The New Vanguard! Frostbite Issue #8 - Home at last... but what is home?

St John Hall, north of London...

Farewells said, promises that they would return, Lionheart flying off to space to see what the ULTRAHUMANS wanted with him, and a sense that while he was home, he wasn't quite sure what home meant to him.

JETHRO the android butler had greeted/met the shuttle as it was lowered onto the lawns of the gardens and the team had tumbled from it, crying and dropping to their knees, looking up at the evening sky and hugging each other as they realised they were back on Earth!

One of the homes of Justin St John, former superhero and friend to the Vanguard, it served as headquarters and home for as long as the team wanted it. At the moment, only one of the team was interested in calling it home. Jethro arranges for clothes and transport for the team and Catherine Stowe, former superhero known as Captain Ion had run out from the building and tossed aside the gun she carried when she recognised the team!

"You're back!" she exclaimed and hugged each in turn. As Jethro led the others away to where they could shower and change from the rags they wore, Catherine hugged Frostbite and said "Welcome back Joe! I viewed the CCTV footage over and over what happened and knew you'd be back."

LIONHEART (OOC in his own issue after this small part) turned as WANDAFAR and a WAR CYBORG walk from the ship. Catherine is overjoyed to see Wandafar but isn't sure what to make of the War Cyborg which served as the shell for the living spirit of TIMMY JONES, former hero turned villain and now ...? Who knew?

Timmy stood silent, looking around the grounds of the manor. He knew both Frostbite and Lionheart could easily smash his body into ruins. "Where is my cell?" he asked in a robotic voice.

Catherine turned to Frostbite. "You two can handle him if he gets out of order, right?" She walked back towards the great house. "Dinner time, then we'll talk."

=========

Steph (Reflex) gathered a small holdall and sighed, looking about.

"Time to go, for now Boss." she said, hugging Joseph Rigdon. "I'll be back, but I need time. We all do. I spoke with the others. No one is sure what to do but I've had a taste of what life could be like. It was... too much looking back... Too soon. Too much. We nearly died. yet... we all got out through the other side of the fire, and what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right?" She laughed nervously, then wiped a tear away. "You got us back Boss. All of us. We made it home. Now we see what happens next." She hugged Lionheart and Wandafar and walked out to where the others were waiting in a mini bus. Details had been left, mobile phones handed out, promises to stay in touch made and everyone had declared they needed time. Time to think, reflect, gather their thoughts and see what remained of their former lives.

Catherine, Jethro, Frostbite, Lionheart, Wandafar and Cyborg Timmy watched them drive off.

"A lot's happened since you've been gone. Basically the world was overrun with awful massive monsters that smashed through superheroes AND villains, trashing cities and rampaging. Then, seemingly just in time, Alien ships hovered over cities and wiped out the monsters, offering their hands in peace. Most of Europe wanted the technology and hand of friendship. After a referendum Britain and America jointly decided to reject the Aliens offer of an alliance. They stand alone now, for the most part, independent and self reliant. We have had word that not all is well in those other countries. Draconian laws, disappearances, rumours of experiments and more were heard. Resistance networks had sprung up and more details leaked out. However to keep the peace the Government has quashed the rumours where it can and ordered a news blackout. The Aliens call themselves ADVENT and I think that they intend to enslave humanity!" said Catherine.

That was a lot to take in but Frostbite knew no matter what the challenge, heroes would rise to face it!

Admin wrote:
Catherine Stowe, former superhero known as Captain Ion had run out from the building and tossed aside the gun she carried when she recognised the team!
"You're back!" she exclaimed…"

Once he had extracted himself from the joyful Catherine something that oddly Joe wasn’t unhappy about. He hadn’t realised how much he was attached to the odd group of people that called this home.  Who called them, his part of their extended family.  People who, as much as the team out there, were part of the group helping in whatever way they can.

Following a much-needed meal.  "Space veg and fruit will get you through a day, but I'm not sure I can look at a melon the same way again"

Joe said by way of explanation after spending what seemed like hours over lunch, with the others interjecting different bits to the story.  Things he’d not appreciated, not known or simply forgotten in the long and weary journey they’d made from micro space to deep space to home.  

Admin wrote:
Steph (Reflex) gathered a small holdall and sighed, looking about.
"Time to go, for now Boss."

In some ways, this was the hardest parting.  Steph had proven herself more than once a capable right-hand gal.  A real soldier and a comrade in arms.  She was smart, clever and brave.  Given all that she was pulled out of when she gained powers she’d not asked for, and a whole lot of life that had happened without her say so.  

"We’ll miss you.  I’ll miss you" Seeing her expression he nodded.  

"No, you were a great help and a great team leader.  I know it was tough.  It was tough on us all, and had you not been yanked their unwittingly…"

Not for the first time Joe’s eyes strayed to where they’d left the robotically housed Timmy,

"Well I can see the sense in getting your life back… "

That part was always hard for Joe.  He too had been yanked out of time, his family long forgotten his past now very past.  He didn’t have a family or a wife or children.  In some ways with the risks they took, the jobs they went on the mission, it was probably as well.  If one day he got to hang up his hat, maybe then… He’d denied himself love and affection, having had both ripped away from him the past.  It was easier, so he told himself to wall his heart off.  But in truth, it did hurt, and it hurt most at times like this.  

