X-Champions Issues

Issue #18 - ...And All the King's Men...

The Justice Squad studies the strange non-solid top floor of the Glitterati Hotel.  Sihn and Laughton work on a number of possible observation tools, mostly of a biogenetic type, with Gere-luce working remotely in the lab back in the Justice Squad's deep underground headquarters.  The group decides that Suzanne's client/friend, the ANT, is of a compatible sort of phase shift in his natural state and they get a hold of him as he's currently in a semi-solid state due to the work of Dr. Sihn.  Laughton attempts to talk the ANT into coming out and doing some observation work, but ANT defers to Suzanne's judgment.  She decides that there's too much danger for the ANT to infiltrate the top floor directly but agrees with Laughton's make-shift plan for the ANT to go into the hotel and create a distraction.  Suzanne agrees and the ANT, who wants to repay the kindness displayed by the Justice Squad, is flown out to New York in short order by Bob Rogers and the Black Buick.

Laughton spends some time during the evening spreading rumors about Phil Cabot's gambling organization and muddying the waters in the Kingpin mob.  

The group has moved on to a modest hotel not far from the Glitterati.  During the next morning, Sihn's crystal begins to radiate light dramatically and launches into a long introduction in English announcing itself, and then, with only time for a "yes" or "no" response, whisks Sihn away to meet Aela.  They meet in a pure white space, similar to the blank space in the Matrix.  Eliot is relieved to see Aela, who is apparently enjoying the Atlantis-like place she's staying, although she's gotten into some trouble for snooping about.  Namor seems keen on her safe return.  

As Aela and Eliot pursue their conjugal visit (ahem), Sammy wanders off to find some food.  He appears as a common street person routing through trash although his voracious appetite betrays a certain unusual eating speed and candor while in his distraction his hair flips into a large Elvis pompadour.  He's spotted by a seeming street woman who approaches him and asks, "Sammy?"  Without thinking Sammy responds hesitantly, only half-denying, but all is well as the woman turns out to be Wilting Rose in disguise.  She asks after the Justice Squad and what they're there for.  Sammy acts not-too-sure but does mention something about the Kingpin.  Wilting Rose wonders if the Justice Squad is interested in joining forces, meeting at 8 PM near the UN Building, and Sammy responds, "Sure, why not?  Well, maybe not, we might be busy for all I know."  He pulls out his Barbie "My First Cell Phone", as filled in with real components by Gere-luce, and, taking care not to hit the red button, calls Laughton.  As Sammy starts to explain himself, Laughton interrupts, "Are you calling from your cell phone?  Hang up!"  It clicks and Sammy heads to a pay phone.  In the meantime Wilting Rose becomes rather concerned for the naive youngster in the big city and, in a ploy to ensure he hooks back up with the Justice Squad safely, asks if she can come over and meet where they're staying.  On one of a few brief payphone calls, Sammy asks "Uncle Laughton, uh, Uncle Louie" if Wilting Rose can come over for dinner.  Laughton and Palmer head out to meet Sammy a few blocks from the hotel, Suzanne scanning the area mentally for any unwanted presences.  As Sammy approaches a certain odor engulfs the heroes and Suzanne readies her air freshener packets.  Wilting Rose basically hands off Sammy and whispers to Laughton he ought not leave Sammy to wander.  After a short time, though, as she realizes Laughton is a rather shady character as per his reputation, she discusses it a bit more with the seemingly more stable Suzanne.  Rose mentions that she's met the Troll before and is sorry to have missed him but wishes them well.  Apparently she's in town after something to do with local crime boss Tony Soprano.  They wonder if Aela knows that the Troll has befriended the stunning "heavy metal mistress" (as Wilting Rose is often referred to for her striking and distinctive appearance) as she tends to be the jealous type.

