BH6 PSL

[ear_wormed]

NONSENSE AS ALWAYS

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[ear_wormed]

[ Halcyon City: a shining metropolis on the coast of Lake Michigan, filled with all sorts of nonsense. Superheroes on a scale mostly unheard of in the rest of the US. Aliens living in plain sight, with their own sections of the city (where else would you get authentic Martian cuisine??). High tech, magic, Egyptian gods and people back from the dead by unknown means.

It's a big, weird place. Weirder than San Fransokyo, and maybe bigger too.

Tonight is no different. When the alert comes in that a local tech factory is getting assaulted by supervillain goons, there's already a super on the scene. Blond and unmasked, but with light body armor and a headband that nonetheless changes the shape of his face enough to make him difficult to recognize out of context. Thunderstruck crackles with electric power as he punches the goon closest to him, then follows up with a blast of electricity direct to the face. A pretty effective stun - plenty for a normal encounter, except ...

Man there are a lot of goons here tonight. And Thunderstruck here has really not yet mastered the art of mustering a large scale EMP yet. The first goon goes down, yes, but all of a sudden there's three more grabbing at him. He could really use an assist. ]

[tadeadshi]

[Go to Halcyon City, he was told. There's a lot of weird things happening we need information about was leveraged for his supplies o keep his support suit up and working. Not his favorite deal, but it's what Tadashi has.

They worked on the backend paperwork of everything, a place to stay temporarily and funding. if it progressed beyond a week or so, they'd set him up with classes or something so h could investigate deeper.

But tonight was for something else. A local tech factory giving some alarms of an intrusion, so Tadashi gets his gear and gets on his way. Some other super is already here but he's alone.]

Looks like you could use a hand! [He calls it out quickly, a rush of flame takes out at least two of the three grabbing for Thunderstruck.]

[ear_wormed]

[ Thunderstruck's head snaps around as flames scorch through two of the three, dropping them to the ground. That leaves the one currently attempting to choke him out, and that, well. His eyes glow silver and a ripple of electrical current arcs through that guy. Boom, down. Temporary reprieve for the both of them. ]

-- Who the hell are you?

[ Alas, a "thank you" is not his instinctive answer here. Instead he's taking in Tadashi's suit, the fire, the ... everything going on here? Sure there's fire supers in Halcyon City, and then there's supers with exosuits, but both? At once?

He's dimly offended at not recognizing the interloper on sight. He thought he knew of EVERY super in the City? And their contingency plan ... ]

[tadeadshi]

[The fiery vigilante all but flies into view, keeping low just inches above the ground it seems; it's hard to tell if he's rolling or floating somehow. But the mask over his head keeps his face distorted and his voice sounds warbly a bit.]

A helping hand. Heard there was some trouble over here, thought I'd bring some heat.

[ear_wormed]

[ Flight too, Thunderstruck notes internally, though that power is one of the most common ones in the city. It's still not a combo he recognizes. So who the hell is this guy? A rival? Enemy?

Thunderstruck picks himself up with a dim scowl. But ... he can't argue with results, can he? ]

I had it handled.

[ Okay he can argue a little. ]

[tadeadshi]

[The guy just doesn't seem to let up, moving to circle around Thunderstruck with a keen eye, not that it can be seen through his helmet.]

You sure? Because it loooked like you were having some trouble. I'll get out of your hair if you want, but you have some more incoming.

[ear_wormed]

[ Unlike Tadashi's exosuit and mask, Thunderstruck's outfit is relatively light. Face fully visible with a headband to lightly obscure his identity. A smidge younger than Tadashi, but not more than a year or two. Light body armor in blue and silver, with metal arm cuffs that seem to help ground his electric ability. His utility belt is similarly grounded; he tugs out a scanner that's been designed to rest inside a Faraday cage and therefore also resist his electric impulse. Someone has outfitted him well? But he doesn't handle the equipment like he designed it himself.

He glances down at the radar showing another waves of blips approaching. Dammit. He COULD use this guy's firepower, no pun intended. Thunderstruck is wildly competitive, but he's not stupid. ]

Only if you give me a name.

