Titan: Gods Among Us [Nova, Interrupted] [Archive]

DaedalusK71

2014-09-01, 07:38 PM

Series One: Nova, interrupted
Scene One: Prelude to greatness
July 2008

Katie Kennedy/Natalie Nova – [Orlando, FL]

Music thump rhythmically as dancer move in precisely choreographed steps on the Emmerson Stage while lasers and fog and all manner of titillations entice the eye and ear. All the while, Natalie Nova stands in the eye of the entertainment hurricane belting out her latest vocal creation, Starlight…

“CUT! CUT! CUT!” yells Ted Winslow, the director. “Selene! What the hell was that?! You nearly tripped over Lionel and missed your mark by three feet…” he barks to a willowy, red-faced young woman. “S-Sorry Mr. Winslow.” Winslow raises a well-manicured hand and interrupts. “I don’t want to hear it. You’re done. See Ms. Eckhart for your exit paperwork.” The young woman, stunned, quietly begins to sob and shuffles off the stage. Those remaining on stage look about nervously. “FROM THE TOP!” barks Winslow and everyone moves as though electrified to their places…
Two hours later Natalie is escorted to her trailer by two security officers who keep would be autograph seekers and less well-meaning fans at arm’s length.
Natalie relaxes as the door closes behind her, happy to be out of the public eye, even if briefly. “Ah-Hem” comes a noise from the rear of the trailer, instantly sending a jolt of adrenaline coursing through her body. She whips around and there, sitting on the couch was he sitting there when I came in? is a well-dressed man with short dark hair and piercing green eyes.
He speaks in a confident and soothing manner. “Ms. Nova… my apologies for this intrusion. I am certain you value your privacy and I had no intention of startling you but, as I am sure you are aware, your ‘face-time’ is strictly managed and I would rather our conversation were personal and kept … discrete. You have but to say the word and I will depart, no questions. I will say, however, that it is in your best interest to at least hear me out…”

DaedalusK71

2014-09-01, 09:18 PM

DaedalusK71

2014-09-01, 09:19 PM

Series One: Nova, interrupted
Scene One: Prelude to greatness
July 2008

Karen Burke – [San Francisco]

“Your honor, Ms. Ojibwe met her obligation to her client. She provided products that met the, then client’s, specified order. Yes the order was late which caused the client to miss a critical deadline resulting in significant losses for them, but the fact remains that the order was delivered ‘within’ the grace period mandated by the contract as outlined by paragraph 7 subsection d. Had Hanson enterprises set more reasonable benchmarks in the contract, this case might play out differently but they didn’t so Ms. Ojibwe is entitled to the full amount, seven thousand, two hundred sixty-six dollars and ninety seven cents, stipulated in the contract…
Justice Helmsley looked impassively between the two litigators. “Alright, we’ll recess for one hour where I will deliberate and return with a decision. We are adjourned…” she said before swinging the gavel.

“What happens now Karen?” Ms. Ojibwe, a diminutive African woman with gnarled hands that decried a lifetime of hard work, asked. “Don’t worry. We will win.” Karen replied with more confidence than she actually felt. The fact remained that justice was not always blind and Hanson was a large clothier with deep pockets. Hanson’s lawyer was good, for a baseline. But Karen felt certain that she had argued the case on its merits and left no wiggle room in the contract she had written for her client.

Roughly an hour later, the bailiff called ‘All rise’ and the judge assumed her position at the bench. A tense minute passed as she organized a handful of papers and organized her thoughts.
“This country survives because we respect the law. If we do not stick to those rules, we are doomed. It is clear to me that Ms. Ojibwe met the terms of the contract submitted as evidence. As such, I am ruling in her favor and awarding her the sum of the outstanding balance therein; seven thousand, two hundred sixty-six dollars and ninety seven cents.” She said and Ms. Ojibwe squeaked in delight. She jumped up and hugged Karen.
After exchanging pleasantries with the opposing counsel, Karen begins gathering her documents into her bag. A baritone voice catches her attention. “Very well done counselor; a well-crafted argument and justice served.” She turns and lays her eyes on a well-dressed man with dark hair and VERY green eyes, quite attractive for a baseline, if you’re into that sort of thing…

Zarthrax

2014-09-02, 08:48 AM

Series One: Nova, interrupted
Scene One: Prelude to greatness
July 2008

AJ Knox – [Reno Nevada]

AJ sits at his bench gazing intently at the device in his brace, needle fine tools held delicately in each hand extended into it. The device pulses intermittently and dies, a small spark arcing as a rocket flashes and disappears along with AJ’s hope. A flash of frustration and AJ begins the tedious task of disassembly, six hundred forty seven steps just to start again. What he would give for a gimbaled brace… How frustrating it was to know with certainty what needed to be done, and not have the means to do it. With a sigh he begins the task and spends the next four hours painstakingly disassembling the device. Nearly complete, he sees what caused the failure; a bur on the stator assembly. an auto-lathe wouldn’t be bad either… he thought.
A knock on the lab door offers a welcome respite to the difficult work. “Yes?” he says as he wipes the lubricant from his hands. The front office clerk, Linda’ pokes her head in and in a hushed tone says “Mr. Knox, there is a rather official-looking gentleman asking for you in the office.” She looks rather nervous as well she should if the man turns out to be from Project Utopia’s tech confiscation unit… Knox had a few items they might object to…

Frowning, AJ grabs a shot of orange stuff and gives his hands a quick scrub before nodding at Linda and replying.

"Thanks, Linda. I'll take care of him."

He briskly walks the 500 feet to the office he doesn't really need, but the company insisted he have when they drew up the blueprints for the Ares Arms Primary Manufacture Facility and headquarters. Of all the things I could be doing with my day that are useful, I have to waste time on this.

Keeping one eye on the visitor until he's seated in his chair behind the desk, AJ finally verbally acknowledges him.

"What can I do for you, Mister...?"

Kish

2014-09-02, 10:39 AM

Karen gives the man a pleasant smile, assessing him. "Thank you." I don't think this is an idle compliment from someone who just happened to be here, she reflects as she finishes gathering her documents. "I'm Karen Burke, as you probably heard if you heard my entire argument. And you?" she asks the man.

DaedalusK71

2014-09-02, 02:31 PM

DaedalusK71

2014-09-02, 02:39 PM

Karen Burke – [San Francisco]

"I'm Karen Burke, as you probably heard if you heard my entire argument. And you?"

Darius Fauci he says crisply with a light click to his heels and a faint nod. I have been sent by my employer to inquire if you are available for a retainer. There are some legalities to be considered with respect to an endeavor he is undertaking and your name was at the top of a very short list. It would involve some travel but you would be well compensated for your time, I assure you.

Kish

2014-09-02, 02:44 PM

Karen Burke – [San Francisco]

Darius Fauci he says crisply with a light click to his heels and a faint nod. I have been sent by my employer to inquire if you are available for a retainer. There are some legalities to be considered with respect to an endeavor he is undertaking and your name was at the top of a very short list. It would involve some travel but you would be well compensated for your time, I assure you.

"Certainly, I would be interested in knowing more about this job. Who is your employer?"

Rokku

2014-09-02, 03:12 PM

Series One: Nova, interrupted
Scene One: Prelude to greatness
July 2008

Katie Kennedy/Natalie Nova – [Orlando, FL]
Natalie relaxes as the door closes behind her, happy to be out of the public eye, even if briefly. “Ah-Hem” comes a noise from the rear of the trailer, instantly sending a jolt of adrenaline coursing through her body. She whips around and there, sitting on the couch was he sitting there when I came in? is a well-dressed man with short dark hair and piercing green eyes.
He speaks in a confident and soothing manner. “Ms. Nova… my apologies for this intrusion. I am certain you value your privacy and I had no intention of startling you but, as I am sure you are aware, your ‘face-time’ is strictly managed and I would rather our conversation were personal and kept … discrete. You have but to say the word and I will depart, no questions. I will say, however, that it is in your best interest to at least hear me out…”

Natalie spins around with a start, her personal fireworks suddenly going off like it's Independance Day. The doorknob tears off in her hand and is crushed into a little ball. But she quickly stuffs surprise and panic down. Keep it cool, Katie. You can bench press a truck and you're the idol of millions.

"You've got thirty seconds to wow me before I throw you out of here," says Natalie, giving the stranger a confident smile, "and I mean 'throw' literally."

DaedalusK71

2014-09-02, 03:19 PM

Karen Burke – [San Francisco]

"Certainly, I would be interested in knowing more about this job. Who is your employer?"

Neumann Enterprises, a small investment company with a diverse portfolio: utilities, agriculture, manufacturing. He reaches into his jacket and withdraws a linen business card that reads 'Darius Fauci, Director of Operations, Neumann Industries' along with address, phone, web information for the company.We have an office here in San Francisco if you'd care to discuss the details, say tomorrow; twelve o'clock?

Kish

2014-09-02, 03:22 PM

Karen Burke – [San Francisco]

Neumann Enterprises, a small investment company with a diverse portfolio: utilities, agriculture, manufacturing. He reaches into his jacket and withdraws a linen business card that reads 'Darius Fauci, Director of Operations, Neumann Industries' along with address, phone, web information for the company.We have an office here in San Francisco if you'd care to discuss the details, say tomorrow; twelve o'clock?
"I look forward to it."

If Mr. Fauci doesn't have more to say, Karen will head home, cook and eat dinner, and look up what she can find out about Neumann Industries on the OpNet.

DaedalusK71

2014-09-02, 03:29 PM

Katie Kennedy/Natalie Nova – [Orlando, FL]

"You've got thirty seconds to wow me before I throw you out of here," says Natalie, giving the stranger a confident smile, "and I mean 'throw' literally."

While collected, the man is very careful to make no sudden movements. I assure you I meant you no harm even if I was capable of such action. Your ... agent is rather close-minded when it comes to what offers he does and does not allow to get through to you. My employer would like to extend an invitation, all expenses paid of course, to take part in what we believe will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It certainly won't hold the razzle-dazzle and pizaaz of your usual activities but I assure you it will be unlike anything you've ever done. I dare say there is a book/movie/talk-circuit opportunity once you return... I believe my thirty seconds are up. he says and cringes ever-so-slightly.

Rokku

2014-09-02, 03:52 PM

Natalie purses her lips in thought. A mysterious offer from a mysterious man... it's the kind of thing a teenage girl dreams about. And is also warned about. Of course, most teenage girls weren't super-strong novas with the legal might of Disney behind them.

"Okay mysterious, you've piqued my interest," she says, pointedly dropping the crushed doorknob on her makeup table, "give me the deets and I'll think about it."

Zarthrax

2014-09-02, 03:52 PM

AJ Knox – [Reno Nevada]

"What can I do for you, Mister...?"

The man smiles, a slight curling at the corners of his mouth. Fauci... Darius Fauci. He extends a hand to the chair opposite AJ and sends a questioning look AJ's way. With a nod, he sits, unbuttoning his finely tailored suit. Mr. Knox, my employer has sent me to discuss the possibility of contracting you for an endeavor he is funding. It would require a bit of travel but I assure you, you would be well-compensated and I think you'll find the experience quite ... unique.

AJ pours himself a glass of ice water and offers one to the man across from him. Thinking for a moment, he asks a pertinent question or two.

