Amorkca

The commander of the Monitors from Santa Monica stood on the stage of what was left of the Orpheum Theater. One of the crawlers had gone offline fourteen minutes earlier. “You're in the building. I know you are there. Come to where I can see you.”
 
A shadow detached itself from the catwalks and rigging. An old pulley rattled and the rope that ran through it buzzed. A heavy weight hit the stage.
 
“I said let me see you.”
 
Jason pulled his hood down. He stepped closer. The commander's hand went reflexively to the baton holstered against a thigh.
 
“Hello, Trese.” The commander detached the helmet from the armor. Trese's left eye was white and held a soft glow. The skin on that side of her head was all scar tissue. There was gray in her red hair. “I had a hard time finding you.”
 
“It's the eye,” she explained. “A gift from an old Indian of our acquaint. It makes it hard for anyone to find me.”
 
“Specifically me and someone a lot like me.” Trese nodded. “What happened?”
 
Trese turned her head away to hide the scars. “Friendly fire incident. Dani burned me when she died.”
 
Jason reached out and touched her chin, turning her head back. “You hid enough scars from me for one lifetime.”
 
“How did you know it was me?”
 
Jason chuckled. “Purple on the armor. Purple on the chip. Having my fingerprints and retinal scan handy. The broken chessboard from a poster of Chess. Along with the seat numbers where you saw it for the first time.”
 
Trese looked out over the broken seats. “You, me, and Dani. How did you get here?”
 
“Temporal kidnapping courtesy of Kris and Melner. Why didn't you ever tell Kris where you were?”
 
“I kept an eye on her as best I could. The Praetor was afraid that she would spearhead a rebellion. Be their figurehead. I didn't want to endanger her with what I was doing. I figured she would be there if my plans ever advanced far enough.” Trese turned back to him. “I figured they were starting when the depot was robbed. That was you.”
 
“Yes.”
 
“And you're storing all those supplies for later.”
 
“Give it a few months or years and no one would be looking for the stuff. Or it would end up somewhere else. Somewhere the people could use it.”
 
“Are you planning on escalating things?”
 
“I'm going to do what I can until I can arrange for a trip home. When that happens I will keep an eye out to keep this from ever happening.”
 
Trese's helmet beeped. “I need to go.”
 
“Trese,” she looked up at Jason. Without saying anything her hand went behind his head and pulled him down into an open-mouthed kiss. When she lowered her forehead to his chest, he said, “That would have been more enjoyable without the armor in the way.”
 
Smiling a bittersweet smile, Trese said, “You were always a gentleman with me. Never being inappropriate.”
 
“That isn't entirely true. There was a night, not too long ago to me, that was entirely inappropriate.”
 
“I never forgot. It was little things like that that made me realize that, while he looks like you, the Praetor isn't you.” Trese walked across the stage, disappearing into the shadows behind it.
 
“How do I get in touch with you?”
 
“You don't. It's safer that way. For both of us.”

“Don't you want to know how long?” Godson asked.
 
“A little over five hours,” Jason replied. “Counting heartbeats isn't exactly accurate, but will keep you in the ballpark.”
 
Kris stared at the two data chips she left on the table. “I don't like it. One of the crawlers stopped right above where you were.”
 
“Why two chips?” Godson asked.
 
“I don't know.” She picked one up. “This one looks like any other they've picked up on their rounds. I assume they got it early on account they just happened to be in the area. This one,” she picked up the second, “has a slight purple mark on the outer edge.”
 
“What are they used for?” Jason asked.
 
“Medical records. It's one of the ways the check on the population.”
 
Jason shifted the curtain slightly and looked out. “Did anyone get hurt?”
 
“Gummer got his arm broke. They thought he was trying to hide contraband. It turns out he had a couple of snack bars. He wouldn't say where he got them from,” Godson said.
 
Jason's chin dropped to his chest and he let the curtain fall closed. “Catch.” He pitched underhanded to Godson, appearing a protein bar in his hand.
 
Examining it, Godson said, “Probably go for a small fortune. How many do you have?”
 
“A couple of cases.”
 
“You have my favorite?” Kris asked grinning. Jason handed her one taking the data chip from her.
 
Turning it over he saw a brand etched into it. “The Japanese still make electronics. How does it work?
 
“It slots into a reader,” Kris mumbled around her bar. “Just like slotting a flash drive. Memory runs a lot higher than you're used to.”
 
“So we make the assumption that this one is for your clinic. We just need to figure out what that one,” he pointed at Kris' hand, “is for.”
 
