The New Vanguard! Lionheart Issue #8 - Welcome to the Major League!

OOC I'm not even going to do a proper check, just a roll. Roll(2d12)+0: 12,7,+0 Total:19 Just to ensure there's no embarrassing failures.

Lionheart moved faster than the eye could follow and sped around the pursuing police car.

A heartbeat later it was by the side of the road sat on its wheels which had all be removed and the car left sitting on their sides. The radio was compacted into a small cube and a pair of astonished Policemen watched the SUV disappear into the distance as they held fresh air where the now trashed radio and the removed steering wheel had been.

Saber raised an eyebrow. "You're quick." he said quietly with Lionheart once more seated in the car. "Think you're faster than me?"

Combat Queen turned in her chair "Save it Saber. No one wants to hear your rattling. We are hear to get the job done and catch up with Crusher. After that? We'll see whether Carboni still wants YOU around if you keep needling us and it comes down to a scrap. He might want to surround himself with tough guys, but he doesn't want idiots. Disruptive ones." she said.

Saber snarled, about to reply when the driver mentioned "Cool it. She's got a point. We all work for Carboni. If these two take out the old man and grab that belt, they're on the way ta provin' 'emselves. Ain't no hero gonna be their friend after takin' out a retired livin' legend."

The SUV powered down the freeway at high speed and Smoke added. "Time is of the essence. We see a copter you take it down. However you like, speedy, but do it. Cops ain't a problem. Capes are. try not ta kill anyone. Tends ta get em all riled up."

Saber rolled his eyes. "It's a dog eat dog world Smoke. You an I worked a few jobs together. You ain't clean, none of us is. You do what ya gotta do. If they need a message sendin'? Send it, don't mess about."

"Yeah? And if the ultrahumans come sniffin around?" growled Smoke.

Saber smiled, though without humour. "My sword is one of the few things that can cut through Silver Sentinels skin. You remember that when you... ANY of you, think about takin' me on. The 'indestructible man' ain't so tough as he thinks. I'll show ya one day."

Even Smoke kept quiet. After all Saber was right behind him in the car.

=========

Night time, and the car pulls up on a street of parked vehicles in suburbia. It was a nice town, picket fences and no one about. The soft glow of street lights was interrupted by fireflies flitting about. Quiet, peaceful, the chirp of crickets and very occasional noise of a car barely interrupted the silence.

"Makes me wanna vomit." snarled Saber. "That's the house."

He pointed to a large walled residence of three storeys in height. An old house but lovingly tended and maintained. It was set back from the road by a path of 100 feet or so through a winding garden.

"Old money. The old boy's been skimming off the top of every bust he made I reckon..." laughed Saber.

"Or he's old enough to have bought the house an age ago and finally earned the right to settle down and live in it instead of risking his life for strangers every day." said Combat Queen. Then she caught herself and glanced about.

Smoke turned, and Saber snarled. "Careful 'Amazonia'. You sound very much like you don't wanna be here. An' if you don't, you ain't part o the solution, but suddenly become part o the problem..."

'Amazonia' stood straight, towering over Saber by several inches. "I have a code, 'little man' and it involves leaving ordinary people be. If this man WAS a hero for a few decades then retired years ago, so what? Leave him be. Seems to me this whole thing is going to make more trouble for ALL of us. Everyone here and Carboni. It's a vanity project, and no profit in beating an old man past his best."

Smoke pondered. "She has a point."

Saber snarled but hawked and spat on the road. "The job is the job. Get in there, smash the place up, beat the old guy to a pulp and steal his magic belt. Then we go. We're watchin. Go to it."

Amazonia turned to Lightning Limey and said "Let's go." before striding across the street and hopping over the ten foot high wall as if it were only two feet high. Inside the grounds, the garden was dark but Lionheart figured on there being sensors and alarms about the place. Amazonia leaned in so her mouth was next to Lionhearts ear. "How do you want to play this?" she whispered, unsure whether the villains had super hearing or not...

Admin wrote:Amazonia turned to Lightning Limey and said "Let's go." before striding across the street and hopping over the ten foot high wall as if it were only two feet high. Inside the grounds, the garden was dark but Lionheart figured on there being sensors and alarms about the place. Amazonia leaned in so her mouth was next to Lionhearts ear. "How do you want to play this?" she whispered, unsure whether the villains had super hearing or not...

Lionheart spoke briefly and remained in 'character' "Allow me..." and with that, he sped off looking as he went to avoid traps, tricks and anything else that might upend his pursuit to the door. Truth was, he wasn't much bothered if he did set things off. He didn't wish to appear sloppy but if a trap went off and told Everyman and all in the house he was coming, so be it.