"While I appreciate the thought, Mr. Fauci, I am extraordinarily busy at the moment. If I was interested in said contracting work, then there are questions that would have to be answered up front before I even considered accepting. I'd have to know the identity of your employer, the nature and amount of the compensation, and what exactly he wants to contract me to do. All of that would have to be laid out plain before I took time away from my company, much less spent time doing something that doesn't directly benefit it."

DaedalusK71

2014-09-02, 06:06 PM

Katie Kennedy/Natalie Nova – [Orlando, FL]

"Okay mysterious, you've piqued my interest," she says, pointedly dropping the crushed doorknob on her makeup table, "give me the deets and I'll think about it."

Fauci smiles, his shoulders relax and he clasps both hands in front of his chest, a triumphant shake. Outstanding! My company has an office in town where we can discuss the details in a somewhat more formal setting. May I send a car to pick you up in the morning or would you prefer to drive yourself?

DaedalusK71

2014-09-02, 06:13 PM

AJ Knox – [Reno Nevada]

"While I appreciate the thought, Mr. Fauci, I am extraordinarily busy at the moment. If I was interested in said contracting work, then there are questions that would have to be answered up front before I even considered accepting. I'd have to know the identity of your employer, the nature and amount of the compensation, and what exactly he wants to contract me to do. All of that would have to be laid out plain before I took time away from my company, much less spent time doing something that doesn't directly benefit it."

All reasonable questions he says which I am prepared to give answers to. My company has an office here in Reno where we can discuss those very particulars. There are those who could explain it far better than I. I can say that, should this succeed, your company could benefit greatly... Shall I send a car for you in the morning?

Zarthrax

2014-09-02, 09:20 PM

Rokku

2014-09-02, 09:56 PM

Katie Kennedy/Natalie Nova – [Orlando, FL]

Fauci smiles, his shoulders relax and he clasps both hands in front of his chest, a triumphant shake. Outstanding! My company has an office in town where we can discuss the details in a somewhat more formal setting. May I send a car to pick you up in the morning or would you prefer to drive yourself?

"Send a car. The studio would probably get suspicious if I suddenly started driving myself places."

DaedalusK71

2014-09-02, 10:13 PM

Karen Burke – [San Francisco]

"I look forward to it."

If Mr. Fauci doesn't have more to say, Karen will head home, cook and eat dinner, and look up what she can find out about Neumann Enterprises on the OpNet.

Karen searches for references for 'Neumann Enterprises' and turns up a number of results

The company is about 1 year old and has several interesting news stories...

Neumann Enterprises purchases Langston Utilities in Spokane, Washington
Neumann Enterprises buys controlling interest in fossil fuel pipeline
Neumann Enterprises lawsuit against genetically modified corn failed. Appeals expected
N.E. Board of Directors in Pueblo, Colorado to strike ground on experimental 100MW power plant

The Board of directors is listed on their website; an unlikely group of five with a diverse and, frankly, bizarre skill set. [More Info available]

The owner, 'Mr. Neumann' is a recluse who, as far as Karen can tell, has never made a public appearance and she can find nothing outside his name on the company's website.

Darius Fauci is an upper management asset for the company. Holds the title Director of Operations. He also holds advanced degrees in engineering, physics, and biology (No MBA?). Not married. Family lives in Kansas; Both parents and a brother living. Worked for a number of engineering companies (Haliburton, CACI, and Computer Science Corporation)

DaedalusK71

2014-09-03, 07:23 AM

AJ Knox – [Reno Nevada]

Knox ponders this for a good thirty seconds, weighing all the options carefully before nodding.

"I can spare some time to listen to this proposal in the morning. Not a whole lot, but seeing as I don't have to go that far, I can pencil your employer in." He shakes his head. "Don't bother with a driver. Just tell me where and what time, and I'll be there promptly."

Fauci smiles. Excellent; You won't be disappointed. He reaches into his jacket and retrieves a linen business card with the relevant location information and stands as he places it on the desk in front of AJ. Let's say noon. We'll have a bite and discuss the details. With that, Fauci again thanks AJ for his time and departs.

Linda wanders in with some paperwork for AJ to sign, clearly the woman is digging... He seemed... nice. she says as she places the paperwork on his desk.

DaedalusK71

2014-09-03, 11:22 AM

"Send a car. The studio would probably get suspicious if I suddenly started driving myself places."

Wonderful he says and moves toward the door. I'll have a car sent around 8:30? Reaching for the door, Fauci finds no knob to turn. He smiles and knocks sharply on the door where one of the security personnel opens it from the outside. The knob promptly comes out in his hand... It was a pleasure to meet you Ms. Nova. I see great things in your future. Good day... He steps out of the trailer to a brief storm of flashes. No doubt the paparazzi would have a field day with this one...

Rokku

2014-09-03, 12:41 PM

"Thanks Steve," says Natalie, flashing the guard a smile, "could you get that fixed for me?"

She closes the door behind her mysterious guest and plucks her phone up off the makeup table, firing off a text to her assistant to clear her schedule for the morning. Tomorrow was hopefully going to be an interesting day...

DaedalusK71

2014-09-03, 01:09 PM

A sleek black stretched CTS glides to a stop in front of Natalie's house where the chauffeur waits patiently for her. As she opens the door, he exits and moves to help with any bags she may have and holds the door.

The ride is relatively short, 15 minutes, and she arrives at a nondescript office building filled with investment firms and other assorted companies. The chauffeur opens the door and hands Ms. Nova a thin binder, inside which sits an RFID name badge and a map showing her route.

There is a loud [thunk] as she approaches the door and when she opens it, there is a slight [whoosh] of air as though the room was under pressure. The room she enters is nearly bare save a large reception desk with an attractive woman sitting behind it. Ms. Nova! We're so glad you could make it. Let me call and tell them you're here. She picks up the phone and whispers, though to a Nova it is easily heard. Ms. Nova is here sir. Shall I sent her straight in? Yes sir, right away.

She looks to Natalie and stands. If you'll follow me, I'll take you back. Um...Ms. Nova... my kids love your show... do you think I could get an autograph?

AJ arrives at the large, squat tan stucco building and parks in a spot labelled with a large white "Mr. Knox" sign. Inside a security guard nods disinterestedly in his direction and goes back to his paper. A plaque on the wall directs him to the last office on the right. As AJ pushes on the door, there is a slight puff of air as though the room he is entering is under pressure. Upon entry, he sees a pleasant-looking woman sitting behind a small desk. She murmurs something into a microphone attached to her head and stand at AJ's approach. Mr. Knox; We've been expecting you. If you'll follow me. she says as she walks across the nearly bare room to a simple luan door. This way... she says, opening the door to what appears to be a meeting room with several people already waiting.

Karen arrives at the address, a plain brown building with what appear to be rust stains coming through the stucco. Entering the building she feels a bit of resistance as the door swings in followed by a puff of air suggesting the room is under pressure. The reception area is filled only a small desk and a young man in an off-the-rack suit. Ms. Burke? I'm Roger. Welcome. If you are ready, I can take you in now. he says and extends an arm toward a door at the back of the room. He opens the door to a large meeting space where several people are standing or sitting around a large oval table.

Kish

2014-09-03, 01:13 PM

Karen walks into the room, assessing each of the people there. "Hello," she introduces herself. "I'm Karen Burke."

Zarthrax

2014-09-03, 04:05 PM

AJ wordlessly has a seat at the table. He pulls out his iPad and starts refining schematics while he waits for whomever set this up to get started.

No sense in losing the whole day's worth of work time.

While he sits, his mind catalogues everyone present, as well as the small detail that at least one of the people in the room was a Nova. Glancing around casually, he recognizes the man from yesterday, but none of the others.

Mentally shrugging, he continues to work on his design.

Rokku

2014-09-03, 04:10 PM

"Totally," says Natalie, beaming her superstar smile, "do you have posters or albums or anything you want me to sign? Oh and we've gotta get a picture together to show them! You'll be the coolest mom in the neighborhood for like a week, at least."

DaedalusK71

2014-09-04, 09:47 AM

Unnamed Meeting Room (?)

The meeting room is on the large size, perhaps 10 meters long and half that wide with a large oblong wood finished table in the center. The walls seem a bit industrial, concrete perhaps? On the left, as you entered, there is a beverage service with a small selection of beverages and pastries. On the right, what appears to be a bank of windows that have been blacked out. You notice a slight chill in the air as if the air conditioning was turned down too low. There is a single exit behind which you entered from.

At just after noon, Mr. Fauci clears his throat and says It looks like one of our party has been delayed and will have to play catch-up when they arrive... If you'll all take your seats? he pauses while the group assembles themselves at the table in seemingly no particular order. So let's start with some introductions. One by one, he points around the room Emil Langston, Ryan Davis, Edgar Lindeman, Rosario Flor del Desierto, and Galina Bocharov. These are members of our board. You, of course, know me; Darius Fauci. He looks to the board members and continues. This is Karen Burke; the lawyer from San Francisco, AJ Knox; Engineer from Reno, and Ms. Katie Kennedy or as you may know her from her television show, Natalie Nova. Welcome. He nods to each of you.

Before we get down to business, I am sure you are all hungry so we'll eat, have a bit of chit chat, and perhaps our final attendee will have arrived and we can begin.

Fauci nods to the Asian man standing quietly in the corner who reaches into his pocket and fishes out a cell phone and quickly keys in something. Moments later, a team of waitstaff enters the room and begins asking for meal and beverage preferences.

Kish

2014-09-04, 10:08 AM

Karen's eyes keep going to the Asian man in the corner during the introductions. When everyone has been introduced, however, she looks at AJ and Katie and produces a dazzling smile. "Hello. I'm pleased to meet you."

Zarthrax

2014-09-04, 04:50 PM

AJ nods at his introduction, then tells the waiter "Steak, rare, baked potato with butter, side of A1 for the steak. And a Coke to drink."

When Karen smiles and says Hello, AJ nods back. "Pleasure to meet you as well."

Turning to the third member of the recruits, AJ looks at her puzzedly.

"I apologize for not knowing you, miss, but what channel is this show on?"

Rokku

2014-09-04, 07:50 PM

DaedalusK71

2014-09-04, 08:37 PM

The man Fauci introduced as 'Emil' wipes a bit of food from his mouth and says Ms. Kennedy, I have often wondered why someone with your obvious talent would choose the entertainment industry. Surely someone who could lift a truck or dodge a bullet would be more satisfied, if you'll forgive the phrase, 'doing something more worthwhile'?

Galina turns slightly to AJ and asks in a russian accent, Mr. Knox, do you have any feelings on this new hyper-combustion jet engine being produced by Lockheed? I am afraid the technical specs are at the upper limit of my skills... Ryan chortles in a think Texan drawl, And that's sayin somethin boy! Galina here is a world-class brain. If she caint understand it, we prolly need to slow things down until we do..

Kish

2014-09-04, 08:53 PM

"Guinness beef stew, soda bread, and coke, if you please," Karen says to the waiters, and then, "Who is that man there?" she casually asks the three board members who haven't spoken yet.

Zarthrax

2014-09-04, 09:11 PM

"An array of sushi and iced tea please, thanks honey," says to her waiter.

"Disney," she says to AJ, "you're not really the demo. But it's okay, I don't know who you are either."

"Nice to meet you both, though," she adds.

AJ laughs. "I would've been surprised if you had, Miss."

