Playing With Toys (IC)

[Aoiroo]

Changeling looked at the toy soldiers again, she was really quite tempted to pick one up but thought it might be rude considering she was trying to be friendly,

"Maybe if you were to share with us your objectives we could possibly assist you in your efforts."

She kept an even sweet tone as she spoke with them though it didn't seem to be getting through to them. It was a bit of a trouble because she was not really certian her powers would work on the tiny plastic figures.

[Raveled]

The plastic soldier moved back quickly. "That's top secret, lady! We're not going to tell the enemy!" He raced back to rejoin his unit, skidding back into cover and raising his hand. "Big guns. Open fire!" The tanks, sitting in their semi-concealed next to potted plants, aimed their barrels at the teen heroes, the blasts sounding far too loud for the tiny cannons. Glowstar instinctively raised his arms to cover his face, but he felt the impact in his stomach like a medicine ball in his gut. He folded for a moment and almost collapsed, but managed to suck in first one breath, than another. The shell aimed at Changeling missed the nimble illusionist and impacted on the ruby-red energy wall, cracking it.

Straightening, he gritted his teeth and glared at the miniature weapon of war, eyes flaring red. "Made in China my ass," he muttered. "That hurt worse than a bullet!" He raised one hand, angry energy coalescing in one hand. He tossed it like a fast ball but the blast missed the tiny target. As he retaliated the energy wall behind him faded, but the civilians had all fled; at the very least, none were in sight.

[Aoiroo]

As Changeling dodged past the bullet she tried to shoot off an illusionary blast but it passed harmlessly through the soldiers,

Glancing at the soldiers and to the tank she moved quickly past the crowd and pulled out something hidden under the side of her cloak. The floral umbrella was a bit of a sight against the more renaissance attire,

"You seem rather intent to move forward, even using force to do so,"

She shifted her position holding the umbrella over her shoulder and began to swing it down like she was using it like a club, midswing however she gave the handle a twist and revealed a blade that she used by spinning on her heel and doing a low sweep at one of the tanks that fired,

"No matter, I am willing to indulge you on such violence if you wish not to resolve things peacefully."

[Raveled]

Changeling's umbrella-sword struck through the mass of toy soldiers, scattering their plastic ranks and cutting several straight in half. The survivors fled back down the corridor, deeper into the mall. The tanks fired their cannons and the remaining squads lent their rifle-fire to the assault, but Changeling and Glowstar were too nimble and evasive for it to do much good.

Glowstar, for his part, drew energy out of his ever-present force shielding and focused it into a crackling sphere of energies. He thrust it away from his body and numerous distinct rays leapt out, pummeling the tanks and sending them flying high into the air. Unfortunately their light weight meant that when they landed, they weren't so much as shook up from their impromptu flight.

[Aoiroo]

Shifting her stance as the soldiers scattered she glanced at Glowstars attempts to blow away the little figurines,

"Glowstar I think you may benefit from taking a more direct approach."

Pulling her sword close to her she lunged forward in a swift motion stabbing into the plastic of one of the small toy tanks. While not completely disabling it she definitely lowered it's mobility before move backwards into her defense,

"It is easier to handle with the smaller details when one is more hands on."

[Raveled]

Changeling's hidden blade slashed a hole straight through the tank's injection-molded skin. She caught a glimpse of an empty interior pulsing with a vague greenish light, before concentrated fire from the army men drove her off. The other tank switched targets to Glowstar, popping shots off at the teen hero as he dove and spun through the air. He took cover behind a stone-faced support column. He took a deep breath, slowly gathering energy in his palm. It was less than his normal attack, but he was planning something.

Popping out of cover, the hero tossed his energy ball in a high arc. The tank's tracks spun and got it out of the way of the projected impact area -- but at the last moment, Glowstar twitched his finger and the energy projectile jerked over, hitting not the firing tank but the one that Changeling had slashed open! His blast managed to knock it on its side for a moment before it fell back on its treads.

[Aoiroo]

As the blast moved to the other tank Etain swept through and switched targets to the other one, slicing quickly against the plastic and leaving a shallow hit. Still she held her blade and glanced at Glowstar,

"They are more tough then they should be yes? Maybe you should try a heavier hand, or maybe a foot."

She backed away and pushed into her defensive position as she readied to be fired upon, really the tanks were the only real problem, the soldiers they could fell easily once the artillery was gone.

[Raveled]

As the Claremont heroes continued their attack, the toy soldiers began to pull back. The tank covered the infantry while they fell back to a vent cover; a series of bright detonations blew the cover off and soon the belligerent toys had retreated into the ductwork.

Glowstar hung in the air, waiting for a second wave, but none appeared to be forthcoming. He gingerly lowered himself to the ground, looking in every direction, alert for a sneak attack. "That's a new one," he said. "Attacking army men. Where do you think they got to?"

[Aoiroo]

"I cannot be sure, but we should probably not let them advance. They seemed fairly violent afterall."

