ic Back Alley Brawl

[Spacefurry]

Chimera 

 

“Last girl?”

Chimera didn’t have time to think about the implications of this as the big guy continued to back away from them. He didn’t seem to be about to run yet, but he was nervous and she didn’t want to push it and lose their chance.

“Matthew? Does she know him?”

She wondered for a moment before she realized.

”Oh, Math... It’s a logical leap.”

 

On 5/3/2021 at 11:26 PM, Lone_Star said:

"If you tell us who's doing this, we might be able to help. We're heroes," she said, retracting her helmet so it could see her face. "It's what we do."

 

On 5/6/2021 at 5:11 PM, Nerdzul said:

"Hey, you know what? Maybe we can talk with the master?" Luke smiled affably at the creature

“That’s right.” She agreed, supporting the others. “We’re heroes. We help people. Maybe we can help your master too.” She added hastily.

Without approaching she tried to catch Jamie’s attention and reassure her. She honestly didn’t know what she would have done if these other heroes hadn’t shown up. She owed them big time.

[Spacefurry]

GM

 

On 5/3/2021 at 11:26 PM, Lone_Star said:

 

Math...Matthew? Is he trying to tell us his name? "Why don't you tell us a little more about your master? He can't be very nice if he's taking women like this. Don't you see that this girl is scared, Matthew?"  She maintained eye contact with the creature, trying to keep it in her sights.

Brute seemed to reaction to the name Matthew as he hits the said of his head with the heel of his palm several times as he breaks eye contact, closing his eyes tightly.

”No...! OnlY BrUte! mAsteR kNOws!”

The sudden motion jerks his hostage, extracting a cry of fear.

 

On 5/6/2021 at 5:11 PM, Nerdzul said:

"Don't worry man, as I said we are all friends here..."  Nightscale tried to calm the creature as he noticed that he was twitching at the mere touch of Shooting Star when before he had shrugged off their attacks like it was nothing. 

 

Brute looks in Nightscale’s direction, making eye contact for only a moment. But it’s long enough for the Claremonter to reestablish his power on the apparently fearful monster of a man. Brute noticeably calms again.

 

On 5/3/2021 at 11:26 PM, Lone_Star said:

"If you tell us who's doing this, we might be able to help. We're heroes," she said, retracting her helmet so it could see her face. "It's what we do."

“MaStEr’s ordErs.”
The big man’s head swings over to look at Outrider again. He cocks his head to the side as the she retracts her helmet, like her having a head under it was a surprise.

 

On 5/6/2021 at 5:11 PM, Nerdzul said:

"Hey, you know what? Maybe we can talk with the master?" Luke smiled affably at the creature,

 

45 minutes ago, Spacefurry said:

“That’s right.” She agreed, supporting the others. “We’re heroes. We help people. Maybe we can help your master too.” She added hastily.

 

Brute’s brow furrowed with the obvious effort of thinking. Slowly he nods his head.

“HelP... heLp MAster wiTh giRl.”

The decision seeming made, the big man turns and starts to walk again down the alley. The girl under his arm biting back another cry at she tries to look back at the heroes. 

Sirens pierce the night somewhere nearby and strange eyes watch from the shadows.

[Kaede Kimura]

Alice looked grim as 'Matthew' flinched in reaction to his own name before proceeding to beat the name out of himself. Whatever this 'Master' had done... Well it would probably be a long time before Matthew was okay.

 

If ever.

 

With that final grim thought she gave the girl a sympathetic look and took a deep calming breath before starting to follow the poor man. She didn't want anything like this happening again, and was going to do her damnedest to make sure it didn't.

[Nerdzul]

“Yeah, sure, lead the way will you?” Nightscale nodded calmly, trying to keep the pace with the big guy so that he could more easily keep him enthralled. That was risky as hell wasn’t it? Especially for the poor girl that was still in the brute's grasp.

 

“We can help you watch her if you like? I mean, you are very strong, don’t you think she might be hurt on the way? I bet the master would not be happy about it.” 

