Doubts and Discoveries

NARRATIVE UPDATE
March 25, 2010 - 0800
Carpino, Italy
Participants: Armor,Southern Cross, Doctor Chronos, Tigerwasp.

The flight to Naples Italy was relatively uneventful, save for a minor inconvenience at customs. Someone mistook Tigerwasp for the uber popular actress Amber Grennon and rushed the line for an autograph. Security was all over the poor fool and 'Amber' was escorted to safety. Your baggage was shuttled to a small municipal plane and it was off to Ischitella which was another 45 minutes in the air. The final 1/2 hour drive to Carpino wrapped up the final journey to a meeting with a mystery person no one was sure of.

Spoiler:

Not knowing exactly where to go in Carpino, the driver pulls into a smallish hotel (pre arranged by Chronos) on the other side of town away from the main roads. It's about a 100-room residence with high class treatment for the discriminating rich or for those who want to lay low away from the paparazzi.

The ride in allowed some research to be had from Armor and Cross:

• A local hero by the name of Regiment, has recently registered and joined the Guardians to help enforce order. It is rumored he has apprehended over a dozen unregistered metas in the last month alone.
  
• A group called The Directive, which seems to be more of a legend and myth in Europe, has shown up again on the media radar. A naked meta was found wandering the woods of Carpino 3 days ago remembered nothing of their. The only words out of the empty mind was "The Directive."
  
• Other than that, Rome has been under lockdown for the past 3 days as an all-out hunt for a certain meta is underway. NO other details are has save for the Meta is responsible for the deaths of over a dozen people.

please post a brief 'arrival' text to show intent. Most of you are likely fatigued from the travel and might want a short nap and a meal.
It is assumed all of you are out of costume for the time being.

Tigerwasp and those that are thinking of registering..please see This topic

Armor decided to stretch out on the bed and relax -- a bit like sinking into a trance, but more nearly like just dozing off. "Can't manage a full night's rest in so little time," he thinks to himself, "but I can sure try."

Before doing so, he briefly considers the staggering events of the day and tries to put it all together; sometimes the subconscious fills in a blank the conscious mind ignores. "Of course" he muses ruefully, "sometimes a blank really is just a blank." He habitually sets one of his omni-gadgets for Force Field, and starts to meditate...

Oddly Joe disappeared shortly after the plane took off and didn't reappear until right before it landed. Doc handed out cash cards during the trip and asked, "On a side note, does anyone speak Italian?"

At the hotel Doc decided to meditate and wait for someone to contact them. If given the opportunity Joe will accompany TigerWasp in her shopping expedition.

After the party arrives at the hotel Southern Cross decides to have a meal at the hotel and have a rest afterwards.

NARRATIVE UPDATE
March 25, 2010 - 1120
Carpino, Italy
Participants: Armor,Southern Cross, Doctor Chronos, Tigerwasp.

It's been a few hours since arrival at Hotel De La Ville. Team has had time to rest and are currently in the restaurant enjoying an early bite to eat. Service has been great and the attention from the servers is astounding. All the meals have been enjoyed and the only thing left is waiting to sign for the charges but it appears that no one in the restaurant is even looking your direction any more. Chronos had arranged a corner table conveniently near a window for tactical purposes and up to now it seemed you were royalty in the house.

About the time that Chronos or Armor begins to get the attention of the servers, a voice from right amongst you pleads; "Please do not draw attention this way. I worked really hard to give us a moment of anonymity."

Behind one of the 2 vacant chairs at the square table stands a fairly attractive woman dressed modestly.
Truth Pic


"My name is Tyna-Dvoracek. I am called Truth by those that call me friend and I would like to thank you all for arriving at so short a notice."

She then politely pulls the chair and sets herself down, now placed between Armor and Southern Cross.

Continuing she says; "What I am to ask of you I would not ask on any person, especially those that cannot call this world home. I am afraid however that you offer us a shred of hope where none has been had."

Truth looks the four of you in the eyes and calmly places her arms on the table, one atop the other.

"However, can I assume that what you have heard of the registration and the Council of Gaia displeases you all?"

Narrator wrote:"However, can I assume that what you have heard of the registration and the Council of Gaia displeases you all?"

"It's far from ideal, but things could be worse," replies Armor, with an easy shrug. "What do you have in mind?"

Chronos glanced around and nodded in agreement, perhaps with Armor and perhaps with the woman.

(OOC: Doc q-scans the woman and the room. Is she a nova/meta? Is anyone watching us?)

"When a segment of the poplace is defined as terrorists because of what they are,not what they do, it sticks in my craw" Southern Cross replied "I also wonder what they do with the recordings they make of our power signatures. I think the Council of Gaia is past due for an investigation."

"I agree with you. But what we must do is right this world."

She turns to Chronos and adds;
"Although this world likely can never rightly mirror yours, there are many imperfection in this reflection. These flaws are causing a rather imperfect development of reality and could in time, cause so much paradox that madness will rule."

"What I ask of you, that you are not subject to the flow of creation on this world, is to join what is now a small movement and protect those that cannot defend themselves. We are all being labeled as terrorists, as fiends and monsters, and most of all and enemies of humanity. These shapechangers, or shifters, are imposing on humans a view of the world that simply has to room for the the advancement of man."

"I am in no manner saying we are to fit the labels given us, but that we are allowed a choice. We need to get ourselves out there and make a foothold for metas. Realistically however, doing this will bring violence to most if not all involved."

She then clears her throat and admits; "I am far from the smartest person at this table; I have no offensive capabilities to speak of other than weapons I might carry, and I am not capable of any type of meta-like movement. I cannot fly or swim any better than most humans. What I am however is a nigh undetectable manipulator of perception; I can remain undetected, as can my nearby allies for days at a time. I also know the truth behind anything I can see or touch, but I lack meta senses other than that. Lies do not exist to me and I sense the true meaning in words and talk."

