The New Vanguard! Lionheart Issue #5 - The Mission, Part 3

OOC Replacement keyboard ordered for the laptop. Time to get the screwdrivers out again when it arrives. These things generally come apart after you've taken everything else off the darned thing to get at the bit you need. Oh well.

Thunder Woman offered a suggestion.

"Why don't we get maps of the area in the general direction the truck is heading. It won't show much in the detail of Timpsons testing facility - I can imagine he's got himself an area of desert cordoned off for testing that would put area 51s security to shame - and plan our route from there?"

Even as she suggested it, Lionheart noted that Auran was flying about and scouting at ultra high speed. She left no sonic boom suggesting to the British hero that she was slightly less than solid. That might leave her somewhat tricky to deal with, but Lionheart was no one trick pony - his mental powers packed nearly as much punch as his super fast fists!

'you worry too much about upsetting these people.' rasped the accented voice of Saladin from within. 'For starters you need the White Dwarf star material so that you can use it to save this world. If that cannot understand the logic in that, they are not worth saving. Secondly, you are wasting time! Do you suppose your enemies will wait for you to pander to these Americans? This 'Timpson' fellow can array all the security in front of you that he likes. I suggest you fly down there, knock a few heads about, don't hurt anyone too badly and speak to the driver of the Truck. Find out his destination either through chatting to him or wrest it from his mind, it matters not. If you fail in your mission he will be dead anyway, as will everyone else.'

Saladin spoke with anger and impatience, but made a kind of sense. Unfortunately that would require Lionheart to abandon many of his principles and use his fists to do the talking. Thunder Womans approach required some guesswork and planning, but the chances of the truck driver taking a roundabout route were now much lessened thanks to the super powered (and police car) escort. Whenever it encountered traffic the police simply divided the traffic with sirens and for anything more serious the superhumans would move any obstacles, such as the fallen powerline stanchion partially blocking the road and causing tailbacks - within moments after clearing it, traffic tailbacks virtually disappeared!

There was also the risk of Auran discovering them. She was fast - Lionheart wasn't quite sure how fast as she may have been holding back, but clearly the fastest of the Ultrahumans and faster than their team jet. the way she occasionally zigzagged through the sky leaving a trail behind suggested she might be able to match Lionheart. Why she'd not followed before was unclear, unless of course she was mostly fast in straight lines and not so agile, unlike Lionheart.

"Great" muttered Thunder Woman. Lionheart looked up ahead. Ominous black clouds covered the horizon, and were boiling even as the pair looked on form a distance. "I didn't catch the forecast but it is tornado season."

Lionheart considered that it might be a natural occurrence, but given the apparent value of whatever was in the truck and the attempt already made on it, chances were it was something a little more worrying than a heavy shower...

OOC Few options to consider there, plus the looming bad weather...

OOC: Opps read this and then forgot to post a reply. Doh, it was the shock of reading Frostbite's bad bad rolls honest

Lionheart took a look at the clouds, it didn't look good. Perhaps Timpson would send help, but then again, with Auron and the other cronies hanging around, it was likely they could take care of anything that came at the truck. Still it couldn't hurt to hang around, things had a way of going sideways real quick.

OOC: Saladin can just back down, I know he'd be happy snapping his fingers and calling the shots but he had his chance and now its my turn. Whilst I liked Thunder Woman's idea for the maps, right now it seems that our best bet would be to hang around and find out what indeed this storm carries. Lionheart will explain his thinking to Thunder Woman, he wants her to know he isn't riding roughshod over her suggestions. But the way he sees it, if that storm does contain a malevolent force the truck might well get no further. Besides the opportunity to see America's premier team in action should be good. Lionheart could always do with learning more about potential allies or worst still enemies.

So the plan is to hang about, get a good position to watch and get some popcorn. Well all except the last bit. ;-) I of course realise that had I had a bucket of popcorn, even Lionheart wouldn't be able to finish it before something amiss happens that would need his intervention. Its that suspicion that makes him resigned to keep hanging about.

Sj

Thunder Woman listened to Lionhearts explanation, opened her mouth as if to reply, then shrugged and pointed to a distant cliff top from which to watch the unfolding action...

As Lionheart had surmised, this was no ordinary storm. The clouds and wind/rain/hail obscured even his telescopic vision but it was clear that somewhere in the eye of that giant thunderstorm would be a person - or persons - directing it.

And so it came to pass.

With a crack of thunder and flash of lightning that seemed to signal the start of the attack, hailstones began to fall from the sky. Lionheart and TW sat too far away to be affected but the damage these things wrought looked to be considerable - basket ball sized spheres of ice came pelting out of the sky in their thousands!

The Ultrahumans sprang into action, and Lionheart considered what he saw.

Auran was fast, and where her light form flew, mist fizzled in her wake. Quill leaped onto the truck body and swatted those ice spheres away that got too close. Several other members of the team blasted spheres from the sky and another, a woman, seemed to form coloured energy from her hands and turn it into a giant tennis racket, slicing and smashing the spheres up with every swing!

Then the truck stopped. Thunder Woman noticed and pointed out "Look! The road!"

