X-Champions Issues
Issue #32 - Taking the Offensive, Part 1
It's the evening of November 15th. Spectrum is away in New York, visiting and patrolling with Nightshade. Eliot Sihn is also on a much-needed vacation, taking his family to a series of exotic locations around the world. The first ads for Phoenix Mel's, as endorsed by Sammy with the Justice Squad, hit the air in Detroit. Manny Wulfenstein remains locked securely in Sammy's office in Laughton Agency, ensuring he won't go on a rampage as he turns into a werewolf. And Magneto pays another visit - but this time he's announced simply as "Erik" when Velda pages Hamlet Laughton and Sammy.
They meet in the conference room, Magneto's erstwhile office among the Justice Squad. Laughton, prepared due to many prior visits, brings a name tag bearing "Erik" on it and places it on the desk, saying "Let's make it official" and letting out a slight laugh. Sammy brings up a slew of baloney sandwiches for Magneto, who attempts (but fails) to act enthused - and barely touches them, nibbling politely at one and feigning a full stomach.
Magneto begins to discuss the endeavor he'd brought up prior with Laughton and Sammy: the break-in to ABC Laboratories' headquarters in Detroit. He offers up that he has two mutants from his organization to join them (and insists they accompany them so he has his own operatives along). One of them is the Lizard King, who led a rag-tag group of mutants to fight the Justice Squad (see issue 25) to attract Magneto's attention. Magneto had him sprung from jail, and freely explains that the Lizard King is "expendable" but should provide useful power to their mission. He also brings up a new member of his organization that he has high hopes for - Nightcrawler, a mutant who can teleport and is extremely dexterous, a former circus acrobat. He mentions NIghtcrawler's appearance and as he haltingly explains it Laughton surmises what he means and says back, "You mean his face is like clown make-up?"
They continue their discussion, Magneto imparting what he knows, explaining what they've determined to date in their security probes of ABC. He explains they now strongly suspect there is an entrance through the basement level. Sammy, having learned more about being a detective and following leads, asks what people they've discovered who have access to the lower levels and it turns out that while some people have access to the basement there's nothing extraordinary about them or their skills.
As the conversation continues and Magneto gets into more details, Velda brings in some coffee as if on cue. Magneto looks just a bit "interested" in the bombshell receptionist and after she leaves asks if she's a mutant, saying he believes she must be. Laughton disappoints Erik, though, with the bad news that she's entirely human. Then he adds, "Believe me, I'm sure," as he pulls out Sihn's mutant detector device, one of a number of gadgets he's "procured" from Sihn during Sihn's absence - and as it turns out gadgets which Sihn, with his increased magical skills, has no use for.
After the meeting, Magneto lingers in the entry way speaking to Velda, paying her compliments on her prompt coffee-bearing and chatting idly about her job and what she's up to.
Laughton shortly after the meeting spends some time attempting to hack into ABC's system, both publicly and privately facing. He doesn't find too much although he becomes comfortable getting into it. He does find two items that pique his interest: an unusually large petty cash fund and a peer workstation that apparently has accessed the system but is currently off-line. He sets up some observational programs to check later and notify him when it is online.
However, a few hours later, Laughton receives an encrypted message. After spending many minutes (a lifetime for someone way beyond human intellect) decrypting it, he finds it says "HAHAHA YOU ARE SMART BUT NOT SMART ENOUGH".
Laughton injects himself with Sihn's intellect aid, boosting his intelligence beyond human imagination (game note - 138). His next attempt at accessing the system does go better, though he still finds it tedious and difficult. He is more successful but still doesn't get as deep as he intended, failing to get into whatever sent him the system.
Sammy insists on helping, so Laughton directs him to the computer in his own room in the down-deep secret Justice Squad base - where Laughton has the Internet cached so that Sammy doesn't actually interact with the outside world. So Sammy spends a few hours studying ABC's public site in detail and ends up giving Laughton a full report on what they've released publicly. More usefully, though, he spends a lot of that time studying the various pictures Hamlet gives him from the HR system, so he's prepared to look like a number of ABC employees.
And then it's time to meet the Lizard King and Nightcrawler. They've prearranged a meeting at Baroni's (the old Tocci family mob restaurant), Sammy not having been there in many months. At Baroni's, neither the Lizard King nor Nightcrawler are entirely inconspicuous, as the Lizard King has to wear a large bulky trench coat and a big hat to hide his appearance while Nightcrawler also has his face shaded over and considerable clothing. At least it's cold enough not to be an absurd scene. At first, Laughton does not arrive, busily observing ABC and working out the possibilities, unable to decrypt many of the signals coming out of ABC but finding no indications of anything like the Kingpin's hidden base formerly atop the Glitterati Hotel.
