Riftgate - Jefferson's America 4

The robbers are in custody. Jennie is released from duty to continue the sight-seeing tour. Jessie has caught up with you and rejoins the group. "Oh wow, Lorelei, you handled that just like the Mediator would have done."

Lorelei says, "Well - we do have a lot in common, I guess."

The twins nod. Jessie tells Alex, "You asked about the details of the attack? I've checked out what's known, so I can answer some of your questions now if you wish."

Jennie calls the limo over the group.

Alex nods. "That'd be good."

Lorelei thinks. o O (I just hope the bank robbers don't change their minds again once away from me. I tried to make sure it was actually their own, reasoned decision - but how can I be sure? The Mediator's right - our powers may be handy, but there are drawbacks too... maybe I ought to stick to modelling....)

Lorelei nods. "The more we know about the situation we're in, the better!"

Narosia listens to the exchanges made, careful to understand the situation, what details they can find out.

Jessie nods, "I don't know what you consider important so probably best if you ask questions and I'll tell you what's known."

Jennie opens the doors to the limo and tells the driver to head to the new stadium when everyone has boarded.

Lorelei says, "I'm told the Lincolnists' aim is to force political unity by providing an enemy to unite against - is this accurate? Is there any reason we in particular were targets?"

Alex says, "Also, what were the identities of the attackers? Do the seem to match up with those who might be Lincolnists?"

Jessie nods to Lorelei, "As far as anyone understands the Lincolnists that seems to be their objective. Why they cannot realize it isn't going to work...? Well that's why they are terrorists I guess. There doesn't appear to be any obvious reason for picking the dinner as a target. A random opportunity it seems. Three of them have been positively ID'ed as Lincolnists. The other two aren’t in any records."

Lorelei nods. "How'd did they manage to get hired as the band? Or did they replace the real band?"

Narosia coughs, "Who supplied their weapons, or does no one know?"

Alex nods. "Good questions, both."

Jessie says, "They replaced the real band members. Those have been found dead in a motel room on the route to here. The weapons could have been bought anywhere. Even the smallest settlement will have a weapon shop selling everything except the poison darts, and those could be bought in any decent sized town."

Alex nods. "Which of the band members was the leader? Would it be possible to ask them some questions?"

"The flutist was the leader of the original band. No way to know which is the leader of the Lincolnists. They are being interrogated but they won't talk. They never do."

Lorelei says, "Hm - and what's are the Lincolnist's patterns generally? Are they likely to have another go? Or are they more hit-and-run - hit one target then move on to the next?"

Jessie says, "Hit and run is their normal tactic. Most unlikely to make another attempt. Security is being stepped up though just in case."

"Those two without records-was the flute player a non-recorded persona?" Narosia says this idly, a unsupported idea forming in her brain.

Lorelei nods.

Jessie checks the notes on her PDA before answering, "No. The flutist was one of the identified terrorists. Sean O'Donnell, Irish-American originally from Boston."

Alex says, "Maybe I've been spending too much time hanging out with Silver Spider, but I can't help but have the nagging idea that the attack was something more than a terrorist attack. Maybe if we had a chance to talk to the prisoners, I could put some ideas to rest."

Jessie nods, "If Lorelei asks nobody is going to say no. So if you want to talk to the terrorists that can be easily arranged."

Lorelei nods to Alex. "You may be right.... I don't understand much about this world, but I can't see how attacking this particular thing would help the Lincolnists much. It seems to have been something controversial anyway, rather than something that could unite people. While if the airport goes through there's likely to be some increased unity, if just commercial...."

Alex says, "On our world, anything said by the men while asked by Lorelei wouldn't be admissible in a court. I suggest that the same guidelines be applied. That said, we may get some clues as to whether or not there's some larger agenda behind the attack."

Jessie reads the notes to see if there's anything else to relate. "Oh, Jenny told the investigating officers she had been asked by you to check into who arranged for the band to be hired. She did that. The Mayor's office asked the ESC delegation what they would like to have. The office were told the band was a favorite of Jorge's."

