Log:Overman, Scene 5

Overman 2020/10/16 	 Amelia Artemis Ascendant Baker Magda Moonshadow Rosenbridge Victory Brainstorm Jet Shard Terra Tinman Wink Overman

5

The heroes have gone to Overman's Earth to see whatt can be done there - and to check on Overman's account of events. Overman, at request, stayed out of sight at Colonial Heights while the heroes checked out the American Freedom Front bunker. Scouting through the eyes of a rat got as far as revealing six metas within the bunker before tthe heroes were spotted and the rat trampled underfoot by people in VIPER-like gear. The heroes then parleyed with the AFF's leader, at a distance: the heroes at the mouth of the bunker (the outer gate having earlier been destroyed by Overman) and the colonel standing at the inner gate, flanked by numberous armed and armoured soldiers.

The parley was largely a long exchange of history. According to the colonel, the AFF had no VIPER connection other than having bough arms from VIPER states; he named the Kaiser (Zerstoilen) as the probable instigator of the Washington bombing, and claimed that Overman had become increasingly violent and dictatorial over the years, making himself a true dictator after the Washington event, and that the AFF were fighting for freedom.

It was at this point that the heroes noticed a massive rock coming at the bunker mouth, from the direction of Colonial Heughts, at supersonic speed - wielded by Overman! While other heroes avoided the rock or got AFF people to safety, Baker raised a barrier and Artemis placed herself in the rock's direct path. The barrier, alas, crumbled, but the rock broke apart on hitting the immovable Artemis - though even the shower of exploding boulder was enough to injure and knock out Baker.

The six AFF meta's, meanwhile, had teleported outside, and set to attacking the momentarily sttunned Overman, and the heroes joined in. Overman seemed increasingly irrational, and increasingly convinced the heroes had chosen the AFF's side.

At the present moment, Wade has just bound Baker's wounds (in the bunker's outer chamber/garage). Moonshadow and Amelia are desolid at the bunker's mouth. Overman is about 30m in front of the bunker's mouth, prone and held by the earth (courtesy of AFF meta Terra). Ascendant is flying toward Overman (having earlier been blown away). Artemis is standing guard against any attacks by Overman. Of the AFF metas, Jet is flying about, circling in for another attack. The others are largely where they first teleported (a bit in front of the bunker., or heading toward Overman from there. A notable exception in the teleporter, Wink, who just bamfed over to Overman to try to teleport his heart out of his body - only to have her power backfire and work on herself - which has left her teammates stunned. 

Once more, Overman doesn't make the effort to break out of bonds. But having found that his eye lasers are rather too easily deflected, he returns to his breath weapon.

Artemis raises up her shield and braces against the blast, rooting herself to the ground. An energy field extends from her shield to absorb most of the blast's affects against her and the people directly behind her. With the intensity of the eyebeams, the energy field drops but she keeps her shield held up to protect herself.

Artemis raises up her shield and braces against the blast, rooting herself to the ground. An energy field extends from her shield to absorb most of his breath's affects against her and the people directly behind her. With the intensity of the wind, the energy field drops but she keeps her shield held up to protect herself.

Brainstorm goes tumbling head over heels backwards but somehow lands on his feet - no mean feat with a head that big. Tinman doesn't budge.

Jet comes back, flying just above the ground, once more trying to plough straight into Overman!

NNS is so focused on striking Overman that he's caught full on by the blast and sent hurling away, end over end- likely very near back to where he started.

Overman, alas, had anticipated this attack, and resists being knocked back. Result: Jet comes to an abrupt halt, knocking himself out.

In the air, the observing-so-far Magda is buffeted by the immense wind created by Overman; while it sends her spinning and flying, making her stay somewhat dizzy, it has no damaging effect.

Amelia says, "Moonshadow, can you hit Overman with a mystical attack and then be ready to abort to desolid again if he retaliates?"

Ascendant is so focused on striking Overman that he's caught full on by the blast and sent hurling away, end over end- likely very near back to where he started.

He shouts to Overman as he closes the gap, "You've grown power mad, Overman. It will be a great honor to free your world of your tyranny!"

Wade pats Baker on the shoulder, "I think you'll be okay for now. If we dont' deal with Overman though...we're not getting back. Hang in there." He gets back up...and runs back toward the fighting, turning his shield back on as he runs.

Shard, in a blind rage after seeing her teammate die in front of her, runs toward Overman and fires all ten of her fingernails at Overman (they grow back instantly). The nails just bounce off him, however. Terra then tries her usual trick of pulling her opponents underground...

... but Overman doesn't budge.

Amelia asks Moonshadow to drop her desolidification and engages the prone and held Overman with a single instance of a spirit swarm spell.

Amelia watches carefully to observe whether the insubstantial spirits fly into Overman or bounce off him. Quirks her mouth in annoyance as they bounce.

Magda steadies herself, then regards the ubermensch below. Floating in the aur, she focuses her power ...

Around almost everyone, but centered on Overman, arises an image -- images, drawn from decades of imagery on television and the movies, whether of Nazi rallies and book burnings, or of people reciting well be loved elements of American philosophy. The sounds mingle, Hitler at the Nuremberg rally Against children reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, and other such examples; Eventually, all of them fade as one comes to dominate.