OOC: OK head for the door, but trying to avoid any unnecessary traps, just let a small proximity alarm go or something to warn folk I'm coming. And then I'd get inside turn off the defences so 'Amazonia' can join me and I let her appear to beat up our friend, whilst I try to toss the place, avoiding the sorts of things that cannot be replaced, whilst smashing anything else up that needs to be. With the defences off throw a few bits out, and so on. Make it look like we've gone wild or and a tornado (albeit one that takes all the nice stuff puts it down safely and then covers it with the other stuff that is replaceable broken to smithereens to help cover the valuables) has hit the place.

Sj

OOC Danger Sense 9 + Roll(2d12)+0: 2,12,+0 Total:14 (23) vs
Minor Threat 8 + Roll(2d12)+0: 4,2,+0 Total:6 (14)

+4EV (to 13) vs RV8 = 5 RAPs

Whilst he can't figure out exactly where the alarms/beams/sensors are Lionheart does a good enough job to avoid them. There is a specific path to safely go through the garden but without knowing the things to look for it would be nigh on impossible.

Flying in was a much much trickier prospect. This old guy must have had friends as the house is equipped with all manner of flying sensors, radar, body heat even brainwaves.

The door had been jimmied already to make it look damaged and Lionheart gave a satisifed look as he went down the hallway to a panel and switched the alarms off. It had been left open, labelled and Lionheart crumpled the labels in his hand with a slight grin.

Anything that could be broken and not replaced had a post it note on it and it was clear Everyman had gone to town with the preparations.

He entered a living room and got a shock! The old man was still here! What?!?!?!

Another form entered the room. Despite the cuts, bruises, bleeding, busted nose and limp, it was clear to Lionheart this was Everyman and the original had donned an admittedly ill fitting costume and was wearing his golden belt.



"You shouldn't be pandering to these punks!" hissed the old man. "Back in my day we'd pound 'em into the floor and get em to confess if they was wearing ladies underwear, never mind their plan or location of what they nabbed from the banks!" he coughed a little but tapped the round buckle of his belt and Lionheart saw an instant transformation as he stood up straighter, the belly sucked in some and the chest thrust out more whilst the spindly arms suddenly filled out the costume.

"This young un gave me warnin an heads up but there ain't no way I'm running from my home! Over my dead body! They want this belt? Let em try ta take it!"

Everyman in the guise of battered old hero shrugs. "He wouldn't listen to me. You try telling him. If those guys come in here they'll cut the belt off his dead body!" He sounded exasperated.

Amazonia came in.

"Sweet blessed Jehoshaphat!" muttered the old timer. He looked up at the 2m tall woman and was taken aback. "Ma'am, I never ... wow." he spluttered.

Amazonia looked at Everyman then the retired hero. "Why is he here? Doesn't he know there are assassins outside?" she hissed as quietly as possible.

Admin wrote:[color=#0033cc]Amazonia looked at Everyman then the retired hero. "Why is he here? Doesn't he know there are assassins outside?" she hissed as quietly as possible.

Lionheart wanted to argue, wanted to put the old man in the position where he understood where and what was going on here. But in part, he was just tired of having to spin another tale and instead just be himself. This didn't feel right, but with a resigned nod, he quickly and swiftly explained the situation ending with, "Didn't you ever have a mission in which to fool the bad guys you had to play them and make it look like their enemy was their best ally?"

If this didn't work, Lionheart was determined that he just grabbed the man leave the others to sort out how things looked and got him as far from the scene as possible minus the belt. At least if they could do that part of this mission, then perhaps they could speed through to the point where Carboni had sufficient reason to trust them and they could then find out what they'd come for. They'd waited this long, they'd tried this hard, now wasn't the time to turn back, Lionheart told himself as he let the old man think, but not for too long. He didn't want the others getting suspicious.

OOC: Ok give him a moment to think, if he says no, leave the others to sort out things and I grab the man and get him away at super speed, and then relieve him of the belt if I can. I'd much prefer his support than his animosity, though.

Sj

The old man scowled then considered. "Hmm. In the 60s there was the Kirby caper. Had to fool a guy that part of a bomb was kosher so when he put it all together and flicked the doomsday switch... heh, man, you shoulda seen his face."

He considered for a moment then sighed. "I retired for a reason. I'm old, I've served my purpose, my time is over. You say the other guy wants this belt? He can have it..." he waved off protests "Wait! Wait... the yogi who imbued this belt with power in the Himalayas told me it would only serve the pure of heart and by the sunset of any day after it had been taken from me it would be returned. So, you can take this and not worry about it because of the magic or... hmmm... wait here a sec."

Everyman watched the old guy go and blew out a sigh of relief. "That's one tough old bird. Truth told I didn't think he'd go along with any of this but you two tipped the balance, hopefully. I think..."

The old boy came down the stairs with an identical belt and tossed it to Lionheart. "Looks good don't it? It's a copy, and a trap. For all intents and purposes it DOES amplify the users strength and speed, and allows leaping great distances like this does... but to a far lesser extent and the magic is near enough gone. I had a sidekick called Golden Gal and she was lovely. Poor Helen."

