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Dave makes the rounds, picking everyone up that was going to be coming to the bomb shelter for the meeting of the minds.  It's late afternoon on Sunday, and the shelter offers good privacy for a talk of this magnitude.

Kel has been pretty silent for most of the ride, he's been thinking about why he is here.  Is he really super-powered, or are years of silly drills finally catching up to him.  He sat on an old stack of boxes containing who knows what, canned goods to survive some outdated idea of a nuclear apocalypse.  His chin cupped in his hands, he looks entirely out of it, just gazing into the cement fixtures across from him.  Eventually his voice breaks the silence, "So, do we have powers or do we?"

Sarah raises her hand.  She stands up and faces the group.  "Hi, I'm Sarah Rollins and I have super-powers."  

She sits back down and adds in a shakey voice, "See?  Easy as pie."

Sylvia, who's sitting on a bench with her knees hugged to her chest, says, "Me, too," like she's trying to slide that in there without anyone noticing.

"Well I think so" Cal pipes up, adding his simple honesty to the proceedings

Donnie looks around, waiting for all the others to say their piece before he pipes in.

Colin sits somewhat apart, in an unconscious effort not to touch anyone. When Sylvia speaks he perks up.

"You do?! What... nevermind. I'm not sure it's polite to ask.
I have... powers, though I don't think it's the proper word. And problems that come with them. I have to learn how to deal with them, otherwise things like last night happen again. But I'm working on it. If we are here, though, I guess that's because either we have uncommon abilities or we are concerned about them. There are many questions that should be asked, and many things happened that require an explanation.
About what happened to the party, I'm fairly sure that spirit was bound inside Rob, and I accidentally freed him. What I don't know is why."

"Which reminds me, " Dave says, brining in soda and bottled water for everyone, "Rob is sleeping it off.  His mom said he got up long enough to eat three plates of breakfast then went back to bed.  He seems to be himself again though."

A moment later the door to the ladder opens and Greg comes in with chips, and Matt.

"Got snacks, and Matt was there so I brought him along.  Sarah was saying something about wanting him here anyway I thought."

The two come in and Greg puts chips and snacks out.  "I wnt to make it clear to anyone that might have the question in their mind.  I have no intention of filming or making a documentary about what happens here, or happens because of this."  He looks around the space, "Unless you guys want me to."

Sarah laughs.  "Don't worry.  As soon as the Fantastic... however many is formed you'll get exclusive first interview rights.  That should help cover college tuition to art school huh?"
 

"Well, you might need a press person for that.  I'm just a movie maker.  Now, if you guys want to use your extraordinary powers to help me make my next block buster indie film, then I'm good for that too."  Greag says with a smile.  "Hollywood has lots of stunt people and small actors that have super powers."

Matt looks around, slightly bewildered. "Uhm, hi guys... What's going on?"

"Oh, uh, Sarah, I was looking for you... it's about what happened to Rory. Rory didn't change into a red hulk thing because he wasnt a super, he was forcibly changed into it likely via magic, necromantic talisman magic or something. I'm pretty good with the regular super stuff but I'm kinda off when it comes to magic, so I was wondering if you or anyone else knew more about that..."

"Magic Talisman huh?  Hmmm..."  Sarah tries to think about such a thing...

"I honestly don't know.  Do you have a picture of the talisman... I mean, how did you find out that was the source?"

For his knowledge of transformative magics/talismans etc.. (1d20+6=23) (http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=637849)

"Transformative spells are pretty common themes of magic. I also think also that Rob's possession was from an exterior force, and that the creature was likely summoned into him. Are the two related? I am not so sure."

For his knowledge of magical posession/ unwilling spirit investment. (1d20+6=19) (http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=637860)

(ooc: what do I know of these two theories according to my rolls?)