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

"Everyone," Korkoro says via the images, "stop fighting. We are all in grave danger. Even you, Overman."

"WHO DID THAT?" roars Overman."ARE YOU CALLING ME A FASCIST?"

Brainstorm's head pulses as he concentrates.

Overman's demand ends in pain as brainstorm sets his nerves on fire.

Tinman clanks his way over to Overman, but has no time time to act.

Wade shouts toward Overman, "I wasn't the one who said it...but that's what you've become, nonetheless!"

Overman may be angered by the images, but it's the mental assault that sends him over the edge, enraged, he tries to break free to attack the mentalist...

Bursting free of the Earth, Overman flies over to where Brainstorm has ended up and attempts a punch -

Brainstorm, alas, proves to be something of a glass cannon. He flies back some 16m under the punch, lands on his head, and ceases to move.

Wade closes the distance toward Overman, and throws a charge from his energy shield at the tyrant. "Your actions here prove that you're over the line, Overman. I will always stand up to bullies or tyrants."

The energy disk misses high and Wade shakes his head as the shield reforms on his arm. Perhaps it'll keep Overman from killing the mentalist.

Overman turns his head to Wade and glares - he seems beyond speech in his rage now.

Shard, having found her powers useless against Overman, falls down weeping over Wink's body. Terra tries to grab Overman with the earth again.

The earth shifts near him, but not close enough.

From above, Korkoro shouts, "The radiation from Washington has been affecting his mind! We need him held so I can try to draw it out of him!!"

Artemis was too far to stop Brainstorm from being hit, but she can try to prevent him from being struck again. She flies towards Overman, drawing her arm back and then swinging her blade forward. It extends into a bladed whip, striking for Overman. "Poisoned or not, it hath merely amplified what foulness already resided there! He shall not strike another mortal!"

Magda shouts back, "He has been living in it ever since Washington was destroyed! Untainted, he is probably much like you!!"

Wade says to Magda, "What do you need to do, exactly? Touch him? Does he need to be still?"

Overman makes a muffled noise of surprise as the whips wraps about his head, eyes and mouth included.

Artemis's bladewhip wraps several times around Overman's eyes and mouth. Artemis pulls on her bladewhip, and the line tightens further to squeeze Overman.

"That would be best -- and to not get killed while I fight his own defenses!!" Magda calls back.

Ascendant grunts and resumes his charge. He hears Korkoro above but he cannot stop if Overman won't. A moment's hesitation may cause another ally to fall.

Finally in range and left with no choice but to fall back on his other gifts.

With Artemis holding Overman in his iron grasp he pulls up and hovers there, focusing his mind on Overman, then a tide of psionic energy leaps toward his target.

"See the world you work so tirelessly for!" NNS proclaims. "I have seen wastelands. You would let what little you have spoil because someone called you a name?" He scoffs.

Wade nods to Magda, "Then try to not draw his attention again. We can keep him occupied. Maybe."

Overman's eyes go wide as, for a moment at least, the images of his world brought to ruin by his actions invade his mind. "NO! NO!!!!"

"Yes, Overman. Yes." NNS says calmly. "This is the World Promised by your Hegemony. Do not look away. Let this Truth take root in your heart and choose your next steps wisely."

Magda shouts down at Overman, "Then sit still and let us do our work!!"

Overman roars, "A TRICK! STAY out of my mind!" And attempts to wrest the whip holding him from Artemis grasp by spinning about, winding it about him!

"You surely have lost your mind if ye presume to think that ye might gives reason to command a Godflora." NNS says imputently, but still in a perfectly calm tone.

Overman wrests the whip free - and once it no longer has superstrength behind it, he shrugs it off effortlessly.

Artemis tries to resist the pull of Overman. As he starts to pull her in, she releases her bladewhip. She can call it back to her when needed. The blade is loyal.

Ascendant takes being commanded by such an honorless cur as an afront that will not be stood for.

"You have already lost, Overman. You thrash and rile like a child against a storm. You may blow the leaf away but the branch soon follows." He says as he lifts his hands up and then forward as if to assist the force of energy being summoned by his will alone.

Overman looks about, confused.

Terra tries once more to grab Overman with earth...

... and again misses, despite having moved closer.

Okay, so things don't always go so smooth. Rosemary was out on patrol in her costume as Rosenbridge. And by patrol, I mean bouncing around town. She appeared atop the Corporate Tower downtown. But she flickered through time and space ... hitting her target ... well not RIGHT on target. She appeared -in- the transmat portal as it was forming an energy field.

That hurt... and I mean HURT. But when the energy cleared and Rosenbridge could see again... she was no longer in Kansas. "What in the name of Stephen Hawking?" she asks aloud as she appears in the middle of a battle... smoke seeping from her glorious costume.. (if you can call a road cone orange bodysuit with dayglo green highlights glorious...)

Artemis flies towards Overman, preparing to hold him if necessary.

