Gizmo

With Thetis in stable condition, Midnight indicated an exposed spot on the side of the Atlantean's swimsuit costume to Fusion. "Keep pressure there. Don't move," he instructed the wounded girl, briefly placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder before standing up and moving back toward the Night Cycle. Along the way he retrieved a small cylinder from his belt and tossed it to Gaian Knight. "Rebreather," the masked man explained brusquely as he replaced the first aid kit in its compartment and withdrew was appeared to be a spare matte black bodysuit. As he adjusted something along the collar, a small ripple of electricity surged through the outfit, leaving its proportions altered and it colour scheme changed to a familiar blue and gold pattern in its wake. "Know a good tailor," he deadpanned, handing the suit off to Wander complete with a cowl with built in goggles that was reminiscent of the one a certain lizard-themed teammate wore and a another rebreather designed to clip into place over the rest of her face. Regretfully, he unbuckled his jacket, storing it in the Night Cycle's hidden compartment as well, along with his weathered fedora and pants, leaving the youth in an inky dark body suit marred only by luminous red eyes vaguely similar to the tentacled horror they'd just beaten back. Toggling his mask's built in filtration system to its underwater functionality, he reflected that although he would be without the bulk of his devices, he would at least be able to move about unhindered.

Le sigh, the burden of being the guy with a Variable Power... Gadgets! For Gaian Knight (Who is already immune to high-pressure) : Immunity 1 (Drowning) [1PP] Enhanced Feats 1 (Environmental Adaptation [underwater]) [1PP] For Wander: Immunity 2 (Drowning, High-Pressure) [2PP] Enhanced Feats 1 (Environmental Adaptation [underwater]) [1PP] For himself: Immunity 2 (Drowning, High-Pressure) [2PP] Enhanced Feats 1 (Environmental Adaptation [underwater]) [1PP] Which leave 7PP free, at least.

Making a low noise in the back of his throat, Trevor squeezed Erin gently in his arms, crossing his hands at the wrist to lace his fingers with hers, closing his eye from a moment to focus solely on the closeness of her. "And you had to ask why I'm in love with you," he noted dryly. It never ceased to amaze him that after all she'd been through, Erin had ultimately come out the other side not consumed by bitter rage but with a determination to protect others from that same suffering.

A previously concealed compartment on the Night Cycle opened with a soft hiss and Midnight retrieved a small white case with a red cross emblazoned on one side. Dismounting and stepping swiftly past the assembled heroes, he knelt down next to Fusion as she cradled Nereid and popped the case open, revealing a well stocked set of first-aid supplies. "Easy, Thetis," his voice rumbled in a soft baritone as he set about treating her wounds. The two students hadn't interacted much, but Trevor wasn't about to let anything happen to another grandchild of the Liberty League. He briefly considered instructing her to assume her more durable liquid form, but had no idea how that would effect her weakened state. "How many of you can breathe underwater?" he questioned the other without looking up from his work

Oh, hey, looks like Midnight is the only one with any ranks in Medicine. He's also got Skill Mastery for it, so he'll automatically make the roll to Stabilize Nereid.

Midnight resisted the urge to grumbled something incomprehensible under his breath at Gabriel's resounding monologue; clearly the two had ideas about intimidation as diametrically opposed as their respective black and white costumes. Too many words. Instead he slipped in silently next to Fusion. "Emotionally compromised. Understandable," he quietly told the tentacled heroine flatly, his inflectionless tone surprisingly lacking judgment or reproach. "Need to know you can stay in control." More loudly, he addressed the entire group brusquely, "Follow." The black clad vigilante exited the studio and took off down the hallway at a dead run.

Trevor reflexively let out a shallow breath of relief. The young man wasn't used to second guessing himself, making life or death decisions with ease and no regret. When it came to Erin, however, he found his pulse quickened and his mind racing, an exhilarating feeling for the normally reserved teen. Rising from his own seat, he stepped softly over to the balcony to stand just behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist so that her head rested in the space between his neck and collarbone, silently gazing into the distance.

Trevor smiled quietly as Erin described her impatient kiwi eating tactics, his own food largely forgotten. "Skin is the best part," he opined with a look of mock conviction. He actually had known that Dakana didn't have a state sanctioned lottery, but snorted in amusement at the thought of their perpetually fortunate friend participating in any sort of gambling before pausing for a silent moment. "Is... this alright?" he asked with unusual self-consciousness. "Though after today simple would be good; didn't know if you'd want to do something or..."