"I, uh, no, not that kind. Crap... Okay, according to the stuff I managed to dig up talisman magic deals with magic cast on objects, not necessarily a magic talisman by itself. The wizard or witch or sorcerer or whatever puts a spell on an item that's close to the target, which then infuses the target with magic, changing them over time, just setting them up to one day turn into a toad, or a bug or a huge unstoppable thing as in Rory's case. It's to do with necromantic magic, black magic that is, which is why even though someone from Miskantonic University's coming to check out Rory's, uh, remains they'll likely not figure out who did it, since necromantic magic isnt taught at any school or anything. I found a referrence to a book containing spells that could have done that to Rory, it was sold in New York in an auction for like one and a half million dollars to an anonymous buyer... I think whoever bought that book was the one that killed Rory."

"Then maybe in the end something good came out of that." he mutters under his breath.

As Matt speaks up, Colin looks at Sarah, for a moment. In his mind, he wonders what would be the proper way to look at her. He's a friend. A friend that just wants to know what she thinks about Matt's theories. He looks away before his stomach starts to wring.

Magic. Bobby said something about magic.
Some people can bend the universe to their will, you can cause it to snap back to how it was.  This can be good or bad.
I wonder if I can do anyhting about that. If what Matt says is true. There shouldn't be another Rory.[/i]

"Why should someone from New York, that can spend more than a million for a book, come to Oak Park and cast spells at Rory?"

"That's, uh, kinda what I was wondering as well. I could be wrong of course that there's another way it could have happened, but seems like this kinda magic is so frikking powerful that the odds of two such sources of power showing up at the same time is less than that of millionaire murderers showing up around here... maybe it was, like, an experiment or something? Like this was just the test run, that the next thing is something capable of tearing apart the city or something? I dunno, I'm just guessing at this point, that's why I was looking for you guys..."

"Matt, if you're sure about it, you can print or send me what you found and I'll pass it to Chris. He's about to join the PCD, and maybe they can use that kind of info for good. I... I am not ready to deal with this kind of stuff yet."

Colin looks around the shelter, looking for mirrors or other reflecting surface. He retrieved his small steel one from his camping equipment, but he wouldn't like to get it out and look at his friends blatantly with it. It would raise too many questions. Bobby also told him to learn not to stare. These are his friends though, and he'd like to check on them like he should have done with Rob.

Donnie leans back, taking a slurp of coke. "Well, both might be related. Both require a signifigant investment of magic. In Rob's case, that thing was bound to him, likely to enhance his attractiveness and charisma. Despite it's appearance, spirits like that can be used to enhance someone without their knowledge. Unfortunately, they feed on life-force; spirit, whatever, and they usually feed on their host. Kind of a magic parasite. Someone put it in him though.

Now in Rory's case (and I am only peripherally understanding of this) he had a necromantic spell cast on him that made him into a literal time-bomb. Every negative feeling or emotion like anger, shame, etc, is shoved down into your unconsciousness, where it in this case fed a necromantic spell. One that eventually burst and let Rory's inner rage, pain, and hatred change him. Hopefully the dude from Miskatonic can pick up some traces and track it back to it's source. It can be transferred from an object into a person, hence the whole talisman angle. Unfortunately, whoever gave him such a thing has likely retreived or destroyed it by now.

The magic for both is necromancy, but of differing types. I don't know if they are cast by the same person or persons, or if it is another unlucky coincidence like a bunch of super-powered kids all being in the freshman class."

"Hey, you know how in MacBeth the witches are stirring all this weird stuff into their brew?  To cast a spell like that, would you need special things?  Stuff you could only get in special places?  Maybe we can find them through that."

"Yea, okay, I'll do that. This whole thing just tears me up inside, y'know, it was bad enough when I thought that he did it to himself, but now that I know he was the victim it's like ten times worse...."

As the conversation goes on to talk about Rory, Kel clears his throat then says, "Matt, where'd you find this out?"  He then continues, "Because the police are trying to figure out anything they can about Rory.  They already know about the other kid, that was drugs. But Rory came up completely void of anything, and they have no leads and are constantly looking for them."  He looks at each person in turn slowly, "Which is where this gets to the big question.  We all agree we have powers of some sort.  What are we going to do with them?"

"Help people?"  Sylvia knows that's the right thing to do, but she's not at all sure how to go about it.

