Log:Completely Snowed, Scene 1

none 2013/05/15 	 Lorelei Ten Titan Jessica Markham Sukeban Star Girl Anthony Quinn|Quinn Scrapper Suzume 1

Lorelei, briefly back from Undermoon, has called the Princesses' Guard together in the usual place.

Ten turns up at the embassy gate and asks the way to the Guard's headquarters. She checks her staff at the gate, knowing it might not do well inside.

Titan shows up in the embassy, and looks around quietly. He's starting to grow his hair out a little bit, it looks like.

Waiting with Lorelei in the Princesses' Guard quarters is Jessica Markham. She gives the heroes she knows a welcoming smile. "Hello. For those who don't know me, I'm Jessica Markham, an old friend of Lorelei's. I'm here to ask a double favour. First from Lorelei in as much as I want to 'borrow' the Princesses' Guard, and secondly from each of you as I'm asking for your help."

Sukeban leans against a wall, her arms crossed, "Yeah? What do ya need? Another special ops mission or somethin'?"

Ten shows up once Lorelei has given word to admit her. She seems rather overawed to meet the princess at long last!

Lorelei smiles. "If you want to put it like that. But nothing like before."

Lorelei leaves it to Jessica to explain further.

Titan chuckles at Sukeban's comment, "I'm guessing there are better groups for 'special ops'."

Jessica continues, "A group of children are going on a school skiing trip. There is no specific threat against them as far as we know, and by we I mean the British authorities. However simply because of their backgrounds it's felt they are at a higher risk than the average school group. For instance. two of the children are daughters of a very senior member of the British Government. Therefore arrangements were made to have a discreet protective force tagging along with them. However, at short notice that resource has become unavailable."

Sukeban says, "So now we're the indiscreet protective force?"

Lorelei. o O (Sounds about right.)

Jessica pauses for a moment before continuing. "What I'm asking is if you would take over the role of, basically, baby-sitting these children. I'll mention that the intention is to keep this all low profile, so I'd ask that you refrain from displaying any meta abilities unless it's absolutely required."

Titan raises a brow at the idea of him being 'low profile'. "Err. Hmm."

Ten clears her throat. "Um, I'm only here anyway to say that Marcus can't make it."

Sukeban raises her hand, "Uh, ya know we don't exactly know each other's secret IDs and all."

Jessica says, "If everything goes smoothly it will be a paid holiday. If not, the children will have a far better protective presence than was originally planned."

Star Girl returns to join the rest of the group. She's still a little bit in awe of the place, having never being to a ski resort outside of the state. She sidles up to Sukeban and whispers, "What did I miss?"

Star Girl returns to join the rest of the group. She sidles up to Sukeban and whispers, "What did I miss?"

Lorelei. o O (Hm. Maybe I haven't done enough to get the team trusting each other yet - not that I'm sure how to do that.)

[To Star Girl] Sukeban says, "Not much. Looks like they want us to babysit some kids on a ski trip."

Ten is surprised to see Star there. "Oh - hey."

Jessica nods, "When I was in New Blood, we quickly revealed our secret identities to each other. It made for a much more convenient team situation. That's a matter of trust though. For those who, like Anthony Quinn, are globally infamoue.." She smiles, "Uh, famous, and for those who wish to retain their secret identities, I can provide holographic disguises."

Ten thinks. o O (Paid holiday sounds nice.)

Ten says, "I happen to have a few days off anyway - maybe I can fill in for Marcus?"

Sukeban shrugs, "Eh, whatever, a free vacation is cool. Can I bring my fiancee along?"

Titan nods. "I'm willing to go. And I'll likely need one of those disguises, since I might get recognized."

Jessica concludes, "There will be six children in the school party, plus a teacher from the school." She nods to Sukeban, and to Ten, "That will be fine. The skiing trip is to a ski lodge in Austria, for an extended weekend, Friday through to Monday."

Ten thinks. o O (Nice!)

Star Girl waggles her fingers in greeting to Ten. She takes a moment to look at the other folks gathered. She whispers aside to Sukeban, "Ten, Lorelei, Titan, plus somebody mentioned Bard... It's like there's a hotness requirement to be a member of this group. Thanks for the invite... I'm not sure I really fit..."

Sukeban grins and whaps Star Girl upside the head, "Yer hotter than me, looks-wise anyway."

Lorelei says to Star Girl, "Don't be silly. And anyway, I won't be there - I have a lot going on in Undermoon."