“You have an idea?” she asked, wiping a crumb from her lip.
 
“Would you believe me if I said I did?” asked Jason. Kris smiled. “Let me see that one. Do you have a reader?”
 
“Godson, the red one. It isn't linked,” Kris explained.
 
“If the readers are linked why do they pick up the chips?”
 
Kris shrugged. “Confirmation? A way to mingle with the general population? Who knows.” Godson handed her the red reader and she slotted the chip. “Biometrics online.” She put her thumb on the blue box and looked into the small optical scanner. “And access denied.”
 
Jason held his hand out. “Let me try.”
 

“We got trouble,” Godson said upon entering the clinic. “A squad of the purple from the west.”
 
“Monitors in the market!” Kira announced breathlessly. “They got a war machine with them. They're searching the stalls.”
 
“Color?” Godson asked.
 
“Blues, I think.”
 
“Santa Monica and Inglewood,” Kris said.
 
“How many hostiles?” Jason went over the mental map he had of the area.
 
Godson said, “Seven to a squad. Infantry armor and blasters. One warstar with the blues. No idea if the purps have one with them.”
 
“Warstar?”
 
“Yeah, big fugly looking thing.”
 
“He knows what they are. We had one on the Guardians.” Kris looked at Jason. “We lost him in New York.”
 
“Assume they're tossing the market for evidence from the depot. What else can we expect?”
 
“After the market, they'll turn their attention to the people and the living areas,” Kris said. “We need to hide you.”
 
* * * * *
Three monitors entered the clinic. Two bracketed the door with their backs to the wall, keeping any who might be curious at a distance. Two of the monitors that entered moved deeper and began opening cupboards. The fifth one turned their attention to Kris.
 
“Records.” Kris handed over a data chip. The monitor slotted it into their armor and passed Kris a new one. The armor was gloss black with a splash of purple on the left shoulder. The face plate was golden yellow.
 
“Crawlers.” Four spider-like machines came through the door. One on each wall, one on the ceiling, and one on the floor, began moving deeper into the clinic, following the two monitors.
 
The monitor dealing with Kris took note of the sketchbook on the table. Their hand went to the cover and seemed to caress it.
 
“That's mine,” Godson said, taking a step forward. The monitor snapped its baton up less than an inch from Godson's face. The tip glowing blue. Godson put his hands up and took a step back.
 
Kris noted from the corner of her eye that the crawler on the floor stopped on top of the hidden compartment where Jason was hidden. “Nothing here, Commander,” one of the monitors said coming back through the clinic.
 
The commander nodded. “Move on to the next. Your data chip, Doctor,” they said, passing Kris another. “Crawlers, out.” The one on the floor was the last to leave.

Godson knelt at the corner of a building watching his charges play in an empty lot. It had felt good to him to be able to use his speed. To do something that helped the people around him and maybe hinder the enemy. The supply depot had been a good start, but the monitors and Tharians would push back. Sooner or later.
 
The ball the children were playing with bounced towards him and he batted it back with an open palm. A loud whistle pierced the air and drew Godson's attention. Looking up he saw the watcher signal. “Sooner,” he said to himself, signaling acknowledgment to the watcher above.
 
Standing up, he brushed his hands off on his pants. “Back in a bit, kids,” he told the children. He set off at a brisk pace. Not quite running.
 
* * * * *
Moving through the market stalls, Kira kept an eye out for items easily missed by the vendors and for others like herself, who might make those items disappear. When the noise started at the other end of the street, she turned and watched the monitors and their war machine deploy from their transport.
 
The machine stood at the end of the market street while the monitors moved through the stalls, shoving vendors out of their way, scattering goods, searching.
 
Kira realized that this was something that Doc and Jason would want to know about. She ran.

OK as I get a first draft down to sections of this I'm going to post them as pdfs here for people to look over and comment on.
 
My goals are these:
To create a package that has a book for GMs and a book for Players For each book to be fun, easy to read, and teach the system The scenario is in tutorial format (familiar to gamers) introducing concepts one bloc at a time, until they know enough to play the game without the tutorial I'm using the old Viper's Nest/Microfilm Madness scenario updated for modern times (so, no microfilm) Each chapter has an intro to the rules used in this section, then the episode of the scenario Players will have pre-made PCs to choose from in very familiar and well-loved archetypes with fun and colorful names and costumes Each entire book should be slender and filled with images for all ages The end result is intended as a free product for players to download and use Ideally, eventually, I'd love to see this packaged as a box set with dice, a map, a GM screen, that kind of thing.  
Please be constructive and positive, any nit picking or troublemaking comments will be cheerfully ignored.

