S. StarDancer Blvd.(#2126RDnu)
This part of StarDancer Blvd. is commonly known for its historical significance by being the very area first contact was made with aliens and the famed superhero for which the street was named. A bronze plaque recessed into the center of the street displays the very spot contact was made. Along the street, various businesses have been build depicting the alien influence on the city. Modern architecture with an alien flare is quite evident, as are the products most of the businesses offer.

Characters:
Tempest Karlie Benny
Hydra Alpha Zu Happenstance

Obvious exits:
Colonial Heights Blvd. <S> York Blvd. <N> Flying Saucer <SE> Matrix <E> Mag Lev Terminal <MAGLEV> Sky over the West Side <FLY>

Benny comes walking along, moving from trash can to trashcan, looking for pop can to collect for the deposit.

[OOC] Happenstance says, "While we wait, a little history. If you check this room desc, you'll note that this is the very place where StarDancer met the aliens. There's even a plaque set in the street, commemorating this."

[OOC] Happenstance says, "ACE is a world-class supergroup, violently opposed to Earth's advancing towards unification with the galactic civilizations. They've been around for over 20 years, and are composed of villains and former heroes. They see themselves as saving Mankind from predatory aliens that want to subjugate Earth."

[OOC] Happenstance says, "ACE has destroyed this plaque and much of the street in this block 3 times in the last 20 years."

Alpha Zu walks southbound down the street, talking with Karlie.

Benny is admiring the plaque and looking at it wistfully.

Hydra comes flying from the south, in patrol.

Karlie explains, "Phelamanga is pretty tough..who's the guy you were sent to protect?"

Tempest soars over the street, dropping earthward when he spots another flying figure below.

Alpha Zu says, "There are a dozen people on the diplomatic team. Since negotiations have ended for the day, I am free to pursue other matters."

Karlie hms. "well. he killed the one called Blue. Or his bronze goons did. Didn't get what he was after though.."

Hydra stops. ( Whoa. Lots of people here. )

Benny notices Karlie, stretches his arm about ten feet in the air, and waves it alot in her direction, "Hi-yee!"

Alpha Zu says, "He must be stopped. And soon."

Tempest thinks . o O (So many flying people in this city...)

Karlie nods a little. "I kinda liked the guy.." She glances in Benny's direction, waving less emphatically.

Alpha Zu stops, and stares at Karlie. "I presume you meant Blue?"

The crowd in this area is still fairly large, this being an international tourist attraction. Night has fallen, the weather is a bit cool and breezy.

Hydra blinks and floats up to Karlie and Zu. "Uh? Blue wha?"

Benny then notices the dude in power armor next to her, comes to the conclusion she's on a date or something, and decides that it would be best to shrink his arm down and sort of slink off.

Karlie nods. "yeah. Blue wasn't so bad."

Karlie glances at Hydra, "heya."

Alpha Zu looks at Hydra.

Hydra says, "Hey. What 'Blue' are you talking about? Blue Girl."

Hydra says, "?"

One young man walks up to a group of African tourists who are admiring the plaque set in the street. He talks with them for a few moments as they all look at the plaque and each other. After a minute, he takes a camera from one of the men in the group, and the Africans gather around the plaque while he takes their picture for them.

[OOC] Alpha Zu says, "They don't happen to be from Zu, do they?"

[OOC] Happenstance says, "No. :}"

[To Hydra] Alpha Zu says, "I do not know."

Karlie replies, "a guy who's all blue, named 'Blue'. Phelamanga's bronze goons killed the poor guy."

Benny almost blunders into the photo shoot as he slinks off and backs up a bit, out of the way.

Hydra says, "Ah. Oh."

Karlie looks at Alpha Zu, "you know anything about a obsidian statue?"

Tempest finally touches down, looking a bit curious.

Alpha Zu says, "No. I presume you are referring to a specific statue? What is its likeness?"

Karlie replies, "looks like a lion. Phelamanga was really hoping to get his hands on it."

Alpha Zu says, "Then he must not be allowed to. Do you know why he wanted it?"

Paged to Alpha Zu, Tempest and Benny (they made Hearing PER rolls at -2): 'You hear the young man taking the picture for the African group say, with a British accent, "Okay, let's get one more, luv. You won't be able to get any more pictures of this before too long."'.

Karlie shakes her head. "not a clue. But he killed trying to get it, so I'm guessing it's real important."

Tempest turns to look toward the monument.

The young man snaps another picture, then hands the camera back to its owner with a smile and a clap on the shoulder. As they depart, he stands there looking down at the plaque, hands on hips.

Alpha Zu turns to look at the crowd posing for pictures. "Karlie, what is that marker for?"

Benny was obviously standing behind the man taking the picture to be standing out of the way. He looks at the guy and says, "Huh?"

The young man turns to look at Benny. "Huh. Look at *you*! Halloween ain't for weeks yet, chipper."

Tempest says, "That's where Stardancer made first contact..."

The young man puts a hand to his jaw, cocking his head from side to side as he looks Benny over. "Say, what are you, anyway?"

Karlie hms? "apparently that's the spot where the aliens came to meet Stardancer. I'm not much good for more about it than that."

Alpha Zu says, "Why are they planning to remove it?"

Benny frowns and looks at the young man, "HEY! it's not a costume! Sure I'm made of rubber, but mutants are people too!" He crosses his arms and gets a cute little pouty face as he glares at the guy.

Hydra looks over his shoulder. "Uh? Removing?"

Karlie ehs? "...jeez. Not again.." she looks for that nut she and a few of her closest friends met a few months back..

The young man reaches out and makes like he's going to poke Benny in the cheek, but stops himself with a look of distaste.

Hydra rises a meter or so above the crowd.

Alpha Zu says, "The gentleman taking pictures said there would be no more pictures of it."

The young man says, "Rubber, eh? What, you Yanks run out of steel, did ya?"

Hydra says, "Who, the guy that looks like an inflatable toy?"

