Freedom League (See More than Mortal thread for OOC and backstory)

[Armphid]

Morgana and Fafnir

That was...very nice. Even knowing the girl was a mongrel, he was still aroused. Perhaps it would not be so bad to...but no. He must remain pure. Invisible to all senses, the blond man stood in the dorm room as well, watching Morgana as she got up from the unconscious boy.

His fear and pain...delicious as well. Now to wait. She would leave and contact him, he would give her a place to go. And once she was gone...he would finish the job.

He wondered how many would go before she figured out what was happening. Would she care? Heh. Either way, how wonderful that moment would be. When she realized just what she was.

~~~~~​

Columbia, Jack Burton, and Lorelei

The back room of the kitchen was quiet now. Jack's head was down, in his hands. Columbia sat beside him in a chair, an arm resting over his shoulders. She would not embarrass him by saying anything, even though she wanted to.

The eternal woman looked over at the young Welch expatriate and nodded, "Thank you, Celyn...we're so busy mourning...but you're the only one here thinking about what Tommy needs now. Justice."

"Ain't gonna be no justice, Bea." Jack lifted his head wearily, his face now showing some flicker of anger. "No trail for whoever did this. Ol' Jack's got frontier justice on 'is mind."

"Jack," she chided, "you know better than that. We're heroes, not killers. It's not our right."

"Oh, don't gimme that horseshit, Bea!" Jack threw her arm off his shoulder, glaring at her, a feat that most men would not have been able to accomplish. "This's personal, damn it!"

"I won't let you be a murderer, Jack Burton." The words were not spoken with a raised voice, but rang with a tone of ultimate authority. "No matter what I have to do to prevent it."

Silence fell again, the only sounds the noise of the kitchen and the radio the workers there were listening to. The music fell off, a DJ coming on a moment later. "That was Many Shades of Black by the Raconteurs, you heard it first here, on 103.3, THE Alternative Station. We'll get back to the music, but first, a look at the news. According to a release issued moments ago by the NYPD, the metahuman known as the Hurricane is wanted for questioning in a murder that took place in Greenwich Village earlier today. He was found on the scene and fled from the officer on duty. NYPD stressed that no charges have been filed, but that all possibilities were being considered."

~~~~~​

Hurricane

In the dimly lit dining room of the Jade Dragon, the DJ finished his little newsbrief and a jaunty British rock tune started up. Many of the customers spoke among themselves in low voices about the news.

"I knew he was up to something," a wrinkled old man announced to his dining companions. "All the other Hurricanes were the same, killers and thieves, this one's no different!"

"It's so sad," a woman commented, shaking her head at another table. "It really looked like he was a young man trying to make good, you know?"

"I hope they take 'em down hard," a man with a balding head and a huge belly snorted, "Jail's not good enough for 'em, just kick 'em down in the street and put two in his head."

At a table near the back, a young man with jaw length black hair, straight and glossy, sat fuming. His skin was an odd tone, not quite white, but not quite anything else either. He was dressed in decent but cheap clothes that looked as though they'd been washed many, many times. Luke Schwartz, also known as Hurricane, ran a hand through his hair, then slammed it down on the table. "Damn it! I don't believe this!" He knew that it was fair of the police really, but at the same time...what the hell? He'd done nothing but good since he came here! If it was any other hero, they wouldn't be putting out APB's, fuck no. They'd know he was just investigating. "As if finding out what happened wasn't enough...now I have to clear my name at the same time..."

 

[Mephistophelily]

"Jay! Hey, Jay, you awake in there? Jason!"

Morgana glared towards the door of the young man's room, hastily scooting towards it- only to take a moment to dishevel her hair, playing with her top a bit before opening it. A smile was on her lips once more, only to lose it with forced surprise at the guy standing outside. "Oh-! Excuse me... Jason's a little tired right now," She breathed, slipping around the barely opened crack and pressing the guy out of her way. "I'd suggest you leave him be for awhile," She added, winking at the new guy.

The man stared at her a moment, then began to laugh with a knowing smile. "Ahhha. Niiice."

Morgana gave a weak giggle, rolling her eyes as soon as she was out of his sight. Of course, typical... Once outside, however, she found a bit more secluded spot, her hand already motioning over the eagle necklace. "Mister Fafnir," She called, still watching the doors to the dorms. "Jason seems to be feeling rather ill."

 

[Armphid]

Morgana and Fafnir

He felt her make contact, and her voice came to him. Still near. She was brave too then, as well as quick on her feet. He had been concerned when the other boy showed up, thinking he may have to take steps. But she'd dealt with it well. "Well done, Seid. It feels better, does it not? The hurt is not so great. And this is only the beginning."

He dropped his magical shield, stepping over to the enervated boy on the bed. His words floated to Morgana through the pendant as he spoke, "I vill come to you in just a minute, my dear. I have a minor personal matter to attend to. It vill not take long."

Then he cut the connection, for the moment, and stared down at the youth. There was a half finished glass of soda on the nearby desk. He picked it up, splashing in on the boy's face. The young man gasped weakly, his head hardly moving, coming awake, but only barely. "Jason Gibbons...your grandfather vas Johnny Lightning. A fool who dared stand against me. Who mocked me. For that...he must pay in blood. Your blood, boy."

From a pocket, he pulled an ornate and old knife. It was strange and curving, odd groves and marks in the blade. "Your heart, you see, is good. Your vould get over your youthful arrogance in time. You vould be a great sports hero, an inspiration, giving hope and joy to millions. But for the gall of your grandfather, and his interference...you vill die now. And your good heart vill be put to terrible use."

He leaned down with the knife, sliding it along Jason's face. The grooves in the blade started to glow as a thin line of blood appeared. "The beautiful part...is you are too veak even to scream...but you vill feel every moment of pain as I take vhat I require."

