Shifter_Master

March of the White Rabbit: A Roll-Your-Own Magical Girl Roleplay

_{.:⋮[Checkpoint]⋮:.}

Summary

(23) | (23) | (23) | (13) | (4)

(Metal & Lightning & Gravity) | (Regen & Prime)

(Bile) | (Tooth and Claw) | (Elemental) | (Enhanced Uniform) | (Immortality)
(Monstrous Metamorph) | (Legacy) | (Enhanced Weapon) | (Dual Weapon) | (Gifted)
(Awareness) | (Intuition)

(ManaFont)|Solo

(Redirected Magic) | (Second spec) | (Transport)
(Broken reincarnation) | (Nonstandard limbs)

“That’s three times I owe you Mayra.” One of the Penny’s would call up to the dragon. Even as another of the Pennybots moved over towards Brittany at the Dragon’s growled semi-instruction, semi-question. Penny had always been skilled at reading the more monstrous Mahou, a byproduct of her own origin no doubt. But really it was her granted Wishes that did the most at the moment in helping her interpret the concern, and itching battle lust.

She didn’t add anything further, not wanting to make staying in control anymore difficult for Mayra, but Penny was already planning on scoping out a good arena to pay Mayra back. She couldn’t lie she was curious which of them would come out victorious herself. But now was not the time for it.

At the same time, the Prime Penny was greeting Rachel. “That as well as setting up something of a counter offensive.” She would gesture towards the rest of her copies moving about. Most were pulling out supplies from the bed of the truck, weapons and other Wonderland equipment that Penny had acquired while working on the factory. But a few had moved to take hold of the ruined entrance and keep anything from surprising them as they prepared for further action.

She turned to Brittany her copy looking up to nod in silent agreement with Rachel’s prognosis. A grim look over took Penny’s features for a moment, her eyes turning a dark orange at the rage that thrummed through her. She had failed Brittany; Sanctuary had failed her. The reason was mostly immaterial to Penny she had picked up the crown of Penrose to protect and she failed.

“I can get her and any other who need it to an infirmary.” Penny would say after, her eyes returning to their normal gold, as she turned her attention towards the Mermaid Princess. “It’s not much, but healers are on standby and any who are too exhausted to continue our assault would be safe that I can promise that.” She intentionally didn’t look towards the copy that was holding her girlfriend as it hovered near the edges of the group. She fully counted Violet amongst that number, and unless she woke up Penny would be having her leave with Brittany.

“But regardless we need to get moving quick. I was able to reestablish contact with Penrose and things have gotten unstable and are growing worse.”

March of the White Rabbit: A Roll-Your-Own Magical Girl Roleplay

_{.:⋮[Return of the Queen]⋮:.}

Summary

(23) | (23) | (23) | (13) | (4)

(Metal & Lightning & Gravity) | (Regen & Prime)

(Bile) | (Tooth and Claw) | (Elemental) | (Enhanced Uniform) | (Imortality)
(Monstrous Metamorph) | (Legacy) | (Enhanced Weapon) | (Dual Weapon) | (Gifted)

(ManaFont)|Solo

(Redirected Magic) | (Second spec) | (Transport)
(Broken reincarnation) | (Nonstandard limbs)

“That’s the current status of Penrose your Highness.”

“Understood. Pass along further updates through Snoopy as needed. The next couple of batches are to be kept at the Bastion until we’ve got a better location for them. But outside of those feel free to let volunteers pilot the rest in either theater until further notice.”

“Understood. I shall inform the Regent as well. Out”

She let the line go dead. Shifting her attention back towards the drive ahead, they weren’t far out now. Not if the reading she was getting from the first duplicate she had sent out was still valid. And even if it wasn’t it would still allow them to find the next heading without much trouble.

She doubted anyone would have been able to notice, but she was glad she had a valid reason to stay behind after the engagement at the factory. Even in the presence of Nefer and Akenatan the work she had done on the factory had given her ample time to sort out her internal quibbles.

It was old hat to Penny by now, and made so simple due to her upgrades from Harmony. But still, the need to recalibrate to new responses and feeling after combat again, even now so far removed from her first nights in Penrose. It was strangely nostalgic.

[Connection established]
[Syncing systems]

‘Additional nodes in the network expanded the local rage as well as the comms power. Noted.’

“Heads up. We’ve nearly caught up with the rest.” The Queen would say to the passengers besides her. The castle’s gate starting to loom ahead of them. They were just in time to witness the culmination of things from the looks of it. What with the massive and odd beast getting overwhelmed by Magical Dream Princess’s magical attack.

