Search the Community

Lor Timemark 1329.8 - March 1, 2015 Garron-9, Garron System Trooper Ekna Veiu sat strapped into the back of the transport ship between a Lor mentat clone with a lantern jaw and a member of a scale covered species he couldn't name and tried to steady his breathing. He'd never planned to be a soldier but then the Communion had ripped through the Khanate, leaving the precious few survivors to flee or be turned into monsters. The Lor loved to talk about never forgetting Lor-Van but they hadn't been the only people to lose a homeworld and they weren't the only ones who'd wanted to fight back. Ekna was seventeen stellar cycles old; that had seemed like so long sitting around on his family farm waiting for his life to start, old enough to enlist with the Coalition forces, certainly. As the ship shook from atmospheric turbulence and he clenched his grey-green hands all he think about was whether or not he'd see his eighteenth cycle celebration. There weren't any enemy ships in the skies above Garron-9, at least. There didn't need to be. What had once been a densely populated border world with almost a billion inhabitants was now a solid sphere of computronium, a planet-sized server to add to the Communion's processing power. A billion people converted into raw materials and 'antibodies', the mindless, shrieking foot soldiers of the enemy. This was only Ekna's second deployment but he'd already gotten to see those up close and personal. They'd lost that moon but he'd acquitted himself well, getting his wounded sergeant to safety. They'd given him a commendation for that. They didn't mention the rest of his squad when they shook his hand. He didn't mention the night terrors he'd had ever since. That was how he'd ended up as part of one of four squads deploying to Garron-9 with a simple mission: fight their way through and take down a communication relay, in theory briefly blinding the Communion in the adjacent sector long enough for something apparently above his pay grade. Troopers didn't need to know the big picture, he guessed. He looked up from his knees and immediately regretted it as he saw the Grue strapped in across from him scowling right at him. At least Ekna thought the Grue was scowling. It was hard to tell with no mouth. He immediately looked back down regardless. Most of the other troopers were more experienced soldiers and most of them had experience fighting against those who were suddenly their allies. Tensions were always high but the calm before the storm was always the worst. Then again, at least he knew what a Grue was. Each squad had been assigned a commander for the mission, though Ekna got the impression the rank wasn't exactly official. One of them was a stern Lor officer with no patience for excuses; he'd met a lot of those in the past months. The Zultasian told a lot of jokes and laughed loudly, all swagger and confidence. Ekna had never seen anything like the grey skinned woman with the cybernetic tail, though, and even though the forth commander didn't look all that much older than him he'd heard some of the other soldiers say she wasn't really Lor but Terran and everybody had a friend of a friend with a horror story about a Terran. Ekna risked glancing up again to the back of the transport where all four of them were standing, holding onto handing straps and conversing.

Criminal Carter Bay, Florida, Terra One week before the Battle of Kesteven 79; Lor Timemark 1329.7 "Whaddya mean what do I want you to do with 'em?! They came to my son's house!" Anna knew she was screaming, and she knew she sounded like an old woman when she screamed, but for once in her life she didn't care. She'd tried for weeks to reach Basil after the fighting in Freedom City during the Communion incursion; and only now, pacing back and forth so fast she was burning through yet another bedroom rug, had she finally gotten ahold of her old friend. "They tried to kill my grandson! They tried to put their filthy stinking hands on my little baby granddaughter! I want them dead! I want their whole goddamned organization dead and buried in a goddamned hole in the ground!" Basil let her rant, like a good friend should, knowing what Clock Queen was like in a righteous temper. When she was finished, Basil broke in gently. "I'll do whatever is in my power to help you, my dear Anna." His voice was warm and soothing, the perfect veteran musician's calm, even tones. "I am not soley responsible for composing their fate, but I think I can persuade even their backers to dance to my tune for a while. But the question remains, Anna, what will you do for me in return?" His tone was serious, but almost apologetic, the same way he might have asked for repayment on money she'd borrowed from him back in the day - which now that she thought about it had happened more than once. "Certain things have never been tolerated in our organization - but of course we're talking about a third party. If I'm to move against them, I need to be sure that you can move with me the next time I need a favor." Anna put her head against the wall, palm flat against the bright green wallpaper of her retirement bungalow, and thought about her old friend's words, even as not for the first time recently she felt a great wave of unaccustomed fatigue. "Listen, Basil, I...I promised my boy I wouldn't get back in the League, and I meant it. It's important to him - and you know nothing's more important to me than family." She opened her eyes and caught sight of herself in the mirror across the hall. Jeez - look at me! Eighty years old, and she looked like a healthy woman in her fifties - a woman who was going to spend a long, long life right here in this bungalow if she chased Basil away right now. He'd better be right about the white noise blocking the line here. "But a deal's a deal. If you need a favor, a real favor...gimmie a call. I'm yours."

Lor Timemark 1329.7 - February 28, 2015 Repiuk System Asteroid Belt When rich ore deposits had been discovered in the asteroid belt of a system with no habitable worlds nearly a hundred and fifty years prior it had drawn in a rush of prospectors, independent fortune seekers and small companies looking to stake a claim that would set them and their families up for generations. As the demands of the galactic economy shifted and the best veins had been tapped out, however, the cost of refinement had risen past the profitability of the belt and one by one facilities had been abandoned, subterranean ghost towns riddling the asteroids with tunnels and shafts. Decades later those abandoned mines would serve as a base of operations for a vicious pirate fleet, their leader cannily realizing that the remaining deposits of heavy metals would play havoc with snooping sensor sweeps. They'd been found out by the Star Knights nevertheless and soundly routed, leaving another layer of abandoned equipment in their wake. It was Sri A'Lan Koor who had remembered those raids and suggested the belt, a remote location of no military significance or appeal to the Communion, as a staging area for the Coalition forces. For the past three months the secret had remained kept, long enough for the leaders of the Coalition to feel secure gathering together in one room as they planned out their last, best chance to drive out the invading menace. Standing at the war table the veteran Star Knight had to wonder if they weren't going to do the Communion's job for it. "You need to pull your head out of whatever orifice you've shapeshifted for defecation purposes," Senator Diena Th'emme told the Grue Arcane across from her flatly, fingertips pressed firmly against the surface of the horizontal display between them. The tall, imperious woman managed to make even the utilitarian grey jumpsuit she was wearing come across as regalia, her honey blonde hair done up in a crisp bun. "We have a precise window of opportunity. What troops we can spare to assault the communication relay will have to be enough." The short, stocky being to her made a fluting growl, waving fur covered hands for emphasis as his translator box did its work in an incongruously light soprano. "You would send them to their deaths and for what?" Minister Ch'rrr had rallied a number of worlds to the Coalition's banner in his home sector but was by nature disinclined toward risk taking. "The slim hope of a possible advantage for a doomed plan? Your ancestors' pardon, Citizen Tulink, but I cannot place so much faith in a single simulacrum. Surely you agree, Praetorian Val-Ren?"

