Log:SERAF, Issue 7

2011/07/17 	 Battery Chen Devil Dog Guardian Halo Rampart Wonder 1

Chen is talking to Miles having been informed what the FBI investigation has discovered. "Miles... Mind if I call the that? Anyway, can you fit me with a listening device? They'll expect me to try something. If I doubt they'll be alaert wondering what I did that they missed. Let them find the listening device and they'll figure they havenothing to worry about."

Miles nods. He waves over some FBI technician to outfit Chen with a wire.

Chen looks over to Wonder, "Hey, help me out here? Think you can imitate my grandfather's brocade robe. If you can I'll take you with me and give you to grandfather. You can protect him that way, right?"

Wonder says, "That should work - I'll have to see it to do it right though."

Chen hurries back home and fetches the robe for Wonder to examine.

Battery arrives, having been guided here by Flyne.

Battery looks like an ordinary Chinese woman in her thirties, when not dressed for adventuring. Presently, she's dressed casually, in jeans, sneakers, and a t-shirt. She stands about 5' 3" tall with a slim, active build. She's of average appearance, but she possesses a warm, welcoming smile which she's not afraid to show.

Wonder examines the robe and shrinks to match it.

Halo, being a member of the SERAF team, received word of the abductionand subsequent investigation. She has arrived in an agency vehicle and is just gettign out of the car. She seems to be finishing a very rapid debriefing from the driver.

Chen goes over to Battery and, dropping her confident pose in the presence of the older matronly woman, wipes away a sudden tear. "Battery, I'm sorry for standing you up but they've abducted my grandfather."

Halo interestingly has updated her costume and bears a new logo. It says 'SERAF.' Apparently she's trying something on her own, since noone else has bee informed of the logo.

Battery takes a moment to absorb the chaos of the scene. "What's going on?" she asks, not of anyone in particular.

Devil Dog is currently standing on a rooftop, his attention fixed on the people below. Happening upon large groups like this happens more often than he would like to admit, seeing as he never sleeps. After a brief moment of thought, he lets his flaming wings flow out and falls forward off the building, sighting in on Halo, seeing as she just arived, and attempting to drop in beside her.

Chen leds Battery to Miles, "Battery, this is Miles Fuchs, the FBI agent in charge of the investigation into Quakezone's kidnapping. Miles, this is Battery, a.. uh.. representative, so to speak, of the exiles here in Chinatown."

Miles offers his hand to Battery. "Pleased to meet you. According to your file, you're one of the good guys."

Chen also tells Battery, "I've been helping with the efforts against the people who took Quakezone so they kidnapped my grandfather."

Battery shakes Miles's hand. "Likewise. I should take that as a compliment -- I doubt the FBI has a file on just anyone!" she says, jovially.

Battery says to Chen, "I'm sorry... is there anything that I can do to help?"

Wonder stays quiet and still. The trouble with imitating clothing is that you give yourself away if you do anything.

Chen nods, "Can you asks your friends to help our efforts by tell Miles what they can about Quakezone. It's the same people who kidnapped both, so anything that helps against them helps both of us. I'm going to a meeting with them. They may be using my grandfather as a trap so they can kill me. But all I care about now is getting him safe and free."

Battery nods. "I understand. I'll see what I'm able to find out... In fact, I think I know where to start..." She catches sight and jogs over towards One Man Army.

Chen says to Miles, "Excuse me for a moment." and goes across to where she sees Devil Dog. "We aren't on good terms, Devil Dog, but my grandfather was the person who organized the Chinatown food collection for your church meals. He's been kidnapped. If you think you owe him anything for his time and effort I'm calling in the marker. Help me."

Devil Dog folds his arms over his chest as his flaming wings slide back into his back. Looking Chen up and down he says simply, "Fine." He adds a single nod to this.

Chen nods with relief, "It's Next Generation. They want me to go alone to a meeting. It's a trap of course, but if all they want is me and they'll let me grandfather go that will work for me. If they don't let him go someone will have to gatecrash the party. You could be a real help if that happens. You're pretty rough. I've seen you in action."

