Search the Community

The Red Rat (PL 9) Power Level: 9/15 (250/250 PP) [253] Unspent Power Points: 0 Trade-Off: +4 Attack / -4 DC, +4 Defence, -4 Toughness In Brief: Mutant Super Spy with Soviet Computer in her head. Alternate Identity: Noemi Von Neumann Birthplace: Budapest, Hungary Residence: Freedom City Occupation: Taxi Driver Affiliations: None Family: None (Alive) Description: Age: 70 (Cryogenically frozen for decades) Apparent Age: 25 Gender: Female Ethnicity: Height: 5’8” Weight: 70Kgs Eyes: Green Hair: Blonde Noemi has a Slavic look, with chiselled features. It is not immediately apparent, but her body is in phenomenal shape. Her musculature is well developed. She usually wears glasses and has her hair up, and somehow nobody recognises her as the Red Rat...?! The Red Rat wears close fitting grey spandex and a short Brown-Red Jacket with a Bright Red "Rat" Motif on the back. She carries two super-high tech pistols of Soviet Design. History: Noemi Von Neumann was born into a poor family in Budapest at the height of communist power. As a young woman, she was politically active, and soon joined the underground movement of artists, philosophers, and anarchists who wanted change. She studied a little, read a little, and shouted a lot. And she was caught. A few dozen radicals, including her, were used as human guinea pigs for the Soviets' Super Programme. They were exposed to the virus Darwin-X, a highly unstable and dangerous pathogen. Only Noemi survived. The virus had triggered off something in her, making her body evolve and adapt. Darwin-X was in almost all cases lethal, and if not, then dangerous. Only a few candidates were any good. The Red Rat only knows of herself, but there may have been others. Nicknamed the “Red Rat” (after a lab rat), she was brainwashed. A soviet computer system was installed in her skull, nicknamed “Slave”, complete with cybernetic eyes that replaced her own. The Slave System is advanced, but normal humans are unable to tolerate it. The Red Rat, with her adaptive genetics, was able to bond with it. Now an agent of the Soviet Union, she was put on cryo-stasis until she was needed for certain missions in Europe. Over the years she had been awakened a few dozen times, sometimes to upgrade Slave, sometimes to spy. When the Wall came crashing down, the unit handling her disbanded, and she was left for years, untended, unwatched, and asleep in a Berlin Cryo-unit deep underground, until a UNISON team found the old site and awakened her. Playing ball initially, the Red Rat soon went on the run. She had no wish to be anyone’s puppet anymore… Personality & Motivation: Noemi is an easy go lucky personality, who usually talks to her passengers when working, and loves hearing stories. She hits bars, coffee shops, and galleries in her free time, and hangs out with Artists, Poets, and Bohemians. She is basically a woman who likes standing up for, and helping people. However, she is also a militant believer in liberty, and not just in an abstract way. She may not be Patriotic, or Pro-American, but she will defend liberty with a real passion. When Devolved, the Red Rat becomes crude, unmannered, and simple, almost a feral thing. The Devolved Red Rat can be more caring and emotional, and believes itself to be a pure, spiritual thing, unfettered by modernity. It views Slave as a super smart God like figure in its head. Slave views it as an intolerable primitive. When Evolved, the Red Rat becomes egocentric and arrogant, believing itself to be the next stage of human evolution. It has a paternalistic but condescending view on primitive homo sapiens. It does its best to outwit Slave and is nasty to the system. Slave takes on an almost worshipful, sycophantic relationship to the Evolved Form. It is not clear if Slave is actually self-aware or just a very well programmed computer system. When the Red Rat is in her normal human form, it speaks to her obediently and mechanically, and keeps interjecting communist propaganda, almost like an information station. Powers & Tactics: The Red Rat is a mutant with the ability to adapt to the environment. A relatively minor power, it also allows her to “evolve” into a weedy but brainy form, or “devolve” into the mirror opposite. It has also allowed her to tolerate the cybernetic system in her head. This gives her advanced visual senses and tactical advice. She has pilfered two high – tech soviet pistols, snub nosed and sleek, that are activated by SLAVE. Whilst they can be destructive, they are spy pistols – firing knockout poison darts, EMP rounds, or non-lethal ammunition, all silently. The Red Rat is in excellent physical shape, partly as she recovers quickly from physical training. She is also an expert martial artist and markswoman, and a highly trained spy. Tactically, she will prefer guile and surprise to a straight up fight. Power Descriptions: The Red Rat's powers are largely unseen. However, when she makes her body adapt to hostile environments, this can be visible; for instance, growing fur, or gills. Her devolved form looks like a primitive Neanderthal, with a large muscular hairy frame and small forehead, whilst her evolved form looks the opposite: a feeble shrunken body and massively enlarged head. Complications: Outlaw: Technically, Noemi Von Neuman is an ex-Soviet Spy and wanted by UNISON for questioning. Slave? The Soviet Computer, in her head, may be called Slave, and may be under her control. Or it may not. Slave is programmed never to harm Russian / Soviet agents or government, and also to filter out (via her eyes), any capitalist propaganda (and replace it with Soviet style propaganda). Things might be invisible to her, or changed. If really pressed, Slave can completely blind Red. It might also be distracting, spouting communist propaganda at her at critical times. Slave could potentially be controlled by Soviet technology, or even hackers. Nuclear Mutations: Radiation sends her powers crazy. Aside from the loss of her mutant powers she can have all sorts of other problems, such as breaking out in green boils, or her mouth sealing over. Split Personality: In her devolved form, Red is crude, aggressive, and unsubtle. In her Evolved Form, Red