X-Champions Issues

Issue #20 - Meet Neumann

Eliot Sihn and Sammy, along with Manny Wulfenstein have taken off to find the Filipino Manny and, with any luck, solid leads to where Aela's mother might be. Manny Wulfenstein has left town at about the right time as his anonymous article on the alien appearance at the Laughton Agency has just been published and an annoyed Laughton has asked his detective/financial analyst Joseph Pagliacci to investigate.

Meanwhile Suzanne's house search leads her to the Gros Pointe neighborhoods. There are several ex-mafia bosses and lieutenants' homes for sale. She receives unrequested "help" from Laughton, who, in order to assure she gets a safe house, undertakes his own investigation of each property she looks at. Eventually she finds a nice home in Gros Pointe Farms; a portly older female real estate agent shows her about, mentioning that a strangely-accented man looked at the house just a bit before, not long after Suzanne made her appointment. Suzanne, knowing this must be Laughton in one of his many disguises, indicates she knows who this is and to immediately throw the man out and call the police should she see him again. The real estate agent is perturbed to hear this and lets Suzanne know that the police in Gros Pointe Farms will pick up and detain "any" stranger as requested by the locals and for Suzanne not to worry about that. It then comes out that the house has a reputation for being haunted, hence the agent's surprise at having had two people in one day look at it. Suzanne is hardly worried given her other experiences over the last few months with the strange members of the Justice Squad, but does get Giles and Willow to come out and take a look at the place.

That same day Laughton meets with Frank Eyes, the representative of the 719 Society. Eyes mentions how he wants a lawyer who can help him and that Suzanne recommended Laughton. The zealot puzzles Laughton as he indicates he doesn't want to "hide behind legalese." Laughton suggests just pursuing the wrongful death suit but Eyes is insistent on including the homeland part of the case, not so much because he himself believes it is necessary but because those he represents do. Laughton resists and Eyes appeals to his reputation as a crusader. Eyes pleads that there's "more to this" and that they need to "make a difference." Hamlet Laughton explains, "If you knew the things I know…" but begins to soften, due to both the flattery and his own nature of wanting to prove to himself he could pull this off. As he becomes interested Eyes leans forward and reveals a certain fanaticism, getting excited at the thought of putting one over on the system. Hamlet gives Eyes his special card (but not the really special one with the 900 number line to him) that rings directly to "Velda's office." Fortunately Eyes doesn't realize that Velda has no office (though at least the number rings its own special line), and a relationship is begun.

Less than a block away in an alley near a car repair garage, a strange robot sits motionless. As an elderly African-American, Isaac, walks out of the garage and into the alley, strains of Motown wafting with him as the door opens, the robot makes a whirring noise. It begins to focus, its two blue unlit eyes demonstrating nothing but its red light apparently moving to focus on Isaac. Isaac offers up "Neumann", as the robot is called, a taste of his King Cobra, more to be polite than anything. Then they begin to speak. Isaac explains that maybe the best place for Neumann to go and help people, as he seems to be designed and destined to do, is down the street at the Laughton Agency. He explains that there's been lots of unusual happenings there and that it's linked with the Justice Squad, who are heroes. He also mentions that he has a friend over there, Gere-luce, who can fix Neumann better than he can Neumann's red eye blinks as if he possibly understands. Isaac reminds Neumann there's always a place for him with him, gives him some oil, and sends him on his way.

Out in Gros Pointe Farms, Giles and Willow sense the presence of spirits. Apparently there's been some grisly mass murder in the past of this estate. Giles believe that Suzanne could help the spirits to find some solace and recommends that as she likes the grounds and building anyway that she stay there. He also mentions that she would be better suited than any ordinary person to deal with a mishap, should it occur. She decides it's no worse than dealing with the Justice Squad and determines to move in. She gets in her car, then, and heads back to the Justice Squad headquarters, as does Neumann.

It's just about closing time when Neumann shows up. He bangs on the heavy glass doors, politely waiting for entry. Velda is nonplussed by the strange creature but does contact Hamlet, who already could hear the noise. She motions for Neumann to enter, and after taking a moment to figure out what she means, he opens the door and enters the lobby. He explains to Velda, "I am Neumann. I am here to help." Hamlet comes out and isn't sure what to make of Neumann. Not having any jobs for a robot but determining that a robot likely needs no wage, the sarcastic detective offers a cup of pens to Neumann and says, "Here, you can help by holding these." Neumann retorts humorlessly, "This will save lives?" Velda interrupts, "Oh don't mind Hammy, he's a crazy boss." Hamlet shoots Velda a look and simply responds, "Sure" to Neumann. He just wants to get back to work. Considering the situation, though, he does mutter something about the Metal Men, causing Neumann's red eye to grow lighter.

