A city of wonders... and dangers! (hero arc)

[PyroArrow]

Maximillian Arikas [Aether]:

Says to Raven,

"Eh, maybe with a little more practice."

[Pulpatoon]

The Professor nods off briefly in the corner, only to start awake suddenly and resume the conversation where he last remembered it. "So, yes, Rook, quite. I suppose there's nothing for it but to proceed by stealth as far as it will carry us, and to rely on strength of arms after that. It could get rather messy. But, unless someone with more of a head for strategical matters can suggest some further preparation, shall we prepare to sally forth?"

[PyroArrow]

Steven Sanderson [Flicker]:

Says to the Professor,

"Perhaps acquiring fingerprints, retinas for scans, may help."

[Pulpatoon]

Professor: "I'm a little behind on the technology side of things, I'm afraid. These are methods of identification, yes? How would we acquire such? Waylay an Rook employee? You... you wouldn't need to... extract the eyes of fingers, would you?"

[Rukellian]

Miss Cortez, having waited patiently in the background, chimes into the conversation. "Hmmm, we wouldn't have to go that far Professor, we are not savages after all; we have technology at our disposal. Now let's see.... I recall reading something in one of the universal science magazines an article about scanning equipment used by the ASF. It went into detail about how the devices featured could pick apart an object and reconstruct it into a three-dimensionally rendered map or hologram, all through the use of the something something computer chip developed by a super of some sort. Anyways, if we can get our hands on one of those ASF scanning devices, saying that we are using it for something else, I'm sure it could help us get those retinal and or thumbprint scans no problem."

"We will need to find out who to scan though to gain entrance to.... how exactly are we entering this power plant? Is it even safe to just walk into?" Permafrost has images of a nuclear power plant in her mind, a dangerous place full of poisonous radiation and pools of acid. A wildly imaginative scene no doubt, but maybe not that far off from the truth.

Miss Cortez walks up to Steve's suit and peforms a quick maintenance check on it using a hand held device. "The Flicker suit is still working at optimal performance. It should at least protect Steve from any radiation poisoning, given its advanced air filtration system. Let's not forget Scamp here either! He's a robot and can probably traverse the plant just fine, though I'm not sure about the rest of you guys." Cortez ends in a concerned tone as she looks at the rest of the group with sad eyes. She sits down on the arm of a sofa in the room and holds a hand to her face, thinking.

[Pulpatoon]

Professor, looking relieved that there are bloodless ways to acquire a retinal scan: "I could see if any of the local fowlery would be able to follow a Rook employee home, and then lead us to their residence."

[Rukellian]

Professor, looking relieved that there are bloodless ways to acquire a retinal scan: "I could see if any of the local fowlery would be able to follow a Rook employee home, and then lead us to their residence."

Permafrost beams and nods in approval. "Yes, and while you do that I can grab a few of us and see about getting that scanning device from the ASF. I'm sure that if we provide a sound alibi for its use, we shouldn't have any problems."

Permafrost gets up and prepares to leave, grabbing a bite to eat before she goes. As she does this, she motions for Scamp and Steve to follow. "Raven, I think its best if you sticked with the Professor and Max on their errand. You've already had a run in with the local authorities and I do not want them to question you any more when we visit their station. Will you be fine with that?"

[MonkeyWrench]

Raven looks at Elsa for a moment, almost as if he is thinking of an answer. He does this for a moment before simply nodding, checking his Sniper Rifle and sword and standing near the professor.

[Pulpatoon]

The Professor is obviously uncomfortable having a large, affectless, armed man standing close to him. "I, ah, think I'll just pop up to the rough and see what I can scare up in the way on conversation. Max and, er, Raven, you're welcome to join me, but do hang back, if you will, and for heaven's sake, leave the weapons here. Birds can recognize rifles, you know. And they don't care for them one whit."

[PyroArrow]

Maximillian Arikas [Aether]:

Says,
"I will come along with you Professor."

[Rukellian]

The group splits up into two once more, Permafrost leading Steve, Cortez and Scamp to the local ASF station for some scanning devices, and the Professor bringing Raven and Max with him for the questioning.

Permafrost and the others are quick to find the police headquarters, the tour drones pointing the way using their preprogrammed friendliness; the officers, however, were not as friendly. Licensed heroes the group may be, they were still on the bottom of the security foodchain as far as the ASF was concerned, mere citizens. Upon hearing the request for scanning devices, they just scoffed and outright ignored them. Permafrost was less than pleased.

