Massive Explosion in Riverside! [IC]

[Cyroa]

Dark Star shook his head sadly at Malice's rant. Hopefully the man would get the help he needed. For now, it was pointless to waste time arguing with the man. There were people who needed help still. He let the disarmed villain go to be treated while he moved into the bivouac. He'd start with the worst and work his way back to those in the best condition. He wasn't going to loose anyone else to this tragedy.

[Warmonger]

After a few minutes of harrowing work, Sen was able to clear the debris. He reached out his hand to the woman. "Come with me if you want to live. This house wont stand much longer." Gathering her legs and body, he lifted her into his arms, doing his best to ignore the contours of her body, as it pressed agaisnt him. Using his heightened speed he ran from burning building, even as it collapsed into flames behind them. He brought the woman over to where they were tending the victims. This is Sen I have secured another.

[alderwitch]

Phantom followed him out, thinking quietly to herself that this had to be a personal low. Next she'd be pulling rabbits out of a hat but the important thing was that people were getting saved. Even animals were getting saved.

"Need me to drop you somewhere?" She tilted her face up automatically to double check that there were no new singularities opening in the sky. "There has to be people that still need rescue in all this. Scarab?"

[Avenger Assembled]

"Fine where I am. Get along best on my own. Are the cats going to be all right in there?" Avenger moved forward, slipping through the noise and the smoke, far enough down that he could stare into the crater. "Hey! Isn't that a supervillan? The words came clearly through the mental network Scarab had set up as well.

[Avenger Assembled]

When he saw the badly-wounded supervillian down below, Avenger was left with some hard choices to make. He made a decision to stay far away from the crater, trusting the other heroes to deal with Malice, who seemed to be cooperating with the authorities rather than actually putting up a fight. What could I do about that suit, anyway?He headed back to the edge of the blast zone and concentrated on helping dig survivors there out of the rubble. He felt like a damnable coward leaving others to deal with a possibly dangerous threat...and maybe he was.

[alderwitch]

"I'm going to drop them off at a shelter until their owner can pick them up. They'll be fine." Phantom assured him, winking out of existance as she finished the sentance. True to her word, she teleported to the nearest shelter and with a few brief sentances gave them the woman's name and and that she'd lost her house in Riverside. Unfortunately for Phantom, she had to go solid enough to grab each cat out of her cloak and hand it to a vet tech. By the time she'd retrieved all yowling, hissing and crying felines, she was grateful that her gloves were leather and full length. Otherwise, she was afraid her skin would have been shredded clear from the bone at the end of this particular episode. As soon as the felines were safe in the care of much more competent people to deal with any injuries from the fires they might have sustained, Phantom blipped back to the rubble. Even having been in the midst of it, she still had her breath taken away by the extent of the damage.

There was still clean up work to be done, however, so she accessed the Scarab's mental network to locate the next group of survivors.

[Cyroa]

Dark Star moved through the injured as fast as he could, letting the healing energies repair and restore the victims of this tragedy. He continued with his reassuring words as he moved. And while everyone who survived would make a complete recovery, what about the others? He didn't know how many had died. However many, the number was too high... He'd continue until there was no one left. Until not a single scratch remained. Of course, he still needed to get back to Arrowhawk at the Lair, but the man was a hero. He'd understand if Dark Star was a little late.

[Geez3r]

Eric moved through the crowd, doing his best to make sure everyone was calm, cool and collected. He knew everyone there, and they knew him, seeing a friendly face at a time like this, it can do wonders. He made sure everyone was accounted for as well. He used some of his basic first aid knowledge to direct Dark Star to those that were more heavily injured than the others, and to do his best to keep all the other injured alive until Dark Star could get to them. But Dark Star worked very fast, and the crowd calmed down quickly.

There wasn't much else for Eric to do, so he was just sort of standing off to the side, and then he stumbled a bit. He had lost a lot of blood, and now that things were calming down the adrenaline was starting to wear off, and he no longer had his suit helping to regulate his biorhythm. Eric wobbly made his way to a piece of rubble, sat on the ground in front of it, and leaned against it. A dull throbbing resounded throughout his body, made worse by the pumping of his blood, especially in his head.

But worst of all was his hand... The hand that wasn't there. It was a hollow pain. It didn't hurt per se. It was like your arm had fallen asleep, but before it could "wake up" you dunked it in a bucket of ice water. It was odd, and... something he would have to learn to live with.

[Dr Archeville]

Ace Danger

Ace's keen insights (i.e., his good Sense Motive modifier & Skill Mastery in said skill) tell him that the woman who'd run back into her burning home is largely in shock, and is trying to salvage 'creature comfort' items rather than anything that's truly irreplaceable or valuable.

He is able to escort her back to the bivouac, after convincing her to leave the Hummel figurines.

Arrowhawk

Is alone in Scarab's Lair, cut off from everyone.

And his leg hurts.

Avenger

Manages to scare/corral cats into Phantom's Cloak, then sets out to see... a badly-wounded Malice at the bivouac w/ Dark Star? Yes, it was him, or at least someone wearing the blasted remains of his armor, and what's more, he was missing an arm!

