Log:ACE at the Opera

2058/06/13 	 Brainchild Conviction Crystal Decibel Jennifer and Jessica Kibin Lightray Lorelei Rakshasa Rancid Rebound Sable Vector 1

It's the opening night of Bizet-1058's Euridice and the opera-goers are abuzz with anticipation, whether already inside the theatre or still milling around outside it.

Joseph enters the hall outside the theater dressed in a tuxedo appropraite for the occassion. He carries a pair of opera glasses in hand as he checks his overcoat.

Jennifer clutches her copy of the course notes with a deathgrip. Opera is so /not/ her thing. She ponders for a moment if that is why she was given this as a class assignement. Probably not. She's on fairly good terms with her teachers at the moment. Hiding a sigh she checks her ticket and looks at the seating plan.

Lorelei is one of those in the crowd, with an athletic-looking man on her arm. It's a bit hard to place him at first, indeed, dressed up in his suit, but its the tennis player Pavel Kuznetsov.

Regan strolls through the exhibition hall, satchel securely clasped under one elbow as she leisurely walks through the exhibition hall, inspecting the art collection that resides there.

It's the opening night of Bizet-1058's Euridice and the opera-goers are abuzz with anticipation, whether already inside the theatre or still milling around outside it.

Joseph notices Jennifer at the seating plan and goes over to her. "Hello, Ms Markham. Come to see 'Euridice'?"

Lorelei pauses just as she was about to go in, spotting Jennifer in the crowd, and makes her way over to her, Kuznetsov in tow. "Jenn! I didn't think you would be here!"

Jennifer is at least dressed for the occasion. She's wearing the dress she accquired for Stephie's eighteen birthday party. An exclusive Paris design.

Rakshasa walks around uncharacteristically self-conscious, clutching her ticket in her hand. o O (Tom always said I needed to broaden my knowledge. *sigh* And at least the ticket was free.)

Jennifer smiles, "Lorelei! Hi. Neither did I." She shows the notes, "Class assignment."

Lorelei says, "Oh, Pasha, this is my friend Jennifer. Jenn - Pavel Kuznetsov."

Jennifer grins and offers a hand. "Hi, Pavel. Delighted to meet you."

Pavel shakes Jennifer's hand and says "Pleased to meet you." in quite a strong Russian accent.

Joseph heads into the theatre when he sees Jennifer is occupied by Lorelei and her friend.

Jennifer says, "I should have guessed you'd have to be here, Lorelei." She glances around, "Cliff taking the night off?"

There are a handful of protesters outside the theatre under a banner reading "Art and Humanity" passing out leaflets, but people are mostly ignoring them.

Lorelei says, "Cliff's not at all well.... I think it's the dream again."

Lorelei says, "They offered me another bodyguard, but I really didn't see the point..."

Jennifer nods. "Do you want me to stick around and fend off the overly pushy fans? Let you and Pavel have some peace."

Lorelei says, "Thanks - with the two of us it could be a bit sticky. Though this crowd mostly seems well-mannered."

Alex enters the theatre, dressed formally in a tux and bow-tie. He looks around at the other people here a little anxiously, wondering who else is around. Being Starguard's local expert on the extradimensional has earned him a free ticket to the show.

Regan purse her lips and comes to a stop in front of a particularly nice piece by Turner. Her head tilts slightly as she steps back a pace to get a broader perspective, folding her arms acorss her chest.

Jennifer grins, "I'm glad to have something useful to do tonight, Lorelei. Saves me from having to concentrate on the opera."

Lorelei says, "I hope it's not that bad... But at least I know I'm in good hands - was that Alex just going in?"

Regan blinks and turns away from the painting her expression hardening slightly as her brows furrow.

Jennifer nods. "It looked like it. I think I saw Joseph passing by too. He looked very debonair in a tux."

Lorelei says, "Dad was originally going to be here, but he's busy - anyway, then I found out Pasha likes opera, so it all worked out well!"

Joseph stands just inside the entrance to the theatre, his gaze taking in the venue. He smiles in enjoyment as he takes in the atmosphere of the venue.

Regan lifts her pace, accelerating across the exhibition hall with a determined air.

Alex nods to Joseph and offers a greeting smile. "Hey."

Jennifer nods. "You enjoy the opera, Lorelei, and the excellence of the company you are keeping. I've got your back tonight."

Lorelei says, "Oh, there's the bell - we'd better go in."

Joseph looks over at Alex. He smiles in greeting as he murmurs, "Hello again. I see you have come to see the world premiere of this 'new' opera?"

Lorelei heads in with Pavel, who seems the silent type, though it's not clear if this is because his English is limited or because he's a bit taken with Lorelei.

Regan cmoves into the crowd, mingling with the throng of opera-goers. She slows her pace for a moment, glancing at something in her hand before calling out. "Excuse me! Mister? You dropped this."

Rakshasa looks around in confusion as people start moving. o O (Is it time..?)

Regan holds up a leather wallet. "Sir?"

Alex nods to Joseph. "That's right... I.." He looks around as people begin heading to their seats. "I guess that that's our cue. I guess I'll catch up with you at intermission. There is an intermission, right?"

The figure turns to regan and mumbles a thank you as he hold out a gloved hand.

Jennifer follows Lorelei in.

Joseph smiles. "Yes, there is one. It should be there in the program they gave you." He murmurs, "I hope you enjoy the opera."

"You too," Alex says to Joseph. He makes his way over to Jennifer and Lorelei. "Hey guys," he says softly, as he follows them to his seat as well.

Lorelei heads to her seat, in the front row of the mezzanine level, where there's a good view.

Regan tears the coat and hat from a hulking man - to find he's even more disgusting than she thought.

Regan sweep her right hand out, fingers hooking inside the lapel of its ovecoat. Her grip tightens, pulling the fabric taut and she steps backward, wrenching abruptly downward, the fabric yielding with a tight shriek as she rips it open, buttons skittering to the floor.