is arrogant and aloof. Of course, both forms feel that their personality is best, and may be reluctant to change back to her normal form. She cannot sustain her evolved or devolved form indefinitely, fortunately. Taxi Driver: Noemi works for “EZ Cabs” with a hard nosed boss, “Easy Steve”. Easy Steve has plenty of enemies, and by default, so do his drivers. Empty Clip: Guns run out of bullets, even superior soviet guns with superior soviet bullets. Abilities: 6 + 12 + 10 + 6 + 2 + 6 = 42 Strength: 16 (+3) Dexterity: 22 (+6) Constitution: 20 (+5) Intelligence: 16 (+3) Wisdom: 12 (+1) Charisma: 16 (+3) Combat: 26 + 26 = 52 Initiative: +10 Attack: +13 Defense: +13, +7 Flat Footed Grapple: +19 Knockback: -2 Saving Throws: 7 + 4 + 5 = 16 Toughness: +5 Fortitude: +12 (+5 Con, +7) Reflex: +10 (+6 Dex, +4) Will: +6 (+1 Wis, +5) Skills: 120R = 30 PP Acrobatics 4 (+10) Skill Mastery Bluff 10 (+13) Computers 4 (+7) [14 (+17) Enhanced] Skill Mastery Diplomacy 4 (+7) Disable Device 4 (+7) Skill Mastery Disguise 4 (+7) (Additional +20 Morph) Skill Mastery Drive 4 (+10) Skill Mastery Gather Information 8 (+11) Intimidate 8 (+11) Knowledge (Behaviour Sciences) 4 (+7) Knowledge (Civics) 4 (+7) Knowledge (Current Events) 4 (+7) Knowledge (Streetwise) 4 (+7) Knowledge (Tactics) 4 (+7) [14 (+17) Enhanced] Language 6 (English, French, German, Hungarian [native], Mandarin, Russian, Spanish) Medicine 4 (+5) Skill Mastery Notice 8 (+9) Pilot 4 (+10) Skill Mastery Search 8 (+11) Sense Motive 8 (+9) Sleight of Hand 4 (+10) Skill Mastery Stealth 8 (+14) Feats: 45PP Ambidexterity Assessment Attractive Benefit 2 (Use Tactics for Master Plan, and to spot Ambush / Feint) Blind-Fight Chokehold Defensive Attack Elusive Target Equipment 15 Evasion 2 Favoured Opponent (Spies) Grappling Finesse Improved Critical 1 (Unarmed) Improved Disarm Improved Grab Improved Grapple Improved Initiative Improved Pin Improved Throw Improved Trip Jack of All Trades Master Plan Power Attack Quick Draw 1 (Draw Weapon) Set Up Skill Mastery 2 (Acrobatics, Computers, Disable Device, Disguise, Drive, Medicine, Pilot, Sleight of Hand) Takedown Attack 1 Uncanny Dodge (Auditory) As enhanced Traits: Precise Shot 2, Improved Aim Equipment Headquarters: "The Safe House" [25 EP Total] Size Medium [1 EP], Toughness 15 [2 EP], Features: Communications, Computer, Concealed 7 / +40 DC, Fire Prevention System, Garage, Gym, Hangar [Retractable Helipad], Infirmary, Living Space, Power System, Security System 5 (DC 40), Workshop [22 EP] Vehicle: "The Ratcopter" [42 EP] Size: Large [1 PP] Toughness: 10 [3 EP] STR: 30 [2 EP] Features: Remote Control, Smokescreen [2 PP] Powers: Flight 6 (500mph, Feats: Subtle) [13 EP], Concealment 1 (Normal Hearing, Extras: Continuous, Feats: Selective) [4 EP], Concealment 2 (Radio Senses, Flaw: Permanent) [4 EP], Super Senses 13 (Analytical all hearing, Accurate Radar, Extended Radar, Extended All Hearing, Radio, Ultrahearing, Penetrating Hearing) [13 EP] Total Cost 42 EP Concealable Microphone [1 EP] Multi-Tool [1 EP] Mini-Tracer [1 EP] Boot Knives (Strike 1, Feats: Thrown, Improved Critical 1, Mighty, Multiple Weapons 1) [5 EP] Powers: 6 + 2 + 5 + 1 + 17 + 5 + 1 + 5 + 8 + 17 = 67 “SLAVE” powers have cybernetic descriptor, Others have Mutant descriptor. Radio Array (5 PP Array, Feats: Alt Power 1) [6 PP] "SLAVE" BP: Communication 4 (Radio, 1 Mile, Extras: Omni Directional, Feats: Subtle, Flaws: Limited, one way) [5/5 PP] AP: Datalink 2 (100’, Feats: Subtle) linked with Quickness 6 (x100, Flaws: Limited to Computers only) [3+2=5/5 PP] Comprehend 1 (Decryption) [2 PP] "SLAVE" Enhanced Traits 4 (Computers 8, Knowledge [Tactics] 8) [4 PP] "SLAVE" Feature 1 (Internal Computer) [1 PP] “SLAVE” Super Senses 15 (Analytical All Visual, Direction Sense, Distance Sense, Extended All Visual 1, Infravision, Microscopic Vision 1, Radio, Time Sense, Ultravision, X-Ray Vision, Drawbacks: Power loss X Ray Vision [Lead etc], Feats: Improved Aim, Precise Shot 2) [17 PP] "SLAVE / Cybernetic Eyes" Adaptation 1 (5 PP of Variable Powers; mainly immunity to environment, Extras: Action 2 [Move], Drawbacks: Noticeable, Power loss 2 [Radiation]) [5PP] “Mutant” Immunity 2 (Aging, Sleep, Flaws: Limited [Half Effect]) [1 PP] "Mutant" Evolution Array (6 PP Array, Feats: Alt Power 1, Flaws: Power Loss 2 [Radiation]) [5 PP] "Mutant" BP: Morph 4 (+20 Disguise, Evolved form, Extras: Duration [Continuous], Feat: Metamorph, Drawbacks: Not clothes [-1], Standard Action [-2]) [6/6 PP] AP: Morph 4 (+20 Disguise, Devolved Form, Extras: Duration [Continuous], Feat: Metamorph, Drawbacks: Not clothes [-1], Standard Action [-2]) [6/6 PP] Regeneration 9 (Bruised 1 / round [1], Disabled 1 / Hour [2], Injured 1 / Minute [3], Staggered 1 / Minute [3], Feats: Regrowth, Drawbacks: Power Loss 2 [Radiation damage or environment]) [8 PP] “Mutation” Device 5 (25 DP, Feats: Multiple Weapons 1, Restricted Use 1 [Datalink users], Flaws: Easy to Lose) [17 PP] "High tech pistols" Armaments Array (21 PP Array, Feats: Alt Power 4) [25 DP] BP: Stun 5 (Extras: Range, Feats: Improved Range 2 [250' incr], Progression Range 2 [2500' Max], Ricochet, Subtle) "Taser Bullet" [21/21 PP] AP: Blast 5 (Extras: Penetrating, Feats: Improved Range 2 [250’ Incr], Progression Range 2 [2500’ Max], Ricochet, Subtle) “Rocket Bullet” [21/21 PP] AP: Blast 5 (Extras: Area [Burst], Feats: Improved Range 3 [500’ Total Range, no penalty], Ricochet, Subtle)“Explosive Bullet” [20/21 PP] AP: Fatigue 5 (Extras: Range, Poison, Feats: Subtle) [21/21 PP] “Knockout dart” AP: Nullify 5 (All Electronic Tech, Extras: Alt Save [Fort], Affects Objects, Feats: Improved Range 2 [250’ Incr], Progression Range 2 [2500’], Subtle, Richocet) [21/21 PP] “EMP Bullet” Drawbacks: -2 PP Vulnerability (Radiation; Frequency: Common; Intensity: Minor [+1]) [-2PP] DC Block ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC 18 Toughness Damage Rocket Bullet Ranged DC 20 Tough Damage EMP Bullet Ranged DC 15 Fort Nullify Explosive Bullet Ranged DC 20 Tough Damage KO Dart Ranged DC 15 Fort /Poison Fatigue Taser Bullet Ranged DC 15 Fort Stun Totals: Abilities 42 + Combat 52 + Saving Throws 16 + Skills 30 + Feats 45 + Powers 67 - Drawbacks -2 = 250/250 Power Points