Fifteen minutes later, there was a scarlet glow behind Morgana and he was there. "I am sorry, Seid. But it is done now, no more vaiting." He smiled, a smile that was cruel. "I am sure you made him hurt. Do not vorry...he vill never forget this pain you have brought him." He raised a hand and gory energy flared about them, "Come now, child. There are so many others to attend to!"

In the now dark dorm room, Jason Gibbions lay still. His eyes were wide, almost popping out of his head, his mouth open in a soundless scream, tracks from tears down the sides of his face. Blood drenched his clothes, his bed, seeping into the cheap dorm carpet. Blood that flowed from his opened chest, pulled apart wide so that all within could be seen...save for the missing heart.

 

[HookerBoots]

Celyn blushed when Columbia thanked her. "I just didn't know what to say . . . ." Her voice trailed off as she listened to the radio. Her eyes widened, and she blinked at the other two. "That's a conveniently placed announcement, innit?" Her ears picked up the other sounds in the restaurant, sorting through them and avoiding the random conversation as she usually did. But there was something . . . she couldn't tell, because Columbia and Jack had started talking again.

"Stop," she said softly, trying to hear the voice that was tickling her ears. They didn't hear her, and she looked at them, glaring. "Stop talking! I'm trying to hear something, and you're interfering!"

Jack scowled, and opened his mouth. Columbia put a hand on his shoulder, silencing him with a glance.

Celyn stood, closed her eyes, listening. She caught it, and nodded. "He's here. The Hurricane's here. All I heard was that he needed to clear his name."

Jack stood up, setting the bottle on the table with a grim smile. "Ol' Jack's gonna find him, and take care of things." Columbia reached for him, and he dodged, heading for the door with a speed that surprised Celyn. His hands parted the beads. "All in the reflexes, Bea."

Celyn stood up, following them out. "Wait." Jack stopped, his back stiff, but didn't turn around. She sighed. "If he's muttering about clearing his name, maybe there's more to this. Maybe he didn't . . . anyway, isn't one of the things you Americans are always talking about people being innocent until they're proven guilty?"

Columbia nodded, and placed her hand on Jack's shoulder again. "She's right. You know that, Jack. We should at least talk to him, before anything else." Her eyes were shadowed as she looked at the girl. "Celyn, can you . . . can you find him out there? And bring him back here, to us, without using your abilities?"

Jack snorted, and both women looked at him. He shrugged and gestured. "No 'fence, girl, but if you asked me to go into a back room with you, I'd have a hard time saying no. And I know that Bea would hurt me if I took you up on it."

Celyn blushed, and pushed her hair from her face and picked up a tea kettle and a tray of cups. "I'll be back in a second."

She walked out of the other beaded curtain, and walked around, asking the patrons if they wanted a free cup of tea. Some of them didn't speak English, some of them took her up on her offer, and some of them said no. But until she reached a small table with a lone man sitting at it, she hadn't heard the voice she'd been trying to hear.

Smiling at the young man there, Celyn lifted the teapot. "Free cuppa tea?"

 

[Armphid]

Hurricane

Luke sat at his table, his arms propped up on it, fingers laced together in front of his mouth. His eyes were narrowed, as he considered what had happened. The tip was a trap, and it had worked. But who would want to set him up like this? It wasn't his mother or his sisters. It was too subtle. They'd just have attacked him. It didn't really fit the M.O of any of his father's "friends" in the spandex business either.

He reached for his drink, lifting it to his lips to find it empty. And bad service too. What a day. "Focus, idiot," he muttered. Who could it be? He wasn't a detective or anything, but he'd read enough books and seen enough cop shows that the question was who benefited from this? If he found that, he'd know who it was. But...there wasn't anyone that stood to benefit from this, that he knew of. But he had to figure it out! He was going to be a hero, damn it. He'd clear his name. He had to.

But who benefited? The victim was the grandson of a hero. He was the grandson of a villain that had fought that hero, and the son of one. So...who would want to hurt both a hero and a villain?

The sound of someone approaching shook him out of his thoughts. He looked up, blinked, and then looked again. The girl was out of place to be working at the Jade Dragon. But that wasn't why he had to look twice. He'd describe her as cute in appearance, but...that wasn't enough. Super cute maybe...but cute in any way left out the idea of sexy, and she was that too. Her skin was flawless, her features charming and sweet. Her hair was a light red, and her bright eyes a tantalizing deep hazel. Her body was slender but well formed, pleasing curves in all the right places. She smiled at him, and became even lovelier. For a second or two, he forgot all about the mess he was dealing with. "A...yeah...yeah, that'd be-I mean, yes, please."

He watched her pour the tea, "Thank you. Some kind of special deal tonight, huh? Ummm...I haven't seen you here as a server either. I've become kind of a regular. Are you new?"

 

[HookerBoots]

Celyn smiled again, relieved that he hadn't left after all. "You could say that," she said as she set the tray on the empty table next to his, making sure to bend over enough to show of her ass when she did. She picked up a cup and poured the tea into it, then set it down in front of him. "I've just got into town, and I'm staying with a family friend. Who knows the owner. Who asked me to do this," she shrugged.

The more she looked at him, the more attractive he got. Dark hair, green eyes that almost seemed to glow against his tan skin, broad shoulders . . . she started to hope that maybe this whole murder thing was a set-up, or a mistake, so that he wouldn't be the bad guy. If he weren't, then they could . . . not the time to think about that, was it? Though it might help make her more convincing. "My friend had to take care of an errand, though, so I'm here alone for a while." She set the kettle on the empty space of the tray and slipped her thumbs in her pockets. "I don't suppose you'd let me sit with you a while? All they speak in the kitchen is Chinese, and I . . . well, they didn't offer that in school," she laughed lightly.

