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EPIC M&M: Issue 7 (IC)

EPIC Headquarters
Mega-city of New York
October 27, 2120

Johan

You manage to get any device the agent is carrying, save for his suit which seems fairly damaged as is. However, your hope for non-confrontation is quickly becoming fruitless as Carl attempts to get by Jun Po to get at Mr. Bunny and Mr. Bunny gets up and starts coming towards Carl.

Normally, a pair of eight foot tall combatants would hold the advantage over a five foot tall oriental woman. Today, this is not such the case.

A few moments later, as both youth and troll are laying prone on either side of the door, Jun Po has a very displeased look on her face.

"This nonsense will stop now," Jun Po says commandingly.

"That thing ate my damn gun!" Carl protests. Mr. Bunny belches and pats his stomach.

"We will have Sanchez make you a new one. And you," she says to Mr. Bunny, who amazingly looks embarassedly down. "If you eat anything belonging to another person here, you will no longer be welcome on this facility."

"Wraa," Mr. Bunny sighs.

"You three will come with me," she says, leaving little room for argument, and referring to yourself, Jennifer and Mr. Bunny. "Carl, take this man to the War Room and advise Thunder that we've apprehended another member of M-Tac."

"Aight," Carl says, his argument seemingly done.

As Carl gathers up the M-Tac agent, the four of you head out of the room. Carl latches down on your shoulder. "Aint done with you," he says. "Later." With that, he heads off towards HQ.

Neutron and Vince
Captain Majors pulls her handgun out and spins it effortlessly to hand it to Neutron hilt first. "I cannot remove my implant," she states. "Officer Kinsey will remain with the craft," she says to Vincent. Indeed, looking at the cockpit, you can see another person seated there. "He has orders not to leave the airship." Nothing she says makes you think she is lying in any way. She seems, as usual, bluntly straightforward and emotionless.

Vince looks about, but spots no invisible M-Tac agents in or about the area.

As you escort her towards the compound, she says, "I am interested in knowing just how an incarcerated criminal came to be on your compound. Though I had my suspicions, I had hoped I was mistaken."

During the entire time, Anna is not-so-subtly studying Major's cybernetic implant. If the Captain is bothered by the scrutiny, she certainly doesn't show it.

Michael
"After that little thing with Prophet, I'm done with this," she says. "I'm glad you're rid of the Jackal and all that, but I'm tired of people messing with my head and constantly trying to kill me. Things may have been awkward at home, but they weren't filled with constant danger. Compared to this, helping mama with her clothing business seems great."

Jay
"I do not have your requests on file," ARIS says.

"You can access the terminals for information from your quarters, Jeremy," Empath says. "I'll make sure Kyle or myself manage to get you a full dossier of the members of EPIC, along with recent events by this evening."

Michelle
"You are so dead," Cosmo says, finally catching Loki in the act. Loki takes off running and immediately becomes very hard to see, vanishing down the main hall with Cosmo in pursuit.

"This I gotta see," Tara says, buzzing off after the two.

"I'll go over it tomorrow," Thunder says, reading something intently on a datapad. "I got word about Sandstorm today, and it doesn't sound good. Get lots of rest tonight. Everyone can go if they like. I'll deal with Majors about this whole bit of trouble."

Empath's attention is suddenly very much on Thunder. "You never told me this," she says, coming over and pulling him aside. The two begin a very quiet, very heated conversation.

X12
It soon becomes apparent that they will be going back to HQ. Taking the opportunity, you slip over the gate and dash towards the M-Tac station. You can see the train in the distance bulletting towards the station. You might make it, if you're lucky...

Downtown New York
Lynn Jenkins

You completely catch the would-be thief off guard, clamping down on his wrist. He tries to pull out of your grasp, but he's obviously not that strong. In fact, looking at him, he appears rather malnurished and gaunt, probably in his early 30's. You feel a familiar dizzying feeling as your mind is pulled somewhere...

You are in a small room. There are bars on one side, and several people can be seen. Some appear intoxicated, some simply sit there. Your perspective drops two or so feet, then you find yourself staring up at the lights on the ceiling. A man reaches down and grabs hold of you, blocking your vision. There is a feeling of movement upwards, then you can see again. You look down at a man lying face down, blood seeping from his head. He gives a few spasms as another man comes over and rolls him over. It's the man that tried to steal your wallet. As the second man seaches his pockets...

