angrydurf

Mike was lying awake in his bed his mind racing, this mornings talk with Dark Star had turned his well crafted self delusions rather upside down. Between that and Eddie and Chris' insistance that he had some kind of feelings for Alex he it wasn't surprising that his mind was a bit ajumble. He tried not to toss and turn and bother Mark, not that it was much of a worry. His roomate seemed possesed of the talent to sleep through nearly anything but be able to wake when neded fully refreshed, it was a little madning. However never exactly talented with the psychic end of his powers his current turmoil undoubtebly leaked across his shared bond with Alex.

August 4th, 2009 Mike and Alex touch bases on some of thier recent changes.

august 3rd or 4th work for you for the date on this one?

Mike considered the older heros' words carefully, it may not have been a sudden change but a seed had been planted to change the way Mike looked at heroism and heroes, super or not. Mike smiled up at Dark Star, "Well thanks, I'm sorry I took up so much of your time you must be busy." he said awkwardly still not fully able to grasp how someone like Dark Star could do it, but for a change he actually wanted to know how he did it. He'd have alot to think about for awhile. Not really sure what else to say Mike glanced away then spoke quietly, "And for what its worth I think you'd make a good teacher."

KK Cy I didn't even think I'd managed the door.

Allowed or not? I'm thinking not but we use UP for all powers cost/operation and I didn't see anything about it specifically in the house rules. Kensen States Here however that under UP it is the intent that they be allowed into arrays. Does this fall under similar justifacation as continuous powers or slow fade boosts of legal but makes the refs nervous or is it straight up not allowed?

Ace gave her a quick wink, "I can think of worse company." He said with a grin but put the trowel down. "I'm sure I have something of the sort around here somewhere despite the sparseness ofhte environs I'm actually have a very well equiped garden." Ace joked as he walked toward the exit I'll see what I can find. He returned moments later with a pair of spades leaving no doubt that he had known exactly where they were when he left. He passed one of the spades to Stesha his hand gently brushing the back of hers as he handed it off. Flirting was second nature to Ace and really he couldn't help himself. Ace pondered for a moment her question on what to do with the split, then with a shrug replied, "I'm sure I can find some deserving soul who would want one." He flashed Stesha hsi rather distracting smile once more then asked, "So where do we start?"

To be honest it would have been easier for Mike had he just said no. Far easier to discount the advice if he hadn't ever struggled. "And you keep going?" Mike asked sounding somewhere between awed and nervous. It was almost unthinkable to his mind that you could have such experiances and still keep on. Clearly Dark Star felt badly for the mistakes made but he didn't run from them, but as Dark Star had said no one said being a hero was easy. Well Maybe Eddie and somtimes Mark did.

Ace glanced up as the pixie sized grim flew to join them. "When other options are exhausted I have learned that following a hunch can be surprisingly effective." He said with a grin and a wink to Edge. In response to the other posited question he replied, "Well untill moments ago I would have said canned peaches and some industrial equipment." The long time here shrugged and added, "But given the complex alarm system they have set up on this door I lean towards thinking our young friends hunch has paid off." Ace was eyeing Edge curiously, there was something familiar about the boys features but he couldn't quite place it, that was probably going to bug him for the rest of the night.

Though Mike hated to admit it this Dark Star did have a valid point. He'd heard variations on this speach many times before but they always rang a bit hollow, either Marks hero obsession or some adult telling him what he owed the world. But this was different and gave Mike alot to think about. To not act because you were a hero but be a hero because you chose to act. He was still uncertain if the risk was greater if he choose to do nothing or to do something but somwhere deep within him he knew that if some one was in danger he couldn't just sit idly by while he could help. Mike absorbed all of this and it would likely still be bouncing around his head for weeks to come however there were still concerns writ large across his mind. "No sir, not boring at all." He replied quietly then catching himself he spoke more clearly once more, "It is what I asked you after all." Mike was uncertain how to phrase his next question but tried none the less this fellow didn't seem easy to offend. After his brief waffeling on the phrasing Mike asked, "No offense but have you ever pushed to far? Taken it further than you intended? I mean it just seems impossible to keep absolute control at all times, even in the heat of a fight."

Ace smiled wide, "Excelent, that is great news." He looked down at Stesha for a moment and told her, "You know you have a lovely smile." Matching it with one of his own. He let the statement linger for a moment before he spoke again. "So you can do the split then? I have tools for most gardening tasks if you need." Ace inquired pulling a small box from under the table. He pulled out a trowl and added, "I can help if you need." With his infectous grin spreading once more across his face.

Its asymetrical, indicating that its been split off like a root cutting of some sort. Judging from the size and shape you would guess it was half of a root mass approximately the same size as the current root mass of the plant before you.

knowledge Biological sciences or a horiculture related profession skill check DC 15 to recognize what is odd about the root in the pictures.

Ace smiled, "I'm glad to hear that, thats definately good news." Ace went over to the table and dug about for a bit before handing her a small packet of photos and a few pages with less legible handwriting. "I think thats the best I can do right now, my friend isn't really available at this point." There was a hint of sadness in his eyes with the statement. Inside the packet were pictures of Ace and an elderly man of what looked to be East Indian descent the ones on top looked to be of the two of them in this very room potting the plant, it was nearly the same size but there was something odd about the root shape. Flipping through the pictures she saw more of the same but managed to show the root at several other angles, towards the back of the stack were three black and white pictures of a young Ace Danger, just like in the old Jungle Patrol serials, and a younger boy in a somewhat oversized turban.

