8339/Staten Island Ferry Rescue

Staten Island Ferry Rescue
Date of Scene:	20 October 2021
Location:	Staten Island
Synopsis:	Staten Island Ferry sinks due to bomb. Heroes save the passengers and crew despite the best efforts of panicky people.
Cast of Characters:	Hyperion, Ka'shira Raptorethi

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Hyperion has posed:
    It's a lazy Tuesday evening. Rush hour has finished, and the last ferry is running, returning to port with a load of cars and passengers. Except... there was a homegrown terrorist aboard the ferry, trying to escape a manhunt by the FBI.

    Agent Thompson spotted the perp, and attempted to make an arrest. This ended up with the terrorist detonating a suicide bomb... sadly, it took Agent Thompson along with the explosion. And a large hole was blasted in the hull of the ship. Water came rushing in.

    It's not that Hyperion was on board... but his ears picked out the explosion from a couple miles off, and began moving that way at hyper-speed. Why hyper speed and not super speed? Well, Hyper is in his name. He's not a Super, he's a Hyper.... but the ferry is a hundred or so meters out from the dock when the explosion rips through the night....

Ka'shira Raptorethi has posed:
     Ka'shira leaned against one of the rails of the Ferry's deck, peering out over the bay. For a moment she took a deep breath of salt-tinged air, sharp with the cold bite of deepening Autumn, and slowly released it. Cold. The tall, slender woman, was not a fan. She wore a long, knee-length, fur-lined jacket, gloves, and scarf, all in a burnished copper. She pulled her jacket tighter about her torso, and considered returning to her rented car where it was parked with the other vehicles being ferried across the bay.
     As the explosion shattered the otherwise routine voyage, Ka'shira sank reflexively into a defensive crouch. The locals and tourists that surrounded her screamed, and panic began to rise, but Ka'shira remained calm. While most of the passengers rushed away from the explosion, Ka'shira worked her way towards it. Someone had to assess the damage, and what little crew that was on board had their handsful just wrangling to passengers.

Hyperion has posed:
    Indeed, people are in a panic. Screaming in fear, and moving away from the source of the kaboom. The earth shattering kaboom. The water is bubbling into the lower decks, the aft end of the ship starting to lower itself a bit before there is a splash just off the bow.

    Not a man overboard so much as a diver in a black bodysuit and gold cape plopping into the water and angling under the ship.

    After a few more moments, the ship seems to start righting itself slowly. And.. an auburn haired head appears in the hole at the bottom.

    Hyperion looks upwards and calls out, "This ferry is going to fall apart eventually. I am not a nautical expert, but I'll hold it together as long as I can while you do what you can to get these people safely off." I mean come on, anyone peering down into the hole is fighting the panic already. Right?

Ka'shira Raptorethi has posed:
     The young woman had just fought her way through distraught passengers, finally reaching the lower decks, as the flooring began to tilt and shift beneath her. She stared into rushing waters, her mind frozen for a moment as to a sound solution when the Hyper Hero dove beneath the vessel. As the ship rebalanced, and the red-haired head popped up, it took a quick second for Kashira to come back to her senses.
     "I'll see what I can do," She called and darted the way she had come just the moment before.
     Back on the above decks was a familiar scene of distraught and panicked faces. The crew did what they could to usher folks off the sinking ferry, but there was only so much they could do. Shira, began with the parked cars, making a quick but detailed search, making sure no one remained behind. A dog barked raucously from within an old ford. With a quick jab of her elbow, she shattered the driver's side window and freed it.

Hyperion has posed:
    It is a good thing that most of Hyperion's ability to lift heavy objects comes down to generating anti-gravitons... spread out over the object being lifted. It lifts the whole thing at once... and doesn't just push into the one spot his hands are at.

    The crew however, has started to become organized. The Captain has ordered the inflatable lifeboats retrieved from storage, and has them being handed out. Sure, the cars are going to sink, but the people can get off.

    It's also only a hundred or so meters from the dock.. where smaller boats are already starting to rush out to the ferry.

    Yes, people are panicking, but the herd mentality is such that while one person panicking can make others panic. One person keeping a level head can help calm others down. This is what happens when Ka'shira is doing her thing. Not to mention... Ka'shira gets several facelicking thank you's from the dog.

Ka'shira Raptorethi has posed:
     Pets. A foreign concept to the disguised Shi'ar woman. Quickly lets the dog loose, trusting its instincts at survival over those of the humans on the top deck. She completes a thorough, but quick search of the doomed cars, making sure no one else remained behind.
     As she joined the others, an orange life vest was thrust into her hands. It's stead, she passed it along to a woman beside her. Once again, Ka'shira leaned over the rail, but this time, to study the distance between the ferry, and the dock. She might be able to jump it and land safely, but it wasn't something she really wished to test unless there were no other alternatives. For the time being, however, there were the inflatable lifeboats.
     "How many to a boat?" She asked a nearby crew member and then began to try and help organize people in groups.
     As one group began to be lowered, a man began to push his way forward. Ka'shira squared off with him, her expression implacable. "This one's full, you'll have to wait in your group."

