| Falling STAR | |||||
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| What: An accident at star labs splits Superlass | |||||
Superlass is back at STAR labs. She is working on making repairs...AGAIN. This is not the first time she has been there when the place was almost wrecked. They have been good friends to have since se arrived on the planet though. They helped her with a place to stay, made sure she was no longer carrying the YES! virus, and helped her with her uniforms...and even helped her figure out her powers. Cleaning up from last night feels like her responsibility, so she is working on reinforcing the structural supports before she starts working on the facade of the building.
She's getting some help. "Let me handle the supports," Jack says, grinning a little bit up at the Kryptonian. He puts a hand on one of them, and the building starts to slowly reshape back to its original form. He might not have been responsible for the damage, this time, but he's still in the mood to help fix it. Besides, he knows some people who work for STAR Labs. Good people, on the whole.
Damian Wayne is passing through, he had snuck on a train from Gotham, he seems to be back to his normal clothing with his hoodie pulled tight he is just walking minding his own business. He needed to find that sapphire again but this time on his terms. He had a few tricks up his sleeve but he was severely under equipped as he was just able to make a few things with what he was able to "acquire" from stores around. Thankfully his training included making some good toys from scratch so he had something in case he ran into her. He looks up at the Star Labs and gives a little whistle.. Someone had screwed that place up, glad he wasn't there when that happened. He considers that as he looks around a bit for someone with money... He knew he would have to steal a bit more before he could get fully re-equiped. But now that he was here.. After giving Star Labs another glance he smiles to himself. Maybe he wouldn't need that.. he bet they had some nice toys, and changes his path to head that way.. keeping his head down, and to himself.
Superlass says, "Thanks Ja...what is he doing here?" She has just become aware of Damian by the familiar sounds of his body. His heartbeat and respiration are unique to her, like a fingerprint. She hopes he does not have any more magic devices like last night.
"Who?" Jack inquires, closing his eyes for a moment in concentration. The city hasn't particularly alerted him to Damian, partly because she's busy grumbling about the giant who did all of this damage. So, the boy approaching is not really on his radar just yet.
Superlass says, "Just someone I met last night. I gather he is a vigilante, one who thinks killing criminals is the best solution." She starts forward towards Damian, seemingly appearing in front of him. She Says, "Isn't Gotham your place?" Suddenly a ray of green light hits her from the upper floors of the building, where power has just been restored by Jack's repairs.
Damian Wayne doesn't notice being noticed, and continues to make his way into the building. He is looking around as the place seems empty. He starts moving towards the elevators, just keeping his head down hoping since the building is in repair he would have a chance to bypass security before there is a lady just standing in front of him. He literally bumps into her as she is talking seeing the light, but not being fast enough to move out of the way as he is literally touching Cir-El when it hits not on purpose mind you, but from not looking where he was going hoping to keep a low profile. The last words he is able to get out before light hits is.. "Oh sh.."
"Oh, one of those?" Jack inquires...and then the kid almost walks into Cir-El...and the light hits. He frowns, looking up at the source of it. "Cir-El, are you alright?" he asks, quietly. Hopefully whatever she got hit with wasn't something that would hurt a Kryptonian...or Kryptonian hybrid, which is more accurate in her case.
There follows a loud noise, like Thunder, centered on Superlass, as air, dirt, water and other loose things rush in and suddenly there are TWO girls where there had been one. One falls to the ground while the other laughs and flies into the air...without using Superlass' signature Red Star Bursts.
The rest of Damian's word is covered by the loud thunder-like noise when it hits... He see's the lady in front him fall as another flies up in the air which definitely gets a shocked look. Glancing down at the lady on the ground he gingerly steps over her taking care not to step on her as from first glance it looks like she is alive and there is really nothing he can do for her. Although... this might be a good distraction to get into the labs. So he quickly starts making his way to the elevators again. He is sure they got this, he is just some kid from Gotham, don't mind him is all he is thinking as he smiles to himself, and uses the call button for the Elevator. He does glance up at the other lady flying in the air while he waits.. "Great... now am I going to have two of them chasing me around.." he grumbles to himself.
Jack ducks away, lifting a hand to protect himself from the flying dust. "Cir-El?" he asks, and then realizes there's two of her. And one of her doesn't seem to need rocket power to fly. Crap. This may not be particularly good. His right eye flickers red as he stays in that crouch, regarding both of her. The kid running into the labs? He can track him down later.
Mia staggers to her feet, confused. She was not hurt, or so it seemed, but why does she feel so weak all of a sudden? She feels even weaker than the times she has used up most off her solar energy...like when she landed that plane. She mutters, "What happened?"
