[center][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/235261766131515392/292160659955777548/coollogo_com-586792.png[/img][/center] [center]Before the storm...[/center] It was sometime in the early hours of the morning when Jane woke up and decided not to try and go back to sleep again. Groaning slightly, she sat up in her bed and gave a slight start at a spark of light before catching herself. Just a reflection off of Monsterk4t's helmet, she realized, wondering again why the mute musician needed to camp out in her apartment. She never saw the guy's house, but she was still pretty sure he HAD one. Nitpicks aside, Jane got to her feet and stretched out, retrieving a scarf from her bedside table (she still wanted to appear to Voyager as Fullbright but didn't want to wear the helmet 24/7, so a compromise was reached) and wrapping it securely around her face before heading out into the living room. A gentle snoring told her Fangs was still sound asleep, all six limbs sprawled across the sofa like a fuzzy rag doll. She was about to make a beeline to the kitchen to get some semblance of breakfast until she spotted Voyager staring out the window, looking oddly alert. "Couldn't sleep either?" she asked quietly. [color=MediumOrchid] "Oh, I uh, don't need to sleep."[/color] [i]Lucky[/i], Fullbirght thought bitterly as she finished her trek to the kitchen. "Er, well do you want anything? I was gonna make some coffee." [color=MediumOrchid]"No, I'm fine."[/color] Fullbright shrugged, before busying herself with the coffee maker. "Are you nervous at all?" [color=MediumOrchid]"Why do you ask?"[/color] "Well, it's the day of our assault, you're up staring off into space, and you just turned down coffee," Fullbright listed off, fishing around in the cupboards for her favorite mug. "I think the first time I gave you some of that you cleaned out my stock." [color=MediumOrchid]"Oh right...sorry."[/color] That wasn't like her at all, Fullbright thought to herself. Taking a chance, she paced over to where she was standing, carefully stepping around the giant tarantula girl's arm trailing across the floor. "You're scared for Jordan, aren't you?" Fullbright thought she saw a spark in the black eyes of the alien at their friend's name. Lips tightening, she nodded her head yes. "Yeah, I'm scared too. She's...something special." [color=MediumOrchid]"She was the first person I ever met,"[/color] Voyager said tearfully. [color=MediumOrchid]"She kept me safe before I started doing this...hero stuff."[/color] "Funny, she didn't mention you." [color=MediumOrchid]"Well, you are a 'bad guy', yes?"[/color] the alien girl suggested. [color=MediumOrchid]"She would not talk about me to bad guys, even the nice ones."[/color] "Well yeah, but she doesn't know about that side of me. Not yet at least." [color=MediumOrchid]"Why not? You're a villain, but you do nice things sometimes."[/color] "Yeah but...I don't know." Now it was Fullbright's turn to be indecisive, shuffling her feet while thinking of how best to answer. "I'm afraid she'll be disappointed in me if she ever found out. She's...I don't know..." [color=MediumOrchid]"...special?"[/color] Voyager suggested with a slight smile. "Er, sure that works," Fullbright mumbled, not exactly certain if coming out to an alien was the brightest thing to do. "I mean, she came around at a rough time in my life, same as you I guess. Really helped me out of a bad situation, and I'm scared of what she would think...scared that she'd be...hurt..." Rubbing away the tears threatening to pour at any moment, Fullbright looked up to catch the alien smiling at her. [color=MediumOrchid] "I do not know many people,"[/color] Voyager mused. [color=MediumOrchid]"But she is still one of the most...Klingon people I know!"[/color] "I...guess that's a good thing?" [color=MediumOrchid]"And wherever she is, we're not going to stop until we find her!"[/color] The dramatic statement was undercut slightly by a dull thud as onee of Fang's arms slipped from the couch and fell to the ground, right as the wall began to shimmer. "A success," Typhoon declared, holding out a set of keys in one hand. "Fang's friend, the wind sorceress in the skirt, was very kind to provide us with this." "Excellent, we have our ride in," Fullbright said, excitedly rubbing her hands together. "...hrm, wuzzat? Where's raiden?" Fangs grumbled incoherently as she stirred in her sleep. [color=MediumOrchid] "So now we can sneak our way in as members of this...institute?"[/color] Voyager mused. "It'll at least get us past the sentries," Fullbright reasoned. "And once we're in, we find our way to wherever Jordan is being held and bust her out." [color=MediumOrchid]"Just like in Star Trek 5!"[/color] Voyager said excitedly. "Whatever works for you, I guess," Fullbright shrugged. "Either way...it's time to assemble the band." --- "Are you sure she's involved in this, Commander?" "I am never wrong about my instincts, and my evidence is sound," Commander Krauss, often known as the Gargoyle, remarked bitterly, tugging his gloves off one finger at a time. "Even if she is stubborn, I will get what I came here for." His aide, looking at the fresh bloodstain on his lapel where the prisoner had clearly spat, was clearly unconvinced, but wisely chose to keep that opinion to himself. "There's other considerations as well, sir," the aide said as the pair of them stepped out of the dungeon level and onto the main floor. "The team that brought Fletcher here reported metahuman activity, and it's entirely possible that one of the local-" "None of the local freak shows are going to get past the front gate, let alone far enough to even think about rescuing her," the Gargoyle said proudly, looking over a band of soldiers marching by to relieve posts. "Maybe so, but what about the alien, the one called Voyager? As much as I respect the skill of our men, she can still be incredibly dangerous." "They're all the same," the Gargoyle scowled. "Inhuman garbage, brought to life to put humanity in chains, and if they dare to show their face they'll be put in the ground where they belong." Before his rant could escalate beyond that, however, the Gargoyle's phone sounded off. Giving the aide an angry look that told him to get lost, he removed it from his lapel and answered it in the friendliest tone he could muster. "Talk." [color=0072bc]"Ooh, so strict today. Has the girl been giving you a hard time, friendo?"