14640/Hostile Fire

Hostile Fire
Date of Scene:	09 April 2023
Location:	Burnley - Bleake Island
Synopsis:	Red Hood and the newly-dubbed Oriole move through a house of horrible grunts with no real plan on how to deal with superheroes.
Cast of Characters:	Phoebe Beacon, Jason Todd

---

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    The police had set up a perimeter by the time some of the more outstanding members of the Bat family had been appraised of the situation. Six hostages taken. Eight perps, one leader which makes fifteen people in a ramshackle building that used to be a gradeschool, but was being converted into apartments. The hostages were an assortment of Wrong Place, Wrong Time at a bank situation earlier in the day -- customers and tellers alike, bound in two rooms on the third floor. The first and second floor were trapped somewhat, and had guards.

    Spotlights were lit up, the streets surrounding were closed down, and one of the negotiators was trying to get an answer from the leader into what his demands were.

    So far it's been radio silence, other than the confirmation that the hostages were alive, but if any police entered the building... that would change.

Jason Todd has posed:
Red Hood was hardly one of the upstanding Bat family by any standard. But he was available and he was now on site so that counts for something at least.

Whatever his status may be, he appears from the shadows like a Bat and looks to the officer in charge. "Any word from inside?" Not that any was expected, but at the negative confirmation from the officer, Red Hood nods curtly. "I handle it." Of course he's assuming that he is here alone. Or maybe he's just being that self centered.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    For all intents and purposes, Red Hood might as well be alone. No one else has shown up that the police have seen.

    "No word from inside. They got a bunch of Home Alone style traps from what the drone saw..." the cop replies, and then his face sours "until it was taken out by hairspray and a zippo. So, you go in there, you're gonna be careful." he states, and then shudders.

    "Damn Gordon's protective of you guys."

    And there are many ways to enter the building. A window? A front door? A door to the basement gymnasium-cafeteria-stage?

    So many choices!

Jason Todd has posed:
With a snort, he fires back, "Gordon uses us as protection for you. We're not on his payroll. Just keep them inside. I'll handle them."

Disappearing into the shadows he makes his way to the building. The obvious entry points are sure to be rigged with traps as mentioned. So he opts for the roof. It won't be hard to find the maitenance door leading down into the maintenance area of the former school. It's unlikely these guys will have gone that far to secure the building. Still he eases the door open just enough to scan for any connected traps. Last thing he wants is to alert the kidnappers early.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    No traps from the fourth floor and roof entry. There is one guard, at the bottom of a staircase, listening to his phone on a pair of air pods, nodding his head, gun slung over his back. He's not even paying attention.

    What kind of criminal works in Gotham and doesn't... watch the roof?

    A Dumb One.

    And he's singing Anti-Hero by Taylor Swift, under his breath.

Jason Todd has posed:
Easing inside, Red Hood works his way down. Finding the guard, there's a smirk. Definitely amateurs.

Moving behind, Red Hood quickly grabs the guard in a choke hold, locking arms to slowly knock the man out. Easing his body most of the way to the ground before letting him flop undignified the rest of the way, Hood grabs tie wraps and secures the man's wrists and ankles.

".. only one anti-hero here, sport. It's not you" he mutters as he moves onward.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    The guard gives an undignified flop after struggling against Red Hood, taking a nap and wrapped up nice for the GCPD. How thoughtful!

    And then there's the pop of semi-automatic gunfire, followed by a GRUNT, a straining sound, and a dull THUD on the room below Jason. Another guard taken out? Infighting among the jerks?

     -- a female in a hood and domino wearing gray-and-orange with blue optics?

    Is she wearing a *cape*?

Jason Todd has posed:
"We're going to need to work on your definition of 'Stealth Ingress'." The quiet question aimed at the other Mask on scene.

Red Hood looks toward her and the downed guard. "You know that capes are passe'. Right?"

A nod however. The one of his voice, gruff or not has a hint of appreciation that she's here. Two are always better than one in a hostage situation.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Wasn't my decision on the cape. Testing a new design. Weird balance. Miss my backpack." the hooded mask replies, and she gives a slight huff.

    "Wasn't counting on him turning around as I deactivated a spring-loaded axe."

    "Two out of nine down. Eight hostages down the hall. You wanna take main point and quip?" she asks with a wry grin.

Jason Todd has posed:
Jason Todd says, "No. No. I'm having fun just quipping. You're doing fine so far. In fact, you're my hero.." he pauses then adds, "..ine."

Pulling a small device out of his belt, Red Hood sets it on the wall and activates it. Should anyone try to come up behind them it'll unleash a shock to take them down. The last thing they need is someone sneaking up unplanned.

"I suppose if you'd like, I can deal with the goons so you can see to the hostages. GCPD didn't have any solid intel on their current status." If anyone was going to help them, it'd be Balm. "Your call."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Luckily I was creeping around the back windows. They're all hooded and duct-tapped. We're not dealing with experts here. I think two of them mighta kidnapped Tim Drake that one time." Balm gives a small smile, and she gives a spin of her staff as she extends it a moment.

    "Not often I get to be someone's heroine. Usually I'm someone's problem. So let's go be these guys' joint problems. Yeah?" she gives a bright grin, and turns to dash down the hallway, into the gloom.

Jason Todd has posed:
A smirk is audible behind that mask. "Drake? Well what I hear that wouldn't take much skill to achieve.." Shots fired.

"Ladies first." He gestures with politeness then pulls one of his guns and follows behind the speedy Balm.