Damian Wayne doesn't say anything, is quiet hoping that in the confusion he can just sneak away. As the door opens he steps in, if the lady on the floor looks at him see's him he will just give a little wave as the doors are closing. He also seems to dig into his pockets getting something ready just in case. The elevator doesn't seem to go up though as the top of it flips open, and coming out of it is a kid.. he must of hoped up and pulled his way through as there is a dull noise of the stop button has been pushed to keep it in place. He seems to have a small brass tube in his mouth as he is getting to the roof. He is focused on his job now so doesn't seem to notice what else is going on in the lobby.
"You got hit by something and split into two." And given her state. "Get clear. I'll corral the other you and work out how to put you together." The way she laughed doesn't make Jack particularly happy. Okay, make that it makes him very concerned. And then he heads for the outside wall and, well. Runs up it like a spider.
Mia grunts, "Great, the other me must have got all the strength. I better head upstairs to figure out what machine caused this."
Damian Wayne climbs up the ladder all elevators have going up the floors. For a human he is making great time. He knew at least at the higher floor there were lasers... he could use one of those. So he continues climbing up the elevator to get to the higher floors. He has a long way to go, but he is on his way hoping he can find something up there on the higher floors.
Jack Hawksmoor narrows his eyes. He stops on the top of the building and looks around, mostly to the northwest. << Where did she go? >> If she left the city he's going to be pissed. It's gotten to be too much of a pattern lately...
Mia does not know if the elevators are working, so she heads up the stairs, she needs to figure out what floor that ray came from. she wonders how she will tell. Damian Wayne starts reaching the upper levels.. He calculates the trajectory of the bolt. If it hit at a Thirty-Eight degree angle.. and the wall was fifteen feet out.... Carry the one.. He stops at one of the floor and looks around for the fire emergency handle to pop open the door. With a *Pop-Hiss* the door cracks open, and Damian starts pulling it slowly open to look in. He see's a lab, but not sure what is in it he is careful not to just jump in yet he uses this time to survey the area.
Mia looks around, wondering what level the ray came from as she pants from running the stairs. Well, it has to be either the weapons lab, or the genetics lab. Try Genetics first. She exits the stairs and heads towards the lab.
Okay. She did leave the city. Jack narrows his eyes, wishing he had contact with somebody who could chase her. A depowered Mia can't, and the kid who's in the building...yes, Damian, he knows you're there...doesn't seem to have either powers or suitable gadgets. "Grr," he mutters, looking up and to the northwest again.
A streak of violet light burns across the sky as The only Star Sapphire currently on Earth arrives on the scene. The other one is off on Zameron. Shimmer is carrying Claris with her. Shimmer had gotten a bead on Damian Wayne. Again. Sadly that goes out the window when she gets close enough to actually see what the hell is going on. "Are you freaking kidding me?" She shakes her head, "What is everyone's fascination with Star Labs!" She goes sailing towards the Kryptonian half of the Cir-el. "Claris, You're in a rough way You may want to take cover. I will set you down."
Claris shakes her head. "I didn't spend all day in the tub for nothing. Fling me." Then the fire begins to burn. "I'll buy time. Whatever's going on, your smarts are needed more than my power. Do it!"
Damian Wayne hops up and enters the lab, he grumbles as there is only a bunch of plants.. No real weapons, but he continues to search.. He ignores the animals and checks through the chemicals for any components. He does find some useful things, but not the weapon he is looking for. Grabbing a few beakers off the shelf, he pulls some putty out and gloves mixing things together. He hums a small tune to him himself. Glancing out the window he is able to see the streak.. "Looks like I am running out of time.." and moves over grabbing what looks to be a duffle-bag, and unplugs the thing that seemed to make the ray shrugging he just leaves it alone, and heads back out to search the rest of the building. Nothing of use here.
Mia sees Damian coming up the hall as she enters the floor. She says, "We need to find whatever did this to me. If Cir-El has reverted to original program, she will be trying to spread a cybernetic transformation virus over the planet."
Shimmer finds the Kryptonian is outpacing her, Cir-El has never been that fast before. The Ring says she is stopping at Eagle Mountain.
Star Shimmer calls on her communicator, "Cir-El. What in the name of Queen Aga'po is going on?"
The reply she gets is disturbing, "Brainiac program reinstated, commencing reformation protocol. Interference will not be tolerated."
Aha. That would be...the person to catch Cir-El. Jack touches the floor, then sinks through it, dropping out of the ceiling next to Mia and Damian. "Find anything? Star Shimmer's going after her." Sure, he told Mia to get clear and she didn't. He's not going to argue the point.
Damian Wayne is whistling to himself when he see's Mia coming up the stairs, he points behind him.. "Some machine, back there." he stops then moves quickly throwing a ball of putty at the one coming through the ceiling. A small cloud appearing around where it goes of as he backs up to see it wasn't who he thought it was.. "Dang it man don't sneak up on me like that.." he turns back to Mia, "Don't worry I unplugged it. See I am doing my part" and shrugs starting to move forward down the hall. He waves back at them.. "Don't worry if I find them this way I will let you know, and don't worry.." he speaks up louder as he is further down the hall already.. "Just don't get close to anything flammable!" and chuckles to himself as he moves to the next room... thinking to himself... Jackpot.
