X-Champions Issues
Issue 54 – Masterplan
The Justice Squad furiously prepares its preventive measures and counter-strikes. The antidote to the "Aryan formula" is released, and Eliot Sihn calls his son, Nick, to check on the tachyon interference.
Laughton is contacted by Sihn Mi. She entrusts to him that her (and Eliot's) brother, Sihn Loo, has been blessed with some supernatural abilities and is looking for revenge against Sammy, in league with their enemies. This revenge attempt will happen "imminently" she warns.
Sammy and Jane have two dreams, dreams fueled by a strange connection to their home-world light-years away. They "feel" an ancient race in danger, something happening very soon. They also see some sort of alien invasion, but more in the future, and it appears to be the T'suara's own race!
Nexus, with the earlier lifting of the Faerie-related curse, sees various visions of an Atlantis existing under the sea and suffering some sort of cataclysm.
Neumann blacks out, something which has been happening on more frequent occasion. He's been discussing this with Gere-luce and goes to see him after realizing his internal time measurement is off from the actual time, a syndrome of these blackouts. In fact, during this "seizure" he is, without realizing it, making special arrangements…
The Black Knight receives word of a get-together of various new mutants, the same group, known as the New Mutant Action Society, which Laughton, in an alternate guise as "Mascara Man", is part of, in preparation of the "big event" they're saying will happen shortly. This is a friendly get-together at a bar. He's glad to go and see what's going to happen, eager for action.
China Left contacts Laughton and Nexus, her mind reaching out to them. She wishes to meet. Nexus decides to let Laughton handle this one, and so she pops up in front of the Laughton Agency. It's late and Velda has gone home, so China Left asks "Will someone open door or I do myself," her nunchukas at the ready. Laughton sends the Velda-bot to open the door. Sammy, hanging around, also meets with her. He gives her a big hug, which she reacts stiffly to and tries to be polite but get away from. They move to the conference room. China Left reveals she is there to resolve the satellite problem, proposing that she and the Justice Squad feign independent action to bring it down. She wants to make it look as if she is defending it while they are attacking it, and allow the satellite to be destroyed as an "accident". She proposes this in order for the Chinese to save face and obfuscate the events.
The Justice Squad members are interested, but Laughton points out a meteor gun might be better. Nexus points out that the timing is not right, as the Justice Squad countermeasures are still going into place, pointing out the antidote sent to her for the anti-mutant gas and explosives. She says she wasn't sure if that was a Western trick. He replies that being a master of dimensions, his sense of humor isn't that great. Laughton goes on to elaborate regarding about falling dominoes, referencing those demonstrations on television of elaborate domino shapes being collapsed. China Left gets the idea though she hasn't seen that. As Laughton explains various directions of dominoes and how their plan is like a complex set of domino-collapsing paths, Nexus says that's about how his sense of humor does run.
China Left point blank challenges Nexus, demanding his word that the satellite is not his or the Justice Squad's trickery. He affirms. They go on to discuss ways in which the satellite could be attacked by a meteor or even reused as an attack itself.
Just then Nexus takes a quick call from one of his sons, Nick, who's working on the tachyon disruption. Nick has traced at least the direction and type of power, and discusses that he must go into it in his electronic form. He tells his father in case something goes wrong. Nexus indicates he'll be ready to get his back, and Nick is off.
Nexus returns to the conversation as Laughton points out he doesn't want to be near the satellite when it goes up. Nexus echoes the sentiment, saying he'd rather be in Margaritaville (the dimension!).
Sammy and Neumann join. Spectrum stays in touch mentally to get important news. Nexus discusses the Atlantis issue, and also indicates he sees a dark knight sort of figure joining them. Sammy wonders aloud what his tastes are, to which Neumann asks if that is relevant. Then Laughton, reacting to the page for the mutant gathering in New York City, abruptly leaves.
Laughton turns into his Mascara Man and joins the mutants being deceived by NME. Black Knight is there. Songbird (the 12th super with that name) is organizing, being the primary point of contact. They and a couple dozen other mutants take over a bar for this gathering. Gold Bullion, the leader, a sort of human bullion cube, gets up and gives a speech, vaguely discussing "great events to come." The wanna-be supers start to get boisterous. Black Knight begins heckling, asking "when are we gonna see some action?" Mascara Man also mouths off to Gold Bullion, as Laughton's persona is an obnoxious, defensive character. Razor Blade Man challenges Mascara Man. Mascara Man offers to hit Razor Blade as hard as he can and then let Razor Blade hit him. Gold Bullion encourages this as a form of proving themselves, to which Mascara Man responds, "How about I come up there and kick your ass, gold boy?" picking up his "mighty truncheon."
Most of the other mutants stand down, with only Black Knight eager to join in the fray. Black Knight ends up fighting Razor Blade Man, taking up Gold Bulllion's challenge. Razor Blade Man strikes Black Knight, cutting a small bit of his hand off. Then Black Knight slugs Razor Blade, holding back a bit and finding it's not enough to really phase the opponent.
Meanwhile, Mascara Man argues with Gold Bullion's notion of letting them fight each other. He points out if Gold Bullion were not such a "blockhead" (as he literally is) he'd realize this isn't the wisest use of their talents. Mascara Man berates him for wasting time when the "fate of the universe" is at hand. As Gold Bullion asks what he's talking about, since nothing like that has been discussed, Mascara Man retorts, "Look, I'm Mascara Man, I have the power to see things!"
Gold Bullion says, "Really? What do you see," in a sarcastic tone.
Razor Blade gets in another strike on Black Knight but doesn't hurt him, while Black Knight stuns Razor Blade, despite his metallic body, with an uppercut.