Simply join the Discord for hero games ... and ask the people in the Tabletop Simulator channel. I know a number of people more than willing to help you
 
https://discord.gg/HcUJvJH
 
Click the link above to join.
 

Aaaannnnnnnd just like that, I came home from chemotherapy on Thursday and found myself eating crackers in bed . . . .
 
 

Timidly tapping at the door, Trese waited. “Come in,” Marlene called. Trese opened the door.
 
“Wow. Claimed the biggest and best for himself.” She closed the door behind her.
 
“Thanks,” Marlene said sarcastically. She was sitting at a vanity brushing her hair. “I'd hardly call myself the biggest. Yet. Give it a few more months.”
 
Smiling at her, Trese said, “That's not what I meant. I was talking about the room.”
 
“Well, he did pay to have it built. And it is, technically, still his.”
 
Trese gave her a questioning look. “What's that supposed to mean?”
 
Grinning, Marlene said, “You'll just have to wait and find out. What's on you mind?”
 
Moving behind Marlene, Trese reached for the brush. Marlene relinquished it. “What happens now?”
 
“What do you want to happen now?”
 
Running the brush through Marlene's hair, Trese asked, “What changes?”
 
“Everything and nothing,” Marlene responded.
 
“Thanks. That's clear as mud.” Marlene laughed. “That doesn't make me feel any better.”
 
Marlene held her hand out. “Brush.” Trese handed it over. Marlene got up. “My turn. Sit.” Trese sat in the vacated chair. Marlene began pulling the brush through Trese's hair. “You have the responsibility to the name, to the family, and to the company. The same responsibility you had before I handed you that envelope. So, in that manner, nothing changes. Legally, Jason has obligations to you. That's changed. But at the same time you've seen how he's dealt with you since that day he picked you up in that bar.”
 
Trese smiled at the memory. “Best thing that had happened since my mom died.”
 
“That commonality is one of the things that binds you and Jason. Signing those papers was the final act Jason had as his father's representative. Jason carried out Charles' wishes where you are concerned with no thought about how it might affect him. Because it was what his father wanted for you. It was what Jason wanted for you.”
 
“So, do I become Theresa Lynn Scott? Theresa Lynn Gardner-Scott? Theresa Lynn Scott-Gardner?”
 
Marlene shrugged. “That's up to you.”
 
“What would Jason think if I didn't use the name?”
 
“Jason won't care,” he said coming out of the bathroom. “What matters to Jason is that you're family. You are and have been. Any concerns that you have, or that may come up, we can deal with as needed.” Trese stood and came to him. “Crying?”
 
“Happy tears,” she said. She slipped her arms about him. Jason held her close. “Claimed the best room for yourself?”
 
“Kris' is about the same size,” he said.
 
“Kris needs room for her wings. What now?”
 
“We were getting ready for bed,” Marlene said.
 
“I should go, then.”
 
“No reason to rush off if you still want to talk,” Marlene told her.
 
* * * * *
Dani tapped at the door. When Marlene said “Come in”, Dani turned the knob and stepped inside. “Harrumph.”
 
“What's wrong?” Marlene asked quietly.
 
“I came to see what was taking her so long. I didn't expect to find her in bed with the two of you,” Dani said just as quietly.
 
“We were talking. She fell asleep.”
 
“And Jason just happened to wrap himself around her like that.”
 
Marlene chuckled. “He's just holding her.” She shifted a little closer to Trese and lay on her back. She flipped the covers a bit. “Come on. Room for you, too. I know how you don't like sleeping alone.”
 
Smiling, Dani slid in beside Marlene. “Thanks.” She put her arm over Marlene and snuggled her. “Hey! Was that...?”
 
“Yeah,” Marlene said, smiling all the more.
 
“Cool. Any idea what you're having?”
 
“Not interested in finding out until it pops out.”
 
“I bet it's a girl.” Marlene turned her back to Dani and Dani settled in closer.
 
“Don't get any ideas.”
 
“Too late. Already had them. I've had them for years.”

Welcome to the family, Trese

“Okay,” Ash said. “Dinner is done. Jason has us all sitting here drooling over it. You said you'd tell us why we're having a dinner. So, isn't it time now?”
 
Marlene smiled. “Of course it is.”
 
