Dr Archeville

Doc is partially lying. He's pretending he knew Midnight had been there, when really he's quite surprised to see him. But his mind works so fast, he can (usually) hide any surprise reactions he experiences, and his mental quickness would also let him Take 20 on a Notice or Search check (getting 30 and 27, respectively) to find any clues that might be in the immediate area (like Midnight Mist residue) that would let him craft a plausible "Ah, I knew you were here because..." line. Appearances must be kept up! Trevor's Skill Mastery lets him Take 10 to get a 25 on Sense Motive. This matches what Doc can get on a Bluff check at the moment (since he's not using Enhanced Cha, and his Attractive wouldn't figure in) with a nat 20, so he easily sees through the lie. Setting Gadgets to Take 20 on a Notice check to get 30; Mental Quickness lets him do so in 0.6 seconds. First Trace Flight is tracking via the vapor trails and jet fuels. Second Trace Flight, and the Trace Teleport, are both for electromagnetic or gravitic-based flight or teleportation.

"Ah, Herr Midnight," Archeville said, without missing a beat, "I vondered if you vould return. I knew you vere here because of the thin but even layer of hydrocarbon residue spread out over de area, too evenly-spread to be de result of wrecked robots und more matching de pattern of a cloud-like effect. Und since no von here appears to be suffering any ill effects, I know it vas not from a gas attack, so it had to haff been from a simple sight-obscuring cloud. I see no arrows, so dat rules out Arrowhawk und his smoke-arrows, und I see no immortal fops nor green-clad teens, so dat rules out Ace Danger und Geckoman und their smoke grenades. Vhich leaves you." "Und dis is very troubling news -- not only vould your gas gun be a most effective component in de delivery system, but de 'Midnight Mist' itself vould probably make a good binding agent for de two compounds." "Less time dan ve should like," he turned to Mike and Estelle... "vhich is vhy ve must find him now. De GBN Tower in Parkside is, I believe, de best bet, but..." He held forth his techno-wand again, attached one end to his Belt via a retractable cable, confired the other into a small radio dish, and waved it at the hole Havok left in the wall. "No vapor trails, so not using any sort of rocket fuel for flight... electromagnetic signals, but not von I am familiar mit... ach! Dey split off, in four directions, north, south, east und vest!" "Doctor de Havilland, does ASTRO Labs haff a pair of jetpacks ve could borrow?"

The images flicked by, slowly at first, until Archeville withdrew his Electromagnetic Screwdriver and bellowed "MEHR ENERGIE!"* as he slammed it into the pillar. A few feet away, a Jacob's Ladder sparked to life. The images flashed by, faster and faster, gobbling up every stray bit of data it could in its search. "Zeigen Sie sich! Sie können meinem Anblick nicht entgehen!"** "" * "MORE POWER!" ** "Show yourself! You cannot escape my sight!"

Archeville is using his HQ's ESP to find Bombshell. By hacking into every traffic camera, security camera, ATM camera, webcam, iPhone, and other camera with an internet connection on the planet. He Takes 20 on the Search, and gets (using his Enhanced Int and the Enhanced Search of his HQ's systems) 40. Per this thread, it'd normally take a 3 months to do an extended search of the planet; 30 months to Take 20 on said search. 30 months = 90 days = 2,160 days = 51,840 hours = 3,110,400 minutes = 186,624,000 seconds Thanks to Doc's Mental Quickness 6 (x100), that'll only take 21.6 days. Too long! Use Electromagnetic Screwdriver as a co-processor for MOAR QUICKNESS! Enhanced Quickness 12 (x10,000; Flaw: Mental); brings total Mental Quickness to 18 (x1,000,000) 30 months = 90 days = 2,160 days = 51,840 hours = 3,110,400 minutes = 186,624,000 seconds becomes 3.1104 minutes, or 3 minutes 6.624 seconds (I really need to throw some Rapid PFs on that ESP.)

"" Archeville exclaimed as zipped off to the massive monitor-studded pillar that dominated the center of his laboratory. "" he explained as his fingers flew over kayboards and holographic interfaces, ""

Elena, what is it?! What?!

WRONG!

"Oh, I got all kinda's ways, don't you worry none 'bout that." The revenant winked at her, then turned back to Spirit!Lewis. "I'll send word soon as I find anythin'. Might be a collect call -- thank goodness fer pay phones -- might be somethin' more mystical." He then waited to see if Lewis remembered anything of his family. The hand atop the wall scuttled this way and that, then leapt off the wall and scampered towards Dead Head. It crawled up his leg, up his back, slid down his arm, and reattached itself to its wrist.