Mascara Man caustically replies, "I see your butt getting kicked by this truncheon!" He goes on, though, to tease the issue, saying he's seen cats and dogs living together and meteors blasting satellites out of the sky.
Gold Bullion declares he sees that Mascara Man has proven his worth. Mascara Man just sardonically replies, "Gee, thanks, I'm so flattered." Gold Bullion then tells Razor Blade to stand down.
Back at the Laughton Agency conference room, Nexus starts to cover for Laughton, saying, "He didn't mean to be rude…" then ponders and says, "Maybe he did." Discussion of food comes up, China Left pointing out, "For me is lunch time." Nexus cooks up a real Chinese meal.
At the bar in New York, Gold Bullion takes Black Knight and Mascara Man into the back, claiming he's seen something special from them. He explains he's deputizing them to lead and take special assignment on their as-yet-undefined mission.
Black Knight asks, "So, "Pretty Man", is that your name?" As Mascara Man flips attitude back, Black Knight, taking note of Mascara's costume (highlighting a turtleneck with muscle pads in it, along with his flamboyant mascara), says, "I guess I'd have an attitude, too, if I were a 'mascara man'" He goes on to say, "You've shown me something, here," and gives him a Starbuck's card…with zero punches on it.
As Black Knight tries to ask Gold Bullion what is up, Mascara Man breaks in, "Like I'm gonna trust a big square guy." Gold Bullion asks if he's over his little problem. Mascara Man says, "Wait one more outburst…okay, I'm over!" Mascara Man adjusts his shoulder pads (fashion shoulder pads!) as he says he's been under a lot of stress.
Gold Bullion shakes his head and goes on and discusses their first duty, communication. He has a list of pager numbers to contact, giving it to them to split up, Mascara Man immediately taking three and claiming the rest are for Black Knight, who, bemused, accepts. Mascara Man points out if that if the bad guy they face is a razor blade type, Black Knight will be useful.
Back in Detroit, Nexus talks to China Left about Vision and DEXTER. She's heard rumblings about DEXTER and more about Vision, especially given his taking out Khan Warrior in Mongolia.
To the side, Neumann talks to Gere-luce about his aforementioned blackout problems. He discusses in part the encryption algorithms that Laughton's been proposing to boost his mental access security.
Later Neumann checks in with the Department of Defense computer. They ask each other, out of obligatory self-imposed social mimicking, how the other is. Neumann responds, "My entire right side is completely rusted, as always." The DoD computer notes a big power diversion has occurred, his own power demoted in priority. Neumann asks if he needs help, but he does not at the moment.
Back in New York, Mascara Man asks if Black Knight is from England, given he's a knight. Black Knight says he doesn't have to be from England to be a knight. Mascara Man asks how he became a knight. Black Knight reveals he simply decided to be one. Mascara Man says he can't just decide that. Black Knight counters, "Obviously, I can, and I did. How did you become Mascara Man? Contact Maybelline?" Mascara Man grants the point.
As they talk, Laughton notes a sensation around Black Knight, present ever since the fight broke out in the bar, and with his intellect surmises it was there before and became visible to him due, somehow, to that event. Mascara Man asks if it's safe to be around Black Knight. The rough figure responds, "Sure, unless you piss me off."
Mascara Man asks, "I noticed no insects crawling around your chair like everywhere else in the room. Are you giving off a strange radiated field?"
"Not that I noticed," Black Knight says.
Suddenly Black Knight receives a call from a woman he saved once before and has his contact info. He breaks off the discussion, saying "Gotta go!" as she's in trouble.
Laughton, as T'suara, shadows Black Knight. He watches as Black Knight grabs a cab. The cabbie gives a sigh, saying, "Watch out for the helmet," as he gets in. Black Knight explains he's in a hurry, that it's urgent and he'll pay. Suddenly the cab disappears, and Black Knight feels it whirling around in circles, sort of like being inside a washing machine. The cabbie is another mutant, and says, "I don't get arrested doing it this way." Black Knight pays $20 at the cabbie's request, finding it well worthwhile.
T'suara is able to trace the signature of the cab, though, and keeps up.
Black Knight finds the woman in an alley near a phone booth. She explains she saw some suspicious activity on the docks, and some men are after her. Laughton, lurking nearby, hears footsteps coming rapidly. He then sees two men in power suits, one saying to the other, "I'll take him, you get her," obviously referring to Black Knight and the woman, whom they see around the corner down the alley.
Black Knight is ready, though, and as the men come at them he clotheslines the one going after the girl while she flees, stunning him. The other suited figure fires a blast out of some sort of energy rifle, taking a chunk out of Black Knight's shoulder but not seeming to bother him in the slightest. Black Knight grabs the man he just clotheslined and throws him at the other guy!
Laughton, as T'suara, chases down the woman, turning human and then grabbing her, securing her and indicating he's helping out.
Meanwhile, Black Knight grabs the nearby dumpster and flips it over atop the men to contain them. He then moves out to the street, hoping to find the woman, to see Laughton and her. He recognizes Laughton from the news, knowing him as the "phony" who "follows" the Justice Squad, famous from their coattails (as most people think of the detective).
"What are you doing here?" the Black Knight demands.
"Me? You're the one accosted by armed agents."
"Why aren't you in Detroit?"
"I'm the world's greatest detective, not just Detroit's!" Laughton exclaims.
Black Knight muses, "And you detected she's in trouble? You are good!"
By now it's past midnight. Back in Detroit, Nick Sihn tells his father he's located the source, down in Antarctica, and to look for him if he's not back soon. Moments later, he communicates that he fears he's set off triggers but the tachyon disruption is shut down. Nexus takes a quick glance into some alternate futures, his vision cleared. He finds big electrical shutdowns and major mutant institutions being affected. He realizes this is likely the federal penitentiaries!
