[IC] Four Horsemen: Wager

[Doctor Malsyn]

The Cognagion
1 HP | LP 6
Status: Normal
-—o—-

"Well well Action Man, I do in fact have something in mind. It depends though, do you want things bloody, messy, or both? Don't worry, I'll make sure they point their guns the other way." He thought in reply, considering his next course of action.

[Sakuro]

Garald Medvedev
HP: 1
CND: Healthy


"You are being vague. Vague does not help. I'd appreciate it if you were direct and if possible concise when we are under pressure, like now. Extra discussion creates delays in action, and we're in combat time."

After making his request, and explaining the reason for it, Garald didn't waste any time before giving the best answer he could given the lack of information Mike offered.

"Casualties are not an issue so long as the distraction doesn't hinder us."

[Doctor Malsyn]

The Cognagion
0 HP | LP 6
Status: Normal
-—o—-

War is a funny thing, Mike thought to himself. Everyone knows about the first world War, most probably know how it was kicked off with an archduke's death. Some might even be aware of the factors that came up before it, the worldly tensions between countries getting to big for their britches. In Mike's mind, there was only one thing that really kicked it off, the root of what became one of the world's great tragedies just twenty years later.

He saw him out of the corner of his eye, and sensed the recognition of his handiwork. A program running in the background of his mind, prompting him to act on those initial instructions . Mike tilted his head just a little, moved his hand just enough to beckon, and in a flash that program had new orders, a new drive. Mike would protect him.

Then he met the eyes of the mercenaries, silent, waiting. A sense of tension would rise within them, but only one would feel the full weight of his intent.

Mike turned, false emotion playing upon his face. "What are-? No, wait, stay put!, don't come over here, don't shoot!" He seemingly pleaded, as a young boy suddenly dashed directly in front of them all. One of the Men under his control would feel the surprise, the shock, and would react on a hair trigger.

The real source of that war, was coincidence. A man at the right place, at a very wrong time.

'Hero' point to edit the scene, and add one of my thralls in a convenient easy to manipulate location. Mike's 'brother' rushes onto the scene, and one of the men's fingers... Slip.
The mercenaries are primed to ride the tide as a reaction for whatever happens next.

[Flynnarrel]

"Your van isn't going anywhere in this cluster. You'll have to pick it up later. Jump off the bridge."

"J-Jump? I... uh... ok." Kaito sends uncertainly. Garald had not given any assurances on how Kaito might survive the jump but then, no one else had shared what, if any, 'abilities' their 'extra solidity' (as Kaito perceived it) gave them. Except the Bug Man was a swarm, right?
Maybe they could get wasps to take the Ring then Kaito could Mist out.... and there BugMan goes dropping from the link. Well,... heck.
'Umm... you want me to jump.... off the bridge... I... guess that'd be cool.'

"Well well Action Man, I do in fact have something in mind. It depends though, do you want things bloody, messy, or both? Don't worry, I'll make sure they point their guns the other way."

This question, even though not necessarily directed at Kaito, gave the teen pause. Until now he'd been riding the euphoria of being part of a group, of using his very cool super abilities, of having a goal and calling. Heck, they saved the Golden Gate bridge from exploding! But here was another of their number casually, almost gleefully, implying.... well..., a massacre.

Kaito was all into causing a little chaos. Shaking up the staus quo. Cuz the status was NOT quo. (To quote one of his favorite horrible lines). And yeah, people died. But that was certainly not what he intended. Heck, when that plane crashed a week ago, a part of Kaito had been sure the pilot would pull up in the last second. Could he really be a party to this? Maybe the other would...

"Casualties are not an issue so long as the distraction doesn't hinder us."

Well, that answered that. But there wasn't time for these doubts. The hacker gripped the ring tight until the edges pressed painfully against his palm letting the sensation clear his thoughts. He had a bridge to jump off of.

[mrdent12]

AS the boy runs out, the nine mercenaries under the sway of Cognagion look visibly shaken and jittery that seems the exact opposite to the controlled fashion they acted so far. One of them is primed and ready to pull the trigger with the mystery person, the uncontrolled merc, and people in the car looking on anxiously.