Jessica puts out air tickets, holographic disguise belts, and a set of six photos. The children. A pair of identical red headed girls about eight. A studious looking boy with glasses about ten years old. Another boy, blonde hair sticking out in all directions, a cheeky grin of his face, about eight. A boy and a girl, with a family resemblance, bother brown haired, also about eight.

"Ow!" Star Girl. She grumbles. "... stupid bulletproof suit, still vulnerable to getting whapped..." She blinks and looks over to Lorelei. Her cheeks turn red. o O ( Didn't mean for everyone to hear that... Lorelei's got everything -- of course she has keen hearing. ) She nods to Lorelei.

Quinn reclines a little in his chair, his expression relaxed but interested as he takes in the sights of the room. "Well, that would explain why I wasn't invited," he says with a bit of a smile. "That and the whole heart stopping thing."

Sukeban takes two of the disguises and looks over the photos, "Cute kids."

Titan ends up looking down at the floor when Lorelei mentions not being able to go on the trip. Instead, he decides to focus on the photos of the kids, as well as trying to get the holographic belt to work.

Ten passes on the holographic belt since she doesn't keep her ID secret from heroes.

Ten thinks. o O (Besides, I bet my 'wardrobe problem' would just break the stupid thing.)

Jessica looks around at the gathered heroes, "Thank you, everyone, for listening to me and agreeing to help out. It won't be forgotten. Are there any questions?"

Quinn looks at the belts and gives a shrug. "Up to you guys if you want me to use one or not," he says. "I'm assuming that with the location and everything there's probably no publicity going on so I doubt my showing up would cause much of a stir, but if you want to keep things completely below the radar..."

Sukeban says, "No questions from me."

[To Q] Ten says, "Well, disguises are provided!"

Star Girl accepts one of the holo disguises. "Hunh. This might come in handy. Normally I can't wear anything over my suit. Something about the neutrino re-uptake flow."

Titan nods slowly, "I suppose my only question is...why us? I'd have thought there were other heroes who might be better suited to this. Not that I'm saying we're incapable of doing it. We can totally handle it."

Jessica smiles, "Anthony, I doubt very much that the presence of the Anthony Quinn in a quiet skiing lodge would go unnoticed for long, and half of Europe's press would descend to try and find out why you were there."

Quinn nods to Ten. "Yeah," he says, "I'm not really all that concerned with a disguise for myself. Like I said, it's not a big deal, but I'm not completely clear about what the kids think is going on and who all knows that we are there protecting them."

Jessica answers Titan, "Because I trust Lorelei and Lorelei's judgement. That you've been accepted in the Princesses' Guard is sufficient recommendation for me, and I've convinced the powers that be of that."

Anthony chuckles a little to Jessica. "I do occasionally take vacations, you know," he says. "Like I've never spent the weekend in the Alps? But like I said, the whole picture isn't completely clear to me which is why I was asking."

Titan looks to Anthony, "The ensuing media circus would make the job of defending the kids all that much harder."

Jessica nods, "That's a good point that I skipped over. Ideally the children, like everyone else, will not even there's a protective force around. We want they to just fit in and have a good time without any reminders that they are different than any other group of school kids."

Quinn nods to Titan. "Possibly," he says, "but given who these kids are I was assuming that the lodge is a bit more exclusive and typically takes steps to keep out the paparazzi. I mean there are places like that that cater to people with rather high profiles who are looking to get away."

Ten nods, "Oh, ok. So we're just to hang around but not intrude on them?"

Star Girl rubs the back of her head. "I might have missed this part. Is there a specific group that's after the kids? Has anyone targeted them?"

[To Star Girl] Ten says, "No, it's just that they all have important parents or something."

Jessica nods to Anthony, "Yes, there are. This lodge isn't one of them. The point is to get the children to feel normal and be among normal children. Not for them to have any obvious special treatment or status."

Anthony nods to Jessica. "That answers that part of the question then," he says. He stops to consider for a moment. "Are we suppose to be there is some sort of official capacity that keeps us near the kids?" he asks. "If we are just suppose to be pretending to be tourists and we spend our time following around children that might raise some issues."

Jessica says, "You'll see the air tickets are for a two leg journey. One leg to Heathrow, London, and the second leg to Wittgenstein in Austria. The children will be traveling on the same plane as you on the second leg."