But then the time to go had come and he returned his mask to its place, to professional and courteous to burden others with his own sorrow.  He didn’t want to manipulate people into staying if they wished it so be it.  If not…well, there was always Jethro to talk to and if he was really stuck, Wandafar could try to explain his love of Soaps to him.
 

Admin wrote:

Catherine, Jethro, Frostbite, Lionheart, Wandafar and Cyborg Timmy watched them drive off.

"A lot's happened since you've been gone…The Aliens call themselves ADVENT and I think that they intend to enslave humanity!" said Catherine.”

"That is a lot to take in Lionheart mentioned something about it on our way in.  He ran into some America heroes who were interested in getting his help.  I think he is pretty sure to go.  I can understand it, he’s not one to let the dust settle.  He was bread for action, even more than me.  I can’t imagine him waiting long.  I don’t doubt he’ll be back soon enough.  Meanwhile, we’d best get our heads back into the game here, find out what we can do to stand fast if the Aliens who came to terrorise London should return.  Of if these Advent weren’t behind it all along, and therefore could unleash them on an uncooperative nation."

Meanwhile, Lionheart took it all in.  He had spoken earlier to his oldest friend, old being a relative term to a Clone, Frostbite and explained what had happened on re-entry.  
He was sad to see the others go, they were quite the team, what they lacked in raw power they’d more than made up for in raw courage.  They’d grown so much, he knew Frostbite was proud of them.  

They’d seen so much death and destruction, now earth, the earth he called home was also threatened America and the UK going it alone against these sinister aliens the Advent.  It was time the future cop, took a look at the global stage and what was going on since he’d been away.  

Looking around the beautiful grounds, taking in the sights, sounds of birds, the wind in the trees and the familiar sights, smells it felt good to be home.  But Lionheart was a restless soul, he wasn’t one to wait for long.  His body’s incredible healing powers meant he hardly needed rest, and his power craved expression.

Looking up, he stared off into space, and setting his sights on the object, the huge space station he’d been disclosed earlier, he took off into who knew what…

Sj

Wandafar had declared "Don't disturb me! I hef hundreds of episodes to catch up on. I vill be in my leb!" he declared and strode off as quickly as his small legs would carry him!

Catherine rolled her eyes and turned to Frostbite. "We need to decide what to do with Jones. He should spend time in jail but how can you jail a disembodied spirit? Maybe drop him off on a deserted desert island? Or do you think he could be rehabilitated?"

Wandafar paused and turned "I ken look into making a body zet looks more human for him. I would be less offensive zen ze body he hez now but he could vork down ze street in a more normal fashion. I'll look into it after a dozen or so episodes of Coronation Street."

Catherine shrugged. The pair walked through the house and she explained "Jethro is watching Jones. The house defence systems will shut him down with an EMP if need be. We've beefed up defences here. Justin bankrolled it and we hoped you'd be back but... you've been gone a while."

They reached a pair of double doors and entered a large circular room with a bank of screens on the walls. "We monitor various news channels in here as well as being able to hack into cctv systems that the security services use. Not strictly legal but we do it purely in an emergency situation and not to pry. Here."

She turned to a console and activated a number of options on a touch screen. Half a dozen screens winked on to reveal a siege around a Casino in Birmingham. Police were viewed from a number of angles that were cctv systems on the street, traffic cameras and the like. "The police seem able to handle most small time situations like this. These days banks are too heavily armoured to get at but Casinos, bookmakers, anyone with large amounts of cash are fair game it seems. Hmmm."

She adjusted some settings and zoomed in. Armoured/armed police were firing at someone inside the Casino and suddenly a blur of motion suggested something bad had happened. It had indeed.

Frostbite watched in horror as first one, then another broken body was tossed through the air like a rag doll to crash into the windscreen of a parked car or bounce and tumble down the road. Dead policemen.

"They are dealing with supers but ... where are the UKChampions? Birmingham, heck the country is their jurisdiction. I shouldn't think they would pass up something like..." said Catherine. She turned, checking another panel. "Ah. They are dealing with  one... no three... four more incidents. All Casinos in the Midlands! They must be stretched thin! I know you were wanting to rest up but..." She cringed, looked at the screen then at Frostbite...

==========

Meanwhile Lionheart sped up towards space.

He knew he'd see his friend soon but this was something that intrigued him. Save the world, make the best use of his powers and be just one amongst an entire team of similar or even greater powered individuals! Amongst the Vanguard he'd been the stand out. As a member of the Ultrahumans - if they took him - world and galaxy class threats would be on the agenda every day! His travels had taken him through time, fighting against and alongside gods, across the universe, into the microverse and beyond. And now...?

As the sky turned darker beyond the atmosphere and space beckoned he knew that the sky quite literally wasn't the limit!

OOC Lionhearts new issue will fire up soon (I'll start it today so keep an eye out for a new issue)

[quote="Admin"]She adjusted some settings and zoomed in. Armoured/armed police were firing at someone inside the Casino and suddenly a blur of motion suggested something bad had happened. It had indeed.

Frostbite watched in horror as first one, then another broken body was tossed through the air like a rag doll to crash into the windscreen of a parked car or bounce and tumble down the road. Dead policemen.

