X-Champions Issues

Issue #40 - Freedom of the Press

The Justice Squad investigates Jameson's doppelganger, now that the situation with Bogeyman has been handled.  Sammy   Throughout the night, Neumann finishes some repairs he, with Gere-luce's help, have been working on for some time. As the day dawns, Neumann has regained the full use of his internal, specialized reel-to-reel tape recording facility and as such can retain any information he encounters. This important task ended, he joins the Justice Squad, fresh from relaxation after the events in Morton, as they convene to discuss the Jameson situation.

First the team resolves to reconnoiter the situation, with Sammy posing as a janitor serving Jameson's paper. He enters the office easily enough, and makes his way into Jameson's office, where "Jameson" appears to be working. As Sammy, the janitor, enters to empty the wastebasket and otherwise tidy up, Jameson mistakes him for a regular janitor named Leroy, calling him by that name. At first Sammy tries to say he's not Leroy but Jameson dismisses such "nonsense" talk gruffly. So Sammy eagerly makes small talk, discussing his own journalistic ambitions. As Jameson asks him about his wife, Sammy becomes momentarily confused and says "What wife?" James laughs and says, "Good thinkin'!" And as Sammy presses, asking Jameson what he's up to, Jameson retorts, "Writing about nosey janitors!"

But more importantly Sammy uses his time to look for clues, and his sense of smell boosts until he notices that Jameson smells like the Men in Black Sammy has previously encountered. So Sammy, ever-subtle, says, "You have an odd smell," and asks what sort of cologne or other scent James has started using. Sammy doesn't realize it but the Man in Black posing as Jameson is becoming suspicious, covering as he acts in character, sniping at "Leroy" "Take a shower, you'll smell as good as I do," as his only answer to the rude query.

Spectrum remains mind-linked but is not actively "listening," preferring instead to stay attuned if needed, otherwise staying out of Sammy's thoughts.

Which is unfortunate as left to his own devices, Sammy presses on about Jameson's smell and adds, "I can smell the woman you were with last night," and suggests more cleanliness. Jameson harrumphs, "Well, all right, obviously you have a nose for news, if you wanna be a reporter…" and gets up, excusing himself to go to personnel to help Leroy get such a job.

As Jameson leaves, Sammy starts to look about. He notices Jameson isn't working on any anti-mutant articles and instead is concentrating on a city sewage commission problem, though it's not so unusual for Jameson to cover non-mutant news.

In just moments Jameson walks back in and abruptly lifts his wrist so that he can quickly reach his watch and aim it at Sammy, producing a strange mist, causing a starteld Sammy to dive under Jameson's desk. The mist self-implodes and makes a sucking noise as it does. Sammy, in his mind, calls out for Spectrum, who immediately contacts the others - Neumann busily being helpful around Laughton Agency, Nexus brooding over his feeling of ineffectiveness in personal combat, and…not Laughton, who has left on one of his many personal investigations and kept up a mental shield (though this is hardly unusual).

Sammy talks to fake-Jameson as he avoids him, pleading to be friends and asking what happened to the job offer. As he does so, Sammy reaches and grabs the imposter's wrist, taking care not to unduly hurt him, but crushing the dangerous watch. Meanwhile Nexus, responding to Spectrum who is flying to the scene, reaches out through dimensional short-cuts, finding Sammy and then beginning the process of teleporting to his side. In the meantime a security alarm rouses the staff to begin evacuating, as two "security officers" (other MIB) enter Jameson's office to get Sammy.

Nexus ends up just outside the office and in the pressroom, where the fleeing staff exclaim aloud at Nexus' sudden presence. As Sammy avoids the two other men, also firing at him from similar wristwatches, shouting, "I can take a hint, I'm not gonna work here anymore!" and diving from their shots, Nexus readies a summoning spell. In moments a horde of the vicious butt-like beings (as seen last issue) appears and fills Jameson's office, following Nexus' mental command to go after the watches and the MIB only, not Sammy. The MIB show emotion, the first time Nexus or Sammy have seen such, as they fight the vicious little beings. So many have been summoned that hundreds are forced to sit outside in the pressroom awaiting a chance to go in. And as Nexus has commanded, they all sing, "It's a Small World," in unison, to further weird out the MIB.