Star Shimmer looks at her ring as she flies at high speed. "First things first. Abby, I need information on Brainiac. What the hell is that?" She asks as she flies. A flash of violet light off of her ring and Shimmer has the knowledge courtesy of ring telepathy. "Claris, I ain't leaving you to deal with this situation. Cir-El isn't that fast, especially while flying. That means odds are we are dealing with something very much above our paygrade here." She sighs, "Lets do it." She accelerates knowing full well that she is about to get the crap beat out of her. Upon arriving at Eagle mountain, she sets Claris down. "Cir-El. Stand down. In case you haven't noticed, Brainiac is not here! From what my ring has told me, Someone named Flamebird, The Justice League and another ragtag type team destroyed his skull ship. Stand down. Now."
Claris looks up at Cir-El as she lands, then over to Shimmer. "I don't care how above my paygrade this is, really. Whatever she's going on about isn't good. Barring someone stronger showing up, /we're/ the heavy hitters, and I hit a lot heavier than you. I'd love to know how this happened, though."
Mia steps into the genetics lab and starts looking around. Plants, microscopes, cameras, animals, computers...OK, what is that thing? She starts to look at the device, hoping she can figure it out.
Jack pushes the smoke away from himself, coughing slightly. "Sorry. I guess I deserved the ninja smoke bomb." He doesn't seem that upset. It was, after all, a rather sudden entrance that he made. "Like I said, did you find anything?"
Cir-El pounds directly into the mountain, ignoring those following her. The lab where they removed the virus was here, hidden under Eagle Mountain. She needs to recover it and release it over inhabited areas...
Damian Wayne smiles, as he starts filling his bag with weapons from the lab, he grabs a couple more bags from a locker and fills those two as he is just grabbing things like a kid in a candy store.. As he searches the area he finds the only non-weapon device he was looking for, it was a simple compressed air most likely used for cleaning. He looks at the brass device he brought with him and wonders if it would work as he connects it to the brass device he brought just in case.. It was a home-made ultra-sonic dog whistle... he chuckles to himself, as he doubted this would even work, but who knows.. it was worth a test at least on the people here is what he considered as he pushes the button pushing the air through the whistle.
Star Shimmer looks at Claris, "We need to distract her!" She lifts off and moves on. Using her ring she scans Cir-El... "Race: Kryptonian. There is something wrong with this person. She is a half of a person." Shimmer blinks a few times. "Kryptonian... as in Superman, Power Girl, and that lot? Okay I need a weakness and I need it now!" She launches a few blasts of violet light at Cir-El. "The only known weakness of the Kryptonian species is a rock known as Kryptonite." The young star sapphire blinks a few times. "Give me the chemical make up of this."
Claris blinks. "Kryptonian? You're telling me she's a f***ing full Kryptonian like Power Girl?" This stops her and makes her think. "Cover me for a minute so I don't damage myself further with a quickswap. Strength won't help me win." She depowers and tries to hide while her body stabilizes enough to safely do another transformation.
Mia says, "That thing there seems to be the device that did it. I am going to see if the computers tell us how to use it. Man, I hope they did not password seal them..." She turns on the computer and starts searching.
Cir-El's eyes start glowing blue, indicating she is using her super vision to search for traces of the virus.
"Okay." Jack moves over to examine the device. "What do you think the other half of you is trying to do? We need her back here if this is going to work." Hrm. Damian said it was the only unplugged machine in the room, and he finds the cord, but he doesn't plug it back in right away. Nope. Let's see if Mia can find the instructions first.
Damian Wayne shrugs and rubs his ears.. "Well that works.." he tosses it into the bag, and fills what is left happy with his loot he starts waddling out with so many bags he can barely walk making his way back out of the building. Using the stairs as an exit this time he goes down, and if not interrupted will shortly leave the building thinking about how to get all this stuff back to Gotham.
Abby responds with, "I am sending the formula and knowledge of this crystal to you: sodium lithium boron silicate hydroxide kryptonium difloride. Do be careful Star Shimmer." The young woman hears Claris, "This is going to be fun!" Distract the Kryptonian. What a fun game. Suddenly Cir-El will find a giant pink fist hitting her. The massive construct is impressive looking to say the least. "Do what you need to. Then my turn to need destraction!"
Claris breathes softly, centering herself so she can slip into her psychic form. "She mentioned Brainiac. I need to know who or what that is. I don't know if I can penetrate her mind, but if I play my cards right, I may not have to," she thought casts to Shimmer, before glancing toward the south. "Other Cir-El. This is Claris. Can you hear me?" The signal will be weak at best due simply to distance.
