Outcasts Forever: Issue #1 - Red America

[Keia]

Madison and 44th Street
Manhattan
Early afternoon

Redwing, get a look over near the Baxter Building. We need to know what's going on that way.

‘Gotcha boss, thought you were napping back there,’ Redwing replied. ‘I’m across from the Baxter Building and there’s a power struggle going on here. I’m guessing that within the melted building is these places version of Mr. Fantastic. He has some kind of helmet on his head. With him is the Thing . . . I don’t see the Human Torch or Invisible Girl. Arrayed against them are about a dozen guys that look like the Guardian, and the Crimson Dynamo, Darkstar and the Titanium Man from our meeting. This version of the FF are getting their butts handed to them . . . better hurry if you want a piece of this.’

Moonknight and Falcon were on Madison Avenue approaching 44th Street, only two blocks away from the Baxter Building. They both could see the smoke rising from a building in the distance and red and blue flashing lights on the street below. Glancing back, Captain America and Mr. Immortal were a half a block behind. In his peripheral vision (Spot of 26), the Falcon spotted Carol Danvers (Binary) approaching the pair on their left.

 

[Keia]

Madison and 45th Street
Manhattan
Early afternoon

Captain America, Mr. Immortal and Binary

Carol hustled down the various streets, moving quickly, but not overtly so. On the occasion that she glanced around, she detected no purpose. As she walked, several police cars and fire trucks passed her by, apparently heading in the direction of the Baxter Building. As she neared the location, she noticed the she was moving against the flow of pedestrian traffic, though there were several people heading her direction as well.

As she neared the intersection of Madison and 45th street, she spotted Captain America and Mr. Immortal, about to cross the street.

The radio in Mr. Immortal's possession barked again, issuing instructions and orders in Russian . . .

For those who speak Russian:

Spoiler

'This is unit 17, we’ve lost Marvel Girl, request a lockdown and psi-search of Manhattan . . . .’

‘Understood unit 17, passing the request to the commandant, last known location of Marvel Girl . . . .’

‘Central Park . . . change frequency to 1020.’

Just as the radio cut out, Captain America spotted Carol walking toward them from a side street. He noted that she saw them as well. Up ahead everyone could make out the plume of smoke rising in the air and the flashing red and blue lights on the ground.

 

[Radiant]

Binary

Madison and 45th Street
Manhattan
Early afternoon

Captain America, Mr. Immortal and Binary

Carol hustled down the various streets, moving quickly, but not overtly so. On the occasion that she glanced around, she detected no purpose. As she walked, several police cars and fire trucks passed her by, apparently heading in the direction of the Baxter Building. As she neared the location, she noticed the she was moving against the flow of pedestrian traffic, though there were several people heading her direction as well.

As she neared the intersection of Madison and 45th street, she spotted Captain America and Mr. Immortal, about to cross the street.

The radio in Mr. Immortal's possession barked again, issuing instructions and orders in Russian . . .

For those who speak Russian:

Spoiler

'This is unit 17, we’ve lost Marvel Girl, request a lockdown and psi-search of Manhattan . . . .’

‘Understood unit 17, passing the request to the commandant, last known location of Marvel Girl . . . .’

‘Central Park . . . change frequency to 1020.’

Just as the radio cut out, Captain America spotted Carol walking toward them from a side street. He noted that she saw them as well. Up ahead everyone could make out the plume of smoke rising in the air and the flashing red and blue lights on the ground.

Carol runs towards Cap and Mr I once she spots them. In all this confusion she isn't overly worried about being noticed.
"Hey guys, looks like you didn't make it far. Whatever's going on here must be pretty big. Last time I saw our New York in such a confusion was then a dozen Sentinels played one of ther rematches against the X-Men."
She's a bit flushed from hurrying along but otherwise pretty much relaxed. This looks like a hectic sorounding but compared to a Shi Ar civil war it's just a peacefull day in the park... .

 

[Nuke261]

Captain America

Madison and 44th Street
Manhattan
Early afternoon

Jack picked up the pace slightly, keeping up with the other pedestrians scurrying about. "Let's look sharp people. If things are going to happen they are going to start now. Carol, the recognized you and are on the lookout. Luckily you threw them off your trail a bit."

The smoke in the air made Jack's stomach tighten slightly. It didn't matter where he was, he did not like seeing this much mass destruction.

