Crusaders Plus #16 - "Separate Ways"
OUR STORY THUS FAR...
TJ Lawrence, benefactor of Equinox invited the team to a party at the mansion of multi-millionaire Arthur Hudson. While the team was enjoying themselves, there was nasty business afoot. The lights went out and gunshot was heard. When the lights came back on, Arthur Hudson was dead and TJ was beside the body, a smoldering gun in his hand.
Officer Terry soon came into the picture and aided Officer Klein AKA Ranger with the matter. TJ was arrested and charged with the murder.
Next day, Officer Terry appeared at the Equinox base. Using methods known only to herself, she had determined that the real killer was a man named Gratz. However, gossip had it that this man was a vampire! Seeing that asking the police for assistance would be useless, she turned to Equinox for help. They were of course more than eager to help. However, as they prepared to investigate Gratz, Professor Abriax came up with a surprise announcement: the Enochians, the beings that gave the Professor his powers, had summoned him and his partner, Leo. A stunned team watched as the two disappeared before their eyes. The two police Officers conducted an interview with Gratz, but learned little. They watched the apartment building, waiting to find something useful. That night, supposedly missing police officers began to show up at the apartment. That tied into a case Ranger had been assigned.
They prepared to break in and surprise the villains. However, that's when things started to get out of hand.
All the villains turned out to be vampires! Not only that, but the Crusaders came crashing into the picture. They had been blackmailed by an imposter to defeat the vampires. As the battle progressed, the enigmatic Spirit appeared to lend his aid.
The vampires were soundly defeated when Officer Terry, aided by Imperial, succeeded in driving a stake into the heart of Gratz. With his defeat, the remaining vampires collapsed.
But, it's not over yet. Then the Minutemen arrived on the scene. The mutant-hunting robots came to capture several mutant heroes. With the arrival of the Minutemen, another new hero appeared, Dimension Traveler and his wondrous machine Tri-Star-One.
The Minutemen were driven off, but not before capturing Imperial, Golden Lion, Firestar, Ranger, Lightwarp and Spirit.
Now, we find those remaining heroes taking stock of the situation....
The Minutemen have departed the scene with the captured heroes in tow. Slowly, those who remained behind gather wits.
Nightingale - "Oh, my... This looks like a war zone..."
Sirens fill the air, as numerous police cars, fire engines, and ambulances arrive on the scene.
Lord Liberty - "This is disastrous. My teammates have been captured by the Minutemen."
Across the street, Tri-Star-One slowly regains control of his functions. The robot has suffered minor damage, but can be fixed in a few minutes. But by then, the Minutemen are long gone.
Nightingale goes to Officer Terry, making sure she is okay.
Nightingale - "This venture has taken a turn none of us expected."
Officer Terry - "I'm all right. You should see to your teammates."
Nightingale - "Monarch and the Sorceress! How could have I forgotten?"
All the while, the mysterious Jack O'Lantern flies overhead. His thoughts his own.
Meanwhile, in the sewers beneath the street, the pair in question start to come around.
Sorceress - "Ohhh.... My whole body hurts."
Monarch - "Where... where are we?"
Sorceress - "It worked! I saved you!"
Monarch - "What do you mean?"
Sorceress - "As the robot went to strike, I cast a spell and we both went ethereal. We must have caught part of the blow and ended up here in the sewers... Ugh! What an odor!"
Monarch - "Let us depart this place, my dear."
As they start to leave, a figure staggers out of the shadows. What is left of his face comes into what little light there is. It is hideous. Bits of machinery have been forced into his face! The Sorceress screams.
Man - "Help me... Please..."
The man collapses into the sewage...
Spectrum's Comments: This picks up from the events of Crusaders #16 with those left behind by the Minutemen. I also picked back up on the 'people with machinery in' them subplot from way back in the beginning of Crusaders.
SUBJ: Bozi Moi!!! (R) FROM: Star Rngr4 06/04/89 S#: 456152
"With All this Mayhem I may as well have fired my Missiles. Which way did they go? We need to get the two they captured, and I'm just itching to get my hands on them away from innocents so I can show them just what Tri Star can REALY do. Gosh. I sure hope that there isn't anyone trapped in this wreckage. Lord Liberty. See if you can see where those suckers went while I look and make sure no one is trapped in the mess we made..."
