Halcyon City Heroes

Today is the day! Halcyon City is set to recognize it's newest group of Heores for their daring heroics. These young Heroes represent the newest generation in a long line of champions.
Sound checks are being preformed and news crews are setting up as a crowd slowly trickles in to Flying Freedom Plaza to be part of the City's official recognition of our Intrepid Young Heroes.

Eric looked over the the seat next to him, still unused to it being empty. A few years ago he wouldn't have been able to imagine this feeling, but then a few years ago Kristoph hadn't been in his life.
He pulled up to Flying Freedom Plaza and took in the sights and sounds for a moment before finding the man he was looking for.
Dalir Attar stood alone watching the stage as the finishing touches were put on it. You wouldn't imagine the soft spoken, unassuming man was actually the city's most powerful hero; Huma.
"Dalir." he says as he walks beside the Exemplar's leader. The man turns and nods.
"Eric, a pleasure. How's Emily?" he asked warmly.
"Still a bitch, how is..." he trailed off, even now he didn't like to say Mantis's real name aloud. Dalir sighed.
"She is well. You should talk to her." he said.
"That's not who we are and you know it." he shrugged. Dalir nodded knowingly.
"So, how about these kids? Are they good?" Dalir asked, changing the subject. Eric thought about it for a moment.
"They're raw, destructive... likely more powerful than people so young should be. But with proper guidance, I think they could stand besides us. Tell my pupil as much and I'll deny every word." he shot Huma a look. Dalir chuckled.
"There's a still a part of Fervor in there, isn't there?" he asked.
"Dr. Hollister wasn't as successful as he'd hoped. I still have good days." Eric said dryly.
"Well, perhaps one day Ryan will be able to return the Challengers to you." Dalir said hopefully. Eric spat.
"Perhaps. Ultra was always a better man than I was anyway. The City feels safer with a man like him leading the team." Eric said.
"They may feel safer, but for the wrong reasons, old friend. But enough of such things. I must change and prepare for my part in this." Dalir reached out and hand, which Eric shook. Then the man flew off, faster than he could follow.
Moments later Huma arrived on scene.

(will add voice color once we start picking those)

The grey fox fidgeted in the designated green room area.

This was alien. This wasn't like grade school or pee-wee soccer where you got a participation medal. He and his team had...done something. He had always thought that the rush of fighting crime was it's own reward but this was pretty cool. The city was doomed and saved every day, not every hero got a key to the city though.

He walked over to the refreshment table and his hand hovered over a cookie. He wanted one, but then thought better of it, he would look like a goober shoving it into his mask. Well, everyone has to make sacrifices right?

Miru shifted her weight and tried to mimic what the others were doing, which was a whole lot of standing around looking, well she wasn’t sure if they were nervous, impatient or nonchalant. Riptide had likely been through this before since he was working with Dreadnought, so certainly this wasn’t a big deal for him and Grey Fox seemed calm but then again he wore a mask so he always seemed calm. The twins were already a team and had each other for support and Impulse, well Miru wasn’t even sure if he was on board with this team thing.

The reality was, she’d never been very far from her grandfather’s guidance and always relied on him to show her what to do but she wasn’t going to be a ‘sidekick’ anymore, she was her own person, her own hero and this was her team. They should do team things.

Miru followed what she assumed was Grey Fox’s gaze to the strange human biscuits no one seemed to be eating. Eating together was a human thing wasn’t it? They didn't’ hunt for their own food so they made it a social affair.

”Treats for us, how nice,” she smiled as she popped a whole biscuit into her mouth, immediately attempting to suppress her skin from spotting up in shock. ”Nui!” she exclaimed trying to resist spitting out the hour douve, ”Why is it so bland?”

Artemis tried really hard to not to roll her eyes when the ocean-girl shoved an entire cookie into her mouth. It had been bad enough being around humans the past seventeen years but there were also fish-people, aliens and other strange mutants. The universe was wild and expansive but at least she’d only had to deal with the entities like herself, not the little creatures that crawled along the debris that collected around them. Okay, maybe they are a bit amusing, if not a bit helpless she thought as she watched Squid Girl struggle to swallow the morsel wondering how she managed to chew with serrated teeth.

That was the reason they were helping out wasn’t it? Humans needed protection and all that load of hot air. Sol wasn’t likely to help her if she didn’t endear herself and Apollo to him some how and these other “heroes” could be of some use eventually. As a side benefit the heroics kept Apollo busy and out of her way where he might figure out that her energy wasn’t well contained in this form. If only he hadn’t inverted himself into that black hole and started stealing her energy, she’d still be burning bright out there among the other celestials and growing more powerful. Now she was stuck as a human trying not to nova all over the place taking the much smaller Sol with her and his pet solar system too, which now inconveniently contained Apollo. Could things be any worse? Oh wait, no there is public speaking too.