And it also weirds out Spectrum who can hear it through the mind link and then in person as she arrives, flying through the window, with Neumann. Nexus fires a blast of interdimensional energy at the MIB, causing it to spiral through his summoned creatures safely for their sake. Neumann stretches a limb in and tries to fire a light to blind the agents, but fails as it goes astray amid the mass of combatants. But outgunned and outclassed, the MIB surrender quickly. The strange beings destroy the watches and a couple snap at the men, but Nexus calms them.

A few people still remain in the pressroom, all of it happening so fast they haven't yet been able to leave. Sammy, still as a janitor, runs out and organizes the evacuation of the remaining few. Then, as he avoids the surveillance cameras deftly, he completes his task - humbly emptying the wastebasket to his teammates' surprise.

Nexus and Spectrum cover the two security MIB while Neumann covers the Jameson doppelganger, Spectrum telekinetically grabbing and gathering the only wristwatch not destroyed yet. She mischievously implants a suggestion in the Jameson impersonator to have a compulsion to go to Disneyland and ride the Small World ride over and over, implanting this compulsion to last about a year. Of course this happens as they speak and without the victim's knowledge.

They all discuss what just happened. Nexus makes it clear they had heard "something" happened to Jameson without indicating their true level of knowledge. The MIB are mystified anyone, particularly a mutant, would care, about Jameson, but Spectrum sets them straight, explaining their concern about anyone in the larger community. Sammy wants an apology, which elicits a very flat "I apologize," from the Jameson impersonator. Then Sammy throws in that he wants a free dinner, but Nexus interrupts with "Enough of that."

The MIB "identify" themselves, the Jameson duplicate being Moose while the other two are Reggie and Dexter. They indicate more agents will be arriving and ask the Justice Squad to clarify their intentions. Nexus discusses the situation with Spectrum on the mind link and they agree that the best course of action is to let the MIB go and "accept" the situation. Nexus says, "We'll stand down," and explains that now that they know the situation (given this was done in large part to protect the Justice Squad) they are fine with it.

Sammy starts to take his large waste container down the stairwell, running into a bunch of MIB as they come up the nearby stairs. Sammy, still as the janitor, says, nonchalantly, "You missed all the action." One of the MIB, clearly communicating with some central authority on a phone-like device, says, "Move along, we won't ruin your memory." And as Sammy starts to walk away Nexus nabs him with a group teleport, bringing him and the others back to their base.

First a break is taken as Sammy needs some food to recharge. He goes over to Sihn-tek as Laughton Agency is out (as Laughton often arranges, though Sihn ensures Sihn-tek is not any greater of a food source). Upon his return he gets a call looking for Laughton, and the others are included as it turns out it's Medusa's psychiatrist looking for Laughton for a special day-trip release from prison for Medusa and he to go to Chicago. The psychiatrist notes that she's stopped self-mutilating and he's very encouraged. Suzanne is eager to write up the paperwork. Nexus is also eager, convincing himself that it's to reform Medusa rather than taunt Laughton (though that is truly foremost on all's minds). They even entertain the notion of sending Sammy in disguise as Laughton to get all the arrangements set up but they are "only kidding" - or so they remind themselves.

Attention turns back to the matter at hand re Jameson. Nexus points out, all things considered, the Justice Squad must not be implicated as it's a tricky matter with the government involvement. Sammy suggests checking out leads at the mayor's covert super-bar, and he even starts to wander off but is held back by the others. They do decide that Magneto's organization might have some information, and Nexus asks Sammy to get in touch with Nightcrawler, leaving word through their renewed contact point of Baroni's (which has gone into more generalized information-sharing with the collapse of the Tocci organization). Sammy complains that he's hungry "now", so, frowning, Nexus waves his hands and a huge pile of Twinkies appear (in fact, Twinkies are one of the foods Nexus can replicate not only perfectly but in a way that people appreciate as such - most foods have any number of imperfections and shifts in ingredients per thoughtful cooks that Nexus' recreations, while perfect on a level of absolute balance, are so uniform and lacking in "style" that his food creations leave people unimpressed compared to having the "best" version. But Twinkies being mass-produced, Sihn's recreation is dead on!