(I.e. I'll use all my sensors to check for trapped people, and then help clean up the mess we made...)
D.T.
SUBJ: Lord Liberty FROM: REM9 06/04/89 S#: 424019
"Affirmative. I will see if the Minutemen left a trail that we can follow. Will someone who can fly aid me in gaining altitude. Perhaps with some height my sensors can discover something." Lord Liberty uses his sensors to find out anything he can from infrared trail on down.
SUBJ: Sorceress
"Arrgghhh!!! What is that thing Monarch!? Get it away from me!!"
The Sorceress will leap behind Monarch, and try to peer over his shoulder. I'll prepare an energy bolt just in case.
"Ugh! What a horrible place! The smell... the filth... My POOR HAIR!! I want out!"
SUBJ: Nightingale
"Gentlemen, permit me to introduce myself. I am Nightingale of Equinox. I have heard of you Lord Liberty, but I know nothing of this Tri-Star-One. Jack O'Lantern, it is a pleasure to see you again. Yes, I mean it! There is much for us to discuss, but at a later date. I've mind scanned and can find no one trapped in the wreckage. We were truly fortunate in this battle. The Sorceress and Monarch are well, themselves. Allow me to assist you, Lord Liberty.'
The Green and Yellow clad heroine flies into the air. Her mind reaches out and carries Lord Liberty with her.
'How high do you wish to go?'
SUBJ: "Well, Ma'am," FROM: Star Rngr4 06/05/89 S#: 412540
"First of All, Tri Star is my Ride here. I'm inside, but I'll be out in a minute. Once we've gotten this mess cleaned up. And its not surprising' that you haven't heard of me before. As I'm new to this Dimension, and don't know much of what is going on at all. I'm D.T. short for Dimension traveler, and I'll be down to introduce myself proper like just as soon as this clean up is
Done."
P.s. mad DM1 ... FYI 1 Mu = 100 kg, or .1 metric tons.. So mode one can lift 12.5 Mt and Mode 2 6.4 mt ...
SUBJ: MONARCH FROM: N4SIR 06/05/89 S#: 83280
"Do not fear Sorceress this rogue will not harm you," MONARCH says spreading his cape to help shield her. (Does this being appear to be injured? Is he coming at us in a threatening manner? My actions are simple my first obligation is to protect THE SORCERESS. My second is to render aid to any in need and the third is to get the lady out of "Completely unsuitable surroundings for one of her grace, style and beauty"
Spectrum's Comments: I'm sure the Sorceress just loves the way this guy thinks!
SUBJ: JACK O'LANTERN FROM: Jack0Lntrn 06/06/89 S#: 480579
"'Gale, 'Gale, the gang's all gone!"
Jack O'Lantern glides down and lands nearby, after Nightingale calls to him.
"Where'd everybody go? South for the winter to get away from the snow?"
"So, what's the plan now? Or do we even have one? Did my coffins get put in the base like I asked? Speaking of the base, unless tin-britches here can find those oversized garbage disposals, maybe we should head back there to discuss our options. I don't wanna get blamed for all this and with a face like mine, I usually do!!"
Spectrum's Comments: With Panther being back, Jack was back as well. He returned in the Crusaders posts.
SUBJ: Officer Terry... FROM: Miss Terry 06/07/89 S#: 398305
After speaking with the officers just arriving on the scene, I quickly attempt to explain what happened. They all laugh at the mention of vampires so I just say, 'Go look for yourself!'
After that I look around to see if anyone's injured or needs help, after helping all that need help and assisting them into a ambulance if needed I will check myself out for damages and then attempt to get a new squad car, dreading the paperwork I'm gonna have to fill out about the old one.
Terry will also apologize to the Flying Goblin and thank him for his help. She's kinda embarrassed about drawing on him.
SUBJ: MONARCH FROM: N4SIR 06/08/89 S#: 447810
"Excuse me my dear but this individual seems to require our aid if you will stand back I am about to make us an exit." Monarch will move Sorceress back out of harms way. Take off his cape and pick up the body in the muck wrap his cape around it. Spread his shoulders out lower his head protecting his package as much as possible and fly thru the ceiling. Once on the street he will land, set his package on the street and return for Sorceress. When he returns with Sorceress he will seek to summon the aid of his companions.
