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Alicia pauses from her run on a brownstone rooftop. Once she's got her breath back, she gets her phone and makes a call.

"Dave? It's Alicia. You got Dr. Strange's addresses for Sylvia, right? Could you send me a copy on my phone? Thanks."

It's only a few seconds before the text message arrives with the address.

As Alicia makes her way along the rooftops and across the alley ways she sees the neighborhood getting nicer.  The houses are kept up better, and the streets are cleaner.  She stops short of her goal, when she sees fire and police vehicles on the street near the building.  People are being evacuated from the building, and a bomb squad and tactical team are making their way inside.

A few minutes later they emerge with a package that they set into a bomb barrel, which is then removed by truck.  They give the all clear and police and forensic units move inside.  She can hear the detectives talking about getting an APB out on Strange, "Pick him up, the lab boys have found some of that dead teacher's stuff up there, and the makings of a potential bomb.  He might have killed that teacher to cover up their connection to one another."

What the f**k? Alicia scowls. Strange isn't that stupid, which means somebody's pointing a finger at him. But who and why? Dammit!

Frustrated from being deprived the pleasure of tracking the depraved doctor down, she paces the rooftop as she racks her brain to come up with a strategy.

The cops will be checking out his offices. He'd be nowhere near them. Crap, crap, crap. Where would he go?

A sudden thought strikes her, and her mind grows cold. She checks the info on her phone and starts running. She makes the calls along the way.

First to Sammy, "C'mon, Sam. Pick up," she mutters at the ringtone.

Sammy feels the phone vibrating in its pocket.  It tickles.  It vibrates again.  It tickles some more.  She answers.  There is a very loud sound of church bells very near her.  "Hi Ally. How are yo-o-o-o-u?"

"Jesus!" The unexpected noise makes Alicia jerk and almost miss the jump to the rooftop coming up. She tucks her legs in, catches the edge with her free hand, and rolls across the tar-and-gravel roof.

Once she's on firm ground, she says, "Please tell me that means you're out and about on patrol."

*buzz* 1 new message.
OOC: see Mall Crawl

"Patrol?  Noooo.  Not really.  Just hanging around.  These bells are awesome.  The sound is so round...  I guess you need me for something, huh?"

She looks at the message from Sarah.

"What's this message from Sarah supposed to mean?  Flys with sneakers?

Alicia's back in motion. "Forget Sarah. Point is, you're up in the air and available. I need a pick-up. Strange booby-trapped his subjects and we've been dealing with the mess. Almost had another firebomb go off in the mall. Now someone's dropped the dime on Dr. Chrome-Dome and he's most likely rabbiting. Hold on."

She vaults another rooftop, using a boarded-up skylight as a springboard.

"Oof. I'm thinking he might try to get at his brain-toys before skipping town. Colin's with Trent and Sylvia's with Vincent, but no one's checked on Penelope. I'm gonna get the address of the place she's staying at and we're gonna be paying a visit."

She gives Sammy a location. "Can you catch up with me there?"

Sammy flits away from the lovely bells.  "I can be there in a couple of minutes," she says.  "Am I giving you a ride, or is this our destination?"

"No, that's just about where I figure I'll be within the next five minutes or so. I'm gonna be calling Dave to find out where we're going. Along with every-freaking-body else in the group to let them know what's going down. Thanks, Sam. See ya soon."

She ends the call and hits the next speed dial. "Dave? Sorry to be bugging you, man. S**t's hit the fan. Strange's been made and he's on the loose. I wanna head over to where the Penelope girl's at to make sure she's safe. Can  you send me her addy? Thanks."

She quickly checks Sarah's message as she ducks under a TV antenna hanging crookedly off its anchor. Give me a f**king break, she thinks, rolling her eyes.

Alicia calls her back. "Sarah, got your text. Way ahead of you, girl," she says. Without pause, she pants, "Listen, someone planted evidence in Strange's house framing him for Hamilton's suicide. Chances are Cueball's on the run. He might try to clean up loose ends, so someone needs to keep an eye on Trent. I'm calling everyone else to bring them up to date."

