China
"It's not me that's nuts," Carl says as he reluctantly lowers X12 to the ground. He doesn't let go until he's shifted his grip to a painful grasp on back of X12's neck. As he pulls his hand off X12's face, the outline of his handprint are readily visible.
Master Wen and Nova both rush up as Li appears in the doorway from the bunkhouse. Even the old gardener Kevin came across walks up to observe.
"What going on? Why there hole in bath house? Why you beat up X12!?" Master Wen exclaims.
"Yeah, what the heck is up with this?" Nova says with some concern.
"I was just coming to see you," Carl says to Master Wen, some relief on his face. "X's head's all screwed up. I wasn't gonna tell anyone, but the night before we came, he had some flashback and beat the hell out of Monica. She's a student at school with us. She was real messed up. I figured she wasn't mad though when she said goodbye and stuff. Then, yesterday, I was readin' out here, watching him and Li do some dance and he attacked her. Tore her top nearly right off. Figured she'd tell you, and they seemed to work it out. Then last night, I come out from having a bath and he's sittin' here carving his arm up with a rock! I try to help, and he gets all wierd on me. Then he attacks me this morning in bathroom when I tell him I'm comin' to tell you about all this. I don't know what's goin' on, but I'm tellin' you he's messed up."
Carl finally stops talking after what is probably the longest speech of his life. Master Wen turns to Li.
"He attack you yesterday?" Li looks unsure for a moment, then nods, looking down at the ground. "Why you not tell me?"
"I am sorry, Grandfather," Li says quietly. "I thought he had recovered from his vision. He didn't seem in distress and I was not badly hurt."
"You not tell me about him having vision either? I very disappointed," Master Wen says sternly. He then turns to X12. "You hurt other student before you come? And now you hurt self and try hurt Carl? French woman right. You need Master Wen help." He comes and stands just behind X12. "You let him go now," Master Wen says to Carl in a tone of authority.
Carl releases X12 without further incident. "Carl do right thing, but learn to pull punch better next time. Now, go get breakfast. All get ready for breakfast," Master Wen says. "Not you," he says to X12. "You get dressed, come to Master Wen's quarters. Have much to discuss. Carl, hang sheet over hole. You fix this afternoon with Kevin," he says as he heads off to the main house.
As people move off, Nova joins Raisa and Dara. "And just what were ya gonna do in bath robes? Flash them into stopping?" she grins.
Arizone -- Lockheed
Vincent, you don't recall ever meeting the doctor. As you look around, you see it's mostly a design warehouse. There is a lab where several substances are being mixed. It doesn't look like the lab your father works on medicine's in, more like metalurgical mixing and design. However, you do notice a large private lab in Doctor Worthy's office, where several recognizable, and extremely rare, plants are. You recognize several different ones.
"A good attitude, young man," CEO Morgan says to Johan. "We were..." He is interupted as Loki pipes up. Everyone is rather stunned by the relevation that the area is under illusionary effects.
"What? You're certain?" Agent Simmons says. "Show me!"
Loki leads you all down to the area, where after about five minutes work, he manages to debunk the illusion. Shortly thereafter, Morgan calls for a "Power Nullfier" and Lockheed personel bring in a small hand gun. "Thank goodness you were here to spot that," Morgan says. "Considering the entire FBI missed it." Agent Simmons huffs at the insult.
"Just a prototype we're developing for M-Tac," he explains, firing it repeatedly at the area covered by the illusion. It fades, revealing packed dirt.
"So they tunnelled in?" Doctor Kentworthy says, shocked. "But how could they tunnel so quickly, without setting off sensors?"
Anna tugs on Johan's armor. "I bet that's how," she says, pointing at something stuck in the wall. It appears to be the shard of a huge claw.
"I'm more curious as to how far they tunnelled. We'll have to excavate unless one of you can get down there and see if there are any tunnels left," Agent Simmons says.
"I'll call for some gear to be brought down," Morgan says. "In the meantime, it would probably help if you knew exactly what you were looking for. Doctor?"
"Yes sir. If you look here," Kentworthy says, drawing your attention to a large screen. "We were just finished construction on revolutionary new cryogenic freezers. They were specially designed to hold the most dangerous of virus' and perishable of vaccines for South American Pharmaceuticals. Other than for that use, they would be relatively useless I'd think."
Vincent, you feel someone touch your wings, startling you a bit. You had been so focussed on the goings on, that you barely noticed Doctor Worthy come up behind you. She just ran her finger down one of your wing folds, and is looking at her finger as if she expected something to come off.
"Interesting," she says, not noticing that you can see her, or that you noticed her do that.
New York -- Methesda
"Well, I'm sure someone will see you. I'll just phone up and get you clearance to enter the facility." Henry goes in, as does his partner. A few minutes later, Henry comes out. "Alright, our office Manager Theresa Henry is available to see you," he says. "Mister Falcon is tied up at the moment. You'll each need to wear these," he says, handing out clip on visitor cards, "at all times. Park in the visitor's lot, there on your right, and just go on up to the front desk," he says helpfully. He signals the tower, and the gates open up.
Rebound follows the directions, parking the van. You get out and head into the offices (assuming you want to). You enter the waiting room and the secretary, an attractive blonde girl who is very friendly, asks you to sit and wait. You see her constantly looking at Straightjacket, biting her lip and smiling at him.
It takes a minute for John to realize just who it is. It's the younger woman he rescued in the park from the thugs.
