Gizmo

Blaise tightened her grip on her family's ancestral sword reflexively as electricity surged through the mystic blade and into her arms with a painful jolt. With a startling shout, she leapt forward and swung the Three Flames Katana with graceful precision, throwing the lightning back at Network as the sheathe of supernatural fire cut the incorporeal being where the mundane metal could not. Sliding back to place herself between Geckogirl and their foe, the sword fighter smirked despite breathing heavily. "Not so slagging tough fighting your own battles, huh?"

With a good natured sigh, Trevor held up his hands slightly in defeat, realizing that if he hadn't wanted to elaborate he shouldn't have brought it up in the first place. "Working on... well, suppose the term is 'power armor'. Not really my style," he admitted, pulling a subtle face accompanied by a small shrug, "but if it comes to a knockdown, pure strength contest, want to have options." He suspected Chris could empathize with behind one of the less durable metahuman's around in comparison to many Claremont students.

"Hey, Mo'," Erik greeted with a small wave and grin as Ellie beat him to the punch and all but tackled their statuesque surrogate sister in a bear hug once Archeville had finished, though naturally the paragon didn't budge and inch. "So. Guess what we did last night...?" With the entire team present, the copious amounts of food were doled out through frequent trips to the buffet line, everyone finding comfortable places to eat about the kitchen and adjoining living room. Although he didn't need to eat, obviously, Vince made a point of projecting himself in scale with his fleshier comrades on one of the full length wall screens, giving the illusion of being there in the physical space with them.

"Oh, uh, hey Dok," Erik greeted with surprise, shaking the other man's man reflexively. The scientists newly gregarious manner wasn't a necessarily unpleasant change, but the sarcastic younger man did find it a little off-putting. "I'm fine, just getting in my routine." The fencer had taken to exercising in one of the black, sleeveless bodysuits he wore under his royal blue greatcoat as Jack of all Blades now that he'd been able to afford a few spares, but as was his custom around the Underground, had forgone concealing his civilian identity. "Y'know you really can call us by our real names when we're not working," he added with a bemused smirk. "It's cool. So... did you need like, some... data or whatever?" He wasn't sure what else Archeville would be doing in the Wreck Room.

Trevor considered for a moment, placing a hand on the back of his neck. He hadn't gotten a complete look at how extensive the damage was, but there wasn't a lot of choice at this point. "I'll get it up today," he agreed decisively, cracking his neck audibly. It was going to be a lot of work but he was reasonably sure he had brought everything he'd need with him with him. "Heating a smaller area would help in the short term. That generator just doesn't have the output long term."

"Well, bridge is already crossed," Trevor pointed out. It wasn't as if they were going to able to explain away Fleur's earlier display, so there wasn't much point in fretting over it. The young man considered for a moment, letting out a puff of breath that floated in the air, a mixture of water vapor and stygian mist. "If they decide you're a nature and fertility goddess, I call lord of the underworld," he decided aloud in a fairly transparent effort to bolster the pregnant heroine's spirits.

"Nobody likes lichen," Trevor agreed with a vague air amusement. "One of those ironic names." His expression settled back into stoic sobriety as he looked back at the enclosure. "More immediately, though. Can get the generator back up an running. Put in better breaker so it'll cut out rather than burn out." He rubbed his gloved hands in the cold air. "Have to tell them something."

Ignoring the odd 'giant bees' reference for the time being, Trevor offered Stesha a small shrug. "It not... that much different," he suggested, pulling his scarf down from his face and rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "You need at least another generator, but I can help you put that in. Family is associated with a couple of charity shelters in the city; could find out what they do for bulk clothes." He offered her a slight expression that hinted at a reassuring smile. "Survived this long, they're at least capable. Should help."

Trevor backed away from the enclosure, keeping an eye on the group inside while he followed Stesha. It didn't seem terribly surprising at first blush that some small portion of the population had survived, but the plant controller's reaction and earlier description of her search gave the young man a little more context to work with. "So. What are you going to do?" he asked once they were well away, the question one of curiosity and offered aid rather than challenge.

"...uh," Trevor started uncertainly as he looked over the surprisingly large group. "Guess we know what was draining the generator," he murmured to Fleur before turning to the frightened group, his arms spread. "Please remain calm." It wasn't so much that he raised his voice, but that he gave it a quality that encouraged others to listen more closely. "Where did you all come from?"

Midnight stood to one side of Fleur, a half step back with his arms folded across his chest. "Please," he intoned derisively in a rumbling baritone. The bearded man didn't look to be in any shape to fight anyone, let alone a healthy, rested and well trained martial artist. "Lady's being friendly," he continued. "In your best interests to follow suit." The good cop, bad cop routine might have been a touch hackneyed, but it was effective.

Trevor was pretty sure this was a new one on him, too, and similarly suspected that suggesting that Fleur stay put while he knocked the motley band out one by one and restrained them would go over poorly. With a sigh, he replaced his sunglasses and pulled his scarf a little high over his nose. He still cut a fairly imposing figure, but was less likely to incite a panic. "Suppose it's time to meet the neighbours," the young man told her. "Diplomatic route is worth a shot."

"Mrs. Lumins, I don't- hrn." Trevor hurried after Stesha as she walked briskly back the way he'd come, falling in beside her. "Wherever he came from, could be dangerous. Heard voices; not alone. Should exercise some caution." The young man gestured concisely with his hands, trying to impress his concerns upon the determined botanist. It looked like the best he was going to be able to do would be standing guard and remaining wary.

