Edward
**[12/28/2023]**
**Mission Inventory:** Flashlight x1, Phone x1

Nue remained in Morgan's shadow as she felt the car begin to move right on cue. The two were en route to the New London Orphanage, responding to the emergency call from the hearse radio.
"Okay, now—" Nue spoke in Morgan's voice once more, but suddenly cut herself off for a moment. There was an awkward pause with a strange feeling passing through her for a moment. It was hard to describe but just gave her an unusual feeling. Perhaps it was a bad omen. 
"We..." She started before pausing again. "Did you feel that too? If it's bad luck you'll take it for me, won't you?"
She shrugged it off, bad omen or not this was bound to be more fun than standing around, no matter how this turned out.

"Anyway, the orphanage, right? So why would a couple of capes attack the orphanage anyway? The thing said they had hostages, so they aren't looking to just blow the place up. That means they're looking for something specific, right? So why target an orphanage over anywhere else? They must be looking for someone specific. If capes are involved, then it's gotta be another parahuman, isn't it? We have a little drive ahead of us don't we? How about coming up with a little plan in the meantime?"
The voice let out a little hum as if to give a bit of time to think, though even that was quickly interrupted by yet more yapping. "-Oh, right. If we're working together then you should probably at least know my true name. My name is Nue. I'm a monster that deals with the unknown. But for the sake of this outing you don't mind if I just use your name too, do you?"
Ada
**Mission Inventory:** Morgue costume (includes coffin), old beat up hearse

Despite the idea of speeding down the street being ideal, morgue still relatively had to obey traffic laws, so indeed they did have a bit of a drive ahead of them. Her eyes focused on the road ahead even as her voice spoke to her. Not hers, anothers, this monster called Nue. Curious.

" Monster? What ever works for you, Nue. You're rather assumptive though, perhaps it is easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission, but sometimes things can't be easy even if you want them to be. However different our ideals may be, if you intend to help then yeah, we're gonna need a plan."

A quick turn left soon had them on the exit into downtown, not much longer now before they reached the street the orphanage was on. Morgue's coffin rattled in the back a little as the automobile chugged along. "Hmm... If you're gonna use my name, chances are you're gonna look like me too. We might be able to use that to our advantage, even if you don't have my strength and resilience."

Another quick turn and they were just a few blocks away. Sirens could clearly be heard in the distance, Metropolitan Parahuman Containment no doubt. Her gaze stiffened as she wracked her brain trying to think.

 " Anyways, a Parahuman target seems the most likely answer, if we end up the only ones on scene it will get difficult. We're gonna need to meet with the on site MPC unit to ensure no friendly fire. Hope you don't mind at least giving them a vague understanding of your ability, otherwise you're liable to be shot on accident. We can assume with the hostage situation that either they haven't found their target yet, or they have and they can't make their escape yet with the heat on them. There's a small chance they don't have an escape plan, and they're screwed, but it's more likely that they're holding out for an unknown factor in their favor to show it's self. I can, recklessly without real harm, be a very real threat and distraction, and hopefully let you slip in and find the target, or retrieve them. That's the best I have for a plan."

With all her own yapping, morgue was a little out of breath, taking inhaling deep as they turned the final corner only to be met by the hasty blockade the MPC set up around the perimeter. They were finally here.
Paul
Coming to a halt a short distance from the blockade the scene that was unfolding before the two capes looked like a scene from a horror movie. The building was dark, smoke visible through the windows on the first floor and rolling out of the open doorway. A figure stumbled out of the door, a MPCU trooper, collapsing after a few steps a large slash visible on his back.

Standing near the temporary barrier that had been erected were several officers. Most had weapons aimed at the building however two seemed to be a little further back talking to a man dressed in what looked like a British World War 2 uniform, complete with a gas mask. On his arm the familiar logo of Vanguard sat. It seemed they weren't the first heroically inclined capes to arrive on the scene.
Edward
"He he, maybe you're right. You'll just have to forgive me." The voice's mocking smile could practically be heard in the sound alone.
"Now you're not too far off. I won't get your strength. Here, to put it simply and briefly, if I am following someone, then I can become them. So for now, since I'm following you, I can use your voice and maybe borrow your appearance if it comes to it. So if you tell them not to shoot you, and maybe try not to shoot civilians this time, then we should be fine in regards to friendly fire. I'll avoid taking the appearance of any of the bad guys for now if that helps." 

The voice paused before talking again, now with the teasing toned down. 
"It's not a bad start to a plan. Without looking, if you can try to stop them directly, it could let me sneak in behind them. If I find the target, then maybe I can swap myself with them. That way even if they end up winning, they actually lose. I'll probably need your help to get halfway in though. If I ask you to stand somewhere so I can reach it, you'll help me right?"

