|
Post by zaphodbeebledoc on Apr 1, 2019 8:18:53 GMT
tell me he's gonna turn up all in the plastic and everything - and he has to spend 10 minutes connecting death-ray lead A to hyper-capacitor B... If he does that, the polarity of the neutron flow will have to be reversed, otherwise, boom! Today or tomorrow...
|
|
|
Post by dstubbs on Apr 1, 2019 18:10:16 GMT
He’s going to rock up looking like that robot woman from Superman 3
|
|
|
Post by Kristian on Apr 2, 2019 16:13:54 GMT
|
|
|
Post by dstubbs on Apr 2, 2019 18:34:51 GMT
Fuck.
Yes.
|
|
gilbo
2019 Group
Posts: 1,446
|
Post by gilbo on Apr 5, 2019 15:03:05 GMT
Issue 21 - "Four tentacles and a funeral"
The tentacled monster that had emerged from Zarkhov's body attacked the heroes as soon as the door had been opened. Kaladin was grabbed by one tentacle that secreted acid which ate away at his armour, and a vicious claw snapped at Tommy but failed to damage him. Jo was attacked by a purple appendage but her sonic shield protected her, and Will avoided being burned by another. The creature's brain emitted a telekinetic pulse which threw Jo, Yukio and Will across the floor. Tommy charged in and, helped by the others, managed to tear off the pulsating brain and rip it apart. The tentacles kept going, however, although the acidic one was destroyed by combined attacks from Kaladin and Yukio. The purple tentacle grabbed Tommy and sucked out some of his powers, causing him to begin to age rapidly. Sonic pulses from Jo weakened the creature allowing Will to scissor up the purple tentacle, and Tommy grabbed it and hit one of the other tentacles with it. As it began to regenerate, the heroes combined their powers and a massive blast of sound from Jo, followed by attacks from the others finally destroyed the beast.
In the remains, Kaladin found a stony crystal which crumbled to dust when he touched it, transferring some energy into him. Jo took sample from the creature and continued her research into the symbiote and it's effects. They asked Vlad to work on various projects for them, and then went to bed. Kaladin, who does not sleep, prepared his new modified mech suit.
In the morning they decided to contact Major Stoke and ask him if the army could carry out some profiling of the test subjects they had encountered so far. Stoke asked them to come in, and at the base informed them of the latest security breach. Tank Commander, who was being held at the base, had shot himself in the head. After reviewing security footage and viewing the body, the Specials concluded that a shape-shifter had once again impersonated the major in order to murder the Tank, and possibly removed his powers. They told the major to improve security and worked out a series of code phrases to check identities.
While Yukio and Jo planned a charity gala to promote the Specials, Yukio was contacted by one of her father's staff who passed on a message from one of Mr Lau's aides. Apparently Lau was at Yukio's Birmingham house, having been given some kind of infusion of Tommy's blood after meeting with Yukio. Concluding this was the work of the same or another shape-shifter, she told them to take precautions and put the phone down.
3 xp, total 59.
|
|
gilbo
2019 Group
Posts: 1,446
|
Post by gilbo on Apr 15, 2019 20:44:28 GMT
Issue 22 = "Dr Doom"
The Specials asked Vlad to work on secure communication devices and super power detectors before leaving London to head back to Birmingham. They managed to secure a venue for the charity concert and asked Cherry to hold a press conference that evening to promote the event.
Yukio was contacted by her father via Cherry, and he seemed to have been captured. By tracking the phone signal, the Specials headed to a pharmaceutical research lad nearby on a rescue mission. Once inside, they discovered Yukio's father and five others, who had been given samples of the Special's own blood which imbued them with temporary powers. Yukio was locked in a mental struggle with her father, who had sorcery powers, while a gladiator charged at Tommy, a shape-changing robot attacked Will, a skeleton engaged Mr Dead, and Josephine was beset by someone resembling the man from the GoCompare advert. Kaladin was left to fight the creation made from Kurt's blood - a werewolf-like creature.
After defeating these enemies, and leaving the innocent patients unharmed but confused, the Specials engaged Dr Masood, who had powerful death-dealing powers and strong defences. Kaladin managed to open up a wound on the evil doctor, allowing Will to be propelled inside and expanding himself to rip the fiend apart.