“So what's the occasion?” Trese asked. Taking an envelope from her lap, Marlene passed it to Trese. “What's this?” she asked.
 
“You could open it and find out, Red,” Dani said. “Just a thought.”
 
Trese cast an annoyed looked at Dani. The flap was sealed with a blob of wax. Trese studied the impression for a moment. “Charles,” she said quietly. She slipped a finger under the flap and forced the seal. Inside was a single sheet. Trese unfolded it and began reading. Tears formed and spilled down her cheeks as she read. “It's done? Finally?”
 
Standing at the head of the table, Jason unrolled a scroll and began reading. “Let it be known across the lands, from this day forward, Theresa Lynn Gardner is recognized as one of my legal heirs and entitled to the Scott name. Along with the rights, privileges, and responsibilities bearing the name requires. Signed Charles Layton Scott.”
 
Jason rolled the scroll closed. “Congratulations, Trese. I can no longer, officially, toss you out of the house.”
 
“I don't know what to say,” she said quietly. The others cheered and clapped.

Sitting on the glider, coffee in her cup long since gone cold, Mary waited for the dawn. The first of many sleepless nights to come. It was still snowing, but the wind had died down. The snow came down more or less straight with a few swirls here and there. She hoped to catch a glimpse of the sun before it rose above the clouds.
 
The doors creaked open and Jason stepped out. He had a blanket wrapped around his shoulders. Closing the doors quietly, his steps were slow and uncertain as he crossed the porch. Stopping at the top of the steps, Jason leaned against the post.
 
“You aren't planning on wandering off into the snow again?” Mary asked quietly.
 
“Good morning,” Jason said with a pained smile. “No. I was in a dark place. I needed to see some light.”
 
“Sun isn't up yet. No guarantee we'll see it. How do you feel?”
 
“Shaky,” he answered.
 
“Why don't you come sit?” With some effort, Jason removed himself from the post and shuffled across the porch. “You should have put your coat on.”
 
“Left it at your place,” he said, settling onto the glider.
 
Mary watched him for a moment. “I figured you'd still be in bed with your women. All four of them.” Jason gave her a questioning glance. “Ben told Leah to take care of you. Then he told Marlene to take care of you and her girl. And the one Angelique conjured up. Sandy?”
 
“I wish I had seen her,” he said quietly. “I only have...dreams of her. Marlene wrapped herself around Leah when I extricated myself.”
 
Mary smiled. “You know you're going to have a daughter.” Jason nodded. “How?”
 
“I was granted...a gift, I guess. I saw her. With Aaron. They were at the lake. She was playing Sandy's guitar. He was skipping rocks.” Jason pulled the blanket closer. Mary saw his hands shake.
 
“Christmas is going to be difficult,” Mary said quietly.
 
Jason reached for Mary's hand and held it gently. “It doesn't have to be. It'll hurt and the hole will be there, but we'll all gather. We'll remember Ben. Warren will pick up for him and carry on the family traditions. We'll tell stories and share laughs.”
 
“You held on while we said our goodbyes to him. Did you get to say your own?”
 
Jason shook his head. “Not until after he was gone.”

Jacksonville NC:
 
“I can't believe she lives there!”
 
“You're judging,” Beth said. “She has to live somewhere.”
 
“I know. I'm not judging her. I'm judging that...that...apartment building,” Marlene said. “It violates almost every code of human decency.”
 
Beth rested her elbow on the door and buried her fingers in her raven hair. “I think that after her sister disappeared she fell on difficult times.”
 
“I know,” Marlene said quietly. “More than likely her life is about to change.”
 
* * * * *
“Kari? Kari Tyler?” Marlene called.
 
The girl came to the counter. “Now's not a good time. I'm working.”
 
“Tyler! Back on the line!” someone called out.
 
Kari turned to head back to the fryer. “It's about Kristina.” Kari stopped in her tracks.
 
“Tyler!”
 
Hard-faced, Kari turned back to Marlene and Beth. Voice trembling, she asked, “What about Kris?”
 
“Tyler! Back to work!”
 
“They want to talk to me about my sister!”
 
“She's dead. Get used to the idea and get your ass back to work!”
 
Kari glared at the woman giving her orders. She took her cap off and dropped it on the floor. Kari then stripped off her over shirt and it joined the cap. “I quit, bitch!” She climbed over the counter. “Never liked working here anyway,” she said.
 
“Let's go some place quiet where we can talk,” Marlene said.
 