An ear piece built into Midnight's featureless mask crackled to life over a secure channel, pitched so only the black clad youth could hear it. "All done there?," his grandfather's 'work voice' intoned, "because if so, I-." A beeping sound in the ear piece told Trevor an alarm in the Midnight Manor had been set off. "Proximity alarm, south lawn. Cameras show five, no, seven- nnngh..." Trevor's heart skipped a beat. "Some sort of mental assault," he grunted, "I'm fine. I-" "They're coming in now."

The only firsthand experience I have in romance was far form illegal, though some consider it... His brow furrowed a bit, unwise. Though I will be happy to check through my psychology database for anything that might be applicable to the situation, he added with a slight smirk. I am certain that if anyone can help a soul on the edge, it is you. And if there is anything I can do to help her gain a place in respectable society -- a job, an education, a- well, okay, you can set all those up, if need be... but the offer of help stands. I make it a point of pride that ArcheTech provides not only advanced technology to the world but also the means to improve society so that no one feels they must turn to crime or violence, so this is not only something I would want to do for you, it is... in my job description.

"" Archeville let out an exasperated sigh as he drummed his fingers on the arm of the chair. "" His fingers stopped. "" "" his fits slammed down on the arms of the chair, he pushed himself up and began pacing nervously, ""

Primarily to call it to your attention as soon as possible, he nodded, and also- -also to let you know that I wish to offer my ear, and my shoulder, should you require someone to talk to. I know our experiences are vastly different, you have had far more than most, and I have had far fewer than most- -but perhaps an outsider's perspective, from one who knows full well he has no room to judge such things, could be of use.

Also, in a traditional live performance, the lead singer makes out with & gropes the lead female vocalist during the "baseball broadcast" part.

I did indeed, he thought back, unsurprised that she would respond telepathically. I- -wanted to bring to your attention an article in today's Freedom Ledger. Have you already seen it? If not, feel free to scan my mind- -for it.

... you do realize the first half of the song are about two teens goin' at it in the front seat of a car, right? And the third quarter is the girl c***blockin' the boy and saying "no, not 'till we're married"? And the last quarter about how some boys'll say or do anything to get some, and then regretting what they said or did to get there?

Wherein Dead Head and Midnight team up to fight some cultists. No need to roll for initiative or anything, the fight's over. Feel free to describe how the fight went down, if you care to.

Date: July 3rd, 2010 (a Saturday) ~10:00pm. Temp 73 oF, clear, winds SW @ 5mph. Moon is not visible (it set around noon, so should rise around midnight, in about two hours; it will be a waning gibous, 60% illuminated). North Bay. A posh district of expensive waterfront homes and historic mansions owned by some of Freedom City's wealthiest families, featuring exclusive yacht clubs and beachfront property, with few stretches of public beach. One of these historic mansions is the Hunter Estate, home of Travis Hunter (secretly the Golden Age superhero Midnight), grandfather to Trevor Hunter, who carries on that noble legacy. Speaking of the younger Midnight, he was at this moment nowhere near North Bay. He was in one of the shadier parts of the city, putting down the last member of a car theft ring he'd been tracking for some time... completely oblivious to the greater darkness looming over those he loved, as forces beyond human ken sought to shatter the decrees of the gods and bring about a hell on earth where not even death is a release, only a gateway to yet more suffering.

"Oh, I definitely look forvard to some baklava!" Archeville exclaimed with a big grin, "und, it pleases me to know dere vill be at least von ding on de dinner menu dat you should enjoy!" "Favorite book, movie und food vould be... Fried Green Tomatoes!" Archeville replied, smirking. "Heh, sorry, von of mein Literature professors used dat line." He cleared his throat, "mein favorite book is actually a series: Perry Rhodan. It has been running nonstop for nearly forty years, under a rotating cast of writers, who constantly incorporate new bits of real vorld science und technology into de series." Lights danced in the Doktor's eyes as he spoke, "de series has inspired many astronauts, scientists, und even a few musicians! A very close second is another series, Sector General, about de lives of de crew on an intergalactic medical space station. It is more a medical mystery series, focusing as much mit vhat is right mit a species as vhat is wrong. De author -- de entire series vas done by von man -- vas quite de pacifist, und showed dat gripping stories can be told mitout great conflict." "Movie... vould be Fritz Lang's Metropolis. A predictable answer, ja," he smirked, "but it really is a classic of cinema!" "Food... hrrmm...." This one appeared to be a real stumper, "I enjoy all sorts, but... I guess I vill go mit de broad category of sausage. Ground meats und herbs und spices in tube form, easy to carry, mit a vide variety of flavors; easy to make but near-impossible to master. Mein current favorite is curryvurst, a pork bratvurst served mit diced onions und a sauce made from tomato paste und curry powder. Und de same goes for beer... vhich should come as no surprise from de man whose homeland has had laws und regulations about de brewing of beer for nearly five centuries!" he laughed. "I tend tovards Bock beer, an amber, heavy-bodied, bitter-sweet lager; dey are higher in food energy and nutrients dan lighter lagers, so it is a good choice betveen late-night sessions in de laboratory." "Dat covers drink, so tv show... vell, honestly, I do not haff von, because I do not vatch much television, aside from news reports. I am familiar mit all de science und science fiction shows, but I haff never taken time to sit down to vatch any of dem. You?" They were now crossing the parking lot of the ArcheTech facility. People went in and out, many finishing the last bits of their lunch before darting back in to their stations.

