Stormchaser Roleplaying

Soft footsteps pad through the shadows of the Spectre's hidden sanctum. However, these feet are not clad in in long leather boots, but purple and white trainers. Mirage peeks her head around the library door, in search of the repeated chime that has drawn her from her exercises. The lights are out, bathing the stacks in a dim blue, but for the flashing green dot on the scale model of Halcyon City that stands on a table in the middle of the room. Green for time - a temporal incursion. The arcane marker appears to be situated in the midst of Liberty Park, but Spectre is meeting with the New Exemplars in Champion tower on the other side of town. The Sentinels could be on the scene in a fraction of the time.

Mirage makes her way through the dim blue light. She puts down the book she was reading onto any old stack all her attention pours onto the the readout of Halycon City. Slowly her stern expression shifts into an excited, almost merry grin. A problem to solve and an excuse to see her friends again?! She didn't hesitate as she took her Talisman, one of a set of five, and began to pour arcane energies into it's elementally porous material. Holding it in one hand, the other draws runic symbols above it. "Liberty Park. Temporal Incursion. Now. Be there or be square." Sealing the casting, she pressed two fingers down onto it as it pulsed. Sending her speech as thought to anyone of her compatriots that answered their Talisman.

Jaiden scowls at his computer on one screen his history report and the other his new habit. The video plays with Baric nearly hollering as he rants against Requiem and the enablers who gave him a platform. Jaiden genuinely grins as he sees the talisman activate. Better to earn new press than obsess over the old. Spinning the face of his father's old black and gold watch as he stands and his armor surrounds him. He looks in the mirror for a moment before plastering his most pleasant and sadly fake smile across his face and leaping out of the window flying towards the park. (edited)

The buzzing in his pocket stirs Joe from sleep. He stretches, throwing his arms out wide and yawning long and hard until his jaw popped. He couldn't figure out why, but his bed was super comfortable as he awoke from his nap. So comfortable, in fact, that it felt like it was barely there and he was floating on a cloud. His eyes spring open as he realizes he is, in fact, floating -- about four feet above his twin-sized bed. With a sharp yelp, he crashes back to the mattress, the sudden weight enough pressure to snap the bedframe's legs with several sharp, splintering cracks. His mom calls from downstairs "Joe, are you okay?!" He fumbles in his pocket for the source of the vibrating. "Y-yeah, mom! Everything's fine!" He stands, looking at the broken bedframe with something between sheepishness and anger clouding his face. Finally waking his sleepy mind enough to grasp what he figured was his cell phone, he withdraws the small talisman that Mirage had given him. The tiny Titan symbol glowed red as the little thing vibrated, and the voice of Spectre's apprentice flows into his mind. "Liberty Park. Temporal Incursion. Now. Be there or be square." With a blur of motion, he grabs his suit from its place behind his dresser and pulls it on. With a few more deep breaths, he shakes the last of the sleepy cobwebs from his head and heads for the window. He shouts down to his mom. "Going out! For a thing! Don't wait up." A blast of super-speed, and he's out the window, sprinting down the streets toward the park. He only hears his mom's faint "Be careful." with his super-hearing.

When Axionetiri wasn't doing some sort of super work, he often found it easiest to travel around in a human form. Sure, aliens weren't an uncommon sight in Halcyon City, but walking down the street with his normal look still tended to attract looks and stares. So while he had spent most of the day at the zoo to try and learn about Earth creatures, he had stayed in a form that resembled a teenage boy with tanned skin and dark hair. As he is leaving now that it is beginning to get later in the day, he feels the vibration of the talisman in his pocket. He pulls out the glowing stone, a bright smile coming to his face as he realizes that Mirage is contacting him. As her words enter his mind, he lets out a soft chuckle. "Right, a threat, of course." He thinks to himself as he looks around for a secluded spot to hide and change back to his normal form unseen, and takes off in flight towards the park.

Joe is the first on the scene, streaking through the streets and into the park. He can hear people screaming and running in the distance and heads towards the source of the disturbance. Approaching from the sky, Ax and Jaiden can see a dark patch spreading across the grass near the monuments to the golden generation of Halcyon City's heroes. Down on the ground, Joe can see the plants withering and dying, as though something is draining the life from the surroundings.

For a moment the world is upside down as Khalid falls to his side landing hard, but properly dissipating his weight with a break fall. Turning on his back he stares at the hand offered above him. Every time he thought he was getting better his sparring partners proved otherwise. It was a brutal cycle, but that's what made it fun. He grinned as he accepted his partner's hand and was pulled to his feet. His partner, Desmond, was a stockily built grappler who had a grip that Khalid, even with his enhanced strength, had trouble breaking. After pulling him to his feet Desmond shifts back to the center of the matt, Time for one more? Khalid looks to the clock high on the wall before nodding in response, but as he moves to join Desmond on the matt he freezes feeling the telltale vibrations of the Talisman given to him by Mirage pressed against his rash guard, "Liberty Park. Temporal Incursion. Now. Be there or be square." "Ah damn, I actually gotta head out now. I'll catch you tomorrow." Khalid heads towards his stuff, quickly pulling off his rash guard and shorts to replace them with more loose casual clothing. "I'm gonna leave my stuff here, let Henry know I'll be back for them tonight. Desmond nods in affirmation before finding himself another sparring partner. Running outside Khalid found a nearby alleyway and ducked within as he began to quickly grow his dermal plating, only leaving once a hardened mask forms. He dashes out as the rest of his plating grows and takes to the streets, running at a pace to make a horse envious. Liberty Park wasn't far, but the twisting streets of Halcyon city would not make getting there an easy task. (edited)

Mirage, having sent out the message, heads to the Arcanum's teleportarum. Picking up her gear and tying it around her waist her playful expression turns stern as she steps into the ancient device. -- A purple and black splurge of colour erupts in the park, conveniently next to Kid Titan, and Mirage steps through. Looking around, trying to spot the team, she comes over to him. "Know what we're dealing with?" (edited)

Kid Titan jumps slightly as Mirage's portal appears next to him. "Pretty sure that time travel is squarely out of my wheelhouse," he says. His keen eyes pick out a couple -- probably early twenties, a bit older than him -- entirely too wrapped up in each other to notice their impending deaths until it was too late. Or at least, it would have been too late. "Be right back," he says, and disappears with a boom. He speeds toward the couple and skids to a halt. "Hello," he says, nonchalant and friendly. "Need a lift?" Before the two young men can say anything, Kid Titan takes one under each arm and sprints a few blocks to a quickly forming police barricade. He puts them down and gives one of them a pat on the back as the motion sickness causes the citizen's stomach to turn. "I hope the rest of your date goes well!" Kid Titan says as he speeds back to Mirage's side. "So," he says, "Time travel and life consumption? Ring any bells?" (edited)

"Could also be time accelerating in that slowly growing area. Either way, definitely not something I've seen before!" Says the flying Changeling as he arrives from overhead. "Looks like it might be coming from the monuments, or at least near them." He will focus his attention on that area, even using his telepathy to see if he can make a connection with something, possibly detecting any hidden beings.

Requiem cuts through the air, surrounded by a silvery green aura that matches the glow from his eyes. Eyes that are actively roving across the park taking in the scene. A small smile crosses Jaiden's face as he sees Kid Titan speeding across the park with half a couple under each arm. Joe never failed to make being a hero look easy. Shaking his head as he notices the dark patch spreading towards the monuments. His father always said that villains were drawn to symbolism like a moth to a flame. A truth that even held out for his own decline. Jaiden gracefully descends from the sky towards his fellow Sentinels, taking great care not to burn or damage the grass with his landing. Taking considerable effort to make sure his mask was in place as he sinks through the air. Molding the smile that he had practiced in front of the mirror for hours, and forcing a friendly look into his glowing eyes. Looking to the Sentinels as he lands "I believe someone is trying to send a message. From what I could gather this rot is spreading towards the memorials of the golden age. Who ever is behind this is probably attempting to elevate their own status by tearing down the relics of the cities greatest heroes." His practiced voice filled with a confidence he rarely felt. (edited)

Khalid arrives from the other side of Liberty park, where he can already see trees beginning to shrivel to blackened stumps. A distant silhouette appears to be moving amongst the now skeletal bushes. High above the neatly trimmed fields, Ax senses the presence of many civilians fleeing near the edges of the blighted ring and one lone mind loitering in the centre. The Venusian hero telepathically reaches out to touch the mind and it welcomes him with open arms, enveloping Ax's senses in an embrace of concrete and steel. His mind is flooded with bleak images of a dreary, unending cityscape, prompting the alien to recoil in horror.

Changeling was surprised, to say the least, when his little mind scan not only found the being that was likely causing this phenomenon, but also when they pulled him in. Rather than just sensing presences, he was assaulted with imagery. Memories? Goals? He wasn't sure, but regardless being dropped into the deep end so to speak of this being's mind startled him, and what he saw scared him. "T-there's someone in the middle of it, and they feel dangerous!"

Gilgamesh slows his sprint to a walk as he searches the sky for his teammates, seeing only the distant figure of Changeling he decides to slowly approach the park. The trees shriveling to blackened stumps caused him some pause, but the silhouette in the distance reignited his curiosity. He makes his way forward slowly attempting to identify more clearly the distant figure. (edited)

Entering the blighted area doesn't feel harmfull, but it does send a chill of desolation running up the spine. As Joe, Jaiden and Emily crest the rise of what just this afternoon was a pleasant, grassy hillock, a heavy-set man comes into view amidst the blackened vegetation. His face is creased and gaunt, his hair greasy, parted and lank. He wears a bland, grey three-piece suit with a withered rose in the lapel. Reaching down to the ground, the man tears a flower from the ground and crushes it in his hand as he sneers at the approaching heroes. (edited)

Jaiden is feeling what can only be described as a state of annoyed anxiety as the chubby man sneers at the Sentinels. He should be home writing a paper on the rise of A.E.G.I.S and it's impact on Halycon's meta humans. But he was out here dealing with "The Greasy Decayer", worrying how Beric was going to spin this to make it all his fault. His mind spins as he tries to figure out how to deal with this, with his father's voice fighting against the Crimson Flare's. Even as a hero his father would say to blast him and let the chips fall where they may. But he had no idea what the big man could do outside of being a walking pesticide and potential temporal anomaly. And besides Crimson always said "Every villain has a speech, it'll bore you to tears but let em talk and wait for an opening." Taking to the air and making some space between himself and the Sentinels he calls out "What are you doing out here?" (edited)

"Isn't it beautiful?" The man marvels, turning slowly on the spot as he takes in the many towers of Halcyon City's sweeping skyline silhouetted against the burnt orange sky. "Yet you fools squander valuable real estate on grass and trees. This great city is destined to consume the entire world and I will not allow that future to be jeopardised. Not by those tree-hugging hippies and certainly not by a bunch of kids in tights and their Venusian pet. Tremble before the power of the Blight." The main raises his arms and sends another withering wave pulsing out in all directions.

Kid Titan looks at the three members of the team he can see. He shouts up to Requiem, "Keep him busy at range." Quieter, he says, "Mirage, see if you can get inside his head. I'll try to distract him up close and personal." He hoped that the others that weren't nearby would fill in as they saw fit. It wasn't much of a plan. But it was a plan. So that was something. (edited)

As the man lifts his arms a silvery green aura springs up around Requiem. He had hoped for a longer rant, he had seen these types have hours long diatribes. But it appears ol'Greasy doesn't respect the traditions. With a nod to Kid Titan his hands begin to glow matching the fiery burn of his eyes and aura. Jaiden's mind whirs as he lifts his right hand, silvery green fire building in the center of his palm. Greasy obviously has powers smart play would be to let loose and hope the big man can survive it. Or it could kill Greasy and prove Beric and all of the others right. Choosing caution Requiem unleashes two bolts of low intensity flames from his hands, hurling them near the mans face hoping that the fires will blind or distract the man and giving one of the others a shot to take him in alive.

The man's form flickers and shimmers, before dissipating and reappearing a few meters to the left. "Foolish child," he berates Requiem. "Do you honestly believe that a few powers and a fancy costume make you a threat?"

Kid Titan springs into action as the Decayer starts talking. The man notices him, and lets out another withering blast that Kid Titan barely dodges. Quickly closing the distance, he grabs Decayer by the lapel and plants a fist in the villain's gut. He could have punched harder, but as crazy as this guy was, Kid Titan didn't want to kill him. Tempted to make a quip at the man, he instead says, "Stand down. Final warning."

Mister Blight chokes as Kid Titan winds him, but then he flickers again, reappearing closer the untouched regions of the park with a snarl of anger on his face, ready to sap the life from his surroundings once more. (edited)

As his teammates assault the man, most of which seeming mostly ineffective besides the temporary stun from Kid Titan, Changeling is apprehensive to rush into the fray. He wasn't the best close quarters fighter anyways, but his hesitation was enhanced by the sense of fear overtaking him. Instead he kept his higher vantage point and tried to observe. Did the punch actually have an effect on the villain? Was there some sort of limitations to this flickering he was doing? Was he actually regaining stamina while sapping the life from the surroundings? These questions and more passed through his mind as he hoped to notice anything that may be helpful to the team. One thing he was able to notice, was that Kid Titan definitely made contact, and there was a delay before the villain could get away. Maybe they could overwhelm him. He took a deep breath and then sent a telepathic message to each team member he could see one after another. "Don't think he can deal with being rushed down, keep the pressure on!" (edited)

Gilgamesh watched the figure carefully as both Requiem and Kid Titan engaged. This man was an idealist, it didn't seem that words would have much effect but the blow Kid Titan landed seemed to have. As soon as Mister Blight flickers away Gilgamesh makes his move. Dashing through the decayed tree line he lines himself up nicely with the unsuspecting villain. As he breaks the tree line, coming in full view of the park's remaining visitors he takes two great steps and jumps into a flying dropkick while letting out his trademark catch line, "GILGAMESH INCOMING! His dropkick sends the unsuspecting villain flying back towards an already decayed portion of park and away from the verdant greenery that he was trying to destroy. As Gilgamesh rolls to his feet after hitting the ground and prepares to re-engage as the team re-groups.

Mister Blight hits the ground with a thump, tumbling across it for a few moments, before flickering again and reappearing upright. He's breathing heavily and suddenly looks much less sure of himself.

"You are right." Mirage purrs in Mister Blight's direction. Careful to attempt her intrusion into his senses at a moment he'd be too distracted to notice, namely the strike from her comrades, she makes her bid to buy them time to set up an end to the conflict. If Mister Blight were to look in her direction, she'd see the young woman stand up from inspecting some of his work. The skin of her body turning sallow, as if his Blight were taking hold in her form. Her hair turning to black and withering as if decaying plant-life. Tucked in her robing, near the decaying flesh of her neck, a withered rose to match Mister Blight's own. "It is beautiful." At least, this was the sensory illusion she wished to push into Mister Blight's mind. The others in the team would see a dull purple glow in her eyes and subtle ripples of power emanating from her forehead. (edited)

Mister Blight sneers. "You think you're so smart," he mocks, striding up to Mirage and grabbing her by the throat, squeezing the life out of her. "You kids should have stayed at home."

Mirage chokes, gasping for air and grasping wildly at Mister Blight's outstretched arm. His words hit home, her eyes widening in shock. The flesh near his gripping hand alternating between turning sallow and restoring the damage. (edited)

Seeing Mirage in trouble, Kid Titan reverses course, speeding back toward Blight. Throwing his shoulder into the villain, he grabs Mirage and pulls her back from his grasp and speeds her away to the edge of the blighted area. "Are you okay?" he says, setting her on her feet.

Mirage clutches onto Kid Titan, wrapping her arms around him as he lifts her to safety. "I,ur...yes. I'm OK. Thank you." She offers a thankful, soft smile before shifting her attentions back their quarry, letting go of him as her feet find the ground. Her eyes, though, betrayed a faltering confidence.

As the villain goes after Mirage, the urge to rush to her aid wells up inside Ax. But the lingering fear from his first foray into this man's mind hits him like a brick wall, and he hesitates. Kid Titan on the other hand did not hesitate, and pulls her from the grasp of the large man. He breathes a sigh of relief as she seems to be okay, and feels more than a little embarrassed that he was unable to act quicker but shakes off the feeling to try and focus on the task at hand. They needed to rush him down, not let him regain his footing even after teleporting away, so he'd need to try and engage with this being. What he decided to do was to try and make use of his ship. So he fishes a hand into a pocket and pulls out a small metal object, which when he tosses up into the sky rapidly grows to reveal its true nature as his Kirby-Craft. He flies into it and gets behind the controls. However, the craft did not have any weapons of its own, so instead he made it a bit smaller once again (roughly the size of a motorcycle) and prepared to try and fly it right into the villain after the next time he flickered to a new spot!

Kid Titan pauses, noticing that Mirage is struggling. "Hey," he says, trying to sound comforting, "We've got this. Shake it off, and get back into the fight. We need you."

Dashing back into the fray Gilgamesh tackles Mister Blight taking them both to the ground as he begins to immobilize the villain by pinning his hands behind him. "You almost forgot about me did you? Got caught up messing with my team, but this is the real battle. Let's see how tough you are if you can't run away. Gilgamesh tightens his grip and establishes back control, exposing Mister Blight to his team as he sits behind the villain. With all his bravado came a sinking feeling, the same feeling that comes when first seeing yourself bleed, dread. Whatever power this villain wielded was slowly starting to ebb into his psyche and while Gilgamesh's body may be able to withstand his decaying aura, doubt crept into his mind.

The aura surrounding Requiem begins to be filled with a black tinge that would go unnoticed to all but the most perceptive. Though the change in his eyes are a clear to all, the green and silver being changed and almost overwhelmed as the fury builds within Jaiden. To everyone else he was a ticking time bomb. Something that the world knew was going to go bad eventually, it was only a matter of when rather than if. Labelling him as a menace and constantly watching him waiting for when he finally decided to go bad. But this chubby man in a three piece suit chose to diminish him, saying he was nothing but a few powers in a fancy costume. Jaiden grimaces and yells internally screw that, lets see if he thinks this is a threat. And unleashes a torrent of cosmic might towards the restrained blight.

A curved shield of energy springs into life between Requiem and Mister Blight, interrupting the lethal blast of silver and green fire before it can strike its target. From all directions, soldiers in dark armour emblazoned with the symbol of a black tower and a red "R" come rushing in, energy rifles levelled at the subdued Mister Blight. One approaches the villain and Gilgamesh with a pair of high-tech-looking binder cuffs. "Somehow, I'm not remotely surprised to see Black Requiem's son resort to lethal force against a helpless foe," scoffs Rosa Rook as she struts onto the withered field of battle, surrounded by more Rook Industries special forces. Behind them, a ring of press and cameras have gathered, floodlights fixed on the Sentinels now that the sun has finally sunk below the horizon. "We'll take it from here," she adds, turning her attention to Kid Titan, obviously waiting for him to instruct Gilgamesh to release Mister Blight into their custody. "Rook Industries has experience in dealing with errant time travellers."