* * * * *
“Who are you?”
 
“My name is Marlene Palmer. I work for Charles Scott.”
 
“The industrialist?”
 
“Yes. We are here at his behest. Actually, at the behest of Jason Scott.” Marlene smiled up at the waitress while she poured the coffee.
 
“Do you know what you want?” she asked.
 
“Club sandwich with fries,” Marlene replied.
 
“Sounds good,” Beth said, closing her menu.
 
“Two club sandwiches with fries,” the server noted. “And for you?”
 
“Burger and fries.”
 
“I will get it taken care of,” she said collecting the menus. Marlene smiled her thanks.
 
“What's that have to do with Kris?”
 
Beth glanced at Marlene. “Right now she's in Colorado. Not too far from Denver.”
 
“She's been found? When? Where?”
 
“Easy,” Marlene cautioned. “We can't go into all the details. We don't actually know all the details. She was found and Jason took her into his care.”
 
“Care? Is she alright? What...what happened to her?” Marlene opened the brief she had carried in and pulled out a photograph. She passed it to Kari. Kari stared at it for a long time. Tears slipped from her eyes. “She's got wings,” she said quietly.
 
“Yes,” Marlene said.
 
“I knew they did something to her. My back hurt for months. The doctors couldn't find anything wrong with me. Chiropractors didn't help. Nothing. I knew it was her!”
 
Beth asked, “How did you know?”
 
“Kris and me, we're symptomatic twins. We know when the other one feels something intense. Like pain.”
 
“Sympathetic,” Marlene corrected.
 
“Yeah, that. When can I see her?”
 
“Well,” Marlene said with a smile, “we're going to eat lunch. Then we're going to take you to your...”
 
“Apartment,” Beth added, elbowing Marlene.
 
“Apartment. You can pack what you need and we head to the airport. Hop on a private plane. Fly to Denver International. Steal a company car and drive to where Kris is. That work for you?” Marlene asked, smiling.
 
Kari was the first to finish eating.

“Did he say what he wanted?”
 
“Us,” Marlene said. “He'll let us know when we see him. Worried?”
 
“What's the term? 'Called on the carpet'?” Beth said.
 
Marlene smiled. “Relax. You've barely started. He isn't going to toss you out.”
 
They came to where Marlene's desk was. “Looks like his secretary is out,” she said. “We'll just have to let ourselves in.”
 
“...Hasn't been in contact with me since he left to help you,” Charles said. “Ah, girls. Daniel, if you'll excuse me for a moment.” He turned his attention to Beth. “Finding your way around?”
 
“Yes, sir,” Beth answered. “Charles,” she amended when he raised a brow.
 
“Good girl. And how is everything?”
 
“Orientation is done. Human Resources is done with me. At least until they find another hundred forms or so that I need to fill out.” Charles smiled. “I've been weighed, measured, fitted for three dresses. That's just the last three days.”
 
“Oh, but the shopping was fun,” Marlene teased. She slipped a couple of files in front of Charles. “I ran a highlighter over where you need to make your marks. I'll collect them later.”
 
“Actually, that was why I wanted to see you. Once Director Thomas and I are done, I'll be heading over to R&D. So let Missy know I won't be home for dinner.”
 
“Make sure you eat,” Marlene said.
 
“Yes, dear. Could you take care of this for me? I would like it resolved before Jason gets back. Then you ladies can have a long weekend. I don't expect to see Jason before Monday.” He handed Marlene a closed zippered binder.
 
“Yes, Charles. I will see to it,” she said with a smile. “Let's go,” she said to Beth, heading towards the door.
 
“So, you do expect to see him,” Thomas said.
 
“No. I said I don't expect to see him before Monday,” the girls heard before Beth pulled the door closed.
 
“So, unexpected long weekend. What do we do with ourselves?” Beth asked.
 
“Grab your things and we head to the house.”

Desolidifcation  works well for a ghost but is expensive because all your powers have to be  bought with the affects physical world.  
 
One alternative would be to give your character the ability  to possess people.  This could be done as a multiform.  The first form would be the ghost form.  This form is always desolid, and probably is normally invisible. It has no offensive powers, but has movement and enhanced senses.  The second form is when you take possess someone.  This is written up as a standard character.  Give it some good defenses that don’t work vs certain types of attacks (Typically magic) and whatever powers you want your ghost to have.  The powers could be tied to your original origin.  For example if you were a medieval knight you could have a magic sword and armor, a gunslinger from the old west may have a pistol.  These are not actual items but a manifestation of your spirit.  
 

