Avenger Assembled Posted March 24, 2011 Posted March 24, 2011 The young heroes journeyed together through the sewers, Caryatid doing her best to relay all she could about the current conditions of the school as well as her family life. Her father, Gardner, worked mostly out of his home, while her mother Marlena worked the late shift for the Syndicate, leaving in the late evening and coming home with a small escort close to dawn. Her sister Donna went to the Thunderbolt School: an elite Syndicate-managed academy for the children of their most favored lackeys, but dawn classes meant she returned home in the early afternoon. The time to strike would be in the afternoon hours, when the whole family would be together under one roof, and when the traffic on the roads would delay any but a superpowered response directed against the young heroes. Before they knew it, they were there, passing scarred, pitted walls as they reached a passageway that led to the construction site across the street from the Gravois residence.
Electra Posted March 24, 2011 Author Posted March 24, 2011 Erin scouted ahead as they moved, turning restless energy into purpose as they made their way through the side tunnels and obscured access points beneath the city. They were wasting time, she knew, time that could be vital later on in their mission, but what else were they supposed to do? Maybe Caryatid's family weren't innocents in the classic sense, but they were about as good as it got around this universe, and not even trying would be an extension of the sin she'd come here trying to redeem. They could deal with the wasted time, but what if the family didn't want to be rescued? Caryatid didn't seem to think it would be that much of a problem, but Erin had her doubts. Of course, they did have a most pragmatic Mind-Master on their side, but that wasn't an optimal solution. "So when we get there," she muttered to the others, "Midnight will kill the security sensors and Sage can make us invisible, but what do we do if they don't come along? I don't think we have a lot of time to persuade them, and if we leave them be, they'll sound the alarm."
Avenger Assembled Posted March 24, 2011 Posted March 24, 2011 "Given the choice between living here and coming with us, I'm sure they'll come," said Edge with great hope as he looked at the others. Even down in the depths of the tunnels, Mark's force of personality was tough to beat. "They may live well here, but no one wants to live in a cage. That's why we're here. And even if they do, I'm sure they'll want to follow Caryatid here. No one...no one wants to see their family broken up, especially not in a place like this where keeping families together must be tough enough already. If we make a convincing enough case, if we really believe what we're selling them, I know we can do it. Let's do this."
Gizmo Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 "Could knock them out," Midnight suggested absently in his soft, gravelly rumble, his attention focused on monitoring the security systems around them for any red flags they might have inadvertently set off. Gradually becoming aware of the reactions to his off-hand remark, he glanced up. "...as a last resort. Of course." Admittedly, it would probably save a lot of time to abduct Caryatid's family quickly and quietly and explain the situation once they were back on Earth-Prime, but even the pragmatic vigilante agreed that they should at least be given the chance to come on their own first.
April Posted March 27, 2011 Posted March 27, 2011 --That would be preferable to my alternative,-- the telepath stated though she didn't elaborate further. Truth was Sage didn't know if she could follow through with her own alternative; rewriting the family's memories--or if that proved ineffective a complete personality rebuild. Before she could inadvertently propose those methods of action Sage deliberately withdrew her mind from the others and hoped that Edge's method worked. Or, failing that, Midnight's. Still, a small voice whispered in the back of the telepaths mind, if needs must…
Electra Posted March 29, 2011 Author Posted March 29, 2011 "All right," Erin said, looking up at the hatchway that led to the surface. "Midnight will go first and ensure that the physical security is disabled. I'll stay in the hatch and keep watch. When he gives the signal, we all go together, me, then Sage, then Caryatid, then Edge. Stay close together and head directly for the house. Once we're in, Midnight and I will keep watch, it's up to the rest of you to convince the family and get them moving." She was quiet for a moment, pressing her lips tightly together, before she continued. "No more than one bag of belongings apiece, we can't move quickly with anything more than that. One of you go with each of them to make sure they don't sound an alarm or something. Good?" she asked, looking around at her teammates for assent.