The man Fauci introduced as 'Emil' wipes a bit of food from his mouth and says Ms. Kennedy, I have often wondered why someone with your obvious talent would choose the entertainment industry. Surely someone who could lift a truck or dodge a bullet would be more satisfied, if you'll forgive the phrase, 'doing something more worthwhile'?

Galina turns slightly to AJ and asks in a russian accent, Mr. Knox, do you have any feelings on this new hyper-combustion jet engine being produced by Lockheed? I am afraid the technical specs are at the upper limit of my skills... Ryan chortles in a think Texan drawl, And that's sayin somethin boy! Galina here is a world-class brain. If she caint understand it, we prolly need to slow things down until we do..

Chewing his steak for a moment to consider his response, he swallows and nods.

"Should be interesting if they can pull it off. Personally, I think the responsible route would be alternative fuel reactors. Relying on internal combustion engines is fine for the moment, but it'd be much more environmentally friendly to use something along the lines of a self contained hydrogen reactor, especially if you made it so that it could be fueled out of a sixteen ounce water bottle's contents. Provided I can get around a few issues with my next release, I might just take a go at it, just to see if it's feasible.

And even if it isn't, I imagine it might tweak OPEC's nose regardless, and considering some of the fuel supply difficulties I've had to get into with them in the past, that's not something I would mind doing."

Naturally, AJ waxes poetic on his preferred topic. Hit him with pop culture minutae from the past five years and he'll look at you blankly. Start discussing technical schematics or advancements, and you can't get him to shut up....

Rokku

2014-09-04, 09:29 PM

The man Fauci introduced as 'Emil' wipes a bit of food from his mouth and says Ms. Kennedy, I have often wondered why someone with your obvious talent would choose the entertainment industry. Surely someone who could lift a truck or dodge a bullet would be more satisfied, if you'll forgive the phrase, 'doing something more worthwhile'?

Natalie stops in the middle of her rainbow roll.

"Are you kidding? Music's been my dream since I was a little kid. The TV show's a nice bonus. There's nothing in the world like performing for a sold-out crowd, both for me and for them. Plus I've done all kinds of charity stuff since I got my break. I think I'm doing plenty worthwhile."

DaedalusK71

2014-09-04, 10:10 PM

"Guinness beef stew, soda bread, and coke, if you please," Karen says to the waiters, and then, "Who is that man there?" she casually asks the three board members who haven't spoken yet.

Ryan looks to the corner and back to Karen. That would be Mr. Hashi. he says with a curt nod to the man. So... Ms. Burke, yer a lawyer and a Nova. Do you find 'normal' lawyers to be slower in figuring out the law or can they keep up with yer quantum boosted brain?

DaedalusK71

2014-09-04, 10:22 PM

AJ Knox

"Should be interesting if they can pull it off. Personally, I think the responsible route would be alternative fuel reactors. Relying on internal combustion engines is fine for the moment, but it'd be much more environmentally friendly to use something along the lines of a self contained hydrogen reactor, especially if you made it so that it could be fueled out of a sixteen ounce water bottle's contents. Provided I can get around a few issues with my next release, I might just take a go at it, just to see if it's feasible.

And even if it isn't, I imagine it might tweak OPEC's nose regardless, and considering some of the fuel supply difficulties I've had to get into with them in the past, that's not something I would mind doing."

Galina purses her lips. Self-contained hydrogen reactor... she says pensively. You'll forgive me if I don't support that project. No offense Mr. Knox but while I, like many, see great discoveries coming out of the Nova age, I worry that it is too much too fast. There are only, roughly, six-thousand of you on the planet. Only a small portion of that number are smart enough to design such a thing. So let's say we built your reactor; what then? Only you and a handful of people know how it operates. We cannot repair it if it breaks. We cannot hope to understand even the physics behind it yet. Heaven forbid it fails catastrophically! She shakes her head and sips her glass of wine. No, I think it a more rational approach to broaden our understanding of these new, world-changing, technologies before implementing them.

DaedalusK71

2014-09-04, 10:30 PM

Natalie Nova

"Are you kidding? Music's been my dream since I was a little kid. The TV show's a nice bonus. There's nothing in the world like performing for a sold-out crowd, both for me and for them. Plus I've done all kinds of charity stuff since I got my break. I think I'm doing plenty worthwhile."

Emil smiles No doubt... and I meant no disrespect. I just wonder if your talent might be better used elsewhere; curing diseases or, like Mr. Knox, solving the world's energy needs. Entertainment seems he pauses, searching for the right word. beneath someone of your capabilities. Certainly you enjoy music as well you should, it is a wonderful art. It just seems a waste from my side of the gene pool. he says with a smile.

Kish

2014-09-04, 10:34 PM

"Oh, I'd certainly never try to claim I haven't lost a case to a baseline occasionally." Karen smiles at Ryan.

Zarthrax

2014-09-04, 11:13 PM

AJ Knox

Galina purses her lips. Self-contained hydrogen reactor... she says pensively. You'll forgive me if I don't support that project. No offense Mr. Knox but while I, like many, see great discoveries coming out of the Nova age, I worry that it is too much too fast. There are only, roughly, six-thousand of you on the planet. Only a small portion of that number are smart enough to design such a thing. So let's say we built your reactor; what then? Only you and a handful of people know how it operates. We cannot repair it if it breaks. We cannot hope to understand even the physics behind it yet. Heaven forbid it fails catastrophically! She shakes her head and sips her glass of wine. No, I think it a more rational approach to broaden our understanding of these new, world-changing, technologies before implementing them.

AJ smiles. "The trick is making it in such a way that in case of catastrophic failure of some kind, it immediately shuts down flawlessly every time. Not impossible, but damn near to do. That's why I own a weapons manufacturer and not something more eco-friendly. When I cause explosions with my inventions, they happen on purpose." He shrugs at Galina, then takes a sip of Coke before continuing.

"Yes, there will be many great discoveries coming out of the Nova age, and yes, some of those might be better off unfound. However, much like the mythical box of Pandora, we can't shut it now. There's people smarter than me in their garage right now inventing something just because someone else told them it was impossible. Rationality is a good thing, but as a guiding principle?"

AJ shakes his head ruefully.

"We still have people that believe in the absolute truth of a mythic skyman patriarch and his zombie son, regardless of evidence to the contrary. Somehow, I think rationality will continue to be in very short supply. Especially since most people are motivated by their emotions more than rationality every day of their lives, and see no reason to change now."

He takes another bite of the Porterhouse steak, barely seared on the outside and still cold and juicy in the middle, then swallows and makes yet another remark.

"Besides, if I'm the only one who can make them, then I set the price point where I like and leave the competition struggling to play catchup. That's how Microsoft was built, after all. The key is to set it high enough to be expensive, but low enough to be affordable, and that's a looooong way off indeed, considering it's merely a theoretical project."

Finally, his brain spits out the piece of information his mouth hadn't picked up on yet.

"By your remark, do you mean that you aren't? I'm curious now."

Rokku

2014-09-04, 11:30 PM

Natalie Nova
Emil smiles No doubt... and I meant no disrespect. I just wonder if your talent might be better used elsewhere; curing diseases or, like Mr. Knox, solving the world's energy needs. Entertainment seems he pauses, searching for the right word. beneath someone of your capabilities. Certainly you enjoy music as well you should, it is a wonderful art. It just seems a waste from my side of the gene pool. he says with a smile

Natalie scowls at the businessman.

"You can't cure a disease by throwing a truck at it, buddy. And surviving a grenade to the face won't generate clean energy. I raised seven digits in charitable donations last year. That helps fund the stuff guys like 'Mr. Knox' do. So maybe rethink what a 'waste' is."

She pointedly pops a piece of sushi into her mouth.

DaedalusK71

2014-09-05, 08:07 AM

AJ Knox

"By your remark, do you mean that you aren't? I'm curious now."

Galina seems puzzled for a moment, then a flash of understanding. Am I a nova? No, no. I'm just what you see. Brilliant yes, but an 'ordinary' brilliant. she says with a smile.

DaedalusK71

2014-09-05, 09:04 AM

Meeting room

"You can't cure a disease by throwing a truck at it, buddy. And surviving a grenade to the face won't generate clean energy. I raised seven digits in charitable donations last year. That helps fund the stuff guys like 'Mr. Knox' do. So maybe rethink what a 'waste' is."

Fauci coughs into his drink and quickly dabs the dribble from his chin. Well, he interrupts. I think perhaps it's time we moved on to the reason we're all here. he nods to Mr. Hashi in the corner, who again fishes out the phone from his pocket and keys something in. Moments later, the waitstaff bustles in and begins clearing away the dinnerware. As the waitstaff files out, Fauci nods to Hashi and says Mr. Hashi, thank you for your flawless services. I will contact you when we are ready. The small man makes a deep bow at the waist and follows the last waiter through the door, closing it as he passes.

Darius picks up a device from the table and fiddles with it for a moment... he shrugs, Technology... and finds the setting he is looking for. The table shifts from looking and feeling like polished wood to a glassy black surface. The lights dim and in the center of the table rises a three-dimensional image of Antarctica. The image zooms to a point some 70 miles west of the South pole.

March 23, 1998. Fauci begins Is a day all humanity remembers well. It is the day the Galatea explosion ushered in the Nova age. Since then we have seen comic book heroes and villains leap off the page and walk among us. he nods to the trio. It seems every day there is some new discovery that changes the way we see and interact with the world. I believe today is the beginning of one of those steps. Fauci again clicks the remote and the image zooms out, showing the Galatea in orbit. It sits there a moment and then comes apart in a miniature fireball, pieces scattering around the globe. The camera angle changes to follow one particular piece as it falls, 70 miles west of Earth's Southern
Pole...

Yep Fauci says. A piece of the reactor, if you were wondering. So, the question is... he smiles are you interested now?

Zarthrax

2014-09-05, 12:00 PM

AJ Knox

Galina seems puzzled for a moment, then a flash of understanding. Am I a nova? No, no. I'm just what you see. Brilliant yes, but an 'ordinary' brilliant. she says with a smile.

"Hardly ordinary, Miss. Brilliance is always to be treasured."

Meeting room

"You can't cure a disease by throwing a truck at it, buddy. And surviving a grenade to the face won't generate clean energy. I raised seven digits in charitable donations last year. That helps fund the stuff guys like 'Mr. Knox' do. So maybe rethink what a 'waste' is."

Fauci coughs into his drink and quickly dabs the dribble from his chin. Well, he interrupts. I think perhaps it's time we moved on to the reason we're all here. he nods to Mr. Hashi in the corner, who again fishes out the phone from his pocket and keys something in. Moments later, the waitstaff bustles in and begins clearing away the dinnerware. As the waitstaff files out, Fauci nods to Hashi and says Mr. Hashi, thank you for your flawless services. I will contact you when we are ready. The small man makes a deep bow at the waist and follows the last waiter through the door, closing it as he passes.

Darius picks up a device from the table and fiddles with it for a moment... he shrugs, Technology... and finds the setting he is looking for. The table shifts from looking and feeling like polished wood to a glassy black surface. The lights dim and in the center of the table rises a three-dimensional image of Antarctica. The image zooms to a point some 70 miles west of the South pole.

March 23, 1998. Fauci begins Is a day all humanity remembers well. It is the day the Galatea explosion ushered in the Nova age. Since then we have seen comic book heroes and villains leap off the page and walk among us. he nods to the trio. It seems every day there is some new discovery that changes the way we see and interact with the world. I believe today is the beginning of one of those steps. Fauci again clicks the remote and the image zooms out, showing the Galatea in orbit. It sits there a moment and then comes apart in a miniature fireball, pieces scattering around the globe. The camera angle changes to follow one particular piece as it falls, 70 miles west of Earth's Southern
Pole...