"They are dealing with supers but ... where are the UKChampions? Birmingham, heck the country is their jurisdiction. I shouldn't think they would pass up something like..." said Catherine. She turned, checking another panel. "Ah. They are dealing with  one... no three... four more incidents. All Casinos in the Midlands! They must be stretched thin! I know you were wanting to rest up but..." She cringed, looked at the screen then at Frostbite...

"Rest, phuh, who needs rest..." Frostbite pulled a face knowing that he had taken a beating both mentally and physically. Some R & R to get used to the new facilities catch up on a year's worth of whatever with Catherine and whatnot wouldn't go a miss. And a cool beer wouldn't be bad either. But right now...now this might just be the best therapy he could get getting back into the world he knew in the way he knew best.

"Prep transport, I can't fly at speeds like Lionheart and by the time I get there, the action will be over and I can't let those boys in blue have all the fun."

And with that Frostbite was running through the halls, hoping that transport was seriously upgraded since their flight into space.

OOC: And here we gooooooo....

Sj

The pair raced through the great house. A voice rang out over the tannoy.

"I hef been monitoring stuff. Vell, vatching ze news. I shell hold ze fort und I hef taken ze precaution of preheating ze Vanguardjet. I came up viz zet name. Funky huh? Ven i hef gotten a clear look at who you are facing I shell contact ze jet. Luckily I can votch ze screens und see ze siege und not miss a moment of Eastenders. Und Corrie. Hmm maybe I ken votch Neighbours too. Und Home und Avay. Intriguing." said Wandafars voice.

Catherine placed a hand on a panel and the pair stepped into a lift. "You can tell he's back. I have a twitch in my eye when he annoys me, and its twitching." muttered the former superhero.

They stepped out several levels below the mansion and jogged across a hanger to a waiting jet that was humming with life...



Frostbite saw the sleek new lines and noted that no decals or identification had been applied yet. "Prototype!" yelled Catherine from the cockpit as she readied controls. A HISS and whirring of doors above the jet opened to the sky above and the jet sealed the doors as Frostbite settled into the co-pilots seat. "Might be a bit rough. We had this built based on a number of Wandafars designs... that he'd scribbled on the back of a napkin. Full stealth, shielding technology and the speed... well let's just say it raised an eyebrow or two in testing when we were too close to an RAF training exercise and we 'buzzed' them. Ahem. I, uh, whacked the throttle on and we kind of left them. So much for the RAFs new jet."

The jet rose with full VTOL and the wings folded out as it set off slowly.

"The shielding does reduce damage but not so great as you'd imagine. It's main function is to dampen any environmental effects when we hit Mach 7 in atmosphere. It might be able to go faster but a number of systems fried themselves so that was that. Wandafars designs ARE next gen technology but making them with modern stuff tends to produce... mixed results. Justin St John pays the bills. We spend the money." explained Catherine.

"Here we go!"

With the shielding there was barely any pressing back into the seat and Frostbite raised an eyebrow! The landscape blurred beneath them as they sped across from the outskirts of London to the centre of Birmingham...

The journey took just over two minutes! (OOC 12APs of speed...)

Slowing over the outskirts of the city Catherine explained "We are fully cloaked and invisible to standard radar scans. We're not quite 100% invisible though. There is a weird 'shimmer' we haven't ironed out when we turn. Wandafar can sort that."

"When he's finished watching Home and Away" she added, rolling her eyes.

They hovered near silently over a flat roof around half a mile away from the ongoing crime scene. Catherine dropped the rear hatch which opened quickly. "You're up hero!" she called. She'd handed him an earpiece to stay in constant communication.

ooc: So happy to see my Wandafar has seen so much action in this series. And it is so great this his non-German German accent is still present. It just sounds German, it is actually how his people would speak English with THEIR accent.

Admin wrote:"When he's finished watching Home and Away" she added, rolling her eyes.

They hovered near silently over a flat roof around half a mile away from the ongoing crime scene. Catherine dropped the rear hatch which opened quickly. "You're up hero!" she called. She'd handed him an earpiece to stay in constant communication.

Frostbite laughed it was good to be back and to have some kind of 'ordinary' to come back to. Taking the earpiece he inserted it before floating off the floor and gathered his super hard ice crust around him. He was aware that heating or not, his super cool body made people quickly uncomfortable in close quarters.

Testing the ear Piece, Frostbite thumbs upped Catherine and spoke as he stepped out into the air "Now I know you probably are going to get take out coffees, with that frothy milk topping, so beloved of our Italian friends, but if you get mine, make sure its a black. Hopefully, I'll be back before its cold."

He said with a wink as he shot off, taking in the scenes of Birmingham glowing beneath him. Oh but boy it was good to be back on even if it was on his adopted home soil.

The wind whipped past, the smells rose to greet him, somethings don't change then, he mused. Even pouring on the speed, he could muster and creating a tailwind to try and push himself faster felt positively placid next to the ships acceleration. But soon enough the unfolding scene below came to his ears before he saw the sight of it below. Taking a wide sweep to circle around he moved into position.

"Frostbot, let's hack onto what we can and find out from any systems what is going on. If they've got any tec in play here, I'll want you to have fun with it."

