Saturday Night Spooks (IC)

[rpgronin]

GM

Saturday, October 16th, 2010; 8:14 PM

In the dim moonlight on the West End of Freedom City, trouble has once more reared its ugly head. News vans and amateur reporters line-up outside of Ashton Mall, its entrances locked with heavy-duty gates and a small barricade erected by Freedom City's finest men in uniform with their patrol cars, their lights silently flashing a tell-tale warning for all those curiously approaching to investigate the scene. The situation had already been plastered all over the news, and it's no wonder all the onlookers seemed so awed by the spectacle they now bore witness to.

"This is Amy Feng from the Channel 3 Action News Team reporting." a familiar female personality says with practiced poise and feigned sentiment, the chilly autumn wind ruffling her hair as she stands beside a gaggle of policemen taking cover behind their cars in front of Ashton Mall. "We're now entering hour two of the Ashton Mall Stand-Off. For those of you just joining us, earlier this evening a large group of armed men stormed West End's mall, barricading the building and taking an unknown number of hostages inside. As of now, no demands have been made, and the situation remains at a stand-still as police struggle to establish contact with the supposed terrorists inside."

A series of murmurs erupt from the crowd as a lone woman inside the mall comes running up to the second-story window, banging feverishly on the glass as she screams for help. Tears stream down her face as various policemen shout into their radios, trying desperately to organize some sort of assistance. But alas, they are too late. From behind, a figure sporting an ominous black robe simply hoists the woman up and carts her off, much to the victim's obvious dismay and distress. The crowd quiet down as they begin to exchange discourse among themselves solemnly, eyes still affixed on the building ahead.

"And we have breaking news! A young woman thought to be a hostage has recently been spotted on the second-floor of the Ashton Mall, only to be taken back by a man in a hood as police tried to organize help." Miss Feng continues, a hand cupped over one ear as she leans into the camera. With a harsh shove, one of the nearby pedestrians shoves the stunning reporter aside, hijacking her airtime as the distressed middle-aged female passer-by gripped the camera firmly to center it on herself.

"Where are the 'heroes?!" she cries, panic rife in her voice. "Those people need help! My daughter needs help! Why isn't any--" but her words are cut short as a pair of policemen cart the belligerent woman off, escorting her back through the crowd and away from the newshounds even as Amy Feng signaled her cameraman to cut the feed.

The tension was so thick it could be cut with a knife. If someone didn't do something quick, there was no telling what might happen...

[KnightDisciple]

Corbin's day had started so pleasantly. After all, he'd finally started settling in at Claremont; making friends, getting a hang of his classes, all of that stuff. He'd come to the mall to get a couple of sketch pads and some sketching pencils, and maybe just to have an excuse to walk around a bit.

'Seriously, this is nuts. I just wanted a nice Saturday evening. Grab my stuff, walk the mall, maybe buy a book, and then head back to the university. Maybe draw some of the buildings. But no, some nutbags in black decided today was a good day to take hostages. Is this typical for this city?'

He'd been getting a drink from one of the water fountains when he got that weird tingling sensation from his ring. It was picking up weapons that just didn't belong in a mall, and it seemed like there was intent to use them. Not good. He'd ducked into the men's bathroom and managed to keep out of sight until the thugs had finished checking the whole side hallway. Now, he stood just inside said hallway, carefully peering out, attempting to see where any other people, hostile or friendly, might be. He wasn't in his costume yet, but he was seriously considering the change. He just wished he had some help...

[Raveled]

Jessica Parker was with the rest of the hostages in the second floor food court, sitting at a plastic bench. The backpack containing her powered suit sat in a pile near the middle with the rest of the hostages' purses and wallets; her boyfriend Blake Salazar was sitting across from her, and their hands reached across the tabletop to intertwine. She smiled at him, squeezing his hands and leaning in until their heads were almost touching. Their whispered conversation melded into the dozens that other small groups were having, and so their actual words were almost inaudible. "I need to get to my suit," she said, "if I'm gonna be able to do anything."