I'm sure it means different things to different people. But consider two of the most famous US presidents of the 20th century: FDR and Nixon.
 
FDR's middle name was Delano. Nixon's middle name was Milhous.
 
I consider those to be exotic names because if I walked down a crowded street every day for the rest of my life and asked everyone I see what their name is, the odds are that I'd never meet another person with that name.
 
 
My own first name is rather unusual. I've only met one other person with the same name though I know of a couple of others who I've seen on TV over the years. But I don't think anyone in the US would consider it particularly exotic since most people have at least heard of someone with that name.
 
My middle name is also unusual in the US because my parents wanted my initials to be an homage to my great-grandmother's name and there's not a heck of a lot of names which start with that letter.  However, I'm told that name is more common in Ireland. My wife likes it and at one point seriously considered using that name for our kid.
 
As for my last name, it's very unusual and neither genealogists nor historians have been able to definitively trace it back to a country of origin.
 
So long story short: there's an excellent chance that I'm a fantasy character.

“I'm sorry about the fence.”
 
“It's okay,” Warren told Trese. “When the sun is up and the weather clears you can help fix it.”
 
“Sounds fair,” Trese said. “Still have some things to work out on the idea. The rocket sled back worked except where we went through the fence.”
 
“Twice,” Leah added.
 
Kris' boots sounded on the stairs and all eyes turned to her before she came into view. Warren poured coffee into her cup. He set it in front of her as she took her seat.
 
“What's the prognosis?” Ash asked.
 
“Thanks,” Kris said to Warren. Looking at Ash, she said, “I don't have a clue. I've never seen him like this before.”
 
“I have,” Dani said quietly. “When Sandy died.”
 
“But he never made one of those...things with Ben,” Mary said.
 
“'Power binds',” Leah whispered.
 
Kate looked at her. “What was that?”
 
“Something... Something Jason said to me once. When he made my first stone. He said, 'Power binds. Mine more than most.' He was linked to Ben through touch and his power.”
 
“When Sandy died,” Dani explained, “he held on to her. Trying to will her to stay with him. To survive. He almost followed her.”
 
“Jason disconnected us after we said our goodbyes,” Ash said. “I assume it was ease the load.”
 
“What if... What if dad disconnected before Jason was able to?” Jen asked.

David Copperfield and Goliath

We have dampeners in our games as well, but they're different from the "official" ones.
 
Stronghold suffered from the same problem that vehicle rules did:  We needed them before they came out. 
 
By the time Stronghold was published, we had a super prison.  We had "dampeners," too.  Ours were a good bit simpler, though: they were a constant Drain: END.  They maxed out at leaving you with 4 END (just sort of handwaved) so that you could function: get up; walk around-- etc.  People with _really_ high REC could get a bit sneaky, here and there, but we were actually pretty happy with that result, too: we didn't want something that worked flawlessly; that was just too hard to swallow.
 
Drain END worked really well because, as those of you who played older editions likely remember, Reduced Endurance was _way_ expensive!   
 
We only ever had one character manage to overcome them, though (to this day, she wears them-- they were a boots / gauntlet combo-- as part of her costume, partly as a reminder, and partly as a psyche-out to anyone who knows what they are), so they must work reasonably well.
 
I am in nigh-complete agreement with whoever it was that said he preferred the original "tailored to your powers" version of the prison rather than the one-size fits all modern prison, and particularly with the "the new design allows them to mix and mingle and cause trouble, etc." thing in the new one.   Make all the civi rights noise you want, there is a certain amount of "the entire staff puts their lives in very real danger" that is just unacceptable and unworkable.
 
My issue with the portable dampeners is that they work: the dampen powers _mechanically_.  That is to say that they dampen Flight produced by my ability to manipulate the gravity around me _and_ the Flight produced by my surgically-implanted rocket-pack and mechanical wings.   There are those occasions where we just accept "Mechanic trumps SFX."  There are also those points where it's a bit too much to swallow.  That's why we ended up going with Drain: END with ours.

In my campaign I kept the Stronghold power negation field as-is for the most part - but added a top-secret "field emitter" that disrupts the negation field at very close range  (Basically, I added a -0 Limitation to the Suppress - "No effect in special magnetic field.")  It's hard-wired into the robots and guards weapons so they still operate in the dampening field.  (Otherwise, as written the power negation would render their weapons inoperative as well.) The PCs did some hacking to get info on the tech, and their gadgeteer built them all field emitters so they could safely go to Stronghold without losing their powers.  They were very proud of figuring that out.
 
