Zero Prime
2017-10-23, 06:23 AM
The
New Guardians
Issue #1: "Break Out!"
Masks! Comics Publications
It's a green jewel located at the heart of Halcyon City, looping boulevards, concentric circles of shrubs and greenery providing privacy to the couples who wander it's well manicured pathways. The paths, lead a circuitous path towards the center of Halcyon Hills. Arrayed around the structure at the center, as if on eternal, silent guard stand seven graven busts atop plinth's that stand chest high. Watchguard, Atalanta, Nightshade, Flashfreeze, Inferno, Hyperbeam, and Xeno Cypher. The Guardtower rises out of the center, a creation of glass and steel, contained within are the various offices of the Guardians, state & municipal liasons, legal advisers, media relations, charity representatives, and more.
However, our story does not begin here, instead we move west, along the District Columbia Parkway, and as we exit Halcyon City proper, we find a large facility comprised of a fortified bunker built into the bluffs that surround the Bay, a series of short squat buildings, fashioned of concrete and steel, various towers and communications arrays, plus several landing pads for the Guardian VTOL Transports. The compound is surrounded by expansive grounds, hidden from casual observation by well maintained landscaping as well as manned checkpoints and barriers. The Citadel, is the true heart of the Global Guardians, and that is where our young heroes find themselves today, Sunday October 22nd, 2017.
Currently Watchguard, Atalanta, Flashfreeze, Inferno and Hyperbeam are attending to an international crises in the Middle East, Qamadan's monarch, has begun hostilities against an Atlantean outpost in the Red Sea. Adham ibn Khem'ra, known to the world as Khem'ra the Undying, is the incarnation of an ancient Egyptian Sorcerer, however his position as Qamadan's monarch presents the Guardian's with many diplomatic challenges.
Blue Raven
You've fine tuned your gear considerable from your 1st encounter with Captain B-list, errr, Boom. But the memory of that initial loss to him still stings, you've balanced out the weight and the draw on the new bow after crowd-sourcing some of Killshot's designs, it's light frame, and increased rigidity allow for more power. You know another arrow and smile, well, you would smile if it wasn't so infuriating. Your sparring partner today, Phoenix, has incredible reflexes and speed, firing an arrow, he ducks quickly bringing his arm across his center torso, smashing it in flight. Damn ninja! Seriously! You know if you were using 'real' arrows it may be a different story, but you didn't want to land that shot that badly, not this time at least.
What's worse is his relentless advice and suggestions, telling you how to improve your balance, anticipate his moves, thankfully you are able to keep him at range and kite him, but it's taking pretty much every arrow in your quiver, and he keeps breaking them. Finally, he does the same move again, however this time you figured him out, and as he does so a cloud of green acrid gas surrounds him, causing him to choke briefly, and then wince at the smell. Ya! Stink gas arrow! You figure in a real situation it would be tear gas, but still, you got your point across.
And that's when you notice that the green gas rapidly dissipates and swirls around Phoenix, even as your hood flies back, and hair swirls around your face. Looking up you see a Guardian transport coming in for landing;
https://i.imgur.com/2z8P5ko.jpg
You know Watchman and Hyperbeam can fly, and you don't see them, so it's not the Guardians returning from Qamadan. Phoenix takes the opportunity to move out of the cloud of stink gas, and moves over to you, his own curiosity writ large on his face.
Both of your questions are answered shortly when you see Nightshade exit the rear facing loading ramp with his prisoner in tow.
https://i.imgur.com/YR2PFPmt.jpg https://i.imgur.com/looSdIFt.jpg
Even defeated, his arms manacled behind his back and being led to the detention center by the gloomy hero, Killshot turns to you, "Oh god, it's the kids." He looks over his shoulder towards the cloaked hero, and then back to you, "Hey Blue Jay, when your done with my starter kit, look me up, I can show you how to 'actually' use my --- Ack!" He stumbles as Nightshade shoves him roughly forward, though you note he doesn't comment on Killshot's remarks. "Sorry," he snarks towards the established hero, "just don't want the kid to hurt hers--". "Enough," Nightshade remarks loudly, before turning to both you and Phoenix, "You're not cleared for the Detention Center, return to the main building. Now."