Nue took in what she could of the scene while still in Morgan's shadow. It was a bit more extreme than what she had imagined in her head. The villains in there really meant business, so its danger shouldn't be underestimated. Though, serious people usually had the best reactions when things didn't go their way.
"I'm still following you," She whispered to Morgan. "I'll stay by your side like this until we have an idea of what to do."
Ada
Morgues eyes set on the disastrous sight ahead of them, marching towards the baricades on the outset of hopping out of the hearse and grabbing her coffin from the back "I can agree on pretty much all points. We're gonna do what we have to for the sake of the safety of those children, Do what you can to that end, and we will work in tandem."

When she reached the perimeter, she hollered with gusto. "HEY!!" Morgue waved her arm over her head. "Hero here! Brute with high strength, durability, and regeneration, How can I be of assistance!" She slung her coffin onto her back with practically no effort to show just how true the strength part was, and also freeing up her hand for dirty work

Getting Nue in might be tough if the MCPU and the vanguard cape wouldn't be willing to cooperate, but more than likely, with the situation as it is, they need the help too much to say no.
Paul
The Cape and Officer turned to look in Morgue's direction. The cape placed his hand on the officers shoulder before walking towards Morgue. As he approached he adjusted the leather gloves on his hand before stopping a few feet away.

"*Hero you say? Well then welcome to the fight I say! The names Homeguard, with whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?*"

He paused for a moment, allowing for a response before wrapping his arm around morgues back and motioning towards the Orphanage with his other hand.

"*I'm afraid we don't have much time to strategise, time is a resource we just don't have right now. We believe the so called Children of Scion caught wind there was a fresh trigger in one of the children. That smoke you see is most likely a result of the cape known as Second Thought. Contact with this smoke messes with your memories and ability to speak. Additionally we believe the cape known as Monitor is within, we believe she is the cause of those large slashing wounds.*"

He let go before beginning to walk towards the barrier motioning for Morgue to follow.

"*If you a truly as durable as you say perhaps you would be able to enter the building and rescue the children?*"

Homeguard snapped his fingers and a shimmering wall of energy appeared next to him.

"*Step through this and you will gain an additional personal shield. It will only block one hit but it also prevents the smoke from touching affecting you. Once the smoke touches you though don't stop thinking about why you are there and what you are doing. If you do then you will forget. I understand I ask a lot but New London needs you.*"
Edward
Unfortunately for Morgue, her own voice would speak just before she would get the chance to answer with her name.
"My name is Frankie." Though the brute's mouth obviously didn't move with this. A quiet snicker would follow as if she was holding back from laughing, but would pause to allow Homeguard to continue explaining and for Morgue to clear up any confusion if she wanted to. 

After listening to what Homeguard had to say, the voice spoke up once more. "If it's just contact, then I can continue and guide you should you become influenced by that smoke." It whispered to Morgue.
"From earlier, you seemed receptive to hearing your own voice. I hope you continue to be that way even if you forget about me."

She paused, somehow that thought felt a little sad, though she couldn't place why. 
"So trust yourself. If I see you stop I'll direct you. I'll guide you in a way you won't even need to think."
Ada
"Frankie" She mumbled under her breath as Nue spoke up for her again. She contemplated correcting her, but knew the confusion or would cause would be more trouble than it's worth, and that would waste monumental amounts of time. For some reason too, Frankie didn't seem to bother her, the second time around. Why was that? More questions for later.

Morgue steps through with her chest puffed out and a look of valiant confidence gracing her face. Next her eyes were set on the orphanage. "I appreciate the support, Homeguard, I'll do what I can and nothing less." Her words bellowed from her mouth as she took strides toward the entrance to the building. Going in blind still, relatively, but at least she knows some of what the opposition is capable of. And better yet, they don't know a thing of what Morgue and Nue are capable of.

As she marched towards and past the collapsed, she speaks low so that only Nue could hear her.

_"Change of plans. We have to get out as many children as possible, we cannot risk yourself if you are safe as you are, and If we find this trigger, then we can grab them, if not, so be it. I appreciate your support, if anything happens, I'm relying on you to be my guide. Watch my back, I'll do my best to do the same for you."_
Paul
Homeguard stood tall, his hands crossed across his chest as he watched Morgue, and by extension Nue, step through his shield. As Morgue passed through she felt a tingling sensation as her entire body seemed to be envoloped by a bubble of sorts resting extremely close to her skin and clothing. As she spoke Homeguard snapped his arm forward with his thumbs up.