October 2, 2018. Freedom City. Hanover. The Nova Technologies, Inc Building. 2:30 AM. There was no such thing as a cake job. Shoot straight, conserve ammo, and never deal with Mr. Infamy. And most famously, kack the mage first. Street proverbs, all. Neisha Germuth knew them well. She worked in Human Resources for this branch of Nova Tech. Her skin was brown, her hair black. She showed clear Indian heritage. She dressed well, showing how far she’d come up in the world since the days where those street proverbs were the difference between life and death. And she was nervous. So much so that she put the word out for legit superheroes to meet her in the lobby tonight. Plenty of Nova’s dealings skirted (or, being more honest, outright broke) the law, and meddling superheroes could easily find out enough to cost her her job if she wasn’t careful. Still, if she was right, she’d need the help just to keep it. So she waited by the elevators, just out of sight, to see who would show up.

For this. I'll be a bit honest here. While the general idea is for you guys to win, as per usual...that's entirely up to you. You'll have to ask the right questions, make the right decisions, and roll the right checks. Because I'm not going to ask for any. Your opposition is composed of highly skilled professional criminals, and they'll be behaving as such. Their crime has been planned to completely avoid anybody even knowing something has happened until they are well away. It is entirely up to you to disabuse them of that plan. Unless you stumble around in the dark too much, of course. Can't have that. I will, however, give you this much. The Nova Technologies building is five stories tall. The lobby is, well, a lobby. Security desk, cafeteria to the left as one enters, elevators to the right. The security desk is manned, but he's just a rent-a-cop.

GM All Over the City Bedlam City, Wisconsin Wednesday, February 1st, 2017 5:30 PM Although it was a day away, Bedlam City was beginning to feel a whole lot like Groundhog's Day. No, there weren't any furry little creatures predicting the future from the comfort of their little burrows. No, much like Phil Connors the entire city was caught in an endless loop. The denizens of Bedlam found themselves sharing a recurring nightmare for the past week. A deep voice bellowing that "She be brought to him." Egyptian imagery and other incomprehensible babble about scorpions flooding their minds. Before returning to the waking nightmare that was life in Bedlam. Suffice to say, you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who cared about the going ons in Freedom City. The Atlantean King's announcement went under the radar as the sleepless city grew concerned with local worries. With the noted exception of Dr. Stoppleman, Curator of the Bedlam Museum whose live podcast came to an abrupt stop in the middle of streaming, the distinct sound of glass breaking and furniture being thrown around the last things viewers heard.

It wasn't quite Christmas, but it was close. In another city, maybe Noemi would be at home, on vacation. ...But probably not. There was always someone trying to call a cab, and if the rest of them were led by people like Easy Steve, it was difficult to imagine them letting their drivers' loose at gunpoint. In the grand scheme of things, though, it wasn't too terrible a night to work, considering they were doing it in Bedlam. The sun had dipped over the horizon some time ago—which said less about the lateness of the hour and more about Winter's early nights—and a crowd of buzzed and deeply stressed young women had piled into the back to escape from some seedy watering hole downtown to the relative safety of home in Wolverton. Alert! Alert! SLAVE's script ran across Noemi's vision. Receiving signal from Soviet agents! Confir— Then it stopped and vanished, leaving the message incomplete. Naomi's vision quaked and distorted, like an old CRT on the fritz. Code started running quickly over her vision, bits of jargon and code flying past, making it harder to keep a good her eyes on the road. Then, text began to type again, in the same manner of SLAVE. But it wasn't quite the same... EMERGENCY TRANSMISSION RECEIVED HANDSHAKE PROTOCOL COMPLETE ALLIED AGENT ID #3914 CONFIRMED VERIFYING AGAINST INTERNAL DATABASE . . . VERIFYING . . . VERIFYING . . . VERIFIED. INITIALIZING PROTOCOL 502481BA0RAT MANUAL OVERRIDE - ENGAGE

A thread is here! Also, I think I've hit you with two things. Brought drama on Rat's head in the middle of her job, and also by messing with SLAVE. That feels like two HP. The 'SLAVE' array is no longer accessible, for now.

@Supercape OOC for here.

Disclaimer: This thread contains violence, potentially suggestive themes, and language. Discretion is advised. 2:30 AM. May 1st, 2017 Red Rat's crappy apartment It was small. And sort of home. Big enough for her, and not for the impromptu house guests, and she wasn't expecting them at all. At the front of the door, came the strains of "Ostatnia Niedziela" with a voice muffled a bit, trying to sing along to Mieczysław Fogg. There was another noise, low guttural, from deep within something large going in some sort of counterpoint to the failed sing-along by the other. Fortunately her neighbors were not inclined to investigate, and closest apartment to hers was currently vacant. Leaving just the 'music' drifting into the air, under a flickering florescent hall light, syncopated to the watlz's 3/4.