At dinner, he Lizard King hisses at Sammy, in reference to their first "meeting", "I'm sssorry to have hurt you," though his tone is unconvincing. Otherwise, to start, the conversation is casual. Nightcrawler introduces himself formally, mentioning his name is Kurt Wagner and discussing his background in the circus and how he met Magneto, who recruited him and explained the human-mutant dilemma to him. He also quickly turns to food, asking if they have any German food and saying he's hungry. That alone earns Sammy's respect, and Sammy mentions they have good sausages. As they talk, Sammy mentions he finds Magneto "too serious," which Kurt sort of agrees with. Then the discuss inevitably turns back to food; turns out Sammy is a fan of circus food (although Kurt is as yet unaware Sammy is a fan of almost any food), and Nightcrawler agrees that cotton candy is good. The Lizard King sits sullenly, only saying "Yeah, I'm hungry," as the appetizers (including some sausages) arrive; his tastes run towards meat, and he enjoys some lobster and crab. Just after the food arrives, Laughton shows up as Sammy asks if Lizard King and Nightcrawler have ideas on infiltrating ABC.
Lizard King volunteers they should just "kill 'em all", making a bloodbath out of ABC until they find what they want. Nightcrawler has no ideas, but brings up that Magneto specifically put Laughton in charge, and Lizard King nods begrudgingly in assent. Laughton talks to Nightcrawler about his teleportation, and Nightcrawler indicates he cannot teleport where he cannot see. Laughton had just prepared a device for finding secret passages in ABC, a sensing device that uses unusual electromagnetic rays to find the dimensions of spaces and objects in a wide radius, simultaneously penetrating those areas even while defining them via a sort of on-screen map. He asks Nightcrawler to turn away so that he can't see and hands him the device, then asking "How many fingers am I holding up?" Nightcrawler can see, via the map, the outline of Laughton even through the Lizard King, whom he moves behind to test it.
The discussion turns to names, given Magneto's pronouncements regarding mutants using their self-owned "mutant names", and that Laughton continues to go by Hamlet Laughton in their dealings rather than specifically or necessarily Rodin. Laughton and Sammy leave out that Magneto still uses Erik in their casual conversations, but neither are concerned with which names they go under. Laughton simply says "I am a mutant" and states that's all that matters (though he now knows and chooses not to reveal that he's actually an alien). Sammy says "I'm Sammy. Sometimes I'm Samuel." Lizard King hisses at Laughton, "Traitor!" and then starts challenging, saying to Sammy and Nightcrawler, "Why do we have to listen to him?" Laughton simply responds, "Because I am the smartest man in the world at this moment in time," aware that depending on the circumstance Sihn may surpass him. The argument continues but is broken by Sammy encouraging everyone to eat up and pointing out food the Lizard King and Nightcrawler each find engaging.
However, the table remains a bit tense as the Lizard King's teeth pierce the shell of his lobster and he loudly crunches into his meal, shell bits dropping as he sucks out the meat. As the others looks at him, he simply brusquely responds, "I don't eat like a human," and makes no apologies as his table manners attract other patron's attentions. Laughton doesn't worry about the attention and enjoys his buttered noodles, which finally arrive as everyone continues eating, saying "Cheapest thing on the menu!"
As the discussion turns back to ABC, Laughton brings up they may have mutants in their employ. Lizard King exclaims that "traitors die". Sammy humorously says, "We'll get our chance" in responses. The Lizard King shoots back, "You've seen it, you taste good," in reference to once having bitten into Sammy, not exactly endearing himself.
Back on track, Laughton mentions a scientist with the highest security clearance who works for ABC who may be of use. They resolve to visit and interrogate him, the Lizard King adding that for Interrogating "Laughton is inconsequential". Sammy volunteers to be inconsequential as well, but then more seriously suggests he could just walk in and grab the ABC science person. The Lizard King likes the idea and slams his clawed hand on the table in his enthusiasm. Shortly after the waiter shows up with the check and noticeably makes no offer of desert. And Laughton leaves his tip of a few pennies (which isn't that much less "generous" than his normal tips). Kurt points out a bit nervously, "Maybe we were loud..." and the Lizard King quickly retorts, "Chicken!" Laughton doesn't say anything but simply reaches into one of his many pockets and pulls out ear buds.