At this moment Suzanne arrives. She inquires as to what's going on and Neumann repeats, "I am here to help people. Would you care for a demonstration?" Laughton asks, "Are you going to destroy anything?" He's just barely gotten the damage from the Martian attack repaired. Neumann extends an arm, similar to R2D2, towards Laughton and then well past him, several yards across the room. Hamlet begins to think that perhaps the destruction of the building would be fine as he is insured. Then he watches as Neumann grabs a stack of papers, then drawing them close opens a steam hatch from his body and disintegrates the paper. Velda gets peeved and demands he fix it. Neumann is rather puzzled at this request as it is not a process he can do. Hamlet just walks over to her workstation, pulls up a hidden menu, and begins a job to reprint her entire batch of work. Neumann is not sure how this will help but is sure what will; his arm extends again and grabs a typewriter barely visible in a nearby room and retrieves it for Velda - so she can retype the work.

Neumann's steam panel has a broken seal, and he requests, "Someone can fix this?" Gere-luce is out with Sihn, though, so it will have to be at a later date. In the course of conversation though Hamlet offers up his 55-gallon oil drum of elephant essences, to Neumann's delight. Neumann mentions that he lives in a box, and Laughton turns to Suzanne and says, "See!?" She remains unconvinced that's a viable lifestyle.

Laughton leaves Neumann in the entryway. Velda notices if she leans close to Neumann she can hear a radio station out of New York City playing through his head. Laughton returns with six newspapers of World Weekly News for Neumann and some oil. Neumann is pleased to lubricate and becomes much less noisy. Laughton is interested in Neumann's leather satchel as he sees it contains some old-style reel-to-reel tapes, apparently some old data storage format. Neumann can't read them all and would like some help.

As Neumann sits in the foyer by himself, Henry Whyte, head of the Rosicrucians, enters and requests to see Hamlet. Hamlet comes out, Neumann motioning his arms wildly and saying, "Warning, Danger, Laughton!" as the man is visibly upset. Whyte only briefly explains, "We have asked you to leave us alone, Laughton. We have done nothing to you or anyone and done our best to ask you nicely. So now I must insist!" With a simple wave of his hand, Laughton and Neumann disappear. Suzanne, who has just been in the bathroom and not been a part of this, steps out to disappear from the agency and find herself suddenly transported with Laughton and Neumann to a sandy shore of a river near a forest. Her casual mind link with Laughton, even if not in active use, swept her away with them.

They look around the area. Neumann uses his special vision to look through the trees and see heat patterns of nearby people. Acacia trees surround them and as they cautiously venture about, Neumann stretches his head up hundreds of feet and surveys the area. What he sees are a sort of primitive people working a quarry and farming what looks to be a sort of corn. The people are large and very muscular, much taller than today's people. He also sees what must be the Sphinx in its original form! Clearly they are in ancient Egypt.

They speak with the not-terribly-frightened locals via motions, drawing, and Spectrum's mind-reading. In the locals' minds, which Spectrum finds unusually open, they see figures resembling the Martian they encountered earlier, as well as a "gray" sort of alien much like in today's popular view.

Along the way they chat a bit nervously, and as they meander topically the mention of Kennedy comes up, and Laughton misdirects Neumann by referring to Kennedy as the "MTV VJ". It's unlikely that Neumann will have an easy time acclimating to past or present with the smart-alecky Laughton around…

The people respond more easily though to Neumann, deferring to him as the leader. He releases a bit of steam, inviting their interest further. As Neumann approaches the wall to the small town surrounding part of the Sphinx he finds it is covered with a glistening metal, and his red eye glows stronger. The three heroes have learned the figure of a bull-head is a sign of power to the people and they use that, drawing it, to get directed to whoever heads this strange past. They first visit the Sphinx itself and find it is covered with the same metallic material. It turns out is a sort of biological form that is like a gel but extremely tough.