"I believe we have stumbled onto something that is about to get very nasty Sorceress, Very nasty indeed."
SUBJ: POST UPDATE
The scene of the battle is, at best, organized chaos. Tri-Star-One is busily cleaning up the debris. Nightingale floats over the scene, her mind supporting Lord Liberty. The very enigmatic Jack O'Lantern buzzes them.
Jack - "Gale, 'Gale, the gang's all gone!"
Nightingale - "I know that, Lantern. We're doing out best to try and find them. Reading anything, Lord Liberty?"
Lord Liberty - "Nothing."
Nightingale - "I can't honestly say that I'm surprised. If those things could be tracked, Genocide would have been put out of business along time ago."
Back down on the ground, Officer Terry tries to explain what has happened. They laugh at the mention of vampires, but the evidence before them is staggering.
Suddenly, several bats fly out of the wreckage of the apartment building and flee into the night sky. Three of the converted vampires are found in the rubble. Strangely enough, each of them has returned to being human. All are extremely confused over what has occurred. Officer Terry quickly apologizes to Jack O'Lantern for drawing on him. She thanks him for his help.
At that moment, a section of the street erupts as Monarch comes flying out of the sewers. There is a body wrapped up in his cloak. The Sorceress flies after him.
Sorceress - "Yuck! What a mess!"
Nightingale - "Nice of you to make it. I'd like you to meet the other member of Equinox that you've hear so much about; Jack O'Lantern."
Sorceress - "Oh my... Leo was right."
Monarch reveals what his cloak covers. The sight of the dead man repulses everyone.
Monarch - "My friends, I believe that we have stumbled onto something that is about to get very nasty."
With the debris safely set aside, DT disembarks from Tri-Star-One and introduces himself to the assembled group.
While that is going on, Officer Terry comes running up.
Terry - "We found something very interesting in Gratz's safe! Take a look at this."
Terry produces a ledger. Inside are numerous shipping bills and the like.
Terry - "This notebook was stolen from the Hudson safe on the same night as the murder! With this new evidence, I'm sure that we can get your friend released."
Sorceress - "That's great!"
Nightingale - "That takes care of one problem, but several others remain. What shall we do about them?"
Jack O'Lantern - "So, what's the plan now? Or do we even have one? Perhaps we should go back to the base?"
Lord Liberty - "Perhaps the equipment at the Crusaders base can track the Minutemen."
Monarch - "What of this poor individual?"
Dimension Traveler - "You people sure lead interesting lives."
Lord Liberty - "There is also the matter of the hostages Lightwarp had. Ernie must be found!"
Sorceress - "Sheesh, you need a score card to keep track of the plots around here!"
While the group discusses their options, Nightingale contacts Terry telepathically.
Nightingale - "I'm afraid that I must ask for your help, Terry. I do not understand your reluctance to use your abilities, but I know that we are going to need them to locate our missing friends. Will you help us, please?"
Spectrum's Comments: Yeah, there was quite a bit going on wasn't there? At last someone showed some interested in the 'people with machinery in them' plot!
SUBJ: Sorceress
'Well, the first thing we should do is get back to our base so I can get cleaned off! Since there is so much going on, perhaps we should split up and track down the various ideas mentioned? We could also ask the Knights for assistance.'
The Sorceress will wait for a decision to be made, but will return to base to change regardless of what happens.
SUBJ: Lord Liberty FROM: REM9 06/13/89 S#: 399892
"Inquiry: maybe there is some information in the memory banks of the Minutemen that may tell us where they took our friends. Does anyone have any means to check for that information? I agree that we should split up. Perhaps with the combined facilities of both the Crusaders base and yours we can find some answers to our problems. We must keep in contact with each other. I can monitor and broadcast on all radio frequencies." Lord Liberty will go to Crusaders Mansion with whoever will go with him. He will see if the sensors there are any assistance in tracking the Minutemen.
SUBJ: MONARCH (R) FROM: N4SIR 06/17/89 S#: 508725
"If the rest of my comrades will excuse me I will depart with this poor wretch and let the authorities know of what little I know of his condition. Maybe I can afford him a little dignity that was denied him in life. I am sure no one will mind my somewhat unkempt condition." With that MONARCH will pick up the Shrouded corpse and fly off to the county coroner.