The belts looked identical. "The copy belt magic is almost gone and I can tell at any time where it is using mine, anywhere in the world." said the old man. "They'll have people who can tell this stuff. Trust me, Criminals are dumb but smarter thee days. Nastier too. They don't strap you to a gurney and give you time to escape a death ray these days, they just kill you."

He looked at the other belt and tears filled his eyes. "Poor Helen." He repeated. Combat Queen went to comfort him and she said "We need to hide you, let Everyman do his thing."

He nodded and headed to the basement.

Everyman watched him go then spoke quietly. "Those guys outside will be in shortly. I hope you can stop them from giving me any extra beatings..." He morphed his face to reveal a horrible picture of swollen eyes, cracked and bleeding skin, missing teeth and twisted arm jutting at an odd angle. "Good?"

Not really. Lionheart was about to answer when his danger sense went off. Saber and Smoke were striding through the garden and he looked at lights flashing on a panel on the wall! This was on!

Smashing the front door open the pair strode in and looked about, eventually coming to the room where everything was a mess and 'the old man' was lying in a pile of smashed furniture.

"HA!" said Saber. "We need the belt, but first..." he activated his energy sword and moved to the 'old man'...

Admin wrote:"HA!" said Saber. "We need the belt, but first..." he activated his energy sword and moved to the 'old man'...

Before he could move another inch, Lionheart was beside the 'old man' taking the belt and unseriously hoisting him up before throwing him to the other side of the room. Though he was going more for show than actual strength and hoping that Everyman, would play the part he needed and lie still. Then he was at Sabar's side, belt in hand, and added, "Job done!"

In his persona's usual offhand and to the point way.

OOC: I'm hoping that by giving the appearance the job is done, the clear way Everyman appears to be beaten within an inch of his life and that the place is trashed together with the 'dummy belt' we'd be able to get going. Lionheart will offer than he thinks he deactivated the security, but there may still be something he missed, so they'd best be off unless they wanted to fight their way out. if needed as an extra incentive to get going.

Sj

Saber glances at Lionheart then at the 'broken' form of the old man against the wall.

It looked VERY convincing. Lionheart couldn't tell if he'd thrown the hero too hard!

The villain takes a step forward. Then stops. "I was going to hack the old mans hand off as a 'marker'. I don't care if those 'heroes' out there come after me. The more that hunt me, the more I'll kill."

Amazonia bristled but said nothing. Smoke looked at everyone, took the belt from Saber and considered it. "Time to go."

Saber stared at 'Lightning Limey' and grinned. "Ok. You ticked another box. But I'm watching you. Both ... of you."

"I need to take a shower whenever you say that." muttered Combat Queen as she pushed past. Lionheart noted the assassin moved a fraction of a second before she made contact even though he wasn't looking at her! His reactions?!?! They were unconscious and automatic! At LEAST the equal of his when he was using his superspeed!

'Watch that one.' said Saladin's voice inside. 'Or he will be the death of us both, Agent King!'

=========

"A deal is a deal!" said Carboni as he ran his hands over the belt taken from Everymans' body.

By his side Fenwick looked smug and nodded in appreciation. "As per Mr Carboni's instructions... One million dollars for you, 'Lightning Limey' he said handing a case over. Lionheart popped it open and saw it stacked neatly with money. He could practically smell the blood and dirt clinging to it, and knew it had come from drugs, racketeering, prostitution and murder.

"And for you 'Amazonia'... Mr Carboni offers a choice. One million dollars as agreed or the location of Herman Dwight. The Crusher." offered Fenwick.

"Hey! You never said anything about..." started Amazonia.

"No honour among thieves. You should know that." said Saber, who was perched against a wall watching her like a hawk. "Take the deal lady, or I'll cut you a new one. One you won't like very much. One that could leave you... harmless ... or 'armless' to be more precise."

Carboni smiled "I got what I want, this is your choice. Everything has a price. I can't imagine Dwight owes you a million bucks, so just take the money. Unless you want him for somethin' else..." he said, trying to fish details from Amazonia.

She bristled again and sucked up a breath, clenching then unclenching her fists. Lionheart glanced about and saw Smoke watching him from the shadows. The man was practically invisible and wasn't even trying!

"Ok. I'll have words with the limey and see if he'll share his cut. Tell me where Dwight is. It's personal between me n him."

Carboni laughed. "He doesn't seem your type! Fenwick, tell her. Then escort them off the grounds. There's going to be heat and I want them away from here. When it's died down? You can contact me again. I suggest you use that dough to find a quiet place ta hole up. Those hero types take it real serious when one of their own gets hit. Saber said you did a number on the old guy but wouldn't let him hack a hand off. Why is that Limey?" he asked of Lionheart.

Admin wrote:Carboni laughed. "He doesn't seem your type! Fenwick, tell her. Then escort them off the grounds. There's going to be heat and I want them away from here. When it's died down? You can contact me again. I suggest you use that dough to find a quiet place ta hole up. Those hero types take it real serious when one of their own gets hit. Saber said you did a number on the old guy but wouldn't let him hack a hand off. Why is that Limey?" he asked of Lionheart.