Edges of Grue Unity Space Lor Timemark 1312.4 "Perimeter Vessel Theta-Theta-Gamma reporting all quiet," the Grue Metamorph named Dul'ce sighed, repeating the same message he'd been sending back to command twice a cycle for the entire duration of his posting. Cycle after cycle of staring at a field of stars, empty apart from a patch of asteroids or the occasional comet, lightyears away from anything to conquer or infiltrate or even just observe, just the arbitrary border of Unity controlled space past which there was simply nothing worth claiming. It was busy work of the highest order, that was the worst of it, Dul'ce reflected as he melted back in his chair, dejectedly allowing his form to become slightly liquid. The Meta-Mind could have easily focused on his thoughts, just like any of the Grue, if it truly wished to know what was happening on the frontier. The twice-cycle reports proved that it was simple bureaucracy, a tick in a ledger that no Grue would ever bother reviewing once it was logged. "Pull yourself together, Navigator!" a sharp voice barked, causing Dul'ce's outer layer to go spiky in surprise. The only other Metamorph on the vessel and his commanding officer strode onto the bridge, flanked by a pair of drones. Faa'et had taken to making his form a little taller and broader at the shoulder since his promotion and Dul'ce might have sworn his chin was even a little more square, though he couldn't imagine for whom Faa'et was making the effort. "I don't tolerate loose shifting on the Double-Theta Gee!" Dul'ce hid another sigh. The Unity didn't bother naming its vessels like lesser species and for good reason. Faa'et's attempts to give the scout ship a nickname were ridiculous, though the navigator never would have said so aloud. Just thinking that was about the captain would have been bad enough if Faa'et had ever bothered to read anyone's thoughts apart from his own. "Apologies, Captain. I was just finishi-- eh?" On the console in front of him a green dot blinked on, floating through nearby space before changing direction and heading toward them.

Player Name: ShaenTheBrainCharacter Name: The Inspector Power Level: 12 (180/181PP) Trade-Offs: None Unspent Power Points: 1 Progress To Gold Status: 1/90 In Brief: Martian Manhunter with a lightsaber. Alternate Identity: Jol-Kroom Samak (Birth Name), Varies (Shapeshifter) Identity: Secret. It is not common or public knowledge that Samak is a Grue'tar, or an alien of any kind. Birthplace: Planet Gruen'tass, Andromeda Galaxy Occupation: None at present. Former Inquisitor of the Grue'tar Protectorate, then freelance bounty hunter, private detective, and mercenary throughout the Lor Republic and Stellar Khanate. Affiliations: None at present. Formerly the Grue'tar Protectorate. Family: Jol-Kroom Rojoss (Mother), Jol-Kroom Mooreedon (Father), Jol-Kroom Serta (Brother) DESCRIPTION In his native form, Samak is a blue-skinned humanoid with no body hair. His head is round on top, and his jaw extends to a long, narrow point. He has no nose, mouth, or teeth. He breathes through his skin. His skin is selectively permeable to fluids. When he drinks, the bottom half of his face, where a human's mouth would be, darkens in color and softens in texture, allowing him to absorb the water. He has digitigrade legs, which end in feet with two toes. His hands have two large fingers, and two thumbs on opposite sides of the hand (allowing him to grip objects more firmly than single-thumbed creatures). There is no way he would be mistaken for a human in any but the vaguest of silhouettes against the dimmest of light. Age: 300 (DoB: 1713)Apparent Age: N/A (Varies with Morph/Shapeshift) Gender: Born Male (Varies with Morph/Shapeshift) Ethnicity: Grue'tar Height: 6ft (Varies with Morph/Shapeshift) Weight: 180 lbs. (Varies with Morph/Shapeshift) Eyes: Orange (No Pupils) (Varies with Morph/Shapeshift) Hair: None (Varies with Morph/Shapeshift) POWER DESCRIPTIONS The Grue'tar are an innately psionic race. Samak's more powerful psionic abilities are only accessible when his brain is in its native configuration. Unless he chooses to suppress it, Samak's psionic powers create a slight glowing aura around his head and/or hands, and sometimes the target as well. The color of that aura varies, depending on the application of the powers. Telekinetic effects which move or manipulate physical objects will usually glow blue, while those which inflict physical harm usually glow red. Telepathic effects usually create a violet aura. The energy blade of his Star Sword follows the same color scheme. The Star Sword itself is a handle assembled from pieces forged from a nearly indestructible self-repairing alloy functionally identical to Impervium. It has been inscribed with psychic runes in the Grue'tar language, which further reinforce its structure. It contains a psycho-reactive crystal, functionally identical to the substance known on Earth as "Daka Crystal," which focuses and amplifies the wielder's magical or psionic energy into a blade which appears with a thought and glows as brightly as the Sun. Like any other Grue'tar, Samak's physical healing ability comes from his shapeshifting, which in turn is merely an alternate manifestation of his psionic abilties. He uses telekinesis, consciously or reflexively, to re-arrange his own molecules. When Samak uses his bio-telekinetic shapeshifting ability, his flesh ripples like water and molds itself like soft clay. The "clothes" he creates with his Morph ability are analogous to human hair and fingernails. They grow from his body, but they are mostly dead, and can be painlessly shed like a reptile's skin once their usefulness had ended. Even in his native form, his eyes tend to glow slightly, and both his eyes and skin tend to change color in reaction to his emotional state. If his shapeshifting requires him to gain or lose mass, then he expends psionic energy to fuel mitosis of his own cells, or he consumes his own cells to gain psionic energy. One half of the Grue'tar brain is "asleep" at any given point in time, allowing them to stay awake all the time. Most Grue'tar use the time that other creatures spend sleeping to join the shared psychic link with the rest of their race, or to reflect upon the experiences captured in their memory stones. The Grue'tar share their red-skinned brethren's ability to drain neural energy, but they abandoned this trait as a "food" source long ago, preferring to only use it as a weapon or