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File: martel_bridge_konigsburg.jpg (386 KB, 2000x1400)
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Your name is Elise. Elise Martins. And, to put it simply, you are not normal.

What you are is a mutant— one of the many few in Konigsburg who possess strange and unnatural abilities due to the explosion of FutureLabs’ particle accelerator.

You have two brothers, Matt and John, but it's only Matt who knows of your powers. Moreover, Matt is normal in every sense of the word. Smart? Yes. Irritable? Definitely. But there’s nothing you’d change about him for the world.

John, on the other hand… your older brother who stands before you, staring down at the crowd with those gold-slitted eyes.

John is a mutant.

Impossible and yet staring you right in the face, your feet are heavy, as your mind tries to come to terms with the reality before you. The words he’d spoken just moments prior spark a sense of familiarity– of a lack of control, of a fear of hurting those around him– but that is barely a forethought because all you can think right now is how John should not be here.

Absently, you wonder what everyone back home is thinking right now.

Shock. Anger. Betrayal. What else could they possibly be thinking as they see the same thing as you?

You feel your teeth poking into the flesh of your mouth and your fingernails digging into the skin of your palms as your control starts to slip very suddenly and unexpectedly, and, like water in your grasp, you struggle to reign it in.

>(1/2)
>>
>>5105510

No! Not now! You think, trying to steer your thoughts away from your older brother whose face is still plastered on those oversized screens. If there’s one thing that’s certain, it’s that exposing yourself right after John and his new coworkers declared total war on you is a very bad idea– more so when all of them, plus a good amount of FutureLabs-funded security, fill this place to the brim.

As that telltale fog makes its presence known, you push down the slew of intense emotions directed at John and focus on something–anything– to keep yourself grounded.

>Where do you steer your thoughts?
>The present! Get a hold of yourself, Ellie!
>The past. Good or bad, doesn’t matter one bit.
>Something pleasant (such cope. Much wow)
>Write-in
>>
File: crew.jpg (2.38 MB, 3023x3352)
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>Previous Threads:
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?searchall=mutant%21quest

Pastebin: Now added: Recap of Thread #9:
https://pastebin.com/u/SiirenQM

>QM Twitter for updates:
twitter.com/QmSiren

----------

>Dice:
>31d100 unless otherwise noted

>Other:
This thread might be slower/shorter for reasons. Namely school restarting a week earlier than last winter and the spicy flu just not going away. Other than that, welcome back, fellas! Hope your Christmas/New Year/whatever was very merry!
>>
>>5105511
>>The past. Good or bad, doesn’t matter one bit.
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Good to see you. Here's hoping we roll low, stir up some shit.
>>
>>5105521
Low rolls? In our quest? Last time we did that, someone almost lost an arm :^)

>Blasting to the past!
Writing!
>>
good to see you back siren
>>
>>5105679
>Low rolls? In our quest? Last time we did that, someone almost lost an arm :^)
fuck man, that roll was mine and no one else came to save me ;-;
jk, nice to see you again and happy new year
>>
>>5105521

>Blasting to the past!

It couldn’t have been a month before you mutated.

It’s dark, nearly midnight, and you are in your kitchen. John is pulling a late-shift for the umpteenth time, and Matt has already gone to sleep. The only company with you is the person (people?) at the other end of the line– people that have yet to answer.

You’ve been avoiding this talk for the better part of the year, knowing exactly what your parents will say to you. The only reason you’re making this call is so that they will get off of Matt’s and John’s backs for you not doing this in the first place.

Two rings, three rings… you feel a little relief well up in your chest the longer your call goes unanswered. However, like a pair of fingers to a match, that relief is quickly snuffed out as a familiar voice sounds from the other end of the line.

“Hallo?” The voice of your father, Francho Martins, answers. When you don’t respond, your father speaks again. “Johannes? Is that you?”

Johannes had been John’s much-beloved childhood nickname. That and ‘Hans,’ you recall, your father seeming to be more fond of those names than your brother’s actual name.

“A-Ah it’s me, dad.” You clumsily stammer, correcting him. “It’s me. Elise.”

“Ah, Elise!” Your dad exclaims. “How’s my favorite daughter?”

“Very good, dad. I’ve been great.” You immediately answer. “What about you?” You return and hope that your dad will just shoot the breeze with you until it’s time for him and your mom to go to work, as your parents have definitely been awake for a good, long while.

“Ve are busy lately. Busy, but very good.” Your father intones and then pauses for a beat, only to answer with something that makes your gut churn. “Your mother wanted to talk to you.”

You don’t even get the chance to protest, as you can hear his shouts for your mother loud and clear. Soon enough, the phone’s been passed to your mom, and the next thing you hear is her inquiry of, “Ellie? Is that you?”

“Yeah.” Is your very-eloquent response.

“How are you doing, love?” The voice of your mother inquires from the other end of the line.

>(1/2)
>>
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>>5105781

“I’m fine.” You say, dithering a little bit, and then you tell her. “I got high-honors.” From Karlskirche, that’s no laughing matter. Though John got highest honors and you expect Matt to do the same, you worked yourself ragged for that through your junior and senior year.

Now, however, you’re just glad it’s over and done with.

“That’s wonderful, Elise.” Your mother says, and you hope she’s at least a little bit impressed because you think high-honors is really good for you. “I’m sure you’ll bring that same ethic into college.” You cringe at the word “college” because you know exactly where this conversation is going.

“You’ve already applied to KIT? You’ve definitely gotten in by now.” At that, you give a short mhmm. “Good. Then I hope you’ve been thinking about your future and what we’ve been talking about.” If there wasn’t a pit in your stomach before, then there is now.

There’s a long beat of silence, and, although you’re the only one in the kitchen, there’s a tension in the air that wasn’t there before. You know what she’s going to say before she even says it, which is why you’re ready for it when your mother says: “Your father and I… we still think you’ll do best as a nurse.”

While they’d attempted to make John into your family’s next doctor, he didn’t fight them until the very end when he’d fallen in love with his studies of quantum physics. Matt, meanwhile, is extremely good at biology stuff– amazing, even by your parents’ standards. Although your parents have yet to find out, you know very well that your younger brother’s passion lies with computers.

You, on the other hand, are just you. Plain and simply you.

You’ve never been that smart, only good at memorizing facts– doing problems over and over again until they were ingrained in your muscle memory (and sometimes then it wasn’t enough).

“Elise, are you still there?” Your mom has noticed your silence. “Please don’t hang up. We needed to have this conversation one way or another.”

You’re not sure what to say to her. Even with how hard you studied and with how much your parents tried to shove the subject down your throat, you’ve never liked biology, ever.

>In any case, what do you say?
>”I don’t want to be a nurse.”
>”Why do you want me to be a nurse so badly?”
>Write-in
>>
That's it for the night, folks! I'm kind of pooped and gotta wake up a little early tomorrow, so see you next time!

>>5105681
good to be back, fren!

>>5105740
All is forgiven-- Julia can deal with it in therapy.
>>
>>5105783
>”Why do you want me to be a nurse so badly?”
Might as well hear where they're coming from first. Also glad to see you back, king--hope you feel better!
>>
>>5105783
>”Why do you want me to be a nurse so badly?”
>>
>>5105783
>>”I don’t want to be a nurse.”
>>
>>5105783
>>”Why do you want me to be a nurse so badly?”
>>
>>5105783
>>”I don’t want to be a nurse.”
>>
>>5105787
>>5105791
>>5105878
>>”Why do you want me to be a nurse so badly?”

>>5106001
>>5105866
>>”I don’t want to be a nurse.”

Writing!
>>
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>>5106416

For as much time as your parents have been gone and as much time that you’ve spent out of their company, you know exactly what they’re thinking.

Instead, you ask very pointedly, ”Why do you want me to be a nurse so badly?”

There’s silence on the other end of the line as the landline crackles a little bit before your mother finally speaks again. “Ellie,” She starts, sounding a little exasperated. “You know college is a lot of work, right?”

You don’t say anything but clearly remember how John worked himself to the bone while taking care of you guys. You think you could do it too, that is, if you push yourself hard enough. Your mother takes your lack of answer as agreement.

“Elise.” She says your name, still thinking you’re on the same page as her. “You’re a very capable young woman, but your father and I aren’t sure you should be putting yourself through all that.”

“But John got a Masters in quantum physics in, what? Five years?”

“John’s different,” Is your mother’s response. “Your brother could handle that kind of work.”

“And what makes you think I can’t?” You’re raising your voice just the slightest and drawing it out into a hiss. You don’t know where that outburst came from, but, if your mom didn’t know you were frustrated before, she certainly does now.

Truth be told, you’ve never given life beyond high school much thought. However, you know very well that you do not want to be a nurse, and, the more your parents insist, the more you hate the very idea.

>(1/2)
>>
>>5106534

“Elise,” Your mother repeats your name, breaking you from your thoughts. Her tone is a little more wearisome this time around. “Please. You know how much your father and I love you, which is why we’re telling you that we just…” She stops, unsure of how to continue. “...sometimes you need to understand just how far you can push yourself…”

There’s something about that statement that causes a pit to form in your stomach and your throat to burn unbidden. You– past you, a person that had no clue how to stand up for herself– are at a loss for words.

>What can you possibly say?
>”What? Do you think I’m stupid or something?”
>”Is that why you want me to be a nurse?! Cause you think that’s the best I can do?”
>”Goodbye.” Hang up. You don’t want to deal with this. You’ll figure out your future on your own.
>Write-in
>>
>>5106535
>”Is that why you want me to be a nurse?! Cause you think that’s the best I can do?”
>>
>>5106535
”Is that why you want me to be a nurse?! Cause you think that’s the best I can do?”
>>
>>5106535
>>”Is that why you want me to be a nurse?! Cause you think that’s the best I can do?”
>>
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>>5106622
>>5106596
>>5106560

Aight. Looks like the vote is unanimous! Writing!
>>
>>5106696
What is that pic supposed to mean ?
>>
>>5106697

It was a joke about Elise's intelligence, which may or may not be directly proportional to OP's sobriety. Meant to write that joke under the post.

On another note, if it hasn't been clear for anyone (though I think I've addressed it a few times, maybe), while Elise definitely isn't stupid and *can* be booksmart with the necessary effort, she's definitely more suited to more hands-on, in-the-moment thinking-- it's definitely lends to her fighting prowess.
>>
>>5106714
Thanks for clarifying her intelligence
>>
>>5106696

”Is that why you want me to be a nurse?! Cause you think that’s the best I can do?!” You vociferate, feeling angrier the longer you ruminate on your mother’s words.

Your mother doesn’t answer. The silence tells you everything you need to know.

Though you never have been jealous of Matt or John, you find yourself wishing that you had a little more of your brothers’ intelligence. You wonder if your parents would’ve given more of a crap about you and your future then, instead of trying to push you headlong into a career they know you won’t and will never like.

Your next inhale is less of an inhale and more of a sniffle, and pathetically you try to mask it as a cough. Your parents never liked it when you cried, and you don’t want either of them to know you’re on the cusp of it.

“Ellie…” Your mother starts after a long beat, her tone placating. Whatever she was going to say next is lost on you, as you hear the sound of footsteps nearing the kitchen.

You think you’ve awoken Matt with how loud you’d been, but, whipping your head to the source of the noise, you find it’s an extremely-disheveled John instead.

Concern blossoms on his face the second his bespectacled eyes land on you and then the big, clunky phone in your hand, and, if you look as distraught as you feel, he doesn’t point it out. There’s something in his eyes you can’t quite discern as he makes a motion to give him the phone; whatever that may be, it’s a stark contrast to the calm, reassuring expression he has on his face.

>(1/2)
>>
>>5106868

The next thing you know, you’ve handed off the phone and you’re back in your room. Then there’s shouting coming from the kitchen– shouts of German (your father’s native tongue), which you cannot understand and are better off not understanding. You can’t remember the last time you’ve heard John this livid, but you hear your name being said multiple, multiple times.

The rest of that terrible night was mostly a blur, the conversation with your mother and the ensuing shouting-match leaving you in a funk, but you know John came to talk to you sometime later about it, looking way more pissed on your behalf than you think he should be. “Don’t listen to them, Elise. They haven’t seen you in years– they don’t know anything about you anymore.” When he hugs you, you can still feel how tense he is from the shouting match that had just transpired. “Whatever you want to do in life, Elise, I promise you you’ll be good at it. Mark my words.”

—-----------------------------

When you bite down on your lip, your teeth are flat– human.

Why did you remember that? You wonder to yourself as you tentatively unclench your fingers. No matter, you don’t feel like you’re going to lose control of your powers anymore. However, where your brother once stood, Doctor Atticus Charles now stands in his place.

Where John and the other FutureLabs mutants went, you’re not quite sure, but there’s only one building behind them and, therefore, one place they could’ve headed.

>What do?
>Listen to what the doctor-- perhaps you'll want to listen to what he has to say
>See if you can head to that building-- see if there's anything on the other side
>Get out of here-- while you have a bone to pick with John, no doubt you'll be seeing him
>Write-in

>(2/2(
>>
>>5106874
>>See if you can head to that building-- see if there's anything on the other side
>>
>>5106874
>See if you can head to that building-- see if there's anything on the other side
>>
>>5106874
>Gotta get some info
Man, the new 4chan prompt doesn’t auto copy like the old one and we gotta crtl+v on the window
>>
>>5106898
Is this for listening to the doc or attempting to sneeki beeki into the building?
>>
>>5106886
>>5106888

>Sneeki beeki

>>5106898

>Listen to the doc!

Come to think of it, I might be able to incorporate both... and, on that note, I will need you all to roll a dice+1d2 for no real reason whatsoever (best of 3).
>>
>>5106874
>>5106900
Meant to vote but the problem I said happened again
> Listen to what the doctor-- perhaps you'll want to listen to what he has to say
>>
Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>5106903
1d2?
>>
Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>5106903
What a strange dice
>>
>>5106909
>>5106908

Anyone who's rolled, feel free to roll one last time (though the results are pretty much set)
>>
>>5106957
>>
Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>5106960
Fucks sake
>>
>>5106964
>>5106909
>>5106908

>Why the d2s?
They say good things come in twos, don't they? :^)

Writing!
>>
>>5106968

>1 [???]

While something tells you that you might want to listen to what Atticus Charles has to say, you have a bone to pick with John, and, like it or not, he’s not getting away from you that easily.

Weaving through the crowd, it’s no trouble at all to keep your ears peeled; and, while the majority of the things the doctor is saying are blatant lies at this point– promises of stopping both gang and mutant activity for good– you never know if he’ll say something of actual value.

“So far, our teams have saved over a hundred captured mutants from the hands of human traffickers, and they are now safe and sound in our facilities.” It takes a couple of seconds to process that statement as you push through the throng of people, but the realization hits you like a ton of bricks. That was them. Muscling past someone with a little more force than needed, you mull that over in your head once more as you become more sure of yourself that it was them.

Definitely, definitely them. You reason with yourself– because who else could have been in Maranzano’s warehouse before you?

“Kelpie, Blink, Bludgeon.” The doctor enunciates. “For the greater good of Konigsburg and for the safety of yourselves and others, I personally implore you to turn yourselves in, as well as Pharos and any other mutants you may be harboring.” There is a smile on the doctor’s face, and it’s one that carries all the warmth of a politician. “If not, we will come down upon you with force of both human and mutant alike, so I hope you will choose wisely.”

You don’t like that cheering from the crowd. Not one bit. But, with the sheer amount of bullshit Atticus Charles and his merry band shoved down the throats of the public thus yet, it’s not unexpected.

Still, you’re pretty sure the doctor knows what your answer to his question would be. You’ve beaten his forces time-and-time again, and you’ve fought your fair-share of mutants. He can eat shit. You think vexedly, and so can Clyde, John, and whoever else thinks they can stop you.

When the cheers of the crowd die down, the doctor takes that as his cue to continue. “Lastly, I’d like to give a word of thanks to the men and women who’ve strove to help make Konigsburg a safe place once more.” You call bull, but again the crowd just eats it up.

>(1/?)
>>
>>5107139

“Even though the advent of mutants has caused a great deal of discord and strife in this city, with the help of mutants and ethically-derived mutant technology, we have and will continue to make leaps and bounds in the fields of particle science that were once thought impossible– perhaps, in the near future, we will even have the largest, working particle accelerator on the eastern seaboard.” At this point, considering how many people had died to the first particle accelerator, you thought there’d be at least some objection to the possibility of another, but there’s none. Nothing whatsoever. Just how gullible are these people? You wonder to yourself, as Atticus Charles continues his rotten spiel. “Just remember, these wonderful innovations that have and are still taking place would never be possible without you.

All around him, cameras flash, and, if the crowd wasn’t buzzing before, then they certainly are now, and it doesn’t die down until Atticus Charles disappears from the stage. Quickly ducking into the closest opening that had been poorly-guarded by its lone security guard, you heave a sigh of relief as you finally find yourself on your lonesome.

Man. You really do hate crowds. Your shoes click-clack on the marble tile, and you’re acutely aware that you’re the only person around.

>(2/3)
>>
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>>5107141

Strange… You would’ve expected more people around, given the nature of the event– especially where you assumed the mutants would be. Extending your proprioception, you find it difficult to single out any nearby heartbeats with so many people surrounding the building.

It is why you realize a second too late that there is a sole heartbeat behind you.

Before you can find yourself a room to duck into, a masculine voice sounds from behind you. “Who are you?” The tone isn’t malicious; it’s a curious one if you had to say– curious with an underlying sharpness to it.

Shit. You think, the faintest amount of dread welling up in your gut.

Turning to face the owner of the voice, you find yourself faced with a very familiar individual, if only for the fact that you’d seen him not even fifteen minutes prior. Zeus–one of the mutants on FutureLabs’ new mutant-squad. Second to the doctor, Zeus had been the cockiest person on the podium.

“You’re not supposed to be here, you know?” He starts again, frowning just the slightest bit, and you know that there's no way this guy's going to let you through.

>Wat say?
>“Whoops-- I'm lost, I guess. Do you know where the exit is?” (Leave)
>”Wow! Are you the guy from the conference? Are you really a mutant?”
>”I’m with the press. I’m just looking for my coworkers.”
>”I’m just looking for the restroom. For, you know... woman business.”
>Write-in

>(3/3)
>>
>>5107149

That's it for the night! Glad we got through that flipping flashback-- that freaking plot point has been in my docs for ages! In any case, thanks for playing, kings, and see you next time!
>>
>>5107149
>”I’m just looking for the restroom. For, you know... woman business.”
>>
>>5107149
>>”I’m with the press. I’m just looking for my coworkers.”
>>
>>5107149
> ”I’m just looking for the restroom. For, you know... woman business.”
>>
>>5107149
>>”I’m with the press. I’m just looking for my coworkers.”
>>
>>5107149
>”I’m just looking for the restroom. For, you know... woman business.”
If we go with the Press excuse he might ask for proof--this excuse might work a little better.
>>
>>5107661
We dressed like we have a job, I'd say the lie does have leg to stand on.
>>
>>5107187
>>5107201
>>5107661

>The oldest trick in the book!

>>5107194
>>5107521

>Werk it!

Got snowed in today, so early update time!
>>
>>5107743

As Zeus seems to be awaiting some sort of response, you wrack your brain for the perfect excuse. Briefly, you considered telling him you were with the press, but then he might ask for proof that you don’t have.

“I’m looking for the restroom.” You tell him, putting a sheepish look on your face, and, feeling rather devilish, you then add. “For woman business.”

It’s the oldest trick in the female book– a trick that works every single time, you think, judging by the expression on the other mutant’s face. Wordlessly, he points to the restroom, which you think could’ve made it to had you noticed him a second sooner.

You wait a good five minutes in a stall and then a little longer until you’d think that this guy would either lose interest or leave. However, stealing a peek from the doorway, you find that Zeus is waiting some ways away and had been playing with his phone the whole time, much to your chagrin.

Thankfully, the other mutant hasn’t noticed you yet as you wrack your brain for a workaround, and, with the sheer amount of security crawling around this event, any less-than-legal or brute-force solutions are evidently out of the question.

Son of a gun. You knew it wasn’t going to be that easy.

Tentatively stepping out from the doorway, you feel rather torn as you wonder if you should leave while you’re ahead of yourself or try to get past this guy.

However, any thoughts of what you’re going to do next are brutally and mercilessly interrupted with all the force of a bull in a china shop.

“Bloody hell– I must be high on crack-cocaine right now.” Of course. Of freaking course. Of all the people that could’ve ran into you, it had to be Clyde. “Nick, are you seein’ what I’m seein’ right now?” The bastard sounds like a cat who caught a particularly delicious prey.

>(1/?)
>>
>>5107989

“See what?” Zeus, or Nick, looks up from his phone.

“Not a what– a who is more like it.” Clyde says, striding forwards towards where you are. With Clyde on one side of you and Zeus on the other (though you’re pretty sure Zeus is the lesser of the evils), it’s clear that you’re screwed. “Why don’t you step into the hallway so I can see you nice and dolled-up, Ellie?” Hearing your nickname on his tongue sends a surge of anger coursing through you, but, seeing no way out, you have no choice but to step into the hallway.

“Do you two know each other?” Zeus looks to you and then back to Clyde.

“Do we?!” Clyde barks, looking like he’s on the verge of laughing. “This is John’s little sister, and she’s a connivin’ bitch is what she is. Don’t think I forgot about what ya did to me in the hospital, tryin’ to make me look like a predator of all things.”

“You were harassing me and my brothers.” You cross your arms. The only thing you regret about that is that you didn’t actually call security on him.

“Don’t be so dramatic, ya dumbshit.” Clyde sneers. “Learn to read a room, why don’t ya?”

“Learn to act like a human being.” You return, unyielding.

“You weren’t actually here for the bathroom, were you?” Zeus clicks his tongue, looking a little miffed at himself for not realizing it sooner.

“Is that what she told you? She played you like a bloody fiddle, didn’t she?” Clyde laughs raucously. “Say, what are you doin’ here anyhow? Dontcha have boys to kiss, buildings to vandalize, or some shit like that?” You envision yourself planting your fist in his sternum. The idea is becoming increasingly appealing.

>(2/?)
>>
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>>5107990

“Waitwaitwait…” Clyde stops himself, unaware of your current deliberations. “I bet you want a word with Johnny-boy, right? Or should I say Jacobson now.” He taunts, using your brother’s new alias. “Not a freakin’ chance in hell you’ll get anywhere near that dumbshit, but-but this is rich then. I can’t imagine the look on that face of yours when ya saw him on the podium.” Again, he laughs another long, grating laugh. “Guess Johnny couldn’t stand havin’ such a piss-poor sister that he literally turned himself in the second he got the chance.”

“Fuck you.” The words fly off of your tongue. Just as quickly does a hand strike your face, right across the cheek. It doesn’t hurt whatsoever, but you hold a hand onto that side of your face regardless to play on the fact that he indeed just slapped you.

“No hard feelings, Ellie, but you looked like you needed that.” Clyde doesn’t look repentenant in the least. The only thing stopping you from hauling off on the Australian is the fact that he could call security on you at any time. Why he hasn’t is a complete mystery to you.

“What the hell, Clyde?” Zeus looks positively disturbed and is leveling a glare Clyde's way. “Are you trying to cause more work for us or what? You want her to tell John and have him lose it on the way back?”

“Oh bite me, will ya?” Clyde rolls his eyes. “Trust me when I say this is the kind of bitch that doesn’t know when to stop runnin’ her mouth, and if her boyfriend isn’t doin’ it then someone’s gotta nip that shit straight in the bud. If John throws a piss-fit, that’s on him. I’m sure the van can handle it.” He says, waving off the other man.

>(3/4)
>>
>>5107991

>”Screw yourselves. I’m telling John whether you like it or not.”
>”What? Is John that dangerous or something?”
>"What kind of authority are you if you're going around and hitting civilians? What makes you think you can get away with this?"
>Don’t say anything. Hit him back and run– you can make it back into the crowd.
>Write-in
>>
>>5107997
> "What kind of authority are you if you're going around and hitting civilians? What makes you think you can get away with this?"
>>
>>5108035

>Y U NO ACT LIKE COP?
Writing!
>>
>>5108195

You still have your hand over your cheek as you continue to envision what you could do to Clyde that you positively can’t, like breaking his nose all over again or breaking one of his hands for starters. Nothing that he can’t recover from, of course… just something that’d be enough to teach him a lesson.

"What kind of authority are you if you're going around and hitting civilians?” You pointedly question, wondering how and why FutureLabs would hire someone like him. “What makes you think you can get away with this?"

“You’re lucky you got off with a slap– if I were feelin’ real nasty, I’d have actually called security on you afterwards and have you arrested.” Clyde grins a wicked grin. “Gettin’ away with it’s easier than bloody bootcamp because Nick will keep his mouth shut if he knows what’s good for him, and who will believe a word you say? If anyone should be in trouble, it’s you for trespassin.’” Stealing a glance around the room, you look for any security camera that would have caught your encounter but find none. The one time you needed a security camera in the room…

“I was looking for the bathroom.” You insist, though you both know that’s not true.

“Sure, and I’m the tooth fairy.” Clyde throws back. “And don’t compare me to those third-rate shits with the tranq-guns. My position’s leagues above them, so I can do whatever I want to whoever I want, human, mutant, or otherwise. That includes all the freaks I now have working under me, including mister big-and-stupid.” Again, you shoot him a glare for the dig at John, but there’s nothing you can do about it whatsoever.

“Clyde.” Zeus interrupts your stand-off. “We have to go.”

“Oh alright. Fine…” He huffs, throwing his head back like a very petulant child. “Remember, if I see you again, I’ll hit you twice as hard.” Clyde threatens. “Not cause I’m an asshole or anythin,’ but because you seriously piss me off.”

>(1/2)
>>
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>>5108340

“That’s completely reasonable and sane.” You deadpan, forgetting your scared act you had going on. Clyde’s about to say something else, but the other man grabs him by the arm just long enough for you to dart back around from where you came from and out of their sights.

By the time you step back into the sun, although there’s still a considerable amount of people, a good portion of the crowd has already dispersed.

You want to call Bernard and have him pick you up, but remember you hadn’t taken your cell phone along. Crap.

The day hasn’t even started, and, between the whole John-thing and running into Clyde, you want this day to be over already– but you need to address this with everyone ASAP so you can make your next move, be it saving mutants from the Maranzanos, getting that evidence out, or breaking back into FutureLabs to save Conduit.

>Wat do now?
>See if you can find a payphone somewhere; you didn’t want Bernard anywhere near this place for very obvious reasons, but now you want a quick and easy return home.
>Take the metro home. It’ll take longer, but you’ll have plenty of time for yourself. Perhaps to think a little bit.

>(2/2)
>>
>>5108342
>Take the metro home. It’ll take longer, but you’ll have plenty of time for yourself. Perhaps to think a little bit.

Metro's full of cameras and other people, plus we oughta ponder our next move.
>>
>>5108342
I'm gonna stop it here for the night since I started a New Year's resolution of getting a good night's sleep (I think I did the same thing during thread #8 and failed spectacularly. kek). Let's see how it goes this time!

