New Cottington Sentinels (Superhero Char RP|IC, Open)

[Demencia]

Aezixia
Near Vester Studio, New Cottington

In remarkably short time, everything went wrong. It seemed to be a running theme. She couldn't possibly see how, given the quality planning session they all had. All those brilliant ideas so quickly fallen to the wayside already, such a surprise. And now there was a new, even less thought out plan being developed on the fly. Well she certainly couldn't wait to see where this was going.

"Do you think these wings are just for show?" Aezixia asked sarcastically. "A bit of smoke might cover their retreat, though you might need a fire or two dozen to get enough." She lit an orb of flame in her hand with a sinister grin towards the building, though she didn't actually expect anyone would agree to burning it. With a wave of her hand, she dismissed the fire.

Her mood changed seemingly randomly as she suddenly closed the distance between her and Evelyn. "So what's with the tension between you and the new guy? Old flame? Bad blood? I'm dying to hear, we should talk later." The demon's tail slightly coiled around the woman's forearm, with the tip having a gentle unnerving caressing motion. "I'm a great listener."

[Nova Catania]

"Everyone disengage, except Triggs, Triggs stay in place. Nightwolf... either you or Buster Keaton needs to get taken by Vester. We need to let him think he's won this round. I've got a plan but we need to buy us some time,"

Captain CounterFlex

“Ok, cool, I vote Wolf Guy”, he said, before running towards Mark to try and fling him towards the enemies.

Nightwolf

As Johnny rushed at Mark, the latter just stayed low to the ground, tripped Johnny, and kicked him towards the struggling actors/mind-washed cultists/shooters.

“And it’s Nightwolf, dummy” quipped Mark, before running towards a dark corner where he could stay in the shadows. “So, anyone see the game last night?” asked Mark casually, as Johnny cussed hin out from afar for throwing him to the enemy and running off to chat.

[The United Federation of Terrans]

Evelyn "Kraken" Briggs

Evelyn instinctively ducked her head at a fresh wave of gunfire. The shots didn't hit anywhere near her and this wasn't her first time in a gunfight. But the knowledge that Jason was out there and the gunshots were playing hell with her instincts. She gritted her teeth in annoyance this time and focused back on Aezixia; Sofia's demon form was unlimbering its wings with a wicked smirk on its feature's.

"Do you think these wings are just for show?" Aezixia asked sarcastically. "A bit of smoke might cover their retreat, though you might need a fire or two dozen to get enough."

The fiery orb it manifested in its hands had Evelyn start to step back. Not out of fear but more concern; Aezixia wasn't discriminating when it came to her fire powers.

Which was why it surprised Evelyn when the orb was snuffed away without any further comment. Still, Evelyn decided a little fun couldn't hurt. Especially since the Sentinels weren't going to go in while they waited for the next master plan.

"Looks like you finally learned discretion. Sofia finally house train you?"

Not that Aezixia appeared to hear it; suddenly closing the gap between them. Features now morphed into a curious mask that Evelyn did not like.

Her mood changed seemingly randomly as she suddenly closed the distance between her and Evelyn. "So what's with the tension between you and the new guy? Old flame? Bad blood? I'm dying to hear, we should talk later." The demon's tail slightly coiled around the woman's forearm, with the tip having a gentle unnerving caressing motion. "I'm a great listener."

Evelyn's mouth was gaping beneath her mask before thoughts of Jason and their history twisted her mouth into a snarl. She was aware of the tail caressing her arm and her anger broke. She seized the tale with a light tendril and pulled it off her limb; reinforcing it with another light tendril that hit Aezixia's chest with the force of a light punch.

"Its none of your damn business!!!" She stood her ground; glaring at Aezixia from behind her mask and goggles. For now not caring about the gunshots or worrying about Jason being on the prowl with a sniper rifle.

Jason Greene
Sniper Hide

Jason's ducked his head down as the remnants of a ceiling tile rained down on him and Callahan. Some of the actor's and stagehands had finally figured out their position; but until now they hadn't gotten close to their position. The piece of ceiling however was a sobering reminder of their need to displace.

"Think its time to check out of here" His face was back to his scope; firing a quick double tap of retaliatory rounds that sent the actor falling back into the cover of his window. Suddenly the windows beside the counter-sniper were filled; a dozen figures with rifles suddenly popping up and taking aim at their sniper hide.

Not all of them were real; most were probably illusions. But it only took one who wasn't to ruin the day. Jason cursed and rolled himself off the table; rifle cradled to his chest. Trying to get off the table as fast as he could. Not that he left Callahan hanging. He made use of his larger size and weight to kick off of his partner; sending her sailing off the table a second before he rolled off.

The resounding thuds of them hitting the floor were drowned out by a smattering of rounds tearing up the table and the back wall on an angle the sharpshooters had previously occupied. The agent, still on his back with a cradled rifle, lifted his head to observed his companion on the opposite side of the table being shot up.

"Callahan!!! You good?" He gave it fifty-fifty odds she would shoot him out of annoyance.

[Demencia]

Aezixia
Near Vester Studio, New Cottington

Aezixia's grin only widened at the contact, her demonic fangs exposed by her wicked satisfaction. "Oh, so feisty. Don't worry, I can take it rough!" she replied, somewhere between a swoon and a hiss. "But I suppose that answers that, so forget him." With a flap of her wings, the succubus had circled around Evelyn to be on her other side and was now once again uncomfortably close. "Focus on something more interesting, more... fun..." This time she gently ran her tail up the woman's back, before just as quickly withdrawing.

"But there are more important matters at hand, but don't forget what I said." she teased with a wink, before rocketing up into the air for whatever ingenious was coming next.

[Bingellia]

Meryl Callahan

---

"Christ alive, you kick like a horse," Callahan groaned as she righted herself. The cold floor was a welcome feeling under the hail of bullets, both real and fake, and the small woman went to work keeping her silhouette lower as she crawled away from the window with her rifle in hand.

Once she felt safe from the thinning barrage of fire, her hand went up her earpiece in a swift, mechanical motion.

"Callahan here. Surprise is lost and we are relocating. We can rejoin the group if needed."

She stifled a chuckle before continuing, "But short of dueling him, which he might take, I recommend keeping us on overwatch."

Lowing her hand, she started crawling for the door. Regardless of what Akerman wanted them to do next, she wanted to get out of this damned room and back into a position she could actually do anything.

"Could you imagine," she thought aloud as she awkwardly got the door open, " the great gunslinger Meryl Callahan losing a duel with a director. I'd die of embarrassment before the gunshot did me in."

[Dyelli Beybi]

Grison/Geraint Ackerman

The Van
Crazy Bird

---

Back in the bus, Akerman hung his head in his hands, sweeping his comms from his head as everything turned into total chaos. He didn't have a plan for this. They had been thorough and everything had collapsed before they'd even made it to step and everything had collapsed. There were going to be a lot of casualties if they carried on the way they had planned. Just breathe. One... two... three... he picked the headset back up.

