Epic IC - New York City Freeplay

[Michale CS]

Ice guy. You wanted a heads up when a lead came in. Give it about two days and I'll give it to you. Direct and easy. The pay had better be damn good, ya hear?

Clicking on send, Digger stood up to go find Zip for a little...favor. Courtesy of not kicking his ass when he could have.

[fieldbox="Snart, Blue, dotted"] Cool. And don't worry, there will be five zeroes at the end of your bounty. The first number depends on how good your lead is. Keep me informed. [/fieldbox]

@C.T.

 

[Nomad-22]

"What... You're looking for Mysterio? That's like, major. Wasn't he one of the Sinister Six at one time? Well... yeah, miss. I'll pass this info on to some of my... friends. If I see em, or they do, you'll know."

Then, he turned to elbow Raph. "Dude, you coulda been a little nicer. Aww what am I saying? For you, this is nice." He turned and parkoured his way back to the rooftops.

@Gands @Nomad-22

Raphael huff at the notion and followed after Mikey back to the rooftop. Being nicer dosen't protect one's family and friends in his opinion. Well at least the conversation wasn't complete waste of time, he thought. Miss Hoody provided them the identity of another scumbag in need for a beatdown. As for being on the gangs' hit list, well that noting new. Its been that way since they first fought the Foot Clan and their little leeches.

All the same, Raph couldn't help but consider that perhaps it's time go vigilante full time.

The best defense is a good offense...

 

[Ms.Ezra]

After a moment her arms returned to normal and she smiled. "Here..." She handed Janice a card. Of course, being only 14 she had all the social media in her super name. "Just hit me up online and we'll talk. I better get home. It's a school night. See you later, Janice!"

"School night? So you really are just a kid." Janice said as Ms. Marvel left the White Castle. She put the card in her wallet and took the liberty of tossing their trash on the way out.

Outside and back on her skates, Janice moved faster and with a look of elation. She felt awake, like she'd just woken up from a long nap. Tomorrow was a new day once she nailed her interview with Ms. Potts. Then she felt her phone buzz, and came to a stop on the outskirts of Harlem proper to check the text she had gotten.

Meet me at Warehouse Eighteen, Gotham City Docks. 8pm.

'Nefarious insight needs justice accordingly.'

-Batman

"Batman? Really?" Janice scoffed and sent a reply, her power allowing her to do so without needing to type.

Look creep. I don't know who you are, or how you got my number, but I have a certain set of skills that will render all of your electronic devices useless if you send one more text.

That text sent, Janice kept rolling onto her apartment. She passed Harlem's Paradise on the other side of the street and went along a little slower. If there was going to be a repeat, it would be her luck to happen blocks away from her place.

But she made it home without incident. Her garden level apartment was an efficiency that looked like a Radioshack had thrown up after a hard night. Her pride and joy was her custom computer with three 40 inch monitors in her living room. Her bed was the fold-out part of the Ikea couch. The corner desk was loaded up with one of her tinkering projects, and there were numerous boxes of parts she'd scavenged from work scattered throughout. Normally she'd dive in to her tinkering, but instead she got her clothes pressed and ready for her interview.

All the while, even as she pulled out her bed and bundled up for the night, she did so with a new light in her eye and a smile on her face.

THE NEXT DAY
​

Clad in a pantsuit, with her hair done up and shiny, Janice sat outside Ms. Pott's office, trying not to tap her foot but practicing her breathing, reminding herself she'd faced down worse in the Danger Room back in the day, and on that mission she normally didn't want to think about. An interview was nothing. At least she kept telling herself that, and that she was more than qualified. She just had to channel her inner Cat Grant, and all would be fine.​

 

[Michale CS]

Clad in a pantsuit, with her hair done up and shiny, Janice sat outside Ms. Pott's office, trying not to tap her foot but practicing her breathing, reminding herself she'd faced down worse in the Danger Room back in the day, and on that mission she normally didn't want to think about. An interview was nothing. At least she kept telling herself that, and that she was more than qualified. She just had to channel her inner Cat Grant, and all would be fine.​

The fact that the de-facto CEO of Stark Industries was interviewing someone herself was strange enough, but when she came in, Janice noticed...

