<strong>Hero Points:</strong>5 (Lionheart), 4 (Scarab), 4 (Hornet), 3 (H2GO!), 4 (Chlorophyll).<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Lyn bent down to whisper in Rex's ear, "Be a good boy and you'll be rewarded with a happy ending..." she made an OK gesture with her hand and stroked up and down with the ring her fingers formed, bringing him ever closer to her promise.</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>Rex silently nodded as he did his best to keep still. Lyn could tell by his panting that her fingerjob was working. His member visibly throbbed a few times, the telltale sign of his impending finish. He grunted as he gripped the sides of the bed, the animalistic side emerging as all he could think about was lust.<br/><br/>Oh yeah...oooh oooh oooh!”<br/><br/>Rex’s cock exploded, shooting a string of cum upwards at an angle. A white splotchy trail ran up from Lyn’s wrist to the length of her arm, white spatterings on her purple top. With a contented sigh and dazed look in his eyes he stroked Lyn’s cheek.<br/><br/>“I always knew...you had it in ya…”<br/><br/>He stared straight up at the ceiling, a weak smile forming. “Please visit me again someday…”<br/><br/>And then he promptly fell asleep with a loud snore.<br/><br/>…<br/><br/>Whether she remained at his side for a while or left, Lyn bumped into a middle-aged lady running down the hallway. Crying in Spanish, her words were too fast and distraught for Lyn’s high-school level Spanish classes to accurately translate, although she could recognize “El Diablo.” A group of three people, an older man with bald graying hair and a pair of elementary-aged children, were not far behind.<br/><br/>“My apologies, miss,” the man said as the kids hugged their grieving aunt. “We’ve all been through some rather trying times.”<br/><br/>Being around Lyn’s height, he looked straight at her. “Ah, you’re one of Adolfo’s classmates! Saw your parents in church. The name's Martin, by the way.”<br/><br/>He looked on over to Rex’s hospital room (who has most likely been discretely concealed and cleaned). “I don’t know if you all get along, but you’re all in our prayers.”<br/><br/>He patted Lyn’s shoulder. “We’ll get through this.”<br/><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Insight DC 15</div><div class="spoiler_body">Martin’s trying to be diplomatic and put on his best face. Lyn can sense that he’s just as fearful as the woman, but is remaining strong for the sake of the children present.</div></div><br/><em>Adolfo’s hospital room has a half-dozen people outside it, all family members by the looks of it. They don’t know her well and may not let her through unless she can sneak a peek or convince them she’s trustworthy (the younger family members are comfortable enough to talk in English).</em><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Deception, Persuasion, or Stealth DC 20</div><div class="spoiler_body">On a successful roll Lyn has enough time to get a glimpse at Adolfo before a team of nurses part the crowd for more treatment.<br/><br/>(https://i.imgur.com/VihDY6y.png)</div></div><br/><hr/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"Officers under fire at Yellow Brick Row! Get us some backup ASAP!" Nguyen yelled into her radio. She looked up to see McKenzie still taking shots despite being completely exposed. "Eightball, get outta there!" She dragged him into a nearby gardening store, bags of fertilizer on display serving as makeshift cover to hide behind.</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">Toughness 17, failure! (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=147695)</div></div><br/>The Ghostworks did not return fire. On the contrary, Yellow Brick Row fell dead silent again.<br/><br/>“Sounds like they’re retreating,” McKenzie said before a loud cough. “And not ‘cause of your radio. Good work, kid.”<br/><br/>Nguyen blushed before turning away. “I-they can’t get what they came for, it’d make sense for them to flee!”<br/><br/>...<br/><br/>The last Ghostworks agent was long gone by the time the local police department came on the scene. But one of the agents in the roof was still breathing, her two companions in body bags. McKenzie stopped the hospital stretcher carrying her before it could be wheeled into the ambulance.<br/><br/>“If you have anything to tell us, best do it now.”<br/><br/>The suspect looked up at him, a hazel eye dimly visible behind the frayed mask.<br/><br/>“Even if they’re dormant now, metahumans are going to run wild. Neither AEGIS nor the Freeodm League will be able to clean them up in time...”<br/><br/>She breathed before continuing. “Once the city’s in chaos, you’ll rethink things about the Chamber-”<br/><br/>A wracking cough cut her off, forcing the EMTs to wheel her into the ambulance.<br/><br/>“The Chamber?” Nguyen asked. “I’m looking through the criminal databases, but nothing specific is coming up.”<br/><br/>“Arrange her for protective custody, Nguyen,” McKenzie replied. “Something tells me she knows something more than us or the metahumans.”