Re-Starting

[Ray Teh Gay]

OOC: HEY-OHHHH IM HERE ALL NO NEED TO FEAR ILL SAVE THE DAY!

[Frederic Bourgault-Christie]

OOG: Fair enough. In that case, you probably are just another one of the guys.

Five years pass. During that time, Quinn develops his attributes and skills, participates in wild adventures, and nearly dies several times. All fairly standard.

But one day, walking into the private detective / freelance superhero offices his friends built, he notices a lot more activity and, more importantly, three additional floors that just seem to glance off the eye, not catching anyone's attention despite being in downtown Grass Valley...

Meanwhile: Joe, Brian, Ray and Mario see Quinn down below, looking rather confused.

[DUNCE]

"look guys! its quinn!" Brian waves to Quinn, "hey man! up here!"

[Frederic Bourgault-Christie]

L leans forward and sips his coffee, which has a precarious tower of sugar cubes sticking out of it. "Robert, hmmmm? We will need his testimony on his encounter with Strength..."

[クインӥ]

I will raise my hand in acknowledgment of Brian and what he said and head up stairs. Upon reaching the group I say "How did these extra floors get here? and I don't know anything about a testimony or a group called Strength"

[GM]

A man that speaks with Marios voice looks up at Quinn from where he was sitting staring at the ground. "Strength is a woman, a member of a group called the arcana and the extra buildings are for our new bosses since apparently we work for the government now trying to stop these guys."

The man stops to stare down at the floor again in usual Mario fashion. "Yeah there real bad guys.... what have they done again?" he asks in a sarcastic tone.

This man has black hair and green eyes but otherwise looks like Mario.

[Frederic Bourgault-Christie]

As Quinn comes up to the group, he is amazed by the security and stealth systems operating. Aside from what appears to be a Somebody Else's Problem Field emanating from the building, there are separate accesses to the original lobby and the new Arcana Task Force. Retinal, fingerprint, DNA and other scanning systems are on hand, as are automated defense systems. When Quinn walks through the staircase, he finds that he's already been cleared to enter. He walks into a madhouse of activity. FBI, CIA, MI6, and other volunteer agents are tracking data down, forming profiles, hunting down clues. Quinn sees a state of the art laboratory and machine shop with an old man he recognizes as Abigail Whistler (Blade's mentor) and a blond kid he doesn't recognize down one direction.

In the midst of the room, there is a fifteen foot tall monitor array filled to the brim with data. Sitting in front of the monitor is a languid, lanky man with baggy eyes and an enigmatic expression. L. The world's greatest detective. To his side is a youth apparently in his twenties, red-haired, almost effeminate in his grace and bearing, with gorgeous green eyes. Kurama.

L raises his finger. "This is a non-governmental organization with funding from thirty different countries and Interpol as well as... private backers. Kurama, would you hand me the video tape, please?"

Kurama retrieves an old-style video tape. It's odd that it's on VHS format, but the meaning becomes clear: Quinn can see mystic energy from the tape. It must be easier to enchant analog formats.

A booming voice, mystically enhanced, fills the room. "I am the Dealer. I am announcing my annexation of all land, sea and air property on Earth. Corrupt, inefficient governments have proven themselves incapable of withstanding the Kin crisis, the explosion of the Imagination Force. Only I have been able to master and control the Force. Electricity must be centrally harnessed and controlled from a power plant. So too must imagination be doled out, controlled, like any other resource. And only I am qualified to do so. I am giving the world's governments a year to abdicate all temporal and legal authority and transfer it to myself. Within that time period, only those who resist me will be harmed. I solemnly vow this. Similarly, all major corporations have a year to transfer all control and productive assets to myself. After that year, I promise that this will come to destroy them."

The screen shifts to a Tarot card of Death: www.kevinwolf.com/images/death1.jpg . Subimposed behind it, a village, apparently in China, slowly comes into focus.

Incredibly high-definition images, almost lifelike, capture a normal day: Women getting water from the well, engaging in subsistence farming, some of the men going on trucks to the city for work. But soon all of them are looking, and then running in terror, at two intersecting tornados, one black, one white. Ravens, rooks, crows and flies fill the sky. A man is ripped apart by vultures as he runs from his stream. Bladed hooks erupt from the air, ripping men and women apart, pulling them into the horde.