[/color] The Gargoyle's lip tightened severely, recognizing the sound of the absolute last thing he wanted to deal with today. [color=0072bc] "Hmmm, very silent too. Contemplative perhaps? Thinking of how best to unravel the grand mutant smuggling ring?"[/color] "Have you called me just to waste my time?" [color=0072bc]"Oh no no no no, even better. Do me a favor though, duck into that door right on the left? You're on in five."[/color] The Gargoyle felt a vein pulsing in his forehead at playing along, but for now relented. Easily spotting the left side door, he took a look around to make sure no one was getting suspicious and ducked inside. The second he crossed the threshold the sterile lighting of the hallway blinked out, surrounding him with inky darkness. Unrelenting, he tried to feel his way forward. "Is this another one of your games, Pri-GAH!" Something caught on his foot, and as he stumbled forward the space around him filled with light and sound. Over the din, that voice rang out cleanly over the cacophony surrounding him. [color=0072bc]"Dropping in now is my guest star for the evening, a top ranking member of the Hounds of Humanity and the conspiratorial genius behind the uncovering of the grand Mutie Migration, please welcome...THE GARGOYLE!"[/color] The Gargoyle came to a sudden stop, landing in what felt like a plush armchair as applause filled the room. Looking around as he tried to catch his breath, he took in the sight of the cheesy television set he landed on, flooded with neon lights and colors, a small band in the corner playing up a storm. The 'audience' cheered and applauded wildly, grinning faces looking down at him as they chanted for the name of their host. [color=0072bc] "And now, ladies and gents, the moment you've all been waiting for...here, live from the Hound's broom cupboard..."[/color] The Gargoyle didn't even consider the raised empty space on the opposite end of the stage before the whole area burst into multicolored flames, showering him and most of the audience in confetti and streamers. The band roared into a new upbeat number as a tall figure emerged from the conflagration, dressed resplendently in a tailored teal suit. [color=0072bc]"It's PRIMETIME, everyone!!!"[/color] The crowd roared in celebration as Primetime stepped off the platform and strode to the front of the stage, posing and exchanging quips with audience members. The Gargoyle tapped his foot impatiently, waiting for the creature's ego trip to subside. And it was unmistakably a creature. It looked human from the neck down, but above that point there was a metallic looking box where a head should have been, crossed with metal looking bars that made it look like one of those old-time microphones. Except of course for its mouth. The damned thing never stopped smiling. [color=0072bc]"Gargoyle!"[/color] Primetime exclaimed excitedly, vaulting over the desk and landing in his chair to face him personally. [color=0072bc]"So nice of you to join us tonight! How are things with you, my daring diorite dude?"[/color] The audience laughed appreciatively as the Gargoyle looked stony. "Perfectly fine without you and your...whatever this is supposed to be!" the Gargoyle remarked coolly. The crowd started to boo before the microphone headed being held out a hand to silence them. [color=0072bc]"Now now, don't be too hard on him folks!"[/color] Primetime said cheerily. [color=0072bc]"After all, trying to harass a girl is grueling work!"[/color] "It's not just about her, it's the whole mutant smuggling ring!" the Gargoyle barked over the sound of the canned laughter of the audience. "If it wasn't for you I'd be doing something more-" [color=0072bc] "Oh, if it wasn't for me, you say?"[/color] The audience collectively went 'Oooooh' as the host leaned forward, his mouth stretching into a wry smirk. [color=0072bc]"Folks, it seems my assistance is unappreciated. But lest we forget-" [/color]There was a rushing sound and the Gargoyle suddenly found himself in his old military uniform, looking remarkably worn and frayed. [color=0072bc]"-when we first met he was merely a lowly sergeant with a dream, and a strange idea about the mutants or two,"[/color] Primetime added, soliciting a few giggles. [color=0072bc]"But let me ask the audience, who was it that pulled some strings to get our friend to where he is now?"[/color] "PRIMETIME!" the audience responded gleefully. There was another rush and the Gargoyle was back in the Hounds uniform. [color=0072bc] "Who was kind enough to lead him to the first clue on his efforts to take down his smuggling ring?"[/color] "PRIMETIME!" A spotlight clicked on, illuminating the Fletcher girl, trussed up and sitting in a chair looking indignant. [color=0072bc]"And who was generous enough to only ask for one little alien girl in return, folks?"[/color] "PRIMETIME!" "You've made your point!" the Gargoyle spat back before his host could parade around a facsimile of Voyager to taunt him. "Now unless you have anything productive to do-" [color=0072bc]"Oh I do, actually!"[/color] Primetime said, surprising even the stony faced commander with that revelation. [color=0072bc]"See, the alien in question is quite powerful, and while I of course have nothing but respect for your boys in black, it seems she would be a little tricky for you to handle."[/color] Some of the audience snickered, and one of the trumpeters made a "wah wah" sound in response. [color=0072bc] "So me being the generous type,"[/color] he continued, standing up from his desk. [color=0072bc]"I was thinking I would offer you a little gift. A certain something that will be handy when you finally get a chance to tussle with her!"[/color] Primetime gestured to the side of the stage as an attractive woman in a short dress walked on stage to cheers and wolf whistles, taking a moment to pose with what looked like a green gem. She handed it over to him with a wink and a smile, allowing the commander to feel the gentle pulsing coming from the mysterious stone. [color=0072bc] "Don't you have a prototype that will fit onto, darling?"[/color] The Gargoyle looked up to find himself back in his own office, as though he had just walked in and sat down. No crowds, no gaudy suits, no special effects. Just him and the gem, a gift from a benefactor who, so far, had not done him any wrong. Smiling slightly, he paged for the engineering division.