"Everyone disengage, except Triggs, Triggs stay in place. Nightwolf... either you or Buster Keaton needs to get taken by Vester. We need to let him think he's won this round. I've got a plan but we need to buy us some time," He was thinking on his feet and there wasn't time to explain everything, he just had to hope that the others trusted him, "Anyone have a medical background? And who can fly?"

While he pondered - anxious and weary - contemplating the answer to all that was happening, there suddenly behind him came a tapping, as of someone gently rapping, a beak against the trailer's door.

"I fly."

Whether Ackerman had noticed or not, the raven from the briefing earlier stood at the back of the van staring at him, tilting its head as though it were studying him even as it held a black feathered wing above its head like an upraised hand. Must've hitched a ride from Octagon House.

"Right now... eyes are searching. We try and find...them." Even knowing that ravens were accomplished mimics, it did a surprisingly good job approximating Mariska's voice. Though the voice sounded strained for concentration.

Probably because she now had a bunch of birds doing too many different things searching windows and taking advantage of the chaos - while it lasted - to get themselves with eyes in as many windows and rooms inside the studio as possible before things started to die down and Vester's people had time to think about the birds that had slipped in during the madness of the firefight and Vester's illusions sowing confusion for everyone present.

Ackerman turned to look at the raven, blinked a couple of times then decided, why not, I'll talk to the bird... "Mariska, if you can hear me, how long can you control the birds for?"

It was a reasonable bet that Vester couldn't go on controlling his illusions forever. Vester would know that as well, which meant he would need to make a move before then, which would probably involve injuring the hostages.

"Everyone?" he called over the comms, "Does anyone know where we might be able to get an industrial quantity of nitrous oxide at short notice?"

---

Cuttlefish/JJ Triggs

"Everyone disengage, except Triggs, Triggs stay in place. Nightwolf... either you or Buster Keaton needs to get taken by Vester. We need to let him think he's won this round. I've got a plan but we need to buy us some time,"

Captain CounterFlex

“Ok, cool, I vote Wolf Guy”, he said, before running towards Mark to try and fling him towards the enemies.

Nightwolf

As Johnny rushed at Mark, the latter just stayed low to the ground, tripped Johnny, and kicked him towards the struggling actors/mind-washed cultists/shooters.

“And it’s Nightwolf, dummy” quipped Mark, before running towards a dark corner where he could stay in the shadows. “So, anyone see the game last night?” asked Mark casually, as Johnny cussed hin out from afar for throwing him to the enemy and running off to chat.

Inside the compound, Johnny found half a dozen assorted weapons pointed at him, though if he paid attention, Triggs was keeping an eye from the background. She'd probably do something if it looked like things were getting out of hand and Johnny ended up in serious danger... probably. It wasn't clear which of them was real or not, but some probably were.

She ducked back for a moment, ducking behind a box of props to speak into her headset, "So they haven't hurt Johnny yet, but I imagine they'll try something soon, unless Vester is the most powerful supe in the city he must be pushing himself to throw up the number of illusions I'm seeing... either that or he's got a small army in his cult, in which case we're in deep trouble," she remarked cheerily, "So the plan is to drop NOS into the air vents or something? I totally approve of this by the way. Nice one Grison, never thought it would be you bringing the party!"

She looked across, the guards were motioning for Johnny to get up, they were moving him somewhere... "They're moving Johnny," she informed the others, "Might be where they're holding Tara Jones. Either way I'm going to follow. If I don't reply, assume I'm doing something fun."

[The United Federation of Terrans]

Jason Greene
Sniper Hide

"Don't worry. I'd make sure to do your legend justice if you died." A grin was on his face despite the fresh wave of ceiling debris falling on it. He hadn't bothered flipping to his stomach given his larger size and the dangerously close rounds. Instead, he was snaking his way to the door; rifle cradled to his chest as he wiggled on his back slowly to the opening. He made sure to hook his discarded park with a toe along the way and dragged the bag along too. The movement awkward but better then the alternative of leaving its equipment behind in a room being shot up.

Callahan made it out of the room first; the agent watched her booted feet crawl out of his peripheral vision before he picked up his pace. He was vaguely aware of a few splinters poking into his back but the adrenaline and a fresh wave of gunfire suppressed his discomfort. Then he was through the door and into the relative safety of the hallway; its walls were thin but they provided some concealment at least. He flipped over now; drawing his bag up to his off hand while he repositioned his rifle in his right. With both in hand, he crawled further down the hall away from the conference room to a section of the building that wasn't taking fire.

It wasn't till he drew himself up to sit against a wall that he realized Callahan was also there; the smaller gunslinger catching a breath behind a bookcase that looked sturdy despite its rotting and warped wood. The brim of her hat was coated with plaster and debris too; her hair had bits in it too. Jason was aware that he was no better given his hat was somewhere back in the room along with his glasses.

Didn't stop him from letting out a chuckle while he positioned himself across from the gunslinger.

"So...." He kept his tone casual as he swapped magazines and examined his rifle. " .....I think we need to shake our approach up."

He tugged his pack closer and dug through it; rifle laid across his knees. He rummaged through his various supplies before he tugged out his prize. A pair of binoculars with a laser range-finder. He looped their straps over his head and let them dangle over his chest. Then he picked up his rifle and extended it stock first to Callahan. The MK.14 barely wavered in his grip.

"Here, take it. You're the better shot......Unless your dossier was a load of tall tales?" The challenge was evident in his voice as he waggled the rifle for emphasis. He gave it a few beats before he added. " You need the better glass for this plan. I think those actors down there would find it might hard to shoot with a destroyed weapon."

An impossible plan for even the best of human sharpshooters. Luckily for Jason, Callahan's skills were supposed to exceed those limits.

He was still waiting when Ackerman came on the radio asking for nitrous oxide.

"Nitrous Oxide?" Jason's frown was evident in his voice. His head tipped slightly to the side as if in though while he jutted the rifle closer to Callahan. " Don't know about that boss.....Though......I know where we can get a huge chunk of tear gas."


Evelyn "Kraken" Briggs

Evelyn resisted the urge to wrap the demon in a tendril and slam her into the ground....hard. She wanted to do it badly; partly from the nosiness, partly from the worry that her guesses were close enough to home that the Evelyn didn't want that gossip spreading.

But at least with Aezixia's exit, Evelyn could focus. Or try to focus given that the situation was still a chaotic mess Ackerman was trying to reign in. Evelyn would try to help but she realized that she couldn't do anything given that they were supposed to have "lost" this round.

And her plan of tossing a dumpster at Vester's henchmen would definitely not seem like a losing fight. She was thinking about joining one of the other sentinels before she heard him get on the radio. Suggesting tear gas of all things. She couldn't hit Jason; so she made sure her frustration was on full display when she toggled her radio.