Caught off guard by Kid Titan read of her emotions, Mirage turns and looks at him with a soft expression. If the all ass-kicking KT needed her... perhaps she wasn't so powerless after all. She beams a warm smile his way, before raising up a hand to shield her eyes from the floodlights. Her attentions turning to this Rosa Rook. (edited)

It seems Changeling's resolve and preparation may go to waste, since once Gilgamesh had restrained the villain a new group of people appeared on the scene. Ax felt a mixture of relief and disappointment when the woman said these soldiers can take it from here. After all, they were on the verge of winning, but he still felt uncertain and intimidated by this time traveller. He returned the ship to it's normal size, exited, and had it shrink down enough to fit in the palm of his hand before speaking towards this mysterious lady. "How long have you guys been here? Long enough to see us kick his butt, I hope?" (edited)

Gilgamesh raises an eyebrow towards the incursion of Rook Industries but quickly realizes his expression is hidden behind his armored faceplate. Instead he turns to addresses Rosa Rook, "I'm pretty sure we have this guy, and I think we'd know what is and isn't lethal force considering we spent the better part of the last 10 minutes fighting him." Gilgamesh squeezes Mister Blight just enough to cause discomfort to emphasize his last point.

Surprise overtakes Jaiden's face as the energy shield intercepts his fiery blast. Looking over to Rook his face would almost be impassive if it wasn't for the anger still evident in his eyes. Though when she suggests it was a lethal blast his mind stutters for just a moment. He was mad, and wanted to show Blight a glimpse of his true power but he had not wanted to kill him. He didn't kill, he was not his father, he would never do that. Doubt continues to build in his mind until GIlgamesh speaks in his defense. If his team could trust him, he could trust himself. Coming to a landing inbetween Gilgamesh and Rook he plasters on his smile of a mask and says "He was far from helpless and that wasn't a lethal blast ma'am. We've got him in hand, and truth be told this seems like a matter better suited for A.E.G.I.S.." (edited)

Kid Titan, initially feeling insecure at this adult's criticism of him and the team, stands strong. "You don't have any authority here, ma'am," he says, hoping to the world that he sounded like Titan. "Like Requiem said: we've have this in hand. Thank you for your assistance, but the Sentinels got this." (edited)

Rosa Rook appears unimpressed. "I'm sure that you're a very effective blunt instrument," she assures the Sentinels patronisingly. "How exactly to you intend to contain somebody who can teleport?" She nods to her men who move in to secure Mister Blight and take him from Gilgamesh.

Kid Titan glowers at Rosa Rook. "Fine," he says. He looks at Gilgamesh. "Let them have him, Gil. If it's a problem, AEGIS'll sort 'em out."

Gilgamesh nods at Kid Titan's order complying with Rook Industries security forces to hand over Mister Blight.

The Rook Industries security officers secure Mister Blight with their cuff-gadget, which lights up blue once engaged. Blight scowls as they escort him off to a sleek looking van on the edge of the park. Rosa Rook waves over her shoulder to Kid Titan with a grin as she departs. "Pleasure doing business with you." Immediately, the press close in, eager for their exposé. Many harry Rook as she makes her way to her car, but she says little, professionally deflecting with practiced ease. Many others make directly for the Sentinels. "Kid Titan! Will you be taking over the Titan mantle?" "Do your team's actions here tonight represent Spectre, Mirage?" "Changeling! What was the vessel we saw you manifest above Liberty Park?" "Is this your first time working with Rook Industries, Gilgamesh?" "Requiem! What do you have to say about Rosa Rook's allegations of attempted murder?" (edited)

God he hated this part. Even on a good day he would rather be forced to one v one a GEFF bot, blindfolded in only his underwear. Than have to watch his words being twisted in real time by the press corps vipers. His heart thumping, brain racing, and stomach churning he walks over to the reporter who called out his name. Wearing his well practiced smile he takes a steadying breath and adopts a heroic pose. His voice clear, steady, and purposefully friendly despite his inner turmoil he responds to the reporter. "I appreciate that Ms. Rook and her company choose to use their resources to assist with the detainment of the super powered criminal. But she wasn't there for the full fight, and wasn't fully aware of what the villain was capable of. I used the appropriate force necessary to subdue the threat and protect the city and my teammates. Though I appreciate the scrutiny, I am not my father and all I ask for is the chance to prove it." He moves to walk away and looks back to the reporter the hints of a genuine smile forming "Also if you need a name for the big bad, The Greasy Decayer has a nice ring to it"

Kid Titan just smiles, attempting to feign the grace under pressure that he had seen Titan demonstrate on many occasions. "There's no mantle to take over just yet, folks," he says with a chuckle that he hopes sounds natural. Making sure the cameras can see him, he claps a hand down on Requiem's shoulder. Jaiden had spoken quite well for himself, but every little bit of acceptance helps.

As the Rook goons move in and secure the villain, Ax watches with full attention. Not only ready to intervene if he escapes again, but also to get at least a cursory inspection of what they use to detain him. As the cuff devices glow blue, he assumed they somehow suppressed superpowers. Very handy, and very dangerous in the wrong hands. But as they leave, the reporters swarm in, and Changeling dons the warmest smile he can muster, and changes his eyes to look more like a regular person's. With the question that is aimed at him, he lets out a light-hearted chuckle. "I believe you would call it my 'ride'." He says while punctuating the word ride with air quotes. "Speaking of, team. Anyone need a lift?" As the Rook personnel clear out, he tosses his miniaturized ship into an open part of the clearing, allowing the vehicle to return to its normal size.

Gilgamesh turns towards the press after watching the Rook Security officers walk off with Mister blight. "I think work is a strong word, maybe cooperate is better. I've heard of them before, but this is the first I've encountered them," he pauses as he takes note of the various cameras among the reporting crews and Ax's ship appearing. "I have a better question though. Anyone get footage of me dropkicking that greaseball? I wanna know if it looked as cool as it felt." He gestures to Ax as he watches replay footage, letting him know that he'll need a lift.

Mirage gulps as she sees the approaching Press, and after looking between the various members of th team briefly, she accepts the inevitable. With a nervous but amicable smile, she draws a thin line of light into the ground . It was something Spectre would do to make sure he had a bit of space. Mirage thought to copy it. It may also give her enough room to listen on Requiem's response. "The Sentinel's came to the city's aid of their own accord, but I am sure Spectre would approve... and be proud of every members actions today." She gestures to the others in the team, hoping to deflect from herself. With that said, she waved a goodbye to them all. Walking over to Ax, she grinned at him. "I'd appreciate a ride Changeling."

"Well, hey," Kid Titan says, "If we're all going..." He heads for the ship, then turns back. "Requiem, let's go!"

Grateful for both KT's support and the chance to leave Requiem gives one last smile and wave to the press and walks towards the ship. Catching up with Joe, Jaiden leans in and says "Thanks man, I really hate that part of the gig." (edited)

As everyone makes their way over, Changeling opens up the little docking ramp at the back of the ship and starts it up. "So, we heading back to 'HQ'?" He says towards Mirage. "Or does anyone need to be somewhere quickly?" He says towards the rest of the group. Once everyone is onboard and at least moderately secured in place the ship will close up, hover up into the air, and then take off at surprising speeds.

Jaiden breathes a heavy sigh of relief as the ship takes off and leaves the hoards of press behind. Flicking a switch on his watch, his armor and cape quickly recede leaving him in jeans and a Halycon U hoodie. Most of the time he regretted his identity being outed but at least he can relax around the team without having to add that worry to the pile. Slumping into a the chair he shakes his head, "I've got a paper I should be writing but that can hold until tomorrow. Saving the park has to be worth a bit of a break right?" Nodding over to Gilgamesh "Solid drop kick man, Greasy is going to feel that for weeks."

Even with an armored faceplate hiding his expression it was clear Gilgamesh was smiling, "By far my best move, I'm glad the journos managed to catch that. Shame we didn't get to pull off anything else, Rook really needed to show up just then." Gilgamesh's tone soured slightly, "Speaking of, anyone know what their deal is?" As he spoke his bone plating began to slowly dissolve leaving only the armored mask hiding his identity.

Kid Titan shakes his head. "I have no idea," he says. "Seemed pretty sure of themselves though."

Changeling's ship glides between skyscrapers and over the homes of those who call Halcyon city home, until it lands on the roof of a decadent, though somewhat dilapidated townhouse. One of many possible entrances to the Spectre's hidden lair - the Arcanum.

"First stop, home sweet home." He says as the ship lands and the docking ramp opens back up on the backside of the ship. Changeling stands up and makes his way off. He'll wait until everyone has exited the ship, and then make it shrink back down to its pocket-size so he can carry it with him.

"Thank you." Mirage says, gently laying a hand on Changeling's arm as she walks past and flashing a warm smile, before walking towards the townhouse. She had been in quiet contemplation for the journey, hand over her mouth as she lent on the window pane of the craft. Who was Rook indeed... most likely profiteering but to what end? Requiem seemed to keep in control today...though that last blast... As they approach the townhouse door, she takes out an ancient looking key. Long, slightly rusted and ornate at the handle. Holding it forward with one hand, she draws sigils of access above it with the other. It would glow yellow as arcane charge flows through the metal. Placing the key into the door's keyhole, the wood of the door folded away to reveal an entrance to the Arcanum. A majestic looking hallway beckoning them inside. "I'll ask Spectre about Rosa Rook. Perhaps he has had run in's with them before... it's likely, right?"

Kid Titan watches the doors fold away. "Never gets old," he says to nobody in particular. Magic was a whole other thing compared to his powers. So cool. "I'll ask Titan, too," he says as they step inside.

Walking up to the Arcanum, Jaiden mutters under his breath "Oh yeah home sweet home". Nothing like having your headquarters in the home of the man who likely killed your father. He knew his father deserved it but that does little to ease his discomfort. Belatedly he remembers that Joe's powerset includes heightened hearing, Requiem half smiles and shrugs towards his friend. Eager to change the subject he says "Knowing their deal would be nice, I'm a bit surprised A.E.G.I.S is cool with them stomping around on their turf." (edited)

Joe smiles a sympathetic smile toward Jaiden before continuing into the Arcanum. "If A.E.G.I.S. isn't cool with it, I'm sure we'll find out real soon."

The door closes behind the Sentinels with a deep thump. The boom echoes down the long hall and when they look back over their shoulders they see no door, but merely the hall continuing off in the opposite direction. The Arcanum can be labyrinthine at times. Even Mirage isn't certain how large it truly is, but she knows the way to the rooms where the Sentinels most frequently spend their time.

Changeling gives a bright smile when Mirage thanks him and puts her hand on his arm. "Anytime." He'll wait until they all went through the mystical doorway, a bit awestruck himself by the magic, before he places the miniaturized ship into a pocket once again. Certainly wouldn't do to leave it on the roof.

Mirage glances both ways down the corridor once they were all inside and the door was closed. Labyrinthine and, sometimes, it felt alive with a will of it's own. "Where has it dropped us in today..." She sucked her finger and stuck it up in the air. Despite a lack of breeze, she nods with satisfaction and walks down the corridor. Three lefts later, she guides them to another corridor, before a sharp right brings them to their sanctum. A few rooms given over to the Sentinels for them to make their own. This large room, their main room, had the magical 'console' in it's center that Mirage had first seen greasy man's threat register. In one corner, a series of bookcases holding an array of tomes of arcane nature. Items and trinkets and a table inscribed in sigils and runes. The rest of the room was empty. Bare. Made available for others members of the team to do what they will.

Gilgamesh looked around in awe as the Sentinels made their way through the Arcanum, while tempted to explore the rooms the group passed by he held himself in check and followed Mirage's lead. As the team arrived at the main room, Gilgamesh approached the console, idly poking around as he spoke with the rest of the group, "A.E.G.I.S doesn't always act when it should, that's why most of us don't work with them. Plus I have a feeling Rook Industries is smart enough not to piss them off They're a corp, probably have a whole department dedicated to doing just that."

Jaiden tries his best to follow Mirage confidently through the twisted halls of the Arcanum. Between the vanishing doors, endless halls, and prevailing mystic aura Jaiden had a nagging fear that a trip to the Arcanum would one day turn into a full on horror movie. And everyone knows who goes first then. Reaching the main room Jaiden sighs as Giglamesh speaks "You're probably right man. Money talks and A.E.G.I.S isn't afraid of getting dirty."

When they all arrive at the mostly empty room, Ax listens to the observations from Gilgamesh and Requiem and nods in agreement. "In less serious matters, think the story is still running on the news? Might be able to see what kind of light everyone is using to look at us now."

Kid Titan shrugs. "Turn on the TV and find out," he says, looking around the Arcanum. "If you can find one. I'll be right back." He pulls his cell phone out of his pocket, and steps out into a hallway to dial up his grandfather.

"We can tune the Consolus to pick it up.... one moment." Mirage comes over to the console and squats down. Tracing some of the sigils drawn into it's stone base, and moving a gemstone that had been resting at it's base in certain shapes across them. With a curt slap to the side of it's standing pillar, the image above would shift to terrestial TV. "That the right channel?" she asks from her squatting position. 'I hate this thing' Mirage mumbles. (edited)

The Consolus flares to life and the image sharpens to show the familiar, moustached bust of Baric Barinstein behind his dark wood desk. "Scenes of chaos plagued our fair Halycon City tonight in the heart of scenic Liberty Park, which was terrorised by an interloper from the future!" A picture appears besides Baric showing an image of Mister Blight. "This 'Greasy Decayer' was draining the very life from our beloved park, when he was interrupted by the 'Sentinels'." The group's name is framed in air quotes and swiftly followed by groans from Baric's soundboard. "You know what I want to know? What I just truly don't understand about this entire debacle? When were our persecutors allowed to don sheep's clothing and masquerade as our protectors???" The camera cuts to a particularly unflattering shot of Jaiden gritting his teeth as he unleashes his power at Mister Blight. "No checks. No balances. No regard for the sanctity of life or avoiding collateral damage. Just pure, unadulterated bloodlust... and all in the name of 'protecting the city'. Ladies and gentlemen, I tell you, this. will. not. stand. I will not stand for a murderer masquerading as a man of the law. Requiem is a menace!" "Furthermore, for those that suggest that Requiem's teammate might keep him from following in his father's footsteps, you need look no further than Kid Titan. Yes, that's exactly what he is - a kid! - and the kid can't even fly! How is he supposed to keep up with the likes of Jaiden Jones? Kid Titan might be a brave and plucky youngster who reminds you of the good old days, but he's no Titan. His friends aren't much better either. A distant, uncaring alien and the science experiment bone boy. Our city deserves better from its youngest generation of superheroes and these 'Sentinels' are definitely found wanting." Joe walks away from the projection as his grandfather picks up the phone. "Hey, sport! Not a bad show out there tonight. Don't think that I didn't spot you pulling your punches with that old codger. I'm proud of you. That's real justice. Don't sweat over Rook swooping in to steal your collar - that's just politics. You fought the real fight and everybody saw it."

Kid Titan rolls his eyes at Barinstein's tirade. "Don't listen to him. Any show that has a soundboard like that needs help. He's the menace. A menace to good television." On the phone, Joe's heart warms at his grandfather's praise. With a smile on his face, he says, "Thanks, grandpa. You've dealt with these Rook Industries people before?" (edited)

"Kid Titan's right." Mirage says, popping up over the edge and looking Requiem in the eyes. "Baric is just profiteering. You did good. You all did good." She looks between them all with a warm smile. "Sod Baric,what does he know but how to spew vitriol? We kept the threat contained. We did awesome!" (edited)

Zac

"A little," Titan muses, his rich baritone comfortably familiar. "They belong to the new world - the 21st century and digital technology. They're changing the game though, securing contracts with the city, and Rosa Rook sure knows how to throw her weight around. I'd be cautious of her. I don't really know what she wants and everybody wants something. Maybe ask Mirage. Spectre might know more."

"I'll ask," Joe says. Then, as a little bit of insecurity at Barinstein's words crops up, he says, "Do you remember...when were you first able to fly?"

Watching the news coverage of their fight, Ax didn't seem too upset by the characterization of them that was being put out there. He was a little disappointed that some people viewed him as uncaring when really he just tried his best to be upbeat and positive. It helped people stay calm, he felt. Though the coverage did bring back to mind the images he saw during that fight, and despite his best efforts it was clear he was still unsettled. But he tried to ignore it, and instead turned to Requiem. "Hey, looks like they took your name suggestion. He's probably going to be so mad watching that from whatever prison he gets taken to."

Zac

"I'll ask," Joe says. Then, as a little bit of insecurity at Barinstein's words crops up, he says, "Do you remember...when were you first able to fly?"

"It was such a long time ago, it's all a bit fuzzy by now," Titan tells Joe. "Don't worry about it too much, sport. You'll get there eventually. Your mother did."

"She did?" Joe says, unable to keep both surprise and jealousy out of his voice. "Speaking of mom...do you think you can help me convince her to let me try out for the football team?" He knew that his grandpa had played when he attended Halcyon High. Grant Harrison had been an all-star quarterback back in the day -- obviously because of his powers. But Joe's mom wasn't enthused about the idea. She was worried that he might hurt someone by accident, even though he knew he wouldn't. (edited)

Gilgamesh quietly listens to Baric's rant growing more incensed by the second as the broadcaster insulted his team. But when Baric turned his attention towards Gilgamesh he did not expect a dull acceptance to be his first reaction. Of course his first instinct was to resist the image that Baric attempted to impress upon his viewers, but a part of him knew that this was all some people would see him as. So why not accept it, why not embrace what they wanted to see in him. He was after all an experiment. The supposed truthfulness of Baric's comment did nothing to assuage GIlgamesh's anger as he finally spoke, "We either need to hire a PR firm or do something about Baric, this shit is getting annoying.

Zac

Grant sighs, suddenly much more the grandfather talking with his grandson than the Titan advising his successor. "Did you think any more about Pheonix Academy? You know that there's a place there for you if you want it. Sarah can't say a thing about your powers if all the kids have their own." (edited)

"She wants me...I...want to have a normal life, too," Joe says. "Outside off all the superhero stuff. I dunno." He looks back down the hall toward the room where the team was. "I gotta go," he says. "Baric Barenstein spewing his BS all over the airwaves again."

"Talk to you soon, Joe," Grant tells his grandson quietly and then the call ends.

Joe pockets his phone and re-enters the room. "Are we still watching this moron?" Kid Titan says. "You all did great. We stopped Greasy, and saved the city. I call it a win."

