angrydurf

Diplomacy (1d20+14=19) HP for teh reroll: Diplomacy (1d20+14=26)

This was news that actually shocked Ace, which was rare in and of itself, he wasn't so much surprised by Jacks other 'life' as that theses would be heroes had so blithly gone along with it all. He stood slowly and with dignity and turned to Dark Star, "I appologize, you were in the right from the beginning." He turned to the rest of the Knights. "There are lines that a Hero does not cross. It was a lesson hard learned and it disgusts me to see that so soon after we lifted ourselves from the morass of fools like Force Ops, and the Nightwatch you all so easily fall into the same pits of self serving expediancies." His voice clearly showed his outrage. "Arrowhawk you have a chance still even now to do the rigth thing and hope the courts are mercciful of your mistake. Your service should have earned you that much but if you continue to run you are no better than the criminals you claim to hunt." His gaze was heavy on the archer. His gaze shifted to Scarab, "You should know better. We do not compromise and we do not protect criminals and murderers. You're not lifting them up you're letting them drag you down." His voce was gentler here almost pained. Then his gaze fell on Jack and he spoke simply his voice hard as Iron, "Leave town Jack, get out while you can. You're good works have earned you that much." It was just the fall again the hubris the expediancy all of it and Ace wasn't going to stand idly by this time and watch the world burn.

Mike returned the high five with a smile, this was going well. He laughed slightly as she watched the ball fly out of the park and was waiting in the dugout for her return, "Good one, looks like the equipment can stand up to full power." He said more excited than she'd seen him just about anytime before. They sat and watched as thier team grew the lead by two runs before thier third out led them to the field. Mike grabbed his glove as he headed for hte outfield, "Fly balls," he said with a smile as he jogged into possition. He called in a suggestion that Erin try her hand at pitching as he took up his position. Erin could deffinately bring the 'Heat' as the sportscasters said on ESPN.

Strength check (1d20+2=11) He is tripped Avenger is Up

Angel is up

Mike did a couple quick stretchs and hefted the bat experementally, they seemed regulation so as he stepped to the plate he tried take that into account as he took his practice swings he focused more on speed and precision than raw power. The first ball shot across the plate too fast for the big youth. With a shrug and a quick glance to Erin he said, "Next one." and focused on speed. The ball flew at him like in slow motion and he made solid contact fireing the ball straight across the field, The speedster in the outfield managed to grab the ball and throw home as he rounded third though it had all occured in the blink of an eye. Mike waited there as the next batter bunted himself onto first the catcher stopped Mike from being able to charge home however.

Mike just nodded and jogged over to the blue team as well. A quick check showed thier team was up to bat first and Mike took his plac next to Erin in the batting line-up. "You wan hit first or should I?" He asked, not sure if goign first would be showing off or embarassing himself first he settled on asking if Erin had a preferance. "I think the fielding will be more interesting though but it'll be neat to see how far we can hit it, well if I can hit it." He added with a shrug.

Notice Check (1d20+4=8) ... Mike doesn't even notice when the trap goes off.

"That makes it a learning experiance right." Mike said with a feigned sarcastic shrug, "So they can't complain out missuse of the Doom Room, Right?" Not that he really cared overmuch, it hadn't been forbidden and really they deserved some kind of chance to cut loose. Mike nodded saying, "Well I figure it can still be fun even if I'm bad at it right? So we'll just see how it goes and then we'll know for next time."

"It also brings an interesting point to light about the seperation of individuals with powers and those without." Ace said, "It is not common for those with powers to recieve acclaim far beyond even thier exceptional abilities, the cult of personality can be a powerfull thing." This was something Ace knew well as he certainly could be considered amongst those who had such a following. Of course some turned such reverence to sinister ends as well setting themselves up as petty dictators or even gods on earth. He had encountered his share of both.

