csyphrett

Re: Trek Plot Brainstorm Help! Star Trek also has forgotten technology that wants to eat the crew. Terraformers discover a buried robot while redesigning a planet. The machine activates, forcing the staff to flee. It is up to the Seraph to make its way through a new minefield, discover the whereabouts of the terraformers, and deal with robot after robot waking up and wanting to go to war. Naturally orbit reaching artillery is among those things that have decided to get back in the fight business. CES

Re: How to make a character that turns into a spaceship? you can also do this with multiform. Build the vehicle then use that as the active cost for the multiform. CES

Re: a medical magic school fer thy campain... Might I suggest Drains, aids, transfers to your school of magic. I don't know what kind of restrictions you are under but Drain Com will put people out like magic anesthesia, aids to charteristics can be defined as Energy Drinks, and transfers can be done as using other's energies to boost the target. CES

Re: I'm not sure how to get the PCs together! To echo Hugh, the Angle Man was killed at a detective convention. Something similar could be a start up point. CES

Re: Walking With Strangers 6 Billy Keys headed down to the basement of the building he maintained. He often wandered the premises to look for problems before they developed. The basement might be the start of something he needed to fix. Several things pointed to something growing down there. First there was a smell. It drifted up to the apartments. Several of his renters complained about it. Tracking the smell had led him down the steps to the bottom of the building. Then there were the holes in the walls he had found. He had plugged all he could find but figured that more would keep coming as long as the source was still out there. Experience pointed to a problem he had seen before in other buildings. He didn't like the thought of it. So he had to go down in the basement and look for himself. Then he could figure out what to do about it. Rats were the bane of a healthy building. Billy pulled a flashlight from his pocket and flicked it on. If he had turned the overhead on, the rats would have run like cockroaches. He wanted them to think that he was friendly. That way he could figure out the source of them and plug it. Billy ran the light over the concrete room. He didn't like the way green dots flickered back as the light moved back and forth. He went to the light switch and turned the overheads on. Two bulbs in descending lamps from the ceiling flashed on. A brown carpet stood at attention, blinking in the sudden light. He frowned when they didn't run from the exposure. That wasn't ordinary. Billy examined the room, nodded at the hole in the bottom of the wall on the other side of the room. That must have been the entrance. How could he get them to go out that way? As Billy pondered what to do, the rats took off through the hole. They formed an orderly line and moved single file through the hole and out in the alley beyond. The super moved closer, playing the light on the wall. That was something you didn't see every day. Billy moved closer, light still shining in front of him. The rear guard hissed at him, exposing sharp teeth. That wasn't usual either. Billy took a step back. There was more to this than met the eye. Rats usually didn't form up in packs like this. Maybe someone was in charge, someone who could control rats. Billy knew it was possible. Super Squirrel did the same thing with squirrels. The super ran up the stairs. He needed to find out what was going on. He reached the basement door and stepped outside with a thought. Billy looked around. He spotted the line of rats forming into a marching band a few feet to his right. He didn't expect that. The rodents turned and started marching away from him at full speed. Billy scratched his head. He should follow them and find out what was going on. He also needed to repair the hole in his wall before they came back. He shook in place, trying to decide what was more important. Finally he put the flashlight in his pocket after turning it off and walked after the marching army. He could always get some concrete for patching the wall from the hardware store later. This might be his only chance to follow the rats back to their boss. The procession worked its way across Marlowe to the forest at the edge of town. The rats broke up and ran in different directions, acting more like normal rats than they had so far. Billy lost sight of them in the underbrush. Billy scratched his head. He still didn't know what was going on but at least the rats were gone for now. He would just have to keep an eye out for more problems from them. That meant constant vigilance. He was already doing that, so a little more wouldn't be that much of a big deal. He pulled out his pad and wrote down what he needed to make repairs. It would take some time but eventually he would have all the holes filled, everything back in order. Passing the word on seemed to be advisable. Maybe the others had run across something like this before. He had helped save the city but that wasn't what he liked to do. It had been an extension of keeping his building safe. A giant monster would have destroyed that with a flick of its paws. Save the city equaled saving his building seemed an easy equation in his mind. Billy headed back to his building, reaching for his phone. He had Odd's number. The book seller knew where everyone was. He could alert the others.