"*Why that's the spirit! To victory hero!*"

As Morgue approached the orphanage it truly did look like a scene from a horror movie. Smoke bellowed out the door, concealing the interior. To enter is to step in to a dark grey swirling abyss. Through the wisps of smoke outside the building blood pooled at the base of the door, a sign of the vicious attacks from the cape within.
Edward
Nue faithfully followed Morgue within her shadow as she had up to this point. The new information on Second Thought was all the more reason to stay there. *"I got it, I got it. We won't split up. Though... I am a little curious how it would feel to go out and touch the smoke... Hey, won't it be a better idea to take out the smoker in the first place?"* She mused. 

In the brief moments that the two took to get to the front of the building Nue spoke up to Morgue. *"You know, that guy was a little over enthusiastic to send you in without knowing anything about the new cape walking onto a scene like this. Oh well, too late to regret it. Let's mess with them." *

Looking into the smokey entrance she wondered how well she could actually stick to Morgue with the smoke in the way. She figured it would be best to play it safe and keep to shadows that would be affixed to her regardless of obstructions like smoke, ensuring that she was connected by the shadow of Morgue's feet, ready to let herself bounce around in whatever fashion it took to keep with her.
Ada
_"He's probably just trying to hype me up. The situation is dire, I'd take what i can get too."_

Morgue's shoes disturb the puddles of blood as she walked in, wading through the thick smoke. At least it wasn't some kind of fire, like she'd worried about, but inhaling this stuff would be bad news. She only got one hit of protection before the shield she was given were to disappate and leave her vunerable, and in that sense, she was really relying on Nue to help her... Actually, She wasn't sure if she could see well through this smoke, She may need lean on Nue now for help.

_"Nue"_ she whispered _"I have an idea. You can traverse this place without inhaling the smoke, can you split up and help search for the kids? Essentially, guide be as best you can."_
Paul
Entering the building through the thick smoke it was surprising just how quiet everything seemed. Smoke swirling around morgue, like bony fingers of death caressing the cape kept at bay by only the thinnest of barriers. Such a fragile state of affairs. The deafening silence was interrupted by the sound of a door clicking shut, that single noise echoing through the otherwise silent halls.

So there the heroes stood, in a hallway they could see the end of. Their only companion aside from each other was the forboding sense of doom that lingered in the back of their mind. Their minds screaming danger from the moment they stepped in.
Edward
She felt the shadow she was within become a bit more confined to morgue's body with the light dimmed through the smoke. Though Morgue's shadow became smaller, she felt the area around her open up as if she could simply move out freely.

"Hm, I'm a little more free than usual here. I can scout ahead for you, however I think it would be best if you took out the capes instead of getting the children out. Also the capes are probably guarding the kids. However, I cannot talk unless I am back on your person. Keep aware yourself and move forward carefully." She whispered to Morgue and carefully moved into the dark spaces in front of her. Moving invisibly through the artificially created shadows. She moved with a purpose: to locate either the children or the capes, listening carefully for any noise as she progressed, pausing by each door to listen in.
Ada
"Good grief!" Morgue groaned, wading through the smoke and reaching out to a wall for guidance, feeling out for door ways or corners in which to explore next, keeping an ear out for voices and footsteps
Paul
Nue moved forwards slinking through the shadows eventually coming to what appeared to be a junction, with two corridors heading left and right and a third continuing straight ahead. Morgue followed up close behind, her hand on the wall trailing through a hot wet substance for just a moment before reaching the same junction.

Then vibrations echoed through the building as a series of rapid thumps got closer and closer approaching from the left. The sound moved above them then rushed to the right eventually stopping. Then, the sound of a doors hinges squeaking echoed through the air.
Edward
Nue returned to Morgue's shadow, feeling a small 'click' in her mind to confirm it before speaking in a whisper once more. "The lizard girl just darted to the right from here. It is on the ceiling and will likely be able to sense you through the smoke. It is likely patrolling, but it's close enough that it might find you soon. Should we stay together and turn right to confront them?"
Ada
Morgue was presented with a hard choice- Monitor had undoubtedly caused the most damage so far and would continue to hinder rescue efforts so long as she remained active, Fighting her would be dangerous, but entirely do able. All it would take, she hoped, would be one good headlock and she could have monitor out in about a minute, maybe less, put her in the coffin, and toss her out a window for collection from the MPCU and Homeguard. This is all assuming she can get a good grasp on her.

The downside is if she did, the children in the orphanage were still _hostages_ of Second Thought, And she was sure the Children of Scion were not above doing what it takes to get out of here in one piece, something they can do with more lee-way than any hero could. Not focusing Monitor meant a longer time before anyone could safely begin entering the building for rescue attempts, and this sure would be a hell of a lot easier with the MPCU swarming this place. Theoretically more children out safer than either morgue or nue could get by just themselves, and they could even potentially stop Second Thought from getting away with their target, if they have them.

