X-Champions Issues
Issue #26 - Visions
During the events of issue 25, as Sihn works into the wee hours he is interrupted by an explosion. In and of itself that's not disturbing to him, but he is surprised to find it emanating from one of his computers with Necromancer bursting out of the casing as the center of the blast. Necromancer greets Sihn in a casual tone, obviously meaning no harm, but warns the scientist he ought to take greater care with protecting his space, particularly against magic. They chat only briefly, Necromancer's point made, and Sihn is given a tarot card, the Ace of Swords, through which he can summon or communicate with Necromancer, though not against his will. He also is given a vellum Book of Dreams.
By now the vegetated Dr. Normal, proven to be no threat, has become a placid servant upstairs in Laughton agency. To Palmer's occasional objections Laughton holds forth that it's all legal as the former villain has been given a W-2. Of course that is not what Suzanne is concerned about...
...but thoughts of such things are tossed aside as the news of the terrorist strikes of 9/11/01 rivets the nation. While airplane security has been tight against mutant menaces and the like the lowly box-cutter was overlooked. Overconfidence derailed the on-board security program, not so much by eliminating it as in our world, but by corruption and incompetence, so the terrorists knew who the air marshals were. Complicating it a bit, it was necessary for the strikes to occur within seconds of each other lest they be interrupted by flying supers. So the timing was crucial, occurring at 8 AM sharp.
Adding to this and still a source of confusion days after the event, starting at 7:50, The Captain with a SWAT team of MIB and WEB agents raided Magneto's East Coast headquarters near of all places Three Mile Island. However, Magneto with a host of mutants were actually ready in what was some sort of planned counterstrike. A few of his resistance were captured but most inflicted deadly damage on the paramilitary and Magneto with a few others (Toad, Astrology Wonder, Organ Boy, and The Human Telephone) actually captured The Captain and were making off with him as the tragedy struck. Complicating things further, the Outsiders were nearby successfully protecting Three Mile Island and civilians.
Most believe that the terrorist cells had established contacts with the mutant resistance, a very damning thing for Magneto's organization. They set up the mutants, once knowing enough to turn in the info, then double-crossed the government, presenting the info only in enough time for Magneto to plan something daring as he hadn't enough time to escape. This was done mainly to assure a distracting spectacle, removing federal agents in the northeast and, with a few stray hints, moving the Outsiders to the scene, distracting New York supers who would otherwise interfere.
The remaining New York heroes were able to save a lot of lives that day but could not prevent the loss of some and the toppling. The Outsiders appeared moments after they heard the news and joined the rescue effort. Very human heroes perished in Pennsylvania.
What happened in Pennsylvania with Magneto and The Captain is a matter of debate. The Captain claims that as his advanced radio hearing picked up the events his strength swelled and he shook off those who captured him to fly at supersonic speeds to New York (and moments later to Washington), imploring the mutants to do something for humanity. Magneto claims he freed The Captain once he heard of the events, though he admits he heard of the events from The Captain, confirming at least the radio hearing part of his story. One thing can be said; Magneto appeared at the scene of the towers crumbling. He saved some lives and attempted to hold the towers together but failed. Any conflict between Magneto and the government resolved to a cease-fire that day. As The Captain flew to the capital upon the news of the Pentagon strike there, Magneto remained in New York tending to the endangered and wounded. However, Magneto's compatriots never assisted in any rescue attempts and disappeared.
The X-Men appeared swiftly on the scene, just as the towers crumbled, and cooperated with Magneto and the other supers, doing the best the could.
Magneto "escaped" as the situation became controlled, just as the Justice Squad, among others, arrived in New York to do their part. Sihn remains in his doctor form tending to the wounded. Spectrum uses her telekinetic powers to move objects as well as her mind-scanning to help find people feared missing or dead. Laughton turns into his newly discovered "real" self, T'suara to turn people to stone for their own protection wherever someone is in danger of losing their life. His strange new form of glowing lights attracts crowds of followers and he is forced after some time to make away. Sammy and Neumann of course also pitch in, both having just prepared to travel on their own anyway [both players out that day]. Bob Rogers carefully documents the Justice Squad's work just to be sure they get their fair share of credit for something they would do regardless.