Next call, Donnie. "Lagartijo, (huff, huff) just shut up and listen. Someone placed evidence linking Strange to Hamilton's death in his house. (huff, huff) The cops are on BOLO alert to bring him in. He might try to tie up loose ends, so Vincent could be a target. I'm (huff, huff) heading off with Sammy to check on Penelope. Gotta go."

Reaching her destination, she stops and leans down to catch her breath, holding herself up with her hands on her knees. "Carajo, I can't wait to get my f**king driver's license," she mutters disgustedly.

Sammy drops down from somewhere above Alicia's head, from where she's been following for the past minute or so.  She twirls a loose piece of hair and her eyes shine with laughter, though none of that laughter escapes her lips.  "Need a cat nap?" she asks, oh so innocently.  She's mostly decked out in the spiffy neato flight suit that Elrod gave to her.

Alicia doesn't waste breath replying. She doesn't even raise her head as she gives Sammy the finger.

She finally straightens up then reacts at the sight of Sammy.

"Woah! Nice togs! You going pro now?"

Sammy makes a reproachful sound.  "Such manners.  What would your mama say, young lady?"  She spins a little, to let the floaty bits flutter.  "No, I'm not going pro.  I'm just keeping warm and looking good doing it."

Sarah taps back quickly. 

WTF?  "Someone" or someone else is involved & covering their trail or someone - one of the kids on the list?  Any more info?  Write back soon.  We miss you. *mwah*

"Heh. Kinda kinky, too. I bet Elrod likes it," Alicia teases.

Her tone turns serious. "I'm waiting for Dave to give me a fix. We'll need to book once he does. I'm grasping at straws here but I'd rather get there and find I'm wrong than..." She doesn't end the sentence, but the meaning is clear.


Alicia's fingers fly as she types back a reply:

have col ask his fuzz bud. cops on the trail.

Dave texts the address back a few minutes later.  It's in a residential neighborhood not far from the school.

"He bought it for me.  He worries about me being too cold up there.  Or maybe he knows about me flying with John the Heat Pump and was giving me one less excuse."  She shrugs eloquently and admires her reflection in some glass.

"Yeah, I figured he had something to do with it." Alicia's eyebrows waggle as she admires the form-fitting outfit.

"Betcha it's easy to take off," she adds with a wicked grin and a wink.


Alicia checks her phone. "OK, we've got a location. Let's ride." She pulls off her shades and puts on her goggles.

Sammy smiles.  "I'm not telling."



"Oho, that's how it is?  OK.  Game on."  Sammy pulls the cowl over her head.  "Ready, senorita!  Am I giving you a ride or just providing air cover?"

Alicia grins. "We need speed. I'd appreciate a lift."

The grin disappears. "While we're airborne, keep an eye out for Chrome-Dome's car. No reason to let the cops have all the fun."

"Speed I have.  What does the car look like?"  Sammy grabs Alicia's hand and off they go in the direction of the house.

They can easily get a good description of the car to go on.

OOC: Need a Notice check from both of you DC 18 (this is a site check only, and Alicia has a penalty for being color blind) "Red with blue leaves....red with blue leaves....this would be easier if I wasn't color blind!"

1d20+2=7 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2134338/)
"Right... is that?  No..."

Zese goggles! Zey do nuthink! (1d20+10=29) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2134343/)

After a few false alarms Alicia manages to spot the car.  It's parked about three blocks from Penelope's house.

OOC: Need a Fate Roll from Alicia.

Certain details will be dependent on the roll, so the description might not be complete.

There Will Be Blood... (1d20=15) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2134481/)

OOC: Alicia will try to sense if the engine is running or if there's anyone in the car, if possible.

The driver's side window is broken, obviously from the outside.  There is some glass on the ground nearby, more than might have been expected from an external break in Alicia's experience.

"Sam, drop me down by the car and stand ready. It's getting tight." There's a strong undercurrent of anticipation in Alicia's voice.