Ten says, "How long do we have to get ready?"

Quinn nods once more. "All well and good during the flight," he says, "and possibly even the trip to the lodge, but following them up and down the ski slopes? Going wherever they might go if they pop into town?"

Sukeban says, "Eh... It's a resort. There's only so many places to go, right?"

Ten says, "Presumably they have normal supervision as well!"

Jessica says, "The lodge is fairly small. It shouldn't be too hard to keep a eye on the children inconspicuously. Ten, the trip is starting this Friday. Sorry for the short notice. As I mentioned, this is all a last moment arrangement."

Anthony cocks an eyebrow at Sukeban. "It's a ski resort," he says. He thinks for another minute. "Are these kids actually there to ski?" he asks, "or are they just going to be hanging around the lodge and playing in the snow?"

Jessica adds, "You will have official status if needed, and the Austrian authorities have been notified> However I'll ask you to avoid having to reveal yourselves unless you have to."

Ten nods.

Jessica tells Anthony, "They all know how to ski. To a greater or lesser extent. So, yes, they will be skiing at least part of the time."

Ten says, "Anyone here know how to ski?"

Anthony nods. "All right then," he says. "As long as the right people know that we're around so that nobody goes off to file stalking charges," he says, "we should be fine."

[To Ten] Star Girl says, "I board."

Titan shrugs, "I don't know how to ski, but how hard could it be, right?"

Anthony says, "I'll download some books on the subject. I should be fine."

Sukeban says, "I don't but my fiancee does."

Ten grins to Titan. "I doubt you or I will suffer from broken legs, anyway."

Titan chuckles. "True."

Jessica informs you, "The teacher will be informed of the presence of a protective force but not who you are. It's up to you if you decide to contact him or not. His name is Benjamin Kirk. You may find him a bit lacking of confidence though. He's recently had a bad experience that has affected him in that way."

Jessica says, "If there's anything else you need you can contact me through the local FBI office. Otherwise, good luck and hopefully it will just be a relaxing weekend holiday."

Sukeban grins, "I hope they have an open air bath."

Anthony nods to Jessica. "I'm sure it will be. A weekend filled with fun, frivolity, and snow," he says. As soon as the mission breaks up he phones Quinn Industries and orders a van with the latest Mk. II Combat Armor shipped to the lodge with a full compliment of missiles.

Ten grins. "Sounds good!"

Ten does little to prepare besides getting the wherewithal for skiing. Her staff perforce goes in checked baggage, turned off and broken down into its segments: people might wonder what it is, but even if they check the case it should get through all right, looking maybe like an odd set of obscure tools.

Titan doesn't use the holographic belt until after arriving. No sense in causing customs to get in his face because he's hiding his identity.

Anthony downloads a couple of books on skiing during the next couple of days. After skimming through them he feels confident in his ability to handle the slopes. I mean it's all just physics anyway, right? One of the more nondescript vans that he uses for changing is loaded up with his Mk. II suit and shipped out, the appropriate people notified so that the van can be conveniently placed without causing any concerns.

Sukeban gave Suzume a call and the pair worked out their cover identities: Hanako and Mikoto Ikezawa, on their honeymoon.

Scrapper misses the initial meeting, but arrives just in time to catch a quick briefing before boarding the plane.

On the second leg of the journey you get a chance to observe the children. They seem a happy slightly boisterous group, with the exception of the oldest boy who has his nose in a book most of the flight. They certainly appear to get along with each other very well. The teacher appears to be rather withdrawn though, attentive to the children's need enough but not interacting with them all that much.

Ten just flies as Eve Miller. Luckily, when she was sorted out with a new ID it included a passport.

Star Girl calls ahead to the Starguard office nearest to the ski resort. She'll get their recommendations on contingency planning, like where the nearest hospital is and the fastest way to get anyone injured there. She'll review the dossiers of the six kids. Finally she packs her snowboard and some movies for the flight.

At the Austrian airport there's a coach from the lodge waiting to take everyone up to the lodge. Luggage is bundled into storage bins under the seats and then people enter the coach and find seats.

Once through customs, Casey assumes the identity of a dark-haired college girl, Katie, here on vacation.

The boy beside Anthony asks Anthony is they can change seats so the boy can sit at the window.

Scrapper took a holograph belt just in case, but left it off and stowed away just in case a potential enemy has a scanner that can detect such things.

Anthony nods to the kid. "Sure," he says. "You've seen one tree you've seen them all."

