Dr Archeville

The following was submitted anonymously to the the Riverside Review on October 30th, 2009.

Archeville stopped when he heard Quark's voice. "Herr Cale!," Archeville called out. Darian could see he was waving him over to the large console next to a huge teleportation pad. "Vhat is going on out dere? Vhat are dese creatures?"

This is still the opening round of this combat, right? So we're flat-footed until we get our first action... right?

Doktor Archeville's Company: ArcheTech ArcheTech was founded Dr. Viktor Archeville, who wanted an international chain of research laboratories unconnected to any one government or any business interests. His vision was to establish a unique center for multi-disciplinary research in a number of scientific fields, especially those pertaining to metahuman activity and the increasing emergence of metahumans. Fields of research & development include bionics and cybernetics, energy projection, force field generation, genetics and genome stability, gravimetrics, advanced metallurgy, nanotechnology, particle physics, and others. In addition to its exotic research, ArcheTech also provides humanitarian aid in times of crisis. Archeville had done freelance troubleshooting work for numerous other science & technology research facilities, in America and Europe, for many years, even while still a college student. He used the contacts established there in three ways: to keep tabs on as many scientists and researchers as possible, to establish working relationships with investors and financiers, and similar relationships with tech-friendly politicians. Through a combination of sound investments, keen tax planning, and funds raised by selling off certain licenses for various inventions to outside commercial firms (though making certain to retain all copyrights and trademarks), Archeville was quickly able to raise the seed money needed to start up and run his company. Months of phone calls and meetings got him the researchers he needed (some who would work freelance for his company, some under contract exclusively for the company for a number of years), and "nudgings" -- completely legal, just not as "above board" as usual -- from certain politicians to get the building permits pushed through quickly. Location: Worldwide. The corporate HQ for ArcheTech is in Freedom City, New Jersey (the Hanover district), but there are branch offices all around the globe. In America, there are branches in California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin. Outside of the United States, there are branches in Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, and the United Kingdom. Archeville plans to expand even more. Appearance, Exterior: All ArcheTech facilities are pyramidal shaped (but with a flat, not pointed, top), grayish-white, and twelve stories tall. The design is meant to inspire pride in its employees and in the surrounding community. (However, this does not stop detractors from saying the darker coloration of the glass in the windows at the center of the building and of some doors at the bottom make the buildings look more like giant stylized As.) Each pane of glass doubles as a solar panel, to supplement the power drawn from the local power grids, though many facilities also have their own generators (the type depending on location). The flat roof contains a helipad rated for medical rescue and passenger helicopters. Appearance, Interior: The first floor of every ArcheTech branch is reserved for public information booths, lobby access, security stations, and the on-site company cafeteria. The top floor of all ArcheTech facilities is reserved for administrative offices and conference rooms. The ten floor between are packed with laboratories and think-tanks, including dormitories for participants in lengthy studies (or for Metahumans lacking control over their powers who need someplace safe to stay while they learn to safely harness their abilities). However, despite all of Archeville's hard work, the branches are still operating on skeleton crews, so there is lots of empty space used for storage (or to hold evacuees in case of emergency). The basement is reserved for maintenance facilities, power generators, and the bulk transporter (see below). Miscellaneous: All ArcheTech facilities can serve as a temporary Metahuman incarceration facility, due to the availability of both high-strength building materials and power-nullifying devices. Each facility also has a bulk transporter, capable of nearly instantly teleporting several tons of material at a time, but only to other ArcheTech facilities (including Schloss Wissenschaft, Archeville's castle in Germany, and ArcheStern, ArcheTech's orbital research station). These teleporters can be used in crisis situations, bringing in supplies from other facilities or moving evacuees quickly out of the area. Security for each local branch is multifaceted and relies heavily on redundant features for maximum protection. Main lobby entrances contain metal detectors and x-ray scanners, monitored at the primary security station by three full-time guards. Each floor has a security sub-station manned at all times by two guards, and three guards patrol each floor; each station has real-time video surveillance of each corridor and laboratory, and motion detectors to detect cloaked/invisible intruders. In addition to the human guards, each corridor and laboratory has an automated security turret programmed to neutralize any unauthorized persons with bolts of energy on a wavelength that will cause a normal human's neurological system to temporarily shut down; once a target is down, the energy projectors switch to emitting a beam of the same energy to keep the target uncoscious. Upgrades as of April 2010 * Improved security * Enhanced Skills: added Enhanced Skills to it (so people working there actually get a benefit for doing so) as at the other HQs. * ESP: added Rapid 5 (x100,000), replaced Simultaneous with Duration [sustained]. Increased ranks, so the security sensors cover the adjoining parking lots/decks as well as the interior of the facility. * Healing: changed Total to Affects Objects. Now he has things that can heal people and repair robots (technological constructs). * Added "Force Screen" (Impervious for Toughness) * Super-Senses: Added more Communication Links to the HQs, specifically, to the ArcehTech branches (none of them had them before). Tweaked senses some, partly to take advantage of the fact radio senses are acute, radius and ranged by default. * Teleport: added a Teleport Portal; they can only cover the city the facility is in, but the portal themselves can be big enough (25x25 ft.) for most any vehicle or being. Upgrades as of March 2011 * Added Bacta Tank-y Affects Others Regeneration. Not all ArcheTech facilities would have this, but the corporate HQ in Hanover, Freedom City does. June 2011 Following the ArchEvil event, Viktor named Miss Americana the CEO of ArcheTech.