As the second day of rescue work wears on to little further avail, the many supers, working openly and with human cooperation for a change, gather outside the public eye for a meal. Sponsoring the dinner are the Outsiders sans Desperado, joining them are Dr. Strange, Nite Owl, X-Men, and Spiderman sit alongside the Justice Squad. Nightshade talks about Magneto, noting he's no madman and commending his work in the face of crisis. Sihn disagrees on Magneto's mental state, taking his attack in Los Angeles to heart.
Across the table Sihn notices Dr. Strange staring at him. Sihn approaches him confidently and engages in conversation. Strange is concerned about Sihn's entry into magical power and discusses the nature of mutation and magic, of all power. Sihn waxes on how people get all emotional on such things, seizing on Strange's mention of prejudices, and proceeds to state that people need to understand that power is there for practical application. Strange tells Sihn that emotion is the glue of life and Sihn ought to heed it carefully. They begin to talk about the manipulation of the dead, Sihn pointing out how people get upset for no good reason regarding it, Strange maintaining that such things ought be viewed with great concern and reservation. Sihn voices that people like Strange would have primitive people stay away from fire or have Edison subdue his researches. Strange cautions Sihn to just take things slowly.
Sihn and Spectrum drift into conversation afterwards and sarcastically voice within earshot of Laughton that perhaps they could get Medusa a work release to help out.
A young teenager, Rogue, sitting next to Laughton says excitedly to him, "I'm going to be you!" and suddenly the detective's phenomenal intelligence floods her brain. She babbles as she makes connections between the people in the room and stray facts and theories. Laughton admonishes her, "It's rude to take things without asking for permission" as she gives up his overwhelming forest-for-the-trees intellect.
Nightshade sashays to Spectrum's side and quietly says he'd like to leave, going back to his place. Spectrum isn't so interested in that, uncharacteristically declaring she wants to go partying. Wolverine, the teenage boy X-Men member lustful for the beautiful woman, overhears and boldly offers to take her to some places he knows. She's up for it and takes off with him, leaving a dazed Nightshade behind.
The Imperial Falcon, pacing about the room, latches onto Sihn and Laughton and pats them on the back, boasting of their mutual work of the day. As he brags he complains he wishes he had been in Los Angeles so that he could help beat the pants off of Magneto. Laughton first points out how unnaturally clean Imperial Falcon is for someone ostensibly helping clean out debris and search for survivors, and wonders why he didn't see him around much at all. Then he offers to get Magneto on speed-dial so that he can set up a match for the Falcon. The braggart would-be hero wanders off, claiming someone wants to talk with him.
Throughout the night Spectrum dances at raves with Wolverine. He eventually makes a clumsy pass at her and she ignores him, wanting to keep partying, heading off to find another rave she's told about. Wolverine calls after her, "You'll call me, right?" to which she absently responds, "Sure, yeah."
Sihn borrows the Black Buick for a short time to go back and check on his family during the night.
Bags under her eyes barely concealed by cosmetics, Suzanne meets up with the Justice Squad the next day as they prepare to leave town. As Sammy had to leave ahead of schedule to enjoy what he worries is limited time with Jane, Laughton picks up a t-shirt for Sammy ("My buddies went to NY and all I got was this lousy t-shirt") while he gets some bagels. Suzanne also gets a little shopping in before she leaves, enjoying the chic stores of New York.
A few days later Magneto issues a statement damning such acts of terrorism but carefully justifying his own organization saying "self-defense is not terrorism". In his usual fashion, he has gone on to write a "code of conduct" for the war against the US government. But for the first time he has attracted criticism from more radical quarters, a frightening anonymous group self-dubbed the "September Group" whose sole response is, "The only good human is a dead human."
The Captain has said that Magneto's disruption at home opened the door for such devastation, as he was clearly "played" by al-Qaeda, and that Magneto belongs to an "axis of evil" regardless of his intent.