[To Alex] Lorelei says, "Actually, I'm not sure that's true.... As far as I can make out there isn't really a legal precedent for my sort of powers. Though it might be ruled they're like psychic abilities."

Lorelei says, "Hm. Odd that Jorge didn't notice it was the wrong band then - assuming of course he knew what the band was supposed to be. Which he may not have, of course."

Alex nods. "Mental powers are the closest analogue I can think of. Good point about Jorge." He turns to Jessie. "I don't think I have any more questions for right now. At least not until we talk to Mr. O'Donnell and his comrades."

Jennie is frowning, "You're right, Lorelei. If that band was a favorite of Jorge's he would have known they were not the right people playing. Jessie, can you check that?

Jessie grins, "You could go and check it while I take our guests to the stadium."

Lorelei says, "And if they weren't his favourite band, the person who said they were could be the person we want to talk to."

Jennie shakes her head laughing quietly, "No way. I've never seen the CHSH team play. We've always been on duty. I'm not going to miss this chance."

Jessie nods, "Ok. You own me one. Another one." and she heads off to check out the questions rised by Alex and Lorelei.

Alex deadpans. "Football? That's the one with the wooden clubs and the leather gloves?"

Lorelei says, "I'd like to see how they compare to our team... just tell me football isn't played with guns here."

Jennie laughs, "No. I saw a game over on your world, It's played the same. That gizmo you have, though. That would be cool if it worked on our TVs."

Lorelei says, "What gizmo's that? Huh, and kind of interesting it's played the same, given the weird history the game had on our world."

Alex strokes his chin. "I've got a theory on that."

Lorelei thinks again. "BUt maybe not. Maybe it makes *more* sense it would develop that way here.

Jennie asks, "Maybe it's super-tech from the gadgeteer Gemini told us she knew. Anyway she had a device that could copy pictures from a TV and show them at another time."

Alex shakes his head. "No, it's just a video recorder. Available at any consumer electronics store back home."

Jennie looks impressed. "Really!? Would it work with our TVs?"

Lorelei says, "You don't have video recorders? We've had them - I don't know, maybe a century now? A long time, anyway."

Lorelei says, "Of course, the early ones worked a completely different way, so I don't know if they count."

Jennie shakes her head. "No, we don't have anything like that. If you want to store pictures you use film. Or there's some new digital stuff but it's way too expensive for any normal person."

Lorelei grins. "I should show you my TV. You'd be so jealous..."

Staying dead silent throughout the conversation she has nothing to say about tv recorders-electronics and her mix like oil and water does-but Narosia becomes interested for the differences between worlds.

The limo pulls up outside the entrance to the new stadium.

Alex grins. "Maybe the copyright police are much stronger here, Lore. Should take me all of five minutes to hook it up, Jennie. I'm thinking in the worst case, I'd need to jury rig a converter." Alex hmms. "Maybe I ought to stay away from introducing too much tech to your world."

Jennie grins and gives Alex a pleading pretty-please look, "Just one then. I'll be able to copy the football games when we're on duty."

Narosia says, "...Who invented tv re-corders?"

Lorelei says to Jennie, "The price you pay for your independence, maybe. I'm pretty sure that tech's too old to be from super-inventors. It's probably because the political fragmentation is a drain on the economy. We had that too much in Europe. The stupid thing is we were even getting it together and then the whole thing fell apart in 2008...."

Lorelei gets out and has a look at the stadium.

The stadium is impressive. It seats 40,000 in three tiers, with corporate boxes on the top tier behind each touchdown line. The field is in use during your visit by the Colonial Bay High School team. They are engaged in a practice session, with training aids on the sidelines and groups of players going through the plays being called by the coach.

The stadium manager comes down the steps to greet the visitors. Once again Lorelei is fawned over as he guides the group into the stadium and out onto the playing field.

"Well, ok." Alex says to Jennie. "But only because you asked nicely." He steps out of the limo as well.

