SAP Headquarters
Michelle, Straightjacket
Despite your orders, you, Tara, Straightjacket, Cosmo and the accompanying officers all exit the elevator at the same time. You are all familiar with where the large foyer where you now stand. The elevator across the room leads up to Ms. Vaile's offices, while the offices where you had your battle with robots is to your right.
The foyer is far from empty.
Silver armored guards, just like the ones from the research lab, are present; at least twenty of them. Four stand outside the office doors, guarding against intrusion into them. Four block your path further into the foyer. The remainder are gathered near the elevator across the room while a number of workers appear to be attempting to disable a yellow security barrier that is around the lab above you.
"Stop!" orders a guard in a tinny voice through his helmet. "This area is off limits! Step back into the elevator."
"Off limits?" Officer Beno says, stepping forward. "SAP may have political sway but this is an ISA operation. Stand aside."
"I said," the guard says an instant before surprising you all by shoving officer Beno back and into the elevator. Beno hits the wall well off the ground, and slumps down to the floor unconscious. "This area is off limits. Step back into the elevator."
The officers immediately draw their guns. The guards' powerful arm cannons lurch up from inside their armor. Tension rise. Somewhere, the theme to the Good the Bad and the Ugly plays...
Johan
Your intention is to give a nice dissertation on your situation, but for some reason, as the ground rapidly approaches and you see you have about five seconds, it comes out kind of like "AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!"
Oh well, at least the breeze is nice. And rather strong. Really strong...
Vince
You burst into motion, running a right angle corner and heading faster way faster than terminal velocity straight down the side of the building. The sound barrier booms away as you streak down the building, leaving a network of cracks and fissures in the glassteel of the tower, but not causing any breaks. Your feet leave circular crack patterns as you pound down the building.
When you hit the destroyed section where the explosion occurred, barely a second has passed. You can't see much inside through the dust, but can see one badly wounded woman lying against a beam where the wall and windows once was. Out to your right, you see two unconscious men spinning out into the open, and one familiarly armored EPIC member with them (that'd be Johan), plumetting earthward. Behind you, you see the really cool path of your passing; it's a good thing SAP is rich, but it's still cool. And ahead, the ground rushes up.
You use your wings to leap the twelve foot gap, wincing in pain as you exceed their speed threshold. You flash between the police cruisers and EPIC van, very nearly running over Johan as he staggers out of it. You circle tightly, bringing up a vortex of air to slow the rapidly falling people and it pretty much works. They hit the ground hard, but its as if they fell off a fence, not plumetted forty stories. Johan is the only conscious one, however.
Behind you near the van, Johan loses his lunch.
Neutron
Intimidate check: 15 vs 13
Both guards seem unnerved by something, and start backing off, but do not relay your demands at all. Something is definitely wrong, as if they've been cut off from communications. One fumbles with a pouch on his belt, pulling out a trio of small metal spheres, though you have no idea what they are.
The floor energy field behind you shimmers and you feel the floor vibrate slightly. You heard the explosion a few minutes before, so it definitely isn't that...
You hear a groan to your left coming from Vida, the first sound she's made in a long, long time.
October 26, 2120
Lancheng, China
Master Wen's Academy
"Of all who come here, only you and Michael well suited to EPIC. Remember training here. Do not let Prophet control life," he says. Without saying anything else, he turns and walks up the hill towards the academy.
"Grandfather is not one for goodbye's," Li says appologetically. "You put too much pressure on yourself. I think you..."
"Li! Come!" Master Wen barks from the road.
"I must go," she says quickly, turning and going after Master Wen. "Coming, grandfather," she says obediently.
October 26, 2120
Brighton Transit Terminal 1
Brighton, England, 6:45AM
Jeremy Alfredson York
"Yeah, old lightning breath hasn't been faring too well lately," he says, seeming quite pleased at that.
"I'm looking forward to the 'toys' your father is going to provide me. And I think Kevin will do just fine. Might not be a leader, or have military training like you, but he's a smart kid. I'm sure he'll surprise you," he says, standing up. "Thanks for getting my wallet back, kid," he says, shaking your hand in a grip that borders on painful. "Say hi to your brother for me."
The train ride ends soon enough, and you gather your bags and exit the station to see Bernard, your fathers long time chauffeure, waiting with the Rolls Royce hover-car.
"Young Master York," he says to you. "So good to have you home again. Can I get your bags for you, sir?"