interrogation device against other races. Instead, they used their shapeshifting abilities to become photosynthetic. They absorb ultraviolet rays from the stars in the sky. In turn, they developed the ability to see ultraviolet light, so that they could better keep track of their "food source," and so that they could function on a rogue planet with no "sunrise," only an enternal starry night. HISTORY Eons ago, the Grue of a single star system in the Empire managed to break free from the grasp of the Meta-Mind. These rogue Grue fled the Milky Way galaxy, eventually settling on a rogue planet in the (relatively) neighboring Andromeda. They christened this planet "Gruen'tass," The New World of The Free People, and re-christened themselves the "Grue'tar," or "Free People." They even changed the pigmentation of their own flesh and blood, to distinguish themselves from their former oppressor. (Other races who deal with them often refer to them as "Blue Grue," though never while the Grue'tar are present.) Out from under the Meta-Mind's control, the Grue'tar developed a new culture, emphasizing a balance between the collective good and the individual desires and sense of self. Every Grue'tar works toward the greater good of their people, but in their own chosen way, and not at the expense of their individuality. Instead, the people use their innate psionic powers to regularly create a temporary, voluntary communal psychic link with each other, renewing their connection to one another and drawing on each others strength. Outside of the link, every Grue'tar is encouraged to develop their own aptitudes, personality, and appearance. Unfortunately for their new neighbors, the Grue'tar grew just as expansionist and xenophobic as the Grue Empire they fled. Acting partially out of fear and greed, and partially out of a misguided, patronizing desire to "protect" the "lesser races" (both from outside threats and from their own inferior selves), the Grue'tar established an interstellar "Protectorate." In practice, the "mind-blind solids" are alternately exploited and ignored more than they are "protected" or "nurtured," and most of them were not given the choice of whether or not to "join" in the first place. Jol-Kroom Samak was a member of the Inquisition, the primary investigative body of the Protectorate government. He had a natural talent for investigation, both forensic and psychic, impeccable integrity, and an innate desire to help and protect those weaker and less fortunate than himself. There was no doubt in anyone's mind that he would bring great honor and glory to his family and race. It came as an unprecedented shock when he proved everyone wrong by betraying that family, that race, and everything they stood for. Samak's brother, Jol-Kroom Serta, had secured a position at the right hand of Karloom, the Gruetar governor of the Sobann system. The natives of Sobann had formed a rebellion against Gruetar rule, but the Sobann system contained rich deposits of the psychically reactive minerals humans call "Daka crystals," which were vital to Grue'tar technology. That technology was far superior to anything to which the Sobann natives had access, but like any other race, their numbers were superior to those of the chronically infertile Grue'tar. Even with psychically-controlled robot legions bolstering the Grue'tar numbers, the Sobann rebels were slowly but surely winning the war. Samak was called in to find out why, selected both because of his familial connection and his exceptional competence. It was those very qualities which made it so surprising when Samak, bribed and seduced by one of the rebel leaders, betrayed and murdered both of his fellow Grue'tar, leading directly to the Grue'tar loss of control over the Sobann system. Conflict and violence between Grue'tar was a taboo, but as with any other race made up of individuals, it did happen. Treason against the Protectorate was another matter. And violence between family members, in a race where the most exceptionally fecund of mated pairs might have a handful of children in a millenium, was almost unthinkable. By killing his brother and dishonoring himself, Samak wiped out the entire next generation of the Jol-Kroom family in one moment. As if his actions were not already horrifying enough, Samak even used his psionic powers to rip Serta and Karloom's imprints free from their memory stones. Their accumulated memories could not even be uploaded to the psychic Grue'tar gestalt. No one would ever benefit from their experiences; it would almost be as if they had never existed. Despite his efforts to cover up his obscene crimes, Samak was caught, and returned to Gruen'tass for judgement. Since his actions were so unprecedentedly vile, a full investigation was conducted. But all mind probes, and all examinations of both his memory stone and what little physical evidence remained, confirmed Samak's confession. It was decided that death was not punishment enough for his actions. Instead, Samak was condemned to The Void (known to humans as "the Zero Zone"). He would drift forever, unable to die, and cut off from the nourishing union with the minds of his fellow Grue'tar. They even sent him with his memory stone and his star sword, so that he could not lose himself in madness, and to emphasize the hopelessness of his situation by showing him how useless his powers and weapons would be from that day forward. It was only after he had been cast into The Void, only after he accessed the true memory stone he had hidden inside his own body, that Samak remembered what truly happened. Samak did learn the truth behind the success of the Sobann rebellion, when Karloom's mercenaries captured Thorgav, one of the Sobann rebel leaders. To spare Thorgav from interrogation and torture, Serta set her free, killing Karloom in the process. It had been Serta who was been feeding information to the Sobann rebels and sabotaging the Grue'tar conquest. Serta had fallen in love with Thorgav, and through his repeated telepathic connections with her, he had been swayed to her cause. Samak shared his brother's capacity for compassion, even for mind-blind solids, and did not personally approve of the treatment of the Sobann at the hands of the Grue'tar. He was fiercely loyal to his brother. He never would have committed his brother's treason, but he resolved to take the blame for it, and build a new life for his brother outside the Protectorate. It was indeed Samak who had cleansed