On the typically circuitous route back to their hotel, Suzanne suddenly enters a nearly trace-like state, cutting off verbal communication and seemingly sleep-walking alongside everyone.  She is mentally meeting the mysterious and powerful New York hero Dr. Strange.  He felt her mind reaching out in the area earlier and sought her out as apparently he sensed a soul-seeking connection from the woman (Diane) they saved previously (last issue, the woman who over-dosed) that matched Suzanne's soul.  Palmer marvels at the strange fluctuating colors that surround her and Strange as they talk in some sort of astral plane.  During the brief conversation Dr. Strange mentions that he's picked up on the Troll's violent desires and is a bit concerned; Palmer simply responds, "Yes, you wouldn't believe how often you pick up that thought."  Strange wishes her well and moves along.  She comes to walking into the hotel room with Hamlet and Sammy.  They find Eliot just returned.  Suzanne mentions what's happened, indicating perhaps they should see Diane, and after some discussion they determine they should at least check in on her.

The ANT has by now joined them as they proceed to the hospital.  Just Hamlet and Suzanne enter, posing as doctors.  Diane has come out of her coma and is a fairly ditzy druggie who per her doctors' orders has sworn off combining coke and pills but "knows" she can work it out later with ecstasy.  The two "doctors" note her large bouquet of flowers from Wilson Fisk.  She starts to blather about "Mr. F" and it turns out they were lovers some short time ago; moreover, it's a secret that she and Dean are lovers as Fisk isn't supposed to know!  Laughton and Suzanne start to worry that Fisk knows they're there and linked to Diane and resolve to get Diane flown out of town.  They tell her, as she lays in a weakened barely mobile state, that she's being released and that it's been arranged for her to join Dean in St. Croix.  Before finishing up arrangements and wheeling her out, Suzanne probes the young girl's mind and finds that she's been to the top floor with Fisk.  She doesn't see a code but does get the general info on the mechanics which she relays to Hamlet mentally.  She also leaves a mental command in Diane's mind to avoid alcohol and drugs.  They then spirit Diane off to St. Croix, Suzanne's considerable wealth funding the arrangements with Diane riding on a private jet.

As the group approaches the hotel they discuss their goals and resolve not to dive into a head-on attack on Kingpin's HQ where by now he's clearly prepared.  Instead they determine to do some reconnaissance  and utilize that in their campaign to tear asunder his organization.  

ANT goes in to trigger alarms and serve as a distraction.  Meanwhile Hamlet breaks into the top secret hidden security system.  As they're in an Internet cafe not far from the hotel, Sammy poses as a big fur coat on Suzanne.  Hamlet sees 26 people working upstairs, looking like any sort of office workers.  The effort to break in and remain untraced takes considerable concentration, and during that time Laughton misses an important detail.  He suddenly sees what he's missed - what he deduces must be the ANT is being carried in a burlap bag up to the top floor.  The ANT is placed into a cell and the Kingpin enters it and leaves laughing.  The cameras do not permit a view into the cell directly.  There are other cells as well and apparently a few other prisoners, including the famous super hero (formerly villain) Pieces, the only one Laughton can make out.  Via Spectrum/Suzanne the image travels to Sihn who points out precisely who the captive is.

The team feels terrible (or at least Suzanne does) about the ANT's fate and they swing into action, vowing to rescue him.  Laughton, with no time for secrecy and stealth, calls his new-found contacts at WEB directly and indicates he can nail the Kingpin.  They deploy agents but during the conversation Frank Beard, the WEB contact, mentions that Medusa attempted suicide, mostly in the "please for attention" vein, as she hadn't heard from Laughton in a few days.  Laughton asks for Beard to arrange for a dead flowers delivery.  It will take WEB about 30 minutes to get into position, and they need the Justice Squad to point to something tangible for them to arrest/infiltrate.

A few moments later Terwilliger calls Sihn, apparently having just been taunted by some WEB guys that they know more than he does.  Sihn points out there's scarcely been time to do anything more and while appreciating that Terwilliger hopes for more info in the future.  

In order to keep Kingpin distracted and at bay, Spectrum telekinetically stashes pieces of the Troll's flesh into the coats and such of those walking into the hotel.  That sets off the mutant detectors and bulky guards are puzzled as they approach a suspect and the trace disappears as the flesh dies as it is replaced back on the Troll.  Sammy wants to go in as Elvis and set off the alarms, but the idea is nixed as too direct. 