Re: The New Circle Water surged out of the ocean south of Japan. Something large started swimming for the island nation, sparking a flood of requests for help. The defense force and UNTIL scrambled planes to check out the approaching monster. The planes tried to herd the thing back to the depths. Their best weapons merely caused the creature to swim for shore faster. Evacuation for Kyoto and Tokyo started but civilian deaths were estimated in the millions. Superhumans from around the world went on alert to at least try to reach the threatened country. The sea monster touched the shore, rearing out of the ocean. Super Silver Astro Force Man punched it in the head as he leaped from the roof of a nearby building. The blow barely staggered the behemoth. The protector of the country readied himself for a long fight against the angered thing trying to get to the city proper. A Man and the squid lizard squared off, trying to size each other up. Finally the monster lost patience and charged with talons extended on its paws. The silver shield threw the monster into the water as a delaying tactic. Being thrown back into the ocean wouldn't stop that leviathan. A Man readied his next attack as he waited for the beast to return. He wondered where a giant lizard like that had come from. The sea monster reared up. Both giants went down. A Man kicked out with his tremendous feet, hoping to encourage to go out to the sea. It seemed that the beast would rather not fight and get away from heavy lifting. "Please turn and leave Japan's waters. We'll get your information later. Try to stay out of trouble." The sea monster grabbed the hero's leg and dragged him under water. Bubbles marked their position for long minutes. Super Silver Astro Force Man burst into the open. He raised one arm and took off to space. The battle was over for the moment.

Re: The New Circle Character Name: Decoy Real Name: Frank Fortune Nationality: American Hair/Eye Color: brown/brown Place of Birth: Salem, Mass Date of Birth: 9/16/1975 Height/Mass: 5'8", 175 pounds Cost Characteristic Value 5 STR 15 33 DEX 21 20 CON 20 10 BODY 15 15 INT 25 20 EGO 20 PRE 10 COM 10 PD 3 ED 4 29 SPD 6 REC 7 END 40 STUN 32 OCV: 7 DCV: 7 OECV: 6 DECV: 6 Phases: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 Cost Powers and Talents (END) 10 Super Disguise: Shapechange sight, touch, and hearing, any humanoid form, imitation (+10), OIF (supplies -1/2), extra time (5 minutes -2) 12 Bulletproof clothes: armor (12 PD) 18 pts OIF (-1/2) Cost Skills 3 acting 11- 3 deduction 14- 2 WF: small arms 3 stealth 13- 2 navigation 14- 3 paramedics 14- 3 combat driving 13- 3 combat piloting 13- 5 TF: Wheeled vehicles, planes, boats, parachuting 3 disguise 14- 3 mimicry 14- 3 demolitions 14- 3 streetwise 11- 3 KS: The underworld 14- 3 AK: Salem, Mass 14- 3 AK: The United States 14- 3 AK: The world 14- 5 cramming 3 system operations 14- 3 survival 14- 3 KS: security systems 14- 3 lockpicking 13- 3 mechanics 14- 3 electronics 14- 3 research 14- 3 lightsleep 4 choke 3 legsweep 4 block 4 disarm 4 escape 3 grab 3 throw 4 nerve strike 5 offensive strike 25 + 5 with HTH combat 5 eidetic memory 9 lightning reflexes + 6 5 Wealth 27 danger sense 2 concealed weapon permit 2 private investigator license 7 Contact: Bennie the Rat 11- 150 Points Disadvantages 20 Fearless 20 The mercenary's code 15 Public Identity 10 Reputation: Master of Disguise 11- 20 DNPC: Mrs. Johnson, secretary 14- 10 DF: Scarred face 10 Hunted by Tim Marvin, the trap master assassin 8- 15 Physical Lim: Migraines 10 Vulnerable to Sonic Attacks 20 Enraged if Client is killed 14-/11- CHA Cost = 132 Total Powers Cost = 22 Total Skills Cost = 189 Total Cost = ___350____ Background Information: Frank Fortune had a normal childhood, characterized by run-ins with the local bullies. He found that he didn't feel fear at these confrontations and wondered if there was something mentally wrong with him. In any case, Frank outgrew his neighborhood, taking to the stage to learn to act. Frank found that he wasn't a star. Instead he could mimic others so he could use the adopted personas to lift his performance up. Essentially he became a man impersonating another man impersonating a third man. That could only work so far, but Frank's natural ability with disguises helped him along, allowing him to make a comfortable living. That all changed when an arsonist decided to burn the theater down. The fire was a hit on the theater company and the building for the insurance. Frank acted to save as many people as he could. A piece of debris fell on his face leaving a long scar along his profile as he ushered people out of the death trap. The actor was taken to the hospital to recover. Depression set in as he was told his face would never look normal again by the doctors. While in the hospital, Frank discovered that someone was trying to kill the patient across the hall. He intervened by switching places with the helpless man, using his disguise skills to hide the man as him in his room, and cover his own face with the other patient's. He tricked the killer into trying to kill him while he was supposedly helpless. The confused assassin was turned over to the police where he quickly gave up his employer. Frank found he enjoyed the cat and mouse game with the hitman. He decided that he should switch careers. He undertook some training and set up an office that offered a unique bodyguard service. That was the beginning of the Decoy Protective Service. Quote: "Let me get rid of this mask." Personality: Frank has adopted a buttoned down persona for conducting business. He takes the client's money and does whatever he can to find out who is trying to kill the client before he himself is killed. Appearance: Frank always looked average before his accident. He tended to be able to blend in unless he was mimicking some other actor on the job. The side of his face bears a long, wide burn down one side. He uses his disguise skill to hide it when necessary. Powers: Frank is an actor with some training in other parts of the business. He uses his knowledge to build masks he can wear to impersonate other people. Plot Hook 1) A player has to protect his secret identity. He needs a stand-in for a public function. Naturally he hires someone to do the job while he arrives in his mask and costume. Hopefully everything goes as planned and no one found out the person under the mask didn't attend as such. Plot Hook 2) Someone has been threatened with murder. He hires the Decoy Protective Service. The problem is heroes get involved and the situation grows out of control. And what happens when the client goes missing? Plot Hook 3) The players need to know how to disguise themselves, or need someone to make a credible disguise for them. They turn to Frank Fortune for help and a bit of tutoring. Will the players need to take their master of disguise along to keep the illusion alive? Notes: Frank Fortune is based on a detective called the Human Target. His shtick was based on impersonating people and trying to figure out who was trying to kill them before he got killed.