Yep Fauci says. A piece of the reactor, if you were wondering. So, the question is... he smiles are you interested now?

Before Fauci gets fully underway, Knox gripes under his breath.

"Make one comment about cheap hydrogen reactors and all of a sudden, people think you aren't a weapons manufacturer..."

He then proceeds to follow the presentation, eyes narrowed.

After Fauci concludes, he shrugs.

"Can you prove it's still there? It's not like they haven't had time to go get it. Besides, sitting for ten years worth of ice and snow melt isn't good for technology made for it, much less a piece of something that reentered the atmosphere. How do you know it's even viable?"

Rokku

2014-09-05, 12:08 PM

"Can you prove it's still there? It's not like they haven't had time to go get it. Besides, sitting for ten years worth of ice and snow melt isn't good for technology made for it, much less a piece of something that reentered the atmosphere. How do you know it's even viable?"

"Even if it is there I'm not really sure what you need us for. I guess he," she indicates AJ, "can build you something to dig it up and look it over to see if it works, but what do I bring to the table here?"

Kish

2014-09-05, 12:12 PM

Karen watches the presentation without comment, waiting to see what the answers are to the questions the others have raised.

DaedalusK71

2014-09-05, 12:22 PM

"Even if it is there I'm not really sure what you need us for. I guess he," she indicates AJ, "can build you something to dig it up and look it over to see if it works, but what do I bring to the table here?"

Excellent question Ms. Kennedy. He lifts his arms dramtically... Why are you here? Well it is quite simple. We would like Ms. Burke to determine what the legal ramifications are; unclaimed territory, international space station, all that 'stuff'. he makes air quotes. Mr. Knox is an engineer; one we have identified as having an ideal skill set with which to evaluate the fragment, determine if it is safe to handle, what might be learned from it, etc, etc... and Ms. Kennedy. You are an international celebrity. You bring all of your fans, your business acumen, your face.

He turns to AJ with a twinkle in is eye. Indeed I can sir. Or I'll be able to shortly. Ground penetrating radar has confirmed its location and our people are tunneling there now. I expect a call any minute to say we have found it. He smiles broadly. Think of what this will do for each of you; to be attached to a discovery like this! The device that gave birth to you all...

Kish

2014-09-05, 12:36 PM

"I admit, I'm very interested. I've always thought it was strange that the explosion could have the effects it did..." Karen leans forward in her chair.

DaedalusK71

2014-09-05, 01:25 PM

Meeting Room

One of the many questions we may find answers to Ms. Burke. Fauci's jacket chirps and he pulls out a phone and flips it open. Timing... It seems the digging crew is nearing the location. If you'd all like to be there when it happens, we need to hurry. He dials a number on the phone. Mr. Hashi? Fauci... yes we're ready to go to the dig site... as close as you can get us if you please... Thank you. and he hangs up. Within moments, Mr. Hashi walks through the door with several of the waitstaff carrying cold weather gear. The board members stand and begin dressing in parkas and mucklucks. I know you aren't affected like us but there is cold weather gear for each of you if you like.

When everyone is ready, the waitstaff take any remaining gear out. With a nod from Mr. Hashi, Fauci says excitedly One small step for man... and opens the door. An icy blast of sub-zero air whips through the room, blowing loose papers and knocking over a wine glass. Beyond the door is a large, nearly perfectly round, tunnel and 20 meters away, the rear of a tracked vehicle of some kind slowly boring its way through the ice. This way then! Fauci says and steps through the looking-glass...

Looking back once through the door, the group sees a wall... with a door... just standing there braced with boards and stakes to the ice. Through the door can be seen the board room, now windswept and collecting ice.

Within minutes of arrival, the boring machine stops with a deafening CRACK! With a loud beeping, the vehicle backs up, revealing a house sized hole in to what appears to be a cavity in the ice. The moment is upon us... shall we go?

Zarthrax

2014-09-05, 01:52 PM

Kish

2014-09-05, 02:14 PM

Karen dons cold-weather gear with an amused smile. "Wouldn't want to jump right into the deep end," she mutters obscurely before stepping through the door.

DaedalusK71

2014-09-05, 02:29 PM

Meeting Room

"Do you happen to have business cards? I may want to put you on retainer myself, after this engagement is done."

Mr. Hashi nods and hands AJ a business card that reads 'Hashi Hosting Services' Japan's premier catering. [address][website][contact info]'

Kish

2014-09-05, 02:32 PM

Presuming she can see the card, Karen laughs. "Catering? I see the value of your talent for that; how often does it involve bringing people to the South Pole?"

DaedalusK71

2014-09-05, 02:38 PM

Presuming she can see the card, Karen laughs. "Catering? I see the value of your talent for that; how often does it involve bringing people to the South Pole?"

It-a would-a not be-a the first-a time, Ms. Burke-san... Exotic locations draw people with-a discretionary income to all a-corners of de world. he says with slight smile.

Rokku

2014-09-05, 03:50 PM

Natalie snowsuits up -- just in case -- and head through the door.

"Antarctica, huh? Never thought I'd come here. Y'know Disney's got some movie about an ice princess or something in the works, I should see if we can shoot a video here."

Zarthrax

2014-09-05, 03:54 PM

AJ smiles as he pockets the card.

"Plus the steak was VERY well done. Well done as a compliment, not as a critique of cooking."

Walking through the doorway, he still hears the exchange and, as seems to be a recurring thing, has to have the last word.

"Besides, he's not wrong. Last year, I got invited to this boring thing in the Swiss Alps that I had to go to to finagle a contract out of the government."

He frowns.

"Turns out it was just a pretext for Operation PU FU." (The name of that was pronounced phonetically.)

DaedalusK71

2014-09-06, 09:59 PM

ICE CAVERN

A team clears away the frozen debris and another prepares to enter with all manner of detectors, sample containers, and scientific gear. They disappear through the hole and are gone for what feels like half an hour before one of them returns. You're gonna want to see this, sir he says in a distracted manner before disappearing again.

The inside of the cavern is nearly 20 meters tall with polyhedral stalactites made of ice hanging from the ceiling. At the far end of the enormous room, some fifty meters away, stands a massive pair of doors.

http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/yy209/DaedalusK71/Ice_Door_zps3ac6d5a0.jpg (http://s792.photobucket.com/user/DaedalusK71/media/Ice_Door_zps3ac6d5a0.jpg.html)

Four crystal pillars with strange symbols lead to the door.

Ohhh... My.... Fauci says in wonder. THAT, I was not expecting...

Kish

2014-09-06, 10:05 PM

"It doesn't look like we're the first sapients to set foot here," Karen comments. "Did we bring anyone who has sensory abilities?"

DaedalusK71

2014-09-07, 10:42 AM

Fauci's response is slow in coming. Uh? No. This ... was not a scenario ... we considered. he says, gazing at the structure. Sam, send the team in and see what we have... The board will discuss this development and come up with a plan. You, he says toward AJ, Karen, and Katie. If you have any ideas, I'd love to hear them...

Zarthrax

2014-09-07, 12:10 PM

AJ, having been silent in wonderstruck shock until now, finally pipes up.

"I can't speak for the ladies, but I kinda want to open those doors over there."

Kish

2014-09-07, 01:01 PM

"Why not? We're better equipped than any possible team of explorers would have been eleven years ago...I can eat the stalactites if necessary...and I'm certainly curious. It seems quite an odd coincidence that part of the reactor crashed here."

DaedalusK71

2014-09-07, 01:15 PM

Just as the words leave AJ's mouth one of the scientific team members crosses some threshold and the cavern resounds with a deep

BRRRRUUUUUMMMMMMmmmmmm

and in the span of the sound, a ball of quantum energies forms between the four pillars and flashes like lightening. Amplified by the white walls of the cavern the group is blinded and when vision returns, no trace of the scientist remains.

Fauci smiles morbidly and says after you ..

Kish

2014-09-07, 01:36 PM

"Ah! Did he just die, just like that? We can't..." Karen takes a deep breath and glares at the pillars. "I don't think I like whoever built this. Can we find--or bring from outside, Mr. Hashi--something big for Natalie to throw ahead of us, rather than someone walking into that?"

Rokku

2014-09-07, 04:11 PM

Natalie gulps, hard. Dead, just like that...

"I uh, I could throw a really big snowball..."

DaedalusK71

2014-09-07, 05:32 PM

July 17, 2008 1345 hrs ICE CAVERN - Antarctica

"Ah! Did he just die, just like that? We can't..." Karen takes a deep breath and glares at the pillars. "I don't think I like whoever built this. Can we find--or bring from outside, Mr. Hashi--something big for Natalie to throw ahead of us, rather than someone walking into that?"

Fauci nods. That is a possibility. Ms. Nova, if you would accompany me? he says and exits the cavern. He pulls a satellite phone from his parka and makes a call. Mr. Hashi... Darius Fauci... Yes, things aren't quite going to plan here and we need to extend your contract. ... Yes... yes, that is correct... agree. We need someplace with rocks that will fit through the door... yes, rocks, like boulders, stone... Very good... thank you. He hangs up the phone and turns to Katie. We'll have to limit what we brig back to the size of the door. A peculiarity of this ability is that it is tied to doors the nova has actually been through. The doors can be connected by quantum something-or-other and you basically pass through a wormhole. All that to say, make sure your rocks will fit trough the door. It takes a few minutes but Mr. Hashi finally emerges through the door with what looks like a construction site. Several tons of sidewalk debris sit in a pile next to a front-end loader.

DaedalusK71

2014-09-08, 08:56 AM

AJ grabs some equipment from one of the scientists and begins walking back and forth taking readings. The pillars appear to be some kind of focusing apparatus. He also notices that there is no trace of the scientist who was vaporized; no trace elements, no blood, not even carbon...

Zarthrax

2014-09-08, 05:07 PM

In between readings, AJ mutters to himself. A lot.

Finally, he puts the equipment back and just shakes his head.

"Not even the slightest trace of him left. The pillars are some sort of focusing apparatus, but other than that, I really have no idea what's going on here."

Rokku

2014-09-08, 05:39 PM

"So, um," Natalie hesitates.

"Does that mean he's like, super dead?"

Zarthrax

2014-09-08, 05:44 PM

AJ shrugs.

"Either that, or this is quite possibly the weirdest form of teleportation setup I've ever seen, which I'm not discounting." He grins.

"I can't wait to find out which. It should be useful either way."

Kish

2014-09-08, 06:09 PM

"I'm not volunteering to walk into it and find out...I hope he got teleported and not killed."

Zarthrax

2014-09-08, 06:19 PM

"Wasn't going to ask you to, Miss. After all, you're a lawyer and a Nova to boot. If anyone could find a way to come back from the dead and press charges, it'll be someone like you. No, no, no, we wait for the other one to get back with the boulder or rock or whatever she was going to get."

AJ grins wider.

"Actually, considering your specialty, you can go ahead and start thinking of ways I get to keep this, and those *******s at Utopia can't filch it."

Rokku

2014-09-08, 10:14 PM

Natalie drops a large pile of sidewalk debris.

"So should I just start chucking it through? I don't want to hit the guy if he's on the other side of... whatever."

