3678/Seeking Help From Odd Places

Seeking Help From Odd Places
Date of Scene:	04 October 2020
Location:	Pym's Mobile Lab
Synopsis:	Mike and Amanda go to Hank Pym for help regarding a Zodiac based problem
Cast of Characters:	Hank Pym, Michael Hannigan, Amanda Sefton

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Hank Pym has posed:
Hank Pym has tried to be a good role model for Nadia, who is quite analytical and will get her hackles up at a hint of double standards or hypocrisy. Hank either as to keep to the moral high ground or resort to, "Because I'm your FATHER." To his credit, he has not stooped to that work around.

He has used, "I know better and have made similar mistakes." That at least has evidence to back it up. What he'll do when and if she starts dating will be a problem. Perhaps that thought crosses Hank's mind as he sleeps on a lab table under a silver blanket, a plush wasp under his head for a pillow, Baudelaire curled up under him.

Unseen the lighted monitors on his chest do their work, tracking his minor resizings as he sleeps. Machines work quietly around their creator.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
It's been a hell of a night. After leaving Amanda's place where she gave a basic refresher for what the hell is going on, Mike's left to some consideration of the situation for his walk home. They got their butts handed to them. That's for sure. And he found out the hard way that invisibility is not a cure-all for going undetected. Not with this group. But-

When he steps into the condo, he finds it empty. Wade must be working at the studio late again. Shaking his head, he walks over to his roommate's laptop, opening up a session under the user account created for Mike and starts browsing. After a few moments, he dials some numbers on his phone and waits.

Hank Pym has posed:
Hank Pym wakes as the phone chimes. Actually it's a sound bite of Steve yelling 'Avengers Assemble!' half asleep he reaches for the phone, misses. Arm is shorter than when he fell asleep. He gets it on the second try.

"Pym here. What? Better be Ultron or Kang level."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike pauses at the greeting, leaning back in the futon. "Hank, it's Nick. I don't know what levels those are but-" He pauses, figuring out a way to sum it up. "Sorceror type using powered beings to murder their way to retrieving ancient artifacts in order to awaken a powerful ancient God. They struck the Met tonight."

Hank Pym has posed:
Hank Pym blinks as he becomes fully awake and notes how ill fitting his monitor suit is currently. But no need to interrupt the data mission... yet. "Erm... magic? I'm a scientist... you're a musician... what are you doing mixed up in... never mind. I'll call Stephen Strange right now." He jumps down off the table and discovers the floor a little farther than he remembered, and goes over to his cel phone on the counter. Passing himself in the mirror he notes solently, "About Nadia size now... she'd love this till she worked out that it was a problem."

"Where are you?"

Michael Hannigan has posed:
"Strange is gone." Mike snaps back quickly, not answering the last part. His head shakes, "He was at the museum too. Got pulled thr-"

He pauses, "You know, how about I come over tomorrow. There's someone I can bring who might be able to explain it better than me but she's resting from healing me up."

Hank Pym has posed:
Hank Pym snaps, "Next time lead with that. All right. I'm finishing some chemo-therapy. I'll be ready when you're here. I'll get you clearance to come right through."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
****************** INTERMISSION TIME ************

Let's go out to the lobby... Let's go out to the lobby... Let's go out to the lobby! And have ourselves a snack.

****************** END INTERMISSION ************

Michael Hannigan has posed:
After allowing enough time for Amanda to get rest, Mike made a call over to the other magic user to let her know about the phone call with Hank Pym the previous night and his need for her to help explain what is going on. Maybe with luck they can get another ally.

The walk up to the lab door is somewhat quiet and the guard has likely already announced their presence. But that doesn't stop him from knocking at the door.

Hank Pym has posed:
Hank Pym answers the door looking his old self, if a little haggard. He merely nods and goes inside, leaving the door open for Mike. "Strange is not answering his phone so he didn't go home on his own. I've left messaes for te others but I'm apparently the only one around. "Where's your friend? I'm on a medicine cycle that seems to be working. I'm not saying I will be well indefinitely. And what part have you in this?"