"" Archeville replied after a moment's pause. "" he continued, smirking just a bit as he patted the hand on his shoulder. He turned a bit so he could see her face, "" He paused, then shook his head, ""

"I'll make sure they get 'em, Lewis," Dead Head replied, "but, uh, didja have any -- whoa, hey, stay with me now! Didja have any family still kickin' around? Brother? Sister? Son? Wife?" The Revoltin' Revenant glanced back where the sorceress had been, and saw she was no longer there. A quick scan of the area showed her attempting to climb a wall. Robin heard something plop down atop the wall, as if something had been lobbed over onto it. Looking up, she saw a dead man's hand; not the hand of glory, but one of the zombie's. "I'd offer you a hand, ma'am," he punned, "even though you've been a might rude in never tellin' me yer name. I mean, how the heck am I supposed ta call ya when I find some leads?"

"Hello? Hell-ooo, computer?" Archeville was peering inside one of the robot's heads, then tossed it aside and picked up another. He poked around in it, tossed it aside, then took up a third and examined it. "Alright, either Havok uses some non-standard designs, or...." He tossed the head aside as he zipped over to examine a torso, one Mike had torn apart with his bare hands. "My, my, my... dese are horribly cheap. No real brain, just a complex set of pre-programmed responses und counter-responses, slaved to a hivemind system, presumably in Havok's armor. Ah-HA! De Maestro's subsonic control frequency I detected on de video feed at de fence: dat must be how Havok controls dem! Und de vay dese ozher pieces are incorporated... oh, Havok, you must be Scrounge's soul-mate." He looked up to the assembled students and security officers, and waved them over. "Come, come, kids, time for a real science lesson! See dat bulky ding gere? Mit all de vires running off it? Dat vould normally be a power generator, but Havok vas too cheap for dat, so instead he used some high capacity batteries. Und dat bit, dere, is part of de computer control system, dough de antenna...." He reached over and retrieved one of the heads, "is in here. Und dat is about all dat is in here. Everyding is fairly basic, except de energy veaponry und de holographic field. You can see some of de emitters for de morphic field, here," he continued as he ran his finger along a series of tiny lenses spaced evenly around the robot's torso, "und from de vay dey are actually built in to de chasis, I vould say Havok has enough knowledge of how to use de technology, but not how to truly repair or create it himself. He is imitative, not innovative." "Vhich brings us back to vhat he is doing mit al de dings he has collected." The Doktor rose from his crouched position, and began pacing about the room, occasionally going up a wall thanks to his gravity-defying belt. "Dink, Archeville, dink! Fear Master's gases und Luna Moth's pheromones are both psychoactives mit very fast onsets. Dey could be combined, mit a bit of tweaking, to create a hypnagogic compound, vhich vould place a victim in a highly suggestive state. Vhich vould make Maestro's subsonic mind control signals even more effective... oh! OH!" He flipped down form a wall, in front of Gossamer, and grabbed her by the shoulders. "De encoding control module! Und de antenna array! Dey vere designed to hijack multiple media formats mit a single signal! It can seize control of any tv, radio, or cell phone.. any device mit a wireless receiver und speakers! He can use it to broadcast de mind control signal across a vide area!" "But," he released and turned from Gossamer, and moved along the lineup of Claremont students, "how to disperse de hypnagogic compound? It vould need to be dispersed videly, qvickly, und.. ah! Of course! De spacecraft components! He is going to use it as a... a crop duster! Do he vould still need a vay of rapidly putting de gas into a high volume aerosol suspension... und he vould still need a powerful broadcast antenna to vork from... such as de GBN Tower in Parkside!"

I know the feeling; my last several weekends have been tied up, and so will my next several.

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... ya think?