Jaiden was prepared for Beric's tirade, it wasn't the first time the mustached loon called him a menace or ranted about his supposedly inevitable betrayal. But he wasn't prepared for the image Baric chose. His aura flaring chaotically, with bits of silverish green energy sparking around him, his teeth gritted and a wild tinge to his eyes as unleashes his power. He had seen that look before, just not on himself. Baric's a jackass but even a broken clock can be right. Jaiden was angry he wanted to force Blight to respect him and shut the greasy bastard up. It wasn't a killing blow like Rook claimed but it was more than was needed to shut down the villain. The image continues to play across his mind as the others offer comfort and try to refute Baric's wild statements. Running his hand through his dreads he hesitantly nods and says "Yeah... yeah you guys are right, what's Baric know anyway"

Mirage looks to Kid titan, smiling. "What did he have to say?"

"He had heard of her, yeah," Kid Titan says. "He said not to worry about it."

"I don't know if I'd go that far," the Spectre muses from the doorway. Nobody noticed him arrive, he simply seems to suddenly be there, his faceless mask swirling disconcertingly. "Rook Industries have been amassing power at an increasing rate. You didn't have another way out of that, but not to worry about it at all might almost be considered negligent. Remember, Mirage, always be one step ahead."

When Kid Titan came back and offered some words of praise, he nodded. As Spectre came from who knows where and gave a small contradiction to part of what Kid Titan said, Ax held a hand to his own chin and started drifting into thought, speaking out loud but not to anyone in particular. "Maybe if we had cuffs like the ones they did, we could have put up more resistance. If I knew how they worked, I might be able to make them..."

"Spectre!" Mirage said in surprise. Not in shock at his sudden appearance, for he had a way with such things. More, that he decided to arrive at this moment. She steps back from the altar and makes her way over to him. 'May I have a moment of your time, teacher?' She attempts to telepathically communicate to him.

Spectre nods silently, walking out of the room and away from the other Sentinels.

Once they had stepped past the threshold of the door, Spectre spoke in a quiet voice. Self-conscious that the others may hear. "Teacher...how would you keep one step ahead of an organisation of Rook Industries? How would you go about investigating what their about?"

"I would insinuate myself into the life of somebody on the inside," Spectre remarks as they walk the halls of the Arcanum, as though the answer were the most obvious thing in the world. "Use them to learn Rook's secrets and plans."

Mirage's brow rose curiously. "Insinuate myself... hmm... perhaps I could plant a mental memento within one of their operative's subconsciousness? Use it as a means to enter their mind as they go about their day?" (edited)

"Perhaps," Spectre echoes, clearly distracted by the sudden appearance of a flashing red light on one of his bracers. "I'm afraid that this will have to wait for another time, Mirage, good evening." The air around Emily's mentor shimmers and swirls and then he is gone.

"Good lu-." Emily sighs a little once she's left alone in the hallway. Lips pulling this way and that, mulling over the fleeting moment. "Memetic memento it shall be." Does she live up to his hopes? Did he see what had occurred, and his favour wanes? When she returns to their sanctum, her expression was pensive as she scratches her neck.

"Nice guy, that Spectre," Kid Titan says. As Mirage re-enters the room, he looks up. "Everything okay?"

"I, ur... yeah, everything's alright." Putting on a smile Kid titan's direction. "I'm thinking of finding some mental access into one of the Rook's operative's minds. Perhaps pick up some intel, maybe find how those cuffs work?" Gesturing with a smile to Ax.

As Mirage and Spectre leave for a moment, Ax looks to the rest of the team. He wondered if the words from the man on the tv had more of an effect on them than it did on him. This was when he first actually noticed that Gilgamesh seemed a bit bothered after their ordeal and the following press. Then when Mirage came back, sans mentor, she also seemed a bit more serious. Though she quickly offered suggestions of their next steps. She even mentioned ways they could figure out these cuffs, so that he could try to make them. He smiled and nodded before speaking out. "Humanity is so resourceful. You take what you have, what you know, and you manage to do great things with it. I'm sure that you can make it work." He says in Mirage's direction, and then turns his attention towards Gilgamesh. "Not to mention your bravery. Some may have called it recklessness, to charge in and grab a hold of a being draining the life from their surroundings, but I don't think that's right. You knew the risk, and you took it so that we could end the fight, that's truly befitting of a hero and human tenacity at work."

Gilgamesh silently watches as both Kid Titan and Mirage speak to their respective mentors, for a brief moment a tinge of jealousy flares then dissipates. Surprising himself at his turn of emotion, he remains silent until Ax speaks. Ax was a curious individual, on occasion he seemed more human than Gilgamesh himself, but perhaps that wasn't the most difficult feat. In either case Ax had a strange knack for knowing just what to say to assuage Gilgamesh's insecurities, "Yeah, you're right I know you're right. I just wish these broadcasters could see us the same way, it's annoying as hell to put our life on the line for this city only to be disrespected by it."

Mirage's worried expression slowly melts into a soft smile, her eyes conveying a grateful twinkle. "Thank you Ax, very much." She felt relief. Others around her seemed to think she, they, were capable... why should she doubt her own self so hard. (edited)

Jaiden smiles weakly at Gilgamesh "I would say you get used to it, but I'd be lying if I haven't dreamed of scorching that ridiculous rug off Beric's face." Jaiden pulls out his phone and in attempt to focus on anything but Beric's rant and the image that continues to play through his mind. Begins researching Rook, and finding much of the typical shady corporate nonsense. Unethical experiments, shady government contracts and of course the legal system not being able to catch or punish any of their BS. Looking to the rest "Well according to the super computer that is Google, they are just as shady and untouchable as you would expect. This something you guys want to run down? With us already getting killed in the court of public opinion, picking a fight with a shady corporation with deep pockets and loose morals may not end up to hot for us. I'm game either way, just wanted to let you all know that it could get much worse if we poke this bear".

"I'm not sure this is our fight," Kid Titan says, frowning. "I think we've got enough problems with Barinstein...and, you know. It's Halcyon City. We don't have to pick our fights. I'm sure something will happen."

"True. Information is always nice, especially when it comes to suspicious groups, but they have us beat if we manage to make them an enemy when we don't need to." Ax says with a nod. "I may still tinker around, see if I can find footage from when they put the restraints on him. Having an answer to their question of 'How do you intend to contain him?' would go a long way if it happens again."

Gilgamesh gives a slight nod of appreciation towards Jaiden before responding to Kit Titan, "I think you're right, but I like Ax's line of thinking. Keep our meddling on the down low and see what we come up with."

When Joe arrives back at the house, his mother is sat in her chair in the living room watching TV. "I figured that you'd be out celebrating," she notes with surprise when she hears him come in.

Joe shifts his weight back and forth. "I...I dunno. I think we were all feeling tense after..." He gestures toward the TV. "Did you see Barinstein's coverage? Everyone's a little on edge."

"Eh, that old blowhard," she replies with dismissive wave of her hand. "I know his kind and there's no pleasing them. He's just like Hiro Reckard. I saw you out there, on the cameras in the park. You looked good... you looked like pops."

He smiles. "Thanks," he says. "Still wish I could...you know...fly like him. But it was a good day." His stomach rumbles and he looks up at his mom. "Is there...?" he says, leaving the meat of the question unspoken. (edited)

"There's a plate in the oven," she tells him with a smile. By the time he's found it, Sarah has moved to the dining table. "So, Rosa Rook."

Joe sits down, his mouth already full and his fork on the way back down to the plate. "Yeah," he says around the food. "FShe's so'thin' elsh." He swallows, and then asks, "Why? Do you know her?"

Sarah tips her head left and right as though mulling the question over. "Not anymore. She's done very well for herself. Are you going to keep just handing over collars to her?"

He frowns, and stops his fork just short of his mouth. "I don't think so," he says. "I don't know. We didn't really have a way to contain him. I called grandpa though. He said it was 'just politics.'"

"Well, he's right, but what is politics, Joe?" Sarah counters, watching her son carefully.

"A bunch of old people yelling at each other?" Joe says, laughing at his own joke. When his mother doesn't laugh, he sobers. "I guess it's important. But we couldn't have turned him over to the police. He was a time traveler."

"So what are you going to do about it?"

"I...well..." He shook his head. This was stupid. He was normally hesitant to show ferocity about his work as a superhero around his mother, but she seemed genuinely concerned about this Rosa Rook. So he stopped. "We're going to find out what they're doing, why they're doing it, and if it needs to be stopped, we're going to stop them. What do you know about her?"

"She grew up in the Silver Run," Sarah explains and her eyes take on a farway look as she remembers the past. "Perfectly ordinary family just scraping by. Perfectly average grades. That is, until it mattered and then suddenly she was winning a scholarship to Halcyon U. Rosa never did anything in her life that wasn't perfectly calculated and three moves ahead of everybody else." (edited)

"Have you ever heard of her taking a prisoner like this before?" Joe asks, his concern about Rook Industries beginning to grow.

Sarah tilts her head left and right non-commitally. "Not exactly, but they've certainly created, employed and experimented on meta-humans before. If you want to find out more, you should go looking for the Centipede. She knows a lot about Rook Industries."

"Centipede? Huh..." he says. He's about to ask what the petty villain had to do with all this, but something she had said earlier strikes him. "Did they make her? Give her her abilities?"

"I don't know," Sarah replies with an apologetic shrug. "It's possible. She worked there once, before she became what she is today. The fact that she doesn't anymore could mean that you could learn more from her."

Joe nods. "Well, that's something, at least," he says. "We'll try to find her. Thanks for the tip, mom."

Sarah smiles at Joe half-heartedly and gets up to return to the sofa.

Gilgamesh settles into the train seat, it wasn't going to be a long ride but it was long enough to think. The fight with the greaser, Rook Industries, and strangely the worst seeming between these Baric. Gilgamesh could handle any physical confrontation, but these political games that these politicians and news anchors just frustrated him. He spent the rest of the train ride and his walk to the gym browsing social media in an attempt to see what the rest of the public thought of their stunts and Baric's comments. He closed his phone as he entered and greeted the regulars before making his way to bags to let off some steam. Going straight to the heavy bags he began to let loose giving the material strength of the bag a run for its money. His strikes grew progressively more wild and uncoordinated until he lost control of his powers and tore a hole through the side of the bag. He continued with his onslaught until the bag was hanging by a few threads and the internal fabrics were spilling out. He wallowed in the aftermath before realizing what he had done and cleaning up his mess, searching for another bag to replace the one he had destroyed. (edited)

Light glistens on the water as the sun rises over the bay. It's Saturday morning in the city that never sleeps and all over its many neighbourhoods high schoolers and college students alike are snoring in their beds (or perhaps still staggering home from a long night out). In the Simons household, the warm smell of frying bacon and homemade pancakes wafts up the stairs towards Joe's room. His other friends and Sentinels are, by-and-large, less fortunate, but one thing is true for all of them. The weekend has come.

As Joe walks into the dining room, he pulls his phone from his pocket and accesses the special app he keeps hidden for superhero communications. He sends a text to Mirage, Gilgamesh, Ax, and Requiem: I think I have a lead on Rook. Meet at the Sanctum later?

I have training with Spectre all weekend. Check it out without me for now? Mirage replies a short time later.

Uh, sure. Good luck. Everyone else, I guess we can meet on Ax's ship? Where are you parked?

Thanks to some introspective wandering, Ax had actually found himself back in the vicinity of the park where they had fought the mysterious villain. Replaying in his head the things he saw, where he went wrong, and trying to figure out how to do things right next time. His phone dinged with the sound of a received message, and he looked to see that they may have a lead. He did give a small frown seeing that Mirage was sitting this one out, but responded when the next question was directed towards him. I'm actually by that park from yesterday. Need me to pick everyone up?

Gilgamesh wakes up to his phone vibrating, he groans and sits up from his bed not immediately registering the notifications on his phone. Once his mind returns to his full faculties he shoots a message to the group chat. I just woke up, gimme a good 30 minutes to get ready. I'll shoot my location over when I'm good. (edited)

Uh, just let me know where you are and I'll come. A spaceship hovering over my house might piss off my mom XD Joe tucks into his pancakes. With a full mouth, he looks up at his mom. "Fanks for breafas," he says.

With a groan Jaiden's hand fumbles towards his phone, he had just managed to get to sleep. Between taking out Greasy at the park and writing his paper it had been far to late of night. Unfortunately his professors had made it quite clear that heroics were not a valid excuse for a due date extension. With his eyes half closed he reads the text chains and responds.

Don't you guys ever sleep?! I need to shower and grab a red bull but I should be good in about 30. I'll meet you at the park though, my roommates already aren't thrilled having to share a dorm with me. Don't need to add space ships, to their shit list lol.

(edited)

Zac

Sarah flashes Joe a smile that says don't talk with your mouth full. "You're in a hurry," she notes, arching an eyebrow.

Joe swallows a large bite of pancake and then says, "Gotta go meet the team, tell them what you told me about Centipede."

Jaiden quickly unwraps his dreads as he runs from the dorm's showers. Making a quick stop at the vending machine, before he leaps out of his dorm window Redbull in hand. Flicking his watch as he leaps, his uniform rapidly expands over his body cape fluttering through the wind. And with a thought Requiem's aura surrounds him and he blasts off towards the park.

Zac

Joe swallows a large bite of pancake and then says, "Gotta go meet the team, tell them what you told me about Centipede."

Sarah doesn't comment on this, but does serve Joe another pancake.

When in public and not on hero duty, Ax tended to take on a human form with slightly different features each time. Walking around with his normal face on tended to attract a bit more attention than he liked, even in this city filled with the unusual. But once he saw the conspicuous aura of Requiem headed towards his location at high speed, he allowed his form to revert to his normal. He then pulled his miniaturized ship from his pocket, activated it, and tossed it to a clear spot in the park. It quickly grew to its full size, likely just in time for Jaiden to land. "Well well, first one here!" He says and opens up the entry ramp at the back. This wasn't the first time the team would be on the ship, but it was still clear that it was different from human vessels. The insides were sleek, curved to a cylindrical cabin, and a light gray almost bordering on white. The first half of the ship seemed like it may have once been dedicated to research, with many small lights along the walls being the only indication that they were lined with touch activated compartments for storage, many of which could be temperature controlled. One wall also had an inset desk, which Ax had put a hammock over top of for sleeping (which he pulls down and stores away as Jaiden enters). The front half of the ship was a bit more standard, three seats on each side and then one to the middle and front for the actual pilot's seat. The temperature inside was probably a bit warm for human standards, but Ax always had a better time with heat than cold. "Might as well try and make yourself comfortable until the others arrive. Though who knows, we may end up with other company before then."

Gilgamesh sat at the edge of his bed pondering life's many questions like why he was so tired when he slept for nine hours. Deciding that a shower would wake him up he washed himself and threw on some casual clothing for the meet. Pulling out his phone he sent a message to the group: Change of plans I'm just gonna head over to the park. For a moment Gilgamesh debating coming to the meeting as Khalid. The group knew each other well enough, but perhaps not that well. He took the subway to get closer to the park before finding an alleyway to form his mask and heading into the park to search for the alien ship.

By the time Gilgemesh arrives at Ax's ship, a small group of Saturday morning joggers and other onlookers has gathered nearby, peering at the alien vessel with interest.

Slowing mid air his aura receding as he does, Jaiden waves at Ax while focusing on landing without scorching the parks grass. Relief evident in his voice "Sweet! Thought I was going to be late." Taking another swig of his red bull he eagerly takes Ax up on the offer and pokes around the spaceship. Aliens weren't a new occurrence in the city, but even in the super circles it was rare to get an up close look. Smiling over at Ax he says "One of these days you're going to have to tell me more about your home. Or take the team on a field trip out there."

Kid Titan speeds up to the onlookers in full costume. "Thanks for stopping by, folks. We'd have parked downtown, but nobody has that kind of money," he says. With a wave, he moves toward the ship.

As Requiem mentions them going on a trip to see his home, he chuckles and brings a hand up to rub the back of his neck. "Might not be the best idea. It's real hot there. Like you need to be a mile under the ground for water not to boil, hot. Kinda why our bodies are so transmutable." He brings the same hand forward and makes his skin change into rock for emphasis.

The small crowd gathered outside Ax's ship cheers and waves as the approaching red blur jolts to a halt outside the vessel to reveal Kid Titan. A few fans come rushing towards him. "Can I get a selfie?" One girl asks excitedly, waving her phone in the air.

"Sure!" Kid Titan says with a grin, moving over into the crowd. He leans in next to the girl, two fingers raised in a peace sign.

As the cheers erupt outside, Ax lets out a chuckle and returns his hand to normal. "Sounds like one of our other friends have arrived." Changeling decides to walk down the boarding ramp to greet his teammate, giving a smile and wave to the crowd while the selfie is being taken. "Good to see you again Kid Titan. Come aboard when you are ready."

Gilgamesh strides out of the ship raising both hands in greetings to the crowd before giving Kid Titan a nod and turning to Ax. "Feels good to see a crowd on our side, even if they only have eyes for Titan."

"Hey Changeling! Gilgamesh!" Kid Titan says, waving to his two teammates. "Requiem already here too?"

The first girl happily thanks Kid Titan and disappears into the crowd with her phone, but he's quickly approached by three more fans who all want a picture of their own.

Gilgamesh approaches Kid Titan waving his hands to the fans on the way. He throws out some finger guns to some of the fans before finally responding to KT, "Yeah Req has been here, think we're all set save for Mirage."

"Alright, be right inside!" he says as the three other fans move in. He takes three more pictures, and then waves apologetically to the crowd. "Duty calls," he says, gesturing to the ship. "Have a good day, everyone." Then he turns and follows Gilgamesh and Changeling into the ship.

Once Gilgamesh and Kid Titan enter the ship, Changeling turns his smile to the crowd and calls out "All aboard who's coming aboard!" and gives a wave to the onlookers, enters the ship, and closes the boarding ramp. He then squeezes his way up to the pilot seat to have the ship do a slow vertical lift off, and then fly off away from the park. "So, what did we learn?"

Hearing the so far adoring crowd outside of the ship, Jaiden decides it's best to stay in the ship. He had made the mistake of going down Beric's Youtube rabbit hole, and the all to familiar guilt had been eating away at him since. His friends deserved a chance to shine without the Requiem baggage dragging them down. Putting on a smile as Kid Titan and Gilgamesh board the ship "Hey Gilgamesh." Tapping Kid Titan on the shoulder as he says "KT you are going to be more popular than the old man if you keep it up!"