the memory stones, but he did not murder his brother. (He did slice off his brother's arm, so that the Inquisition would assume he had killed Serta, but it grew back.) He used his psionic powers to erase his brother's very memory of being a Grue'tar, instead convincing both him and Thorgav that he was a Sobann mutant, fabricating for him an entire new life entrenched in the Sobann rebellion. After backing up his memories of the truth in a secret memory stone, he even seized control of his brother's mental powers and used them like a tool to perform psychic surgery on himself, replacing his own memories of the true events with his fiction of treason and murder. (Had the other Grue'tar known of his feat, they would have been as impressed as they were horrified.) Samak did not ask permission from Serta or his lover before altering their memories and setting them loose upon their new lives. He simply made the decision, and acted upon it, in typical Grue'tar fashion. Samak spent a century floating through the physical and psychic isolation of the Zero Zone, and the experience almost broke him. The Terminus Invasion of Earth in 1993 weakened dimensional barriers all across the multiverse, and created a crack in the Zero Zone which Samak was able to slip through. When he was finally free, dumped into the Milky Way, he unleashed a psychic scream which echoed throughout that galaxy and its neighbors, including the Magellanic Clouds...and Andromeda. Not every magically or psionically active individual felt it, but many of them did. The Grue'tar seers were alerted to the fact that the Great Traitor had escaped his prison, and the Grue Meta-Mind was alerted to the return of one of its wayward children. For the next couple of decades, Samak wandered around the Milky Way, acting as a private detective, bounty hunter, and mercenary, who specialized in rooting out and destroying Grue agents. Knowing firsthand the paranoia the Grue inspire, he made sure to guard his true nature carefully (with memory wipes, if necessary), and to never stay in one place for long. He worked off and on for both the Lor Republic and the Stellar Khanate. His attention was recently drawn to Earth by the Grue Empire's repeated invasion attempts. The more he learned, or tried to learn, about the pale blue dot at the edge of the spiral, the more it intrigued him. It was listed as a “nature preserve†and “developing world,†hardly worthy of mention, yet almost all information about it was classified “Top Secret†by the Lor government. After studying what little information he could acquire (not all of it acquired "legitimately"), Samak decided to adopt the appearance and methods of a "superhero," so as to better blend in. On his own world, he had been known as an “Inquisitor,†but on Earth, he would adopt a more benign title for one who brings secrets to light and finds that which is lost or hidden: “Inspector.†PERSONALITY & MOTIVATION Samak is only starting to realize that he embodies one of the worst flaws of his species. His compassion and his thirst for justice are formidable, but they is tangled up with a subtly patronizing lack of respect for the ability of others to make their own decisions. His solution for his brother's situation may have ultimately been the best one, but he didn't bother to ask for his brother's input before altering the path of his entire life. Some people may come to trust him, but first he'll have to give them the chance to, instead of deciding for them that they're better off not remembering him at all. He was alone for so long that he has forgotten how to not be alone. His manner tends to be laconic and reserved; most of the time, he prefers to avoid notice. He is a scholar at heart, and an appeal to his inquisitive mind is probably the key to drawing him out. POWERS & TACTICS Samak is a surgeon, not a blunt instrument. He prefers to observe the unfolding situation from concealment, and then to strike suddenly at one critical moment or one key foe to turn the tide of the entire battle. He is pragmatic and flexible, altering his tactics (and his own body) to match his foe or the terrain, engaging them at range or in melee, with his sword or his mind, whichever approach will exploit his foe's weakness and maximize his own advantage. COMPLICATIONS Alien: Samak is an alien in every sense of the word. He is subject to all of the usual inherent Complications of being a stranger in a strange land. He has only a passing familiarity with the people of Earth or their customs. However, because of his Disability (Grue) drawback, he should not gain any Hero Points for being considered a "Grue" for the purposes of certain power effects. Enemies: Samak is a hated enemy of two entire races of people: The Grue Empire of the Milky Way, and the Grue'tar Protectorate of Andromeda, both of whom know that he has escaped from the Zero Zone into the Milky Way. Feedback: Samak already has this flaw on his Mind Reading powers, so he shouldn't get any Hero Points when it comes into play (either because the subject was hurt or because he accessed a particularly intense memory). But the potential exists for other powers, such as his Mind Control, Postcognition, and/or Precognition, to cause the same "Feedback." He could receive a Hero Point if, for example, a particularly intense or traumatic past or future event causes him physical Damage. Infamy: Grue are mind-altering, shape-shifting psychic vampires who have repeatedly tried to take over the world. They are walking paranoia fuel. Samak has no illusions about the reception he would receive from anyone familiar with his "cousins," no matter what color his skin happens to be. Mind Control: If the GM doesn't want a use of the Mind Control power to be an all-or-nothing proposition, they can give Samak a Hero Point and make the Mind Control work as a staged effect. Here is an example: STAGINGFail by 1+: Dazed (You can take no actions, but you suffer no defense penalties). Fail by 5+ (or Fail by 1+ twice): Compelled (You can take no actions, and your controller can force you to perform one standard or move action per round). Fail by 10+ (or Fail by 5+ twice): Controlled (You can take no actions, and your controller can force you to perform any actions, up to your usual allotment). Power Loss: Lead: Lead blocks Grue'tar mental powers, such as Mental Communication, ESP, Mind Control, and Mind Reading. The GM can give Samak a Hero Point when the subject he attempts to communicate