Mike noticed the hesitation but was glad when she took his arm. He wasn't expecting things to go one hundred percent smoothly but he certainly wasn't one to get bent out of shape over Erins ecentricities, he had enough of his own after all. He nodded as the crossed the gardens, pretty quickly since niether of them had to slow for less speedy friends, "Yea I've never actually played. By the time I was old enough to understand the rules I was too strong to risk it, so you'll be in good company at least. I used to watch all the games with my dad and we did try some batting practice once at my grandparents farm, so hopefully I won't embarrass myself too much." He said with out reservation, it was nice talking to Erin about this kind of stuff as she never really gave him the 'what planet did you grow up on?' look that thier other friends did when he talked about his past. When they reached the elevator by the admin building he quickly typed in his coed and bent down to place his eyes against the scanner, when the door slid open he gestured for Erin to enter and followed her in.

Ready to be locked up.

His warning given Ace hauled one of the unconcious men over one shoulder and stumbled for the nearest exit. Scarab called upon Phantom to cover their retreat as she swept up the remaining bodies in her telekinetic grasp and pulled them with her towards the exit as the flames licked higher and higher on the crates of volotile munitions. As she did so Phantom gestured bringing forth darkness from the shadows to cover thier escape. Shots contintued to ring out but thanks to the cloying darkness none found thier mark. Moments after the Heroes escaped the burning warehouse there was a blood curdling scream from within and phantom felt a sudden surge of magical power for an instant as the soldiers of the Sky Lord Rocketed towards their airel base of operations. Moments later there was a series of explosions as the various munitions detonated sending flaming debris high into the sky. It wasn't long until police and fire crews were on site dousing the flames and arresting the perpetrators. Once the flames were doused Ace, Scarab, and Phantom began to comb the burned out husk of the warehouse for signs of the Sarccophagus but it was nowhere to be found. Phantom felt sure that some kind of last moment protection had pulled it from thier grasp before they could capture it but though she still felt the vague darkness of its magic she couldn't trace it anyfurther. At this news Ace looked up and said with sureity, "I know someone who can find it, he won't want to but he owes me one. I'll contact you as soon as we know where it is it might take a bit if its managed to cover it tracks but he'll be able to find the trial eventually."

Back at the former location of the warehouse the police arrived within minutes. Seing Dark Star they immediatly came forward to inquire what had happened looking worriedly at the odd plot of blank land. For the first few moments tehy didn't seem to notice Fluer at all though once they did they were quick to inqure as to her name and what she knew of the nights events.

Mike let loose another of his rare smiles when she answered the door. "Deffinately," he replied and offered his arm, "This was a good idea. Should be fun." He said as they started down the hall and out to the nearest entrance to the underground parts of the school.

As the thug hung dazed in Phantoms telekinetic grip, Ace Danger slid from the shadows aiming a wicked blow to the base of the Brutes neck. The Brutes head snapped back at the second brutal strike in as many seconds and fell limp in the grip of Phantoms spell. Ace flashed Phantom a quick wink, "Miss me?" before he said ina more serious tone, "You should all make you way back to the party if you can quietly, wouldn't do for anyone ot put two and two together with the mysterious absences on the guest list." Ace wasn't yet sure how he would deal with the hosts outrage at what had happened here but he felt confident that he had a better chance of talking the murderous Don down than most. Hopefully Silencer would make himself scarce enough that a team of allies sweeping in would work as a cover story.

Ace sneak attacks the thug: Power Attack +5 (1d20+10=21) DC 25 toughness save Brute Toughness save: Toughness save (1d20+8=14) Fail by 11 Brute gets second staggered result and is KO'd Phantom is Up

Ace nodded approvingly. "Alright, well it looks like you both have the basics of that, want to give it a few more shots or try something new?" He knew they were unlikely to get the moves down in one session but the idea was to give them something to practice when they did get the time and give them some basic things to work on in thier free time.

Mike happily finished out his workout and hit the showers before heading back to his room. It had gone better than he had thought it might and considered telling the other guys about it, if for no other reason than to get them to lay off about the alex thing, but really didn't want to ess up the good mood with them trying to analyze why it wasn't a normal date. they were his friends and all but sometimes it seemed to Mike they were involved with girls for all the wrong reasons and he'd rather not get into it with them again on that. *** When the appointed time rolled around Mike grabbed his glove out of his closet and headed down to Erin and Alex's room. He probably didn't even need the glove really but he wasn't likely to get alot more reason to use it so he might as well, He had ditched his uniform for a tighter t-shirt and jeans, he was worried he had hit another growth spurt he had thought these were looser last time, and topped it off with the cap they had gotten before the ill fated ball game they went ont he school trip too. Mike knocked smartly on the door at the appointed time, sure they could have met at the Doom Room but even if the eavenings activity wasn't standard date fare they could start it out like one right?