 

Plus his power was not going to last forever anyway and there were big chances that whoever was pulling Matthews strings could break his spell at the worst possible time. And in that case, well, it was way better if no innocent risked being caught in the crossfire.

 

“By the way what’s your name?” He added, addressing the trapped girl. Don’t worry we will get you out of this. He mimicked with his lips. Yeah hopefully. 

 

“How, is your master like?” He continued, this time shifting back to ‘Matt’ pretending like if he was just making conversation.

Edited May 23, 2021 by Nerdzul

[Lone_Star]

El looked at her teammates, mind racing. This is a delicate situation. Let's continue to stay calm... Her hands faintly twitched, her desire to smack him again rising. No! This is not a monster, or at least, he wasn't always a monster. If we follow him we can stop a worse one...

 

Finally, an idea came to her. "I'm strong too!" she said, and flexed her huge arms. "Let me carry the girl for a while, just for now. You look like you could use a break, big guy." She nodded to the monster's hostage, trying to indicate as well as she could that as soon as he handed her over, he would let her 'slip away'. "I bet the master would love to have me work for him!" 

[Spacefurry]

Chimera

 

Chimera felt sorry for the poor man, or rather what seemed to be left of him. Whoever had done this to him was the real monster. Even if they caught this ‘master’ and turned him over to the authorities, could this one ever be helped?

As she hurried to followed the larger man, she gave Jamie an apologetic look and tried to give her a reassuring nod.

She still wasn’t sure how he was doing it, but the boy seemed to have turned the big guy’s aggression off. Was She was glad the others seem ready to go along with this until they could find an opportunity to save her friend.

“Do you know your... master’s name?” Chimera tried to hide her discomfort it calling whoever was pulling this poor man’s strings, master. 

[Spacefurry]

GM

 

Brute strode along as if nothing had happened just a few moments ago.

 

On 5/23/2021 at 7:03 AM, Nerdzul said:

“We can help you watch her if you like? I mean, you are very strong, don’t you think she might be hurt on the way? I bet the master would not be happy about it.”

 

The larger man slowed his pace for a few steps as he seem to be trying to think.

 

On 5/23/2021 at 7:03 AM, Nerdzul said:

“By the way what’s your name?” He added, addressing the trapped girl. Don’t worry we will get you out of this. He mimicked with his lips. Yeah hopefully.

The girl looked from Nightscale, to Chimera then back at him. She swallowed and tried not to sound as scared as she obviously was, even though her voice cracked just a little.

”J-Jamie.”

She chanced a look up at her captor but the he didn’t seem to notice the short conversation.

Brute slowed further and stopped walking, fully lost in some mental process.

 

On 5/27/2021 at 5:23 PM, Lone_Star said:

Finally, an idea came to her. "I'm strong too!" she said, and flexed her huge arms. "Let me carry the girl for a while, just for now. You look like you could use a break, big guy." She nodded to the monster's hostage, trying to indicate as well as she could that as soon as he handed her over, he would let her 'slip away'. "I bet the master would love to have me work for him!" 

He blinked at Outrider and cocked his head slightly. Maybe it was just Nightscale’s power. Maybe how nicely they were acting helped. Either way, he gave the apocalyptic warrior an off-putting smile, with its too many and mismatched teeth.

”MasTeR liKe sTROnG.”

He nodded to Outrider and shifted his ‘bundle’ into his hands. Jamie let out a cry of surprise as her abductor held her out towards the heroine.

 

On 5/23/2021 at 7:03 AM, Nerdzul said:

“How, is your master like?” He continued, this time shifting back to ‘Matt’ pretending like if he was just making conversation.

 

2 hours ago, Spacefurry said:

“Do you know your... master’s name?” Chimera tried to hide her discomfort it calling whoever was pulling this poor man’s strings, master. 

Brute shook his head as he hand Jamie to Outrider.

”MaSteR is MAstEr. maSTer Is sMaRtESt. MAsteR fIxeD BruTe.”

He says as he turns to start walking again and strange eyes continued to follow the group.