with is on the other side of a lead barrier, or if he attempts to use his mental powers on a foe who is wearing a lead-lined mask or helmet. Star Sword: Obviously, since it receives the Device discount on the cost, Samak will not gain any Hero Points if his Star Sword is taken from him. It is Indestructible, so he should receive a Hero Point if it is damaged or destroyed. Since the strength of the blade (the ranks of the attack powers) varies from one wielder to another, a foe who steals it from him and uses it against him may give him a Hero Point by accessing a higher powe rank than Samak himself can. Alternately, a comrade could get a complication for not being able to access as many power ranks as Samak can. Zeroed: Samak has no legal identity, financial history, or even a consistent appearance. On paper, he doesn't exist anywhere. He does not enjoy the protections of any laws, and no one would miss him if he was abducted or murdered. ABILITIES: 0 + 0 + 4 + 10 + 10 + 0 = 24PP Strength: 10 (+0) Dexterity: 10 (+0) Constitution: 22/14 (+6/+2) Intelligence: 20 (+5) Wisdom: 20 (+5) Charisma: 10 (+0) COMBAT: 8 + 8 = 16PP Initiative: +9/+5 (+5 INT, +4 Enhanced Improved Initiative) Attack: +8/+4 Melee (+4 Base, +4 Enhanced Attack Focus), +4 Ranged, +10 Telekinesis Grapple: +8/+4, +14 Telekinesis Defense: +8/+4 (+4 Base, +4 Shield), +2 Flat-Footed Knockback: -6/-1 SAVING THROWS: 1 + 4 + 2 = 7PP Toughness: +6/+2 (+6/+2 Con [impervious 6/0]) Fortitude: +7/+3 (+6/+2 Con, +1PP) Reflex: +8/+4 (+0 Dex, +4PP, +4 Enhanced Reflex) Will: +7 (+5 Wis, +2PP) SKILLS: 56R = 14PP Concentrate 5 (+10)2nd Chance Disguise 0 (+0, up to +25 with Morph and/or Shapeshift) Investigate 10 (+15)Skill Mastery Knowledge (Galactic) 5 (+10, +15 Gruetar [Native]) Languages 6 (English, Galstandard, Grue, Gruetar [Native], Lor, Mandarin, Zultan) Notice 10 (+15)Skill Mastery Search 10 (+15)Skill Mastery Sense Motive 10 (+15)Skill Mastery FEATS: 16PP Attack Specialization (Star Sword) (+2 Attack) Attack Specialization (Telekinesis) 3 (+6 Attack) Benefit (Native [Gruetar]) Favored Enemy 2 (Psions, Shapeshifters) Jack of All Trades Move-By Action Precise Telekinesis Second Chance (Concentrate) Skill Mastery (Investigate, Notice, Search, Sense Motive) Speed of Thought Takedown Attack 2 Ultimate Save (Will) Enhanced Feats Attack Focus (Melee) 4 Elusive Target Evasion Improved Initiative Quick Draw POWERS: 17 + 8 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 2 + 3 + 3 + 18 + 29 + 1 + 10 + 6 + 8 + 1 = 112PP Device 5 (25PP Container [Passive, Permanent], Flaws: Easy-To-Lose, Feats: Indestructible, Restricted [Mages, Psions], Descriptors: Star Sword) [17PP] Environment Control 1 (5ft radius, Light [Daylight], Extras: Action 2 [Free], Flaws: Range [Touch], Descriptors: Glowing Blade, Psionic Energy) [3PP] Psionic Energy Blade 10 (20PP Array, Feats: Alternate Power 2) [22PP] Base Power: [13 + 7 = 20PP]Strike 6 (Extras: Linked [Trip], Feats: Critical Strike, Improved Critical, Knockback 6 [DMG 12], Drawbacks: Inaccurate [-2 Attack], Descriptors: Blue Blade, Telekinetic Energy) [13PP] Trip 6 (Extras: Knockback, Linked , Flaws: Range [Touch], Feats: Improved Throw) [7PP] Alternate Power: [14 + 6 = 20PP] Drain Toughness 6 (Extras: Affects Objects, Linked , Feats: Critical Strike, Improved Critical, Slow Fade [1 minute], Drawbacks: Inaccurate [-2 Attack], Descriptors: Red Blade, Telekinetic Energy) [14PP] Strike 6 (Extras: Linked [Drain], Feats: Incurable, Drawbacks: Lethal) [6PP] Alternate Power: [8 + 12 = 20PP] Drain Will 6 (Extras: Alternate Save [Will], Linked , Feats: Critical Strike, Improved Critical, Slow Fade [1 minute], Drawbacks: Inaccurate [-2 Attack], Descriptors: Telepathic Energy, Violet Blade) [8PP] Strike 6 (Extras: Alternate Save [Will], Linked [Drain]) [12PP] Enhanced Constitution 8 (Descriptors: Alien Physiology, Bio-Telekinesis, Regeneration, Shapeshifting) [8PP] Features 1 (Memory Stone, Descriptors: Daka Crystal, Device) [1PP] A magically or psionically active character can make a DC15 Concentrate check to store their memories inside this crystal, or to experience the memories already stored within. At the GM's discretion, the character may be able to gain one or more benefits of the Eidetic Memory feat. At the GM's discretion, a character with the right descriptor can also make a DC20 power check to erase the stored memories.Features 2 (Internal Compartment, Two-Thumbed Hands [+5 circumstance bonus to resist Disarm attempts], Descriptors: Alien Physiology, Bio-Telekinesis, Shapeshifting) [2PP] Immunity 6 (Interaction Skills, Starvation/Thirst, Flaws: Limited [1/2 Effect, Starvation but not Thirst], Descriptors: Alien Physiology [starvation], Mental, Psionic, Psychic, Telepathy [interaction]) [3PP] Immunity 2 (Aging, Sleep, Descriptors: Alien Physiology, Bio-Telekinesis, Regeneration, Shapeshifting) [2PP] Impervious Toughness 6 (Drawbacks: Power Loss 3 [Acid, Corrosion/Disintegrate, or Fire Damage], Descriptors: Alien Physiology, Bio-Telekinesis, Regeneration, Shapeshifting) [3PP] Probability Control 1 (Flaws: Limited 2 [Telekinesis Attack checks], Feats: Innate, Descriptors: Telekinetic Supremacy, Training) [3PP] Psionic Combat 8 (16PP Array, Feats: Subtle, Variable Descriptor [Dodge, Illusion, Parry, Precognition, Telekinesis, and/or Telepathy]) [18PP] Base Power:Enhanced Feats 8 (Attack Focus [Melee] 4, Elusive Target, Evasion, Improved Initiative, Quick Draw, Extras: Linked [Enhanced Reflex, Shield]) [8PP] Enhanced Reflex 4 (Extras: Linked [Enhanced Feats, Shield]) [4PP] Shield 4 (Extras: Linked [Enhanced Feats, Enhanced Reflex]) [4PP] Psionics 10 (20PP Array, Feats: Alternate Power 9) [29PP] Base Power: [18 + 2 = 20PP]Drain 6 (All Abilities At Once, Extras: Linked [Healing], Flaws: Limited [Mental Abilities], Feats: Insidious, Precise, Reversible, Slow Fade [1 minute], Subtle 2, Descriptors: Mental, Neural Energy Siphon, Psychic, Telepathic) [18PP] Healing 1 (Extras: Action [standard], Linked [Drain], Total, Flaws: Personal, Source [Drain]) [2PP] Alternate Power: Blast 4 (Feats: Improved Range 3 [1 400ft Range Increment], Indirect 3, Knockback 4 [DMG 8], Subtle, Variable Descriptor [Telekinetic Energy or Thrown Object], Descriptors: Telekinesis) [20PP] Alternate Power: Concealment 10 (All Senses, Flaws: Saving Throw [Will], Feats: Progression [Counter Rank / Save DC] 2 [Rank 12 / DC22], Descriptors: Mental, Mind Control ["Do Not See Me, Do Not Remember Me"], Psychic, Telepathy) [12PP] Alternate