Project Daedalus (Issue 3)

Swirling around him, the icy face of Jennifer Laroux frowned. Maybe I just did something stupid. I hope I didn't let a criminal escape. I'll ask him what the man did; if it's the same answer as Strafe's, they're probably clean. Stupid mercenaries.

My name is none of your business. What is the profession and crime of the man you chase? Give me the wrong answer and I get angry.

Seeing in every direction at once, Jennifer knew that one of Random's buddies had little chance of sneaking up on her. She also noticed a storm drain in easy reach, in case a fast escape was needed. Still, being shattered, and the cascade of fast-moving sights that accompanied with, was not fun. A few more minutes of this and I get a headache.
 

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Tyroc
"As I recall, you were the only one that got shot, Ty," Neutron says teasingly. "Everyone else apparently had their wits about them."

Jody smiles at the compliment. “Oh, yeah, I’m the star attraction around here,” she says before turning to the next customer.

Cumulus flashes a grin at the line. “I hear I missed out on some interesting times last week. I was trying to not get a tan in the Bahamas, though. Unfortunately, I don’t tan very well,” she says, pointing out her lily white skin.

“Close. She wasn’t the doctor, she was the nurse,” Neutron says with a smile at Nadia.

Nadia is a bit embarrassed by your question. “His…butt is, um…”

“Eh, I’ve seen better,” Cumulus says, getting a comical glare from Neutron.

“Elementor? Well, it’s dramatic. You need to say it forcefully, with a deep voice. The guy that does the movie trailers could say it well,” Neutron says, nodding.

“Eagle’s in Washington today. I tried to get her to tell me who made that new team, but she was all…Eagley…about it, you know what I’m talking about,” he adds. “But I’m betting you’re in there, man. That’s some decent coin, plus you get to do good, all at the same time. There’s worse fates.”

Misha
“New assignment? I hadn’t heard,” Tellman says. “So, I’ll be getting a new partner. Can’t say I won’t miss you, Misha, but I have to admit that that’s good news. Someone who needs a partner will be a nice change.” You can’t tell if he’s being facetious or not. “So what do you figure it is?”

Mimic
“I’m just happy that you’re willing to try,” Alita says, smiling as you climb into the bed. She gives you a peck on the cheek. “Really, I don’t know anyone else who would do that for me.” She turns away and lies down. “Good night.”

The next thing you hear is strange tune. You open your eyes and the sun is shining though the brown curtains. Alita is still sleeping soundly, but she’s gone from her side of the bed to snuggled up against you. You try to focus on the sound…and you realize it’s coming from the cell phone you were given.

Blizzard
“Fine. Who he is isn’t any of your business, either, but if it’ll get you out of the way…” Random says, sounding annoyed, “His name is Finch. He was working for a company called Terra-Form, a geological company. He mainly did things like on-site protection and guarding of goods. He must not have been paid well enough for his liking because he made off with hundreds of thousands in uncut diamonds, diamonds belonging to Terra-Form that he was supposed to be guarding. While the goods are insured and there are criminal court proceedings to come, the company has hired us to locate and capture him for them. There is a good chance he still has the diamonds, and getting them back would be much less of a headache for them.” He stares at you non-chalantly, not seeming to be in any hurry to resume his chase. “Anything else you would like to know?” he asks with more than a hint of sarcasm.

Lupa
The police take several steps back as you change, rather surprised at the new form of the unassuming girl that was before them. They simply watch as you move the car around. The cop that spoke to you looks away as you change back. “Get her a blanket,” he tells the officer next to him, who’s less polite.

As you are covered in the blanket, the Jaws of Life are used on the car to pry the door open. As soon as it is, Shift awakens from his stupor. The EMTs that were to pull him out jump back with a start. Shift looks at you and says, “Remember what I’ve told you!” before his form begins to morph.

“What’s he doing, stop him!” the officer says, pulling a gun. “Don’t move!” But by the time the gun is drawn, Shift has shrunk down to the form of a fly. The EMTs watch as it quickly buzzes up into the air and out of sight.

Just then, the gray sedan pulls up and Dunn and another suit step out. They approach you, looking at the totaled car. “Miss Masters, are you alright?”

Elementor
All three adults are startled by your rant, but your father quickly turns angry. Before he can say anything, though, Ms. Winters begins to speak to you. Her smile is quite disarming, and that alone calms you down, but does little to make you less cautious.