Shortly Sammy is at Baroni's. Sihn secretly pays for Sammy's meals there, as the Justice Squad and he want to assure that Sammy's food wanderings don't take him into unfriendly quarters. Given Baroni's new role as information broker and its relationship with the Justice Squad, they feel comfortable with reusing the former mob restaurant. Sammy has his own table in the kitchen, a few feet away from the cooks. He gets all the left-overs (in fact the bus-boys typically just bus plates straight to him) and anything too old for general consumption. In fact when the dishwasher is broken or the accompanying staff in short supply, Sammy fills in there as well.

The arrangement is made and Sammy and the Justice Squad meet Nightcrawler right back at Baroni's that evening. As they reveal the Jameson issue, Neumann producing a holographic accompanying image, Nightcrawler initially responds, "Ja, is gut, ja, he should be kept locked away!" Nexus though, along with Suzanne, explains that Jameson is certainly more good than evil. They throw in that he's a known quantity and discuss the importance of the newspaper remaining independent.

Nightcrawler understands and promises to help, without unduly raising Magneto's or anyone's attention. Sammy hugs Nightcrawler goodbye and the Justice Squad is off.

Nexus contacts Professor X for leads, and teleports to meet him. It's 9 at night by this time (in Winchester, Mass., they had an early dinner back in Detroit, never a problem for Sammy).  They discuss the Jameson situation, and Nexus contacts Suzanne as they resolve to see if she can be brought in to help with a mental scanning for the real Jameson, partly given she's had at least some more exposure to him, however slight.  As Nexus calls Spectrum she seems to be shouting and slurring a bit (she's getting over the thousands of enraged little creatures still), but then appears okay as she teleports to meet them.  Professor X discusses his room with Cerebro, which allows him to focus mental powers and should help her as well.  Nexus mentions that he built a similar room but Spectrum wouldn't use it; Spectrum quickly adds, "That's when you were the Troll!"

As they chat, Spectrum points out a book that she knows that Elliot should read, to which he replies that he's not really been too into books lately (alluding to the tragic events related to the Necronomicon).  She says it's safe, it's from Willow's collection and it's on magic stuff written by a New Age shaman sort.  Nexus mentions he's tried writing lately but couldn't get published as it was called "incomprehensible" despite the fact he's sure a dog would  understand it.  Suzanne points out that the publisher of the book she's recommending would probably publish his book.  Elliot is intrigued and points out that his book features a new alphabet, one intended to make reading and comprehension more efficient; she can only think of two people besides him who could read it, one they know already.

Upon preparing for the mental search for Jameson, Spectrum puts on the stereo.  Professor X points out, "That's a little loud, isn't it?"  She mentions that helps her concentrate.  Nexus, reflecting on prior experiences, decides a headache might be coming on and vanishes into another dimension, his cloak giving tantalizing views of an ocean and sand he disappears.  As Suzanne works with Cerebro, her mind expands and she can see individual minds all over the world, seemingly at will; given the events of the day, "It's a Small World" starts going through the minds of people throughout the world, unbeknownst to Suzanne triggering some ad campaigns to feature that song later.  Even without trying, perhaps with her other half prompting, she invades Laughton's privacy, seeing him in Vatican City of all places (and despite his mental protections the "Small World" song starts running through his head).  She stretches her mind, looking for Jameson based on all she's read and seen, and starts to get a foggy feeling of a drugged, unconscious Jameson in a padded room, at least if his foggy dream-like memories are a judge.  With Cerebro's help, the location is pinned down to a mental institution in Glenwood City, Wisconsin.

Nexus returns shortly and they discuss findings.  He's apparently been sipping a Margarita in a Jimmy Buffet-like dimension, a place he knows he never gets headaches.  As he's filled in, Spectrum points out that Laughton is up to some interesting things and leaves it at that. 