Oh, and since everyone was curious, if we'd rolled majority 2 for that d2 we rolled, we would've ran into Anna (tsundere blonde) and Otto (the janitor guy). There was a chance they might've been less merciful than Zeus/Nick depending on the choices, but you certainly wouldn't have gotten deliberately slapped.

In any case, thanks for playing and see you next time, kings!
>>
>>5108353
Good luck
>>
>>5108349
>+1
I’m so gonna break Clyde’s face the next time we face him as Kelpie
>>
>>5108419
>>5108349

>CHOO-CHOO!!

Writing!
>>
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>>5109301

You didn’t want to put Bernard at risk by dragging him along to this event, and you sure don’t have any intention of doing so now, which is why you begin the trek from the City Hall to the metro. In spite of the distance being the same, the journey back to the station feels much quicker than your journey to the City Hall, and it’s not long before you’re seated in the train car that will take you back home.

Crap. You let out a long, aggravated huff as you slump into the seat, a multitude of thoughts swirling through your mind and none of them remotely positive. The one thought that stands above the others is how? How the hell was John able to hide his mutation for so long when you could barely hide yours?

Again, it doesn’t make sense. From what you’ve seen of mutants who are related, they tend to have powers along the same lines. You don’t even need to know the specifics of his powers, but it’s plainly obvious that John mutated into something animalistic, if not something completely similar to you.

Now, along with everything else that’s on your plate, you’re going to have to race against him, Clyde, and several other mutants to save the ones being trafficked and sold by the Maranzano family.

And, if he’s remotely strong as you…chances are you’re going to be the one to fight him.

You spend enough time ruminating on these thoughts that you nearly miss your stop, but, once you’re off the train, you make it home in record time since you want Matt and Bernard to know you’re okay.

When you walk through the door, they’re both sitting at the kitchen table, but it’s plainly obvious that they had been waiting for you to come back for quite a while.

“That fucking bastard…” Is the first thing that comes from Matt’s mouth as he looks straight at you, his eyes wide and furious. You’ve never heard him refer to John like that, not once in his life. Bernard, on the other hand, looks immensely troubled at the whole thing but is otherwise silent.

“I can’t believe it.” Your brother is at a loss, as angry he is towards John as he is towards himself. “He’s– he’s a freaking mutant, and I didn’t see it.”

>(1/2)
>>
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>>5109325

“Come on, stick,” Bernard interjects. “None of us knew.”

“That’s exactly my point.” He huffs. “Like, once you know someone who’s a mutant, you can kind of tell that there’s something up with them— especially the shapeshifters like Ellie– so it’s easier to pick them out if you know what to look for.”

“Son of a– then why’d he turn himself in if he was so good at hidin’ it?” Bernard slumps forward against the table, eyebrows furrowing. “You don’t think this was cause we stole Eddie and dumped his body? I mean, come on, we didn’t kill him.”

“No. If they wanted to use him sooner, they would've done it. I think those bastards finally realized they needed to fight fire with fire.” Matt mumbles, and then his eyes are on you as if remembering something. “By the way, you didn’t do anything stupid, did you?” He asks, shooting you a suspicious glance. Aw crap, you think. Your brother, ever-the-smart-one, knows you and knows you well.

>Wat do?
>Give a half-truth– just tell him that you tried to look for John but couldn’t find him.
>Stupid? You? Never! What Matt doesn’t know doesn’t hurt him.
>Spill the beans. You’re better off letting him know Clyde has a grudge against the human-you.
>Write-in

Also, what are you going to address with the others:
>Julia and her kill-code– FutureLabs is still after her, but could you circumvent the code somehow? A set of extra hands (or fists) would definitely give you all an extra edge.
>Maranzano– now that FutureLabs has their eyes on the traffickers as well, it’s more important than ever to drive out the Maranzano family from Konigsburg for good.
>Rescuing Conduit– knowing that there's free mutants roaming FutureLabs is a game-changer, but should you dive right into that right away?
>Write-in

>(2/2)
>>
>>5109332
>Spill the beans. You’re better off letting him know Clyde has a grudge against the human-you.

Might as well rip this band-aid off now--we're gonna need some transparency if we're gonna navigate this shitshow.

>Julia and her kill-code– FutureLabs is still after her, but could you circumvent the code somehow? A set of extra hands (or fists) would definitely give you all an extra edge.
>>
>>5109332
>Spill the beans. You’re better off letting him know Clyde has a grudge against the human-you.
>Julia and her kill-code– FutureLabs is still after her, but could you circumvent the code somehow? A set of extra hands (or fists) would definitely give you all an extra edge.
>>
>>5109332
>Spill the beans. You’re better off letting him know Clyde has a grudge against the human-you.
>Julia and her kill-code– FutureLabs is still after her, but could you circumvent the code somehow? A set of extra hands (or fists) would definitely give you all an extra edge.
They got new agents, so do we.
>>
>>5109344
>>5109409
>>5109460

>Spill dem beans!
>Deprogram a bitch!

Writing!
>>
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>>5109465

Since Clyde seems to hate your civilian identity as much as the mutant one (that, and the fact that he actually laid his hands on you), you think Matt should know what you got into while you were at City Hall.

“Yeah…” You start, watching Matt for a reaction. “I tried to look for John.”

“And?” Your brother wants the full scoop.

You recount the details of your run-in with Clyde and Zeus, from the conversation you had with the Australian to the slap you received after he had egged you on. While Matt and Bernard remain silent through the telling of your story, the more you tell them, the more furious their expressions become as it is evident that they want to break Clyde’s bones more than you.

All of this is because you pIsSeD hIm OfF.

“I’m gonna break his everythin’ if I see that guy ever again…” Bernard finally says, which seems to be the general consensus of the table. “Seriously,” He breathes. “What an absolute douchebag…”

As the air around the table settles into something less tense, you remember you were also here to discuss your next move. While Clyde is only a fraction of the problem, you have four other mutants, plus all of FutureLabs’ forces out for yours and everyone else’s heads.

Which includes Julia and Pharos. You can’t imagine what could happen if they triggered her kill-code. At the same time, you can’t help but think how much of an edge you might have if you had a mutant as strong as her on your team.

“Guys,” You pipe up as an idea comes to mind. “What if we use Julia against them? We could have her fight with us.” You didn’t take her along to the warehouse since you didn’t know what you were getting into, but, knowing what you’re up against, you’re pretty sure you could use the extra help this time around, be it against the traffickers or whatever else you’re planning to do.

“Doesn’t she have that kill-code?” Bernard points out the obvious.

“Yeah, but remember how Valjean made the Healer forget his and Julia’s names?” As you glance across the table, you see Matt’s eyes widen as he comes to the same conclusion as you.

>(1/?)
>>
>>5109658

“Hey that– that could actually work.” A smile spreads across the blonde’s face, but it drops just as fast as he remembers a very important detail. “You know the jerkface will be askin’ why his girlfriend has a killcode.”

Right… That opens up a whole different can of worms.

“Well, we can't afford to be picky here, guys.” Matt interrupts. “Ellie’s right. We could really use the edge right now if we’re going to be facing mutants that have been trained for this stuff. If Valjean runs his fat mouth, we'll just have to suck it up and deal with it.”

A few seconds pass before Bernard finally says, “Let’s get going I guess…”and that’s all the signal you need for the three of you to gather for a teleport.

You’re not really looking forward to having this conversation either. The last thing you want is to have to go through the explanation of why you have a FutureLabs employee living under your roof– two if you count Eddie– and why that employee’s a mutant so that Valjean can accuse you of being a mutant trait–

You don’t even get to finish that thought before you’re enveloped in the familiar green light of a teleport, right in front of where Valjean and Julia are sitting.

The former Crux leader doesn’t say a word at your arrival, as he’d been tinkering with the little recorder you’d fished out from the river last night. Julia, meanwhile, is nose-deep in one of the many novels you’d given her. However, when Valjean looks up from his work, there’s a sharp look in his eyes– one that tells you he knows– and your eyes dart to the crackling radio that sits on one of the crates.

“Well, well, well,” Valjean starts, putting down the recorder and the screwdriver he had on hand. “I’m guessing you guys aren’t here for fun and games.”

>(2/?)
>>
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>>5109661

“No.” You shake your head, crossing your arms. “We’re not.”

“Then would I be correct in assuming you guys are here to beg for extra help against FutureLabs’ newest pet project?” Valjean grins a sardonic, almost self-righteous grin. “Before or after you leave out the part where your family member’s a mutant traitor? Is that where you get all your intel on FutureLabs?”

“That’s not it either.” You ignore his snide questions. “Julia’s in danger.”

You expect another biting remark, but something about your expression must have actually convinced him to believe you as his face shifts into something more serious.

“What do you mean?” The question lingers in the air, tensely, silently, as you mentally fumble for how you can say your next words.

Except there’s no easy way to put this whatsoever– absolutely none– which is why you have no choice but to rip the bandaid off.

”There’s a kill phrase.” You start, finally breaking the silence. “Julia has a kill phrase. We don’t know what happens if we say it, but whatever it does to Julia and her powers could kill us. And FutureLabs will try to use it as soon as they find her.”

At that, there’s a stony expression on the former Crux leader’s face, grey eyes dark and vengeful. “Then why did you feel the need to tell me when you were clearly content on leaving that part out?”

“Because you can save her.” You tell him simply. “If you can make someone forget your names and faces, you can make Julia forget the kill phrase.”

Stealing a sideways glance, you notice Julia, who had stopped reading when you started talking and had been listening in on your conversation, looks downright petrified at the whole thing. “Am–Am I really dangerous? Please tell me that isn’t true.” As she moves closer to you, she looks like she’s on the verge of tears.

“You won’t be, once I fix you.” Valjean states, taking her into his hold. “But, before I do anything, I’d like to know what else you three have been conveniently keeping from me.”

>He’s gonna help you guys save Conduit– he brainwashed him, he’s going to help (or at least get Eddie back to his body)
>The other Crux girls– they’re likely brainwashed as well; probably got those neat-o kill codes too!
>Nothing. You’ll tell him what he needs to know when he needs to know it. You don’t owe him a thing.
>Write-in

>(3/3)
>>
Aw fuark. Looks like I broke my New Year's Resolution cause I'm up late again. Whoops. But, yeah, this is the last update of the night-- no clue how they get so long (fingers can't stop typing once they start!).

As always, thanks for playing, and see you next time, kings!
>>
>>5109663
>He’s gonna help you guys save Conduit– he brainwashed him, he’s going to help (or at least get Eddie back to his body)
>>
>>5109663
>He’s gonna help you guys save Conduit– he brainwashed him, he’s going to help (or at least get Eddie back to his body)
This'll cheer John up
>>
>>5109663
>He’s gonna help you guys save Conduit– he brainwashed him, he’s going to help (or at least get Eddie back to his body)
>>
>>5109663
>>He’s gonna help you guys save Conduit– he brainwashed him, he’s going to help (or at least get Eddie back to his body)
>>
>>5109663
oh nice this is back!

>The other Crux girls– they’re likely brainwashed as well; probably got those neat-o kill codes too!

not sure if telling him he's gonna do something for us is the best move after revealing we've been hiding info from him guys
>>
>>5109714
>>5109893
>>5109968
>>5110048

>Conduit!

>>5110177

>Crux!thots!

Writing!
>>
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>>5110311

sorry guys had to run some errands

“Why don’t we start with Conduit?” Ernst had been the first thing that came to mind. “Does that name ring a bell?”

“Of course it does.” Valjean’s eyes narrow. “If you want him to start making bombs for you, you’re out-of-luck. He’s probably either captured or dead.”

“He’s alive, jerkface, no thanks to you,” Bernard growls. “Couldn’t have looked worse if you asked me.”

“Not my fault he was so easy to brainwash…” Valjean states. “Now what do you want with him?”

“Simple. We’re gonna break him out of FutureLabs.” You tell him. “You brainwashed him, you’re going to help us get him out.”

“Tell that to all of the other mutants that I brainwashed and are trapped along with him.” That obviously was the wrong thing to say, as the former Crux leader’s scowl deepens. “How about you give me one good reason why I should throw myself into that deathtrap for one, single mutant?”

“Who said you were going into the labs, jackass?” Matt butts in. “And I thought you liked the idea of screwing over FutureLabs any way you can?”

“I do…” Is Valjean’s response. “But I like it more when there’s some benefit to it. You think I would’ve woken up those coma patients if I thought it wouldn’t help the mutants?” Matt rolls his eyes. Would’ve worked way better had FutureLabs not outed Pharos and Sopor as one-in-the-same.

“Here’s my question: how do I know you’re not going to pull your punches when you cross paths with John?” He smirks as he draws out the name. “If you can tell me with a straight face that you’ll fight him without mercy, then I might consider whatever you have in mind.”

>You won’t pull your punches, and you never had any intention of doing so. If he’s as strong as you, you’ll fight him with all you got.
>You’ll fight him without mercy for as long as he aligns himself with FutureLabs. Until you can reason with him– somehow– and get him on your side.
>No. You’ll do what you have to and nothing more.
>Write-in
>>
>>5110430
>>You won’t pull your punches, and you never had any intention of doing so. If he’s as strong as you, you’ll fight him with all you got.
As if we would have it any other way. Let's break both arms this time.
>>
>>5110430
Running ERRANDS? HOW DARE YOU.

>You won’t pull your punches, and you never had any intention of doing so. If he’s as strong as you, you’ll fight him with all you got.
>>
>>5110430
>Our punches are gonna be pulled on John, but we'll make up for it by punching Clyde extra hard.
>>
>>5110433
>>5110467

>NO MERCY!!!

>>5110476
>Uhhh... Maybe just a little mercy-- BUT NOT ON CLYDE!!!

Called! Writing!
>>
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>>5110484

The image of John is still fresh in your mind, alive, well, and ribs unbroken as he bares his mutation for the world to see. Nothing you can think of could possibly rationalize what he’s done, and, the more you think about it, the more your instinct pulses in your mind.

“You think I’m planning on showing any mercy on him after everything he pulled on us?” When those words leave your lips, you’re not looking at Valjean– you’re not even looking at Matt or Bernard. Your words are fueled by a burning want to throw yourself neck-deep into the heat of the fight.

And John is at the receiving end of it. Not just for today, but for the past year of lying.

“Good…” Valjean hums, snapping you from the light haze. “I expected you to get sentimental or something over having to fight him, but I like that attitude.”

If Valjean thought that you had any intention of pulling your punches, you pull your punches for no one. No one whatsoever.

“Alright, alright, enough talkin.’” Bernard interrupts, tired of this spiel. “Let’s just get goin’ on this kill-code already.” At that, the blonde grabs Julia and disappears in a flash.

“Okay, she’s gone. Hand over the code.” Valjean’s looking to you. However, while you heard Clyde say the kill-code, he never got the chance to say the rest of it before John got to him. Thankfully, Matt has your back.

>(1/2)
>>
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>>5110512

“We shall meet in the place where there is no darkness.” Matt recites, droningly.

“We shall meet in the place where there is no darkness.” Valjean parrots the phrase. Then the three of you wait for Julia and Bernard to return, and, once they do, the former Crux leader looks more than ready to get this show going.

Now, for the moment of truth… You think, as Julia steps towards him.

Once Valjean starts humming, you watch as Julia’s eyes glaze over, vivid blues brightening until they’re glowing a bright, blazing gold– one that fills the whole space in your vicinity. Helplessly, she pitches forward, and you think she’s going to fall, but Valjean catches her before that can happen, still humming the same, languid tune. He doesn’t stop until the light in her eyes has diminished, returning to their typical, crystalline blue.

“W-What just happened?” Julia whispers, disoriented from the whole thing; her fingernails dig into the back of his shirt. “Was that it?”

“Yeah… it’s over…” Valjean affirms as Julia stares forwards, unblinking and unmoving.

“So how do we know it actually worked?” Bernard asks the question that the rest of you are wondering.

“It did, you airhead.” Valjean glowers. While you all saw that something definitely happened, still, you can’t help but wonder if Julia’s actually in the clear.

>Wat do?
>Say the kill code to her– see if it worked.
>Don’t say the kill code. You know it worked. Let FutureLabs have the honors.
>Write-in

>(2/2)
>>
>>5110515
>>Don’t say the kill code.
We'll fuck around and find out.
>>
>>5110515
>Don’t say the kill code. You know it worked. Let FutureLabs have the honors.
If it didn't work it's on Valjean. Works for me!
>>
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>>5110517
>>5110520

>And then everyone died, the end!
Writing!


Just kidding.
>Don’t say the kill code.
Writing!
>>
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>>5110531

no Gainax ending here...

The temptation to say the kill-code out loud is extremely tempting, almost as tempting as if a live, bloodied fish landed right at your feet. However, you’d rather not fuck around and fiind out, as Matt would so eloquently put it.

You’ll just have to wait until your next brush with FutureLabs to find out whether or not it worked, and, if it didn’t and you’re lucky enough to live through the consequences, Valjean can pay for it with a nice knuckle-sandwich. So, with that, you smooth over your features and try not to think about the kill-code that you definitely did not want to say. Nope. Not whatsoever.

But now that everyone’s gathered here– and now that you’ve got one of your biggest concerns out of the way– you can easily plan your next move.

While you could plan to rescue Conduit here and now, the code still isn’t quite finished. You might be waiting around from anywhere to a day to a week depending on how fast Eddie works.

However, as Atticus Charles had said, their team would move quickly and ferociously against the Maranzano family, and, in that regard, there would be a lot of unfortunate mutants ending up in FutureLabs’ clutches.

>What’s your next move?
>The gangs– now that FutureLabs is getting their hands dirty with the trafficked mutants, you’ll have to work faster to remove Maranzano’s forces from the city.
>Rescuing Conduit– though the code isn’t quite finished, you can at least start working on a plan for breaking in (and retrieving Eddie’s body)
>Write-in

Also if you choose ‘gangs,’ what will be your primary focus?
>Finding Maranzano’s primary base-of-operations and killing the roots at the source
>Saving the trafficked mutants– let FutureLabs’ team clean up the rest
>>
Alright. That's it, for the night.

As always, thanks for playing, and see you next time, kings!
>>
>>5110547
>The gangs– now that FutureLabs is getting their hands dirty with the trafficked mutants, you’ll have to work faster to remove Maranzano’s forces from the city.

>Saving the trafficked mutants– let FutureLabs’ team clean up the rest

So the copying is when you click the reply button without having to ctrl+v still works on pc, but not on phone.
>>
>>5110547
>The gangs– now that FutureLabs is getting their hands dirty with the trafficked mutants, you’ll have to work faster to remove Maranzano’s forces from the city.

>Saving the trafficked mutants– let FutureLabs’ team clean up the rest

Let the Stuper Friends do the grunt work. We've got folks to save!
>>
>>5110547
>The gangs– now that FutureLabs is getting their hands dirty with the trafficked mutants, you’ll have to work faster to remove Maranzano’s forces from the city.
>Saving the trafficked mutants– let FutureLabs’ team clean up the rest
prioritize what is most time-sensitive
>>
>>5110547
>>The gangs– now that FutureLabs is getting their hands dirty with the trafficked mutants, you’ll have to work faster to remove Maranzano’s forces from the city.
>Saving the trafficked mutants– let FutureLabs’ team clean up the rest
>>
>>5110896
>>5110834
>>5110810
>>5110556

>Le unanimous vote

Called and writing!
>>
>>5111158

“Now that we fixed the kill-code, we’re going to keep fighting Maranzano.” You start, because, with Eddie taking his sweet time on that code of his, you think that removing Maranzano’s forces from the city would be the next-best thing.

That, and you would pretty-much have a death wish if you burst into FutureLabs literal base-of-operations on the exact same day they declared war on you.

With Maranzano likely focused on FutureLabs’ new team, you might have a better chance at saving more trafficked mutants faster.

“Yeah, I wasn’t really ready to rescue Conduit today anyways.” Matt is on the same page as you. “Good news is that while you and B were sleeping like babies last night, I was doing more research.” As if to emphasize his point, the end of his statement is punctuated by a yawn.

“So here’s the thing, guys… I’ve been comparing where the disappearances go to, and they all seem to lead back to the same place.” Matt mutters. “You know the Miller-Ford building?”

“The one that caused the controversy for being a wind hazard?” Valjean clarifies. You know which one it is as well; it’s the only building in Konigsburg (or perhaps the whole country) whose foundation is built completely underwater.

“Yeah.” Matt nods, pulling a familiar red-and-gold card from his pocket– the one that reads Gladiolus. “There’s a club in the building that goes by the name of ‘Gladiolus,’ which is very exclusive– like you either gotta have a shitload of money or know someone. Unfortunately, thanks to the wind hazard controversy, there aren’t actually any available blueprints of the building itself, or anything that can tell us where in the building this Gladioulus place is, much less any information on the club itself.”

So you can’t just teleport right in, guns blazing. You frown– not without the possibility of having either the police or Maranzano’s men swarming you– and you’re sure everyone else knows this as well.

>(1/?)
>>
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>>5111282

“Oh yeah, I almost forgot–” Matt pipes up, interrupting your train of thought. “--so that license you got from the water last night was from some guy that worked at FutureLabs…a Doctor Allen Zhang. Don’t think it’s very relevant, but I thought you all should know.”

“Guess some guy was tryin’ to make a quick buck off of sellin’ mutants, huh?” Bernard lifts a brow. “Dunno how he’d even get em’ outta there– the security’s intense.”

“Who knows, B?” Matt shrugs. “I can’t imagine either if I’m being honest. In any case, Maranzano killed him for whatever reason… probably didn’t want the loose end.”

“If I’m not mistaken, there’s a small group of buildings that looks suspiciously like a compound in the area around the Miller-Ford building. They rent boats, and give tours around the Bay of Konigsburg and the Miller-Ford building as well, but do you wanna guess who owns it?”

“Junior, right?” Valjean grins, and, at that, Matt gives an mhmm.

>(2/3)
>>
>>5111284

“Say stick, how’d you get all this info so fast anyhow?” Bernard looks impressed at Matt’s ability to research.

“Cause I’m a genius, that’s why.” He grins, a little self-righteously. “That, and I got a little help from Ermac.” While you know Matt could gather all that information on his own easily, having a person (consciousness?) that's literally a sentient computer program on hand made the whole thing go way faster.

“Well… I’m ready to roll anytime, since, you know, I’ve got all the free time in the world.” Valjean remarks now that the you have all the information you’ll need.

>In any case, when will you be scoping out this potential trafficking hotspot?
>Tonight. No time like the present.
>Tomorrow night. Wait a day for shit to cool down before you get moving.
>Write-in

Also, where to first?
>To the Miller-Ford building-- looks pretty big. Could be sus.
>To the boat-rental-- If Maranzano owns it, that's all the proof you need.

>(3/3)
>>
Well... kinda slow night. I'll be picking up tomorrow since I'm kind of tired anyways.

As always, thanks for playing, and see you next time kings!
>>
>>5111290
>Tonight. No time like the present.
>To the boat-rental-- If Maranzano owns it, that's all the proof you need.
>>
>>5111290
>Tonight. No time like the present.
>To the boat-rental-- If Maranzano owns it, that's all the proof you need.

'Always Be Hustlin', that's our motto!
>>
>>5111290
>Tonight. No time like the present.
>To the Miller-Ford building-- looks pretty big. Could be sus.
>>
>>5111290
>Tonight. No time like the present.
>To the boat-rental-- If Maranzano owns it, that's all the proof you need.
MORE NIGHT OCEAN FUN
>>
>>5111426
>>5111463
>>5111664

>Hustle-and-bustle!
>Boat-rental!

>>5111664

>Hustle-and-bustle!
>Citicorp building-ripoff!

Called and writing!
>>
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>>5112474

Oh, should it be assumed we're taking the whole flipping crew?

>Yes.
>No.

I'm assuming yes and am still writing under that assumption, but just in case...
>>
>>5112505
>Yes
Not reason not to and Julia needs the experience
>>
>>5112505
Heck yeah
Squad up
>>
>>5112505
>YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

SQUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD
>>
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>>5112505

You think that if you wait any longer on pursuing Maranzano, that’s more time for him to funnel mutants out of Konigsburg– that, or those mutants will invariably fall into FutureLabs’ clutches.

Still, you’re kind of surprised that Maranzano-Junior hasn’t pissed his pants already from FutureLabs’ most recent announcement. Then again, from Atticus Charles’ words, the new group of mutants has already been in pursuit of him for quite some time.

No matter, with how easy it was to fend off the mafiosi last night, you think it’s a perfect time to let Julia in on it this time around. Though you don’t know how affected she still might be by that fight you guys had, you wonder how well she fights without either cranial damage or the influence of Aurum Impulsum.

Out of curiosity, you pull up your suit-jacket sleeves (lest they end up like paper in a shredding machine) and shift into your fish form, watching the other woman’s reaction.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Julia’s giving you a look.

“Just testing something out.” You return, feeling the other sets of eyes on you. Though there’s a little bit of wariness in her glare, it doesn’t look like she’s going to run away or anything like that. If anything, she looks mostly annoyed.

Good. You think, shifting back into your human form. That settles it.[/i ] Looks like Julia will actually fight with you this time.

There’s little preparation that the five of you need to do, save for Matt, who spends the whole afternoon sleeping due to the late-night he pulled for you guys. You’re feeling better about this lead than the last one and a little glad to be doing something to get your mind off of your most recent troubles.

“There better be a fight this time...” Are the words you get from Valjean when you arrive at the warehouse once night falls, and, without further ado, you’ve been taken to the far-side of town– one where the highway meets the edge of the city and you can even see the beginning of some trees in the distance. It’s a contrast to the gleaming city lights, the Miller-Ford standing like a sentinel in the bay.

>(1/2)
>>
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>>5112663

You’ll admit it’s kind of impressive, but you have to wonder who had the brilliant idea of building a whole freaking skyscraper on the water like that. Well, at least whoever built it was smart enough to put it as far away from the majority of the population.

“Hah…” You hear Bernard take a heaving breath from behind, and, turning to face him, you note he looks a little winded. “Good crap… teleportin’ the five of us that far is a real pain-in-the-neck.”

“You gonna make it, B?” You feel a flash of concern for the blonde.

“Yeah, I just really felt it there– I’m fine though!” He says, straightening up quickly. “I can definitely make it back home. Just… this place is really outta-the-way…”

He’s not wrong, you think. Unlike the warehouse you were at yesterday, which was right smack-dab in the thick of the city, this place is nearly at the city limits.

Overlooking the boat-rental, you find that Matt was right-- it really does look like a freaking compound.

Nonetheless, you can sense some people within the buildings; you even see some people moving to-and-fro between them, some well-dressed and others not. If there were trafficked mutants anywhere, it’d be hard to tell which part of the complex they’re in.

>How will you approach this?
>Head to where the people were going.
>Head to the roofs, get a closer look.
>Hop into the center and figure out where to go from there.
>Write-in

How will you approach this?
>All in– five or nothing!
>You’ll take– (Write-in)!
>Just you! The ultimate sigma move!

>(2/2)
>>
>>5112669
>head to the roofs for a better look
>just you

Obviously it’s smarter to take Bernard but op called this the ultimate sigma move and Elise is the ultimate sigma female
>>
>>5112696
>+1
>>
>>5112696
>>5112715

>Roof-rave!
>Sigma-variant!

