Karlie (Champions) - Tuesday, September 25, 2001, 7:08 PM

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Karlie meets Alpha Zu

Sky over the West Side You are flying high above the tallest buildings of Colonial Bay. Below you are the streets of the city, bustling with activity. From here, you can fly across town, avoiding all the foot traffic, or you can fly up, into the higher reaches of the atmosphere. It is much quieter and more peaceful up here than down in the bustling streets hundreds of feet below.

Alpha Zu jets across the skyline, a spot of green against the clouds.

Karlie floats high above the city, eyes watching the various people go about their evening business, an expression displaying deep thought upon her features. She is surrounded in a dim electric aura, nothing too intensive, though enough to make her stand out among the darkened sky.

Alpha Zu weaves a snakelike pattern until he realizes he is not alone in the sky. At that point, he sets a direct, but casually slow course towards the other figure lighting up the early night.

Karlie glances at the approaching.. blip. The first thing she notices about it. Her aura brightens, precaution against unexpected enemies which she has learned to be wary of. The posture she keeps shifts, shoulders unrelaxing.

---
Alpha Zu
This figure stands an even two meters tall, massing 100 kilos. He wears a suit of power armor done in a brilliant green etched with black lines in an overlapping scale pattern.
Set in the center of the armor's chest is a fist-sized glowing green gem.
The armor is crafted in the image of an unadorned but well-muscled man. Flared shoulders rise to meet the helm, giving the visage of a hooded cobra, eyes glowing the same green as the gemstone set within its chest.
Perched atop each shoulder is a 3cm aperture, the only visible sign of weaponry.
A greenish-white corona of magnetic force surrounds the armor.
---

Alpha Zu approaches Karlie, stopping about ten meters away to watch the flying child, and watching for signs of hostile intent.

Karlie takes a near minute before she finds the inclination to initiate the verbal portion of this particular encounter, expecting one of two outcomes.. either she gets to try out her powers on a real armored goon, or they part due to lack of interest in her. "anything I can do for you?" Her voice is passive, her eyes searching for some sign of intent.

Alpha Zu says, "You are young to be operating alone. Your powers must be natural, or acquired early. What do they call you, and why do they not provide you a better uniform?"

Karlie lifts one eyebrow. Someone questioning a person displaying obvious powers in this city isn't really common. "Code name? I don't go by any.. and who's 'they'?" This is actually capturing her interest, sparking a sort of energy in curiosity to her posture.

Alpha Zu draws closer to Karlie, giving her an obvious once over. "Your superiors."

Karlie smirks. "I don't answer to anyone. If you're looking for militant folk, check Starguard." It takes only another moment's thought for her to reach the obvious conclusion, "Guess you're new to the city.."

Alpha Zu nods. "Your country, actually. I am Alpha Zu. What name do you use, then?"

Karlie replies, "Karlie." She shrugs. "nothing special about it.." Still curious, she wonders, "where'd you come from?"

Alpha Zu says, "My country is Zu. You do not seem anarchist simply hovering here. Are you a rogue?"

Karlie shakes her head. "I don't get it. Rogue from what?" She's taking guesses already, though assuming has never brought her very pleasant results in a new contact situation.

Alpha Zu stares at Karlie. "Service to your empire. Being a rogue is nearly as dangerous as being a known anarchist."

Karlie stares back. "what empire?" She takes a couple of seconds for the Zu part to finally register in her mind, and her suspicious side begins to make itself apparent. "I really have no idea how things work in Zu, but I'm not a rogue, I've never been in service to nobody but me, and I keep a healthy distance away from politics."

Alpha Zu says, "You are allowed to do that? Who trains you?"

Karlie shakes her head once. "no one trains me but me. Worked fine so far." Her hands drift into her pockets, though she does not dim her electric field. She's heard and experienced too much trouble from Zu as is. Something so blatant would make her look pretty foolish.

Alpha Zu says, "This is normal in your country?"

Karlie nods. "sorta. Most here either look out for their own gain or protecting people." She shrugs slowly. "you'd have to talk with one of the hero-types to get a better idea of a more common attitude.."

Alpha Zu says, "They wish to protect their people and their country, the same as I do. You intrigue me."

Karlie hms? "so you're here on vacation?" Mention of the Zu nation just gets her investigative side going. Small details stand out more than others.

Alpha Zu says, "I cannot understand why a child would be rogue. It makes no sense."

Karlie shrugs. "gotta be part of something before you can go rogue, right?"

Alpha Zu says, "No. I am here to protect the diplomats of my nation. Sadly, there are some in your country we would call anarchists." he adds, "and you have said you were not trained. Why did your parents not enroll you in a training school?"

Karlie smirks. "maybe not all of us have contact with our parents when we find out we're ... different."

Alpha Zu says, "Then surely the state would have done so."

