[hr][h1][i][color=00FFFF]Jennifer Marissa Caspin[/color][/i][/h1][sub][@ToadRopes][/sub][hr]


Jennifer didn't realize that Ratchet was even this close... It... She didn't know. Everything went real weird the second the fog hit. Maybe there was never a fog to begin with. Jen grabbed her head and sighed - the moments where she was shot ran through her head over and over again. [color=00FFFF][i]Just... forget about it, Jen, it's over.[/i][/color] She thought, wondering if it'd be that easy. Either way, she looked up at Ratchet, who asked if she was alright - implying that she knew that Jen was shot. She looked down, and saw the bloodied hole in her shirt, which was all but confirmation. [color=00FFFF]"Yeah... I'm fine, I just want to get out of here."[/color] She put a hand over the bullet hole, or where it was. [color=00FFFF][i]I'll have to grab a T-shirt on the way back, I can't let mom see this.[/i][/color] She thought to herself - she was still trying to hide the fact that she was a Metahuman to the best of her ability. She's surprised that Ratchet didn't already deduce that she was a Metahuman. Maybe she brushed it off to the fog?

"Hey, you kids!" A man shouted in the distance, and Jennifer looked at him to see that it was a potbellied VPD officer. "Hurry up! You need to get out of here!"

That was Jennifer's cue to get out of here. While... the circumstances were less than ideal, and she didn't find Penny, she really thought that she made a friend out of Ratchet. And maybe... maybe that made the trip worth it in the end. She turned towards Ratchet, and nodded her head and said, [color=00FFFF]"Thank you."[/color] In a very grateful tone. She would have said more, but she couldn't say much without breaking down into hysterics. It was time for her to leave - yet, she didn't want this to be the last time they met. Jen didn't know if Ratchet would be here all summer, or just this weekend, but she wanted to make sure that they'd meet again. There was a napkin on the ground - blowing in the wind, it was likely from someone's food - and Jen walked over and stepped on it. She reached down and picked up the napkin. Then she walked over to a nearby food vendor stand, selling nasty hotdogs, and reached in and grabbed a pen. She pressed the napkin against the stand and wrote down her cell-phone number.

Holding the napkin in her hand, she walked back over to Ratchet, and handed it to her. [color=00FFFF]"... I... don't know how long you're sticking around Verthaven - especially after what happened - but here's my number if you want to meet me again."[/color] She nodded her head. [color=00FFFF]"We can play games, I can show you around the city... or we can juuuuust - you know - [i]talk[/i]."[/color] She said the last word very nervously, because she wasn't sure if she was interesting enough to maintain a conversation. Or if Ratchet would just cut ties with her, and never speak to her again. It'd be mighty easy for Ratchet to just drop the napkin and walk away as if she never saw Jen again.

Jennifer took two steps towards the police line - her gaze was still dead centered on Ratchet. She awkwardly pointed towards them, lowly saying, [color=00FFFF]"I think I should head home before my mom gets worried... "[/color] Then she looked down at the bullet hole in her shirt. [color=00FFFF]"... And I need to get a new shirt..."[/color] 

Stepping away, the distance between them expanding with every step, [color=00FFFF]"... I'll see you around."[/color]




[hr][h1][i][color=007236]Michelle Brianna Gallus[/color][/i][/h1][sub][@He Who Walks Behind][@Maxx][/sub][hr]


[i]"Welp Agent Gallus, looks like Director Caryl just made me your bodyguard from the time being. We need to get whatever package that you have back to base pronto."[/i]

Hmph. Michelle put the shotgun over her shoulder, a pose. She looked down (With her height, she had no choice but to) at Sam and this woman. She put her hand on her hip, and shot Sam a smirk. The Director herself told them to escort her back to base? Well, that old bitch must greatly underestimate Michelle's strength. She looked at Andy, then Selena. She kept two civilians safe, and took out a large number of the Fiends, along with tangling with Khan and coming out with a little bullet grazing her. Michelle shrugged, [color=007236]"We'll be drawing more attention than we need to, but if the Director herself said so, then I guess you have no choice."[/color] Michelle said - part of her wanted to decline and head there herself.... The likelihood of the Fiends singling her out and attacking her on the way there, when they're likely licking their wounds, was very low. Though... Something was off here. The Fiends, or anyone for that matter, aren't crazy enough to attack a crowded place like this, then run off, without good reason. Hell, NEST and the VPD had a heavy presence in the event to deter events like this. 