Blue Raven: Killshot is telling you who you are, that you are a kid using left over gear to pretend that you are a hero. As an Adult he has Influence over you, and is trying to shift your Mundane up, and your Savior down. You accept what he says, or you can roll to Reject his Influence. Blue Raven,
What do you do?
Gatekeeper & Yin: Motor Pool
As New Guardians, you have been assigned specific responsibilities, and one of those is familiarization with both the Citadel and it's staff. The complex is massive, and at times confusing, however, it has a standing security force, armed with advanced weaponry and body armor, as well as an administrative branch, maintenance, and transportation.
https://i.imgur.com/BsJCS2f.jpg
The Motor Pool, that's where the two of you are headed to now, having completed the majority of the tour. It is located outside the front gates, you receive varying nods, salutes, or grunts of respect as you walk through the complex, however after exiting the lift, and proceeding across the grounds towards the building that houses the Guardians fleet of ground vehicles, you notice a sleek black sedan being followed by a large armored AEGIS vehicle pass through the far check point and come rumbling towards the very building you are headed to.
A tall black man exits the vehicle as it grinds to a halt mere feet from the two of you, he wears a well cut, but modest navy suit, impeccable attired. His posture, and demeanor though let you know his is not a soft bureaucrat, but more accustomed to military action in the field; AEGIS Cmdr Howard Anderson approaches the two of you, his face impassive and disciplined; https://i.imgur.com/vNzR7act.jpg
He is flanked by two AEGIS soldiers, their weapons slung across their chest, hanging loosely but within easy access should they need to defend themselves from any threat; neither Anderson nor the soldiers look particularly pleased to be here.
https://i.imgur.com/c2jvZyLm.jpg
Anderson steps forward, "I need to speak to someone in authority," he looks down his nose at the two of you, "preferably someone who is at least of voting age." A pause and a frown, "This is an AEGIS Security matter, and requires the attention of the Guardians." He scowls at the two of you, waiting, obviously assuming that you've been sent to escort him to some briefing or another.
Gatekeeper & Yin: Anderson obviously believes that you have been sent to take him to a briefing with an on-site member of the Guardians. However with the majority of the team in Qamadan,
only Xeno Cypher is at the Citadel, ever present through it's encrypted network, and Nightshade's whereabouts are, as is typical, unknown, though a VTOL Transport did just circle for landing. What do you do?
Chevalier & Frostbite: Communications Center
Wide windows show a panoramic view of Halcyon City across the Bay, the early afternoon light reflected from the water combines with the low monochromatic glow from large screens to cast the room in a blueish white light. A large global map is projected above a holo-unit, slowly rotating in the center of the room, with various hotspots expanded on nearby monitor banks, showing live news feeds, and real time data, communications, and statistics.
https://i.imgur.com/uXFJoxh.jpg
One such area is Qamadan, but there are half a dozen other potential alert zones being monitored by the figure hovering beside the globe. A monochromatic android, vaguely feminine in it's construction, currently housing the projected intelligence of Xeno Cypher;
https://i.imgur.com/XjUwzLot.jpg
With short precise movements, she projects data onto the wall, studying various news reports. The two of you have been assigned monitor duty, by allowing access to the communications channels, they had hoped Frostbite could educate Yvain on both the technology and culture of modern life. Frostbite, you find yourself distracted by the fact that she is investigating reports tied to CryInc, where Flashfreeze sits on the Board. However, you both note that she has several unrelated incident reports open, one involving Vættir Pharmaceutical, and another involving the Echeneis Medical Research Station.