"I guess it comes with the territory," Kid Titan says, shrugging sheepishly. "Besides, it only looks that way because the generation that was in love with him doesn't know how to use the internet." He sits down on one of the strange curving chairs in Changeling's ship. "So, apparently, Rook has employed and experimented on meta-humans before. And everyone's favorite petty thief, Centipede used to work there before she was Centipede. I think we need to find her."

Gilgamesh lounges on his seat listening to Kid's info, "Seems straightforward enough. I'll assume it won't be easy though, she in hiding?"

Kid Titan shrugs. "I dunno. She's wanted by HCPD, so she's not tweeting her location," he says. "Her MO is petty thievery. So who knows where she is."

Gilgamesh nods, "Makes sense. Could check the news for any super related thefts, see if she has a pattern?"

As Kid Titan shares what he learned, Ax tried to recall if he had heard about that particular villain before. If all she did was petty thievery, probably nothing noteworthy. After all, the threats this city sees on what seems to be a daily basis wouldn't leave much room for it in the local news. "Looking for a pattern would certainly be a good place to start. Must be some reason she doesn't try to go for bigger targets."

"Any targets for petty thievery in town? I don't suppose some gala is about to unveil their priceless jeweled necklace?" Kid Titan says.

Nodding at KT "Could see if the OG Titan has any dirt on her, or can hook us up with a lead on finding her."

Kid Titan frowns. "I could ask, but I'm not sure he'll have anything. Lemme text him." He pulls out his phone and quickly shoots off a text: U know anything about Centipede? "He's gotten pretty good with texts lately," he says. "Still tries to abbreviate things too much." Kid Titan rolls his eyes. (edited)

It takes quite a while for Titan to reply, but, when the message does arrive, it simply says: Y?

Finally," Kid Titan says as his phone chimes, then facepalms as he looks at the message. Bc she might know more about Rook Industries and we're curious

The next message arrives more quickly. Who told u that?

Kid Titan looks at his phone with a perplexed expression on his face, then shrugs. Mom did. She said Rook doesn't normally take prisoners like that.

Zola Teague wasn't a Rook prisoner, she was an intern. Since when is ur mom volunteering u intel? (edited)

That centipede's real name? We just want to talk to her about Rook. And...I dunno.

Titan sends a single "

", followed by: 4 sumbody who looks as unusual she does, she's surprisingly gd @ staying under the radar.

Hmm. Well, thx anyway Kid Titan shrugs. "Says he doesn't know anything. She's good at staying under the radar." (edited)

A few moments another text from Titan arrives. If u decide 2 go after her, b careful. I hear that Coldsnap's after her. (edited)

"Coldsnap's apparently after her," Kid Titan says. He scratches his head, displacing his brown hair. "Why is that name so familiar? Coldsnap..."

"Coldsnap? Pretty sure I read an article about her at some point." Gilgamesh leans back as far as the alien ship's seat would allow, "Hmmmm, either way we should probably get to Centipede before Coldsnap does."

Jaiden pulls out his phone and does a deep dive on google, while the other discuss their next moves. After sifting through far to many fan fictions, speculations and fake news he finally finds her story. Of how her team was gunned down by the Spider's organization. Of how she was the only survivor, and has been on a vendetta every since. Setting his phone down with a sad shake of his head Jaiden quietly says "We have to help her. She's lost her way, but who wouldn't after what's she's been through" He then tells the others what he found about Coldsnap's story.

Ax scratches the back of his head as these details come out. "For a petty thief, Centipede seems connected to a lot of things. Rook industries, possibly the death of Coldsnap's team. I wonder how deep this goes."

"I think Rook made her. Her abilities, I mean," Kid Titan says. "My m...I mean, my source...they said that she wasn't like that before she worked for them. She was an intern."

Looking up from his phone, realizing that he hit a dead end on his investigation, just as KT mentions his source. "I thought your source was the OG Titan? Did he mention how he knew she was after Centipede?"

A blinking light on the dashboard of Ax's ship accompanied by an insistent chime interrupts the conversation.

Ax's attention is grabbed by the sounds of a warning, and he turns to look at the dashboard. "Oh, seems something is going on. We should probably go check it out." He glances back at the team, Kid Titan in particular, to confirm this course of action. Though he already starts turning the ship to head in the direction of this distress.

Kid Titan nods and moves toward a seat to strap in. "Let's check it out."

Gilgamesh leans forward, stepping out of his contemplative stupor, "Think we're lucky enough for it to be Centipede?"

"I dunno if anyone's that lucky," Kid Titan says with a chuckle.

The alert seems to originate downtown, where there has been an explosion at Rook Tower.

"Then again," Kid Titan says, looking down at the alert's location on the ship's console, "I've been wrong before."

Downing the rest of his Redbull, Jaiden shrugs "Think we're owed a bit of good luck. Let's hope it carries us through the day."

"Alright, then full speed ahead!" Changeling declares and pushes the throttle, allowing the ship to accelerate to its full speed towards Rook Tower. For now, he at least stays high enough to try avoiding any buildings until they get closer. (edited)

Soaring over shimmering skyscrapers, Ax's ship makes for a column of smoke rising up between them. The source is a square tower of pale blue glass. A humanoid-shaped hole ten feet tall has been smashed in the glass several stories up. Alarm sirens blare and on the streets below crowds can be seen fleeing the building.

Spotting the hole in the windows of the building, Changeling slows the ship down to pull it in for a closer look. Unless there seemed to be some sort of culprit right inside this makeshift entrance, he'd get as close as he could and then turn the ship around 180 degrees in order to open the rear hatch so they could head right in. "Any special plans for taking this on? Whoever it is looks big based on that hole."

Jaiden ties his dreads into a pony tail as he heads to the back of the ship. He wasn't sure if he was sad or relieved not to see any ice around the hole. Coldsnap's story continued to ping around his head, what happened to her could push anyone off the righteous path. He needed to help her. Looking over to Ax "Whoever it is, is strong af." Shrugging he adds "Have a few of us play keep away with it, and protect the civilians. While the others snoop and look for clues?"

"Clues later," Kid Titan says. "We need to get these people to safety. If anyone sees...well, whatever made that..." He points at the hole. "...check in, and we'll group up on you." (edited)

Gilgamesh tails Jaiden as he heads to the back of the ship absentmindedly touching his mask along the way, "I call dibs on keep away but you're right Kid, civilians first. Especially since we're heading strait into Rook Tower."

A loud crash and a deep rumble reverberate from inside the building. It sounds like whatever did this is still inside and meeting resistance.

Ax swings the ship around toward the hole and Kid Titan leaps from the boarding ramp into the gaping wound in the side of the building. He rolls to his feet and looks around, opening his enhanced senses to hear any sounds of distress or fear from civilians that may still be in the building.

Gilgamesh joins Kid Titan, quickly creating hardened bone plates on his striking points as he falls. Feeling the tail end of the reverberations he looks deeper inside the building, attempting to divine its source, before addressing his teammates, "What are the chances it's greaseball again?"

Kid Titan and Gilgamesh find themselves in the ruins of what must once have been a large office space. On the far side of the room another hole has been smashed in the wall and out into the corridors of the building. Any civilians that were here appear to have long since fled, but Joe spots the unconscious forms of a pair of Rook office workers crumpled beneath nearby desks. The sound of weapons fire can be heard from deeper in the building.

Changeling will wait for everyone to exit the ship before flying into the breach himself and minimizing the ship for easy transport. With Gilgamesh's question, he shakes his head. "I doubt it, hole seems too big for that guy. Plus he'd probably crash out, not in."

Requiem's emerald energy field surrounds him as he leaps from the ship and gracefully descends through the hole. Looking around he adds "Yeah this is to torn up and messy for the Greasy Spoon, besides seemed like his powers only hurt the living. Whoever did this is a straight up bruiser." Nodding to KT and pointing at the officer workers, "Probably should get the desk off em. Whoever did this could get bring the whole place down."

Kid Titan races over, tossing the desk to the side. He listens, searching for the heartbeat sounds that would indicate they're alive -- and finds it. Slow. Steady. "They're safe here," he says. "Unless the building comes down. In which case, we've got more problems. Let's go. Follow the sounds of the gunfire." (edited)

As Joe heads out into the corridor, he comes into view of a metallic humanoid coloured in red and black. The creature is standing ready in front of an elevator shaft that has clearly been opened by force. On the ground lies another of its kind, riddled with melted holes and motionless. They are surrounded by the bloody forms of several black-clad Rook security troopers.

Jaiden's fiery aura springs up around him as the being comes into focus. His eyes burn with power, as he notices, the automaton that had been scrapped. A smile crosses his face, Robots were his favorite. No worry about holding back, no fear of accidently hurting or killing something. Just something big, dumb and about to be turned to ash. Gathering his bodies cosmic fire into the palm of his hand, he launches a massive blast of the silver green fire at the menace.

As Jaiden hurls cosmic flames at the robot, it raises its arm and unloads a stream of bullets at him in return. A glancing shot tears a line across the side of Black Requiem's upper arm, but the distraction leaves the automaton open to other attacks.

Kid Titan speeds up to the automaton and smashes his fist into its knee, trying to bring the creature to the ground and limit its movment.

The robot topples sideways onto the ground, grasping at Joe's ankle with metallic claws.

While Requiem and Kid Titan are engaging the robot, Changeling will fly in and instead focus his attention on the security troopers scattered on the ground. First taking the time to move them a reasonable distance from the action to avoid potential collateral damage, and then checking the severity of their injuries to the best of his ability.

The Rook forces appear to have fallen to bullet wounds of varying severity. Those not in mortal danger have been executed with a shot to the head.

Ax is momentarily shocked by the discovery that not only were the security forces here dead, but they had been executed. This wasn't a smash and grab, these robots were specifically trying to leave no survivors. But why? What could their goal possibly be? Just to send a message? "All gone. These bots mean business..." Since only one of the two was still functional, and both Kid Titan and Requiem were already engaged with it, Changeling decided that trying to wade into the fray would probably just result in him getting in the way. Instead, he tried to focus on figuring out what they were really after, so the team could properly respond after this immediate threat was dealt with.

Gilgamesh, slightly slower to react, follows both Requiem and Kid Titan to engage the robot. Seeing it on the ground he jumps high, attempting a falling axe kick to its head.

Gilgamesh's bone-plated heel comes smashing down on the robot's head, obliterating it in a ricocheting mess of sparks and gears. However, as he lands victorious upon the ground a shadow falls across him from the elevator shaft ahead. The dull roar of jet boots announces the arrival of two more of the robots flying up to handle the Sentinels. (edited)

Looking down the shaft Gilgamesh's confidence drains slightly, "Ah shit." He raises his hands, posturing himself defensively as he prepares to tangle with the oncoming robots. (edited)

The pain in his arm is quickly forgotten as he sees the swastika emblazoned on the robots. Made by those who would see him in chains, if not exterminated. His eyes burning increasingly brighter he reaches out with his cosmic might, his senses beginning to the lines of electricity powering the nazi robot on the right. Jaiden tended to use his power to create explosive cosmic blasts, burning and battering his foes. But fortunately his dad taught him a trick. Grasping hold of the lines of energy connecting the robot and it's power source, Jaiden twists the lines and pulls the energy into himself. (edited)

Kid Titan smashes his fist into one of the new robot's chests and spies the symbol emblazoned on its armor. "Nazis? It's 2021. You lost, move on, you racists morons."

As Jaiden reaches out with his cosmic senses to the energy driving the automatons, he realises that they are more mechanical than electrical, driven by intricate retrotech and a volatile chemical power source. He opens his mouth to shout a warning, but too late. Black Requiem's cosmic energies trigger a catastrophic chain reaction and the robot explodes in Kid Titan and Gilgamesh's faces. Fortunately, Jaiden's friends are tougher than he and Changeling, who are thrown into the wall by the force of the blast.

Seeing the blast arcing towards him Requiem instinctively gathers his his energies around him in a protective shield stopping the blast before it can reach him. As his body works to defend itself his mind panics, he thought he could control it. His father had drained machines effortlessly, easily taking down whole power grids when he needed. But the carnage just reinforced what he often feared, he just didn't measure up to Black Requiem. Shouting as the blast arcs out "Shit I'm sorry. Watch out!!"

The other robot is pelted by a hail of metallic shrapnel as its counterpart explodes. Almost simultaneously, Kid Titan throws a fist at its torso and the automaton twists to grab his arm, dragging its enemy close. Moments later, one of its jet boots short out, sending both plummeting down the empty elevator shaft.

Too irritated to even make an attempt at flying like his grandfather would, Kid Titan pulls himself closer to the robot and plants a knee in its chest. Casually, he leans into the glowing eyes of the robot and stares into them. "Is this an attempt at a Fourth Reich? Because it's pretty pitiful." He pulls the robots arms up, riding the robot all the way to the bottom of the shaft.

Joe hits the bottom of the elevator shaft with an echoing boom that reverberates all the way up the height of the tower. The robot simply stares at him, its eyes cold and unfeeling, until it is crushed and rent asunder between Kid Titan's knees and the concrete foundation. When he finally pushes himself back up from the ground there's a hemispherical depression and a long crack beneath him. It's dark down here, pitch black but for the meagre shine of two distant lights high above. Far overhead, a pair of small red lights look down on Joe from one of the basement levels. "You rise, only to fall," a tinny German accent croaks down at him. "Were you really threatening that drone? Does insulting a tool make you feel better about your own incompetence?" (edited)

Kid Titan glares up at the red eyes, his own thoughts already straying to how easily the real Titan would deal with this conversation. Without so much as a thought, he pushes off the ground and leaps up the shaft, further denting the concrete foundation of the shaft. Landing on the ledge across from the red eyes, he can see a bigger, badder version of the drones. "You're the tool," Kid Titan says, and leaps across the shaft with his fist swinging a hammer blow toward the new threat.

"How can you possibly hope to stop me?" The robot scoffs, stepping aside so that Kid Titan is sent tumbling into the room behind him. Looking up from the ground, Joe finds himself in the sterile, white surroundings of a Rook research lab. All around him are spindly looking drones that have dismantled a fixture that was holding some kind of sophisticated technological device. One hands it to their leader, who steps back up to the elevator shaft. "You're unbearably naive," it remarks, before jets roar to life on its feet and it takes off up the shaft. (edited)

Gilgamesh shakes off the the explosion as he sees Kid Titan jump down the elevators shaft. He gives a brief glance over to both of his teammates, before peering down the elevator shaft Kid fell down, "Nazi robots, really? Why the fuck is Rook getting hit by Nazi robots?" Hearing the crash of the of the two hitting the bottom of the shaft, he hesitates. Does Kid really need my help? That's pretty deep into Rook tower. We shouldn't even be here. Then he heard the roaring and saw the silhouette. His fear evaporated and was replaced by rushing adrenaline as he took a sprinters stance at the edge of the shaft and launched himself towards the incoming robot roaring his battle cry, "GILGAMESH INCOMING!" Slamming into the robot fists first he knocked the robot sideways sending them both slamming into the side of the shaft. As it reoriented its perspective Gilgamesh went to work, first destroying whatever object it was carrying. If it was holding something it was probably important, and if it was important he wanted it gone. Second, he maneuvered himself around the robot gripping through some makeshift handholds to better defend himself against any potential retaliation.

Changeling reacted too late to the explosion of the robot, unable to encase himself in stone or metal to resist the blast. Instead, he gets thrown into the nearby wall, slightly dazed. Thankfully, he was still tougher than the average human. But his inability to react left him a little in doubt of his abilities, and angered by the current situation. Murderous robots, slaughtering people who had already been taken out of the fight, and now they explode too? He pounds his fist on the floor and stands back up, ears still ringing. But he gets to his feet soon enough to see Gilgamesh dive into the elevator shaft and shout. He flew in after his teammate, just after the latter's attack on the other robot. He wasn't really one for hand to hand combat, he wasn't as physically powerful as his teammates, but right now he didn't care. Changeling encased his right hand in stone, and threw a haymaker punch right at this leader robot's head with teeth bared and animalistic eyes showing rage.

"NO," the robot bellows in fury as Gilgamesh smashes the device that it is carrying. Twisting to evade the incoming Changeling, the android then spirals around Ax, buffeting him aside as it rockets up higher and higher towards the roof. "You fools," it sneers, "you thought that you could take on Iron Flag? You are but a footnote in the history of our rise to power and glory."

Gilgamesh felt that seed of fear in the back of his mind vanish at the androids words, "Really? Iron Flag? That was your first choice?" He took a moment to tighten his grip as it accelerated, searching for an opportunity to turn the tables on the moving android.

Requiem lets go of the breath he unconsciously held as he sees Ax rocket away from the blast relatively unharmed. Jaiden uncertainty and self doubt begin to build within the young hero until he hears the Iron Flag shouting his crazy. Streams of greenish silver energy begin to build and flare around him as the doubt twists into fury. The nazi would've killed him, why shouldn't he burn it's robot down to ash, hell even the nazi himself shouldn't be treated with kid gloves. Launching himself into the elevator shaft Jaiden catches up with the Robot and yells "Enough with the bull shit! Footnote in history?! Big words for someone wearing a loser's mark." Unleashing a torrent of cosmic on the fleeing robot and positioning himself to be able to catch Gilgamash (not that he'd need it) if it blows.

Kid Titan moves back to the elevator and looks up at the rapidly disappearing nazi robot. A grimace comes over his face, and he speeds away to find a staircase. Great. Just great.

Zac

Kid Titan moves back to the elevator and looks up at the rapidly disappearing nazi robot. A grimace comes over his face, and he speeds away to find a staircase. Great. Just great.

As Kid Titan turns to leave the room, he finds himself surrounded by Iron Flag's minions converging on him from all sides of the lab.

Even better. Kid Titan closes on the robot separating him from the door to the lab. He thinks about some snappy quip, something funny, but the nazi's words reverberated in his ears. You're unbearably naive. He dashes in, ready to pick the robot up and fling it full-force at one of its comrades.

Tegan J Gaming

The cone of blue fire roaring from the bottom of one of Iron Flag's boots sputters and dies as Requiem's blast floods the jet, sending the robot careening into the side of the elevator shaft. It slams a metal hand into the wall and there's a screech of rending metal as Iron Flag grinds to a halt, seeking the next set of elevator doors. "Filthy rat," it spits at Requiem in fury, "you and your kind will perish, flattened beneath the march of a thousand boots! The inexorable march of progress!"

Zac

Kid Titan hurls the spindly robot aside with ease, but many more rush to fill the gap, grabbing at his limbs and pulling him down on all sides.