The thought of what the Fiends ([color=007236][i]Or someone pulling their strings[/i][/color]) have some sort of long term plan made her worried. Enough for her to put that gun in her hands, and stand on edge. [color=007236]"C'mon, then."[/color] Michelle said to them, wanting to get back to base soon as possible. Though, there was one thing she needed to address, Andy and Selena. She turned her head towards them, and looked down at them (Again). [color=007236]"Don't mention it."[/color] Michelle answered Andy, starting off, [color=007236]"Helping people, and stopping maniacs like the Fiends from going crazy, is why I joined NEST in the first place."[/color] Michelle nodded her head, and clenched her shotgun tighter... She couldn't shake off the welling-worry that the Fiends won in the long run. Andy asked if they could be assistance to Michelle, to that, she shook her head, and answered in a very professional tone, [color=007236]"Negative, I can get medical attention back at the NEST base."[/color] She was ignoring the pain from her transformation, and the bullet, thus far. She blamed the adrenaline. Her wounds still stung like hell, and they were bleeding, but she's fine. [color=007236]"... Uh, don't worry about me,"[/color] She started off, [color=007236]"My power makes me a lot tougher, and helps me heal faster... This is just a flesh wound."[/color] Michelle felt like she was just bragging at this point (Though, it was true).

[color=007236]"Just... do me a favor and get out of here safe? The nice police officers over there will help you."[/color] Michelle told them, hastening her departure to the best of her ability. She began walking away, towards the bridge, and the line of NEST Agents. She spoke to Sam and the Nightingale, looking back at them halfway, [color=007236]"Let's go, we have lots of work to do."[/color] Yeah, they have to find out what surprise will arise later. She wasn't sure what would happen.

One thing's for certain...

[color=007236][i]... This city is fucking nuts.[/i][/color]


[hr]
[u][b]Sunday, June 30th. 4:00 PM.[/b][/u]


TVs across Verthaven showed a woman in a dark-purple pinstriped suit, standing in front of a bridge that lead into the Downtown Neighborhood - closed off by Police Officers, there was a police blocker, and two policemen standing at attention in front of it - holding a microphone.

[i]"Hello, everybody, this is Molly Schuler with the news. It's one day after the very daunting assault on the Summer Festival, perpetrated by the gang known as the Fiends. A massive firefight took place between the Fiends, the VPD, and NEST as the the latter-two were attempting to restore order. The Fiends retreated, but not before causing damage that the City has to repair. And as a result, the downtown district has been completely locked down.."[/i] Clips went by of city-workers cleaning up the damage done to the district. [i]"Reports say that fifty people dead, and hundreds more were injured - some critically - in the attack. As a result, NEST, and VPD efforts have been increased up to put an end to the Fiends, and bring the ones responsible for this attack to justice. The National Guard has been deployed to Verthaven in order to assist in their efforts. Launching Raids against known Fiend hangouts. So far, Raids have been going well, and dozens of Fiends have been arrested, while recovering millions of dollars worth of drugs owned by the Fiends."[/i] Videos of Military trucks rolling into the city limits were shown.

[i]"The VPD Police Commissioner has advised everyone to report any and all suspected sighting of the Fiends, but do not approach or engage. They are extremely irrational and dangerous."[/i]

Molly dramatically paused for a moment, facing the camera with a neutral expression on her face. [i]"However, that isn't the only news to report today. An Intelligence System Design lab in University Row has been found to be completely desolate. Every scientist has gone missing, every computer has been wiped clean, and several sections of the lab were destroyed entirely. All without a trace or hint as to what happened, or who's behind it. Going off scheduled shifts, every Scientist working was clocked in during the attack on the Summer Festival. It's been deduced that it's very unlikely that the Fiends are behind this. It has also been reported that at least ten other people were kidnapped during the Fiend's attack on the Festival. NEST Reports that each of the people gone missing are Metahumans. Everyone is asking... Are these events related? Now to Mike, with the weather."[/i]
[hr]




[hr][h1][i][color=00BFFF]Lihua VuHong[/color][/i][/h1]
[hider=Massive Attack - Dissolved Girl][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lcZ0redg1s[/youtube][/hider][hr]


[color=00BFFF][i]Silly Americans... If they had the same strict rules on their Metahumans as China, then we wouldn't be in this predicament to begin with.[/i][/color]

The thoughts ran through Lihua's head as she took a bite of her glazed doughnut, wrapping it around a napkin so she doesn't get anything on her fingers (That'd be disgusting). She stepped through the halls of the NEST Headquarters. Her bright-red heels creating loud taps against the floor. People walked past her, and she didn't notice them. She had that condescending, and determined, look in her eyes that scared most people. Hell, with the black pinstriped suit she was wearing (With a nametag, and badge, over her breast), sharp and intellectual glasses, files she was carrying in one hand, black lipstick, she was on-point... Only undermined by the doughnut she was holding in her hand - but she couldn't resist! She just found them so good! She finished off the doughnut, and stepped into another room - offices. This was where Lihua did most of her work. She walked through cubicle after cubicle, until she found the one with the nametag of "[i]LIHUA VUHONG, INTELLIGENCE OFFICIER[/i]". That meant she was here.