 

[Radiant]

Binary

Madison and 44th Street
Manhattan
Early afternoon

Jack picked up the pace slightly, keeping up with the other pedestrians scurrying about. "Let's look sharp people. If things are going to happen they are going to start now. Carol, the recognized you and are on the lookout. Luckily you threw them off your trail a bit."

The smoke in the air made Jack's stomach tighten slightly. It didn't matter where he was, he did not like seeing this much mass destruction.

"They did? No one mentioned anything about my version here in the briefing."
With a confused shrug she hurries on.
"Didn't expect to be famous in my new state after just returning to earth. But who knows what happened here. Hope they said only nice things at least..."

 

[Mark Chance]

The Falcon

Madison and 44th Street
Manhattan
Early afternoon

The Falcon relays the gist of Redwing's description to Cap.

"Advise, Jack. Do we intervene and, if so, on whose behalf? For all we know, this world's Eff Eff are villains."

 

[Nuke261]

Captain America

Madison and 44th Street
Manhattan
Early afternoon

Jack smiled at Carol's comments. "Not sure how happy they were. Sounded more confused from what I could make out. They did call you Marvel Girl, though. Either you have a different name here or they have you confused for someone else."

Jack moved along and crossed the street, bringing the two groups together. "No. We do not get into this fight. We are here for observation only." He looked at each of them while he spoke. He wanted to make sure they all understood and eye contact was a great way of doing that.

"Sam, what does Redwing say about the Soviet's? Any sign of them?"

 

[Radiant]

Binary

Madison and 44th Street
Manhattan
Early afternoon

Jack smiled at Carol's comments. "Not sure how happy they were. Sounded more confused from what I could make out. They did call you Marvel Girl, though. Either you have a different name here or they have you confused for someone else."

Jack moved along and crossed the street, bringing the two groups together. "No. We do not get into this fight. We are here for observation only." He looked at each of them while he spoke. He wanted to make sure they all understood and eye contact was a great way of doing that.

"Sam, what does Redwing say about the Soviet's? Any sign of them?"

"Cap, we're talking about the FF here. IF the avengers went Red then they might still be on our side."
Her eyes are blazing at the thought of letting her friends down. Even of they are someone else in this reality. But she still backs of then Jack stares at them all. She's not happy but she go agaisnt the leader she voted for herself.

 

[Keia]

Madison and 43th Street
Manhattan
Early afternoon

Binary, Captain America, Falcon, Moonknight, Mr. Immortal

As the group gathered on the street at Falcon’s and Moonknight’s location, they were about as close as they could get without being within the circle of police and fire trucks, and the gathered spectators. Redwing seemed to have the right of it when he described the scene. There looked to be about a dozen armored persons (in a red version of the guardian armor . . . or perhaps Sentinels thought Carol). Banter appeared to be going on between those within the building and the armored personnel and the Supreme Soviet members that were here (Crimson Dynamo, Darkstar and the Titanium Man).

Blaster fire from the armored units and the Soviets flew into the Baxter building and occasionally a blast or a large piece of the building came flying back out. Darkstar appeared to be on crowd control.

Over what sounded like loud speakers (though none were visible) came the voice of Mr. Fantastic, “Please people back up, I don’t want to hurt any of you. This has to end, and it will end now.”

Some of the spectators backed up upon hearing this, but only by a couple of feet.

 

[Nuke261]

Madison and 43th Street
Manhattan
Early afternoon

"Cap, we're talking about the FF here. IF the avengers went Red then they might still be on our side."

He looked back at Carol knowing exactly how she felt. He felt the same way. "We can't get into this. We don't know where anyone stands here. We don't know what they are about. We can't choose sides based on what they do back home. We have to stay neutral, for now." He really hoped they understood. If any of them pushed the issue he was not sure he could stand his ground.

As they got closer and could get a good look at what was happening it really dawned on Jack how different this world was. At the announcement to move back, Jack motioned the others to fall back from the crowd with him so they could talk. "Crowd control and public safety. These are our concerns right now. If things get out of control, those are the only reasons we intervene." Damn. I really hate to do this. "Carol and Sam, I want you two to get to a nearby rooftop to get a better look. If anything big happens, you'll have a better vantage point from up there. Any questions?"

I hope Hank's team is doing well. I don't know how much longer I can deal with this.