Seeing as she had a better vantage point further ahead. She tapped into the video feed of her body already in the area.

It was this closer vantage point that let Penny notice was about to happen faster than anyone there did. She could read the fatigue building in her girlfriend even as her magical attack completed itself. And Penny still well knew the cost of such an all-out attack. It’s what would happen next she wouldn’t let happen, not since she could do something about it.

‘This is such a reckless idea… But it’s going to work, and it’s going to be fun!’

There was a sudden high-pitched whining coming from Penny, and all of the other Penny’s in the truck as well. As bright blue glow rapidly building over truck.

“You’re going to want to brace yourselves for this!” She would call out a grin over taking her features.

---

The copy of Penny was looking up at the sight of Magical Dream Princess’s dread slowly starting to form as she recognized what was about to happen.

Then she felt it.

[Connection established]
[Syncing systems]

A surge of new data flooded in. And her attention snapped towards the gate. “Everyone!” She called out, her voice gaining intensity. “Hit the deck!”

Over on the horizon the truck carrying the group of Penny’s Suddenly flared a bright neon blue. It was the only other warning before-

CRASH!!!

---

There was something to be said about synchronicity. About multiple people working in tandem to accomplish something. When a dozen people were coordinated to the second great things could be achieved. Even more so when magic was at play. When those twelve people were all the same person?

The effect was magnified.

In a feat of terrifying efficiency the twelve Penny’s in the truck had worked together to encapsulate the truck and then in a show of gravitic force sling shot themselves at the gate. Eliminating the distance in one massive burst of speed and ramming the fortification.

The gate could only shatter under the titanic force inflicted upon it.

The truck was shockingly unharmed, and had also come to a complete standstill. Both of those a result of the gravitic barrier that was encasing the vehicle, though that winked out a bare moment after impact. Allowing a lone figure to leap out of the bed of the truck to catch the falling Violet before she made much distance from where she had once been perched on a cloud.

Electromagnetic thrusters kicked on a moment later, as a Penny carefully carried the unconscious girl down to the ground.

The truck fell a short distance to the ground as well. Before the door to the truck opened and another Penny stepped out. And it when compared to this one, the copies rang unavoidably false. The Prime Penny had arrived, with reinforcements consisting of a dozen more of herself.

“Well. I might have missed all the excitement, but no one can say I forgot to knock!”

H.E.R.O. University [LovexShifter_Master]

The shock Victor got from shaking Samara’s hand wasn’t all that much of a surprise. Or more accurately he didn’t get caught off guard by it. His older brother followed more after their dad and had an energy projection ability. And wasn’t afraid to use it on low settings.

It was the hesitance that really stuck out to him. And it made him suddenly very aware of both the perceived and expected social dynamics that was going to be forced onto them. And he hated it already.

“Technically I am your handler.” Mr. Jackson would reply. “Vic is one of our star students for sure, but that still only leaves him as a volunteer. All final say goes through me.” He would explain easily, leaning on his desk as he spoke.

“That said, as he is your peer we will be attempting to make sure your and his schedules match up as best we can. The idea is that you should be free to seek him out for help or advice when it comes up. Before needing to elevate the situation to me or people higher up the chain.”

Which was true, it just also held the silent implication that Victor would also be available to keep an eye on Samara and anything she might be trying to get up too. Trust but verify and all that.

“But all of that will get covered in detail at the orientation.” He checked his watch. “It’s starting at 1:30, which gives you just over two hours to explore and maybe get something to eat before you two are to be at Room 302 in the Humanities building.”

It was then that Victor gave Mr. Jackson a sharp look. Something the older man seem to be able to read quite easily. If the smile and reply were anything to go by. “That’s your call. Bureaucracy is appeased, for now it’s up to your own judgement.”

“Right.” Victor would say, drawing out the world to make it clear that he wasn’t exactly pleased with some aspect of the choice before him. “Then if you don’t mind Samara. I’m going to go change back into my civvies. Be back in ten.”

And with that Victor would leave the two of them in the office as he went off to change out of his gear.

The moment the door closed behind Victor, Andy let out a light chuckle. “Don’t mind him too badly Sam.” He would tell Samara. “He’s not the most social of people. But he’s got a good heart, even if he can be a bit of a stickler at times.”