Edited June 3, 2021 by Spacefurry

[Lone_Star]

10 hours ago, Spacefurry said:

The girl looked from Nightscale, to Chimera then back at him. She swallowed and tried not to sound as scared as she obviously was, even though her voice cracked just a little.

”J-Jamie.”

She chanced a look up at her captor but the he didn’t seem to notice the short conversation.

Brute slowed further and stopped walking, fully lost in some mental process.

He blinked at Outrider and cocked his head slightly. Maybe it was just Nightscale’s power. Maybe how nicely they were acting helped. Either way, he gave the apocalyptic warrior an off-putting smile, with its too many and mismatched teeth.

”MasTeR liKe sTROnG.”

He nodded to Outrider and shifted his ‘bundle’ into his hands. Jamie let out a cry of surprise as her abductor held her out towards the heroine.

Brute shook his head as he hand Jamie to Outrider.

”MaSteR is MAstEr. maSTer Is sMaRtESt. MAsteR fIxeD BruTe.”

He says as he turns to start walking again and strange eyes continued to follow the group.

 

Outrider took the frightened girl in her arms, and gradually lowered her to the ground. "Just try to get somewhere safe. We don't want to set the big guy off," she said, sotto voce. She felt sorry for the poor, confused girl.

 

She looked at the others, and as the Brute turned his back on them, she pointed her fingers at her eyes, then back at Brute. I feel sorry for this big lug, but the sooner he gets us to 'Master', the better. Whoever's pulling the strings here sounds like the real villain here. And then we can beat him up!

 

In the meantime, she tried to keep the big guy talking. "So tell us about Master. What was wrong with you before that you needed to be fixed?"

[Nerdzul]

Nightscale relaxed a little as he saw that the girl was now safe in Outrider hands. Now they would have to figure out what to do next. They couldn't bring an innocent woman to a fight with whatever monster was behind the abduction. Yet he imagined that the big fellow won't be happy if they just let her go... 

 

Awesome.

 

Master fixed him. Yeah somehow I doubt that. 

 

"Yeah he must be a great guy." He replied dryly. "Is he far from here?"

 

 

[Nerdzul]

Yeah, a nice guy for sure. There was no chance that  a fight won't break out once they got to the Master and much likely they would have to deal with the Big Guy too, after all he wasn't as confident that the magic he had managed enchant him with would last for much longer... 

 

First thing first though. He needed to get Jamie safe. So he waited for the Brute to be distracted by his companions and weaved a new spell hiding creating a duplicate of the young woman on top of the original and giving her a temporary screen where she could hide from sight and dart away as far as possible from the scene. 

Edited June 28, 2021 by Nerdzul

[Spacefurry]

Chimera 

 

Chimera tensed as Brute handed Jamie over to Outrider. Once she was in the girl’s arms and the big man turned to walk she relaxed a little. After the surprise of the illusion and a bit of mimed back and forth with her fiend she was glad to see her Jamie heading back towards the alley’s entrance.

 

She nodded to the armored heroine as Outrider signaled to them. Chimera watched as Luke distracted the Brute long enough for Jamie to get safely out of the alley. The three seemed to be more experienced at this then she was, and she was grateful they had been around when this happened. With a renewed confidence she followed the large man as they continued on to meet this ‘master’ of his.

[Spacefurry]

GM

 

Jamie looked up at Outrider from her the heroine’s and flushed a little before she was down on her own two feet.

 

On 6/3/2021 at 9:29 PM, Lone_Star said:

Outrider took the frightened girl in her arms, and gradually lowered her to the ground. "Just try to get somewhere safe. We don't want to set the big guy off," she said, sotto voce. She felt sorry for the poor, confused girl.

 

She nodded and glanced over at Chimera, who promptly made a shooing motion and Jamie managed to recover quickly. The girl nodded back took a step backwards, only to stop for a moment as she noticed she was staring a the back of her own head.

Luke’s illusion still stood beside Outrider as if she hadn’t moved. She looked at Chimera again, the heroine could only shrug and give her a thumbs up. Jamie replied with a ‘call me’ hand sign, then looked around at the other heroes and mouthed a ‘thank you’.