4xp, total 63.
|
|
gilbo
2019 Group
Posts: 1,446
|
Post by gilbo on May 1, 2019 21:43:11 GMT
Issue 23 - "A Bridge Too Far" After recovering from their battle with Doctor Doom, the Specials went to the press conference where Jo and Yukio spoke about the charity gala in front of the world's media. As it was drawing to a close, a figure appeared and walked THROUGH the gathered crowd. This appeared to be Mr Lau, looking healthier than previously, shrouded in a purple spectral haze (on closer inspection it can be noted that this hazy persona has the appearance of Wendy Wiles, the ghostly woman you encountered at Veal's house in the country). The voice from Lau warned of the coming storm and explained that there was 'part of myself (and IT) in this body' and 'At first I just wanted a taste, but then there was a hunger. Now I am all but consumed. I cannot hold it back much longer.' Another, more demonic voice emanated from his mouth and proclaimed 'I am the storm. I am coming.' Lau's body then exploded, splattering everyone nearby with purple ectoplasm. In the aftermath of this event, journalists informed the Specials that an incident had occurred in London. A strange announcement had played across the media, of a demonic face identifying as 'Violet Storm'. The creature had also warned of the coming storm, mirroring similar pronouncements that had been visible over the last days. Most people had assumed that this was an ad campaign, but it now transpired that Violet Storm was a terrorist. A clue had been provided at the end of the broadcast: APOCALYPSE: THE FIRST SIGN. FLOOD WATER AT THE EIGHTH RING. This turned out to refer to (taking the initial letters) AT FSF WATER. At 8pm a major flood occurred at the Farringdon, Spitalfields & Finsbury Water plant. The water was electrified, and Major Stoke called in Supercharge to rescue people from the plant, which he successfully did. However, returning for the last person, he disappeared and no bodies were found. Taking the invisivan to London, the Specials met with Stoke and liaised with his team. The next morning, at 9am, a second warning was issued: APOCALYPSE: THE SECOND SIGN. WHICH LONDON BRIDGE IS FALLING DOWN? LOOK W AND SW OR THINK BACK TEN. Speculating that this might be Tower Bridge, the Specials readied for a second attack. At 10am, an incident was reported at Wandsworth Bridge (hidden in the letters). A petrol tanker had been deliberately overturned in the middle of the bridge, trapping a bus and several cars containing civilians. When the Specials arrived, the driver of the cab emerged, surrounded in a purple haze (on closer inspection, this haze resembled Ken Wong, the fire-controller who died in the blaze at the nurses's flat). Before the villain, who appeared to be acting under compulsion, could set fire to the tanker, Tommy picked up the truck and hurled it into the water. As it hit the river, it exploded and blew Tommy back, but no harm was caused to the civilians. Yukio used telekinesis to move the bus out of danger and Will set about freeing those trapped in the other vehicles. Tommy punched the villain back into the water and Mr Dead followed, finally destroying the fiend with a powerful thrust of his bone claws. Yukio used her powers to help the injured and return the stricken tanker to land, and once again The Specials had saved the day. Later, at 5pm, a third announcement was made: APOCALYPSE: THE THIRD SIGN UNHOLY BIRTHS AT THE LAST CHIMES OF SIX Fearing that another attack was going to take place, possibly at a church or maternity hospital, our heroes desperately tried to figure out where... 3xp, total 66.
|
|
gilbo
2019 Group
Posts: 1,446
|
Post by gilbo on May 4, 2019 13:28:33 GMT
Issue 24 - "Holy Stained Glass, Batman!"
After pondering the cryptic message for a while, Tommy noticed that the phrase 'last chimes' was an anagram of St Michael's. There were six churches of St Michael's in London, and the Specials decided to tackle them one by one, although they sent Kaladin and Mr Dead off to two of them. At the first location, a wraith-like creature emerged from the church and the Specials engaged in an aerial battle from the invisivan. Yukio used telekinesis to hurl Tommy through the air, whilst Jo used sonic blasts and Will attacked in eagle form. Despite some of their attacks passing through the creature, it was eventually forced to retreat into the church. Will followed, turning himself into an arrow so he made just a tiny hole in the stained glass. Tommy leapt through after, smashing a massive person-sized hole in the church window. Despite this, the wraith was finally defeated by the heroes.