GM Any megacorporation is shrouded in conspiracy theories. In Bedlam, many of them happened to be true. The Howle-Brandt Consortium was the figurative new kid on the block in the “City of Now”, though they’d been established long enough that their towering jet fuel refinery was one of the top employers in town – and one of the least safe. It was an open secret that their legal team were experts at getting rid of maimed workers without providing any benefits, but rumors went further than that: shadowy military contracts, unethical human experimentation, robots poised to replace the labor force. Bedlam’s hacker community, or “freedom of information” community in their own words, had been trying to confirm it all for years. But whoever did HBC’s cyber security was smart and well-funded. Their clearance system was stricter than the federal government’s, and any sensitive information was squirreled away in databanks requiring direct physical access. They didn’t bother to hide their Bedlam employment practices, which would get them crucified in a town where people had anywhere else to work, so what did they think was worth hiding? The rumor that had popped up lately was that it might be possible to find out. Some user was making the rounds of the surface-level conspiracy and hacker boards, claiming to have inside knowledge of illegal drugging of HBC’s workers. He said he didn’t have proof, but he knew how to get it, if anyone who could beat a secure system was willing to come with him. Cynicism ran fever-high in Bedlam. It was a survival mechanism in a city of broken promises and abandoned dreams. So most of the discussion on each of those posts was trying to figure out the user’s angle. Was he working for HBC’s security team, trying to catch potential hackers? Was he going to ask for money, then disappear before he had to deliver? He’d been inventive with the details, they had to admit, coming up with all that about addictive muscle stimulants to keep the workers coming back. But they had all seen better scams before, and they hadn’t fallen for those, either. But the user, In$id3r, didn’t give up. He kept a private instant messaging channel open to anyone who believed him and wanted to help.