“Aaron, I know what happened to you was awful.” Her voice is quite soothing, very pleasant, causing you to tingle. “But I want to help you. Really, I do. I’m the government liaison to the new team you’re going to be on with Tyroc and Sarah and the others. I was sent here to ask your parents if they’d let you join. And they will, but only if you agree. What can I do so that you’ll trust me?”

Shimmering Samurai
“That’s horrible, Kiro,” Order says sympathetically. “No one should have to endure such a thing.”

“Yeah, I’m sorry I jumped at you earlier,” Kensei apologizes. “I don’t know how anyone could do such a thing to living being either, as I said, it sickens me. On the other hand,” he says grimly, “I’ve seen some rather nasty things during my time with Justice Elite. Human depravity can sink even lower than one can imagine. But it’s good thing you managed to escape. How did you, anyway, the newscast wasn’t very detailed when it came to that.”
 

Agamon said:
Misha
“New assignment? I hadn’t heard,” Tellman says. “So, I’ll be getting a new partner. Can’t say I won’t miss you, Misha, but I have to admit that that’s good news. Someone who needs a partner will be a nice change.” You can’t tell if he’s being facetious or not. “So what do you figure it is?”

Misha smirks, “Now come on Tellman don’t tell me your getting emotional with me are you? I know you have been itching to get your chance in the spotlight, free of being overshadowed. That isn’t to say you don’t deserve it, I think you do, you have a solid record of performance, and out of my long list of partners; you are one of the more reliable and capable.”

Use of Connected feat follows…

Misha pauses as he thinks of the video message he received on his cell phone from Jerry Brown, an old Army buddy and now working as a baseline liaison between ACE and American Freedom. He runs the message over in his head once more, feeling out the finer points as he let the uncomfortable linger between the two.

A stern faced bald black male face stares right into the screen. He wears a black suit with a clean white shirt and a sharp black tie. His dark eyes focus on the viewer as he speaks, “Morning Misha, it has been awhile I know, I have been busy, of course you have been busy too. I am not going to waste time going over pleasantries. Some interesting paperwork crossed my desk, it had a few names on it, I would not have thought anything of it, if I did not see the name of Tyroc; you know that self-styled elite vigilante in New York. I looked closer and I noticed several names from the news, the BioGen Victims, I know you follow the news so I won’t bore you with those details.”

“But on the list is your name, and that definitely piqued my interest. Looks like the boys upstairs want to put together another elite team, and it looks like you are considered for the roster,” the man smiles, “Misha I think you have a golden opportunity here to really do something that matters. Of course knowing you, you are not going to see it that way, you’re too deep into the Spec Ops arena to really appreciate the chance to act as a public figure. But, its coming down the pike, I wouldn’t be surprised if the paperwork for your reassignment wasn’t imminent. By the way next time you are in DC we should get together for drinks, catch up on old times buddy, and you can meet my fiancé. Well get back to me when you can,” the man finishes.

Misha mutters, “It’s a Charlie Foxtrot operation,” he says looking forward, “Uncle Sam is being inundated by the tired, poor, huddled masses of elites flooding our borders after the UN decree. American Freedom is understaffed and overworked, it looks like a second team is being patch worked together for the purposes of added support. It’s the chance of a lifetime for any young patriotic elite to serve and protect the freedom that our country espouses and holds dear. Pretty faces with powers, this is about as politically driven as the formation of Legacy. At least I hope I won’t be babysitting a bunch of children.”

“When I run into Jennifer, I am going to have a few choice words with her. This has her hands all over it,” he finishes softly. Misha gently typed a message back to Jerry Brown, ‘Thanks for the information. I am suitably stunned. Meet me at the Old Towne Pub for drinks in Pentagon City at 1900 tonight. Bring your fiancé, I will bring a date.’

Misha smirks at the message knowing it would take Jerry by surprise.
 

"As I recall, you were the only one that got shot, Ty," Neutron says teasingly. "Everyone else apparently had their wits about them."
"I wasn't shot. I was given electrolosis against my will," Tyroc says with a smirk.

Cumulus flashes a grin at the line. “I hear I missed out on some interesting times last week. I was trying to not get a tan in the Bahamas, though. Unfortunately, I don’t tan very well,” she says, pointing out her lily white skin.
"SPF 3000 for you, huh? Better watch it. Stay out too long with that complexion and your next gig will be as Red Lobster's spokeswoman."