Power: Mind Control 6 (Extras: Conscious, Penetrating [4, Rank 10], Sensory Link, Flaws: Range 2 [Touch], Feats: Extended Reach [10ft], Mental Link, Subtle 2, Descriptors: Mental, Psychic, Telepathy) [20PP] Alternate Power: Morph 4 (Any Form, +20 Disguise, Extras: Duration [Continuous], Feats: Additional Sense Types 2 [Olfactory, Radio], Quick Change 2, Descriptors: Bio-Telekinesis, Shapeshifting) [20PP] Alternate Power: Move Object 4 (Lifting STR 20 [Heavy Load: 400 lbs.], Extras: Damaging, Feats: Improved Range 3 [1 400ft Range Increment], Improvised Tools, Indirect 3, Subtle, Descriptors: Telekinesis) [20PP] Alternate Power: Stun 6 (Extras: Penetrating [4, Rank 10], Sleep, Feats: Extended Reach [10ft], Reversible, Subtle 2, Descriptors: Mind Control ["Sleep"], Psychic, Telepathy) [20PP] Alternate Power: Transform 16 (Memory Alteration, Extras: Alternate Save [Will], Duration [Continuous / Lasting], Flaws: Action [Full], Range [Touch], Feats: Extended Reach [10ft], Precise, Subtle 2, Descriptors: Mental, Mind Control, Psychic, Telepathy) [20PP] Alternate Power: [5 + 2 + 6 + 6 + 1 = 20PP] Communication 1 (Mental, Extras: Linked [Comprehend], Feats: Rapid 5 [x100,000], Subtle, Drawbacks: Not Two-Way, Range [Touch], Descriptors: Mental, Psychic, Telepathy) [5PP] Comprehend 1 (Languages 1 [speak Any], Extras: Linked [Communication]) [2PP] Mind Reading 16 (Extras: Action [standard/Move], Linked [super-Senses], Flaws: Duration [instant / Lasting], Feedback, Range 2 [Touch], Feats: Subtle 2, Descriptors: Mental, Psychic, Telepathy) [6PP] Super-Senses 6 (Detect Minds [Mental, Very Common Descriptor], Extras: Acute, Analytical, Linked [Mind Reading], Radius) [6PP] Super-Senses 1 (Analytical Detect Thoughts, Extras: Linked [Mind Reading]) [1PP] Alternate Power: [9 + 2 + 6 + 2 = 19PP] Communication 12 (Mental, 20,000,000 miles, Extras: Linked [Comprehend, Mind Reading, Super-Senses], Flaws: Limited [Not Two-Way], Feats: Insidious, Rapid [x10], Subtle, Descriptors: Mental, Psychic, Telepathy) [9PP] Comprehend 1 (Languages 1 [speak Any], Extras: Linked [Communication, Mind Reading, Super-Senses]) [2PP] Mind Reading 12 (Extras: Action 2 [Free], Mental, Linked [Communication, Comprehend, Super-Senses], Sensory Link, Flaws: Communication-Dependent, Duration [instant / Lasting], Feedback, Limited [surface Thoughts]) [6PP] Super-Senses 2 (Accurate Detect Thoughts, Extras: Linked [Communication, Comprehend, Mind Reading]) [2PP] Regeneration 3 (Recovery Rate 3: Bruised 3 [1/round, no rest], Feats: Regrowth, Drawbacks: Power Loss 3 [Acid, Corrosion/Disintegration, and Fire Damage is all considered Incurable], Descriptors: Bio-Telekinesis, Shapeshifting) [1PP] Shapeshift 1 (+5 Disguise, 5PP Variable Pool, Any Trait, Multiple Traits At Once, Extras: Action 2 [Free], Duration [Continuous], Flaws: Limited [Physical Traits], Descriptors: Bio-Telekinesis) [10PP] SAMPLE CONFIGURATIONS: Super-Senses 6 (Detect Thoughts [Mental, Very Common Descriptor], Extras: Acute, Radius, Ranged, Descriptors: Mental, Psionic, Psychic, Telepathy) [6PP] Super-Senses 8 (Danger Sense [Mental], Postcognition [Flaws: Uncontrolled], Precognition [Flaws: Uncontrolled], Psionic Awareness [Mental, Common Descriptor], Uncanny Dodge [Mental], Descriptors: Mental, Psionic, Psychic, Telepathy) [8PP] Super-Senses 1 (Ultravision, Descriptors: Alien Physiology) [1PP] DRAWBACKS: (-1) + (-2) + (-1) + (-1) + (-1) + (-2) + (-1) = -9PP Disability (Counts as a Grue, Frequency: Uncommon, Intensity: Minor) [-1PP] Disability (Fear: If the character is targeted by a Grue Mental effect, a Mind Control effect, or a Mental Transform effect, then in addition to saving against that effect, the character must save against an Emotion Control [Fear] effect of the same power rank, Frequency: Uncommon, Intensity: Moderate) [-2PP] Vulnerability (Acid Effects, Frequency: Uncommon, Intensity: Minor [+1 DC]) [-1PP] Vulnerability (Alteration Effects, Frequency: Uncommon, Intensity: Minor [+1 DC]) [-1PP] Vulnerability (Corrosion/Disintegration Effects, Frequency: Uncommon, Intensity: Minor [+1 DC]) [-1PP] Vulnerability (Fire Effects, Frequency: Common, Intensity: Minor [+1 DC]) [-2PP] Vulnerability (Grue Mental Effects, Frequency: Uncommon, Intensity: Minor [+1 DC]) [-1PP] Totals: Abilities (24) + Combat (16) + Saving Throws (7) + Skills (14) + Feats (16) + Powers (112) - Drawbacks (9) = 180/181 Power Points DC BLOCK: ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT UNARMED TOUCH DC15 TOUGHNESS (STAGED) DAMAGE (PHYSICAL) BLUE BLADE TOUCH DC21 TOUGHNESS (STAGED) DAMAGE (ENERGY) STR/DEX CHECK VS +6 PRONE, KNOCKBACK RED BLADE TOUCH DC21 FORTITUDE (STAGED) DRAIN TOUGHNESS DC21 TOUGHNESS (STAGED) DAMAGE (ENERGY, LETHAL) VIOLET BLADE TOUCH DC21 WILL (STAGED) DRAIN WILL DC21 WILL (STAGED) DAMAGE (ENERGY) BLAST RANGED DC19 TOUGHNESS (STAGED) DAMAGE (ENERGY OR PHYSICAL) DRAIN TOUCH DC16 WILL (STAGED) DRAIN ALL MENTAL ABILITIES MOVE OBJECT RANGED DC19 TOUGHNESS (STAGED) DAMAGE (ENERGY) MOVE OBJECT RANGED GRAPPLE CHECK VS +14 PINNED/BOUND CONCEALMENT PERSONAL DC22 WILL TOTAL CONCEALMENT, ALL SENSES MIND CONTROL TOUCH 10FT WILL vs +6 (STAGED) CONTROLLED MIND READING TOUCH WILL vs +16 MIND READING MIND READING PERCEPTION WILL VS +12 MIND READING (SURFACE THOUGHTS) MIND READING EXTENDED WILL VS +12 MIND READING (SURFACE THOUGHTS) STUN TOUCH 10FT DC16 WILL (STAGED) DAZED/STUNNED/ASLEEP TRANSFORM TOUCH 10FT DC26 WILL TRANSFORMED (MEMORY)

Miss Grue Power Level: 10/15 (214/250 PP) Trade-Offs: None Unspent Power Points: 36 In Brief: A teenage rogue Grue who is enjoying everything that Earth has to offer. Alternate Identity: Daphne Celeste Identity: Secret Birthplace: Deep Space Occupation: Student at Burroughs Community College Affiliations: None Family: Meta-Mind (Gene father, distant), Mother Unit Description: Age: 16 (DoB: 1999) Gender: None, has chosen female form Ethnicity: Grue, appears Latina Height: 5'5 as Daphne Weight: 120 lbs as Daphne Eyes: White normally, Brown as Daphne Hair: Black In her naturall form, Daphne appears mostly like a typical member of her species through her years travelling through space and her unusual "upbringing" have made a few changes. Even in her Grue forms, she appears as a though a teenage girl, her Mother Unit always wanted a daughter, and she keeps her long black hair. Whilst she can assume the "natural" Grue form it's not what she considers normal and if her powers are ever neutralized she defaults to her teenage Grue form. In her normal