Star, disguised as 'Katie', settles into the her seat on the van. Casually, she notes where the kids are sitting on the van. Other than that, she sits patiently, looking out the nearest window.

Eve is rather more interested in the mountains that the trees, and is glad to be able to sit by the window!

The boy happily changes seats, "I've never been to a real ski lodge before," He confides, "I leaned to ski of artificial slopes. Is it very different? I'm Peter Sparks."

'Hanako' gives the studious kid the window seat without being asked so she can hold hands across the aisle with 'Motoko'.

Titan sits quietly...disguised by the holographic belt he has on. He just listens to conversation, and watches the countryside for the moment.

The older boy expresses his thanks and then settles down with a book, largely ignoring the fantastic secenery passing by.

"It is almost completely the same," Anthony replies to Peter. "Its just gravity and friction. Pretty much universal constants. I'm Antonio. Antonio...Spark..en..stein...holtz."

Titan quietly smacks his forehead.

Eve giggles.

Quite possibly Quinn should have thought about his name before hand.

 Scrapper says, "Hey, we can't all be award winning actors."

'Motoko' giggles merrily.

 Titan says, "Hey, I'd love to win an award. The BAFTAs and Oscars hate my films."

The young boy seated beside Kathie is peering across out the window.

Star Girl smiles and asks the kid, "Have you been to Austria before?"

The coach driver is in a bit of a hurry it seems, cutting off a couple of other vehicles on the way to the road leading up the mountain to the lodge, and traveling quite fast.

The boy beside Kathie tells her, "I was born here, I think. I don't remember it through and I've never been back until now."

Scrapper changes seats, if she can, getting one right above the rear axle.

The driver is sipping from a bottle of branded lemonade as he drives. Eve gets a faint whiff of whiskey from the direction of the driver as he splashes a little of the lemonade when making a hasty correction as the coach starts to slip across towards the several hundred feet drop on the outer edge of the roadway.

 Scrapper says, "Lets see, two tons of truck plus fifty-six people plus luggage... less than seven tons total?"

Eve hurries up to the front, concerned by the smell, "Is there whiskey in that? Be careful!"

 Titan says, "The bus is likely more than two tons, I'd bet."

With Eve's intervention Quinn just remains in his seat. No point in creating a scene. He does tense up a bit, however, in case he should need to flick on his forcefield to arrest the bus as it begins to go over the edge or something.

The driver turns to face Eve, looking away from the road, "Whats that you're saying?" he asks. His breath hits Eve like a shot of raw homebrew moonshine.

 Scrapper says, "Still, well within my lift limits if I have to fly it back onto the road"

Eve says, "Shit!" She grabs the wheel, not right from the driver but in an attempt at least to nudge the coach to staying on the road. "You need to stop!""

The driver slurs, "Letgoo off the wheeell..." and struggles to wrest the steering away from Eve in a way that would send the bus flying off the edge if he succeeds.

Eve yanks hard the other way!

Star Girl nods. "That's cool. Do you speak any other languages?" she asks the boy. Her breath catches as she notices the struggle up front. "Everyone get your belts on!"

Scrapper 'quietly' reaches down with a pair of force blades and punches a pair of holes into the floor on either side of the rear axle housing.

'Hanako' grips 'Mokoto's hand and the studious kid's hand, "Hang on!"

"Seat belt on," Quinn mutters to Peter.

Eve just manages to keep the coach on the road. "You're drunk!" she explains louder to the driver. "Maybe someone spiked your drink, I dunno, but you need to stop!"

Titan gets up from his seat, holding onto the seats near him...looking for the rear emergency exit, in case he needs to get out and stop the bus by hand.

Scrapper easily punches through the aluminum floor and reaches down to grasp the stationary housing that encloses the spinning rear wheels.

The young girl darts forward from her seat and slipping past the struggle like an eel she turns the ignition key off and pulls it out. The coach comes to a stop a hundred or so yards up the roadway with Eve still out-strengthing the driver.

'Motoko' lets go of Hanako's hand and begins applauding, "Yay! Good job!"

'Hanako' breathes a sigh of relief and lets go of the studious kid.

The girl looks up at Eve, "You saved us. Thank you."

Eve says, "No, thank *you*!"

Eve turns to the driver again. "What the hell did you think you were doing, driving drunk?"