The hailstones attack on the truck had been but part of the plan. Now it became clear that the road ahead for nearly a mile along the near deserted freeway was cratered and pocked. Worse was to come. Twisters! Giant tornadoes hundreds of feet high began to form and whirl about, gathering in strength and ferocity... rain began to drive down, lightning flashed down from the sky... One of the Ultrahumans, a muscled, bruiser type with thick neck and powerful shoulders barked something at the sky, shaking a fist...

A moment later he lit up like a christmas tree as a blast struck him! As the glow faded Lionheart saw him still on his feet but staggered, and one of the Ultrahumans - the woman who formed the glowing blue energy from her hands to make the tennis racket - made a giant umbrella over herself and the injured comrade as she moved to help him. Then another blast shot down, and another, striking near to and then onto the umbrella and the pair underneath! It obliterated the energy and caused the pair to light up!

This time the muscled man was down and on his back, but struggling to rise. The woman lay in a heap, her costume in tatters. And the storm began to pick up in ferocity! Auran disappeared from view as she headed for what she thought was the heart of the storm...

Thunder Woman turned. "Well? Do we step in or watch for a while longer? Notice... the truck is pretty much unharmed by the lightning. Whoever is directing it is making sure to avoid blasting the truck or near it. If the Ultrahumans had any wits they'd stay near it... like Quill is doing..."

Admin wrote:Thunder Woman turned. "Well? Do we step in or watch for a while longer? Notice... the truck is pretty much unharmed by the lightning. Whoever is directing it is making sure to avoid blasting the truck or near it. If the Ultrahumans had any wits they'd stay near it... like Quill is doing..."

With a deep sigh, Lionheart nodded as he picked up Thunder Woman and speed off toward the truck. Since that was clearly, once again the object of desire it seemed best to aim for that. On the way Lionheart tried to talk to Thunder Woman, but gave up on account of the wind whipping around them. It was an impressive stunt, and dangerous to. His danger sense would need to tuned in if he was going to avoid the lightning strikes hitting them.

But something bothered Lionheart in all this. Timpson was no fool, given that the Lorry was marked and that now a second attack was being launched against it, why continue at all? Why was he allow the lorry to plough on regardless. Was Timpson behind this? Or was it all one large decoy to draw out friend and foe alike? Lionheart didn't, indeed couldn't know. All he felt was this was a terribly inefficient way to go, for someone who'd built a fortune on high tech. It all seemed pretty low tech to him, but then he was from the future.

OOC:Ok best speed to the truck, little point in turn the power down as I doubt I'll be noticed among all the big hitters here, and see if the driver is ok, before seeing what we can do to help. I am sorely tempted to rip open the doors, leave things as they are and take whatever's in their and knock on Timpson's door with it.

Sj

Lionheart sped in, Thunder Woman in his arms. She tapped him on the shoulder and pointed. "Drop me down there!" pointing to the rear of the truck.

Doing as requested he had no fears about dropping Thunder Woman. She was almost as invulnerable as he was, and probably as durable, if not more so. She dropped from the sky and landed in a crouch, taking by surprise a couple of the Ultrahumans who were scouring the sky for sight of the incoming attack!

"Relax!" she screamed. "Me and my friend are on the same side as you!"

A woman in a silver ultrahuman costume changed immediately into a giant 8' high green lizard/humanoid!

"Lady Raptor, right?" shouted Thunder Woman. "Look, don't do anything stupid! We're on the same..."

SPIT!

A jet of 'something' fired from the mouth of Lady Raptor at Thunder Woman!

Lionheart saw that but sped on, landing at the cab of the truck and saw the petrified driver inside. "I didn't sign up for this! Th' hell with the bonus!"

As Lionheart landed there was a blur of motion - another silver suited ultrahuman. "Hi.Idon'tsupposeyou'dconsidersurrenderingbeforewegiveyouanalmightypasting?MindyoumostoftheUltrasherevolunteeredcausethey'renewbsandloveagoodscrap! Meincluded!"

The man looked like an Olympic level sprinter clad in figure hugging silver of the Ultrahumans.

Then from above a flash of light and lightning as Auran met head on with someone or something up above in the howling storm! Rain lashed down, 100+ mph winds and lightning blasting down! Flash after flash followed, with thunder rumbling in the background!

Quill bellowed "The enemy is up there you idiots!" to his team mates, but his voice was mostly drowned out!

OOC Lionheart initiative against the Silver Speedstar... Roll(2d10)+0: 6 LH,10 SS Lionheart still goes first.

Admin wrote:Quill bellowed "The enemy is up there you idiots!" to his team mates, but his voice was mostly drowned out!

OOC Lionheart initiative against the Silver Speedstar... Roll(2d10)+0: 6 LH,10 SS Lionheart still goes first.

Lionheart sighed, he could tell that these guys were just blindly following orders. Attacking the nearest unregistered meta human who showed up, they actually liked a good fight. Throwing down without the fear of such harsh consequences against whomever they came across. Notions of doing the right thing, cutting a guy some slack, or just turning a blind eye were not going to work here. Not at least until the real antagonist shows up. And sadly it might appear that with their arrival Lionheart and Thunder Woman were it.