We are the ultimate sigma-female. Or so we think, b-baka!
Writing!

>>5112669
Also, assume there's more city buildings in the picture. I just didn't draw them cause they weren't places-of-interest.
>>
>>5112771
>Also, assume there's more city buildings in the picture. I just didn't draw them cause they weren't places-of-interest.
gotta have that stock building to put in the drawings, kek
>>
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>>5112771

Before anyone else can say a word, you’re already shooting yourself down to the roof of the main building, shouts of protest sounding from behind you. If you need anyone else, you got your comms, you think, positioning yourself to land.

Your impact with the roof sends a few tiles skidding, but, thankfully, they do not fall, and, taking stock of your surroundings, you find that the whole thing looks… actually pretty fancy. With the plethora of palm trees, a sizable courtyard, and even a pool, you suppose it has to be if it caters to rich people.

If you’re being honest, the whole thing feels like less of a boat rental and more like a posh vacation home– a vacation home that is way larger than you initially thought.

A pair of heartbeats in your periphery interrupts your thoughts, and you whip your head to face one of the gunmen trying to draw a bead on you from behind the ventilator.

Bang. You feel the bullet whiz right by you.

The gunman tries again, but, from his position, he can’t get a good aim on you as you deftly leap out of his sights and high into the air. However, like a swarm of cockroaches, the telltale noise of a gunshot all it takes for even more gunmen to come out of the woodwork, the slew of heartbeats making their way towards your position.

>Now what?
>Head into the main building.
>Head into the courtyard.
>Call a teammate (Who?).
>Write-in
>>
>>5112797

Gonna end it here for the night! Not feeling too hot.

Anyways, we should be getting into the fun/actiony stuff next session, so see you next time, kings!
>>
>>5112797
>Head into the main building.
>>
>>5112797
>Head into the main building
>>
>>5112797
>Head into the main building.
>>
>>5113221
>>5112838
>>5112837

>Main building!

Alright! I'll need some dice so we can beat the crap out of whoever's waiting for us in the building! Roll me some 1d100s-- best of three!!
>>
Rolled 16 (1d100)

>>5113243
>>
Rolled 13 (1d100)

>>5113243
rock and roll. Please.
>>
Rolled 94 (1d100)

>>5113243
We are gonna look really dumb if we fuck it up right after running off.
>>
>>5113272
Thanks to you we won't.
>>
>>5113266
>>5113268
>>5113272

Wow-- what a save! Looks like we're not gonna look like idiots after all!

Writing!
>>
>>5113314

From mid-air, you aim your body towards the first roof-ledge of the balcony, and, once you land, you waste no time ducking beneath it, finding yourself face-to-face with yet another pair of gunmen.

“Uhhh… fish?” You hear Bernard’s voice in your ear. No doubt they’ve heard the gunshots.

“...I’m not even going to ask.” That comes from Valjean.

There’s another crackle of static in the comms– a weary, resigned-sounding huff that you think comes from Matt. Evidently, he has no words.

You can only imagine what they’d all say to you if you came back within the first two minutes of this. A little dread worms its way into your gut… there’s no way in hell you’d be able to live it down.

Fervor driven by the prospect of humiliation has the first man on the ground, unconscious before he can even point his rifle. The second man fares no better, and you can clearly see the look of horror on his face the moment before your fist meets his head. Not sparing a second, you break open the nearest door, finding yourself in a rather spacious-looking office that is no less-fancy than the outside.

“...Fish? You still with us?” Bernard inquires.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” You return, letting everyone know you’ve got it handled for now.

Still, you can’t help but think that, for a place that’s supposed to be trafficking mutants, wouldn’t you say the security is rather… lax? You kind of expected more if you’re being honest.

>(1/2)
>>
>>5113447

Taking a quick glance of the room, aside from the opulent decor, the only things of note you see are a desk at the far end of the room, and a very large portrait of the eldest Maranzano with the word ’GIAGUARO’ emblazoned over it. Otherwise, while the desk is very clean– almost too clean for your liking– the only reason you take note of it is because of your irreparable urge to snoop in other people’s business.

You wonder if you should check it out...

Unfortunately, your deliberation is cruelly interrupted by your proprioception warning you of more presences nearby, just in time for a large, golden thing to whip itself straight at you and plant itself into the tile.

A second gold appendage that’s just like the first narrowly misses you, and you spring onto the mantle to avoid it.

“Merda.” The owner of the voice mutters, a woman in a short club dress– one that matches the tail-like appendages retreating back to her person. “Let’s hope the boss isn’t too broken up about the floor.”

The second person next to her is one you would’ve mistaken for a man with boyish clothes and cropped hair if not for the rough voice that was definitely feminine. “Who gives a flyin’ frick? Just kill ‘er before I do.” Her New York accent is extremely thick– even thicker than Bernard’s-- and something tells you that she's probably a mutant as well.

>What do you do?
>Evade! Keep moving further into the building! Forget the damn desk and look for the mutants!
>Fight them! These mutant women are going down!

Also, will you call someone in?
>Yes (Write-in).
>No.

>(2/2)
>>
>>5113454
>>Fight them! These mutant women are going down!
>Yes (Julia).
This is why we brought her
>>
>>5113464
>+1
We've come here to chew fish and kick butts and no fish in sight
>>
>>5113464
>>5113478

Time to show these New Yorkers who's boss! Roll me some 2d100s-- one for Elise and one for Julia-- best of three!

And don't forget to write any specific strategy if you have one!
>>
Rolled 54, 86 = 140 (2d100)

>>5113549

Tail lady needs to go. We're best close range, so get rid of that ranged advantage. Close in but keep nimble, ala in-fighting. This also means it's harder for the New Yorker to get a clean hit- though it could mean that she just tried to dogpile you. That's what Julia is for. Her thing is crystals, right? See if she can take potshots at the Yawker.
>>
Rolled 91, 28 = 119 (2d100)

>>5113549
>>
Rolled 39, 6 = 45 (2d100)

>>5113549
Tell Jewel about the gold tendrils and have her fight her, let's see what mangina yankee can do.
>>
>>5113549

>ROLLS: 91, 86

Nice... Very nice...
Writing!
>>
>>5113550
>>5113551
Our luck is back, boys
Fish is fresh
>>
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>>5113549

Face-to-face with the two mutant gun molls, you’re not quite sure which one you should fight first. While those tendrils from the first woman look pretty nasty, there’s murderous intent on the other woman’s face that gives you a bad feeling.

Right at the same time the tomboyish one pulls out her gun– right when you’re ready to make another move– there’s a crash through the window that sends glass flying everywhere, and with it comes a much-welcomed presence.

“Don’t tell me they were giving you a hard time.” Julia says in lieu of a greeting, straightening herself up. You can only imagine where she picked up that kind of sarcasm.

“How about you take the blonde one?” You return, eyes on the woman with the tendrils. “I’ll go for her.”

Not another word is needed as the two of you charge your respective targets. Sending a flying fist towards the chest of the tendril-woman, she lifts the golden-appendages to block you, but the impact from your own, stronger body sends her crashing into the wall.

There’s the smell of blood in the air– a telltale mark of a good hit– but, much to your disappointment, the woman manages to get back on her feet, right as Julia's quarry fires several bullets that whiz past her and straight into the wall. However, as if the wall were a trampoline, those bullets bounce right off the wall in every single different direction, and some fly right out the window, while others continue to bounce around like pinballs.

You’ve hardly landed for a second when the two tendrils shoot straight for you again, but you’re quick enough to catch them before they hit you, the pincer-like endings of her tendrils piercing the inside of your palms.

There’s an odd, almost-burning sensation exactly where they hit, and you ignore it for the moment so you can move your grip to crush the main parts of the appendages, feeling a rush of instinct-fueled euphoria as they easily give beneath your hold.

From the side, you watch as Julia fires off a slew of crystals whilst avoiding the gunfire, sending them straight at the New Yorker whose bullets are no match for a woman made of diamond. One of the stalactites embed themselves in her shoulder, coloring her white dress-shirt red, but she doesn’t yield.

>(1/2)
>>
>>5113666

Instead, you see the woman’s purple eyes make contact with the tendril woman’s for the splittest of seconds, and, from beneath you, the tendril-woman stops resisting. Yes…This is it– you’re definitely going to win, and then you’ll–

You’re on the mantle again. There’s no glass on the floor, your palms aren’t burning, and Julia is nowhere to be found.

What? Before you can say another word, the sound of glass shattering heralds the arrival of Julia.

“Don’t tell me they were giving you a hard time.” The crystalline mutant says to you, straightening herself up.

“Hard time? We were just–” You stop yourself, looking back to where the gun molls were as the realization hits you. Deja. Freaking. Vu.

You’re positive the boyish mutant had something to do with that– the feeling of those tendrils getting crushed by your hands had been no dream of any sorts.

Still, the smell of blood fills the air, but you can hear the sound of footsteps quickly retreating into the hall.

Roll me some 1d100s to pursue! Best of 3! Make sure to type in any specific strategy you have to take those Yawkers down!!!

>(2/2)
>>
Rolled 20 (1d100)

>>5113677
God damn, how did this shitty gangsters get mutants this strong. Go Berserk and focus on the Tomboy
>>
Rolled 62 (1d100)

>>5113677
Watch THIS!
>>
Rolled 48 (1d100)

>>5113677
...REWIND? THAT'S SUPER BULLSHIT.

Rewind needs to go first, turns out. We need to hit her hard, fast, and surprising. It might be an idea to cause friendly fire; particularly from Tendrils to Rewind.
>>
Rolled 67 (1d100)

>>5113677
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhKH_bma5WE
now things got interesting
>>
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>>5113684
>>5113690
>>5113691
>>5113697 :c

>Highest roll: 62!
>Writing!

>>5113691

>Callin' bull
Refer to my very well-placed macro of Todd Howard. Though, I wouldn't say her power is time manipulation per se... it's something close enough to do so...
>>
>>5113713
It's King Crimson adjacent, I figured. She can't manipulate time outright, but she can say 'Nope, the last 30 seconds didn't happen' or something akin.
>>
>>5113717
I think it's more like Bites the Dust, she saw the tendril woman in the eyes and sent her back in time, and we got carried along
>>
>>5113727
Eye contact isn't necessary to use her power-- that was just the ma'am giving tendril-gal the "I'm gonna pull some bullshit" signal.
>>
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>>5113727
>enemy mutant is Bites the Dust user
oh fuck
>>
>>5113713

You fools barely made the DC. Yeet.

Hopping down from the mantle, you let your senses take you towards where the gun molls were headed and hope that Julia takes that as the cue to follow your lead.

Though the two of them likely know the building from top-to-bottom, none of them are a match for your speed, and you quickly gain on them. However, when the two reach a fork in the hallway, crop-cut wastes no time shooting some of her bouncing bullets in your direction before the two split up.

Like the last time she pulled that trick, the majority of the bullets miss, but a lucky bullet manages to graze you. Another few sink themselves into the wall, melting through it like hot butter.

Well… glad she didn’t get you with those bullets…

“Go left and get the other one!” You shout to Julia, and, while crop-cut has gotten some distance on you, no matter how many twists and turns she tries to lead you through, her blood is a beacon for your keen senses. You suppose that the injury she got from Julia stayed with her in that little time-trick she pulled.

Outside, you can hear even more commotion and gunfire, the males of your group inevitably joining the party.

Finally, you burst into a sitting room, sensing crop-cut behind a decorational jaguar statue. You’ll knock her out before she does that time trick– again?

The heartbeat suddenly disappears, reemerging from behind you, and, in a stunning act that you would either consider really stupid or really brave, the woman tries to shoot you point-blank. The fist to the gut changes her mind pretty quickly, and you see her face go purple before you’re at the door to the sitting room again.

Following your gut feeling, you whip around behind you, finding crop-cut in the doorway but still keeping her gun trained on you. Aside from the bloodstained shirt, courtesy of Julia, she looks like she’s had the wind knocked out of her, and, if looks could kill, you’d be long gone.

“Haah… sonnovabitch, that hurt. Guess ya don’t know when to scram, do ya?” She growls, still convinced she can take you down. She struggles to pull up her gun this time around. “Fuckin’ Konigsburg and your stupid mutants– guess what? In the end, they all bleed the same, damn color.”

In spite of her words, she still is aiming for your head… so there’s only one thing left for you to do here.

Roll 1d100+5 to knock her out! Best of three as always! (+5 for injured enemy)
>>
Rolled 22 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>5113942
"You've got something on your face..."
>>
Rolled 9 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>5113942
>>
Rolled 6 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>5113942
Oof. Well, here's hoping...
>>
>>5113944
>>5113956
>>5113971
Jesus christ, I click on this thread randomly and you guys are over here with the worst Bo3 3d100 rolls in a month of Sundays. Condolences.
>>
>>5113944
>>5113971
>>5113956

Welp, time to face the consequences of our rolls. Shouldn't be that bad. Probably.
And remember folks.. we don't die, we regress :^)
>>
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Sorry folks, I don't think I can finish the update tonight. My brain's logging off, and I'd like my noggin to be fresh when I write the next part.

As always, thanks for playing, and see you next time, kings!
>>
>>5113942
a shame I couldn't roll, but considering the situation and that we didn't get a crit low, we may lose her but won't get badly hurt
>>
>>5113983

Alright! Time to, like, face some consequences and sheeit. Writing!
>>
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>>5114714

Your assailant– if she can even be called that– looks ready to fall to the floor. Still bleeding out from her shoulder and having likely cracked a bone or two, how she remains standing is a mystery to you.

Rearing yourself up for the knockout punch, your lips pull into a grin as you feel a quip on the tip of your tongue. “You got something on your face.” You tell her smartly.

Crop-cut’s lips curl into an annoyed snarl at your response, and, right as you launch yourself at her, you see her purple eyes blazing with fiery intent.

“Try this one on for size, ya damn blabbermouth.” She says, whipping her gun at you in a sudden second-wind.

The bullet hits you square in the chest, and, in the split-second of impact, you’re seeing stars– stars that flash and burst like fireworks in the night sky–but there’s no pain or blood. Instead, you feel oddly…odd. Floaty, even.

The next moment, your gills start taking in water, and, when your vision swims back into focus, you find yourself surrounded by concrete on all sides. Bringing a hand to where the bullet impacted, you find that there’s no wound present, but now you’re in a sewer… or a drainage tunnel of sorts.

Crap. You think. No chance that crop-cut will be where you left her. You don’t think she could’ve sent you that far, considering her own abilities; but now the most prudent thing would be to get the hell out of here.

The water only goes up to your neck when you stand up to your full height, rushing heavily against you, and, taking stock of your surroundings, you can see thick metal grilles on both sides of the tunnel– you think that either way will lead you back to the fight. The question is, which one way will take you back to the boat rental the fastest?

>Where to?
>Go towards the flow.
>Go against the flow.
>Write-in
>>
>>5114885
>Go towards the flow.
Getting a little annoyed at this chick... the sooner we get back, the better.
>>
>>5114885
>Go towards the flow.
I call bs on how far we were sent
>>
>>5114885
>Go towards the flow

ok gun mutie is weird
she can make her bullets either bounce or drill
and she can do a weird time rewind that doesn't heal her but heals others
for some reason we remembered what happened before the rewind, but it didn't look like julia did
and this time she apparently teleported us somewhere we hadn't even been

these are all the clues I could gather and I must say I'm hella confused
>>
>>5114905
>>5114901

I'll give the basic rundown of her powers since a) we're gonna kick her ass anyways no matter what shit she pulls on us b) I'm not a douche c) I like clarifying stuff and loredumping autistically.

I'd describe her power as a very low-level impossibility manipulation. For now it seems she can only use it on bullets and people, but, for the most part, she can only use it on either small instances or small things (again, bullets, snippets of time, short distances). Like that one anon said >>5113717, she could King Crimson the last thirty seconds like it didn't happen, or she could imbue some power into a bullet to a) not act like a typical bullet b) "impossibly" have Elise positioned in the drainage tunnel instead.

Again, I will emphasize *small* instances of impossibility, or it would be bullshitty and overpowered. Though, additional power-training and refinement would definitely make her a force to be reckoned with (at least against most non-power-type mutants).
>>
>>5114933
I see thanks. So what happened to us was a lucky shot due to second wind.
>>
>>5114896
>>5114901
>>5114905

>Go with the flow!

Guess who's getting outta that drainage pipe? We are!
Writing!
>>
>>5114933
Thanks, I was wondering if she had multiple powers or wtf was going on, never would have guessed that.
>>
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>>5114996

If there’s a way out, it has to be in the way the water’s flowing, you reason, and shoot yourself towards the grilles.

The grilles provide more resistance than you would’ve liked, where it takes a couple of good hits to make an exit for yourself, but, once you pass through the grating, your gills are met with the familiar tingle of saltwater.

Quickly breaking the surface, you emerge at the edge of a well-decorated dock that is lined with all manner of boats, jet-skis, and even a yacht or two, and you waste no time in clambering onto one of the boats so you can springboard onto the outcropping and finally the compound’s outer wall.

Perched on the roof, you see the rest of your bunch still caught in what seems to have been (and still is) a hell of a firefight. Most of the men have been downed, but you can still see Julia and Bernard zipping around, picking off the remainder of the armed stragglers– stragglers who are trying their damndest to hide from their assailants– while Matt and Valjean… you have to blink a couple of times to make sure that what you’re seeing is actually real.

It’s a freaking jaguar– not even a jaguar-humanoid, but a crawling, oversized murder-machine– prowling around the building where Matt and Valjean have taken cover.

You hear Valjean trying to sing the jaguar to sleep as he and Matt take turns throwing knives at it from above, but, over the gunfire and commotion, it doesn’t look like his power is taking hold.

>(1/2)
>>
>>5115053

What’s more? It looks like the jaguar is trying to find a way up to the two males, and you see Matt ready his bat for the oncoming big-cat, while the former Crux leader readies his gun.

Bullshit. You really call bullshit on this one. How Maranzano-Junior got so many mutants willing to work for him is far beyond you. Still, you don’t even remember the average Crux mutant being this strong. Though, unlike the Crux that relied on sheer numbers for its powers, you suppose that Maranzano was a lot more selective with its members.

>In any case, what do you do?
>Go for the jaguar– help Matt and Valjean!
>Go for the gunmen– help Bernard and Julia!
>Write-in
>>
>>5115054
>>Go for the jaguar– help Matt and Valjean!
>>
>>5115054
>Go for the jaguar– help Matt and Valjean!
CROIKY! Look at the SOIZE of him!
>>
>>5115054
>Go for the jaguar– help Matt and Valjean!
>>
>>5115055
>>5115078
>>5115098

>Law of the jungle!!

Let's show this big-cat who's really at the top of the food chain-- ROLL ME SOME 1D100S, STAT! BEST OF THREE!
>>
Rolled 73 (1d100)

>>5115116
Time to put this cat back INTO the bag!
>>
Rolled 84 (1d100)

>>5115116
Let's gooooooooooo
>>5115124
off to a good start
>>
Rolled 69 (1d100)

>>5115116
is that even a mutant or just a jaguar they stole from the zoo
>>
>>5115124
>>5115126
>>5115147
This catfish is going down
>>
>>5115124
>>5115126
>>5115147

Woo! Nice rolls, folks! Writing!
>>
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>>5115221

The jaguar is considered to be the most dangerous big cat in the world.

Why? Because their jaws can bite with a force of up to one-thousand five hundred Newtons. As such, their preferred method of killing is to bite through their preys’ skulls, crushing the bones in their jaws like butter.

However, such a creature is no match for you, Elise Martins– a true, apex predator in every sense of the word.

The jaguar doesn’t even stand a chance, your foot connecting with its face with a force that could put its bite to shame. On instant, the big cat crumples to the ground, alive but out-for-the-count.

How’s that for the top of the food chain? You think, examining the unconscious mutant. Whoever they are, they’re going to have a real headache in the morning.

“Thanks for the save.” Matt says as he climbs down to join you now that the danger has passed.

“How many mutants can they possibly have here?” You wonder how many mutants the rest of the gang encountered.

“Dunno. We haven’t seen any yet, but Jewel did.” He tells you.

“What about the jaguar?” You return, pointing at the unconscious body.

“Oh, the jaguar? That’s just a regular jaguar.” Matt waves you off, and the bubble of smugness you were riding on for the past thirty seconds is brutally and mercilessly popped. Come again?

“And here I thought that bastard would never go down…” Valjean drawls from his perch. “All good?”

>(1/3)
>>
>>5115353

“Yep.” Matt confirms, and that’s all the signal Valjean needs to hop down to join you. “Mind caging that thing? I know I saw a cage somewhere…” Your brother trails off, unaware of your internal crisis. You console yourself with the knowledge that you’re probably the only person on the planet who’s ever kicked a jaguar in the face like that.

One caged jaguar later, and it’s not long before the firefight is over, Bernard and Julia joining you at the edge of the courtyard.

“You guys ending up finding anything?” You ask to the rest of the group, not really expecting to find anything with the luck you’ve had so far..

“I did.” Julia raises her hand, and your eyes widen in surprise. “I saw a door by the fountain over there.” She points to the area behind her.

As she said, there’s a door waiting for you, innocuously labeled TOILETTE. You don’t know who’d be stupid enough to think restrooms have keypads, but this will be a cinch for you. So, stepping forwards, you rear your fist to break down the door.

Fist meets metal. At the same time, pain shoots like lightning up your whole arm. Quickly, your regeneration works to rectify the sensation, and, undeterred, you fire a whole volley of punches at the door.

There are several, small dents in the door, but otherwise it stands stalwart.

>(2/3)
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>>5115359

“The hell?” Matt’s voice echoes your confusion, striding up to the door. “Wait a minute.” He stops, only to place his face against the metal and rub it like a cat. You see his eyes scrunch up thoughtfully, and, after a few seconds of silence, he says, “...this is freaking Ferro-Flex.”

“Ferro-Flex?” Julia repeats.

“Isn’t that FutureLabs’ special alloy?” Bernard tilts his head.

“Yeah.” Matt nods. “They use it for everything from textiles to bulletproof vests to armored vehicles, but, most notably, they use it to contain mutants. They must have made it pretty thick if even you can’t break it, Kelpie.”

“I can.” You stubbornly argue back, growing increasingly irritated the longer you stare at the metal. You can smash through buildings, throw cars around like toys… but you’re stopped by one, stupid door?”

“Swell…” Valjean clicks his tongue, not looking at all convinced at your insistence. “So how are we breaking through it? It’s only a matter of time before Junior sends more of his men here.”

>How are you bustin’ through?!
>Keep brute-forcing it! If the first few hits weren’t enough, then a couple more will surely do. You just gotta hit it harder!
>Try to guess the password– looks like the keyboard's an alphabetical one. How hard could it be?
>See if Matt can work some of his 1337_h4x0r magic on it. Might take longer than you want, but you think he can do it.
>Write-in

>(3/3)
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>>5115364
>bust through the wall next to it

worth checking to see if they encased the whole room in ferro flex.

Matt can try hacking the door while we do it too. Multitasking!
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>>5115364
>>5115377
+1 this. If Red Faction taught me anything it's that this works 99% of the time!
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>>5115377
>+1
and
>See if Matt can work some of his 1337_h4x0r magic on it. Might take longer than you want, but you think he can do it.
If there's more ferro-flex tape inside the wall
>>
>>5115377
>>5115378
>>5115392

>Punch the side walls!
>1337_h4x0r!!!

Looks like we're going all-in on this one--GIMME SOME 2d100s-- one for Elise and one for Matt! As always, best of three!
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Rolled 92 (1d100)

>>5115395
Here goes...
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Rolled 75 (1d100)

>>5115406
Aaaand another for Matt
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Rolled 52, 96 = 148 (2d100)

>>5115406
2d100, let's go
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>>5115409
>>5115412
just roll a 2d100 my dude, not 2 1d100
>>
Alright. That's it for now-- gonna catch some zzz's.

>>5115417 Yeah that was my bad for deleting the post cause I typed 1d100 on accident. I'm counting the rolls anyhow.

Also for anyone who's wondering, there really was a password for the keypad, but I did drop quite a few hints (not sure how obvious it was).
It was 'JAGUAR.'

In any case, thanks for playing, and see you next time, kings!
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>>5115430
smooth as always OP
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>>5115430
what dastardly villains, stealing a jaguar from the zoo then gloating about it with their passwords
>>
Feel free to roll again. I'll come back later to tally the results.
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Rolled 41, 45 = 86 (2d100)

>>5115406
>>
Rolled 27, 73 = 100 (2d100)

>>5115406
>>5115430
alright, here's another roll
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>>5115409
>>5115412
>>5115414
>>5116219
>>5116274

Since it was my fault for deleting the first roll post, I'll be fair and count the two singular ones. On that note:

>Highest rolls: 92, 96!!!
>Writing!
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>>5116274
Nat 100, nice
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>>5116434
Though it might take a little extra time– more than any of you might like– Matt is convinced he can hack the keypad, and, while your brother works on that, you think it might be worth checking if the sides of the door are also encased in Ferro-Flex.

The walls are covered in stone, but a cursory punch to one of the sides reveals the thick layer of metal underneath. Now, you can assume the roof is no different.

Still, you’re undeterred, and, with a glance behind you to make sure you have ample room, you begin to unleash a flurry of punches at the impossibly-stubborn wall.

It’s a battle between an immovable object and an unstoppable force, your bones rattling as you punch the wall harder, faster as the wall refuses to give way. No chance did you expect the wall to give way, and the feeling of the metal caving beneath each strike fills you with a renewed energy– an energy that keeps you going until the wall finally breaks and there’s an entrance large enough for you to fit through.

It’s right as you give the broken wall an extra few punches for good measure that the door is swung open, Matt looking at you in utter surprise. “The hell? You actually broke it?”

“It wasn’t that hard,” You tell him as you step through the hole you made, wondering what’s the big deal. “Did you think I couldn’t?” You jibe, a smirk forming beneath your mask.

“Maybe.” He admits, eyeing the staircase laid out before you– a narrow, winding staircase, light shining up from the end– and, without another word, you jump through the hole in the center, finding yourself in a spacious chamber.

More than that, you feel heartbeats– several, in fact– but the smell of blood is what sticks out the most. Charging forwards, you hope that the others follow suit as you follow your nose deeper into the tunnels.

It’s nothing like the underground complex at FutureLabs– that place was practically endless– but, save for the concrete floor and the wine barrels spaced along one of the sides, the whole thing is lined with absolutely nothing but red brick.

Your short run stops at one of the very first cells, and, skidding to a halt, it doesn’t take long to find the source of the blood.

On the ground, ducked into one of the cages is crop-cut, hastily bandaging herself. Her suit-shirt thrown to the wayside, she doesn’t realize your presence until you’ve deliberately clanged the door open.

>(1/3)
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>>5116652

“How the hell did ya get in here?” Her face is a mixture of frightened and pissed. “I thought I frickin’ drowned you!”

“Gills.” You point to your neck. “Very useful in a pinch.” You suppose that the bar of intelligence for gang members is very low. “Where’d your friend go by the way?” You would’ve thought tendril-lady would’ve stuck around to protect the captives.

“Wouldn’t you like to know, ya frickin’ freak?” The gun moll retorts, pulling out her gun once more. “Doesn’t matter, cause this time I’ll make sure you’re really dead.”