Dark Star

Found and stabilized Malice, and carried him to the bivouac Ace Danger had set up. He then sets to work healing those he can.

Malice

Is full of conflicting emotions.

And is missing an arm.

Phantom

Drops Crazy Cat Lady's ten kittens off at the nearest shelter. When she appears, every animal there freaks out, as if Something Very Wrong had appeared.

Or as if traces of Something Very Wrong were clinging to Phantom's cloak. Like the traces of energy from the dimensional breaches she'd been closing.

Popping back to the disaster site, she finds [see below]

Scarab

The Scarab abides.

Sen

Sen is able to carry/escort the young and buxom woman to the bivouac.

Mercifully, it appears that all the casualties have been gathered to the bivouac, either via your efforts or because they were able to move there under their own power, just as the paramedics and firefighters arrive. There are about 20 gathered in all, most suffering from minor smoke inhalation or minor (barely 2nd degree) burn damage; most of the residents of the area had been away that morning when the explosion occurred. A few -- such as the concussed man Scarab had saved, and a St. Bernard who suffered some serious burns while fleeing with its family -- do need more serious treatment, but it is nothing the paramedics (and dark Star) cannot treat or at least stabilize. There are only two fatalities, the two Dark Star found in the pit of the crater.

Fires still rage, though, and smoke is still spreading, and the firefighter's efforts are hampered by the damage to the water mains.

[angrydurf]

After finally convincing the shocked woman to see reason and come with him to the bivouac Ace moved quietly through the crowd offering comfort here and there and halping with first aid were needed. He kept relitively close to the de-armored Malice just in case. Given his state it looked as if the explosion had been accidental but one could never tell with this kind of madman.

The residents were safe now came the hard part of dealing with the aftermath. Ace had seen enough disasters in his time to know that the initial event was often less destrictive than the ensuing fires in cases like this.

To the heroes in the Scarabs network he interjected, 'Things are under control here it looks like, but those fares are getting out of control anyone got a way to slow them down? We should be getting national guard forces incoming soon but maybe not soon enough. Malice looks peacefull enough but we should get him into custody, not to mention medical attention.'

[N/A]

Everyone in The Scarab's mental network suddenly felt as though they went blind or deaf for a moment, as the psychic bonds between them suddenly snapped off. The Scarab refocused her attention on the lone supervillain on the scene.

Malice.

She flew down to what was left of the star-spangled terrorist. Hovering in front of him, she began to peel back the layers of his mind. "What happened here, Malice? Why are these people dead? What did you do?"

[Avenger Assembled]

Watching from the corner where his bloodlust had put him, Avenger said a silent prayer of thanks at the sight of Scarab sweeping in. Why is everyone so eager to let the supervillian run around? Like so much delicious lobster. He winced. This is why I'm over here making sure the buildings don't collapse any further. "Hello! Can anyone hear me?" he called at the shattered house nearby as he approached it.

[Geez3r]

You gain a quick peek into Malice's mind before it is clouded by rage. "You dare to accuse me of this!? Let me spell it out for you. I just lost everything I ever had - EVERYTHING! My house, my research, my friends, my good name, my mother and even my @#$&%$#@ arm! And to what purpose!? What did I gain out of this, besides the ire of every living thing in this city? And you would think I caused this somehow? Let me as you this, how were so many of you on scene so quickly? I haven't done a damn thing! But you - you must have planned this! You attack me, kill innocent people and then swoop in to look like the hero you wish you were!" Malice is crazy, but you don't think he did it.

[Cyroa]

Dark Star stood back, the last injuries restored. Through the link he sent out his thoughts. All the injuries here have been removed beyond the two dead. Someone please make sure the police take Malice into custody. There is little I can do for the fires, though I suppose I can open a wormhole to the bottom of the bay if nothing else. I have another I need to attend to. Scarab can call me back if necessary so I shall not be far.

Dark Star flashed upward gone in an instant. He phased through the walls, earth and barriers to arrive in the Lair's Medical bay a moment later. "Arrowhawk?" He looked around for the other hero.

[N/A]

The Scarab hovered in front of Malice for a few seconds more, her head cocked slightly to the left. "You're telling the truth. You honestly don't think this is your fault." She turned to her nearby comrades. "Something's not right here. This bears further investigation."

The Scarab flew down to the bottom of the crater. When she touched down, she knelt on one knee and rested her palm on the ground. She closed her eyes, and pushed her sight against the flow of time. Show me what happened here...show me...

[Ecalsneerg]

"I'm through here," shouted Arrowhawk through gritted teeth, lying on a table in the medical bay. He'd torn open further the hole in his trousers, and had injected painkillers into his leg near where the shrapnel had gone in. "How's the situation back in Riverside?" Popping a pad of gauze between his teeth, he drew the scalpel around the wound site.

[N/A]

I can't believe what I just saw.

The Scarab stood up, clenching her fists and snarling beneath her mask as she glared at the two corpses lying at the bottom of the crater.