"We can't tear gas a hostage!!!!" It was only after the outburst that she tried to remember if it was set to a private channel or the team's.

[Nova Catania]

Nightwolf

"Everyone?" he called over the comms, "Does anyone know where we might be able to get an industrial quantity of nitrous oxide at short notice?"

“I know a guy.” said Mark, in a line that felt straight out of a heist movie. “Also, for whoever said it’s tear gas, NOS is actually laughing gas. It’s also used to give cars a speed boost.” he clarified scientifically.

While Mark made a few phone calls via his helmet, Johnny was busy being a hostage.

Captain CounterFlex

Inside the compound, Johnny found half a dozen assorted weapons pointed at him, though if he paid attention, Triggs was keeping an eye from the background. She'd probably do something if it looked like things were getting out of hand and Johnny ended up in serious danger... probably. It wasn't clear which of them was real or not, but some probably were.

Johnny sighed, and begrudgingly accepted his role as the hostage.

“Oh no, what’s this? I’ve been captured!” He said in his most wooden, flat acting voice. Then he took it to the other end of the spectrum. “Ohhhh, the HORROR, the PAIN, the, the terrible, feel-bad-ness. Goodbye cruel world. Goodbye! But before I am led off in chains, one last salute. Friends, countrymen led me your ears, not literally, but metaphorically, I who am about to be led of to an unspeakable fate salute you!” His voice became so exaggeratedly dramatic as he recited the quotes, some of the actors might become jealous.

Mark just rolled his eyes. “Drama queen” he said, before returning to the urgent business of acquiring NOS.

[Tesserach]

Film Studio
Crazy Bird

---

With the chaos beginning to subside, Mariska felt the need to hide; go to ground. Watch, as they always did.

Stay quiet, stay safe little ones! Hide! Hide!

The handful of ravens inside began slipping into little out of the way nooks to hide in before Vester's cronies had the opportunity to recover from the brief spell of madness that had taken hold of the compound.

Distracted with her work, Mariska took a moment to realize Ackerman had asked her something and another to process what it was. The question itself gave her pause. She didn't like it. She didn't like that the Sentinels were probing her for personal information either. Rescuing this reporter was... fine, she supposed. But the here she was - hiding behind a mailbox as people opened fire around her - her little ones were inside, in even more danger.

Back around 32nd street, it'd be hours before anyone showed up to respond to a shooting like this; assuming anyone came at all. No one had even bothered to look into the suit that tried to drag little Kailey into his panel van a few months back. All the faces Mariska watched breathe their last in some gutter, and all the emergency crews had ever cared about was cleaning up the mess so proper folk wouldn't be disturbed by what they saw.

But all this for one reporter? It was all leaving a foul taste in her mouth.

The Van

Ackerman turned to look at the raven, blinked a couple of times then decided, why not, I'll talk to the bird... "Mariska, if you can hear me, how long can you control the birds for?"

It was a reasonable bet that Vester couldn't go on controlling his illusions forever. Vester would know that as well, which meant he would need to make a move before then, which would probably involve injuring the hostages.

"I do not control them!" The sense of pique in Mariska's curt reply was palpable when at last she spoke. "Ravens don't forget such things easily. I ask. They listen. Or they do not.

It is much like what you do. It takes concentration."

She ducked back for a moment, ducking behind a box of props to speak into her headset, "So they haven't hurt Johnny yet, but I imagine they'll try something soon, unless Vester is the most powerful supe in the city he must be pushing himself to throw up the number of illusions I'm seeing... either that or he's got a small army in his cult, in which case we're in deep trouble," she remarked cheerily, "So the plan is to drop NOS into the air vents or something? I totally approve of this by the way. Nice one Grison, never thought it would be you bringing the party!"

She looked across, the guards were motioning for Johnny to get up, they were moving him somewhere... "They're moving Johnny," she informed the others, "Might be where they're holding Tara Jones. Either way I'm going to follow. If I don't reply, assume I'm doing something fun."

"No army I think." The bird then told Ackermam the precise number of cars parked in the compound as it fluttered over to his terminal. As it continued speaking for Mariska it started poking it's head around Ackerman's work station, as though looking for food.

Mariska's voice at least seemed less grumpy now. "I see your people inside. I will try and stay nearby."

[Bingellia]

Jason Greene
Sniper Hide

"Don't worry. I'd make sure to do your legend justice if you died." A grin was on his face despite the fresh wave of ceiling debris falling on it. He hadn't bothered flipping to his stomach given his larger size and the dangerously close rounds. Instead, he was snaking his way to the door; rifle cradled to his chest as he wiggled on his back slowly to the opening. He made sure to hook his discarded park with a toe along the way and dragged the bag along too. The movement awkward but better then the alternative of leaving its equipment behind in a room being shot up.

Callahan made it out of the room first; the agent watched her booted feet crawl out of his peripheral vision before he picked up his pace. He was vaguely aware of a few splinters poking into his back but the adrenaline and a fresh wave of gunfire suppressed his discomfort. Then he was through the door and into the relative safety of the hallway; its walls were thin but they provided some concealment at least. He flipped over now; drawing his bag up to his off hand while he repositioned his rifle in his right. With both in hand, he crawled further down the hall away from the conference room to a section of the building that wasn't taking fire.

It wasn't till he drew himself up to sit against a wall that he realized Callahan was also there; the smaller gunslinger catching a breath behind a bookcase that looked sturdy despite its rotting and warped wood. The brim of her hat was coated with plaster and debris too; her hair had bits in it too. Jason was aware that he was no better given his hat was somewhere back in the room along with his glasses.

Didn't stop him from letting out a chuckle while he positioned himself across from the gunslinger.

"So...." He kept his tone casual as he swapped magazines and examined his rifle. " .....I think we need to shake our approach up."

He tugged his pack closer and dug through it; rifle laid across his knees. He rummaged through his various supplies before he tugged out his prize. A pair of binoculars with a laser range-finder. He looped their straps over his head and let them dangle over his chest. Then he picked up his rifle and extended it stock first to Callahan. The MK.14 barely wavered in his grip.

"Here, take it. You're the better shot......Unless your dossier was a load of tall tales?" The challenge was evident in his voice as he waggled the rifle for emphasis. He gave it a few beats before he added. " You need the better glass for this plan. I think those actors down there would find it might hard to shoot with a destroyed weapon."

An impossible plan for even the best of human sharpshooters. Luckily for Jason, Callahan's skills were supposed to exceed those limits.

He was still waiting when Ackerman came on the radio asking for nitrous oxide.

"Nitrous Oxide?" Jason's frown was evident in his voice. His head tipped slightly to the side as if in though while he jutted the rifle closer to Callahan. " Don't know about that boss.....Though......I know where we can get a huge chunk of tear gas."