They return to Detroit and meet up with Sammy and Neumann.  They hear from Nightcrawler whose information is not so specific but corroborates the general direction as they have vague details involving a mental ward somewhere in the Midwest.  The Justice Squad quickly heads to Glenwood City.  It's a small town of some 1,190 people, and it takes no time to visit the entire downtown area.  The unlikely crew, all in over-sized clothing such as Nexus' grungy parka, try to keep a low profile, though, despite Sammy's need to run into the area's only bar and all-night deli - as much to keep warm as to eat.  The area is much more awake than expected; this is due to the presence of the mental facility and its 24-hour operation.  Suzanne uses her mental powers to read through various worker' minds at the mental institution, finding that construction work was done recently, and that, while security is "normal", there was a special  investigation into everyone as part of some new "government regulations".  Or so they were told.

As they discuss infiltration plans, focusing on ensuring they are not discovered as the Justice Squad, Sammy expresses misgivings about the venture, unsure that Jameson is worth saving.  Of course Sammy is reassured.  Nexus summons a costumer and they create costumes as orderlies.  Neumann is put into a laundry hamper as he's too difficult to just dress up and be concealed.  Nexus pulls a hat over his face while Suzanne wears a wig.  Sammy goes under the appearance and name of an orderly he met in the area bar.  They teleport to near the building and walk up the parking lot and in.  As they go in, Nexus and Spectrum get an odd feeling.  They stop to concentrate and analyze, and realize there's some sort of science-magic field suppressing supernatural powers, affecting them both even though they can barely tell.  They can tell, upon further hasty analysis, Nexus and Spectrum both casting spells, before entering further than various genetic inconsistencies are detected as well, and possibly mental powers.  They quickly retreat and regroup.  

From the nearby freezing woods, putting Sammy ill at ease, they go to different positions and do readings on the strength of power suppression, Suzanne putting together a special spell with her mind-magic abilities and arcane knowledge.  Nexus and Spectrum then triangulate that to determine just where the suppression is coming from, realizing that there is a device emanating the power from the four top corners of the building.  Meanwhile, Neumann plays with a lazer-light with Sammy, until Sammy gets bored after three minutes and complains.  

They then resolve to demolish the four corners by Neumann stretching and dropping explosives, which Nexus pulls from a nearly-identical dimension.  Gere-luce is also teleported out to work on the explosives with Neumann, augmenting his skills.  But as Neumann, stretching his arms to far over top the building, very far so as to avoid camera detection, delivers the device a sudden sharp wind (GM note - and an 18) sends the explosives off-course.  The mid-section of the building is bombed and the roof collapses!  Hastily, within seconds, Neumann delivers another set to take the four corners out so they can go in - as much now to save anyone as to rescue Jameson.

As they rush in, in disguise still, Spectrum mentally scans and finds no one is horribly hurt and no one is thinking about anyone else's death.  They quickly bash a hole in the side of the building and run in to grab Jameson.  Sammy hears in the distance someone saying "Jerry's been hit," and he and Neumann rush to save anyone hurt.  Nexus whisks Jameson and Gere-luce back to the base.  Nexus returns and assists with Sammy, using their respective doctor and paramedic skills to patch up a few people hurt when the roof collapsed.  Fortunately the top floor was offices and not in use, with the lower floor damages quite limited.  One man is trapped under rubble; well-briefed on remaining anonymous, Sammy uses his speaking skills and in a rousing fashion hollers, "Come on everybody, help me out, we can get him out together!"  Leading the way, he uses only a careful portion of his mighty strength and makes it look like it's the combined effort saving the day.  The trapped man is freed, found only to have a broken leg.  The situation under control, they beat a hasty retreat.

Back at the base, as Jameson comes to and is very fragile and human, Sammy is overcome with emotion and gives him a big hug.  This snaps Jameson back to himself as he pushes Sammy away hollering, "Get away from me, freak!"  Nonetheless (or rather in retaliation) Sammy gives Jameson a big, wet kiss., causing him to spit.  Then Sammy insists on getting Jameson a baloney sandwich (and a few for Sammy himself).  Neumann sits by, half shut down to conserve energy.  Nexus jokes, "Well, since you've been gone, I gotta say the editing has improved."

Jameson looks around in the medical containment room he's in and says, "So, we're in the Justice Squad base."  Spectrum starts to offer a tour but Nexus is quick to nix the idea.  Sammy, ever the host, offers up to let Jameson watch the big screen TV but Nexus  shoots down that idea as well.  Jameson rants that he's sure he's to be held ongoing, like Dr. Normal, but is told he will be freed forthwith, that they rescued him expressly to put him back in his role.  He asks, "What's the catch?"