OOC: Ok so Frostbite will take a look at what we are facing here and probably try to keep damage and damaging parties away from crowds, police and buildings. And then go in hard with his Frostbeam and aim for holding back until he knows what he is facing toe to toe.

Sj

Frostbite circled the scene.

The street was cordoned off in all directions and a building - the Casino - was surrounded by armed police. There were several burning cars filling the air with smoke and new crews stayed behind cover whilst trying to keep filming.

From up here he couldn't see who was in the Casino which was a large two storey square building a hundred feet square until a beam of something like plasma or a laser lanced out of a top floor window and into a police car, punching it into the air as it exploded and sent cops staggering out of the way! They were SERIOUSLY outgunned!

Frostbot spoke up 'To access the communications network by possessing a radio you will need to get closer. I recommend liaising with the Police commander on site otherwise they are likely to shoot at you as well. Their weapons cannot possibly harm you but stray shots may hurt innocents.'

He stayed up in the air for a few more moments and saw a convoy of three black SUVS screeching through the city streets coming towards this area. friend... or Foe?

Admin wrote:Frostbite circled the scene.

He stayed up in the air for a few more moments and saw a convoy of three black SUVS screeching through the city streets coming towards this area. friend... or Foe?

"Roger that." KNowing that in extinguishing the flames would likely reveal his presence and possibly give away the opportunity for surprise wasn't something that Frostbite was want to do.  But since the men inside were clearly holed up.  Which another thought suggested was strange, were they that stupid as to think they'd not get cornered or was that part of the plan.  IN any case under siege in all likelihood of sneaking in was pretty remote.  

Spotting the one that was in charge, and giving a wide birth to the possibility of being targetted, Frostbite extinguished the flames, moved through the crowd his ice-covered presence and glowing blue chest plate a strong give away to what was going on.  As he moved passed the armed police, he briefly touched an arm and then a communications pack to allow Frostbot to establish a link-up, before making his way slowly so as not to provoke a response to the man in charge.

"Good evening gentlemen..."  Frostbite still retained his obvious American accent but his words had that clipped precision from being in and among the Brits so long.  "I'm Frostbite, and I'm here to help, if you'll permit me..."  

OOC:Ok so looking to find out what intel we know, and then seek to find a way in.  I suspect that there is more than meets the eye, as I inferred above, and so they ought to be aware that this might be a decoy or that there might be another planned escape through the sewers or above etc.  Anyway FB will seek to offer his services and get on with helping out.  I'm intrgued by the SUV's SMITE Perhaps?

Sj

OOC Lionheart is up too...

"Wait! You can't... uh.. is he with the Champions? Who..." spluttered an armed police officer as Frostbite moved through the crouching policeman.

A pair stood behind one of the armoured vans and Frostbite saw their expressions change. Levelled guns at the hero suddenly lowered at the gesture of one of the officers who turned, revealing a woman who looked determined and not to be messed with!

"You'd better have some ID on you mister." she snarled. "We've been messed about before by unregistered types and until SMITE get here I'm in charge!"

"in fact... Johnson! Get this guys info up! Aside from the fact he's a yank i want to know what he had for breakfast! Now!"

Strangely enough the second in command called up details on Frostbite. pretty vague and nothing personal but apparently "He has A1 clearance by SMITE ma'am."

Frostbite stifled a chuckle and thanked his symbiotic computer program internally.

'Thank more the fact that in this enlightened age, most of the equipment they use is connected. Helpful to us, but troublesome in the wrong hands. Thankfully ours are the RIGHT hands.' explained Frostbot.

The woman in charge, Superintendent Juliet Williamson scowled then nodded. "I'll take it. The situation is that multiple Casinos have been hit at the same time and the bad guys have holed themselves up with hostages. Not only are they grabbing millions from the vaults on site but they are also demanding cash from the sale of the hostages. We've tried going in at one of the other sites and had several deaths and a number of Police officers captured. The UKChampions are en route or on site to those and this is the latest. We're stretched so thin a strong breeze would tear us to shreds!" she glanced at the glock in her hand and holstered it. "May as well have brought pea shooters."

Just then the SUVs were let through the police lines and approached the cordon limit.

"Now what?" muttered the Superintendent.

Wearing all black and black ski masks three people got out of two of the SUVs and other black clad/body armoured troops with military style hardware and top of the line weapons got out, spreading around. A man without a ski mask strode up. "Frank Dawson*. Strategic Metahuman International Terrorist Elimination." he said, waving a badge at Williamson. "We're in charge now. I'll need a full brief then I'll send the kids in."

Williamson looked over Dawsons shoulder at the three in plain black jumpsuits and ski masks. "Supers? We already have one here. This is Frostbite." she stood aside revealing the glowing chestplate and ice coated skin of the superhero!

"You!" exclaimed the tallest of the three in black. He was tall, around 6'6" and built solidly. He stepped forward and Dawson raised an eyebrow. "You know him Surge?"

Surge???

Kevin? Kevin Jackson, one of the original trainees who'd walked out of the team in the early days?

OOC *Dawson. Remember him from the DICE days of Golden Heroes? This is his son. Keep it in the family and all that. I'll be dropping more names that I can dredge up from memory lane...

Admin wrote:Surge???

Kevin? Kevin Jackson, one of the original trainees who'd walked out of the team in the early days?