"Or," she added with a blush that was only partly contrived - she knew what he'd think she was offering, "I noticed a small room off the kitchen where we could be alone. If you wanted. We could talk, or . . . well, have something to eat, or something," Celyn said, looking down at the floor. "If I'm coming on too strong, I understand, but you're very attractive, and I hate being left alone in strange places." Her flush deepened, and she mentally crossed her fingers.

 

[Armphid]

Hurricane

When the girl bent over to pick up the tea kettle, her pants shifting just so to display that tight, pert ass wonderfully, Luke decided that at least karma was recognizing the good he'd been doing in town. Damn, the back was just as nice as the front. "Thanks," he said as she set the cup down. "Nothing wrong with coming into the city and having a job waiting. I've had a hard time with that." Meaning he didn't really have a job. He took cash from the crooks he busted before he handed them over to the cops. Not really that heroic, but...hey, he had to eat and pay rent, right?

Then she spoke, a light blush making her even cuter as she offered to take him to this back room...for what exactly? Well, he had some ideas...some very, very good ideas, but...there was no way. She'd just met him...hell, they didn't even know each others' names. Although...it couldn't be easy to be a girl that pretty alone with a bunch of men who didn't speak your language. Maybe she did just want some company...even if it wasn't the kind of company he wished she wanted. It had been...well, don't even think about it. She's not that kind of girl.

But what if she had another reason? To rob him or something? Maybe she was part of this whole set-up. She hadn't taken anyone else back, as far as he knew. Just him. ...Although, he just couldn't believe this girl would be part of something like that. She was just TOO cute and sweet looking. Even if she was, he could handle it. He was a super hero, what was the worst that could happen?


"Well, I can't leave a girl alone in a strange place, now can I? Especially a girl as cute as you." He smiled happily, a bit of a roguish cast to the expression. "And to tell the truth, a little conversation would do me a lot of good right now. Been dwelling on some things, and it might help to take my mind off and let them simmer for a bit. And it doesn't hurt the ego any that you want to be alone with me, I got to say."

He rose from the table, still smiling. "I'm Luke, by the way. Shall we, pretty lady?"

 

[HookerBoots]

She held out her hand, and they shook. "It's nice to meet you, Luke. I'm Celyn." She rolled her eyes. "It's Welsh, before you ask. Everyone does." Celyn smiled at him, letting her fingers linger in his for a moment longer than she might normally, and then released them. She grabbed the tray with one hand and shrugged. "I suppose I should've told you that before I offered to take you someplace private, innit? I guess I wasn't thinking."

Starting for the kitchen again, her heart pounding and her mind racing - was she doing the right thing, decieving him? What would they do if it turned out he was a killer? What would they do if it turned out he wasn't? - she paused for a moment, glancing at him. "I . . . want you to know I asked you because you're cute. And you were alone, like me." Her cheeks reddened again, and she looked at the cups on the tray, thinking how ironic it was that that was at least half-true, regardless of her real motives. "My parents . . . I had to leave home, and it's very different here from home. And you looked like you might be as lonely as I was."

God, who knew she was so good at this poor-lost-girl act? The problem was that it didn't really feel much like an act. She had been forced to leave her home, and despite Columbia's friendliness, she felt very alone. All her friends, her family, everyone she knew, were in Wales. And she could never go back there. And he had had an air of thought and sadness. Or maybe she'd only imagined it, knowing that he was wanted for a murder he may not have comitted.

Shaking her head sharply, trying to clear her head, she started walking again. "I'm not usually this maudlin. Let me drop this tray off, and we'll be able to talk freely."

 

[Armphid]

Hurricane

"I can relate," Luke said with a sigh. "I left home, well, my most recent home, just last month." Not that it was ever much of a home. Not really. "It's different here too, but for me...it's better. My home...isn't a place I want to go back to, even if I could." That was more than he'd thought he'd say. Maybe it was her easy charm, her cuteness, or just the genuine loneliness he felt from her, but she was getting past his defenses. Without even trying either. He'd have to be more careful. "But even with that...at least there were people I knew. Here, even among all the teeming masses...it's just me."

He shrugged at her comment about being maudlin. "It's only fair. Besides, it let me be a little down too, so...I appreciate it." She set the tray in a stack of others, waving him after her as she moved through the kitchen and toward the back. Had he not been watching the way her ass swayed back and forth when he walked, Luke might have noticed that after they passed, the oldest of the men in the kitchen lead the others out into the front of the store. "So, Celyn...which is a pretty name, by the way, what did you want to-" He followed her past the beaded curtain, and froze, his eyes wide, "talk...about."

Standing in all of her glory and voluptuous beauty, was Columbia, the living spirit of liberty. And standing up from the table so fast that his chair splintered against the wall was the Freedom League's roughneck Jack Burton. Both of whom had fought his grandfather and his father, both of whom had nearly been killed when his father was with the Tyrant Legion. Jack cracked his knuckles, "Thing is, kid, we're already through talkin'. You killed my godson, you son of a bitch, and I'm taking my due outta your sorry ass before I haul you in."

 

[HookerBoots]

Columbia stepped forward quickly and held her torch out in between Jack and the young man. "Jack, stop it. You're not going to do anything to him, and if you try, we'll have to fight. And I don't want to have to take you to school." Her eyes glimmered, half-joking to give him a chance to back down without turning things into a small civil war.

Jack's face darkened, almost purple, before he let out a hissing breath. "Bea . . . ."

Celyn folded her arms, glaring at Jack. "I thought we agreed, no violence, Jack. If I thought you'd be like this, I wouldn't have done this at all."

Faced with the glares of two attractive women, Jack sighed. "All right, all right." He pointed a calloused finger at Luke. "You watch your ass, boy. Give me a reason, and your own family wouldn't recognize you." He stepped back and leaned against the wall, arms crossed over his chest. "There. Now you ladies can talk with him without my emotions getting in the way."

"Thank you, Jack," Columbia said in a dry tone. Then she turned to Luke and smiled as warmly as she could. "I promise, we're not going to hurt you. We just want to know what happened."

