Veiled Malice

Before long, the buzzing became a dull humming. The air seemed to become heavier somehow, like some great force was incoming. Most of the people in Riverside Park apparently didn't notice, but despite his advanced years, or perhaps because of them, Fred did. Soon, the hum gave way to a keening sound, like a mass of metal hurtling through the air at great speed. Now the people of the area had taken notice, but Fred had seen what was coming long before they had. An aerodyne, similar to the ones seen during the Terminus Invasion, was cutting towards land from across the river, leaving great streams of water in it's wake. Plumes of smoke poured liberally from rents in it's armor in places, and it appeared that it was having difficulty just maintaining barely a meter between it and a disastrous splashdown. An open top allowed it's occupants space to fire hand held energy weapons from out of the back, lighting up the area around with strobes of killing light. The reason for the aerodyne's distress became evident then. Two flying forms followed after the craft, firing energy weapons of their own at the vehicle. It was still too far away, but Fred could swear they were shooting without the benefit of guns, normally a prerequisite for shooting much of anything. By now, everyone had seen what was coming, and the people's reactions ranged from awed silence to cheers and whoops. But when a bolt struck the nose of the aerodyne, and the craft veered directly towards the peninsula, those same voices of joy turned to cries of terror. The gathering crowd dispersed violently, people nearly running over each other to get away from the incoming armored vehicle. The crash when several tons of metal met the ground was nearly a physical force, even from were Fred stood, transfixed by the awesome power of it. Thick, choking clouds of dirt flew into the air, casting the entire area into darkness. All Fred could hear was people crying out for their loved ones, calling out their pain and fear, and the crunching of the massive machine as it finally settled into it's final resting place. For what seemed like an hour, but was probably only minutes, Fred was lost to darkness, his only companion the moans of those around him. The dust parted after a time, revealing that the craft had come to a halt barely more than fifty feet away. People lay strewn about, but thankfully, their wounds appeared shallow and far between. A few people moved among the wounded, trying to help those they didn't even know, which buoyed Fred's spirits. Then a voice, high and commanding, rang out: "You guys all done in there? Or do you need some more convincing?" Fred looked up and saw the two people he'd seen chase the aerodyne in floating above the scene. One was black, dressed in street clothes from what he could see, with a black mask covering the top part of his head. He was barely more than a kid! The other, the one who'd spoken, was in similar clothes, but had a large M emblazoned on his chest. His hair was glowing blue, the same color as his eyes. He spoke again: "You SHADOW guys better give up now! I don't wanna have to come in there!" Silence for a moment... then the energy beams began flying anew. Black suited troops, clearly identifiable as SHADOW, began steaming out of the cracked aerodyne like ants, firing wildly at the metahumans overhead. And to Fred's horror, they were firing back, seemingly unaware or uncaring of the fact that the neo-Nazis were among innocent civilians as they fled. Explosions ripped through the park, following along with the fleeing black-cloaked figures. It was madness. Suddenly, the scene Fred knew was gone, replaced with an ethereal throne surrounded by marble figures of heroes and heroines long since gone. Anyone else would think they were dead, but Fred knew exactly were he was. A figure lifted itself from the throne, rising on massive legs to reveal the same African man that had offered him power so long ago. Years gone by meant nothing to the god of Egypt, so he appeared just as he had the first time Fred had seen him. He raised one wizened, but ultimately powerful arm, and pointed it directly at him. "Frederick Fawcett," he boomed, though his voice never rose above a murmur, "You have been summoned."