Almost immediately the fallout is a drive to consolidate the fragmented government intelligence services with the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. There is great optimism that this office will tie together the many black ops groups as well as the "above ground" intelligence agencies. The fallout has not been anti-mutant specifically but the sentiments between followers of Magneto and those opposed is hardening greatly. The appearance of a fringe group more radical than Magneto has generated a certain additional hysteria. But neither have people forgotten the deeds of many mutants in saving lives on 9/11.
Meanwhile life starts to get back to normal. Back in Detroit Suzanne Palmer's acquaintance (a legal equivalent to a hypochondriac) Jericho Lad enters her office to nervously borrow her time in a bid for attention. He mentions he's bought a 19th century porcelain Victorian lady doll to add to his collection, saying how interesting it is. Suzanne dismissively responds, "If you're into that sort of thing." Off guard he stumbles to the alleged reason for his visit, that his neighbor is making all sorts of noise and the police won't do anything about it, out of discrimination against him. He tells her he's sure that a week from Friday, on October 5th, his neighbor will be at it as usual with loud partying, and if she could come by as his legal advisor/witness he'd appreciate it. She embraces the idea. After he leaves, she calls her friend Buffy, telling her there will be a party at Jericho Lad's...
Sihn is also back to some of the more mundane activities of his life. Often his scientists are afraid, for whatever odd reason, to leave Sihn-Tek. So he makes a trek over to Laughton Agency to "borrow" supplies from the notoriously cheap "world's greatest detective". He makes small talk with Laughton, mentioning that he's got a line on some "new people" (Laughton doesn't ask) and is contemplating opening a factory for some new forms of production.
As they talk, some shouting and then a deafening gunshot, the sound of Jonas Hell's gun, is heard. Suzanne comes out of her nearby office as Laughton and Sihn make their way to the foyer. It turns out Hell has just been served a summons to appear in court for his stalking of the NEA. Sihn recommences teasing Hell that he's being turned into a mutant by them, and points out the process should be accelerated so he can beat the rap. Hell points out he had a really good reason to investigate the NEA, and Sihn replies that they have a really good reason for turning him into a mutant. Hell turns to Palmer for some alcohol and of course she has some (cheaper) stuff for him. Then he turns on Laughton, complaining that Laughton was supposed to do something about this. Finally he insists that Palmer defend him in court, pointing out it's billable to Laughton, who at least is willing to consider it. Then Laughton mentions that to transfer his representation over to Palmer will cost processing fees which he'll need to take out of Hell's paycheck.
Depressed, Hell pleads with everyone to join him at O'Malley's. Initially Suzanne and Sihn resist as it's only 10 AM. As Manny sticks his head out to catch up on the goings-on, Sihn says, "Laughton's treating to O'Malley's." Manny jumps on the opportunity and soon Sihn and Palmer are equally convinced. Laughton rolls his eyes and figures he may as well be there if they're spending his money.
Suzanne runs off to see Buffy first as the gang is moving into a sort of base of operations in Sihn-Tek. They chat and Buffy explains she needs to get back to school, wondering if Spectrum would give her and Willow a lift. Suzanne says, "Are you sure you wanna go back to school?" Willow is worried about her friend but Suzanne is dismissive, and expresses interest still in doing some continued work to deal with her personality within.
Over at O'Malley's Hell orders up a bottle of vodka while Manny gets a vodka Collins, and Sihn some milk. Laughton has his regular cup which he never actually drinks out of, the liquor in it evaporating rather than being drunk. The only other soul in the bar besides them and O'Malley is a regular drunk who spends most of his time passed out there. As the Justice Squad sits down for a bit, the friendly harassment of Hell continues. It isn't long before Palmer's back and Hell makes a comment about how she's nice, attempting to say it in a pointed way, meaning as opposed to those making light of his plight. Sihn deliberately misinterprets his comment, acting as if it was said to him as he was standing between Hell and Palmer. Hell says he could at least have a veneer of niceness, to which Laughton claims he indeed does and like most of him he can just pull it off. Sihn begins to demonstrate by pulling some of his skin off, to Hell (and Palmer's) chagrin.