“Hell be back in six, if you are wanting to wait for him. And feel free to have a burrito if you’re hungry.” Andy would add, gesturing to what was likely a cold breakfast burrito still wrapped on the side desk that Victor had been sitting at earlier.

H.E.R.O. University [LovexShifter_Master]

The maybe ten minutes it took to exchange custody of Pulse was really not worth the buildup. And Victor was starting to see why Mr. Jackson fobbed off suit responsibilities. It didn’t absolve him to Victor. especially since Victor ended up being the recipient of Pulse’s… Glare? Disappointment? Her attention, however it was. Which he was sure was due to the fact that he was in his suit.

Though the way she relaxed when the cop left had him at least partially reconsidering that.

“Please don’t” Came his exasperated reply, the voice distorted by the electronic tone it carried.

Victor reached up to his neck and hit the button that opened his helmet. The mechatronics of it whirring to life and retracting it into the housing into the collar of his tac suit. He ran a hand though his hair once his face was uncovered. He knew the thing would save his life one day most likely, but it was still uncomfortable to have on for long periods.

“Everyone on campus will know who you are talking about, but hearing it when he’s outside of his suit is just weird.” His voice was rougher then might be expected. There was a rasp to it, from an old, old, injury.

“Ha!” Mr. Jackson would let out a short laugh. Well accustomed to Victor’s dry personality by now. “But there is no need. Feel free to keep calling me Andy.” He would permit. “No need for your dads to get on my case this early in hmm?”

That caught Victor’s attention, enough that he sent a confused look at Mr. Jackson. He knew the man’s first name was Andrew. Which Andy could be shortened from, but letting Pulse call him by a nickname solidified Victor’s earlier hunch.

‘They know each other.’

He would push that aside for now. Though he was kinda annoyed about it being kept from him.

“I’m Victor. Geo-Matrix only when the mask is on and up, please.” He would introduce himself extending a hand as he did so. “And welcome to H.E.R.O.”

Tiny and the Terminator [Mistress Dizzy & Shifter_Master]

There was a countdown slowly ticking in the back of Slade’s mind as he pushed and pushed. It started from the moment he started edging her out of her element. A count down to when the fight would be won.

Slade was legendary in the underworld. That was undisputed fact. But not many people sat down and considered just what it meant. Slade had been a known entity for over two decades. And was widely considered one of the most dangerous people on the planet.

Most in that position would coast. Let their reputation speak for itself and just live off the fame and the easy proceeds.

But that’s not why Slade became a legend.

It was because the man just never seemed to stop working. Day after day, week after week, for years upon years. In the underworld, in a certain price range of jobs, the risk of running into him was never zero.

So yes, he was known. It would be impossible to not know of him. But for all his pride and arrogance, it also meant that Slade had decades of battle honed and blood stained experience.

‘Zero’

The counter ran out. And Slade nearly pulled off a move that would have turned blood to ice for all watching. He came to a dead stop. Beyond the understanding and expectations of Monae, Slade nearly, nearly, reversed in time.

The reason he failed. The reason his nose still broke, even if it was nowhere near as damaging as it would have been to take it at full force?

Because he had not accurately read Monae. She was faster than he had guessed.

He knew she had more. Everyone has more, and this was a showcase match. Only a fool shows off everything when it’s not life or death. But no one likes to get shown up. And when pride is on the line everyone becomes a fool.

No one watching here would catch just what happened in this quarter second show down. The true depth of mastery shown in this blink. None but the two of them.

So as he felt the cartilage in his nose give way. His gaze locked onto his opponent. And he let his thoughts go cold. Let his thoughts sear this moment into memory. Because she wasn’t just excellent. She was much more then that. And he knew he hadn’t heard of her before.

In the next instant Deathstroke lashed out. Seemingly unphased by the broken and bleeding wound. One hand clamped down on her ankle, the other flowing up to strike her inner thigh to deaden the leg. It flowed seamlessly into a turn and an over the shoulder throw.

Straight towards the nearest wall.

The distance was too far for her to actually hit it. Deathstroke knew she’d be able to regain control in the air, after all, but the dead leg wouldn’t let her move freely. And so, he prepped to follow after her. Finish her off in the corner.

But then the roar of the crowd came back into focus. And he had to bite back a grimace.

Because pride makes fools of everyone. And he is no exception.

“RIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNGGGGGGG OOOOOOOOOOOOUT!” Jake’s call rose above the sound of the crowd.