OOC *Dawson. Remember him from the DICE days of Golden Heroes? This is his son. Keep it in the family and all that. I'll be dropping more names that I can dredge up from memory lane...

OOC: Loving it, it's great to hear that these guys or the proteges are still knocking about, it's a bit like Brig Lethbridge Stewart popping up again in Dr Who.

Frostbite smiled a benign smile. "Well it's good to see you, I think I have a recollection of your father, good man. So how had you planned on tackling this - don't want to step on any toes here but glad to be of use with the UK Champions out of town and everyone stretched thing. I thought I might lend a hand."

Frostbite took a step back clearly it seemed no one had expected him to show up and now their plan was perhaps in need of readjusting on the fly. But with supers of some description on hand, it might be his being present wasn't going to amount to much. Still, he fancied seeing what SMITE had got themselves kitted out with and indeed who these bold bunch of heavy hitters were behind these daring raids. Besides, he told himself, the thought of civie's being a risk wasn't something he could easily walk away from.

OOC: Ok so FB will see what needs doing and lend a hand as directed. I don't mind falling in line with someone elses directive, that is until it all goes south - as often these things are a want to do ;-)

Sj

Dawson nodded and explained "SMITE has its own agents who will take charge of the local police and ..."

He paused. Stood on a police car bonnet only fifty feet away was a costumed figure that didn't 'look' right as if they were blurred. He turned about. "Not one of ours! With you?" he asked Frostbite.

At Frostbites head shake he raised an arm to 'hold fire' and walked nearer to the man.

"That's far enough." said the blurring figure with a voice that sounded like ten people were talking at the same time a fraction of a second out of sync!



Surge ran to a gap with no one around and GREW to around forty feet high!

"GIVE IT UP PUNK! YOU'VE NO IDEA HOW MUCH I WANT TO SMASH YOU TO A SMEAR!" he bellowed!

One of the others in black SMITE garb suddenly lit up and soared into the air, almost too bright to look at! She has a circular energy shield in front of her and readied with another hand to blast with energy over/around the shield!

The third SMITE agent looked about for space then changed... into an Elephant??? It Trumpeted loudly and pawed the ground, ready for a fight!

Williamson rolled her eyes and shouted "EVERYONE CALM DOWN! NO ONE FIRES!" whilst moving forward to stand next to Dawson. "Who are you and what do you want?" she called out to the blurring man.

"A million pounds per person as we demanded an hour ago. I don't see any money so it seems you aren't taking us seriously." he said. "Any attempt to storm the place will result in a LOT of deaths. We aren't messing around. EUROTRASH is back and WE are calling the shots. Once a pecking order is established, we'll be changing a few rules round here. For now though, your time is up. Pay up, or get ready with the body bags!"

Surge and the two other SMITE agents (Elephant in black comic code approved trunks and floating energy girl in the sky) seem unsure of what to do next. They are waiting the call from Dawson, and he's stood there with his hand on his gun in the holster. Armed police are stood by with guns pointed, Williamson glances about and is about to speak...

This is all about to kick off!

'The Police have snipers trained on this person' said Frostbot 'Waiting for the order.' in the corner of Frostbites eye information scrolled up about what little was known about EUROTRASH...

Admin wrote:

"Dawson...?" Frostbite said aware that he was unsure of himself and that the snipers might as well fire randomly as this guy wasn't about to be caught by anything as slow as a bullet, no matter how high tec unless it could predict his next move.

Frostbite wondered if he was generating heat, and if so would cold counteract it? Could he be slowed, could supercooling the air around him in fact so rapidly cool him because the molecules were in flux that he'd literally freeze faster? But that wouldn't stop the fact that there was any number of hostages any number of his number could easily dispatch for having the audacity to try and match wits. It was a classic standoff and they had the upper hand.

"Dawson, don't do anything hasty, there are many people who will pay with their lives if you get this wrong, you need to take a moment before this blows up." Frostbite, himself a man of action hated such an event, but it was hard to imagine what they could do since they had the jump on them.

"If we get the money, what guarantees do we have about the hostages, what if they aren't already dead? Why don't you show some good faith and let me go for one of them - I'm much more valuable than they are, surely."

It was a desperate ploy a move to get in the gang and find out what the state of play was. Perhaps to undermine and countermand the situation from within. And right now it was all Frostbite could think of to throw things their way for a bit longer.

Sj

Dawson turned. "You're not in charge here! Keep... you have a point."

Looking back to the villain he called out "Don't do anything you will later regret! Murder should be a step too far for most of you! Give me more time. I have phone calls to make. We'll see what we can come up with!"

The villain looked to Frostbite. "I don't know you." he glanced about then down at his chest where half a dozen red dots danced about. Rather than panic he laughed! "Blast away, morons! The day when a bullet could worry me is the day I consider retirement!"

He vanished and shots rang out, riddling the car on the spot where he'd been!

The man reappeared only fifteen feet from Williamson and Dawson. "Told you." he said. Surge started forward but was waved back by Dawson. "I don't know you but that logo on the arm suggests you are SMITE! Pah. That's a byword for failure! Tell you what copper, I'll dangle a carrot in good faith and give you your 30 minutes. Try anything? I'll splatter the hostages from the walls and be out of there before you can get those laser sights trained on me again, no problemo."