Celyn looked at the floor, feeling his eyes on her. This was going better than she'd expected, but she felt kind of bad about tricking him. "I'm sorry," she said softly. "We heard the news report, and I heard you saying you needed to clear your name, and . . . we wanted to know what your side was."

"I've heard that you've been . . . not following in your father's footsteps." Columbia shifted, keeping one eye on Jack to be sure he wasn't going to try anything stupid. "But, please, sit down. This . . . we won't harm you." She held up the torch. "I swear it, on my honor. As long as you do not attack us, we will not take any action against you. If you have comitted a crime, we will turn you in, but if you haven't, we can help you clear your name."

Celyn nodded. "And maybe we can help each other get to the bottom of what's been happening. Columbia and I were attacked today, and so was Jack. There seems to be a trend starting here."

 

[Armphid]

Hurricane

As Jack advanced, Luke's feet slid apart into a fighting stance, a powerful gust blasting in all directions as the whirlwinds formed around his fists and forearms. The post and pans in the kitchen jangled as the racks shook. "You're welcome to try, old man! I should've known better than to trust anyone!"

Before it got out of hand, Columbia, brilliant Columbia got the brawler to stand down. Celyn, if that was her real name, spoke up in his defense too. Surprising. Or maybe she just played her parts to the hilt. He let them speak, and didn't make a move...but the winds didn't dispel either. "...I'll tell you my side, but I'll stand, thanks. Rather be on my feet for when Burton comes at me."

"You little punk!" Jack was on his feet, "I said I wasn't gonna, an' I ain't gonna! I ain't like you or your old man, lying and stealing and wreaking havoc!"

"I don't know." Luke's voice was cold acid as he glanced at Celyn, "You've all got lying down pretty good." It hurt. He was surprised at how much it hurt. So he did what he'd learned to do when he was hurt, he did all he could to hurt back.

"That's enough, Luke." The young man flinched at Columbia's tone. "She didn't do this to hurt you, and neither did I." The divine woman glared at him for a few moments, the glare intensifying as he neither say nor let go of the winds he had gathered. "I said she didn't-"

"But she did, sorry if I can't appreciate your noble motives for...never mind. This is besides the point." Luke relaxed a hair, just a hair, standing up straight and letting the winds fade. "...I'm sorry about that guy. I didn't know how he was until I went there this afternoon." Jack snorted, and Luke's face darkened a bit again. "I got a note that a murder had been committed at that address, and I went there to check it out. While I was there, someone must have tipped off the cops, because they came barging in. I wasn't there to take anything, and...your friend was already dead and taken to the morgue by the time I as in his apartment." He reached into a pocket, pulling out the note, holding it out to Celyn. "I've been trying to figure out since what happened and why. Somebody's setting me up for this kid's death. And if you're being straight with me...I can't believe the attacks on you are a coincidence."

Luke smirked, no real humor in it. "It figures...I try to follow in YOUR footsteps instead of my dad's, and this happens." God, he was so angry right now. He wanted to fight Jack. Or blow down a building or something! God damn it! The deception, the accusations, the fact he was sure they didn't believe him, and that all this...all of it was gone now. They'd take him in. He couldn't beat or run from them all. And that'd be it. His family would find him. And then...

"So. Before you take me in, just answer me. Who'd want to hurt both you guys AND my dad?"

 

[HookerBoots]

She took the note with two fingers, flipping it open and scanning it quickly. Then she handed it to Columbia, keeping her face expressionless. "I . . . I don't know who would." Shrugging, Celyn brushed her hair back. "I just started doing this, and mum never talked about when she was a hero." She looked at Luke, her gaze firm. "It wasn't all a lie. I had to leave home because of what I am, and what I was doing. My flight landed at JFK about three hours ago - I haven't had time to make serious enemies."

Columbia glanced over the note, and offered it to Jack, who shook his head sharply. She sighed, and rubbed one of her temples. "I can think of more than a few people who'd want to damage us, but none that would want to get back at the Hurricane. Or your dad, since you're the Hurricane now." She looked at Celyn, who was standing again with her eyes on the floor, and sighed again, inwardly. Not in town a day, and the girl might have already lost a friend. She looked at Luke and added, "Is there some other way to verify what you say?"

"Yes," Celyn said, still looking at the floor. "He's telling the truth." She'd listened to his heartbeat as he was talking. Taking into account the acceleration from using his power, and his tension over being in a room with people who might be enemies, his heart rate had remained steady.

Scowling, Jack turned his glower on her. "How do you know?"

She scrubbed her hands together in front of her. "I could hear his heart. He wasn't lying. I believe him." Columbia nodded slowly, her eyes thoughtful and considering, as Celyn added, "I wouldn't have lied, if I could have thought of another way. But . . . you wouldn't have believed me if I'd told the truth, innit? And even if you had," she continued, a fire gleaming in her eyes - how dare he harp on her for lying! - "saying 'hey, I'm a metahuman from the UK, I've got two friends of the guy you're wanted for murdering in the back, want to talk with us about it?' wouldn't have flown."

Columbia blinked - she hadn't thought the girl would be able to muster that much sass at this point. But Eileen was always a scrapper, and she'd almost started to wonder if Celyn was anything like her mother besides powers. "Time to discuss this later. If she believes you, I do too. There's no proof that you did, and Celyn's saying so . . . is enough for me."

"Hmph." Jack pushed himself from the wall. "Just cause she says so ain't enough for me. But," he said when Columbia, Celyn, and the boy all looked ready to jump on him, "I won't be goin' after the kid, or turnin' him in. But we ain't friends, clear? I'll be watchin', and if you set a toe outta line, I'll be on you so fast there ain't a wind on earth you can catch me with."

Rolling her eyes, Columbia said, "Yeah, Jack, we get it. You're fast, all in the reflexes, blah blah. Can we please work on figuring out who really killed Tommy?"