 

On 6/3/2021 at 9:29 PM, Lone_Star said:

In the meantime, she tried to keep the big guy talking. "So tell us about Master. What was wrong with you before that you needed to be fixed?"

 

“MasTEr sAid haD wa-WasTeD Po-tEn-tiAL.” Brute said as he walked ahead of them. The big guy started to turn and look back as Jamie was trying to slip off but stopped to look at Luke as he answered the young man. Giving the girl enough time to reach the entrance to the alley and the safety beyond.

 

On 6/19/2021 at 10:50 AM, Nerdzul said:

"Yeah he must be a great guy." He replied dryly. "Is he far from here?"

 

“MAsTeR saYs he iS alWasys NeArby, But BrUte aLwaYs hAs to WAlk to FinD hiM.” He says as if saying something sagely.

 

Reaching the end of the alleyway, Brute pauses to look up and down the street. The big man looks back at the group following him, his too wide eyes drifting over everyone and settling for a tense moment on the Jamie-illusion before he nods and gives them a ‘follow me’ motion. Turning he walks out of the alley to cross the street and enter another alley on the other side. They small band follows the large man for several blocks, with Brute pausing once or twice before declaring the direction to continue in. 

Finally, half way down an alley, Brute stops before a set of unmarked doors. He squints at them I thoughtfully for a moment then reaches out and grabs both doors. Pulling them open, the dim light from outside barely reveals anything inside, but Brute seems to know where he’s going as he ducks inside.

 

The room is a large open storage one that doesn’t look to have been used in years. He heads directly to a set of doors set in the floor. Opening them reveals a set of steps leading down.

Brute looks back a the group with a off-putting smile, obviously proud of himself.

“SeE, foUNd waY WithOUt Help FrOm ChaRLes.”

Edited June 30, 2021 by Spacefurry

[Lone_Star]

 

11 hours ago, Spacefurry said:

“MasTEr sAid haD wa-WasTeD Po-tEn-tiAL.” Brute said as he walked ahead of them. The big guy started to turn and look back as Jamie was trying to slip off but stopped to look at Luke as he answered the young man. Giving the girl enough time to reach the entrance to the alley and the safety beyond.

 

“MAsTeR saYs he iS alWasys NeArby, But BrUte aLwaYs hAs to WAlk to FinD hiM.” He says as if saying something sagely.

 

El breathed a sigh of relief as Jamie was able to escape. She gave her a 'thumbs-up', which she learned recently was a hand gesture that meant everything was alright. Okay, so that's one problem solved. Now we'll just need to meet 'Master' and give him a piece of my mind. Or, punch him in the face a lot.

 

"Wasted potential? What did he mean by that? I'm sure you were fine before..." Someone turned him into a monster, someone who didn't like him for who he was before, and is now using him as a tool. And we'll get to the bottom of it, one way or another.

 

11 hours ago, Spacefurry said:

Finally, half way down an alley, Brute stops before a set of unmarked doors. He squints at them I thoughtfully for a moment then reaches out and grabs both doors. Pulling them open, the dim light from outside barely reveals anything inside, but Brute seems to know where he’s going as he ducks inside.

 

The room is a large open storage one that doesn’t look to have been used in years. He heads directly to a set of doors set in the floor. Opening them reveals a set of steps leading down.

Brute looks back a the group with a off-putting smile, obviously proud of himself.

“SeE, foUNd waY WithOUt Help FrOm ChaRLes.”

 

 

El looked at the other heroes quickly, making sustained eye contact, and nodded slowly at each of them. This felt weird, like they were being led into a trap. There were many who had tried to capture her back in her home dimension, and she sure as hell wasn't going to fall for that now, but knowing a trap is there is the first step in avoiding it. She was going to keep her eyes peeled, and hoped the other heroes would too as she descended the stairs behind the Brute.

 

"So is Charles the name of your Master? What's his full name?" she said, making mental notes for later.