Growing more and more frustrated by the second, Kid Titan reaches out with super senses. First thing he sees is the pressurized storage bottles of a bunch of gases -- hydrogen, oxygen; as well as some liquid tanks too. Half a second from flinging the robots into the bottles, he hears something else: a heartbeat from one of the injured scientists. It's faint, but there. He sighs. Time to get creative. Instead of throwing the robots into the bottles, he throws them into each other, tangling their metal limbs and buying himself the sparse seconds he needs to escape. On his feet again, he looks around to see some sort of high-powered laser pointed vaguely in the robots' direction. He sprints for the laser, stopping to pick up an oxygen tank before getting there. The robots are almost free, one clambering to its racist robot feet. On switch, on switch, where is the on switch? What was it with super secret laboratories and not clearly labelling things? A big red button catches his eye and he mentally shrugs. Why not? "Hey, do me a favor? Hold this," he says to the lead robot, tossing the oxygen tank to the robot. The machine catches the tank, and looks down at it, then back up at Kid Titan. "Auf wiedersehen, assholes," Kid Titan says with gritted teeth, and smashes his fist on the big red button. The laser ignites, piercing into the side of the oxygen tank, which promptly explodes. The explosion ignites the other canisters, and the entire lab goes up in a roar of fire. When the smoke clears, Kid Titan is on the ground, pressing his body over the still-living scientist. His skin is covered in black soot, and his suit is burnt and torn in several places. He looks down at the scientist, and can still hear the heartbeat thudding in their chest. "Sorry buddy," he says, looking up at the ruins of the nazi robots near the door. "Alright. Let's get you out of here."

With the scientist over his shoulder, Kid Titan heads out of the lab and to the nearest fire escape. After zipping up a few flights of stairs, he emerges into the building's lobby. Only to run into a team of black armour Rook Industries security forces armed with the same energy rifles that he saw at the park when they took custody of Mister Blight. Standing behind them once again is Rosa Rook. "Stand down," she quickly tells operatives when she sees Kit Titan. "Were you in the lab?" She demands. "Who do you have there?"

"One of your scientists," he says, waving over a team of paramedics and setting the person down on a stretcher. He looks at Rook. "Any idea why you have a Nazi problem?"

"It's classified," Rosa remarks, her comment immediately followed by dust falling from the ceiling as Requiem's cosmic blast shakes the building. "Do they not need your help?"

"Yeah," he says, shooting a glare at Rook. He knew she was right. He had leaped down that elevator and left his team behind. His face reddens with guilt and anger. "Don't worry, the Sentinels will clean up your mess. And then we'll make sure that every shady aspect of your organization is exposed." He looks back at the building. "Get your people out of the building, Rook. And keep them out. We have no idea what these Nazis are doing here...unless you'd care to share?" He gives her a dark look.

"Stealing our technology, it would seem," Rosa replies, as though it were the most obvious thing in the work. "All of which is proprietary, so I'm afraid that to make it public would be highly illegal. I'm sure that my lawyers would be more than happy to explain that to you at length," she adds with a sickly sweet smile as she waves her employees out of the lobby.

Changeling was beyond frustrated at this point. His anger had already driven him to attack recklessly, and then he was just brushed off, not even treated like a threat. He was about to turn around and try to keep up the assault when Requiem managed to interject and cause a hit on the robot, making its flight shut down. He then paused, wondering if he should keep trying to attack or if he would just get in the way of Requiem and Gilgamesh. That strain of doubt made him decide that he should focus on his strong points, instead of trying to be a bruiser. He'd try to support the team instead. "I hope this works, don't freak out." He then reaches out with his mind like he was used to, but instead of just trying to talk to one person, he tried to reach out and connect to all of his teammates at the same time. Hoping that it could help them coordinate better and faster, all without needing to clue the enemy into what they were doing.

Kid Titan rolls his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, sure," he says. "Send me a subpoena. My address is 123 'get some perspective, lady' road." With that, he speeds back into the building, searching for a stairwell and wishing about eight times a second that he could fly like his grandfather. (edited)

As Kid Titan heads up the stairs he feels Changeling's mind touch his and all of the other Sentinels', connecting their thoughts.

"Freak out? This is weird, man," Kid Titan thinks as he rushes up the stairs. "What happened to the big guy?" (edited)

Trying to hide his discomfort, as the blur of of voices other than his own join his head. Hoping to diminish the rage boiling within as he thinks "Glad your ok KT. We got the Nazi on the ropes, took out the bigot's jets. Now we just have to lay a beating on the tincan" Punctuating the thought as hurls another burst of cosmic energy at the Robot's hand clutching the wall, hoping to send it crashing down the shaft.

Requiem's blast sends Iron Flag tumbling down the elevator shaft towards him with a shower of concrete. However, as the robot falls it seizes Jaiden in its unyielding grasp, dragging him down with it as they plummet to their doom. "I don't even have a stomach and you sicken me," it mocks and then the red light in its eyes flickers and dims to a dull yellow. (edited)

Kid Titan bursts out of the stairwell just in time to see Requiem get dragged down into the elevator shaft. "Not again," he says, and hurls himself down after his friend and the Nazi. Falling down the elevator shaft once again, he wraps his arms around Requiem and uses the moment to swing his right foot into the robot's wrist. (edited)

Requiem slips from the robot's grip as Kid Titan sends the steel behemoth careening into the wall of the elevator shaft. It bounces from one side to the other a few more times, before hitting the bottom with an almighty crash and a sizeable cloud of dust.

Fear and self doubt grips Requiem as the Nazi latches on to his leg and begins dragging him down. If he couldn't handle a tin can made by an old racist, is he really cut out for this. As these thoughts race through his brain, Kid titan launches back into the battle and breaks the Robot's grip. With a nod of thanks to KT, Jaiden draws upon his cosmic energy and holds a hand out to GIlgamesh. Jaiden knew that neither would be hurt by the fall, but KT could make it back before they realized he was gone.

Kid Titan lands with his knee planted in the center of Iron Flag's metal chest. "So, here we are again," he says.

The robot's torso crumples inwards with a horrible screech of rending metal as its chassis is crushed, sending gears and cogs springing out in all directions. The pale yellow light in its eyes flickers and goes out.

Gilgamesh held tight to Iron Flag as the robot twisted mid combat with both Requiem and Kid Titan. As Iron Flag began to fall Gilgamesh panicked, less of a concern for the damage the fall would do and more to the fact that he would have to find a way to climb back up the elevator shaft. Upon seeing Requiem's gracious hand he takes it and watched both Kid Titan and Iron Flag fall down the elevator shaft.

Kid Titan tears his knee free, bringing with it the front armor plate of the robot. He tears it free, tosses it to the ground, and thinks about what Requiem would say right now. Something quippy, for sure. He shrugs, and moves to speed back toward the stairs, before stopping and thinking for a moment. Through their mental link, he says, "Changeling, where's your ship? We should keep this guy. Maybe figure out where he came from."

Changeling waited with bated breath as Kid Titan tossed the robot down and then landed onto it from stories high. But as the dust settled, his breath released in relief that it was over. His teammate's thoughts reached Ax as he sped off, and so he responded while pulling the miniaturized ship from a pocket. "I have it, didn't want to leave it out in the open when we didn't know what we were getting into. We could meet at the roof, the hole we came in, or out front if you want to store it."

Kid Titan grimaces as he remember's Rosa Rook's presence outside the building. "Out front is a no go. Let's do the roof. But make sure that the building's clear as you make your way up." (edited)

"You got it." Was the response as Changeling considered how best to make sure there were no further robots on higher levels. Going room by room would be the most thorough, but would also take a lot of time. He decided to look to Earth's animals for inspiration, since he enjoyed learning about them and watching them at the zoo. What creatures can spot things without necessarily needing to see them? Several animals use scent or sound to find prey, that could work. The alien decided that sound was the best option, what with the clunky metallic robots and that they seem to favor gunfire, not exactly a silent enemy. So Changeling undergoes some, well, changes. His ears begin to morph, moving towards the top of his head and becoming long and wide, mimicking the appearance of a bat. He then flies up the elevator shaft, briefly entering each floor long enough to listen for any signs of the current threat or people in danger on his way up to find roof access.

As Ax flutters up the elevator shaft, he senses numerous robots on the move within the building. They all seem to be headed up to gather at the top.

"Seems like we are going to have company on the roof." Changeling states to his teammates through the mental connection. "Still several robots, sounds like they are heading up too." This certainly wasn't good. Why were they all trying to gather on the roof? Was that how they were planning to leave?

Requiem gathers his energy, "We can't let them get away! " Gathering his aura around him before blasting towards the roof. (edited)

Requiem and Gilgamesh soar up the elevator shaft towards the roof of the building. Near the top, swarms of drones can be seen on each side clambering up and out.

With the knowledge that the attacking machines are also heading to the roof, Ax decides he needs to get up there as fast as possible. Of course the shortest route would be through the windows and then straight up, since he and his ship can fly. Sure, if someone sees him crash through a window it would probably end up on the news, but what's a window really when it comes to stopping genocidal robots? Plus, Rook got on his nerves. So the alien dashed right towards the nearest window, braced his arms in front of his body, and turned to stone to crash right through it. Following that, he'll return his body to normal, revert his ship to full size, and use it to race to the top.

Changeling crashes through the window sending shards of glass raining down on the pavement below. Before he even has a chance to fall, the Shifter enlarges in front of him and Ax tumbles onto the ramp. Moments later the shining silver ship soars into the sky. Up on the roof, he can see the robots clambering on top of each other and combining, forming the shape of one giant robot.

"Oh would you look at that. They can combine into a bigger psychotic robot." Ax sends over their shared link when he arrives to the roof and sees what's happening. For a moment, he wished his ship actually had weapons and he could just blast them before they finished preparing. He could probably come up with a solution with time, but he really didn't want to just let these things combine and be at full power. "I'm going to try and slow down this process, but I need you guys to hurry up here." With that, he'll take the certainly reckless course of action and try to ram his ship right into the stacking robots to try and knock them away from each other, possibly even sending a few off the sides of the building.

The Shifter crashes full force into the steadily growing robot, sending it staggering backwards until it topples onto its back. Drones go flying in all directions like little metallic ants as large sections of the construct shatter and fall apart.

Hearing Ax's call Requiem blasts up the elevator shaft, his left arm extended in front him, glowing as he gathers a tremendous globe of cosmic energy. Nearing the end he let's the globe loose hurling it at the roof angling to create an exit for himself & Gilgamesh and bring the roof down if possible.

Requiem's scintillating sphere splashes viciously across the ceiling, clinging to the surface with a sizzling sound like acid. Everywhere that the energy touches the metals it eats holes through it. Some drips to fall down the shaft, while the rest begins to rapidly spread on all sides, eating away at the metal of the walls around the steadily growing hole to the roof.

Kid Titan smashes open the rooftop door, his eyes looking around for his team. He sees the Shifter beginning to pull up from smashing into the drones, where they had apparently tried to Voltron themselves together. Feeling the telepathic link still open, he thinks, "Changeling, head for the edge. Got a delivery for you to catch." He sprints and leaps for the ship, dragging the dead form of Iron Flag behind him. (edited)

"Hearing" the call from Kid Titan, Changeling will move the ship back closer to the edge and open up the boarding ramp of the ship, putting it in position for easy entry. "Okay, ready to take the package!" His reckless attack with the ship seemed to slow the mass of robots down, but definitely didn't stop it. How were these things being controlled? The now disabled robot that was being loaded into the ship seemed to have some sort of personality, but the others didn't really seem that way. Maybe that was the next question that needed answering to solve this issue.

The pile of drones is like a seething mass of robot limbs clambering one over the other as they begin to fuse once more. Kid Titan leaps aboard the Shifter and a distorted, yet familiar voice booms out from amidst the swarm. The sound is that of many voices speaking as one. "You fools. You thought that you could destroy the Iron Flag? I am legion."

"You're annoying, is what you are," Kid Titan says as he leaps toward the robot amalgamation. He smashes into it, throwing drones aside as he fights to get inside the massive structure in order to rip it apart from the inside. (edited)

Bursting through the hole in the roof Requiem sees KT leaping into the mass of sentinels gathering his energy he surrounds KT in a thin fiery green energy field that clings to his skin. The field is comfortable to Kid Titan but burns any of the nazi robots that come into contact

Bolstered by Requiem's viridian aura, Kid Titan is impervious to the drones as he smashes his way inside, sundering their connections to one another and sending many hurtling over the edge of the building. However, the unstable energy from Requiem's previous blast is still rapidly eating away at the roof and soon there will be little left to stand on. Finally, Kid Titan forces his way to the centre of the mass, where he finds something unexpected - a black and white chequered rocket. The bottom ignites and launches into the air, scattering drones in all directions as it takes to the sky. Joe comes away with slightly scorched eyebrows, but is otherwise unaffected by the blast.

Kid Titan lunges back, teetering on the edge of falling down to the building's basement levels again. "Get after him, Changeling!" he thinks toward the Shifter.

With the voice now seeming to come from the swarm of drones, Ax was starting to turn his attention to the disabled model on the ship. That is, until the sounds of rockets firing reached his ears and the command reached his mind. "Got it, I'll see what I can do!" He turns his attention back to the controls of his ship again and launches towards the rocket that was taking off. First he'd need to try and identify it. Was it a warhead? Did it seem to be for carrying cargo?

As Ax closes on the rocket, panels retract on its sides revealing machine guns that pop up to rattle off a hail of gunfire in the Shifter's direction. High caliber bullets tear through the ship's hull, making sparks fly inside the cockpit. The Shifter shakes, the engines whine and it begins to steadily lose thrust, while Iron Flag's rocket disappears into the distance.

Requiem drops Gilgamesh on the roof and blasts off after the rocket. Thinking at Ax "can you sense any life forms aboard the rocket? I've got a plan but I can't risk it if there's a shriveled old nazi onboard." Adding to himself though it may leak through the psychic bond "Even if he deserves it."

Ax strains to focus his telepathic powers on the rocket, but such a distance and with the Shifter still under fire, it's all that he can do to to keep from crashing into a nearby skyscraper. The cone of fire from the rocket's engine swells and soon the antiquated looking projectile is far out of even Requiem's reach.

Changeling is surprised to say the least when guns pop out of the rocket and start firing at him, tearing through his ship. "Oh no no no!" He shouts as the ship slows and becomes harder to control. As he struggles with the controls, he gets the message from Requiem to try and check for life. He reaches out with his senses, with the end result as described above. Unable to feel anything before having to focus his attention back on controlling the ship. Or at least, he didn't feel anything in the form of thoughts. Reaching out with his mind felt a little different this time, almost like he was actually reaching out physically. He'd have to explore that later, but now wasn't the time. He set the ship down on top of a building, and turned his attention to the disabled robot on his ship. "These things communicate somehow. I'm going to see if I can tap into that." He'll then go to the mechanical corpse, and start messing with its head to try and find how it sends and receives signals. Maybe he could use it to turn the other robots off or something.

The robot's head appears to contain a multitude of cameras, speakers, microphones and other sensory devices. However, Ax finds an unexpectedly sophisticated piece of technology inside the robot's torso; a phase shifting crystal capable of housing analog A.I.. It's hooked up to a broadband radio transmitter and receiver, the frequencies of which are absolutely saturated with complex signals that most devices would only be able to interpret as noise.

As much as he hated to admit it, Changeling did find himself a little impressed by how these robots were a seamless union of old and new tech. But once that brief awe was over, he focused on putting a stop to them. Since each robot seemed to simultaneously both receive and send data and house this AI, he figured messing with the frequencies could scramble the data and mess up this connection they shared. For (hopefully) maximum effect, he also tried to hook the radio into his ship to give it extra power, especially since the bot itself was disabled.

Even as the roof crumbles away beneath them, the drones on top of the Rook tower continue to hurl themselves at Kid Titan and Gilgamesh from all sides, with no concern for their own safety. However, as soon as Changeling's signal hits the air waves their limbs go slack and one by one they begin to keel over.

Gilgamesh looks around at the robots going slack, "I don't know what you did Changeling but it definitely worked. Shame the big one got away." He gives a nod to KT and searches for a path of escape from the mass of robots now covering the crumbling roof. (edited)

Gilgamesh slides down through the hole in the roof onto the building's top floor, landing with a thump and a puff of dust.

Kid Titan hits the floor with a thud a few moments later. "Rook's not gonna be happy about this little redecorating choice," he says.

As the message from Gilgamesh reaches him, Ax lets out a sigh of relief. One less problem at least, though stopping the rocket too would have been preferable... He can only hope that the rocket boasting such strong defenses meant it wasn't a warhead of some kind, and instead was an escape vessel. Taking a moment to disconnect the machine from his ship, Changeling would then lift it back off to go and pick up the team. "My ship took quite a beating... Might need to spend some time patching up holes after this. Should we stick around for the news?"

Gilgamesh grunts slightly at the impact of his fall and chuckles at Kid Titan, "Honestly I think it looks better this way." Hearing Ax's message he turns to Kid and speaks aloud, "I'd say it's your call bro. Feel like sticking around?"

Nah," Kid Titan says, looking at the crumbling roof with a faint trace of amusement. A swirl of emotions still tore at him. He wanted nothing more than to get out of here. "Let 'em sort it out for themselves."

Seeing that Ax's ship won't ready for a quick exit, Requiem gathers his energy around him and slowly lifts off from the building. Asking "Anyone need a lift?" as he goes.

"I think we're good," Kid Titan says, glancing sideways at Gil and then tilting his head toward the next block over, where another building stands a few stories shorter than the Rook building. Without waiting for a response, he leaps the gap and lands in a tumbling roll on the next roof, springing to his feet and moving toward the next building in line.

Gilgamesh waits for Kid to jump then takes a few steps back for a running start and follows, staying just a few seconds behind his team member with each jump. Hearing Requiem's offer mid jump he responds, "Me and KT found another way out. We should regroup somewhere close."

A brilliant bolt of gold streaks across the sky towards Rook tower, coming to a halt in the air above the surrounding skyscrapers. At this distance it can be seen that the source of the golden light is a woman - Captain Starlight. She's enveloped in a shimmering aura and her eyes blaze. "Sentinels!" She calls out to the team as they regroup. "Which way did it go?"

Changeling was bringing his ship towards the rest of the team when the other hero arrived on the scene. He was more focused on trying to keep it stable than anything else, but he still tried to shout the important details. "North. Big rocket. Has powerful machine guns."

Captain Starlight nods in acknowledgement and streaks off like a comet heading north. Soon enough, Kit Titan, Gilgamesh and Requiem have gathered in the Shifter with Changeling while he works on his repairs.

Kid Titan, Gilgamesh and Requiem are lounging on top of the skyscraper while Changeling works, when Joe's phone begins to buzz in his pocket.

Kid Titan pulls his phone free, and checks the caller ID.

It appears to be Joe's grandpa who is calling him.

Grimacing, he taps answer and pulls the phone to his ear. "Hey," he says, trying to sound casual.

