Spectacles Follow-Up Notes
Neumann -
Neumann finds out about the robots the Justice Squad has fought, Mocker and Bender. He sets up a time to visit them via Sihn's government contacts.
Rodin -
Laughton initiates contacts with Fox Force Five via his courier, Jonas the Wonder Dog.
He consults with Chiang regarding the effects of the Necronomicon on Sihn and what defenses he might be able to enact just in case. Chiang suggests a particular combination of herbal medicines known to modern man as good for "peculiarily tenacious headaches coupled with disorderly and disruptive thoughts". They boost the will of the mind. Given enough of these herbs along with a rare flower found only in the Gobi desert the mind can become a fortress existing on another plane. The rare flower, the Mongolian Caryopteris, must be taken from native Gobi. Chiang has none and suggests a "quest" if Laughton is serious. In any case he explains to Laughton he must also master his intellect, lest his intellect become his master, and tells him he is willing to meditate with him.
He also spends time talking with Whyte of the Rosicrucians. He wants to find out more about the grays, the relatives somehow to his T'suara form. Henry Whyte is quite willing to speak with Laughton, and leads him on a short trip to Chicago, to the Field Museum. After hours Whyte apparently has free entry and in the wee hours they walk down into the partial recreation of a pyramid, which consists of several original slabs. Whyte moves one of the slabs aside by moving his hands gingerly and oddly around it, unlocking some sort of invisible combination, and leads Laughton into a room where none ought be. Closing the slab behind them, Laughton uncontrollably turns to T'suara for a few moments. Whyte respectfully kneels and averts his eyes, though the body motions that T'suara senses are not so dramatic as for the aliens of ancient Egypt. He then moves to pull an ancient book out, which T'suara cannot read given his senses. But Whyte reads aloud several passages, and indicates that the "modern" grays, who established human life on earth and even now still visit, are an offshoot of the "primitive" energy beings of Sigma 6. Somehow these beings adapted several physical forms to carry on a mission which, through the ages, has become lost. In fact the energy beings themselves are thought to be extinct according to this ancient (in human terms) book and therefore by the Rosicrucians, although T'suara/Laughton/Rodin recalls the familiarity which both Dr. 13/Rose and Lucretia Johnson had with his species He asks what Whyte knows, even rumor-wise, of other energy beings in recent history, and what Whyte knows about visitation sites/timings, if he could arrange a "coincidental" meeting even. He finds Whyte and his troupe very backwards-focused with little to offer even on the contemporary Grays. What he does say is that the Rosicrucians have an emergency modern contact system for the Grays via a device in their HQ. Other than that, he suggests Manny, whose work he's read often, Whyte agrees with Laughton that at some point he can use the device, though he would appreciate a "donation" of $100,000. Laughton gets a better lead on chance encounters. On energy beings, Whyte is best acquainted with 2 sets of rumors: 1) they are active remote sensors and both plague and assist various deep government remote sensing operations; and 2) the same energy beings might be responsible for the livestock mutilations. Manny is pretty helpful on the subject, pulling out a whole library he has on it. From Laughton's advanced mind it's clear there is no real pattern, in fact there is probably a real attempt to disestablish any pattern. But working/lower class rural settings are a favorite haunt of the grays for reasons unknown.
In a little spare time Laughton goes on some short patrols with the Mysterymen, getting to know them and
WEB goes public as fallout from Laughton's courtroom announcement and the events of 9/11. They "admit" that they called in Laughton as a liaison and for his detective skills. It turns out, as the media spin goes, that Laughton had no personal investment in anything and was just a detective doing his job, at the government's bequest. The public starts to see a new side of Laughton and the "rehabilitation" of him begins. In fact many people dismiss his connection with the Justice Squad as simply that of a government liaison paid to keep tabs on them.
He also revisits the connection of the CIA and the Millionaire show. He makes plans with WEB to visit the office that the transmissions were linked to, putting together documentation covering the alleged connections between Kingpin and Kietersling, then using his WEB connections and the trial, he makes a standard appointment to visit the CIA research facilities in DC. Once there, he makes a side sojourn looking into the now defunct broadcasts. He figures the good news is both these activities are billable hours.