Slowly, Callahan took the rifle from Jason after laying her repeater against the wall. She did her best to ignore the ache in her side and the annoyance of the bits of ceiling falling from the brim of her hat as she stood. A feeling of unease also washed over the gunslinger as she inspected the rifle. The weight savings clearly impressed her, and a somewhat forced half smile as she checked the chamber and cleared the gun. Then she shouldered the modernized battle rifle before shortened it's stock.

"Glass will make it easier, even for me." She admitted as she acquired the sight picture once more. "Optics may be cheating, but only idiots take fair fights. I'm sure you know that."

She slowly worked the the trigger back to the break a few times, becoming aware of the pull with each repetition, before finally pushing that little bit past the wall. It was light, crisp, and undoubtedly effective The rifle gave a satisfying click as she did so and she couldn't help but smile despite the reservation deep inside her as she loaded the ejected cartridge back into the magazine and loaded it into the rifle.

With a sudden motion, the rifle made heavy chunk as she chambered the round, now ready for duty once more.

"It's a very impressive build, Mister Greene. Should make the shots as easy as falling off a log."

She slung the rifle over her side as she gestured back down the hallway towards the stairs.

"Come on, we'll go up two floors and find a window to the far side of the building."

---

The first suitable room the pair of shooters had found was an old office space. It had long been stripped bare of equipment and most of the furniture, leaving only the partitions to form empty cubicles. Callahan took a sitting position, using the sling to help steady to long rifle. The conditions left a bit to be desired in terms of cover and concealment, but it was would be a start.

She left Jason to spot, of course, but she had a score to settle and quickly found the shooter who had first noticed them, the scoped rifle made that obvious enough and they had a wide enough angle that Callahan could prove a point.

"The one who first shot at us hasn't moved yet," she grumbled, her finger creeping back on the trigger as she waited for her target to move their head away from the scope. "Let's break some glass."

With a subtle motion, she fired as the opportunity finally arose. The bullet punched a hole through the window in front of her, and, after a bit of travel, impacted with the side of the front end of the scope, shattering lenses and sheering the front open.

"How's that one compare to the dossier?" She dryly quipped.

[The United Federation of Terrans]

Jason Green
The New and Improved Sniper Hide

Jason was on his stomach again; binoculars pressed to his face while he balanced on his elbows. The higher magnification of the binoculars allowed him a clear view of sniper. The man was alone now; Vester's illusions having dissipated as the director shifted his focus somewhere else. He flicked a button and the binos ranged the distance to the man; he was about to call it out when the muted thump of his rifle sounded beside him.

With a subtle motion, she fired as the opportunity finally arose. The bullet punched a hole through the window in front of her, and, after a bit of travel, impacted with the side of the front end of the scope, shattering lenses and sheering the front open.

"How's that one compare to the dossier?" She dryly quipped.

"On target actually." His tone was equally dry, though one could see the smirk now that he had pulled the scarf down from his face. He shifted binoculars slightly now and found a new target; a man wearing an all black two piece suit, sunglasses and firing a carbine somewhere.

"New target. First floor exterior, by the fire exit." There was no reply; just another thump and a pile of dirt kicking up directly behind the target. Jason wondered as to how that happened before he remembered Vester's powers again. He gave an annoyed grunt and got back to business. " Illusion, Shift fire. Red head by the sedan. Shotgun."

Thump; the red head waved fell back screaming. A hand bleeding from metal fragments and a ruined riot gun clattering to the pavement. " Rooftop. Machine gunner. Right corner"

Thump; a spark dinged off the heavy weapon the semi fit actor had dragged to the edge. The man swore as the weapon's receiver was wrecked by the sniper's round; then he swore again as the force of the bullet and his flinching let the weapon tumble off the edge of the roof. " Sniper!!! Three windows left of the last one."

Thump; the wicked looking rifle leveled at them shuddered before a spray of glass blew back over the would-be sniper. The second sniper ducked back into cover; stunned at the fate of his expensive optics.

Jason was feeling almost giddy despite the fact he was still covered in debris and plaster. It was like working with a personal reaper. Just point and wait. He called out another rooftop machine gun and watched as Callahan's round plowed through yet another illusion. Though the round was on target for the "man's" weapon.

He could hear Callahan grunt in frustration at the offense of any kind of "missed" shot. The sniper fired without his input this time; three rapid shots in as many breaths. Below, a trio of gunners waved bleeding hands or clawed at faces now filled with metal splinters; their weapons shattered and forgotten on the concrete.

He whistled his appreciation. "Damn..... Remind me to buy ya a drink after this."

[Dyelli Beybi]

Grison/Geraint Ackerman

Film Studio
Crazy Bird

---

...

"I do not control them!" The sense of pique in Mariska's curt reply was palpable when at last she spoke. "Ravens don't forget such things easily. I ask. They listen. Or they do not.

It is much like what you do. It takes concentration."

...

"No army I think." The bird then told Ackermam the precise number of cars parked in the compound as it fluttered over to his terminal. As it continued speaking for Mariska it started poking it's head around Ackerman's work station, as though looking for food.

Mariska's voice at least seemed less grumpy now. "I see your people inside. I will try and stay nearby."

"Mariska!" Akerman exclaimed, trying to bring the Bird Lady back on task, "No army, fine, but what's more important is how long can you maintain the concentration to keep the ravens listening? This is a very important question."

Ackerman had no idea how long someone who was maintaining illusions could keep it up for but he imagined it would be in the ballpark of someone controlling... or talking... to a flock of birds. Vester could afford to wait, only as long as his illusions could hold. Once he felt his grasp slip he'd doubtless start taking more drastic actions to force the Sentinels to engage him on his own terms. This meant they had a time limit to resolve the situation and Ackerman had no idea how long it was.

Jason Greene
Sniper Hide
...

He was still waiting when Ackerman came on the radio asking for nitrous oxide.

"Nitrous Oxide?" Jason's frown was evident in his voice. His head tipped slightly to the side as if in though while he jutted the rifle closer to Callahan. " Don't know about that boss.....Though......I know where we can get a huge chunk of tear gas."


Evelyn "Kraken" Briggs
...

"We can't tear gas a hostage!!!!" It was only after the outburst that she tried to remember if it was set to a private channel or the team's.

"Worst case scenario that might be what we need to do," Ackerman addressed the topic of what gas they were using, "I'm betting any kind of mind altering substance or irritant will mess with his ability to maintain the illusions," he paused momentarily before asking, "Anyone got any bright ideas about how he might be able to project his illusions in a coherent way? There was a telekinetic girl I knew once, but she could only control things she could actually perceive. If Vester is holed up inside, how is he perceiving other parts of the building, and the outside area?"

---

Meanwhile, Inside...

[

Captain CounterFlex

Inside the compound, Johnny found half a dozen assorted weapons pointed at him, though if he paid attention, Triggs was keeping an eye from the background. She'd probably do something if it looked like things were getting out of hand and Johnny ended up in serious danger... probably. It wasn't clear which of them was real or not, but some probably were.