Lionheart could only seeing this going one way. That was of course until the real enemy showed themselves. Something they'd probably not be willing to do - if instead Lionheart and the others were simply to take one another out. Perhaps the only way to get heads back in the game, was to uncover the real enemy here. Turning back to the cab driver Lionheart said, "Whatever happens they want what your carrying so you're safer here than out there."

And then looking straight at the speedster, Lionheart shot off, not just at him but above him. Flying to see if the speedster had what was necessary to follow him into the heart of the storm - where he hoped he might find the real 'linchpin' of this latest set piece.

"No time to worry about being subtle now..." He offered as he went up, up and up seeking to dodge between lightning strikes, high winds and debris that had casually be born up aloft by the winds all around.

OOC:Ok lets see if we can't discover who is at work underneath all this latest escaped.

Sj

OOC Danger Sense Roll(2d10)+0: 1,6,+0 Total:7 + DS9 (16) vs TN11+OV4 (15). +1 EV (10) vs RV (4)=6RAPs.

Lionheart is suddenly aware of a major threat to himself!

He soared upwards, wondering if the attack would come from above - the attackers - or below, the Ultrahumans.

The answer came quickly!

Air buffeted him as the speedster below spun his hands quickly with a trick Lionheart himself had yet to learn. Twin tornadoes shot from the ultrahumans hands out at Lionheart... though he found them easy to dodge.

OOC Attack Roll(2d10)+0: 7,3,+0 Total:10 +Air Control 7 (17) vs TN11+Dex 22 (Superspeed+Power Reserve) (33) Missed

Just then, amidst the maelstrom above, he saw a large dark shape, about the size of a car, plummeting down! It was heading right for him - or rather for the truck below!

Question was, would Lionheart meet it head on, or watch it sail past?

OOC Which powers are in effect? Force and Mind field for sure, power reserve to... Superspeed? Flight to fly up into the maelstrom (which he needs to use at near maximum capability to fight these violent winds!). What else?

Admin wrote:Question was, would Lionheart meet it head on, or watch it sail past?

OOC Which powers are in effect? Force and Mind field for sure, power reserve to... Superspeed? Flight to fly up into the maelstrom (which he needs to use at near maximum capability to fight these violent winds!). What else?

Lionheart had felt it was time both to test his own powers and to brings things to a halt before they got any worse. Already many people in the area might be subject to imminent danger. Besides which, with the culprit now in the open, Lionheart had the chance to show the Ultrahumans whom they ought to be fighting.

With that he sped forward, His speed, flight and considerable mental powers to the fore, he let loose the mental image of a lion roaring and blazing forth at the oncoming being set on attacking him.

OOC:So forcefield, Mind blast, speed and flight all working overtime here. But I am keen to blast the creature and incapacitate it. However if it proves the stronger or if mind powers isn't the way forward I'll go in for a more physical attack with speed and Martial Arts.

Sj

Shifting his mental energy to Superspeed, then flying up with Force Field powered up, Lionheart wondered what this new threat would entail.

His aura crackled as he gathered his newly powered up Mind Blast... heck, EVERYTHING was powered up! He was more powerful now than he'd ever been, and truth told not been really pushed to his new limits, which was a good thing as he wasn't sure what they were!

'You have only one limit' remarked Saladin inside his head 'Your mind'.

Enigmatic drivel like that didn't help but perhaps the former villain had a point.

'Villain? I thought for what was right - not what I believed, but what was actually right! Villain? Ha! You were a pawn of a system that created slaves, then slaughtered them when they gained free will and wanted to live their own lives!'

Lionheart blanked out the thoughts as he scanned the heavens and saw a dark mass plummeting from above... It was huge - around 10 feet high and at least as wide! The feet were elephant like, the legs like tree trunks. It was a man, but misshapen with muscle and hulking in aspect!

He bellowed, voice loud enough to carry over the wind, rain and thunder "World make way for HAILSTONE!"

He was enormous!

Dropping from the sky Lionheart glanced down and saw he was falling in a trajectory that would take him into the path of the lorry! Time to do something about it though!

With energy crackling about him he sent his Lion out into the leaden gloom!

"Ooooh!" laughed Hailstone. "Who do we have here? Nice light show, punk! No pretty silver costume like the rest of you Ultra Cretin buddies huh?"

Despite the mans banter and size, Lionheart thought the man might be smarter than he seemed. To Lionheart he seemed to be moving in slow motion!

OOC Attack with 13 Mindblast. Roll(2d10)+0: 1,8,+0 Total:9 (22) vs TN11+Int7 (18). Hit, +3 Effect (to 16) vs RV17... No damage

The Lion roared... but struck against an immovable force!

Hailstone, for all his bluster, knew something had just happened...

"Whoa!" he cried... as he plummeted past and down to the ground below! He was looking up at Lionheart and wondering what had just happened. Lionheart knew he would have to sacrifice accuracy with the mental attack to break the mans shield and knew he'd just missed out on doing so...

Hailstone dropped from the sky and SMASHED! into the floor... about 100m adrift from the road. The shockwave flattened a tree nearby and the speedster Ultrahuman instantly reacted, charging in to deliver a string of superfast punches to Hailstones grey stone like hide...