disguise of Daphne, she has constructed the identity of what she considers the typical American teenager. Unfortunately, as all she has known is from teen drama; she looks like she has stepped from hours of make-up and wardrobe. She still hasn't quite worked out why her "average" looks seem to draw her so much attention. Daphne costume is the jumpsuit that was store in the ship as the normal uniform of Grue troopers, designed to shift and alter with the Grue own shapechanging ability. With a little help from Mother Unit she has altered the jumpsuit to better suit her needs. It now appears as a mostly white Jumpsuit with black around the arms and legs with a three-pronged star on the chest. In her natural form, Mother Unit is a large oval spheroid around the size of a small car with a silver yet un-reflective skin. The interior consists of just a crash couch and a bank of monitors whilst the inner working, anti-grav warp drive etc, a located in a small pocket dimension. Mother Unit herself is a cube of mat black material around 12 ft (4 m) in size. The ship has currently been carefully hidden away for the time when she is needed, though Daphne visits it daily just to say hi. Power Descriptions: As her genetic material is that of a Grue she has been engineered with all the normal abilities of telepathy and shapeshifting. However as her experience in her shapeshifting is limited she cannot do the full range of abilities, instead she has learned a number of trick’s that she can do with her body. Her exposure to cosmic ray'shave somehow allowed her to make her body porous to all wavelengths of light. This allows her to either blend into the background or even become insubstantial. History: The history of Daphne starts, like many Grue, with one of their many attempts of conquests of the Orion-Cygnus Arm of the Milky Way. The Grue ship carrying a number of birthing pods was attacked and destroyed in Deep Space scattering it's cargo to the four (solar) winds. Mother Unit wasn't activated at the time so neither knew who their assailants were, though this area of space is under the protection of the Lor. Daphne was designated as an infiltration unit and her birthing pod primary mission was to gather information on the target to allow the Grue inside to better infiltrate the targeted civilization, as well as educate them on the basic’s of Grue culture. Damaged in the assault the birthing pod still managed to lock onto a Grue signal and began to make its way towards the signal at its best speed. As it travelled it attempted to repair it primary databanks using the information provided in the signal. However, in this state it mistook the local broadcast’s for part of the Grue data transmission so began to incorporate them into the educational database. So Daphne was raised on the transmission beamed into space from Earth thinking for all the worlds that this was the culture that she had to integrate with and learn it's way as well as learn an important lesson about how best to live her life. Being so far from any other Grue Daphne was never linked to the Grue collective and developed independently from the baleful influence of the Meta-Mind. Also, Mother Unit shielding was damaged and Daphne was exposed to extra Cosmic radiation which altered her body structure allowing her to alter its density and solidness. Somehow the Pod, who for the last sixteen year insisted Daphne called it Mother Unit, managed to land outside Freedom City without detection. With Mother Unit's highly advanced computer skill they carefully constructed identity sure to fit into normal society. The Grue teen, possibly the first of her kind, enrolled in the Burrough’s Community College to better learn about this wonderful planet that was now her home. She is planning to surprise her "Uncle" Pseudo with a visit but she wants to surprise him and prove that she could get herself settled into her new life all by herself. And there was no doubt that she would use her natural abilities to help defend the people of her home, that was naturally what people did when they were gifted with such things. It helped that she enjoyed helping people so much, it didn’t seem so much as a challenge as the educational database made it out to be. Personality & Motivation: Daphne strides through the world with a wide-eyed wonder at all the amazing things that she sees. She knows that there are injustice and inequality in the world but she believes that if everyone could just sit down and talk thing out people could sort all this out. Even in the darkest of time, she keeps her optimism that things will work out for the best and will never give up when the situation gets dire. Powers & Tactics: In her enthusiasm, Daphne tends to go off half-cocked spending no time assessing the situation instead rushing into danger to try and help people as quickly as she can. She will attempt to use her limited form of shifting abilities to best cope with the situation in hand. Complications: Grue are you? Daphne knowledge of her own species is based on a very damaged copy of the original database contained in Mother Unit. As such, she knows almost nothing, apart from the media’s portrayal of them, about her own species. Grue the looking glass Almost all of Daphne's knowledge about Earth come from humanities broadcasts into space. As such her knowledge is slightly skewed and she expects life to behave just how she had experience thing from watching television and movies. Hide and Grue Daphne know that as a Superhero it is her duty to preserve her secret identity to protect her loved one. Not that her strange habit’s make this easy sometimes. Grue the best Daphne is a natural optimist and naive and tend to naturally assume that people are telling her the truth. Even when all evidence should be telling her the exact opposite. Congrueity: Shapeshifters and Grue especially are feared and hated by a majority of citizens of Freedom City. Daphne feels that this is just a massive misunderstanding and everything would be fine if only she could explain things to them. Mothering Grue: During her time in space the Birthing Unit, now calling herself Mother Unit, has gained some unusual habit's based on the broadcasts she has monitored. She considers herself Daphne's literal mother and occasional will intervene of she consider that her daughter has been placed in to much danger. The GM can take control of Mother Unit to try and influence Daphne's actions or even attempt to stop