Amanda Sefton has posed:
Amanda wasn't really thrilled at the phone call that awakened her. She feels positively hungover. And she's reluctant to leave Kurt on his own before he has awakened. But, ultimately, Mike persuaded her that involving the Avengers in light of Strange's disappearance was probably a good idea. And, really, it's not a bad idea. It's just that she feels like death warmed over and is worried sick about her oldest friend.

Nevertheless, dressed in business casual rather than her Daytripper regalia, she turns up at the lab shortly after Mike... in a taxi. Because she just hasn't the juice for any more portaling, right now. She gets out in time to see Mike approach the door and to see it open. So, she heads that way, raising a hand to attract some attention. "I'm here," she says, the strain of the previous night ringing her eyes. "I don't know what help I'll be, but I'm here."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
"I got some powers a few years ago. Now I have a tendency to get pulled into these things." Mike explains, kind of. "I don't go seeking it. It just happens." As Amanda announces herself he looks over to the woman, gesturing over to an empty seat, "Sorry. I tried to give you as much time as I thought possible before calling. We need you for the knowledge. Because I sure as hell am not doing a good job explaining it."

He looks over to the scientist. "Hank, this is Amanda." He looks over to Amanda. "Amanda, this is Hank."

Hank Pym has posed:
Hank Pym takes Amanda's hand politely. "Please call me Hank, Amanda. Now who is this 'sorcerer type'? Have the Avengers dealt with him? And what is the nature of this relic he's after? I need some details, if I'm to help. Honestly Mike you were so vague I'd expect you to be shot down in an alley after you hung up, if this was a cheesy mystery movie."

Hank is clad in his older Ant-Man style uniform, with several additional wires and tubing added that look almost like an exoskeleton following his spine and limbs.

Amanda Sefton has posed:
"A pleasure to meet you," Amanda says, taking Hank's hand briefly. She moves into the lab and looks around. Her eyes fall on the plushie and a brow arches faintly, but she makes no comment. Whatever helps a guy sleep, right?

"Let me give you the Cliff's Notes," she says, her British accent weary, so the undercurrent of German that is usually only just a hint within in is a little stronger than it might otherwise be. "Last night, a quartet of mystic warriors I believe are called the Avatars of the Zodiac attacked the American Museum of Natural History. They stole... something. I'm not sure what, exactly, but I believe it is part of a key that will unlock a dimensional gate that will allow a very ancient, very evil god to re-enter this world to try to destroy it. They killed three people and kidnapped Dr. Strange, last night. And they've killed at least two dozen others since they first surfaced several weeks ago."

She moves and leans against a convenient counter, arms folding over her chest. "The thing is, I'm beginning to suspect the Avatars, themselves, are victims in all this. There is a dark sorcerer commanding them; I don't yet know his name. But all the magic lore I've found on the Avatrs suggests that they have generally been a protective force, not a destructive one. And, I discovered last night, that if you remove the talisman that empowers the Avatar from its person, it reverts back to the form of whomever was wearing the talisman. The one we captured is someone I know very, very well. Not someone capable of the destructive chaos these beings are currently causing. Not without a puppetmaster pulling those strings."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike tilts his head, "Which is why I said I was going to bring someone who can better explain."

As Amanda proves that Mike did indeed bring someone who can better explain, he listens in, picking up on some details that were not brought up earlier. "...Is that why- that one guy got brought up in conversation?" He pauses, "...better yet, how do we know what the talismans are so we can get rid of them?"

Hank Pym has posed:
Hank Pym taps his chin. "So these are transmogrified humans? We have to hold back and not do lasting harm to these Avatars. Hmmm. I suppose that I can help. I'm not much good in magic itself but a sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic as the saying goes. Let me just get my equipment sorted out. I've had trouble altering my size on my own lately but I have other means. Actually a plethora of means. Okay then. You let me know when and where and I will be there. You want an Avenger, you got one."