Tempest frowns. "Yeah. We probably shouldn't jump to conclusions, though..."
Rampant arrives.

Rampant seems like your average handsome man who takes care of himself. He stands just under six foot, weighs maybe 200 pounds, and is muscled like a runner rather than a weightlifter. His hair is black and cut short. His eyes are a piercing green. He's wearing a pair of black pleather pants, scuffed black combat boots that look older than him, a short-sleeved football (soccer to you Yanks) jersey (untucked) with a large golden symbol, a silhouette of a lion rearing up on its hind legs (rampant, of course), and a denim vest over the jersey. Thin metal bands encircle both wrists.

Karlie sighs. "some guy calling himself 3000 made to destroy it a while back. Apparently he and his friends do that every so often.."

Hydra says, "What do you mean? Jumping to conclusions is the spine of heroic stupidity."

Hydra says, "I mean, heroic action."

Benny waggles an oversized finger at the young man, "Look mister! just because my DNA is writen so I take a shining to petrolium products doesn't mean i don't have feelings!"

Rampant grins, leaning his head only back away from Benny's finger while he crosses his arms. "Feisty, too. They put a lot of work in you down at the factory, did they?"

Alpha Zu says, "No. The man in the overlarge shirt."

Tempest nods to Hydra. "I said 'shouldn't', not 'won't'. Still, First Amendment and all that. Besides, there are too many people around to just start shooting."

[To Karlie] Alpha Zu says, "What are the allegiances of the people here? The boy in particular."

Rampant's eyes flick upwards, then he looks back at Benny. "Take it on down the avenue, sonny. I got work to do." He uncrosses his arms and turns around, deliberately stepping on the plaque as he walks away.

Hydra says, "Hey, I'm not gonna shoot him. Just break up a discussion, right?"

Hydra turns around to look at the plaque. "... Where is he?"

Hydra flies up and above the crowd, hoping not to elicit too much attention.

Benny blinks, "Do I /Look/ like i'm insubstantial? I ain't no Alpha three class probe. I'm a human being! My parents were human, ninty nine percept of my DNA is human!" he watches the guy go walking past and walks along behind him, "Oh no, you need some serious classes in Political Correctness, chum!"

Karlie hms? "the boy? Benny? He's cool. Good kid. Head full of nice ideals."

Rampant's only answer is a snigger as he keeps walking away, flipping the British bird back at Benny.

Tempest nods along the street. "Walking away. Let's hope it's that easy."

Hydra says, "And it'll be full of bumps too."

Hydra says, "... hmm. Just to be sure, let me check the plaque."

Hydra flies down towards the plaque.

Paged to Hydra (he made a PER roll): 'You see that the plaque, made of metal, is unharmed. Just as you arrive, however, you notice a flickering in the air just to your left.'.

Benny makes a face as the guy walks away and says, "And a good day to you and yours. And God Bless you, too!" He shouts, "I Hope you have a /Wonderful/ DAY!" However, the tone of his voice is rather loud, so it's hard to tell if he's being sarcastic or not.

Alpha Zu(Ismael) pages: Rampant looked up. I'm going to survey rooftops, etc, for tactical positions - where I'd stash someone.

Hydra blinks and turns to face the air. "What the f--"

Paged to Alpha Zu: 'You see to your left, on the roof of the building next to the plaque, a tall figure, the light glinting irregularly off its form.'.

Alpha Zu(Ismael) pages: I'm keeping my eye on him for the moment.

Alpha Zu turns his head back and forth, surveying the scene.

Benny turns and walks back and notices the tourists staring at him after his outburst. He stares back, "Wut?"

Alpha Zu says to Hydra and Tempest, "Do either of you recognize the man?"

Tempest shakes his head. "Nope. Had the soccer-hooligan sort of look, though."

[OOC] Happenstance says, "Now, let's establish positions, using the plaque as a center point. Hydra is at the plaque. Benny is 2" down the street, on one side. Rampant is 3" on the opposite side and walking away. Zu, Tempest and Karlie are together off to one side of the plaque, about 4". Zu, what you saw is across the street."

[OOC] Hydra says, "I'm turning on Infrared and Ultraviolet to see if I can see whatever is causing the disturbance?"

Rampant stops his walk, snapping his fingers, and turns around. "KNEW I forgot something." He stands grinning at Hydra.

Karlie(ks) pages: does my detect (bought as sense) give me a funny idea of the plaque area?

Benny glances back at Rampart, "Appology accepted." He says with a smug tone.

The air next to Hydra and the plaque visibly swirls and gathers into a semblance of a humanoid form, transparent but still there nonetheless.

[To Karlie] Alpha Zu says, "You never did tell me about your abilities."

Hydra blinks, and turns a dial on his glasses to change his color spectrum.

Tempest's eyes narrow slightly. "You may get a demonstration in a moment."

Paged to Karlie: 'No, but it *does* direct your attention to the roof across the street. There stands a tall figure, light glinting irregularly off its form.'.

Hydra says, "Uh... People? I need some help here."

Karlie hms? "yeah.." Tempest's sentiment is shared. Her eyes zip upward, to the rear of the group, focused suddenly with a slight frown. "roof, behind us. Someone else's got something powered up."

Hydra(Jonny) pages: Still transparent?

From afar, Tempest(Alex) has 360-degree spatial awareness. Can I make out anything on that roof Karlie is talking about?

Alpha Zu says, "I saw him."

With a whoop, Rampant charges right *through* the figure appearing next to Hydra, slicing by him and straight at Benny. "I forgot to bounce you straight to the MOON!"

Paged to Hydra: 'Yes. The figure appears to be made of some kind of barely-visible gas in motion within the boundaries of its shape.'.

[OOC] Hydra says, "He went from where he was, through the figure, and onto Benny?"

[OOC] Happenstance says, "That's right."