[rpgronin]

GM

Corbin's day had started so pleasantly. After all, he'd finally started settling in at Claremont; making friends, getting a hang of his classes, all of that stuff. He'd come to the mall to get a couple of sketch pads and some sketching pencils, and maybe just to have an excuse to walk around a bit.

'Seriously, this is nuts. I just wanted a nice Saturday evening. Grab my stuff, walk the mall, maybe buy a book, and then head back to the university. Maybe draw some of the buildings. But no, some nutbags in black decided today was a good day to take hostages. Is this typical for this city?'

He'd been getting a drink from one of the water fountains when he got that weird tingling sensation from his ring. It was picking up weapons that just didn't belong in a mall, and it seemed like there was intent to use them. Not good. He'd ducked into the men's bathroom and managed to keep out of sight until the thugs had finished checking the whole side hallway. Now, he stood just inside said hallway, carefully peering out, attempting to see where any other people, hostile or friendly, might be. He wasn't in his costume yet, but he was seriously considering the change. He just wished he had some help...

Peering around, Corbin spies with his little eyes something black and humanoid. The bottom floor of the mall was massive, and on the southern tip of it from whence Corbin had thus far remained undetected, he spots a pair of individuals creeping down the hallways with firearms in hand, idly chattering as they made their rounds. Every now and then, they seemed to stop at one of the many shops lining the ground floor, stepping inside, and rummaging loudly about as if looking for something - or someone - with pious devotion. It was odd really, the way they tore through the boutiques with reckless abandon, frantically turning up everything and anything less obvious that people could be hiding in or under. It was like they were madmen- and women possessed, yet blind to searching the more obvious spots for stragglers in their impromptu coup' d'etat; at least for the time being, at any rate.

Higher up on the second floor, the situation seems much more controlled. A small handful of the nutjobs in black toting cheap guns patrol the second story of Ashton Mall at a leisurely pace, occasionally stopping to chit-chat with one another, but from where Corbin stands he can't quite make out what they're saying. This all seemed highly organized... someone must have spent a large amount of personal time constructing this elaborate take-over, having planned every nuance of this shenanigan with loving care and attention. In fact, it almost looked like the second floor of the establishment was the centerpiece for something, given the almost guard-like patrols by the armed terrorists; no doubt there to make sure the civilians herded upstairs are kept in check. There's something more here than meets the eye, but without a clear visual indicator, it's impossible to say for sure what it is...

---------------------------------------------------------------

Upstairs fairs no better where Ironclad and her counterpart sit, victims of circumstance by the masked and hooded vigilantes. There's quite a few of them stationed within the food court, no doubt intent on keeping their duly appointed guests right where they are. Many of the patrons are outright terrified, to which many of the antagonists make sure to enforce with glowers, taunts, and jeers. One of them in particular stands out amongst the crowd though, a good six-foot-eight and undisguised, a rippling mass of muscle and physical intimidation by the quaint teriyaki stand. Mutely he stands, simply staring with ominous intent at the mass of hostages present in the food court.

"This was so easy." the heroes overhear one of the black-robed men mumble to one of his compatriots, a masked slender woman standing opposite him by the railing leading to the northern end of the mall. "Just like she said, there wasn't even a hitch. Soon as she's ready, we'll get our p--"

"Shut up." the female terrorist rebuffs, pointing her pistol at the man's masked face. "Don't talk about it. You'll jinx it. Don't you know how all this stuff works?"

"Alright, alright! Jeez! Touchy."

There was something very odd about all this. Very organized, very efficient... and by someone either incredibly clever, bold, or reckless. Even as the young and old cried alike, panicked in solemn silence, or were outright bitter and angry at the entirety of the situation, the armed thugs continued to goad and attempt to instill fear in their trapped prey... and our un-costumed heroes were no exception as a pair of the goons approached them, shotgun and pistol in-hand respectively.