Scrapper leaves the holes where she made them and quietly extracts her force arms before yelling out, "Anybody *else* know how to drive one of these things?"

The girl sniffs, "Is he drunk?"

Star Girl breathes a sigh of relief. She looks to the boy next to her. "You alright?"

Eve sniffs again, the driver and his drink.

 Scrapper says, "No need to bust cover yet if Ten has everything under control."

"I'm sure that the lodge has other drivers," Quinn says. "Just get on the radio to them and tell them what happened."

The boy nods, "Yes, thank you. That was scary wasn't it?" he says to Kathie.

Titan sits back down in his seat...making sure to not draw attention to himself. Easy enough.

Eve plans to do as Quinn suggests - once she's sure what was up with the driver.

 Scrapper says, "By the way, in case it ever comes up in the future. I know what goes where, but I have never driven a car in my life."

The teacher is looking a bit more depressed as he stands, "I can drive it." He moves forward and the young girl gives his the ignition key, "Here it is, Mr. Kirk." The teacher takes the key, looks at Eve, "Thank you. I should ha.." He shrugs despondently and just repeats, "Thank you."

Scrapper stays where she is.

The journey continues, with much safer if slower driving, and after a while the coach pulls into the park in from of the hotel. There are a couple of other coaches already there, and a medium crowd of kids from other parties milling around.

'Hanako' helps Motoko off the bus and the pair waits to get their luggage.

One of the other passengers, otherwise unconnected to the scene, stands and asks for a round of applause for Eve and the young girl. The coach echoes to the chapping.

"Well, that was fun," Quinn says as he steps out of the bus. He looks around at the lodge, trying to get situated so he knows where to go in case he should need to change into 'work clothes'.

Scrapper slides away from the pair before somebody pulls out a camera.

Eve is rather embarrassed by the applause. She makes sure to report the driver - he shouldn't be driving on any roads, let alone this one!

Eve collects her baggage first though, since it has her staff in it!

This ski lodge in the Austrian Alps is popular with tour groups and school parties for the wide range of slopes available to visitors at very modest costs and a youth friendly ambience. No night clubs, no bars except for the one in the Grand Hotel. In addition to the hotel and shops there are a number of group dormitories specifically intended for school parties, seemingly at least in part copied from the American Summer Camp model.

Once out of the crowd, Scrapper pauses to slowly run her eyes over the entire area with a studious frown.

The children get off and line up with others in front of a desk out in the courtyard to get their dorm assignments. As they are waiting to be dealt with a group of three older boys, aged about twelve, jump the queue. One of those older boys shoves the eight year old twin in 'your' group out of the line, "make room for your better, brat." he says, and takes her place.

'Hanako' walks over to the boy, grabs him by the collar and drags him out of line, "Who the heck do ya think ya are, ya little piece of crap! Get on yer knees and beg forgiveness!"

The other twin turns to face the bully and is in the process of clenching a hand into a fist when the teacher, Mr Kirk, calls out, "Anne-Maria, no!"

Star Girl hangs out for now. She's got her bags from the bus and she hovers in a position where she can watch over the kids from a distance and maybe spot potential threat. She smiles as she sees Hanako intervene. o O ( Atta-girl, Kotone! )

 Scrapper says, "Think these holograph belts can do a passable imitation of this sky? The best place for me to be when everyone goes skiing is up in the sky. Teacher issue, not a bodyguard one ... unless Eve wants to continue her hero role?"

The older boy looks at Hanako is incredulous disbelief, "You touch ME! Do you know who I AM?"

'Hanako' snarls, "Ya, I know who ya are. Yer a lowly little piece of maggot infested crap from a dog with diarrhea. That's who ya are until I say different!"

Eve can't help smiling at the bully being put in his place, as someone who used to suffer at the hand of bullies.

'Hanako' thinks. o O (I wonder how my family studies teachers would handle this. . . Actually, I don't really care. This way is more me.)

 Scrapper says, "Suke, you have my permission to deck him if you can guarantee you can do it hard enough to keep him unconscious, but out of a hospital."

 'Hanako' says, "Tsk, like I need ya to tell me that."

 Scrapper says, "I haven't mastered that skill"

The boy screams defiantly, "In my country my father would have you whipped for daring to put a hand on me!"

 Scrapper says, "okay, he needs a spanking, not a decking."

 Scrapper says, "Preferably *from* his father"

The kids around the area are laughing and mocking the older boy. Apart from his two fellows he seems to have no friends here.