The way I read it, a controlled character's action takes effect on his turn to do whatever he was commanded. So, the shot will wait until after Garalds turn.

Kaito 17
Cognagion 9
Garald 9 <----
10 Elite Merc minions 8 (9 controlled)
U.S Soldier Squad 1 8
U.S Soldier Squad 2 8
?????? 7
U.S Soldier Squad 3 7

[Doctor Malsyn]

OOC: Yeah, that sounds accurate.

[Sakuro]

Garald Medvedev
HP: 1
CND: Healthy


Garald stood primed and at the ready for things to kick off. The signs were there that the situation was going to get even more intense. He watched. Waited for the moment when he needed to act. Getting Kaito off the bridge with the ring was what mattered and Garald was prepared to crash through the first person that tried to hinder the youth's departure.

Garald is going to Ready and Action to Charge the first person who tries to hinder Kaito.

[mrdent12]

Theres bedlam such as when protestors get shot, the chaos of war, and then there is what happens after the shot went out that hit the child. Even before his lifeless body fell, chaos erupted on the bridge. Between the bomb declaration, smoke grenade path, soldier perimeter, and now sounds of an approaching helicopter just out of normal view for details the weapons fire set it all off. Outside of the smoke covered area, word spread like wild fire of the gun fire. People started climbing over cars and each other for that matter to get off the bridge with some even attempting to climb off. The cops surrounding the Russian ambassador's car took off to help people and do what they could to manage the chaos.

The one mercenary not controlled looked at his teammates and with a screw it look shot the boot lock to open it only to see no case plus bits of the boots floor disintegrated. Seeing the teen boy's body under the car through the holes he raises his weapon in preparation to shoot. His view quickly shifts though as one of the soldier squads is given the signal to charge taking out the mercenary by the car plus four of the controlled ones before they can duck for cover.

Outside the smoke area, the other two squads take up a defensive position as best they are able to keep innocents from running into the combat zone with a limited degree of success. With all the activity and no police escorts, the Russian ambassador looks out spotting Garald. In a thick Russian accent, he yells over to Garald to get him off the bridge as the troops set up their perimeter. Things don't get easier for the soldiers when word starts spreading it was a child was shot.

Back by the car, the man who was helping Cognagion "find his brother" motions to Cognagion to help with the mum and child after getting a good look at Kaito's face looking under the car. Kaito can see the man looks torn between going for the case or helping the family. Ultimately, he goes for the child in the back seat by smashing in the window to get the door unlocked to allow him to get the child free.Surprisingly, there isn't a scratch on the man.

Garald gets a HP for Russian ambassador demanding his attention. If he helps or ignores, he still suffers.

Kaito 17 <---
Cognagion 9
Garald 9
5 Elite Merc minions (5 controlled)
U.S Soldier Squad 1 8
U.S Soldier Squad 2 8
?????? 7
U.S Soldier Squad 3 7

[Flynnarrel]

Catastrophe

Kaito's eyes widen to see first the armed mercenary (thankfully distracted) then the Good Samaritan peer into his hidey hole. Maybe he didn't get a good look under the teen's hood? Either way, that was enough of this tawagoto! Kaito scrambled out from under the car and made for the nearest edge of the bridge. He tried to weave between the obstacles and bystanders, but he was no parkour expert.

Acrobatics: 1d20+2 13 to get around obstacles like cars and the pedestrian fence from the car part of the bridge.

[Sakuro]

Garald Medvedev
HP: 2
CND: Healthy


Sensing the uncertainty in the messages that Kaito sent through their communal link Garald took a moment to reflect on the fact he was speaking with a boy. A boy with unusual abilities, but one unlikely to have endured the trails he had. His response was one of reassurance.

"Kaito, remember, you are special. You will be fine. I will see you in the water."

The maelstrom of discordant actions grew with the killing of a child. Chaos ensued, and Garald absorbed the frantic actions around him. Amidst it all he'd been most keen on things that related to his peers and their objective. This is why he saw the good Samaritan take note of Kaito, then redirect his attentions away from the artifact thief and to a child.