Ace took a sip from his own glass before replying, "The root? Occasionally. Its one of the more potent parts of the plant but only by the schedual its previous owner suggested, possibly less really." Ace looked concerned as he asked Stesha, "Do you think its been over harvested? I try to take great care with the harvesting." He did seem genuinly more concerned for the plants welfare than the posibilty of needing to stop the harvest. "I was under the impression that regular harvest was neccisary actually. I rarely have much need for the material and it keeps well in most cases." He further explained

There was no real sign in the records of any kind of dormancy however there were series of pictures of the central root throughout the process. Looking over them in order Stesha noted that the root was growing at what seemed an accelerating rate. Unusual for a plant which one assumes had reached its full size. Her healing energies seemed to do little good but there was something about the plant that she couldn't quite place at first. Then as she stopped the energies she felt it more destinctly, a kind of resonance witht he plant when she focused her energies upon it. Ace stepped back into the room with a small pitcher of icewater and two glasses on a tray. Balancing the tray in one hand he cleared space for it ont he desk quickly and offered Stesha fresh poured glass with a smile, "Any luck?" He asked non-chalantly He wasn't overly worried about time but he was concerned as to who else to turn to should Stesha not be able to help.

Ace nodded and took a couple steps toward the door. "Runners?" He asked rhetorically, "Hmmm I would say roughly monthly theres a bit of a runner starting." He paused consideringly, "Those are usually harvested however. The root extraction is detailed in the red folio over there." He said with a nod of his head towards the desk. "I'll get you that water." Ace said as he turned to step out the door leaving Stesha with the plant. Really quite trusting considering the things value but Ace considered himself an excelent judge of character.

With greater allacrity than one would expect from plant life the plant poured forth imagery to her, she saw or felt the draining of energy followed by the surge of new growth an endless cycle through time. Its difficulty seemed to be related to this cycle. It was eager to satisfy her desires it seemed but at the same time seemed to be struggling with how she could not know what was wrong. Ace waited for some time and then inquired, "You have been at it for some time would you care for a drink?"

Ace just smiled and told her, "Don't worry about it I cleared the evening for our meeting, I'm in no hurry." As Stesha focused she began to sync in with the plant she was at first nearly overwhelmed as sensation she couldn't really describe flowed over her, one thing was clear this plant was ancient. It was hard to say if this particular plant or if it was some analog to anscestoral memory but the weight of years flowed forth from the plant in a fashion. Once she was able to begin to sort and process the information more susinctly she could feel a certain tiredness from the plant and a vague questioning attitude almost as if it was curious about her.

Mike shrugged at the praise, "We were there it wasn't really like there was much choice." He was still not entirely comfortable with talking about what they had done there, mostly because it didn't fit into his view of himself as too dangerous to be a hero. Mike shook his head vigerously, "I don't care if I let people down or whatever." He used fingers in the universaly accepted signal of sarcastic quote marks when he said 'let people down'. He looked off consideringly it seemed odd to be complaining to a near complete stranger about all of this he looked back after a moment and explained further, "I mean one misplaced punch or whatever and you miss the bad guy and knock down a building, how is one person supposed to make that kinda call? I mean being caught up in something is one thing going out and looking for trouble? I mean look what happend to riverside a couple months ago."

Mike tuned back in, "Yea we'll help I just wnated to make sure thats all they'll need to get the others." he said though still not sold on any idea other than going to get the others right then. "Psyche checked out the Island theres a base with a plane and teleporter of some kind," He relayed what had been sent to him, "And a dinosaur with some kinda control collar. The base defenses are pretty light personelwise though." Mike was hopeing the would jus lie low but he was fairly certain that wasn't in the cards.

Ace stood and offered his chair so she could examine the documents in comfort, "Please, of course however much time you need." He dropped into an easy slouch leaning against the wall as she examined the documents provided he seemed not at al impatient, watching with mild curiosity and an infectuous grin as she read. Nearly half of the information was related to the sustainable harvest of various elements of the Mankana plant as well as procedure for processing harvested material. However there seemed to be a rather extesive if more aged study of the plant and its needs written in a neat if somewhat faded hand. There were detailed diagrams and information on life cycle. Unlike most bushes of its nature it seemed the Mankana reproduced by runners striking out from the main root, though there was no notation of how long a single plant might survive.

August 6th, 2009: Stesha makes a House Call to Danger Manor to help with a Plant Problem. July 7th, 2009: Divine and Ace meet at a club and help out All the Single Ladies

Ace waved her forward to do as she needed, "Its been less than a week since I started to notice some signifigant droop." He replied as he pulled up a chair to watch her work. He drummed his fingers thoughtfully on his thigh for a moment, "Hmmmm no, no change from the normal routine." he said plaintively. He let out a nervous laugh, "and unfortunately I know niether the plants expected lifespan nor how long this one has been around. I've had it for nearly twenty years now and this is the first problem I've noted." Ace indicated the desk, "All the records I have on it are right over there, I keep meaning to get them digitized but who has the time."

"Heh, Yea I suppose they will." Mike responded with a hint of a smile He paused perhaps it was the earnestness in Dark Stars speech or the fact that he likely wouldn't ever have to see him again but Mike felt more comfortable telling him what was going on then most if his friends even. He sighed and explained, "Kinda both, we got involved with stopping some guys that took a buncha people hostage a few weeks ago." Mike didn't really like talking about thier actual heroic deeds it both unsettled him and felt a bit too much like bragging. "So most of them are all up on the hero kick now. I just don't think its a good idea for me." The teen looked up at Dark Star as he spoke further about it, "They just don't seem to see the downsides, the danger to people if we can't cut it, I mean what if nest time we just make it worse?"