Sammy, editing some of Jane's music videos, gets a call from Bud Girl, coincidentally, who lets him know that she's heard something about an imminent jailbreak, with Dr. Normal getting out. He finds Nexus. He also tries to get a hold of Spectrum to read one of his dreams, but she's not available just at the moment, also checking on deep background regarding all these recent developments.
Nexus grabs up Sammy and Neumann (Jane remains behind, surfing the net) and goes to Laughton, who, in the meantime, has ascertained the woman is on the up and up. Black Knight sees the Justice Squad, and declares to Laughton, "Hey, your meal ticket is here!"
Nexus says to Laughton, referring to his earlier prophecy, "Hey, good job finding the Black Knight!" Then he gives him a hard time about departing from China Left as he did. Laughton says he figured Nexus would take care of it. Nexus gives him some Kung Pao he made earlier. Then Nexus tells everyone, "The gig might be up," and explains what happened with Nick.
Laughton formally introduces Black Knight. Then proceeds to point out that "he hands his phone number out to any schmoe." Nexus comments that he should fit in well, then. Laughton discusses the New Mutant Action Society is getting ready for something, and Black Knight chimes in, "more like the New Mutant Talking Society."
Nexus casts his mutant detector spell, finding Black Knight has an odd energy signature.
They turn their attention to the situation at hand. Nexus asks the woman what she does for a living, notice she's rather scantily dressed. She says she's a model. Laughton asks, "model for what?" She says, "What do you mean, I'm a model?" Laughton keeps asking as to what kind, pointing out there's art show models, and he goes on, until Nexus whispers in his ear. No one is sure if Laughton has had one of his many lapses about regular human behavior or if he's just toying with her.
They move a short distance to watch the ship the woman reported. They see a bunch of guys moving boxes from the boat to a truck. Laughton says to Black Knight, "Go stop them!" There's about two dozen men in power suits - and Black Knight charges in. Nexus stands back, watching his abilities, while summoning duct tape to secure the two they have in custody. They observe the powered armor is some repurposed American high end stuff.
Black Knight gets their attention, saying, "Came to ask if you've seen any guys in power armor chasing women!"
They immediately fire! His same shoulder, having healed, is again shot off. Black Knight tries to smack two of the opponents together but misses against the trained agents. Upon retrying, he manages to take them out. Then he's hit by three glowing, white hot blasts from the others, his left shoulder getting a chunk taken out and a rib breaking and flying out! The Knight makes a mighty leap to the ship, hollering, "The Black Knight eats pain like candy!"
The truck that was being loaded starts to drive away. The men on the ship start to flee as well, the anchor being lifted. Laughton turns the truck to stone, stopping it.
Sammy asks who exactly the Black Knight is again, and wants to help; Nexus tells him not to, that this is a try-out. Nexus asks Laughton if he needs help, who says he does not. Laughton turns the anchor to stone, stopping the ship from leaving.
Still, Sammy leaps aboard, unheeding. Neumann is programmed to help, anyway, and stretches cables out, entangling one of the agents. Neumann declares, "That does not make sense," to Nexus, about not helping, "he is dying." Neumann, of course, cannot understand how the man can be torn apart so literally and survive.
Black Knight makes a broad strike, slashing his sword but only through the air as he misses. Meanwhile, Nexus pops onto the boat and starts to look around. He puts his defenses on full and finds in the boxes are devices to build a massive detonator of some kind. He goes on to the bridge to see who's running the ship.
Sammy chats with Black Knight in battle, asking what he's doing. He notices now Black Knight is missing his nose due to one of the shots. Then Nexus scoops up Sammy, asking him to help out and leave Black Knight alone. As that happens, more blasts strike the Black Knight, his left hand coming off and his sword flying into the ocean. Sammy asks Nexus if he's sure, and he is.
In the bridge, a couple of the sailors are trying to bring up the anchor, a hopeless task. Nexus demands they leave the anchor, and they surrender. He interrogates them, asking where the boat is going. They admit back to Copenhagen. He asks for another answer, but they insist it's the truth. They apparently know little.
Laughton examines the contents of the truck, finding the same detonator materials.
Neumann entangles another of the agents while battle rages around Black Knight, the agents starting to become demoralized and amazed at his continuing fighting and inability to be stopped.
Sammy takes advantage of being in the command center and takes over the loudspeaker, announcing in one of the sailors' voices, "Hey, everybody surrender right now! Put your weapons down!" Nexus reminds him this is Black Knight's try-out and that he's helping too much again. So Sammy just announces, "Never mind, continue what you were doing." Black Knight hears one of the agents near him say, "What's Charlie talking about??"
Sammy and Nexus find the captain - about to detonate a bomb in the bottom of the ship! Sammy grabs the captain, stopping him. Sammy asks, "You weren't going to set off that bomb, were you?" He replies, "Uh….no? Can you let me go now?" Sammy says no. Nexus asks his destination, he confirms Copenhagen. He tries to dodge answering who contracted the ship, saying he has to think about it, but caves when Nexus says he has one second.
Above, the Black Knight uses his right hand, assisting to a degree with the stump of his left arm, and grabs one of the agents, using him like a flail, dazing three of them! Neumann entangles a third agent.
Laughton begins interrogating the men at the truck, finding the driver willing to spill. It turns out they were contracted by the IMRC. Laughton, to reinforce the interrogation, asks why he shouldn't crush him. The agent meekly suggests that would be wrong. And he is clearly ignorant about what the contents are or anything regarding their mission beyond delivering the truck to an address, which turns out to be a warehouse. Laughton has him duct tape his two compatriots and then Laughton duct tapes him, as the man begs him not to.