Scrapper looks about for bodyguards for the attitude problem.

'Hanako' makes a show of looking around, up at the sky, at the other people, "Yeah? Are we in yer country? Is yer Da here? Look around kid. Yer all alone. No one is goin' to stand up for ya, because no one wants to risk gettin' mixed up with this. Yer nothin'. And ya got nothin'." She lets the boy go and gently pushes him away, "I feel sorry for ya, almost. Beat before I change my mind."

 Titan says, "You know...I think I've pieced together who we're guarding."

<Guard> 'Hanako' says, "Trouble magnets?"

Eve stays out of the dealing with the bully, mostly because it's best if we aren't too obviously a group of bodyguards!

<Guard> Titan says, "Children of British superheroes."

<Guard> 'Hanako' says, "Oh? I was thinkin' they were all Wolfguard orphans."

Scrapper walks up to two nondescript men and says, "Make sure his father knows how his son is representing his country."

The older boy runs to a pair of large heavily muscled men who are watching. He calls to them, shouting something in a little known East European language. And the men's answer doesn't seem to satisfy him at all.

The men don't answer Scrapper. They just give slight shrugs and escort the bully away.

<Guard> Titan says, "Hmm. Well, at least one of them is the son of a Brit superhero. Not sure about this kid."

Eve mutters to herself, "Let me guess - he's the prince of Transobnoxia?"

Scrapper didn't expect an answer and turns back to look over her own charges, evaluating the brat guards' choice of vantage point as much as the scene.

"Well, crisis averted," Star says to herself. She goes back to looking about the area for anyone or anything suspicious.

After that little incident, everything seems to settle down. The children get their dorm assignments, unpack, and come out for their first ski session. The teacher takes the group to the Blue Slope, the beginners route.

Scrapper slides up to Quinn during a break in the public activity. "Do you think my belt could do a sky imitation?"

Eve goes along to the Blue Slope too - as a beginner, she should be able to practice there without looking out of place!

Titan is apparently distracted by some of the other....skiiers at the slopes.

Quinn shakes his head to Scrapper. "I can look at it," he says, "but probably not. I'm assuming that the system uses a multi-directional phased photon emission from a dual particle collision. As a result it could make you look like you were wearing clothes that were painted to look like the sky but it wouldn't really render you invisible. To do that you would need a multi-angular refractory array."

Eve is displaying about the least skin she ever has - luckily her 'clothing problem' does have a sense of occasion and makes some concessions for skiing. Though her outfit is *very* tight and her coat won't zip all the way up. She doesn't seem to have trouble finding a skiing instructor to help her.

Scrapper nods to Quinn and gets back to work.

Eve lacks a team communicator and the ability to ski after them readily herself, so she draws the instructor's attention to them - or tries to anyway.

'Hanako' is falling down a lot as Motoko tries to teach her the finer points of not falling down. Somehow they end up on the ground tangled up fairly often.

Scrapper is an expert at skiing, almost seeming to fly across the snow at times.

"Huh," Anthony comments to no one in particular. "I know I've seen black diamond runs before, but a skull and crossbones is a new one." He heads off in the general direction of the kids, not really following them but moving to where he'll be able to observe them skiing. After all, there here to protect the kids from bad guys, not bad choices."

The instructor looks in the direction Eve points out but the brother and sister are moving very sneakily, using cover, other people, to conceal themselves. He shakes his head, "Are you sure? I don't see anyone."

Titan starts to chat up a young Greek woman who is here on vacation, <<Oh...no, I'm here from America. I just taught myself Greek.>>

Eve says, "I'm sure." And to make sure the instructor follows she attempts to ski in that direction herself, since doubtless he's watching her.

The instructor is torn between his duty on the blue slope and chasing after Eve. Heck, who am |I kidding, he goes after her.

Once out of sight of the crowds Anthony takes advantage of his smart material clothing, altering it now and again so that even if the twins should occasionally catch sight of him it will hopefully look like different people out wandering the mountain.

Star Girl says to Hanako, "I think I see a couple of the kids slipping away. I'll follow them." She skates after them on her snowboard.

Eve follows the kids as best she can.... hoping she can flush them out before she crashes.

'Hanako' looks up from where Motoko has her pinned to the snow, "Uh, sure. I'll keep an eye out here."

'Motoko' giggles, "I'll be good and stop distracting her."

