17639/Up The Walls

Up The Walls
Date of Scene:	21 April 2024
Location:	Go Mart, Lithvern NJ
Synopsis:	Super adaptoid Copy kicks ass and takes names and gets a partially damaged grenade from Grenademan. Then it retreats to keep the heroes from damaging it more; but it was not at all threatened by them
Cast of Characters:	Frank Noble, Aldrif Odinsdottir, Alexander Aaron
Tinyplot:	Devil in the Details

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Frank Noble has posed:
8Ball was the most important and odd member of the group, who couldnt predict the future but could make it come true if there were certain conditions met. The Tesseract's attempts to ambush or locate Grenademan had proven insanely elusive and AI analysis indicated that the only pattern it could discern was that there literally wasn't one. So it came down to 8 Ball, since Tester and Lichen were determined to find the source of the Cesium purification process. To do that, they needed a live sample since, for reasons they didnt understand, reverse engineering it proved extremely difficult.

Lancebrow thought it was nuts, but spraypainted two eyebrows the small cartoon dog outside of the mart. It didnt make sense, but Lancebrow had seen it work too many times before not to at least try...

A short while later, at a regular convenience store, a shaky first time robber with a gun on the attendant froze looking at the vandalism on the mural and said, "Do....do you know that Dog has weird bushy eyebrows?"

Its just long enough for no one to be looking at Frank who is suddenly GRENADEMAN and the robber finds themself encased in oxygenated crystal as strong as stell.

"We are go...repeat, the weirdo has entered the building...."

"How did he get in? We ahve all the angles covered? Can this guy teleport?!"

Aldrif Odinsdottir has posed:
It is a dark night but not too dark for Angela's senses to be on high alert. Angela and Alexander have arrived via a secretive SHIELD transport and have arrived to confront the situation, "I think this is the place we were told about," she tells Alexander as she walks up to the convenience store. She narrows her eyes at the small store and peers into the large windows.

Angela crosses her arms impatiently and stands there while she observes the Grenademan and the robber, "Seems someone else hast made it here before us," she explains to Alexander. She drops her hand to her large sword sheathed at her side and fingers it idly, "Do you have a suggestion for first action?" she asks Alexander.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
Alexander stood beside Angela as she spoke, compared to her he looked unassuming save his uncanny eyes; eyes which appeared at all times like windows to a prison with something behind them peering out at the world.

He was thoughtful before he spoke. Recent SHIELD blunders had gotten agents arrested. "Before things get to a point we can't control them..." he said, leaning toward her to almost whisper, "We should clear the area of potential casualties. That opens up our options and closes down some of theirs."

Frank Noble has posed:
The robber looked around confused, eyes rolling around in the crystal where he was, ironically safer than anyone else right now, but Frnk has no idea how much danger he is in.

"How do we proceed boss?"

"Stay back, let the construct do its job..."

The ground began to shake as the sound of SOMETHING walking towards the convenience store made the propietor and the people inside very nervous. People on the streets also looked around for hte source of the chaos coming at them.

"It is working...."

"We will see....dont forget the objective."

Aldrif Odinsdottir has posed:
Angela nods to what Alexander says, and seems trustful of his advice, since she's only really a SHIELD consultant, "Very well, I wilt circle the building to secure the area," she tells him. She draws her big honkin sword from her side. "I wilt join you in a few moments then--" she starts to add something as she speaks to Alexander but then stops suddenly and wheels about.

"Something draws near!" Angela lets out, "Quick! On guard!" she adds. She quickly darts her eyes about looking for the threat rumbling toward them. She launches herself up into the air above the convenience store and looks around.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
Alexander Aaron reached backwards with his right hand and reality shattered like glass and fell below the concrete pavement beneath his feet. For a moment, there was a view of another world, a black velvet sky dotted with stars, and in the center a majestic peak surmounted by a Parthenon of sandy stone. Between the pillars, a flash of light, and a blade streaking across time, space, and dimension to join the young man's hand. As his grip closed, so too did reality return, and the now armed man smoldered with the power infusing weapon, a long straight gladius that almost seemed to hum in the air.

Frank Noble has posed:
The shaking ground is revealed by a robot that has familiar abilities but an unknown chasis. Because it is stolen and a flawed copy but for today, it will do exactly what it was intended to do, no more no less...and as a Robot, it is likely to encourage the target to use lethal forces he might otherwise not.
5rAs Angela and Alexander encourage people to flee, they are succesful and once Frank sees the robot, he tells the people in the store to flee.

