<strong>Hero Points:</strong>7 (Dreamer/Neko), 4 (Hornet), 2 (Scarab)<br/><br/>Initiative<br/>Hornet: 32 (+12 mod)<br/>Demonwing 22 (+8 mod)<br/>Scarab 17 (0 mod)<br/>Neko 15 (+4)<br/>Apex 12 (+3 mod)<br/>Kid Singularity 9 (+1 mod)<br/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;">Final Round!</span></span></div><br/>"Float like a bee, sting like an ape!" Hornet exclaimed as she cartwheeled out of the way of Rex's strong swipe. Hitting him with her sword again, it was obvious that the stronger yet slower metahuman was outmatched. Breathing heavily, Rex's legs wobbled like jelly as his face hit the grass.<br/><br/>...<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">Yes he is both hindered and vulnerable when doing Grab action. His Defenses of Dodge/Parry would be 4 instead of 8.</div></div><br/>Adolfo hissed angrily as he struck at Neko again. "If we're going down, I'm taking you with me!" he shouted, uncharacteristically for him. His leathery wings beating fast, he and Neko turned upside-down as the ground drew closer to the both of them.<br/><br/>...<br/><br/>Chris cursed under his breath as he realized he was now in a losing proposition. Scarab willed the last of her steel girders to rush at the boy...<br/><br/><em>Dammit, I don't wanna die! I don't wanna die!</em><br/><br/>...only for a disc-shaped spectral portal to manifest around him. His body "fell" into it, but the portal remained open for a moment.<br/><br/>Adolfo's eyes lit up with a sudden realization. Spotting the portal he loosened his grip on Neko, altering his course to fly towards it! Hornet and Scarab could not react in time as a demonic blur shot past them to fly into it, disappearing along with the portal in a sudden audible<em>snap!</em><br/><br/><em>Apex/Rex is no longer in fighting spirit, while Kid Singularity/Chris and Demonwing/Adolfo used the former's Teleport to escape from battle. Even if Neko manages to incapacitate Adolfo he will escape (earning you a Hero Point from GM Fiat). However, if Neko wishes to "track" them she can use Extra Effort to create an Alternate Effect for one of her powers (likely Power Armor's Affliction or Ranged Damage) to try and place a tracer on Adolfo as a means to track his signal. One way this AE can be phrased is Senses 1 (Tracking-Radio), Subtle 2, Accurate 6 (total +14 bonus to hit).</em><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">Hornet 17 Attack. [url=https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=136238]Apex resists with 24, (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=136237) failing and becoming further injured.[/url]<br/>Apex Fortitude save 25, resists Affliction. (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=136243)<br/>Demonwing Attacks vs Neko 15. (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=136240) DC 23 Toughness save. He also takes a move action to fly 500 feet towards the ground.<br/>Scarab 9 Attack. (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=136241) Misses Kid Singularity.<br/>Neko's final turn.<br/>Apex 15 Attack vs Hornet. (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=136242) Misses.<br/>Kid Singularity uses Wormhole Creation to disappear from battle.<br/></div></div><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;">Aftermath</span></span></div><br/>With the disappearance of two suddenly superpowered students and the unconscious state of a third, there was now a bit of a calm in the storm. The rogue lightning strikes seemed to die down, although the skies were still overcast. Fires in far-off buildings around Emerald City burned, and the roaring sirens of ambulances and fire trucks grew louder around the school.<br/><br/>Hornet hovered over the now-fallen Rex, doing her best to restrain his large furry arms with zip-tie cuffs a bit too small to fit.<br/><br/>"Well I certainly didn't expect that to happen," she mused before taking notice of Neko.<br/><br/>"You alright?" she asked. "I don't know who you are, but I'm glad that you came here, whoever you are. Do you have any idea of what's going on?"<br/><br/>"Whatever it is, it seems to not be of psychic origin," Scarab said as she gracefully flew over. "One of them got away; he was one of the students here, but I think the lightning...changed him. I sensed his feelings, he was equal parts angry, confused, and excited. Excited with his new powers, enough to inflict revenge on one of his tormentors in school."<br/><br/>Hornet frowned. "So he was hit at random? No dormant sleeper cell terrorist stuff?"<br/><br/>"Can't rule that out, but you're likely to get a lot more questions we may not have the answers for."