Zarthrax

2014-09-08, 11:12 PM

Natalie drops a large pile of sidewalk debris.

"So should I just start chucking it through? I don't want to hit the guy if he's on the other side of... whatever."

AJ shrugs.

"Go with a small piece and a slow underhand. No need to take off the guy's head if it is a teleporter."

Rokku

2014-09-08, 11:58 PM

Natalie nods, and gently lobs a piece towards roughly where the man disappeared.

DaedalusK71

2014-09-09, 07:15 AM

July 17, 2008 1400 hrs ICE CAVERN - Antarctica

Natlalie tosses the slab of concrete like it a soft ball pitcher and everyone watches it tumble gently through the air. As it passes roughly the same spot as the scientist...

BRRRRUUUUUMMMMMMmmmmmm

the quantum ball appears, a flash of blinding light and the slab is just gone; no dust, no ash.

DaedalusK71

2014-09-09, 10:47 AM

AJ quickly consults the readings from his various tools and the readings indicate massive quantum entanglement processes going on during the 'event'. Suggesting that this is indeed some sort of teleportation device. The question now becomes... where does it teleport you to? Based on the energy output AJ can tell the distance is less than 10 kilometers, though the direction could be anywhere.

Zarthrax

2014-09-09, 11:11 AM

AJ grins widely at this news. For a moment, he debates what to do, then mentally resolves himself.

"Hey guys, watch this."

Still grinning, he strolls right into the middle of the pillars.

Kish

2014-09-09, 12:47 PM

"Hey, wait! Are you sure..." Karen's reaction time is inhumanly fast, but she's not going to physically restrain him and so, presumably, he continues to stroll into the middle of the room with a goofy grin on his face.

DaedalusK71

2014-09-09, 01:24 PM

AJ approaches the point where previous objects disappeared. He crosses the spot and, as previously, the ball of quantum appears and the thunderous

BRRRRUUUUUMMM

is interrupted suddenly and a 'winding-down' sound follows,

MMMeewwwwwwwrr

Bolts of quantum energy arc from the sphere to the pillars before it shudders and collapses.

A wide beam of light shoots from one of the stalactites and sweeps overAJ.

A mechanized voice echoes in the chamber,

Ascendant detected. Identity-Match: Negative. What is your access code?

Kish

2014-09-09, 01:27 PM

Well, that's interesting, Karen cuts herself off from saying out loud. She watches to see what AJ does and what happens to him as a result. Meanwhile, she quietly tries to figure out what someone who built a computer to be accessible only by novas is likely to have used for an access code.

Let me know what, if anything, I should roll for that, if I have enough data to attempt a guess; it may well not come up.

Zarthrax

2014-09-09, 02:47 PM

AJ smiles as the system powers down, but frowns as the computerized voice decides to throw another wrinkle in the situation.

Reaching out to one of the pillars, he closes his eyes for a second and tries another route...

DaedalusK71

2014-09-09, 02:51 PM

AJ stands motionless for a moment, concentration pinching his face.

Invalid booms the voice, ice crystals shake loose from the ceiling.

AJ reaches into the machine and encounters a powerful mind; mechanical, cold.

You do not belong here... Terminate your connection or measure will be taken...

Zarthrax

2014-09-09, 02:58 PM

Shaking his head, he terminates the connection to the computer.

"I don't have an access code. How do I get one?"

He crosses his fingers, hoping that whoever set this up anticipated the user not knowing a thing about computers.

DaedalusK71

2014-09-09, 03:11 PM

Only Authorized Ascendants may enter. Verify your status...

Zarthrax

2014-09-09, 03:14 PM

"How do I do so?"

AJ is smiling. Not the grin from earlier, but a thin one that he normally wears while he susses out a problem.

Kish

2014-09-09, 03:19 PM

Karen considers that, then stretches out her arm and lowers the temperature over AJ's head.

[roll0], last die is Mega-Stamina.

DaedalusK71

2014-09-09, 03:36 PM

As Burke reaches out and begins lowering the temperature, the voice booms again, this time it appears with a genuine sense of alarm...
Quantum signature detected: ITZTLACOLIUHQUI

Initiating recovery protocols

Sections of the wall explode in a hail of ice and rock. Two robotic spider-like creatures drop to the ground and begin advancing on Burke.

http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/yy209/DaedalusK71/Recovery02_zpsb900fd6d.jpg

Kish

2014-09-09, 03:42 PM

"Well, they're not looking for random novas!" Karen shouts.
[roll0]

Rokku

2014-09-09, 04:24 PM

"Robots? Well, at least I don't have to worry about how hard I punch them," muses Natalie. Her aura flares in anticipation.

[roll0]

Zarthrax

2014-09-09, 04:36 PM

AJ curses as the robots deploy.

"I was working here, dammit!"

Initiative-[roll0]

DaedalusK71

2014-09-10, 10:54 AM

The left spider moves with alarming speed toward Burke, its jagged, bladed feet churning up chunks of ice in its wake. As it approaches, a serrated forearm whips out and slashes down with a mechanical whine...

Spider One attacks Burke

Attack
[roll0]
{3 Successes}

Damage if successful
[roll1]B

{5 levels of Bashing damage}

Kish

2014-09-10, 11:22 AM

The spider strikes Karen a glancing blow that her nova resilience shrugs off. She rises into the air, 20 meters out of the spider's range if the ceiling will permit her to go that high, and directs a blue-white beam of pure cold directly at it.

Multiple Actions: flying is at a 2-die penalty if I need to roll for it, her lethal Quantum Bolt is at a 3-die penalty.
Quantum Bolt: [roll0]
If she hits, damage: [roll1] plus 4 automatic levels of lethal damage.

As her beam misses the robot, she frowns at her clumsiness.

Rokku

2014-09-10, 09:18 PM

In a swirl of stars and fireworks, Natalie Nova bursts into action! Clearing the space between her and the as-yet-to-be-engaged mecharachnid in a blink, she aims to take the stupid robot's head off its stupid robot body with a single punch.

Attack, Mega-Dex dice are the last two [roll0] and damage [roll1]+ 10 autosuccesses.

Zarthrax

2014-09-11, 11:59 AM

AJ debates what to do for a moment, then closes his eyes and reaches for the pillars again.

"Please abort attacking. Run some form of better scan, because this installation looks very old and I'm certain that she is not whoever you mentioned."

DaedalusK71

2014-09-14, 07:57 AM

Natalie's punch falls like a sledgehammer on the main body of the spider, leaving a massive dent in the housing of its body. Sparks fly out from one of the leg joints as the thing staggers a few meters away. As it does, one of the jagged arms dart out at her.

Spider Attacks Natalie [roll0] {1 Success}
Natalie makes opposed roll; dodge, block, ...

Damage [roll1]

Meanwhile, AJ again reaches out to the system. "Please abort attacking. Run some form of better scan, because this installation looks very old and I'm certain that she is not whoever you mentioned." he says. Confirmed: ITZTLACOLIUHQUI authorized user...You were warned... replies the system and AJ feels a massive firewall slam into place around him.

Karen, from her perch, fires a frigid beam at the spider that attacked her but the machine is quicker and side steps the bolt.

Kish

2014-09-14, 08:56 AM

Initiative: [roll0]
Lethal Quantum Bolt, when her turn comes up:[roll1]
Damage if it hits: [roll2] plus 4 automatic levels of lethal damage. Hovering, Karen aims another beam at the undamaged spider. "They think I'm an Aztec god!" she shouts.

DaedalusK71

2014-09-15, 01:25 PM

Karen's icy beam strikes the mechanical spider in the leg, encasing it in a block of ice. Unfortunately, the thing seems unaffected as it slams the leg into the ground, sending shards of ice crashing to the ground.

The seconds spider, apparently recovered from the stunning blow landed by Natalie, raises its forelimb for another blow. This time, however, at the apex of the swing it rotates the end of its claw which glows an eerie blue hue and falls like a hammer at Natalie.

Spider 2 Attacks Natalie
[roll0] (2 successes)

Damage
[roll1] (4 Bashing :( )

The first spider leaps onto the wall using its dagger-like feet as ice-picks, skitters up the wall..

Leap
[roll2] Leaps 2 meters up the wall and,..

climbing
[roll3] Doesn't fall

Rokku

2014-09-15, 07:37 PM

Natalie shrugs off the spider's blows and smirks.

"Gotta hit harder than that, buddy," she says, cocking her fist back, "more like this!"

Attack [roll0] Damage [roll1] + 10 successes.

DaedalusK71

2014-09-16, 10:57 AM

Natalie's lands another massive blow on the spider. More sparks fly from the main body casing and a clear fluid pours from the hole she made. The thing staggers a few feet and falls, struggles to get up and falls again...

Zarthrax

2014-09-16, 03:17 PM

AJ thinks to himself quickly, then shrugs.

"Only one way to try, I imagine."

Grabbing his PDA (with 4G connection) in one hand, he keeps one hand on the pillar.

"You need to see this, since you won't listen to me." Mentally, AJ bridges the connection between the ancient computer and the one source of all the information in the world (at least until he decides to upgrade to an OpNet connection finally), the internet.

Kish

2014-09-24, 08:23 PM

Karen floats away from the spider climbing toward her.
If she can get at least 10 meters away from the wall without going as far into the room as AJ is, she'll stop behind AJ or 20 meters in, whichever comes first. If she can't, she'll prioritize getting away from the spider above not reaching the midpoint of the room.

DaedalusK71

2014-09-26, 01:50 PM

AJ reaches out and draws aside the firewall like a shower curtain. Using his ability he connects his PDA's wireless to the system.

There is a momentary pause.

The voice in the machine responds:

Anomaly detected. Partial quantum signature match: Hephaestus. Threat level: Yellow. Initiate Class C containment protocols...

The spider climbing up the wall continues on to the ceiling toward Karen, though it no longer seems bent on reaching her. Instead, it stops and four vents open on it's torso from which a clear, hazy vapor beings pouring out. From its eyes, launch two bolts of plasma that strike the wall just above the opening that let the team in. The wall collapses in a pile of ice and stone rubble, sealing the team in. The second spider, still struggling to stand follows suit but only two vents open and begin disgorging the vapor.

Kish

2014-09-27, 04:35 PM

Karen glances across the scene, from the spider on the wall to the collapsed entrance to AJ, frowning. She floats down to the floor, lands so that Natalie is closer to the injured-but-apparently-not-dead mechanical spider but Karen still has a line of sight to it, and fires an icy blue-white beam at it.

[roll0]
Damage if it hits: [roll1] plus 4 automatic levels of lethal damage.
This takes her quantum point expenditure to 7.

"They seem unfortunately cold-resistant," she comments, mainly to Natalie, "but quite thoroughly breakable."

Rokku

2014-09-27, 09:00 PM

"No, bad robot," says Natalie, kicking a leg up high, "when I beat you down, you stay beat down."

She then brings her heel down in a brutal axe kick.

Kick, so +1 difficulty +1 damage. Attack [roll0] last two are mega-dex, damage [roll1] + 10 successes.

Zarthrax

2014-09-28, 03:23 PM

AJ growls.

"I freakin' KNEW I should have brought explosives to deal with you, you jumped up calculator. Now, you WILL stop attacking us, or I'm gonna make a super electromagnet for the sole purpose of Degaussing your entire Hard Drive!!!"