He steps out into the light in front of the store and says, "BE GONE FORCES OF EVIL...THIS STORE IS PROTECTED BY THE FORCES OF GOOD" the filters that Fred put to reduce the volume of his random shouting at top levels mysteriously malfunctioning in the trap he doesnt know about.

Aldrif Odinsdottir has posed:
Angela hmms, "It's only a robot," she pffts as she observes the small metal robot walk up toward the (party) store. She lands once again and glances at Alexander with a frown, "These thieves we heard about===they must have acquired it. Do you know anything about robots?" she asks Alexander and then narrows her eyes at the robot. She seems suspicious of this enemy.

Angela motions people away as they file out of the (party) store. She also holds her hand up to try to calm this Grenademan, "You there, my advice would be to let this foe make the first move," she tells him.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
Alexander cautioned the tall beauty, "We have very little information." because to him information was the battle, Ares did not raise a foolish boy, but a cautious one. "Its engaging on its terms." the young man warned, because that was also sub-optimal. "The store is not the likely target, this is all stagecraft."

Frank Noble has posed:
Grenademan might be insane, but he does listen to advice (sometimes) and nods, taking an explosive greanade that he was about to toss at the robot and stands down, with a slick greanade waiting and ready.

The Robot is not pleased at this but notices that Angela and Alexander are definitely threats. But it isnt engaging them yet. Likely or not, the target isnt doing what he is supposed to do so the Robot raises the stakes and points a hand at the store, a beam of energy coming out that leaves nothing but a smouldering crater where the store had been.

"Let's see if you keep the caution up now lovelies..." a voice on a comm said watching the scene, with several others laughing at the comment.

The good news is their efforts to make people out of the way have paid off and the street is now well and clear.

Aldrif Odinsdottir has posed:
Angela pffts again at Alexander's comments, "Let it come, it shalt deal with mine sword," she comments with a smirk, "These Migard robots and guns are not the end all of everything," she adds contemptuously.

"Watch out!" Angela lets out as the beam scorches past them and she dodges to the side as the robot attacks the store. She twirls about and launches herself at the robot lest it do more damage to the surroundings or to her compansions. She lifts the sword and strikes down toward the robot. The speed is really quite remarkable.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
It was now no longer possible to view Alexander directly. What was his mortal guise was now caste in shadow and featureless, and this form could only be seen from the peripheral of vision no matter how you turned. It was still possible to see him, even track him, but in doing so you would have to orient as he now lived in the corner of your eye. There was a palpable sensation of panic in the air, things that mobs of people and cattle feel but cannot explain. This sensation snarled out of his body, like tendrils of willful malice, spiteful ropes of it curling around your heart and mind. You hated it because it made you tremble, you did not want to be afraid, maybe you werent; but you now knew what real fear was and you hated that too.

Frank Noble has posed:
Grenademan is oddly non plussed because he doesnt normally feel fear in battle; is almost imcapable of it but is still mortal in the mien of the literal GOD of fear, though he has no fears to face, no demons to contront except the one before him...and as such he does what comes naturally...to protect the civilians, the one and only thing he can feel fear aobut without unntural imposition, he tosses a red banded grenade set to maximum dispersion....and if the robot had been anything other than what it was, it would have atomized it...

As it is, this is exactly what the thieves wanted and the grenade is taken in a stasis field that is then taken isnide of itself....

The robot takes damage from her sword, but then cricks its neck and is already healing, growing stronger and slams a blast of energy blast right at her.

IT most definitely does not feel fear from Phobos, being utterly incable of it. The people watching however are, "We got what we needed! LEt's go!"

"No. Lets see what this robot can do...."

Aldrif Odinsdottir has posed:
Angela strikes into the robot and frowns as her godly sword doesn't cleave it in half immediately, seemingly surprised or apprehensive about its ingenuity. Perhaps this pause is the fault of Alexander! In either case, she takes a blast to the chest and is sent packing.

Angela tumbles many feet until she comes to a rest, but thankfully she's superhuman so she's not dead or dismembered. In fact, she starts to get up, "Erf...it wast ready for mine blows..." she mutters. She puts her hand on the ground and gets up to her feet.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
Alexander Aaron watches the interplay between the participants of the fray, his mind trying to work out what is going on. The grenade being absorbed and almost preserved is a clue, the fact that it did not explode keying him in. "You're being robbed." says a voice that sounds like an loud whisper, harmonized as if four people were speaking at once, coming from everywhere at once, is Phobos. "They covet what you know. Flee. Take flight."