He turned to where Frostbite stood a way back. "You keep your nose out of this! if you are still here in half an hour there will be TWO hostages to find bags for. YOU!" he said, pointing to Dawson. "Get rid of the supers! They are out of their league and we aren't messing about!"

Then he vanished!

This guy was nearly as fast as Lionheart!!!

Dawson turned, face frowning. "Dammit. What would dad do in a situation like this?" he muttered. "We have 30 minutes people! I want options!" He looked to Frostbite. "I'll use any help I can get. I don't suppose you can turn invisible or move through walls can you?" Looking to the SMITE super agents he shouted "Power down! That's an order! We need to comply... for now." he added quietly.

Admin wrote:Dawson turned, face frowning. "Dammit. What would dad do in a situation like this?" he muttered. "We have 30 minutes people! I want options!" He looked to Frostbite. "I'll use any help I can get. I don't suppose you can turn invisible or move through walls can you?" Looking to the SMITE super agents he shouted "Power down! That's an order! We need to comply... for now." he added quietly.

"Well funny you should say that...as I see it our biggest problem is that our fleet-footed foe, could do for any of the hostages and be out of here before we even take a step. I've seen what speed like he can do. We need a way to get him and the hostages apart from one another. I suggest we comply as best we can. Keep your team out of sight, not sure if they'll have had time to hack surveillance so until I can be sure we've got the inside line, we need to be cautious. Can we get a schematic of the place up."

At that point, Frostbite politely made a few suggestions...

OOC: Just about to go off for a few days, so this is quick, I will try to reply but back in town Wed, all being well. So I'll reply then if not before.

My suggestions are, I go in through the sewers, hoping to hack their systems. We'd need an easy to use, secure way of communicating their guys can't hack on listen in on. What we could do for a telepath right now? And I'll scout about. If they're into the surveillance or got something else more sophisticated I can see if we can direct it to our ends, but it maybe they're using something more.
If the supers are to hand, but out of sight, once I can secure the hostages as safe, then they can come in to mop up, but keeping them safe is the top priority as Frostbite is concerned otherwise this will look bad for everyone and allow this group to operate with greater impunity whilst red tape is all around.

Sj

Williamson piped up. "Just a minute Dawson. Who IS this man?" she said pointing to Frostbite.

"For all we know he could be working with the scumbags in there!" she declared. The police about her readied weapons...

"Well..." said Dawson, turning to Frostbite.

"Wait! I'll vouch for him. He's a good guy. One of the best..." said Surge striding over now at normal size. "Honestly Dawson, this is the guy who I worked with before I ended up with you lot. Not only is he a good leader, but he's powerful and he's ... been about."

Dawson raised an eyebrow. "I'll chat to you later. talk about holding stuff back..."

Surges face was covered but Frostbite could imagine Kevins blushes under the ski mask.

'Perhaps the shape shifter is not limited to just one animal. Something smaller perchance, like an insect, may be better suited to scout. I would need to be closer to leap into the criminals phones or other electronic devices. Much as it pains me to suggest, Timmy Jones is a resource you should utilise. His 'War Cyborg' body is not the most powerful but he represents a resource that should be used AND he may seek to atone for his misdeeds.' suggested Frostbot.

Dawson moved over to the bonnet of an SUV and whipped out a large electronic tablet. Tapping away he called up floorplans from the council for the casino. "Hmmm. They have been partially blocked up. Security. Wouldn't do for thieves to be able to access the casino when it's closed. Still, it's an option. Assuming there are no fat bergs in the way..."

The young woman in all black attire who'd flown and shone like the sun suggested "I can blind them with a flash of light but... that fast guy scares me. He could be moving about and listening to our plans and be too fast to move!"

"Focus Sung Girl! Remember your training!" spat Dawson. "Ok, this is what we'll do. We need someone to check the sewers out without tripping the alarms down there. Next, we'll contact the Casino chain owners and see what they want to do for ransoms..."

"Official policy is not to negotiate with terrorists or criminals!" said Williamson.

"I'll take that under advisement until the bodies start piling up. There are staff and customers in that place. You've seen what one of them might be able to do on his own! There could be a pile of bodies in there already! We don't know who we're dealing with! Eurotrash is an up and down organisation. They succeed, they lose, mostly in equal measure. That means we have some in prison somewhere... Hmmm." said Dawson. "I'll have someone chase that up. Maybe someone knows who these guys are, and once we do, we can formulate a better plan."

"In the meantime we watch, we wait, and we DO NOT fire a shot without an order! My people know that, make sure yours do Williamson!" ordered Dawson. The police boss prickled at being ordered about but nodded. She was out of her depth. Moving over to her officers she passed the word round.

Dawson moved over to Frostbite and gestured for him to step aside for a quiet word. "Right, Surge vouches for you, and I'll take that. My dad always said trust your gut. He didn't like Supers but knew to use the resources he had to get the job done. If this pans out I'll see about getting you deputised. Should keep people like Williamson out of your hair. Good cop but hates capes, according to her profile."

"So, what next? I'm happy to take advice. I'm not new to this, and I've seen military service, but it's like going up against an armoured division with a piece of two by four..." said Dawson, looking frustrated.