Lionheart shrugged, "Don't like to see a man rush his work" he offered nonchalantly, although that wasn't the reason it was Smoke that called him off.

OOC: Assuming that swings...when we are out...

I'll talk to CC about Crusher and the next steps
Lionheart will want to check on Everyman to make sure he is ok if they have a means of contact following the 'incident'
And also get back in touch with Thunder Woman, see how things at the prison breakout went down, and any more news before they go 'lie low'.
And besides all that I'd love to have a crack at Saber and Smoke taking those guys out and Carboni would be sweet and go some way to making me feel clean again.

Sj

Combat Queen smiled though she was gritting her teeth. "Well, I think we've left a marker here for the kind of work we can do. Saber, I'd love to say it was a pleasure but you're a sleazebag."

She turned to Smoke, nodded then back to Carboni. "I'm not sure I like the way you do business Mr Carboni but I guess it's the old adage if I don't like it **** off."

Carboni laughed and waved his cigar about. "See? I like this lady! She's got chutzpah! leave it a while then get in touch with Fenwick. He'll get ya somethin in a month or so, assuming the feds or Ultrahumans ain't busted ya by then!"

Saber stared at the pair of heroes and grinned at Combat Queen. "See you later, sweetcheeks." he drawled. "You too, Limey. I think we'll have a reckon' one day..."

"Not on my dime you won't!" said Carboni. "Now let's get to work on that other thing..."

The heroes left through the gardens around the mansion and the gates were closed behind them. Walking down the street they were out of earshot before Combat Queen snarled, turning "Ooooh, I'd LOVE to smash their whole operation down. We need to contact TW."

A payphone on a deserted street offered the means for a discreet call and Thunder Woman sounded flustered as she picked up. "Who is.. .oh! You two! I'd almost forgotten. We've had a general alert call go out and we're VERY short handed. A giant monster in Japan is trashing downtown Tokyo. Again. And a superhero fight in Detroiot got out of hand, spilling over into a chemical works and sparking off a huge fire. Two teams are going at it. In addition to that Atomic Champion says the other team ran into trouble and really needs some backup. We're spread so thin but we need to follow up the leads. That said, if you want to get your hands dirty there's a Supermax prison needs locking down before dozens of the worst supers in the country can break free... Uh! Get round it! Don't let it get to the BOOOOM!"

Combat Queen held the phone away from her ear and kept pumping cash into the slot. Using her own mobile had been an option but she was afraid that Carboni's lot might have bugged it somehow. She'd get it checked out but used payphones in the meantime.

"Sorry about that!" Crackled Thunder Woman. "A petrol station just went up! I have to go! Send word when you crack the case! BOOOOOOOM!"

Combat Queen put the phone down and turned to Lionheart. "Well, the choice is ours I guess."

=========

"I'm fine." said Everyman. "I've been speaking to the Golden Avenger and he told me exactly where his other belt is. He even thinks he can summon it back to the main one. You pack a punch, even when you're not trying!"

Lionheart breathed a sigh of relief and clicked the phone down.

Combat Queen sipped her coffee in the roadside cafe where they both sat in civilian garb and they pondered their next move.

"Way I see it, we can go check in on 'Crusher' and find out why he stole the gauntlet, and for whom. Or we catch up with the others and see if some of them or all want to head over to the other group and this supermax prison breakout. That sounds serious. I can't help but think this theft - and that of the broom - are important or tied in somehow. What do you think?" she asked. A few glances her way didn't bother her. She was six and a half feet tall, built like a female athlete or wrestler and didn't exactly 'blend in'.

Admin wrote:"Way I see it, we can go check in on 'Crusher' and find out why he stole the gauntlet, and for whom. Or we catch up with the others and see if some of them or all want to head over to the other group and this supermax prison breakout. That sounds serious. I can't help but think this theft - and that of the broom - are important or tied in somehow. What do you think?" she asked. A few glances her way didn't bother her. She was six and a half feet tall, built like a female athlete or wrestler and didn't exactly 'blend in'.

Lionheart kept quiet the whole time, he listened to Combat queen then he brought his self back to the situation at hand...
"I didn't think we'd be at this, you know having to keep a cover for a while. I thought we'd get in find out what we wanted and get out. Now we've to cool our heals for a month and come running like Carnoni's lap dogs. It burns me up." Lionheart gave a long sigh.

"But I guess the Supermax is critical, if we lock that down, at least they've not got far to go to be tucked back in. It would feel good to do something with criminals we can actually stop, wouldn't it?"

Sj

Combat Queen bit her lip. "We could ask the others, but the trail on Dwight would go cold. Maybe we can split the team. Heck, with what you and me have done already the others need to step up."

"I'm leaving this call to you. You have the speed to get us to the Supermax but my gut says get hold of Crusher and make him squeal about the gauntlet. Strike while the iron is hot. Send the others to this supermax, we take out Crusher? Arrgggh!"