"Is this his car?  Should we be doing this alone?  Where is everybody else?"  Sammy brings Alicia down, knowing the other girl will try to leap away anyhow.  "I'm going to at least call the police and report the vehicle."  Sammy hovers over Alicia the hunter, ready to project her own protective wall of air around the both of them at an instant's notice.  She calls the 911 operator and gets passed through to the police department.

The moment Alicia touches ground, she's on the move. First, she sticks her head thorough the broken window, inspecting the inside with her eyes even as she breathes in Strange's scent. Then she crouches down to examine the glass.

The cold finger of dread suspicion runs up her spine as she leans down to sniff at the debris.

Alicia smells Strange.  She's picked up his scent form the school.  And another, familiar scent.  Jack.  The soda she got Jack earlier is on the floor of the car, and it looks like the can has some blood on it.  Something cut the seat belt, it's a clean cut, and the cut was up high.  As Alicia looks at it the things Jack has told her begin to come to life in her head.  She can imagine a sequence of events.  The soda can strikes the window, breaking the glass and striking the driver in the head.  Dazed, and with a lap full of glass someone comes up, cuts the seat belt and then drags them from the car, depositing glass on the pavement.  Then what?

Alicia had previously claimed not to be able top track by scent. Fact is, she's been practicing, using kids in school as guinea pigs.

It's not so much a matter of smelling the air as catching the traces inevitably left behind when one's prey comes in contact with the world around them.

Sammy is treated to the sight of Alicia slinking around the car, crouching and sniffing.

OOC: Alicia will try to figure out which direction Strange was taken or went on his own.

'Cause I know you'd ask for it (1d20+10=28) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2134718/)

Alicia sniffs around, his smell is all over the car, but she manages to sort out fresher from older.  The trail ends at the trunk.

OOC: Fate Roll Alicia.

"Allie?"  Sammy sounds worried.  "Why are you sniffing at the trunk... oh no.  Allie, DO NOT open it.  If he's in there, leave him for the cops to find him.  Don't even touch it, ok?"

She hopes the cops she called get here sooner than soon.

Fate Roll (1d20=14) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2134874/)

The sound of approaching sirens some through the air.  The police are probably less than a minute away.

Of all the qualities that Alicia shares with felines, curiosity is high on the list. She raises her head at the sound of the sirens, though.

Abandoning her current goal, she walks quickly to the side of the car, and snakes in through the broken window for a second.

The cops are seconds away. She pouts at missing her chance, but shrugs the annoyance away. A quick glance at her surroundings, and she bounds away, leaping off a fence onto the branches of a tree, and from there to a convenient roof where she can sit back and enjoy the show.

She makes herself comfortable and pops the top of a soda she's somehow managed to acquire, ignoring the sticky smear on the side of the can.

Sammy hovers near the car.  She called the police, she might as well stick around.  Besides, they need to know about what's her name.  Persephone? Penelope.  She needs to be examined.

The patrol cars arrive.  The officers try not to stare at the hovering girl too long as they cautiously move up.  One reaches inside to pop the trunk.  There, bound with zip ties and gagged with duct tape is Hugo Strange.  He's in his boxers, which are decorated with tiny lipstick kiss patterns and the phrase 'I love Strange' embroidered on them.  "You must be Hugo Strange."  on of the officers says.  Strange begins to nod and it's obvious he's relieved to have been found.  "Good.  Hugo Strange, you're under arrest on suspicion of murder, and I'm sure the feds will probably throw some Ultra-Terrorism charges on top of that."  Strange seems confused, and tries to struggle and speak, but the tape holds.  "One of the officers looks over to Sammy, "Thank you miss.  We've got this from here.  Your call was the second one about this car, we've been looking for this character."

More cars begin to arrive, and a news van.  The police try to keep the news crew back, but they surely got footage of Strange in the trunk of the car, and then more as he was hoisted out, freed from his zip ties only to be handcuffed and stuffed into a patrol car.