her acting. Abilities: 4 + 0 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 6 = 18PP Strength: 14/301,2 (+2/+10) Dexterity: 10 (+0) Constitution: 14/22 (+2/+6) Intelligence: 12 (+1) Wisdom: 12 (+1) Charisma: 16 (+3) 1 - Growth, 2 - Increased Density Combat: 12 + 12 = 24PP Initiative: +4 Attack: Normal +6 base +11 unarmed Growth +4 base +9 unarmed Dense +5 base +11 unarmed Shrunk +7 base +13 unarmed Grapple: Normal +8, Elongated +20 , Grown +22, Dense +18, Shrunk +0 Defense: Normal/Dense +10 (+6 base +4 Dodge Focus) +3 Flat-Footed Grown +8 (+6 Base +4 Dodge Focus -2 Size) +2 Flat-Footed Shrunk +12 (+6 Base, +4 Dodge Focus, +2 Size) +4 Flat-Footed Knockback: Normal -3 Growth -13 Dense -9 Shrunk -1 Saving Throws: 6 + 7 + 8 = 21PP Toughness: +6/+10 (+2 Con, + 4 Protection, +4 Growth/Density [impervious 4]) Fortitude: +8/+12 (+2/+6 Con, +6) Reflex: +7 (+0 Dex, +7) Will: +9 (+1 Wis, +8) Skills: 108R = 27PP Bluff 12 (+15) Concentration 19 (+20) Diplomacy 12 (+15) Gather Information 12 (+15) Knowledge (Popular Culture) 14 (+15) Language 3 (Grue [Native], English, Spanish, Galactic) Notice 14 (+15) Search 9 (+10) Sense Motive 13 (+14) Feats: 27PP Attack Focus (melee) Attack Specialization 2 (Unarmed Attack) Dodge Focus 4 Equipment (Birthing Unit) 11 Fearless Improved Initiative Minion (Mother Unit) 6 Second Chance (Concentrate) Powers: 7 + 4 + 4 + 30 + 11 + 14 + 5 + 9 + 8 + 5 = 97PP Communication 7 (Telepathy, 200 miles) [7PP] Comprehend 2 (Languages Speak and Understand) [4 PP] Concealment 4 (all visual senses Flaw: Blending) [4PP] Grue Nature 12 (24 PP, Feats: Alternative Power 6) [30PP] Base Power: Insubstantial 4 (Incorporeal) [20PP] + Flight 2 (speed 25mph, 220 ft/rnd) [4PP] [24PP] Alternate Power: Additional Limbs 3 (up to 5 limbs, Grapple +3; Feats: Improved Grapple) [4PP] + Elongation 9 (2,500 ft reach, 90 ft range inc., Grapple & Escape Artist +9; Extras: Duration [Continuous]) [18PP] [22PP] Alternate Power: Density 8 (+16 Str, +4 Tou, Weight x5 (600 lbs), Immovable 2, Super-Strength 2 [3 tns]) [24PP] Alternate Power: Growth 8 (+16 Str, +8 Con, +2 Size (15 ft)) [24PP] Alternate Power: Morph 8 (Any form, +40 Disguise) [24PP] Alternate Power: Super-Senses 23 (Feats: Accurate (Hearing, Smell), Acute (Smell), Analytical (Smell),Darkvision, Direction Sense, Extended 3 (2 miles increments Vision, Hearing, Smell), Infravisoin, Low-Light Vision, Sonar) [24PP] Alternate Power: Shrinking 11 (-2 Size [2 ft, 8 lbs], Grapple -8, Stealth +8, Intimidate -4 Extra: Normal Strength Feats: Normal Movement, Normal Toughness) [24PP] Immunity 11 (Life Support, Sleep, Starvation & Thirst) [11PP] Mind Reading 12 (Feat: Subtle 2) [14PP] Protection 5 [5PP] Power of the Mind 4 (8PP, Feats: Alternative Power 1) [9PP] Base Power: Telekinesis 4 (Range 40 ft, Effective Strength 20 (800lbs)) [9PP] Alternative Power: Flight 4 (speed 100mph, 880 ft/rnd) [9PP] Super-Sense 6 (Detect MInds [Mental], Accurate, Acute, Radius, Ranged) [8PP] Super-Sense 3 (Detect Emotions [Mental], Acute, Radius, Ranged) [5PP] DC Block ATTACK ATT RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed (basic) +11 Touch DC 17 Toughness (Staged) Damage Physical Unarmed (density) +11 Touch DC 25 Toughness (Staged) Damage Physical Unarmed (growth) +9 Touch DC 25 Toughness (Staged) Damage Physical Unarmed (shrinking) +13 Touch DC 17 Toughness (Staged) Damage Physical Mind Reading auto Perception DC 22 Willpower Mind Probed Totals: Abilities (18) + Combat (24) + Saving Throws (21) + Skills (27) + Feats (27) + Powers (97) - Drawbacks (0) = 214/250 Power Points

With the heroes and two-thirds of the ship's complement beamed down into the heart of the Curator's central control room, it was just Jill and Vrix-117, and of course Quickstep as well. Vrix wasn't as talkative as Samran or Shepard, and admitted that as she showed Jill how to read the panels that showed everyone's life readings inside the Curator's construct. "Commander's tactical, Shepard's science, but I'm more engineering. I mostly keep the ship running while they're on missions." Vrix had removed her helmet too, revealing bronze skin and hair as red as a lollipop. "I...oh!" she pointed as one of the wall panels lit up to reveal a flash of light from the distant perimeter of the ringworld, a silvery saucer ship flying through the gap. "I don't know that design, but they're not local. Hang on." She tapped a button on the panel in front of her, then shook her head. "Damn. I can't reach the commander, but I got a tachyon squirt out to the fleet. They'll be sending reinforcements. Friends of yours?" she asked, cocking her head Jill's way. Dorothy peered at the screen and said, "Looks just like a flying saucer from the movies!" - The saucer erupted into the Curator's system as it dropped from FTL, spilling a wash of tachyons and neutrinos along with a spray of visible light. They were between the ringworld's star and its structure, and for a moment the sheer size of the magnificent construction, known to be one of the largest structures in the Milky Way, filled the scanners of the ship. Thanks to the Curator's famous paranoia, it had been a long, long time indeed since anyone had ever gotten this close. 'Beneath' them was an ocean big enough to swallow multiple Earths, a storm playing across it that could have covered the entire planet, with distant shores visible even to the naked eye beyond before the ring curved away into invisibility. Trillions of people were down there, living their lives, perhaps never knowing about the Curator. Above them, close to the star, hung a black sphere the size of the Earth's moon, part of the circle of rotating black squares the size of planets themselves that made day and night for the people below. It was the central control unit of the entire structure, the geniuses aboard could tell at a glance. And inside that sphere, somewhere, was Steve. And attached to the side, visible as they got closer and closer, was a white pod the computer recognized as a Lor military vessel.

The Freedom City Medical Center was seen as a safe haven to many before the announcement earlier today. Its staff was measured in the thousands and had state of the art medical equipment; there was no where in the world where you could get better attention. As violence swept the streets, the hospital was soon filled to the point of breaking. Now if Atlas's threat comes to pass, the hospital could very well turn into a feeding ground with a death toll measured in the thousands.