She threw up her hands and looked about, restraining herself from smashing something. "I joined a team so that the tough calls would be made by someone else! I've solo'd for so long that the decisions were easy but when others are involved and multiple messes are going down... I just know my limits that's all. I can fight, I can jump, I heal real fast and I can punch stuff. Leadership? What if I make the wrong call? Someone dies? If I make the wrong call for me, I gotta get myself outta the hole! This situation? We have Defender, who seems to be a kid in a grown up body. Aquator? this supermax is in the middle of a desert, he'll dry out in no time. Solar Girl could be useful but not underground... That leaves you and me. Send them ... to catch Crusher? We go to the Supermax? Can we trust the others not to mess up?"

Though she'd taken the initial lead Combat Queen seemed very unsure of placing her trust in others...

Admin wrote:Combat Queen bit her lip. "We could ask the others, but the trail on Dwight would go cold. Maybe we can split the team. Heck, with what you and me have done already the others need to step up."

Though she'd taken the initial lead Combat Queen seemed very unsure of placing her trust in others...

Lionheart conceded, "I know what you mean about taking the lead. I was in a team, and well...I don't do well making the decisions, a career cop, if you will. I'm used to being a grunt taking orders. But you make a good point, speed is a limitation when one goes too fast. Look let's talk to Crusher and then go to the Supermax, we've got discretion here to play it as we see best. So let's make use of it. However, let's not waste any more time. Agreed."

OOC: Ok appreciate the hint, (I thought he could wait, but glad that we didn't miss that boat) and go for Crusher, and after that, there is time to think about helping at the Supermax, we'll head there following...if it's appropriate.

Sj

Scooping up Combat Queen again the pair raced off to the address given by Fenwick/Carboni.

It was early evening by now and the heroes turned up to a tough neighbourhood. Tough? It was a dump, and as rough as they came. Gang markings daubed the corners of buildings and members watched everything that happened, everyone that turned up, anyone that came of went.

The heroes weren't interested in that. The gangs could have unloaded every bullet, knife, bomb in their direction and they'd have shrugged it off.

Stopping opposite the address they saw it was a multi storey apartment block. Run down, with rubbish strewn streets outside, a burnt out car here and there and no one with any sense out and about. Hookers stalked the corners and every shop had bars on the windows or was boarded up.

"Better make sure he can't sneak off." said Combat Queen. "We've gone through too much to let this creep get away from us now. Want to go in the front door, the back, or watch from the roof in case he tries to do a runner?"

Admin wrote:"Better make sure he can't sneak off." said Combat Queen. "We've gone through too much to let this creep get away from us now. Want to go in the front door, the back, or watch from the roof in case he tries to do a runner?"

Lionheart nodded, gestured for her to wait and flew to the top of the building to make sure the fire door was shut (at least for now) and raced around the back and then over the whole building to check who was in and what they could do to minimise collateral damage, before coming back to Combat Queen.  He gave her his intel and added..."I think a lady, if you aren't offended by the comment, shouldn't have to be saddled with the back, it's far worse than the front and whatever you step in...well let's say you'll need new shoes.  I'll take the back and we move in on him, ok?"

OOC: Assuming my fine friend is ok with that, we'll head on in and seek to catch the rat between the two of us, catchers.

Sj

The apartment block was occupied by humans, rats, and rats of the human kind it seemed. Combat Queen was happy to go in through the front.

"How are we playing this? As Amazonia and Lightning Limey or are we 'hero-ing up'? I don't doubt for one moment that Carboni sold us out to Dwight. If he's here he'll have had a phone call and will know we're coming. Something tells me I'm not as bothered about that were I to be on my own. You're a handy man to know, pardna. Not bad... for a limey." she chuckled.

With that she nodded, then jogged across the street to the main entrance and considered buzzing in before simply trying the door and finding out it had been jimmied/broken at some point in the past anyway. With a last wave she ducked inside and was soon racing to the lift, found it out of order and sprinted for the steps.

Lionheart sped round the back and looked up from ground level whilst stood in debris, dirt and general trash from piles and bins that had not been collected in years. The smell was truly incredible and he was more surprised to find the odd tramp down here sifting through it.

Looking up he soared upwards to watch the various windows and the fire escape/ladders to see if the villain made a break for it. According to the address Herman Dwight - the Crusher - lived on the top floor and so Lionheart kept his eyes peeled from that direction.

His danger sense was all quiet but he knew he'd only have to wait a short while, seconds probably, for Combat Queen to sprint to the top of the apartment block some eight floors up.

OOC Here we go.

Crusher adrenaline surge 23 + Roll(2d12)+0: 5,9,+0 Total:14 (37) vs
Highest OV 5 + Multi 4 + Roll(2d12)+0: 5,9,+0 Total:14 (24)

+5 EV (to 28) vs RV5 + 4 (9) = +19 to Martial Artist (19), Acrobatics (19) and Skin Armour (24) He attacks Combat Queen who goes on the defensive! Crusher goes for a critical blow!