"You scared, little girl?" one of them chided, pointing his pistol towards Jessica with malicious intent. "You should be. Oh, I can't wait to just splatter that pretty little face all over the floor."

"Maybe we'll do your boyfriend first. Make you watch." the other jibs, his threat as hollow and devoid of emotion as his comrade as he brandishes his shotgun. "But not yet. Not after the party." And with their threats espoused, the two mooks saunter off, content to yuck it up amongst themselves as they return to terrorizing the rest of the assembled hostages.

[KnightDisciple]

Corbin mentally uttered a half-dozen Ancient Hebrew curses, before carefully pulling away from the front of the hall. Walking further along, he came across an emergency door. With as much care as he could muster, he opened it slowly and slipped inside. He needed to get upstairs.

But first, he had to change. Once the door was closed, Corbin held up his right hand for a moment, closed his eyes, and concentrated. In a flash of eerie blue fire, where once Corbin Hughes, high school student and aspiring archeologist stood, there was now the Cobalt Templar, shining beacon of hope to those in need.

'At least I hope so.' he thought to himself.

The change completed, CT began to float upwards, choosing to forgo the stairs themselves until he reached the second floor, where he would slowly, carefully crack the door to the stairs open. Through the narrow opening, he'd try to see if there were any of the criminals in the immediate vicinity.

[Lone Star]

Jessica Parker was with the rest of the hostages in the second floor food court, sitting at a plastic bench. The backpack containing her powered suit sat in a pile near the middle with the rest of the hostages' purses and wallets; her boyfriend Blake Salazar was sitting across from her, and their hands reached across the tabletop to intertwine. She smiled at him, squeezing his hands and leaning in until their heads were almost touching. Their whispered conversation melded into the dozens that other small groups were having, and so their actual words were almost inaudible. "I need to get to my suit," she said, "if I'm gonna be able to do anything."

Blake nodded slightly at her, as not to attract the attention of the guards. "I'll power up, and while they're distracted, you can grab your bag. That sound like a good idea?" Blake was glad he didn't carry his copy of the Necronomicon in his backpack today. It was safely tucked away in a pocket dimension he summoned in his room, safe from prying hands that would use it for evil. It had just been a regular date for the two of them, until the terrorists showed up.

There was something very odd about all this. Very organized, very efficient... and by someone either incredibly clever, bold, or reckless. Even as the young and old cried alike, panicked in solemn silence, or were outright bitter and angry at the entirety of the situation, the armed thugs continued to goad and attempt to instill fear in their trapped prey... and our un-costumed heroes were no exception as a pair of the goons approached them, shotgun and pistol in-hand respectively.

"You scared, little girl?" one of them chided, pointing his pistol towards Jessica with malicious intent. "You should be. Oh, I can't wait to just splatter that pretty little face all over the floor."

"Maybe we'll do your boyfriend first. Make you watch." the other jibs, his threat as hollow and devoid of emotion as his comrade as he brandishes his shotgun. "But not yet. Not after the party." And with their threats espoused, the two mooks saunter off, content to yuck it up amongst themselves as they return to terrorizing the rest of the assembled hostages.

KC said a few words he learned in the Necronomicon. "The sooner the better, Jessica. Things like this almost make me wish I was a supervillain. Almost. But no need to worry, their nightmares will be plenty terrible. I'm ready when you are."

[Faust]

"That movie was terrible!" Daniel said, sitting in the dark cinema, "At least the effects were decent." He was talking to himself again.

Daniel was one of the few who waited for the credits to end. Not because he was interested on the cast or who wrote the film, but because he wanted to be the last one to leave. When he suspected that nobody could see him, he waited a few more seconds then he vanished. Daniel instantly arrived in his comfy chair in front of his TV in his apartment in Southside. He was still wearing the suit he wore doing his courier work.

"I really should check the reviews before seeing a movie," he told himself while he took out the torn ticket stub from his pocket. Deep inside, he wished he had two.