"Oh, I haff much, much more dan dat in mind, Herr Nitorvich," Archeville replied, seeming almost giddy at the prospect. "But before I can do anything in-depth, I vill of course need to establish a baseline, see vhat your blood pressure und hormone levels und all dat are vhen you are 'resting', and how dey change vhen you are active, in both forms." He began work on a second sandwich, "besides, I doubt just any hospital vould have de ekvipment necessary to puncture your altered hide in order to draw blood. De hospitals here in Freedom might, true, due to all de Metahumans around, but you may be too tough even for dem to handle. Und I doubt deir rehabilitation gymnasiums have veights dat go up to 200 tons... but I do. Und you haff heard of de combat simulators de Freedom League has? I haff something like dat here, too, vhich ve could run you through."

So, Heritage, you gonna spend one of your three HPs to immediately re-roll that save and not flee? Or use an Extra Effort/Willpower (and an HP to nix the fatigue) to attempt a save before the one minute mark?

I believe we are set for combat. ;)

Good enough for government work! Approved!

I've got a few minor comments/questions, and one semi-major question. Super-Movement 5: I'm only seeing 4 ranks here. How does making plants generate lots of Oxygen nullify air powers? You've got 2pp worth of Drawbacks listed in the Totals section, but nothing mentioning what they are. Assuming they're still the same ones her lower-PL version, they should be copied/pasted. What's the source of her powers? Was the change the flower made a purely biological/Scientific! one, or was there some magic in it? Is she like a Mutant, or mystically empowered? (Or something else?!)

Archeville activated the teleport function of his Gravimetric Belt, creating a short-lived man-sized wormhole connecting his location in the elevator and the bulk transporter room in the basement. The trip was rougher than usual, but he did make it out alright. "Von side, von side, let me through!," he ordered as he made his way through the crowd to the transporter controls. "Probably just a... vhat the?... vas.. nein... nein!" His fist slammed down on the console as he saw that the teleportation network connecting all ArcheTech facilities was inexplicably down, as was the intracompany communications systems. They were on their own. "Alright, people, listen up!," Archeville called out in a crisp, clear voice*. "We-" [ * Switching Brain to Enhanced Charisma. And I've wracked my brain for an hour trying to think of something inspiring to say, and nothing's coming, so I'll let others post some. ]

"... yeah, that's what I figured," Dead Head said nonchalantly as his suspicions concerning Avenger's state were confirmed. "Maybe this'll all be a nice release for 'im." Unhooking his trusty shovel from its makeshift holster on his back, Dead Head went for the first demon. "Batter up!"

Dead Head beats with a 20!