Re: US Government's reaction to superhumans plus some states have samaritan laws in effect and laws to increase legal penalities because you didn't act when you had a responsibility to do so like lifeguards are responsible for saving an idiot who swam out too far, and can be sued for not doing their job. A super battle would be disasterous in the real world, but the world would be changed so far beyond what we have now it would be naive to think otherwise. Only writer fiat keeps the real application of major powers to a real setting from changing it from something we can see out the window to something from a Legion comic book. CES

Re: Teen Guardians John has taken over. The time has been jumped ahead to November. CES

Re: Teen Guardians Saturday the Sixth Eric looked at them as the catgirl left them alone "He might be my dad, he might even deserve some sort of justice for what I went through and..I guess going through again... But if there's one thing I learned the first way around is not all cops are bad. There might be a few of them that deserve a bomb in the face but I seriously doubt all of them do." Eric smiled. "Besides what fun would it be to let my dad die before he gets to meet my girlfriend? One less thing for him to tease me about." "He won't tease," Patty promised. "Let's go, lover boy." Pusher grabbed the wall, preparing to move through the ground to the police station. "I'll see what I can do while you guys catch up." "Right," Patty said, sweeping Eric back up off his feet. "I'll get him there, you just tell where you want to meet--and we'll be there with bells on." Boyfriend in arms, catgirl in her wake, she took off down the corridor. "Let's try the front door." Pusher headed into the ground. "You might want to call ahead." There seemed to be no interception as the group moved to the police station. The police were coming and going as they usually did. The question was in this small three story building and two sub-levels plus one holding area, where was the bomb? Patty sat Eric carefully down on the concrete behind the dumpster and glanced at the building. "Darn it," she said, one hand on his shoulder, "Well..." A sudden flash of brilliance hit her and she looked at the catgirl. "Where's the bomb?" Pusher started at the bottom of the building, looking at the main supports first. His molecule vision should pick out something fairly quickly as long as he was passing through the walls and floors. The catgirl looked at her and laughed. "Silly girl, The bomb is where it would be most effective. It's over Eric's dad's head." She seemed to grin. "See it's at a perfect place. Wouldn't you say?" Patty's eyes closed in a wince. Starting at the bottom and working upward did help as the stuff of the area seemed to shift and move. Finally The bomb came into view above an officers desk in the narcotics area. "Naturally." Pusher examined the bomb for timers or radio mechanisms. Patty looked at Eric. "Darn it," she said. "Can you get us in there without really being noticed, I mean, I've can get a change of clothes quick and we can go see your dad, better now than never I mean that gets us in anyway on the pretext of you and me going to see him because..." she frowned and her eyes brightened. "...I'm your girlfriend!" "Yeah." He looked at the catgirl "Wait here, we're .. going to go say goodbye to my dad. okay?" The catgirl just smiled at him. "Phf, I might be more fluffheaded than the average human but even I know you plan on stopping bomb. Master might not like it, Eric, but I remembers you not always happy. You go try and make things way you want. if it work. Happy ending for you maybe but dad will still be there. So will Master Incubus." The catgirl stood next to a wall "My duplicate already speaking with Master so I know that you have ten minutes. He has activated timer. He say your test starts now. Hero or Villain." "Patty, go get that change of clothes. I hope Pusher found that bomb already cause this won't be pretty. Meet me by the front door." Eric yelled while running towards the front of the police building. There was something strange about the bomb as Pusher began examining it. It was slightly off from more conventional explosives but there was a sudden soft beep barely heard as he approached which caused the Timer to light up for ten