Not wanting to fall victim to her trick-bullets again, you’re more-than ready to spring forward and knock crop-cut out, but a familiar voice breaks the standoff before you can do so.

“How~ about~ no~” Like a puppet with her strings cut, crop-cut falls to the ground. “Mind warning us before you run off again?” Valjean’s tone is none-too-pleased, Julia standing next to him. “Now kindly move. I want to see if she has a cellphone on her.”

You don’t see any problem in that, and, with that covered, you continue following your senses towards where you felt the other heartbeats.

Moving forwards, you’re taken through another, narrower tunnel. Then the space opens up into a room with even more cages.

You feel two mutants, to be precise. Two mutants who are sealed behind Ferro-Flex bars.

The first one appears to be some sort of harpy, the greys, blacks, and whites of her feathers reminding you of a seagull. Fast asleep on the hard ground and wings splayed out to each side, she looks extremely small in the spacious cage.

The second one, meanwhile, is an older kid that looks like a middle-schooler if you had to say. His hands are covered tightly, conjoined by the set of handcuffs– you suppose he has some sort of hand-activated power.

>(2/3)
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>>5116655

Where are the rest of them? You can’t help but wonder.

For all the trouble you went through, you thought there would’ve been more of them, especially with the amount of firepower Maranzano-Junior had stationed here.

“K-Kelpie.” Hand-kid stutters, interrupting your train of thought. As the only conscious kid out of the pair of mutants, the kid is staring at you silently, as if he can’t believe his eyes.

You can’t tell if he’s in shock or what, so you simply tell him, “Don’t worry. We’re here to get you out.” At that, he looks like he’s on the verge of tears, trying to grab hold of the bars out of force-of-habit but ultimately failing.

It’s then that Matt and Bernard finally arrive, and, when it dawns on them that there’s only two mutants in here, you can tell that they are just as confused as you are.

>Wat do?
>Question the kid–ask him if there were any mutants in here besides him and harpy-girl.
>Question the kid some normal stuff– names, homes, pets, powers. Calm them down before anything else!
>Bust the kids out brute-force style!
>Let Bernard get the kids out, he's got this!
>Write-in

>(3/3)
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>>5116672
>Cut the bars, it's gotta be easier than punching
>>Question the kid–ask him if there were any mutants in here besides him and harpy-girl.
>>
>>5116671

Only deleted cause I forgot to add one of the options.

>drainage tunnel
Well, at least we got to kick a jaguar in the face, right?
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>>5116676
>>
>>5116672
>Question the kid some normal stuff– names, homes, pets, powers. Calm them down before anything else!

>Let Bernard get the kids out, he's got this!

inb4 cages rigged to explode
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>>5116672
>Question the kid–ask him if there were any mutants in here besides him and harpy-girl.

Let's not be too hasty...
>>
Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>5116672
>>5116674
>Where them mutants at?

>>5116722
>Calm him down.

Also since we can multitask like bosses, I'll do a dice roll for our extraction method of choice:
>1= Cut the bars
>2=Teleport

Writing!
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>>5116674
>+1
>>
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>>5116775

“Hey, kid, mind if I ask you a question?” Your tone is calm as you address the kid– a kid with dark black hair and a healthy tan. Wordlessly he nods. “Don’t worry– they’re easy ones. I just wanna know if there were any other mutants here with you and her?” You make a motion back to the harpy-girl.

“Yeah.” Something in his face twists, but he nods anyways. “Only reason they didn’t take me and the bird-girl is cause they didn’t have enough room on the boat…” He stops himself in his tracks. “They took my sister– she’s gonna be sold off tonight.” The expression on his face is one of distress; his voice creaks as if it were on the edge of puberty. “...I-I’m never gonna see her again, aren’t I?”

“No– that’s what we’re here for. We’re going to get everyone back.” You assure him.

“Hey, you think they’re in that Miller-Ford buildin?’” Bernard, who’d been listening to the whole conversation, questions aloud. Already, at the mention of the boat thing, that building was the first thing you’d thought of.

“Listen, kid.” The blonde starts, teleporting to the other side of the bars. “We’re gonna go straight over there after this— and boom!” Another flash, and the handcuffs fall to the ground. “Everyone will be outta that place, easy-peasy.”

With that, he sets off to retrieve the harpy. Matt doesn’t look too thrilled as he hefts his bat across his shoulders. “Called it.” He says, like he knew this is what would happen.

It’s not long before Bernard’s retrieved the harpy-girl, now awakened. “Hey guys, we got ‘em.” The teleporter calls into the comms. “Get your butts back here so we can get movin!’”

“We’re heading back.” Julia’s voice answers. “Meet us in the courtyard.

>(1/3)
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>>5116896

“I can get you out of here.” The kid pipes up, giving the brick ceiling a thoughtful look. Now that the handcuffs are off, you notice some of the fire has returned to the kid’s eyes as he clenches and unclenches his hands.

“Yeah, why not?” Bernard, who’s quick to answer, sees no problem with the kid’s request, and that’s all the prompting he needs to give a shout of, “Hiyah,” as he throws his arms apart.

Like the waters of the Red Sea, the brick ceiling crackles and splits into a large crevice that reveals the night air. Then, he makes an upwards motion with his hands to raise a staircase. Not bad.

Maranzano and his men will have a field day with this, you think, smirking at the kid’s handiwork.

Haste makes waste, and, as promised, Julia and Valjean are waiting at the edge of the courtyard.
“Only two?” Is the first thing he says, like it wasn’t completely obvious.

Yes, only two. You wonder why he mentions that and not the big, gaping hole overtaking the courtyard.

>(2/3)
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>>5116898

Well, now that you’re regrouped, you should figure out where to go from here. The night’s still young, and, from what that kid said, there are quite a few mutants getting sold tonight.

>In any case, what now?
>Ask Valjean what he got out of that cell-phone. Did he get anything else from crop-cut?
>Figure out what you’re gonna do with the kids.
>Gtfo before more of Maranzano’s men show up.
>Write-in

If you select the ‘get out’ option, where to?
>The docks– lotta boats to hide in, big and small. Undoubtedly low chance of being found.
>Your starting point around the highway. Not the safest, but you’ll have a good view of Maranzano’s goons finding their compound destroyed.
>Write-in

>(3/3)
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>>5116903
>Ask Valjean what he got out of that cell-phone. Did he get anything else from crop-cut?
>>
That's it for the night. Best be going to bed (even though I've been trashing my New Year's resolution for like the past week).

As always, thanks for playing, and see you next time, kings!
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>>5116903
>Gtfo before more of Maranzano’s men show up.
>The docks– lotta boats to hide in, big and small. Undoubtedly low chance of being found.
>>
>>5116924
+1
>>
>>5116903
>Gtfo before more of Maranzano’s men show up.
>The docks

We can discuss the other stuff when we're in the clear!
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>>5116903
>Gtfo before more of Maranzano’s men show up.
>The docks– lotta boats to hide in, big and small. Undoubtedly low chance of being found.

As tempting as gloating is, we gotta be responsible with our new rescues.
>>
>>5116903
>Ask Valjean what he got out of that cell-phone. Did he get anything else from crop-cut?
>>
>>5116924
>>5117140
>>5117170
>>5117194

>Skedaddle like bosses!

>>5117396
>>5116909

>Information game!

Come to think of it, I think I can work in both.
Writing!
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>>5117584
That’s what I was gonna ask. It’s not like we’re gonna spend too much time on the info
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>>5117601

Yeah, I figured in this situation I could work in both options, at least for the sake of not being tedious.
>>
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>>5117584

By now, Maranzano’s men know you’re here and are likely on their way to deliver their special mafioso brand of retribution– best to get out of here before any more trouble shows up.

“We getting out of here, or are we gonna wait until Maranzano’s guys arrive?” Matt voices the obvious. “I think we should get moving before they sell off the rest of them.”

“We’re going.” You tell him, well-aware that the gangsters will be coming soon. Thinking of where you could go for the moment, your mind flits back to the docks with a literal armada of boats– it’s far enough away from the compound that Maranzano’s men would neither see nor hear you and perfect to camp out in… at least until you’ve figured out where to go from there. “We can go to the docks for now– they’re right down there.” You point over the roof.

At that, you don’t see any objections, though you notice Bernard starting as he looks at the small crowd he’ll have to teleport. Though you know he can pull it off, there’s no way you’re going to strain him before you go into the next frying pan.

“Hey, you. Bird-girl.” You address the harpy, who hasn’t said a word since you freed her. “Can you fly?”

The response you get is a long, crowing “Aiieeeeeee!” Not expecting that at all, the screech rattles your sensitive eardrums, all the way down to your brain, but it quickly stops as it’s followed by a series of wracking coughs. “Sorry.” She chokes out. “That was an accident.”

For her small stature, her voice sounds older than you expected, likely that of a high-schooler. “But I can fly.” At that, she flaps her wings– wings that have taken the place of her arms– and perches herself on the roof.

“I got my rocks.” Earth-kid, not to be outmatched by the harpy, summons a couple of rocks into his hands, and levitates himself upwards.

>(1/?)
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>>5117727

“By the way, how long have you guys been down there?” You can’t help but wonder aloud.

“About two days, I think–” Earth-kid tells you from mid-air.

“Eight…” Harpy admits, her voice rueful.

Ouch. You sure hope these kids’ parents will be grateful when they get home, or whoever their guardians are.

You lead the kids towards where you see the pinpricks of Bernard’s glowing eyes, down the cliffside and to a swanky-looking boat. You, having led the kids through the dark, are the last one on it, the rest of your crew already having made themselves at home down in the cabin.

“Ahoy, maties.” Valjean greets from the captain’s seat, looking like he owns the place.

“Just tell us what you found.” You want to just cut to the chase. “We don’t have time for games.”

“I was getting there, Kelpie.” Valjean puts his hands together as he leans forwards. “As WildCard was so kind to tell me, under duress of course, they’re selling off the rest of the kids later tonight at their secret members-only trafficking club. Drugs and weapons, too, if you guys are into that– but mostly kids.”

“If we all go in at once, that’s a death wish.” Matt interjects. “They know who the M-Guard is, so, once they see our faces, that’s basically it.”

“So what are we gonna do anyhow?” Bernard crosses his arms. “Ride a boat over and walk right into their club?”

>(2/?)
>>
>>5117730

“We could…” Valjean hums, looking thoughtfully at the control panel. “Unless you want to go the helipad route. Far as I know, there are only two entrances into the Miller-Ford building, which are either through the top or bottom.”

“What do we do with the kids then?” You shoot him a look.

“Take them, leave them in the boat.” He shrugs. “I just want to do whatever gives good-old Junior the biggest middle-finger.”

“That’s great and all, but we can’t do that without a plan.” You very much wish this whole thing could be solved by just swinging your fists around.

“And who says I didn’t have one?” Valjean swivels around in his seat. “Well, if you’re so inclined to hear it, my idea was to have one of us go in as a seller and maybe two or three of us as the captives. Then, when we figure out where they’re keeping the kids, we can take it from there.”

“That’s crazy,” Bernard objects. “They know who we are.”

“They know who you are, Blink. They don’t know mine or Jewel’s faces… and Kelpie has that trick of hers.” The half-shift trick. That one trick that makes you look ugly as sin. You can’t help but cringe a little at the memory of it.

"I was thinking we could just use Pharos to sneak directly in and see if we could put everyone to sleep before they realize we're there, but I dunno." Matt looks indecisive at the whole thing. "It's your call, Kelpie.”

Any of those plans will do-- you're confident in yourself and everyone else. The question is, which one will you follow through with?

>(3/4)
>>
>>5117738

>You’ll rush em’-- rush em’ far too fast for them to handle. Rush in, get the kids, and get out– that’s all you need to do.
>You’ll go with Valjean’s plan– send a few of you in there, figure out what’s going on, and take it from there.
>You'll go with Matt's plan-- see how many people Valjean can put to sleep before Maranzano's cronies catch up with you.
>Write-in

>(4/4)
>>
>>5117743
>>You’ll go with Valjean’s plan– send a few of you in there, figure out what’s going on, and take it from there.
>>
>>5117743
>You’ll go with Valjean’s plan– send a few of you in there, figure out what’s going on, and take it from there.
>>
>>5117743
>You'll go with Matt's plan-- see how many people Valjean can put to sleep before Maranzano's cronies catch up with you.

He can get in because like he said, they don't know his face. Maybe even pose as a seller/buyer. From there he just has to prioritize applying naptime to the armed and dangerous ones.
>>
I'm gonna leave the vote open until next session. Even though it's not a tie, I want to be fair and make sure everyone gets an input on it since it's a bit bigger than the usual, run-of-the-mill vote.

As always, thanks for playing, and see you next time, kings!
>>
>>5117743
>You’ll go with Valjean’s plan– send a few of you in there, figure out what’s going on, and take it from there.
risky, but the best plan
>>
>>5117743
>>You’ll go with Valjean’s plan– send a few of you in there, figure out what’s going on, and take it from there.
>>
>>5117746
>>5117749
>>5117861
>>5118589

>Wait? Valjean suggested something actually good?

>>5117816

>Haha traffickers go zzz

Called and writing!
>>
Technical difficulties (apologies)... update will be up soon.
>>
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>>5118994

You won’t know what’s going on once any of you step into that building, not until you make it to where the traffickers are. It’s why, as much as you hate to admit it, Valjean’s plan is not half-bad.

“Let’s send a few of us in.” You exclaim to your small crowd. As long as you have your comms with you, you can keep everyone updated on what’s going on.

You see Matt furrow his brows just the slightest, while Bernard’s only words to you are, “If somethin’ goes wrong, I’m gettin’ you right outta there…” Risky as it is, you guys really don’t have a better plan than that.

Without warning, the boat roars to life, and you feel yourself lurching forwards as the boat starts gaining distance from the docks.

“Since when can you drive a boat?” Matt questions the former Crux leader, who’d started the boat on a whim.

“I don’t.” Valjean says flippantly. “But it shouldn’t be much different than driving a car.” As if to punctuate the end of that statement, he swerves the boat from side-to-side a few times. That’s really comforting…

Though, it’s not like any of you are in any real danger, since you’ve got gills and everyone else has some means of escape; but you can only imagine how much extra fun would be added to your night if you sank right in the middle of the bay.

“So wait.” Earth-kid pipes up, pointing at the former Crux leader. “That guy’s Pharos?” His voice is a little disbelieving.

“Yeah.” Matt nodds. “What about it?”

“Since when did the M-Guard hire bad guys?” The idea of you all working together doesn’t seem to compute with the terrakinetic.

“Don’t worry. We don’t pay him–” There’s a trollish glint in Matt’s eyes. “He works for free.”

A chorus of “OOooooohhhh’s” come from your young passengers, as if that explained everything. However, you notice Valjean send your brother a one-fingered salute when none of the kids are looking. It’s better than the two of them at each other’s throats, you think, remembering Valjean’s overall disdain for the majority non-mutants.

>(1/2)
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>>5119303

You’re still some ways away from the Miller-Ford Building, so, heading up to the dock, you pull down your mask so you can feel the cool night air washes against your face. It’s not that humid out, and, while it’s still warm, you expect it to only get cooler from here on out.

The sound of the waves crashing against the boat is soothing, almost hypnotic as you watch them rush past the bow. Looking down into the murky waters, you find it tempting just to let yourself tip over and sink into their depths. But not now. You still have work to do.

A set of footsteps coming your way has you pulling your mask back up, and, whirling around to face your company, you find that Bernard has come to join you.

“Hey, it’s just me.” The blonde greets with a small wave. You let go of the fabric, baring your face once more. “Just wanted some peace and quiet…” He tells you, leaning against the boat rails.

Now it’s the two of you staring down at the waves together. Although, when you steal a glance at the blonde, your mind flits back to that moment at the train station where you and Bernard had embraced– more tightly than the two of you ever had.

You’d almost forgotten about it with how much had happened today– and it’s not even over yet. Nonetheless, you feel the heat rush into your cheeks without permission, and you’re glad it’s dark so no one can see.

A hug, by modern day’s standard, is nothing compared to the majority of things you know teens have done. Hell, you didn’t even go to prom when someone asked you (and you’re pretty sure you never heard from that guy ever again).

Moreover, you feel like you’ve been friends with Bernard for ages in spite of the short amount of time you’ve known him, and, since then, he’s hugged you plenty of times. So why do you feel so awkward thinking about it?

Knowing Bernard, he’s probably a bit worried since you’re going in blind, even with how strong you are as a mutant.

You feel like you should say something, at least to dispel his worries. That, or something else, you're not quite sure what you should do.

>Wat do?
>Stay silent, enjoy the calm before the storm. You can talk about whatever you want when you’re done with the mission.
>Reassure him. He doesn't need to worry one bit-- you’ve been through way worse, and you’ve only gotten stronger with each battle.
>Say something about that hug. Would you even know what to say?
>Write-in

>(2/2)
>>
>>5119310
>Reassure him. He doesn't need to worry one bit-- you’ve been through way worse, and you’ve only gotten stronger with each battle.
>>
>>5119303
Sigma Matt
>>5119310
>Reassure him. He doesn't need to worry one bit-- you’ve been through way worse, and you’ve only gotten stronger with each battle.
>>
>>5119310
>Reassure him. He doesn't need to worry one bit-- you’ve been through way worse, and you’ve only gotten stronger with each battle.
>>
>>5119324
>>5119329
>>5119343

Called! Writing!
>>
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>>5119354

Scooting a little closer to Bernard, you find it hard to deliberate on what you should say. Every time something edges to the tip of your tongue, you dismiss it just as quickly, not finding anything quite right.

Eventually, you settle on, “This isn’t our first fight,” You remind him. “We’ve been through way worse, you know?”

A tensing of the shoulders, glowing green eyes giving a sidelong glance back to you. Right on the money, Elise… Well, now you need to keep talking to him, seeing as he still seems kind of down.

“Hopefully, it will be an in-and-out thing.” That is, if all goes well. Not that you really expect it to be. “Worst comes to worse, we get out of there.”

“I’m gettin’ you out myself, got that?” Bernard cocks a grin. However, you know that he’s completely serious. “Funny thing is I get so mad every time I think about this whole thing with the traffickers, but, if it were a choice between you and anyone else…” He stops himself, face dropping in shame. “Am–am I wrong for thinkin’ that way?”

Although you wonder where these thoughts are coming from, honestly, you can't blame him. If you were in his shoes, you'd probably be saying the same thing. Still, you shake your head, watching as the wind tousles his hair. The, "No," you give him is barely audible over the boat's engine, and then you add, “It's normal… you don't have to think like a hero all the time," hoping that will lift his spirits.

If your cheeks are still hot, you convince yourself that's due to the temperature and nothing else. Nothing else at all. Nonetheless, your words give way to silence– a comfortable, understanding silence. By now, you’re not that far away from your destination, a destination that clearly looms in the distance.

Big is an understatement. If you thought the Miller-Ford building was huge from where you saw it at the compound, the only word you could think of is gargantuan. The only other building you can think of that even remotely compares is the Charles Martel Building, and that’s the tallest building in the city.

Beneath the building’s four pillars is where you can see a multitude of boats gathered, some big and extravagant, while others are smaller and speedier-looking. In a way, it reminds you of ants gathered around an anthill, and you can see exactly why Maranzano chose this place as his thoroughfare for his mutant trafficking.

You might be settled on your plan, but, still, you need to let everyone know who will be heading in.

>Who’s going in?
>Stick with Valjean’s suggestion– he will pose as the buyer/seller. You and Julia will be the captives.
>No wait–you’ll have someone else as the buyer/seller and someone else as the captive/captives (Who?)
>Write-in
>>
>>5119415
I missed my Glowfish dose
>Stick with Valjean’s suggestion– he will pose as the buyer/seller. You and Julia will be the captives.
He's the best one at convincing people and can deal stealthly with minor problems.
>>
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I'm gonna crash now. Wanted to dive straight into the good stuff ASAP, but some stuff outside the screen got to me and couldn't get into it tonight.

Also, if the art quality's kinda dipped and looks nothing like the stuff I usually post on my Twitter, yes I've noticed it too. Rest easy, my good lads-- no one has rediscovered my dastardly hobby! There's just a couple of small, outside factors currently affecting my ability to draw frequently, and I really don't want to delve into them since they can't be fixed atm.

Since the primary focus is the story itself, I will keep prioritizing the wordy-stuff, mostly. Worst comes to worse I'll go full OG-style and pepper the rest of the thread with these bad boys... erm, girls. Like pic rel.


As always, thanks for playing, and see you next time, kings!
>>
>>5119421
+1
I wonder if there's an intercom system to this place that he could hijack and sleep everyone through, or does his power not work that way?
>>
>>5119415
>Stick with Valjean’s suggestion– he will pose as the buyer/seller. You and Julia will be the captives.
>>
>>5119415
>Stick with Valjean’s suggestion– he will pose as the buyer/seller. You and Julia will be the captives.
>>
>>5119421
>>5119730
>>5119872
>>5120086

>The original plan!
>Writing!

>>5119730
Yes, his power can be transmitted electronically. He'd be criminally underpowered if he couldn't.
>>
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>>5120189

Update got long. Hence the wait.

If you’re going to do this, you’re going to do it right, and that will be with the people who have the lowest odds of getting caught: AKA you, Valjean, and Julia.

Ducking back into the cabin, you call to your newest cronies, “Pharos, Jewel– I hope you’re ready!”

“...Let me park this boat and then we’ll get going.” Irritation is evident in Valjean’s voice, and then you feel the boat sharply pitch to the side once, twice, followed by a metallic ‘skreeeeeeeeee’ from the outside as your boat broadsides another. Finally, right after the noise dies out and you can no longer feel the second boat against yours, the vessel lurches to a stop.

“Wow, nice going.” Matt jibes. “We’re not even out of the boat yet, and you had to do that.”

“Why don’t you park the boat yourself, you–” He doesn’t even get to finish that retort, as he’s cut off by an indignant shout.

“Oi– you cheeky son-of-a-bitch!” A thick, British accent coat’s the speaker’s voice. “Get out here right this instant so I can bloody sue you for bangin’ into my yacht and nearly killin’ my passengers!”

“I’ll be right with you…” His tone is honey-coated; however, his eyes are a different story. “Be right back.” Are the last words you hear before he steps out of the cabin.

It takes all but a minute before you hear the crackle of, “He’s down,” from the comm that’s in your ear. “Jewel and Kelpie, get over here on the next ship. It’s all clear.”

It’s dark enough on the marina that no one could see you, not unless they were really looking, and, thankfully, that outburst was stopped quickly.

Before stepping off the boat, you contort your face into that hideous half-shift, shifting your arm-fins and gills away as well. When the two of you regroup with Valjean on the other boat, he’s throwing a dress shirt over his bullet-proof vest–one that is suspiciously missing from the man on the ground– along with the rest of his dress clothes.

>(1/?)
>>
>>5120376

“What?” Valjean raises a brow. “You weren’t thinking of going in there in the suit?” Neither you nor Julia answer. “There’s obviously a dress code for this shithole, and I don’t plan on getting caught within the first five minutes.”

You forgo mentioning the little debacle with the boat, which could've costed you the whole mission had Valjean not been so quick. “What about your mask?” You inquire, as the Crux’s red bullseye is pretty distinctive.

“Jewel can just make a new one.” He simply states, and the woman doesn’t need any further prompting. Like an earthworm rising out of the dirt, a mask-shaped object emerges from the crystals along one of her forearms.

“We’ve been practicing making stuff like this.” Julia says, handing the object off to Valjean. “What do you think?” Her crystal-blue eyes are on the former-Crux leader as he places it over his Crux-mask, the distinctive bullseye looking like a purplish blob thanks with the crystal mask now over it.

“A perfect fit.” He seems pleased with Julia’s handiwork. “Now pick and choose a dress, there’s two.” He makes a motion to the two unconscious women sprawled out beside the Brit.

Julia wastes no time in spiriting away her unconscious target, presumably robbing her of her clothes, which leaves you with only one option.

You feel slightly bad for leaving this troupe half-naked on their boat, but it’s all for a good cause! No matter, these guys sure are going to have an embarrassing wake-up call, you think, carrying the last unconscious woman into the cabin so you can change.

>(2/?)
>>
>>5120381

It’s a bit of a hassle to squeeze yourself into the dress since your victim had been a tad on the smallish size. You’re forced to shift your feet as well to put on a pair of shoes– shoes that, like the dress, don’t fit quite right; at least until you fight, you’ll have to wear them, just like every other normal person.

When the three of you are finally dressed to the nines, you step off the boat as if you didn’t just knock out and strip a whole troupe of nighttime-revelers.

Time to play captive… You can already tell that the former Crux leader’s going to have a blast with this.

“Hey, midget,” Valjean pauses on the walkway to speak into his comm. “Anything else we should know before we head in there?”

“Not really.” Matt returns.

“Any control centers, control panels, or anything like that? Maybe I could just put the whole building to sleep…”

”Maybe, but you’ll probably have to look for them. You might get a better idea of where they are once you’re in there.” You make a mental note to look out for anything that looks remotely like a control room. “Oh, and be careful with which elevator you take. I think one of them leads right to the helipad, so try to watch out for that one.” The warning is directed towards all of you.

“Noted– and send Blink to get our suits. We left them on the other boat.” Valjean leaves Matt with the request.

>(3/4)
>>
>>5120385

Four pillars, four elevators. You’re honestly surprised the designers of this building got away with such minimal stair-casing because you can only spot a couple of stairways, both of them being on the unmarked pillars.

Your best guess is that they take you up to reception or something, and you wonder if there’d be anything of value there like a control panel. And, while you don't suspect the other parts of the building to be so mutant-friendly, you have Valjean, who can take care of that kind of trouble. Probably.

Another pillar has a large, golden flower painted on it, like the one on that Gladiolus card you found from the club–if it hadn’t been so fresh in your mind, you might’ve forgotten it right away. As for the last pillar, you have a feeling that one’s a straight-shot to the helipad, if the arrow on it is any indication.

>Which pillar do you take?
>The pillar with the flower, of course.
>One of the blank pillars– see if you can find anything around the reception area.
>The pillar with the really long up-arrow. Maybe it doesn’t take you to the helipad?
>Write-in

>(4/4)
>>
>>5120396
>One of the blank pillars– see if you can find anything around the reception area.

Maybe the receptionist has a phone line to a security room, which would hopefully have an intercom.
>>
>>5120396
>>5120401
+1. Having the lay of the land would definitely be helpful.
>>
>>5120396
>One of the blank pillars– see if you can find anything around the reception area.
>>
>>5120401
>>5120416
>>5120420

>Blankety, blankety, BLANK!
Called and writing!
>>
Sorry guys, can't finish the update tonight. Tried to write it out but I'm kind of crashing.

Thanks for the understanding. Tomorrow, we'll hopefully dive into more shenanigans. As always, thanks for playing, kings, and see you next time!
>>
>>5120480
Sleep well and rest soundly my man. See ya
>>
>>5120396
>One of the blank pillars– see if you can find anything around the reception area.
is it time for this song yet?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Zedv23D9bg
>>
Gonna try for an earlier update. Writing!
>>
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>>5121017

If you’re going into this place, you might as well get a lay of it before you dive into that trafficking club, which is why it’s a no-brainer for the three of you to head towards one of the blank pillars.