"Ah," she intones in a vaugely human manner, "the fact that you are devoting your time and effort to my own research must indicate that your task is complete. The communication logs and buffers have been transcribed and purged?" She turns and looks at the two of you, and you can almost hear the whirr of micro-electronics, as her eyebrow raises quizzically. She smiles, and you both find it odd, the Guardian which shows your team the most respect, and consideration, is the one who is, no longer, even remotely human.
"However, I could use some of your insight and intuition, if you believe you can complete your tasks before end of day." She nods her head, and floats over on the anti-grav drives located in her hips, and along her spine. With a curt, precise movement of her hand she throws data from her holographic interface to the screens in front of you, "A pharmaceutical company involved in genetic modification of pesticides, the theft of equipment meant to regulate a cryogenic suspension device, and data from the human genome project, these events seem more than happenstance, especially coupled with the following report filed yesterday." Data scrolls quickly past indicating that a series of abductions have occurred recently in the Reconstruction Zone, an area of Halcyon City that was destroyed two years ago during the Terminus Event, when the other-dimensional warlord known as Lord Terminus tried to invade Earth. "A significant percentage of the transient population who ignore the safety protocols and make their home in the Zone have gone missing within the past few weeks, a young heroine," she tapped a screen and an image appeared;
https://i.imgur.com/8RmSCIct.jpg
"Saturna," Frostbite, you've read her file, a human-saturnian hybrid, excommunicated from the Lunar capital of Titan because she chose to be raised amongst her father's people on Earth, "responded and has since gone missing herself. I hypothesize that these incid --," a sudden pause. "New arrivals, can you please attend to these interruptions while I continue with my extrapolations?"
Flashing up on your screens almost simulatenously you see the arrival of Nightshade at the VTOL Platform, and Cmd Anderson, along with his AEGIS soldiers and transportation arrive at the Motor Pool.
Chevalier and Frostbite: What do you do?
Everyone:Please note, that as members of the New Guardians, you have access to both the Citadel & the Guardtower. However, the Citadel is the *actual* base of operations for the Global Guardians. You also have com-links, however, should you choose to use them, they can, and will be entered into Communication logs, which the Guardians themselves can access.
New Guardians
Issue #1: "Break Out!"
Masks! Comics Publications
It's a green jewel located at the heart of Halcyon City, looping boulevards, concentric circles of shrubs and greenery providing privacy to the couples who wander it's well manicured pathways. The paths, lead a circuitous path towards the center of Halcyon Hills. Arrayed around the structure at the center, as if on eternal, silent guard stand seven graven busts atop plinth's that stand chest high. Watchguard, Atalanta, Nightshade, Flashfreeze, Inferno, Hyperbeam, and Xeno Cypher. The Guardtower rises out of the center, a creation of glass and steel, contained within are the various offices of the Guardians, state & municipal liasons, legal advisers, media relations, charity representatives, and more.
However, our story does not begin here, instead we move west, along the District Columbia Parkway, and as we exit Halcyon City proper, we find a large facility comprised of a fortified bunker built into the bluffs that surround the Bay, a series of short squat buildings, fashioned of concrete and steel, various towers and communications arrays, plus several landing pads for the Guardian VTOL Transports. The compound is surrounded by expansive grounds, hidden from casual observation by well maintained landscaping as well as manned checkpoints and barriers. The Citadel, is the true heart of the Global Guardians, and that is where our young heroes find themselves today, Sunday October 22nd, 2017.
Currently Watchguard, Atalanta, Flashfreeze, Inferno and Hyperbeam are attending to an international crises in the Middle East, Qamadan's monarch, has begun hostilities against an Atlantean outpost in the Red Sea. Adham ibn Khem'ra, known to the world as Khem'ra the Undying, is the incarnation of an ancient Egyptian Sorcerer, however his position as Qamadan's monarch presents the Guardian's with many diplomatic challenges.