Hyperion has posed:
    "Twelve." says the nearest crewperson to Ka'shira. "Oh, they're sending other boats out to help. How... how are we not sinking?" asks the young woman who is handing out lifevests.

    Down below the ferry, Hyperion is struggling to keep the materials of the hull together. His hands are spread out wide, fingers touching the hull as the gravitic energy flows outward across the exterior of the hull. His eyes narrow and he pushes himself to generate a bit more of that energy... but from the point of impact, the materials are starting to come apart...

Ka'shira Raptorethi has posed:
     The man stood down, head ducked as he returned to his place in line. He wasn't alone, as the trapped passengers shifted impatiently. Still, for the time being they held ranks, crying out and calling for the rescuers to hurry.
     Twelve. Well at least more boats were coming. Ka'shira snorted softly in frustration at the speed of the primitive earth vessels. She turned to face the crew woman that addressed her and gestured airily. "One of your Supers. I'm not sure which one, red hair, gold cape." Capes, such a bold fashion statement.
     Once again the ship trembled and strained beneath their feet. Ka'shira realized that time grew short, for the ferry to stay afloat. This wasn't ideal. Grabbing a nearby woman and child, she lept for the nearest rescue boat. It was a lot closer than the dock, but it still drew startled gasps for the onlookers. Depositing her armful, Kashira turned and jumped back towards the ferry. Of course, the leap back was a bit more difficult as hands grasped at rails to pull herself back up. She then reached for a second armload. "We need to hurry." She told the nearby crew woman.

Hyperion has posed:
    Yes, people are starting to crowd about, and the weight is all shifting to the front ... the bow of the ship. This actually makes Hyperion's job a little easier. Since less pressure pushing down on the aft end causes less fragmenting of the hull around the hole.

    Four more boats reach the ferry, able to carry different amounts of people. One can get four, and another can carry twenty. It's a speed boat and a fishing boat... basically whatever could get out to the ferry.

    People are -generally- well behaved, except for one older man who is trying to push his way through the crowd to get onto one of the boats before the others. He doesn't explain himself. He just desperately wants to be safe, at the expense of anyone else he has to push or step on.

Ka'shira Raptorethi has posed:
     As Ka'shira pulls herself to her feet, the crowding people begin to clamor around her. They seem more interested in rescue than the oddity of the jumping woman, for the time being at least. Hopefully, once the adrenaline has worn off, the shock of the day will dull details.
     Ka'shira turn to grab her next armful, as more boats arrive. The crew is lowering folks down, but Ka'shira's method speeds things up a bit. She turns to start to leap when the older man reaches out for her. "Please keep to your place in line." She instructs with cultured tones.

Hyperion has posed:
    The guy initially gets all puffed up, but Ka'shira's words inspire others to modulate the guy... by way of hands on his arms, and three other guys turning to drag him back towards his own spot in the line.

    The crew is also helping out, getting in place to organize the rescue. "A super huh?" asks the Captain. "Well, I'll take whatever help I can get. Get the passengers, then the crew. I go last." he says... good man with a good tradition of being a Captain. Perhaps he was in the Navy before.

Ka'shira Raptorethi has posed:
     A Shi'ar can spot military training from a mile away. She nods to the Captain and continues with her next jump. The help of the others makes the transition go much more smoothly, allowing Ka'shira to speed up her jumps. Several of the passengers have taken to help haul her back up, on her return jumps, further speeding up the process. It becomes an almost mechanized routine, as those waiting to be rescued dwindle in numbers, carted off in rescue boats.

Hyperion has posed:
    After a few more minutes, and some crackling crumpling sounds near the aft to indicate a bit more urgency... the rescue progresses fairly easily. Finally, it's down to the crew... the passengers are as safe as they can be. Even that dog has managed to make it to a rescue boat.

    There seems to be a debate going on, crewmen and crewwomen arguing with the Captain and trying to convince him to go first.

    But finally, a crunching sound can be heard, and Hyperion's voice comes from below decks, "It's time! Get off! This ferry is disintegrating and I can't stop it!" he says as he rises up to the deck, and he is of course, dripping water from his outfit and cape. "I can carry several..." he says as he comes to hover nearby.