Johnny sighed, and begrudgingly accepted his role as the hostage.

“Oh no, what’s this? I’ve been captured!” He said in his most wooden, flat acting voice. Then he took it to the other end of the spectrum. “Ohhhh, the HORROR, the PAIN, the, the terrible, feel-bad-ness. Goodbye cruel world. Goodbye! But before I am led off in chains, one last salute. Friends, countrymen led me your ears, not literally, but metaphorically, I who am about to be led of to an unspeakable fate salute you!” His voice became so exaggeratedly dramatic as he recited the quotes, some of the actors might become jealous.

Mark just rolled his eyes. “Drama queen” he said, before returning to the urgent business of acquiring NOS.

Johnny was, indeed moved into the same area as Jones. The reporter looked across at him, staying very still on a small patch of concrete surrounded by roiling flames. Sweat dripped down her brow, "Oh great... I thought you guys were meant to be getting me out!" she grumbled.

Johnny was placed a few yards away in what looked like a circle of small vents, which, as soon as Vester's goons had stepped away, erupted in a cascade of fire. It was boiling hot. Vester's illusions could make you feel temperature... but so did real fire. The guards looked at Johnny for a few moments. The leader grinned a perfect, bleached white smile and then they stepped away, leaving him alone with Tara... and JJ, who sat down on a director's chair in the corner of the room to watch, an amused expression on the face of the woman she was impersonating.

She didn't make a move to help. Not yet. But she was in position if she was called upon... which was the exception rather than the rule for Triggs.

[Nova Catania]

Nightwolf

"Worst case scenario that might be what we need to do," Ackerman addressed the topic of what gas they were using, "I'm betting any kind of mind altering substance or irritant will mess with his ability to maintain the illusions," he paused momentarily before asking, "Anyone got any bright ideas about how he might be able to project his illusions in a coherent way? There was a telekinetic girl I knew once, but she could only control things she could actually perceive. If Vester is holed up inside, how is he perceiving other parts of the building, and the outside area?"

“Drones” said Mark. “I did this video once where we used drones to run a maze. If he’s got a half dozen drones feeds coming to his control center, he can perceive the area.”

“About the NOS, it’s on it’s way, and when we release it, remember: for God’s sake don’t light a match!” He added.

Captain CounterFlex

Meanwhile, Inside...
Johnny was, indeed moved into the same area as Jones. The reporter looked across at him, staying very still on a small patch of concrete surrounded by roiling flames. Sweat dripped down her brow, "Oh great... I thought you guys were meant to be getting me out!" she grumbled.

Johnny was placed a few yards away in what looked like a circle of small vents, which, as soon as Vester's goons had stepped away, erupted in a cascade of fire. It was boiling hot. Vester's illusions could make you feel temperature... but so did real fire. The guards looked at Johnny for a few moments. The leader grinned a perfect, bleached white smile and then they stepped away, leaving him alone with Tara... and JJ, who sat down on a director's chair in the corner of the room to watch, an amused expression on the face of the woman she was impersonating.

She didn't make a move to help. Not yet. But she was in position if she was called upon... which was the exception rather than the rule for Triggs.

“Listen lady, we have a plan, don’t worry.” Said Johnny to Tara Jones. “Just stay calm.”

Yet as soon as the flames erupted, Johnny freaked the heck out. “OH my God! Holy shit! Holy crap! It’s hot in here! It’s hoooooooot!”

“Language.” scolded Mark over comms, as Johnny continued shouting.

[Tesserach]

Crazy Bird

Grison/Geraint Ackerman
"Mariska!" Akerman exclaimed, trying to bring the Bird Lady back on task, "No army, fine, but what's more important is how long can you maintain the concentration to keep the ravens listening? This is a very important question."

"'Mariska! Stop dodging enemy patrols and focus!'" The Raven said in a voice that sounded suspiciously like an intentionally bad imitation of Ackerman’s own.

"There, the little ones are safe now." It said, returning to a more Mariska-like voice. She sounded more present now too, and the raven even turned to face Ackerman like it was actually talking to him instead of just making noises while looking disinterested. "But this is what I'm saying Geraint: I been stuck in a little raven control van in my head, listening to raven radio, watching raven TV, giving shoutouts to all my raven listeners for thirty years! How long can I keep this up? I don't know! Til I’m dead. Maybe. But here's the thing: I can only do one fucking thing at a time, alright!" The raven said, throwing its wings up in the air in frustration.

"I got no idea how Captain Fucknuts manages all this!" She exclaimed, while the raven began pacing up and down the console in front of Ackerman while the others started replying over the radio. Where before it seemed like there'd just been a bird just relaying short messages from Mariska, right now it seemed more like she was in the van herself: but, in bird form.

And she seemed to be more muttering to herself than talking to Ackerman at this point.

"Illusions have to be harder though. I'm just good at getting ravens to understand stuff because we're all... seeing each others' thoughts n'shit. They're smarter than you people think; when I was really little they were the ones showing me how stuff worked. Now, if they understand what I need, I can like, peace out, smoke a joint and they just take care of the rest on their own. But Vester can't. He's gotta do it all himself...

"He popping uppers maybe? Meth?" The raven started nodding. "Could be meth... or maybe there's some secret super concentration power that comes from being a movie director? He thinks in scenes maybe? Pictures scenes, makes them appear. Maybe he can only focus on one illusion at a time, but he doesn't do just a bird, he's doing whole scenes n'shit? He'd think in like... film theory? Anyone know anything about film theory? There'd be like, a point to the scene or something and like... supporting stuff. Agh! It's hard just trying to think about." Mariska stopped and slapped a wing against the side of her head as though trying to shake some stray thought loose.

"Oh! He could be on meth AND a director!" She exclaimed suddenly, but then seemed to shake her head and return to thinking through how Vester's powers worked.

Nightwolf
“Drones” said Mark. “I did this video once where we used drones to run a maze. If he’s got a half dozen drones feeds coming to his control center, he can perceive the area.”

“About the NOS, it’s on it’s way, and when we release it, remember: for God’s sake don’t light a match!” He added.

Mark's voice over the radio seemed to cause Mariska to snap out of her reverie. "That's it! Well, not quite: I think I'd have noticed drones but he doesn't need them. He's got cameras like EVERYWHERE. He's got his own little raven command center somewhere, responding to what we do - like me - just through his cameras instead of ravens!"

"Peck out his eyes!" The raven squawked excitedly.

[The United Federation of Terrans]

Jason Greene
Sniper Hide Mark II
"Wait.... Cameras??!!" He raised his voice slightly; as Callahan had taken that time to fire a blistering salvo. She stopped suddenly; Jason cast a glance for the reason she had stopped.... The sniper wiggled an empty hand, an equally empty magazine clattering to the floor.