(Yet another Cyberkinesis roll in the OOC, this time to deactivate the containment protocols and to switch its databases of authorized users and recognized threats. I've officially had enough of this....lol)

DaedalusK71

2014-09-29, 02:10 PM

Natalie's fist gouges a large chuck from the spider's abdomen, one of it's legs flies off and lands near where AJ stands near the pillar. Her vision blurs and eyes water slightly as the gas that had been spewing from the vents now comes in jets from every opening. She feels her strength weaken as though she were walking through water (if she were a baseline...)

Karen floats away from the spider, now clinging to the ceiling, and finds she has to concentrate just to maintain her flight. The ice-beam leaving her fingertips also seem unusually weak, though it flies true and encases three of the spider's legs in ice which fracture under their own weight and fall to the frozen floor.

AJ reaches deep into the machine which looks like a prison; light green concrete walls, sally ports, barracks, etc... Each time he nears a gate, it opens before him with a hard BZZZZZZT. He reaches a control center and deactivates the containment protocol.

Savor your vitory Hephaestus... You will be returned to your cell. It is inevitable. echoes the voice through the speaker mounted to the wall. Level one disconnect! it says and the lights dim and all fades to black, dumping AJ back to reality. AJ's head feels fuzzy, like a transmitter that is being jammed.

The remaining spider remains at its post, quietly discharging its payload.

Kish

2014-09-29, 02:15 PM

"We mustn't keep breathing this stuff!" Karen shouts, and then stops breathing, if her Adaptability hasn't been weakened to the point where she can't hold her breath any better than a baseline could.

She looks around wildly, taking only a split second to come to a conclusion, and runs toward the massive doors.

DaedalusK71

2014-09-30, 01:53 PM

Karen races past AJ to the doors which appear to be white-gray metal. They do not budge when she pushes on them. There is what appears to be a massive locking mechanism build into the door.

http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/yy209/DaedalusK71/doorlock_zps19cbed93.jpg (http://s792.photobucket.com/user/DaedalusK71/media/doorlock_zps19cbed93.jpg.html)

Kish

2014-10-01, 06:26 PM

Karen examines the door in a few seconds. If none of the symbols stands out as something likely to be useful, she slams her hand into the large disc with the hand picture, shoving her index, middle, and ring fingers into the holes in it, and begins pouring pure cold into it, still holding her breath.
Using Quantum Conversion, which brings her total of quantum points spent to 8; let me know if I should roll something.

DaedalusK71

2014-10-02, 10:48 AM

Karen touches the already cold metal door and begins lowering the temperature even further. Icy crystals begin to form, radiating out from her hand creating a beautiful fractal pattern. She continues to pour cold into the lock. The metal begins to make little 'ping', 'ping', 'ping' sounds as the metal begins to contract under the intense cold. The lock develops small fractures across its surface...

DaedalusK71

2014-10-08, 09:07 AM

The lock finally reaches its breaking point and shatters into thousand pieces that fall to the ground and shatter again into a cloud of powder. Karen pushes the heavy door open, revealing a bare white room approximately twenty meters cubed. On the far wall there is an inscription engraved in the wall.

No one may enter…

1470298653
9683574012
6304085729
5892716304
3925861470
7061452938
4536029187
8217930456
0758643291
2149307865

The walls pulse with quantum energies...

Kish

2014-10-08, 09:14 AM

Does it mean no one can enter that room or no one can enter the room beyond it? But staying here is not an option. Floating inches above the ground and ready to respond to any form of attack, Karen flies through the open door. If nothing attacks her, she'll try to figure out if there's a pattern in the number grid.

[roll0] Final die is Mega-Attribute die; let me know if any ability should be rolled as well or if Rational quality applies.

DaedalusK71

2014-10-08, 10:50 AM

Karen enters the room and as she passes the plane of the door there is a slight 'tingle'. Once inside, she looks back and where the door should be is only a white wall identical to the rest...

With Karen's 3 successes: The numbers appear to be random. The values run from zero to nine both vertically and horizontally. The walls looks an awful lot like a touch screen...

Kish

2014-10-08, 11:07 AM

Karen waits in front of the screen/wall, at least for a few minutes, for the other people who were on their feet when she left the room with the gas.

After AJ enters the room, she says, "All I can think of, is that pressing the zeros might be the right approach, if no one may enter. But I'm hoping you can come up with something more reliable."

Rokku

2014-10-08, 12:28 PM

Not willing to be subject to the gas any longer, Natalie rushes through the now-opened door.

DaedalusK71

2014-10-08, 12:52 PM

AJ enters the room and after noting the wall behind him in place of the door he reaches out and ties to reach back through only to find a wall as solid as his own hand. I guess there's no going back now...

He attempts to reach into this machine only to find nothing there...

Natalie enters the room and the walls seem to darken a shade...

Rokku

2014-10-08, 02:42 PM

Natalie pauses to catch her breath, then looks at the numbers on the wall.

"Are you kidding me with this," she says, "I did not sign up for anti-nova gas and math puzzles!"

DaedalusK71

2014-10-08, 03:01 PM

AJ walks to the bank of numbers and considers.

He reaches out and touches the wall just to the left of the first row. Suddenly the walls flash a bright red and return to their original, shade-less-than-white. In that space, the ceiling drops about a meter...

Rokku

2014-10-08, 03:41 PM

Natalie jumps when the ceiling drops.

"More solvey problem less makey deathtrap!"

Kish

2014-10-09, 08:28 AM

Karen studies the board. "It's a filled-in Sudoku grid. See the lack of duplication? Except that zero should be a one...No one may enter. This row and this column have no one." She touches the zero at the intersection of the third row and the fifth column.

DaedalusK71

2014-10-09, 09:31 AM

Karen touches the numeral and the lights blink off, sending the trio into total darkness...

Somewhere to the left a slick, sucking sound like a boot being pulled from a pool of mud sends a cold shiver down the spine. A sickly-sweet smell rolls into the room. It reminds you of that drunk guy's alcohol laden bad breath...

A low, incredibly deep voice that reverberates in your chest echoes in the darkness. Come Hephaestus... Come ITZTLACOLIUHQUI... Your cells awaits. I do not know why you have returned; perhaps revenge? And you've brought backup? No matter. The results will be the same. You will be returned to your cells. Come...

Kish

2014-10-09, 09:42 AM

"I don't suppose anyone brought the ability to create light," Karen sighs. "I'll try talking to it, but it hasn't been terribly reasonable so far; I'd much rather talk from a position of less danger. I wonder who built this and if it's automatically hostile to all novas. Hephaestus? Is that the one who's good with machines or the one with the strength to break the spider? Either could fit, but it apparently hasn't mapped one of us to any of its gods yet."

Rokku

2014-10-09, 09:06 PM

"How come I don't get to be a god," asks Natalie, "I mean I should be like Aphrodite or something, right?"

Kish

2014-10-09, 09:12 PM

"You think Hephaestus is AJ, then? I don't think it's going by gender, Natalie. The god it called me is male. If it classified you as a god, it would be based on the power you've shown it, your strength--more likely Ares than Aphrodite. Or...you could be the one it's calling Hephaestus; the smith god was certainly known for strength."
I think the Storyteller wants you to make a couple rolls, Rokku.

Zarthrax

2014-10-10, 04:54 AM

AJ frowns.

"In all likelyhood, he's calling me Hephaestus. After all, he didn't bring up that name until I started trying to rewrite him into something more...user-friendly and less homicidal."

Kish

2014-10-10, 06:42 AM

DaedalusK71

2014-10-10, 10:17 AM

"I take it that's a no on the light question then. That could make this difficult..." Karen takes a deep breath and calls out, "We're not the people you think we are. We haven't been imprisoned here. We wish to learn the purpose of this installation. Can we talk?" She prepares to dodge, preferably straight up, if she detects an attack coming her way.
[roll0] Last die is the Mega-Attribute die.

The silence is palpable. No response is forthcoming. You do notice, however, that where the air was still before there seems to be air movement carrying the fetid stench into the room...

Kish

2014-10-10, 10:24 AM

"Oh great. More gas. Unless you learned something that might be useful when you first heard the name Hephaestus, AJ, I'd suggest both of you move; a good offense is a better defense than giving up." Karen flies up to two inches below where the ceiling was before the lights went out (yay for Eidetic Memory) and reaches up to feel if it's still there. Whether it is or not, if she gets that far without crashing into the ceiling, she flies toward where the voice came from.

DaedalusK71

2014-10-10, 10:43 AM

Karen indeed finds the ceiling where it should have been, though it feels odd to her hand, no longer smooth and slick like a touch screen but rough and pebbled like... alligator skin? It takes a few minutes of searching but she stumbles, rather nearly falls through, an opening near the 'left' wall. It is large enough for two people to walk side by side and the ceiling is easily touched by extending a hand over her head.

It is clear that this is also the source of the stench. She does note, however, that it doesn't seem to be affecting her like the gas in the other room.

Following the hall for what seems like an hour, the trio suddenly realizes there is light. Faint yes but just enough for Nova enhanced senses to detect. After another twenty minutes the light is bright enough to see the walls; hard rock. You also notice the temperature has risen significantly. Another twenty minutes of walking and a light can be seen at the end of the tunnel; a deep orange-red casting angry shadows against the tunnel wall.

Kish

2014-10-14, 09:29 AM

"If we're likely to have another fight, maybe you should go first, Natalie," Karen says quietly. "Then again, how good are you at dealing with fire?" Karen prepares to attempt to put out any fire that actively endangers any of us.

DaedalusK71

2014-10-14, 10:49 AM

The trio reach the end of the tunnel, which opens into a massive cavern of melted rock and ash. The tunnel ending some twenty meters above its craggy floor. What lays before the group is a vision from Dante's Inferno. A blast furnace filled with angry molten rock, choking fumes and searing heat.

http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/yy209/DaedalusK71/lava_zps1c7b431e.jpg (http://s792.photobucket.com/user/DaedalusK71/media/lava_zps1c7b431e.jpg.html)

In the center of the glowing pool sits an island of obsidian jutting from the surface. On the island are three... boxes of darkly colored metal floating about a meter from the ground...

Zarthrax

2014-10-14, 08:18 PM

"Anybody else getting a bad feeling right about now, or is it just me?"

AJ can't help but compare the scene to Hell or Mordor in his head...

Kish

2014-10-14, 08:25 PM

"I wasn't exactly thrilled when the spiders came out. If I wanted to make my living risking my life in battle, I'd be an elite, not a lawyer."

Holding her breath, Karen flies down and examines the three boxes more closely, ready to dodge backward and up if any of them strikes at her in any way.

Rokku

2014-10-14, 09:10 PM

"If it's safe over there," yells Natalie, "I can jump over! Probably carrying AJ."

Zarthrax

2014-10-15, 05:56 PM

AJ immediately backs up at least three feet.

"Basic physics. THAT," he gestures to the lava, "is boiling rock. I'm not invulnerable, so my happy ass is staying firmly planted over here, where the air won't Melt My Lungs!"

Rokku

2014-10-15, 08:13 PM

Natalie rolls her eyes.

"I said 'if it's safe over there'. I mean this place is pretty weird, just because it should be boiling over there doesn't mean it is."

Kish

2014-10-15, 08:14 PM

"Not safe," Karen shouts back, not speaking further so that she doesn't need to breathe in.

DaedalusK71

2014-10-16, 10:18 AM

As Karen approaches, she feels odd. At 20 meters, she feels a slight 'push' like a pair of magnets repelling one another.