Chen nods to Halo, "Thank you." Turns to Devil Dog, "Thank you too."

Devil Dog hrrrrms as he stares at Chen, then looks around at the buildings to ither side. Offhandedly to Chen he says, "All right, this is what you need to do if you want my help. Do you know what building they're in? Get me a map of it. Then, if you can, figure out where they're holding him. I'll do the rest for my part.

Chen says, "I know where they told me to meet them. But they probably won't have my grandfather there to start with. I'll ask Miles, that;s the FBI guy over there talking to Battery, if he can get plans. I wouldn't know where to start on that."

Battery is over talking with One Man Army. The conversation doesn't seem to be the most cordial. Miles is with the other heroes right now. "I've got it, Chen," he says. "Looks like a construction site."

Chen explains to Devil Dog, "I hope they just want to kill me. If that's the case I can let them after they release my grandfather. His safety is what's important to me."

Devil Dog nods once simply to ~chen, then glances over at Battery and One man Army. To the girl before him he says, "You get me those plans, I can get your Grand dad out of there. I'll drop him off with these people. Now, I need those plans, it's important. If the Miles fellow can get them to me, I can do the rest."

Chen says, "Devil Dog, they won't have my grandfather there. That would be stupid of them. So neither you nor I can do anything until we know where he is. I'm guessing you're planning on teleporting him away? That's a good idea but we need to know where he is first, right? And we don't. Please don't start anything until we can be sure of my grandfather's safety."

Chen smiles wryly, "I'm sure you know a lot more about being an effective vigilante than I do. But I know a lot about how criminals and villains think and work. It's my family's trade afterall."

Devil Dog snorts, and repeats to Chen, "Get me the plans of the building your grampa is in, and I'll get him out. If he isn't where your going, make it your goal to find out where. My debt is to him, not you, so once you know where he is I can rescue him. Until then, your goal should be to find out."

Halo after seeming to wander, make some calls on her phne, and talking to some of the crowd, heads over to Chen. "I think I can dig up more through the streets, but it'll take time. Do you want me to go that route or stand by for you as backup for that meeting?"

Chen says, "Halo, can you stand by. We ought to know in a very short time if any help is needed for the meeting. You can do your talking afterwards."

Chen nods to Devil Dog. "That's my intention.

Chen looks over to Miles, "I'm ready. Let's do this."

Halo nods. "Thats reasonable. I'll look into things more after the immediate peril is at a more resolute ending.

The meeting site is a construction site on the western side of time. Right now, the building is simple a hole in the ground with steel girder skeleton rising five stories into the sky.

Chen gets a lift to the site and, carrying Wonder in his guise of brocade robe, walks openly through the main gate of the construction site and to the edge of the hole. "Hello?" she calls out.

Devil Dog stands with his arms folded over his chest, leaning against the hood of a black FBI squad car, with the main group of people.

Wonder remains still. That, or Chen picked up the wrong robe.

Halo stays well out of sight, in an unmarked FBI car if it's available. She's waiting for radio call from Chen to signal a swat-like sting rush on the site of the meeting. "I how we have someone on a roof, or in a chopper with covert eyes on the scene?" She comments in speculation.

In the pit of the construction site, a lone figure waits. He's leaning up against a pile of cement tubes, each large enough for someone to climb through. It's Rampart. Upon hearing Chen call out he straightens up and turns towards her. "Down here." he says.

Rampart

A masked man in a blue and black skintight costume. He's surrounding by a field of blue energy. At a glance, he's a little over six feet tall, and blessed with a lean athletic build. His mask covers only his eyes and nose, leaving his mouth uncovered. He's dark skinned, and probably African American, judging from what's visible of his features.

Chen starts walking down, using the ladders and ramps provided for the construction workers, "Aren't you on the wrong side?" she asks Rampart. "I wasn't there but I seem to recall something about the team rescuing you."