Soon the deaths become more individualized. One pregnant woman begins to become jaundiced, suddenly going into labor, dying alongside her premature baby. A young girl begins bleeding from every orifice, as if she had ingested on accident a dangerous industrial poison.

The screen shows a young boy, with a nightvision filter clearly for psychological effect, gripping his knees, crying quietly. His mother's blood drips down his shoulder from above, glowing green in the nightvision light. Then wood collapses around him, and black arms spin his neck around.

The end of the video is a mass grave. Cackling laughter reverberates from the screen, clearly not the same voice as the Dealer.

"I await your reply".

The booming voice is blank, cold, emotionless, and apparently unidentifiable.

L continues without a beat, dipping a sugared scone into his coffee. "This tape was received by every government and corporate board. We've managed to keep it from reaching the public."

Kurama is more visibly upset. He nonetheless calmly says to Mario, "That is what they have done."

[GM]

"Ahh how adorable tyrant thinks hes people, or savior as case would have it." Mario rests his head on his fist while continuing to stare at the ground.

"Ya know I find it funny heroes spend all day beating up villains and getting stronger, yet another villain always shows up stronger and stronger to challenge the hero."

"Where do villains get so strong, do they have a list of heroes they beat up to get strong or does it just happen."

Mario sighs for a moment. "I guess its like they say crime doesn't pay, but unspeakable incomprehensible acts of evil pay very well."

[Frederic Bourgault-Christie]

Fred says, "Actually, how strong this guy is is a very interesting question. We've compiled a psychological profile. 'Tyrant' is right: This guy is a dominating personality. We don't know how he became the Dealer, but we know what qualified him. He's meticulous, smart, quietly charismatic. He doesn't make waves, he knows how to blend in, but he nonetheless attracts people to him. Probably looked like a pillar of the community. Pretty standard Jim Jones-style psychology: He's a cult leader, but not the type who went to India and spoke to fakirs and has incense and patchouli oil in his room; he's more suburban. White, middle-class background. Obsessed with order, control. His confidence masks a fundamental insecurity. His goal is to become the first Emperor unaffected by the exigencies of change, of story, of drama, the first to step above the cycle of the Tarot. Years of a regular, unimaginative occupation must have bottled up a native imagination and intelligence."

[GM]

Mario laughs at that last bit. "If thats the case I should have stayed home and bored myself half to death, then come out being able to control imagination whatever the hell that means."

After a moment he continues a slight sarcastic tone underlying the serious question. "So let me get this strait he controls the things that give us powers or he controls reality or what? I really did not get too much other than he gonna fuck you up cause he hella crazy and got mad posse yo! Explained in so many words of course."

[DUNCE]

"well, whats wrong about being controlled by one man instead of many men? there are other ways of going about it... but this seems like the quickest and most certain way of taking the planet. There will be problems however, there will be people to rise up against him. But there may be a lot of good that could possibly come out of this. I believe that the video was a demonstration of what would happen to those who stood against him, not a declaration of intent for the world once he's in power, and if that's the case, i don't really have much of a problem with it. I am but one man, and i say, if you cant beat 'em, leave 'em be. the only thing i have a problem with, is limiting the amount of imagination, that, i don't think i'll stand for"

[Frederic Bourgault-Christie]

Fred replies to Mario, "That's the thing: We don't know. He claimed to Evan and Feickert that he had massive resistance to all powers, that he could depower all of the Tarot members at will, that he could imagine some possibilities in the long run, that he can massively amplify other peoples' powers, and that none of the Tarot members were anywhere near as strong before he created the deck. But we can't get any read on his powers, scrying doesn't work..."

He's notably a little more agitated, though not much more, at Brian's comment. "The reason why being ruled by many men is preferable, as much as I don't like our present socio-economic system, is that many men gives democratic opportunities, minority protection, and balance of powers. This guy wants to gain security and protection at the cost of making everyone else helpless. It's repugnant. You're right that he probably doesn't want to blow up the planet - then again, neither did Hitler. It's our job to make him accountable for the deaths he inflicted for no reason but to spread terror."

Kurama is a little more diplomatic. "His very intent, Brian, is to restrict imagination, control it, and keep it to himself and to those he mandates."

[DUNCE]

as i see, it, i'm pretty powerless now, at least this way, the people at large should be protected from themselves

[Frederic Bourgault-Christie]

"And you expect that someone who is willing and able to do something like this without a moment's remorse or consideration is going to be a good, safe ruler? You're okay with just giving up your rights, your imagination, your ability to control yourself? Guys like this become maniacs. Their rise to power is unimaginably bloody."