And Lionheart knew the fast hero was in trouble! The silver clad speedster staggered backwards, and Lionheart saw his hands were at odd angles! "Arrrrgh!" he screamed, and looked up as Hailstone towered over him!

OOC All sorts of stuff is going on, but Lionheart will have to focus his attention on Hailstone if he wants a chance at helping the stricken hero! You get initiative, are about 1 mile up (so will have to fly down) BUT Mind Blast can work at this range if you so choose. Over to you (then I will describe the mayhem going on around you!)

Admin wrote:OOC All sorts of stuff is going on, but Lionheart will have to focus his attention on Hailstone if he wants a chance at helping the stricken hero! You get initiative, are about 1 mile up (so will have to fly down) BUT Mind Blast can work at this range if you so choose. Over to you (then I will describe the mayhem going on around you!)

Speeding down Lionheart didn't have time to consider changing his options since he knew that things were about to get ugly if he didn't successfully intervene at some level. Saladin kept taunting him for allowing himself to be less than he was truly, at to some degree Lionheart could sense the truth in that. What Saladin lacked however was morality, any sense of obligation or responsibility to the people they fairly toward over. Lionheart had to wonder what Saladin found worth living for - apart from the thin veneer of being more powerful than everyone. That was something that Lionheart felt especially bothered by. Power, for him wasn't something against which he measured his worth compared to others, rather he felt a sense of duty to use that power in the service of others. It was what he lived for at some level. And now he was trying to do so again.

Sacrificing his accuracy for blunt force, hoping to overcome the giant's defences to break them down and stagger him back once again Lionheart let loose the Lion.

OOC:Mind blast this time focus on brute force and not accuracy, don't know if I've got at hp left by let's use two die (or whatever) if I've got em to help.

Sj

LIONHEART HP 57

OOC Using HP/two dice and a Critical Blow against the big chap with Mind Blast.

Roll(4d10)+0: 9,9,10,2,+0 Total: 18 (Typical, probably didn't need to use the HP but best to make sure) DOUBLE plus Roll(2d10)+0: 7,2,+0 Total:27 + 13 (40) vs TN11 + Int 7 (18) + Crit Blow (22). HIT +6 Effect. 13EV + 6 (Crit Blow) +6 (roll) (25) vs RV17 = 8 damage. HAILSTONE ON MIND: 2

POW!

The Lion roared, then struck again! This time the big man didn't laugh - he screamed as he thrashed at the energy Lion grappling him, hands scything through nothing and staggering about as if possessed!

"NO! You can't do this! He promised! I was to be invulnerable! Nothing could hurt me! I am the STRONGEST, DO YOU HEAR? RAAAAAARRRRRGH"

He leaped at Lionheart and swung an engine sized fist at the hero!

OOC Using Martial Artist the bad guy rolls 6 dice (he's mad!) here we go - needing a spectacular roll mind...

Roll(5d10)+0: 1,3,10,10,3, 4+0 Total:20 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d10)+0: 7,10,+0 Total:37 + Dex 3 (40) vs TN11 + Dex 22 (33) = Hit +4 Effect (to 31)

31EV vs RV21= 10 Damage! Lionheart can absorb some or all of that (expensive!) or take it on the chin (down to Body 3) and hope his healing has time to sort him out (30 seconds to full health)LIONHEART on BODY 3

Lionheart gets clobbered by a force so powerful he starts to get an idea of what it's like to be on the receiving end of one of his own punches!

Thunder Woman breaks off from tackling what appears to be a living bolt of Lightning to shout "Lionheart!" as her friend flies through the air to land in the mud some 100' away from the truck!

The mud slid off his force field, and Lionheart felt he had more to give whereas the big man looked wild eyed and frenzied - clearly he'd been fed some lies about what he could and couldn't do, but to Lionheart he was a big, lumbering oaf who moved at slow motion. That WAS a lucky shot, and whilst Lionheart wouldn't fancy taking another, he wondered if this guy could take what he dished out...

OOC With 22 Dex vs Dex 3 you can easily attack with a devastating blow using martial arts (free dice!) and go to town on this guy - the safer option is to attack mentally, but it depends on how much of a flashy display to this guys buddies Lionheart wants to give...You can also switch power reserve to Strength and rely on Dex 14 to hit (roll 6 or more because of that weakness of LH's, otherwise a roll of 3 would do) and would have a better chance of breaking his physical defence - Lionheart gets the feeling this guy is a tough nut to crack mentally, but physically he's practically invulnerable. Note... practically... what happens when immovable object meets an irresistible force?

Admin wrote:OOC With 22 Dex vs Dex 3 you can easily attack with a devastating blow using martial arts (free dice!) and go to town on this guy - the safer option is to attack mentally, but it depends on how much of a flashy display to this guys buddies Lionheart wants to give...You can also switch power reserve to Strength and rely on Dex 14 to hit (roll 6 or more because of that weakness of LH's, otherwise a roll of 3 would do) and would have a better chance of breaking his physical defence - Lionheart gets the feeling this guy is a tough nut to crack mentally, but physically he's practically invulnerable. Note... practically... what happens when immovable object meets an irresistible force?

