Project Daedalus (Issue 3)

[Calinon]

"Is that any way to talk to company?" Tyrone says with a bit of a snort as he cuts loose a blast of energy at the nearest gunman. "I can't believe you punks didn't hear I was back. Did you miss the news, or are you just stupid? Bring your sorry asses on," he says, gesturing them towards him. "Three on one. I'll even let you get in the first swing without moving. Or are you cowards, too?"

Actions
Energy blast (stun) +8 [nearest gunman], Taunt +8 (I want them to charge me).

Force field and running sustained.

Oh, and change "Three on one" to "Four on one" if I didn't knock the closest guy out of it. Need I mention I will definitely not be letting them actually get the first swing in without moving?

 

[Deva]

"My first class isn't until twenty after eleven today," Tyler says. He's a lab assistant at Columbia University, working towards his Masters in botony. "Got lotsa time. I'm heading up there early though. Good luck, with Willis, honey. See you later," he says, leaving you alone in the bedroom.

As soon as he was gone, Sarah was fighting the urge to go after him and tell him she changed her mind. She'd been jumpy since she got back, and coming down from Jaya's boost hadn't helped things. Four days have gone by and she still hasn't left the apartment. Now that she wasn't nauseated every time she moved, it was time to get on with life.

She takes her time in the shower, waiting until the water starts to run cold to turn off the faucets and dry off. With the towel wrapped around her she opens the bathroom door to let some of the steam out and goes to her closet. Sarah tosses a simple blue tank top and pair of jeans onto the bed.

Realizing she took more time in the shower than she wanted, she dresses quickly and returns to the bathroom to brush out her hair and apply a little makeup so she didn't appear so pale.

She starts for the bedroom door but pauses a moment before going back to the dresser next to her side of the bed. Opening the top drawer she moves aside some clothing and retrieves her spare pistol and shoulder holster. She goes out to the living room where she gets her keys, wallet, and vid-cell from the coffee table.

At the entry way closet she secures the holster over her shoulders and slides the gun into place. Slipping her jacket on and concealing the weapon, Sarah dons a worn out New York Ranger's ball cap before heading out to meet Captain Willis.

 

[Agamon]

Washington

“The next person on the list will be very valuable to the team. The young man known as Miguel may currently be an illegal immigrant, but that can be fixed easily enough. He has the power to copy the abilities of any other elite within his vicinity. The ability to use an elite’s power against him, or have a team member’s power available after they go down should prove rather useful.” Senator Clark says.

“An illegal immigrant and a gang runner, and we’re inviting him to join this team?” Senator Richards asks.

“He’s not a bad kid, senator,” Jennifer responds, “he’s just been dealt a bad hand so far. Of all the BioGen victims, he was the most interested in joining the team.”

“This is highly irregular. Why can’t we just keep within the rather large pool of American elites for the team?” Richards says.

“For the most part, we are. As I have said, Miguel will be a useful asset. Does anyone else object to his inclusion?” Clark says, scanning the room. “Good.”


El Barrio, New York City

0345 hours, EDT, Thursday, July 10th, 2014

Miguel trudges along the street, heading for the shelter he’s been staying at the past week. He’s hoping they let him in, as it’s pretty late, but he didn’t think he’d be staying there tonight. If not, he’s probably go the cash to sleep at a motel tonight.

Scrounging up money’s been pretty tough. Panhandling’s given you a bit of cash, but not as much as you’d like. The Yankees started a series at home against the BoSox a couple of days ago, so you’ve been heading to Yankee Stadium to work the pre- and post-game crowd. While it’s against your better judgement, as your hoping to become a legit member of the government, it’s not like you have much choice, being deposited in a strange city with no money.

It’s been decently profitable, but you did almost get caught once. Good thing for those shapeshifting abilities. After the game, you went for a nearby bar to check out the chicas. One girl in particular was very interested in you and took you back to her crib. While it was fun for a while, her boyfriend eventually came home form work. You ran into him on your way out of the apartment. Luckily, you looked like that picture on the wall of her mother, so he didn’t get so much angry as confused.

You make your way down the street in Spanish Harlem, when you can hear some stifled crying. “You lying to me, you bitch, huh? Quit your crying, you want something to cry about?” You see three men standing around a woman, one of them slaps the woman so hard she falls to her knees. You realize that the woman is Alita, a street girl you come to know the past few days you’ve spent here.

 

[Mimic]

You make your way down the street in Spanish Harlem, when you can hear some stifled crying. “You lying to me, you bitch, huh? Quit your crying, you want something to cry about?” You see three men standing around a woman, one of them slaps the woman so hard she falls to her knees. You realize that the woman is Alita, a street girl you come to know the past few days you’ve spent here.

"Ningún resto esta noche." <translation: No rest tonight> Miguel mutters quietly to himself, he quickly scans the group to detect whether there is any elites within the group.