Rakshasa's jaw drops, "Wow. Now that is really gross."

Joseph grimaces as he sees the revealed man. He shakes his head as he steps back into the hall.

The man calls Regan something quite un-PG13. "Why the hell'd you do that? You've ruined everything!" He grabs for the tatters of his coat.

Inside everyone's taking their seats, quite unaware of the events outside.

Regan steps back instinctively, her lips compressing.Her arms lift instinctively into a loose guard, her knees bending slightly. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Trying to stop a disaster!" the man hisses. "GIve me my coat!"

Rakshasa sighs and walks over to the burgeoning confrontation, "Ok Mr. ACE-hole, let's take a walk."

Regan offers the hulking mostrousity his coat.

Joseph stands near the doors to the theatre. He is observing what is going on but also keeping an eye out for anyone else.

"You don't understand!" says the man. The gives up. He looks between the two and begins to hurry out of the Civic Center.

Rakshasa vanishes and reappears in front of him, "Then talk."

Regan's hands spread. "If you're doing something constructive take the time to explain it, there are people here who can help."

Inside, Maria Pangarcia enters and bows and the orchestra strikes up.

"It's no good... you've ruined it already.... They probably saw me."

Regan's brows lift. "There are people here who will be able to help."

Joseph moves away from the doors to over where the others are. As Rancid begins to move away, he calls over. "Is everything alright, Rakshasa? Ma'am?"

"But they'll be expecting interference now - they'll probably be even more vicious."

Jennifer calls in Jessica. This venue is crowded and she's going to have to overwatch Lorelei's space closely, and at least pay enough attention to the opera to get a passing grade on her assignment.

Rakshasa grinned, "Now, you ACE guys are bad guys, but occasionally you might actually be right about something. So spill what ya got, and I'll let ya walk away."

Rakshasa shakes her head slightly at Joseph.

He doesn't like the threat. "Like you could stop me."

Alex's seat is on the ground level, towards the front. He smiles as soloist takes the stage and begins to watch the show.

Regan's head rocks from side to side. "Great, the adversarial approach. Why not pretend we all want to save lives and start cooperating for a second. That way we can pool resources."

Rakshasa snorts, "Dude. I'm the freaking Demon of the Night, Bane of Men, Devourer of Souls, The Great Deceiver. If you think you're hard enough, try me. If not, shut your mouth and start talking." She pauses and looks vaguely confused, "I mean... you know what I mean!!"

Joseph smiles slightly but remains silent as he moves closer. He continues to scan the hall as he moves closer.

Alex's seat is on the ground level, towards the front. He smiles as orchestra starts to play. He checks the program but something catches his attention, ahead of him in his seats. He murmurs something to himself.

He frowns, which makes him look no less disgusting. "What do you mean, demon? Some kind of alien?"

Rakshasa says, "Nah, I'm from India."

Regan looks to Joseph. "It might be an idea to send ushers to tell Ms Markham and Stephanie."

"I've got no beef with you, then. But this other lot, ACE, they're crazy!"

Joseph nods. "And they are going to attack the opera? Because it is not pure Earth?" His gaze flicks back to the closed doors.

Joseph nods to Regan and heads back towards the theatre at a run.

Jennifer gets out her binocs. Not fancy opera glasses but mil-spec optics. She scans the area Alex indicated in his message.

Rakshasa looks confused again, "Bwuh? I thought you were with ACE?"

"That's right. I mean, I'm opposed to alien influence, but - they're attacking humans here for putting on a show written by another human! That's crazy stuff! That's why we split with them. We're ACHE now - Allied Champions of Humans Everywhere."

Elsewhere in the city Jessica kicks her bike up to full speed heading to the Civic Centre.

Rakshasa facepalms, "Oy vey. Ok, so what is ACE's plan?"

"They're calling themself RACE - the Real Allied Champions of Earth. And I dunno - like I said, we split with them, a couple of months back. But we got wind of the plan...."

Rakshasa sighs, "How many of you ACHErs are here? Just you?"

Regan turns and moves away from where Rancid and Rakshasa stand talking, making her way toward the entrance to the concert hall.

Joseph speaks to the ushers at the front of the hall trying to convince them to go get Jennifer Markham and Alex from the hall. He points to Rancid if they ask why.

Joseph is told no one is allowed in or out till the overture's done. And no admissions until the interval after that.

"There's one more. Don't know how many there are from ACE."

Rakshasa says, "Are you in contact with him? It'll be helpful when the shouting starts to be able to tell the bad guys from the worse guys."

Rancid nods.

"Hang on - you calling us bad guys?"

Regan turns abruptly into a corridor, vanishing from sight as she starts for the mezzanine level

Rakshasa rolled her eyes, "You are, or were, ACE... international terrorists and all around nasty people. Ok, I'm not one to talk really, but, ya know, that usually qualifies, and stuff."

Someone stands guarding the door at the mezzanine level too.

"Look, we're just trying to save Earth from the aliens. And before you get all high-and-mighty about what nice guys aliens are, aliens did THIS to me."

Rakshasa shrugs, "Dude, that's like me going all 'My mom and dad tried to kill me, and, like, I was driven into the jungle to die, so all normal people are monsters'. Wah wah wah. Wear a freaking helmet if you're too much of a wuss to deal."

Joseph goes over to the nearest fire alarm and pulls it.

Sable finds an access panel whose lock she eases open after a few moments work. She glides into the narrow crawl space and moves along it, picking her way along the catwalks that hold the lighting, wiring, and speakers aloft. She picks her way briskly through the gloom.

Rancid roars and takes a swing at Rakshasa!

Sable looks around for some wiring to manipulate in the desired fashion.

The overture sounds like it's drawing to a close.