...snap back to the now, still gripping the man's wrist, your hand on his watch.

"I'll call security!" the young man in the souveneir shop says, running inside to grab a phone.

"Hey ya gotta leggo!" the robber blubbers at you, obviously having lost his urge to rob you. He's long since dropped your wallet back into your bag.
 

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X12 hustles for the train, hopefully making it with enough time to board before the train leaves. If not, he'll check the schedule and see how long until the next train arrives - the wait hopefully not being too long, he'll take a seat and wait for the next train.
 

Taking the gun, he nods and smiles slightly. "I understand that removing the implant would prove painful. All we ask is that you not use it within the compound."

At the question concerning Jennifer, he clears his thoat and says, "Um, yes, I'm sure you are wondering how she got to be here, just as we're interested in why a number of your agents covertly gained unlawful entry to our compound. But I'm sure you and Thunder can discuss those matters amongst yourselves."

When he's finished speaking, he turned his attention to Anna with a 'what-the-hell-are-you-doing?' look.
 

Grapping the last pieces of equipment he has, Johan goes along with Jun Po and his roguish sidekick. After Carl's pat, he moves a bit closer to Jun Po, just in case.
"I think it would be good for me to try and learn a move like that, you never know what might happen," he says to their asian group leader.
 

"Thanks. I'll start to study some files ARIS can gives me. I have a lot of catch back to do." Jay leaves Empath conpany to go back to his room, where he will starts to study the information ARIS have on M-Tac.
 

Michelle watches Tara leave giving a small shrug of her shoulders, it wasn't the best start but at least she didn't try to stab her and what was with Cosmo he was actually being nice, well as nice as he ever gets. "Ha, I'm probably on his who to date next list." she thinks to herself.

Not wanting to leave to see how Thunder will contend with the Major from M-Tac, she will pull up what ever information ARIS has on what ever happened to the group that went to China, from the little information she was told it didn't go well at all.
 

Michael, 5/5, hunky-dory

Michael nods along at Raisa's explination.

"It gets old being a super hero, I guess. you could stay here and just help train new kids instead of go get threatened a lot."
 

Lynn - 4/4: A.O.K.

"That won't be neccessary," Lynn calls after the young man as he runs inside. "No harm done."

Before she lets go of the mans wrist, she reaches into her bag and takes out her wallet. "Here," she says, turning to face him and offering him what cash she has on her. "Something tells me you need this more than I do."
 

EPIC Headquarters
Mega-city of New York
October 27, 2120

Johan

"Indeed," Jun Po says. "It seems Carl is quite upset and understandably so," she continues once you are well away from your room and Carl has vanished with his unconscious burden. "I believe there was a strong familial tie to his weapon."

As you get to her quarters, she stops and looks to Jennifer. "You, young lady, must pay close attention to what I now say." Jennifer does just that, quite amazingly. "If you desire my protection, you must promise to not take another item that does not belong to you and you must not transmit yourself into an electronic state. If you cannot agree to this I will bid you all..."

"Ok!" Jennifer says immediately.

"Wraa!" says Mr. Bunny.

And with that, Jun Po opens the door and the two, girl and troll, scamper in.

Jun Po simply regards you as you hear a squeal of "COOL!" and "WRAA!"

"You may enter as well, Johan. I will update Thunder on our situation. Undoubtedly, he will want to speak with you all too quickly."

Inside the room is a rather remarkable sight. First, there are about ten steps leading down before you actually get to the quarters. Once down, you bear witness to a large apartment, decorated in ancient Japanese and Chinese artifacts and styles. Several ancient and gleaming suits of Samurai armor, along with her own armor, stand carefully displayed. Several equally ancient and polished swords hang from racks and walls. Furniture is limited, mostly low pads and benches. The only break in the theme of the room is through a door across the main living room.

Through that door, you see Jennifer and Mr. Bunny plopped down on the floor well back of a giant monitor. Between them is a high tech gaming system, and on the screen a space fighter game. The room appears to be a home-theatre and gaming room rolled into one.