Lihua stepped into her cubicle, and planted herself firmly onto her computer chair - using her heeled shoe to push herself into her computer desk. She put the files on her desk, and began typing away. Just a few more things she had to sort out before this meeting started. [color=00BFFF]"[i]A-ha![/i]"[/color] Lihua's hand quickly went to her phone, and she went through her contacts until she hit Meifeng. She hit dial, and she listened the phone ringing with a calm fury, tapping her red-painted fingernails on her desk. The second the other end answered, Lihua barked into her phone, [color=00BFFF]"Meifeng, what are you doing in the Crystal Shores?"[/color]

[color=red]"Hey, mom, relax,"[/color] Meifeng said on the other end of the phone. [color=red]"I'm just helping Jen look for her dog."[/color]
 
[color=00BFFF]"[i]You[/i] said that you were going to be in Central Valley, playing Basketball with your friends. I expect you to be doing just that."[/color] Lihua replied.

[color=red]"Yeah, I was, but Jen came around, and she was really sad about losing her dog, so I offered to help her go look for it."[/color]

[color=00BFFF]"... In the [i]Crystal Shores[/i]?"[/color]

[color=red]"... Yeah, we're just here for a little bit. Maybe get some food, enjoy the beach, then we'll head back to the Priscilla Isle."[/color] Meifeng said... only to get stern silence from Lihua. 

[color=00BFFF]"Fiends are everywhere, Meifeng, and the attack on the Festival proved how dangerous and desperate they are."[/color]

Meifeng was silent for a few second... before she came up with a way to change the subject. [color=red]"... H-hey! You're tracking me with your NEST computers again, aren't you?! Isn't that, uh, against your [i]protocol,[/i] or something!?"[/color]

Lihua leaned back in her chair, and smirked. [color=00BFFF]"I'm simply monitoring a particularly troublesome Metahuman, and I'm an [i]Intelligence[/i] Officer, it's my job to know things."[/color] She laughed for a few moments. [color=00BFFF]"... And it's [i]protocol[/i] here in America to grossly invade it's own citizen's privacy."[/color] She started snickering more intensely this time.

[color=red]"... Hey, that's n-not funny!"[/color] Meifeng answered.

[color=00BFFF]"I hope you realize how close the Crystal Shores are to the NEST Headquarters...."[/color] Lihua mused, still smirking. [color=00BFFF]"Two minutes and I can be right there...."[/color] It'd be funny to ruin her daughter's fun for disobeying her. She spun slightly in her computer chair... and she looked over her shoulder and saw that the meeting was about to start. Lihua turned the phone away, and cursed in Chinese. [color=00BFFF]"You and Jennifer best head back to the Priscilla Isle at once..."[/color]

Meifeng sighed out of relief on the other end of the phone.

[color=00BFFF]"... Once my business is over, I'll come check up on you."[/color] Lihua said, as she stood straight up. [color=00BFFF]"[i]Zai jian.[/i]"[/color] She said goodbye to her daughter in Chinese, like they always do. Lihua reached into her desk, and pulled out a USB drive, before she began walking out of the office, and started heading towards the meeting room.

Lihua stopped at the door, and smirked. She's going to be in a meeting with the director and some of the best NEST Agents. She pushed the door open, and....


[hr][h1][i]The NEST Meeting[/i][/h1][sub][@He Who Walks Behind][@Maxx][/sub]

[hider=Sonic Adventure - Theme of E-102y Gamma][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2sOpyF1nF4[/youtube][/hider][hr]


"Lihua," The NEST Director said, sitting in the opposite end of a large, wooden, oval-shaped table. The room was large, grey, and rectangle-shaped. With no windows, and on the middle of the table there was a projector. Seated all around the table was various NEST Agents (Lihua recognized Michelle, Ariella, Agatha, Sam...). "I've been waiting for you, would you mind getting seated?" On cue, Lihua sat down on the table near the projector. "Now that we have our Intelligence Officer, we can get started." The Director leaned in forward, putting her hands to mouth level, interlocking her fingers. "You all should be well aware of what happened, so I'm not going to beat around the bush when I say that the situation is fu- not looking good." Miranda said.

[color=007236]"We've been played."[/color] Michelle said, her arms crossed, and looking forward in the most neutral facial expression she could muster. She was wearing her standard NEST uniform without armor. Underneath the wetsuit there was gauze and bandages wrapped around the bullet wound. Along with bandages around the wounds caused by her transformations. They stung like hell, but she'll be fine in the end. What [i]really[/i] bothered her was all the people going missing. She was right. The Fiends were just a distraction, while someone else did their devilish deeds... Michelle turned her head to the side. [color=007236][i]When I get my hands on Khan...[/i][/color] She thought to herself.