Rampant plows into Benny, whose heel snags on the street and down he goes on his backside, while Rampant is bounced off Benny and back onto his feet, with a surprised look on his face. "Christ! You *are* rubber!"

Paged to Tempest: 'On the roof across the street, there stands a tall figure, light glinting irregularly off its form.'.

Benny, the neive sort he is, is taken completely off guard and knocked on his butt. "oof!"

Tempest(Alex) pages: How crowded is it?

[OOC] Happenstance says, "I'd say that the street is about 30 feet wide, and there're maybe 50 civilians in this block."

Tempest nods to Zu and Karlie. "You go. I'll clear the civilians. A cloudburst should do it." His concentration bears results, as a banks of dark clouds forms overhead, blotting out the stars... at least locally. Loud thunder crashes, and a downpour begins.

[OOC] Tempest says, "Centered on the plaque."

Hydra is drenched. And it's not even Sat-- wait, it IS Saturday.

Benny sits there and blinks as a cloudburst opens up over him and rain begins to pelt him, "ya know, this started out such a /good/ day..."

As the thunder cracks and the rain begins, tourists and locals alike scramble for the safety of the shops along the street.

Paged to Karlie, Tempest, and Alpha Zu: 'The figure on the roof looks up at the clouds. Then it looks down at the street again, stepping to the edge of the roof.'.

Karlie takes a few steps back from the large part of the downpour, "fraggin' water.." she mutters, glancing still around for more of these visitors.. she hates surprises. Especially ones she has to get into a shoot-out with.

Hydra hesitates. First a gas thing, then it starts raining.

Alpha Zu says, "Who are these people? What are they attempting to do?"

Hydra says, "They're not invisible... They're some kind of gas!"

Wild Blue arrives.

The person (creature?) known as Wild Blue is obviously not human. Its body is translucent, almost transparent at times, and seems to be made of cloudy air. Other than that, the proportions are right for a human with no hair. While it's not clothed in anything apparent, its body is generalized and has no individual features such as fingers, toes, eyes, or anything else. It never speaks, but the sound of wind swirling around it and within it seems to change in pitch depending on its activities, ranging from a quiet whoosh to a shrieking roar.

Hydra thinks . o O (THEY? What am I saying?)

The airy form next to Hydra solidifies still further, but is still quite translucent. A breeze seems to come and tickle Hydra's hair, as the form suddenly RUSHES straight at Hydra from point-blank range!

Hydra acks, gags, and coughs as he's airhandled. "Argh!"

The airy form flows over, around, and past Hydra in an eyeblink, sliding away from him for a few feet. It pauses, hanging in mid-air, and gives the impression of turning around.

Hydra pulls a plastic helmet from a pocket and over his head with his left hand, while drawing a laser from another pocket and shooting at Mr. Air with his right hand.

Hydra fires his laser gun almost as soon as he draws it. The beam races across to his antagonist and...goes right through it, to break the shop window across the street.

Hydra says, "... Okay. I SHOULD have thought of that. Sorry."

From inside the shop, several voices start screaming.

Hydra says, "I hope nobody lost an eye."

Tempest thinks . o O (Well, so much for 'no fireworks'.)

Benny rolls to his feet and snarls, "That TEARS it! I have had ENOUGH!" He pulls back his fist which swells up to the size of a watermellon, "I /try/ and be nice..." His rubbery arm shoots out to give Rampant a little love tap.

Benny shoots his fist over Rampart's should, "Stand STILL you limey Bugger!"

Rampant dodges to one side, yet manages not to move his feet. "You don't get it, mate! I hit the punching bag, it don't hit me!"

Alpha Zu says, "Stormcaller, some winds might be useful to assist the Silvercoat."

[OOC] Alpha Zu will turn his attention to the figure on the roof, waiting for him to react.

Karlie glances up behind her, "I'll see about dealin' with the roof-bound guy.." she tells Alpha. "I hate waiting.." she rises up, turning to face her target.
[OOC] Karlie says, "3" climb."

[OOC] Happenstance says, "That'll put you 3" up and 3" across, so about 2" away and 3" below the figure on the roof. 3-story building."

Tempest nods to Alpha Zu. "I was thinking the same thing..."

Suddenly is heard, from the clouded sky above, a VERY bad rendition of a song from a cartoon more than a hundred years old. "HERE I come to save the DAY!" Before anyone can react, a colored blur drops straight out of the sky and SLAMS into the street several yards away from the plaque.

Megamite arrives.

Megamite looks like a joke. He's not quite four feet tall, and he's probably what a cartoon would be like if it popped out of the TV. His well-muscled body is wrapped in a skintight red bodysuit from neck to soles. Golden rings encircle his neck, waist, arms at mid-biceps and mid-forearms, and legs at mid-thigh and mid-calves. A snapping golden cape, about thigh-length, is fastened to his shoulders. His eyes are hidden behind mirrored sunglasses, his wavy brown hair is parted on one side and just reaches his collar, and his jaw is quite square. His head, hands, and feet are large for his body. On his chest is a golden double-M.

Megamite stands grinning, hands on hips and cape fluttering, in the shallow hole he's just put into the street.

The figure on the roof across the street actually facepalms.

Tempest thinks . o O (Huh. There are two of them. Who'd've thought?)

[OOC] Happenstance says, "Note, too, that the rain has only just started, and that there are still quite a number of civilians about, rushing to shelter as they may be."

Hydra looks at the... thing that fell from the sky, both eyebrows raised.

Alpha Zu turns, his attention caught by the new arrival. "State your business here, short one."

Megamite puts a pointing finger in the air, elbow bent. In a voice that would make Dudley Doright (who?) proud, he declares, "Why, I'm here to protect the Earth from those that would enslave it, citizen!"

Hydra says, "... Uh, people, I can't fight and laugh at the same time. Would you mind?"

Alpha Zu apparently takes the answer at face value, and asks Megamite, "Who here is with you?"

Karlie looks over the figure on the roof, unobscured by rain, she flies up more.