She _hated_ tough decisions. But they had to be made, and the choice was clear to her. Morgue took a hard right, with a wide stance. _"Track her if you can, it'll make this a lot easier. Give me heads up if she's going to strike, if i lose this protection it gets a lot worse for the both of us."_ She whispered to nue.

Second Thought... Could be on another floor, likely even, but is that a chance she's willing to take? How to draw Monitor's attention without alerting him... Morgue chose to rattle one of the handles on the coffin strapped to her back. Loud enough to be heard in the halls, but not possibly any room, and even then, maybe confused for a kid moving something. In her mind, it was perfect.
Paul
Morgue and her shadow companion turned to the right and began to move down the corridor. About half way down there were doors on either side of the corridor, the one to the left had a MPCU officer leant against it with large claw marks torn through his chest, and a pool of blood on the floor beneath him. Clenched in his hand was his weapon, not that it did him much good. 

A scream came from above before abruptly stopping, cut short before it could come to completion. The sound of glass smashing followed soon after and then nothing. No footsteps, no shouting or talking. Just the quiet.

Then, the sound of something scrambling downstairs followed by the sound of a door slamming against a wall from down the corridor. The smoke swirling a little at as the air in the room shifted slightly. A tapping sound could be heard before a raspy, almost inhuman voice emanated through the smoke.

"*Embrace me newcomers. Embrace me fallen angels of Scion.*"

A single footstep echoed.

"*Embrace me newcomers. Embrace me fallen angels of Scion.*"
Edward
Nue listened to the sounds of violence and repeated chanting in the distance, "Okay, well the muscle is up ahead. If they are there, then it's likely that the smoker isn't down there. I'll split up and look around. If range matters then it's likely that the one making this crap is somewhere down on this floor. You should go and confront the big bad, while I look around, after that I'll reunite with you. You're strong enough to fight them until I get back, right? If you forget, just repeat 'enemy' in your head, cause it sounds like they're trying to get you to join them in the confusion." She whispered, giving a little whistle just before moving through the shadows.

She glided within the shadows down the hall behind Morgue, listening in for anything that could give an indication of someone located, watching the smoke permeate around the hall, watching the direction it had been moving.
Ada
Morgue grimaced, a facial expression that comically spanned their whole blocky face. "So be it" She said, half to herself, half to Nue. She was quite peeved at their strategy not working out as planned, but when do things ever work out just as planned? Only often enough for it to be satisfying to hear, she supposed.

As Nue parted, she set on focusing on the task ahead. '_Enemy Ahead, Incapacitate._'. She went over the plan in her head as she bulldozed through the Smoke, Heavy footsteps slamming against the floor, her arms brought up to her sides, ready to grapple at the cape, and covering a wide area to catch them hopefully before they manage to slip past.
Paul
Nue detached from Morgue's shadow and began to moved down the hallway. As she moved she noticed the smoke was slowly moving from the of the hallway towards the centre where the the entrance hallway intersects. Listening in, trying to ignore the sounds from the other side of the hallway, Nue could hear the quiet pacing of footsteps on the floor above, the sound beginning to get louder as she approached an open door leading to stairs where the sound was echoing down from above.

Back on the opposite end of the building Morgue widened her stance near filling the hallway. She could hear a footstep, soon followed by another and then a naked body stepping through the smoke. Golden tattoo's covered the woman's skin as her eyes looked directly into Morgues. 

"*Oh?*"

Her expression suddenly shifted as she pulled her hand to her rear, smoke seeming to coil around her arm as golden scales across her arm. As the scales reached the tips of her fingers large claws sprouted out forming vicious points. She burst forwards, thrusting her clawed hand towards Morgue.
Edward
Nue listened carefully to the footsteps as she approached them. The other sounds in the hallway caught her attention though they felt more like a timer for her. Morgan was apparently a brute so she figured she could handle herself for just a little bit while she found Second Thought. Maybe she could even take them out.

Nue scaled the steps in her shadow form, listening out and following the source of the steps above to find its source.
Ada
Morgue new she would be protected from one strike at least, she wasn't sure how, but she knew that protection would fade and she would not be in full control of her faculties after words, so she needed to make this close encounter count. She waited until just moments before Monitor would connect, and Aimed with her arms to take her into a headlock, Pressed in just the right fashion to constrict the blood flow.

Though a choke like this would work in seconds, usually, Morgue wasn't sure, if she even got ahold of Monitor, how long it might take incase her physiology was different. As the moment approached, and Monitor's claws struck her, she kept _one_ thing in mind. 'Incapacitate Enemy'