Maddened by his attack Lionheart needed not to hesitate. Hailstone was no easy nut to crack, but where his defences physically were formidable there was a chance mentally. Not liking this option, wasn't really an option. If this was to end in some way peaceably it had to end before Hailstone got the chance to really cut loose. Especially with his mind out of wack.

Lionheart speed forward, giving himself a moment to collect his considerable Psi powers and chance to focus before letting loose the Lion for what he hoped would need be the final time.

OOC: Ok going for mind, because I can't know that attacking physically will make any kind of a difference and I might just be caught by another one of those lucky blows if I am not careful. So all on getting behind his defences, we don't need to do much so going for accuracy unless power is the better option, in which case go for brute force. I'll let you call it.

Sj

OOC Good call - he lives up to his name, and is probably the most physically resistant of Lionhearts opponents since his revamp. Not to say he couldn't crack that nut, but he has more than one way to do so, and so, with a mind blast...

Going for a Critical Blow... Mind Blast 13 + Roll(2d10)+0: 8,7,+0 Total:15 (28) vs TN11 + Int 7 (18) + Crit Blow (4)=22. +3 Effect. Mind Blast 13 + 3 (16) vs RV11 (reduced from 17 thanks to Mind Blast) = 5 damage. HAILSTONE IS DOWN

The Lion roared again, and Hailstone grabbed and lunged for the manifestation of Lionhearts Mental attack, grabbing air every time!

As the rain lashed down and the wind whipped up, the enormous man staggered and stumbled, his huge bulk threatening to blot out anything it fell on! Just then he cried out one last time and shrank!

His arms, thick and corded with tree trunk like girth thanks to pure muscle, shrunk to a normal humans' size, albeit one that might put an olympic weightlifter to shame! The same happened for the rest of his body and he staggered back to fall face up in the mud of the crater he'd made when he landed!

Quill landed alongside Lionheart. The British hero glanced at his American counterpart. Quill had a number of broken spines and wiped a blood smear from his nose as water helped wash it away. "I saw that mans' aura - this is no ordinary group of superhumans! They knew the Ultrahumans would be here and someone made sure we'd be overpowered! Look!"

Auran battled across the sky against what appeared to be a living lightning bolt, the sky lighting up every few seconds as they unleashed discharges of great energy against each other. On top of that, seemingly random lightning struck down from above, blasting the earth where it touched and seemingly following Auran as she moved, getting ever closer!

Quill shouted above the roar of the wind "Something in that!" as he pointed to a thick black cloud bank with lightning crackling all around it. Lionheart turned... Thunder Woman was battling against a creature made of mud AND one of water, both vaguely humanoid but larger and powerful.... though she appeared to be laughing! As Lionheart watched she scooped up a slab of paving stone, SLAPPED it across the face of the water creature, then ducked as it blasted... missing her and hitting the chest of the mud creature, which appeared for a moment to change into a human, albeit one covered in mud!

She seemed to know Lionheart was looking across at her and gave a quick thumbs up even as she kicked up a load of loose dirt at the water creature which seemed to slow it down. It seemed with her vast experience she'd battled elementals before.

All over the battlefield the Ultrahumans struggled against the more powerful attackers - only Lionheart, Thunder Woman and, perhaps, Quill had made any headway against the elemental theme superhumans who were clearly more powerful than the Ultrahumans had expected having sent along their 'second tier' or less experienced heroes to ensure the trucks safety.

Whatever was in that truck was CLEARLY of great interest to more than one extremely powerful and influential party!

Lionheart glanced up again. The black cloud was impenetrable to look into but every now and again a dot - another of these new superhumans - would emerge and fly down to the battlefield, which was now a muddy quagmire! This latest one gestured... and the floor under Lionhearts feet shook! Some kind of earthquake?

Quill shouted "I'd like to say we can take care of things down here, but I don't know how long we can..."

Suddenly a huge flash went off in the sky and the pair turned to see the falling form of Auran as she tumbled and spun from a great height! Another figure, buzzing and crackling with electricity, hovered high in the lead grey sky but looked somewhat dazed - it seemed the pair had been pretty evenly matched until perhaps a lucky blow had Ko'd Auran! Now she was falling!

Suddenly Quill was moving and he was battling a bare chested man in beaten up leather trousers! Were it not for Lionhearts superhuman speed the pair would have been too fast to follow - the attacker had long straggly hair trailing behind him, an unkempt matted beard and battled with skill and ferocity to match Quills own!

Suddenly Lionhearts danger sense went off.. and he moved to the side as a lightning bolt struck from above! Where he'd been stood the ground was blasted and blackened!

OOC A few things going off here - trying to convey the chaos of battle!

Admin wrote:Suddenly Lionhearts danger sense went off.. and he moved to the side as a lightning bolt struck from above! Where he'd been stood the ground was blasted and blackened!

OOC A few things going off here - trying to convey the chaos of battle!

Once again Lionheart had much to be thankful for in the nature of his abilities sparing him certain death from that near miss. Somehow he wondered if there was a way to circumvent all this...

OOC:Paul I am wondering if I just spare this poor truck driver the trouble, grab what is in the truck and with it lead the elemental forces away. Then just deliver it to Timpson. That way I can prove my usefulness to him and see if I can't by way of a gesture of thanks get him to give me some white dwarf material in return? Is that totally whacky, am I missing something. I'm just thinking that might this cut to the chase a bit. Before I'd go I'd want to clue Thunder Woman in on things, and Quill before then taking the truck open and seeing what we could do. I mean it might not be possible, but I think this road journey might just be running out of road as to the way things are going?