Megamite sweeps a hand grandly around in a short arc. "My compatriots in the Allied Champions of Earth, of course! Surely you've heard of us?"

Hardshell arrives.

Hardshell looks like a very amateurish attempt at building a battlesuit using whatever spare parts and scrap metal might have been lying around at the time. It stands nearly eight feet tall, and is easily more than four feet across the chestplate alone. The left shoulder housing is much larger than the right. The torso and limbs are covered with overlapping plates, while more dextrous areas such as the hands and joints are protected by a steelmesh material. The motorcycle-helmet headpiece is almost hidden behind a ringed collar, single glowing green eyeslit regarding the world cyclops-style. Gun-like objects are attached to both forearms. From the knees down are single cylinders, growing larger until they make an irregular-oval footprint almost a foot wide.

[OOC] Alpha Zu says, "Should we? Do they have a reputation?"

Karlie hms.. "should be interesting.." she says quietly.

Rampant grins devilishly as he cocks his body, fist drawn back. "And now it's time to be punchin' the bag! Ready, mate?" He then lets fly with a lightning-fast fist, straight at Benny's head.

Benny taps his chin with his finger and leans into the punch.

Rampant follows through, smacking Benny solidly on the offered chin.

Benny does gain altitude on that one, skittering back a few yards, but he seems rather unharmed, "That the best ya can do?"

Hydra says, "Hello-o! Hydra's in trouble here!"

[OOC] Happenstance says, "Benny, you were knocked 8" or 50' down the street, away from the plaque."

[OOC] Happenstance says, "Quickly, about ACE. They are a world-renowned and world-reviled group. They have committed many terrorist acts since they formed, more than two decades ago."

Hydra says, "So, you're the people that like exploding this street?"

Megamite floats straight up out of the hole, then wafts over and lands next to the plaque. He looks up at Hydra. "Can you feel it, friend? This is history, right here in our laps. You and I, we may make more history tonight. Gives you goosebumps, doesn't it?"

Hydra looks down at Megamite and raises an eyebrow.

Hydra puts the laser back on his pocket and pulls a large metal and blue glass rifle. He turns around and shoots at Mr. Air. "OK, laser won't work.. maybe cold."

Hydra shoots a ball of blue energy, which flies through the air creating a trail of mist... which flies to the side and off into the wild blue yonder.

Hydra says, "Apparently, history makes my aim bad."

Alpha Zu thinks . o O (Terrorists. Clearly, time to act.) A greenish-white field forms around his armor and he lifts slightly off the ground, and takes a half-step towards the short figure. "History will not remember you." he says, and with an electric hum, an expanding field of greenish-white energy darts out towards Megamite.

Megamite's gleaming smile never falters as he watches Hydra shoot at his 'compatriot'.

Megamite smiles even wider as he flexes casually, but the glowing bounds remain in place.

Hydra says, "Finally, I thought I was by myself here."

The airy figure spins in place for a brief moment, then RUSHES at Hydra once again!

Hydra crouches a bit as a massive wind blows over him. "Cripes."

[OOC] Happenstance says, "While we're doing that, Karlie, make an INT roll, please."

[OOC] Karlie says, "by 3. Karlie is smarty-pants."

Benny rolls to his feet and says, "Alright! This has gone far enough! I order all of you to surender and places you hands on your head! For you face the awsome power of... er... Balloon Boy!" He puts his hands on his hips and strikes a pose. he looks very silly.

Paged to Karlie: 'You recall that Hardshell is a battlesuit-wearer with very nasty weapons. You have seen a newsclip where it blasted away a building face with two shots.'.

Tempest thinks . o O (Balloon Boy and Silver Coat Guy Who Fires Into Stores? Why do I have the sinking feeling I'm on the losing side of this battle?)

Hydra is impressed. Well, not really, but he pretends to be.

Karlie cruds. She hates high-powered goons.. probably preferable to talk before blasting the guy. His guns would do mean things to her. "mornin'," she says, sort of casually.

The cold electronic voice of Hardshell crackles out. "I would advise against any rash action. My comrades are indeed breaking laws, but the one thing we don't need is escalation. I hope to convince them to cease and desist." As it speaks, its arms remain at its side, though it takes a ready stance.

Karlie nods? "great. That's kinda a relief. See, my buddy down there is trying to convince them of that too. And if he keeps fighting, it's gonna draw me into the battle. Which is gonna make for escalation."

Hardshell swivels only its head to look down on the street. It makes a distorted noise that might have been a sigh.

Rampant laughs nastily at Balloon Boy's declaration. He looks at Hydra, jerking a thumb at Benny. "Ja ever see such a sight? Toys tryna act like men." He looks Hydra up and down. "Aaah, look who I'm talkin' to." He looks around and sees Tempest. "Now there's a bloke I wanna have a word with." He then starts running right at Tempest, grinning insanely. "Scuse me!"

Rampant grabs both of Tempest's upper arms, grinning right in his face. "Scuse me, mate, 'can I 'ave a word with ye?"

Tempest smiles back. "That depends on whether you're still capable of speech in a moment." As he speaks, the rain dies away as suddenly as it came, but a heavy ozone scent hangs in the air. "Don't trifle with the living storm, boy." A thread of electrical energy crackles across the band of his sunglasses, then leaps outward in a blaze of lightning, accompanied by a sharp crack.

Rampant jitters and dances for a long moment, short hair standing on end, then he collapses at Tempest's feet in a smoking heap, the back of one hand charred where the lightning entered him.

Tempest nods, raising his voice. "Right. Would anyone else like a word, or are you ready to give up?"

Hardshell swivels its singular gaze to Karlie. "Now we have a problem."

Benny shoots out his fist the full 20 meters to take a potshot punch at hardshell.

Karlie looks at Hardshell, "you're tellin' me? Look. I'd prefer to keep this whole mess down to a real simple verbal argument, but when you get to dealing with powered folk, disagreements turn into full-fledged battles.."