Rancid's fist hits Rakshasa's face with the sound of a raw steak slapping a countertop. She cracks her neck and turns back to face him, "Oh. It's. On. Now. Mr. Fhugly."

Rancid just bares his teeth at Rakshasa. One of his lips falls half off.

Sable moves to wrap her gloved hand around an appropriate looking bundle of cables.

Sable disables some lights, but not with the smoke she hoped for.

Jessica slides into the parking lot and takes off running towards the Civic Centre entrance.

The overture ends and the audience applauds mightily, not disappointed.

Rakshasa's stripes glow brightly and spark arc out ward, racing down her right arm and coalescing into a blade of bluish-gold energy, "My turn!"

Jessica comes up to the entrance just in time to see Rakshasa striking at pug-ugly with Joseph close by. "Hey! What's happening?" she calls out.

The blade cuts right through him and big bruiser lands flat on his back at a distance. But the wound has closed before he hits the ground.

Joseph looks over at Jessica as he comes in. "ACE is going to attack the opera," he says loudly and curtly. "And the ushers are too enamoured of their own power to get your sister."

The ushers allow people in or out for a few seconds...

Rakshasa points her blade at Rancid, "This guy is with ACE, but was trying to stop other ACErs from doing something at the show. He's got a buddy in there, as well as who knows how many ACE-holes. Dunno why he took a swing at me."

Rancid rolls to feet and charges Rakshasa again.

Jessica asks Rabcid urgently, "Is your buddy a short guy? And do you know what the ACE people intend to do?"

Rancid is pretty well foaming at the mouth and doesn't answer.

Rakshasa is knocked on her butt, damaging her pride. "Ow! My pride!"

Rakshasa got back to her feet and smiled at the raving Rancid, "Boy, I guess you really are just a big wuss, aren't ya." She twirled her blade and slice at him again.

The big guy is once again flattened.

This time he's slower getting up, but he still tries to charge Rakshasa.

Lorelei waves an arm.

Jessica runs in between Rancid and Rakshasa when Rakshasa is knocked back. "Chill it. I need this guy to talk." she tells Rakashasa. Then she tries to talk Rancid down from his enraged fury. "Okay guy. Focus on the mission."

Sable tries to find an active spotlight.

Alex stands up and tries to quietly make his way out of the theatre before the curtain rises.

Rakshasa flies back, tumbling end over and landing sprawled on the ground with her butt in the air, "Ok. I felt that one..."

Joseph divides his attention between the door and the fight.

Rancid pauses, his rage stilled at least for a moment.

The curtain rises!

Jessica keeps in front of Rancid to hold his attention. "ACE. Opera. Bad guys. What are you telling us? What's going on?"

Eurdice (Heloise Boisy) appears, being ferried across a holographic river Styx by Charon (Federico Sacca). The scene is dark, moody and brilliant, causing more applause despite the music. Spotlights are on Euridice.

"ACE - going to attack the play - that's all we know. Decibel's leading them. Brainchild and I are here to stop them."

Alex comes out of the theatre. He takes a cursory glance at the scene in the lobby with Jessica, Rakshasa, and Rancid. He squints slightly as he catches Rancid's scent. He turns and walks quickly off to find the men's room, like a frightened bystander.

Jessica says, "Brainchild, is he a dwarf?"

Sable leaps toward the nearest spotlight to wrestle it to point at Lorelei

Rancid says, "yeah. Used to be on TV, playing kids, till his head got all big."

Rakshasa scrambled back to her feet and looked around furiously, smoothing her skirt back into place, "You didn't see anything, right!?" she says to no one in particular.

Despite the technical problem with the lights, Euridice's opening aria - touching, brilliant, starts. Charon just poles the boat, silent, brooding.

Sable grabs the spotlight, using her weight to wrench it forcibly to where Lorelei stands, the brilliant orb of illumination sweeping abruptly across a section of the audience before fixing on Stephanie.

Jennifer thinks. o O (Finally, a fun school assignment.)

Suddenly a woman leaps onto the stage - not one of the ones people were watching, and from the other side of the front row. As she does so her clothes are destroyed and she become a being of glass! She smashes her hand upon the edge of the boat and grabs Heloise Choisy, holding her broken hand to her throat.

Rebound reaches the men's room and ducks into a stall. He starts switching into his costume.

Jessica frowns. "Trouble inside. Make it at least three bad guys. Call it Decibel, a sound EB'er. Crystal, killer with AP hth at least. One more unknown. Joseph, this is a good place not to be. Any chance you can get hold of your friend?"

Heloise's aria stops abruptly as the audience begins to scream. A big man shucks his coat and joins Crystal on stage, evidently taking up a defensive position.

Joseph grimaces and heads to the restrooms, taking out his PDA as he moves.

Sable flickers through the shadowed upper reaches of the concert hall, slicing in a smooth arc to land atop the lighting platform. Her knees buckle, tipping her into a smooth roll as she rises back to her feet almost noiselessly.

A woman flies out of the gallery into the air and aims a blast at the superbly lit Lorelei!

Lorelei attempts to dodge but is somewhat impeded by the seating.

Jennifer activates her force shield and leaps in front of Lorelei to protect her and those around her from the blast. Holding onto a seat she tries to brace against any KB into innocent members of the audience.

Lorelei's seat collapses under the force of the blast but little hard is done, other than Lorelei getting squashed between Jennifer and the seat.

Jennifer bounces against Lorelei. "Sorry about the bump. Seat gave way. Pavel, what do you think of the opera so far. I was starting to enjoy it. Much better than I expected it would be."

Jessica starts a run into the Centre and looks for access to the ceiling above the stage.

Pavel checks to make sure Lorelei is all right. "It was a good start...."

Jennifer grins, "Hang on to this one, Lorelei. He's okay." she praises Pavel, admiring his calm.

Jennifer races through to a fire exit and forces it open. The lighting crawlway will be taken at a run.