The toys... so many...

The holographic displays, the HD display wall which was now apparently showing a live stream of a place that seemed to be called The Savage Lands if the caption meant anything at the bottom.

And Pepper, sitting behind her desk. When Janice came in, she stood up, and gestured to a couch on one side of the room. "Please, have a seat, Janice. It's not often I get a call from a co-worker of Tony's in his other business suit. And I'm going to be terribly honest with you. When I got your name, I had some digging done. A Xavier graduate is a rare commodity these days. Now, I am also going to ask you all the usual questions, just in the name of being thorough."

@Ms.Ezra

 

[Ms.Ezra]

The fact that the de-facto CEO of Stark Industries was interviewing someone herself was strange enough, but when she came in, Janice noticed...

The toys... so many...

The holographic displays, the HD display wall which was now apparently showing a live stream of a place that seemed to be called The Savage Lands if the caption meant anything at the bottom.

And Pepper, sitting behind her desk. When Janice came in, she stood up, and gestured to a couch on one side of the room. "Please, have a seat, Janice. It's not often I get a call from a co-worker of Tony's in his other business suit. And I'm going to be terribly honest with you. When I got your name, I had some digging done. A Xavier graduate is a rare commodity these days. Now, I am also going to ask you all the usual questions, just in the name of being thorough."

@Ms.Ezra

It took Janice a couple seconds to snap out of her admiration and envy for the toys that adorned the office. She'd been trying, in vain, to scrounge together her own holo display and it took everything she had to avoid reaching out to ply the secrets of its construction from the item.

When she talked about her status as an Xavier graduate, Janice nodded and smiled. "I try not to make it a big deal, but yes I owe a lot to my time there. And please, just treat me as any other applicant." She said humbly.

@Michale CS

 

[Michale CS]

When she talked about her status as an Xavier graduate, Janice nodded and smiled. "I try not to make it a big deal, but yes I owe a lot to my time there. And please, just treat me as any other applicant." She said humbly.

"Well yes, I am, actually. But the position... well... let's just say it would put good use to your talents." Pepper responded. "I'm just very happy that I am not looking at a criminal record here. Although... if there were one, there wouldn't be, now would there?" She gave a knowing wink to Janice.

"I'm not going to go over your qualifications or bore you with the standard questions, but what I am going to ask of you is that you make a solemn promise, and well, become legally bound to it as well. Paperwork. If we decide to employ you, you won't tamper with or access any systems that you haven't gotten your project manager's approval to access. That actually... is step one."

Pepper pulled out a good old fashioned clipboard and handed it to Janice. It was a non-disclosure and non-competing agreement, pretty much the same junk that the Gadget Clinic asked her to sign, except this time, she was signing it for Stark.

She didn't say anything else then, just waited for Janice to respond.

@Ms.Ezra

 

[Ms.Ezra]

"Well yes, I am, actually. But the position... well... let's just say it would put good use to your talents." Pepper responded. "I'm just very happy that I am not looking at a criminal record here. Although... if there were one, there wouldn't be, now would there?" She gave a knowing wink to Janice.

"I'm not going to go over your qualifications or bore you with the standard questions, but what I am going to ask of you is that you make a solemn promise, and well, become legally bound to it as well. Paperwork. If we decide to employ you, you won't tamper with or access any systems that you haven't gotten your project manager's approval to access. That actually... is step one."

Pepper pulled out a good old fashioned clipboard and handed it to Janice. It was a non-disclosure and non-competing agreement, pretty much the same junk that the Gadget Clinic asked her to sign, except this time, she was signing it for Stark.

She didn't say anything else then, just waited for Janice to respond.

Janice cleared her throat, and read through the agreement before signing it, and handing it back while still smiling.

"Step one, done. You have my solemn promise that I will not betray the first company to give me an honest chance at doing what I love. I didn't go to MIT like Mr. Stark, but I will put my best forward and allow my skill to speak for itself wherever you place me." She said, not channeling Cat Grant like she intended but letting herself be sincere.