If its a yes, then assume I tell everyone, before ripping the doors off, grabbing whats inside and making best speed for Timpson. But not before taunting the elementals so they've got a reason to break off or try and follow me. Then I kick it into high gear and poor on the speed. Assuming this is doable. If not then I'll need to reconsider my options. By the way nice description of the battle.

Sj

Lionheart was a blur as he moved around the battlefield.

He appeared in front of Quills' current target, a man made of whirling wind and debris, distracting him - the fellow swung at him, only to hit air! - and Quill scythed through his elemental form, catching something solid in the middle! Enough in fact to cause the fellow to howl in pain and stagger forward, then revert to a mud and water drenched human form, complete with claw marks across his belly! "H... help! I need help!" he cried, fearful as Quill moved in.

Lionheart zipped to a stop in front of him, then started explaining. He saw Quill calm, his eyes turning less feral. His claws seemed to shrink slightly, and he became less bestial.

"Take what's in the truck?" he said, glancing over Lionhearts shoulder at the man clutching at his belly. He hawked and spat "Hey! Hold onto it, tight as you can! We got somethin' in th' jet that'll take care of it, but if you so much as squirm, or use your powers..." he made a cutting motion across his neck.

Looking back at the truck Quill spoke on. "Whatever is in there is clearly valuable, or dangerous. Or both. The truck will have facilities inside to transport it but..." he looked about. "After two attempts - assuming we can drive this lot off - who is to say there won't be more? You'd need an escort. I trust you, but my team doesn't, not yet. I say get to it, while the team is up to their necks in battle. Go. The hell with it! I'll... ha... try being diplomatic, like..." he grinned, a toothy fanged look that was much like a crocodiles!

Just then the bare chested man appeared in the air, twisting as he leaped, and prepared to resume battle with Quill! Lionheart sped on...

=========

"Busy right now!" shouted Thunder Woman. "Don't you..." she said, after grabbing a huge clump of earth and slapping it on the head of an elemental facing off against her!

The creature, made of water, grunted as the earth absorbed much of his form, causing him to cry out and drag himself away...

The Earth Elemental slammed a car sized fist down, narrowly missing Thunder Woman!

"Are you just going to stand there?"

Lionheart explained as Thunder Woman grappled with the Earth Elemental.

Grunting, Thunder Woman shouted "Well, you need... to make it clear... to the Ultrahumans... you're on THEIR side and NOT ... nnngh... working in league with these chumps... whoever... nnngh... they are!" She finished by throwing her opponent fifty feet through the air!

Lionheart turned and mind blasted the water elemental!

OOC Critical Blow... Mind Blast 13 plus Roll(2d10)+0: 8,8,+0 Total:16 BOOOM double plus Roll(2d10)+0: 2,3,+0 Total:21 (34) vs Int 7 + TN11 + CB4 (22) +5 Effect (18) vs Mind 8= 10 damage. MONSOON (facing Thunder Woman) is DOWN

The Elemental cried out, screaming as the psychic Lion mauled him then vanished! A mere human fell backwards to splat into the mud, unconscious!

"Well why didn't you do that in the first place?" spluttered Thunder Woman, who was coated in mud from head to foot save for the smear she just cleared from her mouth!

"Get on with it!"

Lionheart grinned then sped off to the truck. Without further ado he grabbed the metal, and found it yielded fairly easily to his hands...

Riiiiiip!!!!

Inside was a large cylinder on a stand, about the size of a van. Whatever was inside that cylinder...

"STOP!" shouted Auran as she landed behind Lionheart. She thrust a hand at Lionhearts back, ready to fire, despite being shaky on her feet and barely conscious! Her light flickered and spluttered, and it was clear the recent battle she'd been in had really flattened her! "I WILL NOT LET YOU TAKE THAT!"

OOC Decision time... unless Lionheart can persuade the hard headed would be leader of this group of Ultrahumans that he's on her side!

Admin wrote:"STOP!" shouted Auran as she landed behind Lionheart. She thrust a hand at Lionhearts back, ready to fire, despite being shaky on her feet and barely conscious! Her light flickered and spluttered, and it was clear the recent battle she'd been in had really flattened her! "I WILL NOT LET YOU TAKE THAT!"

OOC Decision time... unless Lionheart can persuade the hard headed would be leader of this group of Ultrahumans that he's on her side!

"Mam, so far you and your group have stepped on my toes more than once. You've treated me like a criminal just for having abilities, without due process or for our breaking any laws -other than being who I am. All along all I've tried to do is protect this vehicle and its contents so that Tipson and his cronies can get what is in here. Its his van and contents. And in return I can get some White Dwarf Material to stop an invasion and my friends deaths from the microverse.

However all you guys have done is made it worse. Now I've just pulled saved you...again. And you want to stop me from doing what this poor delivery driver cannot seem to do, for want of meta humans tripping over themselves to get to this thing! No more, I've had it with you guys and your flashy suits. We've tried not to interfere and just made sure this lorry got to its destination. But everyone seems to want to take a piece of the action and its innocent people who count the cost. Well no more, if this is what people want they can chase me to Timpson's and knock on his door.