"You notice that Mike? Your new friend cares more about the mother and child than the ring we are after. Make certain they continue to need his protection. At least until Kaito is well away with the ring."

Garald had been ready to move with Kaito. To clear the way for the less physical youth. However a voice in Russian drew his attention. Turning his head he looked to see the ambassador calling out to him. Garald didn't feel any loyalty to the man, or the nation he represented. Oddly, the first people he felt loyalty towards were Kaito and Mike … and he knew next to nothing about them. Strangers. Still, his position in the military was useful. He did not want to just throw away what he had if he did not need to, and Kaito and Mike had carried their shared mission with little action being taken on his own part. As such Garald did not feel stepping back to assist the ambassador was a great hinderance at the moment.

"I am going to get the ambassador off the bridge. He may be useful to us later."

Turning away from the conflict taking place meters away from him Garald broke out into a run. The soldier didn't make any effort to dodge or weave around people. Anyone that got into his way was knocked aside as he literally plowed through them, using shoulder rams like a rugby or American football player to smack them aside. When he neared the ambassador's vehicle he called out in Russian

[Russian] "Get out of the car and stick close to me."

Once he was in arms reach of the ambassador he grabbed hold of the man and began to drag ... or even carry ... him towards the edge of the bridge.

Garald is going to Move to the ambassador. Not sure how far away he is, but Garald can get +1 to his ground speed without needing to make an Athletics check (+17 to his roll). Don't want to go any faster than that, otherwise it risks exposure of superhuman abilities.

If need be he'll drag the ambassador out of the car and carry him off the edge of the bridge ... then jump off with him. Garald's aim to use enough of his Flight to reduced the speed at which he and the ambassador fall so as not to hurt the other man.

[Doctor Malsyn]

The Cognagion
0 HP | LP 6
Status: Normal
-—o—-

It was a struggle to contain his malicious grin from the too obsevant eyes of the apparent hero. Everywhere he looked people were fleeing in panic, gunfire going off, sheer chaos. It was all because of him, because of his words, his message. His power.

Mike wanted to revel in it, to ecplore just how far he can go with this riot in thr making- but no, no, not yet not yet. Kaito's safe recovery of the ring was what was important right now, and for that, Gerald had given him a sign of what to do next.

So, he turned, shooting as he ruahed towards him, face the makings of panic and despair. "They- they shot him! Oh god, they shot him, my brother he, I can't believe it. Why would they shoot a child?!"

DC 22 Will (Compelled->Controlled)
The mercenaries are already under his sway, but he's trying to make as many of the other soldiers here his message as well.

Standing orders: Shoot for the car at the mother and child.
The mercenaries would be compelled to seek cover and return fire, but one will continue firing at the car.

[mrdent12]

Kaito is able to roll out from under the car and take off on foot, but the smoke around the car was hiding the pandemonium outside of it. Not strong enough to muscle his way through or quick enough dodge, he's stuck as one of the fleeing masses getting even more panicked as the gun fire escalates behind the smoke. A few stray bullets even pierce the starting to dissipate smoke only serving to make people run even more. Try as he might to pull off some parkour he might have seen in the movies, the crowds are just too much for him.

Back at the car, the bullets fly. The man who was helping Cognagion looks sad when not getting help, but is too preoccupied with the chaos plus keeping track of the case. Inside the car, the woman screams in terror rushing out to help the man get her baby out. Cognagion, being inside the smoke area sees the mum, mystery man, and child hide in the car hoping in vain it will save them.

Outside of the smoke area, Kaito sees another brief glimmer of light as if an angel is flying overhead for three seconds or so. Everyone fleeing is too concerned with the running away to notice, but it's clear something is going on that isn't normal to Kaito. The very same people he saw in the car are deposited on the walkway allowing the mum and infant to flee. On top of that, the good samaritan is now standing in front of Kaito eyeing the case. "I don't know who you are, but that case doesn't belong to you. It is too dangerous for just a teenager to possesses. Give it to me now.", says the good samaritan forcefully.