'Oh'

A mag poach ripped open and he lobbed a magazine at her. He barely saw the gunslinger's hand snatch the ammo from the air; loading and chambering the weapon in one swift motion before she continued firing. He returned to his pondering; half distractedly removing a few more magazines and sliding them in her direction. Cameras were just a form of surveillance. So an expert of surveillance that Jason was, could also reverse the problem.

"If he has a control room then the cameras would all be routed there...... Look for a thick bundle....... of wires somewhere. The camera junction........ and the control would be....... in a separate place. All you need ......is to find one." He had to pause several times for Callahan's apparently increasing tempo of shots starting to drown out his words. The suppressor not doing much to muffle the sound at this close range.

His part done for now; he brought the binoculars back to his face.

And he got back to work.

And he wondered what he was forgetting. It was something about a car.


Evelyn "Kraken" Briggs


Evelyn just barely turned in time to see the car that came screeching to a stop a few feet from the Sentinel HQ. She was readying a tendril of energy when the driver's side door opened on the grayish sedan and the driver stepped out. Bear came to mind as the bearded mountain of a man flashed a smile and waved at the Sentinels.

"Hello friends!!!" He didn't appear concerned by the gunfire; nonchalant even as a stray round spanged off a piece of sheet metal with metallic clang.

He also had an accent; Slavic if Evelyn's memory served her. She wondered what the large Slavic man was doing here, unconcerned with a firefight....

" I have delivery for Mr. Greene. He told me Octopus Lady would take." He said it with the same smile as he ventured to his car's trunk and heaved out a pair of navy blue duffels. The man sounded as if this was the happiest place on Earth. Then she caught the last part of the man's sentence.

'Jason I will kill you after this.' She made that promise in lieu of darting into his building and doing the deed now. The promise of future revenge calmed her for the moment as the Slav brought over the duffel's and set them on the ground with the metallic clang of jostling cans of something.

The Slav was still smiling as he pulled the zipper back on both duffels.

"Greene ask for tear gas. So Novikoff get the best CS gas New Cottington have!!!!" He sounded proud as he gestured at the bag's contents. A pair of grenade launchers and their gas rounds occupied one overstuffed duffel. The other bag was chock full of tear gas grenades; with a handful of gas masks that looked like Soviet surplus. Then as if reading her thoughts. "The masks however..... Novikoff had to settle there."

He waited a beat with a toothy grin before he slapped Evelyn's shoulder in a friendly manner. "Well my friend. Tell Greene we are square now and good luck!!!!" He strolled off after that; hands stuck into his overcoat as he whistled nonsense; ignoring the fresh wave of gunfire roaring nearby.

Evelyn waited a few shocked seconds before she looked down at the bags. "NCPD" stamped visibly on the side of the grenade launchers. She cast a glance at the sedan as it started up and pulled away without a concern in the world before looking back at the bags. Then she toggled her comms.

" Kraken here. I'm pretty sure Greene just made me an accessory to theft but the tear gas is here." She tried to remember if Jason had mentioned sending for it; or if he had just pursued it on his own. A dangerous habit if left unchecked.

She glanced down at the duffels.

Very dangerous indeed.

[Dyelli Beybi]

Crazy Bird
...

Nightwolf
“Drones” said Mark. “I did this video once where we used drones to run a maze. If he’s got a half dozen drones feeds coming to his control center, he can perceive the area.”

“About the NOS, it’s on it’s way, and when we release it, remember: for God’s sake don’t light a match!” He added.

Mark's voice over the radio seemed to cause Mariska to snap out of her reverie. "That's it! Well, not quite: I think I'd have noticed drones but he doesn't need them. He's got cameras like EVERYWHERE. He's got his own little raven command center somewhere, responding to what we do - like me - just through his cameras instead of ravens!"

"Peck out his eyes!" The raven squawked excitedly.

"I haven't seen drones, but I have seen a lot of cameras," Ackerman remarked. One hand moved down to rest on his tonfa as he spoke into the comms, "We can peck out his eyes," he agreed with the bird, "But I think we can do one better... if he's using cameras to see us and control his illusions then reason stands that he's going to be somewhere where he can watch them all..."

Jason Greene
Sniper Hide Mark II
"Wait.... Cameras??!!" He raised his voice slightly; as Callahan had taken that time to fire a blistering salvo. She stopped suddenly; Jason cast a glance for the reason she had stopped.... The sniper wiggled an empty hand, an equally empty magazine clattering to the floor.

'Oh'

A mag poach ripped open and he lobbed a magazine at her. He barely saw the gunslinger's hand snatch the ammo from the air; loading and chambering the weapon in one swift motion before she continued firing. He returned to his pondering; half distractedly removing a few more magazines and sliding them in her direction. Cameras were just a form of surveillance. So an expert of surveillance that Jason was, could also reverse the problem.

"If he has a control room then the cameras would all be routed there...... Look for a thick bundle....... of wires somewhere. The camera junction........ and the control would be....... in a separate place. All you need ......is to find one." He had to pause several times for Callahan's apparently increasing tempo of shots starting to drown out his words. The suppressor not doing much to muffle the sound at this close range.
...

"Bingo!" Ackerman agreed, "So now we just need to get our tear gas cannister into the monitoring station... and if I'm going to go one further, I'd say it's probably in it's original location - it's probably by the front door where a guard would be able to take a look at people entering the studio as well as at a bank of cameras."

---

Nightwolf
Captain CounterFlex

Meanwhile, Inside...
Johnny was, indeed moved into the same area as Jones. The reporter looked across at him, staying very still on a small patch of concrete surrounded by roiling flames. Sweat dripped down her brow, "Oh great... I thought you guys were meant to be getting me out!" she grumbled.

Johnny was placed a few yards away in what looked like a circle of small vents, which, as soon as Vester's goons had stepped away, erupted in a cascade of fire. It was boiling hot. Vester's illusions could make you feel temperature... but so did real fire. The guards looked at Johnny for a few moments. The leader grinned a perfect, bleached white smile and then they stepped away, leaving him alone with Tara... and JJ, who sat down on a director's chair in the corner of the room to watch, an amused expression on the face of the woman she was impersonating.

She didn't make a move to help. Not yet. But she was in position if she was called upon... which was the exception rather than the rule for Triggs.

“Listen lady, we have a plan, don’t worry.” Said Johnny to Tara Jones. “Just stay calm.”

Yet as soon as the flames erupted, Johnny freaked the heck out. “OH my God! Holy shit! Holy crap! It’s hot in here! It’s hoooooooot!”

“Language.” scolded Mark over comms, as Johnny continued shouting.