"Now, step two?"

 

[C.T.]

[fieldbox="Snart, Blue, dotted"] Cool. And don't worry, there will be five zeroes at the end of your bounty. The first number depends on how good your lead is. Keep me informed. [/fieldbox]

@C.T.

What kind of guy ya take me for? Naturally I will, of course. :D

​

 

[Michale CS]

And the appointed few days later, after the violence had started in Gotham... A certain prison got a new visitor.
Checked in normally by a Special Division Metropolis Police van, and escorted by two officers, a male about six feet tall and a female, pretty close to it as well.

He was marched up to a spot in front of the intake building, but still in the main yard. The male officer moved inside to talk to the guards.


The female stayed with the prisoner, who appeared to be wearing headphones.

One of the local toughs in the yard walked up to the guy in the hoodie. "Think that wearing a hoodie and your little iPod that you're going to get passed over? Just wait til you're inside..." The man reached over and yanked the headphones out of his ears. The female guard moved to intercept but the new prisoner just raised one hand, which seemed to stop her.

He then turned swiftly, grabbing the tough by one hand and wrenched his wrist around until it popped. The new prisoner then moved behind the tough, kicking him behind the kneecap and wrenching his arm up until it strained painfully in it's socket. The hood of the hoodie came down and a bald head was revealed underneath. "See... I'm not in the habit of waiting." He released the man and he scrabbled away, to the laughter of the others in the yard.


...ten minutes later...

He had been 'processed' and sat across from Wilson Fisk. "I'm sorry for the melodramatic subterfuge, but it was needed. Public opinion is harsh, and I can't well be President if I have a reputation for visiting high-profile prisoners. Now..."

He leaned back and steepled his fingers. "What is it we can do for each other, Mister Fisk?"

@Gands

 

[Gands]

Kingpin

" I am duly impressed Sir, duly impressed. "

Kingpin was sitting in his meet and greet room, a large wooden desk/table.

I have asked for this meeting because I believe I have found some things going on here in New York that I believe you will have interest in.

"Item one... someone is distributing extremely high power pistols in New York, to anyone with the money to by them. Their aim is the eventual destruction of the meta human population in this general area. These weapons are being distributed by a man in Harlem, a man not so unlike myself. Of note, in recent days, two high level corporate executives have been seen at a particular nightclub in Harlem. Executives with Oscorp ties. ( Two photos are pulled out. > I am at this time, working on acquiring additional files for our perusal. I believe, there is a lot of leverage going on at Oscorp that will likely make it ripe for takeover.

Item two: You have experience in dealing with metahumans at the highest echelons of power. It is my feeling that the escalation planned by certain people here in the city will eventually be met by those types of beings. Thus, likely dooming the entire affair if not met with extremely competent planning.

Item last, at a personal level, I am in need of a back up plan, a secret ally and Talia Al Ghul, my current business manager holds you appropriately at extremely high regard. "

What say you Sir ?

 

[Michale CS]

"Item one... someone is distributing extremely high power pistols in New York, to anyone with the money to by them. Their aim is the eventual destruction of the meta human population in this general area. These weapons are being distributed by a man in Harlem, a man not so unlike myself. Of note, in recent days, two high level corporate executives have been seen at a particular nightclub in Harlem. Executives with Oscorp ties. ( Two photos are pulled out. > I am at this time, working on acquiring additional files for our perusal. I believe, there is a lot of leverage going on at Oscorp that will likely make it ripe for takeover.

"OsCorp? I'd rather buy... K-Mart." He shook his head. "That company is political poison. I had the opportunity to buy that when Norman Osborn went to prison and his son refused to have anything to do with the company - a good move on his part. If Dillard can shine it up enough and give the public a new opinion of that company, I... might consider an acquisition. That's a non-starter right now, Wilson. Can I call you Wilson? You can call me Lex either way."

Item two: You have experience in dealing with metahumans at the highest echelons of power. It is my feeling that the escalation planned by certain people here in the city will eventually be met by those types of beings. Thus, likely dooming the entire affair if not met with extremely competent planning.