"Favourite..?" Trevor seemed a little surprised to have the focus of the conversation turned upon him, but considered the question with a studious frown for a moment nevertheless. "Heh, I guess I like the imbe, or I wouldn't have ruined the second shirt, too," he suggested with a small, rueful smile, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand and indicating the ping-pong ball sized red-orange fruits with the other. "On the whole, ah, cantaloupe, maybe? Which is yours?" he asked in kind, feeling as though he should have already known the answer.

"Made those with what was left stuck on my uniform," Trevor confirmed as he took a seat himself. "Had the rest of the parts with me; using the dust seemed like a nice touch." He picked out a sort of meat dumpling in a tamarind sauce for himself, giving Erin free reign over the array of fresh fruits. "Should last through the night before burning out." Retrieving a tall, ornate kettle, he poured himself a mug of the local coffee, setting it back down among an array of juices and seasonal ciders. "Try the miracle fruit with one of the citruses," he suggested, passing on some of the crash course in local produce he'd received from an enthusiastic chef in the palace kitchen. "Careful with the imbe, though; it stains. This is my third shirt since we got back."

A baritone chuckle rumbled in Trevor's chest as he turned to look outward himself, leading the way over to the table. "Worried a bit when I heard we'd be here. Had to come up with a whole new plan." Taking a few faster paces forward, he pulled out on the the chairs at the table with a shallow bow. "The king's staff deserve most of the credit," he noted, retrieving a small, nondescript remote from next to bowl of sliced imbe fruit. "Did manage a few contributions of my own, though." At the press of a button on the remote, a half dozen balls of dim light rose smoothly into the air, floating silently above their heads and casting just enough light to supplement the candles at the center of the table as the sun continued to sink from the sky. "Anti-grav daka crystal lanterns," Trevor explained, looking a little pleased with himself.

"Kidding? Would have made them postpone the apocalypse until tomorrow if it'd run too late," Trevor assured her in a soft murmur of his own, tracing the line of her pinned back hair with his fingertips before gentling resting his hand on her back. "Your day," he insisted emphatically, instinctively pulling Erin a little closer, catching a hint of freshly washed hair as he inhaled the crisp evening air. "Never going to go uncelebrated if I can help it."

Trevor turned as Erin stepped outside on the balcony, the setting sun back-lighting the open, easy smile that seemed to be reserved for the auburn haired young woman. "Hi," he greeted softly, a hint of goofiness slipping into his expression as he stepped forward and offered her his hand. "Look amazing." The candlelight from the nearby table played about the sparkles in her dress, flickering across the blue fabric like a reflection on deep water. Leaning forward slightly, he kissed her lightly, lingering for a moment before moving backward half a step. "Happy birthday."

Fort Save vs. DC 14. (1d20+7=9) Crud. I'm going to use that HP he got earlier to reroll that, which automatically succeeds.

Midnight glowered beneath his featureless mask as the massive creature's swarming progeny battered at the Night Cycle with their tentacles and sought purchase with their fangs. Kicking one loose with a heavy soled boot, he flicked a switch built into the motorcycle's handlebars almost casually. The electrical current that ran though the bike's morphic molecule paint to change its colour provided another benefit. The miniature squids in direct contact with the vehicle instantly exploded with meaty pops as chain lightning coursed through their siblings in a dazzling show that left piles of ash smelling of charred meat in its wake. "Don't touch the ride," the black clad youth growled.

Gadgets! Damage 7 (Extras: Area [Targeted Burst], Selective, Flaws: Action [Full Round], Power Feats: Accurate) [15PP] Midnight is going to Power Attack for 1, then take 10 against the minions, for DC 23.

One of the benefits of building a royal palace into a mountainside, Trevor Hunter reflected as he gazed out on the breathtaking view of Dakana spread out before him, was the excellent balcony placements. The sun was just dipping into the horizon, bathing the land in fiery oranges, tinted slightly redder by the young man's mutant eyes as he turned to finish preparing the table. Dressed in a black dress shirt with the top few buttons undone and equally dark pants, Trevor had forgone both the featureless mask that was his face as the legacy mystery man Midnight as well as the sunglasses he used to conceal his onyx and crimson eyes while in public. M'Balla had promised him total privacy, and given the nation's reputation for airtight security, the visiting vigilante wasn't worried. Not about that, anyway, he admitted inwardly as he caught himself adjusting the trio of staggered candles that formed the small table's centerpiece one more time. The entire spread certainly reflects their opulent surroundings for the trip, from the delicate cups to the masterfully prepared food. Trevor had had to convince M'Balla's head chef to have everything ready ahead of time rather than delaying the courses to be served immediately, but the younger man was determined to maintain the spot's sequestered intimacy. It was rare that he and Erin had time for more traditional dates, as opposed to patrolling or training together, and he had resolved to make her birthday perfect, the day's earlier explosive crisis aside.