Hardshell swivels its head once again as Benny's fist rockets out of the night and smacks its shoulder. It then looks back at Karlie. "What was that?"

Karlie ehs? She looks over, "oh. Benny, cool it on this guy?" She's not in much mood to do battle. Especially with something using that much firepower.

Megamite's eyes are hidden, but that insufferable smile actually disappears as Rampant goes down. "WHAT? I say thee NAY!" With a mighty heave of his tiny arms, Megamite FLEXES against Alpha Zu's energy field.

With a roar, Megamite takes to the air, zooming straight at Tempest, then swinging a tiny fist right at his head!

Megamite's punch sweeps through the air where Tempest's head was a mere split-second before, as the hero dodges with desperation!

Tempest says, "I guess that's a 'no' on the surrendering, then?"

Hydra says, "Can someone take care of Windbag over here? I'll even go hit on Megamidget instead."

Tempest thinks . o O ('Get their attention.' Great move, Einstein.)

Hardshell's electronically-transmitted voice somehow conveys sadness. "I wish things hadn't come to this." It raises its right arm as the whine of a charging energy weapon echoes. The arm and the gauntlet-mounted weapon take aim on the plaque itself.

Karlie doesn't interfere with Hardshell. She looks for people on their way to be interposed.

Hardshell discharges its energy weapon, firing on the street below.

In a furious explosion, the plaque is blown to metallic bits! The shrapnel rains on everyone for yards around.

Karlie glances at Hardshell, "so now what happens?"

Hydra raises his hands, then remembers he has a helmet.

Hydra says, "Holy mary mother of..."

Hydra looks around at his options. Hardshell's probably shielded enough that the Hazer won't work, so to the Mite it goes. *zaaaaap*

Hardshell lowers its arm, looking again at Karlie. "I have destroyed the reason we came here. Theoretically, we have no more reason to stay. However, Megamite and Wild Blue might see it differently.

[To Karlie] Hydra says, "Good CENSORED lord, Karlie? Are you DATING up there?"

Hydra shoots the ol' cooling beam right onto the dwarf hero. Hero? Whatever.

Karlie nods slightly. "yeah.." She shrugs. "it's been put back together before, so I figure it's gonna happen again.." she glances back down at Hydra, "...great."

Megamite stiffens for a moment, frost forming along his body, then he shakes himself and glares at Hydra.

[To Karlie] Hydra says, "If you didn't want to fight, you could say so in advance, so we can stop IDIOTS FROM DESTROYING PUBLIC PROPERTY."

[To Megamite] Hydra says, "Oh, hi."

Karlie sighs. "I tell people I ain't no hero. The one time I figure fighting's just gonna make things worse, people look at me funny.."

Alpha Zu surveys the scene, and looks up towards where Karlie and Hardshell are at. He takes flight, approaching the pair. He tells Karlie, "You need to decide whether to move or stand there."

Hardshell's glowing eyeslit somehow conveys that it's now looking at Alpha Zu. Its arms remain at its sides.

Alpha Zu says to Hardshell, "I believe they will punish you for that."

Wild Blue pauses in its restless spinning for a stunned moment as it sees Rampant go down. Then with a shriek of air, it turns yet again to batter Hydra with its own body.

Hydra aghs as the wind hits closer this time.

Benny looks around as he's ignored/laughed at. He seems to get a little upset, "I've had it... everybody laughing at me..." Check that, he gets VERY upset and focuses on Megamite, "Stop Smiling! Stop laughing at me! I'll... I'll..." His head starts to turn red and swell up like a... er... balloon. He narrows his eyes, coils up, then... SPRINGS into the air!. He goes WAY up, then comes down, head first, right at Megamite, hard, while shouting incoherantly! Someone is well past the point of rational discourse. (Either He's going down, or I'm headed for China, heck, maybe we both will.)

Karlie rubs her forehead. "..m'I the only one who doesn't want to cut loose here.." she mutters. "look. It's a plaque. It can be re-done, rebuilt, whatever. Drawing more people into the fight isn't the best of plans.."

Hydra thinks . o O (I get it. Let's all shoot Hydra, right. It's Kill Hydra Day.)

Hardshell's voice crackles. "They will try." It pauses. "You speak of 'they'. Do you yourself not have intentions of bringing us to punishment?"

[OOC] Happenstance says, "Okay, Benny, you actually crash THRU the street and into a sewer tunnel underneath. Take half of the damage you did and apply it to your defenses. I'll now roll the 14d6 additional damage, which you'll take in full, minus your defenses."

Benny watches Megamite step out of the way at the last minute and thinks right before he hits the ground . o O (I see a small /flaw/ in my plan...)

Hydra looks up at the immense head hurling from the sky...

Tempest thinks . o O (My god... the Big Giant Head destroyed the street.)

[OOC] Happenstance nods. "You're lying at the bottom of a sewer tunnel, about 5 feet high, and the hole in the street is just above you. It smells down here."

Karlie gapes. "holy.."

Hydra blinks, then blinks again as it passes by and downwards.

Benny disappears into the ground in a spray of concrete. There is no sign of Benny.

[To Megamite] Hydra says, "Is this guy with you people?"

Megamite's jaw drops as a large, round..*something* hurtles past him from out of the sky and SMACKS into the pavement, crashing through in a big, well, crash.

Hydra very slowly raises his hand and facepalms.

Karlie isn't moving. She's just watching the... spectacle.

[To Hardshell] Alpha Zu says, "I cannot quote their laws, but needless destruction" He pauses, not mentioning the colossal impact caused by Balloon Boy.. "is generally not condoned.""

Hydra says, "Why I didn't become a doctor like Mom wanted me to?"

Megamite looks away from Hydra to the spectacular destruction of the plaque to the colossal arrival (and departure) of the intrepid hero Balloon Boy. With a glance at Hardshell, he looks down at Rampant, up at Tempest, then down at Rampant again. He then dips and scoops Rampant up, slinging his moaning teammate over his shoulder.