Narosia sticks close to Alex, observing the massive green field as she clambers out, rather bemused at the incredible popularity playing using balls generates.

Lorelei looks about. "The *high school* team plays here?"

The CHHS team are out on the field practicing. There's the usual collection of sideline people as well. The coach you met briefly in the hotel lobby. Matt2, the QB, is there. So are his group of minions including Bubba2 and Nils2. Nils2 has a couple of the cheerleader squad hanging onto his arms. There's also a youth in a wheelchair, acting as water-boy.

Alex says, "Wow. It's no wonder those jocks were acting like they owned the town. If this is where they play..."

Lorelei nods. "And they were first in the league, or something? Puts us to shame rather."

Lorelei looks over the players and the cheerleaders for familiar faces.

Coach Peters comes over to greet you all, "Hello and welcome to our practice session. It's an honor to have you here, Ms Lorelei."

Alex looks to the others. "I think I see someone..." he explains before walking towards Alex2

Lorelei says, "Thank you - pretty impressive home ground you have here!"

"W-wait." Narosia murmurs, following after Alex should he not shake her off, openly disliking this large muscle bound crowd.

Lorelei sees a few familiar faces. The two cheerleaders hanging onto Nils2 look oddly familiar in a way that she thinks might be important - but she cannot put a name to either of them.

Alex obliges, waiting for Narosia to catch up. "Hey."

Alex2 doesn't notice Alex heading towards him. He's being called over by Matt2 who is gesturing for a drink.

Coach Peters says, "When they've finished this series of plays I'll introduce you to the team."

Lorelei smiles. "Well, that'll let me see them in action a bit."

Alex waits for Alex2 to return from getting water to the team before interrupting him. He comments aside to Narosia. "It's weird. I don't know quite how to express it."

Narosia nods pensively, watching Alex2 with an alert gaze. "I think I understand. He is you, but a you who never grew powers, which made all the difference somehow."

Before Alex gets to his counterpart having waited for Narosia, Alex2 gets to the Matt2 group. Matt2 takes a drink. Then Bubba laughingly tips the wheelchair over onto its side spilling Alex2 out onto the grass. Matt2 grabs Alex2's record keeping laptop as Alex2 drops it, a rather big chunky sized affair, and swings it back to throw it down the field.

The football players are laughing and jeering as Matt2 gets ready to throw. One of the players is running down field to receive the throw.

Lorelei says to the coach, "Though I can't say I think much of their behaviour."

Alex starts marching out onto the field, heading straight for Matt2. "Hey!" He shouts, trying to get Matt's attention.

The coach has a rather pained expression on his face. "There's.. uh.. it's just high spirits." He isn't convincing.

Mouth thinning in suppressed anger Narosia uses a loping gait of abnormal quickness to test overtaking the player who is on hand to catch Alex2's laptop.

Lorelei says, "It's a disgrace to the team - and Colonial Bay."

Alex2, sprawled flat out on the grass, makes a unthinking and hopeless attempt to grab at the laptop although it's way out of his reach. The jeering and laughing comes to a dead stop as Alex2's arm stretches out and snatches the laptop back out of Matt2's hand.

Alex blinks. o O ( What the...?! ) He speeds up to jog, hoping to put himself between Matt and Alex2 before Matt can retaliate.

Narosia skids to abrupt halt, shocked into silence like the rest of the group. If...if Alex2 could suddenly use powers like her-their Alex...brow creasing deeply, Narosia looks again at the second version of Matt and her face greys.

A twisted snarl of feral hatred comes to Matt2's face. "Freak!" He shouts at Alex2 and starts running at him ready to kick at the recumbent youth.

Alex tries to wrap his arms around Matt, and he digs his feet in to keep him from going anywhere.

Alex, showing surprising strength for his build, manages to wrestle Matt to a stand still. He leans forward and growls into Matt's ear. "I think that you owe my friend an apology."

Lorelei looks expectantly at the coach.

Matt2 is struggling in Alex's grip, quite literally foaming at the mouth as he yells and shouts, "Freak! Filthy unnatural freak. I've sweated blood and tears in the gym and you freaks get comic book powers given to you. Devil powers! You freak. Scum!"