 

[Armphid]

Columbia, Hurricane, Jack Burton, and Lorelei

Luke's eyes went wide, then narrowed. "No way to know is there, since you went right to tricking and manipulating from the start! Maybe you should've given me some credit and tried that instead of pretending you liked me or needed someone to talk to!" What burned him most was that she was right. If he had believed her, he wouldn't have gone back. He'd have gotten the hell out of there. The fact that she was right made him even angrier. She'd deceived him! How was he the asshole here? "And don't play hurt with me! You were laughing up your sleeve at me the whole dame time! Over what an idiot I was for trusting you! That I bought your story!"

"I said, time to discuss this later!" Columbia was between the two young people suddenly, her hand grabbing the front of Luke's shirt and lifting him bodily off the floor. "Enough, Luke!"

He snorted, "Yeah, sure. I guess we see just what you think of me too now, don't we?" He should've known. "You're as ready to pound me as Burton is." Damn heroes. They'd never let the past go. He'd always be his father's son to them.

The liberty powered heroine looked a bit startled at herself for a moment. "No, that's not what this is about. I was just separating you two before you did something foolish." Columbia frowned, setting him down. That had come a little too easily to her. She'd acted...more aggressively that she should have. It was an easy thing to do. Old habits and all that. "You shouldn't treat her that way."

"Please." Luke adjusted his jacket, giving Columbia a glare of his own. "Which way exactly? Like someone who's responsible for the consequences of their actions or like a child that needs protecting? She came out to manipulate me, for whatever reason, and she did. And you think I should be okay with that?"

The dark haired woman started at that, but...this was not the time. "We will discuss it later." She reached out for him again, and Luke tensed, flinching back...only to feel her hand rest lightly on his shoulder. "I believe you. And I'm sorry I handled you so roughly. I'm not used to the new heroic Hurricane." She smiled, and despite his best efforts, Luke just...couldn't stay angry. He wanted to. He really wanted to, but...he just couldn't.

"...I'm sorry too." He looked away, his cheeks a bit red. He hated this. Hated admitting it. "I...know you didn't mean to...look, let's just forget it. No harm, no foul."

"Now that we're all done with our big, fuzzy group hug," Jack sneered, "can we figure out what the hell is goin' on here?" He was seated at the table again, his feet up on it. "We don' start doing something soon, Ol' Jack's gonna hit Supervillain Jr. there out of force of habit."

Luke bristled almost visibly, but before he could say anything, Columbia spoke up, fixing both men with an iron look. "We do need to start working on this. Our enemy is ahead of us, obviously."

"Look, whoever this is...it's someone with a grudge against the Freedom League." Luke shrugged, "Maybe you guys should get in touch with the others who are around, and their families. See if anyone else's been attacked. And if this IS some old enemy of yours, were there any that my Dad or grandfather screwed over?"

 

[HookerBoots]

If she hadn't been afraid Columbia would pick her up too, Celyn would have had a few things to say to Luke. She hadn't been laughing at him, and maybe if things had been different at the moment, she would have wanted to talk to him. And she had liked him. But she'd never tell him that now. Especially after he accepted Columbia's apology and chose to act like she hadn't said she was sorry! And then confirmed what he was saying!

Fuming internally, she crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against the wall, unconsciously imitating Jack's previous pose. She couldn't help with this part - she knew nothing about the Freedom League, or who they may have dealt with. But she was damned if she'd admit that in front of Luke.

So instead, she picked up the plates of food from the table and started to carry them into the kitchen. One of the workers poked his head in, and she smiled. "It should be fine." Even if he didn't understand English, the smile would probably get across what she meant. Two more plates, and when she came back out with those, there were two plates of hot food waiting for her to take back. Sighing as she realized that she'd been demoted to waitress, Celyn picked them up and headed back to the small room.

 

[Armphid]

Columbia, Hurricane, Jack Burton, and Lorelei

Jack was sitting at the table, his arms crossed over his chest. He was frowning so much it almost looked like he'd swallowed a frog. Columbia didn't look much happier, her lovely brow furrowed. Luke was still standing by the door as Celyn returned, unconsciously in the same some that Jack had taken earlier. His fingers drummed impatiently on his jacket sleeve. "Well?" The word rushed out almost explosively. "Can you think of anything?"

"Look, you gusty little punk, we been doin' this for over fifty years...lot of bad guys come an' gone," Jack replied. "Besides, thinkin' ain't my strong suit."

Before Luke could respond with the obvious, and likely fight starting quip, Columbia interjected, "I can't recall either...but you may be onto something, Luke. Someone that we fought and one of your predecessors double crossed...there are more than a few possible suspects..."

"Great." Luke shook his head, "This is important! Can you really have so many enemies you forget them?"

"It ain't that we don't remember 'em, Windy, it's figurin' out which one'd do this...an which one has a beef with your charming self." Jack took another drink of whiskey, pulling one of the plates Celyn had brought over to himself. "Though spendin' a few minutes in your company, I wouldn't mind seein' you in a cell myself."

As the big man started to eat, Luke just rolled his eyes. "That's helpful, thanks." He was so done with these assholes. First that girl used him, lured him in, played with his feelings, now these two heroes both lit into him. He didn't need this shit. "Since you've got nothing but abuse for me, I can go somewhere where I'll just have nothing. Thanks for all the fun," he said in a voice heavy with sarcasm, "I can see how you're all such an inspiration to new heroes."

"Wait." Columbia laid a hand on his shoulder, "I know where we can go to find an answer." Luke looked back at her, "Our old headquarters...it was never torn down, and the funds of our wealthier members have kept it secret and secure. All our old case files are there."

"Hey, yeah." Jack looked up from his meal, "Good idea, Bea! We can find something in there for sure! ...Might take a while though, there's a lot of stuff..."

