metropolis ♔ has it gone for good? or is it coming back around?

[wynn]

Fireside - Arctic Monkeys

WHO || Oliver, Felicity S., Emma F., Bo, Brantley, Lex Luthor
WHAT || The Knights investigate a connection between Luthorcorp and Sarandis' experiments on Andres
WHERE || Metropolis Kansas
WHEN || April 23rd, 2015
HOW || Actionspam

Metropolis is a bustling city even during these cold winter months, but they have no trouble finding the Luthorcorp building - because it literally towers over the skyline, dwarfing the Daily Planet nearby. It's still daytime when they arrive, working hours, and employees in well tailored suits hustle in and out towards elevator banks, past the front desk.

Comments

[fixyourproblem]

[Brantley follows Janik as he heads off to the previous room. He just hopes Emma and Bo will be alright inside the lab and if anything happens, he hopes that he can convince Janik to help them.

As they enter the room, Brantley opens up a small chat, trying to infiltrate the Doctor's mental defense.] The ladies weren't exactly pleasant, were they? If it were up to me, I'd have picked other people to work with.

[He smiles, loosening up. Though, he really doesn't like stiff woman like Emma, he doesn't dislike her enough to kick her away.(Bluff 25)]

So, what is in the agenda? A tour of more exciting part of the lab, or maybe you have other particular thing in mind?

[telepathy]

[ Fumbling with his key card in a way that indicates perhaps he isn't used to this kind of attention, Ashley swipes to open another door down the hall, reaching inside to flick on the lights. This lab is smaller—only two or three work-stations, and a plethora of complex computer systems to go with. The computer monitors flick to life, and a spot check of 25+ would notice that Bo and Emma are visible on one of the monitors, on a camera that's on the same wall with the tanks they're exploring, which keeps those tanks from being visible. ]

Perhaps you should consider taking a job here. It shouldn't be hard to break your ties with your employers at the Karthur Institute. [ Janik moves to a control panel below the monitor, turning to Brantley with an inscrutable expression—earnest, but there's something else there. ] Come in. I want to show you the research we're doing here. It's quite invigorating.

[fixyourproblem]

[Now this is nice! No fighting to death with a bunch of pirates and crabs, having a good company who doesn't snark at him, Oliver and Felicity are probably having a nice chat in other part of the facility and the ladies are probably enjoying a nice tour with Dr. Adams. What a great mission this turns out to be! (spot 11)]

Perhaps I should. The personnel here seems to be more interesting. At least, one of them is. [He smiles as he moves next to the console. Despite the fun time, he is having, Brantley still keeps his eyes open in case the good Doctor has ulterior motive. (sense motive 19)]

[telepathy]

[ Smiling, Ashley settles into a swivel chair in front of the control panel, pointing to a computer. He seems by all accounts to have only one motive: science. And he's highly dedicated to it, excitable even. ]

The files on the projects are there. [ He fusses with the control panel, busily flipping a series of switches and pulling one large lever. ] Infections were only the first step. The Shadow World has sent so much over; we've been trying to learn what we can about their genetics. Hybridization. Imagine the transhumanist medical applications: the resistances they've built up to everything the Eldritch Tide has introduced into our world, adapted to real humans.

[fixyourproblem]

[Brantley almost glares when the doctor says 'genetic hybridization' and 'adapted to real human'. But he doesn't want to blow his cover yet, so he holds his emotion and maintain his friendly face.(will 17)] So you can make drugs that can cure every diseases and at the same time, give human immunities to them? That's amazing. But, isn't it dangerous? Won't be there side effect?

[telepathy]

Certainly. No science is perfect on the first run-through. We're dealing with some nasty side-effects on our current batch of subjects. There are kinks to be worked out, but that's part of progress.

[ He explains it in a hurried, excitable way. ]

[fixyourproblem]

These side-effects, I am assuming they are not as nasty as I think, since clearly a good man like you wouldn't hurt the test volunteers, right? [Hearing the doctor talking about it so easily without any sign of guilt, Brantley starts having a hard time holding his feeling. His smile has gone, but he is still trying to be on the doctor's side. (will 12)]

[telepathy]

Good god, we're not monsters. [ The doctor scoffs. ] We're not using people. Not humans, anyway. The first step is animal trials. Writing Shadowkind traits onto other Shadowkind, onto native animals, that sort of thing. [ Yes, he did just say he doesn't consider Shadowkind people. :) Also, make a spot check. ]

[fixyourproblem]

By not people, I am assuming you were referring to non-sentient Shadowkind, right? Because as far as I know, orcs and elves are still considered people, especially nowadays. [By this time, the smile on his face has completely faded. He doesn't support animal testing either, but that's still bearable than dissecting living human. He looks at the doctor with a sharp judging glare. (spot total 20)]

[telepathy]

[ Glancing back, Dr. Janik spots the shift in Brantley. He sighs deeply. ] Oh, I was so hoping you weren't one of those. [ He says one of those with the same venom that some people refer to ~political correctness.~ ] What we're doing needs to be done, to insure the human race's survival. These Shadowkind were the ones to jeopardize it by bringing all these new threats over into our world; they should be the ones to carry the responsibility for helping us cure it.