Before long, the buzzing became a dull humming. The air seemed to become heavier somehow, like some great force was incoming. Most of the people in Riverside Park apparently didn't notice, but despite his advanced years, or perhaps because of them, Fred did. Soon, the hum gave way to a keening sound, like a mass of metal hurtling through the air at great speed. Now the people of the area had taken notice, but Fred had seen what was coming long before they had. An aerodyne, similar to the ones seen during the Terminus Invasion, was cutting towards land from across the river, leaving great streams of water in it's wake. Plumes of smoke poured liberally from rents in it's armor in places, and it appeared that it was having difficulty just maintaining barely a meter between it and a disastrous splashdown. An open top allowed it's occupants space to fire hand held energy weapons from out of the back, lighting up the area around with strobes of killing light. The reason for the aerodyne's distress became evident then. Two flying forms followed after the craft, firing energy weapons of their own at the vehicle. It was still too far away, but Fred could swear they were shooting without the benefit of guns, normally a prerequisite for shooting much of anything. By now, everyone had seen what was coming, and the people's reactions ranged from awed silence to cheers and whoops. But when a bolt struck the nose of the aerodyne, and the craft veered directly towards the peninsula, those same voices of joy turned to cries of terror. The gathering crowd dispersed violently, people nearly running over each other to get away from the incoming armored vehicle. The crash when several tons of metal met the ground was nearly a physical force, even from were Fred stood, transfixed by the awesome power of it. Thick, choking clouds of dirt flew into the air, casting the entire area into darkness. All Fred could hear was people crying out for their loved ones, calling out their pain and fear, and the crunching of the massive machine as it finally settled into it's final resting place. For what seemed like an hour, but was probably only minutes, Fred was lost to darkness, his only companion the moans of those around him. The dust parted after a time, revealing that the craft had come to a halt barely more than fifty feet away. People lay strewn about, but thankfully, their wounds appeared shallow and far between. A few people moved among the wounded, trying to help those they didn't even know, which buoyed Fred's spirits. Then a voice, high and commanding, rang out: "You guys all done in there? Or do you need some more convincing?" Fred looked up and saw the two people he'd seen chase the aerodyne in floating above the scene. One was black, dressed in street clothes from what he could see, with a black mask covering the top part of his head. He was barely more than a kid! The other, the one who'd spoken, was in similar clothes, but had a large M emblazoned on his chest. His hair was glowing blue, the same color as his eyes. He spoke again: "You SHADOW guys better give up now! I don't wanna have to come in there!" Silence for a moment... then the energy beams began flying anew. Black suited troops, clearly identifiable as SHADOW, began steaming out of the cracked aerodyne like ants, firing wildly at the metahumans overhead. And to Fred's horror, they were firing back, seemingly unaware or uncaring of the fact that the neo-Nazis were among innocent civilians as they fled. Explosions ripped through the park, following along with the fleeing black-cloaked figures. It was madness. Suddenly, the scene Fred knew was gone, replaced with an ethereal throne surrounded by marble figures of heroes and heroines long since gone. Anyone else would think they were dead, but Fred knew exactly were he was. A figure lifted itself from the throne, rising on massive legs to reveal the same African man that had offered him power so long ago. Years gone by meant nothing to the god of Egypt, so he appeared just as he had the first time Fred had seen him. He raised one wizened, but ultimately powerful arm, and pointed it directly at him. "Frederick Fawcett," he boomed, though his voice never rose above a murmur, "You have been summoned."

Make another Notice check along with this post, please. So far, you've been doing dynamite on them.

Make another Notice check along with this post, please. So far, you've been doing dynamite on them.

Make another Notice check along with this post, please. So far, you've been doing dynamite on them.

Katrina giggled cutely as Fred pontificated on Siren. Although he wasn't positive, he didn't think it was just one of those fake, patronizing laughs either. She seemed to be genuinely enjoying herself. "Yes, I think so as well. Although I do admire her bravery for actually wearing something like that in public," she shook her head in amazement. "Oh, they're so darling!" she cooed at the pictures. "And twins, too. That's fantastic." "Ah, school," she says, nodding. "We've gotten Matty into one of the better Preschools around, but you wouldn't believe how competitive it is! It's worse than getting them into college... or at least I hope it is," she finished with another chuckle. A man ushering two children in front of him emerged from the bushes across the way, and Katrina looked over at them. "I should really get back. It was a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Fawcett." There was a faint buzzing sound that seemed to be coming closer as Katrina excused herself. Maybe it was just his ears.

Katrina giggled cutely as Fred pontificated on Siren. Although he wasn't positive, he didn't think it was just one of those fake, patronizing laughs either. She seemed to be genuinely enjoying herself. "Yes, I think so as well. Although I do admire her bravery for actually wearing something like that in public," she shook her head in amazement. "Oh, they're so darling!" she cooed at the pictures. "And twins, too. That's fantastic." "Ah, school," she says, nodding. "We've gotten Matty into one of the better Preschools around, but you wouldn't believe how competitive it is! It's worse than getting them into college... or at least I hope it is," she finished with another chuckle. A man ushering two children in front of him emerged from the bushes across the way, and Katrina looked over at them. "I should really get back. It was a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Fawcett." There was a faint buzzing sound that seemed to be coming closer as Katrina excused herself. Maybe it was just his ears.