You hear echoing from the hole in the ground, the words, "...I'm ok..."

Hydra aims at Megamite and shoots. "Oh no you don't."

Megamite doesn't even bother to shake off the frost this time, merely making an exasperated face in Hydra's direction.

Hydra blinks and shrugs. He's trying.

Hydra thinks . o O (A couple more shots and it'll get to his vitals. Yeah.)

Alpha Zu turns away from Karlie, and wordlessly fires off another magnetic field burst to incapacitate Hardshell.

Karlie grumbles. "fine. You warnuts keep fighting." she lifts up, and moves to see how Benny's doing.

Hydra says, "Hey, at least don't get in the way of the beam."

[OOC] Happenstance says, "You get to the hole and see Benny struggling to get to his feet. The smell is quite strong."

Hydra blinks. "Where is the Windbag?"

Wild Blue makes a noise like a giant tea kettle, and rushes at Hydra yet again.

Hydra casually takes a step to a side as the wind comes passing through.

Hydra says, "Aha. Like a metronome."

Benny bounces out of the hole and lands on the pavement a good distance away. He's covered in sewage and filth and is holding some sort of slime covered plastic thingie in his hand which he gestures with franticly towards Megamite, "Alright mister smarty pants! Now it's time for YOU... ME... and this BABY RATTLE to have a little CHAT!" Boy he looks pissed, and not at all hurt by his little adventure down Alice's Rabbit hole.

Megamite blinks behind his sunglasses.

Karlie shields herself from Benny's assault of waving around a sewage-filled toy, "ugh. You're fine, great. Just need to find a place to clean up.. me, I'm heading home. This's ridiculous.."

[OOC] Tempest says, "Yep. Quick question, does my Spatial Awareness pick up Blue or not?"

[OOC] Happenstance says, "Yes, it does. Wild Blue is visible, too. One cannot see it very well, but one can see it."

Benny snaps his head around at Karlie, "hey! He attacked me FIRST. /I/ didn't start this!"

Hydra says, "Yeah. When I say attacking Vanadis is not a smart idea, she says no, it's OK, and off I go. Now these suckers are all trying to hit my cranium and she doesn't want to fight."

Wild Blue shrieks its frustration like a hundred blue northers.

Tempest 'feels' the approach of Wild Blue as it breezes by Hydra, and turns, reaching out to it. "Ah, ah... now, if it's wind you wanted... try THIS." A swirling torrent of high-force wind follows along the path indicated by his gesture.

Hardshell intones, "You are only making things worse."

Wild Blue dives into the hole that Benny made with a quick whistling sound.

[OOC] Happenstance says, "That critical miss hits no one, although it *does* break a window across the street. ;>"

Hydra just looks at Tempest.

Screaming ensues from the shop full of rain-avoiding tourists.

Tempest thinks . o O (Um... oops.)

Benny looks up hardcase, "/I'm/ making it worse? How could it get any worse? My Life's a joke, my dad hates me, I'm the worlds first sewage submersable balloon, How could it get WORSE???"

[To Benny] Hydra says, "One of them just escaped through your hole."

Hardshell makes what has to be the electronically-distorted equivalent of a sigh. Again.

Karlie closes her eyes a moment, "...fine.." Eyes opening, they begin blazing in a bright blue electric display, offsetting the more white one surrounding her as an aura. "we go to the next step."

Rampant stirs feebly on Megamite's shoulder, moaning. He mutters a curse.

Benny turns and levels a look at Hydra, then looks back at his hole, then back at Hydra, then looks up at the sky. "Thanks."

Megamite reaches up with his free hand and pushes his sunglasses up off of his eyes. A bright scarlet beam lances out of his eyes, rocketing towards Alpha Zu's back!

Alpha Zu rolls awkwardly, caught by the surprise beam.

Rampant stirs on Megamite's shoulder. "Lemme down, mate," he mutters. "Gonna beat th'..*tar* outta that skinny blarg..."

Alpha Zu thinks . o O (Wha..? Failure in the secondary core. Weapons offline.)

Megamite flies up and over Alpha Zu, landing next to the imprisoned Hardshell. He then sets Rampant on his feet.

Benny thinks . o O (If I time it right, I can burst up through the building and come at them from below! They'd never expect THAT!)

Hardshell's body gives off a whine of servomotors as it attempts to bring its arms up.

The energy field around Hardshell dissipates with a flash as it lifts its arms above its head. It then quickly levels its right arm/gauntlet at the struggling Alpha Zu. "This doesn't have to end badly."

Alpha Zu thinks . o O (Systems resetting.. Need more time.)

Tempest scans the three on the rooftop, a slight frown crossing his features. A soft howl of wind builds around him, but he makes no move just yet.

Hydra takes off, his jetpack carrying him after Megamite. "What part of 'oh no you don't' did you get wrong?" He aims the metal-glass rifle and fires.

*Crunch* Alpha Zu thinks . o O (That was the ground. Time's up. And he's got me in his sights.)

Hydra sighs. "You're not getting away! You're gonna pay for all this damage!"

Hydra says, "Well... not all."

Hydra says, "But you see the point."

Hardshell's voice crackles out, amplified. "Stand down and we will not hurt you. This is your only warning."

Hydra says, "Yeah, I'd be that pedantic too if I was in the middle of two tons of metal."

Megamite looks up at the much taller Hardshell, a cross look appearing on his face.

Hydra looks around. . o O ( No, no time nor resources to try the device. )

Hydra thinks . o O (By the way, have you noticed you're standing, alone, against three very strong terrorists?)

Alpha Zu rolls forward and to his feet in one smooth motion. He stares back up at Hardshell, and echoes Hydra's words: "You're not getting away." Another magnetic pulse rips out, collapsing in on itself to create an EMP at the point of impact.

Benny(Balloon Boy) pages: There people in that building?

Paged to Benny: 'Yes, you can see them in the shop on the first floor.'.