<br/><br/><div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/kaKDoyF.png)</div><br/>Brigades of firemen rushed past the school's front gates, while paramedics carried empty stretchers to pick up the sick and injured. Several of them moved past and around the superheroes, their sights set elsewhere, but a few directly approached Neko and the gang. One of the senior fireman, an older Hispanic male with a loud yet raspy voice (Neko identifies it as someone with a penchant for smoking), called on out to the group.<br/><br/>"Hey! What's going on here?"<br/><br/>"We don't know exactly," Hornet said with a shrug. "Trouble, storms, some people here got hit by that weird lightning and turned into...well, superpowered bad guys."<br/><br/>The fireman growled behind his protective visor. "Seriously? Here in Emerald City of all places? Well, we appreciate your help, girls, whoever you are."<br/><br/>Hornet smiled. "Hehe, it was nothing..."<br/><br/>"My codename's Scarab," Scarab said with a knowing nod. "This here's Hornet, my partner. We have another partner, but she's not...here at the moment."<br/><br/><div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/QkECeTo.png)</div><br/>First the firemen, then the police. The blue uniformed men and women were more direct than the firemen, their captain firmly demanding them to make way. A tall, musclebound white man with a mustache already had a tactical rifle and SWAT outfit on.<br/><br/>"Men, keep your eyes open! You there! Are you with the Freedom League or another superteam?"<br/><br/>"It's okay!" called out one of the students. "They saved us from the bad guys who attacked the school!"<br/><br/><em>The following a couple of possible questions Neko may have for the police, firemen, and EMTs, whether at the school or elsewhere in Emerald City. Feel free to ask any new ones beyond the ones below. Or if Neko isn't the type to mingle with civil servants she can depart, likely leaving Hornet/Scarab to answer any questions.</em><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Who are you?</div><div class="spoiler_body">Police Officer: Captain David Wrath, Emerald City Police Department.<br/>Fireman: Jesus Varelas, Fire Chief.</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Did you see any other...well, supervillains around?</div><div class="spoiler_body">Cpt. Wrath: "Yeah, but none of them seemed coordinated. More akin to an angry mob than an army; street clothes, no uniforms or capes or the like. Eyewitnesses claim that they were among those hit by the freak lightning before...transforming. One guy sprouted tentacles out of his body and started slamming open ATMs. Another was a woman who could control metal, like a living magnet who jacked a car. Turned our guns into slag before speeding away."<br/>Chief Varelas: "Yeah. There was this woman on fire flying around, fighting another woman on fire in the skies above the highway. One of our guys tried to spray them down, but she just combusted later before crashing into a building."</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">We want to help. Where can we be of most use?</div><div class="spoiler_body">Cpt. Wrath: "Pull up a picture of the city and throw a dart. Seems like this freak weather left no stone unturned. We're now cleaning up the mess. What exactly can you ladies do, powerwise?"<br/>Chief Varelas: "If you can clear out rubble, put out fires or negate poison gases or teleport our trucks around the city or stuff like that, the ECFD would love to have you on."</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Is the Freedom League here? The Atom Family? AEGIS?</div><div class="spoiler_body">Cpt. Wrath: "Haven't got word from the Freedom League yet. As for AEGIS, they're not my department, but I don't doubt they're aware of the situation now."<br/>Chief Varelas: "Dunno, but the League's got a big-ass space station or something. If not now, then one of their team members will be here soon, hopefully. Man, I hope it's Lady Liberty. She's quite photogenic."</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">That gorilla over there was originally a boy. Can you keep him secure/cure him?</div><div class="spoiler_body">Cpt. Wrath: "We have a holding cell large enough for him, and can get some vets on call if he's really no longer human. If his only superpowers are being a big-ass gorilla, he should be within our means. If not...well, AEGIS or the League will know what to do."<br/>Chief Varelas: "Sorry, that's not my specialty."</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">If we get any tips on superpowered stuff or vice versa, how should we contact you?</div><div class="spoiler_body">Cpt. Wrath: "911 will do for most crimes. But if you want to give an anonymous tip then various legal departments, such as the DEA and DOJ, have their own numbers for this. But do you have a number or other means of contact if we need to contact you?" <em>Up to you if Neko and/or Red Queen's disciples have such an option at the moment, be it a private hotline or some kind of Bat-Signal. Or this chat can be a ways of creating one in the first place!