Crusher Dex 11 + martial artist six (!) extra dice + Roll(8d12)+0: 8,9,12,8,7,7,10,10,+0 Total: 20 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 3,8,+0 Total:31 (42) vs
Combat Queen Dex 12 + acrobatics five extra dice + Roll(7d12)+0: 8,3,1,6,11,2,2,+0 Total: 19 (double 2 but might be poor follow up so...) (31)

+5 EV (to 23) vs RV15= 8 damage ALL ABSORBED BY KINETIC ABSORPTION. No knockback (joined).

The first Lionheart knew that there was something amiss was when the windows all exploded outwards from the corner apartment of the top floor! He was instantly up there and saw Combat Queen locked in combat with a hulking man, all veins and power muscles like boulders! His head seemed tiny! Combat Queen was 2m tall, this man was nearer 3, and almost as wide! His arms were like tree trunks and his chest looked like a bulging mass of rocks bolted together!

"Ha! Carboni said you'd be comin'! Said ta teach ya a lesson an' learn some manners! You don't know who ya dealin' wid do ya? I'm the STRONGEST one der is!" laughed the huge man!

Combat Queen didn't answer but instead swung a roundhouse kick at the mans midriff which made even CQ's bulky wrestler woman frame seem svelte!

OOC Dex 12 + Roll(2d12)+0: 10,1,+0 Total:11 (23) vs
Dex 11 + Roll(2d12)+0: 6,1,+0 Total:7 (18)

+3 EV (to 18) vs RV (ready for it) 42! NO DAMAGE unsurprisingly...

THWACK! "Uh... my foot..." yelped Combat Queen as she hopped back clutching bruised toes. Lionheart blinked. The man had gone an instant transformation and increased his body density instantly as a way to defend against attack! When Thunder Woman had been casually chatting about Crusher as if he were minor league she'd somewhat underestimated his abilities! Maybe she and Silver Sentinel could knock him about but Lionheart knew, finally, he was in the Big Leagues!

OOC You're up.

Admin wrote:THWACK! "Uh... my foot..." yelped Combat Queen as she hopped back clutching bruised toes. Lionheart blinked. The man had gone an instant transformation and increased his body density instantly as a way to defend against attack! When Thunder Woman had been casually chatting about Crusher as if he were minor league she'd somewhat underestimated his abilities! Maybe she and Silver Sentinel could knock him about but Lionheart knew, finally, he was in the Big Leagues!

OOC You're up.

Lionheart could see that where brute strength might come unstuck, his mental powers might yet breakthrough...he could but try, and so he let loose with a mental attack at the brute, whose attention seemed to be occupied, if briefly on Combat Queen's attempt to hurt him.

OOC: Ok going for a mental attack and want to see if we can push this (or buy a die if that is more sensible) so we can make it powerful enough to take him back a step so that Combat Queen might follow through with a solid connecting hit.

Sj

OOC Mind Blast is a Dice action (an attack power) which can't be pushed ordinarily. The way to get round that is with Adrenaline Surge power which is a) expensive and b) needs a decent roll to be of much good. Frostbite gets round this by having a catastrophic burnout on his adrenaline surge and many of his powers are much much lower than Lionhearts, so it works. Until it doesn't. It's currently burned out (for one hour) for our sub zero hero...

You can however add a die (or three, depending on how much you want to spend) and go fro a critical blow or devastating attack depending on how lucky you feel. I recommend...

two extra dice (costing 13HP and putting him on LIONHEART HP 122) and a critical blow...

Mind Blast 13 + two extra dice + Roll(4d12)+0: 2,12,10,3,+0 Total:22 (35) vs
Int 6 + Crit Blow 4 + Roll(2d12)+0: 5,10,+0 Total:15 (25)

+4 EV (to 17) vs RV 22 -6 (to 16)= 1 damage. Crusher is on Mind 12/13

"HEY! That STINGS!" laughed the grotesque muscle man! It seemed he was so brutish and adrenaline powered that he was practically invulnerable to physical AND mental attacks! There had to be a way to get through!

The behemoth sucks in a great breath... and his bulging muscles seemed to harden whilst his hand/feet movement seem to sharpen and speed up! How can somebody so big be so... fast?!?!?!

OOC And there is a way to drop him. Persistence. Or the same again but with a devastating blow and another 1-2 more dice. I assume Lionheart has powered his Superspeed to 22 (thus giving Dex 22) and I would expect he'd want to keep out of the way of those meaty fists! As for attack I would recommend another mental attack and dodge, dodge, dodge! Crusher is a superb Class 4-5 fighter and practically invulnerable but you can't hurt what you can't hit, and Lionheart is several rungs above him in those stakes...

Initiative (waste of time but...)

Lionheart 42 + 2 (44)
Combat Queen 28 + 2 (30)
Crusher 25 + 7 (32)

Lionheart first then Crusher then Combat Queen. Go!