 

 

Edited July 1, 2021 by Lone_Star

[Nerdzul]

A breath of relief escaped Luke’s lips when he saw Jamie darting away. Now, he had no idea about what was going to happen once his deception came to light, but then again at least there won’t be an innocent woman around when the fight will inevitably begin anew. 

 

With most of his concentration absorbed in keeping his little magic trick going the young man could only listen partially to the conversation and nod, letting outrider do most of the talking. 

 

He swore under his breath though when they got to the abandoned warehouse, or whatever that place was. Smells like a trap. And yet they would need to walk inside if they wanted to know more. Whatever. You only live once after all. 

 

His gaze peered into the darkness, trying to see if his dragon eyes could pierce through it and maybe reveal any trap that might be waiting for them as he descended with the others.

[Kaede Kimura]

Alice gave Nightscale a thumbs up and a smile when Brute wasn't looking as she floated forwards in silence. She didn't have anything to add to the conversation as she rolled what was happening over in her head. She wasn't sure how the fight would go when they got to the master, but she was pretty sure that despite the absolute beast of a headache she had gotten from his punch she still was the best bet to hold him up as the rest went after the Master.

 

It was both too soon and not soon enough when they arrived. She hadn't come up with a plan of attack, and knew that she wasn't a physical match for him. Thinking quickly she floated silently towards the others, pulling her phone out and typing in a message for them before quickly showing it to them.

 

Quote

Need to separate Brute from the Master. Don't like odds against him. I could grab him and fly up, hopefully low pressure would knock him out while you start dealing with the Master.

 Agree, nod. Don't, shake head.

 

[Spacefurry]

Chimera 

 

Chimera was tense the entire time they were following Brute through the alleys. When he finally stopped in front of a couple doors she was ready to spring. Unfortunately, the building seemed abandoned.

She followed the big man inside with the others, trying to look around for more trouble. When Brute reveals a set of stairs leading down into who-knows-what, she looks at the others.

“Is Charles his master?” She wondered.

Outrider seemed to be willing to take the lead as she followed Brute down the stairs.When she looked at Shooting Star she saw the message on her upheld phone. She pulled out her own phone, typed a reply and held it up.

[Might help to separate. Looks like we’re going down lower.]

Edited July 12, 2021 by Spacefurry

[Spacefurry]

GM

 

On 7/11/2021 at 9:38 AM, Nerdzul said:

His gaze peered into the darkness, trying to see if his dragon eyes could pierce through it and maybe reveal any trap that might be waiting for them as he descended with the others.

 

Nightscale’s sight doesn’t reveal anything within the large room. Dust covers everything showing the only active up here is from paw prints. This is punctuated by the brief glimpse something the size of a small dog or large cat slinking behind a mostly shattered crate.

 

On 6/30/2021 at 10:34 PM, Lone_Star said:

"So is Charles the name of your Master? What's his full name?" she said, making mental notes for later.

 

The big man made a rough sound that it may have taken them a moment to realize was a laugh.

“MAsteR saYs ChaRLes iS mAsTEr’s eYes.” Brute says as the metal steps creak under his weight. The stairs descend down several feet into what appears to be an old service tunnel. A single strand of small bare bulbs are all the light to be seen running its length.

 

Old pipes run along the walls, among the long faded lettering one could make out the word ‘STEAM’ and arrows marking flow direction. It seems like there is barely enough room for Brute the make his way, but those following him can manage easily. Inside the tunnel the air is dusty, but not stale like one one expect in such an old tunnel.

It’s difficult to see around their ‘guide’ at first, but after several dozen yards it opens up as it connects with another smaller tunnel, the two merging into one larger tunnel. The smaller tunnel is unlit and any one of the heroes could fit (albeit, sans armor), but they can see a few dozen more yards and the pipes disappear into a wall. Set into the wall are a set of old, metal double doors, a thread of light shining through the gaps around them.

Entering the larger tunnel Brute seems to start humming off key, heading straight for the doors.