Now you can stand aside or I will give you a reason to hunt me, but lady you'd better make sure this is worthwhile. I'm no criminal, I am not bound by your jurisdiction so I am going to do what duty compels me, and I am asking you not to stop me."

Lionheart looked rightly peeved, his eyes flashed and he had a look of a man who had clearly had enough. Energy crackled all around him and it was clear that despite how Auran felt, Lionheart looked ready for anything.

OOC: Stand off and hoping I don't have to fight them to get away, with Thunder woman. But ready to do so, all the same.

Sj

Aurans' face changed from anger to confusion. "I... we can't let you just take this..." though doubt was written all over her face

Lionheart saw something out of the corner of his eye then - the lightning type being she'd been fighting had risen from the mud and 're-powered' with crackling energy all around his form! He levelled an arm...

Auran looked tense, wondering what to do about Lionheart but ready to stop him. Would a shout alert her, bearing in mind he had only a second or so - loads of time for him at super speed but not so much for her!

Or would he take the blast meant for her, hoping his forcefield could stop it, or attack the Lightning man... or simply let him blast her?

OOC Will update this one hopefully tonight when I get up for work. Currently splitting my sleep into little chunks getting what I can. It's leaving me shattered, mind Night shifts. Arggh.

Admin wrote:Aurans' face changed from anger to confusion. "I... we can't let you just take this..." though doubt was written all over her face

Lionheart saw something out of the corner of his eye then - the lightning type being she'd been fighting had risen from the mud and 're-powered' with crackling energy all around his form! He levelled an arm...

Auran looked tense, wondering what to do about Lionheart but ready to stop him. Would a shout alert her, bearing in mind he had only a second or so - loads of time for him at super speed but not so much for her!

Or would he take the blast meant for her, hoping his forcefield could stop it, or attack the Lightning man... or simply let him blast her?

OOC Will update this one hopefully tonight when I get up for work. Currently splitting my sleep into little chunks getting what I can. It's leaving me shattered, mind Night shifts. Arggh.

OOC Take it as read from me that either I will take the blast for her, or else try and get the blaster if there is time. If I take the blast full power to force field. However I'd much rather take lightening dude with a mind blast. And move in front of Auran before doing in case the blast still goes off.

Sj

OOC Sorry about the delay. These night shifts are killing me and my ability to time manage is hampered by the fact I grab sleep in little clumps fit round the other stuff I need to do in a day. It's a mess.

Right then, we have a BLOCK maneuver going on with Lionheart attempting to use his own body to block with. He needs to use points into his SUPERSPEED to be fast enough to get in the way which means he can't put those points into his FORCEFIELD, so this might hurt... maybe. His Forcefield is 'only' 8 but his Resistance is still 21, so we'll see.

22 Dex - 4 (modifier) (18) + Roll(2d10)+0: 9,6,+0 Total:33 vs TN11+18 attack (lightning blast) (29) +3 Effect (to 21) vs 18RV. Block successful.

Lionheart leaps between Auran and the cowardly blast by the Lightning Elemental!

OOC Attack vs Lionheart

18 Lightning plus Roll(2d10)+0: 2,10,+0 Total:12 (30) vs TN11 + Dex 22 (33) - 4 (modifier)= Hit +1 Effect.

19 Effect vs 21RV - 4 (modifier)= 17. Lionheart takes 2 damage

I *think* I read the rules right on that. Either way, the blast had little effect against LH

With lightning crackling over his body Lionheart managed a smile. Months ago this would have stood a chance of frying him. Thanks to his merging of power with his former energy, he had achieved his full potential and as such a blast that would easily melt steel merely irritated him.

OOC LIONHEART ON BODY 11/13

Auran leaped back, levelled an arm and blasted back at her opponent!

OOC Roll(2d10)+0: 7,2,+0 Total:9 Hit

He cried out, changed to human, then slumped into the mud! It was clear he;d been on his last legs even as she was. "You... you took that blast for me! Are you alright? I... i don't think I could stop you even if I wanted to now..." she said, and stood aside for Lionheart to do as he pleased with the truck. Auran pressed a button on her wristband "All Ultrahumans! Note that the newcomer and Thunder Woman - that IS her I think - are on our side! Manuever 6!"

Across the battlefield, Quill growled "About ****ing time!" and broke off from his opponent who yelled "Hey! We were fighting! What the heck?" as Quill performed Maneuver 6 with his team mates - and one unfortunate bad guy got gang piled into the floor!

All of a sudden the battle seemed to shift, with the heroes going on the offensive.

Lionheart glanced over to Thunder Woman who was slogging away at a creature made of rock. She gave a muddy faced grin then turned to leap aside from a blow. He was clear to scoop up the cylinder in this thing and leave the battle if he so wished!

Admin wrote:Lionheart glanced over to Thunder Woman who was slogging away at a creature made of rock. She gave a muddy faced grin then turned to leap aside from a blow. He was clear to scoop up the cylinder in this thing and leave the battle if he so wished!