Hoping to find something better to watch compared to the horrible movie he just saw, he turned the TV on.

"And we have breaking news! A young woman thought to be a hostage has recently been spotted on the second-floor of the Ashton Mall, only to be taken back by a man in a hood as police tried to organize help." Miss Feng continues, a hand cupped over one ear as she leans into the camera. With a harsh shove, one of the nearby pedestrians shoves the stunning reporter aside, hijacking her airtime as the distressed middle-aged female passer-by gripped the camera firmly to center it on herself.

"Where are the 'heroes?!" she cries, panic rife in her voice. "Those people need help! Mydaughter needs help! Why isn't any--" but her words are cut short as a pair of policemen cart the belligerent woman off, escorting her back through the crowd and away from the newshounds even as Amy Feng signaled her cameraman to cut the feed.

"Hostages?! I've got to do something!"

He disappeared, only to reappear in his pocket dimension, which he calls "The Stockroom." Daniel kept a ski-mask and a pair of goggles in the Stockroom. He chose to keep his identity a secret like some of the big heroes in Freedom City do.

Daniel didn't think he would be as courageous or as awesome as those heroes, but he knew he could help. He knew he could use his powers to protect the hostages, if not stop the group of armed men.

"Armed men!" Daniel exclaimed.

Quickly, he grabbed the protective undercover vest he found lying around the Stockroom. He wore the vest,which he believed belonged to his father, under his gray suit and put his mask and goggles on.

Daniel has only been to Ashton Mall once but he remembered the food court vividly. He planned to use it as an entry point, hoping none of the hostage takers would spot him there. He crouched down, then within a few moments, Daniel was hiding ​​​​​​​behind one of the food court ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​stalls.

He slowly rose his head behind the kiosk to survey the area. "Look at the bright side, Daniel," he thought to himself, "the suspense here would make a better movie than that garbage."

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

[rpgronin]

GM

Peering through the crack of the heavy metal emergency exit door, Cobalt Templar catches a pair of armed thugs making their rounds towards him atop the second floor, armed to the teeth with cheap handguns as they peer into the adjacent shops. They were oblivious to the outrageously tall gentlemen watching them, their eyes vexed elsewhere and their attention focused more on murmured chit-chat than real work. The element of surprise was Corbin's; all he needed now was to act before his location was duly discovered.

Suddenly, however, Corbin picks up on a sudden outburst of indecipherable speech from further down the catwalk... it sounded as if it was coming from the food court! Whatever it was, it was certainly enough to earn a reverse glance from the pair of armed men formerly heading towards Cobalt Templar.

---------------------------------------------------

Meanwhile, back in the food court, things take an unexpected turn for the worst. Certainly, the armed men had been content to simply bully and intimidate their hostage through gun-toting jibs and jibes, but the situation dramatically becomes even more tense as an individual poofs into existence behind one of the many stalls lining the public eatery. It's no surprise really that everyone inside the mall looks, an amalgam of surprise, relief, and anger as the masked fellow peeps from over the stall etching across their faces - or at least those that had their faces exposed.

"Is that a cape?!" one of the hooded goons shouts, earning a cursory glance from the gargantuan mute man from afar even as his comrade opens his mouth as he points towards the equally masked man in the dapper suit. "The boss didn't say anything about heroes! Get him!"

Now panicked, the group of thugs and miscreants turn to face their new aggressor whilst some - chief amongst them the large, unspoken man by the teriyaki stand - began rallying up their prisoners in small groups as the terrorists begin heading down to ground level, lead by their behemoth of a leader as he silently directs his forces. A half-dozen mooks remain, however, as they train their firearms on the kiosk The Courier found himself pinned behind. In all the confusion, a number of the mall-goers-turned-hostages seize their opportunity amidst all the chaos and surprise to make a break for it, scattering like rats on a sinking ship.

It looked like things were about to get hairy.