[Lone_Star]

On 7/11/2021 at 5:29 PM, Kaede Kimura said:

Need to separate Brute from the Master. Don't like odds against him. I could grab him and fly up, hopefully low pressure would knock him out while you start dealing with the Master.

 Agree, nod. Don't, shake head.

 

El shook her head. She needed to see how far this went, and there was no way to figure out what exactly was in the basement. If they separated, they wouldn't be able to count on each other's help. She didn't have a cell phone, so there was no real way to communicate her thoughts, but she continued following the Brute. If they wanted to separate, that was fine with her. She understood why, she just had to see where this all led to. This night was getting stranger by the minute,and she determined to get to the bottom of it.

 

On 7/12/2021 at 11:14 AM, Spacefurry said:

GM

 

 

Nightscale’s sight doesn’t reveal anything within the large room. Dust covers everything showing the only active up here is from paw prints. This is punctuated by the brief glimpse something the size of a small dog or large cat slinking behind a mostly shattered crate.

 

 

The big man made a rough sound that it may have taken them a moment to realize was a laugh.

“MAsteR saYs ChaRLes iS mAsTEr’s eYes.” Brute says as the metal steps creak under his weight. The stairs descend down several feet into what appears to be an old service tunnel. A single strand of small bare bulbs are all the light to be seen running its length.

 

Old pipes run along the walls, among the long faded lettering one could make out the word ‘STEAM’ and arrows marking flow direction. It seems like there is barely enough room for Brute the make his way, but those following him can manage easily. Inside the tunnel the air is dusty, but not stale like one one expect in such an old tunnel.

It’s difficult to see around their ‘guide’ at first, but after several dozen yards it opens up as it connects with another smaller tunnel, the two merging into one larger tunnel. The smaller tunnel is unlit and any one of the heroes could fit (albeit, sans armor), but they can see a few dozen more yards and the pipes disappear into a wall. Set into the wall are a set of old, metal double doors, a thread of light shining through the gaps around them.

Entering the larger tunnel Brute seems to start humming off key, heading straight for the doors.

 

El followed the brute, and nodded as he spoke. So his name is Charles? She followed deeper into the old service tunnel, feeling very uncomfortable in the enclosed space. Well, if someone was trying to hide a secret laboratory, this would sure be the place to do it. She sneezed twice, a strangely petite sound coming from her. She was focusing hard on the task at hand, making mental notes of the turns they made, in case they needed to leave in a hurry.

 

She looked behind her at her teammates, and pointed to the smaller tunnel. She tried her best to indicate she would continue following the Brute, who would likely not notice their disappearance for some time. She pointed at herself, then at Brute, then made walking gestures with her fingers. Then she pointed at whoever was closest, indicating they should check out the smaller tunnel. She then continued behind the Brute, walking through the metal doors. Better get ready, El...

[Nerdzul]

Charles? Kinda  lame for a supervillain. Luke found himself having to hold back a chuckle. Although he would have to concede that Luke the dragon wasn't exactly threatening either. He mentally shrugged and kept following the Big Guy in the darkness. They were walking straight into the lion's den. It was too late to change course though.  

 

"And how did you meet Charles?" He asked.

 

He noticed the tunnel, but shook his head when El signaled to go explore it. He could not leave the group after all without his illusion disappearing. Luke's muscles tensed as he saw that they were approaching a set of doors, time to meet the scary Mr. Charles it seemed.

[Kaede Kimura]

Alice nodded at the other two's response to her idea. For now she would follow along and get this 'Charles'.

 

'Master's Eyes; the Brute said. So the master would probably know that they were after him, but at the least they would be metaphorically blinding and hobbling him by depriving him of his eyes and muscle. Taking a breath to cool her jets she watched grimly as they followed the Brute towards the doors while surveying the group. She was ready to jump in between Brute and anyone else, and could only hope that being the 'Master's Eyes' meant that Charles wouldn't be able to put up much of a fight against the rest while she kept Brute busy. She had no illusions about her ability to win a straight fight, but with the rest of the group they could probably be able to beat him.