Avenger Assembled Posted March 29, 2011 Posted March 29, 2011 Midnight found a house, and a neighborhood, strangely like the suburbs back in Freedom City. Sure, the gates on this community were patrolled by armed guards and armored cars patrolled the streets, but it was on first inspection no different than a particularly paranoid (if very middle-class) neighborhood back home. Until he looked closer, and saw the thin lenses of pinhole cameras on the fenceposts and the security emplacements near the edge of buildings, perhaps aimed at keeping out thieves and desperados from the hungry masses of much of this place, or maybe just resistance fighters targeting the lackeys who lived in the neighborhood. The American flag flew overhead from a pole, and alongside it the raised fist of the Syndicate and the Latin motto: "Sumus Victum". They were watching from space, or maybe Metropolis was from underground...but if they were, they gave no hint of it, and within seconds, the only people who could see him were the ones looking right at him. And for the moment, on a quiet suburban afternoon, that was nobody.
Gizmo Posted March 29, 2011 Posted March 29, 2011 Even disguised as The Blank, Midnight slipped into the shadows, avoiding attention from the residents of the area and whenever possible the ever-present surveillance systems. He was confident in his electronic counter-measures, but there was no sense pushing their luck. The entire area put his nerves on edge, a picture perfect image of the American dream by way of the uncanny valley. It reminded him more than a little of the home Rick Lucas had created from his twisted worldview and reality warping powers. Then again, Midnight didn't really care for normal suburbs, either. Clearing his mind, he closed with Caryatid's house and began systematically disabling anything that might give the team difficulty. With that accomplished, he slid back into view and subtly waved the others forward.
Electra Posted March 29, 2011 Author Posted March 29, 2011 "That's it," Erin whispered to the others, levering herself effortlessly out through the hatch. "Stick together." She waited as the others climbed out of the hatch, sticking close to make sure everyone had a hand on Eve while they made their way to the house. When they reached the back door and reunited with Trevor, she looked to Caryatid expectantly, waiting for her to make the move that would take them into the house itself. Trevor had probably disabled the locks, but it was, after all, the girl's house. At least for the next twenty minutes or so.
Avenger Assembled Posted March 30, 2011 Posted March 30, 2011 Caryatid knocked firmly at the door, her clenched fists the only sign of her nervousness. Within a few minutes, the door swung open and a tired-looking man in a rumpled blue shirt and slacks opened the door. Caryatid's father gave the kids a look, straightening up instantly at the sight of familiar faces. He didn't react much to the sight of Erin, perhaps he'd never had an encounter with Singularity. "Caryatid," he said formally, using his daughter's Syndicate name in front of the others, "what can I do for you?" He shot the Blank a look and added nervously, "If she's done something, I can-" "Dad, we need to come in," said Francois, "this isn't on Syndicate business." He stepped aside for that, opening up the vistas of the Gravois house to the small group. The house looked like any standard suburban home back on Earth-Prime, if you omitted the armor in the walls, the propaganda posters on the wall, and the wallscreens that a little girl in a black and red uniform was working on along with a tired-looking woman in a suit. "I don't know what happened to the monitors, honey, they just..." Francois' mother shot them all a look and discreetly interposed herself between her youngest daughter and the Syndicate members. And then, without further ado, Caryatid spilled the beans. "Mom, Dad, Donna, we...we need to get out of here. All of us, tonight." She bit her lip at their shocked exclamations and said, "Please, if you love me, if you love Donna," she pled to her parents, "you'll pack our bags and go, right now. These are my friends from another world, another dimension like the ones I was telling you about. They've come to help us get away and get somewhere safe. Somewhere where you won't have to drink all the time, Dad! Somewhere that you won't have to work designing machines to brainwash people, Mom! And somewhere where Donna can go to school and not have to beat up other kids all the time! Somewhere where I won't have to kill anyone again!"
Gizmo Posted March 30, 2011 Posted March 30, 2011 Recognizing that his disguise was unsettling to the Gravois family, Midnight did another brief check for surveillance before tapping his belt buckle, causing his costume to once again ripple with morphic molecules as it darkened to pitch black. "Not The Blank," he clarified for them brusquely, even as he seemed to instinctively occupy the shadowiest part of the foyer. "Not a test. Not much time." The young man shifted his uniform back to pristine white before crossing his arms, refraining from adding that the issue was also not open for debate.
Electra Posted March 31, 2011 Author Posted March 31, 2011 "We can take you someplace safe," Erin told the frightened adults, even as she swept the room and pulled all the shades down. "Caryatid is going to help us, and after that, her name is going to be mud around here, and yours with it. If you stay here, you'll get whatever punishment comes down on people whose families fail the Syndicate. Come with us, and we'll give you a better life. You've got ten minutes to pack, one suitcase each." She stood on the other side of the room, unconsciously mirroring Trevor's stance.