Sammy zips up to one of the officers.  "One more of his patients lives a few blocks from here.  She needs to be checked -- I think she might have some sort of hypnotic suggestion planted in her mind.  Something that could make her hurt herself or other people."  She gives the address.   "I'll hang around while you guys go over there.  Just in case.  I don't want anybody to get hurt."

The officer nods.  Once there are more units on the scene a couple of them go to Penelope's house.

OOC: Need a Fate roll from Sammy.

"Damn," Alicia mutters when she sees that Strange is still alive. Such a lovely opportunity for payback, wasted. Maybe next time I can convince Sammy to hold the call. Or steal her damn phone so I can have some fun.


Alicia grins. Yeah, and I bet I know who made that first call.

When they drag Strange out of the trunk, Alicia gets to see the decorations on his underwear and grins, applauding silently. I am so getting that video up on YouTube.

The excitement pales quickly, though, and when Alicia notices Sammy isn't leaving, she calls her up on her cell. "Hey, hero. Making sure the news crews catch your good side?"

"Nah, I want to make sure that other girl is okay, so I'm going along with the police to her house, to make sure they are okay too."  She pauses.  "Which is my good side?"



Fate roll (1d20=1) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2135737/)  

Alicia laughs, "Oh, girl. You do not want me answering that. So, you give yourself a handle out there? Other than 'Hey, you, floating chick'? You could go for something girly-pretty like 'Zephyr' or 'Aerye.' Or something edgy like 'Scirocco.' Or maybe go the Native American route and call yourself 'Breaking Wind.'" She giggles mischievously.

"You so missed your chance there, chica" she continues, laughter still in her voice. "When they dragged Cueball out of the trunk, you should've had a nice cold wind blow up his backside and shrivel his balls all the way up into his gut."

The police stop by the house and chat with Penelope's parents.  They look appropriately concerned, and then the police leave.  As the officers come back to Sammy one of them informs her, "Their daughter is still in a hospital.  Apparently she got super powers and had a little crisis early in the school year.  She was on schedule to be released, so the folks are going to call the hospital and talk to them about Strange and get it worked out."

They return to the crime scene and finish up there.

"Nope.  I wasn't doing anything that would give a lawyer ammunition.  Watching was good enough.  I guess... did it seem weird to you that they didn't take the duct tape off his mouth?  He was trying to say something, I don't know what.  Maybe they were afraid he'd try to hypnotize them all."  She lets it go.  "I really like Zephyr, but isn't there already a Zephyr?  Sirocco is good.  Mistral's okay.  There's even another called the Samiel, but that might be too close.  Whirlwind is completely lame.  So I look okay?  I'm glad I am wearing the whole rig today."


Sammy hangs around to watch.

The forensics team processes the car, then it's towed away.  The scene is handled meticulously, and it takes several hours for the police to be finished.  The longer Alicia lurks the more useful bits of information she learns about how a forensic team processes a scene.

"Like I'd want to hear his pathetic whining. Wait, maybe I would, just to hear him try to talk his way out of this s**t," Alicia drawls, as she lies down on the roof to watch the commotion below.

"Okay? Nena, you look good enough to eat. Sure as s**t you don't have to worry 'bout anybody recognizing you, they're not gonna be looking at your face," Alicia smirks.


As incredibly boring as the process is to watch from her vantage point, Alicia endures the ordeal, making sure to catch any particular clues the team discovers. Just in case she needs to pass it on to a certain party.

After a while, Sammy gets bored.  She waves goodbye to the nice police officers and goes airborne, carefully flying away from Alicia's watchpoint so that the other girl isn't revealed.  Although all she really wants to do is fly, she is vaguely aware that she has some homework that ought to be done, so eventually she reels herself back to earth and goes home. 

Eventually the scene is cleared.

OOC: I'm done here.

Me too

OOC: Damn, forgot something in the excitement: reporting Strange's capture to the rest. let's just assume Alicia does too, and the group finds out from the news.

Oh, and there's some more aftermath stuff that I'll open a new thread to deal with.