Glancing over at her brother, Ari was curious if he was watching Miru too. She was pretty sure he’d accidentally tried to take the girl out on date once when she was disguised as a normal human. The poor thing hadn’t understood. Ari wondered if he even knew the cute blond that had run out on him was the same girl.

”That’s them announcing us,” Ari jerked her head to the doorway as she tugged at Apollo’s arm to pull him along with her.

Apollo glanced longingly over at the table. He was hungry. And Ari wasn't going to let him anywhere near. She always said that he ate that there was just an abyss where his stomach was...and then he was jostled out of his daze "Huh? Oh, sure"

All of this pomp and circumstance, like what they did was a big deal. Ari and him spent months looking for that woman, and then some bull-headed numb-nuts wrecked the lab where her research was. Next time, they'll be celebrating a victory for themselves, instead of a rescue for people put in harms way because of some arbitrary value that was put on a contract.

She was so worried about looking out that sometimes she missed what was in. Sol may be wrong in the way he does it, but sometimes looking at what is right there is just so much better for you. If nothing else than for a distraction from the survival of the universe.

Giving up on the danish that called to him, Apollo moved towards the dais with the seats for them. Nice gesture, unnecessary, but nice. He doubted Ari would even consider the process that went into this, she was just so worried with the overarching story. She saw her life in the skies as...well, that would come back eventually. Some things still came up dark, like it was forever hidden underneath something. It was frustrating, not knowing why you make a complete life decision, affecting thousands. Someday though, he was sure that nebulous answer would rise unbidden, like a new star born.

Taking Ari's hand in his, Apollo waved over his buddy. "Come on Jeff, lets get this done with so we can find some hole in the wall restaurant that wants to thank us and try something new." He squeezed Ari's hand tight while flashing an I'm joking...kinda smile. Crowds made her nervous. He had to distract her somehow. Or was it him that needed distracting?

Jeff sat in the "green room"(the green room being just four curtains around the back of the stage) for some time. sipping on his special blend "maximum energy" smoothie. His costume sleek and shiny, you would think he were a speedster. He felt very out of place, everyone else seemed to have this "hero" thing down but Jeff didn't like the restraints. Watching the others being so nervous and not knowing what to do with themselves put him to ease just so slightly, at least he wasn't the only one whose nerves were screaming.

Being around this many people gave Jeff a rather large headache. That many people thinking about that many things? It was nauseating. At least the twins were nearby, Jeff felt at ease when his buddy Apollo was around. His willingness to go along with Jeff's antics made him and Jeff rather close. Artemis, on the other hand seemed aloof but Jeff wasn't out to please everyone.

Once the host was announcing the "Team" Jeff put his game face on. Throwing the smoothie to the garbage can and tightening his mask, Jeff jumped to his feet, popping his neck and loosening up his shoulders with a few stretches.

Kris opened his eyes lazily. Finally. He had to sit through enough of these ceremonies for Erik and the rest of the Challengers. It was at last his turn. Prove to his Da that this whole thing has been worth it. Prove to Dreadnought that he was here to make his own waves, and this tide was always in for Halcyon.

He winced as he stood up, some of the bruises weren't totally recovered. You can't fight off steel tables that fly at you after all. He was glad that Fox had made it through that rubble at the end too, they had a lot to compete with when looked at side by side with the rest of them. Pulling his shroud up over his mouth and nose, Riptide shrugged into his persona, affecting the cocky swagger that aggravated Erik so much. You have to be proud of what you do, right?

His smile was muted by the dark cloth over his face, but his steel grey gaze held the look for him. The metas here all shared in their strength, so he needed to be strong too. He pushed himself to his limits so many times and couldn't dream of wielding a fraction of what even Jeff could do, so he made up for it with research, cunning, and unending perseverance. The sun was bright. It was a good day. Riptide would make sure of that.

The focus is on you as the event begins. The opening speaker reminds the crowd and TV audience at home of your recent heroics and then Huma, the Leader of the Exemplars, takes time from his busy day to welcome you as new members of the Heroic Legacy of Halcyon City.
He reminds you of Flying Freedom, thought of as the first true Superhero to ever dawn the flashy costume and fight the good fight. He then flies away, back to saving the world no doubt.
Then comes the Mayor, his aides holding the key to the city he means to present to you. Everything is surreal and you can all feel excitement to various degrees at the pageantry of the event.
That is until the Crime Masters Strike.



