Gizmo

Trevor placed his hand over his eyes with a resigned sigh, though a small smile threatened to pull at the corner of his mouth. Sometimes it was tough to tell whether Mark was being totally oblivious or possessed a savant like sense of timing. They were probably going to need to bring Mark in on this plan eventually anyway, after all, and it wasn't like he was actually interrupting anything private. Quashing a brief feeling of regret at that thought, the young man gestured concisely to the door, waiting for Erin to invite their enthusiastic friend in.

"Why would she think that?" asked in his immaculate deadpan, resisting the urge to shake his head in wry exasperation. This part of the affair he was more familiar with; a reception didn't seem to be too different from any other formal dining event. Oh course, one's date tended to be carefully chosen and prearranged at the galas and dinners he'd attended, which left him to learn the ways of the wingman on the fly, so to speak. "Hrn. Wise not to mention our... extracurriculars, either. Makes talking you up more difficult." Furrowing his brow behind his sunglasses, the dark haired young man seemed to be giving the matter meticulous thought.

"Woah, dude," Jack cautioned, calling down from Curl-bee's back, "too much information. Seriously." The swashbuckler was beginning to suspect that evolution had built a severe downside into mating for male bees for a reason. "Romance isn't exactly a native concept for you bunch, huh?" he drawled, shaking his head slightly. Granted, his very basic understanding of the way a hive was structured suggested wooing wasn't really a concern, what with only one queen, but that didn't rule out the possibility of a little style.

That takes out 22, 23 and 24 easily, along with 6 - 13. Unfortunately, it also just hits Jack, who'll spend an HP to avoid it. 19 - Spellbound - Uninjured 17 - Jack of all Blades - Uninjured - 5HP 16 - Geckoman - Uninjured - 3HP 16 - Security Guards - x1 10 - Freebooter - Uninjured 3 - Robots x6 3 - Katanarchists - x24 3 - Miss Americana - Uninjured - 3HP

Freebooter: Initiative. (1d20+4=10) Robots: Initiative. (1d20=5) They will, however delay to act at the same time as the Katanarchists. So! Freebooter Move Action: Enter dramatically! Standard Action: Taunt Spellbound. (1d20+16=29) Robots Robot 2 - Grapple Spellbound. (1d20+6=12, 1d20+30=38) Robot 3 - Grapple Spellbound. (1d20+6=11, 1d20+30=44) Robots 4 & 5 - Aid Attack. (1d20+6=23, 1d20+6=24) Robot 6 - Grapple Geckoman. (1d20+10=12, 1d20+30=31) Katanarchists Ninjas 1 to 4 - Aid Attack. (1d20+5=23, 1d20+5=8, 1d20+5=20, 1d20+5=14) Ninja 5 - Attack Geckoman. (1d20+11=21) Ninjas 6 to 12 - Aid Attack. (1d20+5=6, 1d20+5=17, 1d20+5=19, 1d20+5=11, 1d20+5=24, 1d20+5=19, 1d20+5=7) Ninja 13 - Attack Jack of all Blades. (1d20+15=31) Toughness Save vs. DC 18. (1d20+10=23) Ninjas 14 to 17 - Aid Attack (shuriken). (1d20+3=17, 1d20+3=6, 1d20+3=9, 1d20+3=6) Ninjas 18 to 20 - Combined Attack (shuriken). (1d20+3=8, 1d20+3=9, 1d20+3=17) Ninja 21 - Attack Miss Americana (shuriken). (1d20+5=12) Ninjas 22 to 24 - Making a run at stealing the Grasscutter. They'll grab it unless knocked out before their next turn. 19 - Spellbound - Uninjured 17 - Jack of all Blades - Uninjured - 6HP 16 - Geckoman - Uninjured - 3HP 16 - Security Guards - x1 10 - Freebooter - Uninjured 3 - Robots x6 3 - Katanarchists - x24 3 - Miss Americana - Uninjured - 4HP - Extra Effort