As they leave, Laughton stresses that they should sneak to get the scientist, not let themselves be seen, and explains they need to go now and grab him. Lizard King is pleased that there's some immediate action and understands that Laughton is playing for keeps; he relents, saying "You're not so bad," to Laughton. They go to his home in one of the hip new condos downtown, arriving with Laughton disguising himself as Tony Stark while Sammy looks like Lizard King, along with the other two pretending to be bodyguards, mutant ones being quite reasonable for Stark.
They look in a window to see the young scientist, Johnny Smartt, watching TV. They shortly knock on the door and are let in by the startled Johnny, who is astonished to see Tony Stark. Stark/Laughton immediately tells him he's there to offer him a job. He dangles interesting projects in front of him, keeping him at ease as they speak. The scientist claims he doesn't have much on hand but offers up that he has Twinkies, which Lizard King hisses out, "Twinkiess are okay." When he brings them, the box being 3/4 full, Sammy gobbles down the remainder. Johnny is a bit surprised and offers up some Pabst Blue Ribbon as well; Laughton declines, saying, "I'm a single malt man" (the joke lost on all but Sammy, as Laughton still has his "single" malt sitting at O'Malley's). Naturally Sammy replies, "I'm a bit parched." As this transpires, Laughton notes the place is very well-decorated, but it doesn't look natural for a man who offers them cheap junk food and beer and apparently has modest tastes in magazines and television shows; he presumes the scientist had someone decorate his place. He spends his time steering the conversation towards what the scientist wants to do for projects, hoping to find out more about what he's now doing at ABC. As it turns out, Johnny is not working on any sort of super-science projects and is sort of a manager, still hands-on but directing a few scientists in high-level stuff but nothing that Laughton senses will bring them closer to the secret mutant research Magneto wants to know about. But to keep the ruse up - and ensure his face isn't around ABC for a bit if they need to use it - he insists that Johnny meet at the Executive Suites first thing in the AM for an interview. Laughton plans to later call Pagliacchi and have him keep the young man busy all day.
Before they leave, Laughton deftly steals Johnny's access card as well as gets his fingerprints for any later use.
Then they head out to a supervisor, the Director of BIochemical Research and Deveopment, that Laughton suspects may also give some leads, going to a nice home in Gros Pointe. It's a little late when they get there, 10 PM, and Laughton observes to find that this man, Kevin Jones, has a small family, one wife and a child. He, with the others standing by, sets the alarm in the garage off, then turns it off, and waits. Inevitably, more curious than concerned, Jones heads out there, but is quickly grabbed by Sammy, who still looks and is acting like the Lizard King. Sammy licks his ear, "tasting" him, and the Lizard King joins in on the other side, severely disturbing Jones, causing him to faint. After he's awakened, Laughton begins interrogating him there in the garage, saying "I know what you're working on." He still looks like Stark and indicates he wants Jones working for him, in a conspiratorial manner.
Before anything is revealed, the wife calls out for Jones. He's instructed to holler back that he's busy, and of course does. But she nonetheless enters the garage and is grabbed by NIghtcrawler, who teleports a distance to grab her before she can see anything of substance. She is quickly duct-taped and blindfolded.
Jones claims to know nothing though he does reveal what work he's doing (which isn't anything special). Laughton turns to Lizard King and says, "I'm not sure if you have space to eat this one," causing the Lizard King to laugh evilly and leap to saying, "I'll take care of the woman first." Laughton is sure he doesn't want the Lizard King doing anything on his own with her and asks him to "talk" to the husband, showing but not using his claws. He does with relish, and Jones begins rambling uncontrollably.
Laughton changes the direction of the interrogation, asking about the AI computer he encountered, which he found during his work to be code-named DEXTER. The scientist-manager has no clue. Laughton realizes, through his ability to read intimate details in people's faces and gestures, that he is telling the truth. He directs his cohorts to duct-tape "Mr. Jones". The Lizard King offers to "take care" of them but Laughton insists on leaving them duct-taped with a sports bottle of water attached to their mouths. The cruel reptile-mutant is disappointed, objecting only briefly, saying "They're humans," as if that were ample justification for their deaths. Laughton, unimpressed with the creature's ability to rationalize, speaks deliberately in "Star Trek" terms, explaining by analogy, "We're in neutral space right now, let's wait until we get into Romulan space."
With Jones' access card now in hand, they have two for getting into ABC. They scope out the building; as it's late, it's not surprising to find a few lights on here and there in the windows and little activity. Sammy and Laughton, looking like scientists, use their access cards and walk up to a side entrance of the building with Lizard King and Nightcrawler accompanying them. There's a guard at this entrance, but Laughton's fast talk convinces him that he's bringing in the two mutants for some experiments. He even asks the guard to turn the lamp he uses to read down for the moment, as it disturbs them. The guard, reviewing Laughton's ID card, returns it, referring to him as "the Jonesenator!" and lets them in. Laughton pulls at Lizard King, saying, "Come on, Subject L."