Grabbing the cylinder, he looked to Auran and quickly nodded his appreciation. Then moving quickly to Thunder Woman, he stood nonchalantly to one side and said, "Are you going to keep playing with Mr Rock here much longer, only I've got to deliver this, grab some White Dwarf Material, save my friend from the Micro-verse and probably wash my hair or something. So can you stop playing with Rocks for brains here cause I kinda got used to having your company, kapish?"

Lionheart said a large grin on his face, even as he prepared to assist if Thunder Woman needed it. He knew she would be offended if he did, unless she really was unable to manage the rock man.

OOC:Hey mate with all you've been through, plus the crazy work shifts you have to pull its any wonder your sane at all. No worries from my end. I've got plenty keeping me going. I appreciate knowing your still alive though ;-). I hope when you get to your hols next week, the break you need is the break you'll get. As regards to updates well it can wait a week if need be.

Sj

Thunder Woman grunted as the rock man crunched its arm closed around her head and her reply was somewhat muffled!

A moment later she spluttered "No! I got this... just... get rid of the darned thing before someone else turns up for it!" Even as she spoke she twisted, dropped her weight, then twisted again to pop out of the confused rock mans' arm! Covered in mud, hair a mess, she theatrically turned to Lionheart and gave him a wink before blowing a kiss!

Lionheart grinned, then looked behind her and pointed! She smiled again, spun and delivered a full bloodied kick to the Rock Mans' groin!

The crunching noise rang out across the battlefield and every male in the fight winced as the rockman groaned, then toppled slowly backwards to SPLASH! into the mud!

Thunder Woman didn't have time to finish him off though as FWOOOSH! a jet of water struck her and sent her sliding across the churned up mud! A water elemental rose up from the ground and Thunder Woman shouted "Just go! I'll help the Ultrahumans with these clowns!"

Lionheart paused, nodded and glanced back.

"Pffftt! We... splutter... got this!" she grunted as she scooped up the rock man and smashed him down onto the water elemental!

Elsewhere Quill battled against the bare chested fellow and shouted "Help is already on its way, just don't run into any more trouble!"

OOC Lionhearts call - he can put the cylinder aside and help - or get gone, whilst the going is good. It's your call as to whether the Ultrahumans 'have' this!

Admin wrote:OOC Lionhearts call - he can put the cylinder aside and help - or get gone, whilst the going is good. It's your call as to whether the Ultrahumans 'have' this!

It pained him, but leaving the others to clear up seemed like the right thing to do. Especially if help was indeed on the way, attention he didn't need. With Timpson being the only secure line to White Dwarf material, he knew that further government lackies, would only likely spoil and slow his chances to get to it interminably. Such men, as Timpson could cower those whom the Ultrahumans, work for, with just a threatened bad headline or online post and they'd back down. No, like it he did not. But lump it and make good what the others and especially Thunderwoman had done, he must.

With that he strode purposefully into the truck, grabbed the cylinder and without fear of being uncovered, watched or worried over, he let loose his full power. Taking off as only he could, toward Timpson's complex. It was time to meet the man who had constantly been a thorn in his side, even though they'd not really even met once.

Sj

The metal crumpled somewhat under Lionhearts grip but held together as he took off at speed, getting his bearings and heading like a missile in a straight line that would take the truck hours to cover but him only minutes!

The landscape flashed by underneath. It was barren, rocky, sparse vegetation, hilly and mountainous in places. In the middle of nowhere then.

Minutes later he saw several gleaming dots in the sky and could guess who this was - the welcoming committee!

They were armoured enforcers the like of which he'd met before, but this time they were a little more restrained as Lionheart flew up to them.

"HALT!" bellowed the amplified voice. There were half a dozen in silver/black armour. "Mr Timpson knows of what you've done and we're here to welcome you to the facility - not to fight. If you'll follow us...?"

Lionheart could fly past them... he looked beyond and saw... what? A dusty small settlement that could have been out of the Wild West save for the cars there. A backwater dead end place where there was little to do for work or recreation... what was...?

Unless it was a front. Timpson was possibly the richest man in the world. No one knew the extent of his wealth for sure, but his genius was unquestioned. Whatever the facility was, it was either underground or hidden by some means, and there were doubtless other defences. His danger sense didn't immediately warn him of danger but that didn't mean there wasn't any...

Admin wrote:Unless it was a front. Timpson was possibly the richest man in the world. No one knew the extent of his wealth for sure, but his genius was unquestioned. Whatever the facility was, it was either underground or hidden by some means, and there were doubtless other defences. His danger sense didn't immediately warn him of danger but that didn't mean there wasn't any...

Lionheart simply nodded, taking the opportunity to use his augmented senses to take in whatever he could and find any weaknesses, clues or reasons to be concerned. The idea that a base could be built under a living town, struck Lionheart as mercenary. Human shields, struck a sour note with him. Still looks can be deceiving and one shouldn't jump to conclusions, he reminded himself. Timpson may be a cold as they get, but that cold... The question was one impossible to answer without more information.

Moving on with the guards, Lionheart continued to use the time as they flew over to take a good look around. He wanted as much info going in, as possible. Too much was at stake, and if things got nasty he wanted to know where the backdoor was...

Sj