Black Knight meanwhile closes the battle on the ship. Half shot up, the Black Knight leaps into the biggest group of remaining agents, stunning several of them. They are aghast and demoralized, and surrender, as the last shot by one of the agents goes wild and hits one of their own. The two men on shore also surrender. Neumann says, "Very good, it is wise of you to give up." They try to "trick" the robot, saying, "Okay, thanks, we're gonna go now," but Neumann says, "You should stay where you are or I shall take action against you." His cold, unemotional tone works. The Black Knight gathers the men, literally tossing them into a pile.
Nexus, with Sammy, takes the captain to a plain of eternal hellfire. It turns out, unknown to Nexus, the man is very religious. He starts sobbing, "Give me one more chance, give me one more chance." Sammy plays it up, morphing into a big red demon with a pitchfork. Nexus slaps the captain as he panics. He reveals the one who hired him - a man with an eye patch and a German accent, calling himself Norman Bates. Nexus asks if he had a raven on his shoulder, and the man confirms. Nexus then takes him back to Earth. The captain asks if he has a Bible; Nexus produces an abbreviated version - the Sihn version in the specialized language that renders the entire Bible into 2 and a half pages. The captain says, "Uh, okay."
The truck is turned back to its normal state, and the group starts to discuss sending someone after Kietersling, possibly an ally. Sammy's cell phone rings and it's Bud Girl. She asks where he is, saying she has a big story. Sammy starts to explain about the boat and is shushed by Laughton, so he switches to saying he was watching the Love Boat. Bud Girl tells him the Denver federal mutant penitentiary has experienced some sort of power outage and mass jailbreak of sorts. The Denver prison holds Dr. Normal, Sheila Shield, and Spabble, at least that's the first names popping to the Justice Squad's mind of what they happen to know. Nexus contacts BOOM while Laughton contacts the New Brotherhood to handle the situation.
Bud Girl talks to Sammy, asking for a lead. She indicates about her reporting, "I wanna do it the honest way - if I have to." …
Just then the Black Knight's and Laughton's (as Mascara Man) pagers go off from the New Mutant Action Society. Black Knight notes everyone has to go in. Laughton ignores it. Black Knight is called by Gold Bullion, who asks where Mascara Man is. Black Knight says he hasn't seen him; he presses Gold Bullion for what is going on, but no explanation is forthcoming.
As it's obvious that things are breaking, Laughton contacts the Bishop and The Captain. Nexus contacts China Left. Wilting Rose and Gere-luce are also contacted. In the distance, an explosion is heard. Nexus calls the other mages involved in fashioning the dimensional perimeter, except for Doom. A servant at Lucretia's answers, a flat-toned man. He fetches Lucretia, who right then indicates that someone came through, and she believes it's King Midas. The circle has served its purpose.
Just then the media starts arriving to the scene of the boat battle. The Justice Squad has more important things and starts to disappear, literally, as they arrive, Nexus leaving a floating business card with Rogers' name on it. However, in the last moments as the microphones and cameras are going, Neumann gets off a few words, feeling compelled to speak, saying, in response to questions, "I am not sure, there was some criminal activity occurring and we stopped it." Then they are gone. But little do they realize, Neumann's voice, as it is replayed, transmits a frequency causing Boy Scout havoc…after they leave, Neumann realizes he cannot remember a brief time.
Just as Neumann makes a comment about the passage of time, Nexus then reveals that he is aware, from having studied alternate futures, that someone among the Justice Squad has been leaking information, that they can't trust someone 100%. He says, "I hope it's not you," addressing Laughton. Laughton says he bets he knows who it is and asks Neumann what time it is. Neumann notes the time, without stating the seconds. The detective asks him to be precise, and he notes the time, but is three seconds off.
But before they can discuss this, China Left appears. She meets Black Knight for the first time. Laughton notes he's "not really a knight." Nexus points out to Laughton, "You're not really human but you look and act like one." China Left agrees this is a good point.
The National Emergency System goes off as random homes are blowing up - the homes of mutants targeted by DEXTER. A national curfew is declared (it's still the wee hours). Terwilliger contacts Nexus, explaining the mutant penal system is down and gunfire and explosions are reported at each site. Life support systems have all been cut off for some unexplained reason. The Justice Squad knows this is DEXTER. The Black Knight moves closer to Neumann and Sammy and listens, learning what he can, confused but certain there is grave danger and the Justice Squad is ready to fight it. Neumann quickly explains to Black Knight who DEXTER is. Sammy explains Gere-luce has been busy "building stuff." Nexus realizes the confusion and waves his hands, a rapid retelling of events speed-blasting into Black Knight's mind!
It's early AM of September 19th as last minute arrangements are made. Nexus pops off briefly, spending a few moments with Ayla. Laughton tells the Bishop to pull the trigger; an avalanche of DEXTER tie-ins into Sacrosanct are suddenly swept away, as the Bishop vanquishes records and meanwhile the official but secret Sacrosanct investments supporting DEXTER immediately are frozen! Simultaneously, Barrman Associates investments start picking up from ABC holdings, and various ABC holdings tank. Grossenbacher is contacted and he is told to "sell, sell, sell," which he eagerly does, getting out of bed and contacting his European counterparts while getting ready for the beginning of the stock day in New York. The various European stock exchanges suddenly register a massive collapse of ABC stock!