"Careful. Rushing leads to getting hurt." Listen to him being a voice of reason. The world must surely be coming to an end.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Boom." Shots fired indeed as Balm skids a little on the tile floor, and then presses against the wall.

    WHACK. It's wet. It's hit the wall across from the opening in the room. It smells oddly like coleslaw.

    .. because it is coleslaw.

    There is a very judgemental face as Phoebe regards the shredded cabbage trap.

    "BATS DON'T BELONG IN A SCHOOL!" someone barks!

    She holds up her hands. Two guards. One on either side of the room. Automatic weapons.

Jason Todd has posed:
Following along behind Balm, Red Hood misses the trap. Which is good for the kidnapper's sake. He'd have been willing to use live rounds after that.

TWo gunmen.

Moving up, Hood nods to Balm, his guns both drawn now. Stepping out with little concern for the automatic weapons, he unleashes his own volley of rounds, though they're not deadly, toward one of the gunmen. The taser rounds zing through the air. It'll only take one hit to drop the gunman, as long as Hood's shots are on target.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Not deadly, but definitely painful as the taser rounds go through the thin armor the gunmen are wearing, and they flail about as they get shocked, and Balm slides in as the other is training his gun on Jason.

    A quick whack, a slip of her leg and she's easing the other gunman down to a kneel, then drop. There is a coleslaw catapult in the room.

    Balm looks peturbed.

    "ew... are they Condemint King's castoffs?"

Jason Todd has posed:
Looking back to her, Red Hood shakes his head, "Not sure. But they deserve a proper beat down for this."

A quick scan of the room to confirm they're clear.

"Five left" he mutters aloud to keep track of their progress.

"Better get moving. They'll figure out their buddies are down for the count. The fact they have automatic weapons with no training is a recipe for disaster."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "I'm pretty sure that's KFC Coleslaw... eww." Balm mutters crossly, and she slips to the next room.

    Hostages.

    No sign of the additional guards. Someone belches from the stairway leading down to the second story. Someone else comments 'nice'.

    Balm looks over her shoulder. "I can get them if you wanna do the honors of wrecking the stairway?"

Jason Todd has posed:
Jason Todd says, "Okay they really need to be beat down now." No one uses KFC slaw for anything. Least of all food or a weapon.

"Sure. I'll be back shortly."

Heading toward the stairway, he reloads his guns.

After a moment gunfire erupts, followed by alarmed and agonized screaming. A pause of silence is followed by another volley of gunfire - this time from Red Hood's weapons as well as several others. The exchange lasts for some thirty seconds before more screaming."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    All the screaming. Balm goes around with her sharp knife to slice through duct tape and remove hoods. She instructs them to stay here and barricade the door until either a bat or a police officer comes for them, and then she slowly makes her way towards the stairs.

    There was a good bunch of screaming. Volley of gunfire, the sound of Red Hood's weapons discharge familiar to her now.

    And as Hood finishes up with the second grouping, there is suddenly three guns pointed right at him, along with the competant leader.

    "We told the Police if they sent anyone in, we'd start killing hostages." he growls, and he raises his walkie.

    "Abrahms. Start on the left."

    kkksssshk.

    "Abrahms. Report?"

     Kssssssshk.

    "Hello. This is one of the local Gotham Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Bad Guys, we're just letting you know we edon't have any jurisdiction over the asskicking you're about to get from Red Hood." Balm's voice states.

    Then a walkie-talkie slides along the floor, giving feedback as it picks up on the main guy's, and is followed by a pair of smoke bombs!

Jason Todd has posed:
Red Hood isn't concerned even with three guns aimed at him. Probably because he's dealt with being the punching bag and golf tee. Guns no longer hold the same sort of fear. THat and he trusts in the quality of his armor because he's designed it himself. He learned something from Bruce.

"Sorry. It seems the rest of your idiotic goons can't come to the phone right now. Because they're wishing they were dead. Why don't you join them."

That threat isn't finished before Red Hood begins to fire at the leader first. He empties his both clips as he dives to the side to set off their aim. Hitting the ground hard, he still manges to slide toward a table he can use as a measure of cover.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Wha--" the Head Honcho begins, and then there is a beautiful scream as Hood empties his clips into him. Flailing awkwardness, another container of coleslaw dropped from somewhere (ew), and with the smoke filling the room it helps to throw off the aim of the other two as he takes cover behind a table.

    A throwing knife slices through the air and smacks one guy in his supporting shoulder, making him cry out and unable to fire on Red Hood!

    Batarangs smatarangs.

Jason Todd has posed:
Reloading, Red Hood watches and listens as Balm joins in on the beat down. "Go on. Show them what you think of coleslaw" he instigates.

Rising up, he fires at the injured gunman first, having a better line of fire at him.

The last one ducked and relocated to flank he and Balm. "On your right" comes calmly in that moment. As Red Hood turns, Balm has the better opening to take down the last guy.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Red Hood would hear a soft 'uggggh' sound from Balm before she skids in low, beneath Hood's cover, and brings her extending staff up, and as she skids in, she braces it against the floor and then extends it.

    In a most painful fashion for the goon who is about to get a lesson in not running away and poorly choosing a life of crime instead of something safer.

    Like Gotham Chemical Plant Employee.

    Smoke has still filled the room, and Balm stands up, taking out ties from her utility belt (still weird to have).

    "Man, now I want like, a salad. But a good salad? Not a Slaw though. Yeech."