At the next church, a police barricade had been set up and some creature was trying to batter the door from within. Jo entered through a window that was being repaired, but Tommy destroyed some more rare glass on his entry. Inside they found a skeletal creature. Jo's sonic blasts seemed ineffective against it, and Will and Tommy's attacks were also struggling to damage it. The skeleton thrust its bony claws into the two fighters, leaving Tommy badly wounded and Will in pieces on the floor. The creature ran out of the church, directly at Yukio, but she protected herself with a force field. Jo and Tommy followed, smashing more windows, and their attacks finally reduced the skeleton to dust. Having put Will back together, they headed off to the next location.
A ghost was flinging cars around and wounding several police officers outside the next church. Yukio tended to the wounded while Jo trapped the creature in a sonic whirlwind, allowing the others to defeat it. The fourth church held a mummy-like creature, which the Specials took down using similar tactics. Kaladin had established a cordon around the fifth location, but the creature seemed to have retreated into the catacombs and he had not been able to locate it. Down in the crypt, Will turned into a bat and used sonar to discover that there was a Vampire lurking around, who had captured the vicar. Yukio conjured fire and used it to good effect, and the others joined in, eventually turning the fiend to dust and freeing the priest from his mental control.
As Mr Dead had apparently dealt with the threat at the last church, the Specials went back to base to rest.
4xp, total 70xp.
|
|
gilbo
2019 Group
Posts: 1,446
|
Post by gilbo on May 10, 2019 14:49:55 GMT
Issue 25 - "Riders on the Storm"
Although Mr Dead had defeated the ghoul, it appeared that he had been abducted shortly afterwards. While investigating this, the Specials learned that the next attack would be on an aeroplane, which they deduced to be BA Flight 606. Tommy headed back to base in the invisivan, while Yukio piloted Kaladin's Gilgamesh mech, taking Will, with Jo flying alongside. Mr Dead awoke in a crate, and discovered he was on the plane.
As they approached, they found the plane trapped in a storm which had been created by someone with the powers of Helena Hale, the woman they had previously defeated (and later found drowned at the military base). Kaladin absorbed the lightning energy and attacked the woman with a powerful laser thrust, while Jo and Yukio used their powers to try and knock her off the plane. Meanwhile, Tommy helped Vlad repair the teleporter so that he could join the others, resulting in the senseless waste of some kittens and several pieces of fruit.
On the plane, Mr Dead had talked to the stewardesses but was then overcome by a post-hypnotic compulsion and dismembered several passengers. Tommy teleported in and managed to subdue him before he could cause any more damage. As Yukio blasted the super villain with fire, Will leapt off and turned himself into a parachute, pulling her off the plane. As they fell, she impaled Metalmorph with a spear of ice, shattering his body into a thousand pieces. Jo managed to catch them both in a sonic sphere and save Will's life.
Having cleared ice from the engines, Yukio telepathically calmed the pilot and he successfully landed the plane. She, along with Jo and Kaladin, finally managed to defeat the villain, and carry the confused host safely back to earth. Although exhausted, Yukio also healed several of the wounded passengers.
Back at the base, Jo tended to Mr Dead and found that a message had been seared into the flesh on his back: APOCALYPSE: THE FIFTH SIGN: WAR....
3xp, total 73xp.
|
|
|
Post by brumguvnor on May 21, 2019 9:02:52 GMT
Steve: are you going to be able to make it this week?
|
|
gilbo
2019 Group
Posts: 1,446
|
Post by gilbo on May 21, 2019 11:06:18 GMT
Steve: are you going to be able to make it this week? Yes I will be there this week and next. Might have to miss one or both of the first weeks in June.
|
|
gilbo
2019 Group
Posts: 1,446
|
Post by gilbo on May 22, 2019 19:02:21 GMT
Issue 26 - "The Plan Before the Storm"
Yukio used her powers to probe Mr Dead and discovered that a person resembling Jacob Engels had mind-controlled him and implanted the suggestions. Someone resembling Ken Wong had seared the message into his back. The group were concerned that their enemy was able to absorb powers and implant them into others, and guessed the mastermind might be Engels. Yukio managed to find his phone number, and got Stoke to trace the signal, finding a house in Birmingham. Later, the body of Engels was found there by Strickland's team, he apparently having hanged himself several days previously.