Fifteen minutes into waiting for WEB back-up, the Justice Squad sees a large unconvincing transvestite helping to carry a large casket-sized crate, along with a large figure in a trench coat with a hat pulled down, much in the same style as the Troll when not wanting to be recognized.  The Troll recognizes the woman as the drag queen villain Queen Bee.  Sammy suggests they sneak in and stop them, and after a brief debate, the group resolves to get to the visible top floor and be ready at least, as apparently the WEB guys are moving into position.  

However, they get to the one elevator that goes not just to the visible top floor but to the invisible one as well and are confronted with Queen Bee, the mysterious stranger, and the crate, who try to get on at the same time.  After some verbal sparring in what passes as typical New York "manners", Sammy shoves down the trench coat stranger as the Troll misses him.  The stranger turns out to be the Wasp as his coat opens up and hat falls off.  Laughton martial throws Queen Bee while Spectrum telekinetically tosses the crate down  the hall.  It smashes, revealing not the bee hives the Troll thought might be contained therein, but instead the Mute Ant, a giant ant being.  The Queen Bee summons bee hives seemingly out of mid-air and bees swarm the Justice Squad, causing irritating damage but more importantly blocking their sight.  Rodin suddenly feels Mosquito and changes into his newest strange form, a sort of massive silly putty which catches the Mosquito, who appeared out of Wasp's coat pocket, in a sticky damaging substance.  The substance isn't enough to do a lot of damage to the Mosquito but its sticking to Rodin allows Spectrum, mind-linked to Rodin, to reach out and squash the bug's mind.  The Troll kicks the Wasp's foot out of the elevator and they move up.  The villains pile into the other elevator and go up as well, but the Troll smashes through the elevator shafts and disables their elevator.  The Justice Squad makes it up to the top with the villains smashing out of their elevator and on their heels.  

On the known/visible top floor the Justice Squad gives the WEB agents there the Mosquito as the agents pile into the elevator that leads to the invisible floor.  Laughton works on the strange security device and they are teleported into the unseen/unfelt floor, though from within everything appears normal.   However, two of the WEB agents are left behind due to some sort of limitation of the teleport.  

As the heroes pile out of the elevator, they turn in the direction of the cells and are met with heavy resistance immediately as the Kingpin's elite guard is in position.  Meanwhile Troll heaves a large nearby desk into the elevator space, hoping to stop the following villains from occupying the same space, but then he's hit as massive lazer firepower rips into him from the Kingpin's elite guard, burning holes through his body, piercing a lung and kidney [-2 BOD], but the Troll stands as his body begins the healing process.  The WEB agents and heroes fight back, pressing ahead into a small corridor to their right.  

As they establish a sort of beachhead where the corridor turns, knocking out a couple of the Kingpin's men, the Wasp, Mute Ant, and Queen Bee still appear despite the Troll's efforts, the furniture displacing automatically as they appear.  Thankfully the villains had no idea where the Mosquito had been spirited off to.  The heroes are now in danger as they are surrounded by their enemies.  The Queen Bee's body is lifted by her bees and she disappears down the main corridor as the Wasp and Mute Ant directly attack - unbeknownst to the Justice Squad, she's making a beeline for the prisoners.  In any case there's not much they can do as the Mute Ant's powerful incisors start to crush Sammy.  Sammy fires back with one of the Kingpin's guards' powerful guns, and, after a failed grasp by the Mute Ant, Laughton fires with another gun and the Mute Ant is stunned by this single glancing blow, the straw that breaks the camel's back.  The heroes pile on the creature to bring him down.  Meanwhile The Wasp struggles as he unlikely misses both Sammy and a WEB agent [GMs hate this sort of thing].  At the other end of the hall the Queen Bee has better luck as she's circled around and her bees are bringing down two WEB agents.  Spectrum pitches in the battle by mind-controlling the Wasp, simply holding him still as he's hit by Sammy and WEB agents, soon brought down.  Rodin makes his way towards the prisoners as the Troll brings the Queen Bee down [GM note - unsure of exactly how the Queen Bee went down so anyone who knows please advise[.  As he gets to the prisoners, finding their cells vacated and rushing around to find where they may be, Rodin is surprised by a couple of Kingpin's guards.  He turns to his crystalline form, a new structure with highly reflective material permitting him to see all about as well as redirect any energy attacks thrown at him - or even nearby him if he's grabbed by a would-be target.  The guards quickly wise up to the form, though, and throw a tarp over Rodin.  Spectrum however throws the tarp back off with her telekinetic powers from yards away, and a shot by one of the heroes is reflected by Rodin, knocking out one of the Kingpin's guards.  The other guard is made short order of as Rodin redirects a final shot his way.