Another man leaps onto the stage, throwing off his coat. "Hear me! This contamination of the culture of our Earth cannot be permitted to continue. The performers here are guilty of crimes against our society - and you share in their crime by coming to listen..."

It's the ventilation system for Rebound as he tries to make his way back from the restroom. He'll try to reach the catwalks above the stage eventually.

Rakshasa sigh, "I don't have time to play with you any more doo-doo head." She shimmers and disappears.

Rebound squeezes out of the ventilation system onto the catwalk above the theatre.

Rakshasa appears in midair, facing the mezzanine. In fact, directly between Vector and Lorelei.

Rakshasa says, "Ta~daaa!!!"

Lorelei squeezes her way out from under Jennifer, and starts on ye olde EGO draine.

Rancid, gathering that things have hit the fan, runs into the building.

Brainchild, able so see clearly now the lights are up, tries to disable Crystal.

Crystal doesn't react much beyond a twist of her mouth, however.

Joseph steps into the restrooms and once he makes certain the coast is clear begins to change. Sunlight suffuses his form from the inside out until Joseph is gone and Lightray stands in his place. He murmurs, "I will never get tired of that' as he heads out again.

Vector, having been given a new, more obvious target blasts Rakshasa in the back!

The beam passes straight through Rakshasa and hits Pavel, who is blown through the first rank of seats.

Jessica runs along the lighting crawlway towards the stage area.

Jennifer thinks. o O(Oh this is just great) She goes for a leap and grab, squeezing if she makes the grab, and plotting the course of the leap to avoid landing on anyone else if that's possible.

Crystal continues to cover Heloise, it would seem.

Jennifer misses Vector as the villainess dodges. Coming down past her intended target she grabs a seat back and deflects her path to drop onto a sturdy male lap rather than land on his more dainty female companion. "Sorry old chap." she tells him.

Decibel takes the opportunity of the clear shot on Lorelei.

Decibel destroys the seat that Jenn used to be sitting in.

Rebound looks down from the catwalk to the stage where Crystal is holding onto the soloist. He walks along the catwalk and he tries to find controls for the curtain.

Rakshasa turns around, "Oh. Hmmm... They have a hostage. How annoying." She vanishes and reappears next to Crystal. "Hi! I don't suppose you'd be interested in a fair fight?"

"In a minute," says Crystal.

Rakshasa pouts, "But I wanna fight now!!!"

Lorelei tries to sap their willpower again, hoping to avoid another massacre as in the last hostage situation.

"It won't take long," says Crystal.

Lightray flies to the doors of the theatre and says, "If you will excuse me, gentleman?" He proceeds inside as a field of sunlight solidifies around him.

Rancid follows Joseph through the door and leaps clear onto the stage, provoking a fresh round of screams. "Get away from her!" he bellows at Crystal.

Crystal, however, remains quite calm.

Brainchild continues to concentrate on something.

Jennifer holds herself ready. Vector will either have to hold ready to dodge her or will commit herself and then she'll have a good shot at taking her down.

Jessica whispers to Sable, "If I distract Crystal can you take her down?"

Jessica holds until Sable can reply.

Jessica can see this incident getting ugly, well uglier, any moment now. And the person most at risk is the singer at Crystal's mercy. Her objective now must be to protect the singer, yet any attack on Crystal will result in the singer being injured. So she drops, hopefully in surprise, down onto Crystal and the singer aiming to shove the singer clear of Crystal's grip and interpose herself between them. yeah, she'll probably have to take at least one hit. That's the price of being a heroine.

Rakshasa smiled ferally, "Playtime NOW!!!" She shimmered as she returned to solid form, her stripes glowly brightly as sparks arced out once again to form her energy blade.

Jessica drops down and shoves the singer away from Crystal towards the left wing area of the stage. "Okay. Decibel, you're made your protest, made your point, stopped the show. So far only one person has got hurt. Call it a victory and walk away now. If you continue and others get hurt this isn't protesters making a point, it's unwarranted terrorism and you're attacking the people you want to protect, the normal people of Earth."

Crystal agilely leapt over the sweeping energy blade. Rakshasa smiled even more wildly, "Oh, this is going to be so much fun!"

Crystal says, "I said, in a minute!" and for some reason jumps over Jessica's head to attack Heloise!

Lightray growls under his breath as he raises his arm to fling sunlight at Crystal. He is apparently trying to hit her so she will be knocked away from attacking Heloise.

Jennifer gets a hard choice. Why Crystal would pass by the back of Jessica for Heloise is not clear but that's what is happening. And there's only one thing she can think that will give the singer a chance. It's too far to be able to reach the singer or Crystal in time to stop an attack. So, in the middle of a crowd of people, and no doubt the media is recording this... . o O(Sigh) An energy whip comes out of her purse. Jennifer moves forward into range and reaches out to grab Heloise again and lift her over the pit and over the audience to the rear of the auditorium.

However the bolt of sunlight goes quite wide and takes out a portion of the Underworld instead.

Jennifer catches up Heloise and lifts her off her feet and over the audience to the rear of the auditorium. . o O(Next, get those small crystals off her back)

Crystal, robbed of her prey, wheels about and stabs her broken hand (now seemingly growing new fingers?) at the only enemy in reach, Jessica. "No! Now we have to do this the hard way...."

Rakshasa says, "I love the hard way!"

The big guy in black points into the audience. "There's the dwarf!"

Jessica rolls into a turk breakfall after the impact and comes to her feet again, turning her head to look at Crystal. "Now that wasn't very nice. You're making me angry."

Rakshasa thinks. o O (Waaaaaait a minute... I wonder... was all this just a ruse by RACE to draw out ACHE, so they could resolve finish their little spat? Oooh! I hope so, it's like something I'd think of!)