Scrapper looks over Eve and Titan and Suke flirting with various people and sighs, shaking her head.

The brother and sister reach the top of the Black/Orange slope. Eve and the instructor are far enough behind to not be able to catch up, although a shout might reach their ears. Unless Star Girl or Q intervenes they'll be off down the slope in a moment or two.

Eve decides their safety comes before staying in the background. "Stop!" she calls out.

Star Girl calls out to the kids. "Hey! Shouldn't you two be back with the rest of your group?"

The pair look back as Eve shouts. And sadly turn away from the start of the slope. "I.. uh.. we thought this was the learner's slope." the brother says, hopefully.

The pair are standing by a big sign in many languages, including English, warning the slope is for EXPERTS only.

"No, that learner's slope is back there!" says Eve, ignoring the obvious lie, as she begins to slide down toward the expert slope herself.

Eve stops. The easy way: falling over.

The sister quickly skis into Eve's path, "No. Stop. You'll hurt yourself. That's a black slope. It's dangerous." she says, too concerned about Eve to not admit the lie.

Eve looks up at the sister. "Right. So you go back there too... um, can you help me up?"

The sister leans down and lifts Eve back onto her feet with a casual motion, "You've got snow all over you." she says.

Eve nods, and laughs. "Guess I have a lot to learn." She shakes and brushes the snow off her.

The two children return to the beginners slope.

Eve makes her way back, 'assisted' by the instructor.

With crisis averted Quinn leaves his position of 'safety' and returns to the lodge area, changing his clothing back to their original form as he goes.

The remainder of the first day goes peacefully. So, it seems, does the night. But in the morning, there's a crowd and commotion as kids and adults look up to the top of a ski lift tower. Hung on the spire at the very top is the bully from yesterday, kicking and squealing far above the ground.

Eve can't help but giggle, before asking the other heroes, "Can anyone get him down inconspicuously?"

Star Girl comes out of the lodge in the morning, with a cup of coffee to help shake the cobwebs. "Hunh," she says, as she joins the crowd of spectators.

Scrapper says, "Nope." But it is unclear whether she means she can't or she won't. "Anybody taken a head count yet?"

Eve says, "If not, I'll go - I can do it without any obvious powers...."

The children come out of their dorm. They are rather conspicuously quiet as they look up at the dangling bully.

Eve heads over to climb up the ski lift tower.

Scrapper walks up to the mob while they are all gathered together. "I don't want to know, but it isn't going to happen again. Right?"

Eve climbs up to the top. "If you'll permit me to touch your person, your highness - it is your highness?" she asks,with an unconcealed smirk.

Scrapper gets six sweet innocent faces looking at her. "Not if he doesn't bully us again." one of the twin girls says.

<Guard> Scrapper says, "screw it, I look like a bodyguard even when I'm not trying. The fact that they are *all* quiet means they all know who did it."

"Please, get me down." the bully sobs, crying in fear.

Eve carries the bully down, saying, "What country *are* you from anyway?"

Titan folds his arms, watching Eve carry the kid down from on high. "Hmm."

Scrapper glares at the one that spoke. "No conditions. I think you just proved to me that he *can't* bully you, even if he tries."

"The twin who spoke before starts to protest, "We're not allowed to show our.. uh.." and then goes quiet. After a moment the twins nod.

"The other twin asks quietly, "You won't tell on us, will you. He deserved it. Really, he did."

Scrapper nods. "We never spoke. I'm just a tourist who happened to be on the same bus."

The twins look relieved.

Eve puts the bully down when she reaches the bottom. . o O (Either he'll learn from this, or he'll *never* learn. No harm done.)

The bully is quite humbled by the experience and actually thanks Eve when they reach the ground.

Scrapper nods to two nondescript heavily muscled men and walks away from her own charges to someplace with a wide field of view.

Eve says, "You're welcome."

Breakfast. The hotel does a great breakfast. Free newspaper with the meal. On the second page, a photo of Eve and the young sister, named as Patrica Steel, saving the coach. Looks like the photo was snapped from a cell=phone inside the coach.

Eve doesn't mind. She did nothing overtly superpowered, so it doesn't put her ID at risk.

Scrapper smiles at the action shot... much better than a posed full face one.

Eve thinks. o O (Reminds me though - I really must find out who put out those Total Babe posters and get them to stop. Or at least to pay me for the privilege.....)