Fortunately, the Katanarchists seemed unconcerned with the civilian attendees, most of whom managed to flee out of the building amid the chaos while the ninjas focused their fanatical attention on reaching the Grasscutter, even as their unconscious forms began to pile up at the heroes' feet. Shoving his way through the crowds in the opposite direction, the last remaining security guard managed to reach the far wall of the lobby, slapping his hand down on a biometric scanner. With an ascending series of beeps followed by a pressurized woosh, an entire section of the wall slid open revealing an even half dozen hulking robots, silver surfaces gleaming as they marched out into the lobby. Thick legs propelled beetle like torsos, hunched over to support similarly bulky arms. The first one out surveyed the scene and flatly intoned, "Intruders will surrender. You have thirty seconds to comply." Unfortunately, it was looking directly at the guard who had just activated it. "W...what...?" the confused UtiliTek employee managed as he took a fearful step back. "How...?" "The 'what', mate, is the Katararchists pulling together a few doubloons to hire their very own privateer," a jaunty voice called from overhead. Balanced in the highest part of a broken window, supported by one the ropes the assassins had used to enter the building, was perched the smirking figure of a red coated pirate, studded with technological gadgetry. "Freebooter, at your service! Well, at their service. Savvy lot, these ninja types, figured stealing from a technology company might require a little technological expertise. And I only needed half an excuse to keelhaul a few scurvy, big business dogs, haha!" Sliding down the rope with acrobatic ease, a ruby lensed eye patch twinkled as he unsheathed a rough iron cutlass adorned with neon green diodes. "As for 'how', company man, well, I'm just that good!" "Failure to surrender," the lead robot observed, picking the shouting security guard up in a crushing grip. "Executing security protocol alpha six: extreme prejudice." As the remaining robots stomped forward, the ninjas resumed their single-minded assault!

"I'm not not making an issue," Jill clarified hastily, spreading her free hand outward as she accepted the plate from Dragonfly and took a seat. "There's just this guy Sage hangs out with who... enh, never mind." It was probably just a coincidence, and if it wasn't she probably didn't want to know the detail anyway. "Some of us are actually planning to use the ol' college fund," she drawled as the conversation turned to betting, "so that's just as well."

Placing his chin in one hand, Trevor murmured in agreement. "Removing one of the Academy's... resources might be enough on its own. Still." Setting a mind-shattered Erin loose on their enemies seemed like exactly the sort of uncontrolled nightmare that would appeal to the demented counterparts they'd encountered. "Hitting another target simultaneously could be to our advantage anyway. Hnn. Manpower is a concern."

Trevor tilted his head slightly toward Erin as she placed a hand on his arm, admitting, "Underestimated reaction." Whatever phenomenon had allowed Negator's matter and antimatter halves to coexist had evidently been more precarious than he'd realized. At the synchronized comment, he coughed lightly, looking upward silently. The Midnight from the Young Paragon's reality made a flat sound that might have been a chuckle filtered through his mask. Trevor responded with a subtle but pointed glance in the direction of the two Sages returning from their acrobatic display. His counterpart made a nonchalant gesture but refrained from further comment concerning the Wanders' remark. "Tastes will vary," Trevor observed diplomatically.

"Not showing off?" Jack called over to Beeatriz, his exaggerated tone suggesting he was mystified. "I... don't think I follow, Trix." Even so, he took up a more relaxed stance, simply keeping his balance without any theatrics as they flew through the hive. The fencer was glad for the light casting stones; in retrospect, he wasn't sure how he'd expected to see within the cavernous tunnels. He supposed he'd simply thought of it was something akin to a massive parking complex, his brain substituting in a more common structure to deal with the sheer level of absurdity.

"Heh," Trevor made a short sound somewhat analogous to a chuckle. "Probably end up in Seattle again, anyway," he noted with subtle smile in Mark's direction. The look turned sober at the mention of his friend's mother, and the lean youth offered a slight nod. "Good to hear." The tremendous ordeal Mrs. Lucas had been through over the past year had left her fragile, and the psychological damage had been obvious.

Trevor studied Erin's expression for a beat before nodding tersely. "Alright," he agreed simply, making no futile attempt to dissuade her, not wasting his time trying to argue that the danger was to great or that the responsibility did not fall to her. It wouldn't have worked on him, after all. Stepping over to sit on the edge of her bed, the dark haired tactician steepled his fingers in concentration. "Have to assume security's improved after our last encounter. Either need stealth or overwhelming force; speed will be key, regardless. Hrn." His brow furrowed as he considered. "Have to figure out how we'll get there. Potentially ally with the Anti-Talos."

"'Sword guy' she says," Jack sighed, ducking under a slashing strike and launching into a spin. His fiery blade whirled about, melting through mundane steel and leaving his multitude of foes suddenly disarmed before a low, sweeping kick took the unbalanced assassins' legs out from under them. Just as soon as they had been dispatched, however, but they were replaced by their red robed brethren. "You got me, brujita, but one of them's bound to get through and snag the Grasscutter at this rate!"

Jack of all Blades ...can take ten and sweep all of the minions surrounding him with Takedown 2. Which he will do. Whee! I am actually going somewhere with this, don't worry. In the meantime: 19 - Spellbound - Uninjured 17 - Jack of all Blades - Uninjured - 6HP 16 - Geckoman - Uninjured - 3HP 16 - Security Guards - x1 3 - Katanarchists - LOTS 3 - Miss Americana - Uninjured - 4HP - Extra Effort

Trevor listened silently as Erin explained. He too had found their encounter with Anti-Earth profoundly disturbing, although for different reasons. The ease with which he'd understood the thought processes of his counterpart, a native to that twisted reality, had filled him not with pity but disgust and self reproach. Playing the role of The Blank which they were swapped between dimensions had been far, far too easy for the young man to be comfortable with. Part of him was almost glad Mark had healed his double in retrospect; at least Hex's revenge would have kept both of the despicable pair occupied for some time. "Nothing we could do then," he reminded her, his expression clouded. "She's not you. May have common history, upbringing, but if anything that..." Realization dawned. "...ah." Inwardly, he finished that train of thought. That would make her more like your sister.