Will Save vs. DC 17. (1d20+10=24) No sweat.

"Oh dear, I'm developing a reputation," Jack mused as he stood up on the railing, cracking his back loudly. "Well, I can't just come up with a new one because you ask," he noted with an apologetic shrug. "Then I'd be reduced to putting frogs down the back of your shirt and pulling on your pigtails for flirting and, do you know, I'm fresh out of amphibians just now?" Seeing the police cruisers pull up in front of the university building, the swashbuckler reached into his greatcoat and handed the floating paragon a small white rectangle with a capital 'I' embossed on one side. "Do me a favour, get that to the boys in blue, would you? Got a buddy who'll set them up with the security footage they'll need on this one." Before she could protest, he abruptly sprinted down the railing before acrobatically leaping onto the rooftop. Turning back for a moment, he called to Miss Americana, "Tell you what, I'll work on the nickname and get back to you. I'm thinking something about apple pie; sweet, patriotic and delicious, yeah?" With a wry salute, Jack disappeared over the far side of the roof in a flash of royal blue.

Night Cycle Toughness Save vs. DC 25. (1d20+10=29) Because the Badass Abnormal drives a Badass Automotive.

As the Night Cycle swept forward across the pier, Midnight took stock of the situation in frozen instants. Fusion he recognized from the unfortunate affair at the GBN building, and the heavily wounded young woman was familiar to him as well; he had in fact had at least one class with Nereid at the academy. The massive mass of black tentacles and malevolent red eyes rising from the depths in front of the two aquatically inclined women he'd never seen before, but he chose his response instantly. Stopping the motorcycle of a dime within a few yard of the end of the dock, he leveled an arm at the terrible beast, a rising hum coming from the outstretched limb before a pair of razor sharp needles burst forward, trailing filament wires. The miniature harpoons struck the writing form, cutting deeply before administering a truly brobdingnagian amount of current into its moistened flesh. With high pitched roar of pain, the giant squid appeared stunned by the jolt as acrid smoke rose from the points of penetration.

Gadgets! Damage 14 (Power Feats: Mighty, Thrown, Extras: Linked to Stun, Flaws: Action [Full Round]) [9PP] Stun 11 (Power Feats: Improved Critical, Thrown, Extras: Linked to Damage, Flaws: Action [Full Round], Daze Only) [6PP] Taser Harpoon Power Attack 5. (1d20+4=7) Reroll. Taser Harpoon Power Attack 5 reroll. (1d20+4=17) DC 37 Toughness Save, DC 26 Fort Save.

Initiative. (1d20+3=19)

Its engine whisper quiet, the Night Cycle sped along the waterfront, a matte black shadow like its rider. The bright yellow and blue outfit of the young woman riding behind him, on the other hand, stood out even in the dim light, reflecting in the water to their right. Trevor Hunter, the second mystery man to bear the title of Midnight, certainly didn't mind having Wander along with him on patrol, naturally; shared interests, he'd heard, were the basis of any strong relationship. Long stretches of silence with his bike's finely tuned engine beneath him and Erin's arms around his waist didn't hurt either. The moment's quiet tranquility was shattered by a terrible, otherworldly roar further toward the docks, followed moments later by a white and blue form speeding through the air above them, flapping in the wind. Wordlessly, Midnight leaned forward slightly and accelerated to breakneck speeds, nimbly picking through alleyways and side streets to follow after.

"Ugh, yeah." Jack tossed the last of his stones , skipping it off of Fear-Master's head like a child at the beach before setting his jaw to one side in annoyance. "Believe it or not, I'm not really big on public statements." Scratching his chin, he regarded the villain contemplatively. "On the other hand, I'm not really clear how this guy keeps managing to escape, considering on the whole he's a big ol' bowl of weaksauce." Cupping his hands around his mouth theatrically, he called out to the bound man, "You stink, Fore-Caster! That one wasn't even really an insult, but I used up my best ones already," he elaborated to the floating paragon.