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[COLOR=red][indent][sub][I]San Francisco[/I] - [I]Present Day[/I][/sub][sup][right]Issue 1.01.04: [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rbm6GXllBiw]Paradise City[/url][/right][/sup][/indent][sub][hr][/sub][INDENT][sub][B]Interaction(s):[/B] [I]None[/I][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][b]Previously:[/b] [I][url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4906809]1.01.03: Welcome to the Jungle[/url][/I][/right][/SUP][/indent][/color]

Roy straightened his tie as he sat in a booth in the back of the Club Fenris. He was dressed in a sharp Italian suit, and sitting next to him was Grace in a sleek and simple red dress. Her hair was let loose cascading along her shoulders and back. They both raised an eyebrow at each other as they waited. It had been a half hour of waiting so far, which did not bode well. Just as Roy was about to stand up to leave, a voice rang out. [color=pink]”Mr. Harper, I so do apologize for the delay.”[/color]

From around the corner, a man in a gaudy rainbow suit with bleach blonde hair strode up to the booth and gave a wicked smile. Flanking him were two rather large men in black t-shirts and jeans, very clearly bouncer types. Roy placed a hand on the briefcase on the seat next to him instinctively, while reaching over with his right to shake the man’s hand. [color=red]”I take it you are the owner here, sir?”[/color]

The stranger simply shook his head while returning the handshake. [color=pink]”I’m not the owner, no. I’m an… entrepreneur. And the rumor on the street is that you’re looking for something to buy.”[/color]

Roy gave a nod, giving Grace a sideways look. [color=red]”Well… I heard that this is the best place to score some powered protection.”[/color] He gave a small smile before continuing. [color=red]”With all the shit going down in the world, it wouldn’t hurt to have some 21st Century protection.”[/color]

The host was silent for a moment before he himself flashed a smile and laughed. [color=pink]”Of course, of course. I keep my own around.”[/color] He laughed a little too hard before slamming a hand on the table, turning his gaze towards his new buyer. Roy instinctively tightened the grip on his briefcase. After a brief moment, the host started laughing. The two guests nervously joined him. After a moment, the host motioned for the others to follow as he began walking towards the back of the club.

After going through a security door and passing by what seemed like a small battalion of mutant bodyguards, the host had finally led the duo into what seemed like an impossibly large underground bunker. Armed guards in black and red uniforms patrolled around the makeshift facility, holding high-tech rifles that Roy had seen specs for in the SHIELD database. If he could remember correctly, they were called “ICER” rifles. Unfortunately, that wasn’t what was important. In the massive warehouse, individual containment units held a plethora of strange individuals. The host gave a smile and motioned towards the rows upon rows of elaborate cages. [color=pink]”Welcome to our little Mutie Market, Mr. Harper. We’re having a special right now: buy one, get one half price. Each of them comes chipped so you can track them if they get out… and the chips come with a micro-bomb in case they become too unruly.”[/color]

Grace’s hands clenched into fists at the non-chalant nature of the host’s claims. Roy could tell that he didn’t have long to keep her contained. Roy placed a hand on her shoulder reassuringly to ease her tensions for now. Roy simply gave a nod. [color=red]”Do you mind if I take a closer look?”[/color]

The host simply smiled and motioned for him to go ahead. Roy and Grace both made their way closer to the containment units. Roy gave Grace a knowing look as they walked the aisles, with the mutants shying away slightly at their new potential “owners.” The partners shared a nod, and they kicked into action. Roy started by quickly reaching into his inner coat pocket and pulling out a small box. He pressed the side of the box, and a bright light flashed from it. The power immediately cut out, even the emergency lights in this underground warehouse. Roy deftly opened up the briefcase, pulling out two sets of goggles. Once on, the two found they could see in the pitch black to see the doors to the containment units opened… and that the armed guards apparently had night-vision goggles as well.

Grace kicked the briefcase to safety between two of the containment units as a hail of bullets began firing in their direction. Roy dove to meet the briefcase while Grace lifted up her wrists, deflecting a few bullets with her wrist bracelets as she rushed towards a few of the guards. While she pummeled them into a pulp and tossed them aside, Roy smiled as he looked at his functioning gadgets. He slammed his wrists swiftly into two metal bracelets that glowed red as soon as they snapped on. He then fetched the last two weapons before looking back towards Grace. She had easily dispatched her brief adversaries, and was dragging one guard in each hand in his direction. She rested the corpses on the ground and held her hand out expectantly. Roy handed her a collapsible sword, which she quickly flicked out to continue her reign of terror.