[ Over Ashley's head, Brantley sees

Emma screaming, and these creatures coming out into the view of the camera.

Weird. ]

[fixyourproblem]

I know that we need to something, but there are other methods of scientific research that can be done. Sure, it'd be easier to test using real life condition, but you know, great doctors like Curie and Fleming became famous not because they saved the world, they are famous because they are dedicated to saving people, no matter if those people had pointed ears or fangs. [Actually, Brantley doesn't really know this kind of stuff but he has just enough basic and a little bit of confidence can fill in the blanks. (know 11, bluff 18)]

Besides, when you finally finish your research, will you be able to stand up and tell the world you that you did it by doing gruesome work? It is not to late to change your methods, there are lots of place that have better equipment without the need of doing this. My place, for example, I can refer you there. [Yes, he is still trying to do this diplomatically (diplomacy 40),until....]

Wait...[He turns his attention to the screens.] Is that... Did you send my work-mates into a room full of man-eating Shadowkinds? [He hasn't gone berserk yet but hearing his shaky tone, he is definitely isn't happy.]

[telepathy]

[ Ashley outright laughs at Brantley's bluffed attempt at science. Luckily, due to Brantley's earlier charm, he mostly thinks it's endearingly off-base. He casts an uncaring glance over his shoulder at the monitors, as if he hadn't really given them much thought. ]

Oh, yes. You did say you were in the market for new colleagues. I thought this might only help to speed our research along by collecting candidates for the trials, and help relieve you of some dead weight.

[ With a wisdom check 14+, Brantley might recall that the doctor used the circuitboard in front of him to open those tanks, and the controls might be usable for something else, if he could get to them ... ]

I wouldn't worry: our specimens should keep them intact enough for the purposes of our research. After all, we only need parts.

[fixyourproblem]

[Brantley have tried to do this the nice way, but since the doctor insist on being a crazy scientist, there's no other way except to talk with his knife now.] Yes, I don't like them, but not enough that I want them dead. Isn't there a way to get rid of them without killing them? Or hurting them? I am not to keen seeing people get butchered. [Brantley moves around the room like he is panicked.] If they go missing, people from the Institute will try to find them. Maybe just alter their memory with chips in their brains or something. [Brantley seems to plea for his friends life, but, in fact, while seemingly distracted, he stealthily draws his knife and coats it with paralyzing puffer fish poison. (bluff 30 , sleight of hand total 20)]

[telepathy]

[ Ashley doesn't appear to notice, eyes fixed on the screen as things get progressively worse in the lab for Bo and Emma. His eyes light up in quiet amazement as Emma's skin turns to diamond and Bo hacks her way through two chokers. ]

You'll explain to them why they don't need to continue searching, of course. You're freelancers; perhaps they sought other job opportunities.

[fixyourproblem]

[Brantley doesn't like unnecessary killing, but looking at the monitor and seeing his team-mates can be killed anytime soon, he will do anything to save them.

Brantley approaches the doctor without trying to be stealthy about it since that would attract more suspicion. Then he stabs the doctor with the poisoned knife right on his back. (Coup the grace attack 21, dmg 16. If not, normal attack 21, dmg 8. If it hits, fortitude dc 13 for 4 str ability damage then another fortitude dc 13 or be paralyzed for 3 minute)]

[telepathy]

[ Knockout punch is fine in these circumstances! Made the first fort save but not the second. The scientist has exactly enough time to look SHOCKED AND BETRAYED (as if he has ? ?? the right to feel that way ?? ? god only knows) before he's paralyzed entirely, hands stilling on the control console. ]

[fixyourproblem]

[Brantley immediately and carefully remove the doctor's hand from the console.]

Sorry, I don't have personal grudge against you, but this is all wrong. Don't worry you will survive this.

[Then he makes sure the doctor won't bother him by knocking him out with a punch. Or lots of punches if that doesn't work. (I don't know how many punches are needed to knock him out, here are the first 5. (Knockout punch atk 7,6,16,7,14, damage 6,8,10,6,4))

After that, Brantley tries to work with the console, he tries to recall what Janik did and see if he can figure out how to use it.(wisdom 5 action point says 21)]

[telepathy]

[ It only took the first two hits! So after two rounds, Janik is successfully knocked unconscious. He does, however, manage to successfully figure out how to open the main door to the lab using the control panel that Janik had operated while freeing the monsters. He's probably in a hurry to go lend a hand, but better make a spot check on the way. ]

[fixyourproblem]

[As soon as he manages to open the door, Brantley rushes to the lab. He probably wouldn't much of a help in battle, but an extra help is better than nothing. Worse case, he can take a couple of hit for the ladies. (spot 15)]

[telepathy]

[ Brantley notices MOVEMENT OF SOME KIND on the monitor but nothing more pressing than that. It's probably just monsters. I'm sure it's fine. Hop in here at your leisure. ]