“Hope the reception is as welcoming to mutants as the club is,” Valjean utters, watching the floor-number monitor on the wall. “If not, nighty-night.”

“The first time we get to wear something like this, and we have to ruin it by fighting...” Julia bemoans what will become of her dress.

“Well, it’s not your first time technically.” Valjean draws out the last word. “You’ve worn plenty of nice things before…” He need not complete that sentence.

“Right.” Julia sounds a little morose.

“If it’s any consolation, you’ve never fought in a dress– and can you think of a better way to win a fight? Cause I can’t.” The faintest hint of a smile appears on her crystalline face, amused at the other mutant’s words.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L88TVKKzqx4

The ding of the elevator door interrupts the pair’s little chat, opening up into the reception room. This time, as opposed to the Mediterranean-villa style Maranzano had going on at his compound, the lobby of this place has more of a modern flair, and, while the chandeliers and columns add a nice touch, it’s like everything else you’ve seen tonight: big, opulent… and kind of overdone.

“Captive?” Valjean calls with Julia on one arm, interrupting your thoughts. He’s holding out his other arm as if expecting you to take it as well. “Gotta play the part if you want to blend in, cannibal.”

“I would rather bite my arm off.”

“Ah, that’s not what a good captive would say.“ Valjean chides. “The question is, would it grow back?” Jerk-like as he may be, you don't even know the answer to that question yourself.

“Let’s just find the front desk,” Julia interrupts, pulling him forwards, and you thank the heavens for her very brilliant suggestion.

>(1/3)
>>
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>>5121048

“You should still stay close, anyhow.” The former Crux leader suggests, a little more serious. “Captives aren’t supposed to act so autonomous, even the mutants. Take it from someone who’s seen this stuff firsthand.”

While you don’t move away from Valjean, you’re not practically on top of him like Julia is. First, you’d be bleaching your arm all night afterwards–and likely into the morning as well. Second, unversed as you are with the subject of romance, you recognize jealousy when you see it, and Julia’s not being subtle about it in the least. Whatever floats her boat…

A cursory check with your proprioception reveals only a handful of people: two at the bar, whose backs are turned to you; another two situated in the direction of the front desk; and the last one being a young boy whose small form had been completely dwarfed by his seat. Had the boy not been playing on his handheld without a care in the world, you might have been very concerned about such a young presence in the building.

Maybe he’s got a parent who works here or something? You suppose that must be the case, given his lack of formalwear.

Not for the first time, you feel a little self-conscious about being out in the open as a mutant without fighting someone else. At least focusing your senses– or doing something that isn’t looking to see who might be staring at you– helps to take your mind off of that.

“--just buy it and get out–” A rough voice hisses lowly, this one male.

>(2/3)
>>
>>5121052

“--we don’t even know how much he got away with.” His companion, a female, returns. Great. More potential criminals. You resolve to stay away from them, if only to not cause any additional trouble for yourself. Not surprising that they’d be crawling in other parts of the building as well.

Still, you need to orient yourself in this building, so maybe you can find where the control room may be.

>What now?
>Head to the front desk– see if there are any kindly receptionists around who will help you find the control room.
>See if there’s a map or directory or something around this place– you didn’t see one on your way in, but don’t all buildings have them?
>Screw it and pick a direction-- you'll take your chances.
>Write-in

>(3/3)
>>
>>5121058
>Head to the front desk– see if there are any kindly receptionists around who will help you find the control room.
>>
>>5121058
>Head to the front desk– see if there are any kindly receptionists around who will help you find the control room.

Naturally with some help from Valjean's power
>>
>>5121072
>>5121187

Called! Writing!
>>
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>>5121197

You make a motion with your head in the direction of the reception desk where you felt the other two presences, and, making your way there, you find that it's occupied by two females who look more energetic than they have any right to be at this time-of-night.

“Good evening, how can we help you?” One of the first receptionists greets when she notices the three of you, not caring that there are not one– but two obvious mutants not even a couple of meters away. You wonder how much they’re paid not to give a crap, much less report your presence to the police.

“We’re looking for the security room.” Valjean intones, and you don’t even have to guess to know that he’s using his powers on the woman. “One of my colleagues here has lost her purse. You wouldn’t mind giving us a point in the right direction, would you?”

“Oh, we don’t know where that is– we’re just receptionists here– but Simon does! We’ll get him to help you out!” The second woman supplies. “By the way, your colleagues look sooooooo exotic. You remind me of a glass doll!” That compliment is for Julia, who smiles politely at the words.

“What about her?” The second woman points to you. “What’s she hiding her face for?” She wonders aloud.

>(1/3)
>>
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>>5121437

“It’d be better for both of us if she didn’t– she’s a little… malformed, if you know what I mean.” At that, the receptionists’ faces droop in sympathy, and, if Valjean wasn’t grinning before, then he certainly is now. As if you didn’t hate your half-shift before! But rub it in, jackass. Rub it in.

“By the way, before you call this ‘Simon’ in, would you mind telling me who pays your salary?” You have a feeling you know whose name they’re going to say.

“Why, Luciano Maranzano, of course!” The first woman gives a careless laugh, completely oblivious that she’s under the spell of Valjean’s power. “Who else?”

“We keep our mouths shut, we keep our lives.” The second woman chimes in, laughing with her partner in kind. “Isn’t that just great?”

“Yes, it certainly is, and I hope you never remember our faces again.”

“Ahahahaha– that’s so funny. We definitely won’t! ” First woman giggles. “You can wait right over there in the lobby– Simon will be right with you.”

As soon as the three of you are far enough away, the first thing Valjean whispers to the two of you is, “They were telling the truth. Might as well wait for this ‘Simon’ to show up.”

A couple of minutes pass with no one showing up. Under the influence of Les Misérables, there was no way that the receptionists were pulling your leg. However, what comes as a surprise is when the little kid from before heads right towards you and plops himself on the same seat as the three of you, staring for a good ten seconds before he greets you with a, “Hi there, I’m Simon.”

>(2/3)
>>
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>>5121443

Had his hair been darker and a little more tamed, save for the sunny disposition, he would have reminded you of a young Matt.

“You’re Simon?” Valjean’s in disbelief.

“Yeah I’m Simon.” The kid nods, head bobbing up and down.

“What’s a kid doing at a building at this hour?” He’s glaring at Simon through his mask.

“My mom works here. She takes me with her and I help her out sometimes.” Simon doesn’t seem to mind Valjean’s interrogatory tone. “You guys still need me to take you to security?”

“...If you must.” It looks like that's the last thing the older male wants to do, but, with no one else around to help you guys out, it's pretty much your only option.

“Follow me then, it’s this way!” At that, the little kid springs off of the seat to lead you through the lobby, taking you up a large, marble staircase and to a hotel area of sorts. How many of these floors are devoted to being a hotel, you’re not sure, but, if there were anywhere to get a nice view of Konigsburg from a distance, this place would definitely be it.

For most of the time, the three of you find yourselves in a half-jog due to the kid skipping far ahead of you guys, and you almost lose him multiple times. How great would it be to get lost now of all times? You wonder, just as Simon's back disappears once more.

>Now roll a d20 for no reason in particular. Best of three.
>>
Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>5121454
time to get outplayed by a literal child
>>
Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>5121454
Bruh we cam çoterally follow his scent
>>
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>>5121489

>forgets Elise's super-senses
>Is OP

11 threads later and apparently I still forget the most minor of details before I post. I-I'm not stupid! Honest, lads!
Pic related.
>>
Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>5121454
>>
>>5121509
>>5121489
>>5121468

>Highest roll: 19
>Writing!
>>
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>>5121572

You feel a tinge of relief when Simon begins to slow down through the next hall. However, that relief is quickly replaced by confusion when the kid suddenly skids to a stop, right in the middle of the hall. “We’re here!” He throws his arms up in the air.

“No we’re not.” Valjean states the obvious.

“Yes we are.” Simon insists.

“You want to tell us where you brought us? Where’s the security office?” Valjean presses, this time using his power, and, as opposed to a response, the kid starts laughing like a jackal. And he doesn’t stop laughing for a good, long moment.

“You– You know, that was so funny what you did to the ladies back there. I don’t know what you did, but I couldn’t stop laughing.” Simon pauses to catch his breath. “You tried to do that to me too, didn’t you?” Eyes, which you note are a deep shade of red, turn their focus to Valjean, their owner pointing an accusatory finger at him. “It’s you. The guy with the diamond mask, right?”

“Or could it be one of you?” The kid muses to himself, wide eyes on you and Julia. “I bet you two are just as interesting.”

None of you answer, not knowing what this kid can do. As Valjean reaches into his coat to pull out a weapon, there’s another presence coming towards you very quickly.

>(1/2)
>>
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>>5121688

You feel it before you see it. Several glowing fields flying towards you at very high speed.

Thinking quickly, you yank Valjean down to the ground, bringing Julia with you as the force fields fly over your head and crash through the glass.

“Dammit Simon, did some of them escape?” An older voice calls down the hall. “I thought we had that covered downstairs.”

“Nope. These guys are new!” He exclaims to the newcomer, who looks to be around his early twenties and is clad in a mask. “I don’t even think they were in the catalog.”

“Not even in the–” He stops himself, only to run a hand down the bridge of his nose. “You know what? We’ll tag em’ and bag em’ too. Who cares if they’re not in the catalog?” The older mutant then turns back to Simon. “What were these guys here for?”

“Lost purses. I was supposed to take them to security.”

“Lost purses?” The masked mutant repeats, narrowing his eyes at the child. “That’s bogus and you know it!”

Simon doesn’t seem bothered by the other mutant’s outburst as he simply stares at him with that same, unsettling stare– one that raises the hairs on the back of the other mutant’s neck.

“Forget it, I’ll take care of this…” Mask grumbles, readying himself into a fighting stance, then speaks into the air, “I got an Orange on eight. Red dress, crystal skin, and tux– I’m on em’ right now!” Another field is fired straight at you, which the three of you duck into a doorway to dodge.

>(2/3)
>>
>>5121704

Again, force-field guy sends another volley of force fields your way that hits the ground at your feet, Julia returning the gesture with a volley of her crystal spikes.

One of them nearly hits him, and the guy sets up a force-field between himself and the three of you that he lets down every few seconds to fire off more force fields.

Amidst the sudden firefight, Simon is nowhere to be found, and you're not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing. Worse are the additional heartbeats you sense that are advancing from the opposite direction, and, while they're certainly not on top of you yet, they're definitely not far away either.

And here you thought this would be easy… You frown. Well, in your experience, it almost never is.

>What do?
>Break through the force-field guy– before the others get to you.
>Go back the way you came– if there are guys coming through the back, you'll take them you'll take them by surprise.
>Split up– send two of you back and one of you forwards (Who?).
>Write-in

>(3/3)
>>
That's it for the night! Gonna crash now!

In any case, thanks for playing, and see you next time, kings!
>>
>>5121712
>Break through the force-field guy– before the others get to you.
Let's crash his party fast
>>
>>5121712
>Split up– send two of you back and one of you forwards (Kelpie forward).
>>
>>5121712
>Break through the force-field guy– before the others get to you.

He seems like he could be trouble--we'll see soon enough if he's just here to distract us!
>>
>>5121712
>Break through the force-field guy– before the others get to you.

If we can break through Ferroflex I bet we can break through this guy
>>
>>5121726
>>5121735
>>5122015

>BREAKIN’ FREE

>>5121735
>Split!

Alright! Roll me a 1d100+5 (+5 for Unstoppable Force)!! Best of three!
>>
Rolled 95 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>5122208
Watch THIS
>>
Rolled 70 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>5122208
>>5122234
off with a good foot
>>
>>5122234
>>5122285

WOWZERS these are some nice rolls!!! Feel free to roll again!
>>
Rolled 24 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>5122208
>>
>>5122328
>>5122285
>>5122234

>HIGHEST ROLL: 100!!

Gonna have to work on the update a little later. Something came up that needs taking care of.
>>
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>>5122338

As you think about just how you can break through this guy, your mind flits back to the events that had just transpired earlier this evening– more specifically, the instance where you broke through Ferro-Flex. Just… just what are you thinking? Are you really hiding from some piddly force-fields when you just broke through a metal that is supposedly indestructible?

With all of the abandon of an infuriated bull, you step out from your cover with the full intent of destroying the barrier before you.

The force-fielder, on the other hand, is either extremely obstinate or just plain dumb, opting to pour as much of his power as humanely possible into that single shield. It bathes the whole hallway in a bluish glow that gets increasingly brighter as you close the distance to the force field.

“Simon!” The guy shouts, a tinge of desperation coating his voice. That’s the last thing he says before the shield shatters as if it were a pane of glass, its glowing shards dissipating into the air.

From the force of your impact, the other mutant crumples to the ground, visibly affected by the destruction of the force field. Still yet, he vainly tries to get to his feet, scrabbling backwards like a beetle before his body becomes aglow once more.

You’d almost had him. Almost, being the key word because you didn't think the loudmouthed mutant would have anything left after that attack. However, what you didn’t expect him to do was shoot backwards, skidding down the hall on one of his own force fields and far out of your reach.

You hear Julia's hardened footfalls behind you, no doubt with Valjean in tow, as well as a small group of heartbeats that are getting dangerously, dangerously close.

>Roll 1d100+5 to pursue!! Best of 3!!
>>
Rolled 99 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>5122570
Damn, seriously? Was sure a 100 would ruin his day a little more. Alrighty then, once more with feeling... WATCH THIS
>>
Rolled 95 (1d100)

>>5122570
>>5122577
Witnessed
>>
>>5122577
>>5122602

Shit. Wow. Looks like this guy is toast!

To be fair, Maranzano doesn't hire just ANYONE to be his cronies, and that includes mutants.

Also, we did hurt him pretty bad. Aside from the frisbee trick he just did, the guy's body is pretty much shot from us breaking the force-field. If it wasn't clear, he can barely move as of now.
>>
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>>5122597
Well he definitely ain't moving after this!

>>5122602
>95
>pic related

Now we just need a crit-fail and we're good!
>>
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>>5122577
>>5122602

Feel free to roll again for posterity's sake but we all know we won. I'm just gonna start writing already.

>>5122605
>crit-fail
Whose limbs will we tear off next? :^)
>>
Rolled 59 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>5122570
>>5122610
One Nat-1 comin' up
>>
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>>5122610

Trusting Julia and Valjean to keep up with you, you let yourself pick up speed, the floor splitting and crackling under each footfall. The guy doesn’t even stand a chance as you dash madly towards him, veering around a bend, and you can see the very-clear ’oh shit’ look in his eyes right before you strike him off the frisbee.

Knocked to the ground like a ragdoll, the force-fielder becomes limp once he hits the floor, though he’s far from unconscious.

“Augh– not cool… not cool at all.” He groans, unable to rise to his feet. “And screw you, Simon– I hope you can still hear me!”

Cursing out a little kid…. Real classy… You suppose you shouldn’t expect anything less from child traffickers.

“Don’t knock him out, Kelpie.” Valjean calls from not too far away, having been carried forwards by Julia. Stepping up to the downed mutant, he looks more than ready to squeeze this guy for all the information he can get and wastes no time cutting to the chase. “Security room. Now.”

“Floor twelve– floor twelve! Just don’t kill me! ” Mask-guy cries out. “What else could you possibly want from me, you freaking losers?!”

“Any more mutants around here?” That’s Valjean’s next question.

“No! It’s just me and Simon up here!” He admits. “The rest are just normal guys with guns!”

“And the club?” Valjean presses. “How many mutants are protecting the kids?”

“I really dunno! Lots?” The force-fielder admits in that same loudmouthed tone of his. “Maranzano’s probably going to kill me when I get back!”

>(1/2)
>>
>>5122702

“It’s pathetic that you’re so afraid of a non-mutant…” The former Crux leader is annoyed at such cowardice. “You know what would make you feel better?” He grins, and the other mutant doesn’t answer. ”It would really be good for you if you just took a nice~long~nap~”

At those words, the force-fielder's head finally drops to the ground, unconscious. “Let’s get going… put the rest of these guys to sleep.” You don’t need to be told twice.

Which floor are you even on? Traversing through the hall, it doesn’t take long for the answer to come, a huge, stylized ‘8’ emblazoned on the outside this floor’s elevator doors.

Bypassing the elevators completely, you don’t even give them a second glance. If any more of Maranzano’s goons are marching around, you don’t want to get peppered with bullets just because you chose a seemingly quick-and-easy way. Plus, where you can make work of a stairwell with your quick agility, you’re way faster than an elevator anyhow.

Even before you cross the threshold to floor twelve, you have your proprioception as well all of your other useful senses focused. Focused on the moving heartbeats, that is, because this place is still a hotel– one that’s rather filled with people.

>(2/3)
>>
>>5122704

In fact, you can’t help but feel a rush of elation at the little ’SECURITY’ sign tacked on one of the walls. It’s a cautious elation, however, as the three of you still have yet to finish the job.

You spot the door to the security room in the middle of one of the center hallways, and it’s right when you’ve stepped into the corridor that the cluster of heartbeats begins to make their move, as if a group of wasps were awakened from their nest.”

“Gunmen.” You inform your crew. “Coming from both directions.”

“We can handle it.” Julia returns, hand on her hip. “Just take care of the rest of them.” That’s directed towards Valjean, who doesn’t argue and heads towards the door with a mock-salute.

Now it’s only a matter of time before you’ve gotten the whole building knocked out.

>Roll 2d100 to defend!!! Best of 3!
>(3/3)
>>
Rolled 98, 22 = 120 (2d100)

>>5122718
>>
Rolled 15, 35 = 50 (2d100)

>>5122702
Fish is looking real fresh here. Nice work. Btw are we still in half-form ?
>>5122718
>>
>>5122753

Yep. Didn't have time to draw it out, which I should either in this or the next update.
>>
Rolled 95, 92 = 187 (2d100)

>>5122718
let's go second dice
>>
>>5122751
>>5122753
>>5122785

>Highest rolls: 98, 92!!
Can't stop this pain-train (for the enemies)!!! Writing!
>>
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>>5122798

Your muscles tense in anticipation for the incoming crowd, instinct pulsing in your skull like a drum. Even if this turns out to be a quick fight, it’s always the not-knowing what’s around the other end of the bend that never fails to send a shiver of excitement down your spine.

Once the first couple of mafiosi round the corner, you let instinct drive you forwards as you bring your knee into the first one, only to let him crash into the next.

With the first two down, you feel the next few gunmen hesitate, stopping right in their tracks. Stealing a quick glance behind you, you watch as Julia’s crystals crackle and shudder along her arms like the spines of a porcupine. Her own opponents are lucky to even get a shot in before she sends a hail of shards their way, only to follow up by knocking each of them out with a clean strike to the head.

It’s not even a fair fight if you’re being frank. With you and Julia working together, the results were set in stone before it even started.

>(1/2)
>>
>>5122937
>filename
I demand the original you used for this epic shot
>>
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>>5122937

Capitalizing on the remaining cronies’ hesitance, you surge forwards once more, this time launching yourself into midair and pinballing yourself off of the wall. Strangely, you think you feel a pair of red eyes on you as you rush towards your targets, but the thought is quickly swept from your mind once fist meets flesh.

Just as fast as the fight started did it end just as quickly, and once the proverbial dust settles you check for any remaining heartbeats on the move. None. You smile to yourself.

“I got them all.” Julia reports into her comm.

“Good.” You didn’t expect anything less. While you’re not sure how long Valjean’s going to take with the control paneling (although you don’t think it will be too much longer), you make to return back the way you came, passing the first couple of mafiosi you knocked out.

Except instead of two, there’s a third soul among them, that soul being Simon. With one of his tiny hands clamped over one of the gunmen’s heads, the whites of his eyes have taken on a blue shade as he stares into nothing, seemingly not taking notice of you. That, or he chooses not to.

>Wat do?
>Eh, knock him out. He’s a kid, but a little corporal punishment might do him good in the future. Standards? What standards?
>Ask him what his deal is. The heck is he following you around for if you already beat up all the cronies?
>Ignore him. Let him do his freaky-deaky hand thing to the gunman or whatever.
>Write-in

>(2/2)
>>
>>5122940

Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint Chapter 78.
>>
>>5122941
>Ask him what his deal is. The heck is he following you around for if you already beat up all the cronies?
>>
>>5122941
>Ask him what his deal is. The heck is he following you around for if you already beat up all the cronies?

Lift him up by the scruff of the neck before you ask. That'll both get his attention and hopefully interrupt whatever he's doing with the gunman.

Toss him away if he reaches for us too. If he resisted Valjean he might have some kind of mental power.
>>
>>5122941
>Ask him what his deal is. The heck is he following you around for if you already beat up all the cronies?
Hey maybe we get a new member. Also I'm curious about his power, first he resisted Val's influence and now he's doing something to the guy's mind. So resistance and his own thing.
>>5122943
thanks
>>
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>>5122944
>>5122946
>>5122948

Called! Writing the last update of the night!

Here's Elise in her half-shift, unmasked, which really is as ugly as sin FYI

A few reasons Elise particularly hates it, both mentioned and unmentioned in the quest:
>It feels like holding a weird face for a long time
>Her mouth gets distorted midway through the shift. It looks normal in both forms, but almost like a weird-ass grimace in the half-shift
>Again. F U G L Y.
>>
>>5122981
Thanks for running!

We had some great rolls tonight
>>
Uhhhh crap... can't push myself to write the rest of the update. gonna have to push it to tomorrow.

In any case, thanks for playing, and see you next time, kings!
>>
>>5123066
Thanks and sleep tight, OP.
>>
>>5123066
Writing (again)!
>>
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>>5123539

Mutant or otherwise, you’ve seen enough of Matt’s sci-fi movies to know that a little kid doing creepy stuff like this is no bueno. Taking Simon by surprise and snapping him out of his trance, you pull him up by the scruff of the collar and off of the unconscious gunman.

He blinks at you a couple of times, the blue shade still encompassing his eyes, and of course his hand goes straight for your head. Not wanting to be the next victim of Simon’s freaky power, you toss the kid straight to the ground, who hits it with an unceremonious whump.

“Oooowwwww…” Simon groans. “No fair…” Come on, you didn’t throw him that hard.

“Then don’t try to use your power on me.” You tell him crossly. “And why are you even here? We already won.”

“It gets kind of boring looking at what Maranzano’s guys do, and gunmen don’t have many stories to tell.” He says, peeling himself off of the floor, as if that explained everything. “I was hoping I could see what stories you guys had– you all looked pretty neat!”

You suppose it’s not everyday a troupe of mutants breaks into this place. “So are you a mind reader?”

“No.” Simon shakes his head. “I can see things in the past and present. Not things that have necessarily happened, but things that could’ve happened or could’ve been.”

“You mean possibilities?” You clarify.

“Yeah, kind of!” Simon beams, and you think the whole mental-power thing might explain why he didn’t fall victim to Valjean’s ability. “Sometimes I can guess the future with the stuff I see, but I can do other stuff too!” He continues.

“Other stuff like what?” You can’t help but be curious. To answer your question, Simon simply walks out of sight, and you feel his heartbeat disappear with him, only to reappear at the doorway next to you.

“Teleporting too?” You only know one teleporter as of yet.

>(1/2)
>>
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>>5123606

“Not really. ‘S more like I stop being here.” He makes a big motion around himself. You want to ask him more on the specifics of that. However, right as you’re about to do so, you hear a very familiar song begin playing through the speakers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3Kvu6Kgp88

“Oh hey, it’s your friend!” Easily distracted and still conscious, the kid recognizes Valjean’s voice, and you feel a grin form from beneath your mask at the sweet sound of victory. However, your mental celebration is interrupted by a hand pulling at the hem of your dress as Simon tries to get your attention.

“You should be careful when you get to the club.” Simon says. “It hasn’t happened yet, but something keeps happening when I see the stories of the men who work here.”

“Is it a bad thing?” You question.

“Dunno really, but I saw a mutant who looked like you a few times.” He shrugs. “She didn’t look as weird though.”

“So why do you think this thing could happen tonight?” Though you’re dubious about his words, the look on his face is genuine enough that you believe him more than you want to.

Simon takes a moment to consider your words, looking more thoughtful than a child his age has any right to be. “I really don’t, but I might tell you if you let me see your stories.”

On one hand, you think he’s just trying to dupe you into letting him use his powers on you, just like he duped you with the hallways. While you’re no stranger to danger, you wonder if Simon's cryptic statements are actually as serious as he’s making them out to be.

Sure, you wonder if whatever he’s talking about could really be serious or not, given the penchant for children to fudge the truth more often than not. However, the notion of knowing what lies ahead is just as tempting as it is to leave it be.

>Do you accept Simon’s offer?
>Fine… just for a few minutes, until Julia or someone finds you.
>Later perhaps, but definitely not now– you got a schedule to keep!
>No way, no how you’re getting mindbended– he let you know there was a thing to watch out for, so leave it at that. Plus, secret identity and stuff…
>Try to convince the kid with something else (what?)
>Write-in
>>
>>5123624
>>No way, no how you’re getting mindbended– he let you know there was a thing to watch out for, so leave it at that. Plus, secret identity and stuff…

There's no fate but what we make for ourselves, plus this kid's already been acting sketchy enough.
>>
>>5123624
>No way, no how you’re getting mindbended– he let you know there was a thing to watch out for, so leave it at that. Plus, secret identity and stuff…

I would with a few precautions - if his teleportation is briefly blinking into the alternate realities he sees, his power seems to check out and is therefore safe - but yeah the secret identity thing we can't give up. Sorry kid.
>>
>>5123624
>Later perhaps, but definitely not now– you got a schedule to keep!
I'm tempted, but I don't wanna show our identity to him while he's still with the mafiosi. Perhaps if we can manage to make him join us later on.
https://youtu.be/CcPgeAiK70Y
>>
>>5123637
>>5123650

>Get your freakshit hands away from me!!

>>5123671
>Later, alligator!


>>5123650

Btw, just as a fun fact, aside from the mindbending, Simon's disappearance-power isn't crossing over to alternate/preexisting realities-- it's more that he can force himself into a state of nonexistence. Maranzano has more-or-less given up on trying to catch him.
>>
>>5123693
>it's more that he can force himself into a state of nonexistence.
So like Schrodinger from Hellsing ? Neat
>>
>>5123693

Interested as you are in what kind of stuff Simon might have seen, there’s no way you’re letting him get his hands on you, not when you have a secret identity to protect.

“I’m sorry, Simon.” You begin. “I can’t let you use your power on me.”

“Aww, why not?” Simon pouts, giving you his best pair of mutated puppy-dog eyes.

“There are a lot of bad people who’d want to hurt me and my friends if they knew who I was.” Although it’s pretty much self-explanatory, you explain it anyways in terms a kid his age would understand.

“You really don’t want to know?” Simon tries again. “Pretty please, I promise I won’t look at your identee- identit–” He fumbles over the word. “I promise I won’t look!”

“I’m sorry, but whatever you think is going to happen isn’t set in stone.” And it’s not like he actually did see the future. Like he said, he just sees what could’ve happened, nothing more than that.