Luke shrugged, "It's a lead. If it's all right for me to be involved. I...can understand if you don't want the Hurricane in the headquarters of the Freedom League." It was another painful admission.

 

[HookerBoots]

"What? Don't be silly," Columbia said, smiling at Luke. "This involves you, and you've been . . . trying to change your family's reputation." She turned a stern look to Jack. "We'll be happy to have you with us."

Around a mouthful of rice, Jack laughed once. "Yeah, sure. Spare pair of hands'll be useful, if nothing else." He dropped his fork and swallowed. "We ain't leavin' him alone anywhere in there, though."

Columbia rolled her eyes. "Fine, fine. I wouldn't want any of us to be alone in there, even though it's safe, anyway." She turned to Celyn and smiled. "Celyn, would you mind getting boxes for some of this food? I don't know how long we'll be in there looking, and we don't want to be coming and going too much."

The girl pushed off the wall. "Sure, no problem." She walked into the kitchen, still sulking. She didn't know how she'd gotten to be the food-fetcher, but at least it was something to do. Four boxes, two sealable bowls, and a large container of rice in her hands, she went back into the small room and started packing up some of the food.

As soon as she was done, she looked at the others, her eyes settling on Columbia. "Should I change into my costume before we go?"

"Yes, I think so." As Celyn grabbed her bag, Columbia looked at Jack. "Which way to the ladies' room?"

Celyn stripped quickly in the small bathroom, setting her things on the sink to keep them off the floor - not that she thought there'd be something on the floor, but she didn't want to risk it. Then, after the contacts were in, she stuffed her clothes into the bag and walked out, putting her hair up into her usual half-ponytail.

Walking into the small room, she slung the bag over one shoulder. "All ready." She noticed the looks the two men were giving her, and felt a small thrill of pleasure through her. Even if she wasn't anything more than the waitress, at least she looked good doing it.

Jack grinned up at her. "Changed the outfit a little, eh? Looks good, kid." He pushed his chair back and stretched. "All right, c'mon. Sooner we get there, sooner we figure out this whole mess."

Twenty minutes later, they walked through the door of what appeared to be a normal brownstone. The foyer was relatively normal, until Jack stepped forward onto the throw rug there. A panel in the wall opened up, and a voice said, "Please identify yourself. Failure to do so will result in consequences."

"Jack Burton, Columbia, and guests."

"Voice print accepted. Welcome back, Jack." A door opened in the same wall as the panel, it's silver surface contrasting with the wood panelling on the rest of the wall. Jack pressed his hand to the open panel and waited until the door opened.

"Here we are," Columbia said. "Stay close to us, both of you. Until we get you into the cimputer system, you won't be able to do much without having to worry about triggering the alarm." She walked behind Jack, letting the other two follow.

 

[Mephistophelily]

Felt..better?
It did, in a very slight way.

The way he had spoke, however, left her with a pit in her stomach. He had come off as so arrogant, as such a braggart- but then to bring up the incident with the little boy was enough to make her feel uncomfortable. But at the same time, look at what had been done to her grandfather, the lives of the so-called heroic friends of his. They did so many things for others, yet when it came down to it, it seemed to be nothing more than a chance to inflate their own egos. And that's what Jason had done as well, wasn't it? He had seemed a hero in that child's eyes, but Jason had only done it merely for his own benefit....

Yes, that was it. Perhaps what she had done would help make him realize that he shouldn't focus on his own selfish needs so much and consider those around him. She just hoped he would realize this when he came to, be it either in his own room or the hospital.

She glanced up as she felt Fafnir's presence behind her, that now unmistakeable chill that ran down her back from her new 'friend's' arrival. As he spoke, she gave a light smile in return to his, but there was something about his that left her uneasy. He was a rather... unsettling man to begin with, and what she had done wasn't exactly the easiest thing to rest in her mind.

Still, she had sworn to avenge her grandfather in whatever way she could, and Fafnir had said he could help her acchieve that. To be feeling this uneasy about it now- how weak did that make her? She couldn't let him know that she had felt this way... He might not help her anymore. She couldn't risk that. Lose the focus on the lying words of that bastard in the room above, instead revel in the pain she had caused for her grandfather's cause.

"I'm glad." She said flatly, still looking at her hands. She coudl feel the electrical current that once flowed through his body, surging inside her, an overwhelmingly beautiful feeling that she had tried for so long to avoid... because it was evil, it was wrong. But why? It made her feel so wonderful, to know that she had such control over this strong a power. It made her want more, to feel that power, not only to flow inside herself, but to know that it came from those who caused her family such pain.

"Yes, sir, of course." She looked to him as the reddened haze returned, ready to tend to the next on the list.

 

[Armphid]

Morgana and Fafnir

The red light receded and they were hit with thick, balmy air. It was heavy with humidity and the smell of trees and flowers. Before them looked a mostly dark building, a few lights on here and there. "And here ve are. Inside, you vill find one who is very close to the traitors who abandoned your grandfather." And their race. "She is inside, one Molly Malone."

Fafnir stepped back into the dark of the Texas night. "She was the vife of the Texas Ranger, and convinced him not to lead a raid to free your grandfather from jail." He smiled, watching her as she soaked up the half-truths and outright lies. So blinded by vengeance, and the feelings of her powers. A wonderful tool for his glorious new era. "Now she is here, and a reckoning is owed."