He will attempt to sneak up on the men in order to get a surprise attack in, if he can find a pipe or a brick, all the better. Regardless of whether or not the attack is successfull Miguel will assume the form of the closest man.

 

[Agamon]

Washington

“Next, we have a young woman by the name of Jennifer Laroux. She has the unique ability to turn her body into a mass of ice crystals.” A few at the table raise their eyebrows at Clark’s announcement. “She’s ex-Army and a professional mountain climber, as well as spokesperson for Summit Outfitters, a company that specializes in mountaineering and skiing gear. She will be useful in any missions that take place in mountainous terrain, as well as coordinating team tactics. Her choice of career shows that she has little fear, something that is quite helpful in this line of work, not to mention her time in public relations.”

“She was the one that was buried for two weeks on K2 in January, right?” Jennifer asks. “That must have been horrible. Are you certain this is something she’ll want to do after an experience like that?”

“Yes, it was likely quite traumatic, but it has been nearly six months. We believe she’s the right person for the job. All we can do is offer the spot to her,” Senator Weldon responds.


Denver, Colorado

0800 hours, MDT, Thursday, July 10th, 2014

It’s cold, bitterly cold. The wind howls, blowing snow about, but Jennifer doesn’t mind it, she’s gotten used to cold the past few years she’s spent climbing. Hanging from a sheer wall of rock, she looks up at the ledge she’s trying to reach.

Ready to swing a hand up to grab the ledge, something in your mind tells you to leave, just leave, you don’t want to be here. You shake your head and dismiss the sudden fear. She wings her hand up, and grabs the ledge. There’s an easier way for you to do this, of course, but you prefer to do it the old-fashioned way, that’s the only way there’s any challenge, after all. As you begin to pull yourself up, you hear a distant boom, and odd sound in this remote location. You want to just dismiss it as well, but that feeling of fear returns. Run! Flee! Get away, now!! You shake your head wondering where this silly irrational fe…you don’t even get to finish that thought, as everything suddenly turns to slow motion. You look up and all you can see is white. You stare at it, realizing what that voice was trying to tell you. The snow hits with incredible force and drags you from the ledge. You begin to change form, but it’s already too late. You can feel the snow piling higher and higher above you…

You wake up, in bed. You sit up quickly, drenched in sweat, as is often the case lately. The nightmare again, you can’t seem to escape it. Beams of morning light shine through the cracks in the curtains. You look at your alarm clock, 8:07. The television is still on; the news is talking about something to do with the elite terrorist group, Pantheon. You realize you have less than an hour a member of the government comes calling about a job offer today.

 

[Hammerhead]

Jennifer sits in bed for a few moments, glancing around the room. It's over. It's been six months. You're safe now. It won't happen again...

Yeah, right. Pushing the covers off, she formed herself into a cloud of ice crystals, willing herself to flow into the bathroom. The cloud flew into the shower, and they slowly swirled closer and closer together until Jen found herself standing there, turning on the cold water.

A few minutes later, she stepped out, selecting a conservative business suit for her meeting with the officious government bureaucrats. Let's hope I get the job. Still, my experience and military background should tip the scales in my favor. After making herself halfway presentable, she exited her apartment and ran down the stairs to her car, glancing at her watch. Let's hope I'm not late, she thinks worriedly.

 

[Hammerhead]

Whoops!

 

[Agamon]

Washington

“Now, this team is first and foremost a tool used to help protect American citizens and interests,” Senator Clark says before moving on the next portfolio, “but we also need to make sure that the membership is well represented so the American public can identify with a team such as this. This team will very much be in the public eye, after all, so image is important.”

“I believe the group is already quite well represented, John,” Senator Haynes says. “We have an African-American leader, a Hispanic member and two women. What are you getting at?”

“Well, no offense to Miss Borlund or the two female members we’ve already announced, but in my teenage daughter’s words, they would be ‘positively ancient’. Our next two members should plug that demographic hole,” he answers with a smile.

Jennifer’s look turns to concern. “I didn’t put any minors on my recommended list.”

“Your list was just that, Miss Borlund, recommendations. As you can see with our choice of Miss Laroux, we’ve gone beyond that for some of our choices,” he answers, the mirth having left his voice. “Besides, our first choice is no longer a minor.” He flips the page. “Miss Rachel Masters, recently a ward of the state, she turned eighteen only two months ago. She can assume a wolf form and a wolf/human hybrid form along with her own human form, she’ll make an excellent tracker and scout for the team.”

“Ah, the werewolf girl that found that boy in the snow last winter,” Haynes says.

“What sort of training does she have? This team isn’t the place for scared little girls to learn about their new elite powers,” Richards interjects.

“I was the only fully trained elite at the formation of American Freedom, Senator Richards,” Jennifer replies.

“But we have so much more to choose from now. I’m going to vote against allowing her on the team,” Richards answers.