Decibel answers Jennifer, "No one here is truly innocent -" but then he's distracted by the news about Brainchild, and moving in that direction and letting loose a terrible shrieking sound at the dwarf.

The force field around Jessica darkens in a momentary overload but Crystal's attack doesn't penetrate skin. The wince on Jessica's face shows it had an effect though.

The dwarf is blown clear into the side wall of the auditorium and collapses to the ground in a heap.

Suddenly the curtain comes down, cutting those on stage off from the rest of the auditorium, and a rubbery arm reaches down to lift Federico Sacca to safety.

Conviction eyes up Rancid. "You will not stop us, Rancid. You lack the force of will." And so saying aims a punch at Rancid's stomach.

Rancid's abdomen is distorted by the force of the blow but just seems to repair itself.

Sable turns her attention to saving the backstage crew now the cast is safe.

Vector once again focuses her attention on Lorelei, whom she's been advised is dangerous for some reason.

Vector's blast misses Lorelei, who is miving away from the throng to avoid more accidental casualties. Oddly, the blast bounces off the floor, the ceiling and a few walls before dissipating.

"Always thought you were better than the rest of us, huh, Conviction. Well I'll show you. Ain't no one tougher than me." He returns the blow.

Rancid may have a point as Conviction is knocked clear to the back of the stage. Still, the black-clad man lands on his feet, looking little the worse for wear. Not so Rancid. Muscles tore from bone as he punched the other man, and yet in and instant his joint reknit themselves.

Vector takes another shot at Lorelei.

This time the wildly bouncing blast strikes someone in the audience, mercifully in a downward direction so he isn't thrown about too violently.

Jessica turns to Crystal, "So lets see what's best, living glass or twenty-second century memory metal." Out comes her ranger staff and she expands it to single stick length. The stick blurs as Jessica aims a strike down onto Crystal's shoulders.

Jessica slips on a broken fragment of stage setting and the strike goes astray.

Crystal's lips turn up in a cold smile.

Jennifer figures she might as well be hung for a Wolfguard as a wolf cub. She's used the whip. Hopefully her cover story, weapon instructor having learnt to use one, will hold up. In the meantime Vector is firing at Lorelei and that is making her angry. So the whip lashes out at Vector.

Jennifer strikes home with the whip.

The whip is partly deflected by an instinctive response on Vector's part; still, it hits her hard enough to knock her toward the stage.

Crystal says to Jessica, "Force Field, hm? Let's see if it protects you against this?" She reaches toward Jenn, this time with her good hand.

Jessica, however, it too quick for her.

Jessica deflects Crystals hand with the single stick before it reaches her, "We'll never know because you're not good enough to hit me except in the back."

Decibel is perturbed. "Did I get the dwarf or not?" He aims a sonic blast upwards, causing the curtains to collapse to the floor and squints looking for Brainchild.

Rebound decides too much of the audience it as risk, and, leaping down stretches himself as a shield between the worst of the fighting and as much of the lower auditorium as he can.

Rakshasa says, "You were supposed to be playing with me!" and strikes at Crystal once more.

Her energy spike, however, just fails to hit home.

Lightray shouts in a authoritarian voice at the audience, "Use the exits! Out!" He then flies towards the stage to close with Decibel and lets loose with a burst of blinding sunlight.

Decibel seems to notice the winged man just a moment before he strikes. As a result the flash of light just barely misses him.

Conviction flies back to Rancid, landing solidly in front of him. "I *am* better than you. The man of greatest conviction and strongest willpower will win. I am that man." He punches Rancid once more.

Rancid is knocked back clear over the pit onto and extremely unfortunate audience member. But he looks barely hurt.

Lorelei makes a dash for the exit, hoping that if Vector want her that much she'll pursue and the audience will stop suffering for her presence.

Rancid gets up, leaps back onto the stage and tries to hit Conviction, this time in the nose.

Once again Conviction is knocked back, if not so far. Once again, he lands on his feet.

Vector indeed follows orders and chase Lorelei from the auditorium with a considerable burst of speed.

Jennifer lets the momentum gained from deflecting Crystal's attack aid her counter-strike as sge brings the stick back around at Crystal's ribs.

Chips of sharp glass fly at Jessica at the strike, but none penetrate her force field.

Crystal doesn't seem to be as fragile as one might think. Still that blow shook her, as well as knocking her flat onto her back stage left.

Jennifer cannot catch up with Vector. "Lightray, do you have the movement to go help Lorelei?" she shouts over at him. Meanwhile she moves forward to get Crystal in range of a whip strike while Crstral is down and tries to finish at least one threat off for this conflict.

Jennifer strikes Crystal hard and sees small fracture lines spread from the point of impact. Crystal glass is so pretty in the stagelights." she sniggers. Then she looks at Decibel. "One down, Three to go. You should have taken the win when I offered it."

Decibel looks downright annoyed. Clearly Crystal was a vital part of the plan. "We'll take the win anyway!" Cue sonic blast at Jennifer, after flying over the pit.

Decibel's blast misses and doesn't seem to do any harm when it hits an empty seat either.

Rakshasa pouts as Crystal is taken out, "Shiva take you! Where am I gonna find someone to play with now..." Her gaze falls on Decibel since Rancid and Conviction are fighting already, "Ok Loudmouth, looks like you're it!" With a flourish her energy blade vanishes and sparks cascade down her arms, forming into mutliple minature energy spike grasped between her fingers. She flings them at Decibel, "Rain of pain!!!"

Decibel goes flailing wildly out of control to land gracelessly among abandoned seats in the auditorium.

Lightray shouts back to Jennifer. "She's faster than me, but I will try." He twists and turns in the air, his wings flaring wide and through solid objects without harm, and flies back the way Vector moved.

Rakshasa blows imaginary smoke off her finger, "Someday you punks are gonna learn I'm not *all* talk!"