minutes. Pusher tried to turn everything to oxygen, not wanting to take a chance on moving it, or taking it apart. Patty was already gone and moving, accelerating to her full power and moved towards point A which was where she'd left her pants and blouse and got to the hiding place and grabbed them and tossed them over her arm her stomach rumbled again she didn't have the energy to really expend she was going to do herself harm if she wasn't careful but she hit the gas and kept moving slowing only when she got back towards the police station that was too easy she pulled her blouse ran her fingers through her hair then slowed more as she was sure no one was watching and quickly shed her shoes and pulled on her trousers and then slid her feet back into the high-tech running shoes and ran her fingers through her hair again... ...and looped her hand over his forearm. Her hair was out of the eternal ponytail and fluffed lightly about her shoulders. "Ready," she said, to the tune of her stomach rumbling. "Let's do this!" Pusher could feel the molecules around the bomb giving way bit by bit. The device seemed protected but not enough that it couldn't be changed. It was just going to take a long time to get through it. Question was did he have enough time to get through it before the bomb went off? Pusher decided that he couldn't move the bomb, and transforming it was going too slow. He could use it as fuel for a molecule blast, or create a solid barrier around it to try to contain the blast. Either way would be a mass of destruction for the station, unless he wanted to chance moving it himself after all. Better let someone know. "Hey!" Pusher stuck his head out of the ceiling. "There's a bomb in the ceiling. You might want to clear the building." Once Patty and Eric started to go through the door no one really paid them much attention there or inside. Yet Eric was on edge simply because of where he was. He felt like a long tailed cat in the room full of rocking chairs. Downstairs where Pusher came through the officer looked up at him "What the hell!? Why did you put a bomb up there?" He took out his gun to open fire. Dirty consciences bred dirty thoughts in this case with Eric's father that the teen supers were actually criminals. "I'm trying to save the building, idiot." Pusher shook his head. "Pull the fire alarm and get everyone out of here." Pusher went back into the ceiling and decided the best thing he could do was transform the surrounding material into lead and steel to seal the bomb in a box. He kept doing this until he knew the countdown was in its last stages before trying to make his escape. He hoped Patty and Eric had taken the hint and gotten clear. He really hoped the idiot he had talked to had pulled the fire alarm like he said. Patty wrapped her hand around his elbow, bouncing and flouncing along, ever the chipper cheerleader her eyes left and right quickly, taking in the sights--she'd been here before, as an adult, but even though there was purpose, she was nothing if not curious. She squeezed his arm. "It'll be okay," she assured him. "In, out, introduce me to your dad and worst comes to worst, I disappear in a cloud of dust with a bomb in my hands." They had been nearing the elevator when the police started shouting out alarms and pulling people out of the police building. Pusher's ability focused on the bomb helped keep the explosive from destroying who knows how much more than it would have normally done. But the remaining destructive force was enough to cave in the ceiling, at least superficially. Nothing major fell in. They'd need to replace titles and supports for the tiles. Eric's father was too busy for his own good giving descriptions of what had happened and how he'd know there was a bomb present. Busy enough in fact that he and most of his friends on the force didn't even notice Eric and Patty standing among the crowd. Patty wrapped her hand around Eric's waist. "Well, that was almost bad," she decided, "at least nobody's hurt, we didn't blow cover, and Pusher managed to clear out most of the cops and minimize the bomb damage." She looked around. "Was that my imagination or did I hear gunshots earlier?" Eric looked at her a bit "Not sure.. I thought I'd heard something too.. but your right at least it looks like no one got hurt."