Character Name: Red Rat Power Level: 9/15 (216/250 PP) Unspent Power Points: 34 Trade-Off: +4 Attack / -4 DC, +4 Defence, -4 Toughness In Brief: Mutant Super Spy with Soviet Computer in her head. Alternate Identity: Noemi Von Neumann Birthplace: Budapest, Hungary Residence: Bedlam Occupation: Taxi Driver Affiliations: None Family: None (Alive) Description: Age: 70 (Cryogenically frozen for decades) Apparent Age: 25 Gender: Female Ethnicity: Height: 5’8” Weight: 70Kgs Eyes: Green Hair: Blonde Noemi has a Slavic look, with chiselled features. It is not immediately apparent, but her body is in phenomenal shape. Her musculature is well developed. She usually wears glasses and has her hair up, and somehow nobody recognises her as the Red Rat...?! The Red Rat wears close fitting grey spandex and a short Brown-Red Jacket with a Bright Red "Rat" Motif on the back. She carries two super-high tech pistols of Soviet Design. History: Noemi Von Neumann was born into a poor family in Budapest at the height of communist power. As a young woman, she was politically active, and soon joined the underground movement of artists, philosophers, and anarchists who wanted change. She studied a little, read a little, and shouted a lot. And she was caught. A few dozen radicals, including her, were used as human guinea pigs for the Soviets' Super Programme. They were exposed to the virus Darwin-X, a highly unstable and dangerous pathogen. Only Noemi survived. The virus had triggered off something in her, making her body evolve and adapt. Darwin-X was in almost all cases lethal, and if not, then dangerous. Only a few candidates were any good. The Red Rat only knows of herself, but there may have been others. Nicknamed the “Red Rat” (after a lab rat), she was brainwashed. A soviet computer system was installed in her skull, nicknamed “Slave”, complete with cybernetic eyes that replaced her own. The Slave System is advanced, but normal humans are unable to tolerate it. The Red Rat, with her adaptive genetics, was able to bond with it. Now an agent of the Soviet Union, she was put on cryo-stasis until she was needed for certain missions in Europe Over the years she had been awakened a few dozen times, sometimes to upgrade Slave, sometimes to spy. When the Wall came crashing down, the unit handling her disbanded, and she was left for years, untended, unwatched, and asleep in a Berlin Cryo-unit deep underground, until a UNISON team found the old site and awakened her. Playing ball initially, the Red Rat soon went on the run. She had no wish to be anyone’s puppet anymore… Personality & Motivation: Noemi is an easy go lucky personality, who usually talks to her passengers when working, and loves hearing stories. She hits bars, coffee shops, and galleries in her free time, and hangs out with Artists, Poets, and Bohemians. She is basically a woman who likes standing up for, and helping people. However, she is also a militant believer in liberty, and not just in an abstract way. She may not be Patriotic, or Pro-American, but she will defend liberty with a real passion. When Devolved, the Red Rat becomes crude, unmannered, and simple, almost a feral thing. The Devolved Red Rat can be more caring and emotional, and believes itself to be a pure, spiritual thing, unfettered by modernity. It views Slave as a super smart God like figure in its head. Slave views it as an intolerable primitive. When Evolved, the Red Rat becomes egocentric and arrogant, believing itself to be the next stage of human evolution. It has a paternalistic but condescending view on primitive homo sapiens. It does its best to outwit Slave and is nasty to the system. Slave takes on an almost worshipful, sycophantic relationship to the Evolved Form. It is not clear if Slave is actually self aware or just a very well programmed computer system. When the Red Rat is in her normal human form, it speaks to her obediently and mechanically, and keeps interjecting communist propaganda, almost like an information station. Powers & Tactics: The Red Rat is a mutant with the ability to adapt to the environment. A relatively minor power, it also allows her to “evolve” into a weedy but brainy form, or “devolve” into the mirror opposite. It has also allowed her to tolerate the cybernetic system in her head. This gives her advanced visual senses and tactical advice. She had pilfered two high – tech soviet pistols, snub nosed and sleek, that are activated by SLAVE. Whilst they can be destructive, they are spy pistols – firing knockout poison darts, EMP rounds, or non-lethal ammunition, all silently. The Red Rat is in excellent physical shape, partly as she recovers quickly from physical training. She is also an expert martial artist and markswoman, and a highly trained spy. Tactically, she will prefer guile and surprise to a straight up fight. Power Descriptions: The Red Rat's powers are largely unseen. However, when she makes her body adapt to hostile environments, this can be visible; for instance, growing fur, or gills. Her devolved form looks like a primitive Neanderthal, with a large muscular hairy frame and small forehead, whilst her evolved form looks the opposite: a feeble shrunken body and massively enlarged head. Complications: Outlaw: Technically, Noemi Von Neuman is an ex-Soviet Spy and wanted by UNISON for questioning. Slave? The Soviet Computer, in her head, may be called Slave, and may be under her control. Or it may not. Slave is programmed never to harm Russian / Soviet agents or government, and also to filter out (via her eyes), any capitalist propaganda (and replace it with Soviet style propaganda). Things might be invisible to her, or changed. If really pressed, Slave can completely blind Red. It might also be distracting, spouting communist propaganda at her at critical times. Slave could potentially be controlled by Soviet technology, or even hackers. Nuclear Mutations: Radiation sends her powers crazy. Aside from the loss of her mutant powers she can have all sorts of other problems, such as breaking out in green boils, or her mouth sealing over. Split Personality: In her devolved form, Red is crude, aggressive, and unsubtle. In her Evolved Form, Red is arrogant and aloof. Of course, both forms feel that their personality is best, and may be reluctant to change back to her normal form. She cannot sustain her evolved or devolved form indefinitely, fortunately, Taxi Driver: Noemi works for “EZ Cabs” in Bedlam, with a hard nosed boss, “Easy Steve”. Easy Steve has plenty of enemies, and by default, so do his drivers. Abilities: 6 + 12 + 10 + 6 + 2 + 6 = 42 Strength: 16 (+3) Dexterity: 22 (+6) Constitution: 20 (+5) Intelligence: 16 (+3) Wisdom: 12 (+1) Charisma: 16 (+3) Combat: 26 + 26 = 52 Initiative: +10 Attack: +13 Defense: +13, +7 Flat Footed Grapple: +19 Knockback: -2 Saving Throws: 5 + 2 + 5 = 12 Toughness: +5 Fortitude: +10 (+5 Con, +5) Reflex: +8 (+6 Dex, +2) Will: +6 (+1 Wis, +5) Skills: 92R = 23 PP Acrobatics 4 (+10) Skill Mastery Bluff 8 (+11) Computers 4 (+7) [12 (+15 Enhanced] Skill Mastery Diplomacy 4 (+7) Disguise 4 (+7) (Additional +20 Morph) Skill Mastery Drive 4 (+10) Skill Mastery Gather Information 4 (+7) Intimidate 8 (+11) Knowledge (Civics) 4 (+7) Knowledge (Streetwise) 4 (+7) Knowledge (Tactics) 4 (+7) [12 (+15) Enhanced] Language 4 (English, French, German, Hungarian [native], Russian) Notice 8 (+9) Pilot 4 (+10) Search 4 (+7) Sense Motive 8 (+9) Sleight of Hand 4 (+10) Skill Mastery Stealth 8 (+14) Feats: 25PP Ambidexterity Attractive Benefit 2 (Use Tactics for Master Plan, and to spot Ambush / Feint) Blind-Fight Chokehold Defensive Attack Equipment 15 Evasion 2 Grappling Finesse Improved Disarm Improved Grab Improved Initiative Improved Pin Jack of All Trades Master Plan Power Attack Quick Draw 1 (Draw Weapon) Skill Mastery 1 (Acrobatics, Computers, Drive, Sleight of Hand) Uncanny Dodge (Auditory) Equipment Headquarters: "The Safe House" [26 EP Total] Size Medium [1 EP], Toughness 15 [2 EP], Features: Communications, Computer, Concealed 7 / +40 DC, Defence System / Knockout Gas, Fire Prevention System, Garage, Gym, Hangar [Retractable Helipad], Infirmary, Living Space, Power System, Security System 5 (DC 40), Workshop [23 EP] Vehicle: "The Ratcopter" [42 EP] Size: Large [1 PP] Toughness: 10 [3 EP] STR: 30 [2 EP] Features: Remote Control, Smokescreen [2 PP] Powers: Flight 6 (500mph, Feats: Subtle) [13 EP], Concealment 1 (Normal Hearing, Extras: Continuous, Feats: Selective) [4 EP], Concealment 2 (Radio Senses, Flaw: Permanent) [4 EP], Super Senses 13 (Analytical all hearing, Accurate Radar, Extended Radar, Extended All Hearing, Radio, Ultrahearing, Penetrating Hearing) [13 EP] Total Cost 42 EP Concealable Microphone [1 EP] Multi-Tool [1 EP] Mini-Tracer [1 EP] Alternate HQ (Same type, based in Freedom City and Emerald City) [2 EP] Alternate Vehicle (Same type, base in Freedom and Emerald City) [2 EP] Powers: 6 + 2 + 4 + 14 + 5 + 1 + 5 + 17 = 54 Radio Array (5 PP Array, Feats: Alt Power 1) [6 PP] "SLAVE" BP: Communication 4 (Radio, 1 Mile, Extras: Omni Directional, Feats: Subtle, Flaws: Limited, one way) [5/5 PP] AP: Datalink 2 (100’, Feats: Subtle) linked with Quickness 6 (x100, Flaws: Limited to Computers only) [3+2=5/5 PP] Comprehend 1 (Decryption) [2 PP] "SLAVE" Enhanced Traits 4 (Computers 8, Knowledge [Tactics] 8) [4 PP] "SLAVE" Super Senses 15 (Analytical All Visual, Direction Sense, Distance Sense, Extended All Visual 1, Infravision, Microscopic Vision 1, Radio, Time Sense, Ultravision, X-Ray Vision, Drawbacks: Power loss X Ray Vision [Lead etc]) [14 PP] "Cybernetic Eyes" Adaptation 1 (5 PP of Variable Powers; mainly immunity to environment, Extras: Action 2 [Move], Drawbacks: Noticeable, Power loss 2 [Radiation]) [5PP] “Mutant” Immunity 2 (Aging, Sleep, Flaws: Limited [Half Effect]) [1 PP] "Mutant" Evolution Array (6 PP Array, Feats: Alt Power 1, Flaws: Power Loss 2 [Radiation]) [5 PP] "Mutant" BP: Morph 4 (+20 Disguise, Evolved Form, Extras: Duration [Continuous], Feat: Metamorph, Drawbacks: Not clothes [-1], Standard Action [-2]) [6/6 PP] AP: Morph 4 (+20 Disguise, Devolved Form, Extras: Duration [Continuous], Feat: Metamorph, Drawbacks: Not clothes [-1], Standard Action [-2]) [6/6 PP] Device 5 (25 DP, Feats: Multiple Weapons 1, Restricted Use 1 [Datalink users], Flaws: Easy to Lose) [17 PP] "High tech pistols" Armaments Array (21 PP Array, Feats: Alt Power 4) [25 DP] BP: Stun 5 (Extras: Range, Feats: Improved Range 2 [250' incr], Progression Range 2 [2500' Max], Ricochet, Subtle) "Taser Bullet" [21/21 PP] AP: Blast 5 (Extras: Penetrating, Feats: Improved Range 2 [250’ Incr], Progression Range 2 [2500’ Max], Ricochet, Subtle) “Rocket Bullet” [21/21 PP] AP: Blast 5 (Extras: Area [Burst], Feats: Improved Range 3 [500’ Total Range, no penalty], Ricochet, Subtle)“Explosive Bullet” [20/21 PP] AP: Fatigue 5 (Extras: Range, Poison, Feats: Subtle) [21/21 PP] “Knockout dart” AP: Nullify 5 (All Electronic Tech, Extras: Alt Save [Fort], Affects Objects, Feats: Improved Range 2 [250’ Incr], Progression Range 2 [2500’], Subtle, Richocet) [21/21 PP] Drawbacks: -2 PP Vulnerability (Radiation; Frequency: Common; Intensity: Minor [+1]) [-2PP] DC Block ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC 18 Toughness Damage Rocket Bullet Ranged DC 20 Tough Damage EMP Bullet Ranged DC 20 Fort Nullify Electronics Explosive Bullet Ranged DC 20 Tough Damage KO Dart Ranged DC 20 Fort / Poison Fatigue Taser Bullet Ranged DC 20 Reflex Dazzle (Visual + Radio) Totals: Abilities 42 + Combat 52 + Saving Throws 12 + Skills 23 + Feats 35 + Powers 54 - Drawbacks -2 = 216/250 Power Points