He might have said more but Slade tuned him out. His gazed still locked onto Monae Queen. It wasn’t hard to tell he was disappointed in how the fight ended by the look in his eye. His gaze was bright, and awake, and ever so slightly baying for her blood.

His attention was broken at last as he caught the roll of cash tossed at him. He didn’t even bother to count it before he pocketed it.

“That’s all from me for tonight I think.” He would drawl to the onlookers, as he reached up and set his nose with one hand. Not flinching at the pain that he must be experiencing, from the sound of it cracking back into place if nothing else.

And then he wonders off. Mainly to find a rag to clean up his own blood, but no one else knows that.

H.E.R.O. University [LovexShifter_Master]

‘Good morning H.E.R.O. Uni’

The dour thought floated through Victor’s head as the school building started coming into view ahead of him.

It was early, the dull gray of dawn not yet having bloomed into the bright morning that was looming on the horizon. It would be a while yet before most of the staff would arrive. With only the cooks in the cafeteria having beaten him here.

That was fine by Victor though. Meant he would have the morning to himself, as he normally did, so that he could go through his workout regimen. It was still weird having people looking to him for advice, or questions or whatever. But he supposed it made sense. He had been prepping for H.E.R.O. for about as long as he could remember after all.

People called him a prodigy, and everyone seemed to want to talk about his Ability. Really though, Victor thought that missed a lot of the work he had put into this, and the entirety of the point as to why. But explaining that to people never seemed to work.

Shaking off his thought Victor turned his attention back to the upcoming exercise.

---

It was a couple hours later. And Victor was walking out of the campus gym. For all the heckling that school’s like H.E.R.O. got, Victor could attest that at least H.E.R.O. was making the most of the money it made.

Simple as it looked on the outside it really was one of the most up to date and advanced places on in the world. Top of the line in everything. Which is why he used its facilities for his workout rather then the set up at home. That and so he didn’t wake up his siblings.

But that was another matter entirely.

He checked his watch, and noted he had enough time to grab something to eat before he needed to get going and find his supervisor.

That was another weirdness. And one that was more him then it was the school. Due to his prep, and scholarship, he wasn’t taking a normal class like most of his peers. He had a really bizarre mix of Internship, apprenticeship and school work.

He shook that thought off as well. ‘Getting introspective today aren’t you?’ He thought to himself. Before turning towards the cafeteria. It was still early, but no longer early enough that he was the only one here.

Not that it changed much. Outside of his uniform, most people didn’t clock him as Geo-Matrix. Not unless someone else pointed him out that was.

Swinging into the cafeteria he picked up three breakfast burritos and dipped out shortly after buying them.

He finished the first one just before knocking on Mr. Jackson’s door, also known as Slipstream. He was an aerokinetic and an unaided flier. Mr. Jackson was a good enough guy, if a bit too upbeat for Victor’s tastes most days, but he did know his stuff. So, Victor was happy to learn from him.

“Good Morning Victor!” Mr. Jackson would call out. “Punctual as always, Excited for today?” He would add on as Victor pushed open the door and entered.

Mr. Jackson looked good for a man in his fifties. Though his hair had gone gray long before, he still was in good shape. He had a dark tan from his years in the sun, and wore his hair short. Today he was dressed in blue polo and slacks. It was more or less the man’s standard look. Though somedays, and for some classes he would bring out his old Hero suit.

“Yes sir.” Victor would answer with a nod. Today was E.V.I.L. Orientation. Which, Victor wanted to club the dumb-ass that actually got it named that, it was worse then H.E.R.O. in his opinion.

“Ha! Always so formal, you can relax kid.” Mr. Jackson would say with a shake of his head. It’s something he said many times, and as with all the others it went ignored by Victor.

“But fair enough. You are going to want to get suited up though. The latest member of the program is getting escorted by their parole officer. So, the start of this is going to be official work.” Mr. Jackson added with an exhausted sort of smile.

“Really?” Victor couldn’t help but ask, thrown a bit by the precaution. He had read over the file put together when Pulse agreed to join the program, and as far as he could tell she had done so willingly. Having the first meet between the two of them be in Uniform seemed… Unhelpful.

“Welcome to bureaucracy.” Came Mr. Jackson’s response. “’A suited and licensed Hero must be present for the release of paperwork and transfer of custody.’” He quoted. “I’ve got the license, so you’ll have bring the suit.”

“Fine.” Victor said with a sigh.