Coach Peters starts heading over to the site of the trouble but his steps are slow and his voice not very firm as he calls for the bad behaviour to cease.

Bubba moves forward to the aid of Matt2, and swings a slow lumbering punch with strength but no skill at Alex."

Alex2 is looking totally shocked at his arm and the laptop in his hand.

Lorelei walks over with the coach, looking not at all impressed at his handling of the situation. "What is going on here?!"

Alex suddenly eases up, letting Matt loose from his grip. He tries to use the boy's strength against him and swings him around into the path of the punch.

Alex's effort to swing Matt2 into the path of the punch fails but Bubba's wild swing doesn't come close to hitting Alex.

Narosia winces at the violence, sprinting helpless towards the two Alexs and the thuggish players. "Stop it." She intones softly, her intention to grab Alex2 and help haul him from the outbreak.

The football players, cheerleaders, sideline officials, and Bubba, come to a stop as Lorelei imposes her authority. Matt2 doesn't seem to even notice. Nils2 hesitates, and the girls hanging on his arms don't react at all.

Alex has a fist cocked, ready to throw a punch at Bubba. He hesitates though, his attention drawn by Lorelei.

Lorelei thinks. o O (Robots?)

Lorelei says, "Last night you were being feted as champions of the city. Is this any way for champions to behave?"

Still foaming and shouting Matt2 turns his maddened ire onto Alex. "You're one of those freaks too. Filth! Decent people have to do something about these scum before it's too late."

Narosia thinks. o O (If Matt is the Matt I saw once and the second Alex grew powers then...)

The football players are looking pretty shamefaced now, having their behaviour held up to them by Lorelei.

Alex says, "What happens when you get yours, Matt?" Alex's eyes narrow as he looks at Matt. "Or have you already gotten your powers, and you're simply hiding them?"

"L-lorelei, watch this one." Narosia kneels down beside Alex2, empathy clearly there and goes about righting his chair and person. "Are you unharmed?" She asks, gripping the handlebars.

Alex2 nods. He's looking shocked. "Yes. Thank you. What happened. What happened to my arm?"

Alex keeps his hand clenched into a fist at his side, his eyes locked onto Matt2. o O ( Go ahead. I dare you." )

Lorelei keeps walking, right up to Nils in particular, and says in a voice loud enough only for him (and maybe the cheerleaders) to hear, "Nice robots. So, are you going to tell your 'freak'-hating friend you're some sort of super-genius inventor or shall I?" She hopes she's got this right!

Matt2 swings a fist at Alex continuing to shout and scream.

The fist brushes past Alex's face.

Nils2 flinches from Lorelei's words. A look of fear comes into his face and he hurriedly instructs the two girls, "Vicky, Vivie, kill her." wanting to silence Lorelei before she can speak further.

Alex takes a step back and shakes his head. "I don't get it. The Matt I know is peaceful, compassionate, and smart. You, you're not even bright enough to know when you're overmatched."

Lorelei thinks. o O (Whoops. Not my brightest move ever.)

The two girls release Nils2's arms and step up to Lorelei punching at her with faster than human reactions.

The "cheerleader's" punch causes Lorelei to fold in two and fly over 12 yards down the field, to judge by the markings.

Alex leaps in front of Vivie. "Hey, Nils... mind if I dance with your dates?" He draws his fist back. When he throws his punch, his fist has swelled to the size of a mailbox.

"Stop-we have nothing against you personally." Leaving Alex2 a goodly distance from the events, Narosia teleports after checking no one sees the girl's body flicker and vanish. Positioned staring intently at Nils back, she then says what floats to mind. "A...A man like you. I am intrigued. Very."

Alex's punch impacts against Vivie with a solid thump. There's no sign of any pain on the 'girl's' face but Alex feels her flank cave in a fraction. Vivie is knocked back four yards and topples over.