Adren Surge for Crusher, same again.

AS 23 + Roll(2d12)+0: 3,11,+0 Total:14 (37) vs
OV 5 + 4 multi + Roll(2d12)+0: 5,7,+0 Total:12 (21)

+6 (to 29) vs RV 5 +4 = 20RAPs.
Skin Armour to 25, martial artist and acrobatics to 22. Crazy levels.

Admin wrote:+6 (to 29) vs RV 5 +4 = 20RAPs. Skin Armour to 25, martial artist and acrobatics to 22. Crazy levels. [/i][/color]

Lionheart could see that there was more going on to this Crusher than met the eye. Was he always this powerful? Time to talk and question later, but the speed of him meant Lionheart would need to stay one step ahead until he could try and regroup for a stronger mind blast.

OOC: OK so dodge and dodge, and see if when the time comes I can get a mind blast in, and yeah go for the devastating blow and 2 die when the time to shot comes. Meanwhile, the dance of a thousand dodges.

Sj

OOC LIONHEART HP 92

Buying FOUR dice and going for a devastating attack with Mind Blast

Mind Blast 13 + extra four dice + Roll(6d12)+0: 7,10,7,10,7,8,+0 Total:20 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 9,6,+0 Total:35 (48) vs
Int 6 + Dev Attack 8 + Roll(2d12)+0: 5,10,+0 Total:15 (29)

+6 EV (to 19) vs Rv 22 - 9 (dev attack, so 12RV)= 7 damage

Crusher is now on Mind 5/13

This time Crusher takes notice, clutching his head and screaming "This isn't possible! NO ONE CAN BEAT ME IN A FAIR FIGHT!". he waits for Combat Queen to attack.

Combat Queen snarls "Who says we're fighting fair, you creep?"

OOC Devastating Attack...

Combat Queen Dex 12 + five extra dice + Roll(7d12)+0: 3,5,8,6,6,8,6,+0 Total:16 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 4,7,+0 Total:27 (39) vs
Dex 11 + Dev attack 8 + Acrobatics 7 extra dice + Roll(9d12)+0: 12,1,8,4,3,8,4,12,3,+0 Total:24 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 11,10,+0 Total:45 (64) Attack Missed (and then some)

With a technique that few in the world could match Combat Queen spins, kicks, ducks and delivers a blazing uppercut to the hug target... who simply isn't there when the punch lands!

"No payday is worth this!" snarls the huge man and he reaches over, crunches a draw open and snatches something out of it. Material. A glove.

The Nexus Gauntlet.

"You punks can kiss my ***!" he snarls and leaps through the window, bounding onto the lower roof opposite and bouncing again into the air!

Combat Queen shakes her head. "I have NEVER fought anyone with so much innate skill and reflexes that... he's unbeatable!"

Lionheart wasn't so sure. He'd hurt the invulnerable villain, badly enough that he'd not stuck around to take another swing and was instead bounding away!

Luckily, to Lionheart it seemed he was jumping in slow motion...

"So long suckers!" came the distant yell.

OOC Initiative

Lionheart 42 + 11 (53)
Combat Queen 28 + 12 (40)
Crusher 25 + 11 (36)

Crusher moves at 5 APs speed, jumping. On the best day of his life he couldn't beat Lionheart who moves at 22APs. For reference 5 APs is about 56mph.

22APs is around 7,753,728 mph. That's million. Over to you.

Adren Surge 23 + Roll(2d12)+0: 3,10,+0 Total:13 (36) vs
OV 5 + 4 multi + Roll(2d12)+0: 2,6,+0 Total:8 (17)

+6 EV (to 29) vs RV5 +4 (9)=+20. Skin Armour 25, M Artist 22, Acrobatics 22

Admin wrote:Crusher moves at 5 APs speed, jumping. On the best day of his life he couldn't beat Lionheart who moves at 22APs. For reference 5 APs is about 56mph.

22APs is around 7,753,728 mph. That's million. Over to you.

"Come on jump aboard..." Lionheart said as he effortlessly scooped up Combat Queen and dove out the window to follow Crusher.

OOC: Ok we need to find a way to stop him, in his tracks, can I mind blast him whilst following from the air? If so going for it again see if I can't take this creep down. As before...

Sj

OOC LIONHEART HP 62

Lionheart scoops up Combat Queen and takes off like a rocket!

He barely has to speed up to more than a couple of hundred miles an hour before they are caught up and he unleashes his energy lion on the fleeing villain!

OOC This might do it. Four extra dice, devastating attack, here we go.

Mind Blast 13 + Roll(6d12)+0: 7,7,2,7,9,4,+0 Total:14 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 2,7,+0 Total:23 (36) vs
Int 6 + Dev Attack 8 + Roll(2d12)+0: 12,4,+0 Total:16 (30)

+3EV (to 16) vs RV 22 -9 (dev attack so 12RV)= 4 damage.

Crusher is down to Mind 1/13!