Then The Captain is contacted. Laughton explains it is time to strike - a strike prepared months ago, a bold, dramatic physical blow to the actual ABC headquarters, which The Captain has been manipulated into. He takes some time, as he first ensures no people will be harmed, but shortly he will collapse the entire building - and provide an easier entry into the portal below, Laughton hopes. Laughton also contacts Rice to ask her to help push The Captain's buttons, which she does.
Nexus, upon returning, pulls out the Black Knight's rib from the fight, having forgotten in the furor to return it. But the Black Knight has already grown a new one, and looks fit as a fiddle. Nexus asks if he can have the old rib, and Black Knight is happy to oblige.
They prepare to move against the satellite first. Nexus checks, everyone is capable of surviving in space - it turns out the Black Knight does not have to breathe and can stand the pressure. They all, including China Left, teleport via Nexus' ability to the mysterious satellite, and everyone launches a mighty blow at one time. Black Knight is upon it, using all his might to shove his sword into it. China Left sprinkles sands from China which eat into the armor of the satellite. Neumann sprays hot steam as fast and furious as he can. Sammy turns half his body into a fork and flies into it swiftly. Nexus, far back, unleashes the sizzling bite of another dimension of pure energy. T'suara targets just the outer barrier of the satellite, attempting to turn it into dust.
It manages to work, with their combined forces…but for naught as inside the satellite, the shell broken, a message reads, "Wrong target."
And suddenly, out of seemingly nowhere, Vision strikes! It is a setup. Vision preys first on the unknown target - the Black Knight. Vision reaches into his body, and rips his heart out…only to find the Black Knight looking back at him, unaffected (well, sort of, his energy level is greatly impaired but he feels zero pain). Neumann, given it is space, manufactures a balloon cloud like in the comics, asking, "Are you okay?" Black Knight holds his thumb up.
Vision reacts by attacking Black Knight again, this time ripping into his head, tearing it in half! Black Knight can see through one eye. The Justice Squad now can react, while Vision concentrates on the strange alien. They watch as Vision seems to stare at Black Knight, attempting to comprehend why he is not even hurt. Laughton launches the device he adapted from Alice, Queen of Hearts, the "anti-Vision field generator." Nexus initiates "protocol VX-1," as prepared (GM note - this has to be filled in, a lost detail here). Vision is desolid, though, and while Laughton's field seems to enable some effect, it is light.
Laughton begins tuning his device to work better, now that he can see what works and what doesn't. Nexus heals Black Knight. And they are surprised to see Vision turn solid! Sammy launches a huge fork attack, again, which just pings against the android's body (or it would, if this were not space), producing a small amount of buzzing in the being but not much else. Black Knight launches a strike, but misses badly and in the weightlessness of space and with the way he launched his attack, goes spinning off wildly! He worries for a moment but notes he's not heading directly towards the Earth or Sun so just shrugs.
Neumann reaches out to entangle Vision…striking the android! But the effect is not exactly as one would think, as, while it does actually engulf Vision, Neumann starts sparkling! A noticeable energy burst moves from Neumann into Vision! Neumann indicates he "feels strange." Neumann declares, "Quick, push the red button, I will take him with me."
Suddenly, sounding different, Vision cackles, broadcasting radio waves of his voice and images, "BWA HA HA!" He speaks in a German accent, but does not sound like Kietersling. He declares, "I haf fooled you all! I vill kill you all, all of you! But especially you, Neumann, my grreatest failure, my grreatest disappointment! You failed me! You vere supposed to defeat zese fools! Instead alvays viz ze helping, ze HELPING!?"
China Left tries to strike, but to no effect. Nexus spends fractions of seconds concentrating, almost trace-like, on Vision. Laughton sends a desperate alert to Spectrum.
Neumann says, "You are not Vision."
The being in Vision responds, "Of course not! I am von NOIman, NOIman, NOIman, NOT NEWMAN!!! Zis foolish Vision has gifen me his body!"
Laughton readies box of missiles number two. Vision/von Neumann grows massively dense, smashing out of the entangle like it was paper. Neumann's red siren alert goes off, silently in space, but the flashing red light stretching eerily into the void endlessly.
Nexus disappears to get Nick. Von Neumann/Vision declares, "Ha! Nexus runs from me like a dog!"
Laughton holds his main attack until Nexus and Nick are there. To lull the mad (as it turns out) Nazi scientist into a false sense of security he launches another weak attack.
Meanwhile, von Neumann continues to boast! "Yes, it was me, me changing the wiring in ze New Brozerhood bases!" Laughton recognizes the tie-in. Laughton compliments him and asks, both from legitimate curiosity as well as to stall for time how he circumvented the protocol he implanted. Von Neumann responds, "Jah, danke! You follow me and you find out!"
Vision begins to fade. China Left uses her sands to try to blind him, again to no avail, and he is gone. Spectrum appears, grabbing the far-away Black Knight and fetching him to the scene. She also activates her mental link to the team, facilitating communication.
By the time this happens, it's 5 AM on the East Coast. Nick is watching television as the horrifying events unfold and Nexus appears in his living room, saying, "I need you." Nick simply say, "Let's go!"
And mentally, via Suzanne, Nexus discusses holding a "concert" for Vision, using something completely unexpected, capitalizing on the skills Sammy has taught them musically, and also perhaps creating a sound frequency to mess up Vision's hearing, all part of a plan to confuse Vision, knowing the android's thinking still has certain limitations.
Laughton heals Neumann in the meantime while von Neumann brags.
In China, explosions in a few households and other security problems require China Left's attention. She simply says, "Sorry, China in trouble," and disappears.
Back in the Justice Squad "sieve," Jane is watching the news raptly.