---

An hour and a half later Mr. Jackson and Victor were waiting in Mr. Jackson's office. It had taken Vic only a few minuets to get changed, but they had only been told a range of time when Pulse would be showing up. As such, they had been waiting since. With Vic in his full Geo-Matrix garb sitting in a side desk off to the side working on homework since he had the unexpected down time.

Privately, as he waited, he complained internally about only being told the code name of the person he was supposed to be in charge of for the next year. Even if that was only a truth on paper.

H.E.R.O. University [LovexShifter_Master]

Name: Victor Delaney

Alias: Geo-Matrix, The Cage Kid, Vic.

Age: 23

Birthplace: East Drake City, Michigan.

Appearances: Geo-Matrix | Mask

Out of uniform Victor is much more casual. Jeans, anime shirts and hoodies making the most of his wardrobe. It's surprisingly easy for people to not connect him to his Heroic identity mainly due to the contrast.

Specialty Skills:

Geometric Trigger Fields, or the 'Glass Cage' as others have dubbed it. Is Victor's Meta ability. It's a rather complex ability even if it's component parts are simple.

It's starts with Victor conjuring a 16 inch by 16 inch cube in his hand. From there the Cube can be subdivided into smaller geometric shapes, dubbed Trigger points, to a minimum of a half inch by half inch, which are mentally controlled by Victor. On their own these shapes are decently fast and potent projectiles.

But it's what can be down with the segments that show the true capability of his meta ability. After arranging the trigger points into the outline of a larger geometric shape Victor can then link together these arranged trigger points, causing transparent green fields to fill out the rest of the shape.

These barrier are incredibly strong, and selectively permeable. Even capable of independent flight. Though if not anchored to a solid enough surface they can be more easily moved without Victor's permission.

It requires strong visualization for Victor to accurately place his trigger points, even if he does have an instinctive understanding of here his points are, as if they are not lined up correctly barrier formation will simply fail.

In addition to that the Trigger points themselves are not as durable as the barrier fields they can produce. Leaving some shapes vulnerable to being disrupted if not shaped correctly. Neither can Victor create only Trigger points, needing to conjure the entire Cube from scratch if he is in need of more Trigger points. Which does require focus and energy that he might not have to spare.

Art: It started off as visualization training for his ability, but developed into a hobby. Victor is a decently talented at sketching architecture.

Skate Boarding: The inverse of his artistic hobby. He picked up Long boarding as a cheap and portable method of transport. It was only after that his brother pointed out that it that he added in flying on his trigger fields.

Personality: Victor is a standoffish sort of guy. Always focused on his school work or Hero work or even personal projects. Leaving him to be stilted and poor at interpersonal things. Not helped by his seeming need to argue over details and unwillingness to back down in most cases.

He does care though, about helping people and putting away people that deserve it. It's just that there is always something more to do, something else that needs work.

History: Victor was more or less born into the role of a Hero. It was what his father was, as was his grand father, and great grandfather before that. None of his family have ever earned much accolades or fame. But the solid work for generations speaks true to those who know the name.

As the middle child of four, Victor stands out as having the strongest Meta ability of the family, possibly ever in the history of the family as well. A mix of his Father's energy blasts and his Mothers matter creation.

Due to this Victor grew up knowing what it was he was going to do. But he has never felt resigned to it, only determined to do it right.

He has never been the popular sort. Never antagonized, more just over looked, as he focused on his work and his training. It wasn't until he started going to H.E.R.O. That he started pulling attention towards him. His fundamentals were solid, and his Ability blatantly useful.

But at the end of the day it was the fact that he wanted to help people. And so signed up to assist with the rehabilitation program soon as he heard about it.

Tiny and the Terminator [Mistress Dizzy & Shifter_Master]

‘Capoeira. Called it.’

The thought flitted through Slade’s mind as he swayed back out of the first of his opponent’s twirling dervish of kicks. His next back steps were clean and economical. He was ceding ground sure, but no one who was watching could claim he was retreating.

Because he wasn’t. He was simply giving her room to show what she could do. He challenged her to a fight for a reason after all.

But that didn’t stop him from shooting her a patronizing smile when he recognized her glib answer. He might not be the most prolific at Sign, but her knew enough to read her ‘8’ masked as a taunt.

A heartbeat later their fight resumed. Slade dashing in, a low kick aimed at her wrist. It was a friendly fight for sure, so he wouldn’t kill her. But a light maiming wasn’t off the table; after all, at this point if it happened, she deserved it.