At about this point (only about fifteen seconds having passed), the Kingpin is nearby as he bellows taunts at the heroes.  He has a few more agents with him and slowly gets into position.  Tense moments pass as the Justice Squad wisecracks back.  Laughton, near the prisoners, realizes they are wired to explode on a remote charge.  The Kingpin vows to defeat them in "personal" combat but doesn't show his face.  Sammy dares him to step around the corner of one of the corridors.  Laughton takes advantage of the Kingpin's boastful mind games to rig up a field suppressing the explosive detonators and any radio signals to them, and just in time as suddenly the battle is rejoined as the Kingpin and his men slice into the Justice Squad.  The Kingpin points a long cylinder at the Troll and a mist envelops the grim hero, attacking his very molecules.  Meanwhile his well-trained guards drop Spectrum and the remaining WEB agent [GM note - not positive about where Spectrum is dropped, open for correction here].  The Troll drops, stunned.  Sammy dives out of the way of the next shot.  The Troll gets back up and grabs Rodin, now in his statue form.  He knocks Kingpin into the wall.  The Kingpin fires a small but extremely powerful gun at Troll, hurting him.  The Troll simply wallops the Kingpin again.  The large bald bulky villain staggers back and as Sammy and the Troll knock him about he collapses.

With the WEB agents all unconscious, the Justice Squad searches the premises to assure there's ample evidence to bring the Kingpin to justice.  They find illegal employees cowering under desks as well as various incriminating ledgers and notes.  Laughton finds and "liberates" half a million in garish jewelry.  In one of the desks Sihn finds disturbing notes compiling medical (including psychological) papers, newspaper clippings, and stray commentary into a clear picture that the Wrath was once an ordinary man in Philadelphia.  The Kingpin embarked on a strange experiment to create a metahuman by granting motivation with the savage gangland-style slaying of his family and then endowing some abilities.  The Kingpin then manipulated the Wrath with false leads and watched his abilities develop.  Sihn takes the notes, not wanting to have the information fall into the wrong hands.  They also find notes undoubtedly linking Kingpin to Sammy's Elvis-ish appearance, however, unlike other notes involving causing changes to others, these notes have NO biochemical markings or indications. The only marking of note says "ABATHAR", which has no meaning to the Justice Squad.

The heroes also free the prisoners, finding that one of them is none other than the Imperial Falcon, the boastful yet generally cowardly and incapable would-be hero from the New School.  Apparently the teasing he took from other members of the school as they compared his boasts to the recently-visiting Justice Squad's accomplishments motivated him to hasty action.  Through dumb luck he managed to figure out that he should be around the Glitterati Hotel.  However, he stumbled around in such a way that he attracted too much attention and was nabbed by the Kingpin's men, then kept as a potential hostage.  The Troll takes care to talk up the Falcon, letting him know that beating the Kingpin took the Justice Squad a lot of time and effort.  The empathic Spectrum suggests that perhaps the Imperial Falcon's direct approach helped to distract the Kingpin.  The humbled Imperial Falcon packs off back to school, muttering that he will find Professor Xavier with his own super-team.  The Troll remains encouraging, and asks him to stay in touch with any information on the whereabouts of Professor X or his missing students/mutant hero team.  