Doktor Archeville, Tarantula, and several wounded scientists and investors had been one of the last big groups of people to make it to Danger's house. Before explaining anything to Danger -- who seemed to be on top of things anyway -- he set to work tending to all of the wounded. The Mansion's lack of a true infirmary was an impediment, but the German genius was able to make do with watered-down versions of the Manaka Root extract Danger kept for serious injuries. Some time later, Archeville came back up to speak with their host. "I believe your energies vould best be used in reconnaissance, Herr Star," he said to Dark Star, "or in clearing de vay for Phantom so she can... do... vhatever it is she does. I haff managed to stabilize de vorst cases, und fortunately some of de researchers I brought mit me are medical students. Dey can keep an eye on de vounded so I can come up here und learn more about vhat's going on." "So, do ve know what dese... creatures vant? Just mindless chaos, or does dere seem to be a pattern to deir attacks?"

:(

That takes care of Breakdown (the cheater), but what about poor fleeing Grim? Well, Kenson sez: Ultimate Power sez: So Grim gets to make another DC 20 Will save in one minute (ten rounds), with a cumulative +1 bonus per previous save, unless you use the Willpower option for Extra Effort to get a save sooner.

"Somethin' like that, actually," Dead Head said in response to Jack's question. He looked at the seating arrangement Tempest had created, and plopped down on one moss-covered chair. "Though it was night -- well, technically, reeeaaaly early in the morning -- when I died and then got back up. Lots of other folks died the same time I did," he paused for half a beat, "good folks, and they got up shortly after I did. Then there was a fire... and they all went down again. Except me." "Guy who started the fire died in it, so I couldn't go after him. But I did go after lots of others folks. Except..." he paused for another half-beat, "now, I try an' help show folks how t'appreciate life, and keep honorin' th' dead. Just 'cuz the body ain't around don't mean the spirit's done gone, too, y'know." "Hey, don't go yet, lady!," the Zombie called out to Blink, "we were just gettin' t'know each other!"

You can use chat for die rolling, and AlderWitch has a die roller here. EDIT: Hrm, seems AW's die roller is down, too :(

... what?

"Right, well," Dead Head says, holding his head and obviously in a fair amount of pain, "we waitin' on anyone else? The big Russian... Atlas?" Dead Head had never heard the dead cry out like this, not this many. Was this the reason he came to Freedom? Was this what had been calling him for so many weeks? He didn't know... but he did know he'd do everything he could to make sure no one died before their time.

"Er, 'scuse me, ma'am," Dead Head said to Phantom, "but it seems t'me that all four of us are the type who usually 'take point'. But I think I should do so in this instance -- if there is some big nasty monster down there, alive or undead, it should go fer me first. If'n it's a livin' critter, it probably can't do much to me, and I'm sure t'call out a warnin' when it's upon me. And if it's undead, well, there's a fair chance it won't do a thing t'me, and I could still call back to tel y'all what's down there." "And before you say anythin' about yer special magical senses," he was quick to add, as he plucked off his left ear, "you can just speak into this and I'll her ya juuussst fine."

Get to de choppah!

Shaen?

"Ja, ja," Archeville nodded, "if an existing Metahuman vere to be used, dere should be comprehensive psychologikal testing in addition to thorough background checks. If von is to be a light for others, dey should be as clear und bright as possible." "On de other hand," he continued, "as de zeitgeist -- 'spirit of de times' -- changes, as various trends come und go, a balance must be struck. bBetveen vhat in de mascot vill change in response do de changing times -- perhaps even svitching to a different mascot entirely -- und vhat de mascot vill continue to embody despite de changes in de vorld, vhat from de old 'ages' vill be kept und carried by de mascot into de new 'age.'"

Lab animals. Rats & monkeys, mostly. A dozen or so Investors and other businessman (essentially Bystanders, PL 0) Several dozen scientists, like the ones in the Core book (PL 0) Two dozen Basic Security guards, comparable to PL 3 Police Officers. Half a dozen Higher-End security guards, comparable to PL 6 SWAT Officers Sound fair?

"Wait! Wait! Where are ya goin'? I was gonna make espresso!"