"I'm calm," Jones replied. She certainly sounded calm, and was still impeccably dressed in a well tailored skirt-suit that she might have worn as a reporter in the field, though she was sweating from the heat of the flames. She couldn't disguise that. Jones raised an eyebrow, "It is fire. Though it's funny, I thought Vester was a pyromancer, or whatever term you supes prefer to use to describe people who make fire out of nothing. I'm surprised that they needed to use that flaming vent to contain you," she gave Johnny a thoughtful look, "Don't suppose you'd care to give me an interview once this is all over?" she suggested.

---

Triggs, meanwhile had ambled off in search of the location of the security room. A few minutes later her voice chirped through the microphone, "The security room is through the front door, through some metal detectors and then immediately on the left. I'm in the Ladies' Bathroom. I'm assuming even Vester's cultists would have issues with him putting up a camera in here."

"So, unless someone else wants to volunteer, I'll take the cannister through the front door and throw it into the room," Ackerman put in over the comms, "My suit will protect me a bit, though this is still pretty high risk. If we get Vester though, the illusions should vanish and then we just need to take down any of his cult members who continue to resist. Whoever goes through the door will be potentially cut off and surrounded, so we're relying on the rest of you to move quickly and hit them hard while they're off balance from all their fake friends disappearing."

[ImSaLiA]

Elijah Reed (a.k.a Silence)

Eli walked through the streets of Melbourne, with pedestrians rushing past. It was a nice day to be in the city, not cold, but not too hot. As a large crowd bustled through, he vanished into shadow. Becoming incorporeal felt sickening as ever, but he was used to it by now. The people paid him no mind, their attention drawn to all the posters and billboards displaying all kinds of products. As he glided into a laneway, he slowly became substantial. He pressed retrieved the clicker from his pocket, and pressed the button once, twice then a third time. The wall opened up with no sound, and he entered. He flicked the lights on, set down his bag, thought about what he was going to do.

[Demencia]

Aezixia
Near Vester Studio, New Cottington

"You wanted someone who could fly, what do you think I'm up here flying around here for?" Aezixia asked. "It's not the horns putting you off is it?" She flew down closer to the command vehicle. "Besides, what are they going to do with a few bullets? Send me to heaven?" she asked with a sardonic grin. "It's not like I'm exactly welcome there."

She held up one finger and a small flame appeared on the tip of it. "Plus, I hear tear gas isn't flammable. If things get hot, it won't get too hot. Not that I mind a good fire, but I doubt anyone else in there has a vacation home in the Flames of Asmodeus."

[ImSaLiA]

Eli (a.k.a. Silence) Melbourne
Eli's phone rang.
"Silence, We kinda need you over here as soon as possible"
And just like that, his pseudo holiday was over, back in the thick of things again. He went to the back room to collect his things; retrieving a rather large knife and a handgun, as well as plenty of spare ammunition.
"I should be able to get there pretty soon, possibly in a day or two?
He ran to the door, hailed a cab to get to the airport. When he arrived, he sprinted to get to the customs.

He braced himself, and became shadow. his transformation was a little slower than normal, but he managed to do so without arousing suspicion.
He floated through a group of tourists, and noticed pained looks on their faces.
"Oops" he thought "better be more careful"
He felt a twisting feeling when he floated through Gate 4, but managed to get onto the plane.
"This is your captain speaking, please fasten your seatbelts, and cabin crew prepare for takeoff"
America, Airport
After about fourteen and a half hours, the plane touched down in the US. He floated down, and caught another cab to the rendezvous point.
America, Rendezvous point
"Hey y'all, Sorry for bein' late"

[Rynagria]

Sentinel Reinforcements

---

The siblings had their day planned out. Go on patrol, help out the general community, take lunch, and repeat. It was simple. What they hadn’t expected was how badly the situation devolved so quickly, from a hostage rescue to nearly being killed by an army of cultists in a massive firefight. Then there was the fact that the villain in question had captured one of their members, on purpose or otherwise. Hearing the comms from the ongoing mission spurred them into action from the peaceful food break, leaving Erica to drive through the streets of New Cottington with much haste, snaking through the traffic with urgency.

“E, slow down! They’re still alive.” Managed Marcus, as he did his best to remain stable in the vehicle, keeping watch on the GPS that guided them towards the other Sentinels. “After this upcoming intersection, turn left on the one after that.”

Erica gave a nod, doing exactly just after a minute had passed, barely slowing down for the turn. With Marcus informing her that it was pretty much a straight shot to their destination, the young woman addressed her brother’s earlier comment. “They might not be if we take our time getting there, Marcus. Besides, I’ll personally help with whatever maintenance the car needs after this.”

The young man only gave the current driver of his car a side glance, doubtful of her statement. “We don’t want to barge in like the other guy before, so park a block away and we’ll just go on foot from there. It sounds like we’re planning to end this soon.”

It didn’t take the two long before they found a spot to dismount from their car and swiftly close in from the back, doing their best to not attract any unwanted attention from both passerby still outside and any potential cameras helping out Vester. With Marcus making sure they were headed towards the bus, darting from cover to cover, Erica not too far behind him. Making note of the demonic figure flying overhead as they got closer, Erica alerted the team of their presence over comms.

“Suri and Moni, reporting in. We’re coming on from the rear, watch your fire. Anyways, anything we can do to help make the plan go smoother? We promise we won’t do anything rash.”

Their presence known, the two made a final dash for the side of the bus. Awaiting for a response from one of the members.

[The United Federation of Terrans]

Evelyn "Kraken" Briggs

Evelyn rapped on the bus' door with an impatient knock.

"Grison!!! I got the gas!!!" She made sure her comms was transmitting as well so the team leader was sure to hear her. She stood impatiently outside the bus; the pair of laden duffels seemingly floating behind her.

A suspiciously Jason sounding snort came over the comms. Barely audible over the gunfire in the studio lot and on Jason's side; but loud enough to cause Evelyn to scowl and roll her eyes. She switched off her comms.

"I'm going to kill y-" Grison had opened the door by then; and Evelyn was never more grateful for the face concealing mask she wore. Rather then wasting time explaining herself, she just brought the duffel bags forward and let them hit the deck with a resounding clang. "There you are boss. I'm going to go-

“Suri and Moni, reporting in. We’re coming on from the rear, watch your fire. Anyways, anything we can do to help make the plan go smoother? We promise we won’t do anything rash.”

Their presence known, the two made a final dash for the side of the bus. Awaiting for a response from one of the members.

"-brief Suri and Moni on the situation." She spun on a heel after that and strode off with purpose. Trying to gather her thoughts and wonder how one failed mission with Jason could turn her into a hair trigger personality that ruined her carefully crafted professionalism.

She rounded the bus and watched as the pair of siblings dash into the vehicle's shadow. The younger supers tense and ready; about to dash off again to join the fight. So Evelyn held up her hands in a placating manner and placed a light tendril of energy on both of their chests; rocking the siblings back slightly.

"Easy kids." Kids. She was only a few years older and she felt a world apart from them in experience and demeanor. " We have a plan. Grison is going to throw some gas in and we move on his word. Alright?"

