RS1-Stolen University (Salix Judging)

[Hand of Vecna]

As Zenji and Jones inspect the bedroom, Archeville heads down the hall towards the sound of a typing computer.

[sblock=Shoulder Daemons]You sure this is wise? Splitting up? Isn't that what usually leads to the kids getting killed in those Slasher flicks?

Yeah, but those kids never had our incredible mind! Or an electromagnetic blaster![/sblock]

 

[Raylis]

As Zenji pulls back the sheets to reveal Jim Roarke, the young man Zenji had been toting along until the resolutes entered the Science Building. He is barechested save for a bandage crossing his ribs. There is no computers in the bedroom.

The typing sound grows louder as Archeville passes another door on his left, comming to an arch that opens to a Den on his left and a solid oak door on the right. Listening carefully the superscientest can hear the typing emenating from within the room.

 

[Hand of Vecna]

From behind the oak door, correct?

 

[Raylis]

Correct

 

[Hand of Vecna]

Archeville tries to slowly/quietly open the oaken door, blaster in hand.

 

[Raylis]

The door opens to a well furnished office. Bookcases line the wally and the door faces three panes of windows. A large oaken desk sits in front of the windows and low classical music can be heard from a radio sitting on a small table near the door. In the back corner near the windows is a a coatrack with a graduates cap hanging from one peg. A large red circular rug rests in front of the desk. The desk is covered with notebooks, notepads, pens, pencils a laptop computer and several photograph frames. Sittng behind the desk is a man with crisp white hair and a well trimmed goatee. He is wearing dark, horned rimmed glasses and black robes, the stripes on the sleeve indicated an academic doctory in the sciences.

"A moment, if you would Vicktor." he says evenly not looking up in the famillar voice of the Minister of Education.

 

[Hand of Vecna]

Archeville deftly and subtly* toggles on his communicator, allowing his teammates and the assembled forces outside the force field to hear them. "But of course, Herr** Minister -- ve're all professionals here, und ve can certainly extend one another some basic social niceties." He lowers his pistol, but does not holster it, "I do trust, of course, zhat you vould reciprocate und divulge some of your motives und findings -- vhile I personally may find zhe... ethics of your actions disdainful, I cannot deny zheir effectiveness, und vould be most intrigued to learn vhat you haff discovered."


* Sleight of Hand (via Jack of All Trades) (1d20+1 = 19)
** According to a friend of mine who took German in high school many years ago, "Herr" doesn't just mean "Mister," it can also be used as a generic honorific towards a male subject. Thus, "Herr Doktor Viktor Archeville" doesn't so much mean "Mister Doctor Archeville," it means "Honored Doctor Archeville"

 

[Raylis]

"I can assure you, Doctor, that everyone who participated volunteered in my research did so volentarially and without coersion. I hope that you can agree that one day of cancelled classes and a few hours of secluesion will not hurt this University, not its reputation.

"As for motivation nothing as nefarious as raising an army; merely curiosity. Arn't you the least bit curious why there has been the outbreak of comic book sterotypes? Why your blaster or young Zenji's staff actually do the amazing things? By your reputation I thought you might be a kindred spirit." He gives Archeville a glance

"Please, Vicktor call in Mr. Jones and Zenji. We can discuss this like civilized men instead of resorting to violence and subterfuge....by the way, how is my daughter?"

 

[Asmor]

Zenji inspects Jim briefly, determining that he's probably not a threat. As he's about to scan the room, he turns around pointing the staff at the door at the sound of footsteps.

"Oh, Jones, it's you." he says, lowering the staff. "I thought we were going to split--" Zenji is interrupted by his communicator.

"But of course, Herr Minister -- ve're all professionals here, und ve can certainly extend one another some basic social niceties."

"We've got to go back up Archeville! Let's go!" The Arcane Anqtiquarian sprints off down the hall, listening for Archeville.

 

[Hand of Vecna]

"Daughter? Vould zhat be zhe speedy one who greeted us vhen ve entered? Not seen her since ve got in."

"As for Scientific Curiosity as Motive: vell, as you so astutely noted, I vould be a liar if I vere to say I vas un-curious as to zhe emergence of so many Metahumans over zhe past six years. But if you're suggesting the same vellspring of power births both meain own und young Zenji's abilities..." Archeville stifles a mocking chuckle, "vell, it vould support meain own theory zhat all so-called 'magic' is just the ignorant und superstitious use of genetic-based Metahuman powers, mit spells concealing rotes und memes zhat help one focus zhe vill."

"But voluntarily? Mitout coercion? All of zhem? I'm sorry, Herr Minister, I don't mean to call you a liar on our first real encounter, but... vell, mit all zhe evidence of altered mental states -- if not outright 'mind control' -- ve haff seen, zhat is a bit hard to svallow. Oh, I'm sure there are some who vould truly volunteer, some desperate enough to be Special, no matter vhat cost, but to hold so many here -- if you truly vere seeking a secluded area," here he begins making wide gestures with his hands and gun, "vhy hit a major university? Vhy not simply round up some homeless people, whom no one vould miss? Or, if you must target a university, zhe mousy wallflowers und dropouts und slackers?"

[sblock=Shoulder Daemons]Stop that! Stop helping the Bad Guy!

What?[/sblock]