"As much as I'd like to do that, Sylvia, we're not ready. I don't think we know where they come from, nor really what we can do with them. Look at Calvin and me. There's no way our talents have an even similar origin. I'm afraid we could put ourself in danger and make things worse. I think we should try to learn as much as we can about ourselves before.
That said, if trouble comes our way, like tonight, then I know for sure that I wouldn't be able to stay put and do nothing. But we shouldn't fancy ourselves superheroes yet."

"Not that there isn't a lot of trouble coming our way in any case. See Rory. The Cupid of the Lunchroom. The Ice Girl. Kirby's Tunneling Ray, that I think was used to steal evidence from a police warehouse. The ninja. Who, by the way, answered by message."

"No way!"  Compared to rage-induced embolism and spirit possession, ninja seem harmless, and Sylvia warms to the topic.  "What'd they say?"

Colin smiles at her, and gives her the note they left in his mailbox. It says

Your invitation has been seen, but it is not in our nature to be seen unless we are needed.  You may write that we are looking after the abused and picked on.  We are agents for change.

Oak Park Ninja Clan

"I know, it's a very short manifesto. But I kinda like the guys. Don't be harsh on them, if you write the article. If you ask me, I'd write that if the school keeps the bullies from... bullying, they won't have to worry about the ninjas, either."

He hesitates for a moment.

"Sylvia, did you do anything at the party that I should thank you for? Are you perchance the UFG?"

"The what?"  UFG--it almost sounds insulting, but Sylvia knows Colin well enough not to take offense.  "I don't think so."  She looks around the room at the familiar, friendly faces--plus Cal--and takes a chance.  "The extra Colins.  That was me."

"Oh."

Colin raises his eyebrows and looks at her, head to toe, in a new way.

"Then I owe you big time." he says, matter-of-factly.

"Oh, the UFG. I guess I started to call it that way in my head. It's the Unidentified Flying Guy (or Girl for that matter). The one with the helmet and the leather jacket, that caught Kel in mid-air. I'd like to thank him/her as well, but I have no idea who he/she is."
He takes a look around, trying to discern any reaction.

Kel shrugs, "I'm not really sure who they were, it was so hard to tell.  But yea, thanking them would be great place to start after we find out who it is."  He then looks over the group, trying to gauge their reactions to what's going.

"Oh... uhm," he looks down, "Sheila told me. She just said that Rory wasnt super or anything and that the Miskantonic guys were coming, the rest I digged up on the 'net afterwards."



"Wasn't me for sure. Wish I could fly, that'd be so cool..."

"Well, anyway, do you know anything about the rumor of the girl that turned into a statue of ice and ran amok in the girls' locker room? If Rory was... cursed, and rage triggered the transformation, maybe that's what happened to her as well."

"You think there's a curse on all of us?  Or just the angry ones?" Sylvia asks.

"I'm simply wondering if that story was a warning sign we didn't notice. And about curses on us..."

He thinks of Matt, of what he saw the day Rory flipped, but resists the urge to look at him.

He lowers his voice.
"There might be a way to check, but I'm not sure I'm ready. And before you ask, no, it doesn't involve shaking hands. That was a mistake, a big mistake."

"Just wait for me a moment, OK?"

He goes out of the shelter, and takes a look around.

Blackbird! You know I can't tell a good idea from a bad idea if it hits me in the face. You think I should try to check on them or not? I don't know how I feel about taking out the mirror and looking at them. Look, if you don't show up, I'll take it as a no."

Colin doesn't see the bird anywhere.

Colin sighs and goes back into the shelter.

"Nope. I can't do that yet. I'm sorry. Still, it won't hurt to look into it. What about the guy Rory sent to the hospital?"

Sarah shakes her head in confusion, "Wait a second... what that kid was doing was from a drug?  He was taking and giving a huge beating.  They were bouncing back from stuff that would have snapped me like a twig!  What kind of drug does that?"

Sylvia glances at Kel and offers him a little shrug.  "Superman," she tells Sarah.  And then it's like someone's turned on the nascent investigative reporter in her.  "Sold by a man called Emille Vandross.  The only man who could have identified him died in an escape attempt."