"I am wanted in several countries for the most part, for things I had no part of but I am no Saint. I do what must be done and sometimes things die. I ask that you help me to help yourselves and fight for the right to break the hold the Council of Gaia has in whatever manner we can."

Truth, in this speech has remained largely deadpan serious. However, as she ends, tears form in her eyes revealing her passion and dedication to this cause. Some desperation can also be heard in her voice.

"So what is the name of your group?" Southern Cross inquired.

Truth smiles but answers in the negative.

"Honestly, with as small as we are and as busy as we have been, we have not taken a moment to even think about something like that. We will let our actions speak for us."

Doc frowns and says, "It's been my observation that violence released consumes a moment as well as it's people. That the Right of things gets tossed aside in favor for the Might of things..." Doc sighs and then adds, "...but in fairness I have to say I've also seen things where violence was the only useful course of action, and I've seen it used successfully for right." And been the one directing it for that matter.

Doc focused and continued, "However you're talking about physics as much politics now aren't you? Madness created by paradox coming from reality? Do you have any examples of that?"

****************

Joe let himself enjoy being with, and observe Tigerwasp without worrying about the time or the larger mission (whatever it was). His existence was a vacation, it was the main reason he let himself live.

Doctor Chronos wrote:Doc frowns and says, "It's been my observation that violence released consumes a moment as well as it's people. That the Right of things gets tossed aside in favor for the Might of things..." Doc sighs and then adds, "...but in fairness I have to say I've also seen things where violence was the only useful course of action, and I've seen it used successfully for right." And been the one directing it for that matter.

Doc focused and continued, "However you're talking about physics as much politics now aren't you? Madness created by paradox coming from reality? Do you have any examples of that?"

Truth seems pleased at the remarks of Chronos.
"A world without violence would be delightful, truly. However it is truly a hollow dream in our world. I cannot say my hands have not been wet with the ending of another life, but not without what some might call a noble cause."

She begins to say something else but instead stops and says;

"These tales are perhaps better suited for another time, and as you asked John, I was indeed speaking of physics. But physics is really over simplified when speaking about the matter of paradox and realities is it not? The madness I speak of I cannot prove to anyone perhaps other than this group at the table, and then I can only tell you to look at the world around you for evidence. I am no scientist. Like I mentioned, I just 'KNOW' things and they are never incorrect."

"A world without violence would be
delightful, truly. However it is truly a hollow dream in our world. I
cannot say my hands have not been wet with the ending of another life,
but not without what some might call a noble cause."

Armor leans forward. "What do you want us to do?"

Doc nodded in agreement with Armor.

Truth now settles into a rather disconcerted look.

"Without being too direct, I ask that you help me to, rather, that you help all metas to resist being categorized by the Council unless they so choose. Then I ask you to simply investigate the Council of Gaia and see for your self what you are moved to do. Only then will we know if you and I are a mix long term."

"I will offer a safe haven for recuperating and planning until we so decide on a harmonic course."

"My recommendation is that Armor and Doc Chronos try to find some method of blocking whatever method the Council is using to track metas" Southern Cross replied. "Ideally it should be unobtrusive and be powered by whatever trace energy their sensors are using."

Doc sighed and said, "We could do that... but before we start resisting the police we need to know what they're doing that's wrong and we need to know what to do with problematic metas. People being people, some of them will abuse their powers. If someone is on the run from the Council because they're a serial killer or rapist, are we sure we want to help them do their thing?"

Doc sighed and said, "We could do that... but before we start resisting
the police we need to know what they're doing that's wrong and we need
to know what to do with problematic metas. People being people, some of
them will abuse their powers. If someone is on the run from the
Council because they're a serial killer or rapist, are we sure we want
to help them do their thing?"

Armor strokes his chin. "If you don't want to get categorized by the government, you can get categorized by us instead?" He chuckles ruefully.

"At least we'd be offering them a choice" Southern Cross replied."Which is more than the Council is offering".

The shadow of old painful memories pass over Doc's and Joe's face for a moment. They exchange a glance and Joe turned to Tigerwasp and asked, "What looks good?"

Doc said, "When I first... became. War between the baselines and novas seemed certain. It wasn't obvious, but the social trends were clear for those who knew to look. No one hated the other side, no one wanted a war... but we were going to drift into one."

"There was a solution to that one. A way to sidestep the problem without trying to win the war. We need to find out more about the council and see what they think they're doing, and we need to find out a lot more about this paradox."

Joe turned away from the deep thinkers and quipped, "Thunder and Lightning? Does that mean I'll need to insure my tongue?" When the waitress Joe says, "I'll have what she does."

Doc said, "When I first... became. War between the baselines and novas
seemed certain. It wasn't obvious, but the social trends were clear for
those who knew to look. No one hated the other side, no one wanted a
war... but we were going to drift into one."

"There was a
solution to that one. A way to sidestep the problem without trying to
win the war. We need to find out more about the council and see what
they think they're doing, and we need to find out a lot more about this
paradox."

"It's interesting, the way you put that," adds Armor. "The primary reason I got into this line of work was because public sentiment was turning against super-humans using flashy powers. I'd realized that mankind's negative reaction stemmed from the lack of an inspiring hero straight out of the comic books: a baseline human who fights crime and saves lives by just hitting the gym and the library to hold his own alongside metahumans -- showing that we're far from obsolete, helping ordinary humans as one of their own. In time, I'd hoped my popularity would extend to the metas that mere humans can equal."

He repeats his earlier chuckle. "The opposite never occurred to me: that metas would seek out my help, in hopes of walking among humans as mere equals!"