[KnightDisciple]

'No time like the present.'

Corbin steeled himself with that thought as he threw open the stairway door. Even as he did, his right arm was being encase in blue fire. At first, it was an indistinct mess. But as his arm began to get level with the thug to his left, the fire had solidified into a futuristic-looking arm cannon. For a split second, energy seemed to gather in the barrel...

"You people picked the wrong mall to take hostages in."

And released the blast directly at the center mass of the thug. Should just knock him out, if things went well enough.

[Raveled]

Jessica's head whipped around as the situation descended towards chaos, trying to keep track of everything going on. When gunfire erupted and the thugs started getting blown around by someone in what looked like full plate armor, she figured it was the best opportunity she was going to get. She gave Blake's hands one last squeeze and slid off the bench seat, making a bee-line for her pack. If she could get that and get into one of the food court booths, she should be able to change.

[Faust]

"What the-!"

Daniel quickly lowered his head again behind the stall counter, his heart pounding.

He tried to remember what he saw when he looked over the counter. Some men pointing their guns at him, while some others leading out the panicked hostages. He was glad that he was wearing a mask when they saw him. Mostly because he didn't want anyone to know who he was and partly because he knew he must have looked like an idiot.

"Alright, note to self:," he thought to himself angrily, "Check reviews before seeing a movie and, if you survive this, know the situation first before ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​risking your life!"

Daniel was already involved in this and he had no plans to teleport himself out to safety. He saw how scared the hostages were and how much they needed help. He was no soldier, but he knew he needed to act. Luckily some of the guards' attention were diverted to him instead of the hostages.

"Relax, I can do this..." Daniel told himself breathing deeply as he prepares his next move.

[Lone Star]

KC looked at Jessica as she left. What a woman. He grinned as he rose from his seat. Blake stretched out his arms and then raised his fists in a Power Rangers fighting stance. "Cthulhu f'thagn, b*tches!" he shouted! A wash of mystic fire, and Blake was transformed into Kid Cthulhu! His squamous tentacles flexed, and Blake gestured with his hands. Several blasts of mystic fire races towards the two thugs that threatened Blake and Jessica earlier. He hated to say it, but he was going to enjoy taking them down.

[rpgronin]

GM

Seizing the opportunity amongst the madness and confusion at the sudden appearance of a masked man in a fetching suit, Jessica snags her bag and makes like a madwoman to the nearest clothing store, dipping into Freedom Apparel with backpack in hand as she finds a secluded, lockable changing room to don her heroic duds away from prying eyes. The madmen don't even seem to notice their female hostage take off, far too busy being distracted by the clearly insane fellow hiding behind a sushi stand as they train their weapons on him.

In the meantime, Kid Cthulhu - now betentacled and much more intimidating - turns his ire to the two thugs in black who'd so callously threatened him and his female counterpart. Firing off a pair of blasts wreathed in mystical fire, the pair of men turn from the man hiding behind the kiosk just in time for their eyes to go wide in horror, the energy striking them both square center in the chests and sending them flying with concussive force over the second-story railings.

The rest of the armed men and women, now thoroughly alarmed and shocked to see not one but two odd entities attempting to thwart them and their unknown plans, seem thoroughly confused as to what to do.

"I didn't sign up for this!" one of the female terrorists screams, dropping her pistol in fear as she begins to flee after the mute mammoth of a man and the bulk of the remaining two-dozen hostages downstairs.

The remaining armed fellows aren't quite so cowardly, however, as they stand fast to face their aggressors behind veiled black masks and eerie, somewhat mystical-esque robes.

------------------------------------------------------------

Meanwhile, back in the hallway, Corbin's well-aimed blast strikes true, catching the surprised mook right in the back. The blast sends the poor, pistol-brandishing man flying through the air, hitting the ground hard on the second-floor as he slides a little ways before slumping over unconsciously even as the sounds of combat erupt further down the way, near the food court. Looks like trouble's brewing not too far elsewhere in Ashton Mall!