Nexus, chagrined, responds, "Justice.  We do the right thing, don't make us talk about it, okay?"  It's not as if very many mutants - even among some of the superheroes - would really be enthralled with the idea of saving the man responsible for so much anti-mutant hatred.  And Nexus is keenly aware that if he were still the Troll he'd have absolutely no trouble with the government duplicity regarding Jameson.

J. Jonah Jameson is surprised and pauses.  He says, yet with agitation, "I won't print the story about Normal.  I owe you one, and I'm grateful - and I'm never saying that again."  He goes on to ask about his wife and what year it is.  

Spectrum answers, but first says in mock amazement, "You're married?" before reassuring him his family is fine.  She pauses as to the year, tempted to make him sweat, but tells him it's 2001 and as far as they know he's only been in the institution for several days, not months.  

Jameson breathes deeply and says, "I knew that."  He then looks in a mirror; his moustache is shaved and his nose has been broken and flattened.  His trademark hair style has also been made into a more conventional style, close-cropped.  Nexus agrees he'll need to fix him up, and quickly reconstructs his nose in a matter of a mere dozen or so minutes with just local anesthesia, and casts spells restoring his hair.  But the anesthesia isn't entirely reliable (Nexus makes sure of that) and it does hurt Jameson.  For consolation, Nexus, whose own cigar collection is renowned, brings Jameson a good cigar after the operation.  Spectrum gives him some good Scotch.  Jameson is appreciative and simply says "No, thank you," politely to Sammy's offer of more baloney.

Nexus gives Jameson the full details on what happened and about the man sitting in his office.  They formulate a plan to get him installed back into his life.  Nexus calls Jonas Hell, explaining they're addressing the situation Hell brought to them.  The conversation is icy and expedient, given the bitter blood between Hell and the group.  Nexus cuts to the chase, offering Hell $1,500 to play  role in the return, as the Justice Squad has to stay at arms length.  Hell - drunk but awake at the current time of 3 AM - is excited and says "Yeah, I saved him!"  Nexus points out, "No, you didn't."  Hell is bitter as he says, "Yeah, I know."  

Hell arrives shortly to discuss matters at the base.  As they talk, Nexus points out that he also needs to plant some information to force the Men in Black to think that if they snatched Jameson again they'd be exposed.  And it's preferable if Jonas himself didn't know how this was all done.  Hell adds, "If I get a little more loaded, I could do that."  But Nexus won't have that and instead gives Hell something to make him less drunk.  Hell suggests his friend Trudy could play a simple role, particularly as she's not likely to figure out what's going on regardless.  They aren't so sure, but Hell says he needs her at least for the car and that he really wants her to at least meet them.  He gets her as she's waiting outside for him, she being his current ride and girlfriend.  

He brings her into a conference room above-ground.  She's an up-scale, good-looking blonde.  She's impressed to meet everyone, saying "You must be Spectrum!" as if she's deduced something special.  As Neumann stands by all metal and robot-like, she confuses him with the ever-mysterious Rodin and asks for an autograph.  The robot quickly whips something off, imitating Laughton's style messily, deliberately obscuring it.  She misreads it as "Rodent," and says, "OH, your name is RODENT, not Rodin!"  The group is bemused and goes along with the idea.  Nexus remarks, "You could get a good scoop if you reported that."  She giggles and says, "I'll just tell my friends.  I'd only tell a dozen people or so."  The Justice Squad has the sense another mission has been accomplished...

It's 4 AM as they get ready.  Jameson laments, regarding his wife being around the doppelganger, "I wonder what she thought about him sleepin' on the couch all the time?"  Sammy blurts out, "I did smell a female presence - " and stops mid-sentence.  The team stares at Sammy - who suddenly feels a sharp headache as Spectrum in particular glares at him.  They may not like Jameson, but this is a little too painful.  Sammy excuses himself, pointing out his headache.  Jameson falls gloomily silent after a brief burst of outrage.