The Amazing Nothing Thing is fine other than having been very frightened.  He's glad to have helped out the Justice Squad, in particular Suzanne, and seems to bear no ill will, but also isn't terribly coherent!  Apparently the Kingpin did nothing to him when he entered the room earlier but was simply scaring him for later interrogation.

As the WEB agents are revived and others show up, the hotel turns into a maelstrom of press and police investigation.  The secret upper floor is materialized with the help of the Justice Squad.  The heroes, exhausted, spend as little time as possible at the scene, but as they leave Sammy, with his heightened senses, catches a whiff of a familiar musty odor.  He realizes that Wrath, his scent familiar from their earlier encounter as they rescued Lefty from Fox Force Five (see issue #14), is nearby.  Without causing notice, they make their way towards Wrath, who is invisible but whispers into the Troll's ear a place and time to meet later before disappearing altogether.  Before the heroes can leave, they are greeted by nervous silent partners in the lavish hotel who apparently knew nothing of the Kingpin's true purpose there.  They ensure that the heroes can stay in the penthouse suites on the level formerly known as the top floor, hoping to forestall an exodus from the hotel.  The Justice Squad agrees.  

Within a day Mayor Giuliani organizes a massive celebration of the destruction of the Kingpin and his criminal empire as it comes tumbling down.  In related news, on the same day as the assault on the Glitterati, Wilting Rose has, with help from the Outsiders, broken up Tony Soprano's local crime organization via a raid exposing his and others' roles.  The Justice Squad is highlighted in a parade.  The Troll keeps Rogers nearby and waxes eloquent as he addresses New Yorkers.  Laughton refuses to "get caught" anywhere and monitors the proceedings remotely.  Suzanne barely pokes her head out of the limo carrying the crew.  To top the day off, Sammy is presented with the world's largest bologna sandwich - which he manages to devour before too long, thereby setting two world's records in one day.

The Justice Squad also receives a congratulatory yet condescending telegram from The Captain, which they dismiss summarily.

The Outsiders, the premier New York super group, surprises the Justice Squad as they appear in one of their penthouse suites.  Apparently Dr. Time went back in time to the right location and then just came forward, bypassing any of the hotel's or Laughton's security - an old trick of his.  They're eager to meet the Detroit team but apparently a little embarrassed at being scooped by the Justice Squad.  The apparent leader, the dark figure Nightshade, speaks with Sihn to the side, asking that next time they need to do any business in New York City they do the courtesy of letting the Outsiders know.  While he comes on a bit defensive and protective of his turf, it's clear that by the same token the Outsiders would have liked to help.  Dr. Time, punning the whole time ("Well, I don't have much TIME for this...TIME to get going"), noting Sammy's still Elvis-like appearance (that has not changed), takes Sammy back in time to meet the original Elvis.  Presley is kind to Sammy and complements him on his impersonation - back in the early '60s no one else was impersonating Elvis.  He sings a duet with Sammy, giving him a few tips and genuinely enjoying himself.  Desperado, as hideous as the Troll, quietly has a few words with the fellow "bogeyman".  Nightshade lifts his dark veil to reveal his handsome visage to Spectrum, whom he arranges a date with - though they don't know it, they both share common interests as lawyers in their secret identities.  The even more handsome Necromancer is a bit standoffish, preferring to remain mysterious and aloof.

Later, the Wrath does not meet as expected.  Instead he wafts into the upstairs of the hotel, infiltrating in his own way, just as everyone's packing to leave.  He becomes solid and visible, still an ominous figure though moreso now for his intensity rather than any sort of directly threatening nature.  He states, "I have traveled a long time to find some truths.  To defeat evil, once and forever.  Along the path there are some immediate concerns, and Kingpin I have found is linked to those. At one time I suspected you, the Justice Squad. But I determined that is not so. So now, as you and I have arrived at the same place from different paths, I ask you if the Kingpin had any involvement in a family by the last name of Creek out of Philadelphia." This is of course the same family that is mentioned in the files from Kingpin that Sihn has.  Sihn provides Wrath with the information he's seeking, as Spectrum mentally nods in approval, being very sympathetic and unusually empathic when dealing with Wrath.  He urges Wrath (using all the presence and Intelligence he can muster) to let the authorities deal with Kingpin, assuring him that a life behind bars will torment Kingpin far more than simply torturing him to death.  After seeing what the Kingpin did to his own family, Sihn has complete sympathy for Wrath.  