"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! We are the Crime Masters, Masters of Crime." The Scarlet Songbird says with a chuckle, magical notes from his lute halt the Mayor's guards and make them feint.
"I am the Scarlet Songbird, but I'm sure you are all well aware. My associates and I feel like it has been too long since this city felt afraid of the name Crime Masters! Well no more! ah ah ah-" he gestures at the young heroes and points to the Mayor in the clutches of the multiple armed Centipede. "It would be rather cliche, would it not, to have to explain what happens to the mayor, or these poor innocent citizens if you children step out of line." the elderly villain grins.
Several of the crime masters begin taking money and jewelry from the crowd as the rest run off with the mayor. With another strum of his magic lute, the Mayor's aides hand him the key to the city.
"And with that, we shall make Halcyon city tremble in our wake!" he says with a bow, turning to race off into the crowd.
Gearmaster and Snapping Turtle also head off, but not without putting innocents in danger to keep the heroes off their tail.

Grey Fox tracked the mayor as he was whisked away. The others were a problem no doubt, but it didn't take much to pick between a person and a key that didn't actually open anything. I'm going after the mayor he said to the others and as soon as the villains attentions were no longer on them he tore off with parkour jumps and sprints around the still stunned crowd.

With a wide eyed surprised look on his face, Impulse is set aback at someone stealing the spotlight from him. His eyes narrow as he scans the crowd. "Aight, dis gear guy is 'bout 'ta have a bad day!" His thick jersey style accent coming through. <Maybe I should try to change that?> He thought to himself. Leaping down from the stage Impulse points at Gearmaster. "Aight asshole! You just made a big mistake!"

The gear-themed, golden age villain turns around, a sack of money and jewels thrown over his shoulder.
"What's with you kids these days? Back in my day even the bad guys didn't talk like that." he says sounding honestly disappointed. "My father would whoop my behind red if I'd talked to an adult like that way. And in front of children?" he shook his head.
He smashes open the window to a nearby diamond shop, and from his costume shoot out several whips run by gears. A case of diamonds is pulled into his hands and he hurriedly dumps them into his sack.

Fox, wait! Holding an outstretched arm dramatically, Riptide tried to keep them together. But it was too late, the up and comer was already chasing in pursuit. He could respect it, but they need to be able to coordinate, their abilities didn't exactly mesh, and everyone's priorities were different. Somebody had to direct their flow. Was now his chance?

"Swans, what can you do about the getaways? One of you should go with Fox, make sure he's not over his head. Impulse, head with the other to catch Gearmaster. I'm going to start getting people out of this chaos!" Riptide waded in, keeping a sharp eye out for any straggling villain, lifting tables, pulling people out of the way, guiding them all out of the plaza as he hurriedly went towards where he saw Centipede and Solace last. They shouldn't be that hard to find, right?

People seem thankful for the young heroes help and soon the plaza is mostly clear. Halcyon City was resilient, and Super-villainy was a fact of life for it's citizens.

Rolling to assess my surroundings with Protege Move "Mindful of my surroundings" for an additional question, even on a miss.

One on one? Go Jeff! Apollo's feet left the ground as Terra stopped interacting with him like a petulant child throwing a tantrum. Kicking off the dais, Horizon "fell" towards the streets that the major was taken, diving through the air like it was nothing. The key was an object. It could be replaced. Symbol or not, it was disposable. "You got this one Impulse? I need to catch up to the hostage situation. It's our turn to shine, don't rely on the old timers!"

Boy Apollo loved this part. The rush of wind as he hurtled past, the fluid motion of the world gliding under him. It would end all too soon too, likely with his "guardian" reprimanding him again. Spoilsport. He wasn't trying to be big, it just...happens. The crowds were filtering away under him through the guidance of the stuffy transfer. Like a herd of sheep. The civilians were all long gone in moments, and now Horizon had to get to work figuring out how to do this right this time.

Horizon whizzed past Fox as they honed in on Songbird who stood atop a scaffolding holding the mayor. He seemed genuinely surprised seeing the two costumed youth there. I have to say I'm honestly a little disappointed. I was hoping to lure out some much bigger fish. Giving out a key to the city, pffft! Why back in my day they just didn't give those out to anybody. Now you kids and your participation trophies. he shook his head.

just let go of the mayor before you slip and Crack your hip old man!

Troll and centipede had been using the conversation to sneak around the young heroes.

Troll jumped fox from behind, and grabbed him back into an alley slamming him against the wall. The troll's fist slammed again and again to into the wall where fox had been only a second before as h squirmed in the brute's grasp. Finally fox landed a blow against the troll's inner arm freeing himself.

So, looks like you failed a directly engage? Go ahead and roll take a powerful blow as Troll swats you. After that roll, I get a Villain move.