 

She'd relay that plan to the others when the fight broke out. Maybe if they could avoid a fight and use Charles and Brute to hunt down the Master, but she wasn't really optimistic about that.

[Spacefurry]

Chimera

 

Chimera didn’t know who this ‘Charles’ guy was, but she didn’t think she wanted to meet him. As the group descended into the creepy tunnel Chimera wondered just what they were going to find down there. The pipe strewed tunnel wasn’t what she expected, but it seemed fitting. Like something out of a horror film, maybe that one with the killing nightmare critter. Chimera shivered a bit, she hated that movie but Jamie loved it and had made her sit through a marathon of its sequels. “Why do I hang out with her again?” She thought with bemusement in a vain attempt to distract herself as they walked.

As they entered the larger she glanced around, noting the tunnel and Outrider’s gesture. She eyed Brute’s back and took a few steps over to peered into the side tunnel, but beyond the little light shed by the light string the darkness seemed impenetrable. Not wanting to split the group she abandoned the offshoot and rejoined them as they entered the double metal doors.

[Spacefurry]

GM

 

Brute paused before the doors and glanced back at the group, his gaze settling on Nightscale.

 

On 7/25/2021 at 6:11 AM, Nerdzul said:

"And how did you meet Charles?" He asked.

 

“ChArleS waS WiTh MaSteR wHen BrUtE wOke uP.” He said matter-of-factually as he pushed on the metal doors. The light from the other side was bright and white compared to the tunnel’s bare string lights. Beyond the door frame a massive circular room expanded. A few other doors dot the long bending wall and various lab equipment stood scattered around the area.

 

As the heroes enter the room, they can see to one side an area set up with what look like several holding cells. Most appear empty, but a few have occupants and each of their cells seems a little different then the others. One having a wire mesh between the bars, its inhabitant scratching nervously at a stump where her hand should be. A few cells away, a second one completely lacking a door more like a small cold storage locker. The man sitting huddled in it holding himself, shivering as small puffs of breath are visible. In a third cell an older man stretches out an arm through his bars, reaching for something on the floor, the heroes can’t see.

The most notable feature is the raised center platform, looking like someone set up a mobile surgery on it. Standing behind the operating table a tall slender man dressed in a dark grey suit and white face mask, featureless except for eye slits, is looking down at large creature sitting on the table.

 

“MaSteR, I…” Brute calls out but cuts off when the featureless mask tilts up, the eye slits focusing on him.

 

The man in the suit waves dismissively at the oversized cat-creature before him and it hops down out of sight. “I am aware of your failure.” His voice is cold and calm, lacking any indication of caring. The man tilts his head ever so slight as the white mask regards each of his visitors.

 

“BuT, MasTEr…” Brute begins again, only to be cut off when the masked man raises a finger towards him.

 

“I have not decided whether I left you with too much independent decision-making ability, or too little. But you did manage to bring several possibly interesting subjects.” The man places his hands on the table before him. “Tell me, is there anything you would like fixed? Anything you wish you could change about yourself?” Behind the mask his tone drips with feigned care and hidden malice.

[Kaede Kimura]

Alice looked around the room with a steady gaze, drawing herself up a few inches with her flight as she kept her anger and anticipation off of her expression. As the inevitable fight drew nearer her excitement built, drowning out her anxiety. It was a struggle to keep herself from snarling as the creepy-masked asshat belittled the man who he'd destroyed for the simplicity that he had doubtless instilled. It was disgusting.

 

She suppressed a sneer as the man shifted his attention to them. The 'interesting subjects' as he put it. She could see it, they were all powered and at the very least three of them were rather obviously beyond human, while Nightscale obviously had powers and was at the least very athletic. Quickly, Alice typed out a message detailing her plan to distract Brute while the others ganked Eyes. She passed her phone to the frontmost of the other three as she floated forward stopping next to Brute, attempting to project nonchalance as she hovered a hand ready to grab hold of Brute in an instant before he could react as she let her weight settle to the ground until it started to crack beneath her.