"Hey sport, are you at Rook tower right now?"

"Not...exactly," he says.

"Right, well your friend sure is, because there's about half a dozen news cameras on his spaceship right now, while Rosa Rook tells the press that her pet super has everything under control."

"Her pet super?" Kid Titan says, incredulous. He moves over and punches the button to open the door. "We handled everything." His eyes search around for this pet super of Rook's.

Kid TItan's super senses quickly locate Rosa Rook stood outside Rook tower holding a press conference. Besides her stands a young middle-eastern looking woman with an undercut and dressed in mirrored armour. "Wave, Joe, you're on TV," Titan remarks dryly.

Kid Titan looks up at this to find the helicopter circling the building that must be holding the camera on him. He waves with a smile, then heads back into the ship. "I don't know who that is, but she didn't help us at all," he says into the phone. (edited)

"Well, that won't matter as long as Rook controls the narrative," Titan notes. "Now, am I going senile, or did Starlight say that Iron Flag was here?"

"Yeah, Iron Flag was here," he says. "We beat him, but he seems to be able to transfer his mind into his drones. Then he took off in a rocket. He was there to steal something...but Gil pretty well smashed it." He frowns down at the press conference. "I need to talk with the team. See what we want to do about this."

Ax was doing his best not to pry into Kid Titan's thoughts during the conversation on the phone, though even with hearing just one half of the conversation the alien figured he was getting frustrated. "Should we head down and make a statement after all?"

"I think we should," Kid Titan says, his anger at Rook reddening his face. "She can't just waltz in and take the credit for everything we did."

Zac

"Try to find out what it was," Titan tells Joe. "Rook's not going to tell you, but you're smart. Figure it out. I haven't seen Iron Flag come out of hiding in years and it may look big and dumb, but there's an evil intelligence behind it. It was here for a reason and it can't be anything good."

Jaiden still smarting from the Nazi's taunts, is easily riled up by the thought of Rook stealing their credit yet again. His eyes blazing with the emerald cosmic energy he says "That's right! Let's let give them a dose a truth."

Gilgamesh, with his adrenaline still pumping, watches the press conference live. "I'm down, but we gotta play this right." He pauses as he finally notices the woman next to Rook, "Anyone know who's standing next to Rosa?"

Ax lets out a growling yell of frustration as some rather unsettling sounds come from the ship in response to his rushed repairs, a trail of smoke coming from the engines. "Don't think I'm going to be able to give everyone a ride in this thing. May need to get down a different way."

Gathering his energy around him Requiem takes to the skies. Seeing Gilgmesh below he forms a shinning disc beneath the warrior that helps lift and bring him down to the reporters. Even with his head still burning with anger, he decides to slowly descend allowing Kid Titan to greet the press first.

Kid Titan speeds down the side of the building, doing his best to stay on the spaces between windows, as not to shatter them. He speeds straight across the street and stops on the podium from which Rosa Rook currently stands giving her speech. "Is it a hobby of yours, taking credit for things you didn't do?" Inwardly he cringes at the brashness of his question. It was very...un-Titan-like, if anything else. (edited)

"Kid Titan," Rosa greets Joe, turning to look at him with a sickly sweet smile. "So glad that you and your friends could drop by. Would you care to comment on how the collateral damage that your team dealt to the Rook building, compromised our holding facilities and released dangerous super villains into Halcyon City?"

Kid Titan's stomach knots, guilt washing over him. But no, he thinks. That's not our fault. It was Iron Flag. "What supervillains?" Kid Titan says, looking around. "The only one I saw was Iron Flag, breaking into your building. We stopped him. We saved as many of your people as we could, all while you were giving us the run-around. If you had helped us, maybe we could have saved more, and stopped Iron Flag from escaping." He trails off, looking thoughtful. "We broke the thing he was trying to escape with. Mind letting us know what it was?"

"Oh, Arcknife, Mister Blight and Solace, to name but a few," Rook explains with feigned sincerity. "I'm afraid that the details of ongoing Rook Industries research and development is both classified and proprietary. However, tell me Kid Titan, what do the Sentinels plan to do to combat these new threats on our streets? I'm sure that viewers at home are keen to hear how you intend to keep them safe?" (edited)

Gilgamesh stands behind Kid Titan arms crossed watching Rosa Rook, but occasionally sneaking glances towards the hero at her side. "The Sentinels will do what we do best, and what we were doing to one of the very villains that escaped your confinements just recently. You avoided Kid Titan's point Ms. Rook, if we had worked together against the threat assailing you I'm sure you would have had a much better chance protecting your assets."

"What exactly is it that you do best?" Rook counters. "You almost killed Mister Blight in Liberty Park and today you destroyed half of Rook Tower in the name of saving it. Perhaps we should work together. If you were to sign a contract agreeing to work with Rook Industries, you'd receive state-of-the-art training and equipment, just like Facet here," she adds gesturing to the glistening masked woman besides her. This statement immediately provokes a flurry of questions from the gathered press. "Gilgamesh, do you intend to take Rosa Rook up on her offer to share resources?"

"The Sentinels are guardians, we protect the people of Halycon City from enhanced threats. We had Mister Blight under control, until you arrived and manipulated the press and us into thinking you could do a better job of handling it. Which clearly was not the case." Gilgamesh's raises his voice to be heard among the questioning reporters, "The Sentinels will not fall under corporate jurisdiction. And while I cannot speak for the team, I know that I would be willing to participate in a joint effort with Rook to recapture any escaped supervillains." (edited)

"Mister Blight and the other incarcerated metahumans were entirely under control until your team damaged the holding facilities," Rook tells Gilgamesh with a smile, "but Facet will be happy to coordinate with you when it comes to apprehending them."

"We'll be more than happy to work with you, Facet," Kid Titan says, addressing the hero standing next to Rook directly.

"Pleased to meet you too, Titan," Facet tells Joe with a smile that sparkles and glistens like her costume, reaching across the front of Rook to shake his hand.

"Just Kid Titan for now," Kid Titan says with a grin, extending his own hand. (edited)

The cameras flash, forever chronicling the Sentinels' agreement to cooperate with Rook Industries on the recapture of the escaped inmates. With the debate concluded, the press begin to disperse and the heroes are once more left to their own devices.

Eight Hours Later "You're running around for Rosa Rook now?" Sarah's voice is incensed as she yells down the phone at her son. Joe paces back and forth as they talk, while Gilgamesh holds a bulk head in place for Ax's work on the Shifter. "Even if I thought that that was a good idea, which I don't, you're supposed to be focussing on school. On college. Going out with the Sentinels on weekends is one thing, but you're not going to be able to keep pace if Rook has you pounding the pavement every night."

"We're not working for Rook!" Joe nearly shouts into the phone. "We agreed to work with Facet. Not Rook. She can order me around all she wants, I'm not listening to her!"

"Oh, so this is about the girl," Sarah quips back. "Get real, Joe. I'm sure that she's very pretty with her edgy undercut and dark lipstick, but she still works for Rook. Working with her is just another way of saying that you're working with Rook and neither are worth tanking your grades right now."

Joe blushes, despite himself. He hadn't actually thought about Facet like that, but she was pretty. But no, no. That wasn't what had happened. "Wait, no," he says, stammering like an idiot. "It's not that! It's just...!" He trails off, hanging his head. "It won't cut into my school work."

Sarah sighs and lets the silence fill the line for a moment before answering. "Trial it for a week. Show me next Saturday how you did and we'll take it one step at a time. Sound fair?"

Joe lets his head fall back, staring at the ceiling of the Shifter. "Okay, fine," he says reluctantly. "Sounds fair." He looks at Gil holding the bulkhead in place, and sighs. "I gotta go, mom. Love you," he says.

"Love you too, Joe. Stay safe." Sarah replies quietly, before hanging up the phone.

He pockets his phone and looks at Gil and Ax with a grimace on his face. "Boy, am I in trouble." He leans against the wall and slowly falls down to the deck. "My mom is mad because she thinks I signed us up to work for Rook."

Gilgamesh shrugs the bulkhead up to establish a better grip before carefully angling it into position, he grimaces under his featureless bone white mask as Kid Titan relays his troubles, "I'm sorry bro, that's my bad. I kicked off that negotiation and offer, didn't even bother asking the team." He pauses briefly as he ensures the bulkhead is properly in place, "But either way we aren't really working for Rook. We're just doing what we usually do, keeping the city safe."

"That's what I said!" Kid Titan says. "But, noooooo." His voice takes on higher tones in a mocking imitation of his mother. "You're gonna get yourself hurt. This will interfere with your schoolwork. Isn't college more important to you?" He slouches lower. "She doesn't know what it's like," he says, the mocking tone gone from his voice. "She has no idea what it's like to do this stuff!"

"Once we're done with this whole business, she'll see that we're right." Gilgamesh sinks the bulkhead into place, sliding it into the strange mechanical grooves of Ax's ship. He steps away to ensure he didn't make a mistake and takes a seat nearby, "Now we just have to figure out how we're going to manage working with Facet. Anyone got any intel on her?"

Gil was right, and Kid Titan knew it. But he didn't know anything about Facet. Aside from that she was pretty. He almost opened his mouth to say exactly that, then shut it, his cheeks flushing red. "No idea," he says. "Anyone?"

Ax was trying to keep as much of his focus as possible on the repairs, not wanting to mess up like he did when he was rushing it earlier. But he still kept an ear out for his teammates. "Don't know anything myself. But, even though Rook is a bit more sketchy, I'd be surprised if no one ever recorded her in the field and put the video online."

"Good point," Kid Titan says, pulling up YouTube on his phone. In the search bar, he enters Facet superhero and hits enter.

Looking at Gilgamesh a bitter anger in his voice "Nah you made the right play man. Rook was ready to burn us down and you know how the press likes to dump on us. I'd rather give Rook some good PR & have her friendly, than have to listen to a news cycle of her & Beric ripping us apart"

Joe soon finds a variety of videos, some clearer than others, showing Facet using her mirror armour and powers of light manipulation in street level fights.

Kid Titan grunts. "She's good," he says. "Check it out." He turns the phone around for others to see.

Ax does spare the time to look over and watch the videos when Kid Titan shows them to the group. "Definitely gives the impression that she does this for work, not out of a sense of duty or anything like that. Comes in, gets the job done, gets out. No detours or distractions."

"Not big on talking," Kid Titan says. Bummer. The thought spins through his head unprompted. He shakes his head, annoyed with himself.

Leaning over Titan's shoulder, watching Facet fight a few street level mooks. His ego still bruised from Iron Flag's insults, he takes on a sarcastic tone "Probably not paid to talk, Rook wouldn't want her hero for hire bringing in bad PR."

Kid Titan shrugs. "Well, we're working with her now, thanks to my...stupid...whatever," he says. "But that doesn't mean I trust Rook. I don't. Not even close."

His voice losing some of it's venom he pats Titan on the shoulder "It was the best call we had man, Rook's hands down better than us at the PR game. Better to play ball than, let them just dump on us. Hopefully Mirage's a bit easier to deal with." Pausing for a moment he looks to the rest of the team "Any of you hear what happened with Captain Starlight? I'm hoping that she blew that Nazi's tin can out of the sky."

"I hope she did," Kid Titan grumbles. "If could fly, I coulda done it myself."

"I'll check, hopefully she cleaned up our leftovers," Gilgamesh pulls out his phone, searching for any recent news about Captain Starlight.

Greshbolt [Khalid]

"I'll check, hopefully she cleaned up our leftovers," Gilgamesh pulls out his phone, searching for any recent news about Captain Starlight.

Recent YouTube uploads feature a number of clips of Captain Starlight streaking north through the Halcyon city skies in pursuit of Iron Flag's rocket. However, it seems that she lost it amidst the smog over the industrial park on the city's limits.

With the news that Captain Starlight wasn't able to catch the rocket, Ax tosses the tools he was using to repair the Shifter to the floor with a loud clang. "Damn it! I should have stopped it. If only I was a better pilot and avoided the gunfire. Or if the Shifter had better armor. I was right there!" He presses his hands to his forehead and takes a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He knew even the adults had trouble with Iron Flag, but he still had that voice inside him. He was so close, if only he were just a little bit better then they would have been caught.

Kid Titan shakes his head. "Not your fault, Ax," he says. "Well, not only. I should have been able to catch him too. He shouldn't have gotten away in the first place." He sighs, slumping back to the deck of the Shifter. "It's not your fault. Don't beat yourself up."

Ax looks over to Joe as he starts to reassure him, and looks to the floor as his words start to sink in. "But I could've..." He balls his fists as he begins to protest, but lets out a sigh and unclenches his hands soon after. "You're right, I know. Things won't go perfectly every time, and even Captain Starlight couldn't keep up with him." He was still angry at himself, Rook, and Iron Flag. But rather than continue to blame himself, he'd have to just try and help fix it. "So who are we going after first?"

Jaiden still bitter about the Nazi escaping adds "No clue. But we should get a meet set with Facet. Anything goes wrong Rook's gonna try and pin it on us, best to have their hero for hire's hands dirty too.

Jaiden gets out his phone and dials the contact number that the Sentinels were given by Rosa Rook. "Facet," the voice on the other end of the line identifies itself upon picking up, her tone all business. (edited)

Trying to push past the anger still simmering from the Nazi's taunts, Requiem tries to adopt a friendly tone "Hey Facet, this is Requiem & the Sentinels. We're ready to put some work in and start rounding up the villains. Wanted to meet up with you, and get a plan going. We're fixing up Ax's ship now if you want to meet us here?"

"I'm-" THWACK "-a little busy-" KSSH "-right now." Facet replies, between sounds of action from her end of the line. Where's 'here'? Let me finish up and I'll meet you in an hour or so."

Embarrassment builds as Jaiden looks around and realizing that they had gone back to the park "We're uh at Central Park. We ah like to stay visible in case anything goes down you know?" Shaking his head and for once wishing that they still had access to Mirage's creepy hideout.

SCHRAKK "Okay," KRRAKAKK "the weird alien ship in Liberty Park in an hour?" KABOOM "See you then!" Facet tells Jaiden cheerfully and then the call ends.

Kid Titan pats the wall of the ship. "She didn't mean it, don't worry." He pauses, looking at Changeling. "I was never clear on whether the ship could hear us talking or not." (edited)

Changeling lets out a sigh of relief as he can finally see the end of repairs in sight. With Facet saying she would be seeing them in about an hour, he felt comfortable in the idea he could finish before she arrived. Though he would need to replenish the power source at the first opportunity. With Kid Titan's comments to the ship, and then to him, he let out a laugh. "Only about as much as a car can hear you." He turns to the group and holds up his right wrist, showing a couple buttons and a dial. "The ship can only be piloted from the inside, but I can control the size changing function from the outside."

Changeling enlarges the Shifter again shortly before Facet is due to arrive, drawing onlookers from around the park. "Hey! Alright. Yep. Coming through!" The glistening heroine remarks to the civilians as she sidles between them, making her way to the ship. "You never hear of having a secret lair?" She quips up the ramp when she reaches the bottom. (edited)

Kid Titan shrugs from the top of the ramp. "You ever hear of saying excuse me?" he asks, regretting it the moment he says it out loud. "Anyway, we've got some work to do." He beckons her to come up the ramp.

"We had a place, but it's unavailable for now. Don't exactly have a big budget for another." Changeling adds, starting up the ship so they could take off once Facet comes aboard. "Besides, being mobile means we are always ready. Well, when on the job anyways."

"Rook could help with that," Facet notes, "if you need a 'Sentinels Tower' or somewhere to land her... or just don't feel like making your repairs in the park anymore..." she quips as she struts up the ramp.

Requiem shrugs and adds "People know where to find us, and we don't have anyone pulling our strings. Rather be a bit scruffy than have a boss" (edited)

Changeling waits to respond, gathering his thoughts. Thankfully Requiem filled the silence and covered the initial thoughts he almost blurted out. With a deep breath, he presses the button to raise the ramp as she gets to the top and has the ship take off before finally responding. "The offer is appreciated, but Requiem is right. Working together is great, but being in debt to or under the control of a corporation is not our desire."

"A benefactor has its perks," Facet remarks with a shrug, but drops the matter wandering over to one of the ship's windows. "Where are we going?" She asks, leaning lazily against the bulkhead.

"We were hoping you could shed some light on that," Kid Titan says. "Nobody from Rook has briefed us on the missing metas."

"Oh, of course, you don't have access to murder," Facet explains, laughing and shaking her head as though that explains everything.

Kid Titan gives Facet a flat look. "Uh, what?"

"M-R-D-R, Rook's methodical regular data reference system," Facet clarifies, with a cute head-tilt, before swiping a finger across her bracer. The gesture projects a series of holographic dossiers into the air between the gathered Sentinels. "Walter Dokes - aka Mister Blight - you know," she begins, strolling over to the first mugshot. "Rook's interrogators were able to determine that Dokes originates from a world where Halcyon City has become an ecumenopolis. When that future was threatened, he came back in time through a quantum instability to 'correct' the timeline. His location is currently unknown." The next image shows a woman with green, seaweed-like hair and a body made of water. "Aquaria Panthalassa is a sea elemental who previously threatened employees in the Halcyon City industrial sector. We expect to find her in or around the docks." The third image that of a Japanese teenager with dyed red hair. "Keiji Himura - aka Nano - is the son of Satoshi Himura - aka The Human Tank. Satoshi was one of the first heroes to wear a high tech suit of armour and Keiji is determined to prove his superiority to his father. Nano is likely to be looking for a way to reassemble his armour, at which point he'll likely either perform some public stunt, go after his father, or both." The final mugshot shows a woman with many blue draconic heads snaking out from behind her. "Julia Tong - aka The Blue Hydra - is a brilliant scientist who was infected by the hydra parasite. She will do anything to acquire the resources that she needs to remove it, so those would be our best lead. The trouble is that nobody else knows how to remove it." (edited)

Kid Titan rolls his eyes at the name of Rook's reference system. Whoever set up this company reads too many comic books. "Sounds like Panthalassa might be our easiest lead to follow right now," he says.

"Mister Blight? Guess it rolls off the tongue better than Greasy Decayer." The alien quips, before becoming a bit more subdued and solemn. "I saw what his time looked like. When I touched his mind... I wonder if I might be able to reestablish that connection, get clues about where he is." He paused for a moment, considering if that were even possible. "I've never done something like that over a significant distance. Good chance it won't work. Water lady sounds like a more concrete lead."

Gilgamesh watches in poorly concealed awe as Facet shows off her tech. "Does that thing do all your legwork for you?"

"If I want it to," Facet quips back Gilgamesh, flashing him a wink. "You want to cruise on over to the docks and we'll set a trap then?" She asks Ax.