DarkStar, please come retrieve me at once and bring me to The Lair. Leave Arrowhawk where he is. He and I need to talk. Tell him to stay put. And if he tries to leave, blast him.

[Cyroa]

Dark Star moved over to Arrowhawk. "Here, let me help with that. I'm sorry for the additional injury. Just hold tight, this will be over in a minute." He used his telekinetics to take the scalpel and finish the incision, seeing through the leg to note where the metal was.

He was reaching to pluck the metal out when Scarab's voice sounded in his head. Unfortunaly I can't. I am in the middle of taking care of Arrowhawk's injuries. You'll have to wait. After I've finish, I'll retrieve you. And blast him? I will do no such thing! Shame on you for such thoughts.

He looked back to Arrowhawk, gently sliding the metal shard out to cause the lease amount of pain to the man. "Scarab certainly seems rather perturbed at the moment. But Riverside...is still bad; fires and the like. I've managed to heal all the injuries...of those I could. Two people...were beyond my ability. They looked to have died in the explosion sadly. As for Malice, he's very injured but I've stabilized him. He turned himself in thankfully. I'm certain the authorities will be taking him into custody soon enough." The piece finally slid free and he set it down on the metal tray. "There we are."

[Ecalsneerg]

"Agh. I can't really say I've had much worse than that... yeouch." He managed to sit up. Two dead, and all because I screwed up. And neither of them was Malice. I don't think I've ever made a mistake like this before... No. Getting maudlin won't help at a time like this. "Thanks for helping out, mate... I'll be fine. You better go help out, stop those fires... I should be fine."

[Warmonger]

Sen looked around at the gutted city streets. The sounds of fire and crumbling mortar replaced the voices of the other heroes in his head. He had scene many horrors in his short life. In perspective this destruction seemed relatively harmless. But this had been simply an explosion, a mere event. It could have been worse, much worse.

Sen looked at the man it seemed was at the center of this. From this distance he didn't look the part. Just an extremely tired and injured looking man. Sen thought of simply cutting him down right there. A living enemy at your back served no purpose, but he operated in world of treacherous inhuman monsters. His code was one that didn't so easily apply in this world.

[Cyroa]

"Again, I'm sorry. I had to heal you considering how badly hurt you were. Let me just seal this up so you won't bleed out." Dark Star gestured, applying a moment of regenerative energies to seal the wound and stop the bleeding. "Now, it should be alright to heal on it's own. Try not to use it too much Scarab wants to talk to you in person and wanted you to stay here. She seemed rather upset. I told her I''d go fetch her momentarily. Will you be alright till I return with her?"

Scarab? I've patched him up. What is the problem? I'll be leaving in a moment to come get you.

[angrydurf]

Ace frowned slightly at the villians speach and decided he should be removed before he started more trouble. He motioned for a couple of the police and paramedics and approached Malice recognizing him from an event not long ago Ace addressed him cordially, "Mr. Michaels you've done all you can here. If you'll come with these officers over to the ambulance we can get underway and get you to a doctor." You catch more flies with honey than vinager his mother used to say and best not to insite another rant about the mans conspiracy delusions.

[Geez3r]

Eric was pacing back and forth, obviously wound up by Scarab's accusation. He's muttering constantly under his breath, occasionally punctuating a sentence with a rather strong and loud obscenity. Then Ace interrupts his mutterings. Eric just looks at Ace for a few moments, like he's not really sure he's there. Then Eric bursts out laughing again. It sounds sad, defeated and a little hysterical. "Great. Just great. I get taken in by the rich kid. Not the ancient mentalist, not the energy being, no; I get the rich kid. Fine, let's go. The last thing I want to add to today's events is a whooping by the police.

Eric starts walking to the ambulance, ranting. But the ranting dies down as the situation finally starts settling on him, and more of the laughing starts.

Guess the other heroes couldn't be bothered. No not with me. I'm not a proper threat to them anymore. No, why would anyone be afraid of the guy who just lost everything. Hehe-- heh. Course not. 'He's got no more will to fight' they'll say. Hehehaha.

The joke'll be on them.

HeeeheHahah*sob*Hehoha.

He can't rebuild after this.

HehehaHA.

I really can't ya know?

I got no arm see?

Heh.

Those don't grow back.

*Sob*

No matter how hard you want it to.

I'll be like this forever.

I'll never be normal again.

Not ever."

Eric collapses and falls to his knees, the weight of everything just crashes over him.

*sob* *sob*

*deep calming breath*

He screams at the heavens: YOU TOOK MY ARM YOU BASTARDS!!!

[Dr Archeville]

The firefighters looked to have things about a third of the way under control, though 2/3rds of the fire and smoke was still a lot of fire and smoke.

And now two National Guard jeeps arrived, which quickly disgorged the eight soldiers within. Four spread out around the area, while the other four approached the bivouac where most of the superheroes were.

"What's going on here?," one of the men barked.

[Ecalsneerg]

"Yeah, I'll be OK until she gets here," said Arrowhawk to Dark Star darkly, "Just go. People need help, OK?" He lay back and felt his leg twinging still. "I should be OK."