Benny(Balloon Boy) pages: How many stories?

Paged to Benny: 'Three.'.

Hardshell is knocked backwards over Megamite's head as the Tiny Titan needlessly ducks. All three individuals on the roof drop out of sight from all those on the street.

Wild Blue screams out of the hole like the moaning of a damned soul, arcing up and towards Hydra.

[OOC] Happenstance says, "The building is apparently fine. All the power is now out, and the patrons in the shops on the first floor start screaming in fear."

Hydra says, "You know, I have the distinct feeling something I did on the past is coming back to me."

[OOC] Tempest says, "I think we've succeeded in making the whole block scream in fear, now."

Tempest smiles as his senses register the reappearance of Wild Blue from the hole behind him. "Gotcha..." He reaches back, and the howling winds again lash out.

Benny slowly glances about at the damage to everything in the area, the screaming people, the collateral damage, the big hole in the street, and really lets it sink in just what's going on here.

Wild Blue's barely-visible form is caught and ripped by Tempest's buffeting and savage winds. Its shriek becomes a painful WAIL as it appears to dissipate altogether!

Tempest thinks . o O (Well. That was different.)

Hydra looks over his shoulder.

Hydra says, "Now that's breaking wind."

Benny drops the rattle, reaches into his back pocket, pulls out a folded up and now sewer stained comic book, unfolds it, and just stares at it.

Karlie ascends, "hell with this.." she says quietly, just taking off. "'guys can keep breakin' things.."

Rampant, unseen by the heroes on the street below, rolls to his feet in a smooth motion and then races to the roof ledge, barely stopping himself before falling off. He shouts down at the heroes, "I'm going to take each one of you and shave you with the sidewalk!" He shakes a fist, eyes blazing!

[To Benny] Hydra says, "Hey! Rubber boy!"

Benny looks up from his comic, "Yea?"

Megamite rises up and then down in a blistering arc, fists cocked, straight down at Alpha Zu. As he comes, he again moves his sunglasses out of his way and fires another blast at the Zu Nation hero.

[To Benny] Hydra says, "Would you watch out for any falling objects, please?"

With a roar of jets, Hardshell takes to the air, stabilizing itself as it rises, then it too arcs downward, following Megamite down but at an angle, attempting to get a lock on Tempest.

Tempest watches Hardshell take to the air. "EMP didn't do much for you... how about a lightning strike?" His gaze is locked on the armored villain, and the bolt of lightning that erupts from the air follows that gaze.

Hardshell easily avoids the hastily-thrown lightning bolt as it arcs downward.

Hydra puts his rifle in a pocket and pulls a flashlight thing. He flies, arching upwards toward the rooftop. He goes up... up... around... back down... and behind Rampant, swinging at him with a lightsaber like a baseball bat.

Rampant is hit by Hydra's confusing attack and falls, his face grimacing in pain, his foot slipping. Over the ledge he goes!

[OOC] Happenstance says, "6" up, will hit the end of Phase 5."

Hydra says, "Hey! Balloon boy! Delivery for you!"

Alpha Zu says to Megamite, "You have refused to surrender or succumb to reasonable force. You leave me no choice." He rises slightly into the air to avoid unnecessary risk if he misjudges his target. Another magnetic field flares out, this one carrying an iron marble at high velocity.

Alpha Zu's attack smacks Megamite right between the eyes, shattering his sunglasses.

Megamite roars, "Do you know how much those COST!!"

Alpha Zu says, "Less than the plaque your comrade destroyed."

Hydra mumbles from his perch, "Strike One."

Benny leaps in between Alpha and Megamite getting in the way. As he hovers there, his hand stretches out and puffs up under Rampant like A big air bag.

[OOC] Happenstance says, "Segment 4. Rampant falls 5". With AZ 1" up, and Benny in front of him, that means Benny can make a DEX roll now to catch Rampant."

[OOC] Happenstance says, "Caught! Phase 5. Rampant is struggling just to get his bearings. Megamite is stopped in front of Benny. He growls in frustration and makes a grab at Benny.

Megamite grabs two tiny handfuls of Benny's pliable form, hauls back and THROWS him at Alpha Zu, apparently forgetting about Rampant in the process.

[OOC] Alpha Zu will abort 6 and martial dodge.

[OOC] Happenstance says, "Sheer miss. Benny goes flying, hmm, 11". Benny, make a DEX roll to keep ahold of Rampant."

[OOC] Happenstance says, "Success. You take him with you.

Alpha Zu bends at the knees, folding his body back and sideways to avoid the flying Balloon Boy flying towards him.

Benny hits the ground, HARD, but for some reason continues to hold Rampart in a way to avoid causing him damage.

Hardshell slows and comes to a halt in midair, pointing its right gauntlet weapon at Tempest. "Cease and desist. I will use deadly force if necessary."

Tempest smiles slightly, holding his hands up. But as he does, a thick cloud of mist rises from the ground all around him, quickly enveloping the area, blinding slight and deadening sound.

Hydra dives from the top of the building, swooping down like a very big silver coat-sporting falcon, and KONK TO MEGAMITE

Megamite puts a hand up to his head and turns his furious squared-jawed face to Hydra. "Citizen, that was not your smartest move this evening."

Hydra grins. "No. My smartest move was putting your friend on the hands of the guy you just threw... 20 meters or so away.

Rampant is actively struggling to get out of Benny's grip, but the rubbery hero's body isn't giving him much purchase to get his balance.