"Mhm. I'm being... kept apprised of the situation. I'm not without eyes and ears in Gotham. And... I have a little salvage operation - one in Sokovia - that recently came to fruition. Once it's fully deployed, I think the higher eschelons as you so aptly put it will be kept quite busy with other problems. That was an astute question. I'll see what other assets I might bring to bear on this but I have to be subtle."

Item last, at a personal level, I am in need of a back up plan, a secret ally and Talia Al Ghul, my current business manager holds you appropriately at extremely high regard. "

What say you Sir ?

"Well what sort of backup plan were you providing for? I'm aware of your... talent search. And I've pulled some strings." Lex pulled a folded newspaper section out of his pocket, unfolded it, and set it in front of Fisk.

Newspaper Article

KID FLASH CAPTURES "ARKHAM KNIGHT" IN DARING HIGH SPEED CHASE, MOTHER AND TWO CHILDREN INJURED
​

In a surprising incident yesterday, Little Rock had a couple of unusual guests, causing an accident and damage to Highway 530. The self-titled "Arkham Knight" as quoted from the Instagram account of the metahuman known as "Kid Flash" pursued a long haul trucker, broke into the vehicle while it was moving at high speed, abandoning his vehicle, which then careened out of control, striking a SUV and injuring a mother and her two children, one critically. Names are not being released at this time pending investigation. We did however get a statement from Kid Flash.

"So I was just out for a run, and I hear sirens. I figured, okay, let's give the boys in blue out. They were waaay back in traffic so I ran ahead and see the crash. So, I get the mom and her kids out of the car real fast and to the nearest ambulance. Then, I notice this dude crawling on the outside of this big rig! I was like, that can't be good. So, I run up, close the back doors of the truck because they're banging wide open and who knows what would be inside to cause more damage, then move up to find the guy bashing in the passenger's side window! So, I think he's the Winter Soldier, right? Scruffy hair, bad attitude, chiseled almost heroic jaw then... well I grab the dude and tie him up with his own grappel-gun-gizmo and he doesn't even have a metal arm! I was so disappointed but hey, he says he's the Arkham Knight and he was one of the good guys and he was just trying to question someone. I'm so not buying that so... I kinda knocked him out then so he'd stay out until the cops got there."

- Continued on B3​

"Every king needs a knight or two, doesn't he? He's being expedited right out from under SHIELD's nose. Supposed to be bound for GitMo, SHIELD thinks. Truth is, he's already been tagged with the latest generation of what the so-called Suicide Squad is equipped with, and... he's on his way right to this very prison." Lex pulled out a modest-sized cell phone. "Your knight. Consider it a housewarming gift from me."

Lex leaned back and smiled. "It really is brilliant, what Waller did. Every time she removed one of those cortex bombs from a former suicide squad member, she left a little something behind... I'm sure you're familiar with Dr. Henry Pym? Ant-Man?"

With a slight chuckle, he continued. "See, left behind in those 'released' from the Squad, are about a dozen microscopic bits of metal. Bits of metal that, when returned to full size, become about the size of one of these..."

He pulled out one of those rubber bouncy balls, the kind you get in vending machines for a quarter. "Push the right button, and they return to the right size. In their brains. I'm told it's quite fatal." He rolled the ball across the table to Fisk. "Ball's in your court, Wilson."

@Gands

[[ For OOC Interest - @thatguyinthestore @OrlandoBloomers @C.T. but no call out to reply ]]

 

[Michale CS]

Janice cleared her throat, and read through the agreement before signing it, and handing it back while still smiling.

"Step one, done. You have my solemn promise that I will not betray the first company to give me an honest chance at doing what I love. I didn't go to MIT like Mr. Stark, but I will put my best forward and allow my skill to speak for itself wherever you place me." She said, not channeling Cat Grant like she intended but letting herself be sincere.

"Now, step two?"

"Step two... well, that's a bit... personal. Because of your special talents, we'd like to... enroll you in a special training program. One that would perhaps let you hone them further? This is technically optional, but if you say no here, Tony will hound me to keep asking you to do it until you say yes. We have in our employ a person with talents in some way similar to your own. We'd like you to partner with him and work for a couple hours a week practicing your abilities." She grinned and handed back the clipboard. "That's page two of the stack stuck to that clipboard. You can just sign the second line if you're waiving the training at this time."