Karlie nods slightly. "if I was in custody of the state, sure."

Alpha Zu says, "This is unreasonable. Your country does not take care of its children?"

Karlie sighs. "I'm pretty sure it does. I'm kind of an exception."

Alpha Zu nods slowly. "I.. see.."

Karlie shrugs slowly. "anyway. I'm probably giving a pretty horrible image of the country.. again, you'd get a better idea if you went and asked one of the hero-types." Considering, "guess you're scouting out the skies?"

Alpha Zu says, "The city itself, actually. In my country, I would take you to a state school, where they would provide you with food, training, and a bed. But you do not have that here. What can I provide for you?"

Karlie hms? "I have food and a bed. Just cause it's not provided for me doesn't mean I don't work for what I need.." She shrugs slowly. "I dunno. That's kind of what I was asking you first."

Alpha Zu says, "I need nothing at the moment, thank you. Were you watching something specific before I approached?"

Karlie shakes her head a bit. "just sitting here in thought. Can see pretty much everything and there's not much noise. Pretty quiet tonight.." she takes a glance around the city below, checking the usual problem areas.

Alpha Zu moves slightly, to take in the view Karlie is seeing. "What do you think about?"

Karlie hms. "life, I guess. Just like to go where there aren't so many around so it's quiet." She regards Alpha Zu for another moment, considering a number of rather rude questions which would either give a glimpse into whatever hidden agenda the green-clad knight had, or drive away someone just trying to be pleasant. "what 'bout you?" she wonders, changing her mind about such topics. "you go out where it's quiet to just think sometimes?"

Alpha Zu nods. "At times, yes. Would you prefer to be alone with your thoughts now?"

Karlie shakes her head. "nah. Haven't had a good chat with someone I've never met like this for a while. Reminds me that there're people like that out there."

Alpha Zu says, "People like what?"

Karlie looks at Alpha Zu, "people social enough to find a complete stranger and just talk. It's a nice change from what I usually see.."

Alpha Zu nods. "I have met very few people so far, so talking with you has been enjoyable. What do you usually see?"

Karlie shrugs. "most people go about their daily business, ignoring whatever doesn't get in their way or on their agenda. I'm one of them, most times."

Alpha Zu says, "Ah. I cannot afford that. I must be aware of as much as possible if I am to protect my comrades."

Karlie hms. "sounds sensible enough. 'm I keeping you from doing anything important?" She's starting to ease up more. No signs of trouble, and she's usually got some kind of hunch or something.. despite the origin. Checking up later'll do.

Alpha Zu says, "No. Learning about this city and its occupants is important."

Karlie hms. "well.. there's this cyborg running around who's over-armed and likes to cause trouble for himself called Soldat. Carries a really old, really big pistol. Best to just avoid him. Hard as hell to do lasting damage to him." she scratches her head. "huge guy named Vanadis, gold skinned, narcissist complex. Chaotic. He's hard to hurt in the first place. Can't think of any others you should keep a watch out for.."

Alpha Zu says, "Are they rogues as well, or actual anarchists?"

Karlie hms. "guess if I'm a rogue.. they'd be more anarchist types. Soldat's calm sometimes. Vanadis is unbelievably full of himself. Can't put a label on either."

Alpha Zu says, "Then I will stop them if I encounter them. I am searching for one called Phelemanga, to put an end to his murders of your people and the slander against my country. He wears a black uniform, and his eyes burn with a green flame."

Karlie hms. "don't think I've heard of him.. I'll keep an eye out, though. ..I still say it's better to just avoid those two. Stopping Vanadis just doesn't happen without a team effort."

Alpha Zu says, "He is powerful then? I will be prepared."

Karlie nods. "can probably lift a bus or two, and I haven't seen anything put him down. And I tried to once. Really hard."

Alpha Zu says, "May I ask about your abilities? Other than flying of course."

Karlie hms. "something about a control and output of tangible electromagnetic energy.." she shrugs slightly. "I never payed attention much to the technical terms."

Alpha Zu says, "Magnetics? My suit contains to magnetic field cores, manipulating their fields for both offensive and defensive purposes."

Karlie nods? "that something common? Or do you have a good designer handy?"

Alpha Zu says, "I believe it to be highly uncommon. The government designed and built the suit, and then I was trained to use it."

Karlie nods quietly.. "hm. I should check up on my roommate.." her eyes move toward the run-down area of Harrisburg Lane. "neighborhood got a bit less safe recently.'

Alpha Zu says, "I will go with you then."

Karlie nods? "if you want. Most people around there know me enough to stay away. But there's word of a new gang running around doing vigilante work."

Karlie turns in the direction of Harrisburg and begins her descent.