Laughton thinks of how he wants to talk to Sammy about Jane's web-cam action, but Sammy "overhears" via the mind link and responds that she stopped doing that from the base since Laughton "mucked up the security so badly," and now she does it from home.
Suddenly, feeling a seizing mental pain, a distant echo from the sympathetic minds of the Shlumari, Sammy screeches, "They've died!" He is sensing the imminent calamity of a race that is friendly to the Shlumari…the people of Atlantis! Knowing not where to turn, Sammy declares, "We must go to ABC!" He mentions his dream from the night before. Nexus sarcastically says, "Thanks for sharing," it being a little late. Sammy explains he was going to talk to Spectrum but hadn't seen her yet. Spectrum makes a big screen and as Sammy, with Jane linked in as she shared the dream (Laughton again disturbed as her last thoughts from the moment before are communicated across the mind link, "Wow, ten inches, huh?"), concentrates their dream unfolds for all to see. Nexus uses the information and his abilities to divine exactly where Atlantis is, finding the focal point of the Great Crystal which seems to drive the Shlumari link and thus the link to Sammy.
They ponder if the detonator was a deliberate hoax, yet another red herring. Spectrum points out that the opposition was bound to find some sort of leads of their own. Laughton says he's sure the boat is not a red herring.
Meanwhile, Nexus scrambles a BOOM water team, which thankfully is ready to go, along with Ayla, who leaves the X-Men (preoccupied with their own part of countering activities in the northeast, with the duty to spread the anti-argon gas compound and watch out for mutants subject to DEXTER's strike). Nexus asks Ayla to talk to Namor.
Laughton contacts The Captain via Spectrum's mental abilities. Laughton asks him about the ABC building, and The Captain responds, "I think it…well, nothin's left!" Laughton warns him Vision is nearby, as the trace Vision left is indeed tracked to there - clearly Vision wants them to follow, as he begged earlier.
Laughton relates to Nexus where they were before, the first time he, Sammy, and Spectrum encountered DEXTER. Nexus blind teleports there - and makes it, thanks in part to The Captain's demolishing of part of the dimensional defense structure! The Captain, following along via instructions, bursts into the white room, but there's little room at the entry point and he accidentally tags Spectrum, inflicting some pain but no real damage as she cries out!
Vision/Von Neumann is there and immediately strikes, attacking Laughton, who manages to change to ice form just in time. Vision unleashes a surprising occult-based attack! However, in this form Laughton can sustain it.
The Justice Squad launches its big gamble. Sammy begins singing his annoying pro-mutant song! Nexus produces instruments and they begin to play! That is, except for Laughton, never much of a music student, who moves against Vision hoping his shield of burning cold will harm him, but finds it ineffective (it turns out Vision is invulnerable to cold and he's plastic-based). Nexus tosses Black Knight a guitar to improvise with. Sammy releases, in song, a sonic shriek. The action of the band buoys it, and it deafens Vision! The strangeness cuts through Vision as his circuits scramble to absorb if he is still in reality, worried that Nexus has, despite Vision's own super-science skills (NB - Vision is cooperating with the inhabiting von Neumann), somehow tricked him. Neumann assists with a rapid strobe light pulsing to the beat of the music! Spectrum, while not musical, creates a light show!
Just then, Laughton also unleashes his specialized and better-tuned missiles!
This overwhelms Vision - the mighty behemoth is dazed and confused!
Then Nick Sihn goes for it! He wings it, unsure of what to do, and moves into Vision, literally, hoping to inhabit him, but is repulsed. Nick tells the team he needs help, someone has to know the brain of what he's aiming for. Naturally, Neumann volunteers, the perfect candidate. Laughton mentally calculates furiously. Spectrum puts the minds of Nick and Neumann together. Nexus fears for Nick and more for himself if anything happens to Nick, as Ayla will not be forgiving.
Vision comes to as the combination of Spectrum, Neumann, and Nick launch their attack! Sammy also attacks in tandem. Suddenly The Captain turns and, via a preprogram trick by von Neumann, lands his mightiest blow on poor Neumann! The robot flies apart, literally torn to pieces, and the bits of Neumann's brain splatter on the nearby wall. The team is sickened. Black Knight moves quickly against The Captain, smacking him, but finding The Captain is, of course, amazingly tough.
But Neumann's fleeting consciousness is enough as Nick is striking at the same time, and with Spectrum's help penetrates Vision/von Neumann, and dominates, controlling him!
But the programming of Vision fights back. Nick is having trouble. Vision begins to take hold. However, with the knowledge, from intimate contact, of von Neumann's treachery, and the confirmation that in fact the DEXTER/von Neumann strike is harming lots of humans, the anti-mutant but pro-human android feels he has no choice now but to assist against DEXTER. Vision flatly explains to the Justice Squad, "I will destroy you afterwards." Laughton asks if that's a promise.
Nexus moves to help Neumann, restoring his physical cohesion, healing the bits of brain, and grabbing the floating soul (in fact, he finds there's more than one) and restoring it. Out of this mystical energy, Neumann reappears…as a man! A naked man! Nexus senses the man mutating as he is reborn. Newman, as he will call himself, is aware of his memories as Neumann.
Vision moves on, going desolid and moving out to find DEXTER.
Laughton talks to Marty, The Captain, forcing him to realize what he's just done. The Captain, while unstable and prone to suggestion, is no killer. He begins to tear up and is riddled with remorse. Any post-hypnotic suggestion is cancelled.
Just in time for more fun…with Vision moving out and this furious but brief battle having occurred, DEXTER's guards are alerted. Agents - OMEGA agents - start pouring into the room, and the Justice Squad sees Sheila Shield. Her eyes look glazed over, she seems to be under mind control. Laughton turns to his crystal form to counter her as the agents fire and she begins deflecting at the team. One of the agents entangles himself, and several others stun each other.