I had no problem with this, because a year or so after that I had a villain group (Secession Squad) intentionally get captured by the heroes -- but their mentalist telepathically read the PC gadgeteer's mind to get the details on the field emitter.  They then communicated the details to their (uncaptured) tech guy, who built field emitters disguised as mini MP3 players that were then brought in as contraband by guards to sell to prisoners.  When the heroes learned that they had an unintentional hand in the next Stronghold riot and mass break-out... well, let's just say my reputation as an Evil GM was secure.

Leah flew. At times the falling snow blinded her. She didn't know where Jason was. She only knew that he was somewhere in the direction she was heading. Leah had no idea how far out she had flown. All she had was a sense of urgency.
 
She flew lower. A tugging sensation told her she was near. Leah slowed. Below her Jason lay on his side, his back to the wind and snow blowing over him. She landed, finding herself sink to her knees in the powder.
 
“Honey,” she said, “next time do this in the daylight and not in the middle of a blizzard.” Leah knelt beside him. She checked him as best she could. His breathing was shallow and his pulse was weak.
 
Her hand went to her ear. “Damn it.” She fished her phone out of a pocket. Leah called Kate. “I found him.”
 
“Where?” Leah raised her hand and sent a blast into the sky. “Warren said he could hardly see it.”
 
“He's not going to be running out here. The snow is too deep. I'm going to need help. He's not wearing his coat.”
 
* * * * *
“So how do we get him back here?” Warren asked.
 
“What about those plastic sleds from when we were kids?” Jennie tossed out. “Dad used to pull us on the tractor. I think they're still tied together.”
 
Trese smiled. “Right idea, Jen. Wrong plan.” She looked at Dani. “You ready to try something new?”
 
Dani pulled her sweater off to reveal the top of her Hellfire uniform. “You're kidding,” Ash said.
 
“Extra layer of insulation and I'm not burning my sweater, jeans or socks. Warren, the rest of my...” Warren held her boots and glasses out to her. “Thanks,” she said, shucking off her jeans and socks. Pulling on her boots, she asked, “What's your plan, Red?”
 
Trese grinned and pulled on her coat. “Kate, tell Leah to give us a heading every so often.”
 
“This I've got to see,” Ash said as everyone trailed out the door behind Trese.
 
“Trese,” she turned to look at Marlene. “Bring him back.”
 
“We will,” Trese assured her.
 
Closing her eyes, Trese let her power out. She sat. She felt the wings extend to either side. The wind stopped stinging her face when the fuselage formed.
 
“I don't know, Red. I don't think I can carry all this.”
 
“You're only carrying me and I'll be helping this time.”
 
“Where do I go?” Dani asked.
 
“See the grips in the middle? Grab those. Once we get going I will close the bottom and you provide the thrust.”
 
Warren looked at what Trese had formed. It was somewhere between a hang glider and a sea plane. “How did you come up with this?”
 
“An idea that I had. Jason and I have been fiddling with it. Ready?”
 
“Yeah,” Dani said. “I guess.”

The mood in the house was somber. After the ambulance had taken Ben they had migrated to Warren's. Mary and Jennie weren't ready to deal with Ben's absence in the house. Everyone's minds were turned to their own memories of the man.
 
Jennie sat on the couch between Marlene and Leah. Leah had an arm around her. From time to time tears would roll down Jennie's face.
 
Mary sat in Warren's recliner rocking Aaron. Every once in a while, the boy would call out “Pa”. In the kitchen, Warren tended dinner. He held his wife when he wasn't otherwise occupied. Kris and Ash sat at the table nursing cups of coffee.
 
Warren felt Kate shiver at the same moment he did. “Great.”
 
“What's wrong?” Mary asked.
 
Kris and Ash looked at each other. “Draft,” Warren answered. “Need to find out where it is coming from.”
 
“Warren, go find Jason, please,” Marlene said quietly.
 
“He's probably out in the barn,” Warren said.
 
“Warren.” Jennie shifted off Leah when Leah let go of her.
 
“Yeah?”
 
“Open the door.” Electricity crackling around her, Leah flew at the door. In a burst of speed, Warren held it open for her. He watched as she gained altitude.
 
“What's wrong?” he asked.
 
Marlene answered him. “That wasn't a draft.”