"It's complicated," Rampart says. He tips his head to one side, then the other, stretching out. He does a couple of arm-circles to loosen his shoulders. His force field is on. "The doctor says she's got a way to help out my brother."

Chen nods to Rampart, "I understand about loyalties. Family. That's why I'm here. So let's get down to business. My grandfather's stall isn't making money while your people are keeping him a prisoner."

Halo hearing the exchange and kearing that Rampaert is on scene, Halo decides its more a trap than a negotiation, she powers-up on of her abilities tough she is still staying put in her location.

Rampart puts his fist into his open palm. "On the bright side, the Doc wants you alive. She needs test subjects for some new process she wants to perfect. Hey, it's nothing personal Chen. I'll make sure the Doc honors her word and lets your gramps go. So you gonna come peacefully? Or go I haveto smash you?"

Jasmine is wandering through the area by total coincidence! Nothing quite makes for an akward situation when there's a hostage negotiation happening in the middle of the night and some random stranger shows up. And she looks pretty strange, too.

Devil Dog grunts, and, standing up straight he rolls his shoulders. Audible cracks can be heard coming from them, much like an old man might make. "Damn turn coats." He growls, then, explodes in a flash of bright orange light with a noise not unlike a grenade going off. Not a seccond later he appears at the entrence of the construction sight in a similar fashion, arms folded over his chest. He makes no move to enter, simply stares into the area ahead.

Chen says, "Are you sure you can smash me? If you are, let my grandfather go. When he calls me from somewhere safe I''ll go with you peacefully. And if I break my word you can pound me into the dirt and take me anyway, right?"

Rampart says, "No can do, kid. He gets to go after we have you safe and sound. Non-negotiable."

Chen shakes her head, "You're forgetting something. You're a villain now. Me no trust you. But you don't have to trust me because you can smash me and take me in whether I keep my word or not. So make it less painful for both of us and make the call. Tell them to release my grandfather."

Rampart says, "And I'm supposed to trust you? Fat chance. Sounds like it's gonna be the hard way...!"

Devil Dog hrrms as he looks over the construction sight before him, and, starts walking. Attempting to circle through the entrence and into the shadows of some cover. Keeping away from the light he heads toward the self-same hole Chen findes herself in, pulling his stocking cap down low as he walks.

Wonder thinks. o O (Hm. Do I fight, or do I keep playing robe in case Rampart wins and takes us in?)

Halo jumps suddenly. Instead of landing a few feet away, she lifts off gracefully, but rapidly in the air as

Halo she heads for Chen

Chen thinks hard o O(If I give up I should be able to take Wonder in as a surprise edge. Okay.) Then she nods, "I have your word my grandfather will be released?"

Rampart was about to reach for one of the cement columns. At Chen's words he says, "Yeah you got my word..." He turns to face Chen and raises his fist. "I'm gonna have to knock you out, first."

Chen smiles, "See my grandfather gets his robe will you. I'm afraid the Doc is going to be disappointed because you're not getting me alive to experiement on." Stretching out a arm Chen picks up a sharp pointed length of construction rebar and plunges it into her chest and through her heart. She drops, dead before she hits the ground.

Devil Dog creeps up through the shadows close enough to see what is happening below him, then, lets out a soft snort as he turns and starts to circle through the shadows, attempting to move around behind Rampart, and end up in a dark patch of shade beside the concrete beams.

"What the - ?!" Rampart jumps forward to check on Chen. "Crazy Chinese idiot!"

Rampart crouches down over Chen, at loss at what to do. He tries to think of a way to save her life, but it's clear he has no idea how.

Halo hears teh exchange on the communicator, as well as teh 'thud' and Ramparts remark, She stops mid flight, thinking what could have jsut happwened.

After pausing, Halo resumes her flight at a hurried pace as she nolonger hears Chen.

Having no idea what's going on Jasmine decides to just go invisible for the time being and then floats upwards to have a peak inside the area where she heard voices.