Worried that their enemy might be able to trace them to their base, they investigated the hangar where they had fought Zarkhov's mech. Vlad took Yukio up the shaft, and they found nothing new, except that Vlad had begun repairing the giant mech. They asked him to work on power-detectors and a gun for Tommy.
The team concocted a plan to deal with the enemy, who presumably had a collection of powers. They asked Stoke to load a bunker with explosives, then got Vlad to engineer transponders which could be stuck to the enemy. The plan was that the enemy could be transported into the teleporter, and from there to the trapped bunker.
They then received a message from Kaladin's 'black box protocol', which showed drone footage of him being abducted. An invisible assailant drained his powers, and a woman then knocked him out, transformed into a giant bird, and carried him away with her comrade. They were heard saying 'Dr Veal will have to make do with this one'. The kidnappers had seemed to head north, and so the Specials guessed that he could have been taken to Birmingham. After much deliberation, someone remembered that they had never looked at the broken phone discovered in the lava cave. On it, they found a message from Veal to Forza, giving a contact address of Box 421, at the hospital where Veal had worked when he and Forza were roommates. The cryptic message led them to Good Hope hospital.
After a quick ride, the team found the pigeon holes in the basement at Good Hope, and eventually someone came along to take something from box 421. Following her down the corridor, they observed her open a door using an invisible handle. Yukio held the door with telekinesis, and the Specials followed her inside...
3xp, total 76xp.
|
|
|
Post by brumguvnor on May 23, 2019 8:46:01 GMT
- he did no such thing!
She's saving herself for Tommy... - or Cherry...
|
|
gilbo
2019 Group
Posts: 1,446
|
Post by gilbo on May 24, 2019 16:57:43 GMT
Issue 27 - "Veal Meet Again!"
The woman they were following entered an old ward, where she and her two companions were living. As Yukio, invisible, held the door open, they could see the power-draining man waiting inside, along with a heavy-set man who appeared to be made of rock. Jo slipped inside, also under cover of invisibility, and used her new sonic lullaby to put the large man to sleep. Tommy was carrying Will, who was disguised as a box, and he flung Metalmorph at the other man, shouting 'Special Delivery!' Will transformed into an iron maiden and trapped the surprised meta-human before he could react. The shape-shifting woman attempted to control Will's mind, but Tommy drop-kicked her in the head and Jo put her to sleep. With all three subdued, the door opened and Dr Veal himself appeared. He used a mental compulsion to force the heroes to stand down, which prevented Tommy shooting him before he could explain himself.
After revealing that Kaladin was unharmed in the room beyond, the doctor asked that the Specials listened to him for a moment. He said that he had thought that they were the ones murdering the supers from the other ward, as well as Wendy (the intangible teleporter woman). He had discovered, from mind-reading Kaladin, that they were not responsible, and had only killed in self defence. He had hidden away since being ejected from the QE, continuing his research on the serum, and trying to help patients he thought would benefit. Unfortunately several of them had gone rogue or left to pursue their own goals. He had failed to stabilise his powers and was suffering from increased fatigue, as were his remaining three associates. Yukio used her mind-reading to confirm Veal's story and determined that he was telling the truth. After comparing notes, the group could not deduce who was behind the Apocalypse attacks, the only thing unaccounted for was the remains of the silicate sample that Veal created the serum from, and they assumed that Masood had taken this.