She glanced over at the vents and looked at it,

"Though how do you suppose we would track them?"

She was a bit at a loss, she had no real technological way to do so and they weren't magic so she couldn't follow their trail with her sight. If John was here she was sure he would of made something but her powers weren't like hers that she could make something real that would follow in a space she was not aware of.

[Raveled]

Glowstar looked down at the vent opening and scratched his head. "I'm not sure," he admitted. The teen hero did try dropping to his belly and worming his way into the vent, but he only got one arm and his head in before he got stuck. Pulling himself free, he stood and dusted himself off. "Well," he said, "whoever designed this place certainly didn't have Bruce Willis in mind." He shook his head and glanced around the battle-scarred corridor. "I don't think we're going to be folliowing the little guys. We should check to see where the civvies got to, though. Make sure no one was hurt."

[Aoiroo]

Changeling nodded and started taking the crowd into account. No one was actually harmed thanks to Glowstars sheilding, several people did however ask for their names so they knew what to put in the notes section of the videos they took on there phones before they submitted it to Youtube. Really she didn't understand the appeal, but gave them the names Changeling and Glowstar before regrouping with him.

"What do you think the goal of the little plastic men were? They were on a mission though refused to give any real semblence of what it entailed. I do not expect it is anything pleasant."

[Raveled]

Glowstar trailed behind Changeling, using his first-aid knowledge to make sure none of the bystanders had been hurt. "No idea where they're from," he said, "or even what they are. They look like those old Army Men toys you always see at the dollar store, but plastic can't move like that. And those 'bullet's felt very real, not to mention the tank shells..." He shook his head, looked around at the crowd of milling villains. "I don't know. Want to hunt down the security office, see if there's something to see on the cameras?"

[Aoiroo]

"Yes, that seems the most productive thing to do at the time. However, where would we go to do this?"

Etain knew that cameras were viewd by someone, and that it was likely the men on uniforms that often road on two wheeled motorized contraptions, but where they would congegate was something completely unknown to her,

"Maybe we should ask someone who is employed at this mall for direction."

[Raveled]

Glowstar didn't seem inclined to take that much time. He just found the first door marked "Employees Only" and barreled through. He found himself in a amaze of unpainted service corridors, but after a few minutes of opening doors and glancing inside, he found one with black and white TV screens on three walls and a couple of guys in mall security uniforms staring at them in horror. One turned and made to shoo the teens out, but then got a good look at what they were wearing. "Oh thank God," he said. "Heroes."

He dragged them over to the bank of televisions and they could clearly see the toy soldiers and plastic tanks on most of them. "They just appeared a few minutes ago," the guard said, "but they're already all over the place!" He turned tot he two heroes, his expression hopeful.

Glowstar realized with a shock that this man expected him and Changeling to just fix things, but the young man didn't know where to even start! Dammit, I just wanted to pick up a present for Gwen and hang out with Etain! "Listen, um." Glowstar squinted at the man's nametag. "Larry. Me and my teammate need to... confer. Plan, you know?" He pulled Changeling back to the door. "Any ideas?"

[Aoiroo]

The whole walk over was her simply following Glowstar's lead as he actually had some idea where they were going, even if it wasn't much more then her own. The lack of decoration nor the reaction to there arrival surprised her much. Looking at the screens she turned her head sideways,

"Well,"

She tried to examine the shear numbers, she couldn't exactly use her powers to round them up,

"I would guess to find what it is they are after and then talk them out of doing it. But, if that fails, I guess summoning a large animate stone statue into the mall and destroy them may be a viable alternative. Though I am not sure if he would fit, he has a twelve foot long wing span and I do not really want to cause any unnessicary damage to this structure."

[Raveled]

Glowstar winced at the idea of bringing a huge, animate statue inside the confines of the mall. "I don't think Headmaster Summers would appreciate us leveling the mall. Even if it was in the cause of destroying a giant toy army. Um." He watched the monitors for a moment and then retrieved a map of the mall, spreading it out over the control panel. He poured over it for a few minutes, trying to reconcile what they were seeing on the TV with the paper map. "It looks like all of the army dudes are avoiding this one store," he said, pointing at one of the anchor stores. "If we can get the civvies in there, then we can lock the gates and at least we won't have to worry about anyone getting in the crossfire."

[Aoiroo]

Changeling nodded in agreement and they set off to work. Most the citizens seemed to agree to the plan, though some were a bit uncomfortable with being crammed into that particular store and just left all together (which was fine as well, as Changeling or Glowstar escorted groups to the entrance while the rest waited in the store). The mall cops were kind enough to stand at the entrances to make sure no one else entered the afterwards. As orderly and used to such things the residents of Freedom were, it wasn't long before the whole mall with the exception of that store was completely abandoned. It was rather eerie. Etain didn't comment though instead taking Glowstars lead in searching for the little toy soldiers.