Blue Raven
You've fine tuned your gear considerable from your 1st encounter with Captain B-list, errr, Boom. But the memory of that initial loss to him still stings, you've balanced out the weight and the draw on the new bow after crowd-sourcing some of Killshot's designs, it's light frame, and increased rigidity allow for more power. You know another arrow and smile, well, you would smile if it wasn't so infuriating. Your sparring partner today, Phoenix, has incredible reflexes and speed, firing an arrow, he ducks quickly bringing his arm across his center torso, smashing it in flight. Damn ninja! Seriously! You know if you were using 'real' arrows it may be a different story, but you didn't want to land that shot that badly, not this time at least.
What's worse is his relentless advice and suggestions, telling you how to improve your balance, anticipate his moves, thankfully you are able to keep him at range and kite him, but it's taking pretty much every arrow in your quiver, and he keeps breaking them. Finally, he does the same move again, however this time you figured him out, and as he does so a cloud of green acrid gas surrounds him, causing him to choke briefly, and then wince at the smell. Ya! Stink gas arrow! You figure in a real situation it would be tear gas, but still, you got your point across.
And that's when you notice that the green gas rapidly dissipates and swirls around Phoenix, even as your hood flies back, and hair swirls around your face. Looking up you see a Guardian transport coming in for landing;
https://i.imgur.com/2z8P5ko.jpg
You know Watchman and Hyperbeam can fly, and you don't see them, so it's not the Guardians returning from Qamadan. Phoenix takes the opportunity to move out of the cloud of stink gas, and moves over to you, his own curiosity writ large on his face.
Both of your questions are answered shortly when you see Nightshade exit the rear facing loading ramp with his prisoner in tow.
https://i.imgur.com/YR2PFPmt.jpg https://i.imgur.com/looSdIFt.jpg
Even defeated, his arms manacled behind his back and being led to the detention center by the gloomy hero, Killshot turns to you, "Oh god, it's the kids." He looks over his shoulder towards the cloaked hero, and then back to you, "Hey Blue Jay, when your done with my starter kit, look me up, I can show you how to 'actually' use my --- Ack!" He stumbles as Nightshade shoves him roughly forward, though you note he doesn't comment on Killshot's remarks. "Sorry," he snarks towards the established hero, "just don't want the kid to hurt hers--". "Enough," Nightshade remarks loudly, before turning to both you and Phoenix, "You're not cleared for the Detention Center, return to the main building. Now."
Blue Raven: Killshot is telling you who you are, that you are a kid using left over gear to pretend that you are a hero. As an Adult he has Influence over you, and is trying to shift your Mundane up, and your Savior down. You accept what he says, or you can roll to Reject his Influence. Blue Raven,
What do you do?
Gatekeeper & Yin: Motor Pool
As New Guardians, you have been assigned specific responsibilities, and one of those is familiarization with both the Citadel and it's staff. The complex is massive, and at times confusing, however, it has a standing security force, armed with advanced weaponry and body armor, as well as an administrative branch, maintenance, and transportation.
https://i.imgur.com/BsJCS2f.jpg
The Motor Pool, that's where the two of you are headed to now, having completed the majority of the tour. It is located outside the front gates, you receive varying nods, salutes, or grunts of respect as you walk through the complex, however after exiting the lift, and proceeding across the grounds towards the building that houses the Guardians fleet of ground vehicles, you notice a sleek black sedan being followed by a large armored AEGIS vehicle pass through the far check point and come rumbling towards the very building you are headed to.
A tall black man exits the vehicle as it grinds to a halt mere feet from the two of you, he wears a well cut, but modest navy suit, impeccable attired. His posture, and demeanor though let you know his is not a soft bureaucrat, but more accustomed to military action in the field; AEGIS Cmdr Howard Anderson approaches the two of you, his face impassive and disciplined; https://i.imgur.com/vNzR7act.jpg
He is flanked by two AEGIS soldiers, their weapons slung across their chest, hanging loosely but within easy access should they need to defend themselves from any threat; neither Anderson nor the soldiers look particularly pleased to be here.
https://i.imgur.com/c2jvZyLm.jpg
Anderson steps forward, "I need to speak to someone in authority," he looks down his nose at the two of you, "preferably someone who is at least of voting age." A pause and a frown, "This is an AEGIS Security matter, and requires the attention of the Guardians." He scowls at the two of you, waiting, obviously assuming that you've been sent to escort him to some briefing or another.
