[h2][center]Dr. Gabriel Cole//[color=teal]ICARUS[/color][/center][/h2]

[center]==~==[/center]

[b]"gabriel."[/b]

Dr. Gabriel Cole, possibly the smartest man in the world, probable crazy person, and current metahuman, ignored the metallic voice in his head, enjoying the sunset as he watched it sink slowly below the horizon.

[b]"gabriel."[/b]

It helped that he had such a magnificent view from where he was standing. Floating. Whatever. He was here. And the view was magnificent. Almost magnificent enough to let him forget--

[b]"gabe."[/b]

Gabriel winced. [color=teal]"You know I hate being called that, Daedalus. You better than anyone else. Besides me, of course."[/color]

[b]"yes. i do know that. therein being the point, as it was the only way i knew how to get your attention. we're supposed to be running 01 through its paces, not dwelling on the romanticism of a particularly small yellow star as your planet continues the same orbit it's performed hundreds of billions of times before."[/b]

[color=teal]"Oh, come on. You can't honestly tell me you don't find this lovely,"[/color] said Gabriel, sweeping his arm across the tableau before them. Hundreds, maybe thousands of feet in the air, above even the tallest buildings in Lost Haven, Gabriel drifted along, clad in the armor of ARTEFACT-01, his wrists, ankles, and the six Modules hovering just over his shoulders glowing green as they suspended him in his own private orbit. Strange to think that he used to be afraid of heights. Even riding on a plane was disconcerting in the worst possible way. Now he could probably fall from a height like this and stroll away unharmed. He smiled as he enjoyed his private space up near the clouds.

[color=teal]"You can't honestly tell me that you don't see why I'd want to slow down and enjoy this?"[/color]

[b]"technically, i do not see anything. i merely interpret your own sensory input."[/b]

[color=teal]"Ha ha. I'm serious, though- this is the first time I've been out in the sun and fresh air in days. We've been cooped up in the Forge for gods know how long. Let me savor this moment."[/color]

[b]"you have been savoring this moment for several moments, sir. might i suggest we return to the task at hand?"[/b]

Gabriel sighed, though Daedalus had a point. They were here to do a job, after all.

[color=teal]"Fine. Fine. Boot up the AEGIS program."[/color] A rush of colors, shapes, and above all, information exploded onto the inside of his visor, inundating him with any number of things that demanded his attention. [color=teal]"Looks good so far. Some of the sensors look like they might need adjusting, but overall, the grid seems to be in place. How are we on reception?"[/color]

[b]"some mild interference, well within our anticipated parameters. the probes seem to be functioning at close to optimal levels, with your proposed adjustments increasing AEGIS' efficiency to such levels. in other words, another successful endeavor."[/b]

Gabriel grinned. [color=teal]"Of course it's successful- we made it, after all. Close program."[/color] The program faded from Gabriel's visor, as he adjusted his body, preparing for his descent. [color=teal]"So. We have our tracking devices, and they work perfectly. Almost. Kind of. Now, all we need for our first successful night as superheroes,"[/color] he said as he scanned the cityscape below, [color=teal]"is something to track."[/color]