*****

Harrisburg Lane North
     The northern part of Harrisburg Lane is just as bad off, if not worse, than the southern portion. Some of the two-story homes are boarded up, some with homeless squatters inside. Graffiti marks the territory of one gang or another. Drug dealers and other seedy members of society have moved into this section of town, bringing with them crime that follows. Few, if any, trees and shrubs remain. The grassy lawns of yesteryear are now overgrown with weeds and broken glass from bottled beverages sprinkled about. The inhabitants of this part of town are the destitute and are the homeless.

graffiti
Scrawled in red (paint?) along the wall of an abandoned building: "Even though we may be tired, there can be no rest for the Night Watch."

Alpha Zu soars down from above. The green-armored man lands and disengages the greenish magnetic field that surrounds him. He looks around at the squalor, unbelievingly. He says, "This is.. is.. horrible. What happened here, a war?"

Karlie's own aura of electricity dims as she lands, looking at Alpha Zu. "welcome to the area of town that the city doesn't take care of. Eventually everything here'll be torn down to make way for new stuff. Til then, people here get free housing and little more.." She hrms. "lemme rephrase that. People without homes go here to find stuff that's abandoned."

Alpha Zu says, "People without homes? Your politicians say your country is wealthy, a land of plenty for everyone. Do they not know about this?"

Karlie nods. "the impovershed.. people like me. Guess that's what keeps me from being called .. an anarchist. I won't go around taking stuff just 'cause I can." She smirks. "yeah. They know about this.. they just politely keep from making it apparent to everyone else. Bad image."

Alpha Zu says, "Why do they not fix it? Surely it is within their power."

Karlie shrugs. "I really don't know. Like I said, I stay away from politics. If they aren't doing enough, then I'm guessing there's a reason. I don't ask them and they don't bug me. I kinda like it that way."

Alpha Zu says, "I will talk to our diplomats. They will work to find a way to .. correct this."

Karlie smiles slightly, genuinely. "don't expect it to change..this is a problem in every city in the country. Has been for... well, for a really long time."

Alpha Zu says, "This I don't understand. This would never happen in my country. I am at a loss for words."

Karlie nods slightly. "this is the worst you'll see.. every other street in the city is at least maintained. Harrisburg used to be the section of town for wealthy people.."

Alpha Zu says, "Come. This anger is pointless right now. You mentioned a friend."

Karlie nods a bit, her path thusfar taking her to a specific house. One that looks nearly maintained from the outside. "I'll be back out in a moment." She opens the door, and enters.

Alpha Zu waits outside as instructed, looking around the neighborhood, warily, and in disbelief.

Karlie within minutes exits the house, looking satisfied. A glimpse shows the interior is rather tidy, and even clean. "she's fine."

Alpha Zu says, "A war zone. That is what my mind sees, what it keeps returning to, when I look around. Will she be safe here?"

Karlie nods. "she's smart.. the new gang should leave her alone and everyone who lives here knows she's my friend. Anyone who's my friend and gets hurt causes trouble for whoever's responsible.."

Alpha Zu says, "You live here as well?"

Karlie nods. "live here, act as peacekeeper, guardian.. I try to keep things relatively quiet.."

Alpha Zu says, "Your dedication is admirable, but I cannot allow you to stay here and waste your abilities. Come with me to the embassy. We will give you and your friend safety, and take action to keep this place safe."

Karlie looks a bit curious. "what kind of action?" her hands slip out of her pockets, resting at her sides.

Alpha Zu says, "Whatever is required." He pauses and looks down at Karlie. "What is required? Armed patrols? Escorts?"

Karlie shakes her head. "you bring all that stuff here and the people will just think there's some kind of occupation going on. What's required is for our government to divert funds from other stuff into getting the people into the workforce. ONly problem is the funds have to be taken from other important things, or raise taxes."

Alpha Zu says, "Then we will make them divert their funds."

Karlie smirks. "from what? Take your pick. Training the armed forces, importing goods, keeping the local economy active.. if it was so easy to fix, it would have been a really long time ago."

Alpha Zu says, "This insanity can not continue. I do not know your government well enough to know where to get their money. But in my country this would be done with very little money. We would take the people here, and make them clean and build. They would get the food and homes that they created."

Karlie nods slowly. "seems simple, huh? It might work. It might not. I'm not saying don't do anything, just expect that it might fail. No argument here with fixing the slums across the country."

Alpha Zu says, "'Slums'? That is what you call this place? A fitting word."

Karlie nods. "yeah. It's the shortest term for the area."

Alpha Zu says, "You and your friend will be safe here tonight?"

Karlie nods a bit. "best security system in the neighborhood.. "

Alpha Zu looks at Karlie, and lets out a burst of muffled noise that might have been a laugh.

Alpha Zu says, "I will return with an answer as soon as I can, Karlie."

Karlie nods slightly, taking a long breath. "thanks," she tells Alpha Zu.

Alpha Zu has left.