Ka'shira Raptorethi has posed:
     Ka'shira is heedless of the arguing. Her task is to remove passengers and crew, and that is precisely what she means to do. She takes a step closer as the creaking and groaning herald the ship's demise. She reaches for one of the more slight crew members wearing a life vest.
     At about that point, Hyperion rises up to join them above decks. Grabbing the argumentative crew member, she nods to the caped stranger. "I'll do my best to start throwing them clear." She then grabs a handful of work coveralls and life vest, and chucks the startled crewman. "The water might be cold." Was her only warning as she threw man, at least trying to clear the distance the suction of the sinking ship would make.

Hyperion has posed:
    "Good plan. I'll help as best I can." says Hyperion. He looks a bit tired. But for him to look tired, as he is basically a walking cosmic energy capacitor... means he expended a LOT of energy.

    He looks over the edge, and then flies out to begin pushing the boats away from the ship. Since.. the ship going down might cause some damage if the boats are too close at the time. "I'll recover the crew in the water once we get these boats clear!" he calls out.

Ka'shira Raptorethi has posed:
     Ka'shira nods to Hyperion as she chucks another crewman into the bay. She doesn't watch as he sails with flailing limbs into the air before landing with a splash, a good distance away. The young woman turns, grabbing another member of the crew. "I'm sorry for the inconvenience." She states mildly before she tosses her next vic-, er rescuee.

Hyperion has posed:
    No doubt some might believe themselves victims. But the Captain maintains his dignity. The last person tossed is the first officer, and then Captain Harriman steps towards the railing, a life vest already worn. "I've got this." he says just as Ka'shira looks his way. He is the last one of course, "But I -will- be the last one off. You first." he says...

    Assuming she does as requested, he will simply leap off, folding arms over his chest and go into the water in a textbook 'abandon ship heel first posture'.

    And after a few moments, Hyperion begins fishing crew out of the water, and depositing them on the dock nearby.

Ka'shira Raptorethi has posed:
     As Ka'shira turns after releasing the First Mate into the air, she only nods at the captain. "As you wish." She states calmly, hardly one to break with such a tradition, that even an alien such as herself can recognize it. However, as she dives into the water, she remains close enough that when the Ferry goes under, she can help out so he isn't pulled down with it.
     The water is indeed cold, a fact that Ka'shira is less than thrilled about. Still, the swim to the dock is hard enough work that it helps to keep her somewhat warmed. She keeps an eye on the Captain, determined he'll reach the dock with her, or at least until the caped Redhead can fish him out.

Hyperion has posed:
    The Captain reaches the dock on his own. He's in good shape for a swim. Hyperion lets him do it his way too. Dignity is important. But the Captain is a slower swimmer than a Shi'ar might be.

    By the time everyone reaches shore, Hyperion is standing on the dock. He's managed to dry himself off... whether via some hyper-speed spin, or whatnot... in reality, he just released a bit of his energy in the form of heat that is now cooling after drying things off.

    He holds a hand down to help the Captain up, and then does the same for Ka'shira.

Ka'shira Raptorethi has posed:
     The cold slows her down enough that keeping pace with the Captain isn't difficult. Ka'shira starts climbing onto the dock, though that hand-up is appreciated and accepted. She stands shivering a moment, in her soaked coat, as she looks over to the Super that's helped her. Between clattering teeth, she manages to grit out, "Th-thank y-you."

Hyperion has posed:
    "You are stronger than most people." comments Hyperion. But he notices the shivering and chattering teeth and steps back a bit, "Please forgive any discomfort." he says as his eyes start to glow greenish yellow... and warmth emanates from those eyes. He's recently learned how to modulate down to harmless levels of heat.

    He passes that heat over everyone who is soaking wet... not drying them. Just warming them a bit... and then back over them once more until some folks start passing out dry jackets and blankets.

Ka'shira Raptorethi has posed:
     "As are you." Kashira remarks with a hint of humor. She shakes out her coat and runs fingers through mussed hair as the warmth dries her. "Are you a Kryptonian?" She asks curiously, not familiar with enough of Earth's heroes to place the redhead. For the moment she doesn't offer the source of her own strength, but instead extends her name, "I'm Ka'Shira. And I don't think I'll be getting to deposit back on my rental..." She muses wryly, as her gaze shifts out over the bay, to watch as the Ferry goes down.

Hyperion has posed:
    "First answer no... not a Kryptonian. I'm... something else. I am called Hyperion. Yeah, it's kinda presumptuous to name myself after a Titan of light from ancient mythology. I didn't name myself though."

    That said, he clasps hands behind his back and adds, "I am sure they'll let you slide on the rental though. I assume the Captain here will help convince them."

    To which the Captain says, "Absolutely."

Ka'shira Raptorethi has posed:
     "I'm unfamiliar with the myth." Ka'shira replies with a smile. She then glances down at the fancy smartwatch and futzes with some of the settings. She glances between the captain and Hyperion, laughing quietly. "No, it's fine, I'm not too worried about it. Thanks again for your help." With that, the tall young woman starts to jog towards the buzz of traffic.