Moments later, as Suzanne is ordering up some whiskey, Mayor Bo Berry arrives. She greets him unusually casually, saying, "Hi Mayor, what'll you have?" The mayor orders a brass monkey. Meanwhile as the side conversation with Jonas doesn't end, Sihn offers up the idea of making him into a half-dog, half-cat creature to escape his troubles. In fact the "some call him mad" scientist begins to ponder the point as he makes it. Laughton turns his anti-bugging box on to ensure the Mayor will not be overheard, and Bo Berry wants Hell to leave. Jonas is quite willing to go on his way as Sihn and Laughton comment on how his ears are getting bigger and "that bulge in the forehead" is also enlargening. Sihn asks, "What's the last time you looked in the mirror without a hat?" As Hell storms out Sihn "whispers" "He's almost there!"
Laughton mentions to Manny he should go back to work as well, and while Manny is willing he half-whispers to his boss, "But it's not like we have any new cases," referring to the siphoning of business to the Blue Moon Agency.
The conversation with the Mayor begins in earnest as Spectrum goes to get everyone's drinks from the bar while the rest retire to a table. She returns and puts a glass down with a bottle next to it for her whiskey, causing a few odd glances and Laughton's comment, "At least you can fall back on waitressing." Finally the mayor is able to get to the point, and he explains that as part of his campaign to keep Detroit vigilant in the wake of 9/11 and to get out ahead of the federal government, he wants to deputize the Justice Squad, making them Detroit-beholden super-police. The idea is revolutionary but the team's first question is if they can tow cars illegally parked in their way. Laughton and Sihn, both with deep government contacts and in Laughton's case with certain federal police powers and moreover obligations, are worried about the arrangement and need to think about it.
The mayor requests a word alone with the Troll. The Troll hands the suddenly-queasy mayor one of his ears to keep close to his lips and one of Laughton's white noise generators is turned on. Berry carefully and pleasantly explains to him that the disappearance of Angelus Vito has never been thoroughly investigated. He goes on to say that with his office's powers he looks out for his friends, essentially letting Sihn know he's sure that it was Sihn who killed Angelus but that the mayor has no interesting in pursuing it, knowing it was in revenge for his mother's death. It's clear the mayor wants Sihn's trust. Whatever his thoughts, Sihn acts dumb on the issue. The Justice Squad soon leaves to ponder the mayor's offer.
As they head back to the Laughton Agency and Sihn-tek, they see a large hole in the side of Sihn's building. Out front is Mr. Furious of the Mysterymen, new tenants of Sihn-tek, pointing to a sign that he claims shows improper clearance for a truck entrance. Suzanne simply writes Mr. Furious a check to pay Sihn to cover the damage. The Shoveler briefly speaks with the Justice Squad and soon the Mysterymen return to settling in.
That night Sihn, as he often does recently, goes into a deep sleep to explore his dreams. In his dream-state he starts wandering through a deserted shrub-land and comes across a pumpkin patch and wanders into it. It's a deep bramble of pumpkins, and he soon realizes they are all muttering. He begins eating the pumpkins, chewing them with relish and declaring his love for eating them. Not unexpectedly at this point the Bogeyman arrives. He taunts the Troll and hits him with a fiery pumpkin blast. Through her own dream-state, Spectrum sees this and hazily contacts Laughton via their mind-link and finds her way to the Troll's side, somehow summoned through his own inadvertent calling out and her mental powers. She finds that in this strange land her mental powers seem more flexible and also her mind is totally clear of any other influences for a change.