"Go now, and take your due from her."

~~~~~​

Columbia, Hurricane, Jack Burton, and Lorelei

"Bea, you can't be serious! C'mon, letting Tornado Kid in here is one thing, but putting him in the system? Givin' him access? NO way, Bea." Jack shook his head firmly, "I'm puttin' my foot down on this one. It takes two a' us to put someone in, an' I ain't doin' it for him."

"Jack," she began, but then saw the set in his jaw. This day was hard enough on him, and both she and Celyn had bullied him into accepting enough things. He needed to be given something. Besides, this wasn't a battle that she would win. He'd just leave, and that wouldn't help any of them. "All right. But you're not being fair, and you know it, Jack Burton."

"...Ain't never said I was fair."

In the back, Luke sighed. He shouldn't be surprised. Though, in a way, he was. The way that Columbia kept sticking up for him. It...he hadn't expected it. At all. Even a little. It was...more touching and meaningful to him than he cared think about. It made sense, given his upbringing he knew he was starved for kindness. And what she's shown him wasn't inconsequential.

His eyes caught Celyn's leather wrapped figure, and whatever he'd been thinking vanished. She was cute in her street clothes, in her costume...she was scorching. It was so tight, leaving so little and yet so much to the imagination. Cut juuust right to show plenty without showing anything at all. "So then, I guess I'll have to stick with someone else, huh?"

"Yes," Columbia nodded, a bit surprised he was taking the flat out rejection so well. That was a promising sign. "We'll enter Lorelei, and then start the business at hand." She looked back at the two, "Jack and I are going to be making a lot of calls. The membership of the League was large at it's peak, and there are a lot of children and grandchildren to be accounted for. It may be best if, while we take care of that, the two of you start the research in the files."

 

[Mephistophelily]

Morgana continued to watch the building as Fafnir explained the relation of Mary to the quest she placed on herself, a slight twitch running down her arms as he relayed the story of her hand in the betrayal of Grandfather. She had known about his plight, and refused to let them help? Her selfish ways had led to the broken spirit of a great man....

Where exactly was she, though? Morgana had to question this as she stepped towards the main door of the building, frowning as a keycard door blocked her path. She growled a few words under her breath at that, rolling her eyes as she placed a finger against it, allowing a zap of electricity to surge through it and fry out the system lock. One obstacle dealt with. The darkness, however, was another annoyance, Morgana snapping her fingers to create enough of a spark to see where she was going.

Warning! Oxygen in use!

The sign in the hallway as she entered was unnoticed, passing by it obliviously as she looked for the woman in question. She realized now where she was, the signs and beeping equipment a sign of... a nursing home?

She approached one of the rooms, snapping again to read the name. M. Malone. Well, how simple... Opening the door, she slipped inside, moving over to the bed and looking at the older woman asleep in the bed. "Mary," She called out curtly, waiting for the woman to wake.

"...Angela?" Mary's eyes opened with a slight smile, looking up to Morgana with a confused look to her eyes. "Angela, I knew you'd come see me!"

"I'm not Angela."

Mary's confused eyes became moreso now, scanning over the young woman before her. "No, no... You're Angie, Angie... Little Angel Angie," she crooned out.

"Little- Stop playing with me!," Morgana snapped, slamming her hands down against the woman's shoulders. "You know exactly who I am, you old bitch! Look at me! I should remind you of someone, and it's not some fucking Angela!"

The old eyes scanned her face, still hunting for recognition, only to give a soft cry as it came to her. "Dyna... Dynabolt... You look like- How is he now...?"

"There you go." Morgana smiled at that, her hands tightening on the woman's shoulders. "He's dead, with no thanks to you or your cowardly husband...," she hissed, digging fingers against the old woman's bare collarbone.

 

[Armphid]

Morgana and Fafnir

As he watched her from the scrying window, he'd opened, Thorsvald smiled. She was so righteous! Standing over the bed of a senile, Altzhimer's riddled octogenarian, holding her down so hard she was likely cracking the old woman's bones. Delicious. As it would be once the rush of it wore off and she realized just what she'd done. The guilt and anguish she'd feel then...how lovely it would be. Though perhaps she wouldn't feel it. Her brutality with the young woman surprised him, he did have to admit. Perhaps she was more like her namesake that he had suspected.

Molly Malone. The little Irish guttersnipe who's been the Ghost Gal of the Freedom League. So sassy and pretty and galling. Look at her now. Old, wrinkled, mad and dying. She probably didn't even remember her powers, her invisibility and intangibility. She'd die helpless, terrified and confused, thanks to Morgana. The grandchild of her one-time lover.

In the dark room, the old woman stirred feebly. She was in pain, the girl's hands were cruel, and she didn't...where was she? Who was hurting her? Why? "Your hands, hurts! Dyna...help...me, I don't...I know you, I do...I don't remember...it hurts, but...but why are you..."

 

[HookerBoots]

Celyn kept her face blank at the revelation that she and Luke would be together hunting through the files. She was happy, because he was attractive, and she did want him to like her. But he didn't seem inclined to, which made it difficult. They'd probably snap at each other and spend the rest of the day on opposite sides of the room. But she smiled at Columbia. "Okay. We can do that."

They made their way down into what had been the control room, and Jack had to put in his authorization again before they could enter. Columbia and Jack sat at the computer terminals, while Celyn and Luke stood to one side. "So, what all do we need to do to get me into the system?"

Columbia flipped a few switches, then turned to the girl with a smile. "Nothing much. Voice print, retinal scan, general info for contact and emergency contact, and a DNA sample."

"Nothing much?"

Jack punched a button, then shrugged without turning around. "All security. Never know when a shape-shifter'll try and sneak in. If they can pass the voice and eye scan, but are still suspect, the DNA'll foil 'em."

After the surprisingly short procedure of putting Celyn into the computer database, Columbia and Jack went to work tracking down the other members of the Freedom League, and sent Celyn and Luke down into the basement with a flashlight and written instructions of what to look for.

As she made her way down the stairs, Celyn was acutely aware of Luke behind her. He was staying close, which was smart. But she was tense for any number of reasons. He was handsome, and a little dangerous. All the things a teenage girl wanted, and she wanted to see if she could wrap him around her finger. Without her powers. She could, easily, like that, but it would hardly be fair.