With a nod to Surge for the vouch, Frostbite spoke up "I've got someone, who could be useful, it's a risk but I'll vouch for him. He's not new to this game but his appearance is. With him here we should get a good idea of what's going on hell be able to scout out things even better than I. Also that way if I do feel in I know what not to trigger. With your permission... "

Frostbite made ready to call in Timmy, Jones was unpredictable and he didn't want him to get any ideas but, need tasted things far greater than this, yet the simplicity of helping might help him start to see what first got him in the hero business.

Sj

With a call to Catherine he explained what he planned.

"Are you sure? From what you say he needs locking up not given another chance to..." she tailed off, sighing. "I'll have a word and get him over there. This jet is fast enough so he'll be there in 10-15 minutes. I think this is a bad idea, for the record!"

OOC Anything you want to do while waiting?

Admin wrote:With a call to Catherine he explained what he planned.

"Are you sure? From what you say he needs locking up not given another chance to..." she trailed off, sighing. "I'll have a word and get him over there. This jet is fast enough so he'll be there in 10-15 minutes. I think this is a bad idea, for the record!"

Frostbite made a noise he knew it was a risk. "Life is filled with risk, I am hoping this is one that won't come back to haunt us. But you may be right and this wouldn't be my first big mistake if your words turn out to be true. But benching him, when we could save innocent hostages is a risk I'm willing to take."

OOC Anything you want to do while waiting?

Frostbite informed Dawson of the news and whilst he waited surveyed the blueprints again to see if there was any further information he could glean from them, all the while making sure he got a good look at what could be deduced from the command centre. Inwardly the delay seemed interminable. He hated having to wait to imagine how difficult and scared the hostages would be.

Sj

The blueprints didn't reveal other than what those gathered already knew. The main sewer ran beneath the Casino but it was alarmed and armoured. Someone would know about an attempt to enter that way.

Every other exit to the place was watched and the place had a huge police cordon about it with marksmen placed all about. The villains didn't seem concerned about the authorities all about them. They clearly felt that having a number of hostages gave them the edge.

Dawson tried to look cool but the sweat on his forehead suggested otherwise. Williamson was furiously calling anyone she knew to pull strings to have HER put in charge and not some costumed buffoons. The police about looked nervous and they had a right to be. Facing superhumans with weapons that might or might not work against them was like going into a boxing ring with both arms tied behind your back!

Eventually the call came in the earpiece. "Ok, we're here. For the record... well.. he's all yours."

From out of the sky a figure dropped from the invisible (Cloaked) plane that Catherine flew!

Dawson spluttered "What in the...?"

Frostbite called out "HE'S WITH ME! DON'T FIRE!"

CRUNCH!



"I am here at your command Frostbite." said Timmy in a distinctly robotic voice! "Where are the enemies you require me to eliminate?"

Dawson spluttered "WHAT is that???"

Williamson was aghast and there were dozens of guns aimed at Timmy, who stood impassive like a robot! Frostbite knew he was much more than that. He was the disembodied spirit of a murdered superhero who disgraced himself with a plan to become the Emperor of the microverse and launch an invasion of Earth! Could Frostbite trust that he had turned over a new leaf?

Frostbite went over to the Robotic Timmy, not only selling to reassure those around him, but so that in no uncertain terms he could explain the delicate nature of what was happening here and what was required of Jones. "I know you don't have to help me, that you could very well decided that this is beneath you or that this is your opportunity to escape but to what, where? You had it all and then what? This is small, these lives have families, homes, hopes and tonight they could burn brighter from the changes we give them of forever be snuffed out and the world become just a bit darker, meaner, nastier and we get to decide how that will play out by what we get to use of unique abilities to do. Timmy, you've not fit a family to return to save us, these people have anxious children being signed out of a room or off the internet where they are trying to break what has happened to their families held here. I'm asking you to feel that in that run body of yours and come back to us from the darkness you let your ambitions take you. Well you help me, them out tonight?"

Frostbite had no idea if what resided in the robot, amounted to heart, should or a conscience existed being feelings to be aware of. If what humanity was so lost before that their was nothing warm and human left, but he sure good if their was anything, he had reached it and given Jones something more than existence, but purpose and possibly even meaning.

Sj.

OOC:

The Cyborg appeared impassive but Frostbite saw the human eye flick to meet his.

Quietly he said "My life is forfeit. I'm already dead, and my hopes and dreams were quashed with it. If helping you can help me regain... something... I would glad risk my very existence such that it is. Tell me... is there a toy shop around here anywhere?"

Frostbite blinked. What an odd question!

'Just under a mile away, a local toy shop on google maps. Currently closed.' stated Frostbot in Frostbites head.

Frostbite passed on the information.

"I... wish to see if the talents and abilities I once used as a superhero might be useful again. This Cyborg form may be reasonably durable and pack a punch to a certain degree but I wish to try something. The ... surprise angle, so to speak. I'll need toy soldiers, dolls, vehicles etc..." said the Cyborg.

"Who... what is this?" asked Dawson. "With you? What can he do? Any good against speedsters?"

The Cyborg considered. "Probably not. But I am immune to the weapons you wield and can soak up blows that would be meant for your people. I am fully prepared to sacrifice my own life if I can save even one hostage. You have my word on that."