Mike cracked a rare smile, "Sure that sounds like fun." He responded. Maybe not standard date material but they weren't anything like standard teens if thats what she was comfortable with he was fine with it. Besides it did sound rather fun. He nodded and jerking his head towards the Doom Room said, "I should probably let you get going but I'll see you friday then." He said with a smile and turned towards the showers before adding, "Oh and Archers in a bit of an odd mood today so don't let him get to you." He called back with a shrug.

Ace laughed softly, "Well for the tiem being its more about learning the basic motion. If they know what they are doing they may not be so easily thrown but then again if they know what they are doing they woudl use a more effective hold." He indicated for Stesha to hold Taylor, "Another option, If you are shorter than your opponant particularly, is to use your head." He lightly pushed Taylors head back to tawrd Steshas face, "It can be enough of a shock to get some one to drop you, but is unlikely to cause real damage unless you hit hard enough to risk hurting yourself as well." He showed Taylor te basic motion of the throw as well and indicated she shoudl give it a shot, "Learning how to take the throw can also be usefull and not just in this situation. Knowing how to land can be used even if you are overmatched. Try and slap the ground as you hit spread the impact over as much of your body as possible." Ace dropped loudly to the mat to illustrate his point.

Mike thought for a moment, to be honest he hadn't expected her to say yes so hadn't put too much thought into it. After a his thoughtfull pause however he spoke up, "Well we could do the dinner and movie ting I guess but I'm not sure that really either of our speeds, I mean if you'd rather that'd be fine too I think your fun to hang out with. But I was thinking something quieter maybe a picnic?" There was a nice little spot up in the hills in Wharton State Forest he knew of that would be nice for a relaxing afternoon away from all the noise and busyness of the city.

"Actually," Ace spoke up in response, "that is exactyl the Crux of hte matter." Ace was chronologically loder than anyone in this room and absolutely so for anyone here but Scarab. More than that he had spent that time steeped in the ways of heroes. He stood to address the group as a whole, "You have a choice to make each and every one of you, To be a team or to be a vague collective of loners with no real ties." His gaze flowed over the entire room as he spoke, "If you preffer the later this conversation can end here, Dark Star can go forth and not feel responsible for any of your actions and none of you need feel responsible for his." This was a cruicial time for the Knights, a time for them to come together and be a team or a time to acknowledge the Kingst were a good name and abborted ideal. Ace paused briefly, "If you choose to be a team all of these secrets have to end here. Trust between all of the team is key if you are to succeed and thrive together, if you can not trust your teammates and fellows then they can't trust you its a two way street." He looked once more to each face masked or exposed and laid it out simply, "There is no shame in saying you can't be part of that but if you want to be part of something more than yourself you need to let go of ego and learn to trust in eachother, otherwise the Knights of Freedom are nothing."

Ace grinned and winked at the ladies, "Well that is certainly an added bonus but in truth the two of you have similar skill levels both to eachother and most low level criminal types." He placed Steshas hands on Taylors arm before explaining, "Now With that grip if you lean forward and to the side you can achieve a basic hip throw that will leave your opponant both seperated from you and prone giving you an opportunity to flee or regroup as needed." Ace gave a basic example of the motion she should try to mimic as he spoke.

"Hey Erin." He replied with his customary half smile. "You got a minute?" He clearly knew she did but figured it was polite to ask just in case. When she didn't immediately say no he stood up straight and got right to the point Mike was confident once he decided upon a course of action though getting to that point was somewhat difficult for him at times, "So I was wondering if you might like to go out sometime? Maybe Friday or Saturday?" He had agonized over how exactly to go about this but in the end decided that despite allt he other boys suggestions of lines and various duplicities the direct approach really woudl work best, Erin was a direct kinda girl, it was part of what Mike liked about her, and really noe of that stuff was very Him anyway so might as well get things started honestly.