Re: Quote of the Week from my gaming group... With streaks of lightning. CES

Re: Quote of the Week from my gaming group... The Kobold turns to his companion (An Air Elemental). "I guess we could start there. Brother, do any of the stone look like the one I have described?" "How should I know, dude?" The tornado glared down at Lahknar. "I ain't got no eyes."

Re: The Addams Family Bobobo-bo bo-bobobo was created by Yoshio Sawai. Shonen Jump is reprinting parts of it with Slam Dunk, YuYu Hakusho, Naruto, One Piece, Yugioh GX. The collected volumes are probably on sale at book stores and you can probably get the cartoon somewhere. CES

Re: What Have You Watched Recently? Watched 9/11 Conspiracy theories on the History Channel. Pretty interesting that people have devoted time to demonize the government with optical illusions when there is so much real evidence out there of other things going on. CES

Re: What Have You Watched Recently? Still trying to get through the set. Karnage is the main villian on the first disc. He also has most of the best lines too. CES

Re: The Addams Family *Csyphrett - you expect the world to make sense?* When I read, I like things to make sense in a general fashion so I don't get Bobobobob and his nose hairs of justice, his poppa rocks, his attacks of art. It's too surreal for me and my oldfashioned fuddy duddy ways. My son thinks it's great. CES

Re: What Have You Watched Recently? The first volume for Talespin. My son is enjoying the pulp flying scenes with Baloo and Don Karnage, especially Don Karnage. CES

Re: What Fantasy/Sci-Fi book have you just finished? Please rate it... I think you can some of the early books in a collected edition, Hermit. I haven't seen any in my neck of the woods, but someone posted a picture of one collection that said Wizard at Large. CES

Re: Magistracy:Origins Marcella Chan watched the storm coming in. Black thunderheads galloped like horses across the sky, occasional lightning imitating hoof beats. She wondered how much time she had before it broke overhead. A tip had come in about some dumping on Staten Island. She wanted to confirm it for her paper. That might get her off the op-ed page. Marcella looked out over the Staten Island Refuse and Recycling Center through the chain link fence. She spotted a couple of cameras, but it looked like dogs were out of the question. That was good as far as she was concerned. Marcella took some bolt cutters from her backpack. She cut through the chain links with sure strokes. She bent the fence out of the way and slid through. One hand stowed the tool as she picked her route through the piles of garbage. Marcella pulled her camera out, took a couple of pictures to test it. Everything looked good. Now all she needed was pictures of the dumping to go with her column. She also needed to not get caught. Some guys from the EPA, and the FBI, had been killed in other dumping investigations. She didn't want to add her name at the bottom of the list. Marcella pushed a loose strand of hair from her face. Her long black tresses always came loose from the scrunchies she used to hold it back. Her hand brushed the strand behind her ear as she wandered among the piles of trash. She wished she had brought her galoshes with the surrounding piles of garbage, and swampy puddles. Her shoes would be ruined by the time she got done looking around the yard. She would have to soak her feet as soon as she got back to her apartment. No said investigating would be easy. She just had to hang in there and be careful. Dead reporters filed no stories. Marcella found a spot near the center of the trashyard. The ground glowed slightly under the night sky. She took a picture. This exactly what she was looking for. Marcella looked around. She took pictures of the surrounding piles. She was careful to pick out background details so she could find the spot again. The garbage drifted like the sands of the Sahara. The glowing ground might be covered by tomorrow. A rumble drifted to Marcella's ears. She looked around. Lights pointed in her direction. Maybe the driver saw her, maybe not. She ran to cover behind old appliance boxes and waited. This might be what her tipster wanted her to see. Marcella waited as the truck rolled to a stop within walking distance of the glowing ground. Men got out, walked to the back of the twelve wheeled transport. Thunder rolled overhead as they opened the sliding door. She spotted a lift for unloading lowering to the ground as small drops of water fell on her back. I should have brought an umbrella. Marcella took pictures of the process in front of her. Blue barrels were rolled on the lift with a dolly, lowered to the ground, and rolled to a spot near the glowing ground. A tap in the bottom let the contents flow into the ground until the barrel was empty. The drained containers went back on the truck. Marcella had visions of a Pulitzer dancing in her head as she took picture after picture. Rain fell with an obscuring hand as she ran closer to take pictures of the truck itself. If she could get the plate, someone could make arrests and she would get the credit for that. Marcella skirted the edges of the pool of chemicals glowing at her feet. She looked through her viewfinder at the retreating truck, trying to catch the plate. She snapped several pictures. She grimaced. The rain and darkness combined to cloak the plate. Maybe someone could enhance the pictures and find something. She doubted it. So much for glory. Marcella put the camera in her bag. She had to get out of the rain, and figure out what she could write, and what she could hand over to the cops. That would be fun. She stepped in the glowing mass and groaned at the wet sogginess seeping through her sneakers. She definitely should have worn galoshes. A jagged streak of electricity struck down as she started to lift her foot up. She quit worrying about her choice of shoes as her hair stood on end for a brief second. She fell into the energized goo. Smoke rose under the leaves of water drifting down. Marcella picked herself off the ground after the storm had fled away from the city. Everything hurt. She looked around at the looming piles of trash, thankful that no one had found her trespassing. She would take body ache over bullet to the head any day. Marcella thought about wanting to go home. She found her yellow door waiting for her. Surprise made her pause. She must have blacked out on the way home. She was sure that she had walked home and remembered everything about the trip. She would worry about that in the morning.