[GM]

Mario will comment bitterly to Brian. "Still by all means feel free to join him, wont be the first or the last of us to do so I am fairly certain."

"Lets go out and actually do something I have had more than enough discussion on these people, unless you have new information Fred? L? Kurama?"

[blacktothefuture]

Black continues to occupy his usual spot outside the balcony window. Hanging upside down watching curiously as the others talk. His gaze stern and eyes narrowed in the utmost of serious thought.

That man.....

....

....

....seriously needs to chill.

[DUNCE]

"we also have to keep in mind, he probably has a lot of grass roots supporters, so we gotta watch what we do and say wherever we are." Brian thinks to himself for a bit, sitting down in a chair, trying to relax, "but whatever you guys decide, i'd probably go with it." Brian looks towards Fred, "I may not understand your way of thinking on this matter, but i respect that you seem to have a differing opinion, and if its ok with you, i'd like to agree to disagree."

[Frederic Bourgault-Christie]

L sips his coffee. "I doubt it. If he wanted grassroots supporters, he would have taken a different approach. He would have sent these tapes to be viewed by the public, for example, and would have attempted some kind of idealistic revolution instead of simply declaring crass self-interest. He has been doing everything in his power to keep his group very secret, very tight, very controlled - he has the power and resources to attempt a global junta, keep his stakeholders small and fanatical. That having been said, Mr. Shlosser is correct that you must take care to speak freely about the Arcana only in this building."

Fred says, "Brian, my concern is merely that you want to fight this guy, for whatever reason. I don't have the time to engage in philosophical battles..."

Kurama interrupts. "As far as defeating him: At the moment, he has the balance of power in strength. We need to find someone who understands both the limitations and the strengths of his Tarot. Perhaps you need to take another visit to Avi?"

[クインӥ]

Quinn who has been standing silently near the entrance will find a place to sit

"Brian, you shouldn't be defending someone who just slaughtered a bunch of people that weren't involved in any of this"

[GM]

Mario nods in agreement with Quinn before he speaks up "Lets go see Avi then, its better than staying around here talking."

Since Mario had been out of state training up until very recent he probably has not had a chance to see Quinn in a while, if he has disregard the next part.

He then heads to the door when he passes Quinn. "Good to see you again man its been a short while."

Mario stops just outside the door. "Hope all of you have been keeping up on your training these guys after us have been the strongest yet, by a large margin."

[DUNCE]

"well mario, when you put it that way, bring it on"

[クインӥ]

"yea, good to see you too. you will have to tell me what I've missed out on later on, like who is Avi?"

[GM]

"A professor who knows about the people with powers or kin as they are apparently being called, seems like a nice enough guy kinda weird though." Mario continues over out before asking "are we flying or walking or what?"

[Frederic Bourgault-Christie]

OOG: Happy inauguration day!

Fred adds, "Avi is a Professor of Literature at Berkeley. He understands the Imagination Force, what supposedly gave us all our powers. I recommend flight - we want to be fast. Quinn, can you fly?" [Quinn cannot, at least not unaided.]

[GM]

"I meant the jet but okay, I can cover you if you cant Quinn." Mario says.

[クインӥ]

"no, I'm afraid I can't fly on my own but I would be glad to accept your offer. I wouldn't want to slow any of this down' i will say

[Frederic Bourgault-Christie]

Fred smiles and says, "Actually, we got something just for that." He produces something like a jetpack with two bulbous protrusions on the back with complex coil systems within them. "This is an electromagnetic glider. Picking up thermals and other heat drafts, particles in the wind, solar and electromagnetic winds, and so forth, it rides comfortably. Repelling off itself and these other particles, it can achieve a maximum speed of 400 miles per hour, higher if you can get in the backdraft of, say, myself or Mario."

[DUNCE]

"what would i have to do to get a hold of one of those?" Brian says eyeing the device with a deep interest

[クインӥ]

"I think I can deal with that if you show me how to use it. how long of a trip is it to Professor Avi?"

[Frederic Bourgault-Christie]

Fred says, "Ask and we'll produce you another one?" Fred quickly shows Quinn how to use it - it's pretty intuitive and partially automated. "At our speeds, we can be there in about 20 minutes."