When the question was asked of him, if that's the direction they should take, Changeling turns his attention towards Kid Titan for the moment. He mostly took the role of their leader, after all. "I know it was sort of your idea, but what do you think?"

Kid Titan shrugs. "Seems like the best place to start. We need to get these people off the streets before something bad happens."

The alien nods and turns his attention back to the helm. "Fasten your seat belts everyone, time to go see the sea." With that, the ship starts to rocket towards the docks.

Facet leans into the Shifter's window, watching as the sleek alien ship approaches the waterfront. "There," she calls to the Sentinels, pointing to a large construction project down below. "Aquaria is a fanatical ecowarrior, I'd put good money on that as her next target."

Upon hearing the reasoning for the spot they should investigate, Ax lets out a chuckle and asks a question rhetorically. "What are the odds we can convince her to help fight Blight?" It certainly seemed like the goals of the two would be at odds. He then steers the ship towards that area, looking for a good place to set it down. (edited)

Facet glances over at Ax and arches an eyebrow. "Not a bad idea, if you can track him down," she comments. "Maybe draw him to the water somehow?"

Changeling sets the ship down in a clear spot and spins in his chair to face everyone else. "Well, as I mentioned before, I could try and see if I can reopen the mental connection I made with him during our first encounter. I saw memories of the time he comes from back then. Maybe I can see clues about where he is now. If the connection is stable enough, maybe even taunt him." He wasn't thrilled about the idea of trying to dive into that man's mind again, after all the first time was rather frightening. But if it helped with putting a stop to him, then he'd certainly try.

"Yes! Do it!" Facet tells Changeling with enthusiasm.

Ax takes a deep breath and closes his eyes, focusing on his telepathy powers. He brings up his memories from the first encounter with Blight, remembering the feeling of the connection forming and the images that were implanted in his mind as a result. Changeling frowns at the memory, but then tries to recapture that feeling, reaching out to try and reform that connection over the distance.

Kid Titan grimaces as Changeling begins to reach out to Blight's mind. He didn't know anything about how telepathy works, but it seemed dangerous...wrong, somehow. Maybe because Facet was so into the idea. Mentally, he shrugs, and then heads for the boarding ramp. "We need to clear the area of civilians before Blight takes the bait." He looks to Requiem and Gilgamesh. "Gil, stay here." He gives him a significant glance, slightly nodding his head to Facet. "Requiem, you're with me. Let's warn the civilians." (edited)

A flash of uncertainty crosses Requiem's face. It was their best play but he Greasy Ds mind probably wasn't any better than the rest of him. Putting his game face on he nods too KT and gently places a hand on Ax's shoulder and quietly says "You got this bro.". Before turning and following KT out of the ship.

Gilgamesh makes to move until Kid Titan gives the order. He nods once to his leader and gives a brief glance towards Facet before settling back down. "Just don't have all the fun without me."

Changeling's vision swims and blurs, his surroundings blending with and replaced by those of another - hopefully Mister Blight. He sees a serving counter and cheap metal tables. Cups of coffee and plates loaded with bacon and eggs. The stench of lard weighs heavy on his nose. Outside, Kid Titan and Requiem find a construction crew working on a new pier. The efforts appear to be in full swing and a man who looks like he might be a foreman starts to approach the pair. "What d'you lads want then?" He demands, unimpressed. (edited)

"You've got to get these people out of here," Kid Titan says. "There's gonna be trouble. Supervillain trouble."

As Changeling gets some sort of view of what he hopes is the location of their other target, he speaks aloud to describe it. "Seems like some sort of diner. Cheap breakfast place maybe." He can tell he won't be able to keep hold of this connection long, so he gets to the second part of the plan, provoking Blight into coming to them. He does this by trying to send an image to Mr. Blight, rather than any sort of words. He sends an image of the docks from the aerial viewpoint he had moments ago, but with one significant change. All of the construction and concrete was overgrown and green, as if it had been reclaimed by nature.

A wave of laughter washes over the construction site. "Where d'you think we bloody work? Kansas? This is Halycon fucking city, mate. If we dropped our tools and ran every time there was superhero trouble, we'd never get anything done!"

Kid Titan shakes his head. "This place is about to be hit by two super villains. You need to leave. Just...just work with me here and please leave?" The statement ends as a question, unintentionally as his voice cracks a bit in his exasperation. (edited)

"Hey, ain't you that Titan's kid?" One of the workers calls over in a thick Jersey accent.

"I'm Kid Titan," he says, feeling the weight of both "kid" and "Titan" all at once.

"So do your job," the foreman tells Joe with a shrug. "They show up, you punch 'em. That's why you're here, right?" Meanwhile, back on the Shifter Ax can feel the grinding of Mister Blight's teeth and sense the tension in his fist as the image is received. However, the connection fades before the Venusian can learn any more.

Kid Titan throws up his hands in exasperation. Adults. He looks at Requiem. "Let's get back to the Shifter."

Ax opens his eyes and lets out a sigh of exasperation as the connection is lost. He was glad he could do it, but it was much shorter than he would have liked. But that's what happens when you try something you've never done before. "Well, I definitely got his attention. He might be making his way here."

Turning for a moment to follow KT, Requiem spins on his heels his glowing eyes meeting the construction workers. Bad enough that he had to take shit from a Nazi, now old construction workers were giving him grief when all he wanted to do was help them. His tone quick & angry he says "We don't have time to take on the bad guy and baby sit you. Just clear out before you get yourselves hurt!" (edited)

"Real superhero you are," the foreman scoffs. "Wait..." one the other worker begins, scrunching his brow as though his brain is working unusually hard. "Isn't that Black Requiem?" "Don't be a dumbass, Black Requiem wasn't no kid. Plus, he went nuts and died." "Who's this kid then?" "Didn't Black Requiem have a kid?" "No way..." Murmurs begin to spring up all around the construction site.

Disbelief turns to anger at the foreman's insult and the mention of his father. His fist grip and eyes burn brighter as the rest of the workers pile on. He had taken the name Requiem to honor the man his father was, and redeem it what became. The name his father choose, not the title that was pushed upon him after his fall. His eyes roving between the jeering construction workers, his voice choked with anger "My father.. we're..I'm ...just trying to ... help you! Why.... won't you listen!" For a moment he thinks why he even bothers protecting them. Fools like this deserved whatever came their way. Tears begin to form in his eyes & shame clouds his mind the second that thought passes. Before they can reply Requiem's fiery green energy field surrounds him and he blasts off into the sky.

Kid Titan glares at the foreman and his crew, then speeds off back to the Shifter.

Facet glances over her shoulder as Kit Titan appears in a blur. "Changeling says that he managed to get a bead on Mister Blight. Sounded like he dropped a lure or something."

Changeling nods his head as Facet gets Kid Titan apprised of the situation. "I was able to see his surroundings, though that information wasn't super helpful. I sent an image to his mind, these docks reclaimed by nature, which I assume is Aquaria's final goal. It made him real mad." A small grin comes to his face, deriving some amount of satisfaction from frustrating the villain. "Don't know how close he actually is. We probably need to get busy."

Kid Titan looks around. "Wait, did Requiem not...?" He speeds outside the ship, looking up the sky, searching for a green dot in the sky. He pulls out his phone and quickly pulls out Jaiden's number. "Jaiden, where are you? We need you back here."

Floating in the center of his fiery aura, Jaiden's breath continues to huff out in short quick bursts. His mind reeling with a mixture of regret, embarrassment, rage but more than anything fear. The thought that the construction workers deserved any harm that came their way continued to intrude into his mind. Along with the image of his father's eyes burning with power and madness as he said "The fools deserved it". Last thing he said to Jaiden before the end. Shaken from his thoughts by his phone's vibrations, Jaiden takes a deep breath and pulls his phone from his pocket. Seeing it's Joe embarrassment overtaking his thoughts he answers and says "Hey KT, I'm in the air. I'm heading back to position, but I'll be the eye in the sky for now." Pausing he adds "Sorry for all that man, I don't know how you can always keep cool with the shit people try on us."

Kid Titan's own hopelessness gnaws at his insides. But he wells up his own courage and says, "In a different way, I get it. You're worried about being your father. I'm worried about not being my grandfather. I'm terrified of it. Worried I'll never measure up. I can't even fly, and I should be able to. The human part of me might have stunted my abilities." By the end of his talk, his voice is going so fast that it breaks. He takes a deep breath. "Yeah. I kinda understand. But we need you here, regardless of what those guys think. Glad you're coming back." (edited)

Jaiden's voice grateful "Thanks man. Don't worry even if you can't fly, you'll not only live up to Titan. Once you're ready you'll be even greater than the old geezer" Saying the last bit with a friendly tone and small chuckle. His voice growing serious yet hesitant he adds "If...If I ever do become like my father. I...I need you to promise to take me out. I don't ever want to be him, to be capable of hurting so many people without remorse." Pausing for a moment he tries to put some false cheer into his voice "But that'll never happen! We should be getting focused right?!"

"Yeah, it's not gonna come to that, don't worry," Kid Titan says. "You're right, let's get focused up."

Joe hangs up the phone and looks up to see Facet watching him. She's leant against the Shifter's bulkhead with a crooked smirk on her face.

"What do you want?" Kid Titan says, glaring up at her to cover the color coming to his cheeks.

Facet arches a perfectly preened eyebrow. "Mister Blight is on his way; what's the plan? Where do you want everybody? Do you have a plan?"

"Uh..." Kid Titan begins, stumbling over his words. "Uh...yeah, I have a plan." He walks around into the Shifter. "Requiem, Gilgamesh, you watch the city side. As soon as you see Mr. Blight, light him up. Changeling, take the Shifter and watch the water. Give us a signal if you see Aquaria first, if not, come help deal with Blight, but keep an eye on the water." He looks back at Facet. "You run distractions on whoever shows up first. Blind them or something, then help us take 'em down. I'll cover the middle ground, make sure we don't have any surprises. Agreed?" Kid Titan waits with baited breath, at once not caring if Facet thought the plan was adequate and unfortunately aware of how little of a plan it actually was. (edited)

"Whatever you say, Titan," Facet purrs in reply, stalking off down the Shifter's ramp with the same smirk sat upon her face.

"That's not--" he begins, but rather than continue the argument, he just throws his hands up and shakes his head. (edited)

"I'll keep a link open with you. So that way I can tell you if I spot her, and you can tell me if you need me to assist." The alien says after being told his role in the upcoming fight. He really hoped they didn't have to have the group split to fight two different villains, and did still wonder if they'd be able to get the two to fight each other, if both were present at the same time. "Remember, last time we fought Blight he had a real tough time dealing with relentless attacks and combinations."

Gilgamesh watches Facet leave before approaching Kid Titan, "You know she's messing with you right? I don't know why, but she's definitely getting a reaction out of you." He pauses to look down the ramp just to make sure Facet was out of earshot, "Maybe... maybe she's into you? You're Kid Titan after all. Either way that's none of my business, I assume Requiem is already in position. I'll need to catch up if that's the case."

Kid Titan lets out a long breath. "I don't know," he says, fidgeting and shifting his weight back and forth. "She just gets on my nerves. She's supposed to be a hero, but she's in so deep with Rook...and now we're stuck working together because of my dumb mistake."

While Gilgamesh, Kid Titan and Changeling stand talking inside the Shifter, the clamour of people shouting and running slowly grows outside. From his position high above in the sky, Requiem can see the water steadily rising and flooding over the construction site. Perhaps now is not the time to allow oneself to be distracted by a pretty girl.

"Get to your positions," Kid Titan calls out.

Changeling nods and gets ready to have the ship take off again. "Does the plan change since fish lady showed up first?" They obviously still needed someone on the lookout for Blight, but he figured things may have to shift around now. Regardless, once those who weren't going over to the water side were off the ship, he'd use it to hastily travel to the scene.

Requiem stays high in the sky watching the water rising, as he fumbles for his cell phone. Once again wishing that they had sprung for hands free communicators, but sadly no one on the Sentinels had superhuman wealth. Shooting off a quick text saying "movement by the water, be ready for anything". He then watches and waits for the villains to make their move

A cyclone of water erupts from the surface of the bay, propelling Aquaria's translucent blue form into the air and raining down salt water across the docks. Seaweed hair blows in the wind as she stares down at the polluted construction site, eyes glowing blue in righteous fury. Her legs seem to dissolve in to the top of the whirling pillar of water and her arms are raise on either side of her. "Is that all you've got?" Facet baits the elemental, bursting onto the scene in a brilliant flash. Her visage shimmers and suddenly there are 20 of her all across the seafront. Aquaria lets out an angry growl and begins to hurl spikes of ice at the mirror images, which shimmer and disappear when hit.

While Facet has Aquaria distracted, Kid Titan darts through her duplicates as a red and white blur. He had heard a story about his grandfather flying around a tornado so fast that it unspooled itself, and he was hoping the same concept would apply here. The base of the cyclone becomes a blur as he runs in the opposite direction of its turning. It begins to unravel, and Aquaria begins to waver as her cyclone slows down. But Kid Titan can hear his heart pounding in his ears and his breath comes shorter and shorter. "I can't keep this up forever!" he shouts.

As the Shifter rockets into position in the sky, Ax has to consider what actions should take priority. Should he focus on Aquaria while they have her isolated? Should he try and make sure any civilians get out of harm's way? Or should he keep an eye out for the other villain they are expecting to arrive? He decided that with Kid Titan currently occupied trying with Aquaria, he was probably the most suited to rescuing anyone that got caught up in the fight. But first, he'd try for the plan that he had posed to the others, getting Aquaria and the imminent Blight to fight each other. So he'd direct his telepathy towards the angry whirling water elemental, hoping that her body wasn't so unusual that his mental abilities would not work, and spoke directly into her mind. "There's another villain on his way here, Mr. Blight. I think his goals and yours are directly opposed. This is the future he wants." With that said, Changeling sends the images that he saw the first time he connected with Blight to her.

Aquaria gradually allows the cyclone of water to dissipate, drifting down with it to alight on the waterfront. "You!" She declares loudly, pointing up at the Shifter hovering in the sky. "If you would speak, then face me." However, as soon as the opportunity presents itself, Facet dashes in to take advantage of this moment of vulnerability, firing a searing ray of burning light towards Aquaria.

Kid Titan watches the burning ray of light blast toward Aquaria in slow motion. In that moment, frustration overcomes the guilt that he had been fostering for getting the team into this situation. Frustration burns through the annoying attraction he had felt toward Facet. What kind of hero blasts someone who's just trying to talk? Someone that's not a hero. Facet's blast turns into a ball of refracting light about halfway between her and Aquaria. Eventually it fades, revealing Kid Titan standing in between them, a black trail of smoke rising from his chest. "She wants to talk," he says, internally marveling at how steady...and Titan-like...his voice was. "We're going to listen."

At first Facet's face seems set in a grimace, her jaw set and teeth gritted, eyes concealed behind her reflective visor. A moment later she regains her composure, skidding to a halt where she props herself up against the girder of a crane. Her lips resume their familiar knowing smirk. "Ok, Titan," she quips back at Joe. "You're the boss." The next to speak is Aquaria. "Where is this 'Mister Blight'?" She demands of her defender, her voice polytonal like the depths of the ocean topped with sea foam and tidal spray. (edited)

Gilgamesh dashes to the docks at Requiem's warning, vaulting over fences and crates to finally arrive to the sight of Aquaria engaging in dialogue with the team. Quickly gauging Facet's reaction to the situation, he then turns to watch for any indication of Mister Blight arriving to hopefully give his team an early warning.

Changeling brings his ship down to land after being called out to by Aquaria, rather surprised by Facet's sudden attack when she had been supportive of his idea to try and pit the two villains against each other. Was it his fault for only speaking through telepathy and not aloud towards Aquaria? Either way, he was glad that Kid Titan was able to respond fast enough to keep the negotiations going, so when the alien exited the ship he gave an appreciative nod to his teammate. "I believe Mr. Blight is on his way here now. He was one of the people locked up at Rook, got out around the same time as you. Apparently he's from the future, or at least the one I showed you. He wants to make sure that's our future. Figured you'd disagree."

Right on cue, a pulsing purple orb of energy lands amidst the gathered sentinels, emitting a low droning noise as it sucks up lifeforce from anyone nearby. "Foolish children," Mister Blight can be heard to decry from atop a container on the far side of the construction site. "The march of progress is inexorable!" Aquaria lets out a delicate cry of suffering, staggering to the side as her seaweed-like hair wilts and shrivels. (edited)

Kid Titan speeds away, feeling his strength wane from Mr. Blight's attack. But with a flying leap, he lands a punch that momentarily knocks the wind out of Mr. Blight. "Hey buddy," Kid Titan says. "Do the words 'climate' and 'change' mean anything to you?" (edited)

Changeling finds himself feeling rather drained for a moment as the orb of decay saps at his strength when Mr. Blight makes his appearance. "Well... I believe the phrase is 'speak of the devil'? Ugh." He shakes his head and then hovers into the air himself, seeing some of his teammates have already swiftly started going for the newcomer. For now, he'll just try to keep up the assault and keep the villain on his toes, going for a mental attack to avoid getting in the way of his teammates by way of "mind blast" trying to throw off Mr. Blight's focus and concentration.

Watching the orb sap the strength of his teammates, Gilgamesh scours the horizon for his target. The blur that is Kid Titan finds the mark first, but Gilgamesh follows taking advantage of the reeling blow dealt by KT. Hanging from the edge of the container he pulls Mr. Blight down by one ankle, taking him to the ground and pinning him, "Second verse, same as the first Greaseball. Hope you're comfy." He looks back towards the rest of the group quickly shouting as he maintains his hold on Mr. Blight, "Let him have it. I'll hold him down."

Changeling reaches out towards Mister Blight's mind with his powers and then a tidal wave of water crashes over the construction site and down on top of Gilgamesh and KT, interrupting the connection. The huge volume of water lifts the two heroes and Mister Blight up and they float almost weightlessly, knowing that any minute they'll plunge back down onto the concrete below.

Requiem blasts forward, his fiery aura enveloping him as he flies to his friends aid. Seeing the wave lift KT & Gilgamesh, the latter still grappling Greasy. KT will be fine but this fall could kill Mr. Blight. Grabbing a hold of Gilgamesh he tries to slow the pairs fall enough to incapacitate Greasy but leave him alive.

Gilgamesh lands on one knee with a crunch that leaves a dent in the fresh concrete, but Aquaria's wave extinguishes Requiem's flames, leaving only a flicker as he spirals out of control towards Changeling.