Katrina giggled cutely as Fred pontificated on Siren. Although he wasn't positive, he didn't think it was just one of those fake, patronizing laughs either. She seemed to be genuinely enjoying herself. "Yes, I think so as well. Although I do admire her bravery for actually wearing something like that in public," she shook her head in amazement. "Oh, they're so darling!" she cooed at the pictures. "And twins, too. That's fantastic." "Ah, school," she says, nodding. "We've gotten Matty into one of the better Preschools around, but you wouldn't believe how competitive it is! It's worse than getting them into college... or at least I hope it is," she finished with another chuckle. A man ushering two children in front of him emerged from the bushes across the way, and Katrina looked over at them. "I should really get back. It was a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Fawcett." There was a faint buzzing sound that seemed to be coming closer as Katrina excused herself. Maybe it was just his ears.

Ren's eyes bugged out as he was suddenly embraced by a guy that, as far as he knew, had hated him up until a few moments ago. Japanese culture, being far more understated in their displays of affection, left him in a rather awkward position, despite it only lasting for a couple moments. "Ah... thank you?" he said after Sean gave his approval... of his existence, he supposed. "I guess we could be," he answered with a hesitant smile of his own. "Your father is a good man, and I would like to remain in his good graces while I'm here." Although I do want to get out of here as soon as possible. Then Renichi's thoughts ground to a halt as he remembered what Sean had said. I heard from a guy I trust that he would've died without you there. How had he heard that so soon? There was almost no one at the robbery. Just the Furies - who were left out of the "guy" equation - Centurion - who while trustworthy, Ren somehow doubted Sean was on a first name basis with - and Icarus. Ren began to get a sinking sensation in his gut. "Who did you say this guy you trusted was?"

Ren's eyes bugged out as he was suddenly embraced by a guy that, as far as he knew, had hated him up until a few moments ago. Japanese culture, being far more understated in their displays of affection, left him in a rather awkward position, despite it only lasting for a couple moments. "Ah... thank you?" he said after Sean gave his approval... of his existence, he supposed. "I guess we could be," he answered with a hesitant smile of his own. "Your father is a good man, and I would like to remain in his good graces while I'm here." Although I do want to get out of here as soon as possible. Then Renichi's thoughts ground to a halt as he remembered what Sean had said. I heard from a guy I trust that he would've died without you there. How had he heard that so soon? There was almost no one at the robbery. Just the Furies - who were left out of the "guy" equation - Centurion - who while trustworthy, Ren somehow doubted Sean was on a first name basis with - and Icarus. Ren began to get a sinking sensation in his gut. "Who did you say this guy you trusted was?"

Ren's eyes bugged out as he was suddenly embraced by a guy that, as far as he knew, had hated him up until a few moments ago. Japanese culture, being far more understated in their displays of affection, left him in a rather awkward position, despite it only lasting for a couple moments. "Ah... thank you?" he said after Sean gave his approval... of his existence, he supposed. "I guess we could be," he answered with a hesitant smile of his own. "Your father is a good man, and I would like to remain in his good graces while I'm here." Although I do want to get out of here as soon as possible. Then Renichi's thoughts ground to a halt as he remembered what Sean had said. I heard from a guy I trust that he would've died without you there. How had he heard that so soon? There was almost no one at the robbery. Just the Furies - who were left out of the "guy" equation - Centurion - who while trustworthy, Ren somehow doubted Sean was on a first name basis with - and Icarus. Ren began to get a sinking sensation in his gut. "Who did you say this guy you trusted was?"

Ren sighed and looked off into the distance. "Yeah," he said. "It wasn't a big deal, though. I wasn't about to let a guy get his head blown off in front of me, after all." He then looked back at Sean with a neutral gaze. "So, are we still going to have a problem?"

Ren sighed and looked off into the distance. "Yeah," he said. "It wasn't a big deal, though. I wasn't about to let a guy get his head blown off in front of me, after all." He then looked back at Sean with a neutral gaze. "So, are we still going to have a problem?"

Ren sighed and looked off into the distance. "Yeah," he said. "It wasn't a big deal, though. I wasn't about to let a guy get his head blown off in front of me, after all." He then looked back at Sean with a neutral gaze. "So, are we still going to have a problem?"

