[center][h1][b][color=dodgerblue]Wards and Other Heroes:[/color] Charity Event Aftermath[/b][/h1] [@Old Amsterdam][@Gardevoiran][@Lugubrious][@solokolos][@yoshua171][@BCTheEntity][@LemonZest1337][/center] This was it. Everything was over. The civilians had been evacuated without a single casualty. Without so much as a single injury, even. All of the Rockers had been detained from the lowliest thug, to both commanders. The heroes had suffered some injuries amongst themselves, but all in all it was a pretty great turnaround for the situation. The worst of the injuries had been suffered by G4M3R, who while very much alive, likely would never be able to perform field work again. His bones would no doubt take a couple months to heal to the point of casual use again. That said, he was lucky to have only been so injured by Shatterpoint. Had the villain willed it, G4M3R would have been killed several times over. Speaking of Shatterpoint, he continued to scream and shriek from within the confines of his foam prison, his voice growing hoarse, his throat turning raw. Nobody could mistake the sounds of sobbing mixed in. For such a dangerous badass capable of such destruction and personal damage, he turned out to be completely incapable of handling his current situation. Ceramix fared better, concerned only for his compatriot rather than his own captivity. [color=burlywood]"Please!"[/color] he shouted, regaining his senses and orientation. [color=burlywood]"The anxiety might kill him! He can't stay in there! Play my music! Someone play my music, please! It'll help calm him down!"[/color] Nearby, Protean had just finished making sure that Overlook was alright. The shapeshifter approached, skin bubbling and changing back into that of a normal human appearance, taking on another brand new face. He held up his communicator, and pressed a couple buttons on the holo-display. [color=lightgreen]"I set it on speaker. Go for it, Decoy."[/color] What followed was, quite possibly, the worst composition of rock-core-hip-hop anybody present had ever allowed to penetrate their skulls. The Protectorate and the Wards knew what to expect. After all, it was basic intelligence gathering of a known criminal in the city to listen to the music that Ceramix had placed on the online marketplace. One could argue the anticipation of such god forsaken music only served to make it worse. The rest may or may not have already been aware of Ceramix's [i]unique[/i] musical stylizing, but the consensus could only ever be unanimous: this was painful to hear. Painful to everyone, that is, save for Shatterpoint. Just as Ceramix had said, the "melodies" and "rhythms" calmed Shatterpoint. He had not reached a point remotely close to content or calm, but it certainly reduced his anxious shrieking to a somber weeping, and that was something at least. [color=yellow]"I suppose I'll be working overtime in the office over this. Ay ye ye ye."[/color] Inkscape shook his large, bulbous head from side to side in a swaying motion that could have matched ocean waves. [color=yellow]"The events will need to be canceled, of course, and rescheduled. I imagine news crews are about to swarm in at any moment. Heroes, be on your best behavior for the vulturous media."[/color] He wandered off in order to address each of the Wards individually. All five received warm accolades from the octo-man, though Tulpa had also been given a stern warning to be on better behavior in the future, and not to disregard orders for rash judgments of her own. Disregarding such a small blurb amidst the rest of the congratulations, everything went swimmingly. After it all, Inkscape congratulated each of the other heroes unaffiliated with the PRT. Angel, Furnace, the Minutemen, and everyone else received a short and curt, yet sincere thanks for their efforts and contributions. However, once he approached Mastar, the Protectorate hero had something else to add on. [color=yellow]"It's a shame that your parents declined to let you into the Wards. I think you would do very well in the Protectorate, with the right guidance. If she ever changes her mind, you've always got an open invitation."[/color] With that, it was time to vacate the property. The local authorities and the PRT officials needed to investigate the center for damages. All the captured criminals were carted out to transport vehicles, just as the heroes met with swarms of reporters outside, each one chomping at the bit for an interview, for a private story, or even for just a small bit they could run with, sprinkling their own embellishments into the story. The rest of the day looked to be quite busy indeed... [hr][hr] [center][h1][b][color=red]The Jacks[/color] and Other Less-Than-Legal Individuals[/b][/h1] [@yoshua171][@BCTheEntity][@Eklispe][@Old Amsterdam][@solokolos][@PlatinumSkink][@Gardevoiran][@Xandrya][@Spiffy][/center] The Broker immediately craned his neck at the sound of the door opening up, checking to see the newcomer of this meeting. Seeing the individual in question to be Mantis, he offered a courtesy nod to the vigilante, which was not returned. He seemed to care little, paying more attention to the discussion unfolding before everyone regarding the Rockers, and Swarm. Exaggerating his expressions very much purposefully, he nodded with approval and surprise as Creep verbally tore into Swarm. Though her attitude was impressive, this was still a business exchange and the telekinetic villain's offer was far more enticin- And then Thunderbolt cut in, offering to back Creep for the unclaimed vial. Well, wasn't [i]this[/i] interesting? Seeing the opportunity come up, Purge raised a single finger for attention. [b]"As the debate rages forward, I would express claim over this vial as well. I am capable of paying twice what either Swarm or Thunderbolt can offer."[/b] Sabotage cut in. [color=pink]"You already got a freebie with your lackey there. I'll take the vial, and I can pay in dangerous technology I took from the Minutemen."[/color] The Broker finally spoke up. [color=slateblue]"I'm sure everyone would like it, even if just to take the piss out of someone else here. However I only offered it between the representative of the Rockers... And Swarm."[/color] He raised a hand as if directing everyone to quiet down. [color=slateblue]"And with our most fascinating development, I am inclined to provide it toward... The Rockers. Consider it an investment in a new startup company. I had better see a [i]valuable[/i] profit return, lass."[/color] With the decisions made, Broker began to distribute the vials exactly as previously determined: one for the mafia, one for Sabotage, two for the Rockers, one for Lethal Force, and one for Reflections. During the process, he also provided everyone with the number of a mobile phone, instructing them all to relay any and all information via that number. He would act as the communication nexus in this alliance to annihilate the Community. Meanwhile Headhunter and Chatterbox were moving the unconscious, bound body of Xolotl. The Community's most dangerous, most lethal fighter and enforcer, right there in their hands. He had been so easily dispatched, so easily ruined. On any other day he had power enough to back up his boast: he very well could have killed everyone in that room. Yet in the presence of the Broker... Well, the two of them knew more of the man's capabilities than the rest of the city's underworld.