But he has other things to concern himself with as well as also via WEB Laughton finds out that Wilson Fisk, AKA the Kingpin, is being released into a witness protection program in Oklahoma, as with the sudden focus on international terrorism his information on terrorists in the underworld is now very valuable, along with whatever the government can leverage about his strange desolid ex-headquarters. WEB tells Laughton in fact exactly where Kingpin lives, hoping for the best. When Laughton gets to DC, he finds that Frank Beard is angry over the Kingpin deal and is willing to grant substantial access to Laughton and push buttons in other agencies. He finds the CIA guys however are uncooperative and willing to give the lab time but no hands-on assistance. Of course this doesn't matter to Laughton. What does matter to Laughton is that the area is heavily monitored including over-the-back type cameras and listening devices. He surmises that these are "backup" security monitoring devices so that if someone uses the computer and doesn't leave a trace (Laughton will have to hack into the system to not leave a trace though he feels he can do so without too much trouble) they can listen to keyboard taps and monitor visual playback to compensate, essentially tracing by painfully assembling the audio and visual clues. Laughton could disable these devices of course but doing so requires a physical tampering as well as the devices are hard-wired into the power - if they go down, so does the power, the idea being to stop intrusions if someone gets that far and wants to not be observed. So Laughton can hope they have no reason to check the records or he can go ahead and engage in the sabotage. Preparation is called for and on top Laughton would have to be stealthy as people are walking in and out of the lab. However, there is no full-time guard as it is an internal research site. It is by no means impossible or even likely to fail, but it is risky. But he has no time on this visit and weighs these options for a later visit. On his way back to Detroit he has a meeting that it took great pains to arrange and he must be on time...
as he meets none other than Magneto! Laughton is braced for the worst, as Magneto has made it clear he now considers the Justice Squad enemies based on their fight in Los Angeles. Laughton is concerned about the rumors of Magneto's cooperation with terrorists and wants to see it, ideally, disproved for the sake of mutants everywhere, and less ideally at least stopped. Laughton starts with, "I have no intention of doing anything other than gather information. Regardless of our feelings on the fate and state of "Homo Sapiens vs Homo Sapiens SUpernus" we are both intelligent enough to understand that there is a dangerous and pressing need to squelch the untruths that are circulating about the intent of Mutants as a whole. You know I don't paint things with a broad brush, and I don't limit my palate to black and white. I just want to get to the crux of the situation here, understand what happened it as best I can, and smooth things out if at all possible. I am not here to raise a hand against you or for you at this time, my agenda is mine own." Laughton waits to either wake up from the coma, or proceed to discuss the current theories of terrorist activity with Magneto.
Magneto is not casually dressed; he's suited fully up, suspecting possible action, although his demeanor is calm. Laughton can tell that in the distance there are mutant guards around. "Rodin - unless you'd prefer to go by your human name - I must admit I admire your forward nature. I admit, I half-expected either a trap and half-considered trapping you as a preemptive measure. But I like this sort of truce - I have no real quarrel with you though you really should not act on behalf of the likes of those who would oppose me. In any case, I know you are not an absolutist. I am, however. And ironically that puts us meeting in the middle. For achieving a world of..." suddenly all electronic gear ceases working, anything Hamlet might be recording with has essentially frozen up, "...black and white demands a course of action scarred by shades of gray. Yes, Rodin, I have made deals with what America calls terrorists. I am untroubled," Hamlet senses he is lying for a brief second, "because they are warring with each other, these humans. Much I suppose as some of us mutants do, as you well know. I have provided medical aid and, yes, passed on like-minded mutants for their causes. I have done so only in the service of the mutants who are so inclined. It is not "good", Rodin, but it is necessary. These humans move through the same undergrounds as we do. And for now we have need of more resources than we can muster. I cannot help it if humans have reduced themselves to this level of warfare. I am doing my best to pick up the pieces"
"Rodin, what did The Captain say to you? And do you really believe the Justice Squad should involve itself against me?"
Laughton follows the trend, "Magneto, you should know me well enough by now, I can tell when even one such as you is not being entirely truthful, your pupils dilate ever so slightly, in a rhythm out of sync with your heart beat when ever you attempt to exaggerate the truth. I can sense that your dealing with these terrorists is not entirely untroubling. I can understand your feelings about treating mankind as one would feel towards a favorite pet, or even how a shepard might think of his flock. Humans are not sheep, they are not even pets, they are self aware sentient beings--no matter how slight that sentience might seem in some of them, the sentience is still there."
Laughton holds up a hand, "However, I did not come here to debate that issue with you tonight. I am more than a bit troubled that you would be able to convince your conscious mind that aligning your actions with those of these terrorists could be considered fair game. There is a pedantic saying that seems appropriate here: two wrongs don't make a right. Two warring factions, to use your term, does not logically follow that the enemy of your enemy is your friend. Magneto, I respect your goals, but not the means you choose to achieve them. You can not allow your followers to continue this form of aid or alliance. This is a sure method to make sure that you and yours will never live in peace with the current government.
"I hope that you are not presumptuous enough to think that you have the power or the following to completely replace the entirety of the "Government". It is too vast, too many tendrils snaking their way into too many dark and mysterious passages. Your best hope is a compromise, in my opinion."
Hamlet pauses a moment, then continues, "It strikes me that you would seek to treat Mankind as an inferior race, a lesser race. Yet you do not try to foster stewardship or caring over them, but rather would treat them as a nuisance, a thing to be removed. You can do better--we mutants can do better than pick up the pieces, we can repair what is broken, make it better than new."