Clark smiles. “That’s your prerogative, let’s have a vote then. All against?” Three members raise their hands. “All for?” The other seven respond. “That settles that then.”


San Francisco, California
Allan’s Diner

0815 hours, PDT, Thursday, July 10th, 2014

Rachel stands behind a counter, wearing a pinstriped uniform and apron, staring at nothing in particular, lost in thought. A loud noise shakes her out of it.

“I said ‘order up’, Masters! Get your bony ass up here, I don’t pay you to stare out into space!” Allan, the cook and manager of the greasy spoon you now work at is yelling at you again. He likes to yell. But you better comply, someone’s bacon and eggs is getting cold.

 

[Shalimar]

Rachel almost whimpers at the scent of the over-cooked bacon, to her heigtened sense of smell it was overwhelming, stinging her nose with its acridness, she didn't even want to think of the stench of the diner to her even more sensitive wolf nose. Even the scent of the diner that clung to her when she went home and shifted, curling in her bed was enough to ruin her appetite, well mostly, nothing cold entirely stop her love of food, but it was close.

Sighing, Rachel delivers the food to the customer, refilling the man's coffee as well, and hoping for a good tip, today had been an ok day, so far at least, and if it kept up she was thinking about splurging on a steak. The pink pint-stripped uniform didn't really emphasize her figure, in poit of fact, the 18 year old hated it, just as much as she hated her job, just as much as the fact that she couldn't go to college with her friends. She had thought she wanted to go to college, get a degree in environmentalism and then use it to get in as a park ranger, but being an orphan, all she got from the state was $250 and a place to stay until she graduated high school, after that she was on her own.

She makes her way through the dinner, asking all her customer's if there is anything that she could get them or if they wanted a refill on their coffee. After she had seen to everyone, she stopped behind the counter and glanced backwards over her shoulder, still slightly self-conscious about the boney ass comment. My Butt is not bony, she thought to herself frowning at the cook.

 

[Agamon]

Washington

Clark looks back down at the booklet in front of him “And the next member…”

“With all due respect, Senator, allow me to save you some breath. I think I know whom the other child is that you wish to recruit. Aaron Kuyper is not going to be joining the team, even if we were to allow it.” Jennifer interrupts, a stern look upon her face.

A look of shock comes over Senator Richards. “Aaron Kuyper?” He turns the page of the portfolio to see that that is who is next. “That boy is only fourteen years old! How could you even suggest such a thing? For one thing, he’s too young to serve the country.”

Senator Clark smiles as he turns the page of the booklet. “Alex, you know as well as I that the Elite Forces are not subject to the same rules of the US military. This ‘child’ is powerful enough to stop an attacking tank by himself.”

“Regardless, he is still a child. He’s not responsible enough to be put in such a position,” Richards says growing angry.

“Perhaps you haven’t heard, but the UNJE has created a team that consists of nothing but teenaged elites. Now, I know, the UN isn’t the best model to follow in many cases, but if a team such as Legacy is possible, surely Aaron could function well as part of an otherwise adult-aged team,” Clark explains.

“The point is moot, senator,” Jennifer says. “For Aaron to join the team, you need his parents’ approval. I can tell you that that is quite unlikely to happen. The boy’s father appears to bear a deep prejudice towards elites, and his mother is not much better.”

“And even if that weren’t the case, what parent in their right mind would allow their child to participate in something like this. This isn’t going to be some teenage team that gets watered down assignments that they can easily handle, the boy will be put in potentially very dangerous situations,” Richards exclaims angrily.

“If the majority of this committee agrees that Aaron and his parents can decide for themselves what is best for him, then it doesn’t matter what you believe, Alex,” Senator Clark says with a scowl. “All against?” Again, only three hands are raised. “And for?” Seven members acknowledge.

Senator Richards can only scan the rest of the room in amazement. “This is ridiculous!”

“For the record, Senator Clark, I’m opposed to this as well,” Jennifer says, looking none too happy.

“Noted, Miss Borlund,” Clark replies.


Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

0710 hours, PDT, Thursday, July 10th, 2014

“Aaron, honey, wake up.”

Aaron, lying in his bed, jumps awake with a start. His mom has her head poking in his room. “Time to get up, we need to get there before classes start.”

You grunt an affirmative and lie back down after she closes the door. You lie there for a moment and think. Things haven’t been all peaches and cream since you came back. You found out that your going to spend all of summer catching up on the school you missed. That is if they let you, you and your mom are going to speak with the principal this morning. Your mom says that he is concerned that you missed the beginning of the classes, but your father thinks he doesn’t want to let you in because of what you are. Your dad seems to think that everyone else thinks the way he does.

Also, your parents have been arguing quite a bit over what to do with you. Your dad thinks they should send you off to one of the UN’s elite schools, but your mom has been defiant, wanting you to stay here and just attend your old school.

You finally climb out of bed to get showered and dressed when you hear the doorbell ring.