A fresh wave of gunfire sparked off the pavement. Evelyn glanced at it slightly before a roar of pain sounded from the direction of the warehouse and Jason was hooting about a "Great Shot" on the comms.

Evelyn just sighed and motioned at office building Callahan and Jason were in before pointing at her comms.

"That's our new CIA liaison.......... "

[Rynagria]

Moni and Suri

---

Now seeing the big picture because of Kraken, the two of them continued forward.

Less than four years with the Sentinels, Marcus had gotten used to the sound of bullets whizzing overhead and kept on moving unfazed, while his younger sister still instinctively ducked at the sound. Regardless of the stoic expression he wore, Marcus could only think that this was one of the worst scenarios for the two of them to be in. Because Erica was not a fighter and while he has some experience in being a gunfight, it was a rarity even in his assassin days. Yet here he was, risking his life for some journalist when all he should be doing is protecting his sister. Feeling the need to take control, of at least of himself and Erica, he started to create a plan of their own.

“Suri! Once we get to the bus, we’ll try to survey where the shooters are and see if we can find a gap! Then we’ll wait for the right moment and- ” However Marcus’ order was cut short, feeling an invisible force on his chest and giving both of them a small push back upon reaching the bus. Not enough to knock them down, but enough to stop them in their tracks. For a short moment, fear flashed on their faces and feared that they might have been struck by a bullet each. Realizing that its source was from the one called “Kraken”, the siblings breathed a sigh of relief.

”Easy kids.” Kids. She was only a few days older and she felt a world apart from them in experience and demeanor. “We have a plan. Grison is going to throw some gas in and we move on his word. Alright?”

“Understood.” Both said in unison, giving Evelyn a nod. At the same time, both of them looked at one another, their expressions that of “Now what?”. Nothing to do, they simply took cover behind the bus. For a short moment, they would be silent until Evelyn said something about one of the Sentinels in the building near them.

”That’s our new CIA liaison……….”

“Huh? We’re working with Spooks now? That’s good to know…. Though I have to say, I already don’t like him.” The young man said with a raised eyebrow.

“Moni, you shouldn’t say that.”

“What? When has the CIA done anything moral?” Responded Marcus, afterwards changing the subject. “Anyways, I’m volunteering to be one of the first people going in. My powers should give us a better chance in the confrontation. Unless they’re wearing some kind of noise-canceling headphones or really good shades.”

[Dyelli Beybi]

Grison

Grison appeared out of the bus, tugging at a strap on his armour to make sure that nothing was loose, which was when the three new people arrived. Silence, Suri and Moni. He paused for a moment, the coggs turning in his head, before saying, "Apologies, everyone, for the sudden change in plan. I was wondering if we could insert Moni in as a fake negotiator to snap Vester's abilities away, but the plan is too risky. I don't know if he'd shoot on sight, and I also don't know if he'd agree to negotiate in person if he didn't. The loss of concentration would make it harder to maintain his illusions, so it would be more likely that he'd get an intermediary to do the talking... if he didn't just shoot on sight.

"Silence... you can dematerialise while wearing a gas mask can't you?" he said, reaching across to take the cannister from Evelyn before handing it over to the newly arrived hero, "It would be much easier for you to deliver the weapon than me. Get into the security office by the main door, drop the cannister and then bug out. The rest of us will breach and clear in the confusion. If you don't have any questions then I'd suggest you get a shuffle on, before Vester decides to do something desperate."

"And try not to kill me while you're at it!" Trigg's voice sounded over the comms. Apparently she was somewhere where she could talk without being noticed.

"Remember, non-lethal takedowns," Grison continued as if she hadn't chipped in, "Moni, do you have any advice on avoiding your powers? I'd rather not have you accidentally knock out half the team when you breach."

[Christian Confederation]

Downtown New Cottington- John Johnson AKA The Soldier John was enjoying his lunch, a Bacon Cheeseburger with two thick Juicy Angus Beef Patties, and Enough Fries to empty a sack of potatoes. It was a small dinner, a hole in the wall if you know you know type place. He first ate at this particular Dinner almost ten years ago when he first moved in with his Uncle. John had good memories of the place; Eating with his Uncle, Dates with one of his several Girlfriends through the years, Late night pancakes on leave from the Army with his brothers. How the time flies, seven years ago John joined the Army, got chosen for a super soldier program a year in, and got an honorable Discharge about 6 months ago.
Now John was eating his lunch and thinking about his life so far when the waitress came to check on him. "Can I get you anything sir, Desert Perhaps?"
John looked up at the Young Woman, a blonde no older than 20/21 by his guess. Probably a College kid judging on the NCU Shirt under her Apron. "I think a milkshake would be..." before he could finish John's phone buzzed.
'Mission alert, Film Studio...' then the address.
John swore under his breath. "Always in the middle of something, Just the check please!" John told the young waitress. He got up and straightened his gun belt, then he grabbed the AR leaning against the corner of his booth and slung it across his back. John then removed his wallet and took out $70 bucks to pay for his $20 lunch. "Keep the change miss." He told the waitress before going out to his motorcycle.
It was a black Harley, kitted out saddle bag and modified for maximum speed and menuverability. John put on his helmet then guned it out into traffic. It would be an hour drive normally, John could get there in 15 minutes, 30 if he didn't want to break every traffic law but lives could be at stake so he would be there in 15 minutes.
John masterfully weaved through the traffic going at highway speeds through downtown, he hit the Freeway at 100 before arriving at the Film Studio exactly 14 minutes and 45 seconds later. John parked his bike next to the Armored Van his team mates called the Bus, John just called it the Battle Wagon. John hoped off his Harley and checked his gear. He grabbed his AR and Slung it across his chest before joining the rest of the team. "Apologizes gang, Y'all know how much of a Bitch Traffic can be around here!" He greeted before shouldering his rifle ready for battle.

[ImSaLiA]

"Silence... you can dematerialise while wearing a gas mask can't you?" he said, reaching across to take the cannister from Evelyn before handing it over to the newly arrived hero, "It would be much easier for you to deliver the weapon than me. Get into the security office by the main door, drop the cannister and then bug out. The rest of us will breach and clear in the confusion. If you don't have any questions then I'd suggest you get a shuffle on, before Vester decides to do something desperate."

[/quote]
Elijah (Silence)
Outside the Rendezvous
"I think my dematerialising covers pretty much everything I'm wearing, but I'm not fully sure." Eli replied, taking the mask.
"Far out, this is kind of difficult", as he wrestled the mask over his head. After it was finally on, he checked everything, and began to fade.
In around 10 seconds, he was fully shadow, his silhouette now with a gas mask.
this works. i'm pretty glad, cause i don't want to inhale whatever's in those canisters.
Eli becomes less and less translucent, and then completely faded in.
"Exactly how do i use this thing?" he asked, gesturing to the canister.