</em><br/>Chief Varelas: "What Captain Wrath said."</div></div><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;">Super-Gumshoe</span></span></div><br/>Less of a proper scene itself and more a means of post-adventure investigations and interactions, below is a list of likely skills, advantages, and powers which can help Neko and Dreamer get to the bottom of this Silver Storm. If you have any alternate skill use suggestions or avenues of investigation, let me know and I'll provide you with the required checks and powers.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Automatic Stuff</div><div class="spoiler_body">By talking to survivors and witnesses, the heroes get a decent picture of what happened at the Silver Storm's epicenter: truck exploded, Storm effects, the stormers’ rampage, etc.<br/>• The truck at the center of the explosion belonged to Redshift Energies, based on the vehicle’s surviving, though well-singed, markings.<br/>• The truck-driver is dead, apparently killed by the blast.<br/>• The truck was carrying a load of storage tanks, which are all burst open. Whatever was in them (if anything) is now completely gone... at least to the naked eye.<br/>• Reports are coming in of strange sightings and incidents elsewhere in the city, all following the Silver Storm. There are too many to immediately follow-up on, given the crisis at hand, but it’s clear there are potentially more stormers out there than the ones the heroes encountered.</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Expertise (Science) Automatic</div><div class="spoiler_body">Redshift Energies is a local energy research company that’s been quite successful in recent years. Most notably, their technology is being used in some of the newer-model hybrid vehicles.</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Investigation DC 15</div><div class="spoiler_body">Anyone taking some time to gather evidence around the places the lightning strikes hit finds some microscopic residue (like a fine metallic dust).<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Analyzing the Sample, DC 20 Expertise Science, Investigation, or Technology</div><div class="spoiler_body">Neko cannot do this "on scene" but likely back at a MarsTech laboratory. While examining the substance under a powerful microscope, it becomes apparent the "dust" is made up of tiny machines, invisible to the naked eye. The machines are non-functional and inert. In fact, they're in the process of breaking down into their component elements. Incredible though it seems, they are what the "Silver Storm" is.<br/><br/>Neko automatically recognizes them as nanites. Although such machines are cutting-edge technology various groups have utilized (MarsTech included), the design of these specific nanites are beyond the capabilities of the ones known. Even cybertechnology cannot bestow such a versatile set of powers of such a wide variety as has been seen today.</div></div></div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Hospital/Morgue Records</div><div class="spoiler_body">While Kayley nor Alicia will be granted access, Neko will be given her and the girls' earlier aid in saving the high school.<br/><br/>Not all those struck survived.<br/><br/>A crystallized body, its skin a hard sheen of frost. The departed's right hand still clutches a dog leash.<br/><br/>"John Doe, Age 29. Cause of death: flash-frozen."<br/><br/>A middle-aged woman with a puncture wound in her stomach from a long, blunt object just removed. A wallet lies on the table next to her, filled with pictures of her in healthier, happier days clutching a baby next to who is likely her husband.<br/><br/>"Laura Mendez, Age 42. Cause of death: car crash."<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Treatment (Jack-of-all-Trades) DC 20, Neko IDed the nanites</div><div class="spoiler_body">There are nanites present in the departed's bloodstream and tissues. They seem inert, but are not breaking down like those found outside of a "host" body.</div></div></div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Look into Redshift Energies, DC 10 Investigation or Persuasion</div><div class="spoiler_body">One degree of success: Redshift Energies is a wholly owned subsidiary of a company called Paladyne Industries.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Two Degrees of Success, DC 15</div><div class="spoiler_body">Paladyne is a shell company owned formerly by MarsTech, Inc. It was purchased by Grant Conglomerates shortly after the death of Maximilian Mars.</div></div></div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Tracking the Stormers</div><div class="spoiler_body">If Neko hit Adolfo with a tracing device, she detects that he's somewhere in the Elysium Forest to the south of Emerald City.</div></div>