Alex shakes out his hand. "Ouch. What is she made out of Nils? Tungsten alloy?" He gives a glance to Matt2. "I think you might have a 'freak' or two in your entourage."

Alex nods to the second cheerleader. "Viki," he says in greeting. He then tries to punch her, as hard as the first robot.

Nils2 hurriedly tells Matt2, "They're lying. I'm not a freak. I can't bounce bullets or stretch my arms out like these freaks. I'm smart like DaVinci, that's all."

Vivky is knocked back and over by the punch. Once again there's no sign of pain on the girls face but Alex feels the casing yield a little.

The two robots get to their feet and start to run down field towards Lorelei, but Nils2 commands them to turn on Alex instead.

"DaVinci /painted/ the Mona Lisa," Alex says. "He didn't build two of them and try to date them."

Narosia says, "Artifical life form which can imitate real life-did this Da Vinci ever create in that vein?"

Lorelei lies dazed on the field.

Matt2 rushes over to Alex trying a football shoulder charge more suited to a LB than a QB.

The sound of a collar bone cracking echoes across the field as Matt2 runs into an unmoving Alex and bounces off moaning in pain.

Nils2 pulls out a strange looking pistol from a shoulder holster concealed under his jacket and aims intending to fire at Alex.

Narosia wraps her arms round Nils2's chest, giving him a mockery of an embrace and pushes hard against him towards thoughtless bid saving Alex. Should he actually require saving...

Nils2 slips out of Narosia's grasp and fires at Alex. He misses.

A searing hot beam of plasma burns across the width of the stadium and ignites several chairs on the opposite side.

"N-no, please hold fire." Narosia pleads, leaping to restrain Nils2 in his destructive state. "You will injure innocents...if you care much about that." Pleading almost, ready to bargain if needed.

Alex says to the robot girls who have risen and run back towards him, "Patience, one at a time. There's enough of me to go around, but you'll have to wait your turns." He tries to slug Vicky this time.

The punch by Alex misses.

Alex winces slightly. o O ( Here it comes... )

Nils2 needs to silence Alex and Lorelei. Reasoning with him is not going to work.

Vicky and Vivie, the two girl robots, punch at Alex. Vicky misses but Vivie does not.

"Woolf!" Alex grunts. The robots's punch caves his chest so deeply that his back arches away from the blow. His shape snaps back to normal as the robot's fist disconnects from his body. He takes a step back, one eye pinched shut in discomfort.

Matt2 is kneeling near Alex holding his shoulder white faced and moaning. The coach is wringing his hands and complaining about his QB being out of action for the important game on Sunday.

Lorelei rolls to her feet and says to Nils, and, fixing Nils with one of her most persuasive looks, says to him, "Put that gun away and call off your robots, or I *will* tell the world about you.

Nils2 Cannot put away the weapon when his hands in the grip of Narosia but he can and does command the robots, "Vicky, Vivie, guard."

Lorelei smiles. "That's better. No need for any fighting...."

Jennie comes over. She is looking shocked. "It's Matt!" she says looking at the QB. Then she looks at Nils2, "You're better get out of the city. When it gets around you attacked the mediator you'll be fighting duels ten times a day."

Nils2 looks at Narosia, "Let me go."

Alex turns and crouches over Matt2 on the ground. "I don't have much patience for bullies, so I'll only say this once. Leave Alex alone. He's off-limits to you. Understand? Off. Limits."

Narosia reluctantly slackens her clinging hold, offering Nils2 vengeful squeezing she cannot resist, telltale sign her features have thinned out, mainly mouthwise. "Fine...you should listen more, though. And hurt mm...me, but leave my f-companions untouched. Or e-else."

White-faced from the pain of a cracked collarbone, Matt2 nods in response to Alex's threat.

Lorelei says to Jennie, "Isn't there any way to avoid that? Alienating the people developing powers isn't a good idea - that's how you get supervillains. He was scared, he did something stupid. Him paying for it - and everyone else paying for it - for the rest of his life isn't a good idea."