Red Rat Power Level: (8/12) (150/200PP) Trade-Offs: +4 Attack, -4 Damage (With pistol, +5 / -5) Unspent Power Points: 50 In Brief: Mutant Spy with a Soviet computer in her head. Alternate Identity: Noemi Von Neumann Alias: Noemi Newman Identity: Secret Birthplace: Budapest, Hungary Occupation: Taxi Driver Affiliations: None Family: None (Alive) Residence: Riverside (Apartment), Greenbank (HQ) Description: Age: 70 (But cryogenically frozen for most ) Apparent Age: 25 Gender: Female Ethnicity: Caucasian Height: 5’9†Weight: 73 Kgs Eyes: Green Hair: Blonde Noemi has a Slavic look, with chiselled features. It is not immediately apparent, but her body is in phenomenal shape. Her musculature is well developed. She usually wears glasses and has her hair up, and somehow nobody recognises her as the Red Rat...? The Red Rat wears close fitting spandex and a short Brown-Red Jacket with a Bright Red “Rat†Motif on the back. She carries a small silenced pistol. Power Descriptions: The Red Rats powers are largely unseen. However, when she makes her body adapt to hostile environments, this can be visible – for instance, growing fur, or gills. Her devolved form looks like a primitive Neanderthal, with a large muscular hairy frame and small forehead, whilst her evolved form looks the opposite: a feeble shrunken body and massively enlarged head. History: Noemi Von Neumann was born into a poor family in Budapest at the height of communist power. As a young woman, she was politically active, and soon joined the underground movement of artists, philosophers, and anarchists who wanted change. She studied a little, read a little, and shouted a lot. And she was caught. A few dozen radicals, including her, were used as human guinea pigs for the Soviets “Super†Programme. They were exposed to the virus Darwin-X, a highly unstable and dangerous pathogen. Only Noemi survived. The virus had triggered off something in her, making her body evolve and adapt. Darwin-X was in almost all cases lethal, and if not, then dangerous. Only a few candidates were any good. The Red Rat only knows of herself, but there may have been others. Nicknamed the “Red Rat†(After being a “Laboratory Ratâ€), she was brainwashed. A soviet computer system was installed in her skull, nicknamed “Slaveâ€, complete with cybernetic eyes that replaced her own. The Slave System is advanced, but normal humans are unable to tolerate it. The Red Rat, with her adaptive genetics, was able to bond with it. Now an agent of the Soviet Union, she was put on cryo-stasis until she was needed for certain missions in Europe Over the years she had been awakened a few dozen times, sometimes to upgrade Slave, sometimes to spy. When the Wall came crashing down, the unit “handling†her disbanded, and she was left for years, untended, unwatched, and asleep in a Berlin Cryo-unit deep underground, until a UNISON team found the old site and awakened her. Playing ball initially, the Red Rat soon went on the run. She had no wish to be anyone’s puppet anymore, and wanted to be her own person. What better place to run to for a freedom lover than freedom city? It was here that Slave guided her to an abandoned underground Soviet Safe House, and here that she started forging her identity, both as Noemi Von Neumann, and the Red Rat. The “Safehouse†is actually an underground headquarters than was constructed under a long-since abandoned and condemned building (A Russian depot called “Grin and Bear itâ€) in Greenbank, amongst the old railways and empty warehouses. Only Noemi (and Slave) know of its existence. Once inside, it looks like cutting edge Sci-Fi from the sixties. Personality & Motivation: Noemi is an easy go lucky personality, who usually talks to her passengers when working, and loves hearing stories. She hits bars, coffee shops, and galleries in her free time, and hangs out with Artists, Poets, and Bohemians. She is basically a woman who likes standing up for, and helping people. However, she is also a militant believer in “freedomâ€, and not just in an abstract way. She may not be Patriotic, or Pro-American, but she will defend liberty with a real passion. When Devolved, the Red Rat becomes crude, unmannered, and simple, almost a feral thing. The Devolved Red Rat can be more caring and emotional, and believes itself to be a “Pure†spiritual thing, unfettered by modernity. It views Slave as a super smart God like figure in its head. Slave views it as an intolerable primitive. When Evolved, the Red Rat becomes egocentric and arrogant, believing itself to be the nest stage of human evolution. It has a paternalistic but condescending view on “primitive homo sapiensâ€. It does its best to outwit Slave and is nasty to the system. Slave takes on an almost worshipful, sycophantic relationship to the Evolved Form. It is not clear if Slave is actually self aware or just a very well programmed computer system. When the Red Rat is in her normal human form, it speaks to her obediently and mechanically, and keeps interjecting communist propaganda, almost like an information station. Given her cloning resources, the Red Rat can be a little cavalier about her life. She is not reckless, but is more than willing to meet danger! She carries a pack of playing cards in her jacket, all with a "Red Rat" motif, which she sometimes leaves as a calling card Powers & Tactics: The Red Rats powers come mainly from her mutant abilities. Her body is in excellent, near superhuman condition, and is able to adapt to different environments. She can also make herself devolve into a Neandertal form, becoming dull of wit but stronger and larger, or an evolved form, with superhuman intellect but feeble body. She is also augmented by Soviet Era technology, that only she (with her mutant abilities) was able to tolerate. Her eyes are cybernetic, granting increased visual abilities, and she has a computer system wired to her head called, ironically “Slaveâ€. If it is not entirely clear if Slave is sentient, but it is certainly well programmed, and able to give incredibly advanced tactical information to Red. Slave is also able to hack into computer systems, under Red’s guidance and direction, in the immediate vicinity. The Red Rat prefers stealth, intrigue, and guile, using her abilities to ambush or surprise foes. She is adept at all forms of combat, either using weapons or unarmed combat. Complications: The Big C: Red’s curious DNA also means she often gets cancer. Her body is pretty quick to reject the Cancer, but it can lead to all sorts of strange, transient medical problems. The Big E: Noemi works at “EZ Cabsâ€, as a taxi driver, often taking the night shifts. EZ Cabs is also home to Big "Easy" Earl, the owner who gave her a break, shouts a lot, is not easy at all, and makes a lot of enemies, and Charley Chalks, the radio operator and Noemi’s friend, the only person who knows Noemi is the Red Rat. Charley has a knack of getting her nose into trouble and loves to “Help outâ€. Both can get Noemi into trouble and turn up at the wrong time. The Big R: Radiation sends her powers crazy. Aside from the loss of her mutant powers she can have all sorts of other problems, such as breaking out in green boils, or her mouth sealing over. Outlaw: Technically, Noemi Von Neuman is an ex-Soviet Spy and wanted by UNISON for questioning. She gets by on a number of false I.D passports and papers that she has requisitioned from the Soviet Safehouse. Slave? The Soviet Computer, in her head, may be called Slave, and may be under her control. Or it may not. Slave is programmed never to harm Russian / Soviet agents or government, and also to filter out (via her eyes), any capitalist propaganda (and replace it with Soviet style propaganda). Things might be invisible to her, or changed. If really pressed, Slave can completely blind Red. It might also be distracting, spouting communist propaganda at her at critical times. Slave could potentially be controlled by Soviet technology, or even hackers. Split Personality: In her devolved form, Red is crude, aggressive, and unsubtle. In her Evolved Form, Red is arrogant and aloof. Of course, both forms feel that “their†personality is best, and may be reluctant to change back to her normal form. She cannot sustain her evolved or devolved form indefinitely, fortunately, Abilities: 8 +16 + 16 + 4 + 2 + 0 = 46PP Strength: 18 (+4) [22 (+6) Devolved, 6 (-2) Evolved] Dexterity: 26 (+8) Constitution: 26 (+8) Intelligence: 14/16 (+2/+3) [6/8 (-2/-1) Devolved, 26 +8) Evolved] Wisdom: 12 (+1) Charisma: 10 (+0) Combat: 24 + 16 = 40PP Initiative: +8 Attack: +12 base [+10 Devolved] Grapple: +16 [+10 Evolved] Defense: +8 , +4 Flat-Footed Knockback: -4 Saving Throws: 0 + 0 + 5 = 5PP Toughness: +8 (+8 Con) Fortitude: +8 (+8 Con) Reflex: +8 (+8 Dex) Will: +6 (+1 Wis, +5) Skills: 52R = 13PP Bluff 8 (+8) Climb 0 (+4) [8 (+14) Devolved, 0 (-2) Evolved] Diplomacy 4 (+4) Disguise 4 (+4) [+20 For Evolved/Devolved Forms] Drive 4 (+12) Handle Animal 0 (+0) [8(+8) in Devolved Form] Intimidate 4 (+4) Knowledge (Behaviour Sciences) 2 (+5) [+1 Devolved, +10 Evolved] Knowledge (Philosophy and Theology) 2 (+5) [+1 Devolved, +10 Evolved] Knowledge (Streetwise) 2 (+5) [+1 Devolved, +10 Evolved] Language 4 (English, French, German, Hungarian [Native], Russian) Notice 8 (+9) Sense Motive 8 (+9) Stealth 2 (+10) Survival 0 (+1) [8(+9) in Devolved Form] Enhanced Skills: Computers 12 (+15) [+11 Devolved, +21 Evolved] Knowledge (Tactics) 12 (+15) [+11 Devolved, +21 Evolved] Feats: 4PP [Animal Empathy, in Devolved Form Only] Attractive [Absent in Evolved Form, Changed to Attractive to Animals in Devolved Form] Benefit (A number of soviet produced false passports and fake I.D) Blind Fight Equipment 6 (Free from Platinum Rewards) Jack of All Trades Track [in Devolved Form Only] Enhanced Feats: Benefit 3 (Use Tactics for Master Plan, To Set up Surprise Attack, or to Detect Ambush/Avoid Feint) Master Plan Equipment: Light Handgun (Blast 3, Masterwork, Silencer, Stun Ammo) [9 EP] Concealable Microphone [1 EP] Mini Tracer [1 EP] Headquarters: “The Safehouse†Toughness 10, Size: Large, Features: Communication Link (The Red Rat / Slave), Communications, Computer, Cloning Station*, Concealed 3 [DC 30], Cryogenic Storage*, Garage, Gym, Hangar, Infirmary, Library, Living Space, Power System, Security System 1 [DC 20] [19 EP] Powers: 6 + 12 + 7 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 0 + 7 + 8 = 44 PP Adaptation 1 (5 PP Variable Array, Extras: Action 2 [Move], Drawbacks: Noticible, Power Loss [Radiation]) [6 PP] (mutant) Enhanced Traits (INT +2, Computers +12, Knowledge [Tactics] +12, Feats 4 [benefit 3, Masterplan]) [12 PP] [No enhanced INT in evolved form] (cybernetic) Evolutionary Shift Array (7 PP Array, Feats: Alternate Feat 1, Power Loss [Radiation]) (7 PP) (mutant) Base Power: Morph 4 (Devolved Form, Extras: Continuous, Feats: >Metamorph, Drawbacks: Action 2 [standard]) [7/7] Alternate Power: Morph 4 (Evolved Form, Extras: Continuous, Feats: >Metamorph, Drawbacks: Action 2 [standard]) (7/7) Feature 1 (Appearance: Somehow, when she puts on glasses, her secret I.D. is completely safe…) Feature 1 (Clones) Immunity 6 (Aging, Fatigue Effects, Flaws: Limited [1/2 Effect], Drawbacks: Power Loss [Radiation]) ]2 PP] (mutant) Quickness 0 (In Evolved Form Quickness 6, x100, Limited to Mental) [0 PP] (mutant) Radiowave Array (6 PP Array, Feats: Alternate power 1) [7PP] (cybernetic) Base Power: Communication 4 (1 mile, Extras: Omni-Directional, Feats: Selective, Subtle, Flaws: One Way Only) [6/6 PP] Alternate Power: Datalink 2 (100 feet, Feats: Cyberspace, Subtle 1, Rapid 1 [x10]) [5/6 PP] linked with Quickness 3 (x10 Speed, Flaws: One task only [computers]) [1/6PP] Super Senses 9 (Artificial Eyes; Communication Link [The Safehouse], Direction Sense, Infravision, Radio, Ultravision, X Ray Vision, Drawbacks: Power loss [Lead or similar] for X Ray Vision) [8 PP] (cybernetic) Drawbacks: -2 = -2PP Drawback (Vulnerability to Radiation, +1 DC; Frequency: Common]; Intensity: Minor) [-2PP] DC Block ATTACK RANGE SAV EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC19 Toughness Damage (Physical) Pistol Touch DC18 Toughness Damage (Physical) Totals: Abilities (46) + Combat (40) + Saving Throws (6) + Skills (14) + Feats (3) + Powers (42) - Drawbacks (-2) = 150/200 Power Points