Frank Noble has posed:
Grenademan is about to throw another nine grenades. Flash, slick, paint and crystal. But Grenademan hears a voice in his ear, "Do what the young godling says Frank. They know something you do not..."

It is NOT his nature to avoid attacking THE FORCES OF EVIL....But he is also highly intelligent....so for now, he takes out his grappling gun and moves to the roof of a nearby apartment building...he is NOT happy about it.

The robot looks at Alexender now and regards him as a direct threat and shoots a beam at him, growing yet stronger, larger and the wounds made by the sowrd rapdily healing.

Aldrif Odinsdottir has posed:
Angela is out of breath for a moment and frowns as she reacts this way to Migard weapons, "Midgard weapons shalt not be the end of me," she smirks. She glances at Grenademan and Alexander at the store remains, "What are you waiting for?" she yells out.

"What did you say?" Angela frowns as Alexander communicates, "What do you mean?" she asks. She doesn't attack the robot again having heard the advice of Alexander.

"Watch out!!" Angela yells in warning for Alexander.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
The shadow form extended a palm out to meet the blast, to shield eyes it did not have. The energy washed across his form, seeming to disintegrate on around the edges, driven into the ground with tremendous force, sent skidding and tumbling until he is flat skidding across the street. Just a boy now, clothing ripped and torn, blood streaks on the pavement form an outline of his body in motion.

There is a moment where he is still, and then he lifted his head an inch from the ground, looking toward the robot with blood trickling from his tear ducts and the corner of his mouth.

He picked himself off the pavement and staggered to his feet.

Frank Noble has posed:
The robot adapts again.

The voices on the comm are in panick, "He just ignored its blast! Make it retreat! We got what we-"

"Silence. This has fought the Justice League and the Avengers before...these two are not even in their same-"

"Its a COPY."

"That seems to be doing quite well."

The robot cracks its knuckles and charges at Angela, metalic but muscled fist moving with blinding speed.

Grenademan is NOT happy just...standing there. At all.

Aldrif Odinsdottir has posed:
Angela frowns as Alexander tumbles and looks hurt, and she doesn't rush over to help him, lest she give up her position, but she seems concerened. She stands in place as that darn robot charges at her and smirks at its brazen tactics, "Come foul beast!" she lets out.

Closing the distance with Angela in defense is not the best option for any opponent, especially that in close quarters. She leaps up and attempts to hop over the robot, in order to strike at it from behind with her big honkin sword. If it gets too close, her unbreakable ribbons will tear at anything. She cleaves and chops wildly like the wind. Whack whack. Chop chop. The speed of her dangerous ribbons makes a funny buzzing sound in the air.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
Being some distance away from the pair, there would be plenty of slack where Alexander severed the power line with his blade. His body was on the ramp now, the son of Ares powered up slowly, he gained as his body was abused, and as the fight wore on. In each moment, more the Olympian, less the boy. He'd vaulted as the man in Rhodes, up the side of the pole, cut the line, and ran with his body slanted toward the ground at the robot, the line tugging each of its retainers as he went, the power arcing and snapping when it found a short path to ground.

In one smooth motion Alexander pinned the powerline to the back of the robot with his blade.

Frank Noble has posed:
For any other robot short of Braniac, these attacks would obliterate it, but as it is, it adapts and and heals with astonishing speed. The more it is attacked,the stronger it gets, and in the end, its simply too much for Frank NOT to act as he leaps into the air, and tosses three grenades at it, the flash bang is instantlycompaensated for, but the slick grenade actually makes it slip on the frictionless surface though the stasis field attempts to capture it. It reaches out a hand and flashes it at Frank, wose cape reflects it but SLAMS him into the wall as it is a blast that would take down an upper level Brick...

Frank is stunned but a voice on the comm says, ""Wait...wait REPLAY that..."

Frank should have listened to Alexander....The ribbons are insieosuly effective on the thing at first, chooping it into bits...and then it starts simply letting the ribbons pass as it moves its skin around them anticipating her moves. It compensates for the frictionless surface....and stands.