They reached the room, and she tried the door. It didn't open, and she sighed. Have to do it the hard way. "Luke, kinda stand back for a sec, I'm gonna try and open this."

 

[Armphid]

Hurricane and Lorelei

Luke shook his head, pushing past her. Which wasn't completely just so he'd have a reason to brush up against her leather-clad body. ...Though it did feel very, verrrry nice. "Wait a second, Lorelei." He gave an apologetic shrug at her look, "As much as I'd like to see you take a deep breath and use some cool sonic whammy, it might not be a good idea."

He eyed the door a moment, checking it out. Shouldn't be too tough. "See, you bust this thing open, and the security system will check it out. You'll be fine, but I won't be. I could probably fight whatever it threw at me, but there'd be a lot of damage and it wouldn't help what we're here to do any." He knelt down, reaching into a pocket of his jacket and pulling out a slim box, almost like a cigarette case. He popped it open revealing a set of small, complex little tools. "Let me have a minute or two here, huh?"

There was another reason for this, if he was honest. Well, two. One, he was tired of them dragging him around like he was a sack of potatos. He had to show he was worth something. Two...he wanted to show off for a pretty girl. He shouldn't. He knew it. She'd lied to him, tricked him, and then been mad at him for it. But...he just couldn't help himself.

He spent a minute examining the door, the lock, and the surrounding wall. Then he set a drill bit on a spot near the frame, turning it so it stuck in. He pulled his hand back, two fingers raised, then began to make small circles with it. Wind whirled to life, grabbing the bit and spinning it deep into the wall, then with opposite motion, back out. He slid a hook like device in, searched, felt it catch, pulled until he could see the wire through the hole he'd bored. He lifted his hand again, making a quick, slashing motion, a blade of air severing the wire. There was an audible click, and he stood up with a smile. "There we go."

Luke tucked the tools away, pushing the door open with one hand. He looked back at her and smiled again, a bit roguishly. "I'm not just another pretty face. After you, hero."

 

[HookerBoots]

She watched, a little confused about what he was doing until he pulled out the lockpicking kit. Celyn had never used one, but she'd seen them. Not what she'd have expected him to be carrying, really. And she hadn't been planning to bust the door off the hinges, or anything. She could pitch her voice enough to vibrate the metal loose and give it a body check. But this was easier.

And she was impressed with the way he used his powers and his other skills to open the door. And very charmed by the smile he gave her. "Thanks, Hurricane. Maybe you'll be able to teach me that sometime," she said as she brushed past him again, the redness of her cheeks not feigned in the least.

"Besides," she added, turning around and walking backwards, using the echoes of her footsteps to know where she was walking, "I'm not the only hero here, right?" Turning again, Celyn flicked the flashlight on and scanned around the room. Dark, dusty, probably infested with spiders and rats. Wonderful.

Turning in a slow circle, she sighed. "So, how should we do this? You probably know more about this whole thing than I do." Celyn focused the flashlight on his neck, high enough to light his face without being in his eyes. "I wasn't kidding - mum never talked about this. So you . . . might be better picking out what we need to look at, and having me as a spare pair of hands."

 

[Armphid]

Hurricane and Lorelei

Luke watched her move as she brushed past, feeling a bit better about this whole situation when she said she wasn't the only hero here. "...Depends on who you ask, I guess," he replied with a self-depreciating smile and a shake of the head. He'd been prepared for the reactions of the cops, cops being cops after all, and the people, but...for some reason the way Jack felt really got under his skin.

As they entered the room, he frowned. This place hadn't been entered in a long time. The air was dry and stale. He watcher his turn, the light just under his face now, illuminating his shocked expression. "Madre de...She didn't tell you anything? That's...well, anyway." How reckless! Her mother had to know the Freedom League had enemies. Enemies that would come after them, retired or not. How could she not prepare her daughter for that eventuality? Not to mention the rest of it. Wasn't she proud of what she'd done? The Freedom League had saved the world, at least 3 times that he knew of. He wondered if Celyn really knew what it meant to put on that costume and use that name.

"Uh, well, I can make a few guesses." Luke scratched his head, and sighed. He didn't even now how they'd filed things...or how recently the files had been updated. Not soon, judging by the looks of things. "We need to see how they filed things first...since I didn't see a computer when you swung the light around." He sighed and moved over to the first filing cabinet, pulling a drawer open and perusing the tabs. "We're looking for villains or theirs...once that they might have labeled as still threats or active...or at least still alive."

 

[Mephistophelily]

"Stop. Just be quiet. You made him hurt, you left him to rot, you gave him the worst pain of his life-!" Tears were threatening to run break from Morgana's eyes as she held firmly to the old woman, not letting her words phase her or her intentions.

This woman had once been on the famously reknowned troupe of heroes; she knew every type of trick and lie and complete load of bullshit imaginable to keep someone from their goals. All that mattered to them was their own skin, their own fame... Everything but their own righteous fucking ethic code.

She continued to watch the woman as she held tight, a rather pleasured sigh escaping Morgana's lips from the second wonderful flood of current passed into her body. It all felt so wonderful; to know that she was gaining not only the revenge he deserved, but the beautiful surge that came off from both so far- And Mister Fafnir promised her far, far more.

With the woman's final cry out in pain, Morgana let go, stopping her powers from taking the last ember of a spark in Mary's body. She wouldn't snuff it out, she only wanted her to feel the pain and dispair that he had felt.. The feeling of helplessness and sorrow that her former friends would do nothing to help her when she needed them. "

Would you have told him no to save you from your own pain?," She hissed angrily before leaving the room. God, it felt beautiful. Far different than the doubt she had brought upon herself from the incident with Jason. This woman had tried to trick her, make her think she had no idea who she was, what was happening.. but Morgana saw it; the recognition, the fear of fate returning the favor of her decision all those years ago. She lied right to Morgana's face. She knew who she was.... She had to have known.