"Officers, we are both on the same side here. We need to use those devices to help, uh, find some harmful substances? Yeah! Look, we would be willing to make it worth your time..." She pulls out her platinum card. The officers just look at her with their arms crossed and on their hips, staring at her as if they've just been asked what color oranges are.

"Right... and shall we just hand over the key of the city too while we are at it, give you some get out of jail free tickets too?" The two officers before them start to snicker and break down laughing afterwards, not really taking anything they are saying seriously.

----

The professor and his crew take to the streets again. As they cross a nearby park they notice that some pidgeons are already on the ground, feasting on some bread crumbs being tossed by an old lady on a bench. It's getting to be about late afternoon, the sun starting to fall to the east, casting a yellowish orange glow upon the numerous windows of the skyscrapers above.

[PyroArrow]

Steve Sanderson [Flicker]:

Says to the Cops,

"Right, & Oranges are green."

after he shrugs his shoulders, watches their reactions, & turns to leave in frustration.

[Rukellian]

"What do you think we should do guys?" Permafrost enquires after stepping out of the HQ with the rest of her group. "You can see where talking got us, and those guys don't even respond to money. Hmmmm, if only we had more pull in the city, something that would tell them that we can be trusted."

[MonkeyWrench]

Raven follows the professor to the meet up for the local bird gangs. He opted to ignore the professors suggestion on leaving his weapons behind however, when asked on it he simply replies, "Birds like me." He will hang back, deciding to stand off to the side in whatever shadows are present and simply watch what happens next.

[Pulpatoon]

The Professor finds a comfortable bench in a quiet spot where some of the birds are, and produces from his pocket the finest of pigeon foodstuffs: a bag of oily potato chips. He pops open the foil bag and scatters a few chips, while engaging the birds in polite conversation, appraising them of the situation and eventually asking them for help with their mission. "Stalwart guardians of the airy vault, could you follow one of the perfidious humans to the domicile and report back to us?"

[Rukellian]

The birds heed your request with great enthusiasm. They recognize the professor as a friend of the great Penutnut and that he is on a mission of grave importance. They also seem to take a liking to Raven as well. Something about him makes them think of him as a brother of the sky, though they cannot pinpoint why that is...

The bird leads them to the Industrial sector of the city, a low to moderate level hazard zone designated by the ASF. They are warned that it is filled with all sorts of villianous supers and criminal gangs and or organizations. As they enter through the main gates, heading towards the direction of the power plant area, sure enough, chaos and mayhem already greet them. A street gang is currently fighting another in an all out war. All of the streets are currently occupied with combatants, and as you look around, buildings are found torn down, bolted up and abandoned, on fire, a battlefield. The bird that scouted out a power plant worker says that the worker lives in the worker's town a few miles from here.

It is currently night time and the only sources of illumination right now are burning buildings, and barrels that have been lit on fire, the occasional spot light coming from the great wall behind them guarding the main entrance.

Actions?

[Pulpatoon]

The Professor, a scrawny old man in hunting tweeds,removes his eyeglasses and wipes them on the end of his tie while peering through his long white eyebrows at the fire-lit violence all around. "Well, I suppose this is as good a distraction as any. Let us proceed. Do—I say, I don't mean to be indelicate, but—do either of you have any experience with breaking and entering? I feel we have rather exited the province of my expertise."

Have the birds lead us to the Rook power facility, or to the home of an employee, so that we might steal their identity? Either way, we might as well plow on, as it appears there isn't much point in subtlety. It would be good, however, to get the rest of the team here before we hop into the fire.

[MonkeyWrench]

Raven nods his head casually, "I can be quiet, and I can probably break into things."

[PyroArrow]

Maximillian Arikas [Aether]:

Says to the Professor,
"Eh, uhmm, no, however i can still use my powers to break & enter whatever is needed."

[Rukellian]

The Professor, a scrawny old man in hunting tweeds,removes his eyeglasses and wipes them on the end of his tie while peering through his long white eyebrows at the fire-lit violence all around. "Well, I suppose this is as good a distraction as any. Let us proceed. Do—I say, I don't mean to be indelicate, but—do either of you have any experience with breaking and entering? I feel we have rather exited the province of my expertise."

Have the birds lead us to the Rook power facility, or to the home of an employee, so that we might steal their identity? Either way, we might as well plow on, as it appears there isn't much point in subtlety. It would be good, however, to get the rest of the team here before we hop into the fire.

The birds tracked an employee to his house. In regards to the other group, I think they've given up on obtaining a scanning device for eye retinas and fingerprints. So we will say that they've decided to join up with you guys.

When I get an okay from everyone to move forward the story, I will provide an update to what is going on in the entrance into the Industrial Sector of Atlas City.