So we're up against rich, powerful necromancers and mysterious drug dealers that can get rid of annoying witnesses. Sweet. And here I was worried about bullies. Anything else?"

He lets himself fall on his seat.

"Have you figured out where your talents come from? I kinda did. I am a Spirit Dancer. Which means that I see things you don't, and that... weird stuff happens around me. Not that you hadn't noticed, I guess."

"Spirit dancer?"  Sylvia says.  "Isn't that an Elton John song?"

"That would be 'Tiny Dancer'."  Greg says shaking his head.

"I have no idea but I do believe it's supposed to sound much more indian and ominous than that." Colin sighs, thinking if things would be easier and people would take him more seriously if he was as tall and handsome as Bobby.

"Where'd you find out about the spirit dancer thing?" Sylvia asks.  "Relatives?"

Colin looks down. He can't quite explain what it is that connects him to Bobby. He just feels there's a "us" of which they are both part.

"Not really. I met someone who showed me the ropes."

He looks at Sarah. She's the only one who knows.

"Network."  Dave's voice is slightly unexpected in a moment of silence.  "The key to something like this is information, and networking.  Information is important, and knowing people is equally important.  You guys have to protect yourselves, because if you start to do things with your powers you'll make enemies.  You'll need help, because even people with super powers need help.  What I'm trying to say is, I'll help."

"Yeah, I'll help you all any way I can too. I may not be able to do much, but I have a brain filled with countless hours of reading, research and history. I can be a resource for you all. Helped me craft stories and games."

Sylvia makes a note to give Dave ten bucks for gas.  "So seriously, what are we supposed to do?  What can we do?"  She takes a marker and a notebook out of her monster totebag and writes, in blueberry-scented Mr. Sketch:

1.  WHO CURSED RORY?  Magic text.  Miskatonic U.  (Matt, Sarah, Donnie?)

2.  WHAT HAPPENED TO ROB?  Spirits.  (Colin?)

3.  WHO'S SELLING SUPERMAN?  Emille Vandross.  (Kel?)

She holds up the notebook, the questions printed in big block letters.  "Those are the things I'm wondering about.  There's other stuff, too.  The ninjas, the armored-car hold-up, the UFG, the flying guy at the mall. . . .

"There's more.  But maybe we can start with what's closest to us.  Rory."  Her expression darkens.  Of all the bad stuff going around the school, that hit hardest and closest.  "Matt, you said there should have been a thingie, a talisman.  Maybe it's still there.  Has his mom gotten his stuff out of his locker yet?  Can anyone get into his room and take a look around?"

"We might be able to get into his locker, but there is a chance that the principle has already cleaned it out and given it all to his parents or sister. Maybe Matt can ask, since she seems to be chummy with you now.

As far as the who cast the spell on Rory, it might be left up to the more magical types to ferret out an answer."  Donnie looks at Colin. "I will do some reading on who can cast these spells; if it is one person, or possibly a coven of witches or warlocks. Perhaps from their we can start looking for signs, especially if the spell requires specific ingredients to cast. I think Sylvia has the right idea on following up the leads on Rob. We should check out all his female companions recently, and see if there is any connection between them. His increased attractiveness was ustilized for a reason. Why would it be done? That is the question we need to answer."

"Does anyone here really want to delve into Rob's sordid love life?"  Sylvia kinda doesn't.

"Well, if I have. I'll probably do it from a different angle than you expect, and I can't tell how much it'll be useful to you. I hope it will."

Kel shakes his head, "I certainly don't.  But this superman thing worries me.  I don't like where it's going, I mean, if it makes people superpowered and probably more agressive and it gets into anywhere.  Who knows what could happen."  He then steels himself and places his hand right on the name, Emille Vandross, "I think its time someone paid him a visit."

"How are you going to find him?" Sylvia asks.

Kel laughs as if it's obvious, "The traditional way.  Look."

Sylvia worries for Kel.  He can clobber anyone in hand-to-hand, but on TV drug dealers use, like, bullets and stuff.  "Count me in on that, Kel?  Maybe I can help."

