Curtains #1 - A Crossing of Paths

[Rybaer]

The Hightower Convention Center Floors 1 and 3, Downtown, Coast City
April 16
21:24

The swordsman listens to each in turn, but when Professor Fate speaks, his expression finally begins to soften. He goes from bitter to resigned in a very short span. Granite and Lawrence, listening to the masked superhero's smooth words and impeccable line of reasoning, think that this is a guy who could talk Donald Trump into taking a vow of poverty. (Diplomacy roll 19+12=31)

The swordsman lets his razor cloud drop - the blades merging with his armor. "Very well," he says. "We'll give up. Just keep it straight with the cops that the disease guy is responsible for this."

He then picks his companion back up off the ground. It occurs to him that his strength has returned. "Oh, hey, that wore off. Good."

He holds the unarmed man up and looks him in the face. "How are you holding up?" he asks. The unarmed man gives him an annoyed look and drools a bit. "Just remember, Pestilence forced us to help him. He threatened to use his disease thing on us. Got it?" This last bit is delivered with pointed emphasis.

The swordsman looks to Lawrence. "Hey, does this stuff wear off? Can you cure him?"

They will follow back up to the ballroom, if that is your intended destination.

*****

Professor Fate's supernaturally enhanced intellect has been churning away at the problem of how to deal with Pestilence's disease attack. His healing power seemed ineffectual, but it occurs to him that he might be able to focus the healing power in a slightly different way. Rather than try to directly repair the damage to the body, he could try using the same power to boost the victim's own natural systems.

(ooc - Frankly, there is no mechanic to counter poison or disease aside from immunity. It seems like it should fall in the domain of healing. I'll rule that the healing power can be applied to these things with the use of a Hero Point.)

*****

Jack grins at Jorgi. "Well, this was by far my most exciting job. It's certainly not representative of a typical day. I just hope that you're not a magnet for this sort of behavior...I don't think I carry enough liability insurance for that sort of thing."

 

[Velmont]

"Well, I must tell that I'm not sure. I've use it once before only. That time, I was sure I had kill the guy, but I read in the newspaper that he was carry to the hospital, that he was weak, but he should recover and could be show for his primilary trials the day after. So I suppose he should be OK... maybe in an hour, maybe tommorow. I don't think it will be more than that."

Lawrence say that with more or less assurance in his voice.

 

[Keia]

Prof. Fate Unharmed, HP's: 1

Professor Fate relaxes a bit when he saw the aura of metal dissipate from the swordman. He was concerned by what appeared to be coaching of the unarmed man by the swordsman, but that was a matter to be determined by the authorities.

"To the ballroom, then," Professor Fate said. He made a motion to the others to go on ahead and he would follow behind.

Steven worked through his theory and decided that he would try it on the crowd . . . and on Sandra Poynter first.

 

[Rybaer]

The Hightower Convention Center, Downtown, Coast City
April 16
21:24

The swordsman grunts in acceptance of Lawrence's explanation of his powers...or rather the uncertainty of just how they behave. He hauls his companion through the halls and up the stairwell back to the ballroom - Granite leading and Lawrence and Professor watching from behind.

A pair of cops join up on the third floor and escort everyone into the ballroom. Around the same time, a couple non-uniformed detectives arrive and direct the swordsman to a discreet corner to begin preliminary questioning. The unarmed man and Pestilence are left to lay near the stage.

*****

Professor Fate spots Sandra Poynter and heads her direction. The convention-goers watch him closely as he approaches - his powers and costume have pegged him as something of a novelty. She scarcely opens her eyes at his approach, but she manages a feeble smile and gasps out something indiscernable.

"Just relax," Professor Fate urges her. "I might be able to help with this."

He lays one hand on her forehead and grips her hand with his other. Her hand is cool to the touch. Almost under his breath, the Professor urges her body to bolster itself against Pestilence's disease. He feels a surge of warm energy flow through his hands and into her.

In mere moments, the pustules on her skin recede and then vanish completely. Sandra sucks in a deep breath, free of the raspy wheezing. Her eyes snap open, bright and lucid once again. She throws her arms around Professor Fate's neck and hugs him fiercely.

Into his ear, she whispers, "That makes twice you've saved me, Doctor Faturius."

Faturius/Fate hardly notices the mob of Pestilence's victims that have started to clamor for him to save them or their loved ones.

*****

Granite and Lawrence are just standing about, waiting for the cops to decide what must be done next. A man clears his throat from behind them, clearly intent on getting their attention.

Granite recognizes him immediately - Arty Hagan, the reporter from the yesterday in the park. He looks a little bit sweaty and is breathing heavily, but he has an enthusiastic look on his face.

"Well, well, well," he says. "When I heard the breaking news about a metahuman brawl down at the convention center, I didn't exactly expect to see you here. Must be my lucky day...a chance to get the inside track on the biggest story since the curtains first struck."

He seems to realize Lawrence finally. "Oh, hey," he says, offering his hand. "Arty Hagan, Coast City Chronicle. Are you with him?"

*****

"Can I get you anything else to drink?" a familiar voice says to Jorgi.

He rolls his head to the side and sees the goth girl standing a few feet away. He can tell that she's disturbed by the visible evidence of Pestilence's attack, but she seems determined not to let it become an issue.

"Our management decided that a few employees should stick around to see to the needs of the guests," she says. "Guess the cops expect us to be stuck here for a while. So, those of us who were in the kitchens when that rag-wearing guy came through were 'volunteered'. Guess they figured we were already potentially exposed. Oh well."