Unbeknownst to the team, time is working against them. DEXTER has an intelligence drain aimed at reducing Nexus' and Laughton's effectiveness. Spectrum picks up a hint, feeling a little funny, as it affects her as well somewhat, but that's the most they can detect.
Sammy moves forward, smacking Sheila Shield with his hammer attack, his upper body forming a giant hammerhead. She is completely out.
Laughton feels Sihn Mi trying to reach him. Just then Sihn Loo jumps into the fray, vowing vengeance on Sammy and giving him a solid but unimpressive karate chop.
DEXTER's electronic voice intones, "You will leave now." But he is also busy - he is fighting a firewall-based attack from Nexus and Laughton that they started up just before the night's activities got hot.
Sihn calls his enthusiastic water being, making it appear in the next room, where it goes off and soaks the area. He hopes to damage DEXTER's electronic connections and weaponry.
Spectrum, meanwhile, works to boost Nick's willpower, as protection against Vision.
Sammy is surprised, as another swift strike from Sihn Loo not only hits but registers, again. It doesn't put him out, but he knows something is odd just as Laughton points out Sihn Loo has been blessed. Nexus again points out this information would have been helpful earlier.
And as if on cue, Death, their old enemy, appears, exclaiming, "I heard you were looking for me. Here I am!" And King Midas also appears.
Black Knight manages to strike Death, not hurting him (almost nothing does!) but getting his attention.
Laughton says to Death, "You're like third on our list, can you hold off? And Midas, you're after Death."
Sammy barely misses Sihn Loo as they spar, kung fu fighting techniques gone wild!
Black Knight strikes Death again, this time pushing him back and making him notice damage that would knock most out. Death strikes at Black Knight, but does no damage to the nigh-invulnerable "knight."
Laughton, still in crystalline form, reflects an incoming gold attack from King Midas back at him, not causing him harm but wasting Midas' time.
And the whole team suddenly feels a slowing sensation - as Dr. Normal is seen unleashing a movement-draining device! The Justice Squad was somewhat prepared but still finds they are starting to feel like they're moving through molasses.
Nick reports back to the team that he/Vision are still looking for the room but must be getting close.
Sammy moves quickly against the mad scientist Dr. Normal, and manages to knock him out in one massive blow. Laughton turns to T'suara and moves through everyone to try to speed up Nick's search.
DEXTER broadcasts against T'suara/Laughton, each promising the other destruction in their own casual ways.
Newman meanwhile tries to come to his senses. Metal parts from his old body fly around him as he concentrates on trying to stay safe!
A strange attack from DEXTER just misses T'suara. T'suara contemplates changing to his Clockwork form and smashing through the place to try to speed things up.
Meanwhile, Eliot Sihn and Sihn Loo begin to bicker. Nexus accuses Sihn Loo of being without honor. He goes on to say, "You dishonor our ancestors. You can still find honor if you delay your feud until after this. Defeating us when we're being attacked brings nothing. You fight like a dog, you will be treated like a dog."
Sihn Loo hears nothing of it. He begins to talk of the family heritage. Nexus, with his brilliant mind, has studied the family history as well, and begins to best Sihn Loo at his own game. As Sihn Loo threatens to kill him for claiming their family, Nexus decides to cut it short - Vision/Nick has found DEXTER! So Nexus grabs everyone up and teleports to their side.
This leaves The Captain against the others. He begins fighting with Sihn Loo, saying, "I'm without honor also," and walloping him, taking his furious rage out on the deranged martial artist. With the Justice Squad suddenly gone, Death decides to wander off, as he often does. King Midas realizes this isn't the ideal fight he wants, and also leaves. Before long, The Captain subdues Sihn Loo.
The Justice Squad calculates how to immediately bring down DEXTER. They are showered with energy attacks that they manage to stand up against. Nexus analyzes the glowing energy filed around DEXTER (which DEXTER is diverting energy to, weakening his own attacks). Vision/Nick notes the field resists his own desolid nature.
The energy and attacks from DEXTER are relentless. As the Justice Squad coordinates a massive strike, with Nexus working hard to drain DEXTER's energy wall, Spectrum gets blasted hard, her arm badly hurt, and she drops from agonizing pain. One of the Black Knight's legs is severed below the knee (he'll get better…). Vision pleads to take control and do it his way. Nexus replies that will lead to more innocent people dying, he must cooperate.
As Nexus concentrates on depleting the energy wall, Black Knight, Vision/Nick, and Sammy all strike. Laughton tries to transform DEXTER but can't quite pull it off - especially as the sudden great strike demolishes DEXTER! With the energy wall collapsing and DEXTER's outside resources unavailable, the AI simply crumbles against the strike. With the various mighty blows, as the supers all give everything they've got, they overshoot their mark a bit and almost nothing meaningful is left of DEXTER.
Nick cries out as he realizes Vision is asserting what little control it has to self-destruct! Nexus grabs Vision/Nick and moves to the cheese dimension, just barely in time as Nick evacuates and Vision is left to explode harmlessly (well, there's one amazing mess of cheese). No one is sure what has become of von Neumann…
Much of von Neumann's memory is retained in Newman, and Nick has picked up bits from Vision and von Neumann. It turns out much of the affair was orchestrated by von Neumann. He used his inside knowledge to link up Kietersling and DEXTER in a truly mad and bizarre scheme to resurrect Nazi Germany while exploiting the other villains. He had hoped to lure the Justice Squad so that he could defeat them and then move on to defeat DEXTER, taking, he had hoped, the AI by surprise, and then running Vision's body, the perfect vehicle for the "Aryan race" proponent. Kietersling apparently went along for the ride, clouding Nexus' vision of the future.