[Raveled]

Glowstar relaxed as the last of the civilians were gathered safely in the department store and the secuirty fence was locked into place. He turned to Changeling to make a quip about usually locking up the bad guys when he noticed some movement out of the corner of his eye. He turned and witnessed a veritable army of green, plastic men pouring forth from the mall's hallways and stores. Tanks lined up in regiment and soldiers took cover by squads; before long the two heroes were surrounded by at least a couple hundred tiny green weapons. Glowstar inhaled deeply and a wall of energy blinked into existence behind the heroes, further protecting the civilians in the store. "This... could be interesting," he murmured, levitating into the air and drawing his power in.

"Wait!" A strident cry halted the teen hero just as he was about to unleash a blast on the nearest toy soldiers, and he managed to hold off as a larger, more intricately worked tank rumbled its way forward. Riding high on top was a soldier figure with a... pipe? And a peaked cap, it looked like. The new tank halted a few feet from the teen heroes and the pipe-smoked looked back and forth between the pair of them. "Right," he barked. "I am the General, commander of these forces. And you folks have fought hard against my tropps. So, I'm inclined to give you one last chance to surrender peacefully, and honorably!"

[Aoiroo]

Changeling looked at the general and stepped forward, avoiding stepping on any of the toys as she did. She smiled a sweet smile as she looked at them,

"How very noble of you to give us such the option, not many have the gull or tact to ever consider that we may not wish to continue fighting."

She kneeled down and sat straight with her knees tucked under her skirt,

"It is true, we do not wish to fight, all we wish to do is ensure there are no casualties of citizens and property. The thing is, we have no idea of your goals or your intentions, your previous units were not as kind to provide any explanation for their actions and started firing near a crowd of civilians. Really though, we cannot be reasoned to surrender if we have no way of knowing what the direct concequenses of surrender may be. So would you be so kind as to state what exactly your mission is? "

[Raveled]

GM

The green plastic general seemed taken aback by Changeling's solicitous words, the entire toy tank reotating to face the young woman. "Well. The young soldier did as he was ordered, no doubt. Can't maintain operational security if all my boys go blathering to every pretty lady along the way." The general paused and Changeling saw something that might have been a wink on the miniscule plastic face, but it was too small and the details too gross for her to be sure. "Still, if it'll avoid furhter violence -- we're looking for our C-in-C, on Vincnet Marinos. We have reason to believe that he's among the civillians here. If we can link up with him, we'll leave with him and that'll be the end of it."

[Aoiroo]

"Vincent Marinos? I see, you wish to escort, well we have several people inside, perhaps we can locate him for you."

Rising she walked over to Glowstar,

"Can you keep an eye on them, make sure they do not leave until I have located this person."

She lowered her voice,

"And if nessicary block them in, it would be best that now they are all here that we do not lose any spares while I am searching."

She looked back at the toy soldiers with a smile,

"Would you mind if my friend keeps you company in my stead, I think if I were to find your Commander that I would be better for explaining the situation."

[Raveled]

Glowstar made a hole in the energy wall for Changeling to duck under, and the security guards on the other side raised the gate far enough for her to pass. While his teammate was talking among the civilians, he turned to face the miniature general. After a moment the hero spoke up. "Why in the world are you doing this? Why are you working so hard, putting so many people in danger, just to find one person?"

"He's our leader," the general replied. "He's the only one authorized to give us orders."

"Except for finding him and destroying all in your path, apparently," Glowstar pointed out.

[Aoiroo]

Changeling moved to the front of the store and climbed up on the displace case there so she was a full head above the crowd. She then spoke in a soft voice, though they heard it like she had a mega phone,

"Vincent Marinos, would a Vincent Marinos please come forward."

She scanned through the crowd looking for the Vincent they were talking about. Though she doubted there would be obvious signs like a wounded plastic soldier moving through the crowd or someone in a vestment but she could still check.

[Raveled]

The general frowned. "What do you expect us to do without orders, boy? We have to find our commanding officer, get new orders from him. Trust me, if we were really rampaging, this building wouldn't still be standing!"

Glowstar sniffed sharply, casting his eye over the assembled, green plastic force. "And you couldn't have, I dunno, asked someone where he is instead of trying to kill people?"

"We were," the general insisted. "It's just more efficient to gather everyone together before we ask them! Get everyone's answer at once."

---

In the department store the civilians were huddled in knots, whispering fearfully as they watched the opaque barrier. Changeling walked among them, calling out the name, and soon an unremarkable man in a tee-shirt and jeans stepped forward. He looked to be in his late-twenties and he was the holding the hand of a young boy, maybe five or six years old. The familial resemblance was impossible to ignore, especially once he spoke. "I'm Julio Marinos. Vinny's my son. What is this all about?"

[Aoiroo]

Changeling smiled brightly and walked forward before looking at the father and kneeling down to meet the boy at eye level,

"Hello Vincent,"

The smile wasn't fake and the voice was light as she looked at the dad,

"I think I understand the situation,"

She turned back to the boy,

"Before your father took you shopping, you were playing right? Your favorite toys, are they army men? You did not want to leave them, did you?"