She favors him with a resigned smile.

 

[Velmont]

While waiting, Lawrence speaks with Thomas.

"Great. Now the police will come, my father will learn everything and I will have the biggest trouble of my life... if my father ever recognize me as his son anymore."

At that moment, the reporter come interrupt his conversation.

"Oh, hey," he says, offering his hand. "Arty Hagan, Coast City Chronicle. Are you with him?"

"Me?" he looks at Thomas. "Well, what you mean, with him? I met him an hour ago. Anyway, I have something to do, so if you excuse me."

Lawrence leaves the two adults and walk up to Jorgi. "If I understand, you work here? Yeah? Do you know where I could have a computer. I would like to write some e-mail."

 

[Mimic]

"Great. Now the police will come, my father will learn everything and I will have the biggest trouble of my life... if my father ever recognize me as his son anymore."

Kid, you worry too much. We just stopped the bad guys, we're heros. Why would your father be mad about that?

"Well, well, well," he says. "When I heard the breaking news about a metahuman brawl down at the convention center, I didn't exactly expect to see you here. Must be my lucky day...a chance to get the inside track on the biggest story since the curtains first struck."

And yet am I not surprised to see you here, how did you get past the police? Thomas responds eyeing the man closely.

 

[Keia]

The Hightower Convention Center, Downtown, Coast City
April 16
21:24

Into his ear, she whispers, "That makes twice you've saved me, Doctor Faturius."

The name almost didn’t register in Steven’s brain . . . relief that Sandra was going to be alright and that he could help the others was foremost in his mind. Then it hit him as he was about to make a response . . . he sputtered for a split second, then responded.

“Think nothing of it,” Professor Fate replied, “I’m just pleased that I was able to help.”

He looked into her eyes, trying to get a read on what was going on in her mind. She didn’t seem like she was going to reveal his secret . . . and he had no intention of confirming anything to her – not here, and definitely not now.

Abstractedly, he tried to maintain his power, making himself exhausted in the process. With a glance back at Sandra, he said, “I’m certain we’ll talk more later, right now these people need me.”

With that said, Professor Fate worked on maintaining his power and healing as many as he could of Pestilence’s effects, starting with the young man with the electrical powers, if he saw where he was. Otherwise, the crowd . . . women and children first.

 

[Rybaer]

Lawrence leaves the two adults and walk up to Jorgi. "If I understand, you work here? Yeah? Do you know where I could have a computer. I would like to write some e-mail."

Another individual sitting next to Jorgi looks between Lawrence and the girl that just came up to chat with Jorgi. He grins and gets up from his chair.

"Hey," he says, offering his hand. "I'm Jack, his new boss. I've got a computer setup in the back corner that you're welcome to use. Let me show ya."

Jack ushers Lawrence away from Jorgi and the girl, sensing that some privacy is in order. In the back corner, behind a small screen, Jack points to a portable laptop that is plugged into the convention center's outlets.

"Help yourself," he says. "Say, if you don't mind my saying, that was a pretty brave thing all of you did tonight. Pretty creepty weird ability you've got, but I'm glad to see you're on to 'good' side."

 

[Rybaer]

And yet am I not surprised to see you here, how did you get past the police? Thomas responds eyeing the man closely.

He grins broadly.

"Hey, what kind of reporter would I be if I couldn't talk my way past a few measly cops? I'd still be writing obituaries for the Hill-Billy Gazette.

"So, how 'bout that exclusive? I promise I'll cast you in a good light."

 

[Rybaer]

He looked into her eyes, trying to get a read on what was going on in her mind. She didn’t seem like she was going to reveal his secret . . . and he had no intention of confirming anything to her – not here, and definitely not now.

Abstractedly, he tried to maintain his power, making himself exhausted in the process. With a glance back at Sandra, he said, “I’m certain we’ll talk more later, right now these people need me.”

Sandra returns Professor Fate's look with an exploring one of her own. If anything, Faturius thinks she looks incredibly relieved and probably very tired. She favors him with a warm smile.

"Yes," she says, "I imagine we will speak again. I'll leave you to those in need for now." She gives him another quick hug and a friendly pat on the back.

Professor Fate struggles to control his tuned healing power and first offers to heal Jorgi. Though he is skeptical following the first failure, he is soon elated when it works. A young girl in an employee's outfit standing behing Jorgi looks equally pleased to see him cured.

A crowd of the people then lead the Professor from one needy victim to another. A few EMS techs have finally arrived, but upon seeing his results they back away and watch in amazement.

When complete, Professor Fate nearly collapses in exhaustion. The unfamiliar use of his power has somehow caused a severe drain on his endurance and he feels like a couple days of sleep are in order.

"You did a good thing here, tonight," a familiar voice says. Fate looks up into Maggie's grinning face. She gives him a deliberate wink.

"Indeed you did," says Werner Schwartzeit, the industrialist Faturius had met earlier in the evening. "More than one good friend of mine are among those you just healed, and I'd like to express my personal gratitude."

He pulls a business card out of his pocket and offers it to Professor Fate. "I don't know what the superhero business climate is like. Seems like it might become an important new niche in society before long, though. Give me a call sometime if you might be interested in a sponsorship. I have plenty of contacts in business and government...could probably grease some skids on the legal end of things in our era of sue-happy lawyers."