They then make their way to a large temple-like building with a fountain and garden. People kneel and bow, in particular to Neumann. He responds, "Greetings, pre-humans! Do you know where Detroit is?" Eventually the people lead them to what appears to be a sort of leader, a gray alien, and some guards. They can communicate telepathically with the heroes. Laughton claims he is warning of impending doom and they discuss the subject of Henry Whyte. But without much ado the leader then has the guards grab the heroes, and they manage to quickly overpower them by using the same gel-like bio-substance seen on the Sphinx and walls. It quickly covers them and they are left, perhaps to suffocate as it even covers their mouths.

Of course Neumann finds this no problem but cannot escape. Suzanne also struggles while Laughton turns to his monopole form that escapes, as it's so fine. Then Laughton becomes the acidic cloud but it's too slow to break the enclosure around Spectrum. He then turns to his human form and Neumann cries out, "Save yourself, human Laughton!" But he turns to Rodin and Spectrum uses the form to delicately bash and pick at the enclosure (first for a breathing hole) until she can escape, and then they liberate Neumann.

Neumann discusses the possibility that the Sphinx is a real living creature which they could break out the same way as they escaped. Laughton is interested in the idea, but before they can pursue it a strange smaller human appears, one not so physical as the others. A sort of mage, he leads them to the woods as the alien guards are in pursuit. Laughton turns to his cloud form and, directed by Spectrum waving forest leaves, his acidic substance destroys the trail.

They make their way to some bulrushes where a collection of seven other magician-humans are, some sort of resistance to the aliens. The one who got them, Mordor, appears to be their leader. While they are not as simple as the other humans and do have some sort of telepathic powers, their grasp of numbers and concepts is still relatively simple. They have no real idea of the numbers of people involved on either the grays or humans' side, though Spectrum sifts through memories to get a better picture, determining eventually there are some 7 alien overlords (led by one known as Menesra) with 13 slavemasters (guards). As they discuss options of overthrowing the overlords, including the need to imbibe mead which will inspire and give them great ideas, Neumann lists nuclear material, hoping to build a bomb. Mordor indicates that his father's uncle, Rulnaton, still alive at 250 years (Mordor is 80), managed to briefly fly and keep a ship like the aliens' and it is stored somewhere. They do not have the knowledge to really use it but have a map to where it is stored. Neumann stays to watch over the mages while Laughton and Palmer check out the ship. They find it's a stone replica of a ship, hollowed out with simplistic controls. Palmer and Laughton think about whether to anything to the humans about the non-usable device. They're unsure if whoever built it knew it was a hoax, either. In any case the legend of how some of the mages had the ship, fought a battle, and got away, three of them lying dead in the airfield the aliens use, has fueled the magician-humans. Laughton and Spectrum resolve to leave them with their hope.

Laughton and Spectrum decide to go back to the complex by the Sphinx and see what more they can find, possibly capturing Menesra or another overlord. Obliviously they are seen and surprised by some of the guards. A flash of light almost blinds them but they move quickly, Laughton diving into another room and Spectrum, although blinded, using her mind-link to navigate via Laughton. They manage to take off, flying towards the airfield. They see an alien ship and, repeating the method from storming the government base in Bermuda, Laughton turns to a spear which Spectrum drops onto the ship. It works, breaking a hole large enough to get through. However, it works too well as Laughton lodges dozens of feet deep into the ground. He turns to monopole form however and quickly makes his way back to Suzanne.

Inside the ship they apparently have a bargaining ship as Menesra now nervously engages Spectrum in mental conversation. He thinks "Qu'arana" sent them. She indicates they are from the future, and Menesra quickly retorts time travel is impossible. In fact he seems offended at the notion. After considerable discussion, though, he seems to relent, acknowledging other explanations seem unlikely in the light of what they can say. In fact once he realizes that the Sphinx declines greatly and that humans run the Earth, he breaks down and says, "You've finally done it! Goddamn you, goddamn you ALL TO HELL!"

Getting over it, Menesra grants that Spectrum and Laughton may leave, so long as they do not return, allowing them only one stop-over to find Rulnaton. Menesra apparently is concerned about the political and cultural implications for his own people of knowing time travel, which is some sort of taboo, and demands they reveal it to no one.