Lightray shouts back to Jennifer. "She's faster than me. Better I help here." He twists and turns in the air, his wings flaring wide and through solid objects without harm and lets loose with another burst of blinding sunlight at Decibel.

"OW! MY EYES!" shouts Decibel painfully loudly.

Conviction continues his fight, knocking Rancid into the auditorium yet again.

Lightray raises his eyebrows at Decible's outbrust, but refrains from apologizing.

Out in the lobby, Vector tries to blast Lorelei.

Lorelei is blown back into a wall. The beam didn't hurt her but the impact is another matter.

Jennifer and Jessica move in on Decibel. Both whips are out now. She's kind of angry. Her dress is just /ruined/. Striking together they aim coordinated attacks for opposite directions into Decibel.

Jennifer and Jessica strike hard. Decibel hardly moved as the whip lashes hit from opposite directions, merely jerking and rolling limply over a few feet.

Jessica says, "Two down. Two to go."

Rakshasa grins as the twins take out Decibel, "Good going girls, ring his bell!" She looks over at the brawl between Conviction and Rancid, just in time to see Rancid get knocked back again, "Geez Fhugly, can't you fight worth a damn? Meh. I think I need a snack... Hey big and stupid!" she calls out to Conviction, "Gimmer some of that soul food!". Her stripes begin to glow ominously

Rakshasa looks vaguely disappointed as nothing happens.

Jennifer thinks. o O(That Vector is fast. I cannot catch up with her. We need someone fast here on our side.)

Jennifer calls out of the SGG channel, <>

Jennifer shouts, "Sable, can you go help Lorelei? I'm too slow to catch up with her.

Lorelei, having led Vector into the lobby where she's no risk to the audience (except those who have already escaped to the lobby!) stands up shakily from where Vector drove her into the wall and strikes a stunning pose for her, hoping against hope it'll do some good.

Vector takes notice, but doesn't seem much hurt.

Rancid roars, "Phugly, is it? Why I oughta -!" he leaps back onto the stage, this time attacking not Conviction but Rakshasa.

Rakshasa laughs as her stripes flare, the stored energy deflecting the mouldering man's meaty fist.

Once again, Rancid's blow seems to hurt him more than Rakshaka, though he heals from it rapidly.

Sable turns away from the rear exit, having guided as many as possible of the staff to safety. She runs directly through the backstage area, boots thumping across the stage itself before launching herself in a smooth leap over the still-milling throng of the audience, hoping to use her acrobatic skill to maneuver over and through the throng.

Vector, seeing Sable's dramatic entrance, decides she's better prepare for an exit, and flies to the way out of the theatre - firing another bolt back at Lorelei as she does so.

Sable's body twists as she soars through the auditorium, her body flattening to turn her into a stremlined projectile that slices neatly over the head of the crowd bottle-necked at the doorway. Kicking off the dorrframe to land to one side of the crowd emerging into the lobby she curls into a smooth forward roll, her momentum carrying her back up to her feet.

Vector's beam this time bounces twice and hits a potted plant, which throws itself at the box office.

Kibin runs towards the civic center as fast as possible, pushing a bit to get through the lobby doors.

A superior smiles shows through Conviction's mask as Rancid seems to have solved one of his problems. He grabs the damaged Crystal and flies up into the vast space above the stage.

There, he attempts to punch a new exit to the theatre.

Jennifer and Jessica both leap up towards Conviction to get him into Whip range, and try to grab him in the whips.

Jessica wraps the end of an energy whip around Convistion, and then swings beneath him as the whip on full extendoing is too short for her to reach the floor after leaping.

Jennifer reaches out with her whip in turn and grabs onto Jessica while vracing herself against being pulled up by Jessica being pulled up by Conviction.

Rakshasa hmphs, "Sorry Fhugly, I don't have time to play with you." She shimmers and reappears up toward the cieling. Sparks cascade down her right arm forming a blade of energy that she swings at Conviction, "Lets have fun together!"

The blow sends Conviction spinning back towards the stage. "Hehehehehehehe!!! I love it! It's like playing tether ball!"

Lorelei makes good on her plan and runs out the exit. If Vector wants her, she'll have to get past Kibin!

Lightray helps members of the audience endanger by other, panicking people.

Rancid doesn't let Rakshasa get away that easily. He leap up high into the air, punching at her at the top of his leap.

Lorelei suddenly stops in her tracks, gasping and holding her head.

Rakshasa is smashed into the cieling, "Oooof! Ok, ok, you're not fhugly, you're pulchritude challenged."

Rancid falls back to the ground after his punch.

Sable uses the momentum of her forward roll to surge powerfully forward, springing skyward after one or two paces and cocking her fist for a viciously powerful blow. which she unleashes.

Sable's torso twists as she winds up while in flight, her fist tightly cocked. As she covers the last few feet toward her target her body unwinds, her weight and forward momentum wholly focused into the area of her first two knuckles which scythe smoothly into Vecohtor's midriff, the force of the blow hurling the villainess bodily backward.

Vector crashes into the wall next to the entrance.

Vector picks herself up and flies out the door and into the air, firing down at Lorelei.

Lorelei collapses to the ground unconscious.

Sable's brow furrows and she looks to Lorelei as she crumples to the pavement. Her eyes narrow slightly as they flicker untrustingly to Vector then rove across her surroundings.

Jessica keeps up the squeeze and tries to pull Conviction down to ground level, while Jennifer holds ontp Jessica and pulls her down to ground level.

Jessica hurls Conviction down at the floor of the stage. Jennifer releases Jessica, allowing Jessica to fall, and tries to grab and squeeze Conviction after he hits the floor.

Kibin looks up at Vector, and guessing since the heros are attacking her, she's the villian. He leaps into the air, doing a flip and whacking her towards the ground with his tail.

Kibin barely misses Vector as she dodges in midair, landing back on his feet with a thud.