"As for the Captain, he has become a pompous fool. He is so full of his own accomplishment, that he forgets how he came to get to the place he is. He doesn't just see everything is Black and White, he sees it in terms of his way and the rest. There is no coin. There isn't even a tesseract. There are myriad sides to every issue, and few have the capacity to oversee them all, or are even prepared to consider more than a few. The Captain is one such narrow minded soul, and I pay little attention to him these days, unless he is kicking my dog."
"As for the Justice Squad......I don't kid myself that I can speak for any of them besides myself, and these days, even my limited influence seems to be failing to other forces. Some of the Justice Squad have very strong feelings about the issue, and even stronger opinions about you. My first allegiances are to my friends, I think there is still room in our discussion for Magneto to not be considered an enemy. Compromise is not the easy way, both sides have to choose to lose a little. I can see the big picture here, and I can be patient. Troll is distracted these days, and prefers to take the easy choices, right now as far as you are concerned that choice is being made even easier if you embrace the "axis of evil". I think you can see the big picture too. You are a visionary Magneto, the vision you choose to share can have a huge influence."
Magneto replies, "I will consider everything you've said. Consider if you will that if we mutants banded together, all of us, we could truly help these humans once we've disarmed and contained them. Think of how peaceful the world might then be! Think of how we could stretch out and realize our collective potential. Imagine your own and mine and Dr. Doom's and the Troll's mighty brain powers combined! Rodin, the opportunities not of a lifetime but of a generation out of thousands prior is in front of us. Do not squander it by painting so many shades of gray you can no longer the true absolutes when you see them."
"I wish you well, for the most part, and hope that our next meeting can be similarly civil. However, do not be deceived that you can avoid choosing a real side forever. Someday a choice will have to be made, for reasons I imagine neither you nor I will control."
Laughton's turn: "I would ask a small thing of you--something that would remove some of the recent tarnish on the worlds perception. Break your ties to these men who cause terror as a means of progress. Perhaps, I would suggest, unveil them for who they are but do nothing more, and allow others to resort to brutishness. Show the world you are a great thinker. I appreciate the chance of having this conversation with you on these grounds Magneto. I will dwell upon your words, as I know you shall upon mine. I imagine that soon the correct shade of gray will be found, a choice will be made. The tangle may be impressive, but it is still but a single strand. I have faith that I can unravel it without resorting to a blade."
Magneto walks away, eyes darting about, and soon he and apparently his distant henchmen disappear.
That completed (and not having risked his life enough for one week), Laughton resolves to find out more about the Kingpin...
Sihn -
while Sihn resolves, learning the same from Terwilliger sans the actual address, to do nothing. He knows that when he sees Kingpin again, he will kill him for the death of his mother and the arrogant escape frmo justice he's enacted.
Sammy -
Sammy and Jane have been wanting to spend some nice quality time together. Having no investigations pending and given their naive impulsiveness, little time was wasted in planning. With the help of a travel agent (equipped with a dart board for destination acquisition) and Bob Rogers, Sammy was able to complete some basic PR and a flight plan. The initial concerts were a bit small given the short notice, inadequate stages, etc. However, the last concerts were much more impressive as there was significantly more time to sell tickets. Any lack of talent or equipment was simply overcome by Sammy's determination to make the best with what he had; Sammy has a lot of confidence in his abilities.
Elvis and Priscilla Presley (AKA Sammy and Jane) launched their exhaustive Elvis throughout the United States, hitting most major cities. Traveling as such, they gathered a lot of attention on their flights throughout the US. Unfortunately, Sammy and Jane were not on any of the 9-11 airplanes; otherwise, Sammy thinks things would have turned out very differently. Sammy was able to turn a lot of distress into hope at his Las Vegas showing when the crisis happened.
Given his heroic endurance, Sammy was able to include many major US cities in his tour (in alphabetical order):
Sammy picked up a flashy T-shirt from his Las Vegas concert for Hamlet Laughton. The T-shirt depicted a large picture of Sammy on stage (as Elvis).
hile Sih
[Game Mechanics - Points Awarded...
Totals:
Neumann 2 XP towards any robotic
or mutant contact desired
Rodin 2 XP
2 XP he may put towards any underworld contacts
Sammy 2 XP, 22.5 RP
3 XP for any general entertainment skill(s)
2 XP for show business skill (INT-based)
2 XP for Elvis skill
5 XP for Well Off
Totals to Date:
Neumann 185.5 RPs, 31.3 XPs
Rodin 1162.25 RPs, 111.95 XPs
Sammy the Slime 1064.625 RPs, 113.6875 XPs
Spectrum 979.875 RPs, 99.125 XPs
Troll 1107.875 RPs, 112.375 XPs]