Wrath coolly opens the folder handed to him.  Where only small Batman-like white slivers of eyes were visible before, his own quite human eyes fully appear, enlargening as he turns pages, some of them dropping to the floor.  Tears become apparent, but suddenly the folder snaps shut and his eyes return to small white slivers, his composure regained.  The folder disappears into his cloak, along with pages he levitates from the floor into
it.

He steps a bit away as Sihn speaks with him, drawing him to the side, clearly out of a need for privacy rather than any cagey maneuver.  After listening to Sihn a bit, he responds in a chilling voice, "You do not understand.  I am not human and I have no emotions.  I am only seeking the vengeance the dead themselves need. My purpose is pure justice, justice born of Wrath.  As a life has been torn asunder, a life must pay.  I am not concerned with what the Kingpin is made to feel, now or in the life hereafter.  I am simply here to deliver him to Hades' realm, as those who would support him against my purpose."  He starts to fade away, and as he does pauses, and says, "I thank you and your colleagues.  I owe you a debt and I will repay.  Wrath never forgets."  The Justice Squad imagines they haven't seen the last of Wrath.

As they arrive in Detroit, they find an autographed picture from The Captain with "Nice job, boys!" written on it.

Postlude:

Upon his return home, Sihn begins working late into the night but is unusually quiet about his recent endeavor, which involves a number of brain experiments...

Laughton is busily running through the decaying splinters of the Kingpin organization, looking for ready-cash opportunities and links to other organizations...

Sammy is still having problems with his "Elvishness".  After digging into Sammy's brain with his consent, Suzanne suggests perhaps an entirely different kind of "doctor" (i.e., neither psychological nor physical, more along the Dr. Strange or Dr. Fate line) be consulted...

The ANT is happy to be safe and sound, but not interested in further adventuring.

[Game Mechanics - Points Awarded...

Thoroughly defeating a vastly superior opponent for defeating the Kingpin and his organization - +75 RPs for Rodin, Sammy, Troll, +5 XPs for Rodin, Sammy, Troll, and +100 RPs for Spectrum and +10 XPs for Spectrum

Act of enduring heroism/publicity for the whole mess - +60 RPs for Rodin, Sammy, Troll, +.5 XPs for Rodin, Sammy, Troll, and +80 RPs for Spectrum, +1 XP for Spectrum

Money earned (even if Laughton hogged it all) - +22.5 RPs for Rodin, Sammy, Troll, +.75 XPs for Rodin, Sammy, Troll, and +30 RPs for Spectrum and +1.5 XP for Spectrum

Becoming the sworn enemy of the Kingpin (points not awarded prior, besides it was just "play" with  him until now) - +26.25 RPs for Rodin, Sammy, Troll, +35 RPs for Spectrum

7 hrs Session Play - +5.25 RPs for Rodin, Sammy, Troll, +1.75 XPs for Rodin, Sammy, Troll, +7 RPs for Spectrum, +3.5 XPs for Spectrum

Totals:

Rodin +189 RPs, +8 XPs
Sammy the Slime +189 RPs, +8 XPs
Spectrum +252 RPs, +16 XPs 
Troll +189 RPs, +8 XPs

Totals to Date:

Rodin 880.625 RPs, 73.125 XPs
Sammy the Slime 851.375 RPs, 70.6625 XPs
Spectrum 691.875 RPs, 64.425 XPs
Sprite 46.5 RPs, 24.75 XPs
Troll 864.875 RPs, 79.35 XPs]