SUBJ: Jack O'Lantern FROM: Panther13 06/17/89 S#: 496339
"So, Florence, since it looks like you are the one who's currently in the lead, tell me what the plan is, and I'll do what I can to complete the deed. Are we going back to the base, or are we just going to stand around here with our teeth in our mouths?"
"By the way, good looking, (to Sorceress), where did you get that perfume? That's my Aunt Matilda'a favorite! I've been looking all over for some!"
Spectrum's Comments: That Jack-- such a charmer!
Crusaders Plus #17 - "Fate Lends A Hand..."
While the heroes stand, making their plans, Jack O'Lantern buzzes them with his glider.
Jack - "So, Florence, since it looks like you are the one who's currently in the lead, tell me what the plan is, and I'll do what I can to complete the deed. Are we going back to the base, or are we just going to stand around here with our teeth in our mouths?"
Sorceress - "Well, I'm going back to our base and get cleaned off. This is absolutely disgusting!"
Monarch - "If the rest of my comrades will excuse me, I will depart with this poor wretch and let the authorities know of what little I know of his condition. Maybe I can afford him a little dignity that was denied him in life. I am sure no one will mind my somewhat unkempt condition."
Nightingale - "Okay, but when you two are finished, come to the Crusaders Base. Since our base isn't completely operational yet, it makes sense to go to the Crusaders base."
After being sure of the location of the Crusaders base, Monarch and the Sorceress depart on their separate tasks.
As the Sorceress flies away, Jack O'Lantern makes a pass at her.
Jack - "By the way, good looking, where did you get that perfume? That's my Aunt Matilda'a favorite! I've been looking all over for some!"
Sorceress - "Why you insufferable goblin--!!!"
The Sorceress flies away in a huff.
Jack - "HEE-HEE. I think she likes me."
Nightingale - "Come on, 'Lantern. Shall we go, Lord Liberty?"
Lord Liberty - "Affirmative."
BTW LL, the Minutemen were thoroughly trashed. There is nothing salvageable from them.
Supported by Nightingale, Lord Liberty and Jack O'Lantern fly to the Crusaders base.
Monarch makes good time in reaching the Coroner's office. He is greeted with a number of unusual looks and glances. The receptionist, while covering her nose, directs the large man to one of the doctors of duty.
Monarch - "You have my gratitude, my dear."
Monarch enters the surprised man's office and sets his burden down on a table.
Monarch - "I understand that you can assist me with this poor soul?"
Coroner - "What--? Who are you?"
Monarch - "I am called Monarch."
Coroner - "One of them super heroes, huh? Let's see what you got there."
The Coroner pulls the sheet back and is repulsed by the sight that greets him.
Coroner - "Dear god... Not another one. You did the right thing in bringing him here. This isn't the first time that this has happened... Oh, I'm Dr. Winston. Would you please follow me and bring the body?"
Monarch - "Certainly, Doctor. There seems to be more to this then I suspected. Can you explain this?"
The Coroner leads Monarch into a special room in the basement of the building. Over a dozen tables have sheet covered bodies laying on them.
Dr. Winston - "Like I said, Monarch, this isn't the first time that this has happened. This man makes the fourteenth human found like this. If you're going to investigate this, I'll give you all the help I can."
Once reaching the Equinox base, the Sorceress quickly showers and changes into clean clothes. As she prepares to make the trip to the Crusaders base, she is startled to encounter a man in a green costume!
Sorceress - "Who are you! How did you get in here!"
Man - "Who am I? I am the Jade Panther. And what are you doing here?"
Meanwhile, Nightengale, Jack O'Lantern and Lord Liberty arrive at the Crusaders Mansion. Liberty leads the way into the base, but...
Nightingale - "Hold on a minute, Liberty... Do you know of anyone else being in your base?"
Lord Liberty - "Only Felicity and Ernie, but they were kidnapped."
Nightingale - "Yes... That seems to fit their thought patterns. They are being held captive in the basement of your base."
Lord Liberty - "Scanning... I do not detect their presence. However, there is one area of the basement that my sensors cannot penetrate."
Jack - "Nice place. You guys have lots of space."
Nightingale - "That must be the place."
Jack - "Why, 'Gale, you're a poet! I didn't know it!"