Kish

2014-10-17, 08:54 AM

Karen points at the smallest box, unleashing a blue-white beam of cold at it, and flies back to land next to the other two.
[roll0] Last die is the Mega-Dexterity die; dice pool is split because she's firing and immediately flying back, in case the box retaliates.

DaedalusK71

2014-10-17, 10:20 AM

The beam barely flies a meter from Karen's hand before it explodes like a ball of water struck by a baseball bat. The quantum energies shoot away from the box as though being chased by the Devil himself.

HA-HA-HA thunders a voice that jars the senses and leaves a ringing in the ears. So that is your intention... to destroy the prison? Did you think another could not be constructed? Foolish mistake, and it will be your last...

The lava in the lake stirs as something moves beneath its surface.

You have had your moment of freedom. Now you must be returned to your cell...

The lava swells, a wave that moves toward AJ and Natalie. The wave rises and rises until it finally bursts revealing a fantasy, a storybook nightmare made flesh. Lava pours from the scaly hide of a dragon some fifty meters long. It's head, the size of a dump truck, turns to Karen. It's dinner plate sized eyes fixed on her...

Do no make this harder than it has to be ITZTLACOLIUHQUI. it says and then pauses. And you Hephaestus... I have not forgotten you. Return to your cell and you will be unharmed. And while I cannot kill you, I can make you wish otherwise...

As for you... he looks to Natalie. You do not know who you have allied yourself with. Leave now and no harm will come to you. Remain... and I will eat you...

Kish

2014-10-17, 10:30 AM

"We're not who you think we are!" Karen shouts, moving behind Natalie as she speaks. "Have you no other way of telling whom you're dealing with than observing quantum powers? If you hold dangerous criminals we don't want them freed, but we must know who and what you are."

Karen prepares to blast the dragon if it attacks.

Rokku

2014-10-17, 10:01 PM

"Is that freaking dragon," asked Natalie, staring in disbelief.

"Because we're breathing in weird magma gasses and we could be seeing things right? So then there wouldn't be a dragon."

Zarthrax

2014-10-18, 03:19 AM

AJ frowns extensively.

"When I get my hands on your hard drive, you antiquated excuse for a toaster oven, I'm gonna degauss it so hard I can SPIT through it!"

Sadly, harsh words are all AJ has right now, considering that the computer system is beyond its firewall and his mental reach right now.

Next time, more gun. MUCH more gun.

DaedalusK71

2014-10-20, 10:31 AM

ENOUGH! Bellows the beast. It reaches a massive hand toward the trio, claws the size of longswords bear down on them with frightening speed...

Grapple: [roll0]

Last 5 are Mega-Attribute

DaedalusK71

2014-10-21, 09:52 AM

The creatures claw grabs, not only Karen and AJ, but giant chunks of rock as its claws gouge out the tunnel entrance. Natalie, looking nothing so much like an action heroine from a comic book, leaps from the ground over the massive paw and lands on the cavern floor like a gymnast. You'll have to do better than that tall, dark, and scary...

She leaps again like a bullet at the creature's hand aiming a blow straight for its wrist.

Punch to the dragon's wrist
10d10

Damage = Strength+2+ [10]
7d10 Last 2 are mega

Kish

2014-10-21, 09:57 AM

If Karen is unable to do anything other than grapple, I and my Brawl dice pool of 1 will wait to be rescued.

If she can use her powers, on the other hand...

Karen points at the giant claw holding her, firing a lethal Quantum Bolt into it from a distance of inches away.
[roll0] Last die is Mega-Dexterity.
Damage roll: [roll1] plus four automatic levels of lethal damage.

DaedalusK71

2014-10-21, 10:30 AM

Natalie's blow echoes in the chamber on the hardened skin but the beast barely seems to notice...

Karen's bolt strikes the dragon squarely and seems to just soak into the creature's skin. It pauses as Natalie lands on the cavern floor. What trickery is this ITZTLACOLIUHQUI? Surely your time in your cell has not softened you. No matter... I'll not give you time to fully recover. The beast turns and begins striding toward the island, choking fumes tear at AJ's eyes and throat...

At his gasping and choking the creature looks almost quizical... Come now Hephaestus... ITZTLACOLIUHQUI I expect to use trickery and deception, but you? You have never been one to play at helplessness. Hold your honor and accept your fate.

Kish

2014-10-21, 10:37 AM

"I told you we're not who you think we are!" Karen shouts. "His name's Alexander Knox and he'll die if you put him in a prison designed for an invulnerable nova! Tell us how we can prove we're not Itztlacoliuhqui or Hephaestus! Do you think only one nova has ever had ice powers? If you tell us what powers the novas you think we are had, we can do something they couldn't have done!"

DaedalusK71

2014-10-21, 10:42 AM

ITZTLA... it says. I know your quantum signature better than I know my own. I give full credit for originality. I do not think you have used that particular argument; which is saying much... Your trickery will get you nowhere. You will go to your prison and I will go to mine...

Lava splashes like water as the creature steps onto the island...

Zarthrax

2014-10-21, 06:23 PM

AJ continues to cough and retch as the Dragon nears the island. His eyes watering from the fumes and heat, it's all he can do not to vomit, much less say anything.

DaedalusK71

2014-10-22, 01:37 PM

The dragon lumbers onto the island and approaches the prison boxes. Karen and AJ are pounded by the strange force Karen experienced earlier, quantum being forced from their bodies repelled from the area. It seems even more so for the dragon. Great gouts of quantum spew from its skin, arcing out and slamming into the walls of the cavern.

ITZTLACOLIUHQUI... you will go in first. it says and picks up the center box and holds it for a moment. A complex series of symbols rotating in concentric circles appears on the surface of the box. They seem to shutter and begin spinning and rotating with a purpose. Faster and faster they spin, all the while quantum is being forcibly ejected from your bodies. Suddenly the symbols stop spinning and rotating. For a moment nothing happens... then the box hums deeply.

All things returned to their proper place... The dragon says just before the box explodes in a storm of icy wind, chunks of ice, water, and vapor...

I ... AM ... FREEEEEEEEE

The voice grates against the inside of your skull like sandpaper soaked in turpentine. The voice clouds out thought and the animal parts of you brain claw for control, seeking only to escape that horror...

The wind swirls and collects on the island and as it dissipates, a nightmare creature some ten meters tall stands in triumpant glee...

http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/yy209/DaedalusK71/wendigo.jpg (http://s792.photobucket.com/user/DaedalusK71/media/wendigo.jpg.html)

No! It cannot be!Cries the dragon, looking to the helpless pair in his grip.

You old FOOL! Did you truly believe that pathetic meatsack was me!? No matter, I am free and no power in the universe will ever put me back in that hell...

The dragon tosses AJ and Karen, a careless gesture. I do not know how you did it ITZTLACOLIUHQUI, but you ARE going back. it says and lunges.

ITZTLACOLIUHQUI smiles...Fool... while you slept and grew old and fat, I have struggled and fought and now there is nothing you can do to me... she says and lifts a hand toward the behemoth. A beam of white energy flies from her hand and strikes the dragon in the chest. Almost instantly the beast is frozen solid.

The energy beam expands, freezing the lava chamber in an instant and striking Karen, AJ and Natalie.

IIIEEEEEEE ITZTLACOLIUHQUI screams and falls to the ground; panting and clutching her chest.I am weak... It takes a long moment for her to recover. She stands and looks to the trio.

For your part in my early release I grant you your lives ... today. You may proclaim the return of ITZTLACOLIUHQUI! Rejoice! and Despair! Looking to the other boxes she picks them up and raises her gaze to the ceiling of the cavern. With a gutteral scream, the roof of the cavern shutters and explodes outward, revealing blue skies.

ITZTLACOLIUHQUI shakes her shoulders and great leathery wings grow and expand nearly the length of the chamber. With a leap, she flaps the giant appendages and bolts into the air like a shot...

DaedalusK71

2014-10-22, 01:41 PM

BREAKING NEWS

http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/yy209/DaedalusK71/Newcaster001.jpg (http://s792.photobucket.com/user/DaedalusK71/media/Newcaster001.jpg.html)

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is David Rivers, Action 45 news, and we interrupt this broadcast to bring you breaking news...

Just moments ago, the Valkyrie Dome in Antarctica erupted... The seismic waves were felt some 400 miles away at Mcmurdo Sound on the other side of the continental shelf. Early reports are indicating that a Nova was involved. Military RADAR tracked a large object leaving the area at a high rate of speed heading for Africa.

Officials from both Russia and the US have dispatched teams to inspect the site and look for clues as to what occurred there.

ladies and Gentlemen, if ever there was doubt as to the potential of the Nova population... this is it.

We will continue to update the story as event unfold.

This is David Rivers for Action News 45...

That's some crazy business ey Patty? Ryan sniffed while he and James ate lunch. Them Novas are gonna wipe us all out...

Kish

2014-10-22, 03:00 PM

In the cavern, Karen sets AJ down carefully and makes sure he's all right before she flies over to the frozen dragon and begins trying to thaw (him/it).

She'll absorb
1) Seven quantum points worth of cold, if that's not enough to produce any result.
2) Enough to confirm that he's dead, if that's less than seven points worth.
3) Enough that he's able to respond but preferably not able to move again, if neither of the first two conditions applies.

I'm expecting the first to be the result...but Karen would try, anyway.

ConnBurger125

2014-10-22, 03:32 PM

That's some crazy business ey Patty? Ryan sniffed while he and James ate lunch. Them Novas are gonna wipe us all out...

James watched intently as the newscaster spoke, only returning his attention to Ryan when he was sure they wouldn't return with anything new. "Crazy is an understatement. Why would they do something like that in Antarctica though? Maybe whatever it was wasn't so bad? I mean I knew a guy who got his life saved by one of those novas." He'd glance down at his watch as he finished speaking, checking just how long he had left on his shift. "and 'sides, they said it was headed to Africa, plenty of ocean between here and there." He'd grin, hoping whatever was out there didn't have Boston on it's travel agenda.

Zarthrax

2014-10-22, 04:46 PM

AJ watches the monster leave from his position on the floor, coughs, and shivers, then finally manages to rasp something through gritted teeth.

"So. Who saw that one coming?" He then raises his hand. "Anyone else?"

Rokku

2014-10-23, 03:46 AM

Natalie is visibly shaken, staring up at the gaping hole.

"I'm hoping to find out I just passed out on my video shoot and this is all a crazy dream," she says.

Zarthrax

2014-10-23, 04:00 AM

AJ slowly dusts himself off and stands up, hissing in pain as some of his skin is red and inflamed due to the proximity to the once-lava, now stone floor.

"Next time? We bring more gun."

He stares up at the dragon with a face full of loathing.

"A LOT more gun."

Then he shrugs and starts walking back to the portal home, as best he can figure.

"But first we clean up our mess before Draco Malfoy there gets even the slightest bit unfrosted."

DaedalusK71

2014-10-23, 10:50 AM

DaedalusK71

2014-10-23, 11:50 AM

Karen begins thawing the dragon's head. In moments the frozen head shudders and drops to its chest.

Within moments, it stirs...
Uhhhh ... what happened?

Kish

2014-10-23, 11:52 AM

"Your idiotic belligerence and refusal to listen resulted in letting what you were trying to confine free, is what happened," Karen tells the dragon sharply. "Will you promise not to attack us again, or do we need to leave you there and figure out how to get the genie back in the bottle without you?"