<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 24pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: impact;"><strong>Emerald Emergency Charity Gala</strong></span></span><br/>(https://i.imgur.com/nSPCxHI.jpg?1)</div><br/>The Royal Heights neighborhood was no longer home to Emerald City’s old money. Turn of the century manors gave way to modern penthouses and hotels, one of which was sparkling bright for a very special occasion.<br/><br/>“Lyn, Lyn!” Leslie exclaimed as she ran over to the table housing the Eldridge family. “Ah, Mr. and Mrs. Eldridge, nice to see you two, too!”<br/><br/>“Been a while,” Mr. Eldridge responded.<br/><br/>Leslie shrugged. “I would hang at your place more, but you know...showbiz.”<br/><br/>She looked around before continuing. Her eyes landed on a pair of Asian business people in a black tuxedo and white dress, with Kaitlyn doing her best to stay in a position that could best be described as between and behind them. Everyone else was dressed equally impeccable, save for Father Thomas’ priestly regalia which was the most humble attire of the event while still remaining appropriate.<br/><br/>“I do appreciate you pulling some strings to get us here,” Mrs. Eldridge responded. “This is the first gala I’ve been to.”<br/><br/>Leslie scoffed as she sat down. “I wanted to bring along some more, but my producer could only ‘lend’ so many dresses and tuxedos. It’s still weird, ya know? It’s to help everyone hit by the Storm, but it’s invitation-only. Shouldn’t the rest of the city have a say, you know?”<br/><br/>“Well, not just anyone can help everyone,” came a voice from behind her.<br/><br/><div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/n7aAfc5.jpg?1)</div><div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/GCyxrVe.png)</div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Expertise: Current Events Automatic</div><div class="spoiler_body">This is Jonathan Grant, CEO of Grant Conglomerates. One of the most lucrative businesses in the world. Emerald City residents mostly know him as the man who purchased MarsTech and its holding after the death of Maximilian Mars.<br/><br/>He’s a rather controversial figure on account of reversing MarsTech’s various charitable initiatives which benefited the city, among various other controversies endemic to corporate culture in general.</div></div><br/>“I’m quite certain the people have already spoken,” Jonathan Grant said as he offered a handshake to Leslie. “And what they want is a safer Emerald, a return to normalcy. Letting anyone in would be too risky, on account of all the money to be donated... and all those dormant Stormers about.”<br/><br/>“It doesn’t have to be just one ball,” Leslie responded, slowly returning the handshake.<br/><br/><em>You can make small talk with Grant, although it won’t last long as he has a speech to perform.</em><br/><br/>A sleek red and white wristwatch whirred audibly on the businessman’s wrist. “I’m sorry, it looks like I have a speech to perform. But it was nice talking to you. If you keep making songs and I keep making jobs, I’m sure we’ll make the world a worthier place in which to live.”<br/><br/>Leslie immediately returned to talking with Lyn as the audience sat back down. It was hard to make out Grant’s speech as a result.<br/><br/>"So did you see the new JackDome video? He's been doing some good work down on the streets. No need for any of this fancy stuff, just going out and giving people what they need."<br/><br/>"Ah, JackDome?" Mr. Eldridge responded. "That friction guy? Seems an odd name for his theme."<br/><br/>Leslie rolled her eyes. "That was his YouTube name before his powers awakened; not all metahumans base their identity on their powers."<br/><br/>Suddenly the lights dimmed. As did the adjacent buildings.<br/><br/>"Now now, it's likely a power outage," Jonathan Grant said. "Don't worry, the backup generator should kick in a few sec-"<br/><br/>Scene/Upcoming Battle Music (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7FAo8kDkNE)<br/><br/>The sound of glass shattering elicited several worried screams. The screams grew louder as the lights came back on as four figures loomed over the now shattered floor-to-ceiling length window. Their outlandish masked garb, as well as one of them towering nearly 60 feet tall, left no doubt as to their supervillainous nature.<br/><br/>"Sorry to crash your ball, Grant!" the gigantic man exclaimed as he effortlessly kicked aside three tables. "But a new appointment just bumped up to the top of your schedule...with the Chamber!"<br/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: impact;"><strong>Who are these four foul figures? What do they want with the richest and most controversial man in Emerald City? And just what is this mysterious Chamber?</strong></span></span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 24pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: impact;"><strong>Tune in Next Time on Shorn Spandex!</strong></span></span></div><br/><div align="center"><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Progession &amp; Advancement</div><div class="spoiler_body">Gain 1 Power Point, to be spent immediately before the next adventure or saved for now.<br/><br/>Lyn and the team's Hero Points remain the same, but will revert to the base 1 after the fight at the beginning of the next Caper.</div></div></div>