Quickly the trio locates the area in question. Inside the secured room, Felicity and Ernie are found bound and gagged. Otherwise, neither one is the worse for wear from their ordeal.
Felicity - "Thank you, Lord Liberty. I was beginning to wonder when one of you would find us! "
Ernie - "I knew that Lord Liberty would rescue me!"
Lord Liberty - "What happened?"
Felicity - "Somebody broke into the mansion and stole one of Lightwarps' spare suits. He forced Ernie and me into that room. That's all I know."
What has transpired is quickly related to Felicity...
Felicity - "I'll say one thing, life with the Crusaders hasn't been dull lately. Lets get up to the computer room and see what we can come up with."
As the group walks to the computer room, Ernie whispers to Lord Liberty.
Ernie - "That mans head is on fire!"
At the computer room, Felicity takes a seat behind the equipment.
Felicity - "Okay, let's see what we can come up with...."
As Felicity works, a message comes in over an emergency channel.
'Attention Crusaders. This is Commander Michelle Sullivan of UNITL. We have surrounded a Genocide base and Need super-powered help. Can you please assist us? Awaiting your response.'
Spectrum's Comments: The guy in green was another new character played by Muskateer. Commander Sullivan appeared in the Old Stuff as well. And in case you blinked, Dimensional Traveler was gone too.
SUBJ: Lord Liberty FROM: REM9 06/17/89 S#: 402228
"I cannot answer for the rest of you, but I will go and see this Genocide base. Perhaps I will find my friends there. I ask for your assistance in this matter. Ernie, you must remain here with Miss Felicity. Miss Felicity will go answer the call and tell them that I am on my way." Lord Liberty starts for the door, he then turns, "Can someone instruct me as to how to get to the base?"
SUBJ: Sorceress
'What am I do here? Look, pal, you're the one who's trespassing here. Explain what you're doing here or I'll be forced to throw you out!'
Shift magic pool to 5d6 nnd (power defense) and defend myself if necessary.
SUBJ: JADE PANTHER (R) FROM: Panther13 06/20/89 S#: 845312
"You must be quite confused, young woman. You are the intruder, not I! This mansion is the property of my brother. That gives me every right to be here."
He thinks for a moment.
"Perhaps I see the truth. You must be one of those that framed him for murder. If that is true, you had better leave now while you have the chance. I do not care to battle women, but I shall if I must!"
The Panther instantly drops to a menacing crouch, prepared to avoid any sort of attack and scanning the area with his cat-like senses to determine if this beauteous intruder has company.
Spectrum's Comments: As his username might suggest, Muskateer was very fond of the Black Panther. Jade Panther was just a variation of that character who was Gadgeteer's brother. That simplified getting him into the game. I didn't mind people playing more than 1 character in the same game as long as they didn't take advantage of the situation and used separate usernames for each character.
SUBJ: Trashcan-head hunting... FROM: Jack0Lntrn 06/20/89 S#: 790291
"Don't worry, Mr. Liberty. Jack O'Lantern, for one, is with thee! I owe those trashcan heads for throwing me away. After all, my warrantee won't run out for at least one more day!"
On the way to the Genocide base:
"Over the river and through the woods.
To the Genocide base we go.
We'll go there today,
To continue the fray.
And we'll beat 'em up, don'tcha know!"
"Everybody join in! We can do choruses!!"
Spectrum's Comments: That was hilarious!
SUBJ: Sorceress
'I'm confused? This is a skyscraper, pal. The Jefferson Building. And if you're really related to TJ, you'll know what I'm doing here. My friends and me are known as Equinox. We're trying to help TJ.'
I'll keep my distance from this man, if he makes any threatening motions, blast him!
SUBJ: JADE PANTHER FROM: Panther13 06/23/89 S#: 509147
"Mansion, skyscraper, irrelevant! I know nothing of this Equinox you speak of. He has never mentioned such a thing to me. However, you words do have a ring of truth to them. You say you are trying to help TJ, as well? If that is correct then we are allies, known or not. My apologies for frightening you."
I am not convinced (yet) what she says is true. However, I will play along, as though I am.
SUBJ: MONARCH FROM: N4SIR 06/22/89 S#: 472547
"Doctor is the press aware of this?"
"What was the butcher attempting to do with these operations he preformed, I assume you have been able to ascertain a purpose behind this?"
"Who is working on this for the police?"