The Young Paragons! ...and Midnight. "Yeah, and Midnight!"

Jill abruptly dropped her fork with a stunned expression, the utensil clattering into her plate. "Ha, sorry, butterfingers," she quickly recovered, picking it back up with a suitably chagrined expression and a small shrug. --Dios, Eve, are you alright?-- she thought back at the telepath. --Wait, dumb question, I just mean... Dios.-- Looking back down at her own plate for a moment, the young woman attempted to switch gears as she looked back up. "Ha, well, this second would be kinda short notice, but yeah, would definitely be nice," she agreed, slipping her hand into Mara's underneath the table.

"We're a sociable bunch," Jill chimed in as Sage explained how she knew them to Fusion, a sardonic note in her tone that might have simply been the way she spoke. "Mostly Grim just has some uncanny word of mouth skills," she added, smoothing over Silhouette's passing comment about a school for superpowered teens. Claremont was a fairly open secret in the hero community, but no point in being blase about it. "Pretty funny to have two gals in head to toe black and two with white hair," she admitted with a broad smirk, although it flickered a moment later. "Although the eyes kinda make Wispy look like... uh..." Glancing questioning to Sage, she coughed lightly and turned back to Dragonfly. "Ah, yeah, sure, whatever you think looks good."

Trevor's head tilted very slightly to one side as he tried to read Erin's expression. "That's what you told Archer," he repeated carefully, his body language making it clear that he wasn't trying to judge but to understand. "Why did you really want it?" He couldn't think of any metahuman who devoted more effort to knowing the precise parameters of their abilities than Erin; someone so cognizant of her strength hardly needed a reminder.

"Dunno about - huf - 'wannabe'," Jack called up, continuing to split his attention between mob of foes surrounding him as Miss Americana dealt handily with the shuriken throwers hanging from the ceiling. The red robed ninjas dropped to the floor, blowing holes in the rapidly dispersing clouds of smoke. As the room came into view, the full magnitude of the situation became clear. Dozens upon dozens of assassins in the distinctive attire of the Katanarchists filled the outer area of the lobby, with even more sliding deftly down ropes that hung from somewhere above the broken windows. "Well... nertz," Jack summed up succinctly.

"Like to think 'better' more than 'unusual', but..." Trevor trailed off with a reserved smirk. He noted the netbook's screen with a concerned frown but gave the card his full attention as Erin handed it to him. "Ha, Erin, this is..." The young man stood with his mouth open for a few beats trying to properly articulate how much a hand crafted gift meant to him. "It's wonderful," he settled on finally. "Thank you." Resolving to find an appropriate place to display the card, he waited silently before asking. "Do you want to talk about the security footage?"

Well, they can't beat that Toughness save, so those for are toasty. Get in your IC, then let me get one in describing things after the smoke clears. After that, Spellbound is up! 19 - Spellbound - Uninjured 17 - Jack of all Blades - Uninjured - 6HP 16 - Geckoman - Uninjured - 3HP 16 - Security Guards - x1 3 - Katanarchists - LOTS 3 - Miss Americana - Uninjured - 4HP - Extra Effort

The thief can't make the DC27 save, so he's out, and Miss A is up again. 19 - Spellbound - Uninjured 17 - Jack of all Blades - Uninjured - 6HP 16 - Geckoman - Uninjured - 3HP 16 - Security Guards - x1 3 - Katanarchists - LOTS 3 - Miss Americana - Uninjured - 4HP

"We're under attack!" the burly guard shouted into his radio. "Using smoke, I don't- Everyone stay calm!" The confused crowd was indeed starting to panic, knocking into each other in the acrid grey clouds. Swearing to himself, the guard drew his firearm; elsewhere in the lobby, the rest of his team followed suit, looking about uncertainly. They didn't have long to wait. Masked figures in blood red robes darted in and out of the smoke, flashing blades making quick work of the UtiliTek employees. En masse, a group lept silently at Geckoman as he revealed himself, only the teenager's superb agility keeping him a step ahead of their deadly, coordinated attacks. In the center of the room, Jack of all Blades was suddenly assailed by another pack of the trained assassins, his swift swordsmanship proving a match for them all. While his brothers attacked, a particularly stealthy member of the invaders made a beeline for the Grasscutter itself! As Miss Americana turned to take aim at the thief, razor sharp shuriken pelted her from above, keeping her off balance.