After a pause, they explain the plan to Jameson.  It's straight-forward first in that, with Jameson's rescue from the institution, they know that the Men in Black will likely clear out given possible exposure; to be sure, Sihn places an anonymous call to the doppelganger Jameson to tell him simply, "You better not go to the office."  In fact, the doppelganger leaves the house without much of a word and disappears back into the anonymity of the Men in Black organization.  As Jameson doesn't show up early in the office, as he normally does, and his wife saw him engaged in odd behavior, there's immediate calls to the police, and shortly a news story percolates that the newspaper tycoon is missing.  The real Jameson is asked to help, ensuring calls are made to indicate he knows just what happened and that the story will get out if anything happens to him - with details embarrassing and specific to the government.  The team gives him just enough additional info that any such story would be virtually impossible to refute.

This takes some time, and Jameson, hearing the news on the radio that he's now officially missing and his wife is upset, exclaims, "This is at least a yacht and probably a trip to Europe - and I hate Europe!"  Sammy offers to go with his wife for him, earning only a scowl.  Nexus then teleports Jameson into his office at 7:45 AM; he yells at Margaret, his long-suffering aide, for not noticing he got into work, and then has her take care of things with his wife via gifts.  And all is right with the world...to the extent that it ever is.

Terwilliger calls Nexus and explains that the Men in Black plot failed and right now there are no immediate plans.  He adds though that Jameson appears at least scared enough not to print anything about the Justice Squad, and he wonders if Nexus and the Squad is okay.  Nexus just smiles as he says that's fine.

In Italy, as Laughton walks by a payphone, it rings.  Suzanne, taking advantage of the information she gained and using her mental-magic skills again to follow up, can't resist and just says to him, "I always know where you are," shaking up the dodgy detective.  She also makes plans to ensure everyone at the mental institution who suffered is financially taken care of and them some; she plans to wait for Laughton to return to take advantage of his skill in ensuring the money is not traced.

Neumann is in the workshop with Gere-luce, modifying himself, with Sammy's eagle eyes pointing out small rusty spots in hard-to-find places.

Nexus receives a forlorn message from the Great Pumpkin Patch, the little voices all screaming "we're sinking!"  He checks and while they are, the danger of complete collapse is nowhere near imminent, and he resolves to leave the situation on hold.

[Game Mechanics - Points Awarded...

The Jameson situation is taken care of ... this time ... and it was a tough/worthy challenge, to handle it this way anyway  - +13.125 RP, +.875 XP for Nexus, Sammy, Spectrum; +17.5 RP, +1.75 XP for Neumann at faster rate

For the unplanned altercation in Jameson's office, it got out of control but you did your best against an interesting but not that powerful foe - +0 RP, +0 XP

For rescuing lives and the infiltration at the mental institution, taking care of situation once and for all for an interesting but not that powerful challenge - +3.75 RP, +.25 XP for Nexus, Sammy, Spectrum; +5 RP, +.,5 XP for Neumann

4 hours in character - +3 RP, +1 XP for Nexus, Sammy, Spectrum, +4 RP, +2 XP for Neumann

Totals:

Neumann,  26.5 RP, 4.25 XP
Nexus  19.875 RP, 2.125 XP
Sammy 19.875 RP, 4 XP, 2.125 XP
Spectrum 19.875 RP, 2.125 XP

Totals to Date:

Dice 188.5 RPs, 14.95 XPs
Laughton 1648.375 RPs, 147.125 XPs (with Rep level, 50 for base, 25 for minion, 50 for reorg (note, did not use for agency or life-saving)
Neumann 468.5 RPs, 63.3 XPs  (with Rep level, 50 for base)
Nexus 1781.25 RPs, 153.25 XPs  (with Rep level, 50 for base, 25 for minion, 50 for reorg (note, did not use for agency or life-saving)
Sammy the Slime 1614.375 RPs, 156.7375 XPs  (with Rep level, 50 for base, 25 for minion, 50 for reorg (note, did not use for agency or life-saving)
Spectrum 1527.875 RPs, 142.175 XPs  (with Rep level, 50 for base, 25 for minion, 50 for reorg (note, did not use for agency or life-saving)
Steely Danelle 86 RPs, 10.75 XPs]]