Vector talks seemingly to herself as Kibin narrowly misses, and frowns.

Rakshasa wipes her brow as she reorients after getting smashed into the cieling, "Darn it. When I said I was hungry, I meant it. Gimme your soul!" Her stripes flare once again as she points at conviction

Rakshasa stamps her foot angrily in mid-air.

Rakshasa uses +END to increase End statistic.

Conviction soars once more into the air, this time just charging the part of the ceiling that has a Rakshasa-shaped dent in it, while sheltering Crystal with his body.

Conviction blasts through the roof.

Rancid - no surprise - makes another leap-and-punch for Rakshasa.

Rakshasa says, "Ow! Stop that! What are some sort of meat jumping jack?"

Sable lands smoothly after her last leap, her knees flexing to absorb the impact and then hurling her once more toward Vector, her body twisting to lash a booted foot toward vector's chest, using her momentum to feed the strike.

Joseph enters from West Colonial Heights.

By this point some of the audience have stopped fleeing and instead are watching the curious spectacle of the monster hitting Rakshasa.

Sable manages to swing her fott firmly into Vector's ribcage, the impact smashing the breath from her in an incoherent grunt. The two meta-humans tumble in unison from where they collided, Sable twisting to land smoothly in a low crouch.

Kibin leaps back up, spinning around and attemtping to hit Vector again with his tail. "Stay still, would you?"

Kibin hits Vector, just noting when he lands that she was already unconscious... ooops. He looks around for any other villians, or Jennifer.

Jennifer grabs Jessica with her own whip and over extends it to lift Jessica up through the hole in the roof. Now just a few inches from Conviction Jessica puts everything she can into striking multiple times with her whip lash.

Jessica breaks into a sweat from the effort she put in.

Jessica is satisfied however as she sees Conviction go limp in the air.

Conviction and Crystal begin falling to the ground, no longer supported by force of will.

Rakshasa sighs, "Geez. You guys spoil my fun. And Fhugly, you're boring! Entertain me damn it!". Sh eshimmers and becomes vaguely translucent.

Rakshasa sighs, "Geez. You guys spoil my fun. And Fhugly, you're boring! Entertain me damn it!". Sh eshimmers and becomes vaguely translucent.

Lightray says, "flies over towards the fight going on between Rancid and the now translucent Rakshasa. He says in a stentorian voice, "Rancid, the fight is over. Stand down!""

Rancid doesn't even seem to notice Lightray.

Rakshasa says, "Hey Mr. Sparkles, wanna make a bet on how long it taks for him to collapse from exhaustion?"

Sable moves to where Lorelei has fallen to tend to her, gently moving her into coma position even while she checks Stephanie's vital signs. She spares a long glance for where Brainchild was last scene, her lips compressing.

Lorelei has no obvious broken bones and isn't bleeding, but her breathing is shallow and she's unconscious. Who knows?

Kibin sniffs around, to try to find Jennifer and the others.

Jessica will try to catch Crystal before she hits the roof. She might be fragile. No such consideration will be given to Conviction. Let him bounce.

Jennifer waits for Jessica to drop a medikit to her. She then hurries back to Pavel and uses it to heal his injuries.

Kibin runs to go find Jennifer, seeing if she needs help wherever she is. What's with the meat smell...

Rancid keep trying to hit Rakshasa. Intangible or not.

Rakshasa laughs at Rancid.

Despite a shattering sound, Crystal only seems to lose a couple more extremities as she hits the ground. Whereas Conviction make bone-breaking sound and ends up bleeding where shards of Crystal enter him.

Kibin walks through the civic center, trying to find Jennifer. And getting closer to that horrible rotting meat smell...

The rotting meat smell emanates from the person trying to his Rakshasa.

Jennifer still treats Pavel with the medikit before returning to dose Conviction. Jessica heads out to check on Lorelei.

Lightray winces at the sound of breaking glass and bones. He flies over to the fallen Conviction and kneels next to him.After a moment, sunight pools in his hands before it spills out down onto Conviction. (Healing Body)

Sable takes up Lorelei's wrist and slaps it lightly with her fingertips in a scene reminiscent of something straight out of a Victorian pulp story

Jennifer says, "Hey, Kibin. Thanks for coming."

Pavel, amazed, thanks Jennifer. Maybe he has a chance at Wimbledon after all!

Kibin waves to Jennifer. "I, uh, took care of some woman in the lobby. Do you have things under control here?" He just stares at the origin of the rotting meat smell.

Lorelei soon comes round - maybe Sable's approach does the trick!

Paramedics with rather worried looks on their faces are treating Heloise.

Jennifer looks over the wrecked opera house. "Huh. We like totally don't have any jurisdiction here, Kibin. This would have been, darn well should be, SGG business up to the reorganisation. Now, well I guess it's the Marshalls who take over."

Lorelei says, "Or just the ordinary police. Who seem a much better bet."

Jennifer looks up at Rancid and Rakshasa playing. "Looks like most things are settled. I'd score this a 8.5 from the East German Judge. We kept the audience injuries down and no deaths."

Lightray looks down at Conviction then Crystal. He shakes his ehad and heads over to where Heloise is being treated.

Kibin shrugs at Jennifer, while staring at the rotting meat man, "Well, Starguard doesn't prevent us from acting as normal heros. Also... what the heck IS that thing?"

Sable smiles to Lorelei. "Welcome to the land of the living. Are you feeling ok?"

Crystal's physical injuries are healing before Lightray's eyes.

Lightray overhears Kibin says as he walks by on the way to Heloise, "Someone who claims aliens made him the man he is."

Lorelei says, "I've felt better. Did you - ah yes. She's down, I see..."

Jennifer grins at Kibin, "You're right, Kibin. And that's what we did. Responded as normal heroes. As to what that is," she points at Rancid, "I don't think I really want to know."