Whirling around, wide-eyed but no longer surprised, the second terrorist armed with a handgun gets a good glimpse of the hero in blue, eyes narrowing and brow furled clearly even through the mask he wore.

"A cape!" he screeches, bringing his weapon to bear on the Cobalt Templar from afar. "You can't stop us! Not now!"

Oblivious to the terrorist, a pair of hostages come careening down the second-story walkway, panicked and disorganized until they see Corbin and one of the dispatched madmen. In terror and uncertainty, they dive into a nearby sporting goods store to avoid being seen by the brutish thug and attempt to get out of harm's way.

[KnightDisciple]

CT took a few large steps forward, re-adjusting his aim as he went. The "cannon" on his arm was now pointed at the other thug, who apparently didn't like the hero in blue for some strange reason.

"The name is Cobalt Templar. I can, and will, stop you, and all your comrades. Now, lay down."

With that, another blast of concentrated ethereal fire leaps from his "cannon", aimed square at the thug.

[Faust]

As Daniel was getting ready to make his move, he heard a commotion back where the hooded men were. It sounded like a battle. Maybe the heroes have arrived, he thought. Now was his chance.

He recalled seeing a little boy with his parents. This must be traumatizing for the child.

Remembering where they were running to, Daniel teleported in front of them.

"Um, hi! Sorry I surprised you, but I am-uh-call me The Courier and I'm going to deliver you out of here and into safety," Daniel told the small family as he reached out for them and held their hands. He had no time to check what the earlier commotion was about so he quickly disappeared from the food court, along with the child and his parents.

They instantly reappeared behind the police line outside the mall where he saw the action from his TV.

"You'll be alright kid," he assured the boy.

"I, on the other hand, might have some explaining to do," he told himself as he saw the alarmed faces of the police and bystanders. He couldn't stay here long, he'd have to go back and get the other hostages.

"And what's with 'Call me The Courier and I'm going to deliver you?' I've got to think of better lines!"

[rpgronin]

GM

As The Courier vanishes from sight within the Food Court, the criminals in black suddenly find themselves without a viable target, their guns waffling at nothing but air in the wake of his disappearances.

"Where'd he go?!" one of the female terrorists exclaims, searching to and fro for her missing target.

"Forget him!" the larger man retorts, shotgun already moving from the kiosk and towards Kid Cthulhu. "Get the other one! We gotta give her time to get ready!"

The only viable target left in the room, Kid Cthulhu soon becomes the center of attention within Ashton Mall's second floor food court. In a flurry of gunfire, the three remaining terrorists of the original hostage-holding fiasco unload on their flagellum-faced foe. One of the pistoleer's shots goes wide, hitting a nearby light fixture hanging on the other side of one of the food court stalls, causing it to shatter into a thousand shards of fractured glass. Unfortunately for Kid Cthulhu, the other two aren't quite so inept with their weapons.

-----------------------------------------------------

With another potent blast from his conjured cannon, Cobalt Templar sends his target sailing through the air, a palpable scream of surprise and dismay as the man toting the pistol crashes through a nearby shop's glass display case. He lands with a prodigious thud, unconscious from the devastating hit from the young teen hero!

But with a surprise victory over the pair of madmen patrolling the second floor, Corbin is met with bad news in return as his ears pick up the tell-tale signs of gunfire echoing through the mall. The situation had apparently gone from bad to worse as the conflict further inwards seems to have erupted into a shoot-out! Whatever he was going to do, he was going to need to do it fast if they were firing at the hostages!

-----------------------------------------------------

Outside, The Courier finds the police equally relieved to have had a handful of hostages returned to safety and surprised to see his sudden appearance! A pair of officers rush the mother, father, and young boy to the nearest ambulance, eager to check for any injuries they may have incurred.