Avenger Assembled Posted March 31, 2011 Posted March 31, 2011 "We'll...we'll do it!" said Gardner, prompting a wide-eyed look from his wife. "Lord, Marlena, we only took the job in Empire City to get out of that Park Avenue hellhole in Manhattan! And we only worked for them because of what it meant for the kids!" He embraced her and said, "If we can get away, really get away, even if it's to one of those other dimensions, it's got to be better than this!" "But the things they say," said Marlena Gravois, her Quebecois accent coming out under stress, "You know what those other dimensions are like, with the Nazis and the-" "That's just what the Syndicate wants us to think!" yelled Caryatid. "There's a better world out there! A world where people and kids are free to live their own lives and their own choices! This is our only chance to get away from this terrible place!" "You!" Marlena gave her daughter an angry look, restrained by her husband's hand on her arm. "I...all right! We know what'll happen to us if the Syndicate loses Francois, anyway. At least this way we'll be on our feet...and not in some stupid resistance!" And with that, they were all off to pack, moving fast as they ran to their rooms. The little girl, Donna, looking young for seven, followed her mother, eyes wide and teary. "Whew!" said Edge to no one in particular, peering nervously out the windows at the silent suburban houses. "Says something about how used these people are to surveillance, if they spill their guts that fast as soon as they're sure the cameras are off." He shuddered. "Man, this place is so quiet...This town gives me the heebie-jeebies. Midnight, how long do you think before the security goons realize something's up?" He caught Erin looking at him and realized what else was up. "Whoops!" Within a second, he was scuttling after the family, Caryatid just ahead of him.
April Posted April 1, 2011 Posted April 1, 2011 ---Assuming we get out of here unnoticed,-- Sage said, looking at Midnight and Wander. The telepath had halted a moment from following Edge and the Gravois family. --And I have my doubts... but maybe that's this place making me paranoid, where do we stash them before bagging Singularity?-- She left the question linger as she hurried after Edge to help the family pack, and keep an eye on them.
Gizmo Posted April 2, 2011 Posted April 2, 2011 --Keep a mind's eye on them, too,-- Midnight communicated wordlessly to Sage as she went to follow the Gravois. --Nothing invasive, just want to know if anyone is thinking of doing something... regrettable.-- When it came down to it, he didn't know Caryatid, he didn't know her family and he didn't even know Mind-Master enough for his vouching to carry much weight. The stakes were high enough that the young vigilante was disinclined to take any chances. Turning to Wander, he mused, "Rather avoid opening another portal; may not have a choice."
Electra Posted April 2, 2011 Author Posted April 2, 2011 "I'm sure Mind Master and Talos can hide them underground for us until we finish our work and can get back to them," Erin said, peeking out the window at the too-quiet street beyond. "Not so sure what we're going to do with them when we get back," she admitted. "Hopefully somebody at the Freedom League can help them, or mind-scan them and make sure they're not too evil, or whatever." It had taken her long enough to come up with a plan for one expatriate Anti-Earther, she had no idea what to do with a whole family of them.
Avenger Assembled Posted April 2, 2011 Posted April 2, 2011 Maybe it was because families generally loved each other, even on Anti-Earth. Or maybe it was because Caryatid was moving from room to room as her parents and sister packed, pleading with them in a too-old girl's voice to move fast, they had to pack quickly if they were going to save themselves. Or maybe it was just Mark Lucas providing his reassuring presence, and wishing all the while as he watched the little girl Donna pack that families, any families, would stick together even in the face of awful adversity. But as it was, within the space of eight minutes, each member of the Gravois family was packed and ready to go: their white faces showing that they were all afraid even as they took a courageous step towards their own freedom. Marlena kept a grip on Donna, the little girl for her part keeping a very close eye on her big sister. And just as they were prepared to leave, out the window the watchful teens saw a passing policeman turn and walk up the sidewalk towards the front door!
Gizmo Posted April 2, 2011 Posted April 2, 2011 With a resigned grunt, Midnight motioned for everyone else to stay where they were while he dealt with the officer outside. He had the best chance of passing for his Anti-Earth double of any of the group; he tried not to think that that was simply because he and the Blank weren't so different. --Eve, can you get me his name, anything else relevant?-- he asked telepathically as he waited until everyone else was backed away out of sight before opening the door and striding directly into the officer's path, arms folded and head tilted with a hint of disdain that was conveyed despite his featureless mask. "Where do you think you're going?" he asked in a bored drawl.