And in a bizarre side plot, von Neumann had used Newman to infiltrate the Boy Scouts! And via psychotropic marshmallows which cause a biochemical reaction to a certain frequency, was manipulating them to become a new nation of followers ("give me a child…"). In fact, Neumann's brief words to the media triggered the reaction, and among the Boy Scouts activated (including adult leaders), one group attacked (again with insider knowledge) the Laughton Agency and the Justice Squad sieve. Jane and Gere-luce managed to contain them but in the meantime, again, Laughton Agency is wrecked (one of many reasons Laughton never stays in the money), and this time so is most of the base, although Laughton's inner sanctum remains undisturbed.
The attack on Atlantis was in part a grand diversion to ensure other supers were distracted but also a mad scheme to seize that as a power base from which von Neumann would unleash his deadly U-boats! With the tip-off from the Justice Squad, between the BOOM sea contingent and the Justice League of Europe, Atlantis was saved from what was a sabotaged (with Kietersling's help) Great Crystal.
The detonators in NYC were part of a plot which never got far. There was a plan by DEXTER to destroy New York City with a massive nuclear attack. The struggle culminated before this plan could be fully executed.
Nick reveals he's pretty sure Vision had a series of backups, from what he gleamed from the android's mind. Laughton says, "You think?" with bitter sarcasm, annoying Nick. Nexus sympathizes, saying to Nick, "I could tell you some stories you'd probably be bored by." Nick says, "I think I heard them already."
Ayla contacts Nexus, indicating that Namor indeed has arrived - with an army of Lemurians ready to attack Atlantis! Nexus contacts Namor and insists he back down. Namor is furious, of course, but Nexus plays his ace in the hole: he says he will reveal the location of Mu! Namor begins to talk down to Nexus about geopolitics, with scathing remarks of his son-in-law's ignorance. Nexus, exhausted, says, "Don't even start with me." Namor says, "I should have taken you out when I didn't know who you were."
Sammy brings up the dream of a later alien invasion, looking for Spectrum's help while she's still around. Laughton is actually surprised as Sammy reveals it's T'suara's own people, and Sammy jokes that Laughton is an advance scout.
Shortly, Nexus receives a message from Kietersling that simply says, "Nice job."
[Game Mechanics - Points Awarded...
Defeating Razor Blade Man, enemy is taken care of for now and this time it was a nuisance - Black Knight only - +0.75 RP, +0.1 XP
Defeating the agents on the docks, once and for all (in this case), and this time it was a background NPC group - Laughton, Nexus, Sammy +.75 RP, +0.05 XP, Newman +1 RP, +0.1 XP, Black Knight +1.5 RP, +0.2 XP
THE BIG BATTLE:
Defeating Kietersling this time, and he is a BIG BAD! - Laughton, Nexus, Sammy, Specturm +37.5 RP, +2.5 XP, Newman +50 RP, +5 XP, Black Knight +75 RP, +10 XP
Defeating Vision this time, and he is a BIG BAD! - Laughton, Nexus, Sammy, Spectrum +37.5 RP, +2.5 XP, Newman +50 RP, +5 XP, Black Knight +75 RP, +10 XP
Defeating von Neumann this time, and he is a BIG BAD! - Laughton, Nexus, Sammy, Spectrum +37.5 RP, +2.5 XP, Newman +50 RP, +5 XP, Black Knight +75 RP, +10 XP
Defeating DEXTER ONCE AND FOR ALL, and he was a BIG BAD! - Laughton, Nexus, Sammy, Spectrum +75 RP, +5 XP, Newman +100 RP, +10 XP, Black Knight +150 RP, +20 XP
Enduring publicity and heroism! (Atlantis, worldwide saving of mutants) - Laughton, Nexus, Sammy, Spectrum +60 RP, +0.5 XP, Newman +80 RP, +1 XP, Black Knight +120 RP, +2 XP
Black Knight has a new major known sworn enemy, Vision - BK only, +52.5 RP
Playing in character 7.5 hours - Laughton, Nexus, Sammy, +5.625 RP, +1.875 XP, Newman +7 RP, +3.75 XP, Black Knight +10.5 RP, +7.5 XP
2.5 hours - Spectrum - +1.875 RP, +.625 XP
Totals:
Black
Knight 560.25 RP, 59.8 XP
Laughton 253.875 RP, 15.625 XP
Neumann 338 RP, 29.85 XP
Nexus 253.875 RP, 15.625 XP
Sammy 253.875 RP, 15.625 XP
Spectrum 249.375 RP, 13.625 XP
Totals
to Date:
Black
Knight 560.25 RP, 59.8 XP
Dice
188.5 RPs, 14.95 XPs
Laughton 2762.5875 RPs, 269.5625 XPs (with Rep level, 50 for base, 25 for minion, 50
for reorg (note, did not use for agency or life-saving)
Neumann 1356.375 RPs, 191.425 XPs (with Rep level, 50 for base, 25 for
minion)
Nexus 2838.8375 RPs, 267.9625 XPs (with Rep level, 50 for base, 25 for minion,
50 for reorg (note, did not use for agency or life-saving)
Sammy the Slime 2608.025 RPs, 243.4875 XPs (with Rep level, 50 for base, 25
for minion, 50 for reorg (note, did not use for agency or life-saving)
Spectrum 2427.4 RPs, 204.3 XPs (with Rep level, 50 for base, 25 for
minion, 50 for reorg (note, did not use for agency or life-saving)
Steely Danelle 86 RPs, 10.75 XPs]]