At least now you can be on the lookout for something, whatever that might be.

“Kelpie!” Julia calls from across the hall, causing you to whip around to face her. “Who are you talking to?”

“I was talking to–” You stop yourself, looking down at the empty space where Simon had just been. Figures. “--Blink!” You lie, if only for the fact that you don’t want to look like you were talking to thin air. If Simon wants to find you again, he’ll definitely seek you out. For whatever reason, you have a feeling this isn’t the last time you’ll see him.

“Come on then.” She beckons you with an arm. “We gotta get to the club now. Let’s just get this done so we can go.”

>(1/2)
>>
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>>5123770

You’re not arguing, and, soon enough, the three of you are back in the marina where you first started out. If not for the fact that you have the whole building to yourself now, you’d find it tedious to go down and back around again.

Now, however, you’re making towards the pillar with the big, golden flower slapped onto it because, if the name ‘Gladiolus’ didn’t make it obvious enough that that elevator was a straight-shot to the club, then you don’t know what would. Nonetheless, from a trafficker’s point of view, you see the logic in separating the club off from the rest of the building.

Stepping into the elevator, you find that there’s only two buttons on the elevator’s console: one to take you to the club, and one to take you back to the marina, as well as something that appears to be a scanner.

Up you go, towards the place of reckoning… well, not so much reckoning now that everyone’s presumably asleep. Suddenly, without so much as a warning, the elevator grinds to a halt. Both Julia and Valjean give you a look, as if expecting you to know what’s going on more than them, but, like them, you have no clue.

“You’ve got to be kidding me…” Valjean grumbles after a good, long minute of being inert.

The only thing that’s different now is that the scanner is blinking every couple of seconds, as if waiting for something.

>Aw shit wat do?
>Break through the top of the elevator and climb your way up.
>Fiddle with the buttons a little– maybe the elevator just malfunctioned.
>Try something with that scanner thing– it seems to be blinking an awful lot (Do what?)!
>Write-in

>(2/2)
>>
>>5123770
>For whatever reason, you have a feeling this isn’t the last time you’ll see him.
inb4 if Simon does scan us he sees shit about 4chan and anons piloting Elise as a peek behind the curtain
>>
>>5123773
>Break through the top of the elevator and climb your way up.
It’s a private place
>>
>>5123773
>Break through the top of the elevator and climb your way up.

That scanner's probably already giving the club owners a play-by-play of our little B&E. Best to take the direct route.
>>
>>5123773
Wait, scratch this:>>5123784
Don't we have a KEYCARD from before? Let's pop it into the scanner!
>>
>>5123786
+1
>>
>>5123693
Damn, if I had that power I'd be scared of failing to re-exist.

>>5123773
>Break through the top of the elevator and climb your way up.

I can give this >>5123786
a quick try but elevators stopping usually means a manual override which automated authorization probably won't help with.
>>
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>>5123784
>>5123782

>Trademark wanton destruction!!!

>>5123802
>>5123786
>>5123788

>CCCCAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRDDDDDDD

HAH I WAS WAITING FOR THIS! Good work, kings! Would've died inside a bit if we didn't get to use the card... just a little. Writing!

>>5123802
>Manual override whatnow?
Uhhh... really? I thought it was possible to program when and where elevators stop. Not that I claim any expertise in industrial design, but at least my idea here was an elevator wherein there exist alignment sensors that cause it to stop halfway through. If this were an analog, pre-digital age elevator, then we'd be kind of screwed.

Again, I'll disclaim that I'm not an industrial designer. Full point of the vote was to have some fun guessing to use the keycard. That or just destroy everything we want.

>failing to re-exist
haha funny stuff. that would suck, wouldn't it?

>>5123781
Either fortunately or unfortunately, Simon cannot see that far beyond the curtain.
>>
>>5123828
>that card
Wait a minute...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_u18_BKczg
>>
>>5123828
>I thought it was possible to program when and where elevators stop.
It is. Usually it's pretty rare to program them to stop somewhere other than the commanded floor, but I guess this isn't your usual building.
>>
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>>5123828

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFbKKsEoQNg

If you have to stand in this elevator for one more minute, the low-playing tune beginning to grind on your nerves, you might as well break it and just climb the rest of the way. However, the longer you stare at that scanner, the more it reminds you of one of those barcode scanners from the grocery store.

But what good does that do for you? This thing supposed to scan mutants, drugs, or credit cards?

Card. Like a fist striking you in the face, the answer becomes positively clear.

“The card!” You blurt loudly. “Gimme the keycard!”

Valjean complies, handing the red-and-gold card off to you without a word, and why the former Crux leader didn’t just scan it himself is beyond you, not that you’re complaining since it was your suggestion in the first place.

“There’s no barcode on it.” Julia points from behind your shoulder, as you examine it for a brief moment. Does it need one?

Positioning the flower-end towards yourself, you have to fiddle around with how far you place the card from the scanner. Just when you’re about to resign yourself to destroying the elevator, a sharp beep-beep resounds from the little console.

Instantly, the scanner stops blinking, and the elevator creaks and groans as if trying to detach from its hoist. And you don’t miss the twin glares Julia and Valjean send you, the former looking ready to bust out of the elevator already. However, all tension in the space diminishes when the elevator starts its upward cruise once more, which is good for you because the sooner you get out of this place the better.

>(1/3)
>>
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>>5124033

With another ding the doors swing open, and out the three of you step into the nightclub.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYxBZFZtIE4

All around you, red lights cast the club in a very befitting ambience, while neon flowers shaped like the club’s namesake are spread out across the ceilings. In the background, there’s music playing, fast and upbeat– the kind of music that begs for you to move to it.

Overall, it makes for a very lively place.

That is, if all of the partygoers weren’t either spread across the floors or slumped over tables.

Up ahead of you, amid the slew of unconscious bodies, Valjean’s making himself at home by taking a sip out of one of the champagne flutes that had been sitting on its lonesome, Julia following his lead.

“Uh…” You hesitate, not wanting to be the killjoy for the moment. “Should you be drinking?” You know Julia has a strong constitution, but Valjean… you’re pretty sure that’s not the case. And what if more of Maranzano's guys show up?

“Relax, I’m not a lightweight.” As if to prove his point, he finishes the reset of his glass in a single gulp before holding out a third flute to you. “Wanna see if you can get drunk?”

You don’t answer that, wordlessly pushing the glass away. You might not be old enough to drink, but you know that you’ll likely just vomit your guts out if you even try to put anything remotely un-meatlike in your stomach. Hard pass.

>(2/3)
>>
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>>5124035

Further scanning your surroundings, you see a dance floor some ways off– one that is downright huge-- and it's covered in a ton of sleeping bodies, the DJ having his face pressed into the turntable. It makes for quite a funny sight, many of the revelers lying in strange or downright awkward positions.

Hoo boy, they're in for quite a surprise when they wake up.

While your guard isn't completely down, you wonder if it would hurt to take a minute or two, just before you start the next phase of your night. Valjean and Julia seem quite at ease right now. Although everything in your being is telling you to do otherwise, echoes of Matt's voice rebuking you in your head, you wonder if it would be okay take a quick moment of rest.

>Take a breather for just a minute or two, maybe see if they have something edible you can take as a pick-me-up…
>Report to the others you made it into the club. Maybe call someone else in (who?).
>Start searching for the trafficking victims-- get moving already!
>Write-in

>(3/3)
>>
>>5124077
>Start searching for the trafficking victims-- get moving already!
Dancing can come after, preferably with Bernard
>>
>>5124077
>Take a breather for just a minute or two, maybe see if they have something edible you can take as a pick-me-up…


mmmm edibles
>>
>>5124077
>Start searching for the trafficking victims-- get moving already!
>>
>>5124082
>>5124184

>Hustle n' bustle!

>>5124158

>R&R!!

>Called and writing!
>>
>>5124199

Trafficked mutants or underaged bar-hopping time? For you, there’s only one option, and that’s to go and figure out where they’re keeping all the trafficking victims.

https://youtu.be/krxbebO0bCY?t=154

You find yourself tip-toeing over patrons more often than not as you make your way further into the club. It wasn’t bad around where the bar was, and, although you’ve long-since learned how to handle loud noises, the music playing becomes less and less bearable as you get closer to the loudspeakers. It’s a growing discomfort in spite of the admittedly-catchy tune, one that makes your head pound with each beat of the song.

Taking another sweep of your surroundings, you try to imagine where they could possibly hide so many mutants at once. Your intuition tells you it’s a secret room, because it always has to be a secret room. You just don’t know where it is, and your proprioception– one of your most faithful senses– yields nothing beyond what you can already see around you.

It’s enough to take your mind off of the music for just a fraction of a second; and so lost you are in your own thoughts and the racing beat of the music that you don’t notice the hand that grabs onto your shoulder. Julia’s hand, to be more precise.

“--I said we didn’t see anything behind the bar!” Once that statement registers to your addled head, you nod along, pleased because at least they were being productive while they were drinking.

“We’re going to search around the cat-walk. Do you wanna help us, or do you want to try where the light show is?” She makes a motion to the area at the side of the catwalk, where there are some big, flashing screens– anything to get your mind off of the blaring music in the background…

>Search around the bar again– maybe Valjean and Julia missed something.
>Search around where the light-show is.
>Search around the dance-floor/catwalk.
>Is there a VIP lounge around here somewhere? Isn’t that where the criminals usually hide?
>How can you search with this damn music?! Punch the loudspeakers before you do anything else!
>Write-in
>>
>>5124360
>How can you search with this damn music?! Punch the loudspeakers before you do anything else!
SHHHHHHHHHH!
>>
That's it for the night!

We continue with more mutant shenanigans tomorrow! As always, thanks for playing, and see you next time, kings!
>>
>>5124360
>Search around the dance-floor/catwalk.
Let’s not touch the speakers yet…
>>
>>5124360
>>Search around where the light-show is.
>>
>>5124360
>Search around where the light-show is.
>>
>>5124360
>Is there a VIP lounge around here somewhere? Isn’t that where the criminals usually hide?

Also probably quieter in the VIP lounge.
>>
>>5124709
>VIPs only!!

>>5124630
>>5124378
>Lights, camera, more lights!!

>>5124376
>>EVERYBODY DANCE NOW!

>>5124365
>QUIEEEETTTT REEEEEEE

Looks like light-show wins! Writing!
>>
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>>5125058

“Yeah, let’s try the light show.” While you’re not sure about it yourself, there’s always the possibility that something could be hidden amid the lightshow– perhaps because it’s so distracting that no one would think to look twice.

Casting the very-breakable speaker an aggravated glance, you and your crew head to the ocular nightmare that lies up ahead.

The red and blue laser-lights sweep across the light show area’s floor, some of them moving in sync with the music and some of them waving randomly overhead. It’s mesmerizing in a way that would have the blood of any party-goer moving, and, for the first time since you entered this club, you can see why this place might appeal to some people.

If you were hiding a secret room, you’d imagine it would be somewhere that’s just out of sight but, at the same time, easily accessible. You try anywhere around the catwalk, knocking around the platform to see if there’s some empty space you can break through or even a door or something around the stage. Valjean and Julia, meanwhile, prod around the columns, props, and screens that encompass the area. Though, the one thing in common the three of you have with your search is that you spend just as much time moving unconscious bodies around as you do actually searching.

It’s after you’ve searched under the umpteenth piece of furniture that you realize that the secret room is likely not here, and, if not for the fact that the force-field mutant had basically admitted to there being captive mutants somewhere in the club, you might’ve started having some doubts.

“Guys, we’re wasting our time.” Valjean growls, rubbing a hand down the bridge of his nose. “Who knows how long we have until Maranzano and his cronies realize there’s something amiss?” He’s got a valid point, but that doesn’t change the fact that you’re still not any closer to finding the secret room.

“Why don’t we just start breaking everything?” Julia suggests, giving the screens a furtive glance. “The patrons will be fine, and half of them are criminals anyways.”

While you don’t doubt your senses, maybe you should just check behind the screens again, just in case. Never hurts to be too thorough.

>Roll a d20… for club reasons, of course! Club reasons and nothing else! Best of three! STAT!
>>
Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>5125195
>>
Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>5125195
Time to dance
>>5125240
the good luck fountain is getting dry
>>
Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>5125195
>>
>>5125240
>>5125248
>>5125255
a close call, the fountain is not dry yet and fish remains fresh
>>
>>5125240
>>5125248
>>5125255

>Highest roll: 17!!
Wow that was close! Writing!!
>>
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>>5125300

As you’re about to make for the screens, your intuition screams at you to move right as a new presence registers within your proprioception. You step to the side, only for a long, golden appendage to slam into the area where you’d just been standing, destroying one of the screens with a loud, shattering crash.

Whipping around to face the intruder, you find yourself face-to-face with the tendril woman from the compound, completely conscious and looking more than ready to impale someone.

What’s more is that her appearance has changed– where her tendrils had been smooth and segmented, this time around, they are covered in spines. Meanwhile, that same, chitinous substance that makes up her tendrils covers her upper body like a suit of armor– one that is vaguely reminiscent of that Xenomorph movie you watched with Matt and Bernard not too long ago.

“Imagine my surprise when I found that the whole club was put to sleep.” She sneers, four tendrils raised to attack. “Maranzano thought capturing the three of you would be a good idea, but I think the three of you would be better off dead.”

To punctuate her statement, two tendrils fly straight at you once more, while the remaining two are sent at Valjean and Julia. Far too loud for Valjean to even attempt subduing the tendril-woman, the former Crux leader pulling a couple of his knives out of nowhere instead, the three of you have limited options.

From the memory of your first encounter, before that had gotten erased by her companion, you had thought she had been a rather easy opponent. However, she definitely seems to be taking the three of you more seriously now, an air of malice coming from her bright-gold eyes. Letting go of the half shift to let the rest of your fish-features rise to the surface, you’re more than ready to take her on here and now.

>Dodge a bitch!
>Attack a bitch!
>Write-in
>>
>>5125413
>Dodge a bitch!
Let's get one of her tendrils and snap it
>>
>>5125413
>Dodge a bitch!
She seems annoyed--let's see if we can get her to slip up!
>>
>>5125433
>>5125447

>Dodge!

Alright! I'm gonna need some dice! Roll me some 1d100s! Best of 3!!
>>
>>5125488
Awww ye
>>
Rolled 27 (1d100)

>>5125488
Errr, hold on--doesn't seem to have worked.
>>
Rolled 49 (1d100)

>>5125488
let's gooooooo
>>
Rolled 28 (1d100)

>>5125488
>>
>>5125569
>>5125524
>>5125496

>Highest roll: 49
Writing!
>>
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>>5125581

Leaping out of the way of the incoming tendrils, the appendages fly at you with lethal intent. Though the mafiosa might have a lot of them, if there’s anything an opponent hates more than a target, it’s a moving target, so, if you don’t get the chance to attack her, Valjean and Julia can.

Still, the only thing you can envision is crushing those tendrils beneath your hold, each and every last one of them.

It’s a game of cat-and-mouse, one where you’re leading her tendrils all throughout the nightclub. Up the rafters, through the props, and across the dance floor, you try to be as slippery as you can, whilst avoiding getting the bystanders caught in the crossfire.

“Don’t let her pincers touch you!” You warn your crew, remembering what happened to you in your previous fight. Because you don’t know exactly what those pincers at the end do, nor do you have time to care. All you know is that they’re some type of poison, one that is definitely bad news.

Amid the constant dodging, you try to feel out where the others are. You sense Valjean hidden off to the side, no doubt trying to land a knife in her, while Julia is pretty much in the same situation as you.

You didn’t realize it before, but, frig, those tendrils are fast, way faster than they had been in your first encounter.

After what feels like the millionth dodge, you finally get a hold of one of her tendrils, crushing it clean in two.

>(1/2)
>>
>>5125637

Your moment of victory, however, is short lived as a fifth tendril appears out of nowhere. It strikes you square in the chest, and, as you feel some of the bones in your ribcage snap, you’re thrown into one of the speakers. Hard. It’s enough for it to teeter over and onto the floor below, shattered debris flying into the snoozing crowd.

However, the bystanders are of little concern to you. What is more concerning is the sight of the one thing you’ve been looking for all night.

A door! Concealed by the loudspeaker and sitting just out-of-sight, you hadn’t noticed it before, but its diminutive appearance combined with its location has everything in you screaming That’s the freaking door!

No, you’re more than positive that door must be it. However, you don’t get a chance to find out, as more of the tendrils rush you with renewed fervor.

No doubt the woman had definitely taken notice that you’d spotted the door, eyes blazing so brightly that they nearly glow beneath her armor.

>With the door right before you, what do you do?
>Tell the others you found the door– distract her long enough for the others to get in!
>Call a teammate (who?)-- you could use a helping hand!
>Try to tag-team her again– it didn’t work the first time, but you’re confident in your skills!
>End it here and now yourself!
>Write-in

>(2/2)
>>
>>5125639
>Try to tag-team her again– it didn’t work the first time, but you’re confident in your skills!

We took a hit, but she's down a tendril now. Her offensive capabilities are reduced.
>>
>>5125639
>Tell the others you found the door– distract her long enough for the others to get in!

We should at least let our team know--H.R Giger here could be distracting us!
>>
>>5125639

Aight. Gonna skip now.

As always, thanks for playing, and see you next time, kings!
>>
>>5125639
>End it here and now yourself!
>>
>>5125639
>Try to tag-team her again– it didn’t work the first time, but you’re confident in your skills!
Sparkling fish Go!
>>
>>5125639
>>End it here and now yourself!
>>
Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>5125644
>>5125708
>3-V-1!!!

>>5125677
>>5125769
>Solo this shizz!

>>5125648
>Be the bait (fish)!

Since we're tied, I'm gonna just roll for this here:
>1 = 3-V-1!
>2 = Goin' solo!
>>
>>5126272

Looks like we're soloing this one!

By the way, forgot to put it in the options, but you're free to activate Berserker Mode at any time. Keep in mind that this will require a roll separate from the action-roll, which will have the appropriate penalties since it involves giving up our cognizance.

>With that being said, do you activate Berserker Mode?
>Y
>N

I'll keep this open for a bit before we move onto the rolls.
>>
>>5126305
>>Y
>>
>>5126305
>Y
Let’s dance
>>
>>5126305
>Y
Letter'rip!
>>
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>>5126443
>>5126449
>>5126452

>Yes, yes, and yes...

Alright! Give me some 1d100+-10s (-10 for Goin' Berserk)!! Best of three! Be sure to type in what kind of stuff we're focusing on before we go into the abyss! GO!

Also, for this turn, we'll do the Berserker roll and action roll separately since that's what I said before (and I'd rather not flip-flop); however, I just went back to the last thread and noticed that we did the action roll with the Berserker penalties at the same time.

Going forwards, would you guys rather have the Berserker+action rolls at the same time (with the applied bonuses/penalties) or as two separate sets of rolls?
>Together
>Separate

No pressure, frens! I just want to make sure the Berserker system stays consistent!
>>
Rolled 61 - 10 (1d100 - 10)

>>5126490
I have no preference either way
>>
Rolled 21 - 10 (1d100 - 10)

>>5126490
Let’s focus on her tendrils
We can keep both separated
>>
Rolled 68 - 10 (1d100 - 10)

>>5126490
>>
>>5126612
>>5126557
>>5126556

>Highest Roll: 58

Now I'll need some 1d100s for the action roll! Best of 3!

Apologies for the lapse in posting. Was having some electric work done on-and-off today and just got it back rn.
>>
Rolled 7 (1d100)

>>5126702
ACTIOOOON
>>
Rolled 88 (1d100)

>>5126702
>>
>>5126736
>>5126791

Feel free to roll again! I'll give it another 20 minutes before I come in to roll myself!
>>
Rolled 27 (1d100)

>>5126490
>>5126702
>>
>>5126831
>>5126791
>>5126736

>Highest Roll: 88!!
Writing!!

Also, anyone who hasn't, be sure to give your input on >>5126490 for the Berserker Roll mechanics. This way, it's fair going forwards!
>>
>>5126490
Together is best I think. Faster, and I can't think of a reason to separate them.
>>
>>5126490
Yeah, just make it a 2d100
>>
>>5126840

You want to finish this fight fast, before any more of Maranzano’s cronies show their face. For all you know, this woman could be a distraction until there are fifty of them rushing you with guns blazing, and, if it comes to that, then everything you’ve done tonight will be for nothing.

It’s why, in a sheer act of impulse, you find yourself grasping for your Berserker Mode, grabbing hold of it like a lifeline until your mind begins its descent into that familiar abyss.

Your spine tingles with electric energy, so sharp that it’s almost painful. The only thing you can focus on is crushing those tendrils until they’re nothing but a fine powder.

Is it the beat of the music or your pulse thrumming madly in your ear? All at once, the rest of your cognizance slips from you like sand in a sieve.

And the world is heartbeats; the world is tendrils; the worldisgold? Gold?

You’re a puppet guided by the strings of instinct, surging towards the tendril mutant with savage intent. The other mutant doesn’t react fast enough as you grip one of the appendages, one that’s thick and laden with spines. However, the pain doesn’t register with you at all.

All that registers is the satisfying crunch that sounds when the tendril is split clean in two, filling you with violent exhilaration.

The appendage falls to the ground, detached from its owner. Though, a sliver of disappointment courses through you when no blood is drawn. This doesn’t deter you because, in the back of the roaring tumult that is your mind, you know that all prey must bleed, and this one should be no different.

>(1/2)
>>
>>5127130

It's those thoughts that guide your next motions, swerving and dodging subsequent attempts at your person. In the midst of your deadly dance, one of the tendrils embeds itself into the floor, and, in the split second it’s stuck, you don’t hesitate to attack, this time ripping and tearing at the offending appendage with claw and fin.

Vaguely, you register a shout of pain, followed by something clink-clinking to the floor.

Something in that moment must’ve caused the goldcrunchthings to still, and, in that simple moment of distraction, you launch yourself at the heartbeat to which the goldcrunchthings are attached to.

Saliva builds on your tongue as you rake a claw down the body, mind crying for blood. While the woman’s midsection is more-than protected, her lower body is not, and your nails sink into the flesh of her upper thigh.

Yet another shout of pain, this time louder than the last that, combined with the scent of fresh blood, sends yet another thrill down your spine.

There are still two tentacles left, and, from beneath her armor, she almost looks… afraid?

>What do?
>BReAk the REst (and hope Valjean will put you to sleep)
>f-FuFCK yOu shOulDn’T bE DoinG thiS (Hold yourself back)
>Write-in

>(2/2)
>>
>>5127137
>f-FuFCK yOu shOulDn’T bE DoinG thiS (Hold yourself back)

As moralfaggy as it sounds, we're going to go berserk in the future--we could use the practice in calming down.
>>
>>5127137
>f-FuFCK yOu shOulDn’T bE DoinG thiS (Hold yourself back)

Yeah don't want Valjean's cannibal insults to become accurate
>>
>>5127163
>>5127216

Alright!! I’m going to need some 1d100s+-15 (-10 for Berserk’d, -5 for Blood in the Air)!! Best of three!! Go!!
>>
Rolled 8 - 15 (1d100 - 15)

>>5127247
>>
oh boy
someone beat my negative 7 please
>>
Rolled 28 - 15 (1d100 - 15)

>>5127247
>>
>>5127257
>>5127270

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvR4gkUSCVw
>>
>>5127270
Welp, things are looking grim for the xenomorph woman...
>>
Rolled 53 - 15 (1d100 - 15)

>>5127247
Hold onto something!
>>
>>5127257
>>5127270
>>5127309

Highest Roll: 38

Writing!
>>
>>5127247
shame I couldn't roll this one, maybe for the best kek
>>
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>>5127313

Amid the scent of blood and the rush of power that your Berserker Mode gives, in some far-back corner of your mind, there’s an inkling that this is wrong.

It’s the faintest semblance of the thought– one that makes you stop for just the splittest of seconds– but your mind is too far clouded to pay it heed. All that resounds is bloodbloodmeatfood, not even as a semblant thought, but as impulses.

Lunging towards your prey like a bullet, her remaining tendrils provide her no time to react. The first tendril comes close, barely missing you. Meanwhile, the other, unlucky tendril that manages to interpose itself between yourself and the woman is ruthlessly smashed and crushed until it falls limply to the floor. Then you’re on her like a maddened tiger in the thick of the hunt, pinning her down so you can finally break through her shell.

Unlike another material– something shinier and bluer that is little more than a fleeting memory– this chitinous shell breaks far easier. Soon, bare, bloodied flesh reveals itself, and, far too suddenly, there’s that gnawing feel in the pit of your gut.

Crossed between maddened hunger and sheer euphoria, you don’t hesitate to bring your face to her shoulder to fill yourself to your heart’s content.

>(1/3)
>>
>>5127437

Two things happen at once. First, several sharp somethings embed themselves directly into the flesh of your back. Second, your teeth get caught in the fabric that’s pulled taut across your face.

Then, there’s singing, a soft, soothing tune filling the air.

That’s when everything goes black.

—-------------

When you come to your senses, both Valjean and Julia are standing over you, and neither of them look happy at all.

“How about a warning before you go full-on psycho?” Valjean starts, grey eyes glaring from behind his mask.

“I thought I could get out of it this time…” You groan. Unlike when you actually got out of your Berserker Mode last time in your fight against Gregor, having Valjean forcibly undo it leaves you with a headache.

“Apparently not.” The former Crux leader retorts.

“No offense, but that really was one of the dumber things I’ve seen you do.” Julia adds.

“Did we win?” You ask, ignoring her snide comment.

“We did.” She admits. “But you still tried to eat her.” Of course, you think, not very surprised by that.

In fact, the woman is still on the floor next to you, also having been knocked unconscious, and, beneath blood and chitin, you see mostly bruises, scratches, and other superficial injuries, save for one clawmark on her leg that’s still bleeding (though not too profusely).

However, the one injury (if it can even be called that) that sticks out to you like a high-beam light shining directly in your face are the faint outlines of teeth dotted across her upper shoulder.

>(2/3)
>>
>>5127438

Shit. Your breath catches in your throat, shame wrapping itself around your gut like a vice. Your only consolation is that it doesn’t look like your teeth had the chance to fully pierce through, for whatever reason.

“You really came close this time...” Valjean interrupts your thoughts. “Are animals not doing it for you anymore?” As if you didn’t feel terrible enough. Only better thing than to almost-eat someone is to have it rubbed in your face, and you don’t like it one bit.

>What do?
>Whatever. Just move on and head to the door. You have no time to feel shitty about what you just did– you can feel bad when you’re back home or something.
>Tell him to shut his trap. It’s not your fault you ended up doing that– would you rather have lost the fight?
>What? Is he still pissed about you maiming Julia (of course he is)? You already apologized to him– you don’t need to do it again.
>Write-in

>(3/3)
>>
Last update of the night!

Tomorrow we resume with more mutant mayhem-- as always, thanks for playing, and see you next time, kings!
>>
>>5127438
>What? Is he still pissed about you maiming Julia (of course he is)? You already apologized to him– you don’t need to do it again.
>>
>>5127446
>Give me a break, it's been a long fucking day.
>>
>>5127446
Of course our rolls become shitty during our frenzy. At least Julia isn’t suffering from PTSD
>>5127651
This and
>Just move on and head to the door. You have no time to feel shitty about what you just did– you can feel bad when you’re back home or something.
Let’s dwell on this later and focus on the door.
>>
>>5127446
>Whatever. Just move on and head to the door. You have no time to feel shitty about what you just did– you can feel bad when you’re back home or something.