[ As if Tadashi's the one receiving a favor and not him. ]

[tadeadshi]

[While Thunderstruck can't see his expression through the full-face visor, he can probably hear the smile in his voice through the modulator. He comes to a stop next to the thunder hero, his own bits of armor gleaming in the stream of flames at his heels. Orange and red, with hinges at his elbows and knees like medical braces, and chest armor for impact absorption. The helmet he wears covers his full head with a visor coming down the center obscuring his face.]

Sunfire. Pleased to meet ya, and I think these guys will be less pleased to meet us. Wha'dya say?

[ear_wormed]

[ It's incredibly impressive actually. Thunderstruck's not much of a tech expert, but he knows next level work when he sees it. Shit, when the hell did this guy get here? "Sunfire" definitely isn't in his database. ]

... Thunderstruck. Yeah, okay.

[ His hands crackle with electricity. ]

Let's take care of these assholes.

[ Speaking of which, here's a fresh batch of them bearing down on them. Most are similarly mook status like the ones they've fought before, but there's someone in the back with an odd device on hand... ]

[tadeadshi]

[Sunfire doesn't waste another second or sound as his flames flare up and he moves to encircle the new group in flames so they can't easily run.]

Sorry, think you're stuck here with us for a while! [He gathers a ball of heat in his hand and tosses it at the nearest goon, sending him flying into the one next to him to the ground.]

[ear_wormed]

[ Damn, he's REALLY gotta learn that encircling trick. But at least he can take advantage of it. More electricity crackles as Thunderstruck rises into the air on a cushion of static. Flight? Well - sort of, he's working altitude, but that's not a problem in here. Fifteen feet is enough to get a clear shot at two more of the others. A bolt of lightning arcs between them, sending them twitching.

But there's still that asshole in the back. He lifts the device and takes aim at Thunderstruck's obvious target. There's a sizzle - a wave of red energy - and then abruptly he's falling back to the ground, all of the electricity gone for a second. ]

-- Shit!

[tadeadshi]

[Sunfire takes out one more of the lackeys with a grin before he sees that wave of red, the sensor in his visor giving warning signs and alerts before he looks-]

No-

[He nearly leaps over the bodies of the cannon fodder to try and catch Thunderstruck in his arms hoping he can make it.]

I've got you!

[ear_wormed]

[ It’s a near thing. Thunderstruck doesn’t have much distance to fall, but also not much time for Sunfire to intervene. He catches Thunderstruck at the last second, managing to cushion him from breaking an arm or something.

Also he probably squishes Sunfire a little, sorry. He is definitely tangled up for a hot second. ]

—- power dampener. Didn’t know they had them portable yet.

[ He’s still wincing, twitching a hand to try and summon a spark again. Gonna have to update Forecast’s files if he makes it back safely… ]

[tadeadshi]

[Sunfire grunts under the sudden weight in his arms, going to his knees for a second. The super's warm at least, warmer than any human has any right to be while he's holding Thunderstruck.]

Power dampener huh... Must be localized if they aimed it to only take you out. Not permanent?

[ear_wormed]

[ Huh. Fire powers, so that tracks, but Thunderstruck would be lying if he didn't admit it was kind of nice to rest next to that warmth for half a second.

He grimaces, straining to summon a fresh crackle of electricity. The faintest glimmer of blue appears between his fingertips. ]

Not permanent. Blocked solid, though.

[ The goon with the device is looking QUITE smug as he clearly recharges the device for another blast. ]

[tadeadshi]

[Sunfire keeps half an eye on the goon, the other on Thunderstuck's fingers seeing that spark trying to reignite. It's enough for him.

He nods once and makes a point to toss Thunderstruck the other direction, far as the goon aims the device right at them. Hopefully he'll only aim at Sunfire since the electricity isn't back-]

The fire's still on! [He finishes the thought out loud, firing a large flame at him as he ducks the opposite direction from where he threw the lightning hero.]