Re: Magistracy: Characters Character Name: The Chemist Real Name: None Nationality: None Hair/Eye Color: Brown, gray Place of Birth: unknown Date of Birth: unknown Height/Mass: 5'8", 150 pounds Cost Characteristic Value 5 STR 15 24 DEX 18 20 CON 20 30 BODY 25 10 INT 20 40 EGO 30 10 PRE 20 COM 10 PD 3 ED 4 2 SPD 3 REC 7 END 40 STUN 42 OCV: 6 DCV: 6 OECV: 10 DECV: 10 Phases: 4,8,12 Cost Powers and Talents (END) 133 Magic 100 + 50 Variable Power Pool (gestures -1/4, Only magic -1/4) 5 Longevity 20 Universal Translator Cost Skills 1 WF: Swords 1 WF: Bows 2 Navigation 13- 3 AK: The World 13- 3 AK: Other Dimensions 13- 3 KS: Magic Lore 13- 3 KS: The Magic World 13- 3 Paramedics 13- 3 Sleight of Hand 13- 3 Bureaucratics 13- 3 Systems Operation 13- 3 Computer Programming 13- 3 Stealth 13- 3 Riding 13- 3 Shadowing 13- 3 Tracking 13- 8 + 4 OCV with magic attacks 150 Points Disadvantages 10 Reputation: Master Magician 11- 15 Public Identity 15 Psych Lim: Wizard's Code 15 Protective of Humanity 30 Hunted by Rogue's Gallery 14- 15 Watched by UN 8- 10 DF: Mystic Aura 20 Subject to Orders 20 DNPC: descendants normal 11- CHA Cost = 141 Total Powers Cost = 158 Total Skills Cost = 51 Total Cost = ___350_______________

Re: What Have You Watched Recently? Ben 10 alien force marathon- Some were good (Paradox), Some were bad (Verdona, and the alien alien hunters), but Alien X just made me shake my head after the ads for it. CES