Sable rises and cross to kneel where Vector fell. and start checking her vital signs and moving her into coma position.

Rakshasa floats down casually and joins the others.

Kibin comments to Jennifer and Lightray, "I could smell him all the way from the lobby... well, you too, but it was much easier to smell him."

The paramedics are looking at Heloise's back, which is rather shiny - reminiscent of Crystal, indeed. Though otherwise she seems fine.

Sable fusses around just as ineffectually over the super-villainess though she doesn't try to revive her, just ensure that she is stable and not in any immediate danger of deteriorating.

Indeed, it doesn't take long for the authorities to get here - the local police beating the marshalls to it. And of course they have violated local law as well as international, so there's no problem there.

Lightray looks at the 'crystals' on the soprano's back and nod to himself. He looks over at the twins and calls out, "Ms Markhams? Do either of you know if that crystalline woman's powers can infect others?"

Jennifer sighs, "My dress is ruined."

Lorelei says, "Pavel!"

Lorelei runs inside to check on Pavel.

Jessica looks to Lightray. "I don't but I'll check." She contacts SG and requests any information on that matter available from them.

Sable's head jerks up as Lorelei cries out but the model is gone before she can insist she should stay calm.

Sable stands aside and allows the police to process Vector, staying as far out of their way as possible. As soon as an opportunity presents itself however she melts into the crowd and in moments is nowhere to be seen

Jennifer nods to herself, "Lightray, yes she can. Your healing might help. Otherwise she'll recover in time."

Lightray murmurs comfortingly to the stricken soprano. "I am certain you will suffer no harm, madame. May I aid you? I would not wish your public to be deprived of your voice for any length of time." He thinks. o 0 A bit thick but stoking her ego cannot hurt.

Lightray seems to be correct in his assessment. Heloise thanks him for his kind words, and says (truthfully or not) that she regrets that the show can't go on.

Someone who's likely the producer or theatre manager is fretting over the physical damage to the theatre.

Lightray gathers a pool of sunlight into his hands again and then lets it flow down onto and into the soprano. After a few moments, the shards of glass recede then disappear completely.

Rakshasa dusts off her hands, "All in a good evening's work! I had no ide the opera could be so entertaining! I'll have to come every night!"

A few people were injured, mostly by Vector's stray beam or by being landed on by Rancid, but none of the injuries are beyond the ability of those present to treat.

Kibin hmmmphs, he looks disappointed that the fight is over alread. Rancid seems to be occupied and not hurting anyone... he asks Jennifer, "Is there anything else that needs done here?"

Jennifer chuckles and points to the stage, "Well the tradition is the show must go on I'm told. How is your singing voice, Kibin?"

Rakshasa ear's perk up (metaphorically), "Singing!? I'm a big hit at the karoke bars, I could try!"

Kibin blinks, surprised by Jennifer's request. "Uh... I'm afraid velociraptors don't sing too well."

Lightray flies over to where Rancid is still trying to hit Rakshasa. He watches for a moment, then starts to talk in a calm voice, "I am not certain if you can hear me right now, sir, but your enemies are captured. Rakshasa here is a jerk perhaps, but maybe you might want to give some thought to calming down." He continues in this vein for quite some time rasing his voice if necessary to try get some attention from the big rotting lug.

Jennifer nods to Rakshasa, "Wonderful. Up on stage then."

Rakshasa thinks. o O (Only sometimes..? Yay! I am making progress!)

Rakshasa hmms, "Well, if Rancie here calms down, we could do the "Putting on the Ritz" duet from Young Frankenstein."

Rancid notices Lightray this time, but the message doesn't get through his thick head.

Kibin watches Lightray trying to talk to Rancid, and after he tries unsuccessfully, he tries. "HEY YOU! You're trying to hit air!" he roars at Rancid, hoping he can get through better.

Lorelei could probably stop Rancid, but seems to be rather busy kissing Pavel in their mutual delight at finding each other ok. You know this will be in tomorrow's papers.

Lightray smiles slightly. "Well, at least you are looking at me. How about I make youa deal? Since you cannot seem to hurt her," he gestures at Rakshasa, 'how about you take out your frustartoin on the boat over there?" He points to the prop boat Heloise and Enrice where in.

Rancid is just shocked out his rage. And actually looks quite embarrassed.

Lightray looks at Rancid. "So, feeling calmer?" Withouit waiting for an anser he plows on. "Thank you. Without your warning who knows what might have happened here."

After a few moments, Rancid says, "We're done here, yeah?"

"Ok. I'm out of here then." Rancid jumps out the hole in the roof.

Lightray looks at Rancid for a moment then nods. "As far as I am concerned. The police might wish to tlak to you, but if you have no outstanding warrants, you shold be fine." Hs tone is conversational.

Kibin nods at Rancid. "I guess so... looks like all the bad guys are gone or captured or whatever," he replies.

Rancid probably does have outstanding warrants. But leaves before the police get up the nerve to broach the matter.

Lightray watches Rancid leave then turns with a slight smile and a shrug. "Pity. He seems like a good man if angry."

Rakshasa smiles brightly, "I liked him. He was funny."

Kibin suddenly thinks about the fact that he just scared a man made of what smelled like rotting meat. Huh. "So... did any of the villians escape?" he asks.

Lightray chuckles. "And you wonder why people try to hit you, don't you?"

Rakshasa smirks, "Nope. I don't wonder at all."

Crystal looks fine, if still unconscious, by the time the police take her away. Even the hand she broke herself is back.

SOme reporters seem to be taking pictures not of Lorelei and Pavel or of the damage to the theatre but of the twins.

Lightray looks around and then back to the others. "Well, I am not certain what happened to the dwarf, but otherwise, no, all are accounted for I think."

Rakshasa says, "Ooh! Reporters! Excuse me guys!" She vanishes and appears over by the reporters.