Avenger Assembled Posted April 4, 2011 Posted April 4, 2011 "Sir!" The officer straightened up immediately, his erect spine, direct forward stare, and the staccato bark of his speech more like a North Korean cop than anything Trevor had seen on the streets of Freedom City. "Experienced equipment failure in unmarked patrol car while passing in front of Gravois residence, sir! Planning to use private comm screen to call headquarters for technical assistance, sir!" Eve found his mind easily enough: Officer Cline was a low-level beat cop with no particular ambitions beyond serving the Syndicate, collecting enough bribes to retire on, and maybe bust a few heads if he could get away with it. He'd be odiously corrupt in the Freedom City PD; in Empire City, she'd seen into much worse minds...
April Posted April 4, 2011 Posted April 4, 2011 --Officer Cline's just a thug,-- the telepath told Midnight as she stealthily repositioned herself close to the door. --He could prove a problem if he gains entry, but I am prepared to deal with that.-- Sage turned her head slightly surreptitiously keeping an eye on the Gravois family as she settled in at her point of ambush.
Gizmo Posted April 4, 2011 Posted April 4, 2011 --Good,-- Midnight replied silently. --Hold off for now, but be ready.-- Outwardly, he regarded the officer with an almost lazy disinterest. "Hmm. Initiative. I like that, Cline." The white clad figure raised a silencing hand to forestall any questions. "I make it a point to know everything. Just as I know that your report for the day will not mention an equipment failure, nor the sudden... absence of the Gravois family." Although his tone was low and level, some hint of inflection or body language suggested that whatever was behind the door of the suburban home, it wasn't anything Cline wanted to see if he expected to sleep that night. "As I know there may well be opportunities for an officer who knows when things should be handled quietly, with delicacy." Again, the subtext was clear: whatever was going on, Cline wanted to be on the Blank's team.
Electra Posted April 4, 2011 Author Posted April 4, 2011 Wander waited out of sight of the door, keeping one eye on Trevor and the other on Sage and the Gravois family. Silently, she drew her bat from the sheath on her hip, not expanding it just yet, but holding it ready. She couldn't see the police officer, but if he set foot into this house, he would sorely regret it. But with the way "The Blank" was speaking, it would be a brave or foolish man who set foot over the threshold now. She took a breath and held perfectly still, waiting for the cop to leave.
Avenger Assembled Posted April 5, 2011 Posted April 5, 2011 "Yes sir!" said Cline brightly, giving half a knowing wink in the Blank's direction as he tipped his hat in Trevor's direction. His mind was full of suppositions to Eve's eyes, the best of them saying terrible things about this place and the worst...well, even Cline didn't think _those_ were possible! Not without the man in the family lying dead in the lawn, and the older women being parceled out to the labor pool. "The Syndicate can always count on my total discretion, especially when it comes to, ah, personnel matters. Ah-heh-heh. I'll make sure my superiors have no questions to ask." And with that, he turned and made his way back down the sidewalk, looking downright jaunty. When the door was closed, Mark offered, "We really need to get out of here," to the others. When the police officer outside had moved out of view, the neighborhood still looked quiet, and the family was as ready as they'd ever be, though the brush with law enforcement had them looking tense indeed. There was nothing standing between them and the door to the sewers, which was good; the price of failure here was just too high to consider.
Gizmo Posted April 6, 2011 Posted April 6, 2011 Midnight led the way back to the sewers, just in case any other unwelcome eyes spotted them. Although his manner was curt and restrained, Erin at least was familiar enough with his body language to tell that he was grimacing underneath his featureless mask. Even pretending to be the Blank briefly was more disconcerting for him than he cared to admit, and the young man felt vaguely in need of a shower. Fortunately they made it underground without further interruption, and were soon on their way back to Talos' encampment.
Electra Posted April 6, 2011 Author Posted April 6, 2011 Erin automatically fell back to the rear of the group for the return trip, protecting their backs and making sure no one fell behind. She kept her glasses ready, just in case they got into a fight and Trevor misted things up, but for the moment, she could see well enough with the flashlights they carried. In one quiet moment as they paused to rest at a junction, she put a hand on Trevor's shoulder. "Good work back there," she murmured. "Quick thinking."
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