Devil Dog growls softly from his place of hiding and, as hellfire pours into his muscles, reaches out to grab one of the concrete beams beside him. As his fingers dig into the material to help him get a good grip he hoists it up over his head with the grinding noise of concrete on concrete, then charges forward a good six meaters before swinging it around in a wide arc like a baseball plaer, attempting to smack Rampart across the open area with it, roaring out, "TURN, COOOAT!" in a clearly inraged voice.

Rampart tries to spin and get his arms up to defend himself, but he's not in time. The cement pillar smacks into him and knocks in backwards a little.

Rampart is on his back, and he pushes up to his elbows. "What the hell?"

Rampart shouts at DD, "I didn't touch her. She did that harry karry stuff to herself!"

Halo comes 'round to see teh scene. Chen lying with rebar in the chest, and witnesses DD as he swats Rampart using the constuction cement beams. Her first reaction is panic anda tear for a fallen fellow hero. Then cold, scolding, harshness convers her in an expression of stern judgement. "Rampart! how could you!"

Rampart looks around at the heroes appearing from all over. "Ambush... you can never trust a cape."

Halo slows down, but is still enraged. She remembers that Rampart is tough and decides on one thing given that she is still moving. She rushes him in an attack she learned in combat trainging wiht old friends...

Halo head toward Rampage, trying to scoop him up. In her fit of anger She forget to slow down, causing her to overshoot her mark. As she passes, however, She interjects, "I'll see you in prison for life for this one personally Rampage!"

"I didn't do it!" Rampage shouts.

Devil Dog stalks after Rampart like the crazy scary hellish being that he is and swings the huge pipe up behind himself like a giant sledge hammer, "You've turned on your own people." He growls ferociously, "Now get up and fight like a man, so I can break you in half!" With a heave and a 'woosh' Dd brings the giant beam down, attempting to pound Rampart into the ground.

Rampart rises up off of one shoulder, pulling himself just out of the way of the giant pillar slamming down. He rests one arm against the pillar, and gets ready to pull himself up. "I don't even know who you are.. let's see if you can take it as well as you dish it!"

Rampart hops up to his feet. In a jumping stride, he lands in front of Devil Dog, and he tries to slam DD with an uppercut.

Rampart lands a little off balance and misses with his punch.

Devil Dog drops the beam with a 'THUD' and leans to one side of Rampart's uppercut. With a snarled, "Get back." He brings his own fist around, attempting to smash it into Rampart's temple.

Devil Dog's punch cracks Rampart in the cheek and turns his head. When Rampart turns back towards Devil Dog, he's wearing a smirk. "That all you got?"

Devil Dog responds in his growling voice, almost nose to nose with Rampart, "Not even close."

Wonder changes abruptly to human form - now Rampart is distracted - and joins in the fight, hoping to punch him by surprise!

"Ugh!" Rampart gets struck from behind by Wonder. The force of the punch carries him forward, but he's able to tumble into a roll, and he winds up on his feet.

Wonder follows up with a second punch, giving it his all, hopefully before Rampart can react.

Having gotten the call, Guardian was out for a run. She's waiting for folks to call her back with info on the case. She's not an investigator after all, just a jarhead and a pilot who goes where she's told and does what's needed. The call comes in saying there's a fight going down and that she should get her officer ass there to help contain the situation.

Moments later, she's accelerating very fast and streaking into the area with a golden yellow glow of energy trailing behind her as she weaves between buildings and comes in at around 16 or so meters in the air while slowing herself down and getting a read on the situation.

Wonder connects with a second punch which knocks Rampart to the ground, skidding him across the dirt of the excavated hole.

a glowing pink aura raches out from Halo to enfold Rampage at Halo's request to listen to her. As she watches Rampages reaction seh hold up her hand indicating that her comrads whoudl wait to see if he is in her power.

Taking a moment to gather herself and look about, Guardian shakes her head before launching a luminous pulse down that erupts with blinding light right before Rampart's face, "Stand down Rampart. There's no reason you have to get beat to a pulp here. Next Gen has written you off, there's no backup, no escape. It'd go far better for you if you just stop fighting."