Don't even pick up the rope--arguing isn't gonna change anything.
>>
>>5127728
>>5127749
actually he has a better point. no talking about it, just focus on the door.
>>
>>5127446
>Whatever. Just move on and head to the door. You have no time to feel shitty about what you just did– you can feel bad when you’re back home or something.
no talking
>>
>>5128272
>>5127728
>>5127749

>No talk. Just action.

>>5127651
>Gimme a break...

>>5127609
>Someone's still salty...

Writing!

>>5127728
>PTSD
She still does, but not as much as before she got healed. Plus it did help her some that Valjean is around-- there isn't much to be afraid of when she Elise can easily be put to sleep.
>>
>>5128296

It’s clear that Valjean’s still salty about you maiming Julia, and, now that you’ve almost cannibalized and maimed someone else, you’ve proven him right yet again.

As terrible as you feel, you have no time to deal with his petty brand of bullshit, and, rising to your feet, you are very much aware that your dress is half-torn down the back, courtesy of that dorsal fin. You still don’t know why your mutation gave you a new fin, but, whatever, it’s not like you can change it anyhow.

“Follow me if you guys want to.” Is all you say to them. If Valjean and Julia choose to stay petty and stubborn, that’s on them.

With a little more force than necessary, you kick open the door, expecting it to be dark and ominous looking. However, what reveals itself to you is a red, velvety staircase with the kind of carpet your feet just sink into as you make your way down the stairs, its rails painted a shining gold and lights lined up along the floors.

It’s a longer stairway than you expected, which is no trouble for you, but, further down you go, the more evident it becomes that there are heartbeats up ahead. You wonder how they stayed out of your keen senses for so long, but you’re not wondering for long when you see the Ferro-Flex lining the final doorway.

Huh, that happened back at the compound too… You make a mental note to yourself that Ferro-Flex messes with your proprioception.

>(1/2)
>>
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>>5128571

When you cross the threshold to the next room, it opens up into an area that reminds you of some strange cross between a circus and an opera house, just with how it’s decorated. Chairs encircle the entirety of the area, a few presidential boxes dotted around for what you assume are for the “elite” guests. Well-dressed people from all different manner of places lay unconscious around the area. All around, there’s a beautiful view of a lit-up Konigsburg laid out before you as one-way glass conceals the insidious activities that this room holds.

Most importantly, what lies in the center ring are crates, about fifty of them in total. However, stretching your senses to the crates, you find that not all of them have heartbeats. Some of them could have drugs or even weapons, like Valjean told you earlier.

Had you not intervened, you can only imagine what kind of scene would play out (has been playing out) in this place.

“Blink, I found them.” You speak into your comm. "Follow the pillar with the flower on it." You're not sure he'll be able to teleport directly to you. "Pharos, Jewel, show him where the room is." Staring at the horde of crates, you contemplate just how you'll go about this...

>Just crack open the boxes with the people inside– in and out.
>Crack em’ all open– maybe there’s some stuff you can take back.
>See if Bernard will take a few back, but don't press your luck.
>Write-in

>(2/2)
>>
>>5128580
>Just crack open the boxes with the people inside– in and out.
Maranzano is on the way. Time is lessening every moment.
>>
>>5128580
Use sense of smell to pick out which crates are drugs and which are weapons and which are miscellaneous, and go for some of the weapons and misc crates. If there is time, I mean?
>>
>>5128580
>Crack em’ all open– maybe there’s some stuff you can take back.
>>
>>5128580
>Just crack open the boxes with the people inside– in and out.
>>
>>5128582
>>5128616

>Crack-a-lackin' (and maybe a short looksie)

>>5128609
>Full crack!

Writing!
>>
>>5128649

Hopping straight into the ring, you set to work to find the boxes that have heartbeats within. You don’t need to crush the boxes to bits; all you need to do is slice the parts that connect the opening part of the box to the rest with your fins.

A couple of beats of silence, and a kid with elfish ears and platinum hair cautiously pokes his head out of the box. You might’ve been painted to be a menace to the public, but you can see the elf-kid’s eyes positively light up after the initial confusion wears off.

“We’re here to get you out.” You voice to the kid what he already knows. “Got a name, kid?”

“Glindor…” He murmurs after a second of hesitation. “Got it from a book.”

“Cool.” You’re glad the kid was smart enough not to give these guys his real name. At least they don’t have the means to find him again. “Mind staying right here until Blink comes?” You really can’t get them out without him– not unless you wanted your return trip to be simultaneously tedious and risky.

One after another, you saw open the boxes that, just like half the stuff Maranzano was using to imprison his mutants, is made of Ferro-Flex. About five captives in, and a green flash heralds the arrival of Bernard.

“Gettin’ started without me?” The teleporter jokes, eyeing the small group you’ve amassed– about five so far.

“There are a lot of them.” You inform him, and, if he sees the bloodstains that cover your person and that telltale shredding going down your back, he doesn’t say a word. It makes you feel less ashamed about the whole incident.

“By the way, we stole another boat since the first one was kinda slow…” The blonde tells you. Then he looks down at the pack of very impressionable kids, realizing his verbal faux-pas. “I meant borrowed! No stealin’ goin’ on here…” He hastily corrects himself, and you feel a smile form on your face at his antics.

>(1/3)
>>
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>>5128865

“Who wants to get the heck outta this place?” He redirects his attention to the crowd. Bravely, Glindor is the first to raise his hand. “That’s a trick question anyhow cause you’re all gettin’ outta here, got that? But first-come, first-serve as they always say–” With that, he grabs hold of Glindor, disappearing instantly and returning not even a second later. “Now who’s next?”

Like clockwork, you and Bernard set to freeing and teleporting the captives. Some of them are obvious mutants– from a kid whose body looked like the character from Meinkraft, to another who looked like some sort of amoeba hybrid, and even a raccoon mutant. Others, meanwhile, just look like normal people.

Amid the slashing of containers, you end up cutting open a few of the other boxes as well. Not the ones that smell like drugs, as visions of a coked-up Matt dance through your head, but the ones that you think might hold something good.

You find a couple of other containers with counterfeit money, and you like counterfeit money as much as the next guy… but these are all Yuan! What a load of crap! You chuck some of the funny-money aside.

Conversely, you manage to score what appears to be a Ferro-Flex jacket, along with an item you know would make your brother’s heart skip a beat.

“Hey, cannibal.” You’re mid-chop when Valjean’s voice sounds in your ear, aggravation returning in full-force. “Remember that Doctor Zhang guy the midget was talking about earlier? I think I know what he died for.”

“Enlighten me.” You say, none-too-kindly.

>(2/3)
>>
>>5128867

“Well, Miss Antonella here was in possession of the same serum that was made by FutureLabs, and there's no way those bastards would ever let that kind of thing see the light of day, unless someone were to steal it of course.” You nearly freeze in the middle of your cutting, not quite believing what you hear.

”Aurum Impulsum, was it? They were planning selling some tonight FYI.” At the same time, it suddenly makes more sense as to why Antonella was several times stronger the second time you fought her.

>Sounds like a FutureLabs’ problem--not your issue if their super-serum gets stolen.
>It’s better off in your hands than anyone else’s– you’ll resolve to stick around a little longer to find it.
>How’s the situation upstairs? Any more baddies coming in?
>Write-in

>(3/3)
>>
Crap. It's late again... whoops. Anyways, that's the last update of the night!

By the way, just as a reminder, I intend on closing this thread at any time before Monday, since I begin a new semester on said Monday. This thread took a different direction than the plan I had-- but a good one! It's been rad!

As always, thanks for playing, and see you next time, kings!
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>>5128881
>This thread took a different direction than the plan I had-- but a good one! It's been rad!
Was it because of roll, choice or you ended up adding something you weren’t planning to ?
>>
>>5128887

Plot. What I had expected to happen was the M-Guard heading to Maranzano HQ guns blazing, not this place (yet)— the Miller-Ford building has been in my notes for a while.
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>>5128874
>It’s better off in your hands than anyone else’s– you’ll resolve to stick around a little longer to find it.
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>>5128874
>It’s better off in your hands than anyone else’s– you’ll resolve to stick around a little longer to find it
>>
>>5128874
>It’s better off in your hands than anyone else’s– you’ll resolve to stick around a little longer to find it.
>>
>>5128874
>It’s better off in your hands than anyone else’s– you’ll resolve to stick around a little longer to find it
Don't let anybody else have it
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>>5128874
>It’s better off in your hands than anyone else’s– you’ll resolve to stick around a little longer to find it.
>>
>>5129096
>>5129101
>>5129167
>>5129171
>>5129261

>Go for the gold!

Looks like we're sticking around to hunt for the Aurum Impulsum!

Since the gang's on a time-crunch, I'm going to need some 1d100+5s (+5 for Super Sniffer). Best of three as always!
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Rolled 31 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>5129638
Time to sniff sniff
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Rolled 95 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>5129638
Hell ye
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Rolled 97 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>5129638
>>
>>5129653
>>5129763
>>5129797

>Highest Roll: 102!!
Sniff, sniff, motherfuckers...
Writing!
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>>5129820

No way, no how you’re letting FutureLabs or Maranzano have any more Aurum Impulsum than they already have. At best, the stuff was likely getting sold to some rich mutant who was looking to dope their powers; at worst, the stuff could be reverse-engineered by the Maranzanos and sold as a street drug.

FutureLabs has enough of the stuff, and, although you’re sure they can make more, having Aurum Impulsum on hand would be another piece of solid evidence in your hands. The idea of keeping those bastards at FutureLabs will be another added bonus, that’s for sure.

Mind made up, you push yourself to work through the remaining containers much faster than you were before. By the time you finish, you’ve cleared over half the boxes. Now, left with the rest, all you need to do is find which one holds the Aurum Impulsum.

“Hey Kelpie, we missed one!” Bernard announces, waving you over to an area hidden behind one of the crates. “Whatcha doin’ over there in the corner, kid?”

Out pops a mop of brown hair you’ve become very familiar with in this building, and you’re not sure whether you should even be surprised. Simon. Your mind supplies.

“Him?” You make a motion to the red-eyed mutant. “He’s been following us around the whole time.”

“Really?” A bemused look crosses the teleporter’s face. “What’s a little kid doin’ in a place like this? You live here or somethin?’”

>(1/3)
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>>5130051

“I don’t live here.” Simon tells him. “I just can’t get home. Can’t leave this place on my own.” A drawback is the first thing that comes to mind, one that’s probably related to that disappearing act of his. You don’t think any sane person would stay in this place on their own free will, regardless of age.

“Well, you’re in luck, kid, because we can take you back tonight.” Bernard attempts to lift Simon's spirits. “Just got one more thing to do and we’re gettin’ outta here.”

“The box, right?” Simon supplies.

“Yeah… how’d you know?” Bernard looks genuinely surprised. “You psychic or somethin?’” Simon shakes his head.

“No, but I know where it is.” At that, he turns on his heel, heading towards the edge of the ring. It’s not until you’re at the farthest corner crate that Simon stops, putting a hand against what must be the crate you’re looking for.

“It’s always this one.” He then frowns at the oversized crate. “Dunno what you want with it. Nothing good ever happens with it.”
“You think we’re gonna use it or somethin?”’ Bernard jokes, trying to alleviate the kid’s worries. “We’re just gonna keep it away from the bad guys, you hear?” Simon nods and doesn’t say much else after that.

You weren’t sure if it was your imagination, but you can sense a sort of wrongness emanating from the crate, not unlike the aura that was present on Julia when you fought her that one night. It makes your gut stir with uncertainty, your feet feeling a bit leaden, as that strange feeling amplifies the second you’ve sawed the last hinge off of the opening.

However, you push all of those strange feelings to the back of your mind, as what reveals itself is a box within a box: a small, rectangular sort of container that could be easily concealed in a jacket. Or a lab coat… Your mind flits to the deceased Doctor Zhang, who had likely stolen the serum right beneath FutureLabs’ noses.

Curious, you undo the latches, snapping them both open, and the sight that greets you is two small vials, both of which carry the gold, almost-luminescent serum. Frig. It really is the real deal. And to think this stuff has caused so much damage to so many mutants.

“Sweet. So we’re done here?” Bernard grins as you close the box right back up. “Where are Pharos and Jewel by the way?”

>(2/3)
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>>5130055

”We’ve been watching the stairs. You’re welcome, by the way.” Valjean interrupts from the comm. ”Only ones trying to reach us are the stupid ones, apparently. Didn’t get the message after Julia destroyed the elevator…”

”Maybe they really are that stupid then. Julia chimes in, sounding rather smug about her handiwork.

“Well, throw some tables down the stairs or somethin’ and get down here– we gotta get goin’ already!” You’re sure Matt’s ready to go at any moment.

As for you, you could really go for a hot bath just about now. That, and maybe a light snack to reward you for a hard night’s work.

It’s as you’re thinking those thoughts that a sensation not unlike an earthquake rocks the building, followed by the sound of shattering glass. The force of the blast nearly knocks you off your feet as warm, night air rushes into the cool building, Bernard having grabbed a hold of Simon to protect him from the falling glass.

However, before the two of you can even regain your bearings, yet another, thunderous blast rocks the building again, this time really throwing you off of your feet.

>Roll a 1d100 to regain your bearings! QUICK! Best of three!!

>(3/3)
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Rolled 41 (1d100)

>>5130072
>Roll a 1d100 to regain your bearings! QUICK! Best of three!!
Reminds me of that earth-quake mutant from the xmen cartoon. Either a mutant like that or they're shooting the building.
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Rolled 39 (1d100)

>>5130072
Get back here, bearings!
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Rolled 61 (1d100)

>>5130072
>>
>>5130077
>>5130082
>>5130086

Highest roll: 60
Just passed! Writing!
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>>5130091

Using your momentum to roll into a crouch, you clutch the Aurum Impulsum to your chest as chunks of drywall and metal bits rain from the ceiling. Looking back to Bernard and Simon, the two seem fine, if not a little scuffed. Could this be the bad thing that Simon warned you about?

You don’t have time to think about that. If the first blast wasn’t a sign to get the hell out of this place, then the second one definitely is.

”Guys, what’s going on? That comes from Matt, worry lacing his tone. ”Get out of there, now!”

You’d do that in a heartbeat, but, with two out of five of you being AWOL, you’re not quite stuck on leaving just yet.

“Pharos, Jewel–” You speak into the comm.

“We’re fine.” Julia cuts you off. ”This another one of Maranzano’s men?”

Though, it’s not completely impossible that Maranzano had more mutants to spare, you thought the tendril woman was the final boss of the night.

They’re still trying to get in, by the way.” Valjean adds. “I don’t think they were too spooked by that little earthquake.”

“Well forget them and get downstairs, jerkface, unless you wanna be known for dyin’ to some stupid gangsters...”

“Okay, okay…” The former Crux leader acquiesces. “Give us a sec.”

In the meantime, you take a quick glance outside the building to see where the source of the blast might’ve come from. Though the blast didn’t feel like it came from below, you see a couple of white boats on the side of the building opposite to the compound that are hanging suspiciously close to the Miller-Ford Building.

>(1/2)
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>>5130183

Right at the same time you sense Valjean and Julia arrive, you spot the mutant that you assume is the culprit: a bright-suited guy who is ascending towards the building as if walking on air, sparks of blue emanating from his every stride.

In spite of the distance between him and the building, something about him vaguely niggles at the corners of your brain, as if you've seen this guy before. Still, he's not entering the building yet, likely coming over to assess the situation, but you don't think it'll be long at all before he makes another move.

>Wat do?
>You will regroup with Matt on the boat with a teleport– safety in numbers and all that…
>Split up– one group can pull distraction long enough for Matt to get the captives to safety. Then you can regroup once you’ve got the other boats off his tail.
>You've had a busy night... but you'll try to hold it out. (Try to take this guy on here.)
>Write-in

As for your distraction: (if you choose the split-up option)
>Lead the chase on land– take your pursuers as far from the water as possible!
>Steal another boat and play decoy– no shortage of boats for you guys at the marina!
>Write-in

>(2/2)
>>
That's it for the night! Might try for an earlier update since I want to close the thread-- we'll see how it goes.

As always, thanks for playing, and see you next time, kings!
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>>5130190
>Split up– one group can pull distraction long enough for Matt to get the captives to safety. Then you can regroup once you’ve got the other boats off his tail.

>Steal another boat and play decoy– no shortage of boats for you guys at the marina!
Water phase let's do it
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>>5130217
+1
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>>5130190
>>5130217
+1 to this. Seems pretty reasonable.
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>>5130190
>Split up– one group can pull distraction long enough for Matt to get the captives to safety. Then you can regroup once you’ve got the other boats off his tail.

>Steal another boat and play decoy– no shortage of boats for you guys at the marina!

grand theft naval
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>>5130217
+1
NICE BOAT, MOTHERFUCKER
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>>5130217
supporting
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>>5130217
>>5130385
>>5130478
>>5130514
>>5130524
>>5130660

>Lickety split!
>Absolute bullship!
>⋆⋆⋆⋆

Writing!
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>>5130712

As the newcomer nears the building, it becomes plainly obvious who you’re dealing with. Not one of Maranzano’s mutants, but one of FutureLabs’ mutant new crewmates.

Zeus. Though you almost didn’t recognize him in the colorful suit, the black hair is a dead giveaway. Plus, it’s kind of hard to forget the face of someone that you spoke with no-more-than half a day ago.

Seeing him in action, just by his confident movements alone, it’s visible that he’s received a good amount of training. You guess that cockiness you saw at City Hall wasn’t a bluff after all.

Still, you refuse to panic because, so far as he’s been circling around, Zeus hasn’t seen you or the rest of your team yet. In fact, he seems far more focused on the floor where the club is.

“No sign of Sommers or Carmine.” He speaks to the air, likely reporting back to the rest of his cronies, and the only thought running through your mind is There were more of them inside? “Lots of unconscious civilians in Gladiolus– the M-Guard was definitely here.” To be fair, your fight at the compound wasn’t particularly subtle, and neither was this one– it was only a matter of time before FutureLabs caught wind of it.

“I see Maranzano’s men on the second floor.” Zeus announces, still oblivious to the five of you ducked behind the mass of crates. “Do not send anyone else in. I’m going to retrieve the others.”

With that, he launches another, forceful attack on the floor above, the resulting blast sounding like thunder and rattling the floor beneath your feet. Then he dashes to the window, completely disappearing from view.

The following cacophony is a mixture of gunshots and rumbling noises, where a firefight resounds from up above. Not wanting to test fate for much longer, Bernard takes the initiative to teleport the five of you back down to the marina.

>(1/2)
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>>5130878

“We’re going to need another boat.” You declare to the other because that had been the first thing on your mind when you saw the other boats that had been circling the building. “I saw more boats around the bottom of the building.” You then add. With the lives of the captives at stake, there’s no way you can all leave together.

“So let’s just steal another one.” Valjean is more than welcome to the idea of committing crime in the name of the greater good. “Can the midget even drive a boat?” He puts a hand to his chin in thought.

”Says the guy who crashed into another boat as soon as he got into the parking lot?” Is the retort you hear in your comm. ”If you can do it, I’m pretty sure even a trained ape could do it.”

“Hey guys, over here!” Bernard calls, pointing to a speedboat that had been sandwiched between two larger boats. “This boat looks pretty fast!” The boat in question is a small boat capable of fitting four of you (driver included), and, just as the blonde said, it looks like it was built for speed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4VTq0sa9yg

Time to split, so who and how are you splitting? (Form teams of two)
>You: Muscle/Speedy Swimmer
>Matt: Boat Driver/Jack-of-all-Trades
>Valjean: Boat Driver/Weapons Combat
>Bernard: Quick Getaway/Can travel between Boats
>Julia: Mixed-Ranged Hitter/Muscle
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>>5130880
>You, Valjean and Julia
>Matt and Bernard
Since we're splitting to act as a decoy for matt and the captives to escape first, I'm putting Julia with us to concentrate firepower and delay zeus' time to try getting to the other boat.
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>sees traced link
why did you delete the first post ? or did you just mistype ?
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>>5130909

Forgot pic/formatting error
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>>5130907
+1
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>>5130994
>>5130907

>Team 1: You, Valjean, Julia
>Team 2: Matt, Bernard

Called! Writing!
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>>5131332

“Take Simon and the Aurum Impulsum to the other boat– keep it safe.” You hand the serum over to Bernard. Again, you’ll be working together with Valjean and Julia, this time to play distraction so Matt and the boat of captives can escape.

Though the teleporter looks a bit disappointed at not being picked, you think he’s needed on Matt’s boat for crowd-control, as Bernard is oddly good with kids and you don’t know how spotty it’s going to get once you set off. Last thing you guys need is the boat full of young mutants to start panicking.

“Don’t touch anyone’s heads unless they let you.” You give Simon a light warning right before Bernard disappears with him and the serum.

Time to rumble.

The engine thrums with anticipation as your crew fills the boat, and, once the speedboat’s started, the two vehicles file out until both of them are at the edge of the marina.

It almost feels like you’re about to have a drag race with the way the boats are side-by-side. Taking a glance at Matt's boat, by its size alone you’re pretty sure that yours will have a greater speed advantage once you’re really out on the water– all the more reason to draw as much attention to yourself when the time comes.

From above, you can still hear the chaos of rumbles, crackles, and gunfire– gunfire that’s dying down. You’re glad you didn’t stick around for the aftermath because, as soon as Zeus gets his coworkers, there’s no doubt that his attention will be redirected to you.

One after another, the two of your boats speed out from under the safety of the marina with your boat taking the lead. For now, Matt follows your boat, while you’re on lookout for any potential adversaries.

>(1/2)
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>>5131431

Your comm fizzles constantly as the other boat moves constantly in-and-out of range. So far as you’ve been on the open water, the only things you’ve seen so far are rocks sticking out of the water but not much else.

Other than the waves being choppy with the high tide rolling in, the other boats have yet to notice you, and, if they did, they have yet to act on it...

>Roll me a 1d100 for encounters! Best of 3! Go!

>(2/2)
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Rolled 72 (1d100)

>>5131444
Just boatin'!
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Rolled 29 (1d100)

>>5131444
>>
Rolled 88 (1d100)

>>5131444
Fish is fresh and very silent
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>>5131449
>>5131451
>>5131494

>Highest Roll: 88!
Writing!
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>>5131507

The rocks up ahead are fairly large. Scattered about the Bay of Konigsburg and its various inlets, they’re a popular spot for swimmers and Instabang photographers alike.

Under the cover of night, they’re the perfect place to conceal the men camping out on them, but they’re no match for your proprioception that detects them like blips on a radar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIDiNoRD69k

“Guys– gunmen out on the rocks!” You inform, prepping your team for the possibility of stray gunfire. “Get me closer.”

“What?” Valjean hisses. “You want us to sink before we make it to the bridge?” In the distance, you can already see one of the city’s many bridges coming into view.

“Just trust me.” You grin, an idea forming in your mind.

At your announcement, Valjean picks up speed, the boat beginning to skip on the waves. Just when you’re almost at the rocks, he swerves. Sharply. And, without another moment’s hesitation, you’re soaring onto one of the rocks, landing with your foot directed towards the first gunman’s torso.

He crumples to the ground, and, before the next one can even think to shoot, you’re already on them with a forceful punch, the second gunman flying straight into the darkened waters.

There’s a third and a fourth who try to draw a bead on you from their boats. However, instead of tackling the two gunmen head-on, you make a nosedive straight into the choppy water, disappearing from their sights and heading right towards their boats.

Your fins cut through each hull like a sharp knife to butter, and, looking back one more time to make sure those boats are done for, you swim back to your speedboat in record time.

You feel invigorated after that, Julia’s crystalized hand pulling your sopping-wet self back into the boat.

Land fights are one thing, but there’s something about fighting in the water– your natural environment– that really gets your blood pumping, so much that you can almost forget about your exhaustion from before.

You’re not sure how long it is before you all are home-free, but you’re sure Matt already had something in mind.

>(1/2)
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>>5131607

Pushing your wet hair out of your face, you can see his boat just clearing the rocks, and, the narrower the waterway gets, the more your hackles rise in spite of the absence of heartbeats. While you don’t know how many of their forces they brought with them, you still don’t want to let your guard down and keep your senses focused as the bridge looms in the distance.

You don’t even think ten seconds pass before your paranoia pays off, as you see a boat steadily catching up with you from behind.

>Wat do?
>Have Julia and Valjean shoot at it with guns and crystals– he can take his hands off the wheel for a second, right?
>Dive in and take out the boat yourself– you did it once, you can do it again.
>Slow down and draw attention to yourselves– lead them on a fool’s chase.
>Write-in

>(2/2)
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>>5131612
>>Dive in and take out the boat yourself– you did it once, you can do it again.
>>
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>>5131612

updated map
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>>5131612
>Dive in and take out the boat yourself– you did it once, you can do it again.

Let's not be too flashy, though--maybe just tear up the motor and beat a hasty retreat if they've got some heavy backup on board.
>>
>>5131630
>>5131614

I'll take 'Rolls' for $500. 1d100. Best of three!

I'm going to check out now btw. Was planning to end the thread tonight but that didn't happen, so we'll probably close it up tomorrow!
>>
Rolled 67 (1d100)

>>5131645
Gnight, man. Looking forward to it!
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Rolled 30 (1d100)

>>5131645
>I'll take 'Rolls' for $500.
We can win cash on this one ? Gotta check not!steam after we get home.
>>
Rolled 87 (1d100)

>>5131645
goodnight sweet prince
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>>5131646
>>5131647
>>5131656

Highest Roll: 87!!
Guess what? I lied about that update being the last of the night. Here comes the REAL last one. Writing!

>>5131647
yes my good sir to redeem your cash prize i will need some credit card numbers thank you and have a beautiful morning.
Just kidding-- seriously! No phish here except the mutant kind.
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>>5131726

Staring at the boat that’s behind you, it’s plainly obvious what you need to do.

Again, you plunge yourself off the boat, allowing yourself to sink into the choppy depths. Water fills your gills as you watch Valjean’s boat pass by overhead, followed by Matt’s as you stealthily swim towards the next enemy speedboat.

Briefly, you consider just slicing up the hull of this one like you did the last two, but then your eyes land on the motor that’s just within reach. When you grab it, it slices right into the meat of your hand, filling the water with blood.

Almost-instantly you feel your regeneration try to heal around it, even as you tear the propeller straight off, and the smell’s enough to make your instincts rear their head and your stomach growl just a bit. However, focusing on the task at hand is enough to reduce your instinct’s fervent clamors into nothing more than a diminutive whisper– whispers that remind you you’ll probably need to eat later.

You have to break the flesh again in order to remove the propeller, skin ripping into shreds anew like a napkin, but once it’s gone, the offending metal disappearing to the sea floor, it only takes seconds for your hand to repair itself.