Re: Walking With Strangers 5 Tim Bucket threw an orange tennis ball against the wall of his school. He did it to practice accuracy. He had power to spare, but his part-time career needed him to be able to hit a dime in the air at a moment's notice. He had hated giving up pitching for the baseball team. He didn't hate it, but he couldn't cheat and there were other things than sports. He just needed to get good enough at them that his father left him alone about having to quit. At least Coach Reilly understood and was reasonable about losing his best pitcher. He had actually been nice about it. That had surprised Tim at the time. He couldn't remember a time the coach had been nice about anything. "Leave me alone." A girl walked away from the school. A car of thugs slowed traffic to keep pace with her as she moved along the sidewalk. The car and the group inside looked like someone had used a baseball bat on them. "I don't want anything to do with you." Tim went to the bag he had dropped near the wall. His first thought was to call the police on his cell phone. Let them deal with the problem. He decided they wouldn't answer the call unless it was some kind of emergency. By then, things would have gotten out of hand. He reached in the bag and pulled out a face mask. He slid the straps on, pulled his baseball hat on over it. He dropped catcher's padding over his shirt. It had a yellow T in a yellow circle in the center of it. He grabbed his arsenal of baseballs last. Tim hoped his disguise would keep trouble away from his home. His dad would want to move from Marlowe if things got too bad. He grabbed his bag, sealing it. An underhand throw dropped it on the breezeway where students lined up to wait for the bus. No one seemed to have noticed what he was doing. Tim followed behind the slow moving car. The girl was crying at some of the things the guys were saying to her. He frowned underneath the face mask. What would the Enforcer do? He would drop one of those energy blasts on the skirt chasers. Tim grabbed one of his baseballs. He jogged to catch up, tossing the ball up and down in his hand. Maybe if he just said he was watching they would move on to some other girl where he wasn't getting in the way. At least he had tried to be reasonable if he did that. "I'm not asking you." The guy in the back with the broken nose stuck his hand out of the back driver's side window. He grabbed the girl's arm. "I'm telling you to get in." Tim threw the ball. He had seen enough. The baseball left his hand with the speed of a bullet, a blur of motion before it crossed the two foot mark. It hit the guy reaching out the window in the arm. Snap went the arm. The girl pulled out of the slack grasp with a jerk. She jumped back from the car, hands up for the limited protection they gave her. Tim reached into his bag, grabbing another baseball. He heard someone scream someone was shooting at them. His eyes narrowed on the passenger who was reaching for something. He couldn't allow a gun to be used this close to the school. The former pitcher cranked back his arm. The baseball blasted through the back windshield. It hit the headrest of the passenger seat. The headrest came off as the sphere started to ricochet inside the car. More shouts filled the air. The driver hit the gas, burning rubber to get away from whatever was shooting at them. Tim grabbed a third ball, wondering if they were coming back. He waited, eyes searching the streets. He dropped the ball when he decided they were gone to take care of the wounds he had inflicted. "Why did you do that?" The girl looked at Tim. She looked scared to the Trebuchet. "They'll just come back and hurt me the next time." "Call the cops and file a report." Tim turned to go. He was already starting to attract too much attention in his mask and catcher's pad. "That'll get things moving so you won't have to see them until you put them in jail." "I can't do that." The girl looked down at her book bag and purse. She had retained her grip on them throughout the excitement. "What about my family?" "You have to stand up for yourself sometime." Tim headed for the breezeway where he had stowed his civilian clothes. "The cops won't believe me. I'm wearing a mask." Tim glanced over his shoulder. The girl followed him. He couldn't just let her see his real face. The next thing he knew, everyone would know who the masked kid on campus was. His dad would be less than pleased. Tim had to get rid of her. "Go call the police and file a report." Tim grabbed hold of a breezeway support. "They'll get those guys and put them in jail." "I can't do it on my own." The girl looked at Tim, holding out one hand. "What about my family?" "If you really think the police can't help, call Odd's Books and leave a message." Tim yanked on the metal column. He flew up to the concrete awning. "Maybe he knows someone who can help you." "Maybe he knows someone?" "Maybe." Tim grabbed his bag, stuffing mask and makeshift armor in it. The baseballs went in next. He headed down the awning, making sure to stay out of sight from the ground as much as possible. Tim hid his Trebuchet disguise on the roof of the school with a quick toss. He looked around. No one could see him as far as he could tell. He braced himself with his arm, and gently tossed himself to the ground. Time to walk off before anyone could catch up to him. How did Spiderman get by the way he did?

Re: US Government's reaction to superhumans Research, regulation, and studies. After all remote viewing was part of the CIA studies. CES

Re: What Have You Watched Recently? ben ten season four- Liked The Ken 10 and the versus negative ten episodes the most, but was wondering about Cooper who only appears in the last two episodes vs. Negative 10. It does set up the whole half alien hero thing later used for Alien Force. CES

Re: Brainstorm: Re-Imaginations! Chris Claremont: The team are hunted by everyone, face the prospect their world will have a meltdown where all heroes have been killed, and one of their alternates has become a solar powered god that eats planets. Alan Moore: Avatar is really an elemental force in touch with primal heat energy. He is in love with Miss Chaos who is one step away from taking on the mantle of Hecate, mistress of misfortune. Zero learns either of these situations would mean the end of the world and gathers Stentorian (a minor muse), Trawler (a nephiliam), Terminus (a shaolin monk) to try to stop things. Frank Miller: The heroes have retired, the world is a corrupt sink of depravity, and the government is opposed by the younger, punkier, generation. Mark Millar: The heroes have taken over the US government after killing the president. CES