Rampart is surrounded, and he hesistates, having heard Halo's commanding voice.

Halo thinks. o O (Great, now that Hes blind, I cant use one of my abilities...at least not for now.)

Halo Sighs

Devil Dog sprouts his flaming wings, hurtling over Wonder's head toward Rampart like a flaming missile. touching down right in front of the blinded man he lifts boath hands over his head and locks them together like an ax-handle, attempting to bring them down over the man's head and flatten him.

Blinded, Rampart still manages to flip up to his feet quickly. From there, he jumps as far as he can away from the heroes, blindly smashing though anything in his path.

Rampart smashes in though the brick wall of a building neighboring the construction site.

Devil Dog smashes his clinched hands into the spot Rampart had just been occupying,, the ground shuttering violently all around him as his fists carve a furro through it. Snarling he stands up straight and glances into the air at Guardian, calling up, "You have half a brain, finish this for me. I want to talk to this chump once he's caught, I have a promis to keep to Chen." This being said, he explodes in a flash of orange light, vanishing from the area.

Wonder says, "Don't let him get away! If he does then this is a *complete* disaster!"

Halo turns abruptly in mid-flight, heading for the hoel in the wall, "Oh no you don'T." she yells at Rampage, "I told you to stop and listen to me!"

for the second time a glowing pink aura races out from Halo to enfold Rampage at Halo's request to listen to her. As she watches Rampages reaction she again holds up her hand indicating that her comrads shoudl wait to see if he is in her power.

"Can't stop," Rampart shouts back. "I've got too much at stake!"

Halo says, "Rampage, I know its your Bro...I get that, but there is more than one way to solve this. You KNOW who I am and that I keep my word. At least talk to me."

Jasmine ends up floating after the escaping person and after touching down near the opening in the wall he made she suddenly fades into view as her invisbility ends. Meanwhile the kitsune's tails start glowing as she uses one of their powers to give Rampart the feeling of still escaping when he's really not.

Rampart shouts, "No way I'm letting you take me in -- you think I killed Chen!"

Halo continues. "last time when you ran off with spectre you had to make a rush decision...and they'll keep stringing you along I'm sure. But we NEED an inside man. Get it? Hear me out Rampage."

Dropping down out of the sky, Guardian lands about 50 feet from the guy and lashes out with a plasma bolt. "If you persist in this, you're going to make -sure- that you get blamed. If you're innocent, turn yourself in and prove it!" she offers as the bolt flashes forward and into Rampart.

The blast clips Rampart in the shoulder and knocks the fleeing man off balance. He stumbled forward to the ground.

Jasmine ends up squinting towards Guardian when he starts throwing things at the person she's attempting to mindwrangle before tossing a small rock at him as a means of showing she wants him to knock it off!

Rampart tries to get up and continue his flight, shaking off Jasmine's attempt to fog his mind.

Rampart gets up quickly, and continues to jump away blindly.

Rampart smashes his way out of one building and into the next. He shouts as he retreats, "I'm the only shot the old man has at getting out of there! If you don't let me go he's a goner!"

Narrowing her eyes, Guardian accelerates after the fleeing brick. "Look, this is crazy. Work -with- us, not against us." she mutters as she whooshes up alongside the guy. "If you're trying to rescue a prisoner, then wouldn't it make more sense for us to team up and do it? Let me come with you... as an ally, a prisoner, both, either... having backup is a lot more useful than most folks give credit for."

"F^k that!" Rampart shouts. "I've had enough of you maniacs and your tricks. First Chinese chick offs herself, then you come after me like I did it, then her robe morphs and cheapshots me in the back!"

Rampart with his vision finally clearing, leaps and smashes his way down into the sewers.

"And -I- wasn't here for any of that. You're the one who's out of your mind if you're planning to hold their actions against -me-..." Guardian follows wherever Rampart goes.....

Guardian loses sight of Rampart for a moment as he smashes his way underground. When she pursues, she's confronted with a four way sewer intersection -- and no clear indication of which way Rampart went.