Kel nods, "Help with this sort of thing is what we'll need.  While the guy who messed with Rory is important, I don't think we'll track him down as easily.  Some drug dealer though, it might be best to deal with him sooner rather than later."  He looks over the group assembled, his eyes landing on the people who could probably help with this.

T.J who had been sitting quietly in the corner as everyone talked piped in. "I don't have nay powers but like Dave I can help. I could probably build some devices for you guys to use. I'm also willing to help in any of your cases." He looks at Kel. "If you could get that drug then maybe I could examine it and find out what it's made of and how it works. Although if you get caught with it." He grimances.

"I knew we should have kept some."  Sylvia sighs and shakes her head at Kel.

"Kept some? Waitaminute.. it was you two who turned in the dude from the Tasty Dog! That's what you've been avoiding talking about." Donnie shakes his head, looking hard at Sylvia. Kel couldn't care less, so Donnie didn't bother giving him a glower. "If we are all going to work together, we need to be honest with each other. Shit like that is going to cause mistrust. Everyone is allowed secrets, but important details like that might be necessary if we are going to succeed!"

Kel shrugs, "No one ever asked me about it."

Sylvia tries to breeze past the secret-keeping.  "So Colin knows that guy, Chris O'Brian, right?  He's a cop.  And Kel knows his uncle.  Can you guys maybe kinda pump them for information?  Or you know, get anything at all out of them?  They might know who this Vandross guy is, and they might be able to find out who bought the Hulkanomicon."

Colin has the feeling that going to Chris and asking him about a dangerous drug dealer the same day he got shot wouldn't be his brightest move.

"I'll try, but I can't promise you anything. Chris is smart, and he's not an agent of the narcotics,  or the DEA."

Kel shakes his head, "It'd be difficult, since he more wants to just know about any information I have.  If I try to pump him for info, I might let my hand tip and he'll probably put two and two together about the guy from the Tasty Dog."

"You think that'd be a bad thing?" Sylvia asks.

Kel shrugs, "I'm not sure.  I don't think anyone should know that anyone like us had a hand in it yet."

"That's because we shouldn't either. How did the pusher die?"

As much as he's impressed by Kel, Colin isn't sure he can stop bullets. And he sounds a little too eager.

Kel shrugs again, "I really have no idea, we just got the drop on him, tied him up, and called the cops.  I know they picked him up, but beyond that, I got nothing."  He then thinks on what Colin has said, and then he comes right out with what's on his mind, "Why shouldn't we go do what the cops don't?"

"Because we're not cops, we don't have their training, and we won't help anyone if we get stabbed or shot. I'm just worrying about you. It looks like it's a game for you."

Kel nods his head, "Alright, I'll give you that we aren't the cops.  But still, I feel like we should be doing something, after all we're not the cops.  We have superpowers."

Colin gives up.
"OK, Kel. We'll do something. Just don't go on a crusade on your own, OK? Now, have you got any idea where your powers are from? Did they just show up? That day in the lab? How do they make you feel?"

Kel looks totally dumbfounded at the question of exactly where his powers came from, "They just, ya know.  Popped up.  I don't know.  One day I just started getting stronger, and faster, and better at...everything."  He shrugs, "Isn't that how it's worked pretty much for everyone, I mean...they just appeared?"

"Uh, yea, I can try to help there. I can probably get Sheila to show me Rory's stuff... Also, I may not have any powers or anything but if it helps I know a lot about super powers and how they work and I got a fairly good database set up as well about various heroes and villains out there. Dunno what good it'll do but if you need anything feel free to let me know, and definetly please let me know if anything else weird happens to you. Oh yea, I can try to dig up something about the flying guy at the mall and the, uh, UFG. Maybe they're the same person."

"Sarah, you were at the mall, didn't you? Do you think they could be the same guy?"

After quietly listening to all the conversation before this, Cal suddenly chips in "I'll go with whoever needs muscle, ya just have to ask and i'll come with ya, i'm no good with research, and al this 'spirts' and 'magic' stuff is beyond me, but if ya need stuff hittin' then i'm your man"

Sarah ponders this.  "Um, no I don't think so.  The flying guy at the mall was bigger.  He was built more like Cal and he didn't seem to mind showing off his pretty face."