Inside the building, Laughton quickly taps into the system and forces the security system to "look away," causing cameras to move in a fashion that avoids the group. In fact, he penetrates the regular security system deeply (game mechanic note - rolled a 3), and then realizes that "something" - which turns out to be DEXTER - is trying to control the cameras. He manages to maintain control though and ensures that DEXTER is blinded, at least via this normal security system.
They make their way to the basement and Laughton turns on his sensing device as demonstrated earlier at dinner. He finds a few irregular cavities behind the walls, one in particular that seems to have no boundaries on the other side. He then sets up something to monitor the power consumption via ABC's computers; he traces the various power routes and encounters DEXTER again. The power information doesn't help much, but it helps to confirm a dead zone where the particular aforementioned cavity is. So Laughton holds his device so that Nightcrawler can see it, and Nightcrawler grabs Laughton and they teleport into the abyss...
which is indeed an abyss. It resembles vaguely the void they entered when looking for Sihn but is entirely silent and "feels' normal as opposed to having the strange feel and affects of the nexus dimension. However, they do hang their for a few moments. Kurt whispers, "I'm trapped," thinking he has teleported and not reappeared anywhere.
But reappear they do, suddenly feeling a shift in the air and realizing they are in a pitch-black room of some kind. Laughton finds none of his electronic gadgets work - and worse he cannot change form. They do find a heavy-duty seemingly electronics-keyed door of some sort but cannot open it.
And suddenly the door opens, a few Omega agents (immediately confirming the relationship between Omega and ABC) firing in blasts of intense light, blinding Laughton but not the fast-moving Nightcrawler who grabs Laughton and avoids them. Just before the shots, Laughton and Nightcrawler glimpsed a couple of ominous figures behind the agents, a fit-looking woman in a costume wielding a bat, and a darker-clad, suited man looking foreboding. The door is just ajar, the agents not yet willing to move in.
Meanwhile, back in the basement, Sammy, with his enhanced hearing, can tell there are many people coming for them, the sound of boots hitting stairs apparent to him. With Laughton and Nightcrawler now gone for several minutes with no word, Sammy and Lizard King begin bashing at the wall, hoping to find them. The Lizard King manages to put a large enough hole for Sammy to squeeze through as agents approach. Sammy makes like the wall and stays still, while the Lizard King goes into camouflage mode and blends in as well.
Back in the containment room, Nightcrawler avoids the agents' shots as Laughton regains his vision. Then they make a bold move, as Laughton asks Nightcrawler to hold on to him and teleport forward to the agents at the door. Laughton grabs one of them, hoping to take off his suit and use it. He manages to grab the agent and they pull him aside. While, given prior experience, he knows how to dismantle it, his fingers slip at the wrong moment and the suit is destroyed internally as the self-destruct mechanism goes off (game mechanic - rolled an 18) and the person inside is killed. They try again, disarming one of the agents and then knocking him out. Laughton tries to concentrate on dismantling this other body armor/power source and put it on as Nightcrawler keeps them from getting harmed.
The agents come into the room and spread fire, hurting but not stopping the two supers. As that happens, Sammy takes a moment to slip through the wall and finds himself sitting in the transitionary abyss, sweating as for a moment he nearly loses his sanity from the memory of his last encounter with absolute darkness. Then he pops into the half-dark room, and is as surprised as Laughton to realize he cannot change form - and thus cannot change his abilities. Meanwhile, the Lizard King smashes into the last of the wall in his way and into the abyss...
[Game Mechanics - Points Awarded...
For breaking into ABC, the situation was taken care of this time, and it was about even, but not enough color - +5.625 RP, +.375 XP for Sammy, Laughton
3 hours in character - +2.25 RP, +.75 XP for Laughton, Sammy
Totals:
Laughton 7.875 RP, 1.125 XP
Sammy 7.875 RP, 1.125 XP
Totals to Date:
Dice 188.5 RPs, 14.95 XPs
Laughton 1444.375 RPs, 131.25 XPs
Neumann 344.5 RPs, 49.05 XPs
Sammy the Slime 1374.25 RPs, 135.9875 XPs
Spectrum 1288.25 RPs, 122.425 XPs
Steely Danelle 86 RPs, 10.75 XPs
Troll 1457.25 RPs, 136.25 XPs]