Benny gently puts Rampant down and says, "Shave me with the sidewalk, eh? Ya know what ya did? Ya hurt people's feelings. You took a symbol and destroyed it. Sure, it's /just/ a symbol, and it will get you in the paper to promote your cause and gives you some public awareness, but here's the real deal, chummer. Ya. ain't. got. no. proof! Ya got yer feelings and your emotions and That's IT! Ya got nothing else, so you gotta attack people's emotions and feelings, cause it's all ya got. Saving humanity? Saveing them from WHAT? From WHO? Point me at someone trying to hurt humanity, ANY humans, and I'll be all over them! But the fact of the matter is, you're nothing more then terrorists. You spread terror, and that's /it/. You can't build nuthin'! Only tear it down... And just so I'm clear about this: I'm not fighting you because you wanted to blow something up, I'm fighting you because all you do is /hate/!!!" He picks up Rampant and sets him on his feet, "You wanna save humanity, huh? Well look around at this place and LOOK at humanity..." He gestures around, "This...is humanity. And ya wanna know something?" He pulls out a folded copy of Action Kid, "This isn't a comic book! This is real life and frankly..." he lets the comic book fall to the ground, "After witnessing this spectical, I don't think humanity is worth saving." He taps Rampart on the chest once, "THAT is the lesson /you/ have taught me." Benny stares at him with very sad eyes before he turns and walks away, heading for the hole.

Hydra says, "..."

Hydra thinks . o O (Has EVERYONE suddenly developed MORALS tonight?)

Rampant stands there, stunned, as Benny's words roll right across his face. He's still just standing there, his mouth hanging open, as Benny starts walking away.

Hydra thinks . o O (... What the hell, it worked.)

Megamite puts on a grim smile. "Say goodnight, Gracie." He then cocks a fist back and lets fly at Hydra.

Hydra is thinking about Benny's speech and the depth and the meaning of it all when -oof- backwards he flies.

Megamite looks around for Alpha Zu next.

Hardshell's electronic voice is once again amplified. "Megamite. Rampant. We are leaving. There is no point in continuing this altercation."

Tempest chuckles slightly as the cloud of mist contracts. "I disagree. We do -try- to make sure people answer for their crimes." Another lightning bolt streaks upward out of the now-diminished cloud, aimed at Hardcase.

Hardshell is thunderously struck by Tempest's bolt, flying up and back, arcing out of sight. Only a resounding metal crash signifies what might have happened to him.

[OOC] Happenstance says, "Sorry, he arced backwards over the rooftop. Didn't make it clear."

Benny watches Tempest toss another lightning bolt and hydra go flying past him as he walks slowly towards the hole. He looks dead on at Megamite and says, "Your friend needs you." then points at Rampant.

Megamite glares at Benny, preparing to surge forward, when he hears Hardshell get struck by Tempest's bolt. He cranes his neck upward to watch his partner disappear from view.

Sirens are finally starting to wail in the distance. The screaming from the various shops has trickled to a virtual halt.

Benny is almost to the hole by now.

Hydra isn't doing anything worth of notice. Then again, he's stunned.

[To Megamite] Alpha Zu says, "The authorities approach. You can surrender peacefully now."

Benny sits down at the edge of the hole and waits.

Alpha Zu says, "You and your compatriots are defeated. Cease struggling and no more harm will come to you."

Megamite looks over at Alpha Zu when he speaks. "I don't recognize their authority. I don't recognize *your* authority, Zu." He looks up again, then over at Rampant.

Rampant turns slowly to look at Megamite.

Benny looks up, "Go Home. Find someone you care about and hold them. Better yet, find someone who cares about you." A long pause, "Because not everybody can find someone like that." He turns and hops down into the hole.

Megamite says, "I and mine will never be defeated, Zu. What you think you have done, you haven't done. I'm still standing. And as long as one Champion is standing, though the whole world curse our names, we *will* win in the end. And on that day, we will receive the thanks of a grateful Earth."

Hydra breathes deeply. "..."

Rampant begins walking towards Megamite. "C'mon, Megs. Let's get out of this festering hole."

Alpha Zu says, "You are not leaving, gentlemen."

Hydra thinks . o O (I. am. becoming. a tad. miffed.)

Megamite takes to the air and soars over to pick up Rampant by his proffered arm. He shoots Alpha Zu a stony glare.

Tempest asks, "Why do they always want to do things the hard way?" He allows the cloud of mist to completely disperse, so he can be heard, and adds, "I'm afraid the gentleman in the armor is correct. Ask not for whom the sirens ring, they ring for you. Last chance to surrender?"

[OOC] Happenstance says, "MM makes no response, not even to look at Tempest. He has grabbed Rampant, and looks like he has every intention of leaving."

[OOC] Tempest says, "Is there anything fragile-looking beyond MM?"

[OOC] Happenstance says, "From your current angle, you'd be firing straight down the street."

Hydra dives forward at full speed, drawing his sword with every intention to skewer the midget.

Megamite looks at Hydra pityingly. "Son, you should go home and come back when you start shaving."

Rampant snickers.

Hydra grumbles at his misstrike.

Hydra breathes, smiles and answers, "Sure. I'll even visit you in jail."

Megamite squirms in the grip of the (Tempest's) lightning and then is flung away, spinning in midair. Rampant also takes the voltage, jitters and is also flung away. He lands in a heap, hide smoking once again, and does not move.

[OOC] Alpha Zu says, "Does Megamite look unconscious?"

[OOC] Happenstance says, "Nope. Still airborne under his own power."

Alpha Zu walks towards Megamite and Rampant, eyes locked on Megamite. "You were offered the chance to surrender. You have no one to blame but yourself." He fires off another round from the Gauss Cannon into the fallen midget.

Megamite is further smacked, and crashes into a lamppost.

(OOC discussion about the lateness of the hour and the weariness of all participants. The decision is made to cut to the chase.)

[OOC] Happenstance says, "Okay, here's what happened. You couldn't put him down, but you managed to drive Megamite off, leaving Rampant behind. Rampant is turned over to Starguard authorities, being a known international super-terrorist. A search turns up the spot where Hardshell landed, but it is gone, with no evidence of the bootjet burnmarks, like from its first liftoff."

[OOC] Tempest says, "Any trace of Wild Blue?"

[OOC] Happenstance says, "No, none of you can detect any trace of Wild Blue."