Katrina nodded, sitting down next to Fred while looking up at the statue. "I know what you mean. The kids are too young to remember, and that's a shame. I tried to tell them about Centurion, but words were... inadequate, somehow. And both of them are crazy about these new heroes these days." Her expression turned sad. "I cried like a baby when I heard about what happened. My father had to hold me for hours." Then she realized where she was and that she was talking to a complete stranger, and blushed in embarrassment. "Oh, I'm so sorry! Here I am, dumping my baggage on you and I don't even know you!" She shook her head, trying to clear her earlier faux pas away. "Anyway, you said you had grandchildren. How old are they?" (OOC: Another Notice check please. They'll get easier as time goes on, trust me. )

Katrina nodded, sitting down next to Fred while looking up at the statue. "I know what you mean. The kids are too young to remember, and that's a shame. I tried to tell them about Centurion, but words were... inadequate, somehow. And both of them are crazy about these new heroes these days." Her expression turned sad. "I cried like a baby when I heard about what happened. My father had to hold me for hours." Then she realized where she was and that she was talking to a complete stranger, and blushed in embarrassment. "Oh, I'm so sorry! Here I am, dumping my baggage on you and I don't even know you!" She shook her head, trying to clear her earlier faux pas away. "Anyway, you said you had grandchildren. How old are they?" (OOC: Another Notice check please. They'll get easier as time goes on, trust me. )

Katrina nodded, sitting down next to Fred while looking up at the statue. "I know what you mean. The kids are too young to remember, and that's a shame. I tried to tell them about Centurion, but words were... inadequate, somehow. And both of them are crazy about these new heroes these days." Her expression turned sad. "I cried like a baby when I heard about what happened. My father had to hold me for hours." Then she realized where she was and that she was talking to a complete stranger, and blushed in embarrassment. "Oh, I'm so sorry! Here I am, dumping my baggage on you and I don't even know you!" She shook her head, trying to clear her earlier faux pas away. "Anyway, you said you had grandchildren. How old are they?" (OOC: Another Notice check please. They'll get easier as time goes on, trust me. )

The first man grinned, seemingly amused by what Velocity had just said. "You hear that? They'll get us wherever we go. Even-" "Silence," the hostage taker said. His voice, while it hadn't changed in volume, conveyed an incredible amount of malice nonetheless. He was clearly in charge, and now that Velocity looked closer, he was different than his companions - bigger somehow. There was something around him, similar to a heat haze, but more distinct. Once he started moving, however, the effect disappeared. He started towards the door, keeping Denton in front of him, gun pressed firmly to the boy's temple. "You will vacate the doorway now." His eyes flicked to the remaining "MiB". "You. Start the van." The man hastened to comply, starting forward with his gun fixed on the high school superheroine.

The first man grinned, seemingly amused by what Velocity had just said. "You hear that? They'll get us wherever we go. Even-" "Silence," the hostage taker said. His voice, while it hadn't changed in volume, conveyed an incredible amount of malice nonetheless. He was clearly in charge, and now that Velocity looked closer, he was different than his companions - bigger somehow. There was something around him, similar to a heat haze, but more distinct. Once he started moving, however, the effect disappeared. He started towards the door, keeping Denton in front of him, gun pressed firmly to the boy's temple. "You will vacate the doorway now." His eyes flicked to the remaining "MiB". "You. Start the van." The man hastened to comply, starting forward with his gun fixed on the high school superheroine.

The first man grinned, seemingly amused by what Velocity had just said. "You hear that? They'll get us wherever we go. Even-" "Silence," the hostage taker said. His voice, while it hadn't changed in volume, conveyed an incredible amount of malice nonetheless. He was clearly in charge, and now that Velocity looked closer, he was different than his companions - bigger somehow. There was something around him, similar to a heat haze, but more distinct. Once he started moving, however, the effect disappeared. He started towards the door, keeping Denton in front of him, gun pressed firmly to the boy's temple. "You will vacate the doorway now." His eyes flicked to the remaining "MiB". "You. Start the van." The man hastened to comply, starting forward with his gun fixed on the high school superheroine.

And now I feel silly. I actually meant to ask for a Notice check to go along with that last post. :oops: Just put it in here.

And now I feel silly. I actually meant to ask for a Notice check to go along with that last post. :oops: Just put it in here.

And now I feel silly. I actually meant to ask for a Notice check to go along with that last post. :oops: Just put it in here.

Matty scampered off again, making a bee line for the trees where he'd seen his sister last. Apparently, his may-fly like attention span had been reached when the adults started talking. "Matty!" Katrina called out to him. "Don't you harass your sister! And stay with your father!" She shook her head in mock exasperation. "I hope their father already scooped up Joice. So, what are you here for today? Just out enjoying the weather?" She glanced up at the overarching Centurion statue. "It takes my breath away every time I see it."

Matty scampered off again, making a bee line for the trees where he'd seen his sister last. Apparently, his may-fly like attention span had been reached when the adults started talking. "Matty!" Katrina called out to him. "Don't you harass your sister! And stay with your father!" She shook her head in mock exasperation. "I hope their father already scooped up Joice. So, what are you here for today? Just out enjoying the weather?" She glanced up at the overarching Centurion statue. "It takes my breath away every time I see it."