@Ms.Ezra

 

[Ms.Ezra]

"Step two... well, that's a bit... personal. Because of your special talents, we'd like to... enroll you in a special training program. One that would perhaps let you hone them further? This is technically optional, but if you say no here, Tony will hound me to keep asking you to do it until you say yes. We have in our employ a person with talents in some way similar to your own. We'd like you to partner with him and work for a couple hours a week practicing your abilities." She grinned and handed back the clipboard. "That's page two of the stack stuck to that clipboard. You can just sign the second line if you're waiving the training at this time."

@Ms.Ezra

"A special......training program?" Janice asked, at first surprised ,then not, that Stark would have such a thing. At least she was 99% sure it wasn't something like Booty Bootcamp. There was that.

"Well, if Mr. Stark will be very insistent, I suppose it won't hurt to get some further training. It's been years since I've developed those skills after all." Janice signed the optional portion with a little less enthusiasm due to her apprehension, but she signed it nonetheless and put on her winning smile again.

"Step three Miss Potts?"

 

[Michale CS]

"A special......training program?" Janice asked, at first surprised ,then not, that Stark would have such a thing. At least she was 99% sure it wasn't something like Booty Bootcamp. There was that.

"Well, if Mr. Stark will be very insistent, I suppose it won't hurt to get some further training. It's been years since I've developed those skills after all." Janice signed the optional portion with a little less enthusiasm due to her apprehension, but she signed it nonetheless and put on her winning smile again.

"Step three Miss Potts?"

"Step three is..." Pepper reached into the small briefcase she brought with her and brought out a Stark Enterprises badge. "...report to HR tomorrow morning at 9am to file all the legal paperwork, then at 10am you've got about an hour of orientation. Now realize this is a provisional offer. 60 days, we can rescind the offer at any time. Not that I expect to, but, it's in the boilerplate for everyone in the R&D department, which is where you'll be."

@Ms.Ezra

 

[Michale CS]

[fieldbox="Scandal, Grey, dotted"] 48.86052° N, 2.337548° E 14:00 GMT. Two Days.[/fieldbox]

Some help. But, Google to the Rescue....

Musée du Louvre, Paris, FR

​

@C.T.​

​

 

[Gands]

Wilson Fisk

"A knight you say, I am of course in your debt. That being said, Wilson Fisk always pays his debts.

As I have previously said, I expect information to be forthcoming regarding any number of things.

Let us say you have a friend in low places. I can do things a man of the people cannot.

If you would, have arrangements made with Talia for information to be safely transferred between us."

" One final thing", Kingpin snaps a finger and a guard comes in with an odd looking pistol.

" One of these is being made available to your people, in a ... lead box. The only real remarkable thing these large pistols have ... is a supply of a certain extremely rare metal, from Africa. That... makes Oscorp... more of interest my good friend. They have extreme... and I mean extremely good punching power. In some ways... too good, and too expensive to get for any real value. Just the same a really nice party favor to surprise your favorite Meta with. "

@Michale CS

 

[Michale CS]

"A knight you say, I am of course in your debt. That being said, Wilson Fisk always pays his debts.

As I have previously said, I expect information to be forthcoming regarding any number of things.

Let us say you have a friend in low places. I can do things a man of the people cannot.

If you would, have arrangements made with Talia for information to be safely transferred between us."

"No, please. Consider it a gift. If I find any other talent that would better suit your needs than mine, then you may owe me. Like they say, the first one's free." He put up his hands and smiled.

"Information. That's.. considerably more value to me than pretty much anything else. It's an acceptable arrangement. Besides, though you strike a handsome figure, Talia is definitely easy on the eyes."

" One final thing", Kingpin snaps a finger and a guard comes in with an odd looking pistol.