Frostbite knew Timmy was effectively immortal but maybe the disembodied spirit could be killed without a suitable vessel to inhabit. It was one of the former hero turned villain turned... well, that remained to be seen, but it was one of the mysteries about him that ought to be looked into if Frostbite ever got the chance.

Williamson strode up with a snarl on her face. "Time is running out! Are you lot going to stop faffing about and do something or are you getting out of my way so I can do my job?!?"

Admin wrote:The Cyborg appeared impassive but Frostbite saw the human eye flick to meet his.

Williamson strode up with a snarl on her face. "Time is running out! Are you lot going to stop faffing about and do something or are you getting out of my way so I can do my job?!?"

Without raising his voice, but with a noticeable application of steel in his voice, Frostbite starred down the officer. He knew he wasn't used to a situation like this and that fear no doubt of messing this up was partly to blame for his frustration. But Frostbite knew that cool heads needed to be kept and so within no uncertain terms he spoke deliberately, without any anger but with a force that could not be mistaken. "Williamson, I appreciate the delicate situation...but you also do not know what you are dealing with. And if you want don't want to read how badly you can mess this up in the press tomorrow and how you'll be lucky to be policing a park bench when this is over, you'll take a moment to realise we've been around this rodeo a time or two and we're still here."

Frostbite turned to Timmy, "We'll get what you need." Turning to Dawson he said indicated the need to comply and added, "Trust me if anyone can ruin their parade this boy can. As he said, the unexpected is perhaps what will get us the window we need. And believe me, what Tim here can do will be unexpected."

Frostbite was laying a lot of faith on the shoulders of Jones, but the risk was the step you took before you turned an unexpected problem into a winning advantage. He had to hope it would prove so again.

OOC: Ok not sure if TJ wants to be taken to the toy shop, or them to bring all the stuff they can to him. Without Lionheart, I guess its basically going to the toy shop in a van or something.

Sj

"I can fly." said the Cyborg and it turned to Frostbite. "With your leave...?"

Dawson looked to Frostbite then waved "We've got a few more minutes anyway before the deadline is up. We have some money but the plan is to stall. Maybe the UKChampions can sort out the other sites and get over here in force. No offence but we're outgunned from the looks of it. Maybe. or not. WE JUST DON'T KNOW!" he snarled bringing a fist down on a police car.

Williamson scowled at him but didn't say anything.

"Five minutes, then back here, yes?" added Dawson.

========

"This may prove difficult without being able to access the alarm." said Timmyborg as the pair stood outside the darkened toy shop.

Frostbite reached out with a hand and suddenly the shutters started rolling up, the alarm deactivated. The Cyborg turned in surprise and Frostbite merely shrugged "It's a kind of magic." as Frostbot reentered him.

With a finger pointed at the lock Timmys cyborg hand morphed and changed to resemble a lockpick. He inserted it, then adjusted it to flow and fill the gaps. Then with a turn of a finger... CLICK!

They walked into the darkened store and Timmy looked about. "I... haven't been into a toy store for years. I was trying to be taken seriously. Everything seemed to be slipping away. I was a man in his early thirties playing with toys and doing superhero stuff but I'd get my ass kicked and have to be rescued time and again. The talk shows, public appearances, product endorsements dried up. Even the kids birthday parties. Then when i was rock bottom, I was murdered." said the robotic voice.

"Let's see if I can still do it..."

He reached out a hand.

All of a sudden ripping sounds, and the patter of thousands of plastic feet and wheels rang out! As Frostbite watched a sea as dense as any ant swarm came towards them and formed about in a circle! The floor was completely covered!

"Kids still play with toy soldiers thankfully, but the ranges seem limited, sadly. If there's no TV show, they can't sell them by the bucketlo... oh right. Hostages. LISTEN UP!"

Ten thousand plastic soldiers and various shapes of toy robot, car, plane, vehicles, action men, anything that resembled a human form was fair game to Jones' power!

"We have a mission! Innocent people need to be saved! The casino is overrun by evil people. They have hostages. They need to be rescued! Go!"

They ran, rolled, hopped and jumped past the pair into the street and towards the distant casino. Someone passing by would by astounded, but Frostbite had seen enough to expect the amazing! They moved at speed too. They'd be there in minutes!

Timmy turned to Frostbite as the last few hundred stragglers left the store.

"The plan is simple. Some of them may recognise this as the work of Timmy Jones, serial geek loser. They'll think its a joke and melt, smash and trash the toy army. I can see through every single one of these though and some will escape. We'll have eyes and ears in there and enough of my toy army can lift a person. Well, I'll need a couple of thousand, but the main thing is distraction. They'll be angry, rant, rave, threaten but think that if Timmy Jones is the best that Dawson can come up with along with his super noobs, they are home free. That's when we can strike. Hopefully. One at a time, pick them off. First we need eyes in there though."

The more he spoke the more he sounded like the boy who pretended to have a radio controlled toy robot army. His mutant power was too 'weird' for his management company to deal with so for public image all the books, comics, toys and tv series/movies had had him a boy genius able to build and control his own army!



"Ready?" asked Timmy Jones, general of the fantastical toy robot army...

OOC And it is of course a version of 'General Jumbo' from the Beano. Or Dandy. I think.