The Specials then overheard broken radio communications from the nearby Birmingham base. Strickland was repeating a message: 'The shape-shifter has infiltrated the base. Anyone with a raised weapon is a threat. Shoot to kill.' This had caused the soldiers on the base to attack each other and the whole base was in chaos. Veal and his group agreed to accompany them and they raced to the base in the invisivan. Yukio used telekinesis to disarm the remaining soldiers, and Jo put any stragglers to sleep. They found Strickland barricaded in his office and tried to get him to countermand the order. This was only partially successful, as he kept repeating the same phrase. Eventually Dr Veal managed to remove the compulsion, and determined that it had been placed there by a 'powerful presence'. They discovered that similar events had taken place at nearly all the UK army bases, and left for London to try and help, leaving Veal behind to aid the injured in Birmingham.
In London, they calmed the situation at the base, and found Major Stoke suffering from a similar compulsion. Yukio managed to remove this and they headed to the MOD to broadcast a message to the rest of the bases. To give the message authority, Jo transformed into The Queen and spoke to the nation's troops, telling them to arrest their commanders and stand down. The Special's actions prevented the army from being completely wiped out, but nevertheless it had still suffered 70% losses.
Still reeling from this devastation, the group looked on as all the screens in the vicinity suddenly began broadcasting a message from the demonic Violet Storm. The thing said that it's initial intention had been to show the world that the only thing standing against the coming apocalypse was the Specials. But now it realised it was wrong - they were tainted and did not follow the true path (footage of Mr Dead dismembering innocents was shown). They could not be trusted. No-one could stand against the storm. As the voice faded, a message was displayed on the screens: The sixth sign: the earth will tremble. The seventh sign: the storm. The screens went black, and the ground began to shake...
4xp, total 80xp.
|
|
gilbo
2019 Group
Posts: 1,446
|
Post by gilbo on Jun 2, 2019 19:18:18 GMT
Issue 28 - "Stormbringer"
As shockwaves began to shake the city of London, Jo took to the air and determined the epicentre was an office block. She flew there along with Will and Yukio, whilst Tommy declined the offer of a lift and ran through the streets. As they went, the heroes saved many citizens from being crushed by falling rubble. At the office, they identified the quakes as coming from below ground and headed to the subterranean car park, where they found a purple ghost form of Tank Commander smashing the ground with an improvised hammer. Tommy threw a car at him, and Yukio removed his powers, so he was relatively easily defeated.
After helping to clear up and giving interviews, the Specials returned to base, whereupon they realised Kaladin was missing. Suddenly, there was a huge power drain, affecting much of the city, with all the energy channelled into a communications tower. As the Specials rushed to investigate, they found the simulacrum of Supercharge on top of the building sucking in the power, and Kaladin being used as a lightning conductor. Jo used the kill-switch that Kaladin had entrusted her with, disabling the conductor, but eliminating him in the process. Yukio used her telekinesis to propel Tommy at Supercharge, and a mighty punch from the veteran felled him. As Will attacked the tower and Jo took Kaladin's lifeless form to safety, Tommy continued to pound the charged enemy. A huge blast of lightning hurled Tommy backwards out of the tower, but Will grabbed him and hurled him back, helped by Yukio's telekinetic powers, and he was able to literally knock out Supercharge. Yukio caught him and delivered the dazed host to the emergency services.
Rushing back to the base, they took Kaladin's body to Vlad, and using a little of each of the Special's power, he was able to restore him to life. After ensuring that the media were still on their side, the heroes managed to retire to bed.
Next morning there was a palpable sense of impending doom across the country as the citizens wondered what would happen after the seventh sign. This was extended to the whole world as reports started to come in of apocalyptic events happening in other countries. Earthquakes, storms, floods and the dead rising from the earth caused panic to spread. At noon, the demonic face of Violet Storm was broadcast across the world's media. "I am the storm! None can stand against the storm," it proclaimed, "The storm is coming!"
In central London, a huge sphere of pulsating purple miasma appeared, with seven tendrils reaching out to more apocalyptic monsters. As the Specials raced to the scene, footage showed Dr Veal and his companions appearing, carried by the polymorphic woman. As she and the other two companions engaged three of the monsters, Veal headed for the central sphere. Although seemingly victorious against the three apocalyptic guardians, energy from the others instantly rejuvenated them and they blasted Veal's friends to oblivion, leaving only the doctor himself locked in combat with whatever lurked inside the sphere...
4xp, total 84xp.
|
|