 

"Hey, thanks for the offer Eyes, do you mind if I call you Eyes?" She didn't wait for a response before continuing, "Thanks. Anyway Eyes, I really appreciate the offer, you see I have something I'd really like fixed." Alice paused briefly for dramatic effect, slowly rising so that her head was higher than Brute's. "Anyway the thing that needs fixing is pretty recent. I keep hearing your voice yeah? It's honestly grating and I'd really appreciate if you could fix that. So do us all a favour and shut the hell up." She looked squarely at the offending man as she said the final word.

[Nerdzul]

"Nothing. I'm perfect just the way I am." Luke grinned, although it was mostly bravado used to conceal the horror he really felt for the scene unfolding in front of him.

 

Now perhaps he wasn't exactly a saint himself, but this? How many people had the 'master' twisted? Like he had done with the big guy over there (One that ironically perhaps was named exactly like one of Luke's best friends, himself, turned into a cyborg against his will). 

 

"Mat." He turned toward the brute, as if to console him. "You haven't failed. You don't need his approval. You are a good guy. He is a freaking monster. Help us out ok?" Hopefully the big guy was still affected by enough of his magic that he would at least listen to Luke. Himself, he clenched his fists and braced for a fight. He did not however, let the illusion go. Maybe there was still something to be gained out of it.

 

 

[Lone_Star]

On 7/29/2021 at 9:50 PM, Spacefurry said:

 

 

 

As the heroes enter the room, they can see to one side an area set up with what look like several holding cells. Most appear empty, but a few have occupants and each of their cells seems a little different then the others. One having a wire mesh between the bars, its inhabitant scratching nervously at a stump where her hand should be. A few cells away, a second one completely lacking a door more like a small cold storage locker. The man sitting huddled in it holding himself, shivering as small puffs of breath are visible. In a third cell an older man stretches out an arm through his bars, reaching for something on the floor, the heroes can’t see.

The most notable feature is the raised center platform, looking like someone set up a mobile surgery on it. Standing behind the operating table a tall slender man dressed in a dark grey suit and white face mask, featureless except for eye slits, is looking down at large creature sitting on the table.

 

“MaSteR, I…” Brute calls out but cuts off when the featureless mask tilts up, the eye slits focusing on him.

 

The man in the suit waves dismissively at the oversized cat-creature before him and it hops down out of sight. “I am aware of your failure.” His voice is cold and calm, lacking any indication of caring. The man tilts his head ever so slight as the white mask regards each of his visitors.

 

“BuT, MasTEr…” Brute begins again, only to be cut off when the masked man raises a finger towards him.

 

“I have not decided whether I left you with too much independent decision-making ability, or too little. But you did manage to bring several possibly interesting subjects.” The man places his hands on the table before him. “Tell me, is there anything you would like fixed? Anything you wish you could change about yourself?” Behind the mask his tone drips with feigned care and hidden malice.

 

El was immediately outraged by the scene. "SUBJECTS?! How dare you? There's nothing wrong with us, nor was there anything wrong with Mat before you 'fixed' him!" she growled, brandishing her grav-hammer. She looked to her friends to see their reactions before she made a move. There was surely more to this than she was seeing - the Master clearly had a strong hold over Mat.

 

18 hours ago, Nerdzul said:

"Mat." He turned toward the brute, as if to console him. "You haven't failed. You don't need his approval. You are a good guy. He is a freaking monster. Help us out ok?" Hopefully the big guy was still affected by enough of his magic that he would at least listen to Luke. Himself, he clenched his fists and braced for a fight. He did not however, let the illusion go. Maybe there was still something to be gained out of it.

 

 

 

"Yes, Mat. This isn't your fault. We're heroes - we help people, and you can be one too if you help us fight him. He's ruined your life, and there's no excuse for his actions." She pressed a button on her hammer, and it glowed with energy. "So to you, 'The Master', we give you a choice: either come with us peacefully, or we will kick your ass. I really, really hope you pick the second option."

 

El readied herself in a battle stance, and the armor slinked over her clothes, encasing her in it. She was ready to fight!