And from there the fight was a master class in both contrasts, and technique.

Slade was nothing but sharp straight lines of movement. Jagged and fast. Always at the edge of Queen’s range unless he was diving in with strikes or kicks. And even then, the risk of getting hit didn’t deter him all that much. He was more than willing to trade blows if it looked like he might score a solid reprisal in turn.

Queen, on the other hand, was an endlessly flow of looping winding movements. Never still, never static as she danced around the ring. Her stance ever shifting as she glided around the blows raining down on her, but never once was she flat footed.

It went on at this unreal, almost breakneck, pace for a solid minute. Neither letting the pace slow or the other rest.

Then Slade upped the pressure. From the outside it wasn’t enough for anyone to really notice.

But to Queen? Those almost hits, those near misses and last moment dodges, started becoming less show, and more fact. As Slade slowly, sadistically, zeroed in on her upper band of speed. And started edging her out of it. Inch by inch.

He wasn’t breathing hard, and was barely working up a sweat. And while he would admit to enjoying this surprise turn of events, what with actually finding a halfway competent combatant. It was time to bring it to a close.

She was good, that was confirmed. She was even excellent, that was the surprise.

But that’s all she was.

Tiny and the Terminator [Mistress Dizzy & Shifter_Master]

The room around the two of them was suddenly very, very, lively. Even people who had written off the fights had been drawn in by the prospect of getting to see The Deathstroke in action. Side bets of all sorts were being placed fast and freely.

The crowed swelled, but the edge of the ring was never crossed. A soft, unspoken awareness that to do so would risk the ire of a Legend, or worse cause him to leave.

The extra eyes, and rowdiness, delayed the fight for an extra handful of seconds. As people jockeyed for a good spot to watch.

But all of that was secondary, or perhaps even tertiary, to Slade. His focus was solidly on the woman before him. And he was sure the same was true for her. His gaze was cold, near apathetic, with only a few stirrings of curiosity in it as he analyzed her. Picking apart the way she held herself, the way her gaze tracked his movements, the way she was preparing herself.

She was good. That much he knew for fact, he might even be willing to say she was excellent. Everything he could tell told him so. But as he settled into a simple stance, somewhere between karate and boxing, he couldn’t help but wonder if that was all she was.

It wasn’t a slight against her, exactly, but the lack of a callsign did speak to her preferred methods of operation. He had spent enough time with Wintergreen to know that being too good could be its own detriment to Spies and Spooks.

Just one reason among many that he never bothered with that line of work too much.

But it did confirm that he had chosen the right choice for trying to get the answer. He doubted she would be honest if he just asked her. But then again, this was the more enjoy able option in the first place. So he doubted he would have bothered trying it any other way regardless.

“You know, I have a simple question for you.” He would say, his voice pitched soft and low. Cutting through to her, and her alone, as the crowed continued to build. Even as the starting timer ticked down in spite of it all. “Was it seven kicks, or eight?”

It was a warning and a taunt all in one.

One Monae had only a scant pair of moments to process. As on the tail end of his private question Jake called out to all to hear, “Aaaand GO!!!”

And with speed that seemed to fly in the face of Slade’s size, he blitzed towards her, faster by far then Pim could ever hope to move. His eye locked onto her, his smile promising pain.

Mage The Ascension: Illusion and Reality in the City of Sin

Robert took a mental step back as he took a hard look at everyone here. No one was on the same page, or at least nearly no one was. He could feel that itching away at him, the conflicting Perspectives grinding at each other, and really, he had to stifle a curse.

‘Why do I have to be the team player?’ He groused internally. But knew it was the best way to stay alive, so he sucked it up. For now.

“Hey Sam.” He’d say as he moved over to the ex-gangster’s side. “Here,” He passed off his gun, “I’m going to help ‘Zekiel tear down the light show but I’m going to want this back. And careful it pulls to the left.” He stayed only long enough to take a drag off his smoke before turning away.

He stopped by the van just long enough to grab the first wrench he could see before moving towards the tower. He wanted the thing gone ASAP, and he had a few ideas of how to do that. Though he doubted that Ezekiel would approve of any of them.

That was fine.

He'd play along with the old man for now, but getting to examine the thing up close and personal would let him figure out the best way to prep it to come down like a stack of cards. Something that would only get easier when the Suits showed.

But damn if he didn’t wish he had more time to set up the Stage. At least he knew the Crowd he was working with were at least Awake. Now it was just time to find the right Trick to pull this all off.