Staying out of sight, Trevor continued to observe the campsite for a while before quietly backing away and jogging back to Stesha's position. "Looking like this world's not as uninhabited as thought," he informed the botanist, relaying what he'd observed. "How do you want to play this?" He had a pretty good idea what the expecting woman's response to hungry, haggard survivors was going to be, but the young man wasn't inclined to place too much trust in the good intentions of so desperate a group.

Conceding the point, Trevor jogged down the other side of the hill toward the massive enclosure. The combination of plant matter walls and the faceted roof was strikingly alien, but he admired the scale and example of a constructive use for metahuman powers. The scope of what Stesha was working toward was certainly impressive, and the young man resolved to resolve whatever problem had brought him there that day. Long strides took him around the building quickly, and he slowed to a more stealthy pace as he rounded the other side.

"Heh. 'Wait and see' certain has the benefit of simplicity, as plans go," Trevor admitted, casually falling a step or two behind Stesha as they climbed the hill in case she slipped. Reaching the top, he sniffed the air and frowned. The young man seemed to tense his entire body as a dusky onyx colour spread outward from his eyes to cover his skin. He'd left his armoured uniform at the manor, but supersaturating his muscle tissue with midnight mist offered a good deal of protection now that he was getting the hang of triggering it on his own. "Mrs. Lumins, not to doubt your capabilities, but would you mind waiting here while I scout ahead?" Any remaining youthful awkwardness disappeared as Midnight's training took the fore.

"Ehm... we're still taking things slowly," Trevor allowed, shuffling his feet slightly. "Both have baggage. Still. Seems to be matching luggage set, so," he added with a slight smile. After this long walking through the crisp, winter air, the parts of the young man's face not covered by hat or scarf were starting to darken with his unusual flush. "Not being lonely... definitely nice." After a pause he added a little more quietly, "Don't want to mess it up."

Trevor didn't usually think of Erin as 'the tall girl', but coming from Stesha it was sufficiently apropos. It was also clear that the ship had sailed on subtlety. "That would be the plan, yes," he admitted significantly, putting one hand in his coat pocket as he continued to keep an eye of the voltaic sensor in the other. Glancing down at it silently, he looked back over to the botanist after a moment, clarifying, "Been... dating for a while now." His manner was more than a little uncomfortable, but he seemed determined to meet the topic with a modicum of composure.

"Mmn. Some already graduated, some have another year," Trevor clarified, this usual terseness somewhat exaggerated as he attempted to play off his brief lapse. "Psyche, Phalanx... have plans." The young man didn't want to reveal more than he should, and Alex and Mike's engagement still struck him as a little extreme. "Edge - Mark - mentioned humanitarian work overseas. Seemed serious. Especially for him." Clearing his throat conspicuously, the mechanic continued, "Wander's applying to the Freedom League. Be idiots not to accept her."

Despite their various differences, neither Midnight appeared particularly inclined to follow an order to 'fall in'. Trevor followed close enough to Erin to murmur back, "Let it go for now. Headed that way anyway." Hanging back a step, he remained nearby while giving his girlfriend her space. Multiuniversal doppelgangers were a constant fact of life for Erin, but perhaps because of that, she always seemed to take these meetings particularly badly. Ignoring his oddly outdated double, Midnight hung to the back of the group, paying closer attention to the way the others were interacting with their own twins. Catching the silent interplay between the Sages, he raised an eyebrow, the expression telegraphed by his shifting goggles. "Everything cool?" he asked the white haired telepath while regarding the glaring mirror image with a cold flatness. If anyone was going to twig to a trap, it would be the telepath.

"Heh. Definitely best kind," Trevor agreed, the corner of his mouth turning slightly upward before he coughed awkwardly and placed a hand on the back of his neck as he looked studiously upward. His cheeks didn't colour much, but the black, sooty colour of his midnight mist infused blood showed up prominently on his pale skin. "Ah, well, roster's rotated around a bit lately anyway," he attempted as a recovery.

Since secrecy served little useful purpose at this point, the lean youth shrugged in vague affirmation. "I'm not technically... well. Yes, he is." Although he'd never officially accepted full membership with the team, the pretense wore thin even for him. "It's an interesting change, having people to... people I can... Hrn. Having people," he finished finally, leaving it at that. The trust he was able to put in his teammates, his friends, continued to surprise him on occasion.

"True. Grue invasions are one thing," he noted dryly, his expression impassive, "interpersonal high school drama is another." Remaining silent for a few more paces, he spoke up again abruptly. "Ah, thank you again for the invitation to the wedding." He wasn't sure if inviting some of the Claremont students had been her idea of Mr. Lumins', but the young man supposed they would have both had to have agreed on it regardless.

"Aw, muñequita," Jill murmured, rapidly forgetting about her own head injury. "Have you gotten it checked out or- wait, sorry, stupid question." The medic waved on hand in dismissive apology before Dragonfly could respond. Obviously the inventor would have already dealt with the frequent headaches if it was that easy. "I... I'm not sure how much my powers could help, but I want you to call me the next time it gets really bad, okay?" she said seriously, before her expression shifted to a smirk that was only a little forced. "And before you start, yes, I'm saying you should have me come over the next time you're not going to sleep all night anyway."

"Mmn. Dancing is always a good choice," Trevor agreed absently, twisting a dial on the boxy device in his hands as it crackled happily. "Was planning on university," he replied to Stesha's question, looking over at the pregnant woman to make sure he wasn't walking too quickly. "Engineering. Still am, I suppose. Has been an... interesting year." After everything he'd been through since he began attending Claremont, all of the changes to his life, it seemed strange that his plans hadn't radically changed as well. He supposed he'd been a little too busy to really reexamine them.