Aldrif Odinsdottir has posed:
Angela frowns as she chops and chops but it's hitting a cow with a kitchen knife. Her ribbons likewise don't do much damage over time so she takes steps back, "I hast not much luck!" she yells out to Alexander, "Any suggestions?" she calls out.

After Frank flies by Angela and collides with the nearby wall, she offers to help him up, "Say, I think this one is anticipating our attacks," she notes and frowns again, trying to think of a long term solution.

Frank Noble has posed:
There is a voice over the comm in Frank's ear, "Ruin the stolen grenade."

Grenademan is reluctant to not attack the thing more, but if he listens to Right's advice, he will DEFINITELY listen to Necessary. He pushes a button on his belt menat to keep his weaponry from getting in the wrong hands and it sends a coded pulse that the grenade responds to as it just happens to bypass its defenses...if itwasnt in stasis it would be totally ruined but as it is, its smoldering.

"He has a failsafe...in a GRENADE? Thats....insane. Abort. Abort. Get out of range so we can salvage..."

And just like that, the Adaptoid Copy flies off into the sky and over the horizon. It might not be threatened by the heroes, but its prize certainly is, and that is unacceptible.

Frank, who has a cracked rib and bruises galore groans, "I am fine citizen." He doesnt sound fine.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
Alexander Aaron called his sword back to his hand, unpinning the powerline which flopped to the ground and hissed and spat. He watched it convulse and then cast his sword back into the rift from which he had summoned it from, showing anyone looking another breathtaking but brief view of Mount Olympus. He wasn't bleeding anymore, and though his clothing was a mess, it looked suitable to his athletic form. "What was that thing?" he asked Frank Noble, "And who sent it?"

Aldrif Odinsdottir has posed:
Angela sheaths her sword at her side after the robot flies off and congratulates Grenademan, "Well done," she says and nods. She walks over to Alexander and says, "I know not," she mutters, "We will think on it. Whatever it is, we did not do much to stop it from returning," she tells him. She observes Alexander, "You are well? Do you need any help?" she wonders.

Frank Noble has posed:
Grenademan says, "I...have no idea. But I do not like the idea of them messing around with one of my grenades....at all."

The entire thing was designed to be impossible to reverse engineer, but impossible in a world with AI and people flying around in underwear was just something you did before breakfast. "But I intend to find out. My name is (cough) Grenademan. And as a member of THE FORCES OF GOOD I am Indestructable so therefore am fine. Likely some kind of telepathic pain illusion that the robot is broadcasting long distrance."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
Alexander Aaron shook some fragments of street out of his hair with one hand, "It hurt, I won't lie. I'll be ok, thanks." he explained to her, seeming sincere, but also seeming to have healed enough to put on a brave face. "You ok?" he asked of Angela, his affect seemed flat, as if he wanted to show some concern but not enough to offend her warrior sensibilities.

Aldrif Odinsdottir has posed:
Angela has warrior sensibilities but is truly concerned about her companions, even the new guy. She nods to what Alexander says and tells him, "Truly. I actually hast never encountered Migard weapons like that. Usually bullets have little effect," she hmms and considers. She glances at the Grenademan and nods to what he says, "I am Angela. Broadcasting? Yes, tis a good thought. I don't think anyone was inside this robot...perhaps we couldst track this signal?" she wonders.

Frank Noble has posed:
Grenademan nods, "Each of my grenades has a signal that is trackable in case something like this happens..." yes, every SINGLE grenade. "But I am unsure if my current equipment can triangulate. I will look into (cough) other ways...of boosting the signal. I shall also examine closed circut cameras about its direction and velocity....We will get it.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
Alexander Aaron nodded, he removed a small card from what was left of his pants "If anything comes up, call this number Grenademan. The person who answers will know what to do. We're willing to work with Lone Wolfs like yourself, but we need to work together and share information." he glanced to Angela to hopefully secure her agreement. Then back to GM, "Can I count on you to contact us?"

Aldrif Odinsdottir has posed:
Angela nods to what Alexander says and points to the card, "Yes, they wilt offer assistance," she explains, "We will need to monitor for this foe. I doubt it is done," she idly comments. She thumbs at Alexander, "We shall be off."

Frank Noble has posed:
Grenademan doesnt quite comprehend the lone wolf idea. He is on the Forces of Good, they are on the Forces of Good; but the contact part makes sense and he nods, "Of course citizen. It shall be so."