Daniel Thomas stared at the stylized P and flaming W icon of Project Wildfire that had replaced Jason Scott when he had disconnected the video call. Information was always a useful bargaining chip and one he preferred to never have to give up. Capwell had given him a few free bites and he could only wonder where and how Bauer had managed to get hold of two Black Sharks.
 
Jason listed almost every airfield in California wanting to know how a Russian-made helicopter could fly over American airspace undetected. He had ideas, but sharing wasn't really in his nature. He wished he had more, hell, any control over Jason. Trying to exert any could very well have the Guardians blow up in his face. It was better for him and for Wildfire to keep them as allies.
 
It was time for him to get some advice.
 
“Anderson, Sharon.” He waited while the computer made the connection.
 
“Daniel,” she said in greeting when the connection was made.
 
“Hello, Sharon. I need your help dealing with a problem.”
 
“If I can. What's the problem?”
 
“It isn't a what, Sharon. It's a who.”
 
Sharon's eyes narrowed and threatened to burn a hole through him. “I don't deal with those types of problems any longer, Daniel. You know that.”
 
“Relax, Sharon. It isn't a wetwork solution that I'm looking for.”
 
“Oh. Who is the problem, then?”
 
“Jason Scott.” Sharon's eyes shifted to the side. “Sharon, your eyes? You can see again?”
 
Yes, Daniel.”
 
“How?”
 
Sharon focused on his image again. “Let's just say Santa decided I had been a very good girl.”
 
“You aren't going to tell me.”
 
“Good guess. What's the problem with Jason?”
 
“He wants some information.”
 
“Which you loathe the idea of handing out without getting something useful in return.”
 
“Something like that. He's threatening to withdraw from Wildfire. He's threatening to talk to Kendall to have him withdraw.”
 
Sharon shook her head. “Entirely possible he could do it. Jason despises you, Daniel. He sees you, at best, as a necessary evil. Just barely crossing the line into the necessary part. Wildfire has put a foot wrong with several nations. The only thing that keeps you from putting a foot wrong in ours is Alan.”
 
“I don't know why he doesn't like me. I have such a sparkling personality,” he said dryly.
 
“You referred to two of his closest friends as 'assets' while trying to take them back into custody. It goes downhill from there. What is it that he wants?”
 
“Did you see the news? The tour bus on the Pacific Highway?”
 
“Yes,” she answered.
 
“The helicopter was targeting Scott and Capwell. His assessment was that is was a Black Shark. Capwell says that Bauer has two in his possession.”
 
“How did one of those end up flying over California?” she asked.
 
“And that is what Scott wants to know.”
 
“Do you know?”
 
Daniel nodded. “Theories and conjecture based on a contact inside Nova Research.”
 
“It isn't what you want to hear, Daniel, but tell him what you know and what you think. It might just push you a little further into 'necessary' in Jason's mind.” The screen went blank and was once again filled with the Wildfire icon.

Thanks. Helps my sanity.

--------------------------
“Who are you?”
 
“My name, Dr. Tyler, is Arthur Kayne.” Kris' eyes narrowed. “I see you've heard of me. I am not here to do harm, Dr. Tyler. Quite the contrary, actually. I realize you can raise the alarm. I won't stop you.”
 
Arthur walked steadily, but as if he were carrying a heavy load. His cane tapped in time with his steps. He stopped by Marlene's bed. “I am sorry, dear lady, for the heartache that I have caused you. Here at the end of things I have to wonder if any of it was really worth it.” His hand reached out, but he never touched her. “Pregnant?” He allowed himself a small smile. “Really now. I didn't expect that.”
 
He turned his attention to the second bed. “Hello, dear girl. 'Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.' I did not realize what would happen, Angelique. I only hoped you would rise to the occasion.” He lifted his eyes from Angelique. “Hello, Charlemagne.”
 
“She's dying, Old Man.”
 
“I know. Here, now, at the end of things, I pray I can make some restitution for some of the things I have done. When I am done, Charlemagne, I will need your chair.”
 
Arthur began mumbling to himself. He pressed his hand against Angelique's chest. Her eyes opened. Something smoke-like passed his lips and came through his eyes and entered Angelique. When the exchange was done he wobbled. Charley held him easily and helped him into the chair.
 
“What did you do?” Kris asked. She checked the monitors attached to Angelique. All the readings were getting stronger.
 
“A life, doctor, for a life. Maintaining the balance, as it were. I am sorry, for what it is worth, for the pain I caused you.”
 
Kris bit back the retort that threatened.

More good work.