The scene Rosenbridge finds is a mess. At the mouth of a bunker, there has clearly been a big explosion or two. Nearby, it seems many heroes, known and unknown, are fighting one individual - flying brick type to judge by the look of him. Actually wearing a cape, no less. There is at least one dead combatant, being wept over by someone.

"Sorcerers! Do your magic and heal this one of his shameful ways before my hold over him is broken." NNS demands. "If you falter we will be forced to resume throttling him." He still doesn't sound against htis option, in fact he looks annoyed its come to this.

Amelia summons a second wave of healing butterflies.

Tinman clanks over about halfway to where Overman is *now*.

Descending like a stooping hawk, Korkoro's cloak flares around her as she tunes it into the theta radiation she can /see/ inside of him. Electricity flickers and crackles between her and Overman, but his body is resisting her efforts to clean him of his taint.

"Seriously. What in the HELL is happening here? Anyone? Anyone?" Rosenbridge pauses and then adds, "Bueller?"

"Grab and hold him if you can!" calls the descending silver-haired woman. "If you can't, stay the hell out of the way!!"

NNS turns to look at Rosenbridge. "This one has become corrupt by radiation and cowardice. He is mighty and growing more rotten by the second..." He explains calmly. "We seek to cure him of this taint and through it free the people of this world. I have clouded his mind to our presence. He looks for us even now, but is stilled by our sudden disappearance."

Overman is a bit surprised to take damage from an unseen assailant.

Artemis grapples Overman to keep hold of him, gritting her teeth as she digs in to hang on and squeeze. "If ye healers can do nothing, thou mortals should flee for thy lives whilst mine Brother and I buy you time!" She looks to Amelia. "Sorceress! Ferry them back to thy world!"

Nodding to NNS, Rosenbridge shrugs her shoulders, "That seems so convoluted that it couldn't be a fabrication." she mutters before she flickers with energy and translocates in near to Overman.

"That'll help!!" Korkoro agrees. "He's worse here!!"

Amelia says, "If anyone wants to go back I'll open a gate. Otherwise, we have unfinished work here to do."

"oooh- yes, Mortals- Flee if ye have nothing more to give. We shall stand firm and wear this one down! For all eternity if the Sisters Grace decree it." He sounds positively delighted by this prospect.

"Did you not hear me?!?" cries Magda. "He's worse here -- get him back to our Earth, and his natural resistance starts working FOR us, cleaning him of the taint!!"

"Ye would sacrifice one world for another? How sure be ye that you can even so as you say?" Artemis shouts back during her struggles.

Amelia says, "You don't understand. I can't force him through a gate. He either has to pass through willingly or be unconscious, Magda."

Victory shakes his head, "We're not taking him back to our Earth. We deal with it here."

"Then it should be done quickly." NNS reiterates.

Ascendant sighs.

"Well then, we should return to it then. As I said, Mortals. It is time for you to depart."

He turns and meets Overman's eyes and squares up.

"Well, come on then." He says to Overman, beckoning him to him. "Or else you'll never be free of me, Mortal. Not ever."

Amelia says, "Magda, what languages do you speak?"

"I have German, Polish, Yiddish, Hebrew, Russian, and French," says Magda as she slows in her descent, trying to keep a workable distance between herself and Overman.

Amelia switches to Hebrew, "Overman has strong resistance to change. I'll try to drain that away for you."

Magda gives an acknowledging gesture towards Amelia.

Seeing the enemy's eyes start to peer about once more, Rosenbridge gulps. "Hey Mister. Um.. I heard you don't even know how to dress yourself." she says ... BRAVELY...

But she flickers with movement... appears about ten meters ahead of the guy.. then flickers back in to try her luck with a punch.

Terra tries to earth-grab Overman yet again...

... and again misses.

Artemis attempts to grapple Overman again. "Will ye sorceresses and healers do something of import before he slays all the mortals!?" she hollars during her attempt.

Amelia says, "closes on Overman and working the spell formula as she casts, tries to drain away some of Overman's resistance to change."

Amelia feels the spell cast successfully and notes the minor but definite reduction in resistance to it. Next time it will be easier, and then time after even easier.

Brainstorm groans as he comes around.

Magda levels off, 'reaching out' to pull at the irradiated particles. She can almost see Overman's body hesitating, and knows she has to work fast.

Victory has had enough of waiting. Perhaps Overman can be worn down. He closes the remaining distance to Overman and strikes with a side kick. "Any luck on that purge of the radiation yet?"

Amelia says, "We're working on it, Victory. But he's tough all round. It's going to take time. Sorry."

Victory's foot hits solidly, and he winces. . o O (It's like it was when I hit Cobalt years ago.)

Tinman clanks in, charging bodily at Overman!

... and misses,

Magda calls out, "He's -- resistant!! It's like his cells are conflicted between getting rid of the damnable things, and holding onto them!!" She pauses, then adds, "A very toxic relationship!"

"Then we shall give thee all the time ..." NNS says, wincing a bit as Tinman misses. "... All the time ye need, Amelia of Steinberg." Then with a resounding call to all o fhis allies, "Let us show him our mettle!"