"It sure seems that way." The Director said, "We are entirely unsure of who is behind the disappearances in the lab, but we are certain it is not the Fiends." She closed her eyes, and looked around the group. "I want to devote efforts towards investigating the disappearances... but, the NEST Council demands that we focus most of our efforts on eliminating the Fiends." She took in a deep breath, then let it all out. "Which is what we'll do. Intelligence Officer Lihua, did you gather the information I requested?"

[color=00BFFF]"I have, ma'am."[/color] Lihua replied, monotone.

"Review the information, please."

Lihua nodded her head, stood up, and placed the USB drive into the projector. The lights of the room went dim as the projector turned on. [color=00BFFF]"First, I'd like to discuss the Fiend's special mutagen."[/color] It displayed pictures of the Fiends brandishing their mutagens vials, and Fiends after they've mutated. Lihua stood up, and walked over to the projection. [color=00BFFF]"The attack on the Festival told us that their use of Mutagens was much more widespread than previously believed. Before we thought they only sold small amounts of it at a high-price, and few members took it during gang brawls."[/color] Lihua nodded her head, as the imagine changed to a Fiend that was hideously covered in muscles, throwing a hot-stand stand several meters in the air. [color=00BFFF]"After analyzing the Mutagen Agent recovered by Agent Gallus, it has been discovered that the Agents use low dosages of the raw form of the Metahuman energy in order to induce temporary powers at the cost of hideous."[/color] The image changed again to a female Fiend breathing a toxic. [color=00BFFF]"Only organization that is allowed to use raw Metahuman energy is the Intelligent System Designs corporation."[/color]

[color=007236]"So what you're saying is that the ISD is giving the Fiends this stuff?"[/color] Michelle asked Lihua, with a raised eyebrow.

[color=00BFFF]"It could be the ISD..."[/color] Lihua looked at Miranda Caryl for a moment, and they exchanged. [color=00BFFF]"... It could be a splinter group of them, or a whole new faction altogether. Point being is that [i]someone[/i] is supplying them with this toxic mutagen."[/color] She grabbed the tips of her glasses, and adjusted them slightly. [color=00BFFF]"... It goes without saying what we have to do."[/color]

[color=007236]"Does anyone know where do we even start?"[/color] Michelle asked.

[color=00BFFF]"... Thus far..."[/color] Lihua sighed, [color=00BFFF]"We have no solid leads, but does anyone have anything to contribute before I review anymore intelligence?"[/color]


[hr][h1][i][color=aqua]Jennifer Marissa Caspin[/color], & [color=red]Meifeng VuHong[/color][/i][/h1][sub][@ToadRopes][/sub]

[hider=JoJo's Bizarre Adventure - Arrivederci!][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsyBg6AKIrc[/youtube][/hider][hr]

Both Jennifer and Meifeng stopped off the bus, having been dropped off in the Crystal Shores - with the latter just finishing her conversation with her mother. [color=red]"... [i]Dāi huǐr jiàn.[/i]"[/color] Meifeng said, before hanging up the phone and sliding it into the pockets of her red basketball shorts, as they continued walking down the street. A NEST Truck drove by.

[color=aqua]"... She didn't buy it?"[/color] Jennifer asked, in a lowly tone.

[color=red]"... She didn't buy it."[/color] Meifeng sighed, hunching forward somewhat. [color=red]"She'll be right here any moment. Damn, I thought she'd be busy!"[/color] Meifeng hissed. 

[color=aqua]"Well..."[/color] Jennifer trailed off. [color=aqua]"We got on our swimsuits and everything, we might as well just meet her already."[/color] Jenny gestured down at their outfits. She was wearing jean-shirts, and combat boots, and an N7 T-shirt (Mass Effect merchandise she got from Amazon) - Underneath it was a cyan blue two-piece bikini. And Meifeng was wearing her basketball team uniform, red basketball pants, and a rather tight jersey - with a matching red two-piece bikini. The whole point of this trip was to meet the girl Jennifer met last night, Ratchet. In truth, neither of them were supposed to be out here - with the attack on the Festival, everyone's on high alert. It was just that Jennifer wanted to meet Ratchet... and she didn't want to come alone, and she asked Meifeng, and Meifeng was happy to go alone... They agreed that the beach was the best place to meet since Ratchet was staying in Knightdale rows.

It just made more sense. Ratchet didn't know the city that well - most likely not well enough to cross two isles to get to them.

[color=red]"Yeah, but are you sure that you want my crazy mom interrupting you?"[/color] Meifeng asked Jen.

Jennifer shrugged, [color=aqua]"I... don't think it'll be that bad?"[/color]

[color=red]"Pttf... It'll be [i]that bad[/i] alright."[/color] Meifeng shook her head.

It wasn't long until the two girls made it to the beach. They stepped through the stone walls, and made it onto the concrete pathways of the beach.

Now to find Ratchet...