It takes no time in the small city to find Rulnaton. As they wake him, Laughton quickly notes that Rulnaton has some sort of disguise on. Quickly Rulnaton, realizing these are humans from the 20th century, admits he's also from their era, a car dealer named Fred Torkelson from the 1970s. He sold a Pinto (the exploding kind), passing it off to an ignorant buyer as Chevy of some sort to one who turned out to be a Rosicrucian, and refused to make good by taking the car back. Suddenly he found himself in this long-before-first-dynasty Egypt. He took advantage of the situation, finding the dead mage-humans, and then posing as Rulnaton, making great claims about what was apparently a disastrous attempt to take over a ship. He managed to get some of the strong easily swayed humans to build the stone ship to the south, and then coasted on the publicity, not having to work for a living as people respected him and brought him food. It was easy for him not to "remember" things Rulnaton would know because he claimed he was hit in the head in the battle with the aliens. Fortunately for him the mages do not have the ability to read deep into thoughts, only catching surface-level images and words. Torkelson/Rulnaton reveals that every so often the Rosicrucian looks in on him to belittle him every so often.

Torkelson/Rulnaton begins to get familiar, referring to Spectrum as "mumb-jumbo gal," and even gloat, referring to Spectrum and Laughton as "losers like me!" Laughton turns him to stone. Not sure where else to go, they bring him to Menesra, hoping between them all they can find a solution. Menesra is not pleased to have the humans in his temple and doesn't want to hear a word. As they discuss Torkelson, Jacob Tanner, the Rosicrucian who exiled Torkelson and is apparently the head of the organization in the 1970s, appears from the constant mention of the name. He then sees Menesra and falls to his knees in awe, averting his eyes. Through further discussion Henry Whyte's name comes up; Tanner is impressed at Whyte's progression as Laughton reveals it, apparently Whyte is a young apprentice in Tanner's time. Whyte also appears finally, as Suzanne appeals to their decency in restoring everyone to the future (their present). Whyte just wants Laughton to leave him and the Rosicrucians alone, revealing they simply worship the preexisting Egyptian rulers and are essentially a religious club with no master plan. Disappointed, Laughton cannot see any deception on his part, and admits he can leave them alone, but warns them someone must be "framing" them and that's how he got started. Whyte sighs but Suzanne hints to him that letting Laughton go after whoever might be framing them (regardless of how true it might be) will get him sufficiently distracted henceforth. Whyte agrees to bring Laughton and the two innocent ones, Neumann and Suzanne, back, and (apparently money meaning very little to the Rosicrucians, who master time anyway) agrees to give Laughton Agency up to $25,000 in preapproved expenses to go after whoever's framing them. She slaps Laughton though as he starts to try to make deals to use time travel to amass wealth. They finally decide to bring Fred Torkelson back as they are persuaded he's doing more damage in the past and is hardly being punished as he won't change his ways in any case. But they bring him back to their present and leave him to his own devices, as he finds he is listed as dead and has no one to rely on.

[Game Mechanics - Points Awarded...

Drawing against a superior opponent for resolving with the Rosicrucians - +11.25 RPs for Rodin,  Spectrum, +.75 XPs for Rodin, Spectrum, +15 RPs for Neumann, +1.5 XPs for Neumann

Winning against a marginally superior opponent for the aliens for the overall back-and-forth - +13.125 RPs for Rodin, Spectrum +.875 XPs for Rodin, Spectrum, +17.5 RPs for Neumann, +1.75 XPs for Neumann

$25,000 - +9.75 RPs for Rodin, Spectrum, +.325 XPs for Rodin, Spectrum, +13 RPs for Neumann, +.65 XPs for Neumann

3.5 hrs Session Play - +3.5 RP for Neumann, +1.75 XP for Neumann

5 hrs Session Play - +3.75 RPs for Rodin, Spectrum, +1.25 XPs for Rodin, Spectrum

All points below are dedicated XPs as noted, they are included in totals but note they should not be rearranged (note - some skills costs are too much in Champions, don't get hung up on how they affect character points totals):

Rodin, Spectrum, Neumann - alien Egypt general knowledge, 11/less (allowing for some digesting of what they saw later, gleaming from what Spectrum saw in minds plus the shared mind-link during that, etc.), 2 XPs

Totals:

Neumann +49 RPs, +7.65 XPs
Rodin +37.875 RPs, +5.2 XPs
Spectrum +37.875 RPs, +5.2 XPs

Totals to Date:

Neumann 49 RPs, 7.65 XPs
Rodin 928.625 RPs, 86.2 XPs
Sammy the Slime 861.5 RPs, 79.5375 XPs
Spectrum 751.125 RPs, 78.5 XPs
Troll 886.25 RPs, 89.225 XPs]