"Thank you! We owe you our lives." the father calls back as he's escorted, tears streaming down his face in an amalgam of relief and joy, his family now safe in the hands of Freedom City's finest. From outside, however, even the best of tidings are soon washed away as the sound of gunfire echoes through the night air, the on-lookers and police alike stricken with horror as the scene inside - whatever it was - turned ugly.

"Shots fired! Shots fired! I repeat, we have shots fired inside Ashton Mall!" one of the young officers cries into his radio, notifying the rest of the assembled patrons as he does so.

[Raveled]

Jessica raced into the shop, overturning a few displays as she dashed into an open changing room. She dumped her pack on the provided bench and didn't even bother to close the door as she stripped off her shirt and slacks, revealing the printed circuitry of her interface suit underneath. Next she pulled the various pieces of her suit out of the pack, shedding some bags full of packing peanuts that she used to give the sack shape. The different parts of her armor clicked into place, and the armored shell expanded to cover her body while the suit's start-up flashed in front of her eyes. She flexed her gauntleted-hands, willing the system to cycle faster.

[Lone Star]

The only viable target left in the room, Kid Cthulhu soon becomes the center of attention within Ashton Mall's second floor food court. In a flurry of gunfire, the three remaining terrorists of the original hostage-holding fiasco unload on their flagellum-faced foe. One of the pistoleer's shots goes wide, hitting a nearby light fixture hanging on the other side of one of the food court stalls, causing it to shatter into a thousand shards of fractured glass. Unfortunately for Kid Cthulhu, the other two aren't quite so inept with their weapons.

-----------------------------------------------------

Kid Cthulhu dodges the first bullet handily, the slug whizzing by his betentacled head. The spread from the mook's shotgun, however, tore a hole in the shoulder of his costume, and one of the massive shotgun slugs grazed him, but it was a clean shot. KC gasped and grabbed his arm. The one with the shotgun would be the next to go. Pistols were less annoying. He concentrated, and built of a reservoir of psychic energy. He released it in a single bolt, and it went straight at the shotgun mook's head.

[KnightDisciple]

"Looks like I did stop you, nutjob."

Corbin was, for a moment, wracked with indecision. There was gunfire down the way...but there were also hostages right there. He decided to evacuate the pair immediately, so that they at least could be safe.

He actually lifted from the ground and flew the comparatively short distance to the sporting goods store, looking around for the freed hostages.

"Hey, take it easy folks. Both of the whackos in black are down for the count. My name is Cobalt Templar. I'm here to help you. Come on, I'll get you two outside."

He makes his voice as pleasant as possible when he speaks, trying to help the people stay calm, and not panic.

Assuming they responded positively, Corbin would gather them up and start moving them towards the nearest window. No skylights meant a somewhat tighter squeeze, but so it goes.

[rpgronin]

GM

With one, volatile blast, Kid Cthulhu's mystical powers strike true as the large man with the shotgun grips his head, trying hard to remain conscious. It doesn't take long though for his eyes to roll into the back of his head, dropping his weapon as he himself hits the tiled floor of the Food Court with a nasty thud.

"What did you do to Jimmy?!" the female pistoleer demands, watching her sleeping friend lie prone, unmoving in his fractured state. "You monster!"

--------------------------

"O-okay. Whatever you say." one of the hostages said, helping his young female counterpart to her feet as the blue-clad hero makes his claim for help. They were a young couple, terrified by the situation and on the verge of hysteria as they trotted after the still-flying Cobalt Templar from behind at a brisk pace. When their rescuer stops at the second story window, the young woman finally speaks, peering out the window and towards the police skeptically.

"T-t-the exits were all locked down when those crazies busted in here. How are you gonna get us out of here, sir?"

[Faust]

"You're welcome! Any time, sir..uh..citizen..uh sir!" Daniel replied to the father.

It was cliche, but to see the relief and joy of the family was all the thanks he needed.

Suddenly, gunfire was heard. Daniel hoped none of the hostages were shot. They needed to get out of there, and fast!

