Steve Barton (swashbuckler) wrote in marvel_nextgen,
@ 2009-09-24 20:01:00

Entry tags:

iason, inactive - daniel sherwood, inactive - nightingale, inactive - swashbuckler, jack murdock, kalypso, npc - hank pym, npc - jarvis, npc - sersi, npc team - zodiac, team - avengers

Rallying the Troops
Steve had, quite perplexingly, been unable to get a hold of Anya all day. Following that, he'd tried to see if Toni had heard from her, and discovered that neither one of them had. Further calls up and down the Young Avengers phone tree had left him unable to raise several other members as well. Hardly any of the comm. cards were working, and with the few that he did, there was something funny about the line. He knew just enough from his mom to know when a line was being tapped, and he suspected the YA cards were.

He'd gone out to check Hyrdobase, and found it deserted. Plus, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched.

All of which had led him back to Avengers' Mansion, for lack of anything better to try. Maybe one of the adults would know what was going on.

(Read comments) - (Post a new comment)

ng_zodiac
2009-09-29 12:26 am UTC (link)

"Because I couldn't afford to tell your source everything, and she had little time to pass it on to Natasha Romanova, I'm guessing. The Contessa has some help I passed on to her to help resist the brainwashing, but its not inifinite or guaranteed. There's limited time, and the Zodiac are powerful and resourceful. Mikel wouldn't have made this kind of move if he didn't think he had his bases covered. And he might, but I figured if I didn't make a move now, his hold over Sammy, and SHIELD, wasn't going to get any weaker."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	swashbuckler 2009-09-29 12:43 am UTC (link)
	Steve nodded slightly. "That makes it even more important we get her and the rest of our people out of there." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

ng_zodiac
2009-09-29 12:49 am UTC (link)

"It does, but there's a number of factors you need to be aware of and prepared to deal with. And if I'm going to help you and break cover on months worth of work, I need to be convinced you have the means. I can give you information on the Zodiac, but you also need to be prepared to deal with any and all Avengers they've taken into custody, as well as Col. Fury and other SHIELD personnel. They aren't mind controlled - so taking out Virgo won't free them. And its not traditional brainwashing. They won't be confused, or even hesitate out of any recognition or affection. She has conducted full scale psychic surgery on them, altering their memories, motivations, loyalties... you will have to consider them full enemies whose entire loyalty is to the Zodiac, and then be prepared to heal the process through psychic or mystical means."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

swashbuckler
2009-09-29 01:17 am UTC (link)

Truth be told, Steve isn't entirely certain he understood the totality of that explanation. But he's never let a thing like that stop him before.

"We've got somebody for that," he said. Sersi, most likely, like Daniel had suggested. Or, if necessary, they'd put a call into Xaiver's.

"And we'll fight whoever we have to. We take care of our own. One way or the other."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

ng_zodiac
2009-09-29 01:21 am UTC (link)

"You're going to need a plan. I can help a little from the inside, but if I'm not convinced you can do this, I can't risk breaking character. I'm only going to get one shot. In any case, I have personnel files on the Zodiac, but you're going to need to be prepared to fight all of your friends they've brought in too, and expect your friends will fight as if they've never known you, and are totally loyal to the Zodiac - because effectively, they are."

She pauses as the waitress brings her order, waiting until the woman has left to continue."

"You also need to account for three specific threats. If they are not accounted for, you stand no chance of success."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	swashbuckler 2009-09-29 01:42 am UTC (link)
	Steve stared her straight in the eye. "The woman I love is in the hands of these people. I will do anything to get her back." Anya had been through enough hell without further brainwashing. "And those are?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

ng_zodiac
2009-09-29 02:02 am UTC (link)

"Good, I trust your conviction. You're going to have to convince me you have the tactical and planning chops, as well as the leadership skills to get people on board. I promise you, go in half-cocked with no plans or organization because you're all upset, you will all die or spend the rest of your lives rotting in prison. You have to do this right or not at all."