After the bully is down once again things settle, and it's back to skiing and fun. There's a mass snowball fight involving mostly every kid at the lodge and a good number of the adults too.

Eve happily joins in the snowball fight.

Scrapper stays back from the fun.

Star Girl hangs back too, trying to keep an eye out for trouble.

Titan remains out of it as well, mostly because he's afraid of actually hurting someone if he whips a snowball too hard at someone.

Antonio Sparkensteinholtz is right in the thick of it, however, whipping loosely packed snowballs with reckless abandon and being pelted with the same.

While the snowball fight is still in progress a convoy of three large black Mercedes Benz limos arrives having driven up the road to the lodge.

Scrapper "wanders" in that direction.

Eve notes the limos, but continues with the fight - though positioning herself so she can maintain the watch.

Titan focuses on the limousines for the moment.

The people who get out of the first and third cars have bodyguard written all over them. More, they have something else about them. Something that warns these are highly capable people. They are working in pairs, four in each car for a total of eight bodyguards.

Star Girl maintains her position. She pays the limos a bit of attention, looking at them from a distance.

From the middle car, after the bodyguards have satisfied themselves no obvious immediate threat is present, steps a distinguished looking man in his mid fifties by appearance. He looks in the direction of the snowball fight and smiles.

"Ack! Not in the face! Not in the face!" Antonio cries, diving for cover from a barrage hurled by the children. He pops up behind his barricade, arms loaded with snowballs and intones, "Now, prepare for my wrath! The likes of which has not been seen upon this world since..." at which point he is drilled by another snowball and goes down in a heap.

Eve giggles as Antonio goes down. And then goes down herself as she is pelted, though this is mostly and excuse to grab a segment of her disassembled staff, concealed about the waist of her coat where it *isn't* so tight. She remains low as if taking cover from the fight, and watches the men from the limos.

The new arrival watches the snowball fight for a minute. Then calls out in German towards where the brother and sister are posted.

Translated: "Come here, Children of the Wolf."

Star Girl eavesdrops, hoping to pick up a bit of the conversation.

The brother and sister stop their participation in the snowball fight and start heading towards the man.

When the brother and sister are close enough for a conversation the man says, in German, "You have grown. Are you being treated well? Are you happy?"

Star Girl's expression blanches. "Did he just say what I think he said..." she comments.

<Guard> Scrapper says, "anybody speak German?"

The children nod and the brother says, "Yes, Sir." in German.

Eve doesn't know what's being said. Nor do the children seem afraid of the man, so while she watches she doesn't act.

Scrapper glances at Star Girl and shrugs

The man shakes his head, "You were foolish to let your picture appear in a newspaper, in this country. You must be on your guard from now on. Have you anyone watching over you?" he says, again in German.

<Guard> Titan says, "Not me."

Star Girl edges toward Scrapper. Once she's side by side with her, she whispers: "I think they're Wolfguard kids. Which means we might need to look out for Wolfguard assassins."

The man smiles down at the brother and sister. "If you ever find yourself unhappy we will have a home for you, and all your siblings." He ruffles the children's hair, "Go, enjoy your game."

The brother and sister return to the snowball fight.

Scrapper whispers back, "Well, I doubt we were asked out here for the view."

Scrapper says, "Got a camera?"

The man looks around, seems not to see what he is looking for and frowns. Then he looks back at the brother and sister once more before starting to return to his car.

Star Girl offers Scrapper her PDA.

Scrapper rolls her eyes and tries to figure out how to use the thing.

Eve thinks. o O (What was that about?)

The man returns to his car while Scrapper is trying to figure out the PDA photo function.

"Nono... like this." Star says. She takes the PDA and activates the camera app. Handing it back to Scrapper she says, "Press that button to shoot."

<Guard> Titan says, "I know who the guy is."

Scrapper takes a couple quick shots followed by a picture of something above and past the group.

<Guard> Titan says, "That's the Baron. The kids were adopted by Commander Steel. Yes, he's connected to Wolfguard, as are those kids."

<Guard> Scrapper says, "Baron who?"

<Guard> Titan says, "Zerstoen, or something like that. I know it starts with a Z."

<Guard> Scrapper says, "and is he wanted for anything currently?"

<Guard> Titan says, "Not as far as I know."

Eve relaxes a bit as it looks like the people are going.

Scrapper says to Star Girl, "Baron Zerstoen, or something like that. With Wolfguard, but I don't think wanted for anything right now."