

Citadel shrugs and says, "United Earth are always looking for future law enforcement individuals."

Citadel looks over and says, "The world and the universe are a big frontier, with LOTS of criminals."

"Oh uh - well, um... I'll think about it!"

He smiles. He seems amused by the thought.