The Franklins had money, and half the city knew it. They didn’t live fancy. They didn’t have a big house, or any servants. They lacked even so much as an automobile, preferring Freedom City Transit instead. They lived in Southside, and very quietly at that. Sadie, Thomas, and their lovely little girl Hannah were, for all intent and purposes, anonymous and nobody. The problem was that Thomas’s family members, though deceased, were all unrepentant though relatively minor criminals and had been for generations. Thomas himself managed to stay out of it, but with no one left to inherit the family money upon his father’s death, Thomas was stuck with a substantial amount of illegally gained cash. This alone earned him a jaundiced look from Freedom’s criminal underworld, but the exact amount of money remained unknown, so no one took action. Yet. Sadie’s unknown great uncle dropping dead and leaving her a similarly large amount of legal money provided a fine opportunity for the couple to legalize the extra cash. Unfortunately, it also provided a fine opportunity for someone to kidnap Hannah for ransom. Going to the cops was not an option - see illegal cash. This was where NPC Investigations came in. August 30, 2014. 1:45 AM. Southside. Penny Nihara simply stood on the roof of Rocket Records. The store was closed for the holiday, and wouldn’t reopen until Tuesday. She tapped her foot, impatient. The heroes were late. She had done everything but send up a flare. She briefly considered doing just that, but discarded the idea as she was too close to the airport. Even accounting for skepticism, someone should have shown up by now. The message was simple enough. “A young girl has been kidnapped. I need your help.†Penny had it relayed by various means, as well as the location to meet. Yes…any minute now. Honestly…she was almost surprised that a hero wasn’t on the job to begin with. Almost meaning that after a few years of doing this job, she knew that an awful lot of small things slipped past Freedom’s champions. The locally focused types did what they could, but ultimately it was a numbers game. There just wasn’t enough of them, and likely never would be. Freedom had the curious habit of becoming more dangerous the more heroes patrolled it. Ah, there one was now. Good.