Laughton turns into his true form, T'suara, and both it and Suzanne feel dull-witted, as if in a half-awake state. As T'suara senses the outline of the Bogeyman and the mad muttering pumpkins in what seems to be an endless pumpkin patch, he panics and flies away, leaving Spectrum and the Troll behind. The Bogeyman and Troll tangle for a bit, but the Bogeyman seems unbeatable. He tags Troll a couple times and the Troll begins to feel woozy. Finally T'suara comes back to his senses and returns; he turns Spectrum into the strange fine dust cloud that Laughton had become in the past. She's right near Troll and Bogeyman and her strange state covers both. As they inhale the dust, Troll is particularly struck. He suddenly sees his newborn baby dying and despite having just recovered nearly passes out. The obscuring strategy works until Bogeyman wanders out of it. Bogeyman is struck by T'suara, mentioning he's not seen that kind around. He also tries to make a deal, indicating if any of the Justice Squad would will it so he could go free and wouldn't have to kill them there in his realm. The Troll looks around, recovered, and determines he has just enough strength to leap out of the pumpkin patch. He makes a wild leap as Spectrum and T'suara fly off.
The Troll has an idea of how to get back to where he started and that via that he should be able, as should the others, to wake up. However, they end up a bit lost and nearly blunder into a camp of froglike beings. Escaping from them they see strange birds in the distance, and Troll knows they need to get away fast from prior experiences in this realm. With a mighty leap he manages to land near a hole into the ground through which he believes they can wake up. The Troll does indeed wake up, feeling fully the physical wear and tear. The others wake up in a strange fog and wonder about the dream they had, later to find out just how real it was.
The next day is more eventful for Jonas Hell than for the others. It starts with Laughton receiving a visit from an NEA lawyer who warns Laughton that they intend to see Hell in jail. He's willing to plea bargain and let Hell serve just two years. Laughton knows they have a reasonable case and sees Hell as both Spectrum and Sihn stop by to consult. Laughton advises Hell to take the deal, and Jonas Hell is appalled. He refuses to go to jail at all and implores as well as antagonizes his super friends. Then Sihn suggests they put Jonas' Hell brain into a dog, and the dog's into Hell. The conversation goes full circle as Jonas, already drunk from a night out, drinks even more spastically. Jonas soon throws a desk; Sihn points out that Jonas wants to prove he has super powers. The Justice Squad discusses giving him the powers of Jonas the World's Smartest Dog on TV, then they imagine a TV image of the dog begging at the bar and picking up chicks and... Hell passes out. The debate begins in earnest, with Sihn and Laughton seeing eye to eye on transferring his brain as the best solution. Suzanne strangely enthusiastically agrees. Sihn and Laughton are taken aback but are pleased not to have her meddling. Hell briefly wakes up and slurs, "You can put my brain in Caruthers," and passes out. Laughton briefly considers it but decides to go with the dog idea as he doesn't think Caruthers should have the advantages of being a dog.
So when Jonas wakes up he's confused and wonders why he's in a cage, and feels different, and can barely do anything. Then he emits a pitiful howl. Spectrum helps to ease his mind a bit, holding him back from utter insanity. As he adapts he eventually goes to his bowl and motions. Suzanne understands and puts whiskey in the bowl. Jonas the Wonder Dog, a cute border collie, begins to settle into a new life as his body shuffles off to turn itself in a catatonic stupor. The Wonder Dog does not want Beggin' Strips, with the aid of Spectrum's mind-helping, but will eat baloney sandwiches. Within a day the dog-brained Jonas is admitted into a mental institution.
The next day John Washington, the middle-aged fan-boy who once encountered the Justice Squad, contacts Sihn-tek about getting a picture/autograph with the group. Sihn lets him talk and finds out he's in office services at ABC Corporation and wants to impress his peers. Sihn agrees cautiously. Meanwhile Laughton is busy "teaching" Jonas to walk on a rope. Jonas the Wonder Dog isn't too keen on the idea and demands a crossbow that fires from his head. Laughton is willing to give it, but Spectrum gives Hell a strong mental suggestion not o shoot her specifically with it. Sihn looks at Jonas and says aloud, "You could be a prey animal." The Wonder Dog walks across the rope without further argument.
A day later just Laughton and Sihn meet Washington, to be on the safe side. The "team mascot", Wonder Dog, pees on the fanatic's leg, then growls, then is shown whiskey, and then sits. Laughton and SIhn explain that the dog is Rodin, and the fan-boy bites. They command, "Go stone, Rodin, go stone!" Then Laughton surreptitiously turns the dog into stone. Sihn tells Washington to tell his friends at ABC that he says hello.