She meets his gaze right back, unwavering.

"One, Sammy Fury. She can stop time short term, meaning that you could have everything in hand, and the entire situation will change without anyone being able to do a thing about it. She will not be on their front lines, likely acting as director in her father's place until they can trust he's fully under Virgo's control."
She slips a file folder out from her jacket, sliding it across to him.
"Secondly, the top picture in there is of Madeline Pierce, aka Capricorn. She's an extremely powerful illusionist. If she's still active a few minutes into the fight, you could go through an entire battle and not touch or see a single real threat. She has no superhuman durability, but she won't be on the front lines, and can act from a distance."
She flips a couple pictures in the file folders.
"Thirdly, Mattie Robitaille, aka Aquarius. She is mentally retarded, regressed to roughly the mental equivalent of a pre-teen girl, despite being physically mature. She is a full-on reality manipulator. Anything she genuinely believes is likely to come true. Mikel has convinced her their plans cannot fail, and their various members are perfect in their fields... perfect tactics, perfect security and so on. She is barely cognizant of having powers. What she believes simply is. She is one of the most powerful mutants alive, and entirely manipulated by Mikel and Virgo. As long as she's conscious, you literally cannot beat them."

She sighs, "All of the Zodiac members are listed in there, powers, personality, profile, except Libra. That's me. It took a huge amount of resources and risk to infiltrate this organization past Mikel's best efforts, Virgo's psychic abilities and the rest. If you can convince me you have a plan that will take this all down, not just free your friends... I can and will help you. I can't take down all three priority threats, but can likely negate one of them. When you think you're ready, and have a plan and the backing of your teammates, you can contact me at the number listed on the inside back of that folder. That number will be good for three days, after which I will discard the cel phone. Call from a pay phone or disposable cel. Leave a message stating that you have my theater tickets ready. I will meet you here the evening you make the call. Understood?"

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

swashbuckler
2009-09-30 02:14 am UTC (link)

It was a lot to absorb and frankly, Steve was not entirely sure he liked what he heard. Part of him had honestly expected it to be like something out of the old days of the original Young Avengers, New Warriors, or New X-Men--they'd steal a vehicle, go off half-cocked, and win somehow despite having no more plan than hit things.

He liked that kind of plan.

"Understood."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

ng_zodiac
2009-09-30 04:45 am UTC (link)

"Good, in that file folder, you will find descriptions, both physical and capabilities-wise of everyone in the new human Zodiac save for Libra, as mentioned. When you return, tell me who you want me to take down or what you need done from the inside. Don't get too ambitious. Leave a couple doors unsecured I can do, take out a priority target, I can do. But I'm the only help on the inside you have."

She slides one more folder out of her coat and slides it over.

"In there you will find the locations they have your people held, typical SHIELD personnel numbers, armament and rotation, floor plans, and the most recent tactical assessment of the helicarrier. Before I go, is there anything else you need? Also, if you doubt whose side I'm on or the accuracy of any of the information, mention the name Talia Coleridge to your father, and do not mention it to anyone else. I took a huge risk meeting you here, going by nothing but family history as a reference. Make it worth both our time, Avenger."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	swashbuckler 2009-10-01 02:32 am UTC (link)
	Coleridge... Coleridge... the name rang a bell, even if he couldn't quite place it. Steve knew he should have studied the Avengers' files more closely. But one thing he did have was an instinct for people. And those had rarely steered him wrong before. "I will. Thank-you." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	ng_zodiac 2009-10-01 07:18 am UTC (link)
	She's quite sure his dad will know the name, anyway. And she'd put money on Hawkeye vouching for her... and asking his son to try and figure out how the Coleridge's do that vanishing trick. For now, she tosses money for the bill and a reasonable tip on the table and stands up. "I'll be looking forward to hearing from you. Good luck." (Reply to this)(Parent)

(Read comments) -

scribbld is part of the horse.13 network
Design by Jimmy B.
Logo created by hitsuzen.
Scribbld System Status