" One of these is being made available to your people, in a ... lead box. The only real remarkable thing these large pistols have ... is a supply of a certain extremely rare metal, from Africa. That... makes Oscorp... more of interest my good friend. They have extreme... and I mean extremely good punching power. In some ways... too good, and too expensive to get for any real value. Just the same a really nice party favor to surprise your favorite Meta with. "

"Well. That... is quite some gift." He wrinkled his brow at the repeated mention of OsCorp. Had he missed something? Probably, he'd follow up on it after he had left. "And if he shows up, I'll tell him who the gift came from. Love the hair by the way." He said, stroking his own bald head as he stood and Mercy brought him back his hoodie.

"I hear these are all the fashion in Harlem. With holes cut in them, for some reason." Lex chuckled. "We'll be in touch, Wilson. I have a feeling this will be a long and mutually profitable relationship for both of us."

He put his headphones back in and got into... character as he was being led back out.

@Gands @thatguyinthestore

 

[thatguyinthestore]

Three Days Later
​

Jason had no idea where this prison was, and had no idea what exactly it was, either. He thought that it must be somewhere top secret if it was taking this long to be delivered. When he finally was delivered, Jason was disappointed to say the least. The prison wasn't anything special, I mean it wasn't Arkham Asylum bad, but he could still escape in about a week if he really wanted to.

As Jason was lead through the prison, he felt a chill run down his spine. There was something off about this place. He could just feel it. When he was finally thrown into his cell, Todd smiled at the guards. "Awww, at least take me to dinner first, boys!" Jason said in a mocking tone. The guards simply ignored him and walked off. Jason then sat down, waiting to see what would come next.

@Michale CS @Gands

​

 

[Ms.Ezra]

"Step three is..." Pepper reached into the small briefcase she brought with her and brought out a Stark Enterprises badge. "...report to HR tomorrow morning at 9am to file all the legal paperwork, then at 10am you've got about an hour of orientation. Now realize this is a provisional offer. 60 days, we can rescind the offer at any time. Not that I expect to, but, it's in the boilerplate for everyone in the R&D department, which is where you'll be."

"Research and Development? Really?" Janice took her employee badge like it was a holy relic. She once again thanked Ms. Potts profusely, and left with a visible spring in her step.

She couldn't believe it. She was going to be working at Stark Industries, in the R&D Department. On the bus back to her apartment, even the smell of BO wafting from a guy in the next seat couldn't faze her. Then she was looking out of the windows, and saw a fleeting glimpse of someone on a distant rooftop. A common scene, of course. But it reminded her that in the excitement, she'd forgotten about opting in for special training while employed.

The words 'special training' brought forth a stream of memories. Most of them good, happy.......then they turned a specially sad shade of sepia, and Janice had to stop herself from thinking about them. She needed to focus on now. Be practical about it.

Janice was sure, even with lack of practice, she didn't really need it. Her eyes darted to the LED sign above the bus driver. With a little concentration, she made it scramble then read 'Forget these four words'. With more imagination she made it show Pac-Man eating dots. She changed it back to normal before anyone noticed.

That's just a party trick. Show us something better. said the voice of Cyclops from her memory. Back then, she'd cut power to the whole mansion to impress him. It worked, and was well worth passing out. Of course she couldn't do anything like that now. The thought of even trying it again was setting her on edge. Maybe she did need a refresher if she'd only been doing party tricks and ripping off an ATM for rent money.

The Next Day
​

After the relatively boring orientation session, came to the door for the Research and Development department. She took a deep breath, and presented her badge to the scanner. The device beeped and let her in.
@Michale CS ​

 

[C.T.]

[fieldbox="Scandal, Grey, dotted"] 48.86052° N, 2.337548° E 14:00 GMT. Two Days.[/fieldbox]

Some help. But, Google to the Rescue....

Musée du Louvre, Paris, FR​

"...Heh." He snickered. Classy, public place in the midst of the city of love. That figures. Boomerang pulled back from the screen, clicking out of the internet and moving over to contact list. His finger hovered over the call button, some small part of him still concerned. If whatever this was went south, then...well, the fallout from Knockout. Hmph. He steeled himself and clicked the button to connect to Snart.

@Michale CS​