Mia looks up, "Who?" She says to Jack, figuring it is probably not going to hurt for the other to read, "Cir-El was created by Brainiac to spread a plague that slowly turns people into robots, robots that eventually link into a world wide network vast enough to hold the mind of Brainiac itself. My guess is she is back to her original program. The virus was removed when I arrived, and hopefully destroyed, at a place north of here..."
Cir-El is-still searching, but turns to a bank of computers nearby, evidently shehas found no physical traces. As Cir-El turned to the computer, a large violet fist struck her. She is knocked into the wall...literally INTO it about a foot. She pushes it back, stepping out of the wall pushing it before her, and then holds it back with one hand and smashes it to energy shards with the other.
"I *hate* Brainiac," Jack grumbles. "Okay. How do we lure her back here, then? I'm pretty sure if I hit both of you with this I can reverse it and get you back together. Unless...hrm. We need to contact Star Shimmer." He's not, sadly, sure how he'd do that...
Star Shimmer winces an pain as her construct is destroyed. The pain cuts right through her. A ball of violet light forms. She focuses using all the information her ring is feeding her on the chemical make up of Kryptonite. She pushes herself. This one is difficult. Not only is Shimmer doing one of the most difficult things she knows how to do, but she is working with a material that she has never physically scene. "Please let me do this right." "
Claris sighs. "Playing this by ear then..." She focuses on the Kryptonian version of Cir-El. "Stop. This is not the plan." The voice is coming from an illusion of Brainiac, at least, what she can cobble together of him. "I have already had what you are programmed to be doing set in motion on this planet. Return to the STAR Labs building. We are leaving."
Star Shimmer finds the going very tough, most of the parts of the Kryptonite are able to be found, but Kryptonium is a heavy radioactive not found naturally on Earth, she needs synthesize it. She thinks she is making progress when Cir-El abruptly flies back out the hole she came in.
Mia is getting somewhere, she has a video of the last time the device was used playing, showing how it separated a hybrid plant into the two component species. Jack glances at the video. "Okay. See if you can find how to reverse it." What a stupid thing...he's going to make sure it gets casually damaged once they have Mia back together.
The construct does take a lot for Star Shimmer. Blood begins pouring from her knows. "I think... I got it..." She cries out in pain and goes flying after Cir-el with her construct in tow. Not only is she flying at high speed but she is struggling to maintain her very unique construct. The glowing violet construct starts to fade. The girl carrying it is starting to lose consciousness. And then it happens. Down she goes, slamming into a building or three. finally her field drops and she is left lying on the ground somewhere in the Bronx, unconscious.
Claris watches the fully-Kryptonian Cir-El fly back toward the city, and then Shimmer's in pursuit. But just as she's about to hitch a ride with her, Shimmer's plan blows up in her face. "No!" She won't make it fast enough, unless... "NO!" All of a sudden, her protective instincts explode from within. Her hair turns blue as water from the lake below rises into the air and she dives into it. Makeshift flight ensues. She won't catch Cir-El, for sure, but that can't be her concern right now. She'll just have to hope whatever they're planning back at the lab will work. Her concern is Autumn. "Give me a sign. Something. Even just a thought. You've got to be okay."
Mia has fast forwarded to the part of the video where it shows how to reverse the process when Cir-El flies in, then stops in confusion. Clearly she has realized something is not right. Mia reacts without thinking...and discovers her human side is NOT powerless as she releases a Red Sun Burst, something that depowers Kryptonians and produces enough force to knock the powerless Cir-El out. Moving quickly, Mia grabs her other half and says to Jack, "Now."
Now, indeed. He swings the device around, taps the controls and tries to catch them both in the beam. Hopefully she didn't actually get the virus...because he doesn't want to have to deal with that. Nope, Jack really doesn't want to.
He HATES Brainiac.
An unknown shadowy figure spies the fallen Star Sapphire. Removing her ring, they drag her off.
Claris Trayce calls over her communicator"Is anyone on this thing? I've lost contact with Shimmer. I think she's in the Bronx somewhere, I'm too far out, and I'm pushing my powers so hard that they're damaging me faster than my water healing factor can keep up. Someone help!"
The Flash calls, "On my way"
There is an explosion as the mass that created the second body (whichever one that was) is released back into the environment. There is left on the floor only one girl, unconscious from the stress. The Teratogenic Decompiler is rocked by the explosion and falls out the window to smash on the pavement 14 floors below.
Claris is just getting back into the Metropolis city limits, but her stunt with using two powers at once is already inflicting damage on her. Her healing just can't keep up with the damage her own powers are inflicting on her. It doesn't matter. Psychic probes are giving her nothing.