Garald, while the bridge confrontation plays out has barreled through the crowd with the Russian ambassador behind him. Despite being in his late 50's, the ambassador was a muscular and strong man, the sort who is on posters of Russians wrestling bears. So keeping up with Garald wasn't too difficult with the the way cleared for him. At the edge of the bridge, unflinching, the ambassador uses Garald as padding for the fall and the slam into the water 220 feet below. After hitting, the ambassador tries not to look too shocked. "We must go comrade. The Americans will be sending more here soon. They are sending a boat for us.", says the man in a thick old school Russian accent.

It will take one more move action for Kaito to be into the water. It's a high up bridge, so unless he shifts into his chaos form with flight mid fall it won't be pretty.

I will need a DC 14 Will save if Kaito hints that the scene at the car may not be what it appears. If Cognagion passes, he will see it as an illusion.

Kaito 17 <---
Cognagion 9
Garald 9
5 Elite Merc minions (5 controlled)
U.S Soldier Squad 1 8
U.S Soldier Squad 2 8
U.S Soldier Squad 3 7
B?????? last(just entered combat)
A?????? 7

[Flynnarrel]

Catastrophe

"Too... many... people!" Kaito sends, frustrated. Then the angel-man appeared in front of him.

"Ahhhh... What the... Uhhh... nooo... you can't have it!" he says somewhat petulantly, clutching the ring/case closer with one hand. The other goes into a pocket to hit a few icons by memory. <Deactivate the jammer, repeat last signal recorded.> Kaito activates one of the bombs in a not-populated section of the bridge.

[Using the Remote Control feature of the Communications van. Technology: 1d20+18 31 if needed.]

He uses the [hopeful] distraction to run around the angel-man to lose him in the confusion. Heading for the railing by his rusty van.

"Guys, there's a... well... angel, I think, who wants this thing and can, like, legit fly; showed up with the mother and child from the car. Is jumping still the best plan? Also, WTF, angels?"

[Doctor Malsyn]

The Cognagion
0 HP | LP 6
Status: Normal
-—o—-

"...Come again? Because I have a weirdly 'angelic' man trying to get me to save a woman and her Child right now." Mike replied mentally, taking another real good look at the apparent rescuer and his rescue-ees.

Will: 25

There was nothing there. No mother, no child, and certainly no god fanned angelic hero. Mike's face looses any ounce of it's panic, hardening out into a grim expression as he straightens his back. "Fan out. Spread the word. Everyone here is working for me now. If you see that man again, shoot to debilitate. We're going to have a few words."

He started moving further down the bridge to where he saw Kairi heading, then paused. "You two. Act like I'm an enemy, keep firing where I was but not at me directly. Then he moved out, morphing back into his guised state of emotion. "H-hey! Where did you go! Th-they, they won't stop shooting, please help!"

Deception (if viable by this point): 39

[Sakuro]

Garald Medvedev
HP: 2
CND: Healthy


After splashing down in the water he took stock of the ambassador's condition first. Then, seeing the man was perhaps shocked but otherwise well, he looked around to take stock of his change in environment while he processed Kaito's update.

"There is nothing to be gained by staying on the bridge Kaito. Jump. I will try to catch you. Or drop the case off the bridge and I will retrieve it."

"If this man has abilities like us, he may not be the only one. The woman transporting the ring, perhaps. Be careful Mike. Once Kaito is off the bridge it will be difficult for us to support you without drawing unwanted attention."

While he communicated with the others Garald began to swim towards Kaito's location. Or near to where he expected the youth to drop off of the bridge. One hand remained on the ambassador, keeping the bear of a man near to him. Every so often he glanced upwards to guage his position relative to where he had seen Kaito running.

[Russian] "I have a contact on the bridge. The one who warned me about the bombs. It would be good to retrieve them if we can."

Garald is going to try to get close to where he expects Kaito to jump off the bridge/drop the case. If need be I'll use Extra Effort to add Aquatic to Garald's Flight, and have him move at an equivalent of Speed 1, so that he's moving fast but at a plausible rate rather than outright superhuman.

Then Garald will assume Kaito is going to jump and Ready his Standard Action to catch Kaito as a means of lessening the impact of falling.