The Courier called out to one of the nearby officers.

"I believe there's one of the city's heroes fighting off the armed men inside. He-or she-may need your assistance!" he said as he explained the situation inside. He informed them about the hooded men and the scattered hostages.

"I can take a whole lot of you inside..S.W.A.T, police and medics. If any of you are ready, hold on to me," he instructed them, "I can get you inside the food court."

The Courier and those who agreed to join him vanished from the outside.

They all stood in the food court, where Daniel first met the small family.

"What is-who is that?!" Daniel exclaimed, as he saw for the first time the tentacle mouthed hero who gave him the chance to save the hostages. "Whoever he is, I've got to thank him...alright boys, he needs our help!"

"Did I just call the police 'boys'?" Daniel asked in his head, giving himself a mental face-palm.

[rpgronin]

GM

"You heard the man!" one of the senior officers said, shouldering his shotgun before motioning to his own SWAT subordinates. "You three! You're with me. And for Christ's sake, watch your fire in there." And with that, Courier and his four-man crew of gun-toting Freedom City SWAT members vanish momentarily, reappearing nigh-instantaneously inside the Food Court... much to the dismay of the two remaining gun-toting thugs!

"Cops!" one of the terrorists squeals, the situation now turning into one giant fiasco. Like clockwork, both of the masked, robed thugs shift their focus from Kid Cthulhu to the men in ballistic vests before opening fire, a cacophony of gunshots ringing out in Ashton Malls' dining centerpiece. The first thug hits home on one of the officers, narrowly missing The Courier in the cross-fire as her bullet strikes him square in the stomach. He wheezes and gasps, but somehow manages to stay on his feet, a look of pain stretching across his face. The other culprit isn't quite so precise, missing the more experienced SWAT leader by a good margin as his shot punctures through what was once a stand-up floor menu for one of the many kiosks.

[KnightDisciple]

GM

--------------------------

"O-okay. Whatever you say." one of the hostages said, helping his young female counterpart to her feet as the blue-clad hero makes his claim for help. They were a young couple, terrified by the situation and on the verge of hysteria as they trotted after the still-flying Cobalt Templar from behind at a brisk pace. When their rescuer stops at the second story window, the young woman finally speaks, peering out the window and towards the police skeptically.

"T-t-the exits were all locked down when those crazies busted in here. How are you gonna get us out of here, sir?"

Cobalt Templar gave the friendliest smile he could through the gap in his helmet.

"I'll make an exit."

He lifts his right arm, and a blast of raw energy flies at the window, likely blowing most of the glass into powder, and leaving a nice, safe hole to go through.

"Hold on tight. I'll get you out of here."

He gently takes hold of both of the hostages, before flying out at impressive speed, quickly landing in front of the police and rescue workers.

"Go talk to the police and paramedics, they'll sort you out."

He turned his attention to one of the nearby police. Giving a firm nod of acknowledgment, he spoke to the officer of the law.

"I'm going back in there; I heard gunshots. I'll do whatever I can to save people."

With that, he turned to fly back into the building.

[Raveled]

Fully armored up, Ironclad blasted out of the dressing room and back into the food court. Her targeting systems quickly zeroed in on the two remaining gun-wielding mooks, and she quickly lined up a shot on one of the survivors and unleashed a well-aimed blast at it. She chose to land next to Kid Cthulhu, reaching out to briefly touch hands with her boyfriend. She glanced around and whispered to him, "Where did the rest of the hostages go?"

[Lone Star]

KC squeezed her hand back, and casually fired a bolt of psychic energy at the last one. "I think they all scrammed. Smart of them, I'd say. I would kiss you, but...." he said, pointing to his tentacles with his free hand. "Yeah. So I'd like to assume there's a larger villain behind these terrorists. Want to look around for him?" KC said with a smile. Dates and heroics seemed to intertwine frequently. Not that he minded, so long as they had some alone time post-evil fighting.