"Arrrrrgggh!" the big man screams and clutches his head! He mistimes his leap and goes crashing through the roof of a warehouse. No wall in the world would withstand a leap from this man!

Picking himself up and looking at the pair as he stands amongst smashed crates and whatever was inside them, he groans. "Alright! Alright dammit. You win. You want the glove? You can have it! Just leave me alone and we'll call it square. Deal?"

Combat Queen speaks quietly to Lionheart "I really want to pound this guy but I've never met anyone as invulnerable as he is. My fists literally do nothing against him! I say we should take the glove and let him go with a warning..." It was clear that the words pained her but she'd been rerduced to the role of spectator and that sat hard with her...

Even Lionheart had to admit he'd really poured it on with his mental blast and somehow this guy was still up! Was he healing the damage as quick as he took it? Whatever the power he possessed, it was clear that it would take something north of an exploding nuclear bomb to hurt him! Was this the toughest opponent he'd ever faced?

No. The Shadow Demons dwarfed this guy in power. He shuddered as he remembered when he first got his new power courtesy of the amalgam with Saladin but being dwarfed in power and ability by his team mates who wielded the dark power and were virtual cosmic forces in their own right!

"Well?" the big man groaned, rubbing his head.

Admin wrote:OOC LIONHEART HP 62

"Well?" the big man groaned, rubbing his head.

"Just one thing...who hired you?"

Lionheart ever the police officer didn't like loose ends, truth be told he didn't like leaving Crusher to go free either and it pained him, but if the man was amenable...

OOC: Ok if he gives I'm hoping that he'll drop his guard and I can take him with one last blast. Ah nah that would be low... but I do want to find out whom he was working for, since someone has that glove still to collect.

Sj

Crusher looked like a beaten man. He chewed his lip, looked around, realised there was nowhere left to go then sighed.

"I give you the glove, tell you who hired me, and I can go? I ain't never met no one who could give me a whippin the same as you did with that fancy brain you got. Well, apart from them Ultrahumans and maybe one or two bad boys at the prison. I was told to grab it from the prison by someone workin fer the Schemer. he knew I did jobs for Carboni and how to get in touch with me. I'm supposed to get it to a deposit box at the train station and make sure no one knows about it. Thing is, no one knows who he is. Some say he's the richest criminal around, others that he's a guy who works out of his moms basement on the internet. All I know is I was offered $5 million bucks ta break into the Ultrahumans museum and nab this crappy glove. It's brought me nothin but misery. I suppose you two will claim the five mill. Don't suppose you'd sub me a few grand ta fix my apartment wouldya? It's a dump but it's mine..."

He tossed the gauntlet into the air where Lionheart floated over and caught it easily. To all intents and purposes it was a glove made of leather. No fancy gems, no power packs, nothing. However it was possibly the worst weapon ever if in the wrong hands, apparently. Nexus. he didn't know the name but if he or she could fight the entire team of Ultrahumans to a standstill, it was a good bet that the world was a safer place with Nexus behind bars.

"We got the glove!" whispered Combat Queen. "What about him? And what next?"

Admin wrote:Crusher looked like a beaten man. He chewed his lip, looked around, realised there was nowhere left to go then sighed.

"We got the glove!" whispered Combat Queen. "What about him? And what next?"

"Crusher for a man with such enormous potential you are living the wrong way up. With your power, you could stop running from the law, and be a sensation, 5 million is nothing compared to what you could get by way of endorsements, potential appearances and who knows what. I am sure we can spring you a sub, but man you could do so much better...think about it!"

Lionheart took Combat Queen and took off, whilst they flew back away, he spoke up. "I am wondering if that is the right move, but to be honest it was not a foregone conclusion we could win, and that guy could do so much better. Anyway we'd best get this back to the Ultra Human's since I can't fly you into space, we'd best see what Thunder Woman wants us to do with it and high tail it to the Supermax, what do you think?"

Sj

"Back to the museum, see if they found anything else and hand over the glove. Then we see about finding where this Supermax is and getting over there. Now that we have the gauntlet the plan to reunite it with Nexus in the prison doesn't seem so viable." she said with a sigh of relief.

A change of costume and the pair whisked back at high speed to the museum.

The police were at the museum and only Aquator remained. "You've been gone a while. I sent the other two to the Supermax as leads had run out here. Did you..."

He pauses as he sees the Gauntlet. "Is that it? I don't see what it could possibly have done for the villain in the Supermax but it's good to know it's back in safe hands. The broom is another matter."

The police turned up. "You guys are with the Ultrahumans? We're dusting the place, closing it down as a crime scene and we'll need that as evidence." he said, gesturing to the glove, plus we'll need your statements."

Combat Queen pulled a face and asked "How long will that take?"

"Hmmm?" replied the detective. "Typically an hour or two. We know your time is precious so we'll try not to keep you, but ... paperwork."

Aquator said "We've done our statements. Can you guys take over here while I grab some food and a bath in the river? I'm practically all dried out here."