[ear_wormed]

[ Excuse me, sir, did you just THROW him -

Which is to say Thunderstruck lets out a thoroughly indignant noise as he (gently) makes contact with the floor of the warehouse. Not the least bit hurt, but pride definitely smarting. ]

Hey! I can still -

[ Handle this, he goes to say, but the flames roil out at the goon just as he moves to fire back. Heat gets to the circuitry first, but there's still an energy explosion that ripples through the warehouse. A lesser effect but still nauseating.

Thunderstruck growls and launches himself forward bodily, tackling one of the front mooks to the ground. ]

[tadeadshi]

[How does one throw lightning? Easily.

But Sunfire keeps the fire going until the pulse hits him and it dies down, feet touching the ground for the first time since he got here.]

That's probably not good. [He dodges a quick punch from another goon, starting to take on the fist fight instead.]

You got this!

[ear_wormed]

[ It's a flat out brawl at this point. Thunderstruck is thankfully pretty skilled at hand-to-hand combat even without his powers working - he suplexes the first mook into a second, and then tackles a third - and between the two of them, they're starting to break ranks and flee. ]

I do got this. [ It comes out as a growl. ] I mean - I know, I've got it, I don't need help.

[ The abandoned device sparks and shudders on the warehouse floor. ]

[tadeadshi]

[He finally manages to flip his guy over his head as he rolls onto his back with a noise in his throat, aiming for the goon who had the device originally.

But he sees it sparking unattended and makes a dive for it.]

Good because - keep them busy!

[ear_wormed]

I don't need orders either!

[ He says, following Sunfire's lead here. The sparks are starting to come back a little - not enough for lightning, but enough to startle a yelp out of the next goon he clocks, and startle the one behind him into fleeing proper.

The device is rather sparky itself. Something snapped off the side when it fell, and the power cables are all loose and tangled now. A curious symbol is emblazoned on the side: something Tadashi's handlers might be looking for. Halcyon City was rumored to be the site of a Martian invasion, and here's a Martian mark on the little crystal at the heart of the device... ]

[tadeadshi]

[He pauses when he sees it. That's definitely a Martian mark on that little crystal. Sunfire makes sure his visor picks up the whole device in its viewfinder, makes a quick scan of the schematics before grabbing the frame and starting to rip what he can of it. He needs that crystal more than anything else here.

Tucking it into a pouch, he finally stands.]

Hey, I think you're right! You definitely don't need help or orders, so later!

[He tosses one guy out of his way on the way out but then he's out like a flash of light. Even if he does feel a little bad about it.]

[ear_wormed]

[ Did this guy just leave? Just like that? He LEFT?

This is why Thunderstruck doesn't work with other supers, god DAMN it. His eyes go wide, but he only gets a moment before the last goon decks him hard across the face. He makes short work of the guy but - too late. Newbie's gone, and ...

When he stoops to check what's left of the device, it's clear the heart of it's gone too. Fuck. Fuck.

He hesitates. Going back to Forecast now will be a lecture for sure, especially without the crystal OR the newbie in tow. But if he finds this guy, then maybe Forecast doesn't need all of the details of what happened here.

He looks up, trying to spot if there was a window or an opening that Sunfire would have left through. Or scorch marks, maybe... ]

[tadeadshi]

[He absolutely just left. And took the crystal with him. Shame how that works.

But he can't help leaving a trail, some scorch marks each time he turns a little too sharply at an intersection. They lead about five miles east, a quieter part where he can sit and run a scan on this crystal. His helmet's visor seems alight with what scans it takes and readings it gives him.]

This mmmight be what they're looking for. [It's mostly to himself. If there are ears listening, he hasn't noticed as nothing's come up on his proximity reader.]

[ear_wormed]

[ Scorch marks. Perfect. Thunderstruck isn't the same detective genius that Forecast is, but he's no slouch. And he needs to get this back to avoid reporting back to his mentor with failure...

He's very quiet as he approaches. The static electricity lifts him into the air with barely a whisper - and lightly scrambles those proximity sensors. He's able to get real close. ]

Who? Who are you working for?

[ Maybe close enough to grab this guy by the back of his suit. ]