The failure of his attack certainly sets Changeling back for a moment, especially with it being interrupted by what he can only guess is an attack from Aquaria that also swept up his teammates. It was certainly a reminder that just because they were fighting the same foe now, did not exactly mean they were friends. He sees Requiem move in to help Gilgamesh and by extension prevent Blight from being killed, and as he was about to see if he could do the same for Kid Titan, he sees Requiem lose control and headed in his direction. This seemed as good a time as any to test out a power he had felt come to him back at the Rook building, and reached out with his mind like he had many other times. But this time, rather than trying to connect to another mind, he tried to do something in the physical world. He used telekinesis to try and grab the spiraling Requiem, hoping to right him in midair so he can get his control back. Barring that, at least slow him enough so he'd be able to physically catch his teammate without hitting the ground himself.

For a moment, the summer breeze that carries across the waterfront grows strangely cold on Changeling's lips. A split second later, a flash of frost crackles across Aquaria's receding waters, locking KT, Gilgamesh and Mister Blight in place! Surfing the frozen curve of the wave at impressive speed, a heavy set latino girl in a white tracksuit flashes past the Sentinels towards Aquaria out on the water. Meanwhile, Requiem tumbles through the air, slowed, but not stopped by the telekinetic pull. He hits the ice with a thump before skidding to a halt.

Kid Titan struggles against the ice. He tries to push against it with all his might, but the ice is bonded so close to his skin that he can barely move. Frustration wars with guilt and anger in his mind as Requiem hits the ground. He can feel his heart pounding in his ears, heat rising to his face. His eyes sting. Am I crying? he thinks to himself, but the sting develops into a burning sensation. Within the ice, his eyes glow red. The ice begins to melt, and then explodes as his eyes blast forth twin burning rays of fire. It burns like staring into the sun. He closes and covers his eyes, free of the ice, but momentarily disoriented.

"THAT'S COLDSNAP! GET HER!" Facet's voice barely registers for Joe as he staggers free from the ice that had held him moments before. Searing rays of burning light arc across the water, filling the air with flashes that dazzle and blind, then Aquaria moves out into the bay with Coldsnap in tow.

Gilgamesh feels his grip on Mister Blight begin to weaken, only to look down and find that purple tendrils have bled onto his arm from the man's skin. "Not so strong without your friends, are you?" He taunts, glancing around at KT clutching his eyes and Requiem sprawled across the ice.

Shocked by the sudden change of temperature Gilgamesh watches, frozen, as Requiem falls to the ice and KT tears through the glacier with his laser vision. He begins to struggle to break free from his frozen bonds, all the while ignoring the tendrils emanating by Mr. Blight, "Dammit. GET UP REQUIEM."

Smashing to the ground with what should have been a bone shattering crash, Requiem rolls across the ice momentarily losing consciousness. His fiery cosmic aura the only thing preventing serious injury. Hearing Gilgamesh's voice breaks through the blurriness and Requiem unsteadily stands to his feet. For a moment indecision grips him as he sees Coldsnap, they were quickly losing control of the situation. Between Coldsnap, Greasy & Aquaria the team was quickly being overwhelmed. Seeing tendrils begin to wrap around Gilgamesh Requiem makes his choice. Gathering his aura into his fist, he blasts forward and tries to put Blight down for the count.

Ax wasn't exactly used to the cold, even the normal daytime temperatures of Earth felt chilly to him if he was using his regular form. So when the chill air and ice were created in his vicinity, it was easily enough to break his concentration on the attempts to slow Reqiuem down. As fast as Coldsnap showed up to the scene though, she started chasing Aquaria out into the water. "I promise I didn't invite that one." This certainly created a dilemma. Facet wanted Coldsnap now, and was chasing those two. Mr. Blight was still here, and now attacking Gilgamesh after KT got himself free from the ice. Changeling hesitates, as Facet was going to have more trouble fighting against two combatants compared to the four of them against Blight, but the severe cold could just make him useless again. Seeing Requiem get back up and immediately jump back into the fray snapped him out of his indecisive hesitation and call out to the team. "I'm going to take the Shifter and head after the other two. Take him down!" He flies into his ship and rockets off, following the trail of ice over the bay, and takes a moment to watch what is going on. They'd been informed Coldsnap was trying to find Centipede, but here she was focused on Aquaria, and Facet was ready to drop everything to take her down instead. Seemed like there was more to the story. Regardless, he tried to look for a vulnerability or opening from his place in the sky.

Requiem comes barrelling across the icy water front towards Mister Blight and, for a brief moment, Jaiden sees fear in the man's eyes. Then Requiem's cosmically powered fist connects, sending Blight and Gilgamesh tumbling apart across the concrete. Mister Blight seems to be out for the count and the sounds of cameras over Jaiden's shoulder alert him to a gathering crowd watching the fight from behind him. Out on the bay, Changeling sends the Shifter shooting after Coldsnap, who appears to have formed an immense ball of ice around her and Aquaria. The alabaster orb is steadily descending below the waves. Down on the water's surface, Facet skates along after the Shifter on rails of hard light, only to yell angrily in frustration when she sees that Coldsnap appears to be getting away.

Seeing the very large ball of ice slowly sinking, and wondering which of the two super powered combatants was causing that unusual occurrence, Changeling paused. He hadn't really tried bringing the Shifter underwater before, and with it being low on energy already, he didn't want to risk it. So any further pursuit would have to be through the power of his shape-shifting. He spoke into his telepathic with Kid Titan for direction. "Aquaria and Coldsnap are going under water. Should I keep up the chase?" The idea of chasing after potentially two hostiles by himself in an environment where they have an advantage was not appealing to him in the slightest, but this plan to try and capture two villains at once was his idea. He didn't want to fail. (edited)

Kid Titan turns back to look at the Shifter where it hung over the water. "Stay with them, but don't get yourself killed," he thinks back. "I'll be there in a second." He drags the beaten form of Mr. Blight over to a vertical support beam and sits him there, then runs over to grab a steel girder, which he wraps tightly around the villain and the beam. "You stay right there. Get comfy," he says. With that, he turns and speeds off across the water toward the sinking ball of ice.

By now, the orb has sunk well and truly below the waves and the layer of frost on the surface is rapidly melting.

Ax nods to himself as he gets the answer from KT, and preps himself to exit the Shifter. "Pursue but don't engage alone, got it." He sends back and then flies out of the ship, making it smaller for him to pocket away. Then he flies down towards the surface of the water, about a dozen meters away from the currently melting frost, while picturing what aquatic earth animals he's seen. Fish, sharks, rays, all have gills in common with very little variation on how they work. As he pictures this, gills start sprouting on his own neck, and his skin changes to a blue hue in order to blend in slightly better under the surface. With that, he'll follow the orb below the waves, but keeping his distance.

Deep beneath the surface of the bay, Ax can make out where the orb has sunk to the bottom and is now moving steadily along the bed and away from the docks. (edited)

Seeing this happen, Ax will continue to send updates to Kid Titan as he follows, but keeps what he believes to be a safe distance. "They are going along the bottom of the bay like a hamster in a ball. Not sure which of them is controlling it. Quite strange, I thought frozen water floated. Maybe I need to brush up on my Earth studies."

The ball of ice keeps rolling until it is roughly a mile offshore, before turning north to continue up the coast.

Changeling keeps in contact with the team while he tails the large ice ball, checking in. "Starting to head north now. Everything going okay back there? Should I keep after it?"

Back on the docks, Facet has skimmed back across the water to Kid Titan. "Can Changeling keep up? Where are they going?" She demands imperiously, clearly still frustrated at having lost the pair.

"He can," Kid Titan says. "Call your Rook friends, have them come pick up Mr. Blight. Then we'll go after them."

Facet stalks off and begins talking rapidly into the computer on her wrist. Several minutes later a black van pulls up outside the construction site and rook security pile out training laser rifles on Mister Blight. The construction crew looks on with expressions ranging from anger to interest to irritation. "Could you 'untie' him?" Facet asks Joe, her usual smirk back on her face. The corporate-sponsored heroine appears to have calmed down a little while waiting for her clean-up crew to arrive.

Kid Titan grabs the beam and bends it back straight, the metal now crumpled and unnaturally wrinkled. "Ax," he thinks through the telepathic bond. "What's going on?"

Ax was glad to get a response, since it at least meant that Blight hadn't somehow managed to entirely reverse the situation and take the rest of the team out. With the question he received from Kid Titan, he tries to think of how to respond without just repeating what he had previously said. "Coldsnap and Aquaria are in some opaque ball of ice. It's rolling along the bottom of the sea, but I can't tell which of them is controlling it. It's moved off the coast by... Roughly a mile? But is now headed north. Not going particularly fast so far."

The rook forces cuff and black bag Mister Blight, before shoving him into their van. Once they've taken off, the Sentinels still on the dock are left with a crowd of ungrateful construction workers staring at them as they set about trying to clear up the site.

Grimacing at the scene, Kid Titan looks to Requiem and Gilgamesh. "We need to catch up to Coldsnap and Aquaria," he says. Requiem can fly, but Gilgamesh didn't have a great way to keep up. Sighing, he looks at Gil. "Do I need to give you a piggy-back ride?"

Gilgamesh nods, smirking behind the mask, "I'll try to be as light as a feather this time."

Requiem forces a smile as he looks at the crowd construction workers, trying to stifle the intrusive thought that keeps battering it's way into his head. Looking over to KT he nods and says "Got it, I'll let you guys know if I see anything from the sky". Leaping into the air with one last look at the crowd he can't help by think "Why do we even bother", as his aura envelopes him and he blasts away

Kid Titan speeds away along the waterfront, with Gilgamesh on his back. It was a strain, certainly, but it wasn't that bad. "Closing in on your position, Ax," he thinks through the alien's telepathy.

While the rest of the team has been busy with Facet and Rook, Ax has continued to tail the huge ice ball, which by now has arced back around towards Halcyon city and is entering a large outlet pipe, belonging to the city's water and sanitation network.

"It looks like we are about to enter what people usually call 'the sewers'. I suppose that would make some sense for a villain who controls water and is all about the effects of pollution." He is a little grossed out about the idea of swimming through these tunnels, and decides to start flying above the water as soon as there is enough space inside these pipes. "I'm not sure how best to pinpoint my location once we start going through the labyrinth of tunnels. Obviously couldn't bring a phone with GPS through the bay. Any ideas?"

"We'll find you," Kid Titan says. "Just keep following!"

Ax pursues Coldsnap and Aquaria until he enters a large cistern. Too late, he realises that the pair have been waiting for him here. Water lining the walls rushes in to fill the exits and cover Ax's feet, before being frozen solid. For a tense moment, the pair watch their alien captive, then Coldsnap speaks. "Another one of Rook's little minions," she remarks smugly as she circles the Changeling.

It seems that concentrating on trying to communicate long distance was enough of a distraction for Ax to not notice the ambush set by the two supers as the ball of ice had momentarily left his view. The water rushing around the room and up to his floating feet gave him enough time to send the word "Ambush" through the mental connection with those of his team before the freezing cold was all he could think about. The entire chamber becoming a walk-in freezer was bad enough, but the lower part of his legs being trapped in the ice was even worse. His body shivered hard, and he tried to pull his legs free, but didn't seem to be having any luck while they simply watched him. When Coldsnap starts speaking to him, Changeling does his best to keep a confident expression, even though he really is feeling isolated and cornered. He speaks through chattering teeth from the cold, which does not help keep up that confident image he was hoping for. "W-we don't work FOR them. Though I t-thought you were a h-hero. Seems we b-both assumed wrong. Why this l-little tag team?" Hopefully he could keep them talking, buy some time. Maybe he could get used to the cold enough to do something, or maybe his team could arrive in time.

"The vans of Rook tech cleaning up after you tell a different story," Coldsnap scoffs. "Aquaria and I, on the other hand, are both fighting for the greater good. Face it, Changeling. You sold out."

"T-they blamed the breakout on us, to the press... So we are playing nice. T-that's all." Changeling tries to defend himself from her accusation, but quickly diverts away from that line of dialogue. The initial shock of the ambush was fading, but the cold still made it nearly impossible to concentrate. "Didn't take you for t-the eco warrior type, Coldsnap. Or is your g-greater good just getting rid of R-rook? The fake fight was a nice touch, must admit." His mind raced as he tried to think of his options, and watched the pair cautiously. They had only bound his legs, but his susceptibility to the cold had left him more or less defenseless regardless. But would they have known that? Without that knowledge, it seemed like a lot of confidence, though it was two against one regardless. He just had to buy time, and try to figure out what they were planning. What was going on behind the mask?

Ax's question draws a smile from Coldsnap that has a manic edge to it. "Do you not see the greater good in that? How can you call yourself a hero and not see her for what she really is?"

"They are definitely s-shady..." He takes a deep and shaking breath, trying again to calm the shivers and teeth chattering. He's marginally successful, able to speak without stuttering at least. "To the public, they are helpful though... So help me understand. Why do you want to destroy them? They had Aquaria imprisoned, so I get that being personal for her. But why do you hate them?" He had no idea what this prolonged exposure to cold would do to his body, but at least the initial shock to his mind was clearing. How could he warm himself up? He could probably grow fur or something, but that would be pretty obvious with these two watching him.

"She had her pet, Centipede, murder my friends!" Coldsnap yells, clenching her fists in anger. The sound reverberates around the cistern and some lumps of ice fall from above. "The world has to know what she really is."

Changeling does his best not to wince at the outburst, trying to keep his voice calm. "I heard a bit about that, did she orchestrate that? Why?" Believing her to be adequately distracted, Ax tries to reach out with his mind to his team once again. The piercing cold still significantly weakens his concentration however, making these attempts rather weak as well. "Still here. Very cold. Could use some help."

Just inside the entrance to the sewers, Joe focuses on his Titan super senses in an attempt to pin down Changeling's location. He can hear which way to go, but also cracking and rumbling of the ice in the cistern. It sounds like it could come crashing down at any minute. "Why do corporations and their CEOs do anything?" Coldsnap hisses, her breath like an icy wind. "Money, of course. Do you really think that she'll let your little gang of Sentinels continue to do as you wish if she realises that she can't control you?" Aquaria drifts around between Coldsnap and the exit glancing up at the growing cracks in the ice above them. "We should leave." "Think about it Changeling," Coldsnap tells Ax. "I hope that you see the writing on the wall before it's too late." As the two supers flee deeper into the city, Changeling's icy surroundings grow ever more unstable, with larger and larger chunks plummeting from ceiling to land all around Ax.

Gilgamesh's mind was racing, Changeling could not handle both Coldsnap and Aquaria, and he was not ready to lose a teammate. As Kid Titan guided the pair down the twisting sewers Gilgamesh steels himself for battle, but upon finding the cracked ice ready to shatter he jumps into action. With Kid Titan's help he propels himself to where the damage is the worst jamming his hardened fists into the metal and ice to forcefully stabilize the structure. Grunting from the exertion he looks towards his teammates, "I don't think I can hold this for long. You're faster KT, think you can get Changeling out?"

Kid Titan speeds ahead. "Way ahead of you, Gil," he says, grabbing Changeling and throwing him over his shoulder. He stops at the edge of the ice. "We're clear, c'mon!"

Joe dashes out of the cistern and behind him the ice comes crashing down, producing large waves of dirty water that slop about the pipes. There's a dull crash from inside and then Gilgamesh comes barrelling out too. The team reunites with Requiem at the exit on the coast.

Ax wasn't sure if he bought that simple explanation from Coldsnap, not immediately seeing the monetary gain that Rook could gather from someone with former ties to the corporation being known for killing a superhero team. Perhaps just less competition? Though the second part of her explanation did strike a small chord with him, Rook was quick to offer closer ties to the company, and Facet did make comments towards the same when they met in the park. When they then made their exit, Changeling worked on trying to free himself, which was going slower than he would have liked considering the already initiated collapse of the ice around the entire chamber. Preparing for the worst, he started trying to harden his skin into stone, but the continued shivers from the cold made that difficult, and much slower than usual. Thankfully, as things were beginning to look dire, he heard the voices of Gilgamesh and Kid Titan racing down the tunnel, and the latter got him out of there much faster than he could have managed on his own even without being weakened. "Just in time, thanks guys..." He says before he gets into he mindset of trying to warm himself back up as quickly as possible. Basking in sunlight, rubbing his arms, and presuming that Kid Titan releases him, even moving around.

"We almost lost you for a bit there," Kid Titan says. "What happened?"

"Well, Coldsnap and Aquaria are working together. I guess they noticed me following them, and set up an ambush." When he had initially chosen to pursue the pair, he had assumed that they were fighting and that Coldsnap wanted to take down Aquaria for her own reasons. Other than noticing the oddity of how the ball was moving under the surface, it hadn't really occurred to him that they could be working together. "And, well..." He rubs the back of his neck, a bit embarrassed that he had gotten caught like that. "Where I'm from is quite a bit hotter than Earth. To be truthful, even the normal temperature here gives me a bit of a chill. So being surrounded by ice was unbearable. I couldn't focus on any of my powers."

"Sorry it took us so long to get there," Kid Titan says. "'Course they're working together. We should have seen that coming."

The alien shakes his head in response to the apology. "You made it in time, that's what matters. I shouldn't have split off so far from the team. But... It was my idea to try and get Aquaria and Blight to fight. I wanted it to be a success, and I was reckless." He lets out a sigh before getting back to what he had managed to get Coldsnap to talk about. "Coldsnap thinks Rook intentionally sent Centipede to kill her team. She wants revenge, and probably won't stop until they are destroyed. I wasn't able to get a look into her mind, but the expressions didn't exactly scream 'stable' to me."

Kid Titan grimaces. "Let's get back to the construction site."

"Yeah... What should we tell to Facet and Rook? Or the cameras if the press is there." News that a superhero has started working with villains because one of the groups also protecting the city may have done something evil might not go over well, but would it be smart to keep that information to themselves? "Maybe we should get some advice on how to handle this."

"Let's keep this under wraps, for now," Kid Titan says with a frown. "At least, don't tell Rook." He grimaces again, and then kicks a rock, sending it sailing into the ocean with a massive splash. "I hate working with her."

The Sentinels arrive back at the construction site on the docks just in time to catch the tail end of Facet answering the press's questions. "...this fine city. No further questions, I'm afraid. Duty calls." She remarks by way of farewell, before skating off through the air on trails of hard light.

Seeing Facet take off as they arrive, Changeling will remark quietly towards the rest of the team. "Guess we'll have to get Rook's framing of this from the news. Should we head out or try to field some questions of our own?"

"We should probably just leave before they see us," Kid Titan says. "Less trouble that way."

With a knowing nod of his head Requiem add "Yeah. Best to peace before they try and blame all this on us, I know Beric's itching to for a new angle to put us down." (edited)

Changeling will nod as well and at least find a spot out of direct line of sight from the crowd of press to enlarge the Shifter for them to board and make their exit. "Alright, let's get out of here. Hopefully we got some of the good credit."