ConnBurger125

2014-10-23, 03:28 PM

Boston

Why? Ryan says, looking sideways at James. 'Cause they can. Whose gonna stop 'em? You? Not me, I'll tell ya that. That guy on Team Tomorrow... uh-uh... Pap..PAX! That guy could take a tank round in the chest and laugh it off... and I'm supposed to stop him with this little nine-millimeter? Please. One of those goons shows up where you are... run. Ryan downs the last of his drink. I gotta hit the head before we go... he says and pushes back from the table. I'll tell ya another thing... whatever that was went from Antarctica to Africa; You think it'll have any trouble gettin' here?

James finishes that last of his water bottle, crushing it and tossing it into the trash bin. He'd pat the pistol on his hip and smirk, saying "Hey now, it's not the size of the tool, it's how you use it. It's like those stories you hear about on the news, some guy all hopped up on drugs take bullets like they're bee stings. Pax bleeds just like you and me, I'm sure, he just takes a little more." He'd nod as Ryan stood and started to leave. "I'm just saying, for now whatever it was in busy in Africa, lets just make sure nobody runs off with everything in the vault before we get to go home, alright?"

DaedalusK71

2014-10-23, 07:18 PM

DaedalusK71

2014-10-23, 07:36 PM

Boston

James finishes that last of his water bottle, crushing it and tossing it into the trash bin. He'd pat the pistol on his hip and smirk, saying "Hey now, it's not the size of the tool, it's how you use it. It's like those stories you hear about on the news, some guy all hopped up on drugs take bullets like they're bee stings. Pax bleeds just like you and me, I'm sure, he just takes a little more." He'd nod as Ryan stood and started to leave. "I'm just saying, for now whatever it was in busy in Africa, lets just make sure nobody runs off with everything in the vault before we get to go home, alright?"

Ryan looks at James dubiously. A little more!? Ain't no pop gun gonna do anything but piss him off... Then he's gonna turn you into an oily smudge on the street.

Zarthrax

2014-10-23, 08:23 PM

Antatctica

The dragon peers as Karen with a cold, reptilian eye. While your insolence inclines me to eat you child... but I cannot dispute your argument... it says. The dragon closes its enormous eyes and the veins in its neck bulge as it strains at something. Smoke drifts from between its lips. Low on its chest, the skin begins to glow, melting the ice crusting its body. With a grunt, the beast collapses on the island, barely conscious. Who are you and how did you mimic ITZTLACOLIUHQUI's quantum signature? And you... it says to AJ. You stink of Hephaestus...

"And you stink of Prada purses and Taco Bell, you overgrown malfunction. Doesn't mean I wanna lock you in a box for it. Granted, there's some hard feelings for trying, but I plan on working past that, literally any decade now."

AJ grabs his PDA out of his pocket and starts designing a few odds and ends.

Kish

2014-10-24, 06:59 PM

"My name is Karen. We have a lot to talk about, apparently, but first, there are innocent people trapped in that cavern--some of whom are...like me, but some of whom, I think, are just ordinary humans. Is there a way to get back to the room where the robots attacked us?"

DaedalusK71

2014-10-26, 12:52 PM

Antarctica

Ordinary humans... you mean baselines? If they were exposed to the Moxinoquantamine-7, they are dead... I am sorry. The others should be fine in a couple of hours with nothing more than a headache. I will need time to regenerate but I can unblock the tunnel. he says before reaching out toward the collapsed tunnel entrance. Rock flows like liquid and the opening reshapes itself. It will be several cycles before I am at full strength. You must tell Primus that ITZTLACOLIUHQUI and the others have escaped. ITZTLACOLIUHQUI's reputation is not hype, nor is Hephaestus or Proteus. They must be returned to her prison before they kills us all.. He winces in pain. Of all the Aberrants, these three are the worst. Uh... The dragon shudders. I must sleep...

DaedalusK71

2014-10-26, 01:08 PM

Kish

2014-10-27, 04:37 PM

ConnBurger125

2014-10-27, 08:00 PM

James and Ryan return to the bank and enter the control room. All clear gents. says the third member of their shift, Lohl. Just another day in paradise... I'll grab my lunch now and be back in a half-hour. he says and grabs his radio. Call if you need me. He says as he leaves the room.

The half-hour comes and goes with no sign of Lohl...

Typical... Ryan says angrily. That's the third time this WEEK he's done that. I have half a mind to Ryan's words are interrupted by the radio... Help! Help me! Somebody Please! Stay away from me you freak! Lohl's voice is frantic but unmistakable. Suddenly 2 shots ring out from the speaker and then silence.

James nods at Lohl as he makes his way out, continuing his earlier conversation with Ryan "They're not freaks, I mean some of the things they can do are terrifying but they can't all be bad eggs." As he drops into his seat in the control room he slips his radio from his belt and drops it onto the desk.

You'd think he'd be a little more punct-..." With the crackle of the radio drowned out by the gunshots James was on his feet, one hand on his pistol and the other on the radio. He'd motion towards the screens, saying, "Find him, let me know on the radio where he is once you've got him." He'd break into a run towards the door yelling into his radio. "Lohl?!? Where are you?!" His gun drawn as he headed towards the break room.

Zarthrax

2014-10-31, 01:11 AM

AJ continues working, and also listens to the interrogation, curious as to the answers....

DaedalusK71

2014-11-02, 01:28 PM

Karen shakes her head. "These people have no reputations in this time, dragon. It doesn't look like we're going to have time to talk if you're about to collapse. I gather that Itztlacoliuhqui has ice powers and Hephaestus is nearly invulnerable, but tell me what you can about their powers, especially Proteus, because what you can tell us is all the information we'll have for dealing with them--and tell me what the year was when you last knew it."

AJ continues working, and also listens to the interrogation, curious as to the answers....

The Dragon's skin begins hardening and turning a dark brown. Itztlacoliuhqui, Hephaestus and Proteus are Titans, a group of powerful Aberrants who transcended humanity and sought to remake the world to suit them. It was dumb luck we stopped them in the first place. I fear there is no going back. What powers? Did I not say they were Titans? Itztlacoliuhqui prefers the cold though that is hardly the limit of her power. Hephaestus ... He looks at AJ with a hard stare. He is called 'The Smith of the Gods'. His creations are responsible for countless deaths. If Itztlacoliuhqui has freed him, no doubt he will begin rebuilding his war forge. Proteus is ... difficult. It changes like the wind. It can ... be .. anyone, anything, it chooses.It is capricious and vain and wholly evil. I do not know why I have told you this, go and prepare yourselves for the end...

At Karen's last comment the beast looks puzzled. As it drifts into unconsciousness, its skin hardening into a living cocoon, it says The year of the Pig of course...

DaedalusK71

2014-11-02, 01:35 PM

Boston

James runs to the street looking frantically for a clue to Lohl's position. A blur of motion catches his eye and James sees Lohl fly from an alley and strike the wall opposite the street. A gutteral scream echoes from the buildings and a freakish monster lumbers from the alley. Bulbous and covered in a patchwork of hair, the creature step into the street. A car attempts to swerve out of the way but crashes into the things leg, crumpling the front like an accordion. The thing cries out, not in pain but in anger, and picks up the car as though it were a toy and throws it down the street.

Kish

2014-11-02, 01:36 PM

Karen lets out an oddly relieved-sounding sigh before saying, "First thing is to see who's still alive, of those who came with us. Whatever these...Titans...are doing, there's nothing we can do to stop them in the next few minutes."

She starts walking into the cavern; if AJ and/or Natalie accompanies her, she'll stay on the ground out of politeness, but if she's the only one heading in then she'll fly.

Zarthrax

2014-11-02, 07:30 PM

AJ follows Karen on foot as she exits the cavern, continuing to work on his iPad as he walks.

"Y'know, at this point? I kinda wonder if Team Tomorrow will be able to do anything about these Titans to justify their overpaid salaries."

DaedalusK71

2014-11-04, 09:28 PM

The trip back is uneventful. When AJ and Karen reach the entrance, the cave in has been reopened. The bodies of the technicians have been removed and there are men in bio-hazard suits examining the pillars.

Kish

2014-11-04, 09:35 PM

"We'll certainly want all the help we can possibly get," Karen says to AJ, and then, arriving at the cavern, "Hello!"

She says, "I'm Karen, and this is Alexander. We came here with Neumann Enterprises."
She says, "I think it's safe now. We need to talk about what was in here, but first, how many people died?"

DaedalusK71

2014-11-05, 07:49 PM

Antarctica

The man in the white suit looks to her and waves back toward the cave-in/entrance where several people in business suits are gathered. At her approach, Darius Fauci smiles and spreads his hands expansively. OH thank the heavens! You're alright! We feared what happened to the others happened to you... What happened?!

Kish

2014-11-06, 09:32 PM

I hope we haven't lost Rokku.
Karen steps forward. "It seems this place was an ancient prison for criminal novas. The security system mistook us for escaped inmates and tried to recapture us...and, in the process, let its prisoners out. It's imperative that we get the word to--to others who can help; the nova prisoner I briefly spoke to was clearly...sociopathic might be too mild a term...and announced malevolent intentions for everyone on Earth, and it appears the other two former prisoners are of comparable morality. And comparable power level, more than any other nova I've seen or heard of." She takes a breath before asking, "How many people did the security system kill?"

DaedalusK71

2014-11-08, 07:37 PM

Antarctica

Fauci looks puzzled. What do you mean 'Ancient'? Novas have only been around a short time; hardly long enough for anyone to have an 'Ancient' anything... He pauses a moment. I'll get an alert out to Project Utopia so they can be on the look out for these novas. They should be able to handle anything these... inmates... stir up. At Karen's question, Darius frowns and looks at his shoes. All dead I am afraid. The gas was some kind of sup'ed up Moxinoquantamine. It's like nothing we've ever seen. The others were dead almost instantly. They didn't suffer. He sniffs and straightens.

But they didn't die for nothing. The technology alone is beyond anything even our most talented engineers have developed. It uses some kind of quantum optics. We believe the system is immensely powerful, we just have to find it. Did you come across anything inside? Besides the prison, that is...

AJ he says almost cheerfully. Would you mind helping Dr. N'Gun? He's trying to set up an interface with the machine.

Zarthrax

2014-11-09, 06:34 PM

Aj remains silent, and continues working on whatever he is typing up as Karen talks to Fauci.

When addressed, he nods.

"Yeeeaahhh, good luck with that. The system is ornery in the worst way. Maybe with me helping, I'll get some results, but just based on the interactions that have already happened, I'd say it's doubtful."

Kish

2014-11-09, 06:49 PM

"We spoke to...I don't know if he was a quantum construct or a nova guard who had lost every trace of humanity, every physical trace that is. But he indicated that the last time he was awake, they were using a different calendar than we are now. There must have been at least one earlier nova age, before this one. I hope it's as simple as Team Tomorrow capturing those who escaped, the novas he referred to as Itztlacoliuhqui, Hephaestus, and Proteus; they say Caestus Pax is the most powerful nova alive, right? Moxinoquantamine-7, he said, which would kill baselines but only leave novas unconscious for a couple of hours. The whole system seemed inert now? But if you're going in there, bring a light source, and I...I wouldn't be surprised if there was something deadly and automated left in there."

Karen offers no comment on AJ's interactions with the computer system.