Roy slotted his own sword onto his belt before grabbing the rifle and spare magazines off of the guards Grace had been kind enough to fetch for him. As much as he hated to admit it, there was a certain thrill to this. His movements were textbook as he raised the rifle up and peered around the corner, able to use only a single ICER round to take down each and every guard that came in his path. All his actions felt automatic, as if he were just on auto-pilot or some sort of drone. His SHIELD training seemed to have stuck. When his rifle ran out of rounds, he switched to his gauntlets, which fired off small shock rounds of their own. When that emptied out, Roy drew his sword to cut down anyone who stood in his path.

The longer the fight seemed to drag on, the more the mutants began to get involved. Arcs of energy, flame, and lightning briefly illuminated the dark warehouse. The fight lasted for about a half hour, before every single guard and hostile mutant was taken down by the vigilantes and those who were newly freed and willing to fight. Once the dust had settled, Grace approached Roy. Her hands were spattered in blood, but she gave her partner in crime a huge hug. [color=orange]”Thank you. I know a place by the river front, but they’re going to need more permanent settlement. You said you might know someone who could help?”[/color]

Roy gave a small nod, grimacing slightly. [color=red]”Yeah… I can give him a call.”[/color] He began to walk towards the exit, wiping his bloody sword on his pants leg to clean it off, before giving a smile. [color=red]”You owe me for this, Grace. How about-“[/color]

[color=orange]”Not in a million years.”[/color] 

Roy gave an awkward nod at this, before shrugging his shoulders and making his way towards the exit. [color=red]”It was worth a shot.”[/color]
 
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[COLOR=red][indent][sub][I]The Greatest Damn Place on Earth[/I] - [I]Present Day[/I][/sub][sup][right]Issue 1.01.05: [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpmAY059TTY]Estranged[/url][/right][/sup][/indent][sub][hr][/sub][INDENT][sub][B]Interaction(s):[/B] [I]None[/I][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][b]Previously:[/b] [I]Look above you Asshat[/I][/right][/SUP][/indent][/color]

[color=8882be]”You have millions of dollars at your disposal, and you insist on conducting business transactions in Steve’s Spud Sanctuary?”[/color]

Roy pointed his knife accusingly at Agent Coulson, his mouth stuffed full of potato, cheese, sour cream, and chives. He took a moment to swallow it all down. [color=red]”This place is a goddamn treasure.”[/color]

Phil gave a chuckle and shook his head, slowly cutting into his loaded baked potato slowly. [color=8882be]”Look, Roy… I get you called me here for a reason. How can I help?”[/color]

Roy shook his head, setting his utensils down and lifting the napkin up to wipe the crumbs from his lips. [color=red]”Alright, fine. I’ll cut to the chase. I’ve got about fifty mutants sitting in a warehouse that need refuge, and the guards were wearing this on their jackets.”[/color] He pulled out his cell phone and slid it across the table. A green HYDRA patch was displayed clearly on the screen, and Coulson’s grip on his utensils tightened. Roy gave a nod at this reaction. [color=red]”So SHIELD knows who these guys are.”[/color]

Coulson leaned back in his chair, setting his napkin down on the table. [color=8882be]”This is new, I’ll admit. The coloring is wrong, but I’m familiar with the symbol. They’re the same ones who attacked the Helicarrier.”[/color]

Roy’s jaw tightened as he leaned over to grab his phone again. [color=red]”First attacking the Helicarrier, now trafficking mutants? I don’t get it.”[/color]

Coulson shrugged, giving a small smile. [color=8882be]”Well, why don’t you come find out. We pulled a bunch of their tech during a raid on one of their compounds, and I could use someone with the right security clearance to give their tech a once over.”[/color]

Roy tilted his head slightly, pondering the decision for a moment before nodding. [color=red]”Ok. If you give me access to your database and get those mutants somewhere safe, I can do some consulting work for you and the boys at the lab. I just have something I need to check out first, and I need a ride to Star City?”[/color]

[color=8882be]”This wouldn’t have to do with that video of this new Green-“[/color]

[color=red]”That’s none of your damn business, Phil. Just shut up and drive.”[/color]