“Close. She wasn’t the doctor, she was the nurse,” Neutron says with a smile at Nadia.

Nadia is a bit embarrassed by your question. “His…butt is, um…”

“Eh, I’ve seen better,” Cumulus says, getting a comical glare from Neutron.
"I thought so!" Tyroc laughs.

“Elementor? Well, it’s dramatic. You need to say it forcefully, with a deep voice. The guy that does the movie trailers could say it well,” Neutron says, nodding.
"Yeah, well, the kid likes it. I thought Element Kid or something a bit lighter, but well, it's his choice until the media changes it."

“Eagle’s in Washington today. I tried to get her to tell me who made that new team, but she was all…Eagley…about it, you know what I’m talking about,” he adds. “But I’m betting you’re in there, man. That’s some decent coin, plus you get to do good, all at the same time. There’s worse fates.”
"So she's being grumpy, bossy and painfully serious still and being all tight lipped? Jeeze," Tyroc says. "She needs a vacation, before she has a nervous breakdown.

"I might be able to handle this government thing, I guess," he says, sounding a bit unsure of the prospect. "Tried not to give it much thought, really. Guess flyin' around has always been fun; like a hobby. Just doin' what's right in my spare time. Actually working for a living. Still not so sure I'm ready to turn fun into work. And I'm still a bit pissed about that whole government lab thing."

He drains his coffee.

"Well, guess I better hit the road. You three get off easy today. Only had to deal with me for fifteen minutes. But I have some things I need to get done today, and gotta go grocery shoppin' yet. Ah, the life of a hero," he says with a grin.
 

I feel like an idiot. Both Strafe and Random told similar stories without any corroboration. I just harassed a bunch of people trying to apprehend a criminal. Still, those idiots shouldn't be tossing people through cars, or waving around assault rifles in the middle of America.

The swirling stops, as the ice crystals flow into the pile of clothes on the ground, slowly lifting them up in the air, forming a humanoid shape inside the clothes. The ice moves closer together, until nearly solid, then Jennifer is reconstituted as a person. She bends down to pick up her cell phone, hiding her embarassed face.

Sorry, I didn't think. I just saw a gun-waving merc attacking someone and... Jennifer looks down at the cell phone in her hand, and shrugs. It would look a lot better if I actually did something, instead of just chasing after a merc.

So, do you need any help? she asks hopefully, trying to find a way to not make this a huge screw-up on her part.
 

Waking up Miguel opens his eyes and sees Alita snuggled in close, he smiles lightly as he trys to slip out of the bed without waking her.

I hope I don't disappoint you chica. He mutters to himself as he stands up and reaches for the cell phone flipping it open and turning it on.

Walking into the bathroom so his voice wouldn't wake the girl Miguel answers the phone...

Miguel's shop of sin, buy the first sin and get the second half price. How may I direct your call?
 
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Rachel ignores the stares and smirks from the cops and bystanders, she didn't particularly care if she was naked or not. She spent aboult half her day in animal form, naked as a newborn, and it just felt natural to her, so she wasn't going to let the grins and smirks upset her. She wraps the blanket around her like a toga, careful to cover herself and make sure it wouldn't slip if she moved around.

She watches curiously as Shift flies away, wondering what it would be like to be able to be anything and not just a wolf. When Dunn's car arrives, she is still looking at the wreck. "I'm fine, I'm tougher then I look, and I heal fast as well." she tells him before rising.

"Shift told me you guys wanted me to join a team like American Freedom, he was warning me against it. He wasn't lieing, so I guess that means you guys really do want me? I just have to ask, is this type of thing gonna happen a lot?" she asks curiously of the 2 agents, having already made her decision with Shift, now she just wants to get it done.
 
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Agamon said:
“You think he’s cheating?” he says, scratching the back of his neck. “Well, Alice and I haven’t had that problem ourselves over the years…not to my knowledge, anyway,” he says with a chuckle. “I wouldn’t go making accusations. Whether you’re right or wrong, it’ll turn out bad either way. But you need to be up front with him about it. Ask him what’s wrong, and don’t let him shrug it off. If you think there might be a problem, then that automatically makes it a problem. Same thing with your brothers. Don’t wait for them to call, give them a call, if only to ream them out for not calling you. But, hey, what do I know,” he says with a smile as he takes another sip of his coffee.