Neutron and Vince
"I understand that removing the implant would prove painful. All we ask is that you not use it within the compound."
"Would it," she states to your first comment, giving a long pause. "I suppose it would." It seems to you that the thought never actually occurred to her before, or maybe she's just playing with your mind. You just can't tell. "I cannot meet your request. I cannot deactivate the scanning systems built into my eye. Unless we are touring your school, I won't be seeing anyone or anything that I haven't already seen before."

"Um, yes, I'm sure you are wondering how she got to be here, just as we're interested in why a number of your agents covertly gained unlawful entry to our compound. But I'm sure you and Thunder can discuss those matters amongst yourselves."
"I have nothing to hide from any member of EPIC," she states. "I already know a member of EPIC broke the mutant out of our holding facility. Our secruity cameras spotted one of yoru chest symbols. Once I discovered that, I asked Thunder if she was here. He lied. That left me little choice but to order your base searched. Any other questions," she says.

"I do," Anna says almost immediately. "How did you lose your eye and where'd you get that one?"

For the first time that you've ever seen, a comment illicits a reaction from Captain Majors. She pauses and after a moment, you realize her good eye is closed and her breathing is a bit ragged. It lasts just a moment before she regains control of herself.

"An accident. Let us go and speak with Thunder."

Michelle
You find a fairly detailed report by Thunder regarding the events in China. While day to day activities are not listed, all of their major encounters are, including those involving Prophet and a locked file. Amazingly, the locked file opens for your code.

Inside is a more than troubling letter that has been sent to pretty much every hero teams, regardless of how they and EPIC get along. It is an analysis of the "Directives" which were created by Prophet for an unknown purpose, including three others that are known of. Xi, who is at Master Wen's academy in China, the mystery directive with abilities like X12 in Great Britain and what is belived to be the first of them, "X1", who Kodiak, Trailblazer and Empath recently captured with the help of the Russian military.

Thunder recommends in the document that the directives be sought out and captured so that Prophet's plans for them can be investigated and halted. As you try to digest all this information, you spot X12 on one of the monitors, slipping over the main gate. No alarm sounds and ARIS doesn't alert anyone, probably because X12 is a member of EPIC. Thunder isn't near the security monitors, and doesn't notice.

Michael
"I'm just a teenager, Michael," Raisa says. "I'm not old enough to teach anyone anything. And I've only been a 'superhero' since we got here. That's not much of a resume," she finishes, just as she finishes her food. Pushing her tray away from her, she gets up. "But at least they have a pool," she says as Loki bursts into the room. Suddenly the lights go out, then come back on as Cosmo bursts into the room. All three other exits swing closed.

"Which way'd the little rat go?" Cosmo says with a grin.

"Well, on that note, I'm going for a swim," Raisa says with a shake of her head.

"Swim?" Cosmo says. "Hey, now that sounds like a good idea."

You have little doubt as to why Cosmo thinks that is a good idea.

"I'll have ARIS let you know when I'm done," Raisa says unpleasantly as she heads out towards the pool.

X12
You are all of a minute shy of making the Mag-Lev, but it will only be about 15-20 minutes at most for the next train. You also are not alone on the platform. Many people are making their way towards the nearby park, and a few others are waiting to board. As you stand waiting, you can't help but feel that everyone is watching you. You start to get nervous when you realize... they are!

And you suddenly realize why.

You're still in your EPIC uniform.

Luckily for you, the train has nearly arrived.

Downtown New York
Lynn Jenkins

You have more than enough authority to halt your would be savior in his tracks, averting a call to security or the police. The pickpocket takes the money you hand him, then runs for it without looking back.

"I don't get it," the man from the soveneir shop says. "Why'd you do that?"

The rest of the shops continue to open up for business now that the excitement is passed.
 

Johan spends some time just admiring the expensive decorations of the room. He then goes to join Jennifer and Mr. Bunny. After a moment of only following the game, he speaks.
"I am sorry that I did not completely trust you when you said there was another ghost. I thought you were scared, rightfully so, and thus did not have all your facts straight."
 

Into the Woods

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