Engine successfully sabotaged, you watch as the boat putters along the water for a few more moments before finally floating to a stop, the waves bobbing it up and down. While you’d like to stay longer to see them scramble, you’d rather get back to the other boats ASAP.

As you’re heading towards your own boat, the idea of heading to Matt’s boat for a brief moment crosses your mind. Sure, it’s not too far out of the way, and, while there could be more enemies up ahead, the majority of FutureLabs’ boat-squad has been coming from behind.

>What do you do?
>Head to Matt’s boat for a quick sec, just so you can all be on the same page when you’re home-free.
>Stay with your boat. You can wait until later to talk to him.
>Write-in
>>
>>5131734

Alright. That's really it! Now I can snooze for real!

As always, thanks for playing, and see you next time, kings!
>>
>>5131734
>>Head to Matt’s boat for a quick sec, just so you can all be on the same page when you’re home-free.
>>
>>5131734
>Head to Matt’s boat for a quick sec, just so you can all be on the same page when you’re home-free.
>>
>>5131734
>Stay with your boat. You can wait until later to talk to him.
We can use the comms if needed
>>
>>5131734
>Stay with your boat. You can wait until later to talk to him

let's tie this baby up
>>
>>5131739
>>5131745
>>5131762
>>5132500

Just when I'm about to call the vote, you guys pull a fast-one on me--I'll leave it open for another half-hour before I flip a coin.
>>
Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>5132509

Coin-flip time! Let's go!

>1=Head to Matt’s boat
>2=Stay with your boat

Writing!
>>
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>>5132593

In the grand scheme of things, you don’t think a slight detour will do much harm. Besides, you’ll need to know what you’re doing once you’re in the clear sooner rather than later, and, if you need to get back to your boat, you easily can.

Doubling back towards the direction of the bridge, you aim yourself toward’s the hull of Matt’s boat, breaking the water once you near the stern where one of those small, metallic boat-ladders lies in reach.

Unlike your boat, Matt’s boat appears to be more of a passenger-boat type deal with a wooden deck and sizable cabin. Stealing a glance into the cabin, you see all of the captives you just rescued, but no sign of Matt.

“Hey fish, aren’t you supposed to be back on your own boat?” As if sensing your arrival, Bernard appears with a flash.

“Maybe,” You intone, failing to keep the smirk out of your voice. “Shouldn’t you be watching the passengers?” You tease, putting a fist to his shoulder, and the blonde is half-caught between grinning and looking abashed. “I don’t think there’s going to be anyone else up ahead though.” Like you, you’re sure he’s noticed by now that the majority of FutureLabs’ forces have come from the back.

“Aw, don’t jinx it!” He frowns, pulling a Super Vital Shot from his belt and popping the cap off with a thumb. “You’d think they’d think twice before tryin’ to go up against you in the water.” He takes a swig of the energy shot.

As much as you’d like to stay and chit-chat, you should figure out what Matt’s doing so you can get back to your boat. “You know what Bludgeon wants to do with the boats?” Maybe Bernard knows what he’s up to.

“Says he’s gonna ride it out to the ocean until we can get close enough to the warehouse. Then we’re gonna teleport em’ all out and destroy the boats.” You think that’s a solid plan with no security cameras or anything like that between point A and B. “I don’t even know how many kids there are, but I can feel myself fallin’ asleep already.”

“Gonna make it, B?” A flash of concern rises for the blonde.

>(1/2)
>>
>>5132904

“Yeah. Always do, don’t we?” He finishes the energy shot, dropping the bottle to the ground. “We’ll get em’ all to their homes tomorrow I guess– if stick says we gotta do it tonight, he’s got another thing comin…’” You don’t think anyone will be up for bringing anyone back home after the night you just had, not even Matt.

A few seconds pass in silence, the only noise being the noise of the boat’s engine.

Had it not been for your hearing, you would’ve nearly missed the sound of the second, almost-muffled sound of the boat engine coming up behind you.

https://youtu.be/IEHebiexa-M?t=4

You’d almost thought it had been your imagination too, the speedy little boat nearly blending into the water. The size of a dinghy, it’s plain to see why it would’ve escaped your notice at first, but now you’re glad you went to Matt’s boat. Otherwise, you might’ve missed it.

Cling-clang! The noise of metal-on-metal is enough of a warning, bullet ricocheting off of your boat. Bernard suddenly looks more worried than he was a couple of seconds ago-- not for himself, but for all of the passengers-- glowing eyes now casting themselves onto you.

>Wat do?
>Sabotage the hull!
>Destroy the motor!
>Ambush em’ from above!
>Tip the boat over!
>Write-in

>(2/2)
>>
>>5132927
>Sabotage the hull!
Let's not put everything on our regeneration, even if it's a smaller boat
>>
>>5132927
>Sabotage the hull!
Boats only work until they can't FLOAT anymore! Then they're just really lame submarines.
>>
>>5132927
>Tip the boat over!
>>
>>5132956
>>5132995
>>5133067

Aight! Time to pull some nauti tricks on this last bastard boat! Gonna need some 1d100s for it. Best of 3! GO!
>>
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>>5133333

Q U I N T S
U
I
N
T
S
>>
Rolled 73 (1d100)

>>5133333
Time to spring a few leaks!
>>
Rolled 56 (1d100)

>>5133333
Fish is Fresh
>>
Rolled 100 (1d100)

>>5133333
>>
>>5133455
Fish is cooked and ready
>>
>>5133380
>>5133450
>>5133455
>>5133458

>Highest Roll: 100!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVFrGI--UAM

Uhh... shit. I don't think we've rolled an 100 since thread #3. Funny stuff... How do these things work again? Quint power?

Anyways, writing!
>>
>>5133495
>How do these things work again?
Pic related minus Brody blowing Elise to hell with an air tank.
>>
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>>5133514
D'OH
>>
>>5133495
>Uhh... shit. I don't think we've rolled an 100 since thread #3. Funny stuff... How do these things work again? Quint power?
Dunno man, but I can't wait for the good stuff
https://youtu.be/rf2ICcDLuws
>>
>>5133495
Unconditional surrender on sight
>>
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>>5133514
>>5133522
Okay I laughed so hard at that I couldn't breathe. My sides still hurt.

>>5133619
Elise will acquire a power level of 9001 before the thread ends. Mark my words.
>>
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>>5133495

You’re sure they see you as you climb up the boat rail, prepared to sink what’s possibly the last boat of the night. Of course, you don’t know that for sure, but the dinghy had been largely hidden until just now and had only come out once you had taken out all the other boats.

Their guns train onto you as you climb up on the rail, and you can hear them whizz straight by you before you’ve submerged yourself in the water.

You don’t have to swim that far to meet the boat, because the boat comes right towards you. All you have to do is raise a forearm to the hull and slash, the metal giving like wet clay beneath the sharpness of your fin.

Like the Titanic against the iceberg, the ship doesn’t just stop. It goes down in seconds, and you watch as the dinghy slowly-but-surely disappears into the depths, the crew discarding their guns one-by-one in lieu of keeping themselves afloat.

While the guns were somewhat in reach when you first sank the boat, as if to add insult to injury, a particularly large wave washes over the crew, sweeping their guns away completely (unless they wanted to fight the high tide for them back, of course).

Now there’s shouting above the water– shouting that’s absolutely furious– and, not seeing any danger in doing so, you peek your head above the water so you can bask in the aftermath, just for a quick bit.

“Bitch!” The furious sound fills the night. “That-that absolute bloody bitch! You guys can’t even shoot a damn gun right, and you let her sink the stinkin’ boat! Guess who’s gonna be treadin’ water all night long cause of you shitbrains?”

>(1/2)
>>
>>5133708

You want to laugh– laugh your head off right in front of them– and you can’t help but think Oh, what luck! Of course it had to be Clyde!

You’d think it would top off your night, but, just by hearing his grating voice alone, you’re suddenly reminded of the sensation of a palm against your cheek, a clawed fist curling up at your side.

>Go on and punch Clyde. They’ve all lost their guns and you’ve earned it.
>Don’t punch Clyde. Because you’re a stunning pillar of morality, etc. etc.
>Write-in

>(2/2)
>>
>>5133732
>>Go on and punch Clyde. They’ve all lost their guns and you’ve earned it.
Violence was the only option
>>
>>5133732
>Don’t punch Clyde. Because you’re a stunning pillar of morality, etc. etc.
Let's not lose more time than necessary here and the tide did us a favour anyway.
>>
Calling the vote in about a half-hour, give or take 10-15 minutes...
>>
>>5133732
>Go on and punch Clyde. They’ve all lost their guns and you’ve earned it.

It'll be good for mental health
pull him under a couple times too
>>
>>5133732
>Go on and punch Clyde. They’ve all lost their guns and you’ve earned it.

Whoops--got something on your face!
>>
>>5133786
>Be sensible.

>>5133739
>>5133859
>>5133867
>:^)

Writing!
>>
>>5133732
>Go on and punch Clyde. They’ve all lost their guns and you’ve earned it.
Crush
>>
>>5133925

While it would be far more sensible just to head back to the boats, an instinctual sort of vindictiveness urges you to drive a fist into the Australian’s skull.

Clad in one of those SWAT-helmets just like the rest of them, you can easily pick him out on his screeching alone. Not going to lie, but he really made it easy for what you’re about to do– even if you don’t break his face, he’s still going to have a hell of a headache by the end of it.

This… this is just way too good to pass up.

Too engrossed in his temper tantrum to notice your presence, you swim directly under him, the Australian’s booted feet dangling right above you. It’s just like that classic, Maws, where the unassuming beachgoer is about to get eaten alive by the ravenous shark that looms below.

And, with all of the fury of a voracious bull shark, your claws wrap themselves around one of Clyde’s legs, pulling the Australian into the water with you.

Bubbles erupt from his helmet at the loss of his much-needed oxygen, and just as quickly you let go to allow him a chance to get back to the air.

Sure, you’re not going to kill him– and you, more than anyone, know exactly how it feels to drown– but you’re just toying with him a bit. Really!

You wait a couple more seconds and then let go. You’d only pulled him down a couple of meters, but he scrambles up to the surface like his life depends on it.

However, just as he breaks the surface to take a greedy gulp of air, you pull him down again, this time dragging him further under the waves than the last time.

>(1/?)
>>
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>>5134110

Now he’s floundering, switching between trying to pry your claw out of his leg and kick at your face with his free one, but, caught in the water without his precious guns, Clyde is essentially powerless.

You only release his leg when you’re ready to pull his face in punching range, dragging him around with one arm and rearing up your fist with the other. In the middle of this, you realize that you might actually have to pull your punches here, if only for the fact that punching him at your hardest would leave Clyde sinking like a stone.

Sure, your Berserker Mode is one thing and you could’ve easily cannibalized someone tonight if not for Valjean’s and Julia’s intervention, but the idea of lowering yourself to Clyde’s level (especially for something as petty as this) is something that you’ll never let yourself do.

Even if the world would largely benefit if he got thrown into a different dimension or something…
A jab, and his head is knocked backwards. The noise was muffled from the water, but there’s now a clear, fist-sized dent in his helmet.

Well, time’s up, you guess. You had your fun, got some revenge, and it was well-worth it.

With much reluctance, you let Clyde go, and, although you can feel the malice emanating from his person, he does the objectively smart thing and swims back to his posse.

If anything, Clyde will likely be angrier and more vengeful next time you have to face him.

Though the Australian was not a thread– not whatsoever– turning your back from his posse had been a huge mistake.

You didn’t have a chance to react. The only explanation is that, sandwiched among the rest of the gunmen, he had completely escaped your notice.

>(2/?)
>>
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>>5134114

Where his head is large and reptilian, the whole of his body is covered in green scales. A large tail sticks out from his person, the appendage likely being as deadly as the rest of him. Moreover, where his figure was imposing before as a result of both his height and fitness, now his body has seemed to bulk even more to accommodate the change of his transformation.

It’s frightening, because you’re being easily overpowered, since you’d been through a million fights tonight. Secondly, you didn’t expect to face him this soon, not when it’s been less than a day.

A desperate elbow to the gut makes him loosen his grip for the tiniest fraction of a second, and, in that moment, you scrabble out from John’s deadly hold.

Like a billion aggravated hornets, your instinct is buzzing, buzzing, buzzing, and urging you to fight or flee.

You’ve tested your fate quite enough tonight, and you’re not ready to take him on for real.

Shooting yourself far, far, out of his reach, you take a glance backwards to see if John’s following, but he’s not.

Instead, he’s toned his transformation back enough that you can see his human face, green scales sporadically dancing up his neck and cheeks. It reminds you of yourself in your early days of mutation, but now your brother is looking at you furiously, golden eyes absolutely blazing.

It’s pretty much a stalemate here. None of you will finish the fight tonight.

Still, he’s here, and you should say something to him, even if it’s petty.

>(3/4)
>>
>>5134116

“So much for taking the moral high-ground.” You pull those words from your conversation back in the sewer. “You just helped FutureLabs try to sink a boat full of children.”

“What about you? You just tried to kill Clyde like he was a plaything!” He roars, sharpened teeth baring themselves at you. “You think killing is funny?”

“Clyde is a terrible person who kills for fun. Those mutants who were with Maranzano were completely innocent.” Of course, what you did was petty– childish, even– but nothing can excuse what Clyde has done.

Still, there’s something else you want to confirm, just before you leave this place for good. “Was it really you who’s been helping them raid Maranzano’s warehouses?”

At that, he stiffens, eyes widening like you’d struck a nerve. Then he starts screaming loudly and roaringly as his transformation explodes across his features.

He's caught between keeping himself afloat and clutching at his features, powers suddenly slipping out of control. You can only stare, not sure what he's going to next, but, when gold eyes lock with yours, the only thing John can manage to say is, ”G̨̰̫ͅE̵̹̹̤̯͖̳͎T ̖̹͟A̤̣̪W̮̱̺̯͔A͍̺̞̠̰̦͝Y̮̻̺̺͜ ͕͓̝͟F͍̦͇͔͖͖͜ͅR̵̩͇̠̹̭O̱̹͎̤͙͙M̯̬̜͙̪ ̯̦M̴͎E͎̯!̛̟̙̠̺̪!̝̗̤̣͓̹̱”

You don’t need to be told twice. Fueled by nothing but adrenaline, you swim as far away from him as you can, not looking back even once.

John had caught you off guard, but the kind of power he displayed wasn't anything you could laugh at after the fact.

All you know is that you'll have to face him again. This isn’t the last time.

End of Thread #10

>(4/4)
>>
>>5134118
So not only is he more jacked, he also has a berserker mode. We’ll need to make good use of our blade-fins to balance the difference and train our shadow.
>>
Thanks for another thread my dude. Hope you can continue doing them, even if the school/Uni breaks. Also is nice seeing your art improving.
>>
>>5134118
... guess he's still peeved about the Husbando Tourney results, huh? Real talk though: shit, man! Thanks for running! I Guess things are getting pretty serious right about now, huh?
>>
That's it, folks, archiving the thread right now!

Hope you guys all enjoyed it as much as I did, even though I wanted to make better art for the thread and stuff, but my health really wasn't up to snuff with the lingering post-COVID syndrome I've been having. Thankfully, I got a lot of nice fanart from anons and non-anons alike (a big-ass thank you to those guys, as well as the ones I didn't post)!

Hey! On the bright side, we didn't have to deal with any rotten party-tricks this thread. I'm sure you folks know what I mean... unless you're new here, of course (in which I welcome you! Please enjoy some free booze!)

On that note, I thank you guys for sticking with me, even when I have to go on hiatus. Thankfully, the semesters aren't forever, and I won't get banned like I did last summer! Again, oldies, lurkers, and noobs alike, you are all seriously kings-- and I'm very much flattered and appreciative that you've all stuck around!
>>
>>5134118
Oh boy, this build up. Thanks for running!
>>
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>>5134130

Here's the archived thread:
https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2022/5105510/

Almost forgot I have this sick Elise pic some awesome anon drew that I've been saving for exactly this moment. Hope you all enjoy!
>>
Oh… shit. I think I missed a paragraph or two. Think it was one of the good ones.

Gonna repost it tomorrow with the other paragraphs included.
>>
>>5134130
>Hey! On the bright side, we didn't have to deal with any rotten party-tricks this thread. I'm sure you folks know what I mean... unless you're new here, of course (in which I welcome you! Please enjoy some free booze!)
Bruh I forgot what do you mean by this. Must be the time in-between threads.
>>5134153
>Oh… shit. I think I missed a paragraph or two. Think it was one of the good ones.
Classic OP, never change.
>>
>>5134136
sick pic
thanks for running!

we shoulda pointed out that if we wanted to kill clyde, he'd be dead. we just thought he was a jerk for shouting at the rest of his squad when he was even more useless, so we scared him a bit

maybe the next time we see mutie john
>>
Beginning repost in a few moments.

I'll answer all the stuff when I'm done posting.
>>
>>5133925

While it would be far more sensible just to head back to the boats, an instinctual sort of vindictiveness urges you to drive a fist into the Australian’s skull.

Clad in one of those SWAT-helmets just like the rest of them, you can easily pick him out on his screeching alone. Not going to lie, but he really made it easy for what you’re about to do– even if you don’t break his face, he’s still going to have a hell of a headache by the end of it.

This… this is just way too good to pass up.

Too engrossed in his temper tantrum to notice your presence, you swim directly under him, the Australian’s booted feet dangling right above you. It’s just like that classic, Maws, where the unassuming beachgoer is about to get eaten alive by the ravenous shark that looms below.

And, with all of the fury of a voracious bull shark, your claws wrap themselves around one of Clyde’s legs, pulling the Australian into the water with you.

Bubbles erupt from his helmet at the loss of his much-needed oxygen, and just as quickly you let go to allow him a chance to get back to the air.

Sure, you’re not going to kill him– and you, more than anyone, know exactly how it feels to drown– but you’re just toying with him a bit. Really!

You wait a couple more seconds and then let go. You’d only pulled him down a couple of meters, but he scrambles up to the surface like his life depends on it.

However, just as he breaks the surface to take a greedy gulp of air, you pull him down again, this time dragging him further under the waves than the last time.

>(1/?)
>>
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>>5134846

Now he’s floundering, switching between trying to pry your claw out of his leg and kick at your face with his free one, but, caught in the water without his precious guns, Clyde is essentially powerless.

You only release his leg when you’re ready to pull his face in punching range, dragging him around with one arm and rearing up your fist with the other. In the middle of this, you realize that you might actually have to pull your punches here, if only for the fact that punching him at your hardest would leave Clyde sinking like a stone.

Sure, your Berserker Mode is one thing and you could’ve easily cannibalized someone tonight if not for Valjean’s and Julia’s intervention, but the idea of lowering yourself to Clyde’s level (especially for something as petty as this) is something that you’ll never let yourself do.

Even if the world would largely benefit if he got thrown into a different dimension or something…

A jab, and his head is knocked backwards. The noise was muffled from the water, but there’s now a clear, fist-sized dent in his helmet.

Well, time’s up, you guess. You had your fun, got some revenge, and it was well-worth it.

With much reluctance, you let Clyde go, and, although you can feel the malice emanating from his person, he does the objectively smart thing and swims back to his posse.

If anything, Clyde will likely be angrier and more vengeful next time you have to face him.

Though the Australian was not a threat– not whatsoever– turning your back from his posse had been a huge mistake.

You didn’t have a chance to react. The only explanation is that, sandwiched among the rest of the gunmen, he had completely escaped your notice.

>(2/?)
>>
>>5134846
>>5134852
those are still the same, right ?
>>
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>>5134852

All-too-suddenly, the world erupts in pain as a hulking mass latches itself onto you. Your skirts are torn, and your neck is thrown backwards far enough that a normal person would die– would have been dead fifty times over.

ThErEs A kniFeINYOuRbAcKThErEsAfReAkIngkniFeINYOuRbAcK— Is the only thought that ravages your mind as you’re kicking, thrashing, and clawing– anything to get your attacker off of you. Your instincts are screaming so loudly in your ears, and, amid the pain and wild, wild thrashing, you’re acutely aware of each organ in your body.

It’s enough to make you realize that it’s not a sole knife. Rather, it’s many knives in the form of claws– claws that scrape and pierce at your innards.

You had been giggling like a fool the whole time you had messed with Clyde. Now? Now you’re downright terrified.

The only reason instinct doesn’t overtake you and you don’t black out then and there is because of the all-too-familiar scent of your brother. It permeates the water, mingling with your blood, and, craning your neck to catch a glimpse of him, what greets you is a frightening cross between a man and a lizard.

Where his head is large and reptilian, the whole of his body is covered in green scales. A large tail sticks out from his person, the appendage likely being as deadly as the rest of him. Moreover, where his figure was imposing before as a result of both his height and fitness, now his body has seemed to bulk even more to accommodate the change of his transformation.

It’s frightening, because you’re being easily overpowered, since you’d been through a million fights tonight. Secondly, you didn’t expect to face him this soon, not when it’s been less than a day.

A desperate elbow to the gut makes him loosen his grip for the tiniest fraction of a second, and, in that moment, you scrabble out from John’s deadly hold.

Like a billion aggravated hornets, your instinct is buzzing, buzzing, buzzing, and urging you to fight or flee.

You’ve tested your fate quite enough tonight, and you’re not ready to take him on for real.

Shooting yourself far, far, out of his reach, you take a glance backwards to see if John’s following, but he’s not.

Instead, he’s toned his transformation back enough that you can see his human face, green scales sporadically dancing up his neck and cheeks. It reminds you of yourself in your early days of your mutation, but now your brother is looking at you furiously, golden eyes absolutely blazing.

It’s pretty much a stalemate here. None of you will finish the fight tonight.

Still, he’s here, and you should say something to him, even if it’s petty.

>(3/4)
>>
>>5134885

“So much for taking the moral high-ground.” You pull those words from your conversation back in the sewer. “You just helped FutureLabs try to sink a boat full of children.”

“What about you? You just tried to kill Clyde like he was a plaything!” He roars, sharpened teeth baring themselves at you. “You think killing is funny?”

“Clyde is a terrible person who kills for fun. Those mutants who were with Maranzano were completely innocent.” Of course, what you did was petty– childish, even– but nothing can excuse what Clyde has done.

Still, there’s something else you want to confirm, just before you leave this place for good. “Was it really you who’s been helping them raid Maranzano’s warehouses?”

At that, he stiffens, eyes widening like you’d struck a nerve. Then he starts screaming loudly and roaringly as his transformation explodes across his features.

He's caught between keeping himself afloat and clutching at his features, powers suddenly slipping out of control. You can only stare, not sure what he's going to next, but, when gold eyes lock with yours, the only thing John can manage to say is, ”G̨̰̫ͅE̵̹̹̤̯͖̳͎T ̖̹͟A̤̣̪W̮̱̺̯͔A͍̺̞̠̰̦͝Y̮̻̺̺͜ ͕͓̝͟F͍̦͇͔͖͖͜ͅR̵̩͇̠̹̭O̱̹͎̤͙͙M̯̬̜͙̪ ̯̦M̴͎E͎̯!̛̟̙̠̺̪!̝̗̤̣͓̹̱”

You don’t need to be told twice. Fueled by nothing but adrenaline, you swim as far away from him as you can, not looking back even once.

John had caught you off guard, but the kind of power he displayed wasn't anything you could laugh at after the fact.

All you know is that you'll have to face him again. This isn’t the last time.

End of Thread #10

>(4/4)
>>
Alright, I'm having some network issues and am going to have to head out right now, but that's it for the revised last thread post!

Archive links are here, complete with newest threads for anyone who needs them.

https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?searchall=mutant%21quest

Hope you guys enjoyed the (real) last post of the thread!
>>
>>5134903
archive site is still strange
>>
>>5134903
>>5134935
use https://lws.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?searchall=mutant%21quest
>>
>>5135008
thanks lad
>>
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>>5134124
>>5134127

Yes indeed! Although, unlike Elise's, John's Berserker state functions a bit differently...

Definitely will continue to improve my drawing skills though-- need to get to a point where I can draw mutie!John and he looks hella rad!!

>>5134128
It was rigged I tell you! Rigged from the start! REEEEEEEEE
Hoooooo boy I can't wait to dive into the Conduit rescue and any subsequent arcs-- stakes are definitely higher on both sides

>>5134613
>>5134131
Thas rite! And we'll definitely see him again. But next time fish will be fresh(er)!

>>5134531
>rotten-party trick
Think harlem shake but on the floor. Consider it an odd manifestation of the QM-cancel. pic rel.
>>
>>5135586
>Think harlem shake but on the floor. Consider it an odd manifestation of the QM-cancel. pic rel.
Oh, that thing. That's one way to describe it and I'm glad you didn't king crimson during this thread.
>>5134128
wait, there was a husbando tournment ? I missed it
>>
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>>5135586

Should've put a flashing light warning above. I'll do it now: Flashing lights warning.

There. Try to sue me now.

Also, if you folks have anything like feedback/questions, feel free to shoot em' while the thread's still up! I'll answer the ones that aren't too spoilery, of course. That's basically a given.

Other links and stuff:
>Tweetor
twitter.com/qmsiren

>Pastebin (under construction/maintenance)
https://pastebin.com/u/SiirenQM

I plan to add a short paste on Berserker Mode soon or later.

Last, but not least, there was like a popularity poll thingy in last thread that I completely forgot about, so I'm calling it now. Matt won *cue applause for king-autist,* followed by Elise and John at a tie. Surprisingly, John's credit card got a vote kek-- that piece of plastic's the real MVP!
>>
>>5135635
>https://pastebin.com/u/SiirenQM
Our data wiki, thanks for reminding us of it and can't wait for updates on it
>>
>>5135635

Remind me what month is it again in this quest? and what would’ve happened if Simon got his hands on us?
>>
>>5136487
I think he would have looked at our memories and potential futures
>>
>>5135635
Did John get a raise for letting FutureLabs turn him into a mutie operative, or has he lost all his human rights?
>>
>>5136487
>>5136525
It's about mid-to-late-ish August in the quest.We might've missed a character's birthday... Whoops (and yes, I do have birthdays for the main cast).

As for what would've happened if we let Simond mindbend us or we lost to force-fielder guy (impossible!), I would've made us roll to see where exactly we'd get yeeted.
>Best case scenario-- something potentially useful to us, like a "story" of a possible future
>Mid-to-high-roll-- Probably a memory, flashback, or someplace that's either cool or comfy
>Worst case scenario-- the grimdark universe where everyone's miserable or somewhere equally shitty


Under the influence of Simon's power, the person who it gets used on is essentially a spectator within their body as they exist within these "stories." Elise would have still been able to make choices though, either as the Elise that exists within the "story" or as the real-Elise to attempt escape/resistance to Simon's power.

>>5135617
Link to Husbando Tourney. Was hella dope.
>>5090046

>>5136986
John gets paid handsomely for being a corporate pawn-- way better pay than he had at his old job. Too bad his credit card's been missing for ages! :C

Other than that, John technically does have more rights than the average prison-mutant. Outside of corporate-pawn obligations, he could wander around the mutie-sectors or even go out for a booze with supervision if he wanted. However, for both his own reasons and general distrust of the FutureLabs staff, John prefers to keep to himself.
>>
>>5137056
>Too bad his credit card's been missing for ages! :C
kek, I remember now we still didn't return it to him.



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