Surprise, it's the OOC. Seems to be tagged appropriately, too. Imagine that.

OOC for >this thread. Comments, concerns, what have you about the opening let me know so it can be adjusted if need be!

GM Greenbank, Freedom City, New Jersey Sunday, August 31st, 2014 12:14 PM To the few who knew her Noemi Newman was a taxi driver in the very busy streets of Freedom City. Another head in the crowd, working day to day to get by. To those fewer still, she was the experimental Red Rat. A former spy on the run from those who wish to control her. Using an old Soviet depot to better the world while avoiding drawing attention upon herself. Therein lies the root of the problem. Having done some springing cleaning of the hidden depot, Noemi had found a weapons cache from all the previous residents. It was the mother of all Cold War payloads. Soviet munitions that were out of date even when they were in use. Coupled with some questionable black ops tech that was still considered advanced by modern standards. Some of the cache was even nuclear or radioactive in nature, assembled in case the call for mutually assured destruction came through and left quite unstable. Leaving the Red Rat with quite the problem on her hands. Meanwhile, Amir ibn Jafar ibn Abd al-Aziz al-Misri, commonly referred to by the public by the moniker of Asad, was currently hosting a weapons disposal event in Greenbank with the reliable Agnus Stone in tow. In a city where superheroes contended with villains and their hired guns it was to be expected that there were still a lot of leftover and highly dangerous tech lying around. Most of which wasn't stored in an evidence room and instead picked up by whoever found it lying around. Rather than wait for the likes of AEGIS to claim proprietary ownership of said devices Asad had taken it upon himself to aid in cleaning the city sooner rather than later. While it was to be expected that the normally busy entrepreneur could not attend every philanthropy event he funded, he made sure to make the time for this one. The evident risk of a large collection of weapons being collected in a single location was not lost on him.

In case we needs it!

GM August 31st, 4:25 AM It had been a long and productive Saturday night for Noemi; Labor Day weekend marked the end of summer, which meant a lot of fares, many of whom were drunk and therefore extravagant tippers. Of course, she'd also had to wipe down the back seat a few times with disinfectant wipes... Noemi was heading west out of the Theatre District on Stanwick when a very tall, broad man in a boxy navy blue suit stepped off the curb and waved his hand; maybe she had time for just one more?

I don't particularly like solo threads, but...doing a short one to get a grip on Red Rats personality and writing, and also add more background to her, namely finding the Soviet "Safe House" and making it her own. A few crazed Soviet robots may be lurking inside... Thread in question

March 3rd, 2014, late evening The air of Freedom City had the crisp snap taken out of by this time of year, but was still cool, especially at night. Around Greenback, with its crumbling disused warehouses and rusted disused traintracks, it had a certain dusty quality to it. And every so often, Noemi came across the odours of the homeless, a sharp pang of an impromptu latrine. Greenback was home to a number of Freedom Cities homeless. The old bricks, mortar, steel, and wood providing shelter at the risk of a collapsed roof. Every now and again she could a fire in the distance, as the vagrants huddled around to keep warm and tell stories. Safehouse detected. Proceed to building "Grin and Bear It". She didn't hear the words. She saw them. A print out only she could see, the white letters appearing before her. Inside her head there resided a computer. "Slave" it was called, but she wondered exactly to whom it was enslaved. Her eyes were not her own. Bright green and pretty they may have been, but completely artificial. Through them, the text of Slave was printed. She just thanked the fates that the Soviet scientists who designed Slave and put it in her chose text rather than a voice. "Grin and Bear it" must have been an old Russian trading shop, or warehouse. It was half derelict now, with a patchwork roof and big holes where bricks had caved in. She approached cautiously. It was dark, but her eyes could see well enough by starlight. Inside, Grin and Bear it was rotted and green. She saw a number of old Russian tourist tat, such as Polka Dolls and a number of tattered doll Bears with a fierce grin. The vodka bottles had been pillaged and consumed decades ago, no doubt but alcoholic scavengers. A bottle of vodka would keep the cold out for a day, maybe two. She saw embers, still warm, glowing in one corner. Who was it? As she walked closer, she heard the rustling of blankets and trash...