Released from Narosia's hold Nils2 goes to help Matt2 to his feet. "Come on, lets get out of here." He says.

Lorelei thinks. o O (Though if he's as messed up as our Nils he may be a lost cause.....)

Matt2 shrugs the helping hand off, wincing in additional pain, "They're right. You're as much a freak as they are. Get away from me."

Bubba goes to Matt2's aid and that is accepted. Matt2 goes off the field leaving Nils2 and the robots dejectedly abandoned behind them.

Alex walks over to Narosia. "Thanks. I wasn't looking forward to being vulcanized." He turns towards Jennie. "If you give Nils a better outlet for his talents, he might be useful. Matt worries me more, right now."

Lorelei says to Matt2, "You may yet develop powers yourself. Mind who you're pre-judging."

Alex walks over to Alex2. "Are you alright?"

Jennie nods to Lorelei and looks at Nils2. "Pay for the repairs to the stadium seating and I'll forget the attack." She glances around at the rest of the people on the field, "Anyone says different, well there's plenty of room for a duel right here." Lots of heads get shaken.

Narosia nods, smiling faintly. Feeling unusual stab for Nils2, she wanders over to the man she just recently threatened. "Your friend casts stones from a glass hut - no, house. The point stands." She tilts her head, "I don't understand why you must develop artificial companions."

Alex2 is still looking shocked. He's nursing the arm that stretched in his other hand like he's afraid it's going to fall off. "I think so. But what happened to me?"

Alex offers a tentative smile. "You're developing powers. Similar to mine, it looks like."

Lorelei goes over to Nils. "That's a pretty special power you've got. Don't hide it, don't let it go to waste. Think of the good you can do, for yourself and society at large."

Nils2 looks at Narosia, "No cheerleader would have anything to do with me. Only reason they put up with me at all is because I was with Matt. I guess that's not going to be the case any longer."

Alex2 thinks.. "That spark when you touched me the first time..?"

Alex blinks. "You don't think..."

Narosia smiles a little, "Those following you because you are connected with another-forgive me for presuming but thinking hard, should their loss strike you as sad?" She shrugs, helpless figuring this whole social context but tries hard putting on a reassuring look to Nils2.

Nils2 turns to Lorelei. "I.. I'm sorry. I knew Matt would break with me if he knew I was different. He hates you.. uh.. us. He's dedicated his whole life to being fit and strong, the best there is, and when he sees people with comic book powers he freaks out at the thought they got them without having to work at it."

Alex looks to Alex2 seriously. "We should run some tests... do you have access to a lab?"

Alex2 says, "I've never had any comic book powers before we met. And when you touched me is the only time I've ever felt a shock like that on a woollen carpet."

Alex calls over to Lorelei. "Lorelei... do you ever recall coming into contact with the Mediatator and getting zapped? Like a static electricity shock?"

Lorelei nods. "I understand. I understand where he's coming from too. Don't worry - I'm not upset. Just don't disappoint me. Make something good of yourself with your abilities. You have brains, and as a power that beats my beauty any day. And I think," she adds with a smile, "that once you've made a success of yourself that you'll find more girls willing to put up with you, as you put it. At least, if you don't let your ability go to your head."

Alex2 shakes his head. "I can't afford tuition fees for science courses. All I can afford is the basic education, and I'm having to work as the team water-boy to do that.

Nils2 nods to Lorelei, "Yes, Mediator."

Lorelei doesn't answer, mostly because she's not sure that it's generally known the Mediator has powers as such yet, and isn't sure it should be discussed publicly.

Narosia bobs her head in agreement, not sour about 'the Mediator' entrapping conversation-natural course and such. Besides, Lorelei was powers exempt a much smoother socialist. "Indeed. Actually, may I ask you a question or two about your artifical lifeforms?"

Lorelei thinks. o O (Maybe this Nils will be all right. Maybe because he doesn't think his powers make him better than everyone else.)

Nils2 nods to Narosia, "You're interested? Really?" He smiles tentatively.

From her gaze, quite serious. Narosia nods again and proceeds to listen intently.