Gatekeeper & Yin: Anderson obviously believes that you have been sent to take him to a briefing with an on-site member of the Guardians. However with the majority of the team in Qamadan,
only Xeno Cypher is at the Citadel, ever present through it's encrypted network, and Nightshade's whereabouts are, as is typical, unknown, though a VTOL Transport did just circle for landing. What do you do?
Chevalier & Frostbite: Communications Center
Wide windows show a panoramic view of Halcyon City across the Bay, the early afternoon light reflected from the water combines with the low monochromatic glow from large screens to cast the room in a blueish white light. A large global map is projected above a holo-unit, slowly rotating in the center of the room, with various hotspots expanded on nearby monitor banks, showing live news feeds, and real time data, communications, and statistics.
https://i.imgur.com/uXFJoxh.jpg
One such area is Qamadan, but there are half a dozen other potential alert zones being monitored by the figure hovering beside the globe. A monochromatic android, vaguely feminine in it's construction, currently housing the projected intelligence of Xeno Cypher;
https://i.imgur.com/XjUwzLot.jpg
With short precise movements, she projects data onto the wall, studying various news reports. The two of you have been assigned monitor duty, by allowing access to the communications channels, they had hoped Frostbite could educate Yvain on both the technology and culture of modern life. Frostbite, you find yourself distracted by the fact that she is investigating reports tied to CryInc, where Flashfreeze sits on the Board. However, you both note that she has several unrelated incident reports open, one involving Vættir Pharmaceutical, and another involving the Echeneis Medical Research Station.
"Ah," she intones in a vaugely human manner, "the fact that you are devoting your time and effort to my own research must indicate that your task is complete. The communication logs and buffers have been transcribed and purged?" She turns and looks at the two of you, and you can almost hear the whirr of micro-electronics, as her eyebrow raises quizzically. She smiles, and you both find it odd, the Guardian which shows your team the most respect, and consideration, is the one who is, no longer, even remotely human.
"However, I could use some of your insight and intuition, if you believe you can complete your tasks before end of day." She nods her head, and floats over on the anti-grav drives located in her hips, and along her spine. With a curt, precise movement of her hand she throws data from her holographic interface to the screens in front of you, "A pharmaceutical company involved in genetic modification of pesticides, the theft of equipment meant to regulate a cryogenic suspension device, and data from the human genome project, these events seem more than happenstance, especially coupled with the following report filed yesterday." Data scrolls quickly past indicating that a series of abductions have occurred recently in the Reconstruction Zone, an area of Halcyon City that was destroyed two years ago during the Terminus Event, when the other-dimensional warlord known as Lord Terminus tried to invade Earth. "A significant percentage of the transient population who ignore the safety protocols and make their home in the Zone have gone missing within the past few weeks, a young heroine," she tapped a screen and an image appeared;
https://i.imgur.com/8RmSCIct.jpg
"Saturna," Frostbite, you've read her file, a human-saturnian hybrid, excommunicated from the Lunar capital of Titan because she chose to be raised amongst her father's people on Earth, "responded and has since gone missing herself. I hypothesize that these incid --," a sudden pause. "New arrivals, can you please attend to these interruptions while I continue with my extrapolations?"
Flashing up on your screens almost simulatenously you see the arrival of Nightshade at the VTOL Platform, and Cmd Anderson, along with his AEGIS soldiers and transportation arrive at the Motor Pool.
Chevalier and Frostbite: What do you do?
Everyone:Please note, that as members of the New Guardians, you have access to both the Citadel & the Guardtower. However, the Citadel is the *actual* base of operations for the Global Guardians. You also have com-links, however, should you choose to use them, they can, and will be entered into Communication logs, which the Guardians themselves can access.