Sarah smirks and shakes her head. "All right, I get your point. I'll talk to Tyler and I'll smoke my brother's out of whatever whole they're hiding in." She takes another drink of her tea and glances at her watch. "I think I've taken up enough of your time for one day. Beside, if I want to make it over to Columbia before Tyler's second class, I better get going."

She tosses a few bills onto the table and rises from her chair. "Thanks again, for the advice and for trying to get my job back for me. Say hello to Alice for me?"

At the curb she waves a tellow taxi over and climbs in, directing the driver to the Science building at Columbia University.
 

Kiro's head remains lowered but he turns it slightly to look back out the window as he speaks, "I don't remember it too well, it all happened very fast, Jaya brought down the fields that restrained us and once we got out of the range of the strange dampening field that knocked our elite powers out... it was really kind of a cake-walk, minus the shooting and shouting and melee... and the nasty laser wielding robots and helicopters..." Kiro shudders slightly as he relives that night. "It was my first life or death situation... I acted rather poorly, almost completely useless... but I feel more confident even now... for a few weeks their I almost got used to being shot at... and I found out I'm immune to lasers..." His brow furrows as he turns fully towards his companions, nodding slightly, "I think it was lasers..."
 

Tyroc
“Yeah, we better get moving, too,” Cumulus says.

“I suppose,” Neutron replies. “We’ll see ya, Ty. Maybe soon, I hear the new team’s shacking up with us until they’re own headquarters gets built.”

All three say goodbye as you leave the store. Even Jody smiles and waves as you leave. The morning air has given way to summer heat. The sky is cloudless, could be a warm one today.

Sarah
(before you leave, Spot (18))

Ben smiles. “It’s great to see you again, Sarah. I hope everything works out for you. If you need someone to talk to, you know I’m here for you,” he says as you get up.

As you turn to head out, you notice a man in the corner that’s you think has been staring at you for some time. As you make eye contact, he quickly looks away.

Misha
Tellman laughs. “You, on an American Freedom team? That’s great. I’ll have some words for Eagle next time I see her, too,” he says with a grin. “Seriously, buddy, if that’s a fact, good luck to you. Should prove to be interesting if nothing else.” He glances up at the departures board. “Looks like our flight’s boarding.”

Mimic
Alita doesn’t wake up from the phone or your departure. After answering the phone, you hear an exasperated sigh on the other end. “Hello, Miguel.” It’s Screaming Eagle, as you expected. “I’m sorry, Miguel, but I have bad news. The committee didn’t see things my way. That doesn’t affect the others very much, but you have some problems of your own. I’ve been reprimanded for allowing you stay in the country without escort. It’d be in your best interest to turn yourself in at the nearest police station, where it can be made sure that you’ll be sent back to Mexico.”

Blizzard
“Neat trick. Reminds me of Sandy,” Random says. “Help?” he responds to your offer. He pauses a moment, apparently thinking about something. A moment later, he grimaces. “Erm, let’s see if I can translate that…Strafe says, ‘Keep that…freaking, uh, woman, away from me or I’ll…do some unpleasant things.’ I don’t think the bossman likes that idea. You going to have a problem getting to your appointment?” he asks, sounding concerned.

Lupa
“I’m sorry you had to endure that, Miss Masters. I have no idea how he knew about me or my plan to visit you,” Dunn says with a look of concern to his partner. “But yes, I had planned on offering you a position in a new government sponsored elite team. Does that interest you? And I don’t think American Freedom has many surprise kidnappings happen to them. Most of their missions are planned.” He seems to have a little sense of humor as Shift when he was impersonating him.

Shimmering Samurai
“So it was a cake-walk with lasers and helicopters. Glad to see this revelation hasn’t dulled your sense of humor,” Kensei says with a smirk. “What I want to know is why did someone choose me to clone? And how did they manage it? You have abilities similar to mine. If that’s the case, whoever it is could create an army of elites. I get angry just thinking about it,” he says frowning once more.

“Calm down, Tanaka. I’m sure more info will come out with the BioGen hearings. You’ll be able to get to the bottom of this,” Order says.

“So, you remember growing up in my house? Do you have all of my memories? What else to you remember?” Kensei asks, arching his eyebrow at Kiro.
 
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