As the Scooby Gang (Buffy's crowd) moves into Sihn-tek, there's more contact between the two teams. Spectrum goes with Willow to a semi-trendy place and complains how Laughton's a real jerk, and "don't even go into Sihn". Willow asks her if she'll spend more time with the Scooby Gang and if she'll pursue the seance idea to contact her other selves more. Spectrum too-casually agrees to both.
Giles and Sihn spend much time talking of the occult. After a couple weeks Giles discusses his feeling of a sinister powerful presence in Sihn-tek. Sihn divulges he has a Necronomicon and mentions that browsing it is even better on the Palm when the next OS is released. Giles is nervous and urges his new friend take good care, and through patient perseverance even convinces Sihn to expunge it from his computers. When Sihn attempts to though he finds it does not delete. After reattempting it in case he made a careless error, he still cannot. He gets Gere-luce involved as wiping the drive still does not eradicate it. After considerable study Sihn eventually eliminates it, owing it to some magic-related dimensional sort of contact.
The team gets a visit from The Captain. The Captain sits in grand repose and extols on the dangers of Magneto and the need to work with the government. Spectrum tells him to spare them the heroic poses. The Captain bores the crew, going on and on, and Spectrum mentally communicates with Jonas the Wonder Dog to pee on The Captain's leg, bribing him with good scotch. When Hell does so, though, The Captain lashes out angrily with deadly force, battering the dog and killing him were it not for Laughton's stoning of the hurt dog. The Justice Squad is shocked and ask The Captain to leave. The Captain lashes out at some comments by Sihn and exclaims, "If you're not for us you're against us!" Laughton waxes philosophic on how life is not a series of binary choices. Laughton even reveals he has a certain amount of sympathy for Magneto and cannot choose between Magneto and the government. Sihn, having been brutally attacked by Magneto first of the group, is surprised and offers up that he is on the government's side. Spectrum chimes in that she's against both sides. She makes a comment about big jerks on each side acting over-important to compensate for other physical factors. As they see The Captain out, Laughton gives him his 900 number. Once Sihn patches up the Wonder Dog, Spectrum rewards him with 30 year old scotch.
In the world at large the first anniversary of the founding of Origin is coming up, the date being based on the publication of Magneto's manifesto. The 719 Society wants the trial to coincide with the event and is wiling to defer a possible early hearing date. In other news the Kingpin's trial has bogged down as the nature of WEB is being publicly explored as the Kingpin's lawyers serve papers on the underground government agency.
And a telegraph arrives at Laughton Agency from Magneto. It reads:
HEARD THE CAPTAIN DROPPED IN STOP
SOON...
[Game Mechanics - Points Awarded...
Being watched and/or connected to a major super - +13.125 RP for Troll
Assisting in rescues in New York - +22.5 RP for Rodin, Spectrum, Troll
Drawing to a Vastly Superior Opponent, the Bogeyman - +26.25 RP for Rodin, Spectrum, Troll, +1.75 XP for Rodin, Spectrum, Troll
Turning Hell into a dog and "rescuing" him - Winning against a roughly equal opponent (the government in this case, not Hell) - +5.625 RP for Rodin, Spectrum, Troll, +.375 XP for Rodin, Spectrum, Troll
Special Awards:
Rodin - +1 XP towards Oratory
Spectrum - +1 XP towards Acting
Troll - +1 XP towards Computer-Based Magic skill
Troll - +2 XP for journal entry, apply any
5 hours play in character - +3.75 RP for Rodin, Spectrum, Troll, +1.25 XP for Rodin, Spectrum, Troll
Totals:
Rodin 58.125 RP, 4.375 XP
Spectrum 58.125 RP, 4.375 XP
Troll 71.25 RP, 6.375 XP
Totals to Date:
Neumann 185.5 RPs, 29.3 XPs
Rodin 1162.25 RPs, 107.95